AN: Sorry about the delays, folks. My sophomore Finals start next week and I'm being swamped with last minute details. This last bit is for the lawyers. I do not own anything except my blinding red house shoes. Enjoy!
Where Do We Go"There are fourteen of the ultra-beings, but it seems that we can only get a lock on the ten of them that are clustered together, Sir," stated a minion as it bent in deference to the shadowed figure reclining behind concealing screen.
"Ten will suffice. Transfer them to the holding deck the moment we're in range." Taking the last as the dismissal that it was, the minion retreated through the massive doors it had appeared from. Alone, the shadow raised a hand and the lights slowly rose in response. Dramatic lighting and ominous presences behind silk screens certainly made servants work faster than they normally would under the circumstances. The figure glanced briefly at its reflection in the gleaming surface of its throne. A chuckle threatened to free itself from within its throat, and only by reminding itself of its mission did the being manage to swallow its amusement. It could not forget that fate was measuring every action and death was the reward for any mistake. Composure regained, the being leapt from its throne and began to prepare for the arriving guests.
* * * *
Night was just unfolding its cloak when they gathered together on the beach. It turned out that the girls hadn't had to explain the situation because the boys had awoken at the exact moment the ship, no longer thought to be a meteorite, had increased its output of 'negativity.' It was decided that they would transport to the massive starship before it came into contact with the many space colonies surrounding the planet.
"There's no telling what such massive doses of negative energy could do to the colonists."
"What it is doing," Heero pointed out. "They're probably well on their way to being affected by such overwhelming hatred. We've got no time to waste." He instinctively caught the package Makoto had lobbed at his head. He looked curiously at the energy bar he now held.
"We'd better eat fast then," she said as she began to scarf her own chocolate flavored protein bar. "We'll need the energy boost." Heero did a half grimace/smile as he watched the others devour their rations.
"Breakfast of Champions..." Despite the blah flavoring, the bars were gone within a few eye blinks and the girls showed the guys what came next. They formed a five-person chain ring and instructed the men to surround them.
"Now, put your right fist over your partner's shoulder and lock hands with the other male Senshi in the center of our circle. This will connect you to our female version of the Planet Power Teleport, as well as add your own power to the transfer." Ami sounded very matter of fact, but only Trowa and the other girls knew that this was the first time that the maneuver was ever going to be tried with more than one extra rider.
From their connections, the male Senshi sensed the power building up in their mates and they began to mirror the concentration in order to focus their own energies. Dual voices began to shout as the transportation magic formed glowing rainbow colors about the double-linked group.
"Venus Star Power..."
"Mars Star Power..."
"Jupiter Star Power..."
"Mercury Star Power..." The auras had built up into a blinding wall of colored light and the earth tensed as the final power was applied to the maneuver.
"Silver Moon Crystal Pow..." The final words were lost as a beam of violet energy crashed down upon the gathered heroes. There was a clap of violent thunder as the two highly charged waves slammed together in brief combat, but as the sound and light faded, only an empty beach with ten smoking circles remained.
AN: I really hate cliffhangers myself, so I'll try to get the next chapter out with reasonable haste. I'm trying hard not to rush this story, but I've got two weeks to finish before my computer privileges get cut down to once a week. Oy, Summer Vacation is not always a blessing! Thanks!