AN: Oh, no! The reviews are drying up like a pimple under Oxy! (Gross, but accurate…) I live for reviews, so please let me know if my fic is losing interest for you all. *snicker* That 'you all' shows that my southern accent even invades my writing. I'm skipping the disclaimer because if you haven't gotten the point after 16+ chapters, there's a bridge I'd like to sell you in Brooklyn. Enjoy!
Where Do We AwakenDuo felt like he'd been on the receiving end of a Dallas Cowboys tackle and by the rapid swelling in his left eye he could tell he looked it too.
"You mind getting off of me," asked a muffled female voice. Duo rolled as best he could and recognized a squashed-looking Makoto. Despite landing beneath him, she seemed unhurt.
"I think I caught your elbow in the eye as we landed." Makoto winced and apologized. "Nah, I could have landed on Heero and been killed before explanations could be made," he joked. Invoking the name of one of their comrades made the two realize their situation. "Where the hell did we transport to?"
"Better question," came Makoto's reply, "Where is everybody?"
* * * *
"They did what?!"
"Sir," the minion cowered halfway behind the massive doors leading into the master's quarters, "they managed to somehow fragment our teleport beam. We only got the Alpha-female to transport to the holding deck and the others…"
"What about the others," the master's demand was low and cold enough to shatter steel.
"They're scattered onboard the Absolute and our security teams have, uh, yet to locate them." Expecting an eruption from the throne, the minion was shocked speechless when the master began to laugh.
"This could be a fortunate turn of events." A chill pervaded the room as the atmosphere reflected the master's delight. Release the new drones and bring the Alpha-female to me." The Moon Princess should be entertaining at least. The minion bowed and set off to follow his orders.
"As you command, Lord Winter."
* * * *
"Can you feel Rei?" Quatre shook his head.
"Our link is too muddled to get a lock on her. At least," a look of relief flashed in his azure eyes," I can tell that she's alive." Minako and Wufei had to agree that the situation could be worse. They couldn't fault Quatre's optimism despite the fact that the three of them were lost inside what seemed to be a palace/spaceship constructed of ice and strange metals. They had wakened sprawled on the cold floor after their teleport had been, well, Minako had used the term, 'taffy-pulled,' and the two men had yet to come up with a better phrase. For an instant during the power surge, they had been caught between two destinations and, like a rubber band pulled too taunt, the power had broken and lashed back to launch its riders in all directions.
"My guess is that we're all on board at least. The power's momentum seemed to be aimed in the ship's direction at least." Anything else Wufei had planned to say was cut off as he winced and clutched his head. A wave of pure panic flashed through his connection with Usagi. After the first blast, the muffling effect seemed to compensate for the extra emotion and Wufei found himself cut off once more from his mate.
"What's happened?" Minako crouched beside her friend and put a hand upon his shoulder.
"Pain…she's below us somewhere." Quatre and Minako traded looks and nodded. Minako pulled Wufei back from the blonde boy. "What are you doing? We've got to find some stairs or something." Minako winked as she answered.
"When Usagi's in trouble, we make our own stairs, and," she pointed at Quatre who'd pulled out one of his arrows from the quiver on his back, "Mr. Fireball is our best weapon against ice at the moment."
"Mars Fatal Inferno!" The ice floored as it gave way beneath the intense heat. Quatre waved to his friends. "Jump quick! The ice is already reforming!" Indeed, as they leapt into the hole, it closed just after the men's capes cleared its mouth.
"I wonder what other unpleasant surprises are waiting for us."
"Let's not invoke the wrath of Murphy's Law, Minako." An angry buzzing filled the hallway where the three warriors had landed.
"Too late," Wufei muttered as six sleek-looking androids hovered into view. The light glinted off their lethal looking blade arms. "Here they come."
AN: Man, I'm not sure where Heero, Ami, and Trowa landed; let alone how Makoto and Duo are fairing. I would be thrilled to get suggestions on possible situations you would like to see our heroes face. Lord Winter isn't a familiar face, but he's got connections, nonetheless. Let me know what you think. Thank you!