Chapter 2:
The ride had been very interesting to Lark who had never ridden in a limousine before. She fiddled with the controls and rummaged through every compartment, in the end discovering a stash of small cakes, and cold soft drinks. She laughed out loud at the oddness of it, then moved on to play with the stereo buttons.
At last she looked up at Heero to find him sitting back, arms crossed, watching her. She stared at him for a minute, noting his neatly pressed black pants and dark green turtleneck. He was wearing his thick leather jacket, but had added a dark green scarf to it that hung loosely around his neck, tucked under the collar of the jacket. Suddenly he tilted his head sideways and moved his eyes to the window. She followed his gaze to see a very large structure with small illuminated windows. Her mouth dropped open as she moved over to her seat, "Is that the Noventa mansion?" she asked. Heero nodded.
Lark pressed her face against the window as she looked up in amazement at the mansion, staring in awe as the limousine turned down the long drive. She looked over at Heero, who was still watching her.
"Big?" He asked, musing, studying her expression carefully. He noted her features truly for the first time as she turned back to the window. Lark had curled her long hair and had pulled it back into a clip, which allowed it to flow out behind her. Heero noticed the slight reddish highlights in it as the limousine passed under the lights left on for them by Mrs. Noventa. Her hair cascaded beautifully about her face and neck in long light brown curls, framing her with softness and beauty.
She was wearing a sleeveless ankle length pale blue dress that fit her form perfectly, and it seemed a bit odd to Heero that she had not worn a jacket, after all it was snowing outside. He leaned over and looked out the window at the immense structure. "You think so?"
"No, it's not that, it's just that I never thought that Earthlings had these kinds of struct..." Lark stopped suddenly and clamped a hand over her mouth as Heero's eyebrows rose. Oh no! Lark thought, then scolded herself, He doesn't know you anymore, don't trust him!
"You do not classify yourself as an 'Earthling'?" he asked, suddenly very interested in her. I knew it! She's not from Earth, but who is she? It puzzled him, now all of his hypotheses didn't match up. Well, he thought to himself as he smiled at her and sat back, I've got her now!
"No, that's not what I meant! I-I-I-a-I'm from the colonies and-a the houses aren't this big," she stammered, at a loss for words as the driver opened her door. She looked up at him and absently took his hand. Gathering the satin skirt of her pale blue dress Lark got out of the car. She hardly noticed it when the cold hit her bare shoulders, then Heero appeared behind her and placed his own coat around her. Stumbling a bit in a pair of white high heel sandals, she allowed herself to be led to the door. She was at his mercy and it all seemed like a blur.
Before they got half way there, Heero leaned down and whispered into her ear, "You might as well tell me who you are, because I know that you know who I am, and there is no need for secrets anymore."
She suddenly snapped back into reality as his words hit her like a blow. She spun around, causing her long skirt to twist about her legs. She stumbled in the tangle as she walked toward him. "I'm not here to harm anyone!" she shouted angrily.
Cringing at the sudden outburst the driver turned suddenly. "May you have a pleasant evening," he said as he drove off.
"That was foolish," Heero said as he stuck his hands deep in his pockets.
Lark turned suddenly and glared at him, "What do you mean by that? You think I'm a fool?"
"Lark, come on now, let's enjoy the party and you can tell me everything you know about me," Heero replied as he offered her his arm. _____
Her night had been all but wonderful, but deep down inside she wanted to be here, wanted to tell him all about her, but she could not. She wanted him to trust her, just to remember. This uneasy feeling did not suit her frame.
The other women had retired to the library for a while as Heero conducted a meeting in Lark's honor. The other pilots were settled in their places as Heero stood and looked at Lark. The room became quiet to the point that Lark became nervous. Lark had been raised with a family full of brothers, and had had to learn how to survive. She had gone through many things, now they were spilling all over her, driving her crazy. She was angry with herself for letting a man get to her like this, but she couldn't turn her anger toward him. What's wrong with me! her insides screamed as she looked about the room, avoiding Heero's steady gaze.
Quatre, the third pilot of the Gundam Sandrock, was sitting Indian style on a Persian rug, and had a look of sincere concern on his face. He was the kind one, he had a "space heart". Quatre was the same age as Heero and Duo, and had blonde hair with bright blue eyes. He was wearing a nice pair of casual khaki pants, with a long-sleeved blue dress shirt, and a black ribbon necktie tucked under the collar.
She turned her gaze to Trowa who wasn't that far away. He was lounging against a couple of frilly pillows, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He was wearing a pair of wheat colored denim pants and a light orange long-sleeve sweater. Trowa was the oldest of the Gundam pilots at nineteen and piloted Heavyarms. He had dark green eyes, with dark brown hair, and bangs that covered the right half of his face.
She moved on to Duo, who looked extremely comfortable in the over- stuffed armchair. She knew Duo from school, and had talked to him many times, but Chang was a different matter. He seemed a bit reserved to her, and she wished she had his self-control right about now.
Chang was also seventeen, and piloted the Gundam Altron or "Nataku" as he called it. Chang was wearing all black and sat apart from the others. His hair and eyes were also black, but the color suited his personality very well.
Finally she returned her gaze to Heero, who stood in the middle of the floor, staring avidly at her. His gaze almost stunned her, she turned her face hard and glared at him.
Relena and her brother had failed to attend the party, and now Lark knew why. Lark now knew everything about the Gundams and their pilots, and now they all were about to know what she was here for.
Heero seemed to be enjoying his little "mind game" or so that was what Trowa thought. If he doesn't break the silence soon, I'm gonna say something. He looked over at Quatre who seemed to agree with him and shrugged. They both turned to Duo who frowned and looked over at Heero. He cleared his throat to speak but Heero turned to him suddenly, silencing him before he had even uttered a word.
Heero turned back to Lark, "Go ahead and start at the beginning. How old are you?"
Lark looked up at him in amazement, "The beginning of what? And what does it matter how old I am?" she asked angrily.
"Telling us your age could be a great beginning point," Heero replied calmly, "But you can start wherever you want."
Lark rolled her eyes, "Gee, thanks."
"So," Heero asked, "What exactly are you doing here on Earth?"
"I came here to ask you for your help!" Lark exclaimed suddenly, finally revealing her true purpose.
"Help?" Heero asked, dumbfounded, "Help to do what?"
"I come from the planet Quarrentine. My people are being enslaved and tortured by Emperor Khan. His real name is Kaneurin Kwasi, and he pilots a very powerful mobile suit called Ehrgeiz. He used to be a very revered emperor, everyone loved him, and that was when we started to call him Emperor Khan. Then his brother Taobu built him Ehrgeiz. He suddenly brought a trainer to Quarrentine and learned how to pilot Ehrgeiz, then he got a scientist to build more suits, then one thing led to another. Khan started to recruit young boys to pilot the suits, and his army began to grow. Emperor Khan became a dictator and commanded that everyone pay the Kwasi Tax, which goes to the building of his mobile suits.
"The trouble started with the rebellion against the Emperor. Warriors led a revolt against the palace. Many were killed, and the rest were taken as slaves. Only a few of us got away and right now my people are hiding out in the forests, and Emperor Khan is close to finding their hiding place.
"We heard about you guys and they sent me to find you, and, just, please help my people!" Lark looked at the confused expression of Heero as he sat down on the couch beside her.
Heero stared at her in amazement. Why does that sound so familiar?
Lark was suddenly afraid, "You believe me don't you?!"
The ride had been very interesting to Lark who had never ridden in a limousine before. She fiddled with the controls and rummaged through every compartment, in the end discovering a stash of small cakes, and cold soft drinks. She laughed out loud at the oddness of it, then moved on to play with the stereo buttons.
At last she looked up at Heero to find him sitting back, arms crossed, watching her. She stared at him for a minute, noting his neatly pressed black pants and dark green turtleneck. He was wearing his thick leather jacket, but had added a dark green scarf to it that hung loosely around his neck, tucked under the collar of the jacket. Suddenly he tilted his head sideways and moved his eyes to the window. She followed his gaze to see a very large structure with small illuminated windows. Her mouth dropped open as she moved over to her seat, "Is that the Noventa mansion?" she asked. Heero nodded.
Lark pressed her face against the window as she looked up in amazement at the mansion, staring in awe as the limousine turned down the long drive. She looked over at Heero, who was still watching her.
"Big?" He asked, musing, studying her expression carefully. He noted her features truly for the first time as she turned back to the window. Lark had curled her long hair and had pulled it back into a clip, which allowed it to flow out behind her. Heero noticed the slight reddish highlights in it as the limousine passed under the lights left on for them by Mrs. Noventa. Her hair cascaded beautifully about her face and neck in long light brown curls, framing her with softness and beauty.
She was wearing a sleeveless ankle length pale blue dress that fit her form perfectly, and it seemed a bit odd to Heero that she had not worn a jacket, after all it was snowing outside. He leaned over and looked out the window at the immense structure. "You think so?"
"No, it's not that, it's just that I never thought that Earthlings had these kinds of struct..." Lark stopped suddenly and clamped a hand over her mouth as Heero's eyebrows rose. Oh no! Lark thought, then scolded herself, He doesn't know you anymore, don't trust him!
"You do not classify yourself as an 'Earthling'?" he asked, suddenly very interested in her. I knew it! She's not from Earth, but who is she? It puzzled him, now all of his hypotheses didn't match up. Well, he thought to himself as he smiled at her and sat back, I've got her now!
"No, that's not what I meant! I-I-I-a-I'm from the colonies and-a the houses aren't this big," she stammered, at a loss for words as the driver opened her door. She looked up at him and absently took his hand. Gathering the satin skirt of her pale blue dress Lark got out of the car. She hardly noticed it when the cold hit her bare shoulders, then Heero appeared behind her and placed his own coat around her. Stumbling a bit in a pair of white high heel sandals, she allowed herself to be led to the door. She was at his mercy and it all seemed like a blur.
Before they got half way there, Heero leaned down and whispered into her ear, "You might as well tell me who you are, because I know that you know who I am, and there is no need for secrets anymore."
She suddenly snapped back into reality as his words hit her like a blow. She spun around, causing her long skirt to twist about her legs. She stumbled in the tangle as she walked toward him. "I'm not here to harm anyone!" she shouted angrily.
Cringing at the sudden outburst the driver turned suddenly. "May you have a pleasant evening," he said as he drove off.
"That was foolish," Heero said as he stuck his hands deep in his pockets.
Lark turned suddenly and glared at him, "What do you mean by that? You think I'm a fool?"
"Lark, come on now, let's enjoy the party and you can tell me everything you know about me," Heero replied as he offered her his arm. _____
Her night had been all but wonderful, but deep down inside she wanted to be here, wanted to tell him all about her, but she could not. She wanted him to trust her, just to remember. This uneasy feeling did not suit her frame.
The other women had retired to the library for a while as Heero conducted a meeting in Lark's honor. The other pilots were settled in their places as Heero stood and looked at Lark. The room became quiet to the point that Lark became nervous. Lark had been raised with a family full of brothers, and had had to learn how to survive. She had gone through many things, now they were spilling all over her, driving her crazy. She was angry with herself for letting a man get to her like this, but she couldn't turn her anger toward him. What's wrong with me! her insides screamed as she looked about the room, avoiding Heero's steady gaze.
Quatre, the third pilot of the Gundam Sandrock, was sitting Indian style on a Persian rug, and had a look of sincere concern on his face. He was the kind one, he had a "space heart". Quatre was the same age as Heero and Duo, and had blonde hair with bright blue eyes. He was wearing a nice pair of casual khaki pants, with a long-sleeved blue dress shirt, and a black ribbon necktie tucked under the collar.
She turned her gaze to Trowa who wasn't that far away. He was lounging against a couple of frilly pillows, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He was wearing a pair of wheat colored denim pants and a light orange long-sleeve sweater. Trowa was the oldest of the Gundam pilots at nineteen and piloted Heavyarms. He had dark green eyes, with dark brown hair, and bangs that covered the right half of his face.
She moved on to Duo, who looked extremely comfortable in the over- stuffed armchair. She knew Duo from school, and had talked to him many times, but Chang was a different matter. He seemed a bit reserved to her, and she wished she had his self-control right about now.
Chang was also seventeen, and piloted the Gundam Altron or "Nataku" as he called it. Chang was wearing all black and sat apart from the others. His hair and eyes were also black, but the color suited his personality very well.
Finally she returned her gaze to Heero, who stood in the middle of the floor, staring avidly at her. His gaze almost stunned her, she turned her face hard and glared at him.
Relena and her brother had failed to attend the party, and now Lark knew why. Lark now knew everything about the Gundams and their pilots, and now they all were about to know what she was here for.
Heero seemed to be enjoying his little "mind game" or so that was what Trowa thought. If he doesn't break the silence soon, I'm gonna say something. He looked over at Quatre who seemed to agree with him and shrugged. They both turned to Duo who frowned and looked over at Heero. He cleared his throat to speak but Heero turned to him suddenly, silencing him before he had even uttered a word.
Heero turned back to Lark, "Go ahead and start at the beginning. How old are you?"
Lark looked up at him in amazement, "The beginning of what? And what does it matter how old I am?" she asked angrily.
"Telling us your age could be a great beginning point," Heero replied calmly, "But you can start wherever you want."
Lark rolled her eyes, "Gee, thanks."
"So," Heero asked, "What exactly are you doing here on Earth?"
"I came here to ask you for your help!" Lark exclaimed suddenly, finally revealing her true purpose.
"Help?" Heero asked, dumbfounded, "Help to do what?"
"I come from the planet Quarrentine. My people are being enslaved and tortured by Emperor Khan. His real name is Kaneurin Kwasi, and he pilots a very powerful mobile suit called Ehrgeiz. He used to be a very revered emperor, everyone loved him, and that was when we started to call him Emperor Khan. Then his brother Taobu built him Ehrgeiz. He suddenly brought a trainer to Quarrentine and learned how to pilot Ehrgeiz, then he got a scientist to build more suits, then one thing led to another. Khan started to recruit young boys to pilot the suits, and his army began to grow. Emperor Khan became a dictator and commanded that everyone pay the Kwasi Tax, which goes to the building of his mobile suits.
"The trouble started with the rebellion against the Emperor. Warriors led a revolt against the palace. Many were killed, and the rest were taken as slaves. Only a few of us got away and right now my people are hiding out in the forests, and Emperor Khan is close to finding their hiding place.
"We heard about you guys and they sent me to find you, and, just, please help my people!" Lark looked at the confused expression of Heero as he sat down on the couch beside her.
Heero stared at her in amazement. Why does that sound so familiar?
Lark was suddenly afraid, "You believe me don't you?!"