Chapter 5:
For the first time since the start of Christmas vacation, Lark had time to actually think. Christmas was only eight days away and time was running out. It would take her at least five days to complete the Gundams' upgrades, and if she had help, she would be able to cut that time down to two and a half days. The systems in her ship made faster progress than that of regular systems, and for that fact, Lark was grateful. But, she would still have her work cut out for her.
Lark suddenly grew sad at the thought of being far from home and in a war with Christmas coming. Why? Why now, why my family? she thought to herself.
Focusing on her reflection she thought about her brother Armand. She had not even said one word about him yet, and planned to keep the fact that she had any brothers at all a secret, until Heero remembered and started asking questions. She frowned at herself, he would remember soon enough.
Putting her thoughts back to her plan to destroy Emperor Khan, Lark became determined to stop him so that her family could have a regular Christmas. _____
It took less than two hours to get from Howard's to the little island. Slowing the large carrier as she came closer to the mainland, Lark shut everything down. As the ship glided slowly across the water, Lark threw on her jacket and hurried out onto deck. The anchor had to be deployed, or the carrier would float slowly toward the mainland and get stuck in the shallow waters. Trowa and Duo were at the side of the ship, attaching the anchor to the chain. They hooked it all together as Lark took over the controls.
As they deployed the anchor, Heero headed over to the Gundams and started untying the ropes. In less than five minutes, the other pilots joined him and took over their own Gundams.
Heero looked up to notice that Lark was not there, he frowned at himself for worrying. She had obviously gone to let the animals out and would meet them on the beach like she said she would.
Duo was helping Trowa untie Heavyarms when he asked, "Duo, how old do you think she is?"
"Lark?" Duo asked. "Oh I don't know, she's our age though."
"Hm," Trowa mused. _____
Lark had untied the speedboat from the side of the carrier and was racing across the water at full speed. She would have enjoyed it even more if it had been summer, the waves a little calmer, and there was no pelting rain, but it was still a rush.
Underneath the tarp---that Quatre had obviously hooked up for her--- Dinah lifted her head and looked back at the carrier, giving out a low growl.
Lark looked down and laughed, "Don't worry, he's coming."
She pulled the little boat halfway up on the land, and got out. Tucking Tula against her body, she pulled her long raincoat around her, and ran down the beach a little ways with Dinah and Keely following her.
Lark looked back at the carrier. Heavyarms and Deathscythe were headed toward the island. A few minutes later, Zero, Sandrock, and Nataku followed.
Shielding herself against the extra wind caused by the Gundams, Lark moved toward the tree line as huge waves crashed up the beach and soaked her from head to toe. She used Dinah and Keely as a shield as they stood in front of her, watching, waiting for Trowa.
The trees above her swayed violently as a scene from her past blurred her vision. She saw the forests of her home planet, the Emperor's carriers flying low overhead, and branches cracking, falling all around her. Lark ducked her head and ran, trying to escape, but....
Snapping back into reality, Lark looked up to see all five Gundams on the beach, and their pilots climbing down. She stood as Keely and Dinah took off to meet Trowa.
When Trowa's feet touched the ground, Dinah and Keely tackled him.
"What a welcoming committee," Duo laughed as he came to Trowa's aid.
Trowa looked up, "Where's Lark?" Running through the rain, Lark waved one arm as she held on to Tula with the other, "Hey!"
Duo turned toward her and tilted his head, "Does that answer your question?"
Trowa rolled his eyes as Keely and Dinah ran out to meet her, then he turned back to Duo.
Helping Trowa to his feet Duo suggested, "Let's go join the others."
The five pilots were gathered under Wing Zero when Lark got there.
"Man this weather is horrible!" Chang said as he tucked his coat tighter around him.
"Tell me about it," Quatre replied, "I'd rather be in the desert than here."
"Well at least you're dry and not soaked to the bone!" Lark exclaimed. Opening her jacket, she said, "Poor Tula got a salt water bath."
Trowa reached out and took the eagle in his arms. Pressing her against his chest, he took his own coat off and wrapped it around her.
Lark smiled to herself as she turned to Quatre, "Thanks for the tarp, it helped till I got to the beach, but at least you tried." She turned to Heero, "Well, I can't possibly take on anymore water, so I guess I'll go ahead and run to the ship.
Frowning, Heero removed his jacket and held it out to her, "Here."
"I don't need it, you keep it," she replied.
"It's just like you, to refuse something when your health is on the line," Heero said as he smiled, "Armand was right, you haven't changed one bit."
"W-What? You remember?" Lark asked in disbelief. Suddenly she became angry, "How long?"
"Ooh, mood swings and everything."
"How long?!" Lark almost screamed as the other pilots watched, dumbfounded.
"Last night, I wasn't sure about you until I did a little thinking. Something triggered my memory, and I remembered everything, and that's when I called Armand. Man, we must have talked for at least an hour."
Lark frowned suddenly as Heero's smile grew large and he looked over at Trowa, "Don't you dare! I know what you're scheming, and I'll never forgive you for it!"
"Is that a promise?"
"Heero!" Lark exclaimed, "This was great when we were kids, but let's face it we're seventeen, it's time to grow up."
"I'm sorry Moby," Heero replied as Lark cut him off.
"You had to remember that too?"
Heero held up his hands in defense, "I'm sorry, it slipped out."
"Moby?" Duo asked, interested.
Lark glared at him, silencing him. Turning back to Heero she asked, "So Armand told you about Octavian, I wouldn't be surprised. Did he sound pleased or disgusted?"
"Well, to my knowledge, he despises the guy."
"Well that's good news, now I'll actually get some sleep tonight," Lark said as she started away, "Armand also told you that I can't stand the guy right?"
"Yeah, he made that quite clear," Heero replied as she turned to look at him. Smiling at her, he said, "Your secret is safe with me, just like the old days huh?"
Lark smiled, "Yeah, just like the old days." _____
When Lark had gone, Trowa bugged Heero, "Who's Octavian?"
"I can't tell you right now," Heero replied, "She'll tell you when she's ready.
Trowa frowned, "Why do I get the feeling that Octavian is her fiancé?"
Heero looked at him, "How'd you know?"
"Lucky guess?"
"Well you guessed right," Heero replied, "But I know Lark, there's no way she's gonna marry him."
"And why not?" Trowa asked.
"Because I also know Octavian, and I know what a jerk he is."
Trowa looked down at Tula as she nudged up against his chest, "So where would I stand with a girl like her?"
Heero smirked, "Win her heart, then her brothers' respect, and you'll be ok."
Trowa looked over at Duo who'd been listening in.
"She likes you, don't worry so much," Duo told him. _____
The sight of Lark's spaceship had awed them all more than Nishada had. The ship almost matched Nishada in looks, and did not compare even at first sight to the space ships built on Earth.
Nishada was twice as large as the other Gundams, was gold and silver in color, and had large white wings. The weapons were well hid and the style of Nishada made it look extremely fast.
Armand had sent Heero a picture of Nishada, but he still gasped when he saw it. _____
When they boarded the ship, Lark had entered the pilot's names, codes, the Gundam's names and their codes into the computer before they had entered the hangar.
Showing them up to the habitation module, she gave them access to a shower and a change of clothes.
"I'll be back with your free roam passes in a few minutes," she said as she left the room.
"Wow," Trowa said as he sat back on an overstuffed sofa, "This place is like a space station."
"It once was," Heero replied, "Lark's parents bought it after the military abandoned it. They started fixing it up, but I guess I left before they ever finished it."
"I was wondering," Quatre said, "Are we gonna stay here or go to our homes tonight?"
"We should go home, tomorrow will be a long day, and there's no way Lark will be ready to start working tonight. If I'm not mistaken, Lark still has Heritage and we could fly back to Howard's."
"I didn't expect you to remember everything so fast." Heero turned as Lark entered the room, "But you're correct, I still have her."
"Lark!" Trowa exclaimed in a worried manner as he stood and walked over to her, "You need to go take a nice hot shower and put some dry clothes on."
Lark smiled as she handed him the cards, "Ok, I'll meet you guys back here in an hour."
For the first time since the start of Christmas vacation, Lark had time to actually think. Christmas was only eight days away and time was running out. It would take her at least five days to complete the Gundams' upgrades, and if she had help, she would be able to cut that time down to two and a half days. The systems in her ship made faster progress than that of regular systems, and for that fact, Lark was grateful. But, she would still have her work cut out for her.
Lark suddenly grew sad at the thought of being far from home and in a war with Christmas coming. Why? Why now, why my family? she thought to herself.
Focusing on her reflection she thought about her brother Armand. She had not even said one word about him yet, and planned to keep the fact that she had any brothers at all a secret, until Heero remembered and started asking questions. She frowned at herself, he would remember soon enough.
Putting her thoughts back to her plan to destroy Emperor Khan, Lark became determined to stop him so that her family could have a regular Christmas. _____
It took less than two hours to get from Howard's to the little island. Slowing the large carrier as she came closer to the mainland, Lark shut everything down. As the ship glided slowly across the water, Lark threw on her jacket and hurried out onto deck. The anchor had to be deployed, or the carrier would float slowly toward the mainland and get stuck in the shallow waters. Trowa and Duo were at the side of the ship, attaching the anchor to the chain. They hooked it all together as Lark took over the controls.
As they deployed the anchor, Heero headed over to the Gundams and started untying the ropes. In less than five minutes, the other pilots joined him and took over their own Gundams.
Heero looked up to notice that Lark was not there, he frowned at himself for worrying. She had obviously gone to let the animals out and would meet them on the beach like she said she would.
Duo was helping Trowa untie Heavyarms when he asked, "Duo, how old do you think she is?"
"Lark?" Duo asked. "Oh I don't know, she's our age though."
"Hm," Trowa mused. _____
Lark had untied the speedboat from the side of the carrier and was racing across the water at full speed. She would have enjoyed it even more if it had been summer, the waves a little calmer, and there was no pelting rain, but it was still a rush.
Underneath the tarp---that Quatre had obviously hooked up for her--- Dinah lifted her head and looked back at the carrier, giving out a low growl.
Lark looked down and laughed, "Don't worry, he's coming."
She pulled the little boat halfway up on the land, and got out. Tucking Tula against her body, she pulled her long raincoat around her, and ran down the beach a little ways with Dinah and Keely following her.
Lark looked back at the carrier. Heavyarms and Deathscythe were headed toward the island. A few minutes later, Zero, Sandrock, and Nataku followed.
Shielding herself against the extra wind caused by the Gundams, Lark moved toward the tree line as huge waves crashed up the beach and soaked her from head to toe. She used Dinah and Keely as a shield as they stood in front of her, watching, waiting for Trowa.
The trees above her swayed violently as a scene from her past blurred her vision. She saw the forests of her home planet, the Emperor's carriers flying low overhead, and branches cracking, falling all around her. Lark ducked her head and ran, trying to escape, but....
Snapping back into reality, Lark looked up to see all five Gundams on the beach, and their pilots climbing down. She stood as Keely and Dinah took off to meet Trowa.
When Trowa's feet touched the ground, Dinah and Keely tackled him.
"What a welcoming committee," Duo laughed as he came to Trowa's aid.
Trowa looked up, "Where's Lark?" Running through the rain, Lark waved one arm as she held on to Tula with the other, "Hey!"
Duo turned toward her and tilted his head, "Does that answer your question?"
Trowa rolled his eyes as Keely and Dinah ran out to meet her, then he turned back to Duo.
Helping Trowa to his feet Duo suggested, "Let's go join the others."
The five pilots were gathered under Wing Zero when Lark got there.
"Man this weather is horrible!" Chang said as he tucked his coat tighter around him.
"Tell me about it," Quatre replied, "I'd rather be in the desert than here."
"Well at least you're dry and not soaked to the bone!" Lark exclaimed. Opening her jacket, she said, "Poor Tula got a salt water bath."
Trowa reached out and took the eagle in his arms. Pressing her against his chest, he took his own coat off and wrapped it around her.
Lark smiled to herself as she turned to Quatre, "Thanks for the tarp, it helped till I got to the beach, but at least you tried." She turned to Heero, "Well, I can't possibly take on anymore water, so I guess I'll go ahead and run to the ship.
Frowning, Heero removed his jacket and held it out to her, "Here."
"I don't need it, you keep it," she replied.
"It's just like you, to refuse something when your health is on the line," Heero said as he smiled, "Armand was right, you haven't changed one bit."
"W-What? You remember?" Lark asked in disbelief. Suddenly she became angry, "How long?"
"Ooh, mood swings and everything."
"How long?!" Lark almost screamed as the other pilots watched, dumbfounded.
"Last night, I wasn't sure about you until I did a little thinking. Something triggered my memory, and I remembered everything, and that's when I called Armand. Man, we must have talked for at least an hour."
Lark frowned suddenly as Heero's smile grew large and he looked over at Trowa, "Don't you dare! I know what you're scheming, and I'll never forgive you for it!"
"Is that a promise?"
"Heero!" Lark exclaimed, "This was great when we were kids, but let's face it we're seventeen, it's time to grow up."
"I'm sorry Moby," Heero replied as Lark cut him off.
"You had to remember that too?"
Heero held up his hands in defense, "I'm sorry, it slipped out."
"Moby?" Duo asked, interested.
Lark glared at him, silencing him. Turning back to Heero she asked, "So Armand told you about Octavian, I wouldn't be surprised. Did he sound pleased or disgusted?"
"Well, to my knowledge, he despises the guy."
"Well that's good news, now I'll actually get some sleep tonight," Lark said as she started away, "Armand also told you that I can't stand the guy right?"
"Yeah, he made that quite clear," Heero replied as she turned to look at him. Smiling at her, he said, "Your secret is safe with me, just like the old days huh?"
Lark smiled, "Yeah, just like the old days." _____
When Lark had gone, Trowa bugged Heero, "Who's Octavian?"
"I can't tell you right now," Heero replied, "She'll tell you when she's ready.
Trowa frowned, "Why do I get the feeling that Octavian is her fiancé?"
Heero looked at him, "How'd you know?"
"Lucky guess?"
"Well you guessed right," Heero replied, "But I know Lark, there's no way she's gonna marry him."
"And why not?" Trowa asked.
"Because I also know Octavian, and I know what a jerk he is."
Trowa looked down at Tula as she nudged up against his chest, "So where would I stand with a girl like her?"
Heero smirked, "Win her heart, then her brothers' respect, and you'll be ok."
Trowa looked over at Duo who'd been listening in.
"She likes you, don't worry so much," Duo told him. _____
The sight of Lark's spaceship had awed them all more than Nishada had. The ship almost matched Nishada in looks, and did not compare even at first sight to the space ships built on Earth.
Nishada was twice as large as the other Gundams, was gold and silver in color, and had large white wings. The weapons were well hid and the style of Nishada made it look extremely fast.
Armand had sent Heero a picture of Nishada, but he still gasped when he saw it. _____
When they boarded the ship, Lark had entered the pilot's names, codes, the Gundam's names and their codes into the computer before they had entered the hangar.
Showing them up to the habitation module, she gave them access to a shower and a change of clothes.
"I'll be back with your free roam passes in a few minutes," she said as she left the room.
"Wow," Trowa said as he sat back on an overstuffed sofa, "This place is like a space station."
"It once was," Heero replied, "Lark's parents bought it after the military abandoned it. They started fixing it up, but I guess I left before they ever finished it."
"I was wondering," Quatre said, "Are we gonna stay here or go to our homes tonight?"
"We should go home, tomorrow will be a long day, and there's no way Lark will be ready to start working tonight. If I'm not mistaken, Lark still has Heritage and we could fly back to Howard's."
"I didn't expect you to remember everything so fast." Heero turned as Lark entered the room, "But you're correct, I still have her."
"Lark!" Trowa exclaimed in a worried manner as he stood and walked over to her, "You need to go take a nice hot shower and put some dry clothes on."
Lark smiled as she handed him the cards, "Ok, I'll meet you guys back here in an hour."