Astra: Yet another chapter! And to all of our reviewers: Thank You! Very Much! And Rocky, no, we DON'T know why we put people's lives in Dorothy's hands…~.0…too much sugar, perhaps?
Shizuko: But we ALWAYS have too much sugar…
Astra: True…true…
Chapter Four
"Let's arrive and say 'You're going to die soon. Have a nice day.' That's what all the other commanders have taken it as."
Trowa gave a half-smile at Relena's comment. After uncountable miles of territory covered and multiple compounds warned, they hadn't received very many warm welcomes. With High Straits compound in view, Relena wasn't looking forward to another bitter greeting. Even once informed, few of the commanders seemed to do anything else, or even send out more riders to aid Trowa and Relena. Hopefully, the other foursomes had been luckier.
*
"…and she was constantly unconscious! I mean, there's absolutely no entertainment in that! No conversation, no listener…"
Quatre gritted his teeth. I wish you were unconscious…wait, no, I'm a medic! I'm supposed to be helping people… What is he doing to me??!!
"…and she has purple hair! Who has purple hair!? It's not even long!! I mean…"
"Mm-hm…" Quatre gazed off at the clouds on the horizon. That one looked strangely like a bunny rabbit…
"…and she threatened me with a dagger when I was just trying to save her life! Can't a man get a little appreciation, let alone a little sleep without endangering his poor, sweet, angelic lif…"
Quatre had long since tuned out Duo. In fact, his eyelids were starting to feel seriously heavy…
"…AND…"
KERPLUNK! Quatre had fallen asleep. He had also fallen off his horse. Duo, however, kept going, completely oblivious.
"…and she's mean!! She stuck her tongue out at me after I hauled her all the way to Crest Falls. I dunno…maybe all girls are like that. And her horse bit me! And…and…she's stubborn! She makes Heero look…like…well, no…Heero's always stubborn. But she was really, really stubborn! And…and she said I talked too much! Can you believe that? Me?? Angelic me???? Talk too much?????? The nerve! Ah well… hey, Quatre, you never told me. What's the name of your horse? Quatre? Quatre?"
*
Commander Une stood alone in her office, leaning slightly on the desk. He head was bowed and she was shivering despite the roaring fire in the grate. Her long brown hair hung down her back and shoulders, rippling slightly as though in a breeze. "Not again…what's happening?" A dark glow appeared around her, growing stronger and stronger. Suddenly, the person standing there was no longer the wise Lady Une everyone knew. Her hair was pulled back and glasses framed her face. Through them she could see what others could not. The room was filled with others, grim looking warriors with deadly weapons. Outside her window, a flock of large dragons waited silently. She smirked, surveying the army she had been given. "There are enough of you now. We must seize control of this compound. Once we have destroyed all of the bases of communication, conquering this nation will be child's play. Soldiers, make yourselves completely visible and imprison everyone here." The warriors saluted and turned towards the door. "Oh, and I must congratulate you all on the excellent job you did at the Southern Range."
*
Hilde awoke to loud footsteps tramping down the hall outside. She groaned and rolled over. What time was it? Dorothy, who had been putting a few more bottles on the shelves apparently felt the same way. She strode to the door and flung it open. "Quiet down!" she hissed. "I have a patient—" She broke off abruptly.
Two forbidding armed men in unusual armor confronted. Behind them, a few more roughly herded away a group of bound Flyers. "Move," one of the men ordered, trying to get past her.
Surprised but hardly in shock, Dorothy whacked his hand with a wooden spoon. "No you don't. My patient needs her rest."
"Our orders were to take everyone," came the stern reply.
"Everyone?" Dorothy paled slightly in the torchlight. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you." The two men drew their swords. "Now will you move?"
Dorothy did not answer, but her eyes had taken on a cold, vicious light. Before she could do anything, though, the soldier's blade flashed swiftly and silently. She reeled back, clutching her shoulder. He had lashed out with the flat of the sword. In another instant, his partner had overpowered her and tied her hands. "Search the room for the other." He glanced at the bed, but it was empty. Hilde was gone.
*
"…so you all should be on the highest level of alert. We don't know what has happened, but no one should take any risks," finished Relena for the seventh time. She had practically memorized her little warning speech.
"We also have a team at Crest Falls investigating a suspicious note from there," added Trowa. The Riders and Flyers that had been listening nodded politely and dispersed, each to their own place on guard. One girl remained. She looked young and had pale blond hair.
Slowly, she approached Trowa and Relena. "Did you say…Crest Falls?"
Trowa nodded.
"Do you, by any chance, know if there's trouble there?"
"I'm sorry, I can't say," answered Relena kindly. "We hope there isn't."
Tears filled the girl's eyes. "You have to tell me!"
Trowa gently placed a hand on her shoulders. "Last anyone heard, it was just fine. I don't know anything else. I'll make sure you find out if there's any more news."
She gave him a soft smile despite the worry filling her eyes. "Thank you. The commander there is my mother's sister, Lady Une. I'm Midii Une." Then, she turned away and vanished into the shadows.
*
Relena slowly opened her eyes. She and Trowa had taken the time to get a full nights rest at their latest stop, the one where they had met Midii. The bed was warm, and she did not want to get up.
Suddenly, a warning horn broke the silence. Relena leaped out of bed, simultaneously pulling her dagger out from underneath the mattress. She was half dressed, last night all she had managed was to pull off her over shirt and boots.
As she looked outside she heard another blast. Other Riders and Flyers were outside. Some grasping weapons like she was. She saw Trowa standing outside of the men's barracks, an unsheathed dirk in his hands. It surprised her a little, Riders and Flyers generally didn't get much bigger than daggers. Everything else could get too heavy. She also happened to notice Midii, armed with a longbow and quiver of arrows.
And then the attack began.
The sky darkened, like it would before a cloudburst, except it happened too fast to be of natural causes. But this darkness wasn't caused by clouds. It was…
Astra: Ooooo…the suspense! Or is it just a case of the authors not knowing what IT is?
Shizuko: We aren't telling!
Both: Mwahahahahaha!