Chapter Fifty-one: San
A/N: This is just a friendly reminder that school has started and therefore Anna-chan and I are moving much slower than usual on this and any other writing projects we may have. Gomen nasai!! If we had our way, all our classes would be our writings I'm sure (and my art!!)
The sound of bullets being fired and shattering glass was heard from down the hallway and the Yuys picked up their speed.
Chase disappeared around to the right as Heero darted to the left, both going down separate hallways that led to the room where the scream had come from. The petite, emerald eyed pilot pulled her castor from the bag she had picked up on the way out and loaded it, silently reminding herself that she would need to make her stops by Gene Starwind's world soon to restock.
She heard Heero growl something in frustration and then something thumping into the wall, most likely his fist, and most likely a sign that things were not going their way.
Zechs stood back, eyes narrowed, and hand clutching his bleeding shoulder. Heero was leaning back against the wall, lightly holding his hand against the reopened bullet wound.
The image of what must have happened played in Chase's mind: Zechs had been in there with her and men had rushed in. Many men from the looks of the overturned furniture and the two wounded soldiers. They had shot through the glass and – she looked up – the skylight above. That had been the shattering glass she had heard that had followed the bullets.
"Daijoubu ka, boyos?" she asked as she stepped in, avoiding the glass with grace.
Heero grunted his answer and stepped toward the window leading to the back of the house. His dark eyes scanned the night and found nothing.
"They are long gone," Zechs said quietly.
Chase shrugged.
The bleached blond haired man glared slightly. "I know you do not think highly of my sister, Chase, but that is no reason to simply allow her to be captured. That is not at all what the Chase Yuy that left here ten years ago would have done."
The emerald-eyed woman smirked. "Ah, but the girl from ten years ago has learned so much more." She produced a small device. "This will track her anywhere on the planet."
"Odin?"
"Of course. I haven't been entirely out of the loop these past ten years," she answered with a shrug. "Odin's kept me up on many a thing."
Zechs smirked. "Let's dress our wounds quickly, and then I can pull some strings to get what we need."
"Done," a voice said from outside the room. Quatre Winner walked into the large area. A wide grin spread across his features. "We pick them up as soon as we can get there."
Heero cocked an eyebrow. "Pick what up?"
"The Gundams," Quatre responded. "There's no need to rebuild what is there. The Wing Zero and the Sandrock are in the museum along with Tallgeese."
"How odd," Chase murmured. "Too bad the Galaxy isn't there."
"In time, Chase," Quatre responded.
"Time is not on our side, tamadachi."
"And until that time, I would like to make a request of you."
"Name it, Quat."
"Pilot the Sandrock."
Chase's emerald eyes widened. "Atashi?" she managed. She had never piloted the Sandrock in her life. She wasn't even sure she was qualified to fly a Gundam any more.
Quatre smiled. "Chase, I never wanted any thing more than peace in our world and every other one now that we know they exist. I fear I have been away from Gundam battles too long and my heart is too soft. Softer than before, if possible. Chase-chan, you can pilot anything you wish. I want you to pilot the Sandrock."
"What about you?"
"I'll be the technical support from the ground."
"The strategist," Heero whispered.
"In Trowa's place," his wife added quietly, almost to herself.
Quatre forced a smile. "Yes." He took a deep breath. "Someone must be the ground support, and I believe I am the best one to fit that role at the current moment. I may or may not join you all when all the Gundams are rebuilt, but that is a ways away."
Chase nodded. "Then let's get you boys fixed up and go find the Queen of the World," she said with a grin.
The controls of the Sandrock felt odd under her fingers. She felt the Zero System jump into life for the first time in ten years and it sent chills up her spine. Chills that she could not control.
Flashes of visions littered her mind's eye. Glass. Mirrors reflecting the fragility of the situation. Trowa. The glass around him shattering into tiny shards and leaving her to wonder what the System was telling her.
The visions faded as quickly as they had come and she realized that she was moving forward, feeling slightly awkward at the controls of a strange Gundam.
An image flickered onto the screen and Heero's dark blue eyes stared into her emerald ones. "Ready?"
Chase grinned. "I've been wanting to do this for ten years!" she responded. "Let's go!"
Flames leapt up in the wake of the three Gundams. Chase Yuy opened up the door to the Sandrock and stepped out, careful not to inhale the smoke as she jumped to the ground.
She moved stealthily through the rubble and found what she was looking for. "Step away from her, boyo," the small pilot said quietly as she pressed the muzzle of the gun against a soldier's back.
He turned, surprised. "Gundam…"
Chase smirked and shrugged. "Go ahead. Say it. I've missed it."
She shoved him away from them, taking a firm hold of the former Queen of the World's wrist. The soldier fell backwards. "Sound the alarms!" he called to the people. "Gundam pilots on the ground!"
"It's a Gundam," Chase said mockingly. "Never thought people could really state things that obvious until I joined that war."
"You came for me? Where's Heero?" Relena asked, eyes wide.
"Fighting. Come on. I got stuck rescuing you. They must not care that much whether or not you come out alive."
"You wouldn't just leave me here for them to kill me, would you?"
"Don't give me any ideas," Chase said as she grabbed the elder woman's wrist. "Ikou za!"
