Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, or Gundam Wing, but I do own Tre and Pyrone.
Chapter 24 - Engage
The palace was bustling with activity as preparations were being made for a grand engagement party that was happening that night. The servants were always on their feet, never a moment of rest. The king and princess were being fitted for their outfits that they were wearing that night and Shawn was also getting his Wing Commander uniform spiffy and buttons shiny. He spared no commodity in making sure that his uniform looked top notch for that night. It started out a happy day for the British, but would soon turn very ugly.
"Arsenic?" Duo asked.
"Check," Quatre answered.
"Cyanide?"
"Check."
"And, for Plan B," Duo started. "Uzi's for all people?"
"Check, and 9mm pistols for extra precaution," Quatre added.
"Alright, Q-man," Duo clapped the Arabian on the back. "You're just as prepared as I remember."
"It's just being prepared for anything, Duo," Quatre blushed.
"Nah, it's keeping your ass alive," Pyrone walked in. "How we doing?"
"We have all the poisons ready," Duo ticked off his fingers. "We have the dresses and tuxes, the guns, the battle plan, and the back-up plan."
"Excellent, Tre is just now getting ready," Pyrone stifled a laugh. "You should see him."
"Why?" Quatre asked.
"Because he looks so gay!" Pyrone laughed.
Just then, Tre entered the room in a tight waiters outfit with a thin mustache and a toupee covering his dreadlocks. Tre looked pissed and uncomfortable with tight black slacks, a white dress shirt, a red vest, and a red bow tie. Pyrone was beside himself with laughter, and Quatre was fighting to keep his face straight. Duo, however, was unable to control his laughter and was just short of rolling on the floor. That was it for Quatre, who could no longer contain it. Tre put an extremely pissed look on his face and said,
"You guyths are tho mean!"
"He even talks gay!" Duo pointed out, still laughing. "I think I'm going to piss my pants!"
"Tre, how can you do this to yourself?" Quatre asked sarcastically.
"Oh, I don't know," Tre said. "It comths with being gay, I gueth! Tah!"
He strutted out of the room, and then took the clothes off immediately. He was so constricted and he couldn't breathe in that outfit. Why did he have to be the waiter? Why couldn't he have duties in the Gundam? That really made him pissed. He was standing almost near naked in the living room, but he was still wearing his black boxers. He was thankful for that much, at least. Then, he had an idea. He could easily transform into the waiter outfit from the regular garb he usually wore if he could somehow make the toupee into a sort of transform tool. He concentrated on calling for Queen Serenity and asked for her assistance on this matter. She told him what to do, and he performed the task.
He tried on the toupee and he was suddenly feeling like he was suffocating. Yep, it worked! He ripped the toupee off, and all the sudden he was back in his boxers. He dressed like he normally did, asked Duo for his pair of Uzis, the shotgun, and his pistols. Tre stuffed each gun in its regular place on his person, and then he put the toupee on. He was suffocating again, and then took it off. The guns were still there, and he didn't even feel them when in 'waiter mode' and that was important.
As for the girls, each was deciding what they would wear to the party. Tre's sisters had surrendered their entire wardrobes to the Scouts, and even the dresses that had been bought were not enough choices. Funny how girls never seem to know what to wear.
"I want to wear this green slip," Lita said. "But, then again, this emerald gown just seems too lovely."
"Lita, anything just looks too lovely," Serena said. "I'll go with this silver evening gown."
"I'm not so sure I want to go anymore," Mina said. "Why not?" Amy asked, holding a dress in front of her own self, looking in a mirror. "You haven't had a reservation about going to a party before."
"We'll be right there with you, Mina," Raye reassured. "You won't have to worry about a thing," Michelle said. "I'll be watching from the stage and you'll be fine."
"The British have invited almost half the galaxy, so you wouldn't be picked out as Tre's 'surviving widow' unless spoken to," Trista said.
Mina started to feel better about her part of the plan. She was supposed to go to the party as Tre's widow and start the commotion if the poison didn't work, taking the fall for it. That's when Plan B would begin and Hell would break loose.
"I can't believe I'm not able to fit in this," Crystal whined. "Why'd I have to get pregnant?"
"Because you got too dick happy, sis," Julia laughed.
"What's it like?" Mina asked. "Being pregnant?"
"It's a pain, honey," Crystal said. "I love kids, but at this expense?"
"Oh, come on," Mika said. "It can't be THAT bad."
"OK, let's see how you feel after lugging an extra eighty pounds around after nine months!" Crystal yelled.
"But you're only six months through," Ashley said. "I still feel like a whale," Crystal moaned.
"Then do us all a favor," Julia said, "and beach yourself."
The rest of the bunch laughed aloud, Crystal gunning for her sister. Luckily, most of the girls held Crystal back from Julia. Julia was in fits with laughter at how good her joke was. Suddenly, the entire menagerie was summoned by a distraction.
"Ladies, over here for a sec," a voice called from the door.
The girls, all in their underwear (except Mina), turned to the voice. There was Duo, camera in hand at the doorway, which he used to snap a picture and bolt. The girls were infuriated! They chased Duo out of their room and most the way into the hallway before they realized what they were doing. Grumbling, they retreated to the room once more.
"So, you're the guy my sister fell in love with?" Tre asked an Air Force officer that just arrived at the house.
"Yes, sir," the officer smiled. "I am he; Captain Jeffrey Gray."
"Nice to meet ya," Tre shook his hand. "Gundam pilot Tre Young; break my sister's heart, and you've just signed your funeral notice."
Capt. Gray's eyes bulged in horror. Tre smirked, then laughed, slapping the brother-in-law-to-be on the shoulder. Gray just stood there, unsure of what to do.
"I'm just kidding, pal," Tre laughed. "Look, I'm not threatening ya-yet."
"Roger that, sir," Gray said respectfully.
"Are you a Neo Falcon pilot, Jeff?" Tre asked.
"Yes sir," Gray said proudly. "1st Battalion's second-in-command. I'm under a major with absolutely no sense in combat."
"That sucks," Tre said.
"You have no idea, sir," Gray said. "I could fly ten times better than him and still not break a sweat! It's so unfair to have to serve underneath someone so incompetent."
"Well, how long ago did you receive your captain's tracks?" Tre asked.
"Two years ago, sir," Gray said. "And I've been passed for promotion due to my lackey 'superior'; I think he knows that if I were to pass him in the ranks that it would be over for him."
Tre thought over this for a minute, then, "When you first came under your first superior (never mind this asshole you're under now), did you obey orders well?" "Yes sir!" Gray said. "I was always by the book and I never disobeyed an order. In fact, I followed them so well that I was promoted early."
"If you do something for me, then I'll see to it personally that your service record gets looked over thoroughly and evaluated by a real professional," Tre said. "Then, you'll be guaranteed promotion and that major will go down in flames - literally."
Gray looked at him for a moment, just to be sure he wasn't joking; he wasn't. Gray nodded, confirming this to Tre. Tre said,
"Good. Here's what I want you to do."
After hours of preparation and briefings, the group was ready to go into action. At the very last minute, a messenger showed up with an invitation to the engagement party for anyone surviving Tre Young, including family and any significant others. Tre knew all along that this would happen, reason behind his telling his siblings and parents to dress for the party. But at the last minute, he told Mina to change into an outfit he brought out and even changed her role in the back-up plan. Finally, he gave everyone a last briefing before they loaded up to go to the party.
"This is for real, everyone," Tre said with utmost urgency.
"Tre, you do your part and we'll do ours," Pyrone said, creaking the leather of his fingerless gloves by flexing his fist.
"You just make sure that you, Heero, Wufei, and Trowa are accurate."
"Like I said," Pyrone smirked.
"I feel ya," Tre said. "Everyone ready?"
The reply was unanimous from the large group. Tre opened the door for them and two limos were waiting outside for them all. Tre accounted for everyone: Mom, Dad, Anthony and his wife, Jason, Derrick, Ashley, Mika, Crystal and Tom, Duo and Lita, Quatre and Amy, Michelle, Trista, Raye, Serena...where was Julia? Tre looked around for his sister and found her glaring him down.
"What?" Tre said angrily.
"Where did you send Jeff?" she interrogated.
"He's on an assignment that could boost his career!" Tre said.
Julia cursed, "He said he didn't have anything to do! This was his day off! That fucking liar!"
"I sent him on it, Julia!" Tre yelled. "Get in the car, go to the party. NOW!!"
She glared at him as she stalked out toward the car. Mina looked at Tre; he looked back, eyeing her up and down in her outfit. She wore a form-fitting black military suit, one in which that could tell her if she was too lit up to be hidden and would adjust its temperature to comfort her, in addition to a pair of light boots secured tightly over the hems of the suit. Strapped to her waist was a pair of compact 9mm submachine guns and on her right leg, secured in a holster, was a silenced 9mm pistol. He sensed something was wrong, so he asked her,
"What's wrong, yo?"
"I can't fire a gun," Mina said.
"It's OK," Tre said. "Your gun is filled with blanks, so you won't hurt anyone. That make you feel better?"
"I guess," Mina said uneasily. "What if they don't take the bait?"
"They will," Tre assured. "I see them now, their adrenaline will be pumping and they will not think anything else but to come after you."
She embraced him, still unsure. He hugged her back, making her feel as though everything were right with the world. She let go and they went off in their separate directions. Tre had taught her how to use the jetbike that she was headed for now and he took a final head count. Finally, with all the people out of the house and on their way to the spaceport, Tre swung the door shut and locked it.
By this time, Tre had transformed into Sailor Universe and flew off separate from everyone else to an undisclosed location to meet with some one he deemed important to tonight's mission. He had flown around the British colony for what seemed an eternity until he landed at the agreed meeting location.
He touched down softly, his sunglasses covering his eyes from the other party meeting with him. The M16A2 strapped to his shoulder glowed with his dark power briefly, illuminating the alleyway just enough for him to see the other person clearly. He smirked as she emerged from the darkness cloaking her.
"Nice of you to meet me here," he said.
"I'm so glad you asked me to meet with you," the voice returned.
"Do you know what I am asking of you, though?"
"I'm sure I can handle it just fine, Tre Young," the figure said as it emerged into the light from the streets; it was Dorothy Catalonia.
The young girl was wearing the same dress she wore to Queen Relena's coronation. Her pale blue eyes shone dangerously underneath her wicked looking eyebrows, the long sheet of platinum blonde hair contrasting her outfit sharply. The click of her heels reverberated off the brick walls of the alley. She stopped right before him, eyeing him up and down in his black uniform.
"If this mission should go wrong, I want you to immediately alert the Earthsphere authorities and Vice Foreign Minister Dorlean. The British must be put to a stop, you understand?"
"Quite the contrary, Tre Jason Young," she laughed derisively. "The British must be allowed to go ahead with their plans, and then, when they have their backs turned, you can strike from the shadows; they would never expect it."
"While I appreciate it, you must do as I ask," Universe urged. "It is imperative."
"I understand," she said. "Happy hunting."
With that, Universe flew off to his venue, leaving the woman to walk back to her waiting limo. As she did, she mused silently to herself about Tre.
"My, my, my; if that boy wasn't so enamored with that silly girl, I'd just as soon have him for myself."
The cold, dark space around the British colony was still and silent as multitudes of mobile dolls and manned Taurus suits stood sentinel over the colony. A mobile suit captain was checking over a few instruments when all the sudden he felt several violent jolts rock his suit. Out of his side screen, he saw a single craft with the shape of a Neo Falcon slip away toward the Youngs' colony. He raised his battalion:
"Right then! Third flight group, after that pest! Squash him like an insect."
"Roger, sir," was the reply.
A group of about ten suits - dolls and manned alike - rocketed after the craft in a tight formation. Then, from out of nowhere, there was a flash of navy blue and all of them ceased to exist. The captain called after them to check on their progress after he saw the explosions. He called out several times, then without a reply, he brought up the battalion status screen: sure enough, amidst the green outlines of the fresh suits, ten of them were flashing red, meaning that they were gone.
The small craft was a Space Wasp, the very first to be combat-operational and flown by none other than Air Force Captain Jeffrey Gray. Gray whooped and hollered like a redneck at a rodeo as he banked-and-yanked all over the realm of space in the amazingly agile craft. He was unconstrained by the effects of G-Forces, since there was no gravity out here in space to harbor that awful effect. Gray was amazed at how his piloting skills were when in free space. The Space Wasp reacted to his thoughts it seemed. Each movement of the control stick of course did activate the appropriate control surface, but each surface had a Zero G Maneuvering Rocket assembly built into it to cause the craft to maneuver as it would in an atmosphere. Each time Gray pulled back on the stick, the elevator surfaces swung upwards on their axes and twin rockets on each surface fired for a period of time, forcing the craft to experience a simulated drag effect on that surface so as to make the craft "climb" until control pressure was neutralized on the stick. The same thing happened on the sharp turns: Gray swung the stick hard right, which fired a rocket on the bottom of the left wing to fire in conjunction with a rocket on the top of the right wing. Then, when he pulled back on the stick, the elevators would do their thing again. The intensity and length of the burst depended on how long or how fast a control stick motion came about. Gray could hardly contain himself, so he went back for another pass and fired at the same mobile suit he did before.
The mobile suit commander saw the same craft flit into his field of vision again, and he ordered every available suit to attack the bugger. Thus, every suit guarding the colony took flight after the plane, thinking it had destroyed an entire flight group. Then four Gundams appeared out of nowhere and entered the large elevator silently.
They looked menacing in the new, darker paint schemes made to make them less noticeable to the naked eye whilst they waited like silent statues with Backlash's newest weapon: a blown-up version of an M82A1A .50-caliber sniper rifle. This rifle had the look of a long, thin-barreled bazooka made for a Gundam, but it could deliver .50-caliber bullets in a number of different firing modes: it could be delivered in an automatic volley, by single shots, by clusters, or by simple sniper shots. Tonight, Pyrone was to administer one, single sniper shot to each member of the Royal Family and Shawn, regardless if the poison worked or not. This would ensure that they were in fact dead and gone.
The large rifle was full with about five hundred of the large caliber rounds, and the reason behind having this overly large weapon deliver a bullet that barely compared in size to its firing apparatus lie in just that - the difference of size. The fact that this particular gun is as big as it is is to ensure the most precise accuracy with the largest possible bullet to kill a human being without too much collateral damage. The length of the barrel and rifling of it provide for the most accurate hit, round after round. Doctor X designed and produced the weapon just a few weeks prior to Tre's arrival back to the future, and it was meant to be used by DreadScythe. However, Tre allowed Pyrone to use it with Backlash for tonight. The point to this is that during the firing trials, the rifle shot all five hundred rounds to the precise center of a target over five miles away on the automatic volley, all within a few centimeters of the exact center. Also with that stunning fact comes this: the muzzle velocity is just under the speed of light, meaning that the rifle's hits were instant, from time when the projectile left the muzzle to its impact on the target, making it quite the weapon to contend with.
Backlash eased out of the elevator into the darkened colony with the large rifle slung across its back. Wing Zero, Heavyarms, and Altron followed suit, silently padding to their intended attack point on a large hill that overlooked the palace from about two miles away. Backlash hunkered down in a crouch, with one knee on the ground, positioning the rifle securely onto its shoulder and the sights centered on where the king was going to sit that evening. The other three were covering Backlash from any sneak attackers, their watchful eyes scanning the colony's innards very carefully as to act on any out of place or threatening motion. Moments later, Pyrone radioed in:
"Toga team, this is Animal House One: let's crash the party."
All the remaining Gundam pilots and Sailor Scouts heard the message on their discrete earpieces, setting their plan into motion. Mina was circling the palace on a path that averaged about five miles in radius from the palace. Her heart was thumping violently against her chest hoping that she wouldn't have to resort to Plan B. Tre - whom was busy getting his guns together - heard the message and finally locked and loaded his last Desert Eagle before placing his toupee on. He soon felt as though he was suffocating in a tight white tux shirt, a red no-sleeve vest and bow tie, and tight black slacks. He took one look at himself in the mirror before he left, and almost fell backwards over himself. The reflection had a flat, short hairstyle that was combed to one side of his head, a pencil-thin mustache that bordered his upper-lip, and a clean-shaven face that had pale, sissy skin. He sneered at himself and took up the white towel and empty silver tray that he brought with him and walked out of the dark drawing room into the large, brightly-lit banquet hall.
Upon observation, the room was a large, oval shaped room with whitewashed walls and red velvet carpets, one that had a 100' x 100' ballroom dance floor, a ceiling that hung two stories over the heads of the guests and a humongous crystal chandelier that hung from the like. A large walnut table with about fifty or so chairs on either side of three ornate ones stood at the far end of the room, facing the dance floor and large, picturesque window that looked out upon the whole of the British colony. Facing the large table and bordering the large dance floor were hundreds of smaller, round tables with about twenty seats each. Tre had to hide his astonishment and blend in with all the other waiters. Most important, he had to make sure that he secured the rights to serve the royals, else he couldn't administer the poisons that the Gundam pilots and Sailor Scouts had. He quickly sauntered over to the swinging kitchen door to seek out the server who had serving duties over the royals at the moment.
The kitchen was hot and loud, the cooks screaming themselves hoarse at the bumbling servers. Tre looked about the teeming staff, trying to place the face with the server he knew was serving the royals. He couldn't seem to pick the little faggot out, but he heard the guy's name being called. One of the cooks was screaming his head off, calling out:
"Neville! Where the fuck is thot little flamer?"
Tre felt a nudge as one of the other servers elbowed him, "They're looking for you, Neville!"
Tre understood now that he was that server now. He had taken the identity of that particular server by chance. He answered back:
"Yes, what do you want, you big monkey?"
"Git yuhr gaiy ahse over 'ere and pick up dis 'ere order for the princess!"
"Oh ok, hold your dick in you pants, sexy boy," Tre poked at him, picking up the order and loading it on the silver tray.
The cook looked at him as though he had something sticking out of his head as Tre left. Neville always took those jokes seriously in the past, he thought. Why the sudden change? The cook shook it off though; too many orders coming in to concentrate on it.
Tre went about his work as usual, pulling off the waiter bit with a gay flair as though he were an actor. He scanned the room for the princess, seeing her dancing with Shawn at present. He deliberately bypassed the large table and headed for the nearest couple of Sailor Soldier and Gundam pilot: Lita and Duo. They had been joking heartily about Tre to a fancily dressed elder couple whom Tre assumed consorted with the British. Duo and Lita arrived announced as the Duke and Duchess of the Florida province of Orlando; Duke and Duchess Duo Maxwell - that was a laugh. But it worked out perfectly, because even though Duo was a known Gundam pilot, the title of Duke gave him diplomatic immunity. Also, the records would show (after Heero had massaged it a little with his computer hacking skills) that Duo WAS in fact the Duke of Orlando. Thus, he and his lady could not be touched and were allowed to appear as surviving mourners of Tre Young.
Unfortunately for Tre, Duo was making some wiseass comments the whole night through about how bad Tre's character was and how brutish he was when alive. It was all part of the plan to take suspicion off those who might very well be suspected, but this was taking it too far. Tre passed very near enough to make himself noticed to Duo, who was supposed to pass the poison to Tre during a staged accident scene. Tre passed behind Duo, who at that same moment had tread backwards, therefore making Tre trip and fall, clattering the silver tray and its contents onto the floor. Tre righted himself, calling out indignantly:
"You royal bitch! How dare you interfere with my delivery? Oh, I shall be put to death when the printhess doethn't get her food! What am I to do?"
He bent to pick up the food ("What a mess!") at which Duo - apologizing profusely - stooped to help and slipped the poison's vial into Tre's hand very quickly and unnoticed. Tre had finished picking up the mess and scurried off to the kitchen to get a new dish. After Tre had hurriedly stomped away, the elder duke addressed Duo:
"You stoop to his level and help that insignificant servant? I must say, sir, that he even had the audacity to question you and curse at you. Tell me, how do you put up with it?"
"I have an old saying that everyone should practice," Duo replied vehemently. "Do unto others as you would do unto yourself."
Tre's parents had arrived looking solemn and depressed, but still hung their heads proudly. The king was busy at the moment talking to a group of advisors on the judiciary, however, he felt it necessary to separate himself form the group to accost the Youngs about his victory over their son. The large man excused himself and sauntered over to them with an arrogant strut in his step.
The elder Youngs saw the king approaching so they turned discreetly to their children and said:
"Keep your tempers in check, but look angry if he has to gloat about Tre, got it?"
They all grumbled their reply as the king closed in on the group's position. Matt and Jade Young stood tall and proud, but with an air of risen defeated. The king smiled as he finally reached them, saying:
"Ah, the Young family! So good to have you here, and I'm terribly sorry to have to be the bearer of your son's death. But, no harm done. You see, I'm trying to give the British people a chance to experience a life of free reign and judgment-" he was cut off.
"So you conquer other colonies to give their people a chance at free reign?" Matt Young spat peevishly. "You disgust me."
"Now, now, Matthew," the king chortled. "Times change, people need direction. I provide that direction."
"You're no king," Anthony said. "You're a dictator!"
The king laughed, "My dear boy, you are clever! I'd have thought someone would have figured it out by now. Where OZ left off is where I pick up. Now, enjoy yourselves. Oh and Jade, do say hello to our 'daughter'."
Jade Young stared daggers as the king left in a chortling state. The rest of her family gave her comfort, and she shed only one tear. They moved on, trying to find their table.
The princess and her soon-to-be prince were merrily dancing away, drunk in love with each other's gaze as they swiftly waltzed around the large dance floor, oblivious to those around them. Her deep purple gown had a large skirt that swished softly every time she made a deft motion in her steps, the torso part of her gown was secured fast to her body without the luxury of a shoulder support, for the gown also featured a plunging neck line; the topmost portion of the gown barely rose above her swelling bosom.
Adversely, her companion featured a very shiny pair of knee-length black boots, a stunningly white pair of trousers, a deep crimson dress uniform top, and a half-cape that was black satin on the outside and red velvet on the inside. OF course, he had the same platinum blonde spikes and searing green eyes, but tonight his eyes were softer and more affectionate; he loved this woman so.
They were waltzing among the most notable personnel the galaxy had to offer, and they even dared to lock their lips when suddenly a clatter broke them out of their world. They snapped their heads quickly to see what the matter was. A waiter had apparently tripped over a young duke with a long braid and had sent a rather unmistakable dish spilling to the floor. Elizabeth was the only person known to have a deep relish for a sweet chocolate and vanilla marble-frosted Beef Wellington. At that moment, she became utterly incensed.
"Do these waiters have no sense of sight and surroundings?" she spat.
"I couldn't agree more, love," Shawn said, though he was staring intently at the waiter, for something about his behavior seemed odd. "But, isn't that Neville Turner, the flamboyant waiter?"
"So what if it is?" Elizabeth hissed.
"He is usually more careful than that; and ardent professional," Shawn observed as 'Neville' escaped into the kitchen.
The cook was flummoxed to see Neville return with a tray that was so disordered. He literally threw a tantrum right there behind the serving window. He began to curse him out as Neville tossed the ruined marble-frosted Beef Wellington.
"'Ave you lost it!? Are you fucking insane? What the Hell are you doing out there?"
"Lithen, buster!" Neville spat. "Make another one; some athhole just tripped me on my way to the table."
The cook set to work again, fuming under his breath at Neville. Did he know how hard it was to make a Beef Wellington? He promised that Neville would pay for what he did. He swore to set the little flamer straight when his shift ended.
-One hour later-
The entire assembly of guests and hosts alike were growing impatient as they all waited on their meals, since the king had halted all serving of food until his daughter was served. The latter was resting her furious countenance upon a purple-gloved hand, and drumming her fingers on the table with the other. Shawn had sent several of his envoys to the kitchens to ascertain the status of his bride-to-be's dish. The all came back with estimated times of when it would be ready.
Tre was carefully placing the readily-prepared dish onto a silver dish and was in the process of covering it up when he slipped the small vial of poison out and injected it into the center of the portion. He immediately checked all about him to make sure there were no witnesses and he pocketed the vial swiftly and without notice. He covered the dish with a silver hemispherical cover, and then he carefully performed the same actions with the king's food and Shawn's with different vials. Then, he covered and loaded all the dishes onto his silver tray and announced that he was ready to go and serve the room. The other waiters were then recalled, as they all stood sentinel by the kitchen door in a row. Tre exited while the rest of them entered. Tre received soft applause as he emerged from the kitchen and headed straight for the table where Elizabeth sat.
He approached and snottily held up his nose as he laid his tray on a tray jack. Still holding himself in the same regard, he lifted the poisoned Beef Wellington and the king's dish off the tray and served them accordingly. It was after he served Shawn that Elizabeth commented:
"It's about damn time!"
"I'm very thorry to inconvenience you, Printheth," Tre said. "Some athhole duke tripped me the first time around."
"You dare to make excuses, servant?" Shawn hissed.
Tre, not daring to miss this opportunity said, "Oh, well if that's how it's going to be, Muffy, then we're through!"
The whole of the ballroom sighed a collective gasp of surprise. The king rose threateningly out of his throne chair, staring daggers at Shawn. The latter, to shocked to speak, merely looked at Tre and mouthed, 'What'
"Oh, come on! You didn't tell anyone we were an item? Jesith, Shawn! You broke my heart for the last time! Eat your damn food!"
With that, Tre pretended to cry as he hurried away to the same drawing room as he had once emerged and removed the toupee, returning to his loose-garbed and dread-headed self. Watching as the king bade everyone be calm and reassure his guests that Shawn was the recipient of a cruel joke, Tre saw the princess and the accused bi-sexual have an argument. Shawn eventually tamed his fiancée and implored her to eat. Tre gave the order:
"Animal House team, Toga One; prepare to crash party."
The moment passed where Pyrone heard and copied the message. He guided the head of Backlash into the correct position to get a clear view through the sight of the large rifle. He honed in on the princess, aiming the crosshairs on her head. Pyrone tensed, waiting for the moment when she would gag and start choking, for only then would he have a clear shot.
Quatre was waiting for the contingency plan to go into action, should the poison fail for some reason. He would squeeze the button on his paging device once for a second, and then release it; this action would signal Mina to pull up to the palace by way of the enormous park behind it that was left unguarded and drive up a makeshift ramp that would shoot her directly into the ballroom/banquet hall. But, Tre had purposely broken the signal device she wore so as to keep her out of danger. She wouldn't be participating in tonight's events.
Quatre watched to his horror as a food tester was called forth to make sure no one was trying to poison the royals, since one of the dishes looked queer to Elizabeth. The dainty gentlemen approached and ate a sliver of each of the three dishes. Quatre pressed the button, knowing that Mina should appear any second now. Nothing happened: no jetbike, no Mina, no gunfire. The tester was bulging in the eyes, and he clutched at his throat, gagging.
Heero was busy on his scan when he noticed a rogue patrol drone - a small flying camera whose purpose was to scan for criminal activity - came awfully close to their position. Heero had no doubt that it would see the Gundams and alert the authorities. It came so close as he heard Pyrone say something about the damned food tester eating the poisoned foods. Heero locked his sights on the drone, his plan to slash at it with the beam saber when it got close enough.
The tester was being helped by the royals, Elizabeth patting at his back, thinking he was choking on a caught piece of food. The king was livid, sending off the guards to find that accursed waiter. Tre drew his Desert Eagles, waiting. He told Pyrone to fire as the curtains to the room were parted and the twin echoing booms tore through the banquet hall.
Trowa had turned Heavyarms' head around to see what Wing Zero was up to when he noticed the drone as well. He had a sudden sense of foreboding as he imagined Heero slashing at it, and all Hell being wrought accompanying the explosion. Just as the food tester passed out with the shock of having received the dose of the poison, Trowa leapt Heavyarms at Wing Zero the instant the beam saber ignited. That action caused the laggard legs of the former to knock Backlash just a blink before he pulled the trigger, which in turn made the rifle fire off target and impact the northern watchtower of the palace, which hit a propane tank within the tower. It exploded violently enough to create a quake that shook the entire palace.
The quake caused the hall to be alive with frightened screams and literally brought the house down. Pieces of ceiling were falling around the guests and Tre was busy firing his guns to subdue the guards. He had just killed two of them when Elizabeth noticed him for the first time. Her visage turned into a foul mask of hatred and anger, and she shrieked,
"GET HIM!!"
Tre was startled by the power of the voice behind the statement, and he wheeled around to look at the source. He too twisted his face into an angry mask and fired off two rounds toward her, but guards around her took the shots and dropped lifeless to the floor. The king was bellowing out orders as another quake shook the castle foundations and brought the entire wall facing the royal's table down. Glass shattered and stones came tumbling down. Shawn looked about in horror as several well-dressed young dignitaries drew weapons and fired at all the guards. The Young family also drew weapons and began to add to the din. Guests that didn't stay rooted in fear ran for their lives, screaming. Tre spun kicked a guard that had dodged his bullets and came in for a close attack. Tre took careful aim at the king with his DE, pulled the trigger, and heard the dry metallic click. He looked at the empty gun, and tried the other gun; it too produced a dry metallic click. Tre tossed the weapons in anger, and drew the shotgun, cocking the beastly gun roughly.
Backlash took careful aim again and tried to plug the king after taking the entire wall structure out. The crosshairs were dead-on the king's chest, the man's face contorted in a purple fury as he barked out orders to reinforcements filing into the room. Meanwhile, Wing Zero and Heavyarms were untangling themselves and joined in the onslaught. Zero unleashed the Vulcan cannons on its shoulders and Heavyarms let loose every Gatling made available on its body. The yellow streaks of tracers lit up the ground below their flight path on the way to the palace.
Mina had noticed that the palace was under immediate attack and froze, stopping the jetbike on the asphalt. She straddled the vehicle, not knowing what to do, horror plastered on her beautiful face. She couldn't do anything, and that scared her. Her friends were in there, taking direct fire from palace guards, no doubt. She had to do some-
Then she had an idea! She fumbled in her pockets for her transform pen, found it, and-
"Venus Crystal Power!"
Once her transformation was complete, she twisted the throttle and shot up the park's length toward the ramp. The jetbike lanced across the open field, streaking over the sheer-cut lawn. The bike hit the ramp, and she shot into the air, sailing toward a smaller window on the side of the ballroom. She ducked her head as the bike impacted the glass, the shards flying everywhere and she saw the fiasco that was unfolding below her as she came in for landing. The bike softly touched down and hovered as Venus started to whip out her Love Chain to disarm the guards.
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!"
The golden heart-shaped links shot out from her hand and whipped to and fro, coiling around the MSCZRD-13s and yanking each weapon from the clutches of its owner. A huge collection of the firearms was beginning to pile up around her feet. after the last one had been wrenched away, Venus was caught from behind and held at knifepoint, the cold blade placed right at her throat.
Tre let the first shot go off just as the window at the far side of the ballroom shattered with the entry of a black jetbike and its orange-costumed rider. The spray from the weapon he held impacted the large chairs that his targets had sat in earlier, as they ducked behind them. He strode across the room toward the large table and his targets. His face was still contorted in an angry and fearsome look. His footfalls were heavy and rapid, with the vicious intensity of a man on a life-or-death mission; failure was not an option at this point. As he approached the three chairs, he saw the large, bear like form of King Charles start to rise and swing something at Tre. The young man ducked and clocked the king in the face with the butt of his weapon. Shawn was shielding Elizabeth as the large man hit the ground, a bleeding bruise apparent around his temple. Tre pumped the shotgun viciously, teeth bared and temper hot.
"ON YOUR GODDAMN KNEES, HANDS IN THE AIR!!" he roared.
Shawn obeyed him silently, but Elizabeth fumed with anger at Tre. He glared back just as intensely, his breathing heavy and ragged with rage. After looking around at the several dead guards, or those captured by the Young family and the rest of Tre's friends, she knew that they had been defeated. But this was still the British palace, and she knew reinforcements were on their way. She curled her lips before spitting out,
"I swear to God, Tre Young, that before you hit your next birthday, I will have you tortured and beaten to within an inch of your life. And when I do, you'll beg me for forgiveness, for your life, whatever existence it has left for you!"
"When that day comes," Tre hissed. "I'll eat my left testicle."
"That can be arranged," she seethed. "Mark my words, you!"
Tre was just about ready to pull the trigger when he heard the all too familiar cackle of a certain person he loathed more than the Royal Family. He asked the Gundam pilots who it was, not once taking his eyes off Elizabeth.
"It's Sven, Tre," Duo answered.
"Yes!" the voice said from across the room. "Let them go, or your pretty friend here dies!"
Tre couldn't believe what was going on. He was so close - so close! He could pull the trigger now and it would be all over. But, he would lose the woman he loved again. He couldn't bear to lose her again, not like this. He wished something would happen, something that would just play out in his favor. It came in the answer of a black figure rocketing out of nowhere.
"oh, shit," Pyrone breathed.
He saw through the scope on the rifle what was about to unfold. Heero, Trowa, and Wufei had stopped firing a while ago, seeing as how they might hit their comrades in the process. He saw that several guards lie dead in pools of their own blood, while several others were being held captive by the rest of the Scouts and pilots. Trista held two guards at gunpoint, both were ear to ear, the barrels of the guns pointed toward each other. Duo and Lita managed to hold a guard in ties and bonds. But someone had Sailor Venus at knifepoint, the blade threatening to dig into her delicate flesh and spill her life out of her veins. That someone was Lord Sven Cadgrade.
He had to do something quick, Tre was busy holding the royals hostage. He shoved the rifle into Zero's arms and opened the cockpit door, transforming immediately into mini-Backlash. Off he flew, rocketing at break-neck speed. He crashed through the glass that was left and broadsided Sven just as Shawn lunged at Tre, trying to break the grip on the shotgun. Tre resisted, but barely. He was clearly straining against Shawn's newfound strength. Tre rolled to his right, letting Shawn fall forward with the gun as he deftly produced the knife from his coat. Shawn rounded on Tre, aiming the shotgun, but Tre beat him to the punch.
"Universe Celestial Power!"
The black lightning bolts lanced from the knifepoint and coiled around Tre, engulfing him and transforming him into Sailor Universe. The weaponry appeared on his back, and from that he drew the M16A2-M203. He aimed the rifle at Shawn and both fired simultaneously. The spray from the shotgun was knocked off trajectory by the sonic wave following the round Tre popped off from his round. The bullet flew at Shawn, hitting him dead in the chest and causing a massive spray of bright red blood to erupt from the exit wound; Tre had hit the largest artery in Shawn's body.
Meanwhile, Sven and Backlash MG were locked in a ferocious battle of their own. Sven was currently dodging an onslaught of lightning quick slashes from Backlash's scythe and at the same time was barely dodging the continuous volleys of Sailor Venus attacks. Sven managed to conjure up a fighting staff of his own whilst flying backward away from Backlash's latest swipe. Backlash flew toward him nonetheless, letting forth a battle cry as he attacked. His scythe shaft made contact with Sven's staff, the two grunting in effort to gain the advantage over each other. Backlash spoke to Sven,
"Geroff, laddy! This is one fight you cannot win!"
Sven laughed darkly in return, "I welcome the day when an insignificant peon such as you can best a dark creature like me! However, I do enjoy a little competition every now and then."
"Prepare to lose," Backlash said. "Game, set and match belongs to me!"
"Bring it on, boy," Sven sneered.
Backlash leaned into Sven and then pushed off, leaning far back and staying balanced by rocket assistance while swinging his scythe around himself. Sven, thrown off balance, didn't have time to right himself and then defend the oncoming slash. As he righted himself into balance, he was met with a searing heat that ripped into his side, burning his innards, causing him to yell out in surprise and pain. Backlash yanked the scythe staff back toward himself, hard. This tore the scythe blade through Sven's abdomen, gushing forth his blood and guts, some of the fragments charred black. Sven was mortally wounded, but he still pressed on, swinging the staff at Backlash, but missing, for Venus had thrown him a Venus Love and Beauty Shock. The attack sent the Dark Lord flying into the wall behind him, crashing into the plaster and leaving an imprint of his body as he slid down to the floor, gasping for air.
As for Shawn, the mortal wound he suffered from seemed to heal with immediate speed, as if the cells in his body were acting on overdrive for repairing the wound. Sailor Universe couldn't believe his eyes! This couldn't be happening.
"You like my new power?" Shawn asked.
"You want an honest answer?" Universe answered, angrily. "I think you're deranged and hopeless."
Shawn laughed, then said, "More power means more control, Tre Young."
"I'm not Tre, asscheese," Universe responded harshly. "I'm Sailor Universe, the Sailor Soldier of Shadow and Knowledge, Sworn Protector of the Protectors."
"Well, now the legend fits, Tre," Shawn said. "Hell on Earth will ensue, I promise you that. You and your puny friends can't do anything to stop me. I now have the Dark Power; I am invincible."
Shawn grinned like a madman, beaming from ear to ear, and he seemed to flex, and then disappeared like a ghost. Universe blinked and saw that Shawn had teleported over to Elizabeth and the king. He deftly scooped them up and disappeared again, this time for good. Universe stood there like a dope, not knowing what else to do. HE looked about, trying to determine where Shawn had gone.
No one around looked even remotely like him, thus confirming his total and complete disappearance. He saw the wreckage that had ensued in the battle, the ballroom looking more like a tornado-damage site than anything else. Stone and glass were everywhere, and the once proud chandelier had at one point crashed to the ballroom floor, into trillions of crystal pieces. The remainder of people present were captured guards, the Young family, the Sailor Soldiers and Gundam pilots. And, the ragged body of Lord Sven Cadgrade sitting limply against the wall in the far corner of the room from Universe.
Universe strode over to the crumpled form of the Dark Lord and passed all his allies, muttering to them orders to kill the captured guards. Some of his allies complied, gunshots going off at odd intervals. As the last one was heard echoing within the remains of the ballroom, Universe came within two feet of Sven. The Dark Lord was drawing ragged and labored breaths, his life barely clinging on. Universe drew his sword and poked it into what was left of his enemy's belly. The latter screamed in agony, but Universe interrogated him.
"What did you do to Shawn?"
"I (pant) gave him my power (groan) and there's nothing (pant) you can do to stop him," the last words coming out were strained.
"Why not save yourself?" Universe continued. "Why let yourself die for him?"
"(Pant, pant) I have no further use," he said. "Shawn is now the vessel by which the Dark Sect will rule all of the universe. I have done my dut-argh!"
Universe plunged the sword deeper into the wound, "Tell me how I can kill him."
Sven laughed, coughing at the end, "Never. The Greatest War is about to begin!"
With that, Universe pulled the sword out of his enemy and swung the blade behind him, then deftly sliced Sven's head clean off his shoulders. The now disconnected head rolled along the floor, and the hands on the body fell to the floor loosely, the body went limp. Universe de-transformed into Tre Young, and he rounded to face his family and friends.
"Let's go home."
I hope you all enjoyed that. This is two years in the making, and I just now put the finishing touches on it. The final battle will be on a much grander scale, I swear.