Well, finally i've gotten this chapter up (sigh in relief). Sorry it took so long! My most sincere appologies! Please enjoy!

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Chapter Eight: An Army of Imps

How the hell did he do that…?

Teolyn could tell by the look Heero was giving him that he fully expected Teolyn to scale the Guard Wall just as quickly and efficiently as he himself had just done. One problem, Teolyn had never climbed a tree, let alone a solid granite wall that was at least 20 feet high.

So Teolyn stood at the foot of the wall looking up quite helplessly at his half-brother who was precariously perched atop it, in quite a vulnerable position. One which it was obvious he wanted to get away from as quickly as possible from his expression.

When Teolyn made no move to follow Heero became quite annoyed, shaking his head slightly trying to remind himself that Teolyn was indeed the Prince of the Earth Sphere. Had he known any politician to go climbing over walls? No. But then to his surprise Teolyn actually made an attempt. A failed attempt but one none the less.

After a few moments of watching Teolyn try and fail numerous times, Heero finally decided to intervene. This was more to avoid being seen by any palace guards then anything else. He bent down, holding out his hand to Teolyn, who took it gratefully. In moments both were over the outer wall of the Athenian Palace and making a b-line straight for the far left wing of the building through the Palace Gardens.

"Once we get into the left wing there's a staircase that will take us directly to the private quarter of the Palace. It's going to be heavily guarded though," Teolyn said as they both came to a stop just outside a door to the left wing. There were two sentries at this specific entrance. Both were armed, but not heavily, and they were conversing with each other without much thought to anything around them.

"How are we going to get by?" Teolyn asked as he observed the two guards at the door. He never got his answer. When he turned Heero was already moving up the stairs towards the entrance, gun in hand behind his back.

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Duo wore a slight smile as he and Wufei walked about the abandoned OZ base. This time it really was abandoned. They hadn't encountered a single other life-form in the base save a rat or two. The two had been absolutely silent the entire mission, which Wufei knew did not bode well. Silence was not a predominant characteristic of Duo.

"So, where'd you go yesterday?" Duo asked after awhile as the two were returning to Deathscythe and Altron.

"I don't see why that concerns you," was Wufei's quick reply.

"Oh, it does."

Wufei turned to look at Duo, already guessing at where the conversation was headed.

"I don't have to explain anything to you," he replied before Duo could even ask.

"No. But if you don't tell me you'll have Heero to deal with," Duo retorted, the smile he wore growing as he watched Wufei fidget uncomfortably.

"Rather him then you."

Duo blinked in confusion a moment.

"Heh, really?"

Wufei merely glared at him.

"He was mine until you got in the way."

Duo stopped dead in his tracks at that.

"Yours?" It took a few moments, but Duo managed to keep from laughing in Wufei's face. "Where'd you get that idea?"

That glare deepened.

"We'll settle this then. I challenge you to a dual,"

"A what? Man, that's so outdated," Duo replied as he watched Wufei flush red in anger.

"We'll just see! Altron and I against you and Deathscythe," he was so serious it almost made Duo feel sorry for him…almost.

"Bring it on buddy," Duo answered with a smirk. "Deathscythe and I can take you on any day."

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"Trowa and I have managed to locate High Consul Jarin's exact location," Quatre said to his watch, which in reality was a mini communicator of sorts. All of the other's had similar ones. At the moment he was talking to Heero, who, form what Teolyn was claiming in the background, had just taken out two palace Guards.

"Where," came Heero's voice from Quatre's watch.

"He's there in the palace. We found his daily planer. It had the words 'Summoning at Palace' in it for this time. It even gives the room he's in," Quatre answered.

"What room?"

"A room labeled 'Dark Room'."

"We'll intercept him there," Heero answered simply and with that turned off his communicator.

"Have you gotten a hold of either Duo or Wufei yet?" Quatre asked Trowa who was sitting beside him.

"For a moment. They shut promptly shut the communicator off."

Quatre gave a soft sigh.

"What could those two be up to?"

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Teolyn led Heero to the "Dark Room". It was a room that was used for special military planning and it was probably the most secure room in the entire Palace, except for the secret corridor that led to it. The only reason Teolyn knew of this secret entrance was because he had used it previously in an emergency situation. He took through winding corridors until he found what he was looking for, a specific tapestry on one of the walls of the corridor.

"Ready?" He asked Heero.

Heero gave a brief nod in return. So Teolyn pulled aside the tapestry and slipped into the corridor beyond closely followed by Heero. They followed it to the end, where there was another tapestry blocking the entrance into the Dark Room. Teolyn and Heero stopped just behind it and peeked out of the side into the next room.

It was called the Dark Rom for a reason. The room lacked much lighting because it was in the very center of the Palace, with no windows and few lights. Teolyn could make out High Consul Jarin. He was speaking with another, someone that he didn't recognize. They were talking just loud enough that Teolyn and Heero could hear them.

"I've readied the army for inspection. I'm sure you'll be pleased," Jarin said with an obnoxious smirk splattered across his face. He was obviously proud about something.

"Good, show me," the other in the room spoke, his voice quite soft.

Jarin must have been expecting this because he was already half way to a nearby computer. It was just across the room from Heero and Teolyn so both could see it quite clearly. On it appeared a live picture of a mobile suit hanger somewhere and in it was, to Teolyn's great shock, and army of Imps.

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Well, that's it. I hope you all like it