Chapter 14
I felt the pressure of the Earth's atmosphere hit the gundam like a car hitting a tree and I jerked with pain. I continued on my course. I grunted past the pain, and felt the blood from the gunshot start bleed through my bandage and flight suit. Darkness eat at my vision and tried to push it all away. "Damnit what is with my passing out lately..." The gundam broke through earth's atmosphere and shot towards the forest of the south Sanc Kingdom. There was a hide out there where Milliardo and I used to play. I figured I could make that my hiding spot for a day or two till I found a place to stay. The darkness continued to eat at my vision and I quickly tried to land the gundam. I put on the cloaking device and the bat like wings surrounded the gundam. "Shini..." I muttered, "Land in the forest near the coordinates... Auto pilot... On..." I managed to say before darkness swollowed me as if demons dragged me under into hell.
Duo ran towards Jedite as I fought for conciousness. I knew he was going to lose but I just couldn't bring myself to say it. I was too weak from bloodloss and I knew I was going to die.
"Duo..." I coughed and blood trickled down my cheek. Duo rushed towards Jedite and his sword glinted in the light. I slipped back into darkness.
I screamed as I woke. Something was pressed into my wound. Pain shot through my arm in pulsing shocks. I fought not to scream again, and quickly unstrapped my body. "Shini, interior lights." The lights flickered on and shot pain through my eyes. I moaned softly and looked at what was pressing into my arm. I cursed softly when I noticed it was my own dufflebag. I pushed it off and touched it gently. God damnit... I thought as my fingers came away with blood. It soaked through the suit. I opened the outer hatch and threw the duffle bag out. I muttered softly in pain and started to get out of the gundam. "Shini, shut down and lock. Do not uncloak and open on my command only," I climbed down the side of the gundam and it shut. I picked up the duffle bag with my bad arm so I could still go for a weapon and walked towards the stout building that lay ahead of me.
I cringed as my arm twitched in pain but I continued to walk. When I reached the front door I dropped my bag and put my hand on the key pad. "Sing a song of Love, a song of hopefullness, sing a song of joy and peace."(note: I actually had to sing that for choir) I sang the little tune from my childhood and the door wooshed open, the computer said in it's monochromatic voice, "Welome Rei." I stepped inside. It was dark, and dank. A smell made my nose curl. At least it would do... I sighed softly. I walked across the room to the sink and turned it on and let the water run for a few minutes to clear the pipes that haven't been used in years. I pulled the duffle bag over towards the sink and slowly pealed the suit off my arm with a wet sucking noise. I made a face and slipped my arm out of the other sleave. I looked at myself through the dingy mirror and sighed. I then pealed the bandage off of my arm and then scrubbed down the wound with alcohol wipes and water. I took a sterile bandage and pressed it to my arm to stop the bleeding and as soon as it stopped I applied another one and taped it down.
I turned towards the windows and felt a cool breeze flow across my bare upper body as I slid off my bra to put on another. I slipped out of the suit and changed my panties quickly, then reaching into the duffle bag pulling out a black t-shirt, with white letters saying, "Save your energy and don't talk to me." Pants followed the t-shirt that had straps hanging off of it along with a few chains. The pants were black with green thread. A fresh pair of black socks and combat boots completed the outfit along with a black zip up sweater with a giant red spider on the front of it.
I quickly washed my face, I looked paler than a ghost. I shrugged it off and quickly threaded a inner pant holster through the belt loops. I loaded my Firestar 9 mm and added an extra clip to my pocket. I slid the holster to where I could do a right handed back draw and then set off to the place where I was to meet Milliardo.
The forest was littered with leaves, and pine cones. I relished the fact that I was on earth. The sweet smell of the earth under my feet, and the smell of the trees. They just did not smell like this on the colony. I continued to take slow steps enjoying the clean air about me. I smiled for the first time in days and took in the smells of the earth. The sweet smell of the ground when the leaves were disturbed, the smell of decay and new life. I took in the sounds of the forest, the soft hushed whispering of the trees as the blew in the slight wind. I took in the sights of the forset, the dark brown of the undisturbed bark and the vibrant green of the leaves on the trees. I tasted the raw green earth on my tongue.
I quickened my pace towards the palace and looked upon it. It was in ruins but I didn't expect it to be intact. I mourned the news when the Sanc Kingdom was attacked. I sighed softly and walked towards the doors. I noticed two moterbikes out in front of the palace and I studied them. Milliardo... Is he here with someone else? I wondered to myself as I walked to the door. I drew my gun slowly and opened the door to see if it was clear. I scaned the area and saw the dust had been disturbed near the painting of King Peacecraft. I nodded in respect to the king and continued down the hall following the dust path. I reached a corner and looked around it. I saw Milliardo standing there, he was atleast 6 foot and I smiled sligtly until I saw him deep in conversation with a woman that was about 3 inches shorter than him. She had dark hair that was cut close to her head execept for a little bangs. I heard snatches of their conversation.
"Zechs, she might not be coming." The unknown woman said softly. I smirked at the comment.
"Give her a few more minutes." Milliardo said. "She said she would be here so she will be here. I know this girl, she never breaks her word."
"Zechs, we have been here for three hours!" The woman said obviously exsaperated. "Maybe her transport was stopped. You know travel between the colonies and earth is forbbiden at the moment." I scowled at her, for what reason for it was beyond me. I holstered my gun and walked out from behind where I was standing. The woman saw me and pulled her gun on me. I laughed softly and showed her and lifted my arms to prove I was unarmed, sort of. Milliardo turned and a look of suprise passed over his face, as if he didn't exactly believe that I would make it.
"Rei!" He grinned and laughed. "Noin put the gun away, this is the girl we have been waiting for." Noin scowled at him behind his back but put the gun away none the less. He walked over to me and reached out to touch my face slowly, as if he didn't exactly believe that I was there.
I laughed softly and told him, "I won't disappear if you touch me you know." He laughed softly and his hand slid down my face. I smiled at him, and his hand cupped my face.
"You know I never thought I would find you..." He whispered softly as he brought himself closer to me. "I never thought that I would see you again... yet... here you are..." He smiled down at me and pulled me into a tight hug, around my hurt arm. I took a gasped in pain and he drew back. "What's wrong?" He looked down at me.
"To make a long story short, I got shot in the left arm." I pulled back from him and cradled the arm. He looked at me, and from what I could tell of his face, for he was masked, he looked concerned. He went to touch the arm and I shook my head at him, "I'm fine. The pain will go away in a few minutes." His hand dropped away and looked as if he was uncertain of what to do. Blood started to trickle down my arm again and I cursed loudly. He jumped in suprise and looked at me.
"You're bleeding!" He gasped and went to grab my arm.
"No kidding." I snapped at him and dropped to my knees still cradling my arm. "I finally got it to stop..." I was starting to feel light headed again. "I think I lost a little too much blood when I landed..." I said softly. Red spots danced in my vision and when I moved my head black spot joined in. I looked up at Milliardo and smiled weakly, "It was great seeing you agian..." Darkness engulfed my vision as I started to fall forward, hands reaching out to catch me as I fell.