Infinite Battle
Mission 4: Under the Cold Concrete
How many days has it been since I've seen the world that I took for granted in years gone by?
XxXxXx
"So, how are you feeling? Any better?" Solo asked, leaning over the bed of a quite frazzled Reiao. Shinlou was sitting in a chair next to the window, occasionally glancing up from a newspaper. The held the same big, bold letters...but the same news: RELENA DARLIN STILL MISSING. That only meant that there had been no sign of WuFei, Duo, or Quatre.
When Reiao's eyes came into focus, he observed the large and very bright room. At once, he figured out, he was in the hospital. Not the happiest place to be, but at least he was comfortable. Oddly, he couldn't remember why he even there...nevertheless, the sight of grinning Solo and pussed faces Shinlou was very relieving. Reality slapped him in the face at the sound of Solo's question.
"Uh...I guess so..." the blonde replied with a few blinks. Solo blinked in return then grinned. Both were hiding the fact that being here in this hospital was bad. It was an easy place to pinpoint and target. The thrill of killing and creating dead innocents was probably thrilling to the members of the rebel group. Reiao knew he needed to get better fast. Even the nurses were starting to wonder why three young teenagers were alone, refusing to call their parents. Unfortunately...the doctor had mentioned earlier that it would take at least a week for the stress on Reiao's body to wear off. Luckily, the occasional visitor would explain that they were on a trip together to reassure the staff of the boys' occupation of the hospital. Solo hated her visits.
"Good evening, guys, and Lady Solo!" Aeni said, walking into the room and munching on some freshly bought chocolate pocky. Without a thought of pity, she shoved Solo form his spot and took it for her own. "So...my little bunny has woken up? You gave me quite a scare."
"...Uh...whatever...you say Aeni-san...er...and since when am I...a bunny to you?" Reiao replied, a little flushed in the face, but sighed. She wasn't listening; instead, she was holding Solo's hand with a smile.
"I've located your parents. It's great that they aren't far from here. It's quite the coincidence." she said. Solo's eyes widened. She actually...found them? What a miracle worker.
"What about my father?" Shinlou asked, hopefully, losing his cool exterior. Reiao's eyes begged the same question, almost like an over grown puppy. Aeni just shook her head with a shrug.
"I dunno. I only just happened to find Duo and Hilde Maxwell." she replied, trying to put her words in a way that would not hurt their feelings. With a sigh she added, "No sign of Relena or anyone else, either.
"Oh..." Solo was very happy and very excited that his parents were found that he was afraid to show it. Both Shinlou's and Reiao's parents had been missing longer that his so this situation seemed quite unfair. Well...that was Murphy's Law. Those who deserved it most never got it. Still...he couldn't help but feel sorry for Reiao, who looked like he'd been through five heartbreaks in one minute. Solo knew...he'd never done anything worth commending...
"Well are you coming or you going to sit there?" Aeni huffed, jabbing the daydreaming Solo in the arm. He yelped then glared, standing up. She smirked, immediately pulling him through the hospital and out the front doors. He worried if Reiao and Shinlou would be okay alone...though...they should be. In only a matter of five minutes, Aeni shoved Solo into an...arcade? "First things first...you need to know the basics of piloting. The fastest and less suspicious way of doing so is with a video game. AC 195 is a virtual reality game based during the Great War. You'll be able to learn the basics with this machine." she stated, patting the biggest machine in the arcade with screens scattered around to see the on-goings of the game from outside.
Before Solo could reply, Aeni had shoved him into the dark, miniscule room that resembled a cockpit. He sat down in the pilot's seat, looking up at the screens in front of him. A woman's voice filled the area, instructing Solo on what each thing was and how to use it. It issued a "Good Luck Pilot!" before sending him off on a virtual catastrophe. Outside of the game, the monitors blazed on, revealing the fight. Aeni smiled, watching the on screen suit labeled P1 fight the one labeled CPU. Well...the excitement lasted only a few minutes longer. Solo's health zoomed to zero and the screen flashed game over. Aeni rolled her eyes, shoving in more money.
"THINK SOLO! You idiot." she yelled.
Yeah, he'd think if he had the TIME to. His eyes watched the screen as his fingers pressed down on the triggers rapidly. It wasn't are to get used to the controls but aiming was another problem. Outside, a crowd was starting to linger around the screens of bland curiosity. A man stared at the monitor furthest from Aeni almost as if in a trance. Heero's daughter watched the man cautiously with narrowed eyes. The game ended and Solo jumped out, his eyes tired from the concentration. He blinked the at least twenty people staring up at him in awe.
"You put on quite a show. That was so-" Aeni paused looking back at the spot. The man was gone.
"What?" Solo asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Nothing, forget it." she said, grabbing his arm and leading him rapidly out of the arcade. Where did that guy go? Well...best they didn't linger in there much longer.
They continued up the street. Solo was beginning to second-guess himself. Though, he knew he shouldn't...Aeni was a lot smarter than him...but that was also bad...what if...no he shouldn't go into that. Aeni suddenly veered off the sidewalk and down a narrow alley
"This is the easiest way to the place they are being held. Just stay close and keep quiet. I can't guarantee we can save them immediately." Aeni hissed at Solo, who was lagging behind.
"But-"
"Maxwell..." she warned, lifting a manhole cover and jumping in, just before tugging Solo down with her. He squinted through the darkness. It smells horrible...something was rotten...worse than rotten eggs. How come he didn't smell it on the street?
"Ugh! What is that?" he gagged, covering his nose. Aeni sighed, shaking her head. He was too curious for his own good.
"Do you really want to know, Maxwell?"
"Well, yeah! I mean, I know sewers don't normally smell like sunshine and daisies but this is disgusting!" he chocked, feeling sick. Oh he was going to throw up any time now. Aeni sighed, pulling a small flashlight from her jacket and clicking it on. Amazingly, its luminance filled the room, but it didn't vanquish the darkness it'd been hiding.
"Welcome to hell, Misery." she whispered, looking towards what made Solo lose his lunch.
Most of them were without eyes...some missing limbs...others half rotten...Skeletons, flesh, and death...This was NOT a sewer. Solo might have been able to eventually push this scene from his mind if he'd not seen something that Aeni shrieked and pointed out. No, this would be burned into his memory for as long as he lived. On top of the pile lay a fresh body, not yet destroyed by the gnawing of maggots and rats. She was quite beautiful, though the pale death proved her breathless indeed. Solo could remember a good memory where he'd curled up into that skin and quietly listening to a story. He couldn't help himself when he sank to the ground, choking up everything in his stomach. He'd never felt so hopeless.
"It looks like Hilde proved herself worthless." Aeni said, lacking any kind of insult to Solo, "I'm...er...sorry..."
"Shut up." Solo snapped back.
----------------------------------Author Commentary-----------------------------------------
AH ha..haha...whoops...-sweatdrop- I haven't updated in a while, ne? I'm so lazy...FORGIVE ME! You can thank picaresque for his/her comment. It told me to WAKE UP and just write already. Okay...so Aeni's name is pronounced "Ah-eh-knee" for future reference...Who is that man...dun dun duuuun. No hide nor hair the pilots but plenty of poor Hilde. SUFFER SOLO -shifty eyes-. Oh well...JA NE until next chapter. I hope you keep reading.