"Usagi, you really shouldn't bait Wufei like that," Michiru chided.
"I know, but it brought back good memories," Usagi said with a smile.
"The race is in three hours. You need to get dressed and down stairs in half an hour," She told her. Usagi gave a solute and took off for her room. Michiru looked at her sadly. Mamoru had died three years before. Originally it had been Mamoru's idea to be a racing team. He had thought it would be the perfect cover for what they were going to be. Haruka was the racer, Usagi was the voice over the radio, telling Haruka what was going on. Mamoru was Manager, making sure he knew where everyone on the team was at any given time. Ami copied down the details of every lap. Setsuna was the owner and mingled with the other owners. The rest of the girls were pit crew. Unfortunately he was a speed demon as well. All of them were. That's part of the reason why they were so good at what they did in the war. Five months before the first race, he had had an accident while speeding away from police. He had died and ever since Usagi had lost a bit of the confidence she used to have in abundance. They had had to switch around the jobs a little as well. Now no one mingled with the owners, instead Setsuna was the voice on the radio and Usagi was the manager.
Usagi walked into her rooms and went over to her closet. In one corner she had three identical uniforms. She and the others wore what could only be described as a cat suit. They were all black and silver. Each girl had a different style and Setsuna actually had a two piece suit in black and silver and Haruka's were more like cover all's. All of the other girls had flared legs on their cat suits and wore black tennis shoes.
Usagi took the suit down and pulled it on. Hers had a strapless and backless top. The entire thing was black except for the silver silk cords lacing across her back and the silver belt on her hips. Hotaru's was a deep backed halter top and she had silver lacing the edge of the top and she had a silver belt as well. Minako's was a sleeveless full back with a neck that went in a deep 'V' that reached an inch above her navel. little silver strings tied it together. and the back to her waist was sheer silver material, she also had a silver belt. Ami had a boat neck long sleeved black cat suit with a silver belt and silver edging the end of her sleeves and the neck line. Rei's was done as a cross backed tank top that showed off her shoulder blades. She also had the silver belt. Michiru's Had a simple tanked top with shoulder knots and a silver belt around her hips. Makoto's cat suit was black in the front of the top, but not the back or sleeves. the back was sheer silver and so were the ¾ sleeves.
Usagi threw on a pink leather coat and put her hair in a long ponytail. Then ran downstairs. Everyone else was already dressed. Each of them had on a different color coat. One thing Setsuna was adamant about. Everyone except for herself Ami and Haruka, had to have their hair up in a ponytail. Haruka and Ami didn't have hair long enough for ponytails, and Setsuna didn't look right with one. Then each of the girls was given a black baseball hat to put on. They all had to pull their ponytails through the back. They went into the garage and all found a car or bike of some sort to drive their in.
She smiled at her friends. It was a good thing that the gundum guys didn't like race cars. Each of the girls had gotten tattoos of their symbols before the war was over. Ami had a small Snowy Own on her left collar bone, Minako had a platypus on the right of the base of her back, Usagi herself had a gryffin between her shoulder blades, Rei had a phoenix on her right shoulder blade, Makoto had a dragon on upper part of her left arm, Hotaru had a Black Panther stalking across the top of her back above her shoulder blades, Haruka had a cheetah running across the small of her back, Michiru had a Viper coiled up next to her belly button, and Setsuna had a black bat on the inside of her right wrist. Mamoru had had a roaring Lion on his chest.
Usagi climbed into a corvette. Haruka and Michiru climbed into Haruka's baby. Hotaru and Rei both got on Motorcycles. Makoto climbed into a Jeep. Ami and Setsuna climbed into the rig with the race car in the back and Minako got into a yellow Prowler. They got to the track about a half hour later and unloaded things. The girls tossed their coats into Makoto's jeep and walked over to their pit.
The girls were used to getting whistles and the like from the other crews and ignored them unless some of the guys tried to get a little to friendly.
"Crap, the race starts in like thirty minutes," Duo shouted.
"What race?" Quatre asked.
"THE race," Duo said.
"What's the matter?" Wufei asked.
"I've got tickets for the front row, right behind the amazons," He groaned.
"Really?" Rusty asked.
"Yeah," Duo said with a smile.
"So do I," They grinned at each other.
"I have an extra ticket," Duo said with a smile. He looked at the guys.
"So do I," Rusty smiled.
"It doesn't sound like a bad idea," Quatre agreed.
"That's only two seats," Trowa pointed out.
"Take mine," Rusty insisted.
"Why?" Wufei asked.
"I know the girls and the people at the track," Rusty said with a grin.
"Then let's go, we'll all fit in my jeep, I drive," Duo said. Duo was wearing a pair of black pants and a black button up. Wufei was wearing khaki's and a tan tee shirt. Quatre was wearing Khaki's a button up blue shirt and a darker blue vest. Trowa was wearing a pair of jeans and a dark green tee shirt. They hopped in the jeep and Duo took ten minutes on what was usually a 35 minute drive. Rusty handed the guys his tickets and let them inside. He walked up to the gate and made a show of looking for his ticket.
"Vince, I lost my ticket and there's not enough time for me to go back and get it before the race starts," He told the guy at the gate.
"Alright Rusty, hold on a sec, I'll call Usagi," He picked up a phone and dialed. two minutes later Usagi came jogging up.
"Hey Rusty," She smiled at the boy.
"Hi Usa, I don't know where I left my ticket," He told her.
"It doesn't matter, the seats are packed, come sit on the fence with us," She said with a smile.
"Some of my friends are sitting right behind you," He told her.
"Rusty," She said warningly.
"What?" He asked innocently.
"You gave one of them your ticket," She accused.
"Never," He cried.
"Do you want me to list the times?" She asked.
"Alright, maybe I did, but he's never been to a race," He said pleadingly.
"You are just lucky that you're adorable," She told him with a playful shove. He smiled at her and went to the pit. He climbed up the fence next to the seats so he could see the race and sat down. Duo leaned foreword and tapped his shoulder.
"I thought you said that your sister was a maid in their house," He said.
"She is, and my mom's the house keeper. My dad died in the war. They watched me when my mom wanted to go out and stuff," He said with a smile.
"Dude, can you introduce us?" Duo asked as Minako came over and smiled at Rusty.
"Give a friend your ticket again?" She asked with a grin, her emerald green eyes dancing.
"You guys jump to conclusions to much," He complained.
"In other words, yes," She said with a smile. She walked over to the other girls and sat down with them.
"Do you guys want introductions before the race starts?" He asked.
"Yeah," Duo cried immediately.
"Alright, hold on a minute," Rusty hopped down and walked over to the car where everyone seemed to have congregated. He came back a few seconds later, a few people coming behind him.
"Alright guys, they say there's to much going on for all of them to come over here, so you get to meet Haruka, Ami, Usagi, and Setsuna for now," The guys smiled.
"Alright, Setsuna Meiou is the owner, she's also the person that talks to Haruka over the head set," Rusty introduced Setsuna, "This is Haruka Tenno, The race car driver," Haruka shook their hands. "Ami Mizuno, she keeps track of all the cars and how well they do for future reference," Ami smiled and shook their hands."And this is Usagi Tsukino, the manager, she has to make sure that everything is running smoothly back here," Usagi smiled and shook everyone's hands.
"I can't stand it when people run seconds after meeting me, but the race is gonna start, I'll talk to you after, stick around," Haruka said, jogging over to the car that six other girls were double checking. Ami climbed up on the fence and sat down as Usagi started to talk to someone over her head piece.
"No, I told you, if you want pictures you have to talk to us before hand sir," She said nicely, "No sir," She said, "Excuse me but you don't seem to understand . . . I'm afraid there is no one above me for you to talk to . . . Yes I am Usagi of the Amazons . . . Well you listen to me you pompous windbag, we have guidelines that we use for everyone and I'm not about to change them for one spoiled brat of a reporter now why don't you take that quote and shove it where the sun doesn't shine," She clicked a button on the hand pad that went with the unit and growled.
"Ami, do me a favor and make a note that L4 daily is on my shit list for being rude and overbearing,"
"Usa, do you mean Gary Collins?" Ami asked.
"That would be the man,"
"He was poking around the grounds yesterday," Ami said.
"Fine, next time he does that I'll call the police and report a trespasser, after I set the dogs loose," She said with a sniff. Rusty laughed at them.
"Usa, you know you're to nice to actually do that," he told her.
"Doesn't mean I can't dream about it," She told him.
"Pace car's in," Ami shouted loudly to the crew. Haruka was strapped in and took off for the line. Ami started to put down notes on her papers and Setsuna started talking over the head piece. Pretty soon the other girls came over in small groups. The first two were Michiru and Minako. They walked over to the small group with smiles.
"Hey Rusty boy. Causing trouble?" Michiru asked with a grin.
"Me? Trouble? I have no idea what you're talking about," He said with a grin.
"That's funny, I could have sworn you were one of the three urchins that tried to peek in while I was in the shower," Minako said with a raised brow.
"I was thirteen, give me a break," He groaned.
"You know she's only teasing," Michiru said with a laugh. She shook hands with the boys.
"Pace Car's Out," Ami shouted. The two girls turned to look.
"Ruka's in the lead," Michiru said with a smile.
"Did you expect anything else?" Minako asked. She turned back to the boys, "So the hero's are race fans huh?" She asked.
"He is," Quatre said, pointing at Duo.
"What can I say, I like fast things," He said with a smile. Minako raised one of her eyebrows at him.
"Oh really," She drawled.
"Nice Platypus," Trowa remarked to her. She smiled at him.
"Isn't it? I named him Devotion," She said with a half smile.
"Why a platypus?" He asked.
"I dunno. They kind of look like they were just put together out of left over pieces from other animals. Like they don't really have a purpose, but at the same time they are very protective. They try to keep those around them safe. They may look cute, but they have poisonous talons and wont think twice about using them to keep there own safe," She said with a wry look on her face.
"Hn," He commented. She looked him up and down.
"You really need to get a larger vocabulary," She said with a laugh. She walked off to sit with the other girls.
"So what are you doing after the race?" Duo asked Michiru. The woman smiled slightly.
"Throwing the victory party," Michiru said with a grin.
"What about tomorrow night?" Duo asked.
"I'll probably be having quite a bit of fun without you," She told him. Rusty laughed out loud.
"The next night?" Duo persisted.
"You'll have to duke it out with my significant other," She told him.
"You should have told me you have a boyfriend," He told her.
"I don't," She told him the grin still on her face.
"Michi, you are cruel," Rusty told her. He turned to Duo, "She's been dating Haruka ever since I can remember. She just likes leading people on," He told them.
"Pit Stop," Setsuna called. Michiru hopped down and jogged over to the other girls. The boys watched as the girls added air to the tires, tightened screws, gave Haruka water and had the girl back out again in about twenty seconds.
"That was fast," Quatre said, surprised.
"No kidding, why do you think they're known as the Amazons?" Duo said.
"Baka, we do not follow this. How would we know if they didn't come up with the name on their own?" Wufei said.
"Point taken," Duo agreed. Minako came back over, this time bringing the brunette.
"Hey guys, this is Makoto, she's a little shy," She said with a grin.
"I am not shy," Makoto said, pulling her arm out of Minako's hand, "I am simply busy," She smiled.
"Doing what?" Minako asked.
"Watching the race and making sure Haruka doesn't get hurt," Makoto told the girl, "Something you're supposed to be doing as well,"
"What, and if we stare hard enough it wont happen? I don't think so," She said with a smile.
"Rusty, explain to her that there is more to the world than just clothes, racing, and guys," Makoto told the boy with a smile.
"Me? I've been trying to convince her that I'm the man of her dreams for the past three years," He said with a grin.
"And I keep telling you, you'll never be a man in my eyes, I used to baby sit you," Minako said with a smile.
"You see, I keep hoping that you'll forget that part," He told her.
"A dragon?" Trowa asked Makoto.
"Yeah, strong, fierce, powerful, dangerous. I love the things," Makoto said with a smile.
"Strong, fierce, and powerful huh? My kind of woman," Duo said with a smile.
"Your kind of woman has legs and breaths," Minako teased.
"You know, that could be the answer to all my problems," Duo said thoughtfully.
"Man, I haven't even known you five whole minutes and I'm willing to bet that Minako's right," Makoto told him with a raised eye brow.
"I'm afraid that would be a correct assumption," Quatre agreed.
"So Mr. Tall dark and handsome," Makoto said to Trowa, "I take it you're as girl crazy as the braided baka?" She said.
"Why would you say that?" Duo asked, surprised.
"Because he keeps looking at me and the rest of the Amazon's," Makoto said calmly.
"You don't act like the rest of crews," He commented.
"Why do you say that?" She asked in bemusement.
"You all get along with more than just usual working relationship," He said.
"We all live together and we've known each other since before the war," Makoto told him.
"What did you all do during the war?" He asked.
"I," Makoto started. She was cut off by Setsuna.
"Pit stop," She shouted. The girls hopped down from the fence and jogged over. Michiru was holding up a sign that said '37' on it.
"Rusty, c'mere for a sec," Usagi called. The boy hopped down and walked over to the blonde girl.
"Look at the girls," Trowa said.
"They are a bunch of Onna's, nothing else," Wufei commented.
"No, Setsuna has a black bat tattooed on her wrist, Usagi has a Griffin with a pink flower in it's beak, Minako has a Platypus with a yellow bow around it's neck, Makoto has a Green dragon on her arm, Ami has a Snowy owl on her collar bone, and all of them have the letter's 'TF' in their eyes and two of them are lesbians," Trowa said quickly.
"It could be coincidence," Duo said.
"Baka," Wufei muttered.
"That's true, and Makoto looked nervous when Trowa asked what they had done during the war," Quatre agreed. Two new girls started to walk toward them.
"Hello, I was told to introduce myself by Rusty," The first one said. She had long dark hair with violet highlights and had violet eyes, "I'm Rei," She shook hands while the girl with her introduced her self.
"I'm Hotaru," She had shorter hair and hers had dark purple highlights and purple eyes. She was also very pale.
"Hello Hotaru, Rei, how are you on this fine day?" Duo asked gallantly.
"We are perfectly fine," Rei said.
"Haruka has been in the lead the entire race and we only have about forty laps left, we're going to win," Hotaru said with a nod.
"There's enough time for it to change," Rei told her friend, making a face.
"But it wont," Hotaru said with a shrug. She turned as she got her name called. Michiru gave her a few gestures and Hotaru nodded. She turned around to the guys. "You've been invited to the party afterwards," She told them.
"That would be nice," Quatre said with a smile.
"Nice panther," Wufei commented.
"Cute, isn't she?" Hotaru asked. She walked away from the guys and over to the girls. Rei laughed at the dumb founded look on Duo's face.
"Don't mind Hotaru. We tease her about being a mystic all the time," Rei said.
"How long has she been like that?" Duo asked.
"Since her dad died, and he was one of the first casualties of the war," Rei said, a serious tone in her voice.
"She looks young," Quatre said.
"She's 18, old enough to be her own person," Rei said with a nod.
"I thought she had been helping with the races since the beginning," Duo said in surprise.
"She has. Hotaru's smart. Really smart. She graduated from school three years early with high honors. We're all proud of her," Rei told them.
"How old are you?" Duo asked.
"20, Michiru and Haruka are 24, Setsuna is 27, and the others are my age," Rei said.
"So Hotaru graduated before you?" Duo asked.
"No, the girls and I graduated a year early," Rei said.
"Not a bad deal," Trowa said.
"Nope, not at all," Rei agreed.
"So where is this party going to be?" Quatre asked.
"Our place," Rei said with a smile.
"Where is that?" wufei asked.
"Quatre ought to know," She said with a smile.
"Why?" Quatre asked.
"You know the Mansion next to yours? The one with the Unicorns flanking the driveway?" She asked.
"Oh yes, I've always admired them," He said with a nod.
"That's our place," She said with a smile. She walked over to the other girls as Rusty ran back to the guys.
"Eight more laps," He said excitedly. He climbed up and sat down. as expected, Haruka won.
"AND THE CROWD GOES WILD AS NUMBER 37, HARUKA TENNO TAKES THE VICTORY LAP," Came an announcers voice over the stands. There was cheering all over the place as Haruka went around the track with the checkered flag. Haruka pulled up and the net was taken off her window and she was pulled out. She stood and smiled at everyone, hugging Michiru and wrapping her arm around the other girl's waist. Rusty hopped over and ran to the girls, smiling and congratulating.
"Hotaru had the black panther crouched on the purple cloud, Rei had a phoenix in full flame," Trowa commented.
"Do you still think that it is a coincidence?" Wufei asked Duo.
"Where's Earth?" He asked.
"I don't know, we'll find out soon enough," Quatre said. Haruka and Michiru came over, Haruka's arm still firmly around the other girl's waist.
"Coming to our victory party?" She asked.
"Of course," Duo said with a smile.
"Do I need to give you directions?" She asked.
"Nope, we got it," Quatre said with a grin.
"Good, Stop by any time after the next two hours," She said with a grin. The two walked off again into the crowd.
"I'd be willing to bet anything that we have the culprits," Wufei said. Rusty came running back.
"You guys don't mind if I go back with the Amazons, do you?" He asked.
"Go on Rusty, Have a blast," Duo said with a smile.
"Thanks," Rusty said with a smile. He took off again.
"Let's take off for the office," Duo said. He and the others walked to the jeep and drove back to work. They walked up to the office and were met with a surprise. Everyone in the office was sitting quietly and throwing scared glances at the door leading to the pilots' office.
"Heero's here," Duo said with a large grin. He opened the door to the office and smiled at the man sitting back in one of the chairs and reading a file.
"Took you long enough," Heero commented, not looking up.
"But we think we figured out who Talon & Fang, inc. are," Duo said with a smile. That got Heero's attention.
"Who?" he asked.
"Let's sit down first," Quatre said.
"And let's think about this for a moment," Wufei said, "There are ten bugs around the room,"
"Nine, and they're all in here," Heero answered. He pulled a bag out of his pocket and tossed it onto the table in front of Wufei, who dumped them out in front of him.
"Mercury, Venus, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, where's Earth?" He asked.
"Not here," Heero said.
"Why do you say that?" Duo asked.
"I couldn't find it," He told them.
"There is such a thing as to large an ego," Duo commented.
"There is such a thing as a haircut," Heero retorted.
"We could always ask," Quatre said.
"How do you plan on that?" Duo asked. Quatre walked around the table and picked up the walkie-talkie.
"With this," He said. He squeezed the trigger, "Anyone out there?" He asked.
"Well if it isn't 04 himself," A voice said with a smile.
"Who is this?" He asked.
"It's Moon again," She said.
"I have a question," He said.
"Fire away," She answered.
"We could only find nine bugs," He said.
"There are only nine bugs," She said softly.
"What happened to Earth?" he asked.
"He died about three years ago. I'll go get someone else," The noise stopped again.
"That explains it," Duo said softly.
"The poor girl," Quatre said.
"Is someone over there?" asked an irritated voice.
"Yes, who is this?" Duo asked, picking up the device.
"It's Jupiter, and I would like to know what you guys said to get Moon that upset. She hasn't cried in almost three years," The girl said angrily.
"We just asked what happened to Earth," Duo said defensively.
"Damn, I knew something like this would happen," They heard a sigh, "What do you want to know?" She asked.
"How did he die?" Duo asked.
"Car crash, bad. Moon tried to get him out, but it didn't work,"
"When was that?"
"two years, seven months and three days. Before you ask, the only reason I know that is because that's all Moon said before she burst into tears,"
"Weren't Moon and Earth supposed to get married?" Duo asked.
"The accident was exactly eight months before the wedding," Jupiter answered.
"So now it's only nine," He said.
"Congratulations, you can do simple subtraction," She said sarcastically.
"Hey, be nice," He said.
"Maybe later. Hello Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Heero," She said.
"How'd you know Heero's here?" Duo asked.
"The bugs are gone," She said simply.
"Do you like racing?" Duo asked.
"As in horse racing?"
"As in car racing," He said.
"Look, I'm not good at this roundabout way to play politics. I prefer the good old aim small, miss small. We all know that you figured us out. Why do you think we invited you over?" She asked.
"Well since that's taken care of Makoto, maybe you could call us on the regular phone?" Duo asked.
"Will do," three minutes later there was a buzz and they were told that there was a one Makoto Kino on the line. They opened the frequency.
"Hello Makoto," Quatre said.
"Hello Quatre," Her hair was up in it's usual ponytail and she was wearing a green tank top and a pair of black daisy dukes.
"Would you please tell us why you are stealing things from companies? I know that it isn't for the money," Duo said.
"There is no money involved for us at all. We destroy the disks. Those companies are selling to an organization that is trying to start another war," Makoto told them seriously.
"Then why did you return some of the things you stole?" Quatre asked.
"Because some of the things weren't really harmful. Either that or they weren't what we thought they were," She told them.
"How so?" Quatre asked.
"You'd have to ask Ami, I don't follow these things, I'm the engineer. I work on the getaway cars, I don't do the jobs," She told them.
"You used to," Trowa said.
"We all have to grow up sometime," She told him.
"What a horrible thing to say," Minako commented. She walked in through a door behind Makoto, "Hello boys," She waved to them. She did some quick hand signals to Makoto, and Makoto answered with more of the same.
"So who asked about Mamoru?" She asked. She was wearing a pair of white flared jeans and a yellow cropped baby tee. Her hair was half pulled back into a red bow.
"I did," Quatre said.
"I'd just like to state that no one else is allowed to comment on the now deceased Mamoru Chiba, aka Earth of the Lion symbol," She said.
"yes ma'am," Duo nodded.
"Bad boy, go to my room," She said, shaking her finger at him.
"With pleasure," He said. She smiled.
"Hello Heero, I figured you'd be skulking around when we came home and noticed the bugs were gone," She said wryly.
"I don't skulk," Heero told her.
"What ever you say trigger happy," She told him. He pulled a gun and glared at the screen.
"You know, I'd be scared if I didn't know you wouldn't really shoot me," She told him.
"Hn," He said. He cocked the gun.
"Not to mention that you're actually only pointing that thing at a telephone screen," She said with a smile.
"Minako, stop baiting him," Makoto commanded, "Heero, put the gun away," amazingly enough, the gun disappeared.
"Now, we expect you to stay the night. The parties usually last a bit far into the night, and we will be keeping you up later than that to talk. You're not going to the office tomorrow," Minako said.
"Oh yes, and you have to wear suits, 'cause we have to wear dresses," Makoto said with a smile.
"We'll see you in an hour," Quatre said with a smile.
"See you later boys," Minako waved at the screen and Makoto hung up.