Disclaimer: I don't own sailor moon or any characters pertaining to that series, however much I wish I did.

Chapter Three

The main room in the inn was smoky and dark, the perfect place to meet and discuss business. The group of men and women seated at the table in the corner conversed in hushed voices.

"She's definitely escaped then?" A dark haired, bulky man asked.

" Last seen being dragged through a whole in the orphanage wall." One of the women said.

" No doubt the Lords have search parties out looking for her at this very moment." Another man said.

" As do we." The woman replied.

" But their parties are going to be led by Lord Darien. We don't really stand much of a chance Ami." The dark haired man said.

'' Relax Andrew, we'll make sure we find her first and bring her to safety." Ami said.

"And how are you going to convince her that we are not out to harm her?" A dark haired woman asked, flicking her long hair over her shoulder.

" From the rumours flying around, it's not going to be her we have to convince, Rei. It'll be the girl who's looking after her." Andrew said.

" Rumours?" Rei asked.

" Certain members of the committee are saying she was badly hurt when she left the orphanage." Andrew said.

" Neph and I overheard a conversation between a couple of loose tongued guardians." Ami said. "They said the guardian who was supposed to be watching her was 'disposed of' because he let her get away."

" The Lords aren't happy. They're not going to be very merciful at the moment." Nephrite said.

At that moment the door to the inn flew open and a couple of men walked in. Soaked from the rain that had been pouring down for the last couple of days. They walked over to the group and plonked themselves on a couple of spare chairs.

"What's happening out there Jed? Kunzite?" Ami asked.

" She's been found." Kunzite answered.

" By whom?" Rei asked.

" By us." Jadeite replied.

" Thank goodness for that!" Ami said.

" Where has she been taken?" Andrew asked.

" I said we'd found her, not that she was cooperating with us. Well at least her friend's not. That girl's got a bloody good aim." Kunzite replied.

" Oh dear. What happened?" Ami asked.

" She has a gun with her and is making it useful. She nearly took off Kunzites ear." Jadeite said, motioning for the barkeeper. Laughter burst out around the table at Kunzites look of indignation.

"Who's with them now?" Rei asked.

" Lita's trying to talk to them."

" How badly was she hurt?" Andrew asked.

" We haven't been able to determine that yet, but from what we can see it doesn't look like she's doing to well."

"I guess there's nothing to do but wait." Ami said.

"Please Serena I need your help!" Mina said into Serena's ear while keeping the gun trained on the people surrounding their hiding spot. "Serena please, wake up and tell me what to do!"

Mina was exhausted, she hadn't gotten much sleep in the last few days and the pressure of having to keep them moving had been steadily draining any reserves of energy she had. She was starting to doubt herself and being found by these people as a sign of her failure to be useful. She didn't know what to do any more. She was feeling sick, tired, hungry and useless.

" Let........ them ...........help!" Serena murmured. " Don't care.....any more. Stop ......pain."

Mina looked down into Serena's face and saw her fatigue. It broke her heart to think that she might be taking Serena back into the place she hated so much, if she allowed herself to be taken by these strangers. But she had no choice. She looked through the rain to the woman who had been talking to her for the last few hours.

" Serena needs help, urgently." She called. " Please get her some help!"

Lita let out a sigh of relief. Motioning to the man standing behind her, she stepped forward and crouched down by the girl who was cradling her unconscious companion in her arms. " Zoicite here is going to take Serena and put her in our cart. We're going to take you somewhere warm and we're going to see to getting Serena some help." She said.

" I want to stay with her." Mina said determinedly.

" Of course." Lita said, nodding to Zoicite.

Zoicite leaned down to pick Serena up but was stopped by Mina grabbing his arm.

" Don't touch her back. It's infected." She said desperately.

" I couldn't do anything to help her." Tears slipped down her cheeks, mingling with the rain.

" I'll be careful of her back, I promise." Zoicite said gently.

"We're clear." Lita said quietly into Zoicite's ear as he drove along the dark streets.

" The Mill?"

" I think that would be the best place to take them." Lita said.

" Cover the girls, and tell the one that's awake what's happening. Stay back there and help her to stop the other from moving" Zoicite said, indicating a waterproof covering at their feet.

Clambering over the seat into the back of the cart, Lita whispered into Minas ear and them covered them all with the covering. The cart suddenly jerked to the right and they were all thrown against the walls. Serena moaned and wreathed in agony. Mina pressed her shoulders into the floor and covered her body, using all her left over strength to stop Serena from moving. It seemed like hours before the cart stopped moving and Mina could finally relax her aching muscles and give in to sleep.

" This little thing is the one who shot at me?" Kunzite said, stunned.

Jadeite looked into the face of the girl Kunzite was cradling in his arms and laughed.

" The great Kunzite was scared by a bullet, shot at him by probably the smallest woman he's ever had in his arms."

" She is kind of small isn't she?" Kunzite looked a bit concerned, and loosened the grip he had on Mina's slender body.

" This one's smaller." Nephrite said, lifting Serena from the cart.

" So much pressure's going to be hard for such a small body to bear." Rei said.

" Let's not talk about that now. She's got a lot to get over first before we can even think about what lies after that." Lita said.

" She's going to have to face it sometime." Andrew said, brushing a strand of Serena's hair from her face.

" That's if we can keep her alive." Rei said.

Lord Darien's lips twisted in a grimace, as the first mouthful of whiskey hit his tongue. He loathed this stuff, but it was the only thing his father kept in the house, and tonight he needed a drink. The next couple of days were going to crucial to the development of his plan and should anything go wrong, he was going to be in grave danger, along with his family. The girl was not to be found and the lords were getting restless, fearing she had already been taken in by the Rebels. And apparently they had good reason too. Rumour travelled fast in his circle of information and Lord Darien had reason to believe she and her friend had been found. Whether it was the truth or not, he intended to find out. And soon.

" Well done, little Serena! Well done!" He murmured to himself. " We'll be meeting very soon I think and you and I are going to have a nice long chat."