I own absolutely, positively nothing. But you knew that. The song "Barcelona" was written by Jewel.
Segment 9:
Longing for Freedom
Summary:
Duo has spent the past two weeks on L3 looking for Red Delta. However, his search is proving fruitless, as he reports to Sally. But when he goes to a club called "La Lune", he meets a strange young woman named Marie Duma. She invites him up to her hotel room and makes advances towards him, but before he can respond he is knocked unconscious. On L2, Trowa and Lady Une visit the Procyon Home for Children, an "orphanage" run by the Leute in order to adopt out the aliens into the homes of humans. The couple takes in a Leute who calls herself Dahlia, and while she is not outwardly hostile, it is quite obvious she harbors no tenderness for her new family, and both Lady Une and Trowa know she cannot be trusted.
"Looks like you made it," a sarcastic voice remarked as Quatre stepped out of the helicopter as it landed in the wayside parking lot. The two had agreed to meet in this out of the way location in order to avoid unwanted publicity, and also because it was only a twenty-minute drive to Saint Teresa's from there. Once they'd (hopefully) gained custody of Rei Hino, they would drive to Washington D.C., stay a night, then catch the first shuttle back to L4 that they could.
He raised an eyebrow. "Good to see you too, Auntie."
She made no remark at the loathed title, but rolled her eyes and waved him over to her red convertible. Shoving his suitcase in the trunk, she climbed in the driver's seat. "You sure you want to do this?"
Quatre stared at her quizzically. "Yeah…why wouldn't I?"
"You could be wrong," Haruka pointed out as he climbed in. She started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. "On the phone you said you got help from Dorothy Catalonia."
"Point being?"
"I don't trust her," she replied simply. "For all you know, she could be arranging for you to walk into a cell with Hannibal Lector."
He laughed at the remark, then stopped when he realized Haruka wasn't. "Look…there's hospital staff there, right? And you."
She barked out a cynical laugh. "Now why the hell would you think I'd be able to protect you from a psychopath?"
"Because…" Quatre turned to look at her profile against the woods flying by. "I've known you all my life, and ever since I was little I've always believed you could do anything. And you've never proved me wrong."
She was silent, letting his words sink in. Though she would never admit it to herself or anyone else, that had been the most touching thing she had ever heard in her long life. And for the first time in twenty-five years, she was starting to feel guilty about all the lies she'd told him.
"Well, I can't do everything," Haruka muttered. "But if you need me to save your life, I can handle it."
"Thanks Haruka," Quatre replied, leaning on the top of the door as he watched the scenery go by. Letting the wind whip through his hair, he closed his eyes and listened as Haruka turned on the radio.
Barcelona, where the winds all blew
Where the churches don't have windows
But the graveyards do
Me and my shadow are wrestling again
Look out stranger
There's a dark cloud moving in
But if you could hear
The voice in my heart
It would tell you
I'm afraid I'm alone
Won't somebody please
Hold me
Release me
Show me
The meaning of mercy
Let me loose
Fly
Let me fly
Let me fly
Super paranoid
I'm blending
I'm blurring
I'm bleeding
Into the scenery
Loving someone else is always so much easier
But I hold myself hostage in the mirror
But if you could hear
The voice in my heart
It would tell you
I'm afraid I'm alone
God won't you please
Hold me
Release me
Show me
The meaning of mercy
Let me loose
Let me fly
Let me fly
Let me fly
I won't be held down
I won't be held back
I will lead with my faith
The Red Light
Has been following me
But don't worry Mother
It's no longer my gravity
Hold me
Release me
Show me
The meaning of mercy
Let me fly
Let me fly
Let me fly
"Quatre? Hey, wake up."
He was roughly aware of Haruka shaking his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he blinked in the bright sunlight of the afternoon. "Are we there already?"
"Yeah. Come on," she answered shortly, stepping out of the car. Quatre followed.
The two walked up a long paved path to a large red brick building. There were three other smaller buildings lined up behind the main one, and the entire grounds were surrounded by a fifteen-foot high brick wall with watchtowers every fifty feet or so. The only entrance and exit was through a guarded gate on the driveway that led to the main highway. Although the complex was lovely overall, it sent a cold chill up Quatre's spine. Within the brick wall dwelled nearly three hundred people who, most likely, had not seen anything past it for years. And that included Hino Rei, or Raye Hino.
In the lobby of the main building, they stopped at the desk of a receptionist.
"Hi, I'm here to visit Raye Hino," Quatre replied, his voice level and friendly.
The older woman peered up at him quizzically from behind horn-rimmed glasses. "Excuse me, did you say Raye Hino?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Sir, if I'm not mistaken," she flipped through some papers on the desk. "Miss Hino is in the Isolative Care Building. She's not allowed visitors."
He frowned. "There must be a mistake. Dorothy Catalonia called and said I'd be coming. Quatre Winner…?"
The receptionist gasped. "Oh! Oh my lord…Oh Mr. Winner, I'm very very sorry!" She pulled out a small folded post it note from under a coffee can filled with pencils and pens. "When I saw this…I thought…I thought it was a joke, sir. You know how it is…oh lord I'm terribly sorry!"
He smiled reassuringly at her and glanced at Haruka. Her hand was on her forehead and it looked like she was trying her very best not to smack the hysterical woman. Lowering her hand, she gave her a death glare from her steely blue eyes that would've put even Heero to shame, and nearly caused the poor receptionist to faint.
"Of course," she replied, gaining her composure. "We can make an exception for you, Mr. Winner. Though there will have to be hospital personnel sent along with you. Is that all right?"
Quatre thought, then nodded. Once Raye was out of this place, then he could talk to her about the Senshi. "Yes, that's quite all right."
She smiled thankfully, then picked up her phone and pressed a button. "Hello, Jamie? Mr. Winner's here to visit Miss Hino. Could you and Brad restrain her for him?"
He blinked. Restrain? he wondered.
"Yes, thank you Jamie. We'll be there in a few minutes," the receptionist replied, hanging up. "Mr. Winner, I'll lead you and your guest to the Isolative Care Building. Follow me this way, please."
She led them down a hallway and out a door into a nicely manicured garden courtyard. The sun had vanished behind a cloud, and the mood over Saint Teresa's grew dour. They walked down a gravel path to the northernmost of the buildings, and entered. Climbing up two flights of stairs, they stopped at a room on the end of the hall. A well-muscled man with blond hair and green eyes was waiting outside.
"Ah, here we are. Mr. Winner, this is Bradley Morgan, one of Miss Hino's caretakers," she introduced.
Brad shook Quatre's hand. "Pleasure to meet you sir. Jamie's inside with the patient if you're ready."
"Yes, thank you," he answered, nodding to the receptionist who looked relieved to be free of Haruka's accusing stare. Or maybe she was just afraid to stay in the foreboding structure anymore, because in two seconds flat she was outside walking quickly back to the main building.
Brad opened the door and let them into the room. "Mr. Winner, this is James King, another associa—"
He was cut off by a wild, savage scream, followed by a crash and the sound of a man grunting. Brad paled.
"One moment, please," he said, disappearing into a smaller room attached to the main one. Quatre looked around. There was a low, uncomfortable looking couch, a door leading (presumably) to a bathroom, a bookcase with a few old volumes, a cracked mirror, and a few high lights on the wall. The window overlooking the grounds was dirty and had spider web cracks.
"Not exactly five star accommodations," he commented to Haruka. However, a change had come over her since she'd entered the room. She was silent and no emotion showed on her face. She refused to look in the direction the scream had come from.
Some loud panting came from the room, and finally a few snaps of buckles. Brad returned, accompanied by another muscular man with olive skin and dark hair. But it was the woman they brought with that made Quatre's heart stop.
She was in a straightjacket and was belted to a dolly. Her black hair was tangled and tied loosely away from her face with a ragged piece of cloth, and her skin was very pale and dirty. Her violet eyes held a haunted, tormented look as they darted around the room, her chest heaving violently in a struggle to regain control of her body.
"Mr. Winner, this is Miss Hino. Miss Hino, this is—" Jamie blinked as he stared at the woman.
Her body was frozen, as if in shock, and her eyes were fixed not on Quatre, but on Haruka. They widened, and she opened her mouth to let a single whisper escape.
"You."
Quatre turned to stare quizzically at his aunt, who looked as though she was seeing a ghost. Meanwhile, the carted girl began to writhe again, her voice growing louder with every chant.
"You…you…you you YOU YOU YOU!"
She screamed again and struggled to free herself. There was no doubt about it now. The reason the "psychic girl" had been admitted to Saint Teresa's had nothing to do with power, but it was because she was absolutely crazy.
"Excuse us, Mr. Winner!" Brad apologized, then he and Jamie wheeled her back into the smaller room.
Quatre looked at Haruka, expecting an answer, but she said nothing. Sighing, he followed the two men into the girl. They released her from the cart but immediately secured her to the small bed. This room was darker, and served as her bedroom, with a cardboard box of clothes and a light bulb in a socket in the ceiling. There was also a large mirror in the wall above the bed and a plastic chair in the corner.
Once she was safely restrained the two men stepped back. "We don't really know what's the matter with her. This was actually one of her better days, that was why we were allowing you to visit. Before you showed up, she was just sitting in here staring out the window. She only gets destructive when we come into her room. But this is worse than I've ever seen her before. Maybe she just doesn't like your friend."
"Maybe," Quatre agreed softly, looking at the girl. She was a pitiful creature, and his heart went out to her. Especially when he locked eyes with her, and saw the depths of pain and fear she was enduring.
"I wonder…could I maybe just try to talk to her? By myself?" he asked.
Brad and Jamie looked at him like he was crazy. "Sir, I don't think that's a good idea. If she gets loose…"
"You'll be right outside. I'll yell if I need you. Just let me try. Please," Quatre requested.
They shrugged and stepped out.
Quatre pulled the chair over to the bed and looked at the girl. She was still writhing, but not as violently. However, her breathing was still heavy and her eyes still rolling wildly. It reminded him of a horse he'd seen once that had gone wild. He remembered how he'd gently touched the horse and talked softly to it, trying to calm it down. He did the same now.
Gently, he laid a hand on her forehead. She flinched, then lay still.
"Shhh…" he hissed, brushing her bangs, damp with sweat, from her eyes. "It's okay. I'm here to help. Just relax…"
"…Who are you?" the girl asked, looking at him.
He smiled. "My name's Quatre. You're Raye Hino, right?"
"Hino Rei, yes," she answered. "Just Rei."
Quatre blinked. Hino Rei. Was she the one he'd been looking for? Had the tabloid been right?
"Rei. That's a pretty name," he remarked. "You're from Japan?"
"Yes," Rei answered. Her breathing was normal now. "Where do you come from?"
"Space," Quatre answered.
"Why is she with you?" she pressed on. "She does not come from space."
"Who?" he asked.
"Haruka!" Rei yelled, starting to shake again. "Why? TELL ME!"
"Shh…shh…Rei," he said softly, laying his hand on her forehead again. But inside, he was shocked. How had she known his aunt's name? He hadn't told any of the personnel who she was. He hadn't said she'd be coming. In fact, not many people knew about Haruka. So how could this girl, who'd spent the past who knows how long in this disgusting place, know her name?
"Haruka? Haruka is my aunt," Quatre answered. "She's not going to hurt you either."
"Liar," Rei hissed.
He blinked again, then decided to move on. "Listen to me Rei. She does not want to hurt you, and neither do I. Do you know why we came?"
She did not answer, but the accusation was still visible in her face.
"We came here because we want to take you away from this place," Quatre explained. "We need your help."
"My…help?" Now bewilderment struck her face. She tried to sit up, but the belts held fast. Quatre gave her a meaningful look then released her from the bed and the straightjacket. The look of confusion on Rei's face grew as she slowly swung herself around and sat up straight on the edge of the bed. "…Thank you. But…what help can I give?"
"Do you know about Crystal Tokyo? And the Leute?" he asked.
She paled and shook her head as if she were trying to forget something. "No…NO! Leave me alone!" she screamed, shaking violently and starting to sob.
Quatre immediately put his arms around her, holding her still and whispering softly to her. "It's all right Rei. Calm down, everything's all right."
Jamie poked his head in the door. "Mr. Winner?" He looked shocked to see the girl in his arms.
"It's all right. Give us some more time," Quatre answered. Jamie nodded slowly and stepped out.
Rei looked up at him. "They…listen to you?"
He laughed sheepishly. "Yeah…it happens when you're in politics. But I can explain that later, if you like."
She stared at him, then reached up and touched his face softly. It was as if she were unsure that his presence was real, and not just another beautiful, tantalizing dream of freedom. "Will you really get me out of here?"
"Of course," he smiled at her. "But before I can do that, you have to trust me Rei. You have to trust Haruka too, that we'll take care of you."
Her gaze hardened. "No. I will never trust her again!"
Quatre inclined his head slightly. "Rei…do you know Haruka?"
She laughed bitterly. "Yes. And I do not trust her, nor do I enjoy her presence."
"Why?"
Rei narrowed her eyes. "Ask her. Perhaps she will tell you the truth."
He sighed. "I think I'll have to. But now, we need to figure out a plan to get you out of here. Maybe if we say you're a relation of mine?"
She shook her head. "They will not let me go. But…" Rei's eyes suddenly became glassy and empty, and were no longer focused on him. "They are coming for you. They have been following you, and now they have found you."
Gently, he tipped her head up to look at her. Her voice was flat and emotionless. "What?" But before she could answer, there was a sound of breaking glass and splintering wood.
"They are here."
Her words were punctuated by a strangled scream from Brad. Releasing her, Quatre ran to the main room and was immediately shoved to the floor by Haruka.
"Stay down, and get back to Rei," she hissed, standing up.
"What are you…oh my god…" he swallowed hard. Standing over the dead bodies of Brad and Jamie were five Leute, all armed with double bladed light sabers.
"Ripping off Star Wars? You guys are pathetic," Haruka challenged, gently kicking Quatre in the ribs as a sign for him to move. Starting, he quickly crawled back into Rei's bedroom.
"What's the matter?" she asked, crouching down and helping him up.
"Leute," he answered quickly, praying she wouldn't scream.
She didn't but her face drained of all color. "Here?"
He nodded. "Haruka's holding them off. We've got to go."
Rei shook her head. "We can't. There's only one door, and that's out there."
"Then Haruka will have to get them away from the door, won't she?" Quatre replied, grabbing her wrist and putting a hand over her mouth and they pressed themselves back against the wall. He peered around the edge of the doorway.
He had never personally encountered the Leute, but had seen Roderick Bailey's execution and had also seen a picture of Trowa and Lady Une's "daughter." Sure enough, the five figures in the room were similar. They appeared to be children around the ages of eleven or twelve, with very short hair of varying colors, and black empty eyes. And when they spoke to answer Haruka's challenge, it was in a flat monotone.
"You should've known we'd find you," they replied. "Between you and the boy and the girl, it was a target too simple to let pass."
"Pass this, bastards," she snarled, shoving the mirror towards them. One tried to slice through it with the lightsaber, but the beam reflected off of the surface and caused the blade to pierce the chest of another Leute.
"Cheap trick, Tenoh," Quatre heard a voice. He turned to see it had not been a Leute, but in fact Rei.
Haruka narrowed her eyes. "Stay out of the way."
"Show him, Haruka!" Rei demanded. "Show him who you really are. Or are you going to abandon him too? Abandon him like you abandoned m-"
"Fine!" she yelled. "Fine." From somewhere, she drew a small, ornate rod.
"Uranus Planet Power, MAKE UP!"
There was a blinding flash of light and color, and the floor shook violently, causing Quatre to grip the doorframe in order to keep from falling. When it finally ended, Haruka was wearing a strange outfit consisting of a short navy skirt and a navy-collared with leotard. They were the most feminine clothes he had ever seen her wear. They were also identical to the garments that the Senshi wore, only in different colors.
"Happy Rei?" Haruka snapped.
"Satisfied," she answered, a hint of triumph in her voice.
The four remaining Leute were momentarily overcome by awe, but they recovered quickly. "We were hoping you would show yourself, Uranus."
"Glad everyone's happy to see me," she rolled her eyes, then looked at Quatre. "Listen to me! When I tell you to go, take Rei and run for the car, got it?"
"What are you—"
But he was cut off as Haruka raised her hand and clenched her fist. Yellow light filtered out from the cracks between her fingers, and she suddenly brought her hand downwards as if she were throwing something. The light formed into a giant yellow orb that caused the building to shake violently and ripped up the floor.
"GO QUATRE!"
Without thinking, he grabbed Rei by the wrist and bolted for the door. Behind them, the hallway was ripping in two, and he realized the building was falling apart. Adrenaline running full blast and overriding his better judgment, he saw the window at the end of the hall near the stairs.
"Come on!" Quatre yelled over the noise of the destruction and pulled Rei up next to him. Pulling their heads down, he crashed through the window and felt himself falling through the open air. Luckily, they had only been about twelve feet off the ground, so when they landed and rolled down the grassy slope towards the wall, nothing was broken.
Rei got to her feet before he did, and pulled him up quickly. "Where's your car?" she asked hurriedly as they dashed towards the parking lot.
"There," he answered, pointing toward the convertible. He helped her over the door into the backseat then leaped into the driver's side. Suddenly, he cursed and slapped his forehead.
"What?" Rei cried, watching in horror as the other buildings began to fall from the aftershocks of the supernatural earthquake Haruka had caused.
"She has the keys!" he answered, then started to climb out. "I've got to go back and help her…"
"No!" Rei hissed, grabbing his shoulder. "Look!"
Two figures were running down the hill. One was Haruka, armed with a glowing white saber that made slashes in the air that flew towards the victim. The other was a Leute with blue-gray hair. They remained locked in combat for what seemed like hours, when finally Haruka let out a battle cry and swiftly removed the Leute's head. The sword vanished and she sprinted to the car, leapt over the drivers' seat, and shoved the key in the ignition.
"You took long enough," Rei muttered.
"Shut up," Haruka snapped. She tossed another small orb of light at the gate, and it instantly blew to pieces. Slamming her booted foot on the gas pedal, the tires squealed as she tore south down the highway.
"Where are you going?" Quatre asked as he fastened his seatbelt. "Washington's that way!"
"Can't go to Washington. They've probably got people there," she answered shortly.
"So where are we going?" Rei inquired, wind blowing her dark hair across her face.
"Denver," Haruka replied. There was another flash of light as the outfit shifted back to her t-shirt and jeans.
"Denver? Haruka that's halfway across the country!" Quatre cried.
"I know, but that and Anchorage are the only other spaceports in the U.S. still running shuttles to the colonies. Everything else has been shut down since Bailey's assassination. So unless you want to drive to Alaska, I'd suggest you sit back, shut up, and pray we don't run out of gas before there's 500 miles between us and them," she snapped.
Intimidated by the woman's anger and demonstration of power, both Rei and Quatre remained silent, glancing in the rearview mirror at the four masses of brick and bodies that had been Saint Teresa's.