Ch. 3
Disclaimer: Gosh, it's only the third chapter and I'm getting tired of writing these things. You know the drill. I own absolutely nothing. Ya could try to sue me, but all you'd get is a bunch of pocket lint.
Kudos to those who reviewed. I decided to change the sleep chamber idea a bit. At first, I wanted it to be like the rejuvenation tanks in DBZ, but then I changed my mind. They're like the tanks, except they fill with an anti-bacterial gas. The mask that fits over the mouth and nose distributes sleeping gas, and the patient is tied into an upright position. Just thought I should clear that up. Another thing. I AM SOOOO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED! I'm just really really busy with college. Now that I'm done rambling. onto the story!
LAST TIME:
Sally sighed slightly as she prepared the sleep chamber. Why would anyone want to harm someone so innocent and trusting? Lifting Serena up and placing her in the chamber, Sally set the timer for 4 weeks. "See ya in a month, kid." Sally turned out the lights, and closed the door to Serena's room.
Meetings
ONE MONTH LATERSerena groggily opened up her eyes. The pain was gone, and the only clue that revealed to her that she'd been injured was her lack of voice. The door opened to the sleep chamber, and Sally's face popped into view.
"Good morning Serena. Welcome back to the world of the living. Hold on just a sec, I'll get you out of these restraints." She fumbled with the straps holding Serena in the sleep chamber. As Serena started to fall, Sally caught her and pulled her out of the chamber. With a bit of struggling, the kind doctor managed to put Serena in a chair. "Serena, there is something that you must know. I could tell you, but it's not in my place to do so. Some people will be coming here at noon sharp to inform you of the information we have found concerning you, your family, and Darien Chiba." Serena's eyes widened and began to water. Her family had died in the wars three years ago. A mobile doll had crushed their house, leaving no survivors except for Serena. She had been away at college.
"Ahem." Serena was brought out of her musings by Sally's voice. Quickly wiping away the tears that threatened to spill over her eyelashes, Serena gave Sally her full and undivided attention. "Serena, these guests are very important people, and have been raised in high society. It is important that you look your best, otherwise they might dismiss you as incompetent. Thus, I'm afraid that you cannot wear those clothes." Serena glanced down at her attire. It was a high-necked hospital gown that reached to her knees. Serena nodded her head. "Good, I'm glad you agree Serena. Now, we must find you something suitable to wear. Noin! Get in here with that wheelchair!"
"I'm coming, you old hag!" Sally's left eye began to twitch as a young woman with dark hair wheeled herself into the room. Sally's eye began to twitch more persistently.
"Noin. What in the blazes are you doing in that wheelchair? This is hardly a playground! Get out of there..." Serena watched as the two women fought over the wheelchair, and took the opportunity to observe the newcomer. Noin was a very pretty young lady, with dark blue hair and a petite little body. Finally, Sally pried Noin out and away from the wheelchair.
"Hi! You must be Serena. I am Lt. Lucretzia Noin, at your service." Noin performed a quick bow, and she and Sally helped Serena into the wheelchair. As Sally came up behind her, Serena began to feel panic rise in her throat. It didn't subside as they went through the doors and into the various hallways. Left...right...left...another left... They arrived at a door and Noin knocked. "Hey! Quatre! Open up!" Sally and Serena winced as Noin's vibrant voice echoed throughout the hallways. Sally leaned down to Serena's level and whispered in her ear,
"She's actually a brilliant mobile suit aviator, if you can believe that." Sally straightened up when Noin turned around.
"What has she been telling you, Serena? It better not be anything bad..." Noin glared at Sally as the door opened.
"Hello ladies. Is there anything I can help you with?" Quatre took notice of Serena and froze. "M...Mina? Mina, is that you? Oh God...Mina...it is you!" Quatre flung his arms around Serena. "You don't know how long I've looked for you...there were reports of your death, but it was never confirmed...they never found the body. Mina..." Quatre stroked Serena's hair as Noin and Sally looked on. Feeling a bit freaked out, Serena pushed Quatre away slightly and shook her head. Quatre took a long hard look at Serena, and tears began to spill out of his angelic blue eyes.
"You're not Mina, are you?" Serena gently shook her head no. "I see. I am very sorry. You just look so much like her. You could probably even pass for her twin. Please, forgive me. What is your name?" Serena smiled sadly and shook her head again.
"She's mute Quatre. Her name is Serena, she's the victim that Heero brought in." Quatre nodded sympathetically and held out his hand for Serena to shake. She grasped his hand firmly and gasped. Images and feelings flashed by in a chaotic sequence...five mobile suits, one standing out...five young teenagers...sadness...happiness...a colony...an old man...a young woman with blonde hair and sky blue eyes... Eventually the images and feelings just became too much, and Serena fainted.
"Darkness. Why is it always darkness? Why the hell can't it be light? Ugh, I think something just slithered over my foot." Taking note of the fact that she could now speak, Serena looked around and found herself in a black void. A childish voice sounded.
"Darkness? You'd rather light? Trust me, you'd rather not be able to see. I can see, and it's not pretty. Nope, not at all. Eww...is that a rat? Hiya! My name is Hotaru, what's yours? I've never had a dreamfriend before. Actually, you're the first person I've ever seen here. Soon I'll wake up, and they'll do more tests on me...but we can play until then! Wanna play?" Serena looked around to find a face to put to the voice. A giggle ensued. "Ha! You're funny. Ah crap, time's up. I'll talk to you later!" Serena looked around in confusion as light flooded the area. A brief vision of a young girl with short black hair flitted by Serena's eyes before she woke up.
Heero's head shot up as he heard the patient groan. He watched as Serena raised her eyelids to reveal sapphire orbs that were slightly groggy. Grunting slightly, Heero walked out of the room, leaving Serena to wonder whom he was. A moment later, Sally walked into the room. "Good morning Serena. I don't know what the hell happened, but whatever it was it got both of you pretty good." Sally motioned to the cot that was next to Serena's. In it lay Quatre, pale and lifeless. Serena gasped silently. Grabbing the pencil and pad of paper that was by her cot, she hastily scribbled a message and handed the pad to Sally.
Is he going to be ok? He is alive, right? What's wrong with him? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! Sally giggled slightly.
"Yes Serena, he'll be fine. It seems that for some reason he's out of energy. It boggles the mind really, there's really no sound explanation for it. However, I am confident that Quatre here will be fine and his usual chipper self within a few days time. I've put him on a high-energy diet, so he should regain all lost energy." Serena nodded slightly.
CREAK
Sally's head whipped around as she heard the door creak open. In walked a young man with chocolate brown hair and Prussian blue eyes - the same boy as before. Walking over to Sally, the boy whispered something in her ear. Nodding slightly, Sally turned to Serena. "Ok, Serena, I'm going to leave you here in Heero's good care. He has some questions to ask you." Turning to Heero, Sally mumbled something under her breath. Nodding to Heero, Sally left the room and closed the door. Turning to Serena, Heero wasted no time in informing her of his purpose there.
"Who do you work for?" Serena just looked at Heero. Glaring, Heero pulled out his gun. "Now, I'll ask you one more time. Who. Do. You. Work. For." In one suave move, Heero took the safety off. Serena squeezed her eyes shut.
"BAM."
AN: A bit of a cliffy, ne? Well, hope ya'll liked it. It might be a while till I update again. I'm just a lil' frustrated right now. Blah. Writer's block. mneh. Review please!