Outside, in the back of the hotel, a black van was waiting in the parking lot. Inside, Mayumi and Julie were furiously trying to twist out of the ropes that bound their feet together and their hands behind their backs. This was made difficult by the absence of light.

"Get…off!" Julie cried, wiggling around on the floor. She had been grabbed from behind while she was standing next to Shiris at the stairs. She had been right next to Shiris! Who had grabbed her? She hadn't been able to see her attacker, since he had seized and dragged her from behind. Once she was shoved into the van, he slammed the door and went…somewhere else. Luckily, Mayumi had been in the van as well.

"Julie, it won't work. Someone who knew what they were doing tied these knots," Mayumi commented, sitting calmly against the wall. She had been grabbed on her way back to the room. She also had no idea who her attacker was, since he had also snatched her from behind. But she had managed to kick the vase into the mirror to alert the other two. Unfortunately, it had only caused Julie to get caught as well. Hopefully Shiris was still safe…

At that instant the door to the van opened again and something was tossed in. In the darkness, it took a minute before the girls identified it as their friend.

"Shiris!" Julie gasped, scooting over to the crumpled form.

"What did they do to her?"

"I guess they knocked her out," Mayumi replied. Who had done this? Who wanted them?

Julie stretched Shiris out onto her back, and then fell forward as the van started up.

"I hope this is a short trip," Julie said, leaning back up against the wall.

"Yea. I can't wait to get my hands on these guys,"

"Totally. When I get through with them, they'll be thinner than paper."

"When I get through with them, they'll be…flatter than a pancake."

"Smaller than a pin"

"In more pieces than…a broken mirror."

"A broken pot!"

"A broken plate."

"That's the same thing!"

"I don't care."

What seemed like an hour later, the van shuddered to a halt. Tensely the girls waited, unable to do anything but bite their attackers at the moment. Shiris had still not woken up.

"As soon as they take us out of the van, attack," Mayumi ordered when she heard the front doors open and shut. Footsteps could be heard outside; they must be over gravel.

To their surprise, the footsteps kept walking until they disappeared.

"Are they going to leave us here?" Julie asked incredulously.

"No, someone else must be coming to get us."

Sure enough, new, heavier footsteps were heard. Seconds late the door slid open and three enormous men filled the space.

"Uh…Mayumi…do we still go with the plan?" Julie asked, a little fearfully. These men had to be 300 pounds of muscle, and not one was smiling. Well, actually one was smiling, but it looked like a very mean smile.

Mayumi gulped. "Yes. Ready?"

"Uh…okay…"

Two of the men reached for them and pulled them out of the van. Their hands were so big that both could encircle the waists of the girls. In this manner they managed to get Mayumi and Julie out of the van.

"Now!" Mayumi shouted as she left the car after Julie, and began to twist and struggle. Her assailant didn't flinch when she bite him and drew blood. He only turned and started walking with her towards a small shack, holding her out in front of him like a baby with a wet diaper.

"Mayumi, it isn't working!" Julie called, also having no effect.

"Yes, I realize that!" Mayumi shouted back, still wriggling.

The third one joined up with them, having draped Shiris over his shoulder. Her arms hung limply next to her head.

The three giants walked up to the shack and went inside.

"Please don't tell me we're gonna live in a shack," Julie muttered. Then, once all were inside and the door shut, the floor started moving down.

"An elevator!" Mayumi murmured, not believing her eyes. So, someone very important wanted them.

The elevator stopped with a clang, and a door opened on one side. They filed out and went down a corridor. At the end was a door. Inside, an older man with graying hair and sharp blue eyes greeted them from behind a desk.

"You must be the three Alliance spies," he said, in a smooth, clear voice.

Mayumi and Julie glared at him.

"Franz, take that one and wake her up," he ordered the man holding Shiris. Franz nodded and left. The man turned back to Mayumi and Julie.

"I suppose you're wondering why you're here, so I'll give you a hint. These," a door to his left slid open, "were your kidnappers."

Mayumi gasped and Julie almost fainted as Hiiro, Duo, and Trowa stepped into the room. Hiiro was looking at them coldly, Trowa looked a little upset, and Duo couldn't even look at them.

"Duo! What the hell are you doing?!" Julie exclaimed, unbelieving.

"Hiiro, I can't believe you." Mayumi said coldly, glaring at the boy. She had actually thought he was kind of cool.

"Sir, where's the third girl?" Trowa asked suddenly.

"Oh, Franz had to go wake her up. She should be coming back any minute…Ah, there she is. Welcome!"

Franz returned, dragging Shiris by the neck. She was trying to get out of his grasp, but to no avail. He jerked her up and stood her next to Mayumi.

"Christ, Hiiro, what did you do to her?" Trowa hissed when he saw Shiris' face.

"Oh my god!" Julie cried, seeing the damage done to her friend for the first time.

Her cheek wasn't puffy, but it was a dark shade of black and blue on one side. Her shirt exposed a little bit of her stomach that was a nasty green color. Thank you, Hiiro, she thought, when she saw him. Her eyes fell on Trowa. They softened for a moment, but then hardened again. So the Federation had gotten them. Figures.

"I fought back," Hiiro replied icily.

Trowa glared at him.

"Shiris, are you okay?" Julie asked, looking over at her.

"Yea, I'm okay. My face and stomach hurt a little, that's all. I guess I got the one who hates the Alliance the most." She glared coldly at Hiiro, who stared coolly back.

"Anyway ladies, let me explain why I have brought you here." The man, apparently the leader of the Federation, gestured to Franz and his buddies. They took the girls over to the wall behind them and clamped the chains that were attached to the wall around their wrists above their heads. Then they left the room.

"What are you doing?" Julie asked with a hint of fear, not liking how the situation was turning out. Clearly, neither did Trowa or Duo. They were glancing swiftly from the leader to the girls. Even Hiiro looked a little hesitant.

"I wanted you here to settle a fear that I have. My loyal men told me about your meeting. Needless to say, I was a little upset. I need complete loyalty to me and only me when it comes to the Federation. So, you are the test for them. If they complete it, they will be in my full confidence again. If not, I will have to…demote them. And yes, I am willing to sacrifice the daughter of Dante Nasko for this cause." He looked at Shiris. It was a shame that she didn't follow in the footsteps of her father. He was such a great man… ah well. Lost memories. He turned to the boys and opened a drawer.

"Each of you take one of these."

Hiiro's eyes narrowed. Trowa backed up a step and Duo' mouth opened wide.

"Sir, do you want us to—"

"—kill them? Yes."

The girls stiffened. Now they were in deep trouble. Kill them? How could the boys kill them? Julie knew Duo wouldn't do it. He couldn't, he wouldn't.

Shiris wasn't sure about Trowa. Sure, he liked her, but did the Federation come first?

Mayumi was almost sure Hiiro would kill her. He hadn't had any qualms about killing Charkovky and had only met her once. So why not?

"Sir, I thought you said they wouldn't be hurt," Duo said quietly.

"Yes, well I changed my mind."

"But sir-"

"Quiet. Take one. On the count of three, you shoot. Aim to kill," he ordered. Hiiro walked over and picked up a gun. Duo was next, and almost dropped it. Trowa took the last one, walking as though he was in a trance.

"Good." The leader slammed the drawer shut and everyone jumped.

"Don't we get any last words?" Julie asked, trying to grin as Duo stood in front of her.

"Yes, I suppose. But make them short."

Julie looked pensive for a moment. Then,

"Fuck you."

The leader laughed. "Well said. Now, aim."

Shiris looked at Trowa, who was in front of her.

"Don't do this…" she pleaded. He couldn't have been more than five feet away. He wouldn't miss in a million years.

Mayumi glared at Hiiro. For once, he didn't return the glare.

Duo was shaking so hard he couldn't hold the gun. So far, Julie had the best chance of living.

"One."

Mayumi stared straight at Hiiro.

"Two."

Julie's eyes glazed over. So this was the end…

"Three."