Spooky: All right this chapter's for Showndra Ridge. Also I would like to clear some things up. I started daydreaming about this story almost two years ago but I didn't start writing it until eight months later, and then I got it onto the computer. So I have a lot of it on the computer but I'm actually still writing it, mostly because I'm lazy. So this story is quite long. And just a couple weeks ago I thought about posting it. I hope that cleared some things. Also I hadn't even heard of fanfiction until about a year and four months ago. So there's my excuse!
4:13 P.M.
Veronica and Quatre were inside Darkstar taking a break from fixing him. Veronica was sitting in the control chair and Quatre was standing next to her. The conversation had just run out.
I guess now would be as good a time as any to ask her about being beat. Thought Quatre. "So were you really beat?" he asked.
She looked at him funny. "You are curious aren't you?"
Quatre blushed. "Well I, uh, I just…"
"If you really want to know I'll tell you." Or maybe I shouldn't. She thought worriedly.
"Well I would like to know," said Quatre softly.
Veronica looked into his eyes. They were the most beautiful blue she had ever seen. She saw that he was worried about her. Veronica found herself being pulled into his eyes. She couldn't look away. Quatre's brow creased in worry. Veronica realized she had been staring. She blushed then looked away.
"Are you okay?" asked Quatre concerned.
"Yeah I'm okay," said Veronica awkwardly.
Quatre nodded but didn't say anything. He wants to know but he won't push. Thought Veronica. I guess I'll trust him, to a certain degree. "Yeah, I was beat."
Quatre nodded again, but didn't seem surprised.
"You don't seem surprised."
"I kind of figured you were beat."
"How did you figure that out?"
"By the way you act. And by the look in your eyes."
Veronica cocked her head. "And the scars?"
Quatre looked sheepish. "Yeah, that helped."
"You care about me, don't you?" said Veronica emotionally.
Quatre blushed. "Yeah I do."
Veronica looked surprised.
"You look surprised," said Quatre.
"I just, I've…no one's cared about me for a long time," said Veronica sorrowfully.
"That's horrible."
"You get used to it."
"You shouldn't have to," said Quatre.
She snorted. "Life's a bitch."
Quatre was, to say the least, taken aback. "It doesn't have to be."
"Then why am I here?" asked Veronica. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Tell me, Quatre, why am I here?" She looked desperate.
Quatre was a little frightened. He pulled her hands off his shoulders. Veronica blushed.
"Sorry," said Veronica composing herself.
"That's okay," said Quatre shakily.
"No, I, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" she asked concerned.
Quatre nodded rapidly. Veronica stood up. When she stood up her and Quatre were only a few inches apart. She looked into his eyes and felt like she was in a dream. His eyes were big and kind and let her in. Quatre leaned forward their lips were almost touching. Then Quatre put a hand on her waist. Reality came crashing down. Veronica pulled away blushing. Quatre blinked as if he was in a dream. Then he blushed. Veronica put a hand to her heart looking disoriented.
Man my heart is beating fast. Thought Veronica.
"That was, I mean I …" stuttered Quatre.
"Yeah. That was…I, you…" Veronica stuttered.
Just then there was a loud knock on the hatch. Veronica jumped surprised. She floated over to the door and opened it. Heero and Duo stood at the door. Veronica looked confused.
"Howdy," said Duo. "Is Quatre there?"
"I'm right here," said Quatre floating over to the door.
"We're going to the gym," said Heero.
"Yeah we're going to build up an appetite for dinner," said Duo. "We were wondering if you wanted to come."
"Sure," said Quatre. He looked at Veronica. "You can come, if you want."
"Maybe in a little bit," answered Veronica. Quatre smiled. Veronica tried to smile back. It was a small smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"See ya later," said Quatre as they floated off.
"Yeah later," said Veronica watching them float away. She floated back to the chair and sat down.
"Well that was interesting," said Darkstar.
Veronica jumped. "Don't do that!" she scolded.
"It's my job."
"Dumb AI," Veronica muttered.
"You love him. Don't you?"
"No I don't," said Veronica quickly.
"Yeah right," said Darkstar chuckling.
Veronica glared at him. Then she powered him down. She floated out of the mobile suit and closed the door. Then she floated over to the air lock door. She opened the door and walked down the hall to her room. When she got to her room she sat down at the table and opened her laptop. The first thing she did was check her email. There were two new messages. The return address on both of them was DC Corp. Oh crap. She thought. She opened the most recent one. It read:
Veronica it's me Nick. Valren is pissed that you escaped.
He's searching for you right now. If you're wondering
about how I was able to send this message I knocked
out the guards and snuck in here. I don't know how
much time I have before they find me so I better hurry.
I miss you a lot. Please come and rescue us they've been
beating me lately. But don't worry. I'll be fine. I love you
Nick
Veronica felt tears well up. Her brother was paying the price for her escape. What do I do? She thought desperately. He's so brave. But they could beat him to death. I better open the other email. She opened it. It read:
That was a mistake to escape. Your brother will pay
the price. If you want to see him alive then meet Bren
on Earth in six days. I trust you can get the coordinates.
If you don't come I can't guarantee his safety. I look
forward to your next beating. Maybe I'll even let you
heal yourself, if you come willingly.
Valren
"Damn him!" whispered Veronica.
He'll probably go to Hell anyway. Pepper's voice was in her head. Now let me in.
Veronica used her psychic powers to open the door. Pepper came trotting in. You got an email from Valren, didn't you? Veronica nodded. A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. What did it say? asked Pepper.
"He said that if I didn't meet Bren on Earth in six days he'd kill Nick," she sobbed. "But if I go they'll beat me." She buried her face in her hands and cried.
There, there. Said Pepper rubbing against her. Maybe if you go workout you'll feel better.
"Yeah maybe," said Veronica wiping her eyes. She got up and grabbed her swords. "Maybe practicing will help." She clenched her fists.
There's something else, isn't there?
Veronica nodded. "I, I got an email from Nick."
What did it say?
"He knocked out the guards and was able to get the message to me. But they've been beating him. And now they're going to beat him even more!"
That's terrible! We have to save them!
"But we can't Darkstar's not finished! We can't go anywhere!"
Sorry. Guess I forgot. Said Pepper sheepishly.
Veronica rolled her eyes then went out the door.
4:45 P.M.
Veronica walked into the gym and immediately saw the G-Boys working out. Heero was wearing his green tank top and his black spandex shorts. Trowa was wearing blue shorts, no shirt. Duo was wearing black pants and a black tee shirt. Wufei was wearing his dark teal tank top and white pants. Quatre was wearing a white tee shirt and loose, blue, jean shorts. Veronica walked over to where Quatre was doing pull ups. She could see that he was counting to himself so she didn't disturb him. Finally he stopped.
"That was more than a little while," said Quatre.
"I got a couple emails," said Veronica as she jumped up and grabbed the bar.
Quatre nodded and watched as she began doing pull ups. She effortlessly did a hundred pull ups then dropped down.
"What were they about?" asked Quatre.
"Well one was from my brother."
"What was it about?"
"Just stuff," said Veronica casually.
She's lying. Thought Quatre. But I won't push it.
The other pilots walked up to them.
"That was longer than 'a little bit'," said Duo. "What were you doing?"
"None of your business," Veronica snapped. Then she blushed. "Sorry."
"That's okay," said Duo.
"You seem to be on edge," said Trowa.
"Yeah I am. An email I got from my brother really upset me," said Veronica.
"What did it say?" asked Duo.
"I can't tell you."
"Oh," said Duo. "Well we're going to be playing cards after dinner and I was wondering if you would like to join us."
"I'd love to," said Veronica with a smile.
"Great! We're playing in my quarters tonight," said Duo.
"Okay I'll come over after dinner."
Then they went back to there routines.
"I'll teach you some hand-to-hand. If you still want to," said Veronica to Quatre.
"Yeah I'd like that," said Quatre smiling.
"Okay lets go." Then they walked over to the mat and started the lesson.
Spooky: That's all folks! Agh! I've got to get away from my muses! Well review and I'll put up more!
