Thanks for reviewing since the previous chapter: Monichanz, wkgreen, Ilianalovee, VickiiMadd, ToastedMarshmellow08, djsmith10186, NZgleek91, cressey, lemon-rind, Devin Jaste, General Mac, Ea, boston blue, mika-faberryluver4395, LoveSKINS94 and gleek30
Posted: 28/11/12
Taken
Rachel knocked cautiously on the door to Quinn's apartment. Luckily she'd been able to sneak through the door outside as someone was leaving. She didn't want to speak, actually that was a lie, she did want to speak to Quinn, but she knew that wouldn't be happening. She'd lost Quinn... and to be honest, she was almost terrified of her right now. But she didn't want Quinn to know that, so here she was, trying to return the books Quinn had left on the floor in the school hallway earlier when she attacked Rachel
"Quinn it's me" she called out when she heard no movement from the other side of the door "I know you don't want to talk, but I've got your books" she called again and paused, waiting and hoping for a non-abusive verbal reply. When she didn't get one she put the books down on the floor "They're on the floor, I'm going now"
She was halfway to the stairs when she heard the door open behind her. She just froze, too scared to actually face her but at the same time too afraid to just leave
"Rachel?" she heard her name cautiously said so she turned around. She found Quinn holding her books standing in her door way, with tears in her eyes she inhaled sharply as she saw the bruising to Rachel's neck "I'm s-so sorry" Quinn said shakily, almost as if she'd been the one who was attacked viciously
"It doesn't matter" Rachel told her
"No its not, I didn't mean to hurt you I-I just, I don't even know what happened-"
"I messed up" Rachel told her, as if it was supposed to explain everything "It's okay" she waved a hand "I'm going now" she walked away sadly, her head hung low and her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets.
Quinn tried to say something but no words came out, and before she knew it Rachel was gone, out of sight. Beth starting to whine and fidget from inside the apartment drew Quinn back in before she could even think of going after Rachel. She dropped her head with a sigh and went back into her apartment, back to her daughter.
...
Santana parked her car in the warehouse next to Rachel's car. She didn't know Rachel had stopped by Quinn's after school so it was no surprise to see the shorter girls car here.
As she got out of her car her cell phone started to ring, she immediately smiled to herself as she pulled it out of her pocket. She recognised the ringtone, it was the only personalised one on her phone and she hadn't been the one to set it.
She hit the answer button and greeted knowingly "Hey Britt" she hadn't needed to look at the caller ID
"Hey San, I'm just leaving home"
"That's okay, I just got to Berry's, see you soon"
"Yeah. So where you taking me tonight?"
"It's a surprise" she smirked to herself as she walked confidently across the warehouse floor. She faltered for a moment furrowing her brow when she saw Rachel laying on the floor by her desk, her jacket folded as a pillow as she stared at the ceiling.
Santana smiled again though when she heard Brittany's voice "Is it Breadsticks?"
"How did you know?" she faked shock, missing Rachel roll her head to the side and then roll her eyes as she watched Santana talk all mushy to her girl. Even if they hadn't defined anything yet, you'd have to be stupid to not know where it was going
"I'm just really good at reading you"
"Oh yeah I forgot" Santana chuckled "Anyway" she started more seriously "I want to ask you something tonight"
"Ooh what is it?" she heard Brittany ask excitedly
"You'll have to wait until tonight" Santana teased lowly. She then noticed Rachel still laying there fake gagging at her, she narrowed her eyes at the girl before turning her back to her so she could get some 'privacy'
"Oh" she heard Brittany whine "okay" and then pouting "Can we go to your after?"
"Yeah... um, okay" Santana muttered shyly
"We haven't had any alone time for a long time"
"Yeah I know" Santana muttered "I'll see you soon yeah"
"Okay I'm about to get in my car"
"You sound like you've been walking" Santana analysed with a furrowed brow
"Yeah, the neighbours have builders, they parked a van across the drive so I had to park further down the street" she explained "See you soon" with a click the call was disconnected. Santana pouted to herself that she didn't get to say another goodbye. She put the phone away before joining Rachel
"What's up?" she asked as she looked down at Rachel
The brunette continued to just look up at the ceiling, she half heartedly shrugged "Nothing"
"Are you okay?" Santana got another shrug as a reply. Getting aggravated by this Rachel she nudged her with the toe of her boot in Rachel's ribs
"Ow!" Rachel whined "What are you doing?" she sat up holding her side
"Cool it Berry, I hardly touched you" she checked the floor before sitting down opposite Rachel. She softened her tone as she asked "How you holding up?"
"I'm fine" Rachel answered dismissively as she sat cross-legged "I took Quinn her books"
Santana looked surprised but kept her voice calm "Did you talk?"
"Not really... she saw the bruising" she raised her head to indicate her neck. She didn't notice Santana grimace. "She said she was sorry" Rachel then furrowed her brow as she thought back "I think she'd been crying... but I didn't hang around. She didn't want me to" another shrug that made Santana want to slap her
"Look, Q's just having a gay panic-"
"She pinned me to a locker by the neck, and you didn't see her eyes there was something there like a weird glow. Not like her eyes normally are"
"Well you'd know"
"What do you mean by that?" she narrowed her eyes at the Latina
"Oh come on" she scoffed "Even when she was bitchin' to your face, you're still annoyingly confident, I bet you just stared into her eyes" she teased, getting a shove in the arm from Rachel
"What about you being all smiley and soft on the phone to Brittany?" she tried to tease back
"That's different" she excused sternly "As for Q and you... if there's anything I can do-"
"Honestly" Rachel cut her off "I don't think there's anything anyone can do... I just need to wait until Quinn calms down, apologise again and hope she'll want to be friends with me again"
"Bullshit!" Santana snapped startling Rachel "You really want to be just friends with her?"
"I-I..." she trailed off with a sigh as she bowed her head "I'd rather have her in my life than not at all"
"Ugh, noble Berry" she shook her head "If you want her you should fight for her"
"I already tried and we all saw how badly that ended" she coughed, raising her voice hadn't been a good idea after the voce grip Quinn had had on her neck earlier. She then deflated with a sigh
"It's okay Rach" Santana reached out cautiously and gently placed a hand on Rachel's shoulder "We'll figure something out"
"Don't bother" Rachel sourly shrugged Santana's hand off and got up "Thanks, anyway" she muttered as she started toward the living quarters.
Santana was about to go after her when her cell phone rang again. She furrowed her brow, it was Brittany calling, she couldn't have gotten lost could she?
...
Brittany had been standing at her car, innocently going through her purse looking for her car keys when the van that had been parked across the driveway to her house crept closer to her car.
She didn't even notice when it stopped behind her car and two men got out. No she didn't notice until they grabbed her, an arm round her middle and another over her mouth to muffle her shrieks and dragged her into the van. As soon as the side door slid shut, her eyes adjusted to the low light, and her screams calmed, as her lungs were drowned by nervous breathing.
She saw the back of two men, one had grabbed her and was climbing into the front passenger seat, and the driver as she lay, thrown back on the van floor. Before she could say anything or scream again something was placed tightly over her mouth. She looked into the eyes of the third man as she struggled to breathe.
She recognised him, but she didn't know him. As she faded she could read him, she felt an unnatural hate and anger towards her... but also a panic. She faded into unconsciousness before she could try to read more into him...
...
"Hello? Britt, what's up?" Santana asked cautiously
"Listen very carefully I will only say this once"
The robotically disguised voice on the other end of the phone shook Santana to her core, so much so she dropped her phone making it clatter on the floor. This couldn't be happening.
She was frozen to the spot until Rachel was by her side with worry all over her face at how pale Santana looked. She crouched down and picked the phone up, she hit a button and placed it face up on her desk next to them.
"Are you still there?" the voice came over the phone again
Rachel silently nudged Santana and waved her hand gesturing for her to speak as she gently started tapping away at the keys on her computer.
"Y-yeah, I'm still here" she forced out
"Are you alone?"
She looked to Rachel who nodded her head furiously as she finished with her computer. It came up on screen that they were now being recorded. Rachel had actually surprised herself, everything she'd just done was instinct
"Yes" Santana answered, she was still frozen to the spot though, her heart was in her throat waiting for the voice to give a conclusion she was waiting for.
"Good, now listen, we have your girlfriend" Rachel saw Santana clench her eyes closed, forcing herself not to break, this really couldn't be happening, not Brittany, she'd never hurt anyone "If you ever want to see her again you are to come alone to an address I will give you in a moment, do you understand?"
She was biting her lip to stop herself from crying, she just knew she shouldn't sound weak at a point like this. She felt Rachel's hand slip into hers and give it a gentle squeeze
"Yes" she forced out strongly
"Good girl" the voice said patronisingly. They then recited an address "Make sure you come alone" and then the connection was cut.
"Okay Fairchild, stop recording" Rachel said loudly, she let go of Santana's hand to return to her computer so she could select the part of the conversation that included the address of where they wanted Santana to go "Okay Fairchild, I want you to access all cameras in the area, I want to get a look of this place before we go it"
"Yes Miss" The friendlier synthetic voice announced
"Now Santana-" She cut herself off when she saw tears rolling down the Latina's face "Hey" she said softly "We'll get her back, I promise"
"How could I have let this happen" she whimpered "I should have picked her up, I shouldn't have left her side
"Santana, this is in no way your fault" Rachel said sternly, getting a slight nod from Santana "It will be okay" she reassured her "Now snap out of this, I need Super Bitch Santana right now so we can get your girl back"
She sniffed again then wiped at her face quickly "You're right"
"I know it sucks right now, but we'll fix this. You're fire and my tech, we'll have her home soon" Rachel was right and not just that they'd get her back, but that this felt like home, to all of them lately.
"Okay"
"Good" she patted Santana on the back. She wanted to break down a little but she had to stay strong and focused for both Santana and Brittany "Right, suit up"
Santana nodded slowly as she watched the screens in front of her focus on a seemingly harmless looking abandoned house on the opposite edge of town. It then registered to her exactly what Rachel had just said "Wait, what?"
"Fairchild, mine and Santana's suits please" Rachel stood on the circular slight platform and held still, her feet parted and her arms away from her body as the robotic limbs came from the floor and dressed her in the Iron Girl suit. She left the face panel open so she could see Santana's expression fully as another section in the floor opened up and a headless, armless mannequin was risen on a platform wearing a black suit
"What the hell?" Santana muttered in awe
"Sorry, you have to dress yourself" Rachel told her as she adjusted to movement in her suit again. She still wasn't completely familiar with the feeling of being inside the armour "Its Kevlar which is flame retardant and bullet resistant, with a leather lining over the top... I thought you might appreciate that I tried to make it look better. The Kevlar's hardly flattering anyway"
"I-I don't know what to say" she just looked stunned "I only asked two nights ago" she looked straight to Rachel
"I know" Rachel started, like it was nothing "I've been working on it for 2 weeks... it was supposed to be a surprise" she shrugged... again
"So you do want me by your side kicking ass" she smirked slightly, only slightly though.
"Like I could stop you if I said no" Rachel huffed a laugh
"True" Santana nodded
"Get changed, I think I've already got a plan"
.
"Okay Berry, this is freaky" Santana said after she'd changed into the suit "It fits too well"
"Fairchild analysed your measurement"
"Okay" she said slowly. Her tone then quickly changed to anxious when she saw movement on the screen in the back ground getting her attention "What's the plan?"
"Well she's definitely there" Rachel told her "I saw a van pull into the garage while you were changing, it must be them" she concluded. Rachel picked up a box on the table and handed it to Santana. The Latina opened the box to find an ear piece "Wear it so we can keep in contact" the short brunette told her
Santana did as she was told and then asked again "How's this going down then?"
"They're asked for just you. It's the purifiers it has to be, so they don't plan on you getting away. If they know you're a Pyrokinetic, which they most likely do, then they'll be ready to battle your ability"
"That doesn't help to let me know what to do"
"Okay, so I was thinking, you go in first. You've got a good range on that ear piece, I'll stay back a mile or so, I can be with you in about 30 seconds in this thing once you give the call, but I need you to get in their first to get an idea of numbers in there ready to take you"
"They might kill me before you get there" Santana said, not afraid to admit she was afraid. She'd rather have the tin man with her, that didn't make her a cowardly lion though
"You got a better idea"
"Well seeing as they plan to kill me and Britt anyway I say we just charge in there, kill the fuckers for taking my girl and get the hell out of there"
"Well that sounds a bit more you" Rachel sighed "let's stick with my plan, you drive there in your car, I'll follow over head"
Rachel was about to put the face shield down when she heard Santana breathe shakily "Fine"
"We're going to get her back" Rachel said again, more forceful than before "Now let's move" she patted Santana on the back not thinking about how heavy she was right now, it definitely jolted Santana into action. She jogged over to her car, she'd left her keys in the ignition, it's not like anyone was going to take it so she didn't see the point in locking it while it was parked there anymore.
...
"Okay Berry, I hope you're right about this plan" Santana said as she walked up the drive way to the front door "Abandoned house my ass" she muttered "it looked smaller on TV this is a mansion, we'll never find her"
"Don't be so negative"
"She could be dead already" she hissed
"Don't" Rachel told her harshly "just don't think like that. They won't have killed her if they want you to cooperate"
"Oh now I feel much better" Santana muttered with heavy sarcasm as she rang the doorbell
"Just stay cool"
"Yeah you're telling a Pyrokinetic to stay cool, I'll tell you how that one works out" Yeah Rachel really didn't like the sound of that. Santana opened her palms and with a tiny flick of her wrists they were both alight, a fire ball in each hand.
The Purifier who opened the door didn't stand a chance as he opened the door. Santana mercilessly threw fire at them, setting their robe ablaze. His screaming as he ran back into the 'house' didn't put her off. She just followed inside, and intensified her power making it over both her arms to the strap of her vest on her shoulder.
"Santana" she heard Rachel warn but it was too late, they shouldn't have tried to take what was hers. 3 more purifiers came at her with heavy guns, she knew they weren't any normal guns, it was as if the fire in her blood could feel the ice waiting in the barrels. Now she knew they'd been prepared for her.
As they raised their guns she raised her palms, sending a jet stream of fire towards them turning them all to ash. She kicked through their dust as she delved deeper into the dark house. The surrounding walls were burnt, thanks to her, and scattered with a few small flames that were sure to grow if they weren't soon extinguished. She quickly absorbed the little flames, storing its power for herself.
Santana stood in the centre of a grand foyer as she waited and listened for her next attacker, or maybe for a hint where Brittany could be. Purifiers started showing up in every doorway and on the upper level around her with those ice guns.
Santana just smirked to herself, this was going to be like one of those arcade games. She raised her palms and started sending blast of flame, like fire balls, rather than a stream of flame to each of her enemies
"Santana, I said wait" she heard Rachel whine bossily in her ear peace moments before she heard the front door get thrown of her hinges behind her as Rachel shot into the building. She had to quickly put her hands out in front of her and reduce power in all 4 thrusters to decelerate before she hit Santana.
That's when she saw a scene unfold in front of her as if it was in slow motion. A hooded purifier stepped out of a room behind Santana, a simple hand gun perfectly poised in their hand, like they handled one all the time, as they raised it to point at the back of the Latina's head.
Rachel got their first, landing heavily right behind the purifier so she could swat their arm away, knocking the gun out of their hand before they could squeeze the trigger. They yelped in pain and cradled their arm as they backed away quickly, back into the room they'd come from
Rachel strutted in the metal suit into the room after the hooded man. As soon as he saw her in the door way he dropped his gun and backed himself against the wall. He started frantically rooting through his robe pocket to find something, most likely to use against her when she held up a hand, the palm repulsor in the centre glowing
"Hold it right there" she told him, her voice was distorted, almost disguised as it was electronically projected from the suit, but the man recognised it. That was the real reason he froze, one of his fears had come to life.
Rachel crept closer to get a better look at him, she planned on blasting him right through that wall, turning him into soup. He held up his hands in surrender but that didn't deter Rachel this guy had already done the unforgiveable, he had probably murdered many people and ruined many lives.
With her left hand she grabbed the scruff of his robe at his neck, she needed some answers first.
"Tell me where the girl we're looking for is being kept" she dragged him closer then slammed him back against the wall "Tell me" she demanded more heavily. She slammed him again the wall again and as she dragged him forward for a third time his hood fell down.
Rachel didn't mean to gasp but she couldn't help it as she came face to face with her father, Leroy "You" she said shakily. She let her face shield flip up to reveal her face
"You" He let out a defeatist sigh as all his suspicions and beliefs from a moment ago were confirmed, his daughter was Iron Girl "All this time I hoped you wouldn't be like her... and you're like him"
"What?"
"You!" Rachel was interrupted as she heard "Tell me where she is" she demanded as she held a perfect fire ball in her hand
"You're too late" he spat angrily, but Rachel saw in his eyes, it was laced with fear "As soon as your friend attacked they would have killed her as a precaution"
"You son of a bitch I'll flame you-"
"No Santana" Rachel said firmly as she stood between Santana and Leroy, her back to the Latina "Where were they keeping her?" she couldn't believe him, she just couldn't. It wasn't over until she'd seen it for herself
"She was in the attic" Leroy spat. Once that last word spilt from her mouth Santana was gone, running through the building finding a route to the highest room, the attic. "What are you going to do with me?" Leroy asked his daughter
"You..." she closed the face shield again, to avoid direct eye contact and to hide all her true emotions "You will leave Lima, and never come back. If I see you again, I won't hesitate to finished what we started here" she warned as she roughly let go of his robe "I mean it" she added as a final warning before she backed out the room
She needed to find Santana in case she found something... something bad.
She had no clue where Santana was as she looked above her. She really needed to install some sort of infra red detection so she could see through walls. Instead of taking the stairs she took a short cut. She stood in the foyer and put the thrusters on and hurtled herself through the ceiling through to the third floor and then kept going through to the fourth floor, also the attic.
Her eyes widened at what she found when she got there. And not a millisecond later Santana came through the door on the other side of the room. She gasped too at what she saw.
"What?" Brittany shrugged as she stood over two men, two huge men, who were definitely bigger than Brittany. Santana just went straight to her and gathered the blonde in her arms. She hugged her so tightly it was as if she was never going to let her go "San what's wrong?"
Santana pulled back just enough to look the other girl in the eye "I thought I'd lost you" she then dove in for a passionate kiss, surprising even Brittany. They hadn't shared one this passionate in some time.
Feeling out of place Rachel looked at the two bodies in front of them, she was curious when she was sure she recognised at least one of them. She crouched down next to them and noticed, almost quite visibly, that they both had broken necks... had Brittany really done this?
She decided them, as Brittany and Santana were distracted, to solve her curiosity and try and figure out who these men were and why she recognised at least one of them.
Where their robes had ridden up slightly she noticed they were wearing normal clothes underneath. She felt wrong as she practically looted their corpses. She made sure she was finished quickly, once she found their wallets eh left them alone
She quickly read the names and froze, more people were involved than they'd imagined "Um, guys" she looked up to see them still kissing "Guys!" she snapped louder, yet she was still surprised when they did break apart
"What!?" Santana snapped, annoyed at being disturbed, obviously
"These men... they were Karofsky and Azimio... Senior"
"You mean..."
"It was their dads" she nodded "We need to get out of here" she gently pushed them back towards the door "I'll meet you down there, now hurry" she ushered them out of the room.
For all they knew there were many more purifiers heading their way. She let Brittany and Santana take the long way while she lowered herself back down through the hole she'd left through the building. She checked the room where she'd left a certain person who had betrayed her trust, he wasn't there.
"Rach?" she heard timidly behind her
"Oh right" she shook herself from her heart breaking thoughts as she led the other two out the front door and back down the street to Santana's car "Now you two go, back to the base and wait for me there" she told them I her metallic voice
"But-"
"No buts Santana, you already disobeyed me once, just get to the base and stay there please. We'll need to figure some things out but later" She was getting ready to set the thrusters when words stopped her again
"Where are you going?" Santana demanded but calmed again when she felt Brittany's hand slip into her own.
"I've got some questions... I might be able to get some answers... if I can find the right person" Before they could ask her anymore questions she was gone, flying away like a rocket up into the sky.
I know, not the best chapter, but this is like the tip of the iceberg for all the action stuff coming up
So... yeah, let us know what you thing...