~~Go read (after you read this of course) Sorkaru’s fic Time of Ages! It’ not a crossover, but a full GW. It’s great!

 

Chapter Eleven: Plots & Plans

 

            *Never in her life had she been on such an enormous ship. Never in her life had she been in space. Never in her life had she dreamed she would fall into the company of the Gundam pilots, much less fall into more than friendship with one of them. Shade had been a humble girl, a killer yes, still she had had no plans to better herself and gain power. Fighting for Darien had been her highest goal in life, her highest expectation. And here she was now, fighting for freedom with some of the most powerful fighters ever born.

            The strangest part of the entire situation was the fact that none of them acted as if they were powerful, feared fighters. Save maybe Hiiro. But is friends seemed different than she had assumed a Gundam pilot might. Take Duo Maxwell. He was a cheerful, spiritual boy who always seemed to tick his friends off with his endless pranks. How could such a happy person be a killer like herself? It didn’t fit. And Quatre Winner. An innocent boy who showered politeness upon her, no matter how cold a front she placed before him. Corruption seemed like it had skipped over the most dangerous assassins of all. Trowa Barton seemed quiet enough. Silent and stoic, his eyes still told the tale of amusement and understanding. Filled in about his predicament with his missing memory, Shade still had a proper hard time finding any resentment about his losses. He seemed better adjusted than half the people wit their memories. And, lastly, how could anyone forget the pig Wufei Chang. She saw pride radiating through his eyes, pride and a narrow mindedness on women. But she let it slip. Even through his brusque attitude, Shade found he too, was relaxed and at peace with his past, present, and whatever would come in the future.

            She wished she could find the peace the four had found. Even Hiiro seemed more relaxed now that he was around his friends once more. She could see how easily the boys fed off of each other’s strength, how they bounced ideas and plans off of each other until they found the best possible answer to the puzzles. They fit. But where did she fit in? The doctors she had met had kept her from them for the last two days she had been aboard. Even Hiiro had been barred from seeing her. She had been questioned, poked, prodded, studied, and tested. The doctors were convinced she knew more than she did. They spoke of Darien’s armies, Darien’s wealth, Darien’s power and influence. Yet she remembered none of it. If Darien had had any of those three things, she had never known of them. She and Hiiro, both trying separately, had found nothing when hacking into his computer systems and looking for any hidden files, funds, bank accounts, nothing. Now, after her two days in quarantine, she was being released. It had taken those doctors long enough.

            “Miss. Shade.” Quatre greeted her as she stepped out of the room.

            “Quatre.” She gave a curt nod acknowledging him.

            “Hiiro is asleep, and we didn’t have the heart to wake him.” Shade smirked at this.

            “That’s fine. He hasn’t slept well in a while. Let him sleep.” She told him. For some reason she felt like being a softy. It must have been the safety she felt being surrounded by such a well protected place. No one could break into a ship like this in the middle of empty space. No one could be killed, no one could kill themselves. There was no loud music, no smoke or strobe lights, nothing that would sting her eyes. The environment was completely clean, and it was a most settling time she had ever experienced.

            “I’m glad you agree. Why don’t you have a seat. Trowa went to go get some food for us all.” Quatre said smiling.

            “You know I was coming?” Shade asked.

            “Woman. The doctors give us information on everything, including you.” Wufei snarled.

            “Nice to see that the woman hater is still acting as childish as ever.” Shade smirked.

            “Childish? Childish? Woman, you do me an injustice that must be corrected.” Wufei stood and threatened her with his katana.

            “If I am a woman, am I weaker than you?” Shade pressed him.

            “Of course.”

            “And do you challenge those weaker than yourself?” She continued.

            “No. It would be an insult to my skills to challenge someone weaker than me.”

            “Then you’ve only just insulted yourself.” Shade smiled a bright, winning smile and winked in Wufei’s direction. The Chinese boy stood stark still, a red face and dropped jaw. A loud laughter came crashing in on the silence.

            “Wu-man got outsmarted by a girl!” Duo snickered. He and Trowa were standing in the doorway, food trays in hand. Shade gave them each a wink as well before taking a tray from Trowa and  sizing up its contents.

            “Well. As nice and comfortable as this ship is, the food looks worse than hospital food.” She smirked.

            “A small price to pay.” Trowa concluded, digging in.

            “Then I won’t pay.”

            “Serena. Eat.” Hiiro’s dark voice drifted in from the shadows behind her. She stood and faced him.

            “Get enough sleep? You need the food more than I do. You look positively gaunt Hiiro Yui.” She laughed while talking to him.

            “You sure can spin a compliment well enough.” He smirked sarcastically.

            “I know. Proud of me?”

            “No. Ashamed.” He smiled a genuine smile, as did she.

            “Come on then. Us Perfect people need food too.” She said, more softly this time. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the soft armchair she had occupied moments earlier. She then handed him the tray and sat on the floor next to him. He began to eat.

            “What did those doctors do to you Shade?” Duo asked.

            “Tests and  stuff. Tried to get me to try flight simulations. I wouldn’t though. Don’t fancy myself a fighter such as of you all. I much more prefer to do the dirty work with my bare hands.”

            “So I realized.” Hiiro joked. She jabbed him gently in the leg. He laughed. He actually laughed. The boys sat in awe of Hiiro Yui’s outburst. Shade was slightly less surprised: she had heard him laugh once before. Still, it was unusual.

            “Hiiro. Does this mean you are regaining humanity?” Doctor J walked in, a twinkle plying in his eyes. Hiiro stopped immediately. Shade laughed at Hiiro’s try to cover his emotional turn.

            “You too my dear? You were silent for two days straight, and now suddenly that your back with Hiiro, you’re full of energy.”

            “Old man.” Shade began. “ I’m going to…” Hiiro’s hand snaked down and covered Shade’s mouth. He knew whatever string of words was about to follow would be some of the rudest, dirtiest, sickest suggestions one could make. When she stopped speaking, he removed it.

            “You’re going to what my dear?” Shade and Hiiro smiled at each other evilly. Hiiro had heard every word. The old man, on the other hand, had not been privy to her disgusting slur. And she wasn’t about to repeat it either. Even she could barely stomach such unhealthy lingo.

            “Doctor. I wouldn’t ask her to repeat those words.” Hiiro pre-advised the old man.

            “Very well. This is your mission. You are to infiltrate the Specter’s club and search for a hidden room. There must be a computer separate from the main server, one that  contains the information we need to halt Darien. If you find the information, kill Darien and pull the plug on the club. If you are unsuccessful after the time period of five days, nix the mission and return here. Mission accepted or declined?”

            “Mission accepted.” Two simultaneously stated. Shade and Hiiro smirked at each other. The others, noting their comrade’s strange behavior, all agreed as well. 

            “Good. You leave in three hours. Pack and rest up lads, Shade.” J began to exit the room as the others sat to finish their dinner.

            “So what’s the plan?” Duo asked.

            “Shade? You know the most about the Specters. How would something important be guarded?” Quatre asked her.

            “Shin. Darien’s other hench man besides Hiiro and I was Shin. He would be near anything important. And Darien is usually with Shin. Shin’s not a bad fighter, but if you get him separated from Darien, you can pick him off easily.” Shade informed them.

            “Then we need to distract Darien, and go after Shin at the same time.” Trowa reasoned.

            “Darien’s a fair good fighter. He’d be hard to hold off physically.” Shade added.

            “Then we won’t hold him off physically. Could we maybe set fire to…” Wufei was interrupted.

            “No. We can hold him off physically. And get his mind off of everything at the same time. Shade.” Hiiro nodded in her direction.

            “You mean?” She asked, a terrified note in her usually monotone voice.

            “It’s the only way. Will you help us?” Hiiro pleaded with her.

            “What’s the only way?” Duo asked, confused.

            “He wants me to seduce Darien.” Shade whispered to Duo.

            “Can you?” Trowa asked. Shade dropped her head, and Hiiro answered for her.

            “The question is not whether she can or can’t. The question is whether she will. Darien has an infatuation with her. He’d do anything to have her. Serena?”

            “ We have no other choice. I’ll do it.” She decided.

            “Hnn. Wiley woman and their evil tricks. Sluts and whores, they’re all alike.” Wufei slandered Shade. Shade looked up at him horrified.

            “How can you say that of me? For your information, justice boy, I have just as many morals as you. I have never, ever tried to purposefully seduce anyone, let alone the man I’ve called Father for most of my life.” She stated clearly.

            “Yet you share Yui’s bed.” Wufei countered.

            “We sleep fully clothed! And only for two to three hours a night, both of us taking shifts of watch. Don’t you dare call me a slut! I’d never even kissed anyone before three days ago, so just shut up!” She enlightened him, tears about to overflow. Hiiro sat slightly in shock. Had he been her first kiss? He had thought… she was even more innocent than he had originally thought. He felt guilty for almost sending her on a sure fire path to losing her innocence. But it was needed for a successful mission, so it would be done.

            “First kiss? Three days ago?” Wufei repeated in shock.

            “Yes. And at the time it had been against my will. You have no rights to even begin calling me names. Set your facts straight before you go accusing people, Wufei Chang.” Now she truly was crying. She could understand why she needed to subject herself to possible rape. But she didn’t not have to deal with Wufei slurring her name while she had it.

            “I’m sorry Serena.” Hiiro suddenly apologized. “If I had known… I never would have, I mean, the bar never would have…”

            “You didn’t know, it wasn’t your fault Hiiro. Things happen.”

            “Wait. Hiiro gave you your first kiss? And it was against your will?” Duo pressed. Serena gathered nerve and through a deep blush she turned to Duo and winked.

            “I  don’t kiss and tell.” Then she giggled slightly and wiped her tears away.

            “Then you are willing to sacrifice yourself for this mission?” Quatre asked concerned.

            “Yes. It needs to be done. The only one of you who might stand a chance against Darien is Hiiro, and I won’t force him into a fight with Darien when it could go on forever and attract such attention. Besides. Hiiro needs to show you all around. I’m sure he knows the club better than I do now, what with hiding in the air ducts and all.”

            “She has a point.” Hiiro added. I know the ropes and I can go unseen easier than her.

            “So then, the plan is this so far: Shade, you take care of Darien. Who wants to take Shin?” Trowa asked.

            “I will.” Wufei consented.

            “Good. Quatre, you, Hiiro, and I will search the building for the computer. The retreat signal is…?”

            “Is either Darien running around the corridors shooting a gun off at you or the accomplishment of the mission.” Shade  lay out.

            “Then we are ready. Let’s pack.” Quatre suggested. As they all stood and stretched, Hiiro and Shade walked to their room. Entering it and shutting the door, Hiiro turned to her.

            “Serena.”

            “Look. You didn’t know. It’s not that big of a deal.” She shrugged it off. “It just made me mad than Wufei could say such things after all we’ve done for them.”

            “Hnn.”

            “I’m serious.”

            “Hnn.”

            “Hiiro.” He looked into her eyes. She stood on her tiptoes and reached towards his lips. So close.

            “Hey you two! Time to go!” Duo called through the door. Serena managed to quickly peck Hiiro before turning to grab her stuff and walk out of the room to join Duo in the hall.

Soon enough they were all aboard the shuttle. Quatre and Trowa sat playing a game of chess, with Duo rooting for Quatre and Wufei betting on Trowa. Hiiro, too, was watching the game. But it was from farther back, in a more comfortable position. Serena, he had found out, was afraid of flying. She, it turned out, was deathly afraid of it. The first ride up she had been so tired she had fallen asleep, but this time it was not the case. She was wide awake and terrified out of her wits. So instead of Hiiro being up watching the game, he was sitting in the back of the shuttle, Serena seated in his lap, burying her head deep in his chest and clinging to him lightly. Not that he minded in the least. Not in the least. The last peaceful, innocent time she would have was coming to an end, and he would do anything possible to ease that transition as much as possible. He looked out the window and saw red. The atmosphere. It would all be over soon.*

 

Sorry so short… writer’s block guys! Go read my other fic now! Please? Please? And if you haven’t read Salvage My Life, Please read and review that one- I would like more feedback!!!!!!!!!!