The Golden General Chapter 13 By Auston and Jade ~~~ "We need your help." The silence that followed those words was defening in its intensity. Both parties stared at each other, distrust, old friendships, uncertainty, and love warring with other less identifiable emotions clearly on their faces. The two former Nega-verse generals glanced at each other worriedly, Crystal chewing on her lip in indescision, neither quite sure what else should or could be said, if anything, and not quite ready to elaborate until there was some reaction forth-coming. The group consisting of one man, three girls, and two cats stared back at them, mute with shock and disbelief. >> Astonishment was strong in their minds and distrust weighed >> heavily in their hearts. Thoughts and feelings of betrayal, >> hesitation, and anger clouded their every function. They were >> speechless, staring at the pair before them with ridiculously >> wide eyes, unable to utter a word at their abrupt, and totally >> unexpected, request. >> >> Raye was the first to snap out of her apparant >> stupor, and when she finally had her mouth mobile again, she >> saw red. It ran in searing trails across her vision and a >> murderous fury began to rise within her. She had a scathing >> refusal to whatever the Hell it was they'd come here for on >> the tip of her tongue, but before she could voice it, she >> managed to catch a fleeting glimpse of the desperation in >> Crystal's eyes, the fear. The almost pleading appeal in those >> too-familiar blue orbs. She managed to tamp down on her anger, holding it at bay just barely, and when she spoke her voice was tight. "Why on earth would you need our help? And why should we care?" Her voice seemed to finally break the others out of their paralyses as well. Their reactions varied from staring at them in stony silence to ultimately beginning to word their transformation phrases. Raye glanced back just in time to hear Mina begin to chant, "Venus..." and Darien pull out a rose that had already begun to glow. She tried to hold up a hand, hold them off, but it was useless. Raye knew that Crystal was desperate, but she also knew it was still Crystal. Serena was a whole different matter, Crystal was a warrior on a mission, and Crystal most obviously didn't have time for a fight. To say the blast came out of nowhere would be lying. In truth, warning was given, but ignored. There was at least a five second delay before the pulse hit the two and if they'd wanted to, it could have been enough time for both Mina and Darien to stop, or Raye and Lita to call out something. The beam of darkness was focused, tight, and it hit both their hands dead on, but didn't hurt them. Caught off guard, they both dropped the injured limbs to cradle them against their chests, dropping the items they'd been holding in the process. The same beam of shadows that had hit them then now expanded to grow into a palpable mist. It swept down onto the transformation objects without a sound and in a flash, all of it disappeared. "What!?!" The shout came from all six, but Crystal and Kunzite were undisturbed. Crystal sighed impatiently and explained, "I can't let you go around doing that on me, can I? Don't worry, I've not destroyed them, not sure if that's possible to do using any kind of magic, but I have... misplaced them, I suppose. You'll get them back if or when this conversation comes to an end." "That's black-mail!" Darien shouted, seething. The momentray pain that had caused him to drop his rose had faded and he looked down to see, to his surprise, no wound, simply pink flesh as though it'd been flushed red by the sun. He frowned. "No, it's an insentive that you won't try anything more. And don't worry about your hands; it was only a mild electrical burn. The pain will fade in a minute." Mina's eyes flashed dangerously but Crystal just looked at her and shook her head. It was one thing to ask for help, but she would not fight these people again if it wasn't necessary. "Alright," Luna said finally into the thick silence following Crystal's display. "What do you want our help with?" Crystal and Kunzite exchanged a look and Crystal gazed at her former mentor for a long, long moment, before abruptly turning away and beginning to stride into the temple. Kunzite followed at a leisurely pace, surreptiously watching her back as she called to those behind her. "I think we'd better talk about this indoors so we don't attract any unwanted... attention." The scouts all looked at one another, weighing their options, but really, what choice did they have? If nothing else, this could be their one ace to use against their former leader in the long run. They followed her into the tempple wordlessly and wondered privately just what they were getting themselves into. ___________________ "You're going to **WHAT**!?!?" This was the general concensus after Crystal had informed them of their intentions, and with good cause. Luna and Artemis both had their mouths agape and Kunzite privately thought they looked like beached whales, but of course, he didn't say anything. The scouts themselves had almost comical expressions of shock on their faces and their eyes were as big as saucers. Crystal and Kunzite both coughed once to smother laughs and got glares from all in return. "We're going to destroy the Nega-verse... and we need you help." "You said that before." Raye retorted with a scowl. "But if you're so *all-powerful* yourselves, what can *we* do to help you?" Her sarcastic tone was at once sincere and deceptive. They both knew that in truth, compared to them, Crystal could very well be considered all-powerful. As strong as the senshi were, apart and together, nothing that they had done been able to stand up to the two sitting in front of them. Kunzite sent her a warning glance and it was heeded well enough. No one wanted a fight here and they all knew it. Deliberately provocing one would cause more problems than it was worth. "We.. thought that if we all worked together we'd have a better chance against the obsticles that Beryl will throw in our way. Kunzite and I are powerful, but that doesn't mean you couldn't help." Raye and Darien both scowled at her words, both for their own reasons, but the two ignored this as Kunzite picked up where Crystal had left off. "If we're to get to the throne room undetected, someone will have to create a distraction. You can take care of the youma while we slip past and take on Beryl. You can join us when you find a chance." Outrage quivered in the others, that they could so arrogatly assume that they would follow them blindly... For all they knew this could just be some elaborate trap set up to trick them into doing as they said. "Don't let your dislike rule your judgement." Kunzite interrupted before they could say anything and Crystal took up the slack now, so in sync were they. "As Generals, our energy signatures are less likely to be detected directly. One would have to know our exact location, energy type and distinct signal, and be able to read auras." "And Beryl can't do any of this, right?" Darien asked sarcastically, directing the comment towards both of them but keeping contemptuous eyes on the silver haired General. "Oh, I'm sure she can." Kunzite responded with a deadly smile, slipping an arm around Crystal's shoulders with ease, reveling in Darien's scowl and subsequent fury at the motion. He'd been witness to this one's jealousy before on that street and knew exactly how to use it against him. Crystal sent him a quelling glance but he just smiled and kissed her temple, even in his spite towards the other, still feeling the love he held for the young girl in his arms. "Agreed." Crystal concluded, snuggling closer to her love and letting both their feelings bolster her against the distrustful gazes of those before her and the anger in Darien's eyes. "We were just hoping that she'd be too preoccupied with your attack to take great care in scanning other areas. Besides, we'll try to shield ourselves as best we can for as long as we can." "Agreed." Crystal concluded, snuggling closer to her love and letting both their feelings bolster her against the distrustful gazes of those before her and the anger in Darien's eyes. "We were just hoping that she'd be too preoccupied with your attack to take great care in scanning other areas. Besides, we'll try to shield ourselves as best we can for as long as we can." Mina frowned, and opened her mouth to comment, but Luna beat her too it. "I agree that the plan of action you've chosen seems like it could work, but first and foremost, before we say anything... how do we know we can trust you?" Kunzite gave the cat a chilling smile and offered in his silkiest voice. "You don't." Crystal couldn't help herself, she quirked one side of her mouth up in a half-sneer, half-predators grin. "You shouldn't." Then the smile widened and the scouts shivered at the danger in her gaze. "But you're going to do it anyway, aren't you, scouts?" They nodded as one, unable to refuse, and cringed inside at the thought of what they were going to do. But they really didn't have any choice. To refuse would be suicide, and they couldn't risk leaving the Earth open to attack from the Nega-verse... but still, each in their own minds, they privately wondered just what they'd gotten themselves into here, and if there was any possible way out. And at the same time, knew that there wasn't. ________________- Sorry this took so long guys Jade and I have been really busy and this is getting a little bit harder than we expected to write...................let us know what you think of it .. here's my new address magik_90@yahoo.com or hears another one for me starlighttower@hotmail.com Auston and Jade (tnag@lightspeed.bc)