As I have for the last three years, I count down my life to this moment.

Born in Crystal Era 23, orphaned two days later.

Discovered by a band of Elite Soldiers in an embattled colony at the age of six.

Inducted into the military academy at the age of ten.

Graduated the youngest ever, at the age of eleven, joined the Imperial Army.

Posted on permanent duty in the Palace on the Moon at the age of fifteen.

A wonderful career capped by one, tragic moment, when I was 'discovered' by Admiral Delos, and given my transfer papers.

Three years of Advanced Tactics and Maneuvers, and what am I know?

Personal Attaché to the Admiral.

A glorified secretary.

It isn't as bad as I suppose it could be. As the youngest and most brilliant recruit ever to come out of the academy, I'm instantly recognized by almost everyone who sees me. But this position that I hold, this dead end 'promotion' that has left me in the fleet far beyond the solar system, guarding the passage into the Moon Kingdom, is far beneath my abilities.

It could be worse, of course. I have heard horror stories of recruits being assigned to guard the gas mining stations on Jupiter. Now there's a real dead end job. And out here, in the vast blackness of space, in the harsh cold beyond the reach of the warm sun, I have time to think.

That's why I come here, to the observation deck of Her Imperial Majesties Outer Fleet Flagship, The Black Star. Here I can drink my Mercurian Iced Chocolate, and ponder the mysteries of the universe.

The outer fleet has been stationed here for three hundred forty two days, seventeen hours, and thirty two minutes. I know. I've counted them all. Of that period, I have spent three hundred and two days, fourteen hours and seven minutes in uniform, and two hundred and six days, two hours and thirteen minutes in my small office outside the Admirals quarters. Seventy two percent of that time has involved mindless paperwork; twelve percent has involved taking various vids from the fleet commanders and punching them through to the admiral, and the rest, sheer boredom.

The numbers keep me sane, for the company cannot.

Back on the moon, I was the darling of the court. You may not believe it, but a fifteen year old boy in full military uniform is rather cute, and Saturn especially became quite adept at getting me assigned to her personal security detail. She was crushed when her queen told her I would be leaving.

Saturn I could talk to. We had an understanding of each other, two souls who did not belong in this world, in this existence. They feared her for her power and me because I tore down the conventions that they had worked for centuries to establish.

We would sit in the gardens, staring up at the earth, each in our own little worlds, but both so close to each other. I was her friend, her confidant.

She still sends me messages from time to time, as often as her busy schedule will allow. After all, she is charged with the rule and maintenance of the Moon Kingdom on Saturn, a very hefty responsibility indeed, and she is not left with much time to waste on a mere Lieutenant.

"Damien."

The voice behind me brings me back to reality, and I turn to see Jacen coming up to my table. Jacen is a good soldier, too kind and gentle for the service, which is probably why they gave him a desk job. Officially, he is the Communications Officer for the entire fleet. Unofficially, he is my friend.

"The Admiral was wondering whether our orders were to make for Colony Seven or Colony Seventeen."

I let out a depressed sigh. How very much like our admiral, to make such a simple mistake. He was a good man, but too absent minded. The only reason he had made it to Admiral was because his father was the Terran Ambassador. They put him in charge of this fleet to get him out of the eye of the public, for fear he might have embarrassed them. It was a valid concern.

"Tell him Colony Seventeen. I'll brief him on our mission later." I turn my attention back to the stars.

Jacen approached the table and pulled up a chair, glancing at me with concern all too evident on his face. "Are you feeling okay? You haven't seemed like yourself lately."

"No, I've been feeling exactly like myself. I'm in a dead end position, forced to play nurse to an incompetent admiral, with no hope of getting back to those that I care about."

"Come on now, it can't be all that bad?"

"Can't it? I'm not even seventeen yet, and my life is basically over. Where do you think I can go from here?"

"I don't know." Jacen waved a waitress over to the table, and ordered himself a drink. "You have friends in high places. You could always be made Governor of a colony or something."

"No, I have acquaintances in high places. They don't care for me any more than… than that ensign over there." I place my empty glass back down at the table and stand up, snapping a sarcastic salute. "I have work to do."

"When do you have your next break?"

I look at my chrono. "0800 Hours. I'll be here."

"Do you mind if I join you? You look as though you could use some company today."

I give a barely perceptible nod, then turn and leave the deck, ignoring the salute of the officer of the watch.

The fleet hung like a thousand islands in the black emptiness of space, their barely perceptible movements highly choreographed and practiced. To any outsider, it would be a magnificent display of force, to me, it was as it truly was, a shell of the navy that once protected this region. For years, the politicians on the moon had proceeded with the slow but steady decommission of military spacecraft, claiming that after two centuries of peace, there was no longer any threat to the Kingdom. Of a graduating class of two thousand, only I and two others knew the truth, and one of them was Jacen.

For years, minor attacks on outlying colonies had revealed to the three of us a disturbing trend. Small alien task forces, unlike anything that had ever been seen within the solar system had been carefully evaluating the outlying defenses of the frontiers, preparing for what Jacen had aptly called "a military invasion of galactic proportions".

Two days after presenting his thesis paper, laying out the case for his beliefs, Jacen was made Communications Officer and transferred as far away from the public's eye as the politicians could get him.

As soon as they learned that I had assisted with his research, I was sent off after him.

At first, I had thought my transfer to be a blessing in disguise. They had sent me to the front lines, as far as I could tell, to the place where I could do the most good. I brought my concerns to Admiral Delos, where they were dismissed outright. Even now, walking through the well lit corridors of the ship, I can remember what he told me.

"Son, I don't know what they told you back on the moon, but you listen to me. This is the end. We are the rejects of the military, given the easiest and least dangerous assignment. On this patrol, there's nothing to do but grow old and watch your career end right in front of your eyes. There's no danger here, only the emptiness of the universe to slowly drive you to madness."

Even then, I knew he was wrong. I couldn't see the danger, but I could feel it. Somewhere out there, beyond sight and sound, the greatest threat that our kingdom would ever face was readying itself for one grand assault, one that would sweep us away like chaff before the wind. With our guard down, we would be no match for the enemy.

It was close now. I could feel it coming.

It was time for me to write a letter.

Blood Brothers is temporarily on hold, because I'm still working out how I want to get where I intend to go with it, so in the meantime, here's a look at my next project, a Sailor Moon Universe fic.

The Senshi will have minor roles in the story, it's more focused on the outer frontiers of the New Moon Kingdom. The original character is NOT me, or anyone else, he's just a character that I made up for the story, and I'm cool having him in a relationship with Saturn, since she doesn't really have a significate other. And the relationship will take second stage to the military aspects in this story. Anyways, enjoy!