Chaos And Cosmos Chapter 1: In The Crosshairs, a sailor moon fanfic

CHAOS AND COSMOS
Chapter 1: "In The Crosshairs"
A Neo-Sailor Moon fanfic

By Bill K.

Fish Eye stirred from his sleep. He lay in the simple, spartan bed of a temple maiden in the service of the Dream Guardian and listened in the dark for more of the sound that had first awakened him. There was nothing other than the breathing of his roommate, Ravonna the Seer. But as his mind became more clear, Fish Eye could tell the breathing was heavy and accelerated. He was about to turn to her and inquire as to whether she had received a vision or just a nightmare, for even the denizens of Elysian were not immune to the influence of the Nightmare Realm. But before he could, Ravonna got up.

"Ravonna?" he asked as the comely blonde woman hastily flung on her temple maiden robe. "Did you see something?"

Ravonna didn't answer. She just hurried out the door and into the Elysian night. Concerned, Fish Eye got up and threw on his temple maiden robe. As he emerged from the temple maiden quarters, he caught a glimpse of Ravonna's golden hair disappearing into the abode of the Guardian Mother. Convinced that Ravonna had seen something, something which had frightened her, Fish Eye hurried across the stone court surrounding the Temple of Elysian to join her fellow temple maiden.

When Fish Eye entered, Ravonna was on her knees before Candide, the Guardian Mother and ruler of Elysian. For her part, Candide was confused both by Ravonna's supplicant behavior and by her hurried babbling, for this was most out of character with the usually reserved maiden.

"Ravonna, please," Candide implored the woman. "You're not making any sense. What threat do you speak of?"

"I do not know," Ravonna replied, wringing her hands. There was emotion in her voice that was also unusual for her. "It is formless! Nameless - - or at least I am unable to comprehend its name! I only know it is evil! Dark, slithering, smothering evil, evil beyond anything yet conjured up by the Nightmare Realm! It consumes all thought, all joy, all life!" Ravonna shuddered. "And it comes."

"Here, to Elysian?" Candide asked.

"Eventually," Ravonna said distantly, still haunted by her vision. "But my vision held it upon the Earth. It seeks your son, Helios the Guardian of the Dreaming!"

"Helios? What does this nameless evil want with my Helios? Did you see that?"

A tear trickled down Ravonna's cheek.

"It seeks my Lord's death," Ravonna squeaked out. "And I fear it cannot be stopped."

Breakfast time in the Royal Chambers saw eighteen year old Usa buzzing past her parents, dressed in a form-fitting baby blue and white body suit with a flared white skirt that barely covered her backside and stylish pink boots. She also wore a visor originally designed as eye protection from the sun, but which had become the fashion rage among the young. As usual her parents were at the breakfast table and, as usual, the teen princess preferred to dine with her friends in the palace cafeteria.

"Bye, Mom! Bye Pop!" she tossed over her shoulder as she hurried out. "See you after school!"

But before she reached the door, Usa stopped and turned back to her mother. As usual at this time of the morning, Queen Serenity was frazzled, disheveled and barely coherent. But something was different about the picture. Endymion was cradling little Mamoko, attempting to feed the cranky infant and not succeeding.

"Mom? You OK?" Usa asked.

"No," Serenity sobbed petulantly. "I have a splitting headache! It woke me up at four and it wouldn't let me get back to sleep!"

"Wow, must be powerful if it woke you up," Usa remarked.

"I still maintain that Dr. Mizuno should scan her for a physical cause," Luna huffed. "Naturally, your mother was quite resistant to anything remotely resembling common sense."

"I don't want to bother Ami-Chan with this," Serenity growled.

"You know," Usa began, eyebrow arched, "you usually don't feel like this unless there's something bad that you're sensing. You're pretty receptive to tragedy and stuff like that. And the way Mamoko is fussing makes me think you're picking up on something that's irritating your emotions. Pop, has there been any disasters in the world?"

"None that have been reported," Endymion replied. "I already thought of that and checked. Unless it's something that's about to happen."

"In which case, it might be a good idea to check on how Aunt Rei is feeling," Usa added. "If Mom is picking up on something, maybe she is too."

"A good idea, Honey," Endymion said. He pulled out his PDA and engaged the call feature.

"I'm sorry for keeping you, Usa," Serenity mumbled through the obvious discomfort she was feeling. "I know you want to be with your friends. Why don't you go ahead."

"You sure?" Usa asked. "I don't mind staying."

"I'll get through this. Don't worry about me. Your father is here, and Rei-Chan will probably be here any minute." She turned her head, eyes still clamped shut, in the direction of Luna. "And Luna's probably ratted me out to Ami-Chan by now, so I'll be in good hands."

"There is no need to be vulgar," sniffed Luna.

"You go on," Serenity told her daughter.

Usa leaned in and kissed her mom on the cheek. And in that brief moment of contact, the Princess sensed some of the pain her mother was experiencing. Concerned, she stared at the woman for a moment. Then she gave in to her mother's wishes and headed for the cafeteria.

In the cafeteria, Hotaru was waiting for her. The teen had a heart-healthy breakfast before her, as prescribed by Ami Mizuno, and was picking at it without enthusiasm. When Usa slid in across from the teen with her meal, Hotaru tried to light up. But Usa could tell it was strained.

"You OK, Hotaru?" Usa asked.

"I guess," the slight girl sighed. "I just feel - - depressed."

"Trouble between you and Yutaka?"

"No," Hotaru shrugged, "other than he studies too hard. I appreciate that he wants to make something out of himself, but he never seems to have time to do anything else anymore."

"Like snuggle with you?" Usa grinned. Hotaru flushed, but the edges of her mouth crept up. "Did you get your running in?"

"I had to push myself, but yes," Hotaru replied.

"Did you have a fight with Aunt Michiru and Uncle Haruka?"

"No," Hotaru said. "It's nothing like that. I just - - feel down for some reason. I can't describe it. I haven't felt this way since . . ." and Hotaru's eyes widened when she realized what she was about to say. But it was Usa and she knew Usa wouldn't judge. "Since when I was blacking out - - to become Mistress Nine."

Usa's hand shot out and grasped hers. A wave of gratitude swept over her.

"I'm not scared about her coming back," Hotaru assured her. "But these feelings - - they resemble the despair and hopelessness I felt back then. Maybe not as intense; the thing is, I don't know why."

Just then the Asteroids came up and slid into their regular seats beside Usa and Hotaru. Jun, Ves and Cere seemed fine. Palla-Palla, though, was not her cheery, animated self. She spooned up a helping of her favorite sugary cereal and ate it distantly.

"You feeling out of it, too, Palla-Palla?" Usa inquired.

"Yeah, she's been kind of out of it all morning," Ves reported. "Says she's not sick."

"I don't know how she can eat that cereal and not be," scowled Cere. "Honestly, why don't you just pour sugar in the milk and cut out the middle step?"

"Lay off her!" snorted Ves.

"You're still not missing the dragon, are you?" Usa ventured.

"Palla-Palla does miss Mr. Dragon-Sir and wishes she could be with him," Palla-Palla answered. "Palla-Palla doesn't think it's that, though. It's different."

"Does your head hurt, Palla-Palla?" Usa asked.

"No, Princess. Palla-Palla just - - feels icky. She's sorry she can't explain it better, but she isn't very smart."

"I can't explain it either, Palla-Palla," Hotaru assured her. "But I feel the same way."

"And Mom had a gigantic headache this morning," Usa said. Hotaru glanced at her friend and saw the gears turning in her head. "And Mamoko was fussy."

Lurching out of her seat, Usa turned for the door.

"Usa?" Hotaru asked after her.

"I want to check something!" was the response as twin tails of pink hair disappeared out the door. Immediately Hotaru got up and followed her. Cere was next, followed by Palla-Palla. At the door, Cere turned to see if the others were coming.

"Ves!" Cere gasped as she saw Ves following her, the breakfast steak in her hands as the teen crammed as much of it into her mouth as she could manage. "That is SO disgusting!"

"Never waste food," Ves replied, though it was hard to tell with her mouth crammed full of steak.

"Animal!" Cere hissed. Then she noticed Jun carrying her cup of diced fruit and popping the chunks into her mouth with her fingers. "Jun!"

"Well, she's right!" Jun shot back. Cere glared as her sister passed her out the door.

When the six teens arrived at the Shinto Shrine built within the walls of the Crystal Palace, they found Rei Hino being tended to by Endymion. He turned as they came in and expressed their mutual shock.

"Aunt Rei? What happened?" Usa gasped.

"Not so loud, Muffin," Rei whimpered. She was holding her head with both hands at the temples while Endymion held her shoulders to steady her.

"When Rei didn't answer my message earlier, I came to check on her," Endymion explained. "I found her sprawled on the floor."

"Aunt Rei?"

"Don't worry about me, Muffin," the priest responded. "But you need to check on Helios."

"Helios?" Usa asked anxiously. "What's wrong with Helios?"

"I don't know," Rei sighed. "His name just flashed into my mind."

And Usa was off like a shot, racing down the corridor to the quarters Helios stayed in. Trailing behind were her friends. All except Palla-Palla.

"Palla-Palla hopes you feel better, Miss Rei-Ma'am," the girl bowed, then scampered off after the others. The gesture brought a tired smile to Rei's face.

"Yes, Mother, I am well," Helios thought. He sat in a lotus position on the bed in his quarters, communicating telepathically with Candide on Elysian. "What disturbs you? You seem upset."

Candide took a moment to quell her fears.

"Ravonna had a vision this morning," Candide told her son.

"It involved me?

"It did. It indicated that you were in some sort of current or pending danger. Have you and Princess Usagi been involved in dangerous activity recently?"

"Not since the incident with the dragon," Helios responded. "I already told you of that. It has been quite calm since then. Did Ravonna see what is to menace me or how?"

"No," Candide answered and Helios sensed her frustration. "Only that there is a nameless evil approaching and it seeks your death." Candide paused. "I know what I am about to ask, but I ask it anyway. Please come back to Elysian, Helios. If only until this nameless evil can be identified and repelled."

"Mother," he began.

"You will be safer here where your powers are at their fullest!" Candide argued. "I mean no disrespect to Princess Usagi or her warriors! They are quite formidable! I just . . ."

"Your concern for me is appreciated, as always Mother," Helios thought back. "But my heart is no longer in Elysian. My heart is here. Therefore I am strongest here."

"Love doth make fools of us all," Candide whispered, but Helios heard her. "I know that tone. Your mind is set."

"Mother," Helios sighed.

"Ravonna will try to see more," Candide told him. "And I will do whatever I can from here to gain more information and to help protect you."

"I am grateful, Mother," Helios thought to her. "Please do not concern yourself for my safety at the cost of your own or that of Elysian."

"I am a mother," Candide responded. "I make no promises. Please take care."

Just then the door to his quarters hissed open. Helios was momentarily on his guard, but saw it was only Usa, using her skill to override the door lock. The Princess rushed in and landed on the bed next to him.

"Helios, are you all right?" Usa gasped. By now the others had arrived and they peered in through the door.

"So you have sensed it, too?" Helios asked.

"Sensed what? What do you know?" the teen demanded. Helios explained the call he had just received from his mother in Elysian. Every syllable seemed to make his love that much more anxious.

"So something is out there," Jun commented.

"And it's setting off alarms in everybody here with psychic sensitivity," Usa added. "That's significant, but I don't know why. If only we knew more."

She noticed Helios stiffen momentarily and grasped his arm.

"It is only my mother," Helios assured her. "Our conversation was ended abruptly by your entrance. Given the circumstances, she became quite worried."

"Tell her I'm sorry," Usa offered.

"She forgives you," Helios smiled. "And she charges you not to leave my side."

"Easiest mission I've ever had," Usa grinned.

"So what do you want us to do, Princess?" Ves asked.

"I'm not sure there's anything we can do until we know more," Usa sighed. "I suppose if Palla-Palla gets some thought or impression, that might help. But until we know more, we're just stuck on defense. Guess you all can stand down. Just be ready to come running if I call."

"We will," Cere nodded.

"And Palla-Palla will listen real close," Palla-Palla nodded. "She'll even miss today's Yumi-Chan's Toyshop so she's not distracted."

"Thanks," grinned Usa.

"So are you going to stay here?" Hotaru asked.

"Until Pop runs me out," Usa said. "And then he'd better bring a squad of guards."

The Asteroids nodded and headed off. As they walked off, Jun noticed Hotaru's thoughtful expression.

"Whatever it is, we'll handle it," Jun assured her.

"I just wish we knew what we were facing," Hotaru mumbled. To Jun, it seemed like the teen was making a decision. Abruptly she veered off from the group.

"Hotaru?" Jun inquired.

"I've got an idea," she said as she hurried off. "I'll let you all know how it comes out. Bye!"

"Hope it works!" Jun called after her.

"Hey, you still feeling bad?" Ves asked Palla-Palla when he saw the knit brow and the frown on the teen.

"Please don't talk, Ves-Ves!" she responded petulantly. "Palla-Palla is trying to concentrate!"

"Oh," Ves replied, startled. "Sorry."

The door hissed open to the quarters Hotaru shared with Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh.

"Mama!" Hotaru called out. "Are you here? I need to ask you something!"

What Hotaru saw when she entered the living room was a sight she wasn't prepared for. Her eyes bulged in shock.

"So what exactly happened?" Endymion asked. As he spoke, a medical team entered the shrine and moved in to take medical scans of the priest.

"I was," and Rei paused with embarrassment for a moment, "headed for the - - facilities. And then I was struck by this wave of psychic energy. It was enough to take all the strength from me for a moment. My head is still pounding from it."

"And you sensed Helios?"

"No," Rei replied. "I sensed evil intent. Intense evil intent, like I've felt only a few times before in my life. But one of its goals is Helios." She exhaled, trying to cleanse herself. "And there was a familiarity to it, too."

"Familiar how?"

"I've felt similar energy," she told him. "Not the same. But it reminded me of them."

"Of who?"

"Metallia," Rei replied softly. "And Wise Man. Pharaoh 90. Nehelenia. Talon Umbra." She took another breath. "And most of all, Galaxia."

Continued in Chapter 2