Disclaimer : I don't own Sailor Moon etc. etc.
A.N This is gonna be a weird story... I just know it ^_-
Partly due to the fact that :
a) I've just eaten some Ritz (well I was hungry)
b) I've read 'The Sandman Book of Dreams' edited by Neil Gaiman
and Ed Kramer (I think) which is reeeally good and makes me
want to know what 'The Sandman' comic actually is.
and finally, c) I'm listening to trancy music ^_^
Hope the outcome is good =9
------------------------------------------------------------
A Stroll Through Your Dream
By Artemis
------------------------------------------------------------
PROLOGUE
Mamoru Chiba floated blissfully. His mind was as clear as a
summer sky. Silence was all he could hear. But of course,
silence couldn't be heard. He saw the burning stars, millions
of them. His hand reached out, as if to grab one.
"Hey Mamoru, you all right there?" a voice buzzed in through
his helmet.
"Sure, I'm fine," Mamoru replied. "Sorry, taking too long out
here am I?"
"No, go right ahead. Take a nice evening stroll. We got all
the time in the world," the voice laughed.
"Thanks," Mamoru smiled.
He gazed out into the universe, stretching out into oblivion.
Below him was the Earth in all it's magnificent glory. A blue,
planet. The most beautiful planet in the solar system.
"I'm finally here," he whispered to himself. "And it was worth
everything I sacrificed."
He started to make his way back to the shuttle, inching closer
and closer.
"We're almost undertime Mamoru," another voice buzzed in.
"Really? We're doing really good aren't we?" Mamoru replied in
disbelief. "Maybe we should stop off on the moon and take some
souveneirs back with us."
The voice laughed. "You wish Mamoru!"
Mamoru finally got back to the bay on the side of the shuttle.
Chemicals washed his space suit and he walked into a separate
compartment and slipped out of the suit. He returned to his
crew and they all couldn't help smiling. The mission was a
huge success.
"I suppose they won't mind if we get home a little early huh?"
Mamoru shrugged. "Why not?"
Another crew member switched on the controls and contacted
home base, informing them of the early flight home.
They headed home, having to have to orbit the Earth first
and then eventually come back around and then enter the Earth's
atmosphere.
"If we could have coffee here, I'd be having some right now,"
Mamoru laughed.
"Yeah, same, I need a cup too," the others agreed.
They floated leisurely, then started to strap themselves into
the seats as they readied themselves to enter the Earth's orbit.
All of a sudden, one of the warning lights flashed. All eyes
turned instantaneously and at the same time. They held their
breath as one of them checked it out.
"Some kind of moving objects are heading to Earth.. Most likely
an asteroid shower."
"That's all right then," one of the female crew sighed in relief.
"Got us all worried for a second."
"You sure we shouldn't report this?"
"Well the computer says it's no big deal. The largest asteroid
is only the size of a golf ball."
"This shuttle can handle that."
They all sighed in relief and returned to their chattering,
although the excited atmosphere was dulled. Mamoru still felt
alerted in the back of his mind. Any warning made him stay on
his toes. The other members all probably had thoughts kept tucked
away in the back of their mind too, but they tried not to show
it.
"Okay let's go home," Mamoru shouted and they all settled down.
He somehow felt uncomfortable with the idea of the asteroid shower,
but tried to forget about it. Just as they were about to enter
the Earth's atmosphere, they felt the shuttle jolt. Asteroids?
It had to be.
"I feel like I'm in a tin can and it's raining outside," one of
the guys joked to lighten up the situation.
Deep inside, all of them feared for the worst. Mamoru gulped
and ignored the constant tinkling against the side of the shuttle.
It was only a small asteroid shower. It would be over and they
would be home. He would have his feet on the ground any moment
now. He convinced himself that once they were in the Earth's
atmosphere, the asteroids would disintegrate anyway. He cleared
his mind of all negative thoughts and concentrated on the entry.
Things ran smoothly and they started descending. They were half
way there when they all heard a loud crack. And the whole shuttle
shuddered. Mamoru's head spun.
"What the hell was that!?" he shouted.
He looked frantically at the lights beeping at him, but the entry
made the whole shuttle shake and he couldn't react fast enough.
The shuttle slammed into the ocean as helicopters were already
on the way there to rescue the astronauts.
Inside the hospital, doctors rushed to attend the survivors.
Miraculously, all of them survived. But they were badly injured.
The supervisor of rescue operations followed them in and then
was turned away. He managed to watch them being taken further
down the corridor. A hand grabbed his shoulder. He turned and
saw a young woman with hazel eyes and dark brown hair, tightly
pulled up into a bun. She was dressed smartly and he noticed
her access card hanging around her neck.
"What the hell do you think you're doing with those astronauts
in this hospital?" she asked, her voice piercing the tense
atmosphere.
"They're badly injured, this was the closest place!" he told her.
"You are in no position nor authority to make that judgement.
You deliberately disobeyed our orders to bring them back to base!"
"Base is two hours away! They could be dead by then!"
"What about the public's safety? Those astronauts haven't been
quarantined. We don't know what kind of bacteria they might have
brought back!" she argued.
"We treated them in the helicopters! They aren't a threat!
Besides, this whole ward is special quarantine area!" he argued
back, frustrated.
"That is still no excuse! It's dangerous! Do you know how much
trouble you've caused us? How am I to explain this irrational
behaviour?" the woman sighed, glaring at the man. "We should have
followed procedure!"
"To hell with procedure! They're dying in there!" he shouted,
pointing down the corridor. "And all you can think about is
procedure!?"
In the opposite wing of the hospital, Usagi Tsukino was carrying
spare towels to a room. She bumped into her co-worker and friend
Tanya.
"Usagi! Have you heard about the astronauts?" Tanya whispered,
pulling Usagi around a corner.
"Astronauts?" Usagi frowned. "From where?"
"They crash landed and we were the closest place they could
find with special facilites! Do you want to go have a look
later?" Tanya jumped with excitement.
"What condition are they in?" Usagi asked.
"Tsukino! Moor! Get back to duty!" a head nurse glared at
them.
"Yes ma'am," Usagi nodded and continued walking to the room
with her towels.
Tanya followed, telling Usagi all she knew about the astronauts.
"Where do you find out all this information?" Usagi frowned.
"I have my sources," Tanya giggled.
"And you're happy that they crash landed and came here?" Usagi sighed.
"One of the survivors is Mamoru Chiba! Haven't you seen him on
the news?" Tanya whispered loudly.
Usagi told her to lower her voice as she placed towels neatly into
patients' drawers.
"Mamoru Chiba? I heard about him on the radio," Usagi shrugged.
Tanya stood there speechless and stared at Usagi.
"What?" Usagi frowned, puzzled. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Mamoru Chiba is absolutely gorgeous!" Tanya shouted, then lowered
her voice. "And he's right here! In the very building that we are!"
"So?" Usagi sighed, fed up with Tanya's constant chatter.
"So? So? So we can go see him! And maybe I'll get to be his friend
and you know," Tanya grinned.
Usagi rolled her eyes. Tanya always chattered about good looking men
and she never shut up.
"I mean this is why I joined nursing! Good looking guys!" Tanya sighed
dreamily.
"Are you serious Tanya?" Usagi asked in disbelief and disgust.
"Well..."
"I don't believe you!" Usagi shouted, then stormed out of the room.
Tanya followed and tried to apologise, but she got cut off.
"Those astronauts are dying! And all you can think about is that one
of them might want to go out with you? What kind of nurse are you!?"
Tanya watched Usagi storm off. She felt slightly guilty, but then
annoyed that Usagi didn't understand.
Usagi walked around, frustrated with Tanya.
"Tsukino!" a head nurse called her.
"Yes?" she asked, trying to cool down.
"To Head Nurse Burgette's office please!"
The head nurse hurried away and left Usagi to ponder. Usagi walked
over to the office and knocked nervously.
"Come in!"
Usagi walked in and saw two NASA officials and a man that looked
like a search and rescue person. Two doctors, one being her friend
Ami, and a surgeon and Head Nurse Burgette stood in the room.
"Am I in trouble?" was the first thing Usagi asked.
"No, you're not," the search and rescue-ish person replied.
"This is nurse Tsukino," Head Nurse Burgette introduced her
to the three outsiders. "This is Officer Swanson and Deputy Chief
of Operations, Grace Thompson. And this is Supervisor of
Rescue Operations, Michael Haybert."
"Nice to meet you," Usagi smiled politely to all of them.
She glanced nervously at Ami, who smiled and reassured her.
"The reason you were called here was because we need nurses to
look after the astronauts for the following four nights and five days
until their condition improves. Only then can we transfer them
to NASA HQ," Grace informed Usagi, with a hint of superiority in
her tone. "And Mr Haybert thought that you would be fit to look
after one of them."
Usagi looked at Michael Haybert in surprise.
"Why me?" she murmured.
"I overheard something you said," he admitted, slightly embarrassed.
Usagi realised maybe he had overheard what she shouted to Tanya.
"Anyway, I thought you would have the right attitude to treat
one of our crew," Michael smiled cheerfully. "If you don't mind,
that is."
Grace cut him short. "This means you will be assigned to the
designated ward and only carry out tasks related to your patient.
No other contact with any other wards or nurses will be prohibited,
unless you have gained permission to do so. The necessary staff will
be accesibly in the same ward. Dr Mizuno will be the only person
to grant permission."
Usagi nodded. "I see."
"We know you're only a junior nurse at the moment, so if you feel
that this is too hard on you, it's okay to say no," Head Nurse
Burgette smiled.
"She's a junior nurse!?" Grace laughed. "That's ridiculous! There
is no way that she is going to look after one of our most treasured
astronauts!"
"Treasured? Yeah right, that's not how you felt about them when
you found out they were coming here," Michael muttered, only so
Grace could hear.
She glared at him. "Sorry to have disturbed you nurse.. Tsukino?
You won't be needed."
Usagi was a little confused but nodded and smiled politely.
"Wait a second, you can't just dismiss her like that!" Michael
complained to Grace. "Just because she's a junior nurse, doesn't
mean she's not up to the job!"
"How long have you been working as a nurse?" Grace asked Usagi,
with an intimidating look.
"A year.." Usagi replied.
"She's only been here for a year Haybert! Do you think she can
handle this? These are extremely sensitive patients in severe
conditions!" Grace argued with Michael.
"I can handle sensitive patients," Usagi spoke up.
"See? She says she can do it!" Michael frowned.
Grace glanced at Usagi, then looked back at Michael.
"Why did you choose her anyway? Got a little crush on the cute
blonde?" Grace laughed.
"That's not very professional Thompson!" Michael scowled.
"Well it doesn't seem like you chose very professionally either!"
They glared at each other as the rest of the members in the room
watched silently. Finally, Usagi spoke up.
"Who would be my patient, if I do end up being someone's nurse?"
Grace and Michael both turned to Usagi.
"Mamoru Chiba," Michael told her. "He'll be your patient."
"What!? That's even worse! He's the best astronaut we have!"
Grace shouted furiously.
"That's exactly why!" Michael grinned. "All the nurses I've talked
to so far have heard of Mamoru only because he's good looking."
"And why is nurse Tsukino different?" Grace frowned.
"Well, what kind of nurse are you if you only care about getting
a date with one of the astronauts?" Michael slightly rephrased,
what Usagi had shouted to Tanya before.
Michael smiled to Usagi with confidence.
"What are you talking about Haybert?"
"That's what I heard nurse Tsukino say to her friend," Michael told
Grace. "And I thought, she's the perfect nurse for Mamoru!"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take up your offer," Usagi smiled,
to everyone's surprise.
------------------------------------------------------------
END OF PROLOGUE
------------------------------------------------------------
A.N This is gonna be a weird story... I just know it ^_-
Partly due to the fact that :
a) I've just eaten some Ritz (well I was hungry)
b) I've read 'The Sandman Book of Dreams' edited by Neil Gaiman
and Ed Kramer (I think) which is reeeally good and makes me
want to know what 'The Sandman' comic actually is.
and finally, c) I'm listening to trancy music ^_^
Hope the outcome is good =9
------------------------------------------------------------
A Stroll Through Your Dream
By Artemis
------------------------------------------------------------
PROLOGUE
Mamoru Chiba floated blissfully. His mind was as clear as a
summer sky. Silence was all he could hear. But of course,
silence couldn't be heard. He saw the burning stars, millions
of them. His hand reached out, as if to grab one.
"Hey Mamoru, you all right there?" a voice buzzed in through
his helmet.
"Sure, I'm fine," Mamoru replied. "Sorry, taking too long out
here am I?"
"No, go right ahead. Take a nice evening stroll. We got all
the time in the world," the voice laughed.
"Thanks," Mamoru smiled.
He gazed out into the universe, stretching out into oblivion.
Below him was the Earth in all it's magnificent glory. A blue,
planet. The most beautiful planet in the solar system.
"I'm finally here," he whispered to himself. "And it was worth
everything I sacrificed."
He started to make his way back to the shuttle, inching closer
and closer.
"We're almost undertime Mamoru," another voice buzzed in.
"Really? We're doing really good aren't we?" Mamoru replied in
disbelief. "Maybe we should stop off on the moon and take some
souveneirs back with us."
The voice laughed. "You wish Mamoru!"
Mamoru finally got back to the bay on the side of the shuttle.
Chemicals washed his space suit and he walked into a separate
compartment and slipped out of the suit. He returned to his
crew and they all couldn't help smiling. The mission was a
huge success.
"I suppose they won't mind if we get home a little early huh?"
Mamoru shrugged. "Why not?"
Another crew member switched on the controls and contacted
home base, informing them of the early flight home.
They headed home, having to have to orbit the Earth first
and then eventually come back around and then enter the Earth's
atmosphere.
"If we could have coffee here, I'd be having some right now,"
Mamoru laughed.
"Yeah, same, I need a cup too," the others agreed.
They floated leisurely, then started to strap themselves into
the seats as they readied themselves to enter the Earth's orbit.
All of a sudden, one of the warning lights flashed. All eyes
turned instantaneously and at the same time. They held their
breath as one of them checked it out.
"Some kind of moving objects are heading to Earth.. Most likely
an asteroid shower."
"That's all right then," one of the female crew sighed in relief.
"Got us all worried for a second."
"You sure we shouldn't report this?"
"Well the computer says it's no big deal. The largest asteroid
is only the size of a golf ball."
"This shuttle can handle that."
They all sighed in relief and returned to their chattering,
although the excited atmosphere was dulled. Mamoru still felt
alerted in the back of his mind. Any warning made him stay on
his toes. The other members all probably had thoughts kept tucked
away in the back of their mind too, but they tried not to show
it.
"Okay let's go home," Mamoru shouted and they all settled down.
He somehow felt uncomfortable with the idea of the asteroid shower,
but tried to forget about it. Just as they were about to enter
the Earth's atmosphere, they felt the shuttle jolt. Asteroids?
It had to be.
"I feel like I'm in a tin can and it's raining outside," one of
the guys joked to lighten up the situation.
Deep inside, all of them feared for the worst. Mamoru gulped
and ignored the constant tinkling against the side of the shuttle.
It was only a small asteroid shower. It would be over and they
would be home. He would have his feet on the ground any moment
now. He convinced himself that once they were in the Earth's
atmosphere, the asteroids would disintegrate anyway. He cleared
his mind of all negative thoughts and concentrated on the entry.
Things ran smoothly and they started descending. They were half
way there when they all heard a loud crack. And the whole shuttle
shuddered. Mamoru's head spun.
"What the hell was that!?" he shouted.
He looked frantically at the lights beeping at him, but the entry
made the whole shuttle shake and he couldn't react fast enough.
The shuttle slammed into the ocean as helicopters were already
on the way there to rescue the astronauts.
Inside the hospital, doctors rushed to attend the survivors.
Miraculously, all of them survived. But they were badly injured.
The supervisor of rescue operations followed them in and then
was turned away. He managed to watch them being taken further
down the corridor. A hand grabbed his shoulder. He turned and
saw a young woman with hazel eyes and dark brown hair, tightly
pulled up into a bun. She was dressed smartly and he noticed
her access card hanging around her neck.
"What the hell do you think you're doing with those astronauts
in this hospital?" she asked, her voice piercing the tense
atmosphere.
"They're badly injured, this was the closest place!" he told her.
"You are in no position nor authority to make that judgement.
You deliberately disobeyed our orders to bring them back to base!"
"Base is two hours away! They could be dead by then!"
"What about the public's safety? Those astronauts haven't been
quarantined. We don't know what kind of bacteria they might have
brought back!" she argued.
"We treated them in the helicopters! They aren't a threat!
Besides, this whole ward is special quarantine area!" he argued
back, frustrated.
"That is still no excuse! It's dangerous! Do you know how much
trouble you've caused us? How am I to explain this irrational
behaviour?" the woman sighed, glaring at the man. "We should have
followed procedure!"
"To hell with procedure! They're dying in there!" he shouted,
pointing down the corridor. "And all you can think about is
procedure!?"
In the opposite wing of the hospital, Usagi Tsukino was carrying
spare towels to a room. She bumped into her co-worker and friend
Tanya.
"Usagi! Have you heard about the astronauts?" Tanya whispered,
pulling Usagi around a corner.
"Astronauts?" Usagi frowned. "From where?"
"They crash landed and we were the closest place they could
find with special facilites! Do you want to go have a look
later?" Tanya jumped with excitement.
"What condition are they in?" Usagi asked.
"Tsukino! Moor! Get back to duty!" a head nurse glared at
them.
"Yes ma'am," Usagi nodded and continued walking to the room
with her towels.
Tanya followed, telling Usagi all she knew about the astronauts.
"Where do you find out all this information?" Usagi frowned.
"I have my sources," Tanya giggled.
"And you're happy that they crash landed and came here?" Usagi sighed.
"One of the survivors is Mamoru Chiba! Haven't you seen him on
the news?" Tanya whispered loudly.
Usagi told her to lower her voice as she placed towels neatly into
patients' drawers.
"Mamoru Chiba? I heard about him on the radio," Usagi shrugged.
Tanya stood there speechless and stared at Usagi.
"What?" Usagi frowned, puzzled. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Mamoru Chiba is absolutely gorgeous!" Tanya shouted, then lowered
her voice. "And he's right here! In the very building that we are!"
"So?" Usagi sighed, fed up with Tanya's constant chatter.
"So? So? So we can go see him! And maybe I'll get to be his friend
and you know," Tanya grinned.
Usagi rolled her eyes. Tanya always chattered about good looking men
and she never shut up.
"I mean this is why I joined nursing! Good looking guys!" Tanya sighed
dreamily.
"Are you serious Tanya?" Usagi asked in disbelief and disgust.
"Well..."
"I don't believe you!" Usagi shouted, then stormed out of the room.
Tanya followed and tried to apologise, but she got cut off.
"Those astronauts are dying! And all you can think about is that one
of them might want to go out with you? What kind of nurse are you!?"
Tanya watched Usagi storm off. She felt slightly guilty, but then
annoyed that Usagi didn't understand.
Usagi walked around, frustrated with Tanya.
"Tsukino!" a head nurse called her.
"Yes?" she asked, trying to cool down.
"To Head Nurse Burgette's office please!"
The head nurse hurried away and left Usagi to ponder. Usagi walked
over to the office and knocked nervously.
"Come in!"
Usagi walked in and saw two NASA officials and a man that looked
like a search and rescue person. Two doctors, one being her friend
Ami, and a surgeon and Head Nurse Burgette stood in the room.
"Am I in trouble?" was the first thing Usagi asked.
"No, you're not," the search and rescue-ish person replied.
"This is nurse Tsukino," Head Nurse Burgette introduced her
to the three outsiders. "This is Officer Swanson and Deputy Chief
of Operations, Grace Thompson. And this is Supervisor of
Rescue Operations, Michael Haybert."
"Nice to meet you," Usagi smiled politely to all of them.
She glanced nervously at Ami, who smiled and reassured her.
"The reason you were called here was because we need nurses to
look after the astronauts for the following four nights and five days
until their condition improves. Only then can we transfer them
to NASA HQ," Grace informed Usagi, with a hint of superiority in
her tone. "And Mr Haybert thought that you would be fit to look
after one of them."
Usagi looked at Michael Haybert in surprise.
"Why me?" she murmured.
"I overheard something you said," he admitted, slightly embarrassed.
Usagi realised maybe he had overheard what she shouted to Tanya.
"Anyway, I thought you would have the right attitude to treat
one of our crew," Michael smiled cheerfully. "If you don't mind,
that is."
Grace cut him short. "This means you will be assigned to the
designated ward and only carry out tasks related to your patient.
No other contact with any other wards or nurses will be prohibited,
unless you have gained permission to do so. The necessary staff will
be accesibly in the same ward. Dr Mizuno will be the only person
to grant permission."
Usagi nodded. "I see."
"We know you're only a junior nurse at the moment, so if you feel
that this is too hard on you, it's okay to say no," Head Nurse
Burgette smiled.
"She's a junior nurse!?" Grace laughed. "That's ridiculous! There
is no way that she is going to look after one of our most treasured
astronauts!"
"Treasured? Yeah right, that's not how you felt about them when
you found out they were coming here," Michael muttered, only so
Grace could hear.
She glared at him. "Sorry to have disturbed you nurse.. Tsukino?
You won't be needed."
Usagi was a little confused but nodded and smiled politely.
"Wait a second, you can't just dismiss her like that!" Michael
complained to Grace. "Just because she's a junior nurse, doesn't
mean she's not up to the job!"
"How long have you been working as a nurse?" Grace asked Usagi,
with an intimidating look.
"A year.." Usagi replied.
"She's only been here for a year Haybert! Do you think she can
handle this? These are extremely sensitive patients in severe
conditions!" Grace argued with Michael.
"I can handle sensitive patients," Usagi spoke up.
"See? She says she can do it!" Michael frowned.
Grace glanced at Usagi, then looked back at Michael.
"Why did you choose her anyway? Got a little crush on the cute
blonde?" Grace laughed.
"That's not very professional Thompson!" Michael scowled.
"Well it doesn't seem like you chose very professionally either!"
They glared at each other as the rest of the members in the room
watched silently. Finally, Usagi spoke up.
"Who would be my patient, if I do end up being someone's nurse?"
Grace and Michael both turned to Usagi.
"Mamoru Chiba," Michael told her. "He'll be your patient."
"What!? That's even worse! He's the best astronaut we have!"
Grace shouted furiously.
"That's exactly why!" Michael grinned. "All the nurses I've talked
to so far have heard of Mamoru only because he's good looking."
"And why is nurse Tsukino different?" Grace frowned.
"Well, what kind of nurse are you if you only care about getting
a date with one of the astronauts?" Michael slightly rephrased,
what Usagi had shouted to Tanya before.
Michael smiled to Usagi with confidence.
"What are you talking about Haybert?"
"That's what I heard nurse Tsukino say to her friend," Michael told
Grace. "And I thought, she's the perfect nurse for Mamoru!"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take up your offer," Usagi smiled,
to everyone's surprise.
------------------------------------------------------------
END OF PROLOGUE
------------------------------------------------------------