Nothing to Fear.
Chapter One.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Sailor Moon characters.
"We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Site of the former Mugen Gauken Academy (Infinity Academy), 0430hrs.
Observe, if you would, the simple cockroach.
Observe how it makes its way along the through the ruins of what used to be a place of learning. The cockroach itself doesn't know this of course all it wants is food and shelter.
It could care less that the shattered stones, twisted metal and broken glass it is currently foraging around were the site of an apocalyptic battle between good and evil. Its needs are far simpler compared to say, the beings who fought in that battle.
No, this night it has feasted well on a few scraps of refuse left in the ruins, and now it is seeking shelter from the coming storm.
Crawling into the wreckage, it seeks a warm, dry spot to rest. Sensing warmth, it crawls down into the depths of the ruined school until it reaches the source of the warmth.
It is a vast area that, were it human, it would call the area a laboratory. It is in fact a secondary laboratory that belonged to the former owner and principal of this school, one Professor Tomoe, now deceased. But, alas, the cockroach is not human, and has little grasp of concepts like this, a pity really.
If this cockroach knew what the various spilled chemicals it was currently walking through were it would be a trifle more cautious in approaching the greatest source of the warmth in the lab, a large open metal box with odd symbols on it. It didn't care all it wanted was shelter. Perhaps the broken eggs strewn all over the floor mixed with the chemicals, combined with the warmth, reminded it of the nest where it was born.
It noted that several of its fellows had come to this place seeking shelter as well. That was all right, plenty of room for everyone. They gathered around the box and began to settle for that day's rest. Outside, it began to rain heavily, while inside the cockroach and its brothers and sisters gathered around their new home. A home, which began to glow in the darkness…
The residence of Michiru Kaioh, Haruka Tenoh, Setsuna Meioh, and Hotaru Tomoe, a few days later.
"Cheer up Setsuna; she can't stay angry at you forever." Haruka said in a cheerful voice.
Setsuna didn't look like she was going to cheer up anytime soon. In fact she seemed to look very mortified and sad, even for her. She sat on the couch with her hands clenching and unclenching in her lap nervously as she stared at a spot on the floor in front of her. The only noise she made was a sad sniffling noise as she sat and fidgeted.
"Look, I told Michiru that killing you was out of the question. It's been two days, plenty of time for her to calm down. Once she gets back from talking to the contractor, I'm sure she'll be able to talk to you without screaming." Haruka tried to sound reassuring, but wasn't having much luck.
Okay, time for the heavy artillery. She thought. "Your turn Hime-chan." She said to her daughter who stood beside her with a worried expression on her face. Hotaru nodded and she quietly approached her mama.
"Setsuna-mama?" She asked gently. No answer.
"Setsuna-mama, we know what happened was an accident. You were tired and cranky and you just reacted. Well, overreacted, but it was kind of understandable under the circumstances. Michiru-mama has had a few days to calm down and think it over, and I know she still loves you despite everything. Haruka-papa and I still do." Hotaru smiled as she sat beside Setsuna on the couch and gave her a reassuring hug. Setsuna smiled a bit and hugged her back.
Haruka looked relieved. "That's the spirit. Now if we can just convince Michi to do the same, we'll be fine and everything will be back to normal around here."
"As normal as things get around here." Hotaru remarked with a chuckle. Setsuna laughed a bit at that comment.
Haruka grinned. "That's true." She heard the sound of a car pulling into the garage. "Michi's home." Everyone looked expectantly at the door for the arrival of the house's final resident.
"I'm home!" Michiru called as she walked in. She carried a small briefcase in one hand and a grocery bag in the other. She wore an impeccable blue business suit and skirt, and her hair was tied neatly back. Haruka smiled and went to greet her lover and help carry her bags. Hotaru went over as well. Setsuna remained on the couch, her expression hopeful.
"Hello Ruka, Hime-chan." Michiru said as her lover and daughter greeted her with warm hugs and kisses. Then she spotted Setsuna on the couch and her expression darkened a bit. "Setsuna." She said in a flat, emotionless voice. Setsuna went back to looking at the carpet.
"How did the meeting with the contractor go?" Haruka asked, eager to draw Michiru's attention back to the matter at hand.
"He'll be here tomorrow to inspect the damage, and make recommendations. Then work will start on Monday." Michiru replied.
"Did he buy the story we worked out when he saw the pictures?" Hotaru asked.
"Yes he did, I think. A small grease fire sounded plausible enough. I doubt that he would believe the truth anyway." Michiru paused and pinned Setsuna with a glare. "That my housemate blew a hole in my kitchen floor!" She began to get angry again.
Haruka sighed in exasperation. "Michi, love, we've been over this. It was an accident, let it go."
Michiru stared at her incredulously. "An accident! She blew a hole into the floor with a Dead Scream!" Her blood was starting to boil over.
Hotaru placed the briefcase she was holding for her mama on the floor and took on of her hands in hers. "Relax Michiru-mama; you know how Setsuna-mama gets when she sees a cockroach. She was tired and overreacted a bit. She did offer to pay for the damage."
Michiru stared at her. "She blasted a cockroach with a Dead Scream. On my kitchen floor." She growled. Setsuna didn't offer anything in her defense she just kept staring at the carpet.
Haruka placed one hand on her lover's shoulder while massaging her temple with the other as she recalled the events of two nights ago. Setsuna had come home late after a long day at the time gate. She was feeling really tired and hadn't bothered to de-transform as she went quietly into the kitchen. It was 0130 in the morning and everyone else was sound asleep.
She found the casserole dish in the fridge that Michiru had left for her; with a note saying how long to microwave it for. Setsuna smiled as she placed the dish in the microwave and turned it on. She then grabbed a glass and went back to the fridge for the milk. That's when she noticed the cockroach scurrying across the floor.
Setsuna let out a startled shriek and hit the cockroach with her Time Staff. Much to her chagrin, it was still alive. Her fear of the little vermin, combined with exhaustion and too little sleep overrode her common sense, and she proceeded to blast it with her attack.
"DEAD SCREAM!" She literally screamed her attack instead of whispering it. The end result was a loud explosion and a nearly 2' in diameter perfect circle blown into the tile.
Her housemates and daughter were woken by the noise and they scrambled downstairs with their henshin wands in hand, ready to transform and defend their home at a moments notice.
All three of them reached the kitchen at the same time and all stopped dead at the sight in front of them. A large smoking crater had been blasted into the center of the formerly immaculate kitchen floor. The smoke cleared a bit to reveal Setsuna standing there, still clad in her sailor fuku clutching her Time Staff and breathing rapidly. She looked up and focused on the faces of her shocked family. Both Haruka and Hotaru's eyes were as wide as saucers and their jaws were on the floor. Michiru on the other hand looked like she was going to go ballistic at any second.
"Did I get it?" Setsuna asked in between gasps. It took Hotaru and Haruka the better part of 20 minutes to separate the water Senshi from the time Senshi. Haruka ended up tying up her lover with duct tape and putting her back to bed, while Hotaru healed Setsuna's somewhat bruised throat before tucking her in for the night.
Since then, Michiru and Setsuna had spent most of the time avoiding one another. Haruka talked Michiru out of killing her, while Hotaru insisted that if she tried to kick Setsuna out of the house, she would have to kick her out as well. Michiru calmed down a bit, but there was still a lot of tension between them.
Any time Setsuna tried to say anything to her, Michiru would give her a look that started from 'blank disbelief' and ended with 'cold fury'. In between her expression went through some interesting changes. 'Surprised dissatisfaction' became 'stupefied indignation' followed quickly by 'bitter resentment', which was quickly replaced by 'burning thirst for vengeance' and on to 'cold fury'. Setsuna's expression went from 'sad' to 'very sad' at this moment and she would shuffle away quietly.
"Just let it go, love." Haruka said in a soothing tone as she gently kneaded the muscles in Michiru's shoulders.
"Everything will be all right Michiru-mama, you'll see." Hotaru smiled and embraced her. Michiru smiled and hugged her daughter, while Haruka massaged her shoulders. She closed her eyes and let her head fall forward a bit, her tension leaving her.
"Besides, weren't you saying that you wanted to redecorate the kitchen anyway?" Setsuna asked from the couch. She was watching her family with a hopeful expression.
Michiru's eyes flew open and she swiveled her head around to glower at Setsuna. In fact she moved her head so quickly that both Hotaru and Haruka could hear her neck crack. Both winced at the sound. Setsuna assumed her 'very sad' look and went back to looking at the carpet, a single tear slipping down her cheek.
The single tear finally did it. "Aw Sets, I'm sorry." Michiru said as she smiled sadly and walked over and sat beside the woman she loved like a sister. Gently, she put her arms around her friend's shoulders and drew in closer. "I'm sorry I got so angry at you. Please forgive me."
Setsuna turned a bit and hugged her back. "I forgive you Michi. And I'm sorry for blasting a hole in the floor."
"I know how you get when you see a cockroach. And you were tired. Just don't let it happen again, okay?" Michiru kissed her lovingly on the cheek.
"Okay, I won't." Setsuna replied, returning the kiss with one of her own.
"AW, THAT'S SO SWEET!" Both Haruka and Hotaru exclaimed doing passable impressions of Usagi as they joined the two friends on the couch. Soon the group hug turned into a playful pillow fight, after that they were lying strewn about the living room laughing.
"Setsuna, can I ask you something?" Michiru asked after everyone calmed down a bit. She sat in Haruka's lap on one end of the couch.
"Sure." Setsuna replied as she sat back on the couch holding Hotaru in her arms on the other end.
"Have you ever seen anyone about your fear of cockroaches?"
"You mean like a psychiatrist?"
"Yeah."
Setsuna pondered her reply before answering. "Um, Sigmund Freud?"
Haruka frowned a bit. "I think she meant someone more, well, recent."
Setsuna shrugged. "No." She admitted sheepishly.
"Don't worry Setsuna-mama; we'll help you overcome your fear just like we promised after that mishap at the zoo a few months ago." Hotaru stated firmly.
Setsuna smiled a bit more. "I remember." Setsuna, Michiru, and Hotaru had gone to the zoo for the birthday of one of Hotaru's closest friends from school. During the visit, the group had visited the Entomology area. There they found an exhibit with hundreds of cockroaches in a display case. Setsuna had promptly fainted dead away in front of Michiru, Hotaru and all her classmates. That time it was Hotaru who had gotten steamed at Setsuna. She forgave her mama after a while, and promised to help Setsuna in any way she could to help overcome her fear. Michiru and Haruka did the same.
"I remember. Thank you Hime-chan, all of you." Setsuna smiled warmly at her family and they held each other's hands in a show of support.
"You're welcome." Haruka and Michiru said together. Then Michiru stood and looked at her watch. "I think I'll start supper now."
"I'll help you Michiru-mama." Hotaru said as she stood up. Michiru smiled at her daughter in gratitude and they went into the kitchen together leaving Haruka and Setsuna together.
"Thank you again Ruka." Setsuna said as she stood up and clasped her friends' outstretched hands in hers.
"No problem Suna, that's what we're here for. I'm going to go tinker with my car for a bit while Michi and Taru are making dinner. Later." Haruka hugged her friend and went into the garage.
"Later." Setsuna's spirits were buoyed a bit now that her whole family had forgiven her. She sighed contentedly as she went into her room and turned on her computer while she waited for the call to come to dinner.
The next day…
"Michi? Are you home?" Haruka called as she entered the house. She had stepped out for a bit while Michiru talked to the contractor.
"I'm right here my love." Michiru replied as she stepped out of the kitchen. She spotted the shopping bag in Haruka's hand. "What's that?" She asked, pointing at the bag.
"I stopped at the bookstore and picked up a few things, including something I think might help Setsuna with her problem." Haruka replied as she placed the contents of the bag on the nearest table. She sorted through the car magazines and a new mystery novel by an author Hotaru liked until she found what she was looking for. She held up a large yellow and black soft covered book. "Tah-Dah!" She said with a triumphant look.
Michiru read the title and her face assumed a skeptical expression. "Hypnosis for Dummies?" She asked in a skeptical voice.
"Yeah! What do you think?" Haruka was beaming.
"Well, the title is apt." Michiru replied tartly.
"Ha-Ha funny." Haruka growled as she smacked Michiru lightly on the head with the book. Hotaru came bounding down the stairs at that moment.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"Your papa is having one of her odd ideas again." Michiru replied.
"I'm trying to help Setsuna-mama overcome her problem, and Michiru-mama thinks I'm nuts. What do you think?" Haruka showed Hotaru the book. The young girl's face took on the same skeptical expression as Michiru's.
"Well the title is apt." She remarked. Haruka glowered at her daughter.
"See, she agrees with me." Now Michiru looked triumphant.
Undaunted, Haruka tried to sway her family. "Look at it this way; it will be a lot cheaper then sending her to a shrink. What if he or she finds out that Sets is a Sailor Senshi? Or Sets could be committed even? Would either of you like that? I know I wouldn't."
Both Michiru and Hotaru realized that in her on strange way, Haruka had a point. "Ok, maybe you have a few valid points. We'll ask Setsuna and see what she thinks. If she agrees to try it, ok. If not, I'll talk to Yuriko Mizuno, Ami's Mom, and see if she could recommend a good therapist for Setsuna. Deal?" Michiru asked.
"Deal." Haruka agreed. "How did the visit with the contractor go?" She asked, switching subjects.
"He was nice, and he quoted us a decent price for the work." Michiru handed her the estimate. Haruka looked over it approvingly.
"Not a bad price. He said he'd start Monday?" Haruka asked.
"Yes." Michiru replied.
"That's great. Where's Sets by the way?" Haruka looked around.
"She went out for a walk. She said she'd be back by dinnertime." Michiru stated looking at her watch.
"Okay, I'll be in the living room reading my book until then. Oh yeah, I found this for you Hime-chan." Haruka smiled and passed her daughter the mystery novel she had bought. Hotaru's eyes lit up.
"Thank you Haruka-papa." Hotaru smiled warmly as she accepted the gift.
"You're welcome kiddo. Later then." She went into the living room, sat in a comfy armchair and commenced reading. Both Michiru and Hotaru looked at her and shook their heads.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Michiru asked her daughter.
"I think Setsuna-mama should run away while she still can. And we should join her." Hotaru replied. Michiru nodded in agreement then went to make supper. Hotaru sighed and went upstairs with her new book. "I wonder if Canada's far enough." She muttered to her self.
Site of the Mugen Gauken Academy, later that night.
The swarm of cockroaches had gathered around the box for warmth by now led by a siren call that only they could hear.
Thousands of them, from everywhere in the area had gathered there seeking warmth and comfort. A weird humming noise could be heard in the room.
A voice seemed to be saying come my children. Come to me. Soon we will be together. Soon we shall be one. And they came.
They came in one's and two's at first then they came in small groups, then large groups. Now a vast swarm engulfed the former laboratory. And still more came.
Yes my children, yes! Join me! Join me and we shall claim this world that is ours by right. We shall cleanse the planet of the meat creatures that infest it, for we are legion!
The weird humming rose in intensity and seemed to say one word with one voice: Legion!
TBC.