Author's Note: This story is based loosely on a combination of the anime, manga and the live action. Usual disclaimers apply. Italics indicate thoughts and the past.
These Things That Should Not Be
Chapter One
Stupid! How could I have been so careless? I'm getting too comfortable and they are getting smarter. She must finally be running the show.
The sun is beating down on the barren landscape as if it has some grudge against the planet but in spite of the heat all she can feel is the sting of the sand on her exposed skin. The chase is on and the sound of pounding hoof beats is deafening in her ears. She says a silent prayer that the hoof beats are of her own steed and that she's been able to lose her pursuers somewhere along the way, but she can't risk looking back to check. The only thing that matters is running. Getting as far away as possible and she knows she has a long way to go before she can rest. So she pushes her white desert horse harder just hoping against logic that she lost them along the way.
Lunar Base
Two women sit alone in a massive control room surrounded by flashing monitors and the hum of machinery. They have come to this room almost everyday for two years. It is their duty to bring the lost sheep back into the fold. But the hopelessness of the situation is beginning to gnaw away at their resolve. A blonde head rests tiredly on a pair of crossed arms, Venus turns her head slightly to peak out at the Mercurian as she begins typing furiously on the keyboard in front of her. Suddenly Mercury sits back in her chair and turns an uncertain eye on her commander.
"We have a sketchy report coming in that a vagabond matching her description was spotted in a small village near Arsia Mons. The commanding officer of the Martian regiment stationed there has not been able to confirm that it was in fact her." Silence filled the room after the blue haired girl had made her report. There wasn't very much to say after all. It's seemed like they have been chasing a ghost for the last two years. "Additional information suggests that they were extremely close to capturing the girl, but she managed to evade their soldiers at the last second. They are currently in pursuit heading towards the Amazonis Planitia. More information will be provided as it becomes available." Venus let a heavy sigh escape her lips as Cerulean eyes blinked back tears. She couldn't help but blame herself.
"I don't see how any of this is your decision Mars. You have been nothing but a complication since day one."
It was a mistake. Words said in anger an frustration. Words that she desperately wished she could take back, or at least apologize for. But you can't apologize to someone who you can't even find to make listen. Smashing a gloved fist down on the control panel in front of her Venus slouched over in defeat.
"Damnit Mars, just stop running"
Mars: Somewhere in the Amazonis Planitia.
Rei had been on the move for nearly half a day when sheer exhaustion finally forced her to look over her shoulder. A wave of relief passed over her when she realised that there were no longer any soldiers following her. Coming to a stop near a large out-cropping of stone Rei jumped down from the saddle and began rummaging through her supplies to find some water for her horse. She had been pushing him very hard this time and she could feel the sweat lathering on his flanks. After finding one of her cantinas, Rei walked gingerly to the front of her horse, while she whispered calming words she cupped water in her hands and allowed her steed to drink knowing that their time for resting was always short and they may have to be on the move again sooner than either of them would truly like.
This chase had been a close one. In the two years that she has been running from the Lunarian forces they have never come within a hairs breadth of catching her.
"This is starting to get a little too dangerous for my liking Artax." Rei worked at undoing the straps of the saddle while she mused aloud to the horse. "They are getting better at this. I don't know how much longer I will be able to keep running from them." It was an admission of undeniable fact. There are only so many places a person can hide on a desolate world like Mars. And there is only so long that a person can hide before they are forced to take refuge in a city or village to gather fresh supplies. Rei could barely believe that she had managed to escape capture for the two years that she has been hiding. She could guess that it might be a testament to her training as one of the Princess' Senshi, but she didn't want to go so far as to give Venus credit for anything.
Walking back towards her horse after retrieving some oats from their supplies, Rei portioned some into a leather feeding bag and set it down in front of Artax. "I think we should rest here for the night, don't you my friend?" The horse knicked at her in response and began to sniff happily at his dinner. Rei ran her hands along his neck affectionately before settling into the task of starting a fire. The weather on Mars was stifling during the day, to such a degree that it could often be difficult to breathe in the air. Night, however, was a much different story. The desert winds were already beginning to pick up and Rei could feel the temperature drop steadily as the sun began it's departure from the sky. It would be a long enough night for Rei having to worry about a scouting party sneaking up on them, she didn't want to have to suffer through the cold on top of that.
After gathering together some of the desert shrub surrounding their impromptu camp site, Rei set to the task of starting the fire. She would have to resort to the common methods as she dare not invoke her Senshi powers with the guarantee that Mercury would be monitoring any energy spikes that would indicate her transformation. She would not make that careless mistake again, not after it almost got her captured in that village. With the fire started Rei settled into a meditative state. Being back on Mars reminded her very much of her roots as a fire Priestess, and even though the Order would surely reject her after her crimes committed against the Moon Kingdom, she still craved the connection she once had to the fire. And tonight like every other night she would sit and meditate and her thoughts would be filled with the memory of the sin that forced her to become an outlaw.