'Pre Beginnings'
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, Naoko Takeuichi does.
The cup of almost lukewarm instant coffee warmed her numb hands and her shivering body, despite the taste that begged to be replaced by near steaming fresh hot chocolate. Berra Hisamin looked at the old, chipped grey mug and then up on the ceiling of her apartment. It was difficult to tell the difference between the two colours.
Despite wearing two layers of thick clothing, the young woman could feel the clutches of the winter chill creeping in and all around her.
Then again, it was normal early winter weather, nothing to write home about, even if she hardly dropped a line to her parents or her older siblings. Everyone in these parts knew of the heavy burden of the freezing temperatures. Even if she could afford the pricey gas bill, or some other form of central heating that was always too expensive for her measly salary, it wasn't as if it was possible to get any. Judging by the headlines on the newspapers and the news on the radio, it appeared that the gas pipes were to stay cut off until the government 'paid the bill' to that neighbouring nation with the extremely corrupt government. In diplomatic terms, what her naively idealistic brother would comment, this just meant that they would have to abstain from signing that treaty if the country wanted to have heating. Typical politics.
But she could hold out for a few more months. 'I'll be out of here soon.' She thought, happier to dwell on her future plans, rather than the present. Not of the cold, mind you. That place would be deathly cold. She glanced at the plain calendar that hung on the beige wall. Not too long more until she was off to a place far up Northern Canada that would certainly be freezing, with regular sub-zero temperatures. So, weather wise, there wouldn't be much of a change.
At least one major difference is that the risk of seeing her lying, cheating ex-boyfriend around the place (with some new blonde floozy on his arm who would be unaware of the insensitive bastard that lay inside) would be pretty much 0%. Needless to remark, the food in the Arctic will be much more palatable than could be found in this town. Reconstituted and freeze dried food was more appealing than the low quality vegetables and suspicious meats she bought to make her meals with. Just as long as the food was edible and her co-workers weren't too annoying or condescending, Berra knew that she could put up with freezing conditions.
Anyway, it was exciting to have something liven up her life. Berra had an honours bachelor's degree in physics and as well as a master in astro-physics, but that didn't mean that she was working in some sort of well-funded research facility in western Europe, or even in America. Nope, fate decided to degrade her further. Berra's life was confined to long hours in the country's National Research Facility which was poorly funded and was badly run by some unknowledgeable creep. Her wage was a pittance to what she could have been earning elsewhere. Thinking about it depressed her further.
"I have reasonable English skills, and I'm highly qualified." Berra would often mutter to herself as she looked down into a bottle of vodka, "And yet all of them reject me." Last month, another rejection letter came in the post, post-dated for many weeks beforehand. There it still was, on the shelf above the small television. From K.O university in Tokyo, Japan. Apparently, some genius woman would be able to fill the post in the physics department. Well, this woman was already Japanese, was used to the university, and the head of the department couldn't 'possibly put Ms. Hisamin under the pressure of having to learn the language'. Ah yes, weren't they so considerate, even naming the damn woman, a Ms. Setsuna Meioh. Some bloody genius, still a student on her third year. It was too much for Berra. That night she drank a lot more than usual, though she paid dearly for it with the splitting headache afterwards.
But back in the present, Berra felt a little more hopeful. She had been quite lucky to gain a place on this team. The research topic wasn't anything revolutionary to say the least, only a study into the effects of global warming in one particular region. Due to the extreme conditions and the rocky terrain, it had never been studied in before. Nothing could be guaranteed if her presence on the team would lead to better and more exiting work, but Berra was grateful nevertheless. Whoever it was that dropped out unexpectedly had done her a huge favour. The pay was far better than her current salary. And it was abroad, that alone was enough for Berra.
She stirred the remaining amount of coffee in her mug. Dwelling over the negative aspects of her life was never a pleasant activity to do, but then again Berra didn't have many hobbies during winter. But that often happened when she got little sleep the night before. Just like last night. That dream came again. Berea rubbed her cheek with her other hand and sighed. 'More like a nightmare than a dream.' Even though that reoccurring dream with the sun wouldn't seem to be so bad on a first glance, the fact that eerie, otherworldly voices accompanied it was enough to wake Berra up. 'Pity I never can hear what they're actually saying.' Her eyes were led over to window where the sun peaked out briefly through the grey clouds. 'I'd be more comfortable knowing what they were trying to tell me.'
She snorted at the idea and shook her head, amused. Out loud, Berra muttered, "Look at me, pondering about dreams of all things. I need more coffee." She looked at her clock and put down the mug. Taking a large coat from the hanger, Berra's thoughts moved back to the present and the coming days. Thoughts of her dream went straight to the back of her mind as she went out the door.
