CHAOS AND COSMOS
Chapter 8: "A Pebble In The Ocean Can Create A Wave"
A Neo-Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
Sailor Vesta was running down the residential corridor, frantically searching for Sailor Pallas. Ceres and Juno were vainly trying to keep up when they both recognized the area they were in was the one Helios resided in. Knowing Sailor Moon was there spurred them to go faster.
But their progress was stopped when a burst of blind panic assaulted their brains. Juno and Ceres were staggered and braced against a wall. Vesta was bowled over. The Senshi tumbled to the floor and lay stunned for a moment, the mental cry for help ringing in her brain.
"Pallas!" Vesta gasped out. "Pallas is in trouble!"
"Yeah, we felt it too!" Juno called to her. Vesta had already scrambled to her feet and was racing toward an open door at the end of the corridor. Despite their dizziness, Ceres and Juno forced themselves toward the door.
Vesta was already there. She burst through the open door, rolling to the floor and up onto her feet in a defensive crouch. On the floor to her left was Sailor Saturn, unconscious and twitching from some unseen malady. To her right was a chicken. The chicken stared up at her. Not seeing Pallas, Vesta knelt next to Saturn and tried to rouse the teen.
"Vesta, it's Pallas!" Vesta heard in her brain. She looked around in confusion. Ceres and Juno had just arrived and were taking in the scene.
"Where are you?" Vesta barked. "I don't see you!"
"Pallas is the chicken!" Vesta felt Pallas say with a telepathic sob. She turned and stared at the fowl.
"YOU'RE THE CHICKEN?" Vesta gasped. "HOW THE HELL ARE YOU THE CHICKEN?"
"She's what?" choked Ceres. Juno stared in shock.
"Vesta, Pallas doesn't want to be a chicken!" the chicken thought to Vesta.
Leaving Saturn's side, Vesta came over and knelt down before the chicken. The bird stared up at her and if chickens could cry, she'd be crying. Vesta just stared in shock. She wanted to do something, but she didn't know what. Finally, tentatively, Vesta brought her hand down and began stroking the chicken's back.
"I-It'll be all right," Vesta mumbled, "Pallas. We'll think of something."
"No," they heard Saturn mumble and turned to her. "NO!" she shrieked and shot up to a sitting position. The teen's eyes were wide and bulging. Panting like she'd run ten miles, Saturn began to realize where she was and calmed a little. Juno knelt next to her and steadied the girl.
"Saturn, what is it? What happened?" Juno asked.
Saturn's lip trembled. "I tried to absorb Talon Umbra's energy," Saturn said softly, as if she feared speaking louder would summon the horror to attack her again. "It was - - so overwhelming - - so horrible." She swallowed. "It was like being suffocated by Mistress Nine again. Just like it." Her eyes clamped shut. "I never wanted to go through that again! And I did! I . . .!"
A realization stopped her.
"Where's Sailor Moon?" Saturn asked desperately. "We have to find Sailor Moon! I'm not sure she can stand up against Talon Umbra!"
Clawing to her feet, Saturn bolted out of the quarters and into the hall. Juno and Ceres glanced indecisively at each other, unsure what to do.
"You two go with her," Vesta said, struggling to keep her head. "I'll stay with Pallas."
After a moment's more indecision, they nodded and took off after Saturn. Vesta gathered Pallas up into her lap and held the chicken protectively.
One moment the three elder Senshi had been staring into the face of Talon Umbra. Seemingly the next moment, the demon was gone and Rei Hino had grabbed her head dramatically. An exclamation of concern from Makoto went unanswered as the priest slumped to the floor, unconscious. A frantic call to Ami Mizuno followed and a few moments later the doctor was kneeling over the silent priest, a medical scanner in her hand.
"I mean, she just grabbed her head and then bam, she's on the floor," Minako related as Ami studied the readings. "It was a few moments after Talon Umbra took a powder. That couldn't be connected, could it? I mean, there was too much of a gap. Wasn't there?"
Ami struggled to shut Minako out and concentrate on her readings. She thought about asking her friend to be quiet, but thought better of it. Different people dealt with stress differently. Minako dealt with it by maintaining an almost constant stream of chatter.
"Ames?" Makoto asked timidly, while the cats looked on.
"Something has induced a catatonic state in Rei," Ami concluded. "Since you describe her experiencing cranial discomfort before fainting, yet there is no physical swelling or injury, I have to conclude she received some sort of shock or mental overload psychically and her brain shut down out of self-defense, save for the autonomic responses."
"Can Talon Umbra do that?" Makoto asked. Minako continued to stare anxiously at Rei.
"It's hard to say conclusively what Talon Umbra is capable of," Ami admitted. "The only thing I can do now is take her to the infirmary, put her under observation and make her comfortable. Until I know more, I don't dare try to resuscitate."
"But she's going to be OK, right?" Minako demanded.
"You're asking for definite answers that I don't have at the moment," Ami told her.
"Everyone, look at this!" Artemis suddenly exclaimed. As a medical team arrived to take charge of Rei, the others crowded around the computer Artemis was on. The scene displayed events occurring in the palace courtyard.
"That's Galaxia!" Makoto blurted out.
"And yet she's different," Ami remarked. "Either she's acquired a different power source, or something else has possessed her physical form."
"Worry about it later!" Minako said sharply and pointed to the screen. "She's facing Sailor Moon!"
"I will kill you now," Sailor Chaos said plainly and with no trace of anger, "Helios of Elysian."
But Sailor Moon stepped between him and Sailor Chaos. It was a reflex. Helios feared that his love would bear the brunt of an attack she couldn't stand up to and be killed. After all, Sailor Chaos had just destroyed Talon Umbra with no more effort than if she'd taken a breath.
However, Sailor Chaos lowered her sword.
"Why," Sailor Moon snarled stubbornly, "do you want to kill Helios?"
Sailor Chaos exhaled in annoyance, the first emotion the strange Senshi had exhibited. Sailor Moon kept the Moon Tier pointed directly at her, unwilling to budge. Helios kept behind her, mentally chafing at risking his love's safety to provide his own, but realizing that Sailor Moon was the only thing stopping Sailor Chaos at the moment.
Then Sailor Chaos faded from view. A low whistle was their only clue that the Senshi was now behind them. They both turned, too late, to see the black sword inches from the head of the Dream Guardian. But it was caught, pressing against a golden staff with a familiar garnet orb at the top.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" Sailor Moon shouted, firing point blank into Sailor Chaos's face. The pink energy exploded into her and swirled around, causing the dark Senshi to flinch back, the sword falling away from Helios.
With Sailor Chaos temporarily at bay, Sailor Moon risked a glance to confirm that Sailor Pluto had interceded on their behalf. Seeing the solemn Senshi coming to her aid gave Sailor Moon a warm feeling and confidence began to flood into her.
"Chronos Typhoon!" Pluto said, with more emotion that usual, pointing the staff at Sailor Chaos.
Garnet energy lanced out and struck Sailor Chaos. Sailor Moon knew the attack. It was one Pluto rarely used, and only when forced, for the attack sped up time for the being struck by it. Sailor Chaos stopped, then straightened up. Sailor Moon's pink energy was still swirling around her head. But the pink began to change into black, then dissipated. Sailor Chaos turned to Pluto, her face still expressionless.
"You seek to speed up time for an immortal?" she questioned. "A futile gesture."
Unexpectedly a pink boot lashed out and kicked the black sword from Sailor Chaos's hand. It clattered onto the paving stones of the courtyard. Sailor Chaos readjusted her sight just in time to see Sailor Moon's spinning roundhouse kick before it impacted with her jaw. The blow snapped her head to the side. But she didn't go down and she didn't seem otherwise affected.
Chaos was about to reach for her assailant, but a sonic blast from Pluto sent the Dark Senshi staggering back. Sailor Moon didn't wait to assess the damage to their opponent. Instead she jammed the Moon Tier against Sailor Chaos's chest.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" she shouted.
Pink energy exploded into Sailor Chaos. The energy quickly merged with a rainbow beam and Sailor Moon knew it was from Helios. She allowed herself a moment's hope, that together they could defeat this woman. The attack managed to draw a reaction from the dark Senshi. She grimaced slightly.
Sailor Chaos then became intangible and passed through the energy. Sailor Moon pivoted to face her, but the tightness in her chest told her that she didn't have much left to fight with.
The air was pierced by a shriek of terror. Despite herself, Sailor Moon glanced back toward it. Sailor Pluto had fallen to her knees, holding her head with both hands, the Time Staff on the ground before her. Sailor Moon looked back at Sailor Chaos and realized too late that the distraction had given her the opening she wanted. Chaos leaped toward Helios, her black sword levitating into her hand, ready to bring the blade down on the Dream Guardian. He backed up defensively, but wasn't in a position to escape.
But the blade struck a barrier on the down stroke. Sailor Chaos landed and glanced back at Pluto. She was still holding her head. Then she felt it.
They all felt it. Glancing up, everyone saw Queen Serenity levitating down from a balcony of the palace, descending upon them like an angel from heaven.
"Please stop," Serenity said as she descended. "I won't let you kill him."
"Serenity," Sailor Chaos said, again betraying a hint of emotion. This time it was fear. Serenity no sooner touched down onto the ground then Sailor Chaos faded away like a ghost. Warily everyone looked around.
"She is gone," proclaimed Sailor Pluto, no longer in agony, "for now."
Sailor Moon staggered over to Helios, wrapped her arms around her love and squeezed him tightly to her. Serenity looked on, her heart going out to her daughter, and saw that she was crying.
"SAILOR MOON!" they all heard Saturn shriek. Looking, they all saw Saturn racing from the palace, glaive in hand, with Juno and Ceres yards behind her. The three raced up to Sailor Moon and Helios.
"Princess, you all right? What happened?" Juno asked.
"We got through it," Sailor Moon replied hoarsely.
"Where's Talon Umbra?" Saturn asked frantically.
"Gone," Helios told her. "Destroyed."
"By something worse," Sailor Moon added. That drew a look of shock from her team.
Meanwhile, Serenity had glided over to Sailor Pluto and attempted to help her up. Pluto seemed embarrassed by the Queen's concern, but finally allowed Serenity to help her to her feet.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"My health is immaterial," Pluto replied, "save that it not prevent me from aiding those I am sworn to protect."
"Don't say that, Setsuna," Serenity told her. "Of course it matters."
"As you say, My Queen," Pluto demurred and Serenity grew peevish, because she knew when Pluto would humor her to avoid an argument.
"Thanks for your help, Puu," Sailor Moon said. "It must have been some premonition to get you to leave The Door Of Time." She gave Pluto one of her probing stares. "You did see this in advance, didn't you?"
"Indeed," Pluto nodded. "I foresaw this day, as I may foresee all futures, and I knew My Good Lady would need my assistance against the plans of Sailor Chaos."
"Sailor Chaos!" gasped Serenity. "That was Sailor Chaos?"
"Yes, My Queen," nodded Pluto.
"So you knew?!" Sailor Moon demanded angrily. "You foresaw this? You knew this was going to happen? And you didn't warn us?"
Pluto looked genuinely hurt. "Forgive me, My Good Lady. I could not. Knowledge of what would happen would have altered the course of time - - negatively."
Sailor Moon felt Helios grasp her upper arms.
"Yeah," she said, tears drying on her face and emotion choking her voice. "I guess that makes sense."
"Please don't be angry with Setsuna, Honey," Serenity counseled her daughter. "She has things to protect that are more important than we are. It doesn't mean she doesn't care about us. Sometimes she just has to make - - difficult choices."
"All right, Mom," Sailor Moon said, avoiding her mother's eyes. "I get it. I'm just . . . well, this has been kind of hard to take, you know?"
"I know," Serenity smiled, caressing her daughter's cheek. "I'd feel the same way if it was Endymion who was threatened - - or you."
Serenity gently patted her daughter's cheek. Then she moved to Sailor Pluto.
"You seem to know more about this than all of us, Pluto," Serenity said. Endymion was close behind her now. "So Chaos has taken a human form?"
"Chaos shall, My Queen," Pluto nodded, "in the far future. This woman who attacked us is from that future."
"Why does she look like Senenthia?" Serenity asked urgently. "It's not Senenthia, is it? She wouldn't allow herself to be corrupted again."
"When Chaos manifested itself into a humanoid form, in order to oppose Sailor Cosmos in the future," explained Pluto, "Chaos was in need of a form. So Chaos chose the humanoid form most familiar: Sailor Galaxia. Sailor Chaos mimics the face and form of Sailor Galaxia, but that is all the connection she has to Senenthia Om."
"That's a relief," sighed Serenity. "I was so frightened that the peace Senenthia had finally found had been intruded upon."
"Um, . . . Pluto," Sailor Moon began, Helios clutched tightly to her by one arm, "Sailor Chaos - - she's going to try again, isn't she?"
"It would seem likely, My Good Lady," Pluto replied.
"I don't suppose you can tell me when?" she asked. "Or-Or how?"
"My Good Lady," Pluto began.
"I know," Sailor Moon sighed in defeat.
"My Good Lady," Pluto said, tears forming in her eyes, "you ask for things that I cannot divulge. Such knowledge can affect the future. And the future itself is a swirling mass of contradictions dependent upon each action taken or not taken. I see a future where Sailor Chaos attacks in two moments, and another where she does not attack at all. And there are a thousand, thousand variations between the two. Even now, the future I just predicted turns to ash and new variants rise from those ashes. I would speak if I could, to you most of all, but I cannot. I dare not."
"Even if it means Helios's life?"
Sailor Pluto stared at her with sympathy, but did not speak. Sailor Moon's eyes fell to the ground. Her lips pressed together in a thin line.
"Come on, Helios," the Princess said, turning away from her longtime friend. "We have to make plans." Serenity gave Pluto a sympathetic glance. Pluto just stared after the Princess.
"Um, Sailor Moon, there's more," Ceres spoke up as she, Juno and Saturn approached. The Princess waited for more bad news on top of the colossal blows she'd already endured. But Ceres didn't continue. She and Juno just stared as if their minds were somewhere else. Saturn turned to them in confusion as Helios and Sailor Moon looked on, equally puzzled. And then Juno lunged at Helios like a ravenous animal.
"Juno!" gasped Sailor Moon as her Senshi locked her hands around the Dream Guardian's throat. Their momentum pushed Helios to the stone walkway of the courtyard. Juno was on top of him, her shoulders hunched, choking the life out of him.
Instantly Sailor Moon grabbed Juno by her Sailor tunic and tried to pull the Senshi off of Helios. But she was tackled by Ceres, who was just as vicious and angry as Juno was. Saturn stared in shock and horror, seemingly stunning into inaction. Remembering the fighting technique Makoto had taught her, Sailor Moon flipped Ceres onto her back, then violently shoved Juno away. Before either maddened Senshi could make a move, she had the Moon Tier out.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" she shouted.
The pink tendrils shot out from the Moon Tier and separately enveloped Juno and Ceres. The two squirmed to escape, but soon succumbed to the soothing energy. They both sighed with contentment and slipped to the ground.
"What was that all about?" Sailor Moon exclaimed, unconsciously gripping her chest.
Then she noticed the rest of the courtyard. Guards, CDP officers and palace workers were stalking them, each person wearing a mask of malevolence on their faces.
"Up there!" Serenity cried and pointed.
Sailor Moon looked. Hovering above them, two hundred and fifty feet in the air, was Sailor Chaos. And she was radiating a barely perceptible obsidian energy in all directions.
"She's corrupting everyone in the area!" Sailor Moon gasped. "She's trying to overwhelm us with sheer numbers!"
Continued in Chapter 9
