Book Eight-The Road Ahead

My eardrums didn't work, the blast had momentarily taken out my sense of hearing. I could still see. There wasn't just one tank, but hundreds of them! The meteorites should have taken out a few of them. Shouldn't they have? I was amazed at the sheer force mobilizing against us. I wondered if this battle had been planned somehow. I also wondered how many tanks there were before the meteor storm had started. Weren't most of the tanks in Iraq and Afghanistan? Knowing the government they probably had thousands in reserve. Well at least the taxpayer's money was well spent. The tanks sent a volley into us. The shells flew towards us. I held Hotaru tightly within my arms.

Uranus screamed, "Uranus worlds Shak…", but before she could finish I said, "Let me handle this!" I closed my eyes and focused on protecting The Sailor Scouts, I was expendable, but didn't want to die, so I focused on protecting myself as well!" An invisible-protective wall raised in front of me. The shells hit the wall, and exploded outside the energy force field. With each shell the pain grew within my head. The shells stopped, but I knew the worst was to come. I couldn't hold the shield up any longer. I was growing weaker with every passing second. I didn't want to show my weakness or my obvious fear, but like a wild animal Alexii sensed my inner fears, and knew I couldn't last much longer. An evil grin filled his face. The fiend rose out of his armored vehicle.

Alexii looked into my eyes from 100 meters. A severe coldness surrounded me, a feeling I had never felt before. The cold was so strong I knew I had to turn away, but in doing so my fears would be realized, so I stood their staring on, hoping his eyes would fall away from mine. I continued to stare into the enormous space between us. The cold remained so I knew his irises were lined with mine. I signaled Mars to fire her arrow.

Mars screamed, "Mars Flame Sniper!" The flaming arrow lunged forward. The arrow approached Alexii, but the glare was discontinued, and he caught Mars' arrow with his bare hands. He took the arrow and broke it across his knee. The he screamed, "Fire!" The shells exploded out of the barrels. Darien and Serena felt my pain somehow and stood by my side. The Rockets hit the Chrysler Building. The foundation gave way. The massive structure was falling towards us. I used my last wisps of strength to put up the barrier. Serena lifted her Crystal high. The power it omitted seemed to rejuvenate my strength. The Tower busted apart on striking the barrier. Dust exploded from the countless bricks that made up the façade of the tower. The steel twisted into oblivion. Me and Serena grew very tired quickly, the sheer weight was too much even for the both of us. Luckily the debris slid off to the sides before we ran out of energy. The dust didn't fully settle, but the barrier fell. I held my shirt over Hotaru's mouth. The dust filled my lungs and mouth. It had the most awful taste. I tried to clear my lungs over and over. The dust finally settled covering the Sailor Scouts and myself with a fresh coat of dust. Metal beams lay scattered around us, they were twisted relics of the past scattered across the road. The click-clack sound of Tanks approaching was drowned out my a whipping sound from behind us. Hundreds of helicopters approached us at a rather rapid pace. The Jets that had once plagued us were also returning. In our weakened state we couldn't fight all of them at once. Even on a normal basis I don't think we could take them all on. We were surrounded, Jets to the south, Tanks to the west and helicopters to the north. The Tunnel to the southeast was demolished. So I marched toward the west. Hotaru was asleep in my hands. I started south, and stood on the remains of Grand Central Station.

I knew we couldn't escape, but I also knew that if we were captured there would be no hope for the Earth the same went for us dying. I sighed in defeat. There was nothing left to do, but fight. The helicopters dropped hundreds of ground troops. They were having a hard time crossing the huge gulfs where subway lines used to be. Their heavy guns weighed them down and crossing the rubble was a chore. The cold March air whipped up dust from the ground. The ashes of what was clogged my airways. I spat out the dust filled with god knows what. The countless lives lost, I couldn't even stand to imagine the death toll. I grew very angry with all of the things I had let happen. This was my fight, if they wanted me, let them take me, I really didn't care. I held Hotaru, her small body had grown a bit larger in a few hours time. I stared at Hotaru trying to find some trace of hope, or something to lift me up from my shattered depth. Her eyes slowly lifted open they were so full of light and hope that a tear came to the surface. All my emotions were running wild, I had never experienced this feeling before. It was the feeling that everything might work out for the best. Then reality struck me, I was afraid of it, and wanted to cling onto the security of disbelief. The hope that this was just a dream, or a movie. I finally came to the understanding that my life had no real purpose, I was truly expendable. I suddenly realized what I had to do. I must fight so that the Sailor Scouts could escape. An honorable defeat, a sacrifice that would truly be a risky venture, but had to be done nonetheless. Sailor Moon walked up beside me. Her long locks of spaghetti hair blew in the wind. She was cold but didn't let her feelings subdue her façade. I smiled at her heart lifting presence, she was a cheerful person always full of light. I grew calm, even though my own death may have been approaching.

Serenity stared out at the countless enemies and said, "If you believe in something, then it is worth dying for. If it is in your heart then it is real. Anything is possible, we may be outnumbered, but believe me it could be far worse. We have each other, that is all we need to survive. I have only known you a very short time, but deep within me you are slowly becoming a part of me. I never thought of you as a person who would resort to surrender." How did she know? I suppose her deep sympathy for others gives her the ability to understand others feelings, even though they try to hide them. Serena continued, "I feel your pain, I know you won't listen but it isn't all your fault. You have learned to live with very little, and you have no greed. You are an amazing person, even though you may not believe it." She paused to look at baby Hotaru. Hotaru was so full of hope it made Serena cry as well. Serena wiped her tears away and said, "Look at her! She is so full of joy, so full of happiness, if we must die let it be for that. That feeling of serenity, the overflowing power of love. The hope for a better tomorrow. Remember what we are fighting for."

Her words were great, but her timing was off. I was willing to fight till the death. I cringed in pain. The tower was too heavy, and I was just not strong enough to survive anyway. Why should she care for me? I stared off into the distance, the city was still pretty even though it lay in ruin. I looked into Hotaru's eyes once more. I wished things were different. How could I tell Sarah? I guess it didn't matter anyway! Serena's eyes filled with tears as I said, "I will fight, please take Hotaru and leave!" I handed Hotaru to Sailor Moon and walked away. As I did Hotaru started to cry furiously. Inside I hurt, I may never see Hotaru again. I also knew if I didn't fight our mission would be over. Inside I was mad at these enemies, I wanted all of them to suffer as I did. I would show them a fight, if this would be my end then so-be-it! I started to run, I knew the Sailor Scouts wouldn't leave me, they were stubborn. Why did Sailor Moon care so much for me? Was I really special, or was she playing me? I was very tired but my feet continued to move beneath me. The sky above me was full of darkness. It was noon, but the sky shed no light. The smoke from the destroyed building yielded for a few moments, then continued in a fitful rage. The air was thick, and its absorption in my lungs was painful, but I continued running. Was I running to fight or just running? I didn't know either. Deep within me I was just running away from everything. The sailor scouts were just another enemy tugging at my fragile heart. It seemed that all they wanted was to become a part of my life only to take it away from me. The Evil King was just a pawn of a much larger evil. Him, along with everyone I had ever known seemed to be against me. This feeling of rejection pushed me onward, the thing that made me the most upset was not knowing whether I had anyone as my friend or not. Not knowing who was for me, if anyone, and not knowing if I would ever see those who proclaimed indirectly to be my friends ever again. I continued to run faster and faster, I was just running, trying to escape the inevitable. I was so tired I thought I might collapse, but all I could do was run, but to where? I knew I couldn't run forever, but deep within me I wished I could. I was surrounded on all sides. The Sailor Scouts were behind me, I wished they were gone, I wished deep inside that they would just leave me in the same rut. I was always alone and I didn't want anyone anymore but deep within me I was crying to have something to call out to when I hurt. All I do is hurt, every minute of my life I had hurt. I was alone, so I would die alone. I couldn't stand my pathetic self, I loathed myself so fully that dying wasn't a big issue. Sailor Moon, was she right? Together could we really defeat this enemy? I believe that there is a little good in everything and everyone. What I did couldn't be forgiven, I broke my promise, I let Andrew die.

The street was partially intact and stretched onward for what seemed like forever. The road was full of debris, but I ran right through most of it. I didn't care if I lived or died, all I wanted was to escape my past. I envied the scouts that much more. Most of their past was erased, they didn't have to live with the burden of knowing that everything was a lie. The whole world was full of it, lies that is. The world seemed to go along with everything the government told them. People are foolish in that manner, they expect everything to be truth, but fail to see through the web of lies they themselves created in the first place. People make up things to make themselves who they are not, that comes from a system of belief that you can escape the truth. The truth that life is hard and that we must overcome the countless obstacles to arrive at what is really true, the true state of harmony. The Sailor Scouts couldn't know that their past was full of endless darkness, if they did they would be in the same state as myself. Sailor Jupiter's parents were killed in a plane crash, Darien's parents died in a car-accident. Serena was the only one with a real family. Her compassion for others made the Sailor Scouts as strong as they were. She was the solitary stability for all the other scouts. The other scouts had hard lives as well, Raye, and Amy's parents were never around. Hotaru's Mom was killed in a laboratory explosion, and after the destruction of Mistress 9 and Pharaoh 90, her father lost his memory for ever. Michelle and Omarah had no parents either. Trista was a lonely College girl, with no one. A pretty sad bunch huh?

I hit a huge metal beam and I fell face first into a pile of debris. I was furious and sprung back to my feet. I started running again, my foot throbbed in pain, so I had to slow down. To my surprise someone was running beside me. I looked to my side as she caught up to me. It was Sailor Uranus. Her athletic build had gave her the endurance to catch up to me. She didn't stop running, so I didn't stop running. We were running a race and I began to edge behind her. I was afraid of the future, what could it hold for my worthless being? My foot scorched with a vehement torch. I was in so much pain that if I continued onward my foot might come off at the heel. I had to stop. I had lost, to a woman nonetheless. I sat and grabbed my ankle, I was so frightened of commitment to being a part of something that the pain started to leave. Uranus was panting, I was as well, my lungs felt like they would explode!

Her face was full of exponential understanding, she smiled and said, "Your trying to escape the future, trust me you can't escape your true purpose. It may scare you to be a part of something, but in time you will accept it. Together we can triumph against all odds. We need you, you may not think that you are important but I do. We can't escape unless we escape together. What did you think you could accomplish? A heroic display of stupidity. They are playing you against yourself. They want you to think your not good enough, that's how they get you. Everyone is worth more than they want people to see. If Sarah is truly your friend she will listen to you. You shouldn't be afraid of the future, you should just accept it for what it is. You make the future, as does everyone. The future isn't set unless we choose to do nothing about it. Yes together WE CAN defeat this darkness."

As she spoke the Sailor Scouts caught up with me. Sailor Neptune kneeled down in front of me, and stared into my eyes. She said, "Together we stand least we fall, we will overcome the abject insertion of darkness in this world, only with the power of love can we win. You may have been alone, but you have us now, you are never truly alone! If you don't believe in anything else, believe in love. We have to stick together, We will win. Trust in us, believe in us like we believe in you. Do it for Hotaru, do it for Andrew, do it for Sarah, do it for this world, do it for everything you believe in, do it for yourself, do it for love! Andrew Believed in you, he hoped that you would help his cause, he wants those who bind this world in its darkened state to perish. He wants the darkness to die so that this world can be clean, he believes in hope, and in light, he believes that there is a certain power in love! Please don't let that belief fade away, don't let his death be in vain." Her words warmed my artic wasteland of a soul. She was right, to run away would be to lose. Could the lot of us really win against such a powerful enemy?

Deep down I trusted them, I knew that alone I could do no more than die. Then what? Andrew believed that I was the one to bring his people out of captivity. Out of the darkness and into the light. How? I was just one man. Out of the ashes comes light. I arose, my ankle was broken but awoke in a new truth I stood. I defied my pain, I stood up to face the turbulent storm that approached.

Alexii saw this and grew scared, not of me, but our defiance, or at least mine, deep down he feared what I could become. Alexii screamed, "Fire another volley!" In a cloud of fury a shell sped toward me. I didn't put up the barrier. Instead I let it hit me. To my surprise it passed directly through me. I was as if I didn't exist at all. I was like a ghost, and the shell passed through my body and like a vapor my body spread apart so it would pass without harming me. Up ahead multitudes of men awaited our approach. Their guns were loaded and they were ready to kill us.

I knew that they were only doing what they thought to be right. I said, "Aim at their arms and feet, don't kill them!"

Sailor Mars was angry and asked, "Why? Why not kill them and be done with it?"

I said, "They aren't the enemy. Remember who we are fighting against!"

Mars shouted, "Mars celestial fire surround!" as we rose to the top of a hill overlooking the countless soldiers. The fire rings knocked half of them to their feet.

Jupiter shouted, "Jupiter thunder cloud zap!" A huge bolt of lightning struck the center of the small army. Lightning bolts continued to rain down in all directions.

We continued onwards as the soldiers started to run afraid for their lives. The sun was hidden behind the dark clouds and was starting to set. This new darkness, helped along by the setting of the sun, allowed no light whatsoever. As we continued making our way through the flank of soldiers, we came upon a soldier curled up on the curb.

In a panic he said, "Please, don't kill me! I have a wife and two kids!"

I said, "We won't kill you! We don't want you to die either!"

The soldier's face turned from panic to wonder, he smiled somewhat and asked, "Why not? After all the things we did to you!"

I helped him up to his feet, I looked out over the place where the army of soldiers once stood. I smiled and said, "In this dark world full of hate we must help one another. Go back to your wife and kids, hopefully they are all right!"

The soldier asked, "Why did you start the meteor storm? Did you want us to perish?"

I hesitantly said, "NO! The evil one's you serve knew that we would try to stop them. They knew it wouldn't work, they knew there would be a devastating disaster, they want you to believe that we want to kill everyone, we fight only to stop the darkness that is coming. I admit we wanted the world to be destroyed, but I didn't want it to be like this." The soldier ran off into the darkness. My eye sight was fading with the growing darkness. The Lincoln tunnel was our only chance of escape. But protecting it were countless tanks. I wondered if we could get around the tanks without being spotted. The once intricate expressway system was destroyed. Certain sections of highway remained. It was as if a war had ravaged the city for centuries. The destruction was so complete that even the fire hydrants were destroyed.

We snuck around the barricade set up by Alexii. Helicopter spotlights shone on what was left of the road. We had to carefully navigate around them till we could find a way out of Manhattan. The darkness was unbearable, but if we stopped the spotlights would fall over us, and we would be engaged in combat. The rubble laying all over the ground hindered our escape. Crossing huge I-beams took time, and if we came upon a collapsed subway line we would be done for. Up ahead a huge section of highway remained and just below it there was a tunnel entrance. We entered the Lincoln tunnel. The other two tubes had been blocked by debris, but this particular tube seemed to be open. It was dark, and gloomy, much more than it was outside. Cars and busses lay capsized and scattered about the tunnel floor. I knew Alexii was only waiting to stalk us across the breadth of the United States. 2500 miles to Los Angeles. It was impossible on foot. We needed transportation. But first we needed to destroy the tunnel entrance so no one could follow us in. There were no other ways out of Manhattan, except the long path northward. Alexii would have to take his entire army northward giving us a good day or more until he could catch us. We would still have to take on the jets and the helicopters but it was better than taking on all three.

Alexii was a sick, twisted person that loved to play war games. I guess the only reason we escaped his clutch was that he wished it to be that way. A thought entertained me, the thought that we may have outwitted the fiend. I laughed out loud, the sound reverberated off the tunnel walls and in a funneled strength sped toward Alexii. Alexii was fast asleep, he didn't realize that we had evaded him. The sound of my voice made him churn in an angry fit. Realizing what I had done I screamed, "Destroy the entrance! Now!"

Uranus shouted, "Uranus world's shaking!"

Neptune shouted, "Neptune deep submerge!"

Pluto screamed, "Pluto deadly scream!"

The Pink, Orange, and Blue orbs of energy struck the ceiling collapsing a huge section of tunnel. The way was blocked, but I hoped that the exit wasn't! If it was then we had no chance of escape, and no chance of survival. I knew we didn't have much time, the enemy knew we were in the tunnel, they also knew that we were heading for the end.

Alexii jerked awake to the sound of the explosion. He was furious, he knew we would give him the slip, but he didn't figure we could do so as quickly as we had. This was all just a big game of cat and mouse to him. He didn't care how may men he had to kill to get to us, or how many men he would lead to be killed. All he wanted was to crush us. Brian had commanded him to fight us at any cost. Alexii was an even greater evil than Brian. His lies could ensnare anyone, his quick tongue and even quicker temper were legendary.

We felt our way along the walls of the tunnel. In a big line we quickly but surely navigated through the tunnel. I was out if front, and it seemed the scouts were pushing me forward. I ran into something metallic. In a domino effect the entire line of sailor scouts fell down on their backsides. I flung to my feet. I felt alongside the metallic object. It was a bus, and it seemed to be in working order. I felt along the side until I reach the door. The Sailor Scouts fumbled over each other trying to stand back up. The door didn't want to open, I gave it a huge tug, still it refused to budge. I was about ready to give up when the door flung open knocking me down. The pain crept up my back and the once weak pulsing pain in my leg turned into the severe burning pain from before. I crawled on my belly to the bus. I used the handrails to pull myself up. When I stood directly up the pain in my foot ebbed away, but the pain in my back grew steadily. When I could barely stand it any longer I threw myself into the bus. It was a tour bus, although I couldn't see if it was destroyed or not I edged myself up the stairs to the driver's seat. The keys were in the ignition. My fingers grasped the key. I was so nervous that my hand started to shake furiously the key fell out of my hand, and fell to the floor. I stooped forward to pick it up, and hit the horn. The loud noise startled me out of my edginess and almost flung me into insanity. I quickly lifted my head off the horn, and picked the key up from the ground. I shoved it into the ignition and gave it a quick turn. The engine sputtered and choked. No good, the engine wouldn't start. I still had hope, I turned the key once more. The Engine sputtered like before, but finally turned over. The chugging engine sound filled the tunnel. I moved my hand over the panel searching for a light. Click! The headlights came on! The light was so strong that I had to shield my eyes. We spent so long in the dark that our eyes grew accustomed to its nothingness. The piercing feeling it gave subsided into a joyous feeling deep within me.

I was so happy that I forgot my pain in my foot and back. I jumped out of the bus and said, "So how's that? How about shedding a little light on the subject? Hm?"

The Sailor Scouts' vision came back to them, laying in a tangled mess of human limbs, they finally regained composure and climbed out of the dog pile. Sailor Moon gasped as she looked at my foot. I asked, "What is it?" Afraid to look myself, I could only imagine what gruesome scene she beheld. I slowly looked downward. My eyes caught a glimpse of my ankle. A metal wire stuck out of the skin. It must have happened when I hit the metal beam. The area around the piece of metal was growing infectious. With all the ash, and dust it acquired I knew I might have to chop it off to survive.

I stared in amazement. It hurt, but at the same time it proved to me I wasn't dreaming. I reach down and gave a tug at the metal piece lodged in my leg. I burst out in agony. The metal piece came out, but in its place came blood. The blood gushed out of the hole in the skin. Liquids fill their container. With this much blood loss I would die in a matter of minutes. I evaded tank shells, atom bombs, and bullets, but I was taken out by my own stupidity. I grabbed my ankle in desperation. I held onto the ankle for what seemed like an hour. The pain was gone! I was afraid to remove my hand but my curiosity got the better of me. The Ankle was completely healed. Almost as if their never was a metal piece jammed in the ankle. I sighed in relief, the sailor scouts cried out in disbelief:

Darien said, "No way!"

Sailor Jupiter and Venus shook their heads as Mercury said, "That's impossible!

The Sailor Scouts stared into space as I boarded the tour bus. Still in a state of disbelief the Sailor Scouts sat upon the tunnel floor. I yelled out, "So are you coming or not?"

Snapping back to reality, the Sailor Scouts poured into the luxurious tour bus. I waited until everyone was in the bus, then in a single fluid action I shifted gears and depressed the accelerator. The Bus slid on the ash, but managed to gain enough traction to move forward.

The light of the head beams pierced the infinite darkness, the winding tunnel made the beams reflect back into my eyeballs. Deep inside I wondered where all the people went, after all there must be some survivors! The winding section gave way to a long, straight section of tunnel. The road ahead was full of debris, I knew that in order to get out of the tunnel alive I mustn't slow down. I hit a car and it slid off to the side leaving a huge dent in the exterior fiberglass hull. The end of the tunnel was near. The tunnel curved again, and finally the end was in plain sight!

Meanwhile, Alexii was growing furious, he knew he was to toy with us, but didn't know how he could get his entire army around to catch up with us in time. Alexii called his jet Squadron leader.

Alexii talked into the old-looking contraption used as a walkie-talkie, "The enemy will be exiting the tunnel now, hit them with whatever you got, that goes for you M1 helicopter pilots! Hit them with everything you got. Also, send a helicopter for an extraction!"

A Helicopter pilot said, "Will do captain!"

The Jet squadron leader cried out, "This is our last shot to defeat those wretched fiends! If we don't stop them we wont live to talk about it!"

The jet pilots flew over the Hudson river. A thought came to the jet squadron leader's mind, it was that somehow we didn't deserve to die. He knew that he would die if he didn't stop us, but deep down he knew that something we might do something amazing. He turned to the side and collided with the oncoming jets. In a ball of fire the planes crashed in the Hudson river, creating a giant splash.

We flew out of the tube into the darkness, the headlights streamed forward, behind us the seemingly large fireball that was five f22 jets, faded into the eerie nothingness. Inside the bus the Sailor Scouts were on edge. I was as well, I was scared that we might not get away.

Technology and science had once ensnared the world, but now it was worthless, with no electricity the darkness ensnared the planet. For the first time in over 300 years the clouds gave way to expose all of the stars, although faded they seemed to lead us onward. New York had had so much light pollution that the stars were blocked from view anyway. People didn't care to look up into the night sky anymore. They had no hope because they devoted themselves to their technologies. People became disconnected with the planet, with the very planet they lived in, hoping technology could prevent nature. Ha! They couldn't predict their precious earth would be destroyed by space itself! It was kind of funny, as well as sick. I was both happy and angry at my actions. Truth was fading into obscurity, even with this wake up call, the human race would cling tight to their televisions and radios, instead of following their hearts they trust on others to guide them. Some believe in their minds, their knowledge, but fail to realize that what they think can be affected by what others tell them to think. The Brain can betray its carrier. The world was temporarily void of this technology. I guess that's how it's always been though, humans always look for someone to guide them, they fail themselves by reaching out for others, that's not to say they shouldn't, humans need to do so, but should have their own ideas. The dark one used this technology to ensnare the billions of humans, technology is useful, but should be limited. Humans fail to trust their instincts, technology has polluted the sense of knowing the world around you, I was a threat because I could feel its close demise. To them I must be erased, just like the past. The stars shone through the windshield.

Sailor Venus stood up and started walking toward me, she asked, "Are you alright?", I nodded and she continued, "The Milky way is sure beautiful!"

Mars looked out into the night sky through the windshield her eyes were fixed on the Galactic Core, she smiled and said, "Yes it sure is!"

I decided to let Sailor Uranus Drive for a while, she had the strength to stay awake, I however, didn't. I drifted into a deep sleep. In my dream I remembered my life back in the research facility. The scientists said in passing conversation that in the end there is only silence. In its infinite endlessness nothing can escape. The silence is the punisher of all man kind. No voice, no life, no hope, no will, no being, nothing. Infinite silence. The laboratory vision faded to the horrifying black hole dream. Falling forever into the silence, nothing was left of me, I was as nothing, all alone. There wouldn't be hope, there wouldn't be any help, I felt as if the entire universe had fell on me, crushing me with its supreme weight. And then in an instant a great light shot out from the darkness, silence was consumed, peace was restored, and just as the light faded darkness swept back in and consumed the light and everything with it, whole.

I jerked awake not knowing what might become of me, and our band of criminals. The raw smell of new carpet overtook me. That new car smell, I looked out into the darkness that surrounded the cabin. The Sailor Scouts were sleeping, save Sailor Uranus, which was diligently driving. A gurgling sound came from a few rows over. The gurgle turned to a low toned but high pitched snore which seemed to rattle my eardrums. Sailor Moon was snoring, she had the most hideous snore, it sounded like a rusty door swinging about its hinges, it could be described as the sound an alligator might make if he was being squeezed through a key hole.

Uranus glanced over her shoulder for a brief second, she knew that if she took her eyes of the road for a matter of seconds we might land in a huge crater, she knew I was awake and said rather quietly, as not to wake the others, "It has been a long day!"

I looked up through the glass ceiling that allowed starlight to seep through, although the starlight was mostly blocked by clouds now, small flickers poured through. Enthralled, and in wonder I stared out into the vastness. The deep recesses of space, the infinite emptiness, it resembled my current state of being. I pulled myself up to a sitting position on the chairs. When I achieved a comfortable posture I asked, "What motivates you to continue? What is it about you that makes you move forward? What truly compels you?"

Uranus strained for the correct words to say, she stumbled about her subconscious, then in an instant answered, "Deep within us all there is light, some it is buried deeper within. The thing that compels me is that there is light out there, we just have to find the strength within ourselves to overcome the darkness within to let it shine. I once believed that I could outrun my fears, but in the end was forced to face them, I also believed that I could win by myself, that was my folly. I endangered everyone I cared about! I learned that the future isn't set it is what we make of what we have right now that makes us who we are and what we will be! You may believe that you have no purpose, that you're all alone but no one is ever truly alone. We believe in you, even though you may not believe in yourself! Remember that you are only as useful as you make yourself."

Uranus was a good driver, and a good friend, she was a little unorthodox at times, but was an all around nice person. Her love for Michelle was untainted, but her duties came first. Uranus was right, we did have each other, the Sailor Scouts had fought before, but each time they did they grew that much stronger, now they were inseparable, but who was with us? Some fanaticize about being all powerful, all knowing, they want to do great things but fail to realize that they can do normal things that can become extraordinary. You don't have to be powerful to do powerful things, like she said we are only as useful as we allow ourselves to be. With nothing more than the clothes on our backs, and the Bus we were traveling across the breadth of the United States. We didn't know if our path ahead was blocked by a crater or an army, we could only go on blind faith.

I muttered, ' how do you stay awake?"

Uranus slightly laughed and answered, "It may seem funny, but Serena's Snoring keeps me focused! That bumbling girl, so lacking in refinement, is none other than princess Serenity. She may seem silly at times, unorthodox as well, but deep down in her she has a heart of gold. That's where power comes from, the innermost part of the being the Heart and soul!" She swerved to miss a small crater, as she did I was flung up against the wall of the bus, and my back burst into extreme pain. Serena's snore turned into a gurgling wisp, then in an agitated mood it burst into the sound of a chainsaw. After a minute or more of the aggravating sound Uranus moved the bus back onto the road, and Serena's snore returned into a hushed, but still annoying state. It seemed that we were to do the impossible. The Road ahead was long and full of uncertainty, but we knew we had to press forward, to plunge into uncertainty. We were alone, but together we would stand to defy the darkness. I laid back down, although in pain, the world I saw around me faded into a black sea of exhaustion, the darkness gave way to dream. I was asleep.