37: "Eclipse"
"Well, that's good to know. Just don't go and do anything stupid. We don't know what this is all about, who's in charge, what they're thinking... Anyway, I'll get in touch with our U.N. Ambassador and see what he thinks. Keep me up to date on everything."
The sound of a sigh, a phone's numbers dialing, a muted ring. The wind. Smoke. Dull pain.
"Mr. Katayama? It's Senator Hino. I need you to listen to me very carefully, because there's a very unusual crisis going on right now, and I want to make sure you... Oh, so you've already been informed. Well, that saves me a bit of time. What are your thoughts, sir? ...Hmm. ...Yes, I see; maybe that would be best. ...No, don't feel like you have to go that far. Our information's very scarce right now. ...Somehow I have the feeling that won't work. Just call it a hunch. ...She's all right. Got caught in the attack, but somehow she made it through just fine. ...No burn damage, just bruises from collapsing debris. ...It's in shambles. Irreparable. I've been told there are a lot of other government agencies all across the country that have also been wiped out. ...He's alive as far as we know. ...My guess is that they wanted him to see this. ...I don't know, sir."
Black empty oceans turned blurry gray, sickly blue, fuzzy white, hazy green and brown and yellow. Illness. Pain. Stiffness. A slow, gradual focus. Who was that talking? It took all her strength to turn and see. A man...in a suit...on a portable phone...
"Yes," he said, "thank goodness that was kept up. But for how long, who knows? This may be our last chance to talk."
Her watery vision improved incrementally. She began piecing together what she heard with what she remembered. A stern, somewhat flat tone, but authoritative. Punctual, not given to emotion, well-spoken, dull. And that specific inflection she knew on such a personal level...
It was her father.
"I'll keep in touch, sir, as long as I'm able." He hung up, sighing deeply, and surveyed the area. Rei stirred, attracting his attention. The look on his face suggested no joy. "You're conscious. Don't try standing too quickly; the painkillers are still in effect." She sat up, regretted it, laid back down, watching the clouds roll by. She swallowed, found her throat dry. Someone gave her a small paper cup half-filled with tepid water, and she noticed it was Kaidou. Every drop was sweet ambrosia.
"What happened?" she said, looking at him. Her father answered.
"To put it bluntly, something attacked the Senate building, as well as the capitol and every other government office in the city. The Senate building's been destroyed, and there's no word of where this thing is now. I've been in communication with various heads across the country ever since."
"But I was...inside when it fell." She coughed, feeling smoke well up inside her. Kaidou patted her back gently.
"Take it easy, you're suffering from smoke inhalation. I'd give you more water, but we've none to spare."
"How'd I...kff-kff...get outside, Kai...kff-kff!"
"Senator Hino brought you out. When we did a head count and found you were missing, he went back inside. I'd've done the same, but paramedics had me in their grip by then."
Rei sneered, glaring at Kaidou then at her father. There was no way he'd do anything so noble and courageous as rush into a burning building to save his daughter—in fact, he probably knocked over several people rushing outside to save his own skin! Kaidou was obviously trying to bridge the enormous gap that had fallen between them—very typical, very well-meaning, but ultimately aggravating.
"You don't have to cover for him like that," she muttered. "Just admit you did it, Kaidou, or at least someone else. He wouldn't dare risk his life for me."
"But it's the truth," he insisted, "I saw it myself! And you weren't the only one missing, Hino, but he didn't seem interested in anyone else. Once he heard your name was skipped, he went off like a shot."
"You're wasting your time lying to me, Kaidou. I know that man a lot better than you do. Besides, even if he did run in there, he'd never come for me. He let one Hino woman die, why not let two?" She was staring away from him, lost in her bitter hurt, too preoccupied to notice his own injured expression. Kaidou took a deep breath and stood over her.
"Hino... What I'm about to do, I only do out of love."
And then he whirled his arm around and slapped her cheek.
"Ouch! What the hell'd you do that for?!"
The look of smoldering anger he showed was enough to silence her.
"Honestly, Rei, if you don't know, then we have nothing more to discuss." He walked away without looking back, checking in with her father before moving on to other people recently pulled from the blaze. Rei sat up again, this time with more success, rubbing her face as she contemplated what he had said. There was no way her father would do something like that. He had let her mother die! He hid away in his office during every important moment in his daughter's life! He had been silent when his father-in-law passed away, and did nothing to keep Hikawa Shrine, his own wife's birthright, from being torn down and paved over! Takashi Hino had been nothing but a cold, selfish, workaholic pig his entire life, a man who had sold his soul for power and a paycheck. How someone like him ever had the goodness to throw himself into hell's maw, for any reason, was too outlandish to even think about.
Yet the look on Kaidou's face made Rei wonder what was really true, and what was a byproduct of her own bitter resentment. She sat up fully now, cold and spiritually empty, wishing she had something warm to clutch onto—tea, Kaidou, a blanket, Usagi, her grandfather, anything.
She then touched her chest, and understood where all that emptiness was coming from.
"Excuse me," she called to an emergency volunteer, "did anybody happen to find my belongings?"
"No, I'm afraid most everything was lost in the fire. Your car's still outside, though, for what it's worth." So no cell phone to get in touch with everyone else. Rei felt inside her hip pocket, pulling out a keyring. Her car had been restored to her, along with everything else on that fateful day, so she had mobility, and she had her apartment. Insurance would likely cover most of her belongings, but more than anything else, she needed to tell everyone what had happened, and how to go about solving this. Carefully, she stood up, still feeling woozy from smoke inhalation and painkillers. At least her bruises weren't serious, and she wasn't burned, which was a miracle. Then again...
"Do you need something?" Her father approached her, stone-faced as always. Rei frowned but decided now was not the time for juvenile behavior.
"I want to call my friends and tell them about what happened."
"Hmm. Considering the city's overrun by now, I'm sure they already know."
"Overrun?" The cold pit left behind in her chest grew exponentially.
"The thing that attacked the Senate building had an army with him. That army's grown so large that they have the entire city in their grasp. There's more of those strange glowing entities, like the one that torched this building—not that any more or less of them makes the situation different. Whether we like it or not, the city's under martial law: their law."
Rei gazed down at the pavement, feeling more discouraged than before. She silently beckoned to Sailor Mars, but Mars did not answer.
"I would still like to get in touch with them."
"If these people have any notion of conquest, they'll eliminate our communication. Cellular towers are working now, but that will change in time. However, if you feel you can accomplish something, I won't stop you."
"I think I left my phone inside," she whispered sheepishly. He quietly handed her his.
"Do you remember their numbers?" She knew a few by heart; first she called Ami, then Setsuna. Nothing. On a whim, she attempted to get in touch with Usagi, even though she didn't think her friend would be out of that coma yet. Astonishingly, someone answered.
"Hello?" But it wasn't Usagi. Rei didn't recognize the voice.
"Is Usagi there?"
"Who may I ask is calling?"
"A friend of hers, Rei Hino. If she's still in a coma, I'll understand..."
"Rei Hino? That shrine maiden friend of hers?"
"Yes, ma'am. Who are you?"
There was a strange silence. Rei thought she heard the other person crying.
"You're...Risa's daughter."
"You knew my mother?!" Takashi Hino turned around in interest as Rei grasped the phone to her ear. "How?! Who are you?!"
"Saeko Mizuno," she whispered, overcome with emotion. "And I... Excuse me, please, I'm not myself today. I think you can understand."
"Yeah..." She then touched her cheek. "I'm not myself either, ma'am. But is Usagi okay? Is Ami there with you?"
"Rei... If this were any other circumstance, I'd want to meet you. I've been meaning to speak with you for a very long time now—about your mother, and Ami, and your father... But now's not the time. You need to stay where you are, Rei: stay safe. Is there anyone there you can trust?"
"Yes, his name's Kaidou." She then added, hesitantly, "My father's here too."
"Stay there, okay? Whatever happens. Keep safe, Rei, please. And...should you ever come across my daughter, wherever she is...please tell her that..."
The phone fizzed out, becoming garbled with static. The line died. Rei tried again, then dialed in every number she could think of. Soon nobody could get a signal. She numbly handed the useless phone back to her father, who took a deep ragged breath as he tucked it away.
"It didn't sound like you were successful. So much for our phones."
"I need to get to the hospital right away. Father..." She looked at him, but looked away just as quickly. He, too, found something else to stare at.
"You don't need my permission." She walked away without another word. He secretly watched her leave, then turned around, rubbing his face. Slowly her face forced its way into his mind.
"Don't ever stop haunting me, Risa. As terrible as it feels, it's all I have left."
…...
Some serious credit had to be given to Ami Mizuno. Even while her city was being overtaken by soldiers of the gods, heads of state and government were toppling, the police were forced into servitude, and her own powers were stripped from her, she never lost her composure. In fact, she helped Harisvatta organize Tokyo's beleaguered police force, calming them down and going over every tidbit of news so that everyone would understand what was going on. She had help, of course: Hayate Hayashida quickly assigned herself as Mizuno's right hand (a bit of fan-girl twinkle in her eyes), Usagi's partner Javier Toha helped round up the other officers, longtime friend of the Senshi Ittou Asanuma drew up plans, and even Soji Asagiri chipped in, quiet and cynical though he was.
"I think we have all of the facts gathered," she announced, nodding to Asanuma. He highlighted his plans in conjecture with maps of Tokyo as she went over everything: "Although how and when all this began is still a mystery, we've received word that all governing bodies have been overthrown, their buildings destroyed and their workers put out on the street. The Prime Minister is alive, as far as we know, though his whereabouts are unknown. The one responsible calls himself Ninurta, presumably an homage to some Mesopotamian god of war. His attacks following the destruction of Tokyo's electorate have been sporadic, and his present condition is also unknown. Tokyo's police force, and presumably all of Japan's, has surrendered to this man's forces, though with great reluctance."
"And I'm sure everyone here understands why," Chief Hari emphasized. The police grumbled in affirmative: they knew she'd never betray them to anybody; in fact, she meant to protect them with that gesture. And by no means was she going to fully submit. Ninurta and his cohorts may have declared themselves rulers of the country but the police only answered to the Prime Minister.
Asagiri raised his hand: "I heard the Sailor Senshi are connected to these people—mainly, they tried to fight them, and lost." Ami flinched, but pressed on.
"I wouldn't know anything about that. I was called in to examine a body, and was kept here under strict watch by the imposing order."
"Let's just call them 'the enemy'," Toha said. "That's what they are, right? They come in here outta nowhere, overthrow the government, force the police to sign up with them, kill anyone who resists, swarms the city with their soldiers... Sounds like an enemy to me." The other police muttered an assent; Ami preferred keeping things less personal.
"That may be so, but we mustn't let our interpretations of their actions lead us to rash behavior."
"What about the Senshi?" Asagiri pressed. Hari rolled her eyes.
"What about what's happening in the real world, Asagiri?"
"What exactly do you consider 'real', chief? The fact that Babylonian gods are running amok in Tokyo? Maybe that one of them called out bulls the size of big rigs? Or they restored this city better than it was, following that dragon attack? Or perhaps all the other crazy crap that's been happening around here?"
"Even so, there are limits."
"Then what about the vigilantes who were dressing up as the Senshi? Is that what you'd like me to call them?"
"Could we please move on?" Ami said. "I'd like to discuss what we know and what we can do about it."
"What's there to do?" Toha snorted. "The police are under their heel and there ain't no Prime Minister around to give orders. They just axed our communications, and anyone who decides to fight back gets blasted apart."
"At least there's no crime," Asanuma interjected. "I know that's somewhat inappropriate to say, but haven't you noticed?"
"That's because the city's so overrun that there are eyes everywhere," Hari answered. "Besides, the stunt performed by Dr. Mizuno's charred corpse has discouraged everyone else. They're using excessive force, and frankly, I don't approve."
"I have a question," Hayashida said. "Do we know who's in charge of all this? Dr. Mizuno mentioned a Ninurta, but are there others?"
"I have a few reports on that," Asanuma said. "We've confirmed two; the rest are just rumors. There's a man named Shamash who seems to take charge during the daytime, and Nanna,who called out the bulls. He shows up around nighttime. As for the rumors, we have such dignitaries as Gula, Inana, Ninhursaga, Usmu, Adad, and Enlil. All stemming from similar Mesopotamian pantheons, and likely more we don't know about. No word on any executive leadership, though, unless you count that Marduk fellow that showed up with the dragon." He looked at Ami, silently asking her if she knew anything about it. She subtly shook her head.
"Whoever they are," Hari said, "they possess unbelievable powers and hold enormous influence. I may be asking a painfully obvious question, but do we know what they're after?"
"You don't think they want control of the city?" Toha said. "Or the country?"
"It better not be global domination," Asagiri snorted. "If it's something as cliched as that, I'm going to be sick."
"We can be thankful that destruction isn't part of their agenda," Asagiri said. "Aside from government buildings and a few outspoken people, they haven't done much damage, and I think they've proven they're capable of it. No...unless I'm mistaken, they want us all alive and well, and the city, too. I mean, why else restore it?"
"Uh...they felt bad because they sat around on their asses while the Senshi did all the work?"
"Asagiri, really now." He smirked ironically.
"Or it could be a wasteland's not much to look at. Gotta keep their cattle in the finest pens."
"Brr, let's hope they're not after that," Hayashida shivered. Mizuno cleared her throat.
"In any case, it seems we're lost and helpless until they play their hand. For the time being, I think we should cooperate and not draw any unwanted attention towards us."
"The 'wait and see' tactic? But some of us like action, and I'm uncomfortable with being occupied."
"So am I, Asagiri," Hari said, "but Dr. Mizuno's right. Until we know what they're capable of and what they're after, we all need to lay low. Anyone who feels like violating those orders gets to spend a week in the cooler." With that, the meeting was dismissed. Ami drew in Asanuma and Hayashida, the only people she could fully trust, and whispered quietly:
"I know this is going to be hypocritical of me, but I'm going to sneak outside and find my way to Juban Primary."
"Seriously? That's not just hypocritical, that's insane!"
"And suicidal. Every centimeter of this city's being watched."
"Which is why I'm going out there alone. I'm sorry."
"Mizuno," Asanuma said, "we can't let you do that. We'll detain you if we have to."
"Then go ahead and do it," she said firmly. "Lock me away, cuff me in irons, do whatever you want, but I'm not letting anything stop me. I have to get in touch with everyone else, and the hospital's my best starting point. My mother will be there and so will Usagi."
"Still in a coma," Asanuma reminded her.
"Besides," Hayashida said, "didn't you tell us you had lost your powers? If you can't become Sailor Mercury anymore, then you're really up a creek."
"I'm not asking for any help. I'm not a member of the police, so even if I were caught, it wouldn't be seen as anything except a citizen wandering around. With any luck, I'll be escorted back to the hospital—or have you forgotten what I do for a living?"
"Mizuno..." Hayashida held her hand; Asanuma frowned. Ami sighed.
"I'm a Senshi. I might have been born into that role, but I also chose it. I may have had my powers taken away, but it's still who I am. I know it in my heart and my head. I can take care of myself, but at the same time, I need to be with the others to survive. I guess I can't describe it any better than that." Her two friends gazed at her awhile longer, still not certain what to do. Hayashida suddenly hugged Ami, whispering something in her ear. Ami smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you. Asanuma, take care of everyone else here. If Chief Utnapishtim raises a fuss over me..." He smiled and clapped her shoulder.
"Don't worry, I got you covered. If there's anything you think you need, just ask us."
"Oh!" Hayashida exclaimed. "My sidearm! I still have it! You can borrow it if you need to."
"That'll do me more harm than good if I'm caught with it," Ami replied. Hayashida sheepishly admitted she was right, and wished her favorite Senshi good luck as she slipped out of the room, down the hallway, and through the door, silent and unseen.
"I hope she'll be all right," she whispered. Asanuma sighed.
"Yeah... I wish we could do more to help her."
A glint of inspiration twinkled in Hayate's eye. "Maybe we can."
…...
Minako never remembered waking up with such a raging migraine before, even during her wildest moments. Vaguely she recalled having something important ripped away from her, and a battle, and hitting the ground pretty hard—but after that...? After that... Where was she, anyway? She heard the low howl of the wind, dripping water, sniffling, soft groans. She saw darkness, punctured by a few torches here and there. Rusty iron hinges opened, and something soft was thrown against a wall. They slammed shut. A prison, then—or perhaps a dungeon? She grunted and rubbed her bruises, supposing it could have been much worse for her.
At the moment, however, she couldn't figure out how...
"Are you awake over there?" she heard someone call. It was a man's voice, sweet with familiarity. She felt her heart leap.
"Motoki?"
"Ah, Minako. So you got thrown in here as well, eh? What are you in here for?"
"Loving recklessly without a license. You?"
"Lollygagging."
"You vicious criminal, you," she giggled. He snorted.
"Who's the vicious one here? Is there anyone else in your cell?"
"Ah, so this is a prison."
"Hmph, more like a dungeon." She giggled again.
"I'm all alone here. What about you?"
"Makoto's with me," he said gently. Minako felt her heart leap again.
"Makoto?! How is she? What happened? Hey, girl, can ya hear me?!"
"She's out cold," he answered softly, "and hurt pretty badly. When I heard what was going down at the Senate building, I went looking for her. I got caught by these strange creatures that looked like humanoid scorpions, and thrown in here. On the plus side, though..."
"The prince found his princess. Have you tried kissing her yet?"
The soft silence that followed was answer enough.
"What about your kids?"
"With my sister. Any news of the other Senshi?"
"Ohmygosh! I was with Haruka and Michiru when all this went down! HEEEEEY, HARUKAAAA! MICHIRUUUUUU! CAN YOU HEAR MEEEE?"
"Quiet in there!" Something snarled and growled at her, a voice too warped and guttural to be human. A thick meaty hand slammed against her bars, followed closely by a face with eight black eyes. Minako had seen worse, but still cringed.
"Ew. You're one of those scorpion-people, I take it?"
"I serve Lord Shamash, slave. Do not dare address me as an equal."
"Oh, brother, one of those kinds of people. So what're you gonna do about it, huh? Ya gonna come in here and rough me up, big man? ...Bug? ...Arachnid? Whatever."
"Fool," it snorted. "You will not provoke me so easily. Prattle on to your heart's content." It walked off, silencing other prisoners; Minako called after it angrily.
"Hey, ugly! Am I gonna get some room service over here? And what about a lawyer, huh? You can't just throw me in jail for no reason!"
"If you are wanting lawyer, maybe you should talk with me." The voice in her other neighboring cell spoke up, thick and garbled, like a foreigner's. Minako guessed who it was immediately.
"Um...Miss Nastya, I presume?"
"Da, Nastya Kovenik, but how did you know that?"
Minako grinned bashfully. This was going to become very awkward shortly.
"Let's just say we have a mutual acquaintance."
"How is Ami, by the way?" Motoki called.
"I haven't spoken with her for a few days," Minako said. "Maybe her girlfriend knows something."
"Ah, so that is our mutual acquaintance. Unfortunately, she is not my girlfriend any longer. We broke up several days ago."
"Oh." Minako swallowed. "Really."
Very, very awkward.
…...
Haruka awoke, well away from that dungeon, to the setting sun, and an incessant tapping sound. As the wind slowly roused her, she grunted, stretching, finding herself relatively unscathed, but feeling very cold and lonesome, despite the presence of another person. Michiu was a few meters away, ticking at a laptop, her back turned. Presuming this was the same day, several hours must have passed since the battle. Haruka rubbed her eyes.
"There's some water right next to you, dear." She glanced over, saw a bottle, and drank. It was lukewarm, but still energizing.
"You really do have eyes in the back of your head." Michiru tapped her laptop screen.
"I saw your reflection. How are you?"
"Sick. Very tired. Kind of cold, too."
"Our powers are gone."
"That might explain it. How are we still alive, though? Aren't we bound to them, body and soul?"
"No time to argue philosophy, dear. Cellular services have been knocked out, so I'm having to resort to wireless and satellite. Thank goodness our enemy hasn't figured that out yet." She noticed Michiru had her laptop plugged into a portable battery system...and that they were on a rooftop. That explained the nice view...
"So what are you doing?"
"Trying to find Setsuna and the others. While you were out, I went to check out the area we left Hotaru. Predictably, she's not there."
"Probably went off to protect her boyfriend."
"Or Usagi."
"They could all be in the same place."
"I'd thought of that as well. Ami's with the police, so she's safe. No word yet on Mina or Mako."
"I was about to say... You saved me, but why not Minako? As scatterbrained as she is, it'd be nice to have her around. You know, for morale." Michiru smirked, fairly certain her lover enjoyed Minako for more than just her charisma.
"I acted out of selfishness. There was only enough time to grab one, and I chose you."
"Enough time?"
"When Ninurta left us, his followers swarmed. They took Minako, but I don't know where."
"Probably wherever they're taking anyone else that stands in their way. You don't sound too upset."
"No time to feel upset, either. We need to marshal our forces."
"What forces?" she snorted. "You said our powers were taken away, right? So what are we gonna do, stockpile an arsenal?"
"Right now I'm only concerned with getting the Senshi together. Regardless of what our plan is, it'll be useless if we're not together." Haruka had to give her that, and smiled softly.
"You're the genius."
"And you're the muse. Well, there we have it: Setsuna's fine. She got into some life-threatening danger, though, no big deal. Her words, not mine. She's on Rei's computer now."
"And Rei?" Michiru frowned, closing her laptop, turning round to face her lover. Her face was crestfallen.
"The Senate building was destroyed. That's where she works."
"So? It's Rei. The world could come to an end and she'd be fine. I'm more worried about Hotaru and Usagi." Michiru nodded, then grabbed her computer, walked over to where Haruka sat, and wedged herself next to her, snuggling. Haruka put her arm around the other woman and drew her close. "Me, too," she whispered, sensing her lover's apprehension. They stayed nestled there until the sun went down, enjoying the silence and each other's warmth.
"Think we could stay like this forever?"
"No," Michiru smiled. "I'd need to shower eventually."
"Yeah...and I'm getting hungry. How are we going to fix this?"
"No clue. But this sure is nice." Haruka hummed.
"Feels like we don't get to do this enough."
"We've had ten years."
"Not nearly enough," she whispered. Michiru smiled warmly, kissing her cheek.
"The hospital, then?"
"Yeah. It's as good a place as any."
"When?"
"Two more minutes." She smiled, resting her head on her lover's shoulder.
No matter if it was a single hour, a thousand years, an instant stolen from time...
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Their repose was interrupted as someone hauled themselves up the ladder Michiru had used, their profile blocked by the dimming sky. The lovers stirred, facing the stranger anxiously.
"Who are you?"
"You're coming with me. Right now."
Haruka gnashed her teeth, clenching her fists. "Like hell we will! Answer our question!"
"I'll not argue with you, Senshi." Haruka and Michiru gave a start, jumping to their feet. They could now clearly see the person standing before you. Michiru gasped.
"It's you...!"
To be continued...