So the truth about Earth would reach the ends of every colony, revealing the lies of the Gaia Sanction. But the planet was healing, the meadow of flowers was proof of that. That proof, would however, draw the Sanction into another attempt of claiming it for themselves.
They would be ready for it.
"How far you have gone." the comment echoed around them, filling the air with many layers that it took them a while to pinpoint its origins.
At the front, a being of light stood. They were a generic shape, nothing obviously male nor female about them, but there was a distinct parental feel to them. Regardless, the crew were instantly on guard, weapons drawn and aimed at the being.
The weapons were ignored as the being turned, slowly approaching the tall captain on soundless steps. "I remember you, child." a hand was raised, fingers trailing along the scar that ran across his left cheek. "You attempted to protect me so long ago. How is it, you still live?" both hands now cupped his cheeks, the being now growing until they towered over him and the touch turned caring, tender, voice deepening yet still distinctively feminine. "Ah, I see. Such darkness, it has become part of your very being."
"Let him go and step away from the Captain." Kei stepped forward, face set and stern as her weapon was raised to adjust to the being's new height.
Said being turned to her, their form shifting once again, shrinking as curves began to fill out giving a obviouse feminine form that mimicked Kei's own. "You fear for his life." voice now a seductive drawl as their head canted to the side. "You need not fear me harming him."
Yama stepped forward, eyes narrowed, brows furrowing when the being's form become something new. "Then tell us who and what you are and what you want."
"So protective for one so young." their form and voice was now softer, motherly. "I go by many names, too many to count as so many have been forgotten. However, you may call me Mother."
"Okay, Mother. Still doesn't tell us what you are or why you're here." his hold on his weapon tightened when the being raised an arm, waving towards the large window that showed them the planet they were leaving behind.
"I bore you all!" their form darkening voice a crackling boom, mimicking how Earth looked, save for a tiny point of light where a human's heart rested, there was a patch of pale blue that was similar to the field of blue flowers that began to regrow on Earth. "I cared and nurtured you all, watched as you thrived and waged wars across my being for any and every reason you children can think of. I witnessed you part for the stars and distant worlds to claim as your own. I bear the scars that your captain tore into my very core in his attempt to protect me!"
It was Miime that stepped forward this time, gaining the being's attention. "You are the planet. You are Earth."
The pale blue that covered the being's heart gave a warm pulse, it filled the space between them all. "I am. And after so long, life begins to return, I begin to heal." arms were thrown wide, joy and love filling the air. A rich laughter echoed around them, though it soon died as the being turned to Harlock. "However, your words earlier were true. Those that are part of this Sanction will once again attempt war on and for me. To do so again, I fear I will not survive as I did last time."
"Then, what is it you want?" Harlock spoke for the first time, awed and frightened at the idea of the personification of the planet he so nearly destroyed talking to him.
Mother approached him again, this time shorter than their first shift, their voice a lilt of what one could call sweet. "You bore your guilt long enough. I understand what you did was an attempt to protect me, so I forgive you. It is time you forgive yourself." their form was once again a glowing blue, warm and healthy
His hands clenched. To hear those words, it was both uplifting and heavy. Was he capable of forgiving himself? After what he did to the planet, he willingly took on the weight of what he had done, he punished himself for it ever since. He would continue to do so, as he had yet to die of old age. He wasn't even sure he could be killed, and there was no shortage of those willing to attempt such. The Gaia Sanction was at the top of that list.
"Why are you here, now?" it was a loaded question. Why present a humanoid manifestation only now? If he was forgiven, then he was needed for something, the question was what?
"While I do forgive you, and I am once again healing, I need your assistance." the glow dimmed until only the single spot above their heart remained.
Narrowing his single eye, his lips pursed. "How?" he sincerely doubted that unleashing the dark matter would be acceptable a second time around, nor with his recent plan of shattering this reality, this time, to begin anew.
"Bring back my daughter." the words had everyone stilling, all but himself rearing back from the being that claimed to be their ancient home planet.
Keeping his expression blank to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself, he took a few moments before speaking up. "Your… daughter."
The being laughed. "Humans are all my children, but this one is different. Special." despite not having any defining features, the feeling of the expressions and emotions weighed on them all. "In ancient times, there were rare humans that were born with a deeper and stronger connection to me, she is one such human. The last of her kind." a hand rose and covered the dim glow above their heart. "Despite the distance between us, I still feel her…" a frown could be heard in their words.
"From… I don't understand." Yama spoke up, holstering his weapon as he approached the two, though kept a safe berth between himself and Mother.
Mother turned to Yama, head tipping to the side. "What is there not to understand? I share a bond with her, I can guide you to her, so that you can return her home, to me." returning their attention to Harlock, they raised a hand to cup his cheek once again. "With her returned to me, we can both heal."
Kei, still on edge finally holstered her own weapons as she quickly approached the two. Despite her weapons being holstered, she kept a hand at the ready. "Wait. Both of you can heal?" her brows were furrowed beneath the fringe of hair as her gaze turned to the captain, just waiting for his signal for action.
Mother drew back, shrinking as if withering away, voice wispy and thin. "Wherever she is, it is against her will. She is being forced to sleep for extended stretches of time." their arms were quick to wrap around themselves, their form now resembling a walking skeleton with glowing blue cracks in the ashen blight.
Yattaran finally spoke up, also approaching the closing circle. "Why? Besides this connection to you, why do that?" his skull cap shifted as he scratched at his head, quick to readjust his glasses.
"Because of this connection we share, I was not killed completely when the darkness plagued me. She has the ability to heal me, entirely." the disturbing skeletal form began to flesh out as the meaning of Mother's words settled. A person capable of healing an entire planet… Such a person would be coveted, especially by the Sanction if they knew of said abilities. "She is capable of healing any life form, as well as purifying any form of impurities among other abilities. If those holding her know that…"
Harlock quickly picked up what they were saying. His mind was whirring with a list of those possible of keeping such a person, keeping them in forced 'sleep' for stretches of time. Did that mean they allowed this woman periods to be awake? If so, then for how long and for what purposes? The Gaia Sanction was on the top of his list, but the universe was a vast place, there was no telling who or what could hold and hide a human, there were just too many possibilities.
"You're asking us to look for a needle in a universe sized haystack. There are so many that have the ability to hold and hide a person without drawing attention to themselves." it was a sad fact of life, but it was a fact. They had been able to do it with the truth about an entire planet for near a century. "It's easy to keep such a person secret."
"A secret for more than a century?" the question had the crew turning to their captain, the only one they knew to be that old. "Like yourself, she is immortal. Unlike you, she has been alive for over 1500 years."
"Impossible!" Kei stepped forward, her voice echoing around them.
"She has the strongest bond with me compared to any that came before and after her." Mother shared with a shrug of their shoulders, their words sounding as if that was all the explanation that was needed.
Scowl darkening her features, Kei gripped her weapons once again, stepping next to Harlock. "How?" part of her wanted to deny such a possibility. Another immortal, a woman that could stand as a companion at Harlock's side. She knew that she, herself, would eventually die while he continued to look as he does, but there was still a small hope that her secret feelings would be reciprocated.
Mother turned to her, their sightless gaze heavy before they spoke up. "It does not matter, the circumstances cannot be recreated. Attempting to do so… have dire consequences. If you are still curious, she might share her history with you."
"You say you will guide us, but how will we know when we reach her?" Yama spoke up once again, gaze quick to turn to Harlock, hand twitching at the lack of reaction from the stoic man. It was hard to read him, but as old as he was, he had time to perfect his masking technique. "I doubt you have a picture of her." that last bit was sarcastically added, though it did earn a stifled chuckle from Yattaran.
"I can show you, if you are willing to do this for me." Mother returned their attention to Harlock, locking onto him completely.
"Do I have any other choice?" his question cut to the point that everyone was thinking.
"Of course you do. I told you before, I forgive you for what you did a century ago. It is you, that has yet to forgive yourself." both hands rose, sweeping his hair out of the way before cupping his cheeks. "If you so want, perhaps you can see this as a way for you to redeem yourself in your own eyes. If you so choose to do this."
It suddenly came to them, that through the entire conversation, Harlock never once denied Mother touching him. Either he feared them, respected them, or didn't care one way or another to even bother pushing them away. "I'll do it."
Once the words left his mouth, Mother's form began to shift once again, form shortening and taking on a delicate feminine figure. But there was more, burnt ash and glowing blue was replaced with pale skin, black hair quickly grew to curl around feminine shoulders, and features filled out a heart shaped face. Smiling lips, delicate nose, subtly arched brows rested above blue eyes. "Thank you."
Yattaran wheezed, quickly turning away as did Yama when they realized that the being was naked in showing them the person they were now going to track down. Kei frowned at them, hand clenching and unclenching her weapon. As for Harlock, his gaze didn't drop lower than her face.
"How long can you stay to guide us?" a brow rose when the being simply turned and approached a sputtering Yama.
The young man let out a squeak when the female crouched down and reached for their leg, fidgeting to keep away and not look at the same time. A harsh look from Harlock had him freezing, breath easing when Mother finally pulled away with a closed hand tuck close to their chest.
"So long a part of me is on your ship, I can maintain a connection here." she approached the captain once again, opening her hand to present a seed with a tiny green sprout.
Miime approached, hands raised. "Come. We can secure you somewhere safe."
Mother smiled up at her. "Thank you. You remind me of my daughter, though she has more… fire." Miime simply smiled at the words, leading the being that still bore the resemblance of the one they were seeking.
"And Miime?" Harlock's call had them both turning. Despite his gaze not going where it was inappropriate, with the distance now between them, he could see everything. He doubted the woman they were going to go retrieve would appreciate the fact that they all knew how she appeared while naked. "Give them something appropriate to wear."
Mother blinked wide blue eyes, twisting and turning to look down. "Ah yes. I forgot you humans prefer to be covered." their self inspection didn't hinder their hold to keep the small sprout safely elevated, though Mother was quick to create a simple dress that resemble Miime's. They turned once again, Miime leading Mother towards the personal quarters.
"How accurate is this appearance to the woman we are looking for?" the question from Miime drifted towards them above their silent footsteps.
"Exact. Why?" the rest of their conversation quickly became too distant for the to hear as they disappeared down a corridor.
Yattaran quickly cleared their throat, dabbing at their brow with an old rag. "I'll, uh… I'll uh go check the engines!" he didn't stick around for an allowance to leave, all but running off the deck and down a different passage.
Harlock narrowed his eyes as he turned to approach the captain's chair. He had been ready to give Yama the role of captain, though this changed things. If, Mother, was correct, then this could be his deed to redeem himself in his own eyes.
"Sir, you don't believe them, do you?" Kei's voice held a tightness to it as she followed after him, lips pinched together.
"You have any other explanation?" leaning back into the chair, he stared at the burnt husk that was the ancient home of humankind.
"Well, no." her brows furrowed as she too turned to stare at the planet. "It just seems, too far-fetched."
Smirking at her words, Harlock could understand where she was coming from, would have agreed with her if he were younger. As it was, he was an immortal whose best friend became part of the very ship they were riding. He was willing to accept just about anything these days. "Perhaps, but if there is a person out there that can heal the planet, I'm willing to take a few risks to retrieve them."
Kei huffed, turning to Yama and directed the young man, so she could begin showing him more of the ship as well as explain his new duties. He stated that he wished to remain, so he was going to work for his share.
Harlock continued to observe the planet, wondering what the woman that would heal it was like. Mother mentioned them being similar to Miime, but with more fire. A calming presence perhaps? He imagined that the fire meant she had could possibly have a stubborn streak, perhaps a temper. Either way, he was looking forward to this new task.
He might also ask how she came to receive such a large scare that covered the entirety of her side. It appeared as if something took a bite, circling a large starburst that rested just above her hip. Waving the thought aside, he hoped it was the Sanction that had her, it would simply be too perfect if that were the case.
AN: So yeah. Watched the film on Netflix and this was born. Not a straight up pairing of Kagome with anyone, not that she actually appears in this piece. Also honestly not sure there will be any continuation after this, so it's all up to your imaginations for what happens from here on out!
Either way, I hope everyone enjoys! Read, enjoy, and please review!
- BunnyWK