Chapter Nineteen
Setsuna felt a bittersweet smile steal across her lips as she tightened her hold, just a little, on the young woman curled up against her. It had been a long, long time since she'd just held Hotaru, not since she'd been a little girl, really. It was strange, but she felt the most peculiar mix of sorrow and pride run through her as she realised that Hotaru was now almost as tall as she was. Time never stopped, not for her, or for the people she loved.
It was almost noon now, and the sun cast a bright golden glow through the window. Yet, despite the fact that she was normally an early riser, she had no inclination at all to get up. Perhaps it was because of all that had happened during the night, from Hotaru's sudden arrival and subsequent confession, to her own words about her past. In the warm light of day, it seemed almost surreal, and yet, it had happened and the words once spoken could not be taken back. Absentmindedly, she ran one hand through Hotaru's hair and she smiled faintly as the other woman made a pleased sound and snuggled closer. She hadn't planned for things to go the way they had, but perhaps she hadn't made quite so big a mess of them as she'd thought.
Soon though, Hotaru would wake up and then they'd have to deal with things. But for now, at least, just for now, she'd push all of those concerns aside. Hotaru shifted against her and Setsuna couldn't help but chuckle as the purple-haired woman mumbled something about wanting five more minutes of sleep. However, her mirth vanished a moment later as the door of Hotaru's bedroom opened.
For one long moment, Michiru simply stood in the doorway. There was no small amount of surprise on the blue haired woman's face and had the situation been less serious, Setsuna would have smirked and perhaps thrown a playfully cryptic remark at her friend. Instead, she schooled her features into a look of measured calm. Anything else, she suspected, would only make things worse.
"Was there something you wanted?" Setsuna asked, careful to keep her voice down.
Michiru's eyes narrowed a fraction, but when she spoke, her voice was calm, perhaps even a little sad. "I had a feeling that I might find you here."
Setsuna nodded, pausing for a moment as she realised that she was still running her fingers through Hotaru's hair. "Hotaru came in early this morning. I would have woken you and Haruka but…" She stopped for a second to think about how best to phrase things. "There were things that she wanted to discuss with me in private."
"I see." From the tight expression on Michiru's face, Setsuna could tell that their discussion was far from over. Thankfully, though, Michiru seemed to realise that now was not the best time to have an argument. "I'll let Haruka know that Hotaru is back and I'll try to keep her as calm as I can, but you know how Haruka can get…"
Setsuna chuckled mirthlessly. "I'm well aware of what Haruka thinks of me at the moment, but we need to handle this carefully." She bit her lip gently. It was at times like this that she truly felt the weight of all the centuries she'd seen. "When Hotaru wakes, we'll talk. I'll let her decide how much she wants to tell you two."
"All right." Michiru put one hand on the door and for a moment her usually elegant manner was gone, replaced by cold deadliness. "I really hope you know what you're doing, Setsuna." And then she turned and left, shutting the door behind her.
Setsuna closed her eyes. Michiru's words were unnecessary. More than anyone else, Setsuna wanted to believe that she was doing the right thing. Glancing down at Hotaru again, she marvelled at how innocent she looked in her sleep. Just looking at the purple haired young woman, it was impossible to tell that she had the ability to wipe out entire planets, to quite literally annihilate civilisation in the blink of an eye.
It took almost half an hour for Hotaru to finally stir. Her eyes opened slowly and Setsuna almost laughed as the younger woman let loose a muffled squeak of surprise.
"Setsuna!" Hotaru yelped before she shot up, stumbling back on her haunches to try and put some distance between them. Unfortunately, not only did she not realise how close she was to the edge of the bed, she was clearly still feeling the effects of the previous night. Before she could fall off the bed, Setsuna reached out and tugged her back to safety.
"Careful," Setsuna murmured with a small smile on her face. "A bump on the head is the last thing you need right now."
Hotaru flushed and mumbled something under her breath that Setsuna didn't quite catch, although she was fairly sure that it was less than complimentary. At the same time, Hotaru began to very self-consciously adjust her pyjamas. Setsuna bit back a smile. It was reassuring to see Hotaru acting very much like an embarrassed teenager. Certainly, it was preferable to seeing Hotaru in torment over her origins.
"Um… good morning," Hotaru said at last.
Setsuna smiled softly and was struck by the sudden urge to ruffle Hotaru's hair. However, she decided that it was probably for the best if she didn't. Hotaru looked embarrassed enough. Still, perhaps a little light teasing was in order. It would certainly be better than getting straight to the more serious matters they had to attend to. "It's a little past midday, actually, Hotaru, so perhaps good afternoon would be more appropriate."
Hotaru huffed. "Well, good afternoon then. Although I suppose you would be concerned about the time."
"Yes, I suppose that does make sense given my occupation," Setsuna said. "So, how are you feeling?"
It was a question with many, many meanings, and Hotaru took a few moments to come up with a reply. "I'm okay, I guess." She rubbed her hands together and Setsuna's gaze flicked down to Hotaru's knuckles. The skin there was still an angry red, although much of the swelling had gone down.
"Here, let me have another look at that," Setsuna said as she reached for Hotaru's hands. Gingerly, Hotaru extended her hands. As gently as she could, Setsuna examined Hotaru's hands, knowing from personal experience how painful they were likely to be. The younger woman let out a rough hiss as Setsuna ran her fingers along the battered knuckles and Setsuna murmured an apology. "Good, I was worried that I might have missed something last night, but you haven't actually broken anything." Impulsively, she pressed her lips against Hotaru's knuckles and smiled. "A kiss to make things better. But, really, they'll be sore for a few days, at least. Later, if you want, we can get something for the pain."
Hotaru fidgeted and pulled her hands back into her own lap. "No, it's okay. It doesn't hurt too much." She paused and Setsuna waited patiently for her to say what she needed to say. "About last night…"
"Yes?" Setsuna asked.
"Thank you." The words were barely a whisper, but Hotaru's eyes shone with emotion and her lips quivered. "I mean it, Setsuna. Thank you."
Setsuna suddenly found it very hard to meet Hotaru's eyes. "Don't worry about it. It was the least I could do, all things considered." She drew in a deep breath and when she looked back at Hotaru, her gaze was calm but serious. "Hotaru, we do need to think about what you want to do now."
"What I want to do?" Hotaru said slowly. Then she closed her eyes and Setsuna felt her heart clench at the look of bitterness that swept across Hotaru's features. "I don't know what to do, Setsuna. I mean… what will Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama think if they found out what I did?"
"They love you, Hotaru," Setsuna said firmly. "Nothing could ever happen that could change that. Still, if you don't want to tell them, I won't force you." Setsuna chuckled softly. "I haven't exactly handled things well so far, so I'm going to let you choose what you want to do."
Hotaru nodded and fell silent, deep in thought. Finally, she spoke. "I… I think I want to tell them." She rubbed her knuckles. "You three are all so important to me and…" She trailed off as her stomach let loose a loud grumble.
This time, Setsuna couldn't hold back her laughter. Getting to her feet, she flashed Hotaru a small smile. "Perhaps it's time that we headed downstairs. Michiru should have something ready for us to eat and if we wait any long, I fear Haruka will kick down your door demanding answers."
Hotaru giggled. "Haruka-papa has done that before though, so I guess we should head downstairs."
As Setsuna had expected, Michiru did have something set out for them to eat. In fact, there was quite a lot there, although Setsuna wasn't sure how much of a mood to eat she'd be in once all was said and done. Still, if the look on Hotaru's face as she spied the waffles was anything to go by, at least one person was looking forward to a big brunch.
"Good afternoon, Hotaru," Haruka said warmly as she looked up from her newspaper. "Why don't you just get started? I'm sure you must be hungry?"
As Hotaru did just that, the blonde shifted her attention to Setsuna. "Hello, Setsuna."
Setsuna almost flinched at the icy tone of Haruka's voice. The other woman was clearly not pleased with her and if the look on the blonde's face was anything to go by, she wanted nothing more than to rip Setsuna limb from limb. "Good afternoon, Haruka."
"Have a seat, Setsuna." Haruka reached for a piece of toast, but her gaze never left Setsuna. "You'd better not run off before we have a chance to talk."
Talk? Setsuna doubted very much that Haruka simply wanted to talk. Still, she had no intention of leaving. "I'm not going anywhere, Haruka. Perhaps you could pass the coffee?"
The blonde spluttered for a moment and then passed the coffee.
The meal was, needless to say, an awkward affair. Haruka spent most of it shooting Setsuna dark looks and Michiru seemed torn between telling Haruka to stop it and joining in. Only Hotaru seemed unaffected and that, Setsuna guessed, was probably just a by-product of how hungry she was.
Still, Setsuna didn't let the less than friendly atmosphere bother her too much. She'd been through much worse in her time. Diplomatic dinners in the Lunar Empire had, for instance, not only involved people who actually would kill each other given the barest opportunity, they were also several hours long and involved hours of subtle and not so subtle verbal sparring in addition to glares, frowns, and a host of other expressions, both real and contrived.
"Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama," Hotaru said as she finished her food. "We need to talk."
That seemed to be just the opening that Haruka was waiting for because the blonde was very, very quick to reply. "Hotaru, what happened last night?"
Hotaru looked taken aback by the abruptness of the question and Setsuna's smiled faintly as Michiru sent a glare at Haruka, one that the senshi of Uranus actually wilted a little under. "I'll tell you what happened, Haruka-papa, but you have to promise to let me finish before you say anything, okay?" She paused and looked down at the table. "You'll probably get mad, but –"
"Get mad?" Haruka barked as she shoved away from the table and shot to her feet. Her chair toppled to the ground behind her with a bang as she turned furious blue eyes on Setsuna. "Just what the hell happened? What did you do? And don't you dare lie, I know you were in Hotaru's room this morning!"
"Haruka," Michiru barked. "That's enough." And then, much more softly, she added, "Please, just let Hotaru talk."
Haruka looked like she wanted to say more but Michiru put one hand on her arm to calm her. Making a disgusted sound, she turned to pick up her chair and slumped back into it. "Fine, but if you hurt Hotaru again, Setsuna, so help me, I'll make you sorry."
Setsuna ignored the worried look in Hotaru's purple eyes and met Haruka's gaze evenly. "If I hurt her again, then you're welcome to make me sorry."
Hotaru coughed nervously. "If I could begin?"
Setsuna watched both Haruka and Michiru carefully as Hotaru told them what had happened the previous night. Interestingly, Hotaru told them an edited version of events, although Setsuna could hardly blame her for not wanting to describe the brutal, bloody nature of the battle in full. Indeed, she wasn't about to step in and tell the others just how bloody Hotaru had been when she'd arrived.
As Hotaru told them about the battle, Michiru's face grew so pale that Setsuna wondered if she was about to faint. Haruka, on the other hand, looked enraged, her lips drawn back in a snarl as she clenched her fists so tightly that she'd probably drawn blood. When Hotaru told them about how Setsuna had cared for her, Setsuna nearly flinched as both Michiru and Haruka pinned her with their gaze. Their expressions were a curious mix of gratitude, sadness, and something else that Setsuna couldn't quite identify. At least Haruka no longer looked like she wanted to kill her.
"So… what are we going to do about this?" Haruka asked once Hotaru had finished. "This whole thing is just one big damn mess."
Setsuna grimaced. It was never a good sign when Haruka started swearing, at least in front of Hotaru. "Based on what Hotaru has told me, I think that whoever these people are, they are trying to reawaken Saturn."
"But why?" Hotaru asked. "Why would they want her to come out?"
Setsuna didn't miss the way that Hotaru said 'her'. The other woman still hadn't quite come to terms with the fact that like the others, she and her senshi persona were, in some way, one and the same. Of course, none of the others had a senshi persona with quite so much baggage. "I'm not sure, but I might have an idea."
Haruka scowled. "From the look on your face, Setsuna, I don't think I'm going to like your idea."
"Haruka," Michiru chided. "Don't make this any more difficult than it has to be."
Setsuna gave Michiru a grateful look. "In any case, I think that these people might be after Saturn's powers."
"What do you mean?" Hotaru asked.
Setsuna reached across the table for an apple and held it up. "Haruka, if you were to cut this apple with your Space Sword what would happen?"
"Huh?" Haruka looked at Setsuna strangely, but when she saw that Setsuna was indeed serious, she frowned. "Well… I guess the apple would get cut."
"Yes." Setsuna nodded. "Would anything else happen to the apple? Or rather, could you do anything else to the apple?"
"I could cut it up into lots of little pieces," Haruka said. "Or I could blow it up, I suppose." She frowned. "What's your point?"
"Everything you've said is correct." Setsuna's expression darkened. "However, the Silence Glaive doesn't work like most other weapons. In its true form it can cut through anything, but more than that, it can cut through the fabric of reality itself." Silence fell over the table and Setsuna pressed on. "That is how the Silence Wall works. It may look like a wall, but what it really is, is a tear in reality through which no energy or matter can pass. That's why it can repel just about any form of attack." She frowned. "Taken to the extreme, I imagine that the Silence Glaive could even cut a hole between dimensions."
Hotaru gasped and Setsuna realised that the younger woman must already have come to the same conclusion as her. It took Haruka and Michiru a moment longer to catch on, but both of them looked horrified as understanding finally dawned.
"You mean… they want me to cut a hole between this dimension and wherever they're from?" Hotaru whispered. "Is that what you're saying?"
Setsuna closed her eyes. "I can't be sure, but it fits with what we've seen from them so far. Creating portals between different dimensions is incredibly difficult, but if Saturn is fully reawakened, I believe that she could use the Glaive to cut a path between our dimension and theirs." She pursed her lips. "However, that still leaves the fact that your attacker was dressed like someone from the Saturnian Royal Guard."
"Wait a second," Haruka said. "Didn't you say that Saturn destroyed the whole planet?"
Setsuna glanced at Hotaru out of the corner of her eye. "Yes, that's right. Saturn destroyed the planet along with everyone on it. That just begs the question then, of why Hotaru's attacker was dressed like that and where exactly he came from?"
"I could find out," Hotaru murmured. Instantly, all of their eyes were on her. "I mean… if I remembered everything, then I might be able to find out more about these people, right?"
Setsuna nodded slowly. "Possibly. If these people are from Saturn, then Sailor Saturn is the only who would know them. However, you have to realise, Hotaru, that there are risks involved. If you were to lose control…"
Hotaru trembled, but her eyes were twin pools of violet steel. "I know, but I have to find out." She dragged in a deep breath and her gaze fell to the table as she brought one hand up to her chest. "I can feel her inside me, you know." She swallowed thickly. "It's like Saturn is clawing at the inside of my chest, just trying to rip her way out. Every time I close my eyes, I can see her and she looks just like me, but her eyes, her eyes are just so cold and so angry and so hurt." Her words came out in something close to a sob. "But she's still a part of me and maybe, just maybe if I remember then I'll be able to understand why she did all those things and then I won't feel so afraid, I won't feel like such a stranger in my own body anymore!"
For several minutes no one said a thing and the only sound in the dining room was Hotaru's ragged breathing. Finally, Setsuna cleared her throat and spoke. "If you are sure that you want to remember, then there is a place that we can go to which may help you."
Michiru's eyes widened. "Are you talking about opening the Gates of Time?"
"Not exactly, Michiru, but close." Setsuna's mouth firmed into a thin line.
"I don't like this," Haruka growled. "I don't like this one bit." She looked at Hotaru. "You didn't see what Saturn was like the last time she got control, Hotaru if she –"
Hotaru reached across and squeezed Haruka's hand. "I need to do this. If I just leave things as they are, I might get attacked again or even lose control." She smiled softly. "I don't want to hurt anyone else."
Haruka ran one hand through her hair. "Damn it. Fine, but promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise." Hotaru glanced at Setsuna. "Besides, Setsuna will be with me."
Setsuna stood. "If you're ready, Hotaru, we can go now. However, you're going to need to transform first."
X X X
There was a moment of disorientation as the world faded away and then Saturn was no longer standing inside her house, but somewhere else. Inside her head, she could hear old Saturn and she had to force her other self's words back as she struggled for control. As her head slowly cleared, she took a long look around.
In every direction that she looked for as far as she could see, there was nothing but mists and shadows. For a second, she felt panic well up and with it old Saturn, but she forced the feeling back. She would be fine. Pluto had promised that she would be fine. Taking several deep breaths, she did her best to think of something mundane. Homework, she thought, yes, she had homework due in for most of her subjects and…
"Saturn." She nearly sagged with relief as Pluto appeared, Time Staff in hand. "We need to move. Stay close to me."
Saturn nodded and followed Pluto as the taller woman began to walk, although with all the mist, she couldn't tell which direction they were walking in, or even what they were walking toward. Yet now that she had a chance to really look at things, the mist wasn't just floating around. No, it was covering things. Squinting, she peered into the mists to try and make out what they were hiding, but Pluto stopped her and put one hand on her shoulder.
"Don't look too closely at the mist," Pluto murmured.
"But why?" Saturn asked. "What is this place?"
"This place?" Pluto swept her Time Staff in a broad, swift arc and for a moment the mists billowed back. For one endless moment, the scenery hidden by the mists was revealed. Buildings rose up above them on all sides, towering structures of a design at once foreign but familiar to Saturn. Just as quickly those buildings vanished, replaced by titan towers of pitch-black stone, which were in turn replaced by flowing, graceful spires of white marble and shimmering crystal. Above them, countless stars blossomed and faded, coming apart in showers of flame and ruin and coming together in swirling auroras of white-hot radiance. And then the moment passed and the mists rolled in again and everything was gone, hidden once more. "A more interesting question would be when and where is this place."
Saturn frowned. Perhaps it was there surroundings, but Pluto was slipping back into her usual mysterious self and that did not sit well with her. "Fine, when and where are we?"
"When I first learned about the Gates of Time, one of things that I most wanted to know was how they could be used to see anywhere at anytime." Pluto continued to walk and Saturn had no choice but to follow her. On either side of them the mists roiled and Saturn could have sworn that she recognised some of the shapes they took. "The answer, I found out, is actually quite simple. The Gates of Time do not exist in a single time or place. Rather they exist at all times and at all places." Pluto gestured at the mist around them. "The Gates of Time represent the nexus of all possible timelines, a place where fate and chance stand side by side. The mists are a way of hiding what is, has been, and could be. To look upon all those things at once would drive any normal person insane." Pluto smiled coldly. "But then again, I am far from normal."
"Are we going to use the Gates?" Saturn asked. She was suddenly cold and there was a strange sensation in the back of her mind, like a memory dragging its way to the fore through centuries, perhaps even millennia of forgetfulness. Somehow, she was certain that she'd been here before.
"No." Pluto shook her head. "To use the Gates to travel back or forward would involve a price far higher than either of us could afford. However, just being near them should be enough."
"What do you mean?" Saturn wanted to turn back, but she'd come too far now for that.
"Like I said, the Gates are a nexus for all possible timelines, past, future, and present. Just being near them should make it easier for you to delve into old Saturn's memories." Pluto paused. "Brace yourself, we are here."
And then, just like that, the Gates of Time were there. Saturn stopped and then took a slow step back as she took in the sight of them. She'd seen them before, but never had they looked like this. The Gates towered over her, extending as high as she could see, up through the milling storm of clouded mist above them. In the same way, they extended to either side for as far as she could see, their edges lost in the mists and shadows.
How could something so huge possibly exist? Just looking at the Gates sent a thrill of awe and terror through Saturn. The Gates seemed to shimmer before her eyes, to glow with a light that was more than visual. For a second, the Gates before her were gone, replaced instead by a titan hall filled with other Gates, each as tall and broad as the original and so many in number that her mind felt that it was breaking. And in front of each of the Gates was another version of her and Pluto. It was like looking into a fractured mirror and she felt the bitter taste of bile well up at the back of her throat. But then Pluto shook her and the image was gone and she was once more staring at the Gates of Time.
"Are you all right?" Pluto asked.
Saturn gagged slightly. "What was that?"
"What you saw was the true nature of the Gates of Time." Pluto's eyes were distant. "Don't stare too long at them or you'll find yourself lost in what you see." She sighed. "If you are ready, we can begin."
Saturn nodded. "What do I need to do?"
Pluto inclined her head at the Gates. "Just touch the Gates."
Saturn's eyes widened. After what she'd just seen, that was the absolute last thing she wanted. Still, she'd come this far. Slowly, she crept forward and extended one hand to rest against the weathered surface of the Gates. At first there was nothing, only the feel of cold, weather-beaten stone beneath her fingertips and then there was a flash of eldritch crimson light as the Gates lit up like a thousand ancient stars exploding all at once.
X X X
"You did well, Student."
Student looked up at her master from the bed where she was lying. Her injuries were taking longer to heal than she would have liked, but right now she found it hard to care. For perhaps the first time she could remember, there was a look of tenderness on her master's face. He was proud of her, she realised.
"Thank you, master." She tried to sit up, but he stopped her.
"You have more than earned your rest and… your name." His lips curved into a small, melancholy smile. "You are a child no longer, and your name shall not be Student anymore." His eyes glittered darkly. "From now on, you shall be Requiem."
"Requiem?" she repeated softly. "Why… why that for a name?"
He closed his eyes. "It is a fitting name, don't you think, considering all that took place in Requiem City."
"But there is more?" she asked. There had to be, she knew her master well, and he wouldn't have picked a name for that reason alone.
"Yes, of course." He turned away from her. "Why do you fight?"
"For my family," Student growled. "For what was done to them."
He turned back to face her and what tenderness had been on his face was gone. In its stead there was only the emptiness she'd become so familiar with, the cold fire that burned inside both of them. "A requiem is a song to honour the dead. Let every blow you strike, every life you take be a requiem for the family that you have lost." He met her gaze evenly. "Let your life be a requiem for your family and let your name be a requiem for all that you have lost."
Student said nothing for a few seconds and then she nodded. "Requiem?" It was a question, the way she said it, but when she spoke again, her voice was firm. "Yes, a good name, Requiem."
"Requiem, do you copy?"
Requiem shook herself from her memories. It had been four years since the day she'd received her new name and since then she and her master had become increasingly involved in the struggle against the government. Still, she was careless to let herself get caught up in old memories, especially since she had a mission to attend to.
She reached up to adjust the glasses that she wore. They served as both part of her disguise and as her communicator. "Anara, I copy. What is going on?"
The other woman's voice came through the communicator with a hint of static. "The Mercurians have arrived. You need to get moving."
Requiem's eyes narrowed. "Understood."
Leaving the shabby bar that she'd chosen to hide in, Requiem pushed out onto the street. Outside, she fell into step with the throng that moved up and down the grimy street. This was one of the reasons that she hated space stations. Even the best of them tended to be crowded and years spent in the open wilderness of the Rift made her uneasy in anything but the thinnest of crowds. It didn't help either, that it was hard to keep a good eye on her surroundings with so many people about, and her keener senses did little more than exacerbate the sights and smells of recycled air and artificial sunlight.
Still, she'd asked for this mission. In the four years since their attack on Requiem City, the government had only accelerated their research into weapons development. Worse still, she'd heard rumours and seen evidence that they'd begun active field-testing of Project Rebirth. A grimace crossed her face. Even a poor copy of Sailor Saturn was more than a match for almost anything.
The government had also begun to make contact with other researchers, which was why she was on an old, scrappy space station built on some asteroid somewhere between Saturn and Jupiter. If her information was correct, then several scientists involved in Project Rebirth would be making a deal here to acquire Mercurian gene manipulation technology that could more than double the speed of their research.
Her job then, was simple. Follow the transaction, identify those involved, and then destroy the equipment before eliminating everyone. Had the meeting been taking place on Saturn, it was likely that a larger force would have been deployed to deal with it, but in a place like this, a large group of armed men would easily have been spotted. Still, she was more than enough to deal with a half dozen scientists and their guards.
She followed the stream of people moving through the area of the space station dedicated to shops and entertainment and took an elevator down to the decks reserved for shipping and trade. When the elevator stopped, she turned off her communicator and slipped into the shadows. For a second, the air around her glowed faintly purple as she loosened her hold on her power just enough to dampen any sound she might make and to pull her a little tighter into the shadows. A grim smile crossed her face as she made her way over to the dock where the meeting was going to take place. It was poorly lit and isolated, perfect, really, for what she'd have to do.
Rather than try and sneak in through the large main doors of the dock, she crept around to the side and went in through one of the maintenance doors. Inside was a medium sized vessel and from the clean, economical lines of its design, it was easy to see that it was Mercurian. There were cargo boxes scattered around the dock and she used them for cover as she crept closer. The scientists were already there, along with perhaps a score of soldiers. They were looking intently through the contents of several boxes as they conversed with four Mercurians.
From what Requiem could tell, the equipment in the boxes matched her information. She frowned faintly. Gene manipulation was strictly controlled in the Lunar Empire and almost completely reserved for the elimination of genetic illnesses. In the past, the Empire had sought to manufacture the perfect soldier, but the resulting warriors had been plagued with mental and physical instability. Attempts had also been made to clone the senshi, but not one of them had succeeded. Most likely it was the relative success of the government in trying to clone Sailor Saturn that had persuaded the Mercurians to break the law.
She waited a few more minutes for the guards to relax a bit before she crept even closer. Yes, she recognised a few of the faces from the dossiers that Anara had complied. The Mercurians, on the other hand, she did not recognise although they did have the blue hair and slender build that was typical of people from Mercury. However, they were probably also scientists, based on the way that they were talking with the government scientists and the fact that they looked far too soft to have seen any real combat.
As the meeting began to wind down, she took a few moments to gauge the distance between her and them. It would take her perhaps three seconds to cover that distance. In that time, the guards would have a chance to fire on her, but once she reached them it would be relatively simple to deal with them. If she used her powers to cut the lights first, then she'd have an even bigger advantage with her keener vision. She was just about to move when something happened that she did not expect.
The scientist closest to her exploded. Or perhaps, exploded wasn't quite the right word. One moment he was there, the next his body was gone, replaced by a jagged formation of crystal that ripped him limb from limb and splattered his blood across the floor. Frost spread across the floor near the mangled scientist and she realised that it hadn't been crystal that had torn him apart, but ice. The others panicked and a split-second later, two more of the scientists were gone, tall, jagged spires of ice replacing them.
As the blood on the floor began to freeze into little rivers of scarlet ice, someone stepped out from the shadows by the main doors of the dock. Requiem felt a chill run down her spine as the person responsible stepped into the flickering, erratic light. The person responsible was a young woman with light blue hair cut to just below her chin. Her eyes were a darker blue that would have been quite pretty were it not for the absolute coldness in them. An aqua coloured cloak was draped about her slender frame and beneath it Requiem could just make out navy blue tunic and pants. However, it was the simple golden tiara that the woman wore that gave her identity away. It was studded with a single blue gem.
Sailor Mercury.
Requiem forced herself to remain calm as she considered her options. There had been nothing to suggest that a senshi would be present and she knew that it would be a very, very bad idea to engage one of the Empress' lapdogs without any prior preparation. It didn't help either that Sailor Mercury was regarded as a cold-blooded genius, someone who preferred ruthlessly efficient strategy rather than brute force.
The guards took one look at Sailor Mercury and then opened fire. The senshi breezed to the side as a shard of ice formed in her hands. With a flick of her wrist, Mercury threw the shard up and into the roof of the dock. For a moment, Requiem wondered just why the senshi had done that before water began to spray down on everything. Her eyes narrowed. Of course, Mercury had just severed one of the water pipes running through the roof of the dock and more water meant that it would be easier for her to use her powers.
As the guards opened fire again, Mercury kicked out at the water pooling at her feet. The spray crystallised into jagged spikes of ice in midair and three of the guards went down, impaled by the attack. As the other began to try and get behind cover, Mercury gestured and Requiem felt the air ripple as the senshi's power rustled through it.
A guard came apart in a shower of gore and Requiem's gut clenched as she realised how Mercury had killed the scientists earlier. The majority of the human body was made of water and she was using her powers to freeze that water into ice. And ice, of course, expanded when it froze. It was, Requiem thought, a monstrously efficient way to kill someone.
From there, the battle turned into a slaughter as Mercury methodically picked off the rest of the guards and then the scientists and Mercurians. As the water from the burst pipe slowed to a trickle, the senshi prodded one of the downed scientists with her foot. The man gave a low groan and Requiem realised that Mercury hadn't killed him. In fact, now that Requiem looked more closely, Mercury had also spared one or two of the other scientists and Mercurians. One of them actually managed to get to his knees and groan as he clutched at the stump of his severed arm, but Mercury ignored him. Her ice had frozen the wound shut so there was no risk of him bleeding out.
"Don't bother," Mercury said softly as she turned away from the scientist. "You can't go anywhere in your condition." With that the senshi began to look through the boxes of equipment. Suddenly, however, she stopped and Requiem felt that chill run through her once again.
Mercury gestured toward her and Requiem leapt out into the open as ice enveloped the area she'd been in only a moment ago.
"Interesting," Mercury remarked, voice devoid of emotion. "You're not with them, but you've probably been here the entire time." She paused and tilted her head to one side and Requiem got the impression that she was studying her with the same dispassionate interest that she might study a new puzzle with. "Wait. I think I recognise you. Your name is Requiem. You're a wanted terrorist on Saturn."
Requiem shifted into a fighting stance, her glaive held out in front of her. "And if I am?"
Mercury shrugged and lifted her hand. A long, thin shard of ice formed, its shape shifting until it had taken on the length and appearance of a sword. "I assume that you're here to either capture or eliminate these men. However, I can allow you to do neither. They have committed crimes against the Empire and must be punished accordingly."
"How do you know about them?" Requiem asked. Already she and Mercury had begun to circle one another.
"The Empress knows many things. The loyalty of the Royal Family of Saturn has long been less than satisfactory. She tolerates them simply because there is no significantly better alternative. However, it wouldn't do for them to grow too confident. That is why you and your group have proven to be quite useful. The more the Royal Family has to worry about groups like yours, the less time they can spend causing trouble for the Empire." The senshi tightened her grip on her makeshift sword. "Someone like you could prove to be quite useful to the Empress if our analyses of your abilities are correct. Would you considering joining us?"
Joining the senshi? Requiem felt her blood run cold. The Empress was little better than the Royal Family of Saturn, the only difference was that rather than despoiling one planet, she had an entire empire to ruin. "No."
"I see." Mercury lifted her sword. "A pity then."
Faster than Requiem thought possible, Mercury closed the gap between them. The blue haired woman's sword flashed forward and Requiem barely managed to get her glaive up in time to parry the attack. Even so, she struggled to keep her footing, driven back by the sheer force behind the blow. It had to be a result of Mercury's powers as a senshi because no normal person should have the strength to match someone who'd spent as long in the warping presence of the Rift as Requiem had.
"You have good reflexes," Mercury commented as she pressed forward again, her ice sword a blur of motion as she struck again and again.
Requiem said nothing. Words, she'd learned very early on from her master, were wasted in most battles. Yet even with her full concentration devoted to the fight, she was hard pressed to find a weakness in Mercury's attack. The other woman fought with unearthly precision, each strike chosen to maximise the damage she could inflict while also minimising the openings that Requiem could use to counterattack.
Frowning, Requiem leapt backward to try and put some distance between them so that she could bring her glaive's longer reach into play. However, Mercury caught on to her plan immediately and darted forward to cut her off. They locked weapons and Requiem grit her teeth as the senshi pushed against her.
"You use your glaive very well. There aren't many who would have lasted as long as you have." The senshi lifted one foot and kicked the water pooled at their feet. "However, I am curious to see if you can handle this."
Requiem's eyes widened as she felt the water splash onto her cloak. A split-second later a wave of cold surged over her. With a growl, she gathered her power and shoved Mercury away. At the same time, she tore her cloak from her shoulders and flung it aside. The garment froze in midair and then shattered as it hit the ground.
Mercury's eyes glittered with interest. "To be honest, I didn't think you'd react in time to deal with that." She smiled coldly. "And that power of yours. Just for a moment there, I felt it. It's not like anything I've seen before. I wonder what else it can do." She stepped forward once again, a wave of cold rolling off her. "Do you think you could show it to me?"
Requiem's gaze flicked onto the floor for a moment. The water between them had begun to freeze and the temperature of air was also dropping rapidly. Whatever Mercury was about to do, it was going to be much more dangerous than anything she'd done so far. Her lips tightened into a thin line. She wasn't sure if she could stop Mercury from attacking, but at the very least, she could try and get rid of the water around them that would only make things easier for the senshi. It didn't hurt either that she was about to do should also take care of the scientists still around, as well.
With a low growl, Requiem reached deep into herself for the power that had been there for almost as long as she could remember. It answered her almost immediately, a wave of cold hatred settling deep in her gut as a dull ringing filled her ears. Violet light flickered in the air around her and she saw Mercury look uncertain for the first time in their fight. Silence rolled off Requiem, a thick, ominous silence, as the lights above them flickered madly.
"What is that power?" Mercury's gaze was almost hungry as a visor appeared over her face, its surface lit with countless numbers and letters as she tried to analyse what she was seeing.
Requiem said nothing. Instead, she let the power she'd been trying so hard to control spill outward in a torrent of noiseless devastation. The attack rippled outward and everything it touched disintegrated. The water vanished, consumed, and a moment later the scientists, guards, and Mercurians followed, all of them, living and dead, annihilated by the force that Requiem had unleashed.
At the centre of it all, Requiem watched as Mercury maintained her position. The senshi was staring at the destruction with a look of almost child-like glee. Only when the attack grew too close for her to ignore, did Mercury leap out of the way. The attack continued to expand until it struck the roof of the dock. There was a flash as the attack severed one of the main power conduits running through the roof. An instant later, the severed power conduit ruptured and a huge explosion consumed the dock.
X X X
Mercury dusted herself off and turned her eyes back to the ruined dock. Part of her was less than pleased that her mission had been interrupted. After all, she was supposed to bring at least one of the scientists and one the Mercurians back for questioning. On the other hand, she had come across something that she personally found far more interesting. Yes, she thought, as she watched a darkly clad figure emerge from the flames of the dock and steal away into the shadows, she had definitely come across something that merited further investigation. No doubt, the Empress would find confirmation that Requiem really did wield powers similar to those attributed to Sailor Saturn most interesting. Indeed, it would certainly explain the interest that the Royal Family of Saturn had taken in Requiem.
X X X
Author's Notes
As always, I neither own Sailor Moon, nor am I making a dime off this.
So, let me start by apologising for the long delay. There are a couple of reasons that I could give (e.g., things happening in real life and my writing stories for Final Fantasy XIII), but the point I really want to get across is that this story is not cancelled. Indeed, I hope to return to a more regular updating schedule now that I have resumed writing it. Rest assured that I do want to finish this story.
Turning now to the actual content of the chapter, I have to admit that I'm feeling a little rusty. Writing Westerns is certainly quite different from writing the mix of science fiction and fantasy that is present in this particular story. My main goal for this chapter was to resolve some of the tension between Hotaru and her family and to reveal more of her past. I also wanted to reveal a bit more about Pluto's role as the Guardian of Time. In keeping with the rest of the story, the Gates of Time are not quite the same as in the anime and manga, rather they are somewhat darker and more terrible, which is something that I think is quite fitting given their power and function.
The introduction of one of the senshi from Requiem's time is something I thought hard about before doing, but it felt right. The contrast between the Sailor Mercury that Requiem encountered and the Sailor Mercury that Hotaru knows was deliberate. The senshi of the past were fully-fledged warriors who were utterly devoted to the Empress, a contrast to the friendship shared between the modern senshi.
As always, I appreciated your feedback. Reviews and comments are welcome.