Orion Saga
Part 1
Quest for the Orbs
Chapter 18: Retrieval
Zentora is standing in her room with Haruka and Michiru. Michiru looks at the younger girl, her face lined with worry. "What do you plan to do?"
Frustrated, she shakes her head. "I don't know." She looks at the floor. "But whoever this Thorn is wouldn't have left me a note if they didn't want me to find them would they?"
Her guardians look at each other. "Zentora."
"Yes, Sirius?"
"I think that if you really tried, you could sense where the orbs were taken. And once you've found the orbs, you'll find your sister."
"But how?"
Haruka looks at them. "We know someone who may be able to help."
Zentora looks at her. "Who?"
¨
The girls are gathered at the temple waiting for Rei. Michiru looks at Zentora. She knows that she must be upset, yet the quiet girl does little to show her anger. She recalls the deadly tone in her voice when the youma took her sister and can't help but wonder what will happen to General Thorn when they get to him.
¨
"Hey, Haruka-san, Michiru-san. Sorry it took so long, my grandfather needed my help with something and-" She stops talking when she sees Zentora. "Oh, it's you. What's going on?"
"Rei-chan, we need your help. Zentora has a bit of a problem."
Rei looks at Zentora. "Follow me."
¨
They are standing just outside a prayer room. "So that's what happened. I knew you weren't who you seemed. I was getting some really strong vibes from you."
Zentora looks at her. "Are you the only one here who can feel energy?"
Rei shakes her head. "I'm just more in tune with it. The outer scouts can do it too." She walks into the room. "I'll see what the flames have to say."
¨
Rei is finishing her chant when she suddenly begins to see a small girl and a man with green skin. The man is holding her in some sort of large ball covered in vines. Next to him is an enormous throne with a woman sitting in it. The woman is holding two silver spheres. As she continues to look, they are seen on a star, just above the city.
"They're very close. Well, I guess you could say that they're close. They're on a star not too far from here."
Zentora nods. "Is Nyumi alright?"
Rei looks at her. "Yes. She hasn't been hurt yet."
"Then I guess that's it then." She turns around.
Michiru touches her arm. "Wait a minute. Where are you going?"
"I told you, I have to get them back."
"You can't."
Zentora looks at them. "If I don't get those orbs and they manage to get the other two-"
Rei looks at her. "This is serious isn't it?"
"Very."
Haruka looks at her friend. "Well at least let us come with you."
"I appreciate that, but I don't want any of you to get hurt. It's my mission."
Rei looks at her. "Hey, we're all sailor soldiers here. Besides, I don't think that Usagi would let you go alone."
Zentora shakes her head. "Fine. Do whatever you want to, but I'm leaving soon. I don't have much time."
¨
All of the sailor scouts are gathered underneath the Tokyo Tower. Sailor Jupiter looks up. "I can't believe this. First, we end up with a new enemy, then a new sailor and now we're leaving the planet again to go fight."
"Well, Zentora didn't sound like she needed help from what Mars said." Sailor Venus is sitting on the sidewalk. "I think we should just let her go."
"Don't be that way, Sailor Venus. We can't let a fellow soldier go up against an enemy alone. It wouldn't be right. We have to remember that as Sailor Soldiers, we should always stick together. No matter what."
"You're right, Sailor Mercury." Venus looks at her lap. "Where is Orion anyway?"
¨
"We want you to be careful. As Sailor Orion, you have a lot of enemies. This is one of them. We don't want you to fail, but don't let yourself get hurt. Remember. There are still two more orbs. It's better to have a stalemate then no orbs at all."
Sailor Orion nods at Pup's words. She and her two guardians are running toward the tower after having a talk about what she might be up against. Sirius looks up at her. "And don't let Sailor Moon talk you out of this. You do what you have to do. Just watch out."
"I will."
¨
"Hey, there she is." Mars looks up to see Sailor Orion coming toward them.
Sailor Moon and Luna had already arrived and Artemis is sitting with Sailor Venus when they see Orion's guardians. Luna is silent as the smokey cat and her canine companion sit next to their charge.
Pup looks at everyone. All of the planetary senshi are there save Pluto and Saturn. He nods at Sirius. The two of them stand and walk in front of Orion. Sirius addresses them. "Luna, Artemis. It's nice to see you both."
"Hello, Sirius." Artemis looks at the sandy haired cockerspaniel. "Hello, Pup."
"Hello, Artemis. Luna. It has been a long time. Sorry to meet under such dire circumstances."
Luna nods. "It couldn't be helped. Are you sure Orion needs our help?"
Sirius answers. "She knows what she has to do. I hope you talked to Sailor Moon."
"Talked to me about what?"
Luna looks up at the tiny senshi leader. "Sailor Orion. These orbs are extremely important, Sailor Moon. They don't want you in her way."
"What?" Sailor Moon looks at Sailor Orion and then at her guardians. "In the way?"
Orion speaks up. "My sister is up there along with those orbs. I would like very much to get both of them safely back. I was told to do whatever it took. And I realize that you want to help, so thank-you, but…when push comes to shove, it might be best if you weren't there."
"What exactly do you plan on doing, Orion?" Sailor Jupiter looks at the star soldier.
She shakes her head. "Never mind. We don't have anymore time to waste."
¨
The scouts are all standing together. Sirius and Pup are sitting with Luna and Artemis a few yards away. Pup speaks. "I don't think that we can transport your kids. You'll have to do it yourselves." When the black and white cats nod, he looks at Orion. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
"Close your eyes and concentrate." He and Sirius walk over to her and put their tails on her legs. The two of them touch noses and the stars on their foreheads begin to glow. Within moments, the other scouts are looking at a giant purple flash and Orion is gone.
"Alright girls, it's your turn. Join hands." The senshi join hands and Luna and Artemis look at them.
Together, the two of them shout. "Sailors, teleport!" One by one, a light glows about each one of them representing their individual colors as they begin to float off of the ground. Then they are gone.
¨
Sailor Jupiter looks around them. "I don't see Sailor Orion anywhere do you?"
Sailor Mercury lowers her visor. "I'm getting a reading of two very powerful energy sources."
"Well, maybe one of those is Orion."
"Uh-uh, Venus. These two aren't good."
"Hey, that looks like her over there. Sailor Mars points."
¨
Orion is walking around having landed on the star a few moments ago. She is pretty sure that Thorn is nearby. She can feel strong energy coming at her from almost every direction. "These must be some powerful people. Are Sirius and Pup sure I can handle this?"
She looks up when she sees a flash of light a few yards off. She silently takes off in that direction.
¨
"Oh. It's them." She is looking at the planetary soldiers as they land. All of them are hovering around Sailor Moon who seems to be the only one who didn't land on her feet. She waits patiently when she is sure that they have spotted her.
"Sailor Orion. There you are." Sailor Moon looks up at her.
"Did you hurt yourself?"
Sailor Moon blushes a little. "I'm okay. Did you find your sister yet?"
"No. I just got here a few minutes ago. There's so much evil here it's hard to pinpoint one source."
"We'll help you look."
Orion looks at Mercury and nods.
¨
Having split up and after several attempts, Orion stumbles onto a castle located in the center of the star. "It's huge." She stands outside of it for a few moments and looks around. "Should I tell the others or just go inside? If I wait on them, then Moon will definitely try to talk me out of it, but I might need them." She sighs. "Sailor Mars, Mercury. I've found it. You can tell the others."
Mercury looks into the communicator. "Alright. Where are you?"
Sailor Orion looks into the communicator that had been loaned to her. "In the middle of the star. There's a castle. I'm pretty sure that's where they are. I'm going in."
"Orion, at least wait. Uranus and Neptune are with Sailor Moon and they're pretty close to where you are. I'll tell them and we can catch up to you."
Orion closes her eyes and nods.
¨
"Hey, Orion. There you are." The two outer senshi arrive with their leader not far behind. Uranus looks at her. "Mercury said you would be here."
"Yeah. They're inside."
Sailor Moon is silent as they talk. Neptune looks at her. "Are we going inside?"
Orion nods. "Sailor Mercury said that she and the others would catch up. I have to make sure that my sister is alright."
"Okay, then. Let's go." Uranus and Neptune are about to walk in after Orion. The taller senshi turns around. "Sailor Moon. Aren't you coming?"
She is silent for a moment. "Yeah. I'm coming."
A concerned Neptune turns around. "Are you alright, Sailor Moon?"
"I'm okay. We should probably get going so we can help Orion find her sister." The three of them walk in. The leader of the soldiers is thinking about what had been said to her earlier that evening. They thought that she would get in the way? What did that mean? She had grown a lot as a scout. She even proved herself after Galaxia. What were they talkilng about?
¨
Within moments, the four of them are standing in the castle. Having followed the sound of voices, they are standing outside of a large pair of doors. Orion motions for them to be quiet and tries to silently crack the massive door, but the others must help her. Once, it is ajar, they are able to see most of what is going on.
¨
"This is excellent. We've got both of the orbs and this little brat to seal the deal." Thorn is beside himself with joy. "You should have seen the look on Orion's face."
Andromeda is looking at her general. "Yes, too bad I missed that. But now that we have these orbs, we can get on with the search for the others. Orion will be so worried about this child that she won't be able to concentrate on her task."
Ceres looks at the child before him. "Shall I kill her now?"
Nyumi is floating in a green bubble covered with thorny vines. The orbs are on a pedestal next to Andromeda's throne. As Sailor Moon is taking all of this in, she sees Orion's face grow dark when Thorn mentions killing Nyumi.
"No. Not yet. We'll need some leverage. I know Orion, she'll try to get these orbs back."
"Queen Andromeda. I don't know what you're so worried about. We've won."
"That's not necessarily true is it?"
Both of them look up at the sound of the quiet voice. Sailor Orion is standing on the threshold of the room.
"You!" Queen Andromeda's face is seen. It is pale and her eyes are set close together, the thick black lashes sitting over the steely blue eyes. "I expected that maybe you would have been here sooner."
Orion looks at her. Something about this woman is familiar to her, but she doesn't know what. "You talk as if you know me."
"Oh, I do." She looks at her general. "Since you're so confident, I'll let you face Orion. You'd better not fail me. And watch those orbs with your life."
"Yes, Queen Andromeda." He looks up to see her disappear. Orion is suddenly joined by three more sailors as he looks at her. "So you had to bring reinforcements? You aren't as much of a worry as Andromeda thought then are you?"
Zentora looks at him. She then looks at the orbs sitting near the throne and at her sister on the other side of the large room. Thorn interrupts her.
"Trying to decide which is more important aren't you?" He smiles. "The little girl or the orbs. Yes, I know. Tough decision. Do I get the orbs and have my sister taken? Or do I get my sister and leave the orbs?"
"Who are you?"
Thorn stops talking long enough to look at Sailor Moon. "Forgive my rudeness. I am General Ceres Thorn. At your disservice." As he says this, he takes a long bow. "I'll be the one to kill you this evening."
Uranus looks at him. "So what do plan to do Orion?"
"I want to get my sister, but those orbs…without them, we're all as good as dead anyway." She looks at Sailor Moon. "Do you think that you could get Nyumi?"
Sailor Moon nods. "I'll try to break it. You go ahead and get the orbs."
Orion nods. She glances at her sister and runs for the orbs.