Orion Saga

Orion Saga

Part 1

Quest for the Orbs

Chapter 19: Thorn's Folly

General Thorn sees Sailor Orion running for the orbs. At the same time he can see the other soldiers going for Nyumi. He thought that they might try something, and is prepared for them. "Not so fast, Orion." He calls upon one of his youma to intercept her and takes the orbs himself. Laughing, he watches as the other scouts try to free her sister.

"It won't break!" Sailor Moon looks at the sphere in frustration.

"Stand back and let me try." Sailor Uranus stands in front of her leader and her partner. Summoning her talisman, she brandishes the sword. "Space Sword Blaster!" Despite the force of the sword and her powerful arms driving it, there isn't even a scratch. "What the!"

Orion destroys the youma using Star-shock spark and looks around for General Thorn, but he is nowhere to be seen. She then glances over to see the other scouts struggling to free her sister. "Stand back."

Sailor Neptune looks at her. "Don't worry. We'll keep trying. You just go get the orbs. He has to be around here somewhere."

Laughter echoes throughout the room. The senshi all freeze in shock. "Yes, I am around here somewhere. And you'll have to come find me."

Orion looks around. "Stop playing. Thorn. I don't have time for this."

"Oh, I think you do. As a matter of fact, you don't have a choice. I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't want to leave here without the orbs."

Orion is silent, as are the other senshi. "What? Nothing to say? Well, I'll help you out. Your little sister over there. She'll lead you to me."

Sailor Moon looks at Nyumi. "What is he talking about?"

"I don't know. But be careful. I don't trust this guy." Sailor Uranus looks down at Sailor Moon and then over to Sailor Orion. But the purple clad soldier is silent. She is thinking. Suddenly, she is pulled from her thoughts when she sees something behind the other scouts. "Orion what is it?"

"Behind you, look."

They turn to see the large bubble floating out of the doors. Neptune looks at them. "Do we follow it?"

"We have to." Orion takes off after it.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

"Geez, was it supposed to take this long to get here?" Sailor Venus looks at the castle and then at Sailor Jupiter. They had to cross the star just to get there. "This place is huge. How are even going to find them."

"Calm down Venus. If we wait a few more minutes, Mercury and Mars should be here."

"Guys! Sorry it took us so long. Where is everybody?"

Venus looks at the Soldier of Fire. "They're inside I guess. We'd better hurry though. There's no telling what might happen."

Mercury takes out her mini-computer. "I can set it in order to focus in on Sailor Moon. Provided that they haven't been separated, we should be able to find everyone." Everyone waits as she types in the information. "Alright. According to this, they're headed for the roof."

Jupiter looks at the castle. "The roof! Of this place? Do you know how long it'll take us to get up there?"

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Orion is sprinting up the stairs like a deer as the others follow. Sailor Moon is winded, and Neptune glances back every once in a while. "Sailor Moon, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Sailor Neptune. I just didn't think we would have to go so fast." She looks up to see the lavender bow on the back of Sailor Orion's fuku. Uranus is four steps behind.

"If you want, I can stop and wait for you to catch your breath. Uranus is with Orion."

"No. We should help her get her sister. Let's keep going." Neptune nods and they continue up the stairs. Sailor Moon thinks to herself as she pants. "You'd think a place this huge would have an elevator."

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

The other inner scouts are swiftly making their way up the stairs.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Sailor Orion stops when she sees a bright light. "I think we're almost there." She slows down and steps out.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

"Wow." Sailor Moon is standing on the roof of the castle and the four of them are looking at space. There are stars all around them. They are able to see them up close, each one sparkling brightly.

Orion looks at the stars in awe. This was what she was fighting for. These. The stars. Light of the universe and cases of life. Her voice is low and soft when the others hear her. "It's beautiful."

"HmphGlad to see you finally got here." He walks over to the thorny ball that Nyumi is floating in. "Since this is what you came for, I think it only fair to tell you that I have no intention of relenting. This is where it ends for you, Sailor Orion."

"You will not keep those orbs. Everyone's life depends on them."

He snickers. "The only thing dependent on these orbs is my status. When Queen Andromeda has them, I will be promoted to a rank among the stars. But she has this silly notion that you can actually do something about it. I admit you've defeated my youma, but you will not defeat me. Especially if you risk jeopardizing her safety." He looks at Nyumi with a sly grin. She stares back at him fearfully and the others watch as he touches the sphere with one of his hands. The vines immediately squeeze against each other and the thorns rip through it crackling with energy that leaves the small child screaming in pain.

"Nyumi!"

Thorn smiles at the look of anguish on Orion's face. "Poor thing. It must hurt her terribly. And being a human, she can't last too long like that." He touches the sphere again and more screaming can be heard before Nyumi passes out.

"Stop it."

He looks at Orion. "Or what? You don't understand do you? I have the orbs. I have her. Without the orbs, you lose. But I guarantee that if you challenge me, she'll die."

Sailor Moon looks at Sailor Orion. She wants to help, but knows that there is little that can be done. There were only two options. Neptune and Uranus also look at the star soldier who is obviously struggling with the decision before her.

"So, what's it going to be?"

Orion looks at the general and then at her unconscious sister. In her heart, she wants to have the girl safe and back home. But the vision that she had keeps surfacing. The orbsthe girlstars exploding as people die, those eyes. She looks at the ground. Closing her eyes, she tries to push the thoughts away. Suddenly, she feels a hand on her shoulder.

"Orion."

She looks down to see the small leader of the planetary soldiers. "Nyumi can't last in there much longer. You have to help her."

Sailor Orion nods. She raises her head and glances at Nyumi.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

"How much farther Mercury?" Sailor Jupiter runs up the stairs two at a time.

"A few more stairs. We're very close."

"What do you think is going on up there?"

Sailor Mars looks at Sailor Venus. "I'm not sure, but it's definitely something bad."

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Sailor Orion looks at Thorn slowly. "You know, you're right. I'd never do anything to hurt Nyumi."

General Thorn smiles at the scout. "I knew you'd see it my way."

"YeahI see. I see that you're a heartless power hungry maniac. To steal the orbs away from me is one thing." She lowers her voice. "But taking my sister was where you crossed the line." Her voice is flat and her eyes are cold. The calm transparent quality that had been seen in them earlier is now gone. There is no trace of kindness in her words, and the soft low voice does little to hide the menacing tone that is in it.

The other scouts look at her.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Sailor Mercury is the first one onto the roof. Sailor Mars stops next to her. She can sense the anger rising from Sailor Orion. Venus and Jupiter look out at the scene before them. They had just caught the words from the silent soldier's lips and are staring at her wondering what will happen next.

"This is bad guys." Sailor Mars looks at Orion as the four of them slowly make their way over to their fellow soldiers.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

"Sailor Uranus, what's going on?"

Glancing at Venus, the soldier of earth keeps her eyes focused on Orion and the general. I'm not really sure myself. But whatever it is won't be good."

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

General Thorn is not intimidated. At least if he is, he does little to show it. Having seen the soldier in both forms, he is a little surprised by the tone in her voice and the look in her eyes. How could someone who was so calm and quiet suddenly look so deadly? But he has the orbs and her sister. He can win.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Sailor Orion continues to stare at the general as her anger builds. She is trying her best to control it. She scared herself a little, but she has to do what she has to do. She takes a deep breath and takes one last look at her sister through the corner of her eye. The tone in her voice is threatening. "Alright Thorn. Let's go."

He looks at her and so do the other scouts. "You still want to fight."

"Yeah. I do."

"Well, I hope your sister had a fulfilling life. Because she's not going to last through this." He snaps his fingers and a youma appears near the ball that Nyumi is being held in.

The senshi look at the youma as Thorn speaks to it. "Keep an eye on her. I've got business to attend to here." He smiles at Orion. "And give her a little jolt every now and then."

"Yes, Master."

Orion can't hold herself back anymore and lunges at Thorn when the plant youma puts it's leafy hand onto the ball, making it surge with energy.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

"Orion! No!" Sailor Moon looks at Nyumi as her body jerks from the pain that she is made to endure.

Sailor Orion ignores the other soldier as she punches Thorn in the face. He looks at her, blood streaming from his mouth. "You would risk your sister's life?"

She looks at him. "It'll be worth it if I have yours instead."

The look in her eyes assures him that she is not joking. This is no idle threat. He knows now that he went too far and will have to fight for his life. He looks at her numbly as the other scouts look on in surprise. Another punch lands in his stomach and he doubles over in pain. Her hands promptly land a blow to his back and he falls to the ground.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

"We should do something!" Sailor Venus looks at Orion as she continues to pummel General Thorn.

"Like what?" Sailor Jupiter looks on with wide eyes.

"I don't know, but if we don't hurry, she's going to kill him."

Sailor Moon looks at the other soldier. Zentora was so gentle and quiet. Now this same person, Sailor Orion was mercilessly beating a man before her while her sister is trapped and in pain. She doesn't know what to do, but it had to be something, otherwise

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

General Thorn is struggling to get up. He had to do something to defend himself. He had no idea that she would be so strong. It didn't make sense. But he is not about to risk his promotion. Queen Andromeda entrusted the orbs to him. He had to make sure he didn't fail. Or else she would make sure that he wouldn't be around to make anymore mistakes. He manages to stand and looks at the young soldier standing in front of him. He runs a hand through his tousled hair and looks at her. His mouth is bloody, one of his eyes already swollen. No doubt she had probably broken his nose.

"Give me the orbs. Now."

"Nohaven't wonyet." He snaps his fingers and Orion's arms are suddenly twisted behind her back. A large youma is standing behind her.

"What are doing?" She looks at Thorn with that menacing look in her eyes as he approaches her. Her only response is a punch in the face. When she turns her head to look at him again, she sees the general looking at her with blood on his hand. She pulls against the youma trying to free herself, but its grip only tightens on her. Meanwhile, she can hear her sister's agonizing screams as she passes in and out of consciousness.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Surprised by this new development, the other soldiers are ready to help. Venus looks at Sailor Moon. "What do we do?"

"I don't know. We can't let her get beaten up like that, but if we let her go"

"What, Sailor Moon?"

"She's going to kill him."

"Yeah, but he is the bad guy." Jupiter looks at the other soldier as she receives punch after punch. "Ooh. That doesn't look like any fun. We have to do something to help. I mean, the least we could do is free her sister."

Uranus shakes her head. "No good. We already tried that. It won't break."

"So does that mean that we just stand here? She's a Sailor Soldier. No matter where she's from and she needs our help."

Jupiter nods. "Sailor Mars is right." She looks at the youma that has Orion in its grasp. She closes her eyes in concentration as her lightning rod appears on hr forehead. "Sparkling WidePressure!" She hurls the lightning energy and it rips into the back of the youma.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

"Ughh!" Orion falls to the ground, her side aching from where the youma had been squeezing her.

General Thorn looks up to see the other soldiers. Having forgotten about them, the last thing he expected was for one of them to intervene. He looks at Sailor Jupiter as she lowers her arms. He then looks down at Sailor Orion. She pushes herself onto her hands and knees and stands. "Thanks, Jupiter."

Smiling, the senshi of lightning nods. "No problem. We had to do something."

General Thorn looks at Orion's blood stained face. It is pouring from a cut above her eye and also in little trinklets from her nose. She wipes her face carefully as she looks at him as she takes in deep breaths.

She is pulled from the staring contest by another bout of yelling from her sister. The child's voice is growing weaker each time and it's obvious that she will die after a few more minutes. "Let her go."

"No. And tell your friends over there to stay out of this."

"Not on your life!" Sailor Mars looks at General Thorn.

"This isn't your fight! It's between me and her."

For the first time since the others had been watching, Sailor Moon speaks up. "It is our fight. When you start to harm innocent peoplemuch less children, then the Sailor Scouts will be there. And Orion is a Sailor Soldier. We always fight alongside our own."

"That's really quite touching. But I don't think you understand what's happening here. I've heard of you Sailor Moon. If you support Orion then she won't rest until she's gotten every single one of these orbs. And she would kill to get them. I know that as the soldier of love and justice you could never tolerate such a thing. She'll kill me. And maybe even you."

"Sailor Orion?"

The star scout looks at Sailor Moon. "Would you really kill one of us?"

She looks at her. "I-"

"That's what your guardians meant when they told you to do whatever you had to. Isn't it?"

Orion is silent. "You don't understand-"

"That's what they meant about me being in your way. I do understand. I wouldn't ever let anyone diebad or not." She continues to look at the other soldier. "Look at yourself! Your sister's near death and here you are trying to beat him up! Is her life really worth what you'd be putting yourself through? Don't you see? Even if you manage to kill him and get the orbs your sister will die. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Sailor Orion is silent.

"Look at your sister!"

Orion casts her eyes in Nyumi's direction and gazes at her limp form. The youma stands underneath the bubble waiting for its master's signal. She turns away.

"You can't let her die. Don't you see what's going on?"

Orion looks at the other scout. "Shut-up, Moon."

Sailor Moon looks at her. "What?"

"I said shut-up. There's no way you could understand what's going on here. I love my sister. Do you think I wanted it to come down to this? He left me with no choice. If I have to sacrifice" She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "I know you couldn't understand so just stay out of it." She looks back to General Thorn. "He's right. This is between us. I don't want anyone else to get hurt. Not if they don't have to."

Sailor Moon looks at the other senshi. She and her soldiers can hear the sincerity in her voice as she speaks. She watches as the younger girl walks closer to the general. "Okay. It's our fight. They won't interfere again. But you can't use any of your plants."

Thorn looks at the cold hard eyes staring back at him. He nods, fearful of what would happen if he were to disagree. "Fine." He stands there, waiting for her to make the first move.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Still staring into the cold eyes, Thorn is unable to see the leg as it catches him off guard and knocks him to the ground. He lies there as she kicks him the side. Wincing, he raises one of his feet and manages to force her down while scrambling up himself. He shouts to his youma and Nyumi is subjected to more pain.

"Stop!" Orion kicks him in the crotch and he falls to the ground. "Leave her out of this!" She knees him in the face.

Looking up at her, Thorn rolls away and fires a thorny beam of energy at her that she is unable to dodge. It immediately becomes a vine that wraps itself around her, squeezing until her fuku is punctured as well as her skin. The blood trickles from the wounds and onto the ground. Struggling to break free, she can feel herself growing tired as it saps her energy.

"I can't let it end here. If I do, I'll let everyone down. Then we'll all be lost. But they can't help me. Not now. If I could only make them understand. They wouldn't see me as some heartless monster. But I can't think about it. I have to get free. I have to save Nyumi. I have toget theorbs." She continues to struggle against the pain, each movement driving the thorns deeper into her skin. She winces as she finally breaks free.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

General Thorn looks at his stubborn opponent. She is on the ground, bruised and bleeding, but still trying to stand. He knows she's got to be tired, but she won't show it.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

As Orion stands, she plants her feet firmly on the ground shoulder's width apart. She looks at General Thorn as she stands there and raises her hands to the side of her face so that the palms are pointing in towards each other. Closing her eyes, she focuses on the energy that she is gathering, her hair blowing in the wind that it creates. The ground of the star begins to shake and as the other senshi look on, they are forced to brace themselves. A large star is forming above Orion's head bearing her symbol. General Thorn stands unsure of what to do. Slowly, she lifts her hands above her head so that they are underneath the massive star shaped energy and points them in front of her and at the general.

"GOLDENBLAST!" The enormous star leaves her hands as it rips through the ground of the star leaving behind a huge trail of dirt and dust.

All of them hear Thorn's screams piercing the air.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Sailor Orion is standing in her stance when she hears the bubble beginning to break. She looks over to see her sister as she falls from the diminishing sphere.

"Ugh!" She lunges over and catches her sister just before she hits the ground. She lowers her head with a smile. Nyumi is still alive.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

The other scouts stand in shock for a moment as the look over to see that General Thorn is no more. Then they all turn to see Orion lying on the ground with her sister in her arms.

"Orion!" Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter are the first ones to make it to her.

¨ ~¨ ~¨ ~¨

Lying on her side, she holds Nyumi in her still bleeding arms. A faint smile is on her face as she passes out, the orbs next to her.