Sailor X #24 The Way Back
By: John Brengman
Edited by: Thomas Schell
The pale light fluttered through the darkness from the wall outlet where the small night-light was plugged in. The blue lights that ringed the windows added their own faint glow that seemed to mingle with the chilly air.
In fact, the air was chilly even though the Luna Foundation's computerized environmental controls were supposed to keep the night-time temperatures at room temperature, at least when a room's user didn't want it higher.
The bed seemed almost to stand by itself against the wall, the end-table next to it was dwarfed in comparison. A small lamp lit up the top of the table and the ceiling above. A large set of drawers sat off in the shadows.
The bed was enshrouded in darkness even with the nearby light. The sheets were crumpled around a small form. Her hair spilled blackly over her pillow. With a quiet sigh of protest, the young woman tried to snuggle down further within the bedsheets.
Victoria slept.
Silently the top drawer of the dresser slid open. The drawer was filled with light shirts, socks, nightgowns and panties, all folded in neat stacks. In one corner of the drawer, a small box popped open and an object floated upward. As it did, a light began to glow, getting brighter as the object rose. The small lattices that spiked from it glistened as the light sparkled off of them.
Slowly, the object floated toward the bed, a white beacon in the darkness. The white light pushed back the darkness as the object approached the bed. Then it was hovering over Victoria. The light it emitted faded a bit, as though it realized that it might wake the girl.
The crystalline object started pulsing. From the air, a young girl started to laugh.
== * SM * ==
"What in the Hell are you talking about?" Rachel growled.
"Why didn't you tell me where you were going?" Leonard asked as he glowered from his seat at the table. The dim lighting in Rachel's room only served to make her face all the more darker.
"There wasn't time!" Rachel shouted as she slammed a hand into the nearby wall. "The queen was kidnapped, and we went after her."
"And?" Leonard demanded.
"I didn't know it would take us a month!"
"But…"
"Look," Rachel said. "If you're going to be like this, I don't need you." With that, she turned and headed toward the door.
"Wait…" Leonard said pleadingly, but he only succeeded in talking at Rachel's back.
Luna trotted through the residence quarters of the Luna Foundation on her way to the royal chambers. After Neo-Queen Serenity's recent problems, one or more of the guardian cats made it their duty to check in on her daily. Artemis had paid Serenity a visit in the morning, and Luna was going to pay her a bedtime visit.
Suddenly a foot came down in front of her and she nearly got stepped on. Only a quick dodge avoided the collision. Luna looked up to see Rachel leaving her quarters and running down the hall. Looking into the room she was exiting from, Luna saw Leonard slumped dejectedly over a table. She bounded into the room before the door could close automatically.
Leaping up onto the table, Luna sat and peered at Leonard.
"What's wrong?" She said.
For a moment, Leonard didn't answer. He simply stared at the tabletop unmoving, unblinking.
Then: "I don't know…"
"Oh, you have to have some idea of what would make Rachel run out of here," Luna insisted.
Leonard continued to stare at the table. "She went away for a month and didn't tell me," he said.
"Let me get this straight," Luna said. "You are not married to Rachel."
"No."
"You're not engaged," Luna continued.
"Nope."
"Then," Luna said. "Care to explain?"
"I thought I deserved better than to be left behind," Leonard quipped. "I would have wanted to go with her."
"There wasn't time," Luna stated. "They left as soon as they could so that the cyborg ship's trail didn't fade. They didn't have time to ask for volunteers."
"I guess…"
"This isn't about that at all, is it," Luna said. "You wanted to protect her…or rather, you wanted to be there so that Tuxedo Mask could protect her."
"I guess so," Leonard replied slowly.
"Ah," Luna said. "Now we're getting somewhere."
== * SM * ==
"Somebody catch my hat! It's brand new! Darien bought it!" The young girl ran down the pathway after the straw hat that was floating on a mysterious breeze that was sweeping through the park and down toward the river.
"Oh no, it's getting away!" The girl cried as continued the chase, but the hat seemed to have a mind of its own, and it raced away toward freedom. The girl continued to run after it, gasping, "Somebody catch…my hat! It's new…"
A young girl sat on a park bench reading a book. Her long black hair was cut just above her shoulders, and she wore a black blouse and blue pants. A white flower adorned her collar. The girl looked up from her book as she heard the commotion nearby and saw the straw hat fly overhead. She quickly got up from the bench and started after it.
The girl was not used to this much activity. Even running downhill, she could feel her lungs constricting and she gasped quietly for air. But her eyes remained steadily focused on one object, her mind on one goal…the retrieval of that hat.
The breeze finally died down, depositing the hat at the bottom of the bush-laden hill just short of the riverbank. The dark-haired girl practically fell on the hat, holding it down with one hand as she gulped in air.
"You caught it! Yeah!" The other girl shouted cheerfully as she ran up.
"Here," the first girl said softly as she handed the hat to its owner.
"Thanks a lot!"
"You're welcome. It's a lovely hat." A shudder of pain passed through the girl.
"Are you alright?" The other girl asked.
"Yes….just a little tired is all. Nothing to worry about. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Thanks for staying with me."
"No problem! Hey…um…you want to play with me? I'm Rini, rhymes with 'teeny'"
The girl smiled. "My name's Hotaru. Hi." And the two girls shook hands.
The young girl watched from the cover of the bushes as the dark-clothed girl plopped herself down on the ground to capture the hat. Soon the pink-haired girl joined her. The dark-haired girl could barely be heard, but the pink-haired one practically shouted her relief at having her hat back. The two shook hands.
A shadow loomed over her and the girl was startled by a hand touching her shoulder. With a yelp, she turned and looked behind her.
A form stood silhouetted by the sunlight. Then it kneeled and turned into a young woman with flowing white hair.
Vanessa's stern look seethed as she pushed back her anger. "You should not be here," she growled. The girl nodded silently, then rose and went with Vanessa.
== * SM * ==
"I am not sure I want to know what you were thinking," Mina said from her perch on the steps before the throne. Although technically Sandra was the ruler of the kingdom in the absence of her mother, in Sandra's absence, Mina took over.
"What were you thinking?" Mina demanded.
Victoria stood before the throne and with each question seemed to withdraw even further away.
"Now Mina," Luna said scolding, "Victoria probably has a good explanation for what she did."
"Yes," Vanessa interjected from the stone column she was leaning against. "We're waiting to hear it."
Victoria stood silently.
After a moment, Mina sighed. "Well," she said. "To say we are disappointed would be an understatement. We never expected this kind of behavior from you." Mina paused again, then, "You are suspended and ordered to your quarters for the time-being."
Victoria did not have to be told to leave. As she walked to the double doors of the throne room, every eye in the room seemed to burn into her back.
Victoria slowly walked the hallways that led toward the residence quarters. She did not look behind her. She could still feel the eyes on her back. She could still hear the accusations. Then, a fuzzy image began to form in her mind.
"Here," the first girl said softly as she handed the hat to its
owner.
"Thanks a lot!"
"You're welcome. It's a lovely hat."
A shudder of pain passed through the girl.
"Are you alright?" The other girl
asked.
"Yes….just a little tired is all.
Nothing to worry about. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Thanks for staying with me."
"I didn't stay with you!" Victoria gasped silently. Tears streaming down her face, she ran the rest of the way to her room.
== * SM * ==
"Rachel," Leonard called as he saw her in a corridor crossing the one he was in. She seemed to be distracted. Leonard ran into the intersection, then turned and went after Rachel, Finally he caught up to her.
"Rachel, what's going on? Didn't you hear me?"
"I heard you," Rachel replied quietly.
"But…" Leonard protested.
"I'm sorry," Rachel said. "But if you came to argue, I don't have the time right now." She continued to walk.
"Rachel…"
"No!" Rachel said sternly. "Not now. Go away!"
The air drained out of Leonard and he let Rachel walk away. "Okay," he mumbled as he turned and started off in the opposite direction. As he came to the intersection he had just left, he glanced up, then stopped.
"Computer Room…" He murmured to himself. "Timegate…"
== * SM * ==
"Oh NO!" Mimete cried. "Another plan is ruined!" The villain quickly surveyed the construction site for a quick escape route and opted for the quick jump through an incomplete wall. "Constructor, make mince-meat out of those Sailor brats!" She shouted just before she fled.
"Gotcha boss!" The henchman growled. "Constructor will patch the holes in your walls!" With that, the monster aimed his arm at the gathered Sailors and grinned.
Then, gray-green globs of goo shot from his arm, slapping Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury,
Sailor Venus, and Sailor Jupiter in the face. Suddenly all of the Sailors were grabbing handfuls of goo that filled mouths, noses, and ears.
"Never can have too much glue!" The monster shouted. He fired the goo again but the Sailors managed to dodge out of the way.
"Hey, no fair!" Sailor Moon yelled.
"Do it, Sailor Moon!" Mars shouted.
"Right!" Sailor Moon said. Brandishing her wand, Sailor Moon glared at the monster.
"RAINBOW MOON HEARTACHE!"
The monster did something unexpected. Instead of retreating or standing still, it charged forward and leaped over the Sailors. As they turned, the Sailors caught a glimpse of the monster as it vanished into the park across the street from the construction site.
"No way!" Sailor Moon gasped. "How did he get away?"
"That's the fastest enemy we've seen," Sailor Mercury mused.
"Let's go, you guys!" Sailor Mars said as she started after the monster. The others quickly followed.
The monster ran down the forested path blindly, just trying to get away. It ignored any of the trees and things around it and concentrated on simply getting away. When confronting the Sailors, it could sense the goodness in the air. It was a sickening feeling…nothing that it wanted to be near again.
Suddenly the monster skidded to a stop. There it was again…that sickening sensation, and it was coming from somewhere just up ahead. Then a shape stepped out into the path.
The shadowy shape stepped forward and revealed itself. It was a young woman clad in a Sailor fuku.
"I don't know who you think you are," the woman said, "but I am the Sailor Saturn, and your evil ends here!"
"Wha…" The monster gasped.
"DEATH RIBBON DEVASTATION!" Razor-sharp ribbons of deadly energy erupted from Sailor Saturn and flew like arrows towards the monster. Then the fury of Saturn's attack slammed into it. Within moments, the villain was reduced to a mass of bleeding fleshy pulp. Then the attack died away and a gentle breeze blew through the trees, a peaceful contrast to the violence that had just happened.
A small figure stepped out onto the path near the crumpled mass that had been the monster. She stepped forward and confronted Sailor Saturn.
"Who are you?" Hotaru asked.
"Hotaru…" Sailor Saturn muttered. Her eyes glazed over and a a glowing object fell from her left hand. Before it could hit the ground, it flashed brightly and flew upward to hover a short distance in front of Sailor Saturn at just above eye level. The crystal began to pulse rhythmically.
"What is happening…" Hotaru moaned as her eyes glazed over.
A pale purple light shot from the crystal, impaling both girls. Sailor Saturn swayed as a wave of dizziness washed over her. Still, she concentrated on the crystal hovering in front of her, and the strange energy that seemed to be feeding into it. The energy seemed to contain two separate and competing parts. One part seemed calm and easy to handle, yet it needed to be guided and herded into the crystal. The other part was restless and hard to control, but Saturn had to fight to keep it away from the crystal. And it seemed imperative that the restless energy be kept from the crystal. The light flared and swirled as this tug-of-war continued.
Finally, with a flash, Hotaru fell backward, and Saturn was thrown back. The light faded out and the crystal landed in Saturn's lap. Gathering it up, she turned to get away.
"Where do you think you are going?"
Saturn looked back and saw five Sailors framed by the setting sun. One stepped forward.
"I am Sailor Moon, champion of justice. I don't know who you are, or what you've done to Hotaru, but you will pay for your evil."
The other Sailors chimed in: "That's right!"
Sailor Moon turned and looked at Sailor Mini-moon, who was standing just behind the wall of Sailors. "Hotaru needs your help."
"Gotcha," came the reply. The small girl in her pink Sailor fuku hurried to her friend's side.
"One chance…" Saturn thought. Then she turned around.
"DEATH RIBBON DEVASTATION!" Razor-sharp ribbons of deadly energy erupted from Sailor Saturn and flew like arrows towards the gathered Sailors who quickly dove to the ground. Mini-moon dove on Hotaru to protect her.
Saturn nodded in satisfaction. Her aim had been perfect. Had the girls been a few inches taller…well, she would have simply aimed higher…
Seeing that the Sailors were sprawled on the ground, Saturn turned and ran
"Hotaru? Hotaru!!"
The young girl slowly opened her eyes to find Rini staring worriedly down at her.
"Rini…"
"Hotaru, are you alright?"
"Yes," came the reply. "I..think so… Who was that?"
"I don't know," Rini said. "I'm just glad you're okay…"
== * SM * ==
Of course, as soon as Saturn emerged from the Timegate, the other Sailors were there. She stepped out of the blue etherealness of the Timegate and faced them.
"I guess you are mad at me," she said.
"Not really," Mina said quietly as she came forward to kneel in front of Saturn. "We are just confused. You have never disobeyed an order or gotten in any sort of trouble."
"Unlike some people we could mention," Vanessa quipped.
"You found Rachel?" Saturn asked. Whatever punishment the elder Sailors decided to give her was fine, but to punish a person who simply answered a plea for help.
"Of course we caught her," Vanessa said. "She's good, but not THAT good."
"Look, we can talk more later," Mina said. "Right now, you are going to the Medical Center. Amy is waiting for you.
== * SM * ==
"My question would be, how can a pure heart from a person who's been dead for months be active?" Mina asked. Victoria was in the next room on a medical bed staring at the ceiling. Every so often, one of the women gathered in Amy's offices would look in that direction with a look of concern.
The object they referred to lay quietly on Amy's desk, its facets glistening with energy.
"I am not sure," Amy replied. "But not only is the crystal active, it is holding a lifeforce charge."
"Meaning?" Raye asked.
"Meaning it's holding a lifeforce, and enough of one to create a living person if we decide to make a clone from it."
"Yes," Lita said from her chair next to the desk. "Now we just need to know who to clone."
"I have your answer." The women turned to see Setsuna entering the room carrying the Garnet Rod. "Actually," she said. "I have answers to that question plus the one I was originally asked."
"Okay," Mina said. "Spill it."
"First," Setsuna replied. "Everything that Victoria has done is correct within the timeline."
"How can that be?" Raye asked quietly.
"We've seen time travel before. In fact, we've repaired the timeline and made corrections, and while it may seem unusual, and it is certainly hazardous…"
"In a sentence ten words or less," Mina remarked.
"What Victoria did in the past was supposed to occur."
"And the second answer?" Raye asked.
"The pure heart crystal contains the essence of Hotaru Tomoe. This was apparently acquired when Victoria was in the past."
After a silent moment, Amy sat back in her chair, her hands clasped, her fingers tapping her chin.
"Let's get to work. Mina, get Hotaru's braintapes from the medical databank…"
== * SM * ==
Five days later:
"Hotaru… Hotaru…"
The young girl slowly opened her eyes to find Victoria staring worriedly down at her.
"Victoria…"
"Hotaru, are you alright?"
"Yes," came the reply. "I..think so… What happened to me?"
"Don't worry," Victoria said. "I'm just glad you're okay…"
== * SM * ==
The Brig
The door slid open and Leonard entered the dimly-lit room. One of the royal guards manned the control station. The only lights in the room were the four dim yellow circles in the ceiling and the blue light coming from the cell, and the brighter lights within.
The cell was carpeted and cushioned benches sat against the walls. In the corner stood a stark metal wash basin.
Rachel was laying on some of the benches asleep. Leonard came and stood just outside the blue-rimmed opening. He could feel the buzz of the forcefield on his face and arms.
When Rachel didn't stir, he said, "Jail beds must feel nice." Rachel awoke and sat up.
"How are you feeling?" Leonard asked.
"Well," came the reply. "This is better than being in Tokyo Central."
"Really?" Leonard said.
"Really," Rachel said as she walked toward the front of the cell. "Did Victoria get what she needed?"
"I think so," Leonard said. "I talked to her a while ago and she seemed to be doing fine."
"Good," Rachel said with a smirk. "I'd hate to think that I ended up here if she didn't get what she needed me for."
The silence seemed to close in on the two of them. The lurking guard was forgotten.
"You see now why I didn't want to get you involved?" Rachel asked. "What I do sometimes means I play outside the rules, and I didn't want to risk getting you in trouble."
"I know that," Leonard replied. "And Luna helped me to see that I was trying to protect you." Rachel smirked again as if she could silently dismiss that notion for the foolishness that it was.
"I might not be able to protect you," Leonard said. "But, I want to be there to support you, when I can."
Rachel smiled and looked up at Leonard. "Just support?"
"That's what you want, right?"
"Uhm..hmm…" Rachel murmured with a nod. They nearly kissed, but Leonard could feel the buzz of the cell forcefield ran across his chest and face. Instead, he stepped back.
"I probably should go," he said.
"Yes," she agreed as Leonard backed toward the door.
"I'll be waiting for you when you get out of here," Leonard said as he got to the door.
"I know," came the reply.
"I love you."
"I love you too,"
***FINI***
* Sorry about the dub mixing here, but I never really liked the name Trista, I have always used Setsuna rather than Pluto's dub name, and since I used the dub events early in the story, I was kinda locked in to using the dub name for Chibusa later. Again, my apologies.
Fanfic ã2000 – John Brengman and Artemis Publishing
Sailor X series inspired by Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon,
ã 1992 by Toei Animation Co Ltd. and based on Kodansha's
manga production of "Sailor Moon", written by Naoko Takeuchi
This fanfic is freely distributed. Release date: November 26, 2000
Release: 3rd Edition: February 11, 2001