Reflections of the Past…A Mother's Unlikely Visit…
US…
"SHANE!!" Schala screamed as Aaron swerved in and out of traffic.
"Schala! You don't have to scream over the mic!" Aaron replied gritting his teeth from the pain ringing his eardrums.
"SLOW DOWN!!!"
Aaron growled and took the bike off to the roadside enraged. "Get off Schala!"
Schala looked taken back by his sudden outburst of anger and said stuttering, "Get…get off?"
Aaron's face was red as a beet and his teeth looked like they could crush a mountain range. "I have put up with your yelling, and whining, and bitching for the past hour! I've had enough of it! Get off!"
Schala's face turned somewhat shadowed and she said restraining the tears, "I'm…"
"What…Sorry?! Schala this isn't a damn game! I've tried to tell that God knows how many times! I can't sit back and be a lax bastard when these things could cause hell!!"
Schala looked at the ground completely covering her face and the tears were felt on her face slowly moving down her cheeks. "I…I know it's urgent…it's just…just…"
Aaron's temper could still be heard in his voice, "Just what!?"
"My parents…they were killed in a motorcycle accident 2 years ago." She turned her head away and cried like the impact had hit her for the first time.
Aaron gulped and thought, "Smooth move dumb-ass. You just brought out a memory that she laid to rest. Some hero you are." Aaron's face still had it's hard exterior and he said turning away, "I'm sorry…" his voice trailed off, but it sounded more genuine than she had ever heard from him before.
Schala looked back over at his tensed figure with red, tear stained eyes and said somewhat shocked, "You're…apologizing?"
Aaron bit his tongue and said, "I know what it's like to lose your parents…I lost my mother when I was young, and my father…well…I never really found out who my read dad was."
"So you're an orphan?"
"No, but it's rather confusing to explain everything right now. After we get done with this, I'll explain what I mean…hopefully."
Schala wiped the remaining liquid from her eyes and nodded, "Ok."
Aaron returned to the bike and refastened his helmet and gloves. "I'll quit swerving in and out of traffic but I won't make a guarantee about the speed." Schala nodded and reapplied her helmet and gloves. She hopped onto the back of the bike and for the first time thought about Aaron in a different light. She did have feelings for him earlier, but this was the first time that it was clear that he actually cared for her back. It was a rather rash and harsh way, but the way his body felt as she held on gave her a slight impression. Aaron asked her over the mic, "Ready?"
Schala nodded up and down on his back and said, "Yeah…*Sniff* I'm ready." Aaron kicked the bike alive again and took it back onto the highway. Slowly gearing the bike back up to speed he pushed a button the side of the gas handle and turned the bike up to high gear instantly. Schala clung to his back and thought, "I'm rather curious if he loves me or not. He cares for me, but it could he's only doing that because he's MetaSigma. I wonder if he has real feelings for me."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Japan…
"I found something important," Mamoru said as he and Usagi were walking down the street together. It was the usual display of Usagi clinging onto Mamoru's arm like a lost puppy, but of course Mamoru didn't mind much.
"Oh?" Usagi looked up from her usual position of her head on his arm.
"Rei said his body now has a warped aura around him. Something in the solution might have disrupted his life force and caused it."
"Do you know exactly what it was that was put into the IV?"
Mamoru shook his head, "No. My guess is as good as the next but at least he's been released from the hospital. Good thing too…food there is worse than your cooking!"
Usagi looked at Mamoru with disgusted eyes and said, "What are you implying about my cooking…Mamo-chan."
Mamoru's eye twitched at the sight of her flat eyes and he stuttered out, "Usako I was just saying the food in the hospital was bad! Nothing more!"
Usagi's voice was flat and she replied, "So why did you throw in the comment about my cooking…you have to remember…you're going to be eating my cooking when we get married."
Mamoru returned to his mask of coolness and said, "You're cooking isn't bad Usako…"
Usagi's face brightened and she said, "Really? Mamo-chan?"
Mamoru nodded, but a sweat drop appeared on the side of his head. "She could use a few courses on cooking however," Mamoru thought. The two of them continued on toward their destination that day. The Hino Temple where the others were waiting for them supposedly.
Hino Temple…
"Hey!" Mamoru waved with his free arm to the girls sitting on the interior temple steps. (Not those long ones that lead up to the thing. The ones they usually sit at when the Senshi talk about things)
"Mamoru-san!" Rei said waving back and looking at her watch, "I expected Usagi to be late, but you?"
"Rei-chan! What is the meaning of slandering Mamo-chan! He came to pick me up after class! How could you be so heartless?" Usagi started her patented crying that was reflective of her personality.
"Usagi-chan! Please! Stop crying! Rei-chan was just concerned for you!" Makoto said grinning like an idiot.
Usagi turned the waterworks down and said with a slight cracking voice, "Why must Rei-chan speak so heartlessly to me?"
Mamoru sighed and said with a hint of comedy, "Usako."
Usagi looked around and noticed that Sabin and Chibi-Usa still were missing. "Where are Chibi-Usa-chan and Sabin?"
"They haven't arrived yet. I find it rather odd, but maybe they just ran into some traffic on the way," Minako tried to say as confidently as possible.
"Should we try them on the communicator?" Makoto pondered.
Rei thought for a moment and responded, "No, let's just start the meeting without them. I'm sure they'll be coming up the steps any minute."
Mamoru sighed and said, "I'll make this simple and straight to the point. Rei felt a shift in Sabin's aura. Both of us have reason to believe it has something to do with the substance that was injected into his body. Now what that substance is…no one has any idea. Doctors studied the IV that Sabin had and found no traces of any substance other than the supplements of the IV. The IV WAS tampered with, but whatever was interjected during the drip was unknown."
"What about that weird creature that we saw at the hospital?" Ami asked.
"Duran…" the hair on Usagi's skin raised and she shivered at the sound of the name.
"Duran?" Ami repeated.
"Usako?" Mamoru felt her body shiver a little.
Usagi huddled closer to Mamoru and said, "That name…just sends chills through out my body. It sounds like a virus spreading disease everywhere." Usagi's communicator went off and she quickly cleansed her mind of the fear replying to the chiming. "Chibi-Usa-chan?"
"Usagi-chan! We need your help at Juuzyu bakery! Some crazy person named Duran is doing something to one of the customers!"
Duran…the name struck into Usagi like a knife cutting her heart. The fear in her body reappeared and she shivered again like a frozen animal. "D…Duran…"
"Usako…" Mamoru said hugging her trying to warm the courage in her mind. "Don't let it get to you. None of us will let anything happen to you. Remember…we're all here with you."
"Please Usagi-chan! Zerto can't hold out much longer, and I can't do a thing against him!" Chibi-Usa said in a dire voice.
"Chibi-Usa! RUN!!" Zerto was heard over the communicator. A giant blast was heard, and then only static.
"Chibi-Usa!!" Usagi yelled.
"Usagi-chan! Come on! We have to help her!" Minako said.
Usagi's expression was still fearful, she gathered her courage as best she could and said forcing her voice to lead, "Let's go."
* * * * * * * * * * *
US…
"What is the current state of the portals?" Aaron asked.
"Calculating…" Windstrom replied.
Aaron sighed and put his hands back to his face pushing his hair back. "You're going to have a baby sister. She'll be here in a couple of months. Aren't you happy?" Aaron jerked his head up and looked around before realizing his mind was replaying memories of the past. "That's where it all began…so long ago…" *Flashback*
"You're going to have a baby sister. She'll be here in a couple of months. Aren't you happy?"
"Oh. I have a question mama…will I ever have the throne?"
Queen Serenity laughed and told him, "You will…someday." *Another part of Flashback*
"Aaron! Time to eat dear! Aaron!" Queen Serenity yelled out.
The room to Aaron's room remained tightly shut. Little Princess Serenity called out in her year old voice, "Ewan!" Of course she was only mimicking her mother and had no idea who Aaron was. *Another part of Flashback*
"Happy birthday my little Princess!" Queen Serenity smiled. "You're six years old!"
"Happy birthday Princess!" Princess Serenity's court cheered. Aaron watched the whole party hidden from view and could feel a tear hit his eye. "Another part of flashback*
"Hey mom…" Princess Serenity now at the age of 11 asked her mother, "who was that Aaron person you kept calling for when I was younger?"
"He was…a friend of mine." That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Aaron had heard his mother call him nothing more than a friend. It took his entire faith out of the royal family. *Another part of flashback*
"You snuck off to Earth again?!" Mars scolded the young princess.
"As the only child of Queen Serenity it's your job to prepare yourself for the day you take the throne!" Mercury said with a massive book huddled under her arm. Aaron could feel his entire personality changing with each passing comment they made; A friend, only child of Queen Serenity, what next? The kingdom falling to evil? Aaron knew however that evil would sometime take over the kingdom, and he vowed to let the people of the moon get what was coming to them for disavowing him as an heir to the throne. *Another part of flashback*
"Everyone! You've got to get out of here! Queen Beryl's forces are overrunning the guards!" Queen Serenity screamed rushing down the pillar halls leading to the exit. She stopped suddenly and turned to face one of the few people remaining in that area. Her face turned to sudden shock when she recognized him as, "Aaron…"
"13 years have passed…and you call me nothing more…than a friend. You simply call me a friend and my name is never heard of again." A few shots were heard hitting the ground some distance away keeping the silence between Queen Serenity and her son.
"Aaron…I thought you were…dead. I didn't hear from you, see you…anything!!"
Aaron simply smiled and said with a hint of pride creeping into his voice, "Ironically enough…I am dead." Aaron screamed out, "Sigma Moon POWER!!" A few seconds later Aaron was encased in a massive suit of navy armour.
"Aaron?" Queen Serenity seemed more afraid of what Aaron had become than the threat of her kingdom crumbling under her.
"Go and save your kingdom mother…but make no mention of my name if the day ever arises where you must make my little sister remember her past. When I feel the time is right…I'll make myself known." The massive figure of armour and power turned in the opposite direction and started to head off.
"Aaron-!"
Aaron stopped and turned suddenly cutting his mother's words off and said in a voice somewhat frozen and cursed, "My name isn't Aaron when I'm donning this armour of honor. It's MetaSigma…" Aaron turned back and continued down the somewhat darkened hall. *Another part of flashback*
"And so it came to pass…" Aaron said putting the last stone around his mother's grave.
"Are you sure you want to live with the memories of all this torment?" Pluto looked at Aaron as he sighed.
Aaron stared at the grave and replied, "Yes…my memories will serve as the catalyst as to why I should fight. To ensure something like this doesn't happen ever again."
Pluto nodded and raised her staff. The gates of time began to open flooding the dull area with colors that delighted all the senses. *Another part of flashback*
"Princess, I want you to meet your new uncle," Neo Queen Serenity said to her year old daughter.
The Princess smiled and hugged in saying in a kawaii voice, "Hewwo!" *Another part of flashback*
"Where are you going?" The six-year-old Princess asked as Aaron packed his things up frivolously.
"I've decided to leave…I'm old enough to take care of myself."
"But…what about mama and papa?!"
Aaron smiled warmly and said, "One day…I hope I can tell you everything…but for now…I'll go on good terms."
Chibi-Usa ran over and clung to his side begging with tears in her voice, "Please…stay here…don't leave!"
Aaron put his hand on her back and kneeled so they were face level with each other. He sighed and said into her cloudy red eyes, "Chibi-Usa- chan…don't think I'm actually saying goodbye forever…just think of it…as see you soon." He kissed her forehead and left her alone in his room. *Another part of flashback*
"Make sure I can't remember my past…ever…I don't want to live with guilt my whole life," Aaron said to Pluto.
"Are you sure you want to throw away this life you have now? Are you sure you want to destroy all the memories that you've had?" Pluto asked with concern in her voice.
"Yes, I thought that the thought of repeating what happened on the Moon Kingdom would only make me more sure of myself…but…all it did was slowly make me more and more bitter. I am not ready to face my past. So I want to erase it."
Pluto sighed and nodded. "I can't completely destroy all your memories…but I can block them within your mind. When you are reborn you won't remember anything about your past…but…there might be events that happen that might feel like déjà vu to you."
"If that's all…then let's get it over with." *End Flashback*
"That happened…18 years ago."
"Aaron…"
"Huh?"
"Aaron," Windstrom repeated.
"Oh…sorry about that Windstrom."
"It appears that the portals have taken something unknown by any standard that I have ever seen in a space/time shift. They are all moving somewhere."
"Are you saying…as in expanding moving? Or as in…actual moving of the rip?"
"The portal is moving its very coordinates to a different location. Thus the portals are moving."
"Do you know where they are moving too?"
"Unknown at this point in time. Because of the erratic nature of these portals, I cannot give a determination as to where they are heading to."
"Most strange."
"I may have a thesis however."
"I'm all ears Windstrom."
"What if…zzzttzzz…"
"Windstrom!" A few seconds later the lights in Aaron's house went out leaving the house in an eerie ominous feeling. Aaron quickly engaged his armour and turned the lights on his wrist on much like the use of a flashlight. He shut the laptop that he had been using to communicate with Windstrom and slowly made his way out of his room. "Why didn't the back-up generators kick in?" Meta thought pointing his charged weapon around the corner leading into the living room. Cautiously Meta moved over the windows to check whether the whole block was out, or if it was just his house feeling the power drain. The picture beyond the windows revealed it was indeed the whole block was without power. This comforted Meta somewhat as he realized that there was less of a chance for danger at that moment. A sudden instinct made him turn around and face someone who had slipped into the house. "Mom?" Meta said with great shock in his voice.
"Hello…my little Prince…" Queen Serenity smiled warmly through the dark.
"What are you doing here?"
Queen Serenity practically ignored the question and said with her gratuitous manner, "I see you've matured into a fine young man. Is there any girl that has stolen your heart yet?"
Meta simply made a disgruntled moan and said completely changing the subject, "Either tell me what's going on, or get out."
Queen Serenity sighed and replied, "I see you're still a bitter person."
Meta simply made a quiet growl and replied, "It just depends on who I'm talking to."
"I'm sorry you still favor resentment about your past, but I'm not here to talk to you about that. I'm here to talk to you about Magitack."
Meta's eyes grew a little bigger than usual. "Magitack? But…he's dead!"
"I'm afraid your wrong my son…he's up and kicking as we speak now. Implementing his plan to regain the use of his metallic shell I'm guessing."
"Magitack…his army was very strong. I had a lot of difficulty getting through most of his yomas. Lucky for Serenity's court she had the weakest ones as I healed. Or else your entire kingdom would have been doomed.
"You still can't give her court any credit can you…"
"Don't start with me mother…I'm not your little boy anymore," Meta said pointing the end of the gun in Queen Serenity's direction.
"You would point a loaded weapon at your mother?!"
Meta slowly put the weapon down to his side and said, "I wouldn't fire…unless it demanded to be done…but enough of you stabbing me with pointless chat…I want to know what's going on with Magitack!"
"It appears that Magitack has been the one cause these openings in space/time. Pluto can't seem to close them, as they are unresponsive to her command. We have also found the reason why they won't close. Magitack has hired a mercenary named Duran to put something into 13 different humans."
"The thirteen portals. Are you telling me he's using their own life force to keep them open!?"
Queen Serenity nodded, "I'm afraid so. What he plans on doing other than retrieving his armour is beyond me. I don't know how he plans on doing it, but at any rate…we need to know more. Because Pluto is now off doing other duties to keep this universe safe, I now trust guard the investigation to you. I'll also jump Luna over to you so she can help you out."
"Uh…mom…you can't get her over here…portal use is gone. I K-put it…as in seeya later alligator!"
"I don't plan on attempting to use a portal. I'm going to do a direct transport."
Meta laughed, "Mom! There's no way in hell that's gonna work!"
Queen Serenity winked and said, "Your mother still has a few tricks up her sleeve."
Meta still laughed as she began and still implied, "It won't work!" The image of Queen Serenity flickered out and the house was darkened once more by the absence of power. A few seconds after the phasing of the Queen, a light appeared gleaming a ball encased with a black cat. Meta's laughing dropped off a cliff and he said with a hint of surprise, "Well, I'll be damned!"
The ball hovered to the ground and disappeared leaving the little critter to squirm a little from its dramatic voyage. After a few scant seconds the power to the house returned and Windstrom bleeped, "Power has been cut off to the house…"
Meta groaned, "Windstrom…you're a little late there buddy. Everything is fine again."
"I understand Aaron."
The little black cat made a few more stirs and meowed lightly. Meta disengaged his armour and picked the cat up like a newborn baby. The cat said in a hushed but quizzing voice, "Usagi-chan?"
Luna opened her eyes to the face of someone she hadn't seen before…or could remember anyways. She hissed suddenly and attacked Aaron before he could react. "What the fu-?!" The cat hissed and clawed like its life was in grave danger and Aaron swore every word and then some from every swipe he took. Eventually he was able to mouth out the words, "God…damnit…Luna! It's…me Aaron!!"
Luna stopped for a second and saw she was indeed clawing about the face of Aaron. Instead of apologizing she asked like she was the boss, "Where the hell am I?"
"You're in my house in another dimension."
"But…how did I get past the portal barriers?"
"Queen Serenity has a few tricks to play still I guess. She has orders for you to assist me in investigating this bizarre thing going on."
"If orders came from Queen Serenity then I am ever the vigilant and ready cat."
Aaron rolled his eyes said, "Right…" Thereafter, he got back to his feet and motioned the cat to follow him. "Considering it's near midnight, and I have a long next few days ahead of me, I suggest we get some sleep. Since that's all you do to begin with hell, I don't even know why I'm telling you." Aaron turned his head and felt a sharp biting pain tear into his ankle. "Son of a-! Luna you do that again and I SWEAR I'll kill you!"
Luna simply made a smile daring him to follow through with his comment and said, "Where have I heard that before."
Aaron growled and knew that beating the living hell out of a helpless cat would do nothing more than tarnish his image. He had more respect to maintain than that. He simply laughed and continued into his room. "This is my room, one thing…stay the hell off…" Luna jumped up onto his bed and Aaron freak out, "SON OF A BITCH! LUNA GET OFF THE DAMN BED!!!" Luna stretched her claws out and Aaron grabbed her before she could do anything other than claw the hell out of his arms. "Luna!!! It's a damn waterbed! Your claws could break the bladder, and those damn things cause nearly a hundred dollars!"
Luna smirked and asked, "Why didn't you tell me before hand?"
Aaron could feel the welt on his neck growing but he simply set the cat down kindly and said, "One moment Luna…oh…stay off the bed…OK?" Aaron walked out to the back porch and engaged his armour before screaming words that would create the effect of a blushing sailor and fired nearly a quarter of thousand shots in rapid succession from his Sigma-Buster.
Luna jumped and covered his head like the ceiling was going to fall, and waited from Aaron to return from his self-therapy. When he returned, he seemed much more calm and relaxed than before. Luna questioned somewhat scared, "Are…are you…d-d-d done venting your anger?"
Aaron nodded, "Just…please…don't piss me off…I'm very tired, and it's only adding to my outbursts of anger." Luna nodded quickly and lay on the floor afraid to set foot on the bed again. Aaron rummaged through the closet and obtained a blanket that was somewhat beat up but overall useable. "Here you go Luna," Aaron said laying the thing near the end of his waterbed. "Just…don't claw to hard please…I'll leave my window open a little just in case you decide to use the restroom or need to scratch your claws. If you do the trees outside can assist you. Tomorrow I'll have to talk to Rydian about how to handle a cat…cause I have no damn clue." Luna hoped up onto the blanket and stretched out showing her claws. Aaron slipped on his sleep clothes and turned the lights off. He slipped into bed and set his alarm considering he had to work the next day. *Yes this is a late development, but Aaron does have a job. You'll hear more about it in the next book, so stay tuned!*
US…
"SHANE!!" Schala screamed as Aaron swerved in and out of traffic.
"Schala! You don't have to scream over the mic!" Aaron replied gritting his teeth from the pain ringing his eardrums.
"SLOW DOWN!!!"
Aaron growled and took the bike off to the roadside enraged. "Get off Schala!"
Schala looked taken back by his sudden outburst of anger and said stuttering, "Get…get off?"
Aaron's face was red as a beet and his teeth looked like they could crush a mountain range. "I have put up with your yelling, and whining, and bitching for the past hour! I've had enough of it! Get off!"
Schala's face turned somewhat shadowed and she said restraining the tears, "I'm…"
"What…Sorry?! Schala this isn't a damn game! I've tried to tell that God knows how many times! I can't sit back and be a lax bastard when these things could cause hell!!"
Schala looked at the ground completely covering her face and the tears were felt on her face slowly moving down her cheeks. "I…I know it's urgent…it's just…just…"
Aaron's temper could still be heard in his voice, "Just what!?"
"My parents…they were killed in a motorcycle accident 2 years ago." She turned her head away and cried like the impact had hit her for the first time.
Aaron gulped and thought, "Smooth move dumb-ass. You just brought out a memory that she laid to rest. Some hero you are." Aaron's face still had it's hard exterior and he said turning away, "I'm sorry…" his voice trailed off, but it sounded more genuine than she had ever heard from him before.
Schala looked back over at his tensed figure with red, tear stained eyes and said somewhat shocked, "You're…apologizing?"
Aaron bit his tongue and said, "I know what it's like to lose your parents…I lost my mother when I was young, and my father…well…I never really found out who my read dad was."
"So you're an orphan?"
"No, but it's rather confusing to explain everything right now. After we get done with this, I'll explain what I mean…hopefully."
Schala wiped the remaining liquid from her eyes and nodded, "Ok."
Aaron returned to the bike and refastened his helmet and gloves. "I'll quit swerving in and out of traffic but I won't make a guarantee about the speed." Schala nodded and reapplied her helmet and gloves. She hopped onto the back of the bike and for the first time thought about Aaron in a different light. She did have feelings for him earlier, but this was the first time that it was clear that he actually cared for her back. It was a rather rash and harsh way, but the way his body felt as she held on gave her a slight impression. Aaron asked her over the mic, "Ready?"
Schala nodded up and down on his back and said, "Yeah…*Sniff* I'm ready." Aaron kicked the bike alive again and took it back onto the highway. Slowly gearing the bike back up to speed he pushed a button the side of the gas handle and turned the bike up to high gear instantly. Schala clung to his back and thought, "I'm rather curious if he loves me or not. He cares for me, but it could he's only doing that because he's MetaSigma. I wonder if he has real feelings for me."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Japan…
"I found something important," Mamoru said as he and Usagi were walking down the street together. It was the usual display of Usagi clinging onto Mamoru's arm like a lost puppy, but of course Mamoru didn't mind much.
"Oh?" Usagi looked up from her usual position of her head on his arm.
"Rei said his body now has a warped aura around him. Something in the solution might have disrupted his life force and caused it."
"Do you know exactly what it was that was put into the IV?"
Mamoru shook his head, "No. My guess is as good as the next but at least he's been released from the hospital. Good thing too…food there is worse than your cooking!"
Usagi looked at Mamoru with disgusted eyes and said, "What are you implying about my cooking…Mamo-chan."
Mamoru's eye twitched at the sight of her flat eyes and he stuttered out, "Usako I was just saying the food in the hospital was bad! Nothing more!"
Usagi's voice was flat and she replied, "So why did you throw in the comment about my cooking…you have to remember…you're going to be eating my cooking when we get married."
Mamoru returned to his mask of coolness and said, "You're cooking isn't bad Usako…"
Usagi's face brightened and she said, "Really? Mamo-chan?"
Mamoru nodded, but a sweat drop appeared on the side of his head. "She could use a few courses on cooking however," Mamoru thought. The two of them continued on toward their destination that day. The Hino Temple where the others were waiting for them supposedly.
Hino Temple…
"Hey!" Mamoru waved with his free arm to the girls sitting on the interior temple steps. (Not those long ones that lead up to the thing. The ones they usually sit at when the Senshi talk about things)
"Mamoru-san!" Rei said waving back and looking at her watch, "I expected Usagi to be late, but you?"
"Rei-chan! What is the meaning of slandering Mamo-chan! He came to pick me up after class! How could you be so heartless?" Usagi started her patented crying that was reflective of her personality.
"Usagi-chan! Please! Stop crying! Rei-chan was just concerned for you!" Makoto said grinning like an idiot.
Usagi turned the waterworks down and said with a slight cracking voice, "Why must Rei-chan speak so heartlessly to me?"
Mamoru sighed and said with a hint of comedy, "Usako."
Usagi looked around and noticed that Sabin and Chibi-Usa still were missing. "Where are Chibi-Usa-chan and Sabin?"
"They haven't arrived yet. I find it rather odd, but maybe they just ran into some traffic on the way," Minako tried to say as confidently as possible.
"Should we try them on the communicator?" Makoto pondered.
Rei thought for a moment and responded, "No, let's just start the meeting without them. I'm sure they'll be coming up the steps any minute."
Mamoru sighed and said, "I'll make this simple and straight to the point. Rei felt a shift in Sabin's aura. Both of us have reason to believe it has something to do with the substance that was injected into his body. Now what that substance is…no one has any idea. Doctors studied the IV that Sabin had and found no traces of any substance other than the supplements of the IV. The IV WAS tampered with, but whatever was interjected during the drip was unknown."
"What about that weird creature that we saw at the hospital?" Ami asked.
"Duran…" the hair on Usagi's skin raised and she shivered at the sound of the name.
"Duran?" Ami repeated.
"Usako?" Mamoru felt her body shiver a little.
Usagi huddled closer to Mamoru and said, "That name…just sends chills through out my body. It sounds like a virus spreading disease everywhere." Usagi's communicator went off and she quickly cleansed her mind of the fear replying to the chiming. "Chibi-Usa-chan?"
"Usagi-chan! We need your help at Juuzyu bakery! Some crazy person named Duran is doing something to one of the customers!"
Duran…the name struck into Usagi like a knife cutting her heart. The fear in her body reappeared and she shivered again like a frozen animal. "D…Duran…"
"Usako…" Mamoru said hugging her trying to warm the courage in her mind. "Don't let it get to you. None of us will let anything happen to you. Remember…we're all here with you."
"Please Usagi-chan! Zerto can't hold out much longer, and I can't do a thing against him!" Chibi-Usa said in a dire voice.
"Chibi-Usa! RUN!!" Zerto was heard over the communicator. A giant blast was heard, and then only static.
"Chibi-Usa!!" Usagi yelled.
"Usagi-chan! Come on! We have to help her!" Minako said.
Usagi's expression was still fearful, she gathered her courage as best she could and said forcing her voice to lead, "Let's go."
* * * * * * * * * * *
US…
"What is the current state of the portals?" Aaron asked.
"Calculating…" Windstrom replied.
Aaron sighed and put his hands back to his face pushing his hair back. "You're going to have a baby sister. She'll be here in a couple of months. Aren't you happy?" Aaron jerked his head up and looked around before realizing his mind was replaying memories of the past. "That's where it all began…so long ago…" *Flashback*
"You're going to have a baby sister. She'll be here in a couple of months. Aren't you happy?"
"Oh. I have a question mama…will I ever have the throne?"
Queen Serenity laughed and told him, "You will…someday." *Another part of Flashback*
"Aaron! Time to eat dear! Aaron!" Queen Serenity yelled out.
The room to Aaron's room remained tightly shut. Little Princess Serenity called out in her year old voice, "Ewan!" Of course she was only mimicking her mother and had no idea who Aaron was. *Another part of Flashback*
"Happy birthday my little Princess!" Queen Serenity smiled. "You're six years old!"
"Happy birthday Princess!" Princess Serenity's court cheered. Aaron watched the whole party hidden from view and could feel a tear hit his eye. "Another part of flashback*
"Hey mom…" Princess Serenity now at the age of 11 asked her mother, "who was that Aaron person you kept calling for when I was younger?"
"He was…a friend of mine." That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Aaron had heard his mother call him nothing more than a friend. It took his entire faith out of the royal family. *Another part of flashback*
"You snuck off to Earth again?!" Mars scolded the young princess.
"As the only child of Queen Serenity it's your job to prepare yourself for the day you take the throne!" Mercury said with a massive book huddled under her arm. Aaron could feel his entire personality changing with each passing comment they made; A friend, only child of Queen Serenity, what next? The kingdom falling to evil? Aaron knew however that evil would sometime take over the kingdom, and he vowed to let the people of the moon get what was coming to them for disavowing him as an heir to the throne. *Another part of flashback*
"Everyone! You've got to get out of here! Queen Beryl's forces are overrunning the guards!" Queen Serenity screamed rushing down the pillar halls leading to the exit. She stopped suddenly and turned to face one of the few people remaining in that area. Her face turned to sudden shock when she recognized him as, "Aaron…"
"13 years have passed…and you call me nothing more…than a friend. You simply call me a friend and my name is never heard of again." A few shots were heard hitting the ground some distance away keeping the silence between Queen Serenity and her son.
"Aaron…I thought you were…dead. I didn't hear from you, see you…anything!!"
Aaron simply smiled and said with a hint of pride creeping into his voice, "Ironically enough…I am dead." Aaron screamed out, "Sigma Moon POWER!!" A few seconds later Aaron was encased in a massive suit of navy armour.
"Aaron?" Queen Serenity seemed more afraid of what Aaron had become than the threat of her kingdom crumbling under her.
"Go and save your kingdom mother…but make no mention of my name if the day ever arises where you must make my little sister remember her past. When I feel the time is right…I'll make myself known." The massive figure of armour and power turned in the opposite direction and started to head off.
"Aaron-!"
Aaron stopped and turned suddenly cutting his mother's words off and said in a voice somewhat frozen and cursed, "My name isn't Aaron when I'm donning this armour of honor. It's MetaSigma…" Aaron turned back and continued down the somewhat darkened hall. *Another part of flashback*
"And so it came to pass…" Aaron said putting the last stone around his mother's grave.
"Are you sure you want to live with the memories of all this torment?" Pluto looked at Aaron as he sighed.
Aaron stared at the grave and replied, "Yes…my memories will serve as the catalyst as to why I should fight. To ensure something like this doesn't happen ever again."
Pluto nodded and raised her staff. The gates of time began to open flooding the dull area with colors that delighted all the senses. *Another part of flashback*
"Princess, I want you to meet your new uncle," Neo Queen Serenity said to her year old daughter.
The Princess smiled and hugged in saying in a kawaii voice, "Hewwo!" *Another part of flashback*
"Where are you going?" The six-year-old Princess asked as Aaron packed his things up frivolously.
"I've decided to leave…I'm old enough to take care of myself."
"But…what about mama and papa?!"
Aaron smiled warmly and said, "One day…I hope I can tell you everything…but for now…I'll go on good terms."
Chibi-Usa ran over and clung to his side begging with tears in her voice, "Please…stay here…don't leave!"
Aaron put his hand on her back and kneeled so they were face level with each other. He sighed and said into her cloudy red eyes, "Chibi-Usa- chan…don't think I'm actually saying goodbye forever…just think of it…as see you soon." He kissed her forehead and left her alone in his room. *Another part of flashback*
"Make sure I can't remember my past…ever…I don't want to live with guilt my whole life," Aaron said to Pluto.
"Are you sure you want to throw away this life you have now? Are you sure you want to destroy all the memories that you've had?" Pluto asked with concern in her voice.
"Yes, I thought that the thought of repeating what happened on the Moon Kingdom would only make me more sure of myself…but…all it did was slowly make me more and more bitter. I am not ready to face my past. So I want to erase it."
Pluto sighed and nodded. "I can't completely destroy all your memories…but I can block them within your mind. When you are reborn you won't remember anything about your past…but…there might be events that happen that might feel like déjà vu to you."
"If that's all…then let's get it over with." *End Flashback*
"That happened…18 years ago."
"Aaron…"
"Huh?"
"Aaron," Windstrom repeated.
"Oh…sorry about that Windstrom."
"It appears that the portals have taken something unknown by any standard that I have ever seen in a space/time shift. They are all moving somewhere."
"Are you saying…as in expanding moving? Or as in…actual moving of the rip?"
"The portal is moving its very coordinates to a different location. Thus the portals are moving."
"Do you know where they are moving too?"
"Unknown at this point in time. Because of the erratic nature of these portals, I cannot give a determination as to where they are heading to."
"Most strange."
"I may have a thesis however."
"I'm all ears Windstrom."
"What if…zzzttzzz…"
"Windstrom!" A few seconds later the lights in Aaron's house went out leaving the house in an eerie ominous feeling. Aaron quickly engaged his armour and turned the lights on his wrist on much like the use of a flashlight. He shut the laptop that he had been using to communicate with Windstrom and slowly made his way out of his room. "Why didn't the back-up generators kick in?" Meta thought pointing his charged weapon around the corner leading into the living room. Cautiously Meta moved over the windows to check whether the whole block was out, or if it was just his house feeling the power drain. The picture beyond the windows revealed it was indeed the whole block was without power. This comforted Meta somewhat as he realized that there was less of a chance for danger at that moment. A sudden instinct made him turn around and face someone who had slipped into the house. "Mom?" Meta said with great shock in his voice.
"Hello…my little Prince…" Queen Serenity smiled warmly through the dark.
"What are you doing here?"
Queen Serenity practically ignored the question and said with her gratuitous manner, "I see you've matured into a fine young man. Is there any girl that has stolen your heart yet?"
Meta simply made a disgruntled moan and said completely changing the subject, "Either tell me what's going on, or get out."
Queen Serenity sighed and replied, "I see you're still a bitter person."
Meta simply made a quiet growl and replied, "It just depends on who I'm talking to."
"I'm sorry you still favor resentment about your past, but I'm not here to talk to you about that. I'm here to talk to you about Magitack."
Meta's eyes grew a little bigger than usual. "Magitack? But…he's dead!"
"I'm afraid your wrong my son…he's up and kicking as we speak now. Implementing his plan to regain the use of his metallic shell I'm guessing."
"Magitack…his army was very strong. I had a lot of difficulty getting through most of his yomas. Lucky for Serenity's court she had the weakest ones as I healed. Or else your entire kingdom would have been doomed.
"You still can't give her court any credit can you…"
"Don't start with me mother…I'm not your little boy anymore," Meta said pointing the end of the gun in Queen Serenity's direction.
"You would point a loaded weapon at your mother?!"
Meta slowly put the weapon down to his side and said, "I wouldn't fire…unless it demanded to be done…but enough of you stabbing me with pointless chat…I want to know what's going on with Magitack!"
"It appears that Magitack has been the one cause these openings in space/time. Pluto can't seem to close them, as they are unresponsive to her command. We have also found the reason why they won't close. Magitack has hired a mercenary named Duran to put something into 13 different humans."
"The thirteen portals. Are you telling me he's using their own life force to keep them open!?"
Queen Serenity nodded, "I'm afraid so. What he plans on doing other than retrieving his armour is beyond me. I don't know how he plans on doing it, but at any rate…we need to know more. Because Pluto is now off doing other duties to keep this universe safe, I now trust guard the investigation to you. I'll also jump Luna over to you so she can help you out."
"Uh…mom…you can't get her over here…portal use is gone. I K-put it…as in seeya later alligator!"
"I don't plan on attempting to use a portal. I'm going to do a direct transport."
Meta laughed, "Mom! There's no way in hell that's gonna work!"
Queen Serenity winked and said, "Your mother still has a few tricks up her sleeve."
Meta still laughed as she began and still implied, "It won't work!" The image of Queen Serenity flickered out and the house was darkened once more by the absence of power. A few seconds after the phasing of the Queen, a light appeared gleaming a ball encased with a black cat. Meta's laughing dropped off a cliff and he said with a hint of surprise, "Well, I'll be damned!"
The ball hovered to the ground and disappeared leaving the little critter to squirm a little from its dramatic voyage. After a few scant seconds the power to the house returned and Windstrom bleeped, "Power has been cut off to the house…"
Meta groaned, "Windstrom…you're a little late there buddy. Everything is fine again."
"I understand Aaron."
The little black cat made a few more stirs and meowed lightly. Meta disengaged his armour and picked the cat up like a newborn baby. The cat said in a hushed but quizzing voice, "Usagi-chan?"
Luna opened her eyes to the face of someone she hadn't seen before…or could remember anyways. She hissed suddenly and attacked Aaron before he could react. "What the fu-?!" The cat hissed and clawed like its life was in grave danger and Aaron swore every word and then some from every swipe he took. Eventually he was able to mouth out the words, "God…damnit…Luna! It's…me Aaron!!"
Luna stopped for a second and saw she was indeed clawing about the face of Aaron. Instead of apologizing she asked like she was the boss, "Where the hell am I?"
"You're in my house in another dimension."
"But…how did I get past the portal barriers?"
"Queen Serenity has a few tricks to play still I guess. She has orders for you to assist me in investigating this bizarre thing going on."
"If orders came from Queen Serenity then I am ever the vigilant and ready cat."
Aaron rolled his eyes said, "Right…" Thereafter, he got back to his feet and motioned the cat to follow him. "Considering it's near midnight, and I have a long next few days ahead of me, I suggest we get some sleep. Since that's all you do to begin with hell, I don't even know why I'm telling you." Aaron turned his head and felt a sharp biting pain tear into his ankle. "Son of a-! Luna you do that again and I SWEAR I'll kill you!"
Luna simply made a smile daring him to follow through with his comment and said, "Where have I heard that before."
Aaron growled and knew that beating the living hell out of a helpless cat would do nothing more than tarnish his image. He had more respect to maintain than that. He simply laughed and continued into his room. "This is my room, one thing…stay the hell off…" Luna jumped up onto his bed and Aaron freak out, "SON OF A BITCH! LUNA GET OFF THE DAMN BED!!!" Luna stretched her claws out and Aaron grabbed her before she could do anything other than claw the hell out of his arms. "Luna!!! It's a damn waterbed! Your claws could break the bladder, and those damn things cause nearly a hundred dollars!"
Luna smirked and asked, "Why didn't you tell me before hand?"
Aaron could feel the welt on his neck growing but he simply set the cat down kindly and said, "One moment Luna…oh…stay off the bed…OK?" Aaron walked out to the back porch and engaged his armour before screaming words that would create the effect of a blushing sailor and fired nearly a quarter of thousand shots in rapid succession from his Sigma-Buster.
Luna jumped and covered his head like the ceiling was going to fall, and waited from Aaron to return from his self-therapy. When he returned, he seemed much more calm and relaxed than before. Luna questioned somewhat scared, "Are…are you…d-d-d done venting your anger?"
Aaron nodded, "Just…please…don't piss me off…I'm very tired, and it's only adding to my outbursts of anger." Luna nodded quickly and lay on the floor afraid to set foot on the bed again. Aaron rummaged through the closet and obtained a blanket that was somewhat beat up but overall useable. "Here you go Luna," Aaron said laying the thing near the end of his waterbed. "Just…don't claw to hard please…I'll leave my window open a little just in case you decide to use the restroom or need to scratch your claws. If you do the trees outside can assist you. Tomorrow I'll have to talk to Rydian about how to handle a cat…cause I have no damn clue." Luna hoped up onto the blanket and stretched out showing her claws. Aaron slipped on his sleep clothes and turned the lights off. He slipped into bed and set his alarm considering he had to work the next day. *Yes this is a late development, but Aaron does have a job. You'll hear more about it in the next book, so stay tuned!*
