--------------------------------------------------------------------
B I S H O U J O S E N S H I S A I L O R M O O N
A C R O S S T H E B O R D E R
by DARK DAY FOR ANIME (Mark A Page)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer - This is a story containing characters who were created
by anyone but me. That anyone would happen to be Takeuchi Naoko.
Handle it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
W H A T H A S G O N E B E F O R E
Having escaped the safe house alive, after the attack by the Realist
Militia soldiers under the command of ADAM JADE, the DEATH SAILORS:
TSUKINO USAGI III, HINO REI JNR and PROFESSOR MIZUNO AMI, operatives
of PRESIDENT SERENITY and the REPUBLIC OF SURREALISM, with the LADY
LUNA DE SADE, have made their way into the sewer system of the
Republic's capital in an effort to reach the district of Vermion
Lock, which borders Jade's stronghold in Nemesis Gate.
A single Realist soldier, by the name of DETERN, pursued them into
the sewers, and managed to catch up with them, but was dealt with by
Ami's underhanded technological trickery, and only just escaped with
his life as the sewer tunnel collapsed....
The Death Sailors reach the sewer access door at Bardon Park,
partway to their intended destination of Vermion Lock, where they
must cross the parkland border into Nemesis Gate. After a few
moments rest and discussion of their situation, they encounter....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Uh, I really think you should turn. I have something of a
small problem, here." Luna's voice was rather insistent, so they
did turn, and saw something they didn't want to see.
Two masked soldiers, dressed in black uniforms were standing
either side of Luna, holding rifles up to her head, as a third
emerged from a ventilation shaft set above the access door, jumping
down and holding the trio at bay with his own rifle.
As they moved for their own weapons, they heard clicking
noises and splashing sounds from the water channel behind them.
They turned back to the stream to see another ten or so soldiers,
standing in the water, their own weapons, mostly automatic and
semi-automatic rifles, targeting the three operatives..
"Oh shit bugger damn." Rei muttered.
"Yes.... Not the best of positions to be in." Ami swallowed
as the three lifted their hands from their weapons, trying to smile
and look unthreatening.
"Nice people...." Usagi croaked pathetically. "We don't want
to mess up your nice, clean dirty sewer, or anything. We'll leave,
if you want...."
"Who are you?" The figure at the front of those standing
within the stream strode forward. The voice was that of a stern
young woman.
"More to the point...." Usagi swallowed. "Who are you?"
The woman paused, lowering her rifle, cautiously. Slowly, she
lifted up her free hand and took hold of the top of her mask,
removing it.
The woman's face was regally attractive, with a soft, round
face with high cheekbones, fringed by dark, wavy hair that had
small, wavy cowlicks, falling across her forehead. Dark eyes
pierced the very souls of the four within the twilight of the
tunnel. She lifted her face and stared at them, arrogantly.
"I am Angelique Petz, commander of the brave soldiers of the
Republic of Darkness. I repeat my question. Who are you?"
----o
Part Six
Underworld
----o
"The Republic of what?" Usagi had just enough time to put
on a comical expression of confusion before all four were disarmed,
and bundled from the doorway ledge, into the stream below by the
trio of soldiers behind them. Usagi almost toppled forward into the
water, caught in time by Rei. "Thanks." She whispered softly to
the dark-haired girl.
"I'd rather not see anyone take a mouthful of this gunk." Rei
replied, pulling Usagi close to her. "Don't say anything to these
people that may antagonise them.... If they are who I think they
are, they might be of some assistance."
"What are you talking about?" Usagi frowned, before she felt
the muzzle of Petz's rifle prod her in the shoulder.
"Quiet, you." Petz sneered. "You remind me of someone I used
to know."
"Oh.... Uhh... That's nice." Usagi swallowed. Petz
shrugged and looked away.
"Yeah, I suppose you could say that. But she's dead now. I
had to kill her...." Petz rubbed the length of her rifle. "People
with faces like yours always turn out to be trouble." Usagi managed
to place Ami between herself and Petz, much to the woman's
amusement. Ami, put on the spot, felt it was time to exercise a
little of her knowledge involving the Republic of Darkness.
"Eraewoh wuoysa edursa enoemos llet ewdluo hsyhw." Ami stared
nervously the stunned Petz, who turned aside to her deputy. He
shrugged, gesturing to his mouth with one of his hands. Petz curled
her lips and turned back to Ami.
"You understand... our language?"
Ami raised an eyebrow, now feeling a little more confident.
"Won, kuo, ynah teromd natsre dnu spahrepi." Petz's lips pulled
back even further as she gritted her teeth, feeling that she had
lost control of the situation.
"Ylrael ceti uquoy. Dnat sred nuiemk comot deenon siereht."
"What did she say?" Usagi whispered aside to Ami, who tried
to hush her. Usagi wasn't having any of it, though. "It's no good
if you're going to talk a language I don't understand."
"You don't but she does, eh?" Petz smiled at Usagi, relieved
to learn that not all of her captives were capable of speaking her
kins' tongue.
"So what if I don't?" Usagi huffed. "I don't even know who
you people are. I've never heard of you before. Are you members of
the republic, or affiliated with the Reality Militia?"
Ami and Rei cringed as Petz strode forward, pushing them aside
and gripping the collar of Usagi's coat. "What did you say?"
"I... I said...." Petz didn't give Usagi the time to reply.
"WE ARE SOLDIERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF DARKNESS! WE EXIST TO
HIDE OUR ART FROM THE LIGHT OF DAY AS A STATEMENT IN ITSELF. WE ARE
NOT ALLIES OF THE REALITY DISEASE! THOSE WHO SAY SO MUST DIE!" And
with that, Petz lifted the muzzle of her rifle underneath Usagi's
chin. Usagi was as close as one could get to wetting herself at
that moment. It was Rei who managed to save Usagi's bacon. Getting
down on her knees, lowering herself into the murky water that ran
along the sewer, she bowed her head to Petz.
"Syaw ruo yfot narong, isi ehsr uono hruo yott lusni rehevi
grof." Petz looked down at Rei, sneering.
"Diaseh stah wrof rehlli, kotgnill iwnah teromerael poepy muo
ydnuo rakool ruo noh ruoottlus nireh rofes ucxeons iecnarong ireh!"
Rei lifted her head and stared at Petz's soldiers, all of whom
appeared ready to use their weapons on Usagi at any moment, she
lowered it once more, trying to affect an appeasing stance.
"Esru ocfol liwru oyotre, dnerru sew."
Petz laughed in Rei's face. "Ecioh cynau oygni vigtonerae
werau oyes ruocfo." She lowered her gun from Usagi, who used the
occasion to take a breath, having held it in until now. "Are you
members of the Reality Militia?" Petz asked of Rei, who raised her
head to meet Petz's gaze.
"We are... operatives of the Republic.... We are... were...
being pursued by members of the Reality Militia, who are attempting
to kill us, so we are not given the opportunity to kill their
leader, Adam Jade."
"Hino....." Lady Luna pushed past Ami. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Rei turned to Lady Luna
with a pained expression.
"Kneeling in parasite-infested water.... You can't just tell
these people about our plans.... They're not members of the
Republic's system...."
"What else would you have me do? Allow them to kill Usagi?"
Rei held up a fist to Luna, who went silent, then turned back to
Petz who had let go of Usagi, pondering what Rei had told her.
"And who might you be?" Petz's attention changed to the new
interloper, placing Luna on the spot.
"Who indeed." Luna crossed her arms and looked away. "I
don't give my name to barbarians who lurk within the foetid darkness
of the sewers."
"Good one, Luna. Antagonise them. It'll make everything so
much better." Usagi croaked as she rubbed her throat, still feeling
the aftereffects of having her collar dig into her skin.
"Lady Luna de Sade." Petz chuckled. "Well well well....
This is a comedown for a member of the old aristocracy...." She
paced around Luna, pressing her face uncomfortably close. "Not used
to getting down and dirty with 'barbarians' like our good selves,
yet more than willing to traverse these sewers with a trio of
incompetents, not knowing what you might stumble into."
"They are not incompetent." Luna huffed. "They are one of
the Republic's best assassin teams."
"Hoooo." Petz and her soldiers mocked, then started to laugh.
Within a moment, Petz raised her hand, and they all went silent.
"Very impressive, my dear Lady.... But it must be said, if they
were competent, then they wouldn't have been so easily caught out
by the ambush we had sprung on them." She pressed her face
underneath Luna's right ear. "Ne?"
"That was.... unfortunate." Luna shivered at Petz's presence.
"And I am not 'traversing' the sewers by choice. That was her
decision." Luna gestured to Rei, still on her knees. "Are you
going to kneel there all day? You've probably got a terminal blood
fluke infestation, already...." She turned back to Petz, pressing
her own face up close. "So, what do you intend to do with us,
hmmm?"
Petz smiled, stepping back as she shrugged. "I suppose I
could dispose of you.... That would be the normal course of action.
We can't have anyone from the world of light witnessing our
performances, especially those dedicated to serving the light...."
She paused. "However, your purpose.... to kill this Adam Jade....
has me intrigued. I think it may be worthy to take you to see OUR
president."
"Di... Dimando?" Ami gasped as she helped Rei to her feet.
"I'm lost." Usagi scratched her head.
"I'm not surprised, for someone as stupid as you." Petz
snapped at her, making Usagi cringe.
"Don't be like that.... I dunno who this Dimando person
is...."
"You've never heard of the GREAT DIMANDO?" Petz stared at
her, disbelievingly.
"No... Should I?" Usagi swallowed, quite certain she had
sealed her fate with this. Petz, however, arched her back, laughing
out loud.
"Dimando shall be truly disappointed.... Someone who DOESN'T
know of him.... The great hero of the civil war...." Petz slung
her rifle over her shoulder. "One of the reasons he joined us, to
become our president.... To escape the fawning hero worship of
those within the light. He shall, indeed, take a shine to you,
girl. Come, let us return to our homeland." And with that, Petz
snapped her fingers, pointing further along the tunnel. After
replacing her mask, Lady Luna and the Death Sailors were marched
away from the Bardon Park doorway intersection. At gunpoint, to
their consternation.
----o
The first sign that they were approaching anything that could
be described as a form of civilisation was the noise of people....
Partying. It was distant, but with each step, it came closer, and
louder.
They had trudged through a series of tunnels of varying
standard and condition. Across dilapidated metal and concrete
walkways which spanned underground caverns of immense size and
proportion, both manmade and natural. Then through a succession of
locks and doors, many of which, surely, no longer existed on the
maps of the capital city management.
Usagi remarked, occasionally, over the writing that had been
stamped on much of the construction they had encountered....
Characters she was unfamiliar with. Only Ami and Lady Luna seemed to
understand the language, and remarked that it was nothing more than
inconsequential directional and safety guidelines, written in a
language that they'd described as 'Japanese'.
"Japanese?" Usagi scratched her head. "I've never heard of
it. Does it still exist?"
"It did. Three thousand years ago, back in the pre-Elysian
era of our nation's history, when all the islands were united....
The language was used to create a semblance of a common bond between
the people." Ami rubbed her chin as she studied some of the symbols
on a doorway they were passing through. She was moved along by one
of Petz's soldiers.
They continued along the sewer, which began a slow descent.
There was tacked-on railing at the side if the tunnel, which they
used to stop themselves slipping on the wet, mold-laden floor. The
rails had obviously been placed there well after the tunnel's
construction, possibly by members of the Darkness. Most of Usagi's
efforts to question Petz or any of her soldiers on the matter was
met with cold silence, or a form of gentle persuasion to keep
moving, by a now-consistent nudging of gun muzzles.
After ten minutes, the tunnel started to level off, then
widen. Usagi pushed up alongside Ami, nudging her in the side.
"What happened to the language?" She sniffed. "A language
just doesn't disappear, does it?"
"What language?" Ami frowned.
"This 'Japanese' language...." Usagi looked at her,
hopefully. "Is that how you say it?" Ami opened her mouth and
nodded.
"Oh, it exists.... Or fragments of it.... However, the
collapse of the pre-Elysian society into a succession of feudal
militarist regimes saw the upswing of regionalism and regional
dialects and the watering-down of resistance to outside influences.
The majority of the language we speak today finds its source on the
other side of the planet."
"Yeah, what you said." Usagi scratched her head, lost in
Ami's explanation.
"Look, it's very simple.... All languages change over time,
mostly through little pockets of population speaking in accents,
which become less and less like the original language to form
languages of their own. Place, on top of this, frequently spoken
languages from outside these regions, and what you get is a totally
new language that bears nothing in common with the original, not
even in their basic patterns of written form and audible
expressionist content."
"You're starting to use the long words, again." Usagi sighed.
"I almost managed to follow you, that time." Usagi felt someone
nudge her in the side, and turned to see Luna, who was staring
around at the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. "What? What is it?"
"Is it my imagination, or is it unusually bright in here?"
Ami and Usagi looked around, surprised to find that their
torches were no longer providing the lion's share of the
illumination.
Ami switched off her torch, placing it within her jacket. "A
strange, green glow, wouldn't you say?" She ran her hand along the
wall of the tunnel.
"A form of fungus, producing a phosphorescent-like glow." Ami
turned to Petz's voice, surprised to find the woman so close behind
her, so quickly. "Despite the fact that our people have grown
accustomed to the lack of light that exists within the world we
live, we are not yet capable of seeing in the dark.... We
congregate wherever this fungus is to be found.... Indeed, we have
studied it, and learnt how to make it grow, and prosper...."
Petz gripped Ami's arm and dragged her to the head of the
group, watched by Usagi, Luna and Rei. At the end of the tunnel was
a ledge, lined by a railing. Beyond the ledge, they could hear the
sounds of people, and see a greater amount of the eerie green glow.
Petz held Ami up against the railing, the blue-haired girl staring
at the scene below her with awe. "You see it? THAT is OUR
homeland."
"A CITY?!?" Ami's mouth hung open. "Down here?"
"A city beneath a city." Petz crowed, proudly.
Beyond the tunnel, a monumentally huge cavern opened up,
running for miles in every direction. From both the roof and the
floor of the cavern, like massive stalactites and stalagmites, were
buildings and residences, hewn from the same material as the walls
of the cavern itself.
The entire scene was illuminated by vast quantities of the
same fungus that lined the entrance tunnel. And along the centre of
the cavern's floor was a vast esplanade, along which hundreds of
people were celebrating in various groups and marquees.
"They're.... They're celebrating the Festival of Ephis?" Ami
turned to Petz, who removed her mask with a flourish, her face a
picture of rapturous madness.
"Do you think those who prefer to live in the light have the
sole rights of ownership to the ways and thoughts of the great
Montxo Ephis? It is by his teachings that we choose to be what we
are."
"OX TNOM LI AHLLA!" Shouted one of Petz's solders.
"OX TNOM LI AHLLA!" The others replied. Ami shook her head
and sighed. Next to her, Petz had lifted up a small lamp, which had
been hooked to her belt, and started to signal to a figure who
could be seen through a window in the nearest building that hung
from the ceiling. Usagi, Rei and Luna joined Ami as they watched
the private conversation that was flashed back and forth.
"What are you doing?" Luna inquired of Petz as she refastened
the lamp to her belt.
"You don't think I brought you here just for the view, do you?
We have to get down from here, somehow."
"And how would that 'somehow' be?" Luna stared at Petz,
archly.
"You're really cruisin' for a good whuppin', you know that?"
Usagi snarled at her. Luna ignored her and leaned over the railing.
"It's a long way down. I hope you're not expecting us to
abseil down the side of this cavern." Petz chuckled at Luna's
statement.
"Nothing of the sort, my dear Lady. I promise you, we shall
make our way down, into the city, with a little more style than
that." Petz gestured towards the nearest building. From underneath
the window where the figure that had been having the conversation
with Petz could be seen, a metal platform started to slide out, to
the humming of whirring gears and machinery.
"That's one hell of a gangplank." Usagi muttered.
----o
The platform connected with a lock that sat underneath the
railing, giving a very satisfying click that made the four jump with
surprise, to Petz's amusement. The railing then slid aside,
allowing them all access.
Usagi, Rei, Ami and Luna were then marched across the platform
by Petz, her second in command and two more of her soldiers, the
others remaining on the ledge, as if guarding the access from some
invisible enemy.
On the other side of the platform, a doorway slid open in the
wall, with the same clunking of machinery that accompanied the
platform's movements. The individual whom Petz had had her private
conversation with stood in the doorway, a young woman, dressed in
the same black uniform, who had light hair that matched her
complexion, and a young, almost innocent face. She smiled, sweetly,
at Petz as they entered the building.
"My, I must say, these four don't look anywhere near as
troublesome as you described them." The young woman giggled.
"Thankyou for your kind words, Guardolier Beruche.... Is
everything prepared for them?" Luna and Usagi turned when they
heard Petz's question.
"What is prepared for whom?" Luna turned to Petz,
indignantly. Beruche ignored her.
"After your initial contact, we had the cell block readied
for them.... Plus the interrogation units, if need be."
"Interrogation units?" Usagi bit her lower lip.
"Interrogation for what?"
"Are they normally this talkative?" Beruche pointed to the
four. Petz shrugged.
"Well, they haven't stopped talking since we nabbed them. I
suppose you could say yes."
"I must protest...." Luna began, but wasn't given time to
finish. With a snap of Beruche's fingers, a dozen security guards,
dressed in a plain gray uniform, emerged from the wings and dragged
the four away to much noise and clamour. Petz and Beruche stuck
their fingers in their ears as Usagi and Rei used the most foul
language imaginable. Once they had been dragged through the rear
door of the guard room, Beruche relaxed.
"You may return to your patrol duties, Petz." She removed her
fingers from her ears. Petz, who still had hers firmly planted in,
looked at her with confusion.
"What did you say?"
Beruche sighed and gripped Petz's wrists, pulling them down to
her sides. "I said you can return to your patrol duties, now."
"Oh, right.... Sorry about that." Petz shook Beruche off and
clicked her fingers at her henchman, pointing back across the
platform. They nodded and started to make their way back across.
Petz paused before leaving. "Don't have too much fun with them.
I'd like to see them in one piece when I return, tonight."
"Oh, you...." Beruche waved her away as Petz chuckled.
----o
Usagi was bundled into the small, dark cell not long after she
had been stripped of her backpack and clothing, and bodily searched.
The indignity of the act was compounded by the number of people who
were watching, through various portals, into the common room of the
cell block.
Given back her suit, she quickly dressed, an instinctive need
to cover herself from the prying eyes.... Then she was manhandled
into the cell, a cubicle not much larger than a small shipping
container.... The cell comprised nothing more than four walls, a
floor and a ceiling, all made of the same rock-like concrete that
everything in the city seemed to be made of. The only concession to
comfort was a canvas mat at the far end of the cell.
Usagi listened, silently, as she heard Rei and Luna complain,
bitterly, about their treatment, as they too were bundled into cells
of their own. Then silence.
Usagi slunk her way over to the mat, and sat down, feeling
somewhat drained by her experience, and stared at the light that was
cast through the small window of her cell door, almost hypnotised by
the pale luminescence.
She must have been this way for close to an hour before her
cell door was opened. It surprised her, although it was standard
procedure within the Republic Security Forces to allow prisoners to
stew in their own juices for that length of time before they started
to question them. She didn't feel ready to be interrogated for
whatever reason it was they were going to be questioned....
She looked up at the doorway, and was surprised to find that
the only figure standing there was that of a small-framed man in his
late thirties. He was quite attractive, with a soft, boyish face
and white hair.... His skin, like most of those who lived in the
underworld, was pale, and his eyes seemed tired and somewhat
distant.
"So.... You are the one who professes not to know of me..."
He mused, softly. "Strange.... Since you seem to remind me of
someone I used to know."
"Who are you?" Usagi croaked. The man's face lit up with
amusement.
"Oh yes.... I remember now.... Indeed...." He stepped into
the cell, the door closing behind him. "Your name would be Usagi,
would it not?"
"Ano...." Usagi swallowed. "That is... my name... But how
did you...?" The man took a breath and knelt down before her.
"Yes, I thought so. Well, you can call me Sergei.... Sergei
Dimando...."
"Dimando?" Usagi's jaw hit the floor. "You... Aren't you
supposed to be.... The president of all this, here in these cells,
with a prisoner...."
"I witnessed you... ahem... 'search', and put an end to it
before my people caused you to endure much more of the indignity..."
He reached out a hand. "Please forgive their uncouth treatment....
They are a paranoid breed, but I fear it comes from some
justification."
Usagi took his hand, and the both of them got to their feet.
"Aren't you taking a risk, then, coming into the cell of a prisoner
like myself?"
Dimando smiled. "My dear, pretty young lady.... I know you,
perhaps better than you realise.... If you are willing, I would
like to extend the hand of our hospitality...."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Hmm?"
"One of the classic methods of interrogation is to get the
prisoner to let down their guard. How can I be sure that you aren't
just leading me on?"
Dimando seemed genuinely disappointed by Usagi's question. "I
guess.... You're just going to have to trust me...."
END OF PART 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ACROSS THE BORDER
In the heat of the day
Many miles away when the
Sun is beating down the main street.
I'll be waiting at the station,
I gotta move down the line.
They'll be dancing and singin'
And doin' their thing
And they'll be rockin' and rollin'
Until the day is done.
You know I've got to
Make the deadline-
I gotta get that southbound train tonight-
If I don't get to the border then I'll write.
The Mardis Gras
Will be blowing strong
And the people dancing
All across the city
I'm leavin' here tonight
I gotta move down the line.
I'm gonna catch a ride
On the 9.05
I'm gonna ride the rails
Until we reach the morning,
Maybe three or four
Hundred miles.
I gotta get that southbound train tonight-
If I don't get to the border then I'll write.
When the wind is blowing
Softly throughout the streets
of a little town
And the music's playin',
You're waitin' somewhere
Over the horizon.
I gotta get that southbound train tonight-
If I don't get to the border then I'll write.
-Jeff Lynne-
"Across the Border" is the 4th track from the Electric Light
Orchestra's 1977 double album, "Out of the Blue".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Chapter - "The Fish"
For those who have trouble understanding the language of the
underground dwellers.... Just read it backwards. Although, you
should ignore the way the letters are grouped.... That's just to
make sure it looks like a real language when spoken. Be a nightmare
for anyone to deal with if they intend to translate this into
any language other than its original English. ^_^;;
_________
/ @ \ DDFA (The Right Dishonourable Mark A Page)
/ / ^ ^ \ \ ayanami@internode.on.net
/\
\/ \/
\___________/
/_/ \_\ PU
--------------------------------------------------------------------
B I S H O U J O S E N S H I S A I L O R M O O N
A C R O S S T H E B O R D E R
by DARK DAY FOR ANIME (Mark A Page)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer - This is a story containing characters who were created
by anyone but me. That anyone would happen to be Takeuchi Naoko.
Handle it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
W H A T H A S G O N E B E F O R E
Having escaped the safe house alive, after the attack by the Realist
Militia soldiers under the command of ADAM JADE, the DEATH SAILORS:
TSUKINO USAGI III, HINO REI JNR and PROFESSOR MIZUNO AMI, operatives
of PRESIDENT SERENITY and the REPUBLIC OF SURREALISM, with the LADY
LUNA DE SADE, have made their way into the sewer system of the
Republic's capital in an effort to reach the district of Vermion
Lock, which borders Jade's stronghold in Nemesis Gate.
A single Realist soldier, by the name of DETERN, pursued them into
the sewers, and managed to catch up with them, but was dealt with by
Ami's underhanded technological trickery, and only just escaped with
his life as the sewer tunnel collapsed....
The Death Sailors reach the sewer access door at Bardon Park,
partway to their intended destination of Vermion Lock, where they
must cross the parkland border into Nemesis Gate. After a few
moments rest and discussion of their situation, they encounter....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Uh, I really think you should turn. I have something of a
small problem, here." Luna's voice was rather insistent, so they
did turn, and saw something they didn't want to see.
Two masked soldiers, dressed in black uniforms were standing
either side of Luna, holding rifles up to her head, as a third
emerged from a ventilation shaft set above the access door, jumping
down and holding the trio at bay with his own rifle.
As they moved for their own weapons, they heard clicking
noises and splashing sounds from the water channel behind them.
They turned back to the stream to see another ten or so soldiers,
standing in the water, their own weapons, mostly automatic and
semi-automatic rifles, targeting the three operatives..
"Oh shit bugger damn." Rei muttered.
"Yes.... Not the best of positions to be in." Ami swallowed
as the three lifted their hands from their weapons, trying to smile
and look unthreatening.
"Nice people...." Usagi croaked pathetically. "We don't want
to mess up your nice, clean dirty sewer, or anything. We'll leave,
if you want...."
"Who are you?" The figure at the front of those standing
within the stream strode forward. The voice was that of a stern
young woman.
"More to the point...." Usagi swallowed. "Who are you?"
The woman paused, lowering her rifle, cautiously. Slowly, she
lifted up her free hand and took hold of the top of her mask,
removing it.
The woman's face was regally attractive, with a soft, round
face with high cheekbones, fringed by dark, wavy hair that had
small, wavy cowlicks, falling across her forehead. Dark eyes
pierced the very souls of the four within the twilight of the
tunnel. She lifted her face and stared at them, arrogantly.
"I am Angelique Petz, commander of the brave soldiers of the
Republic of Darkness. I repeat my question. Who are you?"
----o
Part Six
Underworld
----o
"The Republic of what?" Usagi had just enough time to put
on a comical expression of confusion before all four were disarmed,
and bundled from the doorway ledge, into the stream below by the
trio of soldiers behind them. Usagi almost toppled forward into the
water, caught in time by Rei. "Thanks." She whispered softly to
the dark-haired girl.
"I'd rather not see anyone take a mouthful of this gunk." Rei
replied, pulling Usagi close to her. "Don't say anything to these
people that may antagonise them.... If they are who I think they
are, they might be of some assistance."
"What are you talking about?" Usagi frowned, before she felt
the muzzle of Petz's rifle prod her in the shoulder.
"Quiet, you." Petz sneered. "You remind me of someone I used
to know."
"Oh.... Uhh... That's nice." Usagi swallowed. Petz
shrugged and looked away.
"Yeah, I suppose you could say that. But she's dead now. I
had to kill her...." Petz rubbed the length of her rifle. "People
with faces like yours always turn out to be trouble." Usagi managed
to place Ami between herself and Petz, much to the woman's
amusement. Ami, put on the spot, felt it was time to exercise a
little of her knowledge involving the Republic of Darkness.
"Eraewoh wuoysa edursa enoemos llet ewdluo hsyhw." Ami stared
nervously the stunned Petz, who turned aside to her deputy. He
shrugged, gesturing to his mouth with one of his hands. Petz curled
her lips and turned back to Ami.
"You understand... our language?"
Ami raised an eyebrow, now feeling a little more confident.
"Won, kuo, ynah teromd natsre dnu spahrepi." Petz's lips pulled
back even further as she gritted her teeth, feeling that she had
lost control of the situation.
"Ylrael ceti uquoy. Dnat sred nuiemk comot deenon siereht."
"What did she say?" Usagi whispered aside to Ami, who tried
to hush her. Usagi wasn't having any of it, though. "It's no good
if you're going to talk a language I don't understand."
"You don't but she does, eh?" Petz smiled at Usagi, relieved
to learn that not all of her captives were capable of speaking her
kins' tongue.
"So what if I don't?" Usagi huffed. "I don't even know who
you people are. I've never heard of you before. Are you members of
the republic, or affiliated with the Reality Militia?"
Ami and Rei cringed as Petz strode forward, pushing them aside
and gripping the collar of Usagi's coat. "What did you say?"
"I... I said...." Petz didn't give Usagi the time to reply.
"WE ARE SOLDIERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF DARKNESS! WE EXIST TO
HIDE OUR ART FROM THE LIGHT OF DAY AS A STATEMENT IN ITSELF. WE ARE
NOT ALLIES OF THE REALITY DISEASE! THOSE WHO SAY SO MUST DIE!" And
with that, Petz lifted the muzzle of her rifle underneath Usagi's
chin. Usagi was as close as one could get to wetting herself at
that moment. It was Rei who managed to save Usagi's bacon. Getting
down on her knees, lowering herself into the murky water that ran
along the sewer, she bowed her head to Petz.
"Syaw ruo yfot narong, isi ehsr uono hruo yott lusni rehevi
grof." Petz looked down at Rei, sneering.
"Diaseh stah wrof rehlli, kotgnill iwnah teromerael poepy muo
ydnuo rakool ruo noh ruoottlus nireh rofes ucxeons iecnarong ireh!"
Rei lifted her head and stared at Petz's soldiers, all of whom
appeared ready to use their weapons on Usagi at any moment, she
lowered it once more, trying to affect an appeasing stance.
"Esru ocfol liwru oyotre, dnerru sew."
Petz laughed in Rei's face. "Ecioh cynau oygni vigtonerae
werau oyes ruocfo." She lowered her gun from Usagi, who used the
occasion to take a breath, having held it in until now. "Are you
members of the Reality Militia?" Petz asked of Rei, who raised her
head to meet Petz's gaze.
"We are... operatives of the Republic.... We are... were...
being pursued by members of the Reality Militia, who are attempting
to kill us, so we are not given the opportunity to kill their
leader, Adam Jade."
"Hino....." Lady Luna pushed past Ami. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Rei turned to Lady Luna
with a pained expression.
"Kneeling in parasite-infested water.... You can't just tell
these people about our plans.... They're not members of the
Republic's system...."
"What else would you have me do? Allow them to kill Usagi?"
Rei held up a fist to Luna, who went silent, then turned back to
Petz who had let go of Usagi, pondering what Rei had told her.
"And who might you be?" Petz's attention changed to the new
interloper, placing Luna on the spot.
"Who indeed." Luna crossed her arms and looked away. "I
don't give my name to barbarians who lurk within the foetid darkness
of the sewers."
"Good one, Luna. Antagonise them. It'll make everything so
much better." Usagi croaked as she rubbed her throat, still feeling
the aftereffects of having her collar dig into her skin.
"Lady Luna de Sade." Petz chuckled. "Well well well....
This is a comedown for a member of the old aristocracy...." She
paced around Luna, pressing her face uncomfortably close. "Not used
to getting down and dirty with 'barbarians' like our good selves,
yet more than willing to traverse these sewers with a trio of
incompetents, not knowing what you might stumble into."
"They are not incompetent." Luna huffed. "They are one of
the Republic's best assassin teams."
"Hoooo." Petz and her soldiers mocked, then started to laugh.
Within a moment, Petz raised her hand, and they all went silent.
"Very impressive, my dear Lady.... But it must be said, if they
were competent, then they wouldn't have been so easily caught out
by the ambush we had sprung on them." She pressed her face
underneath Luna's right ear. "Ne?"
"That was.... unfortunate." Luna shivered at Petz's presence.
"And I am not 'traversing' the sewers by choice. That was her
decision." Luna gestured to Rei, still on her knees. "Are you
going to kneel there all day? You've probably got a terminal blood
fluke infestation, already...." She turned back to Petz, pressing
her own face up close. "So, what do you intend to do with us,
hmmm?"
Petz smiled, stepping back as she shrugged. "I suppose I
could dispose of you.... That would be the normal course of action.
We can't have anyone from the world of light witnessing our
performances, especially those dedicated to serving the light...."
She paused. "However, your purpose.... to kill this Adam Jade....
has me intrigued. I think it may be worthy to take you to see OUR
president."
"Di... Dimando?" Ami gasped as she helped Rei to her feet.
"I'm lost." Usagi scratched her head.
"I'm not surprised, for someone as stupid as you." Petz
snapped at her, making Usagi cringe.
"Don't be like that.... I dunno who this Dimando person
is...."
"You've never heard of the GREAT DIMANDO?" Petz stared at
her, disbelievingly.
"No... Should I?" Usagi swallowed, quite certain she had
sealed her fate with this. Petz, however, arched her back, laughing
out loud.
"Dimando shall be truly disappointed.... Someone who DOESN'T
know of him.... The great hero of the civil war...." Petz slung
her rifle over her shoulder. "One of the reasons he joined us, to
become our president.... To escape the fawning hero worship of
those within the light. He shall, indeed, take a shine to you,
girl. Come, let us return to our homeland." And with that, Petz
snapped her fingers, pointing further along the tunnel. After
replacing her mask, Lady Luna and the Death Sailors were marched
away from the Bardon Park doorway intersection. At gunpoint, to
their consternation.
----o
The first sign that they were approaching anything that could
be described as a form of civilisation was the noise of people....
Partying. It was distant, but with each step, it came closer, and
louder.
They had trudged through a series of tunnels of varying
standard and condition. Across dilapidated metal and concrete
walkways which spanned underground caverns of immense size and
proportion, both manmade and natural. Then through a succession of
locks and doors, many of which, surely, no longer existed on the
maps of the capital city management.
Usagi remarked, occasionally, over the writing that had been
stamped on much of the construction they had encountered....
Characters she was unfamiliar with. Only Ami and Lady Luna seemed to
understand the language, and remarked that it was nothing more than
inconsequential directional and safety guidelines, written in a
language that they'd described as 'Japanese'.
"Japanese?" Usagi scratched her head. "I've never heard of
it. Does it still exist?"
"It did. Three thousand years ago, back in the pre-Elysian
era of our nation's history, when all the islands were united....
The language was used to create a semblance of a common bond between
the people." Ami rubbed her chin as she studied some of the symbols
on a doorway they were passing through. She was moved along by one
of Petz's soldiers.
They continued along the sewer, which began a slow descent.
There was tacked-on railing at the side if the tunnel, which they
used to stop themselves slipping on the wet, mold-laden floor. The
rails had obviously been placed there well after the tunnel's
construction, possibly by members of the Darkness. Most of Usagi's
efforts to question Petz or any of her soldiers on the matter was
met with cold silence, or a form of gentle persuasion to keep
moving, by a now-consistent nudging of gun muzzles.
After ten minutes, the tunnel started to level off, then
widen. Usagi pushed up alongside Ami, nudging her in the side.
"What happened to the language?" She sniffed. "A language
just doesn't disappear, does it?"
"What language?" Ami frowned.
"This 'Japanese' language...." Usagi looked at her,
hopefully. "Is that how you say it?" Ami opened her mouth and
nodded.
"Oh, it exists.... Or fragments of it.... However, the
collapse of the pre-Elysian society into a succession of feudal
militarist regimes saw the upswing of regionalism and regional
dialects and the watering-down of resistance to outside influences.
The majority of the language we speak today finds its source on the
other side of the planet."
"Yeah, what you said." Usagi scratched her head, lost in
Ami's explanation.
"Look, it's very simple.... All languages change over time,
mostly through little pockets of population speaking in accents,
which become less and less like the original language to form
languages of their own. Place, on top of this, frequently spoken
languages from outside these regions, and what you get is a totally
new language that bears nothing in common with the original, not
even in their basic patterns of written form and audible
expressionist content."
"You're starting to use the long words, again." Usagi sighed.
"I almost managed to follow you, that time." Usagi felt someone
nudge her in the side, and turned to see Luna, who was staring
around at the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. "What? What is it?"
"Is it my imagination, or is it unusually bright in here?"
Ami and Usagi looked around, surprised to find that their
torches were no longer providing the lion's share of the
illumination.
Ami switched off her torch, placing it within her jacket. "A
strange, green glow, wouldn't you say?" She ran her hand along the
wall of the tunnel.
"A form of fungus, producing a phosphorescent-like glow." Ami
turned to Petz's voice, surprised to find the woman so close behind
her, so quickly. "Despite the fact that our people have grown
accustomed to the lack of light that exists within the world we
live, we are not yet capable of seeing in the dark.... We
congregate wherever this fungus is to be found.... Indeed, we have
studied it, and learnt how to make it grow, and prosper...."
Petz gripped Ami's arm and dragged her to the head of the
group, watched by Usagi, Luna and Rei. At the end of the tunnel was
a ledge, lined by a railing. Beyond the ledge, they could hear the
sounds of people, and see a greater amount of the eerie green glow.
Petz held Ami up against the railing, the blue-haired girl staring
at the scene below her with awe. "You see it? THAT is OUR
homeland."
"A CITY?!?" Ami's mouth hung open. "Down here?"
"A city beneath a city." Petz crowed, proudly.
Beyond the tunnel, a monumentally huge cavern opened up,
running for miles in every direction. From both the roof and the
floor of the cavern, like massive stalactites and stalagmites, were
buildings and residences, hewn from the same material as the walls
of the cavern itself.
The entire scene was illuminated by vast quantities of the
same fungus that lined the entrance tunnel. And along the centre of
the cavern's floor was a vast esplanade, along which hundreds of
people were celebrating in various groups and marquees.
"They're.... They're celebrating the Festival of Ephis?" Ami
turned to Petz, who removed her mask with a flourish, her face a
picture of rapturous madness.
"Do you think those who prefer to live in the light have the
sole rights of ownership to the ways and thoughts of the great
Montxo Ephis? It is by his teachings that we choose to be what we
are."
"OX TNOM LI AHLLA!" Shouted one of Petz's solders.
"OX TNOM LI AHLLA!" The others replied. Ami shook her head
and sighed. Next to her, Petz had lifted up a small lamp, which had
been hooked to her belt, and started to signal to a figure who
could be seen through a window in the nearest building that hung
from the ceiling. Usagi, Rei and Luna joined Ami as they watched
the private conversation that was flashed back and forth.
"What are you doing?" Luna inquired of Petz as she refastened
the lamp to her belt.
"You don't think I brought you here just for the view, do you?
We have to get down from here, somehow."
"And how would that 'somehow' be?" Luna stared at Petz,
archly.
"You're really cruisin' for a good whuppin', you know that?"
Usagi snarled at her. Luna ignored her and leaned over the railing.
"It's a long way down. I hope you're not expecting us to
abseil down the side of this cavern." Petz chuckled at Luna's
statement.
"Nothing of the sort, my dear Lady. I promise you, we shall
make our way down, into the city, with a little more style than
that." Petz gestured towards the nearest building. From underneath
the window where the figure that had been having the conversation
with Petz could be seen, a metal platform started to slide out, to
the humming of whirring gears and machinery.
"That's one hell of a gangplank." Usagi muttered.
----o
The platform connected with a lock that sat underneath the
railing, giving a very satisfying click that made the four jump with
surprise, to Petz's amusement. The railing then slid aside,
allowing them all access.
Usagi, Rei, Ami and Luna were then marched across the platform
by Petz, her second in command and two more of her soldiers, the
others remaining on the ledge, as if guarding the access from some
invisible enemy.
On the other side of the platform, a doorway slid open in the
wall, with the same clunking of machinery that accompanied the
platform's movements. The individual whom Petz had had her private
conversation with stood in the doorway, a young woman, dressed in
the same black uniform, who had light hair that matched her
complexion, and a young, almost innocent face. She smiled, sweetly,
at Petz as they entered the building.
"My, I must say, these four don't look anywhere near as
troublesome as you described them." The young woman giggled.
"Thankyou for your kind words, Guardolier Beruche.... Is
everything prepared for them?" Luna and Usagi turned when they
heard Petz's question.
"What is prepared for whom?" Luna turned to Petz,
indignantly. Beruche ignored her.
"After your initial contact, we had the cell block readied
for them.... Plus the interrogation units, if need be."
"Interrogation units?" Usagi bit her lower lip.
"Interrogation for what?"
"Are they normally this talkative?" Beruche pointed to the
four. Petz shrugged.
"Well, they haven't stopped talking since we nabbed them. I
suppose you could say yes."
"I must protest...." Luna began, but wasn't given time to
finish. With a snap of Beruche's fingers, a dozen security guards,
dressed in a plain gray uniform, emerged from the wings and dragged
the four away to much noise and clamour. Petz and Beruche stuck
their fingers in their ears as Usagi and Rei used the most foul
language imaginable. Once they had been dragged through the rear
door of the guard room, Beruche relaxed.
"You may return to your patrol duties, Petz." She removed her
fingers from her ears. Petz, who still had hers firmly planted in,
looked at her with confusion.
"What did you say?"
Beruche sighed and gripped Petz's wrists, pulling them down to
her sides. "I said you can return to your patrol duties, now."
"Oh, right.... Sorry about that." Petz shook Beruche off and
clicked her fingers at her henchman, pointing back across the
platform. They nodded and started to make their way back across.
Petz paused before leaving. "Don't have too much fun with them.
I'd like to see them in one piece when I return, tonight."
"Oh, you...." Beruche waved her away as Petz chuckled.
----o
Usagi was bundled into the small, dark cell not long after she
had been stripped of her backpack and clothing, and bodily searched.
The indignity of the act was compounded by the number of people who
were watching, through various portals, into the common room of the
cell block.
Given back her suit, she quickly dressed, an instinctive need
to cover herself from the prying eyes.... Then she was manhandled
into the cell, a cubicle not much larger than a small shipping
container.... The cell comprised nothing more than four walls, a
floor and a ceiling, all made of the same rock-like concrete that
everything in the city seemed to be made of. The only concession to
comfort was a canvas mat at the far end of the cell.
Usagi listened, silently, as she heard Rei and Luna complain,
bitterly, about their treatment, as they too were bundled into cells
of their own. Then silence.
Usagi slunk her way over to the mat, and sat down, feeling
somewhat drained by her experience, and stared at the light that was
cast through the small window of her cell door, almost hypnotised by
the pale luminescence.
She must have been this way for close to an hour before her
cell door was opened. It surprised her, although it was standard
procedure within the Republic Security Forces to allow prisoners to
stew in their own juices for that length of time before they started
to question them. She didn't feel ready to be interrogated for
whatever reason it was they were going to be questioned....
She looked up at the doorway, and was surprised to find that
the only figure standing there was that of a small-framed man in his
late thirties. He was quite attractive, with a soft, boyish face
and white hair.... His skin, like most of those who lived in the
underworld, was pale, and his eyes seemed tired and somewhat
distant.
"So.... You are the one who professes not to know of me..."
He mused, softly. "Strange.... Since you seem to remind me of
someone I used to know."
"Who are you?" Usagi croaked. The man's face lit up with
amusement.
"Oh yes.... I remember now.... Indeed...." He stepped into
the cell, the door closing behind him. "Your name would be Usagi,
would it not?"
"Ano...." Usagi swallowed. "That is... my name... But how
did you...?" The man took a breath and knelt down before her.
"Yes, I thought so. Well, you can call me Sergei.... Sergei
Dimando...."
"Dimando?" Usagi's jaw hit the floor. "You... Aren't you
supposed to be.... The president of all this, here in these cells,
with a prisoner...."
"I witnessed you... ahem... 'search', and put an end to it
before my people caused you to endure much more of the indignity..."
He reached out a hand. "Please forgive their uncouth treatment....
They are a paranoid breed, but I fear it comes from some
justification."
Usagi took his hand, and the both of them got to their feet.
"Aren't you taking a risk, then, coming into the cell of a prisoner
like myself?"
Dimando smiled. "My dear, pretty young lady.... I know you,
perhaps better than you realise.... If you are willing, I would
like to extend the hand of our hospitality...."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Hmm?"
"One of the classic methods of interrogation is to get the
prisoner to let down their guard. How can I be sure that you aren't
just leading me on?"
Dimando seemed genuinely disappointed by Usagi's question. "I
guess.... You're just going to have to trust me...."
END OF PART 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ACROSS THE BORDER
In the heat of the day
Many miles away when the
Sun is beating down the main street.
I'll be waiting at the station,
I gotta move down the line.
They'll be dancing and singin'
And doin' their thing
And they'll be rockin' and rollin'
Until the day is done.
You know I've got to
Make the deadline-
I gotta get that southbound train tonight-
If I don't get to the border then I'll write.
The Mardis Gras
Will be blowing strong
And the people dancing
All across the city
I'm leavin' here tonight
I gotta move down the line.
I'm gonna catch a ride
On the 9.05
I'm gonna ride the rails
Until we reach the morning,
Maybe three or four
Hundred miles.
I gotta get that southbound train tonight-
If I don't get to the border then I'll write.
When the wind is blowing
Softly throughout the streets
of a little town
And the music's playin',
You're waitin' somewhere
Over the horizon.
I gotta get that southbound train tonight-
If I don't get to the border then I'll write.
-Jeff Lynne-
"Across the Border" is the 4th track from the Electric Light
Orchestra's 1977 double album, "Out of the Blue".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Chapter - "The Fish"
For those who have trouble understanding the language of the
underground dwellers.... Just read it backwards. Although, you
should ignore the way the letters are grouped.... That's just to
make sure it looks like a real language when spoken. Be a nightmare
for anyone to deal with if they intend to translate this into
any language other than its original English. ^_^;;
_________
/ @ \ DDFA (The Right Dishonourable Mark A Page)
/ / ^ ^ \ \ ayanami@internode.on.net
/\
\/ \/
\___________/
/_/ \_\ PU
--------------------------------------------------------------------