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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 DDFA (Mark A Page)
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Disclaimer - This is a story containing characters who were created
by anyone but me. That anyone would happen to be Takeuchi Naoko.
Handle it.
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W H A T H A S G O N E B E F O R E
After being given the task of hunting down and killing the reality
terrorist and dictator, Adam Jade, the Death Sailors and the Lady
Luna de Sade have been pursued by his forces into the sewers of the
Republic of Surrealism's capital.
Whilst making their escape, they are captured by soldiers of the
Republic of Darkness, ruled over by the one-time hero of the
struggle against the once-ruling monarchy, Sergei Dimando. They are
taken to the underground city that is the homeland of his republic,
and treated cruelly at the hands of underlings. But before their
mistreatment can go any further, Dimando himself intercedes on their
behalf....
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"The most disappointing thing about living underground...."
Dimando smiled as he strolled casually along the concourse,
overlooking the main boulevard of the underground city, making Usagi
feel slightly nervous. "....Is losing the tan that I had once been
so famous for. The glow of the fungus just isn't a replacement for
pure sunlight. But then, I suppose that is really the point down
here.... The sun is our enemy. We live for much more subtle
shades, much like the mechanisms by which our society operates."
Usagi looked around the concourse, feeling slightly giddy in
the unfamiliar situation. Having been freed of her cell, she had
been personally invited by Dimando to his private domain, where he
had been celebrating the Festival of Ephis with his personal
entourage when he had learnt of her capture. And now here she was,
walking in the open air (well, closed air, considering how far
underground they were, but she wasn't splitting hairs over such
concepts) without so much as a weapon or any signs of personal
defence for either herself or Dimando.... It made her feel utterly
naked. Not as naked as she had been when Beruche's people had
stripped and searched her earlier, but naked all the same.
She became aware that Dimando was awaiting some response to
his statements, and she did a double take. "Subtle.... As subtle
as being bundled by a gang of armed goons into your city and being
strip-searched?"
"Yes, I'm terribly sorry about that." Dimando looked away, a
smile on his face. "Not my idea of subtlety, true, but when you are
at war, you can't expect the normal shade of civility to show its
face." Dimando stepped away from her, leaning against the railing
and looking down onto the boulevard, where street entertainers were
making more noise than was really necessary in such a sealed
environment. Usagi opened her mouth to say something, closed it
again as she thought things through, then....
"War? With the Reality Militias?" There was a long silence.
Uncomfortably long. Without turning, Dimando nodded.
"I'd escaped to this place in the hope of not seeing this kind
of hostility again. The Civil War was enough for me. I didn't want
to glorify what I had done, since I had not been willingly party to
my actions. I'm not a violent man, but there is blood on my hands,
and the spirits of those people shall never let me be." Usagi
swallowed and looked at her own hands for a moment, silently
remarking on the blood she had, metaphorically stained there.
Dimando, meanwhile, continued.... "So I wanted to go somewhere
where I should never have to face that kind of possibility again."
He stood up and turned to her. "But it followed me here. I suppose
I blame myself for allowing that to happen. Ever since the blockade
at Bardon Park...."
"What blockade?" Usagi came to from her musings.
"The militias had set up a command post and training camp
within one of the old construction pits in the tunnels underneath
Bardon Park. When my people discovered it, we naturally destroyed
it. The tunnels are our territory. Unfortunately, the militias had
rather taken to the idea of using the underground as their personal
playground. We have been fighting them off ever since." Usagi
lowered her eyes, digesting this piece of information.
"Why did you not ask us for help?"
"Ask you for help?" Dimando laughed out loud, then controlled
himself when he realised Usagi was being serious. "My dear girl, it
is against the fundamental philosophies of our society to ask those
who bask in the light of the sun for help. It would also mean
giving us away to anyone who might wish to bring us harm. An enemy
on your borders is something you can live with and fight against,
safe in the knowledge that they are over there...." He pointed away
from them, gesturing the concept. "But a potential enemy right
under your very feet is another matter. You'd never be able to
remove the sense of insecurity that it would bring you."
Usagi sighed and turned from him, stepping away a short
distance. "We still could have helped." She muttered.
"Perhaps." He said with equal softness. Usagi then turned
back to him.
"That still doesn't explain why you were so keen to release
me. I mean just me. Myself. I. Not my partners." She crossed
her arms. "I mean, you have let them out of their cells, but you've
only allowed me the run of the city. Why?"
Dimando smiled and waved a finger in front of his face. "Now
that would be telling."
----o
Part Seven
Past Perfect
----o
The brightness of the room was surprising, considering how
little light there was coming in through the small, barred windows.
Surprising, considering the dark moods of the trio that were,
nominally, imprisoned there.
Beruche had described it as a guests' leisure room. Not that
Dimando had many 'guests', considering how secretive the Republic of
Darkness liked to be. In fact, it was probably built for people
just like they, but that didn't make them feel any more honored.
They could hear the sounds of the boulevard beyond the
windows, and that made their captivity all that much worse. Rei was
pacing from one end of the room to the other, occasionally cursing
at the painting of Dimando, set above a mock fireplace at one end of
the room. At the other end, she'd kick the large, thick metallic
door, painted to look vaguely wooden. She'd then hop around as she
was reminded of how solid it actually was. Then she'd forget again
over the next few minutes of pacing, glancing at the tablet-like
monitor set in between two windows, which displayed a narrowcast of
the festivities. She hated feeling caged like this.... Indeed, Ami
remarked to herself as she watched her partner, Rei resembled a
caged lion, walking backwards and forwards along the length of the
bars, waiting its opportunity to escape.
Ami was sitting in the middle of the room, on the small settee
that marked the only substantial item of furniture, hunched over
with her hands in her lap, thinking. Occasionally she would glance
at the others, then at the monitor. Neither Rei nor Luna paid her
much attention, which was how she liked to think things through....
Undisturbed. Luna was lounging across the back of the settee,
staring at the ceiling, drumming her fingers against the sides of
the cushions. She had not moved from this position since they were
guided here, and Ami was counting the seconds until she exploded.
Well, of the three of them, she was the most likely to. Both she
and Rei were trained, to some degree, to vent their frustrations in
as expedient a manner possible. Luna, on the other hand, was a
member of the aristocracy, and whatever her experience she was still
subject to her emotions.
"Usagi...." Luna said, softly. Rei paused in her stride and
turned to her.
"What about her?"
"I'm...." Luna paused with her mouth open, then closed it
again and remained silent. Rei took a long breath and turned to the
monitor, gesturing to it with a dismissive hand.
"You'd think they'd lock us in here with more to watch than
this garbage." She huffed, crossing her arms. "Street theatre.
Woah, am I impressed." Her tone dripped with sarcasm. "Montxo
Ephis would be turning in his grave." She paused. "Of course, his
grave is somewhere above us right now. I'd hate to think, when I
die and am shoved into the dirt to feed the weeds, that this was the
only entertainment available to me."
"What is so wrong with street theatre?" Luna asked, flatly.
Well, as flatly as she was able to. Rei snorted.
"This isn't art. This isn't even close to a form of valid
expressionism. It's just a pack of tossers making an arse of
themselves to anyone who might want to use the street as a street."
"Not everyone feels that bombing kindergartens is a valid form
of expressionism, Rei." Ami mumbled. Luna sat up at this, looking
from one girl to the other.
"Bombing kindergartens?" She raised her eyebrows. "You're
not telling me you...."
"That was a joke." Ami sighed and pulled a remote from the
gap in the settee between herself and the armrest. "Anyway, we can
always change channels."
"Was that a joke?" Luna turned to Rei, ignoring Ami. Rei put
her hands on her hips, a wicked smile on her face.
"I'll let you decide, hmmm?" She turned back to the monitor.
"Okay, lets see what other crap they've got running. It's not like
there is anything else we can do until Usagi brokers us some form of
freedom."
"We could always try planning an escape." Luna sounded
hopeful. "You know, make some kind of plan.... Trick our captors
into thinking one of us is sick, and then...."
"What for?" Ami held up the remote and switched the channel
on the monitor. It now showed a pair of young women, lying naked on
a bed, petting and kissing each other. "Oh now that is classy."
Ami snorted.
"What for?" Luna shook her head. "Need I remind you that we
have something to do that cannot wait?"
"Are they old enough to be doing that kind of thing?" Rei
crossed her arms and watched as the girls.... continued to pet and
kiss each other, without seeming to go any further.
"Who knows." Ami rested her head against her arms. "Maybe
they're making some statement about pornography? They don't seem to
be getting anywhere with what they're doing."
"Thus denying those watching for purely voyeuristic reasons
the payoff they're looking for." Rei pointed to the top right hand
corner of the screen, in which a clock display quietly ticked away
to itself. "If that's any guide, they've been at this for close to
eleven hours."
"I wonder if they have toilet breaks?" Ami crossed her legs.
"Speaking of which...."
"You two seem to have absolutely no sense of duty or purpose!"
Luna clenched her fists at her sides, growling as her patience
finally snapped. Rei and Ami turned to her, their faces
expressionless masks.
"Perhaps...." Ami said, softly and directly to Luna. "It
would be an idea for your good self to assume feline form. Whilst
it is certainly impossible for us to escape this room." She pointed
to the barred windows. "It certainly won't be so difficult for
something as small as a cat."
Luna's rigid form relaxed, and she made to say something, then
she shook her head. "Yes, well.... I might, at the very least, be
able to see what is going on between Usagi and Dimando...."
"Weren't you all gung-ho about our escaping from here?" Rei
asked, petulantly. Luna closed her eyes, shaking her head.
"You wouldn't understand. I need to see what is happening
between them." She opened her eyes again. Ami had now stood and
both she and Rei were ranging up on Luna. "What?"
"You've seemed unduly concerned with what is going on between
Usagi and Dimando before we were even placed here." Ami cocked her
head to one side, rubbing her chin. "Why?"
"It's not something you would understand."
"Try us." Rei made the short statement seem rather final.
Luna sighed and turned away from them, pacing across the room to a
window on the far side.
"It.... is rather personal. Only a very few people know about
it. But I'm afraid." She shook her head. "No, afraid isn't the
right word. I'm sure Dimando wouldn't hurt her."
"Dimando HURT Usagi?" Rei crossed the floor quickly, grabbing
Luna by the arm and spinning her around.
"Be careful, that hurts...." Luna mumbled as Rei gripped her
other arm, forcing her to face her.
"Why would Dimando hurt Usagi?" Rei demanded of her. Luna
shook her head.
"No, you don't understand.... That's not what I mean. I
mean, back in the days of the civil war, Dimando and President
Serenity fought alongside each other.... They were members of the
same republican platoon." She paused. "And a great deal more...."
Rei let go of Luna's arms. "Dimando.... and President
Serenity.... were...."
"Lovers, yes. They had a relationship that lasted until just
before the end of hostilities."
Ami paced on the spot, theorising. "And Usagi bears a great
resemblance to Serenity. And thus, he might...." She paused, then
stopped and chuckled. "Well, he might get more than he bargains for
if he does. I'm sure Usagi wouldn't tolerate such a guy making a
pass on her."
"That's the problem." Luna looked miserable. "Even at his
age, he's still a good looking man. And a very powerful man at
that." She gestured around her. "With all this at his beck and
call, she might just consider doing anything to curry favour with
him. To free us so we can continue on our way, and our purpose. Or
even have the Republic of Darkness support us."
"She wouldn't." Ami shook her head.
"Actually...." Rei looked from one to the other. "She might
just." She covered her eyes with a hand, rubbing them as if
suddenly tired. "Usagi has something of a second-rate death wish.
She tends to take risks, and sometimes I think it's because she's
willing death to claim her. There are moments when she doesn't care
about herself or her reputation."
"Oh, it's much worse than that." Luna glowered. "You see,
after Serenity and Dimando broke up, she fell in love with, and
married, Lord Endymion."
"I know that. So what." Luna looked at Rei in frustration.
"What most people don't realise is that they had a child."
"But President Serenity...." Rei began, before something
dawned on her. "A child.... A daughter?" Luna nodded. Ami
blinked, cluelessly.
"President Serenity cannot have children. We all know that.
How could she and Endymion have had a child? A daughter?"
"Baka!" Rei snapped at her. "Isn't it patently clear? Why
do you think Usagi looks so much like President Serenity? Because
she is the President's daughter!"
Ami's mouth opened wide as it hit home. "But that.... That
still doesn't explain the fact that the President cannot have
children."
"Oh no, she can't have children NOW." Luna warmed to the
subject. "And back then, they hid her pregnancy from people so as
to protect the child from assassins or kidnappers. Eventually, when
she was born, she was given to a pair of foster parents. She never
knew they were not her parents. Even after they were killed in a
terrorist attack...." Luna's voice started to fail. She composed
herself, then continued. "Someone within the echelons of government
found out about Usagi, and attempted to kill her. But they failed,
instead only killing her family.... Her foster family."
A long silence followed, as both Ami and Rei returned to the
settee, sitting down whilst trying to digest this new information.
"And so...." Rei licked her lips. "That's why you want to protect
Usagi.... from Dimando...."
"No. I mean, yes.... Oh, it gets worse. You see, nobody was
ever sure about the paternity of Usagi.... You see.... Dimando may
be Usagi's father."
----o
"And so night falls." JunJun smiled to herself as she stared
at the darkening sky. "And the Festival of Ephis enters its final
day. Will Jade's army bring devastation upon us all, or will this
day mark a turn in the eternal struggle against reality?" She
peered over at CereCere, who was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed,
as if meditating. "You know, I find it very boring to spend a large
portion of my day on the roof of a building. Especially in a
district as devoid of takeaways as Nemesis Gate."
"As devoid of anything." VesVes was hunched up against the
roof wall, holding her legs. "Oh, I want to kill something so
badly. It's just burning me up from within."
"That's not really our job, this time. Ain't that right,
CereCere." JunJun waited for an answer, but received none.
"Yes...." She went on anyway. "That's not our job. Of course,
they don't give us the complicated jobs, anyway."
"With your attitudes, I'm not particularly surprised."
CereCere opened her eyes, smiling sweetly. "It is our role in life
to provide distractions, so that others may get on with their work,
whatever that work may be. And in this case, those 'others' do seem
to be somewhat delayed. I imagine they're having something of a
problem getting here from the other side of the city. Perhaps they
have been cornered by a faction of the militias."
"Whatever they're doing, I'm still bored." VesVes snorted.
"I say we ditch this place and find out what's holding them up."
"Patience, my dear girl, patience." CereCere held up a hand.
"Although I am enamored with that as an idea in itself, remember
that we are also in a vulnerable position. At any moment, our
presence here may be detected by the enemy's surveillance. And then
we shall be, how would you say, neck deep in smelly brown stuff.
Precipitous action may be our downfall."
"Well...." JunJun pointed to the sleeping form to her left.
"At least one of us knows how to behave in this situation." She
smiled as she prodded PallaPalla in the side with a finger, making
the girl mutter.
"PallaPalla wanna her candy.... PallaPalla can't live without
her candy." She snuffled and buried her head deeper into the folds
of her backpack. JunJun placed a hand on her forehead, a rare soft
expression on her face.
"Remember when we used to be like her, before our personality
programs kicked in?" The other two remained silent, so she
continued. "Like an ice pick through my mind. That's what it felt
like. And then there was the bleeding. I almost died. She still
hasn't gone through that."
"I hope she never goes through something like that." VesVes
muttered, clenching on of her hands. "Because when she does, there
will be hell to pay, for everyone around her."
----o
Usagi said little as she was guided through what appeared to
be a form of moss garden courtyard. She was happy enough that this
particular lifeform did not glow, as she was becoming slightly
queasy because of the strange green light given off by the fungus.
Dimando must have noticed this, she felt, as he placed a gentle arm
around her shoulders and helped her through to the next building, a
large hallway that was illuminated by counterbalancing reddish
lamps.
"The glow of the fungus takes quite a bit of getting used to,
I'm afraid. And I'm not just talking about its colour." Dimando
helped her to a small seat, set to one side of the hallway. "It can
be detrimental to one's health, for a little while. It gives off
rays that cause the body to produce chemicals in the blood of those
who are not seasoned by its glow." She looked up at him in alarm
after leaning forward, holding her face in her hands to stop the
world spinning. "No no no. They won't cause you any long-term
damage. It's an autonomic reaction within the body.... It thinks
something is happening when it isn't, and does strange things like
that for a little while."
"How long?" Usagi said, eventually, when she found her voice.
"A day or so. As I said, it won't cause you any long-term
damage. There have been people living down here for hundreds of
years, and they aren't all suddenly breaking out in strange diseases
and mutations."
"I'd keep a watch on it, though." Usagi breathed in deeply,
allowing the air to clear her head. "Regardless of how many
generations have been down here.... I'd keep watching. Living in a
place like this, long term, is likely to change the people, even in
subtle ways."
"We are not afraid of change. Those who are are already
dead." Dimando smiled, even though his tone seemed serious. "I'm
sorry that this had to happen to you so soon. I would have liked to
have shown you a little more of my palace. Now I suggest you get
some rest and sleep the problems away."
"I can't." Usagi stood, unsteadily at first, making Dimando
reach forward for her, but she waved him away. "All this
hospitality is very nice, but there really is something both myself
and my friends have to do. We can't be kept here like this."
Dimando raised an eyebrow, but his smile didn't disappear.
"You were found within the sewer system of the surface city, of
course. What were you doing up there?"
Usagi opened her mouth to say something, then paused. "I
don't know if I can tell you, but it IS important, for the future of
the surface city. MY city. MY homeland."
"Yes, that's all very well...." Dimando nodded, pursing his
lips. "But you're here, now. And I don't know if I can let you
go."
"Why not?" Usagi stared at him, making him feel as if he'd
been struck by a 10,000 volt blast. He struggled to reply.
"The location of the city is a secret."
"The reality militias know about it." Usagi put her hands on
her hips. Dimando sighed. She was just like her. EXACTLY like
her. Always forthright and to the point, even if the point was
wrong.
"No, they don't know about the city. They know we exist, but
they don't know where the city, itself, is. And, I'm afraid, that
is something we'd rather keep a secret."
"Even at the expense of the Republic of Surrealism?" Usagi
growled. "If that is the case then I'd rather die. You'll have to
kill me, because there is no way I am going to remain here, whilst
my friends and people are butchered by Jade's peop...."
"Jade? Adam Jade?" Dimando frowned as Usagi put a hand
across her mouth.
"I didn't say that. You didn't hear me say that...." She
stammered as Dimando stepped away, rubbing his chin.
"Adam Jade.... He can't have joined them. No! I refuse to
believe such a possibility."
"Why? Is it so hard to believe that such a terrorist would
become part of the reality militias?" Having given away most of
everything, Usagi decided, there wasn't much point in hiding it any
longer.
"Adam Jade was one of the most dedicated members of the
Republican Guard, both during and after the civil war." Dimando's
face hardened. "Oh yes, I knew Adam Jade. He was a good man, and
a truly artistic spirit."
"He is a cold-blooded murderer and a terrorist. Given the
opportunity, I will kill him with my bare hands. It would pleasure
me to do so." Usagi sneered. "Whatever he may have been in your
time, he has more than betrayed."
"And.... is he your target? Are you an assassination squad,
hired to kill this man?" Dimando turned to Usagi, and her emotions
did an about-face. There seemed to be a sadness in his eyes.
"We are such a squad, yes, but we are patriots. Part of the
armed services that protect the Republic."
"It's always a mistake, you know.... To allow oneself to
become emotional about the past." Dimando put his hands on her
shoulders. "I knew your parents, you know? They were good people.
The most honorable people it has been my pleasure to meet."
Usagi swallowed, wondering if she should have felt some
surprise at this revelation. It certainly explained why he had
singled her out the way he did. "Did you know they were killed by a
terrorist, working for the reality militias?"
His fingers tightened their grip, giving her all the answer
she needed. Still, he said.... "No, I didn't know that. I left
not long after the foundation of the Republic. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I have been claiming revenge for their deaths ever
since."
Dimando let go of her and threw his hands in the air. "Oh, my
child.... How could you?"
"How could I?" She didn't understand the question. "It was
very easy. VERY easy. My family.... They were EVERYTHING to me.
Without them, there was nothing else to live for. There IS nothing
else to live for."
"No.... No.... My child, you don't understand." Dimando
shook his head. "I had hoped you hadn't sullied yourself....
Brought yourself down to the same level as the militias. I'm sorry.
I understand how hard it must have been for you."
"Oh, don't be." Usagi stepped back from him. "Knowing this
obviously makes you think a whole lot less of me." She turned and
started down the hallway. "I take it this leads to your private
chambers? We can discuss my fate and that of my friends there."
"Wait!" Dimando swallowed as paused and she turned, arms
crossed. "I didn't mean to offend you. I'm not criticising you for
what has happened in your life. That is all in the past, now, so it
doesn't matter. It's just that.... You remind me of someone.
Someone I used to know quite well." He paused, not knowing what to
say next. "I had hoped.... You would live a more peaceful and
happy life than she. It hurts me to know how much sadness you have
endured, and how much it has affected you."
Usagi's expression was unreadable. She tilted her head back,
slightly. "Is that all? Is that really the reason why you
separated me from the others? Because I remind you of someone?"
"Is it not enough?" He replied, softly. "That, and the fact
that I was there when you were born. Is that not enough for you?"
Usagi remained silent for a few moments more, thinking.
"Would you then kill me if I asked you to?"
Now it was Dimando's turn to think things through. "Why?
Would you ever be likely to ask me?"
"Perhaps." She paused. "If you think so highly of me, you
can let us be on our way, where I might possibly die. Would that
not amount to the same thing?" She paused again. "This
conversation is becoming morbid. Let us continue on our way...."
And with that, Dimando lead Usagi to his private chambers in
silence....
END OF PART 7
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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 through 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".
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_________
/ @ \ DDFA (The Right Dishonourable Mark A Page)
/ / ^ ^ \ \ ayanami@internode.on.net
/\
\/ \/
\___________/
/_/ \_\ PU
Version 1.0 - 3.33am Friday, 9th June 2000
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 DDFA (Mark A Page)
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Disclaimer - This is a story containing characters who were created
by anyone but me. That anyone would happen to be Takeuchi Naoko.
Handle it.
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W H A T H A S G O N E B E F O R E
After being given the task of hunting down and killing the reality
terrorist and dictator, Adam Jade, the Death Sailors and the Lady
Luna de Sade have been pursued by his forces into the sewers of the
Republic of Surrealism's capital.
Whilst making their escape, they are captured by soldiers of the
Republic of Darkness, ruled over by the one-time hero of the
struggle against the once-ruling monarchy, Sergei Dimando. They are
taken to the underground city that is the homeland of his republic,
and treated cruelly at the hands of underlings. But before their
mistreatment can go any further, Dimando himself intercedes on their
behalf....
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"The most disappointing thing about living underground...."
Dimando smiled as he strolled casually along the concourse,
overlooking the main boulevard of the underground city, making Usagi
feel slightly nervous. "....Is losing the tan that I had once been
so famous for. The glow of the fungus just isn't a replacement for
pure sunlight. But then, I suppose that is really the point down
here.... The sun is our enemy. We live for much more subtle
shades, much like the mechanisms by which our society operates."
Usagi looked around the concourse, feeling slightly giddy in
the unfamiliar situation. Having been freed of her cell, she had
been personally invited by Dimando to his private domain, where he
had been celebrating the Festival of Ephis with his personal
entourage when he had learnt of her capture. And now here she was,
walking in the open air (well, closed air, considering how far
underground they were, but she wasn't splitting hairs over such
concepts) without so much as a weapon or any signs of personal
defence for either herself or Dimando.... It made her feel utterly
naked. Not as naked as she had been when Beruche's people had
stripped and searched her earlier, but naked all the same.
She became aware that Dimando was awaiting some response to
his statements, and she did a double take. "Subtle.... As subtle
as being bundled by a gang of armed goons into your city and being
strip-searched?"
"Yes, I'm terribly sorry about that." Dimando looked away, a
smile on his face. "Not my idea of subtlety, true, but when you are
at war, you can't expect the normal shade of civility to show its
face." Dimando stepped away from her, leaning against the railing
and looking down onto the boulevard, where street entertainers were
making more noise than was really necessary in such a sealed
environment. Usagi opened her mouth to say something, closed it
again as she thought things through, then....
"War? With the Reality Militias?" There was a long silence.
Uncomfortably long. Without turning, Dimando nodded.
"I'd escaped to this place in the hope of not seeing this kind
of hostility again. The Civil War was enough for me. I didn't want
to glorify what I had done, since I had not been willingly party to
my actions. I'm not a violent man, but there is blood on my hands,
and the spirits of those people shall never let me be." Usagi
swallowed and looked at her own hands for a moment, silently
remarking on the blood she had, metaphorically stained there.
Dimando, meanwhile, continued.... "So I wanted to go somewhere
where I should never have to face that kind of possibility again."
He stood up and turned to her. "But it followed me here. I suppose
I blame myself for allowing that to happen. Ever since the blockade
at Bardon Park...."
"What blockade?" Usagi came to from her musings.
"The militias had set up a command post and training camp
within one of the old construction pits in the tunnels underneath
Bardon Park. When my people discovered it, we naturally destroyed
it. The tunnels are our territory. Unfortunately, the militias had
rather taken to the idea of using the underground as their personal
playground. We have been fighting them off ever since." Usagi
lowered her eyes, digesting this piece of information.
"Why did you not ask us for help?"
"Ask you for help?" Dimando laughed out loud, then controlled
himself when he realised Usagi was being serious. "My dear girl, it
is against the fundamental philosophies of our society to ask those
who bask in the light of the sun for help. It would also mean
giving us away to anyone who might wish to bring us harm. An enemy
on your borders is something you can live with and fight against,
safe in the knowledge that they are over there...." He pointed away
from them, gesturing the concept. "But a potential enemy right
under your very feet is another matter. You'd never be able to
remove the sense of insecurity that it would bring you."
Usagi sighed and turned from him, stepping away a short
distance. "We still could have helped." She muttered.
"Perhaps." He said with equal softness. Usagi then turned
back to him.
"That still doesn't explain why you were so keen to release
me. I mean just me. Myself. I. Not my partners." She crossed
her arms. "I mean, you have let them out of their cells, but you've
only allowed me the run of the city. Why?"
Dimando smiled and waved a finger in front of his face. "Now
that would be telling."
----o
Part Seven
Past Perfect
----o
The brightness of the room was surprising, considering how
little light there was coming in through the small, barred windows.
Surprising, considering the dark moods of the trio that were,
nominally, imprisoned there.
Beruche had described it as a guests' leisure room. Not that
Dimando had many 'guests', considering how secretive the Republic of
Darkness liked to be. In fact, it was probably built for people
just like they, but that didn't make them feel any more honored.
They could hear the sounds of the boulevard beyond the
windows, and that made their captivity all that much worse. Rei was
pacing from one end of the room to the other, occasionally cursing
at the painting of Dimando, set above a mock fireplace at one end of
the room. At the other end, she'd kick the large, thick metallic
door, painted to look vaguely wooden. She'd then hop around as she
was reminded of how solid it actually was. Then she'd forget again
over the next few minutes of pacing, glancing at the tablet-like
monitor set in between two windows, which displayed a narrowcast of
the festivities. She hated feeling caged like this.... Indeed, Ami
remarked to herself as she watched her partner, Rei resembled a
caged lion, walking backwards and forwards along the length of the
bars, waiting its opportunity to escape.
Ami was sitting in the middle of the room, on the small settee
that marked the only substantial item of furniture, hunched over
with her hands in her lap, thinking. Occasionally she would glance
at the others, then at the monitor. Neither Rei nor Luna paid her
much attention, which was how she liked to think things through....
Undisturbed. Luna was lounging across the back of the settee,
staring at the ceiling, drumming her fingers against the sides of
the cushions. She had not moved from this position since they were
guided here, and Ami was counting the seconds until she exploded.
Well, of the three of them, she was the most likely to. Both she
and Rei were trained, to some degree, to vent their frustrations in
as expedient a manner possible. Luna, on the other hand, was a
member of the aristocracy, and whatever her experience she was still
subject to her emotions.
"Usagi...." Luna said, softly. Rei paused in her stride and
turned to her.
"What about her?"
"I'm...." Luna paused with her mouth open, then closed it
again and remained silent. Rei took a long breath and turned to the
monitor, gesturing to it with a dismissive hand.
"You'd think they'd lock us in here with more to watch than
this garbage." She huffed, crossing her arms. "Street theatre.
Woah, am I impressed." Her tone dripped with sarcasm. "Montxo
Ephis would be turning in his grave." She paused. "Of course, his
grave is somewhere above us right now. I'd hate to think, when I
die and am shoved into the dirt to feed the weeds, that this was the
only entertainment available to me."
"What is so wrong with street theatre?" Luna asked, flatly.
Well, as flatly as she was able to. Rei snorted.
"This isn't art. This isn't even close to a form of valid
expressionism. It's just a pack of tossers making an arse of
themselves to anyone who might want to use the street as a street."
"Not everyone feels that bombing kindergartens is a valid form
of expressionism, Rei." Ami mumbled. Luna sat up at this, looking
from one girl to the other.
"Bombing kindergartens?" She raised her eyebrows. "You're
not telling me you...."
"That was a joke." Ami sighed and pulled a remote from the
gap in the settee between herself and the armrest. "Anyway, we can
always change channels."
"Was that a joke?" Luna turned to Rei, ignoring Ami. Rei put
her hands on her hips, a wicked smile on her face.
"I'll let you decide, hmmm?" She turned back to the monitor.
"Okay, lets see what other crap they've got running. It's not like
there is anything else we can do until Usagi brokers us some form of
freedom."
"We could always try planning an escape." Luna sounded
hopeful. "You know, make some kind of plan.... Trick our captors
into thinking one of us is sick, and then...."
"What for?" Ami held up the remote and switched the channel
on the monitor. It now showed a pair of young women, lying naked on
a bed, petting and kissing each other. "Oh now that is classy."
Ami snorted.
"What for?" Luna shook her head. "Need I remind you that we
have something to do that cannot wait?"
"Are they old enough to be doing that kind of thing?" Rei
crossed her arms and watched as the girls.... continued to pet and
kiss each other, without seeming to go any further.
"Who knows." Ami rested her head against her arms. "Maybe
they're making some statement about pornography? They don't seem to
be getting anywhere with what they're doing."
"Thus denying those watching for purely voyeuristic reasons
the payoff they're looking for." Rei pointed to the top right hand
corner of the screen, in which a clock display quietly ticked away
to itself. "If that's any guide, they've been at this for close to
eleven hours."
"I wonder if they have toilet breaks?" Ami crossed her legs.
"Speaking of which...."
"You two seem to have absolutely no sense of duty or purpose!"
Luna clenched her fists at her sides, growling as her patience
finally snapped. Rei and Ami turned to her, their faces
expressionless masks.
"Perhaps...." Ami said, softly and directly to Luna. "It
would be an idea for your good self to assume feline form. Whilst
it is certainly impossible for us to escape this room." She pointed
to the barred windows. "It certainly won't be so difficult for
something as small as a cat."
Luna's rigid form relaxed, and she made to say something, then
she shook her head. "Yes, well.... I might, at the very least, be
able to see what is going on between Usagi and Dimando...."
"Weren't you all gung-ho about our escaping from here?" Rei
asked, petulantly. Luna closed her eyes, shaking her head.
"You wouldn't understand. I need to see what is happening
between them." She opened her eyes again. Ami had now stood and
both she and Rei were ranging up on Luna. "What?"
"You've seemed unduly concerned with what is going on between
Usagi and Dimando before we were even placed here." Ami cocked her
head to one side, rubbing her chin. "Why?"
"It's not something you would understand."
"Try us." Rei made the short statement seem rather final.
Luna sighed and turned away from them, pacing across the room to a
window on the far side.
"It.... is rather personal. Only a very few people know about
it. But I'm afraid." She shook her head. "No, afraid isn't the
right word. I'm sure Dimando wouldn't hurt her."
"Dimando HURT Usagi?" Rei crossed the floor quickly, grabbing
Luna by the arm and spinning her around.
"Be careful, that hurts...." Luna mumbled as Rei gripped her
other arm, forcing her to face her.
"Why would Dimando hurt Usagi?" Rei demanded of her. Luna
shook her head.
"No, you don't understand.... That's not what I mean. I
mean, back in the days of the civil war, Dimando and President
Serenity fought alongside each other.... They were members of the
same republican platoon." She paused. "And a great deal more...."
Rei let go of Luna's arms. "Dimando.... and President
Serenity.... were...."
"Lovers, yes. They had a relationship that lasted until just
before the end of hostilities."
Ami paced on the spot, theorising. "And Usagi bears a great
resemblance to Serenity. And thus, he might...." She paused, then
stopped and chuckled. "Well, he might get more than he bargains for
if he does. I'm sure Usagi wouldn't tolerate such a guy making a
pass on her."
"That's the problem." Luna looked miserable. "Even at his
age, he's still a good looking man. And a very powerful man at
that." She gestured around her. "With all this at his beck and
call, she might just consider doing anything to curry favour with
him. To free us so we can continue on our way, and our purpose. Or
even have the Republic of Darkness support us."
"She wouldn't." Ami shook her head.
"Actually...." Rei looked from one to the other. "She might
just." She covered her eyes with a hand, rubbing them as if
suddenly tired. "Usagi has something of a second-rate death wish.
She tends to take risks, and sometimes I think it's because she's
willing death to claim her. There are moments when she doesn't care
about herself or her reputation."
"Oh, it's much worse than that." Luna glowered. "You see,
after Serenity and Dimando broke up, she fell in love with, and
married, Lord Endymion."
"I know that. So what." Luna looked at Rei in frustration.
"What most people don't realise is that they had a child."
"But President Serenity...." Rei began, before something
dawned on her. "A child.... A daughter?" Luna nodded. Ami
blinked, cluelessly.
"President Serenity cannot have children. We all know that.
How could she and Endymion have had a child? A daughter?"
"Baka!" Rei snapped at her. "Isn't it patently clear? Why
do you think Usagi looks so much like President Serenity? Because
she is the President's daughter!"
Ami's mouth opened wide as it hit home. "But that.... That
still doesn't explain the fact that the President cannot have
children."
"Oh no, she can't have children NOW." Luna warmed to the
subject. "And back then, they hid her pregnancy from people so as
to protect the child from assassins or kidnappers. Eventually, when
she was born, she was given to a pair of foster parents. She never
knew they were not her parents. Even after they were killed in a
terrorist attack...." Luna's voice started to fail. She composed
herself, then continued. "Someone within the echelons of government
found out about Usagi, and attempted to kill her. But they failed,
instead only killing her family.... Her foster family."
A long silence followed, as both Ami and Rei returned to the
settee, sitting down whilst trying to digest this new information.
"And so...." Rei licked her lips. "That's why you want to protect
Usagi.... from Dimando...."
"No. I mean, yes.... Oh, it gets worse. You see, nobody was
ever sure about the paternity of Usagi.... You see.... Dimando may
be Usagi's father."
----o
"And so night falls." JunJun smiled to herself as she stared
at the darkening sky. "And the Festival of Ephis enters its final
day. Will Jade's army bring devastation upon us all, or will this
day mark a turn in the eternal struggle against reality?" She
peered over at CereCere, who was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed,
as if meditating. "You know, I find it very boring to spend a large
portion of my day on the roof of a building. Especially in a
district as devoid of takeaways as Nemesis Gate."
"As devoid of anything." VesVes was hunched up against the
roof wall, holding her legs. "Oh, I want to kill something so
badly. It's just burning me up from within."
"That's not really our job, this time. Ain't that right,
CereCere." JunJun waited for an answer, but received none.
"Yes...." She went on anyway. "That's not our job. Of course,
they don't give us the complicated jobs, anyway."
"With your attitudes, I'm not particularly surprised."
CereCere opened her eyes, smiling sweetly. "It is our role in life
to provide distractions, so that others may get on with their work,
whatever that work may be. And in this case, those 'others' do seem
to be somewhat delayed. I imagine they're having something of a
problem getting here from the other side of the city. Perhaps they
have been cornered by a faction of the militias."
"Whatever they're doing, I'm still bored." VesVes snorted.
"I say we ditch this place and find out what's holding them up."
"Patience, my dear girl, patience." CereCere held up a hand.
"Although I am enamored with that as an idea in itself, remember
that we are also in a vulnerable position. At any moment, our
presence here may be detected by the enemy's surveillance. And then
we shall be, how would you say, neck deep in smelly brown stuff.
Precipitous action may be our downfall."
"Well...." JunJun pointed to the sleeping form to her left.
"At least one of us knows how to behave in this situation." She
smiled as she prodded PallaPalla in the side with a finger, making
the girl mutter.
"PallaPalla wanna her candy.... PallaPalla can't live without
her candy." She snuffled and buried her head deeper into the folds
of her backpack. JunJun placed a hand on her forehead, a rare soft
expression on her face.
"Remember when we used to be like her, before our personality
programs kicked in?" The other two remained silent, so she
continued. "Like an ice pick through my mind. That's what it felt
like. And then there was the bleeding. I almost died. She still
hasn't gone through that."
"I hope she never goes through something like that." VesVes
muttered, clenching on of her hands. "Because when she does, there
will be hell to pay, for everyone around her."
----o
Usagi said little as she was guided through what appeared to
be a form of moss garden courtyard. She was happy enough that this
particular lifeform did not glow, as she was becoming slightly
queasy because of the strange green light given off by the fungus.
Dimando must have noticed this, she felt, as he placed a gentle arm
around her shoulders and helped her through to the next building, a
large hallway that was illuminated by counterbalancing reddish
lamps.
"The glow of the fungus takes quite a bit of getting used to,
I'm afraid. And I'm not just talking about its colour." Dimando
helped her to a small seat, set to one side of the hallway. "It can
be detrimental to one's health, for a little while. It gives off
rays that cause the body to produce chemicals in the blood of those
who are not seasoned by its glow." She looked up at him in alarm
after leaning forward, holding her face in her hands to stop the
world spinning. "No no no. They won't cause you any long-term
damage. It's an autonomic reaction within the body.... It thinks
something is happening when it isn't, and does strange things like
that for a little while."
"How long?" Usagi said, eventually, when she found her voice.
"A day or so. As I said, it won't cause you any long-term
damage. There have been people living down here for hundreds of
years, and they aren't all suddenly breaking out in strange diseases
and mutations."
"I'd keep a watch on it, though." Usagi breathed in deeply,
allowing the air to clear her head. "Regardless of how many
generations have been down here.... I'd keep watching. Living in a
place like this, long term, is likely to change the people, even in
subtle ways."
"We are not afraid of change. Those who are are already
dead." Dimando smiled, even though his tone seemed serious. "I'm
sorry that this had to happen to you so soon. I would have liked to
have shown you a little more of my palace. Now I suggest you get
some rest and sleep the problems away."
"I can't." Usagi stood, unsteadily at first, making Dimando
reach forward for her, but she waved him away. "All this
hospitality is very nice, but there really is something both myself
and my friends have to do. We can't be kept here like this."
Dimando raised an eyebrow, but his smile didn't disappear.
"You were found within the sewer system of the surface city, of
course. What were you doing up there?"
Usagi opened her mouth to say something, then paused. "I
don't know if I can tell you, but it IS important, for the future of
the surface city. MY city. MY homeland."
"Yes, that's all very well...." Dimando nodded, pursing his
lips. "But you're here, now. And I don't know if I can let you
go."
"Why not?" Usagi stared at him, making him feel as if he'd
been struck by a 10,000 volt blast. He struggled to reply.
"The location of the city is a secret."
"The reality militias know about it." Usagi put her hands on
her hips. Dimando sighed. She was just like her. EXACTLY like
her. Always forthright and to the point, even if the point was
wrong.
"No, they don't know about the city. They know we exist, but
they don't know where the city, itself, is. And, I'm afraid, that
is something we'd rather keep a secret."
"Even at the expense of the Republic of Surrealism?" Usagi
growled. "If that is the case then I'd rather die. You'll have to
kill me, because there is no way I am going to remain here, whilst
my friends and people are butchered by Jade's peop...."
"Jade? Adam Jade?" Dimando frowned as Usagi put a hand
across her mouth.
"I didn't say that. You didn't hear me say that...." She
stammered as Dimando stepped away, rubbing his chin.
"Adam Jade.... He can't have joined them. No! I refuse to
believe such a possibility."
"Why? Is it so hard to believe that such a terrorist would
become part of the reality militias?" Having given away most of
everything, Usagi decided, there wasn't much point in hiding it any
longer.
"Adam Jade was one of the most dedicated members of the
Republican Guard, both during and after the civil war." Dimando's
face hardened. "Oh yes, I knew Adam Jade. He was a good man, and
a truly artistic spirit."
"He is a cold-blooded murderer and a terrorist. Given the
opportunity, I will kill him with my bare hands. It would pleasure
me to do so." Usagi sneered. "Whatever he may have been in your
time, he has more than betrayed."
"And.... is he your target? Are you an assassination squad,
hired to kill this man?" Dimando turned to Usagi, and her emotions
did an about-face. There seemed to be a sadness in his eyes.
"We are such a squad, yes, but we are patriots. Part of the
armed services that protect the Republic."
"It's always a mistake, you know.... To allow oneself to
become emotional about the past." Dimando put his hands on her
shoulders. "I knew your parents, you know? They were good people.
The most honorable people it has been my pleasure to meet."
Usagi swallowed, wondering if she should have felt some
surprise at this revelation. It certainly explained why he had
singled her out the way he did. "Did you know they were killed by a
terrorist, working for the reality militias?"
His fingers tightened their grip, giving her all the answer
she needed. Still, he said.... "No, I didn't know that. I left
not long after the foundation of the Republic. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I have been claiming revenge for their deaths ever
since."
Dimando let go of her and threw his hands in the air. "Oh, my
child.... How could you?"
"How could I?" She didn't understand the question. "It was
very easy. VERY easy. My family.... They were EVERYTHING to me.
Without them, there was nothing else to live for. There IS nothing
else to live for."
"No.... No.... My child, you don't understand." Dimando
shook his head. "I had hoped you hadn't sullied yourself....
Brought yourself down to the same level as the militias. I'm sorry.
I understand how hard it must have been for you."
"Oh, don't be." Usagi stepped back from him. "Knowing this
obviously makes you think a whole lot less of me." She turned and
started down the hallway. "I take it this leads to your private
chambers? We can discuss my fate and that of my friends there."
"Wait!" Dimando swallowed as paused and she turned, arms
crossed. "I didn't mean to offend you. I'm not criticising you for
what has happened in your life. That is all in the past, now, so it
doesn't matter. It's just that.... You remind me of someone.
Someone I used to know quite well." He paused, not knowing what to
say next. "I had hoped.... You would live a more peaceful and
happy life than she. It hurts me to know how much sadness you have
endured, and how much it has affected you."
Usagi's expression was unreadable. She tilted her head back,
slightly. "Is that all? Is that really the reason why you
separated me from the others? Because I remind you of someone?"
"Is it not enough?" He replied, softly. "That, and the fact
that I was there when you were born. Is that not enough for you?"
Usagi remained silent for a few moments more, thinking.
"Would you then kill me if I asked you to?"
Now it was Dimando's turn to think things through. "Why?
Would you ever be likely to ask me?"
"Perhaps." She paused. "If you think so highly of me, you
can let us be on our way, where I might possibly die. Would that
not amount to the same thing?" She paused again. "This
conversation is becoming morbid. Let us continue on our way...."
And with that, Dimando lead Usagi to his private chambers in
silence....
END OF PART 7
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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 through 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".
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_________
/ @ \ DDFA (The Right Dishonourable Mark A Page)
/ / ^ ^ \ \ ayanami@internode.on.net
/\
\/ \/
\___________/
/_/ \_\ PU
Version 1.0 - 3.33am Friday, 9th June 2000