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All You Wanted
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( So lonely inside, )
( So busy out there, )
( And all you wanted was somebody who cared. )
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-- *Chapter 10: Remembering Home* --

"You could've told us earlier."

"I know...but we were afraid. Of what, I don't know. But...we were sort of scared of losing you guys."

-- ** --

Squall was awakened by the noise of a girl shouting his name and furiously banging on his door. He rolled off his bed and went to the door, nevermind that he was half naked in only his leather pants.

He hugged himself; it had been cold around Garden lately. He slid open the door, and Minako was there.

"I need the Ragnarok," she said, not beating around the bush.

Squall laughed, "I'm just supposed to give it to you? Yeah, right-"

"That's what Headmaster Cid says," Minako replied. She held a piece of paper out to Squall. He took it, rubbed his eyes and read it. It was from Headmaster Cid, and it said,

Squall,
I need a favor. Lend the Ragnarok to Miss Aino,
and I promise I'll pay you the gas money.
If you're not busy, I'd prefer you accompany the
group(headed for Esthar). It's important business
concerning sorceresses, and you seem to have
somewhat of a knack handling these things.
- Cid Kramer

Squall nodded. "A mission to Esthar?" he asked.

"More important than that," Minako said. "Now get dressed! We need to get there as soon as possible."

-- ** --

Ami and Rei were packing in Rei's dorm.

"You think this guy can help me? I mean- I nearly killed somebody- Seifer! I-I care about him...I could explode any minute and turn on you and Minako. If that-"

"If that happens," Ami interjected, "we'll do whatever we can to get you back to normal."

"No- If I hurt you, then I want you to-"

"I want you to start packing. The quicker we get there, the quicker we can find out what's happening to you. Oh, Rei, don't be so pessimistic. You could just be having a bad day. I'm sure it's stress," Ami consoled.

Rei sighed, "Whatever you say..." But they didn't see me. They couldn't feel what I felt. This isn't stress.

When the two had their bags packed, they left the room, making a bit of noise. They slid the door shut. A few people leaned outside their dorms and asked where they were going. Zell leaned out of his dorm, shirt off and in boxers.

"Where ya goin'?" he asked Ami.

"To Esthar," Ami said to him as she passed. She was not stopping. "On the Ragnarok with Seifer."

"What? Hey, wait up!" Zell scowled. He darted back into his dorm. He emerged later in normal clothing, and he ran down the hall after Rei and Ami, who were already at the directory. "I'm not leaving you alone with that guy."

Rei giggled. "He's not a rapist or anything."

"Yeah, well he's done worse," Zell spat. He crossed his arms and got closer to Ami.

Ami smiled. Zell was so protective of her! She never felt as safe as she did when she was with Zell. Ami was probably right in thinking that nothing could touch her as long as Zell was around. It surprised her how much he obviously cared for her. Loved her. Ami blushed, and Rei giggled when she saw it.

-- ** --

Ami, Zell and Rei met Seifer, Squall and Minako at the front gate. It was still dark outside, but little rays of light could be seen shooting up over the horizon. Squall gestured for them to follow them. Everyone was behind him, save Minako, who was at his side.

"What's this all about?" Squall asked as he speed walked.

"Rei attacked Seifer. Seifer said that she was talking like- like Ultimecia, that sorceress," Minako replied.

"Impossible," Squall said flatly, "we killed her. Four years ago."

"You killed her? Psh- Tell that to Rei and Seifer."

"Where are we supposed to be going in Esthar? Don't tell me-"

"Doctor Odine? Never heard of the guy, but Headmaster Cid assured us that he's a genius when it comes to psychological matters."

"He's still alive?" Squall groaned. He wasn't liking this trip already.

-- ** --

Onboard the Ragnarok, Minako, Rei and Ami were in the passenger room, sitting silently.

"Oh..." Minako said, abruptly breaking the silence. "Ami, we have to tell Rei. About the communicators."

"Right..." Ami replied. "While you were in the Training Center with Seifer, we picked something up on the communicators. It was...Sailor Moon. She was telling us that her and Sailor Jupiter needed us. There were explosions and...and that damn spider was there!" She was suddenly, and very understandably angry. "That spider was there. The two of them couldn't handle it. I don't blame them...three of us couldn't."

Rei looked downcast. Her eyes were dark. "You know, I really resent that spider. Once all this is over, I'm going to set my Ruby Dragon on it. If we ever get back...I hate that spider! If it weren't for that goddamn spider! I would be at home. Or at the shrine with my grandfather. Maybe all five of us would be at the arcade, looking out for hot guys? One thing is for certain: I wouldn't be here, on this blasted plane! I wouldn't have nearly killed the man that I...that I...that I'm friggin' in love with! I wouldn't be absolutely terrified of hurting my two best friends- I would be in control...I really, really hate that spider!"

"You're in love with Seifer?" Minako asked, as if she couldn't see why.

"Of course I am..." Rei said miserably. "He's been there for me- forever. I mean, I nearly killed the guy, and he walked me back to my dorm just to make sure I was okay." She put her face in her hands. "I don't know what I'm going to do! I nearly killed him. I- I couldn't bare myself if I did it again. I don't want to hurt him-"

Just then, the door opened. Zell, Squall and Seifer entered.

"Hey!" Minako exclaimed, looking at Zell. "The plane needs a pilot, you know."

"Auto-pilot," replied Zell. While the other two guys sat, he leaned on a chair.

There was a tense silence.

"Yes.....?" Minako asked. They were obviously there for a reason.

"We want answers," Squall replied.

Minako laughed at how dramatic Squall had said it. "Like what?"

"Where are you from?" Seifer asked. "It's completely obvious you didn't lose your memory."

Rei sniffed. Minako took a sudden interest in her nails. Ami started fiddling with her watch.

Zell walked over to Ami and sat down by her. He took her hands into his and said softly, "I know I promised you I wouldn't bug you about it...but we gotta know. It might help Rei out." He smiled at her, a sincere look in his eyes. Ami melted for him- just like she always did when he smiled at her. God, she loved this guy...

Ami looked at her knees, and then to Minako and Rei. They shrugged in reply. Ami sighed, "All right then. Where are we from? Rei, Minako and I are from Tokyo. Japan. Earth."

Squall gave them a puzzled look before replying meanly, "There's no such place. This isn't a time to play games."

"I tried to tell you Squall," Minako snapped, "that you wouldn't understand. Tokyo is in Japan. On Earth. Far away from here."

Squall scowled at her. "Ok. We'll skip that. How did you get here?"

"A spider attacked us," Rei said, obviously very bitter. "A big, stupid, talking spider. It attacked us with Gravija, and we ended up in the forest you found us in."

Squall looked annoyed now. Even Seifer seemed skeptical. The only one who looked like he believed what they were saying was Zell. He believed them because he knew that Ami wouldn't lie to him. Squall was thinking, and suddenly he remembered something. When he had found them, a T-Rexaur nearly killed him. He saw something- he thought it was a goddess- a girl, and the girl killed off the T-Rexaur. He had asked the girls if they saw it, but they had lied and said no.

"When we found you three in the forest, a T-Rexaur attacked the three of you. I almost died, but someone saved me and you. Who? I know you know who, because if you didn't, you wouldn't have lied about seeing her. And don't try to tell me you didn't see her," Squall said.

At this, the three girls stiffened.

"I shouldn't have transformed," Minako muttered. Then louder, she said, "It was me. I'm sorry, Ami, Rei- but they should know. It might have something to do with you, Rei, and...I want you to get better soon, hun." Rei nodded, as did Ami. "The three of us have this...ability, you could call it. We can transform in senshi- warriors of sorts. It makes us a lot more powerful than we normally are, and we've got special attacks. I transformed when I saw the T-Rexaur slash at you. I thought you were going to die, and you had done it to save us, so I- I transformed. Into Sailor Venus."

"So you three are the superheroes!" Zell exclaimed. "That day while we were out training in the forest with Instructor Hui! One group nearly became dino-lunch, but a three 'angels' saved them. That was you!"

Ami nodded. Rei laughed, "We were angels for the day. And according to one of the group, the trees were bowing to us, thanking us! What these people come up with..."

"Your compact, Minako," Squall said, "tell me about your compact. What's in it?"

Minako rummaged through her bag and took it out. She opened it and showed them. "This is a screen used to talk to the rest of the Sailor Scouts- that's what we calls ourselves. There are two more back home, Usagi and Makoto. Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter. We use them to communicate, but we're so far from home, we can barely get any kind of reception."

"They're supposed to work through different times and dimensions, but they just won't," Ami said. "They've been working a little lately. We've been getting fuzzes all over the place. We...Minako and I saw them. They need our help. We need to get back home, quickly."

"Not until we find out what's going on with Rei," Seifer said grimly. "It's going to take more than five teenage girls to wipeout a sorceress like Ultimecia."

-- ** --

"I see..." Doc Odine said, once he had heard the whole story. He was looking at Rei with acute interest, studying her, sizing her up. She felt very transparent all of a sudden. "So if vhat you are telling me is true, zen I ve vill have to run some...tests on her."

"You're not touching her," Seifer said, stepping in front of Rei defensively. "I know you-"

"Ah, ze Sorceress Knight. I vould like a look inside your head as vell. But ve must be satisfied vith vhat ve get. Take her to ze observation room. She will be safe zere," Odine ordered.

"Safe from what?" Minako asked concernedly. Rei looked dejected.

"Herself," the doctor replied cryptically. Two assistants deck in all white escorted Rei into a door. She looked afraid, and her eyes almost pleaded for someone to stop them. But everyone stood perfectly still.

"Vith zat said, you may leave ze building. I have no need for a group of ruffians in my office," Doctor Odine said. He sniffed, almost with disdain. Ami giggled. The little man was so funny looking! And his speech was something else...Zell clearly did not like the man, however. She suspected they had a bit of a history. "Vell? Vhat are you vaiting for? Go!"

"Wait," Minako said suddenly. "I have...a problem..."

"Minako..." Squall said.

"A problem?" said the doctor, his interest piqued. "Vhat kind of a problem?"

Ignoring the looks she was getting from Squall, Minako continued, "I...feel things before monsters attack. I don't understand it. Maybe you could tell me what's going on?"

"Ah, yes, vell, I vould have to run some tests on you also. Vould that be okay?" he asked, already motioning for another set of white assistants to take Minako. Minako nodded, somewhat uncertainly. The assistants gently took her arms and ushered her through a door. "Vell zen, leave now?"

Squall shook his head. "Two of our company are detained here. We're not leaving."

Odine sniffed. "I figured as much. Vell, ve vill notify you of ze test results as soon as possible." He walked into another door, muttering something sounded like, "Interesting, very, very interesting." Just as the door was closing, Ami stood up and called for him. "Vhat is it now?!" he asked irritably.

Ami pulled her communicator out of her carry along backpack. She held it out to him. "Could you take a look at this? It might interest you."

Doctor Odine scuttled over to her and took it away from her, rather like a child taking a toy form another. He looked at, all the while muttering, "...Hmm...seems to be some sort of communication device...yes, yes, obviously...hmm...hmm...vell, let's have a looksee." With that, he promptly banged the communicator on the wall. Again and again, and again!

"Hey!" Ami gasped. "That's not replaceable! Stop that!"

When it was sufficiently damaged, Odine pulled it apart and had a look inside.

"Vow...Ze technology is very advanced. Vhere did you get zis?" he asked.

Ami crossed her arms, a little angry. "A friend," she replied, "as a gift. I really hope you can fix that!"

"Of course I can. I am Odine, and so nozing is impossible. Zis is a very curious machine." He pulled a few pieces apart and moved it into the light for a better look. "It is ingenious! But vhat is zis? Oh, yes, very, very interesting to me. Vould you mind if I had a look at zis machine in my laboratory?"

Ami looked put out. "No," she replied. He had already destroyed the thing anyway. He scuttled away into the elevator before anyone could stop him. Ami collapsed on a bench next to Zell.

"That guy..." Zell muttered. "Never try to get a straight answer outta' him. He's gotta story for everythin'. Loves the sound of his own voice..."

"You're telling me," Ami sighed, putting her head to rest on Zell's shoulder. "I hope he can do something about Rei though. I was hoping he'd be able to tell me why the communicators weren't working, too."

Seifer got up and started pacing. Without warning, he went to the elevator, pressed the button and jumped on. Squall and Zell rose from their seats.

"Ahh...where's that guy off to?" Zell asked peevishly. "Gonna start some trouble, I bet. That's all he is. Really."

Squall scratched behind his ear. He wondered if he should go after Seifer. He took a look at Zell, now shadow boxing. Ami was sitting up straight, looking concerned and worried. He shrugged and sat back down. He doubted Seifer would start something while Rei was being held in an 'observation room', which, knowing Odine, was probably more of a glass prison.

-- ** --

Rei was in a room by herself. There was a large window above her, where she saw Doc Odine moving about, shouting orders to his assistants. She wondered what he was going to do to her. Maybe he would suck the oxygen out of the room and suffocate her? Was that what they did to sorceresses now a days? I mean, she wasn't a sorceress, but Seifer seemed to think there was one inside of her. She sat on the floor against a wall and hugged her knees. The glass, Rei noticed, was obviously sound proof. Now and then Odine would throw a clipboard or something against the glass, but she wouldn't hear anything.

She studied her nails, wishing to be out of there....Then again, it was all for the best, wasn't it? Whatever it was that had happened to her in the Training Center really, really terrified her. Rei felt like she had when she first summoned a GF- completely out of control. But not only that- she felt things, emotions that were not her own. For a short period of time, she hated Seifer, wanted to kill him. Yet at the same time, she wanted to stop herself. She shook her head. Am I...a schizophrenic? I-I could be insane! Psychotic! She looked up at the window again.

Seifer was there, banging on the glass with his gunblade. Of course, Rei hadn't heard anything. He stopped when he saw Rei looking at him. Seifer smiled at her. Rei stood up and waved. 'I'm ok', she mouthed. Seifer gave her a skeptical look and went away from the glass. Rei leaned back against the wall and slid down again. She hugged her knees once more, feeling much better since she knew Seifer was up there, making sure Odine didn't kill her off.

-- ** --

Minako sat on a steel table, much like one you would find in a doctor's office. She waited, rubbing her arms because it was a little cold in there. The door slid open, and Doctor Odine entered, muttering stuff and waving his hands animatedly.

"So zis problem, explain it to me," he said abruptly, not waiting. He seemed rushed.

She told him about all her experiences, starting way back with the spider. They hadn't told them of their time travel bit yet, as no one seemed to believe them anyway, so she said she met it training one day. She told him about the bit with the Ruby Dragon.

Odine looked at her for a moment and said, "Vell, it seems to me zat you have a sort of 'sixth sense'. Not a problem, but a gift."

"A gift? But I don't like it one bit. How can I get rid of it?"

"Ve vill have to put you under our microscope, so ve can have a look at your cells," the doctor said. "Zen ve vill see vhat ve can do about zis." He gestured for her to follow him. On his way out, he ordered an assistant to bring up a 'spare creature'. The assistant nodded and went into a corridor Minako tried to look into. Doc Odine pulled her into another room, which had a long mirror on one side. Minako figured it was one of those windows. There was a table that Doctor Odine instructed her to lay down on. She did so, flinching on top of the freezing steel. Odine left, and Minako just stared up. There were several large, large lights on the ceiling right above her, but they weren't on.

Then, without warning, the lights buzzed to life, blinding Minako with brilliant light.

"Oh, geez!" Minako exclaimed, sheiling her eyes with her hands.

"Stay still!" boomed a voice over an intercom. Minako froze, a sheepish smile on her face. Her eyes were shut, but when she sensed something hovering over her skin, she opened one and squinted to see what it was. A mechanical arm was moving what looked like a lense over her arms. It moved over her shirt on her stomach, her legs, her feet, her neck and her head. Once, it stopped over her eye that was open and sort of....looked back at her. Minako shuddered, thinking, Creepy machines...

With a snap, the lights shut off and the mechanical arms retracted somewhere toward the ceiling. Minako sat up, and Doctor Odine entered through the door.

"So, Doc, what's wrong with me?" Minako asked.

Doc Odine shook his head. "Nozing, nozing at all. Your cell membrane is highly sensitive. Zat is all really."

"But I don't understand."

"A wolf can sniff out almost anyzing anyvhere. Its sense of smell is more focused than a normal human being's. Ze same is for you, only vith your sense of touch. You cells register touch and feeling before it is vithin seeing distance. I vill give you an example." At this, Doc Odine motioned to the mirror against the wall. He crossed his arms and waited in silence. Minako scratched her head, wondering if something was supposed to be happening.

Then it did. Her skin started to tingle, like her entire body was falling asleep, but then it began to hurt. Millions of...needles! Needles were stabbing at her body! She crossed her arms, furiously rubbing her skin, wanting for it to stop. Doctor Odine reached out and placed a hand over hers.

"Zere. Did you feel zat?"

"Did I?! Yes- of course I did! Millions of needles were stabbing at me! It hurt like-"

"It vas a cactuar. I had my assistants bring a cactaur into ze room over zere. You felt it before you saw it. It seems that vhenever an animal is vithin relatively close distance, you can sense it or some of its attacks. Perhaps even ze....aura."

"Ze-" Minako started, but she realized what she had said. "Pthh...The aura? What do you mean by the aura?"

Odine narrowed his eyes at Minako. She guessed he was insulted by her slip of speech. "I do not know how to explain it. Some zings are so complex zat it is hard to make ozers understand it. You have a gift. Zere, zat is all you need to know. I have ozer zings to do. I vill have my assistant show you back to ze lobby."

-- ** --

It was growing dark outside when Minako emerged into the lobby. She yawned and threw a questioning look to Ami.

"No word yet," Ami answered, reading Minako's face.

"What about you?" Squall asked, a barely-there grin on his face.

Minako sat down next to him and glared. "According to Doctor Odine, I can sense creatures before I see them."

Squall sniffed and leaned forward. "That sounds familiar-"

"You were right for once! Better milk it. You're a guy, these kind of moments of glory don't last long for you..."

-- ** --

A few hours later, Doc Odine emerged from the elevator, flanked by a furious looking Seifer. Ami tilted her head. Judging by the look on Seifer's face, things hadn't gone well.

"Well?" Ami said.

"He's not saying anything," Seifer growled.

"Because I am not sure!" Odine exclaimed. "I need to perform a couple more tests to support my zeory!"

"Then perform them!" Minako shouted.

"My staff has gone home. Zere are some vital tests zat cannot be run by just vone person-"

Ami interjected, "So we'll help you-"

"-and I vill not allow a group of untrained kids to operate my precious machinery. Go! Leave my office!"

"We're coming back tomorrow as soon as the sun comes up, Odine," Seifer said. He produced the most intimidating, terrifying glare he could manage and threw it at Odine. "And if you so much as touch a hair on her head with the wrong intentions, I'll show you exactly what the infamous Sorceress Knight can do."

Needless to say, Doc Odine looked moderately terrified, to say the least. He nodded, sputtering something no one could understand. Ami and Minako had winced, while Zell snickered. Squall was shaking his head, praying for a quick return trip...

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End of Chapter 10 |
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