Chapter Three
"The Meeting"
"As I stated before, there was nothing more I could have possibly done." Rei paced nervously before those who sat in front her. The building that housed the station for the rebellion was kept deep underground. To reach its walls, one had to journey through secret passageways and down to the level below the basement. The moment Rei had set foot within the station's domain was the moment pure chaos was unleashed.
"He was different somehow. This was no mere creature of the evil that walks our land. He had a sense of reason and intelligence to him, the look within his eyes alone was..." Rei hesitated, lifting her hand to her lips as she remembered how close he come to her. "They alone were devastating." Her violet eyes had grown hazy, as she was swept back to those few seconds when she was within the man's grasp.
The gathering of the comrades who served the Rebellion sat completely still, silent now as Rei relayed what she could of her encounter. They had all known of the sudden storm that had swept through, but they had no idea that it was a direct conjuring from their enemy. This news was alarming to say the least, and as soon as Rei had reported it to the head captain he had called an emergency meeting.
"Rei, are you absolutely positive that this thing, this so-called man, had created the storm? It wasn't a mere coincidence?" The captain spoke slowly, keeping his words to a friendly tone. The last person who inquired more information from Rei had spoken rashly, his tone favoring to the rumors that Rei was not the most reliable within the Rebellion. Since the moment she had joined them people had been skeptical, saying she was different and weird, not entirely there in the head. What it came down to was that they just didn't know her, or understand her life.
"Rehmbrandt, I am more than positive. It left with him, as though he alone controlled the elemental powers. The moment he disappeared, all traces of the storm vanished." Rei cast her eyes downwards as she prepared to relay the last bit of information that she held. She feared more than anything to speak of it aloud, but it had to be done.
"That's not everything though...I fear that the worst news is yet to come." Rei glanced up, her eyes locking with that of the captain's. Rehmbrandt's expression told that of strength and reassurance, urging her to continue without fear of criticism. Rei nodded in understanding. She lifted her head and met the eyes of all of those seated before her. "The moon had vanished as well."
A silence of pure shock swept through the great hall, where all major discussions concerning the welfare of the Rebellion were discussed. Mouths gaped open, eyes growing wide with fear. The silence lasted only a second longer however, as everyone stood from their chairs demanding further explanations and answers. It was chaos once more, and it unnerved Rei deeply. Chaos was the term used most often with the enemy. Now seeing her own kind creating it, Rei wondered if all suffered the same fate.
"Everyone sit down!" Rehmbrandt roared over all the other voices. His deep voice vibrating throughout the great hall. "There will be order here so help me God!" His patience was now growing thin; all he wanted to do was get to the bottom of the issues at hand. He waved everyone back to his or her seats before stepping forward himself, coming to stand directly in front of Rei.
"What do you mean, the moon vanished as well?" Rei could see the fear that lingered about the captain's somber eyes. He had been through so much already, and now this.
"I said that it had vanished. It reappeared the moment the man retreated into the shadows of the night." Rei spoke to Rehmbrandt alone, although she made sure her voice carried to the others reassuring them that the moon still shined. "It seemed as though it too had cowered with fear before him, hiding behind the shadows itself. It was terrifying, and yet I did not notice it until I reached the safety of the station." The confusion within Rei's voice showed clear as day, her expression that of both relief to be alive and that of not understanding why.
"Captain this is absurd to say the least! Everyone knows that the moon never stops showing itself, it is forever suspended within our skyline!" A young man who had remained standing yelled out, his tone defiantly attacking Rei's words. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
"Thank your for that little insight Bane, but I think we all realize and understand that knowledge. However that does not mean we can just exclude what Rei has just brought forth. If indeed the moon has...did vanish, even momentarily, we have to figure out why and what it means. We owe it to ourselves to at least trust what she witnessed, until proven otherwise." Rehmbrandt's determined expression showed everyone that he would stand by his words no matter what, and Bane took that as his cue to sit back down.
"--But have any of us ever concluded as to why the moon stays within the sky, never extinguishing it's glorious light?" Rei interrupted, ignoring Rehmbrandt's closure to the argument that had been opened. Her temper flaring at Bane's attack. "We have no idea why anything is the way it is within our world anymore, our resources have been all but destroyed. Our records of the past are gone; we base everything upon simple theories with no real proof. Yet now when something different happens, something out of the norm you all reject it's possibilities!" Rei stepped forward as her voice raised.
"Oh and I suppose you know all the answers there are to the world Ms. Rei. I think not. Your credibility is by far nothing to say the least, and you expect us to just believe your words!?" Bane in turn took jumped up again out of his chair, not wanting to back down. "Besides, what difference does it make if we know why the moon is forever suspended? The point is that we know it is for our benefit, that without the light of the moon darkness would reign, even during the daylight hours. It is our savior in many ways, and it has been so now for countless generations. This we know for sure." Bane smiled as he finished arguing his case, the others cheering him on.
Rei looked down at the floor, watching her foot as she scuffed at the floor. She knew what else she wanted to say, but feared to do so. Finally she looked back up, facing the crowd once more.
"What of the Myths and Legends?" She questioned, the people silencing their cheering as she asked. "There are some who would say that the moon holds the power of the great Queen who once reigned. That she once held balance to our universe within the very palm of her hand. That this queen, also bore the mark of the Sailor Senshi's leader, Sailor Moon." Rei paused, emotions racing through her entire body, her blood surging once more.
"According to legend the moment that the Senshi were defeated, upon that fateful night thousands of years ago, was the same moment the moon stopped its normal phases around our world." Rei's voice trembled as she finished her speech, her entire body quivering. It had been a long while since anyone had spoken of the fabled Myths and Legends within the Rebellion.
"The Myths and Legends are a folly. None who claim sanity believe in those old tales...well, except you, but we always knew you were different. You will never prove yourself or your words worthy within my eyes, mark my words." Bane's deep tone vibrated throughout Rei's entire being. It was sad, because many within the New World felt the same way about both her and the fabled tales of old.
Rei stared out blankly at the gathering of people before the captain and her. She watched as those within the Rebellion began to talk amongst themselves determining what everything she had just said meant. Rehmbrandt continued to watch her, questioning what to say or do next. Why was it that he felt Rei had more information to relay? Something seemed off, so many questions and loopholes could be brought up in defense of what had happened.
Even though she watched those of the Rebellion confer, Rei could feel her captain's eyes bearing down upon her. She knew he could sense that she had not told everything that had transpired between her and the man. Yet there was nothing she could do to abate that and reassure him. Rei did not lie, she just kept some stuff to herself when the need be. The last thing she needed to do was to tell everyone about all the words spoken by the man.
Senshi...warrior of the flame. What the hell was she supposed to say to her comrades now!? Oh and by the way, it seemed as though the man of the enemy knew me? Yeah, that would go over real well. Besides the last time that Rei had spoken aloud about her theories of being the reincarnation of the Sailor Senshi for the planet Mars, people had laughed. Times were so different a hundred years ago, at least then people still believed in the Sailor Senshi and their existence. Now though, things were quite different.
Now not only did Rei have her own suspicions of being the reincarnate, but she had one of the enemy thinking so as well. 'What would Gren make of all this?' Rei thought, as she pictured herself telling him every detail in full. He was the only person on the planet, aside from herself that knew of her visions...of her past life. It was hard on her. She had visions, dreams that made it impossible to deny that she was indeed Sailor Mars in her past life. Yet she bore no powers from that time, she didn't bear the mark of that identity. Perhaps she was just crazy like Bane made her out to be.
"Well, I suppose if that is all you have to tell us, Rei?" Rehmbrandt's eyes still questioned the young woman before him. Rei snapped out of her deep thoughts and nodded her head in agreement. "Then we have a lot of work ahead of us don't we people?" He finished, waving his hand towards the rest of the Rebellion. As if on command, everyone aroused from their seats and took off to his or her quadrant of the station. Some relieved to be able to get back to what was familiar, others still afraid of the things to come.
"Rei?" The captain's voice called out once more to her just as she was about to head off too. "Thank you for your input, you did well up there before the crowd. Especially for your first time, considering the allegations they have put upon you since you joined the Rebellion. You showed great confidence and poise. Good work." Rehmbrandt smiled slightly, breaking the stern look the captain usually portrayed.
"Thank you sir." Rei said, fumbling for the right words yet showing her utter appreciation within her tone alone. It meant a lot to her when she was praised for anything within the Rebellion, especially from the captain himself.
"It's no problem, just recognizing good talent when I see it. Oh and by the way, I'm glad your safe." Rehmbrandt had begun to leave the podium as he finished his words, yet his voice carried loud and clear to Rei's ears.
"Thank you." She whispered once more.
"The Meeting"
"As I stated before, there was nothing more I could have possibly done." Rei paced nervously before those who sat in front her. The building that housed the station for the rebellion was kept deep underground. To reach its walls, one had to journey through secret passageways and down to the level below the basement. The moment Rei had set foot within the station's domain was the moment pure chaos was unleashed.
"He was different somehow. This was no mere creature of the evil that walks our land. He had a sense of reason and intelligence to him, the look within his eyes alone was..." Rei hesitated, lifting her hand to her lips as she remembered how close he come to her. "They alone were devastating." Her violet eyes had grown hazy, as she was swept back to those few seconds when she was within the man's grasp.
The gathering of the comrades who served the Rebellion sat completely still, silent now as Rei relayed what she could of her encounter. They had all known of the sudden storm that had swept through, but they had no idea that it was a direct conjuring from their enemy. This news was alarming to say the least, and as soon as Rei had reported it to the head captain he had called an emergency meeting.
"Rei, are you absolutely positive that this thing, this so-called man, had created the storm? It wasn't a mere coincidence?" The captain spoke slowly, keeping his words to a friendly tone. The last person who inquired more information from Rei had spoken rashly, his tone favoring to the rumors that Rei was not the most reliable within the Rebellion. Since the moment she had joined them people had been skeptical, saying she was different and weird, not entirely there in the head. What it came down to was that they just didn't know her, or understand her life.
"Rehmbrandt, I am more than positive. It left with him, as though he alone controlled the elemental powers. The moment he disappeared, all traces of the storm vanished." Rei cast her eyes downwards as she prepared to relay the last bit of information that she held. She feared more than anything to speak of it aloud, but it had to be done.
"That's not everything though...I fear that the worst news is yet to come." Rei glanced up, her eyes locking with that of the captain's. Rehmbrandt's expression told that of strength and reassurance, urging her to continue without fear of criticism. Rei nodded in understanding. She lifted her head and met the eyes of all of those seated before her. "The moon had vanished as well."
A silence of pure shock swept through the great hall, where all major discussions concerning the welfare of the Rebellion were discussed. Mouths gaped open, eyes growing wide with fear. The silence lasted only a second longer however, as everyone stood from their chairs demanding further explanations and answers. It was chaos once more, and it unnerved Rei deeply. Chaos was the term used most often with the enemy. Now seeing her own kind creating it, Rei wondered if all suffered the same fate.
"Everyone sit down!" Rehmbrandt roared over all the other voices. His deep voice vibrating throughout the great hall. "There will be order here so help me God!" His patience was now growing thin; all he wanted to do was get to the bottom of the issues at hand. He waved everyone back to his or her seats before stepping forward himself, coming to stand directly in front of Rei.
"What do you mean, the moon vanished as well?" Rei could see the fear that lingered about the captain's somber eyes. He had been through so much already, and now this.
"I said that it had vanished. It reappeared the moment the man retreated into the shadows of the night." Rei spoke to Rehmbrandt alone, although she made sure her voice carried to the others reassuring them that the moon still shined. "It seemed as though it too had cowered with fear before him, hiding behind the shadows itself. It was terrifying, and yet I did not notice it until I reached the safety of the station." The confusion within Rei's voice showed clear as day, her expression that of both relief to be alive and that of not understanding why.
"Captain this is absurd to say the least! Everyone knows that the moon never stops showing itself, it is forever suspended within our skyline!" A young man who had remained standing yelled out, his tone defiantly attacking Rei's words. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
"Thank your for that little insight Bane, but I think we all realize and understand that knowledge. However that does not mean we can just exclude what Rei has just brought forth. If indeed the moon has...did vanish, even momentarily, we have to figure out why and what it means. We owe it to ourselves to at least trust what she witnessed, until proven otherwise." Rehmbrandt's determined expression showed everyone that he would stand by his words no matter what, and Bane took that as his cue to sit back down.
"--But have any of us ever concluded as to why the moon stays within the sky, never extinguishing it's glorious light?" Rei interrupted, ignoring Rehmbrandt's closure to the argument that had been opened. Her temper flaring at Bane's attack. "We have no idea why anything is the way it is within our world anymore, our resources have been all but destroyed. Our records of the past are gone; we base everything upon simple theories with no real proof. Yet now when something different happens, something out of the norm you all reject it's possibilities!" Rei stepped forward as her voice raised.
"Oh and I suppose you know all the answers there are to the world Ms. Rei. I think not. Your credibility is by far nothing to say the least, and you expect us to just believe your words!?" Bane in turn took jumped up again out of his chair, not wanting to back down. "Besides, what difference does it make if we know why the moon is forever suspended? The point is that we know it is for our benefit, that without the light of the moon darkness would reign, even during the daylight hours. It is our savior in many ways, and it has been so now for countless generations. This we know for sure." Bane smiled as he finished arguing his case, the others cheering him on.
Rei looked down at the floor, watching her foot as she scuffed at the floor. She knew what else she wanted to say, but feared to do so. Finally she looked back up, facing the crowd once more.
"What of the Myths and Legends?" She questioned, the people silencing their cheering as she asked. "There are some who would say that the moon holds the power of the great Queen who once reigned. That she once held balance to our universe within the very palm of her hand. That this queen, also bore the mark of the Sailor Senshi's leader, Sailor Moon." Rei paused, emotions racing through her entire body, her blood surging once more.
"According to legend the moment that the Senshi were defeated, upon that fateful night thousands of years ago, was the same moment the moon stopped its normal phases around our world." Rei's voice trembled as she finished her speech, her entire body quivering. It had been a long while since anyone had spoken of the fabled Myths and Legends within the Rebellion.
"The Myths and Legends are a folly. None who claim sanity believe in those old tales...well, except you, but we always knew you were different. You will never prove yourself or your words worthy within my eyes, mark my words." Bane's deep tone vibrated throughout Rei's entire being. It was sad, because many within the New World felt the same way about both her and the fabled tales of old.
Rei stared out blankly at the gathering of people before the captain and her. She watched as those within the Rebellion began to talk amongst themselves determining what everything she had just said meant. Rehmbrandt continued to watch her, questioning what to say or do next. Why was it that he felt Rei had more information to relay? Something seemed off, so many questions and loopholes could be brought up in defense of what had happened.
Even though she watched those of the Rebellion confer, Rei could feel her captain's eyes bearing down upon her. She knew he could sense that she had not told everything that had transpired between her and the man. Yet there was nothing she could do to abate that and reassure him. Rei did not lie, she just kept some stuff to herself when the need be. The last thing she needed to do was to tell everyone about all the words spoken by the man.
Senshi...warrior of the flame. What the hell was she supposed to say to her comrades now!? Oh and by the way, it seemed as though the man of the enemy knew me? Yeah, that would go over real well. Besides the last time that Rei had spoken aloud about her theories of being the reincarnation of the Sailor Senshi for the planet Mars, people had laughed. Times were so different a hundred years ago, at least then people still believed in the Sailor Senshi and their existence. Now though, things were quite different.
Now not only did Rei have her own suspicions of being the reincarnate, but she had one of the enemy thinking so as well. 'What would Gren make of all this?' Rei thought, as she pictured herself telling him every detail in full. He was the only person on the planet, aside from herself that knew of her visions...of her past life. It was hard on her. She had visions, dreams that made it impossible to deny that she was indeed Sailor Mars in her past life. Yet she bore no powers from that time, she didn't bear the mark of that identity. Perhaps she was just crazy like Bane made her out to be.
"Well, I suppose if that is all you have to tell us, Rei?" Rehmbrandt's eyes still questioned the young woman before him. Rei snapped out of her deep thoughts and nodded her head in agreement. "Then we have a lot of work ahead of us don't we people?" He finished, waving his hand towards the rest of the Rebellion. As if on command, everyone aroused from their seats and took off to his or her quadrant of the station. Some relieved to be able to get back to what was familiar, others still afraid of the things to come.
"Rei?" The captain's voice called out once more to her just as she was about to head off too. "Thank you for your input, you did well up there before the crowd. Especially for your first time, considering the allegations they have put upon you since you joined the Rebellion. You showed great confidence and poise. Good work." Rehmbrandt smiled slightly, breaking the stern look the captain usually portrayed.
"Thank you sir." Rei said, fumbling for the right words yet showing her utter appreciation within her tone alone. It meant a lot to her when she was praised for anything within the Rebellion, especially from the captain himself.
"It's no problem, just recognizing good talent when I see it. Oh and by the way, I'm glad your safe." Rehmbrandt had begun to leave the podium as he finished his words, yet his voice carried loud and clear to Rei's ears.
"Thank you." She whispered once more.