Chapter Four
"Within The Mind's Eye"
Laughter...
A gentle breeze filled with the scent of fresh roses and soft evergreen...
Skin basking in the welcoming warmth of the sun's rays...
Footsteps...
"Mamo-chan!"
"Mamo-chan!" The voice called again. Rei slowly opened her eyes and watched as a young woman, no more than seventeen in age, delightfully ran past her. Rei looked to the ground, marveling at the sight of green grass, vivid with life. She was standing in a field and it was filled with more beauty than she had ever witnessed in her entire lifetime.
Rei turned and gazed at the young woman. She wore a simple white dress that glistened in the light of the sun. The material so light and delicate that it danced with her every movement. The woman wore no shoes, her feet being cushioned by the velvet grass that graced every inch of the land. Hair the color of pure gold spilled down the length of her back, it alone dared to compare to the beauty of the sun itself.
Rei watched as the young woman ran into the arms of a man who stood not even ten feet away. The man held a regal presence, yet tenderness unparallel to any other as he enveloped the young woman within his strong arms. They belonged to each other. The two were beautiful as their bodies intertwined, the embrace between them growing stronger. The air was filled with such passion that even the earth seemed to bow down in amazement.
Where the young woman's hair was bright like that of the sun, the man's in contrast was the color of pure ebony. His body was clothed in dark black pants, and a plain white shirt. The sleeves having been rolled up made it easy for one to make out the lean muscular build of him. They both appeared enamored with love and humble before each other.
Rei's deep violet eyes grew dark as she watched the two people before her. She did not recognize them, and yet their presence held such a sense of familiarity that it unnerved her. Raising a hand, Rei shielded her eyes from the brightness of the sun as she looked to the sky. Only a few clouds lay scattered about, their soft white texture making them appear to be nothing more than cotton floating about. The bright blue of the sky itself was breathtaking. Rei could not remember the last time she had seen a sky like this.
"Usako."
Rei turned her attention once more to the two that still embraced each other. The name the man just murmured had struck a nerve. Usako? Rei took a step forward, the ever growing sense of familiarity encasing her entire being.
As if on cue the man's head snapped up from the young woman within his arms. His eyes staring straight into Rei's own. Dark blue eyes, with the depth of an endless ocean. Rei blinked, her head growing fuzzy. Why was he looking at her like that? His expression held that of knowledge beyond his years, and it frightened Rei deeply.
Rei narrowed her eyes, the only sign she showed of being uncomfortable. The man continued to hold onto the young woman, their embrace a significant symbol of unity. Yet his gaze stayed locked with that of Rei's. The two stared at each other for what seemed an eternity, neither wanting to be the first to look away.
From within her mind Rei could sense that this was not reality, but one of her many visions. Yet it was strange that it would be of something else other than the legendary Sailor Senshi. This was different somehow; it engaged all of her senses causing her nerves to stand on end. Who were these two people, and why did they hold such an amicable presence? Questions danced throughout Rei's troubled mind as she tried to grasp the meaning of what she was now seeing.
From within the distance a sudden sound of thunder beckoned. It broke everyone's train of thought, and both the man and Rei's gaze. Rei quickly turned her attention over to the Far East horizon of the field; she could barely make out what appeared to be storm clouds. Yet the clouds were moving at an unreasonably high speed, spreading as far as the eye could see. Within seconds they covered the once bright and enchanting field, bringing with them an overpowering sense of fear and death.
The once gentle breeze now picked up to a deadly gust, blowing up patches of grass within its path. Rei's brow furrowed as she quickly raised a hand in defense of the elements. The air had grown hazy and muddled, vision was poor and Rei began to feel a growing sense of emptiness. When she looked back to where the couple had stood only moments before, they were gone.
Rei scanned the entire perimeter of the land, yet saw nothing. As she lowered her hand a wave of shock swept over her, leaving her heart pounding within her chest. Her violet eyes widened in confusion as she realized what she was wearing.
Her hands were covered in long white gloves that ended in a bunch of red fabric near her elbow. The wind blew into her and sent a chill down her spine as it connected with the bare flesh of her legs. A short, red skirt billowed about her thighs and Rei was soon fumbling to keep it from blowing up any higher. Rei recognized the rest of her attire, the tight white bodice with the attached purple bow and the small, spiked heels that covered her feet.
Rei continued to stare, completely dumbfounded at what she wore, and without thinking she placed a gentle hand upon her forehead. The flesh of her slender fingers connected with the soft metal of a small tiara that rested there. She was dressed in the uniform of one of the Sailor Senshi. The colors she adorned represented the guardian of the planet Mars and the warrior of the flame.
Rei had seen herself clothed in the Sailor Senshi uniform only a few other times within her visions. Usually it was just her observing, watching the many battles that the senshi had won during their time. She never witnessed the actual transformation that took place, the knowledge of that still preferred to hide amidst her inner most shadows. Had she been able to at least see how it was done then perhaps it would provide both her and Gren with the knowledge needed to trigger the transformation for her own self, the suspected reincarnate of Sailor Mars.
Yet this was as far as things ever went in terms of Rei's own fate. Her visions were the only link to living a lifestyle that she seemed destined to live out in the present time. Gren had studied all that he could from the remaining documents of the Old World, digging up anything on the Sailor Senshi. However, in the end, both he and Rei were still stuck at square one with nothing more than a young woman's visions.
Rei could feel the power that soared throughout her entire body, filling her with a sense of justice and strength. She felt invincible and stood defiantly against the storm that swept through the field. The wind no longer gushed into her, instead moving around, as though a protective bubble now surrounded her.
Screaming...
Rei's entire stature went limp at the sounds that suddenly filled the air. Despite the uniform she wore and the power that exuded from it, Rei found herself faltering in strength. Though the wind still roared loud as ever, the screams that seemed to follow it could be heard as well. There was so much pain and anguish within the guttural cries that Rei found herself shutting her eyes and covering her ears in defense. Yet the screaming continued on, and it brought with it the presence of those who had once spoken. They pierced through Rei's now trembling soul.
"There must be something that can be done!"
"The world as we know it will come to an end!"
"But how can we...how can anyone...without her..."
Rei forced her eyes open, biting her lower lip, as she feared what she would see. The field had disappeared and everywhere Rei looked there was darkness. Yet before her there stood eight figures all prepared for battle, all wearing the uniforms of the Sailor Senshi.
Eight. There stood only eight. One was missing...but who?
Rei watched the eight women. She listened to their words and felt her stomach tighten at what was spoken. Fear and hopelessness poured from every word as they shouted back and forth, none able to contain the franticness they all felt. Something was wrong. It seemed that not only Rei herself had lost her strength and power.
"We still must fight...we have to try!"
Rei felt as though she herself had spoken, for the words flashed through her mind as they were said. Through the bleak darkness, Rei focused entirely on the woman who last spoke out. She wore the colors of the Sailor Senshi Mars. Rei's heart seemed to stop as her breath caught within her throat. When she looked to where the woman's face should have been she frowned. A thick hazy cloud hovered before the features that would distinguish her.
'What the hell is going on!' Rei asked herself over and over as she felt her knees buckle beneath her. She slowly lowered herself to the ground, a ground that was nothing but darkness. She kept her eyes locked on the figure that she knew was Sailor Mars and kept trying to see her face. Yet the fuzziness still kept the woman's features in shadow.
Rei's own face paled as the hazy cloud started to spread, covering not only Sailor Mars's face, but her body as well. Soon it engulfed the rest of the Senshi that stood around her, their entire figures distorting and blurring into nothing. It frightened Rei in ways one could not imagine, for it felt as though a part of herself was distorting along with them, almost dying.
Amidst the darkness and the blurring of the eight warriors, a deep guttural laughter emerged. It held no presence nor form, just the hatred and glory that underlined the sound. Rei felt tears surface within her violet eyes, their once vivid color dulling in submission.
-- "It is done." --
Rei awoke with a startling gasp, her entire body trembling and struggling for air as the laughter's voice echoed in her mind. Her body's sudden movement jolted the small, wooden desk before her. It took a moment for Rei's vision to adjust and for her to grasp her surroundings.
"Nothing more than a freak." The harsh words spoken broke Rei's fumbling concentration. She looked to her right and saw Bane stalking past her cubicle. She watched him as he glanced over his shoulder and gave her a vicious smile that portrayed his utter dislike for her.
She was still at the Station.
Rei looked to the big clock hanging on the far wall. It was now almost three hours after the meeting she had conducted. Rei ran a slender hand, still shaking, through her long, silky hair. She rested her head upon her hand briefly, before looking down to the papers on her desk. She still had so much to do and --
Rei paused, her body going rigid. There, on one of the papers before her was scribbled something. Rei looked more closely at the writing and frowned.
'Moonlight will show the Gates of Time'
While tracing a finger along the path of the small writing, Rei slowly sank back into her chair. She let out a small sigh and closed her eyes. Gren would have to hear of all of this, but what did it all mean? The feeling of being completely not in control began to overwhelm Rei, and with a start she bolted up from her desk and grabbed her coat.
She was going to find answers...even if it proved to be the last thing she ever did.
"Within The Mind's Eye"
Laughter...
A gentle breeze filled with the scent of fresh roses and soft evergreen...
Skin basking in the welcoming warmth of the sun's rays...
Footsteps...
"Mamo-chan!"
"Mamo-chan!" The voice called again. Rei slowly opened her eyes and watched as a young woman, no more than seventeen in age, delightfully ran past her. Rei looked to the ground, marveling at the sight of green grass, vivid with life. She was standing in a field and it was filled with more beauty than she had ever witnessed in her entire lifetime.
Rei turned and gazed at the young woman. She wore a simple white dress that glistened in the light of the sun. The material so light and delicate that it danced with her every movement. The woman wore no shoes, her feet being cushioned by the velvet grass that graced every inch of the land. Hair the color of pure gold spilled down the length of her back, it alone dared to compare to the beauty of the sun itself.
Rei watched as the young woman ran into the arms of a man who stood not even ten feet away. The man held a regal presence, yet tenderness unparallel to any other as he enveloped the young woman within his strong arms. They belonged to each other. The two were beautiful as their bodies intertwined, the embrace between them growing stronger. The air was filled with such passion that even the earth seemed to bow down in amazement.
Where the young woman's hair was bright like that of the sun, the man's in contrast was the color of pure ebony. His body was clothed in dark black pants, and a plain white shirt. The sleeves having been rolled up made it easy for one to make out the lean muscular build of him. They both appeared enamored with love and humble before each other.
Rei's deep violet eyes grew dark as she watched the two people before her. She did not recognize them, and yet their presence held such a sense of familiarity that it unnerved her. Raising a hand, Rei shielded her eyes from the brightness of the sun as she looked to the sky. Only a few clouds lay scattered about, their soft white texture making them appear to be nothing more than cotton floating about. The bright blue of the sky itself was breathtaking. Rei could not remember the last time she had seen a sky like this.
"Usako."
Rei turned her attention once more to the two that still embraced each other. The name the man just murmured had struck a nerve. Usako? Rei took a step forward, the ever growing sense of familiarity encasing her entire being.
As if on cue the man's head snapped up from the young woman within his arms. His eyes staring straight into Rei's own. Dark blue eyes, with the depth of an endless ocean. Rei blinked, her head growing fuzzy. Why was he looking at her like that? His expression held that of knowledge beyond his years, and it frightened Rei deeply.
Rei narrowed her eyes, the only sign she showed of being uncomfortable. The man continued to hold onto the young woman, their embrace a significant symbol of unity. Yet his gaze stayed locked with that of Rei's. The two stared at each other for what seemed an eternity, neither wanting to be the first to look away.
From within her mind Rei could sense that this was not reality, but one of her many visions. Yet it was strange that it would be of something else other than the legendary Sailor Senshi. This was different somehow; it engaged all of her senses causing her nerves to stand on end. Who were these two people, and why did they hold such an amicable presence? Questions danced throughout Rei's troubled mind as she tried to grasp the meaning of what she was now seeing.
From within the distance a sudden sound of thunder beckoned. It broke everyone's train of thought, and both the man and Rei's gaze. Rei quickly turned her attention over to the Far East horizon of the field; she could barely make out what appeared to be storm clouds. Yet the clouds were moving at an unreasonably high speed, spreading as far as the eye could see. Within seconds they covered the once bright and enchanting field, bringing with them an overpowering sense of fear and death.
The once gentle breeze now picked up to a deadly gust, blowing up patches of grass within its path. Rei's brow furrowed as she quickly raised a hand in defense of the elements. The air had grown hazy and muddled, vision was poor and Rei began to feel a growing sense of emptiness. When she looked back to where the couple had stood only moments before, they were gone.
Rei scanned the entire perimeter of the land, yet saw nothing. As she lowered her hand a wave of shock swept over her, leaving her heart pounding within her chest. Her violet eyes widened in confusion as she realized what she was wearing.
Her hands were covered in long white gloves that ended in a bunch of red fabric near her elbow. The wind blew into her and sent a chill down her spine as it connected with the bare flesh of her legs. A short, red skirt billowed about her thighs and Rei was soon fumbling to keep it from blowing up any higher. Rei recognized the rest of her attire, the tight white bodice with the attached purple bow and the small, spiked heels that covered her feet.
Rei continued to stare, completely dumbfounded at what she wore, and without thinking she placed a gentle hand upon her forehead. The flesh of her slender fingers connected with the soft metal of a small tiara that rested there. She was dressed in the uniform of one of the Sailor Senshi. The colors she adorned represented the guardian of the planet Mars and the warrior of the flame.
Rei had seen herself clothed in the Sailor Senshi uniform only a few other times within her visions. Usually it was just her observing, watching the many battles that the senshi had won during their time. She never witnessed the actual transformation that took place, the knowledge of that still preferred to hide amidst her inner most shadows. Had she been able to at least see how it was done then perhaps it would provide both her and Gren with the knowledge needed to trigger the transformation for her own self, the suspected reincarnate of Sailor Mars.
Yet this was as far as things ever went in terms of Rei's own fate. Her visions were the only link to living a lifestyle that she seemed destined to live out in the present time. Gren had studied all that he could from the remaining documents of the Old World, digging up anything on the Sailor Senshi. However, in the end, both he and Rei were still stuck at square one with nothing more than a young woman's visions.
Rei could feel the power that soared throughout her entire body, filling her with a sense of justice and strength. She felt invincible and stood defiantly against the storm that swept through the field. The wind no longer gushed into her, instead moving around, as though a protective bubble now surrounded her.
Screaming...
Rei's entire stature went limp at the sounds that suddenly filled the air. Despite the uniform she wore and the power that exuded from it, Rei found herself faltering in strength. Though the wind still roared loud as ever, the screams that seemed to follow it could be heard as well. There was so much pain and anguish within the guttural cries that Rei found herself shutting her eyes and covering her ears in defense. Yet the screaming continued on, and it brought with it the presence of those who had once spoken. They pierced through Rei's now trembling soul.
"There must be something that can be done!"
"The world as we know it will come to an end!"
"But how can we...how can anyone...without her..."
Rei forced her eyes open, biting her lower lip, as she feared what she would see. The field had disappeared and everywhere Rei looked there was darkness. Yet before her there stood eight figures all prepared for battle, all wearing the uniforms of the Sailor Senshi.
Eight. There stood only eight. One was missing...but who?
Rei watched the eight women. She listened to their words and felt her stomach tighten at what was spoken. Fear and hopelessness poured from every word as they shouted back and forth, none able to contain the franticness they all felt. Something was wrong. It seemed that not only Rei herself had lost her strength and power.
"We still must fight...we have to try!"
Rei felt as though she herself had spoken, for the words flashed through her mind as they were said. Through the bleak darkness, Rei focused entirely on the woman who last spoke out. She wore the colors of the Sailor Senshi Mars. Rei's heart seemed to stop as her breath caught within her throat. When she looked to where the woman's face should have been she frowned. A thick hazy cloud hovered before the features that would distinguish her.
'What the hell is going on!' Rei asked herself over and over as she felt her knees buckle beneath her. She slowly lowered herself to the ground, a ground that was nothing but darkness. She kept her eyes locked on the figure that she knew was Sailor Mars and kept trying to see her face. Yet the fuzziness still kept the woman's features in shadow.
Rei's own face paled as the hazy cloud started to spread, covering not only Sailor Mars's face, but her body as well. Soon it engulfed the rest of the Senshi that stood around her, their entire figures distorting and blurring into nothing. It frightened Rei in ways one could not imagine, for it felt as though a part of herself was distorting along with them, almost dying.
Amidst the darkness and the blurring of the eight warriors, a deep guttural laughter emerged. It held no presence nor form, just the hatred and glory that underlined the sound. Rei felt tears surface within her violet eyes, their once vivid color dulling in submission.
-- "It is done." --
Rei awoke with a startling gasp, her entire body trembling and struggling for air as the laughter's voice echoed in her mind. Her body's sudden movement jolted the small, wooden desk before her. It took a moment for Rei's vision to adjust and for her to grasp her surroundings.
"Nothing more than a freak." The harsh words spoken broke Rei's fumbling concentration. She looked to her right and saw Bane stalking past her cubicle. She watched him as he glanced over his shoulder and gave her a vicious smile that portrayed his utter dislike for her.
She was still at the Station.
Rei looked to the big clock hanging on the far wall. It was now almost three hours after the meeting she had conducted. Rei ran a slender hand, still shaking, through her long, silky hair. She rested her head upon her hand briefly, before looking down to the papers on her desk. She still had so much to do and --
Rei paused, her body going rigid. There, on one of the papers before her was scribbled something. Rei looked more closely at the writing and frowned.
'Moonlight will show the Gates of Time'
While tracing a finger along the path of the small writing, Rei slowly sank back into her chair. She let out a small sigh and closed her eyes. Gren would have to hear of all of this, but what did it all mean? The feeling of being completely not in control began to overwhelm Rei, and with a start she bolted up from her desk and grabbed her coat.
She was going to find answers...even if it proved to be the last thing she ever did.