Orion Saga
Part 2
Celestial Battle
Chapter 1: Final Orb, First Fight (City of Darkness)
A figure is standing alone in the shadows of the night. Silently, it makes its way through the sleeping city of Tokyo.
~*~*~*~*~
The soft brown eyes stare up at the ceiling. It is nearly one am and they have not rested. Wearily, they close only to open again. Her mind had been racing since she'd gotten back.
*~*~*
Sirius watches as Zentora opens the closet and removes the shoe box. It is placed on the bed and she reaches into her pocket for the fourth and final orb. When she pulls it out, her guardians look at her.
'Congratulations, Zentora. You've done it.'
She nods at Pup's words. "Yeah...I guess I did."
Sirius looks at her. "You don't sound so happy."
"Maybe I'm not. You should have seen the look on that girl's face. She already knew who I was and why I was there. She was more than willing to give me the orb if she could help others with it. She couldn't have been more than twelve years old."
Pup lowers his head. Sirius looks at the girl as she goes on. "I asked her what her dream was. She said that she wanted to keep playing the shamisen because it made other people happy to watch her play."
Pup leaps onto the bed and places his head in lap. 'I'm sorry'
Zentora reaches her hand up to her eyes which are hidden beneath the thick bangs. "So now what?"
Sirius looks at them both. "We must wait."
"Wait for what?"
Pup lifts his head to look at her and his thoughts carry an ominous tone into their minds. 'Andromeda.'
*~*~*
A long staff with a twisted star at its tip is raised into the air. The bright light of the moon slowly disappears and the stars in the sky grow dim. Gradually, the city is cast into darkness.
~*~*~*~*~
Zentora places a hand on her stomach. This time, as she closes her eyes, she can feel herself falling into a deep sleep. As the darkness of sleep begins to envelop her, she feels a strange sensation and suddenly finds herself struggling not to give in. After sometime she manages to sit up on her bed. Unable to stay alert, she stares at the floor and shakes her head. 'What's going on?' She stands slowly and barely manages to walk over to her dresser. Facing her room, she sees that Pup is still asleep at the foot of the bed and Sirius is in her usual spot on the chair near the window.
She shakes her head again in an effort to clear it, but feels the sleep tugging at her mind, ready to pull it into darkness. 'Something's...wrong...'
~*~*~*~*~
The city is at a standstill as people everywhere lapse into a dark and sleep less slumber. The figure steals along in the darkness, searching.
~*~*~*~*~
The bathroom light is turned on, yet the room is still barely lit. Turning the knob on the sink, the brown hands reach down into the cold water. Zentora looks at herself in the mirror, her face wet and thick hair dripping. It takes all of her will to keep her eyes open, yet she still has that strange feeling gnawing at the back of her clouded mind. She douses her face a few more times.
~*~*~*~*~
"Pup? Wake up." She gently nudges her canine guardian. "Pup." Shaking harder, he still does not wake up. "Pup! Can you hear me?" She kneels down next to the bed and pries open one of the hazel eyes. It is glazed over with sleep. "Pup! Pup! Wake up!" Urgency is the soft voice as she grows louder. "PUP!" She shakes him more roughly now, but he does not stir. She makes her way over to her other guardian and Sirius is the same way.
Zentora silently stares at them, wondering what is going on.
~*~*~*~*~
The building stands like a soldier in the darkness of the night. No shadow cast, no light given. The staff is raised. 'Orion is here... somewhere. When I find her the orbs will be mine and I'll take pleasure in destroying her as she sleeps.' Andromeda's icy blue eyes glint with elation.
~*~*~*~*~
Zentora is sitting against the bed, willing herself to stay awake. She is beginning to fall asleep again when she hears something. Startled, she turns her head in the darkness. The sound is coming from the living room. Standing at the edge of the hall, she watches the knob as it is turned forcefully. 'Oh no.' She silently makes her way to her parents' room and knocks gently on the door. There is no answer. She opens the door to see her parents lying in bed sleeping. She makes her way over to them slowly and cautiously. "Mom? Daddy?" Her voice is answered by silence. She walks over to her father and shakes him, hoping he will wake up. He does not.
Turning on the lamp at their beside, she notices that the room is still dim. Worried, she starts to gently slap him. He doesn't move. "Why won't they wake up?"
~*~*~*~*~
Andromeda enters the apartment after having melted the knob off. She makes her way along the hall searching for the orbs.
~*~*~*~*~
Zentora starts when she hears a sound at her parents' door. The first though to run through her mind is that it might be Nyumi, but she doubts it. Turning off the light, she crouches down in a dark corner near the wall. Silently, she watches the door as the figure walks in.
Andromda looks around the room. She sees the sleeping figures lying on the bed. She looks at them for a few moments before realizing that neither of them is Sailor Orion's human form. She passes the bed and goes to the closet. As Zentora watches, she can feel the evil radiating throughout the room. Her eyes narrow as she watches the figure. 'Why couldn't I sense it before?' The figure turns around and Zentora can barely make out the features, but the voice is one that she remembers from the star castle.
"They must be here somewhere. Blasted senshi! When I find Orion's other form I will kill her."
Zentora backs farther into the small space at the sound of the woman's words. She looks at Andromeda's figure and then to the door just beyond where the woman is standing. She is hoping to leave the room and the apartment undetected, fearful of fighting near her family. The last thing she wants is for any of them to be hurt. She is gazing at her parents when she hears Andromeda coming closer. She crouches as low as she can between the dresser and the wall as she hears the woman going through it.
Andromda closes the last drawer in anger. The loud slam is the only sound in the quiet apartment. She leaves the room and goes down the hall.
Zentora creeps out from her hiding place and stands quietly at the door as she watches Andromeda go into her brother's room. She hears the frustrated sounds of her searching and makes her way to her own room. Sirius and Pup are still sound asleep. She picks up her book bag and goes to the closet, carefully placing each of the orbs inside. She looks at her guardians and then at the door. Wanting to take them with her, she isn't sure that they van both be carried safely. Gently, she scoops Sirius into her arms and places her sleeping form into the back pack. Pup's still form is placed into the bag as well and Zentora hoists it onto her back. 'Maybe this isn't such a good idea. But I need them with me. There's no telling what'll happen if I leave them here.' She looks up when she hears Andromeda in her sister's room. 'There's no time to debate it now.'
~*~*~*~*~
Andromeda enters the last room and leans over the bed with a wry grin. "Well, Orion. It looks like I've got you. Sweet dreams." She lifts the blanket on the bed with one hand, a ball of energy in the other.
~*~*~*~*~
When she leaves the building, the first thing she notices is how silent everything is. The lucid eyes dart about the scene in front of her. People are lying asleep out in the open. 'It's like they all just passed out.' She looks at her guardians on her back and begins to walk.
~*~*~*~*~
The room is in shambles when Andromeda is finished. She was surprised when Orion's human form had been there. "By all accounts, she should have been asleep. But she must still be in the building."
~*~*~*~*~
She has no idea of where she is going, but finds herself in front of Haruka's building. She looks up at it, hoping that the two of them are alright.
~*~*~*~*~
The doorbell of the dark apartment sounds repeatedly. The two still figures are in bed. Michiru's eyes are closed and Haruka's are partially opened. The racer had been thinking of something that she had heard Zentora say. She has also been thinking of their kiss. She can feel herself falling asleep with thoughts of the younger girl on her mind. She finds herself hearing bells.
"HARUKA-SAN! MICHIRU-SAN! PLEASE? OPEN THE DOOR!"
Haruka sits up when she hears the yell. "Zentora-chan?" She casts her sleepy eyes onto the dim clock. It is only two-thirty am. "It can't be.: She looks at Michiru before going to answer the door.
~*~*~*~*~
"Zentora-chan? What are you-?"
Zentora smiles at Haruka and embraces her. "You're alright."
"Of course I am. What's going on? Why are you here at this time?"
"I apologize. I didn't know where else to go."
"Go? Why? Is something wrong?"
Zentora nods. "Is Michiru-san awake?"
"No. She's sleeping."
Zentora looks at her friend. "Please. We have to try to wake her up. Where is she?"
"In the bedroom." She points in the direction and watches Zentora as she walks through the house.
"Gomen ne. It's important."
Haruka nods. "This way."
Haruka walks over to Michiru. "Michiru-chan, wake up." She shakes her partner gently.
"Keep trying." Zentora takes Sirius and Pup out of her pack.
Haruka looks at them. "What's wrong with them?"
"They're asleep. It's the same thing that's on around the city. People were passed out in the street on my way over here."
Haruka looks at Michiru. "Do you know why?"
"A little. Andromeda. She was at my house."
Haruka thinks back. "The woman in the castle..."
Zentora nods. "She's after the orbs."
~*~*~*~*~
The blue eyes open slowly. The young musician looks up groggily to see Haruka standing over her. "Are you alright, Michiru-chan?"
"Yes, of course." She sits up smiling.
Zentora walks over to them, a new thought on her mind. "I'm not sure, but I don't think that the effect of what's going on is the same for us as it is for everyone else."
Michiru is surprised to see the girl in her apartment. "Zentora-chan. What are you doing here?"
The deep transparent brown eyes look into those of the two older women. "I need your help."
~*~*~*~*~
"So that's it then." Michiru looks at Zentora as she finished her tea. "We should really get Usagi and the others."
Zentora looks at her. "Usagi?"
"Yes." She places the tea cup on the table in front of her and looks at the younger girl. "We need everyone for this. There's no way that we could do it alone."
Zentora lowers her gaze. She walks over to the window and parts the blinds. Looking out over the city, she can only see the tops of the closest buildings. 'The city's shrouded in darkness and it's my fault.' She thinks of the star castle. Thorn had been an easy opponent, but only because she was spurned by her own anger and her need to protect Nyumi. She would do anything to protect her family. "I'm supposed to have a life outside of this. You know? Or at least...I thought I did."
Michiru and Haruka look at her. "I can't believe those four little balls in there have caused me so much trouble. And now my family as well as the city are in danger and its because of me."
"Zentora-chan, no."
The fuschia head shakes at the sound of Michiru's voice. "I have no right to ask any of you for help."
She closes her eyes when she feels a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Zentora-chan." Michiru smiles at her. "I'll go call Usagi."
Zentora sits on the window seat and watches her as she walks over to the phone. "I want to thank you."
Michiru shakes her head. "It's alright."
Haruka watches them both from her seat on the couch. She lets her thoughts wonder for a while before she speaks. "Do you think that odango will wake up?"
Michiru looks at her. "I'm not sure."
~*~*~*~*~
The blue eyes open slowly. Somewhere in the distance she can hear the phone ringing, but her mind is too clouded to register it. She looks around the room until her eyes fall on the dresser. There it is. 'Who..would..be calling...so late at night?' She looks over to see Luna asleep on the foot of the bed. Grumbling, she sits up. 'Unnnngghh. Can't anyone else get it?' She stumbles over to the dresser. "Hello?"
"Usagi-chan?"
"Yeah...who is this?"
"It's me, Michiru."
"Michiru-san?" She stares at the clock on the wall. "It's three in the morning."
"I know. We have a situation."
"What do you mean?"
"It's Zentora-can."
Usagi falls silent, but is suddenly awake. "What about her?" She holds the phone closer to her ear.
"She needs our help."
"Why? Is she trying to kill someone else?"
"No...it's not like that. Do you remember the castle?"
"Yes."
The woman that had taken her sister and the orbs. She's here. Haruka I don't think that she can handle it on her own. She came over about half an hour ago."
"I'll be on my way."
"Please try to wake the others."
~*~*~*~*~
Zentora has been listening to the conversation from Michiru's end. She watches the aqua-haired young woman as she puts the phone back on the receiver. "She'll be here as soon as she can."
Zentora nods. Staring out into the darkness, she thinks about her family. "I think..."
Both Haruka and Michiru look at her as she talks. "I think that I should try to do this alone. I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Haruka looks at her. "This si no time to think that way. We're all senshi."
Zentora does not remove her gaze from the window. "She was in my home. With my family. If she'd found me she would have killed me. I don't want to worry about any of you that way. Sirius and Pup are of little use to me like that but I had to bring them because she might have killed them too."
Michiru leans on Haruka's shoulder as the girl continues to talk. "When Usagi-san gets here, please tell her she is not needed."
Haruka watches her as she stands. The hand reaches for her throat to summon the amulet. Before she has a chance to transform, Haruka is standing in front of her. She places a hand over Zentora's. The girl looks at Haruka in surprise. "Do you think it's fair?"
Zentora continues to look at her. "What?"
"You said that you didn't want to worry about us. But do you think it's fair for use to worry about you?"
Zentora looks at her and then at Michiru. "I don't-"
Michiru continues with Haruka's point. "Zentora-chan. we are your friends and we really care about you. If you went out there and got yourself killed...then..."
"Then we wouldn't forgive you." Haruka lowers her hand and Michiru walks over to them both.
The young violinist nods. "Zentora-chan. We will not let you fight alone."
Zentora looks at them both.
~*~*~*~*~
The figure is alone on a roof top. The gloved hand is run through the black hair. He gazes at the city wondering where she could be and if she is alright. He had been awake when the sky grew black and when people around him suddenly began to fall into a deep sleep. It was something he had experienced before, but he had hoped never again. Now he is looking for her. A beeping on his wrist calls his attention.
"Star Chaser."
"Yes. What is it Bellatrix? Is there any news?"
"No."
"Has your sister been to the apartment yet?"
"She has."
"You don't sound as though you have good news."
"We don't. Her family was alright. They are still sleeping, but her room was ransacked."
"It was?"
"Andromeda searched the entire apartment. Najid is unsure of whether or not she found Zentora there, but there was no trace of her when she got there."
Star Chaser is silent. "Then we must find her. Without her, there is no way to restore the city."
"Yes, Star Chaser."
He closes the face of the communicator and gazes out onto the city. 'Zentora. Oriana, please be safe.' He leaves the roof of the building to continue his search.
~*~*~*~*~
The five groggy senshi reach Haruka and Michiru's building with a sleepy Chibi-Usa and a partially woken Mamoru in tow. The tired group sits down as they walk in.
Usagi looks around the apartment and her darting eyes stop when she sees Zentora sitting at the window with her back to them. She walks over to her. "What's this all about, Zentora-chan?"
The girl turns away from the window and looks at Usagi silently for a few moments. There is a look of defeat in the normally tranquil eyes.
Usagi places a hand on her arm. "It'll be okay."
She receives no answer from the girl. Instead, she continues to stare out of the window. "I guess I may as well try to explain."
~*~*~*~*~
"Where could she have gone to?" Andromeda is back on the street in front of the building. Pulling the cover off of the bed, she was surprised to find a pile of pillows were the target of her blast. She searched the room futilely and there was no sign of the orbs.
Somehow the scout has managed to stay awake. How, she doesn't know. But the most important thing to worry now, are the orbs.
~*~*~*~*~
After Zentora finishes talking, everyone looks at her. Makoto is the first to break the silence. "So your guardians are asleep too?"
Zentora nods solemnly. "I tried to wake them back at the apartment. But they were both asleep. I was hoping they could tell me what was going on. But I guess it's obvious isn't it?"
Mamoru looks at her. "Where are the orbs now?"
"I've got them. They're in the bedroom in my book bag." She keeps her eyes turned to the floor as she talks.
Usagi nods. "Do you know how to use them?"
Zentora closes her eyes. "I-I don't know."
Rei looks at her. "What do you mean?"
Zentora shakes her head. "I feel as though I should, or maybe I do. But I don't remember. Only, it all seems familiar to me somehow." She says this last part almost to herself. "If I could wake up Sirius and Pup I'm sure they could tell me, but I've already tried nearly everything I can think of."
"We'll have to go to her before she finds you." Makoto looks at Zentora. "Do you think that you could bring them anyway? Just in case you remember?"
Zentora nods.
~*~*~*~*~
The planetary senshi are standing together on the street when Sailor Orion joins them. Sailor Moon looks at her. "You have the orbs."
The star senshi nods solemnly.
