DISCLAIMER:
Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi and other
companies. I don't own her (Grrr), and this story is written with the sole
purpose of entertainment without any intention of commercial gain. No
copyrights infringement is intended. ((Translation: I don't have any money, so
please don't sue me, I'm poor!))
What has happened before:
Serena and Co. had gone traipsing all over the Agency's home
universe, as well as others during her first voyage on board of a starship. An
unexpected company joined them in their journey: Serena's mentor, Sensei. On
the last leg of the trip, Serena was confronted with the decision that she had
been postponing all this time: if to definitely join the people that showed her
so much support or return to her home universe as an ambassador. As part of her
decision, she'll have to confront her past; something she's not eager to do,
for obvious reasons.
* = Change of Scene
( ) = Thoughts
+ + = Computer Responses or Electronic Communications
COMMANDER
GALOS
CHAPTER 8: SEEDS FROM THE PAST…
Serena had come out of her ultrasonic bath, getting ready
for her next assignment. However, it was obvious from her expression and body
language that the prospect didn't seat well with her. She had already put on
her undergarments and was about to put on her uniform when the P.A. system came
to life.
+ Attention all personnel. Dimensional shift will occur in
one minute. All hands must remain in their posts until the maneuver is
finished. Repeat: dimensional shift will occur in one minute. That is all. +
Serena sighed upon hearing that, then proceeded to finish
dressing. She had finished buttoning her blouse when a slight dizziness came
over her; she identified the phenomena from past experiences: it was the same
sensation that always occurred when the ship exited the null-space area known
as the Stream. The Stream was the theoretical area where all universes existed,
a place where normal physics and time didn't exist, as we know them. Her
dizziness passed as soon as it arrived, but this time a sense of queasiness
invaded her. She knew what this particular entrance meant: this time, she was
now on her home universe, and was about to confront the ghosts of her past.
Sighing once more, she put on the jacket of her uniform and
examined herself on the full body mirror of her quarters. A dark gray plated
skirt that reached a couple of inches above her knees, a white blouse and a
dark gray jacket. A pair of half-heeled shoes completed her attire. After
brushing her shoulder-length blonde hair to make it presentable, she left her
cabin and headed straight to Teleport Room 1.
On her way, Serena barely responded to the greetings of the
crewmembers she encountered; that made more than one member frown. Normally,
Serena had a spring on her step, an… aura surrounding her that made all who
were next to her feel better. However, this time she was almost dragging her
feet, her expression one of someone who was heading to her doom.
During the whole voyage, details of her past life before
entering the Academy and joining the crew of the Lucky Star filtered from past
chats she had with her friends. And as it's normal on closed environments,
rumors flew rampart. After she cleared the majority of the most outrageous
rumors circulating (with the help of a certain felinoid that didn't take those
rumors lightly), a more accurate story of her life was known to all crewmembers
of the starship. From that, one sentiment echoed on all who knew Serena:
If they ever encountered those who hurt such a wonderful
person, things won't be pretty. Not by a long shot!
Upon arrival to the transport room, Serena immediately
noticed her companions, getting a huge surprise.
"Syl… Luna… what are you doing here? And where are the other
members of my group?"
Luna smirked upon seeing her friend, but her smirk dimmed a
little when she sensed the aura surrounding Serena. Despite that, she answered.
"Well, guess what? We're it! Isn't this cool?? Besides, I'd already gone
through language and customs briefing, so speaking the language won't be a
problem."
Syl sighed when he heard Luna, but smiled as well at her
enthusiasm. "That's right Serena. For this particular recon mission, we are the
only ones that will go to Japan. Also, the captain charged me with you." Seeing
Serena's confused looks, he explained. "Remember, this is where you have to
make your decision, so it's up to me to see you put all your affairs in order.
But, and I emphasize this, I won't tell you what to decide. This depends
entirely of you."
"Yes, I know Syl, but…" Serena left the phrase incomplete,
but the meaning was clear: it wasn't easy for her.
"Hey, don't fret on it! We'll be there to support you all
the way!" said Luna, putting a paw on the blonde's shoulder. Her gesture was
answered by Serena's grateful expression.
Clapping his hands once, Syl decided to put things in order.
"Well! Now that we're here, let's get ready, ok?" when his two companions
nodded, he proceeded to a wall-mounted locker. Opening it, he extracted a few
items from it. Turning around, he noticed that Luna and Serena were now
standing right behind him, looking at the interior of the locker with unbridled
curiosity. Smiling, he began to pass around different objects and artifacts,
explaining their function at the same time."
"Ok, listen up, since this will be important in case we
encounter some problems down there. Your survival might depend on you knowing
what each of this things do, so pay attention.
"First, this," he then showed them a small gun-like object,
no bigger than a toy gun, "is a standard MarSec plasma gun. Good for 35 shots,
or one big continue energy beam. Be careful with it, since it has a couple of
limitations. One, it's not too powerful, but strong enough to slice the
materials of this planet, so be careful where you aim it to. Two, once the
power clip is at 50%, the beam option is automatically disengaged. Check the
gauge on the back to see if you can use it." He then handed one to each of his
companions after checking that they were fully charged. He then handed a small
spare power pack each.
Syl then extracted what appeared to be crystal marbles. "Now
these are flash bombs. As their name implies, they create a large light flash
that, hopefully, blind your opposition long enough for you to do what it's
needed. To activate them, apply pressure on it with your fingers. As soon as
you feel a small crack on it, release it. Now, when using these babies, make
sure you don't look at them or you will be blinded as well!" he then gave three
marbles to each one of the girls.
He then took three small rectangular objects, each no larger
than his palm extended. "These are your communicators. To activate them you
just push the button on the right. The top becomes a small hi-res camera that
can be rotated. It is a great way to look over obstacles during combat
situations and you need to stay covered. Also, it works as a recorder for when
you want to have a voice record of your impressions; just push the blue button
on the bottom of the screen and push it again to stop recording. The small red
button right under the screen is an emergency beacon signal. Use it just in
case of extreme emergency." He then handed one to each of his companions.
"Now, this last one is for you Luna." He then took out a
small wristwatch-like object. "This is a portable holo-cover projector. Since I
seriously doubt people on this planet would take your appearance in stride, no
matter how lovely you are," he added the last when Luna stared at him in a very
unfriendly manner, "this little object will create a 3D cover all around you.
Now, let's see…" he then began to tamper with some of the small buttons. Once
done, he handed it to Luna. "Go ahead, put it on. To activate it, just push the
big button on the left.
Putting the projector on her left wrist, Luna did as said.
She waited for a few moments for something to happen, but to her senses,
nothing was going on. She was about to say that when she noticed Syl's smirk
and Serena's open mouth. Even the transporter operator whistled at seeing her.
Curious, she went to a reflective surface next to the platform. What she saw
was something she didn't expect in the least!
What appeared on the mirror-like surface was a tall
brunette, her long hair flowing freely down to mid-back. She was dressed in a
tasteful deep green business outfit, complete with high-heeled shoes. Even the
projector appeared to be a regular ladies' clock. Upon a closer inspection, she
noticed that her eyes were a deep brown color, almost black. She began to touch
her body, but couldn't sense more fabric than the swimsuit-like garment she was
wearing.
"Ok Syl, I admit it. I'm impressed! So… how long will this
illusion last?"
"The battery is good for 4 days operation of continuous use
before needing replacing." Said Syl, a satisfied expression on his face. "It
can be used for covert operations, since it can simulate objects of your
surrounding environment. Used in conjunction with the camera on your
communicator it can take images from it and simulate them. Pretty neat, eh?"
Luna nodded in agreement. He then grabbed a portable medi-kit for himself.
"Well, that's it. We should be going now then."
The three explorers then walked to the transporter platform,
standing each on a light circle. Once in position, Syl nodded to the operator.
"All right, listen up." Said the operator, all the while
making adjustments on his control panel. "I'm beaming you down on a secluded
area of a local park. Long-range scans show no natives in the area, but be
careful of not being spotted. Good luck everyone." He then began to slowly move
a lever.
The three explorers were then surrounded with a column of
blue light. When the light touched the ceiling their bodies began to become
transparent. Then, in a shower of light blue sparks, they were gone.
* * * *
In the middle of a grove surrounded by trees, three columns
of light appeared; the sparks inside them began to coalesce in three defined
figures. When the light vanished, Luna, Syl and Serena were standing there.
Checking his clock, Syl said. "Well, according to our information, the local
schools won't be out in another 2 hours, so it gives us some time to check out
the area before going to your old place Serena."
In that moment, Luna began to sneeze. Taking a small
handkerchief from one of her pockets she blew her nose. "Damn… too many
pollutants in the air. The air smells awful!"
"You'll get used in no time at all, so don't complain." Said
Syl. "Besides, according to our information, this is a normal situation for
cities in what the local calendars indicates as late 20th century."
"Speaking of calendars… " Said Serena, her voice subdued.
"Do you know where… they live? I mean, it's been almost three years since I…
was gone."
Syl sighed at her question. He was hopping this particular
question didn't come out so soon, but now there was no case in stalling.
"Serena… I know this is hard for you, but I have to tell you something else.
Remember those classes in basic temporal mechanics you took at the Academy, the
ones that said that time is not a constant, but a variable?" when Serena
nodded, he added. "Well… for you, it has been almost three years. But here…
only a month has passed. I'm sorry."
Serena didn't say a thing, but the emotions displayed on her
face said more than enough. On one part, she was glad that just a month had
passed here; that indicated that her old friends couldn't have forgotten her.
On the other side, however, it also meant that they would still think of her as
a failure. A month was a very short amount of time for them to change their
minds! It had been three years for her, but what they said to her all that time
ago was returning to her in stark-crystal clarity, just as if those words had
been said the day before.
Syl and Luna waited patiently for her to recover from the news,
albeit their expressions were worried. They understood what she was imagining,
but there was nothing they could to about it, besides being there for her.
After a couple of minutes, Serena's expression became determined. She then
said. "Well, let's get going. I have a duty to perform, so let's not delay it
anymore." With those words she then walked out of the grove, her friends
closely behind.
The very first thing Serena noticed was that, by sheer
coincidence, they had appeared in the same park with a lake where all started
for her. There was the pier where she and Mamoru had been talking when
Chibi-Usa dropped on them, literally. She still remembered that first encounter
with the pink-haired girl, and more, the scare she got when the little brat
took that gun and fired at her… Serena ending up with a suction cup right in
the middle of her eyes!
Walking away from the area, she guided her friends to one of
the exits. Perhaps it had been coincidence, or perhaps a subconscious desire
what took them there, but that was the same exit where Mamoru had broken up
with her. Serena stopped for a few moments to regain her mental footing; upon
reaching that location, the memories of that fateful day had come back to her
mind, almost overwhelming her.
"Sere, are you all right?" asked Luna, worry evident in her
voice.
"Yeah… I'm fine Luna, don't worry. It's just that… this is
the place where Mamoru… broke up with me." Composing herself once more, she then said. "Well, how about if I show
you some of the places I used to hang around?"
"Sounds good to me, let's go!" Luna said, smiling.
Returning the smile, Serena then guided her friends out of
the park and towards the business district.
The three explorers spent a good 45 minutes looking around
the area, Serena pointing out the stores and malls that she used to hang around
with the rest of the girls. The experience was bittersweet for her due to the
amount of memories the places held for her. When they passed in front of it,
Serena was tempted to enter Crown, but in the end decided against it. She
didn't want to risk being recognized by Motoki, so they passed it without more
than a brief explanation from Serena.
It wasn't long before the three of them were now standing in
front of Serena's old house. Serena, for her part, was apprehensive for being
there. Her mind was screaming at her to turn around and run away. But her heart
was also telling her that she had to go in there, to talk with her family one
last time… to make sure they still remembered her at least, and to make sure
they were fine.
Serena remained in front of the gate of her house for a
couple of minutes, her mind and heart at war. But, in the end, it was her heart
that won. However, she couldn't convince herself to get in there alone. Turning
around, she said. "Guys… well, you know… this is very awkward for me, and I was
wondering… I mean, if you two could… come with me and… meet my family. You see,
I don't want to… do this alone." Those last words came out more like a whisper
than anything else, however her friends were able to hear her clearly.
"But of course Sere! You don't have to ask, you know? I
would have gone with you anyway!" said Luna, "Besides, I want to meet your
folks, you know? I'm curious about what kind of people they are to have forgotten
their daughter like they did." The last statement came out more like a growl
like anything else.
"Now, now Luna, it wasn't their fault, remember?" said Syl,
trying to calm the excited felinoid. "They were under a spell, there was
nothing they could do about it." To his great relief, Luna relaxed, but he
noticed that she was still a little tense.
"Well… here goes nothing." Said Serena. Taking a deep breath
to calm her nerves, she walked to the door, her friends right behind her. She
then pressed the bell button.
Ikuko Tsukino had finished cleaning the house. As it had
been for the last days, she went through the motions in a mechanical way, just
performing the movements. It had been like that when the police closed the case
for her missing daughter. No matter how much she pleaded and cried, the
overworked police department had too much work to do for them to look for a
missing teenager, one that probably had run away from home; too normal in their
opinion. The case had been filed and some reports issued, but nothing more had
been done.
Ikuko was placing the cleaning articles in the broom closet
when the doorbell rang. Sighing, she went to the entrance; upon opening the
door, she saw three people standing in front of them: one young man wearing a dark
blue business suit, a tall brunette in a green business outfit, and a blond
young woman dressed in a gray one.
"Yes, can I help you?"
When she heard those words, Serena felt a pang in her heart.
She was expecting for her own mother to somewhat recognize her. The logical
part of her mind reminded her that it had been three years for her, so
obviously she had changed, not taking in account that her hair was in a
different style than what she used to wear it. Gulping, she then said.
"Do… don't you recognize me? Don't you remember me?"
Hearing those words, Ikuko focused her attention on the
young blond woman. Her grief-stricken mind then began to study her in more
minute detail. The face of the stranger reminded her of someone, but she wasn't
quite sure. It was when she focused her sight on those blue eyes that a memory
began to surface.
Concentrating more on those eyes, Ikuko's mind began to
piece the memories that tried to emerge from her subconscious. Finally, in a
bright flash in her mind's eye, recognition came unbridled. She gasped all of a
sudden, placing a hand on her mouth. With a trembling voice, she said.
"U… Usagi? Is… is that you?"
Serena had been watching intently at her mother, her mind in
chaos. She was in the brink of running away and never look back. However, her
gaze was locked with her mother's and noticed the internal struggle she was
having. Holding her breath, she waited for what would happen. Finally, her
mother gasped and said those words. "U… Usagi? Is… is that you?"
Serena then began to tremble slightly, a vortex of emotions
swallowing her. Gulping once more, she nodded and said. "Yes… it's me. I'm
back."
It was too much for Ikuko. The shock of seeing her missing
daughter in front of her so changed, so… mature, and in company of strangers
right in front of her doorstep simply overwhelmed her system. She fainted.
Syl reacted in that instant, grabbing the fainting woman and
preventing her from hitting the floor. He then began to check her vital signs.
Noticing that she had only fainted, he addressed Serena, who was looking at
them with evident worry on her face. "Don't worry, she just fainted. Now, how
about we get inside? This is no place to stand around."
Nodding, Serena guided them to the living room, where Syl
gently put Ikuko on the sofa. Taking out his medi-kit, he took out a small
crystal capsule. "Now, hold your breaths girls. The smell of this salts are
pretty strong." Taking a deep breath and holding it, he broke the tip of the
capsule and waved it under Ikuko's nose.
Ikuko woke up with a start, coughing a little from the smell
that assaulted her nostrils. Noticing that she was laying down, she thought.
(Oh God, what a dream… I thought that Usagi had returned… I must have
overworked myself. And what's that smell? I think I left the bottle of ammonia
open!) It was at that moment that a voice she hadn't heard in almost a month
reached her ears. The voice sounded somewhat different, but the inflexions and
tone were something she would recognize anywhere.
"Mom… are you all right? Can I bring you something?"
Ignoring her dizziness, Ikuko immediately sat up. What
greeted her eyes was something she hadn't dared to even dream. Kneeling next to
her, tears coming down her cheeks, was her girl! Unable to contain herself, Ikuko
embraced her baby. "Usagi… Usagi, it's really you! Oh my baby is back! Thank
you God, thank you!" she couldn't say another word, her emotions overwhelming
her at last. For a few minutes, she and her missing daughter remained in each
other's arms, sobbing their past grief and giving each other the comfort both
so greatly needed and missed. Serena's companions stood behind them, keeping
silent and giving them the time and privacy they needed.
((A.N.- In order to keep things clear, from now on I'll
refer to Luna-Felinoid as Luna-F, while the moon cat Luna we all know from the
series will be referred as Luna-C. Thank you for your attention.))
Luna-C had been trying to take a nap on Usagi's old bed for
some time now. However, her mind was so busy with recent happenings that sleep
was an alien thing for her. For the last few days, after the events in the
shrine regarding Rei having stolen the Moon Scepter and its destruction, the
Senshi had been more closed than before. It was as if, with the last reminder of
their friend and princess' gone, there was nothing left for them to fight for.
Granted, they still fought against the Dark Moon Family, but it was more as a
chore than in something they believed in.
She and Artemis had despaired for countless hours trying to
find a solution, but nothing had come from their brainstorming. Even more, she
was now seriously considering leaving the Tsukino family and go to live with
Ami. The continuous disintegration of the family was putting an enormous amount
of stress upon her. But she couldn't do it… at least not yet; Chibi-Usa needed
her for comfort.
It was the day after the police closed the file for a
missing Usagi when Chibi-Usa approached Luna-C. What surprised the moon cat was
the fact that the little girl knew that she could talk. However, no matter how
much she pressed her, Chibi-Usa didn't tell her how she knew who and what
Luna-C was. The moon cat was alleviated when Chibi-Usa promised not to tell
anybody else that she could talk, but that was little consolation in the long
run.
She was still trying to catch that elusive nap when her ears
picked up some commotion coming from downstairs. Her natural curiosity gaining
the best of her, Luna-C jumped from the bed and exited the room. Fortunately
for her, Ikuko always left the door ajar so she could come in and out at her
own leisure. Peeking from the top of the stairs, she noticed that a group of
people was surrounding Ikuko, who apparently had a faint spell. She tensed when
she saw the man of the group weave something under the woman's nose, but
relaxed a little when she saw Ikuko waking up. She was about to return to the
room when the words uttered by Ikuko froze her on her place.
"Usagi… Usagi, it's really you! Oh my baby is back! Thank
you God, thank you!"
A rush of emotions and memories assaulted Luna-C in that
instant, making her fight for breath. When she calmed down a little, very
slowly, she turned around and looked at the embracing women. Trembling a
little, she focused her senses on the young blond woman embracing Ikuko, hoping
against hope that what she heard was true.
Tears of happiness ran down Luna-C's face when her senses
confirmed the presence of lunar magic on the young woman, an energy signature
she hadn't felt for so long. Unable to contain herself any longer, the moon cat
raced down the stairs to meet her long-lost princess. She arrived just when
Ikuko and Usagi separated from each other. With a jump that in normal
circumstances she wouldn't have attempted, she first reached the back of the sofa,
and with another jump she was in the arms of Usagi, who embraced her by reflex.
Unmindful of the consequences, she began to talk.
"USAGI!!! Thank the goddess that you're all right! We all
thought you were dead! When Rubeus attacked you, we all thought… but you are
here now! Thank Serenity, you are alive!!" she then tried to embrace Usagi, all
the while crying on her arms.
Nobody said a word for a few minutes; everybody except
Serena/Usagi had a shocked expression. It was Ikuko who broke the silence. "U…
Usagi… Luna… Luna talked!" When she heard that, Luna-C froze in her place.
Turning around, very meekly she said. "Eeeh… meow?"
Gently placing Luna-C on the floor in front of her,
Serena/Usagi proceeded to massage her temples in an attempt to stall the headache
she could feel approaching. "Lunakins… you surprise me. You always hammered to
me the need to keep your abilities a secret, and you are the first one to blow
your secret out of the water?"
Seeing that Ikuko was once more on the verge of fainting, Syl
sighed and took out his medi-kit one more time. Opening it, he took out a small
orange pill. "Excuse me, but where's your kitchen? I need a glass of water."
"I'll get it." Said Serena, standing up. "Now Syl, Luna, why
don't you take a seat? I'll be right back. And you Lunakins… don't say a word
until I return, all right?" she then went to the kitchen, leaving a confused
group behind her. A moment later, she returned with the water, handing the
glass to Syl.
Nodding his thanks, Syl dropped the pill on the water, which
fizzed and began to dissolve. Once done, he handed the water to Ikuko. "Here,
drink this. It will help you." Smirking, he then added. "And believe me, you
are going to need all the help you might get. The story you have to hear is a
doozy!"
Without saying a word, Ikuko took the proffered water and
drank it in one gulp. Placing the glass on the table, she the asked. "Excuse
me, but what was that you gave me?"
"Don't worry, it's harmless. It's just a stimulant normally
used to prevent hurt victims from falling into shock. It will wear off in a few
hours, but in the meanwhile, it will help you to keep you from fainting."
Nodding, Ikuko accepted the explanation. "Now, not to be
ungrateful or anything, but… who are you? And what are you doing with my
daughter? Even more, why does she look so… so… well, BIG?"
"Oh yes. I'm so sorry about that!" said Serena/Usagi,
blushing. "Mom, let me introduce you to my two best friends. This gentleman,"
she then signaled at Syl, who bowed a little, "is Galen
Osborn Sylpheed."
"Please, just call me Syl. It's shorter and
easier to remember. My full name is quite a mouthful, don't you think?" he
chuckled after saying that.
Serena/Usagi then continued. "And this young
lady is Luna."
"Pleased to meet you." Said Luna-F, nodding in
Ikuko's direction. Seeing the Tsukino matriarch's expression, she added. "Just
Luna, no other names attached."
"Pleased to meet you as well." Said Ikuko, bowing. "I take
it you two were with my daughter all this time. I thank you both deeply for
bringing her back safe and sound."
"There is nothing to thank, really." Said Syl. "it was a
pleasure, and it has been a great honor being called a friend by your
daughter."
Unable to contain herself any longer, Luna-C decided to talk
once more in that moment. "I thank you two as well for taking care of Usagi.
But what I want to know is…" she then faced Serena/Usagi. "Where have you been
all this time? Why you didn't call us, and why are you so… grown up??"
"And that reminds me, how come you can talk Luna?" asked
Ikuko, eyeing the black cat. She then looked at her daughter. "And you have a
lot to explain young lady! All those are very good questions, and I want
answers!"
"You've been keeping a lot of secrets around, Bunny!" Said,
Luna-F, smirking. "And personally, I think all those questions are pretty good.
You better answer them."
Serena/Usagi sighed upon hearing that, knowing very well
that she had to if she wanted to keep things going. "All right… but if you
don't mind, I prefer to tell my story when dad and Shingo are here. I don't
want to go through this more than once with them… sorry mom, but it will be
better for me like that."
"I understand dear, don't worry." Said Ikuko, smiling. She
wasn't sure if she had surpassed her surprise quota, or perhaps the medicine
Syl gave her was taking effect, but she took that in stride. Still, she turned
around and addressed Luna-C "However, you better explain to me who and what you
are Luna. I don't like being taken for a fool, and if you want to stay with us,
you better come out clean."
"Oooh yes! I can't wait to hear what my namesake has to say
too!" added Luna-F, staring intently at the moon cat. "And better make it a
good story, cat! I enjoy a good one!"
Luna-C looked intently at Luna-F, trying to assess her.
However, due to all the emotions that she had experienced in such a short time,
she wasn't able to "feel" her correctly. Looking at Ikuko, she began her
story."
"All right; you deserve the truth after all. Well, you see,
a thousand years ago, there was a kingdom in the moon…"
"… And that's what happened until now." Luna-C finished her
story with a heavy sigh. It had taken her a good hour to give an abbreviated
version of Serena/Usagi's life from the story of the Silver Millennium to date,
but she made a concise and accurate story. During her whole telling, Syl had
activated the recorder on his communicator, while making questions in the
appropriate places. Once Luna-C finished telling her story, he turned off the
recorder and leaned on the chair he was using.
"That's interesting. And to tell you the truth, I'm shocked!
I mean, sending an untrained girl to fight a war just like that? And your
missing ruler to boot! What were you thinking?"
"It's not her fault Syl." Said Serena/Usagi in defense of
her old friend and advisor. "It was the best that could have been done,
considering the circumstances. All right, I admit I didn't want to fight in the
first place, but considering that we were the only ones that could fight back
and stand a chance, it wasn't so hard."
"So… that explains why you were always waking up so tired
and sleeping in classes." Said Ikuko, contemplative. "Still, I'm not happy with
you having gone to fight against all those monsters! I'm sure that your father
and I will ground you for a long time once he hears all this, young lady!"
Serena/Usagi sighed hearing that; what she had to say was
going to be difficult, and she wasn't sure she wanted to confront her father…
but internally, she knew that it was something she had to do. She was about to
answer when the front door opened. All presents turned around, and saw both
Kenji and Shingo Tsukino enter; Shingo was sporting a shiner and was looking
down, his shoulder slumped. Kenji on the other hand looked quite furious.
Ikuko immediately stood up and greeted the new arrivals.
"Honey, son, welcome home! I have a great surprise for you!"
"Not now, dear." Said the Tsukino patriarch, leaving his
portfolio on the entrance table and changing his shoes with his house slippers,
Shingo doing the same. "Shingo here got in another fight. I don't know what
we're going to do with him!"
Ikuko looked down at her son, worry evident on her face.
After examining his face, she said. "Oh dear, what happened now? I'll get you
some ice for that eye." Shingo just sighed, but refused to say a word. He had
been returning back home with some injury or other almost on a daily basis.
According to what some friends of him said, he always looked for a fight with
whoever was trying to bully someone weaker. Apparently, his sister's
disappearance, combined with the news of Sailor Moon's 'demise' had been a big
hit on his young mind, and that was his way to both pay homage to his hero and
express his anger.
"There's no need for you to bother with the ice, Mrs. Tsukino,"
said a voice behind her. "I can help with that, of course with your
permission."
The three Tsukino members turned around. Syl was standing
behind Ikuko, waiting patiently for her answer. Behind him were both Luna-F and
Serena, with Luna-C cuddled in the blonde's arms.
"Who are you, and what do you want here?" said Kenji,
gruffly.
"Kenji! Where are your manners??" said Ikuko, swatting his
arm lightly. "These fine people came to return to us something we thought
lost!"
Those words caught Kenji's attention. Giving another deep
look at the people waiting patiently for his answer he said. "All right. Let's
go to the living room and discuss this in a more civilized way." He then
addressed his wife. "Dear, could you please bring the ice?"
Once everybody was comfortably seated, and Shingo had his
ice pack on his swollen eye, Kenji spoke. "All right, what is it you brought
back to us, and I repeat myself, who are you?"
It was Ikuko who made the introductions. "Dear, these fine
people are Syl and Luna." The aforementioned people bowed slightly in
acknowledgement. She then embraced lightly the third person of the group. "And
dear… this is Usagi! Our baby is back!"
Kenji stared directly into the blond's eyes, at the same
time his mind comparing the image of the last time he saw his daughter with the
mature, young woman next to his wife. Idly, his mind noticed the way she was
holding Luna-C… exactly the same position his Usagi always petted her cat.
Gulping, he finally said, his voice quavering. "Usagi… is that really you?"
Placing Luna-C next to her and gently removing herself from
her mother's embrace, Serena/Usagi walked next to Kenji and gave him a small
kiss on his cheek. "Yes daddy. It's me, I'm back."
Very gently, Kenji took his daughter's hands on his.
Standing up, he looked at the young woman now in front of him, drinking in her
presence. His eyes brimming with tears, he finally embraced her, letting her
know his feelings with that simple act. "My baby… welcome home dear. Welcome."
Nobody said a word for a few moments, letting them enjoy
their reunion. It was Shingo who finally broke the silence. "Oh please! Do you
really expect me to believe she's Odango Atama? And more, she's so old! She
can't be my sister!"
"SHINGO!" Ikuko said, staring hard at her son. "Apologize
immediately!"
Extracting herself from her father's embrace, Serena/Usagi
said, at the same time taking her place next to her mother. "No mom, he has the
right to doubt me. After all, so much has happened to me in this time…"
"What happened to you dear?" asked Kenji, puzzled at that
statement. "And where have you been? Why are you so grown up? And why are you
in the company of these people?"
"You still owe us an explanation, dear." Said Ikuko, looking
straight at her daughter. "You said you wanted to wait until your brother and
father were here. Well, here they are, so please, begin your explanation."
Knowing that the time had come, and upon seeing the support
on the eyes of her companions, Serena/Usagi began to talk. "Well… ok. Where to
start? I guess that all these events commenced a month ago for you, but almost
three years for me, on the night that I was attacked…"
"… so, as you can see, that is the reason I'm back. I have
to make my decision." Finished the blond. During the telling of her story,
which took a good hour and a half albeit being an abbreviated version, Ikuko
had gone to the kitchen and prepared tea. At that moment, everybody was holding
a cup in their hands. Also, during the storytelling, Syl and Luna-F had helped
in the narration adding some observations and points of view. When she finally
finished her story, nobody said a word, the members of the Tsukino household
digesting the incredible story they had just heard.
"I… find it hard to believe…" said Kenji, finally breaking
the awkward silence. "If it weren't for the fact that you are here, and your
age… I wouldn't believe one word."
"Still, every word is true." Said Syl. He then looked at
Shingo, who was still holding his ice pack on his injured eye. "Now, if you
want some physical proof, I guess that helping with your black eye will be a
good starting point." He the looked at Kenji and Ikuko. "That is, if you give
me your permission."
"By all means, I'm curious as well." Said Ikuko. Kenji also
nodded in agreement.
Taking his medi-kit one more time, Syl gently removed the
ice pack from Shingo's eye. Taking a good look at the injury, he said at the
same time he activated the unit. "Nice shiner you have there. I hope you gave
back as good as you received."
"You bet!" said Shingo, pride evident on his voice. "That
bully will think it twice before molesting young ones!"
"So… helping others runs in the family, I see. Glad to know
that." Said Syl, smiling. He then placed the medi-kit on top of Shingo's eye,
not making contact with the skin. "Now please, stay still, this won't hurt a
bit. If you want you can close your eyes." He then pressed a button on the
device, looking at the readings appearing on the small screen.
"Hmmm, blood vessels crushed on the skin and in the eye
globe. Small presence of bacteriological agents on the surface of the cornea,
as well as presence of some blood in the interior of the eye, and a small
lesion on the retinal surface. This last one could cause eye vision problems in
the long term. And we don't want that, do we? Now hold still, this won't take
long." He then pressed another button on the medi-kit. This time a soft white
light could be seen emanating from the device, as well as a humming. A minute
later, the medi-kit turned off automatically. Putting back the device, Syl
finally said. "Well, all done. How do you feel?"
The Tsukinos gasped when they saw the results. Where purple
skin and a swelling were, now was healthy skin with the appropriate color. The
eye, which was a furious red color, was now a normal white in the right places.
Shingo opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. He
then looked at Syl, surprise evident in his face. "I… I can see well now! And
it doesn't hurt one bit! THANKS!!!"
"Amazing…" muttered Kenji, surprised. When Syl turned
around, he noticed that Luna-F was asking with her eyes if she could do
something. He thought for a moment, but in the end decided it was better that
way. He nodded his agreement.
"And if you're still not convinced of where she has been, I
guess this could change your minds." When Serena/Usagi heard those words, she
immediately tried to stop Luna-F, but it was already too late. Touching a
button on her 'wristwatch', the presents were regarded with the imposing
presence of a black felinoid. Needless to say, Kenji, Shingo and Ikuko were
speechless, while Luna-C was making her best imitation of a powder puff.
"That was a little too much, don't you think?" said Serena,
shaking her head. "Now, turn that thing back on. I know how distracted you can
be, and it would be a bad idea if you walk out of here looking like that."
"Okay." Shrugging her shoulders, Luna-F turned her
holo-cover back on.
Shingo was the first one to regain his voice. "You're an
alien? COOL!!"
"Not bad, eh cub?" said Luna-F, winking in his direction.
It was in that moment that the explorers' comm units began
to beep. Taking them out and activating them immediately, all heard the voice
coming from it.
+ Attention explorer group of the north pacific Asiatic
area. Long-range scans shows the presence of an unidentified flying object
suddenly appearing near your position. Your orders are to proceed to the area
immediately and gather as much information as possible. Do not, repeat, do not
engage or make contact with the object and/or its crew until further notice.
Coordinates are being downloaded to your communicators. +
As soon as the coordinates were downloaded, Serena/Usagi
gasped. "That's on the downtown area!"
"You know how to get there?" asked Syl. When Serena nodded,
he added. "Well, let's go, duty calls." He then addressed the Tsukino family.
"Thank you for your hospitality, and hope to see you again soon."
"No, Usagi, no!" Ikuko stood up and embraced the
aforementioned girl. "You just returned! You can't leave now that you are back
with us!"
"Your mother is right." Said Kenji, standing up as well and
standing next to his wife. "You can't leave again. Don't risk your life like
that."
Shingo, for his part, had taken Serena/Usagi's hand and was
holding it with all he was worth of. "No, don't go again! I… I take back all I
said about you in the past! Don't leave!"
Serena/Usagi stood immobile for a few moments, torn by
indecision. For one part, her heart was screaming to her to stay with her
family, to mend all those rifts caused by her absence. But on the other part,
was her new duty as a member of the Agency. By the end, it was Luna-F who
helped her made up her mind by softly saying, "Serena… let's go."
As gently and fast as she could, Serena/Usagi released
herself from her mother's embrace and her brother's hold. "Mom, dad, Shingo…
I'm sorry, but I have to do it. I have a debt to repay to this people, and
besides… this is my job. Don't worry, I'll be careful. And I'll try to come
back as soon as I can."
Without waiting for an answer, she turned around and headed
for the exit. Her two companions nodding when she passed them and joining her.
She didn't turn back to see the expressions of her family, knowing that if she
did, she wouldn't be able to leave the house.
Nobody noticed a small black cat going after them.
* * * *
Earlier…
Mamoru and Chibi-Usa had left the ice cream shop in a
somewhat better mood. When they arrived, both had been depressed, as it had
been for the last month. It was a couple of ice creams later that they left the
place feeling better. Still, the little girl looked sad, a fact that worried
Mamoru.
"Hey, cheer up, please?" said Mamoru, crouching in front of
the girl. "Tell you what. How about I treat you with a new dress?"
"No, thank you." Said Chibi-Usa, sighing. "Do you mind if we
go back home? I don't feel too good."
Taking a deep breath, Mamoru only nodded. He had run out of
ideas of what else to do to cheer the little girl after all; besides, he too
wanted to get back to his apartment. They had gone a couple of blocks when, all
of a sudden, the skies turned black. Like all the other pedestrians, they
stopped on their tracks and focused their attention on the sky, wondering what
was going on. The answer didn't take long to come.
The darkened clouds opened, and from the opening, an
enormous… thing appeared. It seemed to be made of black crystal, light flashing
all over its surface. The size of the object was perhaps as big as the tallest
skyscraper in the area, dwarfing everything else with its presence. And above
all, the object seemed to exude an aura of evilness that was overwhelming.
People in the streets bean to scream and run away from it.
Unfortunately, it also caused Mamoru and Chibi-Usa to be pushed to a side
alley, cutting their exit from the area. They were waiting for the crowds to
clear enough for them to run away when all of a sudden, a voice was heard from
the strange object. A voice that they identified as Rubeus'.
"Attention, people of earth! We are the Dark Moon Family!
From this moment on, consider yourselves under our control. Any kind of
resistance will be punished severely. Your powers are no match for ours, so
unconditional surrender is your only option. In case you try to oppose us, take
this as an objective lesson."
Immediately, an arc of black lightning emerged from one of
the crystal spikes, hitting a nearby building. The building exploded in an
impressive show of fire and debris, the latter falling on top of the fleeing
crowd.
"However, all this suffering can be averted with one
condition. The Sailor Senshi will surrender and swear their allegiance to us.
They have to bring with them the Rabbit. You have ten minutes before we destroy
this pitiful city and you with it. Remember, ten minutes!"
Chibi-Usa was petrified by fear. First, the appearance of
the ship had scared her enormously, but when it destroyed the building and hurt
all those people she couldn't help but embrace Mamoru and sob. She remained in
that position for a few minutes, calming down. Once that was done, she looked
back at the exit of the alley; the moans and cries of the injured and moribund
were clawing at her young heart. Suddenly, she clenched her firsts and her face
hardened. Turning around to look at Mamoru, she said. "Don't worry, I'll make
everything right, you'll see!" and without waiting for an answer, she ran out
of the alley.
Standing in the middle of the street, Chibi-Usa looked up to
Rubeus' ship. She then screamed at the top of her lungs. "RUBEUS! HERE I AM,
COME AND GET ME!"
In a flash, the four sisters materialized in front of the
little girl. All of them wore a satisfied expression on their faces.
"Well, look at this." Said Petz, smirking. "Looks like the
little rabbit decided to come out of her hole."
"Good thinking, you little brat." Said Catsy, her arms
crossed in front of her chest and a cruel smirk on her face." You have caused
us enough trouble already. Now, come with us."
But before anybody could move, a red rose embedded between
Chibi-Usa and the sisters. Looking up to a nearby building, they saw the origin
of the projectile. "Predictable as always." Commented Prisma.
Jumping off his perch, Tuxedo Kamen landed next to
Chibi-Usa, his cane at the ready. "You are not going to touch her, not as long
as I live." His statement came out more as a growl than anything else. However,
that didn't impress the sisters.
"Really?" Catsy said, summoning a ball of blue fire. "And
who is going to stop us, you? You and what army?"
"How about THIS army?" a voice from the heights said.
Looking up once more, they saw four figures standing on top of a bookstore.
"Well, about time you arrived," commented Avery. "How about
you come down here and play? That is, if you are not afraid of us."
That was the trigger. The four Senshi jumped down the
building, at the same time launching their attacks at the enemy.
"MARS FIRE IGNITE!"
"JUPITER THUNDER DRAGON!"
"MERCURY FREEZE BUBBLES!"
"VENUS CRESCENT BEAM!"
At the same moment, Tuxedo Kamen grabbed Chibi-Usa and
jumped away from the blast area. As soon as the little girl was in a safe spot,
he joined the Senshi in the battle.
Nobody noticed the three figures hiding in an alley outside
the battle zone.
Syl, Luna-F and Serena had reached the area without
difficulty. It had been easier since Rubeus' ship was plainly visible from a
big distance. Fortunately for them, they had crossed the police lines without
being noticed. As soon as they found a safe spot to hide, they took out their
communicators and turned on the camera and sensor suites.
"Geez, what is that thing?" Luna-F commented, focusing her
unit towards the crystal ship. "I've never seen anything like that."
"Beats me." Said Syl, focusing his unit to the people on the
ground. They had arrived when the four sisters had materialized. He jumped a
little when a red rose embedded itself on the ground. "Wow… that's different.
It's the first time I see greenery used in that manner!"
Serena didn't say a word, her attention focused on the
little girl in the street. A moment later, the appearance of a tuxedo-clad
figure made her gulp heavily. Unconsciously, she murmured one word.
"Mamoru…"
That grabbed Luna-F's attention. "Mamoru? You mean that's
the guy that dumped you without reason? Well, I hope he gets his butt kicked!"
"That's not a nice thing to say Luna." Said Syl, focusing
his sensors on the new arrival. "Although, I have to admit that I wouldn't mind
seeing that myself."
"Focus people." Said Serena, after taking a deep breath to
calm herself. "The others won't be long to come."
"Others? What others?" inquired Syl. Soon enough, his
question was answered by the arrival of the Sailor Senshi. "Oh. I see. Serena,
aim your sensors to the new girls on the block."
"Roger." Serena did as said, paying attention to both the
readings and the battle in front of her. At the same time, she kept an eye on
Chibi-Usa, making sure that the little girl didn't do anything foolish… like
running into the battlefield. Since arrival, she had kept her abilities to
herself, not daring to extend her senses; she was perfectly aware that Rubeus
and the Four Sisters would be able to sense her, so she didn't risk being
discovered.
"That's interesting." Commented Syl, keeping an eye on his
sensors. "The cane of that guy seems to be ordinary wood, but a strange energy
flux courses through it, giving it the properties of highly dense matter. I
wonder how he does that."
"What I find interesting is that they all seem to use
elemental attacks." Said Luna-F turning her attention away from the ship and
looking at the fierce battle in front of them. "And they seem evenly matched.
Just as I said before Bunny, they can't do a thing without you! This is a
stalemate at best."
"Well, you have to admit that they don't fight that shabby
as a group." Said Syl. "Look at them. They try to cover each other as well as
keep attacking. Not very coordinated, but not that bad all things considered."
"They are doing the best they can." Said Serena in defense
of her erstwhile friends. "And they have been doing a good job so far, if the
city is still standing."
In that moment, a voice behind them surprised them. "Usagi,
what are you doing? Why aren't you there fighting? Come on, the girls need your
help!"
Diverting her attention from the fight, Serena looked down.
Sure enough, Luna-C was right at her feet. "Luna, what are you doing here?"
"What do you think? Making sure that you're safe!" said the
moon cat. "But what I never imagined you doing was leaving your friends alone!"
"Hey, chill cat!" said Luna-F, turning around. "She doesn't
have to go and risk her neck if she doesn't want to, you know? Besides, if my
memory serves me right, it was THEM who kicked HER out, not the other way
around, so shut up!" it was during her tirade that her sensors picked up an
energy surge coming from Rubeus' ship, but she didn't notice since her
attention was focused on the black cat.
"Why you…" Luna-C began. She was about to give the felinoid
a piece of her mind when another voice, this time male, was heard. Both Lunas
turned in the direction of the voice, immediately seeing a white cat heading
towards them.
"Luna! Thank goodness you're here! I…" The new arrival
attention's immediately focused on the three people with Luna-C. "Oh boy, I
blew it…"
"They already know Artemis." Said Luna-C, scowling. "Now,
help me to convince Usagi that she has to help the others!"
"Usagi? What are you talking about?" Artemis looked back at
the three people, immediately noticing the one with blond hair. When she turned
around, he gasped. "What the…?"
"Hello Artemis. Long time no see, eh?"
Artemis almost dropped to his belly when he saw her. Unlike
Luna-C, he immediately recognized her. "Usagi? You are alive?!?! But… how…
why…?"
"No time for that!" said Luna-C, bopping him in the nose.
"Now, help me talk some sense to her! She doesn't want to fight with the
others!"
The discussion would have continued if it weren't for Syl's
warning. "Heads up everybody! Energy spike coming from that ship! Hit the
dirt!"
The three explorers immediately 'hugged the ground', Serena
holding Luna-C close to her. Artemis, on his part, crouched next to Luna-F.
Looking up from his position, Syl noticed what was going on.
From Rubeus' ship, a beam of green light enveloped all in the battlefield. And
to his amazed eyes, the Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen began to float towards the
crystal ship. Apparently, the beam had other properties, since the prisoners
looked stunned, their eyes clouded.
Focusing his sensors towards the beam, he began an analysis.
"Oh boy… tractor beam of unknown composition. This doesn't look good."
"NO!!" Serena began to stand up, but she wasn't quick
enough. Before she could leave the alley, she saw that Petz hurried towards
Chibi-Usa. Her movement was so fast that the little girl didn't have time to
even scream. As soon as she had the girl secured in her arms, Petz jumped back
into the beam, going up with the rest as well. As soon as everybody was inside
the crystal ship, the beam turned off.
"No… the enemy captured all." Muttered Luna-C, shocked.
"Everything is lost now…"
As soon as she said that, black lightning began to come out
of the ship, hitting everything around. A shower of debris began to fall on top
of them. Immediately, Syl pressed the red button on his communicator and made a
call to the orbiting ship.
"This is ensign Sylpheed. Request emergency teleport for
exploration group now! We're under attack, repeat, we're under attack!"
Soon, a series of bluish sparks surrounded them. But before
they began de-materializing, both lunar cats jumped in their arms, Luna-C in
Serena's arms, while Luna-F caught Artemis. In a moment, they were gone, all
the while the destruction continued.
* * * *
The three explorers, plus two moon cats, arrived safe and
sound in the ship's teleport room. As soon as she was ready, Serena dropped
Luna-C and headed to the exit.
"Sere, wait up! Where are you going?" said Luna-F, following
her friend. Without thinking, she transferred Artemis to her shoulder, which
got comfortable and enjoyed the ride.
"Usagi, where are you going now? We have to save the girls!"
said Luna-C, unmindful of her surroundings, not to mention the looks of those
who saw what apparently was a common housecat talking.
Serena didn't say a word. Instead, she entered a nearby
elevator; her friends followed suit, and soon all were heading to the bridge.
As soon as she arrived, Serena addressed the captain, who
was talking with his first officer. "Sir, permission to talk with you. It's
important."
Captain Vardeen looked at her for a moment before dismissing
his officer. As soon as he was gone, the captain said. "Very well ensign. Let's
go to my office." He then went in that direction, Serena and his group
following. The captain raised an eyebrow when Syl and Luna-F entered his office
as well, also noticing the two cats accompanying them but didn't say a thing.
Once he was seated in his chair behind his desk, he asked. "Yes ensign, what's
the matter?"
"Sir, I have come to a decision regarding my position in the
Agency." Said Serena, looking straight at the captain. It was obvious by her
posture and her expression that she was hardly containing herself, but she was
doing a good job of it.
"Very well. And what have you decided?"
"Sir… I have decided to forego my right of citizenship and
instead become an Ambassador of my world." When she said those words, Luna-F
gasped but didn't say a thing.
"I see… well, I'm sorry to hear that you won't join us on a
permanent basis, but if that's your decision, then so be it. The papers will be
delivered to your quarters as soon as possible."
"Sir… there is something else." Said Serena.
"And what is it?"
"Sir, as an ambassador, I formally request your assistance
in helping me to rescue a group of people taken prisoners by a hostile force
bent in destroying my world."
Nobody said a word at that statement; Syl and Luna-F were
looking at their friend with shocked expressions. Luna-C and Artemis were
looking at Serena/Usagi with expression hard to define.
A few heartbeats later, Captain Vardeen broke the silence.
However, the words he said shocked the presents even more.
"Request denied."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Author's notes:
Ok, here it is. Chapter 8. I hope you enjoy it, since I
enjoyed writing it! ˆ_ˆ
Now, I imagine that most of you are confused in my use of
"Serena/Usagi", right? Well, think about it. When I used that term, it was when
she was in the presence of people who knew her by one name or the other.
Remember, the people of the Agency know her as Serena Moon, while she's known
as Usagi by the rest of the SM cast. Using one single name would have been even
more confusing, don't you think?
And why did Serena didn't fight with the rest of the Senshi?
Well, Luna-F said it perfectly clear. She doesn't have to risk her neck if she
doesn't want to. For the few of you who wanted her to jump into the fray and
'kick Dark Moon Family butt', well, sorry to disappoint you but rest assured!
She's going to get her revenge soon enough!
Thank you very much to all those wonderful people who have
reviewed this story on Fanfiction.net; it's because of you that this story
hasn't been shelved. Keep reviewing people, and I'll keep writing, ok?
And again, my deepest and sincerest THANK YOU goes to Yohann
DeSabrais, whom without his comments and support this story wouldn't be as good
as it is. Your ideas for the reunion are pure gold dust. Thanks pal!!
That's all for now… Later!