THE OUTLAW

Chapter 10: "Dead Woman Walking"

By Bill K.

It was coming up on the end of the afternoon lesson on Three-Dimensional Calculus. As she lectured, Rei Hino wandered around the classroom. This was her habit. She felt that a moving lecturer was less likely to become boring, particularly with a dry subject such as Calculus. Even though it was rudimentary Three-D Calculus, only what someone would need to know to obtain an air car pilot's certification, it was dry stuff even to her, let alone a sixteen year old mind. So she kept moving, to keep her own interest as well as their's.

She also circled the room to better keep a handle on discipline in the room. By circling the students, Rei could keep an eye on them. There were fewer hidden spots for Usa to text message Hotaru, fewer spots for Ves-Ves to throw things at Cere-Cere. And Palla-Palla . . .

"Mind on your work, Palla-Palla," Rei warned as she passed the girl.

Palla-Palla straightened up and returned her attention to her work station. While Palla-Palla's savant talents allowed her to comprehend Three-Dimensional Calculus faster than anyone else in the class, her mind had even more tendency to wander than the others. The girl's cheeks grew crimson and Rei smiled to herself.

"And the plus/minus altitude ratio must always equal three hundred sixty. Otherwise, you've miscalculated," Rei finished up. She expelled a tired sigh. "OK, that's it for today. Read chapter sixteen and do the quiz at the end of the chapter - - BY YOURSELVES! I want the exam files to me by 0800 tomorrow. No excuses and don't collaborate, because you all know I'll know."

A groan went up among the students.

"Miss Rei-ma'am?" Palla-Palla asked, raising her hand. "What if Palla-Palla has already read that chapter?"

"Show-off," muttered Ves-Ves.

"Then you'll have that much more time to study your English verb conjugation - - which you're still behind on," Rei replied with sugar-sweetened sternness.

"Yes, ma'am," Palla-Palla pouted.

As the six girls filed out of the classroom, Rei's eyes followed Jun-Jun out. It had been a week since her humiliation: Arrest, detention, and the disappointment or suspicion of her family, her friends and those who worked in the palace. It had also been a week since she'd been with the boy who caused it all. Some had wondered if she'd been sneaking out to be with him. Rei knew better. Every time she got within twenty feet of the girl, Rei could feel the deep depression Jun-Jun was in like a swung sack of bricks. Not to mention the undercurrent of worry coming from the other girls that made it obvious she hadn't seen Quadrel.

Her heart went out to Jun-Jun. Rei understood how bittersweet it was to love someone you couldn't have. She also understood how destructive it was to give your love to someone who didn't love you. Everyone was grateful, but shocked, when Rei didn't push to drop the hammer on Jun-Jun for her transgression. She didn't because Rei understood.

"So how's she doing?" Makoto asked. Makoto had drifted into the classroom surreptitiously. They both knew who she meant.

"I wish there was something I could say to her to ease her mind," Rei replied. "But there are some things that even religion and philosophy can't fix."

"Yeah. You don't really get over love ending badly. I thought I was the queen of the bounce-back until San-San died," Makoto said. "I guess all she can do is hang on until her friends and family pull her up." Makoto thought for a moment. "Maybe I ought to bake her some cookies."

"You think every problem can be solved by baking cookies," Rei smirked.

"Baking cookies doesn't solve problems," Makoto said. Then she flashed Rei a smile. "It just gives you a reason to live until a solution comes along." Rei chuckled.

In the quarters of the Asteroids, Jun-Jun sat at her workstation, working on the calculus assignment. She didn't say a word. She didn't smile. The others tried to work, but kept making curious, worried glances at their sister. Finally Cere-Cere couldn't stand it any longer.

"Jun," she said, sitting next to Jun-Jun's work area, "you want to cry on my shoulder?"

"No," Jun-Jun whispered.

"I won't mind."

"I don't feel like crying. And what do I have to cry about? It's not like Quad loved me. He hasn't called since the arrest. He hasn't stopped by. I guess I'm not new and exciting anymore."

"He probably knows what's good for him," Ves-Ves muttered.

"Oh, shut up!" snapped Cere-Cere.

"He's just lucky I didn't find him that night."

"YOU ARE NOT HELPING, MUSCLE BRAINS!" Cere-Cere yelled. She turned back to Jun-Jun. "Maybe Ves did scare him away."

"You don't know Quad. Nothing scares him," Jun-Jun snickered sadly.

"Obviously commitment does," Cere-Cere replied. "Jun, what can I do? You gotta get over this!"

"I'm sorry for dragging you guys down," Jun said. "I'm trying. It's just - - it feels like there's this huge hole in my chest. The whole world looks like it's painted in gray. I just - - I don't want to do anything - - except go running to Quad or find some way to end the pain." An eerie silence filled the room. "I really know how poor Kaoru felt now."

Silently Palla-Palla got up from her area. She padded up behind Jun-Jun, then draped her body over the girl's back, wrapping her arms gently around her sister's neck.

"You're not going to run away," Palla-Palla said with child-like resolution. "Palla-Palla won't let you."

"OK," Jun-Jun smiled slightly, patting her sister's arms. "You're too strong for me. I'll stay. But I may need you to be strong for me again if I get weak."

"Palla-Palla will be as strong as she has to be," the girl said. She didn't release her grip.

"Hey, why don't we go out and do something? Have fun. Take your mind off things," suggested Ves-Ves.

"What about homework?" Jun-Jun asked. "Hino-sama said 0800."

"Screw homework and screw Hino-sama!" snapped Ves. "She can't hate me anymore than she does now!"

"No," Jun-Jun replied. Ves was about to protest. "Ves, we're both on thin ice right now. Don't tempt fate."

"But I can't stand this! You've been moping around this place all week!"

"It's the price you pay for falling in love," Jun shrugged. "It doesn't mean you get to lose your head or shirk your responsibilities. Just look at Kaoru - - or me, for that matter."

"Man, I hope I NEVER fall in love," huffed Ves-Ves.
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It was evening. Queen Serenity was to the point where she was ready for bed. She only had two things to do. One was find a way to drag Endymion out of his computer room so she'd have someone to snuggle with as she slept. But before she attempted that herculean task, she glided up to the infirmary as she had every night the past week to visit Kaoru.

Ami had long since gone to bed. Dr. Ling was just finishing up. The automated care systems would take over for the evening and if an emergency came up it would page Ling or Dr. Mizuno. As Serenity glided to Kaoru's room, she recalled the progress the girl had made, once Serenity had mentally restored her will to live by restoring her sense of self. The tissue regeneration drugs had just about healed the scarred skin on her throat and her severely lacerated larynx. In two days, Ami hoped to transfer her to the Tokyo Mental Health Institute. Everything seemed to have worked out, which gave Serenity a sense of relief. It was relief tinged with guilt, though. Serenity had subtly altered Kaoru's mind so she was no longer attracted to Quadrel in order to build up the girl's pride. She saw no other way to pull the teen out of her violent state,but it ate at her just the same.

When Serenity entered the room, though, she found a surprise waiting for her.

"Jun-Jun?" Serenity remarked.

"I-I'm sorry, Queen Serenity," Jun-Jun said, startled by the queen's appearance and embarrassed at being caught. "I-I didn't - - um, I was just . . ."

"You were worried about her?" Serenity smiled, calming the situation as she had so many times during her life. "That's very nice of you, considering she did attack you."

"Sometimes you do things that you want to take back," Jun-Jun replied softly. "Sometimes you just can't help yourself. I kind of understand her a lot more now."

"Still, I'm very grateful that you have enough maturity to put any hard feelings aside," Serenity said. Her hand softly brushed Jun-Jun's green hair.

"I don't know if it's that," Jun-Jun murmured. "I can't help thinking that looking at her is just looking at me in the future."

"I have faith in your character, Jun-Jun," the queen told her. "I always have. I wouldn't have given you the job of protecting my daughter if I didn't."

"I," Jun-Jun began, then fell silent.

"We all stumble. Believe me, I'm the expert on that. And it hurts. And you cry or get angry. But then you get up and continue on. The only alternative is to just stop and that doesn't accomplish anything."

Just then the patient began to stir. Serenity and Jun-Jun focused in on her.

"Queen Serenity," Kaoru said, smiling as she realized the monarch was present. Then her gaze shifted and she recognized her second visitor. "You."

"I-I'm sorry," Jun-Jun grimaced. "I don't want to upset you. I'll go if . . ."

"It's all right," Kaoru whispered, her voice still recovering from the cut of the noose. "You can stay. I - - don't hate you anymore."

Jun-Jun didn't know whether to feel elated or guilty.

"I'm sorry I tried to kill you," Kaoru wheezed. "I was just so scared. Scared of losing - - of losing Quad. I really don't know why now. I think I loved him - - but I can't feel it now."

Serenity's gaze shifted to the ceiling.

"I was crazy desperate. I feel better now - - better about myself. I mean, love is nice, but it's not worth ruining your life over. Nothing is."

Then she focused squarely on Jun-Jun.

"Don't love him, if you can help it - - Quad, I mean," warned Kaoru. "He won't love you. He won't love anyone but himself. I'm not sure he can. Stay away from him. He'll only hurt you."

"I'm trying," Jun-Jun whispered.

"It's hard," Kaoru sympathized. "I think I remember." The girl sighed. "Feel so sleepy. Please forgive me if I pass out on you."

Moments later the girl was asleep.

"She must be very tired," Serenity judged.

"I think it's her meds," Jun-Jun said. Serenity's cheeks colored.

"Oh. Right." Serenity straightened up. Then she noticed Jun-Jun's demeanor.

"It's not fair he can do this to someone," Jun-Jun stated.

"No, it's not," Serenity sympathized. "Unfortunately, some people are like that. They don't realize what they do affects everyone around them - - or they don't care. I try to teach people that it's wrong to not care about what you do to other people. I can't reach everybody,
and I don't always succeed with the people I do reach, but it's important to try. We won't get better as a people otherwise."

"Yeah," Jun-Jun nodded. But she was staring at something far away, far past Serenity and Kaoru and the infirmary room.

Serenity thought about saying something more, but refrained. She trusted Jun-Jun and part of trusting someone was believing that person would make the right decision ultimately.

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Returning to the palace, Minako met Makoto on the path leading to the front gate.

"Hey," the blonde waved. "Where are you headed? Late rendezvous with some cute guy, hmm?"

"Just a little last minute shopping," Makoto replied, an eyebrow arched. "I've got this new breakfast recipe I want to try out on Ami. So pull your antennae in, gossip monger."

"Hey, dirt on your friends is the best kind of dirt," Minako smirked. "And it's a wonder Ami isn't a blimp with you around."

"Actually cooking for Ami is a challenge," Makoto admitted. "Her diet is so strict and so health-conscious that you have to be really creative to make a dish seem rich and indulgent and not actually be. Keeps me on my toes. And when you do succeed, it really feels like you've accomplished something."

"And are you 'rewarded' afterward?" Minako inquired slyly.

"Boy, your mind is running particularly dirty tonight," Makoto grinned cynically. "Is there a full moon? So why are you out and about? Fishing for another boy-toy?"

"Name one thing on this Earth that is more absolutely divine than the male of the species in his early twenties?" Minako demanded.

"Motherhood?"

"PFFFTT!"

"So why are you here and not playing with some young stud's libido?" Makoto asked.

"Because they're not biting tonight," grumbled Minako.

"The 'Goddess Of Love' struck out?" Makoto marveled playfully.

"It happens. Every once in a while there'll be a night when I could walk down the Promenade naked and not get noticed. I think the gods do it to keep me humble."

"Then they're failing miserably," Makoto murmured with a smirk.

Just then, Minako nudged Makoto. She pointed Makoto's line of sight to their left. Though she was off in the distance, the hairstyle was unmistakable - - Jun-Jun was hurrying off somewhere.

"Where do you think she's going?" Makoto wondered. "You don't think . . .?"

"You're only as strong as your weakest moment," Minako said. "I can't really slam her. We both know I've done this same dance." Minako sighed. "I hope it works out for you, kid, but I'm not going to bet the ranch on it."

continued in Chapter11