Chapter 16-The Mission

Ami sat at the dining table, drumming her fingers nervously. Setsuna sat next to her, her expression was unreadable. How could she be so calm?

Usagi came in holding Seiya's hand and happily plopped down on one of the chairs. "So, Ami, you called for a meeting. What are we going to discuss?"

"Best to wait till everyone is here. I'm going to get Chibiusa and Hotaru. I want this to be a family discussion." Setsuna got up and walked up the stairs.

"Alight, all present. Let's get the show on the road." Minako clapped her hands dramatically. The rest piled in and took their seats.

Ami looked around the table. They had survived and bonded as a family. What she's about to reveal next would change everything...

"So, as you all know, Setsuna and I have been working hard in the lab, analyzing Usagi's blood." Ami paused when she saw Seiya raised an eyebrow. Did Usagi not mention her bite to Seiya yet?

"And? Just spit it out, Ami. The suspense is killing me." Minako was more hyper than usual today. Rei gently put a hand on Minako's, quietly reining in the crazy.

"We hypothesized that Usagi's blood, the antibodies, might be the key to a cure. We might be able to eradicate the zombie virus..."

The silence in the room was deafening. Ami waited as the group process the information.

Michiru was the first to speak. "You don't look too excited, Ami. What's the bad news?"

"The infectious disease center in Tokyo is no longer in play. We need a proper lab to make a good batch of vaccine. We also...need human subjects." Ami swallowed hard as she squeezed the last few words out. They would need to test the vaccine on uninfected people, which meant a sure death sentence for the subjects if they were wrong.

"So, we can't make the vaccine here? Humanity is still doomed?" Haruka asked.

Setsuna shook her head. "Not necessarily...I need to get to my old lab. There is a secure network within it and I can send out a message to all the satellite sites spread across the country. I hope that one of the labs would still be functioning and then we can use their equipment to make the vaccine."

"Which brings us to another problem, doesn't it?" Haruka scratched her head. "When we first rescued you, Setsuna, didn't you blast through the front door in order to escape? Which means it should be totally zombie infested by now..."

Setsuna nodded sadly. "It was a stupid move..."

"We will find a way, right?" Usagi's eyes were teary as she looked at everyone. "If it's my blood that can save everyone, then I would gladly bleed." Usagi turned and looked at her little sister and Hotaru. "If there is a remote chance that they can grow up in a better world…I would do anything."

Haruka replied gently. "Princess, we are talking about going into the center of Tokyo...a city of 10 million zombies...we would all be eaten before we could get you to the right people..."

"Usagi is staying here until we can find out the actual location of a functioning lab. I was thinking maybe some of you would want to come with me to the lab." Setsuna stood up and rolled out the map. "It will be a two-day, maybe three-day run. Makoto, I hate to ask you this, but I might need you to restore power once we get there...and Ami, no, you are staying here. If anything happens to me, you are the next one in line to keep going..."

Mako nodded immediately. "I was going to volunteer anyway."

Ami looked at her girlfriend and felt helpless. Logic was telling her that Mako was a good choice for this expedition. Her heart, however, was throwing a tantrum like a spoiled little child. She struggled to find the right words, but in the end, opted for silence instead. She knew she had no right to hold her back…

Mako turned and winked at Ami. "I will be okay. You don't have to worry about me..."

Forcing a half smile, Ami nodded. She wanted to tell her to stay, to let others take the risk of going on a semi-suicidal mission.

"I will be the driver." Michiru was the second one to volunteer. She shushed Haruka before Haruka could protest. "You are the better driver, If anything happens to me, then you will carry out the rest of the mission. Protect Usagi and save the world."

Setsuna nodded in approval. "Best to keep this small. The three of us will do...we will leave tomorrow morning."


Ami slipped on her pajamas and climbed into bed. Mako moved closer and spooned Ami from behind.

"Ami..."

"Don't. Just hold me." Ami knew there was nothing to say. Anything Mako said at this point would sound like a goodbye.

"Ami, I've done supply runs before, I know a lot of safe routes..." Mako kissed the back of Ami's neck.

"Yeah, but we selected the routes so that we could avoid the city center. This time, you guys are walking straight into the lion's den..." Ami's mind had already imagined all the possible scenarios where Mako could die horribly.

Mako started to kiss the back of her head. "Just turn that busy brain of yours off for a minute. I know what you are thinking..."

Ami freed herself from the cuddle and turned to face Mako. "I can't help it. I know you, Mako. When push comes to shove, you will sacrifice yourself in order to make sure Setsuna completes her part of the mission..."

Mako opened her mouth to protest but decided to close it. She looked at Ami and sighed. "Our peaceful life here is about to end, isn't it? Maybe we will be lucky enough to survive and to witness the new world..."

"Make love to me," Ami whispered. Mako didn't hear it so Ami said it again. "Make love to ..."

Mako pulled Ami in for a passionate kiss. A kiss that fired up all the nerves, a kiss that made them feel alive. Their bodies intertwined and their heartbeats synced. Primal needs took over, shutting down the rest of the brain. Ami let herself drown in the ecstasy...This may be their last night together...