THE SECRET COLONY OF YAKUSHIMA
Chapter 5: "A Fight For Survival"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
Sailor Uranus marched through the jungle at a determined pace, swatting away brush and low hanging branches with more anger than they deserved. She still thought about the band of macaques that had attacked them - - with automatic weapon fire. How one of them had actually talked. And how they shot and killed the third member of her party, Kaburo Hiroyama, a pudgy university representative who as far as she knew had never done anything to anyone in his life.
And a man she had promised to protect.
It was a sound behind her that drew Uranus out of her memories and recrimination. The sound was a soft grunt of pain and exertion. Glancing back, the Senshi saw Dr. Masashi Kuroi struggling to keep up with her pace. Even though the woman wasn't a Senshi and had broken ribs besides, she had doggedly tried to maintain the rugged pace Uranus had set. Admiration sprouted in Uranus.
"You need to rest?" Uranus asked. Kuroi just glared sullenly. "I forgot that you don't have Senshi stamina like I do and you're hurt besides. My bad. Manners aren't exactly my strong suit."
"So I've noticed," Kuroi replied.
With gritted teeth, the doctor eased herself down onto a rock outcropping and gingerly put her hand on the ribs on her right side. Uranus busied herself with surveying the jungle around them, in search of the gun-toting macaques or any other threat. They were headed down the mountain toward the clearing and the research facility below - - Uranus hoped. She continued to watch, hearing Kuroi's raspy breathing as she did.
"I can carry you, if it'll make it easier," Uranus offered.
"I can manage," Kuroi replied frostily.
"Look, what is it? You obviously don't like me, and it's not because I'm lesbian, because you thought I was a man at first. What's your beef?"
Kuroi shot a defensive glare up at the Senshi to judge her demeanor.
"At first, I thought you were just some full of himself guy who made passes at anything female and breathing," Kuroi explained without looking at Uranus.
"You weren't far off," Uranus admitted. "Don't take offense. It's just my way of breaking the ice. Most women go for it."
"I doubt that," Kuroi muttered. "And even if they do, I suppose that means I'm not most women."
"Lighten up. I didn't mean anything by it."
"It was an insult!" Kuroi spat, eyes flaring as she glared up at Uranus. "An insult to me and an insult to Hideyuki!"
"Who's Hideyuki?" Uranus asked. "Boyfriend?"
A wave of emotion overcame Kuroi. She looked down again.
"We were engaged," she said bitterly.
"What happened," Uranus probed. "If you don't mind my asking?"
"He died," Kuroi choked out. "In the ice disaster."
"I'm sorry," Uranus mumbled, looking away. "Guessing that's why you don't like Senshi, huh?"
"Not at all," Kuroi said softly. "You all did the best you could. And you eventually triumphed. I suppose, rationally, it's not your fault that people seem to die whenever you get involved in a situation. It's the aggressor who's at fault and you're just trying to defend us. Like poor Hiroyama-San. You're not the one who shot him."
"But. . ." Uranus prodded her.
"Your Sailor Moon didn't waste any time filling the vacuum of power the ice monsters left, did she?" Kuroi said pointedly, looking at Uranus with a challenging expression. "You Senshi just moved right in and took over."
"She was voted in," Uranus countered. "Majority rule, the cornerstone of democracy. Besides, you don't have to worry about her. She bends over backwards to make sure everybody's happy."
"But she's still an absolute ruler," Kuroi argued. "We're all subject to her whims. Just because the majority voted to abdicate their democracy doesn't change the fact that we're now at the mercy of a single person. And power concentrated in a single entity, no matter how saintly, is a potentially dangerous thing."
Uranus mulled that over. "I'm not going to lie and say you don't have a point," she said finally. "There's going to be times where doing the best for the majority is going to piss off the minority. Can't be helped. And she's still learning, so she's going to make mistakes and those mistakes are going to hurt people. But you don't have to worry about her becoming a despot or nothing. Dumpling would rather cut her own arm off than make someone mad. And that humility is what saves her - - and us."
"You call the Queen 'dumpling'?" Kuroi asked, slightly appalled.
"You gotta know her to understand it," Uranus replied with a sentimental smile.
At once, two macaques suddenly dropped from the overhead trees onto Sailor Uranus. They landed on her head and shoulders, biting and scratching her. Instinctively Uranus flinched, folding up protectively. Then she grabbed one of the primates and flung him to the ground. It landed hard and spun to attack again, but was stopped when the other macaque was flung into it. Uranus raised up, prepared for another attack. Kuroi's gasp of alarm alerted her. Turning, Uranus found one of the macaques perched on Kuroi's shoulders, one paw grasping her by the hair while the other jammed the barrel of the PRM-30 into her cheek.
"Now, human," screeched the macaque. "Surrender your boom weapon or the female dies!"
Luna stood at the front door to the Crystal Palace, watching King Endymion's limousine drive off. The King was headed to the airport, the Royal Jet ready to fly to Darwin, Australia, so he could be reunited with his wife. Not surprisingly, when Luna had informed him of Queen Serenity taking ill during her mission to salvage Australia, he already knew.
The news of Haruka's crash was a surprise. Though he wanted to go to Yakushima and help in the search, Serenity's need took priority. Luna said as much.
As she watched, a call came in on the Senshi Communicator. A microphone automatically sprouted from the earpiece Luna always kept in her ear. Her first hope was that it was Sailor Uranus calling in. But that hope was quickly dashed.
"Hello, Rei," Luna replied. "Yes, I'm afraid the news is true. Her Majesty has taken ill." She paused for Rei's response. "Well of course it's her fault. The woman just refuses to recognize her limits. But where did you find out? Has your enhanced perception returned?"
The news wasn't good.
"I see," Luna sighed. "On the news all the way in The Philippines? Her Majesty has quickly become the international celebrity." She paused. "No, there's little you can do for her. Ami is with her now and His Majesty is flying to her side as we speak." Luna smiled at the response. "No doubt he'll be an invigorating elixir for her." The cat summoned her courage. "There is more unfortunate news. Haruka was piloting a helicopter when she crashed in the jungles of Yakushima."
Luna listened to Rei's stunned reply.
"They're searching now, but there's been no definite word," Luna informed her. "Naturally Michiru is in route there and my understanding is that Minako plans to absent herself from the movie set in order to fly down and assist." Rei responded. "If you feel you can be of assistance, even from a psychological standpoint supporting poor Michiru, go ahead and fly over. You'll be most welcome."
Rei had a question.
"Artemis and I will stay here and coordinate," Luna told her. "Besides, with both the King and Queen gone, someone must look after little Setsuko-Chan." The cat scowled. "Yes, she still has the annoying habit of picking me up and carrying me. Still, she's young and it must be endured until she matures out of it."
Just then Luna felt hands around her ribs. The black cat was whisked up into the air and landed against the chest of Setsuko, the child's arms cradling her. She grunted, but kept her temper.
"I must ring off, Rei. If you do go to Yakushima, let me know when you land," Luna said. The microphone retracted. "Setsuko-Chan, we have discussed this. I am perfectly capable of walking."
"But I like holding you, Luna-Nyan," the child protested, stroking the cat as she held her. "You're like my teddy bear, but a lot warmer."
"And my name is NOT Luna-Nyan, child," Luna fussed.
"Where's Poppa going?"
"He's going to pick up your mama and bring her home," Luna told her, staying as vague as she could.
"Is Mama still gone?" Setsuko asked. Luna could feel the child tense against her.
"Yes, Setsuko-Chan. Her work took longer than she anticipated. But she's coming back. It may be a day or so, but she's coming back."
"But I miss her," Setsuko whimpered.
"I know you do," Luna cooed, rubbing her cheek against Setsuko's. "But your mama has a great many responsibilities to a great many people. You must be strong and endure the times she has to be away from you fulfilling those responsibilities."
"I don't like being strong," mumbled Setsuko, her dark hair framing a darkening expression.
"None of us like being strong in adversity," Luna told her. "But being strong during those times help us help the ones we love. Now put me down and we'll see to your supper."
"I can carry you, Luna-Nyan," Setsuko chirped. "You're very light."
As they headed for the kitchen, Luna sighed with disgust.
"Boom weapon?" Uranus asked, partially because she didn't know what the macaque was talking about and partially to stall for time, looking for an opening. "What's that?"
The macaque's response was to jam the pistol deeper into Dr. Kuroi's cheek. The doctor whimpered in unconcealed terror.
"I can't comply if I don't know what you're talking about!" Uranus snapped.
"THE BOOM WEAPON!" screeched the macaque. "THE ONE YOU USED TO DOWN THE TREES AND CUT INTO THE MOUNTAIN!"
"Oh, my 'world shaking' attack," Uranus replied stonily. "It's not a weapon like that gun. It's just something I can do. Sort of like this."
The macaque tensed for an attack, Kuroi tensing with him. She was trembling in the primate's grasp, her eyes locked on Uranus. Uranus merely extended her right arm from her side and opened her hand. From nowhere, the Space Sword materialized. Since it wasn't what the macaque was expecting, he stared in amazement at it for a moment.
And in that moment, Uranus lunged. Startled, the macaque pulled back, dragging Kuroi's head with him. Losing her balance, Kuroi tumbled to the ground. The macaque pushed off of her shoulders, flinging himself backwards and narrowly avoiding a slash from the Space Sword. His pistol wasn't so lucky. The sword cleaved the barrel of the gun from the body and the firearm tumbled to the jungle floor. The macaque scrambled to the trunk of a nearby tree, where the other four were gathered, and screeched angrily at Uranus.
"Space Sword Blaster!" Uranus shouted, swinging the sword again.
Energy arcs shot out from the sword blade and spun into the tree, cleanly cleaving the thick trunk and toppling it. The band of macaques leaped away and were gone in seconds. Uranus looked in that direction, straining to see some sign of them. Satisfied they were gone for now, she turned and knelt down next to Kuroi.
"You OK? That monkey hurt you?" Uranus asked with concern.
"You!" fumed the doctor. "You were going to let that thing kill me!"
"No I wasn't," Uranus bristled. "That's why I attacked."
"And what if it had shot me?" demanded Kuroi.
"It was startled by my sudden forward movement," Uranus explained, bracing her hands under the woman's arms and lifting her to her feet. "The instinctive response to an aggressive movement is usually to back away to maintain the protective distance between you and the other party. That's even more true with smaller, non-predatory animals like macaques. By putting him on the defensive, I gave myself enough time to bring the sword into play. If I'd used 'world shaking', he was ready for that and he would have reacted differently."
"And if he didn't react the way you anticipated?" growled Kuroi.
"Then we'd both probably be dead," Uranus shrugged. Kuroi seemed ready to explode with fury. "Look, we'd both be dead if I'd surrendered. That monkey wasn't looking to take prisoners. I took the best chance we both had to survive. It wasn't guaranteed. Nothing in life is. But it was way better odds than the alternative."
"You make it sound so analytical," fumed Kuroi. "But the bottom line is you gambled with MY life! Just like you gambled with Hiroyama-San's life! And look how that turned out!"
Uranus's expression hardened. "Like I said, nothing in life is guaranteed. You're right. I failed Hiroyama-San. I'll own it and I'll do everything I can to make amends for it by making sure that blood-thirsty little monkey out there doesn't get a chance to kill anyone else. In the mean time, I'm the one most qualified to get us both to safety. But if you think you can do better, you lead."
Kuroi glared at Uranus, but she didn't say anything. Eventually she folded her arms over her chest and began walking into the jungle. Assuming she'd made her point, Uranus followed.
Resting in a bed in a private room in the Royal Darwin Hospital, Queen Serenity fidgeted with the edge of the blanket covering her while Makoto sat nearby and kept her company. After undergoing a battery of tests performed by the hospital's chief surgeon under the watchful eye of Ami, all with quite uncharacteristic ill-humor, Serenity lay on the bed and tried not to explode.
"I wish they'd let me out of here," the Queen moaned. "I'm perfectly all right."
"Even I don't buy that, Hon', and all I know about medicine is mother's instinct," Makoto replied.
"How do you know?" Serenity demanded petulantly.
"By how pale you are," Makoto said gravely. "Serenity, this is serious. Ami says you nearly went into shock and she just doesn't toss things like that out for dramatic effect. Now you are plainly, legitimately sick and you need to take it easy and get well."
"But Mako-Chan, what about all of those people who are still suffering from the ice disaster after all this time?" Serenity protested. "And what about poor Haruka? They need me!"
"Yeah, I know it's hard for you," Makoto sympathized. "You want to help. But you've got to think about yourself, too. It's not a crime. You can't help anyone like this. And they wouldn't want you to." She thought a moment. "And the ones who would don't deserve your help."
"Mako-Chan," Serenity softly admonished. She blew at her bangs. "Ami's probably tattled on me to Endymion by now, too."
"You don't want to see Endymion?"
"Not like this. He'll worry." Serenity sighed again. "I don't want him to worry. He does so much already. He practically runs the country because I wouldn't know what I was doing. He takes care of me. He takes care of Setsuko. He's my backbone. This just gives him one more burden."
"I don't see him running away, Hon'," Makoto offered. Just then Ami entered. She was shoving a cell phone into her pocket.
"I just got off the phone with Endymion," Ami announced.
"Told you," Serenity said to Makoto. Makoto bit her lip.
"He's flying down from Tokyo as we speak. He should be here in a few hours." Ami noticed Serenity's mood. "I thought that would be welcome news."
"Any idea what's causing all of this?" Makoto asked.
"Not conclusively," Ami frowned. "I could very easily assume that it's massive exhaustion. That's still my most likely prognosis, but not everything fits."
"Can I at least get up?" whined Serenity.
"I'm sorry, Serenity," Ami told her. "When you can get out of bed without any dizziness, then yes. But your blood pressure is still far too low to risk that."
Cutting Serenity's protests off, a dietitian ventured into the room.
"Feel up to eating, Serenity?" Ami asked.
"If you consider that eating?" Makoto sneered.
"It may not up to your culinary standards, Makoto, but it is nutritious and that's the important thing at the moment," Ami assured them. Serenity nodded and the tray was put before her.
"What a criminal thing to do to food," Makoto muttered. "So, Ames, heard anything about Haruka?"
"No news," Ami reported solemnly. "I have to keep reminding myself that Haruka is an experienced senshi and a proven survivor in civilian life. She has a better chance than most of getting through this."
"More proof that people weren't meant to fly," Makoto said. Ami looked at her, wondering if she should argue the point. Just then, the dietitian touched her arm.
When Ami looked, the woman pointed at Serenity. The Queen just stared off into space, as if she were in another world.
Continued in Chapter 6
