They'd been on Solaria almost three weeks. At least three weeks, as it would've been using Earth time. On Solaria, they'd learned, time was of little importance. The only importance that time had on Solaria was simply for the seasons of the year, and that was usually for the laborers in the fields. As far as the Solarians themselves were concerned, the only importance time held for them was for how to dress for the weather, and the length of the days. Though, since the population was widely scattered, where it could be day for one person, and the middle of the night for another. They'd alternated staying between Amaterasu's estate, and what she and others referred to as the farm.
There, they'd see other children their own age, younger and older, and they had no prejudice against seeing. The only adult on the farm, who was also in charge of it, was hardly ever in sight, except when she would take samples, such as hair, or blood from them, or any of the others.
They were given special privileges, to walk around the entire complex, which the other children didn't. They walked around the corridors, and approached a room, where one of the caretakers stopped them.
"You're not supposed to be here."she told them.
"We're allowed."Diana told them.
The girl looked observed Diana.
"You may,"she looked at the two girls. "You may not! Especially you,"she gestured toward Saturn. "You're too old to be seeing anyone, anymore."
"Why?"
"You're too old. You should be viewing."
"But we're not Solarians. We're from Earth."Diana said.
"The mistress doesn't like to see anyone, when it is possible to avoid it. Unfortunately, she must see the children, as it is she who must raise them, and graduate only the healthy ones into adulthood, but it's not necessary to see anyone else."
They turned.
"What an attitude! Do you think maybe she's related to Kunzite?"Small Lady said, as they walked away.
"I've heard they come from just about anywhere."Diana told her. "They're trained, and joint telepathically to their masters, but that they'd be better off here, than on their native planets. Shouldn't we go outside? The rest of the children are there, and we could play a game. It's kind of boring here."
Small Lady, and Saturn, however, seemed oblivious to her voice. They seemed intent on getting somewhere, though Diana had no clue where.
"Um, Small Lady? Princess Saturn?"she asked.
Apart from Amaterasu, the only Solarian they had seen was simply the one on this estate. They remembered that she, just like Amaterasu, had worn a ring, on her right hand. Each of the younger Solarians also wore rings similar to theirs, but much less elaborate. They had asked, and been told that the rings symbolized their status. That the ones with the best genes wore the most elaborate rings. The bearer of the Sailor Crystal, wore the most elaborate one, and lived on the biggest estate. Others were granted estates, depending on their genes as well. They walked into a lab.
"What are you doing here?"they saw the her turn from her work.
"Um, perhaps we should go outside."Diana insisted.
She looked at them, and saw, suddenly that they both looked different.
"Small Lady? Princess Saturn?"she inquired. "Are you feeling well?"
The Solarian looked quizzically at them.
"Perhaps I should analyze you."she said.
She turned, and reached for her gloves. Despite the fact that her profession required personal presence, she never went out among the children, or touched them without her gloves, and she usually wore two pairs. Even under the gloves, though, they could see where she wore her ring. They watched as she gathered her things.
"You two do look a bit strange."she shook her head. "but then with these genes. I will never understand why people allow their offspring to be borne without analyzing them genetically first, and weeding themselves eugenically."
Small Lady and Saturn seemed to be reading each other's thoughts. As the Solarian reached out towards them, Saturn reached out and touched her face, the only part of her bare skin that was exposed. The Solarian screamed, and backed away from them. As she lost her usual self control, Small Lady ran and pulled her gloves off her right hand.
"Small Lady? Princess Saturn? What are you doing?"Diana asked, alarmed.
Saturn then pulled the Solarian's ring off her hand. Diana looked at them, shocked. They seemed to have forgotten her, as they attacked the Solarian. She lay on the ground, unconscious.
"Miss?"Diana asked.
Seeing that there was nothing she could for the Solarian, she ran after Small Lady and Saturn.
"Princess!"she exclaimed.
What could possibly be happening?she asked herself. There was no one she could ask for help. As the Solarian had, apparently, suffered a great shock, after all, for someone who lived years avoiding touching, and seeing, the surprise she must have gotten when she had felt another's touch upon her bare skin must have been a great fright. That must have been why she fainted, and the staff on the estate being joint telepathically to her, seemed to have suffered the shock as well. She could see the looks of pain on their faces. But she didn't catch sight of either Small Lady, or Saturn anywhere.
"Where could they be?"Diana asked herself.
There was no one to ask, and she knew no other Solarian on the planet. Except for the princess. But she couldn't reach her. Only Solarians had the ability to view others without the aid of the viewer, using only their minds. She would have to use a viewer, and she had no clue how to use one, either. Nor did she know at what viewer combination Amaterasu could be reached. Perhaps she could get to the estate? But how? She had no idea where the royal estate was. Knowing Solarians the way she did, she knew that they considered the farm an unpleasant place, and the princess's estate would be the furthest from it. Probably on the other side of the planet. And to get to another estate, and find another Solarian?