Chapter Two: Worry
Fighter ran to the guard barracks, her commanding voice echoing loudly.
"Every single one of you! Look sharp! High alert!"
Within moments the guards appeared from their rooms in the hallway, pulling on their uniforms. Their nakedness did not phase Fighter.
"The seers saw something, and alerted our high princess. She has ordered a full alert. I want double patrols on the castle heights, and if you see anything, anything you are to report to me directly. Secondly, I want the reconnaissance team to go into the capital and put the whole city on lockdown. If they're coming for the castle, they will use Tankei City as their hideout. Any questions?"
The highest ranking captain raised his hand after saluting her, moving from the single file line to stand in front of her.
"Lady Fighter, where will you be should we need to contact you?"
"I will be routinely patrolling the inner castle. I will permit nothing to enter the holy chambers, where Lady Healer is concentrating to find out what this menace is exactly, or the royal chambers, where our princess will be confined to with Lady Maker. Should anything arise, contact me via headset. Is that clear?"
"Yes Ma'am!" The captain said, saluting her smartly.
"Jeiran senil asa!"* Fighter called loudly, before exiting as the guards scrambled to do as they were told with haste.
Fighter made her way back to the castle, walking quietly up and down the halls, ears pricked from any slight disturbance, her senshi powers brimming with the excitement of possible combat.
Healer made her way to the holy chambers, where the seers were gathered. Liraza, the head honcho of the group, and most empathically attuned aside from Healer herself, greeted her.
"Thank goodness you're here! We don't understand 100% what is going on, we need your help."
"What do you know?" Healer asked quietly, trying not to disturb the seers that were in deep recollection.
"We felt a pull while we were praying this morning. As if we were being called by Kakyuu-sama or yourself. But it wasn't either of you, it had a different kind of touch. It's as if we're being summoned. Did you not feel it?"
Healer shook her head. "I did not, though I have managed to establish a high guard over such things."
Liraza nodded slowly, painfully reminded of Healer's superiority over her.
"I feel... as if someone is asking of our help. But if that is the case, why do they not come directly to us and ask as normal folk would?"
"I do not have an answer to that, Liraza, though I will try my hardest to find one."
Healer took her spot in the center of the room, closing her eyes. She could feel the other seers attuning themselves with her, channeling their powers, acting as an amplifier. Healer exhaled slowly, and it echoed eerily in the room as she made contact with the strange presence.
What is your purpose?
To find the most powerful empath in the Galaxy
What is your purpose?
I told you!
You've found me. What is your purpose?
Healer pressed on. She would not delineate her location if it were possible. To do so could be catastrophic. She first needed to decide whether or not this person was a call for desperate help, or a menace looking for control and power.
The completion of my mission
What mission?
To find the pure hearts and summon the talismans that will lead to the holy grail.
With a cry of surprise, Healer dropped the contact, falling forward. Liraza rushed to her side, being the first of the seers to recover. Though they'd acted as an amplifier, none of them knew what had transpired.
"Lady Healer, are you alright?" she asked frantically. Slowly, Healer's eyes found their focus once more.
"This is not good. Whoever it is, they're looking for me."
Liraza gasped in shock.
"They want the legendary holy grail. Few know of it, as it is not a native story to our planet. I know exactly where they hail from. I must speak with Kakyuu."
Healer stood abruptly, walking to the exit.
"If any of you feel that pull once more, you are to activate the shield. Whether or not I am inside or not."
Liraza swallowed heavily, nodding her head. Healer closed the door, and locked them inside. Liraza felt a sinking feeling in her stomach, as if something worse than her darkest fears were about to transpire.
Healer ran towards the royal chambers. As she turned the corner, she ran into Fighter. Literally.
Before she could even flinch, Fighter had her pinned on her back, Fighter star yell pressed against her chest.
"Healer?" Fighter asked incredulously.
Healer groaned in discomfort. "Mind getting your lard ass off?" In an instant Fighter was off of her, and had pulled Healer to her feet.
"Don't go running into me like that! You gave me a heart attack! I was about to kill you thinking you were an enemy!" Fighter reprimanded, only now realizing that Healer wasn't in the holy chamber like she was supposed to be.
"I've discovered something. I've got to tell Kakyuu-hime!" Healer said in a rush. Fighter nodded, kissing her cheek lightly. "Be careful." she said softly, watching her lover continue her race down the halls, turning yet another corner full speed towards the royal chambers. Something felt off. Like she should've said more than "be careful".
You should have told her goodbye
Fighter gasped softly, as the will of Fighter Star spoke to her. It hardly ever did. But why goodbye? It made little sense. Fighter shook it off, going back on high guard, finishing her patrol.
"Hime!" Healer shouted, bursting through the doors of the royal chamber. Immediately there was a vice grip around her grip, which she struggled against. It quickly released her. Healer turned to glare at Maker.
"What is up with you guys in trying to kill me!" She shouted defiantly, green eyes flashing. Maker tilted her head in cute confusion.
"First Fighter tackles me and pulls her Yell on me, now you're trying to pop my head off!" She said with a huff. Maker let out one of her rare giggles at this.
"Gomen.." Maker managed between giggle fits. Healer straightened herself, opening the second set of doors that led to Kakyuu's bedroom..
"Hime..?" she said quietly.
Kakyuu turned to face her, inclining her head so that Healer knew she was listening.
"It's..an interesting situation. I don't think we're all in an immediate threat...however.. this.. strange thing that the seers heard...it's looking for the strongest empath...that's me."
Kakyuu's eyes widened.
"Whatever it's goals are, it's foremost looking for me to help find the talismans to locate the holy grail. We both know what that means for three unlucky, pure souls..."
Kakyuu gasped quietly, her hands over her chest, moisture forming in her eyes.
"Three...?" Her lip wavered as she made the connection that the three most powerful people in this galaxy were none other than her beloved guardians. Healer gave her a reassuring smile.
"That talismans are not in our galaxy, don't worry. But I cannot condone the arrival of this grail. It is nothing but trouble, from what I know. And no one looking to use it for good would contact an empath, they'd know who holds that talismans."
"I see.." Kakyuu said quietly.
"For once, I don't know what to do.." Healer said quietly.
Kakyuu was silent a long moment. "Fighter will know." she said confidently, striding out of the room with purpose. Healer followed her.
-On Earth-
"Did it work?" An elegant voice trilled in question.
"I..I don't know. I reached someone..of immeasurable force. I didn't get an answer." a deeper, husky voice replied.
The elegant voice chuckled mockingly. "Perhaps you didn't ask nicely enough."
"We don't have time to ask nicely." the second voice grunted, as the silhouette stood. "Damn this amplifier equipment! It can't control someone of that magnitude. I'm going there myself!"
"Wait just a moment!" The elegant voice protested, also standing. It's owner brushed curly hair back over a shoulder. "You don't know what it's like there, you don't even know how to get there!"
Blonde eyebrows furrowed slightly. "It doesn't matter, I'll go to any ends to achieve our mission. You know that. We've no other means of finding the talismans owners."
"Haruka..." the elegant voice whispered, as it's owner embraced the tall blonde desperately.
"Michiru..." Haruka responded, returning the embrace. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Be careful.." Michiru warned. Haruka smiled softly at her lover. "Always am.." she said quietly, her hand gently caressing the aquanette's cheek, who leaned into the touch with a soft smile.
After a transformation sequence, Haruka was off into the distant night sky. Michiru wrapped her arms around herself, dropping to the ground slowly.
Is what we're doing truly right?
-Kinmoku-
Healer and Kakyuu had just finished explaining the situation to Fighter and Maker.
"I don't like it." Fighter said after listening impatiently. "Healer, stay by my side. We've no idea what this enemy is capable of, or even looks like. I don't want to risk losing you."
Healer growled, bristling at that comment. "What am I, your pet? Do you think I'm that incapable of caring for myself, just because I was slower at developing my fighting skills? Well you're wrong, Fighter."
Fighter's eyes widened, and she stood, leaning forward, placing her hand delicately on her lover's arm.
"I'm jus-"
But she was cut off. "You, you, you! It's always been about YOU!" Healer spat. "For once, can't your line of thinking concern something other than yourself, and proving that you're always right?" With that, Healer dashed out of the room.
"HEALER!" the other three cried in unison. It was a short moment of quiet thoughtfulness before Fighter leaped over the table to chase after her.
"Fighter! Where are you going?" Maker demanded.
"To find her. Protect hime.." Fighter's expression held anguish, and Kakyuu knew there were tears in her eyes.
"She loves her very much." Kakyuu said quietly. Maker nodded in agreement.
"Fighter is concerned for Healer's well being. Sometimes, Healer can be so blind to how people closest to her feel."
"I know.." Kakyuu said mournfully, sipping her tea. "I just hope nothing miserable becomes of Healer because of her moment of foolishness."
"I'm not that worried." Maker conceded. "Fighter's going after her, she's the fastest person on Kinmoku, after all. Stubborn as hell to boot."
Kakyuu and Maker enjoyed a tense chuckle before they resumed their quiet pensiveness.
A/N:Jeiran senil asa!- A phrase made up by me. Supposedly Kinmokan, it is both a war chant and a way of dismissing a military meeting. Literally means "Fight with glory!", but is intended to also be a reference to Star Fighter herself, whom the guards must answer to.