Hands on eyes

We hide from the dark in the light

And I'll survive

When my heart's torn and all of my lungs sore

You're so right

I've been waiting for you all my life

You're right on time

For my heart to give out to your lung's allure

-Crywolf (Bury Now)

~MINAKO~

The warmth returned to her being as she woke up suspended in a healing tank. She looked around and saw Artemis sitting on a chair with his eyes closed.

She tapped on the glass to get attention but there was no response. The warmth of the fluid surrounding her comforted her and she drifted off to sleep.

After a dreamless sleep she woke up in her room. Bedside sat Artemis as well as the Queen. She sat up and the two stirred.

"You took the pill," Artemis said.

"I had to," Minako said. "I had no clue where I was and I was unable to escape." She remembered the ordeal with Patient 23. "He is nearby."

"Who?" Artemis asked.

"23," Minako said.

"I will alleviate the pain if you'd like," the Queen offered.

"Maybe after I kill him," Minako said. She wrung her comforter as she thought about it. "How long have I been out?"

"A week," Artemis said.

"I had handmaidens tend to you while you were out," the Queen said.

"You've also had a visitor," Artemis frowned. "She would watch over you at night."

"Peculiar for a Martian," the Queen said.

"The guests are starting to arrive for the ball tomorrow," Artemis said. "The embassies are booming with life."

"Perfect," the Queen said.

"Are you strong enough to command?" Artemis asked.

"Of course I am," Minako said. The Queen and Artemis left her so she could get herself ready.

As she sat in the bath she looked over her body. The scars sustained by battles past were gone, except for one. A large scar going from her left shoulder to her right breast, it was supposed to be a fatal injury but she survived and killed Revolution. She wondered why it didn't disappear when she was reborn. All of this was confusing.

After the bath she started dressing. The armor she donned was Uranian Valkyrie armor instead of the usual Lunarian guard armor. She opted not to wear a helmet.

She stepped out of the room and made her way to the security command center.