Three days.
She had returned to LaLuna three days ago and submitted her report.
It had been the first time in her existence she had ever told a lie.
Her hand flicked and a hologram appeared of the green and blue floating orb. Information began to scroll beside it and her grey eyes took in its statistics.
Earth. Fully Inhabitable. Five Active Guardians. Level Three.
She gulped and moved her hand to the side the globe moving to her left and she lifted her left hand and swished it across her frame. Immediately images began to flicker to life of the History of the Grand Council and each Senshi that had ever served in its service.
She walked the line slowly in her private quarters before the full size portraits of each Senshi and they seemed to stare back at her. Level Eight, Level Eight, Level Seven, Level Eight. She stopped before Sailor Galaxia, her deep red eyes seeming to stare into Cosmos' grey. She was the example they all used in describing the dangers of power. Cosmos let out a breath and lifted her hand to touch the holographic image. She didn't look heartless or power hungry. Level Eight. She gulped turning to the last figure and stared into her own image. Level Nine.
There was a gap between her and Sailor Galaxia of two thousand years. She pressed on the gap yet no data appeared. No reason for a gap save that there was no one to fill it.
"Why not fill it with a Seven? Why wait two thousand years?" Cosmos breathed then she turned raising her hand once more as a database appeared before her. It was the great archives. In it held every Senshi known to existence and their power level.
"Show all Level Nines," she requested and was met with her image once more. "Throughout existence," she commanded and the view did not change. She pressed on herself and a slideshow began from birth till present. Generic, filled with training and schooling. They had discovered her immediately since birth and raised her in LaLuna… how did they even know she was a Level Nine? A Senshi's powers were never awakened until they were a teenager at earliest. "Show me Sailor Moon," she breathed and the image of Usa appeared before her, bright pink hair and strong crimson eyes. "Should not your mother have been called Sailor Moon as well?" Cosmos questioned the image. "All variations of Sailor Moon," Cosmos commanded and immediately it showed younger versions of Usa. Sailor Chibi Moon. Sailor Eternal Chibi Moon. Sailor Moon.
"Show Level Eights," Cosmos commanded and Sailor Moon's image vanished as names began to flicker before her eyes. Twelve. Twelve ever in existence. Nine had served as Senshi of the Grand Council. One was the guardian of the Space Time Continuum Sailor Pluto. She pressed on the name and the image appeared.
Sailor Pluto is the oldest living Senshi at 4,432.
Member of the New Galactic Alliance in the Milk Way System.
"Show Galactic Alliance, Milky Way System," Cosmos breathed and more information jumped to her eyes. She scanned it quickly looking for a specific name yet couldn't find it among the words. Her brow furrowed in confusion and she shook her head.
"It's wrong," she whispered.
"What is wrong Senshi Cosmos?" A voice asked and Cosmos quickly closed her hand into a fist, all of the holograms closing.
"Senshi Zue," Cosmos whispered with a bow of her head as the aged Senshi slowly approached her.
"Forgive me for interrupting your sanctuary. I was curious to see how your trip to Earth went," Zue said softly, her dulling blue eyes taking in the beauty before her.
"May I ask you a few questions Senshi Zue?" Cosmos inquired with a tilt of her head and Zue settled her hands in front of her as she stopped.
"You may ask but I reserve the right to not answer," the aged Senshi replied.
"As do I," Cosmos reminded and Zue pressed her lips together in a small smile.
"Have you found discrepancies in our historical chronicles?" Zue questioned softly.
"I imagine it is to be expected. There is a vast universe and our database cannot possibly have documents of all the galaxy has been through," Cosmos breathed and Zue nodded. "Though I wonder if perhaps some information was left out, perhaps on purpose?"
"Each database was input by it's own inhabitants. Earth, much like LaLuna, had a representative who filled in our missing pieces. If there is something that is missing, they must have omitted it," Zue responded gently and Cosmos nodded slowly. "Should we revisit Earth's database?" Zue questioned and Cosmos gently shook her head.
"It is as it should be," Cosmos replied and Zue let out a breath, her hands unclasping as sympathy crossed her features.
"Are you all right Senshi Cosmos?" Zue inquired and Cosmos glanced up at her.
"I am as perfect as a warrior should be Senshi Zue," Cosmos breathed and
then bowed. "Have I answered all of your questions?"
Zue raised her hand and once more the database came online showing all the Level Eights in existence.
"Do you know this Senshi?" Zue questioned and Cosmos glanced at the last name under Sailor Pluto.
"I do not personally," Cosmos replied.
"Her name is Sailor Caliu. She is from the outer quadrant of Andromeda. The first Level Eight born in over two thousand years," Zue whispered as the two women looked at the figure before them. "She reached age three years ago," Zue continued. "She is your replacement."
"I was unaware my service was ending," Cosmos replied with a raised eyebrow and Zue shook her head.
"When we found you we had made a deal," Zue breathed and Cosmos looked at her curiously. "A deal that you and you alone would be the Grand Council until the end of ages."
"Am I not capable of dying?" Cosmos questioned and Zue stepped towards her.
"Yes, you are. You are human. Your anatomy is feeble yet your…" Cosmos stilled as Zue placed her hand upon Cosmos' chest. She moved it and a hologram appeared of a brilliant star. "Your Star Seed is one that cannot be stopped," Zue breathed and Cosmos gulped a bit staring at the image of the brightly glowing orb. "In it is the most powerful crystal in existence. No matter how many times you die, we can have you reborn," Zue breathed and Cosmos bowed her head.
"Would you have me reborn even though there is one who can take my place?" Cosmos questioned and for the first time a small smile appeared on Zue's lips.
"Unless there is a Last Will Directive we must always bring you back. You are the strongest Senshi to ever live. To let your Crystal die would be the universe's greatest tragedy," Zue whispered and Cosmos turned away from her.
"I am the duty," Cosmos whispered. Zue touched her chin lifting her head and Cosmos blinked seeing tears in the elder Senshi's eyes.
"We were young and afraid," Zue whispered. "Sailor Galaxia had rocked us, destroyed billions. She had destroyed the Senate and the Judges," Zue mumbled, her lips beginning to tremble. "We were lost, waiting for our demise when suddenly she was stopped," Zue paused and Cosmos looked at her curiously. "You had been the only one to stop her," she finished.
"I do not understand," Cosmos breathed. "Am I not to believe our Historical Documents that Sailor Galaxia was destroyed by her own power?"
"Can you destroy yourself with your own power Cosmos?" Zue countered and Cosmos let out a steadying breath.
"Why would the Documents be altered?"
"Again, they can only be altered by the one who made them," Zue replied calmly.
"A Level Nine did not exist until I was born two thousand years after Sailor Galaxia. How could I have stopped her?" Cosmos recited, having memorized her history numerous times.
"You were not always this," Zue confessed and Cosmos stilled.
"Go on," Cosmos prodded and Zue sucked in a deep breath.
"We had convinced ourselves we were serving the greater good. We had to have you and gave you what you wanted as long as you promised to remain with us and protect the Universe. That is why there is a gap between Sailor Galaxia and you," Zue tumbled out and Cosmos just continued to observe her. "We were waiting for you."
"Waiting…" Cosmos repeated, Minet's words coming back to her.
"It was my assumption that only you could protect us, so we took every precaution to keep you forever and you agreed," Zue mumbled. "But perhaps my age has stopped me from seeing what is before us."
"What is before us Senshi Zue?" Cosmos questioned.
"A way out," she breathed as her hand once more lifted and the hologram of Senshi Cali appeared. "She is young. Has no family. No friends. If time has taught me anything it is to not break up families," Zue growled, angry with herself.
"Why did I erase it all?" Cosmos questioned quietly and Zue looked at her sadly.
"Would you not if you knew what you were missing?" Zue questioned and a single tear slid from Cosmos eye and she glanced away from the elder Senshi. "They are all still there aren't they? They haven't moved on."
"No. He said he couldn't knowing I was somewhere alone without him," Cosmos confessed painfully. "I am a warrior. Chosen to protect the Universe. I am a duty," Sailor Cosmos recited strongly and Zue shook her head.
"You are more than a duty," Zue snapped at her and Cosmos took a step back.
"A Level Nine cannot be with a Level Three," she breathed sadly and Zue watched the senshi slowly turn and make her way out of the room.
"Why did they call you there?" Zue called out. "Why after all this time?"
Cosmos stilled and let out a defeated breath.
"The Crown Princess was with child. She wanted me to know," Cosmos confessed and Zue stepped forward, her eyes widening.
"She is what?" Zue demanded and Cosmos turned curiously at her. "That's impossible."
"I am up to date on human anatomy and I must inform you that it is," Cosmos replied glancing at her calmly.
"No, you don't understand," Zue hissed turning away from her, her brain trying to compute what she had just told her. "It's impossible," she breathed again.
"Why is it impossible?"
"The Crystal can only be split in two. There can never be three," Zue admitted and Cosmos raised an eyebrow at her. "You have it and she has it. If she has an heir then…" Zue gulped. "That's why she has been barren all of these years," Zue began recounting to herself when suddenly she felt Cosmos grab a hold of her, turning her back to her.
"She was unable to have children because I am here?" Cosmos snapped and Zue gulped.
"There can only be two. There has always only been two… there cannot be three. If it came down to it the child would not make it without the crystal's power," Zue whispered, her eyes looking at the warrior before her with pity.
"Do they know that?" Cosmos questioned, panic coming to her voice and Zue shook her head.
"Serenity did not even know that. We only found out when we tested your anatomy when you were reborn. Your crystal is much like the human anatomy. It is a mother and a daughter. The mother is bigger, stronger while the daughter is just a smaller version. She has been operating on that smaller version, yet you peaked at a Level Nine before your battle with Galaxia. You were the only carrier of the crystal. It imprinted on you, keeping you forever in that state. If you were to go away the power would transfer to her then her daughter. She would max at a Seven since she would be immediately sharing the crystal with her daughter," Zue replied quickly. "I'm sorry," Zue suddenly stated and Cosmos released her as if she had burned her. Cosmos turned and sucked in a deep breath. She was the duty. She was the Senshi and there could only be two.
Endymion sat quietly as the sun washed over his features.
"Perhaps it is time for you to retire my king," Helios said quietly beside him.
"Are you ready to become King my son?" Endymion questioned and the spirit of Earth smirked a bit at his King.
"I did knock up your daughter… I may be able to handle it," he mused and Endymion's tiers curled up in a smirk.
"I have full faith in you. Let us give you the kingdom tomorrow," he smiled and Helios chuckled.
"Sire," Artemis voice broke their conversation and both men looked up at him curiously. "We are being hailed from the Galactic Order of Senshi," Artemis mumbled, a small gulp dying in his throat.
"Cosmos?" Endymion questioned, alarmed she would contact them.
"No sire," Artemis said and Endymion could see the aged advisor was holding tightly to his emotions. Endymion stood quickly, his frame heading inside his vast palace.
"Get my wife Artemis," Helios requested, his frame heading after his father-in-law and Artemis nodded.
"She is already on her way," Artemis breathed as emotion began to choke him.
Endymion turned quickly to see his head General holding open the door for him. His eyes caught Kunzite's and his heart panged seeing sadness in his close friend's eyes. He quickly entered, the screen already up and the image of a woman on it he did not recognize.
"King Endymion," her voice was aged and she bowed her head to him.
"To what pleasure do I owe a personal call from the Galactic Order of Senshi?" Endymion questioned, his face stone and the Senshi lifted her head, her eyes once more looking into his own.
"My name is Senshi Zue. I was a Judge when your wife was initiated into Sailor Cosmos," she began quickly and Endymion gulped. More figures entered the room and Endymion sucked in a breath.
"I know who you are," a female voice answered and Senshi Zue bowed her head once more.
"Senshi Venus," Zue whispered in greeting.
"You are the last remaining Judge from the Tarnac Reign, why are you contacting us?" Amille demanded when suddenly she took a step back, her hand quickly covering her face as horror spread across her lips.
"Father?" Usa questioned entering and she stilled seeing her father, all of her Aunts and her husband staring up at the screen. Senshi Zue took in the pregnant form of the future Queen and she held her breath for a moment. Finally she regained her resolve.
"It is with my deepest apologies that I inform you that Senshi Cosmos has been defeated in battle," Senshi Zue breathed quietly, her voice quaking a bit. Usa teetered, hands reaching out to quickly pull her into his embrace.
"My love," he whispered into her ear but Usa couldn't hear him, her eyes glued painfully to the screen before him.
"She sacrificed her life to close a portal that was threatening to destroy the Algean system. As the last remaining member of the Galactic Order to know where Senshi Cosmos originated I wanted to convey personally my deepest condolences. I also wished to assure you that I have forever sealed her file to protect your galaxy as she had dearly wished," Zue continued and Litelle turned away from the screen, her hands grabbing onto Amille in front of her.
"When will she be reborn?" Minet questioned calmly and Senshi Zue pressed her lips together. "Will not her Star Seed be brought back to the cauldron?" Minet demanded.
"She had put in place a last will directive," Zue informed and Endymion's eyes narrowed. "In it, she has asked for eternal rest. Her Star Seed will not return to the cauldron," Zue finished and Usa let out a deep breath, her frame falling into her husband's arms.
"She's free," Usa mumbled and he nodded, his arms tightening around her.
"When did she put that in place?" Endymion questioned and Zue bowed her head respectfully.
"A week after her return from your Quadrant King Endymion," Zue admitted and he pressed his lips together with a short nod.
"Did she leave anything else?" He asked, his voice choking on the last word before he could regain himself.
"Forgive me, she did not," Zue breathed. "Another senshi, a level eight has risen to take her place and will protect the Universe in her stead. She was the grandest warrior this Universe had ever known. She is being greatly mourned yet I know none will mourn her as much as you have. Please forgive us for taking her from you so many centuries ago," Senshi Zue finished, her head bowing. Minet stepped forward and cut the connection. The screen went blank and no one moved as that information tried to settle on them.
"She had given me a moment…" Endymion whispered and Helios gripped his shoulder comfortingly, his other arm wrapped around his wife.
"Was that your plan Usa?" Amille questioned and Usa only buried her face in her husband's neck, sobs beginning to rack her form. Minet walked quickly to the future Queen and turned her abruptly to her.
"Thank you," Minet mumbled, tears slipping form her eyes and Usa crumbled, Minet quickly supporting her as she let her sobs fill the room.