43: "Surrender"

The scene was disgusting; Usagi couldn't bear to look at it. Even Toha and Asanuma, both veterans for Shibuya's police, found themselves sickened by what they saw. Oftentimes the police, and people who consider themselves "good", must sometimes peek over, or even step across, the thin line separating what they consider virtuous and what is...less so. Even a paragon like Usagi understood that, on rare occasions, the ends really did justify the means, but never at the expense of her moral fiber, or her soul. There was crime and then there was outright wickedness, and what the police saw as they followed their overlords outside was absolute evil, all the more so since it was disguised as good.

Weary of the iron grip the gods and their armies had on the city, many citizens who had not yet found or formed underground resistances had begun protesting—some merely pleading peacefully with the armored masses, others resorting to more violent measures. Both sides were quashed harshly, without any mercy. There were also a few people who had been outdoors past the appointed curfew—some, admittedly, for no good reason, but several had emergencies, and one was suffering from grave illness. The power wove over Tokyo since the ascention of the gods had healed their harms, but not soon enough, and as a response for their natural actions of self-preservation, they were punished severely. Almost all of the "prisoners" the police would round up that day were seriously wounded, either with nasty cuts or broken bones. One man had been beaten very harshly for protecting his family from a similar fate. A widow was lying on the street, keening, unable to walk. There was at least one dead.

"This is awful," Usagi cringed. Hayashida paled.

"This is beyond senseless. I don't even think the Gestapo was this bad."

"Oh, we've seen worse as a species," Toha replied somberly. He looked over at Usagi, who had covered her face. "Better get used to it, girl. The police don't lead a charmed existence."

"But how are we tolerating this? This is so far beyond justification..."

"All in good time, partner. Remember what we're really here for. And it ain't like we can't help them a little." Toha wasn't much of a doctor, but he could ease a few scrapes and bruises. Asanuma helped carry the crippled widow, while Hayashida looked after the bruised man. Usagi felt helpless, mired in misery, searching for somewhere she would be of use. She hadn't seen such widespread pain since the earthquake that started all this; it ate her up inside like nothing else she had known. Eventually, she found a group of children who had been separated from their parents, and tried calming them down.

"Hey, kids, it's...it's gonna be okay. We're here to help."

One boy sniffled as she hugged him. "Ya gonna kill all those guys in armor?"

"I don't know," she whispered, feeling hollow.

"Cuz' it won't be okay until they all die."

What he said drove a glacier right through Usagi's heart. She hugged him tighter and began to weep.

"Hey, where's mommy and Nana? I can't find papa, either."

"Stop hurting my brother! He didn't do nothin'!"

"Don't let them take my daddy away!" The kids crowded her, all of them crying out. It seemed as though all of Tokyo—nay, all of Japan was adding their voices, imploring her—begging for aid. Matters turned worse as a number of the soldiers pried the children away and tossed them into a large cage.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!"

"All prisoners must be quarantined. No exceptions."

"Damn it, they're children!"

"No exceptions. You work for us now, officer. You can either join us...or join them." He rapped his arm against the cage, further compounding her utter despair. Feeling like she was betraying every last one of those kids, Usagi turned her back on them and listlessly rounded up the remaining people. There was naught but rage and darkness in her thoughts; saving Minako, Motoki, and Makoto was the only thing that kept her going.

But would that really be enough?

Although the prison where all of Tokyo's "wickedest" citizens were kept wasn't very far, the ride felt like hours, and Usagi felt every millimeter of it in the pit of her stomach. Toha, Asanuma, and Hayashida were similarly grim, and tried easing each other's spirits. This wasn't the first time they had witnessed such evil, or assisted in its actions, but each new experience brought them fresh anguish. They were simply too human to become jaded by this inhumanity; the fact that they all grimaced and grumbled and clenched their fists in rage proved they hated it just as much as the people they were carrying away, if not more so.

Usagi could barely stand when they finally arrived, much less walk. The desire to fight back against this malevolent dictatorship had grown exponentially; already she was conjuring up plans and revenge fantasies. Usagi didn't believe in surrendering to hatred, and tried to avoid it even when faced with enemies—at least she had in the past. But now she understood what it was for, and how healthy and appropriate harboring those feelings were. She could hate now, because any other response was unacceptable. It was the hatred that drove her now: hatred let her walk firmly again, gave her new intent and purpose.

She wasn't sure how it was possible, but the prison Usagi was led to actually seemed worse than she could've imagined. Oh, it was no torture chamber dredged from the Inquisition, and Hayashida's earlier reference to the Gestapo might have been a little exaggerated (could any creature be man's equal for inhumanity?), but it was a hole in Hell all the same. The building was dark, hot, hazy, dreary, and saturated with the sensation of hopelessness. The floor was...well, Usagi didn't want to think about what the floor was made of. The stench that lingered in that place was like nothing else she had experienced, and it always seemed to change, meaning one could never become adjusted to it. The prisons were stuffed to overflowing, but few of the people had the strength to stand, or call out, or even glance over. Someone threw a rock, but not at the soldiers.

"Hope you go to Hell!"

"You think we like this any more than you?" Hayashida shot back. Soldiers convened on the man and silenced him; meanwhile Usagi kept an eye out for her friends. Toha, being the senior officer in the group, acted as their representative, meeting up with the warden and handing over the prisoners. He spared the creature no amount of ill expressions or curses.

"Do not feign innocence, servant. Your kind is too unruly to be left to your own care. The fact that so many blasphemers are here is proof enough."

"Little man," he snarled, "the only reason I haven't torn your ugly-ass head from your scrawny-ass neck is cuz' my boss said not to, and I respect her a hell of a lot more than I respect any of your gods. Ain't no hell hot enough or deep enough for them."

"Shall I find a prison for you? I assure you, servant, what you have seen thus far is paradise. There are deeper levels still, rooms which would silence your tongue merely to glimpse at them."

"Show me," he dared. The warden sneered.

"Does your petulance know no bounds?"

"I was actually thinking it was a bit crowded in here. Maybe you guys could transfer a few prisoners somewhere else. Expand the empire and whatnot."

"How dare you presume command over me! You three, take this one to our deepest, darkest cell! Let him learn humility in the Pit." A trio of lesser guards surrounded Toha, but he didn't like the thought of being dragged anywhere against his will, least of all by these creatures. He struggled wildly, and because Usagi couldn't bear the thought of losing her partner, or standing by as this gross abuse of power continued, she pitched in. Asanuma and Hayashida were at her side immediately, and together the four of them fought off their oppressors. Of course, this only served to anger the warden, who sounded the alarm for reinforcements.

"So much for doing things low-key," Asanuma muttered. "You had better go find your friends right away, Tsukino. We'll keep them distracted for you."

She wanted to say, "I can't leave you like that," or something to that effect, but having grown up a little in the past ten years gave her an understanding of the bigger picture. As much as she hated choosing between friends, she had to remember why they were all risking so much in the first place. So, instead of being the hero, she merely said, "Where do you think they might be?"

"Any friend of yours is bound to be in the deepest, darkest places," Hayashida smirked. Usagi saluted and raced off, trying to stay focused for everyone's sake. It still pained her to leave them all behind, especially since the fighting intensified as she left and there were definitely screams of pain coming out.

The only good to come out of this chaos was that most of the guards were too busy clustering around her coworkers to pay her much mind. The hallways and passages of the prison were still full of sentries, but few took any heed of her while their warden's alarm was blaring. Of those that stood in her way, she either avoided, ran past, or shoved her way through, not wanting to waste time in a fight. She didn't doubt her abilities, even as a normal human, but every moment meant more harm to the police and less time to spare for the prisoners. She did, however, make sure to fight at least one of the guards, but only because it looked like he was the keeper. Usagi got the drop on him, slamming him into the wall and ramming her elbow into his neck. A police-issue taser dropped him (his armor conducted electricity beautifully), and the keys were hers.

"Mina!" she hissed as she wandered the halls. "Mako! Motoki! Sheesh, I hope you guys are here! I'd really hate to come all this way for nothing..."

"Who's there?" she heard someone call. "Are you human? How did you get here?"

"Calm down, I'm with the police. Listen, have you seen a blonde male and female, and a brunette woman, all about my age?"

"I have not seen anyone. These cells are all but closed off." She approached the voice and found it belonged to a striking woman slightly older than her—tall, gracefully built, with red hair that was once composed very wonderfully, now left frizzled and unkempt. She spoke in a very strong accent and didn't seem to understand Usagi all that well. Acting out of habit, she unlocked the cell.

"Stay right there, okay? It's a little dangerous to go wandering around now. All of the guards are busy somewhere else."

"Ah, so that was where I heard the ruckus. Oh, could you release my neighbors? One of them said she knew the way out."

"Sure," she said, feeling crestfallen. It didn't seem like her friends were here, but the least she could do was to let as many people free as she could. Usagi had turned the lock and pried the door open in ten seconds. "I guess introductions are in order, eh? I'm Officer Tsukino."

"Nastya Kovenik." Nastya, Nastya... Where had Usagi heard that name before? She was under so much stress at the moment that she couldn't think clearly. She didn't even glance into the cells.

"Pleased to meet you. Hey, it's time to leave! I'm sorry, but I can't take everyone. We're on a tight schedule and—" As she opened the next door, someone came rushing at her as if to attack. Usagi had no time to react and found herself in a deadly, crushing embrace, helpless to free herself. To make matters worse, she was gagged, her mouth sealed tight. Panic set in.

"Oh my god, you're totally awesome, Usagi! I'm so excited right now that I don't really know what to do! I don't even think I can control myself!"

But of course she had nothing to worry about. It had only been Minako.

"Mina!"

"That's my wear, don't name it out!"

"Jeez, Mina, you're not even trying, are you? And I'm laying here all wounded and bleeding...!"

"Hey, don't they say that laughter is the best nostrum?"

"A disquieting choice of words." Usagi could barely believe her good fortune. In her hasty, crestfallen state, she had nearly missed the very people she had came here to free! She pried herself away from Minako and went into the next cell over, where a bruised and bandaged Makoto was being held by her husband. Both of them smiled at her warmly.

"Wow, it's really you. You must have some angel watching over you."

"She is an angel, dear."

"Let's not talk about angels right now," Usagi winced. She slowly helped lift Makoto to her feet and hoisted her arm over her shoulder. "Can you walk?"

"A little. Ah, that's better." Motoki smiled as he supported her other side.

"Just don't get any funny ideas there, missy."

"Aww, and I was gonna cop a quick feel."

"So how many more are being freed?" Nastya said as the trio rejoined her. Usagi's face turned grim, sufficiently answering her question. "I see. With Mrs. Kino as she is, I do not think we will be able to move with bigger group. Besides, there are many whose condition is the same, if not worse."

"Are you all right?" Usagi wondered. Nastya gestured wearily.

"I just need a smoke. Have been chatting away with a fellow Mizuno lover."

"A what?"

"Yeah," Minako giggled sheepishly. "Turns out this is Ami's ex."

"Oh," she winced. So that's where she recognized that name from. "Awkward."

"That's what I said!"

"Ladies, can we please be quiet?" Motoki grunted. "I really don't want to draw any attention to our group. You okay, honey?"

Makoto let out a long, low grunt, flinching in pain. "Can't do it..."

"Do you need to rest?"

"Can't reach..."

"What do you need?" he said, stopping. She smiled through her agony.

"Your...butt, of course. Just got...a funny idea."

Nobody could help themselves from smiling. "I'm all yours when we get out of here."

"That's right. See your sister, too. Kids."

"I'll bet they miss their mommy and daddy. Just a few more steps."

"It's a good thing you have me to lead the way," Minako chirped, taking point once they got out of the hallway. "Aren't you glad you let me act on my awesome plan?"

"Easy, Mina," Motoki said. "We can only eat so much humble pie." Usagi smiled at her friend in admiration; apparently she had not been playing the damsel in distress all this time. Minako led them down passages that few of the guards used, taking them through shortcuts and over paths that Usagi would never have considered. They were seldom spotted and were never troubled for long; having Minako fighting by her side doubled the damage (with only half the suffering!). Yet for all their progress, Usagi never got sight of her coworkers. The alarm had quieted and there were no more sounds or signs of a struggle. The fate of the brave police officers remained unknown.

"God, I hope they're okay," she whispered. Several hairy battles and questionable directions later, Minako led them to what seemed to be an exit. However, their path was barred by twenty armored soldiers—and one of the great, luminous creatures who fancied themselves gods. Like his kin, he towered over those around him, twice if not three times as large as an average person, and was dressed magnificently, greater and more splendid than history's most celebrated kings. His hair was long and billowy, though there was no breeze; his eyes great, wild, and stormy. There was thunder in his voice and lightning crackled in his fingers as he spoke. This was Adad, who controlled the wind, rain, and thunder.

"Servants," he boomed, "explain thy mischief!"

"We are not your servants!" Usagi snarled. The entire prison shuddered as Adad took a step closer.

"Art thou mortal? Thy lives are short, thy strength dim. What purpose dost thou serve save service itself?"

"I'd say people have done pretty well for themselves. Haven't you seen our city?"

"Babylon is still Babylon, regardless of age or location: thou may fancy it grand, but its foundation is treachery, greed, corruption. Even now thy fellow servants suffer. We have emerged from long hiding to rectify thy sins and return thee to order."

"If anyone's suffering here, it's because you guys came and screwed it up!" Minako shouted. Adad chortled.

"You dare accuse us of spreading ruin? The selfsame gods who wrought this earth from nothing? The selfsame saviors who did battle with Druj, demon, monster, and horrors, all for thine own sake? Wherefore would we have reason to cause that which we crafted to suffer?"

"You can't admit to it even when it's right in front of you," Motoki growled. Makoto stared into the eyes of her equivalent, one who called out storms and thunder at his will, a mixture of emotions in her weary eyes. Adad stiffened.

"Spare the rod and spoil the child. Those who align with our order prosper."

"Why are we wasting time talking?" Nastya said. "We are at impasse, yes?"

"And do you think I shall allow thee passage?!" Adad roared, puffing up to an even greater size, raising his arms and causing the entire prison to shudder violently. They could hear the wind picking up outside, wailing in terror against the powers strangling it to his will. Massive sheets of ran dashed against the foundation; thunder blasted across the sky. Adad roared, his voice booming and terrible, his countenance unbearable: it was as though a lightning bolt had come to life and was closing in for the kill.

Something exploded, smashing against his forehead and sending him reeling back. Usagi turned around, surprised to see Hayashida poised at the railing on the second floor, a stolen rifle in her arms. She flashed a grin and a thumbs-up; Usagi returned the gesture and made a run for it. Meanwhile, Adad rose to his feet, stunned but not injured. He numbly rubbed his forehead, feeling the mark the bullet had left. Hayashida had brought the most powerful gun she could find, and it did little more than bruise the creature's skin.

"The servants have developed interesting slings," he muttered. Gathering ten of the soldiers, he pointed to Hayashida, who was scurrying away. "Fetch her, and the others. The rest of you, give chase to the servants, but do not alert them to your presence. If we must surrender them, we shall at least learn where they are going."

…...

There were quite a lot of tearful reunions once Usagi came back to the hideout with Minako, Motoki, and Makoto in tow. Usagi was welcomed back into the fold with lots of cheering: first by her family, then her "extended" family, then all the other friends she had made and inspired over the years. Naturally, Minako gravitated towards Ami, throwing herself against the smaller woman and smothering her with tears and kisses. Their meeting was interrupted as Motoki presented his wife, but even though he hated separating the two, Ami went right to work, and recruited several other members of the resistance to help her. Makoto's condition improved dramatically as her sister-in-law came by, pushing a stroller with two restless children in them.

Naru stood outside her doorway, so overwhelmed with happiness than she could do nothing else.

Rei gave Setsuna a hug as she met up with her again, and even dared a quick kiss, her eyes glazed over with excitement. Haruka and Michiru were, of course, inseparable, regaling each other with tales of their daring escapades (sometimes exaggerated), and Hotaru found Shingo, blushing and smiling uncontrollably as they held hands. Usagi saw them enter a room and close the door behind them, and couldn't help but wonder what was going on. She decided to ask her father.

"Hmm? Didn't he tell you? He and Hotaru have been dating for awhile."

"What? Shingo? With Hotaru? No way!"

"Why do you act so surprised? They're both around the same age, and they get along really well."

"It's not that! It's just..." She gawked, unable to put it into words. She realized Shingo was a grown man now, recently removed from college and heading into a career, but he was still her bratty little brother. The thought of him dating anybody, let alone Hotaru, was too bizarre.

"Normal?" Kenji offered. Usagi grimaced.

"I was thinking more the opposite."

"Well, you started dating when you were fifteen. Shingo's about ten years older than that."

"When did they start?" He shrugged.

"He came home and introduced her about...hmm...three years ago? So maybe it's serious."

"How serious?!" He stared at his daughter impatiently.

"Usagi, don't you have something better to do than gossip? And if you don't, you could at least gossip with your friends. Your mother and I have a lot of important work to do here." She apologized gruffly and left him, still stewing over how strange this revelation was. Perhaps somewhere back in her mind, Usagi had always believed that things would stay the same—that they would always be Senshi, always be single, that people would never really grow apart from one another and change so dramatically...

But they all had careers now, Makoto was married with children, Ami and Minako were lovers, and Shingo was dating. Despite everything she had experienced as a Senshi, this was what astonished her the most.

Usagi wanted to be alone and collect her thoughts, but since she couldn't go outside to do that, she found an empty room and sat on some crates, staring at the wall. So much had changed for her! Her world had been turned upside-down and all of her comforts had been disturbed—but really now, was that so new? But she thought she had gotten used to that. Maybe all the years spent away from Senshi duties had softened her. Ultimately, she decided just to accept things as they were and be happy for Shingo and everyone else. In fact, now that she thought about it, they made a fairly cute couple. Her father said they were serious. Would Shingo actually propose to Hotaru? Usagi had always thought of her fellow Senshi as family, but she never imagined they would actually become her family, at least in the legal sense. And if they did get married, they might have children! Usagi would be an aunt, for real (and a spinster aunt, as well, if she didn't tie the knot soon!). The realization caused her head to spin, and she laid down on the floor, sighing.

She didn't exactly want company at the moment, but company came knocking anyway. It was Rei, though, and aside from Naru, Usagi felt like she could tell Rei anything. After stumbling through some casual smalltalk about their condition, Usagi expressed her concerns and feelings, and Rei listened intently. When it was all over, she squeezed her hand.

"Maybe you're just jealous."

"In what sense?"

"That Shingo might actually get married before you."

"I have always thought it would be the reverse," she admitted. "It's just... Look, I know it's been like ten years and all, but it feels as though things have changed too much for me to keep up. And now we have all that on our hands." She gestured away, meaning the trouble with the gods. Rei nodded and held her most cherished friend.

"Does this help?" Usagi nodded solemnly. Rei kissed her cheek. "Tell me, are you happy for him?"

"Yes," she confessed.

"And for Makoto?"

"Oh, Rei, more than I could say."

"And Mina and Ami?" She giggled.

"They are really cute together." She caressed Usagi's hair tenderly.

"You've changed too, you know."

"Yeah, gradually."

"But you're still you. You could do anything, be anyone, live anywhere, and still be you. That's why I love you, Usagi. You've always been true to yourself for as long as I've known you."

"Except for today." She then told Rei about what she had seen at the prison, and all Rei could do was comb through her hair, comforting her. She gave Usagi a squeeze when she finished.

"We'll save them. And Ami's mother. And the whole city. Don't ask me how, but...it will happen. I'm positive. It has to."

They held each other for goodness knows how long. Finally Usagi plucked herself up.

"I guess I should get back to work."

"Could you stay just a little longer? I...I mean, I know we all still have duties, but..."

"Oh, Rei, I've missed you all so much. I know that doesn't make any sense now that we're all together, but I've missed you!" They hugged again, and sat down. Rei blushed, smiling warmly as she held Usagi's hand.

"I just have a few things to say, then I'll leave you to it. It's only fair that you put up with my senseless rambling."

"I'm all ears," she grinned. Rei's eyes twinkled. She felt unbearably giddy.

"Okay. Well, we've known each other too long to dance around these things, so I'll just say it. For a long time, Usagi, I was deeply in love with you. But now I realize I don't want to be, that wanting and having probably isn't the same, and I doubt it would really last that long. Besides, you drive me crazy."

"But that's what you like about me," she winked. Rei nodded affectionately.

"More than I can describe. But I don't want that sort of thing in a lover. So I'm letting go of you."

"Aww. And here I thought we'd make a great couple." Rei rolled her eyes.

"Come on, we would not. You aren't even into women."

"Oh, and you are?" Rei turned purple and glanced away. Usagi realized she had hit a nerve and was tempted to tease her about it, but decided not to. This was obviously a delicate matter for Rei.

"Maybe. There haven't been that many men I've been drawn to, I'll say that much, and most of them have been taken. I...I slept with Setsuna, you know. Like a few weeks ago, before all this pandemonium started. We went out, met up with Reika Nishimura—you remember her—I got a little tipsy, unloaded on her... You really messed me up, Usagi. In a good way," she added with a wink. "So after baring my soul, she was kind enough to take me home...and then we bared everything else. So that happened, but I think...maybe there's a possibility with Setsu and I."

"Ah, Setsu, is it?"

"Let me finish, please. Maybe there's something there, so I want to see where it goes, but first I had to let you go completely. I needed to be clear with you about everything before doing that."

Usagi honestly didn't know what to say. She had always suspected Rei held far more than admiration and sisterly love for her, even if those feelings often conflicted with their legendary quarrels. Hearing her say it wasn't entirely surprising, and after all the other shocks she had meditated her way through, hearing that Rei had been intimate with Setsuna wasn't so jarring. A tiny, tiny part of her really was curious about what might happen if they did get together, but the majority knew that it wouldn't work out, and that all of this was for the best. Usagi loved Rei deeply, but Rei needed someone calm, wise, and thoughtful, with perhaps a few more years of experience on her shoulders. Setsuna was practically tailor-made for that role.

So, having nothing to say, she just hugged her.

"Thanks. This means a lot to me."

"So do you," she whispered, kissing her cheek. "I wish you all of the happiness in the world."

"I hope so," Rei said as she withdrew. "It's still scary. I mean, I've fantasized about Mina and had sex with Ami, but this is a whole new ballpark!"

"Whoa there, woman," Usagi winced. "I can only handle so many crazy revelations per day." She and Rei laughed, and a comfortable silence settled in. Rei stood, and Usagi followed.

"Oh, one more thing before I go. It's silly, but it would give me a lot of closure."

"Sure, what is it?"

Rei made a face. "Could I kiss you, just once? I've always wondered what it was like."

"So have I, to be honest. But nothing serious."

"It'll take like five seconds and I'll be gone." They grinned at each other feebly as they closed in, Usagi tightening the gap as she closed her eyes. Having Rei's lips pressed against her own should have been a spectacle, but it was surprisingly anticlimactic. At the five second mark, she opened her eyes, and Rei opened hers, too. She seemed just as disappointed as Usagi, and they released each other shortly.

"Wow...um, that was...uh..."

"Uninspiring?"

"Yeah. I didn't feel anything. I mean, I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't...that."

"I know. And I felt something when I kissed Haruka and Mina, but..."

"Yeah. Wow. Hmm. Well, I guess that proves it, huh?"

"Yeah, really! Gosh. I think we just dodged a bullet."

"Tell me about it! Okay! So. Back to work, right?"

"Yeah, no more moping around here." They stepped outside awkwardly, but the next time their eyes met, they were twinkling with joy.