45: "Epicenter"
One tends to move or say little in the midst of unnerving silence. Emptiness can cause one to subconsciously hold their breath, straining to hear the slightest break in the tension, yearning for a termination to the unnatural phenomenon. If one is in a small space, this feeling is proportionately small; in a larger space, it magnifies. But as far as the former Senshi could see, their entire city was deserted and deathly still. Even in the smallest towns, those that never seem to make it onto any maps, universal quiet can be disturbing: but in a metropolis like Tokyo, which is constantly drenched in noise from dawn to dusk and back again, a mere instance of silence is unnerving. Yet the entire town had been that way for almost an hour now. There wasn't even a breeze. Nothing stirred, nothing made a sound. It was as if Hotaru's second alter ego, Mistress 9, had been unleashed, and found success.
"My word," Makoto whispered—and one couldn't help but whisper in the stillness of the ghost city. "You really weren't kidding, Setsuna. There's not a soul around. Were they all taken away?"
"While I'm sure our enemy doesn't have the power to drag every citizen away, they certainly came very close."
"I couldn't even imagine where all those millions of people might be held," Michiru said. "There's no place in the city a crowd that size would fit. Where did you say they were, Setsu?"
"Shibuya. It looked like Times Square, New York, during New Year's Eve."
"Why is everything revolving around that part of the city?" Usagi hissed in frustration. "This all started with that earthquake near Shibuya, and then there were those reptile-monsters..."
"And your triumphant return," Minako reminded her. Usagi frowned.
"I guess they think we'll come running if they stage this in a familiar spot. I mean, the Senshi will come running."
"So it's a trap for us," Ami said. "That would explain why they didn't kill any of the resistance members. They've wanted the Senshi all along, and this was the best way to get them."
"Seems that way," Rei sighed. "I guess it's usually the most obvious traps that work. They think the Senshi are like these Apsis-things and will come running if people are in danger."
"Apkallu, Rei. It means 'a great, wise sage'."
"I know. Remember, I was the one who...shattered their image of us."
"Yes, well, they have more reason to be angry and afraid of me," Hotaru murmured.
"I dunno," Makoto added. "That Gula woman went completely psychotic when she learned I fought her husband. Just getting kicked around by him was enough to set her off."
"So you're saying they'd spare Usako?" Haruka grumbled. "After all, she killed that dragon they were all terrified of."
"I didn't do it alone," she trembled. "I couldn't have. We all have to take some responsibility for what's going on."
"That's what concerns me," Setsuna said, closing her eyes grimly. Before anyone could ask what she meant, she announced that they had arrived. The women were nowhere near Shibuya, but they could already hear the distinct murmur of a lone voice calling out. Minako saw a blurry horizon filled with people; Ami saw their dim reflection in the newly-restored buildings. "Any closer and we'll be spotted," Setsuna warned them. "We need to sneak in and get a better vantage point."
"Is that all we're going to do? Watch?" Minako put her hand over Makoto's arm, squeezing gently. She didn't need to say anything; the two had been best friends long enough to understand one another, even at a glimpse. She relented. "So nowhere we'd be easily spotted, then. No familiar landmarks."
"Darn," Usagi whispered. "There goes my call-back with the '109'." Rei smiled sweetly at her.
"Hey, a real hero never does the same entrance twice." Usagi grinned bashfully, and since she knew the downtown area a little better thanks to her job, she suggested a few places where they'd be able to hide and get a good view of the action.
Working their way around the edge of the crowd was difficult, as more and more of the star soldiers filtered in every so often, pushing and shoving strays, Ami's mother among them. Makoto decided that the best way to hide a person was with other people, so they waded into the crowd and crossed over to their destination. It was, of all places, a manga store, three stories tall (Usagi's second choice had been the Crown, but that was swarming with people and soldiers). It was closed, of course, and guarded well, but there was a ladder that led to the rooftop. A more manageable patrol had taken to guarding it, and had performed very well up until that moment.
Making their way to the roof, the women crouched down, peering over the edge. There was a thick sea of humanity as far as the eye could see, weaving around buildings, stores, parking lots, parks, roads, everywhere a body could fit. On the outskirts of the crowd was a line of the star soldiers; further in was a more concentrated group that kept the legions in line. After weeks of suffering under their ruthless thumbs, the people of Tokyo knew exactly what they were capable of, and dared not stir their wrath. Besides, some of the gods were scattered on various rooftops, leering down with such austere authority that no spark could have been lit anyway.
What truly frightened the women was the noise they were hearing—or rather, the lack thereof. Aside from a few grunts, sneezes, coughs, and harsh words from the soldiers, not a single sound was issued from that entire crowd. Usagi felt nauseous.
"This is no longer our city."
"I think we reached that point a long time ago," Ami said. Usagi shook her head.
"No... They had control over us before, but only on the surface. Now there's not even that."
"I see what you mean." Minako quietly sidled her way to Ami's side, taking some small comfort in her presence. They held hands.
"Does our resident genius have any good plans?"
"Only if our fearless leader does."
"Not a single damned thing." Makoto raised her head; something was happening.
"Look." Several of the illuminating creatures gathered before the crowd, hovering ominously over their heads. Like miniature suns, they blinded all who gazed upon them; like the thunders, their voices trembled with power; like a great frost, they stole passions.
"Servants of Yamato, heed my words. Many of you are familiar with me, but if not, let my name be known: I am Ninhursaga, the great mother! You have been gathered here for a purpose; now let that purpose be known."
"I am Enlil, and your city is ours," said he, with the voice of a typhoon. "Your country is ours. Your minds and your bodies are ours. Soon your hearts and your souls will be given willingly, for what power equates with our own? Do your kings and senators stand against us? Do your conspirators have any say? And what of thy heroes? They have been false to us, and now they are false to thee as well. They have fallen; my son, who conquered thee, has defeated them! What hope must thou have now, when but one of our kin can perform all this, and there are numbers still who would take up his mantle?"
"Yet lately you have dared," said Nanna, who glowed like the moon. "It has been revealed to us that there exists, among you, those who would still fight our rule. Such foolishness is beyond measure, and now they are exposed, yet we have spared every soul there, if only that they may redeem themselves. Ever since our rise to rule began, my kinsmen have had but one objective beyond their grasp. Ninurta, who allowed us to reign over your land, was viciously slain, and those responsible, be it a lone warrior or a number, have become lost to us. Once we believed them Apkallu, great sages who fought in the name of goodness. You refer to them as Celestial Sailors—Senshi, your word for 'guardian'."
Suddenly the crowd began cheering. Enlil drew up to silence them, but Nanna held up his arm. They waited patiently for the cheering to subside, then Ninhursaga spoke.
"One who fights my son fights him to their end. He valiantly quashed all who stood before him, and there is no telling how many of these heavenly sailors were slain before he met his end. What cheer is there to be had, when so few of thy champions might yet breathe? What joy art thou clinging to, when throughout this period, neither our side nor yours has sighted them? If your Sailors live, surely they have abandoned you. They labor not for us, I can assure thee of that."
The crowd gradually succumbed to a lull as they realized this.
"Perhaps we are over-presumptuous," Enlil said warmly. "After all, there were those who believed, even until the very end. They are in your number as we speak. Just as a house cannot stand without its foundation, so too must your hope find structure. The Sailors must either be brought forth to respond to thy faith, or to answer for their cowardice. You cannot believe any alternative exists."
"Their discovery has been the sole purpose of what you refer to as our tyranny," Nanna said. "We seek justice for Ninurta, and answers to our questions. If they are brought before us, we shall in turn act more in accordance with thy wishes, and give thee rights befitting that of servants, rather than shameless criminals. You shall have a greater freedom, yet also must you be under our protection, for ever has your own been insufficient."
"And suppose we do not agree to your demands?" someone called out. Nobody could tell who it was in the crowd, but if Rei had known, she would have been thunderstruck, for it was her father. The three gods looked at one another.
"Then our Lord and Master Anu shall be thy judge, and under his shadow even we must tremble."
"So will the Senshi face this same justice if we present them?"
"They shall, and you will be spared."
"Your country has a saying," Ninhursaga said: "That the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. If there is anyone who is the source of thy dilemma, it is the Sailors. Would it not be in the interest of all thy people to give us what we seek? You will have time to contemplate the matter."
"That's low," Makoto snarled, balling her fists. "I didn't think anyone was capable of being that cruel!"
"But what can we do?" Haruka sighed. "If we expose ourselves, we'd be caught, and all of Japan would be under their rule. If we stay hidden, we'd just be consigning them to the gallows."
"So we fight!" Hotaru said.
"Without our powers? How far do you think we'd get?"
"And let's not entertain any ideas about us not needing them," Michiru added. Hotaru sunk.
"But we have to do something!" Nobody made a move, because there were no more moves to make. They had been caught in the worst sort of trap, and deep down, they all knew that they must remain in that trap, because this was still their world, and they were still its guardians, and they would protect their world even at the cost of their own lives. So, taking hold of each other's hands, the women prepared to give themselves up.
And then, from out of the throngs, a lone figure stood out.
"I am Sailor Moon!"
It was Naru.
…...
"Naru..." Makoto held her breath, unable to tear her eyes away from the brave soul standing alone out there. Usagi stared at her with equal parts admiration and surprise.
"What is she doing?"
"Look!" pointed Rei, as another person stepped out of the crowd. This time, it was Hayate Hayashida.
"And I'm Sailor Mercury!"
"Hey! I'm Sailor Jupiter!" The shout came from Unazuki Furuhata, who stepped forth boldly. Makoto felt tears roll down her cheeks as her cherished sister-in-law glared defiantly at the gods.
"I'm Sailor Mars," Kotono Sarashina said. Rei felt an enormous lump in her throat. Ami balked as a very familiar person stepped forth.
"And I am being Sailor Venus."
"Nastya?"
"There's more," Hotaru said, pointing as the crowd shifted.
Reika Nishimura called out: "My name is Sailor Pluto!"
"I'm Sailor Saturn!" Haruna Sakurada exclaimed. Then two women stepped forward, holding hands.
"We are Sailors Uranus and Neptune! We are the Sailor Senshi!"
"Yumiko...Kuri..."
By now every one of the real Senshi were thunderstruck. They knew that all of the people they were close to loved them, and would fight for them, but never to this extent, at the cost of their own lives...
"Hey! Um...I...I'm Tuxedo Umino! I mean, Tuxedo Kamen!"
"Oh, Gurio," Minako whispered. Enlil sneered.
"Then by thine own words do you condemn yourselves, traitors and vill—"
"I'm Sailor Moon as well!" Ikuko Tsukino called. Kinsei Aino rushed to her side.
"I'm Sailor Venus! Me! The real deal!"
"Then I'm Sailor Mercury!" Saeko Mizuno called. Risa, be with me today! Ami, wherever you are, please be safe!
"Don't listen to any of them!" the Ayakashi sisters said in unison. "We're the Sailor Senshi!"
"Hey, buddy!" Toha called, beating his chest. "Just call me Sailor Jupiter!"
"Jupiter's a woman, moron," Asagiri muttered.
"I don't care! I ain't standin' around lettin' all these people hog the attention!"
"Then I guess I'm Sailor Starlight or something."
"Come on, man, pick a real Senshi!"
"Sailor V?"
"Good enough! Hari, what about—"
"I'm Sailor Neptune," Chief Hari called. Kaidou called out next:
"Hey, I'm Sailor Saturn!"
"No, I'm Sailor Moon! I'm Uranus! Pluto! I'm Mercury! Just call me Sailor Venus! Hey, I'm a Senshi, too! Me too! I'm a Senshi!" Soon the whole crowd was buzzing, every person there claiming to be one of the Sailors. All of Tokyo had shown up, and all of Tokyo had stood up defiantly, their heroine's names on their lips as they spoke up in unison.
"I don't believe this," Minako whispered. She steadily squeezed Ami's hand, and Ami squeezed right back. Suddenly, the skies darkened, and a peal of thunder silenced the crowd. Enlil of of the oceans and floods hovered overhead.
"Then if the entire lot of servants and mortals be against us, tis' better to start creation anew! Wither and die like the chaff you are!" The crowd let out a scream; Usagi bolted to her feet.
"Hey! We're not just gonna sit here and do nothing, are we?"
"Hell no!" Rei roared. "We're with you all the way, powers or not!"
"Time to go out in a blaze of glory!" Makoto shouted.
"All RIGHT! Senshi forever!" Minako cheered. Ami smiled warmly.
"Lead the way, Usagi! Whether in death or life, we'll follow." Usagi nodded, beaming beautifully, and emerged out of hiding, standing taller and brighter than the gods themselves.
"Stop right there, evil-doers!"
The panic ceased. The gods turned to focus on this new spectacle.
All nine women stood for the world to see.
"WE...are the Sailor Senshi."
All of Tokyo stood gawking in wonder.
"Them?" Toha sputtered. Asagiri shrugged.
"You think you know a gal..."
"Tsukino?!" Hari spat. Takashi Hino shivered.
"Rei..."
"You?" Nanna called. The women braced themselves.
"And in the name of Mercury..."
"And Venus..."
"In the name of Jupiter..."
"And in the name of Mars..."
"In the name of Uranus..."
"Neptune..."
"Saturn..."
"In the name of Pluto..."
"And in the name of the Moon, the Earth, and all of its people, we shall right wrongs and triumph over evil!"
"AND THAT MEANS YOU!"
Together they soared down from their perch, eclipsing the sun and blazing all the brighter for it. Tokyo's citizens and all of the soldiers surrounding the people averted their eyes as the bright flash blinded them. Even the gods winced, and when it faded, there were no women standing defiantly before them, but nine Sailor Senshi, like vengeful warrior-goddesses, their powers restored at long last.
For a moment, all was quiet as the people and their common enemy stood grasping this.
Then all of pandemonium unleashed in a violent maelstrom as the nine women surged out, releasing all of their long-restrained fury. Their attacks were fast, brutal, precise, and indiscriminate: nothing that stood in their way stood for very long, save for the gods, who could only stand amazed. Despite their overwhelming numbers, all of the soldiers that had guarded the crowd were utterly destroyed in a flash, leaving nothing but hollow shells and charred corpses that dissolved into smoldering ashes.
Again, silence. A strong wind blew the foul odor away, leaving nothing of the enemy but memories.
The crowd suddenly erupted with applause, cheers, whistles, and screams, mad with joy. Their heroines had returned at last, precisely when they were needed most, and they didn't disappoint. The gods, sensing that perhaps their wish to find the Senshi might have been granted with unforeseen consequences, retreated for the moment to consider their next move. Meanwhile, those who knew the Senshi the best crowded around them, heaping praise and relief, some hugging and even kissing them. Sailor Moon politely shuffled her way through the crowd in search of one particular fan. She found her, standing patiently, smiling beatifically, tears of rapture in her eyes. They embraced fiercely without saying a word.
"My hero," Naru said at last, still fairly teary-eyed. Sailor Moon grinned and caressed her face.
"You've always been my hero. Oh, Naru, I'm so proud of you. I'm so, so lucky to have you..."
They hugged again, but soon Naru let go of her cherished friend. "Okay, that's enough for now. You've got a lot of work to do."
"Right. Sorry. I just needed a moment..."
"I know." Sailor Moon found herself approached by her coworkers, and hung back shyly. Toha merely shook his head, chuckling softly, while Asagiri seemed unfazed as always. Hari had the most to digest out of all of them; she had been a firm believer of the Senshi as urban myth, and now no argument in the world would hold up to what was standing right in front of her.
"I honestly wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it."
"That's what most people say, boss."
"It really sounds weird when you call me that now. Naturally, I've got a lot of questions, but we can save those for later. Right now I'm willing to accept everything without reservation. Um, Sailor Moon..."
"You can still call me 'Tsukino' if you like." Harisvatta smiled humbly.
"Very well. Tsukino, I have a request for you."
"I know, you want us to help free the police. I think that should be number one on our priority list, but we also need to get communications back up."
"Leave that to me!" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed.
"Somehow I knew you were gonna say that," she said. "Do you need any help?"
"Naw, I'm good. I've got some ideas already; just give me an hour or so and watch my back."
"Can do!" Smiling, Jupiter found her family in the crowd, throwing herself first at Motoki, crushing him with her kisses. They stared longingly into each other's eyes, expressing everything that needed to be said, before Jupiter hugged her sister-in-law. Finally she took her children into her arms, racked with relief that they were safe.
"Okay," she whispered, eventually giving them back to their aunt and father, "I'll be going now."
"Need a ride anywhere?" Motoki asked. Jupiter beamed back at him.
"No thanks, I got one." She summoned Airavata, her totemic avatar, but before she could leap onto its back, Motoki swatted her rear. Jupiter let out a very girlish squeal and couldn't stop blushing or giggling. Before she could set out, though, someone else called out to her:
"Makoto!" She'd know that voice from anywhere. Her heart stopped as she watched Naru work her way through the crowd, toward her. "Good luck!" she shouted—and because Jupiter could never force herself away from Naru's side (or her gaze), Naru herself did the honors, disappearing back in the throng. Empowered by so much love, Sailor Jupiter guided Airavata onto the streets, mowing over any soldier unfortunate enough to be underfoot. Her ultimate goal was Tokyo Tower, but first, there were a few items she needed to pick up at her hotel: weapons to be used in the war to take back Tokyo...
Author's notes:
I had to do some revisions after re-reading previous chapters for continuity checks. Although mythology is pliable, I had stated earlier that Enlil and Ninhursaga were Ninurta's parents, and Gula his wife, so that is the order I am now forced to follow (it's also the "proper" order, or as proper as myths go, anyway). The previous chapter that described this error has been fixed. I also changed Saeko's fate in the last chapter, as she is noticeably absent from the group early on, and no explanation is given. I feel a re-read of chapter 44 is therefore appropriate. While this does show I make mistakes, I do try and correct them after the fact. I'm still a stickler, though, even for the minor things, so please don't be afraid to mention them.
Yes, that scene was directly inspired by Spartacus, but the final episode of Power Rangers in Space is also at fault—more so, actually, when one compares the two. Check it out on YouTube if you doubt me. One has to believe Power Rangers and Sailor Moon helped influence one another, or were at least similar.
While my readers and I have both been waiting for this chapter for quite awhile, believe it or not, I still haven't gotten to the good part yet. All of this is just a prelude. Trust me, things are going to get insane from the next chapter on. Oh, and for those of you who feel like Sailor Jupiter's played a small part? Not anymore.