Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at treetop@voicenet.com. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. All references to Vulcan are the province of Gene Roddenberry and Paramount Studios. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.

Across The Millennia
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Epilogue: Finding The Way Home
Rating: PG-13

Talia awakened to find herself in a place she never envisioned being in again. The living room of her home on Vulcan.

Sitting up from a thick cushioned sofa, Talia looked around at her surroundings, rich with tapestries on the walls depicting her family's history and stands on which antiques unearthed by her father sat. Standing up, Talia was surprised to discover she wasn't in her Scout uniform, rather she was attired in a purple mandarin dress of pure silk with a gold brocade design of a dragon on the front and spike heeled, gold metallic pumps on her feet. Confusion reigned as Talia was unable to fathom how she could have retumed to her home planet.

"You are awake. Good," came a male voice Talia had not heard in a very long time. She whirled around to see two people, a man and a woman, both wizened and regal enter the room. In spite of herself, Talia gasped.

"Mother. Father." Standing, Talia moved forward to greet them but stopped short. "No. This is not possible. The two of you have been dead for over a millennia. How is it that you are here? And where am I exactly?"

"Vulcans have no name for this place, daughter," said Ambassador T'Lar. "It's existence, and our presence here is a mystery to us, though one we have long since accepted. However, humans would call it....heaven."

Talia frowned, the implication all too obvious. "Then, I am dead?"

"No. At the climax of your battle against Stefan, your body had been incinerated when the villain's energy was discharged after you destroyed him," Professor Setak, Vulcan's famed teacher of archaeology replied. "However, the healing power of Sailor Moon's Imperium Silver Crystal restored your corporeal form. But the psychic shock of your death and subsequent restoration shut down your mind. Yet, your katra somehow found it's way here."

Talia's eyes widened. "Then, you viewed the battle?"

"And more. We have watched your entire life unfold ever since you were resurrected on Earth," Setak replied.

"Time holds no meaning here. For us, the passing of a millennia was as brief as a solar year would be to you," T'Lar added.

Talia, her throat tightening walked up to her mother. "Mother, what happened to you after I died?"

"When we learned of the siege on the Moon, I immediately headed back. But when my ship entered the Sol system, we were destroyed by the same dark forces that decimated the Moon Kingdom," T'Lar replied. A look of deep sorrow briefly crossed the stateswoman's face. "I never got to see you again."

Talia, broken by grief, dropped her head. "I am sorry."

T'Lar cocked an eyebrow from curiosity. "For what, daughter?"

"For everything. I failed you. When I become a Guardian to Queen Serenity and Princess Serena, you entrusted me with the honor of Vulcan," said Talia, her voice choked. "My failure to prevent their deaths brought shame upon our race. Even worse, I caused your demise when you came back for me."

"That is not true. You are my child, T'alya. It was my duty to search for you, even though it resulted in my death. As a parent, to have lived without knowing what happened to you would have been worse for me than dying."

"Still, because of my dishonor, I am not worthy to be called Vulcan."

Setak walked up to Talia and clasped her shoulders. "Nonsense, daughter. You dishonored no one, least of all us. You fought valiantly and sacrificed much for the people you love. We can ask for nothing more. Above all else, T'alya, you are Vulcan. That will never change."

"Your father is correct. You could never shame us," T'Lar added. "We are extremely pleased with your accomplishments, both as a Sailor Scout, and a woman. You have done us both proud. But now, you must leave."

Talia looked pained. "Leave? So soon?"

"Yes. Because you are still alive in the real world, your katra will not be able to remain here for very long without risk of endangerment to your psyche," said Setak. "You have no choice but to return."

Hearing that, Talia was again beset by sadness. "That will not be easy to do. I have missed you both. Ever since the awakening of my memories, not a day has passed when I have not thought about you. This will be like losing you all over again. And, it is causing me great pain. Will I ever see you again?"

"Only when your life has ended will you be able to join us," said Setak.

T'Lar placed a hand on Talia's cheek. "Do not despair, daughter. One day, we will be reunited. I promise. Until then, return to your life, return to your friends. And, most of all, return to Serena. She needs you."

Talia finally succumbed to her emotions. Bursting into tears, she embraced her parents, her slim body shook from her sobbing as T'Lar and Setak held her tight. "Mother! Father! I love you! I love you so very much!"

"We know, daughter," said Setak. "And while it is not a logical thing to say, we love you as well. Be sure to always temper your all-too human passions with the coolness of Vulcan logic and you will find the completeness you seek. Now, call upon your power and it will take you home."

Pulling away, Talia wiped her eyes, then summoned her transformation pen. "As long as I live, I will continue to make you proud," She held the pen high with one hand and gave her parents the Vulcan salute with the other. "You will always be in my heart. Live long and prosper. Vulcan Star Power!"

Sailor Moon was beyond grief.

With tears coursing down her cheeks, a kneeling Moon cradled the body of Sailor Vulcan in her arms while the Scouts and Tuxedo Mask surrounded her.

"Amy! Can't you do anything to help Tal?" a desperate Moon pleaded.

Sailor Mercury, in tears like Moon and the girls shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry, Serena, but there's nothing I can do for her."

"NO! I won't accept it! She can't be gone! She can't! TALIA!" Moon screamed to the heavens.

"There is no need to shout, Sailor Moon. My hearing is unimpaired."

Moon gasped, then stared down at Vulcan who opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around at the others, all wide eyed from surprise. Vulcan smiled warmly at them. "Greetings, my friends. I trust you are well?"

The Scouts and Mask whooped from boundless delight while a deliriously happy Moon crushed Vulcan in a bear hug.

"You're alive, Tal! You're alive!" cried Moon, now sobbing from joy.

"Obviously. But I fear that status will quickly change unless you ease your grip and allow me to breathe," Vulcan replied.

Everyone, save for an openly puzzled Mercury laughed as Moon released Vulcan from her vise-like embrace. "I'm confused. Please, don't take this the wrong way, Talia, but, by all rights, you shouldn't be alive," The Scout of Water said timidly to her teammate. "You were clinically brain dead for nearly five minutes. How is it you were able to recover?"

Vulcan, dwelling on her experience in the other reality----she refused to call it heaven----carefully thought over her answer before she gave it. "Admittedly, I am at a loss to give any sort of scientific explanation for my return to sentience, only that my renewed existence can be fully attributed to the vast power of the Vulcan mind and spirit. I am afraid it would be....difficult to elucidate further."

Moon, clasping Vulcan's hand felt the telepathic link between them flare to life once again. Almost instantly, Moon became privy to Talia's bittersweet reunion with the spirits of her long dead Vulcan parents in the afterlife, and felt the deep, heartwrenching pain her friend suffered when she was forced to part from them. Moon, eager to let Vulcan know she was loved, squeezed her hand tight and kissed her first true friend on the cheek.

"Explanations don't matter, Tal. Not one bit. I'm just glad you're back with us. Where you belong."

"Thank you, my dear friend," Vulcan replied. "But, what of Stefan?"

"He's over there," said Sailor Mars, pointing to her right to where the madman's body lay some twenty feet away. "We were so concemed about you, we haven't checked him out."

"Now would be a good time to do so." Her stoic mask firming into place, Vulcan stood up. Proud to once again be in her Scout uniform, Vulcan smoothed her skirt and calmly walked over to where Stefan lay, the others close behind. Upon reaching Stefan, Vulcan knelt down beside him and studied him intently. The former assistant of Queen Serenity was alive as Vulcan could see his chest steadily rising and falling, but she was more interested in his face which was pale and ghostly, his eyes wide open yet unstaring. Vulcan gently placed the fingers of her right hand on his forehead, lowered her head and closed her eyes. The others stood close by but said nothing.

After several minutes, Vulcan opened her eyes and stood up. "My friends, Stefan will trouble us, and Serena no longer. His mind is gone."

"Gone? But how?" Sailor Venus asked.

"The horrific shock of Stefan having been destroyed, then instantly regenerated by the healing power of Sailor Moon's crystal permanently shut down his mind," Vulcan explained.

"How do you know that?" a curious Tuxedo Mask inquired.

"Because that was what happened to me after I had been incinerated by the release of Stefan's energies," said Vulcan matter-of-factly. "However, since Stefan was quite insane at the time of his demise, he was not able to handle the severe trauma of his restoration as I had been. As a result, his brain has been completely, and permanently bumed out."

"In other words, the lights are on, but no one's home," said Sailor Jupiter.

Vulcan nodded. "Crudely put, but essentially correct. But, unlike on the Moon, this time, there is no Queen Beryl to return him to normal. Stefan will be a mindless vegetable for the rest of his life."

"Ugh! What a way to go!" said Mars.

"Speaking of going, I suggest we do just that," said Mercury, staring off into the distance with her visor. "It looks like our battle attracted attention after all. Police cars and emergency vehicles are heading this way."

"Just as well. The authorities can take care of Stefan," said Mask.

"Okay then, let's split, guys! I have to get back to school, and fast!" said a now anxious Moon.

Vulcan cocked an eyebrow. "Really? Despite everything we have been through, you are eager to resume your studies?"

"Studies? Are you nuts? Thanks to what you did, everybody thinks I've kicked the bucket!" Moon grumbled. "I've gotta let everyone know I'm still alive before some knucklehead calls my parents! Man, I hate being a superhero!"

Three days later:

"Checkmate!" Amy said triumphantly.

Seated in the center of Raye's bedroom, Talia, arching an eyebrow leaned close to study the chessboard as it sat on a folding table and the remaining pieces on it. Her usually impassive face briefly tightened into what could, for a Vulcan, be best described as a scowl.

"Most interesting. While your strategy was both unorthodox and unpredictable, it achieved the desired result," said Talia. "Congratulations, Amy. You are the first person who has ever defeated me at chess."

Amy beamed from pride. "Thanks. I enjoyed playing you."

"You're not frustrated over losing, are you, Tal?" kidded Lita, lounging on Raye's bed. "Judging from that look you had on your face, it didn't sit very well."

Talia turned and gave the auburn haired amazon a haughty look. "Frustrated? Hardly, Lita. I am a Vulcan. That emotion is beneath me."

Mina, comfortably nestled in Lita's arms, giggled. "Liar, liar! Pants on fire!"

"Really, Mina. Such a childish outburst is quite unneccesary. Besides, I am wearing a skirt."

Serena, watching the game while munching on donuts pouted. "Jeez! You lost me from jump street. Chess is way too complicated for this kid."

"Tic-tac-toe would be too complicated for you, meatball head!" said Raye with a sneer. "You need a brain for chess! All you've got up there is cotton candy!"

Serena paused from eating long enough to give Raye a raspberry.

"I would be more than happy to teach you how to play chess, Serena," offered Talia. "It would take very little time for me to instruct you on the fundamentals of the game."

Raye snorted good naturedly. "HA! That's what you think!"

Inexplicably, Serena's face fell. "Are you sure you'd have the time, Tal? After all, you're supposed to be leaving." The girls, wide eyed, collectively gasped, feeling a sudden coldness clutch at their hearts.

"Leaving? Is this true?" Lita demanded of Talia. Like the others, she felt the awful hurt in her chest at the news.

"Unfortunately," said Talia simply.

"You can't be serious! We've just gotten to know you again, and now you're leaving us? It's not fair!" said a saddened Mina.

"It certainly isn't!" a heartsick Amy added. "You're one of us! You're part of us! You can't leave!"

"If this is some sort of joke, Kirk, it's not funny!" growled Raye, tears stinging her eyes. She then pinioned Serena with a harsh glare. "How long have you known about this, Serena?"

Serena, ashamed, dropped her head. "Ever since the elemenatals crashed the school four days ago. Things got so crazy after that, I didn't have time to think about it until now."

"And, regrettably, it had slipped my mind as well," Talia added.

"Bloody nice of you to get around to telling us!" a now furious Raye shouted. She then faced Talia. "And exactly when are you leaving?"

"Three hundred and fifty-seven days from now," Talia replied simply.

"WHAT?" the girls, including Serena shouted as one.

"I apologize for not being clear in explaining my situation," said Talia. "When I told Serena about my departure, I failed to add that it would be after I fulfilled the contract requirements of the student exchange program which calls for me to spend a minimum of one calendar year in my new locale. I am hoping arrangements can be made so I can remain here on a permanent basis. In any event, as I mentioned a few days ago, I am afraid you are....stuck with me."

The cheers Serena and the girls let out could be heard all over the temple as they expressed their joy over Talia remaining with them. Just then, Luna and Artemis rushed in, looking extremely worried.

"Thank goodness you girls are here! We've got trouble!" said Luna.

"What's wrong?" Serena asked.

"A huge monster just appeared out of thin air and it's wreaking havoc in the Ginza!" said Artemis. "It's using eye beams to drain the energy from helpless people! We need the Scouts! Now!"

"So much for enjoying a quiet afternoon," said a rueful Mina. "Time to clock in, guys!" The girls as one nodded, then stood and pulled out their transformation pens.

"Mercury Star Power!"

"Mars Star Power!"

"Jupiter Star Power!"

"Venus Star Power!"

"Vulcan Star Power!"

"Cosmic Moon Power!"

In a dazzling pyrotechnic display, the six girls morphed into their heroic alter egos and stood ready for battle.

"Before we depart, my friends, a question," said a curious Sailor Vulcan. "Does this sort of thing happen often?"

"Oh, sure, all the time. Don't worry about it, Tal, you'll get used to it," said Sailor Mars in a blase tone.

"Yeah! Provided you live long enough!" a cackling Sailor Moon joked.

Hearing that, Vulcan frowned. "You will forgive me if I fail to take any comfort from that knowledge."

The Scouts enjoyed a good laugh at the consternation of their newest teammate before they steeled themselves and, with Moon and Vulcan taking the lead, they rushed from the temple to do what they did best. Fight for love and justice.

THE END

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Well, there you have it, my friends, the birth of a brand new star in the Sailor Moon universe. It was extremely enjoyable for me to have brought Talia Kirk, the enigmatic Sailor Vulcan to life in the story you've just finished, complete with her very own history that I spent a considerable amount of time developing for her. To have created my very own character, and to have made her distinctively unique was a most satisfying and personally enriching experience. So, what did you think of Talia, a contridiction of cold, lifeless logic and seething, powerful emotions, struggling to find a balance between those two wildly differing psychological ideologies that have shaped her life? From the start, it was my goal to present Talia to you, the readers as the ultimate example of ying and yang, without her emotions, she would've been a heartless monster, no better, if not worse than the enemies she fought to protect Serena from. On the other hand, without her logic, those self same emotions could well have driven Talia insane, perhaps even destroyed her. The combination of logic and emotion helped to make Talia a complete person. Overall, did you like Talia? Did you hate her, or were your opinions mixed? I'd like very much to get feedback on her if possible. If you liked Sailor Vulcan and want to see more of her, by all means, let me know. It wouldn't take much effort to phase her into future stories I do since, as her "parent", I've grown to love her. Until next time, take care and have a great day!

Jeffrey C. Branch
December 2000

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