Stars Will Fall
Chapters 1of 3
PG-13 (language, slight violence, adult themes)
by Meredith Bronwen Mallory
mallorys-girl@cinci.rr.com

Konnichiha  minna-chan! How are all you fine people? Great, I hope. Well,
After a long absence, I'm back! Remember me? I thought not. ^_^ Anyway,
I apologize for the shoddy updates on The Will of Heaven, it got to the end
of the school year, and I sorta panicked. (I just finished my first year
teaching,
and I wanted to make sure I sufficiently reviewed the material for the exams
with my students...) Anyway, now that summer's here, I'll have a ton of time
to write and enjoy myself! ^_^

I took a little detour from my TWOH universe to write this little ditty.
It's
three chapters, short and sweet ^_~ Hopefully you'll all enjoy it, the next
two parts should be out next week, and then the week after that, another
part
of either TWOH or Cadre Sister. (I'd update next week, but I'm getting
married on the 13th! I'm so excited!)

Um.... Oh, yeah! ::hits head:: This isn't necessarily Usa/Mamo WAFF.
*WAIT*! Don't leave yet! Think of it as more along the lines of
'Time and Time Again'... probably more like 'Forgive Me'.
You guys liked that, right? Right...

I am forever indebted to Antigone, who thought up the title for this one.
Kami, I love that girl! ^_^ Read her stuff, you won't be disappointed.
Also, as always, to my betas, Sakura Girl and Natia_99.

Feedback is good for my muse, in fact, the little bugger lives off the
stuff.
Send feedback, minna, PLEASE!!

Legal Disclaimer: Do I *look* like I own Sailor Moon? I didn't think so.

Oh, are you still here? After ALL those author's notes? No way.... ^_^
Continue, valiant one!

---------------------------------------------
Stars Will Fall 1/3
by Meredith Bronwen Mallory
mallorys-girl@cinci.rr.com
---------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tokyo, Japan
1985
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 It hung in the night sky like a beacon, a dark, ominous light that pulsed
with a rhythm all it's own. It was like a flame, burning, drawing moths
toward it with whispered promises of fulfillment. Dr. Hidoshi was drawn to
it, unfortunate moth that he was, as he gazed through the lens of his
telescope at the rogue moon.
 "Beautiful," he breathed in husky wonder, "Simply beautiful."
 "What's beautiful?" inquired his assistant, her light alto ringing out in
the cool observatory. Dr. Hidoshi jumped just about sky high, whirling
around with an almost guilty expression. And well he should feel guilty, his
assistant thought bitterly. The damned fool had just sealed Crystal Tokyo's
fate. Of course he didn't know it yet, none of them would, until it was too
late. And there was the time- continuum to protect...  Setsuna sighed.
 "Ah, Meiou-san," the man ran a shaky hand through his thinning hair, "You
startled me! But I'm glad you're here, you simply must look at this! I'm a
genius... The orbits of Pluto and Chiron were far too erratic to be natural,
unless they were under the influence of some other celestial object!"
 "Of course," Setsuna sounded bored, "Scientists have theorized such a thing
for centuries."
 "Ah, my dear," Dr. Hidoshi laughed, brushing off her cool reproof with
ease. He was quite used to her dispassionate manner, and though it had once
drove him to the brink of insanity, he had since learned to deal with it,
"You give me too little credit. Until the invention of my telescope, there
would have been no way for any scientist to peer far enough into space to
even catch a glimpse of the phantom planet! But I've found it... it's orbit
intersects with Pluto's.." he didn't seemed to notice her flinch at the
mention of the planet, "...about once every two decades... and well, you get
the point. Come, come see!"

 With a hand on the young woman's shoulder, he lead her towards the
telescope, and she too peered through at the dark hulk of their 'phantom
planet'.
 "Yes, well, I suppose it is lovely, for a dead moon," Setsuna said, "But
what will you call it?" Now Dr. Hidoshi paused, his chaotic swirl of
thoughts at last coming to a halt. He looked as though Setsuna had just
burst his bubble.
 "I hadn't even considered it," he said quietly, "I have no idea... what,
what would YOU call it, Meiou-san?"
 To his surprise, she didn't pause to consider, or even bat an eye.
 "Nemesis."

-----------

 Sometimes, humans are just too curious for their own good. Word of Dr.
Hidoshi's discovery spread through the observatory, and then of course, the
government got wind of it, and acted. The Entire Staff of Tokyo Bay
Observatory was moved to a secret base, everyone, from the lowliest gofer to
Dr. Hidoshi himself. There was something about Nemesis that fueled
obsession, those in powerful government positions wanted to know everything
about it. And when long range scanners, probes and satellites failed to
yield enough information, they logically took the next step.
 "We'll send a small team there!" some one brilliantly suggested.
 Somewhere, Setsuna was shaking her head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cherry Point, North Carolina
1985
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Setsuna continued her silent litany of
complaints as she stalked down the corridors of Cherry Point Air force Base.
Her high heels made little staccato noises as they clicked against the
marble floors, moving in time with her some-what bitter thoughts. In the
end, the Japanese Government didn't have enough money to fund the 'Nemesis
Project', as it was being called. So why not call in a little extra help,
and offer their coconspirator a piece of the glory? Setsuna smirked lightly.
Which explained why she was in North Carolina, miles from her Tokyo home.
She'd been sent to track down a partner for the Japanese Astronaut already
assigned to the mission.
 "Excuse me," she paused at the administration desk, her trim, graceful
figure immediately attracting the attention of the orderly in charge.
 "Yes *Ma'am*," he said appreciatively, "How can I help you?"
 "I'm looking for Major St. Cyr."
 "Oh, she's down in the workout center, it's downstairs, third door on your
left."
 "Thank you," Setsuna nodded, turning gracefully on her heel. A hand grabbed
her arm, gently, but enough to stop her exit.
 "Hey... you gonna be around for a while?" the young man asked hopefully,
intrigued by the woman's exotic beauty. The Guardian of Time snorted.
 "In your dreams, pal."

 Outside the workout center, Setsuna paused, frowning. Briefly she
considered how unfair it was that she should know the destinies of everyone
she met, that just by looking in their eyes she saw every sin they would
ever perform. Just once, she mused, it might be nice to sit down and chat,
like a normal human being. But no, she squared her shoulders, she had a job
to do, and do it she would. And yet, a prang of guilt coursed through her
veins. Major St. Cyr... what was she sending this woman into, by assigning
her to the project? There were things this young woman would be forced to
face, that even the ageless Guardian could not imagine.
  Ruthlessly, Setsuna forced
her beating heart to calm, and walked inside.

 The workout room was thick with the stench of sweat, the clink and clang of
weight machines and dumb bells making for an exotic, beatless symphony.
Wrinkling her nose in disgust, the green haired senshi gazed around the
room, searching. Frowning, she combed the occupants three times over, but
the woman she sought still refused to surface. Unless... yes, her crimson
eyes fastened on a lone figure, ensconced in the corner. She was laying on
her back, eyes closed in a type of rapturous look as she forced her muscles
to lift the weights again and again.
 "Um... Major St. Cyr?" Setsuna inquired, almost afraid to break the aura of
concentration surrounding the other woman.
 "Yes?" Major St. Cyr rolled off the bench, climbed to her feet with ease.
Standing at her full height, she was an attractive woman, her white hair cut
in a short bob, dainty peach skin beaded with little droplets of sweat. But
what drew Setsuna's attention was the other woman's eyes. Perhaps, in the
back of her mind, she had expected them to be violet, but no, they were
green, and shinning so genuinely with her smile, that it took the Guardian's
breath away.
 "I'm Meiou Setsuna," the green haired senshi said, unsure of how to strike
off the conversation.
 "Hello," the Major's smile got even brighter, if that was possible, "I'm
Leah St. Cyr." She held out a hand for Setsuna to shake, then realized it
was covered in sweat, wiped it off on her shorts and offered it again,
"Sorry 'bout that."
 "No problem," Setsuna managed to regain her impeccable calm, "I wanted to
speak with you about possibly taking on an assignment with my company..."
 "Oh gosh," Leah shook her head, "I didn't know this was a business call.
I'm not even half way decent! Would you mind meeting me back at my quarters
instead, say in fifteen minutes?" Quickly, she raked a hand through her
white mane in a way that was at once so like the High Prince of Nemesis, it
gave her companion the chills.
 "Uh... sure."

-------

 "Oh there you are," was Leah's greeting when she allowed Setsuna into her
humble abode, "Sorry about the mess... I don't get company often."
 "It's no problem," the other woman replied, crimson eyes narrowing. Deep
within, she felt a flicker of doubt. This woman was not at all what she
expected her to be, in fact, Leah almost reminded her of... Usagi. It was
scary.
 "Would you like some coffee?" the Major went on, unfazed and completely
oblivious, "I'm sure if I fish around I could find some." She was already
rooting through cabinets, upsetting the calico tabby who'd chosen the
counter for her napping place.
 "Coffee would be nice."
 "Yeah... let's see here," there was a crash from somewhere within the
kitchen, and Setsuna flinched, looking around for someplace to sit and
unsure of what to do with herself. "I know it's around here... now who put
that there? Ah HA!" The white haired woman emerged from the kitchen, coffee
canister triumphantly in hand. "Oh," she said, clearing off one of the
stools at the counter, "Have a seat."
 "Thanks."
 "So what's all this about a new assignment?"
 "Right, right," Setsuna said, briefly wondering if being scatter-brained
was something catching, "We're looking for someone to help pilot a space
shuttle on a top-secret mission."
 "Uh-huh."
 "And, with your experience as a fighter pilot, it would take very little
time to give you the additional training necessary to make YOU that person."
The senshi of Time crossed her legs daintily, back in her element and
completely in control. Leah looked up, green eyes wide with disbelief.
 "You want *me* to go into space? On a mission? As an astronaut?"
 "That would be the idea, yes."
 "Wow... what an opportunity!" the other woman bubbled, green eyes bright,
"I've always wanted... but I never thought... wow!"
 "So you're interested?" Setsuna asked. Leah looked at her like she was
insane.
 "Heck yeah!"
 "That's good," she replied. Or, at least, it should have been good. The
Time Continuum was on the right track, in the last few minute's
conversation, Setsuna had managed to ensure the birth of at least two key
players in the Crystal Tokyo Drama but... but it *wasn't* good. Because
Setsuna suddenly realized she *liked* Leah. She didn't *want* to send the
other woman to a place where she would have no friends, to a place that
rivaled hell... It hurt, because there were so many things about the
scatter-brained Major that reminded her of friendships yet to be made.
Loneliness hit Setsuna hard, ice cold and shattering. Everyone she would
come to love, all her friends... she had no one. Mamoru was only five right
now, Haruka four, Michiru a couple years younger. The inner senshi were
toddling around in diapers, and Usagi hadn't even been born yet, let *alone*
Hotaru. For some reason, she choked back a sob. Then something, a hand
touching her own, brought her back to reality, and she found herself staring
into Leah's compassionate green eyes.
 "Hey, you alright?" she asked, concerned, "For a second there, you looked
like all the world's troubles were on your shoulders." Now the Senshi of
Time wanted to laugh, truer words had never been spoken.
 "I'm fine," she said, picking up the coffee that was finally ready. It
tasted a bit out of date.
 "Hey, listen," Leah persisted, "Would you maybe... wanna join me for dinner
tonight? You know, to celebrate my new assignment! You see, my sister Gail
was supposed to come into town this week, but she's pregnant and... well,
I'm kinda lonely, and you seem that way too, so..." Part of Setsuna screamed
that she shouldn't get involved, that emotional attachments, and friendships
with people directly taking part in history, were against the rules. It
screamed that this woman was the enemy, or at least, would be in enemy
territory very soon, and it was unwise to form a relationship that might
cloud her judgement later on. But there was another side too, a side that
longed for companionship... a side that won. For tonight, just for tonight,
Setsuna would forget about destiny, and be human.
 "Sure, I'd love to."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ten'un Air Force Base
12 miles outside of Tokyo, Japan
4 months later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Dark mist surrounded her, she felt lost, trapped, alone. And frightened...
fear had taken a deep root in her heart, and survival instincts willed her
to turn, to run away, but she knew she could not. Her child was lost in the
mist, she didn't know how, but she *knew* that something dangerous,
something EVIL, was lurking in that mist, waiting to entrap her little boy.
She whirled around, trying to get her baring, and failing miserably. A flash
of white caught her eye, and she cased after it as she vanished into the
fog.
 "...wait!" she called out the child's name, but in the reality of the
dream, she couldn't even grasp the word, "Darling, come back! It's
dangerous! *please*!" Childish laughter echoed through the mist.
 "Don't worry, Mommy..." her son replied, "Come and catch me!"  She was
becoming frantic There was something out there, she could feel it's eyes on
her, watching her, and laughing silently. Running further into the mist, she
reached out for her son.
 "Sweetie, it's dangerous! Please!" The young boy's laughter was her only
answer as she tied in vain to track him through the mist. Gradually, his
voice began to deepen and change. The laughter was no longer from mirth, so
much as from triumph. With a gasp, she backed away from what she thought to
be the source of the laughter, and crashed into something behind her.
Whirling around, she found herself staring into cold violet eyes. He was
tall, she had to tilt her face upward to meet his gaze, and intimidating, a
strange black symbol adorning his forehead, marred by the few strands of
white hair that fell in his face. When he spoke, it turned her blood to ice.
 "Hello, Mother."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Note: I do not like making up characters. I feel they detract from the main
cast and really, you wanna hear about Naoko's creations, right? But, in this
case, I couldn't get around it... -_-; Leah is kind of like Dia. (No, this
isn't a sequel to Forgive Me)

Feedback... please?

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