Chapter 8: New Friends, Old Friends

Sofia stuffed one last textbook in her bag. She was going to see Alicia at the hospital before heading to the library. Part of her desperately wanted to believe that the attack of the fish monster had been a horrible nightmare. However, Alicia’s injuries and the crumpled remains of her car had finally convinced that is wasn’t a dream.

If it was real, that meant that she was also Sailor Athene. Sighing, she took the folded scrap of paper out of her pocket and studied the phone number and address written on it. She had promised to help Sailor Sol in battles, but now she was having second thoughts. What did she know about fighting?

“First thing’s first,” she muttered, shoving the piece of paper back into her pocket. “Go see Alicia.”

Shouldering her bagpack, Sofia turned off her light and headed into the kitchen. She paused outside the kitchen when she noticed that someone was cooking inside. Slapping her forehead quietly, she realized that her mother was making her traditional Saturday morning breakfast for her family.

As she entered the kitchen, Sofia’s mother turned away from the stove and glanced at her oldest daughter. “Hija, it’s Saturday. What are you doing up so soon?”

“I’m going to go see Alicia, and then go to the library to study,” Sofia replied, stealing a piece of toast.

“You study so hard, Sofia,” her mother stated, watching her daughter thoughtfully. “You’re so young. You should be out having fun.”

“And you worry about me too much, Mama.”

“It’s a mother’s duty,” she replied. “Are you staying for breakfast?”

“I’m sorry, Mama, but I need to be going.”

The older woman nodded. “Well, if you are going to be late for dinner, call home.”

“I will,” Sofia promised, kissing her mother’s cheek. She grabbed another piece of toast and headed out the apartment door. "Bye."

* * * * *

Sofia placed the small bouquet of flowers in a vase and sat down beside the hospital bed. Alicia smiled. “Almost everyone I know has been by to visit. The doctor says that I can leave sometime tomorrow. I can hardly wait.”

“I bet,” Sofia replied with a smile. “I bet the nurses will be glad to have your cranky butt gone, too.”

“I’m in the hospital and you’re making fun of me!” she cried in mock astonishment. “I don’t believe you, Sofia!”

Glad that the blonde was in such good spirits, Sofia laughed. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry.”

“You give up too easily,” Alicia said, laughing. However, the laugh quickly turned into a hiss as the blonde grabbed her bandaged side. “Laughing is a little hard on the ribs.”

Sofia glanced away, feeling that she was responsible for what had happened. Seeing the fierce expression on the other woman’s face, Alicia grabbed her hand. Sofia glanced up and weakly returned Alicia’s beaming smile.

“I’ll know you’ll be truthful,” Alicia began, her grin broadening. “How bad do I look?”

“Huh?” Sofia asked, thrown by the question.

“How do I look?” Alicia repeatedly slowly.

Sofia shrugged. “You look great.”

“Truthfully,” she prompted.

“Sure you can handle the truth?”

Alicia lifted one blonde eyebrow. “Try me.”

“You look like you were hit by a bus.”

Alicia smiled and laughed softly, out of consideration for her bruised ribs. “Thanks, you should see the other guy.”

Their laughter quickly died. Alicia looked out the window at the stormy gray sky, while Sofia looked down at her shoes. Both were silent for several moments.

“I wonder what that thing really was,” the blonde said quietly. “Did we really make it up? Did we have some kind of shared hallucination?”

“I don’t know,” Sofia replied, looking down at her shoes. “Who knows what was in that punch at the party?”

Neither laughed at the joke. Sofia thought about the slip of paper inside her pocket, the scrap that held the key to their questions. She had to know what was happening. She needed to know if they had been other attacks and what role she had to play in the whole mess.

With a sigh, she looked up at Alicia. “You look tired. Maybe I should go?”

“Thanks for coming by, Sofia,” Alicia said, nodding. “It means a lot.”

“I know,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Alicia said. “Bye.”

* * * * *

Sofia walked up to the pay phone. As she dug through her pockets for the proper amount of change, she realized that there was no turning back. Gathering her courage, she put the coins in the proper slots and dialed the phone number.

“Hello?”

Sofia grabbed the phone in a white knuckled grip. “May I speak to Celeste Halley, please?”

“This is Celeste.”

“Celeste, this is Sofia Martinez. I'm ready for us to talk.”


New Friends, Old Friends Sofia stuffed one last textbook in her bag. She was going to see Alicia at the hospital before heading to the library. Part of her desperately wanted to believe that the attack of the fish monster had been a horrible nightmare. However, Alicia’s injuries and the crumpled remains of her car had finally convinced that is wasn’t a dream. If it was real, that meant that she was also Sailor Athene. Sighing, she took the folded scrap of paper out of her pocket and studied the phone number and address written on it. She had promised to help Sailor Sol in battles, but now she was having second thoughts. What did she know about fighting? “First thing’s first,” she muttered, shoving the piece of paper back into her pocket. “Go see Alicia.” Shouldering her bagpack, Sofia turned off her light and headed into the kitchen. She paused outside the kitchen when she noticed that someone was cooking inside. Slapping her forehead quietly, she realized that her mother was making her traditional Saturday morning breakfast for her family. As she entered the kitchen, Sofia’s mother turned away from the stove and glanced at her oldest daughter. “Hija, it’s Saturday. What are you doing up so soon?” “I’m going to go see Alicia, and then go to the library to study,” Sofia replied, stealing a piece of toast. “You study so hard, Sofia,” her mother stated, watching her daughter thoughtfully. “You’re so young. You should be out having fun.” “And you worry about me too much, Mama.” “It’s a mother’s duty,” she replied. “Are you staying for breakfast?” “I’m sorry, Mama, but I need to be going.” The older woman nodded. “Well, if you are going to be late for dinner, call home.” “I will,” Sofia promised, kissing her mother’s cheek. She grabbed another piece of toast and headed out the apartment door. "Bye." * * * * * Sofia placed the small bouquet of flowers in a vase and sat down beside the hospital bed. Alicia smiled. “Almost everyone I know has been by to visit. The doctor says that I can leave sometime tomorrow. I can hardly wait.” “I bet,” Sofia replied with a smile. “I bet the nurses will be glad to have your cranky butt gone, too.” “I’m in the hospital and you’re making fun of me!” she cried in mock astonishment. “I don’t believe you, Sofia!” Glad that the blonde was in such good spirits, Sofia laughed. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry.” “You give up too easily,” Alicia said, laughing. However, the laugh quickly turned into a hiss as the blonde grabbed her bandaged side. “Laughing is a little hard on the ribs.” Sofia glanced away, feeling that she was responsible for what had happened. Seeing the fierce expression on the other woman’s face, Alicia grabbed her hand. Sofia glanced up and weakly returned Alicia’s beaming smile. “I’ll know you’ll be truthful,” Alicia began, her grin broadening. “How bad do I look?” “Huh?” Sofia asked, thrown by the question. “How do I look?” Alicia repeatedly slowly. Sofia shrugged. “You look great.” “Truthfully,” she prompted. “Sure you can handle the truth?” Alicia lifted one blonde eyebrow. “Try me.” “You look like you were hit by a bus.” Alicia smiled and laughed softly, out of consideration for her bruised ribs. “Thanks, you should see the other guy.” Their laughter quickly died. Alicia looked out the window at the stormy gray sky, while Sofia looked down at her shoes. Both were silent for several moments. “I wonder what that thing really was,” the blonde said quietly. “Did we really make it up? Did we have some kind of shared hallucination?” “I don’t know,” Sofia replied, looking down at her shoes. “Who knows what was in that punch at the party?” Neither laughed at the joke. Sofia thought about the slip of paper inside her pocket, the scrap that held the key to their questions. She had to know what was happening. She needed to know if they had been other attacks and what role she had to play in the whole mess. With a sigh, she looked up at Alicia. “You look tired. Maybe I should go?” “Thanks for coming by, Sofia,” Alicia said, nodding. “It means a lot.” “I know,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I’ll be back tomorrow.” “I’ll hold you to that,” Alicia said. “Bye.” * * * * * Sofia walked up to the pay phone. As she dug through her pockets for the proper amount of change, she realized that there was no turning back. Gathering her courage, she put the coins in the proper slots and dialed the phone number. “Hello?” Sofia grabbed the phone in a white knuckled grip. “May I speak to Celeste Halley, please?” “This is Celeste.” “Celeste, this is Sofia Martinez. I'm ready for us to talk.”


Chapter 9: Explanations Sailor Sol: Homefront