Chapter 11: So Close

“We’re almost there,” Charon announced.

Sol could barely make out an outline of what could be a mountain or a fortress in the distance in the swirling ice and snow. She let out a sigh. "I wonder what Puu is doing now."

“She's doing everything she can to help us,” Charon said. “Even a few things she shouldn’t.”

He looked down at her for a moment. “Let’s use this chance wisely. It may be our only shot.”

She nodded. A lot was riding on this mission. They could not afford to fail.

* * * * *

Galena looked up as Gypsum stormed into the room. With a dramatic sigh, Gypsum plopped down into a chair. She glanced at Galena but the younger woman ignored her.

“Ugh,” Gypsum growled, throwing her black whip across the room. “I am so sick of dungeons and shadows and,” her eyes landed on the discard whip, “tacky black uniforms and even more primitive weapons.”

Galena quirked an eyebrow but said nothing. She tried her best to stay on the safe side of Gypsum’s temper. However, that was getting harder each day.

“And for what?” Gypsum cried. "Absolutely nothing!"

"Nothing?" Galena echoed. "Scorpios will not be happy with that."

Gypsum’s eyes narrowed. “As if you could do better.”

Galena remained silent. She could feel the other woman's eyes on her. Then, with a huff, Gypsum rose to her feet.

“Where are you going?” Galena asked.

“To report to Scorpios. While that man,” Gypsum crinkled her nose in disgust, “may not have been particularly helpful in terms of information, he may be useful yet.”

Gypsum paused at the door. “Well, are you coming?”

The tone indicated that was an order instead or a request. Sighing, Galena stood up. She reluctantly walked toward the door and Gypsum.

As they left the room, Gypsum looked over her shoulder at Galena. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back in time for you to finish whatever you were doing,” she said scornfully.

Galena pressed her lips together. ‘It’s not time yet,’ she thought, ‘but your day will come, Gypsum. And it will be soon.’

* * * * *

Celeste rubbed her eyes. While she had recovered most of her memories, she had only vague images of those last days with Charon. ‘What had happened that led Charon to commit suicide before my eyes? Is it that horrible that I truly don’t want remember?’

Frustrated, Celeste stood up. Glancing at Makoto, she crossed the room and poured herself a glass of water. Usagi and Mamoru had left hours ago. ‘I hope they are enjoying themselves,’ Celeste thought.

Taking the cup with her, Celeste resumed her seat. The doctor had suggested that everyone talk to Makoto as if she was there. Any kind of stimulation, he had said, may prod her to wake up.

“Have you ever felt like this, Mako-chan?” she asked softly. “Like there is something in the back of your mind, in your subconscious, that is trying to break free?”

Celeste paused, realizing that she was hoping for a response. She stared down at her cup, softly laughing at herself. However, the slight rustle of bedsheets drew her attention.

Makoto’s forehead was wrinkled with effort. She appeared as though she was fighting within herself. Celeste rose and grabbed the nearest hand.

“Makoto-san?” Celeste thought that the hand was gripping hers but credited it to her imagination. “Mako-chan, wake up! Please, wake up! We’re all so worried. Usagi-chan is about to make herself sick!”

Makoto turned slightly in Celeste’s direction. Her eyes moved rapidly under her eyelids. With a murmur, Makoto turned away and drift back off into sleep.

Celeste shook the other girl gently. “Mako-chan, you have to wake up! Now! You have to.”

But nothing worked. With a sigh, Celeste suddenly stopped. She slumped back into her chair.

She kicked herself for getting her hopes up. If the doctors and her friends couldn't get Makoto to wake up, why did she think she had a chance? "Fool," she muttered.

Then she thought that she had heard more movement in the bed. She looked up and stared into a pair of confused green eyes.

"Tennyo-chan?"

Celeste gave a startled laugh. "Welcome back, Mako-chan!"


So Close “We’re almost there,” Charon announced. Sol could barely make out an outline of what could be a mountain or a fortress in the distance in the swirling ice and snow. She let out a sigh. "I wonder what Puu is doing now." “She's doing everything she can to help us,” Charon said. “Even a few things she shouldn’t.” He looked down at her for a moment. “Let’s use this chance wisely. It may be our only shot.” She nodded. A lot was riding on this mission. They could not afford to fail. * * * * * Galena looked up as Gypsum stormed into the room. With a dramatic sigh, Gypsum plopped down into a chair. She glanced at Galena but the younger woman ignored her. “Ugh,” Gypsum growled, throwing her black whip across the room. “I am so sick of dungeons and shadows and,” her eyes landed on the discard whip, “tacky black uniforms and even more primitive weapons.” Galena quirked an eyebrow but said nothing. She tried her best to stay on the safe side of Gypsum’s temper. However, that was getting harder each day. “And for what?” Gypsum cried. "Absolutely nothing!" "Nothing?" Galena echoed. "Scorpios will not be happy with that." Gypsum’s eyes narrowed. “As if you could do better.” Galena remained silent. She could feel the other woman's eyes on her. Then, with a huff, Gypsum rose to her feet. “Where are you going?” Galena asked. “To report to Scorpios. While that man,” Gypsum crinkled her nose in disgust, “may not have been particularly helpful in terms of information, he may be useful yet.” Gypsum paused at the door. “Well, are you coming?” The tone indicated that was an order instead or a request. Sighing, Galena stood up. She reluctantly walked toward the door and Gypsum. As they left the room, Gypsum looked over her shoulder at Galena. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back in time for you to finish whatever you were doing,” she said scornfully. Galena pressed her lips together. ‘It’s not time yet,’ she thought, ‘but your day will come, Gypsum. And it will be soon.’ * * * * * Celeste rubbed her eyes. While she had recovered most of her memories, she had only vague images of those last days with Charon. ‘What had happened that led Charon to commit suicide before my eyes? Is it that horrible that I truly don’t want remember?’ Frustrated, Celeste stood up. Glancing at Makoto, she crossed the room and poured herself a glass of water. Usagi and Mamoru had left hours ago. ‘I hope they are enjoying themselves,’ Celeste thought. Taking the cup with her, Celeste resumed her seat. The doctor had suggested that everyone talk to Makoto as if she was there. Any kind of stimulation, he had said, may prod her to wake up. “Have you ever felt like this, Mako-chan?” she asked softly. “Like there is something in the back of your mind, in your subconscious, that is trying to break free?” Celeste paused, realizing that she was hoping for a response. She stared down at her cup, softly laughing at herself. However, the slight rustle of bedsheets drew her attention. Makoto’s forehead was wrinkled with effort. She appeared as though she was fighting within herself. Celeste rose and grabbed the nearest hand. “Makoto-san?” Celeste thought that the hand was gripping hers but credited it to her imagination. “Mako-chan, wake up! Please, wake up! We’re all so worried. Usagi-chan is about to make herself sick!” Makoto turned slightly in Celeste’s direction. Her eyes moved rapidly under her eyelids. With a murmur, Makoto turned away and drift back off into sleep. Celeste shook the other girl gently. “Mako-chan, you have to wake up! Now! You have to.” But nothing worked. With a sigh, Celeste suddenly stopped. She slumped back into her chair. She kicked herself for getting her hopes up. If the doctors and her friends couldn't get Makoto to wake up, why did she think she had a chance? "Fool," she muttered. Then she thought that she had heard more movement in the bed. She looked up and stared into a pair of confused green eyes. "Tennyo-chan?" Celeste gave a startled laugh. "Welcome back, Mako-chan!"


Chapter 12: Friends Resurrection: Sailor Sol Sarah's Sanctuary