Chapter 2: Setting the Stage

Cassandra had the group assembled in the hallway a short while later. Leda touched her arm, wanting to ask the Guardian of Hope about her dream. However, Cassandra’s pale face made the Princess pause.

“Cassandra, are you all right?” Leda asked, trying to keep her voice low.

The Guardian nodded distractedly, as if she was concentrating on something else. “You had better transform, Your Majesty.”

Leda started to protest, but Cassandra shook her head.

“Please, Your Majesty,” she said, finally looking at the Princess. The emerald eyes were haunted. “We don’t know what we will encounter today.”

“You don’t?” Leda’s voice was so quiet, it was almost a whisper.

Cassandra shook her head. “No, I don’t. Yet, for Lady Ilene’s sake, we need to hurry. We have lost too much time as it is.”

Cassandra turned and began to talk with Monea and Ren. Leda wanted to go after her, but she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. The princess turned and found Dido shaking her head.

“Leave her be,” Dido said, nodding in Cassandra’s direction. “She will discuss it if she can. For now, do what she asked.”

Absently covering her transformation brooch with her hand, Leda wondered what was going on. However, she knew she could trust the Guardians. Stepping into a room, she transformed into Sailor Jupiter Moon. As soon as she re-entered the hallway, Cassandra ordered them to follow Monea.

* * * * *

Captain Essou gave the signal for her men to stop, her gaze on the ruins of the palace in the distance. Leaving one of the men in charge, she went ahead alone. She scouted the area ahead of them for an hour. Assured she was safely out of sight, she leaned against a tree and sighed.

Carina didn’t know what caused the king’s sudden bout of compassion. When he had summoned her, she had quite honestly expected to stripped of all authority and to be exiled to the icy deserts of the Geivan province. However, the king had given her more men and told her to seek out the Princess of Jupiter in the ruins of the palace.

The royal advisor, Jaten, had looked almost when the king had made his announcement. However, he knew enough to stay quiet. The king’s whims were almost legendary, unlike the controlled demeanor of his mother. How Hadrian had not self-destructed by now was a mystery.

Carina folded her arms and further against the tree. Why was this Princess of Jupiter such a threat to the king? What was Jupiter anyway?

A rustling behind her had the captain in a ready position in a flash. She glared as one of her soldier stumbled out of the vegetation and into view. He gave a sloppy salute as he panted for breath.

“What?” she demanded.

“It’s that woman,” he cried. “She said that one of the men insulted her and she’s attacking.”

Carina was already plowing through the bushes, leaving the hapless soldier to follow in her wake. Maybe she would have been better off exiled to Geiva. The king had told her what her failure would mean in no uncertain terms.

‘What that why that woman was sent with us?’ she wondered absently, quickly covering the ground back to her men. Did Jaten or the king himself want to ensure her failure, to ensure her demise?

The captain paused, cold sweat beading her forehead. The soldier bumped into her and immediately spewed forth apologies. Shaking herself out of it, she silenced him with a glare and continued her ran back to the men.

‘I will not fail,’ she vowed silently. ‘I foiled Greven. I have succeeded when others have failed. I will not let them destroy me that easily.’

Fueled by anger and fear, Captain Essou pushed through the men to face her probable enemy.

* * * * *

Hours later, they were still walking through the underground tunnels beneath the former capital city of Cingus. Despite the numerous turns they had made, Cassandra, Monea, and Ren still seemed to know exactly where they are. As they came to yet another juncture, Monea paused.

“There is a locked door ahead,” she explained. “We have to detour around it to enter the palace.”

Cassandra shook her head. “We won’t have to detour.”

“We won’t?” Ren glanced at Monea, who merely shrugged.

“No,” she said quietly. “I have the key.”

“How do you know about all this?” Dido demanded, her sweeping arm indicating the undergone passages. “I’m a Guardian, too, and I knew nothing about all this.”

“I doubt that even the king and queen knew about this,” Cassandra said, with a sad smile.

Dido stiffened. “Then how do you know, Cassandra?”

“I have been a Guardian for a long time,” she replied, the haunted look returning to her eyes, “a very long time.”

“For how long?” Jupiter Moon asked.

Cassandra shook her head, the grief in her eyes replaced by purpose. “It doesn’t matter, Your Majesty. Now, for your sister’s sake, we must keep moving.”

She turned down a hallway, leaving the others to follow her or not. After a stunned moment, they went after her. Walking between Ganymede and Dido, Jupiter’s mind was awhirl with questions.

“Dido, do you,” but she paused, unsure of what to ask.

Dido shook her head, watching Cassandra ahead of them. “I don’t understand a lot of what’s going on, either.”

Ganymede took his wife’s hand. “You are going to have to trust her.”

“Unquestioning trust is faith, Ganymede,” Jupiter said, echoing words she had said to him long ago.

He smiled slightly at the memories. “Then have faith, Jupiter.”

“I’m learning to,” she stated quietly, moving closer to him.

* * * * *

“They will be heading for the old library,” the woman said, as they stood in the courtyard of the palace.

“And just where is that?” Carina demanded.

When she had returned, she discovered that Nequo had once again exaggerated the situation. One of the men, Ubevic, had indeed insulted the woman and she had efficiently taught him a lesson. Frustrated by the distractions, she ordered Nequo to take the injured Ubevic back for treatment.

Despite her best efforts, Carina could not figure out what role the woman played in the mission. The king had given no reason, but made it clear that she was not under the captain’s authority. Plagued by an uncharacteristic uneasiness, Carina decided to push forward and try to complete their mission as soon as possible.

“Toward the center of the palace,” the woman explained. “We will wait for them there.”

“How do you know they will be there?”

The woman smiled. “Something they need is in there. We just have to get there before we do, and you, captain, will capture the Princess.”

“And what will you do?”

The wicked smile broadened. “It’s a surprise.”

Ignoring the jibe, Captain Essou called her men to attention. She quickly outlined the plan, giving out specific orders. As they followed the mysterious woman into the palace, Carina muttered, “I hate surprises.”


Setting the Stage Cassandra had the group assembled in the hallway a short while later. Leda touched her arm, wanting to ask the Guardian of Hope about her dream. However, Cassandra’s pale face made the Princess pause. “Cassandra, are you all right?” Leda asked, trying to keep her voice low. The Guardian nodded distractedly, as if she was concentrating on something else. “You had better transform, Your Majesty.” Leda started to protest, but Cassandra shook her head. “Please, Your Majesty,” she said, finally looking at the Princess. The emerald eyes were haunted. “We don’t know what we will encounter today.” “You don’t?” Leda’s voice was so quiet, it was almost a whisper. Cassandra shook her head. “No, I don’t. Yet, for Lady Ilene’s sake, we need to hurry. We have lost too much time as it is.” Cassandra turned and began to talk with Monea and Ren. Leda wanted to go after her, but she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. The princess turned and found Dido shaking her head. “Leave her be,” Dido said, nodding in Cassandra’s direction. “She will discuss it if she can. For now, do what she asked.” Absently covering her transformation brooch with her hand, Leda wondered what was going on. However, she knew she could trust the Guardians. Stepping into a room, she transformed into Sailor Jupiter Moon. As soon as she re-entered the hallway, Cassandra ordered them to follow Monea. * * * * * Captain Essou gave the signal for her men to stop, her gaze on the ruins of the palace in the distance. Leaving one of the men in charge, she went ahead alone. She scouted the area ahead of them for an hour. Assured she was safely out of sight, she leaned against a tree and sighed. Carina didn’t know what caused the king’s sudden bout of compassion. When he had summoned her, she had quite honestly expected to stripped of all authority and to be exiled to the icy deserts of the Geivan province. However, the king had given her more men and told her to seek out the Princess of Jupiter in the ruins of the palace. The royal advisor, Jaten, had looked almost when the king had made his announcement. However, he knew enough to stay quiet. The king’s whims were almost legendary, unlike the controlled demeanor of his mother. How Hadrian had not self-destructed by now was a mystery. Carina folded her arms and further against the tree. Why was this Princess of Jupiter such a threat to the king? What was Jupiter anyway? A rustling behind her had the captain in a ready position in a flash. She glared as one of her soldier stumbled out of the vegetation and into view. He gave a sloppy salute as he panted for breath. “What?” she demanded. “It’s that woman,” he cried. “She said that one of the men insulted her and she’s attacking.” Carina was already plowing through the bushes, leaving the hapless soldier to follow in her wake. Maybe she would have been better off exiled to Geiva. The king had told her what her failure would mean in no uncertain terms. ‘What that why that woman was sent with us?’ she wondered absently, quickly covering the ground back to her men. Did Jaten or the king himself want to ensure her failure, to ensure her demise? The captain paused, cold sweat beading her forehead. The soldier bumped into her and immediately spewed forth apologies. Shaking herself out of it, she silenced him with a glare and continued her ran back to the men. ‘I will not fail,’ she vowed silently. ‘I foiled Greven. I have succeeded when others have failed. I will not let them destroy me that easily.’ Fueled by anger and fear, Captain Essou pushed through the men to face her probable enemy. * * * * * Hours later, they were still walking through the underground tunnels beneath the former capital city of Cingus. Despite the numerous turns they had made, Cassandra, Monea, and Ren still seemed to know exactly where they are. As they came to yet another juncture, Monea paused. “There is a locked door ahead,” she explained. “We have to detour around it to enter the palace.” Cassandra shook her head. “We won’t have to detour.” “We won’t?” Ren glanced at Monea, who merely shrugged. “No,” she said quietly. “I have the key.” “How do you know about all this?” Dido demanded, her sweeping arm indicating the undergone passages. “I’m a Guardian, too, and I knew nothing about all this.” “I doubt that even the king and queen knew about this,” Cassandra said, with a sad smile. Dido stiffened. “Then how do you know, Cassandra?” “I have been a Guardian for a long time,” she replied, the haunted look returning to her eyes, “a very long time.” “For how long?” Jupiter Moon asked. Cassandra shook her head, the grief in her eyes replaced by purpose. “It doesn’t matter, Your Majesty. Now, for your sister’s sake, we must keep moving.” She turned down a hallway, leaving the others to follow her or not. After a stunned moment, they went after her. Walking between Ganymede and Dido, Jupiter’s mind was awhirl with questions. “Dido, do you,” but she paused, unsure of what to ask. Dido shook her head, watching Cassandra ahead of them. “I don’t understand a lot of what’s going on, either.” Ganymede took his wife’s hand. “You are going to have to trust her.” “Unquestioning trust is faith, Ganymede,” Jupiter said, echoing words she had said to him long ago. He smiled slightly at the memories. “Then have faith, Jupiter.” “I’m learning to,” she stated quietly, moving closer to him. * * * * * “They will be heading for the old library,” the woman said, as they stood in the courtyard of the palace. “And just where is that?” Carina demanded. When she had returned, she discovered that Nequo had once again exaggerated the situation. One of the men, Ubevic, had indeed insulted the woman and she had efficiently taught him a lesson. Frustrated by the distractions, she ordered Nequo to take the injured Ubevic back for treatment. Despite her best efforts, Carina could not figure out what role the woman played in the mission. The king had given no reason, but made it clear that she was not under the captain’s authority. Plagued by an uncharacteristic uneasiness, Carina decided to push forward and try to complete their mission as soon as possible. “Toward the center of the palace,” the woman explained. “We will wait for them there.” “How do you know they will be there?” The woman smiled. “Something they need is in there. We just have to get there before we do, and you, captain, will capture the Princess.” “And what will you do?” The wicked smile broadened. “It’s a surprise.” Ignoring the jibe, Captain Essou called her men to attention. She quickly outlined the plan, giving out specific orders. As they followed the mysterious woman into the palace, Carina muttered, “I hate surprises.”


Chapter 3: Surprises Jupiter's Gone