Chapter 2: Realizations

Dr. Galen Cross reassured the young mother that she and her new son would be able to return home the next day. The joy that the young parents had was contagious. With a final smile, he left the room and headed to a different wing of the castle.

He always began and ended his daily rounds with a check on Lady Ilene. However, she was beginning to show signs of weakening. He and Elara had redoubled their efforts, hoping that the various treatments they tried would work. Yet, that hope too was fading.

Galen entered the room, studying Elara’s latest notes. Even her powers as Sailor Europa were now losing their effect on Lady Ilene. They only had a few options left, but Galen was losing hope that Lady Ilene would recover. He knew that the others were beginning to deal with that fact.

He opened the door and dropped the clipboard. For a moment, he just stared at the collapsed form of Sailor Europa, crumpled against the wall in a heap. Before he knew it, he was across the room.

“Elara?!” He knelt down and picked her up, brushing wisps of hair out of her face. “Elara? Elara?”

He found her pulse and was relieved to find it normal, a little weak but normal. “Come on, Elara. Wake up.”

* * * * *

Scylla strolled through the halls and passages of the Jovian palace. Over the years, Jupiter had become home for her and the other Guardians, especially due to the efforts of Jupiter’s royal family. While the Guardians were still bound by their vow to protect the heir of Cignus, Leda and the others treated them as trusted and respected friends rather than bodyguards.

“Maybe the peace we have been seeking is here at last,” she murmured to herself, glancing at one of the royal gardens through a large window.

“Elara?!”

Scylla stopped and turned, trying to find the source of the cry. Realizing that it was coming from the wing where Lady Ilene was, she ran down the hallway. As she came to the room, she realized that it was Dr. Cross that was repeating Lady Elara’s name.

She flung the door open and nearly tripped on a clipboard. Dr. Cross had Sailor Europa on the foot of Ilene’s bed, his hands quickly and effectively checking her. “What’s going on?” she demanded.

Galen glanced up for a moment before finishing his exam. “I’m not sure,” he finally replied. “I think that Sailor Europa was using her powers on Lady Ilene again. This time she almost went too far.”

Scylla swallowed hard. “Is she going to be all right?”

Galen gave a weak smile. “She just needs some rest.” He glanced at Europa.

“And a stern reprimand,” he added. “If you will excuse, Guardian, I’m going to take Lady Elara to her chambers. When I am satisfied with her condition, I will come back here.”

She nodded. “Don’t worry about me. I just wanted to visit with Lady Ilene for a few minutes. I will probably be gone by the time you get back.”

“Please, just make sure I don’t have another patient here waiting for me.”

Scylla smiled. “I promise.”

“Thank you.” Galen scooped Europa into his arms and carried her out of the room.

Scylla waited for a few moments after their departure before taking a seat by the bed. The Guardian thought that Lady Ilene seemed paler than she had a few days ago. However, Scylla tried desperately to brush the thought from her mind.

Yet, if Ilene was still pale after a treatment by Sailor Europa, Scylla realized that the situation was becoming desperate. She remembered the clipboard that had almost caused her to fall. Glancing over her shoulder, she realized that it was still there.

She crossed to the doorway and picked it up, glancing at the notes made by both Lady Elara and Dr. Cross. While Scylla wasn’t completely familiar with all the medical terminology, she was able to gather that the pair was slowing losing hope that Lady Ilene would recover. Even now, the medical staff was at a lost for the cause of this. With no idea of the cause, a cure seemed extremely elusive.

With a renewed sense of despair, Scylla placed the clipboard on a nearby table. She resumed her seat and studied the sleeping form before her. During the battles with the Shadow Moon Empire, Sailor Io had been a very powerful ally. The Guardians and the Sailor Soldiers were having a hard time accepting Lady Ilene in this state.

‘Poor Adam,’ she thought, as her thoughts turned to the woman’s family. The man was clearly devastated by the situation. She wondered if he had even told their daughter, Adra, what was happening.

Fighting tears, the Guardian of Mercy took the woman’s unresisting hand. A jolt went through her, startling Scylla. Jerking back, she studied Ilene with uncertainty.

“What’s going on?” she asked aloud, her hand still tingling with the sensation. However, it was too brief for Scylla to ascertain much about it.

The Guardian glanced at the open door. Debating for a moment, she decided to close it. She had to find out what she had experienced. Silently apologizing to Dr. Cross for possibly breaking her promise, she began to concentrate and then placed her hands on Ilene’s cheeks.

The anguish was almost overwhelming as Scylla’s empathetic powers delved further into Ilene’s psyche. She felt Ilene’s battle with some opposing force and her growing weariness. Ilene knew that she couldn’t hold out much longer, but the images of her family fueled her desperate battle.

‘Please, help me,’ Ilene whispered, as she became aware of Scylla’s presence. ‘Don’t let it end like this. Help me.’

‘I will,’ Scylla promised. ‘Lady Ilene, I . . .’

However, the connection with Ilene suddenly dimmed. Without warning, a deafening roar erupted and a sea of red and black hid Ilene’s fading form from her. Finally, a wave of excruciating pain swept through Scylla and she lost all connection.

Panting, Scylla picked herself up off the bed, the top sheet sticking to her sweat-soaked body. She collapsed weakly into the chair, trying to piece together what she had just experienced. Lady Ilene was not suffering from a disease but from some kind of invading presence.

‘And the presence is winning,’ Scylla realized. She had only felt something like that twice in her life. The most recent had been with Amalthea’s conversion to Hecate. The other had been during her initial empathetic training. Alvin, her teacher, had shown her a victim of the Redolarian Sleeping Curse. The treatment was so draining that it had taken both of them to administer it.

‘But the Redolarian Sleeping Curse requires a great deal of herbal and magical knowledge,’ Scylla thought, ‘if this is really what Lady Ilene is suffering from.’ However, the Guardian was fairly certain that this was what Ilene was battling. If there was going to be any chance of her recovery, the proper treatment had to be administered quickly.

“Please, hang on,” Scylla whispered, giving Lady Ilene’s hand a squeeze. “I will do my best to help.”

* * * * *

Galen gently laid Europa on her bed, brushing a few tendrils from her face. The fact that she hadn’t returned to her normal form was beginning to worry him. He shook her shoulder lightly, trying to rouse her.

“Lady Elara, please, wake up,” he urged. He paused and took her pulse, relieved to discover it stronger now.

Sailor Europa murmured something before her eyes opened. She glanced around the room, surprised to find herself in her room with Galen sitting beside her. Pulling herself into a sitting position, she was still in her Sailor Form.

“What’s going on?” she asked, trying discreetly to ensure her skirt was down.

Galen understood her movement and kept his eyes on her face. “I found you on the floor of Lady Ilene’s room about ten minutes ago,” he informed her, fighting the need to yell at her. “What were you doing?”

“I was trying to help my sister, Dr. Cross,” she replied crisply. “I’m sorry that I concerned you, but, as you see, I’m fine now.”

“For now you are,” he retorted hotly. “But just barely. Who knows how long you were unconscious before I found you? Are you trying to make yourself sick? Because if you are, it won’t be long before you are sharing a room with Ilene at the rate you’re going.”

Europa glared at him. “I appreciate your concern,” she said through clenched teeth, “and your help. However, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“Like hell you are, Elara!” he roared, rising from the bed. “How many times do I have to find you in a semi-conscious state before you see reason?!”

“Don’t yell at me like that, Galen!” she shouted, now standing a few inches away from him. “I have to do everything within my power to help Ilene.”

“How is killing yourself going to help anyone?”

The slap caught both of them off guard. There was a glow, as Sailor Europa detransformed. Elara sat down on the bed, sobbing into her hands. Blinking hard, Galen sat down beside her.

He glanced at her, each sob tearing at his heart. Why had he said that to her? Why now, when they realized how futile their fight was becoming?

Sighing, he put an arm around her. “I am sorry. I was way out of line.”

“I don’t want to lose her, Galen,” she said between sobs. “I hate being so helpless. I’m a healer and I can’t even help my own sister!”

Galen pulled her closer, trying to find the words to help her. “I know. We are supposed to help people, and most of the time we can. However, dying is part of life, even at this point in history. Sometimes we forget that.”

“So, you are just going to give up on Ilene?” she asked incredulously.

“No. Of course not,” he replied quickly. “I will do everything I can for Lady Ilene, and I fight to the end. However, we all have to start facing facts, Elara. You realize that, don’t you?”

She reluctantly nodded. “It’s going to be hard, though.”

They both just sat silently for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. After a while, Elara pulled away and gently brushed her fingers over his reddened cheek. He flinched slightly.

“I’m sorry,” she said simply.

“Forgiven,” he replied, returning her grateful smile. He stood up and looked down at her.

“I need to finish my rounds. Will you please stay here and rest for a while?”

She nodded and laid back on the mattress. “I really appreciate your concern, Dr. Cross.”

He gave a half-smile. “Surely we are beyond such formalities, Lady Elara,” he said in a teasing tone. “May I come back by later this afternoon?”

“I would like that, Galen,” Elara replied.

He gave her one last smile before turning off the light. He quietly left the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Sure that he was gone, Elara rolled over and surrendered to the tears.


Realizations Dr. Galen Cross reassured the young mother that she and her new son would be able to return home the next day. The joy that the young parents had was contagious. With a final smile, he left the room and headed to a different wing of the castle. He always began and ended his daily rounds with a check on Lady Ilene. However, she was beginning to show signs of weakening. He and Elara had redoubled their efforts, hoping that the various treatments they tried would work. Yet, that hope too was fading. Galen entered the room, studying Elara’s latest notes. Even her powers as Sailor Europa were now losing their effect on Lady Ilene. They only had a few options left, but Galen was losing hope that Lady Ilene would recover. He knew that the others were beginning to deal with that fact. He opened the door and dropped the clipboard. For a moment, he just stared at the collapsed form of Sailor Europa, crumpled against the wall in a heap. Before he knew it, he was across the room. “Elara?!” He knelt down and picked her up, brushing wisps of hair out of her face. “Elara? Elara?” He found her pulse and was relieved to find it normal, a little weak but normal. “Come on, Elara. Wake up.” * * * * * Scylla strolled through the halls and passages of the Jovian palace. Over the years, Jupiter had become home for her and the other Guardians, especially due to the efforts of Jupiter’s royal family. While the Guardians were still bound by their vow to protect the heir of Cignus, Leda and the others treated them as trusted and respected friends rather than bodyguards. “Maybe the peace we have been seeking is here at last,” she murmured to herself, glancing at one of the royal gardens through a large window. “Elara?!” Scylla stopped and turned, trying to find the source of the cry. Realizing that it was coming from the wing where Lady Ilene was, she ran down the hallway. As she came to the room, she realized that it was Dr. Cross that was repeating Lady Elara’s name. She flung the door open and nearly tripped on a clipboard. Dr. Cross had Sailor Europa on the foot of Ilene’s bed, his hands quickly and effectively checking her. “What’s going on?” she demanded. Galen glanced up for a moment before finishing his exam. “I’m not sure,” he finally replied. “I think that Sailor Europa was using her powers on Lady Ilene again. This time she almost went too far.” Scylla swallowed hard. “Is she going to be all right?” Galen gave a weak smile. “She just needs some rest.” He glanced at Europa. “And a stern reprimand,” he added. “If you will excuse, Guardian, I’m going to take Lady Elara to her chambers. When I am satisfied with her condition, I will come back here.” She nodded. “Don’t worry about me. I just wanted to visit with Lady Ilene for a few minutes. I will probably be gone by the time you get back.” “Please, just make sure I don’t have another patient here waiting for me.” Scylla smiled. “I promise.” “Thank you.” Galen scooped Europa into his arms and carried her out of the room. Scylla waited for a few moments after their departure before taking a seat by the bed. The Guardian thought that Lady Ilene seemed paler than she had a few days ago. However, Scylla tried desperately to brush the thought from her mind. Yet, if Ilene was still pale after a treatment by Sailor Europa, Scylla realized that the situation was becoming desperate. She remembered the clipboard that had almost caused her to fall. Glancing over her shoulder, she realized that it was still there. She crossed to the doorway and picked it up, glancing at the notes made by both Lady Elara and Dr. Cross. While Scylla wasn’t completely familiar with all the medical terminology, she was able to gather that the pair was slowing losing hope that Lady Ilene would recover. Even now, the medical staff was at a lost for the cause of this. With no idea of the cause, a cure seemed extremely elusive. With a renewed sense of despair, Scylla placed the clipboard on a nearby table. She resumed her seat and studied the sleeping form before her. During the battles with the Shadow Moon Empire, Sailor Io had been a very powerful ally. The Guardians and the Sailor Soldiers were having a hard time accepting Lady Ilene in this state. ‘Poor Adam,’ she thought, as her thoughts turned to the woman’s family. The man was clearly devastated by the situation. She wondered if he had even told their daughter, Adra, what was happening. Fighting tears, the Guardian of Mercy took the woman’s unresisting hand. A jolt went through her, startling Scylla. Jerking back, she studied Ilene with uncertainty. “What’s going on?” she asked aloud, her hand still tingling with the sensation. However, it was too brief for Scylla to ascertain much about it. The Guardian glanced at the open door. Debating for a moment, she decided to close it. She had to find out what she had experienced. Silently apologizing to Dr. Cross for possibly breaking her promise, she began to concentrate and then placed her hands on Ilene’s cheeks. The anguish was almost overwhelming as Scylla’s empathetic powers delved further into Ilene’s psyche. She felt Ilene’s battle with some opposing force and her growing weariness. Ilene knew that she couldn’t hold out much longer, but the images of her family fueled her desperate battle. ‘Please, help me,’ Ilene whispered, as she became aware of Scylla’s presence. ‘Don’t let it end like this. Help me.’ ‘I will,’ Scylla promised. ‘Lady Ilene, I . . .’ However, the connection with Ilene suddenly dimmed. Without warning, a deafening roar erupted and a sea of red and black hid Ilene’s fading form from her. Finally, a wave of excruciating pain swept through Scylla and she lost all connection. Panting, Scylla picked herself up off the bed, the top sheet sticking to her sweat-soaked body. She collapsed weakly into the chair, trying to piece together what she had just experienced. Lady Ilene was not suffering from a disease but from some kind of invading presence. ‘And the presence is winning,’ Scylla realized. She had only felt something like that twice in her life. The most recent had been with Amalthea’s conversion to Hecate. The other had been during her initial empathetic training. Alvin, her teacher, had shown her a victim of the Redolarian Sleeping Curse. The treatment was so draining that it had taken both of them to administer it. ‘But the Redolarian Sleeping Curse requires a great deal of herbal and magical knowledge,’ Scylla thought, ‘if this is really what Lady Ilene is suffering from.’ However, the Guardian was fairly certain that this was what Ilene was battling. If there was going to be any chance of her recovery, the proper treatment had to be administered quickly. “Please, hang on,” Scylla whispered, giving Lady Ilene’s hand a squeeze. “I will do my best to help.” * * * * * Galen gently laid Europa on her bed, brushing a few tendrils from her face. The fact that she hadn’t returned to her normal form was beginning to worry him. He shook her shoulder lightly, trying to rouse her. “Lady Elara, please, wake up,” he urged. He paused and took her pulse, relieved to discover it stronger now. Sailor Europa murmured something before her eyes opened. She glanced around the room, surprised to find herself in her room with Galen sitting beside her. Pulling herself into a sitting position, she was still in her Sailor Form. “What’s going on?” she asked, trying discreetly to ensure her skirt was down. Galen understood her movement and kept his eyes on her face. “I found you on the floor of Lady Ilene’s room about ten minutes ago,” he informed her, fighting the need to yell at her. “What were you doing?” “I was trying to help my sister, Dr. Cross,” she replied crisply. “I’m sorry that I concerned you, but, as you see, I’m fine now.” “For now you are,” he retorted hotly. “But just barely. Who knows how long you were unconscious before I found you? Are you trying to make yourself sick? Because if you are, it won’t be long before you are sharing a room with Ilene at the rate you’re going.” Europa glared at him. “I appreciate your concern,” she said through clenched teeth, “and your help. However, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” “Like hell you are, Elara!” he roared, rising from the bed. “How many times do I have to find you in a semi-conscious state before you see reason?!” “Don’t yell at me like that, Galen!” she shouted, now standing a few inches away from him. “I have to do everything within my power to help Ilene.” “How is killing yourself going to help anyone?” The slap caught both of them off guard. There was a glow, as Sailor Europa detransformed. Elara sat down on the bed, sobbing into her hands. Blinking hard, Galen sat down beside her. He glanced at her, each sob tearing at his heart. Why had he said that to her? Why now, when they realized how futile their fight was becoming? Sighing, he put an arm around her. “I am sorry. I was way out of line.” “I don’t want to lose her, Galen,” she said between sobs. “I hate being so helpless. I’m a healer and I can’t even help my own sister!” Galen pulled her closer, trying to find the words to help her. “I know. We are supposed to help people, and most of the time we can. However, dying is part of life, even at this point in history. Sometimes we forget that.” “So, you are just going to give up on Ilene?” she asked incredulously. “No. Of course not,” he replied quickly. “I will do everything I can for Lady Ilene, and I fight to the end. However, we all have to start facing facts, Elara. You realize that, don’t you?” She reluctantly nodded. “It’s going to be hard, though.” They both just sat silently for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. After a while, Elara pulled away and gently brushed her fingers over his reddened cheek. He flinched slightly. “I’m sorry,” she said simply. “Forgiven,” he replied, returning her grateful smile. He stood up and looked down at her. “I need to finish my rounds. Will you please stay here and rest for a while?” She nodded and laid back on the mattress. “I really appreciate your concern, Dr. Cross.” He gave a half-smile. “Surely we are beyond such formalities, Lady Elara,” he said in a teasing tone. “May I come back by later this afternoon?” “I would like that, Galen,” Elara replied. He gave her one last smile before turning off the light. He quietly left the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Sure that he was gone, Elara rolled over and surrendered to the tears.


Chapter 3: Revelations Jupiter's Gone