Chapter 10: Destinations

Leda sat under a tree in one of the many gardens of the Crystal Palace. This garden, protected by a half circle of small hills, was her favorite. It kept her hidden from the questioning eyes of the others.

She congratulated herself on avoiding Paul during the past day. Yet, she had admit to herself, there wasn’t time to find her. She had either been at a meeting or alone, skipping the group meals for solitude. But, things were not better.

Soon, it would all begin. However, she wasn’t worried, not even for her sisters. She knew, deep inside herself, that they would be safe, that all the others would be safe. Serenity, the Inner Scouts, the Outer Scouts, and the new Scouts would all be safe.

In a few hours, she would back on Jupiter, asking Rand to resume full control of the government while she and his daughters fought an empire. She knew that he would agree. She just didn’t know what she had to promise.

“You’re borrowing trouble again,” she mumbled to herself. “What will be, will be.”

Leda stood up, stretching her stiff arms and back. She had lost track of time, forgetting how long she had been sitting on the stone bench. Maybe it was time to go in.

“Leda! There you are!”

Leda turned and smiled at the approaching figure. Elara ran across the garden, stopping by her sister and panting for breath.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Elara replied between pants. “It’s time!”

“Time? Time for what?”

“Serenity’s ready to send us to Jupiter,” Elara explained.

“Are we the first to go?”

“Yeah,” Elara replied.

The plan generally distributed groups of three Sailor Scouts at various locations between Saturn and Crystal Tokyo. Jupiter, the planet closest to the embattled Saturn, had five Scouts: Jupiter Moon, Europa, Boreas, Neptune, and Uranus.

Mars had two groups of three stationed, serving as another barrier between the Shadow Moon Empire and Earth. Sailors Mercury, Eros, and Io formed one team. Sailors Venus, Callisto, and Lysithea formed the other.

Earth’s moon contained one team: Sailors Pluto, Minerva, and Mulciber. They were given explicit orders to return to Crystal Tokyo if it appeared the moon would be lost. In Crystal Tokyo, Sailors Mars and Saturn protected the royal family.

“Everyone is waiting,” Elara added.

“Okay,” Leda sighed. She began to walk out of the garden.

However, Elara grabbed her arm, pointing to the top of a hill. “Somebody is up there,” she whispered.

Leda immediately turned around. As she recognized the person, her heart stopped, then froze.

“It’s Paul,” Elara whispered, surprised.

Paul was on one of the hills surrounding the garden, watching the two sisters. Realizing that his presence had been discovered, he bowed and then walked away. Pressing her lips together, Leda turned around and tried to walk away. Yet, Elara still held her arm.

“Leda, what’s going on? What did Paul just walk away?”

Leda pulled her arm from Elara’s grasp, shaking her head.

“Come on. The others are waiting.”

Then, Leda left the garden, leaving Elara behind.

Elara looked from the top of the hill to the retreating form of her sister. Something was terribly wrong between Leda and Paul. What had happened? With no answers, Elara ran to catch up with Leda.


Destinations Leda sat under a tree in one of the many gardens of the Crystal Palace. This garden, protected by a half circle of small hills, was her favorite. It kept her hidden from the questioning eyes of the others. She congratulated herself on avoiding Paul during the past day. Yet, she had admit to herself, there wasn’t time to find her. She had either been at a meeting or alone, skipping the group meals for solitude. But, things were not better. Soon, it would all begin. However, she wasn’t worried, not even for her sisters. She knew, deep inside herself, that they would be safe, that all the others would be safe. Serenity, the Inner Scouts, the Outer Scouts, and the new Scouts would all be safe. In a few hours, she would back on Jupiter, asking Rand to resume full control of the government while she and his daughters fought an empire. She knew that he would agree. She just didn’t know what she had to promise. “You’re borrowing trouble again,” she mumbled to herself. “What will be, will be.” Leda stood up, stretching her stiff arms and back. She had lost track of time, forgetting how long she had been sitting on the stone bench. Maybe it was time to go in. “Leda! There you are!” Leda turned and smiled at the approaching figure. Elara ran across the garden, stopping by her sister and panting for breath. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Elara replied between pants. “It’s time!” “Time? Time for what?” “Serenity’s ready to send us to Jupiter,” Elara explained. “Are we the first to go?” “Yeah,” Elara replied. The plan generally distributed groups of three Sailor Scouts at various locations between Saturn and Crystal Tokyo. Jupiter, the planet closest to the embattled Saturn, had five Scouts: Jupiter Moon, Europa, Boreas, Neptune, and Uranus. Mars had two groups of three stationed, serving as another barrier between the Shadow Moon Empire and Earth. Sailors Mercury, Eros, and Io formed one team. Sailors Venus, Callisto, and Lysithea formed the other. Earth’s moon contained one team: Sailors Pluto, Minerva, and Mulciber. They were given explicit orders to return to Crystal Tokyo if it appeared the moon would be lost. In Crystal Tokyo, Sailors Mars and Saturn protected the royal family. “Everyone is waiting,” Elara added. “Okay,” Leda sighed. She began to walk out of the garden. However, Elara grabbed her arm, pointing to the top of a hill. “Somebody is up there,” she whispered. Leda immediately turned around. As she recognized the person, her heart stopped, then froze. “It’s Paul,” Elara whispered, surprised. Paul was on one of the hills surrounding the garden, watching the two sisters. Realizing that his presence had been discovered, he bowed and then walked away. Pressing her lips together, Leda turned around and tried to walk away. Yet, Elara still held her arm. “Leda, what’s going on? What did Paul just walk away?” Leda pulled her arm from Elara’s grasp, shaking her head. “Come on. The others are waiting.” Then, Leda left the garden, leaving Elara behind. Elara looked from the top of the hill to the retreating form of her sister. Something was terribly wrong between Leda and Paul. What had happened? With no answers, Elara ran to catch up with Leda.


Jupiter's Gone