DISCLAIMER:

Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi and other companies. I don't own her (Grrr), and this story is written with the sole purpose of entertainment without any intention of commercial gain. No copyrights infringement is intended. ((Translation: I don't have any money, so please don't sue me, I'm poor!))

Well, here I go again… I still have other stories to finish, and I'm about to start another one. Sometimes being hit by inspiration simply isn't what most say it is. Sigh. All right, here is my explanation: There are so many stories out there that deal with the infamous heartbreak suffered by Sailor Moon during the second half of the R season, that it finally got to me. This idea began to pound on my head so hard that I simply had to write it or I'd go crazy!

Therefore, here it is.

* = Change of Scene

( ) = Thoughts

+ + = Computer Responses or Electronic Communications

SILVER TEARS

BY

COMMANDER GALOS

CHAPTER 1: OWNER OF A LONELY HEART

The night was a stormy, scary one. But for Usagi Tsukino, that didn't compare to the dark and horrible hole that was gnawing at her soul. There had been a constant, dull pain in her heart since that fateful day two weeks ago….

* * * *

"But Mamo-chan…" begged Usagi, not wanting to believe his words.

"There is nothing more to say, Usagi. Our love can't last forever." Mamoru Chiba put in place the mask he had donned all his life: cold, uncaring, and inscrutable. He then directed a stare at Usagi that sent ice daggers right into her soul. "Like a rose, it is beautiful when it's blooming. But eventually, it has to wither and die. Perhaps we loved each other during the Silver Millennium, but that is over now."

"You… you can't be serious… no…" By this time, Usagi had dropped to her knees, too shocked and stunned to remain on her feet.

Mamoru turned around towards the exit of the park. Without looking back, he added. "I cannot be seen with an immature, clumsy crybaby that can't even get decent grades at school. That would damage my image in public. So listen carefully, because I'll only say this once: don't come looking after me, because it's over. I already found another girl" with those words as a farewell, he exited the park and walked to where he had parked his motorcycle.

Usagi finally stood up, but her body felt numb… she was too stunned by his words to really feel anything. As soon as she was able to walk, she hurried to the entrance to try and talk some more with him, to ask him what had made him change his mind so radically. After all, they were destined to be together! Things couldn't end up just like this! But as soon as she reached the entrance, the sight that greeted her filled her already broken heart with utter horror.

There, in front of here, was Mamoru… and a beautiful redhead. The girl was already seated behind him, embracing him lovingly, and he had his hand on one of hers, holding it gently!

Feeling something inside her break, Usagi could only watch the couple ride down the street, never giving her a look. She didn't know how long she remained staring at the empty space, nor that it really mattered. Eventually, she began to walk back to her home, her dreams and heart broken.

* * * *

Things had gone downhill from that day on. For starters, the pink-haired girl called Chibi-Usa… the little girl that had come out of nowhere and literally stolen her family from her. Now, Usagi had been forced to watch how Mamoru dotted on the little brat. And brat she was, always bragging and rubbing in her face that fact, that Mamoru was now paying her more attention than Usagi. What made matters worse was that, using that black floating ball that always followed her, Chibi-Usa managed to have the Tsukino family on her side, no matter what.

The stress generated by the situation, unfortunately, began to reflect in both her academic performance and in her duties as a Senshi. In school, she was always listless, distracted; a fact that gained her more than one detention, something that only added more to her distress. Regrettably, being detained after school only caused her to go to the Senshi meetings later that usual. A fact that was constantly rubbed by Rei…

The fiery priestess didn't lose a chance to remind Usagi that her duty as Sailor Moon was more important than anything else. That she had the obligation to always be on time for their meetings, that she had to get her show back on the road and take her responsibilities more seriously.

At first, the rest of the Senshi, Ami, Minako and Makoto, were sympathetic to her troubles and tried to console her. Unfortunately, her stress began to reflect in the battles that occurred during those last two weeks…

Rubeus and the four sisters had increased the intensity of their attempts to capture Chibi-Usa. The attacks were move vicious and salvage than before, forcing the Senshi to pay more attention to the little girl. That, by itself, made Usagi feel that she had been abandoned, and as a consequence, her performance in battle began to drop.

It was because of the latter that the rest of the Senshi began to have doubts regarding her ability as the leader of the Senshi, as they had put early that day…

* * * *

The five friends were together at the Crown Arcade, discussing the latest attack, when Minako took the word.

"Usagi, what is the matter? You almost made Rubeus have a grab at Chibi-Usa! If it weren't for Tuxedo Mask's intervention he would have captured her!"

"But… but I was trying to stop the monster he summoned…" muttered Usagi, playing with the straw on her milkshake, her eyes looking intently at the table. "It was about to attack Ami, so…"

"I had it covered, so she wasn't in any danger!" interrupted Makoto. "You should have focused on stopping Rubeus, but instead decided to let Chibi-Usa be unprotected!"

"She's right." Added Ami, taking her compact and typing some commands on the keyboard. "The monster was too weak at the time to have hurt me seriously. You should have focused your attention on Rubeus."

"Admit it, Odango-Atama!" interjected Rei in that instant. "You are no longer fit to be the leader of the Sailor Senshi! For all we know, I should be the new leader of the group! At least, I wouldn't b jealous of a little girl like you are!"

Hearing that, Usagi stopped playing with the straw and placed her hands on her lap. In a very low voice, she addressed the others. "Well… Rei has already spoken her mind… what about you? Do you think the same?"

"Well…" began Minako, fidgeting in her seat. "You have to admit it Usagi… your contempt against Chibi-Usa has damaged your fighting skills. That by itself makes you more a danger to the group than anything else. I think it would be wise to have another as leader."

"I have to agree." Continued Makoto, looking at Usagi intently. "You are making too many mistakes in battle. How long will it be before you let the enemy gain the upper hand? I also think that someone else should be the leader."

"I must sympathize with them." Concluded Ami, sighing. "Your performance is at the bottom. That fact alone puts everybody around you at great risk, not to mention that the enemy will have a winning hand the next time you don't pay attention to the battle. We have to face the facts that you are no longer fit to be the leader of the Senshi."

Usagi just kept looking down at the table, as if searching for an answer in the intricate design of the wood, but none came forth. She couldn't believe what she had heard… the people she most trusted, the ones that she believed to be her friends were now turning their backs to her! Turning her head slightly, she happened to look out the window in time to see Mamoru and Chibi-Usa walking by, the little girl holding his hand ostensibly. The pink-haired girl looked up to the window in time to see Usagi watching them… and after sticking her tongue in her direction and pulling a red eye, the little brat literally molded her little body against the young man's leg, as if saying: "He is mine and not yours! You lose!"

That was the last straw for Usagi's already broken heart. Standing up, she said "excuse me, but I have to go. See you later."

Usagi was barely able to withhold the tears burning in the back of her eyes upon hearing Rei's parting words. "Yes, run! RUN YOU COWARD! That's what you do best, right!?!"

She never heard the rest of the girls berating Rei for her harsh words, but it truly didn't matter… the damage had been done.

* * * *

And that's what took her to her actual situation. After spending her whole day with Mamoru, Chibi-Usa called Usagi's home to tell Ikuko where she was. And logically, since she was the eldest, Usagi had been drafted to go out in the rain and bring the little girl back home. Her feeble attempts for not going out were batted aside by her mother, so in the end Usagi was literally pushed into the storm.

(Why? Why does it have to happen to me?) Usagi didn't try to stop the tears running down her face. After all, under the downpour, it wasn't as if they were noticeable. (Everything is turning against me… my family, my… friends, and… and…) she couldn't finish the thought; she had to use all her available strength to stop a sob from escaping her lips.

She was approaching a bridge when her communicator began to beep. Immediately after activating it, she heard Mercury's frantic voice.

"The enemy is attacking people on a coffee shop! Mamoru and Chibi-Usa are in there, and he can't transform! Hurry up and come!"

After looking around to make sure nobody was nearby, Usagi hurried under the stairs of the bridge; taking the Moon Broach on her hands, she called her transformation. "MOON PRISM POWER, MAKE UP!"

After the transformation was complete, where Usagi Tsukino stood, was now the sailor-suited warrior for love and justice, Sailor Moon. Taking a deep breath to calm her frayed nerves, Sailor Moon hurried to the direction of the latest attack… or at least, she tried to.

She was crossing the bridge when an orb of black energy suddenly hit the bridge, exploding in front of her, sending her flying on her back. After landing unceremoniously, she raised her eyes in the direction where the attack had come from… and gasped in shock at the sight.

Floating above the impact zone, Rubeus was sneering at her. "I knew this plan would work… now prepare to face your doom Sailor Moon!" Immediately, he charged another energy orb and launched it at the prone Senshi.

Regaining her bearings just in the nick of time, Sailor Moon jumped to her feet and hurried out of the blast area. Unfortunately, the explosion propelled her over the bridge railing and into a nearby building with the force of a ramming bus. A sickly wet, crunching noise was clearly heard when her body hit the side of the building, causing her to lose her grip on the Moon Scepter. At the very moment her body hit the floor, Rubeus began a relentless attack of black lightning at the defenseless Senshi, all the time gloating.

"Yes… YES! At last, the most obvious obstacle to get the Rabbit will be removed! With you out of the way, nothing will stop the Dark Moon Family! Now scream. SCREAM!! Let me hear you plea for mercy and for a quick death!"

But Sailor Moon refused to obey him. Biting on her lower lip to the point to draw blood, she refused to utter a single sound. (No… I won't be weak… I won't give you the satisfaction… I… must… resist…) Her stubbornness enraged Rubeus, who increased the intensity of his attacks. Still, she denied him the satisfaction of hearing her cry.

She didn't know how long her suffering had lasted. Had it been only seconds? Minutes? Hours? Time lost all meaning for Sailor Moon in those agonizing moments… her whole universe consisted in that horrible, almost unbearable pain. She didn't notice when Rubeus stopped his relentless attack, not that it had mattered in that moment. Her uniform was charred and smoking in some parts, while her hair was charred and disarrayed. The skin of her face was burned in some places, as well as the skin on her right arm. Blood was pouring from those burnt areas, the skin having cracked under the strain.

Landing next to his helpless victim, Rubeus summoned a large, dark crystal spear. Raising it high above his head, he said, "Time to die Brat!!"

… and the spear began its fatal trajectory, aimed right into the powerless girl's heart…

* * * *

Two minutes earlier…

A young man was waiting for the vending machine to give him his can. The man was wearing a dark green overcoat with its hood over his head. At one side, a bag with some groceries and a few packages waited for its owner to pick it up.

"Man… why do I have to do this? Only because I'm a rookie, it has to be ME the one that has to collect samples… and why these things anyway? Damn, why me?" the man kept mumbling a few imprecations before the machine finally popped out a can of Pocky Sweat, which he grabbed and unceremoniously dropped on the bag. Grabbing it, he began to walk towards the suburbs.

"Oh yes… it couldn't be one of the senior explorers to come here. Nooooooo, they were sent to far more hospitable places! Why couldn't the captain send me to the tropics, or the Alps? No, he had to send the poor, ignorant rookie to this area, and to boot during the local rain season! Damn, it isn't fair…"

An explosion and a scream interrupted his grumbling. Immediately dropping the bags, he rushed in the direction of the sound. When he turned around a corner, what greeted his eyes made his blood run cold.

A guy dressed with a short vest was holding a spear, and by all intents he was about to kill the girl that was lying on the floor in front of him!

Without pausing for a thought, his reflexes took charge of the situation. Reaching into the right pocket of his overcoat, the man pulled out a strange-looking gun. At first sight, it looked like one of those cheap water guns that come as a prize inside cereal packages. However, what the small trinket did was something no plastic prize could ever hope to do.

Rubeus was overjoyed! The worst obstacle in his quest to capture the Rabbit and gain the favor of the Dark Moon Family was about to be eliminated! He was savoring the moment, engraving in his darkened heart the last instants of Sailor Moon's life when, out of nowhere, a blast of yellow energy hit his spear right before it could pierce her body, shattering it into useless shards of dark crystal.

"WHO DID THAT??" Bellowed Rubeus, his face turning into a mask of pure hatred.

The response was uttered in a cold, emotionless voice. "I did."

Turning in the direction of the voice, Rubeus prepared another blast. He didn't have to wait long for this new nuisance to appear. From the shadows of a nearby corner, a young man wearing a green overcoat walked calmly into the light, holding on his right hand a strange looking device.

"Very well buster," began the stranger, "step away from the lady, slowly."

"Who do you think you are, miserable human…? DIE!!" Rubeus then launched the contained energy he had on his hands in the form of a continuous beam of black light. However, what he didn't count on was that the strange person in front of him could counter it!

The little gun on the man's hand began to hum furiously, and with that as an only warning, from it erupted a yellow beam of equal intensity, stopping Rubeus' attack cold. However, the fight wasn't going to be so easy; as soon as the energies of both attacks reached critical mass, a deafening explosion occurred, sending both contenders to the floor.

The first one to recover was Rubeus. Standing up from his position, he looked around. Seeing Sailor Moon still on the place she was already hurting, he disregarded her as a menace for the moment. Looking around some more, he immediately saw the gnat that had dared attack him. Immediately walking in that direction, Rubeus summoned another sphere of dark energy. "You will pay your impudence with your life!"

The stranger didn't look up from his prone position; however, he dignified Rubeus' taunt with his own retort.

"Not today Punk." He then let a small crystal marble roll off his left hand, the movement catching Rubeus' interest for an instant… which was enough for its purpose. When the small marble reached Rubeus' feet, it exploded in a brilliant white light, causing Rubeus to loose his concentration and dispelling his attack, at the same time blinding him.

Upon hearing Rubeus' scream, the stranger immediately headed in Sailor Moon's direction; after a quick surmise of her status, he decided that some… unorthodox methods, as well as bending some rules, were in order. Once more fishing in one of his pockets, he took a small rectangular device. Pressing a button, the top of it sled to the top, revealing a small screen and a microphone

+ Well, hello Syl! Did you get the candy bars I asked you? +

"Forget the candy. I need emergency teleport now! And call a medical team to the transporter room STAT!"

+ Roger! Locking onto your signal now! +

Meanwhile, Rubeus was shacking off the effects of the bright light, all the time thinking dare things to do against the person that stopped his righteous vengeance! After rubbing his eyes one more time, he opened them only a slit, just in time to see the blurred image of two people dissolving in a shower of bluish sparks.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Clenching his teeth and fists in frustration, Rubeus left the area, his vision still blurred. If he had been able to see clearly, he could have seen the now discarded Moon Scepter on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood…

* * * *

It was around twenty minutes later that a young priestess that responded to the name Rei Hino was trying to relax on the furo of her shrine. The battle with that last droid hadn't been an easy one, especially since Sailor Moon didn't appear. It took the combined effort of the four Senshi and Tuxedo Mask to finally defeat it. If Tuxedo Mask hadn't pierced that crystal on the forehead of the droid in that instant… she shivered at the mental image that situation conjured. Instead, she focused her mind in something she was more comfortable with.

(Just wait until I get my hands on her! She is going to wish she NEVER became Sailor Moon! How dare she not going to the battles? Does she really hate Chibi-Usa that much, or was it her way to spit on our face… and show us we need her? Well, if that's the case then we'll show her! We don't need her! After all, who needs a klutzy crybaby like her?)

Her mood somewhat more stable, she left the furo. She was starting to dress up for bed when her communicator began to beep. (Great… what now?) Sighing, she activated the small device. "Rei here."

Ami's face appeared on the small screen, her expression looking worried. "Rei! Turn on your TV, quick!"

"Why, what's the matter?"

"Do it! Channel 14, I'll call the others!" after saying that, Ami cut the communication.

Rushing to her room, Rei immediately turned on her small TV set, setting it on the channel Ami had mentioned. It was a news special. The news anchor had already started to tell the news, but Rei was able to get the bulk of it.

+ … and now, our special report. As mentioned earlier, the local group of heroes known as the Sailor Senshi stopped another attack by what witnesses in-site called 'a hideous monster that resembled an exotic dancer weaving knives'. However, the same witnesses reported one curious detail: the fifth member of the group and apparent leader, Sailor Moon, never arrived at the fight scene.+

(Oh great,) thought Rei, fuming. (let everybody know how much of an unreliable leader you are, Usagi… well done Odango-Atama!)

+ It was because of our excellent team of reporters, always ready to get to you the most important news, that we may have a clue of why she didn't arrive to help her companions.+

"WHAT!?!?!?!" Rei immediately stood right in front of the screen, her attention riveted on the news.

+ We are going now live with our reporter on the streets, Minamino Kaji. Kaji-san, can you hear us?+ The image then changed to a street scene, where a reporter wearing a raincoat and an umbrella was talking to another man dressed in police uniform.

+ Loud and clear. Minna, I'm here with Detective Matsudaira, who was assigned to this case due to a strange report. Detective, could you tell our audience what happened?+

+ With pleasure. About thirty minutes ago, a hysterical woman called our precinct, saying that 'the Americans were dropping another nuclear bomb on us.' At first, we thought it was a prank call, however more reports began to arrive. When the patrol car assigned to investigate arrived, this is what it found.+ The image then panned to show a scorched and blackened area near a bridge that seemed to have been bombed. + And that's not all. Here, let me show you. This is what called our attention the most.+

When the camera focused on what the detective wanted to show to the reporter, Rei felt a cold shiver running down her spine. On the floor was the silhouette of a girl… on the head area were visible two small spherical protrusions. Even more disturbing, were the areas in red inside and surrounding the disturbing image.

+ Now, as you can see,+ continued the detective, +this is what might have scared that woman that called first. According to the forensic experts, this image is similar to the ones that can still be observed on the ruins at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The amount of energy discharged here must have been similar of a small tactical nuke, according to the experts.+

The reporter nodded in agreement, then went to the meat of the matter. + However, your people also found something that might reveal the identity of the victim, right?+

+Yes. Let me show you.+

When the camera showed the discovery in question, Rei felt nauseous. Showed in national television was the Moon Scepter! Even worse, were the red spots marring the white surface of the scepter.

+ The drizzle had washed, when we found this, most of the blood. However, there is little to no doubt that the type found on the surface of this artifact and the one on the floor belong to the same person. +

+Thank you detective.+ The reporter then turned around and faced the camera. + Back with you, Gennai-san.+

+Thank you Kaji-san.+ The main news anchor faced the camera, schooling his face into seriousness. +And there you have it. Comparing the object with some file photographs and witness' reports, we have a positive I.D. on the owner…

+ Stay tuned for our special series of reports: "Sailor Moon, the life and death of a heroine" right after…+ CLICK

Turning off her TV, Rei sat on her bed, trembling, embracing herself against the cold that began to sip through her body, straight into her very soul. The words that she said to Usagi that very morning returned to haunt her with horrible clarity:

( "Yes, run! RUN YOU COWARD! That's what you do best, right!?!")

She was so distressed that, when her communicator began to beep, she didn't answer. She was too busy fighting her own sense of guilt.

* * * *

It was a small cabin, made in beige with red carpeting. With only a small desk, three seats and a small sofa, however, it was a comfortable place. Then again, what was going on at that moment wasn't very comfortable… at least, for one of the two occupants present.

"Violation of the no-interference rule, bringing aboard a native of the planet without the proper authorization, revelation of our presence to the natives… this isn't going to look good on your permanent record, ensign."

"Sir… permission to talk freely."

"Granted. Go ahead."

"Sir… with all due respect, I don't believe that leaving someone to face certain death is 'the right thing to do.' Even more, the attacker apparently wasn't even from this planet altogether."

"Explain."

"First, it was that energy attack he used. Before reporting with you, I ran a quick search on the ship's database to see if there is something in there that can explain it. So far, nothing even remotely can compare to that. Second, it was what he said to me. He always referred to my person as 'human'… pretty strange, considering that he himself was human in appearance."

"Mmmm… yes, that's strange, alright. However, that still doesn't excuse your bringing that native to my ship. She could have been found and treated by the medics of her planet."

"Sir… I made a quick scan of her status. There was something akin to severe radioactive poisoning on her system, not to mention several fractures and possible concussion. According to what we've already learned of this planet, their medical knowledge would have been woefully insufficient to save her life. We are her only hope."

"Very well… I won't pass a judgment for the moment, but I want a complete report on my desk tomorrow at 0700 hours. You are dismissed, Ensign."

After saluting his superior officer, the young man that had saved Usagi's life left the Captain's cabin, immediately heading to one of the nearby elevators. Upon entrance, he said one word.

"Medical."

A couple of minutes later, he was entering the Medical Ward of the ship. After a quick look around, the young ensign noticed the only occupied bed; but before going there, he headed towards the medic in turn, who was seated in a nearby desk, reading something on a computer screen.

"Hello, Doctor."

Looking up in the direction of the voice, the doctor addressed the new arrival. "Ensign. So, it was you who brought to my attention this young lady?" getting a nod as an answer, he continued. "Well, next time, warn me when you bring an esper to my ward! She gave us quite a scare, you know?"

"Pardon me? An esper?"

Hearing that, the doctor sighed, remembering those moments before. "Yes, an esper. Or at least, that's what I think she is. See this?" he then showed a locket with a clear crystal in the center. "When we removed it from her in order to treat her wounds, her clothes just… vanished, being replaced by other set. However, the worse was that her condition suddenly became critical. It became touch-and-go for a couple of moments. Heck, she even suffered a heart attack at first! I thought she wasn't going to make it…

"In any case, she's still with us. For the moment, I'm using a nerve block to prevent her from feeling the brunt of the pain, but I imagine I will remove it in a couple of days. By then, she'll be strong enough to return down planet."

"Thank you doc. I know you are the best." Fidgeting for a moment, the ensign finally decided to go for the reason that brought him there in the first place. "Err… excuse me, but is she conscious? I need to talk with her…"

The doctor thought a moment before speaking again. He gave the ensign a stern look. "I'll have to give her a shot to awake her. Just don't exhaust her, she needs to recover, all right?" Getting a nod in affirmation, the doctor proceeded to a nearby cabinet, getting a small syringe along with a small vial with a greenish liquid. After taking a small measure of the substance, the two men approached the bed.

Blackness. Cold. Loneliness. Despair.

Those were the very first things that Usagi felt when she began to regain consciousness. (What… where am I? Am I… dead?). Idly, she began to wonder why she wasn't feeling any pain. It was until she heard someone talking that she noticed that her eyes were closed. However, just trying to focus on the voice and trying to open her eyes required a tremendous effort from her part. She didn't know how much time passed, but finally, she opened her eyes.

When her vision was clear enough, she was finally abler to see two persons standing next to her. One was apparently a doctor of some sorts; she deduced that because of the white lab coat he was wearing. The second person, however, seemed to be a soldier or something like that; he was wearing clothes that resembled combat fatigues, but they seemed to be pretty tight. It took her a few more moments before she realized that, effectively, it was the second person who seemingly was talking to her, however, she couldn't understand the words. He was speaking in a language she couldn't understand. Taking a deep breath, she asked. "Sorry… I can't understand you."

Usagi was puzzled by the reaction of the two men. The soldier [?] said something to the doctor, who then moved to the head of the bed and apparently touched something behind her field of vision. After hearing a series of beeping and other sounds, she gasped when a feminine voice said, "Translator online: Japanese-Galact mode enabled."

"Can you understand me now?" returning her attention to the young man, she only nodded. "Good. Now, how do you feel?"

"Tired… numb… cold." Sighing, she added. "I… can't feel my body that well."

"Don't worry dear, it is because you need your rest. The nerve block will lose its effect in a couple of days. By then, you'll be strong enough to be on your feet again." The doctor then smiled at her in the same way all doctors do to their patients, the kind of smile designed to calm and soothe a nervous person.

Usagi nodded slightly at hearing that, although she didn't understand what a 'nerve block' was. Focusing her gaze back on the soldier, she asked. "Where am I?"

"That's not important for now." Answered the soldier. "However, what is important is if you remember what happened. Do you?"

Usagi closed her eyes for a moment to contain the tears that she felt burning the back of her eyes when the memories began to return, albeit fuzzily. With a somewhat shaky voice, she answered the question. "I… I was going to… to pick up my… cousin… when Rubeus… attacked me. For a moment…I… I thought I… I was… going to… to…"

"Sshhh... it's okay, it's okay, you don't have to talk about it right now." The doctor placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, while glaring at the soldier. "Now, go back to sleep; you need to recover your strength."

Sighing softly, Usagi nodded once and almost immediately went back to sleep, but not before a lonely tear went down her face, quickly being absorbed by the pillow.

Signaling the soldier to follow him, the couple entered a nearby cubicle. As soon as they were inside, the doctor hissed angrily. "What do you think were you doing back there!?!? It is too soon for her to remember that event! It is too much of a trauma!"

The young soldier gulped at the doctor's outburst; he didn't expect that reaction from the girl he rescued, much less that the ship's doctor reacted so hostile. Looking down to his feet (and having the decency to look embarrassed), he answered. "Sorry doc… well, I… I don't know… I only wanted to see if she was feeling right… I never expected…"

The doctor sighed once more, feeling slightly tired. "All right… I'll let this pass this time only. But you better learn some finesse about talking with people, you know? Now, why don't you go to your quarters and rest? You look like death warmed-over."

The soldier raised an eyebrow at the comment, which elicited a small chuckle from him. "Ok, doc… will do. But would you be kind enough to tell me when she's ready to talk?"

"Will do. Now go, shoo, shoo! I have better things to do, so move!"

Nodding in agreement, the young man left the Ward, but before going back to the living quarters for the general crew, he made a stop at one of the observation decks. He spent half an hour looking out the window, drinking on the serene beauty of the blue-and-white planet they were orbiting. The only thought that came out of his musings was (What the heck have I gotten myself into?)

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's notes:

Ok, ok, for those that have been looking after my main fic, Sailor Journeys, I apologize. In regards to that fic, I've stumbled with one of the dreaded things authors have to face once in a while: Writer's Block. So, before allowing my muse to curl up and suffer a painful and slow death, I decided to let her have her go with this little thing she kept whispering in my ear.

So, what do you think? Like it? Hate it? Want me to continue? Want me to drop it and let it wither and die a lonely death? Come on people, C&C please!!