https://node001.lib.torchwoodarchives.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=The_Hunt_of_Regrets 2026-10-01T02:12:17Z Revision history for this page on the wiki MediaWiki 1.25.2 https://node001.lib.torchwoodarchives.org/index.php?title=The_Hunt_of_Regrets&diff=248&oldid=prev 2014-11-15T20:52:41Z

<p>Created page with &quot;&lt;html xmlns:o=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office&quot; xmlns:w=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word&quot; xmlns=&quot;http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40&quot;&gt; &lt;head&gt; &lt;meta http-equiv=Conte...&quot;</p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>&lt;html xmlns:o=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office&quot;<br /> xmlns:w=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word&quot;<br /> xmlns=&quot;http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40&quot;&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;head&gt;<br /> &lt;meta http-equiv=Content-Type content=&quot;text/html; charset=windows-1252&quot;&gt;<br /> &lt;meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document&gt;<br /> &lt;meta name=Generator content=&quot;Microsoft Word 9&quot;&gt;<br /> &lt;meta name=Originator content=&quot;Microsoft Word 9&quot;&gt;<br /> &lt;link rel=File-List href=&quot;./thehuntofregrets_files/filelist.xml&quot;&gt;<br /> &lt;title&gt;The Hunt of Regrets&lt;/title&gt;<br /> &lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;<br /> &lt;o:DocumentProperties&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Author&gt;Robert Wilkins&lt;/o:Author&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Template&gt;Normal&lt;/o:Template&gt;<br /> &lt;o:LastAuthor&gt;Robert Wilkins&lt;/o:LastAuthor&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Revision&gt;2&lt;/o:Revision&gt;<br /> &lt;o:TotalTime&gt;654&lt;/o:TotalTime&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Created&gt;2005-11-29T03:58:00Z&lt;/o:Created&gt;<br /> &lt;o:LastSaved&gt;2005-11-29T03:58:00Z&lt;/o:LastSaved&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Pages&gt;8&lt;/o:Pages&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Words&gt;3763&lt;/o:Words&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Characters&gt;16561&lt;/o:Characters&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Company&gt;R &amp;amp; B Management&lt;/o:Company&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Lines&gt;306&lt;/o:Lines&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Paragraphs&gt;84&lt;/o:Paragraphs&gt;<br /> &lt;o:CharactersWithSpaces&gt;26347&lt;/o:CharactersWithSpaces&gt;<br /> &lt;o:Version&gt;9.2720&lt;/o:Version&gt;<br /> &lt;/o:DocumentProperties&gt;<br /> &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;<br /> &lt;style&gt;<br /> &lt;!--<br /> /* Style Definitions */<br /> p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal<br /> {mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;;<br /> margin:0in;<br /> margin-bottom:.0001pt;<br /> mso-pagination:widow-orphan;<br /> font-size:12.0pt;<br /> font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;<br /> mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;}<br /> @page Section1<br /> {size:8.5in 11.0in;<br /> margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;<br /> mso-header-margin:.5in;<br /> mso-footer-margin:.5in;<br /> mso-paper-source:0;}<br /> div.Section1<br /> {page:Section1;}<br /> --&gt;<br /> &lt;/style&gt;<br /> &lt;/head&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;body lang=EN-US style='tab-interval:.5in'&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=Section1&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;Th It wasn’t like she didn’t love him.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Oh no, even with all the insecurities she had, there<br /> was a strongly passionate love there. Well, as much as she could possibly do<br /> that. The evident smiles and happiness that had been there a thousand years ago<br /> had been disfigured, and there was now a solemn look in her eyes, as she<br /> gradually felt her body traveling, the watch that she had received had become<br /> her sole savior. Along with him, of course.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Slowly she came to reality, away from the dream-like<br /> universe that would&lt;br&gt;<br /> feel like an eternity, but was actually a mere few seconds. Her feet fell on&lt;br&gt;<br /> the solid ground, and she opened her eyes.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;There everything seemed to be barren, as if<br /> devastation had been run right&lt;br&gt;<br /> through this area. She looked around, a placid gaze resting upon her face.&lt;br&gt;<br /> Time tended to change a lot, and she hadn’t been surprised.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;The year was 5765, and an era of destruction had<br /> already been put far into&lt;br&gt;<br /> play.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Mango let out a sigh; she’d never been this far<br /> ahead in time. Always, she&lt;br&gt;<br /> had been afraid of seeing who had died, and what had happened before it&lt;br&gt;<br /> truly did.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;It was rather that she feared wanting to make<br /> another change to time. It was the one sole curse to this watch, and she<br /> promised never to abuse time. &lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;But right now, Mango Kattan needed to break that<br /> promise. She needed to&lt;br&gt;<br /> save him, and after countless hours and hours of research and contemplation,&lt;br&gt;<br /> this was the only way to do this.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;It was the final edit to fix time, as she had<br /> concluded, and yet it was&lt;br&gt;<br /> going to perhaps be something that opened a thousand more flaws. She didn’t<br /> know, and for now it didn’t matter. She wanted to save him, and this was the<br /> only way to do it.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;At least, that’s what she convinced herself.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Looking around, Mango knew that she couldn’t stand<br /> still for long. It was&lt;br&gt;<br /> how war worked. If you stood still, you died, and while Mango could stand back<br /> up, she didn’t feel like the many other options that were offered.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;In case anyone recognized her, Mango began to set up<br /> her disguise. She took&lt;br&gt;<br /> out her garment grid, and was promptly transformed into an odd outfit. Black<br /> trench coat, white ruffled shirt, black pants, and her hair had of course, been<br /> dyed black, and her eyes were lined with coal, and red eyes.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;She felt awfully goth in the outfit, but it worked.<br /> Shaking her head, Mango&lt;br&gt;<br /> seemed to run off in the direction she needed to go. This was a mission, and&lt;br&gt;<br /> the sooner she took care of it, the better.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;The first village she came upon was small place, where<br /> there seemed to be at least a fair amount of senshi. She was fully prepared to<br /> take any chances, and had her hanzo ready, hidden beneath the folds of the<br /> jacket. She fell down the entire abyss of a cliff, and walked toward the<br /> village. As soon as she entered the edge of the civilization, a spear was<br /> pointed at her neck, and Mango stepped backwards.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“State your<br /> name, and your intentions,” The woman who was pointing the spear-a child, she<br /> thought, with green hair, and blazing orange eyes, wearing an outfit that folk<br /> tales would consider only the grim reaper to wear, and her face was done in a<br /> makeup that was blazing red around her eyes. Mango soon recognized it as blood.<br /> There was still no response of fear to her facial expressions, and there were<br /> the soft-spoken words she had rarely used.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“My name is<br /> Shiboko, and I am here because I have been attacked by a caravan of renegades,<br /> and mugged. I was personally hoping that perhaps you could be of assistance.”<br /> The game had begun. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;As the girl backed away, she seemed<br /> to let Mango pass, the child following her. The village was as primative as she<br /> expected, though still using technology. They had a water purifier, and a few<br /> remote structures that reminded her of perhaps what could’ve remained of<br /> Crystal Tokyo. The people were dressed in robes of dark colors, and wore<br /> insignias that Mango could not recognize. These people, she realized, must’ve<br /> been the civilians of Crystal Tokyo.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Soon, she was escorted into a large<br /> shelter. It looked like a ruined apartment, she noted, and as she entered, saw<br /> that it was dimly lit aside from candles, and glass orbs that as she graced her<br /> fingers by, burned her to the bone. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Finally, a woman emerged from the<br /> stairs above (though Mango could only question how it was all constructed and<br /> not falling apart) and greeted the woman, acknowledging the child. She offered<br /> Mango something to eat, or drink.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Tea if you may,” She asked softly.<br /> The woman looked at her oddly, as if she had never heard of tea, but summoned<br /> the child to get something. The girl scurried off, and Mango and the woman sat<br /> down chairs that felt like they were going to shatter beneath the weight, and<br /> the woman began to speak.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“These are the remaining villagers<br /> of the Kuiper belt, I’m certain you have heard of us,” The woman spoke softly,<br /> yet with pride. When she saw the look of minor bewilderment upon the girl’s,<br /> she seemed confused, but Mango grew pale.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“I’m sorry, I’ve only heard few<br /> things of your-“&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“It’s quite alright,” The woman<br /> held a hand, waving off the excuses as if they were nothing, “We have though,<br /> created a strong effect upon this world. It surprises me you haven’t heard of<br /> us since we crushed much of the Tairon Overfiend.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Mango remained silent. Sakura had<br /> spoken of this enemy, but Mango had rarely paid attention. It was still a time<br /> when she was in the arms of the one who was not for her…&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“We were discovered just a few<br /> years ago by Lord Elios, for you see, long before the conflicts of the Tairon<br /> Overfiend, or much of anything began, we were instated for the time of the<br /> Silver Millennium, so that if Serenity’s court fell, the Outer Senshi would be<br /> able to have an army in order to overtake whatever enemy they were forced to<br /> face. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“But…we were never awoken in time,<br /> and so we have slept for thousands of years, until our awakening, in which we<br /> have been instilled, and upon our entry to this world, we cut down the Tairon<br /> by massive amounts.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“But for a price.” She paused, as<br /> the girl appeared, two bowls in her arms, and she set both down in front of the<br /> two women, giving them spoons and some other utensil that Mango had never seen.<br /> Five pronged in different directions, and with a hole in the end, it most<br /> certainly didn’t look like a spoon. Mango decided to observe how the woman<br /> would use the utensil, yet she seemed to not touch her food, but continued to<br /> speak. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“The Earth around you has grown so<br /> barren, at the price of our attacks on the Tairon. The world slowly is<br /> degenerating to the beginnings of humanity, yet there is only destruction and<br /> death in the future for this world. No one needs to be a prophet to see that.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Hey, Ixy, pass the damn water<br /> won’t you?”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Under the barren gray and lavender<br /> sky, a girl sat on a cybernetic horse, her black hair tied in a ponytail to the<br /> side, bangs hanging over the rope tied around her forehead, a charm that was a<br /> circle with an X that seemed to overlap it’s bounds hung from the band, and<br /> there was an amused look on her face. Donned around her neck was a black<br /> leather band with a buckle around the back, and a charm that matched the one<br /> attached to the band around her forehead. Covering her chest, was a leather<br /> shirt that fell just beneath her bust-the same symbol there as on her neck and<br /> forehead-and had no back to it, rather, it had chains holding it together in<br /> the back, and the chains attached to the front, but there was a ring in the<br /> center, but with no X. Rather, there was a chain linked to the ring from there,<br /> that wrapping around her abdomen, to her skirt, which was short, and had high<br /> slits in it, but she wore black leather shorts that fell just past the length<br /> of the skirt, and her legs were bare, until there were the metal slip-shoes<br /> that she had on her feet, in the stirrups of the horse’s saddle. Donned on her<br /> arms from the beginning, was a gray leather strap with buckles holding it<br /> there, and the fingerless gloves were made as usual, of black leather. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“It’s Ixion,” The other girl-also<br /> on a cybernetic horse, wearing an outfit that was almost as similar, but with<br /> the shorts a little shorter, and her boots made of chain mail, falling just up<br /> above her knee. The girl’s hair was longer, a flash of red that waved like a<br /> flag in the sky. The only real distinguishing difference between the two, was<br /> the colors of their skirts and bands around their foreheads. The first girl had<br /> a white band and skirt, while the second had a vibrantly dull pale blue skirt<br /> and band. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Well, I can’t help it!” The girl<br /> whined, “This pole we have to hold is heavy, and taking a lot out of me, I<br /> can’t really speak full names!”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“But you just did, Varuna.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;The flags they spoke of were the<br /> poles that they were carrying, their capes attached to the top of the pole so<br /> that there may be a flag signifying that these senshi were coming. The two<br /> leaders of the Kuiper senshi had found that it would only be right to keep<br /> order in their society, but as it was so vast, it took two years to travel<br /> across the entire area, so it was a journey never ending. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Sailor Varuna sighed, “You’re no<br /> fun, Ixion. All we ever do is travel, and whenever I try to lighten the mood,<br /> you get all serious. Don’t you ever get tired of this?”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“We’ll do this, until we are<br /> incapable. In which case, our kin shall continue our mission.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;She glanced to the army behind her.<br /> All the senshi there were donned only in the black leather, no chains, and their<br /> bodies were covered from neck to toe. The only symbol that divided them from<br /> being almost exactly the same was the color of the band wrapped around their<br /> foreheads, but nothing more. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“But this is boring.” Varuna whined<br /> in a high-pitched tone, “And besides, we don’t have kin!” &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“It was your decision,” Ixion<br /> began, “That in order to repent for the flaws of our past, unable to wake up in<br /> time for there to be eternal peace, that we follow the spiral, like every link<br /> in our chains that made our fate, we will follow it through. Yes?” &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Varuna was silenced, opening her<br /> mouth to protest, then sighed, “Yes.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Ixion smiled, “Now, let’s<br /> continue.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Have you ever thought,” Mango<br /> picked up her soup, finally just deciding to eat it as she had in normal<br /> custom, “That perhaps…” As soon as she dipped her spoon in, however, there<br /> seemed to be some sort of slug-like creature with enormous jaws and teeth<br /> trying to bite her spoon off. As if it were instinct, she took the five-pronged<br /> utensil, and stabbed the slug in the mouth, opening its mouth wide, and watched<br /> as it sunk into the soupy water.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“I had a feeling you wouldn’t be<br /> used to that. Sand slugs are a customary dish here, as they ravage the entire<br /> area, and when slaughtered, they become useless. They taste good in boiling<br /> water, though. Try using your spoon now.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Mango-with great reluctance-dipped<br /> her spoon into the soupy water, and took a cautious taste of the unknown dish.<br /> There was at first a bewildered expression, then an indifferent appearance,<br /> until she finally resolved that it was ok.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“It tastes like Chicken Broth.” &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Hey Ixy, can we switch?” Varuna<br /> asked.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“No.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Can we stop?” Varuna asked.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“No.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Why not?” Varuna whined now.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Because we’ll be there in a few<br /> hours.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“But I can’t wait that long,” The<br /> whining began to eat at Ixion, until finally…&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Yes you can, you’ve done it<br /> before,” Ixion kept her cool, yet the entire legion stopped dead. There was a<br /> silence, sans a tumbleweed rolling across, blown by a dusty wind. Confused,<br /> Ixion looked forward, and realized it. There was a large crack in the earth,<br /> perhaps a quarter of a kilometer long. There was a neutral look on Varuna’s<br /> face, and the same followed with her fellow senshi.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Find a senshi who can help you<br /> sturdy a chain-bridge,” Ixion stated, “I’ll ready the horses.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;There was a silence between the<br /> two, yet they both complied. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Back to what I was saying,” Mango<br /> had finished her meal, “Have you ever thought, that perhaps those senshi are<br /> manipulators?”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;There was a silence, and the<br /> elderly woman seemed to merely take a sip of her soup, seeming to do the deed<br /> more gracefully compared to her guest, “How so?”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Well…” Mango began, “There was a<br /> band of rogues that attacked me. Two carried flags, and the army was rather<br /> generic, as if they only followed the orders of one. And I think that the one<br /> dressed with blue frills was pulling the strings. There was a gleam in her<br /> eyes, and she seemed to attack me. From what you have mentioned, I assume that<br /> would be your leader. She’s very malevolent.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Surely,” The woman interrupted,<br /> “You speak of another army. Ixion and Varuna work very much in unison.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Perhaps,” She said, “Except for<br /> the fact that a blast of sound was fired at me, shaking my body. She then<br /> barked orders to her fellow senshi, and demanded that the chains of retribution<br /> be bound to my wrists and ankles. There was argument, but the woman barked the<br /> orders, and she reluctantly complied. I escaped before the chains could hit.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Again, there was a silence, but a<br /> grim look upon her face, “Did you hear any of what Ixion spoke of?”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Something about the dream,” Mango<br /> murmured, “And how all would be one with it.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Slowly, the woman rose to her feet,<br /> “Then what you speak of is what I fear. The Tairon has invaded Ixion. Action<br /> must be taken before it grows worse.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Slowly then, the woman walked out<br /> of the building, “They are expected soon, so we must act fast. I would find it<br /> helpful if you would perhaps, be of assistance?”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Mango had nodded, still in a minor<br /> awe. The plan had worked with less effort than she expected. Perhaps these<br /> people were of such paranoia that all it took was to name off a few names? She<br /> shook off the questioning, and began to leave the building, the necessity was<br /> still in her pocket. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;It would not take long, now. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;The bridge had been formed with<br /> ease, a chain bridge with ice and wood planking to secure it. The girls had<br /> both agreed that the horses had to go first, for they were the heaviest, (and<br /> yet of most value). Ixion guided her horse across first. The cybernetic body<br /> seemed to rattle the chains greatly as it would move, but the senshi knew that<br /> there was nothing for her to worry of. The senshi of sound had done this time<br /> and time again. A trust, that the bridge was sturdy. The senshi all worked in a<br /> team, their trust for each other was unending. It was how civilization was for<br /> these beings, which lived in near-perfect harmony.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;The bridge was crossed, and the<br /> girl mounted herself on the horse again, awaiting Varuna, and then the steady<br /> line of senshi from there. The bridge would then be broken, and there would be<br /> little thought of it after that. This was just how life was for them.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Except for today. Today would be<br /> different, perhaps a day of regret, or anger. One could never tell, really. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;The army had begun its march, a<br /> large group of senshi now leaving the town, to begin its march for blood. Mango<br /> though, had moved if only a few meters ahead, in an attempt to find them. She<br /> needed to do this, or else there would be nothing left for her to do with him.<br /> The boy had to live, and she now knew that there was no evading the fate<br /> instilled. One could not change time when it came to this. Even if she could,<br /> would she want the other options given? &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;Slowly, she saw the army on the<br /> trail, coming forward, and she turned to the army behind her, “Take out Varuna,<br /> she’ll be leading the troops, I’ll take Ixion, she’ll go alone.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;The army seemed to nod, and Mango<br /> ran forward. A great amount of concentration was forced onto her mind, and she<br /> noticed the cybernetic horses. The light blue senshi was the one whose horse<br /> she needed to manipulate. With a mere whisk of her telekinesis, the horse was<br /> forced suddenly to change its angle, causing the girl to take a completely<br /> different route. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;And so the plan was put to action.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“Ixy!” Varuna screamed, but the<br /> senshi said nothing, now being guided away from the group. It was as if an<br /> invisible hand had taken the reigns.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;“No, Hope! That is not the proper<br /> destination!” She yelled, but the horse gave out a frightened noise, and she<br /> knew it. The horse was not doing this by itself. Something supernatural was<br /> doing this. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;And yet, as Ixion tried to pull at<br /> the reigns, the horse only sped up, and the senshi saw them suddenly make a<br /> U-turn. Within seconds, the girl was headed back for the cliff in which they<br /> had crossed, and at the rate they traveled, the velocity…&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;She’d be dead soon, she feared. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;But soon, though, the horse reached<br /> the cliff, and kicked off. A look of astonishment crossed Ixion’s face. The<br /> horse had jumped! By how things looked, also, they may just make it! There was<br /> a feeling of enjoyment, of adrenaline pumping through her veins, and she knew<br /> that the horse would make it over…&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'&gt;But then there was a feeling of<br /> pain, something tearing out of her body, and she turned. There stood a girl,<br /> dressed in a Terran fuku, pink and black frills attatched, and wearing the<br /> golden bracelets…&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;There<br /> was a scream, the girl trying to make an attack, but she felt herself<br /> vanishing, a pale blue aura forming in front of her, and she fell off the<br /> horse, down the cliff, into oblivion.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Mango used<br /> the little telekinetic energy that remained to summon the gem into her hands,<br /> and a box was created. The gem sunk into the small confines, and a chain formed<br /> around it, locking Ixion’s sailor crystal into a safe abyss. Nothing would get<br /> it until the time was right. For now, though, she needed to prepare to return<br /> home. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;That was<br /> until a set of spikes unleashed themselves behind her into the girl’s back, and<br /> she screamed, about to fall, but turned, falling to the feet of what looked<br /> like a ghost. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;A girl,<br /> dressed completely in a black cloak, which blew in the desert wind, stared<br /> Mango down.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“Do not<br /> take the crystal,” She said, “For you shall cause a great misbalance within<br /> this world.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Mango<br /> looked up, “Kiss my ass. I spent enough time searching for this crystal.<br /> Planning, trying to save the one I love.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“But you do<br /> not realize,” The hooded figure’s voice was soft, “How they will follow you.<br /> Across time, across space, across the dimensions, until they find him, and rip<br /> the gem from his body.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“I’ll be by<br /> his side, they’ll never do it,” She coughed up blood, realizing that the inside<br /> of the trench coat was now damp from the blood of the spikes.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“No,” She<br /> whispered, “There are too many, one ordinary senshi cannot take them all.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“But I’m<br /> not ordinary.” She rose to her feet. Within a split second, her hanzo had<br /> slashed across the woman’s cloak, causing blood to stain it, and her disguise<br /> to loosen, There, Mango’s watch kicked in, and as she vanished, she left the<br /> woman with one line, “I’m extraordinary.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The girl<br /> rose to her feet, brushing herself off, and discarding of the cloak. There<br /> stood a woman, her fuku shaped similarly to a Terran, but far different. For<br /> one, the plastisilk armor glistened red, and from the hips of the black skirt,<br /> to the bottom of the black bow, there was a triangular cut, exposing the teen’s<br /> abdomen. The charm in the bow was the shape of the Ouroboros imprinted on a<br /> scarab beetle As she dusted herself off, she examined the back bow-also black,<br /> and her shoes, which were black platforms boots, with red charms placed at the<br /> top of bright red sideways crescent moons. She ran a hand through her blonde<br /> locks, making sure that the green bangs were not at all disturbed. There on her<br /> head rested a thin black ribbon holding the same scarab beetle with an<br /> ouroboros imprinted, as on her front bow. Letting out a sigh, the girl could<br /> only gaze at the sun. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“Damnit,”<br /> She muttered, and looked across the crease of the cliff to the other side,<br /> where a young girl was now mounting the horse. Looking almost exactly like<br /> Ixion’s fuku, the girl held a lyre in her hands, and her hair was green,<br /> flowing like a waterfall to her skirt. In silence, she took the horse away from<br /> there, never to be seen by those whom would seek it. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;*&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;![if !supportEmptyParas]&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;![endif]&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The journey<br /> was long, hard, and drove fear into Varuna. They had barely escaped the grasp<br /> of the villagers. No casualties except for a few of those rebelling, but<br /> otherwise, there was only Ixion unaccounted for. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The sun had<br /> set, and the moon had risen, the sandstorms kicking up gradually, and the girl<br /> just sunk into the sand, closing her eyes. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“How am I<br /> supposed to lead them without Ixy?” She murmured, her head dug into her knees,<br /> and she just wanted to cry, but she could not. Now it was no longer harmony,<br /> but a melody. How could she do it? Not without her companion, friend, and<br /> guide…&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Her woe was<br /> cut short by the screams of one of the little ones. She got out of the sand,<br /> moving toward the cries, and found the girl screaming.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“It’s so<br /> dark! Someone help me! They’ve torn me away and put me in this…thing!” &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Varuna<br /> approached the girl with caution, and slowly she heard the girl continue to<br /> scream.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“Please,<br /> help! I don’t know where I’m going!” &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“You’re<br /> right here,” Varuna said soothingly, but the girl suddenly broke down into<br /> sobs.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;“It’s so<br /> dark, so cold…I’m alone…help me…please.”&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;There could<br /> only be confusion placed upon Varuna’s face, and she rose to her feet, scooping<br /> up the girl, to hold her close in comfort. Thank the gods she was light, or<br /> else it would be impossible.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Yet then,<br /> in that moment of comforting a troubled senshi, that she knew she could do<br /> this…and yet at the same time, she knew she had to find Ixion. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span style='mso-tab-count:1'&gt; &lt;/span&gt;No matter<br /> what it took. &lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;/body&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;/html&gt;<br /> <br /> [[ Category: Nitemare_Angel]] [[Category:SSEU Stories]] [[Category:The Revenant Galactica]]</div>

Dr. Xadium