On Jupiter, Part One: Man Overboard
Hair plastered to their heads, clothes soaked to their skin, their heavy boots sucked and squelched in the mud under the dense rainforest canopy.
They’d only just left the protection of the shuttle and already, they were waterlogged. Minako huffed under the heavy pack she supported on her shoulders, weighed down by the relentless Jovian rains. She could feel the Martian’s eyes on her and felt a mixture of excitement and curiosity.
“What?” She barked, tossing her head and shedding water droplets that immediately accumulated again.
Rei snorted. “So you don’t melt.”
Minako’s brows met. The comment had flown over her head with an audible whoosh, but her companions’ stifled chuckles were enough to let her know she’d been insulted.
The sound of metal being unsheathed was an ample derailment of a brewing argument and all eyes turned to Makoto who held a long, flat blade with her sword arm. “The path seems overgrown. Looks like it’ll be slow going.”
The four women examined the state of the muddy path. With the constant downpour, visibility was limited to only a few dozen feet around them in either direction, but the arms of hanging vines and a vast network of crooked limbs that clogged the narrow passage was telling enough even in the dusky red light cast by the thick clouds overhead.
“Looks like your people don’t travel to the pole much.” Minako said flatly.
The Jovian only shrugged. “Whose’ does?”
Ami unconsciously stepped closer to their tallest warrior. “It’s like a warning. Maybe we shouldn’t—“
Minako’s sudden laughter did battle with a clap of thunder. “You’re supposed to be the logical one, Ami-chan. You can’t be scared.”
“Anything you’ve heard about the pole is just a fairy tale, Ami-san, designed by adults to frighten misbehaving children.” Rei said, at odds with supporting the leader of the senshi.
“But there’s a grain of truth to every fairy tale, Rei-san.” Ami said worriedly.
The Venusian stepped up beside the Martian and slapped her on the shoulder, perhaps harder than she’d really intended. “Rei and I visited Mars’ pole and lived to tell the tale, right?”
Rei’s unyielding violet eyes conveyed her confidence. “Perhaps the youma are intelligent enough to feed off that fear; perhaps that’s why they hide at the pole, because it’s a place no one travels, where their movements would go undetected.”
This comforting shred of logic seemed to ease the Mercurian greatly.
Makoto laid a comforting hand on Ami’s arm. “Come on, Ami-chan. Besides, the dangers of the pole’s got nothing on the poisonous insects and man eating plants and animals of the rainforest.”
“What!?” Ami half squeaked, half screamed.
Minako smacked her lips and pushed the petite girl forward. “She’s just pulling your chain, Ami-chan.”
The Mercurian bristled and shot a scathing look at her tall friend. “Jupiter Makoto, you know I hate it when you do that!”
The Jovian only chuckled and advanced, her deep laugh mingling with her blade as it screamed through the air and sliced into vines and limbs effortlessly.
Bringing up the rear, Rei pushed the Venusian forward with the tips of her fingers against the other woman’s arms, if only so that she didn’t outright bump into Minako’s slowing form. “For a leader, you can be awfully whiny.”
“Yeah, well maybe some of us aren’t as accustomed to carrying everything they need to survive on their backs. Take Ami-chan for example. Ne, you want a break, don’t you, Ami-chan?”
Not even chancing a backwards glance, the Mercurian followed close on Makoto’s heels. “I’m doing quite fine, thank you. Besides, we should cover as much ground as possible. The storms here are unpredictable and could hinder our progress.”
“You mean this isn’t a storm?” Minako asked, indicating the heavy rain and gusty winds that had only worsened since they’d begun their mission.
“Are you kidding? This is nice Jovian weather!” Makoto said, shouting over a clap of thunder.
Rei snorted in the Venusian’s ear and shouldered her way past Minako towards the front of the pack, and she didn’t stop there. Swiping Makoto’s blade right out of her hand, she began to attack the vines that hindered their passage.
“I like this girl already.” The Jovian said as she fell into step behind Minako to pick up the rear.
“Fine.” Minako spat. “You’re both barbarians then.”
“Well, you two do complement each other quite nicely.”
“Keh!”
“You do know she’s just doing that to show off to you.”
“What, swinging a machete around? Oh, I’m so very impressed.”
Makoto sighed. “Apparently, you just don’t get people like us.”
“I’d get your head out of that report if I were you. Could be snakes around here.”
Ami straightened up under the weight of her pack and focused her attention even more on the transparent read out displayed before her. “Oh, Mako, stop teasing me already.”
“No, really Ami, this area is very—“
“Snake!” Rei’s warning was just a second too late.
“I’m not falling for it you guys-“ Ami’s voice hitched in her throat and she screamed loudly.
As if a torch was set to a dry haystack, a flurry of activity ensued all too quickly. Minako spun behind her, her sword drawn and screaming towards the threat falling from the canopy above while Makoto leapt forward, gathering the blue haired woman into her arms. Minako’s weapon sliced through the snake, but the damage had already been done. The half that was still attached to Ami had its fangs lodged deep in her bicep muscle, even as its severed body continued to slither in disconnect.
Makoto panicked. “Ami! Ami! Stay with me, it’s going to be alright!”
The Mercurian woman winced but choked out a hoarse laugh. “I know I will! It wasn’t poisonous!”
“Score one for booksmarts,” Makoto grumbled, realizing she’d overreacted, “but you’re still trembling. That can’t feel good.”
This seemed to quiet the woman, and she allowed herself to relax in the arms of the strong Jovian.
Rei approached the two women with a small dagger in hand. No words were needed. Ami nodded and turned her head away while the Priestess slipped the blade underneath the snake’s fangs and pried its hinged jaw from the woman’s flesh.
“Ne, Ami-chan. There’s an herb in this forest that will help ease the pain,” Makoto told the trembling woman, “I’m sure I can find it for you.”
“Un.” The Mercurian replied detachedly as the Jovian set her down on shaky feet. Her adrenaline wearing off, although the logical side of her knew she wasn’t in any real danger, Ami was still very shaken.
“I’m calling camp.” Minako barked. She shrugged her shoulders and her pack fell to the ground, sinking into the mud. “You,” she said, pointing at Makoto, “go find this herb.” You,” she said, pointing to Rei, “stay with Ami, set up tents. And I,” she said, pointing to herself, “will try to find something dry to burn.”
Each woman nodded and the leader of the senshi turned to Makoto. “You have twenty minutes. No longer. Night is falling and the storm is worsening.”
Hazel eyes hardened. “Understood.”
The two women disappeared into the forest.
The driving wind whipped the guy line from Rei’s hand and half of the tent fell back to the ground. The Priestess growled and scrambled for the errant line, finally securing it and pulling it taught against a small tree. The tents were large, despite their small compression size, and were quite the struggle for one person to set up.
“Rei-san?”
She barely heard the faint call over the howling winds but the Martian poked her head into Ami’s tent. A small, dim lantern shed barely enough of a glow for her to see by, but she was relieved to find that although Ami looked rather pale, she was dry, and resting, as she’d been instructed.
“Yes?”
Stormy blue eyes met Rei’s. “It’s… been thirty minutes. The storm’s worsened. Maybe something happened…”
Rei didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to, she knew. Her feeling of unease had steadily grown as soon as Minako and Makoto had left. She would wait no longer. The Priestess nodded her intent and released the flap to Ami’s tent.
“Rei-san!”
Once again, the Priestess poked her head in. “I’m going to find them.” She could see the worry written on Ami’s face and a rare smile graced her own. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring her back to you.”
The petite woman blushed and sputtered, and Rei left her with a small smile and her dignity.
Visibility was near zero and the red glow of the storm clouds illuminated little more than the driving rain and the flashes of lightening only served to blind her after its brightness had faded.
So the Priestess shut her eyes and relied on her other senses to guide her, latching onto the one thing her mind was so completely centered on; the aura that was all warmth, concern, confusion and sheer draw, the aura that was so distinctly Venus Minako.
The going was tough at first. She’d anticipated a steep drop too soon and had slid some twenty feet into a rocky gorge. She rose; aware of the cuts and bruises she’d find later, and continued. Several times her heavy boots had tangled in the merciless vines and she’d fallen into the mud, only to lift herself up and continue, for she knew, every step brought her closer to Minako.
And the closer she got, the more she realized; she only wanted to see the woman safe and sound. Perhaps she wouldn’t mind the confusing Venusian’s incessant touching and strange mood swings as much, so long as she knew that she was okay.
“Rei?”
The Priestess finally opened her eyes to find the blonde warrior standing at the other end of the narrow trail, looking entirely lost, but unscathed and uninjured.
“Minako.” The relief she felt battled with a sudden lightheadedness brought about by the exertion she’d expended to follow the Venusian’s aura.
And then the woman was across the clearing, and as Rei had expected, in her arms.
And Rei hugged her back.
“But how did you-“
“I sensed you.”
Cerulean eyes, so close to her own, examined her blank expression. “Like you do with the youma?”
“Yes.”
Still clinging tightly to the other woman, Minako’s brows furrowed and she paused, seeming to withdraw into herself. “Mako-chan.” She whispered. “I feel… no, I sense her. I sense her… through you?”
“Don’t touch me!”Rei’s voice echoed in her head, and when coupled with the bitter memory of the other woman pushing her away, the Venusian tore herself from the Martian’s arms.
“This is your power?” Minako asked quietly.
Rei turned her profile away darkly. “I can sense auras. I can also predict danger. Some call it a power. I’ve generally thought of it as a curse.”
“Then, what I saw yesterday while we were sitting under the tree…”
“It could have been a vision of the past or of a possible future. You siphoned it from me. I can become a conductor of the image or the feeling I sense.”
“Then Makoto… she got lost in the storm, too? I sensed her through touching you?”
Rei only nodded, waiting for the inevitable mistrustful response she was so used to receiving once explaining her spiritual powers. The rain was driving even harder. The temperature was dropping. She shuddered involuntarily.
Suddenly, a warm hand slipped into her own. Violet eyes found cerulean. Minako was pressed tightly against her side. A wide smile that seemed brighter than even the erratic lightening lit her face and warmed Rei’s heart.
“Let’s find Mako-chan. Together.”
‘Together…’Rei reluctantly pulled away from Minako’s warmth, but kept her fingers securely laced around the other woman’s. “Lets go.” She barked.
Concentrating for two was even harder than concentrating for one, but Rei found that she did a better job of finding even footing with her eyes closed when Minako was attached to her. She could only imagine the argument she’d spark if she’d caused them half the stumbles and falls she’d experienced alone. But the energy she expended to do so was taking a toll on her body.
The Priestess came to a sudden stop.
“Ne, is Mako-chan alright? I don’t feel her aura any - Rei?” Minako was pressed against Rei’s side once more, supporting the slightly taller woman’s shaking frame. “Are you alright?”
The Martian pulled herself together, straightening her form against the other woman’s concern. “I’m fine.” She spat, “I just lost hold it for a second.”
But even as Rei picked up the pace and pulled her along, Minako couldn’t help but worry. She was tempted to demand that they stop for a rest when a familiar voice called out above the thunder.
“Minako-chan! Rei-chan!” The Jovian waved her arms and the others finally saw her in a flash of lightening.
Minako punched her tall friend on the shoulder. “Don’t you know you’re supposed to stand in one spot when you get lost so your rescuers can find you?”
“Well I didn’t expect to get my own personal search party.”
“You can thank Rei for that.”
The Jovian turned serious, and rested her hands on the Martian’s shoulders. “Ne, Rei-san, how was Ami when you left her?”
“Fine!” The Priestess barked. She brushed the brunette’s hands off her shoulders and then held a palm to her forehead. “She was fine. But we need to get back. We’re not far. You’ve been wandering in the right direction.”
“Of course I’m not. I used to live here!” Makoto chuckled, but then turned confused eyes to the Martian. “But how did you-“
“Just follow me.” The Martian commanded, hauling Minako forward and leading the group back through the trees, over a slight rise, and then finally back to flat ground.
“Rei, are you sure you’re alright?” It was the third time the Priestess had stumbled.
“I’m fine!” Rei said, even as she stumbled once more.
“Rei-san, perhaps we should take a break.” Makoto suggested.
“No.” The Martian replied hoarsely, focusing her wavering hold on Ami’s aura like a man overboard would a raft. “We’re almost there. Just a little more”
The Priestess led the women through a thick stand of trees, and finally, she saw the tents. They’d made it. Clutching the herbs to her chest, Makoto ran for it. Rei was vaguely aware of Minako dashing forward, pulling her hand and tugging her excitedly towards the relative comforts of the camp, but she met with the other woman with resistance.
“Rei?” Minako stood in front of the seemingly frozen woman, and when the Martian pitched forward, into the Venusian’s confused but willing arms, Minako held Rei to her tightly.
“I want to hear nothing out of you.”
“Rei?”
But the Martian’s body had already gone limp, and Minako found herself fully supporting the other woman’s weight, entirely too aware that the Priestess’ weak form was burning hot and very feverish.
“Rei!”
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She’d only been unconscious for a moment, but she’d faded in and out of darkness since. She’d been vaguely aware of Minako shouting commands in a stressed tone. She’d been pretty certain it was Makoto who had picked her up and carried her into one of the two tents she’d set up, and she’d been fairly sure she’d seen Ami’s small form darting around the tent’s small footprint, laying out a bedroll and arranging supplies.
But Rei wasn’t fully aware of her surroundings until the only thing she could hear was the howling winds and the rain as it drove against the tent’s walls, and the only person left in front of her was Minako.
“Take your clothes off.”
“What!?” Rei’s already shaky legs threatened to give out beneath her.
“You’re soaked and you need to dry off. Now don’t make me repeat myself or I’ll do it for you.”
Minako couldn’t tell if the Priestess’ hesitation was borne from her exhaustion or something else, but finally, Rei began to strip.
But she was so very weak and her arms were getting stuck in the clinging, wet material of her shirt. And so, the Venusian took the situation into her own hands.
“I didn’t make you repeat yourself!” The Martian snapped as she felt Minako’s hands take the hem of her shirt.
“Don’t worry. I won’t take advantage of you.” The Venusian said, her tone light and teasing. “Not unless you want me to, that is.”
A quick pull of the shirt’s bottom had the material up and over Rei’s head, but the motion had also thrown the weak Priestess off balance. Minako had been quick to catch her though, and her arms wrapped around Rei’s bare back and she pulled the other woman’s form into her body.
A slight blush dusted the Martian’s cheeks and she shivered, but it could have been the effects of her fever.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t take advantage.” Rei’s quiet words were deadpan and Minako couldn’t read the meaning in those cloudy, amethyst eyes.
“I said I wouldn’t unless you wanted me to.” Minako’s voice was a throaty whisper as the two women stared at each other, standing on the edge of two very different possible outcomes.
‘Coward.’ Rei cursed herself. But even as exhaustion claimed her and she surrendered to the darkness once again, she didn’t know if she was cursing herself or Minako.
---------
She’d been out long enough that when she came to, she was dry and warm, wrapped in a heavy blanket with a pillow under her head. She felt a cool towel lying on her forehead and she knew her fever had broken.
She took a chance on opening her eyes and found Minako, also dry and in fresh clothes, sitting next to her bedroll, tying the ends of her wet, raven hair into a thick braid.
“To keep the chill off you.” She answered the Priestess’ unspoken question as she tied a length of leather around the finished braid. Minako rose then, and as she shuffled around the tent’s footprint, the Martian fingered her newly acquired hairstyle.
The Venusian returned quickly. Rei could sense her kneeling down behind her.
“Sit up.” She commanded.
Rei considered resisting for only a moment.
“Good girl.”
The pillow that her head had abandoned was removed, and Minako took its place, pulling Rei’s back down against her chest. The Priestess was acutely aware of the warmth of the other woman’s breath tickling her neck.
“This is ridiculous.” The Martian spat in protest.
A cup of sharp smelling liquid was thrust into her hands in response. “Drink this. Mako-chan said it’ll make you feel better.”
Rei could only take the cup and stare at the leaves floating in the tepid water. How could she possibly drink with this lump in her throat? But Minako’s fingers splayed across the backs of her hands and brought the cup up to meet her lips, and the Priestess forced herself to drink. Wincing at its bitter taste, she pushed the cup away.
“I don’t need this.” She said weakly.
“Mhmm.” Minako replied, even as she brought the cup to the defiant Martian’s lips once more.
Rei pushed it away. “I heal quickly.”
“Mhmm.” The Venusian tried a third time, she wouldn’t take Rei’s bait, she couldn’t argue with the other woman when she was like this.
“I can take care of myself!”
This protest had some amount of power behind it, and the cup Minako had offered tumbled from her hands and the Venusian found herself falling backwards; the Martian woman not only pushing her away, but also turning to follow that same motion weakly.
Minako found herself trapped; on her back with Rei’s hands on either side of her head, her weak arms barely supporting her shaking torso above her.
“Can’t you just accept the fact that someone wants to take care of you?”
Minako’s whispered words were nearly lost to a gust of wind that threatened the tent’s integrity. The frame shook and so did its occupants. The Venusian’s hand reached up, and slowly cupped the Martian’s cheek.
“Rei, it’s not a weakness to let someone get so close to you.”
The wind died down. Cerulean eyes searched amethyst. Hot breaths mingled. They were close. So close.
But then those amethyst eyes rolled backwards and though she fought it with every last ounce of her being, Rei was taken by the blackness once more.
‘Coward.’ Minako spat, though she didn’t know if she was scolding herself or the woman she held in her protective embrace.
This chapter was a lot of fun to write, especially that last part.
OOO
Preview, Chapter 4: On Jupiter, Part Two: Fire-arrow
“Behind you!” Rei shouted, even as the youma she’d dropped rose to shaky feet at the discovery that its wound had not been nearly as fatal as Venus had intended.
But her words would never reach the Venusian in time, and neither would Jupiter; the tall brunette’s fist sparkled with lightening as she sparred with one of two remaining intact youma.
The image of the rising youma pulling the sword from the remains of its chest and rushing Venus from behind burned itself into the Martian’s retina…
A surge of power sparked deep within her. Instinct grabbed her, and the Priestess embraced it.
She raised her bow, drew back the empty string and aimed…
Rei was suddenly looking down through the sight of a flaming arrow. It felt natural, like an extension of herself, but refusing to be captured by the wonder, she focused her aim on the youma who charged after Venus… and released it.
‘Please…’Even as the golden warrior thrust her sword deep into the heart of the youma in front of her, the body of another fell beside her, clipping her shoulder with its sharp claws and narrowly missing taking her body to the ground with it. She recognized it as her first victim… that hadn’t been dead after all.
Imbedded in the back of its skull, a flaming arrow winked out of existence.
“Rei?” She asked, her eyes darting to the other end of the battlefield where the raven haired warrior slowly lowered her empty bow.
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