When Setsuna came in, carrying a tray, the sun's rays no longer slanted into the room. Setsuna glanced at Michiru, who was stroking the brush languorously across the canvas. She set down the tray and stepped up behind Michiru, looking appreciatively at the painting. It presented a dark sky, rich with the burgeoning energy of stars, at the center of which lay a darkness - all the more energetic for its contrast with the light. Setsuna could feel time twist and distort in the lens of the painting. She sighed admiringly. "Powerful." Setsuna commented. "The black hole at the center of our galaxy." She stood watching as the darkness of the canvas erupted in twin jets of energy, flowing from Michiru's brush. Finally, Michiru stood back, allowing herself to come slowly out of her meditative state. She brushed the hair out of her eyes and stretched. Setsuna rubbed Michiru's shoulders briefly and Michiru smiled in thanks. The two women sat down at the small table in comfortable silence, and drank tea. Setsuna stared out the window, watching the trees swaying gently in the breeze. "You've been worried about Hotaru, haven't you?" Michiru finally broke the silence. Blue eyes met red ones. Setsuna saw concern in the younger woman's eyes, and smiled reassuringly. How could she burden Michiru with this? But it had to be said. Setsuna took a sip and put the tea cup down. "I've been thinking, yes. About the rate at which she is aging." "But it seems to be slowing down..." Michiru offered. The silence built again. Setsuna looked out into the yard and watched the trees sway in the wind. She thought of Sailor Saturn and the release of power that transformed her from an infant into a 2 year-old. The next release brought her to an apparent age of 4. Then Sailor Saturn had completely reawakened - her memories intact. Setsuna flinched at the thought. Hotaru overnight had aged to approximately 8 years old, while Sailor Saturn looked more like 12. After they had defeated Galaxia, and had taken up their old lives, Hotaru appeared 10. And now, not even a few months later, she looked to be a small, somewhat frail, 12 year-old. Turning to Michiru, Setsuna asked her suddenly, "Have you ever wondered about our ability to be reborn?" Michiru eyebrows rose in surprise. "Not really - I just assumed...I've never questioned it." Setsuna nodded. "It's Saturn. She gives us that ability. It comes from her." Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Setsuna's voice was cool and even, when she spoke again. "I was alone. Can you imagine what it was like? Alone so far away from everything, anything. You hadn't been born yet. Did you know that Saturn and I are older than the rest of you? We are much, much older." Michiru shook her head. She hadn't known at all. "It was so long ago that I cannot remember how old I really was - 400, 500 years, I don't know. I was about 16 or 17 in appearance. I knew about my powers and I practiced constantly to hone them. I knew my destiny was to guard the Doors of Time. On that side of Time," Setsuna quipped, "you have all the Time in the world. I used my powers to travel, to learn. About people, about the Earth, the Moon, about everything. I visited different times and places, always staying invisible, disguised, blending in, then disappearing, unnoticed." Setsuna turned again to the to gaze at the yard, her face composed. "It was a Roman border town, it doesn't even have a name now. Life was cheap, and often cruel. I was walking down a muck-covered street - well disguised, of course. I heard the chariot before I saw it. "When I looked up the road, a child, an infant really, stood in the road. I could see the driver, I knew he saw the child. He didn't even try to swerve. Before I knew it, my staff was in my hands, pointing at the driver." Michiru could see Setsuna's hands clench tightly around the staff she was not holding. "The chariot and driver flew backwards and smashed into a wall. The infant was safe - but every bone in the driver's body had been crushed. It was the first time I had killed someone." Michiru poured more tea. Setsuna picked up her cup and drank automatically. "I went back to my planet and cried. I sat in front of the Doors and cried until I had no more tears. Then I sat watching the mist swirl about me until my eyes burned with the monotony. "At first I thought it was an hallucination. A figure, dark and small, appeared in the distance, seemingly growing out of the mist. Who would approach me here? There wasn't anyone *to* approach me. "When she came to me she was serious, no smile on her face. She looked to be my age, but her eyes were as old as my own. She kneeled by me and held out her arms. I moved to her and she held me, rocking me. I knew her immediately. Until that moment, I had never considered the existence of another Senshi, but I knew her at once. It was Saturn. "Saturn held me, comforting me. She kissed me. When her lips touched mine I felt my sorrow drain away, disappear into her. As we made love, it was like I was given new life, new energy. She wasn't my first lover of course. I had taken several during my travels in Time, and she didn't stay with me long. I can't tell you how long she did stay. How bizarre," Setsuna noted, "that I who guard the Doors of Time and can manipulate it, have so little sense of it for myself." She paused, reflecting. "Before she left, Saturn told me of Silver Millennium and Earth and the existence of the other Senshi. And as she told me, I sensed them being born. ""You and I are oldest," she told me, "we are closely bound. We are the only Senshi who understand Eternity." She kissed me on the cheek and turned away, disappearing as she had come, into the mist. "I pondered that last remark for a long time. I knew she had the power of Destruction - and I guarded time. So we did, in a fashion, both understand Eternity. But now I think she meant something else." Setsuna was quiet for so long that Michiru began to worry. At last the older woman spoke again. "Eventually I met you all, as you know, even visiting the Moon Kingdom. And you know I wasn't there when Silver Millennium was destroyed. I stayed at my post, although I longed to join the battle against Beryl. "I never saw Saturn again. She would sleep, she had told me, until an immense battle awakened her. She had told me she would only appear at endings, wherever tremendous power was destroyed. When Silver Millennium was destroyed, I went and looked for her. "I found Queen Serenity dying in the ruins of the castle. She said that Saturn had helped her save her daughter and the other Senshi. " "Where is she?" I asked, meaning Saturn. " "They are gone - sent to Earth to be reborn." The Queen managed to tell me. " "Saturn?" I cried. " "Also gone. Her power went into my daughter and the others...she is..." and the Queen died in my arms." Setsuna rubbed her face with both hands. "Before she left, Saturn told me one other thing. She told me that if I should ever see her again, to destroy her." Michiru put her hand to her mouth in horror. "Oh my God, Setsuna, why didn't you tell us?" Michiru's eyes filled with tears at the thought of Sailor Pluto's internal conflict when Sailor Saturn had reappeared in Hotaru. "What could I have said? I told you the truth - that Sailor Saturn could not be allowed to reawaken, and if she did, she must be destroyed. Would it have made it any easier if I had told you I knew her, that I loved her once? It was hard enough to watch Small Lady play so happily with Hotaru-chan, and know that I would have to kill her best friend." Setsuna's eyes were filled with the pain of the memory. Setsuna loved Small Lady so much and now, she had also come to treasure Hotaru as a daughter. Remembering the betrayal in Small Lady's eyes, and the fear and confusion in Hotaru's, made Setsuna feel ill. She smiled sadly at Michiru. "You can imagine how surprised I was when I saw Hotaru. None of us seem to change from one incarnation to another, but Hotaru was so small and frail..." she paused a moment. "I think," she said slowly, "I finally realize what she meant when she told me that we understand Eternity. Her power, Michiru, is so great, it's like a supernova, destroying its own vessel, even as it creates new life. It's as powerful as..." she paused, reflecting. "A black hole?" Michiru suggested, her eyes drifting to the painting on the easel. Setsuna nodded. "Exactly. everytime she uses her power, it ages her. The question is - does she know it? And how long can she sustain it?" Michiru's voice was thick with concern. "Hotaru's power is killing her? "Yes, I think it is." The silence fell between them like a barrier. Setsuna thought of all the things she could not say to Michiru. Again and again, she found herself caught between Time, knowing too much for one life, and not enough. Setsuna started as Michiru reached out to touch her hand. "Setsuna, please count on us. Of all the Senshi, we know the least about you, but you know Haruka, Hotaru and I would die for you. Don't push us away - even for our own safety." Setsuna found tears welling up in her eyes, an outburst she rarely allowed herself. "Thank you." She stood and began to clear the tea accouterments from the table. "We'll talk again. Soon." Setsuna picked up the tray and turned toward the door. Michiru watched her leave, then stood and picked up a paintbrush and approaching the canvas, began to breathe deeply. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The car drove down a lonely road, a warm breeze blowing through tawny hair and green. The sun was setting, the sky aflame with a riot of pink and orange clouds. Haruka slowed the car and pulled it into a cul-de-sac near a lonely quay. She parked and got out of the car. Michiru and she stood at the end of a quiet pier looking out over the darkening ocean, now writhing with flame. Salt filled their nostrils, and Michiru thought about the wind that caressed them, where it had come from, what news it brought. The sky became a vivid turquoise, deepening into azure. Michiru looked over at Haruka, who stared fixedly into the sky above her. Michiru reached out a hand. "What are you thinking?" she asked. Haruka faltered for a moment, then spoke carefully. "I was thinking, how bad could a planet be, where the sky turned to the exact color of your eyes?" She turned to Michiru, a quiet smile on her face. Michiru felt herself blush in answer to the question in Haruka's dark eyes. Their hands met, clasped. They looked out again over the water, now black. Stars shimmered in the darkening sky. Two bright points of light drew their attention. "Venus and Jupiter are in conjunction tonight." Haruka said. Michiru couldn't help herself - she giggled. "Ecchi." Haruka laughed. Michiru drew closer to her lover. Haruka put one arm around her. The crescent Moon was bright in the western sky. They watched it in silence, thinking of their Princess, and their promises. Finally Michiru came to the point. "Setsuna thinks that Hotaru's aging... it...she thinks it may be killing her." She could feel Haruka stiffen, and she closed her eyes. "It's her power - every time she uses it, it ages her." "Does Hotaru know?" Michiru shook her head. "Setsuna doesn't know. She thinks we should all talk about it with her." Haruka nodded. She thought of the battle with Neherenia that reawakened Sailor Saturn, of Galaxia and of the child who was an infant a few years ago and was now 12 years old. "It appears as if every battle ages her about 2 years," she agreed. "But the real question is...how long does poor Hotaru have?" Michiru shivered in the warm air. "No," Haruka said firmly. "The question is - how do we stop it?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The small, pale man had a nervous laugh. "Welcome back, Meioh-san," he twittered. Setsuna looked down at him calmly. "I've brought a guest with me tonight, Usui-san." She gestured towards Hotaru, who entered the observatory behind her. Usui simpered at the girl. "Oh, is this your daughter?" "Yes. Tomoe Hotaru, this is Usui Ojabun." He extended a hand, "Hotaru-chan, pleased to meet you, I'm Usui." Hotaru took his clammy hand in a firm grip. "Tomoe, please," she said firmly, meeting his eyes. "I'm pleased to meet you, Usui-san." Usui pulled his hand back quickly as if he had received an electrical shock. "Tomoe..." Usui hesitated a moment, "-kun." The last syllable was spoken as a question, as if she might not be satisfied with the mode of address. Hotaru nodded her head slightly, which further disconcerted him. Her face was so young, maybe 12 years old, but her eyes were far, far older and her manner was that of a very self-confident woman. Usui turned to cover his confusion and lead them back to the computer room. "I've set up the smaller 'scope, as you requested, Meioh-san. Is there somewhere you'd like to start with?" "I want to see Saturn." Hotaru's voice came from far away. Nervously laughing, Usui nattered on about how popular Saturn was for beginning astronomers. "Let me just look up the coordinates..." "1 hour 04.5 minutes east and 2 degrees, 3 feet south," Hotaru stated firmly. Usui flushed and looked at Setsuna who nodded. He set the scope to the coordinates Hotaru had given him. Shortly the monitor showed the ringed planet clearly. "Thank you so much, Usui-san," Setsuna said smoothly. Her colleague muttered that it was nothing and made his escape. When the door closed on him the two women met each other's eyes and began to giggle. "Was that nice?" Setsuna asked, laughing behind her hand. Hotaru shrugged, "He's a prig." "You're right about that." Setsuna put her hands on the keyboard and adjusted the image. Hotaru stepped up next to her. They regarded the monitor in silence for a long time. Unconsciously, Hotaru brought up one hand to lay lightly on Setsuna's head, then slide it down to her shoulder. When she spoke her voice was older, darker. "It's been a long time, hasn't it, Pluto?" Automatically, Setsuna caught the hand and pressed her cheek against it. "Yes, it has, Saturn." Hotaru's face changed and she pulled her hand away quickly. "I'm sorry, Setsuna-mama." Setsuna smiled, with no trace of irony, or discomfort in her face. "Don't be. It was a very long time ago." Setsuna hugged the girl to her with one arm. "We're very different now. Setsuna and Hotaru are not exactly the same as Pluto and Saturn. We carry their memories, but we have our own, too." Hotaru hugged Setsuna back. "I am very glad that you are my mama this time around." Setsuna smiled at the young girl, then gestured for her to take the seat in front of the computer. "Can we see the center of the galaxy from here?" Hotaru asked. "Not from this telescope, but..." Setsuna thought, "We have some data on disk from Hubble." "I'd like to see it." Hotaru nodded excitedly. When the first picture resolved itself into a false color image, Setsuna found herself and Hotaru staring at an exact replica of Michiru's painting. When Hotaru spoke, her voice was once again deeper with age. "That's it. That's where the answers are." Setsuna looked down at the girl. Hotaru's eyes were dark. "The answers to what?" Setsuna whispered. "To your questions." Hotaru replied. She pointed a white hand towards the monitor. "That is Eternity."
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