The moon was high in the sky and nearly full. In another day or two, the snow white glow it gave out would make most of the orange lights around her useless. It would also mean it was time for her to travel back to the surface of the moon to continue her research.
Tonight though, Sailor Phact sat on the edge of the fountain she used as her ‘launch’ site, looking up at the sky. She was leaning back, hands behind her for support as she smiled. “So many secrets locked away.” The woman chuckled as she drew one knee up to her chest. The senshi of doves was not knew to this world nor to the world of balancing two lives. She was, however, very firm in her thoughts.
Patrol had become something she used as an excuse now. Something as a reason to power up and fly through the tree tops. A reason to set foot in places very few people ever did.
And yet, she always came home. That was what Earth was after all...home.
With a long sigh, she gazed back at her reflection in the water. “Am I the only one who still considers myself human?”
-----
Sabine was unsure what to do. Or rather, she wasn’t really sure what she even was really supposed to do. The cat that had awoken her had been helpful enough she supposed in explaining what was going on but. All the same being told what to do and actually doing it were completely different things. Frowning, she landed lightly in the park, brushing down her skirt as she tried to figure out what this strange feeling was in the back of her mind. It was a soft, warm , nice glow feeling. Clean.
So she was quite surprised when she wandered up to the fountain to see another woman sitting there. She was really pretty and Sabine was not sure if she should be jealous or blessed. She cleared her throat weakly and finally spoke up.
“Uhm, Hello?” She said meekly, looking down at the ground as she spoke. “Are… Are you a Senshi like me?”
Well, it was worth a shot...
----
So lost in thought was the senshi of doves that she completely missed the small hairs on the back her neck. It was the meek, soft voice from behind that caused her to jerk.
Turning her head back towards the main pathway, Phact tensed and then physically relaxed. The aura finally registered. She was not a threat.
At least not aligned as a threat.
"Good Evening." Sitting up straight, Phact visually scanned the woman. Small but well formed. She was not a fighter. Maybe 16? "I am Sailor Phact, Senshi of doves. And you?"
There was a warm smile. She was in a good mood tonight under that giant pearl. Slowly she motioned for the other girl to come closer.
----
“I’m… I’m Sabine, Senshi of Tactics.”She curtsied a little. “How do you do, Phact, of Doves.” She moved closer to the older woman, smiling a little as she looked around. “Do you come here often? It seems very… peaceful.” She nods slowly.
“It’s almost as if there isn’t some conflict going on… I still haven’t seen it… Is it… Really that bad?” She felt so naive and innocent and lost. She really didn’t know what she was doing. Hardly suitable for such a prestigious title as Tactics! She didn’t have a tactical bone in her body!
“I mean… I just…” she sighed. “I don’t know, I just wish I knew more about what was going on.”
----
Her politeness and manner brought a pleasant smile to the more experienced senshi. In a way, she wanted to reach out and tell Sabine to ‘come here child’ but then, Phact was only 19 herself. Hardly a ‘grandmother’.
So instead, she politely raised a hand to cover her chuckle. “A pleasure Sabine. I do come here often.” She gazed back up towards the moon. “Call it my launching point once a month if you will. I find it makes going to and from the Moon Castle a touch easier.”
As she brought her gaze back down, Phact watched the young woman. “Maybe I can be of some help. I might not look it but I have been a senshi for several years now.” And she had managed to avoid those tasteless butt wings as they were called. “I pride myself in trying to learn fact over fiction. I do not wish to fight someone or something without reason.”
---
Sabine giggled a little, feeling a bit relieved that this older senshi wasn’t just sending her off to go figure it out on her own. She nodded and slowly made her way over to her, sitting down next to her on the fountain before looking up.“There’s a castle on the moon?” she asked, a bit awestruck at the proposition of it all.
She turned her gaze back to the older female and bowed her head.“Well I am more than happy to learn from someone more experienced, so if you wouldn’t mind… taking me under your wing.”
She cringed a little at the inadvertent pun, but she hoped the other woman wouldn’t mind. “I’d be more than happy to learn as much as I can from you…”
---
The look Phact gave her at the pun was one of amusement with just a touch of shame. “I did have that one coming now didn’t I.” A rhetorical question of course as she once more leaned back on her hands. “Well, little fledging, there is quite a bit out there to know. I won’t claim that I know everything but I’m learning. But the question comes, where to start.”
Falling silent for a moment, Phact closed her eyes. “I’ll let you pick. Would you like the very beginning or the more recent beginning. One is a story that dates back farther than most scientist would like to believe. The other, well, a tad more recent.”
Glancing towards the young woman, Phact watched her. “Tell me, how long have you been out on your own? Have you run into any trouble?”
----
“No trouble yet,” Sabine admitted sheepishly. “Should I be worried about that? I mean, we’re supposed to be guardians right so.. what are we guarding?” She seemed a bit at a loss as to the political state of affairs of the world. She was still only a teenager, and a lot of this stuff, sadly, went way over her head.
“I guess, the most recent stuff, I mean I love a good story don’t get me wrong, but I guess whatever will help keep me out of trouble would probably be best. I don’t want to step on any toes.”
She felt a bit nervous, was it really that easy to get into trouble out here?
---
“Unfortunately,” Phact sighed, dropping her head forward “the moment you became Sailor Sabine, you started stepping on toes.” Another moment of silence and she continued. “You see, with all so called ‘wars’” and she stressed the word in a way to say she was not sold on it. “There is two sides. Here, the are considered Order and Chaos. Or more specifically, the White Moon Senshi” And she nodded her head towards Sabine “and the Negaverse.”
Dropping the team, she watched the girl’s reaction before continuing. “Both sides began awakening several years back. Do you remember when the news started to talk about terrorist attacks in the city? The number of strange incidents occurring suddenly began to increase when the two sides started to awaken. And now, it is your turn to join the ranks.”
Red eyes watched her face closely. “As I am sure you know, each side has something they are fighting for. The basic ideas given to ‘new recruits’ is that White Moon Senshi fight to protect the Earth from the forces of Chaos. The Negaverse fights to protect the Earth from the magic using invaders.”
----
“But I didn’t do anything wrong,” Sabine said, slightly indignant. “I mean, the talking cat was the one that said I had to protect the earth so… Isn’t it kind of the cat’s fault?” She was at a loss here for why someone would dislike her just for trying to keep the planet safe from Chaos. It didn’t sound very nice. “These Negaverse people don’t sound very nice.”
“What if I don’t want to be apart of this war? Nobody told me that I was going to have to be in a war!” She was a bit upset about that as well. Frankly because she was 14 and she wasn’t even legally allowed to enlist. “I mean I’m not even old enough to enlist that’s kind of stupid.”
She rubbed her face and sighed. “If I’d known I was gonna have to like, fight people and stuff I’d of politely declined.”
----
“Take my word Sabine, you aren’t the only one who would have.”Phact sighed as she listened to reality set into the girl. Well she had been right about her being under eighteen. Point one for observation. “You can chose to never power up again. That pen you were given by the feline for example. As long as you don’t draw it out, you do not have to power up.”
“However, I also caution that way because it is hard to go back to a life of ignorant bliss.” She knew that as a fact. She had tried in the beginning. Now look at her.
“What I can tell you is to educate yourself and come to make the best decision for you since have not know of this life long.” Looking back up at the moon, she continued. “You can say the Negaverse does not sound very nice but I know for a fact that some of our own side can be just as ruthless as them. Both sides have players that are bloodthirsty and both sides have players that are kind. Each fights for a reason. Some may be more selfish than others. Some believe in the mission of their side. Others just like realizing they are special.”
Taking a long breath, she gave a shake of her head. “However, the Negaverse is run very much like a military unit. As for us, well…” She motioned towards the flowers being scattered from the Crape Myrtle. “I find it very un-organized.”
-----
“Well no, I like being… me.” Sabine said weakly as she motioned to the fuku. “I mean I want to HELP, I just don’t know how I can, this just seems so overwhelming, what can one girl do you know?” She wasn’t like her mother’s story protagonists, she couldn’t put on armor and go fight dragons. She was a lady, ladies didn’t do that kind of thing. Did they?
“So we have like… nobody to talk to if we’re in trouble?” She asked quietly. “That doesn’t seem to be a very effective way to run a war.” She frowned. She may be young but she did have some grasp on how things needed to operate. She’d watched her brother play Call of Duty enough to know you didn’t go it alone or you just got full of holes.
“What… Reason do you fight for, if you don’t mind me asking, Ms. Phact.” Ugh, that felt weird saying it that way. “Or is it just Phact, I don’t know how to address you properly I’m sorry.” She frowned, hating the fact that she could be committing any number of faux paus right now.
-----
She gave a chuckle trying to take in everything the young woman was saying so she didn’t miss anything. It was the last part that made her shake her head. “You know Sabine, no one has ever come out and directly put it but it is commonly accepted that refer to each other by our celestial body name. “ Shifting her weight onto one arm, the dove senshi placed a hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “So Phact is fine. Just as I have been calling you Sabine. If that is alright with you.” Giving the girl a soft look, she continued.
“Our formal titles are rarely used but in introductions and then sometimes in fights. Basically it’s like if I don’t want to be on friendly terms, I make sure you call me Sailor Phact.” When did she become a manners professor? “But even as you rank, most will still call you Sabine.”
“Which brings me to the next thing. While there is no clear cut Commander and Chief, sort of say, there is a hierarchy of strength, skill, and what is assumed knowledge.” And she would always stick with assumed. She had met some eternals that didn’t know more than killed. The thought made her shiver. “You and I are what is considered a basic level Senshi. Limit magic ability as well as some physical changes. Stronger, faster, better jumper. Things that make us appear to be more than human. Next, is Super Senshi. You gain a second attack or a stronger form of your basic and your physical ability increases again. Then, Eternal Senshi. More magic but you will always know and Eternal when you see one because they have wings.” Her hand moved from Sabine’s side to the small of her back. “Butt wings is the lingo for them. A good deal of senshi work hard for them.”
Smiling, she moved her hand back and looked out in front. Her face shifted to one more serious. “And then there is the so called Princesses and Princes. Castor, Chronos, Iris, and Polaris. They are who are ideally supposed to be leading. However…” Her head just dropped and shook. “Three I have never laid eyes on and one I find I personally disagree with his methods but at least he is active. I encourage you to form your own one day.”
Looking back at Sabine, Phact’s face seemed softer than it had been. “As for the last bit, my reason is strange compared to most. Normally you will hear to protect loved ones or planet or do what is right.” She paused and shrugged. “I’m still here because I believe no matter what side we are on, no matter what ones so called past life was or where they came from, I believe we are now all human. Earth is our home now. Not the celestial bodies we represent and draw power from. Earth. And I hate seeing us kill each other. I believe there has to be another way…..” She trailed off, her eyes closing.
----
“I think that is a noble reason,” Sabine said quietly. “I mean, I don’t really have a reason so I can’t really compare.” She felt so out of place here. She could do what Phact had said, and shut away her pen forever - but that felt wrong to her. She was given this… power, gift, responsibility(?), for a reason and whatever that reason was she needed to do her part in order to help keep things… orderly?
This was a really weird dichotomy and she really wondered if it was as clear cut as it seemed. Phact had already mentioned that some people weren’t as kind as others, and to a degree that made sense to Sabine, it took all kinds after all. But still. “Do you mean to say that Chaos isn’t evil and that Order isn’t good, and it’s just this big grey cloud of maybes?” Sabine said, biting her bottom lip in consternation.
This made no sense to her. What happened to good and evil. Who were the bad guys, who were the good guys. Who was right and who was wrong? Without the answers she wasn’t sure how effective she’d be. To her, Phact had a point. She didn’t feel any less human than the day before she awakened. She still winced when she stubbed her toe and bled if she was cut. She healed faster sure, but that was a benefit of her abilities was it not? It wasn’t like she still wasn’t Mercy underneath her fuku. She still cared, she was still only a 14 year old girl who had no idea what she’d gotten herself into.
Looking over at the water, she reached in and touched her finger against the surface. “Would… would you take me on as a student Phact? Teach me your ways, help me understand? Because right now I don’t know what to believe.”
----
Phact allowed the young woman to go one for a moment before placing her own words. Accepting that good and evil was not as clear cut as white and black was always a challenge. Was that not why Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise. They gained something else: free will. The will to make a choice to do right or wrong. At least what they considered right or wrong.
But before she could answer, Sabine posed a question that made the senshi in white look rather shocked. Turning her head first, Phact sighed. The girl was as lost as she had been and in a way, still was. She could see part of herself reflected in all this and it made her close her eyes. “Sabine, I am very much a student myself. But I will happily share with you what I know and what I have learned. But know this.”
Shifting her body so that she faced the girl completely, Phact reached out a gloved hand and placed it atop hers. “I will not tell you what to believe. That is up to you. I just caution you to remember that now, things are not as simple as they once were. Add to that managing a normal schedule and you will come to find that things are not easy anymore. Not that they are as a teenager anyway.”
A warm smile was on her lips. “I have found people on both sides willing to kill without explanation. I have also found people on both sides willing to help someone no matter what alignment they fall under. It’s like navigating a maze almost. That is why, in a way, I have kept myself back from many things.”
----
A weak, almost sheepish smile was all Sabine could muster when Phact placed her hand atop her own. In a way, it was almost like having an older sister, granted she was a complete stranger, but still - the same feeling she got from talking to Hafwen resonated from Phact as well. This boded well she thought. There might be hope here in her being able to cope with all of this.
“I’m not gonna lie, knowing all this now it’s really kinda scary,” She said quietly, watching Phact as she spoke. “But I’m willing to stick it out, I think. I mean… Why not?” She looked around for a moment and chewed her bottom lip. “Is there… Anything else important I need to know about?” She asked then. “Because I would like to try and make it through this as unscathed as possible.
It was a bit of a dream she knew, but she could at least try and manage to keep from causing trouble for her parents for as long as she could. Right?
----
“We all would.” Phact took a deep breath and watched the girl. She really had already started to feel a connection with this young woman. It was strange. But Phact was enjoying sharing what she knew. Maybe it wasn’t a complete waste…
“Always be prepared. Look out for large gatherings. Things seem to happen on those more than I would like to admit.” Destiny Con. The Concert. Others… “Don’t go up against anyone stronger than you. Especially alone.”
How many had suffered that way? Phact did not want to think about that.
“But above all, don’t forget who you are. Too many let go of their human side and become...well, they accept this as their reality.” That was Phact’s strongest advice. They would all live and die human. This was not the Silver Millennium anymore. They were not on different planets. They walked this Earth now. For better or worse, this was home.
----
“Well I’m M….” Sabine clapped her hand over her mouth suddenly and looked at Phact. She wasn't’ sure if that was information she should be sharing. Biting her lip again she looked up at Phact.“Does, anyone know who you are… I mean besides Phact… like your real name.” She looked down again. “Sorry if I’m prying, I just… I don’t know what the rules are regarding giving out that kind of information.”
“Like do you tell people who you are… I mean not the Negaverse obviously, but other… senshi and stuff…”
She was a little worried that she’d get stuck having to live this awful double life and not knowing if there was anyone out there that would understand it. She needed people she could talk to both in and out of senshi form about these issues.
----
A split second of shock went over Phact’s face but it was suddenly softened as she watched the young woman realize her mistake. It good question. She was wise to ask.
“Very few people know who I am both in this appearance and my other. I have chosen to keep it that way because I fear mixing the lives too much. Those who do know found out by accident. Sometimes even your best friends can keep secrets from you.”
Phact gave her a wink. “Personally, I find it easier to keep who I am on a daily bases separate. But, it is nice to have friends I can rant to when something goes wrong.” And Mei had been great for that. “The choice is yours Sabine. But be wise. Don’t give away your name when you first meet someone. You never know who could just be a really good actress.”
-----
Sabine felt a bit foolish, but she let it go for now. “I think I understand what you are getting at. But why would you tell me that? I mean… Should I… Not trust you then?” The poor girl was starting to get a bit confused and overwhelmed. There was so much to take in all at once, and she had this strange feeling she wasn’t being paranoid enough - or Phact was teasing her. Neither were particularly good options in her book. The bubbly girl she had been a few days ago was finding it hard to cope with a situation that didn’t seem to have much in the way of a silver lining.
“I… doubt any of my friends are mixed up in this insanity…” Sabine said with a small laugh. “They’re too busy to even think about having the have a double life. Though to be fair, I haven’t seen a few of them as much as I’ve liked lately, so I will have to make a point to set some time aside to remedy that.” She was talking to herself a little at this point, trying to rationalize a world where her friends, especially close ones like Hafwen and Chay, would hide something of this magnitude from her.
But wasn’t she doing the exact same thing? Isn’t that what Phact was basically advocating. Nobody should know her secret, and to a degree she understood why. It would be dangerous for her, but more so for them. If the enemy ever found out that they knew who she might be on both sides of the coin, then they would become a target and… She sighed and rested her head in her hands. “This is just too much.”
----
Phact’s gloved hand reached over and rested on the girl’s back. Slowly, comfortingly, she began to rub the area. “I know Sabine. I know. It’s hard to believe.” And then the senshi went quiet for a moment. Allowing the girl to think.
“This is not like me but why don’t you walk with me. And with me as…” And for once in her life, Phact powered down. “Delilah.” The raven haired woman smiled softly as she stood up and offered the girl her hand. “I think you and I should sit down over some cookies and tea or coffee. Be more comfortable than out here. Then, maybe, we can work through a few things instead of jumping around.”
---
Sabine looked up just as Phact powered down, her eyes wide for a moment, “But you said…” though to be fair, she wasn’t about to look a gift unicorn in the mouth and without any hesitation at all, powered down herself. “Mercy,” she replied quietly, taking the older woman’s hand and nodding. “And yes, I would like that.”
It felt strange, but she really liked this woman, this… Ms. Delilah. “Thank you, Ms. Delilah, that’s a very pretty name.”
---
“As is yours Mercy. And please, just Delilah.” She smiled, helping the girl up and then turning to heads back towards the university. “I have a feeling I’m not that much older than you.”And with that, she chuckled.
Torvil
