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It was time.

There was a part of him that feared the moon, feared the unknown creatures that might be lurking up there. He feared the memories infused into the moon itself, memories that were his, and yet not. As much as Zach wanted to bring Gale to the moon as a sort of "destination date", he was concerned about bringing her to uncharted territory. What if some evil thing lived up there and was waiting for delicious senshi to come visit? He couldn't risk losing Gale like that.

Instead, he sent a text to his mentor, Sailor Denebola. She had ferried Themisto to her own slice of the galaxy, a place lovingly nicknamed Pern. At first, the experience was overwhelming. The fact that ancient civilizations used to exist out in space was mind-blowing, and witnessing firsthand how she was gripped by memories of the past. Denebola, for a moment, didn't seem to recognize Themisto.

What if something like that happened to Gale?

Flipping out his phone from its pocket of space, he tapped out a text to the dragonfly senshi.

Give me twenty-five minutes and I’ll see you there

Ah, that seals it. This whole space travel thing really was going to happen tonight.

Themisto locked his hands behind his neck and looked up at the sky, senshi cellphone lodged between his folded fuku and the stupid, nonsensical ropes tied about his shoulders. The stars were twinkling in the deep blanket of space. Which one was his? He knew it was a moon of Jupiter, and that Jupiter itself was utterly massive. Honestly, Zach hadn’t the slightest idea of where to even find the gas giant from his position, nor did the boy know what direction to face. Could Themisto even been seen from Earth?

Probably not, but Zach didn’t dabble much in astronomy. He hadn’t an interest in it before. Stars were long-lived and incredibly distant, shining high above humanity’s tiny heads. Stars outlived people by thousands of years. Stars weren’t pretty girls with brunette hair.

It wasn’t long before the boy was lost in his own thoughts and he felt the tingling of a Super Senshi approaching his position. Denebola hadn’t yet seen Themisto’s new outfit and he sincerely hoped Pern would be impressed.

”Ey, Pern!” he called when he could verify by sight that it was indeed the dragonfly senshi. Her red hair was distinctive and fuku was bright against the deep blue backdrop of nightfall. “Hope I didn’t wake you up. I know it’s kinda sudden but uh… Having a veteran come with me to this whole Rocket Maaaaan~ crazy time is probably a good idea… you know?”

Stopping to pose, lifting the shoulders of his fuku in a typical rapper style, Themisto smirked. “Whatcha think of the new duds, Pern?”

Embarrassment and a side-order of shame gripped the boy and he backpedaled - figuratively speaking.

“Ey, now, it’s not like I was tryin’ to hide it from ya or anything. It just kinda… happened and… boy that’s a whole ‘nother story. Didja know we have our own cats? I mean, like… I dunno, Pern, it’s pretty crazy. One crazy thing atta time though, ya know? Anyway, he said he had somethin’ to do and not to do anything crazy while he was gone but... “

He shot Denebola a wink and a thumbs’ up. “I spent all this damn time psychin’ myself up, I ain’t about to miss this opportunity by listening to a cat. Besides, he’s a cat. What do cats have a “to-do” list for, anyway? They eat ‘n poop ‘n sleep. ...and talk. And upgrade people. But anyway--” The boy had to pat himself on the back for not dropping the s-word in front of Denebola. This time.

Manners and all.

Casting his gaze to the stars, Themisto felt a wave of pride washing over him. Now perhaps Denebola could be truly proud of him. As a Super, he wasn’t a puny weakling. Daily runs and training with Fai as a civilian were starting to pay off in increased muscle mass, endurance and stamina. Surely this was something the Dragonfly Mentor could get behind. “Maybe when he gets back, I’ll snatch ‘im up and show him to ya.” He steadily recalled Denebola’s aversion to cats, so it stood that Themisto would want a veteran’s opinion on the one that seemed to claim him. The whole idea was nonsense as far as Themisto was concerned.

Pointing to the heavens, Themisto was very clearly nervous, but his desire to impress Denebola superseded the fear. “Now uh… you said somethin’ about tuning, I think. How’d that go, again?”

Themisto quieted for a moment when he felt Denebola's hands on his shoulders. "Ah... man, am I losin' it already? Jesus..."

One hand went straight to his forehead and, with a great sigh, shrugged his shoulders. "...yeah, yeah... I... I dunno, Pern. I was just patrollin', ya know, like usual. And then this cat showed up and trippy bulls---" He caught himself, swallowing the curse word with shame. "...trippy stuff later and I just... was so out of it that I just went home and passed out. Thought it was a dream, you know? That was just last night. But uh... anyway."

Themisto had figured out he'd disappointed his mentor and shied away from her in shame, almost as though Denebola was emitting intense heat and he needed to cover his eyes. If there was one thing in the world the boy hated, it was disappointing the important women in his life.

....like his mother.

Maybe she wouldn't have left if I wasn't such a ******** back those emotions, Themisto tried to concentrate on the melody Denebola explained was unique to each of their stars. Maybe he could make it up to her, and she would forgive him. It was difficult, even with concentration, to sort through the long-swallowed emotions surrounding his mother's departure and his disappointing Denebola, but buried beneath all of that... was the melody.

It was a low, haunting sort of piece, a song that unnerved Themisto at his core. But... that was his melody, right?

With a sigh, he sought to focus on that song, and pressed the button on his senshi cellphone.


------------


The smell of wet grass, the feel of wet earth giving beneath their feet and the sounds of cricket-song and tall, rustling trees swaying in a slow breeze greeted the two senshi as they landed for the first time on Themisto. The senshi himself kept his eyes closed during the departure, finding the first excursion to Denebola to be a horrifically nauseating experience. When he felt his feet land on solid ground, there was still some hesitation before opening just one eye to gaze around.

Denebola appeared to have made it safely, and the two senshi stood on what appeared to be a small, mossy island amid a labyrinth of rivers. Four wooden bridges connected to the island, which was no more than fifteen feet in any direction. Each bridge connected to another island, so on and so forth. Fog gripped the edges of their vision, blanketing what might lie beyond the second or third set of islands beyond the one on which they stood.

Night had fallen on Themisto and the air was chilled, but not freezing. Moisture clung to their hair and skin. In the far distance, small lights hung in the air.

"Uhh..." came a response from the boy, but in the quiet night on the moon, it sounded much too loud. "...well, this is creepier than I imagined..."

Themisto gave his mentor a half-hearted shrug. "Ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

He took up Denebola's offered hand, but did his best to stay just a little bit in front of the senshi of dragonflies. If anything creepy sought to attack them, Themisto wanted to be the first to take the hit. It wasn't that Themisto was sexist, thinking that men were more capable than women.

No, Themisto sought to protect Denebola, just as she had done for him.

Determination gripped the boy's heart as they moved forward, slowly, methodically. Themisto hadn't the slightest idea what his moon might have in store for them, but the thought of being gripped by a memory like Denebola had on her star greatly worried him. Would he cease to recognize her? Would he run off without realizing where he was? Each step took determination, each step was a nervous heartbeat.

The wooden bridge creaked beneath their weight, not having bore anyone for thousands of years. Silence seeped into every nook and cranny, save for the quiet gurgles of water surrounding each of the tiny islands they were passing. Themisto could hear his heartbeat and his breath loudly in his ears.

When the pair reached the mainland without incident, Themisto let go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He chuckled nervously. "...heh, that wasn't so bad... was it? Yeah... heheh, nothin' to it."

Ghostly, eerie blue and green lights danced several feet above their heads, the presence of which made Themisto nervous. The boy did everything he could not to appear afraid of the ghost-lights, if only for Denebola's sake. He wished so badly to be brave for his mentor. He huffed and turned around, intent on just ignoring the damn things. If he didn't see them, then they didn't exist. Right?

"Well, guess we kinda wander around from here. Kinda weird though, real spooky. Has it been long since you last tasted freedom, Elu?"

Without a second thought, Themisto took a few steps forward, intent on exploring the strange buildings he could see on the vague horizon, beneath a blanket of mist.

"Huh?"

Themisto had stopped mid-stride to turn and face Denebola, confusion wearing plainly on his face. He felt his mentor yank her hand from his. He looked down at his own hand, wondering if maybe he got sweaty or something disgusting that caused her to reel back the way she did.

"Pern? You okay?" Themisto took a small step towards Denebola, reaching out to her in concern. "I said, it's kinda weird, real spooky.. You know, cuz... all these freaky-deaky lights n' the mist n' stuff."

Truly, the younger senshi was absolutely terrified that something on his moon had gotten into Denebola, had cursed her or was messing with her in some capacity. He was even more terrified of the fact that if this was the case, he had no idea how to stop it.

It was then that Themisto nearly jumped out of his skin, hearing someone's deep and baritone voice somewhere behind him. In a whirlwind of motion, he swung around and dropped into the battle stance Cetus had taught him. "Who the ******** goes there?! You want Pern, you gotta go through me, motherfu---"

There, somewhere deep in the mist, stood the form of a rather giant man. Broad of shoulder, muscular, probably dangerous from what Themisto could tell. He couldn't make out too many details, not through the dense fog. The super senshi made sure to keep himself between this intruder and Denebola. There was no way in Hell he'd let anything happen to her, not when he'd already screwed up so much.

While Themisto was a healthy five feet and nine inches, this man was quite a bit taller. Height wasn't about to deter the senshi from protecting someone he cared about. Muscles and mass meant nothing when one could fire off a plethora of wailing ghosts.

The figure's deep voice carried through the mist, though the sentences seemed... fractured.

"....safe here... no... no slaves here... Elu.... my home..."

Themisto swallowed thickly. "....the ********..."

For what seemed like eternity, the larger figure of a man simply stood there, shrouded in mist. His silhouette was shock still, unyielding and intimidating in its size and stature. Themisto's breath came to him in short spurts, teeth clenched, fists at the ready. There would be Hell to pay if anyone were to attempt harm upon Denebola.

Without a word, the figure seemed to simply... disappear. His form faded slowly over the course of several seconds, soon becoming one with the mist.

Themisto had to fight the urge to charge forward and find whoever spooked the senshi of dragonflies and introduce them to his fists, but he couldn't risk leaving Denebola behind like that. Neither one of them knew anything about this place and neither could risk getting separated from the other.

"YEAH, you better run, you little b***h!" he cried, face reddened with fear and anxiety, and the overwhelming desire to protect Denebola. "You don't know what you're messin' with! You come back over here and you'll have to deal with me! YOU GOT THAT??"

Shake it out, Themisto. Shake it out. You're on a spooky-a** planet that isn't nearly as cool as Pern - it's actually pretty shitty. Way shittier than Pern. Dene's wigged out, you're wigged out, some big-a**, punk-a** b***h is tryin' to step where he ain't welcome... you just... shake it off, check on Dene. Hopefully she's okay...

After that mental pep-talk, Themisto trodded up to Denebola, reaching out to her gingerly. "...ey, Pern, you... you okay?" Zach's voice was soft, concerned, much like his voice when asking Fiona all those pertinent life questions every boy asks the person they look up to. "We... we can get the eff outta here, if you want. I don't... wanna keep you up 'ere in Spookytown, ya know?"

Themisto sagged beneath Denebola's tender touch. She truly was like the loving big sister he didn't have. "I just... I don't want anything happening you to, Dene." he murmured, taking a moment before standing at his full height. "I wouldn't forgive myself if it did."

He turned away from the dragonfly senshi, standing in direct defiance to the encroaching fog. Themisto saw it as an enemy, manifesting things intended to harm Denebola. He wouldn't allow that to happen. Clenching a fist, he turned to nod with some confidence towards his mentor, and began moving forward.

The ground beneath the senshi's feet was soft and loamy, swelling with moisture and covered on thick moss. As they progressed, the ghostly lights above their heads seemed to light a path into a small portion of... a town? Several buildings loomed in the distance, cast in shadow and mist, but their angular rooftops were distinctive and unmistakable. The fog seemed to be dissipating slowly the closer the pair was to the buildings.

A small worn path wrapped around the far edge of several buildings on raised earth platforms. Ancient carved stone staircases rose to meet wooden doors. Small lanterns dotted the corners of each earthen platform, but none were lit. No sounds other than the soft winds blowing through trees met their ears. Night seemed ever-present. With a sigh, Themisto raised his brown eyes to the sky. "Kind of a gloomy place, ain't it? I dunno what I was expecting, but..."

The boy ambled towards one of the ancient-looking lanterns. It was of simple design, some dark metal material with a central container made of glass. No candle or wick or wax residue was present. A circular handle lay on its side at the apex of the lantern, and Themisto picked it up. "Low-tech, huh." he mumbled. There was no hinge or small opening to place a candle, though Themisto knew little about how lanterns worked. He was more of a light switch-and-electricity sort of man.

Lifting the lantern, Themisto turned to Denebola. "Oh look, they were nice enough to leave us a flashlight and no batteries. How nice of them. Real hospitable." Sarcasm thick, the super senshi didn't notice as one of the bluish ghost-lights blinked and hovered briefly above his head before floating delicately into the base of the lantern. It cast a soft, cool blue glow about three feet in all directions.

"Uh... okay, that's kinda creepy, but we'll go with it..."

Zach, for all his pseudo-confidence and sarcasm, still hoped this excursion would end on a positive note. Themisto as a moon was creepy as hell, foggy, dark and damp. None of these things were particularly pleasant where Zach was concerned. Truthfully, he was rather disappointed that his moon was significantly less cool than Denebola's star. No jungle, no giant dragonflies, no bright and shining star acting as its own personal sun. Still, he didn't wish to go home empty-handed.

Holding the lantern high to give the dragonfly senshi some light to see by, he jerked his head towards the nearest building. Its walls appeared to be made of paper interspersed with wooden support beams. Very Japanese in style, if Themisto had to guess. At least he fit in with his silly costume. Seventeen stone steps made up the gentle ascent to what appeared to be the main doors, which looked relatively modern as compared to the rest of the house. Wooden in material but European in design, not the sliding paper doors Themisto had expected. Gingerly the handle was turned and the door pushed, lantern in front to guide them.

The door, of course, creaked just like one might expect in a horror movie - loud, incredibly so in the stillness and silence of the moon. Themisto made sure to keep himself between Denebola and any creepy crawlies as the door opened to reveal the paper-walled foyer of a distinctly Japanese-style house. Small metal sconces lined the walls, each glowing dimly with its own ghostly light.

"Aight, ghosties..." Themisto mumbled, keeping his eyes peeled for anything suspicious. "You keep away from Pern or I'll break my foot off in yer a**..."