Title: Across the Border part 7 Author: Dark Day For Anime (Mark A Page) Email: ayanami@merlin.net.au ICQ: 9845111 IRC: EvilMokona or MAPPY on DALnet #AJAS Fic Rating: PG-15 -------------------------------------------------------------------- B I S H O U J O S E N S H I S A I L O R M O O N A C R O S S T H E B O R D E R by MAPPY (Mark A Page) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer - This is a story containing characters who were created by anyone but me. That anyone would happen to be Takeuchi Naoko. Handle it. -------------------------------------------------------------------- W H A T H A S G O N E B E F O R E After being given the task of hunting down and killing the reality terrorist and dictator, Adam Jade, the Death Sailors and the Lady Luna de Sade have been pursued by his forces into the sewers of the Republic of Surrealism's capital. Whilst making their escape, they are captured by soldiers of the Republic of Darkness, ruled over by the one-time hero of the struggle against the once-ruling monarchy, Sergei Dimando. They are taken to the underground city that is the homeland of his republic, and treated cruelly at the hands of underlings. But before their mistreatment can go any further, Dimando himself intercedes on their behalf.... -------------------------------------------------------------------- "The most disappointing thing about living underground...." Dimando smiled as he strolled casually along the concourse, overlooking the main boulevard of the underground city, making Usagi feel slightly nervous. "....Is losing the tan that I had once been so famous for. The glow of the fungus just isn't a replacement for pure sunlight. But then, I suppose that is really the point down here.... The sun is our enemy. We live for much more subtle shades, much like the mechanisms by which our society operates." Usagi looked around the concourse, feeling slightly giddy in the unfamiliar situation. Having been freed of her cell, she had been personally invited by Dimando to his private domain, where he had been celebrating the Festival of Ephis with his personal entourage when he had learnt of her capture. And now here she was, walking in the open air (well, closed air, considering how far underground they were, but she wasn't splitting hairs over such concepts) without so much as a weapon or any signs of personal defence for either herself or Dimando.... It made her feel utterly naked. Not as naked as she had been when Beruche's people had stripped and searched her earlier, but naked all the same. She became aware that Dimando was awaiting some response to his statements, and she did a double take. "Subtle.... As subtle as being bundled by a gang of armed goons into your city and being strip-searched?" "Yes, I'm terribly sorry about that." Dimando looked away, a smile on his face. "Not my idea of subtlety, true, but when you are at war, you can't expect the normal shade of civility to show its face." Dimando stepped away from her, leaning against the railing and looking down onto the boulevard, where street entertainers were making more noise than was really necessary in such a sealed environment. Usagi opened her mouth to say something, closed it again as she thought things through, then.... "War? With the Reality Militias?" There was a long silence. Uncomfortably long. Without turning, Dimando nodded. "I'd escaped to this place in the hope of not seeing this kind of hostility again. The Civil War was enough for me. I didn't want to glorify what I had done, since I had not been willingly party to my actions. I'm not a violent man, but there is blood on my hands, and the spirits of those people shall never let me be." Usagi swallowed and looked at her own hands for a moment, silently remarking on the blood she had, metaphorically stained there. Dimando, meanwhile, continued.... "So I wanted to go somewhere where I should never have to face that kind of possibility again." He stood up and turned to her. "But it followed me here. I suppose I blame myself for allowing that to happen. Ever since the blockade at Bardon Park...." "What blockade?" Usagi came to from her musings. "The militias had set up a command post and training camp within one of the old construction pits in the tunnels underneath Bardon Park. When my people discovered it, we naturally destroyed it. The tunnels are our territory. Unfortunately, the militias had rather taken to the idea of using the underground as their personal playground. We have been fighting them off ever since." Usagi lowered her eyes, digesting this piece of information. "Why did you not ask us for help?" "Ask you for help?" Dimando laughed out loud, then controlled himself when he realised Usagi was being serious. "My dear girl, it is against the fundamental philosophies of our society to ask those who bask in the light of the sun for help. It would also mean giving us away to anyone who might wish to bring us harm. An enemy on your borders is something you can live with and fight against, safe in the knowledge that they are over there...." He pointed away from them, gesturing the concept. "But a potential enemy right under your very feet is another matter. You'd never be able to remove the sense of insecurity that it would bring you." Usagi sighed and turned from him, stepping away a short distance. "We still could have helped." She muttered. "Perhaps." He said with equal softness. Usagi then turned back to him. "That still doesn't explain why you were so keen to release me. I mean just me. Myself. I. Not my partners." She crossed her arms. "I mean, you have let them out of their cells, but you've only allowed me the run of the city. Why?" Dimando smiled and waved a finger in front of his face. "Now that would be telling." ----o Part Seven Past Perfect ----o The brightness of the room was surprising, considering how little light there was coming in through the small, barred windows. Surprising, considering the dark moods of the trio that were, nominally, imprisoned there. Beruche had described it as a guests' leisure room. Not that Dimando had many 'guests', considering how secretive the Republic of Darkness liked to be. In fact, it was probably built for people just like they, but that didn't make them feel any more honored. They could hear the sounds of the boulevard beyond the windows, and that made their captivity all that much worse. Rei was pacing from one end of the room to the other, occasionally cursing at the painting of Dimando, set above a mock fireplace at one end of the room. At the other end, she'd kick the large, thick metallic door, painted to look vaguely wooden. She'd then hop around as she was reminded of how solid it actually was. Then she'd forget again over the next few minutes of pacing, glancing at the tablet-like monitor set in between two windows, which displayed a narrowcast of the festivities. She hated feeling caged like this.... Indeed, Ami remarked to herself as she watched her partner, Rei resembled a caged lion, walking backwards and forwards along the length of the bars, waiting its opportunity to escape. Ami was sitting in the middle of the room, on the small settee that marked the only substantial item of furniture, hunched over with her hands in her lap, thinking. Occasionally she would glance at the others, then at the monitor. Neither Rei nor Luna paid her much attention, which was how she liked to think things through.... Undisturbed. Luna was lounging across the back of the settee, staring at the ceiling, drumming her fingers against the sides of the cushions. She had not moved from this position since they were guided here, and Ami was counting the seconds until she exploded. Well, of the three of them, she was the most likely to. Both she and Rei were trained, to some degree, to vent their frustrations in as expedient a manner possible. Luna, on the other hand, was a member of the aristocracy, and whatever her experience she was still subject to her emotions. "Usagi...." Luna said, softly. Rei paused in her stride and turned to her. "What about her?" "I'm...." Luna paused with her mouth open, then closed it again and remained silent. Rei took a long breath and turned to the monitor, gesturing to it with a dismissive hand. "You'd think they'd lock us in here with more to watch than this garbage." She huffed, crossing her arms. "Street theatre. Woah, am I impressed." Her tone dripped with sarcasm. "Montxo Ephis would be turning in his grave." She paused. "Of course, his grave is somewhere above us right now. I'd hate to think, when I die and am shoved into the dirt to feed the weeds, that this was the only entertainment available to me." "What is so wrong with street theatre?" Luna asked, flatly. Well, as flatly as she was able to. Rei snorted. "This isn't art. This isn't even close to a form of valid expressionism. It's just a pack of tossers making an arse of themselves to anyone who might want to use the street as a street." "Not everyone feels that bombing kindergartens is a valid form of expressionism, Rei." Ami mumbled. Luna sat up at this, looking from one girl to the other. "Bombing kindergartens?" She raised her eyebrows. "You're not telling me you...." "That was a joke." Ami sighed and pulled a remote from the gap in the settee between herself and the armrest. "Anyway, we can always change channels." "Was that a joke?" Luna turned to Rei, ignoring Ami. Rei put her hands on her hips, a wicked smile on her face. "I'll let you decide, hmmm?" She turned back to the monitor. "Okay, lets see what other crap they've got running. It's not like there is anything else we can do until Usagi brokers us some form of freedom." "We could always try planning an escape." Luna sounded hopeful. "You know, make some kind of plan.... Trick our captors into thinking one of us is sick, and then...." "What for?" Ami held up the remote and switched the channel on the monitor. It now showed a pair of young women, lying naked on a bed, petting and kissing each other. "Oh now that is classy." Ami snorted. "What for?" Luna shook her head. "Need I remind you that we have something to do that cannot wait?" "Are they old enough to be doing that kind of thing?" Rei crossed her arms and watched as the girls.... continued to pet and kiss each other, without seeming to go any further. "Who knows." Ami rested her head against her arms. "Maybe they're making some statement about pornography? They don't seem to be getting anywhere with what they're doing." "Thus denying those watching for purely voyeuristic reasons the payoff they're looking for." Rei pointed to the top right hand corner of the screen, in which a clock display quietly ticked away to itself. "If that's any guide, they've been at this for close to eleven hours." "I wonder if they have toilet breaks?" Ami crossed her legs. "Speaking of which...." "You two seem to have absolutely no sense of duty or purpose!" Luna clenched her fists at her sides, growling as her patience finally snapped. Rei and Ami turned to her, their faces expressionless masks. "Perhaps...." Ami said, softly and directly to Luna. "It would be an idea for your good self to assume feline form. Whilst it is certainly impossible for us to escape this room." She pointed to the barred windows. "It certainly won't be so difficult for something as small as a cat." Luna's rigid form relaxed, and she made to say something, then she shook her head. "Yes, well.... I might, at the very least, be able to see what is going on between Usagi and Dimando...." "Weren't you all gung-ho about our escaping from here?" Rei asked, petulantly. Luna closed her eyes, shaking her head. "You wouldn't understand. I need to see what is happening between them." She opened her eyes again. Ami had now stood and both she and Rei were ranging up on Luna. "What?" "You've seemed unduly concerned with what is going on between Usagi and Dimando before we were even placed here." Ami cocked her head to one side, rubbing her chin. "Why?" "It's not something you would understand." "Try us." Rei made the short statement seem rather final. Luna sighed and turned away from them, pacing across the room to a window on the far side. "It.... is rather personal. Only a very few people know about it. But I'm afraid." She shook her head. "No, afraid isn't the right word. I'm sure Dimando wouldn't hurt her." "Dimando HURT Usagi?" Rei crossed the floor quickly, grabbing Luna by the arm and spinning her around. "Be careful, that hurts...." Luna mumbled as Rei gripped her other arm, forcing her to face her. "Why would Dimando hurt Usagi?" Rei demanded of her. Luna shook her head. "No, you don't understand.... That's not what I mean. I mean, back in the days of the civil war, Dimando and President Serenity fought alongside each other.... They were members of the same republican platoon." She paused. "And a great deal more...." Rei let go of Luna's arms. "Dimando.... and President Serenity.... were...." "Lovers, yes. They had a relationship that lasted until just before the end of hostilities." Ami paced on the spot, theorising. "And Usagi bears a great resemblance to Serenity. And thus, he might...." She paused, then stopped and chuckled. "Well, he might get more than he bargains for if he does. I'm sure Usagi wouldn't tolerate such a guy making a pass on her." "That's the problem." Luna looked miserable. "Even at his age, he's still a good looking man. And a very powerful man at that." She gestured around her. "With all this at his beck and call, she might just consider doing anything to curry favour with him. To free us so we can continue on our way, and our purpose. Or even have the Republic of Darkness support us." "She wouldn't." Ami shook her head. "Actually...." Rei looked from one to the other. "She might just." She covered her eyes with a hand, rubbing them as if suddenly tired. "Usagi has something of a second-rate death wish. She tends to take risks, and sometimes I think it's because she's willing death to claim her. There are moments when she doesn't care about herself or her reputation." "Oh, it's much worse than that." Luna glowered. "You see, after Serenity and Dimando broke up, she fell in love with, and married, Lord Endymion." "I know that. So what." Luna looked at Rei in frustration. "What most people don't realise is that they had a child." "But President Serenity...." Rei began, before something dawned on her. "A child.... A daughter?" Luna nodded. Ami blinked, cluelessly. "President Serenity cannot have children. We all know that. How could she and Endymion have had a child? A daughter?" "Baka!" Rei snapped at her. "Isn't it patently clear? Why do you think Usagi looks so much like President Serenity? Because she is the President's daughter!" Ami's mouth opened wide as it hit home. "But that.... That still doesn't explain the fact that the President cannot have children." "Oh no, she can't have children NOW." Luna warmed to the subject. "And back then, they hid her pregnancy from people so as to protect the child from assassins or kidnappers. Eventually, when she was born, she was given to a pair of foster parents. She never knew they were not her parents. Even after they were killed in a terrorist attack...." Luna's voice started to fail. She composed herself, then continued. "Someone within the echelons of government found out about Usagi, and attempted to kill her. But they failed, instead only killing her family.... Her foster family." A long silence followed, as both Ami and Rei returned to the settee, sitting down whilst trying to digest this new information. "And so...." Rei licked her lips. "That's why you want to protect Usagi.... from Dimando...." "No. I mean, yes.... Oh, it gets worse. You see, nobody was ever sure about the paternity of Usagi.... You see.... Dimando may be Usagi's father." ----o "And so night falls." JunJun smiled to herself as she stared at the darkening sky. "And the Festival of Ephis enters its final day. Will Jade's army bring devastation upon us all, or will this day mark a turn in the eternal struggle against reality?" She peered over at CereCere, who was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, as if meditating. "You know, I find it very boring to spend a large portion of my day on the roof of a building. Especially in a district as devoid of takeaways as Nemesis Gate." "As devoid of anything." VesVes was hunched up against the roof wall, holding her legs. "Oh, I want to kill something so badly. It's just burning me up from within." "That's not really our job, this time. Ain't that right, CereCere." JunJun waited for an answer, but received none. "Yes...." She went on anyway. "That's not our job. Of course, they don't give us the complicated jobs, anyway." "With your attitudes, I'm not particularly surprised." CereCere opened her eyes, smiling sweetly. "It is our role in life to provide distractions, so that others may get on with their work, whatever that work may be. And in this case, those 'others' do seem to be somewhat delayed. I imagine they're having something of a problem getting here from the other side of the city. Perhaps they have been cornered by a faction of the militias." "Whatever they're doing, I'm still bored." VesVes snorted. "I say we ditch this place and find out what's holding them up." "Patience, my dear girl, patience." CereCere held up a hand. "Although I am enamored with that as an idea in itself, remember that we are also in a vulnerable position. At any moment, our presence here may be detected by the enemy's surveillance. And then we shall be, how would you say, neck deep in smelly brown stuff. Precipitous action may be our downfall." "Well...." JunJun pointed to the sleeping form to her left. "At least one of us knows how to behave in this situation." She smiled as she prodded PallaPalla in the side with a finger, making the girl mutter. "PallaPalla wanna her candy.... PallaPalla can't live without her candy." She snuffled and buried her head deeper into the folds of her backpack. JunJun placed a hand on her forehead, a rare soft expression on her face. "Remember when we used to be like her, before our personality programs kicked in?" The other two remained silent, so she continued. "Like an ice pick through my mind. That's what it felt like. And then there was the bleeding. I almost died. She still hasn't gone through that." "I hope she never goes through something like that." VesVes muttered, clenching on of her hands. "Because when she does, there will be hell to pay, for everyone around her." ----o Usagi said little as she was guided through what appeared to be a form of moss garden courtyard. She was happy enough that this particular lifeform did not glow, as she was becoming slightly queasy because of the strange green light given off by the fungus. Dimando must have noticed this, she felt, as he placed a gentle arm around her shoulders and helped her through to the next building, a large hallway that was illuminated by counterbalancing reddish lamps. "The glow of the fungus takes quite a bit of getting used to, I'm afraid. And I'm not just talking about its colour." Dimando helped her to a small seat, set to one side of the hallway. "It can be detrimental to one's health, for a little while. It gives off rays that cause the body to produce chemicals in the blood of those who are not seasoned by its glow." She looked up at him in alarm after leaning forward, holding her face in her hands to stop the world spinning. "No no no. They won't cause you any long-term damage. It's an autonomic reaction within the body.... It thinks something is happening when it isn't, and does strange things like that for a little while." "How long?" Usagi said, eventually, when she found her voice. "A day or so. As I said, it won't cause you any long-term damage. There have been people living down here for hundreds of years, and they aren't all suddenly breaking out in strange diseases and mutations." "I'd keep a watch on it, though." Usagi breathed in deeply, allowing the air to clear her head. "Regardless of how many generations have been down here.... I'd keep watching. Living in a place like this, long term, is likely to change the people, even in subtle ways." "We are not afraid of change. Those who are are already dead." Dimando smiled, even though his tone seemed serious. "I'm sorry that this had to happen to you so soon. I would have liked to have shown you a little more of my palace. Now I suggest you get some rest and sleep the problems away." "I can't." Usagi stood, unsteadily at first, making Dimando reach forward for her, but she waved him away. "All this hospitality is very nice, but there really is something both myself and my friends have to do. We can't be kept here like this." Dimando raised an eyebrow, but his smile didn't disappear. "You were found within the sewer system of the surface city, of course. What were you doing up there?" Usagi opened her mouth to say something, then paused. "I don't know if I can tell you, but it IS important, for the future of the surface city. MY city. MY homeland." "Yes, that's all very well...." Dimando nodded, pursing his lips. "But you're here, now. And I don't know if I can let you go." "Why not?" Usagi stared at him, making him feel as if he'd been struck by a 10,000 volt blast. He struggled to reply. "The location of the city is a secret." "The reality militias know about it." Usagi put her hands on her hips. Dimando sighed. She was just like her. EXACTLY like her. Always forthright and to the point, even if the point was wrong. "No, they don't know about the city. They know we exist, but they don't know where the city, itself, is. And, I'm afraid, that is something we'd rather keep a secret." "Even at the expense of the Republic of Surrealism?" Usagi growled. "If that is the case then I'd rather die. You'll have to kill me, because there is no way I am going to remain here, whilst my friends and people are butchered by Jade's peop...." "Jade? Adam Jade?" Dimando frowned as Usagi put a hand across her mouth. "I didn't say that. You didn't hear me say that...." She stammered as Dimando stepped away, rubbing his chin. "Adam Jade.... He can't have joined them. No! I refuse to believe such a possibility." "Why? Is it so hard to believe that such a terrorist would become part of the reality militias?" Having given away most of everything, Usagi decided, there wasn't much point in hiding it any longer. "Adam Jade was one of the most dedicated members of the Republican Guard, both during and after the civil war." Dimando's face hardened. "Oh yes, I knew Adam Jade. He was a good man, and a truly artistic spirit." "He is a cold-blooded murderer and a terrorist. Given the opportunity, I will kill him with my bare hands. It would pleasure me to do so." Usagi sneered. "Whatever he may have been in your time, he has more than betrayed." "And.... is he your target? Are you an assassination squad, hired to kill this man?" Dimando turned to Usagi, and her emotions did an about-face. There seemed to be a sadness in his eyes. "We are such a squad, yes, but we are patriots. Part of the armed services that protect the Republic." "It's always a mistake, you know.... To allow oneself to become emotional about the past." Dimando put his hands on her shoulders. "I knew your parents, you know? They were good people. The most honorable people it has been my pleasure to meet." Usagi swallowed, wondering if she should have felt some surprise at this revelation. It certainly explained why he had singled her out the way he did. "Did you know they were killed by a terrorist, working for the reality militias?" His fingers tightened their grip, giving her all the answer she needed. Still, he said.... "No, I didn't know that. I left not long after the foundation of the Republic. I'm sorry." "Don't be. I have been claiming revenge for their deaths ever since." Dimando let go of her and threw his hands in the air. "Oh, my child.... How could you?" "How could I?" She didn't understand the question. "It was very easy. VERY easy. My family.... They were EVERYTHING to me. Without them, there was nothing else to live for. There IS nothing else to live for." "No.... No.... My child, you don't understand." Dimando shook his head. "I had hoped you hadn't sullied yourself.... Brought yourself down to the same level as the militias. I'm sorry. I understand how hard it must have been for you." "Oh, don't be." Usagi stepped back from him. "Knowing this obviously makes you think a whole lot less of me." She turned and started down the hallway. "I take it this leads to your private chambers? We can discuss my fate and that of my friends there." "Wait!" Dimando swallowed as paused and she turned, arms crossed. "I didn't mean to offend you. I'm not criticising you for what has happened in your life. That is all in the past, now, so it doesn't matter. It's just that.... You remind me of someone. Someone I used to know quite well." He paused, not knowing what to say next. "I had hoped.... You would live a more peaceful and happy life than she. It hurts me to know how much sadness you have endured, and how much it has affected you." Usagi's expression was unreadable. She tilted her head back, slightly. "Is that all? Is that really the reason why you separated me from the others? Because I remind you of someone?" "Is it not enough?" He replied, softly. "That, and the fact that I was there when you were born. Is that not enough for you?" Usagi remained silent for a few moments more, thinking. "Would you then kill me if I asked you to?" Now it was Dimando's turn to think things through. "Why? Would you ever be likely to ask me?" "Perhaps." She paused. "If you think so highly of me, you can let us be on our way, where I might possibly die. Would that not amount to the same thing?" She paused again. "This conversation is becoming morbid. Let us continue on our way...." And with that, Dimando lead Usagi to his private chambers in silence.... END OF PART 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ACROSS THE BORDER In the heat of the day Many miles away when the Sun is beating down the main street. I'll be waiting at the station, I gotta move down the line. They'll be dancing and singin' And doin' their thing And they'll be rockin' and rollin' Until the day is done. You know I've got to Make the deadline- I gotta get that southbound train tonight- If I don't get to the border then I'll write. The Mardis Gras Will be blowing strong And the people dancing All across the city I'm leavin' here tonight I gotta move down the line. I'm gonna catch a ride On the 9.05 I'm gonna ride the rails Until we reach the morning, Maybe three or four Hundred miles. I gotta get that southbound train tonight- If I don't get to the border then I'll write. When the wind is blowing Softly through the streets of a little town And the music's playin', You're waitin' somewhere Over the horizon. I gotta get that southbound train tonight- If I don't get to the border then I'll write. -Jeff Lynne- "Across the Border" is the 4th track from the Electric Light Orchestra's 1977 double album, "Out of the Blue". -------------------------------------------------------------------- _________ / @ \ MAPPY (The Right Dishonourable Mark A Page) / / ^ ^ \ \ Formerly Known As Dark Day For Anime /\ ayanami@merlin.net.au \/ \/ Trial and Error \___________/ Motivation and Demotivation /_/ \_\ PU Stupidity and.... More Stupidity Version 1.0 - 3.33am Friday, 9th June 2000