Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Regency ❯ Chapter 2

Regency

By: InitialA

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon!

Everyone was silent, watching the video feed with varying degrees of horror on their faces. Several tense minutes passed; while none of them were old enough to remember the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, their parents and grandparents had passed on their own stories. No one in Japan treated nuclear warfare lightly. Usagi's eyes filled with tears. She covered her mouth with her hand and fell to her knees with a choked sob.

The simple noise broke the stunned silence, and people started talking all at once; some were panicking, their voices rising above the rest, while some took control and started making calls or organizing others. Fushikenwa started barking orders to his team, and Usagi tried to pull herself together as much as possible. She got back up, trying to make sense of everything. Her boss glanced at her. “No time to fall apart at the seams, Chiba, this is when we're supposed to show everyone what we're made of.”

“I know sir… Who would do such a thing?” She felt childish asking, she knew very well what kind of person would, but her brain seemed to be running on basic functions.

“That's what we're working to find out, missy.” Another voice answered from above.

Usagi turned. She supposed this man on the raised floor was the director of operations of a sort; he had that sort of authority air about him. He was calmer, or better at hiding his emotions, than the others and smoothed his mustache as he calculated the many screens around him. “The problem is… that was the Vietnamese capital. Any informants we have stationed there are probably dead. Communications will have been cut. It'll take a lot longer before we can get any information out of there, and likely we won't know anything until someone makes a claim on the attack.”

“The bomb. It was atomic,” Usagi said dazedly.

“Yes, Chiba, we're all aware of that,” Fushikenwa said, his voice tight.

“But… the laws. There's so many restrictions…”

“Chiba, if you can't control yourself…”

“Can't we tell what kind of material the bomb was made of?” Usagi blurted out, before she could stop herself.

The director continued to watch the screens. “Not likely, not until we get a radiation testing team out.”

Usagi started to speak again, but Mr. Fushikenwa attempted to shush her. “Now, Chiba, don't bother the director with such things—”

“No, this is important. Director, I only say this because of international hazardous materials mining laws. We shouldn't have to wait on the results from a team flying out there, because we can narrow it down based on material accessibility,” she said.

The director finally looked at her. “Girl, you should know that all mines producing radioactive materials are fairly secure.”

“Not true, sir. I only know this because… well, it's something we should all be more aware of. And people who live on those lands aren't well-treated or given much money to have their lives disrupted just so their governments can take what's under the land.”

Someone nearby snorted. “Welcome to reality…”

Fushikenwa was also frowning. “Chiba, this isn't a time for your bleeding heart to come in changing the way the whole world works.”

Usagi hardened at being scolded, took a breath to settle the irritation fizzling under her skin and began at length, “The obvious answer is to look at Iran or the Middle East in general because we see the most terrorist activity there, but from the look of everyone in this room we haven't heard any intelligence of movement there, and we'll only waste everyone's time by blaming them without fact. Africa is a possibility due to poor security and war-torn nations holding it, but anyone carrying hazardous materials is probably shot in one of their wars and anything they're carrying is taken back to whichever side killed that poor person and likely used against their enemies. We can rule out most first-world countries with uranium-rich soils because they either stand against nuclear power or have secure areas. I say most, because there's still fairly rich uranium mines in the sparsely-populated American desert, and it's easily smuggled out through their Native reservations and out to a waiting recipient in Mexico. And don't give me that look because you know the Americans won't ever shut up about their border security with Mexico, so you know someone with enough determination will figure out a way past the limited patrols and through the canyons to Mexico, where they can probably pay off whichever drug lord has control of that region at the time to get through safely to the drop point. Now, is that enough to go off of, or should I continue?”

The director regarded her. Those working nearby had stopped what they were doing somewhere in the middle of her rant to stare at the woman they usually knew as bubbly, kind, and not always the brightest crayon in the box. In her place was a leader well-versed in political logistics and criminal theory. Finally, the director spoke. “You seem to have the grasp of things, girl. Come up here and have a look at this data, tell me what you make of it.”

And with everyone still staring at her, she did just that, still clutching the pile of papers she had come in with.

*~*

At some point, she had managed to page Mamoru to pick up Chibi-usa from her mother's. She ended up working past eight, and it was close to ten at night when she finally walked in to their apartment. She hadn't even taken off her shoes and her husband was immediately asking her about the news. “I should have suspected that wouldn't be kept quiet…”

“Usako, it's an atomic bomb.” Her husband looked every bit as tired as she felt, and she wasn't coming out of a 36-hour shift at the hospital. “This isn't something they can keep quiet. Is that why you're so late?” Mamoru asked.

She nodded tiredly. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and have her husband feed her until she fell asleep. “Apparently, shooting my mouth off at the director in a time of crisis is a good thing. I'm getting a promotion.”

“Always a silver lining, I suppose. What's the job?”

“Can't say much. Top-secret logistics stuff. It's a lot of computer work and looking at things that Ami-chan would be better at than me.”

Mamoru put his arm around her, and pulled her in to a hug. The full weight of everything that had happened that day crashed down on her, and Usagi started to cry. “Oh, Mamo-chan, it was so awful… There was no warning, no one with credible faculty has claimed responsibility, no information coming out. All of those people…”

He held her and made soothing noises as she cried herself out. She lifted her head eventually and sniffled, wiping at her cheeks. “I'm sorry… I haven't done that in ages…”

Mamoru smiled at her. “It's been a long day, for both of us. And I bet you haven't eaten in ages, which wouldn't help.”

“No,” she admitted. “I do need something. Would you warm me up something, while I go see Chibi-usa?”

He agreed, and she slipped off to her daughter's bedroom. The child slept peacefully, her soft pink curls every-which-way, unaware of the world beyond. Usagi leaned over the crib to kiss her forehead. “You're such a good baby…” she whispered. “I guess you're going to decide to make up for that when you get older.”

She heard the microwave beep, and went back out into the kitchen. Mamoru had set up a place for her at the table, and she sat gratefully. He set a dish of chicken yakisoba before her, and sat next to her while she inhaled the food.

Usagi didn't say anything else until they were cuddled up in bed together later. “The scariest part is, Mamo-chan… we don't know anything more. We don't know who did it, or if there's more to come, or where they'd hit next.”

“There's nothing you can do about it right now, Usako,” he replied sleepily.

“I know, but… I have this feeling, you know?”

“Is it something you should call Rei about?”

“I don't know. If it were a supernatural enemy, I think Rei-chan would have called me. She's better at sensing these things first. She had all those dreams of impending doom back when we fought the Silence, remember? She, or Michiru would know—”

Usagi sat up with a gasp. “Michiru! Haruka, she's racing in Milan this week!”

Mamoru sat up too. “Usako…”

“Mamo-chan, it's the Grand Prix, you know Haruka always races there. They might not know—”

She scrambled out of bed and found their phone. As she dialed Michiru's cell phone number, Mamoru was speaking, “It's four in the afternoon there, don't expect they'll be free.”

“Michiru-chan!” Usagi said urgently, proving her husband wrong. “Yes, I'm… well, no, no I'm not fine. It's a long story…..yes, that's…..I know, that's why I wanted to call. I wanted to warn you and Haruka-chan…..well, I thought if that were the case, you or Rei would have called me…..yes….no…..We're working on that, but I can't really say more…..right…..I can say we're just as much in the dark as everyone else…..No, no, if Haruka isn't finished with her race, there's no need…..well, yes, but…..Michiru, please, don't come home early just yet. And there might be restricted air service after today…..You won't get stuck, don't you have a private jet?.....Alright, well, fill Haruka in, and then let me know what you decide…..I'll keep you as posted as I'm allowed to…..Yes…..Oh, that would be wonderful….Thank you, Michiru….Yes, you too. Tell Haruka good luck, or break a leg, or whatever it is. Stay safe.”

She sighed as she hung up the phone, and sat on the bed as heavily as someone her size could. Mamoru scooted forward and put his arm around her waist. “I want Haruka to do well; she'd miss out on points or… I don't know how it works, but it would hurt her standing. But…”

“They'll be fine, hon. Haruka and Michiru can handle themselves; I'm more worried about whoever might get in their way,” he replied.

Usagi chuckled. “True enough…” She sobered quickly though. “This used to be easy.”

“It was never easy,” Mamoru said. “There were just less people to worry about. And we weren't scattered across the globe, or dealing with careers.”

“That's the only good thing I can think of. Michiru said she would look into things in Europe and let me know what she found out. I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, I want to talk with the girls.”

Mamoru pulled her back towards their pillows and held her close. “I have the day off tomorrow since I just did the thirty-six run. If you want, you can leave me with anything you can think of, and I'll call everyone who can make it over to discuss things, and if you want to discuss anything further we can have them over this weekend when your work schedule is a bit quieter.”

Usagi smiled tiredly. “You think of everything, Mamo-chan. I just hope I can get the weekend off, it wouldn't surprise me if we had to pull out all the stops over the next few weeks…”

*~*

She left early the next morning, and a list of what she felt needed to be disclosed and what issues they should look for was left on the table. She kissed husband and child good-bye, and hurried to catch her train.

Mamoru sighed after she left, and looked over the list. He nearly spat out his coffee as he read it. “U-Usako…”

In typical Usagi-fashion, half of it was covered in drawings to convey her meaning, and the other half was a jumble of thoughts and explanations that made little sense. Chibi-usa burbled happily, banging her spoon against the high-chair table. “Little one, there isn't a word that exists to describe your mother's train of thought…” He said under his breath, but the corners of his mouth were twitching in amusement.

He picked up the phone and started calling his wife's guardians.

*~*

Between work, school, and travel only three of their friends were able to come. Hotaru, a bright second-year university student who was almost unrecognizable from the awkward teenager she had been, immediately took charge of Chibi-usa as her foster-mother and Minako waved Mamoru's hospitality off and made the tea and snack tray. “From Usagi's reports, Mamoru, you need to sit,” Setsuna said with a smile.

He scowled. “I've been sitting all morning! If I can walk around a hospital for 24 hours and not fall over, I can walk around my own kitchen.”

Minako laughed and opened a cupboard. “We know where you keep the treats, Mamoru! Within Usagi's reach!”

Hotaru extracted a strand of hair from Chibi-usa's grip. “She's growing fast, Mamoru-sama,” she commented, gently steering the conversation to more neutral territory.

Chibi-usa babbled happily. He smiled. “She's getting to be that age. She likes you. And I told you, you don't have to call me that. I'm not King yet.”

She eyed him; not for the first time, Mamoru noticed the age beyond her years hidden in their depths. “I have to be in the habit, Mamoru-sama. It doesn't do for courtiers to disrespect their rulers.” She smiled, and the wizened age in her eyes disappeared. “But I am glad she likes me. Perhaps it is good fortune for our friendship in her future.”

Mamoru noticed Setsuna watching their interaction. Usagi had relayed their conversation—or at least the parts she had fully understood—to him that evening. He had always taken a more carefree attitude towards the future kingdom than his wife, he knew, but privately he was just as concerned. The news of an unknown path ahead was more soothing than it should have been. Mamoru supposed that the relief of that burden of knowledge was what made the uncertainty soothing. It was nice to feel normal for a change. However, he didn't correct Hotaru. He was unsure of how much Setsuna told her daughter of future events, and felt that it wasn't his responsibility to change the girl further than her already-traumatic life had already. “We shouldn't waste more time, everyone. Usako left me a… list of things we needed to go over.”

“She drew all over it, didn't she?” Minako asked, her mouth half-full of a gingersnap.

“Well… yes,” Mamoru said in a resigned tone.

Setsuna chuckled, just as the tea kettle whistled. “You can start, I can hear just fine,” she said, and went to fix their mugs.

Mamoru put on his reading glasses; he felt old wearing them, but it was that or take twenty minutes longer to go over everything. “It's about the atomic bomb in Vietnam yesterday. Usako is worried about the source. And now that I've slept and have processed it, I admit I'm more worried as well.”

“It's troublesome… the news reports this morning said that Japan is in no danger from radiation fall-out, because of the global air circulation patterns, but all of those people on the Indochina Penninsula…” Hotaru said.

He nodded. “They haven't found out who did it yet. None of the known terrorist organizations have made a viable claim on the attack. Usako is worried that this may be something we will have to handle, or that it will be beyond any of our abilities or the global military ability.”

Minako was stirring her tea. “And the United Nations? I haven't checked the news at all; I was out late last night.”

Mamoru shook his head. “I know they called an emergency session of the General Assembly this morning and the Security Council met yesterday. Their plans will be made public soon enough, but other than that… Usako said she would call when she could if they made any breakthroughs.”

The blonde woman took a sip from her mug and sighed. “I wish Luna and Artemis were here… They could hack into the U.N.'s database and let us know almost as soon as anything was decided…”

They were all silent for a moment; their cat aides had been on a personal mission ever since they had fully recovered from their injuries during the Sailor Wars. After establishing contact with the newly-reborn Sailor Mau, they had spent the next few years working to find other ambassadors like themselves and rebuild their home planet of Mau. While most of this work had been done from Earth, two years ago they had left to help with the actual rebuilding process. It was unknown when they would return; Usagi and Minako, while they had complained about their aides nagging and needling them to grow up and be more responsible young women, missed them both terribly. Usagi had been particularly heartbroken that Luna had left before the wedding, and then missed the birth of Chibi-usa.

“Is there anything Rei-san or Michiru-mama could do to look into these events?” Hotaru asked. Chibi-usa grabbed at the cookie the young woman held.

“Rei would have called, wouldn't she? She would pick up on that pretty fast,” Minako said.

“And Usako called Michiru last night to inform her. She and Haruka will be staying in Milan, but she said they would look into it. We don't believe it's supernatural, but Michiru's mirror may be more helpful than Rei's fire-reading,” Mamoru said.

Setsuna cleared her throat. They looked at her. “If I may, Prince… Perhaps this is the Princess overreacting?”

Mamoru felt his back straighten at Setsuna's title. “Atomic warfare isn't exactly unworthy of that, Setsuna.”

She bowed her head in agreement. “Yes, but… we saw her same reaction with the terrorist attacks in the United States, and the subsequent warfare that resulted. Is this not another human war? We are called to defend this star from unearthly assaults, not our own squabbling.”

“Serenity-sama is destined to save humanity from itself, Setsuna-mama,” Hotaru replied before Mamoru could speak. Again, her attitude surpassed her age. “Though I know little of the events that shall come to pass, I do know that. And even so, who is to say that this is not a repeat of the Silence? My father…” She hesitated, her voice losing something. “My father was proof that humanity is not immune to the seduction of an outside evil. And perhaps this evil… this evil will not just attack with its own means. Perhaps it finds that a good helping of humanity's weakness and fear helps feed the Chaos to its full potential.”