Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at treetop@voicenet.com. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. All references to Vulcan are the province of Gene Roddenberry and Paramount Studios. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.

Across The Millennia
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Part Six: Prism of the Past - Revelations
Rating: PG-13

The Moon: a thousand years ago....

Serena felt a brief, but intense pressure behind her eyes, not unlike a migraine while the bottom fell out of her stomach. Once that feeling passed, she felt airy, light-headed, the sensation was as if her spirit had been released from the fleshy prison that was her body to soar through the heavens.

Then, Serena was someplace else. Through her mind's eye, she was on another world, a large, red planet that was desert dry and oppressively hot under the glare of burning bright twin suns in the clear sky above. In a series of lightning fast images permanently imprinted on her brain, Serena watched as the life of T'alya, daughter of T'Lar, a prominent stateswoman and Setak, a renowned archaeologist was played out before her. Serena looked on as the girl, more open and receptive to her emotions than she readily admitted to become extremely fond of her father. In fact, she idolized him, accompanying Setak on his digs all over the planet as he taught her all he knew about his craft, his passion, if Vulcans, coldly logical and impassive were said to have any.

Setak's passion quickly became T'alya's and she longed to follow in her father's footsteps, even though it conflicted with her mother who wanted T'alya to become a diplomat as she was. Despite the often heated conflict with her mother, and her emotions which she often had trouble controlling, thus leading to painful estrangement from her peers, T'alya was, for the most part, content with her life. Then came The Accident. Three years before T'alya arrived on the Moon, Setak, on a dig was caught in a sudden landslide in a mountainous region along with six of his colleagues and killed, buried under tons of rock. It took nearly a week to recover Setak's body, which had been crushed beyond recognition, even by his wife who was stunned by what she had seen.

While T'Lar handled the death of her husband with all the stoicism inherent in the Vulcan race, T'alya, governed by her wayward emotions was devastated. Inconsolable from grief, T'alya cried non-stop for three straight days, then locked herself in her room for an entire week after the funeral. While T'Lar understood how important it was for her daughter to grieve over the tragic loss of her father, she found her behavior afterward to be bothersome and illogical. When T'alya finally came out of seclusion, she had changed. Whereas she once enjoyed her emotions, she now found them to be a millstone that weighed her down, kept her from finding peace and balance in her life. More than anything, T'alya hated not being in control.

Then there was T'alya's quickly blossoming telepathic powers, which developed sooner than anyone anticipated. T'alya could sense how her peers loathed her because she had precious little control over her emotions. Instead of following the traditional teachings of her people in the art of eliminating emotions in favor of logic, T'alya chose another path. She would take control of her life, her way. T'alya concentrated on her driving passion, archaeology to the point of obsession, becoming one of Vulcan's youngest experts ever in the field. By applying herself to her craft, T'alya also learned to exert her own brand of iron willed control over her emotions and was proud of her dual victories.

Still, there were times when T'alya's control faltered and she became a prisoner of her emotions instead of being the master. She hoped to undergo the Kohlinar discipline and forever rid herself of her millstone but was too young, and her mother too pre-occupied with her political duties to give her the assistance she needed. But even that was a losing proposition as T'alya knew that not even her mother's vast power in government circles would not hold sway with the planet's mystical elders who deemed those worthy of undergoing the discipline. In essence, T'alya had no choice but to fight her demons her way. And ultimately, fight them alone.

Then came the news her mother sprung on her. News of a trip she would take to a planet in another solar system. And T'alya would be coming along, whether she wanted to or not. And she definitely did not....

For T'alya, seeing into the world of Serena Crestmoon was nothing short of a revelation, especially since her life, in some ways perfectly echoed her own. Serena had been born to Queen Serenity, benevolent ruler of the solar system whose nine worlds composed her vast empire. A precocious, carefree child, Serena had no inkling early on that she was slated to succeed Serenity as ruler of the Silver Millennium upon her eighteenth birthday, just as Serenity inherited the mantle from her mother when she came of age. From the time Serena was still an infant, plans had already been made to pick a man who would eventually become her husband and rule by her side. The child's entire future had already been mapped out in the most finite detail, from birth to the age of succession.

And when Serena came to be aware of those grandiose plans for her future, she grew to hate them.

While Serena knew she was destined to succeed her mother as ruler of the solar system and understood the great importance behind it all, she was inwardly frustrated and angry over not having any say, any control over her own destiny. Yet, she didn't want to disappoint her mother who loved her dearly and wanted only the very best for her daughter, even if it meant playing a role she was not looking forward to. As Serena grew up, becoming elegant and stunningly beautiful, she also came to acknowledge the pain filled loneliness of her existence, confined within the walls of the palace, rarely allowed to journey beyond its borders because of her station as heiress to the throne. This chafed at Serena who longed to explore, to see the vastness of the world before her.

In the years that followed, Serena's loneliness increased as she was virtually made a prisoner in her own home. Serena had no friends, no one to talk to, no one to be close to. There was always the members of the Royal Guard who were all her age, but they were forbidden to associate with her beyond normal day to day activities. Serena found that to be a shame as she secretly liked the girls, most of all Rei, the fiery Princess of Mars whom Serena was particularly fond of. Yet, she daren't disobey her mother's wishes about fraternization with the Guard. It hurt Serena deep to the bottom of her soul to always be alone, but, the demands of fate superseded everything, including her own feelings.

Then came the encounter that changed Serena, made her feel more like a woman than a mere girl. Her first meeting with Prince Darien of Earth. It happened shortly after her fourteenth birthday during the gala party held in her honor. At first sight, Darien, surrounded by his entourage of four Generals from his ruling council captivated Serena. Her heart pounded in her chest and her head spun delightfully when she was introduced to Darien who seemed smitten with her as well. To Serena, hopelessly entranced by the regal, ebon haired prince, Darien was everything she always dreamed of in a man: kind, handsome, strong, with piercing dark eyes and a playfully devilish smile that made Serena weak in the knees. Serena knew instantly that she was in love.

Suddenly, life became grand for Serena. A great weight had been lifted from her slender shoulders thanks to Darien, filling her heart with feelings that she thought were dead in her from her long years of isolation. Six months later, came the news that a princess from a far away world would be coming to the Moon. When Serena first gazed at T'alya of Vulcan, she was estatic, realizing that she had found the final component to her happiness....a friend.

It was at that moment that the mind meld ended and Serena and T'alya returned to the normal plane of existence. The experience of the joining left the girls softly sobbing in each other's arms, totally overcomed from emotion.

"Oh, Tal. It was wonderful," said Serena, barely able to get the words out as she broke the embrace, her tears continuing to flow. "I can feel your presence in my mind, in my heart. You freely opened your life to me, you shared with me your very soul. I love you more than ever now and I never want to lose this feeling. How long will it last?"

"For as long as we both live. Our minds are now permanently joined," said T'alya. She felt cleansed, refreshed and renewed after having wept. "Whenever we clasp hands, our thoughts immediately become open to the other. Only death can sever the bond we have established this evening."

Serena smiled playfully. "Then, let's make sure that we never die."

T'alya nodded. The girls, only a foot apart, clasped hands, their fingers gently intertwining as they gazed deeply into each other's eyes.

Now, and forever, until the end of time, I will be your friend, Serena heard T'alya say in her mind.

We are of one mind, one soul, one heart. Always united, Serena replied wordlessly.

The girls, manipulated by the powerful feelings in their hearts instinctively drew close, then, their lips pressed together as they embraced. The kiss Serena and T'alya shared was long, sweet and tender, as if they had waited all their lives for this one moment of ultimate intimacy, ultimate togetherness. And with that, a very special friendship was fully consummated.

In another area of the palace, Rei shot up from bed screaming.

Wide eyed, her naked skin sheathed in a fine layer of sweat, Rei, breathing hard and trembling felt a fist of ice clamp itself around her heart.

The princess from Mars hugged herself, sensing that something very special in her life had just been taken away from her. Hot tears streamed down Rei's cheeks as she silently mourned her private tragedy. The pain she felt at that moment was almost overwhelming.

"Oh, God. I've lost her," she whispered, her voice thick with anguish.

"Rei? What is it? What's wrong?" a groggy Minako asked.

"Nothing," answered Rei, hastily wiping away the moisture. "I just had a bad dream, that's all. Sorry I woke you."

Minako, also nude, sat up and studied her partner. The terrible hurt she saw in Rei's eyes which the fiery gaurdian couldn't hide made her heart ache. She rested a hand on Rei's shoulder. "It's Serena, isn't it? Do you want to talk about it? It might help to get it off your chest."

"No, Mina. I can't. It hurts too much."

Minako sighed. She hated to see Rei suffer, but would not force her friend into something she wasn't prepared for. She gently caressed Rei's still moist cheek. "I know it does. Well, when you are ready, I'll be here for you. You know that."

"Thanks. I love you for caring about me."

"That's what friends are for. C'mon, let's get some sleep."

The girls laid back down under cool, satin bedsheets. Rei curled herself in Minako's warm and comforting arms, and she immediately began to relax as the blond beauty softly stroked her hair. Rei was extremely grateful for Minako's company as she soothed her pain and made her long, lonely nights more bearable. And Rei knew this one night would be especially long for her.

Ambassador T'Lar was relaxing in a comfy leather chair in the spacious living area of the large suite she and daughter lived with a century old book of Vulcan philosophy when T'alya entered.

"Welcome, daughter. I take it you enjoyed yourself with Princess Serena?" T'Lar asked.

T'alya nodded back, fondly remembering the kiss she shared with Serena. "I did, mother. Moreso than usual this evening."

"In what way? Or is that a private affair between the two of you?"

T'alya, feeling the warm glow of Serena's spirit in her heart knew she couldn't conceal the truth to T'Lar about the melding. For the first time in her life, T'alya felt much more than merely Vulcan, she was, in her own unique way....human. For the briefest of moments, T'alya considered subtrefuge, knowing her mother might not approve of the use of her telepathic gifts in such a way, especially with an outworlder. However, T'alya never kept any secrets from her mother and was not about to start such a deceitful practice now.

"In a way. I mind melded with Serena. We shared consciousness and established a permanent mental link between us to strengthen our friendship," she replied. T'alya then placed a hand on her heart. "Serena is....inside me."

For several moments, T'Lar, her face impassive was silent as she pondered what she had been told. She knew T'alya was growing proficient in the use of her telepathic powers despite her tender years, yet this was something of a surprise as it was uncommon, almost unheard of for Vulcans to meld with other races. "I see. You realize this not something we, as a race can condone. Did the princess agree to what you had done?"

"She did. Willingly. Eagerly. I was given the opportunity to view Serena's life through her eyes as she viewed mine. The parallels were too startling for words," said T'alya. "Serena and I are more alike than even we could have imagined. The melding brought us closer, helped us to better understand and appreciate each other. It was, the most rewarding experience of my life."

"Interesting. I take it then that you are content?"

"No, mother. I am happy," T'alya proclaimed, her voice filled with conviction. "And I have you to thank for that."

T'Lar cocked an eyebrow from curiosity. "Me? How so?"

"By insisting I come with you to the Moon. If I had stayed on Vulcan, I would never have met Serena. My friend whom I deeply love."

"And what of your interest in archaeology?"

"It has not diminished. Prince Darien has offered to take me to Earth for a dig with a leading scientist on his council. Also, as long as I am content to stay here, it would only be logical that I begin in earnest my internship under your tutelage in the diplomatic arena."

In spite of how illogical it seemed, T'Lar felt a swelling of pride in her heart for her daughter. "I am pleased with your change of heart, T'alya. And what of your emotions? Do you still seek to have them expunged? I could use instruct you on how to achieve your goal."

T'alya thought long and hard about that. "That will not be necessary. I no longer wish to change. It is because of my capacity to feel that I have learned the value of friendship, and found a companion whom will forever be a part of my life. Once, I used to believe my emotions made me different. Thanks to Serena, I now know that I am unique. To lose myself, my uniqueness to the harsh, inflexible coldness of Vulcan logic and ideology would be to....die inside. I could not bear to live like that. I hope you will understand."

"I do, daughter. While your path may not be logical, that is not for me, or anyone to judge. As long as you are comfortable with your decision, I will lend you my full support, as any mother would for her child."

Now it was T'alya who felt that strong sense of pride, of love for her mother. But, unlike T'Lar, T'alya was not afraid to express her feelings as she gave her mother a warm smile. T'Lar was taken aback. She had never seen her daughter smile before.

Then came what the ambassador considered a true shock. T'alya walked up to T'Lar and hugged her. "Thank you. I appreciate your support." After separating, T'alya smiled at her mother again. "While I am aware that Vulcan discipline prevents you from expressing feelings openly, deep down, I know that you love me. Just as much as I love you. Good night, mother."

"Good night, daughter. Sleep well."

Once T'alya retired to her bedroom, T'Lar stared into her lap, contemplating the events of the last few minutes. She had never been a witness to such a sight in her life as before.

"A Vulcan who cherishes emotions with all the passion of a human. Fascinating," T'Lar whispered.

Her face a study in concentration, as if she was attempting to sort out a problem, T'Lar lifted her head, took a deep breath and steeled herself.

"I....love you, T'alya," T'Lar whispered. Surprisingly, it felt good to the ambassador to say those words, even if it had been to thin air instead of to her daughter. Repressing a slight grin, T'Lar returned to her book.

"Your Majesty, may I present to you, Ambassador Kronin of Uranus with Princess Haruka Ten'oh, and Lady Hectare of Neptune with Princess Michiru Kai'oh," said Administrator Stefan to Queen Serenity.

Seated at the throne, Serenity nodded to the representatives of the two outer planets of the Milky Way system. Serena was seated beside her, Luna and Artemis at their feet while the Guard stood on each side of the Queen and her daughter. T'Lar and T'alya, in their positions as part of the Royal advisory staff which included Stefan stood behind the Queen. Prince Darien of Earth stood beside the representatives from Uranus and Neptune. The Vulcans keenly observed the two young women, both a few years older than the other girls who would soon be their comrades in the Royal Guard.

Haruka was tall, taller even than Jupiter and was equally as muscular with very short, sandy blond hair and flinty blue eyes set into a strong, almost mannish face that was devoid of makeup. Instead of wearing a gown, Haruka sported a white tuxedo which made her more handsome than beautiful, as if she actively sought to repress her femininity. Michiru however was the polar opposite of Haruka. Slender and elegant like Serena with long, wavy, aquamarine hair and eyes to match, the princess from Neptune was stunningly beautiful in a flowing, sea green gown that emphasized her great beauty. Michiru wore a pleasant smile on her glossy pink lips and looked to happy to be here while Haruka's face was stony and impassive, not unlike the Vulcans.

Serenity smiled at the party. "Welcome to the Moon. I'm very happy to have representatives of Uranus and Neptune become part of the Guard, and the Alliance." Then, she looked directly at Haruka and Michiru and the two girls walked forward. Haruka bowed while Michiru curtsied. "I thank the two of you for volunteering for this most prestigious duty."

"It is our honor, Your Majesty," said Michiru, her voice soft and melodic.

"One we take very seriously," added Haruka in a low, husky voice.

Serenity grinned at the tall blonde. "I must say, Princess Haruka, I find your attire certainly....different."

Haruka appeared to look uncomfortable, a slight red tinge colored her cheeks. Michiru grinned at her friend's discomfort. "Er, well, nothing personal, your Highness, but I don't like women's clothing. It doesn't suit my personality. Would I be required to dress like the rest of the Guard?" she asked, glancing at the others, garbed in their ceremonial gowns.

"Only for formal occasions such as this," Luna replied, finding it odd that a girl Haruka's age was a tomboy. "Otherwise, I'm sure we can accommodate your needs."

Michiru smiled broadly. "Unlike my best friend, I look forward to dressing so stylishly. If anything, it should make the experience all the more enjoyable."

"Well, we can discuss such particulars at a later date," said Serenity. "For now, we've prepared lunch for you and your parties. We've slated you to join the ranks of the Guard in three months so you can have sufficient time to take care of your affairs on your home worlds. Administrator Stefan, please escort our guests to the dining hall."

Stefan bowed, as did the guests. "As you command, your Highness." He motioned to a pair of assistants who walked forward to be the escorts for the contingents from Uranus and Neptune. T'alya, remembering her brief encounter with Stefan yesterday eyed the Administrator warily as he gave instructions to his aides. Stefan briefly glared at the Vulcan girl.

Once Stefan and his aides led the parties from Uranus and Neptune Out of the throne room, Serenity turned to T'Lar whose council and advice the Queen had quickly come to hold in high regard. "So, T'Lar, what do you think of our newest recruits?"

"A most eclectic combination, Madam Serenity," T'Lar replied. "The diversity of their personalities will add considerably to the overall chemistry of the team. Prince Darien should be commended for his excellent work in securing their services."

Darien smiled and bowed to T'Lar. "You're too kind, Ambassador. I was only doing my job."

Serena giggled like a schoolgirl. "Besides, I've already....commended the Prince for his work."

Darien blushed. Serenity smiled, knowing full well what her daughter meant. "I'm sure you did, Serena. Well, let's join our guests for lunch. Dealing with affairs of state does give one quite an appetite."

As everyone left, T'alya walked up to Mars. "Princess Mars? May I have a few minutes of your time?"

Mars turned to shoot T'alya a harsh, burning stare. Then, just as quickly, it faded. "For what?"

"I would like to talk to you. In private if possible."

The fiery Guardian sighed, then nodded. "Okay. Follow me."

Serena saw T'alya and Mars leave the room via a side door and was puzzled. For a moment, she considered following them, but decided to respect their privacy. She hoped nothing was wrong between them.

Mars led T'alya into a private den, the same one she spied on the Vulcan girl and Serena yesterday and closed the door. "So, what's on your mind?" she asked, her tone brusque.

"I was curious to know why you have been so acrimonious towards me," said T'alya. "Did I anger or disrespect you in any way? If I have, Princess, then I humbly beg your forgiveness."

Mars was taken aback. It had been her plan to apologize to T'alya for the way she acted towards her yesterday. To have the Vulcan girl do that instead stunned her and made her feel very small.

"For starters, my name is Rei. I must admit I hadn't anticipated what you just said. If anything, I should apologize to you for how I've acted, especially yesterday." Mars paused to gather her thoughts. "You see, from the day you arrived here, I've been suspicious, even....jealous of you."

T'alya cocked an eyebrow from curiosity. "Jealous? In what way?"

Mars was silent for several moments before she replied. "Because you gained something I've always wanted but can never have for as long as I remain here. Not only did that infuriate me....it broke my heart."

T'alya was at a loss to figure out what Mars was talking about, but when she saw tears filling the eyes of the dark haired guardian, the answer came to her in a sudden burst of insight. "Serena's friendship."

Mars nodded. "Yes."

"You....love her?"

"Yes."

"Does she know?"

"No."

"May I ask why?"

"Because of a rule that members of the Guard are not allowed under any circumstances to fraternize with the royal family in the way that I am with you. Serena hasn't a clue about my feelings for her."

T'alya digested what she had been told. "So, in essence, you've suffered in silence from unrequited affection."

Mars shook her head. "No, not in silence. The others know how I feel about Serena. Hell, they love her too but have learned to deal with the heartache of being unable to befriend her."

"But you have not."

A nod from Mars caused the tears to spill down her cheeks and a sob caught in her throat. T'alya could see the raw, deep pain in Mars' eyes. Scowling, the Guardian wiped her eyes. "Blast! I haven't cried this much since I left home. In case you haven't noticed, T'alya, I'm a creature of passion. My emotions rule me in ways no one can possibly understand. I hurt all the time because I can't have Serena for my friend. Then you came along and....stole her from me, crazy as that sounds. That's why I've been so hostile towards you. My behavior has been positively shameful, and I'm very sorry."

T'alya walked up to Mars and clasped her shoulders. "You are incorrect, Rei. I do understand the way you feel. Even though I am a Vulcan, I too am controlled by very powerful emotions. They often push and pull me in directions I do not wish to travel, but, thanks to Serena, I have come to cherish the journeys on which they take me. So, I can sympathize fully with your dilemma. But you do not have to suffer alone. If you will let me, I am more than willing to offer you my companionship."

Mars was astonished. "Even after the way I've treated you?"

T'alya nodded. "I hold no animosity towards you, Rei. That would be illogical. Your actions might have seemed irrational, but, deep down, you were being manipulated by the darker side of your emotions. If I had known my presence would have caused you such pain, then I would not have come."

"That's nonsense! If you hadn't come, Serena would still be lonely, and wouldn't have a dear friend like you!" Mars countered. "Mina told me this yesterday, but it's only just starting to sink in now. T'alya, you're the best thing that's ever happened to Serena. I can see how much she loves you....and how much you love her. I'm really happy for both of you."

T'alya nodded. "Then, may I suggest the two of us start anew? Rei, I would be proud to have you for a friend."

Mars smiled and clasped T'alya's hands, her heart opening up to the Vulcan girl. "Even if it means disobeying the dreaded fraternization rule?"

"Correct me if I am mistaken, but I do believe that stipulation only applies to the heir to the throne, of which I am not. Therefore, I believe you are allowed to fraternize with me."

"Sounds logical to me," said Mars with a giggle. She then threw her arms around T'alya and hugged her tight, happy to have a new friend.

T'alya smiled and returned the hug. "I am glad you see things my way."

At that moment, the palace shuddered mightily and the lights suddenly went out.

The entire palace was in a state of chaos as Mars, now garbed in her uniform, and T'alya made their way through darkened corridors back to the throne room where everyone had returned.

"What's going on? What the hell happened to the lights?" Mars demanded, seeing her teammates, their gowns having morphed into their uniforms activate emergency lighting, bathing everyone in a dim, orange glow.

"The power's gone off!" Venus replied. "Mercury's investigating, but we've got bigger problems! Serena and the Queen are missing!"

"Missing? How could that have happened?" T'alya asked. She felt an icy cold fear envelop her like a shroud.

"We were on our way to the dining hall when the castle shook and we heard what sounded like an explosion from beneath us," said Jupiter. "That's when the power went off and suddenly we couldn't breathe, it was like all the air had been sucked away! The next thing we knew, we're waking up on the floor, and the Queen and Serena were gone!"

"Where's Darien?" Mars asked.

"He went looking for them! Haruka and Michiru joined him," said Luna.

A soft beeping sound caught everyone's attention. Mars, the leader of the Guard activated her wrist communicator. "Mars here! Go!"

"This is Mercury. I'm down in the basement. The palace has been compromised," came the grim sounding voice of the blue haired guardian. "The main power plant has been destroyed by what appears to be some sort of incendiary, and the maintenance workers are dead, their bodies horribly burned. I'm working on the back-up generators which have been damaged. Has anyone found the Queen or Serena?"

"Negative! Darien, Haruka and Michiru are out looking, and we're going to join them!" Mars replied. "Link up with us once you've restored the power!"

Once Mars ended the communication, she turned to the assemblage. "Stefan! You, T'Lar, T'alya and the rest stay here! Mako! Mina! Let's move!"

"I am coming with you," said T'alya.

"Forget it! This is no place for a civilian!"

"I beg to differ, Mars. Without me, you will not be able to find Serena," T'alya pointed out.

"What do you mean?" Venus asked.

"Serena and I joined minds last night. A part of her essence now resides in me," T'alya explained. "With my telepathic powers, I can lead you to wherever Serena and her mother have been taken."

In the semi-darkness, no one noticed Stefan's eyes narrowing. Mars, on the other hand felt her breath catch in her throat. Now she knew what caused her to wake up screaming last night. She tried not to let the hurt from that revelation show on her face.

"I agree. If Serena and the Queen have been abducted, and the evidence certainly points to that conclusion, valuable time will be wasted in a futile, directionless search when my daughter can seek them out using her abilities," said T'Lar. "I strongly recommend T'alya assist you."

Mars quickly considered what she had been told, then nodded. "Okay, Tal! You're in! Let's go, team!"

"Be careful, girls!" Luna cried out as the Guardians and T'alya left.

Mercury, so intent on getting the back-up generators online to restore power to the palace hadn't even noticed how hot it had gotten until sweat trickled into her eyes, stinging them.

Stopping her work, the blue haired Guardian felt her now sweat drenched uniform clinging to her skin while the heat in the room had shot up considerably. If anything, it had gotten so hot, Mercury was finding it increasingly hard to breathe. The first conclusion she arrived at was a fire, but she couldn't smell any smoke or hear the crackle of flames. Yet the heat had become terribly omnipresent in the space.

Mercury tried to stand, but her knees buckled and she collapsed, panting heavily from the heat which was steadily rising.

"I....don't....understand. What could....be causing this?" Mercury wondered aloud. She could actually feel her skin beginning to blister and was too weak to do anything as she lay helpless on the floor.

"I am the cause," came a voice from behind her. Mustering what little strength she had left, Mercury craned her head to look behind her and gasped in shock at the sight that met her eyes: a column of deadly, red hot flame that was shaped like a man.

"You may call me Helion. It is a good thing I decided to stay, just in case someone tried to repair the generators," said the flame creature. "I am afraid I cannot allow you to do that. Time for you to burn."

Prince Darien, Haruka and Michiru crept along the wall near the far end of the servant's quarters outside the palace. Darien, sword in hand had an idea where Serena and her mother might have been taken: the underground catacombs. It was a long shot at best, but he had no other ideas.

"What makes you think Serena and the Queen are beneath the palace?" Haruka asked Darien.

"There's no way the kidnappers would've had time to take Serena and Serenity out of the palace. That means they're still on the grounds," Darien explained. "Serena showed me the catacombs once. They're a good fifty feet below the basement area, running almost the length of the palace itself. If they're anywhere, it's down there."

"Which means someone on the inside was behind the abduction. There can be no other possible conclusion," Michiru said. She avoided looking down at her tattered gown, it's floor length skirt hacked to her knees by Haruka using Darien's boot dagger to afford her greater ease of movement.

"What I want to know is why we're still alive?" Haruka wondered.

"Maybe the kidnappers didn't have time to kill us. We were unconscious for only a minute," Darien said. "And it's safe to say the kidnappers want Serena and the Queen alive. For what, I have no idea."

As the trio rounded a corner, they stopped short at seeing a short, swarthy looking man in a jumpsuit and workboots standing before them.

"Who the devil are you?" Darien demanded.

The small man bowed. "My name is Yahr. My master anticipated someone might figure out that the hostages are in the catacombs. I have been tasked with stopping anyone foolish enough to try and enter them."

Haruka laughed out loud. "You? Stop us? And how are you going to manage that, pipsqueak?"

As an answer, Yahr closed his eyes and his eyebrows knitted, as if in deep concentration. Then, before the horrified eyes of Darien and the girls, Yahr metamorphosed into a terrifying, eight foot tall monster made of stone.

"This&emdash;is&emdash;how," the creature rumbled.

"You just had to ask," Michiru growled to a wide-eyed Haruka.

Serena felt light-headed and woozy as she came to. Her first sensation was of a deep chill as she found herself on the cold, stone floor of a place she knew about but rarely visited: the palace catacombs. As her vision cleared and her mind sharpened, she saw that her mother, bound, gagged and still unconscious lay next to her. Serena tried to move, but found she too was tied up and gagged.

Serena looked around her and noticed that the space she was in was large and dark, lit only by torches hung on the wall. The young princess then saw she and her mother were not alone. Seated at a small table a few feet away were two people: a thin, scowling, dark skinned man and a pretty, redheaded woman, both in jumpsuits and workboots. When they noticed Serena awake, they rose from their chairs and approached them. Almost instantly, Serena was afraid as there was a palpable air of menace surrounding these people.

"You're awake. Good," growled the man. "You probably already know where you are, so I won't bother with any particulars, only that you and the woman don't have much time left to live."

Serena's eyes were filled with confusion. And fear.

"I could have killed you and your mother on the spot when I sucked away the air," said the woman. "But our commander wants you both alive so he could have the honor of personally delivering you into the hands of our mistress. The eventual ruler of this universe."

"That's enough, Geyenne! Don't give away our plans!" the man snapped.

The woman snorted. "You worry too much, Moloch. In another hour or so, it won't matter at all to these two." The woman then pierced Serena with a withering, evil stare. "In a short period of time, my pretty, you and your mother are going to be quite dead."

Serena's blood ran cold. She never felt so frightened in her life.

Next: Prism of the Past - Endings

GO TO CHAPTER SEVEN