Sailor Moon: Beyond the Reach Chapter One: Enter the Guardians! "CAPTAIN!" a voice cried in shock, "She's disappeared!" Captain Rakk ni Nihelaen looked at his Tracker operator in surprise. "Evaluation?" he asked sharply. The elf looked at his Captain soberly. "The flashes of light on the Tracker indicated that the unknowns opened fire on courier vessel. I'm afraid she's gone down!" The Shaelite Captain turned to his communications officer. "Lieutenant, inform Calaskathlon of what's happened here. Tell them that Princess Aisllynnia's ship went down..." He looked questioningly at his Tracker officer. "About two to three hours north of Calaskathlon," the Tracker officer supplied. Rakk turned back towards communications. "The High Chief should be there by now, so send the approximate location of the crash site," he ordered, "Inform them that we are in pursuit of the attackers." The officer nodded and activated the holosphere. "Helm!" Rakk called as he looked across the Bridge towards Helm and Navigation, "Increase speed to maximum. Prime ALL weapons. Plot an intercept course and order the Silver Spear to follow suit!" Fire Sword's sails billowed out as the battlecruiser's crew angled them to catch the best currents. Silver Spear matched her course and speed as the two Vengeance class battlecruisers hurried through the aether to intercept the fleeing enemy vessels. "Check!" the young red headed girl exclaimed as she leaned back in her chair. The gray haired Shaelite elf growled under his breath. he thought incredulously. The dark haired woman watching them smirked. "You might was well concede, Greywolf!" Ivee chuckled, "I've never been able to beat her either!" The three were Guardians. Greywolf, was tall and rangy, Commander of the Guardians, as well as High Chief of the Shaelite Elves. Kreigh, at sixteen, was currently the youngest of the Guardians. Red haired and quick tempered, she was Crown Princess of the Mage Born exiles from Skye. Ivee was her cousin and confident. Both of them bore the circled tree symbol representing the element of earth, while Greywolf bore the three concentric circles representing the powers of light, on HIS forehead. Someone pounded on the door urgently. "Enter!" Greywolf called as he studied the chessboard. A Shaelite officer entered and handed Greywolf a piece of paper. "Message from the Fire Sword, Sire!" Greywolf grinned as he took the message and began to read. "Looks like Rakk's met the Princess' ship," he remarked as he read, "Maybe we can......" he trailed off and paled. Kreigh and Ivee exchanged concerned looks as Greywolf crumpled the message and cursed viciously. He turned a fierce glare on the poor officer. "Find Ashe!" he barked, "Tell him to ready two detachments of the Legion Elite! Full weapon kits!" The officer saluted and hurried out of the room. "What's happened, Greywolf?" Ivee asked worriedly. Greywolf sighed heavily. "Princess Aislynnia's ship was shot down by two unknown assailants," he answered wearily, "I may have been unsure about a Shalhannanite Guardian, but I wouldn't wish THIS on anyone!" He moved rapidly to the door. "Come on, you two!" he called over his shoulder, "Let's go down to Communications and see if Rakk has anything new to report!" The two women hurried after him as he ran from the room. "HIT THE DECK!" Mars cried as something literally SCREAMED by, overhead. The Senshi dove to the ashy ground, Mamoru covering Moon with his armored body. The object flashed by, overhead, at fantastic speed. Mercury activated her visor and caught a quick glance of the object before it disappeared in the distance. She had an impression of sails and possibly, a wooden hull. Everyone got to their feet. "What was THAT?!" Sailor Moon asked. Mercury was about to answer when the silence was shattered by a thunderous explosion. The ground heaved, knocking everyone down again. Dirt and smoked billowed up high about a mile north of them. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter what it was," Mamoru remarked somberly as he helped a shaken Sailor Moon to her feet, "Whatever it was, it ISN'T anymore." Mercury was studying the image her visor had captured when she had briefly glimpsed the object. "It was a ship," she said slowly, barely able to believe the image her visor displayed, "But a ship that couldn't possibly exist by any law of physics that I know." She pressed a key and the image was transferred from her visor, to the computer screen. She mutely showed the image to the others. "It....it has SAILS!" Sailor Mars exclaimed, "How can something that flew, have sails?!" The image showed a ship that bore only a slight resemblance to a Terran schooner in the shape of both hull and sails. There, the similarities ended. That the ship was meant to fly was obvious from the short stubby wings forward, but something didn't appear right. "The aft wings!" Mercury cried in understanding. Sailor Mars looked at the picture. "But there are NO wings on the back," she said. Mercury pointed at the burn scars. "There were," she answered, "That must be why she crashed." "HEY!" Venus cried, pointing up, "LOOK AT THAT!" Everyone looked up where she pointed. A glowing sphere slowly floated down, drifting occasionally as a breeze caught it. It came gently to rest on the ground, no more than a couple hundred yards away. The Senshi approached cautiously, ready to strike. Mamoru backing them up with drawn sword. Nothing happened, however, and they were soon standing next to it, examining it curiously. "What is it?" Sailor Moon finally asked. Mercury's fingers moved rapidly over her keyboard. "It appears to be a forcefield of some kind." she answered slowly as she read the data coming up on her visor, "I'm also detecting life signs from inside, but they're curiously slowed, as if the person is tranced, or injured! It's possible that this is some form of escape capsule." "Could it have come from that ship?" Jupiter asked anxiously. "It's almost certain that it did," Mercury replied, "The problem is, how do we open it?" Sailor Moon stared at the silvery field, mesmerized. She put out a curious hand. "USAKO, NO!" Mamoru cried. Too late. Her hand touched the glowing surface as Mamoru rushed forward to stop her. At her curious touch, the field began to flicker erratically. Mamoru pulled her away with a cry, as the others backed off hurriedly. They watched from a distance as it flickered one final time, and vanished. Slowly, they approached again. They stared wordlessly at the young woman lying where the sphere had been. She was tall, well over five feet. She was humanoid with long silvery hair, and dressed in a long formal style gown that looked medieval in cut. A silver tiara rested on her hair. But it was her ears that held the Senshi's shocked attention. They were large and pointed. Greywolf strode into the Communications Center. Located in the central fortress in Calaskathlon, this was the nerve center for the military forces of the Shaelite Clans. He turned to the duty officer as Kreigh and Ivee joined him. "Raise the Fire Sword!" he commanded. Within moments, Rakk's image was displayed in the holosphere. "Status, Captain?" Greywolf asked. Rakk bowed his head. "Sire," he said respectfully, "We are still in pursuit. The enemy vessels have been positively identified as battlecruisers of the Reaver class." "The Dark Empire then," Greywolf remarked grimly. "Almost certainly," Rakk answered. He looked off-screen for a moment, then turned back. "They've changed course, Sire," he reported, "They're going to try and lose us at Taxis Reach. What are your orders?" "Overtake....and destroy, but then, you knew that. Right?" Rakk grinned with anticipation. "I did," he admitted sheepishly, "And if they should enter Taxis Reach?" "If they enter that Asteroid Belt, then you are to break off the pursuit and return at once," Greywolf answered without hesitation, "Intel thinks there's a Dark Empire base somewhere in the belt. Those two ships heading there seems to confirm that." "But...." Rakk protested. "No buts, Rakk!" Greywolf snapped, "An ambush in the Belt is NOT the way I want to lose two capital ships. Do what you can, but if they enter the Belt, return. Acknowledge?" "Acknowledged," Rakk said reluctantly before fading out. Greywolf turned to his companions. "Ivee, Kreigh, let's go!" he said as he left the room, "By now, Ashe should have the Legion ready to go. Come on!" They hurried after him, running to keep up with his long strides. Mercury thought in pained surprise, "Is she, what I think she is?" Mars said shakily, pointing at the sleeping girl. Sailor Moon knelt next to the sleeping stranger. "Mercury, is she hurt?" she asked as she studied the stranger worriedly. Mercury scanned the girl with her visor, and studied the readings thoughtfully. "Her life signs are beginning to speed up," she answered, "They are now indicative of REM sleep. We should probably wake her." "Yeah," Jupiter said, looking around warily, "I REALLY don't like this place. The sooner we get to that pass, and out of these `Dead Lands', the better I'll like it!" The stranger stirred uneasily, and suddenly sat up with a piercing scream. Her scream broke off as she looked around, wide eyed. At sight of the Senshi and Mamoru, her eyes widened still more. She looked warily at Sailor Moon, but the compassion and worry in Sailor Moon's eyes, crossed the species' barrier, and the stranger smiled hesitantly. "Okuda?" she asked slowly, "I'yesh daha ni lyandara?" Sailor Moon stared at her blankly. "Huh?" Mercury worked over her computer and then shrugged. "This language is not in my computer's database." "Nah, teshya ri shu du'dera!" the stranger commented with a smile as her eyes narrowed in concentration. There was a shimmering in the air above the girl, and the eight pointed star symbol on her forehead glowed brightly. Mercury studied it with her visor as the shimmering faded and a large gem appeared. "Interesting," she said, "I've seen more on my computer today, that I don't understand, than I have ALL last year!" A dim radiance came from the gem, bathing each of the Senshi and Mamoru, in its glow. "What's happening?" Venus asked uneasily. The stranger smiled again. "I'm making it possible for us to understand each other," she answered matter of factly. She waved her hand, and the gem vanished. "I understood you that time!" Sailor Moon exclaimed. "Yes," the girl answered, "I cast a spell on you and your friends. You will understand any language spoken to you, and others will understand yours." With Sailor Moon's help, the girl climbed gracefully to her feet. "I am Aisllynnia, Crown Princess of Tarandar," she introduced herself, "Who are you, strangers?" Mercury leaned over to Sailor Moon. "Use our Moon Kingdom ranks," she advised in a whisper, "Here, no one will know the Senshi, but, a princess is a princess no matter WHERE you are." Sailor Moon nodded thoughtfully, and turned back to the elven girl. "I am Serenity," Sailor Moon began, "Crown Princess of the Moon Kingdom." She pointed to Mamoru. "He is Endymion, Prince of Earth and my beloved." They smiled at each other. Mars cleared her throat meaningfully and she continued unabashed. "The impatient one, is Rei, Princess of Mars." "The smart one with the computer is Ami, Princess of Mercury." Mercury smiled and nodded her head. "The pretty one with the bow, is Minako, Princess of Venus." Venus grinned and curtsied. "And last, but not least, is our fighter, Makoto, Princess of Jupiter!" Jupiter acknowledged the intro. with a slight smile and a nod. "Greetings, Royals all," Aisllynnia said, "But your lands are all strange to me, and your clothing is also of a cut and style I have never before seen." She looked around. "How came you to be in THIS desolate wilderness?" "Now THAT is a tale," Mercury remarked wryly, "And one I think you'd have trouble believing!" Aisllynnia grinned. "I think, considering your strangeness here, that I may surprise you! You can tell me about it on our way to the crash site." "Crash site?" Sailor Moon questioned. "Yes. You DID see my ship crash, did you not?" At their nods, she continued with a worried expression on her lovely face. "There may be survivors. We must, at least, check to make sure." "I don't know, Aisllynnia," Mercury began. "Lynn, please," Aisllynnia interrupted. "Lynn, then." Mercury smiled, "That ship was moving at tremendous velocity when it hit!" "We must SEE!" Lynn exclaimed as she began walking north, towards the smoke rising from the distant crash site. The Senshi looked at each other, shrugged, and followed warily. A small silver sphere rested on the ground, forgotten. "Hey! I've found something!" Greywolf looked at the scout who called. He dismounted and walked over, followed by Ashe. "What've you got?" he asked as Ashe studied the ground carefully. "I found THIS lying on the ground." the scout answered, holding up a small silver sphere. Greywolf took the sphere and examined it closely. "It's of Tarandaran manufacture," he remarked thoughtfully. He turned to where his soldiers waited on their war unicorns. "Ivee!" he called, "Would you come over here a moment?" At his summons, she dismounted and walked over, Kreigh following along curiously. "What do you make of this?" he asked, handing her the object. She took it and examined it. "Hmmm. A field capsule!" she exclaimed in surprise, "I thought they were experimental!" Greywolf glanced at her impatiently. "What IS a field capsule?" "It's a means of safely abandoning a doomed ship," she replied absently as she looked around, "They protect their occupant as they float to the ground. They're opened by a touch from outside." She looked around again. "Either it didn't work right, which is unlikely, or someone found this survivor first!" "Your second supposition is the most likely, Ivee," Ashe commented from where he was examining the ground, "I saw where the survivor lay on the ground. She, judging from the tracks, either got up or was helped up. I detect tracks from another five individuals." He looked up. "I don't understand them," he continued, perplexed, "The tracks are of booted or shod feet. They're either small people, or children, AND from the tracks, female as well." He climbed back to his feet. "They're heading for the crash site, probably to look for more survivors." Greywolf cursed. "Come! Mount up!" he commanded urgently, "Killanki raiding parties will be attracted to the crash! If we don't hurry, there won't BE anyone to save!" He mounted with the others, and urging his war 'corn to a gallop, headed for the crash site, his warriors behind him. They stood at the lip of the crater and looked around silently. "No one could have survived THAT!" Jupiter said flatly. The crater was at least a hundred yards across, and at least ten feet deep. Lynn nodded in sorrowful agreement as a tear trickled down one pale cheek. "The ship's power core must have imploded on impact," she said softly, stifling a sob, "There's not even enough of the ship left to TELL it was a ship that crashed here!" "The velocity the ship was going would have vaporized it on impact, Lynn," Mercury said as she consulted her computer, "I imagine that its power core going critical likely did the rest, insuring there was nothing of the ship left to find." Lynn turned away from the crater and walked away. "Lynn," Sailor Moon said softly as she placed a hand on the grieving elf's shoulder, "I'm sorry about the others." Lynn nodded shakily and patted her hand. "I knew. I had to see for myself, but I knew." She looked back at the Senshi. "I think we'd better head for Calaskathlon. It shouldn't be too far away." There was absolutely no warning. One moment, Sailor Moon was standing with her hand on Lynn's shoulder when something long and slender flew through the air with an evil HISS and struck her, jerking her hand from Lynn's shoulder and throwing her to the ashy ground with a choked scream. She did not rise. Everyone stared in shock at the suddenness of it. A lance, and it had run her through! "USAKO!!" Mamoru cried in anguish, springing to the mortally wounded Princess. Leaving their friend to the care of Mamoru and Lynn, the Senshi faced outwards to see black armored warriors spring from the hills surrounding the crash site. "Mamoru-san! How is she?" Mars asked without taking her eyes from the menacing warriors surrounding them. "She's dying!" he answered in a barely audible whisper, "What can I do?!" Lynn placed her hands on Usagi's deathly pale cheeks as her gem materialized above her head. "Join the others," she said firmly, "I can keep her alive with my power, but they'll need you to fight the Killanki." He looked at her pleadingly. "Can't you...." She shook her head. "I can't heal. That is not MY power. Help the others." She turned her full attention to stopping the bleeding and Mamoru got up and reluctantly left. "I make it over a hundred," Jupiter said grimly, "Not even WE can fight so many!" Mamoru cast a furious glare at the enemy surrounding them. "Then we'll take as many of them with us as we can!" he snarled. He drew his sword and the Killanki shifted, as if preparing to attack. War cries erupted from BEHIND the Killanki, as a mounted force galloped from behind the hills and fell on them from behind. With the Killanki distracted, the Senshi attacked. "FIRE SOUL!" "SUPREME THUNDER!" "CRESCENT BEAM!" Mercury turned away to join Lynn as the other Senshi attacks struck the tightly packed ranks of enemy soldiers. Mamoru raged through the enemy, cutting Killanki down left and right. "You do not join them?" Lynn whispered absently, most of her attention on Usagi. "No, at this point, my power would hinder rather than help," Mercury answered matter of factly. She activated her visor and forced herself to study the dreadful wound the lance had inflicted. she told herself as she took deep shuddering breaths, Her eyes burned with the effort of holding back the tears. "Shouldn't we....we withdraw the l-lance?" Mercury asked in a shaking voice. Lynn shook her head. "No. We would just cause more injury," Lynn explained, "Those warriors are mounted on war unicorns. Even I have heard of Caladonia's Legion Elite. They will have a healer with them." "You're right, we do," came a voice from behind them, "And I'm it!" Mercury turned to regard the speaker. The speaker was a dark haired elf wearing a dark blue tabard over chainmail bearing the crossed lances and unicorn head of the Border Legions. His expression changed at sight of Sailor Moon. He sheathed his sword and knelt quickly beside them. "Oh, that's bad. VERY bad," he said grimly. "I'm keeping her alive," Lynn stated softly, "YOU, sir, must do the rest!" The Healer looked at her sharply and nodded. "We need to withdraw the lance before I can begin." He turned to Mercury. "Can you see if you can locate the High Chief?" he asked her, "He's a gray haired elf with three concentric circles on his forehead. He rides a dun colored war 'corn. Just call for Greywolf. Hurry, child!" Mercury leapt to her feet, glad of something to do. Greywolf ducked under a sword and dispatched its owner with a quick thrust. His war 'corn fought beside him with equal fury. He heard a voice call his name above the din of battle. Moving towards the voice, dispatching two more opponents, he saw one of the strangers approaching. Before he could reach her, she was attacked by two Killanki soldiers. Surprising him, seeing as how the other strangers were disposing of their enemies with fire, lightning, and light beams, she kicked one of them square, and as he bent down with a choked cry, she knocked him cold with a clenched fist. Greywolf winced. he thought, He watched her back away from the other, her face showing fear. he realized as he approached her opponent silently from behind. Mercury watched numbly as the second Killanki raised his sword. To her surprise, the warrior stiffened, his sword falling from his hand. When he collapsed, she saw a gray haired elf withdraw his sword from the Killanki's back. "Are you all right, child?" he asked. She nodded speechlessly. She noticed the symbol on his forehead. "Are....are you Greywolf?" she asked shakily, finding her voice. "THAT I am," he smiled at her. She didn't smile back. "Please, sir, your healer sent me to find you!" she said urgently, "My Princess is badly hurt and the Healer needs your help!" Greywolf's face assumed a grim expression. "Come with me," he said as he headed for where he saw his healer kneeling next to someone on the ground. "Shael's blessing!" Greywolf breathed as he saw the cause for everyone's concern. The Healer turned to him. "Sire, we need the lance removed," he explained, "But in a way that will not cause further injury." Greywolf nodded and took a deep breath. He reached out to carefully grasp the lance haft. He closed his eyes, concentrating on building up his power, ignoring the sounds of the still raging battle around him. he mused, "Be ready, Healer!" Greywolf cautioned, "Once the lance is gone, her bleeding will increase dramatically!" "Don't worry," Lynn returned without opening her eyes, "I'm on it. The Healer can worry about healing." Greywolf nodded and gripping the lance tightly, unleashed his power in a tightly controlled blast along the haft. With a soft sizzling sound, the lance vanished. Lynn's gem glowed brighter as she reacted fast enough, that only a trickle of blood escaped. The Healer went into his healing trance at once. When the wound closed, Lynn sat back with a sigh, allowing her gem to vanish. "That's that!" she said, looking at Greywolf with a relieved smile, "The rest is....up......to....." her voice tapered off as she was lost in eyes as gray as a stormy sea. Greywolf let out a relieved breath. He looked up as Lynn spoke. Looking up, he found himself drowning in her violet eyes. Kreigh and Ivee walked up to their commander. "Well, Greywolf!" Kreigh started, "We got 'em on the run." Ivee looked closely at the two elves and drew in a surprised breath. They were locked in each other's stare, unmoving. "Pair Bond!" Ivee hissed, "Come on, Kreigh, we can brief him later!" Kreigh looked at the two elves and then back to Ivee in confusion. "But...." "No buts!" Ivee snapped, taking Kreigh by the arm and leading her away, "This MUST be allowed to run its course! I'll explain later." He jerked his gaze away with a superhuman effort. "N-no!" he gasped hoarsely. He staggered down to where his soldiers were chasing away the last of the enemy. Lynn looked after him mutely, shocked to her core by his violent rejection. Mercury looked at the Healer. He was still in his trance and had noticed nothing. She was about to ask Lynn what had just happened, when her fellow Senshi returned. "Mercury, how is she?" Mars asked, desperately concerned. "She will be all right," the Healer replied for Mercury as he came out of his trance, "She'll sleep for several hours though." Mamoru knelt next to his beloved Princess, and taking her in his arms, he stood. He turned to face Greywolf who approached at the head of his soldiers. "We'd better head for Calaskathlon," Greywolf suggested, "The Killanki WILL be back, and in greater numbers." Mamoru nodded. "Do you have a spare mount?" he asked, "I'd like to have my Princess with me." Greywolf agreed readily, and six war 'corns were led forward. Mamoru climbed into the saddle and the sleeping Sailor Moon was handed up to him. He settled her gently in front of him as the rest of the Senshi mounted awkwardly. Lynn swung into the saddle with the ease of long practice. She was still stunned at what had happened and remained withdrawn as the Legion soldiers formed up around them, and began the march south. End of Chapter One Next: Chapter Two: Calaskathlon Explanations, friendships, and the first stirrings of War! BE THERE!!