CIRCLES OF TIME: The Great War
-by: the Yarnspinner-
the_yarnspinner@yahoo.com
http://strands-of-moonlight.my3gb.com
-or- http://strands-of-moonlight.6te.net
Rated: PG-13> Chapter 4 - Transitions <
"Like an avalanche finally running out of momentum, the German offensive has come up short," Samuel said.
The center table map had already been updated to show the German withdrawal away from Paris.
"So that's it?" asked Richard, a mortal Paladin who had only recently joined the Havana team. "Do the French and British now just push the Germans back?"
"No," Samuel answered. "The Germans pull back to the north, perhaps as far as the Somme River, and there they'll dig in. The British and French pursuing them will run into fixed defenses."
"But fixed defenses can be outflanked," Richard said.
"Not if it's one long line of built-up defenses and natural obstacles running continuously from the English Channel to the Swiss border," Setsuna said quietly.
The room fell silent, and Samuel motioned, a line forming across the map connecting the likely defense positions, then looked at it, shaking his head.
"That's exactly what the Order wanted," he said.
"But surely a determined offensive would break through the defenses," Richard objected. "A heavy force of infantry advancing under the protection of artillery and machine guns..."
"And into the teeth of enemy artillery and machine guns, to be slaughtered en masse," Albert replied. "We saw it in the German advance. They always swept around the fortifications, cut them off, and then brought up their heaviest artillery to tear them apart. But in this scenario, they can't do that. Neither side will have an open flank to sweep around, so they would have no choice but to march straight into the teeth of the other's defenses. The Order wanted a slaughter, and now they're going to get it."
"Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them... Volley'd and thunder'd;" Eric recited quietly. "Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell."
"Tennyson certainly called that one right," Albert muttered.
Peter stepped forward. "I know we're all moved by the suffering and slaughter that's going on out there, but I'm afraid we do have an even larger issue in front of us."
"Yes. The energy being collected by the Order," Setsuna said.
"If the Order succeeds in awakening Metallia, then what happens in this war becomes irrelevant," Daniel added.
"Very true," Peter said. "What have we learned about the location of the storage center?"
"The results are inconclusive, I'm afraid," Albert said. "The collection points are transmitting to a number of relay stations. We will have to find the relay stations to determine where the energy is going from there."
"How long?" Peter asked.
"Perhaps a month. Possibly a little longer," Albert answered.
"What keeps the Order from just relaying it all over the place, to make their storage center as difficult to find as possible?" Richard asked.
"Each relay transfer costs them a bit of energy," Albert explained. "I don't think they can afford to go through more than two relays."
"How is the search being handled?" Peter asked.
"We're employing local operatives," Albert said. "The arrival of strangers in these areas would only attract unwanted attention."
Peter nodded. "Then I guess the rest of us can only await results of that search."- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Setsuna walked along the terrace, observing the crowds out on the beach. With the resorts of Europe effectively closed by the war, the hotels, beaches, and casinos of the Caribbean were far more crowded than usual. Daniel hurried up behind her.
"Why are you in such a rush?" he asked.
"Hmm? Oh, no reason, I guess," she said.
"You're still afraid of getting involved, aren't you?" he challenged.
"I've already told you. My duty forbids me from becoming personally involved. I must remain detached," she said.
"Forgive me speaking so bluntly," he said, lowering his voice to a whisper. "But that's bullshit!"
She glared at him indignantly. "How dare you! You have no conception..."
"You've told me that time doesn't pass at the gateway in the way it does here, and that from the gateway you can see all periods in time," he said.
"True."
"Then, if you're so concerned about remaining detached, there's nothing to prevent you from returning to the gateway and just watching us from there as we do all the dirty work," he said. "But I see you're still here."
She clenched her jaw as she fought back an uncharacteristic surge of emotion. Although she didn't want to admit it, he really did have a point. "Well, it is easier to monitor events from on the scene," she finally said.
"I would actually think it would easier for you from the gateway, since you can observe any place or event you want."
"But I can't intervene as readily if that becomes necessary," she said.
He nodded. "So I guess that just means you have to endure the company then. You're the 'solitary one' because of your duty as guardian of time, but that doesn't mean you must always shut yourself off from human company," he said.
"So, what do you suggest?" she asked.
"Well, your duty seems to compel you to monitor the events of this war and our efforts to block the Order at first hand. As long as you're here, live a little. It will be a lot easier for you than trying to keep yourself in isolation."
She thought for a moment. "Perhaps," she said quietly. "But I can only 'live a little', to use your expression, as I am. One does not throw away a lifetime of reserve in only a moment, you know."
"I understand," he said. "But you have to start somewhere."
"I thank you for your concern, but I can manage," she said, suddenly fading from view, and leaving everyone else unaware that she had ever been there.
"Setsuna!" he called, his voice just a loud whisper. "Damn!"
Still silently grumbling over her stubbornness, he turned and walked back toward the building.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sitting alone in her room, Setsuna gazed blankly out the window, recalling her own past. In some ways, she had become very cold and impersonal. Daniel was right, she had to admit. She would prefer to be able to return to the gateway, but duty compelled her to stay, for this was not the Paladins' fight alone. Opposing Metallia was the responsibility of the Sailor Soldiers, and for another eighty years yet, she was the only one.
And yet, to stay made it impossible for her to shut herself off completely. She could see the death and destruction around her, and knew how much more was to come. Like the Paladins, she would have to live through it all, but unlike them, she did not have their day-to-day experience in standing by as people around her were in need.
At the same time, and perhaps even more disturbing for her, were the implications of personal interaction. She found herself developing feelings for those she was now working with, and for Daniel in particular. Any of them could be killed or wounded at any time in pursuit of their duty as Paladins, and in the end, once the war was over, she would have to return to the gateway. Allowing personal feelings to develop would only get in the way, making it more difficult for her.
She stood up and walked to the window, stepping out onto the balcony. Her feelings left her torn. She had never met any man quite like Daniel. He could be infuriating at times, but he seemed to understand her much better than anyone had in long centuries, and he often would not allow her to indulge in her usual practice of holding the world at a distance. Yet, she also found him very easy to work with, and she had quickly developed a comfortable, if occasionally heated, rapport with him.
Her contemplation was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Setsuna?" Daniel's voice called.
She shook her head, then vanished.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Did you find her?" Peter asked, as Daniel returned to the cavern.
"No," Daniel answered. "Setsuna wasn't in her room, and I couldn't find any trace of her."
Peter shook his head. "Well, if she doesn't want to be found, there is not a one of us who could find her."
Daniel stood at the edge of the center table, staring away blankly. "I can't be sure, but... I'm afraid this may be partly my fault."
"Oh? How so?" Peter asked.
"She and I were talking earlier today, and I'm afraid our conversation took rather a sharper turn than I had intended. I said some things that, in retrospect, I'm now certain were out of line."
Peter thought for a moment, a look of displeasure on his face. "Daniel, if there is something personal between you and Setsuna, that is none of my business... but if it starts to have an impact on your performance in our mission, then it becomes my business."
"Peter, wait," Daniel protested. "There isn't anything personal between Setsuna and I. I must confess I wouldn't object if there were, but I know my duty well enough not to let it interfere."
"Then... I'm afraid I don't understand," Peter said.
"You've been a Paladin for over a hundred years, and in a leadership role for at least fifty," Daniel said.
"That's true," Peter confirmed.
"Well, in that time, have you ever encountered someone who actually used their duty to the Paladins as a shield... a barrier to avoid personal involvement?"
Peter rubbed his hand across his chin thoughtfully. "To some extent, perhaps. But those that do usually wash out before they complete their apprenticeships... Are you suggesting that is the case with the guardian of time?"
Daniel nodded. "I think so. Ever since the fall of the Moon Kingdom, she has stood alone. From what I can gather, she has intervened before to preserve the proper order of events, but it seems only to have been very brief actions. She would appear, do what needed to be done, then return to the gateway."
"Keep her involvement to the absolute minimum necessary to achieve her purpose. A prudent strategy," Peter said.
"Yes... In ordinary situations," Daniel said. "But this situation is not ordinary. In an ordinary situation for her, she would have stopped our assault on Princip, perhaps observed to make certain that he succeeded in murdering the Archduke, and then that would be the end of it."
"But this time, she is faced with a far more complicated situation, where events can only be made to follow their proper order by a careful and ongoing effort," Peter said.
"Exactly," Daniel agreed. "And her duty compels her to stay here for as long as that takes."
Peter nodded. "We protect the Earth until the return of the chosen ones. She must protect time, so that their return can actually take place."
"Yes. But in the past, her involvement on Earth has apparently been only brief and sporadic. For the most part, she stands alone at the gateway," Daniel said.
"And I presume this was what your conversation was about," Peter said.
"Hunh? Oh, ahm, yes. It was," Daniel admitted.
Peter smiled. "I would say you care for her a great deal to take such an interest, my young friend. Just remember, she has served as guardian of time for countless centuries."
"But time doesn't elapse for her the same way it does for us," Daniel said. "For most of her existence, she is at the gateway... Outside of time. Who can say how long she perceives herself to have been at her post. And she said she can see all points in time from the gateway, so should we even suppose that she experiences time sequentially in the way we do?"
"That is a valid point. Her existence may well be radically different from our own," Peter admitted. He then looked at Daniel sternly. "But if that is true, then you must take care before presuming that what is normal for you is superior to what is normal for her."
"What? I don't understand," Daniel said.
"Apparently, you are suggesting to her that, while she is here, she should live her life as we do," Peter explained. "While social interaction is normal for us, did it ever occur to you that it might not be normal for her? She has obviously explained to you that her life is different from ours. That means she may well have different standards and requirements than we do. Taking the example probably to an extreme, what if she finds existence within time to be physically uncomfortable? In that case, she is accommodating us and her duty as best she can, but for us to ask more of her would be not only insensitive, but downright rude. Bridging the gap of diversity is a joint effort. You cannot expect her to come all the way to you. You must meet her halfway."
Daniel stood there silently, considering. "Well, I guess I'd better try to find her and apologize," he said quietly.
"Not just now, I'm afraid," Peter said.
"What do you mean?"
"We need you in Warsaw, right away," Peter told him. "Our operatives have found an unusual artifact there. They're not sure what it is, but given that Poland is divided between Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary, we can't afford not to assume it has some connection to the Order."
"How do I fit in?" Daniel asked.
"Your job will be to analyze the artifact and, if possible, determine what it is," Peter said. "I was planning to send you and Setsuna both to look into this, but now you'll have to handle this on your own." He handed Daniel a small sheaf of papers. "This is all the information you'll need."
Daniel skimmed through the material, which contained information on the artifact, and on the Paladins he would contact in Warsaw. "When do I leave?"
"Just as soon as you've memorized your contact information," Peter said.
Daniel went through the papers once more, then nodded and walked away from the table to prepare for the teleport from Havana to Warsaw.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Setsuna stood at the gateway, observing as Daniel walked into a side chamber of the Paladin's Havana base, then teleported away. She shook her head, continuing to stare blankly at the image of the now empty chamber.
"Setsuna, you are a coward," a voice said.
She spun around, already recognizing the voice. There stood the ghostly image of a tall woman with dark hair and dressed in grey, appearing very much like an older version of herself.
"Onee-san!" Setsuna exclaimed. "I thought I was finally rid of you."
"No such luck, I'm afraid," the phantom figure replied. "Like you, I must walk the corridors of eternity, and I have not yet found the end of my assigned path."
"And it seems my personal curse that your path keeps crossing mine," Setsuna quipped. "Why?"
"For the same reason you must intervene in these events on Earth," the phantom said. "Because it is necessary."
"And just what makes it necessary this time?" Setsuna asked. "I have this situation well in hand, thank you."
"Hah!" the phantom exclaimed with contempt. "You are a coward, and I am truly amazed that in so long, you have learned so little."
"What are you talking about?"
The phantom stepped closer. "There will occur situations where you will cease to be an observer, but must be an integral participant. This is one of those situations."
"But it is my responsibility to guard the gateway," Setsuna objected.
"Your duty is to preserve the proper flow of time," the phantom said. "But standing here now, you are neglecting that duty. You are placing your personal feelings ahead of your obligations as guardian of time."
"You are wrong! I am avoiding personal involvement, which can only interfere with my mission," Setsuna said.
"No, you are wrong," the phantom replied, quietly but firmly. "You are trying to run away from your feelings for this man. And it can only harm your efforts to preserve the flow of events."
"Personal feelings can only get in the way," Setsuna insisted.
"There are occasions when they are inappropriate," the phantom conceded. "But there are other occasions when they can be advantageous. A very wise person told me that a long time ago, when I was young and foolish like you are now. And also like you, I seem to recall I didn't fully believe it then either."
"What harm could happen if I remain at a distance?" Setsuna asked.
"The Order could easily succeed," the phantom answered. "Or perhaps you should see this." She gestured back toward the image in the gateway, which shifted to show Daniel and several mortal Paladins in a Warsaw basement. The door was suddenly kicked open, and a group of soldiers burst in, immediately shooting all the men.
"Daniel!" Setsuna cried, lunging toward the image, which suddenly flickered then returned to the empty chamber in Havana. She angrily turned back toward the phantom. "What just happened?" she asked, her voice a low, threatening growl.
"As Mr. Charles Dickens once wrote, these are shadows of a future that may be, not necessarily one that will be," the phantom said calmly.
"Why?!" Setsuna demanded.
"Why was Ebenezer Scrooge shown the path his future might take?" the phantom countered. "I cannot provide you with all the answers, Setsuna. You must learn some of it yourself."
The phantom figure faded away, leaving Setsuna cursing silently.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Daniel stood in the dimly lit basement. On the table before him was a large wooden box, opened to reveal an ebony globe. Energy pulsed within it. Several men stood beside him.
"Can you make anything of it?" the first asked, in Polish.
"Not much, I'm afraid, Stanislaw," Daniel answered. "I've never seen anything quite like it."
"Then it's not an energy collector?" asked Karol, the second man.
"No. Definitely not," Daniel confirmed.
As he looked at the globe, it shimmered, seeming to become translucent. An image came into focus, showing several young women attired in uniforms similar to Setsuna's. He leaned closer for a better look. Suddenly, the image changed, showing a group of Russian soldiers. Outside, gunfire echoed in the street.
"Get down!" Karol whispered.
More shots were fired, as they all crouched for cover against the solid foundation wall. Glass shattered above them as a grenade was thrown in through the blacked-out window, landing on the table.
"Grenade!" Stanislaw shouted.
Daniel immediately teleported them all away, just before the grenade exploded, destroying the globe.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Daniel and his associates appeared in the Paladins' small Warsaw base. Setsuna stood there, in civilian dress, awaiting them. Stansilaw pulled his gun.
"Wait!" Daniel said. "She's with us."
"I'm glad to see you are all safe," Setsuna said.
"What's going on? What brought you here?" Daniel asked.
"Those soldiers thought you were either German spies or Polish nationalists," Setsuna explained. "In either case, their intent was to kill you all. I arranged a... distraction."
"That's what caused the shooting?" Karol asked.
Setsuna simply nodded.
"The artifact was destroyed," Daniel said. "It was an ebony globe, but was not an energy collector. The globe showed me an image of the soldiers, and before that, of five young women in uniforms similar to yours."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then it is probably for the best that it was destroyed, rather than risk having it fall into the wrong hands."
Daniel was puzzled for a moment. "You mean... it showed images of the future?" he asked quietly.
"I suspect so," she said.
"And those women... are the chosen ones?" he asked.
Setsuna nodded.
"I should hate to think of the Order having the ability to see the future," Stanislaw said. "I am glad that globe was destroyed."
"Yes," Karol agreed. "But we must be on our way. Security sweeps are underway elsewhere in the city as well, which suggests an early curfew."
"I understand. Thank you all for your help," Daniel said, shaking hands with each of the men, before they hurried from the room.
"I am happy to see you," Daniel told Setsuna.
"Likewise," she said softly.
"Ahm... I wanted to apologize for what I said back in Havana..."
"It was not solely your fault," she interrupted. "You were correct that I tend to keep myself isolated."
He nodded. "But I wasn't thinking that what's normal in life here might not be normal for you."
She smiled at him. "Perhaps we should discuss this further over dinner."
"A woman asking a man out?"
"As you said, what's normal for you differs from what's normal for me," she said.
"Alright," he agreed. "But at least let me pick up the check."
She gave the appearance of thinking it over. "Well... I suppose I can do that... out of consideration for your male ego."
Energy glowed around them and they vanished.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Daniel and Setsuna sat alone in a private dining room of the small restaurant the Paladins frequented in Havana.
"I try to maintain a distance because I must eventually return to the gateway," she said.
"I understand," he said. "But sometimes we have to become involved."
"True," she agreed. "And this seems to be one of those times."
He looked at her. "You don't sound very certain, or very happy, about that."
"As you said, it is not the norm for me. It takes some getting used to," she said. "It's been a very long time since I've known real personal relationships. And one in particular did not go very well, I'm afraid."
"They can't all go perfectly, as much as we might wish otherwise," he told her. "In the ways that really count, we're all only human, regardless of our special abilities."
She nodded. "I know. But I've had to fence myself off for so long, for my own protection."
"And now we need to work together if we're going to succeed in our respective missions," he said. "We Paladins can't succeed this time without your help, and you can't succeed in this without ours. And since we have to work together, don't you think we can be friends?"
"I hope we already are," she replied.
"And perhaps more than just friends?"
She looked at him for a moment, feeling the conflicting emotions within her. Finally, she nodded. "I think so," she said softly.
"I'm glad," he said. With a smile, he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
She smiled at him, raising an eyebrow. "A bit forward by your standards, don't you think?"
"Perhaps, but I was gambling it wasn't by yours," he said.
"Don't worry. It wasn't." She leaned over and returned the kiss.< To be continued >
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Always remember, good gentles, that a yarnspinner works from and within existing legends and stories. The characters of "Sailor Moon" belong to others. In spinning my yarns, I do not seek to infringe on their rights of ownership, but merely to join with other fans to spread the legend still further. "The moonlight carries a message of love." Enjoy.-01.16.2001