Senshi of Uluru
Australia
Uluru Homeland Territory
They drove for fifteen minutes, Anthea watching the sky overhead covered in a shroud of low-lying thunderheads made her feel a sense of the surreal, as if something incredible was about to happen and she liked the feeling.
"I hope it doesn't come pouring down in a torrent," Anthea said, putting a disk into her digital camera. She was a keen photographer and budding film maker, proud not only of her academic achievements, but of her Aboriginal heritage and had made several short films highlighting Koori cultural mythology and recently, included a spread of many Native myths from all over the world in her most recent short film.
Anthea was excited that it had been nominated for the Carne Film Festival in the EU.
---
Steve Winter set up camp at the southern tip of the Uluru reserve. He had arrived early and wanted to study the metallic insect swarm first-hand.
A smart-ass had earlier snuck through the security cordon and tried to steal one of the bugs. But was stunned, unable to move for an hour or so and promptly carried off by Home Guard security.
A flash of light caught his attention; his eyes fell upon the prettiest woman he had ever seen in his life. Her soft dark skin actually glowed with a brilliant golden light that pulsed like a stroboscope. Her long black hair flowed in a shimmering curtain over her curvaceous figure. Her almond-shaped eyes haunting and beautiful, he thought, as she stood in a short silver fuku, its hem studded with tiny blue diamonds, her physique truly stunning.
‘Where are you from, gorgeous?'
Before he realized it, he was picking himself off the grass. He struggled to his feet and stared at the expansive lawns of the school playground of his childhood in utter disbelief. He looked up and beheld once again the beautiful young woman who was to his amazement, floating in mid-air.
"I am the fountain of fire. Many know me as Mother Myola of the Atlantari provinces, known by your people on this planet's eastern region as the Goddess Shakti, and countless other names."
They were standing together holding hands before a grove of ancient trees high above them. He was surprised to find that they were naked. She turned and embraced him, pressing her warm body against his. He felt the softness of her breasts sending his senses soaring.
"You are a wise and beautiful man," she purred, giggling as she took his hand and led him into the unknown.
They walked past the trees in a casual manner looking up into a canapé of interlinked branches hundreds of feet above a fast moving clear stream. The deep narrow conduit he guessed was about twelve feet across and deep. The trees stood in single file upon each bank, guarding the narrow watercourse, the sounds of melodic songbirds punctuating the intimate moment.
He found himself running down the steep slope, their bare feet sinking into moist black volcanic soil. He put an arm around his companion's silken waist to steady them as they descended. Steve found himself laughing playfully with the lovely black girl as they jumped into the cool crystal waters, both feeling the tug of its strong current as they made their way across.
He marveled at her glistening wet body from behind as she led the way up the opposite slope, her perfectly proportioned figure, long legs, and buttocks made him forget all else. She turned and looked down at him, her thigh-length hair swirling about her lithe body, her eyes like polished white marble.
She laughed light-heartedly, encouraging him to catch up with her. She ran like a gazelle up the steep embankment, throwing off waves of sensuality in her wake.
There were three Aboriginal shamans waiting for them not far from the top. They sat upon a narrow ledge on reed mats as the ebony girl led him by the hand towards them. They knelt before these ancient soothsayers, who presented them with a branch filled with magical berries. After thanking the wise ones, Steve and the girl continued until they reached the top of the embankment, passing the trees sheltering them from the sun's intense heat.
The scene before them opened onto a sun burnt landscape. They approached a large homestead, its fragrant bay wood verandas giving up their heady perfume as they climbed the steps and moved towards the open red gum doors.
Casual wicker chairs piled with colorful cushions flanked the entrance; a sleek black cat with a large Silver Star upon its brow lifted its head, regarding them before yawning and placing its head back upon black paws.
The interior, with its parquetry flooring, opened onto a series of spacious hallways, the large rooms with ornate molded ceilings possessing an otherworldly charm. Steve gasped, admiring the exquisite motifs. The furnishings were classical in style. The array of collectables decorating the central ballroom, reminiscent of those one might find within an exclusive private museum based on indigenous themes was most impressive.
He picked up what appeared to be a black crystal scepter and she smiled.
"You are ready, my child," she announced as she touched his forehead and light shone like a halogen lamp as violet flames consumed them.
They had returned to the school of his childhood. He noticed the thick necklaces of precious and semi-precious stones resting upon her bare breasts. She raised her arms in invocation; her statuesque figure appeared as if carved from black marble.
He then realized with a shock, he had become a newborn child. She smiled lovingly at him, picked him up in her arms, and coaxed him to suckle at her breast. He drank with abandon. The sweetness of nourishing milk had started a process of metamorphosis.
He then heard the unmistakable drone of a swarm of bees coming from somewhere behind him in the distance moving swiftly towards him. Meanwhile, the goddess-like being continued to chant in an incomprehensible tongue. She then placed his head upon her lap, and sang to him, the sound of angry bees growing ever louder and higher in pitch striking the base of his skull.
Explosions of fiery red filled his senses while bolts of force he came to know later as Kundalini energy, the celestial fire, shot up and down his spine. He felt as if he had been plugged into the Oceania energy grid.
She gave him the fruit-laden vine, bursting with bright red berries. She instructed him to plant them all. When he had finished, they sprouted.
Steve woke face down upon a drop sheet he'd set up for the cleaning of his photographic equipment and sound gear. He sat up, holding his head in his hands and wept. He sensed a presence beside him, and his eyes lifted to find the naked ebony girl sitting cross-legged smiling. She leant forward and kissed him on the lips, and wiped away his tears.
Myola took a gold chain and pentacle surrounded by starry spirals from around her neck and put it around his. She kissed him once more as they held each other close.
"I will call for you when the time is right. Sleep now, my Shitennou." Without another word stood up and walked into the desert, then vanished.
---
A disembodied presence hovered before the large varnished double doors, and then floated into the atrium of the open-plan home. The entity made its way to the kitchen where large floor to ceiling windows looked out onto a surreal landscape. The kitchen's smooth red granite benches, contrasting beautifully with the parquetry floors and rich rose-velvet drapery added a sense of charm and elegance to the large post-millennium homestead.
A raven-haired young housewife sat upon a barstool, oblivious to the presence in the room as she stared at the thunderheads descending upon the retreating sunlight. She felt the sensation of invisible lips kissing her head as she saw the blazing crescent upon her brow reflected off the glossy surface of the pantry door.
She gasped. Looking around, she heard her, "Awaken, my daughter. You are Senshi. I am the Oberisku no Shoujo, my name is Myola. Celestra, your Mauan guide shall soon be here to begin your training."
Katie couldn't believe her eyes; a naked white marble girl was standing before her in her kitchen smiling, the image shimmering with an unearthly glow. She wondered how her husband Daryl and her younger sister, Lizzi would react if they came home to find her talking to a…statue, a glowing, living breathing statue.
"W-why have you chosen me?" Katie asked, in awe, "I am like Sailor Moon? But that's impossible…" Katie's voice trailed off as Myola's body became transparent.
The crystal woman stepped forward, placing her hand upon Katie's head and she closed her eyes and relived the life she lived during the Moon Kingdom.
She was standing with the queen, who was ushering her last moment instructions to her Mauan courtiers as the cruel voice of Beryl and Metallia, now indistinguishable from one another, demanded the surrender of the Moon Kingdom.
Then there was a shift in time and she saw the death and devastation around her. Venus lay bleeding to death, impaled upon a Shitennou's crystal sword, belonging to Lord Kunzite who stood over her gaping as if he'd not realized what he had done. She was staggering towards a colonnade, her long black tresses stained with blood. She cried for the Senshi Princess. She looked down and gasped. Blood soaking her beautiful white dress she'd spent months making for the ball held that same night before disaster struck them all down.
From her vantage point, she watched Venus staring at the General and uttering only one word, "Why?"
He lowered his head and shook it muttering something of a confused garble, sounding half like an apology and part denial, his silvery bangs floating over his eyes, blood on his boots. Then Venus screamed as he withdrew his weapon from her abdomen, the heel of his boot pushing against her chest as he wrenched the blade free and turned to do battle with Sailor Mars.
Then the scene changed and she saw the planets, she knew their names.
"Orpheus and Terra, I lived there as well," she said, as Lady Myola smiled and nodded.
"Now you must go to Uluru tonight after the battle and organize the Oceania forces of my Shitennou, the Lords of the Scimitar and the Celestial Senshi and your fellow Terran warriors. Be not concerned child. Lizzi, your sister, is also a Senshi sleeper and your husband a Lord of the Scimitar. And to answer your unspoken question… you tend to enter the physical plane in groups. I will speak to them next. Be well, Uremia!" so saying, the visage disappeared and she gasped in awe and her eyes filled with tears of both joy, sadness for the past, and hope for the future.
The megalithic rock at Uluru emerged from the landscape like a sleeping giant. Decorating the desert floor were a series of power conduits spreading out in all directions like a luminous white web, its brilliance highlighted by the ancient ochre desert.
Suddenly, three aboriginal shamans materialized. They sat playing their haunting music upon one of the flat rectangular platforms close to a junction box. These olden sages, covered in elaborate body paint. The ancient ones were connecting with the sentient land. Each had a talisman of power about his neck. The first wore a long silver beard, although quite old, his physique matched those of his younger companions. They wore black loincloths decorated with powerful symbols with pouches strapped to their sides, containing magical implements and substances. Two were playing didgeridoos and the third kept time with percussive stones as they chanted their evocative incantations.
The skies filled with thunder and lightning, as a curtain of rain approached, driving the storms toward the Alice.
Then thousands of the Composoids meandered like a surreal river of chrome across the red wilderness towards the great rock. The shamans acknowledged the larger Composoid with a gesture of benediction as they passed by.
---
"This looks so awesome, what ya' reckon, Mike?" Anthea shouted over the thunderclaps that shook the vehicle beneath her feet, as The Rock ascended, phoenix like, from the desert terrain in the distance.
"Shit, sis...there they are," Mike shouted, the excitement pouring off him in waves. He pointed in the direction of the mass of silver.
"Stone the flaming' crows," Jake yelled as he pushed down on the accelerator, and they moved towards the front line of creatures to get a closer look.
"Hey, bro, they're heading for the rock," Mike said to Jake, slapping his shoulder from his position in the back seat.
"Let's get there as fast as we can, guys," Anthea replied as she pulled a soft lavender jumper and umbrella out of her pack.
---
Journalists from home and abroad were focused on long-distance scans of the creatures as they went about their business in the desert.
"Kryky mate, they're not from Earth. Bloody hell, I hope they're friendly, 'cause I want to get home in one piece, or my wife will bloody kill me," one Sydney journalist laughed, trying to release the tension they all felt as the insectoids crept ever closer to their position.
Anthea started filming. She found a comfortable position, amazed by the extra-terrestrial event neither fiction nor a hoax -- but the real deal.
Choppers were unable to fly due to the storm, but camera teams were filming the historical event in a broadcast carried to a global audience of billions. The media crews from CNN, BBC, Star Television and others sent live copy across digital satellite networks and other media outlets. Humanity found itself whether it liked it or not forced to accept the fact, it could no longer claim to be the only intelligent species in the heavens.
The Composoids had begun to inject crystal markers into the ground over several hundred miles, around New Alice Springs City and the Uluru reserve.
Anthea's ears stung with pain as a loud screeching sound filled the desert. The storm intensified, lightning flashed, and skies darkened as the tropical rain poured down. As if out of nightmare, thousands of flying things descended from the clouds and began attacking the city.
"Oh shit!" Tom Bola, a photographer with Seven News shouted as one of the helicopters fired upon by something like a heat ray exploded. Its crew had only just managed to jump clear.
"Get the fuck out of there!" he shouted into the intercom. Journalists and camera teams abandoned their aircraft and ran for cover.
Pillars of black smoke rose from the city's outskirts within an industrial estate. Anthea turned and observed two women stumbling through the underbrush, the first, a white girl, and a full blood aborigine like herself. Anthea didn't question the impulse to join the women and ran to greet them.
"I'm Anthea. I think we're supposed to do something…but what?" she shouted as they rushed into the desert.
Steve joined them, for he too felt the same compulsion to follow them into the battle zone.
Standing under a dead gum tree, all three women and the sole young male found themselves engulfed in silvery light as the Oberisku no Shoujo addressed them, "My children, I am the Senshi mother of serpent power. My daughters and my son, I shall awaken you from slumber!" The girls instantly held hands forming a circle and were initiated. "You have a title and powers that will come forth when you use your talisman."
Their brows began to glow with the crescent moon symbol as they transformed. Steve held the crystal sphere in his hands and transformed also, and stood in his Shitennou uniform. He had become Magnatar, a warrior mage and Lord of the Scimitar.
"I am Sailor White Raven, mistress of magic and defender of the innocent!" Anthea cried as she stood in her red fuku in high-heeled ruby sandals, a gold sash about her waist, onyx sequins lining the top and hem of her skirt. Her golden tiara possessed a ruby crescent. Her long raven-black hair flew out behind her. She stood, feet apart holding a translucent red crystal scepter with multi-colored crystal serpents forming interlinking helixes upon the stem.
"I am Sailor Aurora!" the other black Senshi cried, "Mistress of the stars and guardian of the land and its inhabitants!" She stood in an indigo fuku, with black sash studded with amber disks about her waist, and an onyx tiara with a diamond crescent surrounded by five silver stars, hair dancing in the wind. She held a black onyx scepter.
"I am Sailor Sun Storm, harvester of all things bountiful. I am also the mind of the star of Sule, child of the great Earth mother, and defender of all living things!" shouted the raven-haired Senshi in her bright orange fuku with a lemon-green sash about her waist. She wore golden knee-high boots, a firestone wand and firestones cut into pentagrams spiraled around her fuku, her tiara, luminous gold with lapis crescent. They were a formidable team.
The enemy had become aware of them; a squadron broke away to take them on.
Sailor White Raven lifted her wand. "Rainbow Serpent Power Transform!" a brilliant light preceded her second transformation.
Instantly, a giant rainbow serpent appeared amongst the storm clouds, surrounded by a corona of brilliant color. The mythic creature strode across the sky, each step punctuated by ear-splitting thunder and flashes of lightning. The length of the serpent was approximately three miles, and half a mile across its belly.
Everyone's attention was fixed upon the ancient leviathan as she climbed over the anvils of cloud. The serpent's movements sent wave upon wave of rainbow rings against the enemy, destroying many of the creatures attacking the city and base camp.
Magnatar lifted his staff and shouted his own incantation, "I call upon the power within the Earth Mother to ascend and strike at the heart of the enemy!" a blue light enveloped the camp and the ground shook violently as a gash opened in the Earth's crust. A fountain of magma shot into the air and showered down upon several hundred of the obsidian creatures, destroying them. The magma settled into a molten lake two miles away. Magnatar waved his staff and the lake had solidified into a series of newly formed rocky outcrops.
Journalists continued filming the battle, unsure what they were seeing. But there was little time to rationalize the situation. All their survival instincts overrode all but the strongest urge, to report the event for their networks.
They watched the Senshi and rainbow serpent battle the stellar enemy. The Senshi launched separate attacks upon other flying creatures emerging from the thunderheads to the west. Onlookers below spellbound by the power of the surreal serpent as her footfalls continued to flood the clouds with color. She made light work of destroying the invaders. A fleet of quartz fighters then took on the sky giantess, firing upon her. But a shield of stunning color preceded the demise of several of these craft that retreated into the clouds.
The rain stopped, but the thunder and lightning continued to rage as the battle wore on. A dead tree was struck by lightning and exploded. At the base of its charred remains an enchanting black priestess of magic sat cross-legged, hands resting upon her knees. She was in some sort of deep trance, her long black hair tumbling over her short red shift. She sang an ancient chant and then her eyes flickered open, her ebony body enveloped in flames. She was unaffected by the magical fire and continued her chant.
She vanished, and reappeared beside the sleeping form of White Raven, her Affinity essence having assumed the form of the magnificent sky serpent overhead.
Tokyo Japan
Usagi woke to a bright stream of sunlight as it made itself at home in her campus apartment. She cuddled her soft toy panther, and then stroked Luna's fur. Her faithful and much loved guardian lifted her head and mewed.
"Good morning, Usagi, It's a beautiful morning for the beginning of semester," Luna said, eyes bright.
She stumbled into the kitchenette, put on a pot of coffee, then switched on the television and set about making breakfast, humming to herself.
Suddenly, she felt a little giddy, she wasn't sure why, but she broke into a cold sweat and rushed into the bathroom.
"Usagi, are you all right?" Luna enquired as she heard her charge gasping for air after a second morning of queasiness.
"Yeah, Luna, I think it was the Sushi again. You know, I love the stuff way too much for my own good. I'll be okay," she said, staring in the mirror at her pale complexion, gripping the vanity unit as the bout of nausea receded.
She washed her face as Luna, after jumping up on her hind legs, managed to open the door and galloped to Usagi's side, "You're pregnant, Usagi, I want you to take it easy. I've known for a while. I've been expecting it," the Moon Cat said, jumping onto the vanity unit handing a wet facecloth to Usagi.
"Pregnant… Oh, it's Chibi-Usa, isn't it?" Usagi began to laugh and cry at the same time, "I must tell muffin. But after a little breakfast first."
"Are you sure your stomach is up to bacon and eggs, Usagi?" Luna enquired.
"Yup, today Luna… I could eat a horse," she said, beaming.
"You already do, Usagi. Perhaps you mean an elephant?" Luna joked.
"Watch it, fur ball," she chuckled as she picked up her faithful guardian and hugged her, "I love you, Luna, you're the best friend a girl…a pregnant girl can have."
Luna enjoyed her grilled chicken breast fillet and bowl of fruit yogurt. Usagi prepared cereal, toast and a buttered hot roll with cream and strawberry jam after demolishing her delicious eggs and bacon with grilled tomato on toast.
Her attention was then drawn to the newsreader in New Alice Springs City, Australia, where the silver Composoids had made world headlines. Usagi almost choked on her roll, for two Senshi were speaking to journalists with three unfamiliar moon cats by their sides. Police and military looked on, having no idea what they were dealing with.
The cameras panned across to a series of scorched hillsides, charred remains of helicopters and, in the distance, an array of smoldering buildings. Usagi's eyes doubled in size at the sight of the rainbow serpent striding across the sky chasing ugly screaming monsters attempting to escape their pursuer. The amazing sky being's fiery eyes shot pulses of light at these airborne horrors, incinerating them.
Usagi's jaw dropped at the sight of Sailor Aurora who was addressing the world's media. Then the rainbow serpent vanished, having thwarted the Alliance's sneak attack on the Red Center. Sailor White Raven stood with the others, as if on cue, the storm broke up and sunlight flooded the desert.
"What does all this mean, Luna?"
"I think it's definitely connected to the Oberisku no Shoujo, and we must meet with these girls as soon as possible," Luna pronounced.
During the next week, little disturbed the usual pace of campus life. Usagi enlisted Mamoru's help on an essay she hoped would impress her new lecturer, Dr. Basil kikuyu. She sat waxing lyrical about their future prospects regarding study and career whilst staring into her mug of hot chocolate, watching the huge pink marshmallow floating like a cerise island in a delicious frothy sea.
They worked in companionable silence, only taking time out every twenty minutes to chat and go over their work. An hour later, they'd completed the task of proofing and printing out the essay.
Unexpectedly, a silvery-blue light flared within the apartment, and another Moon Cat sat blinking, surveying its surroundings and cleared his throat, "Sorry, Err, whoops, wrong apartment. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Robbie. Yup, nothing fancy, just Robbie. I am the technologist supervisor for the Celestial Senshi Command network."
Usagi and Mamoru looked at one another and shrugged, trying to resist laughing at the cute fur ball's tone; he sounded like a real tech-head with flowery royal manners in overkill.
‘You and Umino would get along like a house on fire.'
"So, if your appearance here is a mistake, Robbie, then who are you looking for?"
"To answer your question though, I am looking for Princess Setsuna, or Sailor Pluto and her husband, Prince Enki," the black and white cat's eyes filled with pleading as Mamoru told him her room number and explained as best he could how to get there. Robbie thanked Mamoru and immediately departed.
"What was all that about, I wonder?"
"Whatever it is, my love, I think we'll soon find out," Usagi replied thoughtfully.
Mamoru considered this, and then noticed Usagi's amused expression. She suggested they needed a change of atmosphere, as the apartment was getting a little cramped, what with Senshi emissaries appearing and disappearing at all hours. Mamoru watched as she closed her eyes, every bit a picture of perfect tranquility. He thought she looked so lovely and adorably cute.
Usagi's thoughts turned over in her head, her eyes flew open as the perfect solution to their little fur-lined problem came to mind, "Hey, let's catch a movie. You know, it's been a while since we've seen one. So, let's go see the new Harry Potter film, The Deathly Hallows part II," Usagi suggested.
Mamoru nodded, smiling. "It will be a good opportunity to let our hair down, as I think it will be a while before we get the chance again."
He wanted so much to maintain the normal day-to-day routine they'd established since returning from Crystal Tokyo and Myola. But he knew this wouldn't last and wanted to make the most of what they had left before another dark enemy disrupted their lives once again.
Usagi grabbed her coat; a soft blue woolen one Mamoru had given her for her birthday the previous year. She rushed into the bathroom, put on a little mother-of-pearl eye shadow and strawberry lip-gloss, and then slipped on a pair of black wet-leather boots. A few minutes later, Usagi nodded at her reflection in her full-length mirror. She had decided she would break the news of her pregnancy that night. Her reflection winked back at her.
She sauntered into the lounge-dining area and Mamoru's face lit up as Usagi again took in his handsome features. Then Mamoru tossed his keys into the air, spun around, catching them in his left hand, and they laughed as Usagi took his arm and they left the apartment.
