The pink haired military cadet put a fist approximately over her heart and seemed to be tearing up about something.
Setsuna looked at the display that had been showing film clips of the Senshi in action and was now showing some odd spindle shape.
"They completed it ahead of schedule," said the formerly Chibi Usa. "I heard rumors that they were doing it, but keeping a lot of the details under wraps so that the Earth Onlies would be left guessing. Oh, damn. I wish I could go..."
Setsuna looked at her companion and then again at the spindle. Six shapes moved out and resolved into what looked like wings. She didn't want to give away that she had no clue as to what it was. "Why can't you go?"
"Oh yeah, like Mother would let me go," said Cadet Usagi. "She throws a fit just at me getting involved in skimmer races. She's going to let me go on a trip that's going to last at least two years?"
Setsuna looked at the envy and pride on Cadet Usagi's face, then at similar expressions all around her. This was a Crystal Tokyo that was equal parts retirement community and frontier home then. People came here for the attentuation of lifespan and reduced problems of living in 1/6 gee, but there was probably shuttles or links to a Darkside telescope array and probably the rest of the solar system. Here were drifters and dreamers - but only the most pure of heart and highest educations among that set.
Thousands of little details clicked together in Setsuna's mind as she observed the pride and envy in these non-Senshi. No magical powers or anything even close. These were relatively normal men and women who were following their dreams and their hearts and who dared the risks of living in space without magic to protect them from things like explosive decompression.
The meek had inherited the Earth. Everyone else was heading for the stars.
"Besides," continued Cadet Usagi. "The vast majority of those posted to the ship either have incredible grades, esper abilities, or some really incredible skills. I don't even have an AI partner, you know how Mom is about them. Otherwise Uranus would just have a cow about it."
"Well maybe she just wants to keep you around in case she needs help repelling an alien invasion," suggested Setsuna.
Cadet Usagi stared at Setsuna for a few moments before reacting to that.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Setsuna wanted to point out that rolling around the ground laughing like that would mess up the Cadet's nice clean uniform.
The reappearance of Sailor Pluto was greeted with a few odd looks.
The Sailor Marionettes had been joined by others (the interpretation of the 'nice girls like you' and an idle thought about how nice this group was and why couldn't more girls get along like these in his life having results).
Pluto ignored them.
Hotaru and her double were playing cards.
"Fireball - two mana points."
"Ah, but I have a Circle Of Protection - Red."
Ami was playing chess with her double. Like that was a big surprise.
"Interesting move," said Ami.
"It's nice to have a skilled opponent," indicated Ami2.
Minako and Minako2 were enthusing about the possibility about covering for each other.
Usagi was becoming friends with Usagi2, who seemed a bit more quiet and reserved than her original.
Setsuna heard a delicate throat clearing and saw her own duplicate with a tea service.
"Estimation based on available factors would indicate that you have been to the future for the express purpose of ascertaining the potential dangers to the timestream," said Setsuna2 in a quiet voice. "Your findings?"
Taking a cup of tea and nodding her thanks, Setsuna sipped at it. Perfect taste and temperature to her liking. Hmmm. There may be benefits to this arrangement. "You know I can't say."
"A general assessment would not necessarily invoke paradox," indicated Setsuna2.
A faint frown appeared on Setsuna's lips. Apparently the programmers had decided she was Vulcan. How droll.
"I have decided," said Setsuna, "based on my findings that..."
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Tue, 13 May 2003 13:24)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.