Subject: The Four Lovers: Interim, Chapter Two Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 23:02:47 -0600 (CST) From: James Campagna To: echo5a@deskmedia.com Hey, Sorry about the rather lousy intro last week, but I was in a HURRY! All right, this is the skinny on this series (it's a series, by the way, so if you happen upon this, I suggest you go back and read Stranded, DitH, and HiaP...they provide the background material): there's going to be another story added which will affect the plot in ABSOLUTELY NO WAY AT ALL! Hah! I thought you'd like that! It's called "Cast Meeting" and it involves setting up the principle players for "Air On a Cosmic String" (abbr. AOaCS) for their roles. It's also a before the story author's notes, because AOaCS is rather unusual...but you'll find that out later! And then the series procedes as normal. This part, if I may classify it, is a bit flaky. There's nothing you don't know presented here, but I needed to write something for Ch. 2, right? *g* *as Ninx sits and talks, grinning, a shadow sneaks up behind her. She takes no notice* There will be another three chapters after this.. *the figure clamps his hand over her mouth, and she disappears in a flash of petals...Zoicite appears* She's going to be really pissed when she gets back, but, until then...I, ZOICITE, Get to do the DISCLAIMERS! *picks up her cheat sheet and continues* A) Um, she doesn't own this. Really, so don't sue her. "No creative infringement intended" is what it says here. B) Zach's condition does some major jumping up and down, but its all related to plot, so no worries. * he grins* I know why! But I won't tell! C) Ninx apparently takes Advanced Chem, but she has it first hour, which is also a sin. Although the boys aren't scientists, its assumed that they are very smart due to...*frowns* Well, that gives things away! Ignore that one! D) This High School has seven class periods, in reference to the scheduling in Ninx's hometown. *another frown* Funny, I thought she....oh well, if she wants to be ambiguous, its her call, not mine! *folds cheat sheet* She also wishes to thank Pandora ('cause your cool), Lianne (you too), Amethist (if you think my e-mails are weird, you should read my stories), Sailor Mercurio (you're wondeful!), and all the others who have contributed. *loud slamming is heard* Uh-oh. Being that they're going to break down the door, I have to go. *grins as he disappears* All flames/comments/questions to jkc1984@niia.net! ENJOY! THE FOUR LOVERS INTERIM CHAPTER TWO NIGHT LIFE /i'm all right...i'll be all right, i just want to get out of here./ /the gold in her palms, the scarlet hair down her back, and those evil, evil eyes.../ /you're going to turn me into a FEMALE?/ /i curse you, beryl, under the crystalline geise. you'll get the fate you deserve...over a man like me....by a blond like me/ /my lips moved, and i mouthed...Ami./ /lastly, i was scared, though not of my own death; that seemed so insignificant now. what i feared most was the feminine version of myself that was stalking around the battlefield, killing men in the name of "Beryl and the Negaverse!"/ /just as i made it inside the gates, the four sneered and laughed and dropped the bodies, leaving me to gape with a crystal in my hand as they disappeared./ /i ran forward, took her into my arms, touching her face and whispering to her, "Ami, Ami, lov..." but all she could do was whisper her last loving feelings as she accused me of her murder./ /and i screamed./ Zach awoke, the scream dying on his lips as he forced himself up from his bed. A last image flashed before his eyes, and then it swirled away in fragments, fragments of, of... "It was a dream," he muttered to himself, barely realiziing he'd spoken. "Just a a dream." He clambered out of his bed to go stand in a sullen patch of moonlight. It'd been about three days since he'd first laid eyes on Kevin; his dreams had intensified then, too. They weren't just snippets or voices in the darkness anymore; now they were shorts, clips lasting not a blink of an eye, but 10-20 blinks (where a blink comes 1nce every six seconds, he reminded himself), running smoothly, like someone had activated a dozen tiny Avi players in his mind. Always he looked through the same eyes, a man's eyes, like himself--or was it a woman?--and he saw light places--or dark foreboding ones--and felt passive emotions--or incredinly hot, fiery passionate ones.... Always a melange. Always ending in violence. He shivered, feeling the cold suddenly. A few days ago, he wouldn't have stood under this bright, bright moonlight without an immediate sign of ill health. The coming of the dreams had made him strong, though, stronger than he knew he should be. He was going back to school that next Monday, finally ready. He knew he shared English and Japanese with the others, and also had Trig with Kevin--the others had opted to take no math or Pre-Calculus, which was (in his honest opinion) for wimps--but the other classes were full of strangers to him. he ruefully reminded himself. He nearly blanched. His father was rarely around; his mother was always on some diplomatic mission or another; and that left just him and his nurse. His lips pursed; it wasn't that he didn't like women--he just didn't care for the representation of the gender that lived with him. She was way too intrested in him and his friends. He looked back to his bed, and sighed. If he was going to go back to school, he needed rest. He turned his face up to the moonlight, letting the sfot, silver beams caress his skin, feeling a brief peace-- hatred--wash over him. Sighing once more, he padded back to bed, his soft hair splaying out as his head slammed into the pillow. He didn't know he was SO tired...a yawn escaped his lips, and as his eyes closed, he softly murmured, "Princess..." before dropping off. * * * * "Yes, Zachary?" "Acid-base," he said, his voice low. he thought. The man nodded, turning back to the board to scratch out another equation. Zach risked a look at Red, and saw him shake his head. He knew his friend was tired, but usually Jared was more...astute then this. Not able to recognize a simple acid-base reaction? he thought, he thought. Nate had barely touched his food at lunch, but had ordered two cups of straight expresso. Kevin's gray eyes and had gone flat, and the unique tone he had vanished from his voice. It was all too odd. And the worst of it was, he felt fine. In fact, there was a continual stream of energy within him. He felt better than he had in months! He nodded to himself in concurrence. Yep, it HAD been about that much time...or more. He wasn't sure; dates weren't his forte. But that time period seemed about right. "Zachary, do you agree with what Mr. Jared just said?" came the looming voice of his teacher. "No." "Good," said the teacher, and he winced. he thought. He snuck another look at Jared; the worried look in his friend's eyes was enough to convince him of the necessity of it. * * * * They ended up at Nathan's place instead-- Miss Maley didn't want to disturb the house that much--in the room fondly referred to as the study. It was large, wooded, with tall, tall bookcases and a thick, plush carpet; a piano, a baby grand, was to one side, and candelabras had been placed upon it to give it that "feel." There was very little furniture, so the boys laid their food and drink on medium sized wood squares, working out of notebooks. At the moment, the room was quiet (except for the the faint rumble of a storm outside); Advanced Chemistry was what they were working on, Zach presiding and having assigned several problems and asking them to determines the types of equations in list. Pretty easy stuff, and the boys worked diligently at it. "Have the three of you been having odd dreams?" he asked from his corner. They worked in a square to be efficent. Immediately, all of the sounds of pencils to paper STOPPED. "Yes, I have," Kevin finally answered, slowly, voice hesitant. "I as well," Nate rumbled formally, his eyes uneasy. "Me, too," Jared said, his voice almost sad. Looks of confusion and increduality spread over their faces. "All of us?" Nate gasped. "Are they the same, though," Kevin quickly asked. "Jared, what are yours about?" "Well," the boy started, "there's a lot of a palace, and friends...stones, they...three of them. And a Prince...a Princess." He broke off. "Rei," he whispered, then shook it off. "A lot of red and purple and passion, Mars, and...Rei..." A bleak look broke over his face. "And then I die." Nathan stirred to a sitting position, eyes deep and somewhat pained. "Mine are similar...except for Mako..." he suddenly felt close to tears, and unconciously brushed his face. "My dream ends in...my death...too." He didn't look happy to admit that. "I have two sets," Zac admitted. "One is like yours, though. But I feel mad...angry and sorrowful." He closed his eyes. "Ami," he whispered, voice breaking completely on the word. "I led them," Kev said softly. "In my dreams. I led the men. And...and...Minako?" He shuddered suddenly. "Minako!" Silence dominated the room then, until Jared asked, "What were they called?" And, in unison, they responded, "The Generals." >GENERALS ASSEMBLE!< The crey sounded from their blood, their heart, their spirit, and they had to obey. Jumping to their feet, they saluted and stood frim, eyes open, hands closed. Staring at the glow that had suddenly suffused them all. A sparkle crossed their features and dangled from their hair, until they were older, hair longer/shorter, faces mature, eyes passionite. "Generals..." Kevin whispered, and swiftly Kunzite blazed through. "Generals..." Zachary breathed, and now he was Zoicite, shyly brave. "Generals..." Jared murmured, and Jadeite grinned at them all. "Generals..." Nathan said softly, and it was Nephrite that gazed at them. His hand thrust forward, and without realizing it the four of them gripped various positions on each other wrists, until a small square was formed in their midst. >Assemble once more and take your oath,< whispered Kevin/Kunzite. >I am General Jadeite, psychometry, sworn to protect the Earth and Prince Endymion,< spoke Jared/Jadeite. >I am General Nephrite, star field, sworn to protect the Earth and Prince Endymions,< spoke Nathan/Nephrite. >I am General Zoicite, crystals, sworn to protect the Earth and Prince Endymions,< Zachary/Zoicite said. >I am General Kunzite, energy, sworn to protect the Earth and Prince Endymion,< spoke Kevin/Kunzite. A wheel of power rose in the square, bright, snow white. It tilted slightly and began to unravel, bands of white loosening; the wheel fell flat again and the bands were jarred off, streaking into them. A dam, a barrier, crashed in their mind, and.... They opened their eyes, butts planted firmly on the floor. No one spoke until Zac dared to whisper, "Another dream?" "Not unless dreams leave marks," Kevin said, rubbing his wrist as he grinned wryfully. Instantly, the other three broke into HUGE grins, rubbing their own wrists. Quietly, and almost unnotice, Kevin whispered, "Welcome back, Generals." "HAI!" they shouted back, a feeling of exhaultation rising in them. It was GOOD to be back. -------------------------------------------- BLOND REVALATION IS NEXT!