A priestess has a responsibility to be observant of supernatural affairs wherever possible. It wasn't enough to be able to merely channel spiritual energy through flames to predict the future. Rei Hino was smart enough to use her own mind and will to observe the world around her, to pay attention and pick up on things that others might miss.
She was sweeping the grounds of the shrine entrance. A fairly automatic task which required very little thought on her part, so she took the opportunity to conduct a little investigation.
<i>"Hey, Libra!"</i> she thought, trying to be as loud as she could inside her own head. But then she noticed that even when she was "think shouting" her internal monologue was exactly the same internal volume. Huh. File that away as random trivia. <i>"You around?"</i>
<i>"I am indeed!"</i> Libra answered. <i>"Ooh, I do like those robes. They give you an otherworldly appeal. Two thumbs up!"</i>
Rei rolled her eyes, then narrowed them as this did confirm one thing that was worrying her.. <i>"So, you can read our thoughts?"
"Only those you've invited me to hear. And while we're talking I do get a general sense of what you currently look like."</i> A beat of silence. <i>"Maybe I should have told Makoto that when she decided to chat in the bath..."</i>
That got the priestess growling a bit, and she almost gave herself a series of splinters from how firmly she was grasping the broom all of a sudden. <i>"Yes. You should have."</i>
Still though. It could only hear the thoughts they invited it to hear? How thoroughly convenient. There was no way to prove if Libra was lying either: If they thought of a plan that could trip Libra up, and Libra could read their minds, then the plan would be known, identified and circumvented before they could even implement it.
<I>"Was there anything else?"</i> Libra asked around a yawn. <I>"I've been working pretty hard trying to make sure you girls are all set up, so if there's nothing else..."
"What else do you know about the enemy?"</i> Well, actually, Rei wanted to say that she didn't trust Libra, no matter what Usagi said. The guy/girl/thing was rubbing her the wrong way. Talking with it made her skin crawl and the hairs on the back of her neck tango. In spite of that, the best way to try to find out more information was to draw it out by dialogue with the suspicious being. <i>"Is there anything in particular we should be looking for?"
"Changes in behaviour. People behaving more ordered than usual, being more rigid around the rules. I guess that sort of thing? Unfortunately I've already told you pretty much everything else I know, so unless there's nothing else...?"</i>
Before Rei could think of any other, more specific questions, her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp, loud <b>"Atten-shun!"</b> followed by the sound of three pairs of feet snapping together.
Brought out of her revelrie, Rei looked around and saw three young girls about her age, standing there with their backs straight, arms down at their side and feet together. All three were wearing the same kind of clothing. A light green shirt, a dark green tie, trousers the same colour as the tie. Boots so sharp you could probably peel an apple by rubbing it across the toes, and so shiny they were almost blinding to look at. What was more, all three girls had their hair cropped into a rather unflattering bowl cut.
<i>"On second thought maybe I will stick around."</i>
That made Rei just a little bit nervous. You didn't need a sixth sense to tell these girls were acting differently from their usual selves. They were even breathing in synch. This was almost certainly the work of an enemy General! But there was no need to turn into Sailor Mars quite yet... Not yet.
"Hello," Rei greeted with a bow, but her eyes never left them for a moment. "How may I help you on this beautiful day?"
The middle girl stepped forward. No, not stepped. Marched. Goose-stepped, practically. She marched right up to Rei and... Saluted. "Greeting, Miss Hino!" the girl yelled with clipped enthusiasm. "We are the Rei Hino Appreciation Society! It is an honour to finally have the courage to talk with you face to face!"
Rei Hino Appreciation Society...? Oh, yes. Rei had heard about this, let's be charitable and call it an after-school club. Apparently several girls had developed quite the crush on her, and met up to ooh and ahh over her. On the one hand that was even creepier than Libra. On the other -
<i>"Man, there's something about a woman in uniform that really works for me. Look at the way that tie really brings out her boobs."</i>
Okay, maybe not creepier than Libra. As creepy. Maybe. Anyway, the other point: The girls had never hurt anyone nor had they ever made a move on her, and the only reason Rei had even heard about it at all was due to rumour and hearsay. It was a little unusual to have that gossip confirmed.
"You don't say," Rei remarked, looking the girl up and down. Damnation. Now that Libra had put the thought in her head, she actually did take a look. The tie was snugly nestled in between the girl's sizable breasts, causing the shirt material to almost mould around them. If Rei decided to peer any closer she felt as though she could probably see the outline of her bra.
"I do say," the girl smartly replied, again saluting. "It is my role and my duty to bring to you a special invitation! Rei Hino! You are cordially invited to join our Youth Brigade!"
Youth brigade? Well, if that didn't set off all sorts of alarm bells. Now the other two girls were marching forward until they were all standing in a line, this time with their legs a little apart and their hands behind their backs. Though those backs were no less straight, and those faces no less serious.
"What sort of brigade is this, exactly?" Rei asked.
"It is a new community program," the girl on the right declared. "To help the young learn discipline!"
"We believe that you could help us maintain that necessary discipline!" the girl on the left continued. "Though our recruitment drive proceeds apace, there are still so many who need to learn -"
"Discipline!" all three of them said at once. Like a passionate mantra, except without the soul.
"Sorry, not interested!" Rei said, quite firmly. "I wish you good fortune, but I have too many duties at the shrine to spend time helping you."
The three of them stayed stock still for a moment. Staring right ahead. Not even at Rei anymore. It was eerie, unsettling and deeply worrying. Rei reached inside her robe for her pen, ready to transform in an instant -
Only for the middle girl to suddenly grab her wrist with an astounding burst of speed, flicking that wrist back and making her fling her pen across the temple courtyard. No! She tried to pull away, but the grip was too strong. Monstrously strong!
"You misunderstand," the girl said. "That was not a request. It was an order."
"A direct order," the girls on the left and right continued, monotone and in unison.
<i>"Brainwashed. Pretty thorough job too, by the likes of it. Probably a body modification spell to make them into the perfect little soldiers."</i>
"Let me go!" Rei yelled, attempting to use her spare hand to pound the top of the girl's head. No effect. None at all!
<i>"And what would you do even if you could escape?"</i> Libra asked. <i>"Become Sailor Mars? Burn them up? Scare them off? No, Rei! You need to think this through. Passion and determination won't be enough to beat 'soldiers' like this!"</i>
Tsch! As much as Rei hated to admit it, Libra had a point. She might be able to tag them with an ofuda, but these three girls were clearly supernaturally enhanced in some way. A flat out fight against all three of them wouldn't end well for her. She was badly outnumbered and needed backup that probably wouldn't get here until the fight ended. Given that speed they would probably catch up to her even if she could break free from this iron grip!
<I>"Therefore, turn your thinking around. If escape is pointless, why not try the opposite of violence?"</i>
The opposite of violence...?
<i>"These girls said they were fans of yours,"</i> Libra observed. <i>"Remind them why. Then you wouldn't need to hurt them. You can break the spell on them by seducing them."
"S-Seduce them? I can't do that! I won't do that!"
"You can. If you let me help you. Borrow some of my power, and you will have them in the palm of your hand in no time. Rei, you must hurry, we don't have much time!"</i>
Ridiculous! Seduce them? Allow Libra a little more access to her mind? That was the one thing Rei could not do! Make that two things she could not do. Anyway, whatever! This was an absolutely absurd line of thinking to adopt because Rei still did not -
<i>"Rei, I know you still don't trust me, but please! I want to help you!"</i>
"Violence against your superior," the middle soldier girl announced, utterly devoid of emotion. "Emergency levels of discipline are required."
"Initiating short-term emergency recruitment," the other two girls said in unison, smartly saluting in unison as well. Then all three of their eyes begin to swirl and glow in a way that Rei had absolutely no intention of staring at. Not in the least.
<i>"Oh, hell. Now you really don't have a choice! Rei, I can't force you to take this power. You have to accept it of your own free will. You have to believe me. If not for your own sake, then think of your friends! If these girls can brainwash you, they'll be vulnerable too!"</i>
"My... Friends?"
... Damn you, Libra. Had you somehow set this situation up? Or was it coincidence? She tried to keep her eyes closed to buy herself a little more time, but it was to no avail: Her forehead was grabbed in that same iron grip, and her eyes were forced open. Forced to stare into six swirling, endless pits of recruitment. Already she could sort of see it in her own mind's eye. Marching around in that smart uniform. Telling people what to do. Helping them become better people.
Then heading out to recruit others, to ensure there was an increasing order throughout the world. Recruiting others... Like her friends and fellow Sailors.
"Alright! Fine!" Rei yelled. "I'll take it! Libra, give me that power!"
<i>"Rei... Take this power and use it well."</i>
It was a funny thing, Rei thought just before she was hit by an incredible burst of magical energy. It almost sounded like Libra was genuinely relieved that she had agreed.
- Since Rei isn't currently Sailor Mars, she simply becomes a fetish priestess in body and outlook.
- Libra assumes control over Rei's body temporarily.
- The burst of power gives Rei the chance to escape and transform into Sailor Mars, complete with her Libra powerup!
- Something else
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