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The Really Long and Boring Author's Notes

This story is a response to Richard's suggestion that I write something with a
plot.  Now, ordinarily, the word 'plot' is enough to make me run, screaming
like a baby, and dive under my bed.  Since I'm supposed to be 'mature,' I decided
to use this advice (the plots rather simple in this one; I've got more
complicated projects planned).
Incidentally, thank you to everyone who gave me comments and 
criticism.  The revised version of "Firefly's Dream" will be out soon, hopefully.



[Sound of deep breath]  "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou"  [whoosh] 

I'm not sure I'm satisfied with the ending so any advice you have concerning that
would be greatly appreciated.

I also got a sense of twisted pleasure that I helped to start a thread on active
vs. passive voice.


The idea to use Setsuna as
a main character was inspired by Mercury Blue's post to A Sailor Moon Romance where
it is pointed out that Setsuna is an underused character.  I agree.
For all you Japanese experts, please tell me if I've used
the right words in these situations.  I would be eternally greatful.

This is based on the assumption that Pluto is neither omnipotent nor omniscient.
You have been warned.



"It is impossible to simultaneously determine the exact position
and the exact momentum of an electron."-- The Heisenberg
Uncertainty Principle

"That's really the difference between us, isn't it?  You can think
about more things at the same time than I can."-- Sparhawk on
godhood, The Elenium, Book One, David and Leigh Eddings.




Uncertainty Principle

by

Cynara L.



     Setsuna had a small smile on her face as the needle danced in
her hand.  A pile of garments that needed mending lay at her feet.  Sunlight
streamed in the windows of her apartment making her needle shine.  A half-eaten
bagel covered with Provolone cheese rested on a delicate china plate accented
with silver flowers.  Beside it, three books were stacked.  The hands on the 
ornate Victorian clock on the mahogany table indicated that it was 11:00.

Every now and then, she would glance up at the television to monitor
the progress of Haruka's race.   She finished pulling the needle out of the
buttonhole of a white silk blouse and glanced back at the screen, her hand suspended in place.
The pack of cars was rounding the bend. Haruka was in third place and inching forward. 
Suddenly, the car jerked and Setsuna gasped.  Time hiccuped as Setsuna watched 
every possible outcome of this event.  Haruka died, grew old, married, played at 
Carnegie Hall, and won the Triple Crown after a thrilling career in horse
racing, all in a single moment.  Haruka regained control of her car, and
Setsuna sighed.  The timeline remained intact.

     She finished sewing on the button hastily and rose to get a glass
of water.  Her hands were trembling.  She glanced down at the blouse
which was sticking to her lavender dress. Absentmindedly, she plucked at
it.  It remained attached.  Setsuna's eyes widened as she 
realized she had sewn the blouse to her dress.  Grumbling, she stalked 
into her bedroom, pulled out another outfit, and returned to the living 
room to face the delicate task of salvaging her dress.

     Setsuna locked the door to her apartment.  After thirty minutes of
work, she could still see the holes in her dress.  Her face had a vaguely
annoyed expression.

     "A nice walk will clear my head," she murmured and headed to the 
elevator.  The clock in the hall read 11:30.

     It was a sunny, mild day and Setsuna enjoyed the weather, walking at
a moderate pace.  The sky appeared deep blue, and the smells of the various food vendors
filled the air.  Children squeeled in the backbround.  Setsuna slowed her pace.
She was jolted out of her reverie by a high pitched 
voice yelling, "Oh no, I'm going to be so late, and Mako-chan's making
brownies!"

     Setsuna smiled at the spectacle Usagi was making as she raced down 
the street.  Usagi glanced up and she yelled gleefully, "Konnichi wa, 
Setsuna-san!"

     "Konnichi wa, Usagi-chan," Setsuna returned.

     At that moment, Usagi's small foot met a raised sidewalk block. 
Concerned, Setsuna attempted to catch her.  However, she had made a 
slight miscalculation in Usagi's speed and trajectory which sent them
both to the hurtling toward the pavement. 

     After checking the sprawling form beside her for injuried, Setsuna
noticed that her ankle was in a rather odd position.  Her brow crinkled
as she attempted to move it.  She winced in pain.  Apparently, she had
twisted it in the fall. Usagi had regained her senses and was staring at
Setsuna's ankle.
   
     "Oh no, did I do that Setsuna-san?" she questioned anxiously.

     Eager to head off a hysterics attack, Setsuna replied quickly, 
"Don't worry about it.  It's only a minor nuisance."

     To prove her point, she rose to her feet.  "See, it's nothing,
really."  She smiled reassuringly.

     Relieved, Usagi also got up.  Just then, she remembered Mako-chan.  
Her eyes widened and she yelled, "Oh no . . . I'm so sorry, Setsuna-san,"
bowing, "Ja ne!"  She turned and raced down the street.

     Setsuna sighed.  She glared down at her ankle.  "Maybe I can walk
the pain off.  Of all the days to wear high heels . . . "

     To Setsuna's chagrin, the pain did not wear off.  Her leisurely walk
was ruined by her visible limp.  She sat on a nearby 
bench and considered her options.  She looked down the street to her 
right.  Rei was walking toward her carrying what appeared to be several
bags of groceries.  She was scowling and muttering several phrases 
directed toward Yuuichirou.  Her gaze turned to the bench where Setsuna
was reclining.  "Konnichi wa, Setsuna-san," she said, summoning a smile
to her face.  Setsuna inclined her head in return.

     "Enjoying the day?" Rei asked

     "Passing time until my 12:30 meeting."

     Rei glanced down at her watch.  Setsuna gave her a questioning gaze.

     "Oh, it's nothing really," Rei said nervously, "Your meeting must
be close by."

     "Why do you say that?" Setsuna asked.

     "My watch reads 12:20."

     Setsuna glanced down at her watch which read 11:45.  Her eyes 
narrowed.  "The battery in my watch must need to be replaced," she
said quietly. "Arigato."

     "Sore ja," Rei said nervously and headed down the street quickly.

     Setsuna waited until Rei was well down the street and drew herself
up to her full height. Turning, she walked toward the nearest train
station at a brutally quick pace, ignoring the sharp pain in her ankle.

     She gritted her teeth, tightening the grip on her steering wheel.
Not only had she arrived at the meeting fifteen minutes late, but she
had been treated like a child. Her treatment of her ankle had only
injured it more, and she was forced to head to the doctor.  She glanced
down at her watch briefly which still read 11:45 under the brand name 
Rolex.  "I spent two weeks finding that watch," she complained, "I tested
nearly every watch in Tokyo to find the most precise.  Then I made modifications.  
I can't believe I forgot about the battery."  She pressed her foot down harder on the 
accelerator of her black BMW.  She weaved in and out of traffic with quick, precise
movements from the steering wheel.  Sirens blared behind her.  Setsuna glanced down at her
speedometer.  Chagrined, she pulled over to the side of the road.

     The officer seemed to take an eternity to come to her rolled down
window.  "In a hurry to get somewhere?" he drawled.

      "It would appear that I have been negligent in my driving. I am
terribly sorry to inconvenience you like this," Setsuna replied.

     Taken aback, the officer quickly gave her a ticket which she 
insisted upon.  Shaking his head, he returned to his motorcycle.  
Setsuna bowed her head in shame.   "I guess I can't lecture Haruka on 
her driving habits anymore."

     She pulled back on the road and headed on her way.  The clock in her
car read 3:15.

     She had only driven five miles when her car began to overheat.  
Setsuna pulled off the road again and reached into the glove compartment
for her phone.  After calling roadside assistance to tow her car, she
attempted to call Haruka.  She received the answering machine.  Setsuna
leaned back in the car seat.  "Maybe I could reverse the thread of 
time. . .," she said wistfully, "No, that would be childish. I can't believe
that I would even suggest such a thing."  

     The air felt much hotter than it had that morning.  Setsuna
squirmed in the car seat.  She drummed her ruby nails on the dash.  Then she
stared down at her ankle.  A determined look appeared on her brow, and
she grabbed her navy handbag from the seat next to her.  She searched for
some pain killers.  A bottle of Aspirin rewarded her.  Setsuna opened the
bottle eagerly and peered inside.  The bottle was empty.

     "Well, it looks like a hole in your radiator, just like your friend
said.  The problem is your radiator's plastic, so we'll have to replace the
entire thing.  It'll cost quite a bit," the mechanic said plainly.

      The mechanic appeared middle-aged.  He had a pronounced squint and a 
reputation, according to Haruka, of relative honesty in the auto repair world. 
Haruka had headed over to Setsuna's apartment
once she found her message on the machine.  After giving her car a cursory
inspection, she had followed her over to this shop.

     "Money is no issue," Setsuna replied calmly.  "When can you have it
back to me?"

     "Well, it's summer, ma'am, and we've got quite a few cars to work
on.  I'd say the soonest I could have it for you is two weeks from now."

     "Domo arigato.  You have been most helpful," Setsuna said
graciously.

     Setsuna returned to Haruka's car.  Hotaru sat in the back staring at
the chaos of the repair shop.  Setsuna got into the car and buckled her
seatbelt.  She glanced into the rear-view mirror.

    Hotaru gasped.  "Oh no, I forgot to tell you, Setsuna-mama.  The 
others are having a big meeting at the Jinja and I kind of said that you
would be there," she muttered staring down at the floor board.

     "Well, it does so happen that I don't have anything planned this
evening.  In the future, however, please remember to ask me before
you plan my schedule," Setsuna said, glancing back at the girl.

     "Hai," Hotaru whispered softly.

     Haruka glanced briefly at Setsuna.  She had answered Hotaru in
a rather abrupt manner.  She turned her eyes back to the road.  I know
I would be annoyed if I was away from one of my cars for two weeks, she 
thought.  The clock on the dash blinked 4:55.

      The rest of the group was already there by the time the three of
them arrived at the Jinja.  Rei and Usagi appeared to be engaging in a 
load argument.  Makoto was laying out a rather elaborate spread of
food for the nature of the meeting.  Ami and Michiru were talking
quietly with Luna spread over one of Ami's shoulders, and Minako appeared
to be bickering with Artemis about the phrasing of a quote.

     The meeting turned out to a thinly veiled excuse for a reunion.  
After devouring Makoto's treats, the group relaxed and talked idly 
amongst themselves interrupted only by occasional exclamations from the
louder members of the group.  Michiru was reaching for the pitcher of water
to refill her glass when she noticed
it was empty.

     "I'll go refill it," Minako said, eagerly leaping up.

     "I really think she needs to cut down on the sugar intake," Rei 
muttered.

    Minako returned with a pitcher of water filled to the brim.  She 
walked rapidly across the room.  At that moment, unfortunately, she
decided to pull a page from the Book of Usagi and tripped over the 
sprawled form of Artemis, sending the contents of the pitcher flying
towards the first object in their path.  It happened to be Setsuna.

    A look of horror appeared on Setsuna's face.  Her eyes widened.  She leapt to
her feet staring at the second ruined outfit of the day.  Then she yelled
the first thing that came to mind: "Can't any of you do anything without
my help?  You'd think that one of you would be able to pull off a simple
task without disastrous consequences.  And, Haruka, why, in the name of
any deity, did it have to be *racing*?"
     
     She swivelled around the room.  The others were staring at her as if 
she had sprouted two heads.  She turned towards Luna and Ami.  "You two
I don't have a problem with, but give me five minutes and I'm sure I can 
think of one."

     With that, she turned and regally swept out of the room.  Her visible limp 
marred the effect slightly.

     As she headed down the steps of the Jinja, Yuuichirou heard her 
mutter, "I need a drink,"

     Setsuna sat in a bar nursing a raspberry daiquiri.  The clock on
the wall read 8:30.  She had chosen a corner booth and was currently
staring at her drink, her crimson eyes turbulent.  The establishment lay on
a side street in one of the quieter districts of Tokyo.  The patrons 
were largely white collar workers who chatted quietly about their jobs.
Two large ceiling fans wafted cigarette smoke throughout the room, giving it
a dreamlike quality.

     "Mind if I join you?" a voice asked in oddly accented Japanese.

     Setsuna glared up at the owner of the voice, a rather mild looking
gentleman with dark brown hair and striking light green eyes.

     "If you don't mind me saying so," the man continued, "You look as if
you've had a rather horrid day."

     "I guess you could say I have," she conceded.

     "Whatever it is, I doubt if it could match mine," he challenged.

     "Well, I doubt if you would be of the same opinion once you've
heard my day," she said answering the challenge in English.

     The man sat down to listen.

     "And then he looks at me like I'm a bloody idiot," she said her
voice rising audibly.  The two made an odd couple.  Setsuna ranted in
excellant English,pausing only to brush her emerald bangs out of her eyes.
Her companion nodded occasionally and made comforting remarks.

     The man nodded sympathetically.  "I won't have my car for two weeks
because some idiot had to invent plastic radiators.  Then Minako has
to pull an Usagi and dumps a pitcher of water over my dress.  Do you have
any idea how difficult it's going to be to remove these spots?" she 
finished slamming her hand down on the table.

     "I must admit, you've had an unusually difficult day," the man 
concluded.

     Realization dawned on Setsuna's face.  "You know, I don't believe
I caught your name," she said sheepishly.

     "Edward Drummond, charmed," he replied.

     "Setsuna Meioh.  You're an American?" she queried.

     "Half Scottish, half American.  Is my Japanese really that bad
Meioh-san?"

     "It could use some work.  You have an accent that is quite odd."

     "I learned it from my Scottish mother," he replied.

     "That would explain it."

     "Do you mind if I offer you come advice, Meioh-san?"

     He receive a glare.

     Nonplussed, he continued.  "I'm a chemist by trade.  Tell me, have 
you heard of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle?"

     He earned a flat stare.  "I'll take that as a yes," he continued.
"Well, I suggest that you need to apply that principle to your life."

     Setsuna stared at him puzzled.  "Why do I need to apply the 
realization that it is impossible to determine the exact location
and speed of an electron to my life?" she questioned.

    "Because, throughout this tale of yours, I have sensed an 
underlying thread.  You seem obsessed with the lives of these nine 
friends of yours.  I think you care for them far more than you like to
admit even to yourself."

     "I am the eldest.  They need my guidance."

     "A convenient rationalization. You are determined to protect
all of them. Now you have nine electrons, my dear, whom you have
attempted to keep up with at the same time.  What you attempt is quite
impossible, and I think part of the impact of this day is the stress of
this job."

     "Maybe I have means to attempt the impossible," Setsuna replied
calmly.

     "Yes, you might," Edward replied, equally calm.  "But what if two
of them ended up in a burning building, three in a plane crash, and four 
in a hostage situation, all at the same time?"

     Setsuna blinked.  "What do you suggest?" she snapped in spite of
herself.

     "Admit the impossibility of your self-assigned task."

     "I don't think you realize what you are suggesting," she cautioned.

     "Maybe I do.  Enjoy the fact that you have nine wonderful friends. 
Live for the moment, and let the future sort itself out."

     Setsuna remained silent for several moments.  The clock ticked in
the background.   Conversations dimmed into silence.  An unearthly calm
settled over the district.  Suddenly, Setsuna's eyes lit up.  She smiled
at her companion.

     "I think, perhaps, you were a philosopher in a past life, Mr.
Drummond," she said mysteriously.  "Now then, what about that day of
yours which you claim could top mine?"

     "Oh, it's nothing, really.  I got kicked out of my own house by
my brother."

     "How did that happen?"

     "He decided to host the annual meeting of the Lower Highlands
Bagpipe Corps at *my* home."

     "Lower Highlands?"

     Edward winced.

     "I've always been rather fond of bagpipe music personally," Setsuna
remarked offhand.

     "So am I, but that club of his always manages to sound like a herd
of mad cattle."

     Setsuna laughed.  "Why couldn't you throw him out?"

     "I would, but Richard's always been Mother's baby," he sighed.

     "I see," Setsuna said.

     "Do you play any instruments?" Edward asked idly, stirring his 
drink.

     "No, unfortunately," she replied.

     "Why not, if you're fond of music?"

     Setsuna hummed a small tune in reply.  "Do you recognize that?"

     "Can't say that I do," he answered softly.

     "That was 'God Save the Queen.'"

     "Or 'My Country 'Tis of Thee,' I guess music isn't your strong
suit."  Edward glanced at his watch which read 9:30.  "I must say this
has been quite nice.  It isn't every day I meet a beautiful lady with
a day as bad as mine."

     "It has been nice," Setsuna agreed.

     "Tell me, Meioh-san, do you play croquet?"

     "Why, yes, as a matter of fact I do," she replied.





Written July 13, 1999