Things were going badly for the Sailor Senshi. Venus was down, bleeding form a score of wounds. Mercury stood over her friend, trying to buy time for Venus to recover, for the others to arrive.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" The Millennial harp sang as Mercury threw her most powerful attack at the monster. Again. She was hitting the thing that looked like an obsidian cockroach crossed with a scorpion. She could see the strikes hit home on the creature that she had already dubbed a 'Skroach'. Lightning blasted back at her from flanges spaced symmetrically about the creatures body as the creature shrugged off her attack. She had to do something. . .

"Shine Snow Illusion!" The deadly storm blasted the monster to its knees, or whatever it used in their place. Mercury had no faith in her ability to actually stop the creature. Instead she used the distraction to heave Venus over her shoulders in a fireman's carry and run. She could hear the monster raking the air with searching fire. At least the "Shine Snow Illusion" seemed to confuse it a little. Her "Shabon Spray" and even the "Double Shabon Spray Freezing" hadn't done that much. Zig-zagging frantically, Mercury pounded for a low wall. She threw Venus into the depression behind the wall and tumbled inelegantly after. There was a snapping sound as she landed. For a moment she wondered if she'd left a pencil stuck in her sash again. Then the pain almost blasted the top of her head off. Biting back a gasp she dashed tears of pain from her eyes, brought out her computer and started checking Venus's injuries. She prayed Minako would be all right. She prayed the monster wouldn't find them and the others would get there soon. She prayed for direct divine intervention. . . nothing fancy, just a few angels with fiery swords and maybe a Buddha or three when. . .

"The people of Tokyo work hard all week and deserve a break on the weekend. For disturbing the peace of Odaiba park, perhaps the only green and unpaved non-neonlighted place in all Japan--- plus the place where I got my first kiss, a place where all young lovers can go. . . "

"Will you blast it already!!" A peevish voice came over the wall. Mercury was having a really bad day.

". . .to have quality time to. . . " Sailormoon sucked a few cubic liters of air into oxygen starved lungs.

"But I worked really hard on this speech."

"Just do it!"

"Oh all right. ETERNAL MOO. . . Aaaaaaaa!"

"Aaaaa? What's Aaaa?" Mercury cautiously peeped back over the wall to see Sailormoon frantically dodging and leaping away from energy blasts.

"OAK"

Jupiter! They were . . .

"EVOLU. . . "

THWAK!!<.p>

. . .saved?

A blast from the creatures right hand smashed Sailorjupiter into a wall and unconsciousness.

"Sailormercury!" The small black cat leaped over the low wall into Mercury's lap. " You've got to help Sailormoon."

"Luna, I don't have anything left."

"You've got to.! It's your duty . . . "

"I don't have ANYTHING LEFT!" Mercury half screamed as she frantically typed commands into her computer, searching for a weakness in their foe. "I can't do a 'Shabon Spray' let alone summon the 'Harp'." Ami pointed to her leg, twisted under her. "I can't even get up without help." She tapped another command into her computer. "And something is still blanking the communicators. I can't get a call through to the Outers."

"Mars?"

"I don't know if she heard the first All Call."

Frantically Luna looked over the wall as her princess dogged and leaped to avoid the creature's attacks, trying to gain enough time and space to launch her "Eternal Silver Kiss" attack".

Suddenly Sailormoon turned on her opponent. "MOOOON FRISBEEEE !"

Hope blossomed in Luna's face as the monster staggered under Sailormoon's oldest but now seldom used attack.

"Ha, Moon dust. . . Eeeep!" Sailormoon almost avoided the creature's return shot. The near miss spun her around and slammed her into a tree.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!! Usagi!!" Terror and despair broke down barriers in Luna's mind that had existed since her long cryogenic sleep. The crescent moon sigil on her forehead flared and a call that had not been heard in ten times ten thousand years went out. For the first time since the fall of the Silver Millennium the Imperial Rally summoned the Blood Guard to defend the Royal Family.

"Luna! Look!"

At Sailormercury's cry, Luna looked up in time to see the monster blasted back, away from the fallen Sailormoon. Luna and Sailormercury watched in amazement as a figure wreathed in flame charged the fallen monster. Luna groaned in despair as the monster fired a blast that caught their rescuer squarely in the chest. To the astonishment of Luna and Sailormercury the onrushing figure charged through the weapons blast as if it didn't exist. Closing with the Skroach, the figure smashed it with what appeared to be an axe or war- hammer. The Skroach went down, stunned for an instant, then lurched to its feet and soon the two were locked in a furious battle. The action was too close and too fast for Sailormercury to make out any detail. She brought her visor on-line and started feeding data directly into her computer.

With the naked eye the battle was incredible. Viewed through her visor it was impossible. As Sailor Mercury watched, the armored Skroach threw a flurry of short savage blows at its fiery opponent. Sailormercury suddenly realized that the monster was trying to gain some distance in order to employ its energy weapon without destroying itself as well as its target. This was equally obvious to its opponent, who refused to allow it a millimeter's space as it clung grimly to the monster.

Sailormercury was puzzled by their rescuer's defensive posture. No matter how tough it was, the monster's blows would eventually kill or disable it. And in this kind of battle a cripple was only someone waiting to die.

Suddenly she noticed an anomalous reading coming from the mysterious figure. The power readings seemed wrong. She tapped a few keys. Startled at the result, she brought new sensors on-line and added new commands. The Mercury-computer thought for a few moments then chirruped a reply. Sailormercury stared at the result. Her head whipped up to stare at the Skroach and the figure. The GLOWING figure. Her head dropped back down to the computer screen to see. . .

"oh dear "

God was knocking on the door, and he wanted in very badly.

Sailormercury dragged herself back to consciousness. Sucking in a deep breath, she immediately choked on the layer of dirt covering her face. Brushing her face clear, she looked groggily around to see Sailorvenus, still lying unconscious and remarkably free of dirt and debris. Propping herself shakily on one elbow she scanned the rubble filled depression until she saw "Luna!"

Sailormercury rolled over, grabbed the black tip that just protruded above the loosely packed debris and heaved.

"Ackkk, phhttt, bleah." Luna shook herself and staggered a bit as she turned to face Sailormercury. "What happened? Where's the monster? Where's. . . USAGI! Where's Usagi?" Luna started to scramble to the top of the wall when Sailormercury grabbed her by the scruff and yanked her back down.

"Don't you mean where's Sailormoon?" Sailor Mercury hissed. "Keep your head down till I can check things out."

Sailormercury brought her visor back on-line. Then in a move that surprised Luna, Mercury removed the visor and cautiously stuck it above the wall, all the while looking at her computer screen.

"Well, what do you see?"

"Do you have any Windex?" Sailormercury's voice was strained.

"What! What!" Luna sounded frazzled. "What do you mean? What do you need Windex for?"

"Because that's what you use to clean glass."

Luna popped her head over the wall before Sailormercury could stop her. The monster had been replaced with a six meter crater of vitrified rock and fused sand that was still glowing white hot.

"Usa. . . Uh I mean. . . Sailormoon. Where is she!?"

"Over there Luna." Luna followed Mercury's pointing finger to see Sailormoon still sprawled on the ground. The tree that had rendered her unconscious had also sheltered her from the worst of the blast and debris.

"Thank the Goddess she's all right."

"Venus and Jupiter are going to be fine as well. Thanks for asking."

Luna just nodded absently at Sailormercury's sarcasm, leaped over the wall and sprinted toward her princess.

"Wait. . . never mind." Mercury muttered and continued her scan. "Now where is. . . Ah ha. There it is." Mercury changed filters on her scanner and zoomed in on their mysterious savior. It appeared to have sustained major damage, both from the monster's attack and its own weapon, whatever that had been. Still the monster was dead. . . Mercury glanced at the crater. Beyond dead. And they were alive. That counted as a victory in anyone's book. She looked back at her computer. Their savior was in trouble. . . power levels were fluctuating badly, and it seemed to be leaking a viscous black fluid that sizzled and popped where it spattered thickly on the ground. Sailor Mercury shuddered as she got her first clear look at the thing. It was twisted and bent. Its flesh and features seemed to melt and reform as she watched, like wax in a flame. Still, it had helped them. They should try to help it. If for no other reason than that Usagi would want them to help. She couldn't move but. . .

"Venus. Sailorvenus get up." No response. "Sailor V, there's danger!" Nothing. "LOOK! An Idol talent scout."

"What! Where? I've got my portfolio righ. . . Oh, it's you? What's up?"

"Not much. Monster attacked. Trashed you, me, Jupiter. Was about to kill Sailormoon when THAT," Sailormercury pointed over the wall at the figure, standing amidst the devastation, "showed up, killed the monster and saved us all. It's hurt. Maybe dying. I can't walk." Mercury indicated her leg. "It's broken or dislocated at the least. My senshi form can control the pain but healing it is going to take a while. Luna is with Sailormoon, and my scans show that she's not badly hurt. I need you to check on Jupiter. Then I'd like the two of you to see about Sailormoon and our new friend."

"Friend? That!" Venus could see the figure clearly now and her stomach clenched in revulsion.

"Friend!" Mercury repeated firmly, though she sympathized with Sailorvenus's reaction.

"But. . . that thing is so. . . so. . . " Venus made a face and shuddered in revulsion.

"We would be dead if not for that 'THING,'" Mercury replied sharply. "And until and unless we find otherwise, a friend. Now. . . would you please go check on Jupiter?"

Venus grinned and hopped over the wall headed toward Sailorjupiter's prone form while Mercury turned her scanner on her own injuries.

"Come on Sailorjupiter, wake up." Venus ran her hand over Jupiter's prone form with a gentle expertise that would have surprised anyone not familiar with her days as Sailor V. Sailorjupiter moaned and stirred groggily.

"Ha, I knew your head was too hard to crack."

"Oww! Watch what you're doing."

"As soon as you're through complaining we need to check on Sailormoon and then our new friend."

"Friend?" Jupiter followed Venus's pointing finger. "Ewwww!!!"

"Never mind that. Can you stand?" At Jupiter's nod, Venus helped Jupiter to her feet and the two bent, but unbowed Senshi headed toward their princess. As they passed by, their new "friend" suddenly seemed to notice them.

"Seensssshhhii." The word was distorted almost beyond recognition, rising and falling like the cry of a lost soul. "Seeennnssshhhiiiii." The figure stalked them, its body wreathed in flickering flame like the fires of hell.

"Uh oh."

"'Run away' comes to mind, but we can't leave Sailormoon.

"VENUS. . . LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!" Venus watched in dismay as her attack hit the figure with all the effect of a lightning bug striking a main battle tank.

"OAK EVOLUTION!" "Good one Jupiter. I think you made it mad."

"As opposed to its former good nature?"

At Jupiter's strike, the figure produced a weapon, which appeared to combine the features of a naginata mated with a war-hammer, as designed by Salvador Dali and fed growth hormones. It was big, sharp, nasty and kept melting and reforming. Just like its master. Jupiter and Venus readied their attacks, hoping a combined strike might stop it. Or at least slow it long enough for Usagi to escape.

"Stop!. . . Stop fighting."

"Usagi, what are you doing?" Luna's anguished cry wrenched Venus's and Jupiter's attention from the creature. They watched in horror as their leader, their princess, their friend and reason for living limped forward and placed herself between them and their antagonist.

"It's all right. You don't have to be afraid." Sailormoon's voice was low and soothing.

"IT doesn't have to be afraid!" Jupiter whispered incredulously. "Well, that's OK, I can be afraid for both of us."

"Personally" Venus put in, edging to the side. "I've always thought a little fear was a healthy thing."

Out of the corner of her eye Venus could see Mercury dragging herself along the ground, grimly determined to defend her princess. Usagi ignored the commotion behind her, concentrating on the lurching, shambling figure in front of her. "I'm not going to hurt you. You saved me. You saved all of us. You don't have to be afraid." Talking soothingly, as if to a wounded animal, Usagi slowly walked closer and closer. As she did so she released her transformation and reverted from Sailormoon to schoolgirl. The shocked hiss from her Senshi was nothing to the creature's reaction. It backed away from Usagi as if she were the devil incarnate.

"Seerrrriiiinnnnnniiiittttttyyyy!" Usagi stopped, shocked to hear that name, no matter how distorted, issue from the creature.

"Ssssseeerrrrrrinnnniittyyyyyy! Mmmaaajjjjiiissssttttyyyyy!" The creature took a step toward Usagi, then another and another. A fiery hand reached for Usagi. Behind her, Venus cursed and tried to maneuver for a shot.

"Ppprrrrinnnceesss? Ppprrrrriiiiinnnnceesssss!" The hand jerked back and the creature spun in a circle, scanning its surroundings. Then it looked up to see a full moon, hanging just above the horizon. It froze for a moment, staring at the huge, cratered surface.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!" With an awful cry, the creature leaped away and quickly disappeared from sight.

Usagi stood staring after the creature, tears cutting tracks in her dusty cheeks.

"Usagi!" Venus discarded concern for secret identities in her concern for her friend. "Are you all right? Did it hurt you?"

"Oh Minna-P" Usagi turned a grief stricken face to her friend. "She's so sad and lost. So very alone." And to Venus's dismay Usagi burst into tears.

"Come on guys." Jupiter said urgently, scooping Mercury up in her arms. "We've got to get out of here." She pointed toward the road where flashing lights and the dim wail of sirens signaled the approach of the authorities. With that the Sailorsenshi vanished, leaping through the rubble just as the first van arrived on the scene. Uniformed police officers and more discretely plain clothed technicians from the Public Safety Investigation Division cordoned off the area with signs that read "DANGER. GAS LEAK!" An ocean and several time zones away an ensign looked up from her console.

"Lieutenant . . .I've got something funny here."

"Funny how?"

"A thermal bloom . . .a big mother. Just outside of Tokyo, on the bay."

Lieutenant Guenther peered over the ensign's shoulder at the download from the Key Hole satellite that moments ago had passed over Japan was now heading for mainland China.

"Five bucks says it's a gas leak."

The ensign was incredulous. "Gas leak? That's fuc . . .that's ridiculous . . .sir. I mean look at the energy output."

"Yeah. But the Jap's official response will be a gas leak. They have a LOT of them . . .in this area. If it were me, I'd think about going electric." He paused considering the readouts. "Still, that's a hellava output. Put a priority tag on it and shoot it on to ONI."

Several seconds and almost as many kilometers away a flame shrouded figure dropped to its knees in the deserted corner of a night shadowed park. The flaming corona brightened momentarily, then vanished with a sharp crack to reveal a shaking form in a torn and bloody school uniform. A trembling hand went to a tear that ripped through cloth and flesh and came away smeared with blood. The shadowed figure lurched forward suddenly to land on all fours spewing bile and blood in a wrenching convulsion.

"Who are you?" The whispered question came hoarsely past vomit slimed lips.

"Who are you. . . what do you want?"

##Sta'nat nat o' la tres naz. Sta'nat!##

The figure rolled back up to its feet and staggered out of the shadows. Star light and neon gleamed softly off a cap of blue-black hair.

##Sta'nat! L'n trnn om'qin sar ivnrrl. . . ##

"SHUT UP. I don't understand. Just shut up. Leave me alone. Please. . . "

Her mama and papa were laughing together and looking at each other with love in their eyes. . . as the earth rose up and smashed them. . . she was screaming. . .

##Sta'nat. L'n trnn. . . ##<.p>

. . .a deliciously cool breeze ruffled the puffed sleeves of her gown as she walked in the gardens with her friends. The center of her universe. . . a small girl with hair so blond it was almost silver turned speaking laughingly to her. Overhead she could see the full Earth hanging like a blue. . .

##NTR'LANZ! STA'NAT. . . ##

. . . HATE. . . so much hate that she was sick with it. Her lips drew back from her teeth and she lunged, snapping like a rabid wolf. . .

"NO! STOP IT, STOPITSTOPITSTOPSTOP. . . " Gasping like a trapped animal the figure whirled and spun. . . slashing and kicking at phantasms that rose and melted. . . and rose again. "GO AWAY!! YOU'RE NOT REAL. YOU'RE. . . NOT. ." Shadows. . . blacker than old sin, crawling through the ruins of paradise, eating the light like maggots in the belly of god . . . "NOOOOOO! DAMMMMNN YOU!!" A corona of light flared, dimmed then flared again. A pulse of energy blasted into the heavens ripping the sky. . . and barriers fell. . . and connections were made.

## . . .amage. Autonomous Defense Mode engaged. Command Input required. Passive scanners working. Active scanners on stage one standby. Initiating All-System repair. Stealth. . . ##

The figure sank to the ground, blood mingling with tears that had waited a hundred thousand years to be shed.

"Oh Akane. You missed dinner. I wish you would call if you are going to be late. I put a plate in the refrigerator, but it's never as good reheated."

"That's all right Kasumi. I'm not very hungry."

"You're limping! And your clothes! Did you have an accident? Should I call Dr. Tofu?"

"I'm fine Oneesama. I . . .tripped. I'm just a little tired. I think I'll just go to bed."

"If you're sure." Worry was evident in the elder Tendou sister's voice.

"I just need to lie down. But thanks for asking."

In her room, the youngest Tendou peeled off her blouse. Impassively, she examined the massive bruising on her side. Turning, she looked at her back in the mirror. There too was bruising and a large gash running from her right shoulder down and across to her left hip. As she watched, the edges closed, leaving a red lump of tissue. Even that would be gone in a few hours ##Regeneration in progress. Energy levels at 37%.## She ignored the voice whispering in her head. ##Primary systems on line at 65%. Secondary systems coming up. Primary weapon recycling.##

Akane moved to her closet and took out her favorite yellow pajamas.

##Sensor sweep shows no hostiles within engagement range.##

The pajama jacket slithered over head with a cool silky feeling.

##Unknown targets detected. No weapon signatures detected. Targeting priorities assigned according to estimated threat level.## Akane slipped the pajama trousers over her legs. As she did, pictures and numbers seemed to scroll across her mind's eye. There was a brief flicker.

##Input accepted. All targets re-classified as friend. Defense priority Phoenix, second only to the Princess. Self repair progressing. Estimated time to complete. . .. ##

Akane swung out of her window and up onto the roof with a grace and agility that would have flummoxed her fianc‚. ##

. . .owering down main system while repair underway. Active sensors to standby. Passive sensors set to sentry mode.##

Akane let the voice whisper on. She settled on the roof and looked at the moon hanging above her head. The rough, pocked features leaped into sharp focus that was not unusual for an observatory telescope but was quite unusual for the unaided human eye. The night passed quietly, except for the whirr and chitter of insects and the silent voice whispering in her head as Tendou Akane sat looking up at her dead world.

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