Chapter 12 "Who was that Rei?" Makoto asked poking her head out of he kitchen. "That was Saotome Ranmasan." Rei said hanging up the phone. "He wanted to know if Akanechan was with us." "What?" "Akanechan didn't come down for breakfast . . . they don't know where she is." "Oh no! What are we going to tell Usagi?" Rei and Makoto turned at the sound of a door opening to see Usagi still wearing her bunny pajamas and knuckling the sleep out of her eyes. "Tell me what, Makotochan?" ************************************************* "I do wish you would be quiet." Sailorpluto looked down at the battered and bound figure making wet bubbling sounds as her head moved weakly back and forth. "I put a charge through your speech centers at the same time I destroyed your motor-control." Sailorpluto looked down at a bank of instruments and made a small satisfied sound at what she saw. "You are entirely too clever at finding ways around your inhibitory and control programming. I would have much preferred killing you but that might have triggered your anti-capture-anti-suicide protocols. And since the 'Facility' no longer exists I have no way to directly override your implants." With two quick slashing motions Sailorpluto made a Y-incision that opened Akane up from neck to crotch. She inserted a short transparent rod into the chest cavity and with a sudden move separated the ribs with an explosive CRACK. She thrust what appeared to be a metallic sea-urchin into the hole and frowned as Akane's body convulsed slightly at this invasion. Pluto looked back down at her monitors and a cloud seemed to pass across her eyes. "Director Ras should be here to help me with this. I don't know what's keeping him. And it really should be easier to access the systems for maintenance. I'll just make a note of changes to make in the production models and send it to . . ." Sailorpluto's muttered self-talk trailed off and she stared silently into space for a long moment. There was a loud beeping noise from the monitors and Sailorpluto came to herself with a start. "Ah, that's more like it." She looked up from her instruments and smiled benignly. "It's all your fault you know. If you hadn't been so much trouble. If you'd done what you were told." Sailorpluto took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "But that's all in the past now." she giggled suddenly, like a very small girl who's been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "It's all in the past. I made a funny!" She giggled again. "Would you like to see her? I would. I like to look at her. I look at her all the time." Sailorpluto passed a hand in a quick sharp pattern and a scene formed in the air. "Don't tell any one."she whispered conspiratorially. "I'm not supposed to do this." A small girl, about nine or ten years old could be seen peeping through some bushes. She appeared to be waiting for someone. Suddenly a tall figure, dressed in costly robes and carrying a tall staff appeared on the path. Around the figure scurried men and women in clothing no less costly but diminished by their obvious fright and submissiveness. As the regal figure passed by, the small girl popped out of the bushes and lobbed a large ball. The ball turned out to be a thin water filled bladder which burst on contact. The tiny girl-child fell to the ground laughing at the figure which now closely resembled a drowned peacock. "She wasn't afraid of me." Sailorpluto informed the air."Out of all the thousands of years. The infinite lifetimes. She was the only one who was never afraid." The scene changed, to a sumptuous room, filled with delicate porcelains, silken wall hangings, and finely woven rugs. In the center of the room stood a large canopied bed with a tiny figure lost in it's immensity. Armed guards stood along the walls and in every corner of the room but none of them seemed to notice when a door that could not exist opened from a place with no name and a tall figure stepped into the room. She glided past the strangely blind and deaf guards till she stood looking down at the sleeping child. She watched, seemingly fascinated by the slow even breathing then trailed a hand delicately down a bare flank. The child giggled and opened sleepy eyes to see the hooded figure looming over her. "They forbad me to see her." Sailorpluto spat. "They said I was a bad influence, it was unnatural. . .that I would HURT her." Suppressed fury shuddered the time guardians body. "Hurt her?" she whispered "Hurt Serenity? Can the reflection hurt the body, the slave harm the master? Can you pluck out your own heart and still live?" ************************************************* "Where is she?" Kaiou Michiru looked blankly at the murderously angry young man in the red Chinese style shirt. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about." "Akane. Where's Akane?" "I have no idea. I haven't seen her since . . ." "Liar!" Michiru flushed at the single cold syllable. "I don't have to stand here and listen to a rude unmannered ronin. I told you I haven't seen her." Michiru slammed and locked the door. "Who was that?" Ten'ou Haruka walked in toweling her hair. Lips pursed angrily Michiru whirled on her lover. "It was . . ." "MOUKO TAKABISHA!!" The door slammed into Michiru like a freight train crushing her against the wall. Haruka picked herself up from where the fringes of the blast had thrown her to see Saotome Ranma step through the ruined wall. ************************************************* ". . .gree we need to look for Akanechan. But we have to stick together. With this new enemy it's too dangerous to. . ." "I'm not going anywhere by myself Minakochan." Ami patiently told her communicator. "But it only makes sense to stop by their apartment on my way to the shrine. It's on the way and . . ." "I don't want you anywhere near them by yourself!" Minako snapped. "I don't believe in coincidence, especially where they're concerned. We need to all be together. . ." "Uh, sorry. . .you're signal's breaking up. I'll see you there." Blushing at her fib, Ami cut off her communicator and hurried on. There wasn't time to wait. She didn't know why, she just knew that something bad was going to happen. ************************************************* "She wouldn't remove the wards from the Gate." Sailorpluto said conversationally as she worked. "The Imperium was afraid of the Time Gate, afraid of tampering with time. So they warded it, placed restrictions on it's use." She frowned at past remembrances as she absently manipulated a probe inserted into Akane's abdominal cavity. "Manipulating the time stream is subject to the conservation of mass and energy." Sailorpluto pontificated as she inserted a thin silvery needle into a mass of circuitry wrapped around Akane's spine. " Take energy from a typhoon to feed an earthquake. Save a fishing village, kill a mountain village. As long as the equation balances the Universe doesn't ask for individual names. Serenity wouldn't agree. 'I won't bleed my children's children so the Imperium can feast on the corpse of their future.' Sailorpluto quoted "She was always so passionate about her kingdom and about the Imperium. She was always so concerned about the future and the welfare of her subjects. Just" Sailorpluto said wonderingly "as if the filthy vermin had some value." ************************************************* "WORLD SHAKING!!" The blast passed harmlessly under Ranma as he soared effortlessly above it to land lightly behind Sailoruranus. "Look. I'm sorry about the door. But after everything Rei and Makoto told me about you after you left last night I figured I needed to get your attention, so you'd take me sreiously. " Sailoruranus growled and charged at Ranma. "And I'm sorry about hitting your friend." Ranma sidestepped the bull like rush and Sailoruranus went sprawling. " It was an accident." Ranma added contritely. " I don't fight girls. I just want to know where Akane is." "DEEP SUB. . ." Sailorneptune's attack halted abruptly as Ranma scooped her up in his arms and flipped over the charging Sailoruranus with negligent grace. "Jeeezz. Would you just SIT down outta the way. You're gonna get hurt." Ranma poked her lightly in the side and Sailorneptune collapsed with a slight gasp as her legs gave way. "OH JEEZ!. Did I hurt you?" Ranma asked worriedly as he caught Sailorneptune and lowered her gently to the ground. "I don't practice pressure points the way I should. It'll wear off in a little bit an' you'll be good as new." As he talked Ranma blushingly arranged Sailorneptune's paralyzed legs to preserve her modesty and make her more comfortable. "Now you just sit here outta th' way where it's safe. An don't worry, I ain't gonna hurt your boyfri. . .your girl. . .I ain't gonna hurt Haruka. Well not too bad anyway. I just wanna know where Akane is. That's all." As he finished talking Ranma spun and caught Sailoruranus fist in his cupped hand and slipped behind her locking her arm in the small of her own back. "Now look, this ain't gett'n us nowhere! All I want is Akane back. You shouldna taken her anyway." Ranma oooffed lightly as Sailoruranus elbow hit him in the stomach. He let her go, more to keep her from hurting herself in her struggles to get loose than from any damage resulting from her blow. "SPACE SWO . . ." Ahhh NUTS!!" Ranma muttered disgustedly. "A Kuno wannabe!" He slid forward, under her thrust, catching her right wrist in his left hand. He pulled forward while twisting her wrist, overextending and locking the joint. He lightly popped her elbow with his open palm. Sailoruranus arm went numb from shoulder to fingertips and the sword went flying. Sailoruranus glared furiously at Ranma her left arm raised in defense, her right arm dangling uselessly. "Man, this is pathetic." Ranma looked disgusted. "You're strong and fast but you ain't got no discipline. You get mad and loose your center. Kasumi is better'n this. An Akane" Ranma's face took on an ugly cast as he remembered why he was fighting "Akane woulda wiped the floor with ya even without that gun. 'Cept Usagisan stopped her. You were lying 'bout bein' sorry. I knew it then. I just didn't think . . . I didn't think you'd . . ." "You have no idea what's at stake here." Sailoruranus broke her silence. "There are millions, BILLIONS of lives at stake. A single. . ." "Save it!" Ranma snapped. "It sounds real good, real noble. But if you were tellin' the truth why'd ya kidnap Akane? Why'd ya lie to Usagi?" Ranma saw a brief look that might have been pain flash across the blond senshi's face. " No, you're not tellin' the truth 'bout something, but I really don't care what. I don't care about the whole world, an' I don't care about you." Ranma fixed Sailoruranus with a glare. "I only care about one thing. You give me Akane and I'm outta here." "I don't know wh. . ." WHAP! A backhanded slap spu. Sailoruranus around. "Where's Akane?" "I don't kn . . " CRACK! "Where's Akane?" "I don't . . ." A short jab to the solar plexus sent Sailoruranus to her knees. Ranma stepped back and watched Sailoruranus struggle back to her feet. "We could do this all day. But I ain't got time to fool around."Ranma's hand flashed out and closed around Sailoruranus throat. "Tell me where Akane is or I'm gonna turn you over to a Chinese Amazon I know. You won't like what the old mummy does. . . but you will tell me where Akane is." With a sudden surge of strength Sailoruranus broke free . "WORLD." "Ah maaan! Not again." 'SHAAAAKIIING!" Ranma suddenly realized that the still paralyzed Sailorneptune lay directly behind him in the line of fire. "Nooooo!" Ranma leapt towards Sailoruranus, snatching her out of the way of the "World Shaking' attack. 'Ah man!" Ranma panted with stress. "Are you OK? I'm sorry about . . ." Ranma's body folded around the sword as Sailorneptune slammed it home. She twisted the blade and pulled it up and out. With expressionless eyes she watched Ranma fall off the blade with a wet sucking sound. "It took you long enough!" "He was so fast." Sailoruranus gasped. "I couldn't get him in position to try and save you any soon. . ." "What have you done!" Sailoruranus whirled to see Ami staring white faced. "This is none of your business." Sailorneptune said sternly. "Go away." Ami brushed past Sailoruranus and went directly to where Ranma lay in a rapidly expanding pool of blood. "Go away or . . ." "Or what!" Ami snapped "You'll stab me in the back?" Sailorneptune flinched at Ami's harsh tone. "You don't understand what has to be done. There are billions of lives at stake. You can't let just one . . ." "Stop." The quiet command froze Sailoruranus as she was reaching for Ami. With dread she looked around and saw Sailormars, Sailorvenus, Sailormoon, and Sailorjupiter. Behind them were Hotaru and a strange boy that Sailoruranus had never seen before. The boy was glaring savagely at her and Hotaru's gentle hand on his arm seemed to be the only thing restraining him. "What have you done?" Sailormoon whispered in horror looking from the Outer senshi to Ranma's body on the ground and back again. "We've done what was necessary. Sometimes sac. . ." "Don't!" Sailormoon thrust her hand out in a warding gesture. "Don't tell me that sacrifices have to be made. Don't tell me that I don't understand. Don't tell me. . . just don't." She looked to Ami who knelt beside Ranma's body, blood soaking her dress up past her knees.. "How. . .how is he?" Ami turned a white tear stained face to Sailormoon and mutely shook her head. ************************************************* Sailorpluto hummed a little tune as she entered commands into a computer. Occasionally she would jot notes onto what looked like a pad made of translucent crystal. "I think I miss the gardens most of all." she said suddenly. "Serenity had the most beautiful gardens. Would you like to see them?" Taking the wet bubbling noise that issued from the ruin of Akane's throat as an assent Sailorpluto scrambled to her feet and moved to sit at Akane's side. "You'll love the gardens. What would you like to see? Oh!" she giggled. "I forgot you can't talk. Especially with that neural inhibitor in your throat." Sailorpluto leaned over to whisper confidentially. "I had to add another inhibitor you know. Your implants were adapting so quickly ,repairing all your damage and trying to throw me out of the system that I was having trouble getting any work done." abruptly she sat back up. "But enough shop talk. We're going to see the gardens." The air shimmered as if someone had thrown a pebble into a pool of water and an image formed. "This is my favorite. See how neat and organized everything is? Serenity made it just for me." The image shifted to an ornamental pond surrounded by a rock-garden with a low wall of geometrically clipped hedges enclosing the whole. "I loved this part. It was so peaceful. And it was always the same, every time I came it was always the same. The water was just water, the roses stayed roses and the stones didn't talk." She leaned over and grasped Akane's chin in her hand pulling their heads together 'till they were nose-to-nose. "That's the most important thing. I don't like it when the stones talk. It always gets so confusing. I can never quite understand what. . ." she broke off as the scene changed. This time it showed a small girl all alone in a vast featureless landscape. "MAMA!" Sailorpluto shuddered at the sound. "MAMA! Where are you? MAMA! MAMA!" the little girl was running now as she called for her mother. But as fast and as far as she ran, she seemed frozen in a vast grey landscape. Exhausted she fell sobbing to her knees. "MAMA! I want to go home. I don't like it here. Please, Please. I want to go home." "Stupid girl." Sailorpluto shot to her feet. "STUPID, STUPID, S T-U-P-I-D girl." Pluto gestured roughly and the scene returned to the gardens. She smiled and leaned back in her chair. " It's very difficult to understand the stones when they speak. They're so slow, you see, that it can take centuries for them to say a single word. But they're all talking at once so it seems very loud and. . . and I don't like it." She pouted a little then brightened. "But none of the rocks in MY garden ever talk, not even the smallest pebble. Serenity said she wouldn't let them and she never did. And it was always bright. Even at night there was always a light burning, lots of lights." She smiled down at Akane, her eyes wide with wonder. "Isn't that amazing! Even at night, there was always light.And Serenity gave me my own room in the Royal Apartments and IT ALWAYS had a light burning. Always!" The image shuddered and changed from the garden to vast grey expanse. The small girl , slightly older now, huddled around a tall staff topped by a glowing orb. Her entire world consisted of the bare meter of space illuminated by the orb. Beyond it's feeble light lay a terrifying emptiness. "I don't like the dark." Pluto said in a small voice. "I don't LIKE the dark. I don't like THE DARK. I DON"T, I DON'T, I DON'TIDON'TIDON"T!" The image of the small huddled girl vanished and all was silent except for the faint hum of machines and Sailorpluto's short gasping breath counterpointed by Akane's wet frothy attempts to get air into her lungs. ************************************************* "People just don't understand how HARD it is to . . ." Sailorpluto looked at a bank of monitors and made a small satisfied noise."Almost ready now." She turned back to Akane. "They think I just open the time gate, walk down the corridor, and 'POOF!' I change the past, alter the future. No one understands. It takes a lot of power to travel in time, and the further you travel the more power it takes. It's an inverse cube ratio." Pluto added confidentially. "At least I think it is . . " her brow wrinkled in thought. "I'm almost sure. . . And then there's the mass/energy balance. You can't get something for nothing. Well you can but it costs more that way. And it's not like you can just run down to the corner store and pick up a quart of entropy . . ." She made a small adjustment to the monitors. "So many possibilities. That's what scared the Imperium the most. It's easy to see the possibilities for changes that cover a day or even a week. But if you try to predict what will happen after you introduce a change for one year or ten years or . . . They said it couldn't be done. That I could never control. . .So they warded the Gate. . .to prevent accidents they said. But I could see. . . I could see . . .I knew what to do. . .I told them. . . I TOLD. . .but I wouldn't listen . . . I never listen . . . why. . .why. . ." ************************************************* "USAGI! DON'T" Sailormars made a desperate grab for Sailormoon as she brought her hands up to her chest and the silver-crystal began to glow. "Don't do it Usagi. If you use the silver-crystal you'll die" "I have to Minna-P. I am responsible for the actions of the senshi, ALL the senshi. I have to try . . ." "He's dead, Usagi!" Ami said tearfully. "He's dead. There's nothing you can do." "I have to try." Sailormoon closed her eyes in concentration and the crystal's glow began to increase. "Let me try." Sailormoon's eyes flew open to see Hotaru standing before her. "Let me try." she repeated. "Hotaru, you don't have to do this." "I do have to do this." Hotaru contradicted ."I NEED to do this. I don't want to be just the 'Senshi of Silence'. I don't want to only destroy. Please Usagisan. Let me try." Sailormoon gazed at Hotaru for a long moment, then with a shuddering sigh she gave her assent with a single jerky nod. Hotaru dropped to her knees beside Ranma's body and placed her hands of either side of the ghastly wound the Space Sword had torn in his flesh. Closing her eyes Hotaru drew on her healing power, trying to envision Ranma's body whole and unharmed. It was different this time . . .Something that once had been warm and familiar . . .now was cold and alien like a glass of saliva. Always before when she had healed there had been a sense of creation . The joy of fixing something that was broken. Now Hotaru felt like she was drowning is a sea of old pus . . .ancient and stinking. This was death . . .corruption . . .memories of Mistress 9 and Pharaoh 90 and the "Death Reborn Revolution" washed over her with the stench of old blood. She could feel the body . . .cooling . . .stiffening with rigor . . .could feel the cells dying one by one. Each like a small perfect city falling to an invincible enemy; Death. She couldn't do it . . .she couldn't bring the dead back to life. And almost she pulled back. Almost. Other memories came to her. Of Small Lady . . .visiting her invalid bed. Usagi . . . walking into hell to save her. Grabbing her courage in both hands Hotaru plunged into a black abys, searching for some spark . . . "What's happening ! What's wrong with Hotaruchan?" Ryouga's voice was thick with strain as he watched Hotaru pressed up against Ranma's bloody body . . .both now as still and pale as wax figures. "I'm not sure." Mercury was scanning the two on the ground, trying to make sense of what her computer was telling her. "I'm not sure . . .but . . ." She looked at her computer then at Hotaru. "I think we should separate them. Ranma's dead, and I think Hotaru's killing herself. Her life signs are failing rapidly." Venus was reaching for Hotaru before Mercury finished speaking. There was a crackling arcing sound and Venus was flung away from Hotaru to land in a heap on the ground. "We've got to get them apart, before Hotaru drains herself trying . . ." Sailormoon took a single step toward Hotaru and Ranma. Before she could take another Ryouga was there before her, wrapping Hotaru's frail body in his scarred, calloused arms. A massive surge of energy convulsed his body, but Ryouga was used to pain. Locking his hands together around Hotaru's middle Ryouga surged forward, fighting the eldritch energies that tried to force him away. Clenching his teeth, Ryouga did the only thing he knew how to do . . .the one thing in his life he'd ever been good at. Fight. An icy wind howled and sleeting knives of ice scoured his skin like a wood rasp. Bleeding and gasping Ryouga surged forward fighting death with a stubborn will that would surrender only when he was dead . . .long dead. After a time that could have been seconds or centuries Ryouga could feel a presence that was familiar . . .Hotaruchan. The howling black storm left him blind and deaf . . .but he was sure it was Hotaruchan. With hands he couldn't feel he reached for a girl he couldn't see . . .and . . . "ryougachan?" The voice was faint . . .small and lost in the howling storm. "i can't . . .find . . .him . . .i . . .can't . . .find . . ." Ryouga knew . . .Ranma. It was all Ranma's fault. Hotaruchan was going to die trying to save his worthless . . . Ryouga felt something new . . .a faint . . .familiar . . . It was impossible. His entire world was the black howling wind. Colder, harsher and more oppressive than anything in his life. It was killing him, striping his life and shredding his soul. He had Hotaruchan. With luck he might get the two of them out of . . .where ever they were. He didn't have the strength to look . . . There it was. Like a single firefly in the middle of a moon black night, or a drowning man in a North Atlantic gale. Small and alone in the midst of eternity. Hopeless and helpless; out of reach. It was madness to even try . . .Ryouga could feel the black wind scream in hunger. It wanted him. Wanted his warmth . . .his life. Ryouga bellowed as it sucked the marrow from his bones, tore the light from his eyes and the music from his ears. Bleeding and torn he reached for the spark . . .and missed. Howling with laughter the black wind danced and twirled the spark just out of reach. Taunting. Daring. Waiting for Ryouga's soul to bleed away into the abys. He was beaten, defeated. Again. Always second best. Always the last . . .A fire started in his belly. A rage that fed on his grief and humiliation and sorrow. A fire that burst through his veins and flashed through Ryouga's soul . . .lighting the blackness . . .for an instant. But long enough to drive back the blackness. Long enough for Ryouga to grab the tiny spark and hold it safe between his large, scarred hands. "Ryougachan. Ryougachan. Can you hear me? Please Ryougachan. Please wake up." An angels voice was calling him. He was in heaven. Ryouga never thought he would make it. Finally something had gone right. He would spend eternity in paradise and. . . "Hey . . .porky . . .quit . . .grinnin' . . .an' . . .open . . .your . . .eyes." NO! That voice. That hated, hateful voice. Royuga could have wept. Not heaven after all. But another place. An eternity with . . . "Yo . . .bacon . . .breath . ." "RANNNMMMA. Prepare to . . ." Ryouga snapped awake at the insult, hurling his battle cry. ". . . .die?" He stopped as the world spun dizzily and sagged back against soft warm . . . "Aaaaaak. I'm sorry. Imsorry I didn't mean . . ." A soft tinkling laugh washed across him, warm and soothing. "There's nothing to be sorry about Ryougachan." Hotaru's voice came close by as he lay half sprawled across her lap. "You saved me. And Ranamsan. You were VERY brave. As brave and strong as a senshi." "Yeah . . .not . . .bad . . ." Ryouga looked toward the labored voice. "R . .ranma? What happened to you?" "Oh. My dearest Ranmasama! What dreadful sorcery has done this to you?" A voice that sounded familiar came from somewhere over Ryouga's shoulder. "Quit wasting time apprentice and help me move son-in- law into a tent. The white-hair, wrinkles and the rest are a side effect." There was a cackling laugh. "Did you think being brought back from death had no price. And someone help the lost-boy." Ryouga shuddered as he remembered the wind. The cold, hungry wind. "Are you cold, Ryougachan." Hotaru asked anxiously. "Can I get you something?" "No. No. I'm OK. I'm OK. It was nothing." "OH, but you were very brave."Hotaru corrected. "Ranmasan and I both owe you our lives." "Yeah . . .Ryouga . . .not . . .bad . . ." Ryouga felt a warm glow start to fill him. At last, at last he . . . "Course . . .it . . .was . . .dumb . . .luck . . ." "RAAAAAAANNNNNMMMMMAAAA!!!! Prepare to . . ." ************************************************* "It has started." Sailorpluto whispered. "At last." With the ecstatic look of a true believer seeing the second coming she watched a dirty-white crystal begin to glow. She turned a manic smile on Akane. " They thought they were building a weapon to fight Beryl." She giggled again. "Beryl! Bah. I could have crushed Beryl like a bug if not for these dammed wards on the Gate. Even at the last I could have broken some of the seals, enough at least to. . .But - you - RAN - OFF!" Pluto whirled and backhanded the helpless Akane with a force that lifted her several centimeters off the table. "To try and save that worthless piece of . . ." spittle flew from Sailorpluto's mouth in her fury. "YOU! RAN! OFF! And then . . .then SHE used the crystal . . .she used the crystal . . .to SAVE her 'children'. . .to send them to the future." A shudder ran through Sailorpluto's body. "The crystal . . .that damned crystal. SHE DIED to save filthy crawling. . ." Sailorpluto fell to her knees retching. "I couldn't get to her. I couldn't. I tried. But the crystal sealed the Gate. I couldn't get out. I couldn't get out. I could see her. . . see her. . .die. See her die. . . Over and over. . ." Sailorpluto scrubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and got slowly to her feet. "NOW you are going to serve your purpose." A bolt of energy leapt from Sailorpluto's hand to Akane's body. The primary weapon activated and Akane's body arched backwards on the table as her body was twisted into zero-space. "The Silver Imperium will live again. SHE will live again. Live forever. If I have to loot a million futures . . ." ************************************************* "Something's wrong! "Sailormercury called to her friend. "You mean besides that?" Sailorvenus jumped down beside her friend and pointed up at a large armored flying vehicle carving up large chunks of the city. In the center of the newly cleared ground a large structure was being erected. "That's what I'm talking about." Sailormercury and Sailorvenus were huddled in a crater in the lee of a bombed out building. "Look here." Mercury brought up a world map on her computer. "These show the last two incursions." A yellow rash spread over the map. " Now the enemy sent in simultaneous mass transits to either take out military command and communication or to divert forces from their second strike." A red rash, smaller but more concentrated centered over six areas of the map. "THIS is what's wrong. . .They managed a text-book feint and attack Every major world power was completely out of position to counter this second attack. They got in almost completely un-opposed." Sailorvenus quirked an interrogative eyebrow. "It doesn't make any sense." Mercury looked at the display in frustration. " They just stopped. They stopped advancing and started building. . .these things." She waved an arm in the direction of the mysterious structure hidden by the lip of the crater." "Well, I'm sure it makes sense to THEM." Sailormercury gave a little mew of frustration. " Not any military sense! They could OWN Europe by now. And most of Africa, and Asia. The United States was only holding on by a thin margin. It doesn't make any sense to let us and the rest of the world to recover and reorganize." She toggled the display and a detailed map of the Japanese home islands appeared. "This is the most senseless of all!" She pressed a key and a red tide crawled over the islands. "Japan is not a world military power. Yet we have more enemy portals and bases. . . more of THESE things." She waved again in the direction of the alien construction. "than all of the rest of the world combined!" Sailorvenus gave a depressed sigh. "Well, it's our own fault I guess." Sailormercury gave her friend a confused look. "Karaoke. I always knew we'd have to pay the price some day." ************************************************* ". . .can't go in there!" Usagi woke up at the sound of voices outside the tent the JSDF had lent her and her friends. She swung her feet over the edge of the cot, knuckling the sleep out of her eyes. She felt like she'd just dropped off but her watch told her that she'd been asleep for at least ten hours. She wondered how Hotaru was. And Ranma and Ryouga. Almost as soon as Hotaru had started her healing there had been another attack . . .and another. . .and another. The senshi had linked up with the JSDF and an American contingent who'd seemed less surprised to see sailor senshi than the SDF. Venus knew something . . .Usagi could tell by the way she grinned when she thought no one was looking. After that they'd split up into sections that went off with either SDF or American forces. Venus had gone with the Americans because her English was best and Mercury had gone with her. Jupiter and Mars had stayed behind. As a "reserve" they said, but really to guard her, Usagi knew. They had absolutely forbad her to go to the "front" . . .always assuming anyone knew where the "front" was in a war like this. But here she stayed . . .helping as best she could . . .and worrying. And of course there was Uranus and Neptune. A band tightened around Usagi's head as she thought of the two . . .she couldn't believe what they'd done. There was some reason . . .some excuse . . .there had to be . . . But try as she might Usagi couldn't find an excuse, even a bad one. The band around her head tightened and her stomach clenched. It had come to the point, finally , that Usagi had to . . .to ORDER them (again her stomach clenched at the thought) . . .order Uranus and Neptune to go with a SDF unit and help evacuate civilians to a refugee camp. They had gone, with ill grace. Later the small SDF unit came back without them. Usagi hadn't asked . . .she was afraid of the answer. And after all . . .she didn't have to do anything if she didn't KNOW . . .did she? But she did know. A picture came to her suddenly . . .of a small still figure, covered in blood. Ranma. Ryouga. Hotaru. They'd put them on a truck headed toward a relief camp . . .to safe place . . .or as safe as any place could be now. "I SAID you can't . . ." Usagi could smell something burning. "It's OK Rei, I'm awake." There was a momentary silence, then a very miffed voice came back. "Hino Rei went back to the shrine to check on her grandfather. This is Sailormars." Usagi giggled to herself. "It's OK . . . REI" Usagi stressed the name. "I really don't think secret identities matter much anymore." There was a growling sound of frustration, like a wolverine mating with a gas turbine. The tent flap 'slammed' back under the force of her displeasure as Sailormars entered the tent followed by an American Naval officer. "Good morning. . .Ah . . . Sailormoon?" Usagi nodded assent. "I'm Captain Wolfe, United States Navy. I'm sorry to bother you. I know how tired you and your . . .senshi?" Usagi nodded again. "How tired you must be but we. . . Japan and the United States. Well, the entire world that is, have a . . . situation." The band tightened another notch. ************************************************* "Ranchan . . .would you get back into bed." Ukyou had always wanted to say that. "I . . .I . . .gotta go . . .help . . .'kane." "You can't even walk across the tent. Now just lie . . ." "NO . . .no . . .help me up." Ukyou gently pressed him back down, her heart twisting at how frail he seemed. "Look, sugar. There's no one here to take you. Kunou is guarding the Emperor . .. can you believe it? Kodachi is helping Cu Lon with the wounded . . .those that don't need Hotaru's help. Shan Pu is scouting for the JSDF and Mu Shu is scrounging for food and supplies for the camps. And I . . ." Ukyou hastened when Ranma turned a pleading look to her. ". . . .for my pains, and on the strength that I own . . .owned . . .a restaurant, I 'm supposed to figure out how to feed 250,000 people in this camp and three and a half million in six other camps. Oh, and while you're at it Kuonji S-A-N" Ukyou mimicked. "would you mind providing them with shelter, medical care . . .and keep them out of the way while we fight a war?" She snorted in disgust then looked down at Ranma. "Sorry sugar, I'd really like to help . . .but I've got what's left of Tokyo to take care of." "I'm not doing anything." Ukyou's head snapped around. "Ryouga? But . . .what about . . .uh . . .Hotarusan? I thought . . .that is . . ." "She can't go . . .to many sick and injured here. But . . .she's worried about Usagi. And . . .and I'm worried about Aka . . .Tendousama too." Ryouga bent and scooped Ranma up in his arms, cringing at how frail he felt. "HEY!. What do you . . ." "Faster if I carry you and you navigate." Ryouga started out of the tent at a trot. "HUH! . . .well if you get us lost, porky, I'm . . ." ************************************************ "How big?" Sailormercury asked faintly. "Mmmmm. Captain Wolfe said they estimate it masses between four hundred and six hundred thousand metric tonnes." Sailorjupiter looked down at her notepad. "It's accelerating at . . .here you read it." Jupiter flipped the pad to Sailormercury. "I just took notes, I don't understand it." Sailormercury caught the pad. She glanced at the figures written there and paled. She started tapping commands into her computer. "What is it Ami?" "If these observations are correct, we no longer have to worry about the Skroach." "What do you mean?" The Inner Senshi looked up at the sharp tone to see Sailoruranus and Sailorneptune standing at the entrance to the tent. "Within forty eight hours, perhaps less, the Skroach will no longer exist and neither will we." ************************************************* ". . .oon Circus. And then there was Galaxia. I was sure that she would need you to defeat Galaxia." Sailorpluto made a sound of disgust. "No, I finally had to resort to THEM." She waved a negligent hand toward an image of alien construction in the middle of Tokyo. "THEY were finally enough of a threat to the 'princess'" Pluto spat the title as if it were poison. "that you were 'called' and I could find you. THEY are clairvoyant you know. It's a limited ability but enough to tell them what was going to happen to them once I broke the wards; enough to get them to come here to try and stop me and enough to have the princess call you." she gave a little chuckle. "And the best part is that 'nullifier' they are building. It's really an idea I planted in their minds. Instead of sealing my power it will actually amplify my abilities by several orders of magnitude." So fixated was Sailorpluto on the scene of the alien conquest of Tokyo that she didn't notice Akane's left hand twitch spasmodically. ************************************************* "Where are you going?" "To get Sailorsaturn." "Why?" "WHY!" "Yes, why? HOTARU " Usagi stressed the name. "and Ryouga-chan are busy helping with the injured. She doesn't need to be bothered right now." Sailoruranus lips tightened. "This is no time to be playing games. Japan, the entire Earth, is about to be destroyed by an asteroid. We need Sailorsaturn. . ." "To destroy it with the 'Death Reborn Revolution?'" "That's right." "Which will kill her." Sailoruranus took a step toward Usagi and was immediately blocked by Sailormars and Sailorjupiter. Usagi waved them away and took a step toward Sailoruranus herself. "So you think that we should have Sailorsaturn destroy this asteroid even though the effort will kill her?" "There's no other choice." Sailorneptune interjected. "The fate of the entire world is at stake. Sometimes . . ." "If you say 'sacrifices have to be made' I am going to get very upset." Sailorneptune's mouth shut with a snap. Sailoruranus started to speak but Usagi interrupted. "And what do we do about the next asteroid?" Everyone just stared. Finally Sailoruranus spoke. "What do you mean, NEXT asteroid?" "Well, assuming this asteroid is a weapon, if they can send one, they can send another. Then what do we do? Or" she went on, overriding Sailorneptune. "what if this is just a ploy. . .to get us to USE Sailorsaturn so we won't have her available for their REAL attack." "Usagi, that's amazing." Sailormercury was astounded. The other senshi looked as if their bentou had just jumped up to do a boun-dance. "How on earth did you ever come up with such an insightful tactical analysis." Usagi looked embarrassed. "Ummm. Well, actually I got the idea from Robert Heinlein's 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.'" "This isn't a science fiction novel." Sailoruranus sounded frustrated. "This is real life, with real consequences." "Yes, and Hotaru is a real girl, with a real life." "Which is a fair trade for the entire world." Sailoruranus snapped and turned to go. "Where is Tendou Akane?" Sailoruranus stopped at the question. "Where is Setsuna?" "They are busy. . .fighting the new enemy." "I asked you 'where are they'. I asked that same question earlier. I will ask once more. Where are Tendou Akane and Sailorpluto?" "They are . . .doing their duty. They understand what is involved even if you . . ." The silver crystal blazed and Sailoruranus and Sailorneptune were driven back by the rush of power. When they could see again Usagi was gone and the Eternal Moon Angel stood in her place. "Sailoruranus, Sailorneptune you are deaf to the question of a friend. How will you answer the command of your sovereign?" Neptune and Uranus remained mute. "Where are Tendou Akane and Sailorpluto?" Silence was her only answer. "Ten times ten thousand years before this time you stood before Our mother, Serenity Peace Maker known as the Sword Breaker. You were condemned for the crimes of treason, murder, kidnaping and torture. Your sentence of death was set aside for the good of the Imperium and in the hope that you would reflect upon your crimes and repent of your actions. Now, in a different time, upon a new world you again stand before your sovereign. Again you are condemned for crimes, not only against your liege but against people that you are sworn to protect." Sailoruranus and Sailorneptune stared, frozen, at the inhumanly beautiful cold face, listened to the ringing iron tones. "Oath breaker and Outlaw We name you. As you have cut yourself off from the community of man, so We cast you out from the family of senshi. As you reject friendship and mercy so do We deny you peace and pardon. As hungry ghosts you are condemned to wander the Earth, pain your drink, anguish your meat. You are dead to Us."
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