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."

***************************************************************************

1