"LUNAR: Tales From Crystal Tokyo"
LUNAR:
The Lost Episodes
By
Jeffrey C. Branch
Volume
Ten: Episode 2-6.90 "Revelations"
Rating:
PG-13
Crystal
Tokyo General Hospital, Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 25 December 2737
There was an audible buzz up and down the ninth floor of the hospital as
two towering, regal looking young women in colorful sailor suits strode
purposefully down the hall, their beautiful faces hard and set.
Dr. Asmit Patel, a short and stout Indian, was discussing the condition
of a patient in the intensive care unit at the main desk with two nurses when
the sound of someone clearing her throat caught his attention. When Patel turned
around, his eyes widened and his mouth fell open at who stood before him.
"Sailor Uranus! Sailor Magneta! This is a surprise!" he said,
barely managing to keep from stuttering. "What
can I do for you?"
"We're here to see a patient, doctor," said Sailor Magneta in a
no nonsense tone. "Lieutenant Eliana Charvat. She was said to be on this
floor."
"Yes! She is here, madam!" Patel replied nervously.
Staring up
into Sailor Magneta's piercing blue eyes rattled him. "But, she's in a deep
coma from her injuries. It's a miracle she survived her encounter with that
horrid Infiltrator!"
The two Senshi stole knowing glances at each other. "I concur.
A
miracle. We still would like to see her," said Sailor Magneta.
Patel was confused. "This is highly irregular, madam. What reason do
you have for wanting to see her?"
"Sailor Senshi business, doctor!" Sailor Magneta snapped, her
voice sharp as blade. "I have full authorization from Neo-Queen Serenity to
look into Charvat's encounter with the Infiltrator because it might be related
to last night's incident during the Ball. Is that reason enough for you?"
Now openly afraid, Patel turned to Sailor Uranus. "Lady
Uranus?"
Sailor Uranus, arms folded, casually shrugged. It took all the
Planetary's will power to keep from grinning at how Sailor Magneta had the
physician cowered liked a child. "Don't look at me, doc. Sailor Magneta's
my boss. I suggest you tell her what she wants to know. Patience isn't her
strong suit."
Sailor Magneta, seeing the opening, took it. "Schnell!
Schnell! I
don't have time to waste with you!" she barked. "What room is Charvat
in?"
"962, madam! Go all the way down the hall, and then turn left!
Lieutenant Charvat's room is on your right!" Patel blurted out.
"Thank you, doctor. You were most helpful. I will make a note of
that in my report to the Queen."
"Thank you, madam," said Patel, sounding relieved.
"That was one hell of a performance you gave. You had that poor guy
ready to wet his pants," said a grinning Sailor Uranus as she and Sailor
Magneta headed down the hall. "I never thought I'd hear myself say this,
seeing how we got off on the wrong foot, but I'm starting to like you, Ronni.
You've got balls!"
Sailor Magneta returned Sailor Uranus' smile.
She found herself warming up to the burly Planetary as well. "Coming
from you, Sailor Uranus, that's high praise."
"Hey! I call 'em like I see 'em. Something's been nagging at me
though. If Charvat's our Infiltrator, why didn't she run for the hills after
slaughtering everyone in video control?"
"I suspect that was only part of her mission. Remember, Charvat is
second in command to the Planetary who runs our intelligence department,"
Sailor Magneta replied. "That gives her access to sensitive and top secret
information she can pass along to the DK on RSN ship movements, Sailor Senshi
missions, and field agent reports from every sector in the galaxy. From her
position at LISA, Charvat can severely compromise our entire operations
network."
"Yeah, I see what you mean. As long she thinks no one suspects her
of being a spy, why not stick around and continue fucking us over," said
Sailor Uranus.
At that moment, Sailor Magneta's communicator beeped three times, a
pre-arranged signal for a message she had been waiting for. "Go."
"Sailor Sirius here," came back the voice of Sailor Sirius over
the speaker. "The twins and I finished going through Charvat's apartment
with a fine tooth comb. We didn't find squat. No iso chips, no hard copy, not a
blessed thing."
Sailor Magneta nodded. "I expected as much. At best, it was a long
shot that we would find incriminating evidence at her home. But, we had to try.
Proceed with phase two. Sailor Uranus and I are about to confront our
traitor."
"Roger that, boss. Be careful. Sailor Sirius out."
And the
communication ended.
After rounding the corner, the Senshi walked up to room 962. A plaque on
the door read: 'Charvat, E. Authorized personnel only'.
"You're taking one hell of a chance, Ronni," whispered Sailor
Uranus. "If we're wrong about Charvat, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus will
have your head on a stick."
The white haired woman shrugged. "That is of no importance to me.
I've been reprimanded many times in the past because of my... mistakes. However,
I'm not wrong here. I'll stake my career on that."
Sailor Uranus placed a hand on Sailor Magneta's shoulder. "Well, you
won't face this alone. No matter what, I'm in your corner. All the way."
Sailor Magneta smiled at the Planetary who had now become a friend.
Something she never envisioned happening a scant few days ago. "Thank you.
That means a great deal to me. Let's get this over with."
Sailor Magneta opened the door to the room and the two Senshi entered.
There they found Eliana in bed in a white hospital gown, the sheets up to her
chest while her arms were exposed. Her eyes closed, Eliana's left arm was hooked
up to a scanner that monitored all her vital signs while painkilling drugs and
liquid nutrition was intravenously fed through her right arm. As the two Senshi
studied the woman intently, Sailor Magneta pressed a button on her communicator.
"What do you think?" Sailor Uranus asked in a whisper. "Is
she really out?"
"Hard to tell," Sailor Magneta replied. "These creatures
may be able to feign the controlled, coma-like trances Vulcans put themselves
into."
"So, how do we handle this?"
"The direct approach." Sailor Magneta calmly walked up to
Eliana's bed and leaned close the Israeli. Sailor Uranus tensed, ready to act at
a moment's notice. "Eliana, I know what you are. I know what you did last
night. The charade, and your mission, is over," the Senshi of Magnetism
said to her in a soft voice.
No sooner had Sailor Magneta said those words that Eliana's eyes snapped
open and
"I'm impressed," said Sailor Magneta. "For someone said to
be in a deep coma, you're exceptionally spry, Eliana. What do you think, Sailor
Uranus?"
"No doubt about it, Sailor Magneta. A miracle of modern
medicine," said the smirking Planetary.
"How did you ferret me out?" Eliana demanded, her voice an evil
hiss.
"Your ruse on the operations floor, feigning injury, was clumsy and
ill-prepared. No doubt a hasty improvisation," Sailor Magneta replied.
"In addition to butchering everyone in video control, you had to make sure
the cameras kept running so the battle on the ballroom room floor could be
broadcast throughout the GM. But you hadn't anticipated how quickly we would
defeat your brethren. Fortunately, no one, including you, knew my true nature
until I revealed it."
"Yes, a filthy mutant who could use her powers out of her Senshi
form. How disgustingly clever!" Eliana snarled. "I planned everything
to the most exacting detail, employing the last of our Doppelgangers, two of which had been genetically bred for the purpose of
defeating the Senshi. I hadn't figured on being outsmarted by a miserable
creature like you!"
"The only creature in here is you!" growled Sailor Uranus, her
fists balled. "What happened to the real Eliana Charvat?"
The dark haired woman chuckled. It was a cruel sound. "The poor
woman met with a violent end eight months ago while vacationing in her native
Israel. Her remains are currently gracing the bottom of the Dead Sea."
"I see. I'm guessing the DK somehow learned of Charvat's position at
Lunar Intelligence, perhaps via the late, unlamented Doppelganger of Archmage
Ereunak. So you killed Eliana while she was away from Luna, then impersonated
her on a mission to steal top secret information," said Sailor Magneta.
"Correct, mutant. Eliana Charvat was the perfect vehicle for my
counter-intelligence mission," Charvat replied. "My disguise was
perfect. No one knew she had been replaced. Not her friends, her family, her
co-workers at LISA, and least of all, that foolish, simpering slut, Sailor
Venus!"
"But we know!" Sailor Uranus growled.
"Yes. But not for long. Once I've killed you, I'll resume my ruse.
And no one will know the truth."
Hearing that, Sailor Magneta chuckled as she held up her communicator.
"I beg to differ, creature. Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, did you hear
everything?"
"Loud and clear, Sailor Magneta," came back the voice of Sailor
Jupiter over the speaker of Sailor Magneta's communicator.
"I heard it too. And this foolish, simpering slut is seriously
pissed off," snarled Sailor Venus.
Eliana's eyes widened from horror. "No! How could this be?"
"Back in the late twentieth century, covertly planted listening
devices were a preferred method of intelligence gathering," said Sailor
Magneta, a wicked smirk on her lips. "Even after over seven hundred years,
it's quite satisfying to know that particular method of espionage has not gone
out of style."
"In other words, you've been had!" Sailor Uranus added. "The secret's out!"
Eliana tilted her head back and roared from rage. As she did, her body
changed drastically. Bursting out of her gown, the woman morphed into the
horrific form of a Doppelganger.
"Sailor Senshi trash! I'll destroy you!" the creature snarled.
"Not likely," Sailor Magneta calmly replied as her eyes glowed
a bright red. "Here's a new trick for you, monster. Magneta Blood...
BURN!"
The creature suddenly dropped to one knee and screamed from terrible,
unending pain that ruthlessly ravaged its entire body.
Sailor Uranus, wide eyed, was puzzled as to what was happening. "Sailor M!
What are you doing to her?"
"Exploiting something the Doppelgangers thought was a strength,"
said Sailor Magneta, her eyes still glowing. "They used human DNA to shield
themselves from our scanners, so they had to employ human blood elements in
their physiology. Human blood has iron molecules in it, and I'm using my powers
to hyper accelerate the iron in it's blood, super heating it to where it boils
in their veins like water. A very painful process for the victim, as you can
see."
The creature, feeling like molten lava was flowing in her veins, used the
last of its strength in the only way it knew how. Climbing to its feet, it
stumbled backwards through the window, roaring all the way down.
"Damn! It's getting away! We've gotta go after it!" growled
Sailor Uranus.
"No need for haste. The others should already be in position
below," the Senshi of Magnetism said. "Come. It's time to end this
drama."
A two-foot high row of rose bushes ringing the building helped to cushion
the creature's nine-story fall. Yet it still sustained a fractured left leg,
broken ribs, and a cracked collarbone.
Staggering out of the bushes, the creature terrified onlookers who'd seen
it fall. Panic ensued as the people ran, screaming, from the beast, which wanted
nothing more than to kill them all. However, its top priority was escape, as it
knew the Senshi wouldn't be far behind.
Limping away from the hospital, the monster tried to morph back into
Eliana, even though it knew that guise was uncovered, but it needed a low
profile to find a hiding place to heal. Unfortunately, the great pain it was in
wrecked the concentration it needed to change. Still, it ran, but not for long.
"Sirius Infrared Laser... DISINTERGRATION!"
No sooner had the beast heard that cry when a bright red energy beam
pierced its right shoulder like a hot knife through butter, and, with a scream
of pain, the creature was sent flying, and it crashed to the ground in a heap.
Undaunted, and despite the pain, it tried to stand.
"Ebony... SPHERE OF NIGHT!"
Just as the creature rose to one knee, it was enveloped in a black,
crackling sphere that drained its energy. The creature roared, this time from
frustration. Once the field dissipated, the beast was left sprawled on the
ground; its brain commanded it to stand, but its body refused.
"Ivory Lightbeams... FIRE!"
Thousands of raging, solid white energy beams blasted the fallen monster,
pummeling it with blazing, relentless fury. Once again, the creature screamed
from agony at the force of the attack, which left it a smoldering ruin, yet very
much alive.
Breathing heavily, hissing through its teeth from the searing agony it
was in, the beast, paralyzed from the ferocity of the attacks, could only watch
with hateful eyes as five scowling, sailor suited women, Sailor Magneta in the
center of the group, walked up to the savaged brute.
"Sorry, sunshine. But this is as far as you go," Sailor Sirius
growled.
"How? How could... you have... done this?" the creature
demanded.
"The Infiltrators... Doppelgangers... or whatever, don't have the monopoly on dirty tricks,"
said Sailor Magneta, glaring hard at the creature. "Once Sailor Uranus and
I deduced that you were the traitor, we set up this trap, then encouraged you to
out yourself."
"Damn you!" the beast roared in its frustration.
At that moment, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus arrived
on the scene. The face of the blonde Planetary was flushed red from rage, as she
rushed up to the fallen monster and viciously kicked it in the head, catching
everyone off-guard.
"Fucking bitch! You killed my friend!" Sailor Venus yelled,
tears streaming down her cheeks as she continued kicking the monster's head.
"You killed my friend!"
"Sailor Venus! No! We need it alive!" cried Sailor Jupiter,
pulling Sailor Venus away. "You're better than this! Don't sink to her
level! Mina! Please!"
After several tense moments, Sailor Venus finally calmed down. But her
tears continued to fall. "She killed my friend, Lita."
"I know, babe. I know," said Sailor Jupiter, wrapping her
distraught partner in her arms and holding her tight while Sailor Venus sobbed
on her shoulder.
Sailor Mercury, her heart going out to Sailor Venus, activated her VR
visor to examine the creature. It had suffered a shattered skull from the
Planetary's frenzied attack, along with the other injuries suffered in the fall
and the assault by the others. "Frankly speaking, the creature's a mess,
but it's alive. We can study its anatomy and devise a means of detecting future
Infiltrators... or Doppelgangers."
"As you humans would say... fat chance," the creature growled,
a twisted grin on its lips. "I am obsolete, the last of my kind.
The new
breeds of Negatroopers the DK are breeding are larger, stronger, and more
ruthless than you can possibly imagine. No
matter what you, or your cow of a Queen, do, we will continue to bedevil
you." The creature then bit down hard on something in its mouth, which
crunched, and shouted, "Long live the Dark Kingdom!"
Curious, Sailor Mercury scanned inside the creature's head, and her face
paled from horror. "By the Crystal! Sailor Magneta! A force field!
It's
going to blow!"
Sailor Magneta acted quickly. "Magneta Field of Force!"
The white haired Senshi enveloped the creature in a magnetic force field
seconds before it exploded in a blinding white flash of energy. When the smoke
cleared, nothing was left of the monster but chunks of flesh and pieces of bone.
At Sailor Magneta's silent command, the field compressed, obliterating the
debris under tens of thousands of pounds of pressure until nothing remained.
"Wha... what happened?" a dazed Sailor Ivory wanted to know.
"Our opponent got the last laugh on us. Damnation!" an angry
Sailor Mercury snapped. She hated how the various Infiltrators kept outfoxing her.
"The creature had some sort of organic, high powered explosive device
planted in its skull. There must've been a detonator in a hollow tooth, which
triggered the explosion. If Ronni hadn't encased it in a force field, the blast
could've killed us all."
"So it went out in a blaze of glory," stated Sailor Ebony.
"More than likely to keep whatever secrets it had from falling into
our hands," said Sailor Magneta. "After all, in her guise as
Lieutenant Charvat, she knew we were seeking to take one of the monsters
alive."
"Chances are she never intended to return home," Sailor Uranus
added.
"What did she meant by a new breed of Negatrooper?" Sailor
Sirius wondered.
"More trouble, I'm afraid," said Sailor Jupiter. "Good
work, team; especially you, Ronni. Despite your unorthodox plan, you found the
traitor."
Sailor Magneta shook her head as she placed a hand on Sailor Uranus' shoulder.
"Wrong, Sailor Jupiter. My friend and I found the traitor."
Sailor Jupiter nodded, inwardly pleased that Sailor Magneta and Sailor
Uranus had finally bonded. She then turned to Sailor Venus. "C'mon, Mina.
Let's get out of here."
"Yeah. We've saved the world again. Hooray for us," said a
downcast Sailor Venus.
No one said anything as the Senshi went their separate ways.
Throne
room, Crystal Palace, Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, 28 December 2737
"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Serenity," said
a dour faced Sailor Venus, giving her ruler a bow. She held a sealed envelope in
one hand.
Neo-Queen Serenity nodded. "Anything for my friends. How are
you?"
Sailor Venus shrugged. "Okay, I guess. The last three days have been
hard, but I'm getting better. I appreciate your coming to Eliana's funeral
yesterday."
"It was the least I could do. After all, she was your friend for the
last eight years. You said you needed to speak to me about something
important."
"Yes. This," said Sailor Venus, handing her Queen the envelope.
"Open it."
Curious, Serenity slit open the envelope with a thumbnail and removed a
piece of paper that was inside. Unfolding it, Serenity read was on the paper, as
she did, her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. "Mina! This is a
resignation letter from your post! Why?"
"Do you have to ask?" Sailor Venus snapped. "Because of my
incompetence, LISA was compromised by the enemy! I don't deserve to remain at my
post!"
"Mina, you didn't know Eliana had been killed and replaced by a
monster! None of us did! You cannot blame yourself for that!"
"But it happened on my watch, Serenity! Who knows how much
information that monster passed on to the DK! Our entire intelligence network
may have been irreparably damaged! Agents in the field could be in danger
because of me! I can't live with that on my conscience!"
"Stop it, Mina! Right now! What is done is done. We cannot change
the past, but we can take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again in the
future," Serenity pointed out. "Look, I know you are hurting over
everything that has happened, but if you quit, you will dishonor Eliana's
memory. And you will give the monster that killed her one last victory."
Sailor Venus dwelled on Serenity's words for several long moments before
she responded. "I guess you're right. It would be bad to give that monster
the satisfaction. Thanks for straightening me out."
"My pleasure. Even though I am not letting you quit, I am ordering
you to take some time off," said Serenity ripping up Sailor Venus' letter.
"Sailor Uranus can run LISA in your absence. Go home, Mina. Home to Venus.
Take all the time you need to recuperate. We will still be here when you get
back. Okay?"
Sailor Venus nodded, then smiled. "Sure. Uh, would it be out of
place for me to ask you for a hug?"
"Never. I will always be your friend first, your ruler second.
Come
here!" Rising from her throne, a smiling Serenity wrapped her arms around
Sailor Venus and hugged her tightly. Already, Sailor Venus' wounded heart was
beginning to heal.
Department
of Homeland Security, Crystal Palace, Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, 29 December
2737
"You asked to see me, Sailor Jupiter?" Sailor Magneta asked.
Sailor Jupiter, seated behind her desk nodded. "Yes. Have a seat.
Three things. First, I wanted to let you know that I've recommended you for the
Golden Crescent for all the work you've done, both in saving the Royals at the
Ball, and uncovering that Doppelganger. You've done exemplary work, Ronni."
Sailor Magneta was taken aback as she sat down. The Golden Crescent Medal
was most prestigious award a Sailor Senshi or Sorcerer could receive from the
Queen. "That's quite an honor. But I'm not worthy. I was merely doing my
job."
"Well, I think the job you've done has been top notch. That brings
me to reason number two. I know it's early, but I was wondering if you might
consider being permanently assigned to HOMESEC."
"A permanent assignment?"
"Yes. As my Deputy Director and commander of all field operations.
Your authority throughout the GM would be second only to the Planetaries. You're
an outstanding Senshi, Ronni, one of the very best I've ever worked with. At the
risk of sounding greedy, I want you here, at my side; in command of a special
assault force, as it were."
"I... I'm flattered, madam. I don't what to say."
"I understand. Like I said, it's early, so there's no rush to make a
decision. But, will you at least
think about my offer?"
Sailor Magneta nodded slowly. As much as she loved being a starship
captain and exploring the galaxy, the honor of being the right hand to a
Planetary was too tempting an offer to pass up. "I will consider it."
"Great. In the meantime, I've got a new assignment for you."
The Planetary of Thunder passed a microcomp across the table to Sailor Magneta.
"There's a potential mess brewing on Rigel Four. All the info on the case
is there, including bios on your new teammates."
Sailor Magneta, scanning the readout looked up. "New
teammates?"
"Uh-huh. With Sailor Uranus reassigned as temporary head of LISA,
I've added two Senshi to replace her firepower: Sailors Britannica and
Russia," Jupiter replied. "Alison
Hawthorne is a descendant of British royalty. She's stuck-up and overbearing,
but an excellent soldier. Natasha Volkoff is a walking tank that loves to brawl,
even more than myself in my younger days. Give her a good fight and she's a
happy camper. They both came highly recommended. I demanded only the very best
for your team."
"In that case, I shall welcome them with open arms."
Sailor Jupiter smiled. "Good! I won't keep you from your assignment
any longer.
The white haired woman stood, came smartly to attention and, with a click
of her heels, she saluted her superior. "Right away, Director!"
Sailor Magneta turned and left Jupiter's office. Once outside, the others
stood when they saw their leader approach, while the two newcomers came to
attention. Sailor Britannica was a slender wisp of a woman with long, curly red
hair and a haughty look on her lovely face. By contrast, Sailor Russia, over two
meters tall, was powerfully muscled, with close cropped black hair and a stony
expression on her mannish face. Sailor Magneta's heart swelled with pride to be
working with such courageous women. At that moment, nothing, not even her music,
made Sailor Magneta happier than being with the team. Her team.
"Sailor Britannica, reporting as ordered, madam!" said the
Briton.
"Sailor Russia, ready to serve, commander!" the Russian barked.
"At ease, ladies. Welcome to the team," said Sailor Magneta.
"I'm sorry I don't have time to give you a proper indoctrination, but duty
calls."
"Does that mean we've got a mission, boss?" a grinning Sailor
Sirius asked.
"We do indeed," Sailor Magneta replied. "There's been a
series of mysterious accidents at the terraforming facility on Rigel Four.
Sorcerer Amalis, the Chief of Security, suspects sabotage by DK agents, possibly
leftover Infiltrators. We've been ordered there to investigate."
"Rigel's a long way off, Ronni. How do we get there?" Sailor
Ebony asked.
"A special present, courtesy of Sailors Jupiter and Mercury; a new
vessel, loosely based on the scout ship design, but one quarter its size, has
been constructed for special ops use. We get to take the prototype on a
shakedown cruise and test her in operational conditions.
It is RIFT capable, with a pair of pinpoint blasters and the most
advanced jamming gear available. I
am given to understand Sailor Mercury is leading her team to develop a cloaking
device for it. The ship's been
christened... the SLS Draco II," Sailor Magneta grinned, reading
from her microcomp.
"Cool! I've got dibs on the helm chair!" cried an excited
Sailor Ivory.
"Not if I beat you to it!" said an openly ecstatic Sailor
Sirius. And the two Senshi rushed off.
"Kids," said a grinning Sailor Ebony, shaking her head. Sailor
Britannica and Sailor Russia exchanged puzzled looks.
Smiling, Sailor Magneta squeezed Sailor Ebony's shoulder. "Nobody's
perfect, Elizabeth. Come, my friends. We have work to do."