"LUNAR:  Tales From Crystal Tokyo"

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LUNAR: The Lost Episodes

By Jeffrey C. Branch

Volume Eight: Episode 2-6.82 "Festivities"

Rating: PG-13

Executive Quarters Wing, Crystal Palace, Planet Luna, Sol system, 24 December 2737

            "Are you nervous, Ronni?" asked Michelle Kai'oh to Veronika Steiner while zipping up the white haired woman's strapless, magenta ball gown.  It was commonplace since the early twenty-second century for Sailor Senshi to wear gowns to formal functions that matched the main color of their uniforms.  The lone exception was the stubbornly defiant Sailor Uranus, who hated women's clothing and preferred a white tuxedo instead.

            "Nervous?  Nein.  Terrified?  Ja," Veronika replied.  "Between my work with HOMESEC, and practicing for our performance, I may have averaged three hours of sleep a night since the twenty-first.  The notion of performing for Neo-Queen Serenity in front of a live audience here and millions more via telemonitor throughout the GM has me firmly on track for a nervous breakdown."

            Michelle chuckled and squeezed Veronika's shoulder.  "Don't worry, dear.  You'll do just fine once the time comes to play."

            "Do you think so?"

            "Absolutely."  Dressed in a strapless, teal gown, Michelle picked up a pearl necklace that sat on the Veronika's vanity table, and fastened it around her friend's neck.  "In over seven hundred years, I've never met anyone as incredibly talented as you, Veronika.  Hearing you play never fails to move me.  I truly believe that in time, you'll surpass me as the leading violinist in the galaxy."

            Veronika smiled, her heart warmed from the compliment.  Since coming to HOMESEC and working with the Planetaries and the other Senshi, the once taciturn German had become more comfortable with people and, in turn, more open and sociable.  "Thank you, Michelle.  You are too kind."

            "I only speak the truth as I see it.  I had dinner with Lita and her husband last night and she had nothing but high praise for the work you've done," said Michelle.  "Lita's a very hard woman to please, but you've managed to do just that.  She thinks the world of you, Ronni."

            "Really?  I was not aware of that.  I only sought to do the job which I had been tasked to perform."

            "Talented, and modest too," said Michelle with a giggle.  "I'll leave you to relax before the Ball begins.  We go on at eight."

            "All right, Michelle.  See you then."

            Once the teal haired Planetary left, Veronika was alone with her thoughts as she concentrated on the concerto she and Michelle would play in an hour.  She played the entire performance in her mind; going over every last note of the work she spent months writing, practicing and perfecting.  But, the white haired woman also thought about her more important duties with HOMESEC, and the dangerous plan she helped come up with to capture an Infiltrator, should one strike at the party.

            "We've done all we could to prepare for tonight," she whispered, staring at her reflection in the mirror of her vanity table.  "The rest is up to fate."

Department of Homeland Security, Crystal Palace, Planet Luna, Sol system, 24 December 2737

            Sailor Jupiter, garbed in a forest green gown sat at her desk, going over the floorplan to the huge palace ballroom on the screen of her workstation monitor.  Her lips were turned down in a frown as she stared at the plans for what seemed like the millionth time over the last three days.  She was tense as a coiled spring from apprehension.

            "Where will you bastards strike from?" she muttered, her huge green eyes fixed on the screen.  "And, more importantly, who will you be disguised as?"  A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.  Her brows creased briefly from the interruption, Sailor Jupiter looked up from the screen.  "Come in," she barked.

            The door opened, and Sailor Mercury entered, along with Commander Brock of the RSN Tactical Response Squad.  Sailor Mercury nodded while Brock came to attention and saluted the auburn haired Planetary.

            "Talk to me, people.  How are we doing?" Sailor Jupiter asked sharply.

            "Everything is ready, Lita.  The Assault team is in position on the floor," said Sailor Mercury, attired in a baby blue gown.  She could see how stressed Sailor Jupiter was over the Ball.  "I've outfitted them with microcomps calibrated to detect what I'm guessing is the organic energy spike of the Infiltrators when they morph from their human forms, but only when they change.  I'm afraid that's the best I could do, given the limited time we had to prepare."

            "That's better than nothing, Amy.  I trust your guesses a hell of a lot more than I do other people's facts," said Sailor Jupiter.  She then turned to the broad shouldered RSN officer.  "Bill?"

            "I've got thirty troopers undercover as waiters and kitchen staff, all armed with precision hand blasters, Lady Jupiter," Brock said.  "If the plan to capture one of those monsters goes south, we'll be prepared to take action."

            "That's good.  As per our briefing this morning, I'll want you in video control to monitor the floor.  If an Infiltrator comes calling, you're to kill the broadcast immediately.  You have the frequencies to our Senshi comms, so if something happens, you can warn everyone."

            Brock nodded.  "Don't worry, ma'am.  I've got your back."

            "Great."  Sailor Jupiter stood and smoothed her skirt.  "Well, time to get going.  Say, where's Mina?"

            Sailor Mercury grinned.  "In her suite, primping.  What else?  Venus Knight gave me the news.  I'm amazed he has the patience to deal with that fashion plate!"

            Sailor Jupiter, feeling the tenseness subside, shook her head and laughed.  "Yeah!  Ain't that the truth!  Even after seven centuries, some things never change!"

            A puzzled Brock, having failed to get the joke between the Planetaries, just shrugged.

Headquarters of the Lunar Intelligence and Security Agency (LISA), Crystal Palace, Planet Luna, Sol system, 24 December 2737

            "Eliana!  What are you doing here?" Sailor Venus asked her second in command.  "The party starts in fifteen minutes!"

            "I know, ma'am.  I'm just logging in the latest reports from the field agents before I leave," said the Israeli, standing to salute her superior.  Eliana wore the RSN women's dress uniform, which replaced the standard slacks with a short skirt and white, high-heeled boots with gold trim at the top.

            Sailor Venus, garbed in a brilliant golden gown, smiled at Eliana.  "Ellie, what would I do without you?  I really appreciate all your hard work."

            "Just doing my job," said Eliana with a sheepish grin.  "I'm almost finished.  Why don't you go ahead, Lady Venus.  I'll be downstairs shortly."

            "Okay.  But don't dawdle too long.  I'm not paying you overtime!" joked Sailor Venus, wagging a finger at Eliana.

            "I'll keep that in mind, ma'am."

            With a nod, the Planetary of Love left.  Once the door closed, Eliana hit a key, and an isolytic chip was ejected from her computer.  After putting the chip into the right pocket of her skirt, Eliana shut down her workstation, and then keyed her communicator.  "Hello?  Yes, I'm done here.  I'm leaving now.  We'll meet at the regular place after the Ball.  See you."

            Standing up, Eliana smiled brightly.  "Yes.  I sure do love a party."

The Ellen Tsukino Memorial Ballroom, Crystal Palace, Planet Luna, Sol system, 24 December 2737

            Cheerful holiday music softly wafted through the huge ballroom, filled with elegantly dressed men, women and beings from over a hundred planets that fell under the aegis of the Golden Millennium.  Smiles, laughter and friendly talk dominated the atmosphere as they took in the space, with wreaths and lights fixed to white wrought iron ornamentation on the walls and highlighted by a ten foot tall pine tree in the north corner of the room near the stage, winking brightly from dozens of colorful lights.

            Among the delegates and guests, white clad waiting staff made the rounds, their eyes casually scanning the room while serving drinks and hors devours.  In the kitchens and outside the ballroom, more steely-eyed men and women carefully and closely checked everything and everybody.  Mingling through the crowd, the Operation Headhunter Assault team, each member holding a microcomp, kept their eyes peeled for trouble while wearing casual expressions on their faces.

            "How many of Brock's hardasses have you spotted, Liz?" Sailor Ivory asked her sister.

            "Seven," Sailor Ebony replied.  "How about you?"

            "Nine so far.  Sailor Jupiter's taking no chances with security; I hope nothing goes wrong."

            "Amen to that, Cat."

            In another area of the ballroom, Sailors Uranus and Sirius walked among the throng.  Even though she was on duty, Sailor Sirius thoroughly enjoyed the festive atmosphere, while Sailor Uranus scowled from open suspicion of everyone around her.

            "Sailor Uranus, for pity's sake, lighten up.  You're gonna spook everyone with that scowl you're wearing," Sailor Sirius whispered to her partner.  "At least pretend like you're having a good time."

            The Planetary of the Skies shot Sailor Sirius a reproachful look.  "We're not here to have fun, Sailor Sirius.  We have to be on our guard for the enemy.  Remember what happened at Skunk Works three weeks ago?"

            "How could I forget?  But we can't act like we're looking for trouble.  The guests will pick up on that, and so will the Infiltrator, if he's in here.  So lighten up, dammit!"

            The brawny Planetary, realizing Sailor Sirius was right, pasted a frozen smile on her face.  "How's this?" she asked.

            Sailor Sirius made a face.  "Ugh!  That's even scarier!  Go back to the scowl!"

            "Hmph!  Thanks a lot, partner!" Sailor Uranus grumbled.

Surveillance Control Room, Crystal Palace, Planet Luna, Sol system, 24 December 2737

            Brock sat in front of a bank of twenty monitors, which covered practically the entire ballroom, along with all the areas outside the room.  One of his division officers, Ensign Sangh, a sharp eyed Isbanni, sat next to Brock to help him watch the monitors while the eight-person video production crew were busy preparing for the broadcast of the Ball throughout the Golden Millennium.

            "Everything's going smoothly so far, sir," said Sangh to Brock, ending in the catlike growl of his species.

            "Yeah.  But I'll feel a lot better once the show's over," grumbled Brock.  He paused to sip from a large mug of black coffee, and then keyed his communicator.  "Brock to Sailor Jupiter, comm check.  All is well on the floor.  How's things on your end?  Over!"

            "A-OK, Bill.  The Royals are about to leave their quarters," came back the voice of Sailor Jupiter.  "To all units, it's showtime.  Stay on your toes.  Over and out!"

            The door opened and Eliana entered.  Brock turned and nodded to the Israeli while Sangh only briefly glanced at the woman, but his eyes narrowed slightly when he did.  "How goes everything, Commander?"

            "Pretty good," said Brock after another sip of coffee.  "The Royals just left their quarters."

            "Good.  Then I haven't missed anything.  I can hardly wait for the festivities to begin," said a smiling Eliana, quietly closing the door behind her.

The Ellen Tsukino Memorial Ballroom, Crystal Palace, Planet Luna, Sol system, 24 December 2737

            Everyone in the ballroom went silent as the double doors at the south end opened and the royal family entered with Sailors Eos, Betelgeuse, Mars and Jupiter leading the way, while Mercury, Venus and Pluto brought up the rear.  All the women, dressed in beautiful formal gowns, looked regal and magnificent like their ruler.  A ten man ceremonial guard, garbed in gleaming, golden armor, followed the troupe.

            Polite, but enthusiastic, clapping and cheering greeted the First Family of the Golden Millennium as they acknowledged the warm greeting, waving back to the assemblage.  Their broad and friendly smiles expertly hid the apprehension Neo-Queen Serenity, King Endymion, and Princess Serena felt.

            "Between the Royals, the Assault team, the Planetaries and Brock's men, there's enough firepower in here to raze the Dark Kingdom home planet," Sailor Ivory whispered to her sister.  "The Infiltrators would have to be stone crazy to try anything."

            "That's just the problem.  Maybe they are crazy enough to try," said a thoughtful Sailor Ebony.  "No matter what, Cat, don't let your guard down."

            Sailor Ivory nodded.  She always paid serious attention to her sister's hunches, since they almost always turned out to be right.  "You got it, Liz."

            The cheering continued as the Royals and the Planetaries were escorted to their seats on the stage to the right of a podium that stood in the center.  Once the applause died down and the audience took their seats in front of the stage, Sailor Betelgeuse walked up to the podium.

            "Ladies and gentlemen, respected guests, may I present to you, Her Royal Highness, Ruler of the Golden Millennium, Neo-Queen Serenity the First!" Sailor Betelgeuse announced.

            A new round of applause erupted as Serenity gracefully ascended to the podium.  Sailor Betelgeuse curtsied as she relinquished the mike to her Queen.  Sailor Eos, the Assault team, the Planetaries, and Brock's men tensed for action, fearing that if the Infiltrators were to attack, this would be the perfect time.

            "Thank you, everyone.  And welcome," said Serenity, a bright smile on her face.  "While Christmas is a strictly Terran holiday, its longstanding traditions of love, peace and the joy that comes from being with family and friends to celebrate the blessings of life has now become a universal constant cherished from one end of the galaxy to the other.  Even though we are still recovering from the recent conflict with the Dark Kingdom, our spirit is still vibrant and strong.  We have taken many painful blows during and after the war, but we haven't fallen, and, you have my word, we will never fall."

            More cheers greeted Serenity as she returned to her seat and Sailor Betelgeuse went back to the mike.  "Thank you, your Majesty.  And now, for your entertainment, we present Lady Michelle Kai'oh and Miss Veronika Steiner performing a violin concerto written by Miss Veronika called, 'The Wind of Life'."

            To the sound of applause, Michelle and Veronika walked out onstage with their violins as the podium was removed, and two chairs, along with stands holding sheet music, was placed in front of the audience.  Veronika, staring out at the crowd, shuddered, not expecting something like this.  Michelle, seeing how nervous Veronika was, gave her friend's hand a reassuring squeeze.  The two women bowed before sitting, then placed the violins under their chins, picked up their bows and began playing.

            Veronika was jittery as first, but concentrated on the music and her nerves calmed.  The audience was immediately enthralled by the beautiful sounds of the music as the women played.  Their bows slid across the strings with great passion that came from the bottomless devotion the women put into their music, which touched the hearts and souls of the audience.  For what seemed like ages, nothing existed to Michelle and Veronika except their music as they put everything they had into their performance.

            With a dramatic flourish, Michelle and Veronika finished, and the crowd stood to show their appreciation.  This surprised Veronika, who didn't expect the piece to have been so well received.

            "I guess this means they liked your concerto," said a smiling Michelle.

            "I guess they do, Michelle," said Veronika, a broad smile spreading across her face.  The women stood and took a bow for the audience.  The feeling Veronika got from the adulation was intoxicating.  It was at that moment that all hell broke loose.

            The German woman felt the stage shudder and shake beneath her feet.  Curious, she turned to Michelle, who frowned, sensing something was wrong.  Before the teal haired Planetary could shout a warning, the floor erupted like a volcano, violently blowing everyone off their feet.  From out of a hole seven feet wide in the middle of the stage, two mindboggling horrors shambled out, followed by two more.

            The beasts were tall, gangly, hairless, gray-skinned brutes with pointed canines and white, pupil-less eyes.  The arms of the creatures were extremely long, dangling on the floor, while their fingers and toes bore sharp claws and extra joints.  The second pair of creatures that emerged from the hole was slightly different, with heads that were longer than the first two.  For everyone in the stunned and shocked audience, it was like their worst nightmare imaginable had suddenly been given form and substance.

            The first pair of creatures roared, inciting a full-blown panic, as the frightened audience begun a stampede to the exits; the creatures leaped from the stage.

            "Mother of Serenity!" said a horrified Sailor Jupiter.  Her heart in her throat, she never anticipated or even envisioned something like this.  She quickly keyed her communicator.  "Brock!  Kill the broadcast!  Now!"

            Silence greeted her ears.  "Brock!  Do you hear me?  Answer!  FUCK!  Assault team!  Troopers!  Stop those creatures!  Planetaries, transform!  NOW!"

            The monsters, grinning evilly, leaped for the fleeing guests as the Tactical soldiers pulled their handheld blasters and fired.  Recalibrated to fire pencil thin beams for use in confined or heavily occupied spaces, the soldiers hit the beasts head on and they crumpled to the floor.  However, they didn't stay down long; they got back to their feet and struck.  Their flailing claws killed six soldiers closest to the horrors instantly.

            "Dammit!" snarled Sailor Uranus, having watched the soldiers killed.  Unable to use her powers with so many people around, the Planetary charged the two beasts head on, bowling them both over with her great strength.  Without breaking stride, Sailor Uranus pummeled the monsters relentlessly, bloodying the horrors before they shrugged her off.  But Sailor Sirius picked up the slack.

            "Sirius Infrared Laser... DISINTERGRATION!" she shouted, using pinpoint accuracy, insisted on by Sailor Magneta during the training sessions in the Danger Room, to nail one of the monsters squarely in its chest.  The beast screamed as the Star Senshi's powerful energy beam blasted a foot-wide hole in its chest, yet, it refused to fall, staggering on braced legs.

            Sailor Uranus jumped the creature from behind, clasped her arms tightly around the monster's neck and, with a roar of rage, gave it a quick and brutal twist.  With a sickeningly loud crack, Sailor Uranus broke the monster's neck and it fell to the ground, dead.

            "Yeah!  That felt good!" growled Sailor Uranus, a savage grin on her lips.

            "Sailor Uranus!  Behind you!" Sailor Sirius cried.

            Sailor Uranus whirled around to see another monster swiping at her.  The Planetary dove, but the claws raked her right shoulder, tearing cloth and deeply scoring her flesh.  Sailor Uranus cried out from pain but tumbled over to where Sailor Sirius stood.  Sailor Sirius was horrified at seeing Sailor Uranus' right arm limp at her side and dripping blood from a badly gashed shoulder.  The only thing Sailor Uranus felt, however, wasn't pain, but fury.

            "Now I'm pissed!" the burly Senshi snarled, her teeth clenched.  "Let's waste this thing!"

            "You got it!" growled Sailor Sirius.  Before the Senshi could attack, the monster leaped towards a couple of fleeing guests, grabbed one in each of its hands, and held them up as shields.  The monster chuckled.

            "Be careful, human.  You might harm someone," it growled.

            "Screw you, asshole!" shouted Sailor Ivory, drawing a bead on the monster.  "Ivory... BLAST OF LIGHT!"

            Sailor Ivory's massive release white light enveloped the beast, instantly blinding and staggering it, and it dropped to the floor, releasing its captives.  "Liz!  Pull the hostages out!  Hurry!"

            Sailor Ebony moved like greased lightning, grabbing the two hostages, and pulling them away from the monster.  "I've got 'em, sis!  Sailor Sirius!  Finish off that bastard!"

            "Gladly!" snarled Sailor Sirius, her body glowing from a bright blue aura as she held up her right hand.  "Sirius Gravity... DEVASTATION!"

            At the Star Senshi's command, a blue bolt of lightning like energy shot out from her hand and enveloped the creature, who screamed from agony as its weight was increased a thousandfold, crushing it before exploding.

            "Sailor Uranus!  Are you okay?" said a concerned Sailor Ebony, her eyes widened at seeing the Planetary's bloodied shoulder.

            "I will be after I've wasted the rest of those stinking monsters!" snarled Sailor Uranus, flexing her injured arm.  Adrenaline boosted her healing powers, as her bleeding had already stopped.  "C'mon!  Let's help the others!"

            On the stage, the Planetaries, Sailor Betelgeuse, Sailor Eos, and Sailor Magneta, all having transformed, stood between the Royals and the two other Infiltrators with the long heads who, curiously enough, hadn't moved from where they stood when their companions died.  No one spoke during the tense standoff.

            "Your move, creeps!" growled Sailor Mars, her fists clenched.  "You're outnumbered seven to two.  Care to try your luck?"

            The creatures grinned evilly.  "Absolutely," one said.

            As the Assault team and the Tactical soldiers moved towards the stage, the creatures opened their mouths impossibly wide and let out an incredibly high pitched scream that had everyone in the ballroom bending over and covering their ears from severe pain.  But the shrieking had a far more devastating effect on the Royals, the Planetaries, and the Senshi, as they all crumpled to the floor from unimaginable agony; they were completely unable to move.

            "Surprise, foolish humans!" snarled one of the monsters while its partner kept shrieking.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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