"LUNAR:  Tales From Crystal Tokyo"

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LUNAR: Tales From Crystal Tokyo

By Daryll Pung

Episode 2-10: Crescendo

Rated: R

Somewhere in the Alpha Zone, 2 January 2738

The SLS Centaur

            Sorcerer Derrelli ducked behind a stack of vacuum-sealed cargo containers, gasping for breath.  The air fairly reeked of ozone; the heat was causing him to sweat profusely, irritating his many small gashes from his adversaries.  Scorch marks were everywhere.

            There were still forty of them in the bay; a massive overlay of firewalls had backed them off for the moment.  While not immune to his magic, they were resistant.  For the first, and possibly last, time in his life, he wished Sailor Geminga were here to add her abilities to the battle.

            What about Sailor Cancri?

            He glanced about; he was running out of time.  He raised his communicator and tried again to access the single, shielded shuttle sitting in the bay.

            Nothing.

            Could I hack into it?

            Probably.  But that required time.  Time he didn't have, as the firewalls died down enough to allow the Slashers to resume stalking him.

            An idea suddenly burst full force into his brain; he grinned fiercely, diving out from behind cover.

            "Flamewave!"

            As the multiple waves of raging fire radiated outward, incinerating a few more of the bastards, he arrived at the outer perimeter of the shuttle's shielding.  He paused, and eyed a spot where one of the cargo containers had been ruptured and was still blazing away.

            While he didn't particularly care for summoning things, he had made it his business to learn one type, as it fit in with his abilities.  Concentrating on that burning container, he used it, as the Slashers moved closer to him.

            "Summon Fire Elemental!" Derrelli shouted with arms extended.

            With a loud, deafening roar, the flames from the container coalesced and abruptly increased in size to a massive bonfire.  Darker eyespots could vaguely be seen in it; the fire elemental moved swiftly towards the nearest Slashers and began incinerating and clubbing them.

            The ones nearest him spun in consternation; he used that time to duck behind the shuttle.

            He whipped out his microcomputer, and began accessing the shuttle's computer.  It stubbornly refused to yield.  He could try several different things; but all were very time consuming.

            "Centaur?" he asked.

            "Yes?" the ship's AI responded, quietly, so only Derrelli could hear.

            "First, how are things going with my elemental?" Derrelli asked briskly.

            "Stalemate.   It's only a matter of time before it is destroyed; but it has all their attention," Centaur responded in a soft, no-nonsense tone.

            "Okay.  I need to get in the shuttle, but the Captain's lockout won't let me without time-consuming hacking.  Now, Sailor Cancri is in there, injured, possibly dying, and she needs help.  Will you help me get in?  You can always just blame it on me," Derrelli said rapidly.

            Centaur paused a picosecond to think before replying.  "Of course.  I can already guess what you're going to do.  However, the shuttlebay doors are broken from the initial recovery of the derelict vessel that these 'Slashers' emerged from."

            "That's okay," grinned Derrelli.  "More than one way to open a door.  Deactivate the shield just long enough for me to get inside.  That's all I'm asking from you."

            "I will do that," Centaur said.  "Hold on just a moment."

            There was a pause, and a shimmer.  Derrelli ducked forward, and turned.  The hum coming from the shuttle increased in volume as the shield went back up.

            "Thanks, Centaur.  One last favor; erect a forcefield at all exit points from this shuttlebay," Derrelli said, kneeling near the rear hatch, leveling his spellcomp.  He paused to dismiss the elemental; he knew it was a bitch to cast the spell again if he allowed it to die.

            Now all attention was again focused on him.  Not that they could do anything about it.  Still, he had no idea of Sailor Cancri's condition...

            "Thompson to Derrelli," his communicator beeped.

            "Go ahead," Derrelli said, half paying attention as he called up the shuttle computer's internal system architecture and code layers on his screen.

            "Sailor Cancri's life signs are weakening.  She's going to die soon if you aren't able to get to her!" the first officer of the Bahumat said.

            "Damn!  Okay.  Listen, things are contained here.  I'm inside the shield arc of the shuttle she's in, but I have to hack in to it.  The shuttlebay is sealed.  Get the rest of the crew recovered, as well as things situated; I'll get her to the Bahumat's sickbay as soon as I can.  We may not talk again until this is all over.  Tell those two with my guns not to lose 'em; I want them back.  No more comms, I've gotta concentrate," Derrelli replied.

            "Good luck.  Out," was all he heard.  That and the shield occasionally hissing from contact as one of the Slashers pressed up against it.  He glanced up, as he felt air move near him.

            One of the Slashers was halfway through the shield, writhing in pain as it swiped at him!  All were pressing against the shield, beginning to come through!

            Oh shit, Derrelli thought as a sudden realization chilled his spine.  It was a trap!  He had fallen for their bait.  All along, they could penetrate force fields and shields!

            He swiftly stood, extending his staff, and clubbed the closest viciously in the skull, killing it.  He then whirled, and redoubled his efforts, the spellcomp's display mocking him, as beads of perspiration dropped onto it.

            Another one almost reached him; again, he clubbed it with his staff, crunching its skull in.  One suddenly got all the way through; it limped towards him.

            Derrelli dropped his spellcomp and stood, recognizing this one.

            "Back for more, eh?" he snarled, raising his hand, aiming at its eye.  "Ember Bolt!"

            The small blast of flame nailed it right in the eye, spinning it.  Derrelli grabbed his staff with both hands, and tripped it up; as it landed, he brought the tip of his staff down upon its chest, cracking it.  Ichor bubbled forth, and he acted on a hunch, thumbing the staff selector switch to a different mode.  Handles popped out, as did a sight, as the end of the staff opened to reveal a blaster assembly.  He aimed at one of the oozing areas, and pulled the trigger.

            The white-hot beam lanced forth, drilling into the wound and suddenly causing the Slasher to scream in mortal agony as its insides were consumed.

            Apparently only the exoskeleton on these things was blasterproof!

            Derrelli set the staff-turned-blaster down, and grabbed the spellcomp.  They had backed off after that scream from one of their own; they seemed to be working on a new strategy.

            Derrelli had no illusions about the effectiveness of that strategy, or how much time it would be before they came again.

            He hated racing the fucking clock.  And this stubborn computer...

            He blinked, and grinned.  Bypassing the Captain's lockout was as very difficult; but shuttle computers were nowhere near as sophisticated as AIs.  He could simply remove from the shuttle's memory that the lockout had ever been in place!

            He worked swiftly now, as a group of the Slashers broke off and headed for the main doors of the shuttlebay; they were sealed, but that many wouldn't take too long to hack through it.  The coding, while challenging, was not impossible, not to him.

            He let out a triumphant shout as the hatch hissed open; he grabbed his staff-blaster and ducked inside, and palmed the hatch shut as the unoccupied Slashers bum-rushed the shield.

            He turned.  A badly cut up, and unconscious, Sailor Cancri was lying in a puddle of her own blood, her pretty features distorted by her injuries.

            Shit.

            He stepped over her, and sat in the pilot's position.  While he wasn't an expert pilot, he knew enough to operate the thing, and he had to hurry.  They were almost through the main doors, and screeches told him they were assaulting the shuttle.

            Well, he could handle that.  He brought the shuttle's engines to full readiness.  With a slight smile, he engaged the engines, blasting the Slashers near him away.  He glanced at his status; the pinpoint blasters were armed.

            He ignored the instinct to fire at those by the main door, and instead turned the nose towards the shuttlebay doors.

            He depressed the fire panel, and held it.  A pair of continuous streams of blaster energy ate into the doors; they began to glow red as alarms hooted and let him know that his blasters were overheating.

            When they shut off, cut out by the safety interlocks, he opened the throttle wide.  The shuttle hurtled forward against the red-hot doors, ramming them-

            -And smashed right through with a bone-jarring thud.  Alarms blared, and systems flashed on and off, as the shuttle screamed its protest. 

            The shuttle tumbled a bit before Derrelli was able to regain control.  He turned around to see Slashers being sucked out of the hole he had created, followed by everything not bolted down.  He let out a victory whoop.

            Derrelli aimed the nose of the shuttle towards the Bahumat.  "Centaur, status of Slashers?" he asked as he swooped away from the cruiser.

            "All vented to space.  There are no further enemies on this ship," the cruiser's AI replied, a cheerful overtone to its voice.

            "Excellent," Derrelli grinned.  "Derrelli to Bahumat; enroute yours in a damaged shuttle, one medical emergency aboard.  All enemies destroyed."

            "Copy, med teams will be in shuttlebay one, awaiting your arrival.  Keep us informed!" came the reply.

            "Will do," Derrelli said as he settled down to the business of piloting the damaged shuttle.  His shoulders sagged as the adrenaline levels in his body began to subside, making him conscious of fatigue.  He belatedly realized he had used all his spells, and the multitude of cuts and injuries stung like hell.

            He was glad as he felt the lurch of the tractor beam locking on and drawing him in.

            It was now out of his hands; it was over.  He looked forward to a very long nap and big meal, in that order.

            "Chalk another one up to the good guys," he whispered.

Crystal Palace in Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 10 January 2738

            "And?" Neo-Queen Serenity I asked, eyeing Sailor Neptune.

            "The SLS Centaur, crewed by the remaining crew of the cruiser, with heavy AI assistance, is on its way home.  It entered GM space yesterday, and should be home within the next week; escorts are enroute.  Repairs are proceeding.  Sailor Cancri is now conscious; she's in serious, but stable, condition," Sailor Neptune reported.  "May I suggest commendations for the boarding party from the Bahumat?"

            "You may," Serenity nodded with a smile.  "They did an excellent job under adverse, and quite frankly terrifying, conditions.  Sorcerer Derrelli did a simply outstanding job.  And now...  Amy?"

            Sailor Mercury cleared her throat.  "We've received the initial scans and studies the Bahumat sent ahead.  They said that the Centaur has five corpses of these things, kept in stasis, and they also have an additional two just in case, so that we may analyze them better.  However...  Do you remember what the lead Infiltrator in the Christmas incidents said?  About a new threat that was larger, more ruthless and far more dangerous?  I believe these 'Slashers' are what they were referring to.  The initial reports are simply awful.  They seem to be immune to blaster fire, and are armed with massive claws and bladed arms.  They are extremely strong and quick; they are resistant to magical effects, and can pass through shields and force fields.  In short, we currently have no effective way to stop them, and if a massive army of these things lands somewhere in the GM..."

            As Sailor Mercury's voice trailed off, Sailor Uranus frowned.  "What are we doing about it?"

            Sailor Mercury sighed.  "Until we have those corpses, there isn't much of anything we can do."

            "The circle continues," murmured Serenity.  "Every time we become successful at defeating them, they change their tactics, rendering our counters useless.  We have superior technology; they have superior numbers."

            "It isn't that bad, Serenity," Sailor Mercury said, shaking off the sense of dejection that had fallen over her.  "The time it takes for us to adapt is getting shorter and shorter; and if they're resorting back to overt threats like these Slashers, they've got to be getting desperate."

            "You know, the Bahumat is now approaching the most dangerous patch of the Alpha Zone; the place where DK presence is the strongest," Sailor Neptune said.  "And we still don't know what possible threat they may pose, due to the information they stole."

            "Advise them to be on their toes," Serenity nodded.  "Now, on to the recent outbreak of violence along the Zerm border.  And what's this about the Holy Droylian Empire, attacking one of our destroyers?"

            Several floors below the conference room, Hoshiko Akemi leaned on a railing, inhaling the sweet scent of Lunar air.  Her mind was hundreds of light years away.

            She and the others involved with the Avalon incident had been thoroughly debriefed.  All injuries were healed.  And Archmage Torym had dropped off the face of the galaxy.  They were being kept close for a little while longer, just in case.

            Her mind wandered to the Bahumat, and she found herself thinking about Derrelli.  She saw his laughing expression in her mind, and a small smile appeared on her face.  She hoped he would be all right; she did want to see him again and get to know him a little better.

            "A credit for your thoughts?" came a quiet voice.

            Hoshi spun, surprised; she relaxed upon seeing a tanned blonde, holding a duffel.  The blonde's blue eyes appraised her eyes, and a smile appeared.  The blonde was in a white t-shirt, and shorts; unusual, since she was rarely seen outside of her Sailor uniform.

            "Sailor Venus?" asked Hoshi.  "I'm sorry, you startled me.  And isn't it supposed to be 'a penny for your thoughts'?"

            "Whatever," Sailor Venus chuckled.  "Doesn't surprise me I startled you; your mind is preoccupied, and you have that look in your eyes."  She set her duffel down.

            "Look?" asked Hoshi blankly.

            "Yeah.  You're in love," Sailor Venus smiled.

            "What!  That's crazy!" Hoshi immediately replied; even as she said it, she knew Sailor Venus was right.

            "Uh huh," Sailor Venus said.  "Sure it is.  Trust me, I know, okay?  I am the Senshi of Love, after all.  Who's the lucky person?"

            "Uh," Hoshi trailed off, her cheeks coloring.  She decided to try a different tack.  "Doesn't matter.  How was your vacation?"

            "Good, just what I needed," Sailor Venus replied, an amused look on her face.  "Let me reconnect with reality, and realize what really mattered.  Nice dodge.  So, who is it?"

            Hoshi sighed.  "Derrelli," she murmured.

            Sailor Venus nodded.  "You could do worse than him.  I wonder if he feels the same way for you?"

            Hoshi grimaced.  "Doubt it.  Probably doesn't even know I exist.  We only met briefly."

            "That's no reason not to explore those feelings," Sailor Venus pointed out.  "Last I knew, he had no particular interest in anyone.  Leaves it wide open for you.  At the very least, you'll know how he feels.  And this is a new thing for you, too, isn't it?  I don't recall you ever really being with anyone before."

            "No, I haven't been with anyone previously," admitted Hoshi.  "They could never get over my tomboyish habits.  And I can't stop thinking about him, now that I have nothing else to occupy my attention.  I keep seeing him in my dreams, too."

            "Ooh, you've got it bad," grinned Sailor Venus.  "Keep pining for him, Hoshiko Akemi.  Love can do some strange and wonderful things.  The first chance you get, let him know."

            Hoshi nodded as Sailor Venus walked briskly away.  She wondered how Derrelli would react.  She also wondered what he was doing at that particular moment.

Somewhere in the Alpha Zone, 10 January 2738

The SLS Bahumat

            The doors hissed open, allowing two sweat-soaked figures to step out, carrying staves.  One bore a bruise on his upper arm, while the other was rubbing his head.

            "You're getting better, man," chuckled Derrelli.  "You clonked me good."

            Wizard Duke grinned.  "Yeah, well, this bruise isn't going away anytime soon.  Nice trick, by the way."

            "I do try," Derrelli returned.  "How's the new spell research coming?"

            "Slowly," Duke replied.  "I'm not quite as quick with magic as you are."

            "Very few are," Derrelli admitted.  "But I will help as much as I can."

            Duke glanced at his wrist chrono.  "Yeah, well, it'll have to wait.  Both of us go on duty in forty minutes."

            "Just enough time for a bite and a shower," Derrelli concluded.  "See ya on the bridge; I've got a few things to work on up there."

            "Gotcha," Duke nodded.  "See ya up there."

            Forty minutes later, Derrelli stepped on the bridge.  He enjoyed taking this shift sometimes; he shared it with Duke and Shelia.  No Sailor Geminga to torture them.

            "Hey," Shelia nodded.  "Finally decide to grace us with your presence, huh?"

            "Yes, ma'am," chuckled Derrelli.  "I know just how much you people hate it when I'm not around."

            There was a choking sound from the general direction of the helm console, and it appeared that Duke was bent over it, his face contorted as he struggled to breathe.

            "You all right, Duke?" Shelia asked, a smile on her face.  "Or did Derrelli's ego choke you out again?"

            Duke looked up, trying to contain his mirth.

            It died suddenly as a loud beeping came from the science stations at the back of the bridge.

            "Report!" Shelia barked.

            "A large structure, DK in origin, is just at the edge of our sensor range," science replied.

            "Oh, just fucking great," muttered Derrelli under his breath.  "No rest for the fucking weary."

            "Is that all you've got?" asked Shelia, shooting a look in Derrelli's direction.

            "Trying to get more details now, ma'am; but from early data..." the science officer swallowed as she trailed off, glancing up with a very worried expression in her dark eyes.

            "It matches those readings from the Atlantis system," she stated quietly.

            Derrelli froze.

            "What?" he whispered, images and feelings blasting through his mind.

            "Shit!" cursed Shelia.  "Neo, Red Alert!  Captain to the bridge!"

            The lights dimmed to red as sirens blared.

            "Red Alert, Red Alert," Neo intoned throughout the mighty battleship.  "Sailor Geminga to the bridge."

            Sailor Geminga was on the bridge forty seconds later, a sleepy look being rubbed out of her eyes.  She had been jolted awake, and promptly transformed.

            "What do we have?" she snapped.

            "A Gate," Derrelli responded morosely, before anyone else could.  "Just like at Atlantis."

            "WHAT!" Sailor Geminga said, whirling.

            "It does not yet appear to be operational," science said.  "It seems like it is still under construction."

            Sailor Geminga relaxed slightly.  "Oh.  Nothing to really worry about, then."

            "I don't know that I'd say that, Captain," said the science officer stiffly.

            "Why?" Sailor Geminga demanded.

            "Incoming ships, Captain," tactical replied calmly.  "A small DK task force, led by seven battleships.  It contains eleven cruisers, and seventeen destroyers.  There is also one other ship hanging in close to the Gate, type unknown."

            Sailor Geminga scowled.  "Nothing we can't handle," she said grimly.  "Comm, contact RSN HQ; inform them of our discovery.  Keep a continuous link open, so that everything we know goes straight to them."

            "You got it, ma'am," comm replied, turning to his console, and working rapidly.

            "Status?" Sailor Geminga asked.

            "Weapons charging; death rays in two minutes, torps in thirty seconds, blasters ready, TPA in fifty seconds.  Shields are up, all layers.  Enemies closing fast; in weapons range in three minutes," tactical relayed rapidly.

            "Fleet HQ advised, ma'am," reported comm.

Crystal Palace in Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 10 January 2738

            Hoshi was again lost in her reverie, when Sailors Eos and Astraea racing by abruptly snapped it.

            "Come on, Hoshi!" snapped Sailor Eos.  "We were hanging around HQ, and we just got a disturbing report from the Bahumat!  No one could get through to Serenity, so we're hand relaying the message!"

            Hoshi blinked, and took off after them.  They outdistanced her, and she stopped, calling to hand her transformation wand.

            "SINGULARITY OF CYGNI, ACTIVATE!"

            After the effect from her transformation faded, she stepped to the balcony edge.  She knew Sailors Eos and Astraea were going up to the briefing room; she also knew it was about ten floors above her head.  She mentally triggered her Anti-gravity ability; she rose up to the level of the briefing room, and landed in the outside passage as the lift doors hissed open at the end of the hall.

            Sailor Eos and Sailor Astraea spared her a glance, and then all three raced to the briefing room.

            The startled Sorcerer guards blinked at seeing them; one consulted his communicator.  He looked up.

            "You can go right in," he said.  "They're anxious to know why the three of you are in such a hurry."  So was he, his tone said; but he knew better than to question them.

            The trio stepped in the room; all of the Royals and Planetaries were present, along with the three cat advisors.

            "What is the problem?" asked Serenity quietly.

            "Your Majesty," Sailor Eos breathed.  "The comms here weren't being answered, so we had to come over and hand deliver a report just received from the Bahumat."

            "Yes, we deactivated the comms after the briefing was over.  We do get so little time for all of us to sit and chat, you know; and Sailor Venus was telling us of her vacation.  What is so crucial?" Serenity wanted to know.

            "The Bahumat is engaging a small DK task force in the middle of the Alpha Zone, Your Highness," Sailor Astraea said in a rush.  She briefly elaborated on the size of the force.

            "Nothing they can't handle," Sailor Neptune put in.  "Important, but no pressing need to interrupt us..."

            "There's more, isn't there?" Sailor Cygni asked Sailor Astraea, who was visibly nervous.  Sailor Astraea's blonde pigtails bobbed as she nodded.

            "Y-yes.  There is an additional ship, DK, but of an unknown type or ability; they think it's something new.  And the task force was guarding something," Sailor Astraea managed; flustered by the looks they were receiving from the Planetaries and Royals.

            "What is it?" King Endymion asked quietly.

            The reply chilled them all.

            "A Gate," Sailor Eos reported softly.  "Identical to the one we vanquished in the Atlantis system, albeit still under construction."

            Sailor Cygni's eyes widened; she had read all the reports, and knew what a desperate situation that had been.  Still...

            "Sorcerer Derrelli's there," she said quietly.  "He has in-depth knowledge on how to destroy the thing."

            "True," Sailor Mercury admitted.  "But this is a scary development.  That is the last place this sort of thing needs to happen right now.  That whole sector is already unstable, and about to blow up on us."

            "Send a reply:  destroy the Gate at all costs," Serenity ordered.

            "The stability of the entire quadrant now depends on the actions of the only battleship currently in the region, then," Sailor Saturn murmured.

            "The SLS Bahumat," agreed Sailor Mars.  "I hope they come through."

            Me, too, thought Sailor Cygni.  She could tell she wasn't the only one thinking that, either.

            Me, too.

STAY TUNED!

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