Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at treetop@voicenet.com. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. All references to Vulcan are the province of Gene Roddenberry and Paramount Studios. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.

Across The Millennia
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Part Eight: School Of Hard Knocks
Rating: PG-13

The darkness abruptly ended when Talia terminated the mind meld with Luna and everyone emerged from the collective trance they were in.

Two hours had passed and the sun had set as the group relived T'alya's experience on the Moon prior to the violent end of the Silver Millennium, yet it felt like an eternity to the girls, the familiars and Darien. The memories of the disaster that befell the Moon Kingdom, the horror of the attack by Queen Beryl and her forces haunted all of them terribly. Equally as heartwrenching was the tremendous sacrifice of Queen Serenity to defeat the evil and give Serena and her loved ones the gift of a second chance at life in the future on Earth.

The great pain of the memories overcame the girls and they began crying, even Darien was in tears as he comforted Serena. However, Talia's face had hardened into a cold, iron mask. Without saying a word. Talia stood up, turned her back on everyone and left Raye's bedroom. Once outside, Talia began walking, not caring where she went. While the memories of that hellish day had affected her just as much as it had the others, Talia refused to give in to her sorrow. She felt her Vulcan heritage asserting itself, turning her insides to ice, transforming her heart into a hard, frozen lump.

Talia stopped before a clearing and looked out into the distance in the slowly fading daylight. Much as she would prefer not to, Talia couldn't help but think about her failure to protect Serena from the dark forces that ruthlessly took her life. Talia had been aware of those memories ever since her mind link with Serena was reestablished this morning, and the guilt she felt tormented her. Talia fought to control her emotions, lest she went insane from grief.

So caught up was Talia in her thoughts that she barely noticed a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist and a warm body press against hers from behind. Without turning around, Talia instantly knew who it was.

"I am not fit to be in your company, Serena. You should no longer associate with me," Talia said in a low voice.

Serena's response was to hug Talia tighter. "I'd sooner cut off my right arm than do that."

Talia lowered her head, fighting to stay in control. "Serena, I failed you. Because I was not strong enough, my incompetence cost you your life."

Serena sighed, then gently spun Talia around so she could look at her friend. Serena was not surprised to see tears rolling down Talia's cheeks. She gently wiped them away. "Stop blaming yourself, Tal. It wasn't your fault. There was nothing you, or anyone could've done to prevent what happened."

"That still does not ease the guilt I feel. I was not there in your hour of need. I felt the horror in your mind, the monstrous pain that ravaged your body as you died," said Talia, her voice filled with anguish. "At the moment your life ended, the psychic link between us was severed. When that happened, I was destroyed by grief. Never had I felt so terribly, so completely alone."

"So that's why you....why you...."

"Commited suicide? Yes. Despite how irrational the act was, your death had....broken my heart. I simply could not bear to live without you."

"And now you want me to walk away? To leave you? Like hell I will!" Serena snapped. She clasped Talia's shoulders and stared deeply into her eyes. "Don't you understand? I've loved you from the moment we first met on the Moon! I need you! Just like I need Darien, Raye and the rest! You're part of my life, Talia Kirk! And I'm never going to lose you again! Is that clear?"

Talia felt the tremendous power of Serena's emotions warming her heart. With a smile spreading across her face, Talia embraced Serena, remebering why she loved her with every fiber of her being. "Absolutely. If you wish to continue associating with an imperfect creature such as myself, then I will stay."

Serena, estatic, giggled and returned Talia's hug. "Goody! I knew you'd see things my way. C'mon, let's go back."

When Serena and Talia returned to the temple, they found the others waiting patiently outside the main hall. They all smiled from relief at seeing the girls holding hands.

"It's about time you got back. You weren't thinking of skipping out on us, were you, Kirk?" a smirking Lita asked.

"The notion had crossed my mind. However, I was convinced of how illogical such an action would have been," Talia replied, back to her deadpan demeanor. "For better, or for worse, I am afraid you are....stuck with me."

"Hey, no prob, girl," said Raye, a loving smile on her lips. She walked up to Talia and hugged her. "I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say I'm glad you're back in our lives, Tal. Especially me after you helped save mine. Besides, after all this time spent putting up with meatball head here, we can handle anything!"

The girls giggled while Talia, cocking an eyebrow looked confused and Serena glared lasers at Raye.

"You're a real pain in the butt, Hino!" Serena hissed.

"Takes one to know one, darling!" Raye shot back gleefully.

"As much as I hate to break up this mutual admiration society, we've got more important matters to deal with," said a grim faced Darien.

Talia nodded. "The elementals. I quite agree. It is safe to assume that we will face the creatures again, and soon. There is no doubt in my mind that they will not cease until they have completed their mission."

Serena gulped, suddenly afraid. "To kill me."

"Relax, Serena. We've got your back," said a smugly grinning Mina, putting a hand on Serena's shoulder. "After that little flashback, we know how to beat those freaks. Let 'em come!"

"Don't be so overconfident, Mina" Amy said, her voice tinged with admonishment. "It would be extremely foolish to think we can defeat those monsters the same way twice."

"Amy is correct. Random chance operated in our favor the first time we fought the creatures, but just barely," Talia added. "It stands to reason their leader will see to it that his charges do not repeat the mistakes that cost them so dearly the first time."

"Whoever their leader is. We still don't know who that could be," said a frowning Lita.

"On the contrary, Lita. The identity of the elementals' leader is an easy mystery to solve," Talia countered. "Only one man could be the mastermind behind this attack. The same man whom we confronted on the Moon a thousand years ago....Administrator Stefan."

Everyone gasped from surprise. They hadn't anticipated that.

"Stefan? But that's impossible! He was killed during the attack on the Moon Kingdom!" Luna said.

"So too were Queen Beryl, the four Generals, and all the other miscreants from her realm," the Vulcan girl pointed out. "When Queen Serenity used the Imperium Silver Crystal to return us to life, she also had to ressurect our enemies as well since it was not particular as to whom it brought back from the dead. Therefore, it is logical to assume that Stefan is our true adversary since he is employing the same cretins from the kidnapping plot."

"This doesn't make sense! The Moon Kingdom's history! Why is Stefan still after Serena?" Artemis wanted to know.

"The oldest motivation known to man. Revenge," said Talia. "My speculation is that Stefan somehow became aware that the Moon Princess is alive. After all, he is a telepath. Serena's existence is a painful reminder of his defeat a millennia ago. A defeat Serena helped to bring about."

"Makes sense to me. So what's the next move?" Raye asked.

"We can't do much until those monsters surface. Just like before, Stefan's letting those goons do his dirty work," said Darien. "We'll have to go through them before we can get to that madman. I'm afraid we've got no choice but to play Mohammed and wait for the mountain to come to us."

Darien's words chilled Serena. "I just hope we don't get buried."

With no other option open to them, the girls and Darien decided to resume their normal lives. And, much to Serena's chagrin, that meant going to school the next morning.

Serena, too worried to sleep last night feigned an illness as an excuse to stay home, but her mother who's seen her daughter's ploys to avoid school would have none of that and all but threw her out of the house where her friends patiently waited. Even though Amy, Lita and Talia walked with Serena to school on a particularly windy day, she didn't feel safe, fearful that Stefan's creatures might be lurking around the next corner, waiting to attack.

By the time Serena arrived at school and was still alive, she started to relax and returned to her old cheerful, though clumsy self as she tripped on the front steps, hit her head on the door of her locker and knocked over a cart full of books, earning her a severe tongue lashing from the angry librarian. Talia was shocked that this walking calamity was once an elegant and graceful princess. Amy and Lita merely shrugged, saying that was just 'Serena being Serena'.

When Amy and Lita parted to go to their classes, Talia stayed with Serena who was whistling a happy tune.

"Your mood has improved considerably since we left your house, Serena," Talia observed. "That is a good thing to see."

"Yeah. It was stupid to worry. I mean, I've got you and the others watching out for me," said Serena, a bounce in her step. "By the way, Tal, how good are you at stretching the truth?"

Talia was shocked. "Do you mean lying? Serena, I am a Vulcan. It is impossible for me to tell nothing but the truth. Why do you ask?"

"Well, some of the kids may be pissed with you because they thought you abandoned me after I fainted yesterday," Serena replied. "It might help to have an alibi to explain what happened. And I don't think the story about a thousand year old mind link will work. They'll think you're even nuttier than I am."

Talia frowned. After all the time she spent last night and this morning mulling over strategies to combat the elemental creatures, the notion of dealing with far more mundane matters like irate students was not something that factored into her thinking.

"I see your point. However, since I am bereft of anything even remotely resembling an imagination, perhaps you should concoct a suitable fabrication to mollify your friends."

Serena giggled and gave Talia a thumbs up sign. "Relax, partner. I've got you covered. Leave everything to me."

For some unknown reason, that didn't put Talia's mind at ease.

"Oh, wow! A panic attack? I had no idea!" cried a shocked Molly, staring wide eyed at Talia in the hallway between classes.

Talia, as per Serena's instructions feigned a look of deep remorse. The nervousness she felt was all too real as she had never been party to a lie before. "Er, yes. The sight of people being hurt has an extremely....debilitating psychological effect on me. The origins of my affliction are unknown and is something I do not enjoy talking about."

Molly, feeling genuinely sorry for Talia squeezed her arm. "You poor girl. I feel so bad for you. I can imagine the sight of Serena fainting yesterday must've made you freak."

Talia gulped. Understanding modern slang wasn't one of her strong suits either. "Um, yes. You could say that, Molly. That was why I fled."

"Yeah, it was a bad scene," said Serena, pleased that the ruse she dreamed up during History class was working. "Tal came to my house last night after getting my address from Amy and told me the whole story. We then spent a few hours shooting the breeze and became pals."

Molly smiled warmly at Talia and clasped her hand. Talia felt Molly's deep kindness and it warmed her heart. "That's cool. I'm so glad you and Sere are buddies. Any friend of hers is a friend of mine. I mean that, Tal."

Talia placed her hand on Molly's. "Thank you, Molly. I appreciate that."

"And are you okay now?" a curious Melvin asked Talia.

"Yes, I am much better now. Thank you for your concern," the Vulcan girl replied. To bolster her words, she gave Melvin and Molly a smile.

"You're welcome, Tal. I'm just glad this mess was all straightened out before you ran into Lita," said Molly, a look of sincere relief on her face. "She was so mad yesterday it was scary. I was really worried she would twist you into a pretzel. Lita's no one to fool with in a fight."

Talia remembered her confrontation with Lita in the park and how the auburn girl's strength had taken her by surprise. She felt a great swell of pity for any normal person foolish enough to provoke Lita into violence. "I know."

"So, do you enjoy chess?" Melvin asked, changing the subject. "You look like a really intelligent type who's into the game."

"I play regularly, usually the tri-level variety," Talia replied. She found the bespecled Melvin curiously entertaining. "I was the city school champion back home in San Fransisco last year."

Melvin's eyes lit up from awe. "Tri-level chess? Wow! No one I know plays that! Not even Amy, and she's Crossroads' chess champ! I think you're awesome, Talia! Would you play with me one day?"

"Get a life, Melvin! I'm sure Tal has better things to do with her time than waste it with a nimrod like you!" Molly snorted.

"On the contrary, Molly. I would welcome the chance to play. Chess is a wonderful means of exercising and stimulating the mind. And I imagine Melvin would make for a worthy opponent," said Talia.

Melvin sighed, staring at Talia with open affection. "I think I'm in love."

Molly and Serena rolled their eyes and groaned. The bell then rang.

"Almost time for more drudgery," said Molly as she strolled off, Melvin following close behind. "'Bye, Sere! 'Bye, Tal! See you guys at lunch!"

"Save us some seats!" Serena called back, waving to Molly.

"What an intruiging pair," Talia commented. "I could learn to enjoy their company. You have excellent taste in friends, Serena."

Serena smiled as she and Talia walked down the hall. "Thanks. It's a gift. Molly's like a sister to me. We've been best buds ever since first grade. She's really fond of you, I can tell. As for Melvin? Well, he's, er....Melvin. He'll grow on you in time. Whether you want him to or not."

"Do they know that you are Sailor Moon?"

"Nope. Not even my parents know. And I mean to keep it that way."

"Might I ask why?"

"Rule number one of the superhero game: never let your family or friends know you run around in spandex, or, in our case, sailor suits," said Serena, sounding professorial. "That makes them easy targets for all the bad guys you fight should they learn your secret identity. I'd rather die than put the people I love at risk. That's why I've kept them in the dark about me."

"I see. And is your clumsiness part of the deception?"

That question made Serena blush from embarrassment. "Er, well, that, um, kinda comes naturally. I guess I must've lost my princess genes when I was resurrected. You should see the trouble I get into during gym class."

"How is that you are able to maintain a normal existence, considering the dangers you often face?"

"Well, it's not easy, believe me. It's pretty hard being a normal kid when you have to fight monsters all the time," said Serena with a pout. "The others, especially Raye and Lita get off on that stuff. I don't. Scares me to death. I'll let you in on a little secret, Tal. I hate being Sailor Moon. I never wanted to be the Champion of Justice, and I'd give it up in a New York minute if I could. Guess that goes back to my days on the Moon when I was a major wuss."

Talia frowned slightly, thoughts of the distant past entering her mind. "The Moon. Does it bother you to know that you have lived before? I am still attempting to come to grips with the knowledge that I died and was reborn. Not counting biblical references, such a feat should be impossible."

Serena sighed. "Tell me about it. I'm not into religion like Raye, but maybe it was a miracle or something. All I care about is that we're all together again. Tal, I'm so happy that you're back in my life."

Even though Talia wasn't the impulsive type, Serena's words sparked strong emotions in her, namely, joy. With a nod, the Vulcan girl took Serena's hand in hers and squeezed it. "The feeling is mutual, Serena. Although it will eventually make my having to leave all the more difficult."

Serena gasped, feeling her heart skip a beat. "Leave? What do you mean, leave? What are you talking about?"

Before Talia could respond, the school suddenly shook for several terrifying seconds, breaking windows and knocking everyone off their feet, accompanied by the shouts and cries of badly frightened students and teachers, most of them fearing the building was about to collapse. When the rumbling ceased, all was quiet, no one spoke, not knowing what would happen next.

"What was that? An earthquake?" a worried Serena asked.

"It would so seem. This region is rather susceptible to seismic activity," answered Talia, helping Serena to her feet. But the Vulcan girl frowned. The situation felt wrong to her. Just as she was about to tell Serena of her suspicions, screams filled the air as hordes of terrified kids came running right at them from around a corner.

Talia managed to stop one student and pinioned her with a harsh glare. "What are you fleeing from?"

"Monsters! Monsters coming this way!" the girl cried, her eyes wide from fright. "Lemme go!"

The feeling of dread Talia had as the girl pulled out of her grip increased tenfold. Pushing her way through the crowd, she reached the corner and carefully peered around it. What she saw brought a scowl to her face. Fifty feet down the hall and headed her way were Inferno and Cyclone.

"Tal? What's wrong?" asked Serena.

"In a word, everything. Inferno and Cyclone are here."

Serena gasped. "Oh, God! No! How'd they find me?"

Talia had no answer at first. Then she stared hard at Serena and her scowl deepened. "Of course. I should have anticipated this."

"Anticipated what?"

"You were wearing your uniform when the creatures attacked us yesterday. They must have remembered it's design, then reconnoitered every school in the city until they found female students dressed similarly to you. It would appear that Darien's prediction was disturbingly accurate. The mountain has indeed come to us. But not in a way I would have found suitable."

"What do we do?"

Talia, acting fast, grabbed Serena by the hand and pulled down the hall, following all the other fleeing kids. "Come. We need to get outside and transform. Then we must alert the others."

As the girls neared a fire escape door, they saw dozens of panicky kids nervously milling around it, among them, Melvin and Molly.

"Why's everyone still inside?" Serena wanted to know.

"The doors! They won't open!" Molly cried.

"And I know why! I've looked outside! There's a huge wall of earth two stories high blocking the doors and windows!" Melvin added. "I think it's ringing the entire building!"

Serena and Talia glanced at each other. They clasped hands to establish their telepathic link.

The tremors! Do you think 'Rocky' caused them, Serena silently asked.

Talia nodded slightly. Yes. This is definitely the work of Stonecutter. As the earth elemental, he must have the ability to alter and reshape rock and soil at his whim. An ability he did not demonstrate while on the Moon.

That means we're trapped! What now?

Our strategy has not changed. We will still have to confront the creatures. However, I hoped to draw them outside to prevent innocents from coming to harm. That option appears closed to us now.

Tal, I....I'm scared!

Talia responded by squeezing Serena's hand tightly. Have courage, Serena. I will protect you. Even at the cost of my own life if neccesary. As a Vulcan, you have my word on that.

Just then, the school's P.A. system came on with an ear piercing squelch, then a watery sounding voice boomed from the speakers. "Hiya, kiddies! My name's Torrent. My buddies and I are looking for one of your friends, Serena Tsukino. She's not hard to miss, blond, buns on her head and pigtails for days. Give her up to us and we won't hurt anyone. Screw us around and we'll raze this dump to the ground. That's no threat, gang, that's a promise!"

The silence that suddenly gripped the hall was stifling as the throng of kids fixed curious and frightened eyes on Serena who was just as scared as they were, if not moreso. She felt as if she were under a microscope. Talia, sensing the situation quickly deteriorating let her iron control slip momentarily and vented her mounting frustration in a decidedly un-Vulcan like way.

"Shit!" She grabbed Serena by her wrist and pulled her along. "Let's go!"

Melvin and Molly, as well as everyone else were stunned and confused to see Talia and Serena run off, pushing past hordes of kids.

"Serena! Talia! Wait! Where are you going?" Molly cried, but she got no answer from the feeling pair.

Serena was close to falling apart as Talia, spying the open door to a classroom, pulled Serena inside and shut the door behind them. Talia turned off the lights and the girls hunkered down in the back of the room while shouts and cries and screams reigned outside. While Serena whimpered pitifully, Talia activated her communicator. "Amy. Lita. Come in, please."

Amy's face, lined from worry appeared on the communicator's tiny screen. "Amy here! Is Serena with you? Are you all right?"

"Yes to both questions. We are secreted in an empty classroom. I take it you and Lita heard Torrent over the public address system?"

Lita's scowling face next appeared on the screen. "Loud and clear. We also saw Stonecutter throwing up that wall outside. Damndest thing I've ever seen. I think he's still out there."

Talia frowned. "Which means he is acting as the group's rear guard. Transform if you can and engage the creatures. Serena and I will join you. We have to stop this madness before the students come under direct attack."

"Understood. Out!"

Talia then switched frequences and spoke into the communicator. "Raye. Mina. This is Kirk. We have a problem. The elementals have invaded our school."

Raye's face was first to appear on the viewscreen, her eyes wide from horror. "What? How? Are you guys okay?"

"At present, but that could change at any moment. The situation is dire. The creatures have blocked the exits, trapping everyone inside and have threatened to harm the students if Serena does not surrender to them. We are going to need assistance, and quickly. But exercise extreme caution upon arrival. We suspect Stonecutter is outside the building."

"Roger that! I'm on my way!"

Raye's face was then replaced by Mina's. "Hang tight, guys! I'm coming!" she said.

After turning off her communicator, Talia looked Serena in the eye and gently placed a hand on her arm. "You see? Help will soon arrive. There is no need to be afraid, Serena. Not while I am with you. But for now, it is time for us to transform and go to work."

No sooner did Talia say those words when she and Serena heard screams and gasping noises from outside, following by squelching from the P.A. system.

"Hey, Serena! Did you hear that? Cyclone just knocked out everyone on the first floor with her air sucking trick," came the voice of Torrent. "I know you're in here somewhere! If you don't show your face in the next five minutes, I'll have Inferno bum everyone to ashes!"

"Oh, no! Molly! Melvin!" cried a hysterical Serena, bolting for the door, but Talia stopped her. "Let me go! Molly's out there! I have to help her!"

"No! You cannot! That is what they want you to do!"

"I don't care! MOLLY!" cried Serena, squirming wildly in Talia's grip.

Talia tightened her grip on Serena's shoulders and slammed her against the wall. "Control yourself, Serena! Now! Reacting impulsively without a firm plan of action will result in disaster! Do you comprehend?"

Serena, properly chastised, nodded. "Yeah, I do. Sorry about that, Tal. I kinda lose it at times and act like a real child." She then dropped her head, red faced from shame. "It's just so hard for me to be brave like you and the others. Some superhero I am. You must think I'm a complete fool."

Talia gently lifted Serena's chin and gave her a little smile. "Certainly not. I would never think ill of someone I love as deeply as you, Serena. You are my best friend. You are my world." Her smile then vanished. "We still have a serious problem to contend with. However, I believe I have arrived at a solution to resolve this conflict before it blossoms into a catastrophe."

"How?" a worried Serena asked.

Talia's face hardened into a stone mask as an idea came to mind. "By giving the creatures exactly what they want."

"Give them what?"

"You." Before a puzzled Serena could respond, Talia placed the fingers of her right hand on Serena's shoulder near her neck and pressed tightly. With a gasp, Serena's eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped into unconsciousness. Cradling Serena in her arms like a mother would her child, Talia felt remorseful for having hurt her friend.

Forcing her mind back on business, Talia gently placed Serena on the floor, then rummaged through the pockets of her skirt until she found what she sought. Pulling out the object, Talia studied it carefully, then nodded, deciding it would suit her needs. She bent down and kissed Serena on her forehead.

"Please, forgive me, Serena," she whispered. Standing up, Talia smoothed her skirt, then prepared to do what had to be done in order to save lives.

The sight that greeted Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus when they arrived at Crossroads was surreal to the point of unbelievable.

A huge wall of rock and dirt, more than twenty feet high ringed the first two floors of the school while a deep trench surrounded the makeshift wall. A phalanx of police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and TV news trucks were lined up in front of the school's main entrance while hundreds of spectators crowded up against hastily erected barriers to keep them as far away from the grim and highly chaotic scene as possible. And, literally towering over everything and everyone, attracting the attention of three dozen policemen with drawn weapons was the ominous and menacing visage of Stonecutter, silent and unmoving as he glowered at the assemblage.

"Oh, my God," a wide eyed Venus whispered.

"You can say that again," growled Mars. "Talk about a Chinese fire drill." She then activated her communicator. "Come in, guys, Mars here. Venus and I just arrived, and the situation out here is mondo bad. Stonecutter and the police are in a major staredown with news crews and scores of gawkers only a few yards away. We've got a powderkeg on our hands, and the minute some trigger happy cop loses his patience, it'll blow sky high."

"Mars, this is Kirk," came back Talia's perfectly calm voice. "I am on the first floor with Serena. I anticipated something like that happening and have already altered our strategy. You and Venus are do whatever you can to prevent Stonecutter from harming the civilians."

"What about you and the others?" a worried Venus asked.

"I will deal with the creatures inside. You and Mars are needed where you are as the police will not be able to combat the earth monster without help."

"No way!" cried Mars. "What about Serena?"

"I am sorry, Mars, but this must take precedence," said Talia. "My people have a saying that is deeply rooted the longstanding tenets of Vulcan logic: 'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one.' Right now, your responsibility is to the many."

Mars gritted her teeth from frustration, knowing deep down that Talia was right. That didn't stop her from hating that knowledge with a passion. "Nothing personal, Kirk, but Vulcan logic sucks all to hell."

"Perhaps. Be that as it may, your place is outside to prevent a bloodbath. I will see to it that no one inside is hurt."

"How?" Venus wanted to know.

"Given the situation being what it is, Venus, it is best that you do not know. Kirk out."

"I don't like this. Not one damn bit. What in blazes is she up to?" an angry Mars wondered aloud.

"I don't know, Raye, but we can't afford to worry about that right now," said Venus. "Tal's right about one thing, we've gotta keep this situation from turning into a slaughterhouse. C'mon."

"Where?"

"To the front lines. Time to rumble."

Molly groaned and was disoriented as she came to and was shocked to find herself sprawled on the floor and not knowing how she got there.

Slowly sitting up, Molly tried to remember the events of the last several minutes. Molly had been threading her way through a throng of frightened kids with Melvin in tow, desperate to catch Serena and Talia who had ran off. Then she stopped short and put a hand to her throat, suddenly unable to breathe. Molly looked around her and saw Melvin collapsing as was everyone else around her. Gasping and wheezing loudly, Molly refused to give up, she had to keep going. She had to find Serena. But her legs gave out and she succumbed. Now that she was awake, the first thing Molly laid eyes on was a walking nightmare.

Looming over her was a creature composed of water who glared menacingly at her. Molly screamed for all she was worth.

"Shaddap!" Torrent snarled, slapping Molly with a watery open hand. The force of the blow stunned her into near unconsciousness. With Infemo and Cyclone standing behind him, Torrent looked up one side of the hall, then the other, the floor littered with kids and teachers recovering from having been deprived of air by the wind elemental. Torrent seethed, not seeing his target.

"I've had it!" he growled. "SERENA! I know you're around here! I'm tired of waiting! If you don't show your face, we're gonna start roasting kids!"

Torrent glared at Molly, shivering from fear. "Infemo. Start with her."

Inferno nodded and approached Molly. All he had to do was touch her and she'd explode into flames. As Helmut Schmidt, firefighter, he had never seen anyone actually burn to death before his eyes, only the end result. He figured it would be a fascinating thing to witness.

"Stop!" shouted a voice from behind the creatures. They whirled around and saw Serena standing at the far end of the hall.

Torrent smirked. "It's about time you showed up honeybunch. Patience ain't one of my virtues."

"So I see." With a purposely slow gait, Serena, ramrod stiff, her face locked in a fierce scowl cautiously walked up to where the creatures stood. Everyone, silent, fearful to move simply stared up at Serena with wide eyes filled with confusion and apprehension.

Molly, on the other hand was horrified. Bravery was not in Serena's vocabulary, yet she showed no fear whatsoever on her face. If anything, her best friend looked to be angry. Very angry. She reached up and grabbed Serena's skirt to stop her. "Serena? What the heck are you doing?"

The near menacing scowl on Serena's face melted and she gave Molly a smile. "What does it look like I'm doing, silly? I'm saving your life."

"But, Sere...."

"Relax, Moll. I'll be fine. Trust me." Serena squeezed Molly's hand, then disengaged herself from the redhead and strode right up to Torrent, her scowl back in place. "Okay, Torrent, I'm here. Satisfied? Do whatever you want with me, but leave these people alone, or I swear I'll kill you and your goons with my bare hands."

Torrent sneered evily at Serena. "My, my. Aren't we just full of piss and vinegar this morning? You're a regular little firebrand."

Serena, her fists tightly clenched glared daggers at the water creature, her eyes burning with rage. Torrent, noticing this thought her behavior reminded him of the bloodthirsty, purple skirted Sailor Scout he and his companions fought yesterday.

"Spare me the humor, you maniac. You're about as funny as a crutch," Serena growled. "If you're going to kill me, then get it over with. I hate having my time wasted."

Molly's jaw dropped open. She couldn't believe her ears. Was her best friend actually asking that creature to kill her? "Serena? For God's sake! Have you gone crazy?"

Serena turned to look at Molly, a kind, caring look now in her eyes. "Maybe. I'm doing this for you, Moll. I'd rather die than see you or anyone hurt because of me." She faced Torrent again, her expresion hard and defiant. "Well? What's it gonna be? I don't have all day to jerk around with you."

Torrent shrugged. "Have it your way, sugar pie." Extending his right arm, Torrent hit Serena full in the chest with a stream of water that hit her like a battering ram, slamming her against the far wall with bonecrushing force. Soaked to the skin, Serena dropped unmoving to the floor, face down in a large puddle of water.

"SERENA!" Molly screamed. She tried to go to her friend but was restrained by Melvin.

Torrent grinned. "Well, that was fun. Cyclone, check her vitals."

Kneeling beside Serena, Cyclone reverted back to human form, rolled Serena over onto her back and placed two fingers behind her left ear. "I can't find a pulse, Torrent. I think she's dead."

Next: Terror in the Tower

GO TO CHAPTER NINE