Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. Marui Mercia is a character made up by myself also the characters Jesse Devaries and Joseph Cairns. The content of this writing is strictly for entertainment purposes only and I do not intend to inflict the breaking of any copyright infringements by writing this.
The Zodiac Wars
by Ryan Bodle
Chapter Four- The Past of Marui Mercia
Rating: PG
TokyoÉ
Marui walked along the grid like streets of Tokyo, 'Crossroads High School,' he remembered. His shoes clicked against the pavement as he strode. Dressed in a black bomber jacket he felt immensely warm from the low sun, even when it was near winter. His legs felt like they were sweating inside the jeans he was wearing. Black hair combed sideways swung, showing it was free from gel like constraints.
'This must be the place,' he thought looking to a school ahead of him. He stopped and brought his watch from out of hiding. 'Forty minutes?' He looked around him, 'perfect.'
He crossed the road to a coffee shop and took a table. "one tea please," he ordered absently minded, his back turned to the approaching waitress revealed his further telepathic abilities. He smiled. He remembered everything, certain smells and feelings he had from the Silver Millennium. The velvet surface of one of the many roses that grew in the gardens, the smell of ancient papers in the great libraries. Silver rain on earth in the rainforests he visited. He remembered such detail and smiled warmly, yet nobody saw it.
His concentration was broken from the waitress placing a mug in front of him. "Thank you," he mentioned and turned to his beverage. He unravelled the newspaper he was carrying and opened it up. Reports of the monster attack were all over the place. Those who saw him didn't remember a thing about his abilities, due to a brainwashing trick he figured out. He changed their memories, the scouts came and saved them. That's what they said. He turned the page, he scanned the text and stopped.
'Obituaries.' He read and looked at them. They included victims of the attack, one of which was Marui Mercia. Marui thought it best, its clear he was needed and him being alive would be an obstacle. He looked up to see people passing by. Unknowing of the threats that loomed the planet. He decided to fight for them, he decided to fight for the five ladies. This was best, he could always get a new name.
'Thirty minutes,' he checked again. Again he turned to the paper and read articles in more detail. After having old memories, these stories didn't seem half as interesting as they used to. 'Mankind would destroy Earth before any nega-forces,' Marui thought sighing. Again he checked, impatiently. 'Five minutes.' He focused on his now second cup of tea. The mug was emptied now, he called for a bill and paid promptly, but remained in his seat.
'What is keeping that infernal bell? They need to re-adjust their clocks,' Marui angered watching his watch yet again. 'Why am I being so impatient?' he asked himself. He wasn't never like this at all, fairly patient but he hated tardiness. Perhaps some of that military training had rubbed off on him. After al he had spent a life time in the military ranks. The bell finally rang and soon students vaulted from the exits. Marui got up and walked outside, he stopped outside the door way, looking to the sides of him he found a telegraph pole which he then leant against to scout the crowds.
'Princess Jupiter, five seven no now six feet, brown hair, blonde streaks, green eyes,' he thought to himself. He was willing to go on describing the others but he thought a six foot Amazon would be hard to miss, especially at a school. 100 students, 200 students, no sign. 'This is Crossroads High,' Marui reassured. 300 students. Still nothing. 'I am not going to find them here,' Marui got up and began to walk away he stopped looking in front of him. Then, there walking and yet reading at the same time was a blue headed girl with a short pony tail.
'Princess Mercury, looks around five-five, hair blue,' he smiled and accelerated to her. Making sure there was nobody nearby, he approached and spoke to her. "Good day Princess," he muttered and straightened back up. Amy caught off guard sprang her head up and instantly recognised him.
"May I suggest you treat me as a family member you have not seen in a while?"
"Why?"
"To not attract attention, don't be alarmed by this," he bent down and put his arm around her as if to hug. She nervously reacted by hugging gently back, feeling uncomfortable. Marui broke away.
"Let us walk on," they began walking again.
"Marui isn't it?"
"Yes, although that may have to change," Marui replied.
"How come?"
"According to officials, I am dead." Marui replied impassively. "It appears I will need a new identity to make public appearances, however this is not important." Amy nodded.
"Were your family upset?"
"Of course, and I am upset not to be able to them again, many people were taken back by my demise, quite flattering yet saddening. There is no way I can go home without somebody knowing about my powers and so I have no choice but to come here and help you."
"That must be so hard for you," Amy sympathised. Marui smiled and looked at her for the first time in their conversation.
"Yes, but I will have new friends to help me, and I do not just mean you and the other council members."
"What do you mean?"
"I shall explain, or rather Luna can help me do so," Marui explained. "It would be a lot shorter than telling you." Amy led Marui to the Temple on Cherry Hill, in turn he was introduced to Raye.
"A pleasure to meet you properly," Marui addressed giving a polite bow. She bowed back.
"Like wise, its Marui isn't it?"
"Yes it is, can I presume the other ladies will arrive here some time soon?"
"Yes you can," Raye replied, "they'll be here shortly why don't you get comfortable, I'll get some tea."
"I'm fine, I've had a drink already," Marui answered.
"Amy?"
"No thank you, I can wait," Raye gave up and joined the two on the floor. She was dressed in her robes only just finishing her chores. There seemed to be an eerie silence. There was plenty to talk about, yet that particular subject would have to wait until all were present.
Two by two, they arrived. The guardians first, Lita and Mina, finally Serena who had dragged Darien with her.
"I don't see why have I have to be here Serena," he said being pushed inside. Marui got up and offered a hand.
"It is good to see you, Prince Darien." Darien froze, some surprise he had not expected. His hand fell out until it found Marui's, there was more exchange in glances than hand shake. "Perhaps you are wondering how I know of your former identity?" Darien nodded.
"So where do you fit in?" Serena asked, sitting next to Raye.
"I was hoping Luna could assist me in explaining," Marui requested.
"How can I do that?"
"By sharing minds, we can project my story to them, it would be quicker than explaining.
"If you say so, what do I do?" the black guardian enquired.
"Simply concentrate on a mind meld with everybody present," Marui explained. "I'll be metaphorically behind, giving images for you to give them." Luan sat in front of Marui with her back turned and faced the others.
"Mind up," Marui whispered and he began to glow slightly, he calmed his breath and closed his eyes. Suddenly it seemed like he was inside Luna's mind, he could see an audience around him. No doubt a mental image of how the process worked. Marui opened his mouth and out flowed pictures, motion pictures. It seemed he didn't need to talk.
Silver Millennium, Moon Knight AcademyÉ
Marui Mercia stood tall and proud, finally through with basic at the academy, he could concentrate on specialised training and make it to officer rank. Young yet contained with genius, he stepped forward to his mentor and received his insignia for primary knight, the basic rank of all graduating apprentices.
Build up to ApocalypseÉ
Only a year ago was Marui Mercia an apprentice, now he was Commander of the Moon forces, only one rival to his abilities. One man, only two years older than him. He had blonde hair combed back with a centre parting and Now there was space for promotion. General Kroeger had recently resigned his post and retired. Now it was between, Commander Mercia of the ground forces or his rival the 'zero-one' agent of Reconnaissance. Usually it would seem agent 'zero-one,' would have no competition, however Marui proved a good case and so both stood before Queen Serenity, to speak on their behalf.
"My Queen," Marui started, "it is true I have no play in intelligence and reconnaissance, it was not the path in this army I chose. I am an army general and a well credited tactician. Superiors have rewarded me many a medal for my tactics in warfare which have saved many lives during the rebellion wars. It is what I do here within these ranks, and it is what I choose to do regardless of your decision, I will perform my duty."
"Gracious Queen," zero-one answered back. "It is true Commander Mercia here has had a commendable career so far, however I feel he could be unprepared for the task. On the other hand, I have worked in MI, for two years now, ever since I reached 3rd knight rank. I am prepared for tasks that lie ahead and responsibilities, which I dare not say Commander Mercia is not ready for, but how can I say, not be shocked by. If that is not enough, for six months now, I have conducted a private search. One that has now finally ended."
"What do you mean?" the Queen asked.
"My queen, I have found our protectors of the kingdom, the great knights of the Millennia," he answered back. "They are present here, and I would be willing to show you their abilities."
"Indeed, I am interested, please allow them in." The agent left the room, leaving Marui standing by himself. "This certainly can't help your case," the queen said to him.
"As I said before my Queen, I'll perform my duty," Marui replied. That was his game plan, nothing fancy just to say he can do this better than the other man and remain loyal. The idea of zero-one using these knights asÉÉtrophies was cheating as he saw it. Zero-one returned with three men following him.
"My Queen, I first present to you Handai from the Mars ground forces, certainly he stands out as a superb combatant. This rod is made from the very same gold-titanium alloy that holds your very crystal," he handed it to the man, this metal alloy was stronger than diamond by ten-fold back then the strongest material they knew. Yet like putty the man bent with his bare hands. Unbelievable to many extents. "Also I give you, Krishka of Mercury, as deadly with an arrow as the most devastating of explosions." The man drew an arrow to his bow and aimed to a high spot at the wall to which the throne was backed against. He released it, the arrow ricochet, and again. In fact several times. Then Krishka held his hand out, three seconds later the arrow fell lightly in to his palm, as if each re-direction was planned from that one aim. "And now let me show you, a gracious warrior, with the greatest of co-ordination a human can achieve. Again from Mercury, Ocealot Magnus," at that point a smaller man stepped forward to reveal his skills. Standing still he effortlessly jumped into the air and performed a double flip, he then proceeded to show his reflex actions by demonstrating his martial art skills before running a lap of the room, big enough to be an Olympic track within seconds.
"The legend says there are four knights," Marui stated, "where's the fourth?" Zero-one grinned. Dropping a pencil to the floor he looked at it and slowly it raised back to his palm by what seemed to be his will.
"That would be me," he stated in triumph. "It seems without a doubt, I have performed an impossible task."
"Bring the crests to these chambers," the Queen ordered a guard standing at the door, he bowed and exited. "Commander Mercia, will that be all?"
"With your permission ma'am, I would like to see this test," he requested.
"Test Marui?" Zero-one whispered to him.
"As you wish," Queen Serenity agreed and so Marui stayed. The crests followed after a short silence. The four stood and removed a crest each. After agent zero-one re-arranging the crests between them they stood ready to use their powers.
"STRENGTH Up!"
"SKILL Up!"
"SPEED Up!"
"MIND Up!" A unison of voices, nothing happened. Marui grinned he thought right.
"I said Mind Up, that's the right activation sequence," zero-one said to himself.
"Maybe you should put the crests back agent," the Queen suggested. He looked up at her before reluctantly doing so, disappointed the others followed suit. "Could you excuse us, I wish to speak to Commander Mercia alone." Now things got worse. Zero-one scowled silently and demonically eyed Marui as he bowed and left.
"What do you wish to say ma'am," Marui asked when alone.
"How did you know?"
"Know what ma'am?"
"They weren't the rightful crest holders, you knew they were not the great knights, tell me how you knew."
"If you wish to know, it was because they already possessed the powers the crest was meant to give them. The crests are meant give them that power not enhance power they already have."
"You are quite the smart man Commander," Serenity acknowledged. "perhaps you are more fit for this placing, yet I must think about it."
"Yes ma'am." Marui bowed and left with that.
It was two days from the meeting Marui had with queen Serenity, his appropriate title General Marui Mercia. His first walk to the General's conference room, he opened the doors to what he thought was his rightful office. The other general's greeted him gravely, whilst congratulating him, they were not in the greatest of moral. Marui couldn't help but get to the point.
"It seems there is a problem among you gentlemen, we're all of equal stature, so I must enquire to the reason of your graveness," he said overly spoken.
"Cut the crap kid," came a reply, "we've all got the education, you think we use that language in this office? That's bullshit."
"OK," Marui answered back getting into the mood, "what are we fucking doing?"
"You cocky little son-of-a-bitch! I can't believe I put you up for recommendation."
"I'm sorry general, but a good lesson to learn is not to attack in anger, the same could be said about thinking in anger, it clouds judgment, lets at least have an ambient mood please."
"Always proving something Mercia, and call me Mercer," the complainer responded.
"As you want it, now what is it you're sneaking comments behind my back about?" he asked.
"Your rival, agent zero-one of MI, has gone AWOL with three other guys under his wing." Marui sat down finally and crossed fingers as his elbows rested on the table. "Not even my first day has gone and I made a mistake before I even became general," Marui cursed.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"When we were questioned by Queen Serenity, zero-one was heavily convinced that he was the patron of mind, and he was accompanied by three others believing to be the other three great knights. Guess they took rejection a little hard," Marui explained.
"How is that your fault?"
"It was my idea that this may have happened, yet I neglected to the Queen to handle this with great delicacy."
"You couldn't have known that, and Serenity would have made the same choice anyway, in fact saying that would have made choose you quicker."
"Yes, that's why I left it at the time, where are they now?"
"We don't know, they caused a riot at the space port, causing surprisingly minimal casualties and took off beyond where we could keep visual contact, they left the solar system."
"It'll be a while before they come back," Marui answered.
"Why?"
"What makes you think they'll return straight away after making all that effort to get that far?" Marui returned.
Day of ApocalypseÉ
It was now a year since Marui's general promotion. He had actually been appointed council to the general's meeting making him High-General in Command. In that time he had recognised all four of the great knights, zero-one claimed to be. One of them only just two days ago. He was with another like him on an intelligence mission.
They had reported back early due to extreme circumstances. A message relay came to his office. "General, Field-Commander Cairns wishes to speak to you, it seems urgent."
"I would say the same, considering he's home six days early," Marui replied. "Post him through." There was a delay until a green showed a secure channel. "Report."
"They've broken the barrier general, Earth has been invaded, and it seems conquered." There was some silence. "Sir?"
"Copy, land and report to me right away." Marui walked over to his window and looked out to Earth for several minutes. A dark scarlet shadow quickly consumed. Quick by proportions anyway. It slowly crept over the sphere, like a dark tidal wave. Cairns burst into the room rather than knock, given the situation Marui allowed it.
"Marui, what's going to happen?" he asked firmly, wanting a battle plan.
"Devastation it seems," Marui scolded looking out of his window, watching a dark tide reaching out for the moon with a shadowed hand. Cairns was going to have his apprentices leave, they shouldn't hear this. "No, let them stay, they have right to know, not that we can't tell Jennings much more anyway."
The two Terra-knights stood straight faced but Marui saw right through them. "This is a prophecy gentlemen," he continued. "Apocalypse, but I beg to differ, fighting will not be useless, so we're going to fight."
"Exactly what brought on this apocalypse, sir?" Darren asked.
"Know your place."
"Cairns, its ok," Marui dismissed the interruption. "You may have heard that when this academy was built, a plaque was made to represent what it stood for. Also the crystal at the time reacted with the plaque breaking it into four, they were infused with its power. The prophecy said, 'four men who exceed all others will be shown. They will become the defenders of this realm. One will bear mind, one will bear aim, one will bear speed, one will bear strength. When the fourth is found, their test will come and the day of apocalypse will come upon the universe.'"
"That's very nice sir, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Jennings."
Marui pulled from his desk a crest, just like the one he had given to Darren only with a different design. "I bear the crest of mind and telekinetiks. With the power from this crest I can move objects with my mind and accelerate my thoughts to speeds you wouldn't believe. Commander Cairns, here, can hold the strength of more than a hundred men. Captain Devaries, who you have met, can hit a small coin from a thousand yards in high winds with a long bow. The fourth has perfect hand to eye co-ordination and can excel to speeds on foot beyond any other human wish they could reach."
"The fourth?"
"You Jennings."
"Me? Why me sir?"
"Well why me as well? I never chose my position and neither have you, this is who you are, and we need you above all to win this battle."
"Why is he so important sir?" Rick asked.
"Must I explain it again?" Marui replied impatient. "Your friend is super human and chosen by the wisdom of stars to protect what we have, just like Cairns and I."
"Well, I've excused myself, because I was unaware of this, but you screwed up bad to let this happen." Marui frowned, Darren got him verbally surprisingly as he was out matched by intelligence.
"I won't make excuses apprentice, but I do say that this was meant to happen and you're going to face the hardest fight you can imagine. Cairns."
"Yes General."
"We wait until the last second, then we burst through the main and two side gates as fiercely as possible, we break right through the ranks, understood?"
"All four of us will be at the front line."
"What?" Marui walked over to the window again. "There's something out there, that we alone have to face, that's our test, where we must succeed. You, Jennings, Devaries and me all have to fight. I'll be with you soon, prepare the forces."
"Yes sir. Jennings, Curtly." The three left swiftly.
Now alone in his office again Marui sighed a heavy breath. Another stood from the opposite side of the same wall. He opened it to reveal a knight's armour. He stood looking at it for a while. Finally he dropped his cape and removed his uniform shirt. Grabbing the armour he looked at it laying in his hands.
He took a leather shirt from within it, and put it on. Next he attached the armour to his torso. Before doing anything else, he pulled out a bottle from his desk and poured some of its contents into a shot glass, he put the bottle away.
"To death," he knocked it back and breathed heavily as the whiskey warmed his throat. He grabbed a hand held bar and left his office.
"Sir where are you going?" a voice asked.
"To the front line."
"Marui!" his head turned to see Luna approaching. "Have you got a battle plan set?"
"Yes I do, have the emergency crafts prepared for launch, get the Queen out of here. Also her daughter and her council lastly take the General Order and get them all to Jupiter. They've got a good sized army, perhaps our general's can offer some management should we not win." Luna nodded and began to scamper. She stopped.
"You're going to fight aren't you?"
"Yes, good bye Luna." Marui walked away from her. He approached the main doors which were standing open, the courtyard bore shelter for the masses.
"Even his greatness will appear," a familiar voice said. Marui pushed a button on the rod he held turning it into a full length staff.
"Don't mock my judgment, apprentice." Marui emerged from the doors with an elegant staff in hand, dressed in a knight's uniform.
"Great day for a battle wouldn't you say General?"
"Keep your mind focused apprentice."
"Where is Rick if I might ask?"
"Defense detail inside, so by the time he fights you'll be dead."
"How comforting."
"I thought you was not afraid to die."
"I'm not, it's a real comfort, seriously."
"Your orders?"
"No, the Commander's actually." Darren turned to Cairns looking at him, he didn't change, as a statue he remained emotionless.
"Thank you," Darren told him.
"It was the only way I could keep you where I wanted you."
"Indeed." Marui walked forward and addressed the masses.
"Attention!" The men faced him. "This will be a battle always remembered, and it is no lie, that you may not survive, but if you run, you will be conceded to evil energies, taken over by hate and jealousy that will lead to dishonorable death. Where you meet your demise to somebody who stabs you in the back. A death such as that, I will not bear. Will you die standing for freedom and good, or on your knees for a dark purpose? I'll stand and fight, here and now, on this field and die with nobility as will everyone of you should you not run. We shall prevail weakened by fight, we will live on, so fight for your freedom and everything and everyone you wish to see again. In thirty seconds the gates will open and the enemy no more than five feet in front of you. They will be human despite their twisted forms, do not show fear and fight to the bitter end." He silenced, he could have left his words on a more noble note, leaving words for the troops to remember, but he had said what he needed. Nothing will change what is about to happen. Everybody standing before him had been trained for this day, prepared of not, it was the time of reckoning.
The gates began to creak, a shout from the tower signaled the attack, with shouts of rage and glory the troops stampeded through the three archways they faced nemesis in the eyes and charged to fight back.