Sailor Moon : Refugees
by Mark Latus
A five part fanfic
Based on characters and situations created by Naoka Takeuchi
 
Part 1 - Gray Areas
     
    Summer in Juban Town.  It was a pleasant wednesday afternoon and
Calcite had decided to drive by the school and offer his sister a ride
home.  At least ostentatiously that was his reason.  Actually he was
hoping to accidently run into Mai and invite her to dinner.  Mai Saito was
a teacher at his sister's school, they'd been going out together for the
past few weeks. 
     Of course she didn't know him as Calcite, a renegade youma from the
now defunct Dark Kingdom.  Shortly after arrival (and the realization they
were stuck here for the time being) he'd set up their identities.  As far
as anyone in Japan knew they were British citizens on indefinite work
visas (with the exception of Titanite who was far too young).  It's
amazing what you can accomplish with the ability to control minds. 
Calcite didn't particularly enjoy brainwashing people but was a firm
believer in survival.  Covering their tracks seemed the best way to do
that. 
     The renegades had chosen names that let them use the same nicknames
they were used too.  Mai knew Calcite as Calvin Hobbes, he'd based the
name on a comic strip he'd read and enjoyed during his time in England. 
His sister was now known as Titania, though her friends generally called
her Ti.  The name was explained as being the result of a mother overly
fond of Shakespeare. 
     Cal noticed a billboard on the right.  Azurite's new career was going
nicely and hadn't required any intervention on his part.  As a model she
could use the name Azure without attracting comment or even needing a last
name.  There had been the somewhat ironic suggestions that she should dye
her red hair blue to match her name.  Ironic because that was its natural
color. They'd all made a few modifications in their appearances.  Ti was
now a brunette and Cal was a blond, it was a lot easier than having to
explain green hair.  Though his ponytail attracted a few comments. 
     Pyrite was now known as Piram Troy, a name attributed to a father
who'd been a professor specializing in ancient greek history.  According
to their story Pyr was a writer and didn't need to work outside the house. 
Which was good cover for him to stay home and work on a way to let them
live outside the synchronistic zone. 
     The six months since their arrival had been probably the happiest
times of their lives.  Certainly the easist.  No more continually acting
like a mean bastard/bitch in order to stay above suspicion.  No more
keeping Ti hidden so she wouldn't get burned for acting human.  Ti was
adapting well to her new freedom, he'd been afraid she wouldn't be able to
cope after years of near isolation.  The only problem as he saw it was her
obsession with those stupid cartoons.  When asked why she wasn't getting
interested in boys like other girls her age she'd replied that she
definitely wasn't like other girls. That was true enough.  Actually the
only thing that really concerned him about this anime fetish was the worry
that she'd start emulating the heroines and use her powers in school or in
public.  Still at heart Cal thought she was too sensible to do that. 
     The past six months hadn't been without bad points.  The biggest
shock had come near the start when he'd enrolled Ti in school.  After all
wherever they lived Ti was going to spend her life surrounded with humans. 
It was vital she learned to interact socially with her new peer group.  So
he'd arranged the story that he was his sister's only living relative
(almost true except for cousin Pyrite) and when he'd been transferred to
Japan she had to come with him.  Calvin Hobbes had a job at a
multinational bank, again he'd arranged it via mind manipulation.  The
funds he'd stockpiled wouldn't last forever and he needed something to
explain his presence in this country. 
     At any rate shortly after Titania Hobbes began school her brother had
recognised one of the other pupils.  Minako Aino.  Alias Sailor Venus,
alias Sailor V, alias the girl whose burned and frozen corpse should be
decorating a glacier near the North Pole. 
     He'd barely avoiding panicking.  Calming down he'd remembered that as
Sailor V she'd never seen Lord Calcite's face or heard his real voice. 
But how could she be here? 
     He'd never found out.  Titania had faced some bad moments when
introduced to Minako.  She hadn't recognised her but she'd been told
Minako had been on an exchange trip to England so they should have lots to
talk about.  Ti had never even set foot in England.  While her translator
gave her a London accent all she knew about the country was the material
she'd been made to memorize.  Fortunately Minako avoided discussing her
time in England.  When asked about it she was very vague.  As if she'd
been told she'd been there but didn't remember any details of her stay. 
     Calcite had begun looking around and learned that the other Sailor
Warriors were still alive.  Usagi Tsukino wasn't such a big deal.  They'd
warped out of the Kingdom when she obliterated Beryl and had no idea if
she had or hadn't survived.  However the other three, Ami Mizuno, Rei Hino
and Makoto Kino had definitely died.  Yet all three were alive despite
their fatal experiences at D point.  Curiously there was little or no
contact between the five of them.  There were also no sightings of any of
the Sailor Warriors.  Calcite had thought it over and decided that they'd
somehow been reincarnated a second time.  Which made avoiding them at all
costs an even better idea.  Who wants enemies who can't even be gotten rid
of by killing them? 
     It was more than a little odd that they'd all be reborn the same age
and identities as their former existences.  It wasn't the way he
understood reincarnation was supposed to work.  Frankly it seemed more
like a copout you'd use in a kid's show to avoid discussing the reality of
death. Regardless if they'd either disbanded after rebirth or just didn't
remember being Sailor Warriors seemed irrelevant.  As long as they weren't
around the renegades felt a lot more secure. 
     Three months ago that had all changed.  Suddenly Juban had again been
hit by a series of life energy draining creatures and the Sailor Warriors
had reappeared.  Both fearing a youma hunt beginning and wondering at who
was behind this Calcite had spent some time tracking the attacks.  He'd
been caught in one of them but it hadn't affected him as it was draining
human energy.  He had however faked being drained.  At any rate he'd got
close enough to sense that the source wasn't youma based but something
different.  In fact something alien to this world.  The fact that out of
the whole planet the aliens had chosen Juban confirmed Pyrite's
synchronistic zone theory to Calcite.  Everything truly abnormal would
happen in this place.  So it wasn't the ideal environment to live in. 
     That had been wrapped up a few weeks earlier.  Exactly what had
happened Calcite wasn't sure but an apartment building had been condemned
for structural damage shortly after he'd sensed the source depart. 
Witnesses had talked about giant plants, vines and trees though there were
no traces of these in the building.  Eventually the media had lost
interest and the matter was forgotten.  Everything had been quiet since
then which was fine with Calcite. 
     Calcite parked the car and got out, school was just letting out and
the courtyard was full.  He spotted Ti, then he saw Mai emerge from the
building. She recognised him and smiled.  He smiled back and headed
towards her.  At which point everything began to fall apart. 
     Lights flickered about twenty feet above the schoolyard and a man
appeared.  He didn't fall, just stood in midair and smiled down at the
crowd staring upwards.  Light purple uniform, short blond hair and very
cold eyes.  Calcite recognised him, any youma would.  Across the
schoolyard Titanite stared upwards with a shocked expression.  He almost
whispered the name.  Jadeite! 
     Jadeite didn't seem to know he couldn't possibly be here.  He just
looked down and said, "Good afternoon ladies.  I have decided subtlety
doesn't work. Therefore ..."  A glowing sphere formed above his
outstretched hand.  "I'm taking your energy!" 
     The sphere flared blinding almost everyone in the yard.  Both Calcite
and Titanite saw something invisible to human eyes.  Energy flowing from
the thirty humans nearest to the sphere.  Those affected crumpled to the
ground and both Jadeite and the sphere vanished.  Mai was one of those to
fall, Cal rushed to her.  She was unconscious, more than that she was
comatose!  He could sense the massive weakness brought on by major
lifeforce loss.  Not much more would have been terminal.  "Somebody phone
an ambulance.  If anyone knows where there's blankets fetch them.  These
people are in shock, we have to keep them warm!"  Ti headed for the
phones, so did Minako who'd emerged from the corner she'd ducked behind in
order to transform.  The attacker had vanished before she could become
Sailor Venus.  She didn't know who he was but that outfit had been far too
close to Zoisite and Kunzite's. 
     "Yes, that's him!"  The image on Ami's computer was a perfect match
for the creep. 
     Ami nodded at the picture she'd pulled up after Minako's description.
"Jadeite!  I thought we'd seen the last of him." 
     "You know he reminds me of my old ..."  Everyone turned to stare at
Makoto "...uhh never mind." 
     "Never date the enemy."  Minako glanced around the room.  After the
ambulances had picked up the injured and the police had taken statements
she'd called an emergency meeting at the temple.  Makoto was studying the
picture, like her she'd never met the first youma boss.  Both Rei and Ami
looked like they'd hoped never to see the guy again.  Usagi was over in
the corner reading one of Rei's manga.  Everything seemed more or less
normal.  Luna and Artemis were arguing over if it could really have been
Jadeite considering the destruction of the Dark Kingdom.  All Minako could
say was what she'd seen. 
     "Hey turn the TV up!"  Minako had spotted the picture of her school
behind the newscaster.  Luna slapped the remote and they all watched the
screen.  All it said was that twenty eight schoolgirls and two teachers
had been incapacitated by an unexplained incident.  First two students
were interviewed, one talked about UFOs and the other claimed demons had
attacked. The were followed by a sensible sounding foreigner who claimed
there had been bright flash and those affected had collapsed.  They cut
back to the newscaster who said police were investigating the possibility
of a lightning strike. 
     "Guess that last guy didn't see anything." 
     "He did.  He was closer to Jadeite than I was.  He probably thought
he'd sound crazy if he described what he saw." 
     "Those others certainly sounded nuts."  Makoto turned the TV back
down. "Who was that guy anyway?" 
     "I forget his name, he's Ms. Saito's new boyfriend." 
     "He's American?" 
     "English.  His sister Titania's in my school.  She seems nice." 
     "Why's she over here?" 
     "Her brother's job.  He got transferred to Japan so she had to come
with him.  Their parents are dead so he's her guardian." 
     Meanwhile Usagi looked up from her manga.  "Hey whatever happened to
Jadeite anyway?" 
     Ami answered, "That's a good question.  All we know is that after the
fight at the airport he disappeared and never came back.  Not long after
that Nephrite showed up." 
     Luna cut in, "He'd failed Queen Beryl.  She must have destroyed him." 
     Artemis coughed.  "We don't know that do we?  For all we know she
imprisoned him somewhere.  Perhaps somewhere outside the Dark Kingdom. 
Somewhere he's just escaped from." 
     "But why steal energy?  It won't do him any good and with the Kingdom
gone there's nowhere to send it." 
     Rei slapped a fist on the table.  "Maybe it's a challenge to us.  If
so we're ready for him.  After all me and Ami beat him all the time and
that was before our powers increased." 
     "Hey!"  Usagi had been listening and hadn't liked Rei's comment.  "It
was the three of us who beat him that last time." 
     "Yeah, I suppose you were in the background somewhere." 
     "Background!  I was fighting Jadeite alone while you just thought
Mars was a candy bar!" 
     "I knew it was a planet!  Anyway you kept getting lucky and even with
that luck you wouldn't have won if it wasn't for Mamoru!" 
     "Oh yeah!" 
     "Yeah!" 
     Luna looked at Artemis, "I think this meeting is about to
degenerate." 
     Artemis nodded, "I sometimes remind myself that not long ago the fate
of the entire world was in their hands.  Then I ask myself how the heck
did we survive?" 
     Both cats sighed. 
     At a small house not far away the incident was also under discussion. 
"Look I was close enough to sense his aura.  He didn't just look like
Jadeite, he was Jadeite!" 
     Azurite looked at Titanite, "Ti, you sensed it was Jadeite?" 
     She shrugged, "How should I know?  I never met Jadeite in person so I
wouldn't recognise his aura.  It definitely looked like him though." 
     "But it's impossible!" 
     "Maybe not!"  Pyrite was scrawling equations (or possibly doodles) on
a notepad.  "Remember where we set up our warpgate?" 
     "In the Eternal Sleep chamber!"  Calcite could see the scenario. 
"There were quakes when we left, one of them could have bounced the
crystal holding Jadeite into the gate while it was still active.  Could
that have worked?" 
     "Possibly.  There would have been a very brief period after we used
the gate it could still dimensionally shift objects.  However there'd be
no guarantees where they'd arrive." 
     Although she didn't mention it Azurite saw a slightly different
scenario. All hell is breaking loose, Margrave sees Calcite escape with
the three of us. She goes berserk and throws the nearest thing available
after us.  She was right next to Jadeite's crystal when we vanished. 
Since she was the only one who knew Margrave was present in the chamber
she kept quiet.  Calcite had felt guilty enough about not bringing her
along.  Why make him feel worse? 
     What she did say was, "OK so say the dimensional transit breaks the
crystal open and frees Jadeite.  That was six months ago, why show up
now?" 
     Calcite nodded, "And if transit didn't crack the crystal how'd he get
free.  For that matter a seven foot long crystal with a man embedded in it
would be bound to draw attention." 
     Pyrite shrugged.  "I don't know everything.  What I will say is that
it might not have been six months for Jadeite.  He might have experienced
temporal displacement so he only arrived a little while ago.  Alternately
the crystal never left subspace.  It phased almost into this world then
the gate collapsed.  The subspace forces slowly eroded the crystal freeing
Jadeite.  His own powers would have been sufficent to shift him from
subspace to this world.  Remember those pocket continuums he created? 
He's got very good space/time manipulation abilities." 
     "Lucky thing he didn't know how to use them properly." 
     "Good point cousin." 
     Azurite shrugged.  "It'll do as a hypothesis.  Frankly how he's here
isn't as important as what is he doing?  He's gonna start the Warriors
youma hunting again which is not healthy for us.  Why the hell is he
stealing human energy anyway?  It's useless to him and with the Kingdom
gone there's nowhere to take it." 
     Calcite nodded.  "She's right.  Jadeite collected energy for
Metallia's resurrection.  With Metallia gone what's the point?" 
     "You're both assuming something."  Pyrite looked worried.  "You're
both assuming Jadeite is acting rationally.  He spent months in total
sensory deprivation, or almost total if it's true the sleepers can still
see.  There is a very strong possibility the experience has driven him
insane.  Maybe he thinks if he collects enough power Queen Beryl will
forgive him.  Maybe he's just collecting energy because he thinks that's
what he does.  Maybe he just thinks it's fun.  Who knows?" 
     "A madman with the power of Jadeite?"  Azurite felt something cold
touch her.  "What do we do?" 
     "Safest thing to do is stay low and wait for the Sailor Warriors to
take him out."  Calcite decided to move onto another matter that troubled
him. "Pyr I'd like you to join me on a trip to the hospital." 
     "What's wrong Cal?  Beside the obvious I mean." 
     "I don't know exactly.  But while I was holding Mai I sensed
something different.  As if she'd suffered more than mere energy drain." 
     "Energy fields are my speciality.  I'll pick up a few odds and ends
and be ready in a few minutes." 
     "Just what is wrong with them?"  They'd almost forgotten Titanite was
still there, listening to every word they said. 
     "I don't know yet.  But if we can help them we will."  There was
something he should have asked earlier.  "Were any of your friends ...?" 
     "No.  But it's the sort of thing that should have ended with the Dark
Kingdom." 
     "You're right.  But I'll bet it's finished before long.  Jadeite
couldn't beat three Sailor Warriors.  There's five of them now and they've
gained both experience and power.  It should be over soon."  Almost a
shame considering how few of are left.  Until you remember that Jadeite's
a total bastard. 
     At the hospital not long afterwards a nurse was telling Calcite
visiting hours were over.  Also given the severity of the victims
conditions hospital policy was to only allow relatives to visit them. 
     "I'd just like to drop off these flowers.  There's no harm in that
surely?" 
     The nurse felt her resistance fade.  After all what could it hurt?
"Five minutes, no more." 
     "Thank you, you're very kind."  The glow left Calcite's eyes and he
headed for the Critical Ward.  Pyrite followed him.  Behind them the nurse
wondered why those purple eyes had been so fascinating. 
     Calcite set the flowers and the vase by Mai's bed and glanced around.
All clear.  Pyrite pulled two crystal rods from his jacket transferred
them to his left hand.  He passed them over Mai's body and glanced to the
amythest held in his right hand.  He swore quietly and repeated his
actions.  They'd been there four minutes when Pyrite slid his equipment
away and said, "Let's get out of here."  The two of them unobtrusively
exited the hospital. Calcite was about to demand an explanation when
Pyrite told him, "Wait until we get home, the others need to know about
this." 
     About twenty minutes later they were back at the house they were
renting. They could have teleported back in seconds but preferred not to,
that could draw unwelcome attention from energy sensitives.  Pyrite made a
note to improve the home shields. 
     "It's bad Cal, real bad."  Pyrite had everyone's attention.  "Those
people aren't just drained they're still being tapped!" 
     "What!  You mean Jadeite's attacked them again?" 
     "Nothing so simple.  His attack didn't exactly suck out energy.  It
implanted those affected with an energy matrix.  The matrix drained their
energy and transmitted it to Jadeite's receiver.  Namely that energy
sphere you saw him using.  The thing is those matrixes are still implanted
in the victims.  They draw enough power from the hosts to sustain
themselves then drain and store any extra energy the hosts build up.  If
Jadeite passes near the hospital the matrixes will transmit him the stored
energy then begin the whole cycle again." 
     Calcite thought this through.  "So you're saying as long as those
matrixes are in place they'll stay in a comatose state.  They can't
recover because it draws off all their extra energy.  Can you remove
them?" 
     "No, messing with the matrixes would probably kill the hosts.  But
it's worse than that.  You see the matrixes aren't perfect.  They're
gradually decaying.  This means they draw more power to slow the
disintegration and maintain themselves.  Which means the victims don't
stay locked at the same energy level instead they gradually get weaker. 
Eventually the matrixes will drain too much power and ..." 
     "They'll die.  They'll all die!"  Calcite's voice was flat. 
     There was a silence broken by Azurite saying "Ok things look bad but
the Warriors know Jadeite's out there, right?  According to Cal Sailor V
witnessed the attack.  So when they take out Jadeite it's all over." 
     "Yes, but not the way we want."  Pyrite looked grim. 
     "You'd better explain that cousin", Calcite tried to avoid looking
edgy. 
     "I may be wrong but I think when Jadeite gets zapped the
distabalizing energy sphere will feedback to the implanted matrixes.  They
may go crazy and suck the hosts dry or the sudden energy shock might kill
the victims." 
     Another silence.  This one broken by Calcite saying, "Is there any
way to safely deactivate the matrixes?" 
     "Yes.  From the readings I got I could construct a tool to make
Jadeite's receiver shut down the matrixes safely.  The problem would be
getting close enough to use it." 
     "I've got an idea!"  Everyone turned to look at Titanite.  "You know
who the Sailor Warriors are, right?  So just phone them anonymously,
explain the situation and leave this tool thing somewhere they can find
it." 
     "Not a bad idea Ti.  The only problem was why would they believe us?
Even if they did they'd wonder about who knew their real names and knew
enough about Jadeite to construct the shutdown key.  After they dealt with
Jadeite they'd start looking for answers."  Ti sighed, she couldn't argue
with her brother's logic.  He was a lot better than her at thinking up
worse case scenarios.  "But we have to do something."  Azurite and Pyrite
started trying to come up with alternatives, Titanite just watched her
brother.  He'd steepled his hands and closed his eyes, signs she
recognised as meaning he was deep in thought.  He opened his eyes and
smiled.  "Of course, it's so obvious!  Pyr make the tool and modify one of
the youma power trackers.  I'll need both when I go hunting Jadeite!" 
     He headed for his room.  Pyrite headed for the basement where his
hidden lab was located.  Azurite stood flabbergasted for a moment then
strode after Calcite.  "Wait a damned minute!"  Titanite trailed after
Azure in confusion. What was big brother up too after all these months of
preaching low profile? 
     Calcite rooted through his closet.  He'd dumped it in here months
ago, there hadn't seemed to be any need of it.  Ah! here it was.  Calcite
turned around and came face to face with Azurite.  "Cal are you out of
your mind?!  Look I'm sorry about Mai but getting all four of killed is a
little much!  You can't beat Jadeite and you're risking exposing us all to
the Sailor Warriors!" 
     "You're right that would be crazy but I'm not planning to tackle
Jadeite alone.  I'll track him and wait for the Sailor Warriors to attack. 
When they've weakened him I'll move in and destroy the sphere." 
     "If they don't think you're a threat and blast you they'll certainly
want to know who you are!" 
     "But they'll already know.  Sailor Venus will tell them."  Calcite
strapped his wristband in place and activated it.  His clothing shimmered
and changed.  His glasses shifted and became a mask.  Both his hair and
eyes became as grey as the outfit he now wore.  His figure became bulkier
as the grey bodyarmour formed.  "She'll recognise her old ally Gray, the
guy who kept helping her against Lord Calcite.  A man who already knows
something about fighting Youma!" 
     Azurite just stared, Titanite applauded.  "Cal, that's brilliant!" 
Then she added, "When you meet the Sailor Warriors can you get me their
autographs?" 
     After a moment Azurite said grudgingly, "Well I suppose it makes
sense." She sighed, "Who'd have thought you'd be using that identity
again." 
     Half an hour later Calcite was listening to Pyrite explain how to use
the shutdown key.  The actual key was an enchanted pink crystal rod,
similar to the ones Pyrite had used in his examination of the afflicted. 
"... so once it's activated you've got thirty seconds to get it into the
sphere.  It'll need at least another twenty to do the job.  So don't
activate it prematurely. And don't take any unnecessary risks OK?" 
     Calcite nodded and slipped the rod into a pocket on his thigh. 
Azurite asked, "So how do you find him anyway?" 
     "Pyrite thinks this tracker will pick up the sphere's energy
signature. I'll try teleporting around the city looking for a signal. 
Then I'll just have to track Jadeite and stay with him until the Sailor
Warriors show up."  Pyrite had added a plastic shell and various lights to
make the tracker look technological rather than magical. 
     "If they show up." 
     "They will.  Jadeite's not one to stay undercover long.  The warriors
are very good at showing up anywhere their opponents do." 
     "Well good luck.  Try and remember we need you so don't do anything
too heroic." 
     Titanite added, "Just make sure and come back.  OK big brother." 
     "I will.  Now don't you have homework."  She gave him a look that
said, "At a time like this?"  "You'll still have school tomorrow.  So get
too it!" She stuck her tongue out then headed for her room.  Hopefully
that'd keep her too occupied to worry. 
     Calcite slipped away silently.  He intended to do the first teleport
some distance from the house.  Just in case the Sailor Warriors could
track them.  Azurite turned to Pyrite and sighed, "I should have known
there'd be trouble after Cal got involved with a human." 
     He snorted and answered, "You're never satisfied." 
     She considered treating this as a double endentre but decided not to
bother.  "Meaning?" 
     "Meaning our first couple of months here you were complaining about
him moping over having left Margrave behind.  Now he's found someone else
you're unhappy that he's not miserable.  As for the 'getting involved with
a human' part what was the alternative?  Since the youma population was
reduced to the four of us the only unattached female is his sister.  Which
brings up one of the few taboos that the Dark Kingdom shared with the
humans.  So the only other alternative was celibacy which Cal isn't cut
out for.  Someday Ti will pick up a human lover.  After all what's the
alternative?" 
     It occurred to Pyrite he might have just said too much.  "There is
one alternative you could suggest", he thought.  "Namely that we break up
and me and Ti become a couple.  After all by our traditions a love affair
between cousins isn't incest.  Then you and Cal become an item thus
keeping all our sexlives confined to our own species.  The question is, do
you still want him?" 
     Pyrite waited nervously but all Azure said was, "You're right of
course. It's inevitable really."  Pyrite felt himself relax a bit, he was
just a little too insecure.  He'd have to watch that in future. 
     Meanwhile over at the temple the meeting was breaking up.  Actually
in terms of being a Sailor Warrior strategy session it had broken up quite
a while back.  It never failed to amaze Luna and Artemis how many totally
irrelevant topics they could bring up.  Rei and Usagi seemed to be enemies
again.  It never lasted long but neither did the truce periods.  As
everyone headed out to the courtyard those two avoided each other.  At
least they weren't doing the "dueling tongues" thing. 
     They'd made absolutely no progress on the Jadeite matter.  Still to
be fair Luna had to admit they had absolutely no idea where he was or what
he was up too. 
     That was when Rei suddenly stiffened and they heard the screams.  Rei
stared in the direction of the sound and shouted, "I've felt this aura
before! It's Jadeite!  MARS POWER, MAKE UP!  What are you waiting for!" 
Sailor Mars dashed off toward the source of the yelling.  The others
triggered their transformations and followed. 
     About two kilometres away, feeling something of a fool, Calcite
studied the blank detector.  Suddenly it hummed to life.  Jackpot!  For a
moment Calcite concentrated to remember his designated teleport point in
that area.  Then he vanished to reappear about 50 metres from the source. 
Sticking to the shadows he drew closer. 
     Jadeite stood in the middle of a collapsed crowd of humans.  From the
outfits he'd just ambushed a college baseball team heading back from
practice. The sphere whirled above his left hand.  It glowed brighter than
it had earlier. 
     "Only the slothful seek to deprive youth of exercise and energy.
Jadeite you should have stayed vegetating on a couch.  On behalf of Mars I
will lynch you!" 
     Jadeite smiled, "Sailor Mars.  I'd been hoping to meet you again.  By
the way that speech made absolutely no sense." 
     "You think it's easy coming up with these things on the spur of the
moment?" 
     "Hey, I do the speeches!"  Usagi arrived followed by Ami.  Makoto and
Minako had accidently collided on the temple steps and tumbled the rest of
the way down.  They were fine but it slowed them. 
     "You weren't here.  Besides you'd just say something corny." 
     "Like you didn't?" 
     "Compared to you I'm the most eloquent girl in town!" 
     "Oh yeah!" 
     "Yeah!" 
     "You can talk this over after Jadeite's defeated!"  Ami's voice
brought the situation back.  They turned to face their foe. 
     Jadeite watched them with an amused expression.  "Sailors Moon,
Mercury and Mars.  I've been hoping I'd see you again.  I owe you three a
debt of vengeance which I'm only too glad to ... WHAT THE HELL!"  Makoto
and Minako had arrived.  "This is impossible!  There's only three Sailor
Warriors.  Who are you?" 
     "Our cue I think." 
     "After you." 
     "I'm the warrior of thunder and lightning.  I strike like a hurricane
and I'm strong as a typhoon.  Sailor Jupiter at your service!" 
     "I'm the warrior of love and power.  I first appeared as Sailor V but
my real name is Sailor Venus!" 
     "And on behalf of our respective planets ..." 
     "...we will punish you." 
     Jadeite didn't look scared.  He did look annoyed.  "You Sailor
Warriors are like cockroaches.  Every time I turn around more of you show
up!  Well I'll just have to squash a few bugs!" 
     From the shadows Calcite watched and waited.  It was about to begin. 
Jadeite levitated about two metres straight up.  His hands glowed with
power. 
     "Squash this!  SUPREME THUNDER DRAGON!" 
     "CRESENT BEAM SHOWER" 
     The combined lighting construct and energy beam surged toward
Jadeite.  If it had struck the fight should have been over.  If it had
struck.  He was gone before it was halfway there.  As the attack tore
through the space Jadeite had occupied the two Warriors sensed something
behind them.  As they began turning Jadeite's force beams slammed into
them.  Both were thrown semiconscious halfway down the block. 
     "SHABON SPRAY!"  Mercury's attack formed a fog around Jadeite.  OK
while he lost his bearings Rei could ...  A hand closed on her shoulder
and Jadeite smiled at her.  "That old trick again?  You must think I'm a
complete idiot." Electricity flowed from his hand and Ami screamed. 
     "Rei do something!" 
     "Stop yelling Usa...Sailor Moon.  You're distracting me!"  Rei tried
to work out a way to blast Jadeite without hitting Ami.  She couldn't, not
while Jadeite was that close.  Damnit how come Jadeite was suddenly using
his powers so effectively? 
     "I'll stop him.  MOON TIARA ACTION!"  The tiara headed straight for
Jadeite's head.  His arm moved and Ami was swept into its' path.  "NOSTOP
RIGHTNOW!"  The tiara froze in place about an arm's length from Ami's
face. It stopped spinning and its glow faded.  The tiara dropped to the
sidewalk. Jadeite smiled and tossed the unconscious Ami toward Jupiter and
Venus.  She sprawled over them creating a small pile of short skirted
females. 
     Jadeite smiled.  "Three down, two to go.  Your move brats!" 
     Calcite was getting worried.  This wasn't the way he'd expected it to
go. Jadeite seemed to have acquired the ability to teleport instantly to
any place he wanted.  No concentration, no delay period just there one
instant gone the next.  He was using it to devestating effect.  What the
hell was he supposed to do.  Help the Sailor Warriors?  Ridiculous,
Jadeite would take him apart. You're a survivor not a hero, remember that. 
     Rei wasn't wasting her opportunity.  "FIRE SOUL BIRD!"  The flame
construct soared towards Jadeite.  As it did she spun around and screamed
"FIRE SOUL!"  Had Jadeite materialized behind her it might have worked. 
He materialized on her left side and his force beam cannoned her onto the
pile of fallen Sailor Warriors. 
     "And then there was one.  No tiara, no weapon, right?" 
     Things have changed creep.  Usagi reached out, her hand sliding
briefly into a pocket dimension and emerging with the Moon Sceptre.  I
stand by my friends Jadeite.  "MOON PRINCESSAHHHHHH!" 
     Jadeite's energy pulse slammed the sceptre out of her grip, nearly
breaking her wrist in the process.  It spun through the air.  Jadeite
vanished and reappeared by the sceptre he'd knocked flying.  He grabbed it
and looked at it.  "This is some sort of weapon yes?"  Sailor Moon didn't
answer, she was busy going over her very limited options.  "Fine, die
silent then!"  Jadeite's right hand glowed and Usagi slammed into the
Sailor heap, dazing Makoto and Minako who were starting to recover. 
     "Time to finish this!"  Jadeite began floating toward his enemies. 
Calcite was trying to decide if he should intervene when something flew
towards Jadeite.  He twitched slightly and the object sailed by.  The rose
embedded itself in the concrete and Jadeite glanced towards the source. 
     "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"  How the masked figure
had got onto the lamppost unnoticed was a mystery.  Jadeite looked very
surprised. 
     "Tuxedo Mask!?  Didn't I kill you?" 
     "Not even close." 
     "Damn.  That was the one good point about that fiasco at the airport. 
Ah well, if at first you don't suceed ..."  Jadeite surged towards Tuxedo
then vanished.  His opponent extended his cane and spun around.  He hit
nothing.  Jadeite materialized above him and fired downwards.  Minus his
hat Mamoru slammed downward just missing the Warriors.  Jadeite smirked,
"I'd like to drag this out, repay you fools for all the trouble you caused
me. But I have things to do so I'll have to end this quickly.  Did you
idiots truly think you could beat me!  I am Jadeite, first of the four.  I
survived the Big Sleep!  If I could do that how could anything stop me!" 
     Minako tried to struggle out from under the pile.  If only her head
would stop spinning maybe she could hit the creep.  Jadeite hovered above
them, the sphere orbited his left hand which held the sceptre.  Flames
wreathed his right hand.  "Play with fire and you get burned.  Goodbye." 
     The fire surged forward and Minako instinctively closed her eyes. 
Then Jadeite screamed.  She opened them to see Jadeite involuntarily jerk
his hand away from them.  The fire washed over a mailbox but didn't hit
anyone. A long thin blade protuded from Jadeite's wrist.  About ten metres
from them stood a figure she recognised.  His hands were full of more of
the knives and he held them ready.  "Gray?" she wondered. 
     Jadeite snarled at the figure, "Who are you?" 
     "Your enemy!" 
     Jadeite snarled and directed a force pulse at the figure.  Gray leapt
from the spot before it hit, filling the air with blades as he moved. 
Several headed for Jadeite and bounced away.  Force shield. 
     As he jumped Calcite wondered if he'd finally gone over the edge.  It
would have been smarter to let Jadeite fry the Sailor Warriors then
attack. Oh who the hell was he kidding?  He couldn't just stand by and
watch them burn.  There were times a lot more ruthlessness would have been
a definite survival trait. 
     Jadeite wasn't teleporting, maybe the pain from the injury blocked
him. Or maybe he'd temporarily exhausted that power.  Either way Calcite
had to destroy the sphere and get away fast.  He couldn't activate the
blade while Jadeite's shield was in place.  However Jadeite couldn't use
his full powers through the shield.  So ... 
     Jadeite dropped his shield to blast the intruder.  Suddenly the blade
in his wrist glowed and blue fire crawled over Jadeite's body.  He
screamed, dropped the sceptre and fell out of the sky.  As he did Calcite
pulled out the rod and activated it.  He jumped and landed on Jadeite's
back pinning his left wrist.  Calcite punched the rod into the sphere and
held it there.  There was a warbling noise and the sphere began to fade
from visibility. 
     Jadeite howled and heaved Calcite off him.  He surged upwards to
confront Calcite and saw Sailor Venus stand up.  Behind her Sailor Jupiter
got to her knees.  The other Sailors were also moving.  He glared at
Calcite and snarled, "You destroyed my beautiful toy.  You will suffer for
that.  At the time of my choosing!"  Jadeite vanished.  This teleport took
seconds to accomplish, his figure fading from solid to transluscent to
gone.  Two objects remained behind on the place he'd stood.  Calcite
stooped to look at them.  His pulserate skyrocketed as he recognised one
of them.  He was able to slid it into the pocket along with Pyrite's rod. 
     "What is it?"  The question came from Sailor Venus.  Currently the
most together of the Warriors.  Jupiter was wincing but standing up. 
Mercury had staggered halfway upright and Mars was leaning against a
telephone pole for support.  Sailor Moon had crawled over to Tuxedo Mask
and was fussing over him. 
     Gray tossed the object to Minako.  She barely managed to catch it.  A
rough greenish crystal.  In his normal Gray monotone he said, "I'm no
expert but I'd guess that's a chunk of jadeite.  Some sort of calling
card." 
     "Oh?  Sailor Moon didn't mention he did that.  But what are you doing
here Gray?  Not that we don't mind the help." 
     "You know me, do I know you?" 
     "I'm Sailor Venus."  No reaction.  "I used to be Sailor V." 
     "Oh."  He shrugged.  "I heard you were dead." 
     How could he possibly know what happened at D point?  Then Minako
realised he didn't, he was talking about Sailor V's apparent death." 
     "The bomb missed me but I decided to abandon that identity and become
Sailor Venus." 
     "That explains the lack of a body.  Although general consensus was it
probably dissolved." 
     "Dissolved?" 
     "Everyone you fought did." 
     "But they were youma, I'm not." 
     "You're also not a normal teenager." 
     "You're not that normal yourself!" 
     "I never said I was." 
     "Venus who is this guy?"  Makoto came forward to join Minako. 
     "Sailor Jupiter this is Gray.  He's a superhero I met in England.
Gray these are Sailors Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and that's Sailor Moon and
Tuxedo Mask over there." 
     Everyone began saying hello and thanking him for his intervention. 
Gray raised a hand to cut them off and said, "I'm not here to socialize. 
There's work to be done."  With that he turned and left in a series of
superhuman bounds.  He was out of sight very soon. 
     Venus was the only one of them not surprised.  "Same old Gray.  Never
relaxes, never smiles." 
     "Kind of a rude guy."  Rei winced and massaged an aching knee. 
     "Still we needed his help."  Ami took the stone from Minako and
examined it.  "He was right, this is jadeite." 
     "Jadeite's a rock?"  Usagi was helping Mamoru up, she sounded
puzzled. 
     "Actually jadeite, nephrite, zoisite and kunzite are all minerals. 
It didn't seem relevant to the generals so I never mentioned it before." 
     "Oh.  Hey look at Makoto!"  Sailor Jupiter was staring off in the
direction Gray had disappeard.  "Here we go again." 
     After a moment she turned back to face her friends and said, "You
know its funny but ..."  They waited "...he doesn't look a thing like my
old boyfriend."  Everybody facefaulted.  She continued, "Anyway I've
decided to give up on older men.  There's something wrong with older men
who chase schoolgirls."  Both Usagi and Mamoru started looking very
uncomfortable. Jupiter quickly amended, "Of course it's different if it's
something fated centuries ago.  I mean that's a whole different ballgame." 
     Speaking of which the baseball team began reviving.  "Let's get out
of here.  Luna and Artemis will be wondering what happened."  The six
limped off. 
     Meanwhile Calcite had arrived home and given everyone the good news. 
If he'd succeeded why was he so upset?  "What's wrong Cal?" 
     Calcite didn't answer his sister directly.  He reverted his mask to a
pair of glasses (he didn't need glasses, he just wore them for image) and
adjusted them.  "Ti you wanted to see the Sailor Warriors in action?"  She
nodded.  "OK, you know these function as a recorder for everything I see?"
An old gimmick for reviewing human behaviour. "Well they recorded
tonight's fight.  I've set them for playback, just hook them into the
crystal ball and you can watch it."  Ti tore down to the laboratory. 
     Azurite asked, "So what's so bad you don't want Ti to know about it?" 
     "I told you Jadeite left a chunk of his namesake behind?"  She
nodded. "Remember that mineral guidebook?" 
     "Of course."  It had felt strange discovering they all had rocks
sharing their names. 
     "Jadeite dropped two stones.  I managed to hide the second before the
Sailor Warriors noticed.  Take a look."  He pulled the white stone from
the pocket and dropped it on the table.  Azurite picked it up. 
     There was something familiar about it but ... OH SHIT.  "This is a
piece of calcite isn't it?"  He nodded.  "Sonofa ... he knows who you
are." 
     Calcite shook his head, "It's more than that.  This isn't a
psychoplasm construct it's the real thing.  Which means ..." 
     Pyrite broke in, "Which means he brought it with him.  He expected
you to show up and wanted you to know he knew your real identity."  Other
things clicked.  "The attack on the school ...  Mai was the target so
you'd be sure to be drawn in."  Calcite nodded, he'd thought this through
on the way home. "But why?" 
     Pyrite had just asked the question Calcite couldn't answer.  "I don't
know.  Is it a threat to expose us to the Sailor Warriors?  A challenge to
battle?  Blackmail?  Work for me or your secret is gone?  The whim of a
madman?  I don't know!"  He sighed, "For now all we can do is wait and see
what happens next. 
     Downstairs Titanite watched the Sailor Warriors getting trashed.  Not
a good thing, lucky big brother showed up.  It looked like the Sailor
Warriors needed some backup.  Which gave her an idea. 
     Elsewhere and some time later Jadeite chuckled.  Phase one was almost
complete, just one last loose end.  He reached toward the slab and felt
something catch.  He raised his hand and saw the blade protuding.  Ah yes
he'd almost forgotten that.  His eyes glowed and the wound widened.  With
nothing to grip the blade slipped out and fell to the floor.  There was no
blood.  Jadeite picked up the blade with his good hand and held it up.  He
concentrated and it reverted to the psychoplasm Calcite had sculpted into
a knife.  With no shape to hold it the plasm disrupted and dispersed. 
Jadeite studied his wrist.  The wound began growing closed.  In a minute
it was good as new. 
     Jadeite's lair was filled with stalactites, stalagmites and slabs of
crystal.  All of which made the phone sitting across from him especially
incongruous.  He glanced at the number he'd written down and lifted the
handset.  As he punched in the number he made a minor adjustment to his
larynx.  Somebody picked up the phone at the other end. 
     "Hello, Aino residence."  Excellent it was her. 
     "Minako, how nice to hear your voice again." 
     "Who is this please?" 
     "I'm sorry should I have addressed you as Sailor V?" 
     Silence on the other end broken by, "Who is this!" 
     "Excuse me, I forgot.  It's Sailor Venus these days isn't it." 
     "WHO ARE YOU!" 
     "You don't recognise my voice?  And after all the fun we had in
England." 
     Minako answered the mock sorrow with a flat declaration of,
"Calcite!" 
     "Lord Calcite but that's close enough." 
     "What do you want?" 
     "Oh nothing really.  Just to let you know I'm in town and I might
look up an old friend.  Maybe meet your parents." 
     "Stay away from my family or I'll kill you!" 
     "You've already tried that remember?  It didn't work.  I'll see you
later."  He hung up.  Phase one was now complete. 
     Jadeite crossed to the mirror and stood before it.  He studied his
features and then watched them change.  His face shifted and his height
increased.  His uniform developed epuelettes, his hair shifted to a dark
brown and grew over his shoulders.  "Excellent!" he exclaimed and realized
he'd made one mistake.  He still had the Lord Calcite voice.  He
readjusted his larynx and tried again. 
     "The stars know everything."  Perfect
     Nephrite finished stdying his image in the mirror and began to
chuckle. His laughter echoed throughout the cavern. 
 
End of part 1
 
Next:  The second General and the sixth Sailor Warrior
Part 2 : Polarized Issues