Sailor Moon : Refugees
by Mark Latus 
A five part fanfic
Based on characters and situations created by Naoka Takeuchi
     
Part 3 - Arctuarial Matters
     
     It was a pleasant Sunday morning and Cal and Mai were strolling
through one of Juban's park.  This was Cal's favorite park.  After all it
was where the renegades had landed following their escape from the Dark
Kingdom.  It had also been one of the first places he'd stumbled across
after his first dimensional crossing.  Pyrite's sensors were still buried
in four of its trees.  They'd never retrieved them. 
     Mai was clinging to him more than usual.  She was still shaken by
Jadeite's attack.  It had shaken her skepticism to the core.  It's hard to
deny the existence of the supernatural after being attacked by a youma.
She'd been afraid Cal would deny having seen anything but he obviously
wasn't the stereotypical hardheaded westerner. 
     Of course Cal was neither a skeptic or a westerner having grown up in
the Dark Kingdom.  He'd seen a lot of strange things in his time.  Like
his sister showing up friday night in that Sailor Polaris costume.  That
certainly qualified as one of the strangest.  He'd had a few words with
about that yesterday.  Hopefully that nonsense was over with, she'd been
lucky not to get herself killed. 
     Not far away Titanite was standing in a line for a comic fair also
thinking about Sailor Polaris.  Saturday had passed without incident apart
from being berated by her brother for stupidity.  He'd taken pains to
point out she had no combat experience and little idea how to effectively
use her own powers.  She'd pointed out having taken out Nephrite with one
shot which he'd dismissed as beginners luck.  He was convinced, as were
Azurite and Pyrite, that this was the work of a single youma using
different identities. So next time whoever it was showed up he (or she, or
it) would know her capabilities.  He'd have confiscated her (actually
Azutite's) transmutation bracelet if Azurite hadn't stopped him.  She'd
pointed out that if circumstances required Titanite to use her powers it'd
be better that she do it as Sailor Polaris rather than as Titania Hobbes. 
     Calcite had agreed.  He'd even said that now she didn't have to stay
confined she should be taught to use her powers for best effect.  However
that would have to wait until they could find a training site they could
be sure the Sailor Warriors wouldn't stumble across.  Ti had been eager to
learn which was something of a reversal.  In the Dark Kingdom she'd been
extremely pacifistic and hadn't wanted to learn how to fight.  Of course
back then for her to fight would have been a last resort.  As if she could
beat anyone who could take out her guardians.  While genetically she was
potentially as powerful as her brother the key to unlocking those powers
remained unknown. That was also before she became enamoured by those
stupid cartoons. 
     Her eagerness had made her brother suspicious that she was planning
another outing as Sailor Polaris.  So Azurite had asked her to promise
that she wouldn't use that identity or her powers except in self defense. 
She'd sworn she wouldn't and that had satisfied Azurite.  Calcite had
accepted it but had said he'd be keeping an eye on her.  Azurite had told
him that was unnecessary as Ti had never broken a promise to her. 
     It was fortunate, Titanite reflected, that Azurite didn't know the
human convention that a promise made with your fingers crossed doesn't
count. Her fingers toyed with the charm hanging from her bracelet. 
Without it she might not have been allowed out unescorted.  Her brother
seemed to think that the mystery youma might know her identity and attack
her when she was alone. Pyrite had pointed out that while the enemy
probably did know both siblings real natures it hadn't been targeting
them.  At least not directly.  Besides it was impractical for the four of
them to stick together constantly.  So he'd unveiled his latest invention,
disguised signallers to be used if they were attacked.  It'd transmit a
telepathic signal they could use as a teleport lock.  They being Calcite
and Azurite the two fighters of the group. 
     So she'd been allowed to come here alone which was fine by her.  It
was also fine with Cal since he didn't want to have to trail around after
her all day.  Now she just had to avoid blowing all her savings.  Her
interests were fairly eclectic though there were two subjects she avoided. 
Anything featuring catlike females tended to upset her brother if he saw
it.  She could understand that, she'd been fond of auntie Margrave. 
Despite the fact that Azurite couldn't stand her. 
     She also avoided the hentai material.  All those tentacles brought
back unpleasant memories of a youma who had tried to molest her (at the
least) when she'd been nine years old.  The memory came back.  She'd snuck
out of the house unnoticed.  Back then she'd thought her brother had been
exaggerating the dangers of the outside world.  Until she'd met that
youma.  He'd been half preying mantis, half octopus.  At least that's how
she'd describe him now having seen both.  She hadn't had much chance look
before he was on her tearing at her clothing. 
     Then he'd screamed and released her, stumbling backwards with several
knives sticking out of him.  Calcite and Azurite had landed beside her and
Azurite had made her cover her eyes.  There had been a strange crackle and
a bursting noise.  Something wet had splashed her cheek but Azurite had
brushed it away.  They'd teleported her home and done what they could to
ease her warp sickness.  She'd had nightmares after this and asked Azurite
if the youma would come after her again.  Azurite had assured her that
Calcite had made sure he wouldn't.  At the time she hadn't understood just
what Azurite meant.  It had been about another year before she realized
Calcite sometimes killed people to protect her. 
     It had scared her and she'd run to Azurite.  Who'd told her not to
judge her brother too harshly.  "He does what he has too to keep you and
the rest of us alive.  But don't ever think it's easy for him or that he
enjoys it.  To survive we've all done things we're not proud of, and we'll
have to do more of them in the future.  It's a hard life but it's all
we've got."  She hadn't volunteered any more than that and Ti hadn't asked
again. 
     That was why becoming Sailor Polaris had upset Cal so much.  He'd
spent years keeping her safe and now she was putting herself into danger. 
She could understand that but circumstances had changed.  She was no
longer in a place full of more powerful beings who'd rip her apart for
being different. Or just for their own amusement.  She didn't have to stay
hidden anymore but she couldn't use her powers in public.  At least not in
her human identity. Now she had a way to fully express herself. 
     Besides it was fun having a secret identity and if she got to hang
out with the Sailor Warriors that would be cool. 
     Curiously Sailor Polaris was on the minds of two other nonhumans. 
They'd been debating the question and going in circles since Friday night. 
Luna looked at Artemis and again said, "I still say there was never any
such person as Sailor Polaris!" 
     Again Artemis shrugged and said, "I don't remember her either but a
green haired Sailor Warrior seems right somehow.  And I definitely
remember there being more than five Sailor Warriors.  I can't quite
remember who the others were but there are, or were, others."  Something
else occurred to him, "Of course having five Sailor Warriors was wrong all
along but we didn't notice." 
     Luna was puzzled, "What do you mean?" 
     Artemis collected his thoughts, "I mean the whole Sailor Moon thing
slipped by both of us.  Back in the old days of Silver Millenium there
never was a Sailor Moon.  Yet when Usagi manifested that identity it never
occurred to either of us that anything unusual had happened.  Neither of
us drew any connection between her and the moon princess." 
     Luna looked uncertain.  "I'll admit it's strange that neither of us
caught that but the point is ... errr ..." 
     "The point is that neither of us can trust their memory 100%.  Maybe
suspended animation causes memory loss but I can't see both of us
forgetting exactly the same things.  At least not without assistance." 
     "Meaning?" 
     "Meaning our memories were tampered with.  There's only one person
who could have done it." 
     "You mean? 
     "Yep, her majesty Queen Serenity." 
     "But why?" 
     "I don't know Luna.  Why she wanted her daughter reborn as a Sailor
Warrior is a mystery.  Maybe it's some sort of training to make her fit to
rule.  Let's face it, Usagi has a long way to go before I'd trust her
running a household let alone a monarchy." 
     "But what is she supposed to rule?  Silver Millenium was destroyed
thousands of years ago and I can't see how you'd reestablish it on Earth." 
     "Errrr ..."  It occurred to Artemis maybe he hadn't considereed this
issue as well as he'd thought.  "Maybe she has to carve out her own
kingdom, queendom I mean." 
     "You mean conquer territory?  Use the Silver Crystal to take over
Japan, maybe the whole world?" 
     "Ha!  Usagi?  Come on Luna, can you seriously imagine Usagi as Gengis
Kahn?" 
     Luna chuckled, "You're right I'm being silly.  Besides Queen Serenity
would never have planned something like that."  She paused then added,
"For now her majesty's motives in altering our memories must remain a
mystery. Like this whole Sailor Polaris/Dark Kingdom comeback thing. 
Until we have a bit more information all we can do is speculate wildly." 
     "I suppose so.  By the way where'd our Sailor Warriors get too?" 
     "They said that since we didn't know where or when Jadeite or
Nephrite would reappear they might as well get some icecream and go boy
watching. Sometimes I wonder why we bother." 
     "Well regardless of how flaky they get they've always come through.
Besides they already died for the Silver Crystal twice.  They've proven
their dedication." 
     "True.  We're lucky they weren't completely traumatised.  If they
weren't so ... adolescent I wonder if they could cope?  Anyway let's drop
this whole Usagi the conqueror idea." 
     Artemis nodded but privately he wondered just how had Silver
Millenium been established in the first place?  In the real old days
before the peace and love era he'd been born into. 
     Meanwhile back in the park Cal could sense Mai loosening up a bit. 
That was good but for some reason he had a definite feeling of foreboding. 
He couldn't shake the idea that something was about to happen.  But what? 
There hadn't been a sign of Nephrite since Friday night.  Jadeite hadn't
been spotted since Wednesday ... Wednesday, Friday, and today was Sunday. 
Could there been a pattern of a general appearing every other day?  No
that was ridiculous, two incidents does not make a pattern. 
     He was chiding himself for his foolishness when he sensed a youma
aura. It felt shielded meaning he was close to the source.  But
inadequately so if he could sense this much leakage.  Where was it?  Mai
felt him tense. 
     "What's wrong Calvin?" 
     He was about to answer when a somewhat effeminate young man emerged
from behind a tree.  He stepped into the path of a couple of nearby
tourists. Calcite heard him ask them, "Excuse me, could you help a fellow
American who's down on his luck?" 
     The voice had acquired an American accent but he recognised it and
the the speaker's face.  Damnit, not again!  He began steering Mai away as
unobtrusively as possible. 
     "What do you want pretty boy?"  The older of the two Americans
sounded more than a bit belligerant.  Evidently he didn't care for
Zoisite's appearance.  This didn't seem to both Zoisite who simply said,
"Your energy!" He held his left palm upwards and a softball sized sphere
of light appeared.  Two glowing tendrils snapped out of the ball and
struck them in their chests. Both froze in place joined to the ball by the
light.  Zoisite gestured with his right hand and dozens of tendrils
exploded out of the ball.  Everyone they hit became paralysed and started
to look weaker.  A panicked exodus began among the parkgoers.  People were
snared as they ran, immobilized and knocked over by those fleeing. 
     Mai had been having nightmares about this since she emerged from her
coma.  About devils that looked human eating away at her from the inside.
She couldn't stop looking back as Calvin hustled her away.  A tendril
surged towards them and she screamed.  It charged towards her heart then
bounced away about a half a metre before impact.  Bouncing off the green
pane of light that emenated from Calvin's hand.  She stared at him and
opened her mouth to speak.  He pushed a red walnut sized crystal into her
hands and said, "This'll protect you long enough to get clear of the park. 
Now get out of here!"  She just stared at him, a million questions
forming.  He pushed her away and shouted, "MOVE DAMNIT!"  Half a dozen
tendrils flickered towards them and she turned and ran, her eyes closed. 
She was lucky and didn't trip over anything or anyone nor run into
anything stationary.  She also didn't see the tendrils that approached her
bounce away as if they'd hit an invisible wall. 
     "Not the smartest thing I've ever done", Calcite thought as he
glanced around.  His luck held, no other conscious witnesses in sight. 
Zoisite seemed to be waiting for him, best not to disappoint.  He
triggered his transmuter and felt his clothing shift into Gray's
battlesuit.  As he did he altered his glamour, shifting his haircolor from
long and blond to short and grey. 
     Zoisite looked a little disapproving.  "Dear, dear.  You looked so
much better with the ponytail.  Tell me did you wear it in honour of me?" 
     "Just keeping it out of the way.  I've never felt any desire to
emulate you."  His opponent had stopped masking his aura, it stood out
like a beacon for anyone who knew how to sense it.  Like the other times
the aura was a perfect match for the appearance.  This wasn't an
appearance masking glamour spell.  Somehow, incredible as it seemed, that
was Zoisite.  How this was possible Calcite didn't know.  His normal
glamour disguised his hair and blood color.  At least in his presence.  As
Gray his hair appeared shorter but that was just an illusion, the actual
length remained the same.  But the Zoisite lookalike ... could he be
facing a real shapeshifter? 
     The one good part about this was that since his opponent already knew
who he really was there was no need to limit himself.  He could use all
his powers instead of just the ones designated for Gray's use.  Or at
least he could have before he suddenly sensed familiar presences
approaching fast. 
     "How dare you come back from the dead to interrupt peoples day of
leisure. Ghosts should respect the livings desire for relaxation since you
don't have to work anymore.  So on behalf of the Moon ..." 
     "And Mars!" 
     "And Jupiter!" 
     "And Venus!" 
     "And Mercury!" 
     "...We will punish you!" 
     As the Sailor Warriors did their (somewhat questionable) "Strike
terror into the hearts of evildoers" pose Calcite wondered if they were
familiar with the concept of surprise attacks. 
     A few minutes earlier they'd been strolling along the street in their
everyday identities acting according to their natures.  Minako and Makoto
were checking out guys, Rei and Usagi were squabbling and Ami was fretting
about taking time off from her studying.  Then Rei had suddenly shut up
and spun around 90 degrees.  At almost the same instant they'd heard the
screams in the distance.  Rei had whispered, "Youma!" and they'd headed
for the nearest shady spot to transform.  As they did Rei had told them
she'd again sensed a familiar evil presence.  Another old enemy had
returned. 
     Once his attack had begun Zoisite made no effort to hide his
presence. You'd have had to be out of sensing range or psychically blind
to miss it.  Titanite wasn't either which was why she pushed her way out
of the comic fair and looked for a place to change. 
     Azurite and Pyrite were out of range but Zoisite was standing in the
middle of Pyrite's sensor array.  So was Calcite.  Pyrite swore as he
realized his cousin was going up against one of the general's alone. 
"What the <long expletive deleted> is Cal doing?" 
     "He was with Mai remember?  You know Cal he's doing it to protect
her.  Besides this probably isn't a real general." 
     "Maybe, but whoever or whatever it is has the power to do a good
impression.  I think he's in over his head." 
     Azurite had slipped on a new bracelet.  "Which is why he needs
backup. You're sure no one can detect teleports in and out of the house?" 
     He nodded.  Before he could try talking her out of it she grabbed
him, kissed him, stepped back and vanished.  Pyrite ran a finger over his
lips and wondered if that was a kiss before dying.  He'd never even asked
what she'd programmed the bracelet to do.  All he could do was watch the
scanner and hope for the best.  His crystal ball showed the Sailor
Warriors arrive.  Good, maybe they could deal with this and Azure and Cal
could stay out of it.  Then he swore again as the sensors picked up
Titanite about to arrive. 
     Back in the park Zoisite was surveying his adversaries with no sign
of concern.  "My, my.  Six against one doesn't seem fair.  Still we're
missing someone.  Where's the handsome fellow in the tuxedo?  I was so
hoping to meet him again." 
     "Hey you keep your hands off Mam ... Tuxedo Mask!" 
     "Calm down Sailor Moon.  He's just trying to provoke you." 
     "Yes that's right Sailor Jupiter, keep a tight reign on your friend.
After all we both know you can't face me without her." 
     "What!" 
     "Remember our first encounter?  If Sailor Moon hadn't been there to
back you up I'd have slaughtered you.  A hulk like you beat someone as
graceful as me?  No wonder you can't get a boyfriend.  Still it's hardly
surprising that someone as big and lumbering as you would ..."  Jupiter
launched herself at Zoisite, ignoring her friends telling her to wait. 
She was going to mangle the smug little creep.  She'd nearly wrecked him
without powers the first time they'd met.  As she'd expected Zoisite
dodged her first strike.  It was a feint and her fist cannoned into his
face.  At least it should have except his free hand blocked her punch and
closed around her fist.  Makoto felt crushing pressure and let out an
involuntary yell. 
     "JUPITER!"  The Sailor Warriors readied their attacks trying to aim
past Makoto.  Zoisite raised his left hand and there was a flicker of
color through the tendrils.  All the frozen people twitched and Zoisite
smiled. 
     "I wouldn't do that if I were you.  Those people are linked to this. 
If I tell it to make them drop dead this park gets full of corpses.  When
I get threatened I get edgy."  The four Sailor Warriors froze.  Jupiter
kept trying to pull her hand free and aimed a kick at Zoisite.  Despite
her closeness he dodged it.  Then Gray's voice cut in. 
     "He's bluffing.  All those tendrils can do is paralyse people and
drain lifeforce.  Right now that sphere's at its limit.  It can't absorb
anymore energy.  Take him out and it's all over!" 
     "Are they going to take your word for that?  Oh and if you throw
those knives I'll use Jupiter as a shield." 
     Calcite checked his motion.  This guy was good.  The real Zoisite
would not have noticed his muscles shifting.  He'd always avoided hand to
hand combat as being vulgar.  Calcite needed a distraction.  Then he saw
one about to to arrive behind Zoisite.  The Sailor Warriors hadn't
noticed, they were looking for a way to hit Zoisite without blasting
Jupiter or taking out any of the immobilized victims.  He had to keep
Zoisite occupied.  "So what's it like being dead?" 
     "Very, very dull.  But you'll find out for yourself very soon." 
     "That a fact?" 
     "Oh yes.  So do you think I should hang on to Jupiter as a hostage or
break her in half and use the shock to take out the other Warriors?" 
     "How about C, none of the above?"  Titanite had aimed herself
perfectly and landed on Zoisite's wrist.  Cal couldn't be sure it had hurt
him but it definitely startled him.  His hand opened and released Jupiter. 
Titanite hit the ground, grabbed Jupiter and jumped clear.  Calcite's
blades and a wide range of energy based attacks ripped towards Zoisite. 
     Who flickered and was gone before they reached him.  Almost everyone
spun around watching for Zoisite to reappear next to them.  The only
exceptions were Sailors Jupiter and Polaris.  Jupiter massaged the hand
Zoisite had almost broken and muttered, "Thanks Sailor Polaris.  It was
stupid of me to attack singlehanded." 
     "Well live and learn.  Now where is Zoisite?"  There was a cry and
Sailor Moon hit the ground, Zoisite vanished again.  Calcite swore, he
should have anticipated that.  She was the most powerful so he was bound
to take her out first.  He stepped over one of Zoisite's victims.  When
Zoisite disappeared he'd taken the energy sphere with him.  The tendrils
had winked out and everyone caught by them had collapsed.  He heard
Zoisite's voice echo through the park. 
     "My this is fun.  Queen Beryl should have had me hunting Sailor
Warriors and draining energy all along.  Instead she had me hunting for
those seven ridiculous crystals.  The seven great demons indeed ... those
losers, what was so great about them?"  It was impossible to trace the
source of the voice.  "Oh look an audience." 
     The park was built into the side of a hill.  Meaning one side ended
in a wall with steps up to street level.  At the top of this wall a
growing group of otaku was gazing down.  While Titanite hadn't been
spotted becoming Sailor Polaris she'd been sighted afterwards leaving the
convention site.  Due to her inability to teleport without sideffects
she'd had to proceed on foot.  The sight of a previously unknown Sailor
Warrior had brought the fans trailing after her. 
     Calcite didn't know that.  He just knew that Zoisite had just spotted
some more potential hostages.  Wherever he was.  Another cry and he was
standing over the unconscious Sailor Mercury.  Zoisite picked her up and
tossed her on top of Sailor Moon.  Which left him standing in a clear spot
without any hostages.  Sailor Mars smiled.  "Big mistake FIRE SOUL BIRD!"
The construct ripped towards Zoisite then slowed.  Its' outlines blurred
and it broke into a mass of fire.  Which danced around Zoisite's hand. 
     He smiled at the shocked Rei and asked, "Did you think you were the
only one who knew how to play with fire?"  Then his hand glowed and a
force blast slammed her back into a tree.  Rei dropped and the fans were
heard to boo. This evidently amused Zoisite as he was laughing when he
disappeared along with the flames. 
     Three down, Jupiter injured, no sign of Tuxedo Mask and Polaris an
unknown quantity.  To Sailor Venus things were looking bad.  This was the
third time they'd been fighting someone who picked them off one by one. 
They really had to improve their strategy, do some training exercises.  If
they were still alive tomorrow. 
     Polaris was watching over the injured Jupiter which left her and
Gray. She crossed the distance between them and stood behind him.  "I
watch your back you watch mine." 
     "Good thinking."  He began edging them towards the unconscious and
defenseless threesome.  As he did he added, "Just like old times!" 
     "Yes."  Except now she wondered if those old times had been a sham. 
Was Lord Calcite ever a serious threat or just a decoy?  Just what had
happened and what was going on now? 
     There was a thud and she turned her head in time to see Makoto
collapse unconscious.  Polaris was trying to blast Zoisite., "POLARIS
AHHHHHHH!" A force blast slammed her into a bench.  She slumped and
Zoisite aimed a second bolt to finish the job. 
     "NO!"  She heard Gray's cry and then somehow he was between Zoisite
and Polaris.  This blast was far stronger than the first.  For a moment
Gray seemed rooted in place.  For a moment.  Then he was thrown backwards,
cannoned into Polaris and both were flung over the bench into the bodies
of Moon, Mars and Mercury. 
      Zoisite grimaced.  Several of Gray's blades were sticking out of
him.  He looked hurt but not incapacitated.  Venus had seen Gray make his
knives detonate at will or electrocute the stabbed person.  Unfortunately
Gray was out for the count so that wasn't going to happen.  Fortunately
she now had a clear shot at Zoisite. 
     "CRESENT BEAM SHOWER!"  Her most recent attack surged towards
Zoisite.  Just before impact it hit an unseen something and ricocheted
away.  It barely missed Makoto's head when it splashed into the ground by
the sprawled Sailor Warrior.  "JUPITER!"  Minako was distracted for a
moment.  Just a moment but that was long enough.  She sensed something
behind her and spun to confront it.  Then the world went black. 
     The flames continue dancing around Zoisite's left hand.  With his
right he picked up Jupiter and tossed her towards his heaped up enemies. 
He'd tossed Venus over there a moment ago.  Overhead he could hear fans
either weeping over the fallen or taking photographs to preserve the
moment for posterity.  Why disappoint them?  He let the flames build in
intensity.  Time for cooking with Sailor Warriors!  He could sense Gray
had regained enough consciousness to wrap his forceshield around his
sister.  Good, it was far too early to remove them from the board.  Pity
he'd hoped the Warriors would survive until the grande finale.  But the
nature of the game required removing them if nothing was present to stop
him. 
     Suddenly the still air was broken by a rising wind. It howled through
the park then suddenly the stillness returned.  From atop a lightpost came
a new voice.  "Takes a tough guy to burn unconscious people alive.  Why
not face me if you've got the guts?" 
     Fans looked towards the post but as they were looking into the sun
they couldn't make out any details.  Zoisite smiled and said, "Why not
come down here and we'll discuss it?" 
     "My pleasure!"  There was a blur of motion and the figure landed near
Zoisite.  A lot of otaku gasped and those with cameras started taking
photos. The dazed Sailor Mars heard Gray mutter, "Oh not again!  What the
hell is she doing?" 
     The mystery figure was dressed in Sailor Warrior style but filled it
a lot better.  She looked to be early twenties, the body of a swimsuit
model, neon blue hair and a somewhat menacing look.  While it was a basic
Sailor Warrior outfit the color was a bit different.  Instead of white the
leotard and gloves were a bright red.  The rest of the outfit was black,
black leather to be precise.  From the stiletto heeled lace up boots, to
the mini skirt, to the bow across the well filled chest.  The domino mask
across her red eyes was also leather as was the spiked coller around her
throat.  A variety of fantasies began rippling across fanboy brains. 
     Meanwhile at ground level the new Sailor Warrior was saying, "My star
burns with the light of justice and brings me to this place.  On behalf of
the red star Sailor Arcturus will punish you!" 
     Zoisite paused a moment to look over her outfit again then said,
"There's probably a lot of men in this town who'd rather enjoy that.  But
I'm not one of them.  So I'm going to have to kill you!"  As he said this
he flung the massive fireball he'd formed at her. 
     It surged forward then slowed and stopped.  Winds rippled around
Sailor Arcturus and the fireball circulating in front of her.  It began
compacting. Azurite's air vortex generation powers were not to be taken
lightly.  As anyone who'd met one of her highly focused hurricanes could
tell you (those who survived).  Zoisite scowled and raised his hands for
another shock blast. Gray slid free from his tangle with Sailor Polaris
and slipped behind Zoisite. He created two handfuls of knives and got
ready to strike.  Filling Zoisite's back with stabwounds wasn't going to
do much for his hero reputation but needs must ... 
     He didn't get the chance.  He heard Azurite shout "BURNING WHIRLWIND" 
had a second to figure it out and then jumped clear.  The swirling vortex
of superheated plasma struck the path he'd been lying on and the asphalt
bubbled. Calcite dodged, Zoisite wasn't so fortunate.  There was a shriek
that hurt the ears.  Then the fire and the smoke cleared and Zoisite
became visible again.  He looked singed but largely unhurt.  He staggered
over to a wall and said, "Screw this" and vanished in his characteristic
swirl of lights. 
     Eight blades punched into the wall where he'd been standing.  Gray
swore and limped over to the punctured bricks.  As he'd half expected
there were the calling card rocks again.  Four of them this time.  He
slipped three out of sight and carried the fourth back to the reviving
Sailor Warriors. 
     Sailor Arcturus had checked the Sailor Warriors weren't seriously
hurt and had been keeping watch.  Seeing the signature rock in Calcite's
hand she relaxed a bit.  Those only got left when the perpetrator departed
for places unknown.  Hearing the click of cameras she decided to strike a
few poses. The clicking intensified.  Sailor Polaris was watching her with
awe.  "Wow, big sister Arcturus that was incredible!" 
     "Naturally.  I'm the best at what I do!"  When creating this identity
Azurite had decided to try for a bad girl personna.  It promised to be a
lot of fun.  From overhead she heard various expressions of admiration,
offers to buy her underwear and a variety of requests for retribution for
naughtiness. The recovering Sailor Warriors were also watching her.  In
some cases with expressions of envy.  Calcite, still in his Gray personna,
limped over. 
     "I'd like a word with you Sailor Arcturus!" 
     "No need to thank me Gray." 
     "Thank you!  For nearly barbecueing me?" 
     "Nearly only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.  Anyway it wasn't
too shaby for my Japanese debut."  Gray muttered something unintelligible
and limped over to Sailor Mercury with the rock.  Azurite hid her concern,
Cal was upset by something more than her presence.  Maybe it was just Ti
but she had the feeling there was more to it than that. 
     Mercury studied the rock and announced that it was zoisite.  No big
surprise.  Sailor Moon said a pattern seemed to be developing and Sailor
Mars made a snide comment about how long it had taken her to figure it
out. Around them Zoisite's victims began stirring.  They'd be weak for
several days but it wasn't critical.  Mercury was using her scanning vizor
and said much the same thing
     Gray limped back to Sailors Polaris and Arcturus.  They were still
the main focus of otaku attention though a few seemed to be studying him. 
Polaris turned to him and gushed, "This is going to be great.  The three
of us and the Sailor Warriors against the enemy.  It'll be fun." 
     Calcite exploded, he had his reasons.  "SURE THING IT'LL BE GREAT. 
THROW YOUR LIFE AWAY FIGHTING THE DARK KINGDOM.  WHY SHOULD I CARE!" 
     Arcturus looked at him, "Gray you really need to cut down on the
caffine." 
     "So it's OK then?"  Polaris asked.  Calcite thought of explaining
about sarcasm but instead just sighed and massaged his forehead.  Polaris
took that as a yes.  "Great, thanks big brother.  But now we need a name." 
     "What?"  He hoped the Sailor Warriors didn't take that big brother
part literally.  He was going to have to remind Titanite what secret
identities meant. 
     "A name for our group.  How about ... the nifty three?"  From the
look Cal gave her that was not even close.  "Ok well how about ..." 
Nothing came to mind. 
     Arcturus looked over the innocent looking Ti, Calcite's grimmer than
usual Gray and considered her own image.  She smiled and said, "I've got
the perfect name for our little threesome.  How about, 'The good, the bad
and the surly'?" 
     Gray glanced at her.  "Don't give up your day job." 
     Meanwhile Sailor Venus had felt her head clear enough to remember
what she'd wanted to talk to Gray about.  She'd been too dazed to mention
it after Nephrite's attack.  Gray was still talking to the new Sailor
Warriors. Makoto and Rei were studying Arcturus and muttering how they'd
look a lot better than that in a few years.  Maybe she could get a few
answers.  "Gray!" 
     Gray looked relieved to drop whtever he'd been discussing with his
partners, sidekicks, whoever.  "Yes Sailor Venus?" 
     "I know why you're in Japan." 
     "You do?"  He sounded puzzled. 
     "It's because of Calcite isn't it?"  Gray and Arcturus tensed
slightly, Polaris looked astonished. 
     "Calcite?" 
     "I know he's in town.  He phoned me a few days ago." 
     "He did?"  Polaris looked like she was about to say something but
Arcturus silenced her.  Gray was silent for a moment then said, "I'm not
ready to discuss my reasons for being here yet.  Calcite is small fry,
nothing to worry about."  He turned to his companions, "The enemy's gone
so there's no reason to remain.  We're leaving." 
     "But ..."  Polaris had been hoping to hang out with the real Sailor
Warriors.  Still she'd learned when her brother wouldn't stand being
crossed and this was one of those times.  Somewhat resignedly she said,
"OK big brother." 
     Gray looked at Arcturus, "If you're finished posing we'll get out of
here." 
     She shrugged, "Fine by me.  I imagine there's no shortage of pictures
of me after this." 
     "Right.  Let's move Polaris.  You too Dominatrix Arcturus." 
     "That's Sailor Arcturus." 
     "Whichever." 
     The three of them headed away in a series of superhuman leaps.  The
crowd began breaking up.  Mars and Jupiter tried doing their signature
poses but no one seemed really interested.  Venus heard Rei muttering
something about how it had to be silicon.  Usagi was saying that she'd
wanted to talk to Polaris again.  She'd thought she recognised a kindred
spirit.  Minako stopped herself from saying something negative.  One thing
she did know from their reactions.  Somehow Calcite was involved with
their presence and Gray didn't want anyone interfering. 
     Ami was gazing in the direction the trio had disappeared and said, "I
wonder how hard it is keeping all that leather clean."  She became aware
she'd spoken out loud and that everyone was looking at her.  Ami blushed a
brilliant crimson and muttered something about oxidation. 
     Jupiter looked at Mars.  "It's always the quiet ones." 
     Mars nodded, "Absolutely.  Guess she's going to give her SM initials
a whole new meaning." 
     The extremely embarrassed Ami was rather glad when this teasing was
interrupted by the belated arrival of Tuxedo Mask.  "Sorry I'm late Sailor
Moon.  So what happened?" 
      As Usagi began filling him in Minako felt a tap on her shoulder. 
This guy looked like a reporter.  "Excuse me Sailor ... Jupiter?" 
     "I'm Sailor Venus!" 
     "Sorry.  Mind telling me who the new guys were?" 
     Well why not?  Publicising Gray and the others might scare Calcite
into the open.  Where she'd be waiting for him.  "Sure.  The man was an
English superhero by the name of Gray ..." 
     Meanwhile some distance away the trio had ducked into an alley. 
Calcite had cast a new glamour spell so it would appear empty to the
average passerby. He studied Azurite's outfit again and asked, "No whip?" 
     "I thought that would be a bit over the top." 
     "First Ti now you!  I credited you with a bit more sense than this. 
Low profile, remember?" 
     "That was when we thought we were getting caught up in an attack on
the Sailor Warriors.  But it's time to face facts.  We are getting
targetted.  To be more specific you are.  Unless you think it's
coincidence that you've been at all three of the attack sights." 
     Calcite sighed, "I'm afraid you're right and I could certainly use
some backup.  But when we discussed the possibility we were talking about
a Gray spinoff not another Sailor Warrior." 
     Azurite shrugged, "I thought about it but I decided that calling
myself Lady Jane Gray or whatever and wrapping myself in all over body
armour wasn't me.  If you've got it flaunt it as they say so I decided the
Sailor Warrior outfit would look better.  With a few touches to make it
unique." 
     "I'd say you succeeded." 
     "I'm a model remember.  I often wear a lot less than this in public.
Anyway that's not what's really bothering you." 
     "You're right.  But it can wait till we get home." 
     Azurite reached for the bow on her chest and removed one of Pyrite's
crystals.  "I'll need to switch this off first.  Which reminds me of our
next problem."  At Calcite's puzzled look she continued, "Did you wonder
why I was so sure Zoisite wouldn't warp away from my attack?" 
     "No.  I thought maybe you'd got lucky and he'd exhausted his
precision jumping power again." 
     "This is Pyr's latest invention.  When activated it prevents
teleporting in its vicinity.  Which is why I joined the party so late.  I
arrived at the wrong end of the park and activated it.  Which meant
searching for you on foot." 
     "Pity you didn't arrive sooner.  Whoever's behind this uses precision
teleports devestatingly."  Something occurred to him.  "But Zoisite
escaped by teleporting.  Is it still working?" 
     "Yes.  Try a short range jump to the other end of the alley." 
     Calcite focussed on the destination and felt his mind fill with
static. He almost lost his balance, leaned against the wall and shut down
his teleporting power.  After taking a deep breath he said, "Certainly
seems effective." 
     Azurite nodded, "It'll block us but it couldn't block Zoisite.  Don't
ask me why." 
     "I'll ask Pyrite.  Shut it down and let's get out of here."  Azurite
nodded.  Titanite, who'd been sulking since getting dragged away from the
park, suddenly looked apprehensive. 
     "Uhm couldn't we just change back to normal then walk home?" 
     "Sorry.  The senshi might have traced us to this alley.  So a
mysterious exit is in order.  Let's link."  Both Azurite and Pyrite took
one of Ti's arms.  Their teleporting powers linked, so they'd all arrive
at the same destination.  Azurite sensed Calcite's selected arrival point
in her mind. It wasn't much of a surprise.  Calcite detonated the smoke
grenade and let the alley fill with a grey cloud.  There was a flare of
light and they were gone. 
     They rematerialized in the bathroom.  As before Ti was hit with
severe nauseau.  However once that subsided she looked healthier than
before.  Still very pale but still able to stand upright without help. 
Calcite deactivated the Gray costume but didn't restore his glamour. 
Titanite just removed her mask, Azurite didn't even bother doing that. 
They all trooped down to Pyrite's workroom. 
     After admiring Azurite's costume Pyrite got down to business.  "Glad
you're all safe, things looked bad on the crystal ball for a while."  He
waved a hand at the glass globe.  It showed the park filled with
paramedics picking up the drained people and carrying them to the waiting
ambulances. "I'll have to design personal communicators.  It was terrible
seeing what was going on but being unable to warn you." 
     "Just what did happen?  How'd Zoisite keep disappearing?" 
     "Glad you asked cousin.  Watch this."  Pyrite did something to the
globe and the image shifted backward.  In the ball Zoisite disappeared
after Sailor Polaris broke Sailor Jupiter free.  Pyrite must have focussed
it on Zoisite's aura because the image shifted to a sprawled victim on the
ground.  A victim who looked nothing like Zoisite but hadn't been there a
moment ago.  Sailor Moon stepped over him as she circled around looking
for Zoisite.  In the instant her back was turned the figure stood up,
became Zoisite and struck her down.  Pyrite froze the picture. 
     Calcite nodded.  "So he teleported somewhere out of line of sight,
became one of his own victims and took out the first person to give him an
opening." 
     "Looks that way.  Shapeshifting in mid warp ... incredible." 
     "We'll worry about that later.  Any ideas how Zoisite beat your
jammer?" 
     "Not yet.  He must use a new kind of warp signature.  Lucky for us he
did it in the middle of my sensor net.  I'll have to review the readings. 
So any other problems?" 
     "Two."  Calcite tossed three chunks of rock on the table.  "This is
the minor one.  Name those stones." 
     "Well the white one's calcite, this is titanite and this last one ...
deep blue crystals ... azurite right?"  Calcite nodded.  "Very pretty, it
suits you."  Azurite took the chunk and studied it.  The first time she'd
seen her namesake.  Not a bad stone to share your name with. 
     Calcite sighed and said, "Now we come to the big problem.  When
Zoisite attacked I shielded Mai."  Azurite groaned.  "It was an
instinctive response! But it leaves us with a problem." 
     Titanite looked at her brother.  "You're going to mess with her
mind?" 
     "Maybe.  Problem is the Jadeite incident caused a trauma and
Zoisite's attack was close enough to associate with it.  So it might be
deeply buried in her mind.  Which means if I try to block it ..." 
     "... You risk scrambling who knows how many memories.  Terrific."
Azurite didn't look happy.  "So what's the plan boss?" 
     "Boss?" 
     "You do run our merry little group." 
     "Funny I don't recall asking you to come up with a secret identity
out of some specialist catalog." 
     "I like it", Pyrite contributed. 
     Azurite shrugged and said, "You didn't say not too.  Besides you
needed backup so I tried to anticipate your orders." 
     Calcite smiled, "I'm the leader but all my followers are anarchists. 
OK getting serious I'll try to defuse Mai by telling her some of the
truth." 
     "Which is?" 
     "That I'm secretly the superhero Gray and it's my job to protect
people, especially her, from lifeforce draining demons." 
     "That might work.  Of course she might want to know what your
connection is to Sailor Arcturus."  Pyrite spread his hands.  "Just
something to think about." 
     Azurite nodded.  "It's worth a try Cal.  So what now?" 
     "Well the current pattern seems to indicate we're getting a general
every other day.  I expect Kunzite to show up on tuesday.  Very possibly
in my vicinity since I've been at the sight of every attack." 
     Pyrite shook his head.  "Not quite.  You went to the site of
Jadeite's second attack.  He didn't come to you.  In fact so far only
Jadeite's appeared more than once.  Which is interesting." 
     "You think maybe it really is Jadeite behind a series of masks?" 
Pyrite nodded and Calcite added, "But Jadeite wasn't a shapeshifter.  At
least I never heard anything along those lines." 
     Azurite nodded, "All I can say is that was Zoisite out there today. 
I met the little creep back in the Dark Kingdom and I recognised the aura. 
It wasn't just a glamour." 
     Pyrite shrugged, "I don't have all the answers." 
     Calcite said, "Regardless whoever's behind this knows we're around
and is trying to involve us in his battles with the Sailor Warriors. 
Including getting Sailor Venus to hunt for a fake Calcite.  Whoever our
impersonator is he's obviously been doing me.  Or rather the Lord Calcite
identity I used.  Worse if he phoned Venus that means he also knows her
real identity." 
     "So what's the plan big brother?"  Titanite was looking solemn. 
     "Since we're involved we'll try going on the offensive.  On tuesday
we'll attempt to trap Kunzite.  Hopefully by then you'll have got the bugs
out of your jammer Pyr.  We pick an ambush site, wait for him to appear
near me and then ..." 
     "And then Sailor Polaris, Sailor Arcturus and Gray take him out
right?"  Titanite felt excited.  Until she noticed the others didn't share
her enthusiasm. 
     Calcite looked her in the eye and said, "We consists of Azurite and I
with Pyrite providing technical backup.  You will be nowhere near the
place." She started to object but Calcite cut her off.  "You don't know
how to use your powers effectively so you'd be in the way and just give
Kunzite an easy target.  You've been lucky twice but your luck ran out
today.  You'd have been killed if I hadn't blocked Zoisite's second shock
blast." 
     Ti looked to Azurite for support and saw her shake her head.  "Cal's
right.  Until you know what you're doing you'd be a liability not an
asset. Today proved that." 
     "But ..." 
     "I let you keep the transmuter bracelet so you could defend yourself
without compromising Titania Hobbes identity.  Not so you could go out and
look for trouble which is what you did today." 
     Ti felt shocked.  They were banning her from being Sailor Polaris. 
She was about to protest when she caught her brother's expression.  She
subsided with poor grace. 
     Calcite turned to Pyrite, "Think you can get on with making an
effective jammer." 
     He nodded, "Sure I'll start studying the data."  He paused then added
"Things'll go quicker if Azure helps me." 
     She leaned over and asked, "Want me to keep the costume on?" 
     "For a little while." 
     Calcite took his sister's arm and steered her out of the basement.
"Right, let's go.  I'll see you both later." 
     "But ..." 
     Before Titanite could say anything else Cal said, "The two of us are
going to discuss the concepts of self defense vs going out looking for
trouble.  I advise you to listen closely." 
     Calcite closed the door behind them.  Rebelliously Titanite was
thinking that this wasn't over with.  She didn't care what the adults
thought, Sailor Polaris would be back. 
     That night all four of them were grouped around the television
watching the news.  Cal was looking depressed, he hadn't been able to find
Mai.  If she was home she was neither answering the phone or the door. 
He'd tried tracing her by the shielding crystal he'd given her but it had
exhausted its charge and couldn't be detected. 
     Behind the local newsanchor an artists conception of the five Sailor
Warriors appeared.  He said cheerfully, "Another sighting of the
mysterious Sailor Warriors.  As always they couldn't be accurately
described by witnesses and all the photos of them are blurry.  However a
new group who could be photographed have shown up."  The picture was
replaced by a photo of Sailors Polaris and Arcturus talking to Gray. 
     Calcite commented, "They must use some sort of magic that blurs their
features in human minds and on film.  No wonder they can not wear masks
and still remain unknown." 
     The reporter described the incident and named the newcomers.  Then
the screen split and a 40ish man identified as "Mr. C. Inoue" the head of
Juban modelworks appeared on the reporter's left.  He explained that he
was very excited by the appearance of these newcomers as he hoped it would
revive the flagging Sailor Warrior model line.  The picture changed to a
photo of Sailor Arcturus.  "Now we think she'll be the biggest seller.  We
already have a whole line of Arcturus merchandise on the drawing boards." 
     "Fast workers", Pyrite commented. 
     On the television the interviewers voice was asking what they were
doing about the existing toy lines.  The split screen showed Sailor
Arcturus on the left and Sailor V (a still from the movie) on the right. 
Inoue's voice replied, "Well we're phasing out the Sailor V line to make
room."  The picture of Arcturus expanded pushing Sailor V of the screen. 
The screen changed back to the interviewer and Inoue.  The latter
continued, "Interest in Sailor V has really waned among the toy buying
public.  We'd hoped for a revival when the movie came out on video but it
just didn't happen." 
     "Aren't there worries about promoting American Sailor Warriors over
our homegrown ones?" 
     "That's far too provincial.  Anyway Gray is English rather than
American. We haven't established the nationality of the other two yet.  We
expect him to catch on with the boys since he's obviously more of a
traditional hero than Tuxedo Mask." 
     Calcite chuckled, "Ah yes a traditional hero.  Looks serious all the
time, talks as little as possible, hates showing emotion and likes blowing
holes in things." 
     "Hey you created the guy big brother."  Ti seemed to have relaxed
since Calcite's impassioned lecture.  Maybe she'd got the message and had
given up on Sailor Polaris. 
     She hadn't and hearing about getting her own toy line just increased
her determination.  Sailor Polaris would be back. 
     Back on the TV the interviewer was asking, "Isn't it tricky making
toys based on real people rather than anime characters." 
     "Actually it's easier.  Nobody knows who they are and they don't want
to expose their identities.  Which makes them public domain so we don't
have to worry about license fees.  It's a lot cheaper than using
copyrighted characters." 
     The interviewer thanked him and went on to the next item.  Azurite
turned and asked, "Cal, you're in finance.  Any way we can collect on
those vultures exploiting our image?" 
     "Well we could set up a corporation to register and license our
identities.  The problem is how to collect funds from it without giving
ourselves away.  I'll give it some thought once the current crisis is
over. Of course once we've taken out whoever's behind it we can retire our
characters.  So it's sort of irrelevant. 
     Titanite was thinking that she was nowhere near ready to retire
Sailor Polaris. 
     Minako Aino was one of thousands who'd witnessed that broadcast.  She
was the only one currently stalking around her bedroom snarling.  Artemis
had got out of her way and was staying very quiet.  "Phase out Sailor V,
no one cares anymore, replace me with some leather wrapped bimbo!  Where's
the justice?" 
     Artemis found her glaring at him.  Perhaps it wasn't a rhetorical
question.  He began saying, "Uhhh..." 
     "Exactly no justice!  I'll show 'em.  I'll switch back to Sailor V
and ..."
     "Then they'll wind up cancelling all the Sailor Venus stuff when she
drops out of sight." 
     Minako hesitated, "Then I'll switch back and forth." 
     "That'll just confuse everyone.  Besides you didn't become a Sailor
Warrior for personal glory.  Anyway you never got any royalties for that
stuff anyway.  Besides you got your own movie which is more that Mars,
Moon, Mercury or Jupiter got." 
     "I suppose.  I'm just being silly aren't I" 
     Artemis was smart enough not to answer that truthfully.  "Not at all. 
I'd be unhappy if I was replaced by someone just because she's more
beautiful, better built, a sexier dresser ..."  He trailed off as he
realized Minako didn't appreciate his assessment.  He changed the subject
fast.  "So did you find anything out from Gray about Calcite?" 
     "No.  He's still acting as mysterious as possible.  Jerk." 
     "Pity we don't know who he is or we could track him down and try
again." 
     Minako smiled, "You may not know who he is but I think I do." 
     "What?" 
     "I haven't told anyone this but I think I've deduced it."  She had
Artemis's undivided attention.  "Remember the first attack at the school?" 
He nodded.  "Well Ms. Saito's English boyfriend was there.  Suddenly Gray,
who retired because of the lack of paranormal threats, is back.  Except
for some reason he's in Juban rather than London.  Also he's hunting
Jadeite who just zapped Ms. Saito." 
     "Along with 29 others." 
     "None of whom had any connection to England, I checked.  There's
more." 
     "Oh?" 
     "He's got a sister who'd make a good match for Sailor Polaris. 
Except for the haircolor." 
     "Interesting.  So who's Sailor Arcturus?" 
     Minako hesitated.  "Well that I don't know.  I'll have to
investigate." 
     "Hopefully without giving away your own identity in the process. 
     "I'll be careful Artemis."  Then she looked troubled.  "But my
identity isn't as secure as we thought.  Calcite knows who I really am. 
We've got no idea who he's told or what he's planning." 
     Artemis sighed.  "I know.  We don't even know if that was the real
Zoisite.  Like Jadeite all we know is one day he went back to the Dark
Kingdom and didn't return." 
     "Maybe.  But I think Kunzite implied Zoisite was dead." 
     "I suppose we'll have to find out.  In the meantime you should get
some rest.  There's no saying what tomorrow will bring." 
     Elsewhere Zoisite looked in a mirror and said, "Kunzite-sama I loved
you" and closed his eyes.  His features shifted, his hair shrank and
turned white.  Kunzite studied his reflection and said, "I will avenge
your death Zoisite."  Then he began to laugh.  Just one more act and it
would be time for the endgame.  He could hardly wait. 
 
End of part 3
 
Next in part 4 - Things begin unravelling for the renegades as the mysterious
                 plan moves towards its conclusion.
Part 4 : Evidence.