Prologue In a building in Crystal Tokyo a woman was walking to the door of her house when she suddenly stumbled and almost fell. She took a look in a mirror that she had in the room and noticed how she looked. She nodded and left. It was time to tell Queen Serenity something important. Chapter 1 Sitting in a room the queen of Crystal Tokyo sat lost in thought. her reprieve was disturbed by a knocking at her door. Straightening up she prepared to meet the visitor. "Come in.", said Neo-queen Serenity The door opened and in came a regal woman wearing a black fuku and carrying a large staff. Serenity's eyes widened momentarily when she recognized Sailor Pluto. She wondered what disaster was about to occur. Sailor Pluto looked at her and smiled, guessing what was going through the queen's mind. Looking around she saw an unoccupied chair. She sat down and laid her staff across her legs. "Usagi, we need to have a talk.", said Pluto looking very tired Hearing her pre-queen name caused Serenity to jump a bit and wonder what was wrong with her friend. "Sure Setsuna, but can't this wait until you get some sleep", Usagi finally replied. "No, Usagi it can't. It is finally time you learned more about my past and about the final weapon you will receive. Before you ask, I have my doubts it will be needed." "Your past? I've always wanted to know about that, but why is it so urgent...", Usagi started to ask before being cut off. "I'll get to that in a bit. You see Usagi I wasn't born in this universe. I was born in another that was far more advanced in technology than this universe is. One day a war broke out in that universe and a rush of weapon construction began. The weapons progressed in their sophistication and durability. One day a person from this universe, Princesses Selene of Atlantis, came to my home universe. ", Setsuna recited and then stopped looking very uncomfortable. "Selene? Atlantis?", Usagi queried, "Is she...was she..?" "Yes, Selene is your ancestor. She was also very powerful in magic. Using my universe's technology and her magic she created all the Sailor Senshi items including the Silver Crystal.." Setsuna answered and then continued with a heavy sigh, "I found this out later from her. I had not been born yet. While she was there she used a spell to see into the future and saw mass devastation. The vision horrified her and she started concocting a plan to prevent it from happening. To this end she made the henshin rods, the various weapons, the silver crystal, and she engineered the moon cat species. While doing this, she took more looks into the future and saw the devastation was lightening bit by bit, but it never fully vanished. She took a look at one of the latest weapons that was made and then looked into the future, trying to see if using a variation on that weapon would help. The results were more than she could have hoped for. She used her magic to copy the design of the weapon and then she added her own little touches to it.", Setsuna paused for a second looking sad "Setsuna, are you okay?", Usagi asked , while getting up from her chair and walking over to her old friend. and laid a hand on her shoulder to try to comfort her. "I'll be fine in a bit Usagi. Selene built the weapon and then brought it and the Senshi items back to this universe and built a kingdom on the moon, and she sent others to the other planets to set up kingdoms. She knew full well that the Moon Kingdom would be destroyed by Beryl in time. The weapon was activated and given its mission to keep the Crystal Tokyo timeline intact, and in time to get its new orders from the queen of Crystal Tokyo.", Setsuna finished "Umm Setsuna. You didn't tell me anything about yourself and what is your connection to this weapon?", Usagi asked perplexed Looking very weary, Sailor Pluto replied, "I am the weapon Usagi. I'm not human I was built by your ancestor to make sure your future would be this one." Usagi was shocked, "Your an android, Setsuna? Why do you keep referring to yourself as a weapon?" Standing up Setsuna closed her eyes and said, "Yes, Usagi I am. I refer to myself as a weapon because I am one. I'm almost out of time could you please stand so I can finish giving you the information you need to know." Perplexed Usagi stood. She got even more perplexed when Setsuna handed Usagi her staff. Smiling sadly Setsuna turned around and started talking. "Usagi, I know this is going to sound weird but please do what I tell you without questions. My life depends on it. I'll answer your questions after we get done." "Okay, Setsuna. What do want me to do? It is kind of difficult talking to your back." "I know, but it has to be this way. All right now, first get a hold of my staff so the sphere is pointing away from me. Now lift up the back of my skirt, remember no questions, there you'll find a small hole at the small of my back; it should be hidden by the cloth that holds the skirt. Please insert the staff into the hole." Usagi looked very concerned about her friend, but did what she was told. She started to freak out when she saw the hole in Setsuna's back, but remembered that this was to help he friend. She inserted the staff into her friend and with a sharp click it slid into place. When the staff clicked into place Setsuna stiffened. "Now what Setsuna?", Usagi asked looking very nervous. "Use the other end to rotate the staff from left to right.", Setsuna responded slowly Usagi started turning the staff as asked. She heard a ratchiting sound coming from Setsuna, but did not notice the electrical flickering surrounding her. She was also concerned since Setsuna was constantly bringing her arms up and balling her fists, then thrusting her arms straight down with fingers extended. Usagi, trying to lighten the mood, quipped, "You know something I fell like I'm winding up a toy soldier." Setsuna ground out in a broken voice, "Please.U.sa.gi.no.jokes.and .yes.you.are.wind.ing.me .up.Se.lene's.last.or.der.to.me.was.to.make. sure.that.you.would.have.con.trol.ov.er.me.I.have.a.cir.cuit.in.me. that.pre.vents.me.from.dis.o.bey.ing.the.per.son.who.winds.me.up.No. don't.e.ven.bo.ther.try.ing.to.cure.me.of.my.con.di.tion.Se.lene.made. sure.that.I.would.al.ways.be.a.round.like.this." Looking appalled, Usagi changed the subject, "By the way you never did tell me the name of your home.", looking thoughtful for a minute she asked, "You said the weapon was based on one of your world's weapons. If you are the weapon Selene brought back, who were you based on?" Usagi finished winding Setsuna up, the lightning that was surrounding her faded . As soon as Usagi pulled the staff out, Setsuna turned around to face her new master. Usagi returned the staff to her. Setsuna looked at her master and talked in a normal voice. "My world's name is El Hazard and my 'sister', I guess you would call her, was named Ifurita." Later in the evening, Usagi was sitting down in a chair thinking about what she had just learned about her friend. She thought about what Setsuna had said and thought to herself, *You may have given up Setsuna, but I haven't. I am going to try and find some way to free you from this enslavement your under. El Hazard? Hmmm. I think that I had better plan a trip to that world.*, tears started streaming down her face, *Why? Why did you have to be enslaved to me Setsuna? Why?* The door to the room opened. Usagi looked up and saw her husband Mamoru a.k.a. King Endymion come in. Mamoru saw that his wife was disturbed by something and came over to talk to her. "Usako? What's wrong?" " I just found out some stuff about Setsuna that's very unsettling." Mamoru looked intrigued and asked, "About Setsuna? What did she tell you?" Straightening up and wiping away the tears, Usagi responded, "It turns out Setsuna is an android made in another dimension and that she was programmed to be enslaved to me after a certain period of time." "WHAT?!", Mamoru exclaimed stunned, "What are you going to do about it Usako?" "I'm going to do my best to free her. I'm going to have Ami figure a way to get to Setsuna's home dimension. Then we are going to go and find a way to remove that circuit that forces her to be enslaved." Mamoru looked thoughtful for a moment before he said, "Hmmm. We have been thinking about stepping down and letting Chibi-usa take over the kingdom. While your away she could start seeing how it's like to run the kingdom." "Your?. You mean your not coming with me Mamoru?", Usagi asked. "No. I think it would be best if I remained behind secretly, just in case something goes wrong, that our daughter can't handle. I also don't believe you should take all the Senshi with you." Looking on the problem as the queen, Usagi replied, "Your right, Mamo-chan. I'm still not going to let Setsuna stay in that condition any longer than she has to." "Usako, let's go to bed now and worry about this tomorrow. We'll inform the other Senshi about this tomorrow as well. Then, we can decide on who should go and who stays." "I'm going. Setsuna came to me and since she is enslaved to me, I'm responsible for her. I will do my best to help her.", Usagi stated firmly. Her husband looked at her and thought, *I hope you do find a way to free her, Usako. I just hope their is one. Even with this information, we still know so little about Setsuna.* Elsewhere, Setsuna sat feeling several emotions and thought to herself, *I'm sorry I had to burden you like that Usagi-chan, but I had no choice in the matter. I know that you are already thinking of a way to free me. Thank you for being such a loving person that you would not hesitate to help me out. I still wonder why I was built like this and why I saw given those orders, so long ago. The part of my mind that holds the answers is locked from access.* Standing up Setsuna, looked at her staff and wondered, *What would have I done differently if I had been free? I had better be ready for tomorrow. Usagi-chan will be wanting to free me. Since I cannot disobey her I will be going along. I wonder if you noticed the lightning playing around you ,Usagi? That lightning acted as sort of a recorder. It recorded your psychic vibrations and encoded them into my obedience circuit, making you my master.* Looking sad for a moment Sailor Pluto stared in the direction where she could feel her master's psychic emanations, *I wonder how our friendship is going to change because of this, Usagi-chan?* Chapter 2 As the sun came streaming through the windows, the queen of Crystal Tokyo awoke. She thought about what happened last night and hoped it was a dream, but new in her heart otherwise. Sereneity got out of bed and got dressed, noticing that her husband had already awoken. Once she was finished dressing, Usagi took a deep breath and headed to her throne room thinking about what she was about to do. *Setsuna, I will find a way to free you. I hope the others are prepared for this.*, Usagi thought to herself In the throne room, all the Sailor Senshi, except for Pluto, were waiting. King Endyimon had called them in, telling them that Queen Serenity had an announcement to make. The Senshi were wondering what the announcement would be. They passed off Sailor Pluto's absence as standard for her. Looking around, Sailor Mars noticed that Chibi-usa was looking a bit somber. Sailor Mars thought, * I wonder what's with her. Well at least she finally grew up after her powers were used.* Feeling Rei's eyes upon her, Chibi-usa looked at her and gave a sad smile. Rei's started to get worried; something was wrong. She put her worries out of her mind when she saw her friend enter the throne room. Queen Serenity looked around at the people in attendance. Along with the Senshi were people form various walks of life. The Queen nodded and addressed her subjects. "My friends, I will be stepping down from the throne for a little while to allow your princess some practice at running the kingdom.", holding up a hand, Serenity continued, "Something has come to my attention that I must deal with. I ask that you help Princess Usagi, while she is in charge of the kingdom. Thank you. Sailor Senshi, I wish to speak to you in private in an hour. Daughter, I know that this will be hard, but I do have confidence in you." Queen Serenity, got up from her throne and gestured for her daughter to take her place. The pink haired princess uncertainly went to the throne and with a nervous glance at her mother, sat down. Serenity gave her daughter's shoulder a reassuring squeeze and then left the throne room. The Sailor Senshi were, to put it mildly, shocked. They nodded to the princess before they left to get some answers from their queen and friend. Walking down a rarely used road the seven Senshi were having a conversation. "Ami, what the blazes is going on?", Sailor Mars asked Ami replied, "I don't know Rei. I am as much as in the dark as the rest of you. Something must have happened last night. I can think of no reason for this sudden announcement. We will find out more at that meeting," The boyish faced Sailor Uranus spoke up, "Whatever is going on, must be important. Why else would Endymion summon the Outers as well as the Inners." "Your right, Haruka.", said Mercury frowning, "If Setsuna was here, she might have thrown some light on this." Makoto said, "Ah, what the hell are we worrying for. Usagi probably just needs a vacation from running Crystal Tokyo. She's just wants us to take care of Chibi-usa while she Mamoru go try to have some more children." "Makoto!", Rei interjected, "I really doubt that. If that was the only reason, Chibi-usa would have only looked nervous not upset. Well here we are." The seven girls waited at the shrine where the Inners used to have their meetings. Rei nodded to herself as she saw that her old home was still intact. The girls did not have long to wait as Serenity, who was in her Eternal Sailor Moon outfit, and Endymion came into the grounds surrounding the shrine. Seeing that their friend was dressed in her Senshi outfit, they wondered what was wrong. Before they could ask, Sailor Moon addressed them. "I'm sorry to have surprised you like that, but last night I was told something that shocked me to the core. I told Mamo-chan what I had learned and he was also shocked. We came up with this plan as fast as possible. I hope we thought of everything.", Usagi said, trying to hold back tears. Minako asked, as she went over to comfort her friend, "What shocked you, Usagi? Why do you have to handle this? Couldn't we do this for you?" Before Sailor Moon could say anything a voice rang out, "I think I can answer the questions for you. Ami if you would be so kind as to get out your visors and computer." Everyone whirled to face where the voice was coming from and saw Sailor Pluto. Ami, after a quick glance at Usagi, nodded and pulled her computer out from subspace and activated her visor, complying with Setsuna's request. Ami looked at Setsuna nervously as did the other Senshi. Setsuna only smiled sadly and shook her head. "Ami, I want you to use your visor to examine me. What you will find will answer a lot of your questions.", Setsuna instructed and then thought, *I know I'm hurting you, Usagi; but I really had no choice in the matter.* "Al-l-lright, Setsuna", Ami replied nervously while she activated her visor and computer. Sailor Mercury used her visor to examine Setsuna. At first, she thought there was something wrong with her visor. She soon realized that what she was seeing was indeed true. Ami's computer started to fall from her fingertips. Makoto snapped it up before it could hit the ground. Looking at Ami's face and then at Setsuna, Makoto swallowed heavily and spoke up. "Ami, just what the f*** is going on here. I'm tired of getting the run-around.", Makoto ground out. Speaking in a monotone voice, Ami answered, "Setsuna is a robot. >From my readings it appears that her source of power is some sort of energized spring. Every so often she has to be wound up. The key to wind her up is apparently the Garnet Orb Staff. To put it crudely, Setsuna is a clockwork soldier." All the Senshi, except for Sailor Moon and Sailor Pluto, gasped in shock when they heard what Sailor Mercury said. They all looked at Setsuna who gave a quick nod, letting them know that what Ami said was true. Rei brought tapped her bottom lip with her finger and asked Usagi a question. Rei asked, "There's more isn't there? You would not step down for a few days just for this, Usagi." Holding back her tears, Usagi replied, "Your right, Rei. There is more. It turns out Setsuna has an obedience circuit in her. She has to obey the person who winds her up. I didn't find out about that until I was halfway done winding her up. I..I..I don't want one of my friends turned into a slave. I want to free her. This is why, I'm allowing Chibi-usa to take my place for awhile. Setsuna and I are going to head to the universe where she was built and try to find a way to free her. Mamoru is going to pretend to leave, but stay behind to see how our daughter does at ruling." "I thought you would be going with Usagi, no matter what.", Minako said while looking at Mamoru. Mamoru shrugged and replied, "I want to go. More than anything I want to go, but I have this feeling that I would only distract Usako in this mission." Minako frowned and tried to think of some response. Shaking her head, Michiru stated, "I can't believe you hid this from us Setsuna. I take it this meeting is to decide who goes with the two of you and who stays." "Yes, it is", Usagi said. Sailor Saturn bluntly said, "I'm staying." Usagi looked at Hotaru and asked, "Hotaru? Why?" "Chibi-usa was my friend when I needed one the most. She is going to need me now." Sailor Moon just nodded. "Well, we need to decide who's going to accompany you Usagi.", Rei stated. "I think I'm going to have to go along. I'm the only one who would have a chance at figuring out how to modify Setsuna.", Ami said. "Well that was a given.", Makoto said and then asked, "Just how is Usagi supposed to leave this dimension?" Ami thought for a second and then started typing numbers and figures into her computer. After a few minutes she nodded and looked at her friends expectant faces. "There is a way. Using her powers, Usagi can open a gateway into another world. Since Setsuna was built in the world we want to go to, she can act as the compass for the gateway.", picking up a stone, Ami continued, "This rock will act as our compass back. There is a problem though. Only five people can go through the gate. So far we have Usagi, Setsuna, and myself. Only two more can journey with us." "Oh, that's just friggin great.", Makoto swore, "just how do we determine who the other two Senshi will be." Mamoru spoke up, "That's easy Makoto. The two strongest fighters are going to accompany Usagi. That means you and Haruka will be the other two members of the party. I'm sorry Michiru, Haruka, but I'm concerned about Usagi's safety. I know splitting you up is painful, but..." Putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him talking, Michiru said, "We understand, Mamoru. I agree that group of five stands the best chance of dealing with whatever comes. Don't you agree Haruka?" Looking at her king intently, Sailor Uranus said, "Yes. I agree with you Michiru." and then thought, *I understand just how much you want to be with your wife on this mission, but put aside your feelings for her safety. I can do no less. Even though, I don't want to be separated from Michiru-chan I understand your reasoning. I will go.* Usagi looked at the small group that she was a part of and spoke, "Well now that we have our group ready to go, how do I get us to Sestuna's home?" Ami started giving a long technical explanation, but after seeing Usagi's eyes glaze over she simplified her explanation. Following Ami's simplified instructions carefully Usagi summoned a sphere of silver light, that engulfed the five Senshi. With a slight hum, the sphere vanished from site, taking Sailor Moon's group with it. In another dimension, the silvery sphere flickered into existence and then faded, leaving the five Senshi behind. Looking around, the five girls noticed that they were in a forest. Setsuna looked up towards the sky and saw something that told her that they had made it. The other four, seeing Sailor Pluto's study of the sky also looked up. In the sky above them was a large metal sphere. The girls turned to Setsuna with questioning expressions. Setsuna looked her friends faces, and upon seeing Usagi's face, felt her obedience chip kick in. Setsuna spoke, "That sphere up there is the Eye of God and this is the world I was made in. Welcome to El-Hazard." Chapter 3 Sailor Moon looked up towards the sky and examined the massive floating sphere. She turned and addressed the green haired woman. "You called that thing the Eye of God, Setsuna.", Usagi confusedly stated, "How did you know what it was? From your story you weren't even switched on, until you were brought to our world." Setsuna looked startled when she heard Usagi's question. She pondered on how she knew what that device was. Trying to remember, Setsuna received several disjointed images, but nothing made sense. Setsuna slowly stated, "I'm sorry, Usagi; but I have no idea on how I know what that device is. The name and what it does just came to me when I saw it. When I try to recall where I heard it before, all I get is a bunch of jumbled images." "What sort of images? Maybe, if you told us they would make sense.", Ami asked "I can't tell you. It's like a television picture that someone has turned the vertical hold completely off.", Setsuna explained and seeing the confused faces, continued, "I am a robot after all. It would stand to reason, my visual memories are like television pictures." Ami looked at Setsuna strangely before replying, "I didn't realize that. Setsuna, I've been meaning to ask a few questions ever since I found out about this." *I'm going to be forced to answer anyway if Usagi asks, so I might as well answer them now.*, Setsuna thought before she replied, "Ask away, Ami." "Why do you transform? From the readings I got, you wouldn't even need the Senshi power.", asked Sailor Mercury "It conserves power. My transformation into civilian guise reroutes some of my circuits. It allows me to work for a much longer time without the need for being rewound. I could use my abilities in non- Senshi form, but it would be incredibly draining on me.", Sailor Pluto replied. "Since your a machine, how did you get a starseed? " "Uh. I. I don't know", Setsuna stated, confusion evident in her voice, "I just know I have one and that it's linked to my mainspring. I think that is one of the enhancements Selene made to me." Makoto blurted out, "Selene? Just who is Selene?" Usagi decided to give her friend a break from the questions and repeated the story that Setsuna told her. After hearing the story, the three girls looked at Setsuna with pity, finally realizing that Setsuna has never been free in her entire life. An awkward silence fell over the group. Usagi realized something and addressed Setsuna. "Setsuna, you told us that your civilian form conserves power. I think it might be wise if you switched to non-Senshi form.", Usagi stated. Nodding at that, Setsuna reversed her transformation. Usagi also reversed her transformation, because she didn't want Setsuna to feel like an outsider. Realizing why Usagi changed back, the other three girls also switched to civilian guise. Setsuna felt a warmth coming from her clockwork heart as she realized how much her friends were trying to comfort her. The five girls looked around at the forest, and Usagi spoke up. "Well which way do we go Setsuna?", Usagi asked, "I hope we can find some way to free you here." "I'm not sure Usagi. Remember, I wasn't activated until I was brought to our universe. I was built here but I really don't know that much about it.", Setsuna replied Ami piped up, "Let's go see who's living under that Eye of God thing. Surely, they must have the technology to do what we want." Haruka muttered under her breath, so the others couldn't hear, "Even if they do, how are we supposed to get them to do as we ask?" The girls started walking into the forest. A few minutes after they had left a flying ship sailed over the clearing that they had vacated, nor the purple form that had seen them appear. The form vanished as soon as it saw the ship fly overhead. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- In the kingdom of Roshtaria, Princess Rune Venus stared out the window forlornly. She thought about how close she had come to marrying one of the Phantom Tribe and shuddered. Looking up at the Eye of God, she recalled the day when the last Demon God was banished from El Hazard. She knew that she should feel happy that the Destroyer was gone, but she didn't. *Makoto, I wish you luck on finding a way to be reunited with Ifurita.*, Rune Venus thought, *If nothing else you deserve some happiness for saving El Hazard from total destruction* Rune looked down towards the courtyard, where she saw her sister and Ailie have a quiet conversation. She didn't like the changes that had developed due to Fatora's kidnapping. Makoto had suggested that Fatora needed to tell what happened to her, to someone she respected, before she could recover. Rune at first didn't want to hear what happened to her little sister, but she gave in. After telling Rune what had happened, Fatora started to act more like her old self. Rune smiled wistfully, until she heard a guard come into the room. She turned from the window and faced the guard. "Greetings. What is your report, Lanz?', Rune asked Lanz looked nervous, as he spoke, "While we were coming back from a routine surveillance mission, we spotted this silver ball of light out in the forest. By the time we go to the place where the ball appeared, it had vanished. We scanned the ground where it had appeared and found five sets of footprints leading off into the forest." "Bugrom?" "No, princess. The footprints were human. The weird thing about them is that they start from nowhere and then move into the forest. I think that we might have some more visitors from that Earth place.", Lanz stated. "Lanz, I want you to take a group of guards and find our new guests. If they are from Earth, they are probably confused. I think that you'd better take along Nanami, just in case their are still any of the Phantom tribe left.", Rune Venus said "Understood, Highness.", Lanz replied, "Are you going to tell Makoto of this?" Rune Venus pondered the question for a moment, before stating, "I think I'd better. This might give him a clue on how to be reunited with his love." Lanz bowed and left while thinking to himself, *Why Makoto thinks that that thing is a living being I'll never know. I'm just glad that there are no more Demon Gods left on this world* Rune Venus watched Lanz go, guessing as to what he thought about Ifurita. Rune sighed and shook her head. She needed to tell Makoto that new visitors from Earth might have arrived. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In a secluded corridor of the Crystal Palace in Crystal Tokyo, King Endymion sat brooding with his head down. After a couple of minutes, he felt the presence of two others. Endymion raised his head so his eyes were looking at the forms of Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars. Mars frowned deeply as she looked at him. "Okay, Tuxedo Mask start talking.", Rei demanded, "We want to know the real reason why you didn't go with Usagi, and don't give us that bit about being here for Chibi-usa." Venus, agreeing, added, "Yes, please tell us why and maybe we can help." Looking into the two Senshi's eyes, he sighed, nodded, and said, "The reason I didn't go with Usako, wasn't because of Chibi-usa; it was because of Setsuna." Both girls blurted out, "Huh?" "A while back, Chibi-usa told me that 'Puu' was in love with me and asked why I didn't marry her instead of 'mommy'.", Mamoru said sadly, " At first I didn't believe her, but there was evidence pointing in that direction, and then I had a dream last night that confirmed it." "A dream? What sort of dream?", Rei asked "It is a memory of one of my days during the Silver Millennium.", Mamoru said and then started describing the memory. An eight year old Endyimion was walking down a corridor in the Moon Palace. He looks confused as he hears sounds that are unfamiliar to him, that later in his Earth form he would be able to identify as factory sounds. He followed the sounds into a deserted part of the palace. In the area he saw a door with flashes of blue-white light coming from beneath the frame. Curious, he shuffled up to the door and opened it cautiously. What he saw in that room shocked him. Standing immobile in the room was Sailor Pluto wearing her Senshi uniform, without the customary skirt attached. Also in the room was an elegant woman. The woman was wearing a white, short, Greek style toga. Her waist-length hair was done up in a single braid. Looking like a golden necklace, the braid came down over the right shoulder and then was flung over the left. Sensing someone else in the room, the woman looked up revealing her gray eyes and a silver crescent moon(points towards the left) on her forehead. She sees the young boy, smiles and picks up the Garnet Orb staff. She then starts speaking. "Hello, Endymion. I've been expecting you.", the woman stated, "My name is Selene." "Se-Se-Selene? I thought you were dead.", Endymion stuttered. "No. Not dead.", Selene replied, "At least not yet." and then thought to herself, *I wish death is what is in store for me.* "Uh, yeah.", Endymion stammered, "W-why is Sailor Pluto just standing there? Why do you have her staff?" "Endymion, Sailor Pluto is not human. Using techniques I learned from my uncle Hephaetus, I constructed Sailor Pluto. The reason I have her staff is because I need to wind her up. Now if you will pardon me for a second, I think I had better get her started." Ignoring Endymion, Selene picked up the staff and inserted into the hole at the small of Sailor Pluto's back and started winding. Endymion was startled when the ball lightning played over Selene without harming her. After a minute, Selene stopped winding and removed the staff. Pluto's eyes opened and she looked at Selene. Sailor Pluto spoke, "What is your command, master?" "Nothing for right now, Pluto", Selene responded, "I was just finished making another modification and maintenance check. Go back to standby mode, until I call you." "Affirmative.", Sailor Pluto said in a monotone voice. Dazed, Endymion asked, "Sailor Pluto is a golem? Why?" Smiling sadly, Selene answered, "Well not exactly a golem, but close enough. As for 'why', I have my reasons. Didn't it seem odd to you, that old Atlas would give up the keys to the time corridor to a perfect stranger? This is why. Pluto is a mechanical; you give her an order and she will carry it out, with no thoughts of betrayal." "Sailor Pluto. Doesn't she have a name besides that?", the young boy asked. "Well no, not yet. She is part of a project that I call Project:Sustain. I haven't had time to give her a proper name yet. I've been so busy preparing for something, it kind of slipped my mind." "From what I've seen of her, you shouldn't be treating her like a toy!", Endymion yelled, "And, what is with Project:Setsain...Sustan...Setsuna." Selene interrupted, "That last one will be her name. Thank you, Endymion. You have done as I foresaw and now I must make further preparations." Walking over to Endymion, Selene's eyes and symbol stared glowing. The young boy's eyes started falling. Selene placed a finger to Endymion's forehead and started talking. "I'm sorry for this, but I can not allow you to remember this conversation until it is time, young prince. When Setsuna finally gains her emotions, she will be in love with you since you are the first person besides myself that sees that she is more than a machine. I had to pretend to act like the others, so you would fulfill your job as the person who named her. That will be another reason why she will be in love with you. You are the one who gave her a name.", Selene said swallowed a lump in her throat and continued, "Hurry on to your destiny, young prince as I head on towards my doom." A bright silvery-gray flash of light then erupts from the symbol on Selene's forehead blanketing the room with a blinding light. Mamoru finished up his story, "That is what my dream revealed to me what happened so very long ago. The reason I didn't go along was because I didn't want to hurt Setsuna. I read somewhere, that one of the worst things for a person to see is the person that you love happy in the arms of another. I have the feeling that one of reasons we don't see Setsuna around the palace much is because it pains her to see Usagi and me happy together." Awed by the story, Minako asked, "She's never interfered in your two's relationship. So, why are you worried about it?" " Minako, Setsuna doesn't interfere because she realizes that Usagi and I belong together. She does have access to the time corridor remember.", Mamoru explained. "Minako, what did you feel, at the end of your Sailor V days, when you saw that person you had a crush on in the arms of another woman? Apply what you felt, to Setsuna and stretch the feeling out over a couple thousand years. I know what I felt when I thought I might lose Usagi." Minako remained silent as she remembered her old partner. There was a silence from Rei as she remembered what it felt like losing Mamoru to Usagi. The two Senshi looked at each other and realized that the reason Mamoru didn't go was to spare Setsuna any unnecessary pain. Realizing something, Rei asked, Who is Selene?" Mamoru smirked, told them what Usagi had found out and then continued, "Other than that, I really don't know. Our old identities knew, but our memories from that time are fuzzy." Chapter 4 On El Hazrad, the Senshi were walking through the forest. As they were walking, Ami was thinking about why Setsuna was able to recognize something she never saw before. Suddenly, her head jerked up as she thought of something. Ami then started having a discussion with Setsuna; the other girls looked on with interest. "Setsuna, I think I figured out why you were able to recognize that object in the sky.", Ami said "How is that, Ami?", Setsuna inquired. Swallowing heavily, Ami answered, "You said it yourself. You have a computer for a brain. My guess is that your creator put the plans for that device into you. I am unable to figure out the reason why though." "That's wild Ami.", Usagi interjected, "If so why can't she tell us more about the Eye of God. I would like to know more about it." Setsuna looked towards the skyline and thought long and hard on Ami's theory. While thinking, she snapped to attention and the irises of her eyes contracted until they were small pinpricks. The other girls got nervous when they saw that. Inside Setsuna's mind the consciousness of the eldest Senshi was stunned as another part of her mind started talking. +Accesss acknowledged+, a voice sounding like Setsuna's with a metallic tinge stated, +Plans for Eye of God now being accessed+ Setsuna's mind was assaulted with schematics, equations, and other information. She quickly recovered and then started looking around. In her sub mind, she saw a multitude of files. As she looked at them, she realized that the files were under time locks or password files. She was about to try and open one when her obedience circuit kicked in. Setsuna regained consciousness and saw the worried looks on the faces of her friends. "Setsuna, answer me. Are you all right? Please, wake up'", Usagi cried "I am fine Usagi.", Setsuna replied, "I'm sorry that I scared you like that." Usagi, still very concerned, asked, "What happened? All of a sudden you got stiff and y-y-your eyes became a solid purple." "It's very simple Usagi. Ami is correct that I have files inside of me that I haven't opened. All that happened was that one of the files opened up when I was thinking about it. Apparently when you stated that you wanted more information on the Eye of God, my sub-conscious took it as an order and opened the file. It looks like I'm going to have to get used to that. There are a lot more files inside of me and I'm not sure what they are." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back in Rostaria, Princess Rune Venus walked to a Stalumbau's workshop inside the palace. She went into the room and studied the person who was working. The young man, who so looked like his sister, had a serious expression on his face and it looked like he hadn't slept for a couple of days. Rune made an aheming sound to get Makoto's attention. Makoto looked up and saw the princess. "Makoto.", Rune began, "I though I told you, you would not be able to think properly if you don't get any sleep." "I'm sorry, but I feel that I'm about to finally figure out how the Eye works." Shaking her head, Princess Rune said, "You won't be in any shape to find Ifurita if you push yourself to hard, but that's not the reason I came." "Huh? What do you mean?", Makoto asked Rune said, "One of our patrols saw a disturbance in the forest. When they got to where the disturbance was, they found footprints in the ground going off into the forest but originated from nowhere. We believe that we might have some more visitors from Earth." "More visitors. Maybe Ifurita is one of them. Let's go and find them. I'll be right with you as soon as I get Ura.", Makoto said as he went out the door. *Still obsessed with Ifurita I see*, Rune thought to herself as she followed him, *It would be doubtful that she has returned. I had better alert the priestesses also. We might need their help to protect our visitors from the Bugrom.* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Out somewhere in a forest glen, a young man was talking with a woman who had antenna. Around the two of them were large vaguely humanoid bugs. "Mr. Jinnai even though we survived we do not have the numbers anymore to conquer El Hazard.", said the dark skinned woman. "Don't worry about that Queen Diva.", Jinnai said, "It is my destiny to rule El-Hazard. I will find a way to defeat Makoto." Jinnai then started one of his patented one minute insane laughs. After he was finished, one of the bugs, purple in color, came up to him,. The bug made clacking noises, which thanks to Jinnai's talent he was able to understand perfectly. "What's that Groucho? There are new people from Earth here and one of them isn't human?" Groucho made more clicking noises "One of them not human and was built here in El-Hazard.", Jinnai repeated and then clenched his fist in the air, "You know what this means? There is a new Demon God here in El-Hazard and as soon as I gain control of her, I will conquer this world and defeat Makoto. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" After he stopped laughing, Jinnai asked, "Queen Diva do we still have any small flyer Bugrom left?" Diva said, "Yes we do. What do you what him to do?" "I want the flyer to keep an eye on this new Demon God and as soon as there is a chance, I'm going to steal her Power Key Staff, and this time I won't let Makoto beat me. I'll have her kill him from a distance.", Jinnai said and then shouted, " MAKOTO, ENJOY WHAT LITTLE TIME YOU HAVE LEFT. I WILL DEFEAT YOU THIS TIME!!!!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Sailor Senshi were walking through the forest when a slight shudder wracked Setsuna. Usagi looked at her friend in concern. "Setsuna, are you all right", Usagi asked Setsuna replied, "I'm okay, Usagi-chan. I just had the uneasy feeling that someone was planning something horrible for me." Chapter 5 In one of Roshtaria's flyers, Nanami Jinnai was looking down at the forest. The guards that she had accompanied were doing the same. Suddenly one of the guards pointed down at something. Looking down, Nanami saw five girls walking through the forest towards Roshtaria. The flyer's pilot nodded and put the craft into a landing movement. One of the five girls, one with green hair, looked up and saw the flyer. She then brought the vehicle to the attention of the other girls. For some reason, Nanami thought the five girls looked somewhat familiar, especially the one with the two long pony-tails. Shaking it off, Nanami scanned the forest hunting for Phantom Tribe members or he psychotic brother. Seeing nothing, she looked at the girls more closely. She again got that vague sense she should know them. Nanami addressed the girl with the pony-tails, somehow figuring she is the leader of this group. "Greetings. Welcome to the world of El-Hazard. My name is Nanami Jinnai. I'm here to greet you and escort you to the palace of Roshtaria to meet with Princess Rune Venus.", Nanami said. The pony-tailed girl looked at her companions and then spoke, "Hi. I'm Usagi Tsukino." A blue haired girl said, "I am Ami Mizuno" "I'm Haruka Ten'ou.", said a blond haired woman who had masculine features "Hello. I am Setsuna Meiou.", said a green haired woman The last girl spoke, "I'm Makoto Kino." After hearing that last name, Nanami gave a start and looked at the last girl and asked, "Makoto?" Makoto replied, "Yes. Is there a problem?" "No. Not yet.", Nanami said, "When we get to the palace you'll understand. Tell me, are you from Earth?" "Uh. Yes. Why do you want to know?", Usagi asked "Just wondering. So how is Earth now?", Nanami said Setsuna replied, "Oh it's just fine. The king and queen of Earth are ruling wisely and well." Nanami exclaimed, "HUH? King and queen of Earth? What are you talking about?" Nanami's exclamation distracted everyone's attention, so no one noticed Usagi's blush. Setsuna, unfrazzled by the shout, said, "Yes. The king and queen took over Earth after the last invasion of demons." "Last demon invasion? When was the first one?", Nanami asked, dazed. Setsuna replied, "Sometime in the mid-1980's. Is there a problem?" "There were no demon invasions that I know of when I left Earth.", Nanami said. Setsuna said, "That is true. Your Earth didn't have invasions; ours did." One of the guards broke in and said, "Your Earth? Nanami's Earth? What are you talking about?" Ami decided to get into the conversation and said, "What Setsuna' is talking about, is the theory of multiple Earths. Each with its own timeline. Judging by Nanami-san's reactions, it is a theory no longer. She is from one Earth and we are from another." Nanami shook off her confusion and said, "Let's discuss that at the palace, please. If you would please accompany us. By the way Ami, why are you carrying a rock?" Ami smiled, put the rock in a pocket, and said, "There are reasons. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say, that we will gladly accept your offer." The other four girls nodded. The guards steeped aside to allow the newcomers to board the flyer. None of them noticed a small insect that had attached itself to the hull of the craft. The flyer lifted off and made its way to Roshtaria. During the trip, Nanami kept having these vague feelings that she should recognize these girls. Usagi walked up beside Makoto, put a hand on her shoulder and asked, "Will you be okay, Makoto? Remember we are here if you need us." Makoto grasped the hand in a reassuring squeeze, "I'll be fine, Usagi. I do appreciate you asking. I'll be okay for the short flight from here to that palace. Besides, Usagi this isn't even a jet." Makoto Kino gave the other girls a reassuring smile, to let them know that she would be able to handle her fear. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back at the palace, Rune Venus had just welcomed the three priestesses of Mt. Muldoon. The fiery haired priestess of fire, Shayla- Shayla looked uneasy to be back in the palace. The regal priestess of air, Afura Nam looked at her friend with pity. Miz Mishtal, the priestess of water, was hanging onto her 'fiancee' Mr. Fujisawa. Rune Venus had just briefed the group on the possibility of new visitors from Earth. Shayla looked at the princess sadly and asked, "If you have told Makoto, what was his response to this news?" Rune looked at the red-head knowingly and said, "About as you might expect. He's hoping that Ifurita is among them. I managed to stop him before he went off blindly and told him to wait a bit." Before anyone could speak, a palace guard came in and announced that the exploration team had found the newcomers and that they were waiting in the hall. Princess Rune nodded and sent a guard to fetch Makoto Mizuhara. After Makoto came into the throne room, the princess prepared to receive her visitors. The first to enter the room was Nanami, who immediately went to stand by Mr. Fujisawa and tried to ignore Makoto. Right after Nanami had entered, the Sailor Senshi entered into the room. Both Makoto Mizuhara and Mr. Fujisawa stared at the girl who somehow they knew to be the leader and wondered where they had seen her before. The Sailor Senshi introduced themselves and they were responded to in kind. Of course everyone started when they heard the names of Makoto Mizuhara and Makoto Kino. Ami then spoke up, explaining the fact they were from an alternate Earth. Princess Rune Venus then spoke up. "I hope you enjoy your stay in El-Hazard.", Rune said, "If there is anything you need please ask." Ami spoke, choosing her words very carefully, "Yes, there might be. We recently found out about a 'device' in our world that was constructed here. If you have any plans from two-thousand years ago, it would be appreciated. We would like to correct a slight problem with the device." Rune shook her head, "I'm sorry, but due to the Holy Wars all of ancient El-Hazardian technology was lost. Makoto is right now trying to piece together how some of our old technology worked. The only thing left of that time right now is The Eye of God, that large sphere that you have no doubt seen." Usagi, holding back her tears so no one would see, said, "I see. We made the trip for nothing." Makoto M. looked up and said, "Trip? You came here under your own power?" "Yes, we did. We came here hoping to find some schematics to modify the device, but if there is nothing here I think we should leave", Setsuna said and then thought to herself, *So the war occurred just as Selene foresaw. I feel uneasy about talking about myself as a device but I have the feeling these people would be scared of me.* Makoto M. said, "Can you tell me how you accomplished this? I would like to know. I'm trying to be re-united with someone." Both Nanami and Shayla looked at Makoto M. and then turned away. The Senshi noticed this and came to the correct conclusion that those two girls are in love with Makoto M. and the person he wants to be re- united with is who he loves. Ami said, "I'm not sure if it will work for you. You see we used magic to get to El-Hazard and judging by what Nanmi had told us of your Earth, you don't have any." Makoto M.'s shoulders slumped in defeat and said, "I was hoping.....I will be re-united with her soon. I can feel it." Rune said," Please accept our hospitality for the night. I'm sorry we can't help you." Usagi replied, "Thank you, your highness. We graciously accept. I'm sorry that we are unable to help your friend out either." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Looking at her friends from Earth, Princess Rune started speaking "Nanami, What are you opinions of our new guests?", Rune asked Nanami bit her bottom lip and said, "They all seem to be good friends. That green haired girl, Setsuna gives me the creeps for some reason, Somehow she just knows things. Apparently, her friends are used to this. They didn't even bat an eyelash when she said that we were from separate Earths." Rune said, "I see. Anything else?" "Well it probably isn't much, but for some reason I feel that I've seen these people before. Yet, I have never met them." Both Mr. Fujisawa and Makoto M. said, "You too." After looking at each other, the two men also related that they felt that they had seen these people before. Afura Nam said, "I wonder how that can be. They are from a different Earth than you are, and yet you recall seeing them before." "Aw, my head hurts", Shayla said, "Let's figure it out in the morning." "Agreed.", Rune stated, looked at Makoto, and then continued, "I'm sorry Makoto. I wish that this had turned out better for you." Makoto replied, "Thank you, highness. I'll take your advice and get some sleep. Tomorrow, I'm going to get back on working on the Eye. Good-night." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Usagi looked at her friend, barely holding back her tears. "I'm so sorry, Setsuna.", Usagi weeped, "I was sure that we would be able to free you." Setsuna laid a reassuring hand on Usagi's shoulder and said, "It's all right, Usagi. I've had more than a three thousand years to get adjusted to my nature." Ami spoke hesitantly, "Uhm, Setsuna if you are still winding down, how is Usagi supposed to wind you back up? I guess I should ask, Are you able to use any of your powers like you are now?" Setsuna smiled and held out her hand. A purple light formed in it. The light then rapidly expanded and then died away, revealing the Garnet Orb Staff. "Well, that answers your first question, Ami.", Setsuna replied, "As to the second, I can use a lot of my Demon-god abilities, but I will wind down very, very fast. This form was designed to conserve energy by changing how my internal wiring is placed. The cost is that any use of my powers is extremely draining." "Demon-god?", Haruka asked. "Well, that is what beings like me were called.", Setsuna answered, "The Demon-gods were built and sent into battle. They were this world's doomsday weapon. One Demon-god could destroy an entire city within seconds. I am thankful that Selene brought be to our universe and activated me there. I avoided a lot of the destruction involved in the Holy Wars." Makoto K. looked at Setsuna and said, "You knew that there wouldn't be a chance to free you, didn't you?" Shaking her head sadly, Setsuna said, "I had a very strong hunch. I was built during a war that thousands of people were dying every day. I also know that Selene, when she was here, was appalled at the destruction, but could do nothing about it. One of the things she did was to download all of this world's history into my memory banks. She was a firm believer in the preservation of knowledge. As a matter of fact, I have the entire contents of the Library of Alexandria in me as well." "If she was so altruistic, why did she build you as a slave?", Haruka asked. "It was necessary. Although, I don't know how.", Setsuna said, "She also made a vague reference (mother, sister, daughter) that I'm still trying to figure out." Ami said, "Well, I think we could all use a good nights sleep. You especially could use the rest, Usagi." "All right.", Usagi said, "Pleasant dreams all. I hope you have pleasant dreams Setsuna. Night." So saying, Usagi went to the room that the princess had provided her. The other girls went into their respective rooms. Setsuna went into her room and leaned her staff against the wall. Taking a look at the staff, Setsuna wondered what her life might have been like if she had remained in El-Hazard during the Holy Wars. Even though she really didn't need it, Setsuna laid down and went to sleep. About an hour after she went to sleep, a figure climbed up the vines outside her window and came in to the room that way. The figure picked up the Garnet Orb Staff and looked down at Setsuna. Unaware of what was going on, Setsuna dreamed. Chapter 6 Setsuna's mind drifted into a place in her sub-conscious. She felt like a stranger to her own mind. What she was dreaming about had nothing to do with her. It was like she was in the middle of a movie and she was invisible and intangible. Looking around, she saw a laboratory with lots of plans. On a table, she saw a girl with long light purple hair lying down. On another, she saw herself. Setsuna quickly realized that what she was seeing was a video recording of the time of her creation. Setsuna saw her creator, Selene and decided to watch what was going on. Looking up at a person who came into the room, Selene said, "Hi, Merhu. I see you came to check up on me." The man she spoke to was dressed in long flowing robes. His shoulder length orange hair was tied in a pony tail. The man looked at Selene as responded. "Yes, I have. We are going to need those two Demon-gods that you are working on to put down the rebellion." Selene looked at Merhu coldly and said, "I have already told you, I have something in mind in my universe for one of them. I really don't want to let you have either one of them, but I see that one of them will have to stay. You will not get both. I've already written plans for a new weapon, you majesty. Once you see those plans, you'll agree that the device is worth more than having two Demon-gods." "I know that is what we agreed upon.", King Merhu said, "But, we need both of them, if we are to succeed in squashing the rebellion." Shaking her head, Selene said, "No. If my plan doesn't succeed, you can say good-bye to my universe as well as this one. I'm only building your weapons of war because I need certain things from your world that I can't build anywhere else." Picking up a small rod, Merhu said, "Such as this thing? You have built quite a few of them." "The Henshin rods? Yes.", Selene replied, "I've built those as well as some other devices. When I return to my world I'll be taking them with me." Selene got a far away look in her eye and said, "After a thousand years, there will be only ten of these devices left in the solar system. The others will go with the Atlantean explorers. The devices will resonate with certain of their children and will allow them to become Sailor Senshi.", picking up a gray rod topped with a flat- bottomed half-circle, she continued, "As of right now, I'm the only one that can use one of these. The others will be in tune with the planets they settle on. Princes and princesses of their worlds and one of them will be in tune with the galaxy." Merhu snorted and said, "What will these certain people have? Do you really expect be to believe that your enemy can destroy this world?" Selene smiled sadly, "These people will have something called a star-seed inside of them. It is the representation of all that is good with their world. It will form inside the person who forms that world's best representation. Right now, I'm the representative of my world, Gaea or Earth as it will be called later, but after I do something the rights to that will pass into a different person. There is also a world in our solar system that will never have a star-seed form naturally.", Selene took a quick glance at one of the tables and continued, "I've already chosen a Senshi for that world and have also figured out how to give that person a star-seed." Merhu sighed and said in a bored voice, "Yeah, fine, whatever. You didn't answer my second question, though." Selene shuddered as she thought of something unpleasant, "Sehkmet the Destroyer? Trust me she is. After I fight her, I'm going to need someone that I can trust to carry out my plans after I'm gone. That is why I need one of the Demon-gods in my universe. " "You sound like, you won't win the fight.", Merhu commented, "If your going to lose why are you going?" Selene ignored his question and said, "Since you came here to check up on the progress of the Demon-gods, I can have one of them finished within the day. I think I'll call the purple-haired one Ifurita after the djinns and ifrits of my world. The other will take a bit longer, at least a week." "Okay, I hope to see how good a job you did on this other one", Merhu said and muttered under his breath, "And, when you finish the other one, we'll take that one as well." Selene smiled as she watched King Merhu go and said calmly, "Once Ifurita is activated, I'm leaving this world and taking all my projects with me. I could have the other Demon-god finished also, but I want to make some improvements on her. All your going to find the day after next is an empty workshop and the plans for The Eye of God." Selene looked down at the green-haired Demon-god and said, "I'm also going to put all of the schematics for my devices into her memory bank as well as this world's knowledge. Combining magic and technology can create some very spectacular effects." Setsuna, still unnoticeable, realized how close she came to being a weapon of destruction. Hugging herself and shuddering slightly, she recalled the last bit of Selene's words. She also was shocked to learn that she had her plans inside of her. As the memory faded, Setsuna was back in the place where the files for the Eye of God were stored. Looking around, she saw a bunch of glowing orbs floating around her. Knowing that each orb was a file, Setsuna hunted for the one that contained her plans. She was about to touch one of the globes when something snapped her awake. Someone had picked up her staff and was winding her up and it wasn't Usagi. "Wakey, wakey my little Demon-god. Soon you will help me conquer this world and I will finally defeat Makoto." , said a voice that sounded insane. Setsuna looked at her new master with dread and asked, "Who are you?" The grinning man said, "I'm Katsuhiko Jinnai, the destined ruler of El-Hazad but from now on call me master. Now my little toy, you are going to fly the both of us out of here and then we begin the conquest of El-Hazard." Feeling sick, Setsuna answered, "Yes, master" and then picked Jinnai up and flew him out the window, but before she did she carved a message in the wall with her finger, unseen by Jinnai. To Be Continued