Sailor X #4 The Cycle Broken
By: John Brengman
PROLOGUE
Beryl wrenched herself free of Mars� fiery grip and turned around.
Sailor Mars limply dropped to the floor of the throne room
�MOON ZERO MAGIC!� A disk of destructive magic appeared at the tip
of the staff and floated outward until it reached the queen.
Beryl roared as the energy consumed her. The scorching pain seared
through every fiber of her being. Her scream shook the Sailors to their
bones as her body disintegrated.
A wraithlike entity floated up from the spot that Beryl occupied
only moments before. With an evil laugh, the shadow-form swirled around
the room. Beryl�s voice boomed, �You still have not defeated me!�
The wraith then slammed into Sailor Mercury, knocking her to the ground
before vanishing into the floor.
Sailor Mercury opened her eyes. She felt as if she were ice-cold
all throughout her body, but she thought it was because she had used
one of her powers and put it out of her mind. Sailors Jupiter and Pluto
grabbed her hands and helped her up. After a second, she shrugged them
off. �Leave me alone,� she murmured coldly.
Too much had happened for the others to be concerned over what was
possibly a quirk of Rachel�s combustible personality. The wraith shard
buried itself deeply in the background of Rachel�s psyche and bided its
time. It sensed that it needed tome to recover�but it had found a new
home�and if it were careful, it would have all the time it needed�
==> * SM * <==
Noruma District, Yotochib Prefecture 2:24 PM
Near the shore of Tokyo Harbor
The rain continued to pour down from overcast skies. Prefecture
police chief Hikari Kumada grimaced as he looked into the sky
momentarily, the weather matching his mood. He stepped across a large
puddle near the railroad tracks and joined another officer who was
stooped down near some dense undergrowth.
Nearly obscured through the brackish weeds was the naked body of a
young woman. The rain had washed the body clean, but both men could
still see the thin red line that unnaturally cut across the young
woman�s throat. Her ripped undergarments hung waterlogged from one leg.
The police assumed that the unidentified woman was the tenth
victim of a terribly active insane individual who was terrorizing the
slums in this area of the Tokyo-Yokohama-Chiba megacity. The police
chief had been called in by the city elders, who hoped that his
expertise might shed some light on this old case�or at least, his
presence would uplift the morale of the local police and reassure the
populace that the perpetrator of these crimes would soon be in custody
and on his way to the maximum security facility on Mikura Island. *
Neither of these things had happened, and while the city still
maintained its faith in the police chief, the chief himself was
beginning to show his frustration.
�What have you found?� He demanded tersely.
�Not much,� Lieutenant Ryunosuke replied as he took pictures of
the corpse�s neck. �The individual was possibly assaulted and raped.
Obviously, she was then killed and dumped here.�
�I think we don�t have to pay you thirty-five thousand yen a year
for that sort of expert observation,� Kumada replied. �I could have
told you what you have just reported. What I want to know is, was it
him?�
Ryunosuke had turned toward the nearby shoreline and was scanning
the rock-encrusted ground to the north of where he was standing.
Walking over a few feet, he stooped down to pick up a wilted scrap of
paper. Returning, he handed the paper to Kumada who turned it over.
The paper was a playing card, specifically the Queen of Hearts.
The back of the cards featured a picture of a large red heart shape
surrounded by wicked-looking thorns, some of which drove deep into the
heart.
�It�s him,� Kumada muttered as the coroner arrived and Ryunosuke
continued the picture taking. Finishing this, the lieutenant busied
himself with gathering the woman�s soaked clothing which was scattered
in a haphazard manner north and east of the body. As Kumada briefed the
female coroner, Ryunosuke continued to pick up debris that was laying
strewn over a paved walking path that connected the run-down housing
developments to the south with the beach to the north and east.
Just as Kumada had finished his presentation, Ryunosuke waved at
him from near a storm drain along the walking path. �Sir,� he called,
�here�s another one�.and she�s alive!�
==> * SM * <==
Bethany Dell�s House 5:07 PM
South side of Tokyo
�And in local news,� the television anchor said, �the Playing Card
Killer has struck again, this time in the Noruma District near
Yokohama. Police reports indicate��
Sandra Usagi, Rachel Kyle and Bethany Dell sat transfixed by the
news. Precautions in their neighborhood had been taken after the first
couple of victims had been found. In fact, Luna had advised that the
girls return to their residence at the foundation headquarters, but
Sandra had rejected that advice. �With all that has happened recently,�
she�d said, �I think we could all use some time away from here.� When
Serenity had not stepped in, the majority of the girls had headed to
Earth for a bit of rest and relaxation. A couple of days after they
arrived, which had been three weeks ago, the police reported the first
victim.
The news report continued. �Again, police have found the trademark
of the Playing Card Killer at the scene of the crime�� A picture of the
playing card appeared on the screen. �Police are advising the
population that they are making progress on this case. There are
reports that one of today�s victims was found barely alive��
�I think I may have to rethink the whole R&R idea,� Sandra said
quietly. �I certainly think the base would be safer right now.�
�Yes,� Bethany agreed. �The novelty of being back here has
certainly worn off.�
The girls turned to Rachel, but she seemed entranced by the news
coverage�..
�..the girl was carried through the dark living room toward her
parents� bedroom. Panicked, she looked over at the couch and saw that
her mother was draped unconscious over it. A bottle of hard liquor
stood on the table at the end of the couch, its cap off. A small glass
lay on its side, alcohol from it still dripping onto the carpet.
The girl nearly had her head slammed against the door frame as she
was carried into the bedroom, but that didn�t seem to matter�only her
raised arm protected her�
The girl was thrown roughly onto the disheveled bed, but before
she could scamper away and hide again, like she did the last time she
had been cornered, she felt a weight press down upon her, pinning her
to the bed. A hand was slapped down over her mouth.
The girl tried to squirm away but it was no use. Her pajamas were
ripped open. The weight of her assailant pressed down, forcing her legs
apart�
A hand reached out to grasp the nightstand near the bed, but only
succeeded in toppling a deck of cards to the carpet. Some landed
backside up�.a picture of a heart surrounded by thorns�.
�..violation�
�Rachel?�
Rachel blinked to clear her head and saw her two friends looking
at her with concern.
Rachel stood up and crossed the room. It wasn�t until she�d
retrieved her jacket and headed to the door that the others reacted.
�Where are you going?� Sandra asked.
�I have to see that girl in the hospital,� was all they heard
before Rachel left the room.
�Hell,� Bethany said. �We�d better tag along.�
==> * SM * <==
Yokohama Regional Hospital 6:48 PM
Rachel clutched her coat around her as if it were shielding her
from harm, even as she drifted down the halls of the hospital. She had
easily lost Sandra and Bethany on the road to Yokohama. She got quite
some distance into the hospital before she was stopped. When she was
stopped, she simply stated that she was a relative of the still-living
victim and demanded loudly that she be allowed to see her.
When she finally reached the bedside of the barely-living woman,
Rachel simply stood and gazed deeply at the prone figure. In the
background, the machines whirred and beeped as they performed their
duty of keeping the battered form alive. The lights were subdued and
shadows shrouded the woman.
A hand touched Rachel�s shoulder. She looked over and saw Sandra
standing there smiling a thin smile. Bethany stood beside Sandra and
looked at the unconscious form in front of her. The three women let the
sights and sounds of the room wash over them. Rachel reached over and
brushed back a wisp of black hair from the woman�s face.
The calm was broken when a police officer entered the room. He
walked over to the woman and asked, �Who here is the relative?�
Something stirred within Rachel, and she used this diversion to
hurriedly leave the room. The police officer turned to stop her, and
that was when Sandra also slipped away.
The delay had cost Sandra. Rachel was nowhere to be seen. Sandra
stopped in an intersection and scanned the halls. Her friend was
nowhere to be found. She noticed a door leading to a stairway and
decided that perhaps the quickest way out of the building was in that
direction.
The door slammed shut behind her as Sandra descended the stairs.
The white light cast a harsh glare on the concrete walls. Sandra
continued down the stairs, not really paying attention to what was in
font of her, intent only on retrieving her friend.
�Stop,� a voice ordered coldly as Sandra reached the second floor
landing. Turning, Sandra looked down toward the next landing about a
half a floor further down. There she saw Rachel Kyle, her friend and
partner, the young woman selected to be Sailor Mercury.
Rachel held a pistol, and it was pointed up toward Sandra. �Don�t
come any closer,� she said steadily.
Sandra attempted to step down the stairs toward Rachel, but
quickly drew back when her friend stepped back and jerked the gun up
further. Now it was aimed at Sandra�s head.
�Don�t try to stop me,� Rachel said. �I will kill you.�
�I don�t believe that,� Sandra replied, �and you have to know
that.�
�I don�t care,� Rachel growled as she inched toward the next set
of stairs, her eyes unmoving from Sandra.
�Let me help you,� Sandra pleaded.
�No!� Rachel screamed. �Go away!� Her finger tensed on the trigger
and a shot rang out, nearly deafening Sandra, who dropped to the
concrete floor. Alarms began to ring, and Rachel hurried down to the
next level of the hospital.
Only minutes later, Sandra was seated on a bed while a doctor
checked her ears. An officer stood grimly nearby. Bethany hung in the
vicinity, her concern for her friends now doubled as Sandra told her
what had happened in the stairway.
�She shot you?� Bethany asked with amazement.
�No,� Sandra replied. �She could not have missed at that range.
She intentionally missed.�
At that point the officer stepped forward. �Ms. Usagi, we�re going
to have to ask a few questions.�
�We don�t have time, officer,� Sandra replied as she produced her
business card from her purse. �Ask your superiors to get a hold of the
Luna Foundation�s legal offices. They will provide you with a complete
report as soon as it�s available.� With that, she grabbed Bethany and
left the room.
�Where�s Rachel?� Bethany asked as they hurried down the hallway
toward the exit.
�I don�t know,� Sandra replied. �Which is why we have to call Luna
and have her use the base�s scanners to lock in on her.�
==> * SM * <==
The wraith shard rejoiced. It had found the perfect hiding place�a
person with huge emotional resources to feed upon. Gleefully it watched
from inside while Rachel ran through the slums of Yokohama which grew
around the industrial coastline like a fungus. Rachel ran past
discarded buildings and piles of rubble without notice�she was intent
upon one thing�
�Revenge!� The wraith shrieked happily. Then, it pulled another
memory from Rachel�s mind to ensure that nothing would stop her from
carrying out her vengeance�
�..Rachel got off the school bus near her house in Noruma�where
her mother had taken her after the two women had been kicked out of the
house by her father. The fence protected the adequate yard from the
debris outside. The battle against the oncoming slums was a hard
one�the blue paint on the house was showing its age. Debris piled up
against the outside of the fence. Most of the people on the block were
either old or infirm�too weak to move themselves to a better
neighborhood, or too useless for their families to move them.
This neighborhood had one thing that kept Rachel and her mother
here though�safety. Her father would never find them if�no, when he
changed his mind and lusted again for them.
Rachel pulled her key from her pocket as she reached the front
door. �Funny,� she thought as she noticed the door was unlocked,
�mother usually keeps this locked�maybe she forgot�� The young girl
shrugged this irregularity off and entered the house.
The kitchen seemed to be in order�there were no dishes to be done.
Another first. Again, Rachel shrugged it off�at least that was one
chore she wouldn�t have to do.
She entered the living room. The curtains were closed, and the
lamp which stood atop the small table next to the worn couch was on. At
four in the afternoon?
As Rachel went to turn the light off, she noticed her mother lying
on her side on the couch. Her left arm was propping her head up, and
she held a book in her right. �Mother?� Rachel said.
It was then she noticed the blank stare�her mother wasn�t reading
the book she held�
�Mother�.� Rachel whispered weakly.
The woman�s necklace was wrapped too tightly around her throat�a
small trail of blood escaped from her nose�
Rachel ran from the room and collapsed in the hall�
In the living room, obscured under the coffee table�a playing
card�
�.and not even the wraith could retrieve the memory of what
happened after that. Rachel picked herself from the ground where she
had collapsed. Looking around, she reassured herself that she was in no
danger, then continued on her way�
==> * SM * <==
The Yokohama slums 7:50 PM
The house in Yokohama had not fared as well as the one Rachel had
lived in while she and her mother had lived in Noruma. Parts of the
roof had caved in. Some of the walls looked like they would not last
much longer. What windows remained were cracked or broken entirely.
This place was no longer a habitat for a family.
It was however, an excellent place for a man who never wanted to
be found to hide.
Rachel stepped through the rubble and entered the next room. A
familiar coffee table stood along one wall. Gas lamps atop the
debris-cluttered table illuminated the room. A pile of books stood at
one end of the table, as if they themselves could hold back the
destruction around them.
Near the center of the table stood a deck of playing cards�a deck
obviously thin from use.
�Who do we have here?� A rough voice inquired from another doorway
to Rachel�s left. She turned and saw a man about her height, with black
hair and an unshaven appearance. His tattered clothes did their best to
conceal his body, but the man�s skin could be seen through the gaps.
�This has gone far enough,� Rachel said calmly as she pointed at
the cards on the table. �I won�t allow you to hurt any more people.�
The man looked at Rachel as if he did not understand. �What?� All
I need is a new deck of cards�I seem to have lost a few��
Anger stirred within as Rachel heard the old game beginning�.act
innocent and no one will suspect you..
�I don�t mean the cards!� Rachel yelled. �I�m talking about
everything else�.what you DO with those cards!�
�I don�t know what you�re talking�.� The man�s face changed in the
split second of recognition.
�Wait a minute,� he growled. �I know who you are�.�
�Rachel,� his voice hissed.
==> * SM * <==
The Yokohama slums 8:15 PM
Sailors Moon, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto rushed down the deserted
streets of the slums. Most of the people who scratched out a living
here retreated into the rubble before sunset to avoid whatever roamed
the streets after dark. The Sailors were glad for this one item in
their favor�they wouldn�t have to worry about being stopped by the
authorities in the area, or worse�
�Are you sure she�s in the area?� Sailor Uranus asked.
�Yep,� Jupiter replied. �According to Luna, we�re within about
five blocks of Rachel�s location.�
�Why couldn�t we have just teleported directly to her?� Uranus
asked, concern for her friend evident.
�We don�t know what kind of trouble she is in,� Sailor Moon
replied. �I certainly wouldn�t want to simply pop in on her without
making sure we won�t be endangering ourselves too much.�
�I just hope we�re not too late,� Uranus said.
�Me too,� Sandra said to herself. �Hold on, Rachel. We�re on our
way.�
==> * SM * <==
The man had brandished a knife after discovering who he was
facing. Rachel had backed up to the wall near the table.
�I told you what I�d do if I ever found you,� he growled as he
advanced toward her. �I warned you!�
�Like you �warned� mother,� Rachel replied coldly.
�That bitch! She took what I gave her, and deserted me! She
betrayed me! I only wanted to give her love!�
�We�ve seen your kind of love.� Rachel said sternly. �The kind of
love you gave me when I was nine years old �just a damned child.�
�And you loved it��
�I was your daughter!� Rachel screamed. �YOU HAD NO RIGHT!�
�You ARE my daughter!� The man hissed as he pressed the knife to
her neck. �I have every right!�
The knife dropped as the man grabbed Rachel�s shoulder, starting to
remove her shirt�
�..the girl tried to squirm away but it was no use. Her pajamas
were ripped open. The weight of her assailant pressed down, forcing her
legs apart�
�..violation�
�NO!� Rachel screamed as she slammed her fist into the man�s face.
He toppled back and collapsed in a heap to the floor.
�Not again!� She said as she bristled with rage. �NEVER AGAIN!�
�MERCURY POWER!� As the transformation sequence progressed, the
wraith drank in the emotional energy that seemed to radiate from the
young girl. Soon, it would be fully healed again� It heard Mercury in
the background: �You are going to pay�.for everything you�ve done�.for
everyone you�ve hurt!�
The man did not seem to notice the change that had just happened.
�Actually,� he snarled. �Now that you�re back, I will have you whenever
and where ever I want!� He again grabbed at Mercury, who slammed a foot
into his stomach. The man was sent flying into the far wall.
�You BITCH!� The man yelled as he tried to stand.
�I may be a bitch,� Mercury said distantly. The room darkened as
she prepared to call upon the primal forces at her command.
��but I am still alive!�
A globe of primal ice enveloped Mercury, then exploded out to
cover the room. The man was bathed in a pale blue light. The flame from
the nearby gas lamp was extinguished.
�My thanks, Sailor Mercury,� Queen Beryl said within her. �I am
whole again!�
The temperature in the room plummeted as the primal energy flowed
forth.
�My gift to you,� Beryl shouted within Mercury�s mind. �Arise,
ETERNAL SAILOR MERCURY!�
Snakes of pure primal energy swarmed out and collided into
everything. They eagerly searched the area for any form of energy. A
shaft of blue light found the gas lamp and consumed the energy stored
within it. The lamp fell apart as the devouring energy left.
Wisps of energy descended upon the man. They tore into him,
leaching every ounce of energy from him.
The darkforce bloomed within Rachel as the life energy flooded into
her. The searing shards of light ripped every bit of now-dead flesh
from the bones of the corpse, then blasted the bones into rubble.
Her task done, Mercury tried to halt the power she had
unleashed�and found she couldn�t. Instead she fell into a trance and
started humming a eerie melody.* It wavered a bit, then hit its high
note, which Mercury held. As that note continued, the sphere of primal
energy expanded, drawing everything around it into its icy clutches. It
soon expanded exploded out of the house, blasting the walls of the
decrepit structure apart�and continued to grow larger�
In the depths of Mercury�s mind, Beryl laughed as the deadly
sphere expanded.
==> * SM * <==
�There she is!� Uranus exclaimed as she saw the icy sphere appear.
�Yes,� Jupiter replied, �but what is that?� She pointed at the
expanding sphere.
Sailor Moon snapped out of a mental fugue �Whatever it is,� she
said. �Luna just told me its off the scales up at the base. We�ve got
to get the hell out of here, now.�
�But Mercury�� Uranus protested.
�She�s in the center of that!� Sailor Moon shouted as she pointed
back at the still-expanding sphere. �Sailor Jupiter, get us out of
here!�
The Sailors vanished as Jupiter teleported them to safety.
==> * SM * <==
The Crystal Palace
Neo-Queen Serenity entered the Star Chamber. Its walls were made
from quartz-like crystal and lighted by a large circle of nine clear
crystals. One crystal represented one of the planets dedicated to the
defense of the Moon Kingdom. The queen entered the circle and stood at
its center, briefly noting that the blue crystal representing Mercury
was dark..
�May the use of this power protect the innocent!,� Serenity
shouted. Then, �PLANET POWER!� The planet crystals flared to life,
bathing the room in a warm glow. Serenity raised her royal scepter in
the air and shouted, �MOON REJUVINATION MAGIC!�
A bright beam of intense light bloomed in the chamber and arose
through the glass ceiling. Travelling through space, the magical energy
circled the moon once, then turned and headed toward Earth.
==> * SM * <==
The moonbeam slammed into the area of the city covered by the
primal sphere. Waves of energy cascaded over the sphere and absorbed
it. Then both the sphere and the moon energy vanished�leaving a huge
circular hole in the city
Nothing stirred within the circle. Sailor Mercury was gone.
==> * SM * <==
�Are you sure she�s alright?� Brandy asked Sandra once the Sailors
had returned to the Luna Foundation headquarters.
Sandra turned from gazing out across the lunar surface at Earth.
�She is alive, that much we know,� she said. �As for being alright,
that�s a different story.�
�So what can we do?� Brandy asked impatiently.
�Nothing,� Sandra stated simply. �As long as she doesn�t want to
be found, we can�t help her. The Foundation has contacted the
authorities in Tokyo. If they find her, we�ll be contacted.�
�I wish we could do something to help,� Brandy said sadly. She
sniffed back a tear. Out of all of them, Brandy was taking the group�s
recent losses the hardest.
Sandra nodded slightly in agreement. �I do too,� she said silently
as she returned her gaze to the window.
FINI
FOOTNOTES AND EXPLANATIONS
Notes:
1: While this story is not hentai or ecchi in nature, an advisory will
be posted due to its content.
2: Mikura Island, also called Mikura Jima is located approximately 150
km southeast of Tokyo.
3: The melody Sailor Mercury sang to unleash the primal sphere was
taken from �Smack my Bitch Up�, by
Prodigy, copyrighted 1997. (The above title is a guestimate�the album
labels substitute a picture of an ant for the word �bitch�
Fanfic c 1999 � John Brengman and Artemis Publishing
Sailor X series inspired by Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, c 1992 by Toei
Animation Co Ltd. and based on Kodansha�s manga production of �Sailor
Moon�, written by Naoko Takeuchi
This fanfic is freely distributed. Release date: September, 1998
---
Sailor X #5 Transfiguration
By: John Brengman
==> * SM * <==
�Do you know the people fighting for your
head?�
- Queensryche, �The Voice Inside� 1997
�violation� The memory continued insistently.
�No,� Rachel thought. �You are banished.�
�violation� The memory insisted again.
�No!� Rachel screamed to herself. But, this was not an irritating
lyric that would not go away�
�violation� and now the pictures began to flash through her mind
again�. the girl was carried through the dark living room toward her
parents� bedroom�panicked� thrown roughly onto the disheveled bed�
pajamas ripped open� a heart surrounded by thorns�.
�violation�
�No!� Rachel thought sternly, but she could sense the wavering. �I
have defeated you,� but the thought
sounded hollow and only served to bring about another assault from the
past�
�violation�
Rachel stumbled and fell against the stone wall of a building
under the barrage. �No��, she hissed under her breath�
�violation�
The young girl began to cry and her tears mixed with the
torrential rain that pummeled the city. She collapsed to the ground�
�VIOLATION�
�No�� Rachel pleaded�
==> * SM * <==
The Crystal Palace
�Hangin� by a thread, problems in my head�.�
- Queensryche, �Hit the Black� 1997
�violation�
Sandra awoke with a start and shot up in bed. For some reason, her
first thought was to gather the rumpled covers of her bed more tightly
around her as if hiding her body. Banishing that thought with an angry
shake of her head, she arose and slipped into a robe. Tying the robe�s
belt about her waist, Sandra
walked over to the huge window with its view of Earth as it sparkled
with the light of the dawning morning.
Sandra looked over at the clock on her nightstand. �Quarter-til
seven,� she thought. �No sense trying to get more sleep��
�violation�
Sandra turned back to the window as the waves of memory crested
over mental barriers erected to shield from intense emotional trauma.
�Rachel�� she murmured worriedly.
==> * SM * <==
Noruma District
�He said, �Would you respect me, if I didn�t
have this gun?
Cuz without it, I don�t get it, and that�s
why I carry one.�
- Phil Collins, �Both Sides of the
Story,� 1993
The Yotochib police arrived at the scene of the fifth murder in
the Noruma District in less than three days. That in itself was not
strange�there were often more than double that many murders in this
shattered area of the city.
Not many of the victims were frozen solid however.
�Whoever this person is,� police lieutenant Ryunosuke thought as
he examined the ice-cold corpses of four men, �he or she is quite picky
about who they kill.�
Scattered around the ground were various tools of the drug
trade�pipes, needles, and other paraphernalia. One officer emerged from
a makeshift hut further down the cul-de-sac where these thugs had met
their end. �Lieutenant,� he said, then tossed a small plastic bag to
Ryunosuke.
Looking through the clear flimsy material that kept its contents
safely dried, Ryunosuke say dozens of oval shaped capsules, each filled
with a deep blue liquid�
�Yep,� the junior officer said, noticing the expression on
Ryunosuke�s face. �It�s Skye.� He nodded toward the ramshackle hovel.
�There�s more in there�crystal meth, cocaine, opium, and enough
chemicals and equipment to put our chem lab to shame. Whoever did this
just popped the biggest drug ring I�ve seen in my ten years on the
police force here.�
�Yes,� Ryunosuke agreed.
�But two wrongs don�t make a right,� he thought.
==> * SM * <==
The Crystal Palace
After all of the young women had gathered in the queen�s study
along with Neo Queen Serenity and all three of the cats, Sandra had
started to tell them what she had sensed from Rachel. Most of the
Sailors reacted throughout the tale with various expressions of shock
and horror. Bethany was stone-faced, she hated any of this kind of
talk. Vanessa was similarly dispassionate, but she tried to comfort
Victoria, who seemed about ready to flee the room.
Sandra found those reactions to be normal under the circumstances.
However, her mother and the two older cats also were showing no
significant reaction. Seeing this, Sandra trailed off with her thought�
��and you know this�,� she said softly. Puzzlement arose from the
gathered women, who then noticed that Sandra was gazing sternly at her
mother.
Serenity and the cats felt eight pairs of eyes on them as they
each tried to decide how best to disclose what had remained a secret
since the founding of the team.
Finally, Serenity stood and stepped forward.
�The guardians and I have known about Rachel for quite some time��
* * *
Tokyo Central Detention Center May 25, 2012
A woman in her thirties sat across the desk from Director Yanori
Ikeda and said the unthinkable. �I want an inmate released into my
custody, and I want it done now.�
The bulky man squared his shoulders as if to block the woman�s
access to the inmates personally. �I don�t take orders from civilians,�
he growled as he puffed on a cigar. The smoke wafted up to join the
cloud that fogged the upper regions of the posh office. �And I
certainly don�t take orders from a blonde
wench, Ms�.�
�Tsukino,� the statuesque woman said as she stroked the black cat
on her lap. �Ms. Tsukino Usagi.� She paused, enjoying the Bond-like
moment. �Under the UN Outreach Code of 2010, I am taking custody of a
person detained here named Rachel Kyle.�
�Your custody?� Ikeda asked skeptically. �Ms. Kyle is here for the
crimes of burglary and assault, more than one charge of assault,
actually��
�Yes,� the woman replied. �That is not relevant. From the moment
she is released, she will be my responsibility.�
�What do you plan to do with her?�
�That also is not relevant,� the woman replied dryly. �I assure
you that she will be enrolled in a program which will fully
rehabilitate her.�
Ikeda tried to protest, but the woman broke in. �I plan to take
her off your hands. No doubt that cell will be filled five minutes
after Rachel Kyle leaves.�
�No doubt there are more than enough ruffians out there in the
earthquake zones for you to round up.� The woman thought of the quake
that devastated the city a month earlier, of the thousands of people
left homeless�the roving bands of foragers wearing tattered remains of
clothing�
There was a long pause while the director mulled the statement
over, his thoughts possibly mirroring those of the woman sitting across
from him.
Finally, �Okay, Ms. Tsukino. The young lady will be immediately
released into your custody. You have fifteen minutes to remove her from
the premises or this deal is off.�
The woman stood and bowed slightly. �Thank you.�
The woman escorted a thin raven-haired girl onto the launchpad
atop the detention center. The wind-driven rain blew the girl�s hair
back away from her face as she and the woman approached a lone shuttle.
The woman�s black cat was hunched down in the folds of her coat, held
by her arms.
As the two approached the shuttle, the driver�s side door opened
and a man stepped out. He fought the wind seemingly without effort and
came around the shuttle to open the back door facing the oncoming
women.
Just before she reached the shuttle, the woman heard a voice
shout, �Ms. Tsukino!� She turned.
It was Ikeda.
The wind whipped his tan cape, and the wind drove through his
hair. All of this seemed to make the man look colder. �I don�t want to
find her back here!� He said. �Ever again!�
The women got into the back seat of the car-like shuttle without
comment.
Once they were safely away from the wind and the rain, and the
fuming Ikeda, the woman looked over at the young girl she had rescued
from the prison. The girl still wore her prison garb. �Are you okay?�
The woman asked, putting a hand lightly on the girl�s shoulder. The
girl did not answer and simply stared straight ahead�
Serenity removed her coat and Luna emerged. �Pilot,� the queen
said. �Take us home.� The pilot nodded slightly and pulled a headset
over his head. �This is UN Shuttle 34 to UN Geneva, please clear us for
a glide path out of the Tokyo region, then clear us for atmospheric
exit.�
The reply came, �UN Shuttle 34, you are cleared for southeast
glide out of Toyko and ascent to orbital
Level.�
The women in the back did not seem to notice any of this. Luna
perched herself on the queen�s lap. Looking up, the feline gazed into
the eyes of her dear friend. �Shall I begin?� Serenity nodded.
Luna leaped onto Rachel�s lap. The girl was involuntarily drawn by
this intrusion, and Luna took that opportunity to lock her gaze with an
unblinking stare. Before Rachel could resist, Luna had initiated a mind
link.
The shuttle lifted off silently from the top of the prison. It�s
navigation lights blinked on as it rotated once above the landing pad.
It then made another lazy rotation around the top of the building
before straightening up and continuing a steady climb into the sky,
heading southeast over the harbor. People on the ground, having long
become accustomed to such sights, largely ignored the ship passing
overhead. Besides, the everyday concerns of life occupied too much of
their time.
* * *
�Through the mind link,� Serenity continued, �we learned
everything.�
�But we decided that secrecy should be held in this case,� Luna
said. �It would not do to have you know exactly who you had to entrust
yourself to.�
�That�s rather cold, don�t you think?� Melissa asked.
�They figured we would not want to have someone on the team who
was a criminal and a psycho,� Cass said.
�Judging from your reaction,� Luna replied. �We were right.�
�This argument is getting us nowhere,� Sandra stated. �I am going
to help Rachel. No matter what her past, she is one of the Sailors now,
and we have to stick together. Queen Beryl�s done something to her, so
we have to help. But I have two questions first.�
�Okay,� Luna said. She knew what was coming was going to be rough.
�One,� Sandra said. �How did this get by Amy? After all, she had
to have a say in this.�
�Actually,� Artemis replied, �Rachel was presented to Amy as our
choice. We told her that we felt we could mold the girl into a hero, a
girl worthy of being a Sailor.�
�I was not lying when I said I planned to rehabilitate Rachel,�
Serenity said.
�You girls must give Rachel a chance,� Luna said. �If she can
continue to focus her emotions, her control of the power of Mercury
will grow. She has the potential to become a great force for good if
she is surrounded by people who will give her a break.�
Brandy nodded her agreement. �It sounds like she�s been through a
lot.� The others nodded their agreement.
�Question Two,� Sandra said, silencing the room.
�Since you have held information from us, how can we trust you?�
Dead silence filled the room for an awkward moment.
�I am sorry,� Luna replied finally. �I know you will have trouble
taking me at my word for a while but please know that the only reason
we hid this from you was for the good of the Sailors.�
�Yes,� Artemis said. �Had we sprung this on you at a time when you
barely knew each other, our efforts to recruit a new group of Sailors
would have fallen apart. You never would have come together as a team.
With the Negaverse out there, we could not take that chance.�
�But again,� Luna said. �I apologize. Please forgive us�
Sandra stood. �Done. We have a friend out there who needs us, and
it�s past time for us to do something about it.� Looking at the others,
she said, �Brandy, Cass, Bethany, you�re with me. The rest of you, hold
here in case more help is needed. Vanessa, is the Timegate
operational?�
�It is,� Vanessa replied.
�Good,� Sandra said. �We�ll have to use it to transport to Earth.
Let�s go.�
==> * SM * <==
Noruma District
Sailor Mercury smiled as she drained the energy from the three
thugs at her feet. The pale light from the energy drain faded as the
bodies froze into lifelessness. Stepping over the corpses, Mercury
kicked over a barrel, spilling the drugs atop it into the water-soaked
alley.
Satisfied that the deed had been done, Mercury stepped out of the
alley and into a circle of Sailors.
�This has gone far enough,� Sailor Mars said.
�We know about what Beryl has done,� Sailor Venus said.
�And we�re here to stop you.� Sailor Uranus said.
Before Sailor Moon could add anything, Mercury answered.
�MERCURY BUBBLES�BLAST!� After a quick flash of bubbles, the air
filled with fog.
�What the�� Uranus exclaimed.
Sailor Moon felt something brush past her. �She�s over here!� The
whir of a motor blared out as the Sailors gathered around Sailor Moon
and the fog lifted from the area. They could see Sailor Mercury
speeding down the street on a motorcycle that had belonged to one of
the thugs.
�She�s got a good start,� Sailor Uranus said as she mounted one of
the pair of bikes remaining. �Let�s get going.� Sailors Mars and Venus
grabbed the remaining bike, while Sailor Moon swung herself behind
Sailor Uranus. With a roar, the two bikes took off after Sailor
Mercury.
The chase began in the Noruma District, then snaked its way to the
four-lane Intercity Highway. The road was nearly vacant as the three
motorcycles entered the highway west of Noruma and headed toward the
mountains west of the metropolis.
The Sailors closed the distance between themselves and Sailor
Mercury as they entered the foothills.
When Sailor Moon and Sailor Uranus got within shouting distance of
Sailor Mercury, she yelled, �Pull over!� With a grimace, she thought,
�I hate being clich�.�
The highway started a slow downward slope toward a mountain
tunnel.
Sailor Mercury turned around and took her hands away from the
handle bar. �Eat asphalt!� She shouted.
�MERCURY BUBBLES�BLAST!� Again a fog obscured the Sailors� vision and
Sailor Uranus had to concentrate on keeping the bike on the highway.
They soon emerged into the clear�.and inside the tunnel.
Uranus stepped down on the gas and screeched ahead to come
alongside Sailor Mercury.
�Get ready to jump over!� Uranus shouted.
Sailor Moon looked down at the highway as it sped by beneath then.
In most cases, she was vastly different from her mother, but the
thought of being smeared over the highway was not a pleasant one. �No
way!� She yelled.
�Do you have a better idea?� Uranus asked.
�Damn right I do!� With that, Sailor Moon mentally reached out to
Mercury. The tendrils of her mental contact reached toward Mercury�s
mind�and they were suddenly batted away with such force that Sailor
Moon nearly fainted.
The chase continued as the highway exited the tunnel, and arced
north and east back toward the city of Tokyo. All three bikes fought
the wind, the rain, and the occasional car or truck as they battled
each other.
This continued as the highway entered the city of Tokyo and headed
toward the downtown area.
The Intercity Highway was a new highway, a modification of the
highways in the area after the earthquake of April, 2012. The final
section was a four mile stretch through the southern edge of downtown.
It was a raised section, built two stories from the ground�and one
section was still unfinished.
This didn�t deter Sailor Mercury, who blasted past the highway
construction signs and continued down the road.
�We have got to stop her!� Sailor Moon shouted.
�We should be more worried about stopping ourselves,� Sailor
Uranus replied. Looking over Uranus� shoulder, Sailor Moon saw that
they were going at about 70 miles per hour�on a slick, rain-soaked
road.
Sailor Mercury saw that the road was going to abruptly end. She
sped up, broke through the final barricades and sailed over the gap,
landing with a thud on the other side.
Sailor Uranus slammed on the brakes and whipped the bike
around�coming to a stop within a foot of the edge. Sailor Moon watched
while some gravel fell off the edge of the highway and plummeted to the
ground. Sailor Mars stopped her bike a few feet away. The four Sailors
watched as Mercury sped away.
==> * SM * <==
Downtown Tokyo
�I am I�no, not THAT�
- Queensryche, �I Am I� (1994)
The Sailors used the scanners at the Crystal Palace to track
Mercury to an area outside a half-completed office building. They
fanned out after discovering the motorcycle she had been
riding�abandoned.
A think fog hazed over the area, cutting down vision to a few feet
in front of each girl. Sailor Venus looked up from her communicator.
�This fog is interfering with the castle�s sensors. They can�t get a
good reading.�
�That�s the last time I complain about her powers being weak,�
Sailor Mars said.
�Are you sure this isn�t just this storm?� Uranus asked.
�A fog bank in the middle of what used to be a typhoon?� Sailor
Moon asked from an area near the building, �I think not.�
On the second story of the building, a pair of hands gripped a
length of wire, wrapping it around clenched fists, pulling it tight�
�No sign of her over this way,� Mars said.
�Wait,� Venus said quickly, �If this fog is from Mercury, then��
�Ambush!� Uranus exclaimed.
A shout drew their attention as Mercury leaped from the office
building and dropped down behind Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon turned to
face Mercury, the other Sailors rushed to assist. Mercury reacted
before any of them, whipping the wire around Sailor Moon�s neck. She
then ripped Sailor Moon off her feet, her screams squelched by the wire
that constricted tightly around her throat.
The other Sailors were about to charge into battle when Sailor
Mercury stopped them with a shrieking, �BACK OFF!� The Sailors
hesitated, so she added, �or I�ll take her damn head off!�
Sailor Moon mentally sensed that Mercury was too absorbed with
trying to get as much terror out of the situation, so she reached out
to Sailor Venus.
�I am okay,� she said, �for now. You keep her attention on you.�
Sailor Moon pulled out her Moon Wand.
�Oh no you don�t!� Mercury yelled seeing this. She wrenched the
wire tighter, and Sailor Moon tossed the wand away in what she hoped
looked to be an involuntary response to the new wave of pain. As Sailor
Venus retrieved the wand from the puddle where it landed, Sailor Moon
mentally said, �Use it when I tell you to�not before.�
Venus nodded her agreement, then retreated to where the other
Sailors were. Shouts of outrage were mingled with pleas for mercy, and
all were met with an evil laugh from Mercury.
�You don�t get it, do you?� She replied coldly. �This isn�t about
you, or her.� Another twist on the wire shot a wave of pain through
Sailor Moon. �This is about me!�
�Hmm,� Sailor Moon thought through the haze of her mind. She had
to act quick. Mentally, she reached out toward Sailor Mercury, but she
didn�t get far before she reached a seething cauldron of anger and
rage, bubbling up, about ready to boil over�and within all of that, a
duality�as if someone else�
�I�ve got it!� Sailor Moon exclaimed to herself as she delved
deeper into the emotional firestorm. Sailor Mercury did not seem to
notice the intrusion, so the other Sailors were doing their jobs well.
Finally, Sailor Moon thought she was far enough into Mercury�s psyche.
It was time to up the ante by giving Beryl exactly what she
wanted.
�I am Sailor Moon,� she mentally shouted within the recesses of
Mercury�s mind. �I am the princess of the Moon Kingdom! Queen Beryl,
you want to regain your power? You want to be free? DO YOU?� The
surrounding area seemed to darken in anger as she asked this. She could
distantly feel that her body was on the edge of consciousness. She had
to act quickly.
�Then take me!� She shouted. �You want someone with real power,
take me!�
As the other Sailors watched, a green mist began to flow from
Sailor Mercury. It flowed down and caressed Sailor Moon until she was
surrounded by it. Mercury dropped to the ground and Sailor Moon stood
up, her back to the others�
The mist wrapped itself around Sailor Moon. She grew taller, her
shoulders broadened out, and her hair turned brown. Her skin turned
into almost an albino shade of pale.
Venus stepped forward. �What in the�?� The rest of the Sailors
stood transfixed by this hideous transformation.
The woman that turned around to face the Sailors was not Sailor
Moon. The thin, lithe form that faced them smiled, her hair blown back
softly by the dying winds.
Queen Beryl had been reborn.
The Sailors were about to launch themselves into an attack but
Sailor Venus held them back. They looked at Venus as if she�d lost her
mind.
�Those weren�t Sailor Moon�s orders,� she said simply.
�Now,� Beryl said.
�What?� Venus said, looking over toward the evil queen.
�NOW!� Beryl yelled.
�Oh!� Venus exclaimed as she grabbed the Moon Wand and raised it
in the air. �On behalf of the Moon,� she said. �MOON HEALING
ACTIVATION!�
A white beam shimmered from the crystal on the wand and enveloped
Beryl in a glowing aura. Beryl let out a scream of pain as the glow
grew to blinding strength.
The beam from the wand pulsed in strength. Each pulse shimmered
around the now-shrouded form and radiated outward in a wave of heat and
light that lit up the night.
After five such pulses, the wand went dark. The aura gradually
faded out, and Sailor Moon dropped to the ground next to Sailor
Mercury.
==> * SM * <==
The Crystal Palace
The girls peered through the glass partition at Rachel, who lay
asleep in the castle�s infirmary. The lighting was subdued. As they
watched, a nurse entered the room, checked Rachel�s temperature and
pulse, marked the results on her clipboard, freshened the flowers, then
left.
None of this disturbed Rachel, or Luna, who had established a mind
link with her.
Sandra approached the worried girls. Her neck was in a brace, but
otherwise, she was okay. �Luna will do what she can to undo what Beryl
did,� Sandra said. �But she won�t be able to undo all of it.�
�How bad is it� Brandy asked worriedly.
�Bad enough,� Sandra replied. �She�ll still have that wraith shard
in her. It just one of those things she�ll have to battle and deal with
on her own.�
�As to the rest, it depends on how far she had gone to put that
portion of her life behind her.�
�Sounds like she has a rough road ahead,� Cass said softly.
�The good thing is,� Sandra added, �she�s a strong girl, she has a
whole set of new powers, and most of all, she has all of us to support
her. I think she�ll do fine.�
Deep in the recesses of Rachel�s mind, a sun shone down on a
grassy meadow. A young girl sat upon a blanket, her back against a
large tree. She let the cool winds rustle her hair.
A black cat was nestled in her lap, purring itself to sleep�
FINI
Fanfic c 1999 � John Brengman and Artemis Publishing
Sailor X series inspired by Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, c 1992 by Toei
Animation Co Ltd. and based on Kodansha�s manga production of �Sailor
Moon�, written by Naoko Takeuchi
This fanfic is freely distributed. Release date: November 5, 1998
---
Sailor X #6 Genesis of the CyberSailors
By: John Brengman
==> * SM * <==
In space�
The darkness of space was suddenly distrubed by a flash of
light�as if a star had exploded. As the ring of blazing light expanded,
an comet-like object streamed forth into the surrounding darkness.
Particles of
ice cascaded off the surface of the comet and vaporized�adding to the
luminous display. The comet now
looked like a flaming sword as it sailed through space toward a nearby
solar system.
Amidst the still expanding sphere of light, another object
appeared�this one without the cacophanous
fireworks that accompanied the comet. Unlike the comet, the second
object was not 'natural'. Its sullen
gray hull was punctuated by the light from an open viewport. The ship
was small�about twice the size of
the comet it followed�
==> * SM * <==
Aboard Pursuit Ship #898001887-891
In the small command center of the ship, a figure towered above
the others, a dark shape outlined by
the dull red of the various control panels. The computers clicked and
whirred to themselves�a conversation which also divulged information to
their masters.
The figure moved to tap a few of the control buttons. They blinked
twice in acknowledgement then
the computers started implementing their new commands. The figure
lifted its metallic hand from the panel
and strode forward into the center of the room. The red light glinted
off of almost every part of her body,
giving it an almost satanic aura.
"Status," a voice ordered. It sounded human�but some mechanical
elements still slipped in to its
tone and resonances�
"We are approaching home," another quasi-mechanical voice replied.
"We are tracking the orb."
"Very good," the first voice said. "Open standard frequency to the
Terra Control Center."
A moment passed, then: "There is no response on any of the normal
or emergency frequencies."
"That is not possible," the first voice insisted. "Run a full
scan."
The scan took a minute to complete� "Scans show an abnormal level
of magic-based energy in the area. Measuring 180 hps on the energy
scale."
The first cyborg stepped over to a control panel where another
metallic human-like cyborg was working.
"Is the orb responsible for this?"
The first cyborg looked up from its work. "It is possible. It is
also possible that our scanners caught some magic-based energy when we
passed through the vortex it attacked us with."
"Should we divert to headquarters?" Another voice asked.
"No," the leader replied. "Our orders are to retrieve the orb.
After that, we will take it to headquarters and intern it there."
All heads turned to gaze at the leader, a female human-like figure
clad almost entirely in silver metal. Her left eye was that of a normal
human�her right eye was a parabolic scope. She wore no clothes�in fact,
none of the cyborgs did�there was no modesty left in their metallic
shells. The only part of the
leader's appearance that was not silver was the gold tiara that rested
on its forehead.
"Did you not understand my directives?"
"You directives were clearly received," came the chorus of voices.
"Implementing."
"Good." With that, Cybermoon turned and stalked out of the room.
==> * SM * <==
Studios of Channel 7 10:00 PM
Senior news director Aino Urawa took a look at the screen next to
him. The commercial currently coursing through the airwaves was about
the end. He gestured to the cameraman, who nodded and turned the heavy
camera toward the brightly-lit set of the station�s news center and the
petite news anchor who sat behind the �wooden� desk.
As the commercial ended, Urawa pressed a button, and green lights
atop the cameras lit. The anchorwoman nodded slightly, then started her
next story.
�Anti-UN violence has escalated as protests outside the UN
Outreach Center in central Tokyo turned into an armed confrontation.�
The picture shifted to a garish scene of mayhem. Rubble-filled
trashcans were ablaze as fires consumed their contents. Anonymous
figures used the fires to light the fuses on home-made projectiles that
were immediately launched air-borne. The camera followed one of these
missiles as it arced through the air. It descended, tumbling to the
ground, where it burst open and bloomed into a fiery blaze. The sudden
inferno forced police officers with riot shields to back away from
their positions.
�Throughout most of the day,� the news anchor continued as the
brutal scene unfolded in the background, �these protests were
peaceful.� The camera panned down to a white placard that was being
trampled by the militants. The blue UN symbol was crossed out, and it
was framed by the words: GET OUT OF TOKYO! The camera panned back to
the crowds, who were now trying to rush the police.
The anchor�s voice continued. �However, as the police responded to
the situation, the protests became violent. Despite all of this, police
spokesman, Lt. Ryunosuke reports that the majority of the protests are
under control��
==> * SM * <==
The Crystal Palace
The maintenance technician finished his work in the tunnels under
the castle. This area, also called Sub-level B, was a catacomb-like
maze that dated back to the original construction of the castle. The
worker stepped down from a stool and started to walk away. After a
couple of steps, he stopped and looked back at the overhead pipes he
had been working near. He turned and started to walk toward the nearby
corridor. He exited the maze and turned into the corridor�
�Boo!� A female voice yelled. The worker nearly jumped out of his
skin. Turning, he saw Brandy with a huge smile on her face.
When the maintenance man didn�t immediately react, Brandy flung
herself against him and the two of them collided against the far wall.
�Tell me, Richard,� Brandy said as she looked up at the man�s
startled expression. �Tell me I�m the best practical joker you�ve
seen!�
�If not,� Richard replied, �You�re pretty close!�
Brandy gently brought Richard�s mouth to hers and they kissed
passionately�
In Sub-level B, all was dark and quiet. Various machines hummed to
themselves as they performed their tasks dutifully. The few lights in
the area barely held back the encroaching darkness.
One of the devices hid above the pipes and beeped and whirred softly
to itself. It counted to itself�waiting until the proper time to
perform its task�
�dutifully�
==> * SM * <==
Aboard Pursuit Ship #898001887-891 (near Earth)
�We are closing on the orb,� Cybermercury said as Cybermoon entered
the command center. The comet-like orb flared as it continued its
approach to Earth. �There are energy spikes emanating from the orb. It
may be unstable.�
As if on cue, the orb blossomed with light which would have blinded
most creatures nearby. The machines aboard the pursuit ship simply
observed this phenomena and processed it as efficiently as sentient
machines could.
Their ship was not nearly so efficient.
�Primary sensors are inoperative,� Cybermercury reported. �Switching
to lateral sensors.�
The orb seemed to arc away from the ship as it approached Earth.
�Why are we losing speed?� Cybermoon inquired.
Cybermars attempted to get an answer from its controls. �There is a
build-up of unstable energy in the engine core. Probable cause: the
orb.�
�Status of engines?�
�Engine output is at 62% and falling��
�Will we be able to intercept the orb?�
�No,� Cybermercury replied, �not with our rate of deceleration.�
�Increase power to the engines,� Cybermoon ordered.
�That is not advisable,� Cybermars stated. �Increasing power to the
engines will result in an
overload, which will increase our deceleration.�
Cybermoon pondered this pronouncement for a few seconds, then, �Find
an alternate landing site.�
The orb streaked away from its pursuer and slipped into Earth�s
atmosphere over the Mexican state of Veracruz. As it descended, the orb
took on a halo of fire from the friction�it fell toward the blue of the
Pacific Ocean, then somehow leveled its descent and screamed across the
ocean at an almost unimaginable speed.
Three minutes later, the orb ripped across Japan, its shock wave
obliterating everything for miles around. Having cut a swath across the
southern end of the islands, the orb slashed into Asia. As it traveled
it actually gained speed�
The primitive buildings that proliferated throughout the interior of
China were no match for this fiery �demon�. Thatch hovels were ripped
to shards and blown at deadly speed in the wake of the orb, and yet it
continued to travel faster�
The orb left China and entered the mountainous regions of Nepal at
several times the speed of sound. It slammed into a mountain,
shattering it. The rubble cascaded down and buried the orb deep within
meters of heavy rock�
==> * SM * <==
The Crystal Palace Observatory
Amy checked the readings of the observatory�s refracting telescope
again. Light from the Vega star system indicated that its star was
going through some sort of disturbance and Amy found herself fascinated
by all of it. She continued looking through the eyepiece as she wrote
down her observations.
Suddenly a flash of white light drowned out the view of Vega. �What
the�� Amy exclaimed as she quickly shrank away from the telescope. She
blinked her eyes to rid them of the effects of the light.
�Artemis,� she asked the castle�s computer, instantly disliking
whomever it was who decided that the machine should be named after one
of their feline guardians. �Were any anomalies picked up within the
past minute?�
�Affirmative,� the computer replied, �one anomaly reported.� Amy
knew that answer, but used the question so the computer would focus on
that one event.
�And the nature of the anomaly was?� She asked. The computer
displayed its findings on a nearby screen. Amy quickly flipped a switch
on the comm panel near the viewscreen.
�Vanessa, this is Amy. I am at the observatory.�
Amy paused, then: �Something just happened�something big.�
Within fifteen minutes, the Sailors had been informed that something
from space had crashed on Earth. Neo-Queen Serenity gave her consent
for the team to investigate.
==> * SM * <==
Dreamland Amusement Park 11:20 PM
The alien ship landed in one of the park�s wooded areas, which at
this time of the night, were devoid of people. Not one to take chances,
Cybermoon activated the ship�s cloaking shields and it vanished into
nothingness. Satisfied, Cybermoon turned to the three other cyborgs and
said, �Let�s find the parts we need quickly so we can resume our search
for the orb!�
With that, the four started off toward the bright lights at the
heart of the park.
�For my next trick,� the stage magician shouted over the din of the
nearby rides, �I will pull a rabbit out of my hat!� Most of the crowd
that had gathered in front of the small stage in a small grassy area
just off the fairway seemed enraptured by this simple announcement. A
few watched anyway, hoping to uncover the secret behind what was
obviously a parlor trick.
�As you can tell,� the magician continued� �Nothing up my sleeve��,
he pulled his coat sleeve open. Retrieving a green silk scarf from
within the folds of his jacket, the magician smiled wryly. �Now,� he
chuckled, �How�d THAT get there?� The crowd laughed at this joke.
Using that as a distraction, the magician shifted around to the back
of the table. �Okay,� he said. �I will NOW pull that rabbit out of my
hat!� He reached into his top hat and pulled out a young, white rabbit.
The crowd went wild with applause. The magician bowed in respect to the
crowd.
�Now, for my next trick,� the magician said, �I will�what the�� Four
tall figures stood near the rear
of the audience, the lights of the fairway reflecting off their
metallic surfaces. One of them stepped forward and the crowds
parted�not yet sure exactly what was standing in front of them.
�Demonstrations of magic or sorcery are forbidden by law!� Cybermoon
shouted. �You are engaging in illegal activities and will submit to our
authority. You will not resist.�
�Excuse me,� the magician said. �You�re disrupting my show. Go find
your own crowd!�
�Are you resisting arrest?� Cybermercury asked.
�Resisting? Resisting arrest for WHAT?� The magician started backing
up as the crowds attempted to flee. Cybermars lowered a nasty-looking
barrel at them. �Fleeing the scene of a crime is an illegal
activity. You are witnesses and participants in this crime. Surrender
to our authority. You will not resist.�
Meanwhile, Cybermoon and Cybermercury had gotten to the stage.
�Resisting arrest is a criminal act
punishable by death. Preparing witness transcript for transmission
preparatory to carrying out the death
sentence.� There was a brief pause. The magician cowered near the
curtains which framed the stage and the
two cyborgs stood still�
�Transmission failed,� Cybermoon stated. �Mercury, attempt to
transmit again. I will carry out the death sentence.� The cyborg raised
its hand to its forehead� �MOON TIARA ACTI��
�Hold it!�
The cyborgs turned to the source of the voice, allowing the crowd to
begin to flee.
�You have disturbed the joy and fun this place creates at a time
when this city needs it! That can not
be allowed! In the name of the moon, I will punish you!�
�Identify yourself,� Cybermoon ordered.
Sailor Moon stepped forward with a growl. �As IF you didn�t know! I
am Sailor Moon, champion of the
Innocent!�
A voice from beside Sailor Moon answered, �And I am Sailor Mars,
defender of freedom!�
Another voice: �Sailor Jupiter here, ready to rock and rumble!�
And finally, �Sailor Venus has arrived!�
During all of this, Cybermercury had scanned the Scouts. Looking up
from its scanner, it said, �I am
detecting magical energy from them.�
Aiming her right arm at the Sailors, Cybermoon snarled, �Use of
magic is an illegal act punishable by
the death penalty! Witness transcript stored for later transmission!
MOON ELMINATION ATTACK ACTIVATION!� Pure white energy burst out of the
cyborg�s arm and surged toward the Scouts who dove out of the way.
Sailor Venus hit the ground roughly, rolled over and shouted, �VENUS
LOVE CHAIN ENCIRCLE!�
The beam bounced from Venus, then shot toward Cybermercury, who
absorbed the force of the blast.
Cybermars meanwhile turned its attention from the Sailors to the few
remaining people who were trying to
get out of the area. A gout of flame erupted as it turned the barrel of
a flame-thrower on the people.
�No!� Sailor Moon shouted as the flames enveloped a daughter and
child who failed to get away in time. The fuel from the blast
splattered over the area in a rain of fire that ignited the brush where
it landed. The
screams of the dying woman and her child shot right through the Scouts.
�You are DEAD!� Sailor Moon screamed as she raised her right hand in
the air� �MOON STAFF!�
The staff appeared in her hand, its metallic ends glistening with a
dull white glow� �Time to pay the piper,� Sailor Moon growled. �MOON
ZERO MAGIC!� A disk of destructive energy coalesced at the top
of the staff. When it had built up sufficient strength, Sailor Moon
hurled the energy bolt at Cybermars, who was continuing its search for
more �criminals�.
Cybermars was swarmed by the energy that sheared metal plating from
its exposed body parts. The deadly energy coursed over the cyborg,
shorting out circuits, fusing internal parts. Finally the energy faded
and disappeared, leaving a smoking hulk behind.
Slowly, Cybermars looked over to Sailor Moon. A laser scope sliced
its beam through a shattered glass eyeball. The cyborg reached up with
its hand and pulled the useless splinters from its face. The scope now
glared at Sailor Moon as Cybermars growled. �I still function!�
Dodging a punch from Cybermercury, Sailor Mars faded back to Sailor
Moon holding a metal shaft she had used to slap Cybervenus across the
face. She hefted the shaft and yelled, �Not for long!�
Charging the injured cyborg, Mars let out a shrill cry that pierced
the night air. She closed the distance quickly and Cybermars raised its
arm to defend itself. Sailor Mars saw this and shifted her arm quickly.
She slammed the tip of the metal shaft into the cyborg�s chest. The tip
scudded downward until it entered into the inner mechanisms through a
tear in the skin. Blood and oil mingled and showered Sailor Mars as she
lifted Cybermars off her feet. The shaft sliced through a power node
and punched through the skin�the
Cyborg was impaled on the pole.
A pulse of electricity poured from the injured cyborg and cascaded
over Sailor Mars. She dropped to her knee under the assault, but kept
the pole raised like a torch. Gradually, Mars brought the shaft down
and examined Cybermars. The red scope that now served as its left eye
was dim and flickering�slowly dying. Some metal skin plates hung
halfway off. Its head hung listless.
Clicking noises caused Mars to bend down to the cyborg�s face, where
she heard, �Terminal condition�
Initiating dest�reuct�.� Then a stern beeping noise began...a
countdown. Mars looked down at the cyborg�s arm�to the barrel of the
flame-thrower as it glimmered in the light of the still smoldering
ground fires.
�Oh shit��
Dropping the shaft, Mars looked over to see Sailor Jupiter
unleashing one of her attacks on an already-injured Cybervenus.
Cybermoon was the target of an assault from the Moon Staff, and a thick
fog shrouded an area just beyond the fighting�Mars guessed that the
remaining cyborg and Sailor Venus were there.
Launching herself to her feet, Sailor Mars ran back toward the
battle, shouting, �Back off, you guys! We�ve got to get out of here!�
�What the�� Sailor Moon managed to get out before Mars reached her.
�Trust me,� Mars insisted. �We have to go now!�
Sailor Moon made a quick decision. �Okay!� she said, then: �Retreat,
Sailors!� Jupiter looked uncertainly at Sailor Moon, but she and Sailor
Mars were already beating a path to the fairway.
As Venus retreated out of the corner of her eye to the right,
Jupiter stood her ground and yelled, �You haven�t seen the last of us,
you overgrown sardine cans!�
�Jupiter, NOW!� Sailor Moon shouted. �That�s an order!� With that,
Jupiter turned and started to run. She got five steps before the area
behind her melted with the implosion of Cybermars� fuel components. The
force of the explosion threw Jupiter several yards and the fire seared
over her. She screamed as she felt the fire consuming her. Using that
pain, Jupiter centered herself in order to use her teleportation.
Suddenly, a deeper level seemed to open within her mind�
From within the firestorm, a haunting voice arose, �I call upon the
primal forces of the planet, JUPITER!� The fires seemed to burn
brighter with this declaration. �JUPITER GRAVITON POWER!
A wave of force blasted outward from Sailor Jupiter, shredding the
buildings within a hundred yards from the Scout. Trees snapped like
twigs and became projectiles. The wind produced by the force wave
smothered the fire.
Sailor Jupiter dropped to the ground heavily after the force wave
faded away.
Slowly, the other Sailors crawled out from under whatever rubble had
fallen on them and approached to survey the scene.
Just a few yards beyond Sailor Jupiter�s unconscious form lay the
smoldering wreck that had been Cybervenus�most of her frame had been
melted into slag. Only a slight ripple on the ground had directed the
heat from the blast over Jupiter�
As the Scouts were examining the scorched form of the cyborg, its
comrades landed in front of what had been the magician�s stage.
�You have committed several criminal acts,� Cybermercury stated.
�All of which are punishable by the death penalty.�
�You again!� Sailor Moon growled.
�Witness transcript saved for later transmission,� Cybermercury
continued. �You will surrender to our authority. You will not resist.�
Assessing the situation, Cybermoon murmured, �We must retreat. We
are outnumbered and outgunned.�
Cybermercury didn�t seem to hear its commander, and continued to
approach the Scouts. It got to be too much for Sailor Venus, who
muttered, �damn talking toasters�.� then, �VENUS CRESCENT BEAM SMASH!�
The beam sliced out and ricocheted off Cybermercury�s head. The cyborg
was undeterred�
�You have committed the crime of assaulting a legal officer of the Luna
Foundation� That is a crime
punishable by death��
Before it could finish this pronouncement, Cybermoon had loaded an
armor-piercing round into the pistol mounted on its left arm. Raising
its arm, Cybermoon murmured, �Unit Mercury has malfunctioned and is not
responding to orders.� With a twitch of its arm muscles, Cybermoon
fired its arm pistol, and the AP round slammed into the back of
Cybermercury�s skull�
The fatally wounded cyborg took a step forward. �You�
will..surren..der�� A thin line of blood dribbled out of the side of
its mouth as it stood motionless, as if waiting for some sort of
response�then it tried to take another step and fell forward. By the
time Cybermercury hit the ground, Cybermoon had disappeared.
The Scouts gathered around the prone body of the cyborg and flipped
it over onto its back. A light drizzle began to pour and the moisture
on the ground matted the machine�s hair to its head�its deep-blue eyes
stared lifelessly into the air�
Finally, Sailor Moon turned to the others. �Take it, and the other
one,� she said pointing to Cybervenus.
�Let�s get back to the castle.�
==> * SM * <==
Crystal Palace - Near Sub-level B
The two feline guardians routinely patrolled the hallways near the
shuttle landing pads looking for rodents and other undesirables that
may have sneaked into the palace by slipping unseen on one of the many
shuttles that made the Earth � Moon trip. They were on their way back
to the more populated
areas of the castle when Luna stopped, one forepaw in the air in
mid-step.
�What is it?� Artemis asked.
�I hear something.�
Artemis perked his ears, searching the background noises for
anything unusual. �I don�t hear anything,� he replied.
�You�re not down here enough,� Luna scolded. �I know I hear
something.�
Artemis tried listening again, then shook his head. �You�re hearing
things,� he said sternly. �Besides, I overheard some maintenance people
complaining about having to do work in this area.�
�Yes,� Luna said, sill not quite convinced. �Perhaps its just some
new machines or something.�
�That has to be it,� Artemis agreed. �Come on, let�s get going.�
With that, the two felines slipped down the corridors running
through Sub-level B, passing under a large
cluster of pipes that ran along the ceiling�
�the hidden device continued its near-silent duty� 4:53�4:52�
==> * SM * <==
Shuttle 4 � Nearing the Moon
Brandy checked the shuttle�s approach vector as Sandra attended to
Mariah�s burns. The leader of the Sailors stopped briefly to lecture.
�This would not have happened, had you obeyed my orders,� she said with
a stern look that barely masked a smile.
�I would insult the fine tradition of heroes everywhere if I left a
bad-guy without some witty retort,� Mariah protested.
�ETA to the palace is six minutes,� Brandy said as she entered the
compartment from the shuttle�s cockpit. She pulled her blonde mane over
her left shoulder and her blue eyes flickered with concern as she
asked, �Do you know what happened to you out there?�
�No,� Jupiter said, an equal amount of worry creeping into her
voice.
�Well,� Sandra said. �Both Mercury and Mars have demonstrated an
apparently Eternal form with new powers. I can only assume we all have
them.�
�Yes,� Cassandra replied. � Raye told me that the Eternal form can
only manifest itself during a time of great stress, and that its power
can be very hard to control at first��
�It sounds like we have a lot of questions�.� Brandy murmured.
�Yes,� Sandra echoed, looking at the prone forms of the two �dead�
cyborgs� �A lot of questions.� She turned to Brandy. �Call ahead and
have the castle ready some security measures for our �guests�.
Nodding, Brandy stepped over to a comm box on the wall. After
punching a few buttons, she opened the channel. �Luna Control,� she
said. �This is Shuttle Four, en-route from Tokyo.�
�Welcome home, Sailors,� came the reply.
Looking out the pilot�s window, Brandy could tell that the shuttle
was approaching the mountain range that lay a few miles south of the
castle�within about a minute, the shuttle would clear the top of those
mountains, and the castle would be visible.
Brandy continued. �We are bringing in a couple of�lifeforms�that we
encountered on Earth. We�ll need a security team to take custody of
them when we land.�
�Acknowledged,� the voice said. �Is there anyth�� The question was
drowned out by a roar, then static.
A minute pause quickly passed as Brandy tried to raise the castle on
the comm system. Sandra arose and went to stand by Brandy. Looking out
the window, she saw that the mountains still obscured the view of the
castle.
�Castle Control�� Brandy stared at the comm panel as if it had
betrayed her. �The transmitter is not working?�
Cass suddenly looked up from her seat, her eyes filled with dread.
�No,� she said disconnectedly, �That roar�it was an explosion!�
That grim pronouncement was confirmed a few seconds later when the
mountains fell away, and the vista across Crystal Lake was revealed.
A torrent of fire bloomed on the east end of the castle. Mount
Serenity seemed to be clothed in a hellish halo and the flames had
spread to the castle�s extension southeast of the mountain. The yellow
and orange conflagration pulsed around the end of the castle it
dominated, but the explosion had caused structural damage that radiated
outward like a spider�s web� The communications tower which had been
located north of the castle�s central dome, fell southward and toppled
over in a heap, shaking the already-tortured foundations of the royal
structure�.
The shuttle, having been given no further orders continued on its
course over the lake. The girls could now make out various rooms of the
castle�all in flames�the theatre, the kitchens, the servants� quarters,
the throne room�suddenly that realization hit the girls�
�My god�� Brandy said as tears filled her eyes�.
�Mother�� Sandra murmured numbly�
FINI
Fanfic �1999 � John Brengman and Artemis Publishing
Sailor X series inspired by Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, c 1992 by Toei
Animation Co Ltd. and based on Kodansha�s manga production of �Sailor
Moon�, written by Naoko Takeuchi
This fanfic is freely distributed. Release date: December 14 , 1998
(more to come)
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com