Sailor Cynic
                         Chapter 8
                    Beky NeRichnead Sarver

Hi all! This short piece is the next installment. Next out will
probably be the latter half of Ranma's Tale. I hope you like. Like
usual, I enjoy getting mail, and I weight that into what series I
bother to write.

               "Doh! Haven't We Blasted Her Already?"

                              *

[Insert the theme song from Chap 7 here]

                              *
     The electron is a particle. It is a small ball of quantum
energy that lives out its 'life' going around a proton-neutron
complex, known as a nucleus. It is nearly completely insignificant
to our scale of living... but our actions can impact it in a
nanosecond.
     Also, the electron circles around the nucleus incredibly
quickly. If there were people living on our electron, then they
would live and die in the course of seconds.
     Therefore, it should be no surprise that there exists a scale
that dwarfs our own, that can infrequently affect our own. Right?
                              *
     Harley shuffled through her mail, and finally saw the package
she wanted. It was marked with a return address from Dart
Industries. She opened it quickly, and grinned. "Perfect."
     Zoitan walked up behind her and began to massage her
shoulders. "What is it?"
     She pulled out the enclosed documents with a flourish. They
included several passports and visas. The last two were marriage
certificates.
     He blinked and grabbed one. He read it, then sat silent.
"But... but... how? I'm not even a legal citizen of this time."
     She shrugged and pulled out an american birth certificate.
"That's true, admittedly, but you don't have to be legal. Just
documented. This one says that Zoitan Trent was born in Oyster Bay
Hospital, yada, yada, yada. You exist."
     He smiled and hugged her. "But how?"
     She shrugged. "Don't ask me."
     He frowned. "You didn't do anything stupid, right?"
     Her shook her head. "No, not at all. I just got some friends
to make you up a legal I.D., along with Setsian and Jedaite. Is
that so bad?"
     He sighed. "No... but you really should tell me *how*."
     She laughed. "No, Zoi-boy, not until I'm ready." She twirled
around. "So, want okinomiyaki for dinner? Ukyo could use the
business."
     He sighed. Harley was a puzzle not easily figured out. "Sure."
                                   *
     Meanwhile, on a scale of world that makes the Solar System
seem the size of an atom, on a plane we would define as spiritual,
a boy named Bob was playing a game. It is known on our world as
soccer, though the ball was orange colored.
     Bob kicked the ball, sending it flying. This also caused a
slight gust of wind under the ball. The wind blew against a blade
of grass, upsetting the mite living there. One electron that makes
up the mite received the appropriate amount of kinetic energy.
     But what is kinetic energy for one scale is not necessarily
so for another.
                                   *
     Luna lay curled up on Usagi's window, troubled. The sun was
warm, but her thoughts were tempestuous.
     She liked Harli. The girl... woman was a natural leader, a
trustworthy friend, and capable of forgiveness. She was also
dependable, a trait Luna liked very much.
     Despite this, however, Luna had remained in the service of
Luna. Why? It was obvious that Harli was the leader for the day.
Her leadership might eventually bring a new era for mankind, while
Usagi's may have simply brought about the corruption of the Silver
Millennium.
     But then that phrase echoed through her mind. <Luna, protect
my daughter. Never leave her side.> It had been Queen Serenity's
last charge to her.
     Did that mean she could never leave the service of the Moon?
Could not serving Harliana protect Usagi just as well?
     There was one answer. She had to experience the memories of
her other self, as the others had. She had to *know*. Setsuna could
help her.
     And maybe Artemis would like to come along.
                                   *
     Rei went to bed early that night, after studying for her math
exam the next day. She lay under the covers, dozing off lightly...
until she heard the clop sound of hooves at the front gate.
     She hastily pulled on a robe and peered out the door. There,
standing deferentially in front of the temple, stood Laughter
Enshrined.
     She blinked and walked onto the steps. "Hello?"
     He bowed his head. "My apologies, Priestess, but you were the
only one of Zephyr's Warriors that could perceive me. I bear news."
     She frowned. "What is it?"
     "A new spirit appeared in the meadow, only she became alive.
She is an old villain from the Silver Millennium, Beryl. She
spouted off something about killing the Sailor Senshi. Please warn
them and prepare yourselves - I can do nothing in the living
world."
     Rei blinked. "Beryl's back? But how?"
     The horse shook his had sadly. "I know not... now, I must go,
my time here is limited."
     She nodded. "Thank you, Laughter. We owe you."
     He laughed. "No, it was nice to be able to talk to a human in
their own world for once. Farewell!" He disappeared.
     Rei frowned. "Damn." <Harley, we have a problem.>
                                   *
     Akane blinked blearily. "What?"
     Harley's voice was sharp. "Wake up. We have trouble. A big
enemy is back from the dead, means unknown, power level unknown.
Her intent is to kill the Sailor Senshi. We have a meeting in the
meadow in twenty minutes."
     Akane yawned. "Right. Twenty minutes."
     "See you there." Harley hung up.
     Great. Tommorow was the day she was going to have a talk with
Ukyo about Ranma. Wouldn't doing that on no sleep be fun?
     Ranma. She still loved him. But she loved Ukyo as a sister.
She had made her decision. Hmm, twenty minutes, just enough time
to dress and get over there.
     Akane began preparing to leave.
                                   *
     The four that lived on the same block, Harley, Setsuna,
Zoitan, Jedaite, and Makoto set off together. None were terribly
awake, but they were up.
     Setsuna smiled. "It will be nice to be able to *do* something
this time."
     Jedaite nodded. "And for once I'm on the right side."
     Zoitan frowned. "Maybe we can use that as a stratagem... it
should confuse Beryl."
     Harley shrugged. "Maybe not. Malachite turned also."
     They arrived at the entrance and stopped.
     Zoitan turned to her. "Does Beryl know where this place is?"
     She shrugged again. "I don't know, but I have a hunch she
doesn't. And I think the horses will watch our flanks for us.
Zoitan, Jedaite, wait here for the others." Then the girls
disappeared through the portal.
     Zoitan sighed. "So, Jed, how do you like married life?"
     Jedaite grinned. "*I* like it fine. And you?"
     "Great fun, but the hours suck."
     A few minutes later, a car roared into the parking lot. Out
of it popped Mamoru and Usagi. They walked up. She frowned. "Why
are we having a meeting again?"
     Jedaite smiled. "Do the words 'Beryl's alive' explain it."
     She nodded. "Oh, right. Come on, Mamo-chan."
     He shrugged. "I must follow the lady." They disappeared.
     None of the others were much more awake.
                              *
     As they waited for Akane and Ryo, Ami absentmindedly took out
her computer and called up her favorite time killer: Solitaire.
     The others probably thought she was scanning the known
universe or some other silly thing, but Ami was smart enough to
know that Solitaire was one of the most amusing and relaxing games
known to man... especially with pictures of her friends on the
cards. She had taken them surrepitously, and none of the knew.
Well, except for Ryo... but he was different.
     He appeared behind her. "So, what have you discovered, Ami?"
His eyes twinkled mischievously.
     She grinned. "We don't exist."
     He frowned. "Oh, well, we might as well stop fighting then."
     They laughed, and then Akane and the two mages walked in. They
turned their attention to the group.
     The two horses galloped up. Laughter Enshrined bowed. "I'm
glad you are taking this seriously. Divinity did confuse Beryl's
mind, so your hideout is not lost."
     Rei smiled and bowed back. "Thank you. And thank you for
telling us."
     Divinity did not seem happy. "My clan has existed for many
generations. We were present when Beryl destroyed the Silver
Millennium. She must be stopped."
     Minako frowned, serious for once. "Do we have the power to
defeat her?"
     Ami frowned. "Yes and no."
     Harley chuckled. "That was descriptive."
     Ami shook her head. "If she is still possessed by Metallia,
and at her previous energy levels, I predict at least three of us
would die or be maimed in a head on conflict."
     Luna's face turned white. "That is not acceptable."
     Harley shook her head. "No, it isn't. We do need to discover
her current energy level. Ideas?"
     Setsuna nodded. "We can wait for her to attack. I'm sure
she'll find a demon or some such to throw at us, assuming she has
not changed her strategy radically."
     Ryo nodded. "That should give us some idea."
     Makoto pouted. "We can't blast her?"
     Rei laughed. "Not just yet. Don't worry, I plan on getting in
a few attacks of my own."
     Akane frowned. "How powerful is she?"
     Usagi turned to her quietly, much more awake now. "She
withstood the full power of the Ginshouzou."
     Akane nodded. "Oh. In that case, I say we wait."
     Harley nodded. "Good points, everyone. Now, I don't want
anyone alone when not completely necessary. Rei, Zoitan will
accompany you to school. Mamoru, Setsuna and Jedaite will stay by
you during the day."
     Mamoru frowned. "I can take care of myself. You can..."
     She put a hand on his knee. "Trust you? Of course I can. But
I wouldn't dream of separating Setsuna and Jedaite, and the rest
of us go to school with one another."
     He nodded unhappily.
     "Okay, since we're here, now is the time. Setsuna, Jedaite,
here." She shoved some papers at them.
     Their eyes widened. Setsuna smiled radiantly. "Thank you,
Harley."
     Jedaite grinned. "We owe you. Hey, does that mean we pay taxes
now?"
     She shook her head. "Nope. You're Americans."
     Ami blinked. "What?"
     Jedaite smiled proudly. "We're documented natural-born
American citizens. Married citizens. I don't know how, but I'm
grateful."
     Harley smiled. "No problem. I did the same for Zoitan. Now,
its late, and *I'm* going home and to my bed."
                              *
     Meanwhile, Beryl found herself back in the Dark Kingdom. She
would have expected it to be quiet, but instead it hummed with
life. She blinked and walked into the throne room.
     A woman in a general uniform turned to her and bowed.
"Greetings, Queen. I am Jade, General of the Dark Kingdom. Welcome
home."

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