Well, here we go again. Once more, onto the beach!
************************************************
Sukeban Senshi Chapter 7 Part 3 of 3
************************************************
"Would you please quit fidgeting!" Ami spoke to
her patient with uncharacteristic exasperation. Makoto
had caught Soban almost as she hit the floor and they'd
carried her to her room. After a harried three hours stuffing
spent stuffing would sound better.
her insides back where they belonged Ami was in no mood
to have her work undone.
Ami did this? Since when is she qualified?
"It itches," Soban said sulkily.
"You must be careful not to pull out your I.V.
tube," Matsudaira Azusa said mildly, putting away her
instruments.
"And it wouldn't itch so much if you had let us use
even a local anesthetic while sewing you up." Ami added,
helping put away the surgical kit.
"I don't like drugs," Soban tried surreptitiously to
dig under the thick bandage wrapped around her torso.
Or is a machoist.
"If you don't stop that,"Ami said without looking up
from her work. "I'm going to put mittens on your hands."
"Ummmm," Minako was tidying up the area. "You
have a really . . .uhhhh . . .well stocked first aid kit."
"People have a tendency to . . .ahhhhh . . . _fall
down_ a lot in the Golden-gai." Jules carefully understated,
There you go again with those underscores.
putting away a bag of unused whole blood. "And since it's
not always convenient to go to a hospital Soban thought it
would be useful to have a few of the basics on hand."
Which was one way of saying it wasn't always
convenient to explain things to the police, Minako thought.
"A _few_ basics?" Rei questioned as she watched
Matsudaira-san and Ami re-pack what amounted to a
complete field hospital. Looking at some of the markings
she wondered if the SDF realized the amount of their
contribution to the welfare of some of it's citizens.
"What are you doing here?" Soban seemed to
become aware of Jules presence for the first time. She quit
trying to scratch and glared at him. "You were supposed to
evacuate with everyone else."
"Ummmm, about that . . ." Makoto watched
fascinated as what looked like a blush crept up the big
man's neck.
"You _did_ get everyone out?" Soban questioned
ominously.
"They wanted to stay----" Jules began to explain.
Soban cut him off sharply.
"They _wanted_? What the hell difference does it
make what they wanted. You should have sent them home."
"The Island _is_ their home, boss-san." Jules placed
one big hand lightly on her shoulder.
Soban slapped the hand aside, grimacing as she
pulled her torn muscles. "When I tell you to do something I
expect you to _do_ it."
"I'm sorry bos . . .uhhhh Soban," Jules said
miserably. Then he corrected himself, straightening to look
down at her. "I'm sorry you got hurt. I'm sorry I upset you.
I'm _not_ sorry I'm still here." Soban's eye blazed and she
tried to force herself up, only to have Jules firmly but gently
press her back down on the bed. "There are some orders
you can't give _boss_. Asking me to leave you is one of
them."
Ahh... Loyalty.
Minako watched with interest as red tide crept up
Soban's neck and a vein started to throb in her temple.
"You stupid----" Words failed her and she clamped
her jaw shut with snap. "You're not a damn bit of use to me
dead."she hissed. Controlling herself with an effort she went
on in a rigidly controlled voice. "Aichou-ko's going to be
outside the door first thing in the morning. You," she
finished sweetly. "are going to help her look."
"That crazy old . . ." Jules trailed off into silence
under Soban's stony gaze. "Errrrr, right. Help her look.
Look for what?"
Soban smiled nastily. "You're going to help her look
for a key she lost . . .somewhere."
Are you ever going to tell us what this is? Or is this yet another
important plot thread?
"How did you find out about the Ceramic Field?"
Kunikida Daitetsu interrupted hastily.
"Oh, yeah," Soban looked at the chief of the T.A.C,
and Kaede's "father", standing just inside the doorway. "I
forgot about that." Grimacing Soban tried to dig at her
stitches under her bandage. Ami slapped Soban's hand,
glaring at her patient.
"Anyway," Soban tried to sneak another scratch,
freezing when Ami pinned her with a _look_, "you better
get that Ceramic stuff out of the walls of the projection
room before the Aragami find out it's still there."
"I thought you took it out." Takeuchi said faintly,
brushing her bangs back from her eyes. "You said----"
"Heh . . ." Soban chuckled, then caught herself as
she pulled her stitches. "I knew what Murakumo had done
as soon as he said Momiji's blood 'had no power'." She
looked at Matsudaira, standing with a bundle of sutures
forgotten in her hands. "You guy's talk about 'Ceramic' this
and 'power of the blood' that after a few beers so it wasn't
hard to figure out."
Takeuchi opened her mouth as if to say something,
then closed it with a snap. What _could_ she say to this.
this?
Kome wasn't so reticent.
"What _I_ want to know is how you knew
Murakumo would back down."
Soban shrugged. Glancing sideways at Ami she saw
the genius girl was looking the other way and dug under her
bandages with an expression of bliss. "I didn't. That guy just
pissed me off."
"You ran a _BLUFF_?" Kome sounded outraged.
Soban shrugged again, wincing as she pulled her
stitches. "I lost my temper. Besides how hard is it to fool a
plant?"
"Kome! NO!" Takeuchi wrapped her arms around
her friend, pulling her back from Soban's bed. "She's
injured."
"She could have gotten us all killed!"
"All right, that's enough excitement for one night."
Ami firmly pushed everyone except her friends from the
room. "Soban needs her rest."
"She's a maniac," Kome spluttered as she was thrust
from the room. "She should be locked up before she get's
someone killed."
"That sounds odd coming from you, Miss'if you've
got bullets keep shooting'." Matsudaira spoke with fond
exasperation.
"It was just that one time," Kome protested. "And I
was drunk." Their voices faded down the hall.
Typical. Why is it in anime that everyone that gets to use a gun on a
regular basis gets fanatically attached to it?
Closing the door firmly behind them Ami walked
back to Soban's bed. Unzipping her skirt she stepped out of
it folding it neatly over the back of a chair, followed by her
blouse and stockings.
Now that we're alone.... *leer*
"What do you think you're doing?" Soban asked,
distracted from her scratching.
"Going to bed," Ami replied, slipping beneath the
covers next to Soban. "It's late, I'm tired and someone's
got to make sure you don't rip off your bandages or pull out
your I.V."
Mommy ain't going to be mad that they're all staying somewhere else?
"Now wait just a minute----" Soban's protest was
cut off as the bed sagged under the weight of Makoto
getting in on the other side. "I'm not leaving Ami-chan in
this place by herself," she explained primly as she plumped
her pillow.
"Hey, this is neat," Minako grabbed a remote
control off the back of a chair as she tossed her clothes
carelessly on the floor. Sliding in beside Ami she pressed a
button and a wall mounted TV flickered into life. "a satellite
system. I bet you get a couple hundred channels." She
started flipping through the channels. There was a sudden
crackling sound and the lights dimmed abruptly as the TV
melted into slag.
Why did it do that? The Ceramic?
"Give me that," Rei snatched the remote. "before
you burn down the building." She shut off the power and
moved back to the bed, sliding in beside Makoto.
You can't shut off the power to slag.
"Make yourself at home." Soban said sarcastically.
"Feel free to invite some friends."
Heh heh heh. Time for the side story...
"You wouldn't be in such a foul mood if you'd let
me give you a pain killer, "Ami said soothingly, checking
Soban's I.V. "Would you get the lights please, Rei-chan?"
"I am _not_ in a foul mood----"
"HEY! Watch where you put those things, they're
like _ice_."
Here, won't you warm them up for me?
"Anybody hungry? I'd kinda like a snack----"
*bangs head against the wall* NOT gonna say it...
"I'm NOT sleeping on crumbs. You always leave
crumbs----"
Gah! I have to ask. HOW does she know this?
************************************************
By early the next morning Soban's mood had not
improved and Makoto was wishing she'd left Ami and the
others to fend for themselves. Or at least cheated when they
drew straws to see who stayed with her.
"Soban?" There was a soft knock at the door. "I'm
sorry to bother you," A petite young woman with dark
reddish brown hair and wearing the uniform of the Island
staff stuck her head in the door. "but I need----"
Makoto plucked a clipboard from the woman's
hands.
Soban's busy, may I take a message?
"----you to look at the menu. Huh?" Startled she
looked at her empty hands.
"Hmmmm," Makoto flipped through the pages with
a professional eye. "OK, change these items here," She
pulled a pen from a clip and slashed through several lines of
print. "They're out of season. Substitute . . ." Pursing her
lips she dashed off a list of produce. "Not beef," she made
another change. "it's too heavy with this entree. Better use
a game hen and a salad." She flipped past several pages,
making corrections, deleting some items, substituting
others. " . . .and that should do it." Capping the pen with a
satisfied snap she handed pen and clip board back to the
astonished young woman.
"Ummmm, Soban?" The young woman's big blue
eyes blinked slowly in astonishment as she looked at the
small bandaged figure in the middle of the huge bed.
She's probably planned to get them all in the sack one way or the other
anyway. I bet she didn't plan on it quite that way.
"Don't ask me Suika-san," Soban said sourly. "I'm
just the boss." At the woman's confused look Soban made a
sign of assent with her mittened hands. With one more
confused look the woman took her clipboard and left.
"I _really_ don't need these stupid things anymore."
Soban held up her silk covered hands, putting a cutely
pleading look on her face.
"Ami says you're going to tear your stitches loose
scratching, so the mittens stay." Makoto crossed her arms
over her chest. "And it's no good trying to threaten me."
"That was my _cute_ look." Soban protested,
worrying at a knot with her teeth.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the leather strap in the
morning.
"Stop that,"Makoto pulled Soban's hand away from
her mouth. "and you need to work on the difference
between cute and homicidal."
Is there one?
"Don't you have homework or something?"
"Got it right here," Makoto said cheerfully, settling
in a chair by the bed. "Ami sent yours too."
"My pillow's hot." Soban fretted.
Makoto moved to turn her pillow.
"I don't want juice, I want a beer."
Here here. If you're hurt, might as well enjoy it.
"Ami says you can't----"
"I'm bored. I want to do something."
"Let's see if there's anything on TV." Harried,
Makoto reached for the remote to the newly replaced set.
"I'm tired of TV," Sobon pouted before Makoto
could turn the set on. "Read me a story. And I want some
more juice," she held out her glass. "The ice is all melted in
this."
Makoto gritted her teeth, wondering how many
years she'd get if she smothered Soban with a pillow.
Heh heh. Very Usagish.
************************************************
"How is she?" Minako was the last one to arrive at
the shrine, shortly after the sun had set.
"She's fine," Makoto didn't even open her eyes from
where she lay on Rei's bed. "_I'm_ a wreck, thanks for
asking."
"She is a difficult patient," Ami understated from her
seat in a corner of the room. She looked up briefly from her
computer. "I think it's because she's in a lot of pain."
"She can't be in _that_ much pain," Makoto rolled
her head to one side and glared at Ami through slitted eyes.
"'Cause she gave it all to me, right in my----"
"Mako-chan," Ami protested, half scandalized, half
laughing.
"Well, she is." Makoto grumbled. "If you take your
eyes off her for a second she's trying to get out of bed or
digging at her bandages or . . ."
"How was she when you left?" Rei asked, entering
the room with a tray of snacks.
"Asleep." Makoto sat up, taking a red bean jam bun
and a glass of tea from the tray. "Baba Jun is watching her.
She'll call if there are any problems."
"Have you got any----" Ami looked at the tray with
a hopeful look.
"Pocky Bitter, right here," Rei tossed a package of
the dark-chocolate covered "swizzle" sticks to the warm
hearted genius choc-aholic.
Too many adjectives for Ami. And that stuff can pack a punch.
"How can you _eat_ that stuff," Makoto wrinkled
her nose in disgust as Ami devoured a handful of the
chocolate covered cookies with a look of almost orgasmic
ecstacy.
There ain't much difference, really.
"Vere BOOD!" Ami assured Mokoto as she chewed
madly, her cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk storing food for
the winter.
"I think they're good too," Minako sided with Ami
taking a handful from the tray along with a steamed bun and
some juice.
I've noticed that while you devoted a fairly decent amount of time to
Makoto, Rei, and Ami, Minako doesn't seem to have recieved the same
attention.
"Yeah, but _you_ didn't write a letter of protest to
the Prime Minister when they took Banana Pocky off the
market." Mokoto took a bite of her bun.
"Eff vuvv ah gufff idea." Ami insisted, swallowing.
I'll second that.
"What have you found out about that Murakumo
guy?" Rei asked, putting a glass of tea by Ami.
"Eff nog mummun." She took a sip and tried again.
"He's not human. The girl is human . . .mostly and the
boy----"
"Mostly?" Minako asked. "Got any more of the
shrimp buns?" Rei handed her the tray and Minako
Shrimp buns?
continued. "What does 'mostly' mean, exactly."
"Ummmm, she's got one of those megatama things,
and her physiology shows some differences from the human
norm. The boy is definitely _not_ human."
"Youma?"
No, he's a plant. He doesn't suck energy, he just needs occasional
watering.
"Nooo," Ami answered Makoto. "At least I don't
think so. If he is, he's an entirely different order from any
we've seen so far." She tapped a few keys on her computer
bringing up a file.
"I talked with Kunikida-san, he's the head of the
National Land Management Bureau, and he----"
"Wait an minute,"Makoto interrupted, taking
another bun from the tray. "I thought they were the
Terrestrial Administration Center. What's this land
management thing?"
"Ummm, T.A.C seems to be an inside joke. The
Land Management Bureau is just a cover name for their real
work."
Crazy translators.
"Which is?" Rei moved the tray of Pocky out of
Ami's reach."
Why? She didn't eat any more.
Ami stuck out her tongue before continuing. "The
T.A.C or NLMB exists to fight the Aragami, which are,"
she went on to explain hurriedly as Makoto opened her
mouth. "a race of monsters who resemble plants. Or take
over plants . . .I'm not sure yet. Their objective seems to be
to replace the human race with their own race . . .Kingdom
of the Roots," she finished using Murakumo's term.
Lemme guess. She looked all this up on the internet.
"Are they working with Beryl?" Minako asked in
concern. "And what about Momiji? They called her
princess. Could she be the _Moon_ Princess?"
"I don't think they're working with or for Beryl."
Ami replied, nibbling her lip in thought. "It's _possible_ but
there's no sign of it. I'm going to try approaching
Matsudaira-san as Sailor Mercury to get access to all their
files. But Momiji and the other girl, Kaede, her sister," Ami
explained. "are members of a family linked to fighting the
Aragami for centuries. There doesn't seem to be a direct
link with Beryl or the Moon Kingdom."
"But you're not positive? _Could_ Momiji be the
Moon Princess?" Rei leaned forward, her expression
intense as she willed Ami to give her the answer she wanted.
"There isn't any Princess," Makoto said sourly. "She
was never reborn or died . . .maybe she never existed." Rei
whitened but Makoto didn't flinch. "I know how much it
means to you but we're never going to find the Princess."
Getting discouraged already?
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Makoto," Ami said
reluctantly as Minako nodded in agreement. "We've never
had a single sign of the Moon Princess, we don't even know
where to look or what to look for." She couldn't bring
herself to meet Rei's eyes, instead concentrating on her
computer. "It didn't take long for Artemis to find all of us
----we seemed drawn to each other in fact. We would have
in fact we seemed...
found her by now . . .if there was anything to find."
"I . . .guess you're right," Rei agreed reluctantly. "It
would have been nice if we could have found the Moon
Princess. But it's been over a year, without a single trace."
Rei sighed heavily. "Well, never mind the princess right
now." She picked up the almost denuded snack tray. "What
about----"
"TRAITORS!"
Everyone spun toward the sound of the strident
voice.
"Luna!" The tray fell from Rei's limp grasp with a
crash.
How did she remember her?
"Now Luna," Artemis said placatingly as he
followed the black cat into the room. "I think you're being a
little har----aaaahhhh!" Artemis fell back, startled and
bleeding as Luna slashed him across the face.
"Traitors," Luna spat. "Oath breakers!" She stalked
forward implacable as death, half mad and wholly wild.
"You exist to serve the Princess. You live _and _ die at her
pleasure." The ragged stump of her tail lashed the air
angrily.
What happened to her? Loose an argument with a blender?
"Luna!" Rei ignored the black cat's anger and
moved toward her with a glad cry. "Are you alright?" She
asked worriedly, noting bone shining whitely from the space
once occupied by Luna's left ear. "Where have you been?"
She reached out to scoop up the painfully thin cat, only to
jerk back, nursing a bleeding wound.
Just when did they meet? I though Artemis was the only cat running around
giving out the pens.
"LUNA!" Artemis rounded on his erstwhile
companion angrily. "Apologize to Rei at once."
"Apologize?!" Luna's laughter chilled their blood.
"To traitors who have abandoned their duty? Oath breakers
whose lives are forfeit?" Her frail body began to glow.
"Oath breakers I name you, outlaw and abomination."
"Luna," Horrified Artemis moved to stop her. "what
are you doing?"
"I found her . . .the gateless gate . . .wheel without
hub or rim or spokes . . .the last Senshi."
A bit upset about it too, no?
"What?"
"Last Senshi? What are you talking about?"
"Artemis? What's she talking about?"
Luna ignored the babel around her. Knocking
Artemis aside with a slashing blow she streaked for the exit.
Pausing at the door she looked back over her shoulder.
"Together _we_ will find the Princess. And _you_ will reap
the bitter tears of traitors." With that parting shot she
vanished as if she'd never been.
This does make me wonder if she's actually going to try to get Soban to
punish the others.
"Artemis," Minako said slowly from where she sat.
"What just happened?"
"Ummm, I found Luna?"
Heh.
************************************************
High above Tokyo, Murakuma brooded on his
recent humiliation. Kaede Hime, and through her, Lord
Su-sa-no-oh, had made it clear that the promise extorted
from them was to be honored. There were to be no direct
attacks by Aragami on that small section of Japan in the
Golden-gai. The "Time of Cleansing" would eliminate that
nagging sore in due course. In the meantime, Murakuma
was forbidden to engage even the single imperfect soul
_exempt_ from Su-sa-no-oh's promise. And so he brooded,
his humiliation burning like acid.
"Greetings, Murakuma-sama."
Murakuma spun around, blades automatically
extending from his forearms. In front of him floated a well
built human-seeming form with ash-white hair. The figure
brought both hands up, palm forward in a gesture of peace.
"I am not an enemy," Kunzite said mildly. "I may be
a friend."
"Friend!?" Murakuma spat, his megatama glowing
with power even as poison vines erupted from his back.
"Aragami have no need of human trash."
"Ahhh, but I am not human," Kunzite smilingly half
lied. "and I come bringing gifts." He tossed a small, dull
grey block which Murakuma caught reflexively.
"Ceramic!" All of his training and skill couldn't
_quite_ disguise the covetous way he held the small
treasure.
Is this stuff just really hard to come by for them? I know what it does,
but I'm not sure of why they obsess about it.
"As you say . . .Ceramic."
"What do you want?" Murakuma wanted to throw
this "gift" back into the arrogantly smiling face, and follow
it with a blade to the gut. He wanted to, but he couldn't
quite make his fingers loosen their grip on the precious
"Ceramic", the key to all his plans.
"You and I have no quarrel," Kunzite said
soothingly. "There is no sphere of conflict between my
Queen and the Aragami . . .you wish the humans dead. We
wish to drain their energy. My Queen feels we have a
commonality of interest." Kunzite persuaded with a
sincerity that was as passionate as it was false.
"And those interests are?" Murakumo asked,
nibbling at the bait.
"My Queen suffers from attacks by a group of rebels
styling themselves warriors of the White Moon." Kunzite
carefully made a sign of warding as he said the name, in
case Beryl was watching him through her crystal. "I believe
you have been annoyed by a group of humans who are allied
with a renegade Aragami known as . . .Kusanagi?" Kunzite
hid a smile as he noted the infinitesimal tightening of
Murakumo's eyes.
"Of what interest is this to your . . .Queen."
Murakumo deliberately made the title sound doubtful.
"Of interest only in that we may aid each other,"
Kunzite carefully ignored the implied insult. "My Queen will
supply youma . . .soldiers . . . whose capabilities will be
unfamiliar to your enemies."
Murakumo feigned disinterest.
"And, of course, all the Ceramic you need."
And just why can they get so much of the stuff?
He was unable to control the blaze that flickered
briefly before being hidden behind shuttered eyes.
Hooked! Kunzite thought gleefully, his thoughts
much more closely hidden. Then again, as a product of he
Dark Kingdom he'd had much more practice lying, having
survived a school where the only grades were life and death.
"In return we ask only such aid as you see fit to give
in eliminating enemies of our Queen."
Got an extra blank line here.
An accommodation of convenience?" Murakumo
suggested, clutching the Ceramic possessively.
"An accommodation of convenience." Kunzite
agreed smoothly. It would be very convenient indeed . . .to
him.
************************************************
"You can't come in here!" Baba Jun tried valiantly
but unsuccessfully to defend her charge's sick room.
"Move aside you droop chested old crone." A
beautifully manicured hand pushed the elderly woman
roughly aside. "I understand you're not feeling well."
Soban started from her half doze as three men
Extra space.
pushed into her room.
"Kichibei?" She blinked sleep from her eye.
"You can't come in here like this." Baba Jun moved
again to stop the men. "She's been hurt and----"
"Goro!" The one called Kichibei made a slight
motion toward Baba Jun. A shaven headed man with no
forehead and a heavy jaw took a ponderous step forward,
pushing the old woman savagely in the center of the chest.
With a faint cry she fell back, hitting her head on the floor.
"You're slipping Sooobaaan." Kichibei drawled
insultingly. "You were late with your last delivery and
now . . ." He indicated Soban's sick bed.
"What do you want Kichibei." Soban hadn't reacted
want, Kichibei.
to the invasion of her room. She lay passively in bed,
observing the intruders through half closed lids.
"Uncle isn't happy with the way you've been
handling your territory."
"Uncle isn't? Or _you_ aren't?" Soban picked
aimlessly at her top covers.
"There's no difference," Kichibei said smugly. "at
least not for scum like you."
"What do you want me to do." Soban said faintly.
"Uncle want's you to make another delivery, to
make up for the one you botched."
"I don't do that anymore." Soban's protest was a
whisper. Kichibei could barely hear her from where he
stood.
Clever.
"You'll do what you're _told_ to do," Kichibei
swaggered up to the bed. "and _I_ want more of a cut from
this place. For one thing I want you to start working those
whores of yours more."
"They're not whores . . ."
"They're whatever the fuck I _say_ they are. I saw
this little gaijin piece downstairs, with blond hair and tits out
to here----" Kichibei motioned with his hands to describe
the young woman's "charms".
Soban's hand flashed out, grabbing Kichibei's tie
and using it to slam his head into the wall as her free hand
snaked inside his jacket.
Goro and his companion had just realized something
was wrong when they found themselves looking down the
bore of their boss's Colt revolver. It was only .38 caliber,
but from _their_ end it looked as big as the Hokkaido
tunnel.
Accurate caliber gauging is always harder from the front.
Never taking her eye off the two Soban slammed
Kichibei into the wall twice more, releasing him to slide to
the floor. "Turn around," The sweating men turned away
jerkily. "Drop your jackets on the floor." Two expensive,
tailored jackets hit the floor almost as one. "Now your
pants. Don't step out of them." Expensive trousers fell to
half mast, effectively hobbling the two.
"I'm going to ask you to turn to face me. If I see a
weapon I'm going to gut-shoot you and throw you out with
the trash." There was a muffled double thump as a second
pistol and two knives hit the carpeted floor. Kichibei gave a
groan as he tried to pull himself erect.
"Y . . .yo'r a dead w'man." He slurred through
smashed lips. "Dead. Uncle ----" Soban shut him up with a
savage backhand.
"Uncle isn't here. I am." She pointed out
conversationally. "The only question is . . .how much am I
going to hurt you before you die?"
"You can't do that."Goro blustered. "That's
murder!" Kichibei mumbled an agreement as he stood,
swaying beside Soban's bed.
"I'm glad to see you have a sense of humor." Her
voice would have cut steel as she continued. "For
threatening me," she slapped Kichibei lightly across the
face. "For threatening my people, for your disrespect to
Baba Jun," The butt end of the pistol smashed into
Kichibei's face, breaking off all his front teeth at the gum
line and crushing his nose. "there is no forgiveness."
Pistol whipping the boy.
"S . . .soban." The faint voice drew her attention.
"Baba? Are you alright." Her voice was
expressionless, only the slight tick under her right eye
denoting her suppressed emotions.
Extra blank line.
"I'm fine dear,"her voice was a little stronger. " just
a little mussed." She picked herself carefully from the floor.
"In _my_ day the yakuza had real men," eying the two
underwear clad men disdainfully she sniffed. "not little
boys."
Goro and his friend flushed, squirming
uncomfortably.
"Kichibei, tell Uncle that I will be honored to take
his commission." Kichibei felt a surge of hope through the
agony of his smashed face. "But you owe restitution."
Soban appeared to think for a moment. "Your left nut, in a
block of Lucite, will do nicely."
Lucite? Which Dark General is that?
"Wha'!" Even through his ruined mouth his shock
was evident.
"You can do it yourself," Soban said reasonably, "or
I'll come get it. Along with whatever else takes my fancy."
She gave the stricken man a smile that would have
frightened a shark. "You can discuss it with Uncle if you
wish. I'm sure he'll be fascinated by the story. Especially the
part where you pushed Baba Jun. And Uncle can tell you
the story about the time Baba Jun nursed him through the
influenza."
Kichibei's moan had nothing to do with the pain in
his mouth.
************************************************
"Nephrite, attend me."
"At once, Lord Kunzite." Nephrite teleported into
Nephrite's audience chamber and sketched an elegant bow.
"I have a mission for you Nephrite. I have received
you,
disturbing reports that the Sailor Senshi have adopted new
tactics in their futile battle against our glorious Queen. You
are to immediately search out the Senshi using your----"
"I am desolated to be unable to fulfill your request,"
Nephrite interrupted, an expression of infinite regret on his
handsome face.
"Request," Kunzites voice was a dangerous growl.
"It was not a ----"
Kunzite interrupted for a second time, an action
Nephrite interrupted
which elicited a gasp from the surrounding courtiers. "By
order of Beryl, Queen of the Under Lands and High
Priestess of Metallia," A shudder ran through the shadowy
crowd. "I have been tasked with finding the tokens of
power and none but Metallia may remove this geas."
Nephrite met Kunzite's angry face with one that was
insulting by it's very lack of expression. "You yourself
relayed these orders to me . . .my lord."
Kunzites aura flared with his anger and Nephrite
wondered, in a detached manner, if he would die in this
place. It would mean Kunzite's death as well, of course.
Metallia was a jealous goddess and none of her "children"
were allowed to die without her leave. He would prefer to
live. He wanted Kunzite to be a long time dying . . .and he
wanted to watch.
Extra blank line. And to think, they used to be such good friends.
Kunzite's aura cooled suddenly from white hot. "Of
course Kunzite. Metallia's orders," He made a gesture of
piety that was as believably sincere in appearance as it was
false. "are paramount. My eagerness to remove this small
impediment to her glorious resurrection momentarily drove
all other thoughts from my mind." He smiled gently. "Think
no more on it. You will need all of your energy to
successfully conclude your hunt for the Great Tokens. I
envy you in having the chance to succeed where so many
others have . . .failed."
"Thank you for your good wishes Lord Kunzite,"
Nephrite bowed again. "May all the success and fortune
you have wished for others return to you . . .ten fold." With
that parting shot Nephrite vanished.
Carefully schooling his features Kunzite considered
his options. The senior general was getting . . .ideas. If he
actually _found_ the Tokens his power would rival
Kunzite's own. Perhaps surpass it. It was time to try a bold
stroke against the Senshi. One that would find favor in
Beryl's eyes . . .yet, should it fail . . . Thoughtfully Kunzite
tapped an apparently featureless crystal slate. Shimmering
like haze on a hot summer day the blank surface resolved
into a petulantly beautiful face, marred by a ragged burn
across one cheek.
"Yes!" The curt response changed abruptly, eyes
widening in shock. "K . . .Kunzite-sama!" Hastily Zoicite
straightened his uniform, a half hopeful, half fearful look
crossing his face. "How may I serve you."
I still think the NA dub made this funny as hell.
"Zoicite my . . .friend." Kunzite noted hope warring
with past disappointment on the junior generals disgustingly
transparent face. "I have a mission of the utmost delicacy.
Unfortunately I find myself at a loss to find someone I can
trust." Zoicite's face lightened with an almost painful hope.
"Perhaps you could find some time to drop by my quarters
to discuss the matter . . .over dinner?"
He really is earnest, Kunzite thought as Zoicite's
image vanished. Because of his love for him, Zoicite would
give all the credit to him in case of success. And if he failed
he would go to any length to protect his Kunzite-sama.
Love, Kunzite reflected, was a wonderful thing.
Ain't it the truth, ain't it the truth.
************************************************
"Ami, this is Makoto!" Her voice was distorted by
the hiss and crackle of static. "We've got youma headed
down town."
Static?
"I see them," Ami tapped in a command, changing
the resolution of her computers sensors. "I see five. Does
that agree with your count."
count?
"Can't tell," a second distorted voice came from the
tiny speaker. "I think----CRESCENT BEAM . . .think that's
right. They're mov . . .moving around-----CRES . . shit,"
There was a sound of breaking glass.
Oops, just a window.
"Minako! Minako!" Ami started running for the
door, grabbing for her henshin wand on the move.
"Here . . .I'm here," Sailor Venus panted. "Fell
. . .fell through . . ." Ami could hear her gulping air.
"headed for the cen . . .center of town. T . . .try . . .cut them
off. We'll . . .'ll stay after . . .ter them." The communicator
cut off.
"Rei . . .Rei-chan!" Ami called on her communicator
even as she triggered her transformation.
"I heard," Rei's voice came through clearly, without
the static that had hampered communication with Venus and
Jupiter. "I'll meet you on the way."
Sailor Mercury hit the ground running, headed
toward the center of Tokyo at a dead sprint.
************************************************
"Boss," Jules protested as Soban pulled on her
school fuku. "This is a _bad_ idea."
"You're bleeding," Baba Jun fretted from beside
Jules. "you must have pulled something loose when you hit
that awful man."
Yeah, his teeth.
"Look," Soban paused in buttoning her blouse over
her bulky bandage. "I want to get this over and done with."
She could feel something warm and wet seeping under the
bulky wrapping. Carefully she controlled her expression,
carefully,
hiding her weakness.
"Let someone else do it," Jules grimaced at Soban's
dark look. "or at least take someone with you. _I'll_ go,"he
go," he
started to offer.
"If I don't do this, my position will be in doubt.
People will start to think I can't hold my territory." The
look in her eye indicated that this would be an
_unfortunate_ line of thought. "I don't want anyone to get
the idea that any of my people are available to do
_business_." She finished buttoning her blouse and turned
to face Jules and Baba Jun squarely. "I've done this
hundreds of times. I take this package,"she tucked an
package," she
inconspicuous parcel under her arm. "and deliver it." She
pushed between her two would-be protectors. "It's in the
middle of Tokyo at the botanical gardens. Safe _and_
educational." Hiding her weakness and light headedness she
gave the two a jaunty smile. "What could possibly happen?"
Crackle crackle BOOM.
************************************************
"Aragami reported in the shopping district."
Takeuchi Ryouko replaced the telephone and grabbed her
jacket off the back of her chair.
"Any information on type or intentions?" The head
of what was officially known as the National Land
Management Bureau asked as he checked the magazine of
his Colt .45.
"No. Only that there were at least two and they were
moving fast toward the center of town." She picked up
another phone. "I'll call Momiji. She and Kusinagi-kun can
meet up with us."
The older man's face grayed slightly at the thought
of putting Momiji in danger. But she and Kusinagi were
their most potent weapon against the Aragami "We need an
analysis of their movements. Yaeg----" Kunikida closed his
mouth with a snap, staring at the empty desk. Reminded in
the most graphic way that nowhere was safe as long as the
Aragami lived. "Matsudaira-san," he turned to the
biotechnology expert. "could you please run an analysis of
the Aragami's movements. Update us by radio."
"Certainly Kunikida-san," Matsudaira carefully
controlled the flash of pain she felt thinking about their
fallen friend.
Kome wasn't so controlled. Slamming the magazine
home she stuffed the .50 Desert Eagle into a shoulder
Who says bigger isn't better?
holster, then checked the load of it's mate. Reaching into
her locker she slung a bag of rocket-grenades over one
shoulder then grabbed the .50 caliber rifle she'd customized
with a laser range finder and grenade-launcher.
"I'm ready." She lit a stick of incense and placed it
before a back bordered picture of a sweet faced young man
wearing wire rim glasses. "Rest well Yaegashi-kun."
And another pervert bites the dust.
"When are we going to get a repla. . .ummm some
more help?" Yanmasuki Sakura, the faith healer and
sometime idol singer asked, checking her supplies.
"We have a young man coming over this afternoon."
"Is he any good?" Kome asked roughly.
Automatically prepared to dislike anyone taking the place of
Yaegashi-kun.
"He is from a very old family" Kunikida looked over
some papers on his desk. "and comes with the highest
recommendations from the University."
"Huh," Kome looked over Kunikida's shoulder. "a
college boy . . .rich too. Probably never done any real
work . . ."her voice trailed off. "That's lucky."
"What is," Takeuchi asked, checking her Beretta
with still clumsy hands.
"He's got the same name as Kusanagi," she turned
and headed for the door. "Mamoru . . .that's lucky, isn't it?"
Heh heh heh. Rose boy versis the plant demons. Tonight on CELEBRITY
DEATHMATCH!
************************************************
Someone was following her. Soban paused in her
slow progress down the street to peer into a shop window.
Ever since she'd left the Island she'd had a feeling of being
watched. Changing trains hadn't helped either. She'd
gotten off at Iidabashi station and with only an eight
minutes walk before she reached Koishikawa park she still
walk before
had a prickling between her shoulder blades. Surreptitiously
examining the street scene reflected in the window she
searched for something out of the ordinary. Turning
Hmm, maybe: She surreptitiously examined the street scene reflected in the
window, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
casually from the store front she strolled down the street as
if window shopping. Who ever was following her, if there
_were_ anyone, was good. She couldn't see anything ----a
Could swear it should be _was_ here.
flash of movement caught her eye. Turning too quickly she
felt something tear in her side and a flash of pain made her
light headed for a moment. Blinking away black spots she
saw a large black blotch move across her limited field of
vison. Knuckling her good eye to clear it she started back
on her original course, suddenly spinning back around.
A _cat_? A black cat, frozen in the act of ducking
behind a parked car. Their eyes met and Soban shivered
suddenly as if she'd been doused in ice water. An instant
later the cat vanished and Soban took a deep breath.
A cat! She _must_ be in bad shape if she was
jumping at shadows like that. Taking a deep breath to fight
off a sudden dizzy spell she continued on to the park. She'd
deliver the damn package, then take a taxi back. At this
point she'd almost welcome seeing the police. At least they
wouldn't make her _walk_ to jail. Chuckling at the silliness
of her thoughts she kept walking, still looking for whatever
had spooked her in the first place.
************************************************
It was her. Luna skittered down the streets, careful
to keep her prey in sight. It _had_ to be her. The
desperately ill moon cat's fevered brain would admit no
other possibility. This was the fifth Senshi . . .the one who
would find _her_ Princess, punish the traitors. She _was_
the fifth Senshi . . .she was . . .she WAS . . .
In many ways, I like what you've done here. But I must admit that I would
have prefferred it if Luna had stayed the same and just had to deal with a
seriously screwed up Usagi. Imagine how much she would dissapprove of
Soban's activities.
************************************************
"DIE DAMMIT!" Kome emptied the entire ten
round magazine of .50 caliber armor piercing incendiaries
into the huge cat like creature's chest. It roared in anger and
cat-like
took a swipe at Kome with meter long claws. She ducked
below the lethal fist, rolling aside. Coming up on one knee she
fired a rocket-grenade at point blank range. The HEAT round
staggered it, blowing a chuck out of it's shoulder. Grabbing
another grenade from her rapidly diminishing supply she re-
loaded to find the monsters wound already half healed.
"What does it take to kill this thing?" She stuffed
another magazine in her rifle, dismayed to find she had only
two left.
"I don't know," Tokeuchi had abandoned her Beretta
in favor of a shotgun. "None of the anti-Aragami weapons are
working."
"It's not Aragami," Momiji called from behind cover
where she was bandaging Kunikida's head. A flying splinter
had torn a path across his scalp and was still bleeding. "I don't
sense anything from it at all."
"If it doesn't have a megatama, how do we kill it?"
Kusinagi yelled, slashing at the cat-beast with the crescent
blades on his forearms. He'd tried to decapitate it, but the
golden torque around its neck resisted even his Aragami
blades. He was reduced to quick slashing attacks against it's
extremities, hoping to tire it out. As a plan of attack its best
feature was that it hadn't gotten him killed yet. "And what the
hell happened to the Aragami we _were_ chasing?"
************************************************
"What the hell IS this thing?" Sailor Venus called out
to Sailor Mercury.
"I . . ." Mercury coughed as dense pollen filled the air.
"I don't . . .don't know." It was getting hard to breath.
"SHABON SPRAY!" She blasted a breathing space through
the pollen. It wouldn't last long. In fact each attack was less
effective than the last.
"SUPREME THUNDER!" Lightning crashed,
seeming to confuse the dragon like creature for a moment.
"It's some kind of plant," Ami adjusted her visor. "I
think it must be one of the Aragami monsters."
"Ara----FIRE SOUL----gami!?" Mars shrieked,
jumping aside as a meter long tail swiped through the space
she'd just vacated. "What's an Aragami doing here? And what
happened to the youma?"
************************************************
Things were going well, very well indeed. Zoicite
watched with pleasure as the Sailor Senshi dogged, and leapt
and ran . . .right into his trap. Their trap actually he thought,
trap, he
with less pleasure, reminded of his new ally. It wasn't the
same, watching this _vegetable_ destroy the senshi. But it was
the result that mattered. And Kunzite-sama would be pleased
when he brought him the heads of the Senshi. Rubbing the
scar that ran across his left cheek he wondered if he could
keep Jupiter's head for his mantle.
************************************************
Murakumo watched the tiny figures scurry, like ants,
scurry like ants below
below him. Finally they were in position, inside the park that
was saturated in a Ceramic Field.
Just outside the park he could detect two powerful
figures, his god and the gods miko. Perhaps he could surprise
gods miko?
even a god this day. With an unlimited supply of Ceramic he'd
decided to try and capture the "false" Kushinada, for his god
feared her blood. Even if he failed in that he was certain he
would learn enough from the attempt to try again. And if he
could capture the gods miko, perhaps he could also capture
the god. Summoning the power of his eight souls Murakumo
enveloped the park in an Aragami null field, twisting space and
plunging the entire eighteen acre botanical reserve into
darkness.
************************************************
Koishikawa park was her secret place. She loved the
gently rolling grounds and the quiet Chinese style gardens. She
especially loved the crescent shaped bridge that reflected a full
circle in the quiet pond below. Soban had been standing in the
center of the Full Moon bridge when the world ended.
A series of explosions shook the ground and rapid
gunfire approached from the other end of the park. Soban had
just come to the conclusion that Uncle could damn well get
UPS to deliver his package, when the sun went out. Holding
carefully to the bridges railing Soban started to work her way
off the bridge when a voice sounded in her ear.
"You are the one."
Soban started at the unexpected voice. She survived
by never letting anyone sneak up on her.
"I'm the one . . .what?" As quietly as possible she
shifted aside after speaking, hoping the speaker was as blind
as she in the unnatural blackness that covered Koishikawa
park. Maybe it wasn't the park that was dark . . .maybe she
was blind. Clenching her teeth she strained to pierce the
dark with her one eye . . .listened for the faintest sound, the
whisper of feet against the grass, the least puff of breath to
tell her-----
"You are the one I have been seeking. The last
. . .and the first . . .
"That's nice." Dammit. How had the voice gotten so
close? Sounded like it was right on top of her. Soban sank
into a defensive crouch, wincing as the scarred cartilage in
her knees cracked like a bamboo stick breaking in two.
Shit. They could hear that in Hokkaido. Quickly she
shuffled aside, feeling naked and exposed.
"I have been searching for a long time . . .for such a
long, long time . . ."
The weariness and despair was like a physical thing,
freezing Soban in place.
" . . .such a long time . . .Sailor Moon."
"Huh?" Her hands went up reflexively as she felt
something spin through the air toward her in the dark. A
thick metallic disk smacked into her palms and her fingers
closed around the cool metal.
"Now, say 'Moon Power----Make Up!' "
"What the hell are----- "
"Say it. Say it now!" The voice cried, a mixture of
command and desperation.
"Geeeeez, don't get your panties in a twist," Soban
muttered. "Moonpowermakeup," she pushed out in an
embarrassed rush. "Are you happy now?" She asked
sarcastically. At least that's what she started to say
. . .before the blackness of the Aragami Null Field was
pierced by a flash of silver light and an unseen hand grabbed
Soban and shook her as a terrier shakes a rat----
************************************************
Once triggered the Arathai'Ka attempted to merge
with its host and fulfill it's imperative. Unlike the Senshi's
Aegis Primes for Fire, Air, Earth or Water the ancient
Extra space.
artifact had no power of its own. It's purpose was to join
and harmonize, melding the senshi into a unified whole.
The Silver Millennium, known to it's rulers as the
Fifth Evolution, was founded on harmony; sustained by
balance. Fields and vines were coaxed into producing,
seduced into providing and always gently thanked for their
bounty. The Silver Millennium's hell loomed always large
on the horizon. A huge blue globe, foul with discord and
conflict.
Unfortunately there was a tear in Soban's soul . . .an
emptiness that left her unbalanced and unable to meld the
disparate senshi into a graceful harmony.
Soban screamed and fell to her knees, clawing at
her face, as the elegant seductive dance of transformation
became a brutal rape of fire and blood.
The Arathai'Ka attempted to repair the hole and
failed. The damage was too massive. Undaunted the
mechanism followed the corrupted threads of Soban's life
back through time, trying to find an undamaged template.
Okay, I see what you were trying to do, but she should have been perfectly
uncorrupted before the damn bee.
Following the sun-coloured strands into the past the
Arathai'Ka scoured the Fifth Evolutions ten million year
evolution's
history for a time when the threads were pure gold,
untainted by blackness. But the rot had spread throughout
all of her lives, all of time-was and time-might-be of the
Fifth Evolution were filled with blackness.
Faster and further the working of the Silver
Millenium sped . . .past the Fourth Evolution. Masters and
slaves of time whose understanding of temporal flux was
almost perfect. And whose imperfect understanding doomed
them utterly.
The Third Evolution, whose half billion year history
of songs and poetry so beautiful that stones would weep
were all written in the blood and despair of a million races.
The golden threads were thinner now, still fouled
and unusable as the Arathai'Ka hunted through the Second
Evolution for a life untainted. Great living ships swam
between the stars and sentient cities tended their god-like
rulers for a million million years before they passed quietly
into the long night. But even here the taint existed,
spreading still further into the past.
Almost at it's limit the Fifth Evolution's servitor
flashed through the First Evolution; iron fisted warriors
before whom even their gods bent their necks and who died
of grief when there were no foes left to fight. Still the
blackness spread through golden threads, thinned almost to
invisibility as they stretched across the chasm of eternity.
There was nowhere else in time-was or time-might-be to
search.
Galaxies raced _toward_ each other as the star fields
collapsed inward toward the beginning. The sky was a
white hot blaze of fusion storms and quark plasma as the
Silver Millennium's last gift to time-is crashed into the wall
of eternity----
************************************************
She had no name.
Alone as no creature had ever been alone she needed
none. She was the last of the first. Last child of the first race
to arise as the universe cooled.
As Luna said.
She hunted.
Prowling through the blasted ruins of a city that had
once stretched a hundred kilometers into the sky and ruled a
million stars, she hunted. Clusters of sensory filaments
waved gently over her head like a cloud of rainbows gently
tasting the currents of entropy. A hot wind of diamond dust
scoured the fallen golden spires, pitted and worn by a
thousand millennium of cosmic rays.
She hungered.
She could not remember a time when she had not
been hungry. A constant ripping pain that sometimes sent
her into a howling tearing frenzy, snapping at the ground,
tearing great chunks of collapsium alloy from the skeletons
of buildings or ripping flesh from her bones in an effort to
appease her need.
She fought.
What, she's done ate everyone?
Against the wind, the hunger, the extinction of her
race as the universe collapsed in on itself. Following the
currents of time as they shattered against the entropy wall
she tried again to breach the barrier between death and
birth. She fought because her race had been born to fight,
because she didn't know how to do anything else.
Thunder shook the air as the dying Arathai'Ka
smashed through the barrier in a sleet of gamma radiation
and tachyons that blazed against the death agony of
colliding galaxies like a beacon. With the last of her
carefully hoarded strength she twisted space in a desperate
leap for the weakened entropy wall----
************************************************
Thunder rolled across the park like the trump of
doom, smashing trees flat and tossing monsters and
monster-hunters alike as if they were toys. The blackness of
the Aragami Null-field vanished as the light of a thousand
suns bled through the wound in space. For a brief moment a
sleek deadly shape was outlined against the blackness,
superimposed with the figure of a small crippled girl, before
the wound slammed shut plunging the park into darkness
again.
She didn't like the dark. Snarling, her tendrils
stiffened as she attacked the Null field, absorbing the
Aragami's power.
Is Soban possessed now, or did this just fill the hole?
Shadow drinker.
Extra blank line.
The darkness was dispelled, replaced by a pale
anemic sun and distant scattered stars. Shuddering at the
cold bleakness her head twisted, hungrily searching -----
***********************************************
Now _this_ was an interesting development. High
above the small park Murakumo hung in the air, his eight
mitama glowing a soft blue. Was this a new weapon of the
megatama
T.A.C? Or perhaps one of his . . .allies . . .was attempting to
... was
discredit him. Carefully he controlled his thoughts as he
glanced down at the white robed pair below. Of course
_dear_ Lord Sus-sa-no-oh would never betray the Aragami.
His eyes hardened and the blue stones embedded in his chest
flared angrily. With deliberate effort he tamped down his
rage. Now was not the time to be discovered. First he
needed to gather his strength, build alliances. Soon though,
very soon, he would sweep the earth clean of these
disgusting humans, Lord Su-sa-no-oh and that bitch of a
Kushinada as well.
*Murakumo-san*
Murakumo flinched as the soft feminine voice
echoed in his mind. Had she heard his thoughts? Her next
words dispelled his fear.
*Lord Su-sa-no-oh would like you to test this
creature*
Here's your pencil, here's your book, and here's yoAARRRG!
Lord Su-sa-no-oh can kiss my----- *As my Lord
Although funny in many cases, why not go ahead an use the words?
commands* Murakumo replied smoothly, simultaneously
passing a command to one of his lesser servants.
Immediately Oo-gumo skittered from the shadows, its eight
legs tearing great chunks of sod and stone from the ground
as it thundered toward it's prey.
***********************************************
Something disturbed the aether lines and her head
swung around, vari-coloured tendrils whipping through the
vari-coloured? A differenet word would sound better.
air, constantly tasting the shadows of entropy. A huge bulk,
many hundreds of times her mass lumbered toward her
vomiting a thick jet of toxic webbing. This was not her
meat . . . this disgusting fleshy bag of dirty water. Golden
eyes narrowed in anger and fanged jaws opened wide. A
single high pitched note shattered the air. Clear and pure as
a silver bell it rose in pitch, higher and harder than any
sound that ever was or ever could be produced in this
world. The giant spider slowed abruptly, as if running
through thick mud. There was a sudden cracking sound as
reality shattered and the spider fragmented, disappearing on
the winds of probability.
Dream singer.
Suddenly the angrily whipping tendrils stiffened,
quivering in delighted hunger. Violet coloured shields
snapped into place over golden eyes; atavistic reminders of
a predator that had evolved under a storm of hot blue-giant
stars at the dawn of another creation.
************************************************
"NO! My Lord!"
The scream echoed in Murakumo's mind and ears;
Extra space.
both so loud that he was momentarily stunned. Orienting
himself toward the sound he saw the creature suddenly turn
toward Su-sa-no-oh, it's hair forming a rainbow cloud
its
around its head.
*My Lord----protect my Lord* Kaede's frantic cry
hammered at his mind with a force that made him wince. He
watched the golden eyes suddenly go violet as they sighted
Su-sa-no-oh. His _Lord_ didn't seem to find the attention
very sinister but Kaede was panicked. Murakumo's black
eyes narrowed thoughtfully. This situation might be turned
to his advantage. He had only to let this creature attend to
Su-sa-no-oh----
Kaede might not have been able to read his mind but
she saw his hesitation and acted.
*PROTECT YOUR LORD!* The compulsion
slammed into him with the force of a hammer smashing a
granite block ---- impossible to resist. Snarling in frustrated
rage Murakumo dropped on the creature like a stooping
hawk, organic blades ripping free of his flesh as he shifted to
his strongest battle form. He was in not mood to take
chances or waste time. If he couldn't use this creature to
remove Su-sa-no-oh he could at least vent some of his
frustration. Perhaps it would be a worthier foe than that
piece of imperfect trash, Kusanagi. Covering two hundred
meters in less than a second he raked the creature from tail
to neck, tearing it open like a cheap noodle-cup.
Too easy, he thought spinning around to administer
the death blow with his forearm blades. The diamond hard
edges met only air as the creature dissolved and reformed
to let the lethal cutters pass harmlessly through its body.
Even as he watched, the horrible injury seemed to melt
away, like ice on a hot stove. A second latter the tawny pelt
was completely smooth and unblemished; not even a drop of
blood marring the grass.
So . . .not so easy as he'd thought. An interesting trick.
Perhaps he could capture this thing, learn its secrets----
Extra space.
Faster than thought the creature moved, rainbow
filaments lashing the air ahead of it, and Murakumo's left
arm disappeared below the elbow.
----or perhaps not. Swiftly Murakumo put some
distance between himself and the creature. It was very cat-
like he saw, as more of its body was revealed. A thought
Extra space.
came to him as he willed his lost limb to regenerate. It had
been hard to see the creature in the beginning
. . .some sort of camouflage effect or perhaps a mental
trick. _Now_ he could see it almost clearly.
And it had destroyed utterly his beautiful spider for
utterly destroyed sounds better.
only approaching. While he had gotten off lightly, he flexed
the newly grown arm, for almost disemboweling the thing.
*My Lord, please, let us leave this place*
He glanced down to see Kaede pleading with Su-sa-
no-oh, carefully keeping herself between her god and the
creature. Su-sa-no-oh seemed disinclined to leave. Well,
he'd always been an arrogant snot, Murakumo thought.
Still, powerful as the creature was it had limitations. It
seemed to lack endurance. And for all his faults Su-sa-no-oh
_was_ a god. He'd better get back down and kill the thing
before Su-sa-no-oh decided to act personally. Gods tended
to get cranky if they had to dirty their hands.
Any decent god has followers for that.
************************************************
Hurt. It had hurt her.
Her reserves were dangerously low. It had taken
everything she had to make the great leap to escape to
this . . .place. She shuddered again at how cold and bleak a
world she found herself in. The star field was separated by
light years . . .hundreds or thousands in some cases between
each star. And the primary . . .so pale and cold . . .had she
escaped the great collapse only to starve in this frigid,
lifeless desert?
Lifeless?
A hot fast fire burned nearby. Small, but intense. Her
nerves sang with a delicious anticipation. . .but first she
must deal with the thing that hurt her. It was fast. And
strong. Faster and stronger than she in her depleted state.
She tasted the winds of probability and knew that it would
attack. Soon. All she had to do was wait and it would come
to her.
The little fire was so hot. So close.
All she had to do was wait and then she could feed.
Her tendrils lashed the air with a beautifully painful
need.
All she had to do was wait . . .
************************************************
Before Murakumo could start his attack the creature
rushed toward Su-sa-no-oh, it's six legs crossing the ground
in great thirty meter leaps. He wasted a miserable fraction of
a second cursing, then flashed across its path piercing it's
side with one of his diamond hard blades. It ripped free
without pausing in its mad rush toward Su-sa-na-oh and
Murakumo cursed again. Flipping forward into its path he
thrust his arms forward, extending the razor tipped blades
like a lance. He was almost too slow. The stupid creature
was faster than he'd imagined, hitting him before he was
entirely set. He grunted and staggered back as the thing
smashed directly into the organic lances. He could _hear_ it
as the shafts penetrated the creatures chest with a heavy
meaty sound. Then again as they burst from the things
_back_ as it ran up the shaft, insane with rage.
Murakumo had an instant to realize his mistake. He
didn't have it . . .it had him. Then it was on him---- biting
and screaming it clawed its way _through_ him - - - being
the shortest distance between two points. A moment later
Murakumo, fell to the ground looking like a tattered leather
bag of cole-slaw.
What do do with that pesky plant demon, recipie number 12.
"Lord Su-sa-no-oh," Kaede grabbed her god by the
arm. "Please, we _must_ go!" She tried to drag him away
by main force. Gently he put her to one side, smiling
reassuringly. Stepping in front of her his face hardened and
he thrust both hands, palm forward, in front of him. At that
instant all the power of a god, the power of storm and fire
and life and death was concentrated and focused on one
small creature the size of a largish panther. Power enough
to sink a continent, or melt it, smashed into the thing.
I didn't know he was that powerful of a god. If he is, why does he use
flunkys?
************************************************
The small fire blazed suddenly upward, hotter and
faster than she could have imagined, hitting her with force
enough to boil her blood and crack her bones. Instantly her
rainbow tendrils swept through the shadows of probability
. . .delicately encouraging some, pinching off others to die
still-born . . .weaving and dancing her way through the
maelstrom . . .hunters eyes never leaving her kill.
Su-sa-no-oh had a brief vision of violet eyes, great
fanged jaws opened impossibly wide beneath a vibrating
snakes nest of rainbow coloured hair----
God eater.
Well, so much for the slaw. Looks like she's going to be plenty full.
************************************************
End Sukeban Senshi Chapter 7 part 3 of 3
################################################
End Notes::
This is a VERY brief summary of one of the best (IMO) anime
ever made. Good graphics, nice music and wonderful story
line with plots, sub-plots and cliff-hangers.
I'll admit I kind of liked it, but that opening music drove me up the wall.
3) Sukeban Senshi Chapters 1-5 may be found at:
http://www.iguild.com/homes/kazama/
What about six?
Okay, I know you've heard it. And while I'm not that keen on having too
much BS in this... Adding Mamoru to TAC does make it sound like a good idea
to me. However, like many of the others who have commented, I think this is
starting to get out of control. Extra plot elements are fine, but don't get
carried away. You don't have to rewrite anything, but I'd seriously suggest
starting to tie off some of those lose threads in future chapters.
The god eater bit didn't do it for me. The idea isn't bad, it's just that
it was so wildly different from the extablished norm it jarred my
expectations and bugged me. It's kind of like verbally attacking the
reader, they get defensive and react badly. You can wait, tone it back a
little and give them time to see it as a good idea, then build back up, or
just not worry about it and trust that they'll come around eventually. I'm
not asking you to change it, and personally I wouldn't. You liked the idea,
so go with it. I'll keep reading either way.
What's this god eater bit from anyway? Original idea?
Well, that's just my two bucks. Looking forward to the next one.
End Sukeban Senshi Chapter 7 C&C part 3 of 3
Kichigai
ICQ# 37606443
Visit my site! http://lavender.fortunecity.com/clockwork/416/index.html
There's a lot to be said for thinking with your dick. The average penis
is much more likely to stand up for what it wants than the average guy.
--
.---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List---.
| Administrators - ffml-admins@fanfic.com |
| Unsubscribing - ffml-request@fanfic.com |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`---http://www.fanfic.com/FFML-FAQ.txt ---'