Meiko Miyamoto slinked down the street towards her 
apartment building.  Dad's going to kill me, she thought.  
It was nearly three AM, but he would still be up, waiting 
for her.  I'm gonna die, she thought.  She could almost 
feel the heat of his glare, even though she was still a 
half block away.

	Smoke began to pour out of an open window on the 
fifth floor, and then she faintly heard the tinny buzz of 
a fire alarm.  Lights began to dance behind more windows 
of the Kappabungi building, and more alarms went off.  

	Meiko ran to the front door of the building, where 
the pay phone was.  There was nothing but a twisted hunk 
of metal there.  The lobby was starting to burn, forcing 
her back out.  There were four more apartment buildings 
nearby, but their pay phones were all slag as well.  

	Love of family warred with self-preservation.  She 
didn't want to run into a flaming building, but...  Then 
she remembered her father had a cell phone.  Surely he 
would be up.  He could call the fire department. 

	In the distance, she heard the sirens of fire trucks 
and gave a great sigh of relief.  Father had called them, 
she thought.  I really need to learn where there's pay 
phones around here.

	She backed up to a safe distance and watched the two 
fire trucks roar down the street.  They're here awfully 
quickly, she thought.  Not that I should complain.  Oh 
wait, the fire probably started a while ago, and now it's 
spread.  Although it does seem an awful lot of the 
building is on fire...what happened?

	The first fire truck roared round the corner, lights 
flashing and sirens blaring, beginning to slow down as 
the building came into sight.  Then there was a flash of 
orange light from the gap between two buildings, and the 
fire truck's engine exploded in flames.  It turned wildly 
and rolled over.  Unable to stop in time, the second 
truck slammed into it, and then another flash of orange 
light flared and its engine went up as well.  Firemen 
leaped out of the flaming vehicles, and then Meiko heard 
a horrible sound for the first time in real life -- the 
chunk-chunk-chunk of a machine gun opening fire.  Firemen 
began dropping; those not killed by the barrage took 
cover as best they can, but flaming vehicles don't make a 
good shield.

	The killer moved into sight, armed with an automatic 
rifle, and grenades on a bandolier over red clothing that 
complemented his coppery hair.  Meiko was sure he 
couldn't be Japanese; he was too pale.  The man removed 
two grenades and tossed them over the flaming fire 
trucks, then laughed at the resulting screams.

	Meiko decided to simply run for it.  Explosions and 
machine gun fire punctuated her every footstep as she ran 
like she'd never run before.

	Silence settled over the sleeping city once more, 
interrupted only by the crackling of flame.

*****

Naru:     I'm tired of always running
          I've grown tired of the night
          I wish I had some cunning,
          Had some power, had some might.

     We see a collage of Naru running from monsters, 
grabbed by monsters, trapped inside big moss balls by 
monsters, etc.

Sailors:  You don't need to keep on running.
          You don't need to fear the night.
          We can save you with our cunning,
          With our power, with our might.

     We see a collage of images of Usagi and the other 
Sailors saving Naru and many other people from monster 
attacks.

Naru:     I don't want someone to save me;
          I'd just like to save myself
          I don't want to be a helpless doll
          That must sit upon the shelf.

     We see Naru sitting at her window, looking out on 
the starry night sky of the city.  One by one, lines 
trace the constellations.

Pluto:    If you want to have the power
          You must reach into your heart
          Look inside to find your strength
          For that's where power starts

     We see Pluto holding out an eight-pointed star, 
which hovers just above her hand.

*****

Sailor Moon Z:

Series Concept by Jeff Hosmer and John Biles
Primary Writer this Episode: John Biles

Based on the Series Sailor Moon, copyrighted by a whole 
lot of people who aren't us.

Episode 19
"The Final Talisman Quest.
 Are Two Senshi Twice the Fun?"

*****

	Noriko walked quietly around the lab, feeling 
restless and nervous.  Tethys watched her pace.  "Testing 
to see if your legs still work?" Tethys asked.

	"I just feel cooped up."  And worried about what all 
this may do to my friendship with Ami, she thought.  She 
says it doesn't bother her, but...  Noriko just couldn't 
shake the feeling that nothing could be the same again.

	"I know the feeling," Tethys said, glancing at the 
door.  "I have to admit Sensei is a good golem-maker; I 
would never guess you weren't a pathetic normal human.  I 
don't think even Vulcan could have made a golem that 
could pass as the real thing."

	"I AM a human," Noriko protested.  "Well, I have a 
human brain and soul, even if most of my body 
is...metal."

	Tethys looked dubious.  "You're a True Golem?  And 
Sensei made you without an Icon?"

	"I'm not a golem, I'm a cyborg."

	"Same difference," Tethys said.  "Human soul in an 
artifical body, right?"

	"Right."

	"Then you're a True Golem.  I'm starting to wonder 
if your 'grandfather' is Vulcan reborn or something."  
She shook her head. "So, what's bothering you?"

	"I...Ami didn't know I was a cyborg until recently, 
and now I'm worried she won't like me any more because 
she knows.  I feel like a freak."  Noriko wouldn't 
normally have poured out her troubles to Tethys of all 
people, but she didn't really have anyone else she felt 
she could talk to about this...few people knew her 
secret.

	"Who cares if people call us monsters?  Being 
'normal' just means you're weak and pathetic.  Being a 
Golem means you're stronger, faster, and tougher than an 
ordinary human.  It means you're better.  Why should you 
care what they think?"  Tethys shrugged, then went and 
got herself an apple to eat.  "You always act like you're 
an idiot, some sort of cutesy bubble-head, in order to 
get people to like you; most people aren't worth the 
bother."

	"I do NOT act like a cutesy bubble-head.  Much."  
Noriko sagged a bit, then rallied.  "I just want to have 
friends!"

	"Who can't handle that you're stronger, tougher, 
faster, and smarter?  Who don't like you for what you 
are?  Who make you put up a false front?  Everybody here 
hates me for being a youma...well, except for your 
Grandfather and Horus...but you don't see me prancing 
around pretending to be good.  I am what I am, and I'm 
proud of it.  And if you don't want to be a loser, then 
you should be proud of what you are.  I know a lot of 
weak, sickly youma back home who would KILL to have your 
body."

	Tethys' voice started to get louder, "You have a 
body which will not age, which won't die of disease, 
which can't get fat, which can do things most 'normal 
humans' only dream of!  And you want to whine and act 
like you're going to die because you can't lie to your 
roommate any more!  I've seen babies born with three arms 
and no mouth!  I've seen mothers die when their infants 
ate their way out of them and then had to be put down 
like mad beasts.  You think you know what pain is?  You 
don't know ANYTHING about suffering!"  Her fist clenched, 
and the apple squeezed tight in her hand and began to 
squish between her fingers.

	Noriko backed up nervously, waving her hands in 
front of her in a vaguely defensive way.  She tried to 
protest, but Tethys overrode her.

	"I spent over a year, barely alive, hardly able to 
think or see or anything, after the Sailor Senshi 
defeated me and wrecked my plans!  And my friend left me 
to DIE!  I'd have been damn well jumping for joy if 
someone had put me back together out of the goodness of 
their heart!  Your grandfather gave up everything he had 
so that YOU COULD LIVE!  And now you're going to sit 
around and whine about it because you can't be 'normal'.  
You don't even KNOW Ami won't like you; didn't she 
fucking TELL you it didn't bother her?" The remains of 
the apple, now reduced to gooey pulp, oozed off Tethys' 
hand and dripped to the ground.

	"Tethys, you need to calm down," Horus said levelly.

	"I want to beat you down for being an idiot," Tethys 
said.  "But you're not worth it.  Snap out of it, girl, 
before you make everyone around you so miserable that 
everyone really does hate you."  She spun on her heel and 
stalked off to one of the computer terminals.  Electronic 
explosion noises started up a few seconds later; Tethys 
seemed to favor several shooter games Sensei had 
installed for her.  

	Noriko just stared at her thoughtfully, then quietly 
went over to another terminal to check her e-mail and 
wait for her grandfather to get back.

*****

	"Dad's got a new case," Daichi said to Himeko at 
lunch.  "Biggest mess he's ever seen.  Some terrorist 
nutjob managed to burn down an entire apartment building, 
killing almost everyone.  Those who got out, he shot.  
Then he wiped out two fire trucks and blew up three 
police cars. They had to call in the riot cops, but he 
got away."

	She nodded and sighed.  "I saw it on the news. I 
thought things like that only happened in the US."

	"Might be some lunatic US soldier, they're thinking, 
or a JSDF guy gone nuts.  The man had military hardware, 
apparently."  

	"Your dad told you all that?"  Naru asked. "I 
thought most cops didn't like to give out details of 
investigations in progress."

	"Well, I don't think he realizes I read his initial 
report," Daichi said, grinning.  "I just couldn't help 
myself.  Curiosity was too much for me."

	"Maybe we should look into this," Himeko said to 
Naru.

	She shook her head.  "Doesn't sound like Sailor 
business to me.  I'm sure the police would do a better 
job than us, anyway.  And we need to be working on 
finding our talismans."

	"That would require us to have a clue as to where to 
look," Himeko replied.  "At least with this, we have 
somewhere to start.  And maybe I could actually make my 
time powers work well enough to get a clue or two."

	"You'd have to sneak in at night to get past the 
cops.  They're still checking out the site," Daichi said.  
"Although maybe I could get Dad to show you around."

	Naru raised an eyebrow.  "You really think he 
would?"

	"No, not really.  But it wouldn't hurt to ask."

	"Ask him," Himeko said.  "We can sneak in later if 
he says no."

	"But..."

	Umino came and sat down with them, laying out his 
lunch.  "Did you hear?  Some maniac burned down Meiko's 
apartment building and opened fire on the firemen and 
police officers who came to investigate."

	Naru's eyes widened.  "That was Meiko-chan's 
apartment building?"

	He nodded.  "She's not at school today; I assume 
she's probably staying with relatives."

	"Maybe Hecate came back for revenge somehow," Naru 
speculated.

	"With a rocket launcher?"  Umino asked.  "No, it's 
got to be just some nut.  Magical monsters don't use 
machine guns and grenades and burn down buildings by 
igniting the gas lines."

	Daichi blinked.  "How did you know about that?"

	"Some people have vast power over time, and others 
fire energy beams.  I just have an ear to the ground and 
a lot of online contacts with big mouths."  Umino 
grinned.  "Just call me a console cowboy."

	"Find where Meiko is staying; I want to go visit 
her," Naru said to Umino.  "Daichi, get us on that site, 
or guide us there tonight...ahah!  Hime-chan could become 
a police detective and let us in if Daichi's father 
shoots us down.  Now, let's see, the next step is..."

	Hime-chan and Daichi looked at each other.  "Changes 
her mind as quickly as you," Daichi said.

	She gave him a friendly whack in the head.  "She's 
worried about her friend.  I'd do the same if Icchan or 
Manami-chan was in danger."

	"You wanted to check this out before, though," he 
replied.

	Naru continued talking, failed to notice that only 
Umino was listening.

	"Well, she was right, we don't have time to check 
out every disaster in Tokyo, especially when we need to 
be looking for our talismans.  But I just have a feeling 
down in my gut that there's more to this."

	"You think it's a time power inkling?" he asked, 
sounding just a little nervous.

	"Could be," she replied.  "I'm not used to how it 
works."

	"And you were bored."

	She frowned at him.  "I don't normally rush off to 
crime sites, you know.  I had a _feeling_."

	"Sure you weren't just passing gas or something?" he 
asked teasingly.

	Naru looked up as Himeko chased Daichi off across 
the school yard.  "What is it with those two?  They seem 
to fight half the time."

	"And even the rest, they're more like a married 
couple than boyfriend and girlfriend," Umino said.  "Ever 
seen them kiss?"

	"Well, they've never seen us kiss either.  It's not 
something you do for company," Naru replied.

	"True.  So the search for your talismans isn't going 
well?"

	"We have no idea where to look."

	"A pity there isn't a library you could look it up 
in."

	Naru's eyes widened.  "A library...I bet the Star 
Kingdom had a...I suppose it wouldn't be around any more, 
though."

	"Ask Pluto," he said, picking up his box of rice and 
pickled vegetables.  "She'd know."

	"But will she tell me?"

****************

	"Yes, there is a library.  Yes, you can Sailor 
Teleport to it.  And yes, you should take Himeko with 
you."  Setsuna said.

	Naru blinked from the doorway.  "..."

	Setsuna laughed.  "Come in."

	She came in and closed the door.  "So, where is it?"

	"It's on one of the larger asteroids that used to be 
part of the Star Kingdom.  However, it isn't undefended, 
so you should be prepared for a fight to get into it."

	"Guarded by the Zodiac?"

	Setsuna nodded.  "Yes."  She turned to the aquarium 
by her desk, and watched a patch of fungus flash colored 
lights at her.  "I was going to tell her that.  Be 
quiet."

	Naru blinked.  "The fungus was talking?"

	"They duplicated most of the books from it for their 
own library, but the old magics have prevented them 
destroying it, so they simply put up guardians to keep 
anyone else from using it," Setsuna said.  "As I 
discovered when I tried to use it one time."

	"They kept you out?" Naru asked.  Then we don't have 
much of a chance, she thought.

	"I didn't say that.  But they've likely improved the 
security.  It will prove a good test for you and Hime-
chan, I think.  We can go this weekend."  She idly began 
twisting her engagement ring round her finger.  "But it 
will be dangerous.  Best if you have no 'accidents' like 
Ami and Urawa had."

	"Umino would love to see it, I think, but I know 
what you mean," Naru said.  "He's gotten in enough danger 
for me for several lifetimes.  Like the time he tried to 
guard my home from Zoicite, or the..."  She shook her 
head at the memory.  "I won't put him in danger."  

	A thought struck her.  "Do you know if the 
destruction of that apartment building had anything to do 
with the Zodiac or Jadeite?"

	"It doesn't strike me as the sort of thing that 
either group would do.  If they'd done it to a building 
one of us lived in, I could see it as a blow at us, but 
instead it was just some random place.  Also, it didn't 
strike me as the methodology of either group.  Do you 
have a reason to believe otherwise?"

	"Just a feeling Hime-chan has."

	"Well, it wouldn't hurt for you to look into it.  
Just be discreet.  And don't forget, we'll be heading for 
the library this weekend."

	"I won't forget."  Naru got up.  "I'd better get to 
class."

	"Yes, you're already going to be late."

	Naru took off like a rocket.

************

	Clark watched Makoto walk into the room and tried to 
figure out what to say.  She smiled at him, and his knees 
wobbled slightly.  Their dream tryst had been one of the 
most intense experiences of his entire life, and it had 
opened huge cans of worms he didn't know what to do with.  
She'd missed three days of school after that, which given 
her injuries and state of mind before the injuries, 
didn't surprise him.  This was the first time they'd seen 
each other since the meeting in their dreams.

	"Hello, Maguson-sensei," she said, then went and sat 
down.  

He was simultaneously relieved and disappointed.  We 
have to talk, he thought.  Not that I have any clue what 
to say.  "Hello, Kino-san."

I will not watch her behind move as she walks, he 
told himself, even if it reminds me of...  He shook his 
head and turned to the chalkboard, beginning to write on 
it, just to distract himself.  Let's not do anything 
foolish, he told himself as he wrote.  

"Maguson-sensei, I have a question," Minako said in 
excellent English.

He turned and focused his attention on her.  She was 
one of his best students, although she apparently was 
doing poorly in most of her others, which he thought was 
a shame.  "Yes, Minako?" he replied in English.

"For the short story assignment...are there any 
limitations on the topics we can choose from?"

"It has to fit in four to six pages," he replied.  
"And I'd prefer nothing pornographic, but other than 
that, whatever you like.  And it has to be in English, of 
course."

Many students groaned.

"So, it would be okay if I wrote a story about the 
forbidden love between a student and a teacher that saves 
the student from getting involved in girl gangs and 
ending up dead by twenty?"  Minako's eyes sparkled in the 
way that Clark had learned usually meant certain doom.

Makoto glared at Minako, and Clark tried to use 
magic to suddenly be working at a different school.  
Sadly, his new powers, whatever exactly they were, didn't 
include this one.  "If you can fit it into the page 
limit, that's fine," he said.  "Although it sounds like 
you're copying an idea from a shoujo manga."

Several students suddenly brightened up, and Clark 
got a sinking feeling.  

"So you don't disapprove of the love between teacher 
and student?" Minako asked.

The entire class stared at Clark, their gaze boring 
into him like a drill, making him suddenly wish he'd 
taken up dentistry instead.  He could almost feel the 
weight of Makoto's gaze.  "It's quite forbidden at 
Tsunami," he said.  "But you can write whatever you like 
in your story."

"Good, good," she said.  "I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

Almost as much as I enjoy falling off bridges, he 
thought.  "Does anyone else have any questions about the 
story assignment?"

"Can I write a story where the vice-principal is 
eaten by one of those monster attacks?" 'Detention' Dan 
asked.  

"Well, keep in mind he already defeated one attack 
by himself.  I saw it."

"That was Sailor Venus who defeated it!" Minako 
protested.

"Oh, it was Venus' fault the monster got loose in 
the first place," Makoto replied.  "Probably while Venus 
was off running around with that 'girl gang' of Sailors 
she's in."

"They're not a girl gang!" Minako protested.

Makoto stuck out her tongue at Minako.  "They're 
girls who fight together.  Girl gang?"

"Traitor!"

The class broke up into bickering, and just this 
once, Clark didn't mind.

************

	A shadow fell across Pokota as he sat at Hime-chan's 
desk, trying to use her computer.  It wasn't easy for 
him, as he was only the size of a plushie, and thus had a 
hard time reaching all the keys.  "I see you finally woke 
up, Cassandra," he said to Hime-chan's new guardian cat.  
He couldn't see why Hime-chan would need a cat when she 
had a lion like him, but as far as he could tell, Queen 
Hecate had gotten an economy pack of guardian cats 
somewhere.  She's the sort of person who gives everyone 
the same tie for Christmas, he thought.

	"Artemis is still asleep," she replied.

	"That's just normal," Pokota said, and returned to 
his typing.

	"What are you working on?" Cassandra had a silky 
smooth voice that made Pokota nervous; she always sounded 
like she was plotting something, in his opinion.  

	"Trying to see if I can find anything out about the 
attack on that apartment building.  Hime-chan's not very 
good with this computer like I am."

	Cassandra looked him up and down.  "I suspect she 
can type faster than you, though."

	"Yes, but she's in class right now.  Do you think 
you could do better?" he asked huffily.

	"No," Cassandra said.  "But I think perhaps I'll go 
take a look at the site and see what I can see.  Want to 
come along?"

	He glanced at the computer, then said, "I can only 
move if no one normal sees me."

	"Then we'll make sure you aren't seen.  Hop on."

	Pokota nervously climbed onto Cassandra's back.  "Do 
you even know where we're going?"

	"I have an infallible direction sense," she said.

	We're doomed, he thought.  

*************

	"Dad said no," Daichi said to Himeko later in the 
day, after classes were over, but before dinner.  He 
looked around her room.  "Hey, where'd Pokota go?"

	Artemis slipped out from under Minako's bed.  "He 
was gone when I woke up."

	"Maybe they went on a date," Himeko said.

	"..."  Daichi just stared at her.

	"Hey, it could happen.  Although Pink-chan wouldn't 
be very happy if they are on a date."

	"Well, after we have dinner, I guess we'll go round 
up the others and go take a look at the site."

	"Naru's gone to visit Meiko, so we'll have to wait 
until she gets back," Himeko replied.  

	"I'm gonna go work on homework, then.  See you at 
dinner!"

	"See ya!" Himeko replied.

	He punched her shoulder and left.

	Artemis looked up at her.  "No kiss goodbye?"

	"It's kind of embarrassing to kiss with someone 
watching you," Himeko said.  She plopped down on the bed.  
"This should be fun."

	"It could be dangerous," Artemis replied.

	"Hey, I've faced down the Yakuza before I had Pluto 
powers," Hime-chan replied.  "This is nothing.  Well, 
they were terrorists, not Yakuza.  But I just have a 
feeling there's something more to this."

	"How's your training coming?"

	"Pretty well.  Pluto's a good teacher, when you 
actually manage to squeeze anything out of her.  She 
hasn't been able to help Naru too much, though; her 
powers are too different."  She rolled over to look down 
at the floor where Artemis was.  "How did you go about 
training Venus when you've never had Venus powers?"

	"I spent a long time learning all the theoretical 
stuff.  And a lot of it was simply helping her regain her 
past life's skills.  It's different for you, though; this 
is your first time to be a Senshi.  In fact, you're only 
the second Pluto EVER."

	Himeko nodded, then blinked.  "Hey, doesn't that 
mean there wouldn't BE a talisman for me, yet?  Or do I 
have to wait and inherit one from Pluto?"

	"You'll have to make it," Artemis replied.

	"I don't know anything about making magical items, 
though.  That..."  She sat up.  "Erica!  I bet she could 
make me a talisman."

	"Good idea," Artemis said.  

	Himeko opened her desk drawer, rooted around for a 
few seconds, then pulled out what looked like an exchange 
diary.  It was, but not a mundane one; this one was part 
of a pair, and if you wrote in one, the writing also 
appeared on the other one.  Its mate was in the 
possession of Erica, the princess of a magical kingdom in 
another dimension who had long ago gotten Himeko to field 
test several magical items for her.  Everyone in that 
dimension was a double of someone on Earth (or perhaps it 
was the Earthlings who were doubles of them), and Erika 
was Himeko's double.

	She scribbled a quick note, then put the diary 
aside; Erica might not see it for hours, depending on 
what she was doing.  "And now homework until dinner."

	"Want some help?  I'm bored," Artemis said.  

	"You could do Minako's homework for her; I see she's 
run off with her boyfriend instead of doing it."  Himeko 
pointed to the opened books on Minako's desk and a half-
finished poem.

	"I'm only good at fish poems."

	"Okay, then you can help drill me for Earth 
Science," Himeko replied. "Test's coming up."

	"Let's get started."

************

	Pokota and Cassandra stared up at the burnt out 
wreckage of the apartment building.  The upper stories 
had collapsed, but most of the frame of the building was 
intact.  Pokota helped Cassandra drag some of the 
wreckage and ashes into a small circle, which she then 
arranged into a pattern and began to chant over, while he 
tried to stay out of sight.  There weren't many people 
around; the street was blocked off and the cops had 
finished poking around, except inside the building where 
some investigation continued.

	While she chanted, Pokota looked up at the building.  
Why would anyone want to slaughter the inhabitants of an 
apartment building?  It just didn't make...  Something 
caught his eye.  He wandered over to one of the corners 
of the building and stared at the brick down at ground 
level.  There was some character carved into the corner 
bricks.  "Hey, Cassandra, any idea what this is?"

	She kept chanting, so he wandered around to take a 
look at the other corner.  All four corners had it; it 
had been filled in with red paint...no, with blood.  He 
shuddered a bit at that and went back to Cassandra.

	"Done yet?"

	She looked up at him.  "There's some lingering magic 
here which was done to the building, but I think the 
devastation was done by mundane means."

	He drew the character in the dirt.  "Any idea what 
this is?  It's not Japanese."

	Her eyes widened.  "We need to talk to Isis, but I 
think that's a magical symbol meaning 'Life-in-death'.  
Used for necromancy."

	"So it could be the Dark Kingdom."

	"Or a human sorceror.  Maybe he wanted some freshly 
dead people."

	"But can he used burned up bodies?"

	She frowned.  "Maybe he needs burned up bodies.  
Anyway, we need to talk to Isis; she knows more of such 
things."

	"Let's go, then," he said, mounting up.

*************

	Usagi finished off her ice cream sundae.  "I'm glad 
to see you're looking a lot better, Mako-chan!"

	"Yeah.  I was in pretty bad shape," she said, then 
took another bite of her triple-scoop bowl of strawberry, 
chocolate, and lemon ice cream.  Once she finished that, 
she said, "But now I have my talisman and a new boyfriend 
and everything is good."

	Usagi's eyes widened.  "A new boyfriend?  Who?"

	"Umm, well, maybe that's not quite the right thing 
to call him," Makoto said nervously.  "But I mean, we did 
have...you know...although it was just in a dream.  I 
wish I'd realized earlier that he cared, but I was too 
frazzled to think straight and..."

	"Have...you know?"  Then Usagi's eyes widened.  "You 
already...with your new boyfriend?  But...but... are you 
sure you didn't, umm, rush things?"

	"Well, Juno was in love with him, but it was one of 
those things that fate just never let it happen; by the 
time she understood, she was already seeing someone else 
she loved too, and..."  Makoto stared at her ice cream.  
"When I try to explain it, it all unravels.  I just...  I 
haven't been this in love since Gendo.  Maybe I am 
rushing it, but I mean, it was as much Juno and Parias as 
it was me and..."  She stared at the table.  

	"Parias?  The cleric?  He's been reborn and he's 
your new boyfriend?  Who is he?"  Then her eyes widened.  
"Oh, wait, he's...he's...MAKO-CHAN, YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH 
A..."

	Makoto's hand closed over Usagi's mouth.  "Don't 
shout it to the world," she hissed.

	Usagi finally calmed down.  "He's a teacher.  I 
mean, the age thing too, but..."

	"And who's dating a guy older than her by many 
years?" Makoto asked irritatedly.

	"Yes, but our love was destined and...okay, you win 
on that.  But he could get fired or worse!"

	"I know.  That's why I haven't...I mean, we had a 
dream together, but I didn't know for sure what to do 
about him, so I didn't answer his phone calls...well, 
also because I pretty much passed out for about a day 
after all that."  She frowned.  "Well, if our love is 
really destined, we can wait to, like, publicly date and 
stuff.  He'd better not start getting brainwashed all the 
time like Mamoru does, though."

	"He isn't brainwashed ALL the time!" Usagi 
protested.

	"Now I just have to figure out what my talisman 
actually DOES."

	"You don't know?"

	Makoto looked embarrassed.  "I forgot to ask Queen 
Serenity.  It does some sort of energy thing, I think."

	"Well, why don't we go practice some and you can 
find out!"

	She nodded.  "Right.  We are supposed to train 
together, after all."  She got up.  "Let's do it."

	"Lemme get some ice cream for the road."

	"You'll get sick to your stomach."

	"It's worth it."

	Makoto laughed.  "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn 
you."

*****************

	"No, I haven't told them yet," Ami said.  "Although 
explaining how I beat the youma without mentioning about 
you was kind of difficult."

	Noriko nodded, tapping her pencil on her desk.  She 
was 'back to normal', such as that was.  It had been 
fairly easy for her grandfather to repair her, since 
she'd only lost an arm.  "You didn't have to lie to them, 
did you?"

	"Not...much," Ami said guiltily.  It had been very 
much of a no-win scenario for her.  "Everyone was too 
worried about Makoto to really ask me.  Although I think 
Setsuna suspected."

	"She already knows about me, I think," Noriko said.  
"I know Tomoe-san does."

	"Should I not tell the others?  I know we could use 
your help."

	Noriko slumped in her chair and stared at the 
ceiling.  "I'd like to help, but I...the last person I 
told about all this just totally freaked out.  A guy I 
knew in junior high.  I had a massive crush on him, and 
we started going out, and he dumped me when I told him."  
Her voice was faint and loaded with strangled pain.  "But 
they'd want to know where I got my power from, I suppose.  
I mean, I'm just not ready to tell a lot of people, 'mi-
chan."

	Ami thought a moment.  "I'll talk to Setsuna, and 
see what she thinks about it.  But for now, I won't tell 
anyone."

	"Okay," Noriko said hesitantly.  

****************

	Wood and gaudy metal clashed again and again, with 
the gaudy metal weapon's owner being gradually forced 
back.  "En guarde, servant of the Cardinal!"  Jupiter 
said as she brought the Lightning Staff around for a 
chest-level blow which Sailor Moon only barely parried.  
"You cannot defeat the Queen's musketeers!"

	"You can be the evil bird's guard!" Moon said.  "I 
am the Queen, after all."  She tried to sweep Jupiter's 
legs with her rod, but Jupiter leaped over it and kicked 
her in the chest at the same time, sending her sprawling.  
Then Jupiter struck Moon's wrist, causing her to lose her 
grip on the Spiral Moon Heart Rod.  

	"Well, now we know it's good for staff fighting," 
Jupiter said.  She pointed it at a rock and waited to see 
if any command words popped into her head, but they 
didn't.  "But not much else, it seems like."

	"It absorbs energy," Tuxedo Mask said.

	They both jumped, then Sailor Moon ran over and 
hugged him.  "How'd you know we were here?"

	He pointed to the edge of the park.  "I live in the 
apartment building right over there, you know."

	She blinked.  "Oh yeah."

	"What can I do with the energy?"  Jupiter asked.

	"Augment your powers or use the staff's special 
attack."

	"Cool.  What's that?"

	"I have absolutely no idea."

	Two sailors facefaulted in unison.

	"Well, I never got to see you actually use it in the 
Silver Millennium," Tuxedo Mask said.  "But I can help 
you with staff fighting, if you like."

	"Sure.  Most of what I know about it comes from 
movies."

	After about two minutes of cane versus staff, the 
staff went flying.  "Not very good movies."

	She laughed nervously.  "They tended to involve 
things like Mountain-fu."

	"I think I saw that one," he said.  "Let's start 
with some stances..."

*****************

	Isis looked at the sigil, then paused to lick her 
paws thoughtfully.  "Flame Warriors."

	"Which are?" Naru asked.

	Naru, Himeko, Hotaru, Daichi, Umino, Setsuna, 
Pokota, Cassandra, Augur, and Isis were all in the Tomoe 
household living room.  Hotaru was busily serving 
everyone tea, except for the cats, who got milk.

	"You burn people to death in a ritually prepared 
space, then at the next sunset, they rise as flaming 
zombie warriors under your control."  Isis paused to have 
a little milk.  "I think the local crypt keeper is going 
to have an unpleasant surprise soon."

	"I know where the morgue is," Daichi said.  "We're 
going to have to hurry."

	"Tell me," Setsuna said, rising from her chair.  
"You'd best not go with us.  Too dangerous."

	"Hey, but I can..." he began.

	Himeko cut in.  "Daichi, Umino, we need you to go 
over the site and see if you can find any more clues.  
Isis, you'd best come with us to advise us.  Pokota, 
Cassandra, I suggest you help Daichi and Umino.  
Augur...you're good at divinations, right?"

	"The skeins of destiny are mine to pull and read," 
Augur replied.

	"You'd best help them, then.  Maybe you can figure 
out what exactly he did and who it is.  Unless you want 
him along to advise you with your powers, Naru?"

	She shook her head.

	Setsuna pursed her lips and looked thoughtfully at 
Himeko.

	"Hotaru, Naru, you're with our strike team.  We'd 
better call the others as well; we can't afford to let 
this get out of hand.  Hotaru, go find Haruka and 
Michiru.  Naru, you and I had better start calling 
everyone."  Himeko paused to think for a few seconds.

	"We need not call everyone yet," Setsuna began.

	"We do if we want them to show up on time," Himeko 
said.  "I know I don't feel up to fighting hundreds of 
flame warriors by myself."

	"Three hundred and twenty eight if every dead person 
rises," Umino said helpfully.

	"Exactly."

	"They won't rise if we hurry," Setsuna said.  "But 
if we wait for everyone, we..."

	"Sun sets in five minutes.  Unless we sailor 
teleport, we can't get there faster than that."  Himeko 
said.

	"Then we had best teleport," Setsuna said, pulling 
out her transformation pen.  

	"I think Setsuna-mama is right," Hotaru said.  "We 
can call everyone from there."

	Naru nodded.  "Any idea how to prevent them rising, 
Isis?"

	"Douse them in water before they rise.  Water is bad 
for them for obvious reasons."

	"Let's go," Setsuna said.

	Himeko looked frustrated, then pulled out her 
transformation pen.  "Go check out the site," she said to 
Daichi.  "Tell Ami and Michiru we're going to need them.  
And make sure the others get contacted in case we're 
jumping into an ambush."

	"He can't possibly know we're coming," Setsuna said 
just before she transformed.

	I bet Custer thought that, Himeko thought.

************

	Saturn, Pluto, the Junior Pluto, Odysseus, and Isis 
appeared in the morgue, standing in a circle with Isis up 
on Saturn's shoulder, clinging desperately.  The morgue 
had several fresh bodies--dead staff members were 
scattered about.  Five men in gray uniforms trimmed in 
red were positioned around the room; four of them looked 
bored, while the fifth one paced about impatiently, his 
red hair shining in the yellowish light.  They all had 
shouldered rifles.

	He looked up in surprise at them, as did the others.  
"How did you know I was going to be here?  I made sure 
to..."

	They ignored him and launched into their obligatory 
speeches, during which he paced about more impatiently, 
waiting for them to shut up.  Finally, he said, "Well, I 
can summon up your ghosts and ask them.  KILL THEM ALL!" 
he shouted.

	Five rifles came up.

	"Dead scream," two women whispered in unison.  
Purple energy rushed across the room in a wave.  Bullets 
melted, followed by the rifles being bent and melted into 
slag.  Only the red-haired man still had his; he had 
generated a field which had shielded him.  But the attack 
had still consumed his shots.

	"I suppose sometimes old ways are best," he said, 
raising a hand to point at them.

	"SOLAR FLARE!"  The four subordinates staggered back 
blinded, and then Saturn on was on them, glaive flashing.  

	One lost his head in the first few seconds, and the 
second lost an arm, screamed, and dissolved away.  She 
chased after the third one, who summoned an energy blade 
and began to fight back with it, though he had to give 
ground.

	Creating his own energy blade, the leader leapt at 
Pluto, pressing her back in a staff to sword battle.  He 
was clearly more skillful, and his rapid blows pressed 
her back.

	This left the fourth of the underlings to face 
Odysseus and the Junior Pluto.  This was, simply put, not 
a fair fight.  He hurled a blast of flame at them, and 
they dodged.  Then he got hit by a combined Dead Scream 
and Star Bolt.  Limned in fire for a few seconds, he 
burned away into ashes.  They hi-fived, then the Junior 
Pluto said, "Well, I have good news and bad news."

	"Good news first," Odysseus said.

	"The good news is that Saturn will beat her opponent 
in a few seconds, and return to help out Pluto."

	"The bad news?"

	"The Flame Warriors are going to erupt out before 
any of our water people arrive.  And the really bad news 
is that not all of the enchanted corpses were sent to 
this morgue."

	There was a howl, and Saturn ran past them from the 
direction of the howl towards where Pluto had been forced 
back into a corner by the leader of the youma.

	"Fools!" the leader shouted.  "Only half of them are 
here!  The rest are at another morgue because this one 
was full!  And you can't possibly stop them in time!"  

	"Call Umino, see if he can find out," the Junior 
Pluto said to Odysseus.  "I'm going to see about breaking 
a water line or something."

	"Right," Odysseus said.

	Pluto shook her head.  "The sprinkler system will 
kick in as soon as the Flame Warriors emerge."

	Right as Saturn brought down the Silence Glaive at 
him, the youma leader vanished in a burst of flame.  The 
last thing he said was, "Have fun with my little 
experiment!  Wait, did you say..."  He vanished before he 
could finish.

	"I should have been faster," Saturn said.

	The morgue caskets all began to shake.  Several 
charred bodies on tables burst into flames.  A few 
seconds later, the sprinkler system kicked in.  The ones 
on the tables began to shrink, but it was clear they 
wouldn't die fast enough to keep them from escaping the 
morgue.

	The Silence Glaive came down, slaying one of the 
ones on a table as the caskets slid open and many 
humanoid figures made of flame began to crawl out of 
them.  In the face of the onslaught from the sprinklers, 
most of them hesitated, while some began to plow forward, 
heedless of the danger.

	Over the next few seconds, the other sailors 
appeared in twos and threes, then paused to catch their 
breath.  "Geez, how many of these things...hey, it's 
raining!" Sailor Moon said.

	"These are in your court," Pluto said to Mercury and 
Neptune.  "Isis said water kills them."

	"For obvious reasons," Isis said, hiding under a 
table to get out of the rain.

	"Everyone back them up," Sailor Moon said.

	"SHINY AQUA ILLUSION!"

	"DEEP SUBMERGE!"

	Backed up by the power of all the others, water and 
ice rushed over the flame warriors, extinguishing them.  
Some dissolved away into ashes, while others returned to 
being wet corpses and fell over.  Sailor Moon and several 
of the others gagged at the sight.

	"We're not done yet," the Junior Pluto said.  "He 
claimed there's more of these bodies at another morgue.  
Hopefully, the sprinklers there will slow them down 
enough for us to find them before they escape."

	"Which one?" Mercury asked.

	"Don't know yet," the Junior Pluto said.

	Odysseus finished her communicator conversation.  
"Umino didn't know, but Daichi said the most likely 
morgue is the one at station 12, which is the next 
closest."

	The Junior Pluto smiled faintly, then said, "Let's 
go, then."

****************

	Everyone was exhausted after they took care of the 
second batch, so they went back to the Tomoe house to 
discuss what was going on and take advantage of having 
Tomoe-san handy to bring them snacks.  They quickly 
determined they didn't know why the Dark Kingdom had done 
that, other than apparently as an experiment.

	"The whole use of guns makes me nervous," Odysseus 
said.  "We're not bullet proof.  I mean, we beat these 
ones easily, but still..."

	Daichi, Umino, Pokota, and the cats came in.  "Well, 
we've got some news," Daichi said.

	"Sock it to us," Minako replied.

	"I was able to determine that the man responsible is 
named 'Pyroxenite', although I have no idea who he is," 
Augur said.  "He seems to have a fair amount of knowledge 
of modern technology, as well as magic.  He's not a very 
talented necromancer yet; I was able to predict the flame 
warriors would only have lasted a few days.  Lots of 
power, but not a lot of fine control.  That's about all 
the divinations yielded."

	"And traces of dimensional travel," Umino said.  
"You said it meant he probably went back to the Dark 
Kingdom afterwards."

	"Oh, right," Augur said.  "Although I wouldn't swear 
to that; not my area of expertise."

	"Well, we'd best keep an eye out for him in the 
future," Usagi said.  "But not much we can do about him 
now.  Keep an ear out for anything else like this, okay, 
Daichi?"

	He nodded.  "I will.  Dad usually knows all the cop 
stuff going on around town, and I can usually pry the 
goods out of him."

	"Then let's all go get some rest.  All that 
teleporting wears me out," Usagi said.

	"Getting out of bed wears you out most days," Rei 
replied.

	"Rei-chan!!!!"

*************

	Himeko and Minako slumped back into their room, cats 
and Pokota in tow.  "I feel like I could outsleep a dead 
horse," Minako said.

	"We really had to give them a lot of energy," Himeko 
replied, falling face down on her bed.  "And all that 
teleporting didn't help.  But it would have helped if 
Setsuna hadn't decided to run off half-assed without 
waiting for everyone else."

	"Well, there was the time pressure thing," Minako 
said.  "And I guess she's not used to working with more 
than a few people at once."  She staggered to her closet 
to find her pajamas.  "So you're going to go talisman 
hunting this weekend?"

	"We're going to the Library of the Star Kingdom to 
find clues to Naru's," Himeko replied.  "And I need 
to...check my exchange diary!"

	She got off the bed and ran over to her desk.  Erica 
had written back.  'I would be honored to assist you,' 
Erica said.  'I will drop by tomorrow around five your 
time and we can discuss it.'

	"Cool," Himeko said.  She wrote in the diary, 'See 
you then!'

	"Good news?"

	"One less problem in my world, I hope," she replied.  
"And now I will pass out."

***************

	Hikaru picked at her lunch.  "Manami-chan, can I ask 
you a question?"

	"Sure," Manami replied, pausing from stuffing rice 
and carrot strips into her mouth.  She followed Hikaru's 
gaze across the grounds to Tsunami to the benches near 
one of the fountains, where Daichi, Umino, Naru and 
Himeko were eating lunch together.  "Thinking about 
Daichi again?"

	"Sometimes I wonder if I'm just insane.  I just 
can't get him out of my head.  Even Mei'ou-san tells me 
I'm a fool.  In fact, she basically called me in to tell 
me that."  Hikaru picked at her squid with her 
chopsticks, forcing herself to not look at him.  
"Nonohara-san  has his heart.  I should give up.  I 
just...I've never really lost at anything before."

	Manami nodded.  "You are pretty stubborn."

	"Manami-chan!"  Hikaru frowned at her.  "Friends 
aren't supposed to say such things!"

	<Sometimes a friend has to be a surgeon,> Manami 
said.  <Inflicting a little pain to spare you worse.>  
Her voice had a slightly stilted quality to it, the sound 
of someone reciting, rather than speaking.  

	Hikaru blinked.  "Was that French or something?"

	Manami blinked.  Oops, I'm speaking in that language 
Obsidian spoke again.  Ever since I met him, I keep 
dreaming about some medieval place where everyone speaks 
that way, and now...  She sighed.  "Sorry, I shouldn't 
show off.  You've got to face facts.  Daichi isn't yours 
and he won't ever be.  Why don't you let me fix you up 
with someone to help you forget him?"

	Hikaru looked over at Daichi, then nodded, raising 
her fist.  "I can, I WILL get over him!"

	The bushes nearby rustled, and Minako stepped out.  
"You need a boyfriend?  I, the goddess of love, will find 
you one or die trying!"

	Manami blinked. "Were you spying on us from the 
bushes?"

	"No, I was keeping watch to make sure one of 
Jadeite's minions doesn't kidnap Hikaru to try to see 
what she know...no, wait, I didn't say that."  Minako 
began to back up, looking around.  

	Manami noticed another foot slide out of sight.  
"Minako, is this one of your weird games?"

	"Yes, yes, it's a scavenger hunt.  Our next item is 
to find Hikaru a boyfriend.  So what sort of guy do you 
like?"  Minako turned to Hikaru.

	"Tall, handsome, athletic, brave, cool.  Rich would 
be nice, but I'm already rich.  He ought to have a 
motorcycle and be good at soccer."

	"Oh, I know the perfect...no, wait, I'm already 
dating him.  And you can't have him!"  Minako struck a 
pose, then started to pace back and forth. "Aburatsubo-
kun is tall and handsome and...no, wait, he's gay.  
Morisato-san is handsome, and kind of...no, actually, 
he's short, and not athletic, and poor."  An endless 
gusher of names poured from her lips, but she shot each 
one down, often not even finishing her sentences.  

	Yuki ran up to her.  "There you are!  We were 
supposed to go have another practice session once you ate 
your lunch!  C'mon, or we won't have time to shoot at 
all." 

	"Hold on, I have to find Hikaru a new boyfriend!"  
Minako said.

	"Looking for a new guy?"  Yuki asked Hikaru.

	"It's time for me to get over Daichi," she said more 
firmly than she felt.

	"Good for you.  I think I know someone you'd like.  
I'll talk to you about it later, 'kay?"  She grabbed 
Minako by the arm.  "C'mon, goddess of love.  It's time 
for you to make war, not love."

	Sputtering, Minako was dragged away.

	So why was she spying on Hikaru, Manami asked 
herself.  Or was she spying on me?  Unless Himeko asked 
her to keep an eye on Hikaru...or maybe she really was 
worried about the enemies of the Sailors coming after 
Hikaru.  Not that Hikaru knew anything.  Yuki on the 
other hand...

	Manami frowned and watched them go.  Either Yuki was 
a genius of gathering information, or she had to be one 
of the sailors herself.  She does her hair like Sailor 
Jupiter, but she's too short.  Of course, no one would 
guess I'm Idol Angel Mami from looking at me either.  
They probably look completely different.  

	The bushes rustled.  The other person was still 
there, watching them.  Hikaru was staring at Daichi 
again; she wouldn't notice unless the bush attacked them.  
"She is right, you know, Hikaru.  You might be in 
danger."

	Hikaru turned back to Manami.  "Danger?"

	"From the enemies of the Senshi.  They may think you 
know things you don't."

	"They'd have tried something by now if they were 
going to," Hikaru said.  "And Yuki's a more obvious 
target than I am for something like that."

	"Yuki didn't get her name broadcast all over Tokyo 
on the news."

	Hikaru shivered a little.  "You really think I could 
be in danger?"

	<By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this 
way comes,> Manami said, this time in English.

	"What about your thumbs?  They're going somewhere?"  
Hikaru asked.

	Manami sighed.  Sometimes being good with languages 
just makes it easier for me to confuse people, she 
thought.

****************

	Erica hugged Himeko.  "How are you today?"

	"I'm fine," she said.  "Still a little worn out from 
all those flame warriors."

	Erica sat down on her bed, while she sat at her 
desk.  Pokota jumped up on Himeko's shoulder.  "Hi, 
Erica-sama!"

	Erica petted Cassandra.  "You're a lovely cat."

	"Thank you, your highness," Cassandra replied.  

	"So, do you think you can make me a talisman?"

	"Yes, but it won't be easy."  She got out a piece of 
paper.  "You'll have to collect all these things, then 
alert me with our exchange diary.  Then I can come take 
you to the Kingdom of Magic and we can make your 
talisman."

	Himeko looked at the list.  [Valued possession from 
childhood.  Valued possession from the present.  Liquid 
moonlight.  An amethyst.  A staff of lilandror wood.  A 
Europan star rose.  Three drops of blood from yourself.  
Three drops of blood from someone you love.  A gold 
pocket watch.  An hourglass.  A water clock]  "This looks 
like a list for a scavenger hunt."

	"It's what the divination spell told me I would 
need.  Collecting it will serve the quest portion of the 
creation spell.  I'm not even sure what some of that 
stuff is, though."  Erica made apologetic gestures.

	"Well, I'll get cracking on it."  She thought a 
moment.  "Should I ask Rei to loan you the Hammer of 
Vulcan?  I know it was used to make Talismans."

	"Hmm, that would probably help, although she'd have 
to use it herself.  But her assistance would be welcome."

	"Should this say 'European'?"  Himeko asked, 
pointing to one word.

	"As in Europa, the moon of...Jupiter?"

	"But Europa doesn't have any roses.  It's a desolate 
wasteland!"

	Erica cocked her head.  "That could be a problem."

	"You could say that."

**************

	Setsuna looked at the list.  "Well, this will give 
us a chance for you to work with the Gate of Time.  We'll 
have to travel through time for some of these items, 
since both of the plants are extinct.  As for liquid 
moonlight..."  She pursed her lips.  "I'll talk to 
Souichi-kun.  That sort of thing was never my specialty.  
If we have to, we can go to a Silver Millennium 
alchemist, but it would be best to avoid any unnecessary 
contact with people in the past.  The plants can be 
harvested without direct interaction."

	"But doesn't even that risk changing the past?"  
Naru asked.

	Setsuna shook her head.  "Some past events are 
crucial, but the time stream can absorb many minor 
changes with no major effects.  Butterfly effects are 
rare.  Plus, Himeko needs to learn how to judge the 
likely consequences of actions."  She turned to Himeko.  
"With practice, you'll become good at telling if some 
action is likely to have wide-ranging consequences or 
minor ones. This is a good way to learn."

	"I guess we'll be hitting the stores Friday, then," 
Himeko said.  "To get some of this stuff.  Although..."  
She looked at the list again.  Treasured 
possessions...this could be hard.  What if I pick 
something not treasured enough?  And what do I still 
have?  "This is going to take some thought.  What did you 
have to put into making your talisman, Setsuna?"

	Setsuna frowned.  "Mine was...it was made by Vulcan 
without my participation.  I see your friend Erica seems 
to be taking more of a sympathetic magic approach.  Are 
you sure she's up to this?"

	"She's made lots of magic items," Himeko fired back.  
"Which worked pretty well.  I trust her to do this."

	They stared at each other while Naru watched them 
nervously, then Setsuna softened.  "It is your decision.  
I pray she is up to the challenge.  Tomorrow evening, the 
three of us will go to the past and collect the things 
which cannot be found in this time so you can give them 
to Erica to work on while we're at to the Library of the 
Zodiac this weekend."

	"Okay."

*************

	Clark gathered his wits for the eighth time.  This 
time, I really am going to drive over to her apartment 
and talk to her about this, he thought.  There's no 
reason for me to be so rattled.  No reason at all except 
for my entire view of the universe plunging off a cliff 
while on fire and di...  He shook his head.  Let's not go 
round the mulberry bush again.

	The doorbell rang, so he got up and went to it.  
"Come in," he said as he opened the door.

	A tall woman, her auburn hair done up into a bun and 
wrapped round with a scarf, wearing sunglasses, a navy 
blue suit-dress, and dark blue pumps stood in the 
doorway.  She carried a briefcase clenched by her 
slightly twitching right hand.  "Hello, Maguson-san," she 
said, then quickly darted in, closing the door behind 
her.  When he heard her voice, he realized it was Makoto.

	She took off the glasses and the scarf, opened the 
briefcase, and put them in.  "So, how was my disguise?"

	"Very good," he said, locking the door.  "Would 
you...like some tea?"

	"Yes, I would," she said.  

	She followed him to the kitchen, looking around his 
living room, which was full of miscellaneous knicknacks 
he had acquired, along with a long blue couch, a coffee 
table, a reclining chair, and a tv/vcr up on top of a 
mostly empty video cabinet.  Quietus hung up on the wall 
behind the couch.

	The kitchen was mostly empty; he hadn't acquired 
much in the way of utensils as of yet, she could tell.  
I'll have to fix that, she thought.  Clark went to the 
refrigerator and got out a pitcher, then paused.  "Ever 
had iced tea?"

	"No," Makoto said, "But I'm always willing to try 
something new."

	He poured two glasses, passing one to her, then got 
out a bag of potato chips and poured some into a large 
bowl, largely operating on host autopilot.  They went out 
to the living room, and then he sat down on the couch, 
putting the bowl down on the table.  She sat down next to 
him, then leaned over and kissed him.

	He wasn't sure how long that lasted, but eventually 
his conscience defeated his pleasure in hard fought 
mental combat and made him break it off.  The fact that 
he'd spilled his tea on the floor while kissing helped.  
"Makoto, we need to talk," he said.
	
	She lay on top of him, smiling.  "I'm listening."

	"Makoto, if Yamamoto-san learns about this, I'll 
lose my job."  

	"So don't tell him," she said, grinning.

	He twitched.  "These sort of things get out, sooner 
or later.  And you know how strict Yamamoto-san is."

	She sighed, turning her head to one side to lay her 
cheek upon his shoulder.  "I know.  That's why I 
disguised myself and haven't said or done anything in 
school.  I just...I'm sorry I was so rude to you when you 
came to see me before...everything.  I was a mess, and 
somehow I couldn't talk about it.  I'm not sure why.  It 
was like some kind of mental wall."

	"You haven't had any more nightmares, have you?" he 
asked.

	"No, I've been fine," she replied, running a finger 
along the edge of his jaw.  "Just some very pleasant 
dreams.  And having Raiden around the house is very nice; 
I don't get lonely at night like I used to.  Although..."  
she blushed.  "No, I know I can't ask for that, or even 
dream of it."  She sighed. "So what are we going to do?"

	"We have to wait until you graduate," he said.  "And 
be very careful.  I know I must sound selfish, but I need 
this job, and something like this could destroy my career 
as a teacher; in this day and age, that sort of thing 
follows you everywhere.  I know it isn't reasonable of me 
to expect you to wait, but..."

	She put a finger to his lips, and he felt a nervous 
thrill, remembering what had come next the last time 
she'd done that.  "I understand.  It won't be easy for 
me, but I can do it.  Clark and Makoto will have to wait, 
but at least when we're Sailor Jupiter and...hmm, you're 
going to need a good action name."

	"Action...oh," he said, then laughed.  "So what 
exactly...is all this?  I remember things from the past, 
but I don't really understand it all."

	"Well, it's a long story, but we have plenty of 
time," she said.  "It all started long ago in the Moon 
Kingdom..."

***********

	"Ami is here to see you," Hotaru said to Setsuna, 
who was relaxing on the back porch with a novel she'd 
been meaning to read for weeks, but had never quite been 
able to find the time.

	Setsuna nodded and put the book aside.  "Bring her 
on out.  And can you get us some tea, Hotaru-chan?"

	"Sure," Hotaru said.  She vanished into the house, 
and soon returned with a pitcher of tea, two glasses, and 
Ami.

	Ami sat down in another one of the deck chairs, 
while Hotaru poured them two glasses of tea and went back 
inside.  "I need to ask you about some things," Ami said.

	Setsuna nodded as she sipped her tea.

	"You know about Noriko, right?"

	"Yes.  Udaigaku-san is quite ingenious.  I take it 
that's what you were evading talking about when you 
reported on your droid battle."

	Ami looked embarrassed.  "Yes."

	"I take it she's asked you not to tell anyone?"

	"She'd like to help with our fighting, but at the 
same time, she doesn't really want more people to know 
she's a robot."  Ami picked her tea and tried it, then 
pursed her lips; it was a little too bitter.

	"Not a blend to your liking?" Setsuna asked, putting 
down her cup.

	"Not really."

	"Tea is quite subjective," Setsuna said, turning in 
her chair to face Ami more directly.  "As to Noriko, best 
to let her simply keep as normal a life as she can.  If 
we grow desperate, we can ask her for help, but her 
destiny, for the most part, lies in other directions."

	"Will she be able to have a normal life?"

	"Depends on whether you define politics as a normal 
life," Setsuna said, smiling.  She took another sip of 
tea.  "She is a forerunner of things to come, and when 
those things come to be more accepted, she will be in the 
brunt of the problems and solutions which result.  
Perhaps she may even be mayor of Tokyo one day.  But that 
is a problem for another time."

	A lone dog barking and cats yowling suddenly erupted 
through the house, and Ami winced.  "I'll go get Hermes," 
she said.

	The sliding door opened, and Hermes sprinted out, 
having assumed his human form--in his case more of a 
dwarf form--then slammed the glass door in the face of Go 
and Isis, who slammed into the glass, looking fairly 
foolish.  They glared at him, then slinked off.

	He resumed his miniature collie form.  "Never, ever, 
have a theological debate with cats."

	"Hermes..." Ami said warningly.

	"Anyway, I needed to ask some advice of you, Pluto.  
I've been trying to teach Mercury to do her super attack 
and assume her super form, but we've been having 
problems," Hermes said, plopping down at the foot of her 
deck chair.  "I can't figure out why, because she's got 
her talisman, and she's got the experience.  But she 
can't always transform to super mode, and her Mercury 
Aqua Rhapsodies keep coming out no stronger than her 
Shine Aqua Illusions.  Go and Uranus seem to be having 
the same problem, but Go's too stubborn to tell anyone."

	"Well, we've all traditionally focused more on 
refining our original attacks than on learning new attack 
powers," Setsuna said, "So it's probably just going to 
take time for them.  If it drags on too long, I might 
poke my nose in, but I think it best to wait until they 
come to me.  But as for you, Ami, I have a theory."

	"Yes?" she asked.

	"You've been struggling with Athena quite a bit of 
late, correct?"

	Ami nodded.  "She comes, and she goes.  Right now 
I'm not hearing her."

	"Would she really have anything different to say 
about this?  Than you?"

	"Umm...I guess not.  Did she have trouble with her 
powers?  Or are you thinking she's having something to do 
with my problem?"  Ami put her tea down.

	"For each of you, part of preparing yourself for the 
talisman quest was getting more in touch with what your 
old self was like.  Until you reach the point where you 
surpass your old selves, your growth in power will be 
linked to a greater or lesser extent to the recovery of 
your memories of what you were like the last time you 
wielded those powers."  Setsuna paused to take another 
sip of tea.  

"For most of us, this is not a problem.  Haruka and 
Michiru are both comfortable with what they were, and 
while Usagi struggles at times with her heritage, she has 
come to accept it.  So far as I can tell, Makoto and 
Minako seem at peace with their pasts.  Rei seems to have 
some problems with Aurora, but deep down, Aurora and Rei 
are much the same; the only difference is where they put 
their faith.  Aurora was as much a true believer as Rei.  
But for you, it's different."

Ami stared down at Hermes, then at her cup of tea.  
She frowned at it.  "She wasn't like me at all."

"So long as you deny her, you will only make her 
stronger, for she holds every part of yourself you wish 
to deny.  Athena is dead; there is only Mizuno Ami--but 
Athena is part of Mizuno Ami.  If there was not a part of 
you that wanted to be wild and free, you would not put 
her voice on those impulses, in order to deny any 
responsibility for them."  Setsuna's voice was firm.

"What, you're saying I'm crazy?" Ami demanded, half 
angry and half-scared.

"Everyone talks to themselves; that's perfectly 
normal.  But when you try to deny it's you that answers 
back, it's not good for you.  And since Athena is tied to 
the same set of memories your powers are tied to, your 
fear of becoming her is holding you back from expanding 
your abilities."  Setsuna gazed into her tea, then 
plucked out a leaf and tossed it off the porch.  "To grow 
in your powers, you must open yourself to your memories 
of their use.  But that also opens you to other memories 
of her. Am I wrong?"

Ami sighed and nodded.  "The first time I tried to 
use Mercury Aqua Rhapsody, I got a sudden flash of a time 
she'd used it to save someone, and then they..."  She 
shook her head.  "It wasn't something I needed to be 
fantasizing about in the middle of a fight."

Hermes coughed.  "You didn't tell me about that!"

"And then Athena lectured me for being self-
righteous.  I'm just sick of her, Setsuna."

	"Being 'sick' of her won't help.  You have to 
understand her," Setsuna said.  "And you have to 
understand yourself to do that.  Athena had the same 
problem as you when she was young--her parents fought 
constantly, so she dealt with it by losing herself in 
others.  You dealt with it by withdrawing into your 
books.  She gave herself to her desires in order to 
forget her pain, while you tried to deny your desires 
existed."  Setsuna's voice was coolly analytical; Ami 
felt like a butterfly pinned to a card as someone 
carefully wrote down her scientific name and habitat.  

	"I can appreciate why you did what you did; I did 
the same thing myself.  Not at first, but when I 
discovered all the ways the world could hurt, the way 
loving hurt when love faded or when people died, I tried 
to seal myself off."  The coolness of Setsuna's voice 
faded, replaced by sorrow.  "I have buried many people I 
cared about. I had to stand by while evil was done, in 
order to prevent worse evils.  So I tried to seal off my 
emotions, to treat no one and nothing as dear, to avoid 
life's pleasures to avoid the pain, in order to better do 
my duty. It was necessary.  It was horrible."  

"A few months ago, I would have given you different 
advice."  She twirled the ring she now wore round her 
finger.  "But I am coming to see some things differently.  
It is not easy for me...it will not be easy for you.  If 
you try to repress all your desires, you will eventually 
break, or at best live a life without joy.  When you hear 
Athena urging you to do something, it's because part of 
you wants to do it."

"But the things she tries to make me do are..." Ami 
began.

"Things that anyone your age thinks about a lot.  
It's part of growing up," Setsuna said.  "That's not to 
say everything you'll feel the impulse to do is wise, 
mind you.  When you were Athena, you were far too 
profligate with...your favors, you were often too lazy to 
study, and you had less of a sense of responsibility than 
a fair number of babies.  I'm not telling you to run 
wild.  But a lot of what may scare you about Athena is 
perfectly good for you.  I always...admired her ability 
to have fun, to relax, to make people feel good about 
themselves by giving them affection.  When she was at her 
best, she did for people's souls and self-esteem what you 
hope to do for their bodies as a doctor; she could be a 
healer.  At her best.  But I think you already know about 
her worst."

Ami sighed and nodded.  "I read her diary."

"Athena spent her life looking for love, and when 
she found it, he turned evil and killed her.  I'm not 
surprised you were shy in this life after an experience 
like that."

Ami winced.  "You put it so bluntly."

Setsuna finished off her glass of tea.  "But that's 
just another defense against the pain and the fear of 
loneliness.  It's hard to steer a middle course between 
being too shy and being too..."  She paused, not sure of 
the best word.

"Too quick to jump into relationships?" Hermes 
offered.

"Thank you, Hermes," she replied.  "I'm sure you've 
thought about sex with Ryo, but you're holding back 
because you're afraid of becoming like Athena."

Ami blushed.  "I have had sex with him."  She 
squirmed and stared off at the garden, unable to meet 
Setsuna's gaze.  A memory of it tried to surface, but she 
tamped it down.  

{Don't pretend you didn't like it,} Athena said.

Ami jumped.  [Have you been listening?]

{How could I not?}  Athena replied.

Setsuna blinked, then continued, "Did it turn you 
instantly into an insatiable love machine?"

Hermes blinked.

Ami turned and stared at her.

"Well, did it?"

"Well, no.  That's just a strange way of putting 
it," Ami said.

"Isn't that what you think of Athena as?"  Setsuna's 
face presented her usual mask of calm, making it hard for 
Ami to try to read what Setsuna expected as a reply.

{There's nothing wrong with enjoying sex.  If it was 
supposed to make you miserable, it would feel bad,} 
Athena said to Ami.  {And there was far more to me than 
sex, thank you.  I liked to write poetry and ride and 
sing...well, I didn't sing very well.  And I was good at 
alchemy and magical engineering as well.}  She sounded 
irritated.

"I...uh..."  Ami wanted to run away and not have to 
deal with this, but she couldn't bring herself to 
humiliate herself by doing it.  "I'm scared."  She said 
very faintly.  "I don't want to lose myself in her.  And 
sometimes I'm scared of how I feel around men.  I'll just 
think about kissing some guy or have a daydream that I 
shouldn't, or..."  She squeezed up into something 
approximating a ball.

"The way to deal with these feelings is to not feel 
guilty for having them; just don't act on the ones you 
think are stupid or wrong.  But at the same time, you 
have to admit to yourself what you want.  With time, your 
body will sort itself out, and you'll have an easier time 
of it.  But you can't just hold them all in, or you'll 
drive yourself nuts.  Sometimes, it IS good to indulge 
yourself."  She turned to Hermes.  "Can you take the tea 
in and bring us some lemonade?  And bring Souichi-kun?"

They traded a look, and he nodded and headed into 
the house.  Seconds later, the yowling and barking began 
again.  Setsuna sighed.  "Anyway, in order to 'be free of 
Athena', you're going to have to listen to what she tells 
you.  Not do it, necessarily, but you shouldn't simply 
reject anything because she tells it to you.  Because 
it's a part of you trying to tell another part of you 
something. There's no magic whammy I can give you to fix 
this problem--it would only make matters worse, probably.  
What I recommend is that when you feel like her presence 
is too strong, you ask yourself what you're afraid of and 
why.  Sometimes, it may be wise to be afraid.  But 
sometimes, you should listen.  She's given you good 
advice at times, hasn't she?"

Ami nodded.  "She knows a lot about our powers and 
other things."  

"Because she's your memories of those things; you've 
assigned them to her.  Also, I recommend finding some 
ways to...release your tensions.  Don't be afraid to tell 
your boyfriend what you want."

Ami blushed at that.

"And just remember, your feelings can't MAKE you do 
anything.  It's up to you to decide if you act on them."

Tomoe-san came out on the deck.  "Hermes said you 
wanted me?"

Setsuna stood up, embraced him, and kissed him 
passionately.  He went stiff for a few seconds from 
shock, then relaxed.  Then again to his shock, she let go 
and sat back down.  "You ever think about doing that when 
you see Ryo?"

I've wandered into something, Tomoe-san thought.

Ami finished staring in shock.  "Sometimes."

"The next time you think about it, do it.  It'll 
help."

"You really think so?"  I can't believe I'm having 
this conversation, Ami thought.

"Should I ask what's going on?" Tomoe-san asked.

"Can you get us some lemonade, dear?  Hermes seems 
to have gotten distracted playing with Go and Isis."  
Setsuna flashed him a bright smile.

"You should be more subtle, dear," he said, then 
leaned down and kissed the top of her head.  "I'll be 
right back."  He went back inside.  

"Some thoughts are just because the mind wanders.  
But if thoughts recur, its because we want something 
we're not getting.  If it's something okay to get, then 
it's a good idea to get it," Setsuna said.  "There may be 
a few rare occasions where Athena comes out because 
something surfaces from the past that triggers passions 
or fears you've long forgotten, but mostly it's just 
because you're feeling pointlessly guilty over perfectly 
healthy feelings."

"Like when Dia tried to seduce me, and Athena came 
out and..."  Ami tried to calm herself.  "I lost control 
completely."

Setsuna frowned.  "Hmm.  Athena may have some 
unfinished business that I am not aware of.  Or it may 
have been Elven magic at work."

"Or it may shoot your theory to pieces," Ami said.

Setsuna laughed very faintly.  "Now who is being 
blunt?  In the end, you are the mistress of your destiny, 
Ami.  Did Athena really take control of you?  Did she 
make you do anything?"

"She...I felt...I wanted her.  But I don't like 
women like that, and I hardly knew her!"  Ami squirmed, 
uncomfortable again.

"Elves have glamor.  You would likely have felt 
infatuated with her even if you had never heard of 
Athena, once she set her sights on seducing you.  Has 
anyone else besides the elf ever made you feel so 
strongly in danger of losing control to Athena?"  Setsuna 
asked.

"No," Ami said after a little thought.

"Well, now you know what glamour is like.  As I 
discovered in my first encounter with Elves."  For a 
moment, she glanced away at the garden, then turned her 
gaze back to Ami.  "We can never become exactly what we 
once were in the past, whether we fear that or long for 
it.  Athena cannot control you unless you shut away 
everything she represents for you so firmly that 
eventually you explode.  And I think you have more common 
sense than that.  You have to control your impulses, but 
you also have to acknowledge they're yours, and 
sometimes, you just might enjoy acting on the better 
ones."

Ami nodded.  "I..."  She paused and stared at the 
ground for a few seconds, then looked up.  "Do you think 
I'll be able to do my super attack soon?" 

"To one who has lived to my age, soon is a relative 
term."

"Days?  Weeks?  Months?"

"That is not set in stone.  But the sooner you come 
to terms with yourself, the sooner you'll be able to move 
on to the next stage of your powers.  Just keep working 
on it."

Ami nodded.  "I will."

Hotaru came out with the lemonade, Hermes tagging 
along after her.  "You shouldn't tease Isis, Hermes," 
Hotaru said.

"She tried to bite me!"

"It's how she shows affection, I think," Hotaru 
replied.  "Maybe she likes you."

Hermes visibly boggled at the thought.

***********

	Himeko sat on her bed and stared at all her various 
possessions, trying to decide what would be appropriate 
to use for the talisman.  An idea struck her, and she got 
up and went to the closet, getting out the soccer ball 
that was sitting on top of her shoes.  Daichi had given 
it to her for her sixteenth birthday.  

	She began to kick it around the room, smiling at 
various memories that came back to her, like the time 
Hikaru had believed she had a 'magic soccer kick', thanks 
to two meddling fox faeries from the Kingdom of Magic.  
Giving me something like this was so utterly Daichi-like, 
she thought.  He didn't understand why I hit him in the 
head with it after I unwrapped it.  

	As she kicked it about the room, she imagined she 
was playing soccer with Daichi; she'd done that once, and 
he'd kicked her butt.  She'd been totally surprised.  
Most guys would hold back on their girlfriends, but not 
Daichi.  After she got over the shock, she'd appreciated 
it.  Daichi loved soccer, so to him, giving a soccer ball 
was giving something special.  At least she hoped that 
was what he was thinking.

	Yes, this will be my treasured possession of the 
present, she thought.  But what about the past?  She'd 
thrown out or given away a lot of her old possessions.  
Only Pokota was really important to her these days of her 
old possessions, but she couldn't sacrifice him like 
that.  She flopped down on her bed.  "I don't know what 
to do, Pokota."

	He woke up from his nap.  "What?"

	"I don't have much in the way of really treasured 
old possessions.  I mean, I have a lot of my old dolls, 
but..."

	"For the talisman?" he said.

	She nodded.

	"How about the ribbon memento Erica gave you in 
place of the changing ribbon after she had to take it 
back at the end of the testing period?"  Pokota asked.  
"Or maybe the globe keychain?"

	"Ooh, the globe would be good," she said.  "What do 
you think, Cassandra?"

	"I don't know enough about your past to tell you, 
but I'd suggest the ribbon memento.  It's symbolic of 
your first brush with magic, which fits with this."

	Himeko nodded.  "Good.  Now, I guess I ought to do 
my homework.  Stupid history class."

	Cassandra and Pokota both began to laugh.

	"This would be a lot easier if I could just go time 
travel and watch, but I can't do that yet.  Hmm, this 
should make finals a lot easier..."

	"Abusing your powers to get As is bad," Cassandra 
said firmly.

	"Hime-chan has a lot of experience with abusing her 
powers," Pokota said.  "Like the time she turned into her 
principal to try to delay the school festival."

	"Hey, it was important!"

	They set to bickering, while Cassandra listened, 
learned, and laughed.

***********

	Naru read over the poem and sighed.  Her boyfriend 
was brilliant at most subjects, but Japanese language and 
literature generally killed him.  He couldn't write 
poetry to save his life. 'Big blue sky is up/Dark green 
grass is down below/This is a haiku'  "Well, you did 
follow the format," she said.  "But this..."  She tried 
to think of a kind, loving way to hint and failed.  "It's 
wretched."

	He winced.  "But I...how can you say anything 
meaningful with so little space?"

	"You have to make allusions to other things."

	"Like 'Ronald is a clown/I see him on my new TV/he 
sells hamburgers'?"

	"Uh, sort of," she said.

	"I just can't see the point."

	"Neither can I, but the teacher will crucify you 
again."  She put a hand on his shoulder.  "I don't want 
to be mean, but..."

	"I'm awful at poems.  I know."  He glanced over at 
his bookbag.  "Oh, I have something for you.  I did a 
little digging, and I found twelve murders in the last 
few months that our new enemy may have had something to 
do with.  It may just be a coincidence, but they all 
involved various kinds of military style weaponry."  He 
pulled out the list and passed it to her.  "No real 
pattern in who he killed, except for the four civil 
servants in the department of Health and Welfare."

	"Thanks, Gurio-kun," she said.  "We'll have to look 
into this.  If we can find time."  She sighed.  "Being a 
sailor makes keeping up with homework hard."

	He nodded.  "I can't help you with the fighting 
part, but I'll do my best to help you with the homework 
and with gathering information."

	She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.  "Thanks."

	He blushed.  "I just wish I could protect you 
myself."

	You died the last time you tried that, she thought 
guiltily.  "Don't feel bad about it.  We all have 
different things we're good at.  I could never be as good 
at science as you are."

	"You can be good at anything, if you put your mind 
to it, Naru-chan."

	"Then let's see you put your mind to this poetry."

	He groaned.  "Do I have to?"

	"I can't write it for you, so unless you want 
another D from Ashikaga-sensei..."

	He picked up his pen, then said, "But she's so 
boring she falls asleep during her own lectures.  She 
hasn't taught us anything.  She just gives out 
assignments, rambles on, and gives people Ds."

	"She gave me a B, and I don't like her either.  Just 
do your best, Gurio-kun."

	After a moment of silence, he stood up and lifted 
his pen to the skies.  "I, Umino Gurio, do swear I will 
defeat Ashikaga-sensei in poetry combat!"

	Augur, who had been drowsing on Naru's bed, snorted.  
"Dream on."  Umino visibly wilted.

	"Augur!" Naru snapped.  "Don't be mean."

	He stood up and stretched.  "Just being honest.  
Better to accept your D and expend your energies where 
they're useful, getting an A+ in your science classes, or 
even helping Naru with her homework so she passes math."

	"I'm not failing math!" she protested.  "A C is not 
failure."

	"It's not good either, but you could do better with 
help.  But the only way you could help with his poem 
would be to write it for him."  Augur shrugged.  "Or we 
could go work on your powers some more, which is 
something else you might want to do, since we are going 
to the Library of the Star Kingdom, which will likely be 
dangerous."

	Naru nodded.  "Good point.  Once we finish our 
homework, I'll go practice with you, Augur."

	He began to lick his paws.  In between licks, he 
said, "Good.  Big things are coming, and you'll need to 
be ready for them."
	
***********
	
	Pyroxenite fired another rocket down the range, but 
watching the crystal pillar be blown to bits brought him 
no satisfaction.  He wanted to destroy the Senshi for 
meddling with his business.  How had they found out?  It 
had been supposed to look like the sort of mundane crime 
he knew they generally ignored.  Perhaps I simply killed 
too many people at once, he thought.  That might be a 
more rare event than he had thought from studying their 
'films'.  Buildings blew up all the time in those, but 
perhaps the storytellers had been bragging.

	Hematite said, "Well, I see you've prevented that 
pillar menacing our fair kingdom."

	Pyroxenite jumped.  "Don't EVER sneak up on me!"

	"As you like.  I understand you've had some trouble 
with the Sailor Senshi of late."

	"Yes!  I want to kill the bastards!  It took forever 
to set that experiment up, and now I know if I do it 
again, they'll just stick their noses in.  Have you made 
any progress on trying to find them?"

	"There is a woman named Hibino Hikaru who filmed 
them.  Perhaps she would know more.  Would you like first 
crack at her?"

	"Yes!  I'll rip their hiding place from her, then 
force them to eat her HEAD!"  Pyroxenite stopped and 
shook his head.  "Sorry.  I'm just worked up about this."

	"Of course you are.  If you find out where they're 
hiding, please let me know.  I've been watching her, but 
haven't learned anything.  I think perhaps a more direct 
approach would be best."

	"Of course," Pyroxenite replied.  "It's always the 
best.  I was wondering when you'd figure that out.  Where 
do I find her?"

	"Tsunami High School."

	Pyroxenite nodded.  "Time to do some scouting then," 
he said.  "Thank you, Hematite."

	"Glad to be of service."

	Pyroxenite vanished in a puff of flame.  Hematite 
turned to Crysalite, his blue-haired assistant.  "The 
watchers are in place?"

	"Yes," Crysalite replied.

	"Good.  Everything should go according to plan."

***********

	"How did it go?" Raiden asked much later when Makoto 
got home.

	"It went okay, but it could have gone better," she 
said.  "This isn't going to be easy for me.  I'm not good 
at hiding my affection."  She sat down on her couch.  "I 
mean, I know why we have to do it, but I don't like it."

	Raiden jumped up onto the couch, then clambered onto 
her lap.  She started to pet him, and he purred.  "It's 
how it has to be.  Two and a half years won't be too 
long."

	"It feels like it.  Have you ever been in love, 
Raiden?"

	"I still have the scars," Raiden said.

	Makoto winced.  "It went really badly?"

	"She tried to bite my tail off."

	Makoto laughed, then said, "I shouldn't laugh at you 
for that."

	"The important thing is that he didn't say it was 
impossible.  And you'll get to be more open with each 
other when you're your other selves," Raiden replied.  
"And in dreams."

	"I hope I dream a lot," she said, rubbing Raiden's 
belly.  "It just makes me feel jealous of Usagi and 
Mamoru.  Clark's hardly any older than Mamoru, but she 
can date him, and I'm gonna have to hide it."

	"Well, at least you don't have hostile parents 
hanging over your head.  I feel sorry for Luna; her 
mother hates Artemis.  He's a good guy.  I just don't 
understand why Queen Hecate can't see that."

	"Well, I don't really know her very well," Makoto 
said, not sure how to respond to that.

	"She worries too much about good bloodlines instead 
of whether someone is a decent cat," Raiden said.  
"Although Augur is a pretty decent guy."

	"Eh?"

	"Oh, right, you wouldn't know.  I think Queen Hecate 
has him sort of picked out to be Luna's husband.  He's 
studied the Star Kingdom's lore, and he's quite smart.  
He can be a little snooty at times, but not half so bad 
as the Queen.  She's a good Queen, she is, but not a very 
good mother."  He gave a cat shrug. "You'd better get to 
bed.  It's getting late, and you've got school tomorrow."

	"I'm too nervous to sleep," she said, but she got up 
anyway.  "I just...I haven't felt this way since Gendo 
dumped me.  It's like...I feel like this sometimes when 
I'm Sailor Jupiter.  I just want to go to the rooftop and 
shout about being in love."  

	"Shout into your pillow," he said, curling up where 
she'd been sitting.  "Goodnight, Makoto."

	"G'night, Raiden."

*************

	Two Plutos and the only Odysseus stood in the 
backyard of the Tomoe house.  The senior Pluto lifted her 
staff and gestured, and the door of time appeared before 
them.  They stepped through it into the time tunnel, an 
endless gray hallway shrouded in mist.  Pluto handed her 
staff to the junior Pluto.  "Now, take us to the right 
time."

	"When are we going to?"

	"The moon, Dream City, circa 930 SM."

	The junior Pluto nodded and tried to fix the date in 
her mind as the senior Pluto had taught her.  She held up 
the time staff, and felt the energy flow through it.  She 
felt a slight tug, and then the door began to open.  "It 
worked!"

	"Very good," Pluto said.  "You did well.  Let's go."  

	They stepped through the gate, passing out of 
swirling mists into a beautiful marble building that was 
in the process of shaking, developing large cracks 
through the floor, and falling over amidst clouds of dust 
and flame and a lot of screaming.  A tall, thin boy in 
blue and green livery ran past them screaming.  

	The cause of his screams soon came into sight, a 
three foot long rat with a human-like face and stubby bat 
wings.  For a moment, Odysseus and the Junior Pluto 
simply stared at it, and it at them.  Then it lept for 
the Junior Pluto's throat.  She batted it aside with the 
Staff of Time.

	"Star Bolt!"  A lance of white hot light erupted 
from Odysseus' fingertips, vaporizing the creature.  
"What's going on here?"

	The junior Pluto paused and held the Time Staff, 
concentrating, then slapped her forehead.  "We went to 
the wrong place!  We're on Odysseus, in the year 984 of 
the Silver Millennium."

	Odysseus' eyes widened.  "But that's the year it 
was...destroyed."

	The junior Pluto turned to the senior Pluto, only to 
see she wasn't there.  "What the...hey, where did she 
go?"

	"Maybe the Gate closed in her face.  She needs the 
staff to open it, right?"

	"You're right.  I'd better reopen it.  We have to 
get out of here!"  The junior Pluto closed her eyes and 
began to concentrate.  The Gate swum into existence as a 
fresh crack opened in the floor and black smokey tendrils 
reached up through it like fingers, beginning to pull it 
open wider.

	A small, terrified child ran into the room, then saw 
the tendrils.  "Nooooooo!!!!!" he shouted, and turned to 
run.  He had short red hair and dark brown eyes; he was 
dressed in what were clearly silk pajamas.

	A name swum into Odysseus' mind.  "Demetrius!"  

	In seeming slow motion, the tendrils reached for the 
boy, who blundered into a pillar.  In that instant, 
Odysseus launched herself over the crack; she couldn't 
let her brother die.

	He got up just in time to be grabbed by a tendril.  
"SOLAR FLARE!"  Odysseus shouted, firing the burst of 
light into the crack as she leaped over it.  The tendrils 
dissipated, but by the time she landed by the terrified 
boy, the smoke was rising up again.  

	The junior Pluto felt a jolt up her spine, and 
didn't know exactly what it was for a few seconds.  Her 
time vision fuzzed slightly, then cleared, just in time 
to give her a warning.  "There's another tendril coming 
from a crack down the hallway!"

	Odysseus spun and fired another Solar Flare, 
dissipating it.  "Demetrius, why are you running around 
by yourself?"

	"One of the rat things ate Uncle Antigonus!" he 
replied.  "Who are you?  You sound like my big sister, 
but you don't look like her."

	"I'm Sailor Odysseus, and this is Sailor Pluto," 
Odysseus said.

	"She's not Sailor Pluto!  She's a fake!" the child 
announced.

	"dead scream," the junior Pluto said, firing a blast 
down the crack again.  The bad feeling was getting worse.  
Something is very wrong, she thought.  But I don't know 
what.  "We'd best get away from this crack; we can't keep 
blasting whatever is down there forever."

	"Okay, she's a good fake," the kid said.  "But Pluto 
is tall with green hair.  She's not ugly, short, and 
blond."

	"Ugly?  You're calling me UGLY?" the Junior Pluto 
frothed.  "You've got a big nose yourself, kid!"

	"Ugly!"

	"Brat!"

	"Umm, we'd better get going like you said," Odysseus 
said.  She picked up Demetrius.  "Let's see, this looks 
like the hallway near our bedrooms, so Mother and 
Father's chambers are that way."  She took off running, 
with the junior Pluto running after her.

	"Where are we going?  We need to get back to Pluto!" 
the junior Pluto said.

	"First we have to get my brother to safety," 
Odysseus said.

	She couldn't argue with that, but her gut was 
telling her this was a mistake.  Well, if it's a mistake, 
it's too late to undo it, the junior Pluto thought.  I 
can't just leave him to die.  "Is there anywhere safe in 
this place?  Doesn't the whole planet get destroyed?"

	Odysseus stopped running.  "The ethership port.  We 
have to get there."

	"Do you remember how to get there?"

	"Yes.  And the garden's on the way there.  Maybe we 
can find some of what we came for."

	The junior Pluto laughed.  "Maybe the Gate planned 
that.  Setsuna told me it sometimes has a mind of its 
own."

	"Who's Setsuna?" Demetrius asked.

	"The senior Pluto.  I'm her apprentice."

	"Oh.  Why isn't she here?"

	"I have no idea," the junior Pluto said.

	"Why hasn't anyone sent us help?" he asked 
desperately.  "Do they not like us?"

	Odysseus patted his head as she started running 
again.  "We're here to help."

	They sprinted down a staircase past three corpses, 
then round a corner into one of the great halls, which 
was full of smoke and flashes of light.  Four rat things 
leapt at them, only to be turned into more smoke by 
another dead scream.  "At least they're flimsy," the 
junior Pluto said.

	Then four six foot long version of the rats lunged 
out of the smoke.  One was charred on one side.  Odysseus 
and the junior Pluto both leaped to the side, up onto 
some debris, and the creatures turned to attack.

	Then a tall man blond man, highly muscled, dressed 
in a simple golden tunic and brown leggings, strode out 
of the smoke and grabbed one of the rat things by its 
hind legs.  He swung it as club into a second one, and 
the creatures' spines snapped loudly.  The other two 
turned on him, only to be nailed by a star bolt and a 
dead scream which wounded both of them.  The man hefted 
what had once been a statue and pounded both of them flat 
with the pedestal.  "I still can't figure out why a smoke 
creature is spawning these damnable rat t...Pluto?"  He 
stared at the junior Pluto and rubbed his eyes.  "You 
shrank, cut your hair, and dyed it?"

	The junior Pluto rapped the ground with her staff in 
irritation.  "No, you're going blind.  Who are you?"

	"I am Leo of the Zodiac," he said.  "We're trying to 
evacuate as many people as possible.  Unfortunately, the 
idiots that rule this country decided to ignore our 
warnings, which means that probably almost everyone will 
die horribly."  He idly broke the head off the statue, 
then punted the head across the room.  "So much for the 
wisdom of the Star Kingdom."

	"If you hadn't been trying to subvert the 
government, it wouldn't have been necessary to exile 
you!" Odysseus shouted out in irritation.  "And if you 
knew it was coming, you should have done more!"

	"We were in exile!  There was nothing we COULD do!  
Everyone we told thought it was a trick!"  He clenched 
his fists.  "Technically, we could all be executed for 
treason for coming back and trying to help!  I don't have 
to justify myself to..."  Pausing, he rubbed his eyes 
again.  "Who are you?"

	"Yeah, who are you?  You sound sorta like big 
sister, but you're too old," Demetrius said.

	"I'm..." she began.

	Hoofbeats rang through the smoke, and from it 
emerged the White Knight, much to the surprise of 
everyone present but Demetrius.  "Demetrius, there you 
are," he said. "I'll take you to the royal yacht.  
Everyone else is waiting for..."  He looked down at 
Sailor Odysseus.  "Princess Astra?  But how did you get 
back here so quickly?  And you look...older."

	"I...uh..." Odysseus began to shrink back under the 
weight of the gazes.

	"This is her future self," the junior Pluto said.  
"I brought her to help me with my work here."  She did 
her best to draw herself up and look dignified.  "And 
yes, I did cut my hair.  If you don't like it, you can 
just throw yourself in the sun."  She pointed her staff 
at Leo. "You, get back to work rescuing people.  I'm glad 
to see you had enough sense to get over your wounded 
pride and come to the aid of the Star Kingdom.  Without 
the Zodiac's efforts, virtually everyone would have 
perished.  White Knight, take Demetrius to his family.  
Odysseus, come with me."  She did her best to imitate her 
Mom when it was time for Mom to give orders.  

	Leo nodded.  "Good luck, Pluto."  He turned and ran 
off into the mist.  

	The White Knight helped Demetrius up onto his horse, 
which looked just like the one he rode in the distant 
future.  He turned and looked at Odysseus.  "I see you'll 
grow up into a fine young woman," he said.  "So Serenity 
will make her one of her Senshi?" he asked Pluto.

	"Yes," the junior Pluto said.  "The Star Kingdom is 
doomed, but a remnant will be saved.  She is among that 
remnant."

	"Good."  He saluted them and turned to go.

	"Wait!" Odysseus said.  This is my chance to find 
out who he is, she thought.  But how do I ask without 
revealing I don't know?  He'd expect me to know.  "I'd 
like...to see your face one more time."

	"I take it that means I'm not long for this world if 
you have to ask me to see it now," he said quietly.

	The junior Pluto whacked Odysseus in the head with 
the Time Staff.  "We're not supposed to reveal stuff 
about the future!"

	"Hey, you're the one who started it!"

	They bickered for a few minutes, until the White 
Knight interrupted them, pulling off his helm.  "I 
suppose you've hardly ever actually seen me wearing the 
armor, now that I think about it," he said.  "I haven't 
had to do this except for court occasions for years."  
His face was mature, somewhere in the range of forty to 
fifty, with wrinkles starting to form upon his brow, a 
thick red moustache starting to turn grey, and dark brown 
eyes under thick eyebrows.  

	Uncle Seleucus, she thought.  He was the White 
Knight for my mother, Queen Astra.  It was usually the 
Queen's eldest brother...but I don't HAVE a brother.  I'm 
an only child.  So who is my White Knight?

	"Expecting someone else?" he asked with a twinkle in 
his eye.  "You look confused."

	"It's nothing. I'm just tired," she said.

	"Well, it looks like you'll do your mother proud.  
And I must be going," he said, lowering the helm.  "May 
the Lady of Light guide your path."

	"May the seven virtues ward your passage," she 
replied, bowing.

	He rode off, and Odysseus turned to the junior 
Pluto.  "Let's see if we can get those plants from the 
garden...if anything is left of it."

	The feeling of impending doom had faded, so the 
junior Pluto nodded.  "Shouldn't be too hard."

*****************

	Sailor Pluto paced back and forth, trying to deduce 
what had gone wrong.  I must have picked a time when I 
was already present at our destination, she decided.  I 
can't travel twice to the same space/time area.  I could 
have sworn I'd never been to Dream City around that time, 
though.

	The Gate opened and the Junior Pluto and Odysseus 
stepped through.  Odysseus was carrying a long silvery 
stick and a bouquet of white and red roses with a strong, 
pleasant smell.  The white petals ringed round the red 
ones, forming a double rose.  "Two of three down," the 
Junior Pluto said, then gave a sigh of relief.  "I was 
half worried you'd been stranded in time somewhere."

	"Did you have any trouble?"

	"Besides ending up in the Star Palace during the 
fall of the Star Kingdom?  No," the Junior Pluto said, 
handing the staff to Pluto.  "I'm not so sure I want one 
of these things now."  She took the plants from Odysseus, 
who looked rather downcast.

	"They all died," Odysseus said.  "Even the ones who 
got away from the palace died for some reason.  Except 
for me, they all wasted away.  And I was there, and there 
wasn't anything I could do!  It was too late, and I 
couldn't fight Drachicanar by myself and..."  She 
clenched her fists.  "And the Zodiac didn't lie about how 
they'd tried to warn them and help when it happened," she 
said quietly.

	"Like most humans, the Zodiac have always been a 
mixture of good and bad elements," Pluto said.  "Their 
past misdeeds had made them mistrusted, rather like the 
story of the boy who cried wolf.  It led to tragedy."

	"Why didn't you tell them?"  Odysseus demanded.  
"You must have known!"

	"It was my duty to watch over the Moon, not every 
planet.  That is why every world had its own defenders.  
I did not learn of its doom until it was too late to stop 
it, and I am forbidden to travel back in time to alter 
destiny.  As it was, I came to their aid when I learned 
the catastrophe had begun, but I was only able to save 
you from Drachicanar's influence.  The rest of your 
family was tainted by his power and withered away, even 
the White Knight."

	"He was my uncle," Odysseus said.  "Brother to the 
Queen.  But then...who is he now?"

	"Soon, you will learn the secret of the White 
Knight," Pluto said.  "And then you will understand."

	"Why can't you just tell me?" Odysseus demanded.  

	"Some truths must be experienced to be believed," 
Pluto replied.

	"Can we have this argument later?" the junior Pluto 
asked.  "I have homework to do tonight."

	"We'll return a second after we left," Pluto 
replied.  "You can go get the liquid moonlight while we 
finish this discussion."  She gestured and the Gate of 
Time opened.

	The junior Pluto sighed and stepped through it, then 
it closed.

	"Experienced?  What, I have to turn into him?" 
Odysseus asked dubiously.

	"It is part of your heritage of power.  When you are 
ready, you will understand.  Until then, simply telling 
you would be of no avail."

	"I can't see how telling me who he is could be 
something I'm not ready for!  I sure FEEL ready!  So what 
else aren't you telling me?"  She crossed her arms under 
her breasts.

	"My secret chocolate cake recipe."

	Odysseus blinked, then began to laugh.  "Is it 
magical?"

	"It tastes magical."  Pluto smiled a little, then 
said, "My apprentice should have returned by now."

	"You didn't give her the time staff so she could 
come back," Odysseus pointed out.

	"..."

	Odysseus began to laugh.  "Didn't see that future, 
eh?"

	Pluto sighed and opened the Gate of Time.  The 
junior Pluto stepped through holding a small vial of 
silver liquid.  She was covered with dirt and sweating.  
"I didn't have any money, so I had to do fieldwork for 
the damn alchemist."

	"..."

	Odysseus laughed more.

	"And he thought I was an imposter, too.  I HATE THE 
PAST!  I hate it!"  

	"My apologies," the senior Pluto said.  "I should 
have thought of that.  I'm too used to being able to 
requisition things and have Serenity pay for them when 
I'm in the Silver Millennium.  Well, let's go home.  And 
tomorrow, we leave for the Library of the Zodiac."

	"Kumiko had better not have shed all over the 
showers again," the junior Pluto muttered.  "She leaves 
long blond hairs everywhere every time she showers.  She 
ought to be bald by now."

	"I'm glad I don't live in the dorms," Naru said.  

	"I wish I could have stayed at home and commuted, 
although this does make it easy to see Daichi whenever I 
like," the junior Pluto replied.

	Then Pluto opened the Gate of Time and they went 
home.
	
************

	The boat jerked again under the moonlight as two 
oars beat against the water in completely different 
rhythms.  Ever so slowly it was tending to drift left, 
although every once in a while, that rower would lose his 
beat and it would turn right.

	"I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works," Minako 
said.  "Are you sure you two don't want to just take 
turns rowing?"

	"We're fine," Steven said stubbornly.  He and Ryo 
were trying to row Mina and Ami around in a boat on a 
lake in the park.  It wasn't quite going like it should.

	"Your turn," Ryo said, handing his oar to Steven.  
"I can't row as fast as you."

	Steven snorted, but then started rowing more quickly 
and smoothly with both oars.

	"Good job, Steven!" Minako announced.  "Have a 
chocolate."  She tossed him a small candy bar from her 
purse.

	It landed between his legs.  "Your aim is bad, and 
your turn is next."

	"Row?  Row?  The husband rows, the wife rides along.  
It's tradition," Minako said.

	"Well, it would be fair," Ami said.  "I'll row next 
if Minako won't."

	"I'll go next, then you can," Ryo said.  "Lazy 
Minako can go last."

	"Lazy?  LAZY?  I'll show you lazy!  Move over bacon, 
here comes Minako the Goddess of the Oars!"  She shoved 
Steven aside, nearly tipping the boat over, and took his 
place, beginning to row fanatically.  The boat zoomed 
along.

	"Very good," Ami said.

	"Except that she's going to hit a buried log and 
flip the boat," Ryo said, then took Ami's hand.

	A few seconds later, the boat rose up, then tipped 
over as it struck underwater branches.  Everyone went 
toppling.  "You could have warned us!"  Minako shouted as 
she went under.

	"It was fate," he replied.  "My visions always come 
true."

	"We wouldn't have let Minako row," Steven said.

	"Wouldn't have had it if it wasn't going to happen."

	Ami frowned irritably as she treaded water.  "It's 
not going to be easy cleaning the algae off this dress, 
Ryo-kun."

	He wilted slightly under her gaze.  "Sorry, Ami.  My 
Dad lives near this place; we can go there and dry off.  
He's been wanting to meet you anyway."

	Oh, yes, I want to meet your father in a ruined, 
drenched dress, Ami thought.

	{Look on the bright side, we'll get to see the 
others mostly naked,} Athena pointed out helpfully, 
breaking her silence that evening.

	[But I don't WANT to see Minako and Steven naked!  
Or half-naked,]  Ami said back.

	{Thou liest with thine lips, but I know thine 
heart,} Athena said.  {Thou ist curious about thine old 
lover and her new love, I know it.}

	[No, no, no!]  Ami replied.  [And even if I was, I 
don't want to meet Ryo's father like this, dripping wet 
and covered with algae!]

	Ryo squeezed Ami's hand.  "Ami, is something wrong?"

	She sighed.  "Nothing.  Just not the way I wanted to 
end our evening."

	"We can tell ghost stories around the dryer!" Minako 
said.  "It'll be just like camping!"

	Steven laughed.  "I know a good one about a dryer 
ghost."

	Ryo leaned over and whispered, "Athena?" into Ami's 
ear.  She nodded.

	{Hello, Ryo,} Athena said.  {Tell him he's cute 
naked.}

	[I will not!] Ami replied.

	{Don't you agree?}

	[Well, yes, but I'm not going to say that in 
public!]

	{You're ashamed to say he's cute?}

	[I am NOT going to argue with you.  Not tonight.  
Okay, he is cute, but I'm not going to do anything crazy 
with him like you want.]  "Let's get the boat turned 
over," Ami said.

	"Good idea," Steven said, and helped her turn it 
over.  "Lead us on, Ryo."

***************

	Hotaru was not having fun.  She and Minako had been 
assigned to keep an eye on Hikaru, in case the Dark 
Kingdom attacked.  Since neither of them wanted to devote 
their Friday night to watching Hikaru when they could be 
doing something more enjoyable like chewing off their 
left arm, they'd drawn straws to see who had gotten 
stuck.  Minako won, leaving Hotaru to try to trail around 
after Hikaru, who was out on a date with a dark haired, 
green eyed boy.  Hikaru was having a disgusting amount of 
fun, which made this even less pleasant for Hotaru, who 
was bored out of her mind.  At least the movie the two 
had gone to had been okay.

	Crouching behind a bush, she watched the two walk 
hand in hand through the park.  That guy moves fast, 
Hotaru thought.  And for someone who's been proclaiming 
her eternal devotion to Daichi for years, Hikaru sure 
seems to have forgotten all about him.  For a moment, 
Hotaru wondered if 'Yamato Gendo' was really a youma, 
then shook her head.  Some guys are disgustingly good at 
getting women to fall for them, she thought, without 
needing evil magic.  She had to admit he was pretty good 
looking.

	She strained her ears, trying to hear what he was 
saying, but his voice was too soft.  Hikaru clearly liked 
it, and turned to face him.

	Oh great, they're going to kiss, Hotaru thought.  
I'm going to be sick.

	The moon hung over them in the sky in the sort of 
romantic moment Hotaru had always hoped for, but had yet 
to experience.  She relieved her stress by breaking a 
stick into small pieces and pretending it was Hikaru.  
This made her feel much better.

	It also distracted her long enough that she lost 
track of what Hikaru and Gendo were doing, until Hikaru 
screamed and caught her attention.  He must have gone too 
far, Hotaru thought.  

	Her eyes informed her otherwise.  Three mauve youma 
armed with long chains with handcuffs on the ends, had 
emerged from the direction of the gazebo, and now were 
rapidly crossing the open ground towards the couple.  As 
Hotaru reached for her transformation pen, one of them 
hurled his chain at Hikaru.  The handcuffs clamped around 
her wrists, and the youma began to drag her towards them.  
A second youma snagged Gendo and strung him up from a 
tree.

	The third one grabbed an unfortunate squirrel, then 
got hit in the head by the second one.

	"SATURN PLANET POWER!!!!"  Hotaru shouted.

	Three youma heads spun about, as did the hapless 
teens.  "Saturn?  SATURN?  Boil me raw!" the third youma 
shouted.

	The other two took a second to look at him dubiously 
and shake their heads.  They turned back to face Saturn, 
both visibly shaking, then took the other end of their 
chains and hurled them at Saturn.  She leapt skywards, 
dodging the attacks, only to have the third youma nail 
her with his chain.  He quickly ran about, and had her 
hanging upside down from a tree limb.  The first two 
lashed out with their chains again and pulled her glaive 
out of her hands.

	I don't believe this, Saturn thought.  What is with 
me today?

	The first youma began dancing around with her 
glaive, slicing and dicing imaginary foes.  "Hah!  Look 
at me!  I'm Sailor Saturn!"

	The second dove away from him.  "Hey, watch where 
you're pointing that thing!  One touch and you're dead!"

	"Really?"

	"Give me back my glaive!" Saturn shouted, more from 
a sense of duty than any hope they'd give it to her.

	"No dice, Saturn," the first one said, then looked 
at her assessingly.  "Hmm, I bet I could kill you with 
this.  That would make my reputation."

	"Hey, I wanna be the one who kills her," the second 
one said.  

	"I'm the one who caught her when you guys screwed it 
up," the third replied.  "I should get the kill!"

	"Maybe Jadeite would want her alive," the second one 
said.

	"Can we go now?" Hikaru asked, sounding just a 
little hysterical.  "We haven't finished our date yet, 
and I see you got who you came for."

	The second one turned to her.  "Actually, we were 
after you; grabbing Saturn was just a pleasant surprise."

	The first one strode over to her.  "We know you know 
about the Sailor Senshi.  We saw that film you made.  So 
you're going to tell us where to find them."

	"We could just ask Saturn," the third one said.

	"You know how made Pyroxenite gets if we don't obey 
his orders to the letter," the second one replied.  

	Saturn suddenly realized her arms were free.  While 
there wasn't too much she could do with them, there was 
one thing she could manage. She quietly slipped a hand 
into her 'pocket', and extracted her communicator.  
Talking would draw attention, but she could and did hit 
the panic button, then put it back.

	"I don't know where to find them!  I just got lucky 
and caught two of them on film at our school!  Maybe some 
of them attend there or something!"

	"And I'm just her date, I don't know ANYTHING," 
Gendo said.

	The first one turned back to Hikaru.  "You're lying, 
obviously."  The tip of the Silence Glaive danced a few 
inches from Hikaru's neck.  "No one else has EVER gotten 
them on film.  I can't believe you were just lucky."

	"I was just lucky!" Hikaru said.

	"Well, you'd better get lucky quick."  He moved 
around and hooked the ribbon she had bound up her hair 
with, slicing it neatly.  "Or it won't be cloth getting 
cut."

	"Do something!!!"  Gendo shouted at Saturn.

	I need to learn an attack I don't need my glaive 
for, Saturn thought.  Besides punching people, which 
doesn't work when you're strung up.

	"Well?" the first youma asked Hikaru.

	"Unless Nonohara or Yuki is one of them, I have no 
idea who they are or where they live!  And Nonohara is 
far too ugly and stupid to be one of the Sailor Senshi," 
Hikaru said.  "I just can't see what Daichi-kun sees in 
the little tomboy.  She has no sense of fashion, her 
haircut is ugly, her voice sounds like a horse," she 
continued, getting louder and louder as she spoke. "She 
failed home economics, half the guys in school thought 
she was a cross-dressing boy, she's flat as a board, 
she's violent and..."  Her voice wavered, and anger fell 
down the stairs, becoming pain.  "And he loves her 
anyway.  Why?  WHY?  Why couldn't he love me?"

	"Now, now," the third youma said, clumsily patting 
her on the head.  "It looks like you've found yourself a 
new boyfriend who's probably much better looking than he 
was."

	"We're not here to play to her neuroses," the first 
youma said.  "I could care less about your old boyfriend 
and how he dumped you for some tomboy."  He sounded 
fairly irritated.  "So, you think this Yuki might be one 
of the Sailor Senshi?"

	"I've been faithful to him for so long, and he just 
doesn't even notice," Hikaru whined, not even noticing 
the first youma was talking to her.

	He slapped her.  "GET OVER IT!  I want to know where 
the Sailors are; I could care less about your stupid 
Daichi!"

	Tears faded, and now she looked angry.  "Take that 
back!  He's not stupid!"

	Gendo glanced over at Saturn with a desperate look.  
She tried to look reassuring.

	"He's a stupid little bink that I could care less 
about!  Now, tell me where the Sailors are, or I'll kill 
your new boyfriend!"  He held the tip of the Silence 
Glaive near Gendo's throat.  Gendo looked abjectly 
terrified.

	Hikaru tried unsuccessfully to fold her handcuffed 
arms.  "I'm not telling you anything until you take that 
back!"

	The second youma sweatdropped.  "He's serious!  
He'll kill the guy!"

	"Kill who?" she looked over.  "Yamato-san, what are 
you still doing here?"

	"They chained me up like you, you..."  Gendo visibly 
struggled to restrain himself.  "Tell them or we'll both 
die!"

	Reality finally fully sank in.  "You...you'd really 
kill us."

	"Hell yes!" the first youma shouted.  "What'd you 
think, this was some sort of publicity stunt?"

	Her face went hard like steel, and she said, "You 
have to let them go before I'll tell you."

	"There's no way we're untying Saturn," the second 
one said.  "We want to live!"

	Saturn looked around, trying to figure out what was 
taking everyone so long.  The park was deserted except 
for a few squirrels and a bored looking hound dog which 
had given up chasing squirrels and was now slumped at the 
bottom of a bush, drowsing.

	"Let Gendo go, then."

	They released him, and he ran for his life.

	"Now, tell us."

	"Alright.  The Sailor Senshi have a secret base 
inside Tokyo Tower.  Magical beings who enter the 
elevators find a special button that takes them to the 
magically hidden base.  They all report to an artificial 
intelligence named 'Xander', who gives them their 
missions."

	Saturn blinked in confusion, while the three youma 
nodded and listened avidly as Hikaru began to spin the 
biggest pile of garbage Saturn had ever heard, even worse 
than the time Haruka had tried to make excuses for 
disassembling the engine of her father's car and leaving 
it that way.

	Around the time when Hikaru was explaining how 
Mercury had taught Bill Gates everything he knew, a 
female voice cut in over Hikaru's voice.  "Tying up young 
girls and holding them at glaive point is a violation of 
Park Regulation 45-B, Section three!  Stand, stand and 
deliver!"  A somewhat damp Sailor Venus had arrived.

	"Get back or I'll slit her throat!" the first youma 
shouted, holding the tip only a few milimeters from 
Hikaru's throat.  

	"Shabon Spray!"  Mist suddenly settled over the 
area, and then a blue streak moved out of the mist, 
kicking the first youma in the stomach and knocking him 
back away from Hikaru.  

	He lost his grip on the Silence Glaive, and then 
Mercury wrested it away from him.  She bashed in his face 
with the butt, then stabbed him through the heart.  He 
burst into black flame and burned away.  

	The other two youma tried to find their enemies, but 
Mercury freed Saturn, and Venus strung up the third one 
with her love-me-chain, leaving him hanging from a tree.  
The second youma backed up through the mist, only to find 
himself backing into Hikaru, who began to whip him with 
the chain connected to her handcuffs, shouting something 
incoherent about Daichi.

	The Silence Glaive flashed through the mist, and 
Saturn impaled him.  He burned away, and Hikaru jumped 
backwards, shouting in terror.  Saturn advanced on her 
relentlessly, and Hikaru began to whimper, until Saturn 
cut the handcuffs off.  

	The mist faded, leaving two youma dead, and one 
strung up.  Venus stood next to the captured one, saying, 
"Which general sent you and why?"

	"Pyroxenite's mad because you people wrecked his 
experiment, so now he wants to find you all and kill 
you."

	"I'm going to let you live because you've got a cute 
nose," Venus said.  "And you're going to tell your boss 
that Hiyama Hikaru..."

	"My name is Hibino Hikaru," Hikaru said faintly.

	"That Hibino Hikaru is under OUR protection, and 
that if he sends more Youma, we'll toilet paper his 
house!"

	The youma stared at her in confusion.  "He doesn't 
have a house."

	"We'll give his phone number to telemarketers!"

	The youma shuddered at the invocation of that great 
evil.  "You wouldn't dare!"

	"And I'll spraypaint 'For a good time call' with his 
number in every bathroom in Tokyo!"  

	Saturn said, "If he does not go away and leave her 
alone, he will be Silenced."

	Mercury sat down with her computer and began quickly 
punching in a program.

	"Okay, okay, I'll tell him!" the third youma said.  
"Just let me go!"

	Venus released him, and he dropped to the ground, 
then turned to Hikaru.  "You really need to give up on 
that Daichi guy.  Ranting about how great he is in front 
of your new boyfriend probably is going to make him dump 
you."

	She sighed and stared at the ground.  "You don't 
think I'm ugly, do you?"

	"No, you're kind of cute.  You just need to move 
on."  He looked over at the three sailors.  "And I think 
I'd better be moving on."  He teleported away.

	"Do you think he'll back off?" Venus asked Saturn.

	"Unfortunately, no, I don't think he will."

	"Well, I hoped I could trace that youma back to 
Pyroxenite's base, but it looks like he went straight to 
the Dark Kingdom."  Mercury sighed.  "I wish I had a 
Mercury Hair Dryer.  My head's cold."

	"Did you fall in the lake on the way here?" Hikaru 
asked.  Looking past Venus, she saw two guys hidden in 
some bushes a ways away, watching them.  "Someone's 
watching us."

	"Don't mind them; they're just groupies," Venus 
said.  "I have a lot of them.  Want to be my groupie?"

	"I'm already someone else's groupie, but I'm trying 
to quit," Hikaru replied.

	"Good idea.  Daichi's taken and you'd be better off 
dating someone else.  Just don't go after my boyfriend."

	Hikaru glanced off in the direction Gendo had run.  
"That wasn't him, was it?"

	"No, he's..."  Venus got cut off by Saturn's hand.

	"It's just best you move on, Hibino-san," Saturn 
said.  "I suggest you go find your date."

	"Do you think they'll come back tonight?"

	"Not if they know what's good for them!"  Venus 
proclaimed.  "Saturn will keep you safe!"

	"Saturn got beaten by them," Hikaru said dubiously.

	"Possibly because my partner decided to skip out to 
go date her BOYFRIEND," Saturn said.  "And then took a 
million years to get here!"  She put her hands on her 
hips and glared at Venus.

	"Well, if you'd stop pretending Derith isn't your 
boyfriend, you wouldn't have had to be alone here!  And 
Steven isn't just my boyfriend, he's my HUSBAND!  So 
there!"  Venus struck the same pose as Hotaru, but in a 
triumphal mode.

	"Husband?" Mercury asked in surprise.

	"Yes, we took the Oath and got married so we could 
never be parted!  Unless he gets old and dies while I 
stay young forever and slowly waste away without him, but 
I'll burn that bridge when I cross it with Caesar!"

	"You're too young to get married!" Saturn said.

	"I'm the goddess of love!  I can get married 
whenever I please!  It's fun, free, and easy!" Venus 
proclaimed.

	"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Mercury asked.

	"I forgot," Venus said.  "And...hey, Steven still 
hasn't gotten me a ring!"  She turned and shook her fist 
at the bushes.  "Where's my ring, buster?"

	The two guys in the bushes tried to pretend they 
didn't exist.

	Hibino Hikaru was not the most perceptive person 
alive.  In fact, she was fairly well suited to qualify as 
one of the least perceptive.  But she was smart enough to 
put two and two together when the two kept being pounded 
into her head over and over again.  "You're Minako," she 
said firmly.  "You don't quite look like her, but you act 
like her."

	Venus froze up like a deer in headlights.  "Who, me?  
No, no, I'm not Minako at all."

	"You are," Hikaru said.  "You and that dark haired 
girl were watching me earlier, and you said you were 
trying to make sure I didn't get kidnapped.  And I know 
Minako's dating a guy named Steven.  There's not exactly 
a lot of Stevens in Tokyo, you know."

	"There's millions of them!  It's a very common 
Japanese name, you know," Venus babbled.  "Back me up, 
Mercury!"

	She shook her head.  "You're on your own on this 
one."

	"And you..."  Hikaru turned to Mercury looking her 
up and down.  "Noriko?"

	Mercury laughed.  "Her hair is three times as long 
as mine, you know."

	"And I'm not Minako!" Venus said.  

	Saturn looked around.  "It's a good thing I didn't 
need everyone, because they're taking their own sweet 
time showing up."  She was sounding rather irritated.

	As if on cue, the remaining Sailors, Tuxedo Mask, 
Parias, and about thirty traffic cops cleared the rise to 
the south and came running.  The reason they were running 
was that Tuxedo Kamen had been chased to the park after 
breaking multiple traffic laws in his hurry to arrive.  
"You're all under arrest for traffic violations!" one of 
the cops shouted.

	"..."

	Saturn picked up Hikaru and ran instinctively, as 
did Mercury and Venus.  

	A few minutes later, all concerned had run off out 
of sight, leaving only the bored dog, who yapped loudly 
three times.  Then the Gate of Time opened, and Odysseus, 
Pluto and the junior Pluto stepped out.  "Look at all 
these footprints," Odysseus said.  "Looks like there was 
a fight or something."

	"Nothing worth worrying about, I think," Pluto said.  
"The others would be calling us if they needed help.  
Let's go home."

	The junior Pluto nodded.  "I'll contact Erica 
tonight, and then tomorrow, we head to the Library of the 
Star Kingdom."  She turned and looked the direction in 
which everyone had run.  "I just have this feeling 
something is happening."

	"It's too peaceful a night for anything bad to 
happen," Odysseus said.  "See you all tomorrow!"

*****************

	Much later, Minako, Steven, Hotaru, Isis, Artemis, 
Rei, Usagi, and Mamoru sat on several benches on the 
grounds of Tsunami.  "Minako, you shouldn't have ditched 
Hotaru to go out.  She could have gotten hurt," Usagi 
said.

	"Well, I have to admit we both decided only one of 
us would watch tonight.  We were just getting bored 
spending all our time keeping an eye on her."  Hotaru 
said.

	"You should have gotten me to come with you," Isis 
said.  "Instead of leaving me napping."

	"We can help watch over her," Artemis said.  "But 
still, it's going to be just about impossible for us to 
keep a twenty four hour watch over Hikaru.  We have to do 
something, but I don't know what."

	"Plus 'the goddess of love' blew her secret identity 
to Hikaru," Hotaru said.  

	"I did not!  I never admitted it."

	Usagi sighed and slapped her forehead.  

	Rei said, "You bonehead!  What were you thinking?"

	"Thinking had nothing to do with it," Hotaru said 
sourly.

	"Hey, who crawled up your bee's bonnet?" Minako 
snapped.  "Okay, I screwed up!  I'm sorry!  I just...hey, 
I still don't have a ring from Steven!"

	"A ring?" Usagi asked.

	"Yeah, we got married, and..."

	"Married?  And you didn't invite me?  When did this 
happen?"  Usagi began to babble.

	Everyone else stared at her in shock.  Steven said, 
"Well, technically, it's only an engagement because a 
marriage needs witnesses."

	"We said the oath, we're married!  That's how it 
works!" Minako said, hands on her hips and glaring 
suspiciously at Steven.

	"No, you need a minister or a judge or a king or 
something," Mamoru said.  "Also, for it to count as a 
civil marriage, you'd have to go to a judge.  Since 
you're a minor, you'd need parental consent, and I think 
both sets of parents wouldn't consent at your age."

	Minako fumed.  "Okay, so we have a forbidden 
marriage.  But that just makes it all the sweeter, right, 
Steven?"  The last two words were emphasized in a way 
that made the correct response clear.

	"Well, I thought once we turn 18, then we can get 
the civil marriage too," he said.  "My dad will probably 
be stationed out here in Asia that long.  I hope.  But 
Mamoru's right.  We're not legally married, and I'm not 
sure if the Oath even counts for a religious marriage."

	"Rei, you can witness our Oath, right?" Minako asked 
Rei.  "You're a priestess and stuff!"

	"No, no, we have to have everyone present if you're 
going to do that," Usagi said, then yawned.  "Anyway, 
everyone, try and think of a better way for us to protect 
Hikaru, okay?  And Minako, don't slack off."

	"Oh, like you're in any position to tell ME about 
slacking off!" Minako fired back.  

	"I hate to say it, but Minako's right," Rei said, 
sighing.  "But I'm tired too."

	"Right.  We can discuss this before the TORG game 
tomorrow, while we're all waiting around to see if the 
Plutos and Naru-chan need us," Usagi said.  "Good night, 
everyone."

	The group soon dispersed, leaving only Minako and 
Steven.  They sat together on the bench, looking at the 
nearby flowers.  Finally, Minako said, "I didn't mean to 
screw up.  I just wanted to spend some time with my 
husband instead of having to watch Hikaru ALL the time.  
And I didn't mean to blow my secret identity.  I just got 
distracted and..."

	He put an arm around her shoulders.  "We'll find a 
way to take care of that."

	"Why haven't you bought me a ring, Steven?" she 
asked plaintively.  "Am I too much of a bother for you?"  
He'd rarely heard her sound so miserable, and it startled 
him.

	"It's more a matter of me being a poor high school 
student who doesn't have a job," he said.  "It's going to 
have to wait until I can get the money."

	She turned and looked at him, abjectly miserable.  
There are few things more pathetic than a miserable elf.  
He could feel the pain wash over him, a side effect of 
her glamour, and it became hard to focus through the 
emotional turmoil he now felt.  "Are we really not 
married, Steve-kun?" she asked.

	"Not legally.  Maybe not even by Silver Millennium 
standards.  But I love you anyway," he said.  

	"Then why do you look so miserable?" she asked.

	"Because you're making me miserable with your 
glamour," he replied, starting to cry due to that factor.

	She paused and closed her eyes and concentrated.  
The emotional pain faded much to his relief.  "Mina-chan, 
you've GOT to learn to keep that under control."

	"I want to scream and smash things!" she shouted.  
"I can't just turn my emotions on and off like I had a 
clapper on my soul!"

	"Minako, get a GRIP!" he shouted back, having 
finally had enough.  "You've got to calm down!"

	"I can't calm down with someone yelling at me!"

	They glared at each other, then Minako collapsed 
weeping.  "You hate me now."

	"I don't hate you!"

	"You were yelling at me!  I know anger when I see 
it!"

	Having tranquilizing powers would be really good 
right about now, he thought.  He lifted her up off the 
bench and hugged her standing up.  "I don't hate you.  
Just calm down, Minako.  So we can talk about all this 
rationally."

	"I don't want to be rational."

	"Now, when we get married, don't you want to have a 
nice big wedding everyone can come to?  Something you'll 
remember for the rest of your life?"  His voice was as 
soothing as he could make it while choking down 
irritation.  It isn't all her fault she's being such a 
maniac about this, he thought, then cursed the Elves for 
doing this to her, though he had to admit it had only 
amplified tendencies she'd already had.  

	She nodded.  "It would be nice."

	"Then we'll have to wait, because we can't pay for 
one, and our folks won't until we're older."

	"You're right," she said.  "I just...I'm scared 
something's going to happen to separate us, Steve-kun.  
But if we're married, nothing can put us asunder."

	"Nothing will," he said.  "The oath may not make us 
married without any witnesses and I can't buy you a ring 
and our parents will likely freak, and I don't know if 
I'll be able to stay in Japan or...I guess I should quit 
listing obstacles."

	"Uh huh."

	"But we swore the Oath, and nothing will part us.  I 
won't let it." 

	"Good, you can stay with me tonight," she said.

	"Umm, I think Himeko-san wouldn't like that."

	"I'll tell her to invite her boyfriend to stay with 
us too.  That would be fair."

	"I suppose you'll be inviting Ami and Ryo too, 
then."

	"Hey, we could have everybody in one big Senshi 
sleepover!  That would be great!"  Minako began counting 
off couples on her fingers, then paused.  "Should we 
invite Yuuichiro for Rei?  And how do we get ahold of 
Derith for Hotaru?  You know, it's going to get pretty 
crowded in my room."

	No more suggestions, Steven told himself.  "I'd 
better just go home."

	Minako pouted.  "I don't want to sleep by myself."  
She thought for a minute.  "Ryo's roommate is usually 
gone on weekends, right?"

	"I think so," Steven said. 

	"You and me and him and Ami could share a room 
then," she said.  

	"I remember what happened the last time that idea 
was bandied about," he said.

	"Hey, now I know the right room," she said.  "And 
it's not like the four of us haven't done it before."

	He blinked.  "Mina-chan, you're remembering 
imaginary things again.  Like when you started talking 
about dating Aragorn."

	"I am not.  Me and Athena and you and Ryo used 
to...no, wait, that was Kunzite and Zoicite."  She 
slapped her forehead.  "Okay, I'm officially too tired to 
think."

	No time like the present to try to get the complete 
scoop on this, he decided.  He sat back down, and Minako 
sat down in his lap.  "Now, what exactly went on with the 
four of you?" he asked.

	"Well, I don't remember everything," she said.  "In 
fact, I don't remember a lot of it.  But Inanna and 
Athena both hit it off pretty well when they met.  Inanna 
had always wanted to be sophisticated like Athena, and 
Athena...well, I don't know what she was thinking, but 
she and Inanna has the same sense of fun."  She tapped 
her cheek thoughtfully, trying to shake memories loose.

	"So we both cut a romantic swathe through the ranks 
of the court nobility.  Jupiter and Aurora were a lot 
more restrained, although in Aurora's case, it was 
because she had the most massive crush on Prince 
Endymion.  It looked like they'd get together, but then 
Jadeite stole her from him.  I just about died of shock."

	Her voice began to alter; she sounded older, and the 
Elven lilt her recent changes had caused now faded away, 
replaced by an accent that reminded him of a Yorkshire 
collier trying to sound like a BBC announcer--a parody of 
an upper class accent.  "Jadeite and Aurora were lovers 
the longest of us.  Then Kunzite and I fell in love 
somewhat later.  That's when I found out Zoicite had been 
pining away for Athena for quite a while, but he hadn't 
had the courage to try anything.  Also, he was afraid 
she'd see him for a while, then break his heart.  You 
know, I always wondered how Athena kept her sanity when 
she was studying with those overly serious dwarves."

	"Stay on target, Red Nine," Steven said, smiling.

	She laughed.  "Right.  Anyway, it took us forever to 
get him to try anything with Athena; Kunzite and I had to 
hide in some bushes and feed him his lines, the first 
time.  Finally, we got them hooked up, and the four of us 
started doing things together whenever we met.  Which 
wasn't as often as we would have liked, since Endymion 
had to spend most of his time on Earth for obvious 
reasons, and they went where he did.  As a result, when 
we did get together, things tended to get rather 
passionate, as you'd expect."

	Steven nodded.  "Absence actually making the heart 
grow fonder rather than absentminded."

	"Exactly.  Anyway, the first foursome was Athena's 
idea, facilitated by a howling storm that trapped us all 
in a hunting lodge.  It was..."  She shivered.  
"Incredible.  Bizarre.  Fun.  Of course, afterwards, I 
didn't know how to approach Athena.  We never did... 
that...on our own; it was always with Zoicite and 
Kunzite.  Although I certainly thought about it a lot.  I 
think it even scared Athena a bit, although she'd never 
admit it."

	"Anyway, usually about once per visit, we'd do that, 
and the rest of the time, it was just normal couple stuff 
between me and Kunzite and Athena and Zoicite.  
Gradually, Kunzite and I got more and more serious, and 
finally, we got engaged.  I was very happy for a while, 
and..."  Her cheerful voice turned gloomy.  "He tried to 
get me to join Beryl during the assault on the Moon 
Kingdom.  I refused, so he killed me."

	She sank back against him, shuddering.  "I'm not 
sure how; I don't really WANT to remember how.  I just 
remember the fear I felt when I looked into his warm eyes 
and they'd turned cold like glittering diamonds.  I 
couldn't fight him, not my love Kunzite.  And so it was 
easy for him to kill me."  Her head rested against his 
shoulder, and she drew his arms tighter around her.  
"You're not going to turn evil and kill me, are you?"

	"If I turned evil and tried to kill you, I'd have a 
hard time of it," Steven said.  "Maybe if I ran you over 
with my motorcycle, but really, I wouldn't stand a 
chance."

	"Steve-kun, there has to be something we can do.  I 
just...I need you with me."  She ran a finger across his 
cheek again.  "We don't have to do anything, but I need 
you."

	"Unless you shoot Himeko-san with your bow so she 
wouldn't object to me staying with you, I don't think we 
can do that tonight."  As soon as Steven said that, he 
regretted it.

	"Yeah!  I can get her hyped up wanting Daichi, and 
they'll run off together.  Then we'll have the room to 
ourselves!"  She leaped off his lap and took off running.

	He ran after her.  "Mina-chan, I was JOKING!"

	It was too late to stop her with just words.

*****************

	"Your father is very quiet," Ami said, seated on her 
bed.  She was still dressed in a light blue buttoned 
shirt borrowed from Ryo's house, although she'd switched 
the ill-fitting shorts for a knee-length skirt when she 
got back to the school.    

	"Dad never was very talkative," Ryo replied, sitting 
on Noriko's bed.  "But I think he liked you."

	"I'm probably going to have to have that dress dry-
cleaned," Ami said.  "Or something.  Whatever is good for 
algae."

	"I'm sorry," Ryo said, staring at the floor.  "There 
was..."

	"You certainly could," she snapped.  "If you'd told 
us, we could have prevented it."

	He started to speak, but she said, "If you saw 
yourself dying, would you tell us?"

	"I wouldn't want to worry you when..."

	She got up and came over to him.  "Ryo, if you see 
anything people need to know, I want you to promise me 
you'll tell us.  Even if you're right and all we can do 
is worry.  The future CAN be changed.  And even your 
visions don't always quite mean what you think they do, 
do they?  Remember when you told me you'd be a monster 
and I'd have to kill you?"

	"Yes," he said.

	"Are you dead?"

	"No."

	"Are you a monster?"

	"No."

	"So the future you saw wasn't quite what you thought 
it was."  She felt the urge to sit in his lap, and 
decided to take Pluto's advice and go with the flow.  She 
took her hands in his, and wrapped his arms around 
herself.  "We make our own destinies, Ryo-kun."  She 
smiled a little smile.  "What do you foresee now?"

	He answered her with a kiss.  They made out on the 
bed for a few minutes, and then, just as he started to 
undo her shirt...

	"'mi-chan, I'm home!" Noriko announced as she came 
in the door and threw her hat on her bed.  It landed on 
Ami's butt.  "..."

	Ami and Ryo rolled and fell off the bed, then looked 
embarrassed.  "We...uh...sorry," Ami said.  She began to 
blush.

	"Next time, just hang a sock on the door or 
something, okay?" Noriko said.  "How'd you get Ryo-kun 
past Sensa-san?"

	"Ryo-kun foresaw someone had propped the back door 
open, and we slipped in that way."  Ami said.

	"I can go if you're not done..." Noriko said 
hesitantly.

	"No, don't go, stay.  You live here too," Ami said.

	{Invite her to join us; she is quite lovely,} Athena 
suggested.  Ami resolutely ignored her.  

	"Are you wearing some of Ryo-kun's clothing?" Noriko 
asked.

	"The skirt isn't mine," Ryo said quickly, helping 
Ami stand up.  

	"We fell in the lake, thanks to Minako," Ami said.  
"So we had to go by Ryo-kun's place to get dry clothing."

	Noriko nodded.  "Anyone up for cards?"

	"I'd best go sneak out while I still can get into my 
own dorm without getting caught," Ryo said, kissing Ami 
on the cheek.  "See you tomorrow."

	"See you!" she said, walking him to the door.  

	Once he was gone, Noriko said, "Does Ryo know?"

	"I haven't told anyone."

	"I'm sorry I interrupted your...kissing," Noriko 
said, starting to undress.

	"We should have had more sense than to do it where 
we could be interrupted," Ami said.  

	{Agreed,} Athena thought.

	"I guess it must be hard to find places to do it."  
Noriko began putting on her pajamas.

	"We've only done it once, although I'd...like to do 
it again," Ami said.

	"Well, I've never done it," Noriko said.  "I'm not 
sure if...this body could even enjoy it, but my mind 
wants it anyway, sometimes.  Was he good?"

	"He was wonderful," Ami said, going over to her bed 
and sprawling out on it.  "Not that we really knew what 
we were doing, but it was wonderful."

	"Mind if I borrow him some time?" Noriko asked 
casually.

	"..."

	She laughed.  "'mi-chan, you're so easy to tease.  
You're so strait-laced, I can hardly believe it 
sometimes.  Your boyfriend's cute, but I'd never poach."

	"I think Minako sometimes means it when she says 
things like that."

	"Well, I'm just teasing.  G'night, 'mi-chan."  
Noriko crawled into bed.

	"Good night."
	
*****************

	Naru and Umino were kissing just outside the front 
door of Naru's family's apartment when her mother opened 
the door.  "Oh, hi, Umino," she said.  "Would you like to 
come in and have a snack before you go home?"

	Naru and Umino jumped away from each other; parents 
watching you kiss is just not done.  "Thanks, Osaka-san," 
Umino said.  "I could do with a..."  He yawned.  "Snack."

	They went inside, where Naru's mother had already 
laid out three glasses of tea and a bowl of chips and 
crackers.  Naru wondered how long her mother had been 
aware of them being there.  "I'm surprised you're still 
up, Mom," she said.

	"I've been working on that custom order all night," 
she replied.  "We'll have enough money for that long 
vacation I keep talking about, once it's done.  Although 
I'm already sick of making tiny dragons, but three more 
sleepless nights, and I'll be finished."  She sat down on 
the floor by the table, which was the kind with a heater 
under it, as did Naru and Umino.  "Did you have fun on 
your date?"

	"The jewelry exhibit was really beautiful," Naru 
said.  "But the restaurant wasn't very good."

	"I think I discovered a new life form in my soup," 
Umino said, shaking his head sadly.  "So you spent the 
whole night working, Osaka-san?"

	"I spent a half-hour on the phone with my brother; 
he's been transferred to Thailand and hates it."  She 
finished off her tea.  "I keep worrying about it being 
safe for you two to be out so late at night."

	"We were with Usagi and Chiba-san," Naru said.  "So 
we weren't completely alone."

	Umino got up and showed off a few clumsy martial 
arts moves.  "And Kino-san's been teaching us some 
martial arts."

	"I just hear these stories about..."  She shook her 
head.  "It's silly to believe in such things, but now 
they've even shown up on the news.  Monsters.  Sailor 
Senshi.  The government claims they're not real, but 
Reiko-san called a little while ago and claims she saw a 
whole pack of them running through that park I know you 
two like to go to.  With the police chasing them."  She 
shook her head.  "Promise me that if you see anything 
like a monster, you'll run."

	"I'll run," Umino said.

	"Don't worry, Mom.  I'll be careful," Naru said.  
This is ironic, given the first monster I ever got 
attacked by was impersonating you, she thought.  "I'll 
let Sailor Odysseus take care of the monsters while I 
stay away from them."

	"Good.  All this...strangeness bothers me.  Maybe 
it's the end of an age.  But I like this age.  I don't 
want to live in a world of monsters."  Her voice was soft 
and troubled.  

	"I'm sure we'll find scientific ways to defeat them 
if there are monsters," Umino said.

	"Maybe," Osaka-san said.  "But science makes 
monsters too.  Grandmother used to tell me stories about 
Nagasaki when she was mad at me."  She shrugged.  "Would 
either of you like some more tea?"

	Umino shook his head.  "I'm fine," he said, then ate 
some more crackers.

	Naru reached over and took her mother's right hand.  
"Don't worry, Mom," she said.  "Everything's going to be 
fine.  I'll make sure of it."

	Her mother laughed.  "When children have to comfort 
their parents, you know something is wrong.  I shouldn't 
worry about it.  Just be careful, okay?"

	"We will," Naru said.  I will protect you if I have 
to die to do it, she thought.  Both of you.  

	Umino yawned.  "I'd better go home before I fall 
down."

	"Why don't you just sleep in the guest room?" Naru's 
mother said.  "You look too tired to walk all the way 
there."  She yawned.  "And I'm too tired to drive you."

	"Thanks, Osaka-san.  I'll go call my parents."  He 
got up and went to the phone.

	"I'm surprised you aren't tired," Naru's mother said 
to her.

	I'm too nervous to think about being tired, she 
thought.  "Still excited from my date, I guess.  Oh, I'm 
going to be gone most of tomorrow with Himeko-chan."

	"Okay," Osaka-san said.  "I'm glad to see you've 
managed to make a lot of new friends in high school.  And 
that you and Usagi-chan stopped drifting apart."

	"You noticed?" Naru asked in surprise.

	"Part of my powers as your mother," she said, 
laughing.  "But seriously, she used to come over every 
day for years and years, and then suddenly, she started 
coming only every other day, then maybe once a week, and 
then...I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I was afraid 
you'd think I was meddling.  But ever since your 
sixteenth birthday, you seem a lot closer."

	"We are a lot closer," Naru said.  "Part of it was 
that Usagi started seeing her current boyfriend, and I 
started seeing Umino, and some of it...well, it's pretty 
complicated."  And I don't want to outright lie, she 
thought.  Not to Mom.

	"Umino's a good boy," Osaka-san said.  "Your father 
would like him."

	Umino returned.  "Mom yelled at me for waking her 
up, but she said it's okay."

	"Good.  I'll go get the guest room ready for you 
then," Osaka-san said, rising from the floor and 
departing.

	"You're going to miss an exciting TORG game 
tomorrow," Umino said.  "The raid on Area 51 should be 
pretty interesting, although the Delphi Council is likely 
going to hate you for it.  Lots of cool stuff."

	"The Delphi Council already hates us," Naru replied.  
"Hopefully, we'll get done fast enough to not miss it 
all.  But have fun without me."

	He frowned.  "I just wish I could go with you."

	"Me too," Naru said, then remembered something.  
"Oh, I learned something.  The White Knight when I was 
Patience was the Queen's brother.  I'm not sure who he's 
been reborn as in this time, but I guess he'd be the same 
person.  Now, the Queen, my mother, was from Atlantis 
so...wait, the champion of the Star Kingdom was from 
another kingdom?  That doesn't make any sense."  She 
frowned.

	"Most of the Sailor Senshi were from other kingdoms.  
Maybe it was always the brother of whoever the ruler 
married?  Some weird destiny thing."  Umino frowned.  
"Should we be looking for someone middle-aged, then?"

	"I don't know," she said.  "I'm going to see if I 
can learn more about it when we go to the Library."

	He nodded.  "Good idea.  I'll make a list in the 
morning of things we don't know about yet that might be 
good to try to research.  Although I suppose you won't 
have time for all of them."

	"And some likely won't have easily found answers, 
but that's a good idea, Umino."

	"Well, my brain is my only power," he said.  "So 
that's how I can help.  It would be easier if I could go 
look myself, but..."

	"It's too dangerous right now," Naru said.  "But 
maybe once we reclaim it, we could take you there some 
time."

	He nodded, then yawned, so he leaned over and kissed 
her cheek.  "Goodnight, Naru-chan."

	"Goodnight, Gurio-kun."

*************

	Daichi petted Cassandra as he sat on Minako's bed.  
"You think the Library of the Zodiac has any books on how 
to use the Star Power to be a better soccer player?"

	Himeko laughed.  "Planning to join the Zodiac so you 
win your next big game?"

	"We need it," Daichi said.  "Our season starts soon, 
but we suck."  He shrugged.  "Heck, we'd take Hikaru's 
'magic kick' if we could."

	Himeko laughed loudly, as did Pokota.  "I'm sure 
you'll whip them into shape."

	"Or we'll get whipped."  He stared over at Pokota.  
"Take good care of her for me, will ya?  I won't be 
around to bail her out when she gets in over her head 
this time."

	"Hey!" Himeko said.

	"We'll watch over her, Daichi," Cassandra said.  
"Not that a small stuffed lion can really do much if 
she's in trouble, but..."

	"Hey, I've helped Hime-chan a LOT of times!" Pokota 
said.  "Like the time I beat up those gangsters!"

	Cassandra raised an eyebrow.  "You beat up 
gangsters."

	"It was EASY," he said proudly.  "They ran for their 
lives."

	Before Cassandra could get a clarification, Minako 
burst in like a hurricane with Steven in tow.  "Hey, 
Hime-chan, do you mind if Steven stays with us tonight?"

	"..."  Himeko stared at Minako mindlessly.  "You 
mean, like in our room?"

	"No, in our magical kingdom," Minako replied.  "Yes, 
in our room.  If he stayed somewhere else, he wouldn't be 
here, now would he?"

	"Minako, this is really not such a good idea," 
Steven said.  "I'm sure Himeko-san doesn't want me 
cluttering up the place."

	"If you need somewhere to crash, Steven, I've got an 
extra futon in my room.  My roommate probably won't 
care," Daichi said.  "He snores, though."

	"Thanks," Steven said.  "It's getting late, and I 
don't know if I'm up to driving my bike all the way back 
home."

	"No, no, you have to stay with me!" Minako said.  
"You stay with me, and Daichi can stay with Hime-chan, 
and we'll all be happy!"

	Daichi and Himeko both stared at her, and Himeko 
blushed.  "Daichi...staying here with me?  All night?"

	"C'mon, you've slept in the same bed before, right?" 
Minako said.

	"Ummm...no." Himeko replied.

	"Kind of hard to do anything when we were both 
living at home," Daichi said.  "And now we both have 
roommates.  Plus, I don't think I could do it with a 
plushie watching me."

	Pokota blushed.  "I'm sorry."

	"Ain't your fault," Daichi said.  

	"Well, this will be good practice for when you're 
married like me and Steven one day," Minako said.  
"Please, please, please?  I just want to have him hug me 
all night long.  I promise we won't do anything X-rated, 
or even R-rated.  You can call me PG Minako."

	"Well, okay, I guess then," Himeko said, caving in.  
"If you don't mind, Daichi."

	"Pokota told me you roll around a lot when you 
sleep.  How do I know you won't accidentally mangle me?" 
he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

	"Just consider it a beating in advance for the next 
time you're bad," she replied, twinkling back.  "Okay, 
we'll do it," Himeko said very nervously, not quite sure 
why she had said yes at all, but feeling sort of excited 
about having Daichi over for the night at the same time.  

	Cassandra laughed for no apparent reason.  "I'm 
going to sleep."

	"Well, I need to get into my pajamas," Minako said.  
"So you two had better turn around while I change.  Not 
that it matters with Steven and me, but Hime-chan needs 
to change too."

	Being reminded of this made Himeko blush, and then 
she got the feeling of disaster from her spine.  
Something's going to go wrong, she thought. Is it my 
Pluto power or just paranoia?

	The phone rang and she ran over to it.  "Hello, 
Himeko and Minako's room."

	"I need to talk to you, right now," Hikaru said.  
"Without your roommate."  There was a pause.  "You can 
bring Daichi if you want, though."

	Himeko raised an eyebrow, although Hikaru couldn't 
see it.  "It's nearly 1 am, Hikaru."

	"Three monsters tried to kill me tonight.  If the 
Transdimensional Defense Club actually means anything 
beyond watching anime, it's your duty as president to 
make sure I don't get killed.  After watching Saturn get 
stomped on, I don't trust the Sailors to keep me alive."

	"But you trust me to?" Hime-chan asked in surprise.  
"The woman who 'stole your Daichi'?"

	"Is that Hikaru?" Daichi asked.  "Why's she calling 
at this hour?  And tell her I'm not here."

	There was a long silence.  "I almost died tonight.  
I need your help, Nonohara-san, and I'll do anything I 
have to in order to get it."  Her voice had a desperate, 
pleading quality to it that Himeko hadn't thought she'd 
ever hear Hikaru use.  "I know we've never been friends, 
but you're my last hope."

	Himeko gulped at that.  "I'll call a meeting of the 
club for Sunday. I don't think I can get everyone 
together before that.  And..."  She glanced over at 
Daichi and Minako.  "I'll get Daichi, and we'll come stay 
with you tonight, if you want.  But I have stuff I have 
to do tomorrow, so...we'll have to work something out."

	"Thank you," Hikaru said.

	"Wait, we're going over to Hikaru's?  What's going 
on?" Daichi asked.

	"And tell Daichi I could hear him tell you to tell 
me he wasn't there," Hikaru said.  "I'm in 405.  My 
roommate's gone home for the weekend, so we have space.  
See you in a few minutes, Nonohara-san."

	"See you," Himeko said, and hung up.

	"You're going over to Hikaru's tonight?" Minako 
asked in surprise.

	"She's afraid she'll be attacked again."

	"But she's under the protection of the Sailor 
Senshi!" Minako said.

	"I got the impression she's not impressed with us 
right now," Himeko said, throwing some clothing into a 
carry bag.  "You want to come, Daichi?"

	"Yeah, I'd better," he said.  "Even though a night 
with Hikaru will probably drive me insane."  He stood up.  
"See you all tomorrow if we survive."

	"She can't be that bad," Steven said.

	"You're not the obsessive object of her affections," 
Daichi said, then left with Himeko and Pokota.

************

	Hikaru's room was the same as every other dorm room, 
except for being full of expensive knickknacks, like a 
large box of handmade dolls in various styles of 
traditional Japanese dress which took up a large amount 
of space along one wall.  Himeko suspected she could pay 
her tuition at Tsunami for a year with its value.  
Possibly longer, in fact.  

	The window had a spirit ward stuck on it; Himeko 
wondered where Hikaru had gotten one at this hour of the 
night.  A second one was on the inside of the door.  

Hikaru sat on her bed, looking nervous, as Daichi 
and Himeko stowed their stuff.  "Thank you for coming," 
Hikaru said weakly.  "Sailor Mars gave these to me, but 
I'm not feeling very trusting of the sailors right now."  
She pointed to the spirit wards.

"They look fine to me," Himeko said.  She reached 
into her duffelbag and extracted a gun-like weapon with a 
TDDC logo on it, handing it to Hikaru.  "Now you're 
armed.  I went and got three of these from the TDDC 
armory.  Nearly got attacked by Horus in the process.  
Sensei says he'll come put an alarm system on your room 
tomorrow."

"Thank you," Hikaru said, taking the gun.  "I 
remember this.  We used these on that ship raid.  Well, I 
got stuck taking care of everyone's bratty siblings."  
She sighed.  "Daichi's younger brother kept shooting me 
with his water pistol the whole night.  And calling me a 
space monster."  

"He can be a bit of a brat sometimes," Daichi said, 
nodding as he sat down in a chair.  Himeko plopped down 
on the other bed.  "Anyway, the gun is pretty easy to 
use.  Just point and shoot.  It creates this glue stuff 
that'll seal up the monsters."

In theory anyway, Himeko thought.  She extracted a 
second device.  "This generates a capture field," she 
said. "I think I remember how this works."

"Well, that's reassuring," Daichi said.  "Let me 
take a look at it."  He started tinkering with it in a 
way that wasn't much more reassuring either.

"And here's a panic button," Himeko said, passing a 
small gold box with a red button.  "Hit that and it'll 
alert Horus you're in trouble."

Hikaru nodded and put it on the end table by her 
bed.  "Do you think I should tell my parents about this?"

Himeko frowned and leaned back against the wall, 
thinking.  "I don't know.  I mean, there's not much they 
can really do about it, and they might just panic.  On 
the other hand, we don't know if our enemies can leave 
the Tokyo area, so you might be safer on your family's 
estates out in the countryside."  She yawned.  "I'm gonna 
have to sleep soon.  I'm just worn out."

"Me too," Hikaru said.  

"I'll take first watch," Daichi said, hiding his own 
yawn.  "You two sleep."

Once they both fell asleep, Pokota crawled out of 
Himeko's bag, then walked over to Daichi.  "Cards?"

"What about...oh, sure," he whispered.  

They played for a while, then Pokota said, "You 
know, Hibino-san looks sort of cute when she's sleeping."

"I think everyone does," Daichi replied.  "It's the 
one time we can throw all our worries out the window."  
He looked over at Hikaru, then shook his head.  "Never 
thought I'd be in the same room as her when she's 
asleep."  He glanced over at Himeko.  "Or that it would 
be her idea."

"I'm glad Hime-chan doesn't hold a grudge against 
Hibino-san," Pokota said.  

"Hibino-san can be nice when she's not being a brat.  
Which is most of the time," Daichi said, then yawned.  "I 
should have brought some coffee or something."

"I'll keep you awake.  Do you think there will be 
another attack?"

"Yes, but not tonight.  But just in case, we have to 
stay awake."  He yawned again.  "Somehow."

**************

	Minako had just fallen asleep when there was a 
pounding at the door.  She staggered out of bed, being 
glad she'd slept in pajamas tonight.  Opening the door, 
she saw Sensa-san, the dorm mother.  "It's two am, you 
know," she mumbled.

	"We've had reports of some boy sneaking around the 
floor, trying to get into rooms to steal women's..."  
Sensa-san trailed off, staring over Minako's shoulder.  
"You never give up, do you, Aino-san?"

	"Mrr, wha?" Minako stared at her in confusion.  
"Give what up?"

	"I'm going to have to call your parents once I throw 
him out," she said.

	Steven stirred, mumbling incoherently.

	"Call my...oh," Minako said, trying to get her brain 
running.  "Can you call them tomorrow?  They don't answer 
the phone this late, and I need to go back to bed before 
Steven gets cold."

	Sensa-san pursed her lips, then smiled a tiny smile.  
"You need to dance around on fire, Aino-san."

	"Lemme find the lighter fluid," Minako mumbled.

	She sighed.  "It's time for your boyfriend to go 
home, Aino-san.  And tomorrow, we talk to your parents."

	"Okay," she said.

	She must be sleep walking, Sensa-san thought.  Or 
something.  I have a feeling this is going to be a long 
night.

*************

	Hikaru woke up and saw Daichi curled up asleep on 
the floor by the bed Himeko was in.  He had Pokota lying 
on his shoulder, which made Hikaru laugh.  Why's he 
sleeping with Nonohara's doll? she asked herself.  Wait, 
he's asleep when he's supposed to be on watch!  That lazy 
Nonohara didn't get up and keep watch either.  

	For a moment, she was very angry with them, but then 
it faded.  I'm lucky they'd come stay with me at all, she 
thought.  After everything I've put them through.  She 
yawned.  Maybe I can use some more sleep myself.

	She fell back on the pillow and let sweet dreams 
take her away.

**************

	"Chef Haruka at your service," Haruka said as she 
put the plate of sandwiches down on the patio table.  
Michiru came out with her and put down two bowls of food 
for Augur and Cassandra, then went back inside.

	Himeko dug into them like they were going out of 
style, while Naru and Setsuna both ate in a rather more 
dignified manner.  Tomoe-san grabbed one and retreated to 
his deck chair, possibly to protect it, while Hotaru 
failed to get any.  

	"Hey, what about me?" she asked.

	"Come with me and I'll make you a special order," 
Haruka said, going inside with her.

	Naru put down her sandwich and said, "So the 
guardians are lesser golems?"

	"Constructed by Capricorn," Setsuna said.  "There 
will probably be defenses appropriate to each Zodiac 
member.  They've done quite a job warding the Library.  
Oh, Himeko, you forgot to tell your friend Erika you'd 
gathered everything."

	Himeko's eyes widened, and she slapped her forehead.  
"I got so wrapped up in making sure Hikaru didn't have a 
heart attack or something that I forgot.  I'm going to 
have to go home and..."

	"You can do it later.  We won't be time traveling, 
so you won't need it.  It would only be useful for your 
super attack, and you're not ready for that."

	Himeko nodded.  "I'll just call Daichi and have him 
write a message for Erika in our exchange diary."  She 
got up and went inside.

	Setsuna watched her go, frowning.

	"You don't approve of Daichi?" Naru asked.

	"He seems a nice enough boy from the little I've 
seen of him," Tomoe-san said.

	"His brother is mean to cats," Augur said, frowning 
and twitching his tail.

	"He will die one day.  And then she will have to go 
on for centuries, for millennia without him.  She will 
have to watch him age and die.  It is not a pleasant 
experience," Setsuna said.  "Assuming it even lasts."

	"Everything perishes," Tomoe-san said.  "Even the 
sun will eventually go out.  Should we not enjoy its 
light and warmth while it lasts?  I've walked in the 
shadow too long to ever curse the light because it must 
eventually fade."

	"Don't you know if it will last?" Naru asked 
Setsuna.

	"Some things are fixed in stone.  Others are hard to 
avoid.  And some are hard to predict.  Especially when 
another who wields the power of time is involved," 
Setsuna said.  "It would be better if she did not have to 
spend millennia longing for him when he is gone forever."

	"Better to have loved and lost than never to have 
loved at all," Naru said.  "You're just jealous because 
you didn't let yourself fall in love back when you were 
our age, so you didn't even have anyone to long for all 
those years."  She finished off her sandwich.

	Augur shook his head.  "You should be more 
respectful to Pluto, even if you disagree with her."

	Setsuna frowned at her.  "I am not so petty.  I'm 
just thinking of what's best for her."

	"I'll decide that for myself," Himeko said.  "You're 
not the only one seeing the future around her."

	Setsuna started slightly, then said, "Nicely done, 
hiding yourself from my sight."

	Cassandra said, "I've been working on that with her.  
Among other things."

	"You were too busy deciding how I should run my life 
to look," Himeko said.  "I'm not breaking up with Daichi 
and that's that.  Everything's squared away, so I'm ready 
to go once I eat my sandwich."

	Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru emerged with more 
sandwiches.  "I still think we should go with you," 
Haruka said.

	"No, this is Odysseus' quest," Setsuna said.  "Just 
be ready to come if we call."

	"Can our communicators reach all that distance?" 
Himeko asked.

	"I can boost the signal with my talisman," Setsuna 
said.  "My staff has many uses."

	"Let me finish eating, and then I'll be ready to 
go," Himeko said.

***************

	Odysseus said to Pluto, "I hope we don't tire 
ourselves out too much with such a long range teleport."

	"We won't.  It's easy for any of us to return to the 
planet we're linked to, and the Library is on what 
remains of Odysseus, in the asteroid belt."

	Augur nodded.  "Pluto is right."

	"There's no air, though."  This thought had just 
struck her.

	"We can breathe in space," Pluto said.  She took 
Odysseus and the junior Pluto's hands.  "Ready?"

	"Ready," the junior Pluto said.  "Don't worry, 
Odysseus.  I don't foresee us dying in vacuum or 
anything."

	Odysseus took the hands of the two Plutos.  "I 
certainly hope you're right."

	"She is," the senior Pluto said.

	"Have no worries, Odysseus," Augur said.  "Your 
power will shield you, as mine will shield me."  He 
jumped up onto Odysseus' shoulder, nearly knocking her 
down.

	"We've done this before," Cassandra said.  "Walked 
with no air, that is."  She simply sat on the junior 
Pluto's foot.

	Odysseus nodded, but she still felt a little 
paranoid.

	"Have fun!" Haruka said.

	"Be careful," Michiru said.

	"Bring me back a memento!" Hotaru said.

	Tomoe-san walked over and kissed Pluto on the cheek.  
"Will you be back for dinner?"

	"Probably not," she said, then kissed him back, 
looking a little nervous.  "Don't wait up for me."

	He stepped back.

	"SAILOR TELEPORT!"  And they vanished in a spray of 
light.

	"I hope they'll be okay," Hotaru said.

	"Well, I plan to test out my crystal observation 
lattice again and try watching them," Tomoe-san said.  
"Would you all like to join me until it's time for your 
game?"

	"Good idea," Haruka said.  "But can it reach all the 
way to the Asteroid Belt?"

	"Well, I tried taking a close up look at the Great 
Red Spot on Jupiter earlier today without any problems, 
so we should be fine.  Not that there was much to see 
there but red gas."  

*************

	The world blinked in, becoming a flat expanse of 
gray, cracked stone spreading out left, right, and behind 
of the Sailor Senshi.  Above them was the most perfectly 
black sky Naru or Odysseus had ever seen, with the stars 
shining as perfect pin points of light above them.  In 
front of them was a battered stone building that reminded 
Odysseus and the junior Pluto of the Parthenon, a great 
stone rectangle surrounded by pillars, on top of a huge 
twelve step dais.  The front door faced them, two huge 
bronze plates each marked with an eight pointed star, at 
the far end of a long portico.  The edge of the vaulted 
roof was full of statues of various people and beings 
neither of them had ever heard of, though they tickled 
forgotten memories.

	The building was surrounded by a hedge maze, which 
itself was surrounded by a twenty foot wide circular 
stone strip which marked the inside of a fifteen foot 
wide moat full of water.  A single slab of granite formed 
a slightly arched stone bridge over the moat; the only 
dry means of entrance to the inside of the moat, which 
surrounded the library.  The words 'Royal Library' were 
etched into the stone over the front doors.

	"I just thought of something," the junior Pluto 
said.

	"Yes?" Odysseus replied.

	"Why does the Star Kingdom have an eight pointed 
star when the Zodiac has 12 members?"

	Augur started to speak, but Pluto was faster than he 
was.  "Because the Zodiac only existed half its history," 
Pluto replied.  "The eight pointed star stands for the 
Eight Paths of Destiny."

	"Eight Paths of Destiny?" Odysseus asked, turning to 
stare at the star on her brooch and on the door.

	"It was part of Astra's philosophical system, which 
I never studied in great detail, as I had other duties," 
Pluto said.  "It was an effort to systematize the study 
of Destiny, a line of research which led eventually to 
the Zodiac, which approached the problem from the belief 
in twelve kinds of Destiny.  Once you have the Orb of the 
Stars, you may want to study Astra's teachings more 
thoroughly, in order to use it properly."

	"I have studied it," Augur said.  "But I don't think 
it's important enough to worry about right now.

	"So, she thought there were eight potential kinds of 
Destiny?" Odysseus asked.  "That doesn't seem like many 
to encompass everyone."

	"They were broad categories," Pluto said.  "But that 
doesn't matter right now, as the defenses of this place 
were set by the Zodiac, according to their system.  We'll 
face some sort of trap or threat from each of them before 
we get through those doors."

	"Can't we just teleport to the doors?" Odysseus 
asked.

	Pluto shook her head, "We would be flung into the 
middle of the traps by teleportation wards.  I tried that 
the last time."

	Odysseus shivered.  "Then the bridge is probably a 
trap."

	"Most definitely," Pluto said.  "Well hidden and 
protected so that my time sight will likely only give 
very short warning."

	"The link between the Star Power and Destiny makes 
befuddling those who would gaze through time quite easy," 
Augur said.  

	"We could just jump past the moat," the junior Pluto 
said.

	"Sounds good to me," Odysseus replied.

	"There will likely be traps to stop that as well," 
Pluto said.  "But it will do as a plan to start with.  
The maze entrance is near the bridge, so that is a good 
place to jump near.  With luck, perhaps we can jump all 
the way into it."  

	They walked across the bare rock towards the moat.  
Odysseus asked, "How can the hedges live with no air?"

	"There is a bubble of air around the library, 
maintained by the Star Power.  I'm not sure why the 
Zodiac did that, since they can also breathe without air 
and the books would probably hold up better in a vacuum 
or in a bubble of inert gases."  She shrugged.  "The 
defenses were different last time, but there always seem 
to be things present which require oxygen.  Perhaps it is 
due to three Zodiac members being linked to the element 
of Air and another three to Fire, which requires Air."

	"And there's the moat for Water.  And the ground for 
Earth," Odysseus said.  "Any idea how many traps we can 
expect?"

	"Twelve.  Some will be traps, some more like 
puzzles, and others will be guardians.  The moat will 
likely contain attack fish, for example," Augur said.

	As they drew closer, the junior Pluto looked into 
the water.  "I don't see any fish or serpents or 
anything.  And when I look along the lines where we get 
in the water, nothing happens."

	"Odysseus, if you will," Pluto said.

	"Will what?"  Odysseus blinked, then realized what 
Pluto meant.  She looked in the water.  "There's a lot of 
long fish, sort of like a cross between a fish and an 
eel, but with really sharp looking teeth in their mouths.  
I've seen them, but I can't think of what they're 
called."

	"Barracudas?" Pluto asked.  

	"Yeah, that might be the name."

	The junior Pluto rubbed her eyes and looked again.  
"I don't see anything."

	"Odysseus draws her strength from the Star Power, 
and thus their spells which shield their traps do not 
work very well against her, although the traps likely 
will work on her.  And our powers should work once the 
traps are triggered; at least, I was able to use my time 
sight last time on triggered traps.  By then it's usually 
too late, though."

	Augur nodded. "Pluto is right.  We could try to 
unweave the spells, but that would likely alert them to 
our presence.  Also, it takes months to learn how to 
unweave traps without setting them off and we don't have 
months."

	"We should have traveled through time to before they 
put up the defenses," Cassandra said.

	"After our last trip, I'd rather not," Odysseus 
said.

	Odysseus carefully examined the bridge.  "I don't 
see anything special."

	Pluto frowned.  "There must be some sort of trap."

	"Well, we can just jump past the water," the junior 
Pluto said.  "Or do you see any traps on the edge of the 
moat?"

	Odysseus stared intently past the moat.  "Nothing 
invisible, but there's some sort of runes drawn on it."

	"Invisible to us runes," the junior Pluto said.  
"Well, maybe we should take the bridge."

	The senior Pluto looked around and found a rock, 
then hurled it across the moat.  It landed just past it, 
and a massive wall of fire flared up, fifteen feet high 
and a foot thick, just inside the moat.  "It looks like 
we'll be taking the bridge."

	"I think we should just try to sprint to about 
halfway across it and jump to the maze entrance from 
there,"  Odysseus said.

	The junior Pluto looked over at Pluto, and for a 
moment, they both stared at the bridge, then sighed in 
unison.  "It'll have to do," Pluto said.  "We lack the 
information to make a better plan."

	The trio and the two nervous cats got into a wedge 
formation with Pluto as the wedge, then got down into a 
race starting position.  "Three, two, one, GO!" Pluto 
said. 

	They took off running towards the bridge.  The 
instant their feet hit the wood, the trouble started.  
Four bronze archers popped up on the roof of the library 
and began firing at the three Senshi.  The water in the 
moat began to roil as the barracudas appeared and as some 
of the water formed up into waterspouts that closed in on 
the bridge.  Finally, a huge iron goat charged out of the 
maze entrance, right at Pluto.  

	"dead scream," Pluto proclaimed, and garnet energy 
blasted into the goat in a wave, shattering it.

	Meanwhile, the junior Pluto and Odysseus had 
instinctively dodged to the side when the goat came at 
them, which was a bad idea on a bridge.  The junior Pluto 
arced forward, landing on the runes, which erupted in 
flame.  She screamed as she was tossed skyward.  
Odysseus, less agile, fell off the side of the bridge 
into the water.  Angry waterspouts and flesh-eating fish 
closed in on her.  

Cassandra nearly fell in, but Augur managed to stomp 
on her tail, preventing her jumping the wrong way.  She 
clawed him instinctively, and they had a brief cat fight 
which tumbled them back off the bridge onto the rock.

	Pluto turned and knelt on the side of the bridge, 
offering her staff to Odysseus, who she managed to pull 
out of the water.  Several waterspouts battered Odysseus 
in the process, but she barely felt it.  A barracuda 
tried to bite her leg, but only left a small cut, and 
another one couldn't even get through her boot leather.

	The junior Pluto, on the other hand, was in agony 
from the flames, although they did little actual damage, 
and were quickly extinguished when she fell in the water.  
Flailing about, she took several minor fish bites before 
she reached the surface and pulled herself out on the 
outside of the moat.  

	Pluto turned to the junior Pluto.  "Hurry up, 
before..."

	"Look out!" Odysseus said too late.

	Another iron goat charged and rammed Pluto in the 
butt.  She went flying off the bridge onto the gray rock 
outside the moat, sprawling in an undignified manner.  

	"Before you get your ass kicked," the junior Pluto 
said too late, sighing.

	"STAR BOLT!"  A bolt of white light tore through the 
goat's chest, causing it to dissipate.  Then an arrow 
struck Odysseus in the chest, but got snarled in her bow 
before it could pierce her armor or flesh.  More arrows 
followed, and she began to dodge desperately.

	"Retreat!" the junior Pluto shouted.

	Odysseus fled the bridge right as another flaming 
goat came charging out after her.

	The two cats glared at each other, then Augur 
sighed.  "I did not mean to injure you, Lady Cassandra."

	She looked surprised, then nodded.  "I'm sorry I 
clawed you."

	"Well, that went poorly," Odysseus said.

	"And those will likely be the weakest defenses," 
Pluto said.

	"THAT was the weak defenses?" the junior Pluto asked 
in disbelief.

	Augur nodded in agreement.  "One trap for each 
Zodiac member most likely.  The moat, for Aquarius, who 
is at Nadir.  Fish for Pisces.  The goat for Capricorn.  
The wall of fire for Aries...although I'm surprised he 
didn't go for a flaming ram to go with the goat.  And 
archers for Sagittarius.  So the maze probably has a bull 
or minotaur for Taurus, and...scorpions for Scorpio.  I 
can't think of what Gemini, Libra, or Virgo could really 
do for a trap.  Crabs for Cancer.  And probably a 
superlion for Leo."  He frowned.  "Maybe we should call 
for backup."

	"Not yet," Cassandra said.  "Only if we are 
desperate.  Quests are not meant to be easy."

	The trio stared at the defenses, both Plutos looking 
fairly irritated.  Augur looked thoughtful, while 
Cassandra paced back and forth.  Odysseus tapped her 
cheek several times, then said, "I have a plan."

	"What's the plan?" the junior Pluto asked.

	"I'll move onto the bridge to draw out the archers 
and the goat.  Hime-chan, you throw rocks to set off the 
fire trap when I do that.  Then both of you fire dead 
scream into the moat so that the water erupts out and 
douses the wall of fire while I blind the archers with my 
Solar Flare.  I can dodge the goat, and then we can all 
blast it so it stays dead this time."

	Augur nodded.  "A good plan.  Cassandra and I will 
wait out here, since there's not much we can do to help."

	Cassandra pursed her lips but said nothing.

	They moved into position, then nervously, Odysseus 
ran out onto the bridge.  The archers popped up and the 
goat came out.  "Solar FLARE!"  A great burst of light 
lit up the roof and the archers began firing wildly.  

	The wall of fire flared, and the goat charged 
towards Odysseus, who got ready to flee if something went 
wrong.  Two dead screams emptied a large section of the 
moat onto the wall of flame which went out, and the two 
Plutos leaped across to the now fire-free zone.

	Odysseus simply leaped upwards and let the goat pass 
under her.  It skidded off the bridge and turned for 
another charge.  "Come and get me!" she shouted.

	"Look out, there's another one!" the junior Pluto 
shouted, as a third goat charged out of the maze.  "dead 
scream."  She knocked that one back into the maze, while 
Odysseus and Pluto combined their attacks to kill off the 
second one.  
	
	When it made a final charge, Pluto moved in, knocked 
it off its feet with a low staff sweep, then grabbed it 
and tossed it down into the moat, where the fish began to 
attack it.  

	They all took a deep sigh of relief, only to have to 
each dodge an arrow as the archers regained their sight.  
"Into the maze!" Pluto said.

	The cats sprinted across the bridge and joined them 
as they ran into the maze, made up of thick hedge rows 
which rose up a good fifteen feet on both sides, forming 
corridors just wide enough for a person to stretch their 
arms out completely.  "I'll lead," Pluto said.

	"I'll go second, then," Odysseus said.  Augur hopped 
up onto her shoulder.

	"Third for me, I guess," the junior Pluto said.  
Cassandra walked alongside her.

	They began moving into the maze, following the 
'always turn left' rule.  After about ten minutes of 
walking, the junior Pluto said, "This is too easy 
compared to what came before."

	"Perhaps it's intended to create a false sense of 
security," the senior Pluto said.

	"Maybe we got here while the Minotaur was sleeping," 
Odysseus suggested.

	Augur thought for a moment.  "Try using your brooch 
to sense the Star Power at work, Odysseus.  You should be 
able to feel where the exit is, and hopefully the general 
layout of the maze."

	"I can do that?" she asked.

	"Yes."

	She put a hand on her brooch, closed her eyes and 
focused. "I can feel the power of Taurus around us.  The 
maze...it's reconfiguring itself.  We'll never get out if 
we follow the paths marked for us.  We'll just walk until 
we get tired, then when we have to sleep, the minotaur 
will strike."

	"We could climb up and try walking on top of the 
bushes," the junior Pluto said.

	"They won't support our weight properly.  Ever tried 
walking on bushes, my apprentice?" Pluto asked.

	"I guess you're right."

	"We'll have to just make our own path," Odysseus 
said, opening her eyes and pointing.  "The exit is that 
way.  If we combine our powers, I can clear us a path 
with a Star Bolt."

	Pluto looked pleased, and said, "Good."  

	They joined hands, with the Plutos feeding power to 
Odysseus, who shouted, "STAR BOLT!"  A six foot wide 
cylinder of white light punched through the maze, frying 
several dozen hedges and creating a 'road' to the exit.  
Odysseus sagged slightly.  

	 They moved forward quickly towards a large stone 
archway, which framed the great dais that was the 
library's foundation. As they moved forward, Cassandra 
said, "Is it just me, or does the ground look strange in 
front of that arch?"

	Most of the maze had dirt or grass for a floor, but 
red cobblestones formed a roughly oval shape around the 
exit from the maze; they varied in shade, making it look 
rather like the sort of pattern used to test 
colorblindness.  Odysseus stared at it, and just before 
they reached it, she made out the symbol of Scorpio 
amongst the splotches of red, formed by the darkest red 
stones.  "Looks like the sign of Scorpio."

	"That must be Scorpio's trap," Augur said.  

	"Thank you for stating the obvious," Cassandra 
replied.

	"So, we have to get past without touching them," 
Odysseus said.  "But I bet the arch has a forcefield or 
bursts into flame.  I can't think of what Zodiac sign 
would have anything to do with arches, though."

	"Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are Earth signs; it's 
a stone arch, so it could be Virgo.  Or just an extension 
of Taurus' trap," Augur said.

	There was a great roar, and a muscular man with the 
head of a bull, clad only in a toga and carrying a double 
bladed axe, charged down one of the side tunnels towards 
them.  

	"I think the minotaur holds that job," the junior 
Pluto said.

	"I'll deal with the minotaur," Pluto said, moving 
into a fighting position.  You two figure out Scorpio's 
trap."

	She moved forward and began parrying the minotaur's 
blows.  She had more skill, but it was much stronger than 
her, so slowly she had to give ground, forced back by the 
sheer power of its blows.

	"The weird thing is that Scorpio is an air sign," 
Augur said.  "Stone traps aren't her style."

	"Maybe it releases poison gas when you step on it?" 
the junior Pluto speculated.

	Odysseus picked up a branch from one of the bushes 
and poked the outermost rock.  It suddenly stood up, 
sprouted limbs, mandibles, and a stinger.  Then the other 
'rocks' did the same.  Dozens of scorpions stared at her, 
waving their stingers.  "Uh oh."

	They rushed forward, right into... "dead scream," 
the junior Pluto said, and a wave of energy rushed over 
them, frying the front ranks, but still more kept coming.

	"Solar FLARE!" Odysseus shouted, hoping to blind 
them.  Unfortunately, scorpions don't need sight to find 
you.  They kept coming and she started running.  

	Pluto had to leap backwards, then push off the 
archway itself to bounce away at an angle to avoid the 
squadron of scorpions which rushed towards her.  She 
landed by the junior Pluto, who had climbed up the side 
of one of the bush walls, and clung to the bush with her 
as scorpions ran about under them.  Augur perched amongst 
the greenery, while Cassandra had run up another bush.  

	The minotaur closed in on them slowly, ignoring the 
scorpions, who also ignored him.  Augur said, "I think 
we're in big trouble."

	"AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"  Listening to Odysseus 
scream didn't help.

	"We've only got one choice," Pluto said.  "You're 
going to have to..."  She shook her head.  "No, that's 
such a stupid idea I can't even say it."

	The junior Pluto sighed.  Her time sight had shown 
her the potential future where Pluto had actually 
explained her plan.  "Well, I haven't got a better idea."

	She scrambled up on top of the bush, which swayed 
under her weight, then dropped down on the far side of 
it.  I hope this works while I'm Sailor Pluto, she 
thought.  She took out a compact and stuck it in the 
bushes, then looked into the mirror, crossing her arms in 
front of her and saying, "Parallel parallel Female 
Minotaur ni nare."  

	With a flash of light, she became a female minotaur 
in a Sailor Pluto uniform.  I'm so glad no one can 
photograph me like this, the junior Pluto thought.  She 
ran around the end of the bush just as the Minotaur came 
charging around.  

	It stopped and stared at her, and then tiny hearts 
formed round its head.  "Lovely!" it grunted, then 
charged at her, dropping its axe, arms wide.

	This was NOT how it was supposed to work, the junior 
Pluto thought.  I've really got to get the knack of 
quickly examining possible futures down, she thought as 
she ran with the amorous minotaur in hot pursuit.

	Meanwhile, Pluto now blasted the remaining scorpions 
to bits, free of pressure from the minotaur, and then 
went looking for Odysseus.  She found Odysseus up another 
bush, which was pulling loose under her weight.  She 
blasted the scorpions.  "Come with me; we have to go save 
my apprentice now."

	It took some searching to find them, and then 
Odysseus boggled.  The minotaur had her in an embrace and 
was trying to kiss 'Minotaur-Pluto'.  "She...what 
happened?"

	"Her disguise ribbon."  Pluto shook her head.  
"Men."

	"Pluto anti-hentai KICK!" Minotauress-Pluto shouted 
as the Minotaur tried to kiss her.  He flew airborne into 
the sky, then vanished.  The junior Pluto turned back to 
normal.  "Ugh."

	"Well, now we can get out," Odysseus said.

	The archway, however, had an invisible wall in it.  
Efforts to blast the bushes around it failed as well.  
The archway was made of thirteen stones, each embossed 
with a sign of the zodiac, except for the capstone of the 
arch, which had the seal of the Star Kingdom upon it, 
drawn to somewhat resemble the sun.  The arch was about 
five feet wide, but a good twelve feet high.

	"Puzzle lock," Augur said.  "Press the proper stones 
and it lets you through.  Otherwise, you set off the 
trap."

	"Shouldn't it have some sort of clue, then?"  
Odysseus said.

	"They don't WANT anyone to get through.  It's just 
intended to enable them to get through, or it probably 
wouldn't have a solution at all."  He frowned.  "For that 
matter, it still might not have a solution.  Their anti-
teleportation wards won't stop Zodiac people just 
teleporting straight in."

	"Perhaps if you press the sign of whichever Zodiac 
member put this here?"  Cassandra suggested.

	"Well, it's sort of V shaped, and Virgo is an Earth 
sign, and the arch is shaped of stone," Odysseus said.  
She pushed the Virgo stone and it glowed.  "Hey, I think 
I got it."

	When she stepped forward, a powerful wind blew 
through the arch and hurled her back into the bushes.  
"Ugh."

	"Well, we have time to think about this," Augur 
said.  "So let's think."

	They sat down and began arguing through the 
possibilities.

***************

	 Umino had to resist the urge to take photos; a clip 
of photos of the Sailor Senshi playing an RPG would 
likely sell for a ridiculous amount of money.  Uranus, 
Neptune, and Saturn had shown up in uniform and convinced 
the others to transform just in case they were needed.  
It seemed more sensible to him to conserve their energy 
by transforming when the panic call came, but they didn't 
listen to him.  It didn't hurt their playing, so he let 
it slide.  It did make him, Steven, and Ryo look out of 
place.

	"Okay, so far, Alexandrite has four of the Crystals 
of Power and you have three of them, and the Delphi 
Council has one.  So, what's your plan for getting the 
five you don't have?"

	"I hacked the Delphi Council's systems last time," 
Neptune said.  "Their pathetic low tech security was no 
match for my skills.  They're holding the Crystal of 
Aysle at a facility in the Nevada desert.  Something 
called 'Area 51'.  I suggest we stage a raid and recover 
that one first.  Also, they apparently have several other 
useful artifacts stored there."

	"I've acquired enough explosives to blow it up on 
our way out," Uranus said.  "We have to make sure they 
don't know we're behind the raid.  Now, here's my plan."

	Uranus began laying out her plan for the raid while 
everyone crowded around the blueprints of the facility 
which Umino had spent most of a day drawing up when 
Haruka had approached him about this idea the previous 
Monday.  He wasn't sure if he should be glad she was 
getting into the game, or worried she was getting into it 
too much.

	For the moment, he simply watched them argue, half 
in character, and half out of character about whether or 
not to raid the facility in such a destructive manner.  
To his and Usagi's surprise, Tuxedo Kamen's character, 
Darien d'Tocqueville, a cyberknight from the Cyberpapacy, 
was supporting the 'kill everything that moves' plan, 
while Usagi, Steven, and Minako were arguing for a more 
subtle plan.  Ami and Ryo kept getting talked over every 
time they tried to open their mouths, Hotaru was 
stumbling through the spell design rules, and Makoto was 
ignoring them and trying to design an occult ritual to 
simply summon the Crystal of Aysle to her.  

	I hope Naru's okay, Umino thought.  We haven't heard 
from them, but I guess that's good.

***********

	"We could..." the junior Pluto began.

	The senior Pluto shook her head.  "Lightning bolt."

	Odysseus watched them in frustration; they kept 
anticipating each other's most likely statements and 
answering questions that weren't even finished.  It was 
starting to drive her nuts.  Augur was curled up in her 
lap, supposedly thinking...but it looked like he was 
sleeping.  Cassandra was pacing back and forth in front 
of the gate.  "Wake up, Augur," she said.

	"I'm meditating," he said.  "Trying to pull any 
scraps of lore out of my head that might give us a clue."

	Odysseus stared up at the top of the arch.  "I want 
to know why they put the Royal symbol up there when 
they're out to get us."

	"It's between Capricorn and Aquarius," Cassandra 
said.  "Roughly, though not quite at the Winter Solstice.  
Symbolizing the start of a new solar year.  Hmm, maybe 
the key to this is to touch the one for the current 
Zodiac month?"

	"Which would be Leo," Odysseus said.

	"How about..." the senior Pluto began.

	"If we want to be on fire, yes," the junior Pluto 
replied.  "Otherwise, no."

	Augur hopped off Odysseus' lap and went over to the 
arch.  "Friend," he said, then tried to pass through and 
bounced off the invisible field.  "Well, that didn't 
work," he said.  "But I had to try."

	Odysseus had an idea.  She put her hand on her 
brooch again and concentrated on trying to feel how the 
power flowed through the archway, seeking the 'key' to 
opening it.  Two of the archway stones flashed in her 
sight--the sign of the royal family, and the sign of 
Gemini.

	Examining the arch, she could see it was impossible 
for a single person to push both at once, but she sensed 
that was how it opened.  The one for the royal family was 
the capstone, while the Gemini one was down near the 
bottom of the right side.  Good thing I brought help, she 
thought.

	"I've got it," she said.

	"Good idea," Pluto replied.

	"Stop that!!!!" Odysseus shouted.  "You're making me 
crazy."

	Pluto stepped forward and tapped the top one with 
her staff while touching the Gemini sign with her foot.  
There was a brief surge of power, but the gateway only 
flickered open.  Something wasn't quite right.  "Almost."

	"Maybe it takes two people for Gemini," Odysseus 
said.  "One touches the top, one touches the other."

	"I will lift you onto my shoulders, then while you 
touch the top one, I'll poke the Gemini one with my 
staff," Pluto said.  "The top sigil is yours."

	The junior Pluto helped them get Odysseus into 
place, and then they stepped forward and followed the 
plan.  The field weakened, but still allowed no passage.  
Pluto smiled and tapped the Gemini sigil a second time 
and the path parted completely.

	They all ran through and started up the steps to the 
front door, only to be confronted by three odd statues.  
One was a marble statue of the Greek goddess Artemis, 
clad in furs and armed with a bow and spear.  A second 
was a red crab of metal the size of a greyhound.  And the 
third was that of a blindfolded woman holding a sword in 
one hand and scales in the other.  

	"Virgo, Cancer, and Libra," Augur said.

	"None shall pass," the Libra golem said.

	"Turn aside from your quest if you wish to live," 
the crab announced.

	"Or we will hunt you to the ends of the Earth," 
Virgo's golem said.

	"I always thought Virgo was a young, innocent virgin 
girl," the junior Pluto said.  "Not a barbarian."

	"Artemis was a virgin goddess," Pluto replied.  
"Although it does surprise me, as Virgo's strengths do 
not lie in warfare."

	"Virgo waxes," the Virgo golem said.  "All my 
strengths grow in might."

	Odysseus stepped forward.  "I am the Star Princess, 
Astra.  This is my library.  You are trespassing and your 
organization was disbanded and exiled from all the lands 
of the Star Kingdom.  Leave NOW or face my wrath."  She 
folded her arms in front of her and did her best to look 
defiant.

	"The Royal Family is dead.  The Star Kingdom is 
dead.  You are an anachronism whose time has past; there 
are no more true monarchies in this modern world," the 
crab said.  "You usurp power which would be better suited 
for the hands of others.  You lack training, you lack 
experience, and you've always been nothing but pathetic 
monster fodder.  You couldn't save your own mother from 
being victimized by monsters, and even now, you had to 
take the most powerful of the Sailor Senshi with you on 
whatever fool's errand brought you here."  The crab had a 
female voice, harsh with derision.

	Odysseus felt herself wilting under the verbal 
assault.  Too much of it was true.  The Star Kingdom was 
gone, the royal family had died, monarchy was swift 
passing from the world.  She had needed the help of the 
Plutos to get this far; she would probably have never 
even gotten past the moat on her own.  She didn't even 
know if the library really had the information she 
needed; after all, they hadn't had time to write down 
where the Orb would be hidden when they died, had they?

	"And you're an ugly metal crab who wouldn't even 
taste good in a boiling pot," the junior Pluto said.

	"And you're the half-wit, half-trained apprentice of 
Pluto," the crab replied.  "I've gotten quite a few 
laughs out of your pathetic antics today.  Too stupid to 
make your own talisman yourself so you have to get 
someone else to help, too much of a tomboy to have a real 
relationship with a man...how long until he gets tired of 
you never showing any real affection for him?"

	"Daichi knows how I feel!" the junior Pluto 
protested, but the doubts she still felt at times, even 
after over two years of more or less being Daichi's 
girlfriend, rushed over her again.  Why is it so hard for 
us to show each other how we feel openly?, she asked 
herself.  I just about have to use pliers on him to get 
him to even hold my hand.

	"How can he when he's never felt you?  Why don't YOU 
show him more affection if you want it in return?"

	The junior Pluto spluttered helplessly, unable to 
get herself to calm down enough to give a coherent 
response.  The crab had hit one of her sore spots, and to 
make matters worse, it shared in Cancer's powers over 
emotions and the mind.  

	"And as for you," the crab said, turning to Pluto, 
but never finished its sentence.

	"dead scream," Pluto said, then as the crab flew up 
the stairs and crashed into the double doors, continued 
by saying, "I've already had my lifestyle critique for 
the day, thank you."

	The Virgo golem opened fire on the junior Pluto, who 
began leaping about, trying to avoid getting shot.  The 
Libra golem charged at Pluto, sword sweeping at waist 
level, only to be blocked by her staff.  They began 
fighting sword to staff up and down the stairs while the 
cats took cover.

	Odysseus tried to pull herself together.  I can't 
lose it now, she thought.  They need me.

	"They don't need you," the crab said, beginning to 
scuttle clumsily down the stairs towards her.  It was in 
bad shape.  "The Plutos have more power than you can 
comprehend.  All you can do is a simple flare, which any 
camera can do, and an energy blast that couldn't even 
save you from a bunch of perfectly ordinary scorpions.  
It's only a matter of time before they win out over those 
losers and save you, thus demonstrating once again that 
you're worthless.  It's a pity they weren't around when 
you let Nephrite die."

	"I didn't LET him die!  I did my best to save him!"  
Her hands clenched into fists, and she had to struggle to 
avoid losing herself in the nightmarish memory of his 
death.

	"Either you let him die, or you really don't have 
any power after all," the crab said.  "Surely the 'mighty 
Star Princess' could have done more for him than just 
pull out a thorn and watch him die in her arms.  You 
should leave the hero business to people who have what it 
takes.  You're not suited to be anything but a victim, 
and if you keep this up, people who are counting on you 
will be hurt."

	"Dammit, stop shooting at me!" the junior Pluto 
shouted at the Virgo golem.  "I can't do anything."

	"That's the idea, you idiot," it replied, keeping up 
the barrage.

	"You've got to ignore it, Odysseus," Augur said.  
"Cancer's guardian golem is just trying to prey on your 
fears!  Cancer's power is to sway emotions and minds.  
Just use your Star Bolt on it."

	"I took Pluto's dead scream full force and kept 
going.  Do you think your pathetic Star Bolt has any 
chance to hurt me?" the crab asked.  It looked a little 
less damaged than it had before, in fact.  "There is no 
one to save you this time, not even the White Knight.  He 
cannot come to your aid here, here where we rule.  Nor 
will your friends on Earth be able to come if you call."

	What if it's right, she asked herself.  Maybe I 
can't hurt it on my own, and if I use up too much of my 
strength, I won't even be able to run.  And if the White 
Knight was coming, he would have already shown up by now.  
Where is he when I need him?  Memories of being lifted by 
a youma who had mimicked her mother came to mind, 
memories of being grabbed and manhandled by Zoicite's 
youma minions, memories of the heart at the love contest 
turning into a monster all flooded her mind, and the fear 
she'd thought she'd left behind all came back.  Nephrite 
was dying in her arms all over again.

	She fell to her knees, lost in her own pain.  She 
couldn't save her mother.  She couldn't save Nephrite.  
She couldn't save Umino.  She couldn't...but she had.  
She'd helped her mother get the store back in order after 
all the chaos of what the youma had done to it two years 
ago.  She'd saved Nephrite's soul from damnation.  And 
she had brought Umino back from the dead.  How many 
people could say that?  She wasn't powerless.  She had 
power.  

	She had faced down the Senshi of Death and survived.  
She had taken every blow a city full of monsters could 
fling at her and kept going.  She had saved her friends 
when the Golden Ring had turned out to be a trap.  It was 
her plans which had gotten them past the moat and its 
guardians, through the maze, and out of the maze.  

And it was her power the Zodiac was abusing--the 
Star Power, the power of Odysseus, the wandering planet.  
Her planet.  The kingdom had fallen, the peoples had 
scattered, there was no throne on which she could sit.  
But the stars remained and their power was hers by right.  
Power which the Zodiac had usurped.  "Cancer."

"Yes?"

"I revoke your power, golem.  I am the Princess of 
the Star Kingdom, Astra, daughter of Estrellar VIII.  The 
Star Power is my birthright, which your masters have 
usurped and abused.  This will end. For you, it ends 
now."  She reached out with her mind and grasped the 
power within the golem.  Her brooch pulsed in her hand, 
and the power flowed out of the golem and into the 
brooch, storing itself there.  The golem crumbled.  She 
turned to stare at the other two.

Cassandra had just jumped into the Virgo golem's 
quiver and was keeping it from drawing any arrows, 
forcing it into hand to hand combat with the junior 
Pluto, who was now beating it to pieces with a flurry of 
kicks and punches.  The senior Pluto was still having 
problems, as the Libra golem perfectly parried her every 
attack.

"You WILL allow us passage," Odysseus said with her 
most regal voice she could manage.

The two golems retreated to the sides, either in 
fear or simple obedience.  

She turned to the doors.  "Open."

They swung open as she approached, but now a golden 
lion emerged from the doorway.  It opened its mouth and 
roared loudly, forcing everyone, even the other golems, 
to cover their ears.  The cats yowled with pain, thanks 
to their sensitive hearing.

Then a golden light erupted from the lion's mouth, 
forming into two humanoid figures, which then quickly 
solidified.  Leo and his Istarii stood before the two 
Plutos, Odysseus, and the two cats.  "Halt," he 
commanded, and all five of them froze in place.  His 
bearing was regal, his voice commanding, they could not 
help but obey.

Pluto cursed her limbs, but even her lips could not 
move.  His power, an aura of Majesty, was too strong for 
even her, much to her surprise.  This is the power of the 
Ascendant one, she thought.  

"This library belongs to the Zodiac," Leo said. 
"Plutos.  You will leave us and return to Earth, now.  
Astra.  You will come with me, so that the power you have 
stolen can be returned to its rightful wielders."

The two Plutos moved jerkily towards each other, and 
Pluto raised her staff, beginning to summon the Gate of 
Time.

Meanwhile, Odysseus struggled to resist her legs, 
which were carrying her up the stairs towards Leo and his 
Istarii.  Leo Istarii was smirking at her, which really 
irritated Odysseus.

"You're going to get what's coming to you," Leo 
Istarii said.

The Gate of Time opened and the two Plutos started 
to step into it, followed by Augur.  Cassandra, however, 
had gotten into position and suddenly leaped onto Leo's 
face, clawing at it.  She left two nasty gashes down his 
cheek before he ripped her off and hurled her into a 
pillar.  She went limp.  "Damn cat," he said.

His Majesty wavered just enough for Odysseus to gain 
control of her lips.  "Solar FLARE!"  A white hot ball of 
energy erupted from her hands and exploded in Leo's face.  
The world went white and everyone but her was blinded.  
His Majesty wavered further.

She grasped her brooch and drew upon the energy 
she'd absorbed from the Cancer golem.  "You are the 
usurper, not I!  I am Astra of the line of Astra I of the 
Five Ruling Wizards.  My line it was who guarded the 
Solar System for a millennia while your predecessors 
lurked in libraries and meddled with human lives for your 
own amusement!"  Energy rushed over her, and she assumed 
the royal garb of the Star Kingdom.  An eight pointed 
star shone from her brow and the air around her crackled 
with power.  

Now when she advanced upon them, it was an attack, 
not the zombie march of a compelled victim.  "You have 
taken my rightful power.  You have tried to hurt my 
friends and kidnap me.  You have meddled in affairs that 
are none of your business.  I have had enough of you and 
enough of the Zodiac."  With every step, his Majesty 
dwindled and the aura around Astra grew.  

By the time she reached him, it had faded 
completely, and he stood staring at her in shock.  
Indeed, he seemed to have almost shrunk physically; he 
looked smaller.  Leo Istarii had fallen to her knees, her 
jaw agape, trying to speak but failing.  

"Your office is revoked, Leo."  Her finger stabbed 
out and struck his clothing, and it flickered, becoming a 
simple muscle shirt and black pants for a second, then 
reverting to his uniform, which was admittedly not much 
more than a more sophisticated version of his civilian 
clothing.  Now she stabbed a second time, and an 
invisible struggle began.

He could feel her drawing out his power, absorbing 
it, and though he fought back with all his will, to his 
horror he realized he wasn't going to win.  He was the 
Ascendant One of the Zodiac, but it wasn't enough.  Not 
alone.  I should have brought help, he thought.  Instead 
of just rushing off half-cocked.  Too late now for that.  

It was time to withdraw and make new plans.  He 
lashed out with his foot and caught her in the stomach, 
surprising her.  She staggered down several steps, giving 
him the opening he needed to grab Leo Istarii by the hand 
and simply teleport away.

Astra frowned, then turned to face the Plutos.  "The 
cowardly lion has fled.  The way is open for us to 
complete our quest.  Come."

She then turned and walked up the steps into the 
library.

The junior Pluto turned to the senior one.  "You 
know, she's sort of creepy like this.  She hardly seems 
like Naru at all.  And what was she doing to him?"

"The Zodiac shares their power with the Star 
Princess," Augur said.  "They want her so they can take 
her power.  But it goes both ways on that--she can take 
their power."  He frowned.  "But it's an exhausting 
process, and I'm not sure how much longer she can keep up 
her Royal transformation before she's going to have to 
revert to Odysseus, or even Naru if she gets too drained.  
The absorbed power from Leo should keep her going a 
while, but still, it would be safer for her to revert."

"We will need Astra's knowledge to find what we 
seek," Pluto said, starting up the steps.  "We must 
hurry, or else she may vanish amongst the shelves, 
forcing us to search for her."

****************

	Calcite sat outside the window and observed the 
strange game the Senshi were playing with a few mortals.  
The strangest part was that they let one of the mortals 
be in charge.  Perhaps not all mortals are only useful 
for food, she thought.  He does seem to know how to spin 
an entertaining tale.  Indeed, much to her own surprise, 
she found herself interested to see how it all came out.  

	I wonder if they know how far away they can be 
detected from when they all gather together like that 
with no wards, she thought.  Probably not, unless this is 
intended to lure their foes into a trap somehow.  I'll 
just keep an eye on them.  She'd already noted down the 
names of all the mortals, although she was unsure as to 
which of the names were real, and which were the ones 
they used for the game.

	If I'm extremely lucky, she thought, I'll be able to 
follow some of them home and find out where they live.  
They can't possibly all live in an apartment this small.  
They barely all fit in that room.  

	Umino said to Neptune, "As Quinina and Darien try to 
figure out how to de-activate the security system on the 
vault room, Michelle sees hordes of shambling plant men 
which you think are probably Gospog  pouring over the 
outer perimeter of the base, accompanied by huge squid-
like creatures which tear down the outer fences.  You see 
them on the security monitors you're monitoring with your 
cyberdeck."

	Sailor Neptune nodded.  "I get on the headset 
radios.  'Everyone, Alexandrite's minions have arrived.  
Gospog of the first planting by the dozens, and more of 
those squid things.  Probably some higher plantings and a 
Horror or three as well.'"

	Calcite's eyes widened.  Alexandrite?  How do they 
even know he exists?  Lord Hematite is going to want to 
hear about this.

	"Not that loser and his pathetic flunkies again," 
Sailor Uranus said.  "Good thing I brought my 
flamethrower."

	"So, you said he looks like Zoicite?" Sailor Jupiter 
asked.

	"He's androgynous like Zoicite, but doesn't look 
exactly the same," Umino said.  

	They know what he looks like too, Calcite thought.  
Maybe they've fought him and I didn't know about it.  
Otherwise, it could mean they have a way to spy on us.

	"He likes to collect magical artifacts, which is why 
he's after the Crystals.  And of course, because the 
Gaunt Man told him to."

	"So how did he get out of the prison he was trapped 
in?" Sailor Jupiter asked.  

	"Sheer force of will and power, pretty much," Umino 
said.

	That one knows too much, Calcite thought.  I will 
have much to report to Lord Hematite.

************

	They found Astra standing under the Great Dome of 
the Stars in the center of the library, looking up at the 
night sky, surrounded by a vast maze of bookshelves, 
hallways, and rooms which stretched out in every 
direction.  "After careful thought, I have discovered 
something," Astra said.

	"Yes?" Pluto asked.

	"I was only twelve when the Star Kingdom fell, and 
rarely came here.  I don't know where anything is, 
because I always relied on the librarians."  She sighed.

	The junior Pluto facefaulted, while the Elder Pluto 
sighed.  "I was afraid of that."

	"It's organized according to Astra's theories of 
destiny," Augur said.  "According to the history book I 
read.  Unfortunately, that book didn't have a chart, and 
it was fairly vague on how book subjects related to 
destiny.  The only one I remember was that the destiny of 
'Warrior' corresponded to books about wars, soldiers, 
armies, weapons, and the like.  But the destinies are 
usually represented using the eight pointed star, and 
this library is a rectangle."  He jumped up onto a 
reading table.  "The books closest to where we are look 
like reference books."

	"If the Zodiac hasn't taken them, there should be 
some...I suppose Catalog Globes would be the best name 
for them.  Spheres you can gaze into and find out if the 
library has a book.  Hopefully, they'll at least give us 
an idea as to what section of the library to look in."

	"I could try turning into a librarian," the junior 
Pluto said.

	"Can you turn into dead people?" Astra asked.  "This 
place hasn't had a librarian in a long time."

	"I don't know.  I've never tried."

	"First, let's figure out what exactly we're looking 
for," Cassandra said.

	Astra nodded.  "I need to know where the Orb of the 
Stars is.  I want to know what the White Knight is, how's 
he's summoned, and what he can do.  And any books I can 
take on how to further use my heritage of power would be 
useful."  She frowned.  "I should be able to remember 
more of this."

	"Don't force the full return of your memories," 
Augur said.  "They'll return when you're ready for them.  
Most people never recover as many memories from their 
past lives as you already have.  You could lose yourself 
in Astra."

	"I am Astra," Astra said.  "Though I know I am also 
Osaka Naru.  I need my memories, for they are the keys to 
my power."  She drummed her fingers on the table for a 
few seconds, then said, "Ahh, you mentioned 'the Warrior' 
as one of the Eight Destinies.  Surely the White Knight 
would be in that section."

	"Yes," Augur said.  "If we knew where that section 
was."

	The junior Pluto said, "Can you list the Eight 
Destinies for us?"

	"Warrior, Farmer, Magician, King, Merchant, Servant, 
Artisan, Scholar," Augur said.  "They each have a 
positive and negative aspect, so technically, it's 
sixteen destinies, 32 if you consider that each can also 
be aspected male or female."

	"That sounds complex," the junior Pluto said.

	"It is.  I usually have to consult books in order to 
make much use of it.  It was a system which was often 
either too simplistic or too complex.  I suppose that's a 
flaw inherent in any effort to systematize Destiny, 
though."  He thought a moment.  "Your powers would be 
under Magician.  Or maybe King because they're related to 
your royal heritage.  The Orb, if there's any clues at 
all, would also be in here."

	 "Neptune's mirror would be useful here," Pluto 
said.  "But it looks like we'll have to simply split up.  
It should be safe."

	They each chose a direction and moved out into the 
maze.  The junior Pluto found herself in the midst of a 
sea of history books about places and events she had 
never heard of.  I wonder if I was alive during the 
Silver Millennium, she thought.  

	Whether she had or not, she was able somehow to read 
the books; in fact, they looked like they had been 
written in Japanese.  One of them caught her eye, 'Vulcan 
and the Talismans'.  Her eyes widened.  Hey, that could 
be useful for making mine.  

	She pulled it off the shelf and sat down, opening it 
at random to try to get a feel for what the style was 
like and what sort of things it talked about.  'It 
remains disputed as to whether Vulcan's Hammer would be 
necessary to replace the Talismans he created.  Venus' 
Bow and Mercury's Computer were both created without it, 
by the Elves and Dwarves respectively, as a gift to 
Serenity's servants, the Senshi.  Astra assisted in the 
creation of Pluto's Garnet Orb and Neptune's Aqua Mirror.  
Metallia's spirit helped to create the Armor of Mars.  
Endymion contributed to the making of Jupiter's Thunder 
Staff and Uranus' Space Sword.  The creation of the 
Silence Glaive remains swathed in mystery.  Could such 
collaborations ever come again in these times of dwindled 
glory?'

	I bet this book could be a lot of help to Erica, the 
junior Pluto thought.  I'd better take it and see what 
else I can find.

	Elsewhere in the library, the elder Pluto found 
herself surrounded by endless cookbooks.  No matter which 
way she went, she ended up finding more of them.  If this 
is some sort of hint, I'm not amused, she thought.

	Astra found herself before a pair of bronze doors, 
like those in front of the library, sealed shut by 
glowing lines of power that formed the sigil of the Star 
Kingdom over the doors.  As she approached, the lines 
faded and the doors swung open.  She went inside.

	The room was an octagon, with an eight pointed star 
inscribed on the floor in bronze.  An obsidian pillar 
rose from the marble floor in the center, topped by an 
orb of translucent crystals the size of a soccer ball.  
Tiny pinpoints of light shone from inside it.

	It can't possibly be this easy, Astra thought.  But 
it can't hurt to try, either.  She stepped inside, now 
noticing that each of the walls had a date on it, 
calculated from the first year of the Silver Millennium.  
Six of them were dates back during the Silver Millennium.  
One of them, assuming her math was correct, was today, 
and the final one was only a few months from now.  

	Then the memory struck her.  This must be the Room 
of Destiny, she thought.  Where Astra recorded eight 
messages for those who would come after her, to guide 
them in chosing wisely.  

	She rushed over to the orb and laid her hands on it.  
She could feel the warmth of its power flowing into her 
hands, and it drew her gaze into it.  The void of space 
rushed up all around her, and the constellations formed 
over head, beginning to rotate around the peak on which 
she stood, with the sea to her left and hills declining 
into forest to her right.  And before her stood a 
magnificently garbed woman, clad in white samite with an 
eight pointed star upon her brow.  Long red hair ran down 
her back and over her shoulders, and her features were 
strongly etched and noble, though her nose was a bit on 
the large side.  "I am Astra, daughter of Thoth.  
Welcome, Astra the Last, Osaka Naru, Sailor Odysseus.  
You have come seeking the Orb of the Stars."

	"Yes!  Can you tell me where it is?"

	"Beryl found it amidst the wreckage of the Star 
Kingdom and claimed it.  It remains now amidst the 
wreckage of the Dark Kingdom."

	Astra frowned.  "So I can't get it unless I'm 
willing to try to break in there."

	"When you come into the fullness of your power, you 
can call it to you, for it is both your Icon and your 
Talisman, a part of you and linked to you.  You will need 
it to fulfill your destiny and to empower a champion for 
yourself."

	"A champion...the White Knight?"

	"Yes, you will need it in order to bind that power 
to a champion of your chosing to aid you," Astra the 
Eldest said.

	"But...he's been showing up sometimes even without 
me having the Orb."  

	"This is because you have yet to gain control over 
it; when your need is greatest, the power settles upon 
someone.  When you have the orb, you will be able to fix 
it permanently in place, so that innocents are not 
dragged into your problems, their destinies bent."  Her 
face grew very serious.  "You must choose carefully who 
you appoint as your White Knight; the role is hard and 
dangerous, and it will forever change their destiny.  And 
the Orb of the Stars is dangerous as well, for the 
bending of fate often convinces fate to try to push back.  
Never use it without great need."

	"But I could choose anyone?"

	"Yes.  You could even force someone to take the 
job...indeed, that's exactly what you've been doing 
unknowingly.  But anyone could become your White Knight, 
male or female, for destiny touches both alike."  Astra 
gazed up at the swiftly moving sky.  "I do not have much 
longer.  Ask quickly."

	"How do I reclaim my power from the Zodiac?"  
Princess Astra asked anxiously.

	"With the Orb of the Stars, you can strip them of 
their power and appoint a new Zodiac who will remember 
their rightful role.  But it will not be easy, for they 
will seek to destroy you and take your power before you 
come into the fullness of it and can smite them."  Astra 
the Eldest began to fade.  "Swiftly!"

	"What should I do to come into the fullness of my 
power?" Princess Astra half-shouted the plea.

	"You must master your own destiny, for the Star 
Queen is the maker of destiny, not its victim."  And then 
Astra the Eldest faded away, and the room returned.  
Astra felt exhausted, too exhausted to remain Astra.  She 
dwindled down to Odysseus, but she knew she couldn't stay 
that way too much longer, so she staggered out to seek 
the others.

*************

	 The junior Pluto moved back and forth between the 
three books she had out on the table.  These books make 
it sound like Vulcan hid some stuff away in case more 
talismans would need to be made, but I can't figure out 
where he hid it, she thought.  Some sort of pocket 
dimension, with craftsmen and tools and lore and 
necessary components and everything.  Hmm, maybe Mars 
could use Vulcan's Hammer to find it.  He must have used 
it to create the pocket dimension. I'll ask her when we 
get back.

	Cassandra hopped up on the table.  "How'd you get 
over here?"

	"I've just been sitting here consulting these 
books."

	Cassandra glanced at them.  "Oh, that legend."

	"Know anything about it?"

	"Legend claims Astra told him to prepare a hidden 
magical place where his lore could be preserved until it 
was needed again, so he recruited some of his best 
apprentices to live there and preserve his lore over the 
millennia until it was needed again.  But if he did, no 
contact with them ever happened in the Silver Millennium 
that I know of.  The whole knowledge of how to get there 
was lost, I guess."

	"Do you think Mars could take us there with Vulcan's 
Hammer?"

	"It wouldn't hurt to try, I suppose," Cassandra 
said.  "I'm sure your friend wouldn't mind more help on 
making your talisman for you."

	The junior Pluto stood up and took the books.  
"Let's go find the others.  Pluto probably knows where it 
is."

*************

	Pluto was not spastic enough to start randomly 
smashing bookshelves from frustration, but it was 
tempting.  Footsteps approached; the others were coming.  
She composed herself before they arrived.  "I have heard 
stories of Vulcan's hiding away of people and things 
which could help in making a talisman," she said as they 
came into sight.

	Odysseus jumped, while Cassandra looked amused.  
"Where is it?"

	"A sort of pocket dimension connected to Earth.  
However, I have been unable to locate it.  It's possible, 
however, that he hid away information somewhere on Mars 
that would lead to it, or that Mars might be able to use 
Vulcan's Hammer to find it."  

	The junior Pluto nodded.  "I found some books that 
should help, I think."

	"And I talked to Astra the Eldest," Odysseus said.  
"The Dark Kingdom has the Orb of the Stars."

	Augur shuddered.  "If they can find a way to use it, 
we will all be in a lot of trouble.  Fortunately, it's 
difficult for someone who isn't already attuned to the 
Star Power to use it.  If Nephrite was leading the Dark 
Kingdom instead of Jadeite, we'd all probably be dead by 
now.  Or at least in a lot worse shape.  At least the 
Zodiac won't have any easier a time getting it than us."

	"So the Zodiac could use it, and Odysseus could use 
it, and Nephrite could use it if he wasn't dead," the 
Junior Odysseus.  

	"Anyone could try to use it, but it would be very 
dangerous for them, and it probably wouldn't do what they 
wanted.  Beryl must have had some degree of control over 
it, and probably used it to corrupt the generals by 
changing their destinies," Augur said.  "Although she 
couldn't have had full control or you would have all had 
a lot harder time beating her...if you could have beaten 
her at all."

	Odysseus shuddered.  "The Orb controls people's 
destinies?"

	"Well, like the Silver Crystal, you can do all sorts 
of things with it, but the way it works, essentially, is 
by changing people's fate.  You can use it to see 
people's destinies and thus peer into the most likely 
future.  You can change their destiny, although the more 
you change it, the more exhausting it gets, and the more 
powerful they are, the harder it is.  Beryl probably was 
only able to manage it because she had Metallia backing 
her.  Of course, it's possible Beryl just kept it to keep 
anyone else using it...I have no real idea if she could 
actually use it for anything very meaningful."  Augur 
shrugged.  "I'm hungry."

	"Me too," Odysseus said.  "I think I've learned all 
I can here for the moment, although I'll probably want to 
come back later."

	"Next time, we'll bring food," the Junior Pluto 
said, joining hands with the others.  "Let's go."

****************

	In the TORG game, everything had gone to pieces as 
usual.  Darien (Mamoru) and Harry (Haruka) were pinned 
down in the burning wreckage of a tank while a platoon of 
soldiers fired automatic weapons at them.  Michelle 
(Michiru) and Greg (Ryo) were assisting Quinina (Ami) in 
trying to repair an Akashan ship that had fallen into the 
hands of the Delphi Council in order to use it to escape 
the base.  Luthien (Hotaru), Dag Nabbit (Steven), and 
Stinger Ace (Minako) were locked in hand to hand combat 
with hordes of mindless plant-men, Alexandrite's gospog, 
cut off from retreating to join the others. Princess 
Angelina Comtessa Fireball the III was locked in a 
wizard's duel with Maeglin the Black, an evil Elven 
Sorcerer who was after the Crystal of Power of Aysle, 
Maggie (Makoto) was drawing occult runes on the space 
ship to ward it from magical detection, and Sister Raye 
(Rei) was trying to ward off Alexandrite with a cross.  
It wasn't working very well.  

	"Alexandrite backhands Sister Raye, tearing through 
the ward like tissue paper.  She flies into a pile of 
jars of alien fetuses, and takes Wound K 3 from broken 
glass, and two shock from the slap," Umino said.

	"We're getting our ass kicked," Uranus said.  "No 
more kid-gloves with the US troops.  I throw four fusion 
grenades into their midst."

	"Roll for long-range contradiction," Umino said.

	Uranus rolled and got a 2.  "Ugh."

	"Hmm, -10 to your skill means...you fry your brain 
trying to make the fusion grenades go off under Earth's 
reality.  Clutching your head as you take six 
wounds...no, only five, since it's stun damage.  And lots 
of yummy stun damage."

	"I spend a poss so I don't DIE, then I collapse, 
cursing the US army as I fall."

	"I pray to God to inspire me to move quickly," 
Tuxedo Kamen said.  "Fanaticism miracle, don't fail me 
now."  He rolled and got a 3.  "I said _don't_ fail me."

	"You feel God fails to answer your prayer.  You lose 
the miracle for 24 hours.  And that about wraps it up for 
this round."

	"We're getting our asses kicked," Steven said.

	"How much longer do I need to revive the ship?" 
Mercury asked.

	"Depends on if the initiative card flip is kind and 
gives you the go-ahead for step 3," Umino said.

	"We could really use Chesire and her darkness power 
right about now," Venus said.  

	"I could use having Hatsheput to back me up on 
warding off Alexandrite so he doesn't stomp us flat," Rei 
said.

	"Hmm, time for my Connection card," Steven said, 
playing it down.  "This should give us some help."

	"I've got one too," Uranus said, slapping it down.  

	"It could be Mulder and Scully!" Venus said.  

	"Oh yeah, they'd be REAL useful in a firefight," 
Uranus said.

	"Okay, there's a burst of light and..." Umino began.

	Light erupted through the room, and Pluto, the 
junior Pluto, Odysseus, Cassandra, and Augur appeared.  
Pluto strode over to the gaming table grabbing a d20.  
"Looks like youse guys are having a hard time, eh?"  Her 
Sailor uniform suddenly altered into the trenchcoat and 
fedora that were her character's trademark, and now she 
wore a green domino mask as well.  Even her stance 
changed.

	"Hatesheput and Cheshire arrive," Umino says.  "This 
is the situation..." Umino began, turning to face Pluto.

	"I draw my pearl-handled twin .45s, then concentrate 
on the discipline the Blind Monks of Rya-tcho taught me."  
She rolled the die and it came up a nineteen.  "Darkness 
settles over the entire area, the night which is the 
element I've made my own.  I turn to Hatsheput.  'You'd 
best smack those plant men with one of your curses.'"

	"Right," Umino said.  "You succeed.  Of course, the 
other PCs can't see in the darkness either, you know."

	"What's a gospog?" the junior Pluto asked.  "So this 
is the game you guys play on Saturdays?"

	"I need a recap even if the fortunetellers don't," 
Odysseus said, detransforming into Naru.  "And an empty 
chair."

	Ryo got out of his and offered it to her, then went 
to get himself a new one.

	And the game went on into the night.

****************

	After it was over, Augur and Naru helped Umino clean 
up.  Or to be more precise, Naru helped, while Augur 
batted the dice around the table.  "These are fun," Augur 
announced.  "I could do this all night."

	Naru laughed.  "Nice to see you aren't always 
lecturing."

	Augur winced.  "Do I?"

	"You show off your knowledge more than Gurio-kun," 
Naru said.  "You two are a lot like each oth...oh, Gurio-
kun, I have some good news."

	"Hmm?" he asked, looking up from stuffing cans into 
a bag to go dump in the recycling bin.

	She came over to him.  "We learned some more about 
the White Knight."

	"Hold on," he said, and ran over to the table, 
grabbing a notepad and pulling a pen out of his pocket.  
"Okay, I'm ready."

	"Apparently, once I get the Orb of the Stars, I'll 
be able to turn someone into the White Knight 
permanently.  Apparently right now, it just happens when 
my power flares up because I'm in danger.  Unfortunately, 
the Dark Kingdom has it right now, so I can't do it yet."  

	"So, it's some random person each time?"

	She nodded.  "Unfortunately."

	"Bank shot!" Augur announced as he knocked a die off 
a copy of the rules and into the middle of three other 
dice, sending them flying.

	Umino glanced over at him, then turned back to Naru.  
"So once you get it, you'll be able to give the power to 
someone permanently?"

	She nodded.  "Yes."

	"Cool.  This matches with some theories Ryo, Steve, 
and I had about the creation of new magical warriors.  We 
think that with the Icons, new people could be empowered 
to use that Icon's power source.  Although this would 
probably weaken all the other people with access.  That 
remains a debatable point, though; Ryo thinks there's 
only so much power, while Steven thinks the pools are 
larger than such small groups could possibly drain.  The 
fact that none of you have come into your full power 
except for Pluto yet would seem to indicate that..."

	Naru put a hand on Umino's shoulder.  "I want to 
make you my White Knight.  When I get the Icon."

	"I myself am starting to think it might be a good 
idea for Usagi to try recruiting and empowering Yuki; at 
some point the Dark Kingdom will likely...wait, what did 
you say?"  Umino blinked.

	Naru laughed.  "I want you to be my champion when I 
get the Orb of the Stars."

	His eyes widened.  "You do?"

	She blinked.  "Why wouldn't I?"

	"I'm not very strong or tough or good at fighting.  
I mean, I can't even handle bullies myself and..."  He 
stared at the floor.  "I want to protect you, but..."

	She took his chin with her hand, and dragged his 
face up to look her in the eyes.  "Once you're the White 
Knight, you'll have the power.  But the most important 
thing is that I want the man I love to be the one who 
stands by my side when all is darkest and I most need a 
champion.  And I know you're the bravest man I know."  
Her voice was soft and full of love in a way Naru could 
only really express when they were alone.  "You tried to 
fight Zoicite at that amusement park with just fried 
shrimp.  You died for me in the temple.  I know I don't 
tell you enough that I love you, but I do."  She reached 
over and removed his glasses.

	Augur quietly snuck off, knowing his presence would 
soon be unwanted.

	"Naru-chan, I can't see without my glasses, more 
than about a foot," he said.  "So right now, all I can 
see is your lovely face."

	That lovely face moved about six inches closer to 
him.  "I want to see the face you were born with," she 
replied.

	"It's not a very impressive one," Umino said, 
staring into her eyes with his blue eyes.  "Not like 
yours.  You're so pretty I can hardly believe it, Naru-
chan.  That I could be lucky enough to have a wonderful 
girl like you."

	Her hand came up and stroked his cheek.  "I wish I 
could have a heart as strong and loving as yours.  I 
remember the day you gave that speech at that silly love 
contest. I didn't know what to say, because I didn't 
think I could be worthy of all that devotion."  She could 
feel him trembling at her touch.  "I was afraid to fall 
in love with you, afraid of what people would think, that 
they'd think I was a geek because I cared about you.  You 
always loved me more than I was able to let myself love 
you.  But I'm not going to hold back any more."

	Now she began to tremble as she realized what she 
was planning to do.  She'd been running on instinct 
rather than conscious thought.  "There's no one more 
important to me in the whole universe than you.  No one I 
care for more.  I would fight for you.  I would die for 
you.  And I want to live for you."  She stepped closer, 
then reached up and undid the top button of her blouse.  
"Do you want me, Gurio-kun?"

	His eyes widened, and she noticed every detail of 
them, drinking it in with the knowledge that it might be 
a long time before she got another chance to see them as 
they really were, not distorted by thick glass.  
"N...N...Naru-chan, you want...to..."  Now he was shaking 
all over.

	She undid another button on her blouse, then reached 
over and undid his top button.  "Yes."

	"But my parents are just down the hall."  His voice 
was shaking as much as his body.

	"They went to sleep two hours ago, like they always 
do.  And you've said yourself they could sleep through a 
nuclear attack."  Another of his buttons came undone.

	She took his right hand and brought it up to her 
next button, and then his left, as he said, "Like the 
time I tried to make them breakfast and had a grease 
fire, and the fire alarm went off, and they slept through 
it, so we had to get a newer, louder one."  He gulped and 
a tiny trickle of blood ran down from his left nostril.  
His fingers fumbled with the button.  "I...We should 
probably go to my room and shut the door."  He gulped 
again.  "My bed is softer than the table or the floor."

	She took his hand and started across the room with 
him, leaning against him.  "I can feel it," she 
whispered.

	"Feel what?" he asked.

	"I can feel destiny moving as we walk, with every 
step.  It feels so right," she said.  "I haven't felt 
this right in a long time.  You're the one for me, now 
and forever."  She kissed his cheek.

	He blushed, and reached for the doorknob of his 
room's door.  "What made you decide....to do this 
tonight?" he asked softly.

	"Astra the First told me I had to master my destiny 
in order to master the Orb of the Stars and come into the 
fullness of my power.  So I've decided to start taking 
control of my destiny, and part of that is you.  You're 
the one for me.  I know it."  She put her hand on his 
chest over his heart, then brought his hand up to touch 
hers, feeling him shake.  "Don't be afraid.  I don't 
bite."

	He laughed nervously.  "I dreamed of this so many 
times...I just keep expecting to wake up."

	"I can feel your heartbeat," she said softly.

	"And I feel yours," he said.  "Although it's a lot 
easier to tell at the wrist...sorry," he said, cutting 
himself off from rambling.

	"My heart is yours," she said.

	"My heart has always been yours," he replied.  "I 
give it to you, for whatever it's worth."

	"It's worth everything to me," she replied, then 
kissed him softly on the lips.  

	He opened the door, and managed to fall down into 
the room, pulling her with him by accident.  A few 
seconds later, their feet pulled in and the door closed, 
not to reopen for quite some time.

***************

	"Then Angelina conjured up a huge wad of bubblegum, 
and Alexandrite got his feet stuck in it," Calcite said.  
"They ran and jumped into their 'spaceship' and got the 
engines started, and flew off, leaving him stuck.  I 
laughed so hard, I fell off the wall and into a 
dumpster."  

	"They played this game all night long," Hematite 
said, sounding dubious.

	"Well, until after midnight.  Then they had a short 
discussion about how they're going to make the new 
Pluto's talisman tomorrow, and how the Orb of the Stars 
is here in the Dark Kingdom, though they didn't say 
where," Calcite said.  "I can't imagine how it got here, 
though...surely our fallen Queen would have used it if 
she had it."

	"So, they spent the evening making fun of me, then 
spent only a few minutes on real business?"  Alexandrite 
frowned deeply.  "I am not amused."

	"Well, it wasn't always about making you look 
stupid," Calcite said.  "But you can see why I called in 
Lord Alexandrite, can't you, Hematite, sir?"

	"You SHOULD report to me first," Hematite said, 
irritated.  "But I suppose General Alexandrite would want 
to know about this."

	"Of course I would!" Alexandrite said.  "I won't 
stand for being mocked."

	"Like the way they kept arguing over whether you 
were male or female," Calcite said.

	Alexandrite's eyes flared.  "They WHAT?"

	"They kept arguing.  The Game Lord wouldn't say for 
sure, just that you looked rather androgynous, like 
Zoicite."  

	They could hear Alexandrite's teeth grind.  "Well, I 
think I have an idea on how to prevent them doing that 
again."  He smiled the grimmest smile Calcite had ever 
seen.  

	"So, what do you intend to do about them making a 
talisman for the new Pluto?" Hematite asked Alexandrite.  
"Since operations against the Sailors are currently your 
territory."

	"Calcite, I will need you to give me all the 
information you were able to gather on where they went 
and who those mortals with them were.  And then I think I 
will need to talk to Pyroxenite and Amazonite.  Calcite, 
being your report."

	Hematite watched, clearly trying to conceal 
irritation at Alexandrite giving orders to one of his 
subordinates without consulting him.  Calcite began to 
report on everything that had been gleaned.

****************

	Naru was fairly sure she had gone to bed back home 
after leaving Umino's.  She'd wanted to stay, but his 
parents would have flipped out, most likely.  Or possibly 
wanted her to marry him immediately; they always seemed 
immensely relieved he'd found a girlfriend, even after 
she'd been dating him for over a year.

	However, she woke up sitting under a tree in a 
nearby park, wearing a different set of pajamas than the 
ones she'd gone to bed in.  She'd gone to bed in red 
pajamas she'd gotten for Christmas, but she woke up in an 
ill-fitting set of orange and green pajamas.  One of the 
sleeves was torn, and it was a size too small.  

	When she looked at the sky, she felt confused; the 
stars were twinkling high above, but the ground below was 
lit as brightly as high noon. 

	A man's voice cut through her confusion.  "Hello, 
Naru," he said.  

She knew the voice, and when she spun to face him, 
she knew his name.  "Nephrite," she said in reply.

He was dressed in a white version of his old 
general's uniform, but otherwise looked just the same as 
the day she had last seen him--the day he died.  Well, he 
also was smiling, unlike that day.  "I told you we'd 
share a chocolate parfait one day.  I understand there's 
a rather nice shop nearby."

She shivered slightly, as old emotions came to the 
top of her mind, as she remembered the day he died.  "You 
died."

"Yes."

"You died in my arms, and I cried, and wished I 
could die too, so I could go with you," she said softly.  
"I begged you not to leave me."

"I didn't have the power to stay," he said.  "And 
you did not yet have the power to save me.  It seems 
something always comes between us, Naru.  Death, or the 
love of another, or both.  Our destiny."

"I...I can't be with you now," she said, trying to 
force herself to look in his eyes.  "I've chosen another 
destiny."

"Good," he lied.  He had known this day would come, 
known it was best for her.  He could be no one's love 
while he served as the guardian and maintainer of the 
Great Shield.  But there had always been a part of him 
that had hoped irregardless of his common sense.  "I'm 
happy for you.  I have great respect for Umino."

She stepped closer to him.  "You're lying."

	"Not about respecting Umino. I was very much the 
scholarly type at his age; that's part of why I was 
chosen to be the one who would train in the Star 
Kingdom."  He stepped closer to her, then turned and 
pointed across the park.  "The cafe is this way, if 
you'll join me."

	They started to walk together across the park.  "I'm 
sorry," she said.

	"Only fools sit and waste away for someone who is 
dead," Nephrite said.  "I owe you my continued existence, 
my soul.  Without you, I would be dead and possibly 
damned."

	They reached the shop far more quickly than Naru 
expected, as if it had only been a few steps away, though 
she was sure it was a good ten minute walk or more, 
normally.  "Can I wear this into the shop?"

	He smiled and touched her shoulder.  She felt a rush 
of energy, and the pajamas became an elaborate orange and 
green dress, in the same style she had once worn as a 
lady in waiting in the Moon Kingdom.  His uniform became 
a fancier dress uniform, and he offered her an arm.  
"Shall we?"

	She laughed.  "Now we're overdressed."

	"Nothing is too good for my Lady Charity," he said 
as they walked up the steps and into the cafe.  The cafe, 
however, had become a great ballroom, with a dessert 
table along the wall by the door.  A redhaired chef with 
bushy eyebrows, a thick mustache, and an incomprehensible 
Martian accent babbled something at them.

	Music started up, and couples began to dance their 
way across the floor.  Nephrite said something to the 
chef, who quickly prepared them a large chocolate 
parfait, with two spoons.  They adjourned to a nearby 
table.

	"What is this place?" Naru asked.

	"We are sharing a dream," Nephrite said.  "One of my 
prerogatives as the new guardian of the Great Shield.  
Ever since you sent me there, I have learned some new 
tricks."

	"I sent you there?" Naru asked.

	"I didn't turn into stars and rise into the sky for 
nothing," Nephrite said.  "You couldn't consciously 
control your power, but it saved me by binding me to the 
Great Shield.  Shortly thereafter, Metallia died, leaving 
me as the new Guardian."

	They started eating the parfait, and for a time, 
there was only the sound of eating.  Then Naru asked, 
"But doesn't...I mean, Metallia ended up corrupted by 
being the Guardian, right?"

	"Metallia drew upon dangerous magics--it is not for 
nothing that most of us were forbidden to study entropic 
powers.  She corrupted herself by using too much fire to 
fight fire, so to speak.  I plan to avoid that, for I 
draw upon the power of the stars.  But if one day I have 
to be put down, at least I will have done my duty in the 
interim and had a chance to redeem myself for my crimes."  
He took another bite of parfait.

	"But Beryl corrupted you!  You didn't have a 
choice!"  Naru protested.

	"It was my destiny," he said.  "The stars can be 
cruel as well as kind.  That's why the character of the 
Queen of the Stars is so important.  They do not care who 
suffers in order to create an interesting web of fate, 
but you must."  He took another bite.  "This is really 
good."

	"I know," she said, eating another bite herself.  "I 
love chocolate parfaits.  Probably too much."  She 
thought a moment.  "You studied in the Star Kingdom; can 
you help me learn how to use my powers?"

	"I will do my best," he said.  "In the time I can 
spare from watching over the shield."  He put aside his 
spoon.  "And I will send you what tidings I can, gleaned 
from my observations."

"Thank you," she said.

	"Tell Mars that she can use the Hammer to find the 
hidden kingdom Vulcan prepared for this day.  Although 
she probably won't need it."

	"Why?" Naru asked.

	"Your friend Himeko, the junior Pluto, is already 
familiar with it, under the name of 'The Kingdom of 
Magic'."

	"..."

	"From what little lore I know if it, Vulcan became 
dissatisfied towards the end of his life because he had 
always wanted to be a craftsman, a maker, than a king.  
So he abdicated, and gathered a group of apprentices, 
taking them to a pocket dimension, where they would 
preserve and advance his arts.  He left behind his Hammer 
as his legacy to his heirs.  For millennia, the 
inhabitants of that dimension have hidden themselves 
away, practicing and improving on Vulcan's crafts, 
calling themselves 'the Kingdom of Magic'."

	"Are you sure it's the same place?"

	"I must admit this is somewhat speculation," 
Nephrite said.  "But it all matches up.  Perhaps you 
should try using the hammer anyway, just to be sure."

	Naru nodded.  "We will."

	He rose, and took her hand.  "Soon, I must depart, 
for you will need your rest, but will you dance with me 
one last time?"

	"Of course I will," she said, and took his hand.

	The band began to play a Venusian Squill, and they 
danced across the floor with the other couples, only 
hands touching, back and forth and side to side.  For a 
few minutes, there was nothing else, only them and the 
memories of shared dances and an age of peace and joy, 
the memory of that age's end in blood and fire banished 
for the moment.  They moved into the following step, 
where for a moment, she chased him, then he chased her, 
and then they were again face to face, as the music 
finished, and he spun her about and released her hand.  

	He bowed.  "The stars guide your footsteps."

	"May the winds of the north guide you home," she 
replied gravely.  

	He smiled broadly, at the phrase most often used for 
farewell in the land where he had been born.  "And the 
Lady of the Light cradle you in her arms.  Farewell, 
Princess Astra, Lady Charity, Osaka Naru, Sailor 
Odysseus.  Until we meet again here or beyond the stars."

	"Goodbye, Nephrite, my friend," she said, and turned 
to go, fading back into her own dreams.

	He let the world spun of memories dissolve away, 
becoming a starry void with the Earth hanging far below 
him, and the moon behind him.  "Her destiny lies down a 
different road than mine," he told himself.  "And wishing 
will not make it otherwise.  They are both better off 
without me.  But I will never forget."  

	And he turned and walked off into the night.

****************

	Alexandrite strode off, leaving Calcite with 
Hematite.  Once he was completely gone, Calcite asked, 
"Did I do a good job?"

	"Perfect," Hematite said.  "It should be informative 
to see how this all plays out.  Ahh, Alexandrite, your 
pride will be the death of you one day.  One day soon."

*****************

	Mars lifted the Hammer of Vulcan.  "Okay, let's see 
if this works."

	As she concentrated on it, various other senshi 
milled about, ready just in case a disaster happened.  
Steven, Pokota, Ryo, Daichi, and Umino and Mercury 
assisted Tomoe-san with some monitoring equipment.  
Tomoe-san looked quite worried.  "Breaching dimensional 
barriers is simply not safe," he muttered.

	"Computer isn't picking up any dangerous energies," 
Mercury announced.

	"Energy level around the hammer is increasing one 
percent a second," Umino said.

	"There's a flashing light here labeled in English," 
Daichi said.  "Is this bad?"

	"We're picking up dark energies," Tomoe-san said 
worriedly.  "Not very much, but...I said this was a bad 
idea."

	"It's a necessary risk," Pluto replied.

	"That's what I thought when I unleashed Master 
Pharoah Ninety," he said, glaring at her.

	They stared in silence for a few seconds, until 
Mercury announced.  "It's a probe, coming from about 
three blocks west.  They were probably attracted by the 
energy Mars is putting out."

	"Should I stop?" Mars asked.

	Sailor Moon shook her head.  "Jupiter, Venus, 
Saturn, Tuxedo Kamen, we'll go investigate.  If we don't 
call for help by the time Mars breaks through or whatever 
she's doing, go ahead and send the team we decided on 
through.  Mercury, Uranus, you stay here and help Tomoe-
san.  You'll be our stratego reserve."

	"Strategic," Mercury said.

	"What you said," Sailor Moon said.  "Let's go."

	About a minute later, the sky ripped open near Mars, 
forming an archway.  Beyond it, the junior Pluto saw a 
familiar site, the great fountain room of the palace of 
her friend Erika in the Kingdom of Magic.  "It IS the 
Kingdom of Magic," the junior Pluto said.

	"Well, this will save time," Mars said.  "Which I'm 
going to need for my twelve tons of homework."

	"Me too," the junior Pluto said.  "We'll be back 
soon!" she said to Mercury and Uranus.

	Mars, both Plutos, Odysseus, Neptune, and a plethora 
of cats stepped through.  Daichi said, "Hey, can I come?  
I can't be much help here."

	"Sure," the junior Pluto said.  "I'm sure Erika 
won't mind you dropping in with us."

	The senior Pluto frowned, but said nothing.

	He ran after them, and leaped through right as the 
portal closed.  "You did tell her we were coming, right?"

	"Well, umm...sort of," the Junior Pluto said.

	"Pluto, you moron!" Mars shouted.  I've always 
wanted to say that, she thought.  "This place had better 
not have 'kill all intruders' defenses."

	"The Kingdom of Magic is very peaceful," the junior 
Pluto said.

	Erika flew into the room on Chappy, her talking 
broom.  "We have been safe here in our hidden kingdom for 
twenty five thousand years.  Luckily, Hime-chan did tell 
me she'd show up some time today, so I was scrying for 
her.  You could have scared someone."

	"Where is everyone?" the junior Pluto asked.

	"Oh, it's cleaning day.  Everyone's scattered all 
over, trying to pick up the mess from the festival we had 
yesterday.  The ballroom here was cleaned earlier today, 
I guess."  She smiled at her guests.  "Come with me to my 
lab, and I think we can get your talisman made."  She got 
off Chappy and curtseyed to Mars.  "Daughter of Vulcan, I 
am honored by your presence."

	Mars did her best to curtsey in return.  "You honor 
me."

	"My father will wish to know of this.  But I'll try 
to make sure we don't end up with too much of a mob."

	Too much of a mob is a flexible term; they ended up 
in a large laboratory that seemed designed for spectator 
sports, as it was lined with dozens of seats for 
observers.  Over a hundred people sat to watch them, 
including Erika's parents, the King and Queen of the 
Kingdom of Magic.

	Daichi sat up in the stands with Cassandra, Benten, 
Neptune, Odysseus, Augur, and the senior Pluto.  Pokota 
had run off to find his friend Pink-chan, his sort of 
sometimes girlfriend, sort of.  Camille and Robelia, who 
were the people of the Kingdom of Magic who paralleled 
himself and Hikaru, in appearance at least, sat next to 
him.  "So you and Hime-chan are pretty close?" Camille 
asked.

	"Yeah," Daichi said.  "You still causing as much 
trouble as usual?"

	He grinned.  "I do my best."

	"He has too many girlfriends," Robellia said primly.

	"Better now than after marriage, right?" Camille 
asked Robellia, smiling.

	She sighed.  "You should try to be more like 
Daichi."

	Camille snapped his fingers and his clothing changed 
to match Daichi's.  They were now perfectly identical.  
"Like this?"

	"You know what I mean," Robellia said, sighing.  
"He's a much more proper gentleman than you." 

	"Haven't known him very long, I take it," Cassandra 
said, sounding amused.

	Benten snorted, and Augur laughed. 

	"Cassandra, be nice," Odysseus said.

	Down below them, the junior Pluto laid out all of 
the items she had gathered into a circle, ith a large -- 
well, large for a gemstone -- amethyst in the center.  
She didn't like to think about how much she'd had to pay 
Naru's mother for it.  Mars stood by, awkwardly holding 
Vulcan's Hammer.  Erika had changed into a leather smock 
and pulled her long blonde hair up into a bun.  She held 
a wand in each hand.

	"Okay, now what?" the junior Pluto asked.

	She handed a wand to the junior Pluto; it was a rod 
of rowan wood tipped with a Seal of Solomon made from 
what must have been a huge ruby.  "We form a triangle 
around it, and then we all speak the spell of 
empowerment.  Ideally, everything merges together and 
forms into your talisman."

	"And if everything isn't ideal?" Mars asked.

	"Vulcan will tell us what we did wrong in the 
afterlife," Erika said.

	The junior Pluto and Mars' eyes popped wide open.

	"That was a joke," Erika assured them.  "If we fail, 
there may be some side effects, but mostly we'll just 
fail and have to try again."  She handed each of them a 
sheaf of paper.  "Okay, now this is the spell."

	"This is ten pages long!"

	"It's what I found in the records," Erika said.  "If 
this doesn't work, we'll have to experiment."

	Mars sighed.  "So much for homework."

	"Like you really wanted to do homework," the junior 
Pluto said.

	"True."

	They began the spell, and they had reached page 
three when a great bell began to chime.  By that point, 
red, blue, and yellow energy was swirling in a great 
triangle around the items on the table, which were 
beginning to turn translucent and slowly slide towards 
each other.  

	"What's that bell?" Daichi asked as the audience 
began leaping to its feet.

	"The alarm bell," Robellia said, sounding scared.  
"Something's breached the barriers."

	Explosions began to echo from the distance.

	Pluto rose and sighed.  "The Dark Kingdom.  They 
must have followed us here."

	Neptune and Odysseus sprung to their feet.  "But 
how?"

	"Perhaps Souichi was right," Pluto said, sighing.  
"We should have waited, even though I foresaw a massive 
brawl that would have delayed us for days if we waited. 
Now they are caught up in this."

	"I'll get Mars," Futsu-Nushi no Kami, Mars' advisor 
cat, said.

	"No, it's too dangerous," Cassandra said.  "If that 
spell is interrupted, it will cause a time vortex or 
worse.  We can't let the Dark Kingdom's forces get near 
them."

	The Queen came down to them while the King shouted 
orders to all and sundry.  "We must beseech your aid.  We 
are not very good fighters, but it seems that several 
dozen youma have breached our defenses and invaded the 
palace.  They're on their way to where we store many of 
our magical items."

	"Maybe that's why they're here," Augur speculated.  
"They may not even know about us."

	Daichi cocked his head.  "I hear gunfire."

	"Pyroxenite," Odysseus said.  

	Pluto nodded.  "Daichi, stay here and tell them to 
join us when they finish making the talisman.  Your 
highness, is there a way for us to easily send a message 
back to our friends on our world?"

	"I can send a quick messenger bird," the Queen said.

	"Good.  Send it to Sailor Moon, and tell her to 
bring everyone.  We're going to need them.  Odysseus, 
Neptune, come with me, it's time for us to buy some 
time."

	They strode off, and Camille turned to Robellia.  
"You stay here with Daichi; I'm going to go see what I 
can do."

	"But I..." she began.

	"He'll keep you safe," Camille said, taking her by 
the hands, then kissing her cheek.  "Now, where did I put 
that itching powder..." He waved a hand and vanished.

	Soon, there was only a spell in progress, Robellia, 
and Daichi left.  "Do you think everyone can hold out 
until the other senshi come?" Daichi asked.

	"I...I don't know," she said nervously.  "We're not 
very good at fighting.  I mean, people get in fist fights 
or try to turn each other into fruit sometimes, but we 
haven't had a war in centuries."

	"Against magic combined with modern weaponry, I 
don't think they have much of a chance," Cassandra said 
gloomily.  

	"If I took that sort of attitude, I've have given up 
on our soccer team a long time ago," he said.

	"There's such a thing as knowing when you can win 
and when you can't," Cassandra said.

	"There's such a thing as giving up before you 
start!" he snapped.

	Pokota came running up as best he could; Pokota 
would never set any land speed records.  "Is Himeko 
okay?"

	"She's hard at work," Daichi said, pointing down to 
her.  "Only about half done, I think."

	"I wish I could get big like I did against those 
gangsters," Pokota said.  "To protect her.  I saw the 
youma show up; they're scary."

	"Where's Pink-chan?"  Daichi asked.

	"With her family," Pokota replied.   

	Daichi's eyes widened and he grinned.  "Pokota, when 
Himeko finishes her spell, tell her what's going on.  I 
have to go take care of some stuff."  He took Robellia by 
the hand.  "Come with me."

	"But..where are we going?"

	"You know the way better than I do," he said, as 
they ran off out of earshot.

	Cassandra looked over at Pokota.  "Worry?" she 
asked.

	"Yes."

******************

	Amazonite frowned as she strode with her squad 
through the palace.  I shouldn't have let Alexandrite 
talk me into assisting Pyroxenite on this, she thought.  
There is no honorable battle to be found here, only the 
slaughter of hapless mortals.  I haven't even seen Sailor 
Venus, to renew my struggle with her.  

	An explosion went off, followed by screams.  Her 
youma grumbled.  She couldn't blame them.  Pyroxenite's 
weapons were as dangerous to his friends as his foes; 
she'd lost two youma to a collapsing roof already today.

	A lone senshi barred her path, standing on a pile of 
rubble.  "Halt!  This land is under the protection of 
Sailor Odysseus!  None shall pass!"

	Amazonite stepped forward.  "You can't possibly 
fight me and all twenty of my men."

	"You need twenty men to defeat me?  Some mighty 
warrior you are."

That stung.  Amazonite had a lot of pride, and 
Odysseus had fired a bolt of words into it.  Hearing the 
youma start to whisper didn't make her feel any better. 
"I'm not scared of you!"

"Then you should face me one on one the honorable 
way.  If I lose, you're free to pass.  If I win, your men 
will have to turn back."

	Part of Amazonite knew she should just order her men 
to blast Odysseus.  But that was not her way.  "Alright.  
Let's do battle," she said, stepping forward and drawing 
forth her blade of flame.  "Begin."

	"SOLAR FLARE!" Odysseus shouted.  White light seared 
the entire squad's eyeballs, making them stagger back 
blinded, and blinded Amazonite as well.  "Odysseus KICK!"  
She did a flying kick to Amazonite's head, knocking her 
down and sending the flaming sword flying.

	She landed, rolled, grabbed the sword, then took off 
running.  "Come and get me!"

	Amazonite took off after her, and her unit 
dissolved, trying to follow while mostly blind and 
scattering itself.

	Pluto watched them scatter and smiled, then turned 
to Neptune.  "And now for Pyroxenite."

	"We should blast them now," Neptune said.

	"Chop off the head, and the followers will scatter 
like sheep," Pluto said.  "Come with me."

***************

	Elsewhere and somewhat later, after long and frantic 
searching had yielded no results, Pluto kicked a rock in 
irritation.  "Where is Pyroxenite?"  They'd killed a good 
half-dozen of his youma, but they couldn't find him 
anywhere.

	"Maybe he didn't come himself."  Neptune speculated.

	"People have seen him," Pluto replied.  "Where could 
he be?"

	"Neptune-sama, we need your help," a page boy said, 
running up to her.  "Parts of the palace are starting to 
burn, and some sort of force field is sealing the exits 
and the wells."

	"Why aren't the other Sailors here yet?" Pluto 
asked.  "The message was sent, wasn't it?"

	"It takes time to bring people here," the page boy 
said.  

	"Do the fires look like accidents?" Neptune asked.

	"No, the youma are setting them," the page boy said.

	"He's going to try to turn the entire population of 
the Kingdom of Magic into Flame Warriors," Pluto said 
faintly.

	Neptune slapped her forehead.  "I can't believe I 
forgot this."  She summoned the Aqua Mirror.  "Show me 
Pyroxenite."

	His image appeared in the mirror; he was carving a 
rune into the corner of the palace from outside it.

	Pluto's eyes narrowed.  "I will not allow this," she 
said.  "Tell the Queen to evacuate everyone.  Smash down 
the walls if she has to," she said to the page boy.  "You 
don't have any gas pipes, do you?"

	"Any what?"

	"Good."  She turned to Neptune.  "You must go to 
Mars.  I will find Pyroxenite and deal with him."

	"You'll need my help."

	"Mars and Pluto will be exhausted.  We cannot risk 
the Hammer of Mars falling into youma hands.  Go now."

	Neptune sighed, nodded, and ran off. 

	First, to sabotage Pyroxenite's spell, Pluto 
thought, then sprinted off herself.

****************

	The carriage landed outside the palace, discharging 
the remaining Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen.  "Someone's 
altered the palace's defenses to keep us out," the 
carriage driver said.  "I can't get in."

	"I'll make us a door," Jupiter said, striding 
towards the wall.  "SPARKLING..."

	"No, wait, we should find the door and just blow 
that down," Mercury said.  "You might take down a 
structural support, and we are here to help them."

	"The gates are this way," the carriage driver said, 
leading them on.

***************

	Pyroxenite strode into the chamber where the 
talisman ritual was in progress, with one page left to 
go.  "Interesting," he said.  "Now the question is...do I 
kill you now while you're vulnerable, or after you finish 
so I can take it?"

	"How about if you die right now?" Cassandra said as 
she leaped from the stands onto his head. One of her 
claws stabbed into his left eye.  

	He howled from the pain and grabbed her by the tail, 
then slammed her into the nearby wall.  She fell to the 
ground, writhing in pain.  He drew a knife to finish her 
off; a cat wasn't worth wasting bullets or magic on.  

	To his surprise, a small plush lion jumped down to 
interpose himself.  "I won't let you kill her!" the lion 
said. It roared at him, which was much more amusing than 
threatening.  

	"Come and get me," Pyroxenite said, amused, then 
watched the living toy try to bite his leg.  "You're 
brave but stupid."  He kicked the plush lion aside.  
"Let's see if cats really have nine lives."

	"Drop the knife," a male voice said from the doorway 
behind him.  "And everything else if you want to live."

	He turned and saw a dark haired boy he didn't 
recognize, with a girl the same age cowering behind him.  
The boy was holding a small wand with a heart on the end, 
which looked like a cheap plastic toy to Pyroxenite.  "Or 
you'll throw your toy at me?"

	The boy gave him a confident grin which he found 
disturbing.  "Or I'll squash you flat."

	"You care about a cat enough to throw away your 
life?" Pyroxenite found this quite confusing.

	"It's not the cat I'm worried about," the boy said.

	"Gee, thanks, Daichi," Cassandra mumbled.

	Pyroxenite followed Daichi's gaze.  "Ahh, one of 
them is your lover."

	He blushed a bit.  "Uh, yeah."

	The girl whispered something to him.  He nodded.  
She began to fiddle with a makeup set.

	"You want to look pretty when you die?" Pyroxenite 
said.  

	The girl mumbled something.  There was a flash of 
light and a blur, and suddenly he was disarmed.  This 
surprised him.  The fact that the two kids now had his 
guns and grenades surprised him more.  In fact, he was 
now tied up and hanging from a handly post.

	He snapped the ropes and dropped down.  "Another 
time mage," he said, looking at the girl.  "You die 
first."

	Off to one side, the energy around the three women 
at work began to surge wildly.  The girl said, "I told 
you it would be dangerous to use near the talisman 
making, Daichi!"

	"Are you deaf, girl?" Pyroxenite asked.  

	"Did you say something to me?"

	He fired a bolt of energy at her, but the boy, 
Daichi, knocked her out of the way and took the blast 
himself, although it only caught him on one side.  He 
fell down, and Pyroxenite was disappointed.

	"I'm getting out of practice," he said.  "That 
should have killed you.  Too much relying on my weapons, 
I see."

	Then the girl picked up one of the weapons they'd 
stolen from him and shot him.  The bullet bounced off a 
field around his body; he'd prepared that spell as soon 
as he had learned of guns.  "You're very brave.  If you 
run, I'll let you live."

	Instead, she emptied the clip.  They all bounced off 
him.  He casually backhanded her, knocking her out, and 
began reclaiming his weapons.  I'll wait for them to 
finish, he decided.  Then I'll kill the boy in front of 
his lover, kill them, and take the talisman they're 
making.

	He didn't have very long to wait, as they were 
finishing even as he made his decision.  He had just 
enough time to reclaim most of his weaponry before all 
three of them sagged forward as the energies crystalized 
around the amethyst in the center of the table, becoming 
a new Staff of Time.  The blonde Pluto lifted it, then 
leaned on the staff, feeling her knees wobble.  "I feel 
half dead."

	"I'm exhausted," Mars said, her voice shaking from 
exhaustion.

	"I need a nap," Erika said.  "Hey, where is 
everyone?" 

	Then they saw Pyroxenite, standing over Daichi, who 
was sprawled out on the ground, and Cassandra, who was 
being tended to by Pokota as best he could.

	"Pyroxenite, you...you nutjob!" the junior Pluto 
said.  "What are you doing here?"

	"Having fun," he said.  "Although this place isn't 
much of a challenge to destroy.  So, which one of you is 
this boy's lover?"

	"I am," the junior Pluto said.

	"Good. Now watch as your lover dies," Pyroxenite 
said, leveling a gun at Daichi's forehead just as Daichi 
woke up.

	Two things happened at once.  Mars hurled her hammer 
at Pyroxenite's hand with all the strength she could 
muster, while Futsu-Nushi no Kami dropped down from the 
stands onto Pyroxenite's head.  He jerked and missed 
Daichi, shooting the floor instead.  Daichi rolled away 
from him.

	Pyroxenite ripped Futsu-Nushi no Kami off his head 
and pitched him at Mars, who caught her advisor, after 
which he hefted the Hammer.  "Why, thank you."

	"Hey, it's supposed to come back when I throw it!" 
Mars said.

	"I never told you that," Futsu-Nushi no Kami said.

	"Thor's hammer does that!"

	"Are you Sailor Thor?"

	"Well, no, but..."

	How do I use this? Pyroxenite asked himself.  He 
quickly racked his mind, trying to remember the legends.  
Obviously throwing it isn't a good idea.

	"Chappy, get help!" Erika commanded.

	Chappy had left earlier, unfortunately.

	"Grande graaji ookiku nare!!!"  Daichi suddenly grew 
to eighty feet tall, and stared down at Pyroxenite.  
"Drop the Hammer, Pyroxenite."

	Mars stared at him.  "What the hell?"

	"Don't ask me," Futsu-Nushi no Kami said, staring up 
at the now gigantic Daichi and looking just a tiny bit 
impressed.  

	"The heart wand!" the junior Pluto said.  "Kick him 
like a soccer ball, Daichi!"

	"Hammer, Ki..." Pyroxenite began.  The hammer began 
to glow.

	Then Daichi's foot smashed into Pyroxenite, and 
Pyroxenite smashed into the wall.  The Hammer dropped 
from his hands.  Then Daichi's foot came down on him, and 
they could hear Pyroxenite's bones snap.  
	  
	He reached for the Hammer, but Mars staggered over 
and grabbed it first, then smashed his hand with it.  
"You murdering psychopath!  You're not going to kill 
anyone again if I have anything to do with it!"

	"I'll send for binding bracers," Erika said.  "So we 
can imprison him."

	Neptune ran in.  "Pyroxenite is...oh."

	"Out of the picture," Daichi boomed.

	She stared at him in shock.

	"Hey, Erika," Daichi boomed.

	"Yes?" she replied.

	"How long can I stay like this?"

	"Given how big you've gotten, not very long, I 
think.  Plus, you'd never make it out the door."

	"Damn you all," Pyroxenite muttered, then pulled a 
pin on a grenade and threw it right between Erika and the 
junior Pluto.  He then collapsed from physical agony.

	"Fang of the Rainbow Serpent!" Neptune shouted, 
hurling a bolt of water at the flying grenade, blowing it 
apart before it could go off.

	"Thanks," Erika said, leaning against the table.

	"I'm taking you all with me!" Pyroxenite announced, 
making a slashing gesture.  And then he exploded in a 
great ball of fire. 

	Giant-sized Daichi moved and interposed himself to 
take the blast, which would have killed a normal-sized 
Daichi, and was incredibly agonizing even for a giant 
one.  He couldn't contain the blast entirely, and the 
Heart Wand melted to slag, along with the 'compact' 
Robellia had brought, a magical item that could actually 
control time to a limited degree; they had used it to 
stop time to try to capture Pyroxenite earlier.  

	With the Heart Wand broken, Daichi shrank to normal 
size, and collapsed, horribly burned from the waist down, 
especially towards his feet.  "Daichi!" the junior Pluto 
shouted, running over to him, then nearly falling on him 
because of being exhausted.

	"Mars, you're going to have to use the Hammer to 
save his life," Futsu-Nushi no Kami said.

	"I can hardly stand," she said.

	"Unless you can pull Saturn out of your pocket to 
heal him, we don't have a choice," Futsu-Nushi no Kami 
snapped.  

	"I can get a healing potion," Erika said.  "Well, if 
I could move..."

	"I will help you," Neptune said, taking Mars' hand.  
She could feel Mars shaking and wondered if it was 
exhaustion or a memory of the unfortunate love bow 
incident.

	They pooled their strength, and following Futsu-
Nushi no Kami's instructions, they laid the hammer on 
Daichi's knees, at the midpoint of his injuries.  The 
junior Pluto staggered over and put her hand on the 
hammer.  "Let me help."

	"You're in no condition to help," Futsu-Nushi no 
Kami said.

	"I don't care," she said.  "If he dies, I don't care 
what happens to me."

	"I will help as well," Erika said, laying her hand 
upon the hammer on top of Himeko's.  "He is my friend."

	"The consequences be on your head," Futsu-Nushi no 
Kami said.  

	"You need to do something for Cassandra too!" Pokota 
said.  "She's in really bad shape over here."

	Futsu-Nushi no Kami turned to her.  "I will tend to 
Cassandra."  He went over and began praying over her.  

	The senshi and Erika looked at each other, then they 
lent Mars their power. She channeled it through the 
Hammer, praying to [Kami of Healing] to heal Daichi.  
Gradually, his wounds healed, fading to first degree 
burns.  Then Erika, Mars, and the junior Pluto quietly 
collapsed, falling onto Daichi.

	Daichi woke up and looked up at Neptune, realizing 
he was only wearing a burnt shirt and his underwear, and 
had three women and the Hammer of Mars lying on his legs.  
"Should I ask?"

	"No."

********************

	Amazonite chased after Odysseus.  "Stop and fight 
me!"

	Odysseus stopped.  "Hey, look, it's the Sailor 
Senshi!"

	Amazonite laughed. "I am not an idiot."

	It wasn't the Sailor Senshi, it was the White 
Knight, who simply trampled her.

	"I am the champion of the Star Princess!  Your 
battle is with me!"

	I wonder who I got this time, Odysseus asked 
herself.  She didn't feel very happy about dragging 
someone else into her battle, now that she knew the White 
Knight's secret.  

	There were several explosions, and some of 
Amazonite's youma flew past her from behind her.  

	"I am the Lovely Sailor Suited Warrior, Sailor 
Moon!" Sailor Moon announced.  "Invading peaceful magic 
kingdoms isn't very nice!  In the name of the Moon, I 
will punish you!"

	Amazonite got up, turned and saw Mercury, Uranus, 
Pluto, Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Kamen, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, 
and Parias.  "Cowards!" she shouted.  "All of you against 
a single warrior?"

	"Your grass is ass!" Venus announced, then leveled 
her bow at Amazonite.  "I'll stop you myself!"  She 
unleashed a flurry of arrows.  A flurry of poorly aimed 
arrows.  

	As a result, Amazonite was able to dodge them all.  
"Men, retreat!" she shouted, and her Youma began 
teleporting out.  She quickly joined them.

	"Dammit, that isn't how it's supposed to work!" 
Venus said.

	"You can't just fire arrows off as fast as you would 
for a gun, if you want to hit anything," Parias 
commented.

	"Aiming helps," Saturn offered.

	"Everyone's a critic," Venus grumbled.

****************

	By the time all was done, everyone was exhausted 
from fire fighting.  The King of the Kingdom of Magic 
said to Sailor Moon, "Thank you for your help, Sailor 
Moon.  And thank you to all of you.  We would have been 
destroyed completely without you."

	"And thank you for helping Pluto-chan," Sailor Moon 
replied, leaning against Tuxedo Kamen, who was leaning on 
his cane.  "Well, now we all have our talismans.  What's 
next, Pluto?"

	The senior Pluto said, "We're going to Disneyland."

	Everyone fell down but her.

	"Seriously, we're going to need to train and prepare 
ourselves so for the struggle to come.  We may want to 
consider raiding the Dark Kingdom and recovering the Orb 
of the Stars so Odysseus can neutralize the Zodiac before 
we make our final assault on the Dark Kingdom.  We can't 
fight both at once, and I fear Jadeite may find some way 
to use it.  Astra may have said Odysseus will be able to 
summon it when she comes into the fullness of her power, 
but that may not happen fast enough."  She looked at 
Sailor Moon, then said, "But ultimately, the decision is 
not in my hands."

	Sailor Moon nodded.  "Well, we can make plans while 
we train."

	The junior Pluto and Daichi leaned against each 
other.  "I just want to go home," she said.

	Erika waved goodbye.  "Hopefully your next visit 
will be a lot more fun."

	"I'm very grateful," the junior Pluto said.

	"I had fun," Daichi said.  "Except for getting 
fried."  

	"You could have died!" the junior Pluto said.

	"It was worth the risk," he said.  

	"Dammit, Ashikaga-sensei's gonna kick my ass for not 
doing my homework," Mars muttered.

	"Did you and Mercury bang heads and switch 
personalities?" Uranus asked, amused.

	"No, I just know when doom's staring me in the 
face."

	"I have to go see my parents and get chewed out," 
Venus said.  "That's the TRUE face of doom."

	The carriages to take them home pulled up.  It was 
time to go.

***************

	Later, Himeko carefully set Cassandra down in her 
cat bed.  "I hope you're all better soon," she said.

	"Futsu-Nushi no Kami was able to mostly heal me," 
she said.  "But thank you for your concern.  I just need 
rest now."  And then she was out like a light.

	Pokota said, "Are you okay, Daichi?"

	"I don't think I'll be playing soccer for a few 
days."

	"You should have been more careful!" Himeko said to 
him.

	"If I hadn't done that, you all would have died.  
You all passed out just healing my injuries; you couldn't 
have fought Pyroxenite.  I wish we hadn't gotten all 
those items melted, though.  I would have liked being 
'Gozer the Destroyer' or something."  He sat down on 
Himeko's bed, then winced.  "I don't want to walk all the 
way back to my room."

	"You could crash on Minako's bed. She said her 
parents would be keeping her home tonight."

	"Won't she be late to school, then?"

	"I guess.  I think they wanted to keep an eye on 
her."

	He got up.  "Sensa-san the Destroyer.  I'd best go 
before she finds me in here this late."

	She opened the door for him.  "I'll walk you out."

	"Don't worry about me; I'm used to outrunning 
pathetic old people."

	"Oh really?" Sensa-san said from a few feet away.  
"Are you two running a hotel for men, Nonohara-san?"

	Hime-chan sweatdropped.  "He was just leaving," she 
said.

	Sensa-san then noticed Daichi's legs.  "You're 
burnt," she said.

	"I've got bandages on the worst parts," he said.

	"Who put these on?  Obviously some young person who 
hasn't learnt any sense yet," Sensa-san said, taking him 
by the arm.  "I'll treat these burns for you properly.  
It'll only hurt a little, but I'm sure a fine young boy 
like you won't even feel the sting of the disinfectant 
for more than a few hours."

	She towed him away, leaving Himeko staring after 
her.  

	"So, how did you get burnt?"

	"Never let Himeko cook," Daichi said.

	Shoe to the head.  "I heard that!!!!!"

****************

	Umino finished organizing all his TORG stuff.  
That's weird, he thought.  One of my copies of the rules 
is missing.  He sighed.  Someone borrowed it without 
asking again.  Well, it'll show up next week, he thought.

	He then did his homework and went to bed, blissfully 
oblivious that someone was watching him through his 
window the entire time.

*****************

	Setsuna sat on the porch again, under the porch 
light, trying to finish her novel.  

	Tomoe-san came out onto the porch.

	"I know," Setsuna said without looking up.  "I was 
wrong."

	He blinked, then nodded.  "I analyzed the crystal 
set Sailor Moon and the other found after they beat the 
probing youma.  I think the Dark Kingdom's probably set 
up monitoring stations all over Tokyo to watch for you 
all using your powers.  However, I believe I can build 
something to jam their probes or feed them false 
information."  He put a hand on her shoulder.  "So how 
did it go?"

	"Not my most impressive mission ever.  With all the 
distortion from the Talisman creation, my temporal sight 
didn't work very well, and I wasted precious time running 
hither and yon."  She sighed and took his hand with hers.  
"And my apprentice nearly got her boyfriend killed."

	"Well, we collected some valuable data today, which 
should assist us when it comes time to raid the Dark 
Kingdom," Tomoe-san replied.  "Now, I just have to figure 
out how to use it with my crystal lattice array, and we 
could search the Dark Kingdom from our living room for 
the Orb of the Stars, and then you could teleport 
straight to it."

	"Now that would be useful," she said.  "But 
dangerous to do from our living room."

	"Just a metaphor."

	She got up.  "I'd best get some sleep."

	"Well, things should be calmer for a while while you 
all train for your raid, right?"

	Thunder boomed in the distance.

	Setsuna turned to face the clouds.  "Ha ha, very 
funny," she said, shook her head, then went inside.  

	Tomoe-san blinked, shrugged, and followed her in.

************

	Usagi huddled in her bed, listening to the thunder.  
I am not afraid, she told herself.  I am not afraid.  I 
have faced down evil death gods and things from beyond 
time and space and taxes.  It's just like Mako's powers, 
except wildly out of control and frying everything it 
hits and this isn't helping.

	Rei looked over at her from the other bed.  "Usagi, 
you can't sleep either?"

	"It's making such a racket, I can't stand it."

	Rei got up and went to the window and stared out 
into the howling rain and lightning.  "I don't like it 
either. There's something wrong with it."

	"Do you think it's another youma?" Usagi asked, 
joining her.

	"Not a youma, no," Rei said.  She gazed out at the 
crackling lightning, trying to use it for a fire reading, 
even though she knew she couldn't.  "But there's 
something about it.  This storm has a name."

The End (Until the next chapter, anyway...)

**************

Himeko Says:

[We see Himeko and Naru playing Puzzle Fighter II.  Chun-
li keeps repeating 'Gomen ne' over and over and over...]

Naru:  So why does she keep apologizing?

Himeko:  I have no clue.  I could try turning into her 
and find out.

Naru:  Hey, the camera's rolling!

[They turn to face the viewer, looking embarrassed]

Himeko:  So what did we learn today?

Naru:  Minako needs to get a grip.

Himeko:  You only just now learned this?

Naru:  I need to get someone to install a card catalog at 
the Library of Time.

Himeko:  And I learned that Erika needs better burglar 
alarms for her palace.

Pyroxenite:  [walks in]  And I learned I'm gonna have to 
seek new employment.

Naru:  I hear Big Fire's recruiting again.

Pyroxenite:  [hearts in his eyes]  Do I get my own mech?

Himeko:  Just go through that door.  [points to an oddly 
shaped door]

[Pyroxenite does so, then we hear him scream as he drops 
down a chute]

Naru:  Isn't that the garbage chute?

Himeko:  Yes.  And?

Naru:  Just checking.  [turns to the audience again]  See 
you all in Z 20!  Say goodnight, Himeko.

Himeko:  Goodnight, Naru.

Naru:  You were supposed to...oh, never mind.  [walks 
off]

Himeko: [turns into a police officer]  Okay, everyone go 
home now.  Nothing to see here.  Move along, move along.

************

Closing Credits:


     "My road leads me far away."

     We see Nephrite telling Juno that he must go soon 
for a great conflict is about to begin.

     "Though my heart tells me to stay,"

     We see Princess Serenity clinging to a worried 
looking Endymion.

     "When my duty calls, I must go"

     We see Pluto appearing in the midst of the ballroom 
at the Diamond Gala.

     "'Twixt worlds of fire and worlds of snow."

We cut to a shot of the solar system, with the nine 
planets and the moon lined up from the Sun at the left to 
Pluto at the right, with the Senshi and Prince Endymion 
standing on their planets as shadowy figures.

     "The road I travel will be long"

     We see the White Knight galloping down a Tokyo 
street on horseback.

     "To set things right, to end the wrongs."

     We see Tuxedo Mask tossing a red rose into the 
barrel of a gun, which backfires and explodes.

     "But this message will I send,"

     We see Rei picking up a blue crystal, which starts 
to play back a message.

"Wait for me at Journey's End."

     We see Naru waiting for someone outside a 
restaurant.

     "Do not forget the love we share"

     We see Princess Serenity and Endymion tearfully 
bidding each other farewell.

     "Though I must leave, my heart will stay."

     We see Naru crying as Nephrite dissolves away in her 
arms.

     "Do not think I ceased to care"

     We see Beryl implanting crystals in the foreheads of 
the four Guardians and cackling maniacally.
                               
"When my duty took me away."

     We see Steven waiting at a restaurant, then sighing 
as he checks his watch.

     "The road I travel will be long"

     We see the Sailors using the Sailor Teleport to 
travel to the ruins of the Moon Kingdom.

     "To set things right, to end the wrongs."

     We see Umino trying to fight a monster in "Tuxedo 
Umino Kamen" mode.

     "But this message will I send,"

We see Luna trying to use a dial only phone.

     "Wait for me at Journey's End."

     We see Umino leap to his feet as Naru comes running 
up the sidewalk to him with Usagi and company.

     "I have only my heart to give"

     We see Haruka and Michiru sharing a quiet moment.

     "For my life is not my own."

     We see the baby Saturn in a crib.

     "It is for others that I must live"

We see Pluto having a frustrating time trying to counsel 
a young girl.

     "But it is for you that I come home."

     We see Mamoru following a trail of smoke to Usagi in 
his kitchen.

     "The road I travel will be long"

     We see Capricorn vanishing through a portal.

     "To set things right, to end the wrongs."

     We see a chamber with stars for a ceiling and a 
horoscope on the floor.  A man stands in grey robes in 
the center and stares down at the horoscope.

     "But this message will I send,"

We see Usagi listening to a message on the phone, her 
eyes getting big.

     "Wait for me at Journey's End."

     We see a closing tableux of the Sailors, Umino, 
Naru, Steven, Tuxedo Mask, and twelve shadowy figures 
standing on a Zodiac wheel.

John Walter Biles :  MA-History, ABD, Ph.D Candidate at U. Kansas         
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu       
rhea@tass.org              http://www.tass.org/~rhea/falcon.html
rhea@maison-otaku.net      http://www.maison-otaku.net/~rhea/

"The connection is so abstract, that we have people whose job 
it is to make sure the paperwork doesn't get totally disconnected 
from the world.  Theoretically, I handle millions of dollars a day, 
but it is less real than this e-mail. I have never seen our product. 
I have never seen the sales people.  I have never seen a customer."
--Robert Lane describes his work as an accountant.



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