I have adjusted the timing of the Silver Millennium
so that it ended 10,000 years ago instead of 1,000 years ago.
(This is to make it work with actual Earth history. We actually
have a pretty good idea of what was going on 1,000 years
ago.)
No Need for Sailor Scouts
part 2
By
Doug Whiddon
^�Wha... who.... who^�s Makoto? I^�m Sailor Jupiter!^�
Makoto struck a pose.
Tenchi stared for a moment. ^�No, seriously, what^�s with
the get-up?^�
Makoto approached Tenchi. ^�You can recognize me?
How? When I change to Sailor Jupiter no one is supposed to
recognize me!^�
^�Then maybe you should try wearing a mask.^� Tenchi
had gone past the initial surprise and was almost teasing her.
Makoto put her hand on her forehead, checking to see
if she had popped a blood vessel when he said that.
^�Hey... wait a minute, if you^�re Sailor Jupiter, then are
all the girls who were at Rei^�s shrine the Sailor Scouts?^�
Makoto thought for a moment. ^�No.^� She replied.
Tenchi rolled his eyes. ^�Uh huh.^� Tenchi looked her up
and down. ^�Maybe you should change into something normal.
Not, that what you^�re wearing isn^�t nice, but it might attract
attention.^�
Makoto remembered she was still Sailor Jupiter. ^�Oh,
right.^�
Moments later Tenchi and Makoto were walking back
to the shrine.
^�You seem awfully calm about being attacked by aliens.
Aren^�t you wondering who^�s trying to get you?^�
Tenchi looked at her. ^�Who says they^�re after me?
Both times one of you has been nearby.^�
Makoto didn^�t miss the ^�both times^� comment.
Obviously he hadn^�t believed her when she said the others
weren^�t Sailor Scouts. ^�Well, this one went straight for you. If
you hadn^�t ducked in time you wouldn^�t be standing here now.^�
^�I suppose.^� Tenchi decided not to mention the
shoelaces. ^�Anyway, someone else is looking into whoever is
behind this. I prefer to wait until I actually have a target before
attacking. This isn^�t my first battle, you know.^�
^�Really? I^�d love to hear about the others.^�
^�The other what?^�
Makoto and Tenchi turned to see that Rei was now
following them.
^�The other what?^� She repeated.
^�Sailor Jupiter and I were discussing battles.^�
^�Sai...^� Rei^�s eyes got real big, ^�WHAT HAVE YOU
BEEN TELLING HIM???^�
Makoto stepped back out of firing range. Rei was in
rare form.
^�I didn^�t tell him anything, he recognized me in my sailor
costume.^�
^�That^�s not possible, no one has ever recognized us
before, we don^�t even recognize ourselves in costume.^�
^�Well, someone has now. Just ask Ten...^� Makoto
trailed off as she realized that Tenchi was no longer around.
^�Hey, where did he go?^�
^�He probably got BORED with watching us fight!^�
And they where back to fighting...
Somewhere in orbit...
Heyleyn examined the latest data on the attack. This
was going to be harder than she thought. The murdering prince
had allies all over the place. She checked the status of the first
birthing chamber she had sent in. It had enough materials on
hand to make two more warriors. After that, another chamber
would have to be sent.
She sent instructions to the chamber. The murderer had
too many allies, they would all have to die. Soon it would be
time for another attempt, she needed more data.
Back on Earth...
Tenchi dropped his school bag in the guest room and
dug his cellphone out of his bag. He also dug around until he
found a small wooden cylinder with a lens on it. The cylinder
was a gift from Ayeka, a security system for his new apartment,
atatched the wall next to the door, it would prevent anyone but
him from coming in. He attached it to the wall. The forcefield
was also a sound barrier, no one at the door could listen in on
his conversation.
Privacy assured, Tenchi turned on the phone and hit a
button marked with a picture of a crab. Tenchi waited while the
phone rang. After a minute a hologram of Washu in a towel
appeared on the phone.
^�You just had to call when I was in the shower, didn^�t
you?^� Washu smirked.
^�Uh, well, uhm... did you ever find out where that thing
in the park came from?^�
^�Well of course. I am the greatest genius in the universe,
after all!^�
Tenchi groaned slightly. The price of dealing with
Washu was addressing her as ^�little^� Washu, and stroking her
ego on occasion. All in all, it wasn^�t such a high price to pay.
^�Anyway, I teleported the remains to my lab after your
two encounters, and...^�
^�Wait a minute,^� Tenchi interrupted, ^�you teleported
them? I thought they where just dissolving or something. And
how did you know I have two encounters?^�
^�The American CIA has satellites that can read a watch
from orbit, what do you think I have?^�
Tenchi thought for a moment. Several very frightening
images went through his head. he shook them off, ^�go on.^�
^�I examined the remains. The outer shell is a lot like
Ryo-ohki^�s spaceship shell. It was probably made from the
same type of mineral life. Which means that if the things aren^�t
killed they can regenerate damaged portions of their exterior.
Under that is a very basic muscle structure, nothing impressive,
but it gets the job done. They have a basic circulatory system
and nervous system and a very tiny organic computer brain. The
second creature^�s brain contained information from your first
fight. So these things are capable of learning from each attack.
And...^�
Tenchi interrupted again. ^�Wait, were the things just
after me?^�
Washu nodded. ^�Definitely. They^�re gunning for you.^�
Tenchi sighed. ^�Great. Any idea who might want me
dead?^�
^�I can start a list. Topping it would be anyone behind
you in succession for the throne. I^�ll keep looking into it. But,
back to the things. As I said, basic circulatory system and
nervous system, but no digestive system, and no lungs. These
things are meant to only last a little while after they activate. It^�s
not a very efficient design. Whoever built these things must have
slept through half my lectures.^�
^�Okay, but what about the forcefield on the last one?
How am I supposed to fight something that I can^�t cut with my
sword?^�
^�Oh, yeah, forcefield. Relax, just hit it twice.^�
Tenchi^�s eyebrows raised inquiringly.
"It was using a simple, single-layer forcefield: easy to
generate, and with low power requirements. They're mostly
used for navigation; they aren't much good in combat, because
if you hit one it takes on the same polarity as the weapon -- so
the second strike will pass right through the field."
Tenchi^�s lips parted in preparation for his next question.
He stopped. His eyebrows drew together in concentration;
something she had said earlier sprang to mind. ^�Wha.... what
did you mean when you said that whoever did this must have
slept through YOUR lectures?^�
The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of her
mouth. ^�I was wondering if you caught that. Well, whowever
did this must have studied under me at the Galactic Science
Academy. Advanced Genetic Engineering and Manipulation, to
be exact. So that gives us a suspect list of just under four million
people. Including Kagato^�s brother, and several hundred Jurian
nobles.^�
Tenchi groaned. ^�Kagato had a brother?^�
^�Yup. And, most of the Jurian nobles who took my
class are somewhere in the succession line. So they all have a
reason to want to get rid of you.^�
Tenchi rubbed his temple, a headache was forming.
^�Okay, anything else?^�
^�I have some information about the Sailor Scouts^�
A series of still pictures appeared in the air in front of
Tenchi. The pictures weren^�t very clear.
^�These are the best shots I could find of them. There
are five girls. Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor
Jupiter, and Sailor Venus.^� With each name a specific picture
was brought to the forefront.
^�Also, there is some guy in a tuxedo and a mask that
hangs around them. No real data on him.^�
^�That^�s all the ^�greatest genius in the galaxy^� could
come up with?^�
^�Not quite, I have a lot of data on the Silver
Millennium.^�
^�The What?^�
^�The ^�Silver Mellinium^� was the kingdom that ruled
Earth and the other planets when they where first colonized
over eleven thousand years ago.^�
^�How come I^�ve never heard of any of this?^�
^�You never asked. Do you think that Jurai colonizes
worlds and then just leaves them to their fate?^�
Tenchi thought about it for a moment. Ayeka had once
mentioned that Earth was a Jurian colony, but he had never
really considered the full implications of that. Wouldn^�t the
colonists have brought higher technology with them? What had
happened to it? ^�I guess I never thought about it.^�
^�That^�s your biggest problem Tenchi, you don^�t think
enough, you jump in with you sword swinging and hope for the
best. You need to plan ahead more. Washu looked away at
something in her lab. ^�We^�ll talk again later. I have to go now.^�
Washu reached towards tenchi and her image vanished.
Rei sat at the table in the dining room. The doors were
open to the courtyard allowing the soft wind to blow in. Her
homework was spread out before her. She was looking out at
the trees when Tenchi entered. He set his books down across
from her and quietly sat down. He finished the first day^�s
homework with out spareing Rei a galnce or a word. Finished,
he closed his books and put his papers in a folder, Across from
him, Rei was also puting away her papers.
She looked over at him. ^�I was going to go meet some
friends at a malt shop nearby, since you don^�t know anyone in
town, you...uhm, want to come with me?^�
Tenchi smiled. ^�Sure, why not?^�
Rei dragged Tenchi out of the shrine and down to the
bus stop at the bottom of the hill.
At the stop after they got on a large number of people
got and Tenchi and Rei wound up pressed tightly against each
other. Tenchi recited baseball statistics to himself to ignore the
fact that Rei^�s oh-so-soft body was pressed up against his.
Fortunately long term exposure to a certain space pirate had
made it easy.
After they got off, Rei dragged him down the shopping
center, pausing to point out certain places. Finally they stopped
in front of a malt shop located beside an arcade. Makoto and
Ami were standing out front.
Makoto smiled as she caught sight of them.
Rei looked around. ^�Where are Mina and Usagi?^�
^�Well, Mina^�s playing her game.^� Ami gestured to the
arcade.
Tenchi leaned back to peer into the doorway. A
familiar blond head was bobbing enthusiastically in front of a
^�Sailor V^� video-game.
^�And Usagi^�s not here yet,^� Makoto finished.
Ami and Makoto engaged Rei in a conversation about
something made unintelligible by Tenchi^�s ^�Y^� chromosome.
Tenchi looked at Ami, and back at Mina in the arcade.
Ami would have to be Sailor Mercury and Rei would be Sailor
Mars. But, was Mina Sailor Moon? Or Sailor Venus? She and
Usagi were similar enough to be either one, and none of the
pictures Tenchi had seen had been good enough to pick out any
distinguishing characteristics.
After a few minutes Mina came out of the arcade. She
was in a foul mood.
^�Did you lose?^� Tenchi smirked.
^�I was 500 points from my record and I ran out of
change.^�
^�Which game?^�
^�Sailor V of course! Non of the other games are worth
the time.^�
^�Oh, don^�t they have a Sailor Moon game?^� Tenchi
grinned, watching for her reaction.
Mina^�s brows drew together. ^�What about Sailor
Moon?^�
^�You^�re her aren^�t you?^�
Mina^�s eyes got really big for a second, then narrowed.
^�What are you talking about?^�
^�It^�s okay, he knows. Mostly.^� Makoto interjected.
Mina leaned close to Makoto. ^�He can^�t know too
much, he called me Sailor Moon.^�
Makoto giggled. ^�You^�re a little off, Tenchi.^�
^�So you^�re Sailor Venus?^�
Mina shook her head. ^�I have no idea what you^�re
talking about.^�
Tenchi shot a questioning glance to Makoto.
^�She^�s Sailor Venus.^�
^�So Usagi would be...^�
^�I^�d be what?^�
Tenchi turned to see Usagi standing behind him. She
was arm-in-arm with some guy Tenchi had never seen. She
looked over at Makoto and Mina. ^�I^�d be what?^� She asked
again, annoyance in her voice.
^�Sailor Moon.^�
^�What?^� her eyes widened. The guy with her looked
over at Tenchi. Tenchi had seen the look often enough to know
he was being sized up as a potential opponent.
^�It^�s okay, he knows.^�
^�Since when!?^� Usagi^�s voice squeaked.
^�He recognized me in my Sailor costume.^�
^�That^�s not supposed to happen! We didn^�t recognize
each other at first!^�
Tenchi decided not to hang around for the rest of the
conversation. He decided to talk to the guy Usagi had arrived
with. He walked over to him and held out his hand.
^�Tenchi Masaki.^�
^�Mamoru Chiba.^� He shook Tenchi^�s hand firmly.
^�you^�re the guy with the lightsaber, right?^�
Tenchi blinked. ^�Lightsaber? Not quite, but close.^�
^�I don^�t suppose you have an extra one, do you?^�
Tenchi shook his head. ^�sorry, no. There^�s only one on
the planet. Well, only one that I know of.^� Tenchi took another
look at Mamoru. ^�So,... what^�s between you and Usagi?^�
^�She^�s my girlfriend. What else?^�
Tenchi mulled this over. He was obviously older than
her, but then again all the girls in Tenchi^�s life were a lot older
than him. Except for Sasami, of course. Unless you added the
seven hundred years in stasis. Tenchi^�s brain threatened
shutdown when he contemplated the vast life spans of the
women in his life.
^�Well, it^�s just that you seem to be a bit older than
her...^�
Mamoru nodded. ^�I know, but you can^�t really pick
who you fall in love with.^�
^�Tell me about it,^� Tenchi mumbled. ^�So, are you the
guy in the tuxedo?^�
^�What are you talking about?^�
^�You know, the guy in the Tux who followes the Sailor
Scouts around.^�
Momoru shook his head. ^�Not me.^�
The conversation covered nothing important from there
on. Sodas and parfaits followed once everyone was in the shop.
Rei offered to pay for Tenchi, but Tenchi insisted on paying for
himself. Everyone got up to leave afterwards, most of them
having to be somewhere else. Rei was about to ask Tenchi if he
wanted to take a walk in the park with her, when the group was
showered with brick fragments from the exploding wall of the
malt shop.
A chunk of brick the size of Tenchi^�s fist knocked Rei
cold. Tenchi caught her as she fell.
^�We^�re being attacked!^�
Mamoru moved between Usagi and the direction the
blast came from.
The malt shop^�s few customers headed for the door.
Leaving Tenchi, Rei, Mamoru and Usagi alone with the
attacker: yet another of the black crystal creatures.
Tenchi searched with his free hand. ^�I don^�t have my
sword!^� He looked to Mamoru and Usagi with a panicked
expression.
Mamoru looked back at Usagi, he turned to Tenchi.
^�You get Rei out of here, we^�ll deal with this.^�
Tenchi nodded briefly and scooped up Rei. He carried
her out of the malt shop and into the street. A lot of noise could
be heard from inside, followed by several flashes of light.
Tenchi gently laid Rei on the ground outside. He
checked her pulse and made sure she was breathing. When he
was sure she was okay he headed back inside to see what he
could do, Usagi and Mamoru were heading out at the same
time.
^�What happened?^� he asked.
^�We dealt with it. Well, she dealt with it.^� Mamoru
gestured to Usagi. ^�She blew it to bits.^�
^�Are the bits still there?^�
^�Yeah... where else would they be?^�
Tenchi moved aside to let Mamoru and Usagi pass and
went into the shop.
Inside there was relatively little damage. Tenchi^�s
damage scale went from Ayeka/Ryoko fighting over anything to
Mihoshi^�s landings (most of which destroyed the house). This
was only slightly more than any daily Ayeka/Ryoko fight, plus
the huge hole in one wall.
Tenchi dug out his cell phone. ^�Washu? There^�s been
another fight.^�
In her subspace lab Washu leaned back with a bowl of
popcorn. ^�I know, I was watching. Your new friends are quite
impressive.^�
^�Can you do anything about the damage?^� The sound
of sirens approached. ^�And quickly.^�
^�No problem.^� Washu hung up. The bits of attacker
vanished. A new wall apeared where the damaged one had
been. A pink ooze came from nowhere and began to flow over
the floor. Wherever the ooze passed linoleum was patched and
burn marks vanished.
Tenchi ducked out the door right as the horde of
firefighters, paramedics and cops appeared.
A cop grabbed Tenchi as he was exiting. ^�What
happened here? Is there anyone else inside?^�
Tenchi shook his head, ^�No, just me. I think it was a
smoke bomb. There^�s no damage.^�
The cop let go of Tenchi and went inside. Tenchi
looked around for Rei.
Rei was sitting on the tail of an ambulance while a
paramedic checked her over. Usagi and Mamoru were nearby.
Tenchi looked at Rei, concern etched on his face. ^�Are
you okay?^�
Rei nodded. ^�I^�m fine, What happened?^�
^�You hit your head when you fell.^�
Usagi gave Tenchi an inquisitive look. The paramedic
finished with Rei, giving her a clean bill of health. Then he
walked off to check on some others.
^�Why did you say she fell? It^�s not like we needed to
lie.^�
Tenchi grinned at Usagi. ^�I didn^�t want them to know
about the explosion.^�
Mamoru smirked. ^�Won^�t the huge hole in the wall give
that away?^�
^�What hole?^� Tenchi turned back to Rei while Mamoru
and Usagi exchanged looks.
^�Can I walk you home?^�
After Rei and Tenchi left, Usagi and Mamoru headed
back to look into the malt shop.
Usagi beat Mamoru back to the malt shop, barely. It
took all his effort not to knock her over when she came to a
halt.
The firemen had packed up and left, the cops were still
poking around. A cop was standing in the door, supposedly to
keep people out, but in practice he was trying to pick up a cute
waitress.
The couple peered in the doorway. They looked at
each other again, then back in the doorway. Without comment
they walked back towards the bus stop. They had gone three
blocks before they said anything.
Usagi looked back at Mamoru. ^�We did have a fight in
there, didn^�t we?^�
Mamoru nodded.
^�And I did use my powers to blow that thing to itty-bity
bits, along with lots of wall. Right?^�
Mamoru nodded again.
^�Then why did it just look like some furniture got
knocked over?^�
^�I don^�t know. But I think we should try to find out.^�
In orbit:
^�This is nuts, next they^�ll be materializing from nowhere.
How many allies does he have!?^� Heyleyn sighed. ^�Okay, so I
won^�t be done as quick as I thought. I will still have my
revenge.^�
Heyleyn went back to programming her attackers.
*******************************************
omne ignotum pro magnifico
*******************************************