Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoka Takeuchi. Guyver is the
creation of Yoshiki Takya. No Money is being made from this and no such
intent should be inffered.

"No Blood for Oil? Hey, at two bucks a gallon, I'm willing to talk about 
it."
-Steve Marmel

It was two weeks before the youma struck again, this time in a train 
station in Nerima. However, the district being what it was, the youma 
was active for several hours before somebody called the police, who in 
turn called the Self-Defense Force, who ordered an immediate evacuation 
of the district. The order, broadcast over both TV and radio, was what 
alerted the Senshi, who had been on the other side of the city.

The youma could best be described as a humanoid iguana crossed with a 
fish. The mercury computer picked up DNA strands that appeared to be 
from the electric eel and from the speed it was displaying as it darted 
around the station, there was probably some rabbit in it somewhere.

"Suggestions?" Sailor Moon asked. There were no civilians in the 
station, no living ones anyway, and the youma seemed to be content with 
wrecking the place. Therefore, the Senshi could take some time to come 
up with a plan instead of winging it, which they did far too frequently. 
The Senshi themselves were presently perched on top of the ticket box,

At that moment, the sound of glass breaking heralded the arrival of 
Warrior through the roof. The youma turned and regarded the newcomer.

"GUYYYVVVERRRR!" It howled and charged.

"What the hell's a Guyver?" Jupiter asked as Warrior threw herself to 
the side, allowing the youma to go on past, stopping only when it ran 
into the wall.

"More then likely Warrior's species," Mercury noted as she fed the 
information into her computer. "Hmm, intriuiging."

Out in the station, Warrior popped her arm blades and started taking 
chunks out of the youma's hide.

"What is?" Venus asked.

The youma finally extracted itself from the wall and backhanded Warrior 
the length of the station.

"Warrior's outer shell  is made up of bio-converted energy. Actual 
energy to matter conversion. "

Warrior got to her feet and began throwing energy blasts.

"In plain Japanese please?" Mars asked.

The youma used its speed to dodge them.

Mercury sighed and tapped her earring once, disengaging her visor. 
"Matter is quite simply, solids. You, I, this station, are all made up 
of matter. Matter can be changed or mixed with other matter to make new 
types of matter. Such as oxygen and hydrogen mixed together to make 
water. You cannot, however, convert matter into energy."

Warrior threw a bench.

"But the nuclear power plant does that," Sailor Moon pointed out.

The youma caught it in mid-air and after breaking it in half through 
sheer brute force, threw both pieces back.

"No, that's energy creation. This is energy conversion. Matter changed 
to energy and back again with nothing left over."

As though climbing steps, Warrior stepped from one piece to the other 
and then to the side of a pillar, staying there as though she was some 
kind of spider.

"So what you're saying is, that shell transforms into some kind of 
energy state and is then stored somewhere?" Venus asked. As one, the 
heads of the Senshi turned to look at her. "Jiro was absent one day so I 
paid attention in physics," Venus said sheepishly.

Howling, the youma started up the pillar after her.

"Right," Jupiter said with heavy sarcasm, trying to ignore the huge drop 
of sweat that she could feel making its way down the back of her head.

Overhead, the combatants leapt from beam to beam in a deadly game of tag.

Mars cleared her throat. "What about the youma? It obviously recognized 
her. If she's a rogue youma like we thought, why would it call her a 
'Guyver'?"

A light crashed to the floor next to the ticket stand.

"It is possible that 'Guyver' is a subdivision within the youma race," 
Mercury answered. "Much like we have 'Germans' and 'French' so the youma 
may have 'Guyver' and, say, droid."

Behind them, a section of roof collapsed, crashing to the floor.

"But the droids were Diamant's creations. They had nothing to do with 
the youma," Venus pointed out.

Warrior and the youma stood admist the wreckage and traded blows.

"I only used the word droid as an example. There is still very little we 
know about their society."

A howl of frustration attracted their attention and they turned to see 
the youma crumpling to the ground, already turning to dust from the 
blade that had impaled it through the heart.

What was surprising was the fact that the blade was not one of Warrior's 
arm blades, but a western style sword, the type that could be used with 
one or both hands. Even more surprising was who was holding it.

For a moment, they stared at each other, and then Jupiter broke the 
stunned silence.

"N-Nephrite?"


A thousand years ago, Princess Makoto of Jupiter had been dispatched to 
the Palace to serve as aide, bodyguard and companion to Princess Usagi. 
Upon arrival, she had been greeted by General Nephrite, who was also 
from Jupiter and considered one of that world's greatest warriors.

The attraction had been instant and what had started as a simple fling, 
quickly blossomed into a storybook romance. Eventually Nephrite proposed 
with the expected results, and plans for a wedding were made despite 
rumors of dissension from Earth. But then the groom disappeared.

Three months later, he reappeared leading the armies of Beryl and the 
last Makoto saw of him, he was laughing as a Negaverse soldier ran her 
through.

Even now, a thousand years later, Lita could feel Makoto's rage, 
feelings of betrayal, and emotional pain that bubbled up as she saw his 
face.

Her eyes narrowed as a thunderbolt formed in each hand. Maybe he had 
paid for what he had done to the Moon Kingdom, but Makoto was another 
matter entirely.

She started forward and then stopped as a hand grabbed her wrist. 
Turning her head, she found herself looking at Warrior.

"Hear him out," she said. "He deserves that much at least."

"But he..." Jupiter started and then stopped and let the bolts 
dissipate.  "Yeah..." Turning she walked over and joined the others and 
then turned back as she felt a gust of wind. Warrior was nowhere to be 
seen. "Bloody..." She turned back to Nephrite. "Okay. I'm here. Speak."

Nephrite looked at Sailor Moon and then dropped to one knee, clapping 
his right fist to his heart and bowing his head. "My Queen," he said 
quietly.

"Eee-ooh-uh," Sailor Moon said, drawing back.

"Get a grip," Mars hissed and then whispered something in Moon's ear.

"You may rise," Sailor Moon said, trying to look regal. Mars whispered 
something else. "Why have you returned to us?" Sailor Moon asked.

"If it please you, Sire," Nephrite said, his eyes moving in the 
direction of voices as the police and rescue workers began to make their 
way through the rubble. "I would answer your questions elsewhere then 
here."

"Okay," Sailor Moon squeaked.

****
An alleyway, three blocks from the train station...

"Okay, Nephrite, start talking."

"What do you wish to know?"

"How you're alive for starters," Mars demanded. "The last time I saw 
you, you were dead."

"To be honest, I'm not exactly sure. I-" Nephrite broke off as the sound 
of someone gasping was heard. Standing at the mouth of the alley was 
Molly.

"N...Nephrite?" She asked. "Is it really you?"

"Yes, Molly, it's me."

At that, Molly let out a squeal of delight and hurled herself into his 
arms, sobbing. Closing his eyes, Nephrite held her tightly.

****
Nephrite leaned back in the booth and looked into Sailor Moon's eyes. 
She had returned to her civilian identity, and there was very little 
sign of the girl he had confronted almost six years ago. The rest of the 
Senshi were nowhere to be seen, though he had the feeling that they were 
somewhere within earshot. Yet try as he might without being obvious, he 
could see no large groups of young ladies in the room, nor had there 
been a sudden surge of people coming in.

He looked back at his Queen. Of the Senshi, she was the only one whom he 
had seen without the magic mask that safeguarded her identity and 
therefore, the only one who could sit the cafe and talk to him without 
spoiling their secret identities. Next to him, Molly sat, her arm 
wrapped around his and her expression declared that she had no intention 
of letting go anytime soon.

"And you think the crystal had something to do with your resurrection?" 
his queen asked.

Nephrite nodded. "It's the only thing I know of with that kind of power, 
though I can't imagine why it would do so. It was six years before we 
could gather enough energy to open even the smallest portal and that was 
only for a few seconds at any one time. My Queen. I deeply regret my 
part in the Moon Kingdom's destruction. I want to atone for my betrayal 
of your mother." He leaned forward. "Beryl has wed and the Dark 
Kingdom's forces have doubled as a result."

"Married? Married who?" Molly asked.

"He calls himself Diamant. It is only because of him and the energy that 
he brought that we were able to once more come back to Earth." The 
queen's mouth dropped open.

"D-Daimant? He's dead. His ship exploded...I mean..." She stared 
helplessly at them for a moment and then seemed to draw on something 
deep inside her. When she spoke again, her tone was crisp and she spoke 
concisely. Nephrite listened without comment.

"...and the sisters are still here," she finished. Their shop...come to 
think of it, is right over there." She pointed out the window to the 
buildings on the other side of the street. Nephrite could see the four 
women he knew as the Four Sisters and sent out a brief probe. The four 
women had no powers.

"Then this is a different Diamant," Nephrite mused.

"Different?"

"He described Time Travel as a challenge. While he didn't actually say 
it, I gathered that it's imprecise. That is, pinpointing a certain 
place, time and date is a one in a million gamble. This Diamant must be 
one who failed the gamble and arrived six years later and in the wrong 
dimension."

"The Negaverse," Molly said grimly.

"Exactly."

"But why did he marry Beryl?" asked the Queen.

"He used a love spell, intending to bind her to his will," Nephrite 
said, sounding as though he was trying not to laugh. "She used a similar 
one on him. As a result, they are hopelessly devoted to each other." He 
glanced at the wall clock. "My queen, I must return. If I am to be of 
any use to you, I must maintain the pose that I am still loyal to the 
Negaverse." The queen nodded as he turned to Molly. "Molly...this 
time..." It was all that needed to be said and she nodded, releasing his 
arm and standing up so he could exit the booth. Pausing only to leave a 
twenty-thousand yen bill on the table, he exited the cafe. Serena turned 
off her communicator. The rest of Senshi had been three blocks away, 
listening to the conversation through it.

"I don't believe it," Raye said as the Senshi entered in their civvies 
soon after. She picked up the note. "He covered the check?" Amy plucked 
the note from her hand and handed it to a passing waitress. Raye stared 
at the table where Serena sat. Before her, two plates of what had once 
been pie and an empty goblet that had once held a sundae plus a few 
glasses of soda.

"I'm on a diet," Serena replied loftily, seeing Raye's expression.

Mina started snickering.

****
"Where have you been, Nephrite?" Zoisite demanded as he entered the 
palace.

"Reestablishing my human identity," Nephrite replied. "It may be needed."

"I'm watching you, Nephrite," Zoisite snarled, jabbing her finger at his 
chest. "Maybe Beryl's too besotted to give it any thought, but I 
remember you being willing to betray us for one human girl."

"And I remember that you killed me." Zoisite flinched backwards and 
Nephrite smirked as he continued on his way.

"You'll get yours, traitor," Zoisite snarled and made her way back down 
the side corridor that she had come from.

****
Despite its proximity to the station, the bike had survived the battle 
with only a few scratches on its paint and as Molly pulled her helmet 
on, she heard a voice calling her name. Turning, she saw Serena walking 
towards her.

"Molly, I'm--"

"No, Serena," Molly said. "Just...no." She crammed the helmet onto her 
head and mounted the bike.

"But, Molly!"

"Go to Hell, Serena."

The bike's engine roared to life, blotting out Serena's response.

'That was cruel,' the Guyver noted as Molly steered the bike out of the 
parking lot. 'She's trying to make peace with you.'

"I don't care," Molly growled. "I don't need her friendship and I don't 
need her and her sailor-suited bimbos."

'You may be wrong about that.'

"I'm not," Molly replied, but even to her, the words sounded false and 
she could feel that the Guyver agreed.

****
Molly savagely bit her pencil in half as she marched, or rather, stormed 
across the printing area. With the Matsudai deal in the bank, Lotus was 
rolling in money. In fact, she, Darien and Rei had moved Lotus into its 
own building, a two story warehouse at the edges of the city near the 
bay. Not only was there ample space for printing presses, but a bunk 
area, showers, the works. Of course, the place needed some renovation, 
but hell, it was home. The building, the land, the works. All theirs.

Scowling, she spat the pencil halves onto the floor, pulled a pen from 
her pocket and scribbled some notes on the first episode script some 
hack at Matsudai had sent her, muttering to herself. "An alien, he's 
supposed to be a fucking alien. He just gets here and he automatically 
recognizes a vending machine as a vending machine? I suppose next he'll 
also be able to pick up a date like James Bond shoots a damn gun."

Flipping through a few more pages, she snarled in disgust and accosted a 
passing intern. "You. Send this crap back to Matsudai." She threw the 
script at the young man and marched up the stairs to the office level, 
nearly knocking over an electrician who was rehanging a light. "Uh, Miss 
Okasa?" The electrician ventured.

"What!" Molly snapped.

"Does this light look all right?"

Molly looked at the light and then gave the electrician a withering 
stare. "Is it going to fall on somebody's head?"

"I hope not."

"Then it's fine," Molly said and continued on her way.

"Molly?"

"What?" Molly yelled as she spun to see Darien standing in the doorway 
of his office and flinched. "Yes, Darien?"

"Got a minute?"

"Yeah. Sure." She walked past him and into his office where she flopped 
into a chair. "Sorry, Darien, I'm feeling a little edgy."

"I noticed," he said dryly and shut the door before leaning on his desk. 
"Molly, the last thing I am is nosy, but this--"

"No, Darien!" Molly snapped rising to her feet.

"Sit!" he snapped with such authority that Molly obeyed. "Listen. That's 
all I'm asking. Serena is hurting, Molly. This argument the two of you 
have going is putting her in pain, actual, physical, pain and it's 
killing me to see her in pain and be helpless to stop it."

"Good," Molly sneered. "Maybe now she knows how I've felt all this time."

Darien stared at her, taken back. "I'm sorry?"

"Serena and I were best friends. I was always there for her. So when 
does she tell me she's Sailor Moon? Five dammned years afterwards and 
then only because I wouldn't let her get her and her surgically repaired 
leg--that she injured in the first place by being stupid--out of a 
hospital bed otherwise. Five years, Darien. I got shut out and what was 
I? The convenient damsel in distress for Sailor Moon and that pack of 
bimbos to swoop in and save my ass. No, Darien. Serena and I are 
through. Over."

With that, Molly stormed out of the room.

"I tried," Darien said with a shrug.

****
'That was really unfair of you,' the Guyver noted as Molly flopped on 
the couch in her office. 'He was only trying to help.'

"He'd throw himself into a pit of poisonous snakes if Serena so much as 
suggested he do it. He's so in love with her you can see it fucking 
Cupid dance around his head whenever her name comes up. Disgusting."

'And yet you seemed on good terms with Lita, who is, one of the 
"bimbos". You did, after all, stop her from killing that Nephrite 
person.'

"An attack of nice," Molly growled.

'And of course, you had no personal interest in him.'

"Stay out of my head!"

'We've discussed this. I can't see your thoughts, but your feelings for 
him are easy to deduce based on how you reacted when you saw him. Your 
heart rate jumped and your hormone levels rose. I take it he has some 
importance?"

Molly sighed. "We...have an interest in each other. He was--is one of 
Beryl's top generals."

'Beryl is the one responsible for the Moon Kingdom's destruction?'

"Yeah. I've never seen her, but Serena described her as pure evil. She 
works for some...demon lord or whatever named Mettalia who's supposedly 
ten times and then some worse then Beryl."

'And Nephrite works for Beryl.'

"Yeah. One of the top four generals. Um, Jeddite, Malachite, 
Nephrite...and Zoisite." Molly snarled out Zoisite's name, teeth 
clenching in hate. "The last time they were here, she and those three 
sluts killed Nephrite."

'If he is the enemy, why do you love him?'

"I don't. Or I thought I didn't." Molly ran her hands through her hair. 
"He betrayed Beryl to save my life and they killed him for it. Melvin 
was the only one who would listen to me talk about it afterwards while I 
tried to understand...he seemed to be the only one who would understand. 
Serena was so distant when it came up--of course now I know why, had to 
protect her secret--but Melvin wasn't. He was never too busy to listen 
to me. I guess that's why I fell in love with him." Molly's fingers 
toyed with the ring on the chain around her neck. "I thought I was over 
Nephrite, but when I saw him at the station..." She shook her head. "It 
was all I could do not to throw myself into his arms right then and 
there. Would have spoiled everything if I had."

'Very well, so you hate Serena and these...Senshi. Why then do you go 
through the trouble of keeping tabs on them?'

"Simple. Zoisite and the Senshi are enemies. Sooner or later, she'll 
confront them and I'll be there when she does."

'And then?'

"And then I'll kill her."

-Steve "Komodo" T.
http://livejournal.com/users/pandoras_closet
http://livejournal.com/community/aberdawnknights



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