Standard Disclaimer: Sailor Moon does not belong to me. It belongs to Takeuchi Naoko, Kodansha, Toei Ltd., and tons of other people. Thank you very much for creating such a wonderful story and please don't sue me. ^_^;;; However . . . the events of this story and some of these characters are MY property. No stealing! Additional Disclaimer: Mucho gracias to the RPG of which I am a member (Diana-chan) for filling my head with root beer thoughts! Any zaniness on that part is a crossover from that particular aspect of my existence. Oh, and BTW, my name isn't *really* Diana, but if you insist on calling me that . . . well, why not? *Shrugs* Heart Moving romanizations and translations were gotta via Lyric Moon. Hmmm . . . All right, all right, I know I promised this part *weeks* ago, but two LONG power outages and a lot of work pushed this back a bit. Well, here's Episode Seven and hopefully you won't have to wait *quite* as long for the next one. I *am* working on a couple of different 'fics at the moment and one or two should be ready *soon*. Nothing'll be out (unfortunately) for next week, though, since I'm going away for a week. I'm off to Disney World! However, when I get back, I'm sure to be full of fresh ideas that a LONG car trip will give me and be ready to start writing A LOT. Any e-mail sent me during that week will have to wait to be answered until I get back. Just so you know. Oh yes, I'm sure some of you will be VERY happy about a certain scene in this part. I couldn't resist. However, don't get your hopes up. This is a long series and I'm still on the first season! I'm looking forward to Season Two with great glee, mostly because of some new characters who'll be showing themselves. Don't worry, though, some things can be *delayed* but they'll work themselves out eventually. Okay, enjoy! ^_- One last thing . . . Any STAR members willing to help out on the fanfic committee . . . We can use your help! Arigato, minna. Ann looked up at Alan through half-lidded eyes, too weak to do more than that and let him hold her hand. she tried to ask him painfully, even her mental voice weak. he whispered to her. Ann looked away from him, down to the ground. Her next thought was pain-filled. And he knew what she was asking. Why had he attempted to begin a relationship with Serena? Why had he forsaken her? Why had he broken the sacred promise that he had made to her so long ago when they were but children? Why had he given up on her? He had no answers. "Tick tock tick tock tick tock . . ." Fiore smiled at the perfectly set explosives. "Counting down to zero." He smirked. <> the Kisenian hissed angrily. Fiore absently stroked the flower's petals. <> <> <> Fiore searched for the right words, <> <> the Kisenian warned. <> <> <> <> <> Fiore vanished as the explosives counted down. 23:55:17 23:55:16 23:55:15 23:55:14 23:55:13 . . . . Guardian Rose aka Don't Fight Destiny! "This Senshi meeting will now come to order!" Luna announced. Amy yawned. "Was it really necessary to hold a meeting at five in the morning, Luna?" "Yeah, really," Lita complained, attempting to hold her eyelids open with her fingers. Serena made no comment, having fallen asleep nearly immediately upon her arrival. The two girls looked over at their leader and sighed. Everybody yawned again as Raye came into the room, sliding the door open. "Now, now, girls," Luna said, trying to stay in control, "we've *got* to discuss the-" she stifled a yawn, "-new developments . . ." "Just so long as you do it quietly!" Raye hissed. "Grandpa's asleep and I *don't* want him to wake up and find us all here!" "All right, all right," Lita muttered, her eyelids drooping. Luna blinked rapidly a few times and said in irritation, "Would someone wake Serena up?" Raye groaned, reached over, and shook Serena. "Come on, sleepy, wake up!" Serena rolled over, muttering, "No . . . Darien . . . Why'd I do that anyway? I couldn't help it . . . you looked *so* kawaii . . ." The other three girls blinked. "Huh?" Raye looked especially interested. "Exactly what did you and Darien do, Serena?" "Nothing . . . Raye . . . but . . . I couldn't help myself . . ." Luna rolled her eyes. "Don't we have more important matters to attend to then Serena's non-existent love-life?" "Just as soon as we find out what she and my Onii did together, Luna," Raye replied in a determined manner. It was then that Serena's eyes began fluttering open. She looked up at the other three girls and cat, and sitting up, said brightly, "Oh, hey, guys, what'd I miss?" "Nothing," Luna growled out. "Oh, good . . . Then I can get back to sleep!" Serena let out a yawn, then settled back down on the floor. The other girls exchanged a look and a shrug, then all three of them nodded together and Raye said, "Oh, Serena . . ." They launched themselves on her prone form and began tickling away until she was begging them to stop. "Oh, please . . . st-stop! Oh . . . hehehe . . . stop . . . p . . . hahaha . . . lease!" Luna covered her face in her paws. "We're not going to accomplish anything! What did I do to deserve this?!" Across town, at the exact same moment Jed stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his body, another one being used to dry off his dripping wet hair, which was remarkably still blonde, even while drenched. He dressed quickly in a pair of shorts and a white T-shirt, that was a little too tight for him and so showed off his body to perfection (of course, he was perfectly unaware of these, but others, *especially* females, were not). Exiting his bedroom, he paused, running a hand over his still damp hair, before walking into the adjoining room. Two tired blue eyes gazed out at the others gathered in his living room. They had all discovered about a minute after detransforming, who the identities of the others were. It had been a surprise, to say the least. Kenneth and November looked up as Jed strode into the room. "Sorry to keep everyone waiting." English was the language of choice, as everyone could speak it fluently and there were things that they just didn't feel comfortable saying in Japanese, except for November who was a native. "It's'kay," Zephyr drawled languidly, gazing off into the distance (and to the left of Jed) from his spot sprawled on the couch next to Kenneth. Four empty bottles rested on the table in front of him. "Is he drunk, or what?" Jed asked, nervously. "Nah, he's only been drinking root beer," November pointed out from where he sat in Jed's brown easy chair. Jed sighted the bottles and recognized them as belonging to the six-pack of the stuff that he'd been keeping in his fridge. "Oh." Inwardly, he winced as he noticed how much food they seem to have eaten from his meager stores. "Sometimes root beer's worse," Kenneth was muttering darkly under his breath. No one else seemed to catch his words, but Jed filed them away for future reference. "Nice place you've got here," November was saying conversationally. "Thanks," Jed replied. "So," Kenneth broke in, bending forward and clapping his hands together in false heartiness, "I suppose we should discuss what happened last night." Jed looked away, November shifted uncomfortably, and Zephyr's hands twitched. Finally, they had come to the topic that they had been avoiding all night. The topic that they did *not* want to discuss . . . the one that they *had* to discuss. "I suppose we should . . ." Jed managed to say, as he sat down in the other chair. "Damn right," November added, but everyone noted that he wasn't about to make the first move. Zephyr was still zoned, so the matter was left up to Kenneth. "First, tell me," he began, grey eyes strangely unfocused, "have any of you every had some type of reoccuring dream?" Zephyr's attention gradually shifted to the conversation and he struggled a bit with his words before saying, "Kenneth . . . don't." Kenneth ignored him and forged on. "I don't mean *ordinary* types of reoccuring dreams . . . I mean ones like-" "Don't!" Zephyr said sharply, his green eyes snapping into focus. "I've *got* to!" Kenneth snapped back. "Can't you see?" "It's none of their business. You promised that we'd never discuss it with anyone else!" "Don't you recognize them?" Kenneth argued, his tone dropping in volume but not in intensity. "Those shadowy faces . . . those voices whose owners we could never ascertain . . . Don't you recognize them?" "I . . . I," Zephyr fell silent, subdued. "I recognize no one but the Prince. I don't even recognize *you*." His eyes flashed stubbornly. "Not until it's time. Not until we know for certain." "This is better than nothing." Kenneth's eyes pleaded with him. <> The thought hit all of them with equal intensity at the same instant. Shock radiated through Jed and November, and even, to an extent, Zephyr, who had never believed that it would work. Jed stared incredulously at Kenneth. "I-I *heard* that!" "Well, of course you did." The white-haired man's face broke into a slow, welcoming smile. "The Four have always been able to hear one another's thoughts. For the Four are One and *we* are the Four." "Oh, man," November groaned, "it's all coming back . . ." "And that's a bad thing?" Kenneth smiled. November's dark eyes met his own. "Maybe it is." Jed stared at the other three, his eyes sparkling. "No, it isn't! It isn't at all . . . because now I remember . . ." "Remember what?" Zephyr demanded. Jed stared at him a moment, a pleasant vision of a dark-haired, dark-eyed girl swirling through his mind. He remembered more about her, perhaps no more than the way her hair shone in the moonlight, or the way she cried, or the way her hand felt when she rested it over his, but something . . . *something*. But this . . . none of this would he, *could* he reveal to these men. So instead, he said the first thing that came to mind, the vision of her still before his eyes, dancing to some unheard music, "Phoenix." Raye slept, and bits and pieces of her nightmare flashed across the insides of her eyes. Bits and pieces of hell . . . Death. Red death. Flashes of swords. Arches of burning red fire. Red death. Blood. Red death. Everywhere . . . the redness covered everything. Dark smoke roiled up into a red sky. Everything was red. Everything stank of death and destruction . . . and her blood. And the blood of the others. She was high atop a spire rising up through the blood sky, her hands and feet bound. Her dark hair whipped about her face which was bent and shadowed. Blood flowed down from her wounds and spilled, soaking into the ground until the earth was red. This image flashed and another replaced it. A handsome face swam into view, blue eyes under a blonde mop of hair. He was equally battered and seeing her form, he stopped and fell to his knees in the red, red ground. She looked up, her lips blood flecked, her eyes circled with dark rings, and tried to smile. "Ja-" Her smile and the words vanished as her horrified, pain-filled eyes saw . . . The glint of a sword . . . The red blood spilling forth . . . A scream that was not her own spilling forth into the emptiness that was fast becoming her soul, her heart . . . "REIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Serena rocked back on her heels, looking at the worried faces of Luna, Amy, and Lita. "Well, I can't seem to wake her." She shrugged. "And she was complaining about how you guys couldn't wake *me* up! She's harder to wake up than I am!" "Well, she's obviously having a nightmare . . ." Luna began slowly, when Raye bolted upright, tears springing to her eyes. "No," she whispered, shaking. "No." She felt the urge to start howling it into the night, but restrained herself with difficulty. Instead, she simply gazed out, unseeing, and began to sob loudly. She couldn't stop herself. Serena held her, her blue eyes filled with quiet concern for this most brash and seemingly least vulnerable of her friends. "What happened, Raye?" she asked. "Don't. Call. Me. That." Her sobbing slowed, and her breathing became even harsher. "Nani?" Serena asked, uncertainly. Raye was obviously still in the throes of her nightmare. "It sounds the same. Kami-sama . . . it sounds the same." Raye bit her lip, her eyes dark and intense with pain. She whirled, staring at Luna. "What's happening to me, Luna? What's happening? Why do I remember these things?" "It was a dream-" Lita began slowly. Raye shook her head vigorously. "It was a vision. I know the difference." Amy considered a moment, then her kindly blue eyes met Raye's. "Perhaps . . . you'd like to tell us what happened in your dr- vision?" "I can't," she said shortly. "I'd like to, but I can't." Luna stood up. "Well, it's obvious that this meeting isn't going to get anywhere. Besides, you all have school in little over half an hour," she pointed out. Everyone grabbed their things and got to their feet. Luna continued, saying, "Another meeting, after school! Don't be late," she fixed her gaze on a nervous-looking Serena, "and be prepared to discuss Senshi business, all right?" A choruses of less than enthusiastic, "Hai"s greeted her ears. Serena began running in place in her anxiety to leave. "Luna, if I'm not home before Mom comes and checks on me, I'm dead meat!" "I know." Luna winked. "Get going." "But-" Serena began, her eyes pleading. "Just this once," Luna granted her permission, loftily. "Arigato, Luna!" With a "Moon Prism Power" and a flash of light, Serena had transformed into the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. She ducked out the door, saying, "Bye, minna! See you in school!" An instant later, she was bounding across rooftops, headed home. Amy and Lita left right after, in no particular hurry since they lived nearer than Serena and didn't have anyone waiting at home for them. Amy's mother was out of town and Lita was quite simply alone. Luna didn't leave. Instead, she looked at Raye, studying her for an instant. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but you asked *me*." Raye looked searchingly up at Luna. "Was I ever . . . was I ever sacrificed to anything, Luna? Was anyone ever killed as I watched? It's like I remember all of this. Or maybe it's a vision of the future. I don't know. All I know is that it was *real* and that it's happened to me before. I've felt all of that pain, seen all of that horror . . . before." Luna considered a moment. "Raye. You don't want me to tell you, do you? You don't want to know. Not really. I couldn't tell you anyway. I wish I could, but I *don't know*. All I know is that, right now, you are the closest to remembering whatever it is that we must all remember in time." "I don't want to remember." She covered her eyes with her hands, trying to block out the images. "I don't want to remember him dying. He was looking at me. He never saw it coming. I don't want to remember that." "Were you close?" "He was my lover," she said softly, drawing her hands away, "and that makes no sense at all." "Maybe he was . . . in another life, Raye." Her mind's eye filled with the memory of his blue eyes . . . the pain and the love shining out from them. And she let herself hope, for just an instant that . . . "Maybe he was." In Jed's apartment "Phoenix, eh?" Zephyr asked. "How come *you* remember names?" "I do too," November volunteered. "I remember yours, Unicorn." "Do SHUT UP!" he snarled. "You still hate it *that* much?" "Yes." November looked heavenward. "Whatever." Kenneth tried to establish some order. "Everyone. Get a GRIP." Jed sighed. "He's right. Right now, let's just discuss what happened, rather than anything we remember." "There was an explosion," Zephyr supplied in a bored tone. "And a little after that, I had this sensation of being *needed*," November continued. "And then, I got this *enormous* headache." Zeph glared at Nev. Nev glared right back. "And I transformed." "Then we were all at the warehouse," Kenneth picked up, smoothly, as the blonde-haired man and the brown-haired one shot each other death looks. "Talking to those girls in short skirts," Jed replied. <> The thought resounded between them, no one admitting who had thought it first. "The Sailor Senshi." Kenneth smiled. "I thought there was only one, in England," Jed asked in confusion. "There *was*," Keth replied. "Yeah, he's an expert," Zephyr muttered. "He's been chasing that one for at least a year now." "Anyway, they *are* the Sailor Senshi." "And who was that creepy-looking bitch attacking them?" Nev spoke up. "She was also a Sailor Senshi," Keth responded with a frown. "I take it that she's not a friend of ours?" Jed's bright blue gaze met Kenneth's stormy grey one. "I don't think so, considering that she was trying to kill us all." Zephyr snorted derisively. "And we are?" "The Guardians," was the name that came to the lips of all of them. En route to Crossroads Junior High Serena walked, whistling, to school. She had actually gotten home in time, and been dressed and downstairs before her alarm had even rung. Her mother had been so surprised that she had nearly dropped her spatula. Her father *had* dropped his paper, before saying, pleased, "Well, good! I hope you can get up this early *every* morning!" Serena had sighed, issued a cheery "Ohaiyo!" grabbed a piece of toast, her lunch, put on her shoes, snagged up her school bag, and had skipped out the door. Other than the comment her father had made at breakfast, things were looking up. That is, they were looking up until Darien cruised by in his car. "Hey, Odango," he shouted out of the rolled down window, slowing the car to match her slow walk, "shouldn't you be running to school?" She stuck her nose up into the air, and secretly, he admired how kawaii she looked regardless. In a firm voice, she replied, "I'll have you know that I'm early, today." She stopped and stared at him. "*Very* early." He smiled. "Okay, then, if you've got time, hop in." "Nani?" she asked, slightly scandalized. "Geez, Darien, I *do* have to get to school!" "I'll drive you." He smiled charmingly, and she felt herself melting into a hot puddle on the sidewalk. she chided herself. "Please?" he asked. "You promise you'll be nice?" she hedged, trying to act as normal as possible. "Hai, I'll be nice." "Okay." He stopped the car and reached over, opening the car door. She got in and slammed the door shut. "Why do you want to drive me, anyway?" She didn't look at him as she spoke, focusing instead on fastening her seat belt. "I wanted to talk to you . . ." He paused, and the words, "about that kiss" hung between them. "I can explain-" Serena began, wringing her hands together in her lap, wondering if she could even explain it to herself. ". . . about scheduling your new tutoring sessions." "Oh." Silently, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then his words caught up to her and she responded, both with dismay and happiness, "MORE tutoring?!" He laughed. "Hai, Odango." She settled back in the passenger seat her arms crossed. "Great." Her tone was none too happy, but her eyes seemed to sparkle, and it was all Darien could do to keep driving and not reach over and kiss her like his body and heart ached to. Smiling a little, she said, "You've got a nice car, Darien. I wouldn't mind you giving me a ride everyday." "Don't push your luck," he warned her, though inwardly, he was pleased. He liked the way she looked in his car. It was like she belonged there. It was strange the way the silliest things could make him happy now, as long as they had to do with Serena. Playing with her hair a little, she reached forward and asked, "Do you mind if I turn on the radio?" "No, go right ahead." She fiddled with the stations for a moment, then settled on one and leaning back, the song wafted through the car. After the first notes sounded, Darien said suddenly, "Okay, first lesson. Translate the song into English." "You like making everything into work, don't you?" she complained, still, she complied. "Yume no naka futari de ita yo ne" "We were together in a dream, weren't we?" Serena sang obediently along. "Hoshi-tachi ni mamorarete" "As the stars looked on." "Tomodachi no toki ni wa ki ni sezu" "When we were just friends, we didn't mind too much-" "Nani genaku hanashi-shite-ita kedo" "We could talk casually-" "Anata dake ki ni naru shunkan ga atta na" "But there are moments when I only saw you," Serena's voice faltered a bit before picking up. "Motto kitei ni ima sugu naritai" "I want to be prettier now this instant." Her gaze slid over to Darien, who was staring resolutely ahead, showing no sign that every word she said was burning into his heart. She turned off the radio and his questioning gaze met hers. She smiled. "I know the rest of this song." "When you fall in love, something changes Close your eyes, and make certain to keep the rise of your heartbeat secret I wish I can just show you my feeling." The car suddenly stopped with a jerk just as she was about to sing the next verse. "We're here," Darien said half-apologetically, half- nervously. "Your English isn't as bad as I thought." She smiled, dazzling his eyes, and slid out of the car. "Arigato for the ride." "Oh, Serena," he called, catching her wrist. Feeling like her wrist was on fire, she turned. "Yes?" "Tutoring session in the park, right after school today." "Hai," she said happily. He grinned back at her, and as soon as she closed the door, he zoomed off to his own classes. It was only then that Serena remembered the Senshi meeting. "Oh no!" She smacked herself on the forehead, then entered the school building, worrying. In Darien's car Darien smiled to himself as he drove off. There was just something about her, something about his feelings toward her had changed, ever since yesterday . . . when she had kissed him, fleetingly, on the cheek. When he had gazed into her blue eyes and had his first glimpse of heaven. When he had realized that something are too strong to be fought, to struggle against. Like his feelings for Serena. Still, he had the nagging feeling that he had begun pulling on a thread that would unravel the great tapestry of destiny and change everything, forever. He felt something *ominous* as though something were about to befall him or her or both. he prayed, to whatever powers would listen, He couldn't live with himself if anything happened to her. Frowning now, he drove on, still thinking of the way she had looked . . . when he had held her wrist. The burning feeling in his hand as they touched, the intense gaze that had passed between the two of them in those few seconds. How innocent and young and *vulnerable* she looked after that. No, he couldn't . . . wouldn't let anything happen to her. Not to her . . . Serena. Hikawa Shrine Luna stepped daintily out of Raye's room as the girl began to change for school. Staring up at the roof of the shrine, she glared at the two crows perched up there. The birds gazed disappassionately down. Phobos stretched a wing. <> The cat's tail twitched. <> <> Luna's teeth glinted in the light. <> <> Deimos warned her. <> <> <> Phobos's beady black eyes shone oddly in the light. <> Luna snarled, <> The birds squawked and ignored her. Raye's grandfather idled over. "Raye, school!" "I *know*, Grandpa!" she shouted back. "Hey kitty," he said to Luna. The black cat glanced at him briefly then darted off. Space-Time Limbo or In front of the Gate of Time Sailor Pluto watched through a portal and her eyes narrowed. "That wasn't nice, Luna. That wasn't nice at all. There's one cat that is going to get *very* wet one of these days." She glanced over her shoulder at four centuries' worth of water balloons and sighed. Across town Jed and the others considered. "So, do we keep having our perfectly *fascinating* discussion, or do we go to school?" Zephyr asked, his green eyes sharp. "It's only our second day. It would look *really* bad if all of us skipped." Jed paced about anxiously. "Then we go," Kenneth decided. "And then?" Nev asked. "We meet at my place. No offense, Jed," he added quickly, "but there's more room there." "Hey, no problem." Jed smiled understandingly, while inside his mind shouted with glee, Kenneth's eyes took on a slightly glazed look. "I think there's something that all of you might want to take a look at." Zephyr remained quiet. Glancing at him, Kenneth got up and realizing that his action was a signal, they all gathered their things and left, leaving Jed alone in his apartment, staring after them and wondering why it felt that a board meeting had just been conducted and concluded. And wondering why he felt that "other business" would prove to be the most interesting part in their next session. 15 minutes later Molly's house . . . "'Nii-chan, where have you been?!" Molly demanded as November walked in the front door of her house. He was staying in the guest room upstairs. "Momma and I have been worried to death about you!" Feeling guilty, he looked at her. "Gomen nasai, Mol. Something came up . . . and some classmates and I had to . . . work together. We finished pretty late and I just plain forgot to call, so I stayed the night over there. Gomen." Molly's face softened a bit. "It's okay. I know . . . you're all grown up, you don't have to call anymore. You're just staying here, but . . . Mom and I worry, you know?" "I know," he said softly, kissing her on the forehead. "Where is your Mom anyway?" "She had to go to work," Molly replied absently. "Oh. I'll stop by the shop after school. I'm sure glad you guys stopped living over the store. That place was *so* cramped!" "Well, Mom thought that the two of us needed to get our own place. She was becoming *such* a workaholic. We just had to get away. By the way," she said with a giggle, "you've got a couple of phone messages!" "Really?" he asked. "I haven't been back *that* long." "Yeah, well, it seems like some of your old girlfriends are happy you're home again." He groaned. "You mean the ones I broke up with?" She snickered. "The same. They want another crack at you! I guess my 'Nii-chan is just so handsome that they can't wait to get their paws on you." "Nice," he replied, grabbing some orange juice and pouring himself a quick glass. "Katie called," she said quietly, careful not to refer to her as her "Onee." Nev nearly dropped his glass with his now nerveless hand. Keeping his voice cool he responded indifferently, "She did, huh?" Molly wasn't fooled. "Yeah. You know, I really wish you'd give her a cha-" she glanced quickly at the kitchen clock. "Ohmigosh, we're gonna be late! Haruda's gonna KILL me!" Nev stared at the clock. "Yikes! I'm in more trouble then *you* are! I'm *already* late!" He dashed up the stairs and into his room, his voice drifting down to her. "I'll drive you to school - just wait while I change real quick!" "Hurry, Nev! I think *Serena's* earlier than this!" "Is that bad?" Her silence answered the question, and as he ran down the stairs, the look she was giving him swept away all doubts. They ran to the car. The day passed normally enough. Just a regular school day. Etude-sensei marked November late and noted that his new student, Rill, had transferred yet again and wondered at that for a moment or two. He had to have a stern talking to with his other four new students who didn't seem to be paying the proper amount of attention in class. They seemed preoccupied and moody. If he hadn't dismissed the thought as silly, he would have thought that they were passing notes . . . Other than that, everything was fine. Fine, fine, fine. Haruna-sensei marked Baker Molly late and gave her an after school detention and noted that Ann and Alan were *still* not back in school. She also told herself that she needed a vacation since Usa Serena had actually come to school *on time* for once. Other than that one little aberration, everything was the same as always. Other than that, everything was fine. Fine, fine, fine. Except . . . it wasn't. By midmorning, the sense of something amiss had affected nine people. Keth, Jed, Zeph, and Nev felt generally uneasy but put it down to the revelations of that morning. Darien felt anxious but put it down to having to tutor Serena that afternoon. Serena felt nervous but put it down to the pop quiz and having to decide between going to a tutoring session or a Senshi meeting. Amy and Lita felt weighted down as though by some terrible anxiety, but put it down to not enough sleep. Raye, in her Catholic school felt it most of all, and put it down to evil. The bomb kept ticking . . . 14:34:45 14:34:44 14:34:43 . . . Moto Azabu High After school, the four Guardians gathered their things together and met around Kenneth's desk since they had the same classes all day. Darien passed them on his way out of the classroom, his carrying case and coat in hand. As he brushed past, the Four felt *something*. Jed nearly spoke to stop him, but Kenneth shot him a look and he shut his mouth. Not now. Later, they would see what that strange feeling had been, but not now. Kenneth offered to give Jed a ride with Zephyr and him, and gave November directions to his apartment. They headed over there and arrived around ten minutes later. When they saw the apartment building, Jed and Neph stared. It was a skyscraper, thrusting itself through the sky like some ancient and awe-inspiring spire. Its numerous full wall windows glittered in the light and it shone with the brilliance of a high- polished mirror. It was brand new and beautiful. And ominous. Something about it proclaimed it to be different from other buildings, superior in some manner. But for all of the feelings it conjured up in the four men looking at it, one blared out louder than all the rest. It was the feeling of recognition. After an instant of mute appreciation, Kenneth said briskly, "Welcome to Knight Corporation." "This is *yours*?" Nev asked, whirling about to look at him. "Well . . . yes." Keth shrugged. "My Dad left it to me when he died. After all, who else was going to continue the family business?" "Do you run it?" Nev continued questioning. "It pretty much runs itself, but once I'm out of school . . . I guess." "What do you *do* here?" Jed asked. Now, Keth smiled fiercely as he replied, "We do *everything*." What the Knight corporation *really* did, the two new "employees" (complete with company IDs) were not to discover for some time, despite entering the building and taking an elevator to get to the "nonexistant" thirteenth floor. (Located on the twenty-sixth level, of course.) Keth had a secret password that he entered into the elevator keys that allowed them access, and he casually took them to his apartment. Zephyr acted as if this was no big deal, and took a secret delight in the bewildered looks on the other two's faces. When the lights went on in the darkened hallway of Kenneth's apartment level as soon as the stepped out of the elevator, he simply grinned and strode over to the second door to the right. Tapping in a code to another of the keypads that seemed to exist everywhere in the building, the door slid open and the Four of them entered. To be confronted with a view of a *very* nice apartment. Crossroads Junior High Serena ran out of her last class, after glancing about to make certain that there was no Amy or Lita in sight, and dashed off to the park. An undisclosed area deep in the heart of Tokyo Tick tock tick . . . 08:25:37 08:25:36 08:25:35 08:25:34 . . . Kenneth's Apartment The apartment was beautiful and nicely furnished. White furniture . . . a white leather sofa, nice leather recliner, etc. A huge television was mounted in one wall, right by the windows. A wooden dining room table and chairs could be seen to the left, right past the nice tiled kitchen portion of the apartment with the oversize fridge and what looked to be three microwaves, and a little television set. To the right were several shut doors, what November and Jed could only conclude were bathrooms and bedrooms. The whole place was *huge* and there looked to be more rooms following the dining room. "Does . . . does this take up the whole floor?" Jed asked, gulping. Kenneth looked around and casually draped his coat across the couch. "Yeah, I guess. More or less. What else would the room be used for? Of course, there's always Zeph's computer room and my *other* office. And the training room, of course." "Training room?" Jed looked at Kenneth, dragging his eyes away from the apartment. "You mean an exercise room?" Nev asked, reluctantly turning away from the apartment as well. Kenneth laughed. "No, I mean *training*!" Zephyr sat down in a chair and propped his feet up on the coffee table. "He means fencing, and knife-throwing, and all of those archaic forms of fighting," he said in a bored tone. He picked up the remote and switched the television on. The other men ignored him. "Really?" Jed asked excitedly, eagerly. Kenneth was looking at him as if he couldn't quite figure out who this was. "Uh . . . yeah." "Great!" Jed's voice was exuberant. "Wanna spar?" "You any good?" Kenneth asked cautiously, with the air of one conferring a great favor on one of lower class. "Captain of the fencing team in my last three schools! Not to mention that I'm a black belt in karate and kung fu." "Fine, we can spar," Kenneth agreed. Jed smiled, quietly pleased that he had said nothing of his *other* three black belts. "Did I mention that he has an adjoining torture chamber?" Zephyr added lazily, switching channels. They continued to ignore him. "Is this what you wanted to show us?" Nev asked. "I mean, it *is* a nice apartment, but . . ." Kenneth strode over to something propped up against a table and pulled off the sheet covering it. "No, *this* is what I wanted to show you!" November and Jed gasped. Zephyr shut his eyes and changed the channel again. The painting stood before them . . . four men in armor surrounding a fifth. They were kneeling to him. It was obvious that he was their lord, their master, their- "Prince," Jed whispered. The Park Darien looked up as Serena ran to him, smiling. "You're late," he chided her gently. She flopped down next to him, lying back in the grass and staring up at the clear blue sky, her chest heaving. "G . . . gomen, Darien . . . but I did . . . have . . . to run here . . . y'know." "So, what, you want me to pick you up after school?" He laid back next to her and turned his face to look over at her. She stopped her contemplation of the clocks to look back at him. "Well, since you're offering-" "Serena!" She made a face and he laughed. It felt good to laugh. It felt good to be here together, with nothing to do but . . . Algebra. He sat up. What was he doing, here, again . . . with her. He was here to teach, she was here to learn. Nothing more. "C'mon, let's get started," he said, pulling out a textbook. She sighed and shut her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on her face. "In a minute. Can't we just enjoy how pretty it is out before Fall comes and spoils everything?" He looked at her, how peaceful she looked, and content, but steeled himself and said, "Now, Serena." She opened her eyes and stretched out her arms. "Well, help me up, then!" He groaned and reached over, grabbing her hands to pull her up. But it's a funny thing, gravity, because instead of pulling her up, she pulled him down, and before they knew it, he was half-lying over her, their faces inches apart. Serena looked up at him, her eyes wide. Gradually they softened as an emotion filled them as she looked into his eyes, into the dark blue depths of them. And she began to lose herself . . . Darien stared down at her and felt his heart begin to thud. This wasn't how he'd envisioned their tutoring session would start, but it was certainly pleasant enough. He began to say something, anything, to relieve the awkwardness of this situation . . . only to realize that there was *no* awkwardness. They were both at ease, as if this was right, this . . . *most* compromising position that they found themselves in. As if it was right and proper that he should lower himself that few inches more and let his lips meet hers. He began to pull away. There was no way that he could allow this to continue. No way that he could allow himself to keep feeling for this girl or her to keep feeling for him . . . if she did. But his body rebelled, and so did she. "Don't leave me," she whispered softly, and a flash of memory shot through his head as if this had happened before, as if she had spoken those words before - and he knew she had. Everything . . . everything was as it was before. So wonderful. The world was theirs alone. They were the only two people upon its surface and the feelings that they felt were the first felt by any one. Everything began again for them. The world was brand new for them, as it was meant to be. Everything clicked at that instant, for him, for her. It was if this was a play they had enacted a thousand times before, each time bringing them closer and closer to absolute perfection. His reply had been scripted for him by Destiny, but never had he replied as willingly as though the answer had come to him on his own, for he knew that it was the only asnwer he could ever give, as he had in another instant so similar, so sweet. "Never." And then he bent and kissed her, and as their lips met . . . there was a burst of love and passion that could only be termed magic. Kenneth's apartment Kenneth looked at the two dumbfounded men and with a grim smile, looked again at the painting, pleased with their reactions. "The likenesses are quite good, aren't they?" he asked, objectively. "My eyes are too small and my ears stick out too much!" Zephyr yelled from where he still sat in front of the television, not looking at the rest of them. "A few *small* inaccuracies," Kenneth agreed readily, not liking the way in which his chin was painted. "I think it's amazing," Jed breathed gazing at the Guardian who was to the left of the prince, head bowed, eyes lowered. It was him. There was no doubt in his mind of that. "Truly amazing . . ." November said, his eyes wandering over the rest of the figures to rest on his own. "Who painted it?!" Jed demanded. "How old is it? And . . . *who* is he?!" He pointed to the man in the center, the prince, whose features were unfortunately, heavily shadowed. Kenneth sighed. "A little known artist by the name of Peggy Jones. English by birth, I believe. She resides here in the outskirts of Tokyo. It is about a year old. As for the identity of the man, unknown." "Who is this Peggy Jones? What does she know of us?" Nev wanted to know, instantly worried about the ramifications of the situation. Kenneth rested a hand on the frame of the painting. "She's just a nineteen year old girl trying to work her way through art school. With talent like that, I think she deserves to, don't you?" Expecting no response, he continued, "As for what she knows, nothing but what comes to her in her dreams. Really, she's nobody very important or famous so I find it safe to assume that no harm will befall the four of us. Especially since I fully intend to buy any and ALL paintings of the four of us that she might paint." "Hah!" Zephyr called. "You can try with your money, but I *still* contend that she's really Lonnie Lineye and *her* prints are selling like crazy. Heck, her *paintings* are selling like crazy - for a good twelve thousand at the least!" "Lonnie Lineye?" Jed wondered why the name sounded so familiar. "She's got an art show scheduled for next month. I suggest you buy her whole collection before things get out of hand." Kenneth looked at the painting for another instant before covering it up with the cloth. "I offered. She refused." Suddenly, something on the TV caught Zeph's attention. "Hey, guys, you might want to check this out!" "What is it?" Kenneth turned to look at what was on the TV. An unfamiliar looking face was speaking. What was odd about that was that the person speaking had *green* hair, with pink streaks through it and odd almond eyes. "I have taken control of every television station. I have also placed a bomb in this city. Tokyo *will* blow sky high at 12 o'clock midnight if my demands are not met. Thirty billion yen by midnight. Don't bother calling in a bomb squad. They're all . . . incapacitated. Good day, Tokyoites." "Great Zeus." Zephyr got to his feet and shot the others a look. "Looks like we've been chosen to save the city . . . Any questions?" "Yeah, just how many times did you watch "Armageddon"?" Kenneth grinned. Channel 11 Tokyo Fiore watched as the nervous camera man turned the camera off and his ultimatum began repeating itself over and over again on the air. He glanced casually to one side where all of the news people and bomb squads were bound and gagged. Not that they could go anywhere, being unconscious and drained dry. Their energy had been *most* appetizing. Still, that's all they were . . . appetizers. "Are you ready?" Ailan asked. Fiore got to his feet, and grabbed the camera man before he could run too far, draining him of his energy and tossing his limp body to the ground, "Yeah, I'm ready. How many people do you think are going to try and make a run for it?" "This is Tokyo." Ailan spread his hands wide. "Everybody of course!" Fiore laughed. "Do you think they can actually get the money together?" "Who cares? It's just a ploy. We *can't* just say we're blowing Tokyo up for no reason, after all." "True, true." Fiore and Ailan exchanged identical cruel smiles, now that things were finally going their way. Hikawa Shrine At the Senshi meeting, three girls waited around for their fearless (Haha, you've *got* to be kidding!-Raye) leader to show up. Luna ran in, late, and breathless. She was in her human form and in her hand she carried a radio. "Sailor Senshi, we've got trouble!" "Since when have we *not*?" Lita joked, standing up. "What *kind* of trouble?" Amy asked calmly, also standing. "There's a bomb set to go off at midnight planted somewhere in Tokyo!" The three girls looked at her blankly. "You're kidding." "No joke, Raye. It's up to you girls to find it and disable it before the whole city blows!" The three Senshi exchanged a look, eloquent in the sheer terror that it conveyed. "Where's Serena?!" Luna asked, just noticing her charge's absence. They shrugged. "Henshin-yo, then call her on the communicator!" Luna ordered. "MARS POWER!" "JUPITER POWER!" "MERCURY POWER!" The Park At that moment, Serena had more important matters (at least to her thinking) to attend to. Darien was kissing her and she was liking it *A LOT*. She was just starting to kiss him back when her communicator started to beep. The two of them ignored it. A man ran up to them, stared at the two in disgust, then shook Darien roughly by the shoulder. "Hey!" Darien said angrily, looking up at the man. Serena wasn't really very happy either. "Look, kid," the man said, "I hate to interrupt you, I really do, but I just thought that you should know that Tokyo's going to blow up in a few hours. I thought that maybe you and your little girlfriend - Isn't she a little young for you? Too young. - might want to get home and get out of the city. If you can, that is. Traffic's backed up for miles." "WHAT?!" Darien and Serena shouted in unison. The man groaned as if saying, 'Why did I have to get stuck with these two nitwits?' He began speaking *very* slowly, and *very* clearly. "There is a bomb. The city is going to blow up at midnight. You might want to run. Good-bye." He turned but Darien grabbed him painfully by the shoulder. "Where's the bomb?" "Nobody knows, kid. There was some wacko on TV who demanded thirty billion yen. Now, leggo." Darien let go and watched as the man ran off. Turning around he said, "I'll get you home, Serena. Serena?" But she was gone. "Damn!" he swore, grabbing his things and running for the car. "SERENA!!!" he yelled, to no avail. Taking one last look at the park, he drove off, scanning the sides of the road for her. "Odango Atama, where *are* you?! We've gotta get out of here!" Serena sighed as she watched him drive away from where she had hidden herself behind a tree, breathing quickly. "Good-bye, Darien," she whispered, still feeling the warm, sweet touch of his lips on hers. She put a hand to her mouth then, with her back to a tree, slid down to sit on the ground. "Kami-sama," she whispered, thinking of the bomb and of Darien. "Why is my world suddenly so terrifying and wonderful all at once? Why is everything so strange? Must I lose everything that I have just gained? Destruction always follows joy. I knew that once." Tears dripped down her cheeks. The beeping of her communicator continued and she turned dull eyes to it. Standing, she placed a hand to her locket and said, "I can't give up. I'm a Sailor Senshi. I've got to save this city! For minna . . ." She blinked back her tears. "MOON PRISM POWER!" On the rooftops "Where is she?" Mercury asked as the Senshi made their way downtown. "Don't ask me!" Mars retorted angrily. "I bet she's goofing off at the arcade or something." "Raye . . ." Jupiter began hesitantly. "Don't 'Raye' me! Where else could she be?! Blowing off a Senshi meeting and now this . . ." The other two Senshi were quiet. Suddenly, all three of their communicators beeped at once. ". . . Senshi. Come in, Sailor Senshi. Come in!" "We're here, Serena," Mercury said immediately, looking at the tiny face in her communicator. Sailor Moon stared back. "I'm downtown, and boy is there a lot of traffic." "Where've you BEEN, Serena?!" Mars asked into her own communicator, an edge to her voice. Moon smiled grimly, "At a tutoring session. Darien told me this morning to be there." The girls groaned. "You could've told someone, Serena!" Jupiter grumbled. "Well, I'm here, aren't I? Anyway, I'm pretty sure I know where the bomb is." "What? How?!" Mars demanded. "If *you* were going to blow up Tokyo, where would *you* place a bomb. Remember, he only said ONE. I caught a broadcast on my way here." "Tokyo Tower," Mars said immediately. "The most central location would be the most plausible location," Mercury mused. Moon smiled. "Right. And what is the most central location?" "Amdale Tower." "What?" Kenneth said, as the Guardians leapt from one rooftop to another. "I *said*, Amdale Tower is the only logical place to put a bomb." Zephyr, now known as Unicorn (Don't *call* me that!-Zephyr), answered his leader. "It's in a central location and a major gas main runs right under it. Even if the city didn't blow up, it would certainly be in flames." "Why isn't a bomb squad handling this?" Phoenix complained bitterly, realizing *exactly* how hard it is to leap around wearing any kind of armor. "They don't know where to look." Zeph winked. "And we do." "Can't we just *tell* them?" Dragon winced as part of his armor clanged against him. "And take away from our glory? Nah . . ." Griffin smacked the back of his head and growled, "I *am* going to make you *regret* forcing us to take care of this, Zephyr. I swear I am." Zeph grinned cheekily, then began to whistle. As the others glared at him, he said, "What? 'Sides, about that bomb squad . . . I, being the only one who *bothered* the watch the news before we set out while you were all running around like headless chickens, know that they were all found unconscious hours ago and haven't woken up yet. So, I guess it really *is* up to us." They groaned. Meanwhile, among the fleeing Tokyoites . . . Fiore and Ailan exchanged another malicious grin as they stared at the Chaos below. The inhabitants of Tokyo were packed in their cars, attempting to flee but to no avail, as traffic was just too bad to allow them to pass. Police were trying to keep the people in check, but the reminder of authority didn't seem to be working very well. "Scurrying rats." Fiore hovered a little lower, watching as the people ran about, panicking. "Indeed," Ailan agreed. "You take the left. I, the right." Ailan opened his mouth to argue, but thinking better of it, simply nodded his head. It didn't matter *who* was in charge. As long as they got the energy. As long as Ann got well. Below, the people screamed as the two Aliens swooped down, arms outstretched as through to embrace them in some foul embrace, but really to drain them of the energy that gave them motion, the energy that gave them life . . . at least temporarily. Amdale Tower The Senshi and the Guardians reached Amdale Tower at roughly the same time. If one was to be technical about the matter, the Senshi arrived first for Sailor Moon was already standing atop the Tower when both groups arrived. "Out of the way!" Griffin shouted, not unkindly, as the women approached him. "No!" Mars shouted back. "Ladies, give us leave to pass," Unicorn said, bowing elegantly. "This is *our* fight," Moon contended softly. And that was that. The Senshi would *not* back down. Unicorn glared, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Griffin put a restraining hand on his shoulder and his eyes and those of Sailor Moon met. Grey and blue. "Will you assist us again?" she asked. "We will," he responded. "I don't trust them!" Mars spoke up. "Me neither!" Unicorn spoke up. "Two to a team," Moon said gently to Griffin. "One yours, one mine. Search the levels. Move quickly." "You heard her!" he shouted. "MOVE!" They scattered. Two to a team. Moon and Griffin, Jupiter and Dragon, Mercury and Unicorn, and Mars and Phoenix. As soon as they entered the building, they knew they were on the right track. Screens everywhere showed images of a timer counting down. Most of them ran for the elevators. By unspoken agreement, Moon and Griffin started on the bottom floor. Using her communicator she said, "Minna, call in each level once you get through with it!" "Hai!" they called back. She turned to Griffin. "I'll go left, you right. We'll meet up on the next level. Check every room." "Right." Outside the elevator on the twentieth floor . . . "Aw, damn it all to hell!" Phoenix cursed as the image of the bomb counted down. "Are you always this vulgar?" Mars asked, caustically. "No. Sometimes I'm worse." "Charming. Twenty!" Mars called into her communicator, resolving to ignore him from thereon. It didn't do to listen too much to him. She ended up focusing on the brilliant color of his eyes . . . They had just gone through the twentieth floor. It didn't help that Amdale Tower had over a hundred stories and they had less than six hours to search all of them. The elevator door opened and they entered. He savagely pressed a button and they went up . . . In the elevator between the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth floors . . . "Thirty-four!" Jupiter yelled into her communicator. She looked at her companion out of the corner of her eye and couldn't help noticing how *hot* he was. Still, she kept November firmly in mind and when the elevator door opened, she nearly ran out. "I didn't realize that I was so repulsive," he said to himself. Fifth floor . . . "Who the hell comes UP with these kinds of twisted schemes?!" Griffin yelled, running up to meet Sailor Moon at the elevator as the ominous red image kept ticking away. She smiled sympathically. "You haven't been in Tokyo very long, have you?" "Actually, no." One hundredth and first floor . . . Mercury and the Guardian ran down the long, empty hallways, the sound resounding around them. They had discovered that it worked best for *them*, if each one took one side of the hallway and they worked that way. He ran into a room. "Crap," the Guardian known as Unicorn (much to his disgust) swore as he stared at the bomb. "What's the matter?" Mercury asked, running into the room. She saw the bomb and stopped in her tracks. "Uh-oh." She called it in. "We found the bomb - one hundredth and first floor. You guys get out of here!" Unicorn was still staring at the bomb and Mercury noted that he had taken the cover off. A mass of brightly colored wires met her eyes. He held a dagger in one hand and his eyes roved nervously over the wires. "Crap," he said again. "It's wired throughout this entire building." Mercury shook herself out of her paralysis and ran forward. "Which wire do we cut?!" "Which wire do *I* cut," he muttered, fingering one wire, then another. "This is *not* the time to get macho! Which *damn* wire?!" she demanded, crouching down next to him. He didn't look up as he muttered feverishly, "I have no idea. I never learned this in school." Mercury stared at the wires and at the clock which was ticking. "We've got less than five minutes . . . Cut *something*!" "I can't just cut any wire," he argued. "It would explode!" "Well if you don't cut something soon, it's going to explode *anyway*!" "I know, I know. Oh, now I *really* wish I hadn't skipped that class." "What are you *talking* about?!" "The bomb defusing class . . . I played hooky." Mercury's eyes grew wider. "You actually had a *class*?!" She felt like hitting him. "You idiot!" "Well, I don't see you helping," he shouted. "Okay, okay," Mercury said anxiously, getting to her feet. She glanced at the side of the bomb for the name then ran over to the large computer terminal on the wall, and began typing rapidly into the keyboard. Words appeared on the screen: A4NT57 BOMB DEFUSING METHODS CLASSIFIED ENTER PASSWORD(S): Mercury stared at the screen, then quickly typed in: MAYDAY ACCESS DENIED blinked into being on the screen. "Dammit," she swore softly. "Try, "Star Wars"," the Guardian said as gently as he could, having looked up to see what she was doing. She typed in: STAR WARS ACCESS GRANTED A schematic began to appear on the screen. "How did you know-?" Zephyr smile smugly. "Everyone's seen the movie." Mercury frowned, then turned back to the screen as he asked, "Which wire?" "Oh no," she breathed. "What?!" he snapped. "All of them but one . . . in order!" "What's so bad about that?" "Each of them requires a code." He groaned. "First wire?" "Red," she said automatically. He sliced through it and they began to solve the passwords, one by one . . . The bomb kept ticking . . . Sixth floor . . . Moon listened to the transmission and overheard what they were saying to one another. "Ganbatte ne, Amy-chan," she said softly. Too softly for her companion to hear. "Okay, you heard her, people! Everyone . . . outta here! Let's get our rears in gear!" "Sailor Moon!" She ignored her companion, listening to the flurry of acknowledgements, then turned around . . . only to discover that she wasn't as alone anymore. A cardian blocked the doorway and Griffin lay sprawled on the ground, clutching one shoulder. "Right," she said, sounding more confident than she felt. "I can handle this. Finally . . . a chance to make a speech!" "Must you?" Griffin asked from his place on the floor. "Hai!" she said. "I am the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon and *you* are an evil being who is blocking my way, so . . . leave!" Griffin groaned. "Moon. . . TIARA ACTION!" The tiara flew out and clattered to the ground. The ugly purple bulk of the cardian loomed closer, licking its lips. "You were saying?" Griffin asked. "We are *so* dead." Outside the elevator of the thirty-fifth floor . . . Jupiter stared at the door, willing it to open. "Thank goodness we're getting out of here. I wonder if Mercury can disable the bomb?" "If she doesn't, Unicorn will." Their eyes met and they smiled shyly at one another. The door slid open and an ugly insectoid cardian stepped out, hissing, "Which floor?" "Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter shouted immediately. When the cardian continued smiling and grabbed her around the arm, Dragon asked, reaching for his sword, "Uh . . . Was that supposed to do something?" Jupiter shrieked. Twenty second floor . . . Mars and Phoenix were glaring at one another and at the elevator in turn. "It must be stuck!" Mars announced finally. "Let's take the stairs." "Fine." They headed for the stairway, Mars first, but before she had gone halfway down the flight, she turned and ran past him. "What? You decided that you'd prefer the elevator after all?" he joked, looking after her. Such long hair . . . When he looked forward, he was face to face with the slavering jaws of a green bestial cardian. He yelped, then turned tail and sped up the stairs after her. When they had reached the top, he frantically began punching the button, while Mars turned around and shouted: "Fire Soul!" As the cardian galloped up the stairs, its horns ready to impale them, Mars moved backward, towards Phoenix. "I - I don't understand," she muttered. "Why didn't it work?" "I suggest you think of something else . . . FAST!" he told her. As the beast lunged at them she screamed, "ANY SUGGESTIONS?!" On the hundredth and first floor . . . Mercury and the Guardian-who-hates-his-name were one wire away from disabling the bomb. Unfortunately, it was then that the cardian on *their* level finally scented them and decided to attack. "I'll take care of it!" Mercury yelled, wondering how she would with just her mist. "Shabon SPRAY!" Nothing happened. "You know what I said about "taking care of it"?" she began hesitantly, backing away. The Guardian scrambled to his feet. "You cut the last wire and I'll take care of it!" Mercury ran past him to the bomb, catching the wire he tossed her way. Staring at the green wire and the yellow wire, she cried, "Which wire?!" "How the heck am *I* supposed to know?!" He put his hand on his sword hilt and stared at the cardian for an instant. 00:00:16 00:00:15 00:00:14 00:00:13 . . . "What's the code?!" "There's NO TIME!" He pulled out a handful of blue roses from his subspace pocket and directed them at the cardian's feet, forcing him backward. Then the cardian leapt over the roses and hissed. "You die!" 00:00:03 Sailor Mercury shut her eyes and believed in miracles. 00:00:02 She cut the wire. 00:00:01 The green wire. 00:00:00 The timer stopped. The bomb stopped. Mercury opened her eyes. Movement resumed again around her as she collapsed across the bomb in her relief. The Guardian spared her a glance as he slashed the cardian across the belly. It had overshot its leap. It let out a wail of pain and backhanded him across the face. He stumbled and fell to the ground with the force of the blow, staring dizzily up at the cardian. It showed its teeth, dark green blood dripping from its belly wound. "I die . . . you die." One of its long arms mutated into a blade aimed at the Guardian. "Noooo!" Mercury shouted, moving too late . . . And the Unicorn shut his eyes . . . and called upon his power . . . "SPIRIT MIND!!!" he screamed, his eyes opening. A blast of blue- white energy emanated from his forehead and engulfed the cardian after swirling in a watery shape like that of a unicorn and impaling the cardian with its blazing blue horn. The cardian let out another scream and sizzled away, leaving only a scorched card. Mercury stared at him in astonishment. Twenty-second floor . . . Phoenix pushed Mars out of the way and thrust his hands forward, yelling, some gibberish that she thought might have been: "SOUL PHOENIX FIRE BURN!!!" A great bird made of red fire flew from the cupped enclosure of his hands and flew at the green cardian. As soon as contact was established, pieces of the cardian began burning away, a purple-blue flame developing. Then nothing was left but a scorched card which fell from the sky to land at their feet. "Not bad, eh?" Phoenix smiled upon his handiwork. Thirty-fifth floor . . . Jupiter writhed in the cardian's grip as Guardian Dragon stared on, helpless. Well, not so helpless. He threw a pink rose at the cardian's hand/paw/talon/appendage and it dropped the Senshi who fell to the ground with a thud. "Gee, thanks." "You're welcome," he said jauntily. The cardian stepped forth from the elevator. The cardian and the Guardian circled around one another, neither willing to let the other win. All of a sudden, his eyes still focused steadily on his adversary, Dragon's hand reached up as though pulling at something and making a gesture so fast that his hand blurred, he shouted: "STAR DRAGON LIGHTNING ENVELOP!!!" A dark, crackling dragon formed and shot towards the cardian, faster and faster until it seemed to morph into a bolt of lightning, and when it finally reached its target and struck, it exploded into a crackling dome of lightning and what looked like stars, which then exploded in a miniature supernova. A scorched card fluttered down to the ground. Sixth floor . . . Sailor Moon stayed as still as a statue. She *was* a statue. She couldn't move at all. Not so much as a toe. He cardian was *laughing* at her. She was horrified. To be reduced to this . . . entertainment for the enemy! It was unendurable. Griffin regarded her, concerned, then sighed and got to his feet, still clutching the shoulder that the damn creature had squeezed so hard it its vise-like grip. The cardian's attention shifted to him momentarily, then back to her. Griffin thought, Deciding to act before it could, he thrust out his good hand and power glowed about his fingertips. Ah, good, he could feel the energy coursing through him. He felt much better now. Better indeed. Quietly he said: "POWER GRIFFIN ENERGY BLAST." The power shot out, quickly, smoothly gliding as though on a pair of feathered wings and for a moment it looked like the energy was in the shape of some sort of not-quite bird. Moon blinked and it was gone, and only the energy remained, almost gently enfolding the cardian within itself, before it vanished in a burst of light. When the light faded, Griffin was gone as well. All that remained was a scorched card lying on the ground and images of the stopped timer all around her. Outside Amdale Tower The four girls met outside the main door, which took awhile since the elevators weren't working. Jupiter contended that the cardian that had attacked her had done something to the elevators. Luna came running up, congratulating them on a job well done and providing them with a bunch of cover stories that she had come up with to convince their parents as to why they had disappeared during the bomb threat. They all briefed each other on what had happened and Amy took Luna aside and whispered about the loss of her powers. Luna was horrified to say the least, but said nothing to the others. They mused about the identities of the Guardians, since they had all disappeared shortly after saving the Senshi. Mars still didn't trust them and Luna agreed that it was prudent to be cautious. Moon was the one who brought up the loss of her powers . . . In the shadows, Tuxedo Kamen watched them for a moment, then vanished. That one brief instant of panic from Sailor Moon had faded. He was not needed here. Further in the shadows, the Guardians watched Tuxedo Kamen, and each of them felt that sense of *knowing*. This one bore watching. "After all," Zephyr had quipped, "maybe we can learn how to transform into tuxedoes instead of armor too!" A round of groans had answered that. When Mamo Darien woke later that night in his own bed, he stared at the clock in relief that it was 2:00 in the morning and Tokyo had not blown up. Then he worried about Serena. Then he thought about that *kiss*. Then he thought about how she had run away and the words of that man, Again, another flash of memory as the words echoed, in a female voice this time. His thoughts turned back to Serena and how good she had felt beneath him, how good she had felt next to him, how good she had felt simply *near* him. How sweet her kiss had been. Then he worried about her again. Burying his head beneath his pillow, he tried to sleep but couldn't. So he simply lay awake, staring up at the ceiling and wondering if he hadn't just dreamed the whole thing up, and worrying that she would never want to see him again. Outside Amdale Tower Sailor Moon stared at her Senshi, then at Luna. She put a hand to her forehead, then pulled it away with a shudder. "It's gone . . . all gone." "Are you sure?" Mars asked desperately. "Maybe it was just a fluke. Try again!" "NO!" Moon screamed. "Don't you get it?! I can't attack anymore! I'm useless!!!" "But-" Sailor Moon cut her off, savagely ripping the tiara from her forehead and flinging it, crying "MOON TIARA ACTION!" so loudly that the tower shook. The tiara fell to the ground with a clatter. Turning to face the horrified faces of her Senshi, Moon bit out bitterly, "Still don't believe me? Want me to try again? All right then, watch!" She picked the tiara back up and proceeded to throw it again, screaming her attack. And again, and again, and again, until her throat was raw from the effort. Finally, Mars grabbed her hand before she could throw again, and said in the softest voice she could, "Stop it." The Sailor Senshi of the Moon turned to her, tears coursing down her cheeks. "I can't. If I stop now . . . won't I be giving up? I can't give up, Mars, I can't . . ." She sobbed, then shook off Mars's hand roughly and prepared to throw again. Her hand faltered again as Mars's broken voice cried out, "Don't, Sailor Moon . . ." Her watery blue eyes met the violet ones that were beginning to fill with tears as well. "I can't stop trying . . . Luna, tell her . . ." "She's right, Serena," Luna said gently, her heart aching as she saw the look on her young charge's face, at the despair in her eyes, the denial. This can't be happening. It can't. Sailor Moon turned away from all of them. "No. I've got to . . . gotta keep going . . ." "Sailor Moon," Jupiter said, struggling with her words. "Serena . . . you've given it your best . . . maybe you're just tired. It'll work later . . ." "Serena, *please* . . . listen to *reason*!" Mercury pleaded desperately. "No! Hafta keep trying . . ." "Just stop you crybaby ditz!" Mars shouted angrily, tears in her eyes. Everything froze. All eyes turned to Raye, and then to Serena. Sailor Moon trembled an instant, her eyes huge and quivering, then the tiara fell from her hand and hit the ground with a metallic clatter. "What do you think you're doing?!" Mars continued on, her voice growing softer. "What're you trying to prove? That you can be leader? That you won't give up? We already *know* that, Serena. I might have said some things before that I didn't mean, but I mean *this*. You *are* our leader, and nothing's gonna change that. Not even if you've lost your power. That's just the way things are. That's just *who* *you* *are*." Violet eyes almost as watery as her own gazed into hers, and Sailor Moon suddenly found herself sobbing on Raye's shoulder, letting go of all of the hurt, pain, and bitterness. Gone was the despair that she had been feeling. And Raye cried with her. After what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, she drew back and wiped her eyes, and the face smiling shakily at all of them was *Serena*. They had won her back. Her transformation melted around her and she vowed, "Next time! And if not then, then soon. Besides, I'm secure in the knowledge that all of you guys can handle anything that comes our way." She smiled brightly at them all. "Right?" Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars exchanged a worried look. "Um . . . Sailor Moon, there's a little *problem* . . ." Raye began nervously. "Nothing *too* serious," Jupiter chimed in. "Everything will be back to normal soon," Mercury added. Serena's smile slipped a little. "Guys? What aren't you telling me?" Luna buried her face in her paws and groaned. "Oh, just go ahead and tell her before you make it worse." "Er . . . right," Mars said. She, Mercury, and Jupiter nodded at one another and shouted out their attacks in unison. "FIRE SOUL!" "SHABON SPRAY!" "SUPREME THUNDER!" Nothing happened. Again. Serena tapped her foot, chewing on her bottom lip. "Oh well," she said, brightly. "Oh *WELL*?!" Mars nearly shrieked. Serena shrugged. "It'll come back to us . . . eventually. Until then . . . I guess we'll just have to find another way to deal with the bad guys. Right, Luna?" "Right . . ." Luna said cautiously. This didn't sound like the Serena she knew. "That's the spirit!" Jupiter said, trying to convince herself as much as Serena. "Where're probably just too tired to concentrate our energies to the proper degree to attack." Everyone sweatdropped at Mercury's comment, then laughed nervously. "What about this being horrible?! What about we've gotta keep trying?! What about-" "Really, Raye, stop being so immature," Serena said blithely. As Raye sputtered, Serena deftly picked Luna up, but instead of petting her, she held her so that they were face to face and began to shake her. "Tell me what's wrong, Luna! Tell me why we can't attack! I *know* you *know* why!" "Put me down!" the cat yelled and was dropped without ceremony to the ground. Landing on her feet, she glared up at her charge. "I have no idea. Don't panic, though, it's probably nothing serious." Serena made a face. "That's *lovely* to know, Luna. Well, I guess *you're* the one fighting next time, ne?" "N-now just a minute!" the cat spluttered. The girls laughed. Doom Tree Energy coursing through her veins, Ann smiled broadly, sitting up. "That feels good!" Ailan smiled at her while Fiore rolled his eyes and vanished. She turned her gaze on the Tree which seemed to have perked up a little, but its leaves were still wilting . . . still falling . . . she vowed. The next day . . . Lita smiled uncertainly up at November. She had caught up to him after school, happening to see him as she walked past the park. She figured that she'd might as well talk to them. After all, they both might die tomorrow. That bomb scare had impressed that upon her. "I'd like to thank you for what you did the other day. You know . . . when I was crying and everything. That was really nice of you and I was wondering if we could maybe do som-" She was cut off by a happy, excited voice yelling, "NOVEMBER! There you are, honey!" Lita's spirits sank. They sank even further when a cute, brown-haired girl that she recognized as Sandler Katie, the Japanese tennis champ, ran up to them, smiling, and flung her arms around November who was standing as still as a statue. "Maybe some other time," she said quietly, forcing a smile. He smiled back at her, his expression a little strained. Lita left, dejected, with just one sorrowful look back. The look on her face broke Nev's heart and he turned to Katie, ready to begin yelling, but the adoring look on her face stopped him short. His anger melted reluctantly away. Gently, he pried Katie's arms off of him, and holding her hands asked, "What do you want to do today?" Katie began to bubble over, telling him things like how much she'd missed him, and how scared she'd been yesterday with the whole bomb scare. Did he hear about those people trying to escape who seemed drained of their energy? It was the oddest thing. They were all in the hospital and seemed to be recovering nicely. Now, onto more pleasant things. How about a nice lunch at the cafe after a game of tennis? He just smiled, feeling like the expression had been pasted to his face, and they walked off together, his arms around her shoulders. Molly watched the whole scene from her position by a tree on a hill a little bit away with a frown. Seeing her Onee and her Onii together should have made her happy, but it didn't. November was miserable . . . she knew that just by looking at him, even though he hid it well. Katie didn't, or maybe she simply didn't *want* to know. She looked off to the side where another miserable-looking figure was making its way slowly home. Molly was not a stupid girl, nor was she unobservant. She saw more than she let on to anyone, and she saw the situation, not instantly, but nearly so. November had looked so happy talking to Lita, and she had been so animated, so chatty and friendly, and *trusting* . . . There had been that certain look in her eyes, that certain warmth between them . . . Being with him, she had been pretty. More than pretty. Her beauty had been blinding. It was then that Molly made her decision. Running down the hill in her direction, she called, "Lita, wait up! Matte!" Lita whirled and looked up at her, confusion on her face but perfect understanding in her eyes, especially as Molly stopped in front of her, her chest heaving, her eyes bright and determined. "I'm going to help you, Lita, 'cause you make him happy - more than Katie does, more than anybody does." Lita's eyes began to water at this gift, this most precious gift held out to her. Friendship . . . She took Molly's hand in hers and smiled. "Where do we start?" Molly smiled back. "At the beginning of course. Where else?" To be continued . . . Want to know what happens with Serena and Darien? Lita and Nev? Are the Senshi and the Guardians going to learn to trust each other? Why aren't the Senshi's powers working? Now that they Aliens have gathered all of that energy, is it enough to keep them alive? Will they renew their offensive against the Sailor Senshi? Exactly *what* is Fiore up to? Why is Raye having such strange dreams? To find out the answers to these questions and more, stay tuned! Now, don't I feel cheesy? ^_- Usa Serena/Tsukino Usagi Mamo Darien/Chiba Mamoru Anderson-Mizuno Amy/Mizuno Ami Hino Raye/Hino Rei Kino Lita/Kino Makoto Mist Zephyr/Zoisite Raven Jed/Jadeite Light November/Nephrite Knight Kenneth/Kunzite Luna/Luna Artemis/Artemis A(i)lan Galaxy/Ail Ginga Ann Galaxy/Ann Ginga Fiore Et/Fiore Doom Tree/Makujii Bell Rill/Beryl Sailor Pluto/Sailor Pluto Phobos/Phobos Deimos/Deimos Usa Elaine/Tsukino Ikuko Usa Kevin/Tsukino Kenji Usa Sammy/Tsukino Shingo Grandpa/Grandpa Baker Molly/Osaka Naru Haruna Patricia/Sakuda Haruna Sandler Katie/Saionji Rui Professor Etude (Etude-sensei)/ORIGINAL CHARACTER Arigato=Thank you Bishoujo=Pretty Ganbatte ne=Good luck Gomen=I'm sorry Gomen nasai=I'm really sorry Hai=Yes Hana=Flower Henshin-yo!=Transform! Imouto-Little sister Kami=God (Shinto religion) Matte=Wait Nani?=What? Ne?=Right? Odango=Dumpling Oneechan=Big sister Oniichan=Big brother Sayonara=Good-bye Sensei=Teacher Senshi=Soldier(s) Shabon=Bubbles