Inside his apartment, Mamoru Chiba, wearing black slacks with a black turtleneck, sat upon the couch. Across the room seated in a recliner was Ryoji Sasaki, dressed in a red military style uniform, with a grim look on his face.
"Thank you for seeing me, Mamoru."
"How could I say no? After all, it is not every day you get a private meeting with the God of War."
"Mamoru, I know you have been ill lately."
Looking down, Mamoru shook his head. "I figured if anyone would notice, it would be you, Ryoji." He spoke in a soft tone of voice.
"I'm afraid this has to do with Pluto's attack on the Earth."
"What do you mean?" Mamoru asked with a look of shock on his face.
As he tented his fingers under his chin, Ryoji gave Mamoru a serious look. "There is a piece of information I have not revealed to the others just yet. The Gods have left this plane of existence. Only Pluto and I remain; and, I assure you, Pluto did not remain by choice."
"So you're saying Pluto is trapped in the Underworld?"
"Yes, but there is more. Through his agents, such as General Dracos, he has begun to poison the Earth. That is what is affecting your health as well as leading to the demonic possessions that have recently taken place throughout Tokyo."
"Damn it! How can I be of any aid to the Senshi in my current state?" Mamoru stood up and paced the room, his anger clearly showing.
"You are a warrior born, Mamoru. In your past life, you fought to the death to defend those you love and I have no doubt you will do so in the coming battle." Ryoji stood and placed a hand on Mamoru's right shoulder.
Turning, Mamoru faced the other man. "I wish I could remember more of my life during the Silver Millennium. But as it is, my memory of that time is fractured."
"Do not worry, my friend. Over time, your memories shall return."
"How is it that Artemis now has all of his memories while the rest of us have only fragments regarding what happened during the Silver Millennium?" Mamoru asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"Artemis and I share a bond that binds us as close as brothers. When I revealed myself as Mars, God of War, it shattered the barriers of Artemis' memories and it all came back to him."
"If you two are so close, how did you not recognize him when you first encountered him a few days ago?"
Ryoji shakes his head sadly. " We Gods are not without our flaws. Though I knew you and the Senshi had been reborn here on Earth, I feared my brother was lost to me forever as I was unable to sense him nor Luna while they were in feline form. When Rei introduced us at the Shrine, it should have clicked in my mind, but I was so preoccupied with my beloved Rei that I did not fully check his energy signature."
"Thankfully you and Artemis are around to provide support to the Senshi. I'm afraid I'll be of no use in the coming battle."
Ryoji grabbed Mamoru firmly by the shoulders, as he looked him in the eyes. "You are wrong, my young Prince. It will take all of us to discover Pluto's mad plot and put a stop to it. With Ceres, Goddess of the Earth, no longer able to power you, I shall lend you my strength, but it is not Tuxedo Kamen I will need by my side."
A red energy began to surround the two men. It filled the room in a blinding flash. As it dissipated, Ryoji saw standing before him a man in black armor holding a sword in his right hand with a shield on his left arm.
"I need Prince Endymion!"