I do not own any of the main characters in this story except for Gilded Rose. They are owned by someone in Japan. However, with the exception of Serena Campbell and Amy Anderson, I do own the Americanized names of the characters, as well as many of the supporting characters and villians. To make things easy, we'll just say that anything that has appeared in the manga or anime version of Sailor Moon is owned by someone in Japan, most likely Toei or Naoko Takeuchi. Jarod was created by Joshua Fraim.
THE SAILOR CENTURIONS
CHAPTER 1
CENTURIONS ASSEMBLE
PROLOG
Tuesday, 9 September, 1986
Noah's Arcade, afternoon
Luna snuck in through the open door. She climbed on the Sailor V machine, and touched the screen with her paw. "Voice conformation, please," the machine said.
"I love tuna fish and fieldmouse pudding," Luna said.
"Voice confirmed," The machine said.
"What's your report?" Luna asked.
"It's as we feared," the machine said. "It looks like the Sailor Soldiers will be needed once again."
"There's a couple of problems," Luna said.
"Artemis informed us of the demise of Sailor Mercury, as well as the other Soldiers losing their powers," the machine replied. "Fortunately, we have prepared for both the death of one of the Soldiers, as well as their losing their powers."
Saturday, 13 September, 1986 Jake Slater's house 4:30 p.m.
Jake pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. He was glad to be home from work. It had been a particularly busy day at Joe's, and Jake looked forward to kicking back on his bed and listening to the Who. However, he wouldn't get the chance. As soon as he walked in the door, the phone rang. Jake picked it up on the second ring. "Your two dimes," he said.
"This is no time for joking," Susan Makoto said on the other end. "Listen, it's extremely urgent that you meet Serena, Rae, Elizabeth and I at 2443 Hawkes drive as soon as possible. Do you need directions on how to get there?"
"No," Jake said. "I know exactly where that is. I'll be there in ten minutes."
Nine minutes and thirty-seven seconds later, 2443 Hawkes drive
Jake pulled his car behind Serena Campbell's VW Bug. He cut the engine, got out, and walked up to the door. He rang the doorbell, and the door was answered by a tall, red haired woman. "Mister Slater," the woman said. "My name is Kaori. Please come in." She led Jake to a door which led to the basement, where Rae, Serena, and Susan were already gathered. "Have a seat," Kaori told Jake, and he took a seat between Rae and Susan. "I'll be back in a minute"
"What's going on here?" Jake asked.
"You know as much as any of us," Serena said.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Jerry had arrived, and Jerry rang the doorbell. "You didn't have to come," Elizabeth said."
"Something about all of this seems suspicious," Jerry said. "I wanted to make sure nothing happens to you."
"I can take care of myself, Jerry Mauser," Elizabeth said. "But it's sweet that you want to be here."
Kaori answered the door. "Miss Minako," Kaori said. Please come in. You too, mister Mauser. This concerns you, too."
"Good thing I came along," Jerry said to himself.
A minute later, Elizabeth and Jerry were down in the basement. "Have a seat," Kaori told Elizabeth and Jerry. Elizabeth took a seat next to Rae, and Jerry took the seat behind her.
On cue, Artemis climbed onto a table in front of a large screen. "Now that we're all here," he said, "we can begin. You were called here because once again, the Sailor Soldiers are needed."
"Excuse me," Susan interrupted. "In case you've forgotten, during the final battle with the Darkness, we not only lost our powers, but Sailor Mercury as well."
"I was just about to get to your powers," Artemis said. "Just as soon as I explained the threat you would be facing."
"And just because I'm dead," a familiar, but disembodied voice added, "doesn't mean I can't be of any help."
"No way," Rae said. "That can't be. . . "
In answer to Rae's comment, a translucent square column appeared behind the group. Inside the column, the ghostly figure of Amy Anderson appeared, clad in her Sailor Mercury uniform. "I'm afraid so," Amy said.
"But how. . ?" Jake asked.
"I don't even know exactly how myself," Amy said. "But that's not why I'm here. I'm here to tell you about your new enemy."
"Who are we fighting this time?" Jake asked.
"Observe the viewscreen," Luna said, as the screen showed an image of what appeared to be a dark-colored flying circus tent. "This is the Black Moon Circus," she continued. "They intend to steal dream energy in order to plunge the Earth into eternal darkness."
"And how are we supposed to fight this new enemy?" Jake asked.
"With these," Kaori said, placing a small box on the table and opening it. Inside were five wristwatches. On the crystal of each watch was the symbol of one of the five innermost planets, in order, Venus, Mercury, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter. "These will be your transformation devices, and will also act as your communicators, as well as allow you to teleport back here," she continued. "To transform, touch the crystal and say the name of your planet. To use the watch as a communicator, slide the face back, and say the planet name of whoever you wish to speak to. To communicate with me, say "base". To communicate with all your teammates, say "all". To teleport back here, turn the bevel counterclockwise ninety degrees. Now, if you'll come get your devices, we can continue."
Serena, Elizabeth, Rae, Jake, and Susan went up to pick up their transformation devices. Elizabeth, Rae, and Susan picked up the Venus, Mars, and Jupiter devices, respectively. "Hey," Serena said. "Where's the one for the Moon?"
"I'm sorry, Serena," Luna said. "For now, you're going to have to sit this one out."
"But I want to fight our new enemy," Serena said.
"You'll get your chance," Luna said.
"Which one do I take?" Jake asked.
"I believe you were meant to be Sailor Earth," Artemis said. Jake took the watch with the symbol for Earth on it.
"Where do I fit in to all this?" Jerry asked.
"You see," Luna said, "When Queen Serenity sent you to be reborn on Earth, she did not just send her daughter, Prince Endymion, the Sailor Soldiers, and Jacara. She sent one other, who would step in should one of the princess's guardians should fall in battle. He was an apprentice of the Order of the Dragon's Claw. As he was only an apprentice, he was not able to fight the Darkness. Just after Queen Serenity sent all of you, she subjected this warrior to the initiation trial, and when he passed, she sent him to be reborn along with the rest of you. His name was Jarod."
"That's a nice story," Jerry said. "But it still doesn't answer my question. Where exactly do I fit in to all this?"
""You are Jarod," Luna said. "You will assume the mantle of Sailor Mrecury."
Jerry went up and took the last remaining watch. "I guess if that's the way it's going to be," Jerry said. "I have nothing to say, except that I'm a Sailor Centurion."
"Welcome aboard," Jake said, giving Jerry a high-five.
"So we touch the watch crystal and say the name of our planet to transform?" Rae asked.
"Yes, that's how you do it," Amy said.
"Okay," Rae said, and touched the crystal of her watch. "Mars," she said, and instantly transformed. She was now wearing a skintight white sailor shirt with a red collar, cuffs, and neckerchief over a red turtleneck, white gloves, red tights, a white belt with a red buckle, and white boots with red straps. "Cool," she said when she saw how she was dressed.
"I guess it's safe to transform," Susan said. She touched her watch. "Jupiter."
Jake touched his watch. "Earth."
"It's going to be good to get back in the game again," Elizabeth said as she touched her watch. "Venus."
"And so begins my carreer as a superhero," Jerry said as he touched his watch. "Mercury."
They all found themselves dressed similar to Rae, the only difference being the colors. Where Rae's costume was red, Susan's was green, Elizabeth's was yellow, Jake's was black, and Jerry's was blue. "I have one question," Jake asked. "Now that we're transformed, how do we change back to our civilian identities?"
"Simple," Amy said. "Just tap your belt buckle twice and say "change", and you'll change back."
"One other thing," Kaori added. "While the Sailor Centurion powers are greater than the Sailor Soldier powers, the Centurion powers do not provide the aura which protect your civilian identities. Do you wish to be provided with masks to protect your identities?"
The Centurions discussed it for several seconds, then Sailor Earth spoke for the group. "No," he said. "We've decided to not hide our identities any more."
"Yeah," Susan said. "Having our identities be public knowledge sure makes things easier on us, especially when we have to transform."
"And we're used to having our identities known," Rae said. "We lost our protective aura in the same battle where Sailor Venus lost her powers."
Jake noticed someone missing. "Where's Tom? As Tuxedo Mask, he was one of our allies. Shouldn't he be here?"
"Tuxedo Mask will be needed in this battle," Luna said. "However, he is currently someplace else, training for the battle. Rest assured, when he is ready, he will once again fight on the side of good."
"I hate to interrupt," Amy said, "But the Black Moon Circus has made their first move. I"ll put it up on the viewscreen. A map of the United States appeared on the viewscreen, then focusing on the east coast. "They are attacking just outside of Bridgeport, Connecticut," Amy said, as an image of their enemy appeared on the viewscreen. "We'll teleport you ther in a minute. First, I have to tell you how to get back. Tap your belt buckle once, and say "base". You will instantly be teleported back here. In fact, when you're transformed, tap your belt buckle once, and say where you want to go, and you'll be teleported there."
"I still wish I was still fighting alongside you guys," Serena said, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I know how you feel," Elizabeth said, as she gave Serena a quick hug. "We'll get this new enemy for you, you can count on it."
"We're ready for teleportation," Artemis said. "Coordinates are locked in, everything's go."
"Let's do it!" Jake yelled.
"Teleportation, go," Kaori said, as she pressed a buton on a control panel on a side wall.
one second later, just outside of Bridgeport, Connecticut
"Well," Jake said. "Here we are, on the other side of the continent, about to fight an enemy we know very little about. Spread out and look, and if you see anything, call it in.
TO BE CONTINUED. . .
NEXT TIME ON SAILOR CENTURIONS:
The Sailor Centurions have their first encounter with the forces of the Black Moon Circus. Join us next time for. . .
BAPTISM BY FIRE