I do not own sailor moon or it's characters
Revised...hope you like it guys!
Elevator doors opened to an office in chaos, people ran around the brightly lit room, some on the phone, several yelling across the room to others, many ran around tripping over each frantically.
Rei stepped out of the elevator and was almost instantly run down by a man running across the room, "Have we established contact with the coven in Italy yet?" he yelled as he passed.
Cautiously Rei entered the room trying to stay out of people's way as they ran around scared/ A few stopped to acknowledge her presence and gave her a slight bow, but most were too panicked to notice her. "Rei!" said a voice from behind her. She turned to see Ami walking towards her, the other woman's face was full of resolve and her pace was quick. As she passed Rei began to walk with her.
"What happened?" Rei asked.
"Over the last few hours we've lost contact with several of our major outposts around the world," Ami told her. They passed through the chaos trying to stay on their course. "From what we can tell our Istanbul outpost has been completely destroyed, the troops arrived about forty minutes ago to find rubble."
"And the men there?"
"No word, but from the initial reports we don't think there were any survivors from that site," Ami told her as they ascended a metal staircase and headed to the second floor.
"What other posts have been attacked?"
"Our site in Northern Italy, one in Malaysia, two in the UK, and one in Egypt," Ami said. They stopped in front of two large doors, Ami pressed her hand to an identity scanner and typed in a pass code.
"That's a pretty significant organized attack," said Rei.
"That's just today, you haven't been given the whole report yet," Ami told her she turned and looked at her before opening the door.
"Ami what's happened?"
She said nothing, but her face fell as she opened the door. They walked into a large elongated room that was just as chaotic as the one they had just left, this room however was darkened and on every wall there were several monitors. There were numerous individual cubicles around the room, each had a person sitting at a computer with a headset on, each talking in a different languages and typing furiously. Rei glanced around the room and saw a few people she recognized. Then her eyes landed on Cole, he dismissed the young Vampire girl he was talking to and walked over to her and Ami.
"Rei," he said with a nod, she nodded back her greeting.
"Has anything new information come forth yet?" asked Ami.
"Not from Istanbul, but from Egypt yes, we just received these images from the ground teams," he said. He led them further into the long room passing people and monitors as they walked, the trio stopped at one computer station, Cole leaned down and whispered to the young woman who was sitting at the counsel. She nodded and type several keys, her small screen grew to cover the other two next to her giving them a panoramic view of what was happening.
Fire, rubble, and sand was most of what Rei saw on the screens. She noted that there were several men running in and out of the frame trying to put out flames and search for bodies, while some secured the perimeter.
"Who is in the field in Egypt," asked Rei.
Cole exchanged glances with Ami, then said "Malachite."
"Malachite," Rei repeated. "Why is he there with our teams?"
"Malachite's been working for us over the past several months, we knew that it would create a stir amongst the other generals as well as within the coven so we kept it quiet," Ami told her.
"Does Darien know about this?" Ami and Cole exchanged glances again. Rei turned to them "Have the Queen and King even been informed of the present situation?"
"We've been in contact with Darien since last week," Cole said.
"Last week? What happened last week?"
"Last week our coven in Miami and our coven in Mexico City were both attacked," Ami told her. "We know it's the same group, all of them have the same type of bomb."
"A bomb," Rei repeated.
"Jadeite and Zoicite have analyzed the debris, and the footage from the first two attacks. From what we have concluded is that it's a new type of bomb, it sends out a pulse before it explodes. The initial pulse blinds Vampires using low level ultraviolet light, and then the initial explosion does the same but on a massive scale," said Ami.
Rei stared at the two of them, "So you're telling me that whoever is doing this has created a bomb designed to kill vampires?"
"Not just kill, this bomb eradicates them," said Cole. "They are first killed with the Ultraviolet rays, then burned with the blast of the bomb."
Rei looked at the two of them "Why have the other members of the council not been made aware of this?"
Ami glanced at Cole then spoke, "We didn't think that informing everyone would be necessary until we had put together all the pieces."
"That was not a decision for the two of you to make, we all should have been informed of the situation and then made a decision as a council," Rei's her voice full of anger. She stared at her two friends, despite their intentions their actions could have put them in danger.
"We were under orders from Darien not inform the other members of the council," said Ami.
"Darien is not the sole member of this council, he knows better than to give such orders, and you know better than to follow them. Our council was put in place so that we could all collectively make decisions as a group, hiding things such as this from the rest of us could be considered conspiracy."
"We understand why the council was created Rei," Cole glared at her.
"Do you because acting of your own volition, that tells me that you have no understanding. How are we supposed to be one coven if we're holding secrets like from each other?"
"We didn't want to worry everyone over nothing Rei….."
"Vampires are being murdered all of the world and you didn't want to worry people!" Rei burned with fury.
"Rei, it was a decision made for the greater good, we didn't want the general population to know what was going on it could cause a panic. But now that things have gotten more serious we have informed Lucius, Antony, and Caleb that they need to go into hiding for their safety," Ami said.
"And what about Darien and Serena?" asked Rei "Have they gone into hiding as well?"
"They are already in seclusion it doesn't seem likely that this new enemy knows where they are when we don't even know where they," said Ami.
"There are a few people that know where Darien and Serena are," Rei muttered.
"Not anymore," said Cole, Rei looked at him. "They've moved again, left the other night and didn't take any of the security team with them. We've been communicating with Darien via satellite, but he's using an encrypted channel so that we can't decipher his location."
Rei scratched her head, "As unsettling as that is perhaps it's the best for them they've been through a lot in the last few months, and I know Serena hasn't been the same since the…'incident'".
"Until we have better information we don't see any reason to bother them ," Ami said.
"Respecting the privacy of the King and Queen may have to take second priority now," said a voice from behind them. All three turned around to see a tall dark skinned woman standing before them. She had long dark hair that fell to her back, and wore a floor length purple dress, the sleeves went to her mid arm and around her neck was an intricate choker made of black with a white gem at the center.
Ami glared at the woman, "Trista."
Trista's amethyst eyes flicked over to Ami then settle upon Rei, "I have been sent here to deliver a message". Ami glanced at Cole and then back to the Trista. "The child, she has had another vision, soon there is to be more attacks on Vampires more lives lost. She has not seen specific locations, but she had informed us where she believes they enemy will strike."
"Wonderful, we can send backup and push security," Ami said.
"That not all that she has seen," Trista told them. She inhaled a deep breath, "She told us 'The future is unclear, but the last twenty years of peace may be in danger, the Queen especially must strengthen her heart for what is coming, there is a dark storm on the horizon.' This is all that was spoken."
Rei glanced at Ami and Cole, then looked back at Trista, "What the hell does that mean?"
"You must prepare the King and Queen."
"I don't see any reason to alert them and ask them to return just yet, we'll contact them when we find something more," Ami said.
"I agree with that we should tell them what's happened, but I do not want to alert them to the situation until we know more, putting excess stress on Serena wouldn't be healthy for her right now," said Cole. "Rei do you think that you could lead the investigation?"
"Lita and I will handle it yes," Rei told them.
Ami turned to leave, "Good then you two should leave for Malaysia as soon as you can."
"Ami where is Mina?" Rei asked.
Ami stopped, "Malachite said that she was at their home in California."
"I want her put under surveillance," said Rei.
"Why?"
Rei blinked and opened her phone, "She's betrayed us before and I'm not about to take the chance that she will do it again."
Ami stepped forward, "We don't have the resources to have her put under surveillance right now, besides she hasn't caused any problems since swearing loyalty to the Crown."
"I don't care, I am not about to put the safety of my people in jeopardy again because of a lose end," said Rei. "I want her under twenty four hour surveillance, I don't care if Malachite has pledged his allegiance Mina is a loose cannon and if she gets the opportunity to cause trouble I believe she'll take it."
Ami looked at Cole, who had raised no objection, then back at Rei. She sighed, "Fine I'll send Nephrite to watch her while you and Lita are gone, she isn't going like being put under house arrest."
"Tell her it was on my orders," Rei said passing Trista as she left the room.
"You must take care Princess, making enemies has always been a strong part of your personality," said Trista.
Rei stopped and turned around "Don't patronize me, I am not in the mood."
Trista turned and locked eyes with Rei, "I understand that Princess, but I must urge you to persuade the King and Queen to return. They will be needed."
"They are always needed. The council will be able to handle whatever happens."
"The council is now a strong governing body, and it is true that Serenity and Endymion are no longer the same political figures that they have been in previous years but they are the beacons of this regime, and of this coven you will need them to lead you in these upcoming months," Trista told her.
Rei silently stared, "My brother and sister need their right for now. Until it is detrimental I shall not encourage their return." Rei turned then and left the room without another word. Behind her Ami and Cole, who had watched the exchange agreed telepathically that Trista should also be watched.
"Malaysia? Are you being completely serious Rei?" said Lita as she zipped the suitcase closed.
"I am, I need you to go with me, and since Nephrite is going to be Mina's jailer you're free," Rei explained as she pulled clothes from her closet and threw them into her open luggage bag.
Lita looked at her husband who was staring at the floor his face stony, "What a vacation for you." Nephrite glanced up at her with a frown.
"Are there any leads as to who could have orchestrated this?" he asked Rei.
Rei threw a shirt from her closet it missed the bag and landed on the floor, "We don't want to alarm anyone yet, but Cole thinks that this may be the work of humans. He says a radical group may be responsible, but since there's still only a little evidence he doesn't want anyone jumping to conclusions, part of our job will be to track down any leads we can find in Malaysia."
"I don't like the idea of the two of you going alone," Nephrite said.
"Nephrite we'll be fine there's another group there that has set up camp, and there's going to be a ton of people trying to investigate as well," Lita said. "We'll be surrounded by friends."
"Friends is a loose term, I still don't think it's a good idea."
"Good idea or not, it's what needs to be done," Rei turned to them her arms full of clothes she dropped them on top of the bag on the floor. "We're going as soon as everything is in order."
Nephrite didn't fail to notice how Rei refused to look at either of them directly, "Have you told Jadeite yet?"
Rei stilled, "No, I haven't."
"He won't be pleased."
"I expect he won't be, but he knows that this is part of my duty."
Nephrite frowned, "There are others that can take on this task, you do not have to put yourself in danger."
"Nephrite something big is coming, Trista came to warn us…"
Nephrite froze, "Trista? Trista Meioh? I thought she was dead."
Finally Rei looked him in the eye, "So did we then several months ago, she arrives at a council meeting without any warning and started informing us of things that were planned. She was the one who warned us of the assassination attempt on the human Prime Minister last month."
Lita looked between Nephrite and Rei, "Who is this Trista Meioh?"
Rei glanced at Lita before looking back at Nephrite. "Trista Meioh was a Romulen seer who was trained by Astrid. Lon before the death of my parents and before the marriage of Darus and Serenity," Rei said. "She disappeared without a word a few years before the Queen was born."
"And?"
"Before she disappeared, she was captured by my father's men and became a Valcor prisoner, during that time she was guarded by several young generals, your husband being one of them."
Lita looked at her husband who stood as unmoving as stone, "Nephrite?"
"We were told to guard her and ensure that any visions be told directly to the Queen and King," he said. "She remained with us for five years before finally being liberated and then disappearing."
Rei watched Nephrite's face, she had heard rumors about him and Trista before and his reaction now was only affirming them for her.
"I haven't seen her since before she was taken and returned to the Romulen sanctum" he said.
"Yes well she told us that for the past several centuries she and her charge have been in hibernation," Rei told them.
Lita took her eyes away from her husband to look at her friend, "what charge?"
"When she arrived she had a young girl with her. This girl also has the sight, but she's a lot more powerful than Trista. She claims to have inherited it from her mother. They have both been asleep for the past few decades, and it was only a few years ago that Trista woke. Hotaru soon followed after her." Rei sat down on the bench in front of her bed next to Lita.
Nephrite stepped forward, "Where is Trista now?"
"I don't know where she goes when she disappears, she just comes says her peace and gives us messages from the girl then leaves again."
"I would like to speak with her if possible, next time you see her please deliver that message," Nephrite said.
Rei looked from him to Lita then back again, "I can deliver the message."
"Thank you," Nephrite gave her a slight bow and then turned and left the room without another word.
After he was gone Lita spoke again, "Rei what's the story between those two?"
Rei hesitated and watched Lita somberly, "I think that you should ask your husband."
"I'm asking you, if I were to ask him he would brush me off and not tell me unless it was forced out of him. As a friend I want the truth of what you know."
Rei sighed, "From the rumors that I've heard while Nephrite was her jailer he fell in love with her. Trista is a woman of profound beauty and mystery it's easy to see how any man could fall in love with her. From what I gather and from knowing your husband, Nephrite may suspect that the seer child in Trista's care could be their offspring."
Lita inhaled a deep breath, "I….I don't know what to say."
"I told you that it would have probably been wiser to talk to your husband about it" said Rei.
"He's never told me about her," Lita said, "Never even mentioned her name."
Rei reached over and firmly took her friends hand, "It may be because it was such a long time ago that it doesn't matter anymore."
"I thought we had shared all of our secrets, but never once has he ever mentioned her name."
"Lita just because he had an fling with her doesn't mean that he really loved her."
Lita shook her head, "Nephrites not like that, he wouldn't bed a woman he didn't care about, and taking a Romulen woman was even more of a risk, he must have loved her. Then being torn from her without any warning, it must have been devastating."
Rei watched Lita, "Do you fear he still has feelings for her?"
"It's reasonable, he never got the closure he wanted from her and now that he thinks she may have bore him a child…it could stir up old feelings in anyone."
"Lita Nephrite loves you, and he loves you very deeply." Rei turned to face her friend, she took both of Lita's hands in her own and squeezed.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't love her as well. You said she is beautiful… is she…is she like Serenity?" asked Lita
Rei shook her head, "Not even close."
"What kind of beauty is she then?"
Rei tried to search for words that would comfort her friend, but looking into the brunette's eyes she realized that Lita wanted the truth more than any comfort. "She's got dark skin and long dark hair, her eyes are amethyst, and her presence is full of regality and mystery."
"She sounds like a goddess," said Lita.
"But you are just as beautiful," Rei told her.
Lita raised an eyebrow, "Don't try to make me feel better."
"I have to try," Rei said. "Come on some Malaysia will give you some time to think, let's get ready to leave."
Lita nodded and then stood, "Thank you Rei." Lita left Rei alone in the bedroom. Rei watched her go and felt a pain in her heart, she hated that she had just told Lita truth because deep down she knew that it had broken a piece of her friend's heart.
The water around the small pavilion was still, the plants beneath the calm surface were all a deep purple color making the water the same shade, fireflies flew peacefully landing gently onto the water lilies, bright yellow lanterns lit the perimeter of the lake. The only sound besides that of nature was the Clang of metal scraping upon metal.
A long metal staff crashed down onto two crossed sais that were blocking the aggressive attack. "Keep your guard up, your movement was too impulsive" said the man holding the staff, his white hair and long beard contrasted with his tanned and wrinkled skin, but his eyes still held a twinkle of knowledge and youth from many years previous.
Serena used all her force to throw him backwards and took her defensive stance. Her hair was a mess and she was drenched in sweat from the humidity. "You must concentrate more on your strategy don't just throw yourself into the battle. This is a dance you must master, let the movements flow through you not control you like a puppet."
She let out a strangled cry of frustration and attacked her instructor again. He easily blocked all of her attacks with little effort. Finally he disarmed her of one of her sais, the knife flew into one of the wooden pillars of the pavilion and stuck. Serena stared at it for a moment then attacked with the reaming sai, it only took a few seconds for her master to disarm her again, knocking her off balance and then pinning her to the ground.
He hovered above pushing the staff into her neck, "Your emotions are clouding your flow and your strategy. You must let go of that which you are holding onto and allow yourself clarity," he told her. She stared up at her master, her breathing ragged, when he removed his hold on her she pushed herself up on her elbows and shook her head. Her long hair had fallen from his bindings, she let it fall to over her face as she composed herself once again. It took several seconds before she stood again ready to fight.
"That's enough for tonight I think," Darien said. Serena glanced over at him, he was standing silently at the entrance of the pavilion, his arms crossed casually over his chest.
"You highness," said the master, he clasped his hands together and bowed low to Darien out of respect.
"No, Lun Yao I bow to you," Darien mirrored Yao's actions, but bowed lower. "Thank you for training my wife it has been an honor to us both," Darien said standing back up. He looked at Serena who was drinking from a glass of water, her back facing the two men.
Lun Yao glanced from Serena to Darien, "Your highnesses will excuse me, an old man like me must have more rest then you young people," as he left he clasped Darien on the shoulder and gave him a sympathetic nod.
Darien waited till he knew everyone near was gone before he spoke with Serena. "You're improving quickly, the master says that you a fast learner."
"I had a good teacher before him," Serena said not facing him. "Astrid always taught me how to defend myself, I think she would have like Lun Yao." She held her weight on the banister of the pavilion and stared out at the pond.
"I agree," he stood next to her in silence for another several moments before she broke the peace.
"What happened?" she asked "You wouldn't have ended my lesson early unless something had happened, so what is it you came to tell me?"
Darien inhaled a deep breath and then said, "There's been an incident."