Tokyo National Museum; Main Security Office

Charlotte's fingers flew across the keyboard as she input a series of commands. "This is odd," she admitted. "There is security feed from last night, but it's difficult to get to. Someone tried deleting it but did a poor job."

"You can get it, right?" Artemis asked

Charlotte didn't look up to reply. "Of course, I can. It might take an hour or so. I have to get into the main network and restore it frame by frame before-"

Artemis held up a paw. "I get it," he said.

"Sorry," Charlotte replied. "I don't mean to go on like that."

"It's alright," Artemis said as he turned to the doorway. "I'm going to take another look around the museum."

He slipped out the doorway and ran into Luna.

She scowled at him. "Try to be more careful, Artemis."

"Sorry, Luna," Artemis said sheepishly. "I didn't mean to run into you like that."

Luna sniffed dismissively. "No permanent harm done."

Artemis shook his head, knowing better than to reply. "Char says it'll take about an hour to get the footage. I was going to check the museum again."

"I'll come with you," Luna offered. "Otherwise, you're likely to see a monster in every corner and I'll have to come check it out anyway."

Artemis, grateful for the company, didn't protest. The two of them made a circuit of the Heisikan before taking the passage to the Honkon. They poked around the bottom floor then checked out the second floor.

Both of them entered the room that had the angels and froze.

The room was empty, except for a plaque in the middle of the room.

Artemis slowly approached it and read aloud:

"As per the request of the generous donor who provided the collection, the angel statues will be moved around the city on a regular basis. We encourage everyone who sees the statues to take pictures or videos so we can collect a montage of how public art influences daily life in Tokyo."

Luna frowned. "How did they get moved out so fast?" she asked. "I don't remember anyone entering the museum since it closed, and the statues were here when I checked an hour ago."

"It does sound like something the museum would do," Artemis tentatively suggested.

Luna's tail flicked side to side as she considered it. "It's very odd and I don't particularly like it," she said.

"Maybe whoever got them is still around," Artemis replied. He bounded up to the window and looked for a truck or people moving the statues. In the darkness, he could only see one angel statue. Its face was exposed and turned up to look at the window he was sitting by.

"There's an angel statue outside, but it's different than the others." He blinked and the statue was gone. He hissed as his fur fluffed out. "It's gone! I blinked and now it's gone!"

Luna sighed in exasperation. "Artemis, you're seeing things. Statues do not move."

"I know what I saw," Artemis protested.

Luna growled. "Enough of this nonsense, Artemis. You're acting like a kitten. Why don't you go home and get some rest? I imagine you need it."

Artemis grumbled under his breath, but didn't protest. Arguing with Luna is like arguing with a rock.

"I'll check on Charlotte while you head home," Luna said.

"I want to check the grounds first," Artemis insisted.

Luna rolled her eyes. "Fine, but I'm coming with you. You're starting to see things and I'm getting worried."

Artemis held back a retort and led the way outside. He and Luna began a circuit of the grounds. They were about halfway through when screams came from nearby. There were two wet 'cracks' and the screaming stopped.

Luna and Artemis charged towards the source. They leapt up to the wall, then down to the sidewalk.

Artemis landed on something soft and warm. He yowled and leapt off, expecting to be attacked. Nothing happened, except for Luna gasping.

Artemis saw what he had landed on and went still. Lying on the sidewalk were a man and a woman. Their expressions were contorted in terror and their heads were twisted at unnatural angles.

Luna's voice trembled. "No human could do this."

Artemis worked up the nerve to look closer. The woman seemed fine, other than the broken neck, but the man had what looked like claw marks on his shoulder. "Luna," Artemis pointed to the marks.

Reluctantly, she looked closer. "Claw marks," she confirmed. "But not from any animal I've seen." She contacted Charlotte.

Charlotte floated over the fence a few minutes later and frowned when she saw the bodies. "This is odd. There's no trace of any genetic materials around the wounds but their own. The claw marks aren't even five minutes old, but there's no trace of anything attacking him. It's like the air cut him."

"Murder?" Luna asked.

Charlotte shook her head. "This wasn't a human."

Luna and Artemis shared a grim look. "Is there anything to go off?" Luna pushed.

Charlotte looked frustrated. "If I were a forensics or research droid, maybe. I can try tapping into the computers at the base."

Her expression went blank for a few seconds. Slowly, she shook her head. "Even connected to Ami's computer and the one at base, I can't get anything."

Luna sighed in weary acceptance and ordered Charlotte to call the police while she and Artemis checked out the nearby alleys and streets for more clues. Neither of them could find anything.

Luna shook her head. "I don't understand. What could possibly have done this and why?"

"I don't know," Artemis said as a police car pulled up, its sirens blazing and lights flashing. "But we know the museum is a hotspot for whatever it is. The Senshi aren't going to like this. They deserve a break, a chance to be normal girls."

"They'll never be normal, Artemis," Luna said, sadly. "Not after everything they've been through."

"I know," Artemis said, his mouth filling with a bitter taste. "But there's no future for them but more fighting. And we have to be the ones to encourage them to keep going, even if it kills them. Kills them more permanently, anyway."

Luna gently nuzzled Artemis. "I know. And I dread the day that comes to pass. But it's their duty to protect this world and ours to provide guidance and encouragement."

Artemis said nothing and instead watched the coroners load the bodies into an ambulance. How long, he thought. How long until that's Mina or Serena or Rei? Ami or Lita? How long can they keep fighting before they fail and we bury them?

Artemis hunched up and wrapped his tail around himself in misery at the thought. Luna, seeming to sense his mood, settled next to him. They stayed that way, watching over the museum until the sun began to rise.