CHAOS AND COSMOS
Chapter 4: "Legacy Of Benevolence"
A Neo-Sailor Moon fanfic


By Bill K.

With alarm claxons sounding throughout the palace, Rei Hino arrived at the quarters Helios used in the Crystal Palace. Impatient to allow the environmental computer to identify her, Rei knocked on the door. With what she was feeling, she didn't have the patience for patience.

"Muffin, it's Rei!" she added just in case Usa was reluctant to open the door. But the door hissed open without protest. Sailor Moon greeted her, not Usa, and Helios could be seen behind her.

"Aunt Rei!" Sailor Moon gasped urgently. "It's Tygos!"

The mere mention of the name sent a chill through the priest. For emphasis, Sailor Moon thrust a PDA into Rei's face. On it was security camera images of Tygos battling the Asteroid Senshi. For a moment Rei froze, recalling the memory, still vivid after a thousand years, of being a corrupted puppet to Talon Umbra, the mistress of Tygos. She glanced at Usa and saw the urgency in the girl. Though their last encounter with Talon Umbra and her minions had been three hundred years prior to Usa being born, the girl was an obsessive student of the history of the previous Sailor Moon and her Senshi. She knew everything known about Tygos.

"That explains everything I've been feeling this morning," Rei said, her brow knit with concern. "Probably everything Serenity's been feeling, too. Do you think she's here for Helios? That this is the attack Candide told you about?"

"I picked up some sound of her bragging to Saturn," Sailor Moon told her. "She practically admitted it. But why is she after Helios?"

"With Tygos, it's because Talon Umbra sent her after Helios," Rei frowned. "Why Talon Umbra is suddenly interested, I don't know. It's hard to be specific beyond the motivation that Talon Umbra is a personification of evil on this world." She glanced up at Sailor Moon, who was a good six inches taller than she was. "I'll stay with Helios if you . . ."

"Nothing doing," Sailor Moon maintained. "I'm staying here. If Tygos wants Helios, she'll have to go through me first."

"But your Senshi," Rei argued, "Saturn. They can't beat Tygos."

And Rei instantly read the emotional turmoil her favorite and only adoptive niece was going through.

"Give them a chance, Aunt Rei," she croaked out. "They might surprise you."


Tygos reached the third floor living quarters and looked around. There was no overt sign as to which of the doors her target was behind. If that's what it took, Tygos would break down every door until it found its target. And nothing and no one would stop it. Arbitrarily it turned right. The first thing it encountered was a palace security guard at the door to one of the dwellings. This was even better. The guard would point out where the target Helios was or suffer for it. Tygos advanced on the guard. The guard turned and Tygos saw no fear in his eyes. Then it saw why.

"You will find your target on the floor above, Sister," the guard smiled and Tygos saw Tenera had possession of this human. "I have already covered most of this floor."

"Tenera," Tygos remarked. "Why do you skulk about? Our Mistress sent me to destroy the being Helios."

"And she sent me to use your clamor as a cloak under which to weave my spell of corruption," the guard answered. "And to succeed when you ultimately fail."

"I will not fail!" Tygos snapped. "I will kill this Helios! And then I will return to our underground lair and kill you for daring to question my ability!"

"And if that happens, Dear Sister, I will gladly die because it means Talon Umbra's will has been empowered."

And the guard smiled at Tygos again. And for a moment Tygos wanted to forget the mission and just squeeze this puppet's neck between its two hands until his head exploded. But the mission was all. Tenera could wait. Tygos turned and headed for the fourth floor.

Tenera savored the triumph for a moment, then returned to work. The guard knocked on the door. A frightened member of the cleaning staff answered and relaxed when she saw it was a palace guard.

"What's going on?" she asked desperately.

"Just some trouble in the front atrium," the guard assured her. "We're getting it under control. Is everyone all right in here?"

"Yes, I . . ." and then her eyes met the guard's.


Rei didn't have to be psychic to read that the battle in the palace atrium was not going well. All she had to do was see the look on Sailor Moon's face as she watched video from the security optics in the atrium. Helios came up behind her and put his hands on her upper arms.

"Go to them, Maiden," he advised. "I will be all right."

"No, that just gives Tygos a clear path to you," Sailor Moon argued. "It's not the way to go." Sailor Moon pressed her lips together in frustration. "But nothing stops her!" The teen's eyes popped. "She just got past Uranus and Neptune!"

"How bad is it?" Rei inquired.

"I think Neptune got the worst of it," Sailor Moon replied. "It's like this thing feeds on violence!"

"It does," Rei said, speaking from experience. "Violence and anger seems to make it stronger. It's like the more attacks you throw at it, the stronger it gets."

"Then how did you beat it the first time? The history files weren't specific."

"Serenity, of course," Rei shrugged. "She was still Sailor Moon back then. Her response was to try to smother Tygos with love, just like you'd expect."

"And it worked?"

"Not at first. She took a pretty savage blow from Tygos." Admiration began to seep into Rei's expression. "But she wouldn't be deterred. And the power of her spirit overwhelmed Tygos and destroyed her." Rei thought. "Maybe we need to call her in."

Sailor Moon glanced at the PDA. "I'm not sure there's time."

"Then I'll go," Rei said and started for the door. Sailor Moon's hand shot out and stopped her. "I've got a pretty good spiritual presence myself, Muffin."

"Enough to stop her?" Sailor Moon asked.

"We'll find out," Rei said, but Sailor Moon wouldn't let go. "Muffin . . ."

"What if she gets past you?"

"Then you'll stop her."

"What if I don't have enough . . .?"

"Muffin, stop doubting yourself," Rei told her.

"No, Aunt Rei, listen!" Sailor Moon insisted. "If we each take our shot and fail, Helios is practically in her hands! But if we take our shot together . . ."

A smile crept onto the priest's face.


Cautiously palace security personnel crept into the front atrium. Armed only with shock clubs the security people knew were hopelessly inadequate, the guards entered just the same. Such was their loyalty to Queen Serenity. Inside they found five Sailor Senshi down and another Senshi kneeling over a huge dinosaur, anxiously pushing at the beast's lower jaw.

"Vesta?" sniffled Sailor Pallas, her face puffy and stained with tears. "Please, Vesta, please wake up! Pallas is sorry!"

The dinosaur's eye popped open and looked around furtively as the guards tensed. Looking down, the huge lizard saw Pallas. Instantly the dinosaur transformed back into Sailor Vesta. Without waiting for a response, Pallas buried her face in Vesta's chest.

"Pallas is so sorry!" she wailed hysterically.

"Hey, where'd that demon woman go?" Vesta asked. It was hard to focus, doubly hard with Pallas's shrill cries echoing in her ears.

"Pallas doesn't know!" the Senshi wailed. "Pallas doesn't ever want to see her again!"

"Hey, hey, stop crying," Vesta told her, an armed draped around the teen. "Are you OK? She didn't hurt you, did she?"

Pallas shook her head. "Pallas wanted to help!" Pallas cried. "Pallas wanted to keep the bad lady from hurting everyone! She tried, really she did!" A shuddering sob silenced her for a moment. "BUT PALLAS WAS TOO SCARED! The scary lady was really scary!"

"Shh, it's OK, Pallas," Vesta told her. "You tried. It's all anyone can ask.'

Vesta tried to force herself to her feet, but the room began spinning and she collapsed back on her knees.

"Pallas is so sorry!" Pallas wailed. By now the guards were checking the other fallen Senshi. Ceres was awake and being helped to sit up.

"How you doing, Priss?" Vesta asked as she tried to engage her communicator.

"I"ll feel better after a warm bath," groaned Ceres. "Where's that thing?"

"Princess says it's in the residential levels," Vesta reported. Pallas gave her a wide-eyed look of horror. "She says to stand down. They'll take it."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Ceres replied. "And if anybody can take that thing, Sailor Moon can." She crawled over to Juno. "Juno? How bad is it?"

"I wish I was back in the Amazon, that's how bad," sighed Juno.

"Hey, how soon are those medics going to get down here?" one of the guards called out. He was tending to Sailor Neptune. "She doesn't look so good!"

"Move!" grunted Sailor Uranus, shoving the guard aside. She eased Neptune up and cradled the woman protectively.

"Papa?" they all heard Saturn inquire. Saturn was trying to get up.

"Stay there, Firefly! Wait for the medics!" Uranus snapped. "I've got her."

And then the medical teams emerged from the lifts. They fanned out, tending to everyone who had been injured in the attack. The emergency claxons continued to echo through the cavernous atrium. And one Senshi sat by the staircase, her legs pulled to her chest, consumed with guilt.


Crisply King Endymion emerged from the room that stored his massive computer. His cloak swirling behind him, the monarch strode purposefully down the corridor. Quickly he was joined by Luna, scampering behind him.

"Your Majesty, please come with me!" the black cat called after him. "I must conduct you to a place of safety!"

"Is there a safe place with that entity roaming the palace at will?" Endymion said. He didn't slow down. "It got through the Senshi in the atrium. It'll attack Helios next, and my daughter. And possibly my wife after that."

"Your Majesty," Luna began.

"I'm the next line of defense, Luna," Endymion cut her off without breaking stride. "I can't shirk my responsibilities for the sake of personal safety."

"But the country needs you!" argued the cat. "The world!"

"Usa can take over if she has to," he replied. "She can cope with just about anything."

Stationing himself at the head of the stairs, Endymion glanced at his PDA, even as he could hear the footsteps of Tygos echo up the stairwell. The screen was split. One shot showed Serenity and Sailor Mercury in the Royal Chambers. Another showed him the remains of the atrium and the fallen Senshi there. The third was the residence corridor with Sailor Moon and Rei Hino positioned at one of the doors.

"I'll keep you all safe," Endymion said. His grey tuxedo transformed into black armor. Endymion drew his sword.

"Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus are on their way, Your Majesty," Luna advised him.

"Hopefully they won't be needed," Endymion said grimly. "Luna, I think you should find a safe place. I'll call you when it's over."

The cat hesitated, then firmed with resolution. "Yes, Your Majesty. And good hunting to you."

The cat ran off. Endymion turned to face the stairs. He could feel Tygos getting closer. Then his PDA signaled.

"Pop, where are you?" his daughter asked.

"I'm at the stairs to Residence Level 4," he told her. "I'm about to confront Tygos."

"Let it through, Pop!"

"Let it through?"

"Aunt Rei and I have a plan! Don't risk yourself! Let Tygos through!"

Endymion looked down the stairs. Memories of a precocious pink-haired four year old in a blue sailor dress, bouncing on his shoulders as he walked, the Luna Ball hovering over their right shoulder came flooding over him.

"All right, Honey," Endymion said, willing himself to believe in her. "I'll be near by in case you need me."

"You always are, Pop," she said.

Endymion sheathed his sword and reluctantly moved off.

"You're sure about this?" Rei asked as she and Sailor Moon stationed themselves in front of the door to Helios's quarters.

"From everything I've read and everything you told me about Tygos, I think it's our best shot," Sailor Moon replied. "Violence isn't the way to beat Tygos. It's obvious by what you told me about your first encounter. That's something you should know."

"It's not something in my life that I want to remember," Rei said. She didn't look at Sailor Moon, but Sailor Moon glanced at her.

"I have every confidence in you, Maiden," Helios said from the room. "I still wish that you would let me aid you in my own defense. I am not without resources."

"Then keep those resources in reserve," Sailor Moon told him, "in case this blows up. But I'm glad you have confidence in me."

Helios touched her shoulder, then retreated into his quarters. The priest and the Princess took a steadying breath. And Tygos turned the corner. Spotting them, the onyx being began to sprint toward them.

"The vaunted Sailor Moon!" Tygos snarled as it ran, silver hair trailing behind her. "Are you prepared to die this day?"

Trying to filter out Tygos, her charge and her taunts, Rei pressed a sutra to her forehead and began softly chanting. When her spiritual energy was completely focused in the sutra, Rei pulled it from her forehead.

"Akuryo taisan!" she shrieked, flinging the sutra with as much force as she could muster.

The sutra shot across the distance between them like a gunshot. Tygos, in its arrogance, did nothing to dodge it. The sutra struck Tygos between the white slits that passed for eyes. Tygos stumbled to one knee twenty feet from them.

"Your sutra means nothing to me," Tygos rumbled as it forced itself back to its feet. "I am an aspect of Talon Umbra herself! Your spiritual presence is dwarfed by that of my Mistress! No single sutra can stop me!"

"Well there's more where that came from!" Rei snarled.

Flinging her arm forward, Rei launched a rapid-fire barrage of sutras, all aimed at Tygos and all striking true. The creature again went to one knee and braced itself against a wall. It seemed staggered by the spiritual assault upon it.

"Not enough, priest!" Tygos roared, forcing itself back to its feet. "You do not have the power to stop me! You can only wound me, and nothing short of death itself can stop me from doing as my mistress commands!"

Tygos took one step forward.

"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" Sailor Moon shouted, raising the Moon Tier above her head.

Pink energy swirled around the talisman. Sailor Moon pointed the Moon Tier at Tygos and fired without hesitation. Tygos, sensing the energy possessed by the Moon Tier, tried to avoid it. But the energy tracked the creature, and it was hampered by the sutras which clung to it. Sailor Moon's attack hit Tygos full on and the unnatural aspect of violence toppled backwards onto the floor.

Tygos shrieked as the tendrils of pink energy wrapped around its body and constricted, shrieked as if it were bathing in acid. The screams were so piercing and inhuman that Sailor Moon was momentarily taken aback.

"Don't let up, Sailor Moon," Rei advised her, grasping her wrist for emphasis. "It isn't human. Don't feel pity for it."

Nodding, Sailor Moon refocused and bore down.

"My Mistress!" Tygos cried out as the pink energy began dissolving its obsidian body. "I have failed you!" It's face seemed to express a moment of regret. "And so . . . I die."

And Tygos faded like a bad dream.

"Well done, Muffin," Rei beamed proudly. Sailor Moon, though, seemed unable to believe she had succeeded. She continued to stare at where Tygos had disappeared. Behind her, Helios emerged from his quarters.

"Maiden," he smiled, "you have once more proven your power and your ability. You have my thanks."

Sailor Moon responded by wrapping her arms around Helios and clinging to him.

"Endymion," Rei said over her Senshi Communicator, "the crisis is past. Tygos has been dealt with."

"So I see," Endymion responded over the communicator. "Thank you, Rei. And thank Usa for me."

"Don't thank me yet, Pop," Sailor Moon turned to face Rei and the communicator. "We dealt with Tygos, but I don't imagine Talon Umbra is just going to give up. This isn't over."

Continued in Chapter 5