CHAPTER THREE: PLUTO AND SATURN

Amy came awake rather suddenly in a strange place. The lights were low. She was laying on a bed but it wasn't her own bed. This bed was in a room she didn't recognize. The walls were made of some kind of shiny black material and the furnishings were sparse. There was a small table on the far end of the room and a single door. Next to the bed there was a small box. Amy didn't know what that box was for because it didn't have drawers or a door or anything. It just looked like a featureless black box.

Looking to the foot of her bed, Amy saw a familiar girl sitting in a small chair. She raised her head off the soft mattress, noting for the first time that the surface she slept on felt like it was made of some sort of gel that molded to her body. Amy noted in the back of her mind that she couldn't remember feeling better when waking up before this occasion.

"Ms. Violet?" Amy whispered.

The girl with shifting hair colors stirred and opened her mismatched eyes. She smiled at Amy. "Oh dear. I must have dozed off. How are you feeling?"

"Where am I?" Amy asked, disoriented.

"You are on the 'Colossus'. The personal Starship of Sailor Galaxia, somewhere in the skies over Planet Earth right now," Violet replied. "There's nothing to worry about, you're in no danger."

"Where are the others?" asked Amy.

"On their way to Japan even as we speak," said Violet.

"They left without me?"

"Oh no. This was the plan all along," Violet answered. "Do you recall me telling you in Germany how after our fight you were going to be presented with an extraordinary opportunity? You and your friends the Sailor Senshi?"

Amy thought back. "I… Seem to remember. Is that why I'm here?"

"You're taking this very well," Violet observed. "Yes. I have brought you here because we wish to extend to you an invitation to Kinmoku. It is our home world. The home world of the Senshi Race. Does that intrigue you?"

"What for?"

Violet stood up and walked around to Amy's side and gripped her hand softly. "It won't be permanent. We have… You could say we're holding a bit of a party and you're invited. There's more to it than that of course, but I'll let Galaxia give you the details when your friends arrive. You'll be going along with Sailor Moon and the rest. Your friends Solar Pilot and the Trinity will be staying behind to protect Earth in your absence. They knew about this, that's why they encouraged you to go along with me to begin with."

"Robert… Didn't seem to want me to go," Amy mumbled. "He looked worried."

"Let me assure you there is nothing to worry about, Amy," Violet said, stroking her hand gently. "I will personally be with you and guide you through this. You and your friends. That is my function. I have been looking forward to this and I guarantee you will enjoy yourself thoroughly before you return to Earth."

Amy looked at Violet. "That fight. What was it all about?"

"A test, Amy. One that you passed with flying colors," Violet replied.

"But I lost," Amy was confused.

"To a seasoned opponent, which is nothing to be ashamed of," Violet assured her. "As I told you before I've been doing this since before you were born. When you've been a Senshi as long as myself or Galaxia you pick up a few tactics. Your power is absolutely wonderful and I hope to see you again in action soon. For now we'll let you rest."

Amy nodded, managing a small smile. "You were… trying to teach me?"

"Very astute," Violet returned that smile tenfold. It was, Amy noted, a smile completely without falsity. "Defeat is the best teacher of all. We learn more when we lose than we do if we win. Power, as you most undoubtedly know by now, is not everything. Experience and intelligence are also necessary. From my fight with you, the only thing I could see you lacking is experience. Kinmoku, I believe, will be quite the experience builder for you."

Amy tried to sit up and that's when she noticed finally that her neck was a bit stiff. She rubbed at it with her free hand. "That was… some hold you put on me down there," she remarked.

"A simple submission hold. I'm sorry if I hurt you. Is there any place else where you hurt too much?" Violet sounded truly concerned for her. That made Amy smile. She shook her head.

"I think that I just need to stretch a little," she said. "When will the others be here?"

"Any time now. In the meantime if you should need anything don't hesitate to ask for it," Violet released her hand. "Now if you'll excuse me I must have a word with Sailor Galaxia. Press the button on the wall near your bed if you want help with anything. You may wander the ship if you wish, but be careful not to get lost. That's something very easy to do if you're a first timer and some places are not meant to be trespassed, if you know what I mean."

Amy nodded. "Do you… have anything for me to eat?"

Violet chuckled. "Silly me," she walked over to the black box and ran her index finger up the side of it. Suddenly the front slid open and revealed a control panel. Amy leaned in, interested as Violet hit some of the buttons and a hot meal that looked like some kind of soup, some cubes of varying colors, and a cup of some red liquid appeared. "You should like this combination," Violet said. "It's nothing you've ever had before on Earth of course, but it's nutritious and hopefully you'll like the taste of it."

"Th-thank you," Amy blinked in surprise. "Is that a… replicator?"

"Oh, so you have something like this down on Earth?" Violet raised her eyebrows.

"No… But I've seen it on Science Fiction shows on occasion," Amy chuckled. "I always thought the idea a tad fantastic, but apparently I'm wrong."

Violet grinned. "This is only the tip of the iceberg, Amy. You will see so many more fantastic things on this voyage. Things you could scarcely imagine possible. I can't wait to show you." She turned to leave. "Eat, you'll feel better. I'll be back to come get you when the others are all gathered aboard."

"Thank you," Amy said as her host left her alone. Amy looked up at the ceiling. "I wonder what I have to do to turn the lights up a little brighter?" she asked aloud. Suddenly the lights brightened considerably and Amy gasped. "Well… That helps," she said. She looked at the plate of food and decided to go for it. Her Mother always told her to try new things whenever possible…

Sssss

She was fidgety and nervous, and she had this habit of pushing her glasses up on her nose a lot, even though they didn't need it, and when she wasn't touching her glasses she was wringing her hands in her lap. She had no trouble with eye contact, however. Her short blue hair and crystal blue eyes reminded Jed of somebody he knew once.

"I've, uh… I've heard a lot about you, Inspector Tokiba," she stammered shyly.

"Oh you have, have you?" Jed murmured, scanning her resume. Ms. Midori Takahashi, age twenty-four years, graduate from Keio University with a Bachelors in Accounting. Most of her jobs in the past two years were Secretary type jobs in Computer Corporations and Banks. None of her job experiences were terribly long. The longest of the five lasted about half a year. She'd only been on the job market for two years yet she'd seen more different positions than most seasoned Secretaries. The question he had in mind was why she never seemed able to hold a job?

"I saw you on television plenty of times," Midori continued. "The first time was after July 23rd, and you were hailed as a Tokyo hero who aided the Police and Army units during the battle. Then again a few weeks later as you were admitted to the Tokyo Police, and you were the first rookie cop to be waived the Police Academy because you were so intelligent. I've seen you on and off now and then, but a few months ago you were involved in that Senshi Vigilante Case and you really hit the popularity charts. Everyone in the city knows your name. Look at you… You're already a Detective."

"It's… my military background," Jed partially lied. "I rose to the rank of General before I retired. The Commissioner saw some value in my experience. Of course it was no cakewalk. I had to convince him first, but he eventually came around."

"It's a real honor just to meet you, sir," Midori admitted with a slight blush. "And I also heard you needed a Secretary. I, um… saw your ad in the paper just yesterday."

Jed looked up at her. "I've received a lot of offers lately from a lot of women. I notice you have quite the record here, Ms. Takahashi. A lot of jobs, none of them kept for very long. Can you tell me why you haven't held a job for more than half a year?"

"Oh… That's a little embarrassing…" Midori blushed even harder and looked away. She again pushed up her glasses on her nose. Jed could see the bruises on her nose from the pads being moved around too much. "The truth is… I've been job-hopping, trying to figure out what was… you know… best for me. I'm not a bad worker… In fact most of my bosses were very upset to see me go."

"Most of them?" Jed asked.

"I have them as my references… You can call them if you want their opinions," said Midori, wringing her hands again.

Jed nodded. He knew he was interrogating her, but she was far more interesting and seemed more intelligent than most of her competition. Thus far the bulk of his applicants were fresh out of high school journeymen with more brains in their bosoms than in their heads. Jed didn't want an ornament that looked pretty. He wanted a Secretary who could do more than take phone calls now and then and send e-mail. "I believe I will. What was your specialty in school? I mean what was your favorite subject besides Accounting?"

Midori seemed to relax somewhat. "I'm good with numbers. I was very good with Mathematics and Economics. But I've also got a keen interest in Law."

Jed looked again at her resume. Indeed most of her classes in College from the looks of things were Law oriented. She could almost have minored in the subject. Her grades, if they were to be believed, were seldom sub-nineties. Of course if he doubted her she had a whole list of Professors as her references as well. Her resume was very well done and thought out. She had the mark of someone who was truly intelligent. Jed had to admit that he liked this Midori already.

"So after trying your hand in the business world you want to come work in the Police Department?" Jed asked.

"I've always dreamed I'd be helping out some Detective in his cases," Midori admitted. She swallowed and looked at the floor. "And… I couldn't pass up this opportunity to work for a man like yourself, Inspector."

"Just what kind of man am I, Ms. Takahashi?" Jed put the resume down on his desk. "What do you know of me from what you see on television?"

Midori knew she was on the hot seat now, and she blushed again. "Well, sir… I, uh… That is… You always seem so guarded on TV. D-don't take this the wrong way… But you seem like the type who hides his feelings and who's always serious. You address the media politely, yet you never hold back on your own opinions, and you seem also to believe very strongly in your work. And as for your accomplishments… Well, your actions speak for you if the media speaks truly."

Jed was well and truly surprised at her assessment, and he made his decision right then. This girl was one in a million. She had intellect and enthusiasm. "One more question," he said. "How do I know you won't quit on me six months down the road like you did with these other five jobs?"

Midori looked downcast. She must have thought she wasn't going to get the job. How wrong she was. "There's… Really nothing I can say to convince you, is there? But I want this job… More than all the others. Here's my chance to be the Secretary to a good Detective and to work in a legal environment. I think I'd like to stay at this one… I really do."

Her shoulders were bunched up and tense. Her brow was sweaty, and Jed could guess her heart was beating rapidly. "Relax," he assured her, standing up and sticking his hand out. "You've got the job. You qualify far more than anyone who's come to me thus far. You seem to have a good eye for people and a good head on your shoulders. We just have to work on your people skills."

Midori stood up and laughed nervously. She bowed from the waist. "Thank you so much! I'm so relieved!"

"Just to give you a fair warning," Jed told her cautiously. "I'm a bit moody in the mornings and when I'm deep in a case. I like to work with total concentration, so I'll be counting on you to screen everyone and everything that comes through the office. Do not disturb me unless you feel it's important. You won't just be handling phone calls and screening visitors, however. You'll be doing most of my paperwork, doing research when I call for it, and fixing all of my appointments. Are you any good with the internet?"

"Yes," Midori nodded.

"Good, you'll be my help with that as well," said Jed. "I'm not any good at that stuff."

"That sounds fine, Inspector," Janice giggled. "A lot of older people aren't very good at that stuff. And I'd actually be disappointed if all I did was baby-sit the phone all day every day. I'll try not to disappoint you." She bowed again.

"Come in tomorrow morning early. I get to work around six o'clock in the morning, so try to be here about a half hour before me. That'll give you time to get set up. I already have a desk and computer cleared for use by you, and you'll be stationed directly in front of my office door. And one more thing…"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Call me Jed from now on."

Midori smiled again and bowed for a third time. "Only if you call me Midori, Inspector."

"Deal."

Jed escorted Midori Takahashi out of his office, briefly showed her the desk she would work at, then bade her farewell. Just as Midori was leaving a young woman with long dark hair and dressed in a Senior's uniform from the local High School walked in. She was carrying a box in her left hand, wrapped in light blue cloth. It was Hotaru Tomoe.

Some of his coworkers were giving him meaningful glances as Hotaru walked toward him and Jed began to feel a certain sense of dread.

"Hello, Jed," Hotaru greeted him. "Who was that woman you were with just now?"

"Ms. Midori Takahashi, if you must know," Jed replied stiffly. "She's going to be my new Secretary here at work."

"Oh, if you needed a Secretary, why didn't you just tell me? I would have loved to work here part time as one," Hotaru looked crestfallen.

"You still have to finish High School, young lady," Jed said firmly. "And to work any sort of job in a Police Station you need to be qualified."

Hotaru sighed. "Well. I made you lunch, Jed," she held out the wrapped box to him. "You left without taking it this morning."

That was because Trista had given him her own ready-made box lunch and skillfully hid Hotaru's from sight. At least that's what Jed suspected. The rivalry between these two girls for him was pretty competitive since it started and he blamed no one but himself for his inability to resolve it. On the one hand he had Trista, a woman who he'd had feelings for since long ago and aside from a selfish streak was very mature in body and spirit. On the other hand there was Hotaru, the Senshi who made it possible for him to be alive here in the world today, who'd sacrificed herself to death for him, and who was irresistibly sweet and caring toward him.

"Thanks, Hotaru. You might want to work out some sort of deal with Trista eventually on making lunches on alternating days or something along those lines. This two lunches a day thing is killing me," he said to her.

"If you say you like hers better I'll stop," said Hotaru a trifle pathetically.

"That's not what I'm saying," Jed put a hand on her shoulder.

"Stop stringing her along, Jed. Just tell her the truth. My cooking is definitely better," another voice sent a bad vibe up Jed's spine. It was Trista. Now she was here too. "I thought you'd come here, Hotaru. You're a bad loser, you know that?"

"Says the girl who wanted to erase my existence to keep her ex-boyfriend to herself," Hotaru shot back.

Trista gasped. "Wh-when are you going to get over that? You should feel fortunate I'm such a good person and valued your friendship over my desire."

"Oh boy. I don't have time for this, ladies," Jed waved them off in exasperation. "I have work to do."

"Hiding behind your work again?" Trista blocked his escape with her body. "When are you going to choose which one of us you want to spend the rest of your life with?"

"Gee, you're not asking very much of me or anything," Jed snapped. "You want me to simply make such a monumental decision right here and now?"

"Marry 'em both, Inspector! We got your back!" one of his fellow Cops shouted. The whole station seemed to erupt in laughter.

"Thank you, Martin," Jed said loudly. "And what was that? You're saying you want to be reassigned to Mall Security? Get back to work!"

Martin snickered as he and his buddies turned away to continue what they were doing before.

"This is not the time nor the place, ladies, to be having this discussion," Jed said a bit lower to Hotaru and Trista. "Now please leave before I have one my Officers escort you both outside."

"Let me escort them, Detective," another woman's voice added. Jed turned to see a gorgeous woman with long red hair dressed in a Police uniform that was rather form-fitting. Jed noted her eyes were red as well and she wore a gold choker around her throat that had an odd star-like symbol on the clasp.

"Who are you?" he asked. "You new here?"

"I suppose we can leave it that," the woman said, turning to Trista. "I actually came to have a chat with a couple of Senshi."

"Oh really," Trista's eyes became shrewd as she eyed the choker around the woman's neck. "And what business would the Nova Senshi have here on Earth this time?"

Jed blinked. He thought he recognized her face from somewhere. It wasn't just déjà vu. "Keep it down, ladies," he whispered to them. "We're going to step outside right now. Out the back door."

"Good idea, General," the woman led the way to the back as the four of them made their way out of the Police Station. They emerged in an alley near the building's dumpster.

The woman came to a stop and turned crisply. She looked at Hotaru and Trista with a dangerous look in her eyes. "For what I'm about to do, I'm sorry ahead of time. To avoid serious injury I recommend you transform about now."

"What's going on?" Jed put his hand on the butt of his pistol.

Suddenly the woman moved faster than any of the three were prepared for. The heel of her hand caught Jed upside the jaw and knocked him for a loop. His limp body came to a stop ten feet back, banging unconsciously against the nearby dumpster.

Trista and Hotaru were unprepared for the sudden strike and it was Trista who barely caught the woman's fist inches from her face. The redhead responded by breaking the hold and somersaulting backward. As her body flipped through the air her Police disguise disintegrated and revealed a red and white fuku beneath it.

"Beetelgeuse! Hotaru! Transform!" Trista took out her pen. "Pluto Planet Power!"

Hotaru did the same. "Saturn Planet Power!" In seconds three Senshi faced one another off. Sailor Saturn held her Silence Glaive at the ready. Sailor Pluto still had the Garnet Rob, but because she was essentially fired as Time's Guardian the talisman that once topped the key-like staff, the Garnet Orb, was gone.

Saturn was angry. "Why did you strike us? What did you do to Jedite!"

"What if I said I killed him?" Sailor Nova Beetelgeuse said, spreading her legs fore and aft.

Saturn took a threatening step forward. Pluto held her rod out in front to block her path. "Hotaru, don't! If you thought she was fast before you haven't seen anything yet. This Senshi specializes in Zero-G combat, which makes her extremely agile and speedy. She's the kind of foe you don't attack one on one. Follow my lead and we strike at the same time."

"But Jed" Hotaru started worriedly.

"Don't get distracted!" Trista hissed back. She glared at Beetelgeuse. "Why?" she asked her.

Beetelgeuse broke her stance and charged. "Beat me and I'll tell you why!"

She went for Pluto first. Trista was ready for an attack, but still barely ducked a powerful kick. The outer reach of her Garnet Rod was impeded by the sudden proximity of her opponent. Beetelgeuse attacked with alarming speed, just as Pluto expected, but still was caught on her heels.

Hotaru moved around behind Beetelgeuse and jabbed with her Silence Glaive. Beetel spun out of the path of the blade and kicked the shaft so that the weapon pointed briefly skyward in Saturn's hands. Beetelgeuse chopped Hotaru in the throat with a quick jab, causing the Saturn Senshi to double over, gagging.

Sailor Pluto swung low with her Garnet Rod, forcing Beetelgeuse to flip to leap over it. Pluto let her momentum carry her around for another swing, this time at her legs. Beetelgeuse once again turned her speed up a notch and ran up the side wall, bounding off the surface to somersault again within Pluto's rod arc. Thus she caught Pluto's next intended strike at the elbow and jammed her own into Trista's Solar Plexus!

The air retreated from Pluto's chest, but she did manage to flip out of the reach of her opponent's finishing backhand. Saturn recovered and tried to strike again, only to find herself on the ground, unbelievably, next to Pluto with a boot mark already forming a dark bruise on the side of her ribcage.

"Get up!" Pluto got to her feet and dragged Saturn with her. "Stay down and it's already over," she said. "Never take your eyes off her."

"Where does her speed come from?" Hotaru gasped.

"Thousands of years of practice…" Pluto whispered. "An advantage we desperately lack. We're at a further disadvantage due to our relative lack of readiness for this fight. Furthermore in these tight quarters in a crowded city we can't use our powers without causing damage."

"I might add that calling for help is useless," Sailor Nova Beetelgeuse interrupted pointedly. "Your signal is being jammed and as we speak your other friends are likely busy with the other Novae. Some may already have fallen. Running, if you are truly Senshi at heart, is not an option either."

"Nothing like having a choice, is there?" Sailor Pluto responded. "What happens if we lose to you?"

"Who knows? For all you know I've been given orders to terminate you," Beetel replied. Her meaning was crystal clear. There was only way to find out.

"Saturn. I'll distract Beetelgeuse with a full attack. I want you to be ready with your Silence Wall," Trista whispered. "You'll know when the right time to use it will be."

"Be very careful," Hotaru whispered back, concentrating.

Sailor Pluto gave no warning to her next attack, but even so her opponent was there to meet her combinations. Pluto struck as fast as she could with alternating punches and kicks at varying points on Beetel's body. Beetelgeuse countered with blocks that looked like blurs to the naked eye. She was phenomenally fast. Her speed was conditioned, but her ability to read an enemy's next move was entirely natural. Trista knew every move she made was being broadcast in minute ways that only Beetelgeuse could read, but she also knew she was taking the focus off of her backup.

The alleyway they fought in had only one opening to the street. The other end was blocked by another high wall and Pluto, while seemingly unable to strike her foe, was slowly backing her into a corner. Hotaru began to see the opportunity unfolding and her Silence Glavie began to glow. At just the right moment, Pluto ducked, and by the time Sailor Nova Beetelgeuse realized what was going on, she was surrounded by an impenetrable, invisible force field.

Beetel punched the field, but her fist harmlessly pinged off the Silence Wall.

"Give me an opening, Saturn!" Trista shouted.

Saturn gritted her teeth as she concentrated on opening a small round hole in the front of the shield. Pluto saw it and shoved her Garnet Rod into the opening.

"DEAD SCREAM!"

The Silence Wall, which had formed a bubble around Beetel, was filled with a bright purple blast of energy that was at once contained by the field, and forced to detonate all its force within a small area. The concentrated blast ripped into the body of Sailor Nova Beetelgeuse, shredding her uniform and wounding her seriously.

Sailor Saturn released her energy with a gasp. It took so much concentration to keep up the force field and so much more to contain a blast like the Dead Scream. In fact her ears were ringing even though she was nowhere near the attack. Beetelgeuse's knees buckled. It was clear that attack hurt her.

"Well… played, Pluto," she said weakly as she braced herself against the wall. "I'd have thought… In such close quarters in a public area your powers would be useless."

"I may not fight battles as often as you do, Sailor Nova Beetelgeuse. But I've lived far longer and picked up a few strategies myself," Pluto said coldly. "Now do you intend to tell me what this is all about?"

"I haven't yet conceded defeat, Pluto. It would be wrong to assume you've won," Beetel straightened up and cracked her neck.

"Very well then. Hotaru! Contain her once again!"

"I don't THINK so!" Beetelgeuse cocked her fist back as if to throw something. "Nova Flash-bang!" With a heave she tossed a tiny ball of white light into the air overhead. Sailor Pluto recognized the attack, but not soon enough. She averted her eyes, but out of the corner of them she could see Hotaru looking directly at the tiny white light.

"Sailor Saturn! Look away and cover your ears!" Pluto shouted.

Too late. The last half of her sentence was blotted out by a brilliant burst of blinding white light and a sound like a sonic boom. Sailor Pluto managed to cover her ears, but her eyes were still open. Sailor Saturn got the worst of it. Caught completely unaware the sonic noise and blinding light washed over and through her small body with devastating results! The sound alone took her breath away. She lost all vision and her ears were overcome by a painful ringing that could have blocked out a gunshot.

Pluto rubbed at her eyes to try to get the spots out. Good thing she was looking away from the flash-bang attack or she'd have lost total vision. She barely made out her opponent leaping to the ground behind Sailor Saturn, who was crying and covering her ears painfully. A quick chop to the back of the neck silenced her.

This is terrible! She thought. I let my guard down. She would have never gotten that attack off if I had finished her off. Poor Hotaru. I must apologize to her whenever I get the chance.

Pluto uncovered her ears and tried to clear her spotty vision. She could barely see the alley and the silhouette of Sailor Nova Beetelgeuse advancing on her. Trista backed up, but had less room than she thought, for she backed right into the same wall she'd pinned Beetelgeuse into just moments before. "Shit!"

Beetel walked right up to Pluto's face. Pluto struck at her body with an open fist, but her coordination was off. Even in the best condition Pluto would have been hard pressed to make contact with her foe. Beetel caught her wrist, bent it sharply around and used her knee to knock the wind right out of Pluto's lungs with a blow to the Diaphragm! The next hit rendered Pluto completely unconscious, dropping her Garnet Rod with a clatter.

Sailor Nova Beetelgeuse stood victorious, though her body still hurt from that concentrated Dead Scream. She knew she couldn't linger. People would have seen or at least heard the Nova Flash-bang and would be getting curious before long.

"This is Nova Beetelgeuse," she spoke into her communicator. "I've subdued targets 'Glory' and 'Purity'. Three to transport at the following coordinates…"

A second later a bright beam of energy fell from the sky and engulfed the alleyway, taking all but the unconscious Police Detective up to Galaxia's ship.

TO BE CONTINUED...

NEXT... CHAPTER FOUR: URANUS AND NEPTUNE