Title: 30 seconds to Mars - Redemption part IX
Author: Ree
Theme: Favorite Character - Beryl- Band's name
Genre: General
Version: Anime/ Manga - Fates/Tainted Gifts storyline- Crystal Tokyo
Rating: G

Most of these characters belong to Takeuchi Naoko. I just borrowed my daughters paper dolls again.

30 seconds to Mars
Redemption part IX

AN: Beryl KamekoGinger
Harry Jadeite
Previous chapter: A Reward?


Kameko stood stiffly in the morning light watching the people as they filled the park where the King and Queen's Annual Address was being held. Every fiber of her being screamed for her to move, to flee from the man she was standing next to. She didn't want to be there when he discovered that she was a spy, and that everything he had planned was about to fall apart. She desperately wanted to be hiding behind a cluster of computer screens where she only had to watch it happen, not participate. Instead, she slid her hand over the small bulge in her pocket, checking on the position of the chemical spray can. 'I can't hide, not after working so hard to build up his trust in me. I am in the best position to take him down.'

The Phantom smiled down at his chosen lady. She was acting uptight, but that was understandable. Today was going to be a wonderful day, but they did have to get through the first half of it. 'She is worrying about how the coup is going to be pulled off, and what her role will be after the coup. But she doesn't have to worry, I have already decided that.' He returned his attention to the stage as Serenity and Endymion walked out. 'Now it is just a matter of minutes.' His eyes flickered to Harry posted next to the stage. 'Yes, a matter of minutes. Then, they will fall. And I will rise.'

Kameko searched the area around the stage until she spotted Jadeite. 'He is in place, but who did The Phantom pick out to kill the Queen?' She continued her scan of the faces, trying to find even one that looked familiar. Spotting none, she frowned slightly.

Seeing her frown, the Phantom leaned over and whispered. "Worried?"

'An opening.' She flickered her gaze across the people once again as she whispered back. "I only see Harry down there. Who is his back up? Who is helping him?"

The Phantom's eyes glittered. "Harry can do the job on his own. I would hate to have someone interfere with his work." Scanning the ever thickening crowd around the stage, he spotted Sahara. "Sahara will remove the other obstacles."

'On his own? Jadeite is to take out both the king and the queen? And Sahara is here? Then she must have that weapon. I wonder what it does?' Kameko felt a bit of the tension leave her shoulders.Whatever the weapon did, she was sure that the senshi would be fine. Acting as relaxed as possible, she spotted Mars standing at the edge of the stage. When their eyes met, she felt as Mars' eyes were boring into her. Nodding imperceptibly, she let Mars know she was ready. A quick check showed her that every one of the guardians were watching her. Worry started pooling in her belly. 'What if they suspect something? I am standing right next to the leader of the rebellion, and I am the reincarnation of their enemy. I would be suspicious.' A second glance at Mars reassured her. They were just making sure that she was in place.

Kameko looked over at the Queen. Even though Neo-Queen Serenity's looked unaware of the situation, Kameko could tell she knew. Then Queen made eye contact with her, trust radiated out of her eyes and into Kameko's soul. 'She trusts me. It is time to redeem myself. The Buddhist believe you are born over and over again until you get it right, or something like that. I'm going to get it right this time.' Resting her weight on the balls of her feet, Kameko was glad she wore her spiked heels today. 'Just one more weapon in my arsenal. I could break the arch of his foot easily. Add the pepper spray, and the wrist daggers, I am ready.' She cast a sideways glance at the man next to her. 'He never goes armed anywhere. He is relying on me to protect him form physical harm, not that he is expecting anything to happen.' She knew that he didn't need to go armed. He could talk anyone into doing anything. 'And that is something I need to be wary of. If I touch him, he might try to overwhelm me. Not that he would realize it, he would just be using that fatally strong charisma of his.' Steeling herself, Kameko tried to raise her half trained barriers.

Endymion walked to the microphone. The Phantom gloated as Harry moved a little bit closer, unhampered by the guards. Reaching out, he brushed Kameko's arm. "The fun is about to being." Shifting her weight, Kameko moved away from his touch.

Ami watched the stage as she held out a small pen like device. It had taken her a month to perfect it. The Phantom had even bought the reason she gave for learning all the members of the organization. She told him that it would create a protective field that would not let the senshi attacks in, and she need to know the members of the organization so it would know who to work on. 'Of course I didn't tell him that the members were the ones that I was excluding from the field.' Her eyes met The Phantom's briefly as she pushed the button. Smiling at him, she slipped out of the crowd.

Jadeite moved closer to the stage. 'I have to make it seem as if I've killed both of them. Then I have to kill him.' A quick glance at the Phantom showed Kameko standing next to him. When the Phantom touched her arm he had to bury the spurt of anger that washed over him. Looking back at the stage, he caught Kunzite's attention. Their eyes met briefly, and that was all that was needed. Raising his gun, he aimed it right at Endymion's heart. The senshi, Nephrite, and Zoisite moved in a well coordinated dance, shift Serenity and Endymion away from danger. Kunzite attacked him, sending his shot wide. As Jadeite fell to the ground and rolled under the stage, he heard Chieko cry out. Listening closely, he tried to hear if the shot hit anyone. All he heard was Chieko's feet hitting the stage boards above his head.

"Kunzite!" Chieko rushed on to the stage. A quick glance assured her that her husband was alright, and did not want her to interrupt him. Working her way to the back of the stage, she joined Serenity and Endymion. Catching the eye of the senshi, she gave them a grim smile. "I'll help protect the Queen."

Venus' eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded in agreement. "Watch the back of the stage, and make sure no one tries to break through there."

Chieko moved behind everyone, pulling out her ofuda. 'I hope that they'll work against this enemy. Okuninushi-kami please help me guard her.'

When the gun shot went off, members of The Phantom's organization rushed the stage, sure that they were safe from repercussions.

Nephrite raised his hands, prepared to attack with Heart's Flame when one of the Phantom's minions shoved Emiko to the ground. Shifting his hands slightly he called out, "Volcanic Fury!" He didn't try to fight the smile as his prey slid under the lava flow. Emiko rushed to the stage, out running the leading edge of the lava flow. Reaching down, he pulled his wife to the relative safety of the stage. Their eyes met briefly, reassurances passed between them, and,with the slightest nod, Nephrite turned back to the fight.

Laying underneath the stage, Jadeite clutched his stone in his hand. "Power of the unseen forces, Awake!" His power surged through him even as he transformed into his uniform. Smiling savagely, he joined the battle raging on the other side of the stage skirting.

Behind the stage area, Ami raised her hand, and called out softly. "Mercury Crystal Power, MakeUp!" Super Sailor Mercury ran to join in the fray.

Zoisite spotted Alice slipping through the crowd towards him. She almost made it to the stage when a woman slithered out from behind a row of seats. Narrowing his eyes savagely, he defended his wife. "Under Tow!" The woman fell flat onto her face as the water whip pulled her feet out from under her. Lifting his prey up by the water whip, he sent her crashing into the on rush of traitors. Alice jumped over the stream of water and continued until she was safely on the stage with the queen.

Kunzite watched as the crowd moved in two directions, towards the stage, and away from it. 'I think I'll help the ones trying to get away, and keep the one coming from making it.' He flung his hands out towards the crowd while he called out his attack. "Soul's Wind!" A tornado blew across the meadow, flattening the enemy, but it didn't affect the king's supporters. A small intense voice spoke next to his elbow. "Yes, it worked." Glancing down, he grinned at Mercury. "So, our supporters won't be hurt by us, no matter what attack we throw?"

"Yes." Mercury's quiet answer was heard by all the warriors preparing to decimate their enemy.

"Mars Flame Sniper!" The arrow flew at the leader of the wave of attackers. The man fell writhing to the ground, but the man he was using for a shield went unharmed. Grinning happily, the eight warriors let loose their most powerful attacks.

The Phantom frowned as his minions were falling under power of the magical warriors. 'Why aren't they protected. Surely...' Looking around, he tried to spot Sahara. 'She betrayed me. When I find her, she shall regret this.' Growling, he spun about. "Ginger, it is time to leave."

'Leave? But he can't leave. We need to capture him.' Catching up to him, Kameko stuck out her foot, tripping him. Pulling out her knife, she crouched down, pretending to guard him. "Don't move. Wait until the confusion is at its highest, then we can run for it."

The hatred that glittered out of the Phantom's eyes almost made her drop the knife.

It sounded though his voice as he answered her. "No, we have been betrayed. We need to run now."

Firming her resolve, she hoped that someone would get there soon. "A few moments more. Then the senshi and shitennou will be completely engrossed." She spared a moment to look for help. She spotted Mars running towards her. 'It is about thirty seconds to Mars' arrival. Can I hold him that long?'

While she distracted, he escaped, and bolted down the road. 'Next time none of them will survive. Not one.'

Jadeite spotted the Phantom running away from Kameko. Focusing his attention on the leader of the rebellion, he grabbed a fist full of air and pulled down. "Earth's Pull!"

The gravity under the Phantom's feet suddenly magnified, pulling him to the ground. Kameko, who was right behind him, was yanked down on top of him.

Kameko pinned him to the ground. 'Mars is almost here. I can block his emotions that long.' The Phantom stared at her for just a moment. The disbelief and shock on his face was slowly replaced by a killing rage. 'I hope.'

The field released. Pulling on all his reserved strength, he attempted to throw the traitor off of him.

Kameko felt his fury trying to wash over her. Blocking her empathy gift the best she could, she grimly held on, digging the spiked heels into the ground to help brace her. 'Just a few more moments. She is almost here. Just hang on.'

The Phantom wrenched his hand free of her grip. Grabbing her shoulder, he attempted to push her off of him. She drew her hand back as he pushed her up into the air. 'It's not going to have all the force it needs, but...' Swinging the best she could from that angle, she punched him in the face.

Mars stomped on the Phantom's arm when he tried to retaliate.

Sounding deadly, Venus spoke quietly behind her. "You can let him go now."

Before she could, Kameko felt Jadeite's arms wrap around her and lift her up. Venus' Love-me-chain wrapped around The Phantom, preventing his escape.

Knowing that it was over, Kameko allowed her self to be wrapped up in Jadeite's arms, and buried her head into his chest. She didn't realize she was shivering until he started rubbing her back.

Leaning back in her chair, Kameko scanned the monitors that surrounded her. Her eyes landed on Jadeite talking to one of the foreign dignitaries. 'No one figured out who we were. No one. We both got to go back to our normal lives. Me behind the screens watching for enemies, and him on the screens dealing with possible enemies and tentative friends. But...' Jadeite looked right into the camera, and smiled. '...but our relationship has changed.' She smiled back, even though she knew he couldn't see it. 'I wonder what he wants for dinner tonight.'