Celestial Warrior Moon:
Disclaimer: I do not own any Sailor Moon related properties. Sailor Moon is the property of Toei Animation and Naoko Takeuchi. This is a fan work created to celebrate the opus. It is not intended to infringe on any copyrights.
Drew L.: MWAHAHAHAHA!
SomeoftheFame: I'm glad I was able to brighten up your day.
ELinkA: ;)
LoveInTheBattleField: As always, I will. :)
This is getting old: Thank you. I got this update out as soon as I could.
Zhang: Thanks again!
Chapter 13
Recovery
When Usagi opened her eyes, she was once again submerged in a deep, lustrous fog. She could see the tiny crystal-like particles swirling around her. They reflected the light making it impossible to get a good look at anything. She rubbed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was someplace else away from the shining mist.
She was now in an immaculate bedroom in a king-sized bed. She sat up, taking in the enormous space. It had to be the size of her house, but all one room, and apparently… all hers'. The interior was all pure white and made of some kind of marble or pearl. There were rows and rows of wardrobes, dressers, and a huge full person mirror, and more. She threw the covers off, revealing a long, white nightgown. She walked over to the balcony. It was night out. She could see the stars overhead and…a planet? She stepped onto the balcony, itself, and stared at blue and green orb. She looked up at the building she was in and found she was in a pearly white palace like the Taj Mahal.
"Where am I?" she uttered.
Then she looked out into the surrounding city. It shined like crystals in the dark making the city almost brighter than Tokyo. The skyscrapers looked almost like carved gems going straight up into the sky. Rolling green surrounded the city in the distance. It was like a place out of a dream.
She looked up at the stars again, and on closer inspection, saw that the entire place had a canopy much like a bubble around it. It was transparent and the material looked just like a bubble, so she could just barely see it and wouldn't have if not for the dim reflections of the lights below on it.
There was now a whistling sound on the air like an incoming bomb. She leaned out to see what it was. Then with an earth-shaking explosion, she was knocked down. The entire palace shook and even cracked. Chunked of debris fell from the roof. The balcony she was on began to crumble and she struggled to get to her feet to run back inside!
When she awoke, she found herself staring up at another unfamiliar ceiling, though a lot more mundane this time. A quick observation of her surrounding through the corner of her eyes yielded that she was in a medical ward somewhere, surrounding on either and at the foot of the bed by curtains.
"Oh man, not another weird dream," she groaned.
"Usagi? Usagi!" she heard a voice call out, sounding relieved.
Makoto and Rei burst through the curtains and stood over her, smiling broadly down at her. They were breathing deeply and looked so relieved as to be almost on the verge of tears. They both also had cuts and scratches that'd been tended to.
"Usagi, are you okay?" Rei asked, greatly concerned.
"I'm fine… where are we?"
"Keeper HQ Medical Ward," Makoto answered. "That was a nasty bump on the head you got back there. We rushed you in as soon as we could!"
Then Usagi remembered. Images of The Face Taker flashed through her mind. Her eyes widened and she threw off the covers. She was in her normal civilian garb, unhurt. She looked back up at her comrades and then over at the table where her hilt had been set.
"What-what happened after I passed out? Did we win?"
Makoto and Rei's faces went grim and sad. Makoto shook her head.
"I don't think we ever stood a chance," Rei said, and bit her lip fretfully.
"We… had to make a full retreat. There was no stopping or containing that thing," Makoto added somberly. "A lot of people died."
Usagi sat up with a start.
"Who?! Who died?!" she demanded.
Makoto and Rei exchanged sorrowful looks before turning back to her.
"Many. We couldn't name half of them, but Wren, that Orion guy, Sailor V, and Mask got out alive," Makoto explained. "But I don't think even a quarter of Wren's team got out of there."
Usagi clapped a hand over her mouth. There had been so many, and for only a tiny fraction of that to have survived… She lied back down trying to process just how many casualties that was.
Wait, Sailor V?
Usagi sat back up, leaning on her elbows.
"What did Sailor V find down there?" Usagi asked.
"The Face Taker was guarding something. It was the laboratory of Nephrite, one of Beryl's generals," Makoto replied, sighing. "She tried to get some paperwork out so the Keepers could have it analyzed, but The Face Taker quickly turned that into a pipe dream."
"It was on her the instant she came out of the silo," Rei said with a quiver. "She ended up having to abandon the Intel. It was all we could to keep that thing from ripping her apart. It really hated that we pulled a fast one on it and even tore all the papers she'd brought out to ribbons just to make sure we couldn't read any of it."
"Geez. Today just isn't our day… How's Sailor V now?" Usagi asked.
"Shaken, but alive," Rei answered.
"Hey, did you guys really lose all the papers? Didn't anyone grab it after she dropped it?" Usagi asked.
"We would've, but…" Makoto stammered. "Like I said, Face Taker tore it all up before we could stop him."
"Oh, man. All that for nothing!" Usagi moaned, and made a few low, sobbing sounds.
Then her eyes shot open wide and looked her comrades anxiously.
"…Hey, how long have I been out?" Usagi asked.
"A few hours. Don't worry. You'll make it home in plenty of time to not worry your parents," Makoto answered.
"Like I was even thinking about that?" Usagi thought grimly.
She threw her legs over the side of the bed and got up. She wobbled on her feet, feeling dizzy, but Makoto held her gently.
"Hey, maybe you should lie down a while longer," the tomboy suggested. "We've all had it rough today."
"Ye-yeah, maybe you're right," Usagi answered, still feeling frazzled.
The High Keepers all sat together in a meeting room at a long table with Myddin sitting at the end. On his left were Kratos, Rusila, Luna, and Artemis, and on his right were Pious, Wren, and Jocelyn.
"Well, I would hardly call that our must sterling success," Kratos muttered.
"Don't start," Wren groaned. "You know what we were up against."
"Calm down, Wren. We need to focus on what's important right now," Kratos spoke plainly.
"No one's accusing you," Rusila added. "Don't take offense."
"Well, at least now we know where Nephrite's lab in located," Pious said.
"Feh! Not That it does us any good if we can't even get in, let alone get any Intel out of it," Wren muttered.
"No bickering," Luna said with authority. "It'd be pointless. It was too early to send the girls in to face such a monster. We know that now, and unfortunately, so does the Dark Kingdom. They'll know exactly what to hit the girls with to take them down."
"So what do we do about it? We've been training them the best we can. You can't expect anymore from three teenagers that haven't even been doing this a full month now. It's not like they've had a year's practical experience like Mina," Artemis spoke.
"Then they need something to get them up to speed quickly," Kratos said.
"Perhaps it's time we seriously consider fully awakening Mina as a Warrior. She has the most experience," Pious suggested.
"No. We still need her to shut down The Dark Agency," Luna countered.
"We could locate and awaken Mercury," Rusila said.
"We should try more than one thing at once," Luna announced.
She turned to Kratos.
"For now, we will follow Kratos's advice and step up the training to properly prepare them, and I will commence with finding and awakening Celestial Warrior Mercury at once," she said.
"In the meantime, its high time Sailor V stepped up putting the squeeze on The Dark Agency," Artemis said.
"Tread carefully," Jocelyn said. "You don't want to completely rob these girls of their social lives. Now that the situation is tense, it will be especially important that they be allowed time to themselves for the good of their mental and emotional welfare."
"I've considered that, but thank you," Luna said.
Myddin then spoke for the first time since the meeting began.
"So Orion still lives," he said.
The entire room went quiet. Pious was the first to break the silence.
"That deserter! We should hunt him down and have him tried for abandoning us like he did," Pious growled angrily.
"Perhaps," Myddin shrugged. "But we do not yet know what his purpose is."
"His purpose?! His purpose!" Pious yelled. "What justifiable reason could he have had to let us think that he'd fallen victim to The Black King on that last mission? When and how did he escape from that quarry? And what happened to the item he was supposed to retrieve? Did he manage to retrieve The Heel?"
"All good questions," Kratos said.
The big man looked over Rusila.
"Rusila, you were with him that day," Kratos said.
"It was dark down there, but I thought I was certain of what I saw. The Black King and Orion both disappeared while I engaged his minion, that horned creature," Rusila said.
"In all likelihood, that's exactly what happened," Artemis. said. "Mr. Tall, Thin, and Faceless might have decided that Orion would be a perfect playmate for one of his flunkies in The Land of Black Leaves, but you know ol' Orion. He's always been a slippery one. They probably couldn't keep him trapped and he somehow made his way back to his dimension. That still doesn't explain why Orion went along with playing dead if he escaped."
Rusila leaned her head forward to think for a moment.
"This still places everything I thought I remembered about that day into question, since The Black King is known for creating false memories. Well, everything except maybe for my escape with that girl. Thage, I think her name was," Rusila muttered, sounding very troubled as opposed to her usual restrained manner.
"He arrived with Phantom Mask. That's all I know," Wren stated.
"Hmm," Myddin hummed.
"You think of something, Myddin?" Pious asked.
"Perhaps, but perhaps not. Regardless, Orion did come to our aid, and I would think if he had betrayed us, our enemies would have laid siege to us in our base long ago. So he has not become our enemy. Therefore finding him to get answers concerning his whereabouts and actions will not be a priority right now," Myddin said.
"We're just supposed to tolerate his insubordination?" Pious asked, disbelievingly.
"At the moment," Myddin nodded. "I do fully intend to make him account for his decision not to return to us, someday, but with the clock fast ticking down to the final hour of our dispute with The Dark Kingdom, it can wait. I also believe there is a matter of the effect last night's events had on Barrington."
He picked up a remote control on the table next to him and clicked a button. A panel in the ceiling directly over the other end of the table began lowering, revealing a TV set that rested on it. Everyone in the meeting room could see it as Myddin turned it on. A female news reporter appeared on the screen. Behind her, they could see she was across the street from the silo.
"Hello, this is Paula Angel, with Prairie News, reporting live at the scene of a series of strange incidents that occurred in our fare city Barrington this past week. Starting with disappeared teenagers, now things have escalated. Last night, police received several calls reporting disturbances in the area describing the sounds of gunfire, the howls of wild animals, and loud crashing in ShoeFactory Road Woods. And this morning inquisitive hikers were greeted with a police barricade all around woods. At the present, the police are not issuing a statement concerning what happened and have made a firm decision to keep the press out at the moment. Back to you, Chad."
Myddin switched off the TV. It rose back into the ceiling.
"Another PR nightmare," Wren said.
"Your turn," Pious and Rusila said back to him.
Myddin looked over at Wren.
"You're certain The Face Taker returned to the silo after all was said and done?"
"Yes, we were able to confirm that it went back to Nephrite's Lab after it finally stopped chasing us. I can even bring in the footage," Wren replied.
"That town is going to be in an uproar over this," Artemis said. "It'll be tough keeping this one under wraps."
"Indeed. Wren, you deal with the situation in Barrington. Artemis and Luna, you attend to the girls. Kratos, you ready whatever you have in mind to train them. Pious and I will be getting an update on the situation on the energy drain victims. Meeting is adjourned."
While The Keepers got up to leave, Jocelyn approached Luna.
"Excuse me, Luna, but I believe I have a suggestion…" she said.
"…further details on the case after we return," the news anchor on the TV said.
Nephrite switched off the television and leaned against the nearby table.
"You might want to consider just moving everything to another site," Jadeite suggested.
Nephrite looked back at his fellow Shitennou that was seated behind the table.
"That won't be necessary," Nephrite replied confidently.
"What? Your base of operations has just been exposed," Jadeite said incredulously.
"Yes, and a fat lot of good that did the ones responsible," Nephrite chuckled.
Nephrite set the remote down on the TV.
"There's nothing to worry about. They recovered nothing that can be of any use to them. So, between tightened security and my little pet, they never will," Nephrite assured the younger man.
Nephrite looked to Bob as the animated cadaver still stood in his spot writing things down.
"Isn't that right, Bob?" Nephrite asked.
The corpse looked up and nodded its head slightly before returning its attention to the sheets of paper before it. The door to Nephrite' study opened.
"Chief Scientist Lessart, reporting, sir. It's about the black crystal," the rat man bowed.
"Ah, Lessart. So how is my little masterpiece doing?" Nephrite said.
"It's nearly ready, sir, it just needs a few more touches."
"Good. Good. Jadeite, if you'll follow me," Nephrite said, motioning.
Jadeite stood and followed Nephrite out into the main lab area towards where the crystal was housed. Lessart stepped up to the keyboard in front of it. Another of the scientists rolled over another computer with a screen displaying the crystal's progress. It read 88.7%, as well as showing various other readings such as its current sensory range and the like.
"Sailor V will have told them of the computer systems you have down here. Aren't you afraid of being hacked?" Jadeite asked.
"They run on a private, isolated server, my friend," Nephrite responded.
"If I might have your attention, to begin: we just need a little more time," Lessart explained. "As you can see, the frequency is still off slightly. With a little fine tuning, you will be able to seek out the Seven Great Youma before too much longer."
"Let me see that," Nephrite said.
Lessart stepped and his employer took his spot. Nephrite quickly crunched the numbers and the waves representing the frequency went and turned green.
"A-amazing," Lessart uttered.
The rat read the percentage.
"97.6% complete."
"Now you just need to adjust the power levels until you find the correct balance," Nephrite said.
"We can have it ready in weeks," Lessart announced.
"Excellent. I will have my assistant, Aqua, conduct the search," Jadeite said.
"Alright. Then I have to report to our Queen. I'll return shortly," Nephrite said.
"Oh yes, she'll be glad to know that the black crystal is almost ready," Jadeite said.
"Heh. Indeed," Nephrite responded with a hint of slyness.
Jadeite and Lessart thought the tone was off, but chocked it up to Nephrite being Nephrite.
"Well, then, I also have some things to prepare," Jadeite replied.
Nephrite looked at him with a raised brow, not quite sure what he was talking about. Then it hit him.
"Ah, right, that masquerade ball at Buckingham Palace. The one they're holding to showcase that crystal some archeologist just found. When was that again?"
"Bingo. It'll be on May 18th. It just might be our silver crystal," Jadeite said.
"Have fun, and don't forget about our next target," Nephrite replied and teleported away.
"Oh, what a day, what a day, what a day," Motoki said sound worn-out voice.
He entered the apartment he and Mamoru shared and hung up his jacket.
"Hey, Mamo, you home yet?" he called.
"Yeah, I'm here," Mamoru voice came from his room.
"Great! Hey, about we…" Motoki began to say.
"Ow! Damn it!" he heard Mamoru swear.
He paused and then went over to Mamoru's room. He knocked on the door.
"Hey, you okay in there, buddy?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just…stubbed my toe is all."
"Well, alright, as I was saying, you wanna go to that pizza place tonight? They've serving your favorite, that special on that taco pizza."
"Uh, not tonight. I think I'm just going to veg out in front of the TV."
Now that didn't sound like Mamoru at all. Motoki knocked on the door again.
"Hey, is it alright if I come in?"
"N-no. Not right now, I'm getting dres-AH!"
Motoki decided he'd had enough of his friend's yelps in pain, turned the knob, and opened the door. He stopped, stunned at what he saw. Mamoru sat on his bed, stripped to the waist with his back to the door. His entire back was covered in nasty cuts and bruises. He was busy applying medical aid to himself. Mamoru turned to look.
"Uh, I can explain…" Mamoru stammered.
"My God, man. What the hell happened?!" Motoki cried.
Mamoru gave Motoki an annoyed glance before he answered.
"Nothing. Things just got a little rough down at the gym," Mamoru replied, trying to sound casual.
"Nothing?! Nothing?! Seriously, man, what happened?! It looks like you were mauled or something! Do you need a doctor? Who did this?"
Mamoru stood.
"I told you, things just got a little out of hand while sparring. I'm fine, Motoki. This is nothing I can't handle," he insisted.
"Are you crazy? Just look at yourself! This isn't a sparring accident! Someone pounded you all over in a fight!"
Mamoru just turned away and sat down again.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Motoki said.
He grabbed a discarded shirt and threw it up Mamoru.
"Put that on. Who knows what kind of damage a beating like that did to you? A doctor is going to have a look at you, and I'm not taking 'no' for an answer," Motoki commanded.
The door into the medical ward opened. Rei looked up from her book at the room's new occupant. It was Luna. Luna gave them a once over. Rei was seated in a chair against the wall near the bed, Makoto had moved her chair right up besides it, and Usagi currently sat in it leaning against the bedpost.
"Hey, girls," Luna greeted gingerly.
"Hi, Luna," Makoto replied.
"How are you all?" Luna asked.
"We're fine, but Usagi's still a little out of it," Rei stated.
"I was just a little dizzy," Usagi explained. "I'm probably fine now."
"Good," Luna said.
She grabbed a chair and set it done with its back facing the girls. She sat in it backwards, resting her arms on the top of the backrest.
"Listen, I'm sorry for sending you on this mission. It was… too early, much too early for you to do battle against something like The Face Taker. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm just glad you all came back alive," she said remorsefully.
"No. We're the ones that screwed it up," Usagi insisted.
"Just how do you defeat something that self-repairs immediately?" Rei asked.
"I don't know, but then again, you are just beginning to master your skills," Luna answered.
"Then we need to master them faster," Makoto said assertively. "I don't like to lose, especially not against monsters."
"I know the feeling," Luna muttered.
She rested her head on her arms.
"Tell you what. Take a few days off, and next Sunday, how about 'Megumi' takes the girls to Dreamland?" Luna offered.
"That amusement park?" Makoto asked.
"Uh-huh, how about it? It'll give you a chance to loosen up and have some fun," Luna said.
"Dreamland! That's like the best amusement park in the city!" Usagi cried, becoming sparkly eyed.
"Looks like someone's sold on the idea," Makoto giggled.
"Sure, why not?" Rei shrugged.
"Well, then it's settled, then. I'll pick you girls up at 11 'Clock," Luna said.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Minako didn't even acknowledge the sound at her window. She lied curled clutching her pillow to her tightly. Today hadn't been like other missions. Sure, she risked life and limb every time she went out as Sailor V, but never like this before. She had been utterly helpless before that creature at the silo. She curled up tighter around the soft lump in her arms.
TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! She looked up sullenly at the window. She waved for the figure to go away and pulled the covers of her head. Outside, Artemis, in his cat form, looked sadly in at the girl, and reluctantly hopped onto the branch of the nearby tree, climbing down.
"Guess this whole thing's been rough on us all," he thought.
A/N: Sorry this one is so short, but this was the perfect place to leave off.