Chapter 25

The mood was tense as the seven girls and Mamoru returned to the hospital. Leanne could tell that the sailor warriors were all badly shaken by Diana's death; it was not that they had gotten over it, but that they were determined not to let it stop them concentrating on the task that still lay ahead. Naru was close to tears, and Usagi stayed close by her and kept a comforting hand around her shoulder.

They went at once to Dr Green's office, where the doctor was waiting for them, alone. He looked surprised that Ami had come with so large a posse, but he asked no questions, just closed the door behind them and gestured for them all to sit.

"What's this, been to a costume party?" he said. "Miss Mizuno, I don't know why you found it necessary to remove Diana from my hospital in the dead of night –"

"I didn't –"

He held up a hand. "Please, credit us with a little intelligence," he said. "But we can talk about that later. There's something else I've got to tell you."

Ami looked up at him in surprise. "Yes?"

"Another girl, Grace Clearwater, has been brought into the hospital. Her symptoms are precisely the same as Diana's, and she too has been saying strange things as she tossed and turned – something about someone called Krotera, and that she doesn't want him to hurt Ruby."

"Another!" exclaimed Ami. "Doctor, you must –"

"Must?" said Dr Green. "Miss Mizuno, what exactly is it that you know and I don't?"

Ami took a deep breath. "Well, these girls already know, so I suppose we've got to tell you too," she said. And she explained everything about the sailor warriors, their fight against Krotera, and what had happened to Diana.

Dr Green sat and listened, occasionally drumming his fingers on the table, without saying a word. "I never would have believed it," he said at last, when Ami had finished.

"Do you believe it now?"

"I know you well enough to know that you wouldn't make something like this up, or take Diana out of the hospital without a very good reason. That's why I didn't stop you, although I was very surprised."

Ami nodded, deciding not to waste time on asking him how he knew. "We've got to go to this other girl at once," she said. "Usagi-chan can use her Moon Healing Escalation on her, and if Asha shows up – well, this time we'll be ready for him." She clenched her fist tightly, her face showing an expression Dr Green was surprised to see coming from the gentle Ami.

"Come with me," he said.

He led them into a ward, directed them to clean their hands before entering, and spoke rapidly with the nurse on duty.

"That's all right," he said. "I can give you a few minutes, but not more than that."

As they walked along the main corridor of the ward, they saw ahead of them a bed being wheeled into a side room. Immediately afterwards the nurses left the room, and when Dr Green led them inside, the room was empty except for them. He closed the door behind them.

The girls edged forward to look at the patient in the bed. She was a young girl, perhaps sixteen and short for her age, with a round, pretty face under a tousle of dark hair.

"Poor thing," Ami said quietly.

"Where was she found, doctor?" asked Mamoru.

"At an all-night shopping mall near here."

"Can you give us the address?" said Ami.

"I could, of course, but – why is it important?"

"Because Krotera must have been there recently," Ami said grimly. "His traces would still be around. Rei-chan?"

"Yes?"

"You'd better go at once. I don't like us splitting up, but you'll have to take someone with you in case it comes to a fight."

"I will go with Rei," Leanne said immediately. "Helen, you'd better go back to the hotel and report everything that's happened to Liz."

Ami shook her hand. "That's very generous of you."

"No problem – we're just doing our duty."

"I'll go with you," said Minako. "Rei-chan, I know your English isn't bad, but you may still need me."

"Thanks," said Rei. "I promise we return to you soon."

She, Minako and the two Sisters rose to depart; the doctor gave them the address, and they filed out and closed the door again.

"Right," said Ami. "Now let's get down to business."

Author's Note

If it seems out of character for the Senshi to be so casual about revealing the truth about themselves, do remember that (1) they're in a foreign land and guess that the truth isn't likely to get round to people who actually know them; and (2) these are desperate circumstances and the safety of the people they're trying to protect comes before all other considerations.