Disclaimer: I do not own Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. Blah. Sailor Moon is a manga property of Naoko Takenouchi. Blah. The anime is a property of Toei. Blah.

A/N: I am sorry for the month and a half delay. I've been preoccupied with finals and my new fanfic, Witchblade: Sakura. On the bright side, I am now a college graduate and will have more free time in writing fanfics!

So, without any further delay, here's the chapter 28.

NOTE: This story has now reached over 300, 000 words! :)

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(Cue Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon theme Moonlight Densetsu by Moonlips)

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Sailor Moon Galaxy Stars

Season 2. Arc 1: Souja

Chapter 28: A Dark Future Prevented?! The Scythe of the Senshi of Death!

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Harajuku/Shopping District of Tokyo/2:16 PM

Sailor Saturn advanced a few steps as she methodically paced. Her gleaming eyes were purple and emitting an eerie glare. This look would send chills down the spines of the boldest individuals. The other Sailor Senshi looked on with uncertainty and slight fear of what Saturn would do.

On the other hand, Souja was intrigued by the haunting presence behind Saturn's aura. He scanned the dark-haired girl and stood his ground. Unit 010 blinked as she looked back to her 'father' and Sailor Saturn. She was uncertain of what to think while rescanning Saturn.

Chibi Moon was the one who became worried about Saturn most. She tried to stand up, but she immediately felt her knees trembling. Realizing she couldn't stand up on her own, she fell back down and felt a lump in her throat.

"Sa... Saturn?" Chibi Moon murmured, inhaling air into her lungs. She took a moment to simmer down while eyeing her best friend. What's happened to her? One minute she saw my life in danger and now... Oh no. "Saturn! Control yourself! Please!"

Saturn ignored Chibi Moon's pleas as she continued toward Souja.

"Saturn!" The pink-haired girl screamed, attempting to draw her friend back to reality.

("What's going on here? That Saturn girl isn't even paying attention... Lord Souja, I'm picking up a form of dangerously high energy from that girl! I advise we retreat!") The female cyborg called out to her creator.

However, Souja had other plans.

"Negative. I may have found a potential body that I've long searched for. Her extremely potent energy will grant me access to an unlimited supply of power. A rare power. I cannot let this opportunity slip out of my hands, Unit 010."

Unit 010 tried to convince Souja to alter his course of action. ("She just severed your arm! You're not at 100 percent, Lord Souja! Engaging battle with a Senshi with this potent energy is dangerous! There's a 75 percent chance you will not survive if you engage a battle with her!")

"Yet, that didn't stop you, Unit 010. You are injured. Watch and learn, my child." Souja calmly set his limbless stub to the side. His body suddenly tensed up as long, black tendrils jutted out of the limbless stub. The tendrils waved around like snakes as acidic liquid plopped on the ground, which burnt through it in seconds. "I never go without adding a few modifications to my body. I lose an arm and I can simply use alternative means of self-defense. My internal skeleton effectively serves as another self-defense mechanism. The acid running through my skeleton as you can see can burn through the strongest metals. Any human would be dissolved in less than ten seconds if exposed to this..."

"Are you done talking, machine?" Saturn quickly cut off Souja's explanation. She drew his attention as she pointed her Silence Glaive at his direction. "I doubt your acidic blood can eat my glaive."

Souja's eyes beamed as he shot his tendrils toward Saturn. "Shall I care to demonstrate?!"

"Look out, Saturn!!" Chibi Moon shouted as she tried to run-in. Moon quickly grabbed the pink-haired teen and restrained her. "Let me go, Sailor Moon! She's going to get hurt!"

"I don't think so. Just watch, Chibi Moon... Saturn will beat him!" Moon exclaimed, reassuring the future princess.

Mars scowled, closing her fists. "I don't know about you guys, but it's like Saturn's unlocked some kind of new power."

"Are you sure about that, Mars?" Venus queried, looking back to the Miko.

"If that's the case, then can she defeat Souja on her own?" Mercury wondered, watching Saturn dodge Souja's tendrils. "There she goes!"

"C'mon, girl! Take him!" Jupiter shouted, encouraging Saturn to fight.

As she closely observed Saturn, Mars probed the girl's energy. "Yeah, she's unlocked a power... almost like how we got stronger during our fight with the Shichi'okamitai members. This happened to me when I fought Tsume."

"C'mon, Saturn! Hang in there!" Chibi Moon shouted, expressing full support for her friend.

"We can't let her fight alone, guys! Let's move!" Moon cried, readying her scepter.

Meanwhile, Sailor Saturn glided up into the air as Souja launched a bombardment of charged beams. Saturn smoothly maneuvered around the beams. She cancelled out three beams while spinning her Silence Glaive around and cutting through them As a fourth beam guided toward her, Saturn summoned a black barrier around herself. The beam hit the barrier wall and dissipated.

"Very good, but you won't be on the defense for long," Souja vowed as he glided toward Sailor Saturn. Pointing at her direct path, the cyborg's tendrils shot forward and attempted to break through Saturn's barrier.

Saturn frowned. "Your petty attempts are useless, cyborg. I will dismantle you piece by piece." As she closed her eyes, a bright purple aura outlined her body from head to toe. Then, she began to chant a serene yet haunting hymn.

As he retracted his tendrils, Souja listened to Saturn's hymn and paused. "Hn? What is this?"

"La...la...la...la..." Saturn chanted, cutting through her barrier with her glaive. She slowly hovered out and opened her eyes. Her face was calm and composed while her aura shimmered brightly around her. "I will show you why they call me an Angel of Darkness, cyborg." Her eyes narrowed and became focused. "Your demise is imminent. A dark future will not befall this planet."

Souja scowled, preparing to cut off Saturn's momentum. "You cannot stop the inevitable."

As she flew across to attack, Souja responded by firing guided beams at the Senshi. Using her glaive, she cut through the incoming beams and continued her path toward the cyborg. The crafty villain quickly teleported out of Saturn's reach and appeared twenty feet above her. This granted him enough time to charge up his energy cannon and fired a larger beam.

"SATURN!!" The Senshi shouted in unison as they flew out to aid their colleague.

Saturn turned around as she projected her barrier. "Silence Wall." As the black dome formed in front, the beam dissipated. "Enough of your parlor tricks."

Souja's face contorted as he started to show frustration. Saturn's defenses were too strong to penetrate. Even his acidic blood and charged beams weren't enough to break her Silence Wall. At this point, the cyborg was left with little options, but to resort to other drastic measures. Even if he had to use underhanded means.

Just then, Souja noticed the other Senshi were already floating behind them. All at once he could not defeat them as a unit in his condition and he realized that. He looked back toward the Senshi and Saturn until Unit 010 called out to him.

("Lord Souja! C'mon, let's retreat! You can't beat them in your condition!")

Suddenly, as Unit 010 stopped, she heard Tuxedo Kamen walking up behind her. She twirled around while her nails extended out toward Tuxedo Kamen. The man swerved to the side as Unit 010 missed him by an inch.

"Your aim is little off I believe. Too bad," he smirked, taking a shot at Unit 010's pride.

Unit 010 scowled as she flipped him off. ("Oh, screw you!")

"Sorry, but I have no interest in psychotic cyborgs with horrible manners."

("You're REALLY pissing me off, masked boy!")

Sailor Moon smiled approvingly as her boyfriend toyed with Unit 010's temper. "You tell her, Tuxedo Kamen."

"Look at Saturn, guys!" Chibi Moon called out to her friends' attention.

As the Senshi watched, Saturn cancelled her barrier and flew at Souja. The cyborg quickly teleported out of her reach and reappeared behind her. This time he managed to fire a beam behind her back. Saturn cried out as the beam knocked her out of flight course.

"Saturn!" The pink-haired princess gasped in horror. "She needs our help guys! Let's hurry!"

Without wasting time, the Senshi glided out to attack Souja. The cyborg shifted his attention on the five Inners and Chibi Moon while scanning them. He shot out the tentacles out of his limbless arm while attempting to snare the six away.

Sailor Moon retaliated as her scepter fired a pink beam, which destroyed one tendril.

Mercury stopped one as she summoned an ice barrier.

Mars countered by taking out another with her Mars Snake Fire.

Jupiter launched a bolt of lightning to blast apart a tendril.

Venus slashed a tendril in half with her Wink Chain Sword.

Realizing that his last-ditch efforts were being countered, Souja scowled as he looked back toward Unit 010. That is until he turned to see Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune arrive at the scene. This meant more Senshi to deal with and Souja would not be able to counter against the whole team, especially with Saturn ready to take him apart.

"Nice to have you guys here!" Jupiter said as she turned toward the Outers.

Venus smirked. "No kidding. Now, with all of us together, we'll turn this creep into scrap!"

"Leave that with Saturn. She'll take care of this," Chibi Moon replied.

As Pluto shifted her eyes on Saturn, she noticed the subtle glow that surrounded the girl's body. She gasped and flew out toward Saturn.

"Pluto, what are you doing?!" Moon shouted, questioning the Time Guardian's motive.

Before she could get a response, Grace also arrived at the scene as she fired a beam at Pluto's direction. The green-haired woman cried turned around, but didn't react in time to deflect the guided beam.

"Pluto!!" The Senshi cried out.

As Saturn blinked, she quickly reverted back with a normal frame of mind. Her glowing eyes faded as she watched Pluto falling on top of a diesel truck. The Senshi of Destruction gasped as she saw Souja teleport in front of her. The cyborg quickly backhanded Saturn aside and sent her falling near where Pluto lied.

"Saturn!! No!!" Chibi Moon shouted as she pulled away from Moon and flew down to where her friend landed.

Uranus growled as she flew ahead with Neptune following her. "You're dead, you son of bitch!" She roared while summoning her Space Sword.

Neptune summoned her Deep Aqua Mirror and pinpointed Souja's weak point. "His head, Uranus! Aim for it!"

"I'll cut off his head instead!" She angrily spat out while slashing her blade horizontally. One slash from her sword unleashed a spinning blade projectile, which flew across like a boomerang. "Space Sword!!"

As Souja scanned the attack, he swerved around and teleported behind Uranus. In response to Uranus' attempt to cut him off, he fired a beam and knocked Uranus away. He turned around and blitzed directly at Neptune while ramming his left knee into her gut. The bone-crunching blow stopped Neptune at her tracks, which allowed Souja to toss her aside.

"Uranus! Neptune!" Moon screamed.

Grace watched with satisfaction while floating down in front of the Inners. "See what happens when you get in Souja's way? He's already fighting back with just one arm. Hurts, doesn't it?" Taunting the Senshi, she crossed her arms and blocked their path. "When you corner an injured animal, it tends to be more dangerous."

Suddenly, Jupiter gasped as she quickly recognized Grace. Hey! That's the girl I sparred with at Okami-sensei's dojo! Since when did...? Is she working with Souja?! Then, she must be a cyborg!

Venus noticed that Jupiter seemed troubled. "Hey, what's wrong Jupiter?"

"Venus. Look at her! Doesn't she look familiar? Remember... the dojo?" The brunette tried to refresh Venus of that sparring contest Makoto had with Grace, which was before Cain's former bodyguard became assimilated with Souja's cybernetic enhancements. "Oh my god..." She covered her mouth as she immediately remembered. "You're kidding."

"What is it?" Mars inquired, overhearing Venus and Jupiter.

"That girl... She..." Jupiter pointed at Grace.

The former bodyguard raised her left brow, shifting her eyes on Jupiter. "What the hell are you pointing at me for?"

"Hey, you!" Jupiter shouted as she flew in front of her friends. Her eyes were locked onto Grace's as they stared one another down. "Makoto told me about you!"

"Makoto..." Grace murmured as she reviewed images in her mind. She recalled her sparring match with Makoto. "Wait, that Makoto?! So, you...? You're a friend of hers?!"

"That's right. I am," Jupiter nodded, raising her hands in front of her. "Look, don't try to attack and listen to me."

"Why should?" The female cyborg scoffed, glaring scornfully at Sailor Jupiter. "Just because you're Makoto's friend, I'm NOT going to spare you. I have to get rid of you Senshi. You're a big threat to Souja's plans."

"He's using you, Grace. Open your eyes," the brunette attempted to talk sense into the bodyguard. "If and when you kill us, he's going to throw you aside to the waste. Or he just might turn you into a fully, mindless machine. You'll end up losing your free will. Is that what you want?!"

"...I don't care."

Jupiter frowned. "Bullshit. You do."

"Why the hell do you care?!" Grace seethed, extending her right arm as she created a spinning disc out of her hand. She quickly hurled the disc across while targeting for Jupiter.

The Senshi quickly intervened as Jupiter threw herself in front of the disc and blasted it with an electric bolt. As both attacks collided, they cancelled each other out as Jupiter directed her gaze at the cyborg.

"Let's cut this nonsense out! You should have a free will of your own. Don't let this Souja control you!"

"He's not controlling me. I'm doing this all on my own will."

The Thunder Senshi shouted, attempting to bring some sense back to Grace. "Well, he's manipulating you. Don't you see that?! Are you that blind?!"

"Enough of this. Grace, eliminate them." Souja instructed as he descended to where Saturn was laying.

"You guys go after him!" Jupiter barked out at her colleagues. "I'll handle Grace alone."

"Hold it! You can't take her alone! You're going to need help," Venus highly suggested. "Let me stay and help you."

"Fine. The rest of you guys go help Saturn and the others! Go, now!" The brunette sighed with defeat, expressing disappointment that she couldn't confront Grace alone. She actually preferred having to fight Grace by herself, but realized there was no arguing with her friends. Jupiter watched as Moon, Mercury, Mars, and Chibi Moon pursuing Souja. She turned to her left side and nodded to the blonde. "Venus, since you were the only one to meet Grace, I guess it makes sense you partner-up with me here."

"Hey! Did you think I'd let you fight her alone, girl?" Venus said.

Grace scoffed, looking at the two Senshi. "I hope you two are ready for a much needed ass-beating." An evil smirked cross her face as she gathered energy in her palms, condensing them into glowing spheres. "Heh, do I really look like someone that's brainwashed? Please."

"Stay on your guard, Venus!" Jupiter called out, throwing up a fighting stance.

Venus responded, readying her chain sword. "On it!"

As the Senshi of Thunder and Love glided toward Grace, the cyborg quickly fired her blasts and flew out to meet her adversaries. Venus and Jupiter swerved around the beams as they launched a counterstrike.

-

Meanwhile, as Saturn began to stir, she opened her eyes and glanced up. She turned to her left side and noticed Pluto slowing getting up.

"Pluto...?"

"Saturn, are you okay?"

"Yeah... just the small of my back is aching, but I'll be fine."

"Good. I'd advise you hurry."

Saturn picked herself up while grabbing her glaive. "Where's Souja?"

Pluto pointed up into the distance. "He's coming. Get ready, Saturn. The other Senshi are already pursing him."

"Right! I see him!" Saturn replied, watching the cyborg in name being attacked by Moon and company.

"I'm going to check on Uranus and Neptune. Saturn, you stay on your guard!" With that, Pluto jumped off as she hurried off to examine the two Outers.

Nodding her head, Saturn firmly held her glaive and narrowed her eyes. "I'm on it, Pluto." Before long, her eyes started to change color as the same dark purple aura outlined her body. It was the same mysterious, dark power that had possessed her earlier and it returned to the surface. No... not again! What's happening to me?! She shivered while dropping her glaive and holding herself. I have to stay focused! Must... "Souja, come right this way. I'm waiting for you. Heh." Her voice darkened as her mentality shifted again as if another personality had taken over.

-

Souja glided through the repeated attacks that the Senshi used to slow him down. Moon and Chibi Moon flew out of Souja's direction as they aimed their scepter's blasts at the cyborg's back. He quickly teleported away and reappeared above the duo.

"Sailor Moon! Chibi Moon! Look above you!" Mars shouted, flying up with her right fist coated with a fire aura. She roared and threw herself onto Souja. "Not so fast!"

And just in time, Mercury flew in front of Souja and knocked him back with an ice shield.

Mars seized the opportunity as she flew at Souja and launched a fire blast at Souja's face.

With Souja preoccupied with these two, Moon and Chibi Moon redirected their attention toward Saturn. They noticed that she was, once again, covered by that same dark aura, which seemed to be blazing like wild fire.

"Saturn! Look, that aura is covering her again!" Chibi Moon said, diving down to check on her friend.

Moon shouted as she followed the pink-haired princess. "Chibi Moon! Wait!"

Chibi Moon landed on the diesel truck and rushed toward Sailor Saturn. "Saturn! Hey, Saturn!"

Saturn walked past Chibi Moon as if ignoring her existence. Her eyes narrowed, locking onto Souja's direction. Her prey was already in sight as she readied her glaive.

"Saturn!" Chibi Moon cried, reaching out and putting her right hand on Saturn's back.

FZZZT!

"OW!!" The girl yelped as the aura shocked her hand. Chibi Moon slightly cringed as she looked worryingly at Saturn. "Saturn! Are you actually thinking of... Wait! Let me help you!"

"Stand down, Chibi Moon. Souja will fall before me."

"Yeah, but you're not yourself, Saturn! What is this dark power? Why is it controlling you?"

"Dark power? Nonsense. You know nothing, Princess Serenity."

Chibi Moon gasped. "What do you mean?"

"Know this... I will deny Souja of his existence. Do not interfere... for you own safety."

"No, please, let me help..." The future princess reached over, pleading to her friend. However, as her hand was ten inches from reaching Saturn, the aura expanded and shocked her hand again, repelling the girl back. "Ow!"

Saturn jumped off as she rocketed toward the battle involving Souja - which was still in progress. Chibi Moon rubbed her hand while gliding out after her friend.

She watched as Saturn impaled her glaive through Souja's back. The Senshi of Destruction smirked while using her glaive to cut through Souja's metal back like a can opener. The alien cyborg turned his head while shooting out a pair of beams at Saturn. The girl's aura shielded her from Souja's beams as she continued to cut through his back.

"...did not expect you to intervene, child." Souja snarled, gritting his teeth while his eyes gleamed at Saturn.

"I will not stay down until you are eliminated, cyborg. Your mere existence has no place on this world. I will eradicate every trace of your worthless existence." Saturn smirked, her voice darkened while her aura continued to shimmer around her body. "Any last words before your worthless scrap?"

Souja struggled while attempting to throw Saturn off his back. Although, he was rendered handicapped with only one arm and that placed him at a great disadvantage. He was easy pickings for Saturn to tear him to pieces. Saturn buried her glaive deeper into Souja's back.

"Get him, Saturn!" Mars cheered on.

Mercury called out to the dark-haired girl. "Aim for his head! His core is there!"

Souja quickly flew upward while taking Saturn along. The Outer held onto her glaive while riding along with the cyborg. She used her glaive and pushed it upward as it was inches from reaching the back of his head. Souja rotated around while attempting to throw Saturn off his back, but it was no use.

He was left with only one option.

"If I can't defeat you, then... your body will be of wonderful use to me."

"Sorry, but this body is not reserved for you." With one push, Saturn cried as she slashed through Souja's head and severed the cables inside that protected his cybernetic skull. She located a green orb, which glowed and dimmed brilliantly like a shining gem. "It ends here."

"Yes, I agree... for both of us."

"Wha-?!" Before Saturn could finish, a bright flash engulfed her and Souja.

KA-BOOM!!

A second passed and there was a bright explosion that expanded, penetrating through the dark clouds. Everyone glanced upward to where the explosion occurred. The Senshi gasped in horror as their colleague was at the middle of this devastating event.

"SAAAAAAATURN!!" Chibi Moon screamed as she witnessed the explosion beforehand. Before she could glide out toward the expanding smoke cloud, Moon grabbed her arm. "Let me go!"

Moon didn't want to believe that Saturn died as she glanced upward.

"SATURN!!" Uranus roared as she flew up with Neptune and Pluto tailing her. You better be alive, kid! Wait...

Much to everyone's relief, as the smoke cleared, there was a visible figure floating out of the explosion. The Senshi's fears were dashed as Sailor Saturn came into view. She managed to summon her barrier as she floated down.

However, she still took the brute force of the explosive blast. Her outfit was completely torn as her eye color began to dim. As the barrier faded, Saturn lapsed into unconsciousness and fell deadweight into the city.

"Oh no! Saturn!" Chibi Moon shouted as Moon released her. As Saturn came falling in her direction, the princess flew up and caught Saturn in her arms. "Gotcha... oh no." She gasped as she saw how terribly battered Saturn looked. Her skirt and outfit was tattered and torn. Her face was covered by layers of dirt as a result of being within the smoke cloud. "Saturn..." Her eyes looked sadly as she placed descended with her friend in tow. "Thank god... you still have a pulse, but why did you have to be so stupid like that?!"

"...to protect... you... Chibi Moon..." Saturn muttered weakly, managing a tiny smile before she lapsed back into unconsciousness. "..."

"Saturn!"

As soon as the other Senshi (excluding Jupiter and Venus) reached Chibi Moon, they gathered around to check on Saturn.

"Saturn!" Uranus exclaimed, kneeling beside the Senshi of Destruction. ""Damn it! Why did you... go and do that?!"

"Easy, Uranus. She's fine," Moon tried to calm the concerned Senshi down.

"She's just out of it, but I'm glad she didn't go killing herself," Mars said.

Mercury checked for Saturn's pulse. "Yes, she still has a pulse. We just need to get her someplace to rest for the time being."

"That's good to hear," Neptune was relieved upon hearing this.

"Yeah, I suppose," Uranus nodded, placing a hand over Saturn's forehead. "Geez, don't you scare me like that!"

"But, what about... Souja?" Chibi Moon asked as she looked up. Suddenly, her eyes widened as soon as she saw something floating out of the smoke cloud. "Oh... my... god... You guys..." She stuttered a bit, trying to get some words out. "Look up!" She cried out, pointing toward the skies.

The Senshi glanced up to where the pink-haired girl pointed. They, too, expressed horrified disbelief as the cyborg emerged from the smoke cloud and revealed his condition. His entire lower half of his body was gone. The left side of his face was ripped off, revealing a robotic skull underneath. His eyes glowed red while staring down at the Senshi with deadly intent.

"You've got to be kidding?!" Moon shouted, her mouth gaping. Nonetheless, she realized the cyborg was heavily damaged and this was their chance to finish Souja off. "Fine, then we'll just trash whatever's left of him, guys!"

"No problem," Mars smirked, summoning a ball of fire in her right palm.

Souja sneered, his body twitching from the damage done to his body. He shifted his eyes onto Saturn, who was in Uranus' arms. "...that child... yes, she has an extraordinarily rare power... Her body certainly must be what I am looking for... Consider this a draw, child. But, next time, I will make sure to exterminate you... and your fellow Senshi... zzzt... must allow time for repairs... zzzt... shutdown imminent in ten minutes..."

As Souja pressed his forehead, he sent a direct transmission to Unit 010 and Grace/Unit 018.

-

"AHH!!" Sailor Venus screamed as Grace kneed her in the gut. The blonde collapsed on one knee while holding her ribs. "...ugh... you..."

Grace scoffed as she reached over and grabbed Venus by her hair. "Heh, since you're down on your knees, why don't you kiss my feet?"

"...no thanks...I bet your feet stink anyway..." Venus managed to smirk, deriding the cyborg.

"Big mistake, bitch," Grace chuckled, forming an energy ball in her right hand. "Say goodnight, princess."

"I don't think so..."

As Grace turned around, she felt a hand pressing on her back. She noticed Sailor Jupiter quickly sneaking up on her and applying a full nelson. Grace growled angrily as the brunette applied a strong hold to restrain her. Grace gritted her teeth while lashing and kicking her legs up.

"Gotcha! You shouldn't have let your guard down!" Jupiter chuckled, restraining the cyborg. "Sorry, but I'm not going to let you go!"

"Get bent! I don't care if that Makoto girl sent you! Why didn't she come and see me herself?!"

"Are you kidding?! Look at you! You're a freaking cyborg now!" Jupiter shouted. "How do I know you just won't blast her into atoms?!"

"...LET GO!!" Grace shouted, still kicking and preparing to activate her barrier. Then, she felt a faint voice in her head.

'Grace, can you... hear me...?'

"Souja...?"

"What?! Souja?!" Jupiter blinked, noticing Grace calming down. Where?! I don't see him!

"Hey! Where are you?! Is this some kind of magic trick?!" Grace frantically looked around. "Don't be jerking my chain here!"

'Everyone of you units have had a process chip installed into your cybernetic brains. This will allow me to communicate with you from far distances. They also act as a restraint mechanism. By any chance you should ever escape, the chips will send a powerful electromagnetic wave that will paralyze you. Grace, I made precautions with you. Since you still retain your humanity.'

"You what?! Did you get rid of the other Senshi?!"

'Unfortunately, I underestimated one of them. This one has a potential power... and a body I wish to inhabit. For now, we will pull out... so that I can be repaired... Grace, I ask you to pull out... Unit 010 will do the same...'

"All right... guess playtime is over for now..." Grace sighed as she elbowed Jupiter in the gut, forcing the brunette to relinquish her hold. "Heh, sorry, but we'll have to play some other time. You and that blonde bitch better get ready... I'll make sure and hunt you."

Jupiter scowled, holding her gut. "..."

"Tell Makoto that I wish to see her. Make sure she sees me alone. Until next time..." The female cyborg managed a chuckle as she teleported out of sight.

As she stood up, Jupiter walked over to where Venus was and knelt beside her. She reached over to help her up, but the blonde waved her off and smiled.

"I'll be fine, Jupiter," Venus smiled, coughing while holding her gut. She managed to stand up on her own and looked out toward the city. "We should get back with the others."

"Yeah..." Jupiter nodded, rubbing her side. She sighed while Grace's parting words repeated in her mind. Grace, if you really want to see me, then you got it.

"Are you actually considering seeing that psycho alone?"

"Yeah," the brunette noted.

"It might be a trap. You'll need one of us to come with you."

"I'll be fine, Venus. The question is... where will I need to find her? Or, will she find me?"

Venus shrugged as she flew off ahead. "We'll know eventually. C'mon, Jupiter, let's get going!"

"Right! I'll be behind you!" Jupiter responded as she jumped up and flew off after her colleague. I can't believe what's happened to you, Grace. Somehow I have to get to the bottom and find out how to save you! Count on it!

-

As Tuxedo Kamen and Unit 010 jumped back from one another, the demented cyborg overheard Souja reaching her via communicator transmission through the chip in her robotic brain. Unit 010 stood straight and cracked a smile.

"Why are you stopping for?" Tuxedo Kamen was puzzled, wondering about her motives.

("You were plenty of fun, mask boy, but duty calls. Looks like we'll be doing some catching up some other time. Until then, I'm coming after you and that pink-haired little bitch. Kee-hee!") As she winked, she blew a kiss to the masked man and teleported.

"WAIT!!" Kamen roared as he threw another rose at her direction. The rose only hit the ground as Tuxedo Kamen scowled angrily. "At least I was able to hold her off." He shifted his attention to the Senshi gathering and raced off to their destination. "I hope the girls are okay!"

-

While scooping Sailor Saturn in her arms, Sailor Pluto glanced at the Senshi and noted. "Once we take her back, she'll rest and treat her own injuries."

"She still has her healing abilities?" Chibi Moon inquired, noting Saturn's special trait of healing others. "That's good. So, he might recover faster than us taking her to get treated."

Moon smiled while running her hand through Saturn's black locks. "You were very brave out there, Saturn."

"I still can't figure out what may have caused her to snap like that," Mercury stated. "Besides Souja hurting Chibi Moon, are there still traces of Mistress 9 in Saturn?"

"I doubt it. She's been cleansed of that witch's influence," Neptune replied.

"We'll further investigate this, Senshi, but for now we have to be on the look out for these cyborgs. I'm afraid these attacks today are only a beginning of an impending invasion. If what the premonitions Saturn and I have seen come to light," Pluto forewarned the ladies.

Mars interjected as she approached Pluto. "You're not the only one. I've seen some really disturbing images while I fought those cyborgs a while ago."

"Disturbing images? I don't like the sound of that," Moon shuddered.

"Yeah, tell me about it," the Miko replied as she was about to explain.

That is until Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus dropped in from above. The Senshi were relieved to see their two colleagues. Then, to make the matters even better, Moon and Chibi Moon turned to see Tuxedo Kamen racing toward them.

"Tuxedo Kamen!" Moon and Chibi Moon cried out. They quickly embraced him as he hugged his two loved ones.

"I'm glad you two are okay," the masked man smiled, hugging Moon and Chibi Moon. He looked toward Pluto and noticed Saturn unconscious in her arms. "Saturn? Is she...?"

"No, she's just exhausted after totally dismantling that Souja bastard," Uranus confirmed. "He got away though, but he didn't go without damage."

"All right! Go, Saturn!" Venus chirped happily.

"But, he got away. That's not good. The cyborg Venus and I fought retreated, too," Jupiter added.

Kamen spoke up. "And that psychopath I was dealing with disappeared."

"They're off to recover from this battle, but they will no doubt come back for us," Pluto advised everyone.

"To make matters worse, Souja knows the identities of me, Mars, and Mercury. That's only going to make matters worse," Moon said.

Mercury replied, reassuring her two friends. "We'll watch each other's backs."

"If push comes to shove, then we'll stick together," Mars suggested. "Maybe you two can stay with me? This way your families won't be in any danger."

"What about your grandfather and your sister... now that she's visiting," Moon pointed out.

The dark-haired Miko reassured Moon. "Don't worry. I'll figure something out."

"These cyborgs are gonna be even tougher than the Lycans. I can tell you guys that right now," Uranus stated, shifting her eyes to Saturn. "Although, if we have ourselves a trump card just in case... Souja really overlooked Saturn and paid the price."

"Man, and they just had to ruin our Christmas, too!" Venus scoffed, pouting and kicking dirt off her boots.

"Geez, what a horrible time to attack Tokyo," Jupiter stared at the city, the areas where the cyborgs left collateral damage during their attacks. "The city's got some construction work ahead for them."

As Moon looked toward the city, she could only wonder about Souja's whereabouts. "At least, we're all ok. I can't say what's going to happen the next time we face them, but we'll be more than ready." She turned and faced her colleagues, eagerly waiting for an immediate response. "Right?"

In response, the Senshi (minus Saturn) nodded their heads solemnly and vaguely wondered when the cyborgs would strike again. For now, they planned to recover and investigate any likely occurrences that might denote another impending attack.

xxxxx

Shinjuku District/Cain Corp/2:34 PM

Upon arrival in Cain's office, Souja dropped to the floor as his system was nearing immediate shutdown. Grace and Unit 010 both reached over to lift Souja up while setting him down on a chair.

Calmly getting off his chair, Cain walked over to Souja. "Well, this is unexpected. Souja, surely you were careless. You mean to tell me that one Senshi damaged you this terribly?"

("That's what he said! Now back off Lord Souja!") Unit 010 hissed, threatening the man. Her good hand turned into a blade as she prepared to cut his throat. ("Make another step or else!")

"...that's enough, Unit 010..." Souja muttered, calling off his subordinate.

Grace looked back and forth at both sides. Her loyalty was still in question as Cain eyed her direction.

Looking away from woman, Cain turned away and directed his attention to Jadeite. "You said that they'd eliminate the Senshi, Jadeite. Now your friend here has gotten himself damaged... but not without repair. Fortunately for you, Souja can repair the damages."

Jadeite bit his thumb angrily. "I don't understand. One Senshi shouldn't have done this to Souja. I mean, barring Sailor Moon, none of the other Senshi should be capable of damaging Souja's body."

"Well, one of them obviously did," Cain pointed out. "And I'm going to find out."

"It was... the one named Sailor Saturn... her power is nothing you two will ever comprehend..."

"Souja. You mean to tell me that one of the new Senshi was able to harness a power that I cannot imagine?" Jadeite had a puzzled look on his face. He walked over to Souja and knelt by his side. "Care to tell me more about this particular Senshi?"

Souja sneered as his eyes gleamed. "No need... because you will know everything I have to share with you... when our minds..."

Jadeite gasped as Souja pulled himself closer to him. "Wh... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"...become one... assimilation process... initiate..."

"LET ME GO!! NO!!" Jadeite screamed, the tone in his voice raised. His body suddenly became restrained as Souja's forehead opened up and a needle-like instrument emerged. "NO... NO!! YOU CAN'T!! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO WORK TOGETHER!!"

"...yes, I remember our little bargain and that hasn't changed... but this will work out much better... before I obtain Saturn's body, you will do nicely as a temporary body... now, don't resist... it will all be over soon."

Cain backed away as his face contorted with shock. He looked back to find Unit 010 and Grace standing idly. He shifted his eyes on Jadeite and Souja.

The alien cyborg injected the needle inside Jadeite's head as the former Dark General continued screaming and trying to free himself. It was all to no avail. Jadeite dropped to his knees as Souja's body fell to the floor as his power suddenly shutdown.

The blonde-haired man fell to the floor. His entire body convulsed as if he were having an epileptic seizure. The muscles in his body tensed as he struggled and closed his fists before giving out. Foamy drool dripped on the sides of his mouth while the serum started to spread from within his body. For a brief moment, his body stopped moving. Then, it sat up like a zombie would while his eyes rolled back.

Jadeite lifted his head up as three dots flashed on his forehead. His screams quickly faded as a calm demeanor appeared on his face. His eyes turned light green as he stood up and flexed his body. First, his legs. Then, his legs, Followed by his back, chest, torso, and head.

The assimilation was a success.

'Jadeite' turned around as he pointed to Cain. "From this day forth, Jadeite now shares this body with me. With our minds merged, we will ensure that operations run faster and more smoothly." His eyes gleamed shortly until he picked up his old Souja body. "Cain, I have figured out how to lure out the Senshi, but I will need your assistance. Once Unit 011 is revived and Unit 010 is repaired, we will execute this plan."

"How do I know this won't end in failure?"

Souja smirked while setting the old body on Cain's desk. A cold smile curled on his lips. "I assume you remember your own virtual world program. Your secret project you plan to unveil?"

"Yes, but I never planned to use it against the Senshi..."

"Well, I believe now would be the perfect time. Don't you think?"

Cain was a bit hesitant to use it. It was still an incomplete project that was still in the works. However, with Souja aiding him, he could get it running in no time.

The man smirked as he adjusted his suit. "When do we start?"

"Once my children have repaired themselves, our plan will be underway."

"Excellent. How shall we lure them out?"

Souja shifted his eyes on Grace. "I have just the way."

xxxxx

To be continued...

Next time

Chapter 29: Recovery! Staying Alert for the Cyborgs!

xxxxx

A/N: And Jadeite is dead. Well, not really. His free will and human mind are dead. Souja has now taken Jadeite's body before he sets his sights on Hotaru's.

I know this chapter was short. I actually started writing this at the beginning of this month, but I never finished it. My new Naruto fic, Witchblade: Sakura, sidetracked me and that has gotten more of my attention. So, I finished the last half of this just today.

Don't be surprised if this story receives less updates than I planned for. Despite the setbacks, I will not quit this story. I have a few plot bunnies I want to incorporate and will see through this story until the very end.

The next arc for this second is hinting at a virtual realm. Should be fun.

Next month will mark the two-year anniversary since Galaxy Stars was first posted. So, hopefully before June 23rd, Chapter 29 will be posted. Until then, I will be busy with my Witchblade: Sakura and YuYuGiDigiMoon stories.

Please, read and review when you've got the time. Until then, see you on the next update!