Chapter 20: Timing

Roland reached the top of the building's fire escape as his mystery guest was already on the opposite edge of the roof. She beckoned him to hurry his pace then leapt from one building roof to the other. He scrambled faster up the ladder, "Hey, wait up!"

He crossed the roof and looked over the edge of the building to see it drop off a bit from the previous roof. He groaned and hopped over the edge to drop down. The gravel of the roof gave under him and he slid to the ground. He groaned again in pain as he went to stand. The woman stopped and turned around to see what had happened. She rushed to help him up as he asked, "Exactly who are you? And where's your friend from last night?"

"Look, I know my presence here is disruptive," she said as she lifted him up, "but we don't have time for questions!" She got him to his feet then grabbed him by the hand and started pulling him toward the next roof. Roland anchored himself and pulled himself free from her gloved hand, "Now wait a minute! I feel it's perfectly reasonable you tell me the truth!"

When Roland pulled his hand away, it knocked the woman off balance. She staggered a bit as he demanded an answer. She looked to him surprised. She brushed her blue hair to the side trying to compose herself, "I'm not entirely sure if you would believe it." "Wouldn't I? You're Amy, aren't you?"

She was stunned. She couldn't believe it, "How…?" "Your PKE doesn't register on our meters and you're friends with Egon. Only he would program out your signatures without my knowledge. Not to mention, how many people around here have blue hair?" She was very quickly shut down. She was terrified Roland figured it out so quickly, "You're right. It is me. In this form, I'm known as Sailor Mercury." "That would explain why you and the others were in the tower. Lita and Raye?"

"Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mars."

"And the others?"

Sailor Mercury felt as though she was saying too much, but it felt as though it was too late, "Mina is Sailor Venus; Darien goes by the name Tuxedo Mask; Serena is Sailor Moon, our leader."

"And Dan?" Sailor Mercury looked to the Ghostbuster before her. She sighed, "He's one of us, too. Jupiter Knight; Lita's protector." Roland looked down and sighed himself. Sailor Mercury didn't feel comfortable with what just happened, "Please, don't be mad at us." Roland shook his head, "No, I understand why you don't go around telling people," he looked at her, "Does anyone else know besides Egon?"

"Outside of a select few back home, Dr. Venkman, Dr. Stantz, and Mr. Zeddemore." Roland nodded. He recentered the railgun on his shoulder and began walking toward the next edge. The Sailor Scout raised an eyebrow as he walked past. After looking over the edge, he looked back, "You coming?" She was rather surprised he was taking the reveal in great stride.

SCREECH! The both of them looked skyward and found several of the Man-Bat creatures overhead. Sailor Mercury activated her VR visor again as Roland armed the railgun, "There're approximately 30 creatures in the air!" A very large hand rose over the ledge of the building and smashed down on the roof right between them. While distracted, a creature swooped out of the air, landed behind Sailor Mercury, and wrapped its arms around her. She screamed in terror…

PLINK! An energy wake and an exploded head was all that was left of the creature. Sailor Mercury winced for a moment as the creature fell, then looked at Roland. The end of the railgun was lined up with the wake, its barrel still glowing from the discharge. The hand on the roof clenched as the Draugr hefted itself up the side of the building. Roland turned on heel and pointed the weapon toward the edge of the roof. As soon as the beast's head was in clear view, the beast spoke, "I will take you to Hel myself!"

"By all means," Roland cocked the weapon, it charging up, "you go first!" Another pull of the trigger, the shot rang out and hit the monster in the eye. A large mass of matter blew out from the back of its head. The beast reached for its eye with the hand that was pulling itself up and fell off the side of the building. When it hit the ground, the building started rumbling. Sailor Mercury looked toward the building with her visor, "The building is starting to collapse!"

Roland looked around. There wasn't much time to be had, so he had to think fast. What would Egon or Dan do? He looked back up and saw more of the creatures overhead. He didn't like the idea, but they were out of options. He started yelling as he armed the rifle again, "Hey, you rabid flying rats!" He discharged the railgun several times in the air hitting a few of the beasts. The swarm began flying toward them, "Roland?" There was a great deal of worry in her voice after she turned and witnessed the Ghostbuster aggravating the airborne threat, "They're going to tear us apart!"

"Wrong!" He got into a ready position putting the rifle on his shoulder, "They're our way down!" A creature began diving down toward him with its talons out and ready to swipe when he jumped toward it and grabbed hold of its legs. The creature squealed and started flying erratically through the air as Roland refused to let go.

Sailor Mercury looked on as the creature tried to fling the Ghostbuster off it, her feeling her heart fluttering in fear if he were to let go. The moment was enough for another creature to grab her much like the other before and hauled her into the sky. She attempted to elbow the beast to get it to let go, but it was a failed effort. She yelled out, "Let go of me, you leather-winged weirdo!" The beast hovered with her in its arms as she struggled.

Roland managed to look down and saw Sailor Mercury struggling, "Amy!" He took a deep breath and released the creature, landing on top of the beast holding her. They all started careening toward the ground, Roland placing the beast in a chokehold while hanging onto the beast's back. The creature beat its wings hard making itself slow its descent.

The Draugr was beginning to pick itself up as the building it was climbing collapsed to the ground. It looked to the sky and saw both of its targets struggling with the creature gliding toward the ground with its one good eye, "Filthy interlopers!"

The Man-Bat creature touched down and started whipping Roland around while still holding onto Sailor Mercury. The Sailor Scout finally had enough, "Let go of me, you creep!" She raised her boot and stomped on the beast's talon causing it to shrek and turn her loose. She stumbled to the pavement of the street. Her visor still running, she began picking herself up when she saw a sudden spike in PKE. She saw a large shadow cover over her as the stench of decay washed over. Looking up, she saw the Draugr walking up and raising it's mace, "Do not interfere!" She rolled over and yelled out to Roland, him still struggling with the winged creature, "Roland, look out!"

Roland turned his attention from the creature he was manhandling to the large hulking mass approaching the both of them. His eyes went wide as the beast swung down toward him and the Man-Bat, "Whoa, mama!" He jumped off and stumbled back as the mace accelerated toward his position. The Man-Bat looked up just in time to screech…

SPLAT! The creature was smashed under the weight of the Draugr's mace, its green guts gushing from under the weapon's mass. The other Man-Bats started swarming from the sky and attacking the Draugr like hornets. While the monsters were distracted with each others' presence, Roland rushed up to Sailor Mercury and picked her up, the two of them turning and running for a safe place soon after.

In an isolated alley, Roland and Sailor Mercury leaned against the wall and panted, sweating profusely as the adrenaline high wore off. Roland especially doubled over and shaking, "My God, I've never done something so… so… stupid in my life! How does Garrett get kicks from something so impetuous and dangerous?" Sailor Mercury went to comment, but something came into her sight. Her visor was still active, and something appeared on the display causing her gasp. She turned to Roland and the signal became stronger. It couldn't be…

"Roland," Sailor Mercury was unsure of how to put it, "Why did you do it if it's not… What I mean is…" "I donno," he stood back up, back to her, "I had this feeling of urgency; that I had to act. Tell me honestly, Amy," he turned to look at her, the symbol of Mercury on the right side of his chest, "I'm one of them. I'm one of these Solar Knights." It was true. The visor over her eyes confirmed her very energy pattern was emanating off of him. The symbol faded as he looked her in the eyes, "I'm Mercury Knight. I don't know how, but I just feel it."

"It's one of the powers the Knights have; they can read the thoughts and feelings of their respective Sailor Scout. I never even mentioned anything aside from…" "...Dan being Jupiter Knight?"

"That would certainly explain it."

Roland looked down to the new voice that entered the alley. He saw two cats; a black one and a white one, both with crescent moon symbols on their heads. Sailor Mercury looked down and deactivated her visor, "Luna! Artemis!"

Roland shook his head, "Am I hallucinating, or did one of those cats just talk?" "It's not a hallucination," Luna sat and looked up, "we are the Sailor Scouts' advisors and guardians. We came here with them, but have been restricted to outside your headquarters." Artemis joined her side and did the same, "Something about two trigger-happy Ghostbusters?"

"Okay," Roland put his hand to the side of his head, "this is weirder than that time Eduardo turned into Kylie's cat." "Uh… how did…?" the white cat began asking when Sailor Mercury stopped him, "You really don't want to know." Luna looked back to her, "Is it true? Is he one of the Knights?"

Sailor Mercury nodded, "Not only that, but we also discovered Eduardo is Venus Knight. He managed to heal Dan's wounds."

Luna blinked hard at that, "Two Knights? On the same day? And both are also Ghostbusters?"

"Excuse me," Roland was losing his patience, "Number one: don't act like I'm not here, and number two: we still have a giant monster right around the corner!" As if on cue, a Man-Bat flew into the alley, but there was something missing on it - one of its wings. It crashed into the alley just ahead of the group. It looked badly injured. Everyone turned their attention to it as Roland armed the railgun again and walked closer.

Artemis was nervous, "Is it dead?" Roland pushed the creature with the barrel of the rifle, then looked back, "I think it's just unconscious." The creature's eyes snapped open and it leapt toward Sailor Mercury. In panic, Roland threw his arm out toward the creature, "NO!" The creature had wound up to slash, Sailor Mercury flinching…

It stopped. It stood still in a frozen pose as steam started to roll off the creature's form in the summer humidity. Sailor Mercury peeked from one of her eyes and saw the creature before her locked in place like a statue. Luna and Aretmis had jumped away during the creature's lunge, but were now confused as the creature stood stiff before them. Luna finally found the words, "W-what happened?"

Roland asked just as confused, "How did…" he looked at the palm of his hand, "Did I do that?" "Yes," Sailor Mercury's voice cracked slightly as she backed away from the creature, "it's one of your incognito powers; you have the power to instantly freeze anything." Artemis walked up to the statue and poked it with his paw. A cracking was heard as the base of the frozen beast snapped and fell over hitting the ground. It shattered causing everyone to jump again. Annoyed, Luna scolded him, "Artemis!" "I didn't know!" the cat said in response.

A shadow enveloped the alley as everyone heard heavy breathing, "You cannot escape me!" They all turned as the Draugr's hand was reaching into the alley towards them. "Clear out!" Roland yelled. He blew off some of the beast's fingers as he began running backwards.

At the opposite end of the alley, the cat guardians and Sailor Mercury exited with Roland coming up the rear. The beast hollered at it's missing fingers as the group of its targets fled, the terrible noise echoing through Tribeca as they ran.

The nearby streets were empty; the buildings abandoned. Crowds could be seen down several streets, but the police erected barriers with their squad cars to keep the people at bay. They were truly alone. Roland looked around the neighborhood and found themselves by 388 Greenwich. The skyscraper was home to Citigroup and was closed because of the earthquake the week before. The building was empty, "This way!" Everyone looked to Roland as he waved them to follow, him quickly turning to the building.

They crossed the public space of the plaza and ran through benches and trees to the main entrance. It was a large amount of open space to cover as creatures started to gather overhead. Roland went to open the door, but found it locked. He charged the railgun and shot the lock causing a shower of sparks to fly from the door. The glass shattered, but he opened the door like normal. Sailor Mercury ran in followed by Luna, but someone was missing. Luna looked around, "Where's Artemis?"

SCREECH! A swarm of creatures descended onto the square as the Sailor Scout, the Cat Guardian, and the Ghostbuster looked outside to the plaza and found Artemis ducked under a bench. One creature swiped at the white cat busting the wood of the bench. He did the best he could to defend himself clawing back at the creature, "Go on! Leave me alone, you Nosferatu wannabe!" He managed to make contact with the monster which only served to anger it. It subsequently swiped extra hard and shattered the cast iron center support of the bench making him shriek, "HELP!"

Roland cocked the rifle again and took aim. He pulled the trigger…

Nothing.

He charged the gun again, but it didn't fire. He looked around the weapon until he quickly figured out what was wrong, "I'm out of power! I don't have any extra Proton Canisters!"

Sailor Mercury heard this and looked back out to the benches in the court, her eyes wide. She yelled out the door as she saw more the creatures begin to encroach, "Hold on, Artemis! I'm coming!" She rushed out and began running to Artemis's position. "Wait, Sailor Mercury!" Luna cried, but it was too late.

"SHINE… AQUA… FREEZING!" Sailor Mercury threw out a massive wave of liquid that created a half shield of ice blocking the other airborne monsters. She jumped into the air and kicked the monster attacking the cat guardian in the chest throwing it into the ice wall knocking it out. After a tuck and roll, she reached under the bench, "Come on!" Artemis ran out of the underside of the bench and into her arms.

They turned and began heading to the building when the ground started shaking. A large mace crashed into the ground before them blocking their escape into the building. Sailor Mercury jumped back only to be scooped up into the Draugr's damaged hand. With the beast's missing fingers, it didn't have a good grip on her upper body. She released Artemis toward the ground, "Run, Artemis! Run!"

Back at the building entrance Roland and Luna looked on helpless as they watched the Draugr lift the Sailor Scout up. Roland watched her struggle, "W-what do we do?! What do we do?!" "You have to go out there and save her!" Luna shouted. The Ghostbuster looked down panicked, "How?! The railgun is dead and I don't have any other equipment!" He peered back out the door watching the horror unfold, "What am I supposed to fight that thing with?"

"With this!" Roland looked over and watched as the black cat jumped and backflipped into the air. At the peak of the flip a bright flash emanated and an object materialized. It fell making Roland reach out and grab it out of the air. He opened his hand and found a silver metal necklace with a symbol representing the Greek God Hermes. He cocked an eyebrow, "What's this?"

Luna looked up to him, "It's the gateway to your power! Quickly, say, 'Mercury Knight Supremacy'!" In a confusing tone, he repeated the line, "Mercury Knight Supremacy?" WOOSH! A curtain of glistening steam shot from the ground around him enveloping him. He screamed in terror...

The struggling Sailor Scout was hefted up as she came face to face with the beast. It spoke to her, "You are like the other; the other who fought my Kin. I shall devour you!" The monster's jaws opened as Sailor Mercury looked down the beast's gullet. She began screaming as it began moving her towards its mouth.

Artemis had stood there the whole time, too terrified to run. He watched as the beast was about to eat Sailor Mercury desperately hoping he could think of something to do to stop the monster, but alas, "God, someone help her!"

"MERCURY… HYDRO… WHIP!" What looked like a stream of water flew out of the air and struck the monster square in the head. The beast fell over and hit the ground dropping Sailor Mercury out of its hand. She rolled roughly 10 feet from the beast's hand, but quickly pushed herself up to see what just happened.

Artemis watched the whole event play before him and now he was standing in shock of what he witnessed, "What was that?" He turned in the direction the stream originated.

The beast growled as it pushed itself up and started looking around with its good eye, "Who dares strike me? Show yourself you wretch!"

"Sorry, ugly, but Sailor Scout isn't on the menu!" A rolling fog began pouring from behind the monster as boots could be heard walking on the pavement. From out of the fog bank walked a man wearing a dark blue long coat trimmed in a lighter blue. Under the coat the figure wore a gunmetal grey armor chest plate, legs clad in armor plating, and slacks in matching color to the coat under the armor. Protruding from the back of the coat was a sword hilt. The man raised one arm showing his hand covered in a chainmail glove, his other chainmail-clad hand raising to the cuff of the glove to pull it tighter over the hand. On one of the forearms was a small screen and it glowed aquamarine blue in color. On the sleeve of the blue leather coat was the symbol of the planet Mercury. Sailor Mercury was in awe, "Roland…"

Mercury Knight had made the scene.