An Eye For An Eye
Chapter 1: "Call To Action"
A Neo-Sailor Moon fanfic

By Bill K.

Sailor Moon and all related characters are (c)2013 by Naoko Takeuchi and are used without permission, but with respect. Story is (c)2013 by Bill K.


"And the entire situation is very distressing to me," the vid-stream of Queen Serenity said. She had consented to be interviewed by a leading member of the international press, with Luna surreptitiously sitting in the background. During the interview, she had consciously brought up the growing world problem of the misuse of cybernetic body parts. "I can't understand how someone could do such things to themselves."

"You're referring to the illicit augmentation of humans through cybernetic replacement parts?" the reporter clarified. Luna noticed the gleam in his eye and watched the situation intently, ready to intercede if Serenity allowed her passion to overtake her judgment.

"Yes," Serenity nodded. Everyone watching could see she was genuinely, visibly upset. "How someone could replace part of their own body with - - cold metal and printed circuitry is just beyond me."

"You've been a very vocal critic of cybernetic augmentation for much of your life," noted the reporter. "Why is that?"

Serenity exhaled. "I've seen what it can do," she replied. "I've seen how it can be misused."

"You're referring to the self-styled champion of artificial life, Viluy?"

"I've had several run-ins with her over the years," Serenity related with distaste. "She was and is a very brilliant woman, but one who just - - doesn't understand the sanctity of human life. She doesn't understand what a miraculous gift human life is. And these people who do this don't understand, either."

"Cybernetic replacement has been hailed as a cure for people with physical deformities and afflictions, particularly in cases where cellular tissue regeneration is inapplicable or unavailable."

"I understand that these things can do good," Serenity replied. Luna noted that she was as grave and as serious as the cat could ever remember the Queen being. "Anything, when used to help someone overcome an affliction or a difficulty is a good thing. But cutting someone's arm off and replacing it with an artificial arm that can fire lasers isn't a good thing. It's wrong. It doesn't help."

"The people doing the surgery would claim that the people they're augmenting are benefiting by being able to survive and protect themselves in a dangerous environment," the reporter suggested. Serenity gave him a dubious look.

"Even I don't believe that," Serenity said. "Anyone who does that to another person, whether for money or for misguided political or social philosophy, is mistaken about what is justified in the world. You don't consciously do that to another human being. And anyone who thinks getting an artificial body part to make them stronger or faster makes them a better person is fooling themselves. Being a better person begins in here." She put her hands over her heart. "By loving people and caring for them and helping them. That's how you become a better person. It's not easy, but it is the only way. That other way is just a false hope that can only lead to tragedy."

Usa and Hotaru sat in a café on the Promenade, casually dining and chatting while the interview played on a large video screen on one of the walls. Usa, disguised by using a miniature holographic image distortion unit, would glance at the video screen from time to time. To the others in the café, she looked like a young woman with fine black hair running down her back and gathered at the shoulders. Usa did it only so she and Hotaru could have a day out without being constantly approached by fans and thrill-seekers. For her part, Hotaru realized that Usa's attention had wandered to her mother when the interview first came on and suspended the conversation to allow her friend to watch.

"You can always tell when Mom feels strongly about something," Usa grinned. "You know, she actually had Luna set this interview up."

"Really?" Hotaru replied. "Queen Serenity usually doesn't seek out publicity."

"She does when something's bothering her," Usa explained. "And when she heard about what was going on in the Americas and Africa with people beginning to get augmented, well that just set her off."

"She feels that strongly?"

"Well, it's been a problem every so often," Usa shrugged. "Every hundred to two hundred years, it seems like somebody gets the idea to start cybernetically augmenting humans because they want to build a super-army or they see humongous profits in it. And it always seems to erupt into some regional conflict between humans and cyborgs until finally a local government bans cybernetic augmentation and it dies down - - until the next time."

"And her encounters with Viluy haven't helped," Hotaru concluded. "Viluy isn't behind all of this, is she?"

"No, I checked with Pluto," Usa shook her head. "Viluy is still trapped in that time loop and couldn't possibly be behind it. Of course, she wasn't the only one capable of designing and using cybernetic tech. That's been a constant through the years, too."

Usa grinned suddenly. Hotaru gave her a silent query.

"There is one good thing from all of this," Usa explained. "Mom's not pestering me with wedding plans."

"I haven't understood your reaction to this at all," Hotaru commented. "I thought marrying Helios was your dream."

Usa exhaled. "It is," she admitted. "But I want to marry him when WE want to. I want it to be OUR idea, not hers. I don't want to marry Helios just because she hasn't arranged a wedding in, like, fifteen minutes and she's going through withdrawal. THANKFULLY this came up. I pity those poor people who are adversely affected by it, but it sure took the heat off of me."

"Poor little Princess," Hotaru mockingly sighed.

"Oh, shut up," Usa smirked.


The day after the Queen's public appearance, Ves entered the quarters she shared with the other Amazon Senshi and reflexively scanned the room for trouble. It was an old habit from her days on the streets. All she found, though, was Palla-Palla absorbed in the millionth viewing of an episode of "Yumi-Chan's Toy Shop". Jun and Cere weren't there.

She had been in the palace gym, working out. In addition to her senshi training, Ves worked out religiously for one hour every day - - two if she could squeeze it in. A towel was draped over her neck. Her skin glistened with perspiration and the close-fitting tank top and workout shorts were stuck to her body. To anyone looking at her, though, she didn't seem tired. She seemed alive.

"So where is everybody?" Ves grunted. She waited for Palla-Palla to respond, and Palla-Palla waited for an appropriate break in the program.

"Jun-Jun is in the library, studying for her mid-term test," Palla-Palla reported. "She says you should be doing the same."

"Jun worries too much," Ves sneered. "And I guess Cere is out drooling over that skinny artist?"

"No, Cere is in the garden caring for the pretty flowers and trees," Palla-Palla told her. "She says you should be studying, too, and maybe if you did you'd know what an 'A' looks like."

"Priss," huffed Ves. "I'm going to hit the shower."

Palla-Palla nodded and turned her attention back to Miss Yumi-Chan and Bun-Bun. After twenty minutes, Ves emerged clean and refreshed. She wore her pressure pants and a loose top. Palla-Palla was still absorbed with Yumi-Chan and Ves couldn't tell if it was a different episode or the same one over again. They all looked alike to her.

"You going to watch that all day?" Ves asked.

"No," Palla-Palla replied. "PKE class is at four. Palla-Palla can't be late. Sensei will be mad."

"It's only two thirty now."

"That's right," Palla-Palla replied. Ves expelled a breath. "You got a video message while you were in the shower."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Ves-Ves needed a shower," Palla-Palla scowled. "You were stinky."

Dismissing the comment, Ves went to her computer station and brought up the message. The code on the end of the file indicated that the message was from Brasilia. Hitting play, the face of Ves's old friend from Sao Paulo, Sancha, appeared on the screen. Instantly Ves's senses went on alert. Sancha was visibly upset.

"Vanessa!" Sancha said urgently. "They've got him! They've got my little Jaime! Please, you've got to come! I need your help!"

So involved with the message was she that Ves didn't notice until that moment Palla-Palla standing next to her. The message ended and the screen went back to saver mode.

"Who is Jaime?" Palla-Palla asked innocently.

"Sancha's little boy," Ves said, bolting from the chair. She crossed over to her room and emerged moments later stuffing a transaction card into her back pocket. "She and Martin got married and she had a son about six months ago."

"Take Palla-Palla with you," Palla-Palla said suddenly. Ves stopped and stared at her. "You're going to Brasilia to help your friend, Miss Sancha-Ma'am. Palla-Palla wants to go, too. She wants to help."

"Don't take this wrong, Palla-Palla," Ves said, gripping her sister's arms for emphasis. "I'm going to be traveling fast and light. You'd only slow me down. So would anybody else."

"You're not going to get the King's permission?" Palla-Palla gasped, reading Ves's plans telepathically.

"I can't," Ves told her. "I don't have time for permission and red tape. Brasilia's half a world away and Sancha needs help now. I have to go NOW."

"But Ves-Ves," whimpered Palla-Palla.

"Look, Sancha's in trouble and I have to help her, just like if you were in trouble. I'd have to help you. The way you can help me is keep quiet about this and cover for me here. OK?"

Palla-Palla stared at her, on the verge of tears. But finally she nodded. Ves leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, then raced out the door, leaving her sister behind.

"Please don't get hurt, Ves-Ves," Palla-Palla said to herself. "Palla-Palla wouldn't like that at all."


Hotaru exhaled with fatigue as she exited the palace infirmary. Another afternoon interning as a medical assistant was done and while she wouldn't trade the experience she was gaining for anything, it could be exhausting at times. And things would get even worse because she had just qualified for the Tokyo University viral pre-med course of study. It would be a lot of time spent hitting the books.

"Memory crystals," she reminded herself. Books, while they still existed, were relics of the twenty-first century, like she sometimes still was. And this was the thirtieth century.

And the time spent learning and studying was even longer now than the twenty-first century, due to all of the medical advances between then and now. It would occupy a lot of her time, time she used to spend with her friends - - and Yutaka.

As if by design, Hotaru came across Yutaka in the corridor on the way to her quarters. The waif's face lit up upon seeing him, matched only by the joy on his face at seeing her.

"Hi, Hotaru," he said, instantly seizing her hands. She looked up at him and smiled. "It's so good to see you. It seems like we hardly see each other anymore, what with my engineering studies and all. I've missed you."

"I've missed you," she echoed. "How are things going?"

"I'm getting it," the youth shrugged. "Pulled a few 'A's. Mostly 'B's, though. I guess I'll just have to work harder. How about you? When do you start pre-med?"

"Next week," she told him, "unless a senshi emergency comes up." Hotaru wanted to ask Yutaka something, but even now her chronic shyness made her chest tighten. "Y-Yutaka," she began. "Would you - - well, like to go out? Tonight?"

"I wish I could," Yutaka sighed, crestfallen. "I've got lab tonight." He brightened. "I'm free tomorrow."

"I have infirmary duty and then senshi practice," Hotaru sighed.

"This is so lousy!" fumed Yutaka. "We hardly get to see each other anymore!"

"I don't like it either," Hotaru moaned. They stood awkwardly for a moment.

"You want to at least grab a bite at the cafeteria?" Yutaka offered. "It's not much, but it's something."

"I'd rather spend a half hour with you than do anything else," Hotaru smiled. "Let me just page Michiru-Mama and tell her not to hold dinner for me."

And as the two headed down the corridor for their "date" in the noisy palace cafeteria, Hotaru began to wonder if maybe there was something she might trade her medical studies for after all.


Haneda Intercontinental Transportation Port was Crystal Tokyo's hub for all sub-orbital intercontinental stratospheric craft. Flights for all seven continents arrived and departed from this point, connecting with every major city on the planet.

Landing her air car in the Port's storage hangar, Ves got out and headed for the departure gate. It was at that point she came to a realization.

"I don't have the money for a sub-orbital flight to Brasilia," Ves thought. "And even if I did, the minute the transaction went through, King Endymion's computer would know about it. Or it would find out when my passport was scanned. He might stop me."

As passengers flooded past her, intent upon their destinations, Ves stood in the middle of the concourse and puzzled the problem out. Reaching a decision, she headed for one of the Port's restrooms.

"Vesta Crystal Power Make Up!" she called out. Seconds later her transformation into Sailor Vesta was complete. "Fauna Assimilation - - mouse!"

Transforming into a brown field mouse, Vesta scurried to the door. She had to stand up on her hind legs in order to be tall enough to trip the sensor that opened the door. Once out on the concourse, she hugged the walls and made her way out onto the launch pad for the intercontinental ship that would take her to Sao Paulo.

"Fauna Assimilation - - falcon!" the mouse said and transformed into a falcon.

Launching into the air, Vesta flew up alongside the ship, searching for a way on. The passenger dock was enclosed to protect the boarding passengers from the elements. Besides, if she flew in through the passenger portal, she would be noticed. Banking around the ship, she momentarily considered the fuel portal, but dismissed it as too dangerous. Then her keen falcon sight spotted the cargo bay.

Angling her flight toward the cargo portal, Vesta approached and looked for a way in. The cargo conveyor was enclosed as well to protect against the elements. However, the enclosure wasn't as complete as it was for the boarding passengers. Vesta approached the top of the covering.

"Fauna Assimilation - - squirrel!" the falcon said.

Transforming into a squirrel, Vesta acrobatically landed on the hood over the conveyor and scrambled across to the side. There were several open air panels in the covering and Vesta deftly squeezed through one. Once inside the conveyor covering, she dived down onto the cargo and hid between two bags until she was inside the ship.

Once inside, Vesta scurried out of the hold and into the part of the ship that would be pressurized. For a moment she thought about bluffing her way into the passenger section, but decided that there was too much risk of discovery. Then she recalled that there was a section in all intercontinental ships where animals were housed. She spent the next twenty minutes surreptitiously searching the ship for that section, hiding to avoid discovery on several occasions.

Only through her experience in clandestine searching of strange places, which she learned as a pre-teen burglarizing houses in Sao Paulo, did she find the section at all. Tripping the door sensor, Vesta scurried into the room and looked around. There were storage cages lining the room, but only two were occupied. The dogs that occupied them immediately started barking at her. Vesta ignored them and sought out a secure place to curl up and wait out the flight.

"With the other animals," she thought morbidly.

Minutes later, Vesta felt the ship lift off from Haneda Port. She was on her way to Sao Paulo. With any luck, she would complete the flight without being discovered and be in her old haunts in several hours.

Hopefully Sancha, Martin and little Jaime could hold out that long. Hopefully whatever was menacing them was something she could deal with.

Hopefully it wasn't already too late.

Continued in Chapter 2