Senshi Sabers

Chapter 27

Usagi Tsukino listened as Madigan told the tale, her expression thoughtful. The blonde officer's long hair glinted as she leaned forward, "The greatest product of Infinity's research? Are you certain that's what the bio-boomer said?"

"Yes," Madigan growled, the purple haired woman still entombed in safety foam. "Now get me out of this!"

"Will do," Naru said as the brown haired woman helped peel back the clinging material, assisted by Minako Aino and her attractive girlfriend.

Madigan hissed in pain as they hit skin, peeling off dried foam from her clothes and flesh. "This hurts," she hissed through grit teeth.

"We can wait for the solvent if you like," Minako offered mildly as she pulled more material away from around her legs.

"No way in hell," Madigan yelped, "there could be more of those things coming."

Makoto Kino took a half step backwards, activating the small throat mike she usually wore. "Makoto to base, anyone there?" she murmured, the tall brown haired woman making sure she was far enough away not to be overheard.

"Rei here," the voice came through a concealed ear piece, "Ami left me holding the fort. Everything okay?"

"Fine so far," Makoto answered. "You recording everything Madigan says?"

"Yep," Rei agreed, "I think Ami will be very interested, even if it just confirms that our enemy is Mistress Nine."

"Any bio-boomers around?" Makoto asked, a bit nervous without her armor on.

"Not that we're picking up," Rei answered honestly.

"Good," Makoto said, "we'll finish up here then check in as soon as possible."

Usagi saw her move back, but focused her attention on Madigan. "So, it kidnapped you from the club and was carting you off to a unknown destination," she summarized. "Any idea why?"

"I can't tell you," Madigan answered flatly, "not without a immunity from prosecution."

Usagi and Naru exchanged a look, wide eyed. "What did you do?" Naru had to ask, settling back on her heels as she studied the older woman.

"Developed science," Madigan said flatly, "and that's all I'm saying."

Usagi studied her a moment, "I'm going to have to bump it up to my Captain and the DA's office. There's no way I can make that kind of deal."

"Then that's all you're getting from me," Madigan answered as the emergency teams finally arrived with the gear to free her from her foam prison.

Minako got up and backed away with Makoto to give the emergency teams room. "Did you get all that?" she asked quietly.

"Every word," Makoto agreed. "I wonder what Madigan did that she's so worried about now?"

A visibly tired Usagi watched the teams finally dissolve the foam, almost wishing it had taken them longer to arrive. She, too, was wondering what Madigan was hiding, and to be honest she doubted her bosses would make a deal. Turning away she walked over to where Minako stood and said, "Good work you two."

"Glad to help," Makoto smiled.

"I won't press on how you just happened to be in the area," Usagi added with a slight smile, "I don't think I want to know."

"Do I need to come in and make a report?" Minako asked with a sigh.

"No, it should be fine," Usagi said after a moment, "you were off duty. I'll need you to sign a statement in the morning."

"Will do," Minako nodded.

"So can we go?" Makoto asked politely. She smiled faintly, "This kind of interrupted our night out, if you know what I mean...:

"Have fun," Usagi waved them off then walked back to where Naru was watching as the emergency team loaded Madigan into the ambulance.

"She hasn't said anything else," Naru reported without any prompting, "in fact she's been pretty damn quiet."

"Think the bosses will make a deal, find out what she knows?" Usagi asked quietly as the van buttoned up and was off.

"Not likely," Naru sighed.

"Yeah," Usagi said as they filmed the site for later use in their investigations, "I didn't think so either." She frowned and asked, "Anyone get the identification of the truck the Senshi Sabers used to ram them with?"

"A truck belonging to Silky Doll lingerie," Naru answered with a shrug, "probably stolen."

"Probably," Usagi agreed, even though she was frowning slightly.

Not long after that very same truck was returning to the Silky Doll, pulling into the ramp and descending into the underground base. Haruka Tenoh was a little sheepish as Ami Mizuno finished lecturing her. "I am sorry, Miss Mizuno," she said quietly, "I hadn't stopped to consider how using the truck to ram them could put you in danger."

"We'll have to take out a regular delivery truck of mine and smash it up then abandon it," Ami said as they climbed out, "or the police will be here checking us out."

"I can do it," Haruka volunteered seriously.

"No," Ami shook her head, "I'll contact Setsuna. I'm sure she can subcontract it in such a way to hide any connection to me or her."

The phone call was quickly made. Setsuna sounding rather amused by the whole situation. "I warned you about the two of them," she chuckled.

"All right, I told you so has been said," Ami sighed, "can you do it?"

"Leave the truck outside on the north side of the building, no keys," Setsuna told her seriously, "my contact will do the rest."

"They won't...," Ami started to ask.

"No questions," Setsuna said, "you don't want to know." She relented after a moment, "I promise it won't be used for anything too bad."

"Gee, thanks," Ami sighed as they disconnected.

While they were talking Rei Hino had taken charge, the black haired young woman supervising the unloading the armored suits from the truck. "I was monitoring from here," she congratulated Michiru, "good job."

"Thank you," Michiru smiled shyly.

Rei gave Haruka a smile too, "I don't know if I would have rammed them with a truck, but I have to concede it was pretty effective."

"What would you have done?" Haruka asked curiously as they saw Ami talking.

Rei thought about it as they loaded up the suits on the racks, "I'd have also tried to crash the car, probably. Sniper shot to the hood would have worked."

"Hmm," Haruka nodded after a moment. "Maybe when Miss Mizuno gets my suit ready, I'll be able to do that too."

Ami put her phone back, frowning as Rei hung one of the helmets one handed, her cast covered arm still confined in it's sling. Wisely she didn't comment, well aware of the woman's pride. "Good work, everyone," she said after a moment, "looks like we prevented a murder."

Rei hesitated, "Do you want the bad news?"

"Let's hear it," Ami sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"I heard over the police band that three other former Infinity staffers were either kidnapped or killed tonight," Rei said seriously, "the AD Police have confirmed they're all former staffers but that's all the connection they've found."

"It can't just be about revenge," Ami mused, frowning, "Mistress Nine could have pulled something like this any time. What is she after?"

"What if they're connected to Nine, somehow?" Rei offered. "They might know something useful about her."

"She's cleaning up after herself," Michiru said, tilting her head to the side questioningly, "making sure her secrets are kept safe?"

Ami was nodding slowly, "It makes a certain amount of sense."

"So what do we do about it?" Haruka offered, spreading her hands in question.

"I get back on the computer and do more digging," Ami said, frowning slightly, "and look for any former or current Infinity staff who were around for Nine's creation."

"You two get to bed," Rei instructed Haruka and Michiru, "it's past midnight already." She took Ami's arm, "You too."

"But I need to get on that research," Ami protested.

"If you do it sleep deprived," Rei murmured to her softly, "how many more mistakes are you going to end up making?"

Ami hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "You're right, damn it," she admitted. "Radio Minako and Makoto, let them know they're off for the night too," she added.

"I'll do it," Haruka said, trotting over to the control panel.

"Come on," Rei led Ami to the elevator leading up to the shop and the apartment Ami maintained above it. "Sorry I jumped in like that," Rei added quietly.

"You were right to," Ami conceded, sighing.

Rei put her hand on Ami's shoulder and squeezed as she said, "What happened to those other Infinity staffers was not your fault, Ami."

"Reading my mind, now?" Ami smiled faintly. "I just feel like I should be doing more," she sighed softly.

"We're doing everything we can," Rei hugged her awkwardly with her broken arm, "you can't ask for anything more from yourself,."

"Thanks," Ami hugged her back, sighing.

To be continued...