Chapter 7
The next several days were also chaotic. As the young sailor senshi was helping care for the restored children, there was a shift in warriors who would fight this battle. Mars and Jadeite were switched for Jupiter and Nephrite to care for the children as Makoto was found to be with child. She started showing signs of morning sickness days after the switch. With this change, the team started making a new strategy to try and protect their own vulnerable population.
It was a week later when the next attack occurred. With better preparation, thanks to Chibi Usa's information and additional details provided by both Nariko and Yua, they were able to capture and restore the minds of the brainwashed individuals. The brainwashed victims were the future Sailor Mars, one of her brothers who was training to become a young Shittenou, and another younger child of the King and Queen of Mars.
Upon their healing and restoration from the evil that attempted to possess them, the three siblings were out cold for almost two days before waking up. The warriors of the past were surprised to see the brother hovering close to the two sleeping girls who he was ready to fiercely protect. It was his mother and father of the past who were able to put him at ease and finally feel like he was safe once more.
"Jadeite is my name," spoke the young man as he sat quietly talking to Rei and young teen had dark hair like Rei and blue eyes like Jadeite. His personality was a good mix of the two. His fierce loyalty to the crown and family came from both of his parents. "My mother insisted I be given my father's battle name to preserve the history of our legacy."
"And your sisters? What are their names?" questioned the priestess. She sat calmly in her robe and listened carefully.
"My oldest sister, who is still asleep, is named Sakura. Dad always likes taking her to see the cherry blossoms in the spring. He always calls her his cherry blossom. My other little sister who is beside her is named Hotaru."
"Just like Sailor Saturn?"
The young man shrugged his shoulders. "Dad always called her his little firefly, even when in the womb. I remember seeing him do that when he found out mom was pregnant again."
The young couple smiled compassionately. Though their relationship seemed to start out rocky, it sounded like things smoothed out rather nicely. Either way, they welcomed the young Jadeite to remain with them. When Chibi Rei saw her older brother, she climbed in his arms and didn't let go for a long while. This told the young married couple their children had a good, harmonious relationship as siblings.
The door to the room was knocked on.
When Jay opened it, he saw Mamoru and Kendal waiting to enter. When they did, the men sat on the ground giving their greetings to the young teen who finally woke before addressing his soon to be parents.
"The new housing set up is almost ready. We will be making the move soon," confirmed the lead Shittenou.
"Please pack whatever you need," spoke Mamoru. "The longer we wait to move, the easier it will be for us to be caught off guard from future attacks."
"Would you like for us to teleport to the new location?" questioned Jay.
Kendal nodded. "Yes. This should be a quick and easy way to get to our new safehouse without being noticed."
"Excuse me.."
The men turned to see the teenage male as he gave a sheepish look.
"Yes?" asked Kunzite.
"You will be using and encouraging the other Shittenou to use the teleportation travel signature you leave to help the other men find where you are, right?"
Kendal's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about this?"
"Your future self taught the new Shittenou recruits this technique. My brothers in training and I learned how to use this ability a few years before the attack that changed everything," shared the future son of Jadeite. The young man almost seemed nervous sharing the truth, but Mamoru gave a smile.
"Thanks for letting us know," Mamoru smiled, "Anything you can help add to the intelligence of this enemy or who we will soon be facing would be appreciated."
The young man nodded and paused. He then shared, "There are three other Shittenou who know how to track energy signatures from teleporting. If they can be saved like I was, then it would be easier to evade the enemy." He felt a chill come over him before continuing, "The boss can become rather possessive when he loses a person from his collection. He tends to go to great lengths to try and get them back."
It left a grave warning.
They might see the big boss intervening soon. And it was not going to be pretty. So much for a peaceful transition to their new hiding place–
"Mamoru!"
With big smiles and what looked like a trading card in hand, Usagi and Minako ran in.
"We just heard from the Sailor Starlights! Seiya will be joining our ranks soon to help!" explained the young queen cheerfully, "The Starlight's were such a huge help against Galaxia in the last cosmic war."
"We sure can use all the help we can get!" nodded Minako.
Rei, on the other hand, was not so sure, especially after what her future children told her and Jay. Perhaps… just maybe they were the ones behind all this? She wasn't sure. She needed to reflect on the evidence a bit more.
"Do we know when Seiya is arriving?" questioned Mamoru. He remembered that individual trying to steal away his bride in part years when he went off to university overseas followed by his kidnapping and death by Galaxia. There was still some silent resentment from that time period.
Usagi shrugged. "I'm not sure. All I recovered was a trading card which is what he would provide me with to relay a message." She shared it with the group to see the image.
Rei felt a chill run down her spine. It was a picture of four Sailor Star Crystals.
—
The evening rolled on and the young future Shittenou, whose name was shortened to Jade, started helping with the chores around the temple as the older men and women took shifts to keep eyes out for any attackers.
His sisters still had not woken up.
Rei was helping get Chibi Rei ready for bed when she felt a strange energy enter the courtyard of the temple. That same chill from earlier in the day returned. She immediately transformed and began rushing to her battle position. Ami and Zach observe her fleeing to the outdoors transformed, to which they both followed in pursuit. They observed Sailor Mars as she looked around and stared at different corners of the property. "We are surrounded," she spoke.
Mercury took that cue to open her communicator. "Senshi, we are under atta–" Her sentence was left unfinished as a rush of energy pushed her twenty feet back into the temple wall..
"MERCURY!"
Her husband was quick to rush after her but was hit himself with another force quite different from what his wife was hit with. He glared and swiftly went into position charging his own attack. Before he could send it in retaliation, he felt his heart clench and twist as a young woman stepped out of the shadows.
She was the mirror image of her mother, Ami.
It was his daughter, his future child, with dead looking eyes.
Author's Note: It's been a while! Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Suggestions and predictions are always welcome. :)