SAILOR JOURNEYS: SECRETS OF AN UNKNOWN PAST
Chapter 9: The Rainbow mission.
Ami and Alex were quietly discussing some aspects of multi-dimensional physics
after the Advanced Calculus session, when an alarm chimed on the desk at
Yohann's studio.
"Well, it seems that the mainframe finished the reintegration." Commented Alex.
Immediately linking to the desk, she confirmed the information. "Yep, it's
ready. Shall we go to see what we have now?"
"Ok. I'll take the opportunity to check some files. I want to know how your
organization achieved those mathematical tools." Answered Ami.
"Ami, you're impossible! Does your thirst for knowledge knows no end?"
Ami giggled a little, but decided not to answer that question. "Come on. Let's
go." And with that, they went back to the Computers room to check their latest
results.
A couple of minutes later, they were in front of Memory Bank C. "Well,
according to this readings, a new cyberspace environment was created after the
compiling program finished its work." Explained Ami. "However, if I read this
right, there's a big quantity of data that was discharged here as well, but now
it's missing." She concluded.
"Strange... What's the size of the missing data?" asked Alex.
"Hold on." After pushing some keys on the mainframe, Ami got her answer. "About
400 terabytes."
"Four hundred? Strange, that's about my own size. Are you sure?"
'"Of course. What are you thinking?"
Alex remained silent for a moment, and later she said. "I think that you better
call everybody here. I have a bad feeling about this." And before Ami could ask
anything else, Alex added. "This could be extremely dangerous, Ami! Come on,
call them!"
One hour later, the whole of the team was together, along with Kenji, Ikuko and
Akane. They were together in the living room, wondering what was all about. A
moment later, Ami joined them with Alex on her compact. "Sorry for calling you
this suddenly, but it seems that we have a problem here."
"What happened, Ami?" asked Mamoru. He was sitting next to Usagi, holding her
hands.
"I'll tell them, whiz kid." Said Alex. "You see, thanks to an idea of hers, we
were able to finally decipher the files we obtained from Cryssalid. They were
in reality the data to form the operating system of the base, complete with a
cyberspace environment. But the problem is... that a big bulk of the data is
now missing. We don't know where is it."
"What's the size of the missing data, girls?" asked Yohann.
"About four hundred terabytes. Alex mentioned that's about her own size."
Answered Ami.
Everybody felt silent after her revelation. Suddenly, Makoto asked. "But what's
the meaning of that? I mean, it's not anything dangerous, right?"
"That's what puzzles us, Makoto." Said Ami. "It could be anything, and until we
know what we're dealing with here, I suggest that we stay on our toes."
"So you really think it's dangerous?" asked Minako, puzzled.
But before anyone could answer that, the TV screen on the living room turned on
by itself, and a very familiar voice was heard from the speakers. "Well, well,
well... looks like you are having a party here and I wasn't invited. And I
thought we were friends after all the time we spent together!"
Everybody looked at the screen, shocked. Ami began to walk away from it,
sitting near her mother and hugging her fiercely, her face without a trace of
blood on it. Alex immediately downloaded into Yohann's belt. The adults looked
at them, puzzled, not knowing why everybody looked so spooked. It was Haruka
the one that answered their mute question.
Looking at the screen with hate in her eyes, she muttered one word.
"Cauldron..."
"Oh, I'm glad you remember me, Sailor Uranus. You put quite a show back there.
And for the rest of you, I don't know how to thank you for taking me out of
there. This world offers so many opportunities for me, you know?"
"You failed once, Cauldron." Said Yohann, immediately activating his armor.
"We'll make sure you won't succeed now."
"And how are you planning to do that, MeRMAid? I'm in control of your base
now!" taunted Cauldron.
'Alex, go to the mainframe and seal all the output ports. I want to keep him
confined here.' Ordered Yohann. Without answering, Alex did what she was told.
"We are more resourceful than you imagine, Cauldron. We'll defeat you." He said
in loud voice.
"We'll see, MeRMAid, we'll see... now, what shall I do with you all? You
already know my plans you so rudely interrupted regarding your blue-haired
genius." When he said that, Akane embraced her daughter in a protective manner.
"Oh, I know! Let's have a little fun, shall we? And as my first act..." He
began to show a medical report on the screen, deleting the name of the patient
from it.
Everybody looked at it with great interest. It showed that this person was
taking anti-pregnancy drugs, and some other medical facts. Akane gasped when
she recognized the data displayed.
"Now, can anybody tell me who's report this is? Come on, it's an easy one!"
taunted Cauldron. After a moment of silence, he continued. "You are no fun, you
know? Ok, I'll show you." Then, in big letters, appeared the missing line of
the report.
MEDICAL REPORT. LEVEL 1
PATIENT DESIGNATION: TSUKINO USAGI.
Everybody looked at Mamoru and Usagi, whom felt uncomfortable after the sudden
attention they were receiving. But no one was more shocked than...
"KENJI!!" screamed Ikuko. The poor man looked like he was having a heart
attack: pale, sweating and panting, while holding his hand on his chest. He was
pointing one trembling finger towards Mamoru, a killer look on his eyes.
"Cauldron!! Stop this! It's not funny!" exclaimed Minako, getting ready to
transform and smash the TV screen to bits.
"For me, it is! And now, for my second act... let's see if you can guess who's
report is this one." The screen began to show, again with the name of the
patient deleted, the medical data of another one of the girls, showing what she
kept secret from them all.
"No one knows our mystery guest here?" asked Cauldron. "Ok, I'll show you
again..." This time, everybody gasped when they read the name and the
subsequent data.
MEDICAL REPORT. LEVEL 1
PATIENT DESIGNATION: HINO REI.
DIAGNOSIS: THREE-MONTH PREGNANCY.
ADDITIONAL DATA: TWINS DETECTED
Everyone stood unmoving, transfixed by the seriousness of the situation.
Suddenly, someone's sobbing broke the silence. Everybody looked around, and saw
Rei crying. She felt violated, her most intimate secret was now in the open!
Laurella stared at the screen, growling. "Cauldron... you're going down, even
if it's the last thing I do!"
"Oh, yes? And how are you planning to do that? I'm a computer program,
remember? You can't touch me!" taunted Cauldron. "And now, as my final act...
you are going to love this one!" But before he could show anything else, the
screen began to flash rapidly. "NO!! YOU AGAIN!?!?!" screamed Cauldron. "Very
well, you win this round, but don't feel so comfortable. I'll win in the long
run! And remember this... your precious Sailor Mercury will be mine in the end!
I, Cauldron, promise that!" With that as his farewell, he disappeared.
A moment later, Alex was back on Yohann's armor. "Sorry, sweetbuns. He escaped
using one of the phone lines before I could completely isolate him. What
happened here?"
"Cauldron used the data from the medcom for his own twisted benefit." Answered
Yohann. "Fortunately, you stopped him before he could cause any more damage."
Suddenly, an inhuman cry was heard, and they all saw Kenji jumping towards
Mamoru, his face a mask of hatred. "YOU!!" he screamed, "I'LL REAP YOUR HEART
OUT!!". It took the combined strength of Makoto, Ikuko, Michiru, Shingo and
Usagi to contain him. Mamoru was frozen in his place, not knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, Laurella, Setsuna, Robin and Minako were surrounding Rei, trying to
console her. The Senshi of Mars was crying, her hands covering her face. She
was curled on the sofa, like trying to shield herself from the outer world.
Haruka, meanwhile, approached the TV screen and, without a word, smashed the
apparatus. "This is the bottom line. I'm going to smash those computers with my
own hands!" She then began to walk towards the pool entrance, when Yohann
grabbed her gently by the arm. "Let me go, Yohann. I have to do this." She
muttered, her voice with a steel edge.
"No, Haruka. I won't." said Yohann. "That's exactly what Cauldron want you to
do. Look around you." She then took a good look, and understood. "Yes, Haruka.
By doing what he did, he succeeded in breaking our mutual confidence. That's
the oldest strategy in the book... his specialty."
"Very well... you are right. What do you suggest we do now?" asked Haruka, a
look of doubt still on her eyes.
"First, try to calm everyone and get things back to order. Second, we all have
to plan an attack course against Cauldron. Third, try to find out where's the
next place we have to visit." And deactivating his armor, he added. "Let's go,
Haruka. There's too much to do, and too little time."
And with those words, they put hands to work...
* * * *
2 days later...
All the girls were together at the living room. The last days had been hectic
to say the least. First, they had to convince Kenji that his daughter's
situation was being handled with all responsibility, and the ensuing debate was
somewhat tense, but in the end, the man saw the reality of the situation, and
accepted it.
Second, they had to convince Dr. Mizuno that her daughter was not only capable
of protecting herself, but that everyone was going to look after her. Akane was
threatening to lock her daughter in her room back home, and ask for tutors to
help her with school. Fortunately, with the combined work of everybody, she
finally agreed to let her continue.
Right now, they were all trying to handle Rei's situation. She had locked
herself away from everyone, and thanks to Usagi and Laurella's efforts, she
finally began to open to the rest of the world again.
"But Rei," asked Usagi... again. "Why didn't you tell us about this? I mean,
we're friends, and friends help and support each other."
Before, Rei only closed herself, and saying "none of your business", she
locked herself on her room. This time though, she looked at her old friend,
and answered the question. "Because... I was scared."
"Why?" asked Laurella softly. She was holding Rei's left hand, while Usagi hold
her right one.
"Well... you see... it's just that... I never expected this to happen! I
mean... it just... happened." Rei felt new tears coming, but she fought them
this time, and continued. "Don't you see? This is the best thing that has
happened to me in all my life! And I'll do anything to protect my children!"
This time, she didn't fight the tears, letting them run down her cheeks.
"Rei..." began Usagi. Rei looked at her eyes, and saw a sea of compassion and
understanding in them. "I know how you feel. Although I'm not a mother... yet,"
and she glanced at Chibi-Usa, "I'm sure that, when the time comes, I'll do
exactly the same."
"Yeah!" quipped Minako. "And with you, we'll all practice by when our time
comes!" Everybody sweatdropped at her commentary, but no one dared to
contradict her.
"I... think that Minako is right." Said Ami. Everybody looked at her, puzzled.
"I mean, this is our turn to support Rei. I understand that all this is
difficult for her, and if what I read about motherhood is correct, we all are
bound to experience something like that. We all have to stand together as
friends, and show our concern in supporting her."
"And look at it this way," added Robin. "This is something we don't know a
thing. No wonder Rei feels so scared... but personally, I'm planning to support
her anyway I can. Besides... I can't imagine a better way to show that special
someone your love than bearing your child..." and sitting in front of Rei, she
finished. "Rei, you can count on me for anything."
Rei looked around her, and saw that all her friends were offering their help
and support. She felt overwhelmed with all the emotional input she was
receiving through her psychic senses, and felt grateful for that. Without
saying a thing, she stood up, and began to hug all her friends and partners in
a mute way that said volumes of her thanks...
* * * *
Ami, Yohann and Alex were together at the Computers room, searching inside the
artificial environment of Memory Bank C in hopes of finding a clue of
Cauldron's whereabouts. One hour later, Ami spoke.
"Guys? I think I have something here..."
"What did you find, Ami?" asked Yohann, linking immediately to Ami's console.
"I'm not sure yet... it seems to be some sort of personal log that Cauldron was
keeping. But it seems to be coded." Ami then displayed on the main screen her
findings. They all watched a series of numerical strings, but by themselves
they didn't tell them anything. "I think I can decode it, but it will take me
some time..."
"Hold on... let me see what I can do with this." Said Alex, while she began to
run a series of decoding programs. A few minutes later, she succeeded in her
attempts. "Boy, talking about obsessions! Can you believe that he used an
alphanumerical decoding program? And that the code word is... Ami?"
Yohann and Ami looked at each other, each raising an eyebrow. Alex continued.
"You're right, Ami. This is Cauldron's personal log. According to this,
Cryssalid was the first base that crashed here, and when he repaired some of
the base's facilities, he tracked the fall of the other bases. He also was able
to link with them and obtain a detailed list of the things that were inside of
them. And sweetie?"
"Yes, Alex?" Yohann felt another one of her turn-around sessions coming up...
"He compiled a list of very nasty things to use against us... and you're not
going to like it. The Stellar Converter was only one of the weapons he planned
to get from the ruins."
Yohann pondered this new information. 'No... I don't like this one iota...' he
thought. And with his normal voice, he added. "Alex, is there something in
regards of his activities here on Gaia? Namely, what kind of information he
got?"
"Let me check, sweetbuns... yes, you're right. He got a lot of information
regarding our latest activities. And... oh, oh..."
"What is it, Alex? What's wrong?" asked Ami.
"He got access to the last logs I stored regarding the Technum Guardians."
Answered Alex, her tone of voice hinting her embarrassment.
"What's wrong with it? I mean, that case was closed when Gallagher and the
Prime were destroyed." Said Ami, puzzled.
"Yeah, but there were lot of questions unanswered there, Ami. First, how did
the Guardians got down to Earth? Second, their space station in Saturn was the
only facility they had? And third, if the answer to the second question is
negative, then where are those other installations?"
Yohann considered in silence those questions for a few moments, and then
touched a few buttons on his console, activating the base's intercom. "Robin,
Shingo, will you please come to the Computers room? This is important."
A couple of minutes later, the young couple entered the room. "What's the
problem, Yohann? Anything new?" asked Shingo.
"Can it, Shingo." Said Robin, and addressing Yohann, she asked. "What's the
matter?"
"It seems that we figured out what Cauldron has in mind. Tell me, guys... what
do you remember of the way the Guardians operated?"
Robin and Shingo looked at each other, confused. Shingo was the first one to
talk. "Sorry, but the only info I can give you is a millenium old. I don't know
what happened during the last years, especially the ways they worked lately."
"And my dad never told me much about how they operated. I guess he... wanted to
protect me from the rest of the Guardians..." said Robin.
"I see..." said Yohann. He was about to dismiss them when Ami interceded.
"Excuse me, guys, but... Alex mentioned that she was investigating something
regarding them. You see... anyone of you knows if the Guardians could make some
kind of teleport, like our Sailor Teleport? Or if they could teleport
individually?"
"No, not at all. Besides the Prime, none of us could teleport." Said Shingo.
"We all relayed on spaceships to move through the Solar System."
"Well, that answers the first question." Said Alex. "Now, try to remember,
because this is important... does the station that Sailor Moon destroyed was
the only one that remained operational?"
"Well, yes... no!!" suddenly said Robin. "My dad had another station in orbit
hidden inside the rings of Saturn. That was his personal haven. I don't know
what happened with it, though..."
"But what's the case?" asked Shingo. "I mean, even if Technuma's base is still
functioning, how is it going to affect us? Besides, the ship Usagi used with
Gallagher was destroyed along with the Prime's base."
Yohann was pacing all over the room, deep in thought. When Shingo stopped
talking, he said. "Alex... compute the probabilities of another Guardian's ship
still in existence. One that could still be in operation here on Earth...
namely, the ship that brought the Guardian that injured Technuma."
"Oh, my God..." muttered Robin, Shingo and Ami at the same time. They never
thought of searching for that ship. They all took for granted that Technuma's
ship was the only one in operation. No one considered that there could be more
than one!
"Sweetbuns, I don't know how you get this hunches, but you are right in the
money! The probabilities that there's a Guardian ship in operational order here
on Earth are of 99.99845%"
"This is bad, gang... this is really bad." Muttered Yohann. Suddenly, he moved
towards the door, and without looking back, he added. "Shingo, Robin, come with
me. We have to talk with the others. Ami, Alex, you are going to continue
working on Cauldron's logs. As soon as you have something, come and join us
upstairs. We have a situation on our hands... a very serious one."
* * * *
Cauldron was bored and amazed at the same time. Amazed, because of the amount
of information contained on the Internet. Bored, because almost all of it was
garbage, of no immediate use for him on his personal quest for vengeance. He
was checking some information about secret weapons research in a high-security
laboratory on the United States when he felt something... unusual on the web.
"Hmmm, what's this? It looks like... a search worm?" He began to analyze it,
and discovered that the basic protocols and algorithms used by it were far more
advanced than anything he had seen so far. "This could be interesting..." He
then began to trace its trajectory back to the source... and was surprised by
his findings.
He ended up inside a vast and well-organized memory bank, on a computer far
more advanced than anything this planet had... except for the MRMA bases.
"Well, well, well... what do we have here? This is more like it!" He then began
to analyze the data, and the results were even more than he expected initially.
"I should have known! This is a Guardian ship!" He immediately tried to link
with the control systems of the ship, but encountered that the security
programs in there were a little tough to handle... but not enough for him to
freeze them and assimilate them onto himself. "Now, this is more like it! A
little exercise before the main event..."
Soon enough, Cauldron had the totality of the ship's systems under his control,
and began to raid the navigation files. He wasn't surprised to learn that the
exact location of the Guardian's base was stored there, along with a little
extra...
"Hehehehe... this is more in line for what I need! And this ship is just the
ticket! Saturn, here I go!" With that, he immediately ordered the ship to take
off, and was on his way to the rings of Saturn, and to claim what the Senshi
and the last Guardian forgot...
* * * *
"Ok people, listen up. We'll have to move fast." Were the opening words of
Yohann when he, the girls and the adults were together on the living room. "We
may have a clue of what will Cauldron plan to do now."
"What have you found, Yohann?" asked Usagi. She was eating (wolfing is more
like it!) on some snacks that Makoto have prepared and was unable to hide when
Usagi entered the kitchen.
"Thanks to Ami, Alex, Shingo and Robin, we determined that Cauldron will be
looking for the ship that was used by the Guardian that almost killed Technuma."
"Excuse me? What ship? What are you talking about? Technuma's ship was
destroyed when the Prime's station blew to bits!" asked Laurella. Usagi and
Chibi-Usa nodded.
"I'm afraid he's right, gang." Interceded Shingo. All eyes focused on him. "You
see, for what I remember, the Guardians had a ship for each one. Technuma's
wasn't the only one in existence."
"Thank you, Shingo. Also, there's something more... it seems that the Guardians
had more than one space station in existence..." added Yohann. Usagi had to put
a hand on her mouth to prevent a scream escape. Yohann noticed it, and
immediately continued. "I know this is hard, Usagi, but it's true. Robin
mentioned that her father has... or had... a personal Space Station hidden
inside the rings of Saturn."
"That's right." This time, Robin interrupted Yohann's explanation. "He built it
as a personal retreat. I think he called it Saturn Station Delta. He also used
it as a personal lab for his medical research."
Everybody was silent, trying to assess the consequences this new information
implied. It was Akane the one that resumed their collective thoughts. "But...
if Technuma had all the medical records of you girls in that place, and
Cauldron finds them along with that place..."
"He'll have all he needs to launch a devastating attack against us.." concluded
Mamoru.
"But that's not all, gang." Added Yohann. "Cauldron kept a log indicating a
list of material he was planning to retrieve from the downed bases here on
Earth. Ami and Alex are working on it as we speak."
"And as you were speaking, we finished our job, pork chops! Just wait to see
what we found!" said Alex through his belt. Ami entered the living room in that
same instant, and plugged her compact into the new TV screen. Immediately, a
list appeared on it.
"Thank you, Alex. Well, as you can see, Cauldron kept a meticulous record of
his plans." She punched a few keys and a section of the list grew larger for
all of them to see. "The energy cannon that we found was only one of the
weapons he was planning to gather from other downed bases. The next one on the
list is this..." she then highlighted the first line of the list. "The base's
name is Rainbow. According to this, it was a physics research facility, and the
scientists stationed there were on the brink of a major discovery. They were
studying the nuclear processes that occur on a star's core, in order to
reproduce the same effects for the Agency's planetary corps." When she saw that
everybody was giving her blank stares, she simplified. "They learned how a sun
works."
"BUT!" it was Alex' turn to speak. "they stumbled with a really nasty side
effect. They found a way to create a device so powerful, that would turn a star
into a supernova! And according to this, a prototype was built and still is in
there!"
Yohann felt his knees give away under him, and sat down in one of the chairs.
'And I thought that the Stellar Converter was bad enough...' he thought. He was
so stunned that he hardly heard Alex' next words.
"And Cauldron's final plan was to blow the star of our homeworld! That is,
after he tested the weapon first... blowing this star system."
"That's horrible!" said Setsuna. "He plans to burn the whole solar system??"
"Not only burn, but completely erase it from existence..." said Ami. "You see,
after the star explodes, it becomes a black hole... effectively erasing the
target and its surroundings."
After a large uncomfortable silence, Shingo looked at Yohann. "Boy, I'm glad
you're the good guys! You have some really heavy artillery on your side!"
Yohann nodded absent-mindedly. He was starting to delineate a plan of attack.
"Girls, do you know the actual location of this base?"
"Yes, "answered Ami. After punching some more keys on her compact, a word map
appeared, with a red cross blinking on the site. "It's located in America. To
be precise... here." She then zoomed on the area. "It's on the country named
Mexico. Right under two of their most famous volcanoes. The Ixtlazihuatl, and
the Popocatepetl."
"Excuse me? The what and the what??" asked Usagi, confused by the exotic names.
"On the local language, they mean the Sleeping Lady and the Guarding Warrior,
respectively." Told her Ami, using her more matter-of-fact tone. "The legend is
quite fascinating, and under the light of our actual mission, its origin well
might describe an event occurred during the time of the crash of the base,
and..."
"Thanks a lot, Whiz Kid!" interrupted Alex. "But this is not a history class,
but a tactical meeting. We have to stop Cauldron, remember?"
"Alex, don't be so rude." Said Yohann all of a sudden. "Ami, how long do you
think it will take us to be ready to go there and retrieve the bomb?"
"Well, my best estimation is that we need a minimum of three days to be ready.
We have to practice on our mountain climbing abilities, as well as getting some
equipment that we'll need there."
"Mountain climbing? Cool!!" said Makoto, Robin and Haruka at the same time. The
prospect of hiking was attractive enough for them. That couldn't be said for
the rest...
"Very well, then. Mr. Tsukino, Alex, Ami and I will start the next series of
simulations to practice on the Gymnasium. Meanwhile, I want the rest of you to
go shopping..."
"Shopping! Yaaayyy!!" exclaimed Usagi and Minako.
"... for climbing equipment and appropriate clothing." Finished Yohann. Both
girls groaned, but accepted nevertheless. " Setsuna, do you think you can
exchange some gold for money? We're going to need some hard cash and credit
cards to obtain what we need."
"Excuse me, Yohann?" asked Mamoru. "But wouldn't be easier to use the equipment
you already have here? I thought you had everything needed for this mission."
Yohann blush a little, but answered nevertheless. "Well... yes and no, Mamoru.
You see, the ones that fitted the Leviathan could only foresee so much, but
climbing equipment was not on their original plans..."
"So, we have to work on our own on this one." Concluded Setsuna. "Very well, I
understand. And answering your question, Yohann... yes, I can do it. Anything
in special you need?"
"Nothing fancy, Setsuna. But one imperative thing is that the credit cards have
to be of the international kind. We might have to use them on another country."
Said Yohann.
Setsuna nodded, and Yohann continued. "Well, I think that's all. Girls, I don't
have to tell you to be extremely careful when you go out. Cauldron is still out
there, and he'll try to do anything to stop us."
* * * *
Meanwhile...
Cauldron had arrived to Saturn Station Delta, and after feeding the station's
computer with the codes he obtained from the ship's logs, he immediately began
to take over the facility. Once done, he began to work on his plan.
Because the station was designed as a medical research installation, and with
the contents of the files he stole from Gaia's medcom, Cauldron used one of the
cloning chambers to create a temporary body for himself. "After all," he
reasoned during the trip, "what's the case to be confined to a mainframe, when
the good things have to be experienced first-hand?" One day later, the process
was complete, and his new body was ready for occupation... that is, if he
wanted to use a 100% organic body.
True to form, once ready, Cauldron ordered the installation of cybernetic
implants on the body. "Let me see... how about... this?" the right side of the
skull was removed, and replaced with a metal implant, complete with a
cybernetic eye, along with some modified organic microchips that were installed
on the brain. "Oh, yes... and this has to be changed as well!" the right arm
was removed, and replaced with a new metal one. "And this beautiful new body
couldn't be complete without... this!" some of the major muscles were removed
as well, and replaced with a series of metal bands that were far more efficient
than the original muscles.
When the mutilation was complete, he downloaded himself inside the body, which
immediately came to life... an unholy life, one never meant to exist. Cauldron,
now incarnated, then began to roam the lockers of the living quarters, and
found a black jumpsuit. Once dressed, he then moved near a mirror, and admired
his handiwork.
The body had become a grotesque parody of Yohann. Since Cauldron had obtained
his genetic code from Gaia's medcom, it was easy for the station's systems to
use the data to create a clone of him. For the first time of his existence,
Cauldron laughed in pure joy... his revenge was about to be fulfilled, and soon
he'll become the conqueror of the MRMA... and perhaps of the whole multiverse!
"And now... let the games begin!" screamed Cauldron, and walked to the hangar
to begin the next phase of his plan...
* * * *
Two days later...
Usagi, Mamoru, Minako, Rei, Laurella, Shingo and Makoto were strolling around
the mall. The two young men were overloaded with lots of bags and packages that
the girls have picked up on the last two sporting goods stores they visited.
"Geez, do you think all this stuff is really necessary? I'm pooped!" said
Shingo.
"Yeah! Can we please take a break? I think my arms are going to fall apart any
second now!" added Mamoru. Both guys were beet red because of the exertion.
"And you call yourselves superheroes? Your general condition is a shame, guys!"
said Makoto, who was loaded almost the same as them, and she wasn't even
sweating! "Very well, we'll have pity of you. Five minutes break, gang!"
Everybody sat down on a nearby bench, and began to regain their breaths.
"I'm hungry..." said Rei. "Who wants to come with me to get some ice cream?"
"I'll go!" said Robin. " Who else wants one?" When everybody lifted their
hands, she sighed. "Well, it seems that we'll have to ferry a few cups here,
eh Rei?"
"Looks like it. Ok, let's go, Robin."
Robin was enjoying her cup of ice cream, when she caught movement through the
border of her eyesight. When she turned around, she blinked in surprise, her
mouth open. There was Yohann, coming out of the restrooms and heading to the
back of the mall! "Err... excuse me, gang? I think I have to... well... you
know..." She then pointed towards the bathrooms, and everybody thought that she
was going to relieve herself.
Robin began to walk towards the exit doors that led to a back parking lot.
'Strange,' she thought. 'I could've swear that I saw him heading this way...'
She was about to turn back when she spotted him, standing alone near a big
empty space. She smiled broadly and ran towards him, yelling his name. When she
reached the place where he was, she noticed something strange in him.
"Yohann, what's the matter? You look... I don't know... funny! Besides, I
thought you were on the base preparing everything for the departure."
"Nothing happens to me, dear... as a matter of fact, I only came here to pick
up something I need for the trip." Said Yohann, his voice flat... emotionless.
Robin blinked, confused. "Yohann... are you sure you're feeling ok? I mean...
you seem to be so... different, like you were someone else!" Instinctively, she
took a step away from him. "And... what did you come to pick up?"
Yohann then snapped his fingers, and Robin gasped. Right behind him, a ship
appeared... a ship she recognized. It was a Guardian ship! But it looked so
different now... it was painted (if that was paint at all) in the deepest tone
of black she'd ever seen. And printed on the fuselage, on bright violet
letters, was the word "DARKSTARR".
"Of course I'm different, dear Robin... because I'm not your Yohann... I'm
CAULDRON!!" he then dropped his holographic disguise, showing his twisted
features to Robin. She screamed so hard that she barely heard his next words.
"And the thing I came to pick up... IS YOU!!" Before the stunned girl could
react, he touched her with his metallic arm and sent a brief but powerful
electric shock through it, rendering her unconscious. Before she fell to the
ground, Cauldron picked her up in his arms and began to walk towards the hatch
of his ship...
A few moments earlier...
Rei watched as Robin walked towards the bathrooms, and was enjoying her ice
cream, when suddenly, her psychic senses kicked in, warning her that something
evil was nearby. She froze on her place, trying to get the location of the
sensation.
"Rei, what's the matter?" asked Makoto.
"It's... Robin!! She's in danger! We have to help her!" answered Rei, and
dropping everything, she began to run in the general direction her senses were
picking up the signals. Everybody followed suit a brief instant later. Rei
literally stormed through the same door Robin crossed earlier, and stopped cold
on her tracks when she saw what was happening. Because she stopped so suddenly,
there was a brief collision at her back.
"Hey, what's the big idea, Rei?? Why don't you..." began to say Usagi, but when
she saw in the direction Rei was looking, she felt like an ice cube was running
down her back.
In front of them, they saw Yohann and Robin, a black ship as big as the
Leviathan standing near them, but pitch black! Suddenly, they saw Yohann
glimmer, and change his appearance, while Robin screamed at the top of her
lungs. The supposed Yohann moved swiftly and touched her, and she dropped to
the ground... or would have done if her limp body wouldn't have been caught by
the figure next to her.
"Everybody, transform!" said Usagi.
"SOUL MOON POWER, TRANSFORM!"
"MARS CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!"
"JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!'
"JENDRA CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!"
"VENUS SOUL POWER, MAKE UP!"
As soon as everybody transformed, they ran towards the black ship. "Hold it
right there!" began Sailor Moon. "How dare you to attack one of my best
friends? I am not going to accept this! I'm Sailor Moon, and..."
"... in the name of the moon, yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah..."
interrupted the dark figure. "Oh, please! Can't you think of a better entrance?"
"Who are you, and what do you want?" demanded Sailor Jendra.
"Oh, I'm hurt, Jendra! Don't tell me you don't recognize me! And you were the
one that said that I'd go down, even it that was the last thing you'd do!"
"CAULDRON?!?!" screamed everyone.
"In the flesh! And now, if you excuse me... I have things to do."
"No you don't! Release her right away!" said Jupiter, charging her attack.
"Or else..."
"Or what, Jupiter?? You are going to attack me? If you do it, you'll hurt your
friend! But not before I kill her in front of you all!" He then placed his
metallic hand on Robin's neck, and deployed his fingernails, drawing a few
drops of blood from the unconscious girl. "Now, stand back if you want her to
live!"
Everybody had to hold their positions, not risking to have Robin hurt. "That's
how I like it. And now, I have to go. I have preparations to make... and oh
yes! Don't forget to tell your lieutenant what happened. I have a surprise for
him. Until we meet again, sweeties! See ya!" without turning his back to the
team, Cauldron entered the ship, and a moment later, it blasted off, becoming
invisible.
"What are we going to do now? We can't let Robin in the hands of that... that
creep!" said Sailor Venus.
"We return to the base, guys. We have to tell Yohann what happened. Perhaps he
can track Cauldron's ship with his equipment. Let's move out!" Said Sailor
Moon, and all the team began to walk back to the mall, to gather the things
they left inside and to report to the rest what happened.
* * * *
Yohann was expressionless, hearing the events that had happened on the mall.
All of them were together in the living room. When Usagi finished telling her
part of the story, he stood up and, without saying a word, began to walk
towards the entrance of the base.
"Do you think he'll be all right?" asked Michiru. She was concerned, not only
for Robin, but also for Yohann. "To tell you the truth, he scares me."
"I know what you mean, Michiru." Said Haruka. "He looks so calm... it's not
natural."
Suddenly, Kenji stood up, and began to walk hurriedly to the base. "Girls, we
have to stop him. He's going to make a big mistake! Akane, go to the Medical
ward, and bring a strong tranquilizer. The rest, follow me!"
"Dad, what's the matter? Do you know what's going on?" asked Shingo.
"I've seen this before. We have to stop Yohann before it's too late!" was
Kenji's answer. Without saying anything else, he began to run towards the base,
everybody else right behind him.
When they arrived to the Weapons Test Center, all of them froze on their
places. "Everybody, hold your positions. Don't let him get pass you." Said
Kenji.
Yohann was wearing his armor, and was carrying with him all the weapons he
could carry. A belt of grenades, a portable Plasma cannon, a Guided Missile
Portable Launcher, and a backpack with extra missiles and more weapons. He
stopped when he saw the gathered people blocking his way. "Step aside. I have
to go now." Everybody shivered involuntarily when they heard him. His voice was
so calm, so cold, so... emotionless.
"No, Yohann... this is for your own good." Said Kenji, not moving an inch. "If
you want to proceed, you'll have to take us all down." Usagi, Chibi-Usa and
Shingo gulped when they heard him say that.
"I'll say this only one more time... step... aside." Yohann lowered the cannon,
aiming it towards the girls!
"Yohann! What are you doing??" exclaimed Alex. "Have you gone crazy? Stop!"
But before anyone could say or do anything else, a chime was heard, and a flat
screen lowered from the ceiling. Everybody turned around to look at it,
curious. On the screen appeared the words "Incoming Message. Stand by."
A moment later, an image appeared on the screen. The girls gasped, and Yohann
growled. "Hello, everyone. Greetings from... myself!"
"Cauldron!" exclaimed Yohann. "If you dare to even touch one hair of her head,
I swear to you, I won't stop hunting you until I destroy you like the monster
you are!"
"Temper, temper, my dear MeRMAid!" mocked Cauldron. "You should learn to relax
like your friend here..." He then moved aside, and revealed an unconscious
Robin, lying on top of an operating table. "As you can see, she's resting quite
comfortably, unlike you."
"What do you want?" asked Yohann.
"Who, me? Oh, nothing much... just a couple of insignificant things..."
Cauldron then grabbed a cup of ice cream that was on a table near him, and
began to savoir it. "Mmmm! You know? I should have gotten a body a long time
ago. I never imagined this sensations could be so great!"
"Cut the crap, Cauldron! Get to the point!" Yohann was breathing heavily,
trying to keep his wits.
"Ooh, and you eat with that mouth? Shame on you!" Cauldron then walked next to
Robin, and after tossing his ice cream over his shoulder, began to talk again.
"Well, since you ask so nicely, I'll tell you. First, you'll surrender your
base to me! And second... all of you will swear your allegiance to me! As you
can see, I don't ask for much..." he then began to caress Robin's cheek with
his metallic hand. "Besides, the life of your friend here is worth more than
that, don't you think?"
"Never!" said Usagi. "And if Robin were awake, she'd say the same!"
"Well, as you wish." Said Cauldron. "But let me tell you something, girl... the
next time we meet, you'll regret your decision! And now, just for your eyes...
I'll say goodbye to you all... with this!" and in one swift movement, he kissed
Robin.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" This was more than Yohann could take.
Still screaming, he aimed the cannon towards the screen and opened fire.
Everybody scattered, trying to cover. Yohann continued firing at the ceiling,
until the cannon's clip went dry. Still, he continued clicking at the trigger.
A heavy silence hovered on the place, broken only by the click-click-click of
the cannon.
He remained in that position for a full minute, and without a warning, he
dropped to his knees, the weapons clanking lifeless on the ground. Usagi was
the first one that approached him, and carefully placing her hand on his
shoulder, she asked. "Yohann... are you all right?"
What happened next shocked everyone... with the exception of one person. Yohann
turned slowly to look at Usagi, and grabbing her hand, he said. "Usagi, please!
You have to help me! We can't leave Robin in the hands of that monster! Please,
save her! Please, please... please..." He then collapsed in front of her, and
began to cry, his sobs breaking her heart.
Without saying a word, Mamoru, Kenji and Shingo helped Yohann to stand up, and
guided him to the Medical ward, where Akane was waiting...
An hour and a half later, the whole team was reunited again in the living room.
Each one of them with the same question on their minds.
What to do now?
In that same moment, Ami, Akane and Rei joined the rest. All of them looked
tired.
"How is he?" asked Makoto. "Is he going to be all right?"
"I don't know, Makoto." Said Akane. "He's extremely depressed. I gave him a
sedative, but I don't think that will help him too much. It's just like... he
lost the will to live."
"That's right, Doctor." Said Alex. She was now on Ami's compact. "I'm linked
directly to his mind, and usually, he's so dynamic, so sharp. But now... well,
the best way to describe his state-of-mind is like I'm walking in a desert!
There's nothing in there!"
"Did you have any luck tracing that call?" asked Mamoru.
"I'm afraid not." Answered Ami. "I tried to follow the path Cauldron used to
pull that trick, but he sent it all over the world. I couldn't get a fix on it.
Sorry."
"What about you, Rei? Any luck?" asked Usagi, looking at her friend. "Did you
get anything from your fire reading?"
"Just one thing. I only got the image of those volcanoes Ami told us before.
Besides that... nothing."
"And what about trying to trace that ship?" asked Shingo.
"No luck on that side either, kiddo." Answered Alex. "I examined all the
readings of the base's sensors from the moment you said Cauldron attacked Robin
right when he sent that transmission. I used all the tricks in the book, and a
few I came up with. So far... nothing, zero, zilch, nada..."
"In short, we're back to square one." Said Haruka. "That's just great. What are
we going to do now?"
"I'll tell you what to do... we'll continue with what was planned." Everybody
turned around, and saw Yohann standing near the entrance. "You already said
it, Usagi. If Robin were conscious... and with us... she'd say the same."
"Yohann! What are you doing up? You should be resting!" said Akane.
"Not while there's so much to do, Doctor Mizuno. But thank you for your
concern. All right, everybody. Listen up. First, I want to apologize for my
past behavior. I know you all should have freaked out because of that, and I
want to assure you, that won't happen again. Second, let's keep in mind that
Cauldron wants to get his hands on that device that's still on the Rainbow
base. We can't let him win. And third..."
"And third," interrupted Makoto, "you are in no condition to lead this mission.
You have to go back to rest, Yohann! Do you really think you're able to go with
us this time?"
"I'm afraid she's right, sweetie." Added Alex. "You are truly in no condition
to handle anything heavier than a crossword!"
"And if you continue on that path, do you think that, when Robin returns,
she'll forgive you? I mean, look at you! Do you really want to kill yourself?"
concluded Makoto.
Yohann raised his hand, conceding the point. "Very well, you win. But before
you go down that lane, I want to know one thing... Alex, when are you all going
to be ready to departure to Rainbow?"
"We're ready to go right now, sweetbuns. And to make you feel more comfortable,
I'll go with them inside Ami's computer. You won't have to worry a thing!"
"Good. So, you are all decided to go without me?" asked Yohann. Everybody
nodded at unison. "Well, then I won't stop you. But, before you go, I want to
show you something. Now, if you want to follow me..." He then proceeded to
guide everyone inside the base, and walked straight to the Weapons Test Center.
"You see, after Sailor Moon almost blasted Endymion and myself when she
assimilated one of the crates we recovered from Cryssalid, " Usagi blushed a
bright red when she remembered that, "I began to take a close look at the
contents of those crates. I finally reached the conclusion that each one can
merge with your armors and create a new weapon for each one of you. Well, In
short, I now know what kind of weapon will be the end result."
"Pork chops, you impress me! When did you reached those results?" asked Alex,
puzzled.
"Well, you were too busy working with Ami deciphering the Cryssalid Files, so I
worked on this around the clock. So, now that that's explained, let's proceed
with the next upgrade of your Senshi armors. Michiru, Haruka, Minako, will you
do me the honor?"
The three girls nodded, and proceeded to trigger their transformations.
"VENUS SOUL POWER, TRANSFORM!"
"URANUS SOUL POWER, TRANSFORM!"
"NEPTUNE SOUL POWER, TRANSFORM!"
Once done, they activated their Techno-armors. When they were ready, Yohann
signaled three crates on a working bench. "Now, the only thing you have to do,
is place your hands inside. Your armors and powers will do the rest."
The three senshi proceeded to place their hands on the crates, and just like
with Usagi, their armors became fluid and enveloped the contents of the crates.
In a flash of Technum light, the assimilation was completed, and all the
presents admired the new weapons at their disposal.
"Sailor Uranus," began Yohann. "Now you have the ability to create a localized
earthquake just using your hands. Your activation phrase is " Uranus Ground
Pounder". Be careful when you use it."
"I will, Yohann. Thanks." She was looking at her arms. Her gauntlets had now
some crystal-looking disks on them, and two piston-looking devices on her arms.
However, they didn't hinder her movements.
"You, Sailor Neptune," continued Yohann, "have the ability to condense the
surrounding humidity of the area, and transform it with your Technum powers,
launching it with an incredible force. I calculate that the strength will be at
least 6.984556 times greater than your regular power. Your activation phrase is
"Neptune Oceanic Blaster." Take good care of it, and it will take care of you."
"Understood, Yohann. Thank you very much." A small network of hollow tubes
connected to a small backpack traversed all the length of her left arm, and
ended up in an aquamarine crystalline nozzle located on the top of her hand.
"And you, Sailor Venus..." followed Yohann's explanation. "Your new unit will
allow you to break the atomic structure of the target, turning it into atomic
dust. The activation phrase is "Venus Molecular Dissolver." Use it wisely...
and watch where you point it!"
"Thanks, Yohann. This aces!" said Sailor Venus. A series of concentric circles
made of what seemed to be microcircuits created with amber stones now circled
the ruby-like gems of her gauntlets.
"Now that you're ready, the only thing left for me is to wish you all the luck
in the world, girls. Be careful out there..." and addressing Usagi, he added.
"And please... save Robin and bring her back sound and safe."
"Don't worry, Yohann. We will." She said with a smile, attempting to comfort
Yohann. And addressing the rest of the girls, she said. "Well, what are we
waiting for? There's a job to be done here. Let's move!"
45 minutes later, Yohann, Ikuko, Kenji and Akane watched from the studio's
window the departure of the Leviathan, taking the team towards their next
adventure. Yohann stood immobile for a few moments before Kenji addressed him.
"Yohann, you should better go back to your room and rest. We'll keep an eye on
the communications." And placing a hand on his shoulder, he added. "Don't
worry, they'll bring her back."
Yohann sighed deeply, and turning around, he looked at Kenji's eyes. "Is it
that obvious?"
This time, Ikuko placed her hand on his. "Well, if the way you behaved around
her this last days wasn't clue enough, your reaction down there was more than a
confirmation." And tugging his arm, she said. "Come on, you have to rest.
Worrying here isn't going to help her."
Yohann looked again at the window, and a strange glint showed on his eyes one
brief second. No one noticed it... "Yes... I'll go down there and rest. Thank
you very much for your assistance." And he began to walk back to the base.
Yohann was on the Computers room, feverishly punching the keyboard on a
console. After a few minutes of hard work, a message appeared on the main
screen.
PARAMETERS ACCEPTED.
FINAL ADJUSTMENTS DOWNLOADED.
DO YOU WANT TO PROCEED?
Yohann typed "YES", and a soft humming was heard.
COMPLYING.
ESTIMATED TIME FOR COMPLETION OF "PROJECT STRATOS": 23 MINUTES, 18 SECONDS.
Yohann nodded, and then walked out of the room. His steps took him to the
Medical ward; more precisely, near the bed where Technuma Saturn was resting.
He looked at the comatose man for a couple of minutes, after whose he began to
talk softly.
"Technuma... I'm so sorry. It's my fault that your daughter is in such a grave
danger. I should have been with her, as my heart commanded me. But I was so
focussed with my work! I was such a fool! Now that she's gone, I realize how
much I love her... without her by my side, I feel dead. I can't bear life
without her anymore. She's become my reason to live. But... I'm convinced now
that she deserves someone much better than myself. I can only bring her grieve
and sorrow... and she doesn't deserve that! She deserves all the happiness this
universe has to offer to her... and I'm not the indicated to do that. I still
don't know what she saw in me... why does she love and admire me with all her
pure heart..."
For a brief moment, Yohann thought that Technuma's eyes twitched. 'Could it
be... that he heard me?' When nothing more happened, he dismissed it as a
hallucination, and continued talking.
"Sir... The thing I want to tell you is... that I promise that I'll bring Robin
back to your side, safe and sound... even if it costs me my own life! The enemy
is powerful, but I don't care. She's the most beautiful and lovely person this
planet has ever known, and if I have to die for her to live, so be it!... I
don't know if you can hear me, but one thing I'm sure: you'll take good care of
her, and be sure that the next man that approaches her will be the right one...
the one that she truly deserves."
In that moment, a chime was heard, and Yohann approached a nearby screen. He
punched a button, and a message appeared.
"PROJECT STRATOS" COMPLETED.
UNIT WAITING AT HANGAR.
Yohann sighed, and addressing Technuma one more time, he said. "Well, the time
has come. Wish me luck, Sir. Goodbye."
He turned around, and when he was near the door, a deep baritone voice said to
him. "Not so fast, young man. You have some things you have to explain to me."
Yohann froze in his place, not moving a muscle. And very, very slowly, he
turned around. When he saw who talked to him, he thought. 'Why am I not
surprised? With my recent luck...'
Technuma Saturn was sitting on the bed, and the expression on his face wasn't
that of a happy man... it was more on the league of the time when Tsukino Kenji
saw Mamoru for the first time.
"You said that my daughter is in danger, and that you are willingly going to
sacrifice yourself for her... and even more... you said that SHE is in love
with YOU... and all the way around?" Technuma stood up and walked with sure
steps towards Yohann. When he was face to face with him, he continued. "I don't
mean to be ungrateful or something, but I think you have too much to explain in
that regard. And I'm not going to let you go before you explain things to my
complete satisfaction."
"Sir... please, I have to go now. The rest of the Scouts and Senshi are already
on their way, and I'm not sure if they can..." began to say Yohann, but
Technuma interrupted him.
"Well then, I think that you'll have to take me with you. And I won't accept a
'no' for an answer! So, what's your decision?" He looked straight into Yohann's
eyes, not even blinking, and decided not to give away one inch.
After a few seconds, Yohann sighed, and said. "Very well then. But you'll have
to dress for the occasion. Do you want a suit like your old Guardian uniform?"
He began to punch a combination on the replicator's keypad, when Technuma
interrupted him.
"No, please... I prefer to leave that part of my past behind... but I'd like
something in sapphire, it you can."
Yohann nodded, and after resetting the replicator, he obtained a new suit for
Technuma. It was a jumpsuit, not different from his own, but with some minor
differences. There were no gloves on it, the same as no head cap. And on the
left of his chest, on bright blue, was the sigil of Saturn.
Once he was dressed, Technuma addressed Yohann again. "Thank you. This is
acceptable. Now, what are we going to use to follow the rest of the girls?"
"If you please follow me to the hangar... and don't make any noise." Both men
entered the hangar, and Technuma was surprised at what he saw.
"hmmm.... Not bad. I take they are nearby, right?"
"Well... as a matter of fact, they are in transit to another continent. This
unit will suffice." Answered Yohann.
"You have to be kidding... don't tell me we're going to follow them driving!"
Technuma was shocked by that answer.
The reason of his surprise was because, in the middle of the launching pad, was
a silver car... a Lamborghini Countach, to be precise. By all accounts, it
looked like a regular car. Yohann smiled at him, and after opening the
passenger's door, he invited Technuma to step in. The guardian of Saturn looked
at him suspiciously, but entered the car nevertheless. Yohann took the pilot
seat.
"Now, Sir... fasten your seatbelt. I think you're going to like this." Yohann
then opened a small compartment that was between the seats, and punched a red
button. Immediately, the board began to morph, taking the form of a very
stylized combat jet cockpit! Once the transformation was completed, Yohann
entered a numeric sequence on a keypad, and the platform began to rise.
"Young man... you definitely have a lot to explain to me!" said Technuma
Saturn, watching with interest the whole launch process.
Akane and the Tsukinos were at Yohann's studio, checking the readings of his
computer desk, when they heard the pool complex starting to move again.
"What's going on? Do you think the girls are coming back?" asked Ikuko.
"I don't think so, dear. They'd have called before." Answered Kenji.
"I have a bad feeling about this..." added Akane. "You don't think that
Yohann..."
"He's crazy enough to try anything on his own. We better check out." Said
Kenji, and he began to walk outside, followed by the two women. When they went
out via the living room door, he only managed to say. "What in God's
name....???"
Through the transparent windows of the pool building, the three adults could
see the form of a car. But what really surprised them was that the car began to
float in mid-air! When it was about to clear the roof, they gasped when it
began to retract its wheels, and a series of control wings sprouted on the
bottom and the sides! Once it cleared the roof, a couple of turbines sprouted
from the back, and in a flash, it disappeared.
They stood still for all the time the pool complex took to regain its original
form. Once silence reigned again on the place, Kenji spoke again.
"Well.... I have to admit it... that boy has a really big bag of tricks! I
never imagined he could pull a stunt like that."
"What worries me now," began Akane, "is if he can be of any help to the girls.
He's too unstable right now!"
"Somehow, I think that he knows exactly what he's doing." Said Ikuko. "And I
pray that he's not too late to help the girls."
* * * *
Inside the Leviathan...
Everybody was a little bit nervous. Granted, they had new weapons to aid them,
besides their natural powers and the aid of Alex, still...
"I wish my sweetbuns were with us." Said Alex. "I mean, we can use his tactical
abilities here. Who knows what does Cauldron has in store for us now?"
"I know what you mean." Said Chibi-Usa. "But you saw how he broke down after
that message."
"But why did he reacted that way?" entered Minako. "I know he wants to protect
all of us, but I think he overreacted, don't you think?"
Makoto sighed. 'Sometimes she can be so dense!' and praying that she was doing
the right thing, she said. "No, Minako. He didn't overreacted. As a matter of
fact..." She felt silent, not sure if to continue.
"As a matter of fact..." continued Usagi. "He's in love with her, right Makoto"
When the tall brunette nodded in agreement, she added. "And you knew about it
all the time."
"You knew? How? Come on, you started this, so you have to end this story!" said
Rei, fixing her gaze on Makoto.
"Very well..." and after sighing, Makoto continued. "I found out when we were
on the island we took him so he could relax. It happened during the last night
we spent there..." She then began to explain how Robin and Yohann encountered
on the beach, finally declaring to each other their mutual love.
"Hold it right there!" interrupted Alex. "How come I didn't detect that on his
mind? I mean, we're closer than that... that bimbo could ever be!" There was a
big amount of fury on her voice when she said that, taking aback everybody.
"Perhaps he wanted to keep that bit of information just for himself, Alex."
Said Ami. "After all, we humans like to have some things just for ourselves...
especially in the matters of the heart." She then winked at Minako, who smiled
back at her sweetly.
"Hmph! Still, that's no excuse for his actions!" finished Alex. Ami closed her
eyes, and pictured Alex crossing her arms, literally fuming!
"That's so romantic!" said Laurella. "Declaring their love under the night sky,
with the sea and the moon as witness..." She had little stars shinning on her
eyes, imagining the scene. Suddenly, she felt a gentle pressure on her
shoulder, and saw Shingo standing next to her, smiling at her sweetly. He then
mouthed silently 'When we get back... I promise.'
"Yes... it's romantic, Laurella... and that's when I knew that I'd lost all
chances with him." Finished Makoto, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
Chibi-Usa walked next to her, and holding Makoto's hand, she said. "Makoto...
don't be sad. Well... how to say this? You'll be happy. You see. Who knows?
Perhaps Mr. Right is waiting for you nearer than you think... and you'll
stumble with him when you less expect it! I know, being from the future!"
Makoto looked at the sweet pink-haired girl, and caressing her cheek, she said.
"Thank you, Chibi-Usa. I feel better now." Smiling, Chibi-Usa went back to her
seat.
Without anyone noticing it, Setsuna placed unconsciously her right hand over
her left, touching her annular finger, and thinking of the words Chibi-Usa
said. 'Perhaps Mr. Right is waiting for you nearer than you think... could it
also be my case?' Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Alex.
"Focus here, everybody. We'll be over the general area of Rainbow in 24
minutes. Don't get distracted!"
Everyone went silent, remembering the importance of their mission... and
wondering what could be waiting for them there.
* * * *
At the Stratos...
Yohann had decided to tell the whole truth about his real origin to Technuma.
Once he finished, Technuma looked at him, and said. "The MRMA? I think the
Prime mentioned that there was an attempt from you to contact him, but he
refused. I thought he was joking, but seeing you and this craft... not to
mention your base... but still... the concept of parallel universes... it's so
strange."
"Not when you're in the middle of the action, Sir." Said Yohann. "At least, we
were able to establish that the most dangerous material ended up on this
universe. I don't want to even imagine if this stuff ended up for example, on
the Dark Kingdom... or a worse place than that. Just one thing, Sir. Please
keep my origin a secret. No one else have to know about it."
"I understand your reasons, Lieutenant, and I will, rest assured. But still...
you haven't explained one very important thing to me... how did you meet my
daughter? And what are your intentions with her?" Technuma's voice had a light
edge on it when he asked that.
'Oh, boy... he didn't forget about that one... ok, here goes nothing.' Yohann
then began to relate in a condensed form all the events that had happened, from
the moment of his crash landing to the present.
Once he finished, there was a fairly long silence, suddenly broken by Technuma.
"I see... well, I won't emit any opinion until I talk with Robin. But I want to
tell you just one thing, Lieutenant."
"Yes, sir?"
"That if, in some way, you hurt her feelings, I'll personally go after you and
make you pay dearly for it. Is that clear?" His tone of voice was calm, but
nevertheless promised a world of pain for Yohann!
"gulp... Yes, Sir. Crystal clear, Sir." Said Yohann. 'Oh, boy... I've heard
of overprotective parents, but this is another league entirely!' And focussing
on the HUD (Heads Up Display for those of you that doesn't know what that means
-the author), he deviated the conversation. "I have a fix on the Leviathan's
beacon. We'll catch up with them in another 10 minutes."
"Very efficient, Lieutenant. I congratulate you." Said Technuma.
"Thank you, Sir. And please... call me Yohann."
"All in due time, all in due time... Lieutenant."
Yohann only nodded, but added for himself. 'Why me? Why me all the time?'
TO BE CONTINUED...
Chapter 9: The Rainbow mission.
Ami and Alex were quietly discussing some aspects of multi-dimensional physics
after the Advanced Calculus session, when an alarm chimed on the desk at
Yohann's studio.
"Well, it seems that the mainframe finished the reintegration." Commented Alex.
Immediately linking to the desk, she confirmed the information. "Yep, it's
ready. Shall we go to see what we have now?"
"Ok. I'll take the opportunity to check some files. I want to know how your
organization achieved those mathematical tools." Answered Ami.
"Ami, you're impossible! Does your thirst for knowledge knows no end?"
Ami giggled a little, but decided not to answer that question. "Come on. Let's
go." And with that, they went back to the Computers room to check their latest
results.
A couple of minutes later, they were in front of Memory Bank C. "Well,
according to this readings, a new cyberspace environment was created after the
compiling program finished its work." Explained Ami. "However, if I read this
right, there's a big quantity of data that was discharged here as well, but now
it's missing." She concluded.
"Strange... What's the size of the missing data?" asked Alex.
"Hold on." After pushing some keys on the mainframe, Ami got her answer. "About
400 terabytes."
"Four hundred? Strange, that's about my own size. Are you sure?"
'"Of course. What are you thinking?"
Alex remained silent for a moment, and later she said. "I think that you better
call everybody here. I have a bad feeling about this." And before Ami could ask
anything else, Alex added. "This could be extremely dangerous, Ami! Come on,
call them!"
One hour later, the whole of the team was together, along with Kenji, Ikuko and
Akane. They were together in the living room, wondering what was all about. A
moment later, Ami joined them with Alex on her compact. "Sorry for calling you
this suddenly, but it seems that we have a problem here."
"What happened, Ami?" asked Mamoru. He was sitting next to Usagi, holding her
hands.
"I'll tell them, whiz kid." Said Alex. "You see, thanks to an idea of hers, we
were able to finally decipher the files we obtained from Cryssalid. They were
in reality the data to form the operating system of the base, complete with a
cyberspace environment. But the problem is... that a big bulk of the data is
now missing. We don't know where is it."
"What's the size of the missing data, girls?" asked Yohann.
"About four hundred terabytes. Alex mentioned that's about her own size."
Answered Ami.
Everybody felt silent after her revelation. Suddenly, Makoto asked. "But what's
the meaning of that? I mean, it's not anything dangerous, right?"
"That's what puzzles us, Makoto." Said Ami. "It could be anything, and until we
know what we're dealing with here, I suggest that we stay on our toes."
"So you really think it's dangerous?" asked Minako, puzzled.
But before anyone could answer that, the TV screen on the living room turned on
by itself, and a very familiar voice was heard from the speakers. "Well, well,
well... looks like you are having a party here and I wasn't invited. And I
thought we were friends after all the time we spent together!"
Everybody looked at the screen, shocked. Ami began to walk away from it,
sitting near her mother and hugging her fiercely, her face without a trace of
blood on it. Alex immediately downloaded into Yohann's belt. The adults looked
at them, puzzled, not knowing why everybody looked so spooked. It was Haruka
the one that answered their mute question.
Looking at the screen with hate in her eyes, she muttered one word.
"Cauldron..."
"Oh, I'm glad you remember me, Sailor Uranus. You put quite a show back there.
And for the rest of you, I don't know how to thank you for taking me out of
there. This world offers so many opportunities for me, you know?"
"You failed once, Cauldron." Said Yohann, immediately activating his armor.
"We'll make sure you won't succeed now."
"And how are you planning to do that, MeRMAid? I'm in control of your base
now!" taunted Cauldron.
'Alex, go to the mainframe and seal all the output ports. I want to keep him
confined here.' Ordered Yohann. Without answering, Alex did what she was told.
"We are more resourceful than you imagine, Cauldron. We'll defeat you." He said
in loud voice.
"We'll see, MeRMAid, we'll see... now, what shall I do with you all? You
already know my plans you so rudely interrupted regarding your blue-haired
genius." When he said that, Akane embraced her daughter in a protective manner.
"Oh, I know! Let's have a little fun, shall we? And as my first act..." He
began to show a medical report on the screen, deleting the name of the patient
from it.
Everybody looked at it with great interest. It showed that this person was
taking anti-pregnancy drugs, and some other medical facts. Akane gasped when
she recognized the data displayed.
"Now, can anybody tell me who's report this is? Come on, it's an easy one!"
taunted Cauldron. After a moment of silence, he continued. "You are no fun, you
know? Ok, I'll show you." Then, in big letters, appeared the missing line of
the report.
MEDICAL REPORT. LEVEL 1
PATIENT DESIGNATION: TSUKINO USAGI.
Everybody looked at Mamoru and Usagi, whom felt uncomfortable after the sudden
attention they were receiving. But no one was more shocked than...
"KENJI!!" screamed Ikuko. The poor man looked like he was having a heart
attack: pale, sweating and panting, while holding his hand on his chest. He was
pointing one trembling finger towards Mamoru, a killer look on his eyes.
"Cauldron!! Stop this! It's not funny!" exclaimed Minako, getting ready to
transform and smash the TV screen to bits.
"For me, it is! And now, for my second act... let's see if you can guess who's
report is this one." The screen began to show, again with the name of the
patient deleted, the medical data of another one of the girls, showing what she
kept secret from them all.
"No one knows our mystery guest here?" asked Cauldron. "Ok, I'll show you
again..." This time, everybody gasped when they read the name and the
subsequent data.
MEDICAL REPORT. LEVEL 1
PATIENT DESIGNATION: HINO REI.
DIAGNOSIS: THREE-MONTH PREGNANCY.
ADDITIONAL DATA: TWINS DETECTED
Everyone stood unmoving, transfixed by the seriousness of the situation.
Suddenly, someone's sobbing broke the silence. Everybody looked around, and saw
Rei crying. She felt violated, her most intimate secret was now in the open!
Laurella stared at the screen, growling. "Cauldron... you're going down, even
if it's the last thing I do!"
"Oh, yes? And how are you planning to do that? I'm a computer program,
remember? You can't touch me!" taunted Cauldron. "And now, as my final act...
you are going to love this one!" But before he could show anything else, the
screen began to flash rapidly. "NO!! YOU AGAIN!?!?!" screamed Cauldron. "Very
well, you win this round, but don't feel so comfortable. I'll win in the long
run! And remember this... your precious Sailor Mercury will be mine in the end!
I, Cauldron, promise that!" With that as his farewell, he disappeared.
A moment later, Alex was back on Yohann's armor. "Sorry, sweetbuns. He escaped
using one of the phone lines before I could completely isolate him. What
happened here?"
"Cauldron used the data from the medcom for his own twisted benefit." Answered
Yohann. "Fortunately, you stopped him before he could cause any more damage."
Suddenly, an inhuman cry was heard, and they all saw Kenji jumping towards
Mamoru, his face a mask of hatred. "YOU!!" he screamed, "I'LL REAP YOUR HEART
OUT!!". It took the combined strength of Makoto, Ikuko, Michiru, Shingo and
Usagi to contain him. Mamoru was frozen in his place, not knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, Laurella, Setsuna, Robin and Minako were surrounding Rei, trying to
console her. The Senshi of Mars was crying, her hands covering her face. She
was curled on the sofa, like trying to shield herself from the outer world.
Haruka, meanwhile, approached the TV screen and, without a word, smashed the
apparatus. "This is the bottom line. I'm going to smash those computers with my
own hands!" She then began to walk towards the pool entrance, when Yohann
grabbed her gently by the arm. "Let me go, Yohann. I have to do this." She
muttered, her voice with a steel edge.
"No, Haruka. I won't." said Yohann. "That's exactly what Cauldron want you to
do. Look around you." She then took a good look, and understood. "Yes, Haruka.
By doing what he did, he succeeded in breaking our mutual confidence. That's
the oldest strategy in the book... his specialty."
"Very well... you are right. What do you suggest we do now?" asked Haruka, a
look of doubt still on her eyes.
"First, try to calm everyone and get things back to order. Second, we all have
to plan an attack course against Cauldron. Third, try to find out where's the
next place we have to visit." And deactivating his armor, he added. "Let's go,
Haruka. There's too much to do, and too little time."
And with those words, they put hands to work...
* * * *
2 days later...
All the girls were together at the living room. The last days had been hectic
to say the least. First, they had to convince Kenji that his daughter's
situation was being handled with all responsibility, and the ensuing debate was
somewhat tense, but in the end, the man saw the reality of the situation, and
accepted it.
Second, they had to convince Dr. Mizuno that her daughter was not only capable
of protecting herself, but that everyone was going to look after her. Akane was
threatening to lock her daughter in her room back home, and ask for tutors to
help her with school. Fortunately, with the combined work of everybody, she
finally agreed to let her continue.
Right now, they were all trying to handle Rei's situation. She had locked
herself away from everyone, and thanks to Usagi and Laurella's efforts, she
finally began to open to the rest of the world again.
"But Rei," asked Usagi... again. "Why didn't you tell us about this? I mean,
we're friends, and friends help and support each other."
Before, Rei only closed herself, and saying "none of your business", she
locked herself on her room. This time though, she looked at her old friend,
and answered the question. "Because... I was scared."
"Why?" asked Laurella softly. She was holding Rei's left hand, while Usagi hold
her right one.
"Well... you see... it's just that... I never expected this to happen! I
mean... it just... happened." Rei felt new tears coming, but she fought them
this time, and continued. "Don't you see? This is the best thing that has
happened to me in all my life! And I'll do anything to protect my children!"
This time, she didn't fight the tears, letting them run down her cheeks.
"Rei..." began Usagi. Rei looked at her eyes, and saw a sea of compassion and
understanding in them. "I know how you feel. Although I'm not a mother... yet,"
and she glanced at Chibi-Usa, "I'm sure that, when the time comes, I'll do
exactly the same."
"Yeah!" quipped Minako. "And with you, we'll all practice by when our time
comes!" Everybody sweatdropped at her commentary, but no one dared to
contradict her.
"I... think that Minako is right." Said Ami. Everybody looked at her, puzzled.
"I mean, this is our turn to support Rei. I understand that all this is
difficult for her, and if what I read about motherhood is correct, we all are
bound to experience something like that. We all have to stand together as
friends, and show our concern in supporting her."
"And look at it this way," added Robin. "This is something we don't know a
thing. No wonder Rei feels so scared... but personally, I'm planning to support
her anyway I can. Besides... I can't imagine a better way to show that special
someone your love than bearing your child..." and sitting in front of Rei, she
finished. "Rei, you can count on me for anything."
Rei looked around her, and saw that all her friends were offering their help
and support. She felt overwhelmed with all the emotional input she was
receiving through her psychic senses, and felt grateful for that. Without
saying a thing, she stood up, and began to hug all her friends and partners in
a mute way that said volumes of her thanks...
* * * *
Ami, Yohann and Alex were together at the Computers room, searching inside the
artificial environment of Memory Bank C in hopes of finding a clue of
Cauldron's whereabouts. One hour later, Ami spoke.
"Guys? I think I have something here..."
"What did you find, Ami?" asked Yohann, linking immediately to Ami's console.
"I'm not sure yet... it seems to be some sort of personal log that Cauldron was
keeping. But it seems to be coded." Ami then displayed on the main screen her
findings. They all watched a series of numerical strings, but by themselves
they didn't tell them anything. "I think I can decode it, but it will take me
some time..."
"Hold on... let me see what I can do with this." Said Alex, while she began to
run a series of decoding programs. A few minutes later, she succeeded in her
attempts. "Boy, talking about obsessions! Can you believe that he used an
alphanumerical decoding program? And that the code word is... Ami?"
Yohann and Ami looked at each other, each raising an eyebrow. Alex continued.
"You're right, Ami. This is Cauldron's personal log. According to this,
Cryssalid was the first base that crashed here, and when he repaired some of
the base's facilities, he tracked the fall of the other bases. He also was able
to link with them and obtain a detailed list of the things that were inside of
them. And sweetie?"
"Yes, Alex?" Yohann felt another one of her turn-around sessions coming up...
"He compiled a list of very nasty things to use against us... and you're not
going to like it. The Stellar Converter was only one of the weapons he planned
to get from the ruins."
Yohann pondered this new information. 'No... I don't like this one iota...' he
thought. And with his normal voice, he added. "Alex, is there something in
regards of his activities here on Gaia? Namely, what kind of information he
got?"
"Let me check, sweetbuns... yes, you're right. He got a lot of information
regarding our latest activities. And... oh, oh..."
"What is it, Alex? What's wrong?" asked Ami.
"He got access to the last logs I stored regarding the Technum Guardians."
Answered Alex, her tone of voice hinting her embarrassment.
"What's wrong with it? I mean, that case was closed when Gallagher and the
Prime were destroyed." Said Ami, puzzled.
"Yeah, but there were lot of questions unanswered there, Ami. First, how did
the Guardians got down to Earth? Second, their space station in Saturn was the
only facility they had? And third, if the answer to the second question is
negative, then where are those other installations?"
Yohann considered in silence those questions for a few moments, and then
touched a few buttons on his console, activating the base's intercom. "Robin,
Shingo, will you please come to the Computers room? This is important."
A couple of minutes later, the young couple entered the room. "What's the
problem, Yohann? Anything new?" asked Shingo.
"Can it, Shingo." Said Robin, and addressing Yohann, she asked. "What's the
matter?"
"It seems that we figured out what Cauldron has in mind. Tell me, guys... what
do you remember of the way the Guardians operated?"
Robin and Shingo looked at each other, confused. Shingo was the first one to
talk. "Sorry, but the only info I can give you is a millenium old. I don't know
what happened during the last years, especially the ways they worked lately."
"And my dad never told me much about how they operated. I guess he... wanted to
protect me from the rest of the Guardians..." said Robin.
"I see..." said Yohann. He was about to dismiss them when Ami interceded.
"Excuse me, guys, but... Alex mentioned that she was investigating something
regarding them. You see... anyone of you knows if the Guardians could make some
kind of teleport, like our Sailor Teleport? Or if they could teleport
individually?"
"No, not at all. Besides the Prime, none of us could teleport." Said Shingo.
"We all relayed on spaceships to move through the Solar System."
"Well, that answers the first question." Said Alex. "Now, try to remember,
because this is important... does the station that Sailor Moon destroyed was
the only one that remained operational?"
"Well, yes... no!!" suddenly said Robin. "My dad had another station in orbit
hidden inside the rings of Saturn. That was his personal haven. I don't know
what happened with it, though..."
"But what's the case?" asked Shingo. "I mean, even if Technuma's base is still
functioning, how is it going to affect us? Besides, the ship Usagi used with
Gallagher was destroyed along with the Prime's base."
Yohann was pacing all over the room, deep in thought. When Shingo stopped
talking, he said. "Alex... compute the probabilities of another Guardian's ship
still in existence. One that could still be in operation here on Earth...
namely, the ship that brought the Guardian that injured Technuma."
"Oh, my God..." muttered Robin, Shingo and Ami at the same time. They never
thought of searching for that ship. They all took for granted that Technuma's
ship was the only one in operation. No one considered that there could be more
than one!
"Sweetbuns, I don't know how you get this hunches, but you are right in the
money! The probabilities that there's a Guardian ship in operational order here
on Earth are of 99.99845%"
"This is bad, gang... this is really bad." Muttered Yohann. Suddenly, he moved
towards the door, and without looking back, he added. "Shingo, Robin, come with
me. We have to talk with the others. Ami, Alex, you are going to continue
working on Cauldron's logs. As soon as you have something, come and join us
upstairs. We have a situation on our hands... a very serious one."
* * * *
Cauldron was bored and amazed at the same time. Amazed, because of the amount
of information contained on the Internet. Bored, because almost all of it was
garbage, of no immediate use for him on his personal quest for vengeance. He
was checking some information about secret weapons research in a high-security
laboratory on the United States when he felt something... unusual on the web.
"Hmmm, what's this? It looks like... a search worm?" He began to analyze it,
and discovered that the basic protocols and algorithms used by it were far more
advanced than anything he had seen so far. "This could be interesting..." He
then began to trace its trajectory back to the source... and was surprised by
his findings.
He ended up inside a vast and well-organized memory bank, on a computer far
more advanced than anything this planet had... except for the MRMA bases.
"Well, well, well... what do we have here? This is more like it!" He then began
to analyze the data, and the results were even more than he expected initially.
"I should have known! This is a Guardian ship!" He immediately tried to link
with the control systems of the ship, but encountered that the security
programs in there were a little tough to handle... but not enough for him to
freeze them and assimilate them onto himself. "Now, this is more like it! A
little exercise before the main event..."
Soon enough, Cauldron had the totality of the ship's systems under his control,
and began to raid the navigation files. He wasn't surprised to learn that the
exact location of the Guardian's base was stored there, along with a little
extra...
"Hehehehe... this is more in line for what I need! And this ship is just the
ticket! Saturn, here I go!" With that, he immediately ordered the ship to take
off, and was on his way to the rings of Saturn, and to claim what the Senshi
and the last Guardian forgot...
* * * *
"Ok people, listen up. We'll have to move fast." Were the opening words of
Yohann when he, the girls and the adults were together on the living room. "We
may have a clue of what will Cauldron plan to do now."
"What have you found, Yohann?" asked Usagi. She was eating (wolfing is more
like it!) on some snacks that Makoto have prepared and was unable to hide when
Usagi entered the kitchen.
"Thanks to Ami, Alex, Shingo and Robin, we determined that Cauldron will be
looking for the ship that was used by the Guardian that almost killed Technuma."
"Excuse me? What ship? What are you talking about? Technuma's ship was
destroyed when the Prime's station blew to bits!" asked Laurella. Usagi and
Chibi-Usa nodded.
"I'm afraid he's right, gang." Interceded Shingo. All eyes focused on him. "You
see, for what I remember, the Guardians had a ship for each one. Technuma's
wasn't the only one in existence."
"Thank you, Shingo. Also, there's something more... it seems that the Guardians
had more than one space station in existence..." added Yohann. Usagi had to put
a hand on her mouth to prevent a scream escape. Yohann noticed it, and
immediately continued. "I know this is hard, Usagi, but it's true. Robin
mentioned that her father has... or had... a personal Space Station hidden
inside the rings of Saturn."
"That's right." This time, Robin interrupted Yohann's explanation. "He built it
as a personal retreat. I think he called it Saturn Station Delta. He also used
it as a personal lab for his medical research."
Everybody was silent, trying to assess the consequences this new information
implied. It was Akane the one that resumed their collective thoughts. "But...
if Technuma had all the medical records of you girls in that place, and
Cauldron finds them along with that place..."
"He'll have all he needs to launch a devastating attack against us.." concluded
Mamoru.
"But that's not all, gang." Added Yohann. "Cauldron kept a log indicating a
list of material he was planning to retrieve from the downed bases here on
Earth. Ami and Alex are working on it as we speak."
"And as you were speaking, we finished our job, pork chops! Just wait to see
what we found!" said Alex through his belt. Ami entered the living room in that
same instant, and plugged her compact into the new TV screen. Immediately, a
list appeared on it.
"Thank you, Alex. Well, as you can see, Cauldron kept a meticulous record of
his plans." She punched a few keys and a section of the list grew larger for
all of them to see. "The energy cannon that we found was only one of the
weapons he was planning to gather from other downed bases. The next one on the
list is this..." she then highlighted the first line of the list. "The base's
name is Rainbow. According to this, it was a physics research facility, and the
scientists stationed there were on the brink of a major discovery. They were
studying the nuclear processes that occur on a star's core, in order to
reproduce the same effects for the Agency's planetary corps." When she saw that
everybody was giving her blank stares, she simplified. "They learned how a sun
works."
"BUT!" it was Alex' turn to speak. "they stumbled with a really nasty side
effect. They found a way to create a device so powerful, that would turn a star
into a supernova! And according to this, a prototype was built and still is in
there!"
Yohann felt his knees give away under him, and sat down in one of the chairs.
'And I thought that the Stellar Converter was bad enough...' he thought. He was
so stunned that he hardly heard Alex' next words.
"And Cauldron's final plan was to blow the star of our homeworld! That is,
after he tested the weapon first... blowing this star system."
"That's horrible!" said Setsuna. "He plans to burn the whole solar system??"
"Not only burn, but completely erase it from existence..." said Ami. "You see,
after the star explodes, it becomes a black hole... effectively erasing the
target and its surroundings."
After a large uncomfortable silence, Shingo looked at Yohann. "Boy, I'm glad
you're the good guys! You have some really heavy artillery on your side!"
Yohann nodded absent-mindedly. He was starting to delineate a plan of attack.
"Girls, do you know the actual location of this base?"
"Yes, "answered Ami. After punching some more keys on her compact, a word map
appeared, with a red cross blinking on the site. "It's located in America. To
be precise... here." She then zoomed on the area. "It's on the country named
Mexico. Right under two of their most famous volcanoes. The Ixtlazihuatl, and
the Popocatepetl."
"Excuse me? The what and the what??" asked Usagi, confused by the exotic names.
"On the local language, they mean the Sleeping Lady and the Guarding Warrior,
respectively." Told her Ami, using her more matter-of-fact tone. "The legend is
quite fascinating, and under the light of our actual mission, its origin well
might describe an event occurred during the time of the crash of the base,
and..."
"Thanks a lot, Whiz Kid!" interrupted Alex. "But this is not a history class,
but a tactical meeting. We have to stop Cauldron, remember?"
"Alex, don't be so rude." Said Yohann all of a sudden. "Ami, how long do you
think it will take us to be ready to go there and retrieve the bomb?"
"Well, my best estimation is that we need a minimum of three days to be ready.
We have to practice on our mountain climbing abilities, as well as getting some
equipment that we'll need there."
"Mountain climbing? Cool!!" said Makoto, Robin and Haruka at the same time. The
prospect of hiking was attractive enough for them. That couldn't be said for
the rest...
"Very well, then. Mr. Tsukino, Alex, Ami and I will start the next series of
simulations to practice on the Gymnasium. Meanwhile, I want the rest of you to
go shopping..."
"Shopping! Yaaayyy!!" exclaimed Usagi and Minako.
"... for climbing equipment and appropriate clothing." Finished Yohann. Both
girls groaned, but accepted nevertheless. " Setsuna, do you think you can
exchange some gold for money? We're going to need some hard cash and credit
cards to obtain what we need."
"Excuse me, Yohann?" asked Mamoru. "But wouldn't be easier to use the equipment
you already have here? I thought you had everything needed for this mission."
Yohann blush a little, but answered nevertheless. "Well... yes and no, Mamoru.
You see, the ones that fitted the Leviathan could only foresee so much, but
climbing equipment was not on their original plans..."
"So, we have to work on our own on this one." Concluded Setsuna. "Very well, I
understand. And answering your question, Yohann... yes, I can do it. Anything
in special you need?"
"Nothing fancy, Setsuna. But one imperative thing is that the credit cards have
to be of the international kind. We might have to use them on another country."
Said Yohann.
Setsuna nodded, and Yohann continued. "Well, I think that's all. Girls, I don't
have to tell you to be extremely careful when you go out. Cauldron is still out
there, and he'll try to do anything to stop us."
* * * *
Meanwhile...
Cauldron had arrived to Saturn Station Delta, and after feeding the station's
computer with the codes he obtained from the ship's logs, he immediately began
to take over the facility. Once done, he began to work on his plan.
Because the station was designed as a medical research installation, and with
the contents of the files he stole from Gaia's medcom, Cauldron used one of the
cloning chambers to create a temporary body for himself. "After all," he
reasoned during the trip, "what's the case to be confined to a mainframe, when
the good things have to be experienced first-hand?" One day later, the process
was complete, and his new body was ready for occupation... that is, if he
wanted to use a 100% organic body.
True to form, once ready, Cauldron ordered the installation of cybernetic
implants on the body. "Let me see... how about... this?" the right side of the
skull was removed, and replaced with a metal implant, complete with a
cybernetic eye, along with some modified organic microchips that were installed
on the brain. "Oh, yes... and this has to be changed as well!" the right arm
was removed, and replaced with a new metal one. "And this beautiful new body
couldn't be complete without... this!" some of the major muscles were removed
as well, and replaced with a series of metal bands that were far more efficient
than the original muscles.
When the mutilation was complete, he downloaded himself inside the body, which
immediately came to life... an unholy life, one never meant to exist. Cauldron,
now incarnated, then began to roam the lockers of the living quarters, and
found a black jumpsuit. Once dressed, he then moved near a mirror, and admired
his handiwork.
The body had become a grotesque parody of Yohann. Since Cauldron had obtained
his genetic code from Gaia's medcom, it was easy for the station's systems to
use the data to create a clone of him. For the first time of his existence,
Cauldron laughed in pure joy... his revenge was about to be fulfilled, and soon
he'll become the conqueror of the MRMA... and perhaps of the whole multiverse!
"And now... let the games begin!" screamed Cauldron, and walked to the hangar
to begin the next phase of his plan...
* * * *
Two days later...
Usagi, Mamoru, Minako, Rei, Laurella, Shingo and Makoto were strolling around
the mall. The two young men were overloaded with lots of bags and packages that
the girls have picked up on the last two sporting goods stores they visited.
"Geez, do you think all this stuff is really necessary? I'm pooped!" said
Shingo.
"Yeah! Can we please take a break? I think my arms are going to fall apart any
second now!" added Mamoru. Both guys were beet red because of the exertion.
"And you call yourselves superheroes? Your general condition is a shame, guys!"
said Makoto, who was loaded almost the same as them, and she wasn't even
sweating! "Very well, we'll have pity of you. Five minutes break, gang!"
Everybody sat down on a nearby bench, and began to regain their breaths.
"I'm hungry..." said Rei. "Who wants to come with me to get some ice cream?"
"I'll go!" said Robin. " Who else wants one?" When everybody lifted their
hands, she sighed. "Well, it seems that we'll have to ferry a few cups here,
eh Rei?"
"Looks like it. Ok, let's go, Robin."
Robin was enjoying her cup of ice cream, when she caught movement through the
border of her eyesight. When she turned around, she blinked in surprise, her
mouth open. There was Yohann, coming out of the restrooms and heading to the
back of the mall! "Err... excuse me, gang? I think I have to... well... you
know..." She then pointed towards the bathrooms, and everybody thought that she
was going to relieve herself.
Robin began to walk towards the exit doors that led to a back parking lot.
'Strange,' she thought. 'I could've swear that I saw him heading this way...'
She was about to turn back when she spotted him, standing alone near a big
empty space. She smiled broadly and ran towards him, yelling his name. When she
reached the place where he was, she noticed something strange in him.
"Yohann, what's the matter? You look... I don't know... funny! Besides, I
thought you were on the base preparing everything for the departure."
"Nothing happens to me, dear... as a matter of fact, I only came here to pick
up something I need for the trip." Said Yohann, his voice flat... emotionless.
Robin blinked, confused. "Yohann... are you sure you're feeling ok? I mean...
you seem to be so... different, like you were someone else!" Instinctively, she
took a step away from him. "And... what did you come to pick up?"
Yohann then snapped his fingers, and Robin gasped. Right behind him, a ship
appeared... a ship she recognized. It was a Guardian ship! But it looked so
different now... it was painted (if that was paint at all) in the deepest tone
of black she'd ever seen. And printed on the fuselage, on bright violet
letters, was the word "DARKSTARR".
"Of course I'm different, dear Robin... because I'm not your Yohann... I'm
CAULDRON!!" he then dropped his holographic disguise, showing his twisted
features to Robin. She screamed so hard that she barely heard his next words.
"And the thing I came to pick up... IS YOU!!" Before the stunned girl could
react, he touched her with his metallic arm and sent a brief but powerful
electric shock through it, rendering her unconscious. Before she fell to the
ground, Cauldron picked her up in his arms and began to walk towards the hatch
of his ship...
A few moments earlier...
Rei watched as Robin walked towards the bathrooms, and was enjoying her ice
cream, when suddenly, her psychic senses kicked in, warning her that something
evil was nearby. She froze on her place, trying to get the location of the
sensation.
"Rei, what's the matter?" asked Makoto.
"It's... Robin!! She's in danger! We have to help her!" answered Rei, and
dropping everything, she began to run in the general direction her senses were
picking up the signals. Everybody followed suit a brief instant later. Rei
literally stormed through the same door Robin crossed earlier, and stopped cold
on her tracks when she saw what was happening. Because she stopped so suddenly,
there was a brief collision at her back.
"Hey, what's the big idea, Rei?? Why don't you..." began to say Usagi, but when
she saw in the direction Rei was looking, she felt like an ice cube was running
down her back.
In front of them, they saw Yohann and Robin, a black ship as big as the
Leviathan standing near them, but pitch black! Suddenly, they saw Yohann
glimmer, and change his appearance, while Robin screamed at the top of her
lungs. The supposed Yohann moved swiftly and touched her, and she dropped to
the ground... or would have done if her limp body wouldn't have been caught by
the figure next to her.
"Everybody, transform!" said Usagi.
"SOUL MOON POWER, TRANSFORM!"
"MARS CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!"
"JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!'
"JENDRA CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!"
"VENUS SOUL POWER, MAKE UP!"
As soon as everybody transformed, they ran towards the black ship. "Hold it
right there!" began Sailor Moon. "How dare you to attack one of my best
friends? I am not going to accept this! I'm Sailor Moon, and..."
"... in the name of the moon, yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah..."
interrupted the dark figure. "Oh, please! Can't you think of a better entrance?"
"Who are you, and what do you want?" demanded Sailor Jendra.
"Oh, I'm hurt, Jendra! Don't tell me you don't recognize me! And you were the
one that said that I'd go down, even it that was the last thing you'd do!"
"CAULDRON?!?!" screamed everyone.
"In the flesh! And now, if you excuse me... I have things to do."
"No you don't! Release her right away!" said Jupiter, charging her attack.
"Or else..."
"Or what, Jupiter?? You are going to attack me? If you do it, you'll hurt your
friend! But not before I kill her in front of you all!" He then placed his
metallic hand on Robin's neck, and deployed his fingernails, drawing a few
drops of blood from the unconscious girl. "Now, stand back if you want her to
live!"
Everybody had to hold their positions, not risking to have Robin hurt. "That's
how I like it. And now, I have to go. I have preparations to make... and oh
yes! Don't forget to tell your lieutenant what happened. I have a surprise for
him. Until we meet again, sweeties! See ya!" without turning his back to the
team, Cauldron entered the ship, and a moment later, it blasted off, becoming
invisible.
"What are we going to do now? We can't let Robin in the hands of that... that
creep!" said Sailor Venus.
"We return to the base, guys. We have to tell Yohann what happened. Perhaps he
can track Cauldron's ship with his equipment. Let's move out!" Said Sailor
Moon, and all the team began to walk back to the mall, to gather the things
they left inside and to report to the rest what happened.
* * * *
Yohann was expressionless, hearing the events that had happened on the mall.
All of them were together in the living room. When Usagi finished telling her
part of the story, he stood up and, without saying a word, began to walk
towards the entrance of the base.
"Do you think he'll be all right?" asked Michiru. She was concerned, not only
for Robin, but also for Yohann. "To tell you the truth, he scares me."
"I know what you mean, Michiru." Said Haruka. "He looks so calm... it's not
natural."
Suddenly, Kenji stood up, and began to walk hurriedly to the base. "Girls, we
have to stop him. He's going to make a big mistake! Akane, go to the Medical
ward, and bring a strong tranquilizer. The rest, follow me!"
"Dad, what's the matter? Do you know what's going on?" asked Shingo.
"I've seen this before. We have to stop Yohann before it's too late!" was
Kenji's answer. Without saying anything else, he began to run towards the base,
everybody else right behind him.
When they arrived to the Weapons Test Center, all of them froze on their
places. "Everybody, hold your positions. Don't let him get pass you." Said
Kenji.
Yohann was wearing his armor, and was carrying with him all the weapons he
could carry. A belt of grenades, a portable Plasma cannon, a Guided Missile
Portable Launcher, and a backpack with extra missiles and more weapons. He
stopped when he saw the gathered people blocking his way. "Step aside. I have
to go now." Everybody shivered involuntarily when they heard him. His voice was
so calm, so cold, so... emotionless.
"No, Yohann... this is for your own good." Said Kenji, not moving an inch. "If
you want to proceed, you'll have to take us all down." Usagi, Chibi-Usa and
Shingo gulped when they heard him say that.
"I'll say this only one more time... step... aside." Yohann lowered the cannon,
aiming it towards the girls!
"Yohann! What are you doing??" exclaimed Alex. "Have you gone crazy? Stop!"
But before anyone could say or do anything else, a chime was heard, and a flat
screen lowered from the ceiling. Everybody turned around to look at it,
curious. On the screen appeared the words "Incoming Message. Stand by."
A moment later, an image appeared on the screen. The girls gasped, and Yohann
growled. "Hello, everyone. Greetings from... myself!"
"Cauldron!" exclaimed Yohann. "If you dare to even touch one hair of her head,
I swear to you, I won't stop hunting you until I destroy you like the monster
you are!"
"Temper, temper, my dear MeRMAid!" mocked Cauldron. "You should learn to relax
like your friend here..." He then moved aside, and revealed an unconscious
Robin, lying on top of an operating table. "As you can see, she's resting quite
comfortably, unlike you."
"What do you want?" asked Yohann.
"Who, me? Oh, nothing much... just a couple of insignificant things..."
Cauldron then grabbed a cup of ice cream that was on a table near him, and
began to savoir it. "Mmmm! You know? I should have gotten a body a long time
ago. I never imagined this sensations could be so great!"
"Cut the crap, Cauldron! Get to the point!" Yohann was breathing heavily,
trying to keep his wits.
"Ooh, and you eat with that mouth? Shame on you!" Cauldron then walked next to
Robin, and after tossing his ice cream over his shoulder, began to talk again.
"Well, since you ask so nicely, I'll tell you. First, you'll surrender your
base to me! And second... all of you will swear your allegiance to me! As you
can see, I don't ask for much..." he then began to caress Robin's cheek with
his metallic hand. "Besides, the life of your friend here is worth more than
that, don't you think?"
"Never!" said Usagi. "And if Robin were awake, she'd say the same!"
"Well, as you wish." Said Cauldron. "But let me tell you something, girl... the
next time we meet, you'll regret your decision! And now, just for your eyes...
I'll say goodbye to you all... with this!" and in one swift movement, he kissed
Robin.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" This was more than Yohann could take.
Still screaming, he aimed the cannon towards the screen and opened fire.
Everybody scattered, trying to cover. Yohann continued firing at the ceiling,
until the cannon's clip went dry. Still, he continued clicking at the trigger.
A heavy silence hovered on the place, broken only by the click-click-click of
the cannon.
He remained in that position for a full minute, and without a warning, he
dropped to his knees, the weapons clanking lifeless on the ground. Usagi was
the first one that approached him, and carefully placing her hand on his
shoulder, she asked. "Yohann... are you all right?"
What happened next shocked everyone... with the exception of one person. Yohann
turned slowly to look at Usagi, and grabbing her hand, he said. "Usagi, please!
You have to help me! We can't leave Robin in the hands of that monster! Please,
save her! Please, please... please..." He then collapsed in front of her, and
began to cry, his sobs breaking her heart.
Without saying a word, Mamoru, Kenji and Shingo helped Yohann to stand up, and
guided him to the Medical ward, where Akane was waiting...
An hour and a half later, the whole team was reunited again in the living room.
Each one of them with the same question on their minds.
What to do now?
In that same moment, Ami, Akane and Rei joined the rest. All of them looked
tired.
"How is he?" asked Makoto. "Is he going to be all right?"
"I don't know, Makoto." Said Akane. "He's extremely depressed. I gave him a
sedative, but I don't think that will help him too much. It's just like... he
lost the will to live."
"That's right, Doctor." Said Alex. She was now on Ami's compact. "I'm linked
directly to his mind, and usually, he's so dynamic, so sharp. But now... well,
the best way to describe his state-of-mind is like I'm walking in a desert!
There's nothing in there!"
"Did you have any luck tracing that call?" asked Mamoru.
"I'm afraid not." Answered Ami. "I tried to follow the path Cauldron used to
pull that trick, but he sent it all over the world. I couldn't get a fix on it.
Sorry."
"What about you, Rei? Any luck?" asked Usagi, looking at her friend. "Did you
get anything from your fire reading?"
"Just one thing. I only got the image of those volcanoes Ami told us before.
Besides that... nothing."
"And what about trying to trace that ship?" asked Shingo.
"No luck on that side either, kiddo." Answered Alex. "I examined all the
readings of the base's sensors from the moment you said Cauldron attacked Robin
right when he sent that transmission. I used all the tricks in the book, and a
few I came up with. So far... nothing, zero, zilch, nada..."
"In short, we're back to square one." Said Haruka. "That's just great. What are
we going to do now?"
"I'll tell you what to do... we'll continue with what was planned." Everybody
turned around, and saw Yohann standing near the entrance. "You already said
it, Usagi. If Robin were conscious... and with us... she'd say the same."
"Yohann! What are you doing up? You should be resting!" said Akane.
"Not while there's so much to do, Doctor Mizuno. But thank you for your
concern. All right, everybody. Listen up. First, I want to apologize for my
past behavior. I know you all should have freaked out because of that, and I
want to assure you, that won't happen again. Second, let's keep in mind that
Cauldron wants to get his hands on that device that's still on the Rainbow
base. We can't let him win. And third..."
"And third," interrupted Makoto, "you are in no condition to lead this mission.
You have to go back to rest, Yohann! Do you really think you're able to go with
us this time?"
"I'm afraid she's right, sweetie." Added Alex. "You are truly in no condition
to handle anything heavier than a crossword!"
"And if you continue on that path, do you think that, when Robin returns,
she'll forgive you? I mean, look at you! Do you really want to kill yourself?"
concluded Makoto.
Yohann raised his hand, conceding the point. "Very well, you win. But before
you go down that lane, I want to know one thing... Alex, when are you all going
to be ready to departure to Rainbow?"
"We're ready to go right now, sweetbuns. And to make you feel more comfortable,
I'll go with them inside Ami's computer. You won't have to worry a thing!"
"Good. So, you are all decided to go without me?" asked Yohann. Everybody
nodded at unison. "Well, then I won't stop you. But, before you go, I want to
show you something. Now, if you want to follow me..." He then proceeded to
guide everyone inside the base, and walked straight to the Weapons Test Center.
"You see, after Sailor Moon almost blasted Endymion and myself when she
assimilated one of the crates we recovered from Cryssalid, " Usagi blushed a
bright red when she remembered that, "I began to take a close look at the
contents of those crates. I finally reached the conclusion that each one can
merge with your armors and create a new weapon for each one of you. Well, In
short, I now know what kind of weapon will be the end result."
"Pork chops, you impress me! When did you reached those results?" asked Alex,
puzzled.
"Well, you were too busy working with Ami deciphering the Cryssalid Files, so I
worked on this around the clock. So, now that that's explained, let's proceed
with the next upgrade of your Senshi armors. Michiru, Haruka, Minako, will you
do me the honor?"
The three girls nodded, and proceeded to trigger their transformations.
"VENUS SOUL POWER, TRANSFORM!"
"URANUS SOUL POWER, TRANSFORM!"
"NEPTUNE SOUL POWER, TRANSFORM!"
Once done, they activated their Techno-armors. When they were ready, Yohann
signaled three crates on a working bench. "Now, the only thing you have to do,
is place your hands inside. Your armors and powers will do the rest."
The three senshi proceeded to place their hands on the crates, and just like
with Usagi, their armors became fluid and enveloped the contents of the crates.
In a flash of Technum light, the assimilation was completed, and all the
presents admired the new weapons at their disposal.
"Sailor Uranus," began Yohann. "Now you have the ability to create a localized
earthquake just using your hands. Your activation phrase is " Uranus Ground
Pounder". Be careful when you use it."
"I will, Yohann. Thanks." She was looking at her arms. Her gauntlets had now
some crystal-looking disks on them, and two piston-looking devices on her arms.
However, they didn't hinder her movements.
"You, Sailor Neptune," continued Yohann, "have the ability to condense the
surrounding humidity of the area, and transform it with your Technum powers,
launching it with an incredible force. I calculate that the strength will be at
least 6.984556 times greater than your regular power. Your activation phrase is
"Neptune Oceanic Blaster." Take good care of it, and it will take care of you."
"Understood, Yohann. Thank you very much." A small network of hollow tubes
connected to a small backpack traversed all the length of her left arm, and
ended up in an aquamarine crystalline nozzle located on the top of her hand.
"And you, Sailor Venus..." followed Yohann's explanation. "Your new unit will
allow you to break the atomic structure of the target, turning it into atomic
dust. The activation phrase is "Venus Molecular Dissolver." Use it wisely...
and watch where you point it!"
"Thanks, Yohann. This aces!" said Sailor Venus. A series of concentric circles
made of what seemed to be microcircuits created with amber stones now circled
the ruby-like gems of her gauntlets.
"Now that you're ready, the only thing left for me is to wish you all the luck
in the world, girls. Be careful out there..." and addressing Usagi, he added.
"And please... save Robin and bring her back sound and safe."
"Don't worry, Yohann. We will." She said with a smile, attempting to comfort
Yohann. And addressing the rest of the girls, she said. "Well, what are we
waiting for? There's a job to be done here. Let's move!"
45 minutes later, Yohann, Ikuko, Kenji and Akane watched from the studio's
window the departure of the Leviathan, taking the team towards their next
adventure. Yohann stood immobile for a few moments before Kenji addressed him.
"Yohann, you should better go back to your room and rest. We'll keep an eye on
the communications." And placing a hand on his shoulder, he added. "Don't
worry, they'll bring her back."
Yohann sighed deeply, and turning around, he looked at Kenji's eyes. "Is it
that obvious?"
This time, Ikuko placed her hand on his. "Well, if the way you behaved around
her this last days wasn't clue enough, your reaction down there was more than a
confirmation." And tugging his arm, she said. "Come on, you have to rest.
Worrying here isn't going to help her."
Yohann looked again at the window, and a strange glint showed on his eyes one
brief second. No one noticed it... "Yes... I'll go down there and rest. Thank
you very much for your assistance." And he began to walk back to the base.
Yohann was on the Computers room, feverishly punching the keyboard on a
console. After a few minutes of hard work, a message appeared on the main
screen.
PARAMETERS ACCEPTED.
FINAL ADJUSTMENTS DOWNLOADED.
DO YOU WANT TO PROCEED?
Yohann typed "YES", and a soft humming was heard.
COMPLYING.
ESTIMATED TIME FOR COMPLETION OF "PROJECT STRATOS": 23 MINUTES, 18 SECONDS.
Yohann nodded, and then walked out of the room. His steps took him to the
Medical ward; more precisely, near the bed where Technuma Saturn was resting.
He looked at the comatose man for a couple of minutes, after whose he began to
talk softly.
"Technuma... I'm so sorry. It's my fault that your daughter is in such a grave
danger. I should have been with her, as my heart commanded me. But I was so
focussed with my work! I was such a fool! Now that she's gone, I realize how
much I love her... without her by my side, I feel dead. I can't bear life
without her anymore. She's become my reason to live. But... I'm convinced now
that she deserves someone much better than myself. I can only bring her grieve
and sorrow... and she doesn't deserve that! She deserves all the happiness this
universe has to offer to her... and I'm not the indicated to do that. I still
don't know what she saw in me... why does she love and admire me with all her
pure heart..."
For a brief moment, Yohann thought that Technuma's eyes twitched. 'Could it
be... that he heard me?' When nothing more happened, he dismissed it as a
hallucination, and continued talking.
"Sir... The thing I want to tell you is... that I promise that I'll bring Robin
back to your side, safe and sound... even if it costs me my own life! The enemy
is powerful, but I don't care. She's the most beautiful and lovely person this
planet has ever known, and if I have to die for her to live, so be it!... I
don't know if you can hear me, but one thing I'm sure: you'll take good care of
her, and be sure that the next man that approaches her will be the right one...
the one that she truly deserves."
In that moment, a chime was heard, and Yohann approached a nearby screen. He
punched a button, and a message appeared.
"PROJECT STRATOS" COMPLETED.
UNIT WAITING AT HANGAR.
Yohann sighed, and addressing Technuma one more time, he said. "Well, the time
has come. Wish me luck, Sir. Goodbye."
He turned around, and when he was near the door, a deep baritone voice said to
him. "Not so fast, young man. You have some things you have to explain to me."
Yohann froze in his place, not moving a muscle. And very, very slowly, he
turned around. When he saw who talked to him, he thought. 'Why am I not
surprised? With my recent luck...'
Technuma Saturn was sitting on the bed, and the expression on his face wasn't
that of a happy man... it was more on the league of the time when Tsukino Kenji
saw Mamoru for the first time.
"You said that my daughter is in danger, and that you are willingly going to
sacrifice yourself for her... and even more... you said that SHE is in love
with YOU... and all the way around?" Technuma stood up and walked with sure
steps towards Yohann. When he was face to face with him, he continued. "I don't
mean to be ungrateful or something, but I think you have too much to explain in
that regard. And I'm not going to let you go before you explain things to my
complete satisfaction."
"Sir... please, I have to go now. The rest of the Scouts and Senshi are already
on their way, and I'm not sure if they can..." began to say Yohann, but
Technuma interrupted him.
"Well then, I think that you'll have to take me with you. And I won't accept a
'no' for an answer! So, what's your decision?" He looked straight into Yohann's
eyes, not even blinking, and decided not to give away one inch.
After a few seconds, Yohann sighed, and said. "Very well then. But you'll have
to dress for the occasion. Do you want a suit like your old Guardian uniform?"
He began to punch a combination on the replicator's keypad, when Technuma
interrupted him.
"No, please... I prefer to leave that part of my past behind... but I'd like
something in sapphire, it you can."
Yohann nodded, and after resetting the replicator, he obtained a new suit for
Technuma. It was a jumpsuit, not different from his own, but with some minor
differences. There were no gloves on it, the same as no head cap. And on the
left of his chest, on bright blue, was the sigil of Saturn.
Once he was dressed, Technuma addressed Yohann again. "Thank you. This is
acceptable. Now, what are we going to use to follow the rest of the girls?"
"If you please follow me to the hangar... and don't make any noise." Both men
entered the hangar, and Technuma was surprised at what he saw.
"hmmm.... Not bad. I take they are nearby, right?"
"Well... as a matter of fact, they are in transit to another continent. This
unit will suffice." Answered Yohann.
"You have to be kidding... don't tell me we're going to follow them driving!"
Technuma was shocked by that answer.
The reason of his surprise was because, in the middle of the launching pad, was
a silver car... a Lamborghini Countach, to be precise. By all accounts, it
looked like a regular car. Yohann smiled at him, and after opening the
passenger's door, he invited Technuma to step in. The guardian of Saturn looked
at him suspiciously, but entered the car nevertheless. Yohann took the pilot
seat.
"Now, Sir... fasten your seatbelt. I think you're going to like this." Yohann
then opened a small compartment that was between the seats, and punched a red
button. Immediately, the board began to morph, taking the form of a very
stylized combat jet cockpit! Once the transformation was completed, Yohann
entered a numeric sequence on a keypad, and the platform began to rise.
"Young man... you definitely have a lot to explain to me!" said Technuma
Saturn, watching with interest the whole launch process.
Akane and the Tsukinos were at Yohann's studio, checking the readings of his
computer desk, when they heard the pool complex starting to move again.
"What's going on? Do you think the girls are coming back?" asked Ikuko.
"I don't think so, dear. They'd have called before." Answered Kenji.
"I have a bad feeling about this..." added Akane. "You don't think that
Yohann..."
"He's crazy enough to try anything on his own. We better check out." Said
Kenji, and he began to walk outside, followed by the two women. When they went
out via the living room door, he only managed to say. "What in God's
name....???"
Through the transparent windows of the pool building, the three adults could
see the form of a car. But what really surprised them was that the car began to
float in mid-air! When it was about to clear the roof, they gasped when it
began to retract its wheels, and a series of control wings sprouted on the
bottom and the sides! Once it cleared the roof, a couple of turbines sprouted
from the back, and in a flash, it disappeared.
They stood still for all the time the pool complex took to regain its original
form. Once silence reigned again on the place, Kenji spoke again.
"Well.... I have to admit it... that boy has a really big bag of tricks! I
never imagined he could pull a stunt like that."
"What worries me now," began Akane, "is if he can be of any help to the girls.
He's too unstable right now!"
"Somehow, I think that he knows exactly what he's doing." Said Ikuko. "And I
pray that he's not too late to help the girls."
* * * *
Inside the Leviathan...
Everybody was a little bit nervous. Granted, they had new weapons to aid them,
besides their natural powers and the aid of Alex, still...
"I wish my sweetbuns were with us." Said Alex. "I mean, we can use his tactical
abilities here. Who knows what does Cauldron has in store for us now?"
"I know what you mean." Said Chibi-Usa. "But you saw how he broke down after
that message."
"But why did he reacted that way?" entered Minako. "I know he wants to protect
all of us, but I think he overreacted, don't you think?"
Makoto sighed. 'Sometimes she can be so dense!' and praying that she was doing
the right thing, she said. "No, Minako. He didn't overreacted. As a matter of
fact..." She felt silent, not sure if to continue.
"As a matter of fact..." continued Usagi. "He's in love with her, right Makoto"
When the tall brunette nodded in agreement, she added. "And you knew about it
all the time."
"You knew? How? Come on, you started this, so you have to end this story!" said
Rei, fixing her gaze on Makoto.
"Very well..." and after sighing, Makoto continued. "I found out when we were
on the island we took him so he could relax. It happened during the last night
we spent there..." She then began to explain how Robin and Yohann encountered
on the beach, finally declaring to each other their mutual love.
"Hold it right there!" interrupted Alex. "How come I didn't detect that on his
mind? I mean, we're closer than that... that bimbo could ever be!" There was a
big amount of fury on her voice when she said that, taking aback everybody.
"Perhaps he wanted to keep that bit of information just for himself, Alex."
Said Ami. "After all, we humans like to have some things just for ourselves...
especially in the matters of the heart." She then winked at Minako, who smiled
back at her sweetly.
"Hmph! Still, that's no excuse for his actions!" finished Alex. Ami closed her
eyes, and pictured Alex crossing her arms, literally fuming!
"That's so romantic!" said Laurella. "Declaring their love under the night sky,
with the sea and the moon as witness..." She had little stars shinning on her
eyes, imagining the scene. Suddenly, she felt a gentle pressure on her
shoulder, and saw Shingo standing next to her, smiling at her sweetly. He then
mouthed silently 'When we get back... I promise.'
"Yes... it's romantic, Laurella... and that's when I knew that I'd lost all
chances with him." Finished Makoto, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
Chibi-Usa walked next to her, and holding Makoto's hand, she said. "Makoto...
don't be sad. Well... how to say this? You'll be happy. You see. Who knows?
Perhaps Mr. Right is waiting for you nearer than you think... and you'll
stumble with him when you less expect it! I know, being from the future!"
Makoto looked at the sweet pink-haired girl, and caressing her cheek, she said.
"Thank you, Chibi-Usa. I feel better now." Smiling, Chibi-Usa went back to her
seat.
Without anyone noticing it, Setsuna placed unconsciously her right hand over
her left, touching her annular finger, and thinking of the words Chibi-Usa
said. 'Perhaps Mr. Right is waiting for you nearer than you think... could it
also be my case?' Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Alex.
"Focus here, everybody. We'll be over the general area of Rainbow in 24
minutes. Don't get distracted!"
Everyone went silent, remembering the importance of their mission... and
wondering what could be waiting for them there.
* * * *
At the Stratos...
Yohann had decided to tell the whole truth about his real origin to Technuma.
Once he finished, Technuma looked at him, and said. "The MRMA? I think the
Prime mentioned that there was an attempt from you to contact him, but he
refused. I thought he was joking, but seeing you and this craft... not to
mention your base... but still... the concept of parallel universes... it's so
strange."
"Not when you're in the middle of the action, Sir." Said Yohann. "At least, we
were able to establish that the most dangerous material ended up on this
universe. I don't want to even imagine if this stuff ended up for example, on
the Dark Kingdom... or a worse place than that. Just one thing, Sir. Please
keep my origin a secret. No one else have to know about it."
"I understand your reasons, Lieutenant, and I will, rest assured. But still...
you haven't explained one very important thing to me... how did you meet my
daughter? And what are your intentions with her?" Technuma's voice had a light
edge on it when he asked that.
'Oh, boy... he didn't forget about that one... ok, here goes nothing.' Yohann
then began to relate in a condensed form all the events that had happened, from
the moment of his crash landing to the present.
Once he finished, there was a fairly long silence, suddenly broken by Technuma.
"I see... well, I won't emit any opinion until I talk with Robin. But I want to
tell you just one thing, Lieutenant."
"Yes, sir?"
"That if, in some way, you hurt her feelings, I'll personally go after you and
make you pay dearly for it. Is that clear?" His tone of voice was calm, but
nevertheless promised a world of pain for Yohann!
"gulp... Yes, Sir. Crystal clear, Sir." Said Yohann. 'Oh, boy... I've heard
of overprotective parents, but this is another league entirely!' And focussing
on the HUD (Heads Up Display for those of you that doesn't know what that means
-the author), he deviated the conversation. "I have a fix on the Leviathan's
beacon. We'll catch up with them in another 10 minutes."
"Very efficient, Lieutenant. I congratulate you." Said Technuma.
"Thank you, Sir. And please... call me Yohann."
"All in due time, all in due time... Lieutenant."
Yohann only nodded, but added for himself. 'Why me? Why me all the time?'
TO BE CONTINUED...