Part 4: The Sadist Scouts
"Are we getting any closer to finding Hotaru?"
Sasami peered at the console. "I've picked up an energy trail that matches hers, but it's leading back to Earth."
Sakura frowned. "So we're going the wrong way?"
"Not anymore." Sasami tapped a few keys, and the ship began to turn around. "How's our visitor?"
"Still unconscious. The guardians say her vital signs are up to 69%. I guess that's good, for now."
"It's very good. Almost too good for a normal person. Then again, a normal person would be dead by now."
"She's an alien?" Sakura asked, her eyes widening.
"Maybe, maybe not. I guess we'll have to ask when she wakes up."
* * * * *
Duo checked his gun and nodded. "Okay. Mistress Nine is probably inside this office, so be ready for anything."
Ryoko started to blast the door down, but Saturn grabbed her arm. "Wait. Something's wrong."
"What was your first clue, when we got crushed by the meteor, or when Mistress Nine left you for dead?" Ryoko asked, looking annoyed.
"No, I mean...this doesn't feel right."
"How do you WANT it to feel, kid? We can't waste time here."
Saturn released her arm, and Ryoko took out the door. The trio slowly entered the office, stopping just inside the doorway.
Mistress Nine sat behind the desk, looking very confident. "It's about time you got here. I can't have my revenge if you're not around."
"Can it, lady!" Ryoko ordered. "I'm sick of you already!"
"Then perhaps you'll allow my friends to entertain you. Girls?"
If it had been a normal sword, Duo might have spotted the gleam and had time to react. However, this sword was wooden, but no less effective as it was driven through Ryoko's back and burst from her chest.
Ryoko made a gagging sound and collapsed to the ground.
Suzuka raised her sword and smiled. "Who's next?"
Duo started to raise his gun, but it was torn from his hand as five claws sunk into his wrist and threw him into the far wall.
Aisha snarled and licked the blood from her claws. "Let's find out what you taste like," she suggested, starting towards Saturn.
"No, Aisha," Mistress Nine said sharply as she stood up. "She is mine."
Aisha backed off, snarling all the while.
Saturn fell into a battle stance as Mistress Nine stopped in front of her. "You can't win," she said quietly.
"I already have won," the woman replied.
Saturn leaped forward with an inhuman speed and slashed downward with the Silence Glaive, sending a shower of red spraying across her costume.
Mistress Nine stumbled backward and bumped into the desk. "You think it's that easy?" she asked, laughter building up in her throat. "I knew you would come for me, Saturn. That's why I brought a little insurance. You won't be able to finish the job."
"What could you possibly have that would make me stop?" Saturn asked with a smirk.
"She has me," said a voice from behind her.
Saturn spun around, prepared to attack again. She gasped, and the Silence Glaive fell from her hands and dropped to the floor. Though she had never seen the woman before, somehow, she knew that the battle was over, and she had lost.
Black Lady smiled down at her. "Hello, Hotaru. I've missed you."
"Reenie?" Saturn asked softly. "Is that you?"
"I'll give you one guess," she replied, grasping Saturn's hands.
Ryoko slowly looked up to see the evil light in Black Lady's eyes. "Run, kid!" she shouted. "Get outta here now!"
Saturn was beyond words as she stared into the woman's eyes. "Reenie...what has she done to you?"
"She's given me my freedom, Hotaru. It's wonderful! And soon, you'll be free, too...of your pitiful existence!"
Saturn felt twin stabs of white-hot pain in her hands, and she pulled them away. But all she could do was stare into Black Lady's eyes as the world faded to black.
* * * * *
Guy had a plan. Maybe it wasn't a very good one, but it was a plan. In theory, all the characters had to obey the rules their creators made for them. In other words, they had to follow the script. While Guy couldn't do anything to stop Mistress Nine, he could do something to help the Saturn Scouts. After all, his name had been on the original proposal for the show, right after Yugi's. They had creative control. At least, that's what he was hoping.
"Okay. I think I'm almost done here."
Gene glared at him. "It's a little late for that."
"You got what you deserved, Starwind."
"Yeah. I can see how being locked in a broom closet with you is a fitting punishment."
"Shut up and quit squirming! I have to use your back for a table. This document could very well make the world a better place!"
Gene smirked. "What is it, a suicide note?"
"Very funny. It's a script for the Saturn Scouts."
"Okay. What's your point?"
"I'm hoping that since I helped create the show, I can still change it."
"Uh, we're already locked in the closet. How do you change that?"
"I can't. But I might be able to get the Scouts some back-up. I just hope Duo and Ryoko aren't pissed at me for taking their new powers."
"Wait, wait," Gene said. "You're going to HELP by taking the power from the good guys?"
"They're both unconscious now. I'm giving their power to heroines that can do some good."
"Like who? The Powerpuff Girls?"
"...not quite."
* * * * *
Sakura still wasn't entirely comfortable in her Sailor Scout costume. After all, she wasn't a Scout. She had to be breaking some kind of copyright law. But a strange feeling had come over her, and she'd put it on without hesitation. Almost as if someone had told her to do it, but that was impossible. Sasami didn't even know about the costume...yet.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura walked out of the bathroom and took her seat.
Sasami didn't say anything, as she was too busy studying the console again.
Sakura cleared her throat loudly.
Sasami finally looked up. "Isn't that-"
"Yes."
"Oh." Sasami blinked. "So you won't get in trouble with Saturn?"
"Probably. But I'm hoping she'll be able to overlook it if we help her."
"So I should probably change, too, huh?"
"I guess."
"Okay. Turn away for a minute."
Sakura arched an eyebrow, but did as Sasami requested.
There was a bright flash of light, followed by some strange music. "Okay, I'm done."
Sakura turned around. "Uh..."
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just...you kinda look like Sailor Moon."
"You think?"
"Yeah. Especially the hair."
"So we'll get into trouble with them together."
Sakura bit her lip. "So...what do I call you now?"
"Magical Girl Pretty Sammy."
"Uh...do you have a shorter title?"
"Not really."
"Well...can I just call you Sammy?"
"I'd prefer Pretty Sammy, but okay." Sammy grinned. "What do I call you? Sailor Sakura?"
Sakura turned bright red. "Yes, actually."
Sammy stopped grinning. "Oh. Sorry."
"Uh huh."
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"The rollerblades. They were red a second ago, right?"
"Yeah..."
"So why are they violet now?"
"I don't know," Sakura admitted. "The same thing just happened to your wand."
"Really? Wow. You think it means something?"
"No idea. But I can see Earth from here, and I get the feeling we're needed. As in right now."
Sammy considered that for a moment. "Can you teleport?"
"No. You?"
"First time for everything."
"I hope so."
"Yeah. Me, too." Sammy raised her wand and closed her eyes.
* * * * *
Hotaru woke up in a pool of blood. Fortunately, it wasn't hers, but she didn't know that.
"You're finally awake," Mistress Nine said. "Wonderful. Now I can see the look on your face when I tell you that your friends are dead."
Hotaru narrowed her eyes. "You're lying."
"Fine. Ask them yourself. Aisha, if you'd be so kind."
Aisha appeared, dragging the bodies of Duo and Ryoko. She tossed them at Hotaru's feet, then returned to Mistress Nine's side. "Can I kill her now?" she asked hopefully.
"No, dear. Not yet."
Aisha pouted. "But she's so small and helpless!"
"True, but that's hardly her fault. We can't help the way we're born."
Hotaru crawled over to Ryoko and checked for a pulse. There was none. "Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place," she told herself. "Ryoko wasn't really human, anyway." Next was Duo, who looked even worse. Aisha had really done a number on him. He didn't have a pulse, either. But Hotaru's mind wouldn't accept that they were dead. "Duo's a Gundam pilot. Heero probably taught him how to act dead for a long time."
"No, I taught him," Aisha answered with a wicked grin. "And trust me, he's not acting."
Hotaru ignored the catgirl. "Duo?" she whispered, holding his head in her lap. "Can you hear me? You have to wake up now."
"How long is she going to sit there?" Aisha asked.
"Probably until she wastes away with them," Mistress Nine replied. "But I'd let you kill her before then."
Aisha smiled. "Good."
Suddenly, the entire building shook.
"What was that?!" Aisha shrieked.
"I would guess that Suzuka has encountered intruders."
The window beside them shattered, and Suzuka's battered body flew in, crashing on top of the desk.
"I would also guess that she was defeated," Mistress Nine added with a frown.
"You'd be right," said Pretty Sammy as she climbed in through the window. "And there's more where that came from!"
Aisha looked skeptical. "Is this a joke?"
"No, dear," Mistress Nine replied. "This is Pretty Sammy."
"That's Chaos to you, lady!" Sammy shouted.
Aisha snickered. "Chaos? YOU?"
"It's a temporary position," she admitted. "But I get all the rights that come with it."
Aisha snorted. "Like what?"
Sammy pointed her wand at Aisha. "Like this!"
When nothing happened, Aisha laughed and grabbed the wand. "HA! It doesn't do anything!"
Sammy turned and ran out of the room.
"What a coward. Can you believe that?"
Mistress Nine backed away, her eyes widening.
"What? It's just a stupid wand!"
The wand exploded in Aisha's hand, knocking her through three walls before she finally slumped to the ground.
Mistress Nine waved away the smoke. "It would seem that I underestimated these...children." It was then that she noticed Hotaru, Ryoko, and Duo were gone.
* * * * *
"I'm starting to think your idea didn't work, Guy."
"It worked. It'll just take tiiiiiiime!"
The door to the broom closet had suddenly opened, so Guy and Gene tumbled to the floor, covered in dust and cobwebs. They looked up to see Sakura standing over them.
"You guys okay?" she asked.
"Sure," Guy said. "But...what took you so long?"
"I had to sneak the Saturn Scouts out first. They're in the ship."
"And Mistress Nine?"
Sakura shrugged. "Sammy said she'd stall her."
"Hate to break up the moment," Gene said, "but COULD YOU GET OFF ME?!"
Guy quickly got to his feet, while Gene took a bit more time, as he had to work the cramps out of his legs.
"So what do we do now?" Gene asked.
"You guys are going back to the ship," Sakura answered. "Sammy and I are going to try and hold off Mistress Nine as long as we can."
"And what happens when you can't?" Guy asked.
Sakura frowned. "Okay, you could start working on a plan, too."
"Wait," Gene interrupted. "Where's Jim? He's good at this strategy stuff."
"Oh, he's on the ship, too. He's the first one I rescued."
* * * * *
Jim glanced at Hotaru. "I really don't think they're going to wake up."
"They will," she insisted, stroking Duo's head. "They have to."
"I just don't see how you can sit there holding a de-"
"He's NOT dead!" she snapped.
"Whoa! Sorry!" Jim backed away. "I thought you were supposed to be quiet and shy?"
"People change," Hotaru muttered.
"Okay. Well, in case they DON'T wake up in time, I think you should be ready to fight again."
"I am ready."
"Hotaru, no offense, but if you had been, you wouldn't be here holding a d--er, Duo."
Hotaru couldn't deny the wisdom in his observation. "What do you suggest?"
"Well, stop babying him first. Next, start practicing your moves or something. Anything that helps you get ready for battle. I don't know how long Sakura & Sammy can last, even with new powers. They need your help."
"But I can't just go in there alone, Jim. She has Reenie. What if something happens to her?"
"I could go with you," a voice said.
Hotaru looked up. "Who are you?"
Jim turned around and nearly fainted. "It...it's really you...isn't it?"
The girl smiled at him. "Of course, silly. Who else would it be?"
Continued in Part 5: Creative Control
"Are we getting any closer to finding Hotaru?"
Sasami peered at the console. "I've picked up an energy trail that matches hers, but it's leading back to Earth."
Sakura frowned. "So we're going the wrong way?"
"Not anymore." Sasami tapped a few keys, and the ship began to turn around. "How's our visitor?"
"Still unconscious. The guardians say her vital signs are up to 69%. I guess that's good, for now."
"It's very good. Almost too good for a normal person. Then again, a normal person would be dead by now."
"She's an alien?" Sakura asked, her eyes widening.
"Maybe, maybe not. I guess we'll have to ask when she wakes up."
* * * * *
Duo checked his gun and nodded. "Okay. Mistress Nine is probably inside this office, so be ready for anything."
Ryoko started to blast the door down, but Saturn grabbed her arm. "Wait. Something's wrong."
"What was your first clue, when we got crushed by the meteor, or when Mistress Nine left you for dead?" Ryoko asked, looking annoyed.
"No, I mean...this doesn't feel right."
"How do you WANT it to feel, kid? We can't waste time here."
Saturn released her arm, and Ryoko took out the door. The trio slowly entered the office, stopping just inside the doorway.
Mistress Nine sat behind the desk, looking very confident. "It's about time you got here. I can't have my revenge if you're not around."
"Can it, lady!" Ryoko ordered. "I'm sick of you already!"
"Then perhaps you'll allow my friends to entertain you. Girls?"
If it had been a normal sword, Duo might have spotted the gleam and had time to react. However, this sword was wooden, but no less effective as it was driven through Ryoko's back and burst from her chest.
Ryoko made a gagging sound and collapsed to the ground.
Suzuka raised her sword and smiled. "Who's next?"
Duo started to raise his gun, but it was torn from his hand as five claws sunk into his wrist and threw him into the far wall.
Aisha snarled and licked the blood from her claws. "Let's find out what you taste like," she suggested, starting towards Saturn.
"No, Aisha," Mistress Nine said sharply as she stood up. "She is mine."
Aisha backed off, snarling all the while.
Saturn fell into a battle stance as Mistress Nine stopped in front of her. "You can't win," she said quietly.
"I already have won," the woman replied.
Saturn leaped forward with an inhuman speed and slashed downward with the Silence Glaive, sending a shower of red spraying across her costume.
Mistress Nine stumbled backward and bumped into the desk. "You think it's that easy?" she asked, laughter building up in her throat. "I knew you would come for me, Saturn. That's why I brought a little insurance. You won't be able to finish the job."
"What could you possibly have that would make me stop?" Saturn asked with a smirk.
"She has me," said a voice from behind her.
Saturn spun around, prepared to attack again. She gasped, and the Silence Glaive fell from her hands and dropped to the floor. Though she had never seen the woman before, somehow, she knew that the battle was over, and she had lost.
Black Lady smiled down at her. "Hello, Hotaru. I've missed you."
"Reenie?" Saturn asked softly. "Is that you?"
"I'll give you one guess," she replied, grasping Saturn's hands.
Ryoko slowly looked up to see the evil light in Black Lady's eyes. "Run, kid!" she shouted. "Get outta here now!"
Saturn was beyond words as she stared into the woman's eyes. "Reenie...what has she done to you?"
"She's given me my freedom, Hotaru. It's wonderful! And soon, you'll be free, too...of your pitiful existence!"
Saturn felt twin stabs of white-hot pain in her hands, and she pulled them away. But all she could do was stare into Black Lady's eyes as the world faded to black.
* * * * *
Guy had a plan. Maybe it wasn't a very good one, but it was a plan. In theory, all the characters had to obey the rules their creators made for them. In other words, they had to follow the script. While Guy couldn't do anything to stop Mistress Nine, he could do something to help the Saturn Scouts. After all, his name had been on the original proposal for the show, right after Yugi's. They had creative control. At least, that's what he was hoping.
"Okay. I think I'm almost done here."
Gene glared at him. "It's a little late for that."
"You got what you deserved, Starwind."
"Yeah. I can see how being locked in a broom closet with you is a fitting punishment."
"Shut up and quit squirming! I have to use your back for a table. This document could very well make the world a better place!"
Gene smirked. "What is it, a suicide note?"
"Very funny. It's a script for the Saturn Scouts."
"Okay. What's your point?"
"I'm hoping that since I helped create the show, I can still change it."
"Uh, we're already locked in the closet. How do you change that?"
"I can't. But I might be able to get the Scouts some back-up. I just hope Duo and Ryoko aren't pissed at me for taking their new powers."
"Wait, wait," Gene said. "You're going to HELP by taking the power from the good guys?"
"They're both unconscious now. I'm giving their power to heroines that can do some good."
"Like who? The Powerpuff Girls?"
"...not quite."
* * * * *
Sakura still wasn't entirely comfortable in her Sailor Scout costume. After all, she wasn't a Scout. She had to be breaking some kind of copyright law. But a strange feeling had come over her, and she'd put it on without hesitation. Almost as if someone had told her to do it, but that was impossible. Sasami didn't even know about the costume...yet.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura walked out of the bathroom and took her seat.
Sasami didn't say anything, as she was too busy studying the console again.
Sakura cleared her throat loudly.
Sasami finally looked up. "Isn't that-"
"Yes."
"Oh." Sasami blinked. "So you won't get in trouble with Saturn?"
"Probably. But I'm hoping she'll be able to overlook it if we help her."
"So I should probably change, too, huh?"
"I guess."
"Okay. Turn away for a minute."
Sakura arched an eyebrow, but did as Sasami requested.
There was a bright flash of light, followed by some strange music. "Okay, I'm done."
Sakura turned around. "Uh..."
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just...you kinda look like Sailor Moon."
"You think?"
"Yeah. Especially the hair."
"So we'll get into trouble with them together."
Sakura bit her lip. "So...what do I call you now?"
"Magical Girl Pretty Sammy."
"Uh...do you have a shorter title?"
"Not really."
"Well...can I just call you Sammy?"
"I'd prefer Pretty Sammy, but okay." Sammy grinned. "What do I call you? Sailor Sakura?"
Sakura turned bright red. "Yes, actually."
Sammy stopped grinning. "Oh. Sorry."
"Uh huh."
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"The rollerblades. They were red a second ago, right?"
"Yeah..."
"So why are they violet now?"
"I don't know," Sakura admitted. "The same thing just happened to your wand."
"Really? Wow. You think it means something?"
"No idea. But I can see Earth from here, and I get the feeling we're needed. As in right now."
Sammy considered that for a moment. "Can you teleport?"
"No. You?"
"First time for everything."
"I hope so."
"Yeah. Me, too." Sammy raised her wand and closed her eyes.
* * * * *
Hotaru woke up in a pool of blood. Fortunately, it wasn't hers, but she didn't know that.
"You're finally awake," Mistress Nine said. "Wonderful. Now I can see the look on your face when I tell you that your friends are dead."
Hotaru narrowed her eyes. "You're lying."
"Fine. Ask them yourself. Aisha, if you'd be so kind."
Aisha appeared, dragging the bodies of Duo and Ryoko. She tossed them at Hotaru's feet, then returned to Mistress Nine's side. "Can I kill her now?" she asked hopefully.
"No, dear. Not yet."
Aisha pouted. "But she's so small and helpless!"
"True, but that's hardly her fault. We can't help the way we're born."
Hotaru crawled over to Ryoko and checked for a pulse. There was none. "Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place," she told herself. "Ryoko wasn't really human, anyway." Next was Duo, who looked even worse. Aisha had really done a number on him. He didn't have a pulse, either. But Hotaru's mind wouldn't accept that they were dead. "Duo's a Gundam pilot. Heero probably taught him how to act dead for a long time."
"No, I taught him," Aisha answered with a wicked grin. "And trust me, he's not acting."
Hotaru ignored the catgirl. "Duo?" she whispered, holding his head in her lap. "Can you hear me? You have to wake up now."
"How long is she going to sit there?" Aisha asked.
"Probably until she wastes away with them," Mistress Nine replied. "But I'd let you kill her before then."
Aisha smiled. "Good."
Suddenly, the entire building shook.
"What was that?!" Aisha shrieked.
"I would guess that Suzuka has encountered intruders."
The window beside them shattered, and Suzuka's battered body flew in, crashing on top of the desk.
"I would also guess that she was defeated," Mistress Nine added with a frown.
"You'd be right," said Pretty Sammy as she climbed in through the window. "And there's more where that came from!"
Aisha looked skeptical. "Is this a joke?"
"No, dear," Mistress Nine replied. "This is Pretty Sammy."
"That's Chaos to you, lady!" Sammy shouted.
Aisha snickered. "Chaos? YOU?"
"It's a temporary position," she admitted. "But I get all the rights that come with it."
Aisha snorted. "Like what?"
Sammy pointed her wand at Aisha. "Like this!"
When nothing happened, Aisha laughed and grabbed the wand. "HA! It doesn't do anything!"
Sammy turned and ran out of the room.
"What a coward. Can you believe that?"
Mistress Nine backed away, her eyes widening.
"What? It's just a stupid wand!"
The wand exploded in Aisha's hand, knocking her through three walls before she finally slumped to the ground.
Mistress Nine waved away the smoke. "It would seem that I underestimated these...children." It was then that she noticed Hotaru, Ryoko, and Duo were gone.
* * * * *
"I'm starting to think your idea didn't work, Guy."
"It worked. It'll just take tiiiiiiime!"
The door to the broom closet had suddenly opened, so Guy and Gene tumbled to the floor, covered in dust and cobwebs. They looked up to see Sakura standing over them.
"You guys okay?" she asked.
"Sure," Guy said. "But...what took you so long?"
"I had to sneak the Saturn Scouts out first. They're in the ship."
"And Mistress Nine?"
Sakura shrugged. "Sammy said she'd stall her."
"Hate to break up the moment," Gene said, "but COULD YOU GET OFF ME?!"
Guy quickly got to his feet, while Gene took a bit more time, as he had to work the cramps out of his legs.
"So what do we do now?" Gene asked.
"You guys are going back to the ship," Sakura answered. "Sammy and I are going to try and hold off Mistress Nine as long as we can."
"And what happens when you can't?" Guy asked.
Sakura frowned. "Okay, you could start working on a plan, too."
"Wait," Gene interrupted. "Where's Jim? He's good at this strategy stuff."
"Oh, he's on the ship, too. He's the first one I rescued."
* * * * *
Jim glanced at Hotaru. "I really don't think they're going to wake up."
"They will," she insisted, stroking Duo's head. "They have to."
"I just don't see how you can sit there holding a de-"
"He's NOT dead!" she snapped.
"Whoa! Sorry!" Jim backed away. "I thought you were supposed to be quiet and shy?"
"People change," Hotaru muttered.
"Okay. Well, in case they DON'T wake up in time, I think you should be ready to fight again."
"I am ready."
"Hotaru, no offense, but if you had been, you wouldn't be here holding a d--er, Duo."
Hotaru couldn't deny the wisdom in his observation. "What do you suggest?"
"Well, stop babying him first. Next, start practicing your moves or something. Anything that helps you get ready for battle. I don't know how long Sakura & Sammy can last, even with new powers. They need your help."
"But I can't just go in there alone, Jim. She has Reenie. What if something happens to her?"
"I could go with you," a voice said.
Hotaru looked up. "Who are you?"
Jim turned around and nearly fainted. "It...it's really you...isn't it?"
The girl smiled at him. "Of course, silly. Who else would it be?"
Continued in Part 5: Creative Control