Souls of Fire #14: Endgame, part 2--
Between Scylla and Charybdis

Ranma 1/2 VS Sailor Moon

Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NYChotmail.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/sm/index.html

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and characters belong to
Naoko Takeuchi. Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to
Rumiko Takahashi. Proper licenses belong to respective
properties and characters.

This file can be freely distributed so long as it
appears in its complete form and proper credit. No
part may be reproduced for monetary gain without
permission from the author.

----------------------------------------------------

Ranma's Pad, Tibetan Highlands

Ranma's eyes peeled away from the old ghoul, Cologne,
as he stepped outside the front door, his attention
now fixated on the hovercar coming in for a landing.

The old woman that served as training instructor
stood balanced on her walking stick, standing out on
the porch, watching the silver flying Volkswagen kick
up the dust. "It appears you have a visitor, Son-in-
Law," Cologne said.

"Don't call me that," Ranma replied, raising his hand
as a visor against the morning sun's rays. "How many
times do I keep tellin' ya that?"

Cologne figured out who the occupant of the car was,
and so did Ranma, as he had seen such a vehicle come
by before. The two living in the middle of nowhere,
far from any crystal city, spent their days training.
Ranma felt the call to remain training even after he
settled down with Akane; this wooden Tibetan shack
served as his private retreat when the martial artist
felt like being alone.

It must have been at least two weeks, he figured, but
he wondered why Ukyo would fly all the way to the dust
pan just to see him.

As expected, the Vice Executive of the Peacekeepers
stepped out of the left side of the car, apparently
having traveled the distance from Geneva by herself--
a fact Ranma found odd, as Konatsu, the friend she was
dating, was often not far behind. He was not used to
seeing his old friend dressed in her self-styled
white uniform, with the only trace of familiarity being
the giant combat spatula strapped on her back.

She kept her hands in her pockets as she addressed
him, staring directly into his eyes. "It's been a
while, Ranchan, but I really wish this could've been a
social call."

Judging from the tone of her voice, Ranma decided
that something finally happened, after thirty-eight
years of peace, quiet, and boredom. It was exactly the
kind of thing he was waiting for. "What'd I miss?"

There was no form of communication to the outside
world existing in the one-story, modest house. It was
built only with all the comforts of home, with food
and supplies that could last one two months, thanks to
Cologne's experience. In fact, unless one wished to
travel over fifty miles to the nearest village, the
only way to leave the middle of nowhere was in the
garage built under the ground, exiting at a sheer
cliff. There was only one hovercar between the two
martial artists, but neither of them felt the need to
use it most of the time.

Thus, it was very easy to lose touch with the world.
It was the only way to get any real training done,
after all.

"Several hours ago," Ukyo explained, "six city-sized
warships appeared all around the Earth sphere. They
quickly took control of all our orbiting satellites,
then proceeded to attack cities all across the globe."

"The Mekani," Cologne guessed, her voice solemn.
"Removing the satellites would prevent the use of any
global-scale device being used against them."

"What about Akane?" Ranma asked.

"Oh, they're fine," the Vice Executive of the
Peacekeepers informed him. "Both Crystal Tokyo and
Geneva were attacked, but the invaders were repelled.
All the ground zero locations are being evacuated even
as we speak. Places such as Los Angeles and Moscow
weren't so lucky... and the one that attacked Moscow
is heading toward Beijing, probably on the way to help
smash Crystal Tokyo."

"I see," the martial artist said, relieved that Akane
was all right, at least. "But why would they attack
places like Los Angeles, Moscow, or Beijing? They
don't have anything significant like Geneva or...."

"It's entirely possible they're looking to spread
terror," Cologne offered as conjecture.

Ukyo shook her head. "No, the Mekani are actually
looking for something. Before the Moscow ship left we
got a report from our agent there that the Mekani
raided all the museums and treasuries... even private
collections. We haven't figured out if they took
anything yet, but if the Los Angeles ship is still
there, they're probably looking for something, too."

"So now you guys need my help?" guessed Ranma. "I
suppose your PKs didn't help too much, after all."

"It's not like we were expecting the Mekani to come
back this soon," Ukyo said, shrugging. "Maybe if you
joined, we could've done something different."

"Yeah, right," he scoffed. "The queen's PKs were so
ineffective the last time it's such a joke. I'm
finding ways to save this planet my own way."

"Well, not all of us are as talented as you,
Ranchan," she replied, without any hint of jealousy.
"I just couldn't leave Ayame hung out to dry like Kanna
and Shion did."

"C'mon, we both know you didn't join the PKs for
pity points. And what if I don't want to help?"

"There's always Ryoga...."

"Ryoga's not strong enough," Ranma interrupted,
knowing that Ukyo knew that Ryoga all but gave up
fighting. Truthfully, while it has been quite a while
since he last saw his old rival, Ranma recalled that
Ryoga was at least trying to earn an honest living for
his wife and kids-- but doing what escaped him at the
moment. A laborer's life wasn't for Ranma, at least.

He groaned. "I hate it when you do this!"

"You could do well to learn from this, Son-in-Law,"
Cologne told him. "The whole of greatness is not in
yourself alone, but from you to others."

"Yeah, whatever," he said, shrugging. Turning back
to Ukyo, he said, "I've been training these past years
where nobody could get hurt, trying to make myself
better, stronger, and faster. In that last battle I
almost lost my life to Vizier because I was too cocky,
but this time it's going to be different. I'll smash
those Mekani by myself, if I have to."

Ukyo nodded with a smile. "I can't wait to see."

---

Inner Circle, Secret Section Fortress

"This way," Ziel said, opening the door for Shizuka.

The priestess of Genbu looked toward the fan dancer.
"Thanks. We'd like to be alone for a while, okay?"

She waited for no nod, but knew Ziel would comply.
Shizuka entered the dark chamber that served as the
Master Director of Section's office. Before her was a
wall made up of monitors-- from top to bottom, from
left to right. Each monitor glowed with a different
picture, likely one for each Section operation.

Before her was the back of a captain's chair--
Shion's favorite-- and a desk that was almost
completely made up of keys and switches. In effect,
the room was a giant computer network station, and its
controller the one sitting in the chair, with his
back turned arrogantly toward the door.

"Welcome home," Shion said, without turning around,
in a low tone.

"I see you're still playing video games," Shizuka
said neutrally. "Still on those dating sims, or have
you moved on from Anime?"

"Anime no longer amuses me," the Director stated
flatly. "Reality is the only true game-- a game where
one can toy with peoples' lives at the touch of a
button."

"Then you are moving up in the world," she said
sarcastically. "You've done well for yourself."

"As have you."

"Except you're still caught-up on the past."

"Then why did you do it?" he asked, spinning around
in his chair. His reflection-tinted glasses concealed
his eyes. Shion held up his index fingers to his
lips, as if he were interested in something.

"Cut the crap, Shi," Shizuka yelled. "Do I have to
play 'connect the dots' with you, too?"

"I have all the time in the world to hear your
explanations," he said coldly. "Why did you leave that
day?"

The priestess shook her head. "If I didn't you'd
have followed me into space, and you wouldn't be here
where we needed you."

"So it really was Kanna's plan," he mused. "I'm yet
a pawn, then."

"Only insofar as you allow yourself to be one!"
Shizuka cried, growing impatient. "I thought you were
smart. You let yourself become the pawn, is all."

"And that's where you're wrong," Shion said, raising
his voice proudly. "I made plans of my own, and it's
up to you if you want to be a part of them."

"You're asking me to join you?" Shizuka asked,
somewhat amazed. "I've seen worlds you've only dreamed
of, and now you want me to be content with this rotten
shell?"

Shizuka quickly flicked her wrist, producing three
steel cards. With three quick throws sparks flew from
three points in the room, and immediately three of the
monitors on the back wall flickered and died.

"Dammit," Shion cursed.

"Now quit it with your silly charade," Shizuka
demanded. "You're blind in more ways than one."

"So you've figured it out," he mused. "No amount of
science could reverse what the system shock did to me,
so I continued to utilize the mental control unit in
order to make up for that." He tapped his right
temple. "Everything I see is transmitted here, and
thus my eyes are truly everywhere."

"You wanted to see me?" Shizuka asked. "You can't
ever see me again. Both our lives have been scarred
too much in the last war to ever heal. I have a
destiny to fulfill... or die trying."

"And that's where you're wrong," Shion replied
calmly. "I always see you. I always hear you. I
always feel your soft skin and your silky hair. And,
if I'm not mistaken, you do, too. You won't admit it;
Kanna is merely an excuse. I am, because I've had
forty years to think it over, and the bottom line
is...."

"I don't want to hear it," she interrupted. "If I
want to finish what I started, I can't be allowed to
succumb to personal desires. It's what I've been
trained for, and by golly, Shi, I'm going to waste that
two-timing prick Serenity, or die trying." She raised
her hand, the same hand that was destroyed by Vizier,
now wrapped in white bandages. "As you can see, I lost
my hand over it, and this here is a constant reminder
of what believing in her did. We lost our stride at
the end of the last war, without accomplishing what we
set out to do in the first place."

"Each of us bears a scar-- a reminder-- of our
failings as Fenril Knights. You lost your eyesight.
Cinder lost his honor. Sypha her home. Mousse his
vengeance. Kanna believes this battle to be only a
continuation of the last war, and she's right. And,
thanks to the Mekani, we can't leave the Earth the way
it is. The world will change, or be swept aside by
those old when the universe was young."

"You see, Shi, I voluntarily went into exile because
I needed to find my way again. Mizuki once told me
that, if you get lost, to just stop and take the time
to figure out where you are. Then, after getting your
bearings, you can continue. Distancing myself from
everything has made everything clearer, and more than
ever I can see that the Crystal Court must go."

"I see." Shion nodded slowly. "Then perhaps you'd
be interested in my own secret weapon."

Shizuka raised her eyes to the monitors, where each
of the square blocks changed to make up the piece of a
single, larger image. She felt her jaw drop in
surprise, but could not find the words.

"Yes, she lives," Shion replied, "as you said she
would. The time draws near when she'll awaken, and
then we'll have the strongest weapon imaginable to
defeat Neo Queen Serenity and her Crystal Court. Not
even the Mekani can withstand such potential. When
the soul of shadow revives, the darkness will rise to
reclaim the world it was denied. Now, I ask you again:
will you join the winning team?"

---

Boddy Mansion, Los Angeles

Resting on a shiny steel pedestal, quietly in its
sheath, the Young Phoenix lay bathed in illumination of
a spotlight from the ceiling above. The sword, of
Japanese origin, was positively identified as to have
existed at least in the 19th Century, and probably
even earlier, but it was not smithed in the same
manner as any other Japanese sword. In fact, any
expert would note that the long sword had more in
common with European swords than with Japanese katanas,
yet it wasn't truly a European sword, either. Whatever
its origin, the sword was quite valuable, and
obviously of strong make to have endured the test of
time-- whenever it was forged.

The heavy double doors that served as the only
entrance and exit to the collector's room burst open
loudly, and two bloody, well-dressed security guards
were tossed inside. Metal scraped against the
polished marble floor, and smoke hissed beneath such
deadly talons.

Reaching up to throw off his hood with his steel
claws, Cinder's mechanical left eye fixated on the
prize. The obsidian-scaled salamander, a retainer from
a bygone age, stepped past the bloodied bodies,
tripping all laser alarms as he made his way to the
sword known as Young Phoenix.

Several more loud alarms blared when Cinder picked
up the sword and scabbard, but he paid them no mind.
After all, all the security measures failed to stop him
from walking in the front door.

"At last," his abyssal voice said, "I've found you."

Kicking over the pedestal, Cinder turned, his robe
swirling behind him, and backtracked the way whence he
came. With long strides the reborn warrior made his
way back outside, past the gaudy decorations humans
considered beautiful, and stopped short of his exit.

The courtyard, which was empty only minutes before,
was filled to the brim with heavy Mishima robots. The
GAIA-class, to be precise-- hulking artillery units
armed with two gattling guns each, staring with mean
death's head looks and glowing red eyes. Although the
sight of the robotic hulks might scare humans, Cinder
hungered for a real battle.

Of course, no mere robots could fill such a void, he
knew, but....

"Peacekeeper," Cinder roared, his voice echoing
throughout the courtyard, "face me, you coward!" He
tightened his grip on the scabbard, then pulled the
Young Phoenix free with his right claw. Flames flew
along the same arc as the end of the pointed blade, and
the scabbard went up in flames. "Your machines are no
match for the sword Suzaku promised me!"

Flames danced across the blade of Young Phoenix as
Cinder rushed the machines. Each of the front line
GAIAs opened fire, but the bullets melted the moment
they came into contact with Cinder's flaming aura. He
swung the sword quickly, making quick, clean cuts of
any robot that got in his way.

Mentally, Cinder counted the number of strokes he was
making, and once he finished the twelfth, all the
offending robots were cleaved in two, in varying
degrees of sparking destruction. Quickly, he scanned
the area with his mechanical eye, for some trace of the
PK who sent the machines against him.

"Coward," he hissed, before rushing to where his
shuttle was parked. "I will not be satisfied until
Lord Kolvar... no, my race... all our peoples... have
been avenged." Cinder held his left hand out, and the
Young Phoenix's scabbard reappeared, allowing him to
sheath the magical weapon. "With the power of a true
god behind me, I will not lose!"

---

Only seconds went by since Cinder made his way back
toward his command ship's shuttle that one lone figure
emerged from the mansion. Surveying the damage that
one lone warrior-- a kami-- had done to military
hardware, Shingo Tsukino whistled, impressed.

"Looks like the game's becoming a bit more
interesting," he said, producing a cell phone. It was
time to inform the boss of the turn of events.

---

Office of the CEO, Peacekeeper HQ

"So they're after certain artifacts, Your Majesty,"
Ayame explained, as Neo Queen Serenity and her court
listened in on the other end of the transmission. "If
I'm not mistaken, the Basilisk must've found something
in Moscow, too, and is looking for something else in
Beijing."

"Any idea what they may be searching for?" asked the
world monarch.

She shook her head. "Haven't a clue, although my
agent in Los Angeles tells me a rare sword was taken...
one with dubious origins."

"Perhaps they are searching for weapons used in the
time before the rise of the kami," suggested Sailor
Mercury.

"It would make sense, if it's Cinder, to find
something stronger than he is," Sailor Mars added.

"More than ever, we need to find a way to end the
war," Neo Queen Serenity interrupted. "I am willing to
listen to any suggestions you may offer."

"I have an idea," Mercury replied immediately. "We
have numerous samples of Mekani technology in our
hands. With those we can easily find a way to
interrupt their communications to their Hive mind."

"Tried that," Ayame said. "They're rotating
frequencies on a seemingly-random basis."

"If it's just 'seemingly-random,' then there's a way
to figure it out, then," Sailor Venus pointed out.

"But it won't be enough," continued Mercury. "Based
on this knowledge we will have to disrupt all
communications frequencies... even the ones the Mekani
aren't using."

"Even so," Ayame pointed out, "they've at least got
guys like Shion on their side. Stuff like that won't
work for long."

"It doesn't have to," Mercury replied. "It would
only serve as a distraction for our real plans."

"And that is?"

"We take out the leaders," Mars answered. "Right?"

"But we don't know for sure which one has the big
boss on it, do we?" asked Jupiter.

"It would not be wise to spread our forces too thin,"
agreed King Endymion.

"We should take out both Scylla and Charybdis,"
Sailor Saturn said, speaking up for the first time
since the meeting started. Elaborating further, she
added, "We know all the communications go to and from
the Scylla, right? But the enemy also isn't stupid...
and why have the Charybdis in the first place? They're
up to something."

"I agree," Ayame said. "Taking out both would
unbalance the Mekani forces, and make sure that they
don't get clever and switch ships on us."

"Question is, what'll we do once we get there?"
asked Venus.

"Take out the leader," Mars answered, "and the ship,
if it comes to that."

But Mercury shook her head. "Destroying the ship is
too dangerous. Especially the Scylla, because it is
large enough to make a significant impact at the North
Pole. Also, if it generates enough heat, the polar ice
caps will melt and flood the rest of the world."

"So we'll just have to be extra-careful," Jupiter
said, shrugging.

All eyes turned toward Neo Queen Serenity. "Very
well, then. I want all of you to prepare this plan of
yours, but we must also consider that the Mekani will
also continue to target the world's cities. Ayame, I
leave that part up to you and your people."

The Chief Executive nodded. "You can count on me."

---

Altar of the Sun, Shrine of the Four Gods

Ever since being abandoned long ago the Shrine of the
Four Gods remained vacant until Neo Queen Serenity
approved of converting the unused space into a research
center. Today, long after such an institution began,
the Shrine compound became vacant yet again, save for
one hovercar and a triple-star-shaped Mekani shuttle,
each left vacant in the courtyard.

Kneeling in prayer before the altar dedicated to the
sun, and the nexus of the Four Gods, was Shizuka,
dressed in formal robes of her profession, adding what
little ornaments to her hair to make herself
presentable to the gods. She knew that some of those
ornaments belonged to Mizuki, her mentor, once, but
since she passed away Shizuka thought it fitting that
she would use them in her memory. However, the one
piece that she refused to touch was the crown ornament,
which was too much a part of Mizuki that Shizuka felt
she was unworthy of wearing it, as she was neither
graceful nor as wise as the mentor. At her side lay
two sheathed swords, with the head of a viper molded in
the pommels.

She raised her head slightly, and called out, "Are
you going to kill me or not?"

Emerging from the shadows near the door Ranma and
Ukyo stepped out to the aisle, having remained quiet
up to that point.

"Somehow," Ukyo said, "when I heard that this place
was attacked, I knew it would be you."

"You're a long way from home," Shizuka replied,
collecting her swords, then standing to her feet and
turning around to face the intruders. "And you,
Ranma... nice to see you again."

"Haven't seen your face in a while," the martial
artist replied. "I hear you've been busy."

"I imagine so," the priestess said neutrally.

"What are you doing?" demanded Ukyo, her right hand
reaching into her inner jacket pocket. "Why have you
sided with the enemy?"

"Which one?"

"The Mekani, of course!"

"There's many enemies... it's only you've got to
choose which one will have the least detrimental effect
in the long run."

"Don't talk in riddles!" demanded Ranma impatiently.
"Your buddies are killing people all around the world!"

"Sometimes death is a merciful release." Her eyes
glowed pale-white as Deathclaw took over. "Tell me,
Ranma Saotome, do you enjoy your immortality?"

"Huh?"

"Don't play stupid with me," the ghost dragon said,
speaking with Shizuka's lips. "I've suffered
immortality far longer than you know. I've met others
who have lived just as long. Your human comrade,
Master Higure, suffered immortality for a thousand
years... to be released of such a terrible fate for
only a short while before being thrown back to it."

"You've met Master Higure?" asked Ukyo, surprised.

"This girl wishes to renew acquaintances with those
she left behind," Deathclaw admitted. "Whether it be
secret underworld bases, high mountain peaks, or a
simple house where her brother lives... I watched it
all. It is not difficult to find those who do not wish
to be found for one such as I."

"So Masture Higure is still alive..." the Vice
Executive of the PKs mused, knowing that the old man
and his Orochi colleagues disappeared since the last
war.

"You know," Ranma said, "being young is great and
all, but I wouldn't want to stay young forever. Even
if it means I can watch my kids grow up and get married
and all...."

"Then you do understand its curse," Deathclaw said.

"Still, it gives me plenty of time to do what I want
to do," the martial artist added.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, boy," the ghost dragon
said, his voice rumbling. "There are others who would
deign to battle with you, and they, too, have improved
with time."

Closing her eyes, the priestess of Genbu walked down
the aisle, heading for the door. The moment she tried
to pass between Ranma and Ukyo, the Vice Executive
held the girl's arm fast.

"Hold it. You're not going anywhere this time."

"Watch me," Shizuka said, resuming control. "I've
plenty more people to see. And please don't disrespect
Mizuki while you're here." She forced her arm with
surprising strength, throwing off Ukyo's hold.

"Wait a minute," Ranma called, and Shizuka froze in
place. "What about your hand?"

Without turning back Shizuka raised her bandaged
hand, as if noticing it for the first time. "What of
it?"

"Shouldn't it have healed by now?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Don't be so quick to assume you know everything,"
Shizuka suggested. She pulled at the bandages, quickly
unwinding them from around her hand-- and holding it
up for Ranma to see. "As you can see, the exterior is
nothing to what lies on the interior."

The hand was replaced by a twisted, spectral claw,
much like the substance Deathclaw was made of.

"A little piece of advice, Ranma," she added,
ignoring Ukyo's presence. "Don't choose a side until
you've gathered all the facts, because not everything
is as it seems."

Ukyo cast Ranma a serious glare. "What? You're not
going to let it off like that, are you?"

"That's my line," Ranma complained. "And besides...
she's got a point. Something else is going on that
we aren't seeing... besides why the Mekani haven't
wiped us out yet. Aren't they supposed to be the
galactic locusts?"

"Do you suppose that Wiseman somehow usurped control
of the Mekani when he got to them?" she speculated.

"Who knows?" the martial artist said with a shrug.
He folded his hands behind his head as he watched
Shizuka's shuttle take off. "We've still got a city to
save, though...."

---

Soon the two old friends were back in the hovercar.
Ranma stared out the passenger side window, down to the
abandoned Shrine complex, and watched as it disappeared
as the car picked-up speed.

A loud beep almost made the martial artist jump, but
he knew it was the car phone. He heard Ukyo turn it
on, flipping a switch on the dash. "Ukyo speaking,
who's calling?"

Ranma's interests perked, as he knew as well as Ukyo
that, without control of the communications satellites
in orbit, they shouldn't be able to receive or send
transmissions. At least, not through something as
conventional as a car phone. "What the...?"

"There was one thing I forgot to mention," came the
voice of Shizuka, her voice coming clear in
transmission. "Kuonji, block this out; you didn't
hear."

"But I'm the one driving the car," she pointed out.

They heard the priestess groan in frustration.
"Okay, fine. Saotome, Hokuto's alive."

Shizuka allowed herself a momentary pause as Ranma
realized the implications of the news. He remembered
Hokuto Takemasa clearly-- that she was a perverted girl
that somehow liked him, whether he was a guy or a
girl. It wasn't the fact that she knew Ranma was
really a guy that pushed her to it, but more that her
tastes were perverted, and that scared him. And yet,
despite all that the Shadow Weaver managed to save him
from his own stupidity in the last battle against
Vizier.

Ranma was certain she couldn't have survived. "How?"

"We'll never know for sure," Shizuka said carefully,
keeping her voice even, "at least, until she wakes up.
You can't let her wake up; she's in a coma, and Section
has her. They intend to use her as a weapon, to take
out whoever wins this little war."

"So Shion is playing both sides, huh?" Ukyo
concluded. "That changes everything."

"You and I both know what she can do with her shadow
power," Shizuka continued, her voice carrying a sense
of urgency, "and you have to keep her from waking up.
She's not the same as before."

"So what am I supposed to do?" asked Ranma, feeling
confused. "Don'cha know girls don't quit when they're
around me?"

"If you have to, kill her," suggested the priestess.
"That thing Section has is not Hokuto. Trust me on
this; you'll be doing her, and the world, a favor.
Section will not be able to control or contain her for
very long. You owe her this."

"Don't you dare say that!" Ranma shouted angrily,
and Ukyo flinched in response. "She means nothing to
me!"

"Then keep quiet!" Ukyo warned, casting a cold stare
at the martial artist.

"I'm not going to make you promise," Shizuka added.
"Either way... I'm transmitting the coordinates and
codes to get you into Section Inner Circle. What you
do with it is up to you, but if you're truly a fighter
for Earth, you have to keep her from waking-up. It CAN
get worse than the Mekani. I'm going to do my part in
saving this world, and I suggest you do the same. And
that might also mean you, too, Kuonji."

With that, the priestess of Genbu terminated the
link, her voice replaced by static. Ukyo quickly
turned the phone off, and noted that her car computer
was receiving the aforementioned data.

"Well," she said, "if we do this we won't be there to
help Crystal Tokyo. On the other hand, if Shizuka's
right, then we can't afford to let something like this
happen... unless she's exaggerating again."

Ranma folded his arms, trying his best to look
indifferent. "Hokuto's Shizuka's friend; it's her
problem. Besides, I don't owe her anything."

"Who? Shizuka, or Hokuto?"

"Shizuka, of course!" he replied quickly. "She wants
me to do her dirty work. And besides, she's asking me
to kill someone. I don't do that kind of stuff."

"She didn't ask you to kill Hokuto... that is, if
Hokuto really is still alive," Ukyo pointed out. "But,
you do owe it to Hokuto, right? Even if it is a trap
and all...."

The Vice Executive sighed. "If Section were holding
me, would you come after me?"

"Of course," Ranma answered. "Everyone knows I take
care of my friends."

Ukyo shook her head. "No way, the Ranma I know helps
anybody, even people he doesn't like. You helped out
Pantyhose Taro that one time, didn't you?"

"Hmph. What of it?"

"So why is it so different with Hokuto?"

Ranma turned and faced the driver. "It's probably
the same deal with you and Tsubasa. Remember him?"

She nodded. "Okay, bad example. But, you know
Shizuka doesn't like lying and stuff. You know how she
gets all bent out of shape when someone lies to her.
She's probably telling the truth. And if that's the
case, we're all in danger... from what, I don't know.
I don't know anything about the shadow stuff. Then,
if not for Hokuto, then what about everybody else?"

"You're just not going to quit, are ya?" he asked
finally.

Ukyo punched up the data Shizuka sent, and a map with
a blinking dot appeared on the dashboard screen.
"Well, well, well. The best place to hide something
IS in plain sight, huh?"

---

International Airport, Crystal Tokyo

Shingo hated waiting for baggage claim, wondering
when his traveling possessions would arrive on the
conveyor belt. His sentiments were shared with the
rest of those occupying the most dismal room in the
airport.

Although there was a general order for the population
to evacuate the city, some people, including Shingo,
still had business to take care of there. It was his
and the other co-workers to convene at Crystal Tokyo,
to assist in the operations. He regretted leaving Los
Angeles without informing Chika of his plans, but
nothing could be helped when duty called.

Despite the fact there were only twenty people on
the flight, baggage claim was still taking its sweet
time. So much for progress, he thought.

Shingo's thoughts drifted back to Chika, and he
wondered when it would all end.

---

Inner Sanctum, Crystal Palace

Everyone seemed busy, preparing for the inevitable
climatic battle against the Mekani. For six straight
hours Usagi, the princess of the world, felt like she
was doing nothing.

The Peacekeepers, she mused, even with such limited
power, are doing their best to defend this world as
best as they can. The Sailor soldiers are preparing
likewise, ready to give up their lives, if necessary.
Even Hotaru.

She visited each of them one-by-one in their own
locales throughout the palace, each preparing one thing
in particular. Each time she offered to help, they
would smile and thank her, but nonetheless refuse the
offer. It was as if she wasn't required to do anything
at all, and that bothered Usagi more than fighting the
Mekani.

Entering the Inner Sanctum without waiting for
permission, she found her mother, the world monarch,
stading with her back to the door, staring into a
mirror-- apparently at her own reflection. Usagi knew
well-enough that it was a communications mirror-- a
device that did not rely on the satellite network to
function-- and it was likely her mother had finished
talking with someone.

"Mom...."

"Yes, dear?" the queen replied, apparently not
surprised, nor angered, that she intruded.

"Everybody else is doing something to beat the
Mekani," the princess said, "but nobody's telling me
what they're doing, or letting me help. What good is
it to be the princess, if you're not supposed to do
anything?"

Neo Queen Serenity turned around to face her
daughter, relief in her eyes. She smiled slightly.
"They are your friends. They wish to defend this world
that you will one day rule, and it is your safety they
are most concerned with."

"I can take care of myself!" Usagi beamed. "You were
the princess once, right? You were Sailor Moon! Did
they always try to stop you from helping?"

The queen laughed lightly. "At times, yes. They
sometimes placed my life over their own, but in the end
their lives are important as well."

At that moment Usagi wondered if her mother was
staring at a real mirror, even if the true mirror was
behind her. "Then I just help anyway, right?"

"If you feel the need to."

---

Command Center, Scylla

Mezzat and its guest re-entered the command station,
as communications screens from the other five warships
flickered to life. The Director of the campaign
scrutinized each monitor before it with its small eye,
noting that one of the ship commanders was missing,
replaced by the Mekani aide.

"I note Shizuka has disappeared," it said neutrally.

"She is away," the Kraken aide reported. "All
administrative operations have been delegated to this
unit if she does not return in time."

"Then where did she run-off to this time?" demanded
the guest, her patience wearing thin.

"It does not matter," came the transmission from the
Charybdis, represented by a glowing, wispy cloud-
entity. "The operation proceeds on-schedule regardless
of her vanishing trick."

Mezzat regarded the energy being-- a Mystral, one of
the member races-- thoughtfully. The entity was known
as Zedaji, who was considered of low station among his
people. This Mystral, although possessing no physical
form, was a valuable ally to the campaign. Zedaji, for
his part, wished only to advance in station in
relation to the rest of his people. At any rate, he
was doing his part well.

"We have the sword, Young Phoenix," Cinder reported.
"There is no further need for the charade; I move that
we attack Crystal Tokyo and wipe out the enemy at
once."

"Hey, that's MY turf!" Mousse complained. "I'm not
done calibrating the Eyes yet...."

"Forget the Eyes!" the salamander snarled. "A true
warrior needs not such gimmicks or trickery! Only
one's own skill can determine the strength of the
warrior."

"And it's no wonder you lost face," came the Basilisk
commander. "You limit your options on purpose."

"I retain dignity!" Cinder claimed.

"Silence!" demanded the guest. "Infighting was what
destroyed us before; we will not deal with it now!"

"Operations will commence as in the revised outline,"
Director Mezzat added.

"The Basilisk is nearing position," the ship
commander reported. "We should have the Dragon Beard
in our hands shortly."

"Then all we're missing is the Rings," Mousse said.
"How long's THAT going to take?"

"Ask Shizuka," the Basilisk suggested. "That is, if
you can find out where she joy-rided to."

"Attacks will commence simultaneously with the
Beijing raid," Mezzat ordered, repeating the
recommendation in the revised orders. "The Hydra will
join with the Griffin forces in subjugating Crystal
Tokyo. Charybdis and Kraken will retain their
current positions and proceed as before."

"I assure you, we will arrive shortly," Cinder said.

"It won't get there before Basilisk makes it to
Beijing," the guest pointed out.

"Then I will simply take a shuttle there," the
salamander decided. "The Hydra will arrive when it
does, but I am more than enough reinforcement."

"All targets will be eliminated at once," Mezzat
continued. "Destroy the Silver Crystal at all costs,
and destroy all obstacles that stand in its path."

---

Twilight

"What are we fighting for, I wonder?"

"I've seen all facets, seen all sides of the conflict
from meeting those that are my allies, and those that
are my enemies... and those I never expected. The
Crystal Court and the Peacekeepers fight for peace.
The Fenril Knights fought because the ideals of Neo
Queen Serenity destroyed human nature as we know it.
The Mekani fight because something on Earth represents
that which their alliance is against. And now, Section
fights because history is repeating itself."

"In bringing everlasting peace the Crystal Court has
failed. In bringing human nature back to Earth the
Fenril Knights have failed. In achieving universal
harmony the Mekani have failed. In ending the cycle of
hatred Section has failed. Each of them have only
succeeding in amplifying that which they sought to
destroy, and now it is up to those who wish to break
the cycle to save us all."

"But no, only the Fenril Knights have truly failed.
The rest can still rectify their mistakes, because it
isn't too late. I only hope those others realize what
they're doing before the cycle repeats itself a fourth
time."

"With the dawn of Crystal Earth there came the fall
of the soldiers-- discarded and forgotten by Earth.
Those fighting spirits were defeated, but instead of
reintegration back into society they were banished. It
only served to usher the First Black Moon War, where
these soldiers' descendants returned for revenge. They
were thwarted, but the hatred in the survivors did
continue to burn. A Second Black Moon War erupted,
where the angers and hatreds from the last war left
unresolved sought vengeance. They, too, were defeated
and banished. And now that this Third Black Moon War
is in full-swing... the hatred still burns. These wars
are all fueled by hatred, because the people of Earth
are unwilling to stand for their peace."

"I guess that's what it all boils down to. The wars
keep coming because Earth isn't willing to fight to
keep its peace. No; before a fifth conflict breaks
out, I will make sure to make these humans understand
it as I have."

"Mizuki, my eyes are open. I finally understand what
it means to be a part of the human race. I finally
understand why I'm a priestess of Genbu-- I will defend
this world from all who threaten it. If not the
sealed Mekani and the kami of the parallel world in the
old days... those that would threaten Earth today...
external and internal."

"Shion... Hokuto... I hope you realize this one day,
and I'm sorry.... I still have to do my part."

"Neo Queen Serenity... your rule will end today."

---

Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo

Thousands of spheroid Mekani warriors circled the
Crystal Palace in the emptied streets. Rows and
columns of the mechanized units waited patiently in a
twenty-meter radius around the outside walls, waiting
patiently for no apparent reason. Aerial spheroids,
equipped with superior rocket boosters, flew between
structures as they patrolled the ranks, flashing search
lights emitted from their smaller eyes.

Any and all of those people who wished to aid in
protecting the palace were in for a disappointment, as
the columns, spanning for almost a mile, refused to
allow anyone in the midst of their ranks-- proving a
disservice to the Peacekeeper agents summoned to
assist in the coming battle. Each of them were ready
to deal with the coming battle, bringing their own
secretly-constructed weapons, ranging from the old-
model Mishima robots used by the Fenril Knights to new
needle-projection cannons that operated on the rail gun
principle.

The Peacekeeper office in the city, located in the
old Mishima Heavy Industries high-rise away from the
palace, served as the command center for operations.
While it was not expected to get attacked by the
single-minded Mekani, it had its own fair share of
defenses.

The director of operations sat at the desk, and
openned a channel to the main office. "CT office
reporting. All is in place, and we're basically
waiting for the Mekani to do something."

"At least it still buys us some time," Ayame Mishima
replied. "Our diversion isn't quite ready yet. The
Basilisk will arrive at the outskirts of Beijing in a
few minutes, and we think they're going to synchronize
attacks again."

"So what should we expect out of this 'diversion?'"

Ayame shrugged. "Beats me. You'll know it when you
see it. Over and out."

---

"Plain sight is right," Ranma said, agreeing with
Ukyo's previous statement. "Who would've thought that
Section's home base would be in this place?"

Ukyo shrugged, punching in the codes Shizuka gave
her earlier. They already passed through three
security doors to get to where they were, and she had
no doubt that Shion was monitoring them, but there was
nothing to be done about it.

It was somewhat of a surprise to learn that the Inner
Circle was in fact located in Crystal Tokyo, the same
seat as to where Shion hoped to overthrow the
government. Not only that, but the 'hidden' entrance
was in nothing more inconspicuous than the local Neo
Geo Land arcade center-- a rather vain location, to be
sure. For a moment the Vice Executive wondered how
arrogant Shion could get.

"Got it," she announced, having inputted the code and
receiving a green light in response. The security door
before them hissed open, revealing a spiral series of
stairs downward. "I guess this is it."

"If it goes down any farther," Ranma observed, "we
could even hit our old base."

The old underground Fenril base, Ukyo knew. She
wondered herself if Shion was making use of what was
left there. "For all we know it's only a separate
block of it, and it was there the whole time. I never
went through the whole thing myself."

"He probably did."

---

Command Center, Griffin

Mousse folded his arms, viewing the main monitor and
watching its view follow the path of Cinder's tri-star-
shaped shuttle arrive ahead of the Hydra. He snorted,
disappointed that the kami beast would think he needed
help.

No, it was more like Cinder was going to steal some
of his kills.

He heard something skittish behind him, and knew it
was only the Mekani aide. "The Eyes have been fully-
adjusted to your specification, sir."

"Good," the Master of Hidden Weapons said, pleased
with the news. Even if he was a warrior, that never
barred him from taking advantage of whatever was at his
disposal. After all, underestimating the Sailor Senshi
in the last war nearly killed him and any chance to
avenge Shampoo.

Four disc-like objects floated in front of him, each
possessing a single lens-eye projecting from one of
the sides. While anyone would think the Eyes were
merely watchers, Mousse knew better.

He looked down onto his shirt, and held up the set of
prayer beads he wore. Not simply a set of beads, the
Beads of Naoe were given to him after the Basilisk raid
on Moscow. Such a priceless treasure, on par with the
ability of Cinder's Young Phoenix, would make sure he
could compete with the Sailor Senshi on even-- or
greater-- terms.

"This time," he vowed, "the end result will be
different!"

---

Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo

Neo Queen Serenity stood out the highest balcony of
the Crystal Palace, and surveyed the battlefield
before her. Down at the gates were the Sailor Senshi--
Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and her
daughter, arrayed against innumerable numbers of the
Mekani horde. She watched as a Mekani shuttle arrived
on the scene, and two people emerged from it-- Mousse
and Cinder, she knew.

She felt her husband behind her put a hand over her
shoulder. "Do not worry, for the day shall be won."

The world monarch said nothing, instead recalling the
words she spoke to her soldiers before watching them
leave the gates. It was no simple task to order
people to march to their deaths, even when they were
willing, as life is the most precious thing in the
universe. The plans and preparations made have to
work, for the sake of Earth.

"Come back safely, my friends...."

---

Even knowing that she really had no place in the
plans made by her friends, Sailor Moon felt that she
belonged there.

No one asked her to leave while the Sailor Senshi
were making their plans, and no one gave a second
thought to her being a part of the plan.

Looking toward Sailor Mercury, she asked, "How long
is it?"

Mercury continued to watch Mousse and Cinder emerge
from their shuttle. "Any moment now. Trust in Ayame
to take care of things...."

"So we're waiting on her?" she asked.

"Actually, we're waiting on the Mekani," Venus
said. "If we act too soon they'll have time to stop
us. They have to make the first move."

"In Chess," Mars added, "even though black moves
second, doesn't mean white, which moves first, will
always win. They can orchestrate the battle, but if we
provide a good enough counter we can reverse it."

"Sailor Senshi!" Cinder cried, raising his sheathed
sword up in the air. His abyssal voice made goosebumps
on Sailor Moon's arms. "I fight to reclaim the honor
which was lost to me! By exterminating my people I was
unable to defend them or my honor! As the sole
surviving retainer of Lord Kolvar na Strakil, I
challenge you!"

"Why?" Sailor Moon asked, keeping her voice low as to
the Mekani commanders could not hear. "Why would they
side with the Mekani to avenge...?"

"It's the same as us," Sailor Saturn answered. "We
fight for the sake of the princess. We would put down
our lives for you, if need be. But this warrior,
Cinder, was unable to defend his lord and master. He
will not rest until we are dead, or he's dead."

"But...."

"I destroyed them," she continued. "If it wasn't for
me people like Cinder wouldn't have the need to
continue fighting. I used the power of Death
selfishly then, but even as I changed I still must make
amends for it."

Saturn stepped forward, and raised her voice.
"Cinder, retainer of Kolvar! It is I, Sailor Saturn,
who you have issue with!"

"What are you doing?" demanded Sailor Moon.

She looked back, and offered a smile. "Trust me."

Cinder leaned forward, scrutinizing the girl with
his mechanical eye. "I have no issue with you...
Sailor Saturn. What could one as young as you...."

"Know that I possess the power of Death," Saturn
interrupted. She waved her arm to the others. "They
had no hand in the annihilation of the kami. I alone
should bear that blame, because I abused the power
entrusted to me for a selfish end. Death is the most
impartial judge, and if it suits you, then try to take
my life, but leave my friends alone."

The salamander tapped his snout, as if thinking the
issue over. "Well spoken, Sailor Saturn, but I will
not allow you to take sole blame as such."

"Do you believe I lie?" Saturn raised her Silence
Glaive, as if angered.

Cinder snorted in amusement, grasping the handle of
his sword. "Amusing," he noted, unsheathing the blade
and allowing the scabbard to dissipate in flame. "You
do understand the Way of the Warrior!"

"Watch her," warned Mousse. "She's stronger than
she looks."

"It does not matter," he assured the human. "I
longed for this moment. The rest of them are yours to
deal with as you please!"

Mousse smirked devilishly. "I thought you'd never
say so!" He raised his index finger up in the air.
"All units," he ordered, thrusting his arm toward the
palace, "attack!"

"Now!" Sailor Mercury shouted, sending a signal
through her computer.

---

"Do it," ordered the Peacekeeper commander, pushing a
button on the desk computer.

---

"Eh?" Mousse gulped, noting that the Mekani warriors
behind him had yet to charge at his command. He
turned his head to glance over his shoulder, and saw
that the well-formed columns had fallen into
disarray. The drones were running into each other.

"What the hell is this?!" he cried, turning toward
Cinder, but the warrior had already rushed to meet
Sailor Saturn at the half-way point between him and
the Sailor Senshi... save that the five girls had
vanished.

"Dammit!"

---

Office of the CEO, Peacekeeper HQ

Ayame congratulated herself as her agents from all
attack points that the Mekani drones were falling into
disarray. She folded her arms and sat back in her
seat in amusement.

"Kanna," she said, "you got so reckless with those
drones of yours. By providing us with enough bodies
to test your Mekani technology with, and by using our
own satellites, we can easily disrupt the
communications network you use to direct orders to the
drones. By flooding every frequency with garbage you
won't be able to relay them orders on any channel but
our own PK channel. Good luck; you'll never find the
right frequency in time."

"And even if you do, the Sailor Senshi have plenty of
time to scour the Scylla and Charybdis to shut-down
your operation for good."

"I'd like to see how you're getting out of this one,
my dear Kanna."

---

Inner Circle, Section Secret Fortress

"Very amusing, Ayame," Shion said, watching the
chaotic horde of Mekani drones on his monitors. "I
never thought you had it in you... but we can't allow
this."

He reached to the console, to the nearest agent he
strategically put in place. "Terminate the link at
Crystal Tokyo. That receives priority; do not allow
them to continue broadcasting their pirate
transmissions."

"Hold it!"

Shion froze in place, knowing who the voice belonged
to. "Well, I never expected you to come."

"Game's up, Shion," Ukyo said. "Your security is
pathetic."

"Looks like Shizuka was on the level, after all,"
Ranma noted. "Where's Hokuto?"

"Hokuto?" the Section Director said. "I don't know
what you're talking about.

"Cut the crap!" the martial artist shouted, spinning
Shion's chair around. "We know you have her!"

"Is that you, Ranma Saotome?" Shion asked. "Well.
It seems Shizuka did a very thorough job. So she
defected to your side, or did you defect to her's? Or
rather, did you defect to my side?"

"You wanted us to come in; why?" demanded Ukyo.
"There were so many chances for you to stop us, but you
didn't."

"Wait a minute," the martial artist said, looking
back toward his old friend. "Who's side is Shizuka on,
anyway?"

"The same side we're all on," Shion stated. "The
side of Earth."

"Then what the hell are you doing, playing both sides
against each other?" the PK Vice Executive demanded.

"I assume it was already explained to you. Whoever
is left standing I can wipe-out easily. It doesn't
matter, really, because despite what you think, I'm not
interested in taking over the world."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want to eliminate any and all crutches the Earth
has, and force it to stand on its own, as it forgot to
do long ago. Without the protection of Neo Queen
Serenity or the Sailor Senshi, people may develop the
courage necessary to rise on their own and grow-up
again. If the Mekani win, I'll dispose of them. If
the Crystal Court wins, I'll dispose of them in a
similar manner. Either way, Earth will survive."

"But you can't use Hokuto like a weapon!" Ranma
cried angrily. "She's a human being!"

"Hokuto's not what she used to be," Shion insisted.
"That which I possess is merely a shell-- a parody of
the real girl we knew. Even if she does turn against
us, there'll still be people like you to stand up to
her. Earth will find a way to defeat obstacles."

"You're so damn confident in the human race," the
martial artist said. "Don't you know what she can do
to all of us?"

"I can't let you stop me now," the Director stated
simply. "Ziel...."

Ranma felt something slam against him, and a similar
blast hit Ukyo as well, throwing them against the wall
like rag dolls. Emerging from a shadowy corner Ziel
Kagura appeared, his stylized rising sun fan held open
in his left hand. He snapped it shut quickly, waiting
for his opponents to make a move.

"Don't hurt them too much," Shion ordered, flipping
a switch on his chair. The floor lowered beneath him.
"Keep them busy until Hokuto wakes up. I'm counting
on you."

"You got it," Ziel replied.

Ranma raised himself from the floor just as Shion's
chair disappeared, and he regarded Ziel with anger.
"Wha... do you really want to destroy the world THAT
bad?!"

"Believe me," Ziel said, "we only have the best
interests at heart. Even if our methods are vastly
different, PK or Section, our goals were always the
same. But, unlike the PKs, we can't ignore the
conflict by sweeping it under the rug."

"I am a Wind-User," he continued. "Inheriting the
blood of demons, the wind is at my command. I've
studied your technique, Ranma, and your most powerful
abilities are wind-based."

"Is that supposed to intimidate me?" asked Ranma,
forcing himself to his feet. He glanced toward Ukyo,
who was coming around herself. "You think you can beat
me? You're not even a martial artist!"

"Ukyo," he ordered, "find Hokuto and get out of
here!"

"Right!" she acknowledged, but before she could get
to her feet she felt the wind slice before her.

Both martial artists glanced back toward Ziel, who
held his folded fan at the end of a cutting arc. "No,
I'm supposed to entertain the both of you. Sorry, but
it's nothing personal."

"Swell," muttered Ranma. "Then we'll just have to
make this quick."

---

Command Center, Charybdis

Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter emerged from their
teleport, landing right in the belly of the beast. To
their surprise, the bridge's lights were dimmed very
low, and any of the Mekani drones in sight were shut-
down and inactive.

"Well, here we are," Jupiter said, "but where's the
commander?"

"Looks like we hit the wrong one, after all," Venus
said, sounding someone defeated and relieved at the
same time. She scanned the area a second time, just to
make sure the command deck really was inactive.

Jupiter shivered. "I don't like this. Why would the
Mekani go through all this trouble to build a decoy?"

"I don't know...."

Both Sailor Senshi felt a presence behind them, and
their shadows before them elongated.

"Welcome to the Charybdis, Sailor Senshi," the
energy entity said, his voice a mere whisper in their
ears. "They call me Zedaji, of the Mystral Whole, and
you would make fine trophies!"

Both Sailor soldiers turned around, each jumping in
surprise at the sight of the will'o wisp-like creature
hovering before them. As it spoke its bright nucleus
at its center vibrated. "And that over there will be
the entertainment."

The two girls turned around again, noting the command
door hissing open. Loud clomping of steps could be
heard, and each knew well-enough that a Mekani was
emerging.

The creature appeared not unlike the beast Mousse
was using against the princess earlier, and it stared
at Jupiter and Venus with its huge eye blankly.

"Charybdis Enforcer," Zedaji ordered, as the light
gradually faded, "initiate attack!"

---

Command Center, Scylla

Sailor Moon opened her eyes, her view of the
courtyard replaced with that of a metal structure's
interior. Beside her, Sailor Mars and Mercury tensed
themselves, forming a makeshift circle around the
princess.

"It's dark in here," Moon complained.

"Shh!!" ordered Mars. "They're watching us!"

Although Sailor Moon could make out Mekani drones
in the dim lighting, it appeared that they were
ignoring the intruders. She wondered if their plan
really worked.

"Maybe we got the wrong ship?" wondered Mercury.

"Greetings, Sailor Senshi," came a voice out of the
darkness. "We've been expecting you for quite some
time. Did you only JUST decide to join us?"

All three pairs of eyes faced the command door, which
hissed open quickly. The huge Mekani Director, Mezzat,
stood in the front, but there was another standing
behind it, in the shadows.

"Who're you?" asked Sailor Moon.

"Director of Operations, Mezzat," the Mekani
introduced itself. "Welcome to the command ship."

"Then it IS the right one!" Mars let slip.

"Is it?" said the one behind Mezzat. "Sailor Mars,
Sailor Mercury... I wish I could say it was a pleasure
to see you again. And you...."

Sypha Blade emerged from the darkness, her draconic
eyes scrutinizing the young Sailor Moon. "You, little
one... you've only signed your death wish. All you've
done was fall into our grasp, as expected. The true
command ship is the Basilisk."

All three girls gasped, realizing they'd been
trapped, when one of the monitors on the deck
flickered to life. The image of Kanna Rajura
appeared, holding up the sign of a 'V.'

"Hello!" greeted the Crystal Spider. "I'm the one in
charge of operations. Scylla and Charybdis were way
too obvious, don't you think?"

"You tricked us!" Mars hissed.

"No one would ever think that the command ship would
put itself to a lot of trouble," Kanna gloated. "I let
you believe it was the Scylla, then I provided the
Charybdis to psych you out. You do realize that the
best way to hide something is in plain sight, right?
Or, at least, make you pay attention to something other
than that which you're supposed to be looking at."

"And now," Mezzat declared, "since you were kind
enough to enter the spider's web, you will be consumed
by our power!"

---

Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo

Mousse walked past Cinder and Sailor Saturn,
feeling somewhat frustrated that his soldiers were
worthless to him. If there was anything constructive
he could do, he could take out the queen while nobody
else was looking.

However, just a couple meters before reaching the
front gate, another emerged from the nothingness. "I
can't allow you to threaten the queen," she stated.

The Master of Hidden Weapon's eyes widened, realizing
he was going to get one of those fights he wanted
anyway. He smirked. "Well, well, is it just me, or
do the Sailor Senshi get new recruits all the time?"

Sailor Pluto regarded her opponent with disdain.
"Beware not to underestimate the Guardian of Time,
Mousse!"

"Oh, so you know my name!" Mousse said mockingly.
"The more of you appear, the more I just have to kill!
But even with such a fancy title, you can't compete
with the Eyes!"

He waved his arm, and the four flying units hiding
behind his back spread out, forming a box around both
combatants. In his outspread hand a wireframe spear
appeared in his hand, then solidified, appearing just
as sharp as the real thing. "Guardian of Time, meet
the Master of Hidden Weapons!"

---

Reports were coming in from around the siege area
that the Mishima robots and needle cannons were taking
out the dysfunctional Mekani drones, but the rate
could be faster, the commander noted.

An explosion rocked the building, catching all the
occupants by surprise. The commander was out of the
chair due to the proximity of the blast.

No way....

"Commander!" shouted one of the officers. "The
Mekani are on the move again!"

"What?!"

The commander heard a click from behind. "Sorry,
Chika, but we can't let it go on like this."

Chika, commander of the Peacekeepers called to
Crystal Tokyo, slowly turned around and looked up the
barrel of a pistol. "Shingo?!"

"This is the absolute worst way to find out, huh?"
he said, while his Section operatives moved to
restrain the remaining PKs in the office. "I never
knew you were a PK; and I was going to try and get you
to join me."

"I was going to do the same," Chika admitted. "So,
you're working for my brother, huh?"

"As a cell leader, yes; I take orders directly from
him," Shingo replied quickly. "This is the cruelest
irony, that pits the both of us on either side of the
fence like this."

"Your sister is the world monarch," the PK
commander said. "Why?"

"Why didn't you join your brother?" Shingo countered.
"Neo Queen Serenity isn't my sister. My sister
vanished along with the old world. That... thing, you
work for, Neo Queen Serenity, is a reincarnated
tyrant that eliminated my friends and brought untold
misery to this world. She's like a big mother to the
people of the world, true, but she's not letting them
grow-up."

"It's just as you say," Chika granted, "but your
Section buddies are acting like spoiled children who
don't get their way. That's why they support
terrorists all around the world, and try to disrupt
the peace and harmony Earth enjoys."

"And that's where your PK illusion fails," Shingo
pointed out, lowering his weapon and offering a hand.
"We didn't create the conflicts; the conflicts were
always there, and largely ignored by the world ruler.
They're labeled 'terrorists' for being human. They're
banished and exiled for being human. The world we're
living in is running out of human beings as we know
it."

---

Neo Queen Serenity watched as the energy shield
surrounding the Crystal Palace erected itself quickly,
crushing any Mekani soldiers that got too close. It
was only a temporary solution, she knew, as the auto-
defenses brought themselves online-- and the needle
cannons piercing the thin Mekani armor. Only Cinder
and Mousse remained within the palace walls, battling
Sailor Saturn and Sailor Pluto in even combat.

She watched as the energy field created by the Eyes
created more artificial-- but still dangerous--
weapons for Mousse to hurl at Pluto, and it was all she
could do to defend against the never-ending attacks.
Cinder's flaming sword tore at the sky, bringing the
fury of Hell down against Saturn's Silence Glaive,
neither able to score a good hit in yet.

Turning back inside, she faced the communications
mirror, where Ayame Mishima was waiting patiently.

"Section operatives are countering us all over the
world," Ayame reported. "It's only a matter of time
before all the Mekani reorient themselves."

"I see," the queen accepted. "Then it is all up to
the others."

"We're going to go to the back-up plan now," the
Chief Executive informed her. "I really wish we didn't
have to do this, but we'll just have to pick up the
pieces later."

"Do it."

---

Command Center, Basilisk

Kanna watched in horror on the world-view map as
each and every satellite in orbit-- including those
not usurped by the Mekani-- self-destructed. Her well-
crafted web and communications network was shattered in
an instant, and along with it the ability to relay
orders from the command ship.

"Ayame, you just get better and better," the master
tactician seethed, knowing that the Mekani would not
just fall into disorder this time, but fail entirely.
She looked over her shoulder to the Basilisk Enforcer.
"Initiate back-up array. Use the warships as the
communications nodes directly. Compensate as
necessary."

---

Office of the CEO, Peacekeeper HQ

The moment Kanna made her countermove Ayame was
back on the line, bringing up communications with what
PK stations that remained out of Section control, along
with her current channel with Neo Queen Serenity. Both
Kanna and Shion managed to move their pieces quickly
across the board, and Ayame had to maintain the pace
until one or both of them gave in.

"Okay, guys," she said, "Kanna's trying to reallocate
her resources by turning the warships into the comm
nodes themselves. The moment she reestablishes the
Mekani link I want all transmitters to transmit
freely. During that time all communications will be
cut-off-- even line transmissions-- and you will be on
your own. Don't let Section compromise the remaining
bases, and hold out for as long as possible."

She waited as each of the remaining offices returned
an affirmative to the orders, then terminating the
link in turn, leaving only Neo Queen Serenity.

"Your Highness," the Chief Executive said, "I'm going
to join the rest of my men in defending the capitol. I
hope to speak with you again when this is all over.
Good luck, and heaven help us."

"You did your best," the queen replied. "It is all
up to the Sailor Senshi now."

Ayame shook her head while reaching into a desk
drawer. She produced her personal sidearm pistol, and
removed the safety in full view of the world monarch.
"Even if I stand alone, I will make a difference. God
sent me."

Terminating the link, Ayame stood up, and reached for
her trench coat hanging on a nearby hanger. Tying the
belt quickly, she placed her sidearm into her right
pocket, and was about to leave when she thought better
of it. Returning to her desk she entered several keys
on the console, and one wall of her office slid away to
reveal her personal arms collection.

Coming from a family of arms dealers, Ayame Mishima
would never believe such well-preparedness was
overkill.

"Now it's my turn," she said to herself.

---

Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo

Sailor Pluto thrust the end of her staff through one
of the Eyes flying closest to her, and the weapons
Mousse threw at her partially dematerialized. Although
the weapons hit their mark Pluto was showing no signs
of having suffered damage. With another wide swing she
batted the other Eye away, sending it spiraling.

The weapons in Mousse's hands remained in their
wireframe mode, now that two of his precious Eyes were
destroyed. "Dammit, dammit!"

"Have any more gimmicks up your sleeve?" taunted
Pluto. "Your attack was flawed; you lost long before
you started."

"No!" he hissed. "I won't be beaten again!"

The beads around his neck glowed in reaction.

"Now for the finish!" Pluto announced, bringing her
staff around for another swing, this time aimed at
Mousse.

Upon impact with the Master of Hidden Weapon's body,
however, the staff bounced off in recoil. For a brief
instant Mousse felt his body harden, but the sensation
was gone as quickly as it came.

He held up the beads to his eyes. "They work...?"

"Impossible," the soldier spat in disbelief,
staggering a step back thanks to the force of the
bounce. "It was just like hitting a boulder...."

---

Cinder spun the Young Phoenix with one hand in
calculated, circular motions between each slash and
parry in his deadly dance against Sailor Saturn.
Although the retainer was trained in hand-to-hand
combat back in service of his liege, Cinder saw it fit
to work toward the mastery of the hypnotic Serpent
Blade. Utilizing careful, deliberate swings, the
wielder of such a series of sword techniques could
place the opponent in a sort of hypnotic trance.

Each swing of the blade had to match the opponent's
physiological motor functions, and therefore a series
of swings was only useful against an opponent belonging
to a single race. The series was often long and
strenuous to the wielder, which made the Serpent Blade
a very uncommon technique even among the salamanders.
During such an incantation, however, the wielder could
weaken the opponent; the longer they watched the blade,
the more fatigued they got, and it worked very well
since any warrior worth their salt always eyed the
weapon's movement.

However, the more aggressive the opponent, the longer
it took to complete the incantation. Sailor Saturn
certainly was forcing the salamander to take his time.

"What are you waiting for?" Saturn said, gritting her
teeth. "You could've finished me a long time ago!"

"How observant of you!" Cinder snarled, wheeling his
sword arm for another flaming swing. "I toy with you,
human!"

"To what end?" she quizzed him. "To buy time? Or do
you still not take me seriously?"

"Show me the power of Death," he replied, betraying
anticipation. "Show me that which annihilates worlds
and dreams!"

"Never!"

"Then it will only become worse for you," the
salamander warned. "It will only get worse!"

---

Command Center, Charybdis

"...Oak Evolution!" Jupiter cried, sending showers of
electrical energy from her hands raised in the air.

Despite the fact that she and Venus were in close-
quarters with the Mekani Enforcer, and were completely
surrounded by metal, mechanical devises, it seemed the
only logical option, given that the Enforcer did not
seem to mind blowing holes on the command bridge's
walls. Trails of electricity flew across all panels
all around the two trapped Sailor Senshi, and Mekani
drones sparked and exploded upon impact. The Enforcer,
for its part, was flinching as it raised its foreclaws
up to shield its huge red eye, but nothing could save
it from attracting the lightning fury.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sailor Venus
aimed her index finger at the Enforcer's eye, shouting,
"Crescent Beam!"

Sparks showered all around the two Senshi, blinding
each of them to what was going on around them. Each of
the two could smell smoke rising from some unknown
source-- likely fried circuitry from all around the
command center-- but they were also unable to see what
was going on thanks to the sudden illumination of the
room.

"Fools," they heard Zedaji whisper, his voice having
no discernable point of origin, "what do you hope to
accomplish by destroying yourselves?"

"Show yourself!" Jupiter shouted, over the noise of
more short-circuits frying boards.

"Put an end to this stupid war!" added Venus.

"Stupid? Stupid!" mocked Zedaji, sounding amused.
"No war is stupid; war is but one of a myriad of
avenues by which sentient beings in the cosmos settle
their differences!"

"War breeds hatred," countered Venus. "And hate will
only breed more war. Is that your intention?"

"Tell me," the energy entity continued, "do you fear
us?"

"What?"

"Do you fear us?"

---

Command Center, Scylla

"The Mekani's finest weapon!" Sypha declared, holding
her Dragon Pearl in her left claw while throwing black
bolts of lighting at the three Sailor Senshi with her
right. "Fear and intimidation inspires order!"

Sailor Mercury generated a force bubble before her,
absorbing Sypha's lightning spell easily. "What kind
of an order is that?"

"The Mekani just uses it to scare people to give up,
that's what!" Mars concluded, rising from her ducking
position behind a console to lob a quick fireball.

Behind Sypha, Director Mezzat remained quite calm
and composed, having raised no weapon of its own to
defend itself, as the black sorcerer was shielding
herself-- and thus it-- with a magical barrier. Mars's
fire blast washed over the spherical barrier, outlining
it for a brief instant before flickering out.

The young Sailor Moon stood out from behind Mercury's
protection. "All we want is peace! Why don't you
Mekani leave us alone?"

"Useless," Mezzat said, ignoring the girl's words.
"Finish them now."

Sypha nodded quickly, and terminated her lightning
spells. Closing her eyes, the sorcerer traced the air
with her claw, muttering an incantation under her
breath.

"All together!" ordered Moon, and both Mars and
Mercury nodded at once.

Together, all three of them threw their powerful
magical energies, pouring raw power against Sypha's
energy shield. Within the sphere, both Mezzat and the
kami sorcerer remained calm, yet the barrier was
visibly weakening as it flickered rapidly.

"It's working!" Moon cried, excited.

At the same moment the barrier shattered into
ethereal shards, Sypha finished preparing her spell,
and she pointed her palm forth. Black magic spewed
forth, meeting the combined energies of the three
Senshi at once. For a brief moment the black energy
seemed to overpower the girls, but it slowed to a
crawl as the Sailor Senshi pushed themselves harder.

"What is happening?" demanded Mezzat, trying its best
not to sound shaken. "Attack harder!"

"Shut up and help me!" Sypha screamed, beads of sweat
rolling down her face quickly. "Stop being so useless
to me!!"

Mezzat's smaller eye spied the sorcerer carefully,
but then it raised its claw and tail, and added its
own fire to the struggle. Black and white flares of
energy blinded all occupants of the command center as
everything exploded into brilliance.

---

Inner Circle, Secret Section Fortress

A column of violent wind ripped through the street,
sending stone and crystal flying as Ranma was forced
through to the surface, with Ukyo not far behind. Both
fighters crashed hard onto the street, several meters
away from the hole they just created. Ziel Kagura,
still calm in his composure, folded his fan back shut,
satisfied at his own display.

"Useless," he snorted. "You purebloods are so weak
and helpless."

Ukyo remained motionless, the wind knocked out of
her, literally. However, to the Wind-User's surprise,
Ranma was struggling to get back on his feet.

"What's this?" Ziel said, taking a couple steps
toward the martial artist. "You're still moving?"

"Don't... underestimate... me," Ranma warned.

"No shit," his opponent agreed, making two quick
swipes with his folded fan. Two more wind blades shot
through the air, and Ranma had to use more of his
draining energy to escape their sting.

Tumbling backward, Ranma managed to find his way back
to his feet. Ziel sent a quick twister his direction,
and this time he could not fully-escape the blast.
Ranma felt the world spin rapidly, and the moment the
mini-twister died his senses were disoriented again.

I'm not going to lose, he vowed to himself. I didn't
train all this time for nothing! Ziel has complete
command of the wind around him... so how am I supposed
to hit him?

And yet....

"Game over!" Ziel shouted, whipping open his fan wide
and swinging it. A new tornado ripped to life, this
one far more violent than the first, ripped toward
Ranma.

"One chance!" he knew, summoning the last of his
strength. "It'll have to be enough!"

To Ziel's surprise, Ranma threw himself into the
tornado.

Thanks to his own experiences working with the Hiryu
Shoten Ha, Ranma knew exactly how to catapult himself
out of a tornado column quickly, and fortunately,
Ziel's attack operated similarly. Shooting out the top
like a bullet, Ranma quickly reached the peak of his
ascent, and started to dive back toward the ground.

Gathering energies with the help of gravity, Ranma
spiraled downward, orienting his fist first, aiming
toward Ziel at the eye of the storm.

---

Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo

"No!" Neo Queen Serenity screamed, feeling the
disturbance in the air.

She tore herself away from the balcony, and willed
her mirror to show her the Scylla. As her intuition
told her, the great aerial beast was exploding near its
supposed command bridge, and the ship was losing power
fast, toward the polar ice caps below. Although the
immediate damage would be minimal, if the Scylla would
happen to melt the ice caps in its death throes, the
world would undergo a global flood.

Although she could not tell from her position, the
queen knew, at least, her daughter was still alive...
but the consequences of Scylla's death....

The Earth and its peoples must not be destroyed.

Before she decided on her course of action Neo Queen
Serenity already had the Silver Crystal in hand,
having removed it from its pedestal nearby. The world
monarch turned and approached the balcony once more.

The earth rumbled beneath her feet, and the queen
knew another disaster was about to strike. It was as
if the whole world had gone mad in a day as she cast a
glance over the edge of the balcony, between the two
pairs of combatants below. A large mechanical,
reptilian head burst through the ground-- a snake-like
creature of steel, with a heavy blade attached to its
snout, and piercing red eyes that resembled Cinder's.

As the snake head raised to Neo Queen Serenity's
level, a hatch on top of the beast's head opened, and
the pilot emerged.

"Shizuka!"

"Meka-Thanatos," Shizuka introduced, pulling herself
out. "My precious friend controls this beast from the
Kraken, and he follows my directions." She raised her
spectral claw for the world monarch to see, and flexed
it.

"Deathclaw!" the queen shouted. "Leave her alone!"

"Pop quiz," she posed. "You've got a giant, steel
snake mock-up and an angry girl, and the world is
falling apart. You might be able to save it, or
yourself, but not both. What are you going to do?"

Neo Queen Serenity knew the answer.

---

Command Center, Scylla

Sailor Moon managed to bring herself to her feet, and
did not hesitate to approach the wrecked Mezzat. The
others remained knocked-out by the blast, but Moon
wanted to know why... amidst the destruction of
circuitry around her....

Without considering herself, she stood on her knees
before Mezzat, and started unscrewing its eye off, just
as Mousse had done before. If he was any indication...
there just might be someone inside.

The moment she pulled the eye off smoke rushed out of
the cockpit Moon suspected existed, and she waved it
away with her hand. But what she saw inside surprised
her.

Unconscious, Sailor Neptune lay in the cockpit. She
looked no worse for wear since the last time Moon saw
her, save one-- two fleshy, tentacle-like appendages
wrapped around her neck. Moon gently pulled Neptune's
head aside, revealing the head-sized container behind
her head. A conical-shaped being, with its huge eyes
closed shut, rest within, bearing numerous tentacles
along the bottom, with its two longest appendages
wrapped around the girl.

"What is going on?!"

---

Darkness

"I see it, the light... and all shall share in its
brilliance. I will make certain... darkness shall
never fall... again."



----------------------------------------------------

Author's Notes

Stay tuned for the conclusion.


--Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NOhotmailSPAM.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/index.html

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