A Double-Edged Sword Part Three

The Two-Faced Soldier

By

Sailor Janus

       "Foolish girl. You will not escape from me!" Centaura cackled, grabbing Deidera by the throat as she continued to scream. "Soon it will be all over for you."

       "DEIDERA!" the sailor senshi cried out, running as fast as they could. It almost felt like everything soon was in slow motion. They knew they couldn't reach her in time and if they tried to attack, they would either hit the burgundy-haired girl possibly hurting or killing her or the attacks would reflect off the Satyr, possibly injuring themselves if they were not able to react quick enough.

       Unfortunately for the sailor senshi, Centaura did notice that they were quickly approaching, and shot off a bunch of spears and discuses in their direction. "Hahaha! That should keep them busy. Now where were we? Oh yes, soon it shall be over!"

       The girl oddly  became silent, staring intensely at the demon that was choking her, but she no longer seemed afraid as another force took over. The world around her became eerily quiet as Deidera closed her eyes. Centaura looked quizzically at the girl when suddenly an odd burgundy colored symbol shone on her forehead.

      "No, she can't be," Sailor Neptune softly said as she and the others dodged the attacks before they slowed their pace, and turned, watching at the girl held in the monster's clutches.     

      "What? What's wrong, Neptune?" Venus asked, but her question was soon to be answered.

      Quickly, Deidera released herself from the centaur's grip and backed away as a transformation pen appeared in front her. Almost mechanically, she took it and yelled, "Janus Planet Power!" Suddenly she was bathed in a fog of burgundy, black, silver, and gold lights, and transforming into a sailor senshi uniform consisting of a burgundy skirt with a hunter green bow,  a white body suit  with a hunter green bow and burgundy colorings and short ankle-length, burgundy boots, ending in a pose.

      'Somehow, this is so familiar. It feels like I've finally come home,' she thought as she completed transformation.

      "From beyond the realms of this solar system, and the guardian of the gate of this universe, I am Sailor Janus!"

      Chimaera was still watching in the tree and smiled. "Well, I finally have what I came for. I guess I shall release my power over the Satyr since she is no longer of use to me. Until we met again." With that, the golden glow from the Satyr disappeared just as Janus prepared her attack.

      With a few spins she brought her hands together and separated them to where one silver and one gold miniature tornado sat upon each hand. "Spiral Twisters!" she shouted as she pushed her hands away, forcing the two tornados together, destroying their new enemy in a cloud of dust.    

      "Wow! You actually defeated it!" Venus exclaimed as she and the others raced up to the new senshi.

      "Not really. There was a powerfully energy force over it. Somehow it disappeared," Janus shrugged.

       "So you're a sailor senshi!" Jupiter exclaimed.

       As the inner senshi and Saturn crowded around the newest sailor soldier, the rest of outer senshi glared at the new girl as they recalled the events of the Silver Millennium.

      "I knew, I remembered you from somewhere!" Uranus exclaimed angrily. "You should never have come. Leave now!"

      "Uranus, what's wrong? Who is she?" Eternal Sailor Moon asked confused.

      "She is Sailor Janus, from the planet Janus, which is on the outskirts of Pluto. No one really knows of the planet's existence. The two-faced soldier and the reason why Queen Metallia in Beryl's body invaded and destroyed the moon kingdom. If it wasn't for her, none of the tragedies which occurred during the Silver Millennium would have occured and we would still be at peace," Neptune explained as she stared at the burgundy-haired girl who looked like she wanted the earth the swallow her.

      "Wait, I don't understand. How was it her fault?" Jupiter asked appearing very puzzled.

      "Simply, because she is the guardian of the realms of the solar system. Sailor Janus is to guard the gates and protect the solar system from intruders. However she failed her duty and let Queen Metallia in!" Sailor Pluto bitterly said.

      "There has to be a logical reason for what had happened! A sailor senshi would not turn her back on her friends or her duty for that matter!" Mercury proclaimed.

      "She is two-faced and that is the end of it. Leave now, Janus! You are of no use to us nor will you ever be!" Uranus said while glaring at the girl.

      "You are nothing but trouble, and nothing more," Neptune added as she crossed her arms.

      Janus bit her lip as she looked at who she was hoping would be her friends, but realized that it could never be. They all hated her and wanted nothing to do with her.

      "But she is still one of us! How do you know anyway that it wasn't really her fault?" Sailor Mars argued as she tried to defend the new sailor senshi.

      "Right! We all fight for the same cause!" Venus exclaimed.

      "She failed her duties and therefore failed all of us! Don't be fooled by her mere innocent act. She is devious and only cares about herself!" Pluto firmly stated, holding her time staff steady.

      "But maybe she changed!" the blonde sailor soldier of love argued.

      "A two-faced sailor never changes, she will stab you in the back if you are not careful. You better listen to us. She is not needed," Neptune stated, firmly standing her ground, trying to reason with the others.

      "I refuse to believe that," Sailor Saturn quietly but firmly said.

      Uranus looked at the girl that Neptune, Pluto, and herself helped temporarily raise when she was reborn. "Saturn! Don't be a fool! She is not a friend, she is a liar and can't be trusted!"

      Saturn looked at Sailor Uranus and then at the other senshi. "We do not know what has happened or what is going to happen. Remember when you wanted me dead for fear that I was going to destroy the world? She has to be here for some reason and perhaps we really do need the extra help. Let's at least give her a chance to speak for herself!"

      There was complete silence for a moment as they looked at the sailor soldier dressed in burgundy standing quietly as what seemed to be her trial continued on.

      "Janus, can you tell us, what had happened? And you, three, quiet and let her speak!" Tuxedo Kamen sternly said as he came out of the shadows hoping that the new girl would bring some light to the situation.

       "Tuxedo Kamen! Wow, we didn't even know you were back in town!" Eternal Sailor Moon exclaimed as she ran up to her boyfriend, wrapping her arms around him.

       "Shh, Sailor Moon. Go on now, Janus," the tuxedo clad man said.

      Taking a deep breath, Janus glanced down at the ground for a brief moment before looking back at the others to explain her story. "I was the princess of Janus, and yes, it was my duty to guard the gates of the solar system just as Pluto guards the gates of time. During the Silver Millennium, Queen Metallia tricked me. She fooled me by posing as my mother. She really did look like her. So I let her in. The evil laugh I heard after she was let in, I would never forget. She called me a foolish girl. I used every ounce of power I had in defeating her. I couldn't, and she killed me. Then she was free to destroy my planet and the rest of the solar system."

      "HA! See, she's great a liar! She let Queen Metallia in because she didn't want to be a senshi anymore! Admit it! " Uranus shouted as she approached Janus who stepped back a few steps.

      "That is not true! I accepted my duties wholeheartedly and did them to my death! There was no bargain. There was no treason! I didn't betray you! I didn't come here for a stupid trial, I came to help because there is a new evil and you all won't be able to defeat it on your own! It's strong and I want to help. That is my mission and nothing more," Janus yelled with tears streaming from her jade green eyes. 'I can't take this anymore. I only want friendship so I don't have to be alone anymore. I only want redemption, even though it truly was not my fault, I am still filled with guilt.'

      With that last thought, Sailor Janus turned and walk away from the others with the same determined yet, sorrowful look on her face, as the rest of the Sailor Senshi stared after her, unsure of what to do or to say.

      "Janus! Don't go!" Eternal Sailor Moon shouted as she raced after the girl.

      Janus paused and looked at the leader of sailor senshi. 'Very kindhearted yet naïve, an indomitable spirit when situations get difficult, but the leader nonetheless. She still has more to learn than she thinks,' Janus decided as she turned to look at Sailor Moon. "Why, should I stay? I'm only going to be interrogated further and until you accept me for who I am and not for who you think I am. I'm just going to stay away. Good Bye, Sailor Moon."

      With a final glance, Sailor Janus turned and walked away. No one said  else word and only watched as she disappeared into the distance.

      "Well, we must go. Are you coming, Saturn?" Uranus announced as Neptune, Pluto, and herself  turned to leave.

      "No, I'm going  back with the others. I live in the same town as they do now," Saturn softly said.

      "Suit yourself," Neptune said as the rest of the outer scouts left leaving only the inners and Saturn standing where an ugly fight scene took place. This one unfortunately, had nothing to do with the newest villain and her Satyr.

*~*~*~*

      "I feel so bad for her," Minako said sipping hot tea at Rei's table along with the others who did not ostracize the newest sailor senshi.

       "I know, me too. Why did they act so awful to her? I'm sure we all made mistakes back then, but there's nothing we can do now to change it. What's past is past." Ami tried to reason as the others agreed with her.

       "Think the others will come around?" Rei asked as the room fell silent.

       "Perhaps, but it might take some time," Hotaru quietly said. "After all, how long did it take before they accepted you five, and then of course myself?" 

       The room once again fell silent as the group drank their tea quietly with their thoughts on Deidera.    

*~*~*~*   

       Lord Cacus's dwellings were silent as usual which he particularly preferred.

       He continued to gaze at the crystal-like ball as if there were something particularly fascinating about it. Just then Chimaera entered the room.              

       "Did you find her?" Lord Cacus asked sounding unusually interested.

       Chimaera was a little taken back by his urgent tone, but nodded, "Yes, we have found her. Should I send the others now?"

       "No, no, not yet. Timing is everything after all, Chimaera. When the moment is right, we shall be ready. Thank you for the news. You may leave now."

       "Of course, my Lord." She slightly bowed her head and left the room. 'What is it about that silly girl that he is fascinated about?! No matter, at least as soon as we have her, I won't have to do so much of the dirty work anymore.'

*~*~*~*

To be Continued