ch2

Ch. 2

I'm sorry I'm not gentle,

I can't say if it's in my dreams,

My thoughts are about to short-circuit,

Right now, I want to meet you…

-Moonlight Densetsu, Theme song to Sailor Moon

"Look, James..I'm sorry.."

James held up a hand. "I don't want to hear about it. Not right now. I'm hungry, I'm going downstairs to see if Goku's left us any food."

"But James,"

James turned and glared at her. Jessy staggered as if physically wounded and sat on the bed despairingly as James walked downstairs. Meowth sighed.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I feel sorry for you, Jessy."

Jessy sighed. She hadn't meant any harm last night. She just wished she could get James to listen to her for a second. She sighed.

"C'mon," she said wearily, standing. "Let's go downstairs too. I'm a little hungry too."

"Aiiiiiii! I am SOOO late! Luna! Why didn't you wake me up?"

Seiji sipped his coffee as if he'd heard nothing at all. Jessy, on the other hand, looked as if her ears were still ringing. Ami blinked and glanced over to Goku surprised. She heard Luna yelling to Usagi, and then she heard Usagi clumping down the stairs.

"Mia-chan! Where's my lunch?"

Mia sighed from her place on the couch. "I don't have it ready, Usagi-chan."

Usagi blinked. "Well why not? Ayumi-sama will fry me if I'm late."

Rei shook her head. "Usagi, it's Sunday, there's no school."

Usagi stopped and blinked a few times. Then she laughed giddily. "Oh, right! Hee hee! I knew that."

Makoto smiled. "Sure you did, Usagi-chan. Anyway, we've got to figure out a way into the Dynasty from here. I mean, it's not like we're in Tokyo. We can't just hike over to Fuji-san and tear a hole in our two dimensions."

Touma blinked. Makoto actually was spouting off sci-fi stuff? He had to be in some sort of Twilight Zone.

Vegeta nodded. "Mako-chan's right. But I think it'd we'd be better off letting them attack us."

Piccolo turned an ever-critical eye on the sayajin prince. "How do you figure?"

Vegeta turned to the evil namek. "Simple: Here, we have the advantage. We can't say the same in the Dynasty. Also, they've got A-ko, and it stands to reason that they'd try to use her in some way against us. The best way of our getting to her at all is if we sit and wait."

Bulma smirked. "Given how much Vegeta hates to sit and wait, I'd say he's thought this through."

Yamcha smirked as well. "Looks like some thought does go on in that spiky-haired head of yours."

Vegeta's tail bristled, but he did not, to the relief of the Senshi and the Ronins, rise to the ruse. Instead he stood and looked to Goku. "I believe we have some training to do, Kakarotto?"

Goku nodded. "Yeah, we do. We'll be outside if anyone wants to join us."

Gohan nodded. "Okay, Dad. I was going to go with Chibiusa to see the command center."

C-ko's face scrunched up. "A-ko and I went to see the command center last week!" she wailed. She then began crying again. Chibiusa handed her a tissue. "It's okay, C-ko. C'mon, then, we can go to the park, okay?"

C-ko sniffed once and smiled. "Okay, then."

"Your name?"

"Topaz."

"Your objective?" Dais asked.

A-ko stared ahead with dead, yet somehow cruel eyes. "To kill the Sailor Senshi, Ronins and Earth Special Forces, and recover Small Lady and the Ginzuishou."

"Your leader?" Dais asked. A-ko's cruel mouth now turned up into a grin. "Lord Talpa, and Queen Metalia."

Kale nodded approvingly. "I'm very impressed, Rubbeus. She's completely under our domination."

Dais nodded as well. "And firmly, it seems. That's good. It'll help when Sailor Moon tries to use that Ginzuishou of hers to break our hold of her."

Rubbeus shrugged off the praise. "Just doing my job, warlords. Nothing more."

Dais turned back to A-ko. "You're dismissed, Topaz. Go rest. You'll be called to duty shortly."

A-ko bowed and disappeared. Kale and Dais grinned to each other. Kale stretched. "I've got to go. I haven't been to my room in several days. Who knows how much of my stuff Katzie has destroyed. I've got to go take inventory."

Dais laughed. "Right. Just don't get killed just yet. We still need you."

Kale laughed too, before heading to his room.

"The ingrate. I give him my heart and what does he do? He sticks that sword of his through it!" Katzie yelled, hurling Kale's vintage record collection against the wall, shattering the records into a million pieces. She picked up his prize "Babylon 5" book collection, and threw them into the air. She aimed a blast at them, which was right on target. The books vaporized. She reached blindly for another item, picked it up and prepared to throw it when she looked at it.

It was a picture of the two of them in America, in Walt Disney World. She had a tank top on, and a pair of shorts. On her head was a pair of Mickey ears. Kale was wearing a polo shirt, and a pair of shorts, and Mickey ears also. He was holding her in his arms; Katzie had her arms wrapped around his neck. Katzie looked at the picture for a moment then sunk to the floor sobbing. She dropped the picture and buried her face in her hands, sobbing. She stayed like this for a while, oblivious to her surroundings until a large hand was laid gently on her shoulder.

"Katzie-sama?"

Katzie looked up into Kale's face. His face held no anger over his apartment being torn up, his things destroyed. It held a little remorse, but far more concern for Katzie herself. Katzie looked into his eyes for a moment or two, and suddenly flung herself against him, hugging him tightly.

"Kale-chan!"

Kale kneeled there among broken glass, records, and pictures, and hugged her, not saying anything. Katzie finally whispered "I'm sorry, Kale. I truly am. For not trusting you..for not believing you..for everything."

Kale did his best to conceal the fact that he was crying too, and whispered back "So am I. I'm sorry for everything too."

Katzie pulled away and saw that he was crying, and smiling, wiped away his tears. "Don't cry, Kale. It's okay. Everything will be okay."

Kale chuckled a little. "Just what I was about to tell you."

Katzie and Kale slowly stood and looked around. Kale spotted the remains of his book collection and sighed deeply. Katzie blushed crimson. "I'm sorry," she repeated. Kale shook his head.

"None of it matters," he said softly. "Only you do."

Katzie smiled. "I suppose we'd better clean this up."

Kale nodded. "Yeah, but before we do..Katzie, I need to ask you something."

Katzie's interest was perked. "Yes?"

Kale took a deep breath. "Katzie…will you-" He stiffened and then sighed. He smiled to Katzie. "Duty calls. We'll talk later, okay?"

Katzie smiled and nodded. "Okay."

"Betcha you can't catch me!" Chibiusa teased Gohan. Gohan grinned.

"Oh yeah?"

Chibiusa began running, Gohan right behind her. Normally, it would have been no contest, but Chibiusa was, after all, a Senshi, and she had no problem running and leaping at a surprisingly fast rate. Gohan chased her farther and farther away from where C-ko lay gazing up at the sky. Finally, both children had to stop for a rest.

"Whew," Gohan panted, flopping back onto the grass. "I'm pooped. Hey, Chibiusa! Stop a second!"

Chibiusa smiled and sat on the grass beside Gohan. She stared at the Command center longingly, wishing to know what really went on there. Suddenly, she squinted her eyes.

"Hey, Gohan-san. Is that A-ko?"

Gohan sat up immediately and looked. He stood quickly, prompting Chibiusa to do the same.

"That's A-ko, but she's giving off evil energy."

"Evil?" Chibiusa asked in disbelief. She took a few steps towards the figure, then began running towards it, never noticing Gohan's shouts of caution. She stopped a few feet from A-ko.

"A-ko?" she asked. A-ko grinned.

"So. Small Lady. We finally meet."

Chibiusa blinked. "Why are you calling me 'Small Lady'? My name is Usagi!"

A-ko reached out and grabbed Chibiusa's arm. "You're coming with me, Small Lady."

"No!" Chibiusa yelled, yanking free. She reached for her locket. "Moon Crisis-" She was cut off as the locket was kicked out of her hands, onto the ground. Chibiusa ran after it, but she was too slow, and A-ko had snatched it up before Chibiusa got within grabbing distance. She looked into the locket and grinned.

"One part of the Ginzuishou. You're just the little brat that keeps on giving, aren't you?"

Chibiusa turned and started to run, but A-ko grabbed her by one leg. "Not so fast, Small Lady. You'll serve as nice bait for Sailor Moon and her Ginzuishou. As well as for those meddling Ronins."

"Jupiter, Oak, Evolution!"

A spray of oak leaves made A-ko drop Chibiusa, but not the Ginzuishou. She looked up in hate to see who had dared to attack her. The Sailor Senshi greeted her.

Sailor Moon stepped forward. "Friends do not attack friends, even when they're working for the enemy! I will not forgive it! For love and justice, soldiers in pretty sailor suits, Sailor Moon! In the name of the moon, you're punished!"

"A-ko, what're you doing?" Sailor Jupiter asked in disbelief. Sailor Mercury activated her visor and took out her mini data computer.

"Wait," she said after scanning A-ko. "Her brain wave patterns have been altered! She's been brainwashed!"

"Perfect," muttered Sailor Jupiter. She wanted to stop A-ko. Not destroy her. And she knew which attack would serve her purposes. "Sparkling, Wide, Pressure!" she yelled, sending a ball of lightning at A-ko. But A-ko dismissed it with a mere wave of her hand. She grinned.

"So the Sailor Senshi finally make an appearance. I can't say I'm impressed, but this should prove interesting, at the very least."

Sailor Venus grit her teeth. They had A-ko firmly under their control. She decided to try and reason with her, as they had with Black Lady.

"A-ko, listen to us! We're not your enemy, the Dynasty is!"

A-ko snorted. "'A-ko'? My name is Topaz. And you are the enemy." With that, A-ko rushed Sailor Venus, hitting her full in the gut. Venus doubled over in pain, and A-ko grabbed her arm, and sent her flying into a tree. Venus crumpled to the ground.

"Sailor Venus!" Sailor Mars called out. She then turned to A-ko. "We've got to stop her!"

Mercury nodded. "Agreed. Mercury. Aqua, Rasphody!" she said, sending an ice attack straight at A-ko. But A-ko merely jumped out of the way and grinned.

"I'm not so pitiful, Senshi!"

She was about to say something more, but a blast of water slammed her back into a tree. The Senshi turned, wondering if the Ronins had accompanied them. Instead, they saw three figures. The tallest started to speak.

"Guarded by the planet of the heavens, led by a new danger. Sailor Uranus!"

The figure with bluish-green hair spoke next. "Guarded by the planet of elegance, I too am led by a new danger. Sailor Neptune!"

The figure with the staff was the last to speak. "Guarded by the planet of time, I come whenever I am needed most. Sailor Pluto." She looked at A-ko. "The three Senshi from the outer reaches of the galaxy,"

Together all three of them said, "Have arrived!"

"Uranus, Neptune!" Sailor Moon said happily.

"Pluto!" Sailor Jupiter added. The three figures leapt up to them.

"What are you doing here?" Sailor Mercury asked. Sailor Pluto looked at her.

"I sensed Small Lady's life was in danger."

Chibiusa, who had by now picked herself up off of the ground and dusted off, grinned. "Sailor Moon and I can handle her."

Sailor Moon shook her head. "Not without your locket, you can't. And I'm not sure if we're going to get your locket back so easily."

Gohan stepped up beside her. "Chibiusa, you need to hide."

Chibiusa nodded. "I know, but where will I hide from her?" she asked, pointing at A-ko.

Sailor Mars nodded. "What we need is to incapacitate her. Any ideas?"

Mercury thought for a second. "Mars, what about your Burning Mandala? It may be enough to stop her without harming her."

Mars shook her head. "No good. Your Aqua Rasphody can't even stop her."

A-ko stood shakily and glared in hate at the eight of them. "You can't stop me, Sailor Senshi. Give up now, and I'm sure Lord Talpa will go easy on you."

"We'll…n-never give…up..." A shaky voice rasped. Everyone turned to see Sailor Venus on her feet, looking hurt, but by no means beaten. She turned to the others. "Guys, forget about not hurting her. We've got to stop her NOW."

Everyone nodded.

"Venus. Love and Beauty Shock!"

"Mars. Flame, Sniper!"

"Jupiter. Oak, Evolution!"

"Mercury. Aqua Rasphody!"

"World Shaking!"

"Deep Submerge!"

"Dead Scream!"

"Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!" All rang out simultaneously and A-ko, caught in the volley, crumpled to the ground. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. A moment later, Sailor Venus shuddered and also collapsed.

"Mina-ko…Mina-ko. Wake up."

Minako regained consciousness. She was on her back, on something soft. There was someone leaning over her, telling her to wake up. But it was so much nicer the where she had been just a moment ago, so warm. She'd been floating, and now someone had brought her back to the cold. She was stationary again. She tried to go back to the warmth, and nearly succeeded, but the voice dragged her back again. Who did that voice belong to, anyway? She recognized it in a kind of fuzzy way. Then she felt a hand squeeze hers, anchoring her more fully in her body. The hand was quite larger than hers was. She heard the voice again, it was male, and it sounded as if it were trying not to cry.

"Mina-ko…please…wake up. Please. Don't leave me."

She was startled to suddenly realize that the voice belonged to Seiji. Seiji, crying over her? Oh, she couldn't have that, now could she? She struggled to open her eyes, and finally they opened the tiniest fraction. It was enough for Seiji, though. He touched her cheek softly and she could hear the immense relief in his voice when he whispered her name again. She smiled weakly.

"Gee," she whispered faintly. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were worried about me."

Seiji chuckled a bit. "I was. Very. You nearly died."

Minako thought on this for a second, and nodded as much she could. "I know," she whispered. "I wanted to let go, but your voice, your touch, kept me from leaving."

Seiji kissed her hand, her cheek and then her lips softly. "I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you," he said. Minako grinned.

"Mourn for the rest of your life, I would hope."

Seiji chuckled again, and Minako summoned enough strength to giggle a bit too.

Touma walked into the room. "Hey," he said, kneeling beside Minako. "How ya feeling?"

"A bit weak," she whispered. Touma chuckled.

"Only a bit? Makoto you're not, Mina-chan. You're going to have to rest for a week or two."

"A week?!?" Minako squawked. She struggled to sit up, but only succeeded in tiring herself. Touma sighed.

"Or two. But you must understand your system suffered an enormous shock. You're lucky to be awake at all right now."

Minako sighed. "Promise me you'll let me know about the next fight."

Touma and Seiji looked at each other worriedly, and Seiji sighed. "I promise."

"How is she?"

Seiji walked into the kitchen wearily after Touma. "She's conscious. Weak, but pretty good."

"Is she aware of her injuries?" Rei asked softly. Touma shook his head.

"No. I didn't tell her. It'll be better when she's a bit stronger."

Jessy finished bandaging Chibiusa's arm. She looked up and said, "Why is that?"

"Because if she knew how serious her injuries really are, she might not want to fight them."

Seiji nodded slightly. "She told me that she nearly didn't anyway, but my voice kept her from going."

He sighed heavily, and sat in a chair next to Jessy. She could see how emotionally exhausted he was over Minako. Minako, not her. The thought made her rush out of the room. Seiji looked after her.

"I wonder what's wrong with her?"

Bulma looked at James, and James looked from Seiji, to Bulma to the seat where Jessy had just been sitting. Seiji, quick to notice any odd action on the part of anyone, said, "You know, don't you James?"

James nodded silently. Shou looked at him. "Well?" he prodded. James shook his head.

"I don't think she really wants me to say."

Seiji chuckled a bit. "I can already tell she has a crush on one of us Ronins."

"What?!?" Ryo asked in disbelief. Seiji nodded. "It's probably the only reason why she's still staying here, to be close to the one she likes. Am I right, James?"

James nodded sullenly. Touma shook his head. "Well I'll be."

Seiji raised a brow at James. "And I think he knows which one of us it is, too!"

James nodded again.

"Well?" Shin asked. James shook his head.

"I never promised her I wouldn't say," he said softly. "But I don't think she wants me to. She's pretty straightforward when she wants to be, and the fact that she hasn't told him that she likes him means that she's not ready for him to know. So I'm going to respect that and not tell you."

Seiji nodded. "Fair enough."

Ami walked into the kitchen. "A-ko's still unconscious, and we've tried everything to break the Dynasty's hold over her. It simply cannot be done."

Touma motioned for Ami to sit on his lap. "It can be done, and we'll find a way to do it. Okay?"

Ami nodded silently. She didn't believe Touma, but he presented a good point: she had to keep an optimistic attitude. Otherwise, they'd never succeed.

"Hey, Jessy-san?"

Jessy looked up to the one who had called her name. She saw Usagi leaning over her, smiling kindly. "You alright?"

Jessy wiped at her eyes furiously, trying to wipe away her tears. "Leave me alone!"

Usagi sat next to Jessy on the damp earth. "Jessy-san, what's wrong?"

"Why do you care?"

"I care because you're living in my house, and I hate to see anyone upset."

Jessy sniffed once. "If you must know, I'm upset over a guy I like."

Usagi nodded. "I see. What'd he do?"

"It's not that he did anything really. It's…well, he has a girlfriend and all. It's just hard for me to see him so…upset over her. It makes me realize that he'll never want me. Only her."

Usagi let that sink in for a moment. Then she smiled gently. "Jessy, if you really like Seiji, why don't you let him know?"

Jessy stared at Usagi. "How'd you know that it was Seiji?"

"He's the only guy in the house who's very upset over his girlfriend. You kinda gave yourself away."

Jessy sighed. "Well, I can't tell him that I like him. It'd make things so uncomfortable…then I couldn't stay. Even though he doesn't like me, I still want to help out with A-ko and everything, to repay all of you for letting us stay here."

Usagi smiled. "I understand, Jessy-san. You wanna come back in, now? Mako-chan's going to bake us a cake."

Jessy was quiet for a moment and Usagi turned to leave when she heard behind her "Chan."

Usagi turned. "What?"

Jessy looked up at her, smiling. "You may call me '-chan'."

Usagi grinned and held out a hand to help her up. "Well, come on, Jessy-chan, before Shou and Goku eat it all!"

"The vanishing rocket returns," Yamcha said mockingly. Usagi scowled at him.

"Yamcha-chan, that's not very nice. Leave Jessy-chan alone, she's going through a hard time."

Yamcha blinked. "'-Chan?'"

Neither Jessy nor Usagi answered, but they both headed into the kitchen. Usagi sat on Mamoru's lap, whereas Jessy sat in a chair by the window. Mamoru kissed Usagi on the neck.

"I'm glad you came back, Usa-ko. I was getting lonely."

Usagi giggled. "Mamo-chan."

Jessy sighed and Usagi quickly checked herself. She looked to Makoto.

"Mako-chan, how soon will the cake be ready?"

Makoto looked up from her cooking magazine and smiled. "Not too much longer, Usagi-chan. Cool your jets a little, and I'll try to let you have some before Goku and Shou ravage it all. That's if you don't first."

Usagi blushed a bit. "I don't eat that much."

Mamoru looked at Usagi weirdly. "Hmm. Seems to me when I first met you, you cleaned out the restaurant. Odango atama." (Dumpling-head, for the Japanese-impaired.)

Usagi huffed and turned her back on Mamoru. "You know I hate that name."

"Aw, c'mon, Usa-ko..."

"Usagi-san, to you, Mamoru-san. Or you may call me Tsukino-san."

With that she hopped up off of Mamoru's lap and plopped herself into a chair next to Jessy in a huff. Jessy hurried to suppress a giggle.

Mamoru turned hurriedly to Usagi. "Usa-ko, please, I'm sorry! I was only playing, Usagi!"

Makoto shook her head. "Nope. You did it, Mamoru-san. She's really angry."

Usagi nodded, as if to prove Makoto's point. Mamoru sighed and plodded out of the kitchen. Usagi snorted.

"Imagine! The nerve of him to call me that!"

Jessy was intrigued. "When did he call you that?"

"Back when we first met, and we hated each other. I thought he was a pompous, arrogant jerk with a personality factor of 0. I guess he thought I was a scatterbrained, clumsy schoolgirl."

"To a certain point," a voice came from the doorway. "Mamoru's right."

Usagi turned to see who had spoken, and she saw Goku standing there, grinning. Usagi smiled. "What makes you say that?"

Goku grinned. "Our first encounter, among others, where you tripped."

Usagi blushed again. "I did that on purpose."

Goku shook his head. "Well then, you're a better actress than any of us have realized."

Usagi giggled. Then she grew serious. "Have you guys come up with a plan for A-ko yet?"

Goku shook his head. "Not yet, we…" He was cut off by the sound of something going on above them, and suddenly Vegeta came crashing through the ceiling. About the same time, Piccolo and Tien went tumbling down the stairs and they saw Krillin falling out the window outside. Goku flew up through the hole Vegeta had just made, and was immediately hurled into the far wall. A-ko was awake, and none too happy. She threw him through the wall, and then jumped down the hole where a stunned Usagi and Makoto barely had enough time to transform into Super Sailors Moon and Jupiter.

"Stop right there!" she shouted. A-ko grinned and was about to make an attack when Chibiusa called out "Sailor Moon, run!"

A-ko looked from one to the other, grabbed Chibiusa and Sailor Moon, and nodded to Jupiter.

"Give the others a message: If they want their precious princesses and Ginzuishou back, they've got to come after me. And I'll be waiting!"

With that she disappeared into a warphole, leaving a frustrated Jupiter cursing in the kitchen.

Kale looked up from his screen and grinned. "We have Sailor Moon and the brat."

Dais laughed. "Yes!" he shouted. He grinned to Sekhmet and Anubis. "Nice timing, guys. Bringing her out of it just as the ESF were turning around."

Sekhmet shrugged. "What can we say, we're good. Well, I am, anyway."

Anubis snorted, but didn't respond to the insult. They all turned to the center of the room as A-ko appeared with Chibiusa and Sailor Moon in tow. She dropped them both on the floor.

"Ow!" Sailor Moon whined. She stood and glared murderously at the warlords. "So. What are you planning to do with Chibiusa and me?"

Dais grinned. "Don't worry, we won't kill you or the brat, if that's what you're afraid of. We need you for bait. Among other things. Topaz. Take them both to one of our more comfortable guestrooms. We need them to stay in good condition."

A-ko bowed and grabbed Chibiusa and Sailor Moon and disappeared with them. Dais grinned wider. "Usagi was a lot calmer then I expected. Maybe she's finally maturing."

"Right," Sekhmet chortled. "And maybe you and Rubbeus will become the best of friends!"

Dais laughed. "Point well taken, Sekhmet. Hey, Kale," he said, turning to the warlord of darkness. "Don't you have an appointment with a certain girlfriend to keep?"

Kale started. "Oh, yeah," he said. He grinned. "I'd better get to her."

"Good luck," Dais said. "You'll need it."

"Katzie?"

Katzie poked her head out from the hallway. "Kale-chan! Where were you?"

"Nowhere, simply acquiring a certain Sailor brat and her daughter. Now, about my ques..."

"You mean we've got Sailor Moon herself? Really?!?" Katzie interrupted.

"Yeah. Katzie, I was wondering if you would…"

"Where is she?"

"She's in the guest room. We need to keep her in good condition. Katzie, I really need your attention for about five seconds."

"Kale, we've got Sailor Moon! The Moon Princess! Ms. 'Cosmic Moon Power' herself! I've got to go tell my sisters! They'll be psyched!"

"But what about my question?!?"

"Oh, it can wait a while longer, can't it?"

Kale was about to protest further, but saw the futility of it and nodded. "Yes," he said slowly. "I suppose it can."

Katzie ran up and kissed Kale on the cheek. "Oh, thanks, Kale! I promise, as soon as I get back, you'll have my undivided attention for the rest of the night."

Kale watched Katzie disappear. He then sat on his bed, and sighed to himself. This proposing thing was turning out to be a lot more complicated than he ever imagined.

"Hey, guys! Guess what I just heard?"

Avery looked up. "Leonardo DiCaprio is single again?"

Bertie grinned. "You wish."

Prizma giggled. "No more 'Titanic' for Avery. 'I'll never let go Jack. Never let go.'"

Bertie, Prizma and Avery laughed. Katzie stamped her foot. "Girls, come ON! Guess who we have in our clutches?"

"Leonardo DiCaprio?!?"

Katzie looked at Bertie. Bertie smiled. "I'll take her 'Titanic', 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'The man in the Iron Mask' DVD's away from her, Katzie."

"Don't forget 'What's eating Gilbert Grape', Bertie." Prizma said.

Katzie sighed. "Guys, we have Small Lady and Sailor Moon!"

Avery's jaw dropped. "You're serious? We really have them?"

Katzie nodded. "Yes! Kale just told me!"

Bertie and Avery looked at each other. "Uh, Katzie," Avery said slowly. "Was Kale trying to ask you something?"

Katzie looked puzzled. "Yeah he was, but I wanted to come tell you guys first."

Bertie smiled gently. "Perhaps you should go back and let him talk to you."

Katzie looked from Avery to Bertie. "Something's going on, isn't it?"

Avery grinned. "We can't tell you. The only way you'll find out is if you talk to Kale."

Katzie looked suspicious, but disappeared anyway. Prizma looked to her two sisters. "What was that all about?"

"Oh," Avery said nonchalantly. "Nothing in particular. We're just about to gain another brother-in-law, that's all."

"You mean…" Prizma asked, her eyes going wide. Avery and Bertie nodded. Prizma grinned. "Oh, wow! Is Katzie ever going to be surprised!"

"Kale," Katzie said, surprising Kale, who had been reading The Servant Girl "What is going on? Why are Bertie and Avery grinning at me like idiots?"

"Bertie and Avery? So much for secrecy…"

"Kale!"

Kale stood and sighed. "Katzie, I have a question I want to ask you."

"So I'm told."

Kale took a deep breath, and dropped to one knee. He pulled the small black box from his pocket and looked up at Katzie, who looked as if she couldn't believe that this was happening. He opened the box to reveal the diamond ring. "I was wondering if you would…I mean…will you marry me?"

Katzie gasped a few times, and then blinked as if to shake herself out of a daze. She then took the box from Kale with trembling hands. She slowly removed the ring and looked from it to Kale and back again a few times. Then, she held it in clasped hands. It took a few moments for Kale to see that she had slipped it onto her finger. She smiled down at Kale, who grinned and stood and took her in his arms. After a few moments, he held her away for a second, and leaned in to kiss her.

"Let us out of here!" Sailor Moon yelled, pounding on the door. She stepped back and took off her tiara. "Moon tiara action!" she yelled, throwing the tiara at the door. But the tiara bounced off the doors without making a dent. She picked up her tiara and sighed. "We're not getting out of here easily," she told Chibiusa. Chibiusa rolled her eyes.

"Duh, Usagi. We're their prisoners. Of course they're not going to let us out. Where do you think we are, in Dr. Evil's secret volcano lair?"

Sailor Moon rolled her eyes. "That's the last time I let you watch 'The Spy who shagged me'."

"Neo Queen Serenity let me watch it before."

"Yeah, well I'm not Neo Queen Serenity yet! So you can't watch it. And don't go asking Mamo-chan, either!"

Chibiusa stuck her tongue out at Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon, in turn, stuck her tongue out at Chibiusa. Predictably, a tongue war followed.

Bulma put the finishing touches on Vegeta's wounds. She secured the bandage and sat back. "Is that better?"

Vegeta moved his arm a bit, and grunted an affirmation. Bulma sighed.

"I just can't believe that they had control over A-ko the whole time."

"They had to," Ami said. "The timing was too perfect. She woke as they were turning from her. What are the odds of that happening?"

"Slim to nil," Touma admitted grudgingly. Ami nodded.

"Exactly. They let her be subdued by us so we could bring her here and she'd have greater access to the Ginzuishou, and Usagi and Chibiusa."

"And now they have all of them," Rei muttered. Shou blinked.

"Maybe, but they know that we're going to come in after them. I mean, come on. As long as the rest of the Senshi, us Ronins and the Earth's Special Forces remain free, they've still got quite a battle ahead of them. The four Senshi they may be willing to let go, but not Uranus, Neptune and Pluto too. Their attacks are simply too powerful."

Makoto scowled. "Our attacks are powerful!"

Shou shrugged. "My point is, they won't do anything to Chibiusa or Usagi for fear of hurting them because they still need them as bait for us."

"We were their prisoners once too," Minako reminded them all. "They didn't seem to think much of hitting Mako-chan across the mouth, or nearly killing me."

Seiji nodded. "Yeah, but in both cases, they were reminded that we had to be kept in good condition. I think they couldn't reign in their anger, but for the most part, they do try to keep their valuable prisoners in good condition."

"And Sailor Moon is about as valuable as prisoners get." Goku put in.

"So odds are," Mamoru said slowly. "That Usa-ko and Chibiusa are safe, only confined. And are likely to stay that way until we come after them."

"Then we've got to make sure they don't know we're coming in after them," Yamcha said. Ami shook her head.

"That's nearly, if not, impossible. Every time we've tried sneak attacks, we were always ambushed."

Mamoru sighed. "Then maybe we should just go straight for them. The last thing Talpa will be expecting is for us to go in through the front door."

Luna and Artemis blinked. "You know," Luna said slowly. "That just may work. Of course they're likely to be prepared in case we do just that, but not too heavily, because they'll expecting us to try some sneak attack."

Diana looked confused. "So our sneak attack is to be direct?"

Artemis smiled to his daughter. "Looks that way."

Makoto stood. "Then what are we waiting for?"

"Move it."

Sailor Moon glared at Kale, but stepped with surprising dignity out of her room holding Chibiusa's hand. The dignity didn't last long, however; she promptly tripped on a loose floorboard and fell face flat on the ground. Both Kale and Chibiusa developed teardrops, looked down and sighed heavily.

Chibiusa helped a very embarrassed Sailor Moon to her feet. Sailor Moon tried to play it cool. She smiled and took another step…and collided with Dais, who had been walking up the corridor. Chibiusa threw up her hands.

"I give up," she muttered. Kale suppressed a snicker. Dais got to his feet heavily, and helped Sailor Moon to hers.

"We've got to quit meeting like this, I've got no depth perception as it is without you crashing into me at every turn."

Sailor Moon snorted, and turned even redder. She turned her back on all of them and refused to look at any of them. Dais sighed and looked at Chibiusa.

"And she's always like this?"

"Always."

Sailor Moon blew a raspberry over her shoulder. Chibiusa blew one back. A third tongue war followed.

Dais and Kale watched this dumbly for a second, then Dais shook his head. "Oh, yeah, Kale, I came to see what the verdict was."

Kale grinned wide. Dais chuckled. "So she said yes. I don't know whether to congratulate you or pity you. You want I should go get the ball and chain ready?"

Kale rolled his eyes. "Only if it's not as heavy as yours."

Dais chuckled. "You've got a good girl, though. You're lucky."

Sailor Moon blinked. "Girl? Kale, I thought you were going out with Katzie!"

Kale rolled his eyes again. "I am. Actually, it's a bit more than that."

Sailor Moon gasped. "You mean you two are engaged?!? That is too romantic!"

Kale shrugged. "Whatever. Anyway, I'm supposed to take you before Lord Talpa and Queen Metalia. So get moving!"

"Queen Metalia?" Chibiusa asked. She looked to Sailor Moon, but she had suddenly gone white in the face.

"If only the Ancient one were still here," Ami sighed. "He'd know a great way to get us into the Dynasty."

Shou shrugged. "He's not. And that means we've got to figure out our own way into the Dynasty. Not only that, we've also got to figure out how to get out as well."

Seiji raised an eyebrow at Shou. "Hey, Touma, sharing a room with you has helped Shou a lot. Watch out, he'll take your spot as the smartest one in the group!"

Touma chuckled. Seiji had to duck as Ami chucked a donut at Seiji in retaliation.

"And who says Touma is the smartest?" she said teasingly. Bulma looked offended too.

"Yeah, especially since I'm here now too! I'm major smart."

Seiji rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry I said anything…"

Luna cleared her throat. "Guys, back to getting into the Dynasty?"

Makoto sighed. "I can't think of any way…wait a second! Ami, you said that the warlords originally picked Tokyo because there was a weak barrier between the Dynasty and our world at Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Tower, right?"

Ami caught on to what Makoto was saying. "And both were extremely tall structures! And you know what, so is the Command Center!"

Rei blinked. "You mean you think there's a weak barrier at the Command Center?"

Ryo nodded. "It's a good theory, and we've got nothing else to go on."

Jessy, who had been watching all this from the corner, finally spoke. "Well, since we have a balloon, we can always fly there and take some readings, to see if Makoto-san's and Ami-san's theory is correct."

Seiji flashed her a warm smile. "You know, that's a great idea. I'd come too, but I've got to stay here with Mina-ko."

Jessy seemed downcast. "Right…it's alright, Seiji-san."

Seiji looked at her for a second, and then he knew, he just knew who Jessy had the crush on. Only it had been the only one he hadn't anticipated: himself. He flushed realizing this, and coughed suddenly. "Well, I suppose we'd all better get a move on." "Right," everyone else chorused.

"Dawson? I didn't recognize you. Why, you could almost pass for a gentleman."

"Almost."

Avery sneered. "He's more of a gentleman than you'll ever be, Caledon!"

Bertie sighed. "And I promised Katzie I'd take these away from you."

Avery sighed, totally ignoring her sister. "I wish I could find a guy. A cross between Jack and Caledon. Confidant, almost arrogant, but handsome, and kind at times. Smart, strong, tall, the type to really take command."

"What's this?" Rubbeus asked as he walked in.

"Titanic," Avery said with a sigh. "One of the greatest movies ever made, if not the greatest."

Rubbeus pretended to gag. "I prefer the 'Friday the thirteenth' movies myself."

Avery threw a pillow at Rubbeus. "You made me miss one of my favorite parts."

Bertie rolled her eyes. "Avery, the entire movie is your favorite part."

Avery had already opened her mouth to answer when Rubbeus turned off the movie. Avery chucked another pillow at him.

"What'd you do that for? Jack just gave Rose the note!" she whined. Rubbeus grinned. "Come off it, Avery. Besides, we've got Sailor Bait to put up."

Avery blinked and grinned. "You're right. What're we waiting for?"

"To protect the world from devastation," Jessy murmured automatically. James stole a sideways glance at her and smiled.

"To unite all peoples within our nation," he said softly.

Touma looked at them. "Can't you two ever use a different slogan?"

James feigned being shocked. "And turn in our trademark 'Team Rocket' motto? Never. It's as much a part of this team as Jessy or myself or Meowth."

"And when we do want to try something new," Jessy added. "It's usually a song."

She and James began to sing. "Our name is Team Rocket, and we fight for what is wrong. We got tired of our motto so we thought we'd try a song."

Ami rolled her eyes. "Typical," She turned her attention to her mini data computer, which had started to beep. She studied the readings closely as Touma strained to peer over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. "Mako-chan was right! The barrier between our two worlds is very weak here!"

She closed her computer and turned to Touma. "One good 'Arrow Shock Wave' or 'Thunder Bolt Cut' would get us through in no time."

Touma nodded. "Then we'd better get back and tell the others."

Touma turned to Jessy. "Let's get back."

Jessy nodded and tugged on the balloon cord. Ami looked out over Graviton. It wasn't Tokyo, but the sparkling lake in the bottom of the crater was very beautiful. And the suburbs going gently up the sides gave it an almost unreal feeling. She glanced back at the Command Center and gasped. "Touma, look!"

Touma's head whipped back towards the command center and he gasped. A huge image of Rubbeus stood tall before them. The image laughed.

"Hello, Ronin. Senshi. Surprised?"

Touma grit his teeth. "What have you done to Sailor Moon?" he shouted. Rubbeus smirked.

"Oh, she's being quite well taken care of, aside from some bumps and bruises of her own making. She is awfully clumsy."

Ami blushed, embarrassed for her friend. "You have no right to call her that! We want her and Chibiusa back now!"

Rubbeus laughed. "You think I'll simply give them to you? You must be more out of your mind than usual. You must come and get them. That's if you even dare. Your friend A-ko will be waiting for you. And you've already seen how hard she is to beat. Then again," he continued. "If you simply give yourselves up to our side, you'll escape any injuries you invariably incur."

Jessy snorted. "You aren't all powerful, you know. Especially if my pocket monster can take you down with one attack."

Rubbeus sneered. "That pocket monster of yours is no match for our ultimate power."

"What ultimate power?" Ami said. "Please. I've seen you beg us to save your life a few times, if I'm not mistaken."

Rubbeus was red now, partly with embarrassment and partly with anger. "We'll see who begs whom for their life when this is over," he said before disappearing. Touma shook his head.

"I really hate that guy."

Ami nodded. "So do I. Come one, we've got to get back."

"That was nice," Dais said, chuckling as Rubbeus walked in. Rubbeus scowled at him.

"Shut up."

Dais smirked. "I must say, you managed to insult them once or twice before the Team Rocket Agent brought up her Pocket Monster."

Rubbeus sneered. "Why don't you go play with your little brat?"

Dais bristled. "You had better watch it," he said, his voice becoming like steel wrapped in velvet. "Or you may find yourself hurtling from the top of the Command Center."

Rubbeus was nonplused. "I can fly," he said simply.

Dais leaned back against the wall. "And you just might find Avery and that 'Leonardo DiCaprio' collection going with you."

Now, for some reason, Rubbeus found himself beginning to bristle as well. "And you had better watch it," he spat. "Or you may find yourself hurtling into the mouth of Fuji-san."

"Break it up, you two," Katzie said, stepping into the room. "The last thing we need is for you two to get into a brawl and bring the whole place down on top of our heads."

Dais looked from Katzie to Rubbeus, and shrugged. "He's not worth it, anyway,"

He muttered and he disappeared. Rubbeus sighed.

"I've got that idiot giving me nonsense, and I've got to take care of the Senshi…they don't pay me enough."

Katzie smiled. "Seeing as we don't get paid, I guess not."

Rubbeus chuckled. "Hey, where's Avery, anyhow?"

Katzie shrugged and waved her hands around. "I don't know, out shopping, I guess."

Rubbeus was about to respond when his eye caught on Katzie's left hand. He grabbed it and peered at the ring on it.

"Where'd you get this?" he demanded.

Katzie shrugged. "It was a gift from Kale."

Rubbeus straightened suddenly. "You're engaged."

Katzie blushed and nodded excitedly. "Oh, I am so excited! He got down on one knee, one knee, and proposed! I was so shocked!"

Rubbeus nodded absently. Katzie waved a hand in front of his face. "Yoo hoo! Rubbeus?"

Rubbeus blinked suddenly and shook his head. "What were you saying?"

"You weren't listening to a thing I was saying," Katzie said mournfully. "Where were you?"

Rubbeus shook his head. "Nevermind. Congrats, Katzie." With that, he walked off, leaving Katzie to wonder about him.

He collapsed into the chair and sighed. Katzie was engaged. That was unexpected. All this talk of marriage brought his mind back to Avalon, to his first love. Looking over to his end table, he picked up the small jewel given him by the evil princess, Cale. His mind wandered back to that first kiss, the two of them together alone in her castle. He sighed again and put it back. He felt so lonely lately. It hadn't been so bad when Bertie and Dais had first gotten together. He hadn't known love then.

And now Kale and Katzie. Even Anubis had Prizma. The only one of the sisters who was available was Avery. She was pretty enough. Pretty brown eyes, long legs. The short skirt didn't hurt either, although it did serve to make her look quite a bit like a Senshi. Then again, whoever said that he didn't like the length of the fukus on the Senshi?

But that wasn't the issue here, he reminded himself. He blinked as he went over everything he did like about Avery, and realized that the list was long indeed. He actually liked Avery? This couldn't be! But it was, he told himself.

"Oh man," he murmured out loud. Well, he knew how he felt about Avery. The next question was how did Avery feel about him?

It was nearly impossible to tell. One couldn't read people's minds. But all this talk about Katzie and Kale had made her lonelier than she had been for a long time. All the great guys were taken, she lamented to herself. Dais had Bertie. Kale had Katzie. Anubis had Prizma. And Sekhmet had sworn never to fall in love, ever. Not that after her latest encounter with that pocket monster, she wanted to have anything to do with snakes ever again. So, the only other guy in the place was Rubbeus.

Not that he was bad looking, Avery told herself. He was quite handsome. And was he ever strong. She could spend hours watching him work out. And he was quite intelligent. If he could get his pig-headed-ness out of the way, he might even be able to get along with Dais. He was definitely the leader-type. Confidant. Highly aggravating, perhaps. Still, the vest, when worn open, showed off his well-toned muscles. She blinked and ticked off everything she wanted in a guy quickly in her mind. Her eyes widened as she realized that Rubbeus was the perfect match. And had been all along.

"Oh man," she murmured out loud.

"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"

She attack was aimed squarely at the doors, but it did nothing to let them go. Chibiusa sighed. "This is hopeless. We'll have to wait until the others save us."

Sailor Moon sighed. "I guess you're right," she muttered. She sat down on the floor beside Chibiusa.

"I miss Mamo-chan," she whispered. Chibiusa looked up.

"So do I," she said.

Sailor Moon sighed, and then looked down at her stomach as it rumbled rather loudly. She stood and walked over to the door. "I hope you aren't planning to starve us to death!" she shouted. She heard a muffled snort, and then footsteps walking away from the door. Whoever had been guarding their door had obviously heard her, and gone to get some food. She walked over to the bed and sat on the bed. "They should be back in a while with some food."

Chibiusa grinned. "Knowing how you eat, it may take them an hour!"

Sailor Moon stuck her tongue out at Chibiusa. Chibiusa, however, refused to become involved in another tongue war, and sighed. She cocked her head as if listening hard. Then she looked up expectantly as the door opened and Anubis, who apparently had been the one who snorted, carried in a rather large tray. He sat one dish before Chibiusa, and the rest before Sailor Moon, who started on it immediately. He and Chibiusa watched her for a second. Then they looked at each other.

"You're sure she's your mother?"

Chibiusa shrugged. "Sometimes I wonder. Thanks for the food."

Anubis chuckled. "It's fine. It wasn't too hard to find some; we keep plenty in stock for when Dais gets hungry."

Chibiusa giggled a bit and started to eat her food with a quiet dignity that Sailor Moon seemed to have avoided altogether. He sighed and walked back out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"What are we waiting for?"

Piccolo raised an eyebrow at Shou. So did Seiji.

"Hold it, Shou," he cautioned. "We need to form a plan. Not everything calls for your patented approach of attack first, attack some more and then when everyone's unconscious, try to ask some questions."

Tien looked at Seiji. "No more 'Wild Wild West' for Seiji."

Shou rolled his eyes. "Okay, so I'm no Jim West. Still, I don't see any reason to wait around."

Ami looked at Rei. "Remember when the Ronins were trapped in the Dynasty?"

Rei nodded. "I do. The Ancient had us wait to go in after you guys, even though we were itching to go. I think he held us back because had we rushed into it, we may have done more harm than good to the guys."

Ami looked at Shou. "Get the point?"

Vegeta nodded. "Rei-san and Ami-san are right. Right now, as long as we've yet to make our attack, Sailor Moon and Chibiusa are more than likely in better condition than if they hadn't been captured. So there's no real reason for us to rush into this. On the other hand," he continued. "There's also A-ko to think about. So far, we've only been focusing on getting Sailor Moon and Chibiusa out. We also need to get A-ko out too."

Yamcha nodded. "Leave A-ko to me."

Now it was Piccolo's turn to raise an eyebrow in Yamcha's direction. "Yamcha," he said slowly. "Do you know who her parents are?"

Yamcha shook his head. "Um, no. Why?"

Piccolo sighed. "Well I do. Her mother is Wonder Woman. Her father is Superman. With a combination like that, do you honestly think you can handle A-ko on your own?"

Yamcha thought on it and shook his head. "I guess you're right," he said slowly.

Shin walked into the room with freshly baked cookies on a tray. Goku and Shou pounced on him immediately. Shin sat the empty tray on a table and sat next to Makoto.

"What I want to know," he said. "Is exactly how we plan to find Sailor Moon, and Chibiusa. I've no doubt that A-ko will present herself to us, being in the Dynasty's power. But they're nae going to hand us Sailor Moon on a silver platter."

Mamoru shook his head. "They want us bad enough. They'll lead us right to her."

"Which leaves," a new voice from the door said. "The question of how much force they plan to try and trap us with."

Everyone turned towards the voice and saw Sailor Uranus standing there. On either side of her were Sailor Neptune and Sailor Pluto.

"Haruka-chan," Makoto said softly. "Are you sure you wish to come? You've never dealt with the Dynasty in their own territory before."

"I follow the princess, and right now the princess is in danger." Uranus responded.

Pluto nodded. "And I protect Small Lady. We must go. Without us, you will not make it."

Ryo looked around at everyone. "Then it's settled. We'll form our plan tonight. And tomorrow, make our head-on attack."

"I must be losing my mind."

"Now why do you say that?"

"Because…oh, nevermind."

Bertie looked up from playing with Ben. "No…what were you going to say, Rubbeus?"

Rubbeus sighed. "I…I think I'm falling in love again." He said, blushing. Bertie squealed.

"Oooh, really? Do tell."

Rubbeus shook his head. "No. I'm too embarrassed. And you sisters would never let me live it down."

Bertie shook her head. "You're as bad as any of those warlords. Well, just answer me this: do I know her?"

Rubbeus nodded sullenly. Bertie grinned. "Okay. I'll take it from there."

Rubbeus shook his head again. "No, you aren't. You aren't taking this anywhere. I need to figure this out on my own."

Bertie tsked. "Rubbeus, Rubbeus, you relax. I'll try to find out who she is and how she feels about you, if that'll make you feel any better. Of course it'll make my search a bit easier if I knew who she was."

Rubbeus looked at her. "What are the chances of your shutting up until you get your way?"

"Slim to nil," she said, grinning. Rubbeus sighed.

"Fine. It's your sister."

Bertie's eyes went wide. "You…you mean Avery?"

"She's the only sister who's available, isn't she?"

Bertie giggled. "Okay, Rubbeus. I'll find out who she likes, and if you're on that list. Okay?"

Rubbeus nodded sullenly.

Bertie giggled, picked up her son and disappeared.

"Um…Jessy-san?"

Jessy turned and blushed slightly. "Oh. Seiji-san. Hello."

Seiji blushed too. "Uh, hi. Um…look…um…"

Jessy blinked. "You know?"

Seiji nodded. Jessy's face went red. "I'll kill James! I know he told you!"

Seiji shook his head. "No. Actually, James refused to tell us when asked out of respect for you wishes. I have a pretty good way of figuring things out on my own."

Jessy blushed harder. "Oh," she said quietly.

Seiji sighed. "Look, Jessy…I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you for the past few days. I've been really rude."

Jessy shook her head. "No, you had every right. James and I just barged into your house, and after all the trouble we put you through the last time." She looked into his eyes. "Seiji, I heard you tell Makoto-san that you don't respect us. Well, you really have no reason to. And if you want, we'll leave."

Seiji shook his head. "No, Jessy. I don't want you to leave. And if I didn't respect you when all this began, I do now."

Jessy smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them out and grinned. She stuck her hand out. "Friends?"

Seiji took her hand and shook it gently. "Friends, Jessy-chan."

Jessy grinned. "Seiji-chan." She blinked. "Oh! Minako-san!"

Seiji blinked too. "Right! I promised her I'd tell her about our next move. I'd better go tell her."

"And when you get back," Jessy said as Seiji started up the steps. "I challenge you to a game of 'Virtua Fighter.'"

"Only if I get to be Kage," Seiji responded. Jessy grinned wider.

"You got a deal."

Seiji grinned and bounded up the steps.

"That arrogant..."

Bulma shook her head. "Such language, James. And I still don't know which Ronin you're talking about."

James shook his head. "Does it matter? I mean, Jessy's fawning over him. And for what? He doesn't have anything I don't. And he doesn't ever like her, for goodness sake! She deserves better than him. Someone who will treat her right, care for her. Someone…"

"Someone like you?" Bulma said softly. James looked at her and smiled faintly.

"Yeah. But she doesn't even know I'm interested in her, so I guess there's no point in worrying myself about it, huh?"

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that," a male voice responded behind him. James whirled to see Seiji there. "There might be hope for you two yet."

"How?" James spat at him. "All she ever talks about is 'Seiji this' and 'Seiji that'. It's never been like that with me."

Seiji shook his head. "Don't get jealous. Jessy-chan and I talked things over. I don't think she's too stuck on me anymore. Which leaves open a huge window of opportunity for you. Whether or not you choose to climb through it, though, is up to you."

James blinked, letting all this sink in, and then he smiled. "So…I may have a shot after all?"

Seiji smiled. "Yep."

Bulma smiled too. "See, James? Things do work out for the best."

James…a crush? Oh man, would that ever explain a lot. She just couldn't believe it. That's why he had been so hurt when she'd told him she had a crush on Seiji. How did she feel about James? She wasn't sure yet. She'd have to think on it. Ever so quietly, she stood and tiptoed away from the doorway of the room down the hall to her room.