Operation: Reality Check
A Sailor Moon/Reality Jumpers FanFic
By Roehl Sybing
Episode 11: Crossroads I - It's in the Game
(AOL users, you know what I mean)
"All attack units, defense positions until further notice!! This is not a drill! I repeat, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!"
The FRC building, Friday afternoon. The lobby was still under repair from the Saturday attack when Queen Beryl came blazing through the building's ground floor, again. As she wrecked havoc across the offices of the ground floor, the leader of the NegaVerse was screaming, "Where are those Sailor Scouts?!? Where are those....Reality Jumpers?!?"
"Freeze!!" Riggs and Conolly shouted while holding guns behind Queen Beryl. "FBI!!"
She turned around and simply swept them away with a wave of her hand. Continuing her search, she reached the command center, where Hacker One and thirty of his technical staff were all holding weapons.
"Fire!" Hacker said when Queen Beryl entered the room. All thirty-one weapons went off and were aimed at Queen Beryl, but nothing seemed to inflict damage on her when she became protected by her force field. She walked around, oblivious to the gun fire. The gun fire had stopped once they realized nothing was working. Just then, the Reality Jumpers, the Sailor Scouts, and their cat, Luna, ran in the room.
"I was almost becoming...disappointed," Queen Beryl said. "I thought you'd run away or something."
The team of eight did not say a word except when Sailor Venus shouted,
"VENUS CRESCENT BEAM.....SMASH!"
The energy beam flew across the room and made contact with Queen Beryl, but was quickly absorbed. "Did I ever tell you," she replied. "That you can never defeat me? Hmm...I think I will finish you once and for all!" She raised her hands as a strong current of wind entered the room, lifting everyone but Queen Beryl off the ground. As the Jumpers and Hacker's men spun around the room, one was flown across the room and into a control panel. The machine connected to the panel activated and caused a giant portal opened up. It was large enough to cover the entire room. Everyone, including Queen Beryl, was sucked inside. No one was left inside the room once the portal closed.
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They were outside. A crowd surrounded the group of fallen people who had just appeared out of nowhere. The crowd of people were dressed in some sort of medieval clothing. Whispers among the crowd included, "This is the work of magic, I tell you!" "What odd clothing, where do they come from?" "This is terrible, thirty-nine of them..." and "This is the second incident this week!!"
They all became surprised when Hacker One sat up. He looked at the crowd and then back down at the rest of his crew and the Jumpers, both groups unconscious. Hacker shook Mike until he opened his eyes. Mike also stood up and said, "W-what's going on....?"
One by one, everyone stood up from the ground; Hacker's men, the Jumpers, the Scouts, and Luna. The crowd surrounding them became terrified and confused, wondering what is going on. One of the people on the outside of the crowd shouted, "He's here! He's coming!"
The people made an opening for the man who came in riding on horseback. The man got off his horse and approached the ones lying on the ground. He said, "Good sirs, do you need assistance?"
A confused Hacker asked, "Who are you?"
"Yeah," Sailor Moon added. "And where are we?"
"Fair lady," the man replied. "I am Lord Nasher. You are in the city of Neverwinter. And may I ask how you ended up in my land?"
"We were wondering if you can tell us," Chris said.
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A half hour passed. The lost FRC'ers went inside Lord Nasher's castle to rest. There, Lord Nasher told his story.
"Not long ago, a girl and her cat was also found in Neverwinter Square, unaware of the surroundings as you all were when you ended up here as well. She spoke in a....strange tongue, none of my men could understand what she was saying. Even more strange was when her cat also started talking in the same language as she was. Although we knew nothing about her, or her about us, we still wanted to help, so we gave her room and board at the Red Mage Inn. In the next few days, we trained her to do battle in the surrounding areas of Neverwinter, but it seemed she already knew how to fight and to cast magic. She created an impressive display of lightning, you know."
Everyone thought, "Could it be? Another Scout?"
Lord Nasher continued, "Yesterday her cat was found in the warehouse district of Neverwinter. The animal was bruised and injured in a few places. It soon came to our attention that the girl had disappeared. My patrolmen was told to search everywhere north of the city; the Windycliffs, Port Llast, and every other hidden area they would be able to find. They...have not returned since. I fear for both the girl and my officers."
"Don't worry, we'll find them," Sailor Moon replied.
At that moment, the cat Lord Nasher was talking about walked in. It was covered with bandages in a few places, and it limped while entering the room. Luna looked closely and said, "Artemis?!?"
Artemis looked back at Luna and weakly replied, "L-luna, is that you? H-how did you get here?"
Lord Nasher stood up, "This is truly unusual! Before we could not understand a word this cat said! And now BOTH animals are communicating? What magic is this??"
Hacker looked down at his wrist translator, looked back up and said, "Heh....long story....umm, could we be left alone for a minute?"
Nasher sighed and said, "Very well..." He left the room and closed the door behind him.
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Outside, on the road to Floodblest. A few adventurers noticed a fallen woman in the road ahead of them. They put down their spears and ran to help the woman. When they reached her, she looked up and said weakly, "W-what is this place?"
One of the adventurers replied, "You are on the road to Floodblest. There's an inn up ahead, would you us to get you there? The platinum's on us."
"No, you fools..." The woman waved her hand towards the adventurers, and in a second they also fell to the ground. "The Scouts and the Jumpers are near, I can sense it," she added. "I must find them!"
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"It is great to see you again," Artemis said as he lay on a seat cushion. "We thought we'd never see each other again."
"Speaking of we," Sailor Venus replied. "Where's Lita?"
"Well, yesterday, early in the morning, before the sun came up, we were walking together outside this city. Neverwinter, right? Anyways, a band of men with knives jumped on us and attacked us! Lita, I mean, Sailor Jupiter was just about to attack with her lightning, but her hands and feet were quickly tied up with rope. The last thing I knew was that she was taken away as those men took her north of here. And then I ended up back here at the castle."
Kim added, "We gotta find her and the others! Who knows what might also be out there!!"
"Hold it," Mike said. "Even if we do find them, we'll still be trapped here! We got no track-and-return device, remember?"
"Don't you have any faith in me, Mike?" Hacker One replied. "My men are always equipped with FRC-class equipment!"
"You mean, you can get us out of here?"
"Sure! Give us eight hours, and--"
All the Jumpers shouted, "EIGHT HOURS?!?"
"Hey, I didn't say it was ready to work!" Hacker turned to his crew and added, "Johnson?"
"Yes, sir."
"Lead the project."
"Yes, sir."
"The rest of you, set up the device."
"Yes, sir!"
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Ten minutes later, the team of seven were led by Nasher out of Neverwinter. He guided them as far as the Windycliffs. As they walked, Sailor Moon said, "Thanks, we'll take it from here."
"Nonsense," Lord Nasher replied. "These are dangerous areas, it is simply not wise to let a band of youths traverse them."
Kim took out her gun and said, "Whatever you say, Lord Nasher. Duck, will ya?" At that she fired in Nasher's direction. He ducked, avoiding the blast. The blast continued across the sky to hit a thief who had a knife drawn behind Lord Nasher. The thief screamed as his left arm became covered with fire. He ran and disappeared.
As he looked up, Nasher said, "Amazing! Well, I'm convinced. Just get my men safely back to Neverwinter, OK?" He turned and left for Neverwinter.
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It had become dark over the land. The Jumpers and the Scouts had reached Port Llast. Tired, they stopped at a door with a sign over it labeled, "Griffon Inn." They walked in and approached the innkeeper. Mike said, "We would like a room for the night."
The innkeeper put out his hand and said, "Well?"
Realizing he wanted money, Mike reached into his pocket and grabbed a twenty-dollar bill. He gave it to the innkeeper. Confused, the innkeeper replied, "Young man, it is two pieces of platinum to stay here for the night! If you cannot come up with that, I'm afraid you must leave!"
At that moment, someone also entered the door, saying, "I'll pay for these people, innkeeper, if you don't mind."
"Hopefully you can come up with the platinum, good sir?"
The man handed two round coins to the innkeeper.
"Very well. Follow me."
The team followed the innkeeper, and the man who gave the money followed them. Sailor Venus turned to the man and asked, "Who are you? Why did you help us?"
"My name is Haljal. I assume you are looking for Nasher's patrolmen, including one certain girl?"
"How do you know?"
"Because they were seen around this part of the country. I think I know where they are, and I'll direct you there, provided I could have a space in your room for the night?"
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The team of eight, including the one called Haljal, had gathered together in the room. Haljal told the story, "Yesterday, a band of thieves had entered Port Llast. They were holding a girl by the hand, and boy was she tough! Almost got away from them, I tell you. I ran to help the girl, but one of them drew a knife at me. I just ran away, but I saw they were going in the direction of that ghost ship, the Gallant Prince. Today, I saw another group of men walking into Port Llast. Their clothing told me they were Neverwinter patrolmen. I asked what they were doing, they said they were looking for a girl. I pointed them in the direction of the Gallant Prince, and with some reluctance on their part, they headed in that direction. I've been watching the door leading to the dock holding that ship, no one has come out since. And then you all came along."
"Can you show us where this ship is?" Sailor Mercury asked.
"I would, but now that I have told you this story, it all sounds like it might mean your deaths."
Chris stood up, "Please, you must take us there! What harm could a ship do?"
"I could tell you the story of the Gallant Prince itself, but it would take too long. Hmm, very well, I guess I will show it to you in the morning."
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Early next morning, the Scouts and the Jumpers, along with Haljal, walked outside to the road leading to Port Llast's docks. They stood in front of a door that led to the docks. On the door was a sign that read, "DO NOT ENTER!!"
"No adventurer heeds that warning," Haljal said. "And because of that, few ever return from that cursed boat!"
Chris armed his gun and replied, "Then maybe we'll have better luck. Don't worry, we'll find them."
The team of seven opened the door slowly. It led to a hall with another door on the opposite end. As they opened it they saw someone on the ground, holding a spear in his hand. He was covered with blood, and it was obvious he was dead. At the sight of it, Kim and Sailor Moon almost screamed, but quickly held it back. Mike turned and said, "Do you mind?"
They walked out into the docks, where only one ship was connected to its' walkway. With caution, they walked into the boat. As they entered the ship, they noticed it was dark, with few candles lighting the halls of the haunted Gallant Prince. They all wondered why the candles are still burning. The Jumpers continued to walk down the hall, opening doors and peeking inside. They found nothing in the first few rooms they opened.
Suddenly, Sailor Venus stepped on a weakened wooden board and fell into the hole that was made. Quickly, Mike grabbed Sailor Venus by the hand and shouted, "Hold on! I got you!!" After a second, Mike lifted Sailor Venus up and out of the hole.
As she got to the ground, she said, "Thanks..."
"Eh. No prob," Mike replied as his face turned slightly red.
They walked around the hole and continued down the hall. After checking all the empty rooms, the Jumpers and the Scouts walked to the end of the hall, where one more door remained. They opened it, and through the doorway they could see a number of people on the ground, unconscious. The Sailor Scouts could recognize one of them.
"It's Lita!" Sailor Moon shouted. She ran inside the room, and as she took the first step inside the room, a few bugbears, armed with spears and battle axes, appeared out of nowhere and attacked Sailor Moon. The rest of the team jumped in to help. As the battle progressed, the fallen people on the ground woke up. As the girl looked up, she shouted, "Hey, you leave them alone!" The girl stood up and added,
"JUPITER THUNDER.....CRASH!"
Lightning came from the girl's fingertips and traveled across the room. While it hit Chris and Jackie, it electrocuted all of the bugbears in the room. They stopped attacking as they turned into dust, leaving their weapons behind.
At the same time, Chris and Jackie fell to the ground and said, "W-what the hell was that?!?"
Sailor Moon turned and said, "Lita!! It is you!"
The girl they called Lita smiled and replied, "H-hi, guys! I thought I'd never see you guys again!"
But Mike was thinking about something else. "How did those things come out of nowhere? Kim, give me your gun." As he grabbed the gun from Kim, he put his arm out of the doorway, and another group of bugbears appeared. This time he noticed very small streaks of light traveling from where they stood to a wall on the opposite side of the room. "I knew it!" he shouted. Ignoring the bugbears, he fired the gun towards the wall. As the fire penetrated the wall, it revealed a machine behind the wall. Quickly, Mike fired again towards the machine. In seconds it burned up and the bugbears disappeared.
He handed the gun back to Kim, ran to the machine, examined it, and added, "Solid holographic projector!! I can't believe anyone would fall for that!!"
Jackie ran to one of the patrolmen on the ground and said, "Hey man, you OK?"
"Y-yes, I am fine. Thank you for helping us."
"Sure, anytime. Where are those thieves?"
"They disappeared, we never saw them again. I don't understand their intention in bringing us here..."
"Well, you're here, right? So let's get out of here!"
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Early afternoon. The Reality Jumpers and the Sailor Scouts, who have found one more member in their still incomplete team, were escorted back to Lord Nasher's castle with the help of his no longer missing patrolmen. There, Lord Nasher said, "I want to thank you for returning my officers. Neverwinter is in your debt." He turned to Sailor Jupiter and added, "Now, I take it you will be returning with these kind people?"
"Yeah, I sure will! Uh...I mean, the stay here was OK, but..."
"Oh, don't worry, I know what you mean. So, when will you be departing from my presence?"
Hacker One and his men entered the room, "As soon as possible, IF you guys are ready?"
"We sure are!" Mike replied.
Suddenly, a burst of light filled the room. It was then when Queen Beryl stormed into the room. She screamed, "You're not going anywhere!!"
Nasher shouted, "Royal guards! Arrest that creature!"
As three guards approached Queen Beryl with spears in hand, she replied, "I think not!" Without a movement from her, the guards were thrown to the ground. But she wasn't aware of something.
"MOON TIARA.....MAGIC!"
Sailor Moon's tiara flew across the room and struck Queen Beryl down. Hacker One also reacted. "Get her!"
"Yes, sir!" Hacker's tech staff reached for their guns and fired at full force. The energy beams made contact with Queen Beryl. She disappeared from the room, saying, "Fools! I WILL be back! Count on that!!"
The room now had one less person to deal with.
Hacker added, "Unfortunately she's not dead, but we won't hear from her the rest of today!"
Lord Nasher said, "You outsiders have amazed me! It is a pity you do not live in these parts. We would make a great team together."
"Yeah, well, this doesn't mean we won't see each other again, right?" He grabbed a remote control from his pocket and said, "The machine we set up is over here, guys. Ready to go?"
Everybody went to the next room, where a machine was set up. With the remote, Hacker opened a portal in the machine and directed his men to go in. He gave the control to Mike and said, "Make sure everyone's through, 'k?" Then he jumped in and disappeared.
Kim turned to Nasher and said, "Thanks, it was fun!" She jumped and disappeared as well.
"Most interesting world, maybe I'll come here another time..." Chris said as he walked into the portal.
"Well, gotta go!" Sailor Venus said while holding Artemis when she leaped into the gateway.
"I'd better do the same," Jackie was saying as she walked in. "Later!"
Sailor Moon also jumped with Luna in her arms, but before she did, she said, "Yeah, I guess it was fun!"
"Thanks for everything, Lord Nasher," Sailor Jupiter said. "C'mon, Mercury!" She took her by the arm as they both jumped in and disappeared.
The only one left, Mike turned to Lord Nasher, saying, "Unfortunately, I got nothing to say!"
Lord Nasher smiled and replied, "Well, if we cross roads again, then maybe you'll come up with something to say, right?"
"Heh, maybe. Until then...." As the portal closed, Mike ran in and left Neverwinter.
TO BE CONTINUED.....