Chapter Four: Tortured Mind


Everyone stared at Sailor Pluto who suddenly seemed coherent. She
sat up more and smiled at Artemis and Luna. "Thank you. If..if you
hadn't tried to help me, I wouldn't have remembered anything."

Artemis nodded. "How much can you remember now?"

"It is painful so, I will try a little at a time." She smiled at
Serena. "Princess Serenity...thank you." She looked at everyone. "I
must have escaped through the time corridor into the past when I was
unable to defend myself. I don't know why I did. Maybe deep in my heart
I was hoping to find help."

"This has been a bit overwhelming." Akano began. "If what Seaman
Martin says is true...we're not getting the same information for the
radio we did before."

Sailor Pluto nodded. "Time has shifted. The damage has already
occured."

The Captain came up behind Akano, with a hand to his head.
"What..what's going on?" He sounded groggy, but none the worse for wear.

"Captain!" Akano said in stunned surprise, "you're awake!"

"Maybe not. Am I hallucinating, or are there talking cats on my sub?"

"I...don't know how to explain any of this, Sir. And yet..I have to
accept it. There's too much evidence to discount it any longer." He nodded
to Darien. "These folks claim to be from the future, and caught up in some
kind of... time shift with us."

Captain Jamison looked at the girls. "Time shift... Yeah... that makes
sense."

Artemis nodded to the Captain. "I'm glad you're willing to believe
us now. But, we aren't fully sure what our situation is."

Lt. Akano sighed. "The Asian Empire...and the United Confederacy.
What the hell happened?"

"We don't know yet." Artemis continued. "Please have your men
monitor the radio frequencies for full information. It appears time has
already altered..and we don't know what the result will be."

The captain sighed. "I think I may be able to explain part of this.
We were sent on a recon mission to check out a secret project on Hokkaido.
It was titled "Project Beyond." We think that it has something to do with
a new base that is on the island. From what we can gather, the Japanese
were working with Germany to create a new type of technology. I don't
know anymore then that, but if it was some sort of time experiment..."

Sailor Pluto nodded. Artemis looked at her. "The time
distortion..."

"Might have come from that base..." Pluto finished.

"But..what can we do about this?" Luna sighed. "If time has
already been altered that means that there is no chance of fixing this
problem."

"Unless we go back in time." Sailor Pluto said.

Everyone stared at her.

"Go back in time?" Sailor Venus said. "How?"

"My enemies did something to me. They seized control of the time
gateway and even though I escaped, I can no longer control it. However,
if I had the time key I could create a temporary "time shell" and carry
us back to those affected areas to try to repair the damage." Sailor
Pluto sighed. "Of course, the time key is gone...my staff."

"No it isn't." Serena answered. "When Raye and I rescued you from
drowning, it fell from your hand and sunk in the ocean."

"Then it is lost." Pluto bowed her head.

Artemis looked at Pluto. "Maybe not. You say that this staff is
the key to time?"

"Yes." Pluto looked at everyone as she spoke. "The actual time
gateway to the corridor has been seized. However, if I had the time key
and it's power, I could create a temporary way for us to move through
time. I would be able to detect which areas in time were damaged by our
enemies..and we would have to try to repair them in order to save
history."

"If you do that, won't history be altered?" Lt. Akano asked.

"If we don't...it will never be the same." Pluto countered.

"But you're Sailor Pluto... the guardian of time. I remember you now.
You should be able to call the staff to you, in emergencies..."

She shook her head. "I don't have the strength... The enemy have...
robbed me of most of my power."

Artemis turned to Serena, "The power of the Silver Crystal might
be able to provide Pluto with the energy she needs to summon the time
key. Then Sailor Pluto can then take us to the point in time where all
of this started, and stop it."

"But there is a disturbance here as well.." Pluto said.

Everyone looked at her. She nodded.

"I feel it. Whatever changed time in what was 1945 is still here
in 1969...and was in the correct..1969."

"Now...I am confused." Sailor Venus scratched her head.

Serena looked confused too. Luna sighed. "So what we need to do is
find the source of the problem here...then go back in time to correct
it in the other places?"

"There are two besides this one." Sailor Pluto said. "I am not
sure where. But...if we get the time key back...we can use the power to
take us there."

Serena nodded curtly. "Okay...let's try it."

The other girls who hadn't transformed pulled forth their wands,

JUPITER STAR POWER!!!
MARS STAR POWER!!!
MOON CRYSTAL POWER!!!!

The crew of the Hunter watched in amazement as the three
transformed just like Venus and Mercury had. Ensign Bell stared at Raye
in amazement.."Incredible" he whispered.

The other Scouts joined hands with Sailor Moon and Sailor Pluto,
forming a circle. They all closed their eyes, and the Silver Crystal
began to glow, filling the room with bright light.

Pluto felt the Scouts' energy. She opened the part of her mind that
hadn't been tortured by her enemies..the ones who she had escaped from.
The light from the crystal glowed even brighter now. The men of the Hunter
shielded their eyes from the glare..

Suddenly, an object began to form in the middle. Each Scout
concentrated their power and the glow continued. The object began to
solidify into a long staff covered with seaweed. The, seaweed was gone
and the staff fully materialized. Sailor Pluto opened her eyes and
released the hands of Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus she held on each
side of her. She reached up and took the staff.

The Silver Crystal still glowed as the staff took in it's power.
Sailor Moon for a brief moment seemed to change her form showing the
white dress of Princess Serenity. Then, it faded and, she returned to
normal. The staff's glow diminished along with the Silver Crystal's...

As the light faded, everyone seemed to let out their breath. The
men blinked and Captain Jamison shook his head. "I...I've never seen
power like that. I don't believe it."

The intercom crackled and suddenly, Seaman Martin came on...

"CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN...WE'RE BEING HAILED!!!!"

"What the..?" Jamison hit the intercom. "Hailed? Hailed by who??"

"SIR!" Martin said with a trace of fear in his voice. "It's a huge
submarine closing fast! They're ordering us to heave to and surrender!
They claim they're from the Asian Empire!"

Lt. Akano stared at Captain Jamison. Jamison looked at the Sailor
Scouts and his eyes finally came to rest on Artemis..

"Okay...you got all the answers...what now?"

"Any chance of negotiating with these people?"

"Are you kidding?" Captain Jamison snorted. "Sounds like they are
going to board!" He hit the intercom again. "Seaman Martin! Are they
sending any conditions?"

"No Sir. They are telling us to surrender. They say they are
preparing to board us!"

"LIKE HELL THEY WILL!" Jamison growled. "ALL HANDS!! THIS IS THE
CAPTAIN! PREPARE TO REPEL INVADERS! I REPEAT...PREPARE TO REPEL
INVADERS!"

Sailor Moon looked worriedly at Tuxedo Mask... "Darien...what are
we..?"

Tuxedo mask had no answer. He looked at the men moving quickly
past him. They were holding old style M-1 rifles. Not much defense if
their enemy had superior weapons.

Artemis swore. He looked around him. "We need to do something."

Luna looked frightened. "But what? Anything we do might affect the
future."

Sailor Pluto nodded. "Yes...but the future has already been
affected."

Sailor Mars looked for Ensign Bell and saw him moving into the
compartment followed by other men who were armed. He let them go up the
ladder first.

"Ensign..." she began hesitantly..

"Raye..." he smiled. "Call me Jim. I have to defend the ship.
Please stay down here where it's safe okay?"

Raye watched speechless as Ensign Bell climbed up the ladder. She
felt her heart aching realizing she was falling fast for this handsome
young american officer. An officer from another time!

Sailor Venus looked up as she heard what sounded like shots!
"They're attacking! What do we do?"

Sailor Jupiter slammed her fist into her hand. "Let's trash them!
These people are our friends! We can't let them invade! Besides, what
do we do if we just let them take over?"

Sailor Moon looked nervous. "I...I don't know.."

Suddenly shots rang out! Then, what sounded like shouts and, men
were screaming. Artemis ears perked up as he heard the sound of energy
cannons. "Those are lasers! These people have energy weapons!"

"Energy weapons? In 1969??" Luna gasped.

"They've altered the future and probably have superior
technology." Artemis swore. "Now we have to help!"

Just then two men wearing what looked like battle armor entered
the room! One of them aimed his rifle at them!

Sailor Moon gasped and almost instinctively cut loose with her
sceptre! MOOOOOON...SCEPTRE......ELIMINATION!!!!!"

Artemis leaped back as the energy shot past him and bathed the two
invaders. They both toppled and fell over. Artemis seeing a chance here
moved part of his mind outward...hoping to get inside one of the men
and learn more..perhaps use him to help them..

The man gasped as he felt Artemis but couldn't move. In a flash,
Artemis saw it...The Asian Empire! A strong Empire ruled from Japan.
They had won the second World War that had run from 1938 to 1969!
Artemis cringed. In the flash of an instant he saw battles won..battles
that should have been lost! He saw Germany working with Japan...then
Japan's superior technology being used to destroy Germany. But..it
wasn't the United States that had been in the war. It was the United
Confederacy! The Confederacy had not been as effective a fighting
country..and so...The Asian Empire had won!

Artemis gleaned all this information from the man's mind in
seconds! Now, he knew what he had to do! He turned to Sailor Moon. "You
all need to defend this ship! I have a plan but, I need to know more!
Go help!!"

Sailor Jupiter nodded. "Okay! Let's go everyone!"

Just then Sailor Mars gasped as an explosion sounded! She watched
her face turning to sheer horror as Ensign Bell and two men came
crashing down the hatchway to land at her feet. She bent down.."Jim!
Jim..are you..okay?"

Ensign Bell gasped and looked up. Blood was coming from his arm.
"I..I got hit but.."

"LET'S GET THEM!!"Jupiter said with a ferocity Artemis had rarely
heard. Like a shot, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury, shot up the ladder.
Sailor Moon hesitated then Tuxedo Mask smiled at her. He moved up the
ladder and, she nodded to Sailor Mars. "It'll be okay, Raye." She
climbed the ladder and disappeared through the hatchway.

Raye for a few seconds held Ensign Bell in her arms as she cradled
his head on her lap. "I have to go." she whispered. "But, I'll be
back...I promise." Feeling great agony, Raye swallowed then moved up
the ladder feeling a great hatred for the invaders that had done this
to the man she now cared for!

On the deck, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus emerged from the main
hatchway into what looked like a scene from hell! Men from the "Hunter"
armed with only World War II style M-1 rifles were fighting against men
in advanced battle suits with laser weapons! And they were badly
losing! Beside the "Hunter" was another submarine..much larger and far
more advanced! Lt. Akano was on the starboard side with several men
and, they were firing at it. One of the men had tried to use the main
deck gun but had been killed in the process!

Sailor Jupiter growled. "HURT OUR FRIENDS WILL YOU???" She swung
her arms outward..."JUPITER...THUNDER...CRRAAAAAAASH!!!!!"

The explosion of lightning lit up the deck of both subs and the
waves slammed against them from the shock. Several men screamed and
retreated.

Sailor Venus looked and saw a man up on the conning tower of the
other sub directing the attack. "So...your the one responsible for all
this huh? I'll make you pay for hurting our friends!
VENUS...CRESCENT...BEAMMM...SMASH!!!!"

The beam of light shot forth from her finger and flew across the
deck over the heads of the men fighting. It struck the officer in the
conning tower of the other submarine. He gasped and fell over hitting
the deck unconscious.

Sailor Mercury aimed for the center of the other sub.
"MERCURY...BUBBLES...BLAST!!!" she shouted. The explosion of bubbles
created a fog that now filled the entire battlefield!

Tuxedo mask swung his cane and slammed it across the head of one
man then kicked another. He extended it outward and struck a third that
was preparing to shoot Sailor Jupiter who had her back to him...

Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars climbed up onto the deck and witnessed
this scene! Men were fighting and screaming. Sailor Moon could see
Sailor Jupiter firing off lightning and, Sailor Venus has just launched
another attack.

Sailor Mars nodded to her and dove into the fray launching her own
attacks!

Captain Jamison suddenly ran past Sailor Moon. His arm was
bleeding where he had been shot and, he gasped and fell down the
hatchway behind her. Sailor Moon ducked as a shot barely missed her! As
she did so, she suddenly got an idea! The men below had been taken down
by her attack. But..the attack was designed to heal evil energy. She
wondered...could the attack temporarily make normal people who were not
truly evil good? She decided to try it. She aimed her sceptre at the
deck and waved it..."MOOOON....HEALING....ACTIVATION!!!!!"

The light from her sceptre bathed the entire deck! Men screamed
and fell down holding their heads. The fighting that had raged suddenly
came to a halt.

As the light faded, men began to look up. Those from the invading
sub took off their helmets. Their eyes looked dazed. An officer from
the invading submarine stood up. "What...what are we doing here? What
is all this?"

Sailor Moon swallowed. She felt someone behind her and turned.
Sailor Pluto was there along with Artemis and Luna.

"Well done, Princess Serenity." Pluto smiled.

"Maybe they can help us.." Artemis grinned. "Have them take us to
their base."

"Hokkaido." Pluto nodded. "The source of the time distortions. We
need to find out what's going on."

Sailor Moon smiled and turned back to the enemy officer. "You came
to help us but, there was a slight misunderstanding. Will you please
take us to your base on Hokkaido?"

The man blinked. Then, he nodded slowly. He looked back at his
Commander who was unconscious on the deck. "I'm in charge now. I'll
take you there and we'll help you." He sounded dazed.

Sailor Jupiter looked at Venus and they both smiled at each other.

Sailor Mars turned and looked back at Sailor Moon. Then, she moved
past her and down the ladder to check on Ensign Bell.

Artemis watched the men from the invading sub go back to their own
vessel. Chief Graham came up beside him. "The Captain is injured but is
still able to command. This is pretty dangerous going into the heart of
their base."

Luna looked at Artemis. "There isn't any other way to find out
what's going on is there Artemis?"

Artemis bowed his head. "No." He looked up at Sailor Pluto. "Can
you remember anything else that doesn't hurt you?"

"I have been trying." Pluto sighed. "I will try to block out the
pain and see if I can get anymore."

Sailor Mercury came up. "I have some bad news. But, I don't want
to talk about it.." she lowered her voice, "in front of our new
friends."

Artemis nodded and he and Mercury moved a little away from the
others. "What is it?" he asked.

Mercury bowed her head. "I was able to gather a little information
on this submarine...we're...we're on a doomed ship Artemis..."

Artemis gazed narrowed. "What..?"

"According to what I have in the computer before time was
altered....the "Hunter" was sent on a mission from which it never
returned..."