Crossings.True Feelings
"It's been almost 3 days now and we haven't seen any sign of Usagi-chan, Mamoru-san, Chibi-Usa-chan, or Sabin," Rei said.
"And with that oversized piece of escargot hovering about trying to kill us," Makoto said, "It's only making matters worse."
Minako slipped off Rei's bed and said, "Is EVERYONE sure they didn't over hear something about where Usagi-chan or the others might have been going or what they were planning on doing?"
Everyone was quiet explaining what was about to happen. "Wait a minute." Tah said jumping to her feet, "Did anyone figure out what happened to Sabin and Chibi-Usa-chan during their brief absence from the funeral service?"
Everyone shook his or her head again. "'Fraid not," Yang replied.
"So what happens now?" Crystal asked snuggling her head on Yang. She smiled and Yang upped his lips to the same position as hers. He continued to stroke her hair as the discussion continued.
"Who knows.with that damned Snail constantly going after us it might not be long before we can't stop it anymore," Rose said with a bit of fear in her voice.
"Are you saying the Senshi will lose to that thing?!" Makoto said in an upset by confident voice.
"I didn't mean that!" Tah said back with a pique of anger as well, "All I'm saying is that unless we find out what happened to Sabin and the others." she lowered her head and a the darkness covered her eyes.
The communicator on Rei's dresser started going off and she answered it with surprise. "Hello?"
"Rei-chan! It's me Usagi!"
Rei's eyes grew wide and she said in surprise, "Usagi-chan! Where have you BEEN?!"
"Usagi-chan?!" The rest of the inner Senshi looked on the communicator. Sure enough, there in the photo spot was Usagi's smiling face.
"We're gonna open a portal in the center of your room Rei-chan, I suggest you give us some room."
"Will do Usagi-chan!" Makoto replied.
A portal opened in the middle of the room and out stepped Usagi, Sabin, Mamoru, and Sabin. "Usagi-chan, Chibi-Usa-chan, Mamoru-san, Sabin!!!" Usagi's friends ran over and hugged Usagi and Chibi-Usa with happiness. The portal hadn't shut yet and after a few more seconds everyone was asking why the thing wouldn't close.
Sabin pulled out his communicator and said into the thing after getting a clear patch, "Come on you dumbass! Everyone is waiting!"
The other end had a groan and after that a confirming grunt. Communication was stopped and from out of the portal stepped a kid with dark blond hair that was cut short but coarse. His dark blue eyes were like navy midnight and a medallion of a sigma insignia hung around his neck. He was about as tall as Makoto, and wore a pair of navy shorts that cut off a little after the knees. Across his top half he wore a white shirt draped over with a light blue button up that was still unbuttoned. He opened his mouth and the peach lips said, "It's good to see you all again." Everyone rushed over to Aaron and embraced him happily crying. Chibi-Usa, Usagi, Mamoru, and Sabin smiled as their friends asked Aaron so many questions and told him how much they missed him. After a while everyone had calmed down and were back to their meeting positions. Aaron stood up and said in a cool, deep voice that was reminiscent to that of a medium ranged bass singer, "You guys look like you've seen a ghost!"
Everyone had a look of complete astonishment as they stared at the Aaron. "Aaron." Ami choked out. "You're."
"You think I'ld just die and not tell anyone?!" Aaron laughed and the inner Senshi hugged him with tears in their eyes. Crystal, Tah, and Yang looked on with warm smiles and Aaron gave a reassuring nod to all of them.
"But how.is it possible?!" Ami's voice cracked with gasps of air.
"The power of my sister's love for me."
Usagi grabbed Mamoru's hand and squeezed it happily. Mamoru looked down at her and said, "You've done a great thing saving your brother again."
"As long as I live and breath I will protect you, him and everyone on this planet until my final breath," she replied trying to hold back tears of joy.
"I would love to say that everything is going to go off well, but the matter of the fact is that the enemy has enough energy to revive their leader the Crimson Queen."
"You know what's going on with the enemy?!" Usagi said surprised.
"I was only on their side for a while sis. Of course they would tell me their plans. How do you think things get done?" Aaron laughed and stopped when he saw that he was the only one laughing.
"Tell us everything you know about Crimson Queen," Ami said pulling out her mini-super computer.
Aaron pulled the laptop out from his backpack and said, "Ami, use this, it's MUCH faster than that little hand held computer, and I still need to get everything transferred back to Windstrom."
"Windstrom?"
"He's my supercomputer. Very sweet piece of machinery I built back in the days of the Silver Millennium."
"You should see his room! It's like a museum immortalizing us!" Chibi- Usa said with stars in her eyes.
"Chibi-Usa, I told you a few posters and wall scrolls isn't a museum, but anyways, back to the matter at hand." Aaron sighed and his redish-peach lips parted with an opening, "The Crimson Queen. Despite the time I spent inside her evil domain with Jedite, I don't know a lot about her. What I do know is that she's out for revenge on you guys. It seems you two crossed paths some other time."
"Could we have fought her during our time on the Silver Millennium?" Minako said.
"It's possible."
"Then why wait till now? Why not go after us when we're not yet awaked from out former lives?"
"If I could answer that question I would Minako."
"Anything else?" Ami asked typing things into Aaron's laptop.
"A couple of other things. Those reploids are actually memories pulled them from my memory. Jedite has the ability to pull memories from one's mind if he's made contact with it at least once. My case is where he betrayed me and nearly stole all my energy after I taught him how to bring the suckers out."
"So we're fighting a figment of your mind in other words?"
"Yes. That's why I gave you that disk. It contained data on how to get rid of anything that came from my mind. Now that the Queen made mass improvements to the things the data that's contained on the disk wouldn't help you cook a piece of chicken."
"Rei!" her grandpa called out to her. "Come outside quickly!"
Everyone rushed out to see what Grandpa had yelled about and noticed the sky was turning dark at an extensive rate. "A very evil presence is growing rapidly!" Rei said feeling the twinge with her heightened 6th sense.
"Ami. What's the scanners show?"
"Scanners?! You have scanners on this thing as well?!"
Aaron walked over and pushed a few buttons. "Scanners indicate the source of the build up about 3 miles from here." He looked out at a feint swirling vortex at the supposed center of the cause and said, "Time to get some work done."
Center of the disturbance.
"Just make sure you protect the generator!" Jedite warned Snail.
"Got it boss!"
Jedite walked toward the outer edge of the twister and said, "Please Crimson Queen. Come back to us!"
The vortex roared a little and a windy voice replied, "There is not enough energy in the pods for my return to your world Jedite! Gather more and I will return as I promised to you so long ago!"
Jedite bowed and walked back toward Snail who was on the lookout for anyone who might make war on the generator. "We need more energy! Go out and get some while I protect the generator!"
"What if I run into those obnoxious Sailor Senshi?!"
"Kill them!" Snail nodded and fired the rockets in back of his shell. He disappeared as the rockets propelled him away quickly. "When the great Queen is brought back from his prison she will reward me for my fine work!"
"You know you shouldn't be so selfish Jedite!" a voice yelled out against the roaring of the winds produced.
"What the?!"
About 500 ft away the navy warrior stood like a massive statue backed by Zerto, Yang, Sailor Centari, and Sailor Rose Neptune. "Who the hell are you!?" Jedite laughed evilly.
"Oh come on now you idiot! Don't make me beat it into you! You can't forget your dear friend now can you?!"
"No.it's not possible.you can't be alive!"
"Oh yes it is me! Now that I've got my armour back I feel a little backlash should be dished out!"
"And he's not the only one who wants a piece of you!"
Beside MetaSigma stood Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi-Moon behind them was Sailor Moon's inner court. "I have stood by long enough as you send dirty images to attack innocent people!" Sailor Moon said.
"And trying to hurt family is even worse!" Sailor Chibi-Moon said.
"So, Tsukini kawate, oshili oshokyo!" Everyone posed at the same time as Meta.
Jedite cracked a slight grin and said, "I don't care how many people you send against me, you've already arrived to late. She will be revived within a few minutes and there is nothing you can do about it!" Jedite laughed and raised his hands to the sky throwing electricity from his fingertips. "Hiyo Mahash Tishyo Kryt!" Not one, but 11 reploids formed out of thin air each smelling blood like sharks.
"Son of a motherless rodent!" Meta said stepping back in his tracks.
"Eleven!!?" Sailor Centari said looking like she'ld seen a ghost.
"How are we going to get rid of eleven?!" Mars said with a hint of fear in her voice.
"Same way we always do," Sailor Moon said showing this didn't shock her with fear in the least.
"Sailor Moon." Meta said looking over at her brave face. Meta turned back at the army amassed and said gathering his courage, "You're right. We'll take these guys down and save this planet."
"The odds may be stacked against us," Zerto said stepping forward, "But if Meta's going into the fray, I'm heading in as well."
"We might be the underdog in this instance, but if we all believe in ourselves, there is no way we'll lose," Rose Neptune took a step up to the front line.
"We've been fighting for our family and friends, and if it means once more then so be it," Mercury making a line of five.
"And for all the people of this world to live on with joy and happiness," Mars spoke up taking the front line as well.
"For those who do the duty of protecting others without fear of their own lives," Yang moved up, "I'll help them out."
"If you thing you're gonna just throw us around like a bunch of old newspapers thing again idiot!" Centari stood beside Yang with courage.
"Your interference on this world will no longer be tolerated on this world Jedite!" Jupiter said with pride.
"This world will become pure and free once we make you dead!" Venus said.
Everyone was standing in one long line and ready to fight. On the other end it looked the same as the reploids, and one might describe it as a game of red rover almost. Almost.in red rover you don't break your lines, you break your opponents lines. Here it's all or nothing and nothing means your dead. "Jedite is mine," Meta gave a dark sounding growl.
"Reploids.ATTACK!!!" Jedite commanded.
The line broke and ran screaming battle cries as they engaged their foes. Meta swerved and dodged shots as he made a break for Jedite. He landed about 15 feet away from Jedite and stood up as the battle raged on behind him. "No tricks Jedite.it's just you.and me."
Jedite smiled with a prideful snort and his lips parted, "It's time I finish what I started with you." Jedite held out his hand and in it appeared what looked like a basic sword. It twirled and sparked like it was made out of diamond or some gemstone capable of bouncing great amounts of light off it. He grabbed it by the hilt and caught the incoming vision of Snail out of the corner of his eye.
"Come get some." Meta grabbed his saber and ignited the plasmatic blade.
"With pleasure!" Jedite screamed and came down with an overhead chop that Meta caught with his saber. Meta pushed him off his blade and attacked back with a side slash. Jedite's skills simply brushed it off with a quick flick of his sword and the two stood like the battle had not yet begun. Snail landed behind Jedite holding a canteen of energy within his shell and Jedite commanded, "Throw that energy into the vortex!"
"Yes Jedite!" Snail replied with his metallic voice as he turned and moved closer to the whirling vortex.
Meta dashed toward Snail, but Jedite caught him with a quick punch to the face that stopped his motion and made him get back into a defensive position. Meta raised his right arm cannon to the sky and let the thing charge up with energy until it glowed white. He aimed the barrel toward Jedite and yelled, "Moonlight." he quickly turned around and pointed the barrel toward the battle raging on behind him, "BLAST!!"
A massive wave of energy flowed toward the battle and Sailor Moon yelled, "Everyone! Take cover!!" The reploids turned around to see the glowing light that seemed to be shining brightly. The heroic group took cover and the reploids all exploded as the wave tore through each of them. "Meta!" Sailor Moon screamed looking around from behind the side of a building where she hid.
"You fool! You know that the Queen coming out of her prison and yet you save your friends instead?! You are all doomed!!" Jedite laughed again as the vortex started to rumble like an earthquake.
"There isn't any way in hell I'll let you live for what you've set upon this world Jedite!" Zerto dashed over and stood beside Meta.
"We will destroy the evil that is here now and we will kill you!" Sailor Moon screamed as she got next in line to Zerto.
"And what will you do?! You can't kill me or the Crimson Queen so don't even try!!"
"We'll see about that!" Meta screamed charging both barrels of his gun with the white light once more.
"Everyone all at once! Concentrate on the vortex!" Sailor Moon said bringing out her tier.
Everyone filed in behind Zerto, MetaSigma, and Sailor Moon. "NOW!!" Meta screamed pointing his barrel toward the vortex and yelling, "MOONLIGHT BLAST!!"
"Silver Moon, Crystal Power Kiss!"
"Zerto Plasma Pulsator!!"
"Rose Nepture Waters!"
"Shining Fire Strike!"
"Mercury Planet Power!"
"Mars Planet Power!"
"Jupiter Planet Power!"
"Venus Planet Power!"
"Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"
"Preserve Gravity Well!"
All the energy combined into one massive ball and flew toward the vortex gleaming colors that mere human eyes could not see alone. "I will lay my life down if it means saving my queen!" Jedite said jumping in front of the multi-colored sphere.
The sphere enveloped him and kept speeding toward the vortex like it was a microscopic speck of dust. Snail screamed as the ball of energy approached and swallowed him up as well. The sphere collided with the outer edge of the vortex and waves of electrical energy shot about as they two energies vied for winning. The winds howled like wolves as the area began to rumble and roar from the output of chaos being thrown about. "You.will not stop me from returning to this world!!" the winds yelled as everyone struggled to keep their feet on the ground and the winds from sweeping them off.
The vortex seemed to roar even louder and the ball of light started to crumble like a cheap toy. Eventually it was completely gone and the vortex reigned supreme once more. "No! It didn't work! We have to try again!" Sailor Moon held a hand in front of her face to shield the winds.
"We didn't kill her!" Meta screamed as the winds still howled, "but she's not gonna be feeling to well!"
The vortex reversed direction and everything near it began to get sucked up. Everyone but Meta ran over too a pole and held on tight. "Meta! What are you doing?!" Zerto screamed as Meta charged both his barrels again.
"MOONLIGHT BLAST!!!" he screamed and fired both barrels into the vortex. The vortex roared something similar to a T-Rex and the winds started to dissipate.
Everyone looked through narrow eyes as the winds still whipped about lashing at the eyes. "You will pay for attempting to stop me MetaSigma!" the winds yelled.
From behind the clouds of dust that floated near the outer edges of where the vortex was came a large lady wearing blood red clothes. Her gown went down beyond her feet and the very tips flickered with squirming red flames. "You looked better in your sealed prison!" Meta yelled.
"Where you're going prison will be a gift sent from heaven!" the Queen put her palm high to the sky and a fireball appeared in it. "Now DIE!!" She fired the blast quicker than Meta could dodge it. It smacked his chest plate and he went flying back landing on the street tearing up some of the pavement. "How about your friends feel some pain as well?!" She raised both her palms to the sky and fired two fireballs. The entire area where everyone had been hiding was torn apart and everyone did a look alike to what Meta had down flying back and crashing into the sides of buildings and other street objects.
Meta groaned and slowly opened his eyes tasting the warm blood coming from his lips. He growled and slowly pushed his muscles making his body shake as he tried to return to his feet. "Damn you.I won't let you cause harm to anyone.even if it costs me my life!"
The Queen simply smiled and said, "I don't think you'll be able to stop the harm to anyone else, but I'll grant your second request!" She raised her palm to the sky and curved her lips into blasphemous grin. She did a baseball throwing motion and yelled, "DI---ughhh."she grabbed her sides and gasped for air like it was outer space. "My.uhhh.body.I.uhhh.must.get.back.uhh." she disappeared from sight and Meta got back to his feet fully. He kicked the burners in his boots and dashed over to where his sister was laying. She was cut and bruised about but nothing serious to the eye. She stirred and moaned trying to move.
"Usagi." Meta said as he helped her back to a standing position, "are you Ok?"
Sailor Moon's lips curved slightly up and she replied in a soft, tired tone, "Yes.I'm fine. Is everyone else all right?!" she said cognizant of what just happened to everyone else. She ran over to Mars and shook her a little. "Mars.Mars."
Mars moved a little and coughed slowly opening her eyes. "Sailor Moon." she said in a weak tone. Her entire right arm was covered in blood and a gash appeared near the vein on her right wrist.
"Rei-chan!!" Usagi screamed as she tired to stop the bleeding with a piece of her fuku she tore off. The piece of cloth had no effect and Rei said slowly went unconscious. "Rei-chan.REI-CHAN!!!" she screamed as Meta dashed over to see what the situation was.
"Usagi! What's-!" Meta looked at the slashed wrist and said, "She's not going to die while I'm still here!" Meta pushed a few buttons and a portal opened behind Rei. Meta picked the Scout up and held the pressure as tight as he could on the gash. He quickly went through the portal and it closed behind him.
Sailor Moon cried like mad wondering about the safety of her friend. "Rei-chan." she said in a breaking voice. Zerto himself had a few gashes on his legs, but he walked over to Sailor Moon and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and put her head on his chest plate whispering her friend's name. "Sailor Moon.don't worry, Meta won't let her die," he said in a soft re-assuring tone.
* * * * * * * * * * *
US.
Aaron patched up Rei as best he could, and set her in the meditation chamber to let the stitches heal her wounds faster. "The Queen will pay for this." Aaron said with a growl in his throat as he shut the door to the chamber. He turned around headed back to the main chamber where a massive supercomputer stood. "Windstrom. Do you have data on that last battle with the Queen?"
"Yes Aaron.I do."
"I want you to tell me why she suddenly started gasping for air like she was dying. What was going on?"
"It appears she was injured, and the atmosphere here showed signs of giving her trouble breathing when her blood is exposed to air for a short period of time."
"Interesting.Do you know where she disappeared too?"
"It appears she returned back where you were when this whole adventure started."
"Hmmm."
"Might I inquire what you are thinking?"
"Windstorm.back in the battle I suddenly lost control of my mind. I was so outraged at that I lost control, and my emotions took over my body. Do you have any explanation why?"
A few moments of silence passed and Windstrom replied, "I do not have an answer for you. I'm sorry. Body scans appear normal."
Aaron sighed and sat down in the chair and pushed a few buttons on the keyboard in front of him. "Could it have something to do with my past?"
* * * * * * * * * * *
Japan.
"Do you know where Aaron took Rei-chan?" Usagi asked Sabin nearly pulling him to the floor where she sat crying.
"Usagi! For the last time I don't know! The only place that I know he might take her is his meditation chamber! I don't know where the damn thing is located!" Sabin yanked back his shirt that Usagi had a hold of.
"Usagi-chan.don't worry, Rei-chan will be Ok. You heard what Uncky Aaron said. Not while he's still here would he let her die," Chibi-Usa told Usagi.
"She's right Usako.we have to put our trust in Aaron. I'm sure he's doing everything in his power to make sure Rei-san doesn't die." Usagi cried again and stuffed her head into Mamoru's chest.
Between her sobs she softly cried out, "Mamo-chan."
Mamoru put his hand on her back and whispered back to her in soothing tone, "Usako.don't worry."
"I know this doesn't seem like the right time to bring this up.but what about the Crimson Queen?" Ami's tone showed the urgency of this subject. "What exactly happened that she left so suddenly? Did Aaron have anything to do with this? Did he wound her?"
The room fell silent like the sound of the darkness. "It seems the queen is unable to cope with the atmosphere here when she bleeds," the familiar voice of Michiru said standing by one of the posts holding the sign to the Hikawa shrine.
"Michiru-san!" Usagi seemed shocked to see her at this critical point.
"Rei-san is alive and well at the moment. Aaron has her in a chamber of some sort that is tending to her wounds," Haruka said standing near the other post holding the sign up.
"Haruka-san! How do you know all of this?"
"Pluto let us venture into Aaron's main sanctuary. He told us to come here and tell you everything."
"Can we go see Rei-chan?!" Usagi asked a bit of emotion still clinging in her throat.
"You are asking the wrong person. Aaron is the only one who can allow you access," Michiru said walking over with Haruka by her side.
"But you said Pluto."
"Pluto got the green light from Aaron to begin. Those two have a bond stronger than Small Lady and Pluto," Haruka said in her strong half-male voice.
Usagi's communicator went off and she seemed surprised to pick it up. "Who is this?"
"This is Aaron, I have someone you might want to see, as well as some problems that are forming as we speak," Aaron said typing some buttons on Windstrom's keyboard.
Usagi seemed confused but overjoyed at the same time. She nodded her head and replied, "Open a portal and we're on our way."
"Will do." A portal opened a few feet behind Haruka and Michiru. "The portal's open.hurry over." Communication was cut and Usagi looked at the beauty created by years of scientific research.
The entire group shifted through the portal and found themselves inside the room Aaron was speaking from. Ami looked over at the giant computer and her eyes grew to bogus proportions. "Holy!" She gasped loosing her breath for a second.
"A beauty isn't it? Say hello to the strangers Windstrom!"
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Windstrom said in his straight, computer voice.
"Incredible!" Ami had her jaw dropped like a sweet tooth in a candy story full of sweets.
"I didn't bring you here for staring at the computer." Aaron got up out of the leather chair he was seated in and opened the only door on the opposite side of the room. He went inside and helped Rei out. The wounds she had suffered were healed well enough where she didn't have to really worry.
She gave a weak but appreciative smile to Aaron as he helped her regain her balance after being so depleted for so long. "Hey Aaron.thanks," she said in a soft, huffing tone.
"Just doing my job Rei."
Rei legs tried taking over on their own, but still wobbled like a newborn's first steps. Sabin rushed over as she braced to hit the ground from the first failed attempt. She never felt the cold floor, but instead the warm hands of her boyfriend Sabin. "Don't push too hard right away. I don't want you to hurt yourself again." Rei made a slow curving of her lips and brought them to a tarnished, but sincere smile.
"Now that everyone is assembled, I'm going to show you something," Aaron returned to his comfy leather chair.
"If you plan on showing us the data on."
Aaron, "This isn't about the data the Michiru and Haruka already told you" interrupting Ami. Aaron finished, "This is about Vile. We never did get rid of him, and he's still stronger than any of the memories we've encountered or might yet encounter."
"This is a schematic of Vile that Windstrom compiled during my.absence from the superhero business." Aaron pushed a few buttons and a bunch of files opened showing part components, extremes for things such heat, pressure, and what not as well as weapon schematics and what each weapon on his armoured body could do.
"Holy shit!" Yang expressed with complete surprise, "That thing is a third world army all wrapped into one!"
"And that's just the half of it. Scans from his first appearance show he's only growing in power. Something is feeding this him and it's only making him more and more deadly," Aaron said turning the chair to face everyone. "Sooner or later he's going to force us to play our entire hand, and that's something I dread doing."
"Play our hand? You mean you still have tricks up your sleeve?!" Makoto asked showing the confusion in her mind.
"I didn't exhaust all my tricks in that last battle. I can do much more damage than that.but I would only do it as a last resort and I've died nearly 5 times because of it," Aaron said with an emotion he had rarely shown. Fear.
"So what do we do until Vile appears again?" Minako wanted to know.
"For now.all we can do is wait. I can't break the barrier that the Queen has thrown up around her dimension. I can scan the place with a degree of difficulty, but portaling in.no chance until I have more data on the barrier itself." Aaron turned the chair back toward the computer and flew his fingers across the keyboard.
A portal opened a few feet behind everyone near the entrance to the meditation chamber. "Where's that lead?" Crystal asked.
"Back to the temple. You are welcome to stay for a while here in the US, or you can go back to Tokyo and I'll call you when I find something."
Ami with clear reason why stayed behind to help Aaron with his search. Usagi, Mamoru, Minako, Makoto, Yang, Crystal, and Tah all decided to head back to Tokyo for the time being. Aaron waved to each of them as they entered the portal and shut the thing after they all had gone through. "That just leaves us," Chibi-Usa said with sheer curiosity of what she was going to do.
"Hey Sabin.how about you show these two around Billings? Chibi-Usa's been to my house, but not around the town."
"Good idea Shane," Sabin said still helping Rei walk despite her futile attempts to tell Sabin she could walk on her own power.
"What about you Uncky Aaron?" Chibi-Usa said with the cute young girl's voice she possessed.
"I doubt I'll be heading back home anytime soon. This takes priority over anything else." He pushed a couple of buttons on the massive control panel that spanned nearly the size of an entire car and a portal opened in the same area as the last one. "Have fun you three! I'll contact you if we get anything Sabin. Just hang out at your house after you're done if you don't hear word from us."
Sabin nodded and helped Rei through the portal with Chibi-Usa smiling and waving to her Uncle just before she went in. After they went in it was totally silent with the exception of Ami and Aaron working.
Ami gave it a few minutes of clear thought before she moved her vocals to the come out and ask, "Hey.Aaron.can I ask you a question?"
Aaron kept working but said, "If you need to talk about something or whatnot I'm here to listen."
Ami looked down and shaded her eyes a little. She could feel her breathing become ragged like she was in fear.or in love. She chose her words carefully, and constantly thought of what to say. It was almost impossible to know what to say. Love was a subject so new for her. All she had known was the way of the book. Her dream to be a doctor.was almost like a back burner now that she had become aware of a second person whom had fallen in love with her. After thinking of all possible ways to start the question she outright blurted to Aaron's total surprise, "Do you love me?"
Aaron stopped working and made a light sigh that could almost be made out as him swearing. The one thing he had hoped to avoid had come back and bit him in the ass. What could he say? He wasn't completely sure if he ever was. Was it just a relief to say that he had a crush on her just to relieve tension upon his shoulders at times? He dwelled upon it like a growing weed that just kept growing no matter was done to it. It ate at him begging to finally be answered whether he was simply using it as a ruse on himself, or if he indeed did love Ami. "Ami." the words were gripping his throat like he was choking on a piece of food, "do you love Urawa?"
Ami was a bit surprised by his reply but asked again, "This has nothing to do with Urawa! I want to know if you."
"If I love you.and again I'm going to ask. Do you love Urawa?!"
Ami was in a bind. It seemed that if Aaron had some secular vision about her entire mind and knew just what to hit it with. She turned away and Aaron spun the chair in her direction. "Aaron.deep down I love Urawa. He's very special to me.but you are special to me as well!"
Aaron sighed and his mind permeated with different thoughts once more. "Ami.my entire life I've done as much as I can to make others happy whatever my own personal cost sometimes."
"Are you jealous of Urawa?" Ami turned her head back to Aaron wanting to just cry in front of him.
Aaron was pinned against the wall in his mind and thoughts attempted to stab him to be explained. He smiled and in the best-held back voice he could muster he replied, "Sometimes I'm not.and sometimes." he stopped and closed his eyes not wanting to finish his sentence.
"Aaron.please.I want to know. I want to be able to help you just as you've helped everyone get through everything thus far." Her eyes gleamed like the sparkle of a sunlight diamond and a few parts of the diamonds seemed to run down her cheeks like small rivers.
"Sometimes I wish he was dead." he turned his head away in complete ignominy feeling the diamond sprinkles overtake his cheeks as well. "I wish that he were DEAD! I ENVY HOW HE HAS SOMEONE AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU LOVING HIM!!" Aaron could not keep the diamonds from shattering in his eyes and they sprinkled like a wave down his cheeks. He put his head in his hands and felt Ami's hand touch him on the shoulder. Almost like a child needing his or her mother he spun the chair around and put his head on her shoulder crying.
Ami took her free arm wrapped it around Aaron so that it appeared she was supporting his weight. "Let it go Aaron.let those feelings of sorrow go. I'll stay right here with you." For the next hour all Aaron did was weep and weep about how stupid he was for ever thinking about wanting to kill someone for his own personal gain. Deep down he was glad he could get it off his chest, but somewhere deeper lay anger and fury so intense it was unbelievable how he could hold it in check. It was like a black hole sucking feelings in never able to reach the surface, and the entire time it grew.and grew.
Finally he started to regain control of his feelings and he said, "Yes Ami.I love you more then you can ever realize, and the sheer feeling that.I can't have you makes it that much harder to part with. You love Urawa, and Urawa loves you. I can never take either of you away from each other. It's against the very thing I stand for."
Ami nodded and replied, "Aaron, as I told you earlier, you will always have a special place in my heart."
"As do you in mine." Aaron wiped the shattered diamonds from his eyes and said with rubies lining the whites of his eyes, "Shall we finish what we started?"
Ami nodded and Aaron pulled another leather chair out of the floor. He scoot his chair over a bit, and positioned it so Ami could control half the panel while he worked the other half. The looked at each other with cried eyes, and meek smiles and continued on their original objective.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"It's been almost 3 days now and we haven't seen any sign of Usagi-chan, Mamoru-san, Chibi-Usa-chan, or Sabin," Rei said.
"And with that oversized piece of escargot hovering about trying to kill us," Makoto said, "It's only making matters worse."
Minako slipped off Rei's bed and said, "Is EVERYONE sure they didn't over hear something about where Usagi-chan or the others might have been going or what they were planning on doing?"
Everyone was quiet explaining what was about to happen. "Wait a minute." Tah said jumping to her feet, "Did anyone figure out what happened to Sabin and Chibi-Usa-chan during their brief absence from the funeral service?"
Everyone shook his or her head again. "'Fraid not," Yang replied.
"So what happens now?" Crystal asked snuggling her head on Yang. She smiled and Yang upped his lips to the same position as hers. He continued to stroke her hair as the discussion continued.
"Who knows.with that damned Snail constantly going after us it might not be long before we can't stop it anymore," Rose said with a bit of fear in her voice.
"Are you saying the Senshi will lose to that thing?!" Makoto said in an upset by confident voice.
"I didn't mean that!" Tah said back with a pique of anger as well, "All I'm saying is that unless we find out what happened to Sabin and the others." she lowered her head and a the darkness covered her eyes.
The communicator on Rei's dresser started going off and she answered it with surprise. "Hello?"
"Rei-chan! It's me Usagi!"
Rei's eyes grew wide and she said in surprise, "Usagi-chan! Where have you BEEN?!"
"Usagi-chan?!" The rest of the inner Senshi looked on the communicator. Sure enough, there in the photo spot was Usagi's smiling face.
"We're gonna open a portal in the center of your room Rei-chan, I suggest you give us some room."
"Will do Usagi-chan!" Makoto replied.
A portal opened in the middle of the room and out stepped Usagi, Sabin, Mamoru, and Sabin. "Usagi-chan, Chibi-Usa-chan, Mamoru-san, Sabin!!!" Usagi's friends ran over and hugged Usagi and Chibi-Usa with happiness. The portal hadn't shut yet and after a few more seconds everyone was asking why the thing wouldn't close.
Sabin pulled out his communicator and said into the thing after getting a clear patch, "Come on you dumbass! Everyone is waiting!"
The other end had a groan and after that a confirming grunt. Communication was stopped and from out of the portal stepped a kid with dark blond hair that was cut short but coarse. His dark blue eyes were like navy midnight and a medallion of a sigma insignia hung around his neck. He was about as tall as Makoto, and wore a pair of navy shorts that cut off a little after the knees. Across his top half he wore a white shirt draped over with a light blue button up that was still unbuttoned. He opened his mouth and the peach lips said, "It's good to see you all again." Everyone rushed over to Aaron and embraced him happily crying. Chibi-Usa, Usagi, Mamoru, and Sabin smiled as their friends asked Aaron so many questions and told him how much they missed him. After a while everyone had calmed down and were back to their meeting positions. Aaron stood up and said in a cool, deep voice that was reminiscent to that of a medium ranged bass singer, "You guys look like you've seen a ghost!"
Everyone had a look of complete astonishment as they stared at the Aaron. "Aaron." Ami choked out. "You're."
"You think I'ld just die and not tell anyone?!" Aaron laughed and the inner Senshi hugged him with tears in their eyes. Crystal, Tah, and Yang looked on with warm smiles and Aaron gave a reassuring nod to all of them.
"But how.is it possible?!" Ami's voice cracked with gasps of air.
"The power of my sister's love for me."
Usagi grabbed Mamoru's hand and squeezed it happily. Mamoru looked down at her and said, "You've done a great thing saving your brother again."
"As long as I live and breath I will protect you, him and everyone on this planet until my final breath," she replied trying to hold back tears of joy.
"I would love to say that everything is going to go off well, but the matter of the fact is that the enemy has enough energy to revive their leader the Crimson Queen."
"You know what's going on with the enemy?!" Usagi said surprised.
"I was only on their side for a while sis. Of course they would tell me their plans. How do you think things get done?" Aaron laughed and stopped when he saw that he was the only one laughing.
"Tell us everything you know about Crimson Queen," Ami said pulling out her mini-super computer.
Aaron pulled the laptop out from his backpack and said, "Ami, use this, it's MUCH faster than that little hand held computer, and I still need to get everything transferred back to Windstrom."
"Windstrom?"
"He's my supercomputer. Very sweet piece of machinery I built back in the days of the Silver Millennium."
"You should see his room! It's like a museum immortalizing us!" Chibi- Usa said with stars in her eyes.
"Chibi-Usa, I told you a few posters and wall scrolls isn't a museum, but anyways, back to the matter at hand." Aaron sighed and his redish-peach lips parted with an opening, "The Crimson Queen. Despite the time I spent inside her evil domain with Jedite, I don't know a lot about her. What I do know is that she's out for revenge on you guys. It seems you two crossed paths some other time."
"Could we have fought her during our time on the Silver Millennium?" Minako said.
"It's possible."
"Then why wait till now? Why not go after us when we're not yet awaked from out former lives?"
"If I could answer that question I would Minako."
"Anything else?" Ami asked typing things into Aaron's laptop.
"A couple of other things. Those reploids are actually memories pulled them from my memory. Jedite has the ability to pull memories from one's mind if he's made contact with it at least once. My case is where he betrayed me and nearly stole all my energy after I taught him how to bring the suckers out."
"So we're fighting a figment of your mind in other words?"
"Yes. That's why I gave you that disk. It contained data on how to get rid of anything that came from my mind. Now that the Queen made mass improvements to the things the data that's contained on the disk wouldn't help you cook a piece of chicken."
"Rei!" her grandpa called out to her. "Come outside quickly!"
Everyone rushed out to see what Grandpa had yelled about and noticed the sky was turning dark at an extensive rate. "A very evil presence is growing rapidly!" Rei said feeling the twinge with her heightened 6th sense.
"Ami. What's the scanners show?"
"Scanners?! You have scanners on this thing as well?!"
Aaron walked over and pushed a few buttons. "Scanners indicate the source of the build up about 3 miles from here." He looked out at a feint swirling vortex at the supposed center of the cause and said, "Time to get some work done."
Center of the disturbance.
"Just make sure you protect the generator!" Jedite warned Snail.
"Got it boss!"
Jedite walked toward the outer edge of the twister and said, "Please Crimson Queen. Come back to us!"
The vortex roared a little and a windy voice replied, "There is not enough energy in the pods for my return to your world Jedite! Gather more and I will return as I promised to you so long ago!"
Jedite bowed and walked back toward Snail who was on the lookout for anyone who might make war on the generator. "We need more energy! Go out and get some while I protect the generator!"
"What if I run into those obnoxious Sailor Senshi?!"
"Kill them!" Snail nodded and fired the rockets in back of his shell. He disappeared as the rockets propelled him away quickly. "When the great Queen is brought back from his prison she will reward me for my fine work!"
"You know you shouldn't be so selfish Jedite!" a voice yelled out against the roaring of the winds produced.
"What the?!"
About 500 ft away the navy warrior stood like a massive statue backed by Zerto, Yang, Sailor Centari, and Sailor Rose Neptune. "Who the hell are you!?" Jedite laughed evilly.
"Oh come on now you idiot! Don't make me beat it into you! You can't forget your dear friend now can you?!"
"No.it's not possible.you can't be alive!"
"Oh yes it is me! Now that I've got my armour back I feel a little backlash should be dished out!"
"And he's not the only one who wants a piece of you!"
Beside MetaSigma stood Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi-Moon behind them was Sailor Moon's inner court. "I have stood by long enough as you send dirty images to attack innocent people!" Sailor Moon said.
"And trying to hurt family is even worse!" Sailor Chibi-Moon said.
"So, Tsukini kawate, oshili oshokyo!" Everyone posed at the same time as Meta.
Jedite cracked a slight grin and said, "I don't care how many people you send against me, you've already arrived to late. She will be revived within a few minutes and there is nothing you can do about it!" Jedite laughed and raised his hands to the sky throwing electricity from his fingertips. "Hiyo Mahash Tishyo Kryt!" Not one, but 11 reploids formed out of thin air each smelling blood like sharks.
"Son of a motherless rodent!" Meta said stepping back in his tracks.
"Eleven!!?" Sailor Centari said looking like she'ld seen a ghost.
"How are we going to get rid of eleven?!" Mars said with a hint of fear in her voice.
"Same way we always do," Sailor Moon said showing this didn't shock her with fear in the least.
"Sailor Moon." Meta said looking over at her brave face. Meta turned back at the army amassed and said gathering his courage, "You're right. We'll take these guys down and save this planet."
"The odds may be stacked against us," Zerto said stepping forward, "But if Meta's going into the fray, I'm heading in as well."
"We might be the underdog in this instance, but if we all believe in ourselves, there is no way we'll lose," Rose Neptune took a step up to the front line.
"We've been fighting for our family and friends, and if it means once more then so be it," Mercury making a line of five.
"And for all the people of this world to live on with joy and happiness," Mars spoke up taking the front line as well.
"For those who do the duty of protecting others without fear of their own lives," Yang moved up, "I'll help them out."
"If you thing you're gonna just throw us around like a bunch of old newspapers thing again idiot!" Centari stood beside Yang with courage.
"Your interference on this world will no longer be tolerated on this world Jedite!" Jupiter said with pride.
"This world will become pure and free once we make you dead!" Venus said.
Everyone was standing in one long line and ready to fight. On the other end it looked the same as the reploids, and one might describe it as a game of red rover almost. Almost.in red rover you don't break your lines, you break your opponents lines. Here it's all or nothing and nothing means your dead. "Jedite is mine," Meta gave a dark sounding growl.
"Reploids.ATTACK!!!" Jedite commanded.
The line broke and ran screaming battle cries as they engaged their foes. Meta swerved and dodged shots as he made a break for Jedite. He landed about 15 feet away from Jedite and stood up as the battle raged on behind him. "No tricks Jedite.it's just you.and me."
Jedite smiled with a prideful snort and his lips parted, "It's time I finish what I started with you." Jedite held out his hand and in it appeared what looked like a basic sword. It twirled and sparked like it was made out of diamond or some gemstone capable of bouncing great amounts of light off it. He grabbed it by the hilt and caught the incoming vision of Snail out of the corner of his eye.
"Come get some." Meta grabbed his saber and ignited the plasmatic blade.
"With pleasure!" Jedite screamed and came down with an overhead chop that Meta caught with his saber. Meta pushed him off his blade and attacked back with a side slash. Jedite's skills simply brushed it off with a quick flick of his sword and the two stood like the battle had not yet begun. Snail landed behind Jedite holding a canteen of energy within his shell and Jedite commanded, "Throw that energy into the vortex!"
"Yes Jedite!" Snail replied with his metallic voice as he turned and moved closer to the whirling vortex.
Meta dashed toward Snail, but Jedite caught him with a quick punch to the face that stopped his motion and made him get back into a defensive position. Meta raised his right arm cannon to the sky and let the thing charge up with energy until it glowed white. He aimed the barrel toward Jedite and yelled, "Moonlight." he quickly turned around and pointed the barrel toward the battle raging on behind him, "BLAST!!"
A massive wave of energy flowed toward the battle and Sailor Moon yelled, "Everyone! Take cover!!" The reploids turned around to see the glowing light that seemed to be shining brightly. The heroic group took cover and the reploids all exploded as the wave tore through each of them. "Meta!" Sailor Moon screamed looking around from behind the side of a building where she hid.
"You fool! You know that the Queen coming out of her prison and yet you save your friends instead?! You are all doomed!!" Jedite laughed again as the vortex started to rumble like an earthquake.
"There isn't any way in hell I'll let you live for what you've set upon this world Jedite!" Zerto dashed over and stood beside Meta.
"We will destroy the evil that is here now and we will kill you!" Sailor Moon screamed as she got next in line to Zerto.
"And what will you do?! You can't kill me or the Crimson Queen so don't even try!!"
"We'll see about that!" Meta screamed charging both barrels of his gun with the white light once more.
"Everyone all at once! Concentrate on the vortex!" Sailor Moon said bringing out her tier.
Everyone filed in behind Zerto, MetaSigma, and Sailor Moon. "NOW!!" Meta screamed pointing his barrel toward the vortex and yelling, "MOONLIGHT BLAST!!"
"Silver Moon, Crystal Power Kiss!"
"Zerto Plasma Pulsator!!"
"Rose Nepture Waters!"
"Shining Fire Strike!"
"Mercury Planet Power!"
"Mars Planet Power!"
"Jupiter Planet Power!"
"Venus Planet Power!"
"Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"
"Preserve Gravity Well!"
All the energy combined into one massive ball and flew toward the vortex gleaming colors that mere human eyes could not see alone. "I will lay my life down if it means saving my queen!" Jedite said jumping in front of the multi-colored sphere.
The sphere enveloped him and kept speeding toward the vortex like it was a microscopic speck of dust. Snail screamed as the ball of energy approached and swallowed him up as well. The sphere collided with the outer edge of the vortex and waves of electrical energy shot about as they two energies vied for winning. The winds howled like wolves as the area began to rumble and roar from the output of chaos being thrown about. "You.will not stop me from returning to this world!!" the winds yelled as everyone struggled to keep their feet on the ground and the winds from sweeping them off.
The vortex seemed to roar even louder and the ball of light started to crumble like a cheap toy. Eventually it was completely gone and the vortex reigned supreme once more. "No! It didn't work! We have to try again!" Sailor Moon held a hand in front of her face to shield the winds.
"We didn't kill her!" Meta screamed as the winds still howled, "but she's not gonna be feeling to well!"
The vortex reversed direction and everything near it began to get sucked up. Everyone but Meta ran over too a pole and held on tight. "Meta! What are you doing?!" Zerto screamed as Meta charged both his barrels again.
"MOONLIGHT BLAST!!!" he screamed and fired both barrels into the vortex. The vortex roared something similar to a T-Rex and the winds started to dissipate.
Everyone looked through narrow eyes as the winds still whipped about lashing at the eyes. "You will pay for attempting to stop me MetaSigma!" the winds yelled.
From behind the clouds of dust that floated near the outer edges of where the vortex was came a large lady wearing blood red clothes. Her gown went down beyond her feet and the very tips flickered with squirming red flames. "You looked better in your sealed prison!" Meta yelled.
"Where you're going prison will be a gift sent from heaven!" the Queen put her palm high to the sky and a fireball appeared in it. "Now DIE!!" She fired the blast quicker than Meta could dodge it. It smacked his chest plate and he went flying back landing on the street tearing up some of the pavement. "How about your friends feel some pain as well?!" She raised both her palms to the sky and fired two fireballs. The entire area where everyone had been hiding was torn apart and everyone did a look alike to what Meta had down flying back and crashing into the sides of buildings and other street objects.
Meta groaned and slowly opened his eyes tasting the warm blood coming from his lips. He growled and slowly pushed his muscles making his body shake as he tried to return to his feet. "Damn you.I won't let you cause harm to anyone.even if it costs me my life!"
The Queen simply smiled and said, "I don't think you'll be able to stop the harm to anyone else, but I'll grant your second request!" She raised her palm to the sky and curved her lips into blasphemous grin. She did a baseball throwing motion and yelled, "DI---ughhh."she grabbed her sides and gasped for air like it was outer space. "My.uhhh.body.I.uhhh.must.get.back.uhh." she disappeared from sight and Meta got back to his feet fully. He kicked the burners in his boots and dashed over to where his sister was laying. She was cut and bruised about but nothing serious to the eye. She stirred and moaned trying to move.
"Usagi." Meta said as he helped her back to a standing position, "are you Ok?"
Sailor Moon's lips curved slightly up and she replied in a soft, tired tone, "Yes.I'm fine. Is everyone else all right?!" she said cognizant of what just happened to everyone else. She ran over to Mars and shook her a little. "Mars.Mars."
Mars moved a little and coughed slowly opening her eyes. "Sailor Moon." she said in a weak tone. Her entire right arm was covered in blood and a gash appeared near the vein on her right wrist.
"Rei-chan!!" Usagi screamed as she tired to stop the bleeding with a piece of her fuku she tore off. The piece of cloth had no effect and Rei said slowly went unconscious. "Rei-chan.REI-CHAN!!!" she screamed as Meta dashed over to see what the situation was.
"Usagi! What's-!" Meta looked at the slashed wrist and said, "She's not going to die while I'm still here!" Meta pushed a few buttons and a portal opened behind Rei. Meta picked the Scout up and held the pressure as tight as he could on the gash. He quickly went through the portal and it closed behind him.
Sailor Moon cried like mad wondering about the safety of her friend. "Rei-chan." she said in a breaking voice. Zerto himself had a few gashes on his legs, but he walked over to Sailor Moon and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and put her head on his chest plate whispering her friend's name. "Sailor Moon.don't worry, Meta won't let her die," he said in a soft re-assuring tone.
* * * * * * * * * * *
US.
Aaron patched up Rei as best he could, and set her in the meditation chamber to let the stitches heal her wounds faster. "The Queen will pay for this." Aaron said with a growl in his throat as he shut the door to the chamber. He turned around headed back to the main chamber where a massive supercomputer stood. "Windstrom. Do you have data on that last battle with the Queen?"
"Yes Aaron.I do."
"I want you to tell me why she suddenly started gasping for air like she was dying. What was going on?"
"It appears she was injured, and the atmosphere here showed signs of giving her trouble breathing when her blood is exposed to air for a short period of time."
"Interesting.Do you know where she disappeared too?"
"It appears she returned back where you were when this whole adventure started."
"Hmmm."
"Might I inquire what you are thinking?"
"Windstorm.back in the battle I suddenly lost control of my mind. I was so outraged at that I lost control, and my emotions took over my body. Do you have any explanation why?"
A few moments of silence passed and Windstrom replied, "I do not have an answer for you. I'm sorry. Body scans appear normal."
Aaron sighed and sat down in the chair and pushed a few buttons on the keyboard in front of him. "Could it have something to do with my past?"
* * * * * * * * * * *
Japan.
"Do you know where Aaron took Rei-chan?" Usagi asked Sabin nearly pulling him to the floor where she sat crying.
"Usagi! For the last time I don't know! The only place that I know he might take her is his meditation chamber! I don't know where the damn thing is located!" Sabin yanked back his shirt that Usagi had a hold of.
"Usagi-chan.don't worry, Rei-chan will be Ok. You heard what Uncky Aaron said. Not while he's still here would he let her die," Chibi-Usa told Usagi.
"She's right Usako.we have to put our trust in Aaron. I'm sure he's doing everything in his power to make sure Rei-san doesn't die." Usagi cried again and stuffed her head into Mamoru's chest.
Between her sobs she softly cried out, "Mamo-chan."
Mamoru put his hand on her back and whispered back to her in soothing tone, "Usako.don't worry."
"I know this doesn't seem like the right time to bring this up.but what about the Crimson Queen?" Ami's tone showed the urgency of this subject. "What exactly happened that she left so suddenly? Did Aaron have anything to do with this? Did he wound her?"
The room fell silent like the sound of the darkness. "It seems the queen is unable to cope with the atmosphere here when she bleeds," the familiar voice of Michiru said standing by one of the posts holding the sign to the Hikawa shrine.
"Michiru-san!" Usagi seemed shocked to see her at this critical point.
"Rei-san is alive and well at the moment. Aaron has her in a chamber of some sort that is tending to her wounds," Haruka said standing near the other post holding the sign up.
"Haruka-san! How do you know all of this?"
"Pluto let us venture into Aaron's main sanctuary. He told us to come here and tell you everything."
"Can we go see Rei-chan?!" Usagi asked a bit of emotion still clinging in her throat.
"You are asking the wrong person. Aaron is the only one who can allow you access," Michiru said walking over with Haruka by her side.
"But you said Pluto."
"Pluto got the green light from Aaron to begin. Those two have a bond stronger than Small Lady and Pluto," Haruka said in her strong half-male voice.
Usagi's communicator went off and she seemed surprised to pick it up. "Who is this?"
"This is Aaron, I have someone you might want to see, as well as some problems that are forming as we speak," Aaron said typing some buttons on Windstrom's keyboard.
Usagi seemed confused but overjoyed at the same time. She nodded her head and replied, "Open a portal and we're on our way."
"Will do." A portal opened a few feet behind Haruka and Michiru. "The portal's open.hurry over." Communication was cut and Usagi looked at the beauty created by years of scientific research.
The entire group shifted through the portal and found themselves inside the room Aaron was speaking from. Ami looked over at the giant computer and her eyes grew to bogus proportions. "Holy!" She gasped loosing her breath for a second.
"A beauty isn't it? Say hello to the strangers Windstrom!"
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Windstrom said in his straight, computer voice.
"Incredible!" Ami had her jaw dropped like a sweet tooth in a candy story full of sweets.
"I didn't bring you here for staring at the computer." Aaron got up out of the leather chair he was seated in and opened the only door on the opposite side of the room. He went inside and helped Rei out. The wounds she had suffered were healed well enough where she didn't have to really worry.
She gave a weak but appreciative smile to Aaron as he helped her regain her balance after being so depleted for so long. "Hey Aaron.thanks," she said in a soft, huffing tone.
"Just doing my job Rei."
Rei legs tried taking over on their own, but still wobbled like a newborn's first steps. Sabin rushed over as she braced to hit the ground from the first failed attempt. She never felt the cold floor, but instead the warm hands of her boyfriend Sabin. "Don't push too hard right away. I don't want you to hurt yourself again." Rei made a slow curving of her lips and brought them to a tarnished, but sincere smile.
"Now that everyone is assembled, I'm going to show you something," Aaron returned to his comfy leather chair.
"If you plan on showing us the data on."
Aaron, "This isn't about the data the Michiru and Haruka already told you" interrupting Ami. Aaron finished, "This is about Vile. We never did get rid of him, and he's still stronger than any of the memories we've encountered or might yet encounter."
"This is a schematic of Vile that Windstrom compiled during my.absence from the superhero business." Aaron pushed a few buttons and a bunch of files opened showing part components, extremes for things such heat, pressure, and what not as well as weapon schematics and what each weapon on his armoured body could do.
"Holy shit!" Yang expressed with complete surprise, "That thing is a third world army all wrapped into one!"
"And that's just the half of it. Scans from his first appearance show he's only growing in power. Something is feeding this him and it's only making him more and more deadly," Aaron said turning the chair to face everyone. "Sooner or later he's going to force us to play our entire hand, and that's something I dread doing."
"Play our hand? You mean you still have tricks up your sleeve?!" Makoto asked showing the confusion in her mind.
"I didn't exhaust all my tricks in that last battle. I can do much more damage than that.but I would only do it as a last resort and I've died nearly 5 times because of it," Aaron said with an emotion he had rarely shown. Fear.
"So what do we do until Vile appears again?" Minako wanted to know.
"For now.all we can do is wait. I can't break the barrier that the Queen has thrown up around her dimension. I can scan the place with a degree of difficulty, but portaling in.no chance until I have more data on the barrier itself." Aaron turned the chair back toward the computer and flew his fingers across the keyboard.
A portal opened a few feet behind everyone near the entrance to the meditation chamber. "Where's that lead?" Crystal asked.
"Back to the temple. You are welcome to stay for a while here in the US, or you can go back to Tokyo and I'll call you when I find something."
Ami with clear reason why stayed behind to help Aaron with his search. Usagi, Mamoru, Minako, Makoto, Yang, Crystal, and Tah all decided to head back to Tokyo for the time being. Aaron waved to each of them as they entered the portal and shut the thing after they all had gone through. "That just leaves us," Chibi-Usa said with sheer curiosity of what she was going to do.
"Hey Sabin.how about you show these two around Billings? Chibi-Usa's been to my house, but not around the town."
"Good idea Shane," Sabin said still helping Rei walk despite her futile attempts to tell Sabin she could walk on her own power.
"What about you Uncky Aaron?" Chibi-Usa said with the cute young girl's voice she possessed.
"I doubt I'll be heading back home anytime soon. This takes priority over anything else." He pushed a couple of buttons on the massive control panel that spanned nearly the size of an entire car and a portal opened in the same area as the last one. "Have fun you three! I'll contact you if we get anything Sabin. Just hang out at your house after you're done if you don't hear word from us."
Sabin nodded and helped Rei through the portal with Chibi-Usa smiling and waving to her Uncle just before she went in. After they went in it was totally silent with the exception of Ami and Aaron working.
Ami gave it a few minutes of clear thought before she moved her vocals to the come out and ask, "Hey.Aaron.can I ask you a question?"
Aaron kept working but said, "If you need to talk about something or whatnot I'm here to listen."
Ami looked down and shaded her eyes a little. She could feel her breathing become ragged like she was in fear.or in love. She chose her words carefully, and constantly thought of what to say. It was almost impossible to know what to say. Love was a subject so new for her. All she had known was the way of the book. Her dream to be a doctor.was almost like a back burner now that she had become aware of a second person whom had fallen in love with her. After thinking of all possible ways to start the question she outright blurted to Aaron's total surprise, "Do you love me?"
Aaron stopped working and made a light sigh that could almost be made out as him swearing. The one thing he had hoped to avoid had come back and bit him in the ass. What could he say? He wasn't completely sure if he ever was. Was it just a relief to say that he had a crush on her just to relieve tension upon his shoulders at times? He dwelled upon it like a growing weed that just kept growing no matter was done to it. It ate at him begging to finally be answered whether he was simply using it as a ruse on himself, or if he indeed did love Ami. "Ami." the words were gripping his throat like he was choking on a piece of food, "do you love Urawa?"
Ami was a bit surprised by his reply but asked again, "This has nothing to do with Urawa! I want to know if you."
"If I love you.and again I'm going to ask. Do you love Urawa?!"
Ami was in a bind. It seemed that if Aaron had some secular vision about her entire mind and knew just what to hit it with. She turned away and Aaron spun the chair in her direction. "Aaron.deep down I love Urawa. He's very special to me.but you are special to me as well!"
Aaron sighed and his mind permeated with different thoughts once more. "Ami.my entire life I've done as much as I can to make others happy whatever my own personal cost sometimes."
"Are you jealous of Urawa?" Ami turned her head back to Aaron wanting to just cry in front of him.
Aaron was pinned against the wall in his mind and thoughts attempted to stab him to be explained. He smiled and in the best-held back voice he could muster he replied, "Sometimes I'm not.and sometimes." he stopped and closed his eyes not wanting to finish his sentence.
"Aaron.please.I want to know. I want to be able to help you just as you've helped everyone get through everything thus far." Her eyes gleamed like the sparkle of a sunlight diamond and a few parts of the diamonds seemed to run down her cheeks like small rivers.
"Sometimes I wish he was dead." he turned his head away in complete ignominy feeling the diamond sprinkles overtake his cheeks as well. "I wish that he were DEAD! I ENVY HOW HE HAS SOMEONE AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU LOVING HIM!!" Aaron could not keep the diamonds from shattering in his eyes and they sprinkled like a wave down his cheeks. He put his head in his hands and felt Ami's hand touch him on the shoulder. Almost like a child needing his or her mother he spun the chair around and put his head on her shoulder crying.
Ami took her free arm wrapped it around Aaron so that it appeared she was supporting his weight. "Let it go Aaron.let those feelings of sorrow go. I'll stay right here with you." For the next hour all Aaron did was weep and weep about how stupid he was for ever thinking about wanting to kill someone for his own personal gain. Deep down he was glad he could get it off his chest, but somewhere deeper lay anger and fury so intense it was unbelievable how he could hold it in check. It was like a black hole sucking feelings in never able to reach the surface, and the entire time it grew.and grew.
Finally he started to regain control of his feelings and he said, "Yes Ami.I love you more then you can ever realize, and the sheer feeling that.I can't have you makes it that much harder to part with. You love Urawa, and Urawa loves you. I can never take either of you away from each other. It's against the very thing I stand for."
Ami nodded and replied, "Aaron, as I told you earlier, you will always have a special place in my heart."
"As do you in mine." Aaron wiped the shattered diamonds from his eyes and said with rubies lining the whites of his eyes, "Shall we finish what we started?"
Ami nodded and Aaron pulled another leather chair out of the floor. He scoot his chair over a bit, and positioned it so Ami could control half the panel while he worked the other half. The looked at each other with cried eyes, and meek smiles and continued on their original objective.
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