This story has nothing to do with anything else I've written.
It also has nothing to do with my real thoughts on the senshi.
In fact, its probably the result of reading too much Dark Day for Anime.
You have been forewarned ^^ Proceed at your own peril.
Sailor Moon ain't mine.
____________________________________________________________________
Timing is Everything
by: Sayhaya (Emporess)
____________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1 - Frenzied
"But I don't want to go among mad people."
"Oh, you can't help that - we're ALL mad here..."
-Alice in Wonderland
The orange heels worn by Venus made echoes as she made her
way across the halls of the palace. It was taking her a great deal
of effort to focus her thoughts in a coherent state. Several times
her pace would slow as her eyes glazed over. Then the determined
look would return to her face as she continued on.
Eventually she stopped outside an ornate entrance way. Pillars
lined the main hallway, stopping just before the intricately carved
door. She could recognize only a few of the ancient runes placed
upon it. The meanings had nothing to do with her purpose anyway.
She paused, hand trembling mere inches from the wood
paneling. She wasn't afraid. At least, she didn't *think* she was
afraid. But her thinking wasn't exactly to be trusted anyway.
For Venus was going mad.
Not stark raving mad, mind you. In fact, she was handling
things with quite a bit of decorum compared to the states some of
the other Senshi had deteriorated too. They had made themselves
difficult to destroy. Most of them, anyway.
The shaking in her hand finally settled. Her gaze turned
back to steel as she pulled herself together again. Yes, she
had a purpose, a meaning still. The fates of billions still
rested on her decisions and actions. It was a familiar burden
for the Senshi. Unfortunately, there was no one left to help
her share it. Well, almost no one.
The large door opened of its own accord. As it swung aside
she noticed the gray fog permeating the room. There was nothing
else here but an old grandfather clock, which ticked away in
The background. Engraved on a golden plate in the center were the
words "Timing Is Everything".
Out of the mist rose a green haired figure in a black
sailor fuku. She gripped a long staff, with a lavender orb
seated at the top. Magenta eyes locked onto her own as a rare
smile donned the woman's face.
"Venus! What a surprise!" Sailor Pluto called gaily
from her position a few feet away. "I wish I'd known you were
coming, I could have made some coffee!"
Venus said nothing as she continued to stare at Pluto.
"Well, of course I *knew* you were coming. I *am* the
Senshi of Time, after all." She leaned heavily on her staff, still
grinning like a damned fool.
"Then you know this isn't a social call." Venus finally
found her voice. It sounded huskier then usual.
"Of course I knew that!" She exclaimed excitedly. "None of
the Senshi ever visited me on a social call. It was always,
'Setsuna-san, the world is caving in!' or 'Setsuna-san, the King
has been kidnapped!' or 'Setsuna-san, are you *sure* that pink
thing is mine?!'." She humphed and gave the appearance of
pouting. "Why couldn't anyone just come over to hangout? Or
go bowling with me or something??"
"Urm..." Venus mumbled, thrown off track by the bizarre
questions.
"I'm serious! I have my own shoes, and my own ball. I've
mastered the technique! Perfect 300's every game, blindfolded!
You can learn so many skills when you have an eternity to do
it, you know?"
Venus blinked. "Ah... Well... I guess we assumed guarding
the time-gate was kinda a full time job..."
Pluto stopped leaning on the staff and groaned loudly. "That's
what you all get for 'assuming'. Why if I had a dime for every
blunder that has taken place in this world simply because of
another person's 'assumptions', I'd-"
The sweatdrop that had formed next to the Senshi's head was
now joined by a rapid eyebrow twitch. "Then you do know why I'm
here?"
Pluto dropped her pout, going back to her original smile.
"Hai! Your here to kill me, ne?"
"That *would* be the jist of it..." Venus trailed off. The
manic glee that Pluto was showing bothered her. She would have
preferred the all-knowing self righteous act to this.
"Unless, of course, it turns out *I'm* actually the saner
of the two of us." With that she twirled the time-staff above
her head and thrust it ahead of her. "In which case, I'm
supposed to kill you!"
"Exactly." Venus said, closing the distance between them.
Pluto let loose with another fit of laughter. "Oh,
Minako-chan, you have no idea how long I've waited for this! Its
been so long since I actually got to *fight* anyone! The
mind-numbing boredom of a Utopia was underestimated even by
me! Its no wonder you killed the others when they went loony!"
Now that statement wasn't completely fair. Or true.
She hadn't killed all of the others. Some of them had did it
themselves. Only the real basket cases had to be destroyed. She
especially didn't like Pluto's tone. So jubilant, almost
taunting. "I didn't *want* to kill them. They were my friends!"
"And you proved it, did you not?!" Pluto cried. "You were
*so* humane with it. First the non-violent sedation of the
subject. Then came the hospitalization. Of course, modern
medicine could not cure the disease we have!"
"What disease is that?" Venus asked, her voice devoid
of any real emotion.
"Life." She deadpanned, before cracking up again. She
held her sides as she literally rolled on the floor with
laughter. "Not that I'm criticizing your work, of course. I
thought Ami-chan looked much improved with skin that matched her
hair color!"
Venus didn't move a muscle, her inward thoughts turned
to Mercury. She had been the first, after the Queen. The most
cerebral of them all had been the one to snap.
"They've confirmed the sighting?" Mars asked Venus as
they dodged around piles of scrap metal. The room would have
been pitch black to anyone without their heightened Senshi
abilities.
"Hai, they saw her down here." The two figures were
joined by Jupiter as they climbed atop one of the larger
heaps.
"It certainly looks like the kind of place Ami-chan
would frequent nowadays," The brunette stated, wrinkling
her nose at the smell rising from the room. "Its full of
those gizmos she likes so much."
Mars gave a curt nod of agreement, kicking at the pile
with one of her high heeled shoes. She was much more comfortable
in her rooms of the palace.
"Remember, be *gentle* when you find her. We don't want to
hurt her." Venus admonished them
"Of course not! We just want to lock her up!" Jupiter began
to cackle, slapping her knee with her hand. "Did you hear what I
said? I said-"
"We heard, we heard." Droned both Mars and Venus in unision.
They both passed a look at each other. After dealing with Mercury,
they might want to take the brunette in for a look as well. Early
detection of insanity could save on the casualties when they
finally 'snap'. Mercury had taken out the top floor of the Mizuno
clinic in 10 seconds flat, while pumped full of narcotics.
Just then a bright light shone on the high ceiling of
the room. Shadows were thrown across the walls, moving in tandem.
The 3 Senshi could now see what is was they were walking through.
A collective gasp came from the women. While they had expected
to see the broken arms, legs, and other mech equipment, they were
not prepared for the 20 " 20 ft. shrine off to the far wall. The
pedestal hosted 2 thick tier candles. In the middle burned the
source of the hideous smell permeating the room.
"What *is* that?!" Venus asked, holding her nose while
moving closer for a better look.
"I've never smelled incense like that before..." The former
shinto priestess murmured.
"Guys?" Jupiter poked them both in the shoulder.
"Hold on, Jupiter, I'm trying to get a better look at that
thing." Venus strained her eyes a bit. "What the heck is that
picture hanging above there?"
"Guys I really think you should turn around," There was
a slight quaver in Jupiter's voice.
"It appears to be some kanji..." Mars squinted. "God is...
God is at... no wait that looks more like in...God is in the..."
She shook her head and sighed. "Its no good, I can't make out the
last one..."
"GOD IS IN THE MACHINE!" Thundered a voice from behind. Venus
tripped over Jupiter, who in turn knocked Mars over so they all fell
on top of each other. The tangle of arms and legs (shapely ones, I
might add ^^) moved in a frantic attempt to put some distance between
them and the- thing.
The mutant giant robo wannabe moved one huge foot down next to
them. "Behold the Zarathusa!" It was taller then the shrine, its head
barely scraping the ceiling. The face held only one eyeball, which
glowed a malevolent lime color. No other features adorned the top half.
The body was blue, and humanoid in shape except for the extra
appendages added on. At the end of some of the arms were talons,
sharp pincers, blunt objects. One arm looked like the barrel of a
gun- or a bazooka.
"Holy shit!" Jupiter exclaimed, whistling at the size of it.
"Indeed," came Mercury's electronically enhanced voice. "Holy:
A revered object. Shit: What I used to create my masterpiece. With
scrap parts I have created what no one else has! The ultimate super-
being!" A patented evil scientist cackle echoed through the room.
"This doesn't look good," Venus whispered to Mars.
"SILENCE! You heathens should be bowing! You are looking at
the next stage of human evolution! Man and machine united as one!"
They watched the blockbuster special effects as the robo charged
up with sparkling blue light.
"Ami-chan, come out of there. We need to talk about this."
Venus pleaded. "Your sick. If you'd just let us finish your treatment-"
"Treatment?" came the electronically enhanced voice. "You
call locking me away from my research 'treatment'?" A eerie laugh
projected down at them. "Did you really think I didn't see it coming?
You thought you could out think me? I'm the one with the brains.
I planned for every feeble contingency you could come up with. You
can't stop the revolution!"
"Is it just me, or is she getting a Gendo complex?" Venus
murmured to Mars who gave a short nod to confirm.
"Look, Ami-chan, come out, and we can talk about this. You
can't just sit in there forever. Eventually you have to come out."
Mars said, trying to reason with her. When it had no affect she
turned to the other Senshi. "Look for a plug or off switch."
"This suit is fully functional. It is a self-sustaining unit."
Ami's smug voice echoing out of the mechanical speakers. "Any
molecules it comes in contact with are converted into nutrients to
sustain me... And I power the robot."
"But what are you going to do? Stay down here and re-enact Dual?"
asked Venus with a sigh.
"Oh, I love that show!" Jupiter called out, and Mars nodded.
"Of course not you twit." Ami's voice hissed. "I'm taking this
to the surface. I'm going to purge the earth of the zombified humans
we created. Then I will devote the remainder of the planet to the electronic
wonders, the AIs."
"You're joking!" Mars gasped, offended at the thought of a soulless
world.
"Am I?" Mercury replied, a challenge issued. One giant hand
of the Zaruthusa raised above them before smashing down. They barely
had time to jump out of the way. "Serenity played God, purifying the
mortals, stripping their minds of any wisdom they possessed. And just
like our creator, she left us to suffer with what she created, with no
guidance. I refuse to be the guardian of a dead world."
"How can you talk like this?" Jupiter pleaded. "Usagi-chan didn't
leave us intentionally. You yourself said there's still hope we can reach her-"
"Fuck her." Ami cut her off, by slamming one of the robot's huge
hands at the group. They darted away by mere inches. "You three are
only the beginning. I will cleanse the planet of all of you. I will make
this place pure!"
"We can't just keep dodging her," Mars hissed, barely missing a slam from
a stray tentacle.
"Your right," muttered Venus, bracing her feet on a pile of robot arms.
"Ami-chan, I really don't want to hurt you, but your leaving me no choice!"
Raising a pointing finger she watched as her power flew at the legs of the
robot. It was joined by red flames leaping from her left. She felt the
energy she was discharging through her body with a giddy joy that disturbed
her. The world was so docile now, so boring, like the blandest oatmeal. She
got a perverse pleasure out of using her powers, even if it was against one
of her own.
The metal on the robot blackened and charred. Jupiter drove at it with her
fist, hoping to destroy the weakened infrastructure. As she leaped one of
the hands came rushing at her. "JUPITER! LOOK OUT!" Venus called, too late.
The brunette slammed not *into* the concrete walls but *through* them.
Mars was already headed that way before she was lifted off her feet by
one of the machine's sharp pincers. It entered her body through her
shoulder and exited out the front. "ARRRRR" Mars screamed as she literally
dangled by the metal impaling her.
"REI-CHAN!" Venus gasped, leaping high into the air to land on the arm.
She reached down for Mars, who held up her good arm as she moaned in agony.
The arm made a flicking motion, which nearly dislodged Venus. She fell on
her belly and wrapped herself across the slick surface. Mar's shoulder slid
with a sickening wet sound as the pincer exited the same way it had entered.
She made a crater in a large pile of debris with her landing.
"MARS?! JUPITER?!" Venus wailed, looking around at where both their bodies
had impacted. She saw no movement. Her eyes teared as she glanced up at the
cockpit and her former senshi. "Ami-chan, please stop! We have to help them!"
Cruel laughter met her pleas. The arm started to wave back and forth as Venus
struggled to hold on. She managed to get to her feet just as a saw cut
through where she had been laying. She vaulted backwards, before using
another of the metal tentacles that was coming at her to jump up to the
enclosure Mercury was in.
"Ami-chan," she whispered, placing her arm on the plastic coating. She
could hardly recognize her fomer friend. Half a dozen cords were attached
to her naked form. Her skin was gray, and spread thin over her skeleton.
Her eyes were closed, and her mouth did not move even as the electronic
amplified voice raged at Venus.
"Just give it up, Minako-chan! Why bother fighting me?!" Several of the
metal appendages tried to close in on her, but they couldn't find a good
angle. She was too close to the cockpit.
"What are you trying to do really, Ami-chan?" Minako whimpered as the
machine shuddered under her. Something was happening to it. "Usagi
wouldn't want a souless world, and neither would you. This doesn't
make any sense, and you always make sense Ami-chan. Please stop this!"
"She left us! Shes gone, and we can't get her back! *I* can't get her back!"
The mechanical voice rose in volume, accompanied by something that sounded
like modem feedback times 1000. "I've tried everything I can think of on
her, and nothing works! Usagi is gone! She fucking left us with this world,
this castrated relic she created, and I can't stand it! I can't pretend
anymore Minako! I can't pretend to be OK! I'm not OK! None of us are! You
know it as well as I do!"
"Even if you don't want to pretend, it doesn't mean you have the right to
destroy everything she created-" Minako stated in a rush, feeling one of
the more slender tentacles covered in razors barely miss splitting her
leg tendons. Her hand spread across the plastic, her power lighting it
up, making it shake and begin to split aside.
"YES I DO!" The voice boomed, and inside the tank Ami started to tremble.
"Let me finish it for us all! We might even come back Minako-chan. Some
place else. Or at least it'll be like an endless dream. You won't feel
a thing-"
"ARHHHHH!" screeched Venus as the razors tore at her back. Tore through
skin. Through muscle. Her hand busted through the tank, a watery substance
pouring around her as she stepped inside. As she moved onto Ami-chan, and
beyond the pain of the think eating her alive behind her. She tore at the
cords connecting Ami. But there were 100s of them, and the razor kept
up on her.
"Give it up!" The voice was weaker, but still there. "We're nearly immortal,
but we're not invincible. You can't stop the machine by pulling a plug.
And I'll never quit! Even if I have to kill all of you!"
Venus' hands clutched at the pallid gray flesh that had once been Ami's neck.
Her grip was weaker then she would have liked, but she could feel the throb
of Ami's heart, the breath she still needed. She tightened her hold to cut
off Ami's airpipe, even as she felt the razor arm pull out, and plunge
forward. A slight turn of her head saved her from being severed above her
spine. She doubted she'd be so lucky on the return trip.
"I'm going to win!" The artificial voice raged, seeming stronger, even
as Minako felt weaker. She was laying against Ami now, her hands still
clenching the neck. Even if they were going numb, they looked to Minako
like they were still applying pressure. But for how long?
_____________________________________________________________________
To be continued... Maybe. If I get some e-mail ^_~ *
_____________________________________________________________________________
Questions? Comments? Arrows?
-Angst88@aol.com
www.emporess-sama.net
-Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
It also has nothing to do with my real thoughts on the senshi.
In fact, its probably the result of reading too much Dark Day for Anime.
You have been forewarned ^^ Proceed at your own peril.
Sailor Moon ain't mine.
____________________________________________________________________
Timing is Everything
by: Sayhaya (Emporess)
____________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1 - Frenzied
"But I don't want to go among mad people."
"Oh, you can't help that - we're ALL mad here..."
-Alice in Wonderland
The orange heels worn by Venus made echoes as she made her
way across the halls of the palace. It was taking her a great deal
of effort to focus her thoughts in a coherent state. Several times
her pace would slow as her eyes glazed over. Then the determined
look would return to her face as she continued on.
Eventually she stopped outside an ornate entrance way. Pillars
lined the main hallway, stopping just before the intricately carved
door. She could recognize only a few of the ancient runes placed
upon it. The meanings had nothing to do with her purpose anyway.
She paused, hand trembling mere inches from the wood
paneling. She wasn't afraid. At least, she didn't *think* she was
afraid. But her thinking wasn't exactly to be trusted anyway.
For Venus was going mad.
Not stark raving mad, mind you. In fact, she was handling
things with quite a bit of decorum compared to the states some of
the other Senshi had deteriorated too. They had made themselves
difficult to destroy. Most of them, anyway.
The shaking in her hand finally settled. Her gaze turned
back to steel as she pulled herself together again. Yes, she
had a purpose, a meaning still. The fates of billions still
rested on her decisions and actions. It was a familiar burden
for the Senshi. Unfortunately, there was no one left to help
her share it. Well, almost no one.
The large door opened of its own accord. As it swung aside
she noticed the gray fog permeating the room. There was nothing
else here but an old grandfather clock, which ticked away in
The background. Engraved on a golden plate in the center were the
words "Timing Is Everything".
Out of the mist rose a green haired figure in a black
sailor fuku. She gripped a long staff, with a lavender orb
seated at the top. Magenta eyes locked onto her own as a rare
smile donned the woman's face.
"Venus! What a surprise!" Sailor Pluto called gaily
from her position a few feet away. "I wish I'd known you were
coming, I could have made some coffee!"
Venus said nothing as she continued to stare at Pluto.
"Well, of course I *knew* you were coming. I *am* the
Senshi of Time, after all." She leaned heavily on her staff, still
grinning like a damned fool.
"Then you know this isn't a social call." Venus finally
found her voice. It sounded huskier then usual.
"Of course I knew that!" She exclaimed excitedly. "None of
the Senshi ever visited me on a social call. It was always,
'Setsuna-san, the world is caving in!' or 'Setsuna-san, the King
has been kidnapped!' or 'Setsuna-san, are you *sure* that pink
thing is mine?!'." She humphed and gave the appearance of
pouting. "Why couldn't anyone just come over to hangout? Or
go bowling with me or something??"
"Urm..." Venus mumbled, thrown off track by the bizarre
questions.
"I'm serious! I have my own shoes, and my own ball. I've
mastered the technique! Perfect 300's every game, blindfolded!
You can learn so many skills when you have an eternity to do
it, you know?"
Venus blinked. "Ah... Well... I guess we assumed guarding
the time-gate was kinda a full time job..."
Pluto stopped leaning on the staff and groaned loudly. "That's
what you all get for 'assuming'. Why if I had a dime for every
blunder that has taken place in this world simply because of
another person's 'assumptions', I'd-"
The sweatdrop that had formed next to the Senshi's head was
now joined by a rapid eyebrow twitch. "Then you do know why I'm
here?"
Pluto dropped her pout, going back to her original smile.
"Hai! Your here to kill me, ne?"
"That *would* be the jist of it..." Venus trailed off. The
manic glee that Pluto was showing bothered her. She would have
preferred the all-knowing self righteous act to this.
"Unless, of course, it turns out *I'm* actually the saner
of the two of us." With that she twirled the time-staff above
her head and thrust it ahead of her. "In which case, I'm
supposed to kill you!"
"Exactly." Venus said, closing the distance between them.
Pluto let loose with another fit of laughter. "Oh,
Minako-chan, you have no idea how long I've waited for this! Its
been so long since I actually got to *fight* anyone! The
mind-numbing boredom of a Utopia was underestimated even by
me! Its no wonder you killed the others when they went loony!"
Now that statement wasn't completely fair. Or true.
She hadn't killed all of the others. Some of them had did it
themselves. Only the real basket cases had to be destroyed. She
especially didn't like Pluto's tone. So jubilant, almost
taunting. "I didn't *want* to kill them. They were my friends!"
"And you proved it, did you not?!" Pluto cried. "You were
*so* humane with it. First the non-violent sedation of the
subject. Then came the hospitalization. Of course, modern
medicine could not cure the disease we have!"
"What disease is that?" Venus asked, her voice devoid
of any real emotion.
"Life." She deadpanned, before cracking up again. She
held her sides as she literally rolled on the floor with
laughter. "Not that I'm criticizing your work, of course. I
thought Ami-chan looked much improved with skin that matched her
hair color!"
Venus didn't move a muscle, her inward thoughts turned
to Mercury. She had been the first, after the Queen. The most
cerebral of them all had been the one to snap.
"They've confirmed the sighting?" Mars asked Venus as
they dodged around piles of scrap metal. The room would have
been pitch black to anyone without their heightened Senshi
abilities.
"Hai, they saw her down here." The two figures were
joined by Jupiter as they climbed atop one of the larger
heaps.
"It certainly looks like the kind of place Ami-chan
would frequent nowadays," The brunette stated, wrinkling
her nose at the smell rising from the room. "Its full of
those gizmos she likes so much."
Mars gave a curt nod of agreement, kicking at the pile
with one of her high heeled shoes. She was much more comfortable
in her rooms of the palace.
"Remember, be *gentle* when you find her. We don't want to
hurt her." Venus admonished them
"Of course not! We just want to lock her up!" Jupiter began
to cackle, slapping her knee with her hand. "Did you hear what I
said? I said-"
"We heard, we heard." Droned both Mars and Venus in unision.
They both passed a look at each other. After dealing with Mercury,
they might want to take the brunette in for a look as well. Early
detection of insanity could save on the casualties when they
finally 'snap'. Mercury had taken out the top floor of the Mizuno
clinic in 10 seconds flat, while pumped full of narcotics.
Just then a bright light shone on the high ceiling of
the room. Shadows were thrown across the walls, moving in tandem.
The 3 Senshi could now see what is was they were walking through.
A collective gasp came from the women. While they had expected
to see the broken arms, legs, and other mech equipment, they were
not prepared for the 20 " 20 ft. shrine off to the far wall. The
pedestal hosted 2 thick tier candles. In the middle burned the
source of the hideous smell permeating the room.
"What *is* that?!" Venus asked, holding her nose while
moving closer for a better look.
"I've never smelled incense like that before..." The former
shinto priestess murmured.
"Guys?" Jupiter poked them both in the shoulder.
"Hold on, Jupiter, I'm trying to get a better look at that
thing." Venus strained her eyes a bit. "What the heck is that
picture hanging above there?"
"Guys I really think you should turn around," There was
a slight quaver in Jupiter's voice.
"It appears to be some kanji..." Mars squinted. "God is...
God is at... no wait that looks more like in...God is in the..."
She shook her head and sighed. "Its no good, I can't make out the
last one..."
"GOD IS IN THE MACHINE!" Thundered a voice from behind. Venus
tripped over Jupiter, who in turn knocked Mars over so they all fell
on top of each other. The tangle of arms and legs (shapely ones, I
might add ^^) moved in a frantic attempt to put some distance between
them and the- thing.
The mutant giant robo wannabe moved one huge foot down next to
them. "Behold the Zarathusa!" It was taller then the shrine, its head
barely scraping the ceiling. The face held only one eyeball, which
glowed a malevolent lime color. No other features adorned the top half.
The body was blue, and humanoid in shape except for the extra
appendages added on. At the end of some of the arms were talons,
sharp pincers, blunt objects. One arm looked like the barrel of a
gun- or a bazooka.
"Holy shit!" Jupiter exclaimed, whistling at the size of it.
"Indeed," came Mercury's electronically enhanced voice. "Holy:
A revered object. Shit: What I used to create my masterpiece. With
scrap parts I have created what no one else has! The ultimate super-
being!" A patented evil scientist cackle echoed through the room.
"This doesn't look good," Venus whispered to Mars.
"SILENCE! You heathens should be bowing! You are looking at
the next stage of human evolution! Man and machine united as one!"
They watched the blockbuster special effects as the robo charged
up with sparkling blue light.
"Ami-chan, come out of there. We need to talk about this."
Venus pleaded. "Your sick. If you'd just let us finish your treatment-"
"Treatment?" came the electronically enhanced voice. "You
call locking me away from my research 'treatment'?" A eerie laugh
projected down at them. "Did you really think I didn't see it coming?
You thought you could out think me? I'm the one with the brains.
I planned for every feeble contingency you could come up with. You
can't stop the revolution!"
"Is it just me, or is she getting a Gendo complex?" Venus
murmured to Mars who gave a short nod to confirm.
"Look, Ami-chan, come out, and we can talk about this. You
can't just sit in there forever. Eventually you have to come out."
Mars said, trying to reason with her. When it had no affect she
turned to the other Senshi. "Look for a plug or off switch."
"This suit is fully functional. It is a self-sustaining unit."
Ami's smug voice echoing out of the mechanical speakers. "Any
molecules it comes in contact with are converted into nutrients to
sustain me... And I power the robot."
"But what are you going to do? Stay down here and re-enact Dual?"
asked Venus with a sigh.
"Oh, I love that show!" Jupiter called out, and Mars nodded.
"Of course not you twit." Ami's voice hissed. "I'm taking this
to the surface. I'm going to purge the earth of the zombified humans
we created. Then I will devote the remainder of the planet to the electronic
wonders, the AIs."
"You're joking!" Mars gasped, offended at the thought of a soulless
world.
"Am I?" Mercury replied, a challenge issued. One giant hand
of the Zaruthusa raised above them before smashing down. They barely
had time to jump out of the way. "Serenity played God, purifying the
mortals, stripping their minds of any wisdom they possessed. And just
like our creator, she left us to suffer with what she created, with no
guidance. I refuse to be the guardian of a dead world."
"How can you talk like this?" Jupiter pleaded. "Usagi-chan didn't
leave us intentionally. You yourself said there's still hope we can reach her-"
"Fuck her." Ami cut her off, by slamming one of the robot's huge
hands at the group. They darted away by mere inches. "You three are
only the beginning. I will cleanse the planet of all of you. I will make
this place pure!"
"We can't just keep dodging her," Mars hissed, barely missing a slam from
a stray tentacle.
"Your right," muttered Venus, bracing her feet on a pile of robot arms.
"Ami-chan, I really don't want to hurt you, but your leaving me no choice!"
Raising a pointing finger she watched as her power flew at the legs of the
robot. It was joined by red flames leaping from her left. She felt the
energy she was discharging through her body with a giddy joy that disturbed
her. The world was so docile now, so boring, like the blandest oatmeal. She
got a perverse pleasure out of using her powers, even if it was against one
of her own.
The metal on the robot blackened and charred. Jupiter drove at it with her
fist, hoping to destroy the weakened infrastructure. As she leaped one of
the hands came rushing at her. "JUPITER! LOOK OUT!" Venus called, too late.
The brunette slammed not *into* the concrete walls but *through* them.
Mars was already headed that way before she was lifted off her feet by
one of the machine's sharp pincers. It entered her body through her
shoulder and exited out the front. "ARRRRR" Mars screamed as she literally
dangled by the metal impaling her.
"REI-CHAN!" Venus gasped, leaping high into the air to land on the arm.
She reached down for Mars, who held up her good arm as she moaned in agony.
The arm made a flicking motion, which nearly dislodged Venus. She fell on
her belly and wrapped herself across the slick surface. Mar's shoulder slid
with a sickening wet sound as the pincer exited the same way it had entered.
She made a crater in a large pile of debris with her landing.
"MARS?! JUPITER?!" Venus wailed, looking around at where both their bodies
had impacted. She saw no movement. Her eyes teared as she glanced up at the
cockpit and her former senshi. "Ami-chan, please stop! We have to help them!"
Cruel laughter met her pleas. The arm started to wave back and forth as Venus
struggled to hold on. She managed to get to her feet just as a saw cut
through where she had been laying. She vaulted backwards, before using
another of the metal tentacles that was coming at her to jump up to the
enclosure Mercury was in.
"Ami-chan," she whispered, placing her arm on the plastic coating. She
could hardly recognize her fomer friend. Half a dozen cords were attached
to her naked form. Her skin was gray, and spread thin over her skeleton.
Her eyes were closed, and her mouth did not move even as the electronic
amplified voice raged at Venus.
"Just give it up, Minako-chan! Why bother fighting me?!" Several of the
metal appendages tried to close in on her, but they couldn't find a good
angle. She was too close to the cockpit.
"What are you trying to do really, Ami-chan?" Minako whimpered as the
machine shuddered under her. Something was happening to it. "Usagi
wouldn't want a souless world, and neither would you. This doesn't
make any sense, and you always make sense Ami-chan. Please stop this!"
"She left us! Shes gone, and we can't get her back! *I* can't get her back!"
The mechanical voice rose in volume, accompanied by something that sounded
like modem feedback times 1000. "I've tried everything I can think of on
her, and nothing works! Usagi is gone! She fucking left us with this world,
this castrated relic she created, and I can't stand it! I can't pretend
anymore Minako! I can't pretend to be OK! I'm not OK! None of us are! You
know it as well as I do!"
"Even if you don't want to pretend, it doesn't mean you have the right to
destroy everything she created-" Minako stated in a rush, feeling one of
the more slender tentacles covered in razors barely miss splitting her
leg tendons. Her hand spread across the plastic, her power lighting it
up, making it shake and begin to split aside.
"YES I DO!" The voice boomed, and inside the tank Ami started to tremble.
"Let me finish it for us all! We might even come back Minako-chan. Some
place else. Or at least it'll be like an endless dream. You won't feel
a thing-"
"ARHHHHH!" screeched Venus as the razors tore at her back. Tore through
skin. Through muscle. Her hand busted through the tank, a watery substance
pouring around her as she stepped inside. As she moved onto Ami-chan, and
beyond the pain of the think eating her alive behind her. She tore at the
cords connecting Ami. But there were 100s of them, and the razor kept
up on her.
"Give it up!" The voice was weaker, but still there. "We're nearly immortal,
but we're not invincible. You can't stop the machine by pulling a plug.
And I'll never quit! Even if I have to kill all of you!"
Venus' hands clutched at the pallid gray flesh that had once been Ami's neck.
Her grip was weaker then she would have liked, but she could feel the throb
of Ami's heart, the breath she still needed. She tightened her hold to cut
off Ami's airpipe, even as she felt the razor arm pull out, and plunge
forward. A slight turn of her head saved her from being severed above her
spine. She doubted she'd be so lucky on the return trip.
"I'm going to win!" The artificial voice raged, seeming stronger, even
as Minako felt weaker. She was laying against Ami now, her hands still
clenching the neck. Even if they were going numb, they looked to Minako
like they were still applying pressure. But for how long?
_____________________________________________________________________
To be continued... Maybe. If I get some e-mail ^_~ *
_____________________________________________________________________________
Questions? Comments? Arrows?
-Angst88@aol.com
www.emporess-sama.net
-Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.