Rated PG-13
Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and everything affiliated with her are the property
of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and DiC. They are not mine, I
am only borrowing them for a little while. Any other characters are mine.
If anyone wishes to use them, please notify me first.
Just a bit of clarification:
the * * signify a person's thoughts
the ***** before a section signify either a memory or a shift into
the mindscape or dreamscape (don't worry, this will make sense eventually, I
hope).
Please email me with your questions, comments, and/or criticisms at
jnkryo@yahoo.com. Heck, flame me if you want to. I'd like any
feedback I can get. Enjoy the story!
Daughters of Destiny
Part 10
by: Johnny Ng
Lita looked at the clock on the wall and saw that her last class was
nearly over. Mr. Hishari, though, was a stickler for rules and continued to
teach.
When the bell rang, he squinted at the clock before shutting his
book. "Very well, class, you may leave. Have a good weekend." The sigh
that the class emitted could be heard across the street, but Mr. Hishari's
hearing was only slightly better than his eyesight, so he didn't hear
anything.
"I cannot believe how boring Hishari's class is," Serena complained
once she was outside.
Amy thought for a second. "I don't think so. I find his class very
interesting."
Mina laughed. "Only you would find physics interesting, Amy."
The four friends soon found themselves outside Lita's apartment.
"I'm sorry we have to have our meeting at your place Lita," Serena
said, "but Raye's grandfather is holding a some sort of Shinto ceremony at
the shrine."
"No problem, it gets kind of lonely for me living here all by myself
with no one to talk to except my plants."
Lita opened the door and Mina immediately went in. "Where's Trent?"
she asked.
"He's in the guest room, still unconscious. Luna and Artemis are in
there with him, too."
Mina looked in on Trent and sighed. "Has there been any change?" she
asked the cats. She saw them shake their heads and came back to the living
room and sat down disconsolately.
Even though it pained Serena to see her friend like that she knew she
had to get down to business. She looked around and realized that a key
person was missing. "Hey, where's Rhea?"
"She's at a freshman volleyball practice," Mina said. "She should be
here in about a half-hour."
"Good, Raye should be here by then, too." Serena turned to Amy.
"Have you been able to find out anything from your computer?"
The genius girl nodded. "My decryption program has just finished. I
was able to download the coordinates for Bane's ship from the scout's
navigational computers."
"Good, now all we have to do is wait for Raye and Rhea to show up."
Serena smiled. "At least I'm not the one who's holding up everything this
time."
As they waited, Lita brought out some snacks and turned on the
television. No one really paid much attention to the droning news reporter,
but one piece caught everyone's attention.
Haruka Ten'ou and Michiru Kaiou, the world-class racing star and
violin player, appear to be cutting their tour in the United States short.
Sources there say that the couple will be returning to Japan as early as
tomorrow.
Mina spoke up. "Maybe we should wait for them. We could use all the
help we can get."
Amy shook her head. "I'm afraid we can't wait. The coordinates I
got are only good for today. Apparently, the mothership changes position
randomly, so if we wait too long, we'll miss it."
"And we don't even know when they'll get here," Lita chipped in.
"Besides, I'm sure we can handle whatever is on Bane's ship."
There was a knock on the door and Serena went to answer it and let
Raye and Rhea in. She brought them both up to speed on what happened.
"So, are we ready to go?" the priestess asked.
There was suddenly another knock on the door and Darien entered.
"You weren't on planning to anywhere without me, were you?"
"Darien!" Serena exclaimed, "I'm so glad you're here." She ran up to
him and hugged him and told him about the plan.
"Why didn't you tell me what you were doing?"
Serena blushed. "I didn't want you to get hurt...and I kinda
forgot..."
There were groans all around while Darien just chuckled.
Raye signaled for everyone's attention. "Ok, if we're all ready
_now_, let's go."
The Scouts and Darien transformed and joined hands with each other
with Rhea in the middle. Luna and Artemis walked out of the guestroom with
worried expressions on their faces.
"Be careful everyone," Luna said, "and good luck."
The all nodded and began to power up.
"Sailor Teleport!" Artemis cried when they were ready and they
vanished in a flash of light.
Sailor Pluto was inside a portal with Neptune and Uranus. She was
looking through the mists at the events going on in Lita apartment.
Uranus shivered. "How long are we going to stay here, Pluto? Your
portals always give me the creeps."
"Not much longer, the Inners are about to leave."
Neptune was looking in to her mirror again and frowned. "It's
strange. The vision I am receiving is of a great darkness covering the
Earth...but I'm sensing that it's necessary."
The time scout was silent then murmured. "Perhaps because it is."
She peered deeper into the mists. "They've teleported to Bane's ship."
"Shouldn't we go and help them instead," the aqua-haired scout asked.
Pluto had filled them in on what was happening in Japan between Trent and
Bane.
"They will be fine. We must do our part."
Uranus threw up her hands. "But to guard Trent? Wouldn't Luna and
Artemis be enough?"
"No, we must handle Trent."
"But he's unconscious!"
"Bane may still be able to control Trent. If he does, it is up to us
to stop the mage from hurting any innocent people. Let's go." She opened
the portal and the three Outer Scouts stepped through and into Lita's living
room. Needless to say, the Lunar cats were surprised.
"What are you doing here?" Luna asked.
Uranus picked up the two cats and tossed them into a closet. "Sorry
to do this to you Luna, Artemis, but we have to watch Trent."
Neptune nudged her partner. "You didn't have to do that, you know.
You could have just asked them."
The blond scout shrugged. "This was quicker." She went into the
guestroom and came out with Trent over her shoulder. "I've got him."
Pluto waved her Time Key and opened a portal. "Let's go, quickly."
Once the Neptune and Uranus went through, she took a quick look around before
following, ignoring the muffled protests of the Lunar cats from the closet.
In a little used storage bay aboard the _Wrath_ the air shimmered and
seven people popped into existence. The Scouts immediately assumed defensive
stances, but saw that the room they were in was empty.
Sailor Mercury took out her computer and went to an unused computer
terminal. "I'm going to try and download the ship's schematic."
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Jupiter asked. "What if it has
an alarm like on the scoutship?"
Mercury shook her head. "The download I performed on the scoutship
was a direct download. I didn't try to be subtle. This time I'm using a
worm program. It'll search out and download the files that we need and do it
carefully."
"Well, can we hurry it up?" Mars asked nervously. "This entire ship
is giving me really bad vibes."
A short time later, Mercury's computer signaled that it was ready.
The scout retrieved it and accessed the ship's blueprints. "We're here," she
said pointing to her display. "The ship's controls for the magical draining
are located on the bridge. We need to get there to stop it."
"What about Trent?" Venus asked. "Where's his...mind, or whatever?"
"I don't know. It's not in the ship's databanks."
"What if we split up?" Rhea suggested. "I'll go look for Trent while
the rest of you follow Mercury's directions and stop the draining."
"You're going alone? Are you sure you want to do that?" Venus asked.
"Maybe I should go with you?"
The mage shook her head. "The others need your help more than I do.
All I need is your pendant to guide me."
The orange scout looked dubious but unclasped her necklace and handed
it over to Rhea. "Be careful...and good luck."
Rhea nodded. "You too." She took a quick look at the ship's map
displayed on the computer and headed out the door slowly. The others waited
a few minutes before leaving themselves.
The door to the storage bay closed quietly and in the darkness, the
computer terminal's screen came to life as it sent an urgent message to
Master Bane.
In his quarters, the sorcerer glanced at the screen. *So, they have
arrived.* He rose from his desk and teleported away.
"Are you sure this is the right way?"
Mercury gave Tuxedo Mask a patronizing look and the dapper-clad hero
held up his hands. She checked her computer and said, "The bridge is just
one level above us. There's a turbolift at the end of this corridor that
should take us right there."
The group headed down the hall and Mars raised a question, "Where is
everybody?"
"What do you mean?" Sailor Moon asked.
The fire scout stifled the irritation she felt towards her leader.
"I mean, if this is a warship, where is the crew? For a vessel this size,
there should hundreds of people roaming these halls. We haven't even met up
with a single person."
"Maybe they're all asleep?" Sailor Moon suggested hopefully.
Mars ignored her and turned to the others. "I think we may be
walking into a trap. I've been getting this uneasy feeling ever since we've
gotten onto this ship."
Mercury spoke up, "So you're saying that they may be waiting for us
on the bridge?"
The scout leader saw Mars nod and asked nervously, "So what do we
do?"
No one spoke for a moment, then Tuxedo Mask said, "I think we'll have
to chance it. We have to stop Bane from draining the Earth's magic."
The uncertainty left Sailor Moon's face and she nodded. She saw
determination etched on her companions' faces as well. Together, they all
ran into the turbolift and headed to the bridge.
When the lift began to slow down, Sailor Moon looked at Mercury who
nodded. The lift stopped and the door began to open.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
A billowing bank of fog forced its way onto the bridge and the Scouts
and Tux jumped in after it. Mercury immediately started scanning for enemies
and gasped.
"There's no one here!"
"Are you sure?" Venus asked.
The water scout began to dissipate her fog and everyone tensed for a
second before seeing that the room they were in was indeed empty."
Sailor Moon looked around and smiled. "Cool, this must be our lucky
day."
A person materialized in the air above them. "I wouldn't count on
that, girl."
"Who're you?" Mars asked, her hands going for one of her ofudas.
"I am Captain Raze, and this is my ship." He saw Sailor Moon start
to introduce herself and interrupted. "I already know who you are, and my
master is eager to see all of you."
"Well, give him our regards," the fire scout retorted and quickly
threw her ofuda at Raze. "Evil spirits, begone!"
Raze, though, was quicker and managed to grab it before it hit him.
He looked at it carefully. "Hmm, an anti-evil ward. This might have proven
painful if it had struck. As it is..." He tore the prayer strip slowly and
let it fall to the ground.
At that instant the deck became electrified. Everyone standing on
the bridge cried out as powerful electric currents ran up their legs and
paralyzed their limbs. Raze just looked on and smiled.
One by one, the Scouts and Tuxedo Mask fell. When they were all
unconscious, the captain signaled for him men to place them in the brig.
*Good, everything is going to Master Bane's plan.*
Rhea had Mina's pendant grasped firmly in her hand. Every so often
she would close her eyes and concentrate on it to try and get a sense of
where Trent was. After doing that a few times, she found herself standing in
front of a pair of large doors. *I guess Trent's in there.*
She put her hand on one of the doors and they both slid open quietly.
Rhea peered into the dark room but couldn't make out anything. She took a
few tentative steps into the room and the doors closed shut behind her. She
gasped and was about to turn back when she heard Bane's voice.
"Oh, do come in, Rhea. I've been expecting you."
The mage tried to choke down the sudden spike of fear she was
feeling. "Let Trent go, Bane."
"But don't you already have him?" the sorcerer asked innocently.
Rhea ground her teeth. "You know what I mean, you bastard."
"Tut tut, no need for name calling. I believe this is what you were
referring to." A shaft of light shot down from the ceiling and illuminated a
pedestal. On it was a small glowing cube.
Rhea took hold of the pendant and tried to send a message. *Trent,
is that you?*
*Rhea?* Trent's thoughts sounded strained. *Yeah, it's me. Are the
others with you?*
"Allow me to answer that question, my servant," Bane interrupted.
Six more shafts of light appeared and revealed the Scouts and Tuxedo Mask.
Each was unconscious and bound by energy rings.
The mage gasped. "Let them go!"
"I don't think so, they have annoyed me one too many times. I
believe I will destroy them..." Bane appeared in front of her. "...and you
as well, apprentice."
"I'm not an apprentice anymore!" Rhea concentrated and launched a
flurry of energy bolts at the sorcerer.
Bane stood his ground and let the bolts strike him. The resulting
explosion threw the mage backward. She opened her eyes and saw a burning
pile of ash. Bane was nowhere to be seen. *Well, that was easier than I
thought.*
Rhea ran to the pedestal and picked up the cube. "Trent, are you
alright?*
*Rhea! What happened to Bane?*
She smiled. "I don't think he'll be bothering us anymore. I just
blasted him and he sort of turned to dust."
Trent wasn't so sure. It seemed too easy, too convenient. Even
though there were still some doubts in his mind, Trent chose not to look a
gift horse in the mouth. He sent his thoughts to Rhea, *See if you can free
the others.*
"I'm afraid she won't be able to do that." It was Bane again.
Rhea spun around and saw the sorcerer standing behind her. "But
h-how? I destroyed you!"
Bane motioned toward the pile of ash. "You believed that was me?
Child, you have much to learn in the ways of magic. I could teach you...if
you become my servant."
"Never!"
"That is what your master said and look what has happened to him."
Trent knew that his niece was being baited. *Rhea, get out of here!*
Rhea chose to ignore her uncle. "Release Trent's mind as well as my
friends!" she blustered.
The sorcerer chuckled. "You wish your master's body to live again?
Very well." He spoke a quick incantation.
The mage tensed but felt nothing directed at her. "What are you
doing?"
"Merely granting your wish. Trent's body is alive again, though he
is a bit wild right now. I hope you put him in a secure place. I would hate
to think what a mindless drone with such power would do to a defenseless
city."
Rhea gasped.
*Rhea, you have to return to Tokyo,* Trent told her. *You have to
stop...me!*
"No," Bane said ominously. He waved his hand and the same energy
rings binding the scouts appeared around her. "She won't be going anywhere."
Sailor Uranus was pacing around in the living room of one of Setsuna
Meiou's many remote mountain cottages. "Michiru, is any of this making any
sense to you?"
The aqua-haired woman was lounging on the sofa reading a fashion
magazine. Unlike Uranus, she wasn't transformed at the moment. She looked
up at her partner and smiled. "Relax, Haruka. I'm sure Setsuna knows what
she's doing."
The scout grumbled a bit. "Where is Pluto anyway, and where's
Hotaru. I thought she was staying here."
A portal opened in the middle of the room and Pluto stepped through.
"I am having Sailor Saturn guard the Time Gates while I am away."
Michiru frowned. "Are you sure she's up to it. She's only a child."
Pluto looked at her. "She will be able to guard it."
"Well, what about sleeping beauty upstairs then?" Uranus asked.
"He's just lying there like a log."
The time scout nodded. "Good. As long as he remains that way,
everything should be fi-"
There was a loud crash coming from the top of the stairs. Michiru
immediately grabbed her wand and transformed as the other two Outer Scouts
ran up the steps. At the top of the stairs they found Trent's room totally
destroyed. The mage's body was nowhere to be found.
"Damn!" Uranus punched the wall. "Where did he go?"
Neptune took out her Aqua Mirror and looked into it. The vision she
received momentarily surprised her. "He's in downtown Tokyo, near the
Takazawa Industries building."
Uranus gave Pluto a look. "You knew this was going to happen."
The green-haired scout shrugged. "It was a possibility." She opened
a portal. "We must go."
Mariko Hanada looked at her watch and sighed. The day was finally
over. She stretched out in her large leather swivel chair and worked the
kinks out of her back. *I must be getting old.*
In truth, Mariko was only in her late thirties. She was of average
height and had an athletic build. Her hair was a wavy auburn and her face
still drew quite a few adoring stares. Part of her admiration could also be
due to the fact that she was the wealthiest woman in Japan, and single as
well.
*Being the president of a multibillion-dollar international
corporation takes a lot out of a person.*
It was hard to believe that only a few short years ago she had only
been the secretary to Daniel Takazawa, the original head of Takazawa
Industries. But with his untimely disappearance, his last orders were
carried out and it came as a big shock to Mariko that she was named the
successor to her boss.
All this thinking of Daniel reminded Mariko of something. She typed
on her computer and called up the file on Trent Powers. She smiled.
*Whoever this young man is, in another year, he will become a very wealthy
man.* Along with naming Mariko as his successor, Daniel also had her set up
a trust fund for Trent. Currently, that fund was up to a half-billion
dollars.
She shut off the computer and left her office. She waved to the
workers as she passed and headed for the garage. Even though she could have
hired a chauffeur to drive her in a limo, Mariko chose to drive to and from
work herself, and in the same sedan she driven for the past five years. If
there was one thing Mariko Hanada was, she was a practical woman who didn't
like to flaunt her wealth.
She drove out of the garage and turned onto the street when there was
a sudden commotion a few cars in front of her. Mariko got out of her car to
take a look and gasped. There, in the middle of the street, was Trent
Powers! And that wasn't all. Trent had a vacant look in his eyes and was
shooting what seemed like lasers from his hands at the cars around him.
Mariko was about to run when Trent saw her and raised his hand.
The three Outer Scouts stepped out of the portal...and into a war
zone. There were screams and explosions everywhere.
"Where is he?" Sailor Neptune shouted over the noise.
Pluto squinted through the smoke and saw Trent pointing at a woman.
*No, I'm too late!* Desperately she gripped her Time Staff and whispered,
"Dead Scream."
The purple ball of power sped towards Trent and struck him in the
back, but he had already launched a plasma bolt at the woman.
Mariko stood there on the street, paralyzed with fear.
The sizzling energy bolt crackled towards her and she closed her eyes
and waited to die. She felt a slight tingling and heard a sharp crack.
Mariko waited a bit longer and when she found that she was still alive, she
slowly opened one eye.
"Hello, Mariko," Daniel Takazawa's said, smiling.
Mariko smiled back as her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Daniel dissipated the shield he created and sighed. "Oh dear."
The three scouts made their way over to the unconscious woman and the
ghost. Sailor Pluto gave Daniel a look. "Thank you for your help, Daniel."
"Think nothing of it." The ghost looked at Mariko. "I cared for her
very much."
"Uh, sorry to interrupt this," Uranus asked, "but what are we going
to do about Trent?" The mindless mage had gotten up and was heading up the
street.
"It's alright," Pluto said. "We did what we were supposed to do."
She turned to Daniel. "Or rather you did. The life of Mariko Hanada is very
important to the future. I would welcome your help in stopping Trent."
"Alright Pluto. I gather you had something to do with bringing me
here."
The time scout smiled enigmatically. "Let's just say I know people."
She started after Trent and the others followed.
The mage was weaving between parked cars and light posts,
occasionally casting a fireball at them and reducing them to slag.
"Deep Submerge!"
Trent turned and saw a bright blue ball strike him in the chest. He
flew back and smashed up against a car.
Uranus smiled. "Nice shot."
Neptune smiled back, but then she looked at Pluto. "How can Trent do
this? I thought his connection with Bane was severed."
"Apparently Bane is still able to communicate with Trent, but that's
about it," Daniel said. "At least that's what I can detect."
"Can you stop Bane's control?"
The apparition shook his head. "I'm afraid not, not in this
condition."
"We must take him to the Time Gate," Pluto said quietly.
Uranus raised her eyebrows. "What?! Are you sure?"
"The Gate exists outside of time and space. Bane would not be able
to influence Trent there."
"I don't think he's going to go peacefully, though," Uranus said
looking at Trent who had just wrenched himself free of the car.
Daniel suddenly had an idea. "Can you keep him busy for a few
minutes? I think I may have a way to capture him, or at least slow him
down."
The Outers nodded and moved in closer to the mage. Numerous Deep
Submerges, World Shakings, and Dead Screams rained down on Trent. He managed
to dodge most of them and those that he couldn't he just canceled them out
with a blast of his own.
As soon as the scouts went on the attack, Daniel started to cast a
spell. It was a spell that he was intimately familiar with, and when it was
finished he smiled. He threw out his ghostly arms and a length of chain flew
out. It flew at Trent and wrapped around his body, pinning his arms to his
side. The mage struggled but received a painful shock as his reward.
Nevertheless, Trent continued to try and break the chain. Soon, though,
Trent fell forward and lay on the ground twitching feebly.
"Nice spell," Sailor Uranus complimented.
The ghost shrugged. "It worked on him before."
Pluto took her staff and the Garnet Orb flashed. A portal appeared
in front of her. "Bring Trent inside, quickly. Bane may have been able to
sense it when we defeated him."
The tall blond scout picked up the mage's prone body and jumped into
the portal. The other's followed her with Pluto brining up the rear."
Walking through the swirling colors and damp mist, Uranus heard a
strong voice call out.
"Halt! Who dares to seek entrance into the Time Gate?"
Uranus sighed. "Cut it out, Hotaru. I'm not in the mood for this."
There was a moment of silence, then a puzzled voice asked, "Haruka?
Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me." The mists faded and Uranus was finally able to see
the owner of the voice. It belonged to a young looking Sailor Scout. She
had dark hair and dark-violet eyes, and she was carrying a large, wicked-
looking glaive.
"Haruka! Michiru! Setsuna! What are you doing here? Is that Trent
you have flung over your shoulder?"
Uranus held up her hand. "Whoa, slow down Hotaru. Can we get past
first?"
"Oh, of course." Saturn lowered her pole-arm and let the three
scouts through. When Daniel tried to get by, though, the glaive immediately
whipped up. "Who are you?"
Even though Daniel knew he was a ghost, the sight of a little girl
holding a staff with a two foot long blade at his throat was more than
slightly unnerving. "Uh, Pluto...a little help please?"
"It's alright, Saturn. That's Daniel Takazawa's ghost. He's been
very helpful so he can pass."
Saturn nodded and allowed Daniel to pass. Then she and Pluto went to
one side and spoke quietly.
Uranus had already dumped Trent on the ground. "He seems to have
calmed down somewhat."
Pluto finished talking with Saturn and went over to examine the body.
"He's free of Bane's control. You can release him from his chains."
Daniel made a motion with his hands and the chains vanished. He
looked around at the landscape around him. It was dim and mists obscured
everything, however, he was able to make out a large set of ornate doors.
The ghost turned to the time scout. "Nice place you've got here. I've
always wondered what the Time Gate looks like. Now, I have some questions
for you. You said earlier that Mariko was important, why?"
"I am forbidden to reveal the events of the future, Daniel, but
Mariko Hanada will be of assistance to Trent and to Crystal Tokyo in the
years to come."
A quizzical look appeared on Daniel's face. "Crystal Tokyo?" He was
about to ask another question when he suddenly caught sight of the look that
Pluto was giving him. "Alright, I will accept that you brought me back to
save her." The ghost gave the time scout a look. "But there is something
else, isn't there?"
"There is the prophecy."
The made Daniel pause. "You mean that it's true?"
The scout nodded. "It is, and you know what that means."
"Yes...," Daniel sighed and turned to his unconscious brother. "But
it can't be him, not in this condition."
"You're right."
"Then...Rhea?"
"Yes." Pluto saw the apparition about to raise an objection. "Do
not worry, she will be ready," she reassured him.
Pluto's reassurances didn't do much to calm Daniel down, but he held
his tongue. "Fine, then what do we do with my brother?"
The time scout's face hardened. "We're going to board Bane's ship
and rescue him and the others."
Neptune looked up. "Rescue? What happened to them?"
"They've all been captured by Bane, even Rhea."
Daniel gasped and Uranus shook her head. "They're still kids," the
scout muttered. "Well then, let's go. Saturn, you stay behind and look
after Trent and the Gate--"
"No," Pluto said, "she comes with us."
"But what about the Time Gates?"
"They can get by for a time without anyone keeping watch over them."
She lifted her staff and opened a portal. "We must hurry."
End Part 10