Note: Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko,
Toei Animation, and DIC. Sailor Orion, Sailor America, and various other trademarks
are the property of LeVar Bouyer. Sailor Sirius is the property of Sharon Williams,
and Sailor Vulcan is the property of Jeffery Branch.
LUNAR: Tales From Crystal Tokyo
By D. Pung
Episode 1-05: As The Moon Turns
Rated: R
Nebular Artifact NAX-1701, near the Sabaat system, 18 June 2736
The SLS Draco
The doors hissed open, and Tanya walked in. Talia, Jen, and Eileen were
already in the briefing room, relaxing out of their Senshi forms for awhile. There
were still a few char marks on the walls; when walking from the shuttlebay, the pair
from the Pleiades noted the damage from the enemy ship's attack was everywhere, and
quite extensive. She tossed the handlink computer she held onto the table.
"How's repairs coming?" asked Jen.
Tanya sighed. "Still working on it. Most of the important systems are fixed.
A lot of the support systems are still erratic or offline; that's not even including
cosmetic damage. Fortunately, injuries were minor." All four wore the uniforms of
the RSN, with their captain's rank proudly displayed.
"I doubt that battleship will return any time in the near future," came the
calm voice of Talia.
"And we can thank the Crystal for that! Anyway, the reason for this meeting
is to discuss the data downloaded from the Demon," stated Tanya.
The other three sat up. "The Demon? That was its name?" said Eileen.
Tanya sat down. "Yep. The DK battleship Demon, under the command of Lord
Heran. Its mission.... to patrol and intercept RSN vessels attempting to scan or
explore this nebula. To protect its secrets. To make them worry... etc., etc.,
etc. The mission orders are fairly longwinded. It also includes possible
colonization of that planetoid."
"WHAT!" exclaimed Jen and Eileen, while Talia merely blinked. "How dare
they!"
Talia looked thoughtful, as she cocked her head. "Colonize a planet, build
defensive stations, the better to further protect whatever is hidden. It also gives
them ample reason to go to war for this patch of space, which we have not truly
claimed. There is the additional benefit of almost a direct path to the Sol
system."
"We must go to headquarters with this!" hissed Eileen.
"Agreed," said Talia. "I would also suggest that since the Demon now knows
that there are two of us, we stay together. The rotation idea is no longer viable;
their next assault will be plotted to get us both."
"Then let's advise fleet HQ right away, and make plans for the next time the
Demon rears its ugly head!" Jen said forcefully. "It's unlikely we'll get
assistance any time soon.... the fleet is stretched pretty thin. It's gonna come
down to us.... or them."
Crystal Tokyo Spaceport, Planet Luna, Sol system, 18 June 2736
Derrelli stared out of the window as the sun's rays burst over the horizon,
highlighting the area he was now approaching. The lush green forests, crystal-clear
lakes, and brilliant patches of colored roses paled in comparison to the massive
crystalline structuring of Crystal Tokyo.
He thought for a moment, remembering that Crystal Tokyo had been on Luna now
for just over a hundred years. The original Crystal Tokyo, in Japan, still existed;
however, it was now a huge resort, with many theme parks, museums, parks, zoos, and
tourist traps. CT Japan had become the Smithsonian Institution of the GM.
CT Luna, on the other hand, was the capital. It was built close to the
original palace of the Silver Millennium, which was the only spot on Luna not
terraformed. A force field contained the area, and it was a national monument. (It
was fairly well known that while many visited the area, the Planetary Senshi, King
Endiymon, and Neo-Queen Serenity I herself almost never did.)
He blinked as the shuttle banked, and some of the light reflecting from CT
momentarily blinded him. The shuttle's course now carried him and his fellows
towards a complex of low, long buildings, arranged in a star-shape. They were
shrouded by tall trees, with a well-tended garden in the middle. A thrill rose in
him as they overflew the Academy.
They slowed just outside of the expanse of Crystal Tokyo proper, nosing down
to the spaceport. Moments later, they began dropping, settling onto the arrival
pad. There was a light thunk as the landing struts dropped, and the shuttle
rotated, the dull whine of the anti-grav slowly fading. A final thunk indicated
contact with the ground as the anti-grav engines went silent. Then, the Archmage
who was serving as their chaperone stood, reaching to the hatch controls. As the
panel next to the hatch went green, he pressed it, and the hatch hissed open as the
air pressures equalized. A ramp automatically extended, and he turned to face them.
"Well, this is where we say goodbye. You will find a personnel officer from
the Academy at the base of this ramp," he said, glancing out the hatch. "She will
be telling you what's going on. You can all relax slightly. The hardest part is
over; the discipline will not be anything like Basic."
Derrelli nodded; he remembered doing a lot of pushups; extra laps around the
track, and various duties due to his mouth. He wasn't the only one, he knew.
Still, the added discipline had made it a lot easier to meet the physical requisites
for passing Basic.
"You're here to learn magic now, and the environment is going to become mostly
academic. There will be weekly group physical workouts; you will be required to put
in a daily allotment by yourselves. Every six weeks there is weapon practice.
Aside from that, you'll feel like you're in college!" finished their babysitter.
There were a few snickers, as not for a second did anyone believe that after
what they had all just completed. Derrelli paused, wondering if he was telling the
truth. No daily wake-up at four? More than ten minutes to wake up? No more two
hours of PT, or the bi-hourly push-up sessions? No more climbing, running, and
jumping in the oppressive, dry heat, with no water until the end of the eight-mile
course? No more burly, weight lifting maniacs in their faces, finding fault with
anything they did? No more extreme cleaning, or orderliness? No more snapping to
attention and saluting everything in sight? To be able to eat in peace, at one's
own pace, without a TI hovering, snapping at people, making sure that everyone was
eating in right angles? No more marching in formations?
Derrelli found he didn't have a problem with that... if it were true. He was
about to find out, he realized. About the only restriction that hadn't really
bothered him was the lack of communication with the outside world.
The first rows stood, and began shuffling toward the hatch. Derrelli forced
himself to be patient. He was in one of the back rows. He fought down the
excitement, until he was the picture of calm. He had a long way to go before he was
anything like his namesake. His mind went back to the files he had read from the
CP AI. Under directory Time Travel, subdirectory Unusual Encounters, File: Derrelli.
He knew the entries had been copied from Sailor Mercury's computer. He mentally
recited the file:
"Derrelli Grattef-Ranas. A half-elven magic-user, the red-haired mage's
magic is as fiery as his temperament. Highly intelligent, cocky, yet loyal and friendly.
He is a borderline pyromaniac. Of all the forces we witnessed him manipulating,
we never saw anything but flame. Notes: What are the qualities/differences
between humans/elves? Just how does he use what he terms 'magic'? Is it
similar to Sorcerer magic? Age was given as in his nineties; looked to be in his
thirties. Preferred weapon: a carved staff with a red fire opal gem on its tip. Final
note/question: How and why did nothing ever seem to catch him by surprise or off
balance!?!"
Cadet Derrelli smiled, even as he made a promise to himself. By the Crystal,
I will live up to my name, he swore.
His row began to get up, and he followed suit. He could already smell the
sweet scent of Luna's air, fresh and clean, with the perfect blend of roses (not too
overpowering, yet not too faint), and if sunlight had a taste, it would taste like
the air he took a deep breath of. He glanced up as he exited, and his breath caught
in his throat at the incredible view of Crystal Tokyo, surrounded by its gardens and
forests. Even as he first stepped onto Luna, he knew he would forever remember this
first sight of his new home.
His reverie was suddenly broken as he was poked in the side by the cadet
behind him. He blinked, and took his place in formation. Behind them, the ramp
retreated into the shuttle, and as they were marched away, the hissing steam jets
lit off, and as that trailed off the anti-grav drive kicked in and the shuttle
lifted into the busy sky. He noticed the woman their chaperone had mentioned. She
gave the at ease signal, and he let his duffel slip off his shoulder as he softly
set it down. Several hovervans waited, as she turned to address them.
"Listen up! Welcome to Luna, your home for as long as it takes for you to
graduate to Archmage; unless the higher ups decide to post you to one of the
secondary Academies, anyway. We'll discuss more shortly; for now, break off into
elements and get in those vans! Oh, yeah, one final thing... relax! This isn't
Basic; remember what you learned there and you'll do just fine!" she finished. She
moved to the lead van, and he grabbed his duffle as he followed the cadets in front
of him into the third van. Within minutes, the vans were cruising low over the
trees, leaving the busy spaceport behind as the headed for the quiet, secluded
Academy.
Crystal Palace in Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 18 June 2736
"You're serious?" asked Jupiter.
"As a supernova," said Venus. She surveyed the ornate meeting room. "We have
no reason to doubt the report of the two ships; especially as the Draco was so kind
as to include the complete sensor records, log entries, and damage reports of the
incident. We have to seriously consider this a major threat to us."
Mars leaned back. "So, what do we intend to do about this? It's unlikely
even those two ships and four Senshi can handle the battleship if it is prepared for
both of them."
Uranus sighed. "The fleet is spread pretty thin. I know, I know. We have a
whole lot of ships under construction, and a bunch of eager new captains, but until
they are all ready this is a serious situation."
"How goes the repairs of the Unicorn?" wondered Endiymon, referring to the
heavily damaged cruiser, which had been caught in an ion storm that had destroyed
the DK ship it had been chasing.
"Another month," said Mercury Knight. These meetings weren't too common, when
every Planetary Senshi and Knight was present with the Queen, King, and Princess.
"Sooner if they can lock down the engine imbalance."
"So do we have to rely on those four?" asked Neptune Knight. "Granted, they
are all dependable, resourceful, and quite capable, but they are outmatched."
"Especially if the DK ship calls for reinforcements," added Saturn gloomily.
Serena laid her head on her hands, listening. She liked being in the know,
but truth be told, she rarely got to do anything in here. Then she noted her mother
gazing at her thoughtfully.
Serenity glanced about. "Which they probably will," she stated calmly, in
response to Saturn's comment.
"Do you have an idea, Serenity?" asked Luna politely. The three familiars
hadn't said much up to this point. Truth be told, it had been a very, very long
time since they had been needed to guide the Senshi. They now served in their
original roles as advisors.
"I do indeed. Here is what we are going to do," she began, then elaborated.
"It involves the one ship currently doing nothing important, merely patrolling the
inner system."
Before long, heads were nodding around the table.
Nebular Artifact NAX-1701, near the Sabaat system, 18 June 2736
The Demon
Heran leaned back, gasping, as the screen darkened and retracted. His door
was locked, as it always was when using the mirror to talk to his higher ups. This
was more for personal security, such as relating to his current condition. It
wouldn't do for his crew to see him in his current state.
As the welts from the... correctional treatment he had just received began to
fade, he sighed, trying to ignore the unfamiliar pain. As the most successful
captain of the DK, he had never before been punished. The energy ripping through
his body had been most unpleasant, and even as the pain faded, his anger grew.
At least his request for reinforcements had been granted. He would need help
seeding the planetoid, and defending it, although high command didn't think it
likely the GM could reinforce their two ships. The scheme up to this point had been
fairly successful, and this setback due to a pair of measly scout ships infuriated
him.
"Your time is coming, Draco and Pleiades," he said quietly, clenching his
fists. "I will personally show you the door to hell!"
Academy of Sorcery/Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 18 June 2736
As the hovervan motorcade moved towards the Academy, Derrelli gazed at the
beautiful scenery. He had seen the prettier parts of Mars and Earth, but nothing
came close to the surroundings here. Besides, he was more intimately
acquainted with the Martian desert than anything else. He remembered one of the
more memorable combat drills, with the stun-only blaster rifles....
He ducked low, hitting the red dirt hard, gritting his teeth as his wrenched
right ankle sent spikes of pain up his leg, and the scrape on his left knee was
further irritated. He was soaked in sweat, and his canteen was already almost
empty. He glanced over the bluff as his partner scuffled back down from the edge.
They were the trailing element, the rear guard. The main element was already
down in the valley, and it was their job to make sure that the main element was
covered. He sniffed at the dust raised from his hitting the ground, and he buried
his face in his shoulder, ignoring the filthy uniform as he muffled a cough.
"Anything?" his companion whispered. They both hated these combat drills, for
anyone who was 'killed' had to run laps without break until the exercise was over.
And they could last awhile.
He wiped the sweat from his eyes. The sun was beating down upon them quite
harshly. Parts of the Martian desert shimmered, and a distant dust devil caught his
eye. He gave a quick scan, ignoring the droplets running off his forehead. He once
again glanced at the boulder field at the far edge of the valley.
They were far from any civilized area, having been air-lifted to this remote
locale. The hunting team was a group of TIs who ran this exercise ground, and they
were good. He glanced again at the valley, before sweeping the area once more. His
vision locked on movement amongst the boulders. He quickly triple-tapped his radio
trigger, giving the rear element code. He then triple-tapped again, giving the
danger code. They could both see their squad diving under cover, such as it was.
"Rear, this is Six," came the voice of their squad leader. "What do you see?"
His companion was also looking at the boulder field, and he answered.
"Six, Rear. The enemy point element is moving through the boulder field. It
doesn't look like they've spotted you yet."
He thought this assessment wrong, and as his companion moved higher to get a
better view, he was about to tell him so. The enemies they spotted looked to be
doing the same thing they were... a rearguard. As he moved to tell his companion to
stay low, and his theory, a green beam sliced through the air and laced into his
chest, knocking him backwards. As his 'dead' partner twitched, he dove to one side,
rolling down the hill. Several shots almost nailed him as he ducked behind the
nearest boulder.
"Six, Rear! The enemies in the boulder field is their rearguard! We're
under fire! Smith's down! I'm pinned!" he gasped, readying his rifle. As the
first gunman zigzagged to a better position, he pulled the trigger. He had the
satisfaction of seeing the lead TI drop, twitching.
He had forgotten one thing, as he picked off members of the main enemy squad.
He had forgotten about their point. As he sighted again, having taken down eight
already, something moved in his peripheral vision. He turned, and fire suddenly
overtook his nerves, rendering his muscles useless. He couldn't even feel pain as
the rifle slid from his now limp, useless fingers. He couldn't even turn his head
as he fell.
As he regained consciousness, he noted a TI standing over him.
"Get up!"
He blinked, and struggled to his feet. He fought the numb feeling, knowing
the stun effect was wearing off. He glanced at the TI, who actually had a faint
grin on his face.
"Nice shooting."
"Thank you, sir!" he said, staggering to attention.
"Get moving," the TI said, pointing in the direction of the exercise area HQ.
"It's a long jog."
He groaned as he set out, abusing his already aching muscles further,
staggering as the numbness still persisted, trying to ignore the dryness in his
throat...
Derrelli shook his head as the caravan came to a stop. The outside area was
shady, and if the truth was being told to them, he wouldn't have to worry about
such heat, thirst, pain, and discomfort ever again.
However, he didn't put much trust in those feelings. The training was harsh
for a reason, he figured. He knew that he was now eligible to be deployed to any
trouble spots that could flare up, and that the environments could very well be
worse than Mars' desert.
He was damned if he was going to be unprepared.
As they shuffled off the vans, he noted how comfortable the temperature was in
the shade. They were led into the nearest building, which turned out to be an
auditorium. They were seated, and the woman walked to the stage.
"Okay, boys, welcome to the Academy. I'm the personnel officer here; any
paperwork or problems will be my domain." She was average looking, with the light
purplish tint in her dark hair that signified the atmospheric conditions of Saturn.
Even the blonde people who colonized Saturn had slowly darkened over time. "My name
is Gloria Wolenstein, and I'm to see that you all get settled in. That is the
purpose of this briefing."
She paused, then outlined what they'd already been told, giving times and
locations for PT and weapons training, as well as the gym.
"You'll meet again here in two days to meet your instructors," she continued.
"Now, shortly we will give you a tour here, but first I want to discuss living
arrangements. Many of you noticed that we have a special station here. That is
reserved for a special, one destination train. The other end is in Crystal Tokyo,
near the Palace. Each of you already has a spacious apartment reserved for you;
you may customize as you wish, for these are indeed your homes."
A collection of surprised gasps greeted that statement, but Derrelli wasn't
one of the surprised ones. He had already known that. He also knew their pay was
most generous, even though it wasn't the unlimited credit allowed Senshi and full-
fledged Sorcerers.
She began passing out handlinks, and even as Derrelli gazed at the address of
his very own apartment, he felt the eagerness once again threaten to overtake him.
For in two days, he would begin to learn the very thing he now desired more
than anything in the world.
Magic.
It was almost dusk as he departed the train station, walking the few blocks to
his apartment. He had a fourth-story location, fairly close to the station. He had
already eaten at the Academy dining facility... great food! he thought. He walked
into the lobby, and moved to the bank of elevators.
He stepped off, onto the plush, pastel carpeting. The walls were a soft white
color, with paintings adorning them, and potted plants every few feet. He strolled
down the light blue carpet, to the door marked 422.
He slid the electric key in the slot, and as the door clicked open, he walked
in. The place was empty, except for a pile of boxes.
He set down his duffle, and moved to the top box. He lifted the flap, and
noted the good condition of his computer equipment. He glanced around the spacious,
well designed accommodations.
"Computer?" he asked.
"Yes?" came the reply.
"Wake me up at 0500," Derrelli said. He glanced around. Basic had left him
punctual, and waking up that early gave him several hours in the morning to get
ready for the day, which would begin at 0700. He dug through several boxes, until
he found his blankets. "Maintain room temperature at CT springtime levels, and
when I get up I like to hear twentieth century metal music."
"Very good," came the computer's voice. It didn't much like the thought of
having to deal with this... hacker, but so far he seemed polite.
"I'll customize the rest later," Derrelli yawned. He threw the blankets on
the floor.
Note to self, he thought. First thing to buy is a comfortable bed....
Nebular Artifact NAX-1701, near the Sabaat system, 18 June 2736
The SLS Pleiades
"Damn," muttered Orion. It was all she could think of to say. She stared at
the reply from HQ. The two scout ships were a little too far for face-to-face
viewscreen communications; thus all their communications were done on a report
basis.
America shook her head. "We were right. We're on our own. And they're nice
enough to tell us they think the DK'll be getting reinforcements."
On screen 2, they could see a similar reaction on the Draco's bridge.
"Oh, this is just great," said Sirius. "We're not even close to being fully
repaired, and two of us barely handled one ship. What are the odds the DK sends
another battleship?"
Vulcan bore the slightest hint of a frown. "It is highly probable."
Antares broke in. "It can't be all that bad."
"Say what, you overgrown abacus!" snarled Orion.
"They are saying they have utmost confidence in you. In a way they are paying
these two ships a very high compliment. They believe that the four of you can
pull off a victory and protect the GM's interests, despite the odds," said Antares.
His words slightly mollified Orion, and caused the other three to calm down
slightly, and consider things.
"Besides, I'm sure that a little strategy will work for defeating them,"
added Antares.
"Actually," said America. "I have an idea."
"You?" asked Sirius. She hastily checked herself. "Sorry, that was uncalled
for."
"It's okay," said America. She smiled. She decided to explain.
"Check this out...."
STAY TUNED!
Toei Animation, and DIC. Sailor Orion, Sailor America, and various other trademarks
are the property of LeVar Bouyer. Sailor Sirius is the property of Sharon Williams,
and Sailor Vulcan is the property of Jeffery Branch.
LUNAR: Tales From Crystal Tokyo
By D. Pung
Episode 1-05: As The Moon Turns
Rated: R
Nebular Artifact NAX-1701, near the Sabaat system, 18 June 2736
The SLS Draco
The doors hissed open, and Tanya walked in. Talia, Jen, and Eileen were
already in the briefing room, relaxing out of their Senshi forms for awhile. There
were still a few char marks on the walls; when walking from the shuttlebay, the pair
from the Pleiades noted the damage from the enemy ship's attack was everywhere, and
quite extensive. She tossed the handlink computer she held onto the table.
"How's repairs coming?" asked Jen.
Tanya sighed. "Still working on it. Most of the important systems are fixed.
A lot of the support systems are still erratic or offline; that's not even including
cosmetic damage. Fortunately, injuries were minor." All four wore the uniforms of
the RSN, with their captain's rank proudly displayed.
"I doubt that battleship will return any time in the near future," came the
calm voice of Talia.
"And we can thank the Crystal for that! Anyway, the reason for this meeting
is to discuss the data downloaded from the Demon," stated Tanya.
The other three sat up. "The Demon? That was its name?" said Eileen.
Tanya sat down. "Yep. The DK battleship Demon, under the command of Lord
Heran. Its mission.... to patrol and intercept RSN vessels attempting to scan or
explore this nebula. To protect its secrets. To make them worry... etc., etc.,
etc. The mission orders are fairly longwinded. It also includes possible
colonization of that planetoid."
"WHAT!" exclaimed Jen and Eileen, while Talia merely blinked. "How dare
they!"
Talia looked thoughtful, as she cocked her head. "Colonize a planet, build
defensive stations, the better to further protect whatever is hidden. It also gives
them ample reason to go to war for this patch of space, which we have not truly
claimed. There is the additional benefit of almost a direct path to the Sol
system."
"We must go to headquarters with this!" hissed Eileen.
"Agreed," said Talia. "I would also suggest that since the Demon now knows
that there are two of us, we stay together. The rotation idea is no longer viable;
their next assault will be plotted to get us both."
"Then let's advise fleet HQ right away, and make plans for the next time the
Demon rears its ugly head!" Jen said forcefully. "It's unlikely we'll get
assistance any time soon.... the fleet is stretched pretty thin. It's gonna come
down to us.... or them."
Crystal Tokyo Spaceport, Planet Luna, Sol system, 18 June 2736
Derrelli stared out of the window as the sun's rays burst over the horizon,
highlighting the area he was now approaching. The lush green forests, crystal-clear
lakes, and brilliant patches of colored roses paled in comparison to the massive
crystalline structuring of Crystal Tokyo.
He thought for a moment, remembering that Crystal Tokyo had been on Luna now
for just over a hundred years. The original Crystal Tokyo, in Japan, still existed;
however, it was now a huge resort, with many theme parks, museums, parks, zoos, and
tourist traps. CT Japan had become the Smithsonian Institution of the GM.
CT Luna, on the other hand, was the capital. It was built close to the
original palace of the Silver Millennium, which was the only spot on Luna not
terraformed. A force field contained the area, and it was a national monument. (It
was fairly well known that while many visited the area, the Planetary Senshi, King
Endiymon, and Neo-Queen Serenity I herself almost never did.)
He blinked as the shuttle banked, and some of the light reflecting from CT
momentarily blinded him. The shuttle's course now carried him and his fellows
towards a complex of low, long buildings, arranged in a star-shape. They were
shrouded by tall trees, with a well-tended garden in the middle. A thrill rose in
him as they overflew the Academy.
They slowed just outside of the expanse of Crystal Tokyo proper, nosing down
to the spaceport. Moments later, they began dropping, settling onto the arrival
pad. There was a light thunk as the landing struts dropped, and the shuttle
rotated, the dull whine of the anti-grav slowly fading. A final thunk indicated
contact with the ground as the anti-grav engines went silent. Then, the Archmage
who was serving as their chaperone stood, reaching to the hatch controls. As the
panel next to the hatch went green, he pressed it, and the hatch hissed open as the
air pressures equalized. A ramp automatically extended, and he turned to face them.
"Well, this is where we say goodbye. You will find a personnel officer from
the Academy at the base of this ramp," he said, glancing out the hatch. "She will
be telling you what's going on. You can all relax slightly. The hardest part is
over; the discipline will not be anything like Basic."
Derrelli nodded; he remembered doing a lot of pushups; extra laps around the
track, and various duties due to his mouth. He wasn't the only one, he knew.
Still, the added discipline had made it a lot easier to meet the physical requisites
for passing Basic.
"You're here to learn magic now, and the environment is going to become mostly
academic. There will be weekly group physical workouts; you will be required to put
in a daily allotment by yourselves. Every six weeks there is weapon practice.
Aside from that, you'll feel like you're in college!" finished their babysitter.
There were a few snickers, as not for a second did anyone believe that after
what they had all just completed. Derrelli paused, wondering if he was telling the
truth. No daily wake-up at four? More than ten minutes to wake up? No more two
hours of PT, or the bi-hourly push-up sessions? No more climbing, running, and
jumping in the oppressive, dry heat, with no water until the end of the eight-mile
course? No more burly, weight lifting maniacs in their faces, finding fault with
anything they did? No more extreme cleaning, or orderliness? No more snapping to
attention and saluting everything in sight? To be able to eat in peace, at one's
own pace, without a TI hovering, snapping at people, making sure that everyone was
eating in right angles? No more marching in formations?
Derrelli found he didn't have a problem with that... if it were true. He was
about to find out, he realized. About the only restriction that hadn't really
bothered him was the lack of communication with the outside world.
The first rows stood, and began shuffling toward the hatch. Derrelli forced
himself to be patient. He was in one of the back rows. He fought down the
excitement, until he was the picture of calm. He had a long way to go before he was
anything like his namesake. His mind went back to the files he had read from the
CP AI. Under directory Time Travel, subdirectory Unusual Encounters, File: Derrelli.
He knew the entries had been copied from Sailor Mercury's computer. He mentally
recited the file:
"Derrelli Grattef-Ranas. A half-elven magic-user, the red-haired mage's
magic is as fiery as his temperament. Highly intelligent, cocky, yet loyal and friendly.
He is a borderline pyromaniac. Of all the forces we witnessed him manipulating,
we never saw anything but flame. Notes: What are the qualities/differences
between humans/elves? Just how does he use what he terms 'magic'? Is it
similar to Sorcerer magic? Age was given as in his nineties; looked to be in his
thirties. Preferred weapon: a carved staff with a red fire opal gem on its tip. Final
note/question: How and why did nothing ever seem to catch him by surprise or off
balance!?!"
Cadet Derrelli smiled, even as he made a promise to himself. By the Crystal,
I will live up to my name, he swore.
His row began to get up, and he followed suit. He could already smell the
sweet scent of Luna's air, fresh and clean, with the perfect blend of roses (not too
overpowering, yet not too faint), and if sunlight had a taste, it would taste like
the air he took a deep breath of. He glanced up as he exited, and his breath caught
in his throat at the incredible view of Crystal Tokyo, surrounded by its gardens and
forests. Even as he first stepped onto Luna, he knew he would forever remember this
first sight of his new home.
His reverie was suddenly broken as he was poked in the side by the cadet
behind him. He blinked, and took his place in formation. Behind them, the ramp
retreated into the shuttle, and as they were marched away, the hissing steam jets
lit off, and as that trailed off the anti-grav drive kicked in and the shuttle
lifted into the busy sky. He noticed the woman their chaperone had mentioned. She
gave the at ease signal, and he let his duffel slip off his shoulder as he softly
set it down. Several hovervans waited, as she turned to address them.
"Listen up! Welcome to Luna, your home for as long as it takes for you to
graduate to Archmage; unless the higher ups decide to post you to one of the
secondary Academies, anyway. We'll discuss more shortly; for now, break off into
elements and get in those vans! Oh, yeah, one final thing... relax! This isn't
Basic; remember what you learned there and you'll do just fine!" she finished. She
moved to the lead van, and he grabbed his duffle as he followed the cadets in front
of him into the third van. Within minutes, the vans were cruising low over the
trees, leaving the busy spaceport behind as the headed for the quiet, secluded
Academy.
Crystal Palace in Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 18 June 2736
"You're serious?" asked Jupiter.
"As a supernova," said Venus. She surveyed the ornate meeting room. "We have
no reason to doubt the report of the two ships; especially as the Draco was so kind
as to include the complete sensor records, log entries, and damage reports of the
incident. We have to seriously consider this a major threat to us."
Mars leaned back. "So, what do we intend to do about this? It's unlikely
even those two ships and four Senshi can handle the battleship if it is prepared for
both of them."
Uranus sighed. "The fleet is spread pretty thin. I know, I know. We have a
whole lot of ships under construction, and a bunch of eager new captains, but until
they are all ready this is a serious situation."
"How goes the repairs of the Unicorn?" wondered Endiymon, referring to the
heavily damaged cruiser, which had been caught in an ion storm that had destroyed
the DK ship it had been chasing.
"Another month," said Mercury Knight. These meetings weren't too common, when
every Planetary Senshi and Knight was present with the Queen, King, and Princess.
"Sooner if they can lock down the engine imbalance."
"So do we have to rely on those four?" asked Neptune Knight. "Granted, they
are all dependable, resourceful, and quite capable, but they are outmatched."
"Especially if the DK ship calls for reinforcements," added Saturn gloomily.
Serena laid her head on her hands, listening. She liked being in the know,
but truth be told, she rarely got to do anything in here. Then she noted her mother
gazing at her thoughtfully.
Serenity glanced about. "Which they probably will," she stated calmly, in
response to Saturn's comment.
"Do you have an idea, Serenity?" asked Luna politely. The three familiars
hadn't said much up to this point. Truth be told, it had been a very, very long
time since they had been needed to guide the Senshi. They now served in their
original roles as advisors.
"I do indeed. Here is what we are going to do," she began, then elaborated.
"It involves the one ship currently doing nothing important, merely patrolling the
inner system."
Before long, heads were nodding around the table.
Nebular Artifact NAX-1701, near the Sabaat system, 18 June 2736
The Demon
Heran leaned back, gasping, as the screen darkened and retracted. His door
was locked, as it always was when using the mirror to talk to his higher ups. This
was more for personal security, such as relating to his current condition. It
wouldn't do for his crew to see him in his current state.
As the welts from the... correctional treatment he had just received began to
fade, he sighed, trying to ignore the unfamiliar pain. As the most successful
captain of the DK, he had never before been punished. The energy ripping through
his body had been most unpleasant, and even as the pain faded, his anger grew.
At least his request for reinforcements had been granted. He would need help
seeding the planetoid, and defending it, although high command didn't think it
likely the GM could reinforce their two ships. The scheme up to this point had been
fairly successful, and this setback due to a pair of measly scout ships infuriated
him.
"Your time is coming, Draco and Pleiades," he said quietly, clenching his
fists. "I will personally show you the door to hell!"
Academy of Sorcery/Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 18 June 2736
As the hovervan motorcade moved towards the Academy, Derrelli gazed at the
beautiful scenery. He had seen the prettier parts of Mars and Earth, but nothing
came close to the surroundings here. Besides, he was more intimately
acquainted with the Martian desert than anything else. He remembered one of the
more memorable combat drills, with the stun-only blaster rifles....
He ducked low, hitting the red dirt hard, gritting his teeth as his wrenched
right ankle sent spikes of pain up his leg, and the scrape on his left knee was
further irritated. He was soaked in sweat, and his canteen was already almost
empty. He glanced over the bluff as his partner scuffled back down from the edge.
They were the trailing element, the rear guard. The main element was already
down in the valley, and it was their job to make sure that the main element was
covered. He sniffed at the dust raised from his hitting the ground, and he buried
his face in his shoulder, ignoring the filthy uniform as he muffled a cough.
"Anything?" his companion whispered. They both hated these combat drills, for
anyone who was 'killed' had to run laps without break until the exercise was over.
And they could last awhile.
He wiped the sweat from his eyes. The sun was beating down upon them quite
harshly. Parts of the Martian desert shimmered, and a distant dust devil caught his
eye. He gave a quick scan, ignoring the droplets running off his forehead. He once
again glanced at the boulder field at the far edge of the valley.
They were far from any civilized area, having been air-lifted to this remote
locale. The hunting team was a group of TIs who ran this exercise ground, and they
were good. He glanced again at the valley, before sweeping the area once more. His
vision locked on movement amongst the boulders. He quickly triple-tapped his radio
trigger, giving the rear element code. He then triple-tapped again, giving the
danger code. They could both see their squad diving under cover, such as it was.
"Rear, this is Six," came the voice of their squad leader. "What do you see?"
His companion was also looking at the boulder field, and he answered.
"Six, Rear. The enemy point element is moving through the boulder field. It
doesn't look like they've spotted you yet."
He thought this assessment wrong, and as his companion moved higher to get a
better view, he was about to tell him so. The enemies they spotted looked to be
doing the same thing they were... a rearguard. As he moved to tell his companion to
stay low, and his theory, a green beam sliced through the air and laced into his
chest, knocking him backwards. As his 'dead' partner twitched, he dove to one side,
rolling down the hill. Several shots almost nailed him as he ducked behind the
nearest boulder.
"Six, Rear! The enemies in the boulder field is their rearguard! We're
under fire! Smith's down! I'm pinned!" he gasped, readying his rifle. As the
first gunman zigzagged to a better position, he pulled the trigger. He had the
satisfaction of seeing the lead TI drop, twitching.
He had forgotten one thing, as he picked off members of the main enemy squad.
He had forgotten about their point. As he sighted again, having taken down eight
already, something moved in his peripheral vision. He turned, and fire suddenly
overtook his nerves, rendering his muscles useless. He couldn't even feel pain as
the rifle slid from his now limp, useless fingers. He couldn't even turn his head
as he fell.
As he regained consciousness, he noted a TI standing over him.
"Get up!"
He blinked, and struggled to his feet. He fought the numb feeling, knowing
the stun effect was wearing off. He glanced at the TI, who actually had a faint
grin on his face.
"Nice shooting."
"Thank you, sir!" he said, staggering to attention.
"Get moving," the TI said, pointing in the direction of the exercise area HQ.
"It's a long jog."
He groaned as he set out, abusing his already aching muscles further,
staggering as the numbness still persisted, trying to ignore the dryness in his
throat...
Derrelli shook his head as the caravan came to a stop. The outside area was
shady, and if the truth was being told to them, he wouldn't have to worry about
such heat, thirst, pain, and discomfort ever again.
However, he didn't put much trust in those feelings. The training was harsh
for a reason, he figured. He knew that he was now eligible to be deployed to any
trouble spots that could flare up, and that the environments could very well be
worse than Mars' desert.
He was damned if he was going to be unprepared.
As they shuffled off the vans, he noted how comfortable the temperature was in
the shade. They were led into the nearest building, which turned out to be an
auditorium. They were seated, and the woman walked to the stage.
"Okay, boys, welcome to the Academy. I'm the personnel officer here; any
paperwork or problems will be my domain." She was average looking, with the light
purplish tint in her dark hair that signified the atmospheric conditions of Saturn.
Even the blonde people who colonized Saturn had slowly darkened over time. "My name
is Gloria Wolenstein, and I'm to see that you all get settled in. That is the
purpose of this briefing."
She paused, then outlined what they'd already been told, giving times and
locations for PT and weapons training, as well as the gym.
"You'll meet again here in two days to meet your instructors," she continued.
"Now, shortly we will give you a tour here, but first I want to discuss living
arrangements. Many of you noticed that we have a special station here. That is
reserved for a special, one destination train. The other end is in Crystal Tokyo,
near the Palace. Each of you already has a spacious apartment reserved for you;
you may customize as you wish, for these are indeed your homes."
A collection of surprised gasps greeted that statement, but Derrelli wasn't
one of the surprised ones. He had already known that. He also knew their pay was
most generous, even though it wasn't the unlimited credit allowed Senshi and full-
fledged Sorcerers.
She began passing out handlinks, and even as Derrelli gazed at the address of
his very own apartment, he felt the eagerness once again threaten to overtake him.
For in two days, he would begin to learn the very thing he now desired more
than anything in the world.
Magic.
It was almost dusk as he departed the train station, walking the few blocks to
his apartment. He had a fourth-story location, fairly close to the station. He had
already eaten at the Academy dining facility... great food! he thought. He walked
into the lobby, and moved to the bank of elevators.
He stepped off, onto the plush, pastel carpeting. The walls were a soft white
color, with paintings adorning them, and potted plants every few feet. He strolled
down the light blue carpet, to the door marked 422.
He slid the electric key in the slot, and as the door clicked open, he walked
in. The place was empty, except for a pile of boxes.
He set down his duffle, and moved to the top box. He lifted the flap, and
noted the good condition of his computer equipment. He glanced around the spacious,
well designed accommodations.
"Computer?" he asked.
"Yes?" came the reply.
"Wake me up at 0500," Derrelli said. He glanced around. Basic had left him
punctual, and waking up that early gave him several hours in the morning to get
ready for the day, which would begin at 0700. He dug through several boxes, until
he found his blankets. "Maintain room temperature at CT springtime levels, and
when I get up I like to hear twentieth century metal music."
"Very good," came the computer's voice. It didn't much like the thought of
having to deal with this... hacker, but so far he seemed polite.
"I'll customize the rest later," Derrelli yawned. He threw the blankets on
the floor.
Note to self, he thought. First thing to buy is a comfortable bed....
Nebular Artifact NAX-1701, near the Sabaat system, 18 June 2736
The SLS Pleiades
"Damn," muttered Orion. It was all she could think of to say. She stared at
the reply from HQ. The two scout ships were a little too far for face-to-face
viewscreen communications; thus all their communications were done on a report
basis.
America shook her head. "We were right. We're on our own. And they're nice
enough to tell us they think the DK'll be getting reinforcements."
On screen 2, they could see a similar reaction on the Draco's bridge.
"Oh, this is just great," said Sirius. "We're not even close to being fully
repaired, and two of us barely handled one ship. What are the odds the DK sends
another battleship?"
Vulcan bore the slightest hint of a frown. "It is highly probable."
Antares broke in. "It can't be all that bad."
"Say what, you overgrown abacus!" snarled Orion.
"They are saying they have utmost confidence in you. In a way they are paying
these two ships a very high compliment. They believe that the four of you can
pull off a victory and protect the GM's interests, despite the odds," said Antares.
His words slightly mollified Orion, and caused the other three to calm down
slightly, and consider things.
"Besides, I'm sure that a little strategy will work for defeating them,"
added Antares.
"Actually," said America. "I have an idea."
"You?" asked Sirius. She hastily checked herself. "Sorry, that was uncalled
for."
"It's okay," said America. She smiled. She decided to explain.
"Check this out...."
STAY TUNED!