Part Five: Shadow of the Diamond
-or-
Whatever Happened to the Outer Senshi?
***
Virgos are essentially tacticians, admirable in the attainment of limited objectives.
***
Esmeraude fluttered that damn fan of hers towards Saffir, who merely scowled in return. He hated being shorter then she was. He kept hoping that he would grow to be almost as tall as his oniisan, but for now, he was stuck being short. And he despised it.
Saffir sat at a desk covered with the best Nemesian technology had to offer. He actually had three high-tech computers set up, two of which he constantly kept in motion, using statistics to plot the likely outcome of any event. His fingers flew across the keys at a pace that made Esmeraude dizzy, yet he disliked all of the techie toys. He preferred books; there was something about being actually able to touch the data he was gathering. Still, he had to admit the computers were more efficient, and with the population as uneasy as it was, time was of the essence. Demando was working against the clock, and needed to have a battle plan that would win a decisive victory against the Earth.
Saffir hated having to deal with the political ramifications of his actions. If he'd would have been able to plan a straight strategy, without worrying about what other people THOUGHT, he would have been able to launch a power attack that the Earth would have had little time to recuperate from. First pick off the Outposts of Uranus and Neptune, then head inwards. The Outer Senshi were the most dangerous foes the Black Moon would be facing, and it would be prudent to get rid of them before proceeding. However, there was politics and moral to be considered, and Demando had insisted that a decisive victory somewhere on Earth would be the way to win the support of the common citizen.
Saffir could deny Demando's order as far...
***
"Virgos have a wonderful eye for detail and often neglect the overall issues."
***
"What do you mean, Outer Senshi?" Ami asked, interrupting Saffir's story for the first time, unable to let the little term slip go by unnoticed. Are there other Senshi? she wondered.
His smile was amused. "Did you ever wonder why all of you represent Inner planets of the solar system? Now that you've met Sailor Pluto, you know other planets could support Senshi."
She tilted her head, a frown marring her ivory face. Her fingers nervously played with a knight, the cool marble smooth underneath her cold touch. "I haven't had the chance to really think on that," she admitted.
"At this time, the Outer Senshi haven't been awakened yet. It was one of the reasons this time period was chosen for the attack- the Outer Senshi are more powerful and deadly then the Inner Senshi."
Something about the way Saffir had spoken struck a warning note within Ami. Her already large eyes fastened on him. "Deadly?" she whispered worriedly.
"Hai. The Outer Senshi are much more practical then you and your friends. They will do anything, make any sacrifices, to do what they believe is their duty."
"I can't believe that!" Ami protested. "We're the Soldiers of love and justice!"
"Do you really want to get into this argument, or do you want me to finish my story?" Saffir asked, showing a bit of exasperation. "For the sake of peace, just accept that there are other Senshi that are more powerful."
She sighed. "Gomen. Continue, please," Ami said....
***
FAMOUS VIRGOS: Mother Teresa, Agatha Christie, Greta Garbo, Grandma Moses, Bernstein, Ingrid Bergman, Jesse James, Sophia Loren, Sean Connery.
***
Saffir could deny Demando's order as far as he could command the sun to shine on the dark planet Nemesis- he simply didn't have the strength of the character to do so. If Demando wanted something, Saffir was bound and determined to make sure he got it, even if he didn't agree that it was a good idea. Hell, he wasn't even a teenager yet- perhaps Demando was right.
But that didn't mean he had to like it. And it didn't mean he had to tolerate the bitchy Esmeraude. "What do you want?" he asked finally, looking up at her, wishing he could grab the fan away from her. She had just whipped it within an inch of his face, and even he couldn't pretend to ignore it any longer.
She laughed, and it set his teeth on edge. That damn laugh of hers echoed in his nightmares, and one of his greatest fears was that she would some day manage to marry Demando through some nefarious plot (he trusted his oniisan to have the good sense to avoid that, but still...). The idea of Esmeraude as his sister-in-law was a hellish thought. "Why, Saffir-chan, I just wanted to see how the battle plans were progressing," she purred, tossing the green hair with flair.
The woman had being irritating down to an artform. He certainly didn't merit the "chan" she had attached to his name. "About as well as can be expected, Ezzy-chan," he replied, relishing the way her chocolate brown eyes spark with the same irritation she caused in him. "I could work much faster if I wasn't be interrupted by obnoxious concerns," he finished, turning his attention back to the battle plans. Maybe if our troops hit France.....
The fan appeared in his line-of-sight again, and he seriously considered expending a little bit of magic to teleport it away- perhaps to the Palace's Sanitary Department. His over-developed sense of consequence warned him it would be a bad idea- though powerful, he didn't use his magic nearly as often as the less-powerful Esmeraude, and she would be livid if he did such a thing. Having a magical duel with the Green Lady was hardly the sort of thing Demando would approve of. So he merely looked at her, trying to chill her with the coldness of his eyes. "Yes?"
"Saffir-chan, are you sure you should do this all by yourself? You might make a mistake," she said, her expression gentle with phony concern.
"Unlike you, I don't make mistakes," he informed her, pursing his lips. Hadn't one of the Senshi once work in England? he wondered, trying to recall the data he had assimilated on his foes. Might be a good move if I took away that power-base, he thought. Planning a battle was like playing a game of chess that suddenly had become three-dimensional. Complex, and enough to give anyone a headache, even a prodigy such as himself. He grabbed another note pad and begin to use his shorthand- neat, small, and every letter formed exactly the way they should be. Frowning, he wondered why he didn't just attack some insignificant city like Tulsa, Oklahoma. No one would EVER think that an invasion would come into Tulsa. Maybe I should just tell him to hit something like that.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Saffir-chan," she teased. "And I hope I'm there when you do," she whispered huskily.
"So do I," he snapped back. "Because if I make a mistake, it's most likely to get us all killed, and I certainly wouldn't want you to miss THAT!" he snarled. "Now if you would leave- Good Day!"
Esmeraude looked at him, noting the tired circles under his eyes. It was strange- this child was one of the most powerful politicians on the planet. She considered pestering him more, but decided that it would be preferable to do her nails instead. Even though she wore gloves regularly, that was no excuse to be less then perfect. She drew the fan through her hand quickly, then spun around, stalking off, swaying unconsciously on her spiked heels.
Saffir resisted the urge to sigh with relief. She was simply the most impossibly irritating person he'd ever met. He stretched tiredly, and looked at the clock, surprised that he had lost another four hours to his work. He was actually getting rather hungry.
Standing up, he moved with precision towards the kitchen, not bothering to summon a servant. He was still uncomfortable with his status as the Prince's brother, and shuddered whenever he recalled that until Demando smartened up and had a child of his own, Saffir himself was Heir. All Demando had to do was find an appropriate wife... for some reason, the thought of Demando in love struck something inside him... almost a premonition of disaster.
Saffir ate quickly, then headed to his room for a short nap. He hadn't really been sleeping well- he wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was because of the dreams.
As soon as his head touched the pillow, he slid into the welcoming embrace of sleep. He slept when he needed to, rather then be ruled be the demands of the cycle of Nemesis' 25-hour day. His dreams came quickly.
There was a man leading an attack, with fire for hair... turning, the man looked at Saffir, and the young genius looked on his cousin Rubeus. The man's lips were pulled tight against his teeth, and Saffir had the unpleasant feeling that the man was going to enjoy causing the destruction that was facing the delicate looking planet beneath their feet.
He heard a laugh, that distinctive laugh that he, or anyone who'd ever heard it before, would recognize anywhere. Esmeraude leaned over the window, her skirt riding up to a point that was dangerously high. "The Outer Senshi come," she whispered in delight. "Wait till they see what we have!" she crowed eagerly.
Saffir could feel her joy and eagerness, and wondered why the pair was looking forward to meeting the dangerous Uranus and her lover Neptune. "What are you talking about?" he asked, but as in some dreams, it appeared he was an observer, and could have no direct affect on the events that were happening around him.
With a sudden burst of light, three Senshi materialized within the room. One had blonde hair, the second had turquoise and the third bore dark black hair that was neatly bobbed at her shoulders. But where is Pluto? Saffir wondered. Where is the Senshi of Time, the Soldier of Revolution?
"We will not let you pass!" declared the blonde, who was Sailor Uranus. Neptune stood still, unconsciously mirroring her partner's stance, while Saturn merely leaned threateningly on her pole-arm.
"We think you will," Rubeus purred.
Something like concern flashed through Neptune's expressive eyes before she spoke. Her voice was smooth and had an unusual coyness to it, but Saffir knew she was deadly serious. "And why would that be? We are the Senshi of the Outer Solar system... it is our mission to protect Crystal Tokyo from invaders."
This time Esmeraude laughed, and looked down at the Senshi, women who had been alive for over a thousand years and princesses to boot. Classic Esmeraude. Placing her fan against her left ear, she strode forward threateningly. "I'm sorry to inform you that we are not, technically, invaders- Nemesis is the tenth planet of the Solar System."
"That does not matter. You are no longer citizens of the planet Earth," Saturn said. She had purple eyes that looked very like Demando's.
"Saturn- would you destroy Earth?" Rubeus asked.
"I am the Soldier of Death and Rebirth. I will destroy whatever I must to protect the future. Sacrifices must be made for the good of all," she said with a tired voice, though Saffir didn't doubt her determination.
A form stepped out of the shadows, someone Saffir hadn't noticed before. His eyes widened, recognizing the eyes. The eyes were the same dusky blue he saw whenever he chanced to glance in a mirror, but the face was older. Saffir was pleased to see that he came up to Esmeraude's height easily. "Even your beloved Queen? Even the Princess?"
All three Senshi paled. "What are you talking about? There is no Princess," Uranus said unsteadily.
"But there will be in about- four years, is it? Small Lady Usagi Serenity, first born child of their Majesties, Endymion and Serenity. Listen to me, Outer Senshi. This is not your battle. If you fight, you will upset the time stream. This battle is to be fought by the Inner Senshi and the Queen. Where is Pluto, I ask you?" he asked in a dead voice.
They looked at each other uneasily. "Pluto does not involve herself in matters that can be dealt with without her," Uranus answered. The other two Senshi had shifted so she was in the front, obviously becoming the leader and spokeswoman.
And then the older Saffir smiled, a cool look that held no joy. "No, that's not the reason," he told them. He produced a small blue ball from his own space, summoning it with a bit of magic. He idly rolled it through his fingers, causing it to dance and spin on the tips, rolling it over the back on his hand, into the palm, then back out over his wrist in a remarkable display of dexterity. He smiled as their eyes fixed on the small blue orb, but none of them seemed to realize the danger that the dreaming Saffir could see.
"What do you mean?" Uranus demanded.
"None of you will see the Princess's birth," he informed them. The ball kept rolling, but suddenly split into three equally sized balls, one red, one blue, and the final green. Uranus finally got a clue, bringing her fist upwards. "Don't try anything!" she spat. "I'll tear this ship apart before you can do anything."
The older Saffir exchanged glances with Rubeus and Esmeraude, who strangely was missing her fan. "I don't think so," Saffir said, tossing all three balls into the air as Uranus started to call for her magic.
Rubeus and Esmeraude called forth their magic at the same time, each hitting the ball of their color. The three balls whirled together before affixing themselves to a Senshi. Uranus was caught with her hand extended, while Saturn and Neptune merely stood with horrified looks on their faces.
The three lords of Nemesis sweatted profusely. "You had better have that thing ready right now," Esmeraude panted, trying to restrain Neptune.
The dreaming Saffir recognized what they had done. Nemesis had always had a strange affinity for time manipulation, and it looked like the Outer Senshi had been frozen in the second. The older Saffir smiled and took another device from a nearby counter. He activated it, and it glowed with a strange white light. He threw it at the center of the Senshi. The light flashed, and the Senshi vanished, causing the triumphant trio to slump to their knees. "Ye Gods, they're powerful," Rubeus said.
Esmeraude nodded, her fan having returned as mysteriously as it had vanished. "How far did we throw them?" she asked.
The older Saffir shrugged. "About twenty years, would be my guess. Enough time to conquer Earth. By the time they re-enter the normal time line, it'll be too late for them to do anything to help their beloved rulers."
Rubeus just grinned wickedly. "That really felt good!" he declared. "Now we just do that to the Inner Senshi and..."
The older Saffir sighed with exasperation. "I've already told you, Rubeus, that this was a one-off. It will take a minute part of our power to keep them from re-entering the time stream prematurely, and no other Nemesians have enough power to throw anyone out of time, excluding Demando. I would have preferred to throw the Neo-King and Queen through time, but the Outer Senshi were the more immediate threat. We have enough warriors to conquer the Earth in a more conventional matter."
The dreamer was focused on the conversation, but the older Saffir suddenly seemed to notice his presence. "You've seen what you came for," that Saffir told his younger self.
Saffir jerked awake, trying to untangle himself from the sheets that seemed to be strangling him. He literally rolled out of bed, hitting the floor in an ungraceful tumble of blankets and pillows. Struggling to his feet, he managed to work his way into his study and picked up his computer, starting his research on time manipulation. If he could get rid of the Outer Senshi, that would be a major victory, and a subtle one. The denizens of Crystal Tokyo were unlikely to notice that Uranus, Neptune and Saturn were missing until the Black Moon could launch its attack.
And so, a year later, Saffir, Rubeus, and Esmeraude left for Earth, and things fell out as planned. Rather then strike the Earth immediately after removing the Outer Senshi, they withdrew so Demando could consolidate enough support for an all-out war. By this time no one doubted that Demando was the Prince that Nemesis had been waiting for so long. Now they simply had to prepare the attacks... and for that, Demando needed capable commanders aside from Rubeus and Esmeraude. Saffir had bluntly pointed out that no one was going to take orders from a teenager, Prince's brother or not. Besides, Saffir wasn't exactly what could be called a "people person". He simply didn't have much patience for those who were stupider then he was, which was pretty much everyone. Only Demando was spared the sharp side of his sarcastic wit.
Finding the commanders proved to be more difficult then anticipated. But finally Rubeus discovered four women he felt would be capable, and these women just happened to be sisters. The sisters Ayakashi.
***
"Virgos are amazingly brilliant problem solvers. When colleagues take weeks to work out a solution, Virgos immediately find answers."
***
Saffir was messing around his labs, working on a weapon. He hated this part of his life's work, but recognized the necessity. Demando wanted the Earth, and Demando would get it, by hook or by crook. Since he doubted the Terrans would be willing to just hand over their planet (which rightfully belonged to the people of Nemesis), more drastic measures would have to be taken. And that meant battle. Saffir knew that if it came down to weapons, he would feel horribly guilty if his people died because he had decided to be squeamish.
In the four years since the Outer Senshi had been removed, Nemesis had been quietly gearing up for battle. Terra was still completely unaware of the danger it was in, and the Nemesians were going to take advantage of that to the fullest extent. Saffir's designs were brilliant and deadly, and he had to admit to a private admiration for his abilities. Strange that a seventeen year old would be the instrument of so much death.
He looked down at a pad for a particularly nasty device, frowning as he noticed a problem. It seems that he had forgotten to take the reaction magic had to plutonium into account- a mistake the youngest Magick student would have caught. This weapon, while excellent on the purely physical level, would tear itself apart if touch by any offensive magic. He would have to redesign the whole thing from the ground up. He almost yelled in frustration, but bit his lip. He was tired; it was understandable. He had been working on these since he had finished the time-shifting device that had thrown Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn forward through time- assuming there was a forward for them to land in.
He shook the thoughts from his head, glad that Rubeus and Esmeraude hadn't seen him make this major blunder. It would set him back by about a week, assuming he slept. Some nights, though, he just didn't sleep. Insomnia plague him in the worst possible way. When he did sleep, he was tormented by strange dreams, dreams that seemed to meld the past and the future together. Saffir had, by this time, recognized that he had a slight gift of prophecy- after all, he wouldn't have known how to disable the Outer Senshi as he had. But his dreams were haunted, particularly by the blue eyes Sailor Uranus.
Stretching his back, he prepared to turn his attention to a different weapon when the door was thrown open and Rubeus entered without so much as a by-your-leave. "What is it, Rubeus?" Saffir asked testily. While he merely disliked Esmeraude, he and Rubeus positively detested each other. They were incapable of seeing eye-to-eye, and Saffir suspected the only reason Rubeus hadn't killed him yet was because Demando would be rather irate over his younger brother's death. Rubeus' loyalty to Demando was his only saving grace in Saffir's eyes, and at times, Saffir almost didn't think it was enough.
Rubeus walked forward, carrying his jacket. One of his peculiarities was the fact that he never actually seemed to WEAR the stupid thing. Another annoying quirk. Finally Rubeus stood less then two feet away, looking down on the teenage prodigy. "I need to know how the weapons design is coming along," he said.
Saffir cursed whatever God had chosen to send Rubeus at this particular moment, if there was a God or two still watching over Nemesis. "Fine," Saffir said quickly, then rose quickly, stalking into his adjacent study. Rubeus NEVER went into there. To his surprise, the General trailed after him.
"Will we be ready for an attack in a month?" Rubeus asked.
Saffir almost choked. "A full-scale attack, or just a hit-and-run kind of thing?" he asked.
"An all-out assault on whatever target you deem is most vulnerable," Rubeus said almost grudgingly.
"If you're able to have some decent commanders, then I will have enough weapons ready for you to raise hell on Earth. But as you have yet to find anyone capable enough to assume command over our troops, I'm not hurrying."
Rubeus gave him a predatory grin. "That's changed. I've finally found some people whom I think are powerful enough to give the Senshi a nice run around," he practically purred.
Saffir raised an eyebrow. "Really," he said without much enthusiasm. It was true he had designed enough weapons for an assault, but he would prefer to have a surplus- and finding out his latest child had turned into a brat wasn't a good thing. And the fact he was talking to Rubeus just made his day worse.
"Hai. The Sisters Ayakashi- I doubt you've met them, but they have a certain.... zest for destruction that makes them wonderful. And they seem very powerful."
For the first time, Saffir noticed the girl who had followed Rubeus in. She was wearing what looked like a swimsuit, thigh-high boots, and nothing else. In other words, she looked like a bondage queen. He cursed himself for missing her presence before, but Rubeus had a way of distracting him. "They must be very good in bed, Rubeus, for you to stick your neck out like this," Saffir said.
Rubeus' face turned as bright as his namesake. "Listen to me, you little piece of-" Rubeus spat angrily, but was met only by the sight of Saffir's back. "I am NOT sleeping with them!" he said in an offended tone. "They are simple the most powerful Nemesians I've encountered aside from the Royal Family- with proper training, they'll be ready for an attack."
"This training will only take a month?" Saffir asked skeptically.
"No, it will take longer for the younger sisters, but the two oldest will be able to come and help within the month."
Saffir shook his head. "I'm not good with people, you know that. I will have to trust your judgment, much as it pains me to do so. You had better not be wrong about this."
Rubeus glowered the way only he could. "I'm right about this," he said stubbornly.
Saffir just glared, then he smiled maliciously. "It'll be your fault," he said, purring.
"Nothing will go wrong. Start planning an attack." Rubeus turned, and looked over the shoulder that didn't have the jacket on it at the girl. "Stay here," he told her. Then he was gone.
Saffir looked up at the young girl Rubeus had brought to his study. With a frown on his face, he realized that she must be about his age. She stood staring at his computers, then her eyes darted around to read some of the titles on the wall. "Why haven't you left yet?" Saffir demanded.
Her smile was shy, though he detected a bit of coolness in her icy blue eyes. "Rubeus told me to wait here for him. He's testing out the capabilities of the rest of my sisters today, and he doesn't want me around," she said.
Saffir's eyes looked disdainfully over her revealing outfit. "And why would that be?" he asked. "I thought someone like you would appeal to Rubeus- he certainly has enough hormones."
Her eyes flashed with anger. "You have no right to make judgments about me, Saffir-sama," she informed him.
"I am brother to the Prince," he retorted just as quickly. "I have every right." Then he paused. "Rubeus never told me your name."
A flush appeared on her white cheeks. "I'm Ayakashi Beruche, second youngest of the Sisters Ayakashi."
"Fine, Ayakashi Beruche. Just sit down and shut up, and I'll pretend you're not here."
Beruche sighed softly, but Rubeus had told her to expect as much. Saffir was notorious for his dislike of other people, and apparently, she was to be no exception. She'd been looking forward to possibly seeing if he'd spend some time with her, since Rubeus and her sisters didn't value thinking much. Reluctantly she picked up a book that was sitting on a table, and with a slight grin, began to read. She was surprised that rather then some highly technical weaponry, it was about a game- a game from Earth called chess. It sounded absolutely fascinating. She quickly devoured the book, trying to get all the strategies to sink into her head. She flipped the final page closed and started wondering.
Saffir was still staring at his computer screen. Finally she gained enough courage to speak. "Saffir-sama?" she asked quietly.
"I thought I told you to keep quiet," he told her.
"I have been," she informed him. "It's been three hours."
"So? I didn't volunteer to baby-sit you. It's not my responsibility to make sure you're entertained."
"Gomen Nasai, Saffir-sama," she replied. "It's just- I was wondering if you had anymore books on chess. I've never heard of it before."
Saffir whirled, focusing every ounce of his formidable attention at the pale girl. "You're interested in chess?" he asked.
Beruche nodded, unable to force any words through her suddenly clogged throat. His eyes were assessing her, and she dreaded what would happen to her if he ruled her wanting. Why was he so upset about a chess book? she wondered.
He tapped his chin finally, and suddenly the temperature in the room seemed to rise to a more comfortable level. "Would you be interested in playing a game?"
Unable to believe her luck, Beruche nodded eagerly. Saffir expressionlessly got up and found a chess set that had been carefully stowed away. He set a coffee table between them and took a seat that was between his computer and the table. He started to set the board up, while Beruche simply watched, fascinated. Finally the board was set out. "Here's the King," he said, picking up a piece. "It's the most important piece in the game...."
***
LOVE LIFE: Virgos like the comfort of a peaceful person with whom they can build a close-knit, solid family.
***
Like a wolves, the sisters proved to be as formidable as Rubeus had hoped- the problem was making sure they didn't break the chain that bound them to Demando and end up attacking him. To aid in that effort, Rubeus cultivated Cooan, while the rest of the sisters were kept bickering. Individually, they were impressive and reliable; as a group, they could prove to be almost mutinous.
Saffir didn't concern himself with them- not at all. All he needed was for them to carry out his plans, which he relayed through Rubeus. Every now and then he would have a chess game with Beruche, and found that her company actually didn't bother him. She was reasonably intelligent, though she was just as devious as the rest of the Black Moon Family. She had a habit of cheating, but she was easy to catch. After a while, Beruche's cheating became a running joke between them- she would try more improbable and elaborate methods, to which Saffir responded by delightedly catching her- occasionally he would even ignore it, and thoroughly defeat her even while she cheated.
The first strike he planned came at the British Isles- after weighing and reweighing the options, he decided that grabbing a land-base that could be easily isolated was the way to go, and by taking England, he was indirectly striking at the Inner Senshi- particularly Sailor Venus. Terra had been totally unprepared, and had been unable to mount a counter-attack in time to prevent the Black Moon's forces from occupying the small group of islands.
Terra mobilized its forces, but the Black Moon had had ten years of preparation time. City after city fell before them... Los Angeles and Moscow were totally leveled to the ground, Rubeus delightedly watching as Cooan's flames raced through the streets. Some said that he was recording the sounds of the dying children's screams so he could listen to them as he went to sleep, but Saffir thought it unlikely. Rubeus preferred live action. Millions of people were dying, but still it was not enough. Nemesis did not have all of Earth- and Nemesis wouldn't stop until it did.
It was about a year after the first of the attacks that Saffir met Petz, the oldest of the Ayakashi sisters. She was two years older then his eighteen years, but that never really bothered him.
He hadn't slept for more then three hours at a time since the sacking of London. Unlike most of his family, he could see the pattern the future was starting to take, and it gave him nightmares. The Senshi hadn't come out of their Crystal Palace yet, and that worried him. They were probably setting up some kind of defense, and he was frightened. The Senshi were legendary- though the Inner Senshi were not the strongest Senshi (everyone knew that was Sailor Saturn), they had always triumphed over their adversaries in the past- Queen Beryl, Queen Nehelania, Sailor Galaxia... and he understood that each of them had skills that, when combined, might be able to throw off some of the Black Moon's strongest assaults. He was particular considered by Neo Queen Serenity- according to legend, she possessed the ginzuishou, and that could prove to be fatal.
One day he was working in his lab, toying with yet another one of the gadgets that fascinated him. It was such a rush to build something on his own, to create something that hadn't existed until he thought of it. His hands were holding onto a micro-screwdriver when the door opened, and in whirled a thunderstorm.
Technically, it was a woman, but Saffir's other-senses told him that dealing with her would be like trying to hold one of Earth's lightning bolts while wearing and iron suit. Looking up, he was about to bite out a sarcastic command when he looked into a pair of vibrant brown eyes. And for the first time in his life, he was struck speechless.
He had always assumed that he hated green hair because of his cousin, but on this woman, he longed to run his hands through the hair that was tied on top of her head. The outfit she was wearing was that of a soldier, dark and terrifying. He then did something he hadn't in a while; he dropped his screwdriver, distracted.
Finally he found his voice, looking up at the impatient women who was tapping her fingers on her hips while leveling an unamused stare at him. "Who are you? How did you get in here?" he asked. The fact that she had been able to get by his wards into the private appartments of the Royal Family was not an encouraging thought.
She opened a glove palm, holding out a ring. The ring had a large ruby in it, and Saffir almost groaned as he recognized it. It was Rubeus' signet, and had been enchanted to allow the bearer free access to whatever parts of the Palace Rubeus himself was able to enter. Saffir made a mental note to let his cousin know that unexpected visiters were not welcome- suppose he had been working on some sensative equipment? He might have had the whole thing explode in his face!
"Ok, so you're one of Rubeus' lackeys," he said bluntly. He recognized the attraction he felt towards her, and wasn't going to let it show.
"Ayakashi Petz," she said stiffly. "But I'm not here about Rubeus. I'm here about my sister Beruche."
He raised an eyebrow inquiringly. "I haven't seen her in a while." He picked up the screw driver again and focused his eyepiece on the microscopic screws, glad that his hands weren't trembling.
"I know. She's upset about it," Petz said darkly, placing her hands on the desk, leaning threateningly towards him.
He looked up at her, trying to ignore her the way her chest was heaving less then a foot from his face. His hormones were in overdrive. "Why?"
Petz rolled her eyes upwards. "You really are a monster, aren't you? I've heard the rumors that the Blue Prince was an unfeeling monster, but I failed to believe. Huh. Guess I'll have to give rumors some more credit."
"The Blue Prince?" he asked, wondering who she was referring to. There was only one Prince on Nemesis, and that was Demando.
She glared at him like she was speaking to a stupid five-year-old. "I thought you were suppose to be intelligent. I was talking about you, baka. The people love Demando- they call him the White Prince. Those who've seen you call you the Blue Prince, since blue seems to be your color," she admitted, running her eyes over his deep blue jacket, eyes and hair. "You'd know that if you actually bothered to leave your rooms more often then once a month."
Saffir was rather offended by the implication that he was never around- he left quite often, making sure Demando had no need of him. Still, a larger part of him was completely fascinated by this strange mixture of brashness and intelligence, for her eyes missed nothing. "I have no reason to do so," he said coolly. "I find that enough idiots come here to bother me without my actively having to go seek them."
The insult was obvious, and Petz's eyes flashed angrily. She opened her mouth, moving it a few times as she tried to find an appropriate retort. Unable to come up with the words to express herself, she turned and stalked away on her high heels, the slight sway in her hips unconsciously provoking an uncomfortable reaction in a young man who was finally becoming aware of the fact that he couldn't ignore his body forever.
Saffir, being Saffir, didn't apologize for their first meeting. Nor the second, which ended in Petz throwing a lightning bolt which he deflected easily. However, her use of magic against him earned her Demando's undying dislike, and Rubeus' undying approval.
The two kept running into each other at irregular intervals, and Beruche despaired of her friend and her sister. Every time they met, sparks flew, sometimes literally. Petz had a very short temper, and Saffir had no idea how to deal with a woman he was attracted to. It was something entirely out of his realm of experience.
The conquest of Earth continued, and finally they reached a point where they could honestly say they had all of North and South America, plus Europe to boot. The Sisters Ayakashi were the main Generals aside from Rubeus and Esmeraude, and most of the soldiers liked as well as feared them. Petz, as the eldest, seemed to take nominal command over her volatile sisters.
Europe was finally judged safe enough for colonies to begin being established. Saffir eagerly read the news that came back from new outposts, hoping that he would someday be able to walk among the fragrant fields of Earth.
It was his brother's idea. Saffir had just completed work on a mechanical that was the ancestor of the droido when he was summoned to Demando's study. Demando's study was still buried deep within the Royal Apartments, and only Saffir, Esmeraude and Rubeus were able to teleport directly to see their Prince.
One did not keep Demando waiting. Saffir pulled his jacket on (there was no way he would carry it around in the fashion that Rubeus did), and quickly visualized the room his brother was in, allowing his magic to carry him there. He closed his eyes, hated the disorientation that teleporting caused.
"Hello, ototochan," a voice said in an amused tone, the soft, yet strong, voice- Saffir's favorite thing to listen to. "I have some news for you."
He opened his eyes and looked upon the visage of the White Prince of Nemesis himself. The years had treated Demando well, refining the ivory face into the epitome of male beauty. His white hair was stylishly brushing his cheeks, and his startling amethyst eyes looked warmly on his closest living relative. The purple depths captivated anyone who looked into them, and never let them go. Every woman who had ever laid eyes on the Prince was in love with him to some degree. And some men as well, for good measure.
"News? From the battle lines?" he asked.
"Close," Demando said with a patient smile. "Actually, it's from Europe. Our Outposts have been judged safe at last, brother mine. And I've decided that you've done enough for a while- you're starting to look worn around the edges." He paused, savoring Saffir's confused anticipation. "So I've decided to send you down to Earth... you can finally see your flowers, ototochan."
Saffir fell to his knees in front of Demando, unable to think of anything to say. He felt the burn of unshed tears behind his eyes. "When do we leave?" he asked.
He heard Demando sigh regretfully. "I can't leave, not now. I wish I could, but I must stay here and make sure the nobles don't try to arrange an "accident" for me- there are still a few left who would do that. Give me a year, and I will have no enemies left."
Saffir understood- the grim grip of Nemesis was working on his brother. His brother's enemies would either convert or die. But for the sake of appearance, they couldn't be killed outright. "Then I will wait until you can accompany me, oniisan," he said.
Demando smiled down gently. Saffir's voice sounded so very young, and it held the note of cheerfulness that had been missing for so many years. "No, brother-mine. You're going now."
Saffir nodded his head glumly. "I'd rather go with you, though," he was unable to resist saying.
"I know. But you can go now and relax- don't think I'm not aware of how poorly you sleep. This war takes its toll on all of us, you especially. Go, see your fields of flowers. If you want, consider it a reconnaissance for when you give me a tour," Demando said coaxingly.
And that was that.
Two days later, Saffir sat in the shuttle that would take him to Earth, tapping away at a portable computer. His eyes were so focused on the scrolling words that he didn't notice the woman who was standing in front of him until she reached out with a gloved hand and snatched the small computer away from him. He let out an involuntary squawk and looked up at the interloper.
"Petz!" he exclaimed angrily. "What do you think you're doing? And more importantly, what they hell are you doing here in the first place?"
She looked at the pad, trying to decipher the writing. "What IS this stuff?" she asked rhetorically, then shrugged as she pocketed the machine. "I'm here because you need a bodyguard on Earth, Saffir-sama," she said mockingly. "And I'm under orders to make sure you actually relax instead of stressing yourself out plotting some new-fangled weapon design."
Saffir rolled his eyes. "They had to assign you? I'd rather have a Terran tarantula as a guard."
"Apparently," she said through gritted teeth, taking the seat next to him with feline grace. She leveled an even stare on him. "So you're going to do your damnedest not to get yourself injured in the next week or so."
He was unable to think up a suitable retort, so merely sat back in his chair and sulked. This is going to be a LONG week, he thought.
END PART FIVE
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Coming Soon:
Part Six: War of the Black Moon
-or-
Enter the Wiseman
-or-
Whatever Happened to the Outer Senshi?
***
Virgos are essentially tacticians, admirable in the attainment of limited objectives.
***
Esmeraude fluttered that damn fan of hers towards Saffir, who merely scowled in return. He hated being shorter then she was. He kept hoping that he would grow to be almost as tall as his oniisan, but for now, he was stuck being short. And he despised it.
Saffir sat at a desk covered with the best Nemesian technology had to offer. He actually had three high-tech computers set up, two of which he constantly kept in motion, using statistics to plot the likely outcome of any event. His fingers flew across the keys at a pace that made Esmeraude dizzy, yet he disliked all of the techie toys. He preferred books; there was something about being actually able to touch the data he was gathering. Still, he had to admit the computers were more efficient, and with the population as uneasy as it was, time was of the essence. Demando was working against the clock, and needed to have a battle plan that would win a decisive victory against the Earth.
Saffir hated having to deal with the political ramifications of his actions. If he'd would have been able to plan a straight strategy, without worrying about what other people THOUGHT, he would have been able to launch a power attack that the Earth would have had little time to recuperate from. First pick off the Outposts of Uranus and Neptune, then head inwards. The Outer Senshi were the most dangerous foes the Black Moon would be facing, and it would be prudent to get rid of them before proceeding. However, there was politics and moral to be considered, and Demando had insisted that a decisive victory somewhere on Earth would be the way to win the support of the common citizen.
Saffir could deny Demando's order as far...
***
"Virgos have a wonderful eye for detail and often neglect the overall issues."
***
"What do you mean, Outer Senshi?" Ami asked, interrupting Saffir's story for the first time, unable to let the little term slip go by unnoticed. Are there other Senshi? she wondered.
His smile was amused. "Did you ever wonder why all of you represent Inner planets of the solar system? Now that you've met Sailor Pluto, you know other planets could support Senshi."
She tilted her head, a frown marring her ivory face. Her fingers nervously played with a knight, the cool marble smooth underneath her cold touch. "I haven't had the chance to really think on that," she admitted.
"At this time, the Outer Senshi haven't been awakened yet. It was one of the reasons this time period was chosen for the attack- the Outer Senshi are more powerful and deadly then the Inner Senshi."
Something about the way Saffir had spoken struck a warning note within Ami. Her already large eyes fastened on him. "Deadly?" she whispered worriedly.
"Hai. The Outer Senshi are much more practical then you and your friends. They will do anything, make any sacrifices, to do what they believe is their duty."
"I can't believe that!" Ami protested. "We're the Soldiers of love and justice!"
"Do you really want to get into this argument, or do you want me to finish my story?" Saffir asked, showing a bit of exasperation. "For the sake of peace, just accept that there are other Senshi that are more powerful."
She sighed. "Gomen. Continue, please," Ami said....
***
FAMOUS VIRGOS: Mother Teresa, Agatha Christie, Greta Garbo, Grandma Moses, Bernstein, Ingrid Bergman, Jesse James, Sophia Loren, Sean Connery.
***
Saffir could deny Demando's order as far as he could command the sun to shine on the dark planet Nemesis- he simply didn't have the strength of the character to do so. If Demando wanted something, Saffir was bound and determined to make sure he got it, even if he didn't agree that it was a good idea. Hell, he wasn't even a teenager yet- perhaps Demando was right.
But that didn't mean he had to like it. And it didn't mean he had to tolerate the bitchy Esmeraude. "What do you want?" he asked finally, looking up at her, wishing he could grab the fan away from her. She had just whipped it within an inch of his face, and even he couldn't pretend to ignore it any longer.
She laughed, and it set his teeth on edge. That damn laugh of hers echoed in his nightmares, and one of his greatest fears was that she would some day manage to marry Demando through some nefarious plot (he trusted his oniisan to have the good sense to avoid that, but still...). The idea of Esmeraude as his sister-in-law was a hellish thought. "Why, Saffir-chan, I just wanted to see how the battle plans were progressing," she purred, tossing the green hair with flair.
The woman had being irritating down to an artform. He certainly didn't merit the "chan" she had attached to his name. "About as well as can be expected, Ezzy-chan," he replied, relishing the way her chocolate brown eyes spark with the same irritation she caused in him. "I could work much faster if I wasn't be interrupted by obnoxious concerns," he finished, turning his attention back to the battle plans. Maybe if our troops hit France.....
The fan appeared in his line-of-sight again, and he seriously considered expending a little bit of magic to teleport it away- perhaps to the Palace's Sanitary Department. His over-developed sense of consequence warned him it would be a bad idea- though powerful, he didn't use his magic nearly as often as the less-powerful Esmeraude, and she would be livid if he did such a thing. Having a magical duel with the Green Lady was hardly the sort of thing Demando would approve of. So he merely looked at her, trying to chill her with the coldness of his eyes. "Yes?"
"Saffir-chan, are you sure you should do this all by yourself? You might make a mistake," she said, her expression gentle with phony concern.
"Unlike you, I don't make mistakes," he informed her, pursing his lips. Hadn't one of the Senshi once work in England? he wondered, trying to recall the data he had assimilated on his foes. Might be a good move if I took away that power-base, he thought. Planning a battle was like playing a game of chess that suddenly had become three-dimensional. Complex, and enough to give anyone a headache, even a prodigy such as himself. He grabbed another note pad and begin to use his shorthand- neat, small, and every letter formed exactly the way they should be. Frowning, he wondered why he didn't just attack some insignificant city like Tulsa, Oklahoma. No one would EVER think that an invasion would come into Tulsa. Maybe I should just tell him to hit something like that.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Saffir-chan," she teased. "And I hope I'm there when you do," she whispered huskily.
"So do I," he snapped back. "Because if I make a mistake, it's most likely to get us all killed, and I certainly wouldn't want you to miss THAT!" he snarled. "Now if you would leave- Good Day!"
Esmeraude looked at him, noting the tired circles under his eyes. It was strange- this child was one of the most powerful politicians on the planet. She considered pestering him more, but decided that it would be preferable to do her nails instead. Even though she wore gloves regularly, that was no excuse to be less then perfect. She drew the fan through her hand quickly, then spun around, stalking off, swaying unconsciously on her spiked heels.
Saffir resisted the urge to sigh with relief. She was simply the most impossibly irritating person he'd ever met. He stretched tiredly, and looked at the clock, surprised that he had lost another four hours to his work. He was actually getting rather hungry.
Standing up, he moved with precision towards the kitchen, not bothering to summon a servant. He was still uncomfortable with his status as the Prince's brother, and shuddered whenever he recalled that until Demando smartened up and had a child of his own, Saffir himself was Heir. All Demando had to do was find an appropriate wife... for some reason, the thought of Demando in love struck something inside him... almost a premonition of disaster.
Saffir ate quickly, then headed to his room for a short nap. He hadn't really been sleeping well- he wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was because of the dreams.
As soon as his head touched the pillow, he slid into the welcoming embrace of sleep. He slept when he needed to, rather then be ruled be the demands of the cycle of Nemesis' 25-hour day. His dreams came quickly.
There was a man leading an attack, with fire for hair... turning, the man looked at Saffir, and the young genius looked on his cousin Rubeus. The man's lips were pulled tight against his teeth, and Saffir had the unpleasant feeling that the man was going to enjoy causing the destruction that was facing the delicate looking planet beneath their feet.
He heard a laugh, that distinctive laugh that he, or anyone who'd ever heard it before, would recognize anywhere. Esmeraude leaned over the window, her skirt riding up to a point that was dangerously high. "The Outer Senshi come," she whispered in delight. "Wait till they see what we have!" she crowed eagerly.
Saffir could feel her joy and eagerness, and wondered why the pair was looking forward to meeting the dangerous Uranus and her lover Neptune. "What are you talking about?" he asked, but as in some dreams, it appeared he was an observer, and could have no direct affect on the events that were happening around him.
With a sudden burst of light, three Senshi materialized within the room. One had blonde hair, the second had turquoise and the third bore dark black hair that was neatly bobbed at her shoulders. But where is Pluto? Saffir wondered. Where is the Senshi of Time, the Soldier of Revolution?
"We will not let you pass!" declared the blonde, who was Sailor Uranus. Neptune stood still, unconsciously mirroring her partner's stance, while Saturn merely leaned threateningly on her pole-arm.
"We think you will," Rubeus purred.
Something like concern flashed through Neptune's expressive eyes before she spoke. Her voice was smooth and had an unusual coyness to it, but Saffir knew she was deadly serious. "And why would that be? We are the Senshi of the Outer Solar system... it is our mission to protect Crystal Tokyo from invaders."
This time Esmeraude laughed, and looked down at the Senshi, women who had been alive for over a thousand years and princesses to boot. Classic Esmeraude. Placing her fan against her left ear, she strode forward threateningly. "I'm sorry to inform you that we are not, technically, invaders- Nemesis is the tenth planet of the Solar System."
"That does not matter. You are no longer citizens of the planet Earth," Saturn said. She had purple eyes that looked very like Demando's.
"Saturn- would you destroy Earth?" Rubeus asked.
"I am the Soldier of Death and Rebirth. I will destroy whatever I must to protect the future. Sacrifices must be made for the good of all," she said with a tired voice, though Saffir didn't doubt her determination.
A form stepped out of the shadows, someone Saffir hadn't noticed before. His eyes widened, recognizing the eyes. The eyes were the same dusky blue he saw whenever he chanced to glance in a mirror, but the face was older. Saffir was pleased to see that he came up to Esmeraude's height easily. "Even your beloved Queen? Even the Princess?"
All three Senshi paled. "What are you talking about? There is no Princess," Uranus said unsteadily.
"But there will be in about- four years, is it? Small Lady Usagi Serenity, first born child of their Majesties, Endymion and Serenity. Listen to me, Outer Senshi. This is not your battle. If you fight, you will upset the time stream. This battle is to be fought by the Inner Senshi and the Queen. Where is Pluto, I ask you?" he asked in a dead voice.
They looked at each other uneasily. "Pluto does not involve herself in matters that can be dealt with without her," Uranus answered. The other two Senshi had shifted so she was in the front, obviously becoming the leader and spokeswoman.
And then the older Saffir smiled, a cool look that held no joy. "No, that's not the reason," he told them. He produced a small blue ball from his own space, summoning it with a bit of magic. He idly rolled it through his fingers, causing it to dance and spin on the tips, rolling it over the back on his hand, into the palm, then back out over his wrist in a remarkable display of dexterity. He smiled as their eyes fixed on the small blue orb, but none of them seemed to realize the danger that the dreaming Saffir could see.
"What do you mean?" Uranus demanded.
"None of you will see the Princess's birth," he informed them. The ball kept rolling, but suddenly split into three equally sized balls, one red, one blue, and the final green. Uranus finally got a clue, bringing her fist upwards. "Don't try anything!" she spat. "I'll tear this ship apart before you can do anything."
The older Saffir exchanged glances with Rubeus and Esmeraude, who strangely was missing her fan. "I don't think so," Saffir said, tossing all three balls into the air as Uranus started to call for her magic.
Rubeus and Esmeraude called forth their magic at the same time, each hitting the ball of their color. The three balls whirled together before affixing themselves to a Senshi. Uranus was caught with her hand extended, while Saturn and Neptune merely stood with horrified looks on their faces.
The three lords of Nemesis sweatted profusely. "You had better have that thing ready right now," Esmeraude panted, trying to restrain Neptune.
The dreaming Saffir recognized what they had done. Nemesis had always had a strange affinity for time manipulation, and it looked like the Outer Senshi had been frozen in the second. The older Saffir smiled and took another device from a nearby counter. He activated it, and it glowed with a strange white light. He threw it at the center of the Senshi. The light flashed, and the Senshi vanished, causing the triumphant trio to slump to their knees. "Ye Gods, they're powerful," Rubeus said.
Esmeraude nodded, her fan having returned as mysteriously as it had vanished. "How far did we throw them?" she asked.
The older Saffir shrugged. "About twenty years, would be my guess. Enough time to conquer Earth. By the time they re-enter the normal time line, it'll be too late for them to do anything to help their beloved rulers."
Rubeus just grinned wickedly. "That really felt good!" he declared. "Now we just do that to the Inner Senshi and..."
The older Saffir sighed with exasperation. "I've already told you, Rubeus, that this was a one-off. It will take a minute part of our power to keep them from re-entering the time stream prematurely, and no other Nemesians have enough power to throw anyone out of time, excluding Demando. I would have preferred to throw the Neo-King and Queen through time, but the Outer Senshi were the more immediate threat. We have enough warriors to conquer the Earth in a more conventional matter."
The dreamer was focused on the conversation, but the older Saffir suddenly seemed to notice his presence. "You've seen what you came for," that Saffir told his younger self.
Saffir jerked awake, trying to untangle himself from the sheets that seemed to be strangling him. He literally rolled out of bed, hitting the floor in an ungraceful tumble of blankets and pillows. Struggling to his feet, he managed to work his way into his study and picked up his computer, starting his research on time manipulation. If he could get rid of the Outer Senshi, that would be a major victory, and a subtle one. The denizens of Crystal Tokyo were unlikely to notice that Uranus, Neptune and Saturn were missing until the Black Moon could launch its attack.
And so, a year later, Saffir, Rubeus, and Esmeraude left for Earth, and things fell out as planned. Rather then strike the Earth immediately after removing the Outer Senshi, they withdrew so Demando could consolidate enough support for an all-out war. By this time no one doubted that Demando was the Prince that Nemesis had been waiting for so long. Now they simply had to prepare the attacks... and for that, Demando needed capable commanders aside from Rubeus and Esmeraude. Saffir had bluntly pointed out that no one was going to take orders from a teenager, Prince's brother or not. Besides, Saffir wasn't exactly what could be called a "people person". He simply didn't have much patience for those who were stupider then he was, which was pretty much everyone. Only Demando was spared the sharp side of his sarcastic wit.
Finding the commanders proved to be more difficult then anticipated. But finally Rubeus discovered four women he felt would be capable, and these women just happened to be sisters. The sisters Ayakashi.
***
"Virgos are amazingly brilliant problem solvers. When colleagues take weeks to work out a solution, Virgos immediately find answers."
***
Saffir was messing around his labs, working on a weapon. He hated this part of his life's work, but recognized the necessity. Demando wanted the Earth, and Demando would get it, by hook or by crook. Since he doubted the Terrans would be willing to just hand over their planet (which rightfully belonged to the people of Nemesis), more drastic measures would have to be taken. And that meant battle. Saffir knew that if it came down to weapons, he would feel horribly guilty if his people died because he had decided to be squeamish.
In the four years since the Outer Senshi had been removed, Nemesis had been quietly gearing up for battle. Terra was still completely unaware of the danger it was in, and the Nemesians were going to take advantage of that to the fullest extent. Saffir's designs were brilliant and deadly, and he had to admit to a private admiration for his abilities. Strange that a seventeen year old would be the instrument of so much death.
He looked down at a pad for a particularly nasty device, frowning as he noticed a problem. It seems that he had forgotten to take the reaction magic had to plutonium into account- a mistake the youngest Magick student would have caught. This weapon, while excellent on the purely physical level, would tear itself apart if touch by any offensive magic. He would have to redesign the whole thing from the ground up. He almost yelled in frustration, but bit his lip. He was tired; it was understandable. He had been working on these since he had finished the time-shifting device that had thrown Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn forward through time- assuming there was a forward for them to land in.
He shook the thoughts from his head, glad that Rubeus and Esmeraude hadn't seen him make this major blunder. It would set him back by about a week, assuming he slept. Some nights, though, he just didn't sleep. Insomnia plague him in the worst possible way. When he did sleep, he was tormented by strange dreams, dreams that seemed to meld the past and the future together. Saffir had, by this time, recognized that he had a slight gift of prophecy- after all, he wouldn't have known how to disable the Outer Senshi as he had. But his dreams were haunted, particularly by the blue eyes Sailor Uranus.
Stretching his back, he prepared to turn his attention to a different weapon when the door was thrown open and Rubeus entered without so much as a by-your-leave. "What is it, Rubeus?" Saffir asked testily. While he merely disliked Esmeraude, he and Rubeus positively detested each other. They were incapable of seeing eye-to-eye, and Saffir suspected the only reason Rubeus hadn't killed him yet was because Demando would be rather irate over his younger brother's death. Rubeus' loyalty to Demando was his only saving grace in Saffir's eyes, and at times, Saffir almost didn't think it was enough.
Rubeus walked forward, carrying his jacket. One of his peculiarities was the fact that he never actually seemed to WEAR the stupid thing. Another annoying quirk. Finally Rubeus stood less then two feet away, looking down on the teenage prodigy. "I need to know how the weapons design is coming along," he said.
Saffir cursed whatever God had chosen to send Rubeus at this particular moment, if there was a God or two still watching over Nemesis. "Fine," Saffir said quickly, then rose quickly, stalking into his adjacent study. Rubeus NEVER went into there. To his surprise, the General trailed after him.
"Will we be ready for an attack in a month?" Rubeus asked.
Saffir almost choked. "A full-scale attack, or just a hit-and-run kind of thing?" he asked.
"An all-out assault on whatever target you deem is most vulnerable," Rubeus said almost grudgingly.
"If you're able to have some decent commanders, then I will have enough weapons ready for you to raise hell on Earth. But as you have yet to find anyone capable enough to assume command over our troops, I'm not hurrying."
Rubeus gave him a predatory grin. "That's changed. I've finally found some people whom I think are powerful enough to give the Senshi a nice run around," he practically purred.
Saffir raised an eyebrow. "Really," he said without much enthusiasm. It was true he had designed enough weapons for an assault, but he would prefer to have a surplus- and finding out his latest child had turned into a brat wasn't a good thing. And the fact he was talking to Rubeus just made his day worse.
"Hai. The Sisters Ayakashi- I doubt you've met them, but they have a certain.... zest for destruction that makes them wonderful. And they seem very powerful."
For the first time, Saffir noticed the girl who had followed Rubeus in. She was wearing what looked like a swimsuit, thigh-high boots, and nothing else. In other words, she looked like a bondage queen. He cursed himself for missing her presence before, but Rubeus had a way of distracting him. "They must be very good in bed, Rubeus, for you to stick your neck out like this," Saffir said.
Rubeus' face turned as bright as his namesake. "Listen to me, you little piece of-" Rubeus spat angrily, but was met only by the sight of Saffir's back. "I am NOT sleeping with them!" he said in an offended tone. "They are simple the most powerful Nemesians I've encountered aside from the Royal Family- with proper training, they'll be ready for an attack."
"This training will only take a month?" Saffir asked skeptically.
"No, it will take longer for the younger sisters, but the two oldest will be able to come and help within the month."
Saffir shook his head. "I'm not good with people, you know that. I will have to trust your judgment, much as it pains me to do so. You had better not be wrong about this."
Rubeus glowered the way only he could. "I'm right about this," he said stubbornly.
Saffir just glared, then he smiled maliciously. "It'll be your fault," he said, purring.
"Nothing will go wrong. Start planning an attack." Rubeus turned, and looked over the shoulder that didn't have the jacket on it at the girl. "Stay here," he told her. Then he was gone.
Saffir looked up at the young girl Rubeus had brought to his study. With a frown on his face, he realized that she must be about his age. She stood staring at his computers, then her eyes darted around to read some of the titles on the wall. "Why haven't you left yet?" Saffir demanded.
Her smile was shy, though he detected a bit of coolness in her icy blue eyes. "Rubeus told me to wait here for him. He's testing out the capabilities of the rest of my sisters today, and he doesn't want me around," she said.
Saffir's eyes looked disdainfully over her revealing outfit. "And why would that be?" he asked. "I thought someone like you would appeal to Rubeus- he certainly has enough hormones."
Her eyes flashed with anger. "You have no right to make judgments about me, Saffir-sama," she informed him.
"I am brother to the Prince," he retorted just as quickly. "I have every right." Then he paused. "Rubeus never told me your name."
A flush appeared on her white cheeks. "I'm Ayakashi Beruche, second youngest of the Sisters Ayakashi."
"Fine, Ayakashi Beruche. Just sit down and shut up, and I'll pretend you're not here."
Beruche sighed softly, but Rubeus had told her to expect as much. Saffir was notorious for his dislike of other people, and apparently, she was to be no exception. She'd been looking forward to possibly seeing if he'd spend some time with her, since Rubeus and her sisters didn't value thinking much. Reluctantly she picked up a book that was sitting on a table, and with a slight grin, began to read. She was surprised that rather then some highly technical weaponry, it was about a game- a game from Earth called chess. It sounded absolutely fascinating. She quickly devoured the book, trying to get all the strategies to sink into her head. She flipped the final page closed and started wondering.
Saffir was still staring at his computer screen. Finally she gained enough courage to speak. "Saffir-sama?" she asked quietly.
"I thought I told you to keep quiet," he told her.
"I have been," she informed him. "It's been three hours."
"So? I didn't volunteer to baby-sit you. It's not my responsibility to make sure you're entertained."
"Gomen Nasai, Saffir-sama," she replied. "It's just- I was wondering if you had anymore books on chess. I've never heard of it before."
Saffir whirled, focusing every ounce of his formidable attention at the pale girl. "You're interested in chess?" he asked.
Beruche nodded, unable to force any words through her suddenly clogged throat. His eyes were assessing her, and she dreaded what would happen to her if he ruled her wanting. Why was he so upset about a chess book? she wondered.
He tapped his chin finally, and suddenly the temperature in the room seemed to rise to a more comfortable level. "Would you be interested in playing a game?"
Unable to believe her luck, Beruche nodded eagerly. Saffir expressionlessly got up and found a chess set that had been carefully stowed away. He set a coffee table between them and took a seat that was between his computer and the table. He started to set the board up, while Beruche simply watched, fascinated. Finally the board was set out. "Here's the King," he said, picking up a piece. "It's the most important piece in the game...."
***
LOVE LIFE: Virgos like the comfort of a peaceful person with whom they can build a close-knit, solid family.
***
Like a wolves, the sisters proved to be as formidable as Rubeus had hoped- the problem was making sure they didn't break the chain that bound them to Demando and end up attacking him. To aid in that effort, Rubeus cultivated Cooan, while the rest of the sisters were kept bickering. Individually, they were impressive and reliable; as a group, they could prove to be almost mutinous.
Saffir didn't concern himself with them- not at all. All he needed was for them to carry out his plans, which he relayed through Rubeus. Every now and then he would have a chess game with Beruche, and found that her company actually didn't bother him. She was reasonably intelligent, though she was just as devious as the rest of the Black Moon Family. She had a habit of cheating, but she was easy to catch. After a while, Beruche's cheating became a running joke between them- she would try more improbable and elaborate methods, to which Saffir responded by delightedly catching her- occasionally he would even ignore it, and thoroughly defeat her even while she cheated.
The first strike he planned came at the British Isles- after weighing and reweighing the options, he decided that grabbing a land-base that could be easily isolated was the way to go, and by taking England, he was indirectly striking at the Inner Senshi- particularly Sailor Venus. Terra had been totally unprepared, and had been unable to mount a counter-attack in time to prevent the Black Moon's forces from occupying the small group of islands.
Terra mobilized its forces, but the Black Moon had had ten years of preparation time. City after city fell before them... Los Angeles and Moscow were totally leveled to the ground, Rubeus delightedly watching as Cooan's flames raced through the streets. Some said that he was recording the sounds of the dying children's screams so he could listen to them as he went to sleep, but Saffir thought it unlikely. Rubeus preferred live action. Millions of people were dying, but still it was not enough. Nemesis did not have all of Earth- and Nemesis wouldn't stop until it did.
It was about a year after the first of the attacks that Saffir met Petz, the oldest of the Ayakashi sisters. She was two years older then his eighteen years, but that never really bothered him.
He hadn't slept for more then three hours at a time since the sacking of London. Unlike most of his family, he could see the pattern the future was starting to take, and it gave him nightmares. The Senshi hadn't come out of their Crystal Palace yet, and that worried him. They were probably setting up some kind of defense, and he was frightened. The Senshi were legendary- though the Inner Senshi were not the strongest Senshi (everyone knew that was Sailor Saturn), they had always triumphed over their adversaries in the past- Queen Beryl, Queen Nehelania, Sailor Galaxia... and he understood that each of them had skills that, when combined, might be able to throw off some of the Black Moon's strongest assaults. He was particular considered by Neo Queen Serenity- according to legend, she possessed the ginzuishou, and that could prove to be fatal.
One day he was working in his lab, toying with yet another one of the gadgets that fascinated him. It was such a rush to build something on his own, to create something that hadn't existed until he thought of it. His hands were holding onto a micro-screwdriver when the door opened, and in whirled a thunderstorm.
Technically, it was a woman, but Saffir's other-senses told him that dealing with her would be like trying to hold one of Earth's lightning bolts while wearing and iron suit. Looking up, he was about to bite out a sarcastic command when he looked into a pair of vibrant brown eyes. And for the first time in his life, he was struck speechless.
He had always assumed that he hated green hair because of his cousin, but on this woman, he longed to run his hands through the hair that was tied on top of her head. The outfit she was wearing was that of a soldier, dark and terrifying. He then did something he hadn't in a while; he dropped his screwdriver, distracted.
Finally he found his voice, looking up at the impatient women who was tapping her fingers on her hips while leveling an unamused stare at him. "Who are you? How did you get in here?" he asked. The fact that she had been able to get by his wards into the private appartments of the Royal Family was not an encouraging thought.
She opened a glove palm, holding out a ring. The ring had a large ruby in it, and Saffir almost groaned as he recognized it. It was Rubeus' signet, and had been enchanted to allow the bearer free access to whatever parts of the Palace Rubeus himself was able to enter. Saffir made a mental note to let his cousin know that unexpected visiters were not welcome- suppose he had been working on some sensative equipment? He might have had the whole thing explode in his face!
"Ok, so you're one of Rubeus' lackeys," he said bluntly. He recognized the attraction he felt towards her, and wasn't going to let it show.
"Ayakashi Petz," she said stiffly. "But I'm not here about Rubeus. I'm here about my sister Beruche."
He raised an eyebrow inquiringly. "I haven't seen her in a while." He picked up the screw driver again and focused his eyepiece on the microscopic screws, glad that his hands weren't trembling.
"I know. She's upset about it," Petz said darkly, placing her hands on the desk, leaning threateningly towards him.
He looked up at her, trying to ignore her the way her chest was heaving less then a foot from his face. His hormones were in overdrive. "Why?"
Petz rolled her eyes upwards. "You really are a monster, aren't you? I've heard the rumors that the Blue Prince was an unfeeling monster, but I failed to believe. Huh. Guess I'll have to give rumors some more credit."
"The Blue Prince?" he asked, wondering who she was referring to. There was only one Prince on Nemesis, and that was Demando.
She glared at him like she was speaking to a stupid five-year-old. "I thought you were suppose to be intelligent. I was talking about you, baka. The people love Demando- they call him the White Prince. Those who've seen you call you the Blue Prince, since blue seems to be your color," she admitted, running her eyes over his deep blue jacket, eyes and hair. "You'd know that if you actually bothered to leave your rooms more often then once a month."
Saffir was rather offended by the implication that he was never around- he left quite often, making sure Demando had no need of him. Still, a larger part of him was completely fascinated by this strange mixture of brashness and intelligence, for her eyes missed nothing. "I have no reason to do so," he said coolly. "I find that enough idiots come here to bother me without my actively having to go seek them."
The insult was obvious, and Petz's eyes flashed angrily. She opened her mouth, moving it a few times as she tried to find an appropriate retort. Unable to come up with the words to express herself, she turned and stalked away on her high heels, the slight sway in her hips unconsciously provoking an uncomfortable reaction in a young man who was finally becoming aware of the fact that he couldn't ignore his body forever.
Saffir, being Saffir, didn't apologize for their first meeting. Nor the second, which ended in Petz throwing a lightning bolt which he deflected easily. However, her use of magic against him earned her Demando's undying dislike, and Rubeus' undying approval.
The two kept running into each other at irregular intervals, and Beruche despaired of her friend and her sister. Every time they met, sparks flew, sometimes literally. Petz had a very short temper, and Saffir had no idea how to deal with a woman he was attracted to. It was something entirely out of his realm of experience.
The conquest of Earth continued, and finally they reached a point where they could honestly say they had all of North and South America, plus Europe to boot. The Sisters Ayakashi were the main Generals aside from Rubeus and Esmeraude, and most of the soldiers liked as well as feared them. Petz, as the eldest, seemed to take nominal command over her volatile sisters.
Europe was finally judged safe enough for colonies to begin being established. Saffir eagerly read the news that came back from new outposts, hoping that he would someday be able to walk among the fragrant fields of Earth.
It was his brother's idea. Saffir had just completed work on a mechanical that was the ancestor of the droido when he was summoned to Demando's study. Demando's study was still buried deep within the Royal Apartments, and only Saffir, Esmeraude and Rubeus were able to teleport directly to see their Prince.
One did not keep Demando waiting. Saffir pulled his jacket on (there was no way he would carry it around in the fashion that Rubeus did), and quickly visualized the room his brother was in, allowing his magic to carry him there. He closed his eyes, hated the disorientation that teleporting caused.
"Hello, ototochan," a voice said in an amused tone, the soft, yet strong, voice- Saffir's favorite thing to listen to. "I have some news for you."
He opened his eyes and looked upon the visage of the White Prince of Nemesis himself. The years had treated Demando well, refining the ivory face into the epitome of male beauty. His white hair was stylishly brushing his cheeks, and his startling amethyst eyes looked warmly on his closest living relative. The purple depths captivated anyone who looked into them, and never let them go. Every woman who had ever laid eyes on the Prince was in love with him to some degree. And some men as well, for good measure.
"News? From the battle lines?" he asked.
"Close," Demando said with a patient smile. "Actually, it's from Europe. Our Outposts have been judged safe at last, brother mine. And I've decided that you've done enough for a while- you're starting to look worn around the edges." He paused, savoring Saffir's confused anticipation. "So I've decided to send you down to Earth... you can finally see your flowers, ototochan."
Saffir fell to his knees in front of Demando, unable to think of anything to say. He felt the burn of unshed tears behind his eyes. "When do we leave?" he asked.
He heard Demando sigh regretfully. "I can't leave, not now. I wish I could, but I must stay here and make sure the nobles don't try to arrange an "accident" for me- there are still a few left who would do that. Give me a year, and I will have no enemies left."
Saffir understood- the grim grip of Nemesis was working on his brother. His brother's enemies would either convert or die. But for the sake of appearance, they couldn't be killed outright. "Then I will wait until you can accompany me, oniisan," he said.
Demando smiled down gently. Saffir's voice sounded so very young, and it held the note of cheerfulness that had been missing for so many years. "No, brother-mine. You're going now."
Saffir nodded his head glumly. "I'd rather go with you, though," he was unable to resist saying.
"I know. But you can go now and relax- don't think I'm not aware of how poorly you sleep. This war takes its toll on all of us, you especially. Go, see your fields of flowers. If you want, consider it a reconnaissance for when you give me a tour," Demando said coaxingly.
And that was that.
Two days later, Saffir sat in the shuttle that would take him to Earth, tapping away at a portable computer. His eyes were so focused on the scrolling words that he didn't notice the woman who was standing in front of him until she reached out with a gloved hand and snatched the small computer away from him. He let out an involuntary squawk and looked up at the interloper.
"Petz!" he exclaimed angrily. "What do you think you're doing? And more importantly, what they hell are you doing here in the first place?"
She looked at the pad, trying to decipher the writing. "What IS this stuff?" she asked rhetorically, then shrugged as she pocketed the machine. "I'm here because you need a bodyguard on Earth, Saffir-sama," she said mockingly. "And I'm under orders to make sure you actually relax instead of stressing yourself out plotting some new-fangled weapon design."
Saffir rolled his eyes. "They had to assign you? I'd rather have a Terran tarantula as a guard."
"Apparently," she said through gritted teeth, taking the seat next to him with feline grace. She leveled an even stare on him. "So you're going to do your damnedest not to get yourself injured in the next week or so."
He was unable to think up a suitable retort, so merely sat back in his chair and sulked. This is going to be a LONG week, he thought.
END PART FIVE
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Coming Soon:
Part Six: War of the Black Moon
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Enter the Wiseman