Part Six: Enter the Wiseman
-or-
War of the Black Moon
***
"Virgos tend to have a nervous nature."
***
Ami returned from the kitchen. Saffir's voice had grown dry and cracked, and it was obvious to her that he wasn't used to talking for extended amounts of time. She had gone to the kitchen to get something for them both to drink, glancing at the clock. It was approaching eleven o'clock, and she could tell this story would take much longer to complete. He was just getting to speaking of Petz, someone she knew had had close ties with him. Still, Ami was captivated.
She handed him a glass of apple juice and resumed her seat across from him. Gratefully he sipped at it, smiling slightly as the sweet liquid soothed his parched throat. "This tastes wonderful," he said with a smile for Ami's benefit. "We don't have anything like this back on Nemesis, except what we imported."
"Imported? You mean after the war?" she asked, trying to get a feel for the future that Saffir came from.
"Iiee. There were always a few traders on Earth who would sell goods to us- usually at an ridiculous price. As Demando-sama's ototochan, I had access to more then most," Saffir finished.
"So... Petz," Ami said hesitantly. "You were very rude to her when she came here."
His eyes grew cold. "The Petz I knew would have handed me my head back on a platter, not run away. The time she's spent on Earth hasn't done much for her backbone. She used to be one of the strongest women I knew."
"I think she still is," Ami said with a little bit of heat in her voice. "To leave everything you've ever known to start a new life on a different planet.... that requires courage."
"Perhaps," Saffir said. "But she's still a traitor. And I'll never forgive her for turning her back on our family."
About a dozen possible replies passed through Ami's mind at the time, none of them anything that would keep her on his good side. Her respect for the Black Moon kept plummeting, and she wondered what rock bottom would be. She feared she wouldn't like the answer. In a way, the Black Moon was worse then Beryl- Beryl at least had the excuse that she wasn't human. But the Black Moon was. She decided to change the subject to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
"So you were making your first trip to Earth..." she prompted.
"Hai... and it was then I learned several things that rather surprised me." His grin of somewhat self-mocking amusement surprised her.
"Like what?" Ami couldn't resist asking.
He chuckled low in his throat, a surprisingly pleasant sound. "Well, to start with, that no matter how brilliant I may be, I will never understand women."
***
There is seldom much room for emotional involvement with the Virgo because the mind is always engaged and dominant.
***
Saffir stretched as Petz skillfully piloted the shuttle to land on the surface of the Earth. His body was tense as he felt the small craft settle onto the ground. This was the culmination of a dream, something he almost hadn't dared hope for. Rising to his feet, he started to head for the doorway that would lead him to his much-cherished fields of flowers when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"Nani?" he snapped irritably to Petz, who was looking at him with amusement.
"You'll need these," she said, sliding a pair of sunglasses onto to his face. "The light is brighter then anything you've ever been exposed to before, and you could damage your eyesight if you're not careful."
He blinked a few times, trying to get used to looking through the world with a darkened glass between him and the rest of it. "Arigatou," he murmured. She flashed a hesitant smile in his direction and he was surprised that the thought of how cute she was crossed his mind. He quickly crushed the thought, resolutely focusing his mind on the sights he would soon be enjoying. "I don't suppose I can have my notepad back now?" he asked pointedly.
She gave him a look of utter bafflement. "Saffir-sama, you're just about to see Terra for the first time and all you can think about is research?" she asked in a somewhat disgusted voice. She reached out into subspace and pulled out the pad she had snatched from him earlier. "Here you go. I hope it makes you happy," she finished, starting for the door, but hesitated when she saw a slight small dance across her liege's lips.
"Iiee, Petz" he said, even her sour humor unable to dent his exceptionally good mood. "I'm making sure I remember EVERYTHING," he stressed. "I want to be able to tell my brother all about Terra, since he's not able to come yet."
With a quick hand, she snatched the pad back. "Then put this away," she said. "Just enjoy the sights, and let things come naturally. You have an eidetic memory; there's no need to take notes. If you view this planet through scans, you'll be missing so much!" she pronounced.
He looked down at her, surprised to see the passion flare in her face. She loved it here, he realized with a touch of shock. Already her foul disposition was lightening and a glimmer of joy entered her eyes. He decided he rather liked that look- it was rare for him to see anyone actually being happy.
"You've been around often?" he asked.
"Hai!" she affirmed, standing in the doorway.
"Then since I'm only here for a little while, perhaps you'd only show me the really impressive sights?" he asked quietly.
"You want me to be your tour guide?" she asked incredulously.
"Since you're stuck with me anyway, might as well put your experience to good use," he said hesitantly.
The shine in her eyes grew more pronounced, and he could have sworn she started blushing. "Hai, Saffir-sama. Let's start by getting something to eat. They have the most wonderful bakery around here..." she began as she proceeded him down the ramp.
The light that greeted his eyes, protected though they were by the sunglasses that Petz had thoughtfully provided, was more intense then anything he had ever imagined. She smiled at him hesitantly, gently resting a gloved hand on his arm. "It is rather bright, isn't it?" she asked.
He nodded, inhaling deeply. The air was so fresh, and the verdant field she had chosen as their landing site was a stunning revelation for a man who had never seen such fine examples of plant life. "I think I could stay here forever," he said, a smile tracing his face. He was completely unaware of how beautiful that made him.
She looked at him. "How about we go to that bakery I mentioned and get some food, then we can have a picnic?"
The idea seemed like a brilliant one to him. "That sounds wonderful," he agreed easily.
Her grip tightened on his arm and she teleported them both to the location of a fine French bakery. Around them space cleared when the residents noticed the branding on their foreheads. A quiet murmuring as they started to bow, but Saffir waved them off, uncomfortable with such formality. "I thought the Terrans had a little more spirit," he said, as one coward back from him.
"Most of them do, but these are some that have run into Rubeus. Rubeus can beat the spirit out of anyone he doesn't like," she said.
He listened to the slight derision in her voice. "You don't like my esteemed cousin?" he asked.
There was wariness in her voice before she answered. "There's other people I like better," she confessed after thinking for a second.
His opinion of her rose a few notches. Anyone who didn't like Rubeus had to have some merits.
Together they went into the bakery. The man behind the counter perked up when he saw Petz, but then his eyes cloudy over with apprehension when Saffir followed her in. "Greetings, Petz-sama," the somewhat overweight Terran said. "What can I do for you today?"
"I would very much like some fresh bread, some of your home made butter, and ask your lovely wife if she would be kind enough to run to the market to pick me out the makings of a picnic lunch, especially lemonade," Petz answered.
Saffir sniffed the interesting aromas as they waited for the rest of the food to be brought back. Petz picked up one delicacy and handed it over to him. "Try this. You haven't lived until you've tried a chocolate croissant," she said.
He gave her a dubious look, but bit into it, and his eyes widened. "This is wonderful," he agreed, savoring the slightly warm treat.
"There's a few other things here that are well worth the calories," she said. "In fact, most everything here is excellent- it's one of the best bakeries around. I'm very glad we didn't destroy it."
Saffir noticed how the man behind the counter stiffened when she said that carelessly. "Did we destroy a lot?" he asked curiously.
She sighed slightly. "More then was necessary- but the Terrans have come to heel much more quickly because of it," she said.
Finally the baker's wife returned, and gave the duo a basket full of goods. Petz smiled and handed over some money, then turned to explain. "Some of our soldiers don't pay, but I get better service because I do," she told the Blue Prince.
"I'm sure you do," he said.
"Where do you want to picnic?" she asked.
"Somewhere with flowers," he said wistfully.
She looked at him, her eyes strangely amused. "As my liege commands," she said easily, teleporting them both to a remote field. With a smile, she sat down, stretching her legs. He sank down beside her, carefully removing his gloves from his hands so he could touch the fresh grass and flowers with no barrier. "We should have brought a blanket to sit on," she complained, looking at the dirt around her.
"No," he disagreed. "This is perfect."
They conversed quietly, each eating heartily until only dessert was left. With a smile, Petz reached into the basket and pulled out a small bag. "These are my absolute favorite," she confessed, handing him a cookie.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Double chocolate chip cookies- apparently a Terran classic. I really wish we had chocolate on Nemesis. I can't understand how I managed to survive this long without it."
Taking a bite, he closed his eyes in pleasure. "I can see how you say that," he said.
Petz smiled, then before he realized what was happening, she was sitting next to him, her hand on his chest. "Do you know they say chocolate is an aphrodisiac?" she asked.
He shook his head, unable to find anything to say.
Then she leaned forward and kissed him.
***
More concerned with the outcome than the process, Virgos lack spontaneity.
***
After that, things became even more complicated for Saffir.
Besides planning attacks, preparing weapons, and dabbling (albeit unwillingly) with politics, he had to deal with having a lover as well. And Petz was a high-maintenance one.
They still fought like cats and dogs. Petz was jealous and possessive, something that was not good when one considered that Demando, the White Prince himself, considered Saffir his exclusive property. Petz irritated Saffir by dragging him away from his work, while he drove her up the wall by forgetting about time and getting lost in his work. Still, he never did sleep beside her. He never could bring himself to trust her that much- a small part of his mind was convinced that she was a plant Rubeus had set up to destroy him.
The conquest of Earth continued. Finally they were on the point of ultimate success- only Crystal Tokyo was left. Still, every time Saffir started in on the calculations for fighting that last Bastion, he ended up with answers he didn't like. Petz tried to distract him from his frustration, but had little success. Finally his unrest was noticed even by Demando himself.
Demando was sitting in his study, sipping at a glass of wine from the vineyards of California- a wine that had a pleasant, although somewhat foxy, taste to it. He looked at his younger brother, who was tapping away at a pad, trying to find the right words. "Saffir-kun," he said finally, having worked out this conversation already in his mind.
Saffir stopped his worked, looking up to meet his brother's purple eyes. "Hai, oniisan?" he asked submissively.
"Tell me about your plans for the attack of Crystal Tokyo," he said.
If Demando hadn't been watching, he would have missed it. Saffir's eyes narrowed and his lips thinned in frustration, very small signs, but for Demando, who knew how much his brother hated showing emotion, it was enough. "It isn't going well?"
Saffir sighed. "Time and time again I run into the same problem- the ginzuishou. The Outer Senshi are gone, but to KEEP them gone is a taxing exercise on Rubeus, Esmeraude and myself- we're lacking a bit of our power. The Inner Senshi can be countered by the Uncanny Sisters, but that still leaves Endymion and his Queen, both of whom possess talents and powers that would overwhelm us by themselves- if they fought together, they might well be able to fling our entire invasion force off the planet."
The Prince's eyes looked grim as he considered the possibilities. "What if you were able to add another sorcerer who was more powerful then Esmeraude is at her best?"
"Then we could likely be able to neutralize the Neo Queen long enough to throw the battle in our favor. But that's impossible. The only sorcerer who is stronger then Esmeraude is you-" Saffir's eyes widened as he realized what Demando was hinting at. "You CAN'T!" he said. "Onegai! You're the Prince- we CAN'T send you into battle!"
The Prince smiled at his brother lovingly. "Your concern for me always touches my heart, but this time, I'm going to have to overrule you. Besides, there's someone I want you to meet," he said. "Enter, Wiseman!" the Prince said in a commanding voice.
Saffir gasped as a cowled figure rose out of the floor, flickering with prismatic colors. Between his rapidly shifting hands levitated a seer's globe, and Saffir tried to keep his shudder from being noticeable. What really bothered him was that he couldn't make out the creature's face- and Saffir thought creature was the right word. He seriously doubted it was truly human.
"Meet the Wiseman," Demando said softly. "He's a powerful seer, and with his help, I have determined how to neutralize the Neo Queen and her blasted ginzuishou."
"Oniisan!" Saffir said, unable to think up a more lucid protest. All he could think was that this was a bad idea, and that trusting the creature in front of them was a mistake. "What is this plan?" Saffir asked finally, kicking his mind into gear.
Demando smiled like a cat about to indulge in an overflowing bowl of cream. "The jakokuzuishou," he said.
"No!" Saffir snapped. "That jewel is dangerous!"
The jakokuzuishou was a towering column of a gemstone no one had ever been able to identify. Saffir had studied it briefly, and concluded that it was some kind of carbon-based material that had the last level of electrons elevated. It was a powerful magic material- too powerful. No magician had succeeded in tapping into it yet without be fried in the process.
Demando's face lost its smile. "Trust me, ototochan," he said. He held out his hands and showed Saffir a pair of delicate earrings that were in them. "The problem whenever someone tried to tap into the jakokuzuishou was that they were using the entire jewel, and overloading themselves. These shards are safe to use- they contain only a fraction of the power, but it's still enough to be of considerable use. The Wiseman made eight pairs for me. I figure you, me, Esmeraude, Rubeus and the Four Sisters would be the most advantageous way to distribute them." The Prince slid his earrings in, and the brushed his cheeks as he tilted his head, smiling eagerly. With a gesture, he summoned another pair. "These are for you. With this extra power, I want you to have an attacked planned for next week."
Saffir glared angrily. "This is NOT a good idea! I REFUSE to wear those!" he said.
Demando gave him a cold look. "I can't force you to. But I want you to plan an attack. By this time next week, Crystal Tokyo will be rubble." Then he turned and stalked out of the room, leaving Saffir alone with the newest ally of the Black Moon Family.
"I trust you as far as I can throw you, Wiseman. Watch your back- because I'll be watching you as well," Saffir said in a harsh voice.
The Wiseman spoke for the first time. "I will enjoy the challenge," he said as he started to sink into the floor. "That way, victory will be all that much sweeter."
***
Virgos love to have everything just right, and they hate muddle and inefficiency.
***
Saffir planned the attack.
It was no surprise- much as he disagreed with his brother's faith in the Wiseman, he couldn't deny Demando anything that he wanted. It was against his nature- what Demando wanted, Demando got.
All the other members of the of the Black Moon Family who were offered earrings accepted them. Saffir almost managed to convince Petz that wearing them was a bad idea, but she finally decided that she didn't want her sisters to be more powerful then she was. Petz was, after all, Oneesan, and had a status to protect. He was upset with her decision and lack of trust in him, but not truly surprised.
Saffir noted that those who wore the earrings with fragments of jakokuzuishou crystal to have their negative qualities accentuated. The Ayakashi sisters, who had always been close, fell into major quarrels with each other over the pettiest of things, Rubeus became even more sadistic, while Esmeraude became even vainer, if that was possible. Even Demando seemed affected by the gems, his obsession with conquering the Earth almost frightening in its intensity. Saffir wisely kept his mouth shut, though, wondering how much influence the Wiseman actually had over his family.
To his surprise, the actual attack went off without too many flaws- except for two. The flaws, though, were major. The first was the Inner Senshi. Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Mercury did not come out to face the sisters the way he had planned. Rather, they rushed the Princess away, hiding her far from their reach, deep into the vast reaches of time. Sailor Pluto was said to be able to control Portal, and the stronger members of the Black Moon family felt her open the time gates for the first time in over a millenium. But this didn't happen until after the second major problem happened.
The second was the Neo Queen herself. Rather then using the ginzuishou, as he had expected, she came out defenseless and stood in the field, watching as the ships descended on her beloved city. And that was the biggest flaw in the attack, for Demando was the one who had to bring her down.
If she had fought back, he would have seen her as the enemy. If she would have wielded the enormous power that the ginzuishou represented, he would have been more concerned with defeating then seeing her.
But she came out, alone and defenseless.
Around them, the battle seemed to ebb, as the universe held its breath for this moment. Serenity looked up, her sweet blue eyes sadly tracking his descent. Without remorse, he slammed her with the full force of his power.
Then the Seishi appeared, seemingly from no where, and exercised a power no one knew they had. Each of the Inner Senshi cast forth her energy, wrapping Serenity up in a crystal that reflected it the brilliant powers that the Inners carried inside their souls. When the light settled enough for ordinary eyes to look on it, Demando drew back.
Neo Queen Serenity has been suspended in time. She lay in a casket of crystal, her hands laid across her breast, a serene expression on her face. Demando pulled up short and stared down, and everything went still. No one moved, no one spoke, until a shrill voice broke out. "MOMMY!" From within her, a light burst forth, and the Black Moon Forces recognized it for what it was. For some reason, Neo Queen Serenity had passed her precious crystal to her daughter.
A small child with pink hair raced out, reaching for the crystal. The Seishi with dark hair caught her hand. "No, Small Lady!" she said urgently, tugging the screaming child away. Demando's eyes lingered on the stricken Neo Queen, but he turned his attention from her long enough to begin to pursue the small child and claim the prize she held.
"No!" a voice said, and Demando was confronted by the man who was married to the woman he had just brutally attacked. The Neo King stood, holding out his staff. His eyes were hard and cold, and Demando was surprised to see absolute hatred for him- this went beyond anything he could justify. If he didn't know better, Demando would have said that Endymion was... jealous?
The staff began to glow with a golden light, and Demando reached inside himself, touching the power that was the Pellucid Throne. His pink aura flared around him, and his hair stood on end.
The men faced off.
Calaveras and Beruche broke off battle and started to race to back their sovereign. Petz and Cooan were busy attempting to subdue a few groups of Terrans who continued to fight, Terrans who had regained strength after watching their Goddess fall. Rubeus and Esmeraude were with Saffir in the control room, powerless to help. The Sisters Ayakashi would be too late to help; this would be a battle between the King of Earth and the Prince of Nemesis, winner take all.
Endymion made the first strike, launching forth a golden missile that looked sort of like Venus' Crescent Bean attack, yet was a hundred times more deadly. Demando formed a shield, holding out his hands. The attack deflected harmlessly to the sky.
Demando's cape lifted off his shoulder and began to wave dramatically in the wind as he prepared to make his strike. Taking out Serenity had cost him much of his power reserves, and he was on the verge of collapse, though he wasn't about to let anyone know. His eyes brightened and he spread his fingers, willing everything he had.
Endymion raised his staff to block, but it was at that moment that the Time Gate opened, distracting him for a vital second.
Reeling backwards from the deadly magic, the Lord of Earth crumpled to his knees. "Small Lady," he whispered, then vanished.
Calaveras and Beruche reached Demando in time to grasp his arms, giving him much needed support. "We've WON!" Calaveras said.
Demando blinked, unable to believe it. Beruche smiled eagerly, and opened her mouth to add her congratulations. Before she could do so, though, the Crystal Palace lit up, and the casket that contained the sleeping Empress disappeared much the same way her husband had vanished moments prior.
Four columns of light ascended towards the sky from the heart of the Crystal Palace, and the Nemesians watched in horrified fascination as a magical force-field was created around the heart of Crystal Tokyo. "What is that?" Beruche whispered.
In the control room, Saffir pressed his hands against the window, cursing. The Inner Senshi had obviously established a protective field, but how long would they hold it? And for what purpose? Their rulers were as good as dead.
Behind him, he heard the Wiseman swear vehemently, and it caused him a slight shiver of fear. He had never before heard of the Wiseman sound so angry, and he wondered why he felt a premonition of disaster.
An hour later all the principles were assembled in the Throne Room. Demando sat upon the Pellucid Throne, an abstract expression on his face. Esmeraude paced back and forth, her heels clicking loudly. The Sisters Ayakashi were bickering, as usual, about who was to blame. Rubeus was watching Demando with narrowed eyes, while the Wiseman lurked in his usual corner, keeping his attention divided between Demando, Saffir, and his crystal ball.
Saffir finally dared to break the silence. "Oniisan?" he said.
The others looked at him, and the Uncanny Sisters stopped their fighting, though Cooan kicked Petz one last time for good measure.
Demando looked up. "What is it, Saffir?"
"What do we do now?" he asked in a quiet voice.
Demando looked at his loyal subjects. "Exactly what happened?" he demanded.
Saffir rubbed his forehead. "The Senshi put up a barrier that prevents us from taking the Crystal Palace. The Time Gate itself opened- I never believed that Sailor Pluto would do such a thing," he grumbled.
"What happened to the ginzuishou?" Demando asked.
"The Rabbit has it- Small Lady Usagi Serenity," the Wiseman said. "The only way to break through the barrier is to retrieve her and force her to give it up."
"But she went through time!" Esmeraude protested. "You think Sailor Pluto is going to let us go through the Time Warp with a 'fare thee well?'"
The Wiseman ignored her, focusing his attention on the Prince. "We need not use the time warp," he said. "We can create our own time portal. Those of Nemesis have always had an affinity for time, as has been proven recently."
The Sisters fell into confused mumbles, but Saffir was unable to believe it when Demando nodded. "It sounds feasible," he mused.
Rubeus wasn't about to be left out. "Perhaps we can weaken the defense in another way- how about attacking the very foundation of Crystal Tokyo while we're there? Then we can triggered the defects now and boom! Sayonara, Crystal Tokyo!"
Saffir looked at Rubeus with disgust. Messing with time wasn't that simple. "Rubeus-" he began, getting ready to lambast his cousin's lame-brain plan, but was interrupted.
"Indeed. Saffir, Get to work on the Portal. Rubeus, take the Ayakashi Sisters and start to prepare. I want this carried out within the week."
Saffir looked at Demando, prepared to argue, but there was something in those purple eyes that waned him that his words would be met with, at best, an acidic counterorder.
Biting his lip, he teleported to his lab and started his computers working on the physics he needed to know about in order to create a portal that would move people through time.
***
FLOWERS: Morning Glories and Pansies.
***
He felt, more then heard, the presence of another being in the room with him. Rubbing his tired eyes, he turned around to see Calaveras standing, watching him work. She had one hand poised on her hip, while the other held her whip loosely. She was watching him with a slight smile on her lips, like a cat watching a canary.
Of all the Sisters, she was the one who made him the most uneasy. Cooan was easily understood, Beruche often lost herself in a world of academia that was similar to the one he lived and, and Petz was his lover. Calaveras had the strongest rivalry with Petz, and it was plain to see that she wanted everything of her sister's. Sometimes she would blantantly come onto him, while other times she would play cool.
"Saffir-sama," she said, rolling his name slightly, as though she was savoring the taste of it, "Demando-sama has summoned you to his court," she said. Her smile was cat-like, and he felt very much like a dish of cream.
Hitting the save command, he rose to his feet. Calaveras stood uncomfortably close as he started towards the door. "Yes?" he asked pointedly.
"I'm to escort you, Aoi Ojisama," she teasingly whispered, moving her lush body so that she was standing close enough to lick his face.
She'd done that once before- lick his face, that is. She and Cooan seemed to get an unholy delight from tormenting and flirting with him, much to Petz's disgust and outrage. She had marked him as hers, and her sisters weren't respecting that. "That's not nessessary." He quickly moved out of the room and rushed down the hallways to Demando's throne room.
Saffir entered the room, standing in the shadows. A hologram floated in mid-air, a monument of white and gold feminine beauty. The white light cast eerie Shadows across the Prince of Nemesis' face, and Saffir shuddered at the enthralled look in his older brother's purple eyes. "You summoned me?" Saffir asked.
Demando's eyes remained fastened on the woman. "She's so beautiful, isn't she?"
"I guess," Saffir said quietly, concerned. He really couldn't understand Demando's fascination with the Neo-Queen. "She's the enemy, though," he ventured carefully.
Demando's eyes narrowed dangerously. "It doesn't matter- she WILL be mine. She will no longer be the enemy once she is my wife."
Saffir felt his jaw drop. "WIFE?!" he howled, for the first time losing his temper with his older brother. "What do you NOT understand?! She is the enemy- she is the one who banished our ancestors here. Why the hell do you think she'll love you? Why the hell would you WANT her to? And what right do you have to bring her here and contaminate the Royal Family?"
Then Demando did something that was simply unbelievable to his younger brother. Around him, his aura flared, and before Saffir knew what was happening, he found himself launched to the other side of the room by a relatively weak energy bolt.
Saffir stared in stunned amazement as his brother rose to his imperial feet. "How dare you question my word? I am the Prince of Nemesis- not you. I am the one who shall lead our people off of this dark world- not you. You are my servant, my tool, and don't you EVER forget that, Saffir! I have determined that taking the Neo Queen as my wife is the best road, and once she bears my child, succession is assured.
"You don't want the throne, do you? Do you honestly think that you are strong enough to hold the Pellecid Throne? Do you honestly think that your spirit is strong enought hat you won't be dominated by the rulers of the past? Do you honestly think you have the power to rule, that the people won't object? Go back to your books, Saffir. Go back until you are ready to serve again." With that, Demando vanished, teleporting away from his brother.
Saffir sat huddled on the floor, his knees pulled in close to his chest. How it hurt! The physical pain was minor, but for the first time, Demando has raised a hand against him. For so long, he had been able to count on Demando to be there... Demando was the world, and the world had turned its back on him. Shutting his eyes, he fought hard to suppress the tears the threatened to leak out of the corner of his eyes. He hugged his legs close to his chest as he tried to decide what to do.
Should he find Demando, and apologize? No, that would only enrage his brother even further, and that was something he could not afford to do. His brother did not appreciate weakness.
Lifting his head, Saffir glared at the hologram of the Neo Queen which floated. This was all her fault. SHE was the one who had exiled their people here.... SHE ewas the one who hadn't attacked when she should have..... SHE was the one with whom Demando had become infatuated. Saffir refused to call it love; love had to be developed. Saffir doubted Demando would ever love anyone- possess, yes, but never love.
A frightening truth. Did Demando care for him? Saffir wondered. He was still slightly dizzy from being thrust across the room, and his head hurt. He wanted nothing more then to go and lie down, but he couldn't. He had work to do.
Still, rather then getting up, he sat still, emptying his mind of thoughts. He had never just done nothing before ands it was a novel experience.
"So the Prince has cast you aside, has he?" a voice asked mockingly.
With the instinct of a cornered animal, Saffir vaulted upright, a pale ball of blue energy sparking at his fingertips. Then he saw it was the Wiseman. "We merely had a misunderstanding!" he stated fiercely.
The Wiseman's chuckle was horrid. It cracked, and reminded Saffir for the sound of a casket being closed for the final time. "Truly? That implies that you understood each other in the first place," he whispered.
Saffir lost his temper and threw the ball of blue energy with great force. It crackled and hit the Wiseman's crystal ball, and was absorbed. "Damn you!"
"I've already been damned," the Wiseman returned. "That was a very powerful bolt you just threw at me.... do you truly wish me dead?"
"I wish you gone! If it's the last thing I do, I'll show my brother the truth about you!" Saffir vowed passionately.
"You don't even know the truth," the Wiseman murmured as he sank into the floor.
Saffir watched as he left.
A week later, Saffir had prepared the Portal. Petz, her sisters, and Rubeus were to go and collect the Rabbit and capture the Crystal Points. If they succeeded, they would be able to collapse the shield the Senshi had placed around the sleeping Queen, and win the war.
Saffir wasn't sure how he felt about that. Part of his mind screamed that they were dancing dangerously close to creating a paradox. Temporal mechanics weren't easily understood, and he was worrriied that they might inadvertantly wipe themselves out of existence. Still, it was what Demando wanted, and it would get Petz out of his hair. They'd been together for too long, and Saffir had no clue how to break off the relationship.
He went to see her the night before she left. She had been in her room, packing carefully. A hugde bag of clothing and make-up products sat on her bed, and he sighed. She was distracted; that could be a good or bad thing. It would either keep her from frying him, or shorten her already legendary temper.
"Petz?"
She turned and focused on him. The shards of the jakokuzuishou swung against her cheeks gracefully, and he repressed a shudder of revulsion. Now was not the time to begin arguing. "Yes, Saffir?" she asked. "I have to finish packing."
"I know. I just..."
"...wanted to say good-bye?" she asked, a predatorial expression flashing in her eyes. She moved towards him like a panther, wrapping herself around him.
He shoved her away as she raised her face for a kiss. "No. I came to tell you we're through." He spoke in a monotone, as though it didn't matter to him.
"WHAT?" she shrieked, her voice piercing his ears.
"I wish to terminate our relationship."
She blinked. "Where the HELL did this come out of Saffir?"
"There are many reasons, but the principle is that you don't trust me."
"I do, too!" she argued. Her face was pale from lack of blood.
"Then take of the earrings."
She flinched. "I can't do that! You know I need them to focus my power."
Saffir shook his head. "Then we're through." He quickly teleported away before she could regain enough of her equilibrium to get even. He didn't want to make a scene.
The next day he opened the Portal to 1993 AD, hooking it into Rubeus' flag ship. Watching as Rubeus made the first transition, carrying away the Ayakahi sisters, he felt unbearably alone.
END PART SIX
Now be a good read and FEEEEED the author!
Up Next: Kiss me
-or-
The Pellucid Throne
-or-
War of the Black Moon
***
"Virgos tend to have a nervous nature."
***
Ami returned from the kitchen. Saffir's voice had grown dry and cracked, and it was obvious to her that he wasn't used to talking for extended amounts of time. She had gone to the kitchen to get something for them both to drink, glancing at the clock. It was approaching eleven o'clock, and she could tell this story would take much longer to complete. He was just getting to speaking of Petz, someone she knew had had close ties with him. Still, Ami was captivated.
She handed him a glass of apple juice and resumed her seat across from him. Gratefully he sipped at it, smiling slightly as the sweet liquid soothed his parched throat. "This tastes wonderful," he said with a smile for Ami's benefit. "We don't have anything like this back on Nemesis, except what we imported."
"Imported? You mean after the war?" she asked, trying to get a feel for the future that Saffir came from.
"Iiee. There were always a few traders on Earth who would sell goods to us- usually at an ridiculous price. As Demando-sama's ototochan, I had access to more then most," Saffir finished.
"So... Petz," Ami said hesitantly. "You were very rude to her when she came here."
His eyes grew cold. "The Petz I knew would have handed me my head back on a platter, not run away. The time she's spent on Earth hasn't done much for her backbone. She used to be one of the strongest women I knew."
"I think she still is," Ami said with a little bit of heat in her voice. "To leave everything you've ever known to start a new life on a different planet.... that requires courage."
"Perhaps," Saffir said. "But she's still a traitor. And I'll never forgive her for turning her back on our family."
About a dozen possible replies passed through Ami's mind at the time, none of them anything that would keep her on his good side. Her respect for the Black Moon kept plummeting, and she wondered what rock bottom would be. She feared she wouldn't like the answer. In a way, the Black Moon was worse then Beryl- Beryl at least had the excuse that she wasn't human. But the Black Moon was. She decided to change the subject to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
"So you were making your first trip to Earth..." she prompted.
"Hai... and it was then I learned several things that rather surprised me." His grin of somewhat self-mocking amusement surprised her.
"Like what?" Ami couldn't resist asking.
He chuckled low in his throat, a surprisingly pleasant sound. "Well, to start with, that no matter how brilliant I may be, I will never understand women."
***
There is seldom much room for emotional involvement with the Virgo because the mind is always engaged and dominant.
***
Saffir stretched as Petz skillfully piloted the shuttle to land on the surface of the Earth. His body was tense as he felt the small craft settle onto the ground. This was the culmination of a dream, something he almost hadn't dared hope for. Rising to his feet, he started to head for the doorway that would lead him to his much-cherished fields of flowers when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"Nani?" he snapped irritably to Petz, who was looking at him with amusement.
"You'll need these," she said, sliding a pair of sunglasses onto to his face. "The light is brighter then anything you've ever been exposed to before, and you could damage your eyesight if you're not careful."
He blinked a few times, trying to get used to looking through the world with a darkened glass between him and the rest of it. "Arigatou," he murmured. She flashed a hesitant smile in his direction and he was surprised that the thought of how cute she was crossed his mind. He quickly crushed the thought, resolutely focusing his mind on the sights he would soon be enjoying. "I don't suppose I can have my notepad back now?" he asked pointedly.
She gave him a look of utter bafflement. "Saffir-sama, you're just about to see Terra for the first time and all you can think about is research?" she asked in a somewhat disgusted voice. She reached out into subspace and pulled out the pad she had snatched from him earlier. "Here you go. I hope it makes you happy," she finished, starting for the door, but hesitated when she saw a slight small dance across her liege's lips.
"Iiee, Petz" he said, even her sour humor unable to dent his exceptionally good mood. "I'm making sure I remember EVERYTHING," he stressed. "I want to be able to tell my brother all about Terra, since he's not able to come yet."
With a quick hand, she snatched the pad back. "Then put this away," she said. "Just enjoy the sights, and let things come naturally. You have an eidetic memory; there's no need to take notes. If you view this planet through scans, you'll be missing so much!" she pronounced.
He looked down at her, surprised to see the passion flare in her face. She loved it here, he realized with a touch of shock. Already her foul disposition was lightening and a glimmer of joy entered her eyes. He decided he rather liked that look- it was rare for him to see anyone actually being happy.
"You've been around often?" he asked.
"Hai!" she affirmed, standing in the doorway.
"Then since I'm only here for a little while, perhaps you'd only show me the really impressive sights?" he asked quietly.
"You want me to be your tour guide?" she asked incredulously.
"Since you're stuck with me anyway, might as well put your experience to good use," he said hesitantly.
The shine in her eyes grew more pronounced, and he could have sworn she started blushing. "Hai, Saffir-sama. Let's start by getting something to eat. They have the most wonderful bakery around here..." she began as she proceeded him down the ramp.
The light that greeted his eyes, protected though they were by the sunglasses that Petz had thoughtfully provided, was more intense then anything he had ever imagined. She smiled at him hesitantly, gently resting a gloved hand on his arm. "It is rather bright, isn't it?" she asked.
He nodded, inhaling deeply. The air was so fresh, and the verdant field she had chosen as their landing site was a stunning revelation for a man who had never seen such fine examples of plant life. "I think I could stay here forever," he said, a smile tracing his face. He was completely unaware of how beautiful that made him.
She looked at him. "How about we go to that bakery I mentioned and get some food, then we can have a picnic?"
The idea seemed like a brilliant one to him. "That sounds wonderful," he agreed easily.
Her grip tightened on his arm and she teleported them both to the location of a fine French bakery. Around them space cleared when the residents noticed the branding on their foreheads. A quiet murmuring as they started to bow, but Saffir waved them off, uncomfortable with such formality. "I thought the Terrans had a little more spirit," he said, as one coward back from him.
"Most of them do, but these are some that have run into Rubeus. Rubeus can beat the spirit out of anyone he doesn't like," she said.
He listened to the slight derision in her voice. "You don't like my esteemed cousin?" he asked.
There was wariness in her voice before she answered. "There's other people I like better," she confessed after thinking for a second.
His opinion of her rose a few notches. Anyone who didn't like Rubeus had to have some merits.
Together they went into the bakery. The man behind the counter perked up when he saw Petz, but then his eyes cloudy over with apprehension when Saffir followed her in. "Greetings, Petz-sama," the somewhat overweight Terran said. "What can I do for you today?"
"I would very much like some fresh bread, some of your home made butter, and ask your lovely wife if she would be kind enough to run to the market to pick me out the makings of a picnic lunch, especially lemonade," Petz answered.
Saffir sniffed the interesting aromas as they waited for the rest of the food to be brought back. Petz picked up one delicacy and handed it over to him. "Try this. You haven't lived until you've tried a chocolate croissant," she said.
He gave her a dubious look, but bit into it, and his eyes widened. "This is wonderful," he agreed, savoring the slightly warm treat.
"There's a few other things here that are well worth the calories," she said. "In fact, most everything here is excellent- it's one of the best bakeries around. I'm very glad we didn't destroy it."
Saffir noticed how the man behind the counter stiffened when she said that carelessly. "Did we destroy a lot?" he asked curiously.
She sighed slightly. "More then was necessary- but the Terrans have come to heel much more quickly because of it," she said.
Finally the baker's wife returned, and gave the duo a basket full of goods. Petz smiled and handed over some money, then turned to explain. "Some of our soldiers don't pay, but I get better service because I do," she told the Blue Prince.
"I'm sure you do," he said.
"Where do you want to picnic?" she asked.
"Somewhere with flowers," he said wistfully.
She looked at him, her eyes strangely amused. "As my liege commands," she said easily, teleporting them both to a remote field. With a smile, she sat down, stretching her legs. He sank down beside her, carefully removing his gloves from his hands so he could touch the fresh grass and flowers with no barrier. "We should have brought a blanket to sit on," she complained, looking at the dirt around her.
"No," he disagreed. "This is perfect."
They conversed quietly, each eating heartily until only dessert was left. With a smile, Petz reached into the basket and pulled out a small bag. "These are my absolute favorite," she confessed, handing him a cookie.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Double chocolate chip cookies- apparently a Terran classic. I really wish we had chocolate on Nemesis. I can't understand how I managed to survive this long without it."
Taking a bite, he closed his eyes in pleasure. "I can see how you say that," he said.
Petz smiled, then before he realized what was happening, she was sitting next to him, her hand on his chest. "Do you know they say chocolate is an aphrodisiac?" she asked.
He shook his head, unable to find anything to say.
Then she leaned forward and kissed him.
***
More concerned with the outcome than the process, Virgos lack spontaneity.
***
After that, things became even more complicated for Saffir.
Besides planning attacks, preparing weapons, and dabbling (albeit unwillingly) with politics, he had to deal with having a lover as well. And Petz was a high-maintenance one.
They still fought like cats and dogs. Petz was jealous and possessive, something that was not good when one considered that Demando, the White Prince himself, considered Saffir his exclusive property. Petz irritated Saffir by dragging him away from his work, while he drove her up the wall by forgetting about time and getting lost in his work. Still, he never did sleep beside her. He never could bring himself to trust her that much- a small part of his mind was convinced that she was a plant Rubeus had set up to destroy him.
The conquest of Earth continued. Finally they were on the point of ultimate success- only Crystal Tokyo was left. Still, every time Saffir started in on the calculations for fighting that last Bastion, he ended up with answers he didn't like. Petz tried to distract him from his frustration, but had little success. Finally his unrest was noticed even by Demando himself.
Demando was sitting in his study, sipping at a glass of wine from the vineyards of California- a wine that had a pleasant, although somewhat foxy, taste to it. He looked at his younger brother, who was tapping away at a pad, trying to find the right words. "Saffir-kun," he said finally, having worked out this conversation already in his mind.
Saffir stopped his worked, looking up to meet his brother's purple eyes. "Hai, oniisan?" he asked submissively.
"Tell me about your plans for the attack of Crystal Tokyo," he said.
If Demando hadn't been watching, he would have missed it. Saffir's eyes narrowed and his lips thinned in frustration, very small signs, but for Demando, who knew how much his brother hated showing emotion, it was enough. "It isn't going well?"
Saffir sighed. "Time and time again I run into the same problem- the ginzuishou. The Outer Senshi are gone, but to KEEP them gone is a taxing exercise on Rubeus, Esmeraude and myself- we're lacking a bit of our power. The Inner Senshi can be countered by the Uncanny Sisters, but that still leaves Endymion and his Queen, both of whom possess talents and powers that would overwhelm us by themselves- if they fought together, they might well be able to fling our entire invasion force off the planet."
The Prince's eyes looked grim as he considered the possibilities. "What if you were able to add another sorcerer who was more powerful then Esmeraude is at her best?"
"Then we could likely be able to neutralize the Neo Queen long enough to throw the battle in our favor. But that's impossible. The only sorcerer who is stronger then Esmeraude is you-" Saffir's eyes widened as he realized what Demando was hinting at. "You CAN'T!" he said. "Onegai! You're the Prince- we CAN'T send you into battle!"
The Prince smiled at his brother lovingly. "Your concern for me always touches my heart, but this time, I'm going to have to overrule you. Besides, there's someone I want you to meet," he said. "Enter, Wiseman!" the Prince said in a commanding voice.
Saffir gasped as a cowled figure rose out of the floor, flickering with prismatic colors. Between his rapidly shifting hands levitated a seer's globe, and Saffir tried to keep his shudder from being noticeable. What really bothered him was that he couldn't make out the creature's face- and Saffir thought creature was the right word. He seriously doubted it was truly human.
"Meet the Wiseman," Demando said softly. "He's a powerful seer, and with his help, I have determined how to neutralize the Neo Queen and her blasted ginzuishou."
"Oniisan!" Saffir said, unable to think up a more lucid protest. All he could think was that this was a bad idea, and that trusting the creature in front of them was a mistake. "What is this plan?" Saffir asked finally, kicking his mind into gear.
Demando smiled like a cat about to indulge in an overflowing bowl of cream. "The jakokuzuishou," he said.
"No!" Saffir snapped. "That jewel is dangerous!"
The jakokuzuishou was a towering column of a gemstone no one had ever been able to identify. Saffir had studied it briefly, and concluded that it was some kind of carbon-based material that had the last level of electrons elevated. It was a powerful magic material- too powerful. No magician had succeeded in tapping into it yet without be fried in the process.
Demando's face lost its smile. "Trust me, ototochan," he said. He held out his hands and showed Saffir a pair of delicate earrings that were in them. "The problem whenever someone tried to tap into the jakokuzuishou was that they were using the entire jewel, and overloading themselves. These shards are safe to use- they contain only a fraction of the power, but it's still enough to be of considerable use. The Wiseman made eight pairs for me. I figure you, me, Esmeraude, Rubeus and the Four Sisters would be the most advantageous way to distribute them." The Prince slid his earrings in, and the brushed his cheeks as he tilted his head, smiling eagerly. With a gesture, he summoned another pair. "These are for you. With this extra power, I want you to have an attacked planned for next week."
Saffir glared angrily. "This is NOT a good idea! I REFUSE to wear those!" he said.
Demando gave him a cold look. "I can't force you to. But I want you to plan an attack. By this time next week, Crystal Tokyo will be rubble." Then he turned and stalked out of the room, leaving Saffir alone with the newest ally of the Black Moon Family.
"I trust you as far as I can throw you, Wiseman. Watch your back- because I'll be watching you as well," Saffir said in a harsh voice.
The Wiseman spoke for the first time. "I will enjoy the challenge," he said as he started to sink into the floor. "That way, victory will be all that much sweeter."
***
Virgos love to have everything just right, and they hate muddle and inefficiency.
***
Saffir planned the attack.
It was no surprise- much as he disagreed with his brother's faith in the Wiseman, he couldn't deny Demando anything that he wanted. It was against his nature- what Demando wanted, Demando got.
All the other members of the of the Black Moon Family who were offered earrings accepted them. Saffir almost managed to convince Petz that wearing them was a bad idea, but she finally decided that she didn't want her sisters to be more powerful then she was. Petz was, after all, Oneesan, and had a status to protect. He was upset with her decision and lack of trust in him, but not truly surprised.
Saffir noted that those who wore the earrings with fragments of jakokuzuishou crystal to have their negative qualities accentuated. The Ayakashi sisters, who had always been close, fell into major quarrels with each other over the pettiest of things, Rubeus became even more sadistic, while Esmeraude became even vainer, if that was possible. Even Demando seemed affected by the gems, his obsession with conquering the Earth almost frightening in its intensity. Saffir wisely kept his mouth shut, though, wondering how much influence the Wiseman actually had over his family.
To his surprise, the actual attack went off without too many flaws- except for two. The flaws, though, were major. The first was the Inner Senshi. Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Mercury did not come out to face the sisters the way he had planned. Rather, they rushed the Princess away, hiding her far from their reach, deep into the vast reaches of time. Sailor Pluto was said to be able to control Portal, and the stronger members of the Black Moon family felt her open the time gates for the first time in over a millenium. But this didn't happen until after the second major problem happened.
The second was the Neo Queen herself. Rather then using the ginzuishou, as he had expected, she came out defenseless and stood in the field, watching as the ships descended on her beloved city. And that was the biggest flaw in the attack, for Demando was the one who had to bring her down.
If she had fought back, he would have seen her as the enemy. If she would have wielded the enormous power that the ginzuishou represented, he would have been more concerned with defeating then seeing her.
But she came out, alone and defenseless.
Around them, the battle seemed to ebb, as the universe held its breath for this moment. Serenity looked up, her sweet blue eyes sadly tracking his descent. Without remorse, he slammed her with the full force of his power.
Then the Seishi appeared, seemingly from no where, and exercised a power no one knew they had. Each of the Inner Senshi cast forth her energy, wrapping Serenity up in a crystal that reflected it the brilliant powers that the Inners carried inside their souls. When the light settled enough for ordinary eyes to look on it, Demando drew back.
Neo Queen Serenity has been suspended in time. She lay in a casket of crystal, her hands laid across her breast, a serene expression on her face. Demando pulled up short and stared down, and everything went still. No one moved, no one spoke, until a shrill voice broke out. "MOMMY!" From within her, a light burst forth, and the Black Moon Forces recognized it for what it was. For some reason, Neo Queen Serenity had passed her precious crystal to her daughter.
A small child with pink hair raced out, reaching for the crystal. The Seishi with dark hair caught her hand. "No, Small Lady!" she said urgently, tugging the screaming child away. Demando's eyes lingered on the stricken Neo Queen, but he turned his attention from her long enough to begin to pursue the small child and claim the prize she held.
"No!" a voice said, and Demando was confronted by the man who was married to the woman he had just brutally attacked. The Neo King stood, holding out his staff. His eyes were hard and cold, and Demando was surprised to see absolute hatred for him- this went beyond anything he could justify. If he didn't know better, Demando would have said that Endymion was... jealous?
The staff began to glow with a golden light, and Demando reached inside himself, touching the power that was the Pellucid Throne. His pink aura flared around him, and his hair stood on end.
The men faced off.
Calaveras and Beruche broke off battle and started to race to back their sovereign. Petz and Cooan were busy attempting to subdue a few groups of Terrans who continued to fight, Terrans who had regained strength after watching their Goddess fall. Rubeus and Esmeraude were with Saffir in the control room, powerless to help. The Sisters Ayakashi would be too late to help; this would be a battle between the King of Earth and the Prince of Nemesis, winner take all.
Endymion made the first strike, launching forth a golden missile that looked sort of like Venus' Crescent Bean attack, yet was a hundred times more deadly. Demando formed a shield, holding out his hands. The attack deflected harmlessly to the sky.
Demando's cape lifted off his shoulder and began to wave dramatically in the wind as he prepared to make his strike. Taking out Serenity had cost him much of his power reserves, and he was on the verge of collapse, though he wasn't about to let anyone know. His eyes brightened and he spread his fingers, willing everything he had.
Endymion raised his staff to block, but it was at that moment that the Time Gate opened, distracting him for a vital second.
Reeling backwards from the deadly magic, the Lord of Earth crumpled to his knees. "Small Lady," he whispered, then vanished.
Calaveras and Beruche reached Demando in time to grasp his arms, giving him much needed support. "We've WON!" Calaveras said.
Demando blinked, unable to believe it. Beruche smiled eagerly, and opened her mouth to add her congratulations. Before she could do so, though, the Crystal Palace lit up, and the casket that contained the sleeping Empress disappeared much the same way her husband had vanished moments prior.
Four columns of light ascended towards the sky from the heart of the Crystal Palace, and the Nemesians watched in horrified fascination as a magical force-field was created around the heart of Crystal Tokyo. "What is that?" Beruche whispered.
In the control room, Saffir pressed his hands against the window, cursing. The Inner Senshi had obviously established a protective field, but how long would they hold it? And for what purpose? Their rulers were as good as dead.
Behind him, he heard the Wiseman swear vehemently, and it caused him a slight shiver of fear. He had never before heard of the Wiseman sound so angry, and he wondered why he felt a premonition of disaster.
An hour later all the principles were assembled in the Throne Room. Demando sat upon the Pellucid Throne, an abstract expression on his face. Esmeraude paced back and forth, her heels clicking loudly. The Sisters Ayakashi were bickering, as usual, about who was to blame. Rubeus was watching Demando with narrowed eyes, while the Wiseman lurked in his usual corner, keeping his attention divided between Demando, Saffir, and his crystal ball.
Saffir finally dared to break the silence. "Oniisan?" he said.
The others looked at him, and the Uncanny Sisters stopped their fighting, though Cooan kicked Petz one last time for good measure.
Demando looked up. "What is it, Saffir?"
"What do we do now?" he asked in a quiet voice.
Demando looked at his loyal subjects. "Exactly what happened?" he demanded.
Saffir rubbed his forehead. "The Senshi put up a barrier that prevents us from taking the Crystal Palace. The Time Gate itself opened- I never believed that Sailor Pluto would do such a thing," he grumbled.
"What happened to the ginzuishou?" Demando asked.
"The Rabbit has it- Small Lady Usagi Serenity," the Wiseman said. "The only way to break through the barrier is to retrieve her and force her to give it up."
"But she went through time!" Esmeraude protested. "You think Sailor Pluto is going to let us go through the Time Warp with a 'fare thee well?'"
The Wiseman ignored her, focusing his attention on the Prince. "We need not use the time warp," he said. "We can create our own time portal. Those of Nemesis have always had an affinity for time, as has been proven recently."
The Sisters fell into confused mumbles, but Saffir was unable to believe it when Demando nodded. "It sounds feasible," he mused.
Rubeus wasn't about to be left out. "Perhaps we can weaken the defense in another way- how about attacking the very foundation of Crystal Tokyo while we're there? Then we can triggered the defects now and boom! Sayonara, Crystal Tokyo!"
Saffir looked at Rubeus with disgust. Messing with time wasn't that simple. "Rubeus-" he began, getting ready to lambast his cousin's lame-brain plan, but was interrupted.
"Indeed. Saffir, Get to work on the Portal. Rubeus, take the Ayakashi Sisters and start to prepare. I want this carried out within the week."
Saffir looked at Demando, prepared to argue, but there was something in those purple eyes that waned him that his words would be met with, at best, an acidic counterorder.
Biting his lip, he teleported to his lab and started his computers working on the physics he needed to know about in order to create a portal that would move people through time.
***
FLOWERS: Morning Glories and Pansies.
***
He felt, more then heard, the presence of another being in the room with him. Rubbing his tired eyes, he turned around to see Calaveras standing, watching him work. She had one hand poised on her hip, while the other held her whip loosely. She was watching him with a slight smile on her lips, like a cat watching a canary.
Of all the Sisters, she was the one who made him the most uneasy. Cooan was easily understood, Beruche often lost herself in a world of academia that was similar to the one he lived and, and Petz was his lover. Calaveras had the strongest rivalry with Petz, and it was plain to see that she wanted everything of her sister's. Sometimes she would blantantly come onto him, while other times she would play cool.
"Saffir-sama," she said, rolling his name slightly, as though she was savoring the taste of it, "Demando-sama has summoned you to his court," she said. Her smile was cat-like, and he felt very much like a dish of cream.
Hitting the save command, he rose to his feet. Calaveras stood uncomfortably close as he started towards the door. "Yes?" he asked pointedly.
"I'm to escort you, Aoi Ojisama," she teasingly whispered, moving her lush body so that she was standing close enough to lick his face.
She'd done that once before- lick his face, that is. She and Cooan seemed to get an unholy delight from tormenting and flirting with him, much to Petz's disgust and outrage. She had marked him as hers, and her sisters weren't respecting that. "That's not nessessary." He quickly moved out of the room and rushed down the hallways to Demando's throne room.
Saffir entered the room, standing in the shadows. A hologram floated in mid-air, a monument of white and gold feminine beauty. The white light cast eerie Shadows across the Prince of Nemesis' face, and Saffir shuddered at the enthralled look in his older brother's purple eyes. "You summoned me?" Saffir asked.
Demando's eyes remained fastened on the woman. "She's so beautiful, isn't she?"
"I guess," Saffir said quietly, concerned. He really couldn't understand Demando's fascination with the Neo-Queen. "She's the enemy, though," he ventured carefully.
Demando's eyes narrowed dangerously. "It doesn't matter- she WILL be mine. She will no longer be the enemy once she is my wife."
Saffir felt his jaw drop. "WIFE?!" he howled, for the first time losing his temper with his older brother. "What do you NOT understand?! She is the enemy- she is the one who banished our ancestors here. Why the hell do you think she'll love you? Why the hell would you WANT her to? And what right do you have to bring her here and contaminate the Royal Family?"
Then Demando did something that was simply unbelievable to his younger brother. Around him, his aura flared, and before Saffir knew what was happening, he found himself launched to the other side of the room by a relatively weak energy bolt.
Saffir stared in stunned amazement as his brother rose to his imperial feet. "How dare you question my word? I am the Prince of Nemesis- not you. I am the one who shall lead our people off of this dark world- not you. You are my servant, my tool, and don't you EVER forget that, Saffir! I have determined that taking the Neo Queen as my wife is the best road, and once she bears my child, succession is assured.
"You don't want the throne, do you? Do you honestly think that you are strong enough to hold the Pellecid Throne? Do you honestly think that your spirit is strong enought hat you won't be dominated by the rulers of the past? Do you honestly think you have the power to rule, that the people won't object? Go back to your books, Saffir. Go back until you are ready to serve again." With that, Demando vanished, teleporting away from his brother.
Saffir sat huddled on the floor, his knees pulled in close to his chest. How it hurt! The physical pain was minor, but for the first time, Demando has raised a hand against him. For so long, he had been able to count on Demando to be there... Demando was the world, and the world had turned its back on him. Shutting his eyes, he fought hard to suppress the tears the threatened to leak out of the corner of his eyes. He hugged his legs close to his chest as he tried to decide what to do.
Should he find Demando, and apologize? No, that would only enrage his brother even further, and that was something he could not afford to do. His brother did not appreciate weakness.
Lifting his head, Saffir glared at the hologram of the Neo Queen which floated. This was all her fault. SHE was the one who had exiled their people here.... SHE ewas the one who hadn't attacked when she should have..... SHE was the one with whom Demando had become infatuated. Saffir refused to call it love; love had to be developed. Saffir doubted Demando would ever love anyone- possess, yes, but never love.
A frightening truth. Did Demando care for him? Saffir wondered. He was still slightly dizzy from being thrust across the room, and his head hurt. He wanted nothing more then to go and lie down, but he couldn't. He had work to do.
Still, rather then getting up, he sat still, emptying his mind of thoughts. He had never just done nothing before ands it was a novel experience.
"So the Prince has cast you aside, has he?" a voice asked mockingly.
With the instinct of a cornered animal, Saffir vaulted upright, a pale ball of blue energy sparking at his fingertips. Then he saw it was the Wiseman. "We merely had a misunderstanding!" he stated fiercely.
The Wiseman's chuckle was horrid. It cracked, and reminded Saffir for the sound of a casket being closed for the final time. "Truly? That implies that you understood each other in the first place," he whispered.
Saffir lost his temper and threw the ball of blue energy with great force. It crackled and hit the Wiseman's crystal ball, and was absorbed. "Damn you!"
"I've already been damned," the Wiseman returned. "That was a very powerful bolt you just threw at me.... do you truly wish me dead?"
"I wish you gone! If it's the last thing I do, I'll show my brother the truth about you!" Saffir vowed passionately.
"You don't even know the truth," the Wiseman murmured as he sank into the floor.
Saffir watched as he left.
A week later, Saffir had prepared the Portal. Petz, her sisters, and Rubeus were to go and collect the Rabbit and capture the Crystal Points. If they succeeded, they would be able to collapse the shield the Senshi had placed around the sleeping Queen, and win the war.
Saffir wasn't sure how he felt about that. Part of his mind screamed that they were dancing dangerously close to creating a paradox. Temporal mechanics weren't easily understood, and he was worrriied that they might inadvertantly wipe themselves out of existence. Still, it was what Demando wanted, and it would get Petz out of his hair. They'd been together for too long, and Saffir had no clue how to break off the relationship.
He went to see her the night before she left. She had been in her room, packing carefully. A hugde bag of clothing and make-up products sat on her bed, and he sighed. She was distracted; that could be a good or bad thing. It would either keep her from frying him, or shorten her already legendary temper.
"Petz?"
She turned and focused on him. The shards of the jakokuzuishou swung against her cheeks gracefully, and he repressed a shudder of revulsion. Now was not the time to begin arguing. "Yes, Saffir?" she asked. "I have to finish packing."
"I know. I just..."
"...wanted to say good-bye?" she asked, a predatorial expression flashing in her eyes. She moved towards him like a panther, wrapping herself around him.
He shoved her away as she raised her face for a kiss. "No. I came to tell you we're through." He spoke in a monotone, as though it didn't matter to him.
"WHAT?" she shrieked, her voice piercing his ears.
"I wish to terminate our relationship."
She blinked. "Where the HELL did this come out of Saffir?"
"There are many reasons, but the principle is that you don't trust me."
"I do, too!" she argued. Her face was pale from lack of blood.
"Then take of the earrings."
She flinched. "I can't do that! You know I need them to focus my power."
Saffir shook his head. "Then we're through." He quickly teleported away before she could regain enough of her equilibrium to get even. He didn't want to make a scene.
The next day he opened the Portal to 1993 AD, hooking it into Rubeus' flag ship. Watching as Rubeus made the first transition, carrying away the Ayakahi sisters, he felt unbearably alone.
END PART SIX
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The Pellucid Throne