Chapter Four
Damon was flung back across the dark, cold marble room, half his face torn off. It quickly reappeared, fully healed, but he scowled at Ithengil. "High Priest, you have no right to take your anger out on me!" Ithengil snarled, "I have every right, Damon!! I trust to send you to Earth, and you failed! All of you!" He roared, looking now at Uther and Jedin. "It seems all your skills have rusted! On other planets, all the life energy would be gone by now! It would be a husk! You've gotten used to easiness! Now, when a slightly more difficult planet comes up, you all tremble and break like babies!" Jedin slung an arm over Damon's shoulder. "It's not all our fault!" He defended. "You should have prepared us, oh great High Priest! You should have told us we were coming to the place with the ones who bested us all those years ago." "You should have figured it out." Uther snapped. "I side with Ithengil. The energy of this place is great-terribly, wonderfully great-but we should have collected more than a few drops by now!" "Blame those-girls-for it, sir." Jedin snipped. "If you had just taken some initiative, they could be dead by now. Instead you sit here on your fat-" Ithengil pointed his long black staff at Jedin. "Watch.your.tongue." He dictated slowly. "Or I swear by the Lady I will make you eat it." There was silence for a moment as the two glared at each other. Jedin broke the stare first and turned away. Ithengil clutched at his staff and muttered something. Jedin went flying to strike a marble pillar. It crashed and crumbled into boulders, with Jedin underneath. The boulders were flung away, and Jedin stood there, blazing with energy and hatred. "Oooh, guys!" A high-pitched squeal rang out as a young woman of medium height walked into the hall. She was very nicely built, and had pretty red hair than jetted out in short wavy spikes. Her skin had pink tints in it, making her look much like an apple. But her eyes were a ginger color, and cold as ice. The same blackness pricked hers as it did the others'. "Damon, you're back!" She cried. "Is it my turn?! Do I get to go to Opal?!" "Shut up, Katrina." Ithengil said crossly. I'm not in the mood to deal with your stupidity right now." Katrina blinked at him, then her eyes began to fill with tears. "B-but, I was j-just trying t-t-to heeeeeeeelp!!" She ended in an ear-splitting wail that resounded through the halls. Jedin clapped his hands to his ears and rocked back and forth in agony. "Cursed Diamond, will you shut her up?!?!?!" He roared at Ithengil. "You made her start it!" Ithengil ground his teeth. "Damon!" He yelled desperately. "You make her be quiet!!" Damon made his way over and gingerly patted Katrina on the back. She immediately wrapped octopus-like arms around his neck and proceeded to strangle him. "Oh, Damon!" She sniffed. "I w-was just t-trying to h-help and Ith-Ithengil was being so mean-" She began to warble away again. "Ask her what she wants?!?!" Ithengil roared. "Anything! Just make her shut up!" "Um-honey?" Damon asked hesitantly (Katrina immediately shut up after hearing that). "What do you want to do to help?" Katrina gave a prolonged sniff, even though any signs of crying had rapidly disappeared. "I wanna go to Opal! I wanna have some fun with the humans there!" Damon shrugged at Ithengil, who shuddered. "W-well, my dear." He said carefully. "It's a bit dangerous and it might be safer for you to remain here-not that we don't value you!" This last part was said in desperation, but it was too late. Katrina was wailing again. "You're so mean!" She quavered. "N-not letting a poor girl such as m- myself have any fun!!" "Girl?" Jedin commented. "You're over ten thousand years old!!" "So?" Katrina shot back. "You're older than I am!" Then she remembered she was supposed to be unhappy, and she began whimpering again. "Uh, I-I mean- WAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!" "SHUT UP!" Ithengil ordered desperately, waving his arms at Katrina. "Please! Please! You'll wake the Lady-" WHO DARES TO DISTURB MY SLUMBER? Katrina stopped screaming and was silenced, completely cowed. Each one of the generals had frozen stock stiff. "Now she's done it." Jedin whispered in Damon's ear. "How do you think she'll be punished?" "Death, probably." Damon murmured back, watching Katrina without pity. Katrina was not moving and scarcely breathing. She let out a tiny squeak of fear as a dark silhouette issued out in a black smoke from the altar. SO, KATRINA. A horrible voice boomed. YOU ARE GETTING TOO NOISY. I NEED MY REST, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? The voice was surprisingly good-natured and sleepy-sounding. Katrina squeaked and nodded her head. GOOD. I HOPE WE WILL NOT NEED TO HAVE THIS TALK AGAIN, OR SOMEONE WILL DIE. NOW GO GATHER ME ENERGY. I.AM.WEAK.. The voice vanished and the shadow dissipated. Katrina gave a slight gasp and fell to her knees. "Thank you, O Wonderful One." She quavered. "Thank you for this unworthy one's life." She fell into a series of guttural praises. Ithengil sighed. "I believe it is our Lady's wish that you should gather energy for her, Katrina." He proclaimed. "YIPPEE!!" Katrina shrieked, breaking both the decibel scale and everyone's eardrums. "I'll show you guys! I'll deal with whatever's down there, and finally conquer my first planet all by my myself!!" * * * Lacie pounded the heavy punching bag with her uncovered fists, wincing every time she did so. She turned around to give it a side kick, then rammed her whole force into it. The punching bag flew up, then came flying back. The momentum hit Lacie, and she went hurtling away to land on some mats. "Woo-hee!" She screeched, bouncing back up. "That was fun!" Rachelle and Elisha looked at her with sweat drops. "Didn't that hurt?" Elisha inquired. "Nope!" Lacie said cheerfully. "It was fun! Can I do it again?" Lune peered over her clipboard at Lacie. "No, Ame-Lacie. It's Angie's turn now." Angie eyed the punching bag nervously as she stepped up to it. Hesitantly, she gave it a little push. The punching bag swung back and forth slightly. Then, without warning, Angela swung a full 360 degrees to give it a monstrous kick. The punching bag flew up in the air and came back, where she proceeded to pepper it with blows. "Good, Angie!" Lune said enthusiastically. "Um, Angie-honey, you can stop- Ang-kid-Angela?-DIAMOND!!!" Angie stopped killing the punching bag to look at her. "What?" "It's Rachelle's turn now, dear." Lune said nervously, eyeing the rips and tears that both Lacie and Angie had brought to the thing. Rachelle paled. "Um, Lune, I'd love to beat the crap out of the evil punching bag, believe me. But-well, we all have a thing called school. And right now, we're going to be late, as it's 8:25." There was a pause as everyone considered this. "EIGHT TWENTY-FIVE!!!?!?!" Elisha, Angie, Lacie, and Malorie all shrieked at the same time. "WE ARE GOING TO BE SOOOOOO LATE!!!!!" There was a miniature stampede as each girl ran for the door. Lune was left sitting dazed in a cloud of dust. Rachelle was the last out. "See you later, Lune!" She called back. "What about your training?!" Lune screeched. "Later!" And then the door slammed. They were gone. Lune stared after the rapidly disappearing dust cloud and sighed. "If only they'd care that much about their training." She muttered, turning to the computer to try to update resources. * * * Angela flung herself down at a lunch table a few hours later and glared sulkily at her sandwich. "Jerk of a Vice Principal." She muttered, giving the schools' declared Neo Nazi Vice Principal a glare. "Hey, Angie!" Mary and Lacie had come up bearing trays. "Don't talk to me, I'm pissed off." Angie grouchily told them. "Obviously." Mary raised with a raised eyebrow. "What happened?" "Nazi Nichols busted on me for being late." Angela told her grumpily. "Would have given me lunch detention but some psychos decided to try to summon a demon and he got waylaid." "He's a jerk." Lacie agreed, setting her tray next to Angie's lunch box. "But don't let him get to you." "I'll get to him if he gives me lunch detention." Angela snapped. "That jerk!" "Who?" Elisha asked, coming up with Malorie and Marisa; the latter having a tray, the two former lunch boxes. "Nichols." Mary told her. "Apparently he got Angie a few minutes late." Marisa winced. "The guy thinks he's, like, God of Security or something. It's annoying." "Yes." Angela fumed. There was a shout of "Guys!" and Rachelle immediately flung herself into the group. She was radiant, and positively beaming with joy. "I'm so glad I found you all!" She gushed. "I want everyone to meet Kyle!!" "Kyle?" Lacie asked blankly as Rachelle darted away again. "Her boyfriend." Elisha said with a roll of her eyes. "How could you have forgotten?" Rachelle was back almost immediately, dragging a tall dark-haired man by the arm. Angela felt her eyes pop out of her head as she looked him up and down. From long purple-black hair to purple eyes, the guy was a serious hunk. "No wonder Rachelle loves him." She muttered to Malorie, who nodded vigorously. Rachelle gave the guy a hug. "Guys, this is my boyfriend. Kyle, meet Angie, Malorie, Marisa, Mary, Lacie, and Elisha!" Kyle blinked at the six girls who gave him half-waves. "I'll figure out who's who later." He said with a grin as he sat by Malorie with Rachelle on his other side. "So, how'd Rachelle manage to snag you?" Mary directly inquired. Kyle gave a slow dreamy smile that Rachelle-and every other girl within a five foot radius-immediately start drooling. "She didn't snag me. I snagged her." He ruffled her hair slightly, and Rachelle kissed him on the cheek, eyes like stars. "Jeez!" Elisha muttered to Angela. "Talk about infatuation!! These two are completely gaga!!" Angie nodded in agreement. "Heads up!" A football came flying out of the sky and landed in Mary's wormy-looking spaghetti. Tomato sauce splattered everywhere, particularly on Elisha's glasses and white blouse. She screamed and looked up, eyes blazing. Angela felt herself wondering if she would fire an attack in the middle of the cafeteria. A blond and his two friends were laughing from across the cafeteria. "Hey, toss it here, sweet-face!" The blond called. "If you can throw it that far!" "I'll show you, you pig!" Elisha muttered blackly, leaning back and letting the football fly. It went zooming through the air, all the way across the cafeteria, where it imbedded itself in the blond boy's head. He hit the ground with a yelp of surprise. "Yes!" Angela cheered, slapping Elisha's hand. "Way to go, Sapp-Elisha!" Elisha smiled jauntily and tossed her hair. "Oh, well." She said modestly. "Hey, blue-freak!" Marisa dug an elbow into Elisha's back. "Elisha, your boyfriends are here!" She muttered. "Huh?" Elisha turned to see the guy she had beaned with the ball and his two friends coming at her. "Oh, my God!" Malorie quietly wailed behind her. "Of all people to go and nail with a football, you choose Chase!!!" "Chase?" Marisa asked Lacie. "Most popular guy in school." Lacie replied tensely. "As jocky and beef- brained as they come, but plenty powerful." Chase shoved a blond locks out of his eyes and looked down at Elisha, calmly but pointedly tossing the football up and down. Each girl gulped, but Angela stood straighter and glared at him. "May we help you, Chase?" Chase looked down at her. "Was I talking to you?" He asked snootily, then he frowned. "Oh, the class reader. Why are you choosing to hang with our local gang of freaks, now?" Angela eyed him coldly. "What business is it of yours? And these are NOT freaks. They're my friends. Diss them, and you never copy off my homework again." "She has the supreme authority." Mary whispered to Malorie, who smothered a giggle. Chase eyed her for a moment before turning away. "Our quarrel's not with you." "It's with the blue-haired freaky girl." One of the two beefy boys huffed. In a flash, both Lacie and Angie had the guy by the throat and had hauled him down to the ground. The beefy boy choked as Lacie glared at him. "I know you!" She roared angrily. "You're the guy who was in charge of that mob a few days ago!! You jerk! You tried to kill us!" The boy gurgled, frantically trying to knock her arm away. "Um, I think you're choking him, Lacie." Rachelle said hesitantly. "Who cares?" Lacie snapped. "This little piece of filth-" Chase angrily bent down and with surprising strength, broke Lacie's hold on his friend. Lacie spluttered at him in anger. "Let me go!" She growled. "Not until you promise not to attack my friend again." Chase told her smugly. "Why shouldn't she?" Elisha asked, stepping forward. She seemed to have grown in height and stature, and looked up at Chase. "He attacked us, not us him. I think it right he get his just desserts." Chase looked down at the tiny fury of person. "Chill." He ordered. "I'll deal with him in due time. I've come to deal with you and your targeting of my stomach." "You deserved what you got!" Elisha yelled. The cafeteria went silent, but Elisha continued. "You're a stuck-up, beef- brained, idiotic, thick-skulled lamebrain who wouldn't recognize an idea if it tap-danced in front of him and bit his nose!" Chase seemed stunned for a moment by these accusations. Then, slowly, a smile creased his face. "Sorry, my lady." He whispered mockingly. "I'll leave you and your friends to enjoy your lunch." With that and a sarcastic bow, he sauntered away, his two friends following him. Elisha waited till he had crossed to the opposite side of the cafeteria before sinking into a seat. A few scattered rounds of applause were heard, then everyone returned to their lunch. "Wait to go, Elisha!" Angie cheered softly. "Way to tell that stuck-up jock!" Mary said patting her back. "Don't think we'll have any more problems concerning him!" Marisa said cheerfully. "Oh, yes, we will." Elisha said quietly, almost exhaustedly. All the girls stopped chatting to look at her. "Why, Elisha?" Malorie asked. Elisha looked down at her clenched hands. "I think I just fell in love with him." BOOM!!! Screams suddenly filled the cafeteria. One of the lunch line doors had been blown backwards off its hinges by some explosion. Smoke was billowing out of the kitchens. "Looks like the lunch ladies had an accident again." Lacie said. Angie closed her eyes and raised her head. "No," She whispered. "On your guard, scouts. I sense something evil here." At the word "evil" everyone's faces fell. "Already?" Malorie moaned. "But it's barely been a day!!" "Guess they're getting more worried about us." Rachelle said, tensely glancing around. "What's wrong, Shellie?" Mary asked her. "The evil's right here in the cafeteria with us!" Each of the girls gasped and looked around. Nothing seemed particularly out of the ordinary at first, but then- Angela shrieked suddenly, and pointed to Lacie's tray. "Is it just me, or is the cafeteria food GLOWING?!?!?!" Lacie stared down at her food in horror. A faint green light could be seen radiating from the pile of greasy French fries and hamburger. "Ewww!" She screeched, frantically wiping her tongue. "I can't believe I ate that!! Gross, gross, gross!" Malorie gagged. "Man, am I ever regretting stealing a fry off your plate, Mary!" "You did WHAT?!?!" Mary said angrily. "I hadn't even touched any of it yet!" "And that's a good thing!" Marisa said, going pale and edging her tray away. "Do you think it's going to make us sick?" "More than that." Rachelle said, looking sick herself. "That food's radiating some seriously bad vibes. I'd reckon it will affect anyone who ate it." "Oh, man." Lacie whispered. "D-do you think it will kill us or drain our energy or make us ill with cancer or typhus or-" "Calm down." Angela said, though her voice shook. "Nothing's happened yet. We don't know for sure if it will affect you three. After all, you are Jewel-" Marisa groaned and slumped to the floor, rubbing her stomach. "Oh, man!" She groaned. "Talk about a stomachache! Jeez." She bit her lip and screwed her eyes up in pain. Lacie shuddered, rubbing her own tummy. Very slowly, her knees gave way, till she was on the floor next to Marisa, gasping. All around the cafeteria people were falling to their knees, gasping in pain. People who had brought lunches from home were looking at them in amazement and fear. Malorie fell last, struggling to keep to her feet, but eventually sliding to the floor, crying from the stress and the pain. "Not good." Mary said, helplessly watching as Lacie writhed in agony. "Um, excuse me?" Angela jumped, she had forgotten about Kyle. He gave her a half wave. "I don't mean to be rude, but what the hell is happening, and why are you all talking about evil?" Angela laughed pathetically as she elbowed Rachelle. "He's your boyfriend, do something!" She hissed. Rachelle immediately turned on all her charm. She approached Kyle with wide eyes. Angela saw his suspicious look slipping. "Oh, Kyle, we were just playing a little game!" Rachelle cooed, snuggling under her boyfriend's arm. "It's just so weird that everyone would drop like this." She brought her hand to her mouth in mock horror. "You don't think they're poisoned? Oh, I feel faint!" She swooned. "She's quite an actor." Mary whispered to Elisha, who agreed. Kyle was completely fooled by the act. "You feel all right?" He asked, concerned. "Look, don't move, I'll get some water from the water fountain, okay? Just hang on!" With that he ran off. Rachelle straightened to the applause of the others. "It was nothing." She said modestly. "Now how about we figure out what's happen-" A high pitched giggle resounded through the air, interrupting Rachelle. Angela clapped her hands over her ears. "Good lord!" She gasped. "What on earth-" "Look!" Mary said, pointing. A red-haired girl was floating near the top of the cafeteria, laughing merrily. "Oh, this is working great!" She giggled. "All these people down! Ooh, when I show Jedin and Ithengil all the hard work I've done-" "Jedin?" Elisha gasped. "Definitely a bad guy." "Let's move it!" Angela ordered. "Transform under the tables!" "What about them?" Rachelle asked, pointing to Lacie, Malorie, and Marisa. "We can't leave them like this!" Malorie grabbed Rachelle's hand and grasped it tight. "Go!" She gasped. "Fight! That's probably the only way to cure us! Defeat her!" Rachelle hesitated, then squeezed Malorie's hand and nodded. "Okay." "Come on!" Angela ordered, not unkindly. Rachelle briskly slid underneath their table, praying that the rather bright lights of their transformations would go unnoticed in the confusion and panic. "Diamond Star Power-" "Obsidian Star Power-" "Garnet Star Power-" "Sapphire Star Power-" "MAKE UP!!!" The bright light that filled the cafeteria, blinding all those in it, was too much for the panic-stricken people who had not been infected. Most ran away screaming. Very few stood by their injured friends. Katrina let out a high-pitched squeal. "Ah!! Too bright! Pain! No more light! Where's it coming from?" She squinted around. "The cafeteria food is disgusting enough without evil slime-balls like you using it to collect energy!" A voice announced from nearby. Katrina squinted down, and gasped. "Oh, no." "YOU'RE A SAILOR SCOUT!!!" Eardrums being completely blown out after the red-haired woman's scream, Sailor Diamond did her best to remain calm. "Uh, yes, I am Sailor Diamond, Scout of Love and Jus..tice." Her voice trailed away as she stared bemusedly at the girl. She was banging her head repeatedly on the top of the cafeteria ceiling. "Oh, drat it, drat it, drat it." She moaned. "And things were going so WELL!! Now some lousy Senshi are going to ruin my lovely time a-and embarrass me in f-front of Ithengil-" She began to wail. "Can you say ow?!" Sailor Obsidian complained. "Jeez! What's she trying to do, deafen us?" "What?" Garnet yelled. "She's crying to threaten us?" "She's dying to wetten us?" Sapphire asked. "Oh boy." Katrina stopped fighting and promptly looked furious. "I'm not going to let you ruin my splendid time here!" She cried, her palms facing them. "I am Katrina, and I was chosen specially for this mission! I won't let Ithengil down!!" "Get ready to dodge." Diamond warned under her breath. Hot pink electricity swarmed down from Katrina's hands. It hit the floor and the earth cracked beneath it. Lightning zigzagged across the floor towards them. The Scouts tensed, ready and eager to fight. Sailor Sapphire clenched her hands into fists. She wanted a good fight. Katrina seemed ditzy. Perhaps they could fool her- She suddenly let out a cry, and dove forward. Sailor Diamond gasped. "Sapphire! What are you-" Then she spotted Chase sitting on the floor by the beefy boy, who had obviously eaten some of the food. He was staring, transfixed, at the oncoming bolts. As if sensing an energy source, the bolts seemed to target him, moving quicker than ever, sliding across the floor. Sailor Sapphire dove at him just as the pink bolts seemed about to strike. She knocked him sideways, out of their immediate path, and sent him sprawling into a wall, with her right behind him. Sapphire drew in her leg as a bolt flashed by, and sighed in relief, glancing over at Chase. Chase had been frozen by the site of the lightning on the floor. It was something out of a nightmare. He had dazedly realized he was going to be hit when something-someone-hurled into him and knocked him into the wall. He gasped as they went by an inch from his head, then stared up at whoever had saved him. His head had hit the wall, so he couldn't be sure, but he was almost positive that an angel was looking down at him. Deep blue eyes, like lakes.soft skin.silky garments. He finally stuttered out. "Who are you?" The figure laughed, a sweet, merry laugh. "Just a friend." She said in a whisper, standing up and jumping away from him. He had half a mind to beg her to come back, when he saw she had only landed a few tables away, with some other girls of different hair color and uniform. "Angels." He muttered dizzily before blacking out. Diamond smiled approvingly at Sapphire as she landed back beside them. "Good job." She said to her. "Now get ready. Those lightning bolts are coming fast, scouts!" Pink light covered the floor just in front of them- "JUMP!" Sailor Diamond screeched. All four leapt into the air to land on another table that the lightning had already passed. The lightning continued on its way, hitting the wall to the cafeteria and disappearing with a "zap!" Up in the air, Katrina wailed. "No! Oh, you weren't supposed to dodge that!" "Which is why we did." Obsidian muttered. "Ooooooh-" Katrina pointed a finger at them and shrieked. "You asked for this! You'll get just what you deserve!" With a only-slightly ditzy evil smile on her face, she continued, "I have been testing this little beauty for several months now. She's very interesting, as I think you'll agree!" A black crystal filled with black goop appeared in her hand, and she lobbed it at the four nervous sailors. * * * "What is that?" Damon asked Jedin. They had been watching Katrina's progress from Ithengil's crystal globe. "She never told us she was working on a new invention-" "That must be a Unum." Jedin said in a low voice. "She bragged to me about it just before she set off. Said that it would quite surprise us." He laughed and straightened, stretching. "Knowing Katrina, it'll probably sing a happy song that will put those brats to sleep." Damon said nothing. He continued to watch what was happening down on Earth apprehensively. Katrina was an idiot, but she a knack for creating new demons. He'd hate to think what that one could possibly do to the new sailors. Actually, he would love it. * * * When the crystal ball shattered on the floor, thick, putrid black smoke sprung out of it and filled the room. Diamond's eyes watered. She ducked below a table, trying to rid herself of the stench and the sting. The others backed into a doorway, where they coughed and squinted around. Slowly the smoke drew together into a horrible demon body that looked somewhat like the two Screamers the girls had fought yesterday. But this demon's eyes were gray with round black irises, and it's form seemed to constantly disintegrate and reform, with no trace of human in it whatsoever. It was just a huge, living sculpture of dark muck. Diamond stared at it in horror. "What is that?" She wondered. "Behold!" Katrina shrieked. "My greatest creation! The Unum!" "Um, okay." Garnet called hesitatingly from the doorway. "But what does it do?" Katrina smiled. "Glad you asked." The Unum suddenly shot out a long, black, mucky tentacle that curled around Diamond's leg. She shrieked in horror as it stuck tight. Slowly the Unum pulled itself towards her. Diamond frantically tried to loosen its horrible grasp on her, but the Unum had simply molded itself around her leg, like a part of her. She could no sooner pull it off her than pull off her own arm. The Unum, with a dreadful ease and nonchalance, pulled itself to melt around her knees. Diamond frantically kicked her legs, screaming and trying to run. But the Unum had her fast. And it would not let her go. Katrina smiled triumphantly. "You can't escape, Senshi-girl! My Unum has never failed to bring down a prey, and I've tested it on all sorts of things. It can expand, shrink, swim, and move as quick as lightning when it wants to. However, when it envelops its prey, it takes its own sweet time. She'll envelope you, you know, and when she's done, you're nothing more than mere food." Sailor Diamond kicked and flailed, shrieking at the horror of the Unum's touch on her skin as it slowly made its way up past her boots. Garnet, Obsidian, and Sapphire watched helplessly. "Do something!" Garnet whispered to Obsidian. "We can't attack! Not without hitting her!" Sailor Obsidian said, hating her weakness. "Hang on, Diamond!" Sapphire called. * * * "I don't believe it." Jedin breathed, staring into the crystal ball at Diamond. "Fan-tastic. That must be the most brilliant thing I've ever seen!" "Who would have guessed Katrina would have discovered it?" Uther said, peering over Jedin's shoulder. Damon said nothing, just watched as the Unum spread upwards, overtaking Diamond. Before he could stop it, an icy terror gripped his heart. Fear was natural for a general, it had always been so. But the look on Diamond's face, of sheer, complete terror, scared him more than he ever knew was possible. He didn't want her to die by Katrina. That was an unworthy death. Better to die by his hand, or Jedin's or Ithengil's. She was a good fighter. She could have become a great warrior. Before he knew it, he found himself thinking, Don't you give up that easily, Sailor Diamond! I owe you a fight!! Do you hear? The honor of killing you will be mine. * * * Diamond let out another shriek as the creature swarmed up her, now past her waist. She flailed her arms, desperately trying to keep the-thing-from covering her completely. The Unum slowly crawled up to her neck, forcing her arms back down to her sides and immobilizing them. Diamond took a deep breath and let out a scream that was abruptly silenced as the Unum covered her mouth. Her scream of undiluted horror was muffled by the Unum's jelly substance. As blood-red slowly covered Diamond's eyes and then head, she let herself drift away into the insanity of pure fear. Garnet screamed as Diamond's head went under the body of that alien thing. She fought Obsidian's grip, straining to get to her friend, to help her in anyway she could. "Diamond." She sobbed. "Oh, Diamond, Diamond, Diamond." Her figure could just be made out through the Unum's gel-like body. She was violently thrashing, but slowly, these contortions stopped. "DIAMOND!" Garnet shrieked. "Quiet!" Sapphire said, voice choked. "Diamond will find a way out! She will! She's got to!" Sailor Diamond floated alone and silent in a dreadful blood-red universe. She couldn't move. She couldn't hear..couldn't see..couldn't' breathe.Her spirit was flickering in and out of life. * * * Jedin hooted in delight. "I don't believe this! Look, she stopped struggling." Damon hardly heard. His heart pounded in his ears, for reasons he did not know. Horrible clear certainty was sharp in his mind. Sailor Diamond was dead, and of an unworthy and truly daunting cause. He sighed. He hated when good rivals died bad deaths. "One down!" Jedin said triumphantly. "You might look more pleased, Damon. The leader of the Jewel Senshi's already dead! It's all downhill from here!" "Wait a moment." Uther murmured, peering intently at the crystal ball. "Wait a moment." Damon turned back, stared, rubbed his eyes, then stared again, hoping he wasn't imagining things. * * * Garnet raised her head from Obsidian's arms at a gasp of air. She stared, then, tears wetting her cheeks, she pulled on a tug of Obsidian's hair. "Look!" Diamond, with a sudden renewed burst of life, was struggling again. She couldn't breath, and her vision was covered by the Unum, but she fought, desperately clawing for air. The Unum covered her even more thickly, trying to drown her. She shrieked as her skin began to burn from it obviously trying to devour her. This had gone far enough. "GOLDEN HALO ATTACK!!!" The Unum squealed as bright light began to make holes in it. It flowed down, dissolving, and Diamond's face appeared, gasping in air. The Unum retreated, smoking, under a table, wailing constantly. Then, with a poof, it vanished. Diamond stood, knees wobbling, fuku torn away at some places, skin red and raw in some parts, looking haggard and exhausted, and wonderfully, wholly, completely alive. "Diamond!" Garnet cried, running to her and hugging her fiercely. "Are you all right?" Dazedly, Diamond hugged her back. "I-I think so." Obsidian came to give her friend a hug. "We were worried we would have to find a new leader, here." She said, unshed tears bright in her eyes. Sapphire pummeled her shoulder. 'I knew you wouldn't give up that easily!" "NOO!" Katrina wailed, clutching the burnt embers of her Unum. "M-my creation! My baby! My pride a-and joy!" She wailed, shooting out fountains of tears. * * * "I don't believe it." Jedin muttered, although clearly he did. "She was practically dead, and all of a sudden she gets the idea to attack. Un-be- lieve-able." "We have underestimated them." Uther said quietly, turning around so his cape would twirl out mysteriously behind him. Unfortunately, it managed to cover Jedin's head, who gave it a yank, making Uther fall. The two immediately began to fight. Damon said nothing, just watched the recovering Diamond with interest, and more than the slightest bit of relief. She would die, of course, eventually. But his worthy opponent would have a good death. A memorable death. By his blade. * * * Katrina had launched back into high-pitched wails. The Jewel Senshi were defenseless, covering their ears as best they could. "Can't anybody SHUT HER UP?!!" Sapphire yelled. At this point, Malorie groaned and sat up. She had watched the events from eye-level with the ground, and was completely and totally confused. Her stomach still throbbed, but she attempted to ignore it, and stood up. "Guys?" She called faintly. No one heard her over Katrina's noise. "GUYS?!" She bellowed. Diamond immediately spotted her. "Malorie!" She screamed over the noise. "Are you all right?" "What?" Malorie called back. "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!" "FINE!!! NOW CAN YOU MAKE THIS DITZ SHUT UP?!?!" "WISH I KNEW HOW!!!" "ATTACK HER, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!!!" Malorie yelled, patience clearly gone over both pain and an annoying hollering psychotic evil woman. Diamond blinked at her. "Oh. Right." "WHAT DID MALORIE SAY?" Obsidian asked loudly. "WE SHOULD ATTACK HER." "GREAT IDEA!!" "ATTACK WHO?" Sapphire called. "KATRINA." "GREAT!! ME FIRST!" "SUIT YOURSELF." Sapphire took a deep breath, then belted out, "ICY GLACIER FREEZE!!!" An icy blast hit Katrina just as she took a breath to begin another wail. It went right down her throat and she choked, pounding her chest. Diamond hesitantly listened. Nothing. "I hope her vocal chords froze." She muttered to Garnet, ears still ringing. "Ditto." Garnet replied, banging her head to make sure she wasn't insane. Katrina made a huge gagging noise, attempting to cough up the ice, but to no avail. She began squeaking at a very high pitch. "I don't know which is worse-the crying or the squeaking." "Lacie! Marisa!" The two gave Diamond a very faint wave. "Hey, Diamond." Lacie said with a cough. "The stomach pain stuff is lifting, but we're both real tired. I think it must've drained some of our energy." "Oh dear." Sapphire said, supporting Marisa on one arm. "Will you both be okay?" "I hate to break this up." Obsidian said gently. "But if Katrina has the brains to realize you three are standing up while all the complete non- superhero humans are still down." "Oh." Marisa said with a flush. "Right." She immediately sat down and began moaning heartrendingly. "Well, now we can transform!" Malorie said, also dropping. "I wouldn't." Garnet said in a low tone. "Why not?" Lacie inquired. "No one's looking at us. They all ran away." "I've got the very bad feeling that someone is watching us." Garnet said, hardly moving her lips. "A very evil someone." Lacie glanced nervously around, then gave a groan and slumped again. "Go defeat her." She whispered. "Will do." Sailor Diamond said, giving her a slight reassuring kick that made Lacie muffle a squeak and lash out and kick her ankle. Limping rather hurriedly away, Diamond confronted Katrina. "Had enough? Stop hurting these people and go back to where you came from!" "Mmf mggr mumpple!" Katrina said. "I-guess-that means-she agrees." Obsidian said hesitantly. "Or maybe she's trying to speak in her native evil Scandinavian tongue!!" Sapphire said helpfully. "It sounds a lot like she's saying, 'Help, Japanese turkey!' in that language." "I am choosing to ignore that." Diamond said with a sweat drop. Katrina gave a spasm suddenly. A large flame shot out of her mouth, scorching the cafeteria ceiling. In the highest, loudest voice ever to bust the decibel scale, she shrieked, "YOU EVIL SLIMY LITTLE BRATS!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU JAM UP MY THROAT?!?!?! I WILL GET MY DAMON DOWN HERE AND HE WILL KICK ALL YOUR SKIRT-WEARING BUTTS!!!!" Diamond stared up at her, unimpressed. "I can't imagine anyone wanting to go with you." She snapped, and then added, "Not even some creepy evil general." Katrina shrieked almost as loudly as before. "DAMON IS THE BEST GUY EVER!!!!!!!!! HE'S NICE TO ME AND IS MYSTERIOUS AND CUTE AND HOT AND HUNKY AND BEAUTIFUL-" "And we SO do not care." Sapphire put in. Katrina opened her mouth- "Oh, no, you don't!" Diamond yelled at her. "Not if you want a Halo in the kisser!" "A halo in the kisser?" Garnet asked. "Why not?" Diamond asked, perplexed. "I thought it sounded cool." "Riiiight." Garnet said with a sweat drop. * * * "I don't believe this!" Jedin snarled, angrily punching his fist into his open palm. "They may be heroes, but they are so juvenile!!! They're bickering like children!" "Still young." Uther said with a contemptible shrug. "Still weak. Still untrained. Easy pickings." "Not as easy as we would think." Damon said darkly, staring at the crystal ball. "They act young, but each one's got a lot of potential. Potential that must never be tapped, otherwise we all die." Uther snorted. "No way. They're complete idiots." "Still," Damon said, with the slightest hint of a chuckle. "That was the most ingenious way I've ever seen to get Katrina to shut up." * * * The five were at a standstill. Katrina had her mouth firmly closed, but with hot pink energy boiling in both her hands. Diamond's hand was pointed at Katrina, but she eyed her hands nervously. "Someone move!" Obsidian burst out after several minutes of this. "Rachelle?" Someone said at the door. "Oh no!" Sailor Garnet whispered, turning to look. "Kyle's back!!" Rachelle's boyfriend was at the door, a glass of water in his hand, looking concerned. "Rachelle? Rachelle, honey, I brought you some-" He looked at Sailor Garnet, and the cup fell from his hand. Whites showed around his eyes as his mouth opened. "I think-he's recognized you." Sapphire whispered. "Keeeyah!" Katrina screeched, taking advantage of their switch in attention to launch a few shots. "Dodge!" Diamond cried. All of the four leapt away and bounded over the tables. "BLACK FEAR SWARM!!!!!" Obsidian called out, aiming at Katrina. Katrina shrieked and batted at the darts of black energy. "Get them off, get them off!" She wailed, slapping at them like they were bees and falling out of the air to land on a table. Kyle had remained rooted to the spot, staring at Garnet's every move. "SCALDING FLAMEBALLS FIRE!!!" Garnet yelled, pointing not at Katrina, but onto the table she had fallen on. It instantly ignited. Katrina shot into the air, hands on her rear, howling. "GOLDEN HALO-" Diamond began, pointing- "No!" Katrina wailed hands in the air. "I give up! Here-here!" She fumbled with something on her belt and then tossed a small cylinder onto the ground. It shattered instantly, and the glass that made it vanished. Light blue energy poured out of it and seeped back into its respective person. Diamond saw a flash of yellow, green, and purple light go back into Malorie, Marisa, and Lacie, who immediately stirred and sat up. Diamond glared at Katrina. "That was too easy. Why'd you give up?" Katrina glared at Diamond and opened her mouth to scream, but it snapped shut. She froze in midair, not breathing, eyes white, hair standing on end. "Oh, no." She croaked in a deep voice, eyes coming back into focus. "Oh, no.." She pointed a finger at Diamond. "You haaaven't seeeeen the last of meee!" She said, voice getting raspier, like an out-of-tune violin. "I'll beee baaack!!" "What's happening to her?!" Obsidian whispered in horror. "No idea." Diamond said, carefully eyeing Katrina. Her white skin was moving in tiny ripples across her body. She spasmed, and then disappeared with a "pop!" "Well." Sapphire said, peering up. "Anyone have any idea what THAT was all about?" "She looked like something was seriously going wrong with her insides." Diamond said, frowning slightly. "Rachelle?" Someone said from behind them. Sailor Garnet turned, even as Diamond hissed at her to stay put. "Kyle?" She asked. Diamond hit herself on her head. "Great. There go our secret identities." Kyle stood over Rachelle, looking furious. "What the hell are you doing, playing these games, Shell?? Why are you dressed up in that skirt and- weird-top?! Is this some sort of game?? A ploy??" "Um-Kyle-" Garnet said, shrugging hopelessly at the others angry faces. "You'd better sit down." "I don't WANT to sit down!" Kyle bellowed. "What are you doing? What's going on? Jeez, I haven't been this confused since I started dating you!" Garnet went on trying to calm her boyfriend, not noticing the look that passed from Diamond to Obsidian to Sapphire. Diamond nonchalantly strutted around to Kyle's back, and Obsidian and Sapphire to either side. "-whatever it is you all are trying to prove, I don't like it!" Kyle went on, ignoring them. "I mean, you could have at least told me-" Diamond quickly reached up and smacked her hand over his mouth. Obsidian and Sapphire grabbed both of his arms and pinned them to his body. Quickly, they walked to the doors and out of the cafeteria. "What are you doing?" Rachelle asked, fluttering beside them and wringing her hands. "Kyle-I'm so sorry-stop this, girls! Please! Kyle-remain calm- " Diamond took him and shoved him into a small alcove between the girls and boys bathrooms where a water fountain had stood until someone ripped it out of the wall and stolen it. "Shut up!" She hissed at him. "Now, I'm going to take my hand off your mouth now, but if you so much as open your mouth to yell, I will take my halo and shove it down your throat!" She carefully removed her hand, ready to silence him again if necessary. Kyle stared at her in outrage, but was comparatively quiet. "What the devil is going on?!" He growled. "Why are you all dressed in these weird clothes? What's going on?" He stared at them suspiciously. "You ARE Rachelle and her friends, aren't you?" Diamond took a deep breath. "Yes." "Then why are you dressed in all these weird clothes putting on a light show?!" He roared softly. "Try to understand!" Diamond yelled. The others gave her a reproachful look. She sighed. "Look, I know this is difficult, but we're all Sailor Scouts." Kyle snorted. "Sailor Scouts?! Yeah, RIGHT. Can't you come up with something a little better?" Diamond glared at him. "Listen, you pompous-" Her sailor uniform, and everyone else's, faded away to their normal clothes. Kyle's eyes practically popped out of his head. "Oh.my..GOD!!!!!!!" He hollered, forgetting Diamond's warning. Angie clapped her hand over his mouth again. "Now do you believe what's happening." She inquired. Kyle mumbled something. Angie removed her hand. He stared at Rachelle. "You-" He croaked. "You-all of you-" "Hard to believe, isn't it?" Mary said dryly, rubbing her head. "Well-yes." Kyle said, staring at her. "I mean, granted, you all look sort of like them, but-don't kill me-they are-you are-you look a lot prettier and nobler in Sailor form." "I'm not sure whether to kill or thank you." Elisha muttered, straightening her glasses. A growing roar signified the waking up of the victims of Katrina's energy- stealing. Murmurs of confusion were evident. "How long?" Kyle quietly asked Rachelle, pulling her aside as the others trotted back in, false amazement on their faces. "How long what?" She asked carefully, avoiding looking into his eyes. "How long have you been a-" He stopped. She sighed. "A few days, now. This is our third battle." Kyle rubbed his head, frowning slightly. "I must admit, this is very- strange." "I'm sorry to rush this on you." Rachelle said quietly. "But you have to accept it, and my friends." "They're all-a bit weird." Kyle admitted. "They mean a lot to me." Rachelle said firmly. "I don't know why, but I feel very-connected, somehow. And the connection is deep. I'd do anything for them. They're second in my affections now." Kyle cocked his head, a mischievous smile crossing his lips. "Second?" Rachelle smiled coyly. "You know who's first." Kyle grinned, then bent down and softly kissed her on the lips. "So," He said, straightening and putting an arm around her shoulders. "Who's the leader of your little group?" "Angie." "The one who slammed me up against the wall?" He replied indignantly. "Why not you?" He didn't see why his Shellie shouldn't be leading their little group. She was obviously the best. Rachelle giggled. "Me? No way. I'm one of many second-in-command people." "Why aren't you the leader?" Kyle asked again, upset. Rachelle smiled. "I'm so physically weak, silly." "Not true." Kyle protested as they entered the cafeteria. "Why, you must be as strong as Ang-" They both jumped back in alarm as a boy hit the wall by the door. He groaned and slid to the floor. Angela stood over him, shaking her fist. "And don't let me ever catch you bullying others again!" She threatened. "'Cause there's more where THAT came from!" Flushed, she glared proudly at the sorry heap, then turned to Kyle and Rachelle. "Hello!" She said cheerfully. "What took you so long?" "Um-what was that?" Rachelle asked, carefully closing Kyle's gaping mouth. "That?" Angie waved carelessly at the mangled boy. "He was the leader of those bullies. I made sure he won't try to tackle us again." "Okay." Kyle said weakly. "Maybe you were right." He muttered to Rachelle. "Told you." She said jauntily. "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" A voice boomed. Angela's heart sank. "Oh, no." She whispered. "It's Neo-Nazi Nichols." Mr. Nichols came striding up, looking puffed-up and important. "What's all this fuss about?" He roared, trying to be intimidating. "Why is this boy injured?" He eyed Angela suspiciously. "I got you for sneaking in late this morning, yes? Perhaps you'd better have a seat in lunch detention for beating up this boy." "I beat up him?!" Angela growled in outrage. "I come in to finish my lunch, he gets all up in my face of how I'm a stupid-girl-and he and his friends are going to beat me up after school, and I attacked him?! Hah!" "You want me to add refusal to cooperate along with that?" Mr. Nichols asked, getting out his notepad. Angela's jaw clenched. "She's not lying!" Elisha piped up, coming to her friend's defense. "The guy wanted to attack us. He's already attacked me!" Nichols shook a finger at her. "So there are two of you in on this-" "Seven." Mary said firmly, coming up with Malorie, Marisa, and Lacie. "Seven." Rachelle agreed. "Eight." Kyle corrected. "I believe her, sir." Nichols seemed to blow up with anger. "Now, you all see here! This is the most ridiculous, the most foolish, the most insulting ply attempt I've ever heard!! I-I will put you all in lunch detention, do you hear me?! How dare you lie to me!!" "We're telling the truth!" Elisha yelled. "It was self-defense. Stop trying to pin us!!" Nichols purpled with rage. Elisha bared her teeth- "She's telling the truth, sir." Elisha sighed, and turned to look at who she knew would be there. "Did we ask you to interfere?" She asked Chase. Chase ignored her. He spoke firmly to Mr. Nichols. "Sir, she speaks the truth. I watched the guy attempt to hurt her, then she merely shoved him away. But he tripped over a cafeteria bench, and, well, you know." Mr. Nichols seemed to calm down quite a bit seeing Chase. "Chase, hmm?" He asked, sizing him up. "Well, my boy-" ("My boy?!" Mary sniggered.) "-if you're sure these people are innocent-" "Quite sure." Chase repeated. Mr. Nichols nodded in agreement, then looked menacingly at Angela. "I've got my eye on you, missy." He warned. "I'll keep my eye on you, and you know why." With that last threat, he walked away to stop people from jumping on the tables. "Because you're a Nazi with a bug up your butt the size of a turkey?" Angela muttered when he was out of hearing range. "We didn't need your help." Elisha told Chase ungraciously. "No need to thank me." Chase replied, eyeing her with the same look she gave him. Angela sighed, then went up to Chase. "Not sure why you did that, but thanks anyway." She told him, ignoring Elisha's tiny squeal of outrage. Chase shrugged. "I don't like Nichols any more than you do. Besides, he wasn't being fair, busting on you like that." Angela rolled her eyes. "Don't need to tell me. Man, you're late one day." Someone called Chase's name. He winked at Elisha. "See ya, blue girl." He remarked off-handedly, trotting back to his jock gang. "I think he likes you." Angela announced when he had left. Elisha snorted, but turned just the slightest bit pink. "Don't be stupid. He's-" she lowered her voice. "-really cute. I haven't got a chance." "He say good-bye to you." Malorie pointed out. "Not to Angela. And she was actually talking to him." "Don't be an idiot." Elisha said primly, sitting down and beginning to eat her lunch. "I don't like him." "Then how come you said you had fallen in love with him before?" Marisa said slowly, a malicious grin lighting up her face. Elisha spit out part of the sandwich she was eating. "What? I mean-I didn't mean to imply-" "ELISHA LIKE CHASE!!! ELISHA LIKES CHASE!!!!" Lacie and Marisa began chanting. "Shut up!" Elisha hissed, throwing her apple at them. Angela smiled at the fight that was breaking up, then the back of her neck prickled as she looked around. For an instant, just a moment, she had the feeling that two cold blue eyes were watching her.
Damon was flung back across the dark, cold marble room, half his face torn off. It quickly reappeared, fully healed, but he scowled at Ithengil. "High Priest, you have no right to take your anger out on me!" Ithengil snarled, "I have every right, Damon!! I trust to send you to Earth, and you failed! All of you!" He roared, looking now at Uther and Jedin. "It seems all your skills have rusted! On other planets, all the life energy would be gone by now! It would be a husk! You've gotten used to easiness! Now, when a slightly more difficult planet comes up, you all tremble and break like babies!" Jedin slung an arm over Damon's shoulder. "It's not all our fault!" He defended. "You should have prepared us, oh great High Priest! You should have told us we were coming to the place with the ones who bested us all those years ago." "You should have figured it out." Uther snapped. "I side with Ithengil. The energy of this place is great-terribly, wonderfully great-but we should have collected more than a few drops by now!" "Blame those-girls-for it, sir." Jedin snipped. "If you had just taken some initiative, they could be dead by now. Instead you sit here on your fat-" Ithengil pointed his long black staff at Jedin. "Watch.your.tongue." He dictated slowly. "Or I swear by the Lady I will make you eat it." There was silence for a moment as the two glared at each other. Jedin broke the stare first and turned away. Ithengil clutched at his staff and muttered something. Jedin went flying to strike a marble pillar. It crashed and crumbled into boulders, with Jedin underneath. The boulders were flung away, and Jedin stood there, blazing with energy and hatred. "Oooh, guys!" A high-pitched squeal rang out as a young woman of medium height walked into the hall. She was very nicely built, and had pretty red hair than jetted out in short wavy spikes. Her skin had pink tints in it, making her look much like an apple. But her eyes were a ginger color, and cold as ice. The same blackness pricked hers as it did the others'. "Damon, you're back!" She cried. "Is it my turn?! Do I get to go to Opal?!" "Shut up, Katrina." Ithengil said crossly. I'm not in the mood to deal with your stupidity right now." Katrina blinked at him, then her eyes began to fill with tears. "B-but, I was j-just trying t-t-to heeeeeeeelp!!" She ended in an ear-splitting wail that resounded through the halls. Jedin clapped his hands to his ears and rocked back and forth in agony. "Cursed Diamond, will you shut her up?!?!?!" He roared at Ithengil. "You made her start it!" Ithengil ground his teeth. "Damon!" He yelled desperately. "You make her be quiet!!" Damon made his way over and gingerly patted Katrina on the back. She immediately wrapped octopus-like arms around his neck and proceeded to strangle him. "Oh, Damon!" She sniffed. "I w-was just t-trying to h-help and Ith-Ithengil was being so mean-" She began to warble away again. "Ask her what she wants?!?!" Ithengil roared. "Anything! Just make her shut up!" "Um-honey?" Damon asked hesitantly (Katrina immediately shut up after hearing that). "What do you want to do to help?" Katrina gave a prolonged sniff, even though any signs of crying had rapidly disappeared. "I wanna go to Opal! I wanna have some fun with the humans there!" Damon shrugged at Ithengil, who shuddered. "W-well, my dear." He said carefully. "It's a bit dangerous and it might be safer for you to remain here-not that we don't value you!" This last part was said in desperation, but it was too late. Katrina was wailing again. "You're so mean!" She quavered. "N-not letting a poor girl such as m- myself have any fun!!" "Girl?" Jedin commented. "You're over ten thousand years old!!" "So?" Katrina shot back. "You're older than I am!" Then she remembered she was supposed to be unhappy, and she began whimpering again. "Uh, I-I mean- WAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!" "SHUT UP!" Ithengil ordered desperately, waving his arms at Katrina. "Please! Please! You'll wake the Lady-" WHO DARES TO DISTURB MY SLUMBER? Katrina stopped screaming and was silenced, completely cowed. Each one of the generals had frozen stock stiff. "Now she's done it." Jedin whispered in Damon's ear. "How do you think she'll be punished?" "Death, probably." Damon murmured back, watching Katrina without pity. Katrina was not moving and scarcely breathing. She let out a tiny squeak of fear as a dark silhouette issued out in a black smoke from the altar. SO, KATRINA. A horrible voice boomed. YOU ARE GETTING TOO NOISY. I NEED MY REST, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? The voice was surprisingly good-natured and sleepy-sounding. Katrina squeaked and nodded her head. GOOD. I HOPE WE WILL NOT NEED TO HAVE THIS TALK AGAIN, OR SOMEONE WILL DIE. NOW GO GATHER ME ENERGY. I.AM.WEAK.. The voice vanished and the shadow dissipated. Katrina gave a slight gasp and fell to her knees. "Thank you, O Wonderful One." She quavered. "Thank you for this unworthy one's life." She fell into a series of guttural praises. Ithengil sighed. "I believe it is our Lady's wish that you should gather energy for her, Katrina." He proclaimed. "YIPPEE!!" Katrina shrieked, breaking both the decibel scale and everyone's eardrums. "I'll show you guys! I'll deal with whatever's down there, and finally conquer my first planet all by my myself!!" * * * Lacie pounded the heavy punching bag with her uncovered fists, wincing every time she did so. She turned around to give it a side kick, then rammed her whole force into it. The punching bag flew up, then came flying back. The momentum hit Lacie, and she went hurtling away to land on some mats. "Woo-hee!" She screeched, bouncing back up. "That was fun!" Rachelle and Elisha looked at her with sweat drops. "Didn't that hurt?" Elisha inquired. "Nope!" Lacie said cheerfully. "It was fun! Can I do it again?" Lune peered over her clipboard at Lacie. "No, Ame-Lacie. It's Angie's turn now." Angie eyed the punching bag nervously as she stepped up to it. Hesitantly, she gave it a little push. The punching bag swung back and forth slightly. Then, without warning, Angela swung a full 360 degrees to give it a monstrous kick. The punching bag flew up in the air and came back, where she proceeded to pepper it with blows. "Good, Angie!" Lune said enthusiastically. "Um, Angie-honey, you can stop- Ang-kid-Angela?-DIAMOND!!!" Angie stopped killing the punching bag to look at her. "What?" "It's Rachelle's turn now, dear." Lune said nervously, eyeing the rips and tears that both Lacie and Angie had brought to the thing. Rachelle paled. "Um, Lune, I'd love to beat the crap out of the evil punching bag, believe me. But-well, we all have a thing called school. And right now, we're going to be late, as it's 8:25." There was a pause as everyone considered this. "EIGHT TWENTY-FIVE!!!?!?!" Elisha, Angie, Lacie, and Malorie all shrieked at the same time. "WE ARE GOING TO BE SOOOOOO LATE!!!!!" There was a miniature stampede as each girl ran for the door. Lune was left sitting dazed in a cloud of dust. Rachelle was the last out. "See you later, Lune!" She called back. "What about your training?!" Lune screeched. "Later!" And then the door slammed. They were gone. Lune stared after the rapidly disappearing dust cloud and sighed. "If only they'd care that much about their training." She muttered, turning to the computer to try to update resources. * * * Angela flung herself down at a lunch table a few hours later and glared sulkily at her sandwich. "Jerk of a Vice Principal." She muttered, giving the schools' declared Neo Nazi Vice Principal a glare. "Hey, Angie!" Mary and Lacie had come up bearing trays. "Don't talk to me, I'm pissed off." Angie grouchily told them. "Obviously." Mary raised with a raised eyebrow. "What happened?" "Nazi Nichols busted on me for being late." Angela told her grumpily. "Would have given me lunch detention but some psychos decided to try to summon a demon and he got waylaid." "He's a jerk." Lacie agreed, setting her tray next to Angie's lunch box. "But don't let him get to you." "I'll get to him if he gives me lunch detention." Angela snapped. "That jerk!" "Who?" Elisha asked, coming up with Malorie and Marisa; the latter having a tray, the two former lunch boxes. "Nichols." Mary told her. "Apparently he got Angie a few minutes late." Marisa winced. "The guy thinks he's, like, God of Security or something. It's annoying." "Yes." Angela fumed. There was a shout of "Guys!" and Rachelle immediately flung herself into the group. She was radiant, and positively beaming with joy. "I'm so glad I found you all!" She gushed. "I want everyone to meet Kyle!!" "Kyle?" Lacie asked blankly as Rachelle darted away again. "Her boyfriend." Elisha said with a roll of her eyes. "How could you have forgotten?" Rachelle was back almost immediately, dragging a tall dark-haired man by the arm. Angela felt her eyes pop out of her head as she looked him up and down. From long purple-black hair to purple eyes, the guy was a serious hunk. "No wonder Rachelle loves him." She muttered to Malorie, who nodded vigorously. Rachelle gave the guy a hug. "Guys, this is my boyfriend. Kyle, meet Angie, Malorie, Marisa, Mary, Lacie, and Elisha!" Kyle blinked at the six girls who gave him half-waves. "I'll figure out who's who later." He said with a grin as he sat by Malorie with Rachelle on his other side. "So, how'd Rachelle manage to snag you?" Mary directly inquired. Kyle gave a slow dreamy smile that Rachelle-and every other girl within a five foot radius-immediately start drooling. "She didn't snag me. I snagged her." He ruffled her hair slightly, and Rachelle kissed him on the cheek, eyes like stars. "Jeez!" Elisha muttered to Angela. "Talk about infatuation!! These two are completely gaga!!" Angie nodded in agreement. "Heads up!" A football came flying out of the sky and landed in Mary's wormy-looking spaghetti. Tomato sauce splattered everywhere, particularly on Elisha's glasses and white blouse. She screamed and looked up, eyes blazing. Angela felt herself wondering if she would fire an attack in the middle of the cafeteria. A blond and his two friends were laughing from across the cafeteria. "Hey, toss it here, sweet-face!" The blond called. "If you can throw it that far!" "I'll show you, you pig!" Elisha muttered blackly, leaning back and letting the football fly. It went zooming through the air, all the way across the cafeteria, where it imbedded itself in the blond boy's head. He hit the ground with a yelp of surprise. "Yes!" Angela cheered, slapping Elisha's hand. "Way to go, Sapp-Elisha!" Elisha smiled jauntily and tossed her hair. "Oh, well." She said modestly. "Hey, blue-freak!" Marisa dug an elbow into Elisha's back. "Elisha, your boyfriends are here!" She muttered. "Huh?" Elisha turned to see the guy she had beaned with the ball and his two friends coming at her. "Oh, my God!" Malorie quietly wailed behind her. "Of all people to go and nail with a football, you choose Chase!!!" "Chase?" Marisa asked Lacie. "Most popular guy in school." Lacie replied tensely. "As jocky and beef- brained as they come, but plenty powerful." Chase shoved a blond locks out of his eyes and looked down at Elisha, calmly but pointedly tossing the football up and down. Each girl gulped, but Angela stood straighter and glared at him. "May we help you, Chase?" Chase looked down at her. "Was I talking to you?" He asked snootily, then he frowned. "Oh, the class reader. Why are you choosing to hang with our local gang of freaks, now?" Angela eyed him coldly. "What business is it of yours? And these are NOT freaks. They're my friends. Diss them, and you never copy off my homework again." "She has the supreme authority." Mary whispered to Malorie, who smothered a giggle. Chase eyed her for a moment before turning away. "Our quarrel's not with you." "It's with the blue-haired freaky girl." One of the two beefy boys huffed. In a flash, both Lacie and Angie had the guy by the throat and had hauled him down to the ground. The beefy boy choked as Lacie glared at him. "I know you!" She roared angrily. "You're the guy who was in charge of that mob a few days ago!! You jerk! You tried to kill us!" The boy gurgled, frantically trying to knock her arm away. "Um, I think you're choking him, Lacie." Rachelle said hesitantly. "Who cares?" Lacie snapped. "This little piece of filth-" Chase angrily bent down and with surprising strength, broke Lacie's hold on his friend. Lacie spluttered at him in anger. "Let me go!" She growled. "Not until you promise not to attack my friend again." Chase told her smugly. "Why shouldn't she?" Elisha asked, stepping forward. She seemed to have grown in height and stature, and looked up at Chase. "He attacked us, not us him. I think it right he get his just desserts." Chase looked down at the tiny fury of person. "Chill." He ordered. "I'll deal with him in due time. I've come to deal with you and your targeting of my stomach." "You deserved what you got!" Elisha yelled. The cafeteria went silent, but Elisha continued. "You're a stuck-up, beef- brained, idiotic, thick-skulled lamebrain who wouldn't recognize an idea if it tap-danced in front of him and bit his nose!" Chase seemed stunned for a moment by these accusations. Then, slowly, a smile creased his face. "Sorry, my lady." He whispered mockingly. "I'll leave you and your friends to enjoy your lunch." With that and a sarcastic bow, he sauntered away, his two friends following him. Elisha waited till he had crossed to the opposite side of the cafeteria before sinking into a seat. A few scattered rounds of applause were heard, then everyone returned to their lunch. "Wait to go, Elisha!" Angie cheered softly. "Way to tell that stuck-up jock!" Mary said patting her back. "Don't think we'll have any more problems concerning him!" Marisa said cheerfully. "Oh, yes, we will." Elisha said quietly, almost exhaustedly. All the girls stopped chatting to look at her. "Why, Elisha?" Malorie asked. Elisha looked down at her clenched hands. "I think I just fell in love with him." BOOM!!! Screams suddenly filled the cafeteria. One of the lunch line doors had been blown backwards off its hinges by some explosion. Smoke was billowing out of the kitchens. "Looks like the lunch ladies had an accident again." Lacie said. Angie closed her eyes and raised her head. "No," She whispered. "On your guard, scouts. I sense something evil here." At the word "evil" everyone's faces fell. "Already?" Malorie moaned. "But it's barely been a day!!" "Guess they're getting more worried about us." Rachelle said, tensely glancing around. "What's wrong, Shellie?" Mary asked her. "The evil's right here in the cafeteria with us!" Each of the girls gasped and looked around. Nothing seemed particularly out of the ordinary at first, but then- Angela shrieked suddenly, and pointed to Lacie's tray. "Is it just me, or is the cafeteria food GLOWING?!?!?!" Lacie stared down at her food in horror. A faint green light could be seen radiating from the pile of greasy French fries and hamburger. "Ewww!" She screeched, frantically wiping her tongue. "I can't believe I ate that!! Gross, gross, gross!" Malorie gagged. "Man, am I ever regretting stealing a fry off your plate, Mary!" "You did WHAT?!?!" Mary said angrily. "I hadn't even touched any of it yet!" "And that's a good thing!" Marisa said, going pale and edging her tray away. "Do you think it's going to make us sick?" "More than that." Rachelle said, looking sick herself. "That food's radiating some seriously bad vibes. I'd reckon it will affect anyone who ate it." "Oh, man." Lacie whispered. "D-do you think it will kill us or drain our energy or make us ill with cancer or typhus or-" "Calm down." Angela said, though her voice shook. "Nothing's happened yet. We don't know for sure if it will affect you three. After all, you are Jewel-" Marisa groaned and slumped to the floor, rubbing her stomach. "Oh, man!" She groaned. "Talk about a stomachache! Jeez." She bit her lip and screwed her eyes up in pain. Lacie shuddered, rubbing her own tummy. Very slowly, her knees gave way, till she was on the floor next to Marisa, gasping. All around the cafeteria people were falling to their knees, gasping in pain. People who had brought lunches from home were looking at them in amazement and fear. Malorie fell last, struggling to keep to her feet, but eventually sliding to the floor, crying from the stress and the pain. "Not good." Mary said, helplessly watching as Lacie writhed in agony. "Um, excuse me?" Angela jumped, she had forgotten about Kyle. He gave her a half wave. "I don't mean to be rude, but what the hell is happening, and why are you all talking about evil?" Angela laughed pathetically as she elbowed Rachelle. "He's your boyfriend, do something!" She hissed. Rachelle immediately turned on all her charm. She approached Kyle with wide eyes. Angela saw his suspicious look slipping. "Oh, Kyle, we were just playing a little game!" Rachelle cooed, snuggling under her boyfriend's arm. "It's just so weird that everyone would drop like this." She brought her hand to her mouth in mock horror. "You don't think they're poisoned? Oh, I feel faint!" She swooned. "She's quite an actor." Mary whispered to Elisha, who agreed. Kyle was completely fooled by the act. "You feel all right?" He asked, concerned. "Look, don't move, I'll get some water from the water fountain, okay? Just hang on!" With that he ran off. Rachelle straightened to the applause of the others. "It was nothing." She said modestly. "Now how about we figure out what's happen-" A high pitched giggle resounded through the air, interrupting Rachelle. Angela clapped her hands over her ears. "Good lord!" She gasped. "What on earth-" "Look!" Mary said, pointing. A red-haired girl was floating near the top of the cafeteria, laughing merrily. "Oh, this is working great!" She giggled. "All these people down! Ooh, when I show Jedin and Ithengil all the hard work I've done-" "Jedin?" Elisha gasped. "Definitely a bad guy." "Let's move it!" Angela ordered. "Transform under the tables!" "What about them?" Rachelle asked, pointing to Lacie, Malorie, and Marisa. "We can't leave them like this!" Malorie grabbed Rachelle's hand and grasped it tight. "Go!" She gasped. "Fight! That's probably the only way to cure us! Defeat her!" Rachelle hesitated, then squeezed Malorie's hand and nodded. "Okay." "Come on!" Angela ordered, not unkindly. Rachelle briskly slid underneath their table, praying that the rather bright lights of their transformations would go unnoticed in the confusion and panic. "Diamond Star Power-" "Obsidian Star Power-" "Garnet Star Power-" "Sapphire Star Power-" "MAKE UP!!!" The bright light that filled the cafeteria, blinding all those in it, was too much for the panic-stricken people who had not been infected. Most ran away screaming. Very few stood by their injured friends. Katrina let out a high-pitched squeal. "Ah!! Too bright! Pain! No more light! Where's it coming from?" She squinted around. "The cafeteria food is disgusting enough without evil slime-balls like you using it to collect energy!" A voice announced from nearby. Katrina squinted down, and gasped. "Oh, no." "YOU'RE A SAILOR SCOUT!!!" Eardrums being completely blown out after the red-haired woman's scream, Sailor Diamond did her best to remain calm. "Uh, yes, I am Sailor Diamond, Scout of Love and Jus..tice." Her voice trailed away as she stared bemusedly at the girl. She was banging her head repeatedly on the top of the cafeteria ceiling. "Oh, drat it, drat it, drat it." She moaned. "And things were going so WELL!! Now some lousy Senshi are going to ruin my lovely time a-and embarrass me in f-front of Ithengil-" She began to wail. "Can you say ow?!" Sailor Obsidian complained. "Jeez! What's she trying to do, deafen us?" "What?" Garnet yelled. "She's crying to threaten us?" "She's dying to wetten us?" Sapphire asked. "Oh boy." Katrina stopped fighting and promptly looked furious. "I'm not going to let you ruin my splendid time here!" She cried, her palms facing them. "I am Katrina, and I was chosen specially for this mission! I won't let Ithengil down!!" "Get ready to dodge." Diamond warned under her breath. Hot pink electricity swarmed down from Katrina's hands. It hit the floor and the earth cracked beneath it. Lightning zigzagged across the floor towards them. The Scouts tensed, ready and eager to fight. Sailor Sapphire clenched her hands into fists. She wanted a good fight. Katrina seemed ditzy. Perhaps they could fool her- She suddenly let out a cry, and dove forward. Sailor Diamond gasped. "Sapphire! What are you-" Then she spotted Chase sitting on the floor by the beefy boy, who had obviously eaten some of the food. He was staring, transfixed, at the oncoming bolts. As if sensing an energy source, the bolts seemed to target him, moving quicker than ever, sliding across the floor. Sailor Sapphire dove at him just as the pink bolts seemed about to strike. She knocked him sideways, out of their immediate path, and sent him sprawling into a wall, with her right behind him. Sapphire drew in her leg as a bolt flashed by, and sighed in relief, glancing over at Chase. Chase had been frozen by the site of the lightning on the floor. It was something out of a nightmare. He had dazedly realized he was going to be hit when something-someone-hurled into him and knocked him into the wall. He gasped as they went by an inch from his head, then stared up at whoever had saved him. His head had hit the wall, so he couldn't be sure, but he was almost positive that an angel was looking down at him. Deep blue eyes, like lakes.soft skin.silky garments. He finally stuttered out. "Who are you?" The figure laughed, a sweet, merry laugh. "Just a friend." She said in a whisper, standing up and jumping away from him. He had half a mind to beg her to come back, when he saw she had only landed a few tables away, with some other girls of different hair color and uniform. "Angels." He muttered dizzily before blacking out. Diamond smiled approvingly at Sapphire as she landed back beside them. "Good job." She said to her. "Now get ready. Those lightning bolts are coming fast, scouts!" Pink light covered the floor just in front of them- "JUMP!" Sailor Diamond screeched. All four leapt into the air to land on another table that the lightning had already passed. The lightning continued on its way, hitting the wall to the cafeteria and disappearing with a "zap!" Up in the air, Katrina wailed. "No! Oh, you weren't supposed to dodge that!" "Which is why we did." Obsidian muttered. "Ooooooh-" Katrina pointed a finger at them and shrieked. "You asked for this! You'll get just what you deserve!" With a only-slightly ditzy evil smile on her face, she continued, "I have been testing this little beauty for several months now. She's very interesting, as I think you'll agree!" A black crystal filled with black goop appeared in her hand, and she lobbed it at the four nervous sailors. * * * "What is that?" Damon asked Jedin. They had been watching Katrina's progress from Ithengil's crystal globe. "She never told us she was working on a new invention-" "That must be a Unum." Jedin said in a low voice. "She bragged to me about it just before she set off. Said that it would quite surprise us." He laughed and straightened, stretching. "Knowing Katrina, it'll probably sing a happy song that will put those brats to sleep." Damon said nothing. He continued to watch what was happening down on Earth apprehensively. Katrina was an idiot, but she a knack for creating new demons. He'd hate to think what that one could possibly do to the new sailors. Actually, he would love it. * * * When the crystal ball shattered on the floor, thick, putrid black smoke sprung out of it and filled the room. Diamond's eyes watered. She ducked below a table, trying to rid herself of the stench and the sting. The others backed into a doorway, where they coughed and squinted around. Slowly the smoke drew together into a horrible demon body that looked somewhat like the two Screamers the girls had fought yesterday. But this demon's eyes were gray with round black irises, and it's form seemed to constantly disintegrate and reform, with no trace of human in it whatsoever. It was just a huge, living sculpture of dark muck. Diamond stared at it in horror. "What is that?" She wondered. "Behold!" Katrina shrieked. "My greatest creation! The Unum!" "Um, okay." Garnet called hesitatingly from the doorway. "But what does it do?" Katrina smiled. "Glad you asked." The Unum suddenly shot out a long, black, mucky tentacle that curled around Diamond's leg. She shrieked in horror as it stuck tight. Slowly the Unum pulled itself towards her. Diamond frantically tried to loosen its horrible grasp on her, but the Unum had simply molded itself around her leg, like a part of her. She could no sooner pull it off her than pull off her own arm. The Unum, with a dreadful ease and nonchalance, pulled itself to melt around her knees. Diamond frantically kicked her legs, screaming and trying to run. But the Unum had her fast. And it would not let her go. Katrina smiled triumphantly. "You can't escape, Senshi-girl! My Unum has never failed to bring down a prey, and I've tested it on all sorts of things. It can expand, shrink, swim, and move as quick as lightning when it wants to. However, when it envelops its prey, it takes its own sweet time. She'll envelope you, you know, and when she's done, you're nothing more than mere food." Sailor Diamond kicked and flailed, shrieking at the horror of the Unum's touch on her skin as it slowly made its way up past her boots. Garnet, Obsidian, and Sapphire watched helplessly. "Do something!" Garnet whispered to Obsidian. "We can't attack! Not without hitting her!" Sailor Obsidian said, hating her weakness. "Hang on, Diamond!" Sapphire called. * * * "I don't believe it." Jedin breathed, staring into the crystal ball at Diamond. "Fan-tastic. That must be the most brilliant thing I've ever seen!" "Who would have guessed Katrina would have discovered it?" Uther said, peering over Jedin's shoulder. Damon said nothing, just watched as the Unum spread upwards, overtaking Diamond. Before he could stop it, an icy terror gripped his heart. Fear was natural for a general, it had always been so. But the look on Diamond's face, of sheer, complete terror, scared him more than he ever knew was possible. He didn't want her to die by Katrina. That was an unworthy death. Better to die by his hand, or Jedin's or Ithengil's. She was a good fighter. She could have become a great warrior. Before he knew it, he found himself thinking, Don't you give up that easily, Sailor Diamond! I owe you a fight!! Do you hear? The honor of killing you will be mine. * * * Diamond let out another shriek as the creature swarmed up her, now past her waist. She flailed her arms, desperately trying to keep the-thing-from covering her completely. The Unum slowly crawled up to her neck, forcing her arms back down to her sides and immobilizing them. Diamond took a deep breath and let out a scream that was abruptly silenced as the Unum covered her mouth. Her scream of undiluted horror was muffled by the Unum's jelly substance. As blood-red slowly covered Diamond's eyes and then head, she let herself drift away into the insanity of pure fear. Garnet screamed as Diamond's head went under the body of that alien thing. She fought Obsidian's grip, straining to get to her friend, to help her in anyway she could. "Diamond." She sobbed. "Oh, Diamond, Diamond, Diamond." Her figure could just be made out through the Unum's gel-like body. She was violently thrashing, but slowly, these contortions stopped. "DIAMOND!" Garnet shrieked. "Quiet!" Sapphire said, voice choked. "Diamond will find a way out! She will! She's got to!" Sailor Diamond floated alone and silent in a dreadful blood-red universe. She couldn't move. She couldn't hear..couldn't see..couldn't' breathe.Her spirit was flickering in and out of life. * * * Jedin hooted in delight. "I don't believe this! Look, she stopped struggling." Damon hardly heard. His heart pounded in his ears, for reasons he did not know. Horrible clear certainty was sharp in his mind. Sailor Diamond was dead, and of an unworthy and truly daunting cause. He sighed. He hated when good rivals died bad deaths. "One down!" Jedin said triumphantly. "You might look more pleased, Damon. The leader of the Jewel Senshi's already dead! It's all downhill from here!" "Wait a moment." Uther murmured, peering intently at the crystal ball. "Wait a moment." Damon turned back, stared, rubbed his eyes, then stared again, hoping he wasn't imagining things. * * * Garnet raised her head from Obsidian's arms at a gasp of air. She stared, then, tears wetting her cheeks, she pulled on a tug of Obsidian's hair. "Look!" Diamond, with a sudden renewed burst of life, was struggling again. She couldn't breath, and her vision was covered by the Unum, but she fought, desperately clawing for air. The Unum covered her even more thickly, trying to drown her. She shrieked as her skin began to burn from it obviously trying to devour her. This had gone far enough. "GOLDEN HALO ATTACK!!!" The Unum squealed as bright light began to make holes in it. It flowed down, dissolving, and Diamond's face appeared, gasping in air. The Unum retreated, smoking, under a table, wailing constantly. Then, with a poof, it vanished. Diamond stood, knees wobbling, fuku torn away at some places, skin red and raw in some parts, looking haggard and exhausted, and wonderfully, wholly, completely alive. "Diamond!" Garnet cried, running to her and hugging her fiercely. "Are you all right?" Dazedly, Diamond hugged her back. "I-I think so." Obsidian came to give her friend a hug. "We were worried we would have to find a new leader, here." She said, unshed tears bright in her eyes. Sapphire pummeled her shoulder. 'I knew you wouldn't give up that easily!" "NOO!" Katrina wailed, clutching the burnt embers of her Unum. "M-my creation! My baby! My pride a-and joy!" She wailed, shooting out fountains of tears. * * * "I don't believe it." Jedin muttered, although clearly he did. "She was practically dead, and all of a sudden she gets the idea to attack. Un-be- lieve-able." "We have underestimated them." Uther said quietly, turning around so his cape would twirl out mysteriously behind him. Unfortunately, it managed to cover Jedin's head, who gave it a yank, making Uther fall. The two immediately began to fight. Damon said nothing, just watched the recovering Diamond with interest, and more than the slightest bit of relief. She would die, of course, eventually. But his worthy opponent would have a good death. A memorable death. By his blade. * * * Katrina had launched back into high-pitched wails. The Jewel Senshi were defenseless, covering their ears as best they could. "Can't anybody SHUT HER UP?!!" Sapphire yelled. At this point, Malorie groaned and sat up. She had watched the events from eye-level with the ground, and was completely and totally confused. Her stomach still throbbed, but she attempted to ignore it, and stood up. "Guys?" She called faintly. No one heard her over Katrina's noise. "GUYS?!" She bellowed. Diamond immediately spotted her. "Malorie!" She screamed over the noise. "Are you all right?" "What?" Malorie called back. "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!" "FINE!!! NOW CAN YOU MAKE THIS DITZ SHUT UP?!?!" "WISH I KNEW HOW!!!" "ATTACK HER, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!!!" Malorie yelled, patience clearly gone over both pain and an annoying hollering psychotic evil woman. Diamond blinked at her. "Oh. Right." "WHAT DID MALORIE SAY?" Obsidian asked loudly. "WE SHOULD ATTACK HER." "GREAT IDEA!!" "ATTACK WHO?" Sapphire called. "KATRINA." "GREAT!! ME FIRST!" "SUIT YOURSELF." Sapphire took a deep breath, then belted out, "ICY GLACIER FREEZE!!!" An icy blast hit Katrina just as she took a breath to begin another wail. It went right down her throat and she choked, pounding her chest. Diamond hesitantly listened. Nothing. "I hope her vocal chords froze." She muttered to Garnet, ears still ringing. "Ditto." Garnet replied, banging her head to make sure she wasn't insane. Katrina made a huge gagging noise, attempting to cough up the ice, but to no avail. She began squeaking at a very high pitch. "I don't know which is worse-the crying or the squeaking." "Lacie! Marisa!" The two gave Diamond a very faint wave. "Hey, Diamond." Lacie said with a cough. "The stomach pain stuff is lifting, but we're both real tired. I think it must've drained some of our energy." "Oh dear." Sapphire said, supporting Marisa on one arm. "Will you both be okay?" "I hate to break this up." Obsidian said gently. "But if Katrina has the brains to realize you three are standing up while all the complete non- superhero humans are still down." "Oh." Marisa said with a flush. "Right." She immediately sat down and began moaning heartrendingly. "Well, now we can transform!" Malorie said, also dropping. "I wouldn't." Garnet said in a low tone. "Why not?" Lacie inquired. "No one's looking at us. They all ran away." "I've got the very bad feeling that someone is watching us." Garnet said, hardly moving her lips. "A very evil someone." Lacie glanced nervously around, then gave a groan and slumped again. "Go defeat her." She whispered. "Will do." Sailor Diamond said, giving her a slight reassuring kick that made Lacie muffle a squeak and lash out and kick her ankle. Limping rather hurriedly away, Diamond confronted Katrina. "Had enough? Stop hurting these people and go back to where you came from!" "Mmf mggr mumpple!" Katrina said. "I-guess-that means-she agrees." Obsidian said hesitantly. "Or maybe she's trying to speak in her native evil Scandinavian tongue!!" Sapphire said helpfully. "It sounds a lot like she's saying, 'Help, Japanese turkey!' in that language." "I am choosing to ignore that." Diamond said with a sweat drop. Katrina gave a spasm suddenly. A large flame shot out of her mouth, scorching the cafeteria ceiling. In the highest, loudest voice ever to bust the decibel scale, she shrieked, "YOU EVIL SLIMY LITTLE BRATS!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU JAM UP MY THROAT?!?!?! I WILL GET MY DAMON DOWN HERE AND HE WILL KICK ALL YOUR SKIRT-WEARING BUTTS!!!!" Diamond stared up at her, unimpressed. "I can't imagine anyone wanting to go with you." She snapped, and then added, "Not even some creepy evil general." Katrina shrieked almost as loudly as before. "DAMON IS THE BEST GUY EVER!!!!!!!!! HE'S NICE TO ME AND IS MYSTERIOUS AND CUTE AND HOT AND HUNKY AND BEAUTIFUL-" "And we SO do not care." Sapphire put in. Katrina opened her mouth- "Oh, no, you don't!" Diamond yelled at her. "Not if you want a Halo in the kisser!" "A halo in the kisser?" Garnet asked. "Why not?" Diamond asked, perplexed. "I thought it sounded cool." "Riiiight." Garnet said with a sweat drop. * * * "I don't believe this!" Jedin snarled, angrily punching his fist into his open palm. "They may be heroes, but they are so juvenile!!! They're bickering like children!" "Still young." Uther said with a contemptible shrug. "Still weak. Still untrained. Easy pickings." "Not as easy as we would think." Damon said darkly, staring at the crystal ball. "They act young, but each one's got a lot of potential. Potential that must never be tapped, otherwise we all die." Uther snorted. "No way. They're complete idiots." "Still," Damon said, with the slightest hint of a chuckle. "That was the most ingenious way I've ever seen to get Katrina to shut up." * * * The five were at a standstill. Katrina had her mouth firmly closed, but with hot pink energy boiling in both her hands. Diamond's hand was pointed at Katrina, but she eyed her hands nervously. "Someone move!" Obsidian burst out after several minutes of this. "Rachelle?" Someone said at the door. "Oh no!" Sailor Garnet whispered, turning to look. "Kyle's back!!" Rachelle's boyfriend was at the door, a glass of water in his hand, looking concerned. "Rachelle? Rachelle, honey, I brought you some-" He looked at Sailor Garnet, and the cup fell from his hand. Whites showed around his eyes as his mouth opened. "I think-he's recognized you." Sapphire whispered. "Keeeyah!" Katrina screeched, taking advantage of their switch in attention to launch a few shots. "Dodge!" Diamond cried. All of the four leapt away and bounded over the tables. "BLACK FEAR SWARM!!!!!" Obsidian called out, aiming at Katrina. Katrina shrieked and batted at the darts of black energy. "Get them off, get them off!" She wailed, slapping at them like they were bees and falling out of the air to land on a table. Kyle had remained rooted to the spot, staring at Garnet's every move. "SCALDING FLAMEBALLS FIRE!!!" Garnet yelled, pointing not at Katrina, but onto the table she had fallen on. It instantly ignited. Katrina shot into the air, hands on her rear, howling. "GOLDEN HALO-" Diamond began, pointing- "No!" Katrina wailed hands in the air. "I give up! Here-here!" She fumbled with something on her belt and then tossed a small cylinder onto the ground. It shattered instantly, and the glass that made it vanished. Light blue energy poured out of it and seeped back into its respective person. Diamond saw a flash of yellow, green, and purple light go back into Malorie, Marisa, and Lacie, who immediately stirred and sat up. Diamond glared at Katrina. "That was too easy. Why'd you give up?" Katrina glared at Diamond and opened her mouth to scream, but it snapped shut. She froze in midair, not breathing, eyes white, hair standing on end. "Oh, no." She croaked in a deep voice, eyes coming back into focus. "Oh, no.." She pointed a finger at Diamond. "You haaaven't seeeeen the last of meee!" She said, voice getting raspier, like an out-of-tune violin. "I'll beee baaack!!" "What's happening to her?!" Obsidian whispered in horror. "No idea." Diamond said, carefully eyeing Katrina. Her white skin was moving in tiny ripples across her body. She spasmed, and then disappeared with a "pop!" "Well." Sapphire said, peering up. "Anyone have any idea what THAT was all about?" "She looked like something was seriously going wrong with her insides." Diamond said, frowning slightly. "Rachelle?" Someone said from behind them. Sailor Garnet turned, even as Diamond hissed at her to stay put. "Kyle?" She asked. Diamond hit herself on her head. "Great. There go our secret identities." Kyle stood over Rachelle, looking furious. "What the hell are you doing, playing these games, Shell?? Why are you dressed up in that skirt and- weird-top?! Is this some sort of game?? A ploy??" "Um-Kyle-" Garnet said, shrugging hopelessly at the others angry faces. "You'd better sit down." "I don't WANT to sit down!" Kyle bellowed. "What are you doing? What's going on? Jeez, I haven't been this confused since I started dating you!" Garnet went on trying to calm her boyfriend, not noticing the look that passed from Diamond to Obsidian to Sapphire. Diamond nonchalantly strutted around to Kyle's back, and Obsidian and Sapphire to either side. "-whatever it is you all are trying to prove, I don't like it!" Kyle went on, ignoring them. "I mean, you could have at least told me-" Diamond quickly reached up and smacked her hand over his mouth. Obsidian and Sapphire grabbed both of his arms and pinned them to his body. Quickly, they walked to the doors and out of the cafeteria. "What are you doing?" Rachelle asked, fluttering beside them and wringing her hands. "Kyle-I'm so sorry-stop this, girls! Please! Kyle-remain calm- " Diamond took him and shoved him into a small alcove between the girls and boys bathrooms where a water fountain had stood until someone ripped it out of the wall and stolen it. "Shut up!" She hissed at him. "Now, I'm going to take my hand off your mouth now, but if you so much as open your mouth to yell, I will take my halo and shove it down your throat!" She carefully removed her hand, ready to silence him again if necessary. Kyle stared at her in outrage, but was comparatively quiet. "What the devil is going on?!" He growled. "Why are you all dressed in these weird clothes? What's going on?" He stared at them suspiciously. "You ARE Rachelle and her friends, aren't you?" Diamond took a deep breath. "Yes." "Then why are you dressed in all these weird clothes putting on a light show?!" He roared softly. "Try to understand!" Diamond yelled. The others gave her a reproachful look. She sighed. "Look, I know this is difficult, but we're all Sailor Scouts." Kyle snorted. "Sailor Scouts?! Yeah, RIGHT. Can't you come up with something a little better?" Diamond glared at him. "Listen, you pompous-" Her sailor uniform, and everyone else's, faded away to their normal clothes. Kyle's eyes practically popped out of his head. "Oh.my..GOD!!!!!!!" He hollered, forgetting Diamond's warning. Angie clapped her hand over his mouth again. "Now do you believe what's happening." She inquired. Kyle mumbled something. Angie removed her hand. He stared at Rachelle. "You-" He croaked. "You-all of you-" "Hard to believe, isn't it?" Mary said dryly, rubbing her head. "Well-yes." Kyle said, staring at her. "I mean, granted, you all look sort of like them, but-don't kill me-they are-you are-you look a lot prettier and nobler in Sailor form." "I'm not sure whether to kill or thank you." Elisha muttered, straightening her glasses. A growing roar signified the waking up of the victims of Katrina's energy- stealing. Murmurs of confusion were evident. "How long?" Kyle quietly asked Rachelle, pulling her aside as the others trotted back in, false amazement on their faces. "How long what?" She asked carefully, avoiding looking into his eyes. "How long have you been a-" He stopped. She sighed. "A few days, now. This is our third battle." Kyle rubbed his head, frowning slightly. "I must admit, this is very- strange." "I'm sorry to rush this on you." Rachelle said quietly. "But you have to accept it, and my friends." "They're all-a bit weird." Kyle admitted. "They mean a lot to me." Rachelle said firmly. "I don't know why, but I feel very-connected, somehow. And the connection is deep. I'd do anything for them. They're second in my affections now." Kyle cocked his head, a mischievous smile crossing his lips. "Second?" Rachelle smiled coyly. "You know who's first." Kyle grinned, then bent down and softly kissed her on the lips. "So," He said, straightening and putting an arm around her shoulders. "Who's the leader of your little group?" "Angie." "The one who slammed me up against the wall?" He replied indignantly. "Why not you?" He didn't see why his Shellie shouldn't be leading their little group. She was obviously the best. Rachelle giggled. "Me? No way. I'm one of many second-in-command people." "Why aren't you the leader?" Kyle asked again, upset. Rachelle smiled. "I'm so physically weak, silly." "Not true." Kyle protested as they entered the cafeteria. "Why, you must be as strong as Ang-" They both jumped back in alarm as a boy hit the wall by the door. He groaned and slid to the floor. Angela stood over him, shaking her fist. "And don't let me ever catch you bullying others again!" She threatened. "'Cause there's more where THAT came from!" Flushed, she glared proudly at the sorry heap, then turned to Kyle and Rachelle. "Hello!" She said cheerfully. "What took you so long?" "Um-what was that?" Rachelle asked, carefully closing Kyle's gaping mouth. "That?" Angie waved carelessly at the mangled boy. "He was the leader of those bullies. I made sure he won't try to tackle us again." "Okay." Kyle said weakly. "Maybe you were right." He muttered to Rachelle. "Told you." She said jauntily. "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" A voice boomed. Angela's heart sank. "Oh, no." She whispered. "It's Neo-Nazi Nichols." Mr. Nichols came striding up, looking puffed-up and important. "What's all this fuss about?" He roared, trying to be intimidating. "Why is this boy injured?" He eyed Angela suspiciously. "I got you for sneaking in late this morning, yes? Perhaps you'd better have a seat in lunch detention for beating up this boy." "I beat up him?!" Angela growled in outrage. "I come in to finish my lunch, he gets all up in my face of how I'm a stupid-girl-and he and his friends are going to beat me up after school, and I attacked him?! Hah!" "You want me to add refusal to cooperate along with that?" Mr. Nichols asked, getting out his notepad. Angela's jaw clenched. "She's not lying!" Elisha piped up, coming to her friend's defense. "The guy wanted to attack us. He's already attacked me!" Nichols shook a finger at her. "So there are two of you in on this-" "Seven." Mary said firmly, coming up with Malorie, Marisa, and Lacie. "Seven." Rachelle agreed. "Eight." Kyle corrected. "I believe her, sir." Nichols seemed to blow up with anger. "Now, you all see here! This is the most ridiculous, the most foolish, the most insulting ply attempt I've ever heard!! I-I will put you all in lunch detention, do you hear me?! How dare you lie to me!!" "We're telling the truth!" Elisha yelled. "It was self-defense. Stop trying to pin us!!" Nichols purpled with rage. Elisha bared her teeth- "She's telling the truth, sir." Elisha sighed, and turned to look at who she knew would be there. "Did we ask you to interfere?" She asked Chase. Chase ignored her. He spoke firmly to Mr. Nichols. "Sir, she speaks the truth. I watched the guy attempt to hurt her, then she merely shoved him away. But he tripped over a cafeteria bench, and, well, you know." Mr. Nichols seemed to calm down quite a bit seeing Chase. "Chase, hmm?" He asked, sizing him up. "Well, my boy-" ("My boy?!" Mary sniggered.) "-if you're sure these people are innocent-" "Quite sure." Chase repeated. Mr. Nichols nodded in agreement, then looked menacingly at Angela. "I've got my eye on you, missy." He warned. "I'll keep my eye on you, and you know why." With that last threat, he walked away to stop people from jumping on the tables. "Because you're a Nazi with a bug up your butt the size of a turkey?" Angela muttered when he was out of hearing range. "We didn't need your help." Elisha told Chase ungraciously. "No need to thank me." Chase replied, eyeing her with the same look she gave him. Angela sighed, then went up to Chase. "Not sure why you did that, but thanks anyway." She told him, ignoring Elisha's tiny squeal of outrage. Chase shrugged. "I don't like Nichols any more than you do. Besides, he wasn't being fair, busting on you like that." Angela rolled her eyes. "Don't need to tell me. Man, you're late one day." Someone called Chase's name. He winked at Elisha. "See ya, blue girl." He remarked off-handedly, trotting back to his jock gang. "I think he likes you." Angela announced when he had left. Elisha snorted, but turned just the slightest bit pink. "Don't be stupid. He's-" she lowered her voice. "-really cute. I haven't got a chance." "He say good-bye to you." Malorie pointed out. "Not to Angela. And she was actually talking to him." "Don't be an idiot." Elisha said primly, sitting down and beginning to eat her lunch. "I don't like him." "Then how come you said you had fallen in love with him before?" Marisa said slowly, a malicious grin lighting up her face. Elisha spit out part of the sandwich she was eating. "What? I mean-I didn't mean to imply-" "ELISHA LIKE CHASE!!! ELISHA LIKES CHASE!!!!" Lacie and Marisa began chanting. "Shut up!" Elisha hissed, throwing her apple at them. Angela smiled at the fight that was breaking up, then the back of her neck prickled as she looked around. For an instant, just a moment, she had the feeling that two cold blue eyes were watching her.