Moon's Eclipse by Foenixfyre
Chapter 2 Warrior of the Moon
The sunlight peeking through the curtains fell across Heero's face, tickling him awake. His sensitive ears caught the sound of delighted giggles coming from the next room. Running a hand trough his tousled hair, he walked sleepily into the hallway.
"It's so silky. What do you use?"
"You wouldn't believe all the crap I put in it."
"Oh, you should see all the bottles in my shower."
"Do you blow-dry it a lot?"
"Nope. Usually just braid it."
Usagi's door was open, so he peeked in to be confronted with a hilarious sight. Usagi's sunny smile was very different from her dolorous expression of yesterday. Her odangos were gone, and she sported a single, long braid. Duo . . . Usagi was cheerfully arranging his chestnut hair into two little buns, complete with pigtails.
"Ouch! You're pulling!"
"Am not! Hold still. Don't be such a baby!"
"Usagi . . . "
"Duo?" The room's occupants turned to see Heero smirking in the doorway.
"Hey, man!" Duo didn't even blush. "You won't believe how long Usagi's hair is! It goes down to the floor and beyond!" He tugged on her braid. "And I thought I had hair troubles!" Usagi giggled. "And the amount of food she can put away . . . we were the first ones up, so we made each other breakfast." His face grew rather pale, "You . . . um . . . you don't want to go into the kitchen."
"Duo!" Trowa stormed angrily into the room, brandishing a skillet. "What did you do to my kitchen?!" Duo and Usagi looked at each other and collapsed, laughing. The kitchen was Trowa's domain; surprisingly, he was the best cook of the five, and he guarded his little kingdom as zealously as he guarded Heavyarms. "You're marching in there and cleaning every pot, plate, and spill!" * * *
It had taken the two miscreants over an hour to clean up. Now, Trowa and Heero were guiding Usagi around the opulent mansion. Heero pulled a set of double doors open. "Here's the loading bay, where we keep the Gundams." Inside the spacious room stood five giant . . .
"Robots?" Usagi asked in amazement as she gazed around. Wufei was perched on the shoulder of one that held a long, metallic whip headed by a dragon's fangs, apparently doing some sort of maintenance work. He glanced up and scowled at the small group in the doorway.
"Sort of," replied Trowa. "They're mobile suits. We sit in the cockpits and control their movements." He pointed to one wielding enormous guns in its chest. "I pilot Heavyarms, Wufei there pilots Shenlong, Duo plays around in Deathscythe," he waved towards the one holding a scythe, "and Quatre pilots Sandrock."
"What about you, Heero?"
The Japanese indicated the Gundam standing in the far back. It had a large, green jewel on its chest and held a huge cannon. "That's Wing. All five of the suits have assorted lasers and guns, and I also have a laser sword- Usagi, what's wrong?"
Pains were tearing at Usagi's chest, where she knew the Crystal resided. It wanted out! "I . . . I don't know!" she gasped. "My . . . Crystal . . . ugh!" She held her hands out and called it forth, but it was so hard! Finally . . . there! The Crystal appeared, glowing more brightly then ever, and it . . . it was growing!
"What's going on, Usagi?" Heero shouted.
"I don't . . . No!" The Crystal sent a tendril of light out, grabbing Usagi. Again, it forced her transformation upon her, and kept growing as the armor wrapped itself around her body. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the Crystal's shape in the midst of all the light. It was changing, somehow, assuming a new form. The lights were too bright, and she squeezed her lids tight. The Crystal called to her. It needed a new form in this strange universe, one that would enable Usagi to fight with her new comrades and make her a true warrior. It searched through her mind, picking forms and discarding them for new ones. What would allow her the power she needed? Finally, they found a structure to agree on, and.
"Um . . . Sailor Moon?" Quatre's soft voice brought her back to herself.
"Guys?" Sailor Moon found herself on her hands and knees. The others' cries had brought Duo and Quatre running, and the five now stood unified before her.
"How'd you do that?" Duo's tone was amazed. Every eye was trained . . . not on her. Behind her. She whirled around and stared in astonishment at the Mobile Suit that stood there. It was magnificent; a perfect statue of crystalline silver, blue, and red. A gold crescent was raised in stark relief against its forehead.
"We did that? Wow." Sailor Moon could think of no better words to describe her creation. This Suit would be even stronger then the Gundams, for it was formed from more then metal. It had been formed of the Crystal and her own heart's desire.
A hand descended to rest upon her shoulder, and Sailor Moon looked up into Duo's violet eyes. "Let's see what you two are made of, huh?" * * *
Heero stared through Wing's view shield at the newly dubbed Crystal Gundam. He and Trowa hovered overhead, with Quatre and Duo to his left and right, and Wufei flew far behind the bright silver suit. He had originally intended to train Sailor Moon in the use of her Gundam, but gave up as soon as he saw the cockpit. There were none of the screens, controls, and gadgets that were present in the other suits; Moon claimed she didn't need them. Apparently, she simply thought of an action, and the Crystal somehow responded.
"Ready, Usagi?" Quatre's soft voice asked.
"Whenever you guys are." They weren't sure how the comm. system worked either, but her voice sounded clearly in Heero's ears. "This thing's just like a video game!"
"Don't warn her, Quatre. She won't have that advantage on the battle field."
"Shut up, Wufei." Duo waved his scythe cheerfully. The six were going to play a game of 'tag.' Duo, Trowa, and Moon were on one team, and Heero, Quatre, and Wufei were on the other. The guys' guns had all been filled with a special type of blanks; if a shot connected, the recipient definitely felt it, but there would be no permanent damage. Once a person had been hit four times, he, or she, was 'out.' After a bit of practice, Sailor Moon claimed that the Crystal would obey her commands and not damage anyone. Heero just hoped she was right.
"You sure that thing's going to work?"
"Shut up, Trowa. Guys-"
"Shut up, Duo!" the other four pilots yelled gleefully. Heero could hear Moon laughing softly. Well, here goes. Without a word, he sent a shot towards her Gundam.
"Hey!" Sailor Moon squealed, and she just barely managed to dodge. Whirling, she turned and fired in retaliation. If Heero had been in the same spot, it would have connected squarely. However, a twist of the controls sent him soaring beneath her, and he reached out to grab her.
"No, you don't!" Duo whipped his scythe towards Heero, cutting off his path. Within seconds, the sky was filled with lasers and other brightly colored energy weapons as the teams battled it out together. "Yuy!" Heero pulled back from Quatre's reach and signaled a halt as Lucrezia Noin's image appeared in the corner of a screen.
"What's wrong?"
"Heero, we need you to check out an anomaly for us. Six outer satellites just went off-line, and we don't have anyone else who can get there fast enough. They just blew."
"What sector are they in?"
"WW238. That's the sector-"
"The sector where the black hole appeared. We're on it." * * * Sailor Moon watched the other pilots as the group sped towards a remote section of their galaxy. This sector was out near Pluto, and it had taken a few hours to reach the destination once Heero had filled them in. She had a sinking sensation that she knew what had forced the satellites off-line. In fact, she was betting that there would be nothing left of them but a few small parts. That was how the Evil worked; all outer sensors were first destroyed, leaving its victims with no idea of what they were facing. She'd kept this to herself, however, praying that she would be wrong.
Odd. This galaxy is the exact same as mine. Even the stars are in the same positions. If only . . . if only she'd had more time to explore the Gundams' world. There would be no chance of that, now.
"We're nearing the position of the first satellite. On your toes, everyone." Heero's voice broke into her reverie. Don't think like that, Usagi. Since you know it's coming, and you know what it's capable of, you have a better chance of saving this world.
"Sailor Moon?" Quatre whispered softly.
"Yes?"
"Are you all right?"
Moon shook the remains of her gloomy thoughts away. "I . . . I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"I don't want to intrude, but . . . your pain is rather evident. You're afraid to face that Evil you told us about, and you're afraid that you'll be responsible for even more death."
Quatre's words elicited a small gasp from Moon. "How can you know that?" It was as though he could see directly into her soul!
"I . . . I have a small gift. The others call it telempathy. I usually know how the others feel, and I can often see into the minds of those I care about. It's very useful at times."
"Oh." Moon's thoughts were drawn to a certain raven-haired priestess. "Rei, Sailor Mars, had the same sort of gifts. She had strong psychic abilities and could use her temple's sacred fire to see visions." Rei. How I miss you and the others. Wherever you are, I pray you are well . . .
"Sailor Moon? You miss them, don't you."
"Miss them?" Moon gave a harsh laugh. "It's my fault they're dead."
"Don't say that. You fought your hardest, and-" Quatre broke off as the small group came suddenly upon the first satellite. Or, at least, what was left of it. As Heero had explained to her after receiving the report, these were not merely floating cameras. The outer satellites were actually small, twenty-person stations. There should have been activity everywhere, but instead . . . instead there were pieces of metal and electrical wiring floating in dead space. Not a human was in sight. No. Just like my universe. What made me think I could fight this? And now Heero, Duo, Trowa, Wufei, and Quatre, and everyone they hold dear will die as well . . .
"What could have done this?" Duo's tone was hushed, and a tremor of fear shook his voice. "Not even the Libra . . . I've never seen anything like this."
"I have." Moon felt as everyone's attention switched to her. She fought to contain the screams of terror and despair that threatened her sanity as scenes of the Evil's wanton destruction played through her mind. "It's here."
"That . . . force?" Trowa sounded exactly like Duo.
"It's here, and it . . . it's going to kill everyone. Just like my home, my friends. Oh, please, make it stop. Make it go away . . ." She felt its horrible, oppressive darkness creeping out to surround her. Hideous, triumphant laughter tore at her mind like a thousand knives, and the dying screams of her loved ones echoed though her soul. Help me, please. Mamochan . . . * * *
A chill ran down Heero's spine as Sailor Moon began to cry. "There was no sort of warning. Nothing," he whispered. Relena, I'm glad you're not here to see this. Six satellites . . . how many dead is that? Too many. "Sailor Moon, any idea what its next move will be?" She didn't answer. "Sailor Moon!" He whirled around to face his newest teammate; the Crystal Gundam was curled up in a fetal position, and he could hear Moon's sobs all too clearly. That thing of hers is way too human-like. "Duo, watch my back." He snapped his helmet closed and, opening his cockpit, hurled himself out towards his . . . friend, for that was what she had become.
When he reached her, there wasn't really a cockpit to open! "Come on, you stupid thing, let me in!" At that, the covering of Sailor Moon's cockpit disappeared. He reached in and grabbed Sailor Moon. "Come on, snap out of it! You want this happen to you? You want this to happen to us?!"
At that, Sailor Moon opened her eyes and stared into his. Heero could see all of the self-hatred and doubt present there . . .
"It'll go for the rest of your surveillance and defenses, knocking them out one by one, until you're completely helpless. Then it will start devouring the outer colonies, working its way towards Earth. This monster will eat everything in its path, and none of your weapons can stop it. My crystal was able to hold it off, but only for a short time." Moon pushed him away, and her eyes flashed. Her voice was an icy monotone, as if she was reciting by rote. "If I'd had more power, or more help, more confidence . . . maybe I could have stopped it. I was the most powerful being in my universe, and not even I could defeat it. So what do you expect me to do here?"
"Then won't it go for you first?" The two looked over at Trowa, or rather, at Heavyarms. "Sailor Moon, you're the only one who can beat it, so it will want you out of the way."
"He's right," Heero muttered. In tactical planning, only Quatre was Trowa's better. "Can you sense anything?"
Sailor Moon shook her head and closed her eyes. "Nothing . . . wait." Her brow furrowed, and Heero leaned back as she concentrated. He could feel the others drifting nearer. "There's something . . . close. Hiding. It knows that I can barely feel it, and it's laughing at me. There!" Moon shoved Heero to the side and held out her hand. From the center of her palm, a blinding light shot toward Deathscythe.
"Hey!" Duo ducked; he didn't need to. The light streamed over his shoulder and hit a point behind him.
A horrible scream rang out, and a black shadow appeared. "What?!" Duo dove Deathscythe toward the rest of the team as it grabbed for him.
"Sailor Moon," growled Heero, "Will our weapons hurt it?"
"I don't know."
"Fine." Wing's laser sword appeared in one hand, and he lashed out at the dark figure; the shadow simply laughed, an empty, hollow sound, as the glowing weapon passed through. "Damn. Nothing. What now?"
As if on cue, hundreds of spinning drones began to shoot out of the shadow, aiming directly at the Gundams. "What the hell are these things?!" screamed Duo as he neatly cut one in two.
"I don't know!" cried Sailor Moon as she blasted three. "I've never seen them before! The Evil didn't use them in my universe!" No one responded; they were all too busy fending off the little mechs.
"Okay," gasped Quatre, "just get rid of them for now. If anyone can disable one for capture and study, do so. Spread out."
Heero wasted no time in destroying the many drones. It had been too long since he'd been able to shoot everything out and just destroy; it was strangely relaxing.
Heero.
The familiar voice flirted on the edges on Heero's mind. Where-?! He craned his neck around, trying to find the source.
Heero, I'm right here.
Behind me. He whirled around-
And froze.
Relena Peacecraft floated in space, her arms outstretched toward him. I'd lost you, Heero, my love. I had to search for so long, but I've finally found you again. Come back to me.
"Nn . . . no. You died." Heero desperately tried to reason with what lay before his eyes. He remembered the gunshot, and the scream that had ripped its path from his throat as he dashed to his fragile love. He'd seen the blood, so much blood, which poured from her open wound and dripped from the corner of her mouth. She was dead, killed by a madman able to sneak past his guard. Yet she stood there, wearing his favorite little sundress, a soft concoction of lavender lace that she'd worn on the day the gunman murdered her, that gentle, loving look in her eyes.
Stop fighting, Heero. I know that you don't want to fight anymore. You're so tired. Come to me and sleep. We'll sleep together for all eternity.
The self-destruct mechanism ascended before his eyes, and his right hand rose to hold it. That isn't my hand, is it? I don't want to die. I never told my hand to grasp the button. But . . . but it would be so much easier to simply let go and rest in Relena's arms. His fist tightened on the trigger . . .
* * *
Chapter 2 Warrior of the Moon
The sunlight peeking through the curtains fell across Heero's face, tickling him awake. His sensitive ears caught the sound of delighted giggles coming from the next room. Running a hand trough his tousled hair, he walked sleepily into the hallway.
"It's so silky. What do you use?"
"You wouldn't believe all the crap I put in it."
"Oh, you should see all the bottles in my shower."
"Do you blow-dry it a lot?"
"Nope. Usually just braid it."
Usagi's door was open, so he peeked in to be confronted with a hilarious sight. Usagi's sunny smile was very different from her dolorous expression of yesterday. Her odangos were gone, and she sported a single, long braid. Duo . . . Usagi was cheerfully arranging his chestnut hair into two little buns, complete with pigtails.
"Ouch! You're pulling!"
"Am not! Hold still. Don't be such a baby!"
"Usagi . . . "
"Duo?" The room's occupants turned to see Heero smirking in the doorway.
"Hey, man!" Duo didn't even blush. "You won't believe how long Usagi's hair is! It goes down to the floor and beyond!" He tugged on her braid. "And I thought I had hair troubles!" Usagi giggled. "And the amount of food she can put away . . . we were the first ones up, so we made each other breakfast." His face grew rather pale, "You . . . um . . . you don't want to go into the kitchen."
"Duo!" Trowa stormed angrily into the room, brandishing a skillet. "What did you do to my kitchen?!" Duo and Usagi looked at each other and collapsed, laughing. The kitchen was Trowa's domain; surprisingly, he was the best cook of the five, and he guarded his little kingdom as zealously as he guarded Heavyarms. "You're marching in there and cleaning every pot, plate, and spill!" * * *
It had taken the two miscreants over an hour to clean up. Now, Trowa and Heero were guiding Usagi around the opulent mansion. Heero pulled a set of double doors open. "Here's the loading bay, where we keep the Gundams." Inside the spacious room stood five giant . . .
"Robots?" Usagi asked in amazement as she gazed around. Wufei was perched on the shoulder of one that held a long, metallic whip headed by a dragon's fangs, apparently doing some sort of maintenance work. He glanced up and scowled at the small group in the doorway.
"Sort of," replied Trowa. "They're mobile suits. We sit in the cockpits and control their movements." He pointed to one wielding enormous guns in its chest. "I pilot Heavyarms, Wufei there pilots Shenlong, Duo plays around in Deathscythe," he waved towards the one holding a scythe, "and Quatre pilots Sandrock."
"What about you, Heero?"
The Japanese indicated the Gundam standing in the far back. It had a large, green jewel on its chest and held a huge cannon. "That's Wing. All five of the suits have assorted lasers and guns, and I also have a laser sword- Usagi, what's wrong?"
Pains were tearing at Usagi's chest, where she knew the Crystal resided. It wanted out! "I . . . I don't know!" she gasped. "My . . . Crystal . . . ugh!" She held her hands out and called it forth, but it was so hard! Finally . . . there! The Crystal appeared, glowing more brightly then ever, and it . . . it was growing!
"What's going on, Usagi?" Heero shouted.
"I don't . . . No!" The Crystal sent a tendril of light out, grabbing Usagi. Again, it forced her transformation upon her, and kept growing as the armor wrapped itself around her body. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the Crystal's shape in the midst of all the light. It was changing, somehow, assuming a new form. The lights were too bright, and she squeezed her lids tight. The Crystal called to her. It needed a new form in this strange universe, one that would enable Usagi to fight with her new comrades and make her a true warrior. It searched through her mind, picking forms and discarding them for new ones. What would allow her the power she needed? Finally, they found a structure to agree on, and.
"Um . . . Sailor Moon?" Quatre's soft voice brought her back to herself.
"Guys?" Sailor Moon found herself on her hands and knees. The others' cries had brought Duo and Quatre running, and the five now stood unified before her.
"How'd you do that?" Duo's tone was amazed. Every eye was trained . . . not on her. Behind her. She whirled around and stared in astonishment at the Mobile Suit that stood there. It was magnificent; a perfect statue of crystalline silver, blue, and red. A gold crescent was raised in stark relief against its forehead.
"We did that? Wow." Sailor Moon could think of no better words to describe her creation. This Suit would be even stronger then the Gundams, for it was formed from more then metal. It had been formed of the Crystal and her own heart's desire.
A hand descended to rest upon her shoulder, and Sailor Moon looked up into Duo's violet eyes. "Let's see what you two are made of, huh?" * * *
Heero stared through Wing's view shield at the newly dubbed Crystal Gundam. He and Trowa hovered overhead, with Quatre and Duo to his left and right, and Wufei flew far behind the bright silver suit. He had originally intended to train Sailor Moon in the use of her Gundam, but gave up as soon as he saw the cockpit. There were none of the screens, controls, and gadgets that were present in the other suits; Moon claimed she didn't need them. Apparently, she simply thought of an action, and the Crystal somehow responded.
"Ready, Usagi?" Quatre's soft voice asked.
"Whenever you guys are." They weren't sure how the comm. system worked either, but her voice sounded clearly in Heero's ears. "This thing's just like a video game!"
"Don't warn her, Quatre. She won't have that advantage on the battle field."
"Shut up, Wufei." Duo waved his scythe cheerfully. The six were going to play a game of 'tag.' Duo, Trowa, and Moon were on one team, and Heero, Quatre, and Wufei were on the other. The guys' guns had all been filled with a special type of blanks; if a shot connected, the recipient definitely felt it, but there would be no permanent damage. Once a person had been hit four times, he, or she, was 'out.' After a bit of practice, Sailor Moon claimed that the Crystal would obey her commands and not damage anyone. Heero just hoped she was right.
"You sure that thing's going to work?"
"Shut up, Trowa. Guys-"
"Shut up, Duo!" the other four pilots yelled gleefully. Heero could hear Moon laughing softly. Well, here goes. Without a word, he sent a shot towards her Gundam.
"Hey!" Sailor Moon squealed, and she just barely managed to dodge. Whirling, she turned and fired in retaliation. If Heero had been in the same spot, it would have connected squarely. However, a twist of the controls sent him soaring beneath her, and he reached out to grab her.
"No, you don't!" Duo whipped his scythe towards Heero, cutting off his path. Within seconds, the sky was filled with lasers and other brightly colored energy weapons as the teams battled it out together. "Yuy!" Heero pulled back from Quatre's reach and signaled a halt as Lucrezia Noin's image appeared in the corner of a screen.
"What's wrong?"
"Heero, we need you to check out an anomaly for us. Six outer satellites just went off-line, and we don't have anyone else who can get there fast enough. They just blew."
"What sector are they in?"
"WW238. That's the sector-"
"The sector where the black hole appeared. We're on it." * * * Sailor Moon watched the other pilots as the group sped towards a remote section of their galaxy. This sector was out near Pluto, and it had taken a few hours to reach the destination once Heero had filled them in. She had a sinking sensation that she knew what had forced the satellites off-line. In fact, she was betting that there would be nothing left of them but a few small parts. That was how the Evil worked; all outer sensors were first destroyed, leaving its victims with no idea of what they were facing. She'd kept this to herself, however, praying that she would be wrong.
Odd. This galaxy is the exact same as mine. Even the stars are in the same positions. If only . . . if only she'd had more time to explore the Gundams' world. There would be no chance of that, now.
"We're nearing the position of the first satellite. On your toes, everyone." Heero's voice broke into her reverie. Don't think like that, Usagi. Since you know it's coming, and you know what it's capable of, you have a better chance of saving this world.
"Sailor Moon?" Quatre whispered softly.
"Yes?"
"Are you all right?"
Moon shook the remains of her gloomy thoughts away. "I . . . I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"I don't want to intrude, but . . . your pain is rather evident. You're afraid to face that Evil you told us about, and you're afraid that you'll be responsible for even more death."
Quatre's words elicited a small gasp from Moon. "How can you know that?" It was as though he could see directly into her soul!
"I . . . I have a small gift. The others call it telempathy. I usually know how the others feel, and I can often see into the minds of those I care about. It's very useful at times."
"Oh." Moon's thoughts were drawn to a certain raven-haired priestess. "Rei, Sailor Mars, had the same sort of gifts. She had strong psychic abilities and could use her temple's sacred fire to see visions." Rei. How I miss you and the others. Wherever you are, I pray you are well . . .
"Sailor Moon? You miss them, don't you."
"Miss them?" Moon gave a harsh laugh. "It's my fault they're dead."
"Don't say that. You fought your hardest, and-" Quatre broke off as the small group came suddenly upon the first satellite. Or, at least, what was left of it. As Heero had explained to her after receiving the report, these were not merely floating cameras. The outer satellites were actually small, twenty-person stations. There should have been activity everywhere, but instead . . . instead there were pieces of metal and electrical wiring floating in dead space. Not a human was in sight. No. Just like my universe. What made me think I could fight this? And now Heero, Duo, Trowa, Wufei, and Quatre, and everyone they hold dear will die as well . . .
"What could have done this?" Duo's tone was hushed, and a tremor of fear shook his voice. "Not even the Libra . . . I've never seen anything like this."
"I have." Moon felt as everyone's attention switched to her. She fought to contain the screams of terror and despair that threatened her sanity as scenes of the Evil's wanton destruction played through her mind. "It's here."
"That . . . force?" Trowa sounded exactly like Duo.
"It's here, and it . . . it's going to kill everyone. Just like my home, my friends. Oh, please, make it stop. Make it go away . . ." She felt its horrible, oppressive darkness creeping out to surround her. Hideous, triumphant laughter tore at her mind like a thousand knives, and the dying screams of her loved ones echoed though her soul. Help me, please. Mamochan . . . * * *
A chill ran down Heero's spine as Sailor Moon began to cry. "There was no sort of warning. Nothing," he whispered. Relena, I'm glad you're not here to see this. Six satellites . . . how many dead is that? Too many. "Sailor Moon, any idea what its next move will be?" She didn't answer. "Sailor Moon!" He whirled around to face his newest teammate; the Crystal Gundam was curled up in a fetal position, and he could hear Moon's sobs all too clearly. That thing of hers is way too human-like. "Duo, watch my back." He snapped his helmet closed and, opening his cockpit, hurled himself out towards his . . . friend, for that was what she had become.
When he reached her, there wasn't really a cockpit to open! "Come on, you stupid thing, let me in!" At that, the covering of Sailor Moon's cockpit disappeared. He reached in and grabbed Sailor Moon. "Come on, snap out of it! You want this happen to you? You want this to happen to us?!"
At that, Sailor Moon opened her eyes and stared into his. Heero could see all of the self-hatred and doubt present there . . .
"It'll go for the rest of your surveillance and defenses, knocking them out one by one, until you're completely helpless. Then it will start devouring the outer colonies, working its way towards Earth. This monster will eat everything in its path, and none of your weapons can stop it. My crystal was able to hold it off, but only for a short time." Moon pushed him away, and her eyes flashed. Her voice was an icy monotone, as if she was reciting by rote. "If I'd had more power, or more help, more confidence . . . maybe I could have stopped it. I was the most powerful being in my universe, and not even I could defeat it. So what do you expect me to do here?"
"Then won't it go for you first?" The two looked over at Trowa, or rather, at Heavyarms. "Sailor Moon, you're the only one who can beat it, so it will want you out of the way."
"He's right," Heero muttered. In tactical planning, only Quatre was Trowa's better. "Can you sense anything?"
Sailor Moon shook her head and closed her eyes. "Nothing . . . wait." Her brow furrowed, and Heero leaned back as she concentrated. He could feel the others drifting nearer. "There's something . . . close. Hiding. It knows that I can barely feel it, and it's laughing at me. There!" Moon shoved Heero to the side and held out her hand. From the center of her palm, a blinding light shot toward Deathscythe.
"Hey!" Duo ducked; he didn't need to. The light streamed over his shoulder and hit a point behind him.
A horrible scream rang out, and a black shadow appeared. "What?!" Duo dove Deathscythe toward the rest of the team as it grabbed for him.
"Sailor Moon," growled Heero, "Will our weapons hurt it?"
"I don't know."
"Fine." Wing's laser sword appeared in one hand, and he lashed out at the dark figure; the shadow simply laughed, an empty, hollow sound, as the glowing weapon passed through. "Damn. Nothing. What now?"
As if on cue, hundreds of spinning drones began to shoot out of the shadow, aiming directly at the Gundams. "What the hell are these things?!" screamed Duo as he neatly cut one in two.
"I don't know!" cried Sailor Moon as she blasted three. "I've never seen them before! The Evil didn't use them in my universe!" No one responded; they were all too busy fending off the little mechs.
"Okay," gasped Quatre, "just get rid of them for now. If anyone can disable one for capture and study, do so. Spread out."
Heero wasted no time in destroying the many drones. It had been too long since he'd been able to shoot everything out and just destroy; it was strangely relaxing.
Heero.
The familiar voice flirted on the edges on Heero's mind. Where-?! He craned his neck around, trying to find the source.
Heero, I'm right here.
Behind me. He whirled around-
And froze.
Relena Peacecraft floated in space, her arms outstretched toward him. I'd lost you, Heero, my love. I had to search for so long, but I've finally found you again. Come back to me.
"Nn . . . no. You died." Heero desperately tried to reason with what lay before his eyes. He remembered the gunshot, and the scream that had ripped its path from his throat as he dashed to his fragile love. He'd seen the blood, so much blood, which poured from her open wound and dripped from the corner of her mouth. She was dead, killed by a madman able to sneak past his guard. Yet she stood there, wearing his favorite little sundress, a soft concoction of lavender lace that she'd worn on the day the gunman murdered her, that gentle, loving look in her eyes.
Stop fighting, Heero. I know that you don't want to fight anymore. You're so tired. Come to me and sleep. We'll sleep together for all eternity.
The self-destruct mechanism ascended before his eyes, and his right hand rose to hold it. That isn't my hand, is it? I don't want to die. I never told my hand to grasp the button. But . . . but it would be so much easier to simply let go and rest in Relena's arms. His fist tightened on the trigger . . .
* * *