VOSNYATVIVAV
(Train)
The white queen took the black horse.
"Your turn."
"Mmmm hmm." Vanguard nodded. "I must admit, Mr. Atrava, your skills in this game are impeccable."
The two sat in Atrava's parlor, playing chess. Vanguard rubbed his hand under his chin.
"I wonder how it is that you always beat me in this game."
"Heh." Atrava's pawn took a bishop. "For one thing, you are not Russian. We have many people who know their chessboards."
"Being one nationality should not assure that it has the advantage over others." Vanguard chuckled.
"Oh, but in some cases, it is true." Atrava snapped a finger. "Silvia."
"Da?"
"Chay" Atrava turned to Vanguard. "What would like, Mr. Vanguard?"
"Whatever you are having. Tea is fine."
"Silvia. Chays dva."
"I wonder what you mean, Mr. Atrava." Vanguard looked at Silvia as she left. "You wouldn't happen to mean the Stones….or should I say the Emeralds."
"That is exactly what I mean." Atrava looked up at him. "Your kind has the power to be immune to the more dangerous aspects of the Emeralds. You've been using them for years. The people of here," at this he waved his hand around the room, "These people have never known the power they hold. They're not used to being exposed to it, and their bodies shrivel up when they come in contact."
"As a matter of fact, I should know this." Vanguard nodded to the cloaked Green Monster, who simply nodded back. "One touch from my man over there, whose infected with the energy, and Earth people turn into limes. One actually died this week."
"A shame." Atrava didn't seem particularly sympathetic. "Like in chess. If you don't know what you're getting into, you're likely to get burned."
"Like chess?"
"Well, in a matter of speaking." Atrava nodded. "Let's think of ourselves as generals of opposing armies for my example. Our objective is to save the king and queen from each other. In order to achieve that mean, you must have cunning, you must have intelligence, and you must have ruthlessness when it comes to capturing as many of the opponent's people as possible. If you don't know the opponent well enough, then you will find yourself caught in their trap."
"An interesting observation." Vanguard smiled. "I have the feeling you are implying someone else with your theory. It wouldn't be me, would it?"
"Well…." Atrava snickered. "You can say I am implying a certain person. He should be extra careful when navigating my chessboard, or he's likely to be caught by my players."
The black queen took the bishop. Then the white pawns surrounded and took the queen. Checkmate for the king.
-----------------------
Usagi scratched her newly dyed hair. Being in disguise was slightly annoying, especially since the chemicals caused her scalp to itch like crazy.
Stop scratching. She glanced over at the group of men at a bench nearby as she put her hand down. They'll get suspicious.
"Privyet, Gaspaden." The man at the ticket station nodded. "Kakfar?"
"Dva na Svyatoy Kyasherosh."
The snow was beginning to fall on the crowds waiting for the train. Anonymous, his hair tied up and under his coat, waited quietly as he typed in a few words in the computer.
"Da." the ticket man nodded. "Imyetem dastatok na va. Emya?"
"Sanuu Hokuyoshi."
"Yaponya oto? Intyeresnay. Chiem emya droogoy?"
"Sanuu Keira."
Usagi heard the names, and understood that in Russia that was to be her name. Keira Sanuu. She made sure to memorize name. It feels so strange. Ever since he bandaged my hand up last night….I don't feel like a hostage. I feel like I'm a spy, and that Anonymous is my partner. And yet….
Usagi noticed the group of men looking at her again out of the corner of her eyes. She turned around to see them in full view, but found their heads turned down towards their newspapers.
I feel like those men are watching me here…
"Adabryenyeyoo vash pasport." The man nodded. "Platet."
Deftly, Anonymous took out the money and handed it to the ticket man, who spurted out directions in Russian as to how they could get to the platform. Finally, with a sigh of relief and an adjustment to his pack, Anonymous returned to Usagi's handing her a passport with her picture in it, as well as a white ticket.
"Don't lose these." Anonymous clasped her hand over the papers. "If you lose them, you will not be able to get through the checkpoints."
"Okay. Anonymous…."
"Yes?"
"I….don't feel safe here. I think those men over at that bench are staring at us."
"That's why we are leaving." Anonymous unclasped her hand and started to walk. "We are going to Saint Katharos."
"Saint Katharos?"
"A former Red Army base." Anonymous turned around and motioned for her to walk. "Several hundred miles east of St. Petersburg in the Crimea region."
"Is that where….." Usagi ran up to him, grabbing his hand. She didn't see Anonymous' face, which turned bright red, when she did this. "…the last Stone is?"
"No. At least I don't believe so." Anonymous shook his head as he felt his face heat up. "But there is something I must do, regardless. There is something I must know."
Usagi nodded as they waited in line to get on the train. Every minute that passes, it's so strange…I feel as if I can trust him again, just as I did that night in the museum. But…. She shuddered at the thought of the men. Even though we are walking away from them, it's almost like they are still watching…
----------------------
The phone rang in Atrava's room as Vanguard and Atrava looked up at it.
"That would be them." Atrava stood up and walked out of the room. "Wait in here. We'll have some news yet."
Vanguard's finger circled the rim of the teacup as Atrava's shadow disappeared.
"(There is something about that man.)"
"(Of course there is, my friend.)" Vanguard replied with a smile towards the Green Monster's cloak. "(It's called power. And he wants it.)"
"(That's not what I meant.)" The Green Monster's Mobian face showed his disgust. "(He seems like the kind of man who hates him as much as I do.)"
"(Patience.)" Vanguard pointed his thumb towards the door. "(If all goes well you may do with your hated nemesis as you please. But not yet. Not as long as I have any say with it.)"
"(You only care about the monetary value of this mission. You care nothing of my desires.)"
"(Now, that's not true. If I didn't care about you I would have simply left you to die.)"
The Green Monster's face visibly darkened at this, even under his cloak. However, he simply sat and said nothing more as Atrava re-entered the room.
"Our man is back in Russia. Figures he would return." Atrava smiled. "He thought he fooled us with leading us in Japan. He will see how wrong he truly was."
------------------------
Usagi watched as the plains of snow rolled by the train, her backpack next to her on the next seat. She gave a sigh as the snow began to accumulate the further away they got from Vladivistok.
He left a while ago. Usagi looked at her bag and took out her passport. She examined the carefulness and pains that Anonymous had taken to make the passport as authentic as possible. Oh, Mamo-chan. He is so strange. But I think I have touched something in him. I'm not sure how…
Usagi looked at her bandaged hand again as she thought this.
"You're right," Sailor Moon had shouted. "I didn't. Because I thought I could trust you to do the right thing. To tell me. But how do I know now what you think is the right thing?!"
But perhaps the right thing to me is not the same right thing to him. I still wish he would tell me what he is doing…and what is in that box.
After a few more moments of contemplation, she heard the door open. In came Anonymous, a bottle of peroxide and a wrap of bandage in his hand.
"It's been twelve hours…..I need to change your bandage."
"Ok."
Usagi held out her hand to him as he took out a pair of scissors and began to carefully cut off the older bandage.
"Ow." Usagi winced.
"Sorry about that. It's a large wound."
"No, you're stepping on my foot."
"Oh." Anonymous's face turned red when he realized she was right. "I'm sorry about that."
"That's ok."
The bandage came off, and the injury looked even worse than she thought it would. It had all sorts of colors in it - yellow, white, red, black. Usagi almost thought she could see her muscle through the bottom of the gashes, the place where Anonymous' knuckles….at least I think that's what they were…had lodged deepest.
"Damn." Anonymous gave a sigh, his face grim. "Your hand muscle's slightly ripped."
"It is?"
"Yes." Anonymous looked at it closely. "I'm going to have to see if there's a doctor on the train."
"Wait."
Usagi shook her head. With her good hand she took out her brooch and handed it to him.
"Take this."
"To the doctor?"
"No. Sit down. I have an idea."
"If it involves you turning in to Sailor Moon…"
"No." Usagi shook her head. "Just open it up."
Anonymous reluctantly did as she asked, and the Silver Crystal popped up.
"Take out the crystal, and hold it over my hand."
Anonymous carefully did so. Usagi nodded and closed her eyes. After a few seconds of nothing happening, Anonymous looked up from the crystal and up towards Usagi.
"Nothing's happening."
Usagi didn't reply. A flicker of white sparked from the crystal, electrocuting Anonymous.
"Aaah!!"
Anonymous jerked his hand away, but it didn't matter that he was no longer holding it; it was floating over Usagi's hand. A halo appeared around the crystal, illuminating the entire room.
"What….is this?" As Anonymous stared at Usagi, the moon sign appeared on her forehead. "Is this part of your power too…"
Suddenly, a ripple of pure magic energy shot out from the crystal, and as Anonymous shielded his eyes, he could see Usagi's skin wrapping around the gash. The small muscle strands unlaced and re-laced together, before being covered by the skin. Within the time frame of a few seconds, the hand was completely healed.
The light disappeared from the crystal, and the room became normal once more. With a sigh, Usagi fell back to the chair, huffing. Anonymous rubbed his head in confusion.
"Phew…." She gasped. "That took a lot out of me."
"You….you just…."
As Anonymous turned to comprehend the strange power, he noticed that his pack was glowing a green color. With a shout he quickly opened the pack and saw that the box had turned green.
"The Emerald!!"
"Huh?"
Anonymous opened the box and stared at the contents. The jewel was glowing brightly, and vibrating as it had never done before.
"What…..is it doing….but I can sense no power coming from it now."
"What is that?"
Usagi wobbly stood up and looked over Anonymous' shoulder in time to see the Heart of Hestia glow, then flicker and be still.
"The Heart of Hestia…." Usagi looked at Anonymous. "You stole it?"
Anonymous turned to her in surprise. It was obvious that he did not expect her to recover so quickly.
"………Yes."
"Is that what you're trying to protect from the enemy? The Heart of Hestia?"
Anonymous did not reply. Usagi bit her nails, hoping that she did not anger him as he put away the box.
"Please, Anonymous." Usagi decided to say something else after a moment. "I'm involved too. When you saved me, you brought me into your problems. So there's no going back. I've seen it. The Philosopher Stone. Am I right in saying that that's what it really is?"
There was still no reply. Usagi's head went down in frustration.
"They're not the Philosopher Stones." Anonymous' voice finally came out. "At least, that's not what they are known to the people of my world."
"Your world?"
"Yes."
"What are they known as in your world?"
"………….They are known as…………….Chaos Emeralds."
Anonymous wasn't so sure that telling the girl was the right thing; after all, it was his mission and he was supposed to be having her take the fall for it. Yet he could not deny her the information for some reason. It almost felt like he had to tell her.
"The most powerful gems in the universe. Bringing them together will result in power unimaginable to anyone here."
"Here on Earth?!? Is that…..in the box…..Anonymous! How did they get here?!?"
"They were always here," Anonymous replied. "At least, as far back as could be imagined. There is an old legend in your world, about the dinosaurs and a meteor. That is when I believe that they first were brought to Earth. It was the same for us, only ours came from further back."
Usagi looked down, then looked back up.
"Then that book…."
"Yes. When I concocted my plan to…" the word was hard to push out. "use one of you as my cover, I decided that the book would serve as an invaluable guide when we were together."
"But why are you so determined to take the Sto….I mean, the Emeralds? Is it because you desire power?"
"Hah." Anonymous gave a hard laugh. "Why would I be here if I could simply go into my backyard where I come from and dig one up? I would certainly not have even given this planet a second thought if I had been given any choice."
Usagi looked confused for a moment. The more she thought of his words, however, the more she began to figure out.
"Are you….someone who guards these types of Emeralds?"
"Yes. I am."
"So that's how you know so much about them."
"I do not know so much about them compared to others," Anonymous replied. "I only know what I have been taught, or what I have learned. I only know so much about the Emeralds of this world because I have seen them used in my world. And I know enough to have come to this realization: the Chaos Emeralds are very dangerous in the wrong hands. Which is what I am trying to prevent."
"Do you know who the enemy is? The people who are trying to gather the Emeralds."
"No. But it makes it all the more urgent. If the person acquiring the Earth Emeralds wants to unleash its power on this planet…which I think they do…."
Anonymous' voice trailed off at this. Usagi noticed fear jumping into his blue eyes.
"The people of this Earth are not used to being exposed to such power," he said softly. "That is why it is so urgent."
"I don't know….." Naru had shaken her head. "All I know is, I felt a scrape against my arm from this cloaked man, and that was about it."
"Thousands of people are beginning to come down with something that your doctors call 'emerald flesh' - people suddenly finding their skin changing color while experiencing flu-like symptoms, which escalates to symptoms similar to those that are associated with radiation sickness." The scenery whizzing by the train in the window began to look more foreboding to Usagi at this. "That is no radiation, or at least not ordinary radiation to you. It is the power of the Chaos Emeralds, brought onto their body. Perhaps in small doses the energy will not be harmful. But because humans have never been presented with the true power of the Emeralds their bodies are reacting violently to something they cannot get rid of. Eventually, all of those infected will die, their body no longer able to fight something they cannot possibly win against."
"So there is….no cure." The words tumbled out of Usagi like a bitter pill. "No way to save them."
"No." Anonymous looked out of the window. "I….did not wish to tell you because I knew that I would have to tell you this, and that your friend is also infected. But I will tell you this as well: the only ones affected were those associated with museums and jewelry stores."
Usagi looked at him, her face shocked.
"They thought Naru had the Emerald? And Ata Naritsu.."
"They sensed a special power in your country," Anonymous replied, "And they thought that the last Emerald was located there. When Hitler was defeated, the seven Emeralds were scattered onto each of the seven continents. They have yet to find the one hidden here, in Asia, but even I thought that it could be in Japan….though when I found nothing I did not understand. I used it to my advantage to try to fool those dark forces who were attracted to the power as well, but I still did not comprehend. Now, however, I know the power that attracted me to Japan. I learned its identity this morning."
"This morning…"
Usagi looked down at her brooch. She opened it up and looked at the crystal.
"My crystal."
"Yes." Anonymous looked at it as well. "I still do not understand completely, but it also caused the Emerald in my pack to react, though I don't know exactly how it did. Perhaps your crystal has a power that affects the Emeralds."
"A power to affect the Emeralds…" Usagi looked up at Anonymous. "Anonymous…."
"Usagi?"
"What is your real name?"
"My….real name?"
"Yes."
"It's not as good as yours," Anonymous replied without thinking.
"It isn't?"
"Umm…." Anonymous turned red again when he realized his mistake and covered his mouth. "I mean…."
"It's okay." Usagi smiled. "I find it nice that you like my name."
"…………well, if you truly must know….." Anonymous gave a smile. "My real name is Locke."
"Locke." Usagi silently memorized it as she repeated it. "I like it."
She turned back to look outside, unaware of Locke's face, which turned another shade redder at her comment. With a giddy smirk on his red face he turned to the window as well.
-----------------
Night came as Usagi and Locke sat down to dinner.
"This looks pretty….interesting." A bowl of stroganoff was placed in front of them. "Have you ever tried this, Locke?"
"Mmm-hmm."
Locke was looking out the window. Outside, the full moon glowed and reflected off of the snow-covered ground. He seemed engrossed with scenery, and he didn't hear Usagi's next questions.
"Locke? Are you ok?…..Locke?"
"OOBLYOODOK!!"
A loud crash threw Usagi's attention from Locke to a scene behind her. Two men had gotten into a large fight. One of the men had been thrown into a table, sending it crashing to the floor.
"My god!!"
"SVEN'YA SOVIETSKECH!!!" The man on the table screamed. "Nyennavlist na Atrava!!
"Petooch." The opponent smiled as he wiped the blood off of his face. "Tay platet."
Usagi watched in horror as two waiters jumped in and separated the bloody combatants. She turned to see if Locke had seen it, but was stopped when he saw him whispering to the waitress.
"Da…." he whispered. "Panimatyoo. Blagagavynost . "
The waitress quickly walked past to help break up the fight. Usagi turned to watch her go, then turned back to him.
"The fight," Locke replied, as he could tell that that was what she wondering about. "That fight was about chiem palyemika paletika. The controversy of politics."
"Controversy?"
"About a certain former Soviet." Locke looked at the two contenders as they were cuffed by the waiters. "A man who hails from the Crimea. The waitress tells me that he was the treasurer of the Communist Party and the Politiboro under Brezhnev. His supporters think he is a shoe-in for the presidency if he chooses to run, the savior of a Russia contaminated by about a decade of capitalism; others are saying that he is the devil, a leader of the Mafia in this country; and all around dangerous. That was the subject of the fight."
"And what," Usagi asked, "was his name?"
"The waitress tells me his name is Papu Atrava." Locke replied. Seeing the confused look on her face, he corrected himself. "I mean, Atrava Papu. I am still not used to last name first…I never had to deal with a last name before I came here."
The pro-Atrava fighter was escorted out of the exit that was nearest Usagi's. Usagi turned to face the man, and saw that he was already staring at her. He gave a little smirk as he was escorted away.
Huh?!? A tinge of fear crept up Usagi's spine. Wait a minute…no….it can't be….
"Locke."
"Huh?"
"That man."
"What about him?"
"The Vladivistok station. That group of men at the bench. He was one of them. And he gave me this look just now."
"Sweet God." Realization dawned on Locke. "We've got to get to our cabin."
-------------------
The snow in Vladivistok was becoming very intense. As a group of people waited to catch a plane, several others got off of a non-stop flight from Tokyo.
"They're gone." Rei looked around. "I don't sense Usagi anywhere here."
"But she is in Russia." Michiru looked at her mirror. "I can see it in my mirror."
Behind the group was Mamoru, who simply looked at the ground. The trip over had been very depressing for him. He could not get Usagi off of his mind, and he was frightened as to what could be of her.
Seeing that he was overly upset, Minako took his shoulder and patted it.
"Don't fret, Mamoru!" she smiled. "We'll find her and strangle the guy who kidnapped her! I mean, it can't be that hard to find him…after all, bla bla bla…"
Mamoru looked up despairingly, then gasped.
"And besides, he's got weird hair and-"
"Minako!"
Minako looked over and gasped as well. In the crowd was another strange creature that was staring at them, the same type of animal that had appeared in OSA-P. The difference was that this one had its arms crossed, and it wore a hat.
"Another weird creature!!" Minako whispered. "Hmm….."
Suddenly, the creature began to walk away.
"Hey!!" Minako began to run towards it. "Come back!"
"Minako!!" Mamoru shouted. "Wait!!"
Without another word, Minako left Mamoru and started to run towards it. The creature replied by running into another direction.
"Minako!!!" She could hear Haruka calling her.
"Don't follow it!! It's a trap!!!!" Ami shouted.
Minako shoved her way through a group of Americans and an old man as she chased the creature. Finally, she spotted him going into the women's bathroom.
"Oh no!!" she shouted. "You're not getting away from me!!"
She dove into the bathroom, ramming her head into the towel dispenser as she did. Shaking her head she saw a bright flash of light. The creature was opening a portal, and the power it was using caused the lights in the bathroom to go out.
"STOP!!!!!!!!!!!" Minako screamed.
The creature stopped, and turned to look at her.
"We let one of you get away in Japan, and we're not letting it happen this time!!!" Minako began to walk towards it. "You're going to tell us what you're doing here, and you're going to tell us now!!"
The creature didn't move as she advanced closer. It simply looked at her as she got close enough to touch it.
"Um….." Minako began to sweat. "Are you going to talk?"
The creature stared at her for another moment, then opened its mouth.
"Katharos."
"Huh? Um…." Minako laughed. "That's not my name!!"
"No, I know that." The creature haltingly replied. "It's Minako."
"HUH?!? Then what's Katharos?!"
"Figure it out for yourself. You and your friends are intelligent." The creature turned back around. "We've seen you from where we are - you can be strong when you need to."
"Well….what's yours?!?
No reply as the creature began to enter the portal. With a scream, Minako clenched her fists and screamed. It resonated throughout the bathroom.
"YOU ANNOYING……ANNOYING…..THIIIIIIING!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Hawking."
"WHAT??" Minako took a deep breath in order to restrain herself from ripping the creature apart. "WHAT……..IS…………THAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
"My name."
Suddenly, the creature dodged into the portal, and it closed, leaving a growling Minako on the floor, grabbing her hair.
"I……HATE………..PEOPLE……...WHO……..PLAY………WITH………MY……………MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!" She roared.
-------------------
Usagi grabbed onto Locke's hand as they quickly paced themselves towards their cabin.
"We're going to get our packs," Locke quickly took out the cabin key, "then we're getting out of here."
From the corner of her eye, Usagi could see the group of men following them. Their distance was about four cabins away.
"Dammit!" Usagi gasped. "They're following us!!"
"It's midnight, and this is the empty side of the cabin car." Locke quickly unlocked the door. "Get in, quick."
As quick as she could, Usagi stumbled into the cabin, falling on her knees. As Locke locked the door, she quickly took up her clothing and stuffed them all into her bag. She did the same with Locke's clothing (which he only had another change of) and also put her passport in the front pocket of Locke's pack.
BAM!!!
"Locke!!"
"It's the only way." Locke was smashing his hand against the window of the cabin. "They know we're here. There's no time!"
Indeed, Usagi could now hear knocking on the door, and shouting in Russian. She quickly put her pack on her back.
"What are they saying?!"
"They're asking if anyone is in here." Locke suddenly held out his hand. "Staff!"
The long staff appeared in his hand, and Locke flipped it over to unsheath the knife. With a mighty heave he struck at the window, causing it to crack.
"Lowhck!!" Usagi's heart froze when she heard the Russians calling out his name. "Lowhck!! Astanovka!!"
"Nnngh!!!!!" Locke threw all of his weight into breaking the window. "Damn you!!"
Usagi heard another sound from behind the door. This one was a popping sound. As the popping sound commenced, the lock on the door suddenly began to pop out.
A silencer. Usagi heard the window shatter, but she didn't move. They're going to get us.
"Usagi!!! Hold your breath!!!"
Usagi felt her hand being yanked by Locke, and without warning she was flying in the air, her back to the ground. She first saw the ceiling, then the expansive Russian sky, with the full moon in the middle. She took a deep breath as she saw little black dots shoot over her - bullets. Then, suddenly, she felt herself melting through something, and the next thing she saw was white.
--------------------
The men took shots at the figures, but it was too late. They had completely disappeared under the snow.
"Ne chooya syebyo pezda s zoobame!!" The leader motioned to his men. "He won't like this."
With that, the men quickly excused themselves from the room. They were going to be in enough trouble for losing their target and causing a fight. They didn't need anymore trouble from any eyebrow raiser that might be hanging around.
