Previously, On the Crystal Knight Chronicles:
When a alternate Negaverse, one that had invaded an Earth not our own and conquered it, burst into the Crystal Tokyo of our Universe, it forced the Crystal Tokyo Senshi to summon help. Their past selves arrived, along with Molly and Mina's boyfriend and the Senshi of the future were sent back in time.
A fierce battle ensued, culminating in the addition of one more team member. David, Mina's boyfriend. Who used the mysterious power of the Moon Crystal to become the Crystal Knight, the champion of the Moon Kingdom.
Also acquired during the battle was another Imperium Silver crystal which has given the Crystal Knight the powers of the other Senshi.
Molly was reunited with a Nephrite who had lost another Molly. He switched sides to save her life.
But the battle also induced near fatal Injuries to Mercury, forcing the Senshi to return to their time to seek Medical help. For if the Mercury of the past died in the future. The Time Line would be destroyed. But the Alternate Negaverse now has a gateway into our world and the conquest and Rape of one Earth has made them meaner, and fiercer.
Some months passed and then Lita and David traveled to Cape Canaveral, Florida to Stop the Negaverse from hijacking the World's only Cold Fusion Reactor. They succeeded with help from an Cursed being known only as Hunter, and Nephrite.
Lita also discovered a Locket. Which endowed her with a protective suit of armor. Upon returning to Japan, Amy's computer discovered a link from Lita's Locket, leading to other lockets...........
And the Senshi set out to find them.
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The Artic wastes.
The two figures moved through the slush. Both were dressed in heavy clothes and moved slowly, as though they were looking for something. Finally, one stopped, bent down and picked something out from under the snow. There was a blue flash of light and an armored figure stood there. The figure nodded to it's companion, and both vanished.
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A volcano somewhere in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The girl bounded down up the side of the volcano. She was dressed in a sleeveless blouse, a red short skirt and red high heels. She ducked as some lava spat out then reached up and caught something. There was a flash and an armored figure stood there. Turning, it bounded back down the hill until it reached it's companion. Then both vanished.
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Stonhengege, England
They looked like the other Tourists milling around. Two sisters and their father. The Blond one looked around, watching the people. The Black haired one simply watched, silent. The Brown-haired man followed a few steps behind them, his hands shoved casually in the pockets of his cream colored slacks. They followed the others and walked around the Attraction, before returning to the bottom of the hill. Here, they circled the hill, as though searching for something. Finally the blond dropped to one knee and scratched at the dirt, finally pulling up a locket on a chain. There was a flash, and an armored figure crouched where the blond had been. Then, all 3 vanished.
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The Vietnam Memorial
The same 3 people who only seconds before had been in England, now walked the length of the Vietnam Memorial. The other two now followed the Black Haired girl. Her eyes were mournful and sad, and she gazed at each name as though she knew each person, and perhaps she did. Who could say? They finally reached the end. The Black Haired girl paused and then pointed at a name. The Blond, tears forming in her eyes, laid a single red rose at the base. Then she bowed her head in Prayer. Finally, she raised her head and nodded.
The Black-Haired girl pressed her hand against the stone . . . into the stone . . . for several seconds, then drew her hand back, holding a locket. A flash, and an Armored figure stood there. The Man glanced at the name that had caused the Blond to cry as they vanished.
Ross Anio
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Big Ben
She looked like any other Tourist in the small group that walked along the catwalks inside the clock known as Big Ben. She slowly moved to the back. Then her hand snapped out, a flash, and the armored figure vanished.
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A Los Angeles Cemetery.
The 3 girls walked among the headstones. One had green hair, the second, blond, the third, white, although she was quite young.
They passed along the many graves, occasionally pausing every so often to admire one that was particularly artistic. The finally reached a tree. Here, the Blond and the Green haired one dropped to their knees and began frantically digging while the white haired one stood watch.
A gaurd noticed the activity and began hurrying towards them. Just as the two found the lockets. The White haired girl stepped back blew the gaurd a kiss, put her arms around each armored figure and all 3 vanished.
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A Loft Apartment in Tokyo
Lita Kino leaned back on the sofa, on the coffee table before her, 8 heart- shaped lockets lay, each a different color. 8 lockets, 9 Senshi. There was still one locket missing. Serena's.
The Lockets would only work for the scout they were made for. When Grasped firmly and willed to activate, they enclosed the Scout in a Protective suit of Armor. The Armor boosted Strength, protected against all but the most serious injury, and boosted their firepower. The locket for Sailor Moon was missing. Unlike the other's, there was no trail to follow. Which made it a mystery. Lita hated Mysteries.
There was also the question of where the lockets came from or why they were so compatible with their powers. Artimes and Luna had no memory of the Senshi ever having used Armor, but then again. They had only been Advisors. Serenity had many secrets she had never shared with them. The Armor could have been one of them. Amy looked up from her computer.
"I'm done."
"So what are they?"
"David's theory is quite correct. The Lockets are fully compatible with our powers. Not only do they provide considerably more protection then our regular uniforms, they allow us to pump considerably more punch into our attacks. That, and they grant us the power of flight. I won't bore you with all the capabilities but we may consider them an addition to our Arsenal. With the Inhabitants of Negaverse 2, as David has dubbed them, evidently on the attack, and as they are considerably more violent then Negaverse 1."
"Yeah, but we still can't rule out Negaverse 1 as a threat." Said Raye. David nodded.
"We must also consider the possibility that the Negaverses have made an alliance."
"What?" Raye stared hard at him. "How?"
"We know they have inter-dimensional capability. I've consulted.....an expert and he tells me that there is a high probability that contact has been made." Mina groaned.
"You didn't."
"I had to. This is his area of expertise."
"What did you tell him?"
"I asked him what the chances were that two different universes, both with Inter-dimensional capability had of making contact with each other. He said somewhere in the neighborhood of sixty to seventy-five percent that they would."
"Who are you guys talking about?" Lita was confused. Mina sighed softly.
"Pray you never find out." She said. "Pray hard."
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Charwar....
Rini's hands clenched into fists. The Steward cringed.
"Please Mistress." He said, cringing. "I brought you the best in the cellar. It's not my fault that the wine was contaminated. Please Mistress, have mercy."
"Mercy?" She laughed. "Martin." Martin lunged forward and turned the steward into bloody shreds. A bit of blood landed on her cheek. She wiped it off with her finger then licked the blood off. Mmmmm.
"The wine wasn't actually contaminated." She said to the bloody remains of the corpse. "I was just bored." She took a sip. "I will be on the tower. When Sephulcus arrives, send him to my workshop."
"Yes Mistress." Chorused the servants.
Up on the tower she set the glass on a table put there for that purpose.
Eons ago, Charwar had burned off it's asmotsphere, and drained the sun. Above her, the stars glowed brightly like jewels. Below her the towers and bridges of Neo-Sta rCharwa City stretched out towards the mountains. She looked back up to the stars. Then on the horizon, a ringed planet slowly rose into view. Theories abounded as to what it was. Some said it was the planet that Charwar orbited. Others claimed the reverse. Others worshipped it. Prayed to it. Rini cared nothing for theories. She dealt in facts.
She knew what that ringed planet really was. The Alien Intelligence called Queen Metallia. Who even Seekay answered to. But the Queen had been silent for years.
She would have figured Seekay had killed her too except she had been silent since Beryl's death. Now that was a thought. Could Beryl have been an Avatar of Metallia and her death could have caused a backwash that had blown whatever it was Metallia had for a mind? On the other hand, Father had killed Beryl on Seekay's advice, so however you looked at it, Seekay had killed the Queen.
But was the queen really dead? That thought sent her to thinking about Lady Hotaru Saturn. She shook her head. She didn't need to think about her. She wasn't afraid of Saturn, even if that gaze of hers was unnerving.
What was happening to her world?
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Tokyo, Serena's school.
Lita pulled her Harley to a stop in the Parking lot. She was still thinking about the lockets and hers was a cold touch against her skin under her school uniform. The Senshi had been together until very late last night. Finally, they had decided on a training session on old abandoned farm North of the City. They had to start learning the armor. David and Serena would stay on the sides, using Amy's computer to correlate the Data.
She was no techie. She would be the first to admit that she wasn't the brightest bulb in the socket, but even she knew enough to point out that the lockets were not Moon Kingdom manufacture. Her own memories of the Moon Kingdom suggested a technology based more on crystals and Plant fibers. The armor was high-tech, grade-A technology. Super-science. She sighed as she pulled off her helmet. Amy was "home in bed with the flu" She was going to link her hand computer to her Armor's on board computer and see if she could get anything out of the software. It was a tribute to Amy's curiosity and sense of duty that she would willingly miss a day of class.
The day dragged on endlessly. Their friends noticed that all the Senshi seemed nervous and edgy. They tended to be snappish and withdrawn. Serena was actually awake all through class, running on Nervous energy. She couldn't think about school. Strangely enough, she got an A on her math test.
At lunch time, Melvin and Molly were eating lunch together. Melvin, in one of his more perceptive moments, noticed that Molly seemed edgy and withdrawn.
"Hey Molly, are you ok?" Melvin sounded concerned, though his face was well-hidden by his glasses.
"It's nothing Melvin. I'm just worried about Maxsfield." Molly picked at her lunch with her fork. Boiled cabbage was not one of her favorite foods normally, and today she seemed even more disgusted with it.
"Why should you be worried? The guy's rich, and probably has dozens of bodyguards." Melvin sounded annoyed. He was, actually. Since Maxsfield's return, Molly had been paying him less and less attention.
Charwar
Rini looked up from the remains of her latest lover. Completely ignoring her blood-spattered state of nudity, she walked over to the balcony doors and opened them, sinking gracefully to one knee in obedience to the being waiting outside her rooms.
"I live to serve, my lord."
Seekay's hood tilted forward slightly, and she could feel the chill of his gaze sweep her body.
I see you have been up to your usual games. If you were a little more patient, you would be able to have your playmates around for a few more times before they become useless. Seekay's voice, oddly resonating, echoing, metallic and cold, chilled Rini to the bone, making her wonder, briefly, just what he looked like under that robe and hooded cloak. She said nothing, waiting for him to speak.
I have a task for you.
Seekay walked . . . no, drifted into the room, the eerie silence of his movement, plus the faint images of him that seemed to appear before and after him, making the hair on the back of her neck stand straight on end. Seekay seemed to gaze briefly at the bloody flesh upon her bed, taking note of the knives, leather restraints, the giant roll of duct tape, and three- foot trout. The hood turned back towards her where she knelt, watching him, the faint gleam of light where she assumed his eyes were directly focused on her.
"Experimenting, my Lord."
Of course. Rini nearly lost track of him in surprise, for once, his tone had actually almost had a rather dry, sarcastic tone to it.
Put your toys away, I have a task for you. Seekay gestured towards the trout, and in that brief movement, Rini caught sight of some of what was under that robe, and the chill of light upon black metal was more than enough to satisfy that curiosity of hers.
I am not going to ask why that object in particular, but is all the elaborate . . . equipment truly worth it?
"One must be adventurous, my Lord."
Garb yourself, and remove your toys. I wish for your full attention.
Rini snapped her fingers, instantly removing her toys and what was left her playmate. A pity, really, she hadn't quite finished yet. She debated briefly about a bath and trying to put on a tease show for him again, but decided against it. She'd had bruises for almost a year after the last time she had done that. Not that it hadn't been enjoyable, but that was a bit rougher than she preferred to play, and she liked being the dominant one . . . And that all throughout that time, he had repeatedly said, "You are not her!", whatever that meant. That and having the lights off all the time bothered her, for some reason. . . . and it had felt so . . . familiar . . .
In less than a second, she was garbed in the now-familiar uniform that covered her from neck to foot that he preferred her to wear in his presence. She walked over to the liquor cabinet, opening the door before turning to Seekay. He was now sitting in a chair on the other side of the room from where he had been standing. A shiver ran up her spine. She had not heard him move. At all.
"Would you care for some refreshment, my Lord?"
Yes.
"As you wish, my Lord." She had quickly mixed the drinks and was soon sitting across from him, carefully avoiding looking at him directly. Each time her glance skittered across the room and back to him, the level of drink in his glass had gone further down. She had soon learned that watching his glass proved nothing, as it would only be drunk while she was not looking. And that being denied his food and drink made him . . . cranky.
You must challenge the Crystal Knight. Rini stared at Seekay in shock, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"M-my Lord!?"
You heard me clearly enough. You must challenge the Crystal Knight in one-on-one combat. Before this night sees it's end .
She looked into her glass, trying to think. It wasn't that she was afraid, it was that even unskilled as he was, he was still an opponent not to be underestimated.
"But how will I draw him out of hiding? We have not the slightest idea who he really is! All we have is his first name." It was after the words left her mouth that Rini remembered that they had his face as well.
Taunt him. Tell him you have Sailor Moon's locket . . . I will have the Senshi here as an additional lure.
Rini wisely decided to not ask how he would do that. She looked up from her glass, only to notice he was not in his seat any longer before feeling his hands, if hands they were, grip the back of her chair, the wood splintering from the strength of his grip. Her body tensed, a tension she had felt often, and knew well. Indeed, she had felt it earlier, just before she had Sephulcus help her take care of it. She froze, not moving, staring directly at the wall across from her. Surprisingly, she felt him lower his head, the hood brushing against her hair as his face grew close to her ear. A silent moan tried to pass her lips, a slow heat beginning to build within her. Gods, he was so dangerous. She nearly jumped out of her skin when one of his hands wrapped itself around her chin and throat. She could just barely see the gleam of the chill black metal from the corners of her eyes, her breath beginning to come in short gasps as the contrast between the cool metal made her flesh heat even more.
Know this: Win, and your rewards will know no measure. Lose, and you will wish that the suffering he would have inflicted on you as he tore you apart inch by inch had happened instead of your return to my hands. She gripped the chair arms, trying to keep herself from displaying any effect he was having on her. It didn't help that her uniform seemed incredibly tight and confining or that the temperature was soaring.
Suddenly, both hand and hood were gone, and a faint click announced the opening of the balcony doors again.
Oh, yes . . .one more thing. Attempt to enter my mind again, and the consequences will be.....grave. The balcony doors slammed closed, leaving her to writhe on the chair, moaning, as the heat within her exploded forth.
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Earth, that Night.
The door to what had once been a barn swung open and Jupiter stepped in silently. To her, the room was lit up nicely as the helmet's light amplification equipment did it's work. She began a search of the room, and never saw the Negaverse soldiers until they tackled her from behind.
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David groaned. He had come down with stomach flu in the middle of class and had to be sent home. At least Thad was on that school trip to Hong Kong along with mom and dad had to fly to Australia. So he was alone. Absently, he picked up some toast and took a bite. As he chewed, he wondered how the tests were going.
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Jupiter woke up to immense pain. Opening her eyes, she saw that her arms were chained to the wall over her head. The room was dimly lit, beside her she saw Mars, Venus, Mercury, Uranus, Neptune, and Sailor Moon, who was tied up and dumped on the floor along with their helmets. Jupiter nudged the closest scout, who happened to be Mercury.
"Pssst! Mercury!"
"Wha?" Mercury slowly opened her eyes. "Ju-Jupiter?"
"Yeah." Jupiter looked around, but her eyes were unable to penetrate the gloom. "Where are we?"
"Dunno." Mercury's head sagged, and her eyes closed. Jupiter began scheming to take her mind off the pain in her arms.
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David set the phone down on the cradle and frowned. Something was wrong. No connection to Mina's pager and Amy's cell phone was the same. At that moment the TV came on, there was the Black Lady. She was wearing solid black armor.
"People of Tokyo, Japan. I am the Black Lady. This is a message for the Crystal Knight." The Camera pulled back to show Sailor Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Neptune and Uranus. All were tied up and gagged. "I have your precious Senshi. I also know where Sailor Moon's Locket is. If you want them, come and Get them. I'll be at the docks, until first light.....Once I see the sun rise...." She laughed maniacally and the picture vanished.
Gritting his teeth against the nausea, David reached for his pants. This might be a trick, but he couldn't take the chance. For Mina, he would go knock on the Gates of Hell itself. Then his eyes fell on his computer.
One stop to make before the fight.
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Jupiter watched the Black Lady pace. She was wearing armor that resembled the Senshi's own Armor, but it was solid black and had stiletto high heels. She carried a helmet under her arm and her hair was tied into a bun.
"What do you really want?" Jupiter asked.
"I want the Crystal Knight to be here, so I can kill him." The Black Lady set the helmet down on a crate, evidently tired of carrying it.
"You haven't been able to beat him yet!" Venus piped up. "You've failed, blundered, screwed up, and completely buggered."
Venus felt her neck pop as the Black Lady's metal shod hand connected with her cheek, snapping her head to the right. She tasted blood. Narrowing her eyes, she spat the blood into the Black Lady's face.
"Go to hell." Venus snarled. "Go to hell with your head between your legs! It's about the only thing that hasn't been there!" The world exploded in stars and Venus blacked out.
Rini smirked, watching the blood dribble down the Venus brat's face. As Mercury watched in disgusted horror, Rini leaned forwards, and oh so delicately, licked the blood from Venus's cheek. A look of dark pleasure crossed her face as she straightened and caught Mercury's look of horror and disgust from the corner of her eye. A sly smile crossed her face, and as she turned away, she purred, just loud enough for Mercury to hear, "It's such a pity it cools so fast outside the body, but then, a living vessel does hold a certain carnal touch . . ."
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David, his face grim, finished the last bit of tape on the box. The Fedex office would be open for the next three hours, so he had plenty of time to get there. Conrad would know what to do with the information, as David had a feeling that, this time, he wouldn't be coming back. David snorted, leaning back against the chair. He had that feeling every time, and sometimes thought it was the knight trying to get him killed.
"Conrad, you S.O.B., you'd better appreciate all the trouble this is gonna get me in trouble for."
He thought about that for a second.
"Actually, can't be worse than anything you got me in trouble for when you were actually involved."
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The Black Lady eyed the watch built into the gauntlet of her armor. 9PM. Where was he?
As though in answer, wood crunched behind her. Turning she saw the Crystal Knight standing on a pile of boxes in a fighting crouch. The Lance in his hand looked hungry for blood.
"So you decided to come and face me." She said as her helmet flew into her hands. "How nice."
"You didn't leave me much of a choice." He shot back. The Black Lady simply smirked as she put the helmet on. She held her hand out and small rod formed. Grabbing it in both hands she twisted it and it extended to it's full 6 foot length. Then she took her own fighting stance. Overhead, lighting flashed and the wind picked up. It was like the silence before a grand symphony.
"Ready when you are." She said softly. The Knight's visor simply glowed.
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The Thunder, though it was coming from overhead, seemed distant to Mars' ears. Her attention was focused on the two armored forms before her. One was a massive suit of Armor. Red and black in color, crouched in a fighting position on a stack of wooden crates, the lance in his hands gleaming brightly as the lightning flashed. The other was decidedly female. Her Armor was black as the blackest night. She stood before the crates in a fighting stance, a fighting pike in her hands. Both were as still as statues, each waiting for the other to show some sign of wavering, some sign of weakness that this staring contest of theirs was coming to a close.
Then it happened. Afterwards, Mars could never tell who moved first, but suddenly the Knight was crouched where the Black Lady had been only moments before, the blade of his lance buried in the side of a wooden crate. The Black Lady was standing on another pile of crates.
The Knight pulled the lance free and stood up, turning to face her. They both stood, unmoving as statues, staring at each other across the gap of space of between them.
Then the Black Lady was in the air, the pike whistling as it came down only to be stopped the Knight's Lance.
Then they circled each other, pike and lance clanging together again and again.
Raye moved her wrists experimentally. They bonds that held them tight were loosening. For a moment she couldn't figure it out until she remembered that the Negaverse's powers were psionic in nature...with the Black Lady having to concentrate on her fight, her attention on holding the bonds was wavering, if it wavered enough, they might be able to get free-of course, might was the operative word there.
She started when she felt a quiet tapping on her forearm armor. It took her a moment to realize it was Morse Code. Jupiter had taught it to them when she joined up.
This is Jupiter. Raye checked to see if anyone was watching them. But the Negaverse soldiers we're too busy watching the fight.
Keep quiet. She cautioned, then got right to the point. The bonds are loosening.
I know. I can almost get my hands loose. There was a pause. Any ideas on what to do once we're free?
No. Raye thought for a minute. Ask Mercury. She's the tactician.
On it. Time dragged by while Jupiter and Mercury held a short conversation. Finally, she felt the tapping again. Mercury's sure that the fight is moving away from us.
The Knight is giving us a chance to make our escape then.
Or The Black Lady is in retreat.
Either way, now's our chance. Mars looked over at the soldiers who were moving further and further away to keep the two combatants in sight. Okay, here's the plan. As soon as they're on the far side of the dock, break the bonds. Then we make a mad dash for our helmets and take out the soldiers.
What about the Black Lady? Jupiter asked
Let the Knight worry about her for now. We have to get free and take out the soldiers.
Gotcha. Mars sat back and waited for the bonds to loosen.
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Mars dusted off her hands. It had almost been too easy.
"That was way to easy" Said Uranus, giving voice to everyone's thoughts.
"Yeah." Venus looked around. "So what do we do now?"
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The Knight dived out of the way, slamming into a fire hydrant. as an energy blast punched through the wall of the bank. He struggled to his feet only to be slammed through the wall by a small car.
"No problem, folks." He said to the startled customers who had been lined up at the ATM. "No Problem whatsoever." With that he launched himself out the hole and tackled the Black Lady, pinning her.
"Give this up." He said. "There's little point in a fight like this." She laughed, the laugh of one who could care less about her own skin.
"The Master wished for me to challenge you." She said in a strange voice and slugged him, her fist sliding off his helmet. She snarled, her hands crackled and the Knight found himself flying through a parked car and into a restaurant in the process of being remodeled. Fortunately, nobody was there. But the impact did rupture a gas line and the entire structure exploded, raining debris across three blocks in every direction.
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The Senshi arrived on scene in time to get hit by the debris. Behind her, Venus could hear Uranus utter an oath as a two by four hit her.
"So we're here. What now?" Everybody looked to Sailor Moon who just shrugged, she had no idea either. Venus finally spoke up.
"We need a better viewpoint." She took off at a run for the nearest skyscraper. As she closed in her boot-jets began firing in bursts, causing her to move in short leaps, then as she was about to hit the wall, they roared to life, sending her eighty stories straight up. The others copied her, Jupiter pausing only to scoop up Sailor Moon before joining the others.
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The Black Lady stood there as the debris fell around her. Her eyes were glued strictly to the burning remains of the restaurant. Her hand tightened and loosened as she waited. The fight wasn't over, not by a long shot. Finally, a figure emerged from the flames, his armor red hot and covered in soot. Slowly, he dusted himself off.
"Now, I'm annoyed." With that, he grabbed the car he had gone through and hurled it at her. She leaped out of the way and swung her pike at him. She would win.
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The Senshi bounded from rooftop to rooftop, following the fight as the combatants left behind a trail of debris, burning cars, and badly damaged buildings. Not to mention the bodies.
"The cost of rebuilding after this over is already in the multi-millions!" Mercury noted as she richoted off an A/C unit.
"Well gee," Snapped Uranus sarcastically, "Perhaps you're thinking we should pay for the damage we've caused!"
"Hardly." Mercury retorted. "I'm just commenting on the damage and that perhaps, as civilians, we could assist in the cleanup."
"Not a bad idea." said Mars "Of course, it would mean Serena actually does some work."
"Traitor!"
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The Knight bounded down the street, a task made difficult because he had to move backwards to keep the Black Lady in view. Her blasts were causing most of the damage, and had already killed quite a few people. The next one knocked him off his feet and sent him sprawling, the lance flying out of his hand. The next thing he knew, the Black Lady was on his chest, clawing at his helmet and his face.
This was not good. His hands crackled and she went flying. With a slight groan, the Knight got to his feet and retrieved his lance, noting that they were moving towards Cherry Hill.
Then a car came sailing towards his head.
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The Black Lady sagged against the A/C unit, the pike across her legs. She hurt in places she didn't know it was possible to feel pain in. All in all, it was a memorable experience.
She turned her hand, palm up. Energy from the emitters crackled across her fingers, causing her hand muscles to contract all at once and then release in sporadic intervals. She supposed it was some small comfort that the Knight was hurting as bad as she was. Too bad he wasn't hurting worse.
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The Knight flexed his own fingers. The armor was heavy, he was sore, and all he really wanted to do was sleep. He looked around. The roof was dotted with Heating and A/C units, Satellite dishes, and other machinery.
"Rini!" He bellowed out. "I know you're on this roof Rini!"
"Whaydda want?" Her voice came echoing back. It was impossible to tell where she was.
"This fight is getting old Rini!"
"So?"
"So we need to end it. Now. One way or another."
"What do you suggest?" She sounded as weary as he was.
"I was hoping you had a suggestion!" A short laugh was heard.
"That's a good one!"
"There has to be a way we can end this." The Knight moved his head back and forth, trying to block out the echoes. Rini was also moving, he was sure about that.
Finally, he leaned against an A/C unit taller then he was. Then he sensed a presence on the other side of the unit.
"Hello Rini." Tensing in case she decided to try a sneak attack, but no attack came, and the knight relaxed without letting his gaurd down.
"Hello." She sounded like she was hurting and he could hear the slight crackle of energy.
"Quite a night huh?"
"Yeah." There was a pause. "I'm not making nice with you, you know."
"Do you even know what the word 'nice' means?"
"I did,.....once." She almost sounded like a little girl again.
"You must have had a strange childhood." The Knight said, hoping to get her talking. But her only response was a short, barking laugh.
"Sorry metal man, I'm not letting you do that to me." Oh well, he had tried.
"We're too evenly matched with you in that armor."
"Yeah, I know. Get to the point."
"Any chance I can talk you into a surrender?"
"Nope."
"I was afraid of that." He said dryly, eliciting what sounded like a strangled giggle from her.
"Any chance you'll surrender to me?" He could almost her pleading with him to say yes in her voice.
"No." He said quietly. "I can't do that. I don't surrender.....it's just not me."
"Oh." Silence. "Then we're just going to have to kill each other."
"I can't see any other option." Mentally, he prepared himself. "On the count of three then?"
"Yeah." He could hear her take a deep breath. "One"
"Two." Both tensed.
"Three!" The knight swung around the unit to be slammed into by the Black Lady, the impact forced him backwards at high speed, slamming through anything in their paths.
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On the Street below, the Senshi skidded to a stop. Behind them, lay a trail of rubble and they could hear Ambulances, police, fire engines and helicopters arriving on scene. Their gaze drifted up in time to witness a pair of armored forms fly off the roof of a skyscraper, locked in Mortal combat. Even from where they were standing, the Senshi could see that their hands were locked together and crackling with energy.
Survival instinct kicked in and catapulted the Senshi back as the two forms slammed into the street causing a minor earthquake that registered at 3.0 on the Richter scales that were still working and punching a decent sized crater in the pavement. The energy from their hands dissipating in a bright flash.
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The Knight groaned as he got to his feet. Readouts hovered in front of his eyes. Everything was haywire. He cringed as a power surge arced through the armor's superstructure. He desperately needed to change back. But he didn't dare. Not now. Then Venus and Jupiter were there, holding him up as the others approached the crater where the Black Lady still lay.
"Is she dead?" Asked Mars, fire rippling around her hands.
"Doubtful." The Knight made a noise that sounded like a cough. "If I survived, so did she. That armor made her my equal." Uranus nodded and stepped into the crater. Slowly, ready for anything, she reached for the helmet catches, and the helmet rolled away as she touched it.
"What the?" She yelled.
"It's empty!" Yelled Sailor Moon. Then Uranus was blown out of the crater. While Neptune ran to help her lover, the others turned to see the Black Lady hovering not five feet away. She now wore a black jumpsuit with matching gloves.
"You teleported out of your armor just before impact." The Knight said as his field dampers managed to lock down the power surges and re-route around the damaged systems.
"Very good." She said, her eyes wild. "NOW DIE!" She screamed as her hands glowed and erupted white-hot flame at them. The Senshi dodged and the flames missed them all, roaring past them to vanish over the crater.
Then there was a crackling noise, a whoosh and the air over the crater cracked wide open, spilling forth a brilliant orange light.
"What the hell is it?"
"It's a dimensional rift!" Mercury yelled. "It must have been caused by the impact and then given fuel by that last blast! It's running out of steam though and should be gone in a few minutes!"
The Knight looked from the rift to the Black Lady, then back again. He knew what he had to do. It was the only option. With that, he grabbed the Black Lady and threw her into the rift. Then he made ready to follow.
Venus grabbed his arm. "What do you think you're doing?" It hurt him, but he shook her off.
"You heard Mercury, the rift will seal itself soon. If she manages to make her way back before it does, we're toast. I love you Mina." With that, he leapt into the rift. Seconds ticked by and then they heard a terrified scream and a loud snap.
"That was David's voice!" Mina screamed and leapt after him, but the rift had already closed and she landed on the Black Lady's armor. Then the only sound besides sirens was her scream of pain.
--------------------------------
Somewhere, somewhen else......
Rini shrugged back into her jacket, but left it unbuttoned. Seekay was going to be furious with her. Seekay....she paused as everything fell into place and she began to laugh. So that's who he was. She was still laughing when Seekay's hand wrapped around her neck and brutally snapped it.
--------------------------------
Earth, the next morning......
The Wheelchair plummeted from the top of the cliff to crash onto the rocks and then into the sea. Raye watched it fall then turned back to where Amy was making a call to the police on her cell phone. Wordlessly she handed it to Raye who steeled herself. She heard it ring twice before it picked up.
"Tokyo 15th precinct. Sargent Li speaking."
"I need help, a friend of mine just fell off a cliff!" A few more minutes of panicked chatter ensued before Raye hung up. That had to have been the best bit of acting she had done in her life. Now all they had to do was keep the cover story straight. She was not looking forward to lying to David's family. None of them were.
--------------------------------
One week later......
Mina stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her, narrowly missing Artemis. For a moment she stared at herself in the mirror, she was still dressed in black from David's funeral.
For a moment she stood there, then suddenly, she whirled around, ripping off her locket and hurling it at the wall, the transformation pen and communicator followed. Then she turned her face to the sky.
"Why?!" She screamed. "Why did you have to take him?!" Tears began streaming down her cheeks. "Well you know what? I reject you! I don't believe in you anymore! I never will again!" Then she stared out the window at the moon, visible in the afternoon sky. "The same for you Serenity! I don't care anymore! Venus is dead! You hear me? DEAD!" With that, her shoulders slumped and she collapsed in a ball on the floor, crying with tears that no longer came. Silently, Artemis collected locket, pen and communicator and placed them into the folds of the blanket that made up his bed. Then he went to her and began purring, trying to comfort her.
Three more days passed. The others had begun to get worried. Mina had not returned any of their calls, and Luna had heard squat from Artemis. It was for that reason that Serena, Amy, Lita and Raye put together a picnic basket and headed over to Mina's to administer the best remedy for a broken heart; ice cream and girl talk.
Mina's mother answered the door. "Hello girls, Mina's up in her room." She said cheerfully, but Raye noticed that she had dark circles under her eyes and worry was etched across her face.
The four girls made their way down the hallway and stopped at Mina's room, noting it had been covered in black construction paper. That set off danger signals in Raye's head. Serena reached out and rattled the door. It refused to budge. Lita narrowed her eyes, then spun and lashed out with a powerful side thrust kick, breaking the lock and slamming the door open. Artemis came racing out, panting and gagging. A stench reached their nostrils.
Lita entered first. "Blimey!" She gasped, using an expression that David had often used. The others crowded in and stopped cold. The room, once bright and cheery had been redecorated in black. The sole light in the room came from a red light bulb, creating an appearance of the room being filled with blood. Mina was on her knees in front of her dresser, the top decorated with a shrine to David. Mina was a total mess, it was obvious she hadn't bathed or changed her clothes since the funeral. From the stench, the girls weren't sure she had left to use the bathroom all that frequently either.
"Dear God!" Amy choked out. Mina looked at them, then collapsed. Amy raced to her while Serena ran to find Mina's mom to call an ambulance.
The Paramedics arrived within minutes, took one look and hauled Mina out as fast as they could. The cops arrived seconds later, took one look and slapped down a Board of Health advisory on the place.
--------------------------------
Three weeks later.......
Mina awoke to find herself in a bed she didn't recognize. It was a hospital. Why would she be in a hospital? Then the three days after the funeral came back to her. She groaned, eliciting a puzzled "wha?" from across the room. Mina sat up to see Raye curled up on a hospital chair.
"Raye?"
"Mina! You're awake!" Raye quickly crossed the room and gave Mina a hug before running to the door and calling for the doctor. Mina lay back and endured a battery of pokes and prods by doctors.
Then the rest of the Senshi came in followed by her family. More hugs ensued until the nurse finally ordered everyone out.
Another week passed and Mina was finally allowed to go home. Her room was the same as it had been a month ago. The light was still red, and everything was still covered in black, but it had been cleaned and disinfected. On the desk was her scout pen, locket, and communicator. Mina looked at them and swept them into her desk drawer. She still meant it. Venus was dead.
Behind her, her mother and Lita stood in the doorway.
"So what do you think?" Asked Lita. "We all pitched in to clean this place up."
"It's nice." Mina said softly. She was still weak as a kitten. She knew they were expecting a smile, but she just couldn't do it.
Lita went to the desk and picked up a jewelry box.
"This wasn't here when we came in." She said.
"What's in it?" Asked Mrs. Anio. Lita opened the box.
"There's just a note. It says 'promises to keep'" Mina raised her eyes to the ceiling.
Maybe she had been wrong to say what she had said......
Epilogue
Forest Hills, Queens, New York. Three weeks earlier.............
He opened the box and studied the contents, five envelopes of paper, four CD's, three laser discs, two Syquest Gigadrive cartridges,
"And a partridge in a pear tree." He said softly then laughed. Now what could his cousin have sent him?
He picked an envelope at random and opened it. Pictures and notes fell into his hands. His eye brows shot up. "Well now. This is interesting."
With that, he settled back to read.
"First One A has been terminated. First one B now in place and beginning development."
"And what of Second One?"
"Still dormant. Initial steps for activation have been received by Second One."
"Calculate period until activation."
When a alternate Negaverse, one that had invaded an Earth not our own and conquered it, burst into the Crystal Tokyo of our Universe, it forced the Crystal Tokyo Senshi to summon help. Their past selves arrived, along with Molly and Mina's boyfriend and the Senshi of the future were sent back in time.
A fierce battle ensued, culminating in the addition of one more team member. David, Mina's boyfriend. Who used the mysterious power of the Moon Crystal to become the Crystal Knight, the champion of the Moon Kingdom.
Also acquired during the battle was another Imperium Silver crystal which has given the Crystal Knight the powers of the other Senshi.
Molly was reunited with a Nephrite who had lost another Molly. He switched sides to save her life.
But the battle also induced near fatal Injuries to Mercury, forcing the Senshi to return to their time to seek Medical help. For if the Mercury of the past died in the future. The Time Line would be destroyed. But the Alternate Negaverse now has a gateway into our world and the conquest and Rape of one Earth has made them meaner, and fiercer.
Some months passed and then Lita and David traveled to Cape Canaveral, Florida to Stop the Negaverse from hijacking the World's only Cold Fusion Reactor. They succeeded with help from an Cursed being known only as Hunter, and Nephrite.
Lita also discovered a Locket. Which endowed her with a protective suit of armor. Upon returning to Japan, Amy's computer discovered a link from Lita's Locket, leading to other lockets...........
And the Senshi set out to find them.
--------------------------------
The Artic wastes.
The two figures moved through the slush. Both were dressed in heavy clothes and moved slowly, as though they were looking for something. Finally, one stopped, bent down and picked something out from under the snow. There was a blue flash of light and an armored figure stood there. The figure nodded to it's companion, and both vanished.
--------------------------------
A volcano somewhere in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The girl bounded down up the side of the volcano. She was dressed in a sleeveless blouse, a red short skirt and red high heels. She ducked as some lava spat out then reached up and caught something. There was a flash and an armored figure stood there. Turning, it bounded back down the hill until it reached it's companion. Then both vanished.
--------------------------------
Stonhengege, England
They looked like the other Tourists milling around. Two sisters and their father. The Blond one looked around, watching the people. The Black haired one simply watched, silent. The Brown-haired man followed a few steps behind them, his hands shoved casually in the pockets of his cream colored slacks. They followed the others and walked around the Attraction, before returning to the bottom of the hill. Here, they circled the hill, as though searching for something. Finally the blond dropped to one knee and scratched at the dirt, finally pulling up a locket on a chain. There was a flash, and an armored figure crouched where the blond had been. Then, all 3 vanished.
--------------------------------
The Vietnam Memorial
The same 3 people who only seconds before had been in England, now walked the length of the Vietnam Memorial. The other two now followed the Black Haired girl. Her eyes were mournful and sad, and she gazed at each name as though she knew each person, and perhaps she did. Who could say? They finally reached the end. The Black Haired girl paused and then pointed at a name. The Blond, tears forming in her eyes, laid a single red rose at the base. Then she bowed her head in Prayer. Finally, she raised her head and nodded.
The Black-Haired girl pressed her hand against the stone . . . into the stone . . . for several seconds, then drew her hand back, holding a locket. A flash, and an Armored figure stood there. The Man glanced at the name that had caused the Blond to cry as they vanished.
Ross Anio
--------------------------------
Big Ben
She looked like any other Tourist in the small group that walked along the catwalks inside the clock known as Big Ben. She slowly moved to the back. Then her hand snapped out, a flash, and the armored figure vanished.
--------------------------------
A Los Angeles Cemetery.
The 3 girls walked among the headstones. One had green hair, the second, blond, the third, white, although she was quite young.
They passed along the many graves, occasionally pausing every so often to admire one that was particularly artistic. The finally reached a tree. Here, the Blond and the Green haired one dropped to their knees and began frantically digging while the white haired one stood watch.
A gaurd noticed the activity and began hurrying towards them. Just as the two found the lockets. The White haired girl stepped back blew the gaurd a kiss, put her arms around each armored figure and all 3 vanished.
--------------------------------
A Loft Apartment in Tokyo
Lita Kino leaned back on the sofa, on the coffee table before her, 8 heart- shaped lockets lay, each a different color. 8 lockets, 9 Senshi. There was still one locket missing. Serena's.
The Lockets would only work for the scout they were made for. When Grasped firmly and willed to activate, they enclosed the Scout in a Protective suit of Armor. The Armor boosted Strength, protected against all but the most serious injury, and boosted their firepower. The locket for Sailor Moon was missing. Unlike the other's, there was no trail to follow. Which made it a mystery. Lita hated Mysteries.
There was also the question of where the lockets came from or why they were so compatible with their powers. Artimes and Luna had no memory of the Senshi ever having used Armor, but then again. They had only been Advisors. Serenity had many secrets she had never shared with them. The Armor could have been one of them. Amy looked up from her computer.
"I'm done."
"So what are they?"
"David's theory is quite correct. The Lockets are fully compatible with our powers. Not only do they provide considerably more protection then our regular uniforms, they allow us to pump considerably more punch into our attacks. That, and they grant us the power of flight. I won't bore you with all the capabilities but we may consider them an addition to our Arsenal. With the Inhabitants of Negaverse 2, as David has dubbed them, evidently on the attack, and as they are considerably more violent then Negaverse 1."
"Yeah, but we still can't rule out Negaverse 1 as a threat." Said Raye. David nodded.
"We must also consider the possibility that the Negaverses have made an alliance."
"What?" Raye stared hard at him. "How?"
"We know they have inter-dimensional capability. I've consulted.....an expert and he tells me that there is a high probability that contact has been made." Mina groaned.
"You didn't."
"I had to. This is his area of expertise."
"What did you tell him?"
"I asked him what the chances were that two different universes, both with Inter-dimensional capability had of making contact with each other. He said somewhere in the neighborhood of sixty to seventy-five percent that they would."
"Who are you guys talking about?" Lita was confused. Mina sighed softly.
"Pray you never find out." She said. "Pray hard."
--------------------------------
Charwar....
Rini's hands clenched into fists. The Steward cringed.
"Please Mistress." He said, cringing. "I brought you the best in the cellar. It's not my fault that the wine was contaminated. Please Mistress, have mercy."
"Mercy?" She laughed. "Martin." Martin lunged forward and turned the steward into bloody shreds. A bit of blood landed on her cheek. She wiped it off with her finger then licked the blood off. Mmmmm.
"The wine wasn't actually contaminated." She said to the bloody remains of the corpse. "I was just bored." She took a sip. "I will be on the tower. When Sephulcus arrives, send him to my workshop."
"Yes Mistress." Chorused the servants.
Up on the tower she set the glass on a table put there for that purpose.
Eons ago, Charwar had burned off it's asmotsphere, and drained the sun. Above her, the stars glowed brightly like jewels. Below her the towers and bridges of Neo-Sta rCharwa City stretched out towards the mountains. She looked back up to the stars. Then on the horizon, a ringed planet slowly rose into view. Theories abounded as to what it was. Some said it was the planet that Charwar orbited. Others claimed the reverse. Others worshipped it. Prayed to it. Rini cared nothing for theories. She dealt in facts.
She knew what that ringed planet really was. The Alien Intelligence called Queen Metallia. Who even Seekay answered to. But the Queen had been silent for years.
She would have figured Seekay had killed her too except she had been silent since Beryl's death. Now that was a thought. Could Beryl have been an Avatar of Metallia and her death could have caused a backwash that had blown whatever it was Metallia had for a mind? On the other hand, Father had killed Beryl on Seekay's advice, so however you looked at it, Seekay had killed the Queen.
But was the queen really dead? That thought sent her to thinking about Lady Hotaru Saturn. She shook her head. She didn't need to think about her. She wasn't afraid of Saturn, even if that gaze of hers was unnerving.
What was happening to her world?
--------------------------------
Tokyo, Serena's school.
Lita pulled her Harley to a stop in the Parking lot. She was still thinking about the lockets and hers was a cold touch against her skin under her school uniform. The Senshi had been together until very late last night. Finally, they had decided on a training session on old abandoned farm North of the City. They had to start learning the armor. David and Serena would stay on the sides, using Amy's computer to correlate the Data.
She was no techie. She would be the first to admit that she wasn't the brightest bulb in the socket, but even she knew enough to point out that the lockets were not Moon Kingdom manufacture. Her own memories of the Moon Kingdom suggested a technology based more on crystals and Plant fibers. The armor was high-tech, grade-A technology. Super-science. She sighed as she pulled off her helmet. Amy was "home in bed with the flu" She was going to link her hand computer to her Armor's on board computer and see if she could get anything out of the software. It was a tribute to Amy's curiosity and sense of duty that she would willingly miss a day of class.
The day dragged on endlessly. Their friends noticed that all the Senshi seemed nervous and edgy. They tended to be snappish and withdrawn. Serena was actually awake all through class, running on Nervous energy. She couldn't think about school. Strangely enough, she got an A on her math test.
At lunch time, Melvin and Molly were eating lunch together. Melvin, in one of his more perceptive moments, noticed that Molly seemed edgy and withdrawn.
"Hey Molly, are you ok?" Melvin sounded concerned, though his face was well-hidden by his glasses.
"It's nothing Melvin. I'm just worried about Maxsfield." Molly picked at her lunch with her fork. Boiled cabbage was not one of her favorite foods normally, and today she seemed even more disgusted with it.
"Why should you be worried? The guy's rich, and probably has dozens of bodyguards." Melvin sounded annoyed. He was, actually. Since Maxsfield's return, Molly had been paying him less and less attention.
Charwar
Rini looked up from the remains of her latest lover. Completely ignoring her blood-spattered state of nudity, she walked over to the balcony doors and opened them, sinking gracefully to one knee in obedience to the being waiting outside her rooms.
"I live to serve, my lord."
Seekay's hood tilted forward slightly, and she could feel the chill of his gaze sweep her body.
I see you have been up to your usual games. If you were a little more patient, you would be able to have your playmates around for a few more times before they become useless. Seekay's voice, oddly resonating, echoing, metallic and cold, chilled Rini to the bone, making her wonder, briefly, just what he looked like under that robe and hooded cloak. She said nothing, waiting for him to speak.
I have a task for you.
Seekay walked . . . no, drifted into the room, the eerie silence of his movement, plus the faint images of him that seemed to appear before and after him, making the hair on the back of her neck stand straight on end. Seekay seemed to gaze briefly at the bloody flesh upon her bed, taking note of the knives, leather restraints, the giant roll of duct tape, and three- foot trout. The hood turned back towards her where she knelt, watching him, the faint gleam of light where she assumed his eyes were directly focused on her.
"Experimenting, my Lord."
Of course. Rini nearly lost track of him in surprise, for once, his tone had actually almost had a rather dry, sarcastic tone to it.
Put your toys away, I have a task for you. Seekay gestured towards the trout, and in that brief movement, Rini caught sight of some of what was under that robe, and the chill of light upon black metal was more than enough to satisfy that curiosity of hers.
I am not going to ask why that object in particular, but is all the elaborate . . . equipment truly worth it?
"One must be adventurous, my Lord."
Garb yourself, and remove your toys. I wish for your full attention.
Rini snapped her fingers, instantly removing her toys and what was left her playmate. A pity, really, she hadn't quite finished yet. She debated briefly about a bath and trying to put on a tease show for him again, but decided against it. She'd had bruises for almost a year after the last time she had done that. Not that it hadn't been enjoyable, but that was a bit rougher than she preferred to play, and she liked being the dominant one . . . And that all throughout that time, he had repeatedly said, "You are not her!", whatever that meant. That and having the lights off all the time bothered her, for some reason. . . . and it had felt so . . . familiar . . .
In less than a second, she was garbed in the now-familiar uniform that covered her from neck to foot that he preferred her to wear in his presence. She walked over to the liquor cabinet, opening the door before turning to Seekay. He was now sitting in a chair on the other side of the room from where he had been standing. A shiver ran up her spine. She had not heard him move. At all.
"Would you care for some refreshment, my Lord?"
Yes.
"As you wish, my Lord." She had quickly mixed the drinks and was soon sitting across from him, carefully avoiding looking at him directly. Each time her glance skittered across the room and back to him, the level of drink in his glass had gone further down. She had soon learned that watching his glass proved nothing, as it would only be drunk while she was not looking. And that being denied his food and drink made him . . . cranky.
You must challenge the Crystal Knight. Rini stared at Seekay in shock, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"M-my Lord!?"
You heard me clearly enough. You must challenge the Crystal Knight in one-on-one combat. Before this night sees it's end .
She looked into her glass, trying to think. It wasn't that she was afraid, it was that even unskilled as he was, he was still an opponent not to be underestimated.
"But how will I draw him out of hiding? We have not the slightest idea who he really is! All we have is his first name." It was after the words left her mouth that Rini remembered that they had his face as well.
Taunt him. Tell him you have Sailor Moon's locket . . . I will have the Senshi here as an additional lure.
Rini wisely decided to not ask how he would do that. She looked up from her glass, only to notice he was not in his seat any longer before feeling his hands, if hands they were, grip the back of her chair, the wood splintering from the strength of his grip. Her body tensed, a tension she had felt often, and knew well. Indeed, she had felt it earlier, just before she had Sephulcus help her take care of it. She froze, not moving, staring directly at the wall across from her. Surprisingly, she felt him lower his head, the hood brushing against her hair as his face grew close to her ear. A silent moan tried to pass her lips, a slow heat beginning to build within her. Gods, he was so dangerous. She nearly jumped out of her skin when one of his hands wrapped itself around her chin and throat. She could just barely see the gleam of the chill black metal from the corners of her eyes, her breath beginning to come in short gasps as the contrast between the cool metal made her flesh heat even more.
Know this: Win, and your rewards will know no measure. Lose, and you will wish that the suffering he would have inflicted on you as he tore you apart inch by inch had happened instead of your return to my hands. She gripped the chair arms, trying to keep herself from displaying any effect he was having on her. It didn't help that her uniform seemed incredibly tight and confining or that the temperature was soaring.
Suddenly, both hand and hood were gone, and a faint click announced the opening of the balcony doors again.
Oh, yes . . .one more thing. Attempt to enter my mind again, and the consequences will be.....grave. The balcony doors slammed closed, leaving her to writhe on the chair, moaning, as the heat within her exploded forth.
--------------------------------
Earth, that Night.
The door to what had once been a barn swung open and Jupiter stepped in silently. To her, the room was lit up nicely as the helmet's light amplification equipment did it's work. She began a search of the room, and never saw the Negaverse soldiers until they tackled her from behind.
--------------------------------
David groaned. He had come down with stomach flu in the middle of class and had to be sent home. At least Thad was on that school trip to Hong Kong along with mom and dad had to fly to Australia. So he was alone. Absently, he picked up some toast and took a bite. As he chewed, he wondered how the tests were going.
--------------------------------
Jupiter woke up to immense pain. Opening her eyes, she saw that her arms were chained to the wall over her head. The room was dimly lit, beside her she saw Mars, Venus, Mercury, Uranus, Neptune, and Sailor Moon, who was tied up and dumped on the floor along with their helmets. Jupiter nudged the closest scout, who happened to be Mercury.
"Pssst! Mercury!"
"Wha?" Mercury slowly opened her eyes. "Ju-Jupiter?"
"Yeah." Jupiter looked around, but her eyes were unable to penetrate the gloom. "Where are we?"
"Dunno." Mercury's head sagged, and her eyes closed. Jupiter began scheming to take her mind off the pain in her arms.
--------------------------------
David set the phone down on the cradle and frowned. Something was wrong. No connection to Mina's pager and Amy's cell phone was the same. At that moment the TV came on, there was the Black Lady. She was wearing solid black armor.
"People of Tokyo, Japan. I am the Black Lady. This is a message for the Crystal Knight." The Camera pulled back to show Sailor Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Neptune and Uranus. All were tied up and gagged. "I have your precious Senshi. I also know where Sailor Moon's Locket is. If you want them, come and Get them. I'll be at the docks, until first light.....Once I see the sun rise...." She laughed maniacally and the picture vanished.
Gritting his teeth against the nausea, David reached for his pants. This might be a trick, but he couldn't take the chance. For Mina, he would go knock on the Gates of Hell itself. Then his eyes fell on his computer.
One stop to make before the fight.
--------------------------------
Jupiter watched the Black Lady pace. She was wearing armor that resembled the Senshi's own Armor, but it was solid black and had stiletto high heels. She carried a helmet under her arm and her hair was tied into a bun.
"What do you really want?" Jupiter asked.
"I want the Crystal Knight to be here, so I can kill him." The Black Lady set the helmet down on a crate, evidently tired of carrying it.
"You haven't been able to beat him yet!" Venus piped up. "You've failed, blundered, screwed up, and completely buggered."
Venus felt her neck pop as the Black Lady's metal shod hand connected with her cheek, snapping her head to the right. She tasted blood. Narrowing her eyes, she spat the blood into the Black Lady's face.
"Go to hell." Venus snarled. "Go to hell with your head between your legs! It's about the only thing that hasn't been there!" The world exploded in stars and Venus blacked out.
Rini smirked, watching the blood dribble down the Venus brat's face. As Mercury watched in disgusted horror, Rini leaned forwards, and oh so delicately, licked the blood from Venus's cheek. A look of dark pleasure crossed her face as she straightened and caught Mercury's look of horror and disgust from the corner of her eye. A sly smile crossed her face, and as she turned away, she purred, just loud enough for Mercury to hear, "It's such a pity it cools so fast outside the body, but then, a living vessel does hold a certain carnal touch . . ."
--------------------------------
David, his face grim, finished the last bit of tape on the box. The Fedex office would be open for the next three hours, so he had plenty of time to get there. Conrad would know what to do with the information, as David had a feeling that, this time, he wouldn't be coming back. David snorted, leaning back against the chair. He had that feeling every time, and sometimes thought it was the knight trying to get him killed.
"Conrad, you S.O.B., you'd better appreciate all the trouble this is gonna get me in trouble for."
He thought about that for a second.
"Actually, can't be worse than anything you got me in trouble for when you were actually involved."
--------------------------------
The Black Lady eyed the watch built into the gauntlet of her armor. 9PM. Where was he?
As though in answer, wood crunched behind her. Turning she saw the Crystal Knight standing on a pile of boxes in a fighting crouch. The Lance in his hand looked hungry for blood.
"So you decided to come and face me." She said as her helmet flew into her hands. "How nice."
"You didn't leave me much of a choice." He shot back. The Black Lady simply smirked as she put the helmet on. She held her hand out and small rod formed. Grabbing it in both hands she twisted it and it extended to it's full 6 foot length. Then she took her own fighting stance. Overhead, lighting flashed and the wind picked up. It was like the silence before a grand symphony.
"Ready when you are." She said softly. The Knight's visor simply glowed.
--------------------------------
The Thunder, though it was coming from overhead, seemed distant to Mars' ears. Her attention was focused on the two armored forms before her. One was a massive suit of Armor. Red and black in color, crouched in a fighting position on a stack of wooden crates, the lance in his hands gleaming brightly as the lightning flashed. The other was decidedly female. Her Armor was black as the blackest night. She stood before the crates in a fighting stance, a fighting pike in her hands. Both were as still as statues, each waiting for the other to show some sign of wavering, some sign of weakness that this staring contest of theirs was coming to a close.
Then it happened. Afterwards, Mars could never tell who moved first, but suddenly the Knight was crouched where the Black Lady had been only moments before, the blade of his lance buried in the side of a wooden crate. The Black Lady was standing on another pile of crates.
The Knight pulled the lance free and stood up, turning to face her. They both stood, unmoving as statues, staring at each other across the gap of space of between them.
Then the Black Lady was in the air, the pike whistling as it came down only to be stopped the Knight's Lance.
Then they circled each other, pike and lance clanging together again and again.
Raye moved her wrists experimentally. They bonds that held them tight were loosening. For a moment she couldn't figure it out until she remembered that the Negaverse's powers were psionic in nature...with the Black Lady having to concentrate on her fight, her attention on holding the bonds was wavering, if it wavered enough, they might be able to get free-of course, might was the operative word there.
She started when she felt a quiet tapping on her forearm armor. It took her a moment to realize it was Morse Code. Jupiter had taught it to them when she joined up.
This is Jupiter. Raye checked to see if anyone was watching them. But the Negaverse soldiers we're too busy watching the fight.
Keep quiet. She cautioned, then got right to the point. The bonds are loosening.
I know. I can almost get my hands loose. There was a pause. Any ideas on what to do once we're free?
No. Raye thought for a minute. Ask Mercury. She's the tactician.
On it. Time dragged by while Jupiter and Mercury held a short conversation. Finally, she felt the tapping again. Mercury's sure that the fight is moving away from us.
The Knight is giving us a chance to make our escape then.
Or The Black Lady is in retreat.
Either way, now's our chance. Mars looked over at the soldiers who were moving further and further away to keep the two combatants in sight. Okay, here's the plan. As soon as they're on the far side of the dock, break the bonds. Then we make a mad dash for our helmets and take out the soldiers.
What about the Black Lady? Jupiter asked
Let the Knight worry about her for now. We have to get free and take out the soldiers.
Gotcha. Mars sat back and waited for the bonds to loosen.
--------------------------------
Mars dusted off her hands. It had almost been too easy.
"That was way to easy" Said Uranus, giving voice to everyone's thoughts.
"Yeah." Venus looked around. "So what do we do now?"
--------------------------------
The Knight dived out of the way, slamming into a fire hydrant. as an energy blast punched through the wall of the bank. He struggled to his feet only to be slammed through the wall by a small car.
"No problem, folks." He said to the startled customers who had been lined up at the ATM. "No Problem whatsoever." With that he launched himself out the hole and tackled the Black Lady, pinning her.
"Give this up." He said. "There's little point in a fight like this." She laughed, the laugh of one who could care less about her own skin.
"The Master wished for me to challenge you." She said in a strange voice and slugged him, her fist sliding off his helmet. She snarled, her hands crackled and the Knight found himself flying through a parked car and into a restaurant in the process of being remodeled. Fortunately, nobody was there. But the impact did rupture a gas line and the entire structure exploded, raining debris across three blocks in every direction.
--------------------------------
The Senshi arrived on scene in time to get hit by the debris. Behind her, Venus could hear Uranus utter an oath as a two by four hit her.
"So we're here. What now?" Everybody looked to Sailor Moon who just shrugged, she had no idea either. Venus finally spoke up.
"We need a better viewpoint." She took off at a run for the nearest skyscraper. As she closed in her boot-jets began firing in bursts, causing her to move in short leaps, then as she was about to hit the wall, they roared to life, sending her eighty stories straight up. The others copied her, Jupiter pausing only to scoop up Sailor Moon before joining the others.
--------------------------------
The Black Lady stood there as the debris fell around her. Her eyes were glued strictly to the burning remains of the restaurant. Her hand tightened and loosened as she waited. The fight wasn't over, not by a long shot. Finally, a figure emerged from the flames, his armor red hot and covered in soot. Slowly, he dusted himself off.
"Now, I'm annoyed." With that, he grabbed the car he had gone through and hurled it at her. She leaped out of the way and swung her pike at him. She would win.
--------------------------------
The Senshi bounded from rooftop to rooftop, following the fight as the combatants left behind a trail of debris, burning cars, and badly damaged buildings. Not to mention the bodies.
"The cost of rebuilding after this over is already in the multi-millions!" Mercury noted as she richoted off an A/C unit.
"Well gee," Snapped Uranus sarcastically, "Perhaps you're thinking we should pay for the damage we've caused!"
"Hardly." Mercury retorted. "I'm just commenting on the damage and that perhaps, as civilians, we could assist in the cleanup."
"Not a bad idea." said Mars "Of course, it would mean Serena actually does some work."
"Traitor!"
--------------------------------
The Knight bounded down the street, a task made difficult because he had to move backwards to keep the Black Lady in view. Her blasts were causing most of the damage, and had already killed quite a few people. The next one knocked him off his feet and sent him sprawling, the lance flying out of his hand. The next thing he knew, the Black Lady was on his chest, clawing at his helmet and his face.
This was not good. His hands crackled and she went flying. With a slight groan, the Knight got to his feet and retrieved his lance, noting that they were moving towards Cherry Hill.
Then a car came sailing towards his head.
--------------------------------
The Black Lady sagged against the A/C unit, the pike across her legs. She hurt in places she didn't know it was possible to feel pain in. All in all, it was a memorable experience.
She turned her hand, palm up. Energy from the emitters crackled across her fingers, causing her hand muscles to contract all at once and then release in sporadic intervals. She supposed it was some small comfort that the Knight was hurting as bad as she was. Too bad he wasn't hurting worse.
--------------------------------
The Knight flexed his own fingers. The armor was heavy, he was sore, and all he really wanted to do was sleep. He looked around. The roof was dotted with Heating and A/C units, Satellite dishes, and other machinery.
"Rini!" He bellowed out. "I know you're on this roof Rini!"
"Whaydda want?" Her voice came echoing back. It was impossible to tell where she was.
"This fight is getting old Rini!"
"So?"
"So we need to end it. Now. One way or another."
"What do you suggest?" She sounded as weary as he was.
"I was hoping you had a suggestion!" A short laugh was heard.
"That's a good one!"
"There has to be a way we can end this." The Knight moved his head back and forth, trying to block out the echoes. Rini was also moving, he was sure about that.
Finally, he leaned against an A/C unit taller then he was. Then he sensed a presence on the other side of the unit.
"Hello Rini." Tensing in case she decided to try a sneak attack, but no attack came, and the knight relaxed without letting his gaurd down.
"Hello." She sounded like she was hurting and he could hear the slight crackle of energy.
"Quite a night huh?"
"Yeah." There was a pause. "I'm not making nice with you, you know."
"Do you even know what the word 'nice' means?"
"I did,.....once." She almost sounded like a little girl again.
"You must have had a strange childhood." The Knight said, hoping to get her talking. But her only response was a short, barking laugh.
"Sorry metal man, I'm not letting you do that to me." Oh well, he had tried.
"We're too evenly matched with you in that armor."
"Yeah, I know. Get to the point."
"Any chance I can talk you into a surrender?"
"Nope."
"I was afraid of that." He said dryly, eliciting what sounded like a strangled giggle from her.
"Any chance you'll surrender to me?" He could almost her pleading with him to say yes in her voice.
"No." He said quietly. "I can't do that. I don't surrender.....it's just not me."
"Oh." Silence. "Then we're just going to have to kill each other."
"I can't see any other option." Mentally, he prepared himself. "On the count of three then?"
"Yeah." He could hear her take a deep breath. "One"
"Two." Both tensed.
"Three!" The knight swung around the unit to be slammed into by the Black Lady, the impact forced him backwards at high speed, slamming through anything in their paths.
--------------------------------
On the Street below, the Senshi skidded to a stop. Behind them, lay a trail of rubble and they could hear Ambulances, police, fire engines and helicopters arriving on scene. Their gaze drifted up in time to witness a pair of armored forms fly off the roof of a skyscraper, locked in Mortal combat. Even from where they were standing, the Senshi could see that their hands were locked together and crackling with energy.
Survival instinct kicked in and catapulted the Senshi back as the two forms slammed into the street causing a minor earthquake that registered at 3.0 on the Richter scales that were still working and punching a decent sized crater in the pavement. The energy from their hands dissipating in a bright flash.
--------------------------------
The Knight groaned as he got to his feet. Readouts hovered in front of his eyes. Everything was haywire. He cringed as a power surge arced through the armor's superstructure. He desperately needed to change back. But he didn't dare. Not now. Then Venus and Jupiter were there, holding him up as the others approached the crater where the Black Lady still lay.
"Is she dead?" Asked Mars, fire rippling around her hands.
"Doubtful." The Knight made a noise that sounded like a cough. "If I survived, so did she. That armor made her my equal." Uranus nodded and stepped into the crater. Slowly, ready for anything, she reached for the helmet catches, and the helmet rolled away as she touched it.
"What the?" She yelled.
"It's empty!" Yelled Sailor Moon. Then Uranus was blown out of the crater. While Neptune ran to help her lover, the others turned to see the Black Lady hovering not five feet away. She now wore a black jumpsuit with matching gloves.
"You teleported out of your armor just before impact." The Knight said as his field dampers managed to lock down the power surges and re-route around the damaged systems.
"Very good." She said, her eyes wild. "NOW DIE!" She screamed as her hands glowed and erupted white-hot flame at them. The Senshi dodged and the flames missed them all, roaring past them to vanish over the crater.
Then there was a crackling noise, a whoosh and the air over the crater cracked wide open, spilling forth a brilliant orange light.
"What the hell is it?"
"It's a dimensional rift!" Mercury yelled. "It must have been caused by the impact and then given fuel by that last blast! It's running out of steam though and should be gone in a few minutes!"
The Knight looked from the rift to the Black Lady, then back again. He knew what he had to do. It was the only option. With that, he grabbed the Black Lady and threw her into the rift. Then he made ready to follow.
Venus grabbed his arm. "What do you think you're doing?" It hurt him, but he shook her off.
"You heard Mercury, the rift will seal itself soon. If she manages to make her way back before it does, we're toast. I love you Mina." With that, he leapt into the rift. Seconds ticked by and then they heard a terrified scream and a loud snap.
"That was David's voice!" Mina screamed and leapt after him, but the rift had already closed and she landed on the Black Lady's armor. Then the only sound besides sirens was her scream of pain.
--------------------------------
Somewhere, somewhen else......
Rini shrugged back into her jacket, but left it unbuttoned. Seekay was going to be furious with her. Seekay....she paused as everything fell into place and she began to laugh. So that's who he was. She was still laughing when Seekay's hand wrapped around her neck and brutally snapped it.
--------------------------------
Earth, the next morning......
The Wheelchair plummeted from the top of the cliff to crash onto the rocks and then into the sea. Raye watched it fall then turned back to where Amy was making a call to the police on her cell phone. Wordlessly she handed it to Raye who steeled herself. She heard it ring twice before it picked up.
"Tokyo 15th precinct. Sargent Li speaking."
"I need help, a friend of mine just fell off a cliff!" A few more minutes of panicked chatter ensued before Raye hung up. That had to have been the best bit of acting she had done in her life. Now all they had to do was keep the cover story straight. She was not looking forward to lying to David's family. None of them were.
--------------------------------
One week later......
Mina stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her, narrowly missing Artemis. For a moment she stared at herself in the mirror, she was still dressed in black from David's funeral.
For a moment she stood there, then suddenly, she whirled around, ripping off her locket and hurling it at the wall, the transformation pen and communicator followed. Then she turned her face to the sky.
"Why?!" She screamed. "Why did you have to take him?!" Tears began streaming down her cheeks. "Well you know what? I reject you! I don't believe in you anymore! I never will again!" Then she stared out the window at the moon, visible in the afternoon sky. "The same for you Serenity! I don't care anymore! Venus is dead! You hear me? DEAD!" With that, her shoulders slumped and she collapsed in a ball on the floor, crying with tears that no longer came. Silently, Artemis collected locket, pen and communicator and placed them into the folds of the blanket that made up his bed. Then he went to her and began purring, trying to comfort her.
Three more days passed. The others had begun to get worried. Mina had not returned any of their calls, and Luna had heard squat from Artemis. It was for that reason that Serena, Amy, Lita and Raye put together a picnic basket and headed over to Mina's to administer the best remedy for a broken heart; ice cream and girl talk.
Mina's mother answered the door. "Hello girls, Mina's up in her room." She said cheerfully, but Raye noticed that she had dark circles under her eyes and worry was etched across her face.
The four girls made their way down the hallway and stopped at Mina's room, noting it had been covered in black construction paper. That set off danger signals in Raye's head. Serena reached out and rattled the door. It refused to budge. Lita narrowed her eyes, then spun and lashed out with a powerful side thrust kick, breaking the lock and slamming the door open. Artemis came racing out, panting and gagging. A stench reached their nostrils.
Lita entered first. "Blimey!" She gasped, using an expression that David had often used. The others crowded in and stopped cold. The room, once bright and cheery had been redecorated in black. The sole light in the room came from a red light bulb, creating an appearance of the room being filled with blood. Mina was on her knees in front of her dresser, the top decorated with a shrine to David. Mina was a total mess, it was obvious she hadn't bathed or changed her clothes since the funeral. From the stench, the girls weren't sure she had left to use the bathroom all that frequently either.
"Dear God!" Amy choked out. Mina looked at them, then collapsed. Amy raced to her while Serena ran to find Mina's mom to call an ambulance.
The Paramedics arrived within minutes, took one look and hauled Mina out as fast as they could. The cops arrived seconds later, took one look and slapped down a Board of Health advisory on the place.
--------------------------------
Three weeks later.......
Mina awoke to find herself in a bed she didn't recognize. It was a hospital. Why would she be in a hospital? Then the three days after the funeral came back to her. She groaned, eliciting a puzzled "wha?" from across the room. Mina sat up to see Raye curled up on a hospital chair.
"Raye?"
"Mina! You're awake!" Raye quickly crossed the room and gave Mina a hug before running to the door and calling for the doctor. Mina lay back and endured a battery of pokes and prods by doctors.
Then the rest of the Senshi came in followed by her family. More hugs ensued until the nurse finally ordered everyone out.
Another week passed and Mina was finally allowed to go home. Her room was the same as it had been a month ago. The light was still red, and everything was still covered in black, but it had been cleaned and disinfected. On the desk was her scout pen, locket, and communicator. Mina looked at them and swept them into her desk drawer. She still meant it. Venus was dead.
Behind her, her mother and Lita stood in the doorway.
"So what do you think?" Asked Lita. "We all pitched in to clean this place up."
"It's nice." Mina said softly. She was still weak as a kitten. She knew they were expecting a smile, but she just couldn't do it.
Lita went to the desk and picked up a jewelry box.
"This wasn't here when we came in." She said.
"What's in it?" Asked Mrs. Anio. Lita opened the box.
"There's just a note. It says 'promises to keep'" Mina raised her eyes to the ceiling.
Maybe she had been wrong to say what she had said......
Epilogue
Forest Hills, Queens, New York. Three weeks earlier.............
He opened the box and studied the contents, five envelopes of paper, four CD's, three laser discs, two Syquest Gigadrive cartridges,
"And a partridge in a pear tree." He said softly then laughed. Now what could his cousin have sent him?
He picked an envelope at random and opened it. Pictures and notes fell into his hands. His eye brows shot up. "Well now. This is interesting."
With that, he settled back to read.
"First One A has been terminated. First one B now in place and beginning development."
"And what of Second One?"
"Still dormant. Initial steps for activation have been received by Second One."
"Calculate period until activation."