CHAPTER SEVEN: THE HUNT FOR EXECUTIONER!

"No sign of her," said Katsie. "Guess this crime wasn't big enough for the big shot."

Birdie had her Police Scanner Headphones on as she watched the latest catch get carried away by the Police. It was really nothing more than a Purse Snatcher, but they had to react to the call just in case their real quarry decided to make a side-trip on her killing spree.

"Boy the calls come in almost constantly these days," Birdie mused. "It's been so bad lately. So many bad eggs running around, taking advantage of the chaos and damage."

"Well, uh… Thanks for the help, Sailor… Which one are you?" asked the young Officer still on the scene. He looked awed to be in her presence.

"Mercury," Birdie said with a smile. "You can tell from the blue. The red one over there is Sailor Mars."

"Hi," Katsie waved.

The Officer blushed. "Well… Thanks again… And just as a personal opinion… I don't think you girls are as bad as the News makes you."

"What a cute boy," Birdie cooed as he walked away. "And it's nice to hear something good for a change about us."

"He was checking you out, Sis," Katsie giggled. "I think you got an admirer."

"Oh, stop! Everything's always about boys with you!" Birdie playfully slapped her younger Sister. "Look there's another little skirmish happening near Jubancho. Looters smashed a window to the Appliance Store and are hauling VCRs and DVD Players. Come on. No rest for the heroes."

sssssss

"No, nothing happening here," Jed said on the Cell Phone to Michelle. "Traffic is backed up off the Yoshida Freeway for more than five blocks and like an idiot I just got caught in it."

"Coming in?"

"Yeah, why?" Jed asked.

"There's a Fender Bender up ahead," Michelle's voice replied. "We're up on the Overpass and have a clear view of it. Police are here, but no sign of criminal activity. She won't show here. Amara and I are moving on. Good luck getting out of gridlock."

"Yeah, thanks," Jed closed the Cell and tossed it on the dashboard. "Well no one said hunting down a Senshi was easy."

Trista said nothing. She brooded silently in the passenger seat. Jed shook his head and turned back to the windshield up ahead. "Let's hear some news," he said, flipping the radio on.

"… Trade rumors of a joint Police/ Sailor Senshi investigation currently underway. However, no comment can be gathered from either party as to the specifics of the actions being taken," said the News Reporter. "It's day number five of the manhunt for the Senshi Vigilante, who has now been apparently identified as 'Executioner', and sightings abound of Sailor Moon and others flying through the air, leaping from building to building, or otherwise jumping from crime scene to crime scene in the greatest single day of Senshi activity in this town since Dark Mercury."

ssssss

"Reports coming in from Japan are sketchy, but it now appears as though the city is under siege once again from a super-human terrorist," said the German News Anchor. "The first reported incident since Dark Mercury, which occurred over a month ago and first awakened the world to the presence of the so-called Sailor Senshi. A manhunt is currently underway in the city of Tokyo to bring this person to justice. All we can say for now is that the perpetrator is some kind of super-Vigilante, who slays criminals, no matter what the crime. So far the death toll is reportedly upwards of over fifty. More to come on the International implications of this event. The United States in particular is making moves to get involved due to their Security interests in the city. No word yet from the Japanese Government on any kind of actions or negotiations. Tokyo, as you know, has been on the mend since last month's destruction and whispers around the globe are hinting at damage control…"

Amy Mizuno was rooted to her television set in her Dorm Room in Munich, Germany. "What is going on over there?" she asked softly.

From next to her, Robert Prower, her friend since the first day she arrived in Germany, shifted uneasily on the bed. "It must be tough seeing your home town get battered so much, huh?"

Amy nodded. "I just hope they get a hold of whoever this is before it does become another international incident, otherwise the Senshi may never enjoy a moment's peace again in their entire lives." She stood up and walked over to the phone in the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" asked Robert.

"I need to know more. I can't sit by and watch this without knowing all the details," said Amy, dialing a number. "I gotta make a few phone calls."

Robert nodded in understanding and turned back to the television. I know you want to be back there, Amy, he thought. I can see it in your eyes. I just hope you don't decide to go back there. Your life is here now. I'll never let you out of my sight again…

ssssss

Ann Ayakawa watched the News through the stack of televisions in the large picture window of the Electronics Store. Her friends, the Senshi, were plastered all over the networks. Helicopter cameras revealed them flying all over the city, doing a clean sweep of crime. Their actions attracted quite a crowd to the same window to watch.

"Do you see that…?" one whispered.

"It's about time they did something…" another replied.

"They should just leave us alone…"

"They're no good, I tell ya! One day they'll just turn on us and take over!"

"I heard they were Space Aliens…"

"...wonder why they're so active?"

"… It's Witchcraft! That's what it is! They're a bunch of Witches pretending to be Angels from God! They're really servants of Lucifer! We will all burn!!" shouted a religious fanatic on the corner with a sign around his neck.

Ann caught the snippets of conversation. The arguments among the citizens ranged from highly approving to outrageously paranoid. It seemed like that a lot these days. Ever since that Vigilante showed up the whole city had been sitting on a Time Bomb of emotion centered around her friends.

What worries me is just what will happen when that Bomb explodes? Ann pushed her way out of the crowd and scanned the rooftops. No sign of Senshi in this part of town.

These people don't understand, she continued her line of thought as she looked back at the swarm in front of the store window. If it wasn't for Sailor Moon and her friends I would still be sucking the life out of innocent people. It's hard to believe I used to be no better than these common criminals. Dark Mercury took my lover, Alan, from me! And if it hadn't been for the Senshi, everyone here would probably be dead! How quickly they forget about the important things… these Humans…

Suddenly the same crowd she'd left a minute ago screamed collectively and scattered from the window. Ann turned around in surprise, just in time to watch a television set smashing through the plate glass and rolling into the street! The store's alarm rang like a bell.

"Come on! Let's get moving! Word on the street is those Senshi girls are on the move, big time! If youse don't want to be in jail, get your tails in gear!" someone yelled.

A white delivery truck screeched around the corner and parked next to the curb, smashing the rear fender of another vehicle parallel parked there already. All of a sudden about half a dozen men in black lined up out of the store and began tossing T.V.s, VCR's, Computers and other stuff into the back of the truck.

"Stop! You'll ruin me! It's hard enough getting by after last month!" the Store Owner, an elderly looking man, ran out and pleaded with the apparent leader of the operation.

"I told you to stay out of my face, old man!!" the leader shoved the man to the ground and gave him a good swift kick to the ribs that knocked his wind out and sent him gasping. "Double time, boys! I want to be gone from here in five minutes flat!" he shouted to his partners.

Ann looked around. The alarm and the violence had chased everyone away. No one would help. They simply looked on from afar with fearful looks on their faces. No Police appeared to be in sight. No Senshi either.

No one wants to help here. They're all afraid. And just a minute ago they were badmouthing the Sailor Scouts! Ann felt her anger rise as she dropped her purse. I've had enough of this madness! The city of Tokyo is falling to pieces before my eyes and this is the last straw!

Ann stalked over to the leader and stared him down.

"What do you want, Missy?! I suggest you step off if you know what's good for you!" he barked.

"And I say if you know what's good for YOU… You'll return all that equipment you're stealing and get out of here!" said Ann.

"Teach the bitch a lesson, boss!" one of his associates shouted from the store.

"I said, STEP OFF, BITCH!!" the leader raised his fist and swung at her face.

Ann deftly caught the fist in her hand, even though he was easily twice her size. "Criminals have to be the stupidest variety of Humans I've ever seen. Because anyone with common sense would have picked any place else but Tokyo to try their luck." Ann's Humans disguise melted away and revealed what she truly was; the purple haired, green skinned, elfin looking Treeling from Outer Space. "You think the Cops and the Senshi are the ONLY people you have to worry about?! Think again!!"

"Holy Crap!!" one of the Burglars exclaimed. "W-What is she?!"

Ann stuck her hand out, fingers spread, at the chest of the man whose fist she intercepted. A quick burst of energy sent him flying into a mailbox hard enough to dent it. The man collapsed unconscious.

"Let's get out of here!" one of the Burglars cried.

"You had that chance! Now you pay!!" Ann snarled, flexing her hands. Her fingernails became long, like knives.

The people of Tokyo looked on as Ann dove into the store to take care of the rest of the Burglars. They were so fixated on the event that they missed the real danger high above them… and closing in fast!

Police Sirens finally could be heard as Ann exited the store with five more Burglars. She had them all piled up on her back and her shoulders like bales of Hay and dumped them on the sidewalk. "Like I said… Stupid Humans…" she sniffed. "I'll let the Police deal with you guys. Consider yourselves lucky I was in a GOOD mood today!"

"No! The Police are useless!" another woman's voice declared. "There is only one penalty for crime!"

Ann looked up and saw a Senshi dressed in purple and white, with long black hair, holding a fish-hook bladed Pike. She stood atop the white getaway truck. "They must endure the maximum punishment! For burglary and assault on an innocent!" she said.

"You!" replied Ann. "You're the one they are looking for!"

"You may address me as Executioner… For that is what I am," said the Senshi. "I am now the Law in Tokyo."

"From what I hear, no one wants you in this town, dictating what's right and wrong to them!" Ann challenged. "And all you're accomplishing is making my friends look bad!"

"If you're talking about those OTHER Senshi, they are weak!" Executioner pointed at her with her weapon. "They lack the fortitude to do what is right and just! They protect everyone, even the criminals! Don't be like them… Just walk away and let me finish what you started."

Ann looked down at the people she'd just beaten up. "These people are no longer a threat. There's no need to kill them!" she argued.

"Wrong! They will go to prison and eventually be set free again! These people are vermin, and they are always a threat so long as they live!" Executioner was growing impatient. "Only a permanent solution will permanently solve this problem!"

"Listen to me! I'm not defending what they did here, but you can't go on slaying people like this for the littlest things! What you're doing is nothing short of barbaric!!" Ann took another look at the weapon Executioner was holding. "Wait a second! I know that weapon!"

"If you will not stand aside, you will be judged for obstructing Justice!" Executioner jumped down to the sidewalk.

"Obstruction?! Of YOUR Justice?! Absolutely!" Ann felt her muscles tense. "You'll be going through me if you want take any more lives!"

Police Cars began to pull up in the street all around the block. Executioner seemed to give them only passing acknowledgment. "Very well!" she said, the air around her beginning to ripple like water. "You've been warned! SILENCE WALL!!"

The sounds of the surrounding city seemed to vanish. A stifling silence settled in Ann's pointed ears, and she barely had time to register the unusual quiet. It was like she had suddenly gone deaf! But before she could react, an invisible force slammed into her, knocking her into the concrete wall behind her! It felt like she'd been struck by a Semi! What the hell just happened?! She never even saw the attack coming!

"DIE!!" Executioner sprang toward her with her Glaive raised and glowing hot.

Ann tried to move, but she was rooted to the spot. The same invisible force that struck her now had her pinned against the wall somehow.

TO BE CONTINUED.........

NEXT CHAPTER: THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS