3 - First Strike.

Lucilius was sat in his private chamber; his childish face contorted into a thoughtful expression. He rapped his fingers against the surface of the table he was sat at, impatient for news.

As it happened Quintus was shuffling down the corridor to his room right at that moment. The old man knocked on the door in his normal, careful manner and waited.

"Enter!" Lucilius barked, and Quintus entered silently and almost immediately fell to one knee, respectfully, in front of his master.

"Nerissa is here, seeking an audience with your lordship." he declared in his meek, trembling voice. Lucilius's eyes brightened immediately as he smiled.

"Then what are you kneeling there for? Send her in immediately!" he exclaimed harshly, waving his hand towards the door.

"As you wish, my lord." He stood up and rushed out, not wanting to annoy his master.

A few moments later Nerissa sauntered in, her green dress fluttering around her legs.

"Greetings, my lord; I thought I ought to pay you a visit." she smiled charmingly.

"How considerate of you." Lucilius responded, indicating the seat opposite to him. "So, how are things on Earth? I trust Caliban is well and not causing you too much trouble." He picked up a decanter of wine, which stood on the table, and filled two glasses.

"Things on Earth are fine, thank you." Nerissa responded as she graciously took the glass he offered her. "We had no problem hiding the ship and the blending-in phase is going along well. As for Caliban, no problems I haven't been able to handle."

"Good, good," Lucilius took a sip of his drink. "So, have you located the Sailor Scouts yet?"

"Not yet, but we are close, I am sure. With your permission I would like to make our first attack tonight, so Caliban can see what we are up against." Lucilius placed his glass down on the table, an pleased look on his face.

"Permission granted," his voice level and strangely soft as he gazed the stunning woman. "I do believe you and I are going to get along very well, Nerissa. Caliban would never have come to ask my permission for anything. I am glad to finally have someone on my side who is so…thoughtful of my feelings." He licked his lips and then smiled devilishly. Nerissa shuffled slightly in her seat, feeling uncomfortable at the fact that she was being eyed up by someone who looked no more than eight years old. She drained her glass quickly and stood up.

"I should go and prepare for the attack," she announced, bowing. "Farewell for now, my lord."

"Very well, I shall be looking forward to our next meeting."

At this Nerissa turned and left, a relieved expression crossing her face as she exited the room.

x x x x x

"Alexia! Stop leaving us in the dark!" Mina exclaimed. "You've hardly told us anything!"

"What more can I tell you?" Alexia asked, resting her chin in her hands. She had been telling them about how her audition, which of course meant talking about Matthias. She was still very confused about the rather enigmatic youth, who had seemed to have just appeared from nowhere. She had spent the evening before trying to get him out of her mind, to no avail. All she could think of was how scared she had been of him at first (something which she had chosen not to tell her fellow Scouts about) and how now, all of a sudden, she couldn't wait to see him again and look into those beautiful grey eyes…

"Weeell…" Serena disrupted her thoughts. "Is he a good kisser?"

"Serena!" Alexia pushed the girl over as she blushed, "How should I know, I only met him yesterday!"

"That hurt!" Serena wailed. Rei laughed.

"That serves you right!"

"Well from what I've heard so far he sounds like my ex-boyfriend, Akito" Lita sighed. "I wonder why I ever split up with him…?"

"Does every boy we talk about remind you of one of your ex-boyfriends, Lita?" Amy asked, however Lita was daydreaming so she didn't reply.

"Hey guys," Darien greeted them as he walked up. "Alexia, there's a guy outside who's looking for you." all the girls jumped up and ran to the window.

"It's him! It's Matthias!" Alexia exclaimed joyfully, again wondering how she could have been frightened of him.

"Wow, he is cute." Mina remarked.

"Well what are you waiting for? Get out there!" Lita shoved Alexia through the door. Matthias looked at her with interest as she fell to the floor at his feet.

"I must look like such a klutz!" she laughed nervously as she dusted herself off. She turned to look at the window, where the other Scouts were giving her the thumbs up.

"Not at all." he replied.

"How did you know I'd be here?" she inquired.

"I got your address from the ballet school, and your mother told me that you were here." he explained, looking at the group crowded at the window. "Um, are your friends going to come out here to be introduced or do they prefer gawping through the window?" Alexia laughed again, feeling rather embarrassed, and signalled for the others to join them.

"Matthias, I'd like you to meet Serena, her boyfriend Darien, Amy, Lita, Mina and Rei. Everyone, this is Matthias."

"Hi!" the group said simultaneously. Matthias smiled and looked urgently at Alexia.

"Alexia…I'd like to talk with you…alone." he looked at the others. Lita nudged Mina and winked and they along with Serena started to giggle uncontrollably. Amy, Rei and Darien looked away, wishing they could be somewhere else right at that moment.

"Oh, of course, sure, whatever!" Alexia said, feeling flustered. "Come on, we'll go for a walk - see you all later."

"Bye, Alexia!" Serena called. "Have fun!"

"We'll be waiting!" Mina added pointedly. Alexia felt her cheeks burn violently.

"Your friends seem nice," Matthias told her. "If not a little bit embarrassing." Alexia couldn't help but laugh.

"Yup, I can't disagree. Still, I'd be completely lost without them. They've been really good to me ever since I moved here."

"So you haven't lived in Tokyo long?"

"No, only 3 months." she replied.

"I see."

"Can I ask a question? Are you and Crystal related?" he looked up.

"What makes you think that?" he asked.

"Well you seemed pretty close the other day, and you went home together." Alexia answered.

"You're very observant, Alexia. She's my step sister." he told her.

"Oh, so your parents are divorced?" she asked cautiously.

"They were, but recently my father passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, I didn't know him that well. "

Well, that was a great way to kill a conversation! Alexia couldn't help but think as they stood in silence.

"So…what brought you to this area?" she changed the subject quickly.

"My mother and step father. They decided it was time for a change of scenery. How about you?"

"My father, he's a vet and he got a job as the main vet at the local surgery. So, how long have you been dancing? You're awfully good." she complimented.

"Why thank you. I have been dancing since I was three years old; how about you?"

"The same." Matthias took a deep breath and looked at Alexia with a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

"I better get straight to the point and say what I came here to say." Alexia tilted her head.

"W…what is it?" she stammered, her heart was racing as he looked into her eyes. She suddenly felt nervous again - was he going to tell her some terrible secret? Make her realise the reason why she had been so frightened of him at first?

She finally decided that she simply had a rather crazy imagination.

"I know it's rather sudden and all, but I was wondering…would you like to perhaps go to the cinema with me sometime?" he blurted out. Alexia's eyes widened with surprise and she gasped.

"I'd…love to!" she spluttered, amazed. Matthias breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, that's great! I was worrying that you might turn me down." Alexia couldn't stop herself from chuckling nervously. "Anyway, now I've done that I'd better go - I'll see you at practice tomorrow, right?" she nodded. "Goodbye, then."

"'Bye, Matthias." she replied dazedly as he walked away. I can't believe it, she thought, I'd better get back and tell the others! She ran back to the temple, hardly able to feel the ground beneath her feet.

x x x x x

"So, Nerissa, how is Caliban?" An hour after her meeting with Lucilius, Nerissa found herself in another, as Florizel had decided to call upon her. He was a tall, dark-haired, bearded, square-jawed man, who one could tell was important and respected just by looking at him. His eyes, the same shade of brown as the hair on his head and face, shone with curiosity as he asked his question.

"He is quite concentrated on the mission at hand but I don't think it will be too long before his head is turned by Charon…"

The man laughed, "And whilst we're on that subject…?"

"I believe we have located her," Nerissa smiled, crossing one leg over the other casually.

"My, that was quick." he remarked, raising his eyebrows.

"But…" His orange-haired companion continued. "If she isn't who I think she is then we have a major problem…"

"Which is?" Florizel inquired suspiciously.

"Well, I am convinced that Charon is living in the guise of a girl named Alexia Risolto. I have ran details through the probability computer and it agrees with my hypothesis completely. Caliban, however, is not aware of my assumption, and I am not planning to tell him. The problem is that Caliban seems to be quite taken with her and so if this girl is not Charon…" she paused.

"Ahh, I see," Florizel nodded, and looked her deeply in the eye. "However, Nerissa, you know I have great faith in you, continue with your plan." she turned her head away from him slightly, teasingly avoiding his gaze. "I must leave you in a moment, I cannot risk being seen by Caliban," he looked towards the door, as if expecting the youth to walk through that second. "However, first of all I have a gift for you." he reached into the pocket of his blue tunic and pulled out a small box, inside which was a silver ring beset with a clear stone.

"My, Florizel, is this really the right time for a proposal?" Nerissa inquired playfully, her green eyes admiring the ring. The man chuckled at her remark.

"Not at all. I shall use this ring to inform you when I want us to meet," he explained. "The jewel is a button, which can be used to send a signal to me or to stop a signal being sent to you."

"Useful." Nerissa remarked, taking the box from him. Florizel got up from his seat.

"I shall return tomorrow for another progress report. Farewell, Nerissa." he turned to look at her again. "Oh yes, and for tonight's attack I suggest using Gardreth."

"Interesting choice," his companion remarked. "As you wish. Goodbye, Florizel." she waved at him as he teleported out of the spaceship. Just a second after the man disappeared Caliban walked in looking very pleased with himself. "And what have you been up to?" the woman questioned, feeling relieved that he hadn't walked in earlier.

"I went to see Alexia." he told her simply. Nerissa's face turned pale with shock.

"You…what?!" she exclaimed. "Well, what happened?"

"I asked her to go to the cinema with me…I was researching Earth customs and apparently it's a very common thing to do."

"WHAT?!" Nerissa couldn't believe her ears. "You only met her yesterday, you hardly know her! I don't believe you!" Caliban smiled.

"Believe it; I am only trying to fit in like you suggested. And if you want to know, she agreed to it." Nerissa sat down with a look of amazement in her eyes. "I also met her friends. Anyway, what have you been doing in my absence?" he sat up straight and replaced his love struck expression with a serious one.

"While you've been gallivanting around I've been to see Lucilius - we attack tonight." Nerissa told him. Caliban's eyes narrowed.

"Good, and who will be our warrior?"

"Gardreth."

"Very well. Let us prepare a strategy…"

x x x x x

"I really can't believe it! You're sooo lucky, Alexia!"

"You've only known him for a day and already he asks you to the movies!"

"I'm so jealous!" the Scouts were discussing Alexia's forthcoming date with Matthias, even though she was refusing to call it a date.

"Wait, guys, I'm sure he only meant it as a friendly thing! Like Lita said we only met yesterday and he's only just moved to the area, so he's probably just trying to make friends!" Alexia exclaimed.

"No way! If he wanted to make friends he would've told you to bring some people along - he wants to be alone with you!" Mina grinned.

"I saw the way he was looking at you…he's got a crush on you!" Serena squealed. Alexia blushed fiercely.

"Stop it!"

"Yeah, stop embarrassing her!" Rei defended. "I think he's just trying to get to know her because they've gotta work together."

"Thank you, Rei." Alexia said gratefully. However Lita shook her head.

"Nahh, he's crazy about her! It was written all over his face."

"Hey, I have an idea, let's discuss this over ice cream!" Serena suddenly exclaimed. The group fell silent and stared at her, amazed at her ability to bring food into any subject in a second. "What? I'm hungry!"

"I think that's a great idea, and just to shut you guys up I'll pay!" Alexia announced, pleased that the subject had been changed.

"Wicked cool!" Serena danced around. The others sweatdropped.

"Are you sure that was a wise decision, Alexia?" Amy asked. The dark-haired girl nodded.

"Anything just to stop the discussions about my love life!"

"Ahhh! You said love!! So it is a date!" Lita teased.

"No it isn't!" Alexia argued.

"Why are you blushing Alexia?" Serena joined in with the teasing.

"Be quiet or there'll be no ice cream!"

x x x x x

"Gardreth! I call upon you!" Unfortunately for Serena and the other Scouts Nerissa happened to be stood near the very ice cream parlour they were heading to. In her hand was a small blue bottle which she removed the stopper from. Grey smoke billowed out and transformed into a huge blue and silver robotic looking creature.

"I am Gardreth." it growled. "What do you desire of me?" Nerissa smiled with satisfaction.

"I'm having a triple hot fudge sundae!" Serena sang as the group arrived at the door of the parlour.

"Serena, I don't have much money." Alexia sighed. "Why am I beginning to regret what I said?"

"Don't worry, we'll all chip in." Mina reassured her.

"Yeah, if we just left you to pay Serena would make you broke!" Rei muttered.

"I heard that Rei!" Serena shouted. The fiery-tempered brunette was about to respond when she felt a cold feeling rush down her spine, causing her to shudder.

"What's wrong?" Amy asked.

"I can sense something." Rei murmured, looking around her.

"Me too." Estrella lifted her head up.

"Same here." Artemis and Luna added. A scream suddenly ripped through the air.

"Look…what is that?!" a crowd was forming inside at the window.

"I have a feeling that can't be a good sign." Mina muttered.

"Lets go Scouts!" Serena announced, running in the direction of the scream.

"Am I dreaming? Did Serena just act like a leader?!" Rei was astounded.

"Don't count on it. She probably wants to get this sorted out as soon as possible so she can stuff her face." Lita remarked as they followed.

"Help! Ahhhh!" a woman sprinted past the Scouts as they ran to where the disturbance was.

"Wow, look at that!" Lita pointed at Gardreth, who was just stood in the middle of the road.

"Scouts - transform!" Luna ordered. The girls nodded.

"Mercury Star Power - Make Up!"

"Mars Star Power - Make Up!"

"Jupiter Star Power - Make Up!"

"Venus Star Power - Make Up!"

"Charon Moon Power - Make Up!"

"Moon Crystal Power - Make Up!"

"What is that thing?" Sailor Charon exclaimed, staring at the robot.

"It looks like something I saw in a sci-fi film once…" Venus murmured absent-mindedly. Gardreth was holding onto the back of a car, laughing as the wheels screeched as the terrified driver tried to escape.

"Whatever it is it's causing trouble! Jupiter Thunder - Crash!" Sailor Jupiter made no hesitation in attacking the robot. Gardreth, distracted by Jupiter's perfectly aimed shot, turned around but didn't even attempt to retaliate. In fact it just stood looking at the Scouts. "Weird." The brunette scratched her head.

"Mars Celestial Fire - Surround!" Mars tried next, however Gardreth just continued to stand still. Mercury was tapping away on her computer when she suddenly exclaimed:

"Watch out - he's absorbing the energy from your attacks!" almost as soon as she made her comment Gardreth's eyes started to glow brightly, then a beam of energy shot out straight at his opponents. The Scouts scattered.

"Confusion Ray - Baffle!" Charon went next, however her attack proved even less successful as the rival easily deflected it with its hand. "Damn, how could I be so stupid?! It's a robot, it hasn't got a mind!" she exclaimed, hitting herself on the forehead.

"My turn! Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury finally managed to gain an advantage by freezing Gardreth's face, whilst Venus wrapped him up using her Love Chain attack.

"Now, Sailor Moon, while we have him trapped!" Mars called out; the blonde Scout leader nodded and her Sceptre appeared.

"Moon Sceptre - Activation!" she called, and sparks flew off Gardreth as he turned into dust.

"Hmmm…you know? That was actually really easy." Jupiter commented.

"Yeah, too easy." Mars said suspiciously.

"Look - up there!" Venus called, pointing into the sky. Nerissa floated down.

"So, you're the Sailor Scouts," she smiled saucily. "I have heard many things about you and now I can see it was all true. You're very powerful."

"Who are you?" Charon demanded. Nerissa smiled, flicking her orange hair over her shoulder.

"All in good time, Charon, all in good time." she vanished. The green-haired Scout turned to the others.

"How did she know I was Charon?" she asked, and the others shrugged.

"Who cares? Let's go get that ice-cream!" Sailor Moon grinned, throwing her arms up in the air. The others rolled their eyes.

"What did I tell you?" Jupiter exclaimed, her arms spread out.

"Typical, she's only thinking about her stomach again." Mars remarked, albeit light-heartedly.

"But Sailor Moon's right, I think we earned it." Charon smiled, linking arms with Serena. "C'mon, let's go get that triple fudge sundae!"

Meanwhile Caliban was stood nearby, watching his newest adversaries.

"So, there they are…the Sailor Scouts." he remarked, looking at each of them carefully. "They don't look like they should be too hard to deal with." his eyes fell on Sailor Charon. "And you, my little kitten, shall soon be facing Lucilius…"