Chapter 13
True Faces . . .

Dark Moon. Nemesis. Source of the Dark Crystal. Home to the Dark Moon Family and hundreds of thousands of survivors of the seemingly endless war against Earth and Crystal Tokyo. It bears a resemblance to Earth. Children, running, playing together in the streets. Structures and buildings stand in city-like formation. However, the similarities end there. The children of Nemesis are dirty and shoeless. Their hair is unkept and patchwork rags hang loosely from malnourished bodies. More often than not, these children are parentless. There are few adults left to see to the needs of the younger generations. Most either left in the warships and are fighting the battle on and for Earth, or have left those selfsame children orphans on a dying planet. Only the ancient or infirm were allowed to remain behind. Water is brackish. Undrinkable. Disease and death are everywhere. The air is oppressive, cold and hardly breathable, carrying the smell of age, decay, and mildew. The weather is dreary, moist. Roads are torn up. The buildings are blackened and gutted. There's no beautiful sunrise or sunset as could be seen on Earth. It is either pitch black or dull grey. The children are pale from the deep haze covering the land, keeping out the light the Sun would normally offer. Little hope rides in these children's eyes. Eyes that once may have seen a beautiful land, lush and green, now see only the bleakness of a youth crushed under the heel of tyranny and injustice. Their only escape? Death . . .

These were the sights that greeted the eight Sailor Scouts, the Prince and the Guardians as they stepped through the Gate of Time, 1000 years in the Future and Light Years from Earth.


Day 10 of Serena's incarceration. Late Evening . . .
"Man, would you take a look at this place . . . " Brandon whispered in awe.

"What is this place?" Sailor Venus asked, reaching for Ryan's hand. "It looks like something out of a horror movie!"

"Mercury, any ideas?" Darien turned to her questioningly.

Ever-faithful computer in hand, she shook her head, "No, but according to this, we're on the surface, not the interior."

His eyes narrowed and he motioned to Sailor Pluto to join them. When she did, fury was plainly evident in his tone. "I thought I told you the center of the planet!"

"Look, Darien," She returned, not ready to take the blame for this incident, "I brought us as close as the Gates would allow."

He nodded once and abruptly moved away from all of them. He called over his shoulder, "I don't like the looks of this place, we'll need to get moving soon. Mercury, try to get a lock on Serena or the Crystal."

Walking to a ledge, Darien stared out at the pitiful sight that confronted him and thought over the last hours. How their search for Serena had led them to Nemesis after the battle with Rubeus had gained them nothing but more questions with his final eerie statement of 'Oh . . . You must mean, my Queen.'
After they returned to the Lab, not even bothering to power down, the Scouts had passed out from exhaustion. Hotaru had made the rounds to make sure that everyone was all right, helping those that needed it as much as she, in her own weariness, could. Then she, too, had gone to bed, but only after a forceful, "GET!" from Darien as she did not want him to be alone. Reenie and the cats sat with Darien on the couch as he watched the incident of the tidal wave recounted on the news. Although no lives had been lost, there were countless millions of dollars in damages and the estimates had only just started coming in.
"Such a waste." Luna commented, shaking her head.
"Better that than millions, perhaps billions, of people dead." Bryce told her as he walked in, overhearing her words. "And if we'd not succeeded, that's what would have happened."
Darien nodded his agreement and added harshly, "All that and we still didn't find Serena."
Reenie looked up at him and whispered reassuringly, "You will, Daddy. I know you will."
He smiled down at the little girl snuggled under his arm. Her unwavering faith in him, faith he himself didn't have, touched him.
"Why don't you rest, Darien?" Bryce asked. He could almost feel the fatigue radiating out from the man. He knew Darien had hardly slept in three days and it showed. He looked terrible. His blue eyes were bloodshot and ringed with black, like someone had hit him, hard. "We've got the computer running replays on everything that occurred during the fight, if something comes up, I'll get you." Darien started to protest, but Bryce interrupted with a raised hand, "Even if we found Serena, in your current condition, you'd collapse before we could get out the front door. And if you made it out the door, you'd scare the poor girl to death on sight the way you look."
Darien grinned weakly, Bryce's attempt at humor actually lightening his mood a little. "All right. I'm going." He stood up, and walked toward the bedroom, carrying Reenie with him. "Let me know if you find anything. And I mean anything!"
"Fine. Just go!" Bryce laughingly agreed and under his breath, added, "Sleep well, my friend."

After Darien laid her down and turned away, Reenie watched him carefully. She heard him sigh softly and she closed her eyes when he laid down next to her and pulled her close. With a knowledge that was well beyond her years, she sensed it was he who needed her. Reenie smiled softly, thinking that, this time, she would protect him from the demons that haunted him.

In his dreams, Darien wandered aimlessly. The emptiness in his soul was not forgotten in the realms of deep sleep. Walking through the clear brightness, he wondered about the scenery, or the lack thereof. There wasn't any. With a touch of irony, he realized, that there was some truth to the old saying that dreams mirrored the spirit. It was on the tail end of that thought that he felt her.
Serena filled him with soul-shaking force, bringing him to his knees with its intensity. "Serena?" He called, stumbling awkwardly to his feet.
"Darien?" Serena whispered, thinking she'd just imagined a reply.
"Yes, Serena! Where are you?"
She stood up and ran in the direction of the voice. And slammed into a clear wall. Beating on it with all her might, "DARIEN!" She screamed.
Running with a fear born from desperation, he saw her . . . Tears streaming down her face, standing, beating her fists against something. "Serena!"
"Darien! My God . . . Get me outta here!"...

Darien sat up quickly, sweat pouring out of him. "Serena!"
"Daddy?"
"Get the others. I know where Serena is and we don't have a lot of time left."
Reenie made a beeline for the door, screaming names for all she was worth.
Darien shook his head and grinned, the first real smile since he'd found Serena gone. Climbing out of bed, he headed to the bathroom, but not before commenting, "Shit, I could've done that." Under his breath, he added, "Ah well, like mother, like daughter, I suppose . . . " The smile lingered when he realized he wouldn't have it any other way.
Bryce and Jeff came barreling through the door. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, they stopped and looked at Darien.
"I know where Serena is. Get Setsuna. It's time to go." They nodded and left, with Bryce going to the console and sounding the emergency alarm.
"Are you sure about this, Darien?" Setsuna asked, concerned.
"Positive. The dream was too vivid, too real. Although I can't now, I could 'feel' her. Serena's there. She's alone and scared. And she's running out of time."
Setsuna frowned, turning away from him. Here she was again . . . Making the conscious decision to break the Cardinal Rule of the Guardians of Time. This was the second time in only a matter of days and she knew she would be in for a lot of trouble when she returned to her post. If she returned, she amended silently. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and nodded to Darien. She was prepared to accept whatever punishment the gods deemed necessary. Serena's life depended on it. All their lives did.
Reenie tugged on Darien's shirt lightly. "Daddy, I want to go."
Kneeling down to her, "Sorry, Munchkin. You can't. You and the cats will stay at the Temple. Chad and Grandpa Hino will take care of you. The danger here has passed. At least, for now."
The look she gave him was pure mutiny. "But I wanna go!" She cried out, not appreciating being left behind.
"Small Lady!"
Reenie knew she'd pushed too far when she heard him use that tone. Eyes downcast, meekly, she replied formally, "Yes, Sir?"
"Your place is here." He raised her chin to look in her eyes. "I'll tell you why. We don't know what kind of danger we may face. We're going to find Serena. We can handle what comes, but it would be twice as dangerous for all of us if you were there. Do you understand?"
Reenie nodded and quietly stated, "But I miss home! And that's where you're going!" She started crying softly. She missed her real Mommy and Daddy terribly.
Darien pulled her into his arms, "We're going to the Future, yes, but to a different world. Serena promised to help your mother, and after we find her, she, we will, all of us, keep her promise. Deal?"
Reenie kicked at the carpet with her toe and sniffed, "Deal."

Darien was brought out of his thoughts by a hand on his arm. A very pale Sailor Saturn gave him a weak smile.

From the moment she stepped through the Door, Sailor Saturn could feel the unbelievable amount of evil resonating from the center of the planet. It was staggering her, making her movements ponderous and slow. At least, it seemed so to her. She felt the heat of Serena's terror overwhelm her. Glancing at Darien, she realized he appeared unaffected. Serena's closeness should have hit him much worse than her. He should have been able to feel her more strongly now than ever before. Looking out over the bleak landscape, Saturn sighed deeply. Why her? Why was she the only one affected? Closing her eyes, she tried to strengthen her link with the Princess, to let her know, in some way, that they were near. It was impossible. Opening the conduit, she realized, with a startling clarity, that it would kill her. Her senses immediately reeled, her head spun wildly, and she nearly fell to her knees but gripped her Glaive tightly to prevent it. Serena was unable to control the darkness consuming her, so Saturn was unable to reach the Princess without letting it consume herself as well. Leaning heavily on her Glaive for support, Saturn rested her forehead against it as she forced the bond with Serena to lessen until she could think coherently once again. Seeing Darien, standing alone and, apparently, lost in thought, Saturn knew she had to do something to open Serena's power to him. But how? She sighed again, wondering why it was left to her. If it would always be left to her. For she knew, the only thing she could do was the one thing that could, and probably would, weaken her further.

Darien gazed at her in concern, "Are you all right?"

"I will be. Darien, Serena's here. I can feel her, but . . . " Her voice trailed off as she saw Bryce coming toward them.

"What's wrong?" He asked when he was near enough.

Saturn shook her head. Seeing the look of almost wild desperation on her face, Bryce called to Jeff who was talking with Mars and Uranus. Jeff joined them, with the rest of the group following. All of them were ready to leave their dismal surroundings behind. Jeff immediately went to Saturn, giving her a supporting arm and she smiled her thanks.

Her voice stronger now, she said, "Kneel down, Darien." He did and she gently placed her hand on his forehead. "Serena's soul is locked within the darkness. You just have to breach your own despair and loneliness to see it." Sailor Saturn closed her eyes, summoned strength from her guardian deity, and called upon all her, as yet, unrealized power to close the gap between Darien and Serena. Muted purple light surrounded her, extended down her arm, and encompassed Darien as well. She drew a deep breath and whispered, "Now, feel her power . . . " The light darkened to a deep violet, then died as Saturn collapsed in Jeff's arms.

The Scouts, watching in awed silence as Hotaru worked her magic, gasped and rushed to help both of them. Helplessly, they saw Darien clutch his head as the agony, loss, and despair that was Serena filled his senses.

Saturn whispered softly, "What he's experiencing will pass soon. The feeling is only temporary."

Pluto rested her hand on Darien's shoulder as he nodded his understanding, trying to regain control.

Bryce, concern heavy in his eyes, watched Darien for a few moments, then walked to Nat and Amy and asked, "Calculations?"

"According to what Darien said, if Serena's time frame holds true, I'd venture to guess this is about the ninth or tenth day she's been here."

Nat handed Amy her computer and she concurred. "It still doesn't leave us a whole lot of time."

"Which way? And how are we supposed to get to the center of the planet?" Mars, always the realist, questioned.

"That way." Darien, slowly walking over to them, pointed East. "We need to get as far away from the city as possible."

"Yeah," Venus put in with a shudder. "This place is like, too creepy."

A short time later, the group, coming together after Darien had sent a scouting team ahead, began making their way through the rubble in the direction he'd indicated. Darien could almost feel the eyes watching them from the shadows of the buildings they passed. Taking rear guard, he thought about what Hotaru had done. He glanced over at the girl leaning on Jeff as she walked. Though all of his memories of both his lifetimes were intact, it was still hard to believe that one girl, setting aside Serena and the Silver Crystal, wielded that much incredible power. But, because of her power, Darien now knew that Serena was in one of the most intense emotional battles of her life. He could feel it, more than that though. He knew she thought she was alone. He shook his head. Dimando was, indeed, destroying her.

After traveling better than an hour and making very little headway, Darien called a halt. They had to scale mounds of debris and it was a welcome respite from the constant tripping, slipping, and falling. None of them wanted to risk using too much energy at once by jumping or running, not to mention calling more attention to themselves than they already had, so the going was slow.

Darien went to a particularly high area in the ruins. Foot propped on a large broken wall, he stared out at the desolation that he sensed, more than actually saw, surrounded them. Night had fallen, and the permanently grey mists turned a deep black, punctuated every now and then by fires that had been lit by the children seeking warmth. He glanced back as Bryce and Brandon came up behind him. "Brandon, take Ryan and Ruark and go ahead. Signal us if you find anything out of the ordinary." Darien laughed bitterly. "Though just about everything here is unusual."

Brand nodded and added, "What about the children that are following us?"

Darien ran his hand through his hair impatiently. They couldn't risk any kids getting in the middle of any fights that might occur. "Send Raye and Lita. Tell them to take half the food we brought and to subtly question the kids about the area. We need information about the road ahead and also how to get to the center of the planet." They turned to leave but Darien, preferring solitude a little longer, remained where he was.

When Lita and Raye returned, Darien rejoined the group. Sailor Jupiter shook her head sadly. "I've never seen such a sorry lot in my life."

"Yeah, well, they'll be too busy to follow us now." Mars put in easily.

"They have more food than they've probably seen in a month, not to mention fresh water."

"What did you find out?" Darien was not in the mood for idle conversation.

"One young boy mentioned that he'd followed his parents down a path not far from here. He said they turned into the woods off the path quite a distance up, past a clearing. He lost them in the forest. And, stranger yet, he said they just 'disappeared'." Darien waited for an explanation, but Lita just shrugged, as if to say, 'beats me'.

"The forest, by the way," Raye chimed in, "is nothing more than rotted trees. At least, according to another's description."

Everyone turned quickly as they heard a piercing whistle coming from the road ahead. Brandon, Ruark, and Ryan came running through the mists within seconds. Mina seized Ryan around the waist, bringing his breakneck speed to an immediate halt.

Panting, he said, "Group of humans, coming this way!"

"A lot of them!" Ruark, taking Raye's hand, ran for the crumbling buildings, silhouetted in the darkness.

As one, the others followed suit. From concealment, they saw the children scatter like mice as a legion of about fifty men came striding, with lethal purpose, through the center of town.

Amy ran a scan and when she read the results, quickly handed the computer to Nathaniel. His eyes widened and he gasped slightly. She promptly put a hand over his mouth to quiet him.

The brigade moved rapidly toward the other side of town. Not stopping once, except to briefly question one boy that hadn't ran to hide. With more than a little dismay, Raye realized, through the muted light on the shattered road, he was the same one that had told her and Lita where his parents had gone. She sighed in relief when the boy pointed the opposite way from which he'd told her and Lita to go. She watched as the boy took off to hide, but only after he threw a smiling thumbs up in their direction. After waiting until no more sounds of footsteps could be heard, the group moved, with a speed that belied their exhaustion, out of the city and onto the path.

"They aren't human." Nat announced once it was deemed safe to talk. "Probably to keep the children from being afraid of them."

"Which means . . . " Bryce started to say, looking at Darien.

"...That Dimando knows we're here." Darien's voice echoed ominously as he shook his head and sighed.

Two hours down the well-worn path, Cameron, taking rear guard, casually walked over to Darien and whispered. "We're being followed."

"What?"

"Uh huh. I've seen glimpses of it. It slows when we do, speeds up when we do, so it's definitely not an animal."

"I'll call a halt soon. It's late and we're all tired anyway. We'll set a trap." Cameron nodded and turned away, but Darien restrained him with a hand. "Keep your eyes on it, but don't let on that we know. And don't tell the girls! We don't need the hotheaded ones seeking vengeance to run off half-cocked."

Ashton, who'd joined the two, smiled knowingly, "True enough! And we'd end up spending half the night just hunting them down."


Day 11 of Serena's incarceration. Predawn hours . . .
Bryce, Darien, and Jeff were set to take last watch. They had no sign of their tracker all night, but were prepared to deal with the intruder if and when the time came. An hour before dawn, Darien froze as he heard twigs snapping behind him. He knew Bryce and Jeff would've signaled on approach and the others would've called out. Cursing himself for ten times the fool, Darien made to give the warning whistle when he felt a sword tip between his shoulder blades and between the joints on his armor.

"Don't move, young Prince. Put your hands out to your sides so I can see them."

With no hesitation, he did as commanded. "Who are you?" He inquired nonchalantly, appearing undisturbed by the presence of the sword. He attempted to take a step forward, but the man pushed the sword a little further into his back, just enough to let Darien know he shouldn't try any other sudden moves.

"Let me first tell you that I know why you're here. You've come for your Lady. I've seen her."

Instinctively, Darien started to turn around, his only thought, not the sword, but Serena. The man anticipated the move and this time Darien could actually feel the tip brush bare skin. "Please, I don't want to hurt you. I've come to help, if you'll allow it."

By way of an answer, he replied, "Serena. How is she? You said you've seen her. How? Who are you?"

"She's not doing well." Darien felt the sword give slightly as the man behind him sighed audibly. "I fear for her. The Dark Crystal is unbelievably powerful. It's destroying all that is right and beautiful in her." He paused a moment, and his tone turned slightly wistful when he spoke again. "Just as it did this entire world."

Darien, then, heard what the other, apparently, had not. He'd not called in and Bryce and Jeff were coming after him.

"Princess Serena, if Dimando has his way, will be nothing more than his pawn, well used and abused on a whim. Then tossed away once he's gotten what he wants."

"What is it that he wants?" Darien was almost afraid of the answer.

"A child. Her child. That way, his future would be secure. And if I know him, he'll succeed. You almost wouldn't recognize her if you saw her now."

Darien knew the statement to be what it was, a figure of speech, but, nonetheless, asked, "What do you mean?"

The man answered simply, "Her spirit is nearly broken."

With a mouth that had suddenly gone dry, Darien barely managed to

whisper, "I know . . . I can feel it . . . "

"He's winning. Did you know that?"

Bryce and Jeff quietly approached the stranger holding Darien at sword point. Bryce motioned with his hand and, with the stealth ingrained in him by years of training, Jeff moved to stand near enough to hear the man's last comment. Bryce drew his sword and brought it to his side.

"If you value your life, I would suggest you slowly put down your blade and step away from him."

The man and Darien looked toward the voice and it gave Jeff the time he needed to take the last few steps toward them.

"Hold!" Darien spoke barely above a whisper, not willing to spook the man and, perhaps, lose the chance to find out as much as he could about Serena.

"Tell them I haven't hurt you. I want to help! Honestly!" The man insisted. Then they could hear voices as the girls and remainder of the Guardians crashed through the nearby brush.

"We're here!" Jeff called out.

As the others emerged from the darkness, Darien repeated, "Hold!" At the same time, the man sighed, shook his head, and dropped the sword to the ground. Darien spun around quickly when he felt the pressure on his back ease, "No! Wait!" He told the group as they came to take the man down.

"I'm sorry to have come to you like this, but I didn't think you'd listen any other way."

"Your name?"

"Riordan."

"And just who the hell are you?" Lita demanded, not at all happy with the looks of the man in front of her. His hair was as black as pitch, he wore black and had a black bandana wrapped tightly around his forehead.

"Sailor Jupiter, I presume?" She nodded and Riordan bowed slightly to her, commenting, "Who I am doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that I want to help you get to Tartarus Castle."

Sailor Neptune gasped, "Tartarus? That's ancient Greek . . . "

"Yes," Riordan replied solemnly, "And a fitting name for it, I suppose."

"What's it mean?" Mina asked, looking very confused. She cringed slightly when she remembered that, even being named for and a direct descendent of the Goddess of Love, she really hated mythology and, as such, never paid much attention in class.

"Hell . . . " Almost everyone answered at once.

"What is Tartarus?" Darien questioned, forestalling any more conversations.

"It's the castle at the center of Nemesis. Where Serena is being held." Before anyone could say anything, Riordan shrugged and added, "It's not as difficult to get there as it is to get inside the fortress itself."

The others were silent as Darien began to pace agitatedly. He was unsure whether or not to trust this man. Deciding on, at least, a temporary course of action, he began to grill the man for information, "How have you seen Serena and how do we know you aren't planning to lead us into a trap?"

Not really wanting to, but seeing no other choice, Riordan ignored the questions and decided the best idea would be to be as brutally honest with them as he could be at this particular moment. He looked Darien straight in the eyes and asserted, "You have precisely two days to reach the young Princess in time to prevent her marriage. And I guarantee you, she will marry him. I know Dimando. He's determined. Already, he so much as says 'come' and, though she hates herself for it, Serena goes to him. He's winning and flaunts his power over her. She does still try to fight, but to her," His eyes momentarily encompassed the entire group, then returned to Darien's, "You are dead. Every one of you."

"How do you know that?" Mars demanded.

She saw the man, in the early dawning light, shrug slightly, "I've seen her, though she's never seen me. I've tried to watch over her, but . . . " He shook his head.

Bryce, silent until now, was not happy with the ambiguous answers they received. "How? And who are you to know so much?"

Riordan turned to Darien who seemed to be looking far away, "I will not answer that, for it's not important. I have told no one of your arrival, and I won't. It's up to you. I'll help you, if you choose. If not, I'll disappear again. Either way, there isn't enough time left for debate!"

Darien turned away from the man and said, "Uranus, Venus, Jeff, Bryce, with me. The rest of you," He pointed at Riordan. "Watch him."

The five made their way to a secluded area in the thicket and, before they'd even stopped, Haruka crossed her arms and told them, "I don't trust him."

"Neither do I." Darien sighed. "But we really don't have a choice now. He's seen us."

Jeff nodded, "If we let him go, the results could be worse than disastrous."

"If he knows we're here," Mina added her own thoughts to theirs, "You can rest assured others do as well!"

Riordan remained silent while Darien stepped away to speak with the others. He steadfastedly refused to answer the questions thrown at him until Darien returned with the decision of his fate. He knew he'd placed himself in a precarious position by coming here, but it was the only way . . .

When the five returned, Sailor Uranus eyed Riordan angrily a moment then walked over to where Saturn leaned on a tree stump. Venus followed her as Darien moved in front of Riordan. "We accept your help, but you are to stay with me, Bryce, or Jeff at all times. I don't trust you. None of us do. One slip, one wrong step, and we won't hesitate to make it your last!"

Riordan breathed an inaudible sigh of relief and almost smiled. "Agreed! But we need to get going." After gathering up their belongings, they took to the path once again. Riordan told Bryce and Darien, "A mile or so up, this branches off in four directions. Take the third route to the right. Another few miles or so, there's a hidden path about twenty meters West, through the forest, that leads to a mountain."

After a few minutes of silence, Darien asked the question that had been eating away at him for, what seemed like, days. "What has happened to Serena?"

Riordan shook his head, "Dimando is determined to destroy her."

"Why? What did she do to make him hate her?"

"Serena? She didn't do anything and that's the point. In Crystal Tokyo, she feared him, but still defied him. She refused, even after you were hurt, to give in to his demands. And if anything infuriates Dimando more than not getting what he wants, then I don't know what it is. And his obsessions travel well beyond that of a normal man." The bitterness in his tone was unmistakable.

Darien frowned, almost immediately losing track of the conversation. "I was hurt? Obsession?"

Riordan nodded and thought back to the first few weeks of the attack on Earth. "The warships went to Earth, filled with our people and the crystalline battle droids. They carried grand hopes of taking over Crystal Tokyo and the Palace." He shook his head and relief was immediately evident in his tone. "It was not to be. The Inner Scouts protected the Palace, while the Outer Scouts took down a ship at a time. Your guard had gone to aid the Outer Scouts and you were left alone in the control room." Riordan's voice dropped and a shadow crossed his features. "Dimando thought he could win the Queen if he killed you. To have her, would mean he could subjugate the people and very literally own Earth. In fact, once he thought the trap to kill the King had succeeded, he captured her. Right under everyone's noses. His people came, took her, and left. It was a relatively simple plan, I suppose, but I digress. The Queen knew you weren't dead, though." He smiled a little. "She always knew."

"How was I hurt?"

"Six assassins. You fought them all off-killed them all, but not before they managed to wound you severely."

Darien spent a few minutes silently digesting all that Riordan had said. With an irony so bitter he could almost taste it, he thought about such a wondrous Future he and Serena had together, he just couldn't wait to get started. "How did she escape Dimando?"

Riordan, empathetic toward Darien for what, he knew, the man must be feeling, answered honestly, "I released her. Though Dimando doesn't know it."

"Who are you to know so much?" Darien repeated to him. It had been asked several times, but had remained unanswered.

Riordan shook his head, looking far away, to a time and place that had no meaning in the realities of today, and whispered, "No one now. No one at all." He sighed, shaking off the thoughts of the Past. "The Outer Scouts found you and the last thing I heard before returning here was that you were recovering."

"And Serena? Reenie said she was hurt as well."

"When Dimando faced her the last time, he was determined to have her. She'd gone looking for your daughter, who'd disappeared. She was alone in the Outer Gardens and Dimando wanted her. She wanted peace and not him, if you take my meaning." Darien clenched his fists to tightly control the fury that was filling him again. Riordan knew, watching him closely, that the man would kill Dimando with his bare hands if he had the chance. "Well, he tried. And would have succeeded had she not been wearing the Silver Crystal. It surrounded her in its protectiveness, but only after her fear took over." Darien glanced at Riordan with eyes, midnight blue in his anger, that flashed menacingly. Riordan was briefly reminded of the story he'd heard as a child, about certain snakes freezing their prey with a look and then devouring them. He was certainly glad that he was not the prey Darien sought. Riordan nodded slowly, not wanting to unleash the 'snake', but wanting Darien to know what happened, "Like I said, he almost succeeded in getting what he wanted from her." As an afterthought, he added, "That's why I wouldn't put anything passed him now. With Dimando, anything is fair game and Serena is the goal, so to speak."

"What happened next?" Bryce probed. He had been listening to the story, seeing it unravel in his mind's eye, but was reminded more of horror stories told around campfires than something that would happen in the Future.

"The Crystal flashed. I remember being nearly blinded by the light. And when it dimmed, there she was, calmer than you can imagine, unafraid, with the Crystal resting in her hands. The Sailor Scouts, all of them, having felt her or the Crystal, of which I'm unsure, came running through the Outer Garden to find her. Dimando, perhaps sensing he was losing his prize, began to send his own Dark Power into the light surrounding her. The Outer Scouts attempted to take on Dimando, but he sent his best warriors after them and they were wearing down. The Inner Scouts, seeing Serena losing power by slow degrees against Dimando's onslaught, turned their own power to the Silver Crystal . . . " Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Riordan mused aloud, "An interesting object, that . . . " He glanced at Darien out of the corner of his eye before proceeding, not exactly sure how he'd react to what happened next. "There was a huge explosion. Day suddenly became night. Everyone was pushed back and away from Serena with the power created by it and the heat radiating from it. Serena screamed for what seemed endless moments, then abruptly stopped. When the proverbial dust cleared she was totally encased in crystal, a look of eternal peace on her careworn face. The locket, holding the Silver Crystal, rested in her folded hands on her chest."

Darien's eyes widened slightly and he looked at Sailor Pluto as she joined them. With this new knowledge, he gained a better insight of the events in their own time. "That would mean . . . "

"Yes, that's why Reenie was sent to find Serena and the Crystal. That, at least, was the primary reason, but, also, for her protection. Too many attempts were made on the lives of the Royal Family. Hers was the one life none of us were willing to play with. You see, nothing we tried would or could free the Queen, and Reenie's true protection, her birthright, was locked away with her mother. We tried everything. Saturn even tried to reach Serena. Nothing. For all intents and purposes, she was dead. Except for the fact that she is very much alive. All of us could feel her. Especially you, Raye, and Hotaru." Setsuna paused, gathered her thoughts, and repeated softly, "Alive she is, and even now, the others, without me, are working to release her, even as they rotate keeping the shield around the Palace in Crystal Tokyo intact."

"Who sent Reenie and why?"

"You and I did. It was your command and I gave her the Crystal Time Key to travel with. Remember, I took the Key from Serena before we traveled to the Moon Kingdom, and placed it back in my Staff. Fortunately, the events of the moment were moving too fast for anyone to wonder about it, as I wasn't prepared to answer any questions."

Darien frowned. To him, it didn't make any sense. "If you knew who Serena was, why didn't you just ask her for help?"

"I would have, but I am forbidden to step beyond the Gate unless summoned. By the time I was, it was too late to do anything for the Queen, because Serena couldn't use the Crystal."

Bryce was curious about something that no one had yet to answer. "What happens to the Earth that allows for the creation of Crystal Tokyo?"

She shook her head sadly, "All I can tell you is that Earth, and its people, enter a deep stasis. A freeze. And Serena uses the power of the Silver Crystal to reawaken it."

"And the Nemesis Family?" Darien queried, troubled by her words and the events to come.

Riordan glanced quickly at Sailor Pluto, unsure if she knew him or not, then continued for her. "We fled Earth. Some didn't want to be ruled. They wanted to rule themselves, govern their own destinies. Others who left, feared the power of the Silver Crystal and its purification. Then there were some of us that just didn't want to be left behind, alone, and without our families, so we went because they did." He smiled bitterly. "Such fools we were . . . " Riordan shook his head, remembering, "We came here. It was beautiful, but, soon after, we realized how unstable that beauty was and thus began our fight to return to Earth." Riordan knew there was much he was omitting. Especially Wise Man's arrival and the Dark Crystal, but he didn't want to reveal all of his secrets yet. If he did, he was afraid his usefulness would be gone.

Sailor Uranus had no use for the man who, she still believed, would betray them when they least expected it. Upon hearing the better part of his last words, and, with undisguised sarcasm, muttered, "It's absolutely amazing how much you know about all that's occurred on Earth and here . . . "

Riordan was unaffected by her implications, "Let's just say it was my job to be well informed . . . About Past, Present, and Future events on both worlds."

Darien smiled slightly when he saw Uranus' eyes narrow. She looked as if she wanted, with all her heart, to strike the man, but whether for his arrogance or for his evasive answers, he was unsure. He met her eyes and firmly shook his head. Turning briskly on her heel, silently fuming,

Uranus stormed off, seeking out Michiru to blow off steam. Darien's smile widened and he knew, without a doubt, that no matter what happened in the Future, some things would never change . . . And that particular Sailor Scout was one of them. "Do you know who sent those men to the city?"

Riordan looked surprised by Darien's question and, in a rush, asked, "How many and what did they look like?"

"There were about fifty or so. Droids . . . " Mercury started to give him the details but he interrupted her.

"Disguised as humans . . . It's a tracking party."

Riordan started to say more but Jeff walked up and told Darien, "We need to rest. Most of the girls are half dead on their feet."

Pointing off the path, Riordan said, "There're caves a short distance away, in eyesight of the path, that are large enough for everyone."


After the respite, they headed out again and Riordan continued his earlier thoughts, "We're being hunted. The troop that went to the city was looking for you. That's the only explanation. I thought I was the only one aware of your arrival. I should've known better. All I can assume, since nothing has shown itself on the trail, is that they don't know to search here yet. I just hope it holds up." He was reflective for several moments. "It's five hours past Dawning now. Dimando gave Serena two weeks. I say that there is no more than two days left, for one reason." He looked at Darien, "That way you're safe. It gives a little leeway in case something goes wrong."

"But that type of marriage wouldn't be held as sacred, even if we were late, would it?" Mina asked as she and Ryan joined Darien, Bryce, and Riordan.

Riordan smiled, "Don't underestimate him. You can bet that Dimando will waste no time once the vows are spoken. He's determined to change the Future to his own design." He shrugged, "Serena's the key . . . We're being hunted. Dimando knows you're here. He hasn't seen me in almost two days. He knows I've betrayed him."

Mina was truly terrified by Riordan's words. She met Darien's eyes with tears gathering in her own and whispered, "Oh God . . . Serena . . . "

"Why is he so determined to marry her?" Bryce asked. When Darien looked at him sharply, he shrugged a little sheepishly, "I'm sorry, Darien, I don't mean to be brutal but it makes little sense, don't you think? I mean, if he wants a child, you don't have to be married to conceive."

Darien's eyes narrowed alarmingly and he had the sudden inclination to do bodily harm as this was ground Bryce should not have tread on.

"As angry as you are about the question, it's only a natural one, Darien." Amy said, trying to avoid any fire works, then, with a shrug, added. "I was curious myself."

"Mainly," Riordan explained, "because, knowing what you do of Serena, if she was married, would she consider leaving him for anyone else? Even you, Prince of Earth? If nothing else, your Lady is honor-bound. And Dimando intends to use that, one of her greatest strengths, as his finest weapon against her."

Though it infuriated him to no end, Darien knew the wisdom behind Riordan's words. Serena probably wouldn't leave a man she felt she was bound to by vows. Especially if she thought, perhaps, there might be a child from the union. If the issue was only force, there'd be no issue. But vows? Darien shook his head, it was maddening logic, but logic Serena would likely follow. Obviously, Dimando knew Serena's mind well.

"He is determined to possess her." Riordan interrupted Darien's thoughts. "Body and Soul. His obsession is strong and once he's accomplished what he's set out to do, he'll leave her as nothing more than a shell of her former self."

It was then that Cameron came jogging back up the trail in front of them. He turned to Riordan and angrily demanded. "I thought you said this led to an entryway? There's nothing but a solid wall, and, of course, the mountain." He looked at Darien, "The perfect place for an ambush . . . "

Riordan shook his head as Darien's eyes narrowed and Bryce began to draw his sword. "The wall is the passageway. It leads inside the mountain. Inside, there's a transport room that takes you to the center of Nemesis. Not to Tartarus, but about a day's walk there." Riordan looked at Darien imploringly. "I swear to you, it's not a trap." He gripped Darien's arm. "I could have betrayed you long before now if I'd wanted. Please, you must trust me!"

Darien shrugged the man's hand off and sighed. To the others he said, "Even if it is a trap, we've no choice. Serena is there and it is to there we must go. There's no turning back, even if we wanted to."

Twenty minutes later, Raye eyed Riordan with something akin to disgust. "And just how are we supposed to open that?" She asked, pointing at the very tall, very solid, wall.

Lita shrugged, "I guess I could try blasting it open . . . "

"That's not necessary," Riordan replied, hiding a smile behind his hand. "There's a door in the mountainside, to the left." He turned and pointed, "Through the brush, that leads to the interior."

"This isn't a mountain at all!" Amy exclaimed in awe.

Riordan confirmed her intuition. And, as she started inputting information into her computer, said, "Correct. This is the old fortress. Dimando built this when he first began his leadership. On Earth, he was a member of Royalty. And here, he was just the type of person the unruly lot needed to take command. Charismatic and strong willed. The keys to bringing order to the chaos. He made many promises and most of them, he kept."

"Making for a good leader, as well." Jeff commented thoughtfully.

Riordan nodded and the group stopped. They had come to a junction in the long hallway.

"Well? Which way?" Bryce asked.

"Left. Last door at the end of the hall after going down the circular staircase." Riordan answered and touched Darien's arm. "But before we go, though, I want you to know this trip is not a pleasant one. This type of Teleport is not physical in nature. It's difficult to explain, except to say that it's easy only for those who travel the paths of darkness."

"Like you?" Haruka couldn't help but add.

He shook his head. "It's hard on me, as well. Even after using it many years." Riordan looked at Darien. "I just wanted you to be prepared."


Late that night, Darien thought about what Riordan had said. 'Prepared.' That was the word he'd used. Half asleep, he rested his head against a wall near the portal room. Nothing could have prepared them. The trip had been worse than hard on the entire group. They had traveled in pairs, and, during transport, felt as if their bodies were ripped apart form the inside outward, so intense was the pull. Something about a dimensional change, from what Amy had said. What made matters worse for him was that almost immediately on arrival, his head began to ache with Serena's pain. She was near, but nothing he could do would reach her. It was then, drifting between awake and asleep that he heard, "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!" He jumped to his feet and ran to the next room to see Jupiter holding Riordan down on the ground by the throat. Darien gave the man a cursory glance and pulled Jupiter off of him. "Calm down, damn it!" He yelled as she struggled against him. Fighting to keep her back, he failed to see what the others had.

"I told you!" Haruka said, crossing her arms and smiling smugly. She was the only one, at that particular moment, who could find a voice to speak.

Of course, they were all expecting a trap. But this? Pushing a very angry Lita back for Ruark to hold her, Darien turned to the man still sitting on the floor. In his sleep, the black bandana he wore tightly on his forehead had come off, revealing a black upside down crescent moon, boldly displayed in the dim lighting. The mark of the Dark Moon Family. Darien clenched his fists, bitter anger and frustration flowed through him like water. In the same smooth, menacing tone Raye had come to recognize, Darien whispered, "Answer the question, Riordan. If that's your name."

The man sighed in defeat and sat up. Leaning against the wall, he pulled the bandana off from around his neck and sent it sailing across the room. "You're right. It's not my name." He met Darien's eyes with no fear in his own. "My name is Safir. Prince Safir. I'm Dimando's brother."

Collective gasps could be heard from the group. "Great! Just great!" Raye muttered loudly. "Just what we needed. Dimando's brother's come to escort us directly to the lion himself!"

Darien said nothing. He closed his eyes slowly. Rage, shock, and fear, fear for the others in his charge, not to mention Serena, slid into his soul like a hot knife in warm butter. Expecting the well-laid trap to spring at any moment, the Scouts and Guardians surrounded Darien protectively and Bryce advanced on Safir.

Seeing Bryce move toward him, Safir stood up. "I haven't brought you here to take you to Dimando. It's him I've betrayed." He paused and waited for Darien to meet his eyes. "I turned my back on my brother. I just . . . " He shook his head. "I just didn't believe in what he was doing anymore. I never really have."

"That's how you knew so much." Bryce accused as Darien moved to stand next to him and in front of Safir.

Safir nodded. "I know more as well." Seeing he was not going to be throttled, at least at that moment, he began to pace, attempting to explain his actions. "You see, though my brother was always the way he is, Nemesis wasn't always like you see it now. Nemesis was beautiful when we arrived here. But it was an unstable beauty. As unstable as its settlers. It was lush and green, but, paying no heed to its inhabitants, severe storms would sweep the land, decimating everything. We built strongholds, but after the first 200 years, our population was less than half of its original numbers. Shortly after that, the Wise Man appeared."

"Wise Man?" Sailor Mercury inquired.

Safir nodded again and waved off the interruption, "An evil being, to say the least. My brother was angry. And Wise Man brought a solution to his dilemma." He raised his hand to those that looked like they were about to say something, "I'm not making excuses for his behavior, only stating facts. I never agreed with him, but, as I was his only heir, I had to obey him or risk his wrath." He sighed and looked away, seeing nothing but his youth drift through his mind. "I did love him. How could one not love his own brother? But Wise Man had the one thing Dimando did not... Power. The power to return to Earth. The one promise Dimando was unable to fulfill to our people. He brought with him the Dark Crystal and immediately gained favor with my brother. I could do nothing to prevent it, though I tried. It was Wise Man's idea to take Crystal Tokyo by force instead of asking to return. I begged Dimando, time and again, to allow me to go to Earth as an emissary. He claimed I was too soft and," Safir paused in his pacing and shrugged, looking at the group, "perhaps I am." When he continued in his pacing, Safir seemed slightly agitated with the events that he was relating, "When Dimando took the Queen captive, I spoke with her, against Dimando's wishes, of course. She was truly beautiful. Inside as well as out. I released her and, when I did, she touched my arm and said that all would work out and that it was people like me that would save both worlds. Not people like her or my brother." Safir sighed, he was still unsure what she meant by that, because, as far as he was concerned, he was a nobody. Less than a nobody, if Dimando caught him.

"Hmm . . . Sounds like something Serena the Ditz would say." Raye put in, with only a hint of her normal mocking tone.

Safir turned to her heatedly, "She is not a ditz!"

Mina nudged Darien and, with a slight smile, whispered, "Looks as if Serena's won another heart."

To Darien, there was no mistaking the tone of respect that Safir used when referring to Serena. And the more the man spoke, the more Darien could feel his tension lessen to the point where, with Mina's words, he grinned at her and nodded his agreement But he couldn't help but think, though, glancing at Bryce, that Serena had won too many hearts.

"It wasn't like that!" Safir had overheard her comment and didn't like what she insinuated. "She was kind to me. No one had ever been that nice without wanting something from me. She didn't even ask to be released."

Raye raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?" She was sure she'd heard wrong. That definitely did not sound like Serena.

He nodded, "When I first made the offer, she refused to go. She knew what Dimando wanted from her, but was determined to end the war. Serena was sure she could make him understand. She was also sure that her husband was alive and well and could handle things without her."

Safir looked at Darien, "You had the Crystal, and she knew it would protect you." His eyes grew shadowed as he relayed what happened next, "It took very little convincing to get her to leave after Dimando tried to attack her. But," Safir grinned then, as if relating a secret only he knew. In truth that was precisely what he was doing, "At almost the exact moment he was with her, the Outer Scouts began attacking his personal ship. He was called away and absolutely furious at the interruption. And Serena, more than a little shaken, escaped to Earth."

"How did we manage to attack his ship in particular?" Hotaru asked, her brows furrowed a little as a thought occurred to her.

Safir grinned, then shrugged, "I moved it into point blank range. I knew what Dimando was about and did everything this side of straight sabotage to prevent it."

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Uranus questioned, walking up to him and looking him straight in the eyes. She still didn't like the man, and nothing he could say would change that.

Sailor Pluto nodded. "He does. I was there. I spoke with Serena, I should say Serenity as she assumed that name when she took the throne," There were several raised eyebrows at her comment, but she just smiled and waved off the questioning looks with, "She still prefers Serena over her formal name. She told me she had help, but wouldn't say whom to protect his identity." Setsuna glanced briefly at Safir, "She did say, however, he was close to the source, but wouldn't elaborate."

"I didn't ask her to protect me, but I guess she knew that my life would be forfeit if Dimando knew who'd been subtly thwarting his plans." Safir began pacing again. Frustration was apparent in his tone. "It wasn't easy to figure out what my brother's next plans were. Once the little girl disappeared, Rubeus and the Sisters were sent to the Past to find her. I was sent here. Then, Dimando's orders came in . . . Dresses. A wedding gown, a ring. White, everything. I put the pieces of the delicate puzzle in my hands together, did as I was told, and sat back to wait. At first, Dimando wanted the Crystal and the child, thinking that Serena would follow her to the ends of the Universe to find her, even not knowing that she was her daughter. But it was always Serena and her Crystal that he wanted. After everything that happened in Crystal Tokyo, Dimando reasoned that the easiest way to accomplish his goal was to get Serena when she was young. Young and, perhaps, more susceptible to his influence. Whether blatant or subtle. I don't know how they conceived the plan to bring her here. I wasn't privy to that information, all I know is that they succeeded. I told you, since she's been here, I've tried to watch over her, but no one, under strict orders was allowed to talk with her at all. If I, or anyone else set to guard, had broken the order, death would have been a pleasant out compared to what would have happened." Safir stopped a minute and looked around at his attentive audience. So much had happened, he didn't know where to begin to make them believe his words. There was one other thing that wasn't common knowledge and he hoped it could be confirmed. "At the very last moment, I heard of the plot to eliminate the King. I left immediately to follow the assassins. I found where they'd penetrated the shield and entered the Control Room. However, I only got to you in time to help with the last two. You were already wounded and thought I was there to finish you off. I set the alarm so the Outer Scouts could find you and covered you with my cape before I left."

Setsuna's eyes widened slightly. "Color?" She demanded.

Safir almost sighed in relief, "Midnight blue."

She nodded once to Darien's questioning glance and shrugged, "All you would say is that someone was trying to help us."

"So it was you, Prince Safir!" A deep, whispering voice called out from behind them.

At the sound, the group spun around, moving instinctively to defensive stance. Safir gasped audibly, "Wise Man!"

"Yes," he answered conversationally. "And I tried to tell Dimando it was you, but he refused to believe that his own brother would betray him." Wise Man's gaze shifted until it rested on the Guardians, and then, one Guardian in particular, "So good to see you again, Bryce!"

Bryce's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Hmm . . . I guess you 'wouldn't' recognize me in this form." Wise Man shimmered slightly in the muted light.

Eighteen pairs of eyes stared in mute, utterly dumbfounded, shock.

"Sunstarr . . . " Bryce choked out, breaking the near tangible, silence.

Safir, instantly recognizing the true trap for what it was, grabbed the nearest Scout to him, Uranus, and disappeared with her.

Neptune called her name and Darien spun around to try and halt the escape, but stopped when he heard, "It's too late. They're gone, but I know where they go and they will be dealt with as well."

Darien turned around in time to see Sunstarr smile. None of the others had yet to move or utter a word. The bizarre events around them were progressing so rapidly that it was taking long moments to comprehend the significance.

"Wha . . . ? As well . . . ?" Darien shook his head, trying to clear it, and demanded, "Who the hell are you!"

Sunstarr smiled again. A gross caricature of a smile that caused the girls to shudder. Glancing at each other quickly, each of the girls knew what the other was thinking. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. Not to mention the fact that the room was too small to fight in. Any attack magical in nature would likely take out some of their own. And that was not an option.

"Perhaps," Sunstarr replied, looking at the young Prince, "You should ask your . . . Um . . . Friends . . . that question." Saying that, he snapped his fingers. A darkness so deep it was corporeal filled the room, along with a nearly deafening silence.

Darien, feeling the Dark Power slam into him with enough force to sunder him in two, hit the floor, unconscious. For their part, the Scouts had immediate loss of all faculties. Within moments, though, an eerie light emanated from deep within the walls themselves.

Sailor Mercury, seeing Darien on the floor, turned to go to him, but Nathaniel gripped her roughly from behind and slammed her back into his chest, holding her immobile.

"It's too late for him . . . " As Sunstarr spoke, he shimmered again and Wise Man finished, "And for you ladies as well." He looked around, satisfied with what he saw.

Sailor Venus struggled violently against Ryan's hands. He held her against him, her arms bound with one of his hands. With his other, he covered her screams. Sailor Mars had attempted to get away, but Ruark had caught and pinned her to the ground, face down. Brandon held Sailor Jupiter down on the ground, a phenomenal feat, to say the least. Her arms were pulled up behind her back to almost the breaking point. The curses she laid on him would have made a ruffian sailor blush. Cameron held his sword at Pluto's throat, with her back held securely against a wall. Ashton had Neptune in much the same manner and she glared daggers at him that she was sure would have pierced his very soul, if he had one.

As for Sailor Saturn, she was firmly held in Jeff's unyielding grip and tears streamed down her face. The instant he'd picked her up, she'd banished her Glaive until she could reach it again, because she knew what was going on, though her heart still tried to deny it . . . She had only one coherent thought before she lost consciousness when Jeff stepped through the portal . . .

Betrayed . . . By those sworn to protect . . .