"Sailor Angel and Sailor Phosphora: The Fight Against Catastrophe"
Chapter Eleven
By Angel Sentier and M'Lila Cronk
"That's right, mom," Usagi was saying into the telephone, guarded by Minako, while everyone else was with Rei in the fire room. "I'm staying over at Rei's tonight. We're studying." She rolled her eyes at her mother's exclamations of joy. "Anyway, I'll be home tomorrow. Bye!" She gave Minako a thumbs-up and the two of them went to join the others.
Rei was kneeling at the fire, chanting in a low voice. Usagi and Minako sat on one of the mats surrounding the room. Mamoru instantly wrapped an arm around his Odango. Zara saw Seiya notice this and shake his head. She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Rei sighed in exasperation, slumping slightly. "I can't find her."
"Try again!" said Zara.
"She's not on Earth!"
The others were taken slightly aback. "Not on Earth? How is that possible?"
"Yeah," said Makoto. "All of the other bad guys have had an earth base, or at least were in orbit around it. Except for Galaxia, but that was different."
"Well, this guy's different," Rei said. "I can't even sense him in this solar system."
"If he's not in the solar system, how could he attack us? He couldn't be that powerful," said Ami.
"Perhaps he is in the system," Setsuna said. "Only he's in a different dimension, or on a different plain. It's the perfect way to hide, right in sight."
There were a few groans. "That means we have to go to the Time Gate again," Minako muttered. "No offence to your place of work, Setsuna-san, but we face enough danger without the added risk of being lost in time space."
"If it's the only way to find Celeste, though..." said Usagi, trailing off.
"I have an idea," said Ami, standing up. "Let's go to the area where Warrior Wind saw Catastrophe take Celeste... Ah, what did you say your name was?"
"I didn't," intoned Wind. "It's Pandora." She rolled her eyes, showing some form of emotion for the first time. "My creators had a sense of humor. At least they didn't choose 'Galatea.'"
Only Ami, Michiru, and Haruka got the reference. "Okay," said Ami. "Pandora-san can take us back there and I can run a search with my computer to see if there was a rift left in the fabric of time space. Setsuna-san..."
She nodded. "Yes, I will run my own... search."
"Perhaps, even if the rift was sealed, we can find some leftover residue of where he went. Then we can track him."
"Great!" said Usagi. She lifted her delicate eyebrows as everyone turned to look at her. "What?"
"Usagi-chan, you will stay here with Mamoru-san," Luna said, voicing everyone's thoughts.
"What??" she whined. "But why?"
"You know why, Odango," Seiya said, not unkindly. He exchanged a look with Mamoru for a spilt-second, then looked away. Only Zara caught it and she wondered what was causing all this sudden heightened interest.
"He's right," Mamoru said, albeit a little grudgingly. "You must be kept away from danger."
"A few of the others should stay with them as well, I think," Artemis said.
"We'll stay," Seiya instantly volunteered for all three Starlights. Taiki gave him a sharp look, but chose to hold his tongue.
A plan taking shape, the remaining group of senshi set out once again for the streets, with Pandora leading the way.
To be continued...
