Operion the Destroyer

By Trey Hayes

Phase 4

Minako waited anxiously out side Chubiusa's bed chamber along with Michiru and Haruka. The Fear and anger was plain on Minako's face but she couldn't think about being angry right now, her thoughts were on praying the queen did not loose her life. But she was angry. No, angry wasn't the word. She was Pissed. She couldn't believe that Chibiusa deliberately went back on her word after the conversation they had had earlier. They both knew the importance of what must be done if Venus and the others had failed in stopping this invasion. Chibiusa was the only one who could operate the silver crystal, the planets last defense, and now she lay comatose and Venus was still no closer to stopping the Cryons. Her nerves were shot. All Minako wanted to do was sit in a nice relaxing hot bubble bath and sip a nice cup of Honey and Chamomile tea, but she had a job to do.

Minako's head jerked upright and she turned and left the archway that lead to the queens chambers.

Haruka and Michiru looked her way and soon followed after her.

" So what's the plan now?" asked Michiru and she and Haruks caught up with Minako, who was walking at a fairly brisk pace.

Minako stopped and didn't move. Her head dropped and she stared at the ground for a few moments. Slowly she began to loose her composure and tears wet the ground that she was staring at. Minako fell to the ground weeping and sobbing , covering her eyes as if ashamed that she was crying. Her long blonde hair covered her back, shoulders, face and feet as she sat there. Michiru knelt down next to Minako and brushed her hair from her face with one hand and then wiped a tear from her face with the other.

"It is going to be alright." she said soothingly wiping another tear from Minako's face. "We'll find away do eradicate these things from existence."

Minako looked up at her and tried to force a smile to come across her face. With a half hearted effort Minako tried to stand, but with the assistance of Haruka, who unbeknownst to her was behind her giving her silent support, helped her get the rest of the way to her feet and they walked slowly down the hall toward the kitchen to get a cup of tea and talk strategy , at the suggestion of Michiru.

A black star shaped vessel made its way across the face of the moon. It had jagged spires that came out of it at all angles and looked more like a free formed crystal more then anything else. Aboard the vessel were a few hundred or so Cryons performing task on the various levels on the ship. On the main level sat a dark skinned man with short curly green hair. His eyes were set a little further apart then a normal persons and looked like those of a large cat. His eye brows were arched he had very high cheekbones. His lips were thin and didn't look like they belonged on his face. He was a stocky looking individual and wore a long black coat that covered his entire body, including his feet. The man sat in a chair and looked into an oval screen and watched the shape of the Earth coming ever closer.

"We should be entering the Earth's atmosphere in the next 22 hours sire." one of the Cryons said as it used its clawed hands to navigate the ship toward the blue planet.

The man nodded in acknowledgement but never took his eyes off the screen.

'At last,' the man thought to himself, 'The planet Earth. I've herd many things about it from different sources across the galaxy. Finally it will be mine for the taking. This solar system was harder the conquer then any other I have taken thus far, especially the planets that make up the outer part of the solar system, but it will make my final victory all the more rewarding. ' He leaned forward in the seat, not taking his eyes off the image of the planet. He had already sent forces there first for observation and data analysis. When the Cryons were unable to contact the ones they sent ahead of them,they decided it was time to take hostile action.

"Captain Operion?" a cryon walked up to him and stopped.

"What is it?" Operion said with out blinking or turning to face him.

"We have a problem sir…" they cryon said as his voice kind of trailed off. He used one of his clawed fingers to push a button on a control panel that was behind Operions chair. The image of the Earth disappeared and was replaced by a view of the last battle between the Sailor Senchi and the Cryons.

Operion watched the fighting across the screen and recognized Sailor Venus from previous data. When he caught a look at Neptune and Uranus his eyes went wide.

"It seems that 2 of the 3 warriors we fought when we first entered the solar system are now on Earth and have joined the queens side." the cyron said, " but there is good news.." he continued. Pressing the same button again the image of the Cryon slashing Neo Sailor Moon in the back came across the screen.

"According to my sources, the pink haired one is the Queen of the Earth…" the Cryon informed Operion.

Operion's face relaxed more until he flashed a wicked smile. He turned for the first time and faced his subject.

"As soon as we land on the planets surface, I want a strike force assembled and an attack launched on the palace. I want no one left alive, except her." Operion said as he pointed to the picture of Uranus. He took off his right glove and pulled back the sleeve of his jacket to reveal a large scar that came from his wrist and appeared to go the length of his arm. He rubbed the healed wound as he stared at the image of the woman. "I want to personally make her scream, and then silence her for good."

Minako, Michiru and Haruka all sat in the kitchen sipping their tea formulating a plan of action to try and defeat the Cryons. They knew that the power of the eternal scepter was the only means they knew of so far of killing the creatures, most likely seconded by the Imperium Sil;ver Crystal. Minako told them of the battle between the Inner Senchi and the 1 Cryon creature and how it turned out, answering Michiru and Haruka's questions of where everyone else was. As they continued, one of the Queen's chamber maids came into the kitchen and cleared her throat. All 3 senchi turned and looked in her direction.

"The queen is awake and seeks your counsel." the maid said bowing respectfully. The 3 rose from their seats and exited the kitchen followed by the maid.

Haruka was looking around uneasily. She leaned in a little closer to Michiru and whispered…

"All this formality is driving me crazy." Michiru giggled and hushed her long time partner as the walked through the door of the queens bedchamber.

Chibiusa lay in the bed, her torso propped upward by 3 or 4 pillows. Her face was pale and every once in a while her face would grimace in pain from the wound to her back. She watched her friends walk in the room and all bow respectfully to their queen. Chibiusa waved away the hired help and when they were all out and the door shut began to speak.

"Any word on how much longer we have until they reach the Earths atmosphere?" She asked

"None Yet," Minako replied looking Chibiusa in they eyes, "but that right now is not what I want to talk about"

Chibiusa's facial color went about two shades whiter then it was to begin with.

"I told you to stay in the castle! Why did you no do as I asked??!" Minako said, the tone and volume of her voice ranging between anger and sadness.

Chibiusa dropped her head down, her bangs covering her eyes.

" I Had to help" she replied.

"But you know that we cant risk you being in danger. You were almost killed for God sakes!"

"I STILL AM THE QUEEN VENUS!" he majesty declared. Minako stepped back, surprised by the tone chibiusa was able to produce. " I have to aid in the protection of my people." she finished in more quiet voice.

As Minako and the Queen continued talking, Haruka stared out the window that was to her left. The city of Crystal Tokyo looked a horrible mess. Buildings were toppled, roads destroyed and there appeared to be no living beings walking anywhere. As she looked out the window she noticed a flash in the distance. The flash didn't go away as she thought it should have. In fact it seemed to be getting closer and closer and turned from a flash into a twinkle.

Becoming more concerned, she completely turned away from the others and watched the unusual phenomenon come closer. By the time it occurred to her what exactly was going on, it was too late.

"Everyone DOWN!" she ordered grabbing Michiru and throwing her to the ground. She covered her body with her own to protect her.

Minako turned in time to catch a glimpse of the object just before it hit. The explosion was deafening. Its force was tremendous as well. When Minako opened her eyes again she laid half on the floor and half propped up against the wall. Her head was spinning and her vision blurred. Once she was able to concentrate to get up she discovered that her left leg was covered by a slab of concrete that she couldn't move.

She quickly begin to look around for the others and try to asses the situation.

"Haruka……..Chibiusa……Michiru…!!??" she called out hoping to hear an answer. Suddenly her call was answered by the sound of moving rubble. She quickly turned her head toward the noise to see a battered Haruka pushing her way out of a pile of junk and pulling Michiru with her who was knocked unconscious during the blast. Haruka set Michiru up along the wall then limped over to help remove the slab of concrete from Minako's leg.

"Hurry, we have to find Chibiusa." Minako said, surprised by the panic she herd in her own voice. One the concrete was removed they began searching through the rubble for the Queen. They had been searching for nearly five minutes when they began to hear a quiet humming sound. The stopped to listen to see where it was coming from when a bright pink light began to shine under some of the debris. Minako and Haruka shielded their eyes from the intense light. When the light died down, Chibiusa hovered in the air above them surrounded by a pink aura. As she descended to the ground Michiru began to stir again. Haruka walked to her partner and helped her to her feet. As michiru stood Haruka looked out the gaping hole in the wall to see a large jagged crystal sitting in the heart of crystal Tokyo, towering above the highest skyscrapers.

"Correct me if I'm wrong.." she said, "But I don't think that was there before." She said over her shoulder and pointing out of the hole. The others walked up behind her and followed her gaze.

A hatch opened to what was left of the street and a new wave of the creatures emerged. Hundred, maybe even thousands of the creatures exited the ship and began destroying things all across the city. The few people that were still hiding in the city began to leave their hiding places and run for the outskirts of town.

The Queens royal guard entered the streets and began battling the Cryon Creatures, but even they knew that their attempts were futile and slowly but surely their numbers began to dwindle. As the madness continued, Operion appeared above his minions floating in the sky and laughing hysterically as if no one was around.

"PEOPLE OF EARTH! I AM OPERION!" his voice boomed through the air. "THIS PLANET NOW BELONGS TO ME." then continued to laugh while his creatures continued to kill and destroy.