Law

"Damn, this was great timing," Chief Harris gloated, holding a brandy glass in one hand and smiling at his friend. His wife was standing by the bar and watching to make sure their cups remained full.

"You liked the monster, father?" Phil was standing nearby, and smiled, pleased and hopeful.

"What are you looking so happy about?" Harris shot with a sidelong glance at his son. "It's not like you did a damned thing." He took a swig of his drink and held it out for his wife to refill. He didn't see his son's paling face, or notice when he left the room.

"A monster in Tokyo isn't what I'd call great timing, Henry," Captain John Agawa replied, ignoring Phil. "I'd say it's a bit of a tragedy. People all over the city are panicking about this new threat. Do you really think it's the proper time to be jumping into a big court case? We need all our men -- and our leaders -- on the street taking care of this."

"But we don't need the senshi on the street," Harris replied vehemently. "They already killed one of your men, John. You really want those people back in the line of fire to botch things up again?"

"As I recall, Henry," Agawa replied, "they killed the monster."

"And sacrificed an officer in the process!" Harris towered above him, furious. "You can't just ignore that! And I refuse to forgive it!"

"I'm not saying that they don't deserve this," Agawa placated. "I'm just wondering if this is the best time."

"Of course it is," Harris replied. "With the panic over monsters, the people are more likely to condemn these cop-killers. We'd be crazy not to take advantage of the situation."

"Of course, Henry." Agawa looked defeated and tired, dumping the rest of his drink in his mouth and standing. "It's been a pleasant visit." They shook hands and Agawa let himself out the front door, casting a glance to the slim shadow flitting across the yard.

Now where was Phil going?

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The Senshi didn't ask where Minako went at night, and she didn't feel the need to tell them. Occasionally they'd try to get her to play with them, laughing and joking, but would only get a gentle, placating smile for their trouble.

So it was with uncertain hearts that they went to the scene of another violent attack. A week after Kevin's death, near sunset, someone had destroyed the police chief's home. Like Urawa's building, it had crumbled, and the Senshi knew their duty to check for monsters.

So they showed up, Mercury taking out the cameras before scanning the rubble.

It was strange – only part of the house had collapsed.

The police chief was organizing cleanup crews, and Kunzite and Jadeite were standing to the side, sneaking glances at the Senshi. When the chief noticed the women in black body armor, he stormed straight over.

"You," he hissed. "What are you doing on my property? Get off!"

"Checking for monsters sir," Mars narrowed her eyes behind the face mask. "We'll leave as soon as we're done." Venus said nothing and kept to the back. Usually she took care of these things, but she hadn't been speaking much at all and didn't seem to mind Mars usurping the position until she could get back on her feet.

He stood up to his full height and turned out to be taller than the red senshi. "Get off my property or I'll have you arrested." He slipped an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Not that I'd mind -- your arrest would only aide my case." His expression was faintly smug. "I'm having charges brought up against you for obstruction of justice and negligence in the death of one of my officers, as well as a personal lawsuit concerning the destruction of my home – so that next time you try and meddle in police matters I can arrest you with the full force of the law behind me. So leave. I'll see you in court."

They left, but stood at a distance for Mercury to finish her scan. When no signs showed monster activity, they returned to the castle.

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There was a heavy silence when they told the king and queen. Endymion paced back and forth, reading and rereading the summons to court in his hand as if he couldn't quite believe it. Serenity held her daughter close, stroking her pigtails absent-mindedly. The princess knew not to move or complain that her mom's arms were too tight, so she sat like a doll, blank and distantly concerned that her parents were unhappy.

Luna and Artemis in the corner shared a frown, and his arm slid protectively around her.

"Well," the king said when he paused behind his wife's chair. "First thing we need is a lawyer. And I think I know of one."

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He had long, waving blonde hair and glasses. A guard showed him into a receiving room where the king waited to personally greet him, and Endymion smiled a little to see that he glanced around himself nervously. His arms were full of papers and books.

When he saw the king, he bowed hastily and several books tumbled from his grasp. The king bit back a chuckle and told the young man he could rise. Instead of straightening, though, he dropped to his knees and gathered up his things in a haste that crumpled the papers he was holding.

"Follow me," Endymion smiled softly when he was ready, leading him out and down a hallway to another room where he could work in peace. So this was Zoicite. His guard, his old friend. A Zoicite that didn't remember him, true, but the essence of the man's soul would be the same. Endymion knew that he felt an inexplicable loyalty to his king and country. And glancing back at Zoicite, the king knew that it was going to be a wonderful experience getting to know him again. He was almost giddy with the thought, but had too much dignity to show it.

"You'll work here." They entered a room with bright lights and a wide, smooth table. It was a research room – bookshelves lined the walls and Endymion had made sure that all of the library's law books had been put in here. A tall window was opened to let in fresh air and natural light, and a young woman stood beside it. Endymion gestured to her as Zoicite put his books down on the table. "Ami," she turned to look at them, her blue dress swaying prettily, "will be helping you with anything you need. She's our best mind here at the castle and can do the work of ten assistants. Smarter than me," he winked and she blushed a little, shaking her head at him.

"You're incorrigible," she replied. He only smiled.

"They're trying to get the senshi declared incompetent? Then I'll probably need to talk to the people involved in the incident first," Zoicite replied, nervous. He didn't like the way the king was frowning at that suggestion.

"Yes. Well, Ami can take care of getting anyone for you. She knows how to find everyone in the castle. Is there anything else?"

He shook his head, almost overwhelmed with the project. How the hell had the king chosen him! He'd only represented petty criminal defense cases before! Why didn't the king choose one of the Retired lawyers – they were some of the best in the country and had won hundreds of high-profile cases. Why him? He hadn't been asking to get this job – a man just called him up out of the blue and told him he was representing the Sailor Senshi. How was a man supposed to deal with that!

"You've gone over the papers we sent you?" Ami asked him. He looked up at her and breathed carefully. Law. Just focus on that. That was his turf, that was why the king asked for him. So he'd better remember that he was a damn good lawyer and let that get him through this.

"Yes." He picked through his books and then realized that he didn't know what he was looking for. "Maybe we could get the senshi down here for a minute to tell me what happened and get them ready for testimony?"

"I'll fetch them," she replied, looking at him with all the air of a lady looking at a dirty puppy she was supposed to take care of, and left the room softly.

Out of the room, she stormed down the hall and burst into Endymion's office. She put a hand on her hip and glared at him with everything she could muster.

"Yes, Mercury?" he asked, raising one eyebrow of inquiry.

"What the hell, Endymion? That kid can't have tried more than a dozen cases in his whole career! Where did you find him and just how much did he beg you to get this job!"

The king was silent for a moment and looked at the wall. "Actually, he didn't want it."

She stared at him. "Then why is he here!"

"Because I wanted him here," he replied, standing up and looking particularly intimidating. Ami wanted to shrink away, but wouldn't let herself. "Have you gone over the cases he's taken? The man is brilliant -- he has no confidence, is the problem. Just give him a shot and if you still don't think he can take it on his own, we'll hire Dr. Mikawa to help. But trust me -- I really did my homework here. He hasn't lost a case, and there was never even a reasonable doubt in any of them. And if you'd cared to look, they were some of the most difficult cases I've seen in a very long time. Low profile, but tough. Very tough." He slid a folder across the desk to her and she took it. "For some bedtime reading," he said.

She bowed and walked primly out, flipping her cell phone open and pressing the green button. She was still annoyed with Endymion, but more out of embarrassment now than anything. She hadn't checked this man's background and decided that she would have to do just that.

Makoto answered and came immediately, already transformed into Jupiter. They walked together to the research room.

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"Dammit," Ami muttered, flipping her cell phone closed. She stood by the window, outlined by the fading pink light, a frown marring the perfect silhouette she made.

"Something wrong?" Zoicite asked, looking up from his papers and stopping the recorded testimony of Jupiter. He'd been going over and over the situation and making notes on a yellow legal pad.

She hesitated, looking at him sitting hunched over the table, and wondered if she should tell him. Then she remembered he was their lawyer. "Venus is missing again. She's been doing this every night . . . since the accident."

He was sympathetic. "She's taking it pretty hard?"

"Yeah."

He looked at her for a moment, at the furrow in her brow and the worry lines stretching her cheeks taut. "Everyone here really loves the senshi, don't they? You really worry about them."

Ami was startled out of her reverie. "I guess so. The senshi . . . they're loyal. They . . . try really hard."

Zoicite smiled at her. "Maybe I should put you on the stand."

Ami laughed a little, but knew he didn't understand why. "One of the maids would be better, I think. There are some uncommonly pretty ones here."

He gave her an odd look at that last, but didn't say anything of it. "Well, what about Mercury? I'd like to get one more testimony in before I go to bed." They'd just finished with Mars.

Ami closed her eyes and stretched her back. "Do you think you can do it without me? I'm kind of tired – and if she's the last one tonight, you can handle it without me."

"Of course," he agreed, admiring her slim form as she arched it back and rubbed her neck. When she looked back at him, he blushed. "Tomorrow we can get Venus and the royal family."

"Thanks. I'll send Mercury right down."

Ami went upstairs and transformed, then jogged all the way back to the office.

Zoicite stood and gave a little bow. "Lady Mercury. If you wouldn't mind," he gestured to a chair.

"I wouldn't," she smiled, and he turned the tape recorder on.