AN: I do not own the characters.

Chapter 9: Detained

Pulling up what places she could for the group, Venus gracefully sat down with Art and Luna in the tiny attic. Art was still staring at the weird costume that his adoptive daughter was wearing. He didn't seem to be able to put a sentence together. Luna, on the other hand was curious to see what exactly the relationship was between Art and the lovely blonde in front of her. Crossing her slender arms, she asked, "Yes? What do you have to tell us?" There was a definite emphasis on the "us."

Venus smiled serenely, glad to see someone protective of her "father," but felt some guarded emotions of her own. She had been in Art's life far longer than this floozy, and she wasn't going to give up her title as 'most important woman in his life' that easily. Not breaking eye contact with the pair, she said, "I've got some explaining to do."

Luna rolled her eyes and replied, "I'll say."

Venus glared, and did her best to keep from Crescent Beaming Luna into next week, and continued, "If you'll listen for a few minutes I will do my best to explain what's been going on."

Meeting Art's silvery blue eyes and Luna's violet ones, she began the tale that was her life, "Everything I am going to say is going to be unbelievable, but I'm going to need you to just listen with an open mind.

I am a warrior from another planet, but I am also the Duchess Mia of Ginzuberg. Lifetimes ago, I fought for the Silver Millennium where Serena, then Princess Serenity and Darien, then Prince Endymion. For reasons unknown, we…the Inner Court of Princess Serena and Terran Prince Darien's men, have been reincarnated with powers and memories of this past life and awoken during this life," Venus took a deep breath and continued, "What you see now is me, Sailor Venus, leader of the Inner Senshi. The clothes I'm wearing are my uniform."

Art swallowed a few times before he questioned, "Senshi?"

Venus smiled and answered, "It means 'soldier.'"

Art was still trying to process everything and then said, "Let's say that we do believe your story. I still don't understand what this all has to do with the current political situation."

Venus shrugged and replied, "I'm not exactly sure what's going on. Our powers and ability to transform seem to be directly connected to Serena. When she's in danger…we resume these forms."

Luna was slowly piecing the story together, "And the others? How are they connected?"

"They are senshi as well, but their duties were different than ours. We aren't sure of their powers just yet."

Luna thought a moment and stated, "All this would imply that we – me and Art – are somehow connected to this scenario as well. It cannot merely be coincidence that we have all ended up together."

"That remains to be seen, but I'll understand if you both want to leave and have no further involvement. I know it all sounds completely crazy and if you don't want to be cooped up with the lot of us, well, I won't hold it against you."

Art didn't even need a moment to consider, "In for a penny, in for a pound. My life has been dedicated to the former Queen and you girls." He looked over at the woman sitting next to him and said, "I wouldn't dream of pressuring you in any way. Your decision..."

"...Is to stay."

Art looked happily surprised, "Really?"

Luna stood up and walked to the small window in the attic. She spoke, not looking at the others, "In another lifetime, before my establishment opened, I was once a close friend of Queen Selena."

Art looked up sharply, "Really?"

Luna nodded, "Even at that early age, I always felt we had some sort of weird connection. I would do anything to help her daughter."

Venus smiled at the pair, "There's more to know. The Americans have also been in our lives before. We were all…involved."

Art raised an eyebrow, "Involved how?"

"Um…married?"

Art said indignantly, "Married?! And now you are living unchaperoned under the same roof?"

Luna walked back from the window and sat down next to Art, patting him on the arm, "I think that is the least of our worries right now."

"We'll answer as best we can, I'll leave you two to process the information. Just let me know if you have any questions."

In a short time, the Inner senshi, Shitennou, and Darien were assembled. Venus began, "Please excuse Jupiter. She is in the kitchens preparing food for everyone and the next couple of days. I will brief her later."

Malcolm followed her, "Nick is otherwise, ahem, occupied at the moment."

Darien looked at both of them, "Accepted. Venus, I believe you called the meeting. What do you need to address?"

Venus spoke in a clear voice, "Captain Shields, King Darien, I think the girls, all of us, need to get out of the city."

"Why?"

"A number of reasons, your Highness, the first being that I have no doubt the Nazi army will stop at nothing until they find answers to the questions we left in the Palace recently. Furthermore, unless anyone remembers the exact powers of the Outer scouts, given those lethal weapons they're sporting, I think we're going to need some room to figure out their strengths."

Darien crossed his arms, "And if Serena returns?"

Venus looked at her worried liege, "My King, with Neptune's mirror, we will know the first moment that Serena lands. Until then, I think our preparation is vital to the recapture of Serena."

Darien considered his options. He didn't like splitting up the group again, but he sensed the girls would come out of some time alone much stronger. He sighed, "Do you have any idea when we might see Serena?"

Mercury replied, "Our best deduction is that Serena is on the Nazi's fastest ship bound for Germany, but even those have limitations. As Darien shared, there is still a possibility that the U.S. Navy will find her, however I think the soonest we can expect her is next week."

Darien addressed the young women, "You have approximately one week from this moment. Whatever you need to figure out between now and then I wish you good luck."

"Thank you, your Majesty," Mars answered on behalf of the senshi.

Malcolm said, "As I briefed you, Captain, there are some mysterious soldiers currently residing in the Palace. I have placed Nick on reconnaissance, but there might be more. I advise that we learn what we can from the soldiers while the senshi are away."

Darien sighed, rubbing his fingers on his temples, "Continue. Senshi, head out. Shitennou, you will remain behind and we'll try our best to find out the old fashioned way where they plan on sending my wife."

Venus spoke up, "We'll take our leave as soon as the Outer senshi awake, but I'm going to leave Art and Luna with you. I think they may have some skills you might be able to utilize."

"Agreed."

After the meeting broke, the Inner senshi went to go and collect what supplies they could. Darien didn't miss the glances of longing crossing the room. The tension was almost palpable. He soon found himself the only one left in the room and promised aloud, "I vow to you all, I promise you happiness in this lifetime."

Venus lingered behind in the hallway and wasn't surprised when Malcolm came up behind her. Without thinking, she tucked her blonde head up under his chin, sighing into his broad chest. Malcolm chuckled. Venus looked up and asked in a mock hurt voice, "What are you laughing at?"

"I was wondering how many times we've stood like this before."

Venus smiled to herself. A similar thought had crossed her mind.

"I guess that's the good thing about this whole crazy situation."

"What do you mean?"

"Without this war, I would've never met you. I can't imagine that."

"I know."

"I—"

"When—"

Both were quiet. The words didn't really need to be said. Venus wondered if goodbyes ever got easier. Malcolm squeezed Venus even closer and said huskily, "Be safe out there."

"You know I will, you do the same. Watch out for people who look like you."

The tall soldier kissed her abruptly and released his love breathless. He saluted her and turned to walk away. Venus walked down the hallway to check on the Outer Senshi, who were all sleeping peacefully. Knowing what the next week would hold, the blonde decided they would all leave before dawn the following morning.

Serena willed herself to be strong. She knew the girls usually made fun of her for her voracious, very un-Princess like appetite. Her stomach started growling…loudly and she was powerless to stop it. Rolling over on her side, she tried to forget the last time she had eaten.

Nothing changes.

A laughter like the tinkling of many tiny bells pealed in Serena's mind. A musical, loud voice filled Serena's mind. It was so overpowering she instantly had a pounding headache.

She whirled around and called to the empty room, "Who's there?"

Serena looked around and didn't see anyone. Furthermore, she didn't remember actually hearing the voice spoken aloud. Was she so hungry she was hallucinating?

Serena…Serenity…

Serena swore she could smell the scent of jasmine in the air. She stood up straight and asked, "Seriously, who's there?"

Suddenly, the small blonde was overcome with an intense wave of longing. She was actually yearning desperately for something, but couldn't figure out what exactly it was.

Don't let them—

The voice was cut off. A new voice replaced the musical one that had been in her head the moment before.

Serena, I can't exist without the Crystal.

Serena rolled her eyes. The lack of food was definitely making her go mad. In the span of a few minutes she had heard no less than two voices in her head.

Come on. I'm here, but I can't come out without the Crystal.

Who's there?

Can't you come up with any more original questions?

Great. Now the voices are making fun of me.

Serena, I've been here before. This is Sailor Moon.

I thought I was having some sort of stress-induced hallucination.

Well, this is as real as it gets. We've got to get that Crystal back.

Serena was suddenly brought to her knees with a feeling of hopelessness. She cried out, "What's going on?!"

The Crystal...it's a part of you. To be separated from it can cause this response.

Tears were streaming down Serena's face. It was the same feeling she had felt when Darien had died in front of her on the Moon.

Now that you have been reunited with it, the longer you are separated, the more these feelings will grow. Eventually, you will not be able to function.

The feelings were starting to dissipate, but there was an underlying pressure that Serena still felt sharply.

Serena asked, "What can I do?"

You can start by getting out of this room.

Mr. and Mrs. Shields were settling into their penthouse in New York. Located in the swankest area of town, they had the top level of a building overlooking Central Park.

Eleanor looked around, "I'm glad we're here, it's been too long."

Jonathan nodded.

Eleanor took of her white gloves and started walking around, "I'll start by getting myself back in the lunching circles right away. Someone has got to have heard something by now."

Jonathan said, "I'll pick up the weekly poker game at the club."

Eleanor twisted her hands, "What if Darien is right? What if we do hear something? How will we get information to him?"

"I'm sure we'll get word from him somehow. Just be patient."

Across the street from a large building overlooking Central Park, a taxi cab pulled into place. A hand reached over to a CB radio and crackled, "They're in place. Please advise."

A voice crackled over the radio, "Keep a tight watch for now. I want someone on them 24/7. We need to know what they know."

"Understood."

In another car, on the opposite side of the street, two men settled in for a long day. One looked to the other, "You really think this is going to lead anywhere?"

"No idea, but it's part of our mission, so it's better not to ask questions."

The Inner senshi had wisely said their goodbyes with their respective partners the previous night. With wishes of good luck and promises they would return in a week, the young women snuck out of the headquarters before dawn the next day. Venus had been upset to wake up and find herself still dressed in her fuku, but it made her that much more determined to train so that she could find and return her regent to safety.

Jake had arranged a small covered horse drawn cart to take the girls out of the city. Venus smiled and patted the disguised horse, who she immediately recognized as Morning Star and smiled to herself.

For the trip out of the city, the senshi of Love had disguised herself in ugly brown robes that transformed her into a rather lumpy looking older woman. As the wagon bumped out of town, she looked back into the wagon, where the Outer scouts were clutching their weapons and the Inner senshi, alert and exhausted.

Nudging her foot under the seat, Venus was comforted by the presence of the large Sword of the Moon. With Serena in danger, she had a feeling the dangerous weapon would respond to her command during the upcoming week's training. Malcolm had surprised her with a parting gift - a pristine black leather scabbard, hammered with rubies and diamonds, for the Sword. It crossed her chest and balanced the weight of the heavy item. She hadn't yet unlocked its power, but was waiting for the right time to test herself and the strength of the magical object.

Venus already knew the perfect place for their training. The location was the summer retreat of the Queen and her court. It was a place the girls returned to year after year to reenergize after the craziness of a Season in the Ginzuberg court or from their various travels around the globe. The yearly trip would always happen unexpectedly. Queen Selenity would simply arise early one morning and the girls would awake to find their things had been packed and they were going to the country. It always seemed to come at an opportune time…someone's liaison was getting out of control or there was some political situation that needed some serious concentration from the Queen.

The location of Belle Maison was only known to the most loyal of servants. Venus doubted that the Nazis even knew of its existence. Still, extra cautious, the blonde senshi made a number of detours until she was satisfied no one was following them. After a number of twists and turns, around midday, the group of eight arrived. The main building was a little out of repair, but it would serve the girls just fine. Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune got out of the wagon, stretched, and looked at their surroundings. Uranus asked jokingly, "I guess we must've done something wrong in our last life. We were stuck in a brothel and you girls lived here?"

No one had an answer for the strange circumstances, until Neptune commented, "We found each other, didn't we? Consider it a lesson in character building."

Venus looked at Jupiter and Mars, "Please check and secure the perimeter of the grounds. Mars, please use whatever scrolls are needed to make sure we are not seen for the next week. We'll trade off sentry duty every night."

Mars and Jupiter immediately made their way across the grounds.

"Mercury, please check the water supply. I'd like to make sure it's not contaminated."

Mercury nodded and left in the direction of a nearby stream.

"The rest of you, let's try and make this place as comfortable as possible."

The quintet trooped into the small "house." The building was actually more like a mansion; with plenty of rooms, a large kitchen, a parlor, as well as a brilliant room the girls had dubbed the "breakfast club." The room faced east and caught all of the available morning light. In what seemed another lifetime, the girls would gather and discuss recent flirtations and other teenage dramas.

Saturn's purple eyes were large as she peeked around, "Won't someone discover that we are here?"

Venus shook her head, "The locals have known about this place forever. They would give their own lives before giving away the location. It is the Queen's Place. We will be safe here."

By the time the Inner scouts had returned, Venus and the Outers had straightened up and made the house livable. Neptune and Pluto had also put together a small meal for the group. The food was eaten in silence as each of the young women had much to consider.

With everyone finished, and the food cleared away, Venus said clearly, "There's no time like the present to get started." She looked at the Outer senshi, "I don't think we've ever actually asked you. Do any of you remember your attacks?"

The Outer Scouts looked at each other. The words were whispering in the air, but it wasn't anything discernible. Mercury looked at the quartet, "Whatever your attacks are, they must be different in nature to ours. We don't have weapons like you do."

Standing up, Venus cracked the chain around her waist and patted the scabbard of the Sword, smiled, "Speak for yourself. However, you did bring up a good point. We're going to have to change our training techniques to make sure we take advantage of them."

Mars looked at the group, "Maybe if we attack them, they will instinctively go on defense and respond?"

Venus thought a moment before she answered, "Let's try a little warm up first; maybe that will jog their memories."

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury went through some of their warm up exercises while the Outer senshi looked on. Jupiter called out, "Remember anything yet?"

Pluto shouted back, "No!"

Mars was getting frustrated. Without entirely thinking her actions through, she turned on Neptune, and shouted, "Mars Fire Soul!"

Flames in the form of a bird shot out of Mars' fingertips heading straight for Neptune.

Uranus responded instantly, "World SHAKING!"

Suddenly, a large ball of gold energy appeared in the palm of Uranus's hand, which she hurled straight at Mars' attack. The ball of energy met the fire and completely destroyed a nearby tree.

Uranus looked at her hand in disbelief and said, "I did that?"

Neptune put her arm around the tall blonde's waist, "Thank you for protecting me."

Uranus clenched her fists and looked accusingly at Mars, "What in the hell did you do that for?"

Mars looked idly at her nails, "I guessed that's all it would take."

Without warning, lightning crackled in the air and Jupiter went on the offensive, "Supreme Thunder!"

Lighting bolts were sent directly in the direction of Pluto, who jumped out of the way, and grabbing her scepter, planting it down and yelling, "Dead Scream!"

Anything, but a scream followed. Winds from nowehere swirled around the garnet topped scepter and an enormous ball of energy shot out and took out what used to be a gazebo.

All of the girls looked at each other.

Venus smiled shakily and leaned on the Sword, "Well, I guess all we need to do now is figure out how we're going synchronize our attacks to retrieve Serena."

The same morning the girls departed for the summer palace, Jonathan and Eleanor hit the sprawling metropolis of New York City. The U.S. had not yet declared war, but everyone knew it was a matter of time. Jonathan was probably closer to the action than most people realized. As a steel magnate, it would be his factories that would be turned over to provide weapons and parts for all kinds of machines. After Darien's abrupt departure, Jonathan had taken the initiative to go ahead and order his factories to start changing their production schemes. He didn't want soldiers going into war unprepared.

Eleanor pulled her gloves on and thought fondly of the New York she had known. When Jonathan had started courting her, she had scarcely believed that the city's most eligible bachelor was interested in her. With Jonathan's affection, Eleanor had blossomed and become the "it" girl in town. Eleanor gazed fondly at their wedding portrait that hung above the fireplace. The wedding had been one the city would remember for decades.

She had left when politics and petty bickering had made her realize she didn't want to her son growing up in that kind of atmosphere. She and Jonathan had retired to the Shield's country estate and while their only child had been sent to a number of elite boarding schools, with his entry to the armed forces at such a young age, there was really no time for him to mix with any of New York's eligible daughters.

Therefore, an air of mystery had sprang up around Darien Shields. Across the world, support sprang up for the young couple. If people couldn't have hope for the next generation and protect a bright future like Captain Shields and Queen Serena, then what was the point?

The girls had been gone for hours when Darien called a meeting. He paced like a caged tiger around the room and asked, "So, Nick, you're telling me that these 'clones' are actually officers in the Nazi army?"

"Yes, sir. It was eerie seeing the men. I mean they look…"

"They look like what?"

"They look identical to how we looked when we were on the Moon."

"I see. And so far, you haven't been able to find anyone who looks like me?"

Nick shook his head, "No, sir. I'm not sure why."

Darien looked over at Zach, "If we capture one of them, are their any tests we would be able to perform to get to the bottom of this? If the Nazi army is cloning American soldiers, we may all be in trouble."

Zach shook his head, "Sorry, sir. Genetics is a field that's is starting out. I would need an entire lab and time we don't have."

Darien let out a frustrated sigh, "And you're sure none of you were adopted or lost a twin at a young age?"

Jake smiled, "C'mon Shields, even if one of us has a long lost twin, what are the possibilities we would all have one and that they had all ended up in the Nazi army?"

Malcolm looked out the window, and added his opinion, "I think we might make some progress if we captured one of them."

Darien was curious, "What are you thinking?"

"Textbook. We'll blindfold him so he never sees where he is or who has captured him. In fact, I'll volunteer my own clone first. He's got to know more than we do." Malcolm clenched a fist and hissed, "Why else would he have gone right for Mia?"

Jake grinned, "He has a thing for blondes?"

Malcolm retaliated with an ice-cold stare.

Jake broke his smile and continued seriously, "Maybe he did know something about 'Venus,' but what if he didn't? What if it was just like when we met the girls?"

Darien considered the fact and answered, "But on some level, didn't you know there was something more?"

The men thought a moment and each nodded. Upon first meeting the lovely duchesses from Ginzuberg, in some form or another there was something familiar about them. Their commanding officer continued, "So, what if these men know something more than we do? I will do anything to avoid a repeat of our last lives."

Each of his men nodded seriously. There was too much at stake in this life. Nick volunteered, "I vote we go after the one that looks like Jake."

"Why me?"

"Since we've been here, you're the only one who's not bothered to keep your hair at regulation standards. At its current length, you would be the most likely and least recognizable among us."

"What?!"

Darien nodded, "I like what you're thinking, Nick. Let's try and arrange something for tonight."

"Tonight?" Jake was still in shock.

Malcolm gave a rare smile, "It's not all bad. We just need to borrow your clone for a few hours."

Zach asked, "Where is the best place to make the switch?"

Nick answered, "I trailed them for an entire day and it seems that, for the most part, they are on some sort of schedule. It's our best bet."

Darien nodded in agreement, "Let's talk logistics."

Across town, General Steig looked pointedly at a soldier with long chestnut hair. He pounded his hand on the table and demanded, "What do you mean you can't find them?"

The other man merely responded, "They have disappeared."

"That's impossible!"

The smallest of the four men that had gathered said, "We need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that they have found out something about us. Our mission here may be compromised."

General Steig, usually the calmest of the four, bellowed, "What exactly are you implying? I can't go to Berlin and tell them we have doppelgangers!"

The man with short blonde hair said casually, "You're right. Until we figure out what's going on, we have to remain quiet."

The man with long brown hair answered, "My concern now is how are we to know they have not infiltrated the Palace?! None of our men will be able to tell the difference."

General Steig twisted his hands, "From here on out we will use a password that will change daily to know that this has not happened. Until you hear from me, that word is gefahr. Is this understood?"

The other men nodded.

Across the Atlantic at an undisclosed location, a man of high military standing barked over an intercom, "What do you mean he's not there?"

A voice crackled over the short wave radio, "Sorry, sir. He's not anywhere in New York. We've checked all of his usual locations."

"And the parents? He's had no contact with them?"

"No, sir."

"Are you telling me that Darien Shields, one of the most recognizable people in the United States and a soldier in this Army has gone AWOL?"

The voice was silent a moment, before saying, "Yes, sir."

The response was instant, "Then we have a situation. Get me Washington!"

While the dispatch was going through. The General lit a cigar and considered how best to continue. His superiors were not going to be happy with the information. It was bad enough that the Queen had been taken captive and practically under his nose. Now this…

The career soldier wasn't exactly sure who his contact was on the other end of the line. He knew the voice was his superior, but for privacy reasons and concerns, he never knew the name, just a series of codes.

The voice jumped on the line, "What is it?"

"It's Shields, sir."

"What about him?"

Years of military experience had him bluntly speak the truth, "He's missing."

There was a pause that seemed to stretch forever, then the answer, "WHAT?! Where was he last seen?"

"There was a report he was spotted near Battery Park, however, we cannot confirm that information."

"A man like Shields does not simply disappear!"

"I—"

"Have you spoken with the parents?"

"They're civilians, sir."

"And we're at war!"

"Are we, sir?"

"We must find that weapon. Shields is the key to it. Find him. NOW."

"Yes, sir."

The General hung up the phone. Pausing for a moment, he called up the code department and requested, "I need to get an encrypted message to General Goode in the RAF immediately."

"Go ahead, sir."

The General spat out his message, "Believe Shields in Europe stop Use whatever means necessary to find stop Also look for his men stop They are not acting under the orders of US Government stop."

"Is that all, sir?"

"Let me know the second you hear from him."

Serena had exhausted herself looking for a way out of her cramped and miserable cell. She was a little disturbed to find others had obviously tried to get out of the room before her. She traced the fingernail scratchings near the door and took a deep breath. What had happened to them? What had their fate been? Did they feel just as powerless as she did?

From somewhere deep in the ship, the Crystal called to her.

The young Queen wondered exactly how much time she could have apart from the object and survive. She assumed she was in one of the Nazi's fastest ships crossing the Atlantic, but that still took more than a week. Could she make it?

"How was your lunch today, darling?" Jonathan asked his wife.

"Delightful. We had an amazing lobster bisque…"

Jonathan coughed politely, "I, um, were you able to get any information?"

Eleanor smiled and answered lightly, "But, of course. It is amazing what being the mother-in-law of a Queen does for one's reputation. Now, getting down to business, it does seem the President is sympathetic to Ginzuberg's needs…"

"What exactly does that mean?"

"Well, Suzy heard that he has stepped up secret shipments to the British, and Margot heard the Navy is searching for Serena."

"But will he come out in public?"

Eleanor sighed, "Sadly, no, he is not at the point of declaring war."

Jonathan angrily folded up his newspaper, "The longer this goes on, the longer the entire war will go on. It's only a matter of time until we get involved! If only there was some quicker way of ending this."

"We'll just have to be patient. Did you learn anything today at the club?"

Jonathan shook his head, "Same as you. Although Jim said he heard there was a rumor the U.S. suspects Ginzuberg to have some super weapon. He thinks that's why the Nazi's may have captured Serena."

"Why on earth would they think that?"

"I have no idea."

Eleanor sighed heavily, "Poor darling Serena. So much on those little shoulders. She was handed the crown under such terrible circumstances."

Leaving Art and Luna to guard the headquarters, Darien Shields and his men snuck out into the dark night. Jake looked uncomfortable in the Nazi uniform he was wearing, "I really don't know if this is going to work or not. What happens if they find out I'm not who they think I am?"

Nick patted his shoulder, "Hello? We'll just trade you for well, you."

As they neared the Palace, Darien asked, "So, where did you say we could find Jake's clone?"

Nick coughed politely and answered, "I believe we will most likely find him flirting with the female staff in the kitchens."

The rest of the men tried to stifle a laugh, before Jake tried to calmly ask, "And just where would we find your clone?"

"Mine is apparently into Astronomy. He spends many an evening in the Observatory."

Zach said, "Just like you."

The other men nodded, knowing that Nick's ability to read the stars had come in handy on more than one mission when they were without a map and seemingly lost. He had innate ability to know exactly where they were.

"Malcolm's counterpart—"

"General Steig," Malcolm growled.

"Yes, well he's very detailed, humorless, and seemingly obsessed with the duchess introduced so briefly in his life."

While everyone else was smirking about how similar the two men sounded, Malcolm asked gruffly, "What do you mean by that?"

"I was able to get up on a tree near his room."

"He's in Mia's old room."

"Yes, apparently. Anyway, I won't go into the ugly details of his obsession, but I think he's come to the conclusion that she's the key to everything." As the group neared the expansive Palace interior courtyard, Nick pointed to the same tree and continued, "Jake, should anything happen, that tree is your best chance out of the Palace."

Jake shrugged, "I think I remember how to get to Rae's hide out in the stables, that could work too."

Nick looked at the sky, "We'd better get in place."

Zack hissed, "There he is!"

The men stealthily crept up on the unsuspecting soldier. Tackling him, they quickly had the German bound, gagged and on the way back to the headquarters.

Darien turned around to give Jake a look, and saluted him briefly, "Good luck."

Jake nodded and headed towards the kitchens, praying he wouldn't let down his commanding officer…his country…and the love of his life.

The week passed quickly for Venus and the rest of the girls. There was a lot that they were discovering about each other. Venus found herself discussing strategy nightly with Uranus around the campfire they had built outside of the house. There was something about the older scout that brought it out of her. The pair sparred every day – Space Sword vs. Sword of the Moon, pushing each other to increase their skills. The women were evenly matched. Uranus had brute strength, but when Venus got into trouble she would crack her Love Chain to get the upper hand.

***

One evening, when all the senshi had gathered, Venus asked, "So, I've been wondering, how lonely were you…out there?"

Uranus examined her sword a moment before answering, "Whenever I was, I just thought of our shining Princess. The Silver Kingdom may have been a speck in the distance, but I was proud to be one of its protectors."

Venus looked into the fire for a long moment and revealed to the Outer senshi, "Back in America…Serena transformed."

Neptune asked, "To her Princess form?"

Mars shook her head, "No. She looked like one of us. A senshi."

Pluto pondered, "I wonder what that could mean."

Mercury shrugged her shoulders, "She called herself Sailor Moon."

The women all looked into the fire, contemplating what Serena's transformation could mean. Venus asked Neptune, "Can we have a look at Serena?"

Neptune nodded quietly and retrieved her mirror. The image had not changed. Serena was still lying on the floor in an enclosed room. She looked paler than ever.

***

Nearing the end of their week, the senshi had come up with numerous strategic plans using everyone's strengths, with the exception of the senshi from Saturn. No one could figure out exactly what her lethal glaive had to offer. She was also the only one who couldn't remember her former life in the Silver Millennium

Jupiter patted the smaller scout one the back and said, "I'm sure it will come to you. Give it time."

Saturn replied ominously, "Maybe we should be glad I haven't figured it out yet."

***

The girls were sad as they climbed back in the wagon to head back to the city. Each one knew it was realistic to think that this would be the last time they saw this place...this week could be the last peaceful moments they knew.

Mars sat with Venus in the front seat, "It looks so small."

Mercury piped up from the back of the wagon, "You know, I always…"

Jupiter looked at the petite girl next to her, and motioned, "Yes? You always what?"

Venus asked teasingly, "You wouldn't be trying to hide something from the senshi of Love, would you?"

Mercury tried to look away, "No."

"Then give it up!"

Mercury picked at some imaginary spot on her fuku, then blurted out, "I always that if and when I ever got married, I would get married here."

Venus could easily see the shy senshi in a small ceremony here at this place with such fond memories. Jupiter put her arms around Mercury's shoulder, "And there's no reason why you shouldn't."

"Given the current political climate, I'd hardly say that—"

Mars interrupted, "Don't think about that. If you want to have your wedding here, then by all means, you should."

AN: There is an 'alternate' version of Venus I saw once on DA - she's kind of a modern day ninja. That's where I got the idea for the Sword's scabbard.