Chapter 4

Mana stared at the ghost before her.

"Let me get this straight." She said, "You are Sayoko."

"Yes." The ghost replied.

"You're dead."

"Rub it in why don't you."

Mana rubbed her forehead.

"I just talked to Sayoko in Heaven. So either she's learned some new tricks, or you're from some other time."

The ghost smiled.

"Wait…….That girl! Yoko or whatever her name is! You came with her!"

"We have a winner." The Ghost said with a smile.

Mana frowned. "She's on Terra 2. Did you teleport here?"

"In a way," the ghost Sayoko replied, "I hitchhiked with one of your demons."

Mana looked at the ghost curiously. "What do you mean you hitchhiked?"

The ghost held up her arms and looked at herself.

"I'm really limited to what I can do here." The ghost said, "I don't have the powers I once did. About all I can do is appear and disappear." She thought for a moment. "Oh, and then shout 'Boo'."

"Boo?" Mana asked.

"I'm a ghost. Ghosts go boo."

Mana placed her head in her hands.

"Of all the……." She then moved a finger, allowing her eye to see the ghost.

"HOW did you die?"

The ghost crossed her arms and pointed her nose towards the ceiling.

"It isn't polite to ask how someone became deceased." The ghost then turned her head to bring Mana back into view. "Besides, I wouldn't tell you now anyway."

Mana sighed. "What have I done to deserve this?"

"Became Queen for starters….."

"That was a rhetorical question and you weren't to answer it." Mana grumbled, "What else could happen?"

The entire castle rocked as an explosion echoed throughout Hell.

"You just had to ask." The ghost muttered.

"Oh shut up!"

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Mara only gave Mana a quick nod as the Queen entered the control room. She then turned her face back towards the table display.

"Send three squads here." Mara said to one of the demons, pointing at the display. "Put two here, and another three here." The demon bowed their head, then turned to carry out his orders.

"What is it?" Mana asked, moving beside Mara.

"Trouble." Mara replied, "with a capital 'T'. The Soultaker seems to want to become Queen, without facing you personally."

"What do you mean?"

Mara pointed at the display. "We've got several uprising. Large groups of Demons have struck out and attacked various areas of Hell. They say they are doing so in the name of the Soultaker."

Mana frowned and leaned closer to the display.

"They attacked us here?"

"No." Mara replied, "That was the Rogues. They began their attack within an hour of the first uprising."

"Great." Mana muttered.

"On the plus side, all those who support you are still taking our orders. That's mostly the Queen's Guard and the regular troops." Mara gave Mana a weak smile. "We're not exactly defenseless."

"We're also not exactly in a position to do much," Mana replied, "except sit here on our asses."

Mara frowned. "What do you mean?"

Mana pointed. "The Rogues have been planning. Their attacks are coordinated and weaken us. We dispatch troops, and along the way…" Mana pointed at various spots marked on the display. "they pick them off one by one. By the time our troops get there, the Rogues are already gone, and we've lost many Demons."

"It's worse then that."

Mana and Mara both turned to see Welsper now sitting on the table display.

"How?" Mara asked.

Welsper pointed. "Did you check to see the numbers of Rogues?"

Both demonesses frowned and looked at the display. Both went pale as they read the numbers.

"Are these numbers correct?" Mana asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes." Mara replied.

"How can there be so many?" Mana asked, "The last time they had these kinds of numbers……"

"……they took heaven." Mara finished. She looked up at Mana. "We need help."

"From who?" Mana asked. Movement caught her eye. She glanced over to see the ghost of Sayoko sitting quietly, watching with sad eyes. 'What do you know?' she thought towards the ghost of her best friend.

"Mana."

Mana looked back over to Mara.

"Celes and Keima want to talk to you." She said, "Belldandy's on too."

Mana nodded. Mara hit a switch. Upon the table display, three holographic figures appeared.

"I hope you have something that's going to be useful here in the next couple of minutes." Mana said, "I've got an uprising on my hands."

"What?" Belldandy asked, "Who?"

"Who else, the Rogues. Plus now I've got Demons that support the Soultaker too."

"About the Rogues." Celes began, "we've found out something. It's…….shocking."

"What could be more shocking?" Mana asked, "We know Draco is alive."

Celes leaned off screen and the three holographs were replaced by three images of dead demons.

"These were the Demons that attacked Japoness Castle." Celes said.

"So?" Mara asked.

"Look closely at them."

Mana and Mara both frowned, and leaned closer to the images. Mara caught it first.

"They're the same." Mara whispered, "Triplets?"

"Worse." Celes reappeared. "Tests confirmed it. They're clones."

"Clones!" Mana shouted, "They're cloning Demons!"

Every demon present in the control room stopped what they were doing and looked at their Queen. Belldandy's voice echoed in the now silent room.

"Celes sent us the data she has." The Goddess said, "We had Dr Akagi look it over. They are clones."

A buzzing began to sound off in Mana's head. She glanced to the ghost. It still hadn't moved from its spot, though its face was directed towards the floor.

"If it's clones we don't stand a chance." Mara whispered softly, "They'll outnumber us, if they don't already."

Mana stared blankly towards the ghost, the buzzing in her head growing louder.

"Mana." Mara whispered.

'Tell me something.' Mana pleaded towards the ghost, 'anything.'

The ghost remained silent.

"Mana."

Mana snapped her head around and looked at Mara. Then turned to the holograms.

"Mrs. Morisato…" Mana began.

"Belldandy."

"Eh?"

"You can call me Belldandy."

"Alright, Belldandy," Mana said, "You know what this current situation means, especially for Terra 2."

Belldandy closed her eyes and nodded.

"I'm sorry." Mana said.

"I believe you." Belldandy replied, "We have some ideas and we haven't given up on getting through the firewalls."

"We'll let you know if anything changes." Mara said.

Belldandy nodded.

"Good luck." The holograms then vanished.

"You're going to need it."

Mana's head snapped up and towards the ghost. The ghost of Sayoko was looking at with the same sad look as before.

"What is it?" Mara asked.

"Nothing." Mana said. She then leaned forward and stared at the display, wondering what to do next.

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Asuka stormed through the hallways of the Yggdrasil building. God and Goddess alike jumped up against the wall of the hallways, trying to stay out of the way of the Guardian with the short temper.

Asuka walked right down the hallway towards the Terra 2 office and blew right past Cayla. Cayla tried to stop her, but Asuka had already kicked the door in and stomped up to Belldandy's desk. She slammed her palms on the desktop.

"WHY THE HELL AREN'T WE DOING ANYTHING?"

Belldandy didn't even jump. She simply looked up from her work and sighed.

"What would you like us to do?" she asked, "We're already working day and night to open a gate. You have already tried to teleport to the surface, and failed. Saturn won't even let Arael try. What more can we do Asuka?"

Asuka stared long and hard at Belldandy before finally settling in a chair.

Belldandy waited a moment before speaking again.

"I know you're frustrated." The goddess said softly, "but your display of fury won't help you with Saturn."

Asuka's eyes widened.

"What?"

Belldandy let out another sigh.

"They haven't told you?"

"Saturn's been trying to get a hold of me for the past day." Asuka said, "I've been ignoring him. Now what haven't they told me?"

"The Council took a vote." Belldandy replied, "Control of the Guardians has moved to Saturn."

Asuka was on her feet.

"We will NOT take orders from that asshole!"

Belldandy's eyes narrowed.

"You and I both know you have to. Things are bad now, but soon…….."

"Soon the mortal world will fall to the Rogue Demons." Asuka growled, "and it will be all Saturn's fault!"

"The mortal world will NOT fall." Belldandy shouted, rising to her feet and glaring across her desk towards Asuka. "We will make sure of that."

"How?"

Belldandy started to say something, then just as quickly stopped. She looked down at her desk.

"We just will."

Asuka stood back.

"Anything else, Ma'am?"

Belldandy sat back down.

"Go talk to Arael." The Goddess replied, "I can say nothing else."

Asuka frowned, then left the room. She paused at Cayla's desk.

"Where is Arael?" Asuka asked.

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Asuka paused at the end of the walkway and peered down into the darkness. She could just make out the ripples of the water so far below. She then stepped off and floated downward, the sounds of the Goddess Relief Office fading as she fell. She landed on the surface of the water, barely making a ripple.

Asuka knew about this place, though she had never visited it. Sayoko, as well as her mother Belldandy, and the Angel Arael, visited it often. Asuka had to admit it was rather peaceful down here.

She moved slowly across the water's surface, looking around for Arael. She found the Angel, as well as someone else. Both Arael and Sayoko stood balanced on one foot over the water, their arms crossed and eyes closed. It was one of the few times that Asuka had ever seen Arael totally relaxed. Usually the Angel was very tense, especially around people she did not know, sometimes even around people she did know.

"You came."

Asuka turned her head to see Sayoko looking at her.

"I was actually looking for Arael." Asuka said.

"I know." Sayoko replied, "Mom wanted it this way."

Asuka now frowned. "What?"

"What we are about to talk about." Sayoko said, "Mom wanted no part with, due to her status."

"Why not?"

"Deniability."

"Ok," Asuka replied, still clueless, "What are we talking about?"

Arael now opened her eyes.

"You and I will go to Terra 2."

Asuka's eyes widened. "But Saturn……"

Arael cocked her head to the side.

"He is an asshole." The angel stated.

Asuka stared at Arael, stunned. Sayoko smirked.

"Our kids aren't the only one who can hold secret meetings." She glanced at Arael. "Of course Arael won't tell me anything about what our kids are up to." Sayoko looked back at Asuka. "But yes, you and Arael are going to Terra 2."

"What about the rest of the Guardians?" Asuka asked, "Why not send Yui?"

"Because, as much as it pains me to say it, you are the best Asuka." Sayoko replied, "You have the training, the knowledge, and the tactics to lead a fight against the Rogues. The only other people with this kind of knowledge are Mist, who can't leave heaven because she's busy with the Valkyries, and Misato, who is dead."

"And why is Arael going?" Asuka asked, "Can she teleport through the blocks?"

"She's not even going to try." Sayoko replied, "Anytime she teleports in or out of Heaven, Yggdrasil raises a flag. Saturn will find out."

"Then why is she going?" Asuka asked, annoyed.

"My original purpose was to fight the Demons." Arael replied, "I shall do so again." She then turned to Sayoko. "I shall also watch out for Sentaro and the rest of the family."

"Um hello!" Asuka said, waving her hands, "If we can't get to Terra 2 by teleporting, how are we going to get there?"

The smirk reappeared on Sayoko's face.

"Someone owes me a favor." The goddess replied.

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Terra 2

Sentaro backed slowly away from the demon known as the Soultaker. Megami, still a kitten, hissed at the demoness.

"How are you alive?" Sentaro asked, "You're supposed to be dead!"

"Is this how you great old friends?" the Soultaker asked.

Sentaro frowned, "I don't remember anything being said about us being friends."

The Soultaker sighed. "You help a mortal out, and they totally forget you." She floated off the roof and then sat down on the curb. "I suppose if I say I mean you no harm, you won't believe me."

"Nope." Sentaro replied, crossing his arms.

"You know if I meant to harm you I would have done it by now."

"You're just lulling me into a sense of security before you attack."

The Soultaker frowned, "Now you're being paranoid."

"Considering who I'm talking to I'll consider that a compliment."

"Now he's insulting me." The Soultaker muttered. She then looked down at Megami who was still hissing. "Could you call off your pussy?"

"I don't know." Sentaro said, "It's because of a demon she's like this."

The Soultaker frowned. "Loki is NOT a demon."

"Whatever. Can you return her to normal?"

"I'm not a God." The demoness replied, "anything I might try could end up…….worse."

"Can you at least try?"

"Meow?"

The Soultaker rolled her eyes. "Fine." She waved her hand.

In a flash, Megami the kitten vanished. In her place, was Megami the……. cow?

"Mooo!"

Sentaro blinked.

"Oh that is so not right. Try again."

Once again the demon waved her hand. The cow vanished, now in it's place was……

"Woof?"

"Are you doing this intentionally?"

"Look you!" The Soultaker growled, "You of all people should know I can't undo something a God has done! Only a God, preferably a higher power God, can undo it!"

Sentaro sighed. "Since Loki did it, only my Grandmother or Kami-sama can undo it."

"Bingo."

"Can you at least return her to a cat?"

The Soultaker shrugged and waved her hand. Once again Megami vanished, and when she returned………

"I'M ME!" she shrieked.

Megami smiled towards Sentaro and the Soultaker. Her smiled vanished when she saw Sentaro staring at her with a stunned look, while the Soultaker was shaking her head in her hands. Before Megami could ask what was wrong, she felt her tail twitch.

Tail…..?

Megami grabbed at her butt and found a tail firmly attached. A quick check of her head revealed that she now had cat ears sticking out of her head. She slowly turned to face the demoness.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO ME NYAO?" Megami paused and blinked. "WHY THE HELL DID I JUST SAY 'NYAO' NYAO?"

"Ummm," Sentaro began, "I suppose it is an improvement."

"YOU CALL THIS" Megami held up her tail, "AN IMPROVEMENT! Nyao!" She covered up her mouth.

"I don't suppose you could help her with the 'nyao's?" Sentaro asked.

"You want her back saying 'moo'?" The Soultaker asked.

"Well….no."

"Then deal with it."

"DEAL WITH IT NYAO!" Megami screamed.

"At least you're on two legs and walking upright again." Sentaro pointed out.

"Yeah," Megami agreed with a sigh, "There is that, ny…" She slapped her hands over her mouth. She removed her hands and looked at Sentaro. "So what now n……" She fought to keep from saying 'nyao'.

Sentaro glanced at the Soultaker.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

The Soultaker shrugged. "Didn't feel like ruling Hell. Figured I'd see what Terra 2 was like."

"You're going to help us?"

"Not like I'm doing much else."

"Alright then." Sentaro said, "Let's get to the restaurant before my Mom blows a blood vessel."

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Hell

The control room shuddered again, the lights overhead flickering, and particles of dust rained down onto the table display. Mana wiped the dust away with her sleeve.

"Really Mara," Mana muttered, "the housekeeping skills down here suck."

Mara rolled her eyes, "Cleaning isn't my thing. Check in with Belldandy."

"Remind me to do that." Mana replied. She then pointed at the display. "Has the reserve been brought up?"

"The reserve was already used an hour ago."

"Damn." Mana's eye darted all over the display. Nothing she saw gave her much hope.

"You'll have to flee."

Mana rolled her eye up to where the ghost of Sayoko still sat. The ghost was staring at her. The building rocked again, this time more violently then the previous times. The lights went out for almost a minute.

"They're getting closer." Mara muttered.

"I can see that!" Mana snapped.

Mara didn't even flinch. "Mana, you may have to evacuate."

Mana slowly turned her head to face Mara.

"What for?" she asked.

"You are the Queen." Mara replied, "If you fall……well……..there's no one to take your place."

"What about you?"

"I have no desire to be Queen." Mara stated, "Besides, royal blood doesn't flow in my veins."

"I don't want to leave this room." Mana stated slowly, "I will not be run out of here like some kind of low class demon."

"Mana, you lead Hell. If it falls, you'll be needed to raise an army to take it back."

Mana frowned.

"Contact Sayoko." She muttered.

Within a few minutes, Sayoko's hologram appeared above the table display.

"I've been told I should flee." Mana said.

Sayoko blinked.

"Do you think I should?" Mana asked.

"Mana," Sayoko replied, "anything I say is going to be biased."

Mana glanced briefly at the ghost of Sayoko, before looking back at the hologram.

"Sayoko," Mana whispered, "please, tell me what you think."

Sayoko closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I want you to leave." The goddess replied, "I don't want to lose my best friend. But you are the Queen and have to set an example for the others."

The room rocked again. More dust floated down from the ceiling. Even Sayoko could see it.

"You can't set an example if you're dead." Sayoko said.

Mana looked down at the floor, deep in thought. When she looked up, she had made her decision.

"I'll……" she began before an explosion rocked the room. The ceiling collapsed, raining debris down upon the occupants. One large beam slammed into Mana, sending her to the floor.

"MANA!" Mara and Sayoko both screamed. Before she could reach Mana's side, another explosion tossed Mara across the room. The hologram of Sayoko looked around in panic.

"HELLO!" she called out, "Is anyone there? Is anyone…."

A beam crashed into the table display, shattering it and breaking off all communications. Smoke and debris clouded the room, then all went black.

The room remained silent, other then the sounds of debris falling and settling. From the darkness, a soft glow appeared.

The ghost of Sayoko moved silently through various objects, before coming to a stop beside the shattered table display.

"It has begun." She whispered, her voice echoing throughout the room.

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Author's notes:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS!

BTW: if it comes to a town near you, I highly recommend going to see the King Tutankhamun exhibit. It has many hundreds of artifacts from the boy king, as well as his father, grandparents and great grandparents.