Eternal City Crystal Tokyo

Chapter 78

Getting the interview with Luna and Artemis hadn't been easy. They had, officially, retired from public life after Queen Serenity took the throne. They now worked alongside the Tokyo University history department, trying to reconstruct the history of the Moon Kingdom.

(While they were from that era, their memories were fragmented by the suspended animation they had been put in. As well, they suspected that their memories may have been changed or even removed by certain individuals.)

"This is off the record," a fascinated Yuuki Konno asked, "You think Sailor Pluto tampered with your memories?"

Artemis and Luna exchanged glances. "There are some very specific gaps in our memories," Artemis said darkly.

Luna nodded, "We didn't remember Pluto herself. Or the Outers. And we should have, from reconstructed files we know they were often at Court."

"Mind you, there might have been 'need to know' issues," Artemis added. "But...," the white cat shrugged slightly.

"Have you thought of asking her?" Yuuki had to ask.

Both cats just kind of LOOKED at her. "Could you just go up to Pluto and ask that?" Luna wondered aloud.

"Good point," Yuuki conceded.

They continued the interview, touching on various items. They were winding down as Yuuki looked at them seriously.

"This may be a rude question, but I feel it needs to be asked," Yuuki said frankly. "Why does Queen Serenity no longer have you as advisors? Why is there a rift between you?" she asked.

Artemis started angrily, "There isn't a rift! We stepped aside."

Luna, though, looked kind of... sadly resigned.

"Miss Luna?" Yuuki asked.

"We stepped aside," Luna said, "but it was at the wishes of Queen Serenity."

"Luna!" Artemis seemed scandalized she said that.

"While we tried to be good advisors to Usagi and the others, we also made mistakes," Luna added, "that's why things ended as they did."

"I don't agree it was a mistake," Artemis insisted, "we had no choice."

"Mistake?" Yuuki prompted.

"After the Sailor Soldiers defeated Queen Beryl, they were reborn with no memory of being heroes." Luna remembered, "Artemis and I had hoped their fights were over, but we still watched over them. Sadly, a new enemy arrived."

"The Doom Tree and it's children," Yuuki nodded.

"Innocents were in danger, so I used an ability of mine to re-awaken Sailor Moon," Luna said. She looked haunted, "She begged me not to... but I felt I had no choice."

"There was no choice," Artemis repeated.

"One after the other, we brought their memories back," Luna sighed. "I know they forgave us for it, they understood the necessity. But I don't think they ever forgot, and out taking their choice away colored our relationship."

"I'm sorry," Yuuki said gently.

Luna shrugged, "Not long after Usagi took on the rulership of the entire Solar System, Artemis and I chose to step aside. And, that brings us to now."

They finished up the interview, and Yuuki thanked them both. "Before we air this, I'll let you see the final edit," she added.

"Thank you," Luna sighed. "I'm happy we got to make a statement."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Damn," Satoko Tamakoshi blurted on seeing the interview, Yuuki's and Satoko sitting in the other woman's office.

"I told you I'd get an interview with then," Yuuki said smugly.

"I'm really impressed," Satoko added. "How did you get them to talk about all this?"

"Honestly, I think there's a lot they just wanted to tell someone," Yuuki noted.

Satoko looked a bit nervous as she asked, "Do you think there'll be pushback from the Palace about this story?"

"No, but I suggest sending a copy to Lady Venus just in case." Yuuki offered.

"Seriously?" Satoko blinked.

"If there is something classified, she can tell us," Yuuki said firmly.

"Ha!" Satoko smiled. "Okay, we'll do that."

"I am, sadly, going to have to admit that I'm stumped on the Siobhan Quinn story," Yuuki said with a sigh,

"She's the immortal Vampire Werewolf who works at the palace?" Satoko checked.

"That's her," Yuuki agreed, "there's a huge amount of background, she's had a busy one thousand years, and I still think she'd make a fascinating subject..."

"But she refuses to be interviewed," Satoko guessed.

"Usually I can talk people around, but she's refused all overtures," Yuuki admitted.

"Some immortals are extremely private beings," Satoko pointed out. "Plus, she might have been burned by a reporter in the past."

"Point," Yuuki conceded.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Honey Kisaragi was a android. Well, TECHNICALLY she was what would be called a synthezoid: a near replica of a biological human but made of artificial parts. The terminology had changed several times in the thousand years she had been functioning.

She worked in the Crystal Tokyo Police Force, as a beat cop. Oh, she could have a higher ranking position, but she liked being out on the street and interacting with people. Office work was the pits, along with all the politics...

"Cyber!" Honey waved at her fellow cop.

Cyber Six smiled, the slim, black haired cyborg dressed in a old fashioned woman's suit. Which, in Honey's opinion, suited her perfectly. She was SO handsome and boyish! Just her type.

"Honey, good morning," Cyber Six said warmly.

"Going on shift too?" Honey asked.

"Yeah. Are you in that early meeting as well?" Cyber Six asked.

"Early meeting? Let me check...," Honey logged into her virtual scheduler. "Yup. Oh, its about the royal wedding?"

"I think the chief wants to go over the emergency planning," Cyber Six noted.

"I guess that makes sense, with us having half the universe here when it happens," Honey agreed wryly.

"It's going to be a security nightmare," Cyber Six sighed.

"Hmm," Honey agreed.

Both Honey and Cyber Six were also employed by Lady Venus. Cyber Six was part of Venus' semi-covert action team, while Honey used her shape changing abilities as a covert agent. Thankfully Honey wasn't called out that often...

They both went to the meeting room, where Leona Ozaki was waiting with several other senior officers. They ran through security for around the palace, the routes to and from, and the likely enemies planing a attack.

"Mesa. And Earth First," Honey noted.

"Pretty much," Cyber Six agreed.

Leona chuckled, "Let's not get tunnel vision. There are other possibilities too."

"Sorry, ma'am," Cyber Six nodded.

"One thing we need to look into," Honey leaned forward, "is extracting the Princess and Lady Saturn, because I can promise you they won't run willingly."

"Ha!" an officer chuckled, and there were nods all around.

"Agreed, they're going to want to stand and fight," Leona agreed.

"Point out that they're putting civilians in danger if they stay and draw fire?" Cyber Six offered.

"That might do it," Honey agreed.

"Honey, I hate to ask... if needed, could you swap with either of the targets?" Leona asked her thoughtfully.

"Not without props," Honey noted, "I can't do hair colour changes, remember?"

"Point. I'll hold that option in reserve," Leona nodded.

"She could copy the Princess and I could do Saturn," Cyber Six offered. "Roughly anyway. We could at least draw fire away from them."

"Please don't get yourself blown up again," Honey muttered softly.

Cyber Six shrugged slightly as she softly replied, "Sometimes it's part of the job."

Somewhat louder Honey added, "We should also look into coordinating with that group the Princess has been leading. They're sure to get involved."

"Oh joy. Magical girls," Leona deadpanned, making everyone chuckle.

To be continued...

Notes: Of course, in the anime the reason they don't remember the Outers is that they hadn't been introduced into the show yet. And yes, I certainly wouldn't be asking Pluto that...

Touching on Cyber Six and Cutey Honey, since I haven't shown them much. Plus more bits on the wedding.