Chapter XII- The Eve of Battle, part 1
The humid evening brought about an unexpected heat-wave. As the houses in the peaceful neighborhood prepared for another quiet night, not even a leaf rustled, not a blade of grass moved with the wind. The warm air was unusually still. It seemed charged with a barely discernable tension. More than one face peeked from behind a pastel-colored curtain, staring keenly at the silent darkening skies. Pairs of curious eyes watched the Moon emerge. It would make its way across the sky, on its inexorable path that would, in few hours, bring it right between Earth and the Sun.
"Mars Star Power, Make Up!"
In the temple yard, Rhei changed into Sailor Mars, and intently focused on reading any new, strange auras in the City.
"Mercury Star Power, Make Up!"
Ami transformed to Sailor Mercury, and proceeded to check her minicomputer for any new information on the unexpected surge of energy.
"Jupiter Star Power, Make Up!"
Sailor Jupiter straightened her shoulders, ready to take on any new enemies.
"Venus Star Power, Make Up!"
Changing into Sailor Venus, Minako wondered what strategy would bring them success in the following battle.
"Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!"
As she felt the powers of the Moon wash over her, Usagi prayed she would be strong enough and wise enough to handle the upcoming crisis.
"Alright, let's go! It shouldn't take us long to get there!"
The five warriors rushed along the streets, in the amazed look of the passer-bys, until they disappeared down the road, in the waning light of the setting sun.
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Minutes later, at the Outer's house…
Michiru closed the lid to her wristwatch with a slow movement. She kept her eyes fixed on it for a long moment. Next to her, Haruka had tensed with Luna's last words, and was obviously ready to spring into action. Yet, the sapphire-eyed girl's attitude did not puzzle her.
"We're not having this discussion…there's no time for it!" the blonde decreed, with an authoritative look towards the other two.
"I agree, we—"
"That means you stay here" she cut Setsuna off. "Without your powers you can't help in a battle."
"That's not tr—"
"It's not exactly up for debate." Feeling the situation required it, Haruka stepped in the role of the leader. "You'll only divert our attention"
"I don't need you to 'look after' me, Haruka" the other replied defensively. "I can stand my own very well…"
"Not against these things, you can't!" Michiru finally spoke. "We're not going to try to stop you…"
"Thank you", Setsuna said earnestly. "I feel I need to be there when… whatever is meant to happen…will."
"…but you have the right to know something first. I saw you in the mirror, Setsuna. If you come now…it won't end well."
The garnet eyes reflected an affectionate smile, as the other replied.
"It's all a matter of rightly interpreting the signs, Michiru. Intuition tells me I have to come. Thank you for the concern…but I'll be fine. I promise."
Haruka gave her partner a long look, and they seemed to agree the discussion had to end.
"Uranus Planet Power, Make Up!"
"Neptune Planet Power, Make Up!"
Changed into their Senshi form, the two gave Setsuna a resigned glance.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but we're taking the car" Uranus announced with a hint of grim amusement in her voice. "Unless you feel you can keep up…"
In response, Setsuna reached her the car keys.
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The light of the slowly setting sun fell on the still water surface. The small pond was quiet in the warm evening air. No sounds came from among the ruins of the majestic construction that had been Muugen Academy. No unusual sight greeted the Sailor Team as they reached the place.
"There was a dimensional tear here", Mercury announced, checking the scene through her visor, "but it seems to have closed back on its own."
"We can't know what came through it…" Mars commented worriedly.
"I can't see anything—maybe nothing came through…!" Minako opined.
"That's awfully optimistic."
"The integrity of space here is still affected by the fluctuating fields; in theory, another fissure could appear any minute. But judging from the energy discharge, the last one was large enough to release much of the applied pressure." Mercury gave the others a grave look. "I'd venture to say there won't be another."
"Still have to find out if any creature passed through this time!"
Uranus's voice covered the screeching of wheels, as she hit the brakes hard. The yellow car came to a halt right next to the girls' group.
"Uranus! Neptune!" Sailor Moon frowned in disorientation. "Setsuna-san! What…?"
Ignoring the blonde's puzzlement, Setsuna got down from the car, and came close to the surface of the water. Mentally, she reached both hands to grasp the missing piece of the puzzle that kept slipping through her fingers.
Around her, the Senshi gave each other worried looks. With a small amount of relief, she noticed Small Lady was not there—they must have decided against involving her. Although, it would have been better if none of them had been involved.
She looked down at the murky waters. Something floated a small distance from the shore, and she reached for it. It was a damp sear leaf, all brittle and creased, and almost black…
"Look at this one! It's almost black…!"
She recalled Small Lady's surprise at seeing Tsumbono's strange-looking hybrids in the park.
"I didn't think this was possible…at least not with evolved plants on Earth…Apparently these hybrids survive without having to undergo the process of photosynthesis!"
Her own words rang in her memory, and Setsuna frowned harder.
"Look!It's broken!"
"It took two days to cleanse this area of the park of any spores that might have escaped the glass casings…I couldn't afford having bits of my masterpiece floating around in a public park, could I?"
Tsumbono had told her about how the plants continually released spores…he had been so worried about his hybrids and so proud to speak about them…
"You have to know the mechanism! Otherwise, how could you have created the plant in the first place?"
…and yet mysteriously reluctant when it came to the process of creating them.
"Amazing, aren't they? To think only a few weeks ago I was wasting my time with theories on biotope interactions…when this great breakthrough was so close…"
Her breath caught in her throat.
"…only a few weeks ago…"
"…how could you have created the plant…"
"…bits of my masterpiece floating around…"
"Oh, God…the fool!" She felt ire cloud her vision, and quickly rose to her feet in the amazed looks of the others.
"Setsuna-san…?" Sailor Moon said in a small voice. "What…"
"There's no time for questions! The creatures are in the park! You have to get there immediately!" She turned to Uranus with a determined expression. "I need the car keys. Now!"
The Senshi of Wind gestured towards the car.
"They're in the contact…where are you going?"
Setsuna took the driver's seat.
"I know what drew them here. I'm going to try to prevent it from attracting any more…and pray you can handle the ones that came through this time."
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AN: Part 2 of this chapter is coming up, but until then, I'd reaaaaally appreciate a comment ,or two. Or as many as you like, really :-D