We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.
SAILOR MOON ETERNAL
"The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga"
By Haruka Kou
Chapter 13: Deadly Interruptions
Screaming and shrieking, the frightened patrons of this discotheque establishment, quickly run out the doors, emptying the building out as Jarrod, filled with jealousy planted in him by another, prepares to serve the ultimate punishment on his unwitting rival. Fingers tightening around the trigger of his high-tech rifle, Jarrod suddenly feels a sharp object pressed to his ribs.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A low voice says threateningly, as the sharp-tipped steel blade of a sword moves in dangerously closer.
Glancing back, Jarrod glimpses this would-be rescuer, gleaming talisman in hand, one look in her steely eyes told Jarrod that this was no mere bluff. But he, the celebrated greatest warrior of Janus, was not one to bluff either.
"This is not your concern, woman," his low voice commands.
"Leave now and I will forgive you your foolishness in believing this traitor," he raises his weapon again.
"You shoot, I run you through," Alex in all seriousness dares him, not backing down.
"So be it, " in his currently demented state, Jarrod believes he is doing the righteous thing. Punishment for treason and desertion on his homeworld was brutal and a lady's honor sacred, especially the Princess Fireball's, for he himself was in love with her.
A proud man, the leader of his civil war ravaged world, it was difficult for Jarrod to accept the aid of any outlanders, though his people were in desperate straits. Wartorn and starving, the people depended on their leader and being the good man he was, he swallowed his pride when Fireball and her wandering star-crossed people came to Janus, kindly offering every assistance possible to help feed the starving, to heal the wounded, to rebuild the shattered world, Jarrod had agreed. All they asked for in return was to join the people of the planet and be able to call the world their home as well. Soon the proud inhabitants of Janus came to realize what a blessing had been bestowed upon them as their dying world was brought back to life and with immense gratitude, they crowned Princess Fireball as their royal Queen, erecting a palace in her honor, and though the kind Princess objected, they named her as sole ruler of the many factioned planet. To Jarrod, the reigning leader before she came, Fireball gave the title of the Supreme Commander of her Army, an appointment with which he was honored. At first grim and stoic, over time, Jarrod had watched Fireball's wise leadership, her generosity and gentleness, leading the land and the people to prosperity and wealth. Before his eyes, Jarrod hardened heart softened, the beautiful Princess becoming ruler of it as well. He lived to please her, training the newly founded army to above all else, protect her Royal Majesty. Contented to admire her from afar, over the months, to Jarrod's dismay, he found that she had another, a young man with whom she had travelled the stars. With whom she spent most of her time with. He who she had introduced to Jarrod, that day, long ago, affectionately as her "finest fighter" though Jarrod never knew why. He had never seen the boy fight, a title to which he himself had dreamed to be called by her one day. And to put salt on his wounded heart, Queen Fireball had asked Jarrod to take this young man under his wing, to train him in the ways of a soldier and not just that of a fighter. And though he believed there was something between this boy and his queen, Jarrod obediently obeyed, though the young man's undisciplined style could never make a warrior in Jarrod's stern eyes, something he was about to learn was not entirely true.
Pulling the trigger, the electrified weapon charges up, and in a blinding flash, raw energy explodes from it's cam, aiming directly for Sayer's face. But he was no longer there. In the second it took for the gun to flash, Sayer reaches out, grabbing his assailant, pinning him to the ground, as, with a swift left punch, the energy weapon skitters across the floor, imploding anything that was in the path of the laser.
Jumping out of its way, Alex assesses the situation quickly. The scuffling on the ground, was not looking very well for Sayer, his large opponent not only tall and well-toned, but well armored as well, as he pummels Sayer with several roundhouse punches. If it were a regular fistfight Alex would not worry, but there was something in this man's eyes, his jealous words, that told he was not in his right mind.
Not to worry, she smiles to herself. Backup is here. Raising her hand to the air, a small wand-type object from out of nowhere, hangs in midair above her head. Alex grasps it tightly, "Uranus Crystal Power...Make up!" she calls out. Enveloped in yellow light, raging winds explode from the ground beneath Alex. Blowing through her, she spins, aglow with energy, her arms wrapped around her, transforming herself into the dazzling Super Sailor Uranus. Jumping right into the fray, she raises her hand to the skies, asking the wind for it's assistance.
"WORLD SHAKING!" she smashes her fist to the ground, the resulting energy orb, causing the earth to crumble in its path, hitting Jarrod in the chest, right on mark, as Sayer just manages to squirm out of its way.
"Could've been a little closer, huh, Ally?" Wiping blood from his lower lip, Sayer smirkingly jabs her, pulling a long unused object of his own from his pocket.
"Care for some Sailor company, 'U'?" he holds the gold and feathered object to his ear.
"Sounds good to me," Alex smiles, knowing full well what is to come as Jarrod who was thrown against the far wall, dazed but unhurt, obviously equipped with some advanced shielding technology, slowly rises to his feet.
"Fighter Star Power...Make Up!" A starfield background behind him, Sayer seems to rip across the midnight sky. Not only his clothes, but his male body as well, transforming (to Jarrod's utterly shocked surprise) into that of a woman. "Penetrating the evil darkness. I am a wandering shooting star. Sailor Star Fighter! Stage on!" Fighter says with a final flourishing backflip. Clad in leather, wearing a pair of tiny little tight shorts, long leather gloves, and five inch tall thigh length black leather boots, the man Jarrod knew as Sayer, was now standing before him, a shapely woman.
A woman! My poor sweet Queen, associated with some transient creature like that. His archaically closed mind filling with disgusted rage, Jarrod pulls another yet even larger weapon from the arsenal strapped to his belt, this one appearing to be some kind of energy cannon. Jarrod levels the weapon at Sailor Star Fighter, who jumps out of the way in the nick of time, though the discotheque's front wall was not so lucky, as it dissolves in a fiery ball of light, blowing open a monstrous hole.
"We could've just used the door if you wanted to go outside," Fighter taunts as he and Uranus race out the newly opened cavity into the cool night air for a better fighting vantage point.
"You're just making him angrier," Uranus says to Fighter.
"Good," he smirks.
Despite the danger, he's actually enjoying this, isn't he? Alex thinks to herself, looking into Fighter's blue eyes. Funny thing is, she smirks back, so am I. She never imagined she'd want to be in battle at Star Fighter's side.
"Where'd he go?" In their moment of joviality, our two seasoned fighters, somehow were upped one, losing sight of their well armed opponent.
Every question deserves an answer.
Leaping down from atop the night club's roof, (how'd he get up there?) Commander Jarrod lands on Fighter, knocking him to the ground hard. Kneeling on his back, Jarrod unsheathes a broad sword, prepared to behead this perverted traitor, in true executioner's style.
"Fighter!" Uranus flies like the wind to him, just as Jarrod's sword begins it's descent down towards Fighter's unconscious neck...
High above, hidden among the plentiful green leaves of a birchwood oak, a lone figure skulks in the shadows, spying down upon two lovers strolling in the park, a look of pure disdain in his reddish-brown eyes.
What is it you believe you are doing, Teacher? This woman is merely a human. Pushing his reddish hair from his eyes, Nastrus' mind questions the tall man beneath him's actions involving this woman.
A young man of nineteen, Nastrus was once the most promising scholar and magician the rich planet of Kinmoku had to offer. Bright, curious, eager to learn, Nastrus had envisioned himself to one day become the ArchMage of the land, Her Royal Majesty Princess Fireball's most honored and trusted advisor. But the lofty dreams of his youth were crushed by Galaxia's rampage, surviving only by his wits alone, with the help of some low-level magic, Nastrus' good intentioned soul became that of a radical zealot, believing only those of Kinmoku were worthy-anyone else beneath them. He then rejoining his Princess and fellow countrymen on their new home of Janus. Fireball found her young friend changed for the worse, by his war embattled experiences. In her plentiful kindness, she had requested of Maker, her beloved scholarly soldier, whom she held in so high esteem, to take charge of this wayward young man's education, in hopes that a calm, level head would be a good influence on his beleaguered mind.
Terry had agreed, finding Nastrus' intelligence remarkable and his magical powers gaining, though his passions remained ill-founded, Nastrus managed to conceal them from his people, biding his time, in the hopes that one day he would control the Princess and the new kingdom and rid the planet of all other "infidels", making the world a new Kinmoku, removing all traces of unworthy Janus. But these ambitions as yet, remained a secret to all. His journey to this backward Earth was solely to return the Three royal Princes to where they belonged, for in his eyes, Sayer, Terry, and Robin, though changed from the forms he once knew, were still members of the Royal House of Kinmoku. Although not true bloodline, they were the Royals from different stars who, in her infinite wisdom, Her Most Highest Majesty, the Queen Mother Melodia, had taken these three in as her own. Any decision from the most supreme source as that, Nastrus embraced wholeheartedly, though lately, innerly feeling that the Princes' and even Princess Fireball herself were weak members of the Royalty, so easily submitting to and associating with, other lesser beings.
I myself will have to guide them back to their majestic roots.
"Why this woman, Your Highness?" Nastrus says the title sarcastically now, not really accepting them in their new forms. Suspended by magic, he glides down from his perch in the tree, his long white cape flapping in the wind, surprising the couple, who quickly pull away from each other and look to him.
"Nastrus." Terry says, a little breathlessly, his brows furrowing in confusion at the man's sudden appearance.
"I ask you again, Teacher. Why do you degrade yourself with this lowly woman?" Nastrus' eyes unfeelingly land on Susan, whose hands rise to cover her heaving chest, feeling somehow violated by this stranger's cold eyes.
"How dare you say such a thing!" Terry's usual calm demeanor erupts into anger at the slightest criticism of his beloved Susan as he takes a step in front of her subconsciously.
"I dare and I must," Nastrus' voice, so distant and unkind. "Prince, you shall return to Janus with me now. These earthlings mean nothing to us," he raises his magical staff, energizing it for teleportation.
"I will return when-" Terry stops in midsentence, his eyes gazing at Susan, "and IF I decide to. The Princess gave us leave, we are within our rights to be here." Terry states defiantly, his hand lowering Nastrus' staff.
"Your mind has been turned, my Prince. And this creature, the cause of it," In one unexpected swift move, Nastrus turns his energy charged staff on Susan, releasing some unknown magical streams towards her.
Seeing the danger in a flash, Terry scoops up Susan, jumping out of the way as the force of the deadly energy bolts, smashes into a nearby tree, splitting it down the center.
"Nastrus, are you mad!?" Terry calls angrily to this crazy man, who was supposed to be an ally.
"No, I am not mad. Simply concerned for the state of your mind. It is illogical, this unworthy earth woman has corrupted you, Your Highness," Nastrus says calmly, though the respect was not truly there in his words. He takes another shot at Susan, whom Terry pulls out of the way again. "I will purge this viper from your thoughts," Nastrus yells indignantly, unbelieving that the Royal Prince could ever lower himself in such a way. He summons more energy from his staff.
Leaping towards him, Terry knocks the staff from his hands, kicking it across the grass, one powerful punch and Nastrus is on the ground, his nose bleeding.
"Don't you EVER say anything about this lady again! You're not fit to lick her boots," Terry towers over Nastrus' weak body.
"We shall see who is worthy, Prince," his indignation rising, Nastrus' staff reappears in his hands, flinging it forward, he hits Terry with some sort of energy drain, knocking him to his kness. Terry tries to get back up, but finds the magical hold ebbing away at his energy.
How do I get out of this! His tactical mind races for the answer, but finds in the end, it only points to one solution. A peaceful man, Terry never enjoyed fighting, never liked his role in hurting others, even if they were ill-intentioned. And though it never bothered him much before, right now, at this moment, Terry did not want to revert back to what he once was. For now he was truly a man, in every way, it wasn't merely a disguise or a want-it was a fact, their true and natural forms now. The earth had sensed they were meant to be males and so upon landing on this planet in the battle with Galaxia, it had turned them male. Though his mind stayed the same, his body did not.
Not now! Not in front of Susan! His thoughts shout, as he desperately tries to break the hold on him. Through the fog threatening to envelop him the energy drain so strong it was about to render him unconscious, Terry sees Nastrus' caped form teleporting, stopping in front of Susan, knocking her down as she was rushing to help him. The demented look in Nastrus' eye, the terrified look in Susan's, Terry's soul cries out. I must save her. I have to rescue her...Against the forces, Terry rises to his feet, closing his eyes, he summons all the energy he has left. Though he doesn't want to , he knows this is the only way...
"Maker Star Power...Make Up!" The power of the stars release him from his hold, exploding with energy, Terry begins his transformation, changing from a tall, muscular man into a tall, well-formed woman. Forgive me, Susan. I myself am a Farce. He thinks sadly, too little of himself as he gives his opening speech, now fully transformed.
"Penetrating the evil darkness. I am a wandering shooting star! Sailor Star Maker! Stage On!" he calls, going right into his attack as Nastrus holds his staff high above Susan's head, ready to strike.
"STAR GENTLE UTERUS!" Angry as he was, Sailor Star Maker aims the roiling acid streaking through the air directly at Nastrus, but he disappears, teleporting away.
"Sailor Star Maker, you have finally returned. You have been ignoring your role as a true soldier for far too long." Nastrus suddenly appears behind Maker, attempting his energy drain again, but Maker avoids the attack easily, jumping out of the way.
"That won't work twice," but there was no joy in his words.
"No. I did not think it would," Nastrus' smile was an eerie sight. His golden tooth sparkles evilly in the moonlight. Twice as fast as before, energy wisps zap towards Susan who was just getting to her feet...
"Susan! Watch out!" Star Maker races to her, but his logical mind calculates he would be just too late...
Clang! Metal hits metal, steel to steel as Uranus' swift blade deflects Jarrod's falling sword, shoving the attack away from a floored Star Fighter.
"Woman!" Jarrod exclaims, angrily trying to get past her, and finish off the traitor.
"Stop calling me that!" Uranus' bejewelled sword continues to clash with his. "I am Sailor Uranus, soldier of the Sky," her green eyes flash.
"Uranus, it is then, but the outcome of this sparring remains the same," Jarrod smiles at her confidently. "I must warn you, I am the master swordsman of my race, a warrior beyond warriors. You have no prayer, Woman." He dives at her with his blade, but Uranus deftly avoids, smiling back with the same confidence.
"And I must warn you, I too am a master swordsman, a warrior beyond warrior, if you'd like." She mimics his words tauntingly.
"And I am NO MERE WOMAN," she lunges for him, her sword slicing through Jarrod's thick armor, that if it were not present would've gone straight through his heart. Glancing down at the slight wound on his chest, Jarrod huffs indignantly, though the warrior before him had just gained a small bit of his respect.
She is my finest opponent yet.
Deflecting each other's blows, neither one holding back, Jarrod tries to unnerve his opponent with words of "wisdom."
"He was only fooling you as you can see, my good woman. This cad's intentions impure," he offers, feeling this may strike a nerve.
And get this blasted woman off my back! He thinks to himself as the battle rages.
"And your point is?" Uranus' smirk and the wicked look in her eye, tell Jarrod quite a different story than he supposed.
No matter. The traitor must be punished, he thinks determinedly, seeing out of the corner of his eye, his target rising to his feet.
Holding his aching head, blood dripping down it, Fighter sees the battle and shakes himself, trying to take wake up enough to take perfect aim.
"STAR SERIOUS.." he raises his hand to the skies.
"This ends here," Jarrod suddenly, still clashing swords with Uranus, pulls yet one more high-tech weapon from inside his jacket, raising it at Fighter, he pulls the trigger.
"NO!" Uranus shouts, smashing against Jarrod's arm, trying to stop him from shooting. He manages to shoot it's powerful energy off anyway, she knocking it enough though to miss the mark. In that moment, of her concern, Sailor Uranus lets her guard down. In that moment of exhilaration, Jarrod unintentionally loses control of himself and his sword.
"ALLY!" Fighter's heartbreakingly painful scream erupts from the depths of his soul as he watches in horror, his strong Sailor 'U' sink to the ground to her knees, Jarrod's broadsword run straight through her.
"YOU BAS-" he starts to swear at Jarrod, racing to her, but an earshattering explosion from behind rocks Star Fighter, knocking him to the ground as his world collapses before him. Jarrod's energy blast intended for him, instead hitting Alex's yellow Ferrari as it explodes into a blazing inferno at his back. But that was nothing compared to the searing flames devouring his soul.
"Ally!" Fighter scrambles to his feet, dashing to her, kneeling close.
"Starr," she chokes out in a whisper, amazement on her beautiful face as she looks down at the sword plunged into her chest. Her body stiffens with the shock.
"Ally, what do I do?" Fighter whispers, tears streaming down his cheeks. Both of them knowing a wound like that was fatal.
"Take it out," she whispers, bracing against his arm.
"But-" Fighter with not a bit of medical somehow still knows he should not remove the sword.
"Take it out," Uranus coughs out, "I don't want to die with that in me," she looks pleadingly into his eyes.
Taking his hands in hers, wrapping them both around the sword's steel edge on her chest, strangely still able to feel the warmth of his hands.
"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE!" Fighter's tears spill down on her.
"Do you always have to argue with me?" She smiles, then gasps in pain, closing her eyes squeezing his hands tightly around the blade, drawing blood. Agonizingly, Fighter takes hold of the sword. In one swift motion, pulling it out, thrusting the bloodstained steel tip behind him with disdain, and it falls clattering to Jarrod's feet.
But Jarrod does not retrieve his beloved friend. Looking down at the scene before him, Jarrod's mind suddenly cannot justify his actions. Seeing this brave woman collapse into Fighter's arms, her blood splattering to the ground and Fighter's agonizing tears and voice filled with pain, Jarrod retreats, running away like a frightened child.
What have I done! His conscious condemns his soul.
"What are you doing, Evelyna?" Michelle turns to the petite blonde, whose glowing hand was still hesitating in mid air behind Robin's unknowing back.
I just can't! Evelyna's kind heart cannot betray the man she is in love with. "Robin, Miss Moreau," she says suddenly, pulling her hand away, her power to psionically render someone unconscious ebbing away. "I can't go through with this. Please forgive me, I can never be a soldier," her sad eyes look away from the pair's confused glances.
"What do you mean, Evelyna? Go through with what?" Robin asks, but his voice as always with his protegee, was unusually soft and kind.
"My mission...I mean, our mission...I'm supposed to bring you back to Janus. Seeing how things were developing, we feared you may not return on your own." The words come out in a rush, her eyes still planted on the ground. Evelyna fiddles with her braid guiltily.
"And I may not," Robin shares a glance with Michelle, whose eyes light up. "But that's my concern not anyone else's. Who is the 'we' you are talking about? I know you would never conjure this up on your own," He lifts the timid girl's chin so her eyes meet his.
"I..." Evelyna pauses, though entranced in his green eyes, she wished she did not say what she had already, hesitant to reveal her accomplices names, knowing full well how the Commander demanded secrecy and punished those with loose tongues. He's a good leader. A good man really, but very strict, and I'm a little afraid of him. I am a weakling, Evelyna was very good at beating upon herself.
"Don't let others rule your life," she suddenly hears a gentle voice in her head. It was Miss Moreau's, Evelyna recognizes but looking at her, she sees her lips unmoving.
"This is what I've learned here, Evelyna. This is what Michelle has taught me." Robin's voice adds to Michelle's in Evelyna's mind.
"You can speak in my head? Telepathically?" Evelyna asks in astonishment at her mentor's newfound abilities.
"Because of Michelle," Robin credits his aqua companion.
"No, Robin, because of you," Michelle grips his hand.
"There's a whole new world we've discovered together. That's why I can't leave. I can't ever leave Michelle. Not after what we've found. Can you understand that, Evelyna?" Robin asks.
Yes, I do, Robin. I understand love all too well. A guarded part of her mind thinks sadly. "I see." she whispers aloud, biting back the tears as she smiles sweetly. I will give you up because of it. "The Commander will be upset when he hears this though," she giggles nervously.
"Jarrod is here?" Robin asks, his guard coming up.
"Yes and Nastrus as well," Evelyna offers.
"Nastrus?" Robin hears alarms going off in his head, always a little wary of that looney zealot. Evelyna nods innocently, unaware that her travelling companions posed any real danger, their hidden agendas unbeknowst to her.
"Who are-?" Michelle begins to inquire, when suddenly her face goes white, her pupils dilate and out of her mouth comes a heart-wrenching scream. Falling to her knees, Michelle's ashen face turns to Robin, who takes her shoulders for support, his own mind exploding with her pain. Her cousin, her best friend, her partner, the other half of her soul was out there somewhere. She was out there, and she was dying.
"Amara," Michelle barely manages to whisper the word, tears overflowing down her face. "AMARA!" she screeches her beloved companion's name as Robin envelops her in his arms, his own eyes stinging with her tears.
"Let's go," Robin orders Evelyna, taking hold of his sobbing Michelle, he heads for the quickest way out of the building, and jumps out the window, expertly landing like a cat on his feet, Michelle clinging tightly to him.
"Take me to her, please," Michelle whispers in his ear, soaking his hair with her tears.
"I will, Michelle. We'll make it," he promises, as his senses search for Alex. We must find her. He thinks determinedly, knowing the bond the two of them shared and that
Alex's death would mean the end for Michelle's soul as well.
"Ally! Ally wake up! This is all my fault," Fighter shakes the woman in his arms, desperately trying to cauterize her wound, to stop her life's blood from flowing away. Frantically searching, Fighter can find nothing to cover up the gaping hole in Alex's chest. A piece of cloth! Anything! He looks down at his own clothing, willing to strip naked if he had to, but realizing the skimpy leather would not be good enough. Ally what do I do?! You would know. You always know, SailorU.His eyes rest upon her uniform. Without a second thought, he grabs her navy blue skirt, ripping it off, trying not to disturb her, then rolling it up, pressing it to her bloody chest. His own wounds still open, his hot blood mixes with hers all over her white uniform now stained red, her yellow bow ripped asunder. Feeling her skirt being unceremoniously torn off, Fighter's rough hands all over her body, Uranus comes to, fighting back the unconsciousness trying to overwhelm her.
"Are you going to rape me now that I'm down?" Her sense of humor her lifeline, she holds onto when she was secretly frightened. Uranus tries to smile up at him, but finds the effort too painful, her eyes shutting again.
"Ally! You stay awake! You're going to be fine!" The tears running down his face were evidence enough that he was only desperately hoping. "Come on, Sailor U! Wake up! U stands for ..." He remembers that silly Sailor V television show, forever in reruns, making a comparison to it, trying to keep her spirits up. "Underwear!" he laughs through his tears, the quickest word beginning with the letter 'U' coming to mind. (Perhaps because at this moment Alex's were obvious for him to see, her skirt shredded away as it was. Besides we're talking about Sayer's mind!)
"Underwear? You're crazy." Alex snaps awake at the ridiculous word. He nods, relieved she was awake enough to yell at him.
"Should I carry you to the hospital? Or is it better to wait for help? Or.." Star Fighter presses his hand tighter to her heaving chest, the skirt now dripping with her blood.
"It's too late for that." She tries to swallow down the blood rising from her chest.
"It's all my fault. Ally, don't" Fighter starts to plead at the way she seemed to be giving up.
"Shut up, and promise me something." Uranus opens her eyes wide, though filled with pain, they are still strong and clear. He nods. "I shouldn't ask you this, why am I asking you, of all people this," she coughs, blood escaping her mouth.
"I guess after everything, after all that we've been through, I feel I can trust you...It's crazy but, in some ways, you're a lot like me." She coughs again, wiping the crimson liquid on her sleeve, realizing that here before her Fighter was her true equal, in battle, indetermination, in passion. "Promise me, you'll take care of Michelle." Her voice wavers on her friend's name, the thought of leaving her behind alone unbearable. "Promise me you'll never let anything happen to her. Protect her with your life, as I would have done," Alex looks away sadly, now on the verge of tears.
"Ally..." he touches her cheek, turning it to face him.
"Promise me." She demands, their eyes locking.
"I promise," his words were never so intent. "Now promise me something."
"If I can," her voice was growing hoarse.
"Promise me you won't give up without a fight. Give it that old "Sailor U" one-two punch! Okay?" he smiles. "Believe me, I know all about those," he rubs his jaw at the memory of past encounters. Looking down into her deep green eyes, Sayer wonders how he could not have fallen in love with her from the first moment they met. Don't go. There's so much I want to tell you. His hot tears fall on her cheek.
"Hey, I don't want to see you crying. That is the end of the world." Uranus puts her hand on Fighter's cheek, almost caressingly, her own thoughts the mirror image of his. If only I had more time. There's so much we might share...In the second their eyes meet, in that moment a thousand unsaid things pass between them, pain and hope, fear and understanding, courage and determination, but above all the others, above everything else, there was love. About to lose the woman he has learned to love, unbelievably beyond reason, Sayer can no longer withstand the tortured longing within him and he reaches out for her, bringing his mouth to hers, landing a kiss beyond kisses on her beautiful, bloodstained lips. Knowing it was about to happen, her own passions ignited by his, Alex lets the kiss, her very first, sweep through her. Two wild souls merging, passion beyond passion, they kiss long and hard, the kind only lovers share, it was more than just a simple kiss. Feeling her breath growing short, her pain stabbing sharper, Alex refuses to let go, her arms wrapped around Fighter's neck.
I promised I wouldn't give up without a fight, but if I am going to die, let it be like this. Sayer's mouth was comforting to her, and though, despite her longing and endurance, in the end, Alex's consciousness slowly ebbs away.
Running through the mists, a tall golden haired woman hunts for something as her eyes scan the deserted dark streets. There! She picks up the pace, flying like the wind as she catches a glimpse of a shadow turning the corner. Chasing it, she furiously tries to catch up, desperate to stop it's escape, but the faster she runs the distance between her and the flickering shadow seems to increase.
Why can't I catch you? Her mind calls to the elusive figure, who suddenly halts as if waiting for her to come. The street ends, transforming into a grassy field, her target on the other side of it, waving to her, but his identity was still a mystery. Not slowing for a moment, she rushes to him. I need to know who you are! As she runs through the sea of flowers, white petals flutter up, scattering across her line of vision.
Almost there! The figure turns around to face her, brushing the petals blowing in her face, she opens her eyes to find herself no longer in the field, but back in the street, driving quickly away in her golden Ferrari in the opposite direction. No! I have to turn around because...because...what is back there for me? She can no longer recall, only able to see the blue checkered flag raised waiting for her at the finish line ahead. She steps on the gas, racing to win, racing was her life...Faintly she hears a violin playing, somewhere in the distance, coming from somewhere behind her.
Wait! Screeching the tires, she spins the car around, pounding the brakes hard as she leaps from the car back into the field, running running, it was him she was running to now. I can't turn away anymore. She reaches out for his outstretched hand when suddenly the grassy plain dissolves from beneath them and they begin to fall, down, down, an endless chasm, their joined hands slipping away from each other and he vanishes once again into the darkness. Reaching out, she grabs hold of the edge of the cliff, pulling up to find herself standing on a hill overlooking the beautiful shore, by a sunsetting ocean.
Is that where I"m supposed to go? Ready to fly to that gorgeous splendor ahead, on the wind that was so much hers, the woman pauses, remembering the warm embrace of the hand that slipped away, of the sound of violins in her ears, as she lifts a golden mirror from the edge of the shoreline, and she looks into it's reflection. Her fingers delicately touch her lips, these lips that made vows to him, these lips that he kissed...Turning and running again, she searches for him, the violins playing louder and stronger, hearing his voice in her head, whispering the initial his passion has engraved into her heart.
"...U..."
"Sailor U!" Fighter calls again, his voice rising to a fever pitch. "Ally! I know you're awake! You're just mad because I kissed you!" His panic-stricken mind pleads with her unconscious form.
"Why would I be mad?" Alex whispers, her eyes still closed, now distinguishing that this was reality and not a dream from the stabbing pain in her chest.
"Ally!" His voice was filled with joy. "I thought I killed you," his curls tumble across his face as he leans down, looking into her eyes.
"It'll take more than that," she says flirtingly still, raising her eyebrows as Fighter pulls her closer to him. Sheer determination and love for those she has come to know in this world brought her back to the living, though the immense loss of blood from such a wound was making Uranus' chances of staying alive slimmer and slimmer with the passage of each moment.
"I have to get you to a hospital," Fighter insists, knowing it was now Alex's will along keeping her alive, and her borrowed time was running out.
Not a heavy woman, Uranus' weight was even considered low for her height, but still she weighed more than the bony Sailor Star Fighter, who, strengthened by his passion, picks her up, carrying her in his arms.
"Do you think they'll take me in without a skirt?" she smiles, trying to find something funny in this all.
"Do you think they'll even let me in at all?" Fighter answers back, the skin-tight bikini leather not exactly hospital type wear. Through all the pain, all the anxiety, this unlikely pair still manages a laugh. Chuckling at each other's foolishness, Sayer carries Alex down the dark deserted roads, desperately in search of assistance.
Begging the stars to give him more speed, Maker moves like quicksilver across the park's grasslined path, closing the distance between himself and Susan as the deadly energy cuts through the cool night air towards her.
I'm not going to make it! Terry would do anything, give anything to save the life of the woman he loves, his heart pounding in his chest as he races, but Nastrus' energy attack was just too fast for him as it is about to hit his beautiful Susan...
To Nastrus' surprise, the lowly, normal woman he's known only as Susan stands to her feet, tall and confident, a look of quiet determination etched on every line of her face. In her hand appears a silver staff of her own. Within the heart shaped crown on top of it, a large, perfect and pure crimson garnet glows with power. Maker manages to catch a glimpse of this in the second before the incoming energy detonates, the resulting explosion ramming into Susan, blinding.
"SUSAN!" Maker screams her name as the force of the explosion sends him back, flying.
"It is done, Maker. The mockery is finished. Return with me now," In his cold-hearted calculations, Nastrus never accounted for the one glitch in his plan, one thing he could not and never control-the human heart. A galaxy of differences, perhaps, but love is always still the same. Rising to his feet, the sight of the cloud of dust and debris where Susan stood filling him with contempt for this pitiful excuse for a man. Blindly enraged, Maker rushes the forcefield shielding Nastrus, the barrier strong enough to hold back ten Makers but for the one other thing Nastrus did not account for-revenge for something Terry treasured so highly. With unbelievable force, Sailor Star Maker, thrusts his hands through Nastrus' shield, breaking his staff in half, then grabbing the shocked, worthless piece of slime by the neck, fully prepared to destroy the life of another...
"Terry!" Susan's sweet voice travels through the misty rubble. Turning, hope lighting in his eyes, Maker drops Nastrus, who falls to the ground with a thud, chokingly holding his neck. Through the smoke and darkness, a dim reddish orb glows stronger, revealing his beautiful Susan standing there, unharmed, untouched by the devastation, alive. The smile they share was a beautiful beacon of love in the dark night as Susan raises another smaller object in the air, the silver rod still in her other hand that had protected her, deflecting the attack.
"Pluto Crystal Power...Make Up!" Susan calls, her gentle voice strong and powerful. Purple mists of time envelop her, surrounding her as she begins to revolve, her long ebony hair dancing in the wind.
My graceful lily, Maker gazes upon Pluto's slender form, through the eyes of love as she transforms into the stately Sailor of the Planet Pluto.
"I am the Sailor of all time. The soldier of revolution," Pluto states, planting her staff firmly into the ground. "Sailor Pluto.! Terry," she calls his name in warning as Nastrus rebounding from the assault on him before, rises with a new unfamiliar object in his hands, a small statue in the shape of a dragon, which he holds out at Maker.
"Within this ancient artifact, the infinite energy of the dragon has been harnessed by the great League of Magicians on our planet of Kinmoku long ago. Hidden away for centuries, I discovered it just before the planet was destroyed, but foolishly I did not utilize it's great strength against Galaxia. It's power cannot be extinguished by mere mortals, and their party tricks. Once released, it will destroy the one I determine will die. YOU, for contaminating the Royal Line," Nastrus thrusts the dragon out at Pluto, the evil insanity in his mind summoning it's dark energy. Maker tries to knock it from his hands, but filled with malignant strength, Nastrus pushes him aside, sending Maker flying across the grass. A bright flash of light and a dark shadow of a monstrous dragon erupts from the small statue. Thunderous roars could be heard across the city. It's eyes two burning infernos, fire red with energy.
"PLUTO DEADLY SCREAM!" Super Sailor Pluto calls upon the winds of time to stop the creature.
"STAR GENTLE UTERUS!" Maker shoots his acidic attack at the same time, but to no avail, neither attack seeming to have any influence on the deadly shadow, absorbing into it instead. Turning, they could hear above the thundering dragon, an evil cackling, insane laughter coming from Nastrus.
"There, Beast! There is your victim!" He calls suddenly, pointing to Sailor Pluto. "DESTROY!" He continues his cackling, the infinite power corrupting his already cracked mind totally. The monster was merely a shadow, impervious to their attacks, but the force of each clawed foot crashing down was like an earthquake, shaking the entire park as it slithers its way towards its target, leaving gaping holes where it once stood.
"Susan!" Maker's scream can be heard above the din. Racing he makes a wide jump over the monster's head, amazingly landing in front of Pluto. He stands tall in front of her, addressing the creature pleadingly. "I will be your target, Monster! Not this innocent woman. I am the one who should be punished," Maker's emphatic words fall on deaf ears, for this dragon could hear no one but it's Master who had mysteriously disappeared. Filled with all the power of the evil magicians of Kinmoku's past, the Monster gives a mighty roar, smoke coming from its nostrils as it's long neck lunges for Pluto, it's razor-sharp teeth, snapping as she dodges. Feeling it's hot breath building, Maker suddenly realizes its next deadly move, as a raging inferno of fire, straight from the depths of hell itself, blast from the creature's mouth. Moving with his heart filled with the power of love, like lightning, Terry using all of his considerable strength, in the split second he has left, grabs hold of Susan, launching her into the air, thrusting her forcefully away, knowing it would be the last time he would touch her...
As long as you are safe, Susan, My love. Terry asks the Lord above to protect her when he could no longer, his final thoughts are only for her as the fiery blaze devours him...
Each step is controlled by dread. Each time her well turned high heel hits the pavement, her heart is filled with fear. Visions of her cherished cousin pass through her beleaguered mind. Memories of the life they forged together, of happy times and sad ones together, always. And the love they shared causing hot tears to spring to her eyes.
Amara. Michelle's mind calls out to the woman who was an ingrained part of her being, but much to her sorrow, she could not reach her, and the tears flow from her lovely blue eyes.
"We'll find her Michelle," the other new owner of her soul speaks directly to her heart, racing beside her.
"Robin," Michelle wants to collapse in his arms, a world of hurt exploding within her, but she cannot give in as Amara never would, her partner's indomitable spirit driving her despite the pain. I can feel you out there, Amara. Wait for me. Hold on. Michelle's thoughts, only for her friend, blindly she follows her silver-haired companion as he leads her to Amara. Suddenly Robin changes direction, veering down a side road. There before them lay the signs of battle, a buildings walls blown away, disintegrated. Rubble and debris still lingering in the air, a bloody sword on the ground, and there, to Michelle's horror, was the burnt out carcass of an automobile. Blackened like coal, no longer distinguishable in make, but the icy feeling creeping into Michelle's heart told her exactly whose it is, as a charred bit of cloth is swept to her feet by the wind. Trembling, she leans down; picking it up to find the darkened remains of what was once a golden jacket.
"Amara!" Michelle screams, recognizing it immediately, the sight of her partner's beloved Ferrari destroyed, ripping her with fear. Turning to Robin, her lifeline in this torrential storm, she sees him kneeling by the sword lying on the ground in a pool of blood. No longer caring about his designer suit, Robin lifts it, examining it with scrutiny, as he touches the stained edging, still dripping with blood.
Seeing the line of his mouth harden, Michelle understands perfectly what it all means. Despite his attempts to hold his theories back from her.
"It's hers, isn't it?" Michelle asks, her own voice sounding distant and strange. Without looking at her, Robin puts the sword down. Standing up, a determined look in his eye, he turns his face to the oncoming winds.
"There's danger out there," he says, his sixth sense tensed by the feeling. Wordlessly, he takes off, running in that direction. As one, Michelle is with him, right at his side.
"Healer Star Power!"
"Neptune Crystal Power!"
"MAKE UP!" Their minds in perfect rhythm, they transform in sync, aglow in green and aqua, the stars shooting over the ocean waves, as they continue to run, never slowing their pace. Now as the Sailor known as Star Healer and the elegant Sailor Neptune, they run towards the edge of the skyline, with only the bright moon to light their path, heading straight into danger. The quiet figure of a young girl chases behind them, keeping silent the entire time, frightened and feeling quite alone on this alien world.
But I will help you, if I can. She would follow Robin through hell and back if she had to. Looking down at the street as she runs, Evelyna swallows hard, seeing that this time she might be headed exactly in that direction. For as they run, lined along their moonlit path was a crimson trail of human blood.
"Stop." A voice whispers in the darkness.
"Starr, I said 'Stop." Uranus' limp body sags in Star Fighter's arms.
"Ally, what is it?" Sayer's usual boisterous voice was now quiet, filled with concern as Fighter slows the pace, looking into the eyes of the woman whom he was carrying in his arms.
"I don't want to run anymore," the words were barely audible.
"Hey, you're not running, I am," Sayer tries to lighten the mood, but a cold, helpless fear grips him. He obeys her, kneeling to the ground. Cradling her body closely in his arms, her breathing becomes shallow. Uranus closes her eyes, leaning her golden head to Fighter's chest.
Ally, don't die. This is all my fault. If I left you alone, like I should have, if I never came here, Star Fighter's tears fall on Alex's cheek, her eyes open slowly.
"Starr," she says suddenly, do you think there is a God?" Her eyes look past him, up towards the infinite expanse of space.
"I-I never thought much about it," Sayer stumbles over the words truthfully.
"'As surely as there is a God in the heavens'….Funny what you remember," Alex smiles, coughing up blood. "When I was a small child, I always heard my mother say that. And I never believed it." Her eyes close again, this time with the pain of old memories, too. Wiping the blood from her lips, squeezing her a bit closer, his hand on her wounded heart, Sayer looks into the deep green eyes intently, honestly having no idea if there was some supreme being watching over them. It was a question he himself had never wondered, until this moment.
Searching Alex's eyes, he finds the answer. "If a God could make a wonderful person like you, He must be real," Sayer's serious voice was only certain of the feelings he has for this woman. A final smile sweeps across her beautiful face, as the pain becomes unbearable, even for this strongest of willed soldiers, she could hold on no longer. Her eyes shut tightly, her face contorting in pain, then suddenly turns peaceful, serene, as Fighter could feel the lifeforce leaving her.
"If I never knew you…for one endless moment…" Alex whispers in a small voice, her parting words to him a symbol of the new feelings she was grateful to have experienced once in her life, if only for this short time. One final look in his blue eyes, Alex holds her head up high one more time, feeling the free wind on her face.
Wishing she could see her beautiful Michelle again, thanking God for what she had on this earth, Alex Sokova's head falls loosely in Sayer's trembling arms, the cool winds blowing through the night abruptly ceasing to exist.