Chapter Twenty – Eight. Not Out of the Woods
Flash looked down at his sleeping son as he was laying on his bed. He glanced at Jedda, who was holding his hand. He was relieved that Rick wasn't dead, albeit he knew that he wasn't out of the woods entirely as the new enemy was still after him and Ming as well.
Flash could tell Jedda was also feeling concerned and was amazed how she was staying strong in spite of her pregnancy. He looked on as Jedda was gently rubbing Rick's forehead. He heard a slight groan coming from his son.
He leaned down. "Rick, son, I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I need you to hang in there. We're going to do what we can to keep you safe. I swear it."
"It is far from over." Jedda stated, looking down in worry. "I can feel it."
"I believe that." Flash nodded in agreement. "Still, I find it hard to believe my own son has such powers and those forces, including Ming, are after my son for those powers."
"It's almost like the Necklace of Oros." Jedda looked down at the necklace which was located at the table near them. "Evil forces targeted me as I had it, such as Graviton and even my mother Hadea was after it. As a matter of fact, she had it for over a year as she ruled the galaxy."
Flash nodded before he proceeded to ask, "Do you guys need anything?"
Jedda shook her head. "Not now. I'm just wanting to be by Rick's side to make sure he's okay."
"Go ahead." Flash gave out a small smile. "Let me know when he wakes up."
Jedda smiled and nodded before he walked out of the room.
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Setsuna took a deep breath. Everyone had just left Monitor with the exception of Kakyuu and the Sailor Starlights. She didn't find these newcomers to be trusting, given that they were not from this galaxy. She was glad Kakyuu was able to save Rick by healing him but there was just something about them that just didn't make the new group trustworthy.
She walked over to a nearby monitor.
"Dynak," Setsuna proceeded to ask, "can you give me information regarding the origin of Princess Kakyuu and the Sailor Starlights?"
Dynak appeared on screen. "Princess Kakyuu is the princess of the kingdom of the Planet Kinmoku while the Sailor Starlights are the guardian soliders from the Kinmoku star system."
Setsuna sighed. This was information in which she already knew. She had to know more about these new visitors.
"What about the Sailor Starlights?" Setsuna asked. "What are their identities?"
Dynak proceeded to show the images of the Sailor Starlights as well as the images of Seiya, Taiki and Yaten.
"My sensors indicate that the identities of the Sailor Starlights are those of the idol group known as the Three Lights." Dynak X answered. "Seiya Kou is Sailor Star Fighter, Yaten Kou is Sailor Star Healer and Taiki Kou is Sailor Star Maker."
"Just as I suspected." Setsuna nodded.
"Is that really necessary?" she heard Haruka ask from behind her.
Setsuna turned around to see Haruka and Michiru behind her. Hotaru joined them moments later.
"Haruka could sense the identities of the Sailor Starlights as did the others." Michiru chimed in.
"They cannot be trusted as they are not from this galaxy." Haruka stated as she crossed her arms.
"Agreed." Setsuna and Hotaru replied in unison.
"Our mission is to make sure our princess is safe from outside forces." Michiru stressed slightly. "We can't take any risks."
"Those guys are clearly not from our galaxy." Haruka said.
"Same goes for that Chibi Chibi girl." Hotaru added.
"Dynak X," Setsuna glanced at the monitor screen again, "can you get us information on Chibi Chibi's origin?"
"The origin of Chibi Chibi is unknown at this time." Dynak answered.
"The princess is needed of our protection from these forces," Haruka stated. "but now, the Defenders of the Earth are caught up in our mess, especially Rick Gordon and Jedda Walker."
"Jedda has the Necklace of Oros," Michiru crossed her arms, "something in which many beings from all time and space are after."
"And now," Hotaru looked up at the rest of the Outers, "Rick has these dangerous powers that puts not only himself in danger but us as well if that power falls into evil hands."
"The same applies for the Necklace of Oros." Haruka nodded in agreement.
"Right now," Setsuna glanced at her teammates, "our main concern is for Rick Gordon."
"Agreed." Hotaru nodded. "Those powers nearly killed Rick."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "Even though Kakyuu healed Rick and saved him from dying, she and the Starlights cannot be trusted fully. Nor can Chibi Chibi."
Setsuna was amazed on how Hotaru was able to catch on to the situation so quickly. There were moments were she was spirited and full of energy. Then there were other times where she was still and eyes were cold as ice, just like Sailor Saturn.
Setsuna sighed as she placed a gentle touch on Hotaru's shoulder. "I get you understand how we feel."
"You shouldn't worry though." Michiru added. "Not now."
"We should focus on keeping our princess safe from outside forces." Haruka stated. "As well as keeping the Defenders of the Earth safe from these dangers as well."
Hotaru nodded in agreement.
"Agreed." Setsuna nodded as well.
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Cathleen glanced around the hallway. She had never anticipated such excitement with the past forty eight hours since joining the Defenders: the arrival of all these mysterious Sailor Guardians, a strange little girl that came with them and the sweet icing on top of the cake, Rick Gordon's mysterious powers from a place known as the Hall of Wisdom. The powers in which Rick had she could find them to be useful to her.
She gently opened the door to Rick's bedroom. She saw Jedda sitting by Rick's bedside as he was clearly still unconscious. It was also clear Jedda was not going to leave his side, at least until he was awake.
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Jedda gasped as she sensed something troubling. She turned around to see Cathleen standing at the doorway.
"Cathleen," Jedda stood up as she asked, "what are you doing here?"
"Who me?" Cathleen replied innocently. "Oh, I just came to see how Rick was doing."
Jedda raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Yeah, sure."
"And what does that supposed to mean exactly?" Cathleen placed her hand on her hips.
"Well," Jedda glanced at her with suspicion, "I think that you are wanting to take advantage of this situation."
"Why would you think that my dear?" Cathleen asked.
"Well," Jedda scoffed before she answered as she pointed her finger at her, "your history with Mandrake tells me you can't be trusted."
She stepped back, trying to keep calm for her babies and took a deep breath.
"You seriously shouldn't believe everything Mandrake or Lothar say you know."
Jedda crossed her arms and turned away. "Look, I don't really have time for your games right now. I got enough to worry about without you trying to pull anything on us."
"I guess I have no other choice but..." Cathleen started to say.
The two women were interrupted by someone clearing their throat to get their attention, "A hem!"
They both turned around to see Seiya standing close by, crossing his arms.
"Seiya!" Jedda exclaimed in surprise.
"Are we going to have a problem here?" Seiya asked Cathleen.
"What's it to you?!" Cathleen stated in annoyance.
"Oh nothing." Seiya explained. "I was just overhearing you giving Jedda a hard time over here. Besides, I sense a sinister aura within you. An aura of deception."
Jedda glanced at both people in the hallway, I knew it!
"You know something? I can't be bothered by this." Cathleen scoffed in annoyance. She then glanced at Seiya. "One day you could be a threat to me but right now, you are just an annoyance!"
She huffed and walked away.
Jedda was grateful Seiya was there to end the situation before it could get any worse. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Are you all right?" Seiya asked.
"Yeah." Jedda answered. "Thanks for standing up to Cathleen for me."
"It's no trouble." Seiya nodded. "I sensed something sinister within that woman. If you feel she can't be trusted, you're not wrong."
"I sensed it too and not just because of her history with Mandrake either." Jedda looked up and sighed. "I wish I had Kisa with me. She would be able to ward off Cathleen."
"Who's Kisa?"
"Kisa was my pet panther I had with me. Before the whole thing with Hadea, I sent her to be in the wild where she needed to be." Jedda explained.
"I see."
They both heard Rick moaning and stirring.
"Get Flash!" Jedda exclaimed. "I can tell Rick is starting to wake up!"
Seiya nodded before leaving the hallway.
Jedda hurried to Rick's bedside as he was opening his eyes.
"Rick." she called to her boyfriend. "Rick, are you all right?"
Rick looked around his room, confused. "Wha...what's going on? What happened?"
"You were unconscious from the radiation." Jedda explained. "It knocked you into a magical induced coma until Princess Kakyuu healed you before you could leave us."
Rick sighed as he looked down. "Well, I feel as if this is far from over."
"I know how you feel." Jedda gave him a comforting touch on the shoulders. "The mutations are certainly imminent from what Kakyuu and the Starlights told us and Ming is more than likely still after you for your powers."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Rick replied.
AUTHOR'S COMMENTARY:
"Is that really necessary?" she heard Haruka ask from behind her.
Setsuna turned around to see Haruka and Michiru behind her. Hotaru joined them moments later.
"Haruka could sense the identities of the Sailor Starlights as did the others." Michiru chimed in.
"They cannot be trusted as they are not from this galaxy." Haruka stated as she crossed her arms.
"Agreed." Setsuna and Hotaru replied in unison.
"Our mission is to make sure our princess is safe from outside forces." Michiru stressed slightly. "We can't take any risks."
"Those guys are clearly not from our galaxy." Haruka said.
"Same goes for that Chibi Chibi girl." Hotaru added.
"Dynak X," Setsuna glanced at the monitor screen again, "can you get us information on Chibi Chibi's origin?"
"The origin of Chibi Chibi is unknown at this time." Dynak answered.
Even though the Sailor Starlights and Princess Kakyuu have done good thus far, the Outer Guardians feel as if they don't quite trust them because they are not of this galaxy. The Sailor Guardians can sense the identities of others as established in the manga and Sailor Moon Crystal where Usagi could tell who Haruka and Michiru were, Sailors Uranus and Neptune.
As for Chibi Chibi, her origins remain unknown at this time but her plot twist will be revealed down the line, more than likely at the finale you'll see Chibi Chibi's true origin whether it's based off the anime or the manga. Time will tell.
"I guess I have no other choice but..." Cathleen started to say.
The two women were interrupted by someone clearing their throat to get their attention, "A hem!"
They both turned around to see Seiya standing close by, crossing his arms.
"Seiya!" Jedda exclaimed in surprise.
"Are we going to have a problem here?" Seiya asked Cathleen.
"What's it to you?!" Cathleen stated in annoyance.
"Oh nothing." Seiya explained. "I was just overhearing you giving Jedda a hard time over here. Besides, I sense a sinister aura within you. An aura of deception."
Jedda glanced at both people in the hallway, I knew it!
"You know something? I can't be bothered by this." Cathleen scoffed in annoyance. She then glanced at Seiya. "One day you could be a threat to me but right now, you are just an annoyance!"
She huffed and walked away.
I can tell this is the start of revealing Cathleen's true nature in this series. Seiya is proving to be trustworthy to Jedda but the Sailor Guardians would beg to differ.
"I sensed it too and not just because of her history with Mandrake either." Jedda looked up and sighed. "I wish I had Kisa with me. She would be able to ward off Cathleen."
"Who's Kisa?"
"Kisa was my pet panther I had with me. Before the whole thing with Hadea, I sent her to be in the wild where she needed to be." Jedda explained.
I thought it would be a good time to reveal what really happened to Jedda's panther Kisa. After a review from Marzena, I thought this scenario would be a good idea for what happened to Kisa.
