CHAPTER 5

At the Cherry Hill Temple Serena's friends were feeling exasperated. Especially Raye. Serena just wasn't showing any motivation to help herself at all. "Oh why must we study again today? It's such a beautiful day for having fun."

Raye was struggling hard to control herself. "You lazy meatball-head. What happened to your desire to become well-versed in mountains of knowledge the other day?"

Lita said, "You asked us to help you, didn't you?"

Mina added, "I'm showing much more commitment to my promise to take study seriously then you are."

Serena groaned. "But you yourselves said I needed to take things one step at a time. I took my first step by going to that ill-fated concerto. Why rush too much?"

"And to think we foolishly thought you were serious!" Raye was clenching her fists and beginning to breathe very slowly and Amy sensing danger stood up and led Serena to the door.

"I think it's best if you leave and do whatever you want Serena. Leave us to pursue our studies please."

Serena could see what Amy meant and Lita and Mina's expressions echoed the same concerns. Nervously she left without saying goodbye. Raye calmed down and the four of them turned to their study books. Serena felt gloomy once more. "Why can't they understand? They getting to be almost as stubborn as Darien."

Then she thought of something that cheered her up. "I know. I'll go and visit Jed, Tweetus, Dorothy and little Jordan. I'll see how much he's been growing and how his walking and talking is coming along."

As she set off towards the home of the Youma family, other things were happening in the Tomoe's secret laboratory. Octave was entertaining Kaori and Souchi while they prepared another test tube. She used her bow upon her strings and the music filled the lab. Steering was also present tending to Kaori after the blood had been taken by her husband. Eudial was observing everything with the last of the other four members of her coven.

Steering said to the witches, "Isn't Octave so talented dear Aunties?"

The blue-haired witch gave a sly smile. "She certainly is brilliant Eudial."

She and Eudial winked at each other. "Indeed Cyprine. Though all these girls are very special too in their own various ways. We're so blessed to share our home with them."

Octave stopped playing and thanked them along with Steering. Kaori said, "We owe it all to you. We'd never have had our family without your help."

Souchi cried, "Here's our next child," as the test tube smashed. Octave and Steering squealed joyfully to see the pod in their daddy's hands.

"Oh let Auntie Cyprine hold her," said Eudial. "It's her turn to look after a baby."

Souchi handed it over and Cyprine placed in carefully inside her bag. "What a darling she will be when I bring her back. I'm excited."

Kaori said, "Hotaru has never been happier playing with her sisters. Thank you so much once again."

Steering and Octave could barely contain themselves.

"Please hurry back Auntie Cyprine!"

"We want to meet her!"

Cyprine promised, but she and Eudial looked at each other grinning maliciously.

Back to Serena, on her way to see her friends she met Amara and Michelle. "Hello Serena," said Amara.

Serena barely heard Michelle's greetings because she was gazing into Amara's smiling face thinking how handsome he was. He chuckled and said, "It seems like you're in your own private daydream."

As he placed his arm around Michelle's shoulders Serena finally acknowledged her presence and was jerked back to reality.

"Oh sorry. Hello Amara and Michelle. I'm just going to visit some friends today. How are you?"

Michelle said, "We're both very well Serena. Good to see you."

"Have fun kid." Amara casually patted her on the head making her blush. "Goodbye for now."

"Well um. Okay. See you later."

As Serena ran off Amara's watch silently buzzed and he raised his wrist to his mouth. "Hello."

A feminine voice quietly spoke from the watch. "How is the search proceeding?"

Amara replied, "Michelle and I have been keeping an eye out for signs of her. We have no solid leads but we've met the inner Scouts. Serena actually passed us just now."

The voice said, "Follow her secretly. I strongly feel that we will finally find who we've been seeking somewhere in this time period in Old Tokyo. Sailor Moon may unknowingly lead us to her."

"Very well. We'll let you know if we find out anything."

Signing off Amara lowered his arm and said, "Let's go Michelle."

Serena knocked on the door and Jed answered it. "Why hello Serena."

"Hello Jed. I hope I'm notn disturbing anything with a surprise visit today."

"Not at all Serena. Jordan will be so excited to see you. Dorothy has been doing the housework while I was playing with him. You'll be delighted to hear that Tweetus is baking cupcakes."

"Cupcakes! I adore cupcakes!"

Jed grinned knowingly and ushered her inside.

Jordan was getting to be a big baby boy. He'd passed his first birthday and could talk fairly well. He came running on both his feet with outstretched arms shouting, "Serena. Serena."

As she knelt down to hug him she said, "Hello Jordan."

He giggled. "Same Meat-ball Head."

Serena laughed too. "Yes. I love this hair-style and I'll always keep it."

"Let's go and say hello to Tweetus in the kitchen," said Jed and Serena followed him leading Jordan by the hand.

As they entered Jed said, "Company has arrived my dear wife."

Tweetus turned from the oven, where she had just placed her second tray of cupcakes, and exclaimed with joy. "Serena! How good to see you. Pardon me while I finish preparing my last two trays. You can share some cupcakes with us for a snack when they're cooked."

Serena grinned. "Thank you Tweetus."

Meanwhile in another room Dorothy was busy at work using the vacuum cleaner on the carpet. She was singing happily as she worked. Little did she know a big surprise was coming.

Cyprine was walking towards the window just behind her dressed in casual, inconspicuos attire. Germatois was talking to her. "The target I've selected is inside that room. Send the pod floating up and through the glass. I'll guide it towards some convenient object and we'll capture her at once."

Cyprine responded obediently and between her magic and the demon's assistance, the pod rose up and entered via the closed glass pane. While Dorothy's back was turned it became infused with the vacuum cleaner and she turned around with a start as the power cord disconnected from the wall socket and the machine morphed into a woman with blue skin. The front of the vacuum had had an elephant's face designed on it with the cord resembling a trunk. It looked like she was wearing the elephant ears like a cap along with the eyes and mouth, while the cord was draped around from her forehead to her back. It seemed to have been branched off into three cords with two attached to her chest where the casing served as natural clothing.

Germatoid intended to use her to take out Dorothy's heart, but he was taken by surprise. Dorothy transferred into her Dream Dolly appearance as fast as she could in five seconds and blew a blast of her hallucination breath at the creature before he could even put up a bubble shield.

As the vacuum-lady was struck she became terrified. The creepy figure of the Dream Dolly before her seemed to grow into a giant with sharp claws and a mouth full of wickedly razor-sharp teeth. Just like a little infant who has seen something to frighten them, the creature screamed and turned to flee leaping through the window smashing the glass. To Cyprine's astounded disbelief she saw the creature jump to the ground amidst falling shards of glass before running away down the street.

"Germatoid! What in the world is going on?"

The demon urgently spoke in the witch's mind. "Something unforeseen. She was scared by an illusion. Get after her. We must return with her."

Cyprine ran after the vacuum-lady desperately and Uranus and Neptune, who had been spying from atop the roof of a tall apartment complex nearby turned to look at each other. "I think we'd better look into this Neptune."

"Yes let's go Uranus."

The two of them proceeded to nimbly leap from rooftop to rooftop trying to keep their quarry in sight.

Finally Serena, Jed, Tweetus and Jordan had come running as soon as they heard the noises. "Dorothy! What has happened?" cried Tweetus.

As soon as she explained Serena said, "I must call the others." Pulling out her communicator she contacted Amy.

The girls had been studying together. When Amy's communicator buzzed, Raye growled. "That Meatball-Head dares to disturb us!"

But Amy said, "Give her a chance Raye. It may be legitimate trouble," as she answered.

Raye was really concerned as soon as she heard what had happened and so were the others.

"We'll transform at once and run over to our friend's home with Luna and Artemis Serena. Amy will try to use her data-computer to track that creature's whereabouts. You be transformed and ready too."

"Yes Raye. MOON CRYSTAL POWER!"

Her friends transformed together and they set off to meet Sailor Moon.

Meanwhilethe vacuum-lady was causing quite a stir as she ran through town in a frenzied panic. People gasped in amazement when they passed her. Some were astonished. Others terrified. Still others were flabbergasted rubbing their eyes unable to believe what they had just seen. Cyprine was huffing and puffing as she ran along in the direction that Germatoid led her. "This way Cyprine. She can't run forever. We can't go back without her."

Cyprine was very worried. She would never be able to explain to the mad scientist couple if she lost their newest daughter and the trust her coven had with them would be undermined.

In the end the poor creature went to hide herself trembling among the mounds of rubbish at the garbage dump. Germatoid said to Cyprine, "She's standing still finally. When we find her I will calm her and we can safely take her home."

"Th-thank you master." Cyprine was getting exhausted but she pushed herself to keep running.

Uranus and Neptune had been following from their vantage point on the rooftops and seeing where she was heading they jumped to the ground and headed to the dump ignoring the cries of people who tried to ask who they were and if they were new recruits of the Sailor Scouts.

As for Sailor Moon, her friends joined her at the Youma's home and Sailor Mercury's data computer pinpointed the dump as where they should search. Jed and Tweetus offered to drive them in their car to get there faster and they accepted. Dorothy and Jordan wished them good luck as the five girls crammed into the back seat along with the two cats. It was a tight squeeze but Sailor Moon was secure in the middle back seat belt, with Mars and Mercury sharing the seat belt to her right and Venus and Jupiter the seat belt to her left. They weren't exactly comfortable but they were safely strapped. They envied Artemis and Luna on the floor by their feet. Jed backed out of the drive and they were off.

In no time at all they pulled up at the dump. "Leave one of your communicators with us," said Jed.

"If you need our help we'll come running as soon as we hear it ringing," added Tweetus.

Serena gave them hers. "Thank you. One of my friends will call on their own device while the rest of us are fighting."

Raye said, "Okay let's go then," and they all went leaping and bounding into the rubbish grounds with Luna and Artemis behind them. Jed and Tweetus watched them depart and somberly sat back to await the outcome.

Uranus, Neptune, Cyprine and Germatoid had all just barely arrived earlier while the Sailor Scouts were first meeting up with Sailor Moon. When Amy's personal computer led them all to the whereabouts of the vacuum-lady this is what they saw.

Germatoid had soothed the terrified creature and had her sheltered in an impregnable bubble. Cyprine, however was not in there too. She was in the process of fighting Uranus and Neptune and she had somehow divided herself into two identical witches. She had an exact copy clone of herself that was brandishing the same sort of magical staff as she and they were each leaping to dodge the attacks of the two Outer Scouts and blasting rays at them threateningly.

They didn't even waste time introducing themselves. They rushed in to even the odds.

"MERCURY ICE STORM BLAST!"

"JUPITER THUNDERCLAP ZAP!"

Sailor Mercury encased the clone inside her freezing prison cell and it immediately disintegrated upon contact.

As for Sailor Jupiter's attack, the real Cyprine was taken by surprise and as she turned it knocked her off her feet.

Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune were not exactly overflowing with gratitude though.

"You keep out of this!"

"It's our battle!"

The Inner Scouts were incensed. Sailor Mars almost screamed. "You were evenly matched with your enemy at best. We gave you a helping edge you pair of idiots."

Sailor Uranus leaped to stand a few feet in front of Mars. "You dare call us idiots and I'll teach you some manners with my world shaking attack."

Sailor Neptune gently said, "Please go away and let us handle this."

The other Scouts began to protest.

"It isn't your personal battle."

"We've been living here all our re-born lives. You've just suddenly turned up."

"Any enemies in our home is our rightful concern."

While they were arguing Cyprine shakily climbed to her feet picking up her staff where she had dropped it. Dazed by Jupiter's sharp blow, she never-the-less managed to concentrate and summoned up not just one clone of herself, but two.

The cats saw it and they cried out. "Look out!"

"You're being surrounded!"

Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus were quick to respond just as Cyprine and her clones were blasting together.

"MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!"

Her magic fire bombarded the enemy dispersing the beams that came from the three staffs. Cyprine yelled in anguish as Venus took her turn.

"VENUS LOVE CHAIN ENCIRCLE!" Her whip lashed out once, twice striking both clones making them vanish.

Sailor Moon had produced her faithful scepter and was about to aim for Cyprine, when Sailor Uranus threw her arm around her neck in a mild stranglehold. "For the last time stop interfering in our battle."

Sailor Neptune had lunged forward to kick the witch before she could recover her bearings. However Germatoid made the bubble containing the vacuum-lady quickly rise and fall over Cyprine. She passed through it and was protected from Neptune. She grunted as her foot struck the barricade a split second before it disappeared taking its occupants with it.

Uranus was close to choking Sailor Moon in rage. Her friends shouted threats.

"You release Sailor Moon!"

"We will all fight you if you don't listen!"

Sailor Uranus turned to look at Sailor Neptune. A silent communication passed between their glances, though Uranus' expression still didn't change as she roughly threw Sailor Moon to the ground.

Sailor Moon half-raised herself gasping for breath. "W-w-why can't we be friends?"

Sailor Uranus had her arms folded replying. "Look. I'm willing to concede that in principle we are your friends. But that doesn't make us your allies."

Sailor Neptune was a little gentler, almost sounding sympathetic. "It really would be better if you left us alone while we are engaged in combat in future. We have a very serious mission and nothing can be allowed to interfere with it."

Sailor Mercury implored. "But we might be able to help if you confided with us."

Uranus turned her back emphatically. "NO! We were independent of your team under the Moon Kingdom and that's the way it's going to stay. Let's go Neptune."

With that the pair walked away as the others all watched feeling confused and also irritated.

Luna said, "Well come on girls. There's no reason to stay here any longer."

Artemis added, "Jed and Tweetus are waiting to take you all home."

"We may as well change into our civilian identities," said Sailor Mars as she transformed and the others agreed.

Sailor Moon transformed last of all and while they were walking to rejoin their friends in their car, she was rather troubled in her thoughts. Her friends were wondering what to make of Uranus and Neptune, but she was worrying more about Darien. "Again Tuxedo Mask has not come to help us. Am I the reason why he's written us off? This is so unfair Darien. It's not my fault there's a new enemy distracting me from school and my brain can't handle a huge amount of study."

The mad scientists decided to give their latest daughter the name Osoji and they were very pleased with how helpful she was. She could transform her right hand and arm into a vacuum tube and she faithfully tidied up all the dust on the lab floor. Kaori taught her how to take out and empty the dirt bag that was in front of her belly. "You're so very helpful Osoji. Daddy and I appreciate you very much."

"My pleasure Mummy. I love you both and the rest of my family."

Hotaru and the other girls were very excited to have another sister, but at night Osoji often had nightmares and woke them up screaming her head off. It disturbed them all deeply and Souchi and Kaori talked to Eudial.

"Can you help our problem?"

"We just don't know what to do about poor Osoji."

Eudial promised to talk to the other witches and she had a private meeting.

Cyprine said, "Germatoid and I had a major set-back. The victim we targetted with her was not human. She frightened her very badly and we had to desperately track her down after she ran away."

Eudial remarked, "So now she's subconsciously being plagued by nightmares. Evil masters. What shall we do?"

Mistress 9's creepy voice spoke first. "Germatoid and I will give you the power to cure these night visions so that she will be calmed."

"This is a good thing for us in a way. It will give those fools one more reason to feel indebted to you," put in Germatoid.

So the witches all went together and laid their hands on Osoji in the presence of all her family. Hotaru closed her eyes trembling. She didn't know why, but there was something about these five women that creeped her out, though she sensed that they meant no harm to Osoji. The other creations all watched with deep concern along with the two scientists. The witches chanted strange magical words that none of them could understand.

Then when they finished Eudial said, "She should have much better dreams now Professor."

"Oh I hope so. Thank you," said Souchi.

"We all thank you," said Kaori and their daughters all chorussed their mutual gratitude.

It turned out that Osoji woke up the next morning feeling very happy and excited. "In my dreams I could defend myself against any scary monster. I was able to fight like a ninja. It was so cool." She told this to her sisters and they passed it on to their parents. Everybody was happy. After a few days Osoji even expressed a strong desire to learn those techniques in real life and Mimette went shopping and found a couple of books about ninjas for her. She felt extraordinarily happy when Osoji hugged her and thanked her calling her Auntie Mimette. Mimette watched Osoji practice hard and was surprised at how proud she felt of her "neice" while at the same time she was in deep debate with her coven. They had only collected two hearts so far. It was essential they started getting more soon.