I do not own Sailor Moon or its characters
Elevator doors opened to an office in chaos. While it was mostly used for media relations and Tech support it had been converted into a modern-day War room.
Techs yelled across the room to each other. Soldiers relayed orders in various languages, assistants and coordinators typed furious notes and ran back and forth
Rei stepped out of the elevator and was almost run down by a man running past pushing a cart full of computers.
"Have we established contact with the coven in Italy?" he yelled into his headset.
Cautiously, Rei entered the room, trying to stay out of people's way. A few acknowledge her presence with a slight bow, but most were too busy to notice her.
"Rei!"
Rei turned to see Ami walking towards her. "What the hell happened?"
"We've lost contact with several of our major outposts," Ami told her.
They walked together through the chaos. "Istanbul has been destroyed, troops arrived about forty minutes ago to find rubble."
"And the men there?"
"No word, but from the initial reports we don't think there were any survivors," Ami told her. Together they ascended a metal staircase and headed to the second floor.
"Who else was attacked?"
"Vaasa, Cairo, Dublin, Paris, and Dubai," Ami told her.
"All synchronized?" asked Rei. Ami nodded. "That's a pretty organized attack."
"And that's just today."
Rei's face fell as Ami opened the door to the second floor. They entered a large elongated room that was just as chaotic as the one behind them. On each wall, a monitor played live feeds from various sites around the world. Cole stood in the middle of everything, his eyes moving from feed to feed.
Ami and Rei joined Cole, he dismissed the young women he was talking to and met them.
"Do we know anything new yet?" asked Rei.
"Nothing from Istanbul. We just received live images from the ground teams in Cairo," he said.
He led them to over to one computer station. He leaned down and whispered to the young man who was sitting at the counsel. He nodded and type several keys. A video expanded across the screen.
Fire, rubble, and sand was most of what they could see. Several men ran in and out of the frame, trying to put out flames and search for bodies.
Rei observed the video. "Who's running point in the field?"
"Malachite."
"Malachite? "
"He's been working for us for the past few months," Ami explained. Rei looked back to the monitors.
"Does Darien know about all of this?" Rei asked. Rei caught the glance that Ami and Cole exchanged. "Have you informed the King and Queen of what's happened?"
"We've been in contact with Darien since last week," Cole said.
"Last week? What happened last week?"
"Families in Miami and Mexico City were both attacked," Ami told her. "We know it's the same group, the bombs used have similar footprints."
"We analyzed the debris and the footage from the first two attacks. The analysts say it sends out an ultraviolet pulse before it explodes. The initial pulse blinds vampires using low-level ultraviolet light to incapacitate them. Then the explosion burns hot enough to melt flesh," said Ami.
Rei stared at the two of them. "So, you're telling me that someone created a bomb tailored to kill vampires?"
"Not just kill, it eradicates and erases DNA evidence," Cole told her.
"Think napalm in a can," said Ami.
"Well, that's terrible. Why haven't the other members of the council been made aware of this?"
Cole glanced at Ami before answering, "We didn't think that we should cause unnecessary panic until we had put together all the pieces."
"That was not a decision for the two of you to make. The council should have been informed and then decided together!"
"We were under orders from Darien not inform the council," said Ami.
"While I love and respect my brother as King, Darien is not the sole member of the council. He knows better than to give orders like that, and you know better than to follow them. Our council was put in place so we could collectively decide for our people. Hiding things like this from the rest of us could be considered conspiracy."
"We understand why the council was created, Rei," Cole said with a glare.
"Do you? Because this," she motioned to the screens behind her. "Tells me that you do not understand. How are we supposed to be one coven if we're holding secrets like this from each other?"
"We didn't want to worry everyone over nothing Rei….."
"Vampires are being murdered all over the world, and you didn't want to worry people!" Rei burned with fury.
"Cole's calling the council to a video session tonight."
"And what about Darien and Serena?" asked Rei.
Cole and Ami exchanged another look. "Darien asked that we try to keep Serena out of it as long as possible. She's still... dealing with things."
"No, Serena needs to know what's going on. We can't hide this from her!"
"Until we have better information, we don't want to stress her unnecessarily," Ami said.
"Respecting the privacy of the King and Queen may have to take second priority now," said a voice from behind them. All three turned. A tall, dark-skinned woman, with long dark hair, stood before them.
Ami glared at the woman, "Trista."
"The Guardian?" asked Rei, Ami nodded.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess." Trista bowed her head, "I'm afraid my duties have kept me isolated from the rest of the world for some time."
"Well, a few centuries in a bunker with a never aging Oracle child would keep you away from all the parties."
Trista gave Rei a small smile. "I have been sent with a message. The child has had another vision. These attacks are only the beginning. She has not seen specific targets, but she has calculated the most likely targets."
"Wonderful, give us the list and we can send backup," Ami said. "I assume there's a plane waiting for you?"
"That not all that she has seen," Trista told them. "She told us that the future is unclear, and our peace may be in danger. That the Queen must strengthen her heart for what is coming, and that there is a dark and violent storm on the horizon."
"Is that all she said?" asked Rei. Trista nodded, "Great, what the hell does that mean?"
"It means, you must prepare the King and Queen, for there are trials ahead that will try to break them."
"If there are trials ahead, then we need to call them back," Ami said.
Cole nodded, "Despite our personal opinions, we need Serena and Darien back as soon as possible. Ami and I will work with Trista to coordinate security and informing the list of targets that Hotaru sent. Rei, I want you and Lita in Cairo."
"Lita and I will handle it," Rei told them. Rei glanced at Trista once more before leaving the room.
Cole turned to Trista, "My Lady, my assistant will show you to a conference room. Ami and I will join you shortly."
A young woman appeared next to Trista. She bowed and then directed her towards another set of doors. Cole looked at Ami, who was glaring at Trista's back.
"You could have tried harder to contain your hatred of her."
"I don't hate her." Cole raised an eyebrow at her. "I don't. I just strongly object to her presence."
"Well, we need her help, especially if Hotaru gave her a list of potential targets."
"She could have sent a fax."
"No one uses faxes anymore, Ami."
"She didn't need to send Trista."
"I'll never understand women and their complex relationships."
"I believe the new age Millennials call it Girl Code. You don't make nice with your best friend's husband's ex-lover," she said.
Cole gave her a look, Ami shrugged. "You are an adult," he said.
"I don't make the rules," Ami told him.
"Cairo? Are you serious, Rei?" Lita stood at Rei's bed, trying to neatly pack the clothes that Rei was depositing onto her comforter.
"I need you to go with me," Rei said as she pulled more clothes from her closet.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea under the circumstances. Nephrite has been a little on edge the last few weeks. We've been fighting ever since he found out the Trista was still alive."
Rei cringed, "I'm sorry, Lita. I know it was a shock."
"More for him then it was for me. He thought she was dead."
"Well, most Valcors did. She disappeared before Serenity was born. She, the seer girl, Hotaru, and the other Guardians have been asleep for most of the last century."
Lita focuses on folding Rei's clothes. "Lita, what's wrong? I can tell something is bothering you."
"He considered defecting," Lita said. "When they captured her, they assigned him to guard her, and he fell in love. He considered defecting to the Romulens to be with her. He said it was the worst day of his life when they rescued her. He almost killed himself when he thought she was dead."
Rei tries to hold back her shock, "Lita..."
"He didn't want to tell me. I don't even know if he remembers that he told me. He was so drunk that night. Anyway, it's obviously not been great for us."
Rei reached across the bed and put her hand over Lita's. "I'm sorry. If you don't..."
"No, you're right, it's part of our duty."
Rei moved around the bed and wrapped her arm around Lita. "He and Zoicite are going to be busy analyzing everything from the attack sites he's not even going to have time to see her." Lita gave her a small smile. Rei hugged her tighter. "Thank you, I know it's asking a lot, but I have a bad feeling about all of this, and I need someone I trust with me"
A knock came from the door.
"Come in," Rei said, pulling away from Lita.
Nephrite entered, closing the door behind him. He went to his wife and greeted her with a kiss, then nodded to Rei. "Are there any leads on who's responsible yet?"
"Cole thinks that this may be the work of humans. A radical group opposed to vampires may be responsible. He wants us in Cairo to investigate the site and talk to witnesses." Rei threw more clothes onto the bed.
"I don't like the two of you going alone," Nephrite said.
"We'll be fine there's another group meeting us there, and our allies are helping the survivors," Lita said. "We'll be surrounded by friends."
"Friends is a loose term, I still don't think it's a good idea."
"Good idea or not, it's what needs to be done," Rei said.
"Have you told Jadeite yet?"
"No, I haven't," she said.
"He won't be pleased."
"I expect he won't be, but he knows that this is part of my duty. Especially with Darien and Serena in mourning."
Nephrite frowned. "There are others that can take this mission. Neither of you have to put yourselves in danger."
"It's our duty, Nephrite. It's who we were trained to be." The room became uncomfortably quiet, "I have to pack." Lita pulled away from her husband and left the room.
Nephrite looked up at Rei. "She's upset about Trista, isn't she?"
"I think she's actually upset about the weather in Cairo." Nephrite gave her a look. "Of course she's upset about Trista, Nephrite. What did you think? You confessed you were going to defect to the Romulens for her and that you wanted to kill yourself when you thought she was dead?"
"I was drunk and upset!"
"Then you should have gone to Zoicite and whined, not your wife!" Silence descended upon them again. "Do you still have feelings for Trista?" Nephrite hesitated. "And that's a yes."
"I haven't seen her in a century, Rei."
"Well, you need to figure it out, because it seems like Trista isn't going away and this is hurting Lita."
Nephrite sighed heavily.
"Hey, don't sigh at me, you're the one who can't handle your whiskey."
The water around the small pavilion was still, fireflies flew peacefully landing gently onto the water lilies, bright yellow lanterns lit the perimeter of the lake.
The only sound, besides that of nature, was the loud clang of metal scraping against metal.
A long metal staff crashed down onto two crossed elongated sais.
"Keep your guard up, your movement was too impulsive" said the man holding the staff, his white hair and long beard contrasted with his tanned and wrinkled skin.
Serena used all her strength to throw him back. He sailed away from her easily and took a relaxed defensive stance. Serena's hair was a mess, she was drenched in sweat, and there were mud smears on her clothes.
"You must concentrate on your strategy. Don't just throw yourself into the battle. This is a dance you must master. Let your movements flow like water. Your weapons are an extension of yourself."
Serena let out a strangled cry of frustration and attacked her instructor again with full force. He easily blocked her attacks with little effort. Finally, he disarmed her of one of her sais. The knife flew into one of the wooden pillars of the pavilion and stuck.
Serena stared at it for a moment, then attacked with the remaining weapon. It only took a few more seconds for her Master to disarm her again. He jabbed her in the shoulder with his staff, knocking her off balance, then he quickly swept her legs from under her.
He hovered above her, holding his staff into her neck. "Your emotions are clouding your flow and your strategy. You must allow yourself peace," he told her.
"Peace isn't what I need." She pushed herself up and grabbed a bottle of water.
"My love," Darien said. Serena glanced over at him. He was standing silently at the entrance of the pavilion, a cellphone in his hand.
"Your highness," said the Master. He clasped his hands together and bowed low to Darien out of respect.
"No, Master. I bow to you," Darien mirrored the Master's actions, but bowed lower. "Thank you for training my wife. It has been an honor."
The Master glanced between the couple. "Your highnesses will excuse me. An old man like me must have more rest than you young people," as he left, he clasped Darien on the shoulder and gave him a sympathetic nod.
Darien waited till the Master was out of earshot to speak. "You're improving, the Master says that you a fast learner."
"I had a good teacher before him," Serena said. "Astrid always taught me how to defend myself. I think she would have liked the Master."
"I agree," he came up next to her and rested his hand next to hers. He reached over and curled his pinky finger over hers. She leaned towards him, touching their shoulders.
"What happened? You wouldn't have ended my lesson early unless something bad had happened."
Darien inhaled a deep breath, then said, "There's been an incident."