Sailor Moon - Rise of the Exalted Knights
by Lisseas
Chapter Ten - Wins and Losses
Posted: 18/03/2017
The rifle butt passed just over Sailor Mars' head. She ducked, feeling it brush across her hair, and grabbed the barrel. Using it as leverage, she swung up and around the armoured man, driving a fist into his solar plexus. The interlocking plates gave way beneath the blow and he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. A hard elbow to the back of the neck sent him into dreamland, taking him out of the fight for good.
Mars exhaled wearily. Fights like this were becoming far too frequent for her liking, and things didn't look like changing any time soon. At least we're still winning more than we lose, she told herself. The final enemy fell moments later to a Sailor Moon bicycle kick, signalling the end of the fight.
This was the second hostile squad the Senshi had encountered tonight. They were almost used to battling humans after the past week, but this felt different. Chaos' recruits usually fled or surrendered quite quickly, lacking the dedication of a group like the Order of Black, but these troops had fought with a strange sense of desperation.
Perhaps, Mars mused, Chaos is cracking down on failure. The thought should have provoked some sympathy, but there was little left within her. And I'll save that for all the innocents these so-called people have killed.
She tensed at the bark of a rifle behind her, but there was no pain. Infuriated by her own lack of focus, she span about to see a tall woman in police riot gear. She wasn't holding a gun, though. It was sailing through the air, wrapped in a golden chain; straight at her head. There was a dull thud as it connected, and she collapsed immediately. Sailor Venus continued to swing the weapon, using it like an overlong mace to take out another soldier at the knees. She pounced on him, landing two quick punches to his jaw, and met the miko's gaze as she stood. A moment of silence passed before she dispersed her chain and offered a brief nod.
The miko returned it, trying to will her heartrate down. Their relationship had thawed somewhat, probably a given after a week of fighting side-by-side. Venus had let some of her anger go, and Mars was a little chagrined by her own role in recent events. Just a little, mind you. She still didn't agree with Minako's way of thinking.
In fact, she thought firmly, she's downright delusional if she can't see how she was swayed by Corey. But…that doesn't excuse my own behaviour. I took things way too far. We all did.
"Are they all…alive?" Chibi Moon asked, fidgeting nervously as she inspected a fallen soldier.
"Mine are," Venus declared proudly, almost sounding like her old self. "They'll be sore, though."
"Serves them right for siding with Chaos," Mars muttered, folding her arms across her chest. "I can't believe how many of these bastards fell in with that…thing! I mean, the Order of Black? Sure, they're jerks, but army? Police? Why?!"
"Fear." Sailor Moon joined them in studying their unconscious opponents. Her lips dipped slightly in a frown. "You saw the same reports we did, Mars."
Reports. They could hardly be called that, really. Mercury had somehow gained internet access, using methods Mars didn't really understand. What she'd found had been deeply unsettling. The major news sites were offline or out of date but, ever resourceful, Mercury had accessed third parties like social media and something called 'forums'. There, the lucky few to have access spoke of abductions, murders; roaming gangs of former protectors now following Chaos' orders. People were losing everything, just like she'd lost...the shrine.
Her heart ached at the thought of her home, now a smoldering ruin. How am I supposed to tell Grandpa I let that happen? How am I supposed to protect anything if I couldn't even save my home?
"Chaos is recruiting the world over," Moon reminded her, as she dismissed the Eternal Tiare. "Sure, maybe it does come down to power and riches for some, but I'm sure many others who serve it were just trying to survive. They believe they'll be safe on its side."
"Safe." Mars could practically taste her own bitterness. "And to hell with everyone else, right?"
"It's easy to judge others," Chibi Moon countered, hinting at disapproval, "But until you've been in their position, you-"
"Don't try and lecture me, Chibi Moon." Mars snapped at her a little more harshly than intended, but she wasn't backing down on this. "I have been in their position, and I said no. Just like they should have!"
The younger girl chose to keep quiet, retreating meekly to check on another unconscious enemy. Mars almost apologised, abruptly guilty, but her stubborn streak prevented it. Just as it had so many other apologies over the years. Sure, this was distasteful...but what other choice was there? They hadn't declared these people their enemy; it was their choice!
Chibi Moon wasn't here for most of the Revenant Knight's attacks, she reasoned. She doesn't know how rough things have been. We're not naïve kids anymore. We understand the way the world really works. Right...? She found herself nodding at her own conclusions. Besides, it's not like we're killing them. A beating is the least these…these turncoats deserve!
"Go easy on her," Venus suggested quietly, glancing over her shoulder at the younger Senshi. "She's not used to this sort of thing, and who can blame her?" A sigh slipped from her lips. "I'm still not used to it myself."
"Well, you'd better get used to it," Mars retorted, still annoyed.
"Never." Venus' light blue eyes met hers in an open challenge. "We can't stay lucky forever, Rei. We will kill someone sooner or later. Are you so sure you're ready for that?"
Despite her resolve, a sliver of doubt remained. For just a moment, Mars was back at the shrine; the final battle with the Order of Black. She fired her Flame Sniper at a Black Paladin, hoping to distract him. He brought his arm up to take the hit as so many others had before him…but, for some reason, it just didn't work. Whether he was tired or he misjudged the angle, the arrow struck his chest and burst into flame, consuming him…
"Rei?"
She opened her eyes again and found Venus studying her, concern on her face. A chill ran down her spine as the Paladin's screams echoed in her memory. "I…I hear you."
"Are you…?" Her friend trailed off, perhaps still uncomfortable speaking so closely after everything that had happened. She hugged her elbows and took a step back. "We, uh...we should probably get moving. The others must be getting close by now."
"Agreed." If Sailor Moon had picked up on their conversation, she gave no hints to it. "Let's go."
They climbed to the rooftops and resumed their run to the Kokkai-Gijido; the National Diet Building. The heart of Japan's government, it was an important symbol for Tokyo and its people. It had been occupied by Chaos' forces in the early days following its corruption of the Order of Black. Turned into a glorified garrison. As such, it was quite high on the Senshi Liberation List – an unofficial document that didn't exist. It certainly hadn't been scrawled on a scrounged Hello Kitty notepad! That was their target tonight, first mission of their renewed push to drive Chaos from their city. Inspiring Tokyo's cowed populace was something they'd struggled with since Moon had first returned. A win here would go a long way towards proving there was still hope...and hopefully disrupt Chaos' plans at the same time.
Moon's communicator beeped just a few minutes from their destination. Mercury's calm voice followed. "We're in position."
The Senshi were divided into two teams for the assault. Mars and Chibi Moon had flat-out refused to let Moon out of their sight, all but ensuring she had to take them along. As for Venus, she'd been brought along to keep her and Jupiter separated, though Mars couldn't shake the feeling there was more going on than Usagi was saying.
She knows something, she decided. Something she isn't telling anyone else. Something that has her worried. I just hope she knows better than to let it endanger our mission. Renewing her faith in Usagi, she focused more intently on the conversation with Mercury.
"Good," Moon was saying. "We're not far off ourselves. Any trouble?"
"A couple of patrols. Nothing Uranus and Jupiter couldn't handle."
Mars was surprised by Mercury's near-casual tone. 'Couldn't handle' translated clearly into 'they were pummelled senseless' where Uranus and Jupiter were concerned. Both women had a lot of anger and frustration to work out. In fact, 'pummelled senseless' probably wasn't strong enough a term.
"Good." Moon didn't seem bothered by the phrase herself. That both pleased and saddened Mars, all at the same time. "Hold tight. We're closing in."
"Will do."
The plan was simple enough. Team Two, made up of Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto and Saturn, would hit the rear of the Diet Building, drawing off most of the defenders. Then, Team One would blow by whatever was left, storm the front entrance, and meet up with them inside, catching the enemy between both groups. In line with that, Team Two's members were undoubtedly the heavy hitters, with Mercury along to provide intelligence, distraction and, nominally, leadership. Really, Mars was just impressed that Sailor Moon had engineered it all.
She's come a long way since the old days of 'Crybaby Usagi', she thought. The faint smile she'd allowed herself fell away quickly, however, when she considered the alternate viewpoint. I pushed her to be stronger for so long but, now that it's happened, I find I want the old, idealistic Usagi back...and I fear she may be gone for good. A second glance back at Venus only compounded her doubts. Silly, carefree Minako, too. They're both casualties of this mess as much as anyone.
"Do you actually believe we can do this?"
Moon's barely whispered question caught Mars off-guard, barely able to hear her over the sound of rushing wind and their heavy footfalls. "What?"
The moon chose that moment to peek out from behind the clouds, casting a soft white glow over the rooftop. Sailor Moon looked so vulnerable, so torn. For just a second, she was the old Usagi. The one who doubted herself, who would never have been able to do any of this. "We've fought off one Chaos Paladin at a time so far, beaten isolated patrols. But this? What if we fail?" A shadow fell over her face as she ran, the moon retreating into darkness once more. "What if we kill someone?"
"We'll know we tried not to," Mars answered, after some thought. She flashed a faint smile, adding a hint of her old snark to her voice. "Come on, Odango. Now is not the time for second thoughts."
"But what if-"
"Hey." Shifting course, Mars closed the gap between them mid-run. "Just believe in yourself, okay? We all do."
The old Usagi managed a smile of her own before she disappeared, hidden behind Sailor Moon's now-familiar mask of calm once more. "Thank you, Rei."
Mars simply gestured ahead. "Game face on. We're almost there."
They made one last multi-rooftop climb, arriving atop the final tall building before the Diet itself. It housed the Coast Guard and some other government departments, or so Mars thought. She wasn't as familiar with it as she could have been, preferring instead to focus on her spiritual studies. There was little doubt this was the right place, though. The Kokkai-Gijido lay before them, main gate and iconic, hedge-flanked driveway waiting beyond an open park filled with trees. The pyramid-shaped dome was cracked, even misshapen, but it still stood.
"There's a lot of open ground to cover…" Chibi Moon noted, peering up over the makeshift cover of the building's parapet.
Moon nodded thoughtfully. "That's why the others are going in first, to pull away at least one of the patrols in the driveway."
Mars began having second thoughts herself. At least two distinct groups of figures occupied the long stretch of asphalt, one accompanied by a Chaos Paladin. The hulking brute stomped along behind its human guard, just waiting for them to appear. That in itself was one big issue with their plan. Chaos could possess its form at any moment, making things far more difficult for the Senshi. And their path was quite long, over a lot of open ground. They'd have to drop to ground level, dash across the park, leap the gate, hit the troops before they could organise…
Things were so much simpler in the old days, she thought acerbically, with a glance to Venus. "What I wouldn't give for a goofy looking hairdresser youma right about now."
The blonde snorted. "How about a buzzcut? That seems like such a long time ago..."
Sailor Moon flicked open her communicator. "We're ready to go."
There was no reply, at least nothing verbal. A few seconds passed before a brilliant lightning blast hit the rear of the Diet Building. The crack of thunder was deafening this close, far louder than anything Jupiter usually produced. She really was mad…and it was effective! One of the patrols began running around the grounds, right for it, and they took the Chaos Paladin with them.
"Just one patrol left," Chibi Moon murmured, sounding relieved. "But how many more inside?"
Venus nudged her by way of reassurance. "Don't worry about them. Just focus on what's in front of you."
"Right."
The younger Senshi still sounded a little nervous. Mars, a little guilty over her earlier snap, took hold of her shoulder and squeezed. "You'll be fine, Chibi Moon. We all will, okay?"
"Okay," she agreed, with a determined nod. "I'm ready."
Sailor Moon rose from her crouch, snapping her communicator shut. "Spread out and keep moving. Don't give them any easy targets. We meet at the front doors."
Mars was about to compliment her tactical smarts when she leapt off the roof, leading by example. The raven-haired Senshi followed without hesitation, Venus right beside her. She landed hard in the carpark below and broke into a run, clearing the street quickly and entering the wooded park. Her eyes darted back to see Chibi Moon on her other flank, close but not too close. Trees flew by as they neared the Diet's main gates, foreboding in the darkness. Sailor Moon broke from the trees, running halfway across the parallel street before pushing off and into the air. She cleared the gates with ease as she summoned the Eternal Tiare, pink light coalescing around the weapon.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
The colossal heart crashed through the patrol as she landed, scattering the startled troops. A woman in black armour raised her rifle, eyes narrowing above her half-mask. The blonde Senshi dove into an acrobatic roll as it spat flame, dust kicking up in a trail behind her as the bullets impacted.
"Venus Love Me Chain!"
The woman staggered as it struck her across the face, whipping back a moment later to wrap around and trap her arms against her body. The rifle now hung uselessly in her grasp as she struggled to free herself, but it was no use. Venus made one, hard yank on the chain, pulling her right into a forearm.
Mars was left feeling a little frustrated. Venus' chain, the Moons oversized, concrete-like hearts; she had no 'nonlethal' attacks of her own. Instead, she was forced to rely on her superior speed and agility to get in close and simply pummel them, same as Jupiter and Uranus. That was the case now as she faced off with a once-member of the Defence Force. Perhaps realising he wasn't going to hit her, he tossed his gun aside and drew a knife. Mars simply waited, letting him close. He'd just given up his one advantage over her. If he wanted to fight hand-to-hand, that was fine with her.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
A loud crash sounded behind her, followed by several panicked cries. Her opponent lunged, trying to seize on the 'distraction', but Mars was ready. She batted the knife aside with ease and snagged his wrist, using his own momentum to flip him to the ground. A stomp to the gut drove the air from his lungs. Then, as he tried to sit up, a kick to the face took him out of the fight. Mars gave a little nod of approval and, satisfied things were under control, made a beeline for the Diet's main doors.
Venus joined her a few seconds later, ushering Chibi Moon along with her. Sailor Moon appeared a few seconds after them, driving her Tiare down onto a soldier's head as he tried to rise.
Mars shook her head good-humouredly. "If Queen Serenity could only see you now, using your Tiare as a glorified club. How scandalous!"
"It works, doesn't it?" Moon retorted, blushing regardless.
Mars raised her hands. "Hey, I wasn't questioning its effectiveness."
"Oh. Well…good?" Clearing her throat awkwardly, Moon backed up to the door. "Ready?"
Everyone nodded, Mars included. She was ready. Ready to finally take the fight to Chaos. Ready for a little payback, even if there was a part of her that said it wasn't right. Just…ready.
Moon gripped one of the ornate door handles, preparing to pull…and immediately backed up, eyes going wide in horror. "Get back!"
Mars reacted quickly, pulling a startled Chibi Moon along behind her. The door burst open, flying off its hinges and nearly hitting a retreating Venus. The monstrous form of a Chaos Paladin tore through in its wake, issuing a bestial roar. Large, clawed fingers tore at the stonework as it pulled through the doorway, narrowly missing Sailor Moon as she dove down the steps.
"Burning Mandala!"
The Senshi of Fire dug deep into her repertoire, using the eight flaming rings as a barrier rather than a weapon. A wall of flames rose up between the monster and her friend, giving her several precious seconds to recover her footing. The Paladin growled irritably, then leapt through the fire. Dozens of its mangy black feathers evaporated, smoke curling into the air as it began to stalk them. Its curved beak flashed in the moonlight as it roared again, masking another, more distant sound; gunfire and familiar voices.
"…Scream!"
"Spark…Pressure!"
Sailor Moon set her feet determinedly, levelling her Tiare at the beast. "We have to get inside, help the others!" Her eyes narrowed, pristine, white feathers swirling around her as the weapon lit up brilliantly. "Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!"
Mars was surprised to see her go straight to that, but she wasn't about to wait for the outcome. Her arm rose before her, summoning a familiar, fiery bow. "Mars…" She aimed instinctively, aware it was hard to miss something that big, and fired. "Flame Sniper!" A bolt of pure, broiling flame shot out, burying itself in the Paladin's chest before exploding.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
Chibi Moon's colossal pink heart dropped from the sky, shattering around its birdlike face. The blow wasn't quite enough to knock it down, but it was staggered; they had a few more seconds. Its beady ruby eyes flashed with ill intent as it reared back, readying a swing...
"Venus Love Me Chain!"
Those same eyes widened in surprise as the golden links flew up over its shoulder and snapped tight around its neck. A howl of confusion and rage tore from its throat, abruptly stifled as Venus pulled back with all her might.
"What are you waiting for," she cried, "A written invitation?! Take it out already!"
Reacting quickly, Mars fired off a second round of Burning Mandala, fencing it in and setting its legs aflame. Chibi Moon dropped a second heart on its head, sending it reeling to one knee.
Mars turned to their leader. "Now, Sailor Moon!"
The winged Senshi drifted slightly to one side, bringing Venus out of her line of fire, and levelled the Tiare again. "Silver Moon Crystal Power…KISS!"
It was brighter this time, sending enough residual magic into the air to tingle Mars' skin. Wave after wave of light tore into the Paladin, opening its tough, leathery hide and burning away the evil within. A final roar echoed in the night as it collapsed, falling into a pile of dust and ash.
"Great work, Venus," Moon said, noticeably winded.
Mars raised a concerned eyebrow. "You okay?"
"Fine," her friend assured her, studying her intently in return. "What about you? You don't look very happy."
Perceptive as always, the miko thought sourly. "It's just…is anyone else concerned that Chaos didn't show up?"
"No." Chibi Moon high-fived Moon jubilantly, shaking her head. "That's a good thing, Mars."
"Not when it can show up whenever and wherever it wants." Venus kicked the dust pile, scattering it across the Diet's driveway. "Mars is right. Why not now?"
Mars wondered that herself. They had taken it down quickly. Maybe quicker than Chaos could react? Before she could say so, however, a fresh round of gunfire rang out from inside. Moon bolted up the steps anxiously, waving them forward.
"Come on! We have to help the others!"
They lurched into action after her, Mars a close second behind Venus. Agree with her recent actions or not, the blonde was certainly proving her dedication tonight! They slipped through the doorway, the few working lights bathing the main hall in soft yellows broken up by vast stretches of shadow. More gunfire sounded, followed by familiar voices.
"Bastards!" Sailor Uranus cried. "Let's see you drop those guns and fight me for real!"
Sailor Pluto's calmer, almost-whispered tones followed. "Dead Scream..."
A rumble ran through the floor as her attack detonated, lighting the walls in flashes of dull purple. Mars peered into the darkness and saw it, a loose rectangle of purple light; Saturn's Silence Wall. It flashed with every bullet impact, sheltering Sailors Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto. They'd been pinned down maybe a third of the way inside by at least two squads' worth of enemies. Police, Order of Black, Defence Force, even some uniforms she didn't recognise; Chaos had certainly been busy!
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
"Space Sword Blaster!"
"Shine Aqua Illusion!"
It was readily apparent to Mars that everyone was using their weaker attacks, and firing around the enemy. All but Uranus, that was. The red, scythe-like bolts from her sword tore into a woman's side, her armour providing little resistance before giving way to expose the flesh beneath. She hit the floor at once, squirming in pain, and Mars couldn't help but feel ill. This wasn't their way, no matter how angry she might be.
"That's another one down!" Uranus crowed, practically snarling. "Who's next?!"
I wished this on them earlier, she told herself. Snapped at Chibi Moon over it. But now that I've seen it…
"Venus Crescent Beam!" The Senshi of Love loosed a blast into the floor, right between the soldiers and their friends. Several span about quickly and opened fire.
"Nice distraction, Venus!" Moon called, diving for cover behind a pillar.
"A little too nice!" Chibi Moon clarified, nowhere near as pleased. "Now they're shooting at us!"
Mars snorted derisively. "I'll give them something to shoot at." She pulled a ward from her subspace pocket and held it up, focusing on it intently. Her eyes closed as she murmured an ancient chant, the paper straightening in her fingers, standing bolt upright.
Chibi Moon's voice cut through her thoughts, incredulous. "You're praying?!"
"Fire…" Just a little annoyed, she span out of cover and hurled the paper slip towards the enemy. Then, hands tightly clasped, forefingers pressed together, she completed her attack. "…Soul Bird!"
It blazed out as normal, a spiralling ball of flame. As it struck the ward, however, it burst to form a huge, phoenix-like spectre that glided right at the assembled troops. Several panicked, opening fire on the bird instead of the newly-arrived Senshi.
"Go!" she cried, rushing forward. "Hit them hard!"
The bird arced up towards the ceiling as it neared them, responding to her will. Just as she'd hoped, a few tracked it and continued to fire as their training dictated. Seizing the moment, Mars broke into a run and headed for the nearest enemy, an older man in riot armour. He saw her coming, eyes wide with fear, and managed to get off a shot. Hot, burning pain erupted in her left bicep but she kept on going, planting both feet in the centre of his chest. He hit the floor hard, Mars landing in a seated position between his legs. He sat up just in time to take another kick to the face.
There was no time to celebrate, however. Her adrenaline spiked hard as several bullets tore into the floor at her side, peppering her with stinging fragments of tile. An Order of Black trooper advanced, bringing his submachine gun to bear.
"I'm sure to be rewarded for bringing the master your head."
Mars caught a dark blue/white blur out of the corner of her eye and winced. "I don't think so."
Sailor Uranus crashed into him hard. He staggered, but recovered quickly and drove a fist into her ribs. Another hit followed, then another, driving Uranus back...but his rally was short-lived. He made the mistake of pulling back, going for the knife on his belt, and that opened up some space between them. Uranus roared like a Chaos Paladin and launched herself at him, landing a brutal knee to his face. Mars cringed as his neck snapped back, nose practically spraying blood as it gave way. The tall blonde hit him with a second knee, then a third, finally tossing his limp form aside in disgust.
"Careful, Uranus!" Mercury shouted, over the din. "We don't want to kill anyone!"
"You might not," she muttered, almost to herself. She offered Mars a curt nod before stomping off, presumably to brutalise someone else.
The miko was left stunned by the viciousness of her attack. She couldn't even begin to imagine how Haruka felt, of course. There had to be a lot of rage and pain in her heart after losing Michiru...but that didn't mean she understood or even condoned the assault she'd just witnessed. There was putting someone down hard, and there was making every effort to truly hurt someone. Her earlier self-doubt reared up again, stronger than ever. Had she sounded even half as furious when rebuking Chibi Moon? Somehow, the thought was genuinely upsetting. Yes, she was hurting. She was angry after losing the shrine. She even wanted some measure of revenge, right or wrong...but she was sure she'd never try to kill anyone.
No, she decided, setting her jaw. Uranus and I are worlds apart…but maybe I am carrying a little too much hate in my heart to be healthy.
Shaking it off, she realised the battle seemed to be going their way. Saturn had dropped her Silence Wall and joined the fight, quickly flooring a Defence Force soldier with two sweeps of her Glaive. The magical blade sliced through another assault rifle, the butt following with a hit so hard it knocked its owner's helmet off. This opened a path for Pluto, who entered the fray swinging the Garnet Rod with equal efficiency. While their staves were little defence against bullets, they certainly enjoyed a considerable advantage in a melee like this.
"On your right, Sailor Moon!"
Mars could only be impressed by Mercury. Visor down, she was providing analysis and strategy mid-battle without compromising her own defence. Freezing the floor beneath the enemy's feet, landing overhead kicks; the blue-haired Senshi was doing it all, and doing it well. She'd come a long way herself over the years, and was certainly not a liability in any way.
As for Jupiter, she was a force to be reckoned with as always. Judo throws, punches and kicks were her bread and butter, and she was free to dole them out as she saw fit here. Never hesitating to get in the thick of things, she took on two, sometimes even three opponents at once. The tall brunette wasn't bothered in the least, seemingly relishing the chance to work off some steam. Another Order of Black soldier was sent flying into a wall, followed by a woman in police gear. Hard right, spinning heel kick; the blue-shirted woman wouldn't be getting up any time soon.
Then, Mars saw him: a smirking man in unmarked fatigues stepping out of a doorway, submachine gun raised. Jupiter hadn't seen him; there was no time! She readied herself, willing her flaming bow into existence…
…the Paladin raised his forearm as she'd seen before, a dark swirl springing up to block her attack. A moment passed as her arrow flew, right at him...and passed right through the attempted shield. He flew backwards as it struck and burst into flames, screaming terribly as it consumed him…
The miko blinked, back to reality. Her bow had faded again; she was too late. "Jupiter! Look out!"
Just as all seemed lost, a familiar golden chain lashed out and looped around the weapon's barrel. It snapped taut, pulling him off-target as he fired and sending the bullets into the wall behind Jupiter. The unfamiliar man frowned and pulled hard against the chain, trying to free his weapon. Venus pulled right back, however, fighting him all the way. Not long after, he figured out he couldn't free himself and swiveled to target her...before lurching forward with a shriek of pain.
Mars was initially confused, until she saw that his right arm now hung limp at his side. His efforts to free himself had backfired and, inadvertent or not, Venus had wrenched his arm from its socket. Still, he was furious, and drew a pistol...but found the Senshi of Love already right on top of him.
"Sailor V Kick!"
Her foot made contact with his chin, lifting him a full foot off the ground. He flipped head over heels and landed in a crumpled heap, unconscious. Probably a mercy, considering the state of his arm and likely broken jaw. Venus straightened up and found Jupiter staring at her silently. They stayed like that for several long seconds, neither saying a word, before the blonde tipped her head back in an almost haughty sniff and walked away. Jupiter glared after her before doing the same, with gusto! Mars' heart sank at their display. Everything had looked so hopeful at first...but now it seemed the two of them would never reconcile.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
Chibi Moon dropped yet another heart on the enemy, a man and woman in Defence Force fatigues. Mars had seen the elder Sailor Moon do so many times before, of course, but she knew how hard to hit…and it still looked like it could kill someone. Chibi Moon wasn't as experienced, however. It was easy to-
Oh. Mars was forced to eat her non-verbal words as she watched the younger Senshi check on them. She leapt back as the woman lashed out with a knife, and promptly bopped her over the head with the Spiral Moon Rod. Like mother, like daughter, I guess.
An odd, metallic clang and skitter marked a grenade landing at her feet! Strangely calm, even disinterested, Mars kicked it into an unoccupied corner. It exploded, taking most of the nearby wall with it in a hail of shrapnel. "This is your Diet Building too, you jerks! Why are you trying to blow it up?!"
Her frustration growing, she went after a fleeing Order of Black trooper, blocking his weak counterattack with ease and grabbing his shoulders. She buckled his knee with a stiff kick and tucked her legs up, pulling him down face-first onto her knees. Satisfied he was out, she rolled back to her feet and went looking for Sailor Moon. She found her friend busy with an ex-police officer...and a riot squad member closing on her from behind.
"Fire Soul!"
The fireball flew right into his path. Startled, he backpedalled; right into Mercury's waiting kick. She proceeded to tackle him to the ground and take him out with a flurry of quick punches.
Mars raised an eyebrow. "Learn that one in a book?"
Mercury's blush was adorable. "An anime, actually. Ryo got me into a fascinating series a little while back that-"
The miko uttered a gasp of mock horror. "Sailor Mercury, watching some brain-rotting anime?! Whoever would have guessed?"
"It's actually far more intellectual than…" The blue-haired Senshi trailed off with a surprising little shrug and smile. "It's a lot of fun."
Sure enough, things really were winding down. Despite a few close calls on the Senshi's side, most of their human opponents were unconscious or in retreat. Mars wasn't sure if they'd made it through without killing anyone, but she did know they'd tried their utmost to avoid it.
Well, she thought, correcting herself, maybe not Uranus. Even now, the tall, powerful blonde's expression spoke of a deep-seated rage. She stalked the room, looking for anyone else to smash. It couldn't hurt to keep a closer eye on her...
"Odd," Sailor Pluto mused, stepping up with Saturn at her side. "Mercury suggested there would be at least two of the large-"
The dividing wall between the main hall and the left wing exploded in a shower of wood and plaster. Not one, but two of Chaos' corrupted Paladins tore their way through, roaring in unison. They flexed their powerful muscles and wicked talons as they surveyed the room, likely deciding on targets.
"Oh, good," Uranus said, almost gleefully. "I was hoping for more."
Sailor Moon raised a hand in silence, urging restraint. One of the Paladins began to shudder, eyes flashing with far greater intensity than usual. It offered a quiet, almost strained growl before snapping upright, growing calmer. More collected. More…human.
Or something masquerading as human, Mars thought darkly.
"Bravo." It was a different voice than their last encounter, deep and booming over Megumi Shoto's dulcet tones. The cadence was the same, however, as was the arrogance and contempt. "I didn't believe you had it in you to battle your own with such…vigour." The beaked head turned slowly, taking in what remained of its forces. "Pity. Barely any deaths at all."
"You wanted your own guys to die?!" Chibi Moon's hands flew to mouth, as if surprised by her own outburst.
"I wanted you to kill them," Chaos growled, eyes gleaming cruelly. "A black stain on your consciences, and a tiny little doorway opened…for me."
"We're not like them," Saturn said quietly, meeting its gaze with just a hint of hesitation. Whatever mental scars remained from its assault on her were still present, it seemed. "You have no power over us."
"That remains to be seen." The bird-head tilted, eyes finally locking on Sailor Moon. "All this effort, Princess, and for what?" Arms spread wide, it turned slowly on the spot. "A broken-down building? Your Prime Minister and Diet are quite dead, I assure you. They have no further use for it."
Mars held her tongue, seeing Moon do the same. It was just trying to get in their heads, same as always. Engaging it wasn't helpful.
"You could say the same of this city, though, couldn't you?" Chaos continued to pace back and forth, the second Paladin lingering behind it. "How many have died? How many lives have you failed to save?" Its eyes flashed as it stared down Uranus. "How many more like Michiru?"
"Don't you dare say her name!" The Senshi of the Sky lunged forward, barely held back by her allies. "I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!"
A cold, humourless chuckle rattled from its throat. "You're welcome to try, Senshi. I'll send you to the arms of your dead lover."
Uranus continued to struggle, but she looked like she'd been shot. A tear rolled down her cheek, born of anger as much as sorrow, then another. She didn't speak out again.
The inhuman creature shrugged, apparently disinterested. "Why, Princess? Why even fight me at all? Your city is dead. Your world is dead. They just don't know it yet." One more evil chuckle, as unsettling a sound as ever. "Accept your fate. Let go. Let it all burn."
"Never." There was no hesitation on Moon's part. None at all.
It lunged forward, closing the gap between them in an instant. Venus and Jupiter closed ranks without a moment's hesitation, shielding her with their own bodies, but Chaos pulled back before making contact.
"I could snuff out your life right now," it growled, "...but where's the fun in that?" Straightening slowly, it backed up further still. "Where's...the suffering I promised?" It nodded to the second Paladin and the bestial creature withdrew the way they'd come. "I told you when this all started, Princess, that you would watch this world die before you did."
"You'll lose." There was no boast, no arrogance in Moon's voice. Just calm, quiet confidence. "Not today. Maybe not even tomorrow…but you will lose."
It stared back at her in silence, visibly annoyed. Then, however, came a hint of realisation to its inhuman eyes. "Ah...that's it. You seek to play the long game." It began looking around at the building itself, an ominous note to its voice. "You want a symbol, don't you?"
A ball of dread settled in Mars' stomach. She caught Moon's subtle twitch, too. Oh, no…
"That's what this was. That's why you came here, of all places." Chaos traced a clawed finger along one of the adjacent walls, gouging a thin line in the plaster. "It's not about you, or me. It's about this building. You think taking it back will somehow rally your people. Prove to them there's still hope."
The destruction of the shrine flashed through Mars' memory yet again. This all sounded terrifyingly familiar…
"Well…" Chaos' eyes flashed with raw, unfettered power, narrowing into cold, mocking slits. "I think, Princess, that today...you lose after all."
Mars and her fellow Senshi hit the deck as it extended its hands, firing beams of negative energy into the wall behind them. They carved through the plaster with ease, the wood, even the steel supports beneath. They continued upwards, crisscrossing the hall until it was scarred, ruined mess. An ominous rumble sounded above as cracks began spreading through the ceiling like a spider's web.
Chaos laughed one final time as it faded from view. The remaining Paladin wavered, almost uncertain, before disappearing into the left wing. The remains of the wall collapsed behind it, blocking any pursuit, and there was no doubt about it; the National Diet Building was coming down, and coming down fast.
"Go!" Mercury cried, pointing to the gaping main doors.
Mars grabbed hold of Sailor Moon's arm and tugged her towards the exit, practically dragging her stunned friend behind her. Portions of the ceiling fell in their path, furniture from the floor above. The air was thick with smoke and dust, but Mars pushed through and emerged in the cool night air, coughing uncontrollably. One by one, the rest of her friends followed, uniforms torn and dirty.
"Damn it..."
She turned, finding Moon staring blankly at the collapsing building. An ever-expanding cloud of dust spread out towards them, but she seemed oblivious.
"Damn that monster," the blonde repeated, in a near-whisper.
Uncertain what to say, Mars wordlessly placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. Feeling the gaze of her fellow Senshi, she shook her head. Mercifully, nobody said a word. Nobody tried to cheer her up. They just watched, offering simple reassurance and support by their very presence.
Finally, no longer able to be called a building, the ruins settled. Then, and only then, did Moon allow herself to walk away, leading the way home in silence. Mars was the first to follow, feeling the same determination she'd glimpsed in Moon's eyes. Chaos had won this battle, true, but the war was far from over. The Sailor Senshi would fight on, and Tokyo would be free again. Then, they'd take back the rest of the world…and the hunter would become the hunted.
AN: Well, progress was a little improved this month, and I think I have a pretty good handle on where things will go with the Tokyo plot. I know we'd just had a large action scene with Rinjirou and Mamoru, but it felt like AGES since we'd seen the Senshi go to work and I decided to indulge myself. Hopefully, the little sprinkles of plot development throughout will satisfy those of you who maybe wanted more, and I can assure you that we'll likely have a couple of confrontations next chapter.
A shout-out goes to metalgear for suggesting popping back into Tokyo through Mars' eyes. It was tough at first, but I finally got into a groove and found a way to use her as a bit of a surrogate for you guys. She hasn't been in Sailor Moon's head, she doesn't know everything that's going on, so it was a nice way to reintroduce some of the core issues and plotlines without it feeling like a whole bunch of exposition (I hope!). Plus, I feel like I'm getting better at writing her, which always helps.
Anyway, that's ten chapters. If this turns out as long as my previous fics, that means we're about a third of the way there. I've noticed the word counts of each chapter creeping up, though, so we may see a 'shorter' story even if the total words is about the same. Either way, it's refreshing to feel like I'm actually making progress. Thanks so much for all your reviews last time, it was a big confidence boost that people were still reading after a lengthy delay in updates. I promise I'm doing my best to keep to my planned four week schedule!
We'll stay with the Senshi for next time, too, so for anyone who lamented the double London chapter, this is my way of making it up to you. See you next time!
Lisseas