Sailor Moon X: Lunar Eclipse

a Sailor Moon/X-Men crossover

Chapter 7: The Artist and the Thief

5-27-2017

By Grey-X

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the creation and property of Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animation. X-Men is the creation and property of Stan Lee, Marvel Comics and Disney.

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"How is this possible!?" Rei roared as she paced around her shrine's makeshift chemical laboratory. "All the other enemies we've faced in the past… Things go on for a few months before even one of their minions gets a whiff as to who we really are! How did these… mutants zero in on us just a day or two!?"

Most of the other Senshi were at the the shrine, all exuding frustration that mirrored Rei's. Except Haruka and Michiru were a surprising case. Michiru looked more anxious than ever to take the fight to Eclipse again, while Haruka looked more rattled than anything else about… something.

Even the cats, sitting atop the table, clearly didn't know what to do next. Typically, they tended to be the rock of the group. The way Luna and Artemis always seemed to have something useful to offer had always been a huge comfort to Ami. Assertiveness had never been one of Ami's strengths. Now, the cats looked as perplexed as everyone else.

"Like I said, they've got this thing called Cerebro, which works as some sort of mutant detector, yet it led them straight to all of you," spat Artemis.

"I get that part!" Rei snapped. "It's just that… OOOOH! It's galling that these mutants achieved by accident what the rest of our enemies could've only DREAMED OF!"

"At least it doesn't appear these mutants have any hostile intentions," Ami pointed out, hoping to diffuse the tension. "Artemis said they even aim to avoid a confrontation with the Sailor Senshi."

"Still, we can't let them just take Eclipse. At least not until we get some answers out of her," said Makoto.

Ami saw how rattled she looked. Soon after losing that chess game to this Kitty Pryde, Makoto had pulled Ami away before she could even finish hers, hissing an urgent warning in her ear.

Ami didn't want to believe it. One of her heroes, a threat to the Sailor Senshi? But after more reports of other 'encounters' poured in, Ami had to accept the possibility.

"I just don't get how this Cerebro gizmo led them to us instead of Eclipse," Makoto went on. "I mean, if there's this handy-dandy scanner that tracks mutant DNA, why does it point to us? We don't have any!"

"It must not work by detecting active X-genes, obviously," said Luna. "But if it's not a DNA scanner, what is it?"

"It must be sensitive to something else, something that can be influenced by a Senshi's power," Ami suggested. "Our powers come from our Star Seeds, which doesn't alter DNA. Maybe they affect our brain patterns instead. I've read papers that suggest that the brain waves of mutants differ from those of baseline humans."

"Speculating over this is pointless," said Michiru tersely, with a vehemence that made Ami recoil. How they had worked together effectively up to this point was a mystery. "The fact remains that these mutants now have a good idea as to who we really are, can probably track our movements, and are likely zeroing in on Eclipse with Cerebro."

"Maybe not that last part, according to Artemis," said Minako. "Eclipse has shaken off everything meant to track her so far. Your mirror, Rei's spirit powers, that wheelchair guy's telepathy, and this Cerebro thing. Maybe it's part of her mutant power, throwing off anything that can pinpoint her."

"Then there's some hope we can get to Eclipse first," said Haruka. "We just have to anticipate Eclipse's next move, and be ready when she strikes, with or without Ami's chemical weapon."

"And we need to know more about the mutants we might be fighting past," said Luna. She then turned to Ami. "Ami, Makoto said you know all about the American biochemist who found you. What more can you tell us about him?"

Ami could only stare back at Luna, flustered. Dr. Henry McCoy was one of the finest scientific minds in the world, someone she had always looked up to. Living proof of what mutants had to offer the whole world. The thought of fighting him was both galling and terrifying. His physical strength easily dwarfed any of the Sailor Senshi's, and Ami didn't dare think her mind could match his.

But what bothered Ami the most was the notion they HAD to fight someone like him. It seemed so pointless, when such a man could be reasoned with. "First of all, it may not be necessary to fight Dr. McCoy at all. I'm sure if we saw him again, he'd be open to reason…"

"Ami, I know you hero-worship this guy," Makoto cut in gruffly. "But the fact remains that these guys showed up in Japan for Eclipse, and may not give her up without a fight."

"Not only must we uncover her links to your old enemy, but she assaulted Japanese citizens," Haruka added. "Whether or not they had yakuza ties makes no difference. She must face justice in THIS country."

Ami relented with a sigh. "Dr. Henry McCoy is one of the world's foremost authorities in biochemistry, but you already knew that. It could help explain why he'd want Eclipse, since her lineup of mutated genes would be so… unique. But on top of that, he's incredibly fast, agile and strong. MUCH stronger than either of you, I'm afraid," said Ami, ignoring Makoto and Haruka's indignant looks. "I know he was part of the Avengers for a time, but he's more well-known for being part of this one group of mutants. One I believe he was a founding member of, called…"

"The X-Men," came Usagi's voice all of the sudden. Everyone looked to the doorway to see her stepping through, flanked by Chibiusa and Mamoru. To Ami's surprise, but Usagi looked even more distraught over the idea of tackling these mutants than her. "Michiru, that group you were thinking of the other day, it was the X-Men. And now they're back in Japan."

Silence lingered for a moment, until Rei broke it with her incredulity. "Usagi, how do YOU know that?"

"Because she's been reading up of them, believe it or not," said Luna. "Turns out her father's a big X-Men fanboy, and collected a lot of material on them."

"And, on top of what Ami just said about Beast, I saw Storm in the park. The one who can control the weather," Usagi added with an acid bite, glaring at Rei. Ami recalled reading about Dr. McCoy's teammate, and shivered a little. That woman basically had her powers, Makoto's and Haruka's all rolled into one. In a package that could fly. "And the best part? She was with this old guy in a wheelchair who seemed to know EXACTLY what was bothering me." If Usagi's aim was to rattle Rei and get her to back off, it was working.

"There was another guy in the park, too," Chibiusa added. "Someone who seems to know I'm… not from around here."

"Well, if we needed any more evidence about our new mutant problem, I think we got it," said Minako. "Any idea just who this guy in a wheelchair is, though?"

"Looks like the X-Men are led by none other than Charles Xavier," said Mamoru. "This school he's got for 'gifted youngsters'… It must be a front so he can recruit and train mutants from all over the world."

Ami's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Professor Charles Xavier is the leader of the X-Men? He's here in Japan, too!?"

"Oh no, Ami. No no, no no no, just… NO," snapped Makoto. "Bad enough you went completely ga-ga over the big, blue furball. Don't go gushing over another scientist from across the Pacific, not now. Focus, girl…"

"Oh, right right," said Ami quickly, turning to Usagi. "So, I guess Xavier was curious about why you were reading his book?"

"Just WHY are you torturing yourself with all this reading material about mutants anyway, Usagi?" Luna demanded bluntly. "I think it's about time you came clean."

Usagi turned to Luna, looking ready to cry, but then her gaze hardened. "Not important right now," she replied with a scowl. "Makoto's right, we need to decide what to do about Xavier. And I think we should get him to help us."

"Usagi, it's a rhetorical question at this point, but… ARE YOU DAFT!?" Rei cried. "We don't know what the X-Men want with Eclipse, or how far they'll go to get their hands on her!"

"I'm with Rei," said Haruka. "It's too early to trust these mutants."

"Too early to trust mutants who once saved our entire country from sinking into the ocean, Haruka!?" spat Usagi. "To trust the superhero team that's always there when Magneto is pulling something dirty!? I don't know about the rest of you, but I think they've EARNED the benefit of the doubt!"

"OK, Kenji-papa's fanboyism's rubbed off on someone," Chibiusa grumbled.

"Oh you muzzle it," barked Usagi. "Am I really the ONLY ONE who thinks that maybe, just MAYBE, the superheroes that know the most about mutants being in Japan might be a godsend!?"

Ami was willing to entertain the notion, and not just due to her admiration for Dr. McCoy and Professor Xavier. She looked to the batch of chemicals on the table, the last round of catalyzation done, ready for the next step. Completion was still days away, while the X-Men might have a better plan already. If they could get Eclipse off the streets and find out how she was connected to the Dark Kingdom, did it matter WHO accomplished that, or where Eclipse was taken afterward?

"I think Usagi may be on to something. The X-Men have much more experience in matters like this," said Ami.

"But can we trust them?" asked Minako. "Sure, they go after Magneto when he gets out of line, but didn't they welcome him with open arms at one point? And Artemis said they considered busting into the shrine and stealing your work."

"Yeah, the one called Remy LeBeau flat-out said he was a thief, with pride," said Artemis. "Must be a good one too, if he can steal a kiss from Haruka…"

Perhaps Dr. McCoy didn't outclass the Sailor Senshi in speed by much. Because in an eyeblink, both Minako and Haruka were over Artemis, pressing his face down onto the table while wearing exasperated, nervous looks. Looks that couldn't be in starker contrast with Michiru's, who sauntered up behind them. "Oh, what's this about a stolen kiss?" she asked sweetly, with a sardonic smile.

Understandably, Haruka looked horribly flustered, but Minako looked uneasy as well for whatever reason. Neither had a good answer ready, but Artemis spoke up for them. "Oh, Haruka made a wager for nearly eleven thousand yen and lost, but Remy just stole a kiss as payment instead."

"Artemis, when you're in a hole, STOP DIGGING!" Minako roared as she picked the cat up and shook him violently.

Haruka, meanwhile, looked completely shellshocked. It was clear Haruka would've rather ponied up those eleven thousand yen.

"So not only did you let a guy sneak in a kiss, but you lost a bet as well?" Michiru asked with a sly smile. Leave it to Michiru to abandon all sense of seriousness, just to troll Haruka a little.

"It… wasn't really even a kiss," Haruka protested, feeling the weight of all the incredulous stares. "He just pecked me on the cheek and left the arcade before I could do anything."

"Wait, the arcade?" said Usagi. "Don't tell me this bet involved that racing game!"

Haruka facepalmed. "You picked a real good day to play Little Miss Detective, Odango."

"Ummmm, I think our little discussion has veered off on a tangent long enough," Ami interjected delicately.

"Agreed. We still have the small matter of a rival superhero team about to beat us to the draw," Rei added.

"Fine by me," said Haruka, ignoring Michiru's lingering, taunting gaze. "Let's get back to what really matters."

Minako slithered up next to Haruka. "Do I still get the dirtbike?" she whispered through gritted teeth. Her only response was a death glare from Haruka.

"For one thing, one or two of us will need to stand guard in this room at all times, until Eclipse is brought down," said Mamoru. "If this… thief is out there, we can't take chances."

Many of the Senshi nodded in agreement, but Ami could still sense a feeling of futility that matched her own. Never before had anyone else learned how important this shrine was. For so long, it had been their home base, and offered a sense of sanctuary. Now that had been shattered in an instant. These were the toughest mutants on the planet. If the X-Men really wanted her weapon destroyed, they could storm the shrine with little effort.

"And we should take a hint from our princess and read up on these X-Men," added Michiru. "As it stands now, there are at least ten of them here in Japan. We're already outnumbered. It's best there are no surprises regarding just what they can do."

If Usagi was flattered by Michiru insisting she had the right idea, she certainly didn't show it. "So that's it? We really ARE going to assume the X-Men are our enemies, just like that!?" Usagi cried in disbelief. She looked around to everyone else, and clearly didn't like what she was seeing. Ami wondered if she was keeping her own trepidation regarding a potential out of her expression.

"Usa-ko, YOU'RE the one who insisted we have this meeting right away," Mamoru pointed out.

"And now I'm regretting it!" Usagi spat. "I admit it, I was afraid when I figured out who really came up to me in the park. I freaked out, and it didn't take long to see how stupid that was. They can help us! They've helped with so many other problems involving mutants in the past!"

"This is… different, Usagi," said Makoto, though her tone didn't exactly betray confidence in those words. "The Dark Kingdom is involved, something they've never dealt with before. And we still don't know why they're getting mixed up in this."

"So we assume the worst? Why! Because they're mutants!? So they must be the bad guys too!?" Usagi roared. "So much for us being the guardians of love and justice if that's how we're looking at it!"

"Usagi, you're… not thinking straight," Luna pleaded. "We can all tell there's SOMETHING regarding mutants that's troubling you, but…"

"But what, Luna!?" Usagi bit back. "If the X-Men can figure out how to bring down Eclipse and get answers out of her, shouldn't that be enough?"

Those were sentiments that echoed Ami's perfectly, so she spoke up again. "I really do think Usagi is on to something. My weapon's nowhere near ready, and we won't really know if it's efficacious until we use it on Eclipse herself. The X-Men might be able to take down Eclipse far sooner. If I could find Dr. McCoy again, convince him to be frank with me…"

"He was probably pumping you for information as hard as Kitty was pumping me, and this Logan guy was pumping Rei," Makoto cut in. "I'm sorry, Ami, but I'm with Michiru. Best to know exactly what we're dealing with. Assume these guys intend to grab Eclipse by any means necessary."

Usagi glared at Makoto with absolute disgust. "I… can't believe you, Makoto," she grumbled. "You, of all people, who knows how much it hurts for everyone to think you're just a brute…" Usagi looked all around the room again, taking in how everyone had fixed bemused glares upon her. "I thought enough of you would give the X-Men the benefit of the doubt, but so far only Ami's considering it, and even she doesn't look too confident." Ami's face fell a little. "Forget it, people. Last I checked, I AM the princess. And I say we give the X-Men a chance! So I'm going to go find them and see just what it is they want!" With that, Usagi turned to storm out.

"Usagi, how to do intend to find them?" Ami asked before she could.

Usagi glared at her over her shoulder. "A bald guy in a plastic wheelchair, flanked by a dark-skinned lady with white hair and a big, blue furry guy? It's not like they'll blend in." And then she was gone, and Ami could already hear her footfalls slamming against the shrine's stone steps.

Luna shook her head after watching her go. "Just perfect. Every time I think she's matured, some stupid whim comes over her. Artemis, come on, we'd better go after her."

"I'm coming with you," said Chibiusa. "If Usagi DOES find them, I have a question or two for that big guy myself."

"I'll tag along too, in case some extra firepower is needed," Minako chimed in.

Silence fell over the room for some time after all the hasty departures, broken by one of Haruka's frustrated outbursts. "While I'm as disappointed as ever by the naïveté of our princess, I must concede she has the right idea. Regarding going out and DOING something," spat Haruka.

"Well, I'm all for trying something ourselves instead of hoping some foreign superhero team solves our problems for us," Makoto said in agreement.

"So, what's your plan?" Ami demanded.

"Very simple," said Haruka with a wicked smirk. "Eclipse has been targeting yakuza. And my contacts hinted at a possible big meeting of one yakuza group, near where we fought her last time, to discuss the Eclipse threat. Apparently, they're considering seeking the help of this Hashida clan or something, but that's neither here nor there. All I care about is catching Eclipse in the act and taking her down. Michiru, you with me?"

Michiru hesitated only a moment, as if distracted. "Always, Haruka. I was… just thinking for a moment if Usagi had a point. Than man in the museum… Whatever is otherworldly about the woman with him, there was still a purity to his spirit. And a sadness."

"Don't you start going soft, too," said Haruka. "You were more eager than ever to get to Eclipse. Even if we have to go through your fellow artist, we must…" Haruka suddenly stopped, staring in Ami's direction.

"What is it?" asked Ami, then she realized Haruka was not staring at her, but something on the table beside her. Haruka lunged over and pulled up a flyer that had been under a stack of books. For a moment, Haruka stared at it. Ami thought the light in the shrine was playing tricks on her eyes, because it looked like Haruka's face was losing a little color. "Why… are you so interested in that, Haruka? It's about a robotics seminar. I really wanted to go, but I'm afraid work on this weapon will keep me from attending, so…"

"Now I'm curious, too," said Michiru. "I haven't seen you this terrified since Mistress 9 had us ensnared. What's going…"

"I'll explain on the way," said Haruka quickly. "Come on." With that, Haruka took Michiru's hand and dragged her out of the shrine.

Rei watched them go, then said, "Well, two more of our number out the door to blunder about. What about the rest of us?"

"Like I said before, we need people here, guarding the chemicals," said Mamoru.

He was trying to sound resolute, but it was clear Usagi's tirade had hit him the hardest. He wanted to respect his girlfriend's wishes, but clearly dreaded he'd soon sense Usagi transforming out of the need to tackle mutants.

"And if Eclipse does turn up somewhere, Ami and Makoto need to be on standby," Mamoru went on. "Without the weapon ready, you two are our only way to get to Eclipse without killing her." Ami nodded, understanding the logic. But this was fast dissolving into a mess in which even the most calculating logic might not be enough to fix.

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The wind rushing past Haruka had felt good as she sped down the streets of Tokyo after sundown, Michiru clinging tight behind her. The fact that, thanks to Artemis, she could weasel out of that 'agreement' with Minako made the thrill of riding it even sweeter.

It was a temporary respite, however, from what was plaguing Haruka's mind. Bad enough that Usagi was acting on her own, and so rashly too. Yes, it would be good if they could trust these X-Men, but there was too much risk involved. The fact that Michiru had sensed something funny from one of their number didn't help her mood any, either.

And then there was what she had glimpsed on that flyer of Ami's. Naturally, she couldn't really discuss it with Michiru while they had helmets on and the wind rushed past them. Soon enough, however, they reached their destination, and had to start skulking through the darkness of the alleyways, leaving the dirtbike behind.

It wasn't long before Michiru brought it up again. "Haruka, what's going on? What was it on Ami's seminar flyer that had you so spooked?"

Haruka said nothing. She merely took it out of her pocket and shoved it in Michiru's face. "Tell me, doesn't this woman look a tad… familiar?"

Michiru scrutinized the photo in the flyer for a moment. "Some woman in a lab coat with stupidly dark glasses, long black hair…" she muttered. "Why would any of that spook you so? She's just a robotics…" Michiru's eyes widened as the realization hit her like a descending moon. "That woman, Telulu and Viluy's victim, back before the Death Busters had Daimon. You don't suppose…"

Haruka nodded stiffly. "You remember, don't you? How radically different her pure heart looked? Something tells me that's indicative of anyone who's has been corrupted by such evil."

Unsurprisingly, Michiru gazed away from Haruka, looking quite flustered. "And something tells me this makes it even less likely Usagi can do anything with the Ginzuishou."

"Well, we won't know until we've pounded Eclipse within an inch of her life and throw her at the princess's feet," said Haruka. "So let's get moving."

"You… really think it's this engineer?" Michiru went on. "It… still feels a bit of a stretch."

"Don't you also remember the thinly-veiled threat?" Haruka shot back. "We dismissed it at the time, but now it's obvious we handed her ample time to bring her plans, whatever they are, to fruition."

"So why are we here tonight, instead of breaking down her door and shaking her down?" asked Michiru.

"Because, with such a juicy, yakuza-flavored target, if she's away from home, she'll be casing this place," said Haruka. "Better to catch her in the act."

Michiru just stared back at Haruka for a moment, then nodded. With that, the two of them descended down into the alley toward their target, or rather Eclipse's most likely one.

As they drew closer, Haruka was certain she caught the sensation of something… slippery in the winds. Something foreboding. But just like everything else involved with pinning down Eclipse, it seemed to slip away as soon as it came.

Haruka looked over to Michiru, and the unease she saw in her partner's eyes told Haruka it was the same story with her. Something gurgling in storm waters, something that didn't fit. Like noxious oil.

They trudged onward, careful to make as little noise as possible. They were getting close to where Haruka's contacts said the meeting would take place. Despite her eagerness to take the fight to Eclipse again, Haruka didn't let herself become too focused on any one thing. So soon, she held up a hand to get Michiru to stay back, sensing something else on the winds.

"What's wrong, Haruka?" Michiru whispered, knowing Haruka must have sensed something that had eluded her. "Please tell me you're having better luck pinning down this mutant than I am."

"I don't think it's that particular mutant," Haruka hissed back as she cautiously turned a corner. Ducking behind a dumpster for cover, she motioned for Michiru to follow. Michiru opened her mouth, as if to ask what was the matter, then she looked across the alley.

She then saw they weren't the only pair stealthily skulking in Tokyo's alleyways. There, at the other end of the alley, were two men. One with short brown hair wearing a brown coat, and the other…

Michiru gasped, despite herself. "That's Peter… From the art museum."

Haruka looked over to the pair of mutant men. That bigger one, he could move silently with little apparent effort, despite his size. Still, he was a bit too big for any serious attempt at stealth. "Hmph, an odd partner for a thief in the night."

"A thief? Oh, so THAT'S the man from the arcade," Michiru whispered teasingly.

"Not now, Michiru," Haruka hissed back.

"I am confused, Remy," said Peter suddenly. He left his voice low, but it wasn't enough to escape Haruka's sharp hearing. The fact that they spoke in English posed no problems either. "Wouldn't Logan have been a better choice to accompany you? After all, he is far more familiar with Japan and its underworld than the rest of us, even you."

"Oh, we all had our misadventures in the Land of the Rising Sun," Remy replied. "But that's the thing, Pete. These yakuza yucksters would be expectin' the 'gaijin' to come sniffin' about." It was somehow disconcerting, hearing that Japanese word used perfectly, and in context, by someone speaking in English. "They probably already know he's back in the country, and are watchin' for 'im. Hell, they probably already know he shook down some low-level thugs for the intel we got. Besides, you're the better choice if we do find Eclipse tonight. We need someone rock solid to hold her down, not carve her up. And Nathan's close by, in case we need more backup."

So, they had the same idea, Haruka realized. This complicates matters. These X-Men have clearly had dealings in Japan far more often than even Usagi knew. Not that any of that mattered. If they had to fight their way past these mutants to bring down Eclipse, then that's what they would do.

Still, Usagi was at least right in that they shouldn't go LOOKING for a fight with the X-Men. So they let Remy and Peter creep out of the alley, and waited a few moments before continuing down the alleyway.

"I don't like this, Haruka," said Michiru. "There's the hope that they'll be as cooperative as Usagi thinks they are, but I sense the seas are about to start churning."

"Then we just keep our distance. If Eclipse appears, let's just hope we're in a position to hit her first," Haruka replied.

They crept to the other end of the alley, and Haruka peeked around a corner. It was a wide-open paved area with some run-down buildings, but no sign of either mutant. Peter, given his size, would stand out, but Remy could probably blend into the gloom with relative ease. Granted, there were a surprising amount of lamplights in this run-down portion of town, but Haruka suspected Remy was a good enough thief to work around such obstacles.

"I don't see either of them," Haruka said at length. "What about your mirror? Any chance these two mutants won't throw it off too?"

"Hmmm, it's not meant to work like this Cerebro of theirs, but I'll give it a try," said Michiru, looking into her mirror. "No sign of Eclipse's dark energy. But those two… Uh-oh."

"I was hoping for a bit more enthusiasm if our paths crossed again, Michiru," came Peter's voice from behind them, this time speaking in Japanese, making them whirl around. His arms were folded, looking every bit the immovable rock that Remy was counting on.

Remy was there too, smirking at them. "And you, my dear Haruka Tenoh… Wasn't quite expectin' t' see you again tonight, either. In the mood to make things interestin' again'?"

"No showboating Remy, please," snapped Peter. "There's a reason we're here tonight, and it sounds like Haruka and Michiru have similar motivations."

Haruka could only stare back, nonplussed by how they managed to sneak up on them like this. She realized she had foolishly underestimated them again. It looked like Usagi's suspicion that these were seasoned veterans of the X-Men was on the money.

"So, Peter… I take it you're out tonight as part of your venture to make up for past mistakes?" Michiru asked delicately.

"Him and me both, chére," said Remy, his smile broadening. Haruka bristled at hearing that. Bad enough he stole a kiss, but now he had to turn his charm on her partner too, in her presence!? "I also made decisions I'm none too proud of. But as I told your lovely partner here, it ain't stoppin' me from helpin' my friends pursue a dream…"

"The question is, Michiru, are you?" Peter continued. "We overheard you talking about Eclipse. Something tells me you overheard us talking about the same mutant. We're both here for the same reason, but do we have the same end goal in sight?"

"That depends," said Haruka dangerously. "A friend of ours also overheard Remy earlier today, talking about finding Eclipse. We'd sure like to know what you intend to do with this butcher once you find her."

"'Butcher'? A bit harsh, don't you think, Haruka?" Remy challenged slyly. "We all been readin' the same reports. This little lady loves crackin' some skulls, but she's no killer."

"She's getting closer to crossing that line," Michiru shot back. "At the museum, after I met you Peter, the curator was brutally beaten. We have good reason to believe Eclipse was the perpetrator."

"We are aware of that," Peter said stoically. "Anna-Marie and I left too early to prevent that, which is why we're here tonight."

"That curator had yakuza ties, y'see," said Remy. "There's a pattern. So we figured we'd case the most tempting yakuza-flavored dessert on the menu tonight. And I'm guessin' you two had the same idea."

"You seem to read us quite well, Remy," said Haruka, an acerbic bite to her voice. "I confess we're having some difficulty reading the two of you. Again, we'd like to know what it is you want with Eclipse."

"Is that really any of your concern?" Peter asked dangerously.

"She nearly buried us in rubble days ago. On top of that, she must face justice here in our country, so Eclipse is very much our concern," Michiru shot back. "We can't allow you to take her out of Japan."

"Lastly, Eclipse has some connection to an old enemy," added Haruka. "Even if we could condone Eclipse being taken away, we can't allow that until we've gotten answers."

Remy and Peter exchanged furtive looks. Remy then looked back, a dangerous warmth to his smile now. "Does it really gotta be all or nothin', ladies? I think we can cut a deal. We… got ways of pryin' answers from zipped lips. We're here lookin' for answers, too. So if you let us take the poor dear where flipped-out mutants can be incarcerated safely while gettin' some mental help, we'll be more than happy to share vital intel regardin' your supervillains, no?"

"It's… hard to trust someone so boastful about being a thief," said Haruka.

"Especially one who stole a kiss from you," Michiru hissed to her.

"Really, Michiru? NOW!?" Haruka shrieked.

"Agreed, there are more serious matters to discuss. Bottom line, boys, is that Eclipse is connected to the Sailor Senshi's oldest enemy, and thus is ours to deal with," Michiru spat.

"Michiru, I implore you. Back in the museum, I truly sensed that you wished to avoid more tragic mistakes," Peter pleaded. "Can you be certain that you're not…"

Peter's words trailed off as his head abruptly jerked up, as if he suddenly heard something peculiar. Haruka heard nothing, though. However, when she also noticed Remy's head turning to the side, seemingly lost in thought, she had a good suspicion regarding what they 'heard'.

"Michiru, Eclipse must be here already!" Haruka cried. "These two… There's a telepath among them, remember? They must've gotten a psychic message about her."

"You're right," said Michiru, looking down into her mirror. "The signs of dark energy… They're faint and elusive, like before, but they're there."

"Then let's not waste any more time talking," said Haruka, pulling out her transformation stick. Michiru likewise stowed away her mirror and took out hers. "They already suspect who we really are, and we already have a good idea who they are. Time to drop all pretense. Uranus Planet Power, Makeup!"

"Neptune Planet Power, Makeup!"

And so, they transformed into Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune right in front of the two mutants. Remy and Peter, meanwhile, just stood there, and when their transformations were complete, they didn't seem perturbed at all. As if this was nothing out of the ordinary. Even Remy's insufferable grin was the same.

"Ah, so that's how Sailor Senshi access their powers," Remy said silkily. "As the big blue furball might say, 'Fascinating'. In fact, Peter here, he got somethin' like that, too. Go on, Petey. Show 'em why we call you 'Colossus'…"

Peter took a couple steps forward, but Uranus and Neptune stood their ground, confident they could handle whatever the big brute could throw at them. That is, until they sensed a strange energy flowing over him.

An instant later, they could see energy crackling all over his huge frame, and he spread his arms, letting out a howl. Uranus and Neptune took an involuntary step back as he seemed to grow bigger, his white shirt ripping to shreds, though his cargo pants seemed to stretch to accommodate his transformation.

But it wasn't just his size that was changing. His very skin, it seemed to be glowing. No, not glowing… Reflecting the faint lamplight! Peter's flesh was becoming segmented steel, the transformation starting at his head and chest, traveling down his arms! When it was done, Peter looked to be nearly half a meter taller, his skin now some sort of living metal!

Uranus could only stare for a moment as this steel golem glared back at them. First a woman with a personal oil slick, now a man with skin that changed into solid steel? Michiru didn't seem quite so fazed. "Indeed, that's a VERY good reason to call him 'Colossus'"

"It's regrettable that I must use this form against heroes like the Sailor Senshi," said Peter. "But by transforming yourselves, you've shown you are unwilling to listen to reason."

"As for me ladies, they call me 'Gambit'," Remy chimed in. "My card. Or rather, cards." Using that amazing dexterity of his, quick as a flash he whipped some playing cards out of his coat.

Uranus tensed, wondering just what this could be about. Then she noticed something odd about his eyes. The whites of 'Gambit's' eyes suddenly seemed to darken, shining like a blacklight. And his irises went from a dull brown, to glowing a dangerous, intense pinkish-red.

Gambit waved his arm in front of him, the cards he was holding somehow suspended in midair in an arc. These, too, glowed and crackled with a ferocious pinkish-red light. It was only for a split-second, as the cards suddenly shot up into the air leaving blazing trails, then came down toward the two Senshi.

Uranus wasn't quite sure what Gambit's cards were supposed to do, but she knew it couldn't be good. Both she and Neptune jumped back as the cards came down, striking the concrete with ferocious, explosive force that rattled their skulls. Chunks of concrete flew up everywhere, forcing them to shield their eyes.

Uranus quickly realized it was meant to distract them. Gambit and Colossus charged, no doubt to restrain them while another X-Man moved in on Eclipse. Uranus righted herself, collecting energy in her fist. "World Shaking!" she roared, striking the ground and sending out her concentrated ball of wind energy.

However, Colossus seemed to be expecting that. He dashed in front of Gambit, hunched down, and grabbed Uranus's attack as if it were a physical thing. It took a visible effort for Colossus to hold it back, but he stood his ground.

"Such power… Little wonder you've been able to defend Japan for so long. Thankfully, it is nothing I cannot handle," said Colossus stoically. With a snarl, he hurled it aside, down the alley they all had come down.

Colossus ignored how old tires, a dumpster, broken pallets and other garbage flew out of the alley. He charged forward again, but Neptune charged as well. Uranus couldn't believe it at first. Anyone with the strength to push aside Uranus's attack like that couldn't be bested in a physical contest.

Of course, Neptune, being as clever as she was, knew that already. As Colossus closed in, Michiru ducked and slid underneath him while producing her Deep Aqua Mirror.

"Submarine Reflection!" she cried before Colossus could turn around. The intense surge of watery energy was enough to blast the massive mutant off his feet. He went flying into an abandoned three-story building.

Uranus spared a glance to watch the front half of the building collapse in on itself. So the two of them had drawn first blood, but something told Uranus that Colossus could easily take abuse like that, and then some.

For the moment, however, Uranus had her own problems. Gambit was closing in, and had somehow produced a metal staff. Uranus produced her Space Sword, countering Gambit's staff strike just in time. But Gambit proved to be as swift and wily as ever, swinging his staff around and down to trip Uranus up. Uranus effortlessly backflipped out of the way toward a wall, kicking off of it to come at Gambit again, ready to bring her sword down.

This time, it was Gambit who barely brought up his weapon in time. She managed to stagger him for a split-second, enabling Uranus to force him back with a kick to his midsection once her feet were planted. It knocked the wind out of him, forcing him to the ground.

Uranus didn't hesitate to move in. With Colossus out of the way for the moment, Neptune could also focus on Gambit. Gambit, however, didn't look bothered by their two-to-one advantage. The insufferable mutant was smirking again!

And it soon became apparent why. As the two Senshi closed in, Gambit simply rolled to the side, revealing he had charged up a concrete chunks the way he did those playing cards. Uranus and Neptune realized their blunder just as it detonated, sending them flying a few meters in opposite directions. Once Uranus's vision cleared after springing back to her feet, she saw Colossus rise from the rubble, and he immediately charged back toward the melee.

Not that Uranus didn't already have another mutant to worry about. Gambit moved in again, staff twirling. With a snarl, Uranus rushed to meet him, parrying his staff strikes with her Space Sword as best she could while looking for any openings. It proved to be quite the challenge, however, as Gambit deftly countered her strikes.

"Many thanks, chére," Gambit beamed as staff kept clashing against sword. "I thought I'd only get to mess up a yakuza thug or two after touchin' down in Japan. This provin' to be a way more fun workout! Never a dull moment when the X-Men visit your country."

"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet," Uranus spat back, determined to wipe that grin off his face. But at things stood, it looked to be a stalemate. The two of them were about equal in terms of speed and fighting talent. However, while Uranus had an edge in brute strength, Gambit made up for it with his dexterity and clever use of his powers.

Neptune didn't seem to be doing much better. Uranus didn't dare take her eyes off Gambit, but in her peripheral vision, she saw Neptune get hurled across the paved lot a good few meters, screaming after Colossus had finally landed a blow.

Uranus felt a sickening sense of dread, suspecting that Colossus was pulling his punches. That even in her transformed state, Neptune wouldn't survive if he used his full strength. Colossus moved in again, only to take Neptune's Deep Submerge at nearly point-blank range. Uranus suspected that Colossus could easily resist pressures like those at the ocean floor, though.

At the moment, she still had to worry about Gambit. They had to beat the X-Men back, now that it was almost a certainty that Eclipse was here and these two were running interference. They all but admitted they wanted to take Eclipse, and Uranus didn't trust them to share any information. But for the moment, she had to admit Gambit and Colossus were doing a masterful job of keeping them occupied.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rei watched Ami and Mamoru work on the next phase of their weapon, not really having anything better to do. Something Rei tried to convince herself of, only she knew it was a lie. She knew she should be back in front of the hearth, trying to pinpoint where Eclipse was, or discover her identity.

Of course, Rei had a good reason to avoid trying again. The man with such unimaginable psychic power, now right here in the city? Well, according to Usagi, it was definitely him.

I wonder if Usagi is also right about being able to trust this Charles Xavier, Rei silently mused as she watched Ami and Mamoru toil on. Rei would like to think that he could be.

Usagi certainly seemed to believe so, storming off in a flurry of frustration and shame to find him. Like her, Usagi was terrified when she had figured out how powerful he really was, but somehow worked past that fear.

Rei found herself envying the courage of Usagi, of all people, to master that sort of fear. She could only hope it didn't lead to a huge blunder on Usagi's part. Even Haruka and Michiru agreed with me. There's still too little we know about these X-Men, and they have too much on us.

Rei wasn't the only one helping stand watch in their makeshift lab. Makoto was pacing around, looking even more restless. She had had her own disconcerting encounter with these X-Men. Like with how Xavier far outclassed Rei's psychic abilities, the physical prowess of this Hank McCoy was supposed to exceed hers, according to Ami. And this Kitty Pryde seemed to have a way of getting in your head with no psychic abilities at all.

There was still a chance it wouldn't come to fighting past these X-Men, but Rei didn't find herself very hopeful. She doubted anyone in this lab was. Ami and Mamoru were engrossed in their work, but Rei didn't need any empathic abilities to sense the anxiety radiating off of them. All of them were on pins and needles, expecting trouble at any moment. That was something else that was galling. How easily these X-Men figured out their shrine served as their headquarters. Now, at best, they had to watch for a thief in the night. At worst, a tornado could flatten the place without warning.

So it was no surprise the others jumped when Rei's communicator watch went off. Rei yelped a little as well. It looks like if there's action tonight, it won't be here at the shrine, Rei realized as she flipped it open. No image came through, just audio. That could only mean someone's contacting me after having transformed. Out loud, she said, "Rei here. Who is this, and what's going on?"

"The second time Uranus and I bit off more than we can chew when it comes to mutants, that's what!" came Michiru's barking voice. Rei could also hear grunts and crashing sounds coming through the feed. "Haruka was right. Eclipse is making a move, but two X-Men are keeping us from getting to her while another of their number… Oh great… SUBMARINE REFLECTION!"

The sound of Neptune's attack shrilled within their makeshift lab. By now, Ami and Mamoru had turned away from their work. Makoto looked expectant, cracking her knuckles. After a few tense moments, Neptune spoke up again. "We're having trouble holding these two off. One of them turned his skin into living steel, the other charges up exploding playing cards…"

"We're on our way," said Rei quickly. "We'll get these mutants off your back."

"NO! Don't come for US!" Neptune cried. "We'll keep these two occupied. Ami and Makoto need to get over here. Fight past whichever X-Man is moving in on Eclipse, and use their powers to knock her out! And then maybe… Oh no, here he comes again…"

And with that, the feed was cut off. Rei just stared at her communicator watch for a moment, then Makoto broke the silence. "Y'know, at first I thought it was nice that we kept seeing those two in situations where they got in over their heads. Now the allure's definitely wore off."

"So what do we do?" Ami asked anxiously.

"Exactly what Michiru said. For once, she's on the money," said Makoto. "It's go time, with or without your chemical weapon. You and I get over there, blast Eclipse into oblivion, then drag her somewhere where we can force answers out of her."

"That may not be enough," said Rei as she fiddled with her watch. "Minako, red alert. Eclipse showed where Michiru and Haruka were heading, but the X-Men are keeping them from her. They need backup, and five minutes ago."

"Got it!" said Minako, her face beaming back at Rei. "Me, Chibiusa and the cats are on our way."

"Now let's hope Usagi's not too smitten by these mutants to forget which team she's on," Rei grumbled as she adjusted with her communicator again. "Usagi, are you there?" Usagi's face didn't show up on her communicator, there was no response at all. "Damnit, Usagi, answer! Haruka and Michiru ran into two of the X-Men, and they're keeping them from Eclipse! Some metal man and a guy who throws exploding cards! Minako and Chibiusa are en route, but they may need even more help, and…"

"I hear you, Rei!" spat Usagi, her exasperated face blinking into existence. "Don't worry, I'll meet up with Minako and Chibiusa on the way there! No way we can let Haruka and Michiru handle Gambit and Colossus by themselves."

Usagi's face vanished, and Rei let out a sigh. It took a moment for something to click. Usagi knew the names of these two X-Men, just from hearing what their powers were. As amazing as it sounded, Usagi really had read up on them.

It was something Rei could dwell on later, though. "OK people, Usagi and the rest will probably get there ahead of us. We'd better get over there so we can fight past whoever's moving in on Eclipse."

"Not all of us, Rei," said Mamoru. "We need people standing watch over the chemicals, remember? The X-Men could be waiting for an opportunity like this. You and I should stay. It's Ami and Makoto who are needed."

"Mamoru, are you serious?" Rei spat incredulously.

Just then, Mamoru faltered, having to cling to the table. "Considering that I just sensed Usagi transforming and I'm not rushing to her side, very," he groaned.

"He's right, Rei," Ami chimed in. "If Makoto and I fail to subdue Eclipse, we'll need this weapon to fall back on. We can't risk losing it."

"Now that it's decided, can we go?" Makoto asked delicately. "I've been in the mood for a little action all day." Ami nodded stiffly to Makoto, and the two of them charged out of the laboratory.

Rei watched them go, feeling somewhat ashamed that part of her was glad that she herself wouldn't be part of this battle. That she wouldn't run the risk of confronting that telepath's power again. It once again made Rei envious of how Usagi had the courage to seek out this Charles Xavier, and made her consider the blond ditz could actually be right about something…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gai Izumi grumbled as he proceeded to mop up the floor, glowering at his fuzzy, watery reflection. Once he was a yakuza enforcer, albeit a low-level one. Now he was bouncing between his role as a double-agent going back to that position, and moonlighting as a janitor at his aunt's facility. In the middle of some outlandish operation that involved the Sailor Senshi, superpowered schoolgirls that incinerated bizarre monsters every other week, with mutant superheroes now thrown into the mix. And one of the latter had a reputation for carving up yakuza who happened to be in his way, at that.

He looked down at the stub where his pinky once was, grunting. Gai knew working with his aunt might put him in the crosshairs of both groups, but it didn't make it any less worrisome. You knew a hurricane was coming, yet it didn't make the prospect of riding it out any more bearable.

Still, Gai realized he had little choice. Erina had pulled his fat out of the fire more than once, and he owed her. No, more than that. He owed his aunt for seeing something in him, something honorable, when the rest of their family was ready to write him off as a dishonorable failure.

It was really only that sense of obligation to Erina that kept Gai at it. He cared little for her vendetta against the Sailor Senshi, though he did empathize with some aspects of her other goals. On top of that, Gai admitted there was a little thrill in scheming to upend so much. Gai could definitely empathize with how mutants were looked down upon, cast out for the stupidest reasons. Feeling that sort of pain wasn't exclusive to Homo superior. Well, once his aunt had her way, things wouldn't be the same in Japan again…

But in the meantime, Gai had to suffer the ignominy of doing janitorial work. Thankfully, it was later in the evening, and most of the employees had shuffled out. So there were few left to see the lowly new hire going about his work, leaving Gai to feel a little less self-conscious. Though it was less galling than Gai figured it would be, he also found it quite boring.

Unfortunately for Gai, the evening was about to get livelier, but not exactly in a good way. His watch began to beep. Erina said she had gotten the idea for a communicator watch from the Sailor Senshi themselves. Gai hoped that whatever his aunt was contacting him about, it didn't exactly have to do with those girls.

Gai anxiously glanced around. Satisfied that no one was in the vicinity to overhear, he hit a button on his watch, holding it up to his face. "Gai here, Aunt Erina. What's…"

"We've got an emergency, Gai," came Erina's panicked voice. "But fortunately, we've already got a contingency plan in place."

"You mean the Sailor Senshi and the X-Men?" Gai asked anxiously. "They're already at it?"

"Yes, and if either team forces its way past the other, everything could be ruined!" cried Erina. "On top of that, I've been monitoring their shrine, and Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter just left. I don't need to remind you why THOSE two Senshi are such a danger." Gai gulped, knowing full well why their powers could bring all their plans crashing down. "Thankfully, there's no sign of Storm or Iceman, so fortune is still with us."

"How so?" asked Gai. "What do you need ME to do?"

"What we discussed!" Erina hissed impatiently. "Not only is this the perfect opportunity for a test run, you're in a position to keep those two Senshi away, and thus both teams at loggerheads."

"Fine, I'm on it," said Gai. "You just stay safe."

"Easy for you to say, given your task," said his aunt tersely. "Erina out."

Gai grimaced at his watch a moment longer, then glanced around again. The hall was still devoid of any employees shuffling through. Confident that was coast was clear, Gai left behind the mop bucket and ran back to the janitor's closet. Gai wondered just when Erina had all these hidden little additions installed in her facility, like a ladder down into her 'private' office that revealed itself when he flipped a switch on his watch, making the mop basin slide away.

After hitting some more buttons on his watch to disable Erina's security countermeasures, Gai climbed down, darkness surrounding him for several moments, until some faint light shone up. It wasn't much, of course. Thanks to her sensitive eyes, Erina liked her secret office to be as dark as possible. It was just enough to let Gai know he was approaching his goal.

He dropped down and walked over to Erina's desk. As he approached, however, Gai noticed a couple odd things on a shelf beside her monitors. Some jar that seemed to have part of a plant, but it was still alive, writhing within the glass. Not only that, it crackled with some intense, green energy, but couldn't break out. There was another such jar right next to it, which at first seemed to be empty. But then Gai swore he saw tiny little… things whirring about inside like a tiny cyclone, also crackling with energy.

Whatever that stuff was, it only served to creep Gai out, and the weird stuff his aunt collected was no concern of his anyway. So he turned away and seated himself behind his aunt's desk.

Erina must have remotely sent commands for her computers here to fire up and show Gai his quarry. She had discreetly set up cameras all over Tokyo at sensitive positions, to better monitor the Sailor Senshi.

At the moment, one of the screens showed Gai a feed from the vantage point of a water tower, on a structure not too far from the Hikawa Shrine. Indeed, there were Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter, running across the rooftop, ready to jump to the next one.

"Good. I already know where you two are. It'll make the next part a tad less… messy," Gai thought aloud as he sat down and punched some keys. After logging in with the special passwords and server Erina had provided, he reached under the desk and out slid a special control interface.

It was adapted from experimental technology used to control unmanned combat drones over vast distances. However, what Gai was about to take control of was far more sophisticated, though that did unnerve him. Just because he had yakuza ties didn't mean he was anxious to use something like this.

But there was no choice. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter had to be kept at bay, and furthermore, Erina was right about a test run being in order. So Gai punched in a few more commands, and a confirmation message flashed on another screen:

AUTHORIZATION ACCEPTED. LAUNCHING SENTINEL UNIT 135.