Sailor Moon X: Lunar Eclipse
a Sailor Moon/X-Men crossover
Chapter 32: To Stand United
7-24-2018
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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The plume of dirt and debris had faded, revealing Erina Kizachi's Mastermold in all its terrible glory. It stared down at the Sailor Senshi and X-Men, as did its creator from her cockpit. Considering how tough the Sentinels this thing popped out were, Sailor Moon didn't want to think of the horrors their 'mother' could unleash.
Normally, Sailor Moon's first instinct would be to panic. Thanks to Cable's telepathic linkup, however, those fears were now easier to control. Their fears, their worries, it was all easier to deal with when shared, lending strength to each other. Instead, Sailor Moon could focus on bringing this abomination down.
"OK, now that I've delivered the usual bravado, just HOW do we punish her!?" Sailor Moon sent out through the link. "Maybe if you X-Men distract her along with the Outer Senshi, the rest of us can power up the Sailor Planet Attack and..."
"That's a negative, Sailor Moon," was Cable's swift reply. "Not only might that armor be too resilient for even that, but Kizachi'll be expecting it. We must assume she'll have countermeasures. Same goes for the Ginzuishou, and we won't risk a tactic that drains your life force just yet."
"Cable is right, Usagi. As willing as Kizachi seems to die in battle here, she is clearly in it to win it. We must whittle down Kizachi's defenses before employing such risky moves," Storm added.
"I'm running scans on Mastermold now! Hopefully between Cable and I, we'll find weak spots!" came Mercury's thoughts through the link. She didn't sound as comfortable about using the link as Sailor Moon did. Sailor Moon could even sense some lingering reluctance from the other Inner Senshi, not just Uranus and Neptune.
Despite that, the information from Mercury's visor came through. Sailor Moon saw the overhead display through Mercury's eyes. She always suspected what came up on it would be unintelligible gobbledygook to her. Yet she could process it all in an instant. Mercury's expertise, along with Beast, Shadowcat and Cable's, was lent to all of them. "And here I thought getting a telepathic language crash course was a big deal."
"I knew you were itching to ask Xavier for that, you meathead," came Mars's snippy interjection.
Sailor Moon's face fell. This linkup had disadvantages, too. "Save it, Rei! Looks like hitting the more lightly-armored joints won't hurt the big bad momma as much as it does the little Sentinels."
"Still, it's our best option to buy time to piece together a better plan, and let Mercury's computer crunch the data," Wolverine cut in.
"Agreed, Logan," said Storm. "Besides, we're out of time. Kizachi is making her move!"
Sailor Moon looked up to the cockpit to see Kizachi punch something into her console. Immediately, that turbine roared to life.
Storm and Cable sent out commands to scatter, but Sailor Moon didn't need any urging. A column of plasma shot down, drilling into the ground as it cast a glow throughout the forest. The X-Men and Sailor Senshi swiftly scattered as it swept the forest floor, threatening to start an out-of-control blaze.
Sailor Moon wailed as she leaped out of the way. She thought she was in the clear, but the others' thoughts warned her in time. Sailor Moon looked up, jumping backward as Mastermold's left arm extended, its fist shooting down fast, making the forest quake when it hit.
The turbine revved up for another blast. Raising her left hand, she willed the Ginzuishou to let her Iron Man part siphon power. She fired repulsor blasts into the open turbine as she leapt back further. The others joined in. From a vantage point in the trees, Beast fired grenades from Cable's weapon into it. They struck along with shots from Deep Submerge, Pink Sugar Heart Attack and Venus Love-and-Beauty Shock.
Finally, Mastermold was driven back a little when Cable uprooted a tree with his telekinesis. He thrust it into the turbine like a javelin. The turbine sputtered a little, powering down and closing.
"Minor damage to the turbine unit, but scans reveal self-repair systems are already kicking in!" came Mercury's panicked thoughts. "I'm not sure how much time we just bought!"
"Then let's not waste whatever reprieve we've earned," Storm replied. Sailor Moon could sense her willing the elements to do her bidding. It was so unlike the power the Sailor Senshi wielded, but there was no disputing the results. She kicked up a tornado to drive Mastermold back. "As expected, Kizachi planned for this. Mastermold's feet can help anchor it to the ground, and it is far too massive. We're going with the plan of hitting Mastermold from all sides, targeting areas with lighter armor. Everyone, use the time I'm buying to scatter and surround Mastermold. Senshi, take a cue from Hank, get to the trees for clearer shots! Sailor Mercury, Shadowcat, any luck with breaking into Mastermold's systems in the meantime?"
"Afraid not, Ororo. Kizachi must've planned for me trying that, too," said Shadowcat. "She must've come up with a slightly different programming language for Mastermold. What Umino showed us won't do us any good, at least not right away. Ami and I would need a little time, and that bitch won't be giving us any."
As if to emphasize that point, Mastermold forced its way past Storm's tornado. Then, swiveling miniguns emerged from the sides of its thighs and above its shoulders. Kizachi cut loose with them, along with a blaster mounted in Mastermold's left palm.
But Storm had succeeded in buying them enough time. Furthermore, Luna and Artemis put their links to the rapport to good use. Though they could only watch as fire from those miniguns rained down on their friends, it gave the X-Men and SAiloe Senshi enough advance warning to stay one step ahead.
Sailor Senshi dashed through the trees, staying ahead of the rain on gunfire. "Mars Flame Sniper!" Mars cried. Her blazing arrow smashed into Mastermold's left wrist. Some sparks flew from it, and the glow from that palm-mounted blaster flickered.
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!" Jupiter roared. She leaped from branch to branch on Mastermold's right flank, her attack striking the minigun on its thigh. Electricity crackled over it, and for a moment, it stopped firing. Even when it resumed fire, it didn't seem to target them as effectively as before.
Hope, however slight it was, rose in Sailor Moon's heart as they kept up the hit and run attacks. She would pause on a branch, just long enough to fire off repulsor blasts before Mastermold's targeting systems could lock on. There were so many of them, launching attacks at Mastermold from all directions, Kizachi's task was made much more difficult, if not impossible.
Still, Mastermold advanced. It smashed through trees left and right, whittling down the places the Sailor Senshi could jump to. None of this slowed the fury of their onslaught.
By now, Storm was able to formulate a full-fledged cyclone again. Driving winds buffeted Mastermold as lightning rained down upon it, striking the shoulder-mounted miniguns. As before, it only stopped them for a moment before they resumed fire.
Meanwhile, Cable kicked up dirt from the forest floor, which was swept up in Storm's winds. Sailor Moon understood what Cable was getting at, thanks to his link. He hoped the winds would drive that dirt into the miniguns' moving parts, jam them up.
It soon became apparent that those miniguns were constructed with that in mind. Sailor Moon could sense Cable's frustration as they kept firing at the Sailor Senshi, as bullets ricocheted off his telekinetic shield.
"Munroe, Summers... Nice try!" Kizachi's amplified voice bellowed. "But I planned for that eventuality! Thanks to Lehnsherr, I have all the intel I needed on the X-Men as well as the Sailor Senshi!"
"Good thing I had a backup plan in case the ploy with the dirt failed," Cable said through the link.
Storm's winds and the dirt they kicked up, along with the constant barrage from the Sailor Senshi, provided cover so the others could jump on. Tuxedo Kamen and Beast landed on Mastermold's right shoulder. Tuxedo Kamen jammed his cane deep into the minigun apparatus. Given how it was unbreakable, Beast could use it to try prying it apart.
Uranus landed on its other shoulder, unleashing World Shaking at point-blank range at that minigun. Wolverine, meanwhile, went right for the source of their problems. He used his claws to work his way over to the bubble shielding Kizachi's cockpit.
"There's a certain celestial body my claws need to dish out pain in the name of, didn't ya hear?" Wolverine snarled as he tried to slice his way inside. Though his adamantium claws could penetrate that weird glass, it was still too tough and dense for him to cut too deeply.
Through the link, Sailor Moon caught glimpses of Kizachi gazing up at Wolverine with an amused look. That grin of hers made Sailor Moon shiver. "Wolverine, get off! She's up to something!"
Her warning came too late. Scalding steam sprayed out around the cockpit. Wolverine would recover from that in seconds, but it still caused him a great deal of pain, pain that Sailor Moon could feel.
Not only that, Kizachi triggered a power surge around the shoulder-mounted miniguns, electrocuting Beast, Tuxedo Kamen and Uranus. Then, Sailor Moon could only watch as Mastermold's torso spun around with enough force to fling all four off.
Beast and Uranus were flung forward, but Cable caught them with his telekinesis. Sailor Moon couldn't see where Tuxedo Kamen went, but through the link, knew Jupiter caught him. Wolverine smashed through quite a few branches and landed hard. In fact, through the link, he told the Sailor Senshi not to bother with him. He would recover swiftly enough. They all had to press the attack.
And that's exactly what they did. The Sailor Senshi kept dashing from tree to tree, using their attacks to whittle away at the weaker armor around Mastermold's joints and carve away its exposed weapons.
With the cyclone raging overhead, Storm had an easy way to join in. Sailor Moon saw that the minigun Tuxedo Kamen and Beast had attacked looked slightly out of place, sparking. Another lightning bolt struck it, and now it sparked even more, possibly put out of commission. Soon after that, tendrils from Mercury Aqua Rhapsody smashed into the one on Mastermold's right thigh, just as Sailor Moon's tiara sliced into its base. That one began to smoke and spark as well.
"You're luckier than you know, Sailor Senshi," Kizachi's voice boomed. "My tactical computers were just about to compensate for your hit-and-run tactics. But since you've temporarily deprived me of my right side's miniguns, it's only fitting I deprive you of something."
Sailor Moon didn't like the sound of that. She liked the sound of Mastermold's right arm shifting and transforming even less. But instead of a really big minigun, it turned into a huge, bladed disk. It began to spin with dizzying speed, like a sawblade. Mastermold reared back, then flung its right arm forward.
That huge spinning blade suddenly detached, flung forward to swing around like a whip, as if attached to some huge cord. It sliced through all the trees a good fifty meters or so in front of Mastermold. It swung that blade again, taking out trees at its right, robbing the Sailor Senshi of cover, and a means to strike quickly and retreat.
Parts of butchered trees flew everywhere, and Sailor Moon was flung to the ground. She skidded a good distance, spitting out dirt and leaves when she finally stopped. She stood up on wobbly legs. Sailor Moon could sense a lot of pain and annoyance through the link, and was grateful for that. She had been more afraid of something... just stopping, not sensing someone.
The next thing Sailor Moon sensed was panic. Turning around, Sailor Moon saw why. That huge spinning blade was coming for her, fast.
"Waaaaaah!" Sailor Moon shrieked, frozen to the spot.
But suddenly, the blade stopped, hovering a few meters or so in front of her. She blinked in surprise, but thanks the link, Sailor Moon understood what happened. She could sense Cable overexerting himself, using his telekinesis to hold Mastermold's weapon in place.
"Everyone, now's your chance!" he implored through the link. "This thing won't stay put forever!"
The others got the hint. A lightning bolt lashed down from the cyclone, striking the massive cable. Once it faded, Wolverine leaped off the mangled remains of a tree just tall enough. He hacked away at the spot Storm had targeted, staying as long as he could before the miniguns still functional targeted him and fired.
Still, he had cut through a good deal. The Sailor Senshi could easily finish the job. Sailor Moon's hand went for her tiara as Submarine Reflection and Crescent Beam struck that spot next.
"Moon Tiara Action!" she shrieked, letting the blazing disk fly. Her tiara was the last thing needed to sever the cable, depriving Mastermold of a potent weapon, along with a good chunk of its right arm.
Sailor Moon's heart swelled as Cable let that hunk of junk fall uselessly to the forest floor. Lightning rained down on it as Mercury and Neptune cut loose with watery attacks, aiming to short it out in case Mastermold could reattach it. Their plan was working! If they kept at it, they could carve Mastermold apart!
Then Luna called out through the link with some more encouragement. "Everyone, divert Mastermold about a hundred meters northeast, toward the road that cuts through this forest!" the cat implored. "Something's come along that can put a big dent in Kizachi's overgrown toy!"
Sailor Moon blinked in surprise. "What's going on, Luna?"
"Just hurry it up, Sailor Moon!" Luna hissed. "Kizachi won't be in a good mood now..."
As if to prove Luna's point, Kizachi suddenly shrilled, "This round goes to you, Tsukino! But do try to go the distance..."
"It goes to all of us, Kizachi!" Sailor Moon shouted back as she took to a tree still standing. The others were encouraging her to taunt Kizachi, to keep her from guessing they were luring her somewhere. As she fired repulsor blasts at targets Mercury's visor provided, Sailor Moon went on. "I've got a whole team behind me, a whole army! All you've got are these piles of junk!"
The Sailor Senshi kept heading northeast through the forest, goading Mastermold into following. Its left hand had to smash away the trees in its path, so it couldn't use that blaster on its hand much. It still had the miniguns on its left side, though, and the one on its right thigh looked like it was close to working again. And who knew when its turbine could be turned on them once more?
Sailor Moon's earlier confidence started to ebb as she felt some bullets whiz past her cheek. She just hoped whatever Luna had in store would turn the tide.
Just as Sailor Moon could see the road, Mastermold had caught up. With a sweeping kick, it took out the tree Sailor Moon was perched in before she could jump away. With a wail, Sailor Moon hit the ground hard. She quickly sprang back up, kaleidoscope and armored forearm at the ready.
However, she wasn't prepared for Kizachi's next surprise. Those trap doors on either side of its belly snapped open. Out came masses of writhing, mechanical tendrils.
"Oh gross, tentacles!?" Sailor Moon spat in disbelief.
"Well, it wouldn't be a new breed of Sentinels if one of 'em didn't have tentacles coming out of every orifice," came Shadowcat's dry retort. "Makoto, let's see what YOUR fastball special can do! Hurry!"
Sailor Moon caught a flash of irritation from Jupiter. Yet at the same time, she could sense the grudging respect those two had for one another.
Shadowcat sailed through the mass of grasping tentacles zeroing in on Sailor Moon. No doubt Kizachi's cockpit and Mastermold's vital systems had safeguards against her phasing, but it looked like these tentacles were vulnerable. They writhed and sputtered, but more shot toward Sailor Moon.
Roses and pink hearts smashed into the ends of others, and Sailor Moon fired repulsor blasts to force back more, but there were just too many.
"Waaaah! No no no!" Sailor Moon wailed as the claws on one grabbed her by the ankle, hoisting her up.
"Everyone, hold your fire!" came Luna's anguished plea. "This little trump card can help get Usagi out of this. I hope."
Sailor Moon didn't exactly share Luna's confidence. As she was brought up in front of Mastermold's cockpit, another tentacle gripped her armored left forearm. She screamed again as the tentacle's claws squeezed. Sparks flew as her gauntlet was crushed, nearly crushing her arm with it.
Eyes full of tears, Sailor Moon looked into the cockpit. Kizachi fixed her with what Sailor Moon supposed was a cold look. Her lips were pressed together. Despite having her in her clutches, Kizachi didn't look like she thought she was winning, or remotely pleased.
"You're making this too easy, Tsukino!" Kizachi bellowed. "Don't tell me I've constructed my Sentinels TOO well! Isn't the mighty Sailor Moon supposed to put up more of a fight than this!? Don't fail me all over again, Tsukino! Don't tell me..."
Kizachi was cut off by a blaring truck horn. In the distance, an engine roared, and was getting closer. Both Sailor Moon and Kizachi turned to look down at the nearby road.
A tanker truck was barreling down it at full speed. Sailor Moon couldn't make out who was in the driver's seat. As she squinted, the inside of the truck suddenly turned a soul-sucking black.
An instant later, Naru appeared, standing atop one of the tentacles. She jumped down and grabbed onto Sailor Moon as her oil slick flowed. Tendrils of ooze ensnared both Mastermold's torso and the tanker truck still speeding towards it. The truck was pulled off the road, its forward momentum making it rocket toward Mastermold.
Naru slurped up her slick and teleported away with Sailor Moon. Once again, that oppressive cold from without and explosive heat from within overwhelmed her. She was dimly aware of rolling along the forest floor as Naru clung to her.
Then there was a deafening boom, followed by a rush of heat. Sailor Moon looked up as they stopped. A huge fireball had engulfed Mastermold as it staggered back, while ignited fuel sprayed everywhere, spreading a blaze.
"She did it!" said Artemis through the link. "Mastermold was stunned, forced back! We bought ourselves some time!"
"And we've got something else to show for it," Shadowcat added. "Mastermold's vital systems are too well-protected, but with Mercury's computer, I've been able to break into some minor stuff. Like, say, the defensive mechanisms against those who climb onto that sucker."
Sailor Moon was only half-listening to the others. Naru rose to her feet the same time she did. Sailor Moon looked at her with worry, but Naru's gaze was fixed on Mastermold. "How many more times do I have to rescue you before we're truly even? Did you ever keep count?" she asked dryly.
"I... I... Naru, I-I-I-I..." Sailor Moon blubbered, not sure what to think. She had thought Naru was lost forever, yet here she was, when they needed help most.
Turning to her, Naru looked down at the ruined gauntlet. Sighing, Naru reached down for it. Gritting her teeth, she managed to rip it off Sailor Moon's arm.
"There, that should help," Naru said sternly. "And don't get any ideas. I'm just here to make sure Kizachi gets what's coming to her, that's all."
Sailor Moon knew that shouldn't have surprised her, but it stabbed at her heart all the same. "Everyone, what do we do now? Naru can't be included in the link..."
"And there's no keeping her away, either," Cable noted. "She'll be a wild card in this battle, but one we can possibly play in our favor." Sailor Moon caught Cable's dissatisfaction with a rogue element in the battlefield, but also his understanding you could never account for everything.
Mastermold was already recovering from the tanker truck exploding in its face, ready for another round. But looking back to Naru, Sailor Moon wondered if her friend was ready for this. Would she accept help from them at last, or go off alone?
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Kizachi wasted no time once Mastermold's systems stabilized. Its turbine was in working order, along with three of its miniguns and those damned tentacles. And given how Mastermold kept its distance from their remaining tree cover, it would be a difficult battle going forward. Storm had to summon another tornado to buy more time. Hopefully, Shadowcat could disable more systems on that walking death machine.
"Any second now, it'll force its way out of that tornado!" Naru snarled. "What good is it doing us!?"
Uranus glared at the girl. After everything Naru had done, she had the nerve to butt in like this? But despite all the hate in her heart, she did rescue their princess, and grant them all a reprieve with her tanker truck move. Still, Uranus hoped Storm and Cable's hopes weren't misplaced, letting the girl fight alongside them.
"Buyin' us a little more time to cook up another plan, kiddo," said Wolverine. "Kitty's broken into some minor systems, disabling a few defensive measures. So listen closely, Naru. Remember when Hank served me and Kitty up a 'fastball special'?"
Finally, Mastermold emerged from the tornado. Knowing of Wolverine's plans, Storm willed it to dissipate, giving Naru a clear shot. She grabbed onto the back of Wolverine's uniform, spun around, and hurled him at Mastermold's left shoulder. Uranus could tell Naru had flung him with a little too much force, but his claws dug into that polymer plating, halting his momentum.
Sighing, Uranus turned to Naru and shrugged. "Well, I'll have what he's having..."
Naru fixed her with an odd look. Was that guilt in her eyes? Annoyance with being ordered about? To Uranus, it seemed like Naru didn't even know what SHE felt these days.
Whatever it was, Naru still served up another 'fastball special'. With one set of claws dug deep into Mastermold's armor, Wolverine caught Uranus with his free hand and pulled her down. Then they got to work. Wolverine tore into the minigun, even as it fired down at their friends. Once Wolverine carved open an opening, Uranus sank her Space Sword into it as it powered up.
"This time, I try something even more... DIRECT!" she shouted. "Space Sword Blaster!" Between that and Wolverine continuously ripping into it, the whole thing smoked and sparked. It was finally out of commission, hopefully for good.
Meanwhile, through the link, Uranus saw that several Sailor Senshi had launched attacks at the minigun on Mastermold's right thigh, in conjunction with lightning bolts from Storm. Storm was also sending down lightning bolts to keep those damned tentacles from reaching her and Wolverine. Tuxedo Kamen's roses, Beast's gunfire and Chibi-Moon's pink hearts fended off the ones Storm missed.
Uranus wasn't sure how she felt about this whole psychic rapport thing. In the end, it didn't matter. Her princess's orders were clear. She didn't mind being so intimately connected to Neptune, but having the others inside her head was a bit unsettling.
Still, there was no denying how useful it was. It had given the X-Men an advantage in their fight at the shipyard. Now it gave the Sailor Senshi an edge against Mastermold.
"Nice, Uranus," said Wolverine. "Now, let's get over to the other one." Just then, Mastermold lurched. Thanks to Shadowcat, it could no longer spin to throw them off. Wolverine could use his claws to get over there, but it would be a challenge for Uranus to keep her footing. Assuming a tentacle didn't grab her.
That would be taken care of soon, however. She heard Naru shriek with fury from down below. Risking a glance down Mastermold's shoulder, Uranus saw Naru jump up through those writhing tentacles.
She snared a good number with her own tendrils as she landed in front of Kizachi's cockpit. "Forget Sailor Moon, Kizachi!" Naru snarled, hammering away at the spot Wolverine had tried to claw through. "You'll be answering to ME!"
"Naru, you stupid... Get off! It's too strong to punch through!" Uranus shouted.
Unsurprisingly, Naru didn't listen and kept pounding away, howling with rage. Some cracks actually spread from where she was punching. Still, it was only a matter of time before one of the tentacles snagged Naru.
"Naru!" Uranus cried, readying her Space Sword for a shot. But that tentacle was moving so erratically, she was afraid she'd hit Naru instead. As much as that girl still needed some sense knocked into her, Sailor Moon wouldn't look kindly upon friendly fire.
It didn't look like she had a choice, though. Electricity flowed through the tentacle. Naru writhed and screamed, unable to teleport away.
"Lehnsherr and I had such high hopes for you, Osaka!" Kizachi sneered. "You were supposed to lead the mutants of Japan into a better future, one my daughter will never get to see!"
Thankfully, Sailor Moon herself was on it. Thanks to the link, Uranus knew she was right in front of Mastermold, its remaining miniguns firing at other targets. Still, she was stupidly putting herself in a vulnerable position. Considering this was Sailor Moon, who refused to give up on a friend, it came as no shock. "Naru, no! Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"
Her attack encompassed a good number of the tentacles, not to mention the armor plating around the left side of Mastermold's torso. At the very least, this shorted out the electrical flow from the tentacle grasping Naru.
As she blasted away with her black lightning, Naru used her strength to wrench herself free. She jumped down to Sailor Moon, just as Mastermold retracted those tentacles and powered up its turbine. A split second before it would have incinerated the both of them, Naru pulled Sailor Moon to her with an oily tendril. Uranus watched them vanish in an explosion of blackness, right before plasma rained down.
"That's another one," said Uranus. "Keep it up, and we might actually forgive you, Naru."
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Freezing fire and burning cold assaulted every nerve. Sailor Moon didn't object when Naru helped her to stand on wobbly legs. Looking around, she guessed Naru had teleported them a safe distance from Mastermold. Still, they were close enough to the warzone to see the glow from the raging fires.
"Guess I still need practice with teleporting other people," Naru grumbled impatiently. Even without the benefit of linking with her mind, there was no mistaking her eagerness to tackle Mastermold again.
"Naru, you've got to take it easy," Sailor Moon pleaded. "No one blames you for wanting to bring Kizachi's death machine down, but Mastermold is too big and too tough to tackle head-on like you're thinking."
Naru glanced over to her quizzically. "Really? Then don't you think it's time to bring out the big guns yourself?"
Sailor Moon knew what she meant, but remembered Cable's reluctance to go ahead with it. As she wondered if Naru could be right, Sailor Moon heard the others through the rapport.
"Wolverine and I took out the other shoulder's minigun before those damn tentacles finally knocked us off," came Uranus's voice. "Anyone know just how much damage we've done to this thing altogether?"
Sailor Moon sensed the dread and disappointment from Mercury a moment before she spoke. "Some weapons and Mastermold's right arm put out of commission, but structural integrity is holding at 80 percent. In the meantime, Kizachi is wearing us down swiftly, while eliminating a good deal of our cover and ability to stay mobile."
"Agreed. If we keep up this battle of attrition, Kizachi will probably win," said Cable. "I'm still afraid that Kizachi is waiting for the Sailor Planet Attack or Ginzuishou, but we're running out of options. And time."
"I share your concerns, Nathan," said Storm. "Inner Senshi, are you ready to try the Sailor Planet Attack if the Outers, Nathan and I provide cover to withdraw?"
"Just give the word, Storm!" Mars replied. She exuded way more confidence than Sailor Moon felt at the moment. "It's time for Kizachi to learn why you don't mess with..."
"NO!" came Shadowcat's shout suddenly. "First off, that must be what Kizachi wants, but not quite for the reasons Cable thinks. Her behavior as of late... Kizachi EXPECTS the Sailor Senshi to win and blow Mastermold away, and her along with it!"
"Shadowcat is right. Even by winning, we'll be playing into her hands yet again!" Mercury replied.
"What's more, I've crunched some of the data Mercury's visor has fed into her computer," Shadowcat went on. "There's something interesting about what Sailor Moon and Naru just did..."
Sailor Moon was about to ask what Shadowcat meant, but it was getting hard to hear through the link. Mastermold was stomping closer. The din from its spewed plasma and one functional minigun was deafening. Worse, Naru took that as her cue to run and face it again.
Sighing, Sailor Moon dashed after her. By the time she caught up, Naru was already busy with the minigun on Mastemold's left thigh. She tried to gum it up with ooze while blasting it with black lightning. It didn't seem to be accomplishing much. It swiveled around to fire at her. She leaped back, but tentacles slithered down to grasp her.
Sailor Moon tossed her tiara to take out some of them. Meanwhile, Beast was close by, and used Cable's rifle to strike down more. He was flanked by Jupiter, who was using Supreme Thunder Dragon, its jaws clamped down on where Mastermold's right arm had been severed.
"Ms. Osaka, I would humbly suggest you make a dignified, strategic withdrawal," Beast implored over the din.
"But we'll still need her, Hank!" Shadowcat shouted through the link. "Just get her to fall back so we can explain to her..."
Shadowcat was cut off as pain rippled through the link. Mastermold had fired a stun blast down at Jupiter and Beast. Powerful as it was, it couldn't knock either of them unconscious. However, it did give Mastermold a chance to move in. Sailor Moon could only watch in horror as it lifted a foot to bring crashing down onto them, and she was too far away.
Luckily, distance wasn't an issue for Naru. She lassoed the both of them with a tendril, pulled them to her just before Mastermold could flatten them, then threw them into some trees Kizachi had yet to bring down. Then she pulled Sailor Moon to her with another tendril and jumped after them. Despite her insistence that she was only here for revenge, Naru seemed intent on watching all their backs.
As they sailed into the trees, Sailor Moon looked back to see Mastermold opening its turbine to spew plasma. Submarine Reflection, Venus Love-and-Beauty Shock, along with lightning bolts and gale-force winds from Storm, kept it at bay, at least for a moment. Maybe that would buy time to clue Naru in on whatever plan Shadowcat was cooking up.
"My deepest gratitude for a most spectacular last-minute save, Ms. Osaka," said Beast once the pair reached him and Jupiter. "However, I fear we X-Men must trouble you again, as only you can execute a stratagem Kizachi will never see coming."
"Just what is she supposed to throw at it that she hasn't already?" Sailor Moon asked, confused.
"Mercury's visor picked up something odd when Naru's dark power struck areas enveloped with your Moon Gorgeous Meditation attack," Shadowcat explained. "I crunched the data with her computer, and it looks as if Mastermold's polymer was somehow weakened."
"I think I understand what's transpired, Kitty," Beast replied through the link. Out loud, he turned to Naru and said. "Iron Man once told me of when an older build of his armor was subjected to blasts of extreme heat and cold at the same time, and couldn't compensate. I believe something similar just happened when both your attacks and Sailor Moon's overlapped. Sailor Mercury's scans showed those spots on its armor were momentarily in flux."
"Why would that happen? I don't get it," Naru asked, her dubiousness palpable.
"I think I do. Darkness and light, merging together," said Jupiter. "Two opposite extremes. No way Kizachi could ever build armor expecting that."
"So since Kizachi is no doubt expecting something like the Sailor Planet Attack, we can surprise her instead," said Beast. "Ms. Osaka, can you trust in your old friend just once more?"
Naru looked to Sailor Moon, a strange look in her eyes. Was there actually regret mixed in with her thirst for revenge? Before Sailor Moon could plead with her, they heard Mastermold charging toward them.
"Storm and the Outer Senshi have knocked out that turbine again, but we can't stop this thing from advancing!" came Venus's panicky thoughts. "Someone get Naru to see sense so we can put a real chink in its armor!"
"Sailor Jupiter and I will buy you two a little more time," said Beast. He readied Cable's rifle and jumped back through the trees.
As Jupiter ran after him, she called back to Naru. "Please Naru, remember what I told you about another opportunity? The door isn't shut yet..."
Naru watched her run off, then looked back to Sailor Moon and finally said, "So how are we supposed to do this?"
Sailor Moon shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we just blast Mastermold at the same time and hope for the best."
Naru still looked doubtful, still thinking about something. But her thoughts were interrupted when they heard a cry from Beast. Mastermold was crashing through the trees, and had flung Beast away with a tentacle. Naru and Sailor Moon watched Beast sail deeper into the forest, only to turn back when Jupiter cried out. She had tried jumping back into the trees for cover, but fire from Mastermold's last minigun struck her down. Jupiter tumbled back down to the ground, barely moving.
She would probably recover, but for the moment, Jupiter was vulnerable. Sailor Moon looked back up at Mastermold in fear. Only a few trees still stood between them. Assuming Kizachi had no further interest in Jupiter, she would send those tentacles down at her.
Sailor Moon snapped out of it when Naru placed her hands on her shoulders. "Usagi, maybe there's a better way. That attack of yours, Moon Gorgeous Meditation... Didn't Chibiusa have to summon a pegasus to juice it up?"
"Yeah, but Helios is kind of out of contact now. Why?" Sailor Moon asked.
"It sounds like anyone can lend you strength for this attack," said Naru. "If what McCoy said is true, about that armor not being able to handle both extremes... If we attack it this way..."
At first, Sailor Moon shuddered at the thought. The power of the Dark Kingdom, flowing into her? The last time Sailor Moon tried to blow away something this big, it was with the intent of wiping that out for good.
I just wanted Naru to trust me again, Sailor Moon told herself. I guess that would mean I'll have to show some trust in return, open myself up, be vulnerable too...
Sailor Moon produced her kaleidoscope and knelt down just as Mastermold swept aside the last few trees between them. One of Naru's hands was still on her shoulder, while the other hand was placed over Sailor Moon's. She could already feel Naru willing dark power to flow. It was even more pervasive than whenever Naru teleported with her, as if fire and ice seeped into the very marrow of her bones. Despite the pain, she could feel that sickly, dark power adding to her own strength, merging with it...
She took a deep breath, fixing Mastermold's cockpit with a steely glare, all fear banished. She pulled the kaleidoscope back, and when Sailor Moon spoke the words, Naru echoed them.
"Moon... Gorgeous..." The tentacles were coming for them. It had to be now. "MEDITATION!" they both roared in unison. Sailor Moon thrust the kaleidoscope upward, and let loose.
The attack was noticeably different from when Pegasus powered it up. Normally, it was one big, blinding blast, seemingly making reality itself fracture around her target. Now, it went from that blinding radiance to a ravenous darkness, then back in the blink of an eye. It struck Mastermold's left shoulder, spreading over its armor like a liquid. A glowing, sparkling ooze that switched to an inky, soul-smothering black and back. Sometimes, it looked like both at once. Black electricity crackled all over Mastermold along with sparkling bursts of pure power.
Sailor Moon wasn't quite sure what was going on, but it stopped Mastermold in its tracks. "What's this!? My systems can't compensate for..." Kizachi began.
And then, it happened. Much like against the Lemures, reality itself crackled and shattered. In this case, the area where mingling darkness and light spread out seeped down deep into the polymer armor. It fixed itself and crackled like glaze on pottery, then violently burst apart.
Kizachi screamed as Mastermold staggered back, falling to one knee. Smoke and sparks spewed from its left shoulder. No, more like the entire left side of Mastermold's torso. Storm summoned another tornado to hold Mastermold in place for a moment. Before that funnel swallowed it up, enough smoke blew away for Sailor Moon to see most of the armor their combination attack had covered was completely blown off! Mastermold was now vulnerable!
"Naru, we did it!" Sailor Moon beamed. She took Naru's hands in hers and hopped in joy. "With part of that armor blown off, we can keep hitting it until it drops!" Naru didn't even look her in the eye. She just stared at the tornado with a blank look, just waiting for Mastermold to emerge again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sailor Moon and Eclipse had the sense to use Storm's cover to get clear as they regrouped for their next push. It wasn't long before Mastermold broke free of that tornado. Though that monster was still on its feet, that gaping hole would soon prove its undoing.
Sailor Neptune watched as Storm swooped down, lightning bolts flying from her fingertips. Summoning it from the sky wasn't enough. No, now that a weak spot had been created, Storm wanted this to be more personal. Through the link, Neptune could sense how sick and tired Storm was of fighting these things, and her exasperation bubbled over in the form of chain lightning.
Neptune didn't blame her. Rather, she raised her mirror. "Submarine Reflection!" she roared, and her watery blast struck Mastermold's inner workings. That one minigun on its left thigh swiveled to fire at her, but a telekinetic shield from Cable let Neptune keep firing. Her joint attack with Storm was sure to short out more systems. Mars, Venus and Uranus piled on with their own attacks. Sooner or later, their combined wrath would bring this abomination down.
Or so Neptune hoped. But she sensed brewing trouble even before Mercury suddenly spoke up. "Everyone, I've done another series of scans," Mercury said through the link. "Good news and bad news."
"Better than the fact we can pile onto this sucker big-time now?" Wolverine replied.
"Very much so," said Shadowcat. "It looks like there'll be no need to dig under the rubble of Nephrite's old place... All the systems controlling and guiding those Sentinels in the city are housed in Mastermold!"
"That simplifies matters," said Uranus. "What's the bad news?"
There was a pause that spoke volumes. "Kizachi's recalled all the Sentinels. The ones Sailor Moon's friends haven't trashed are on their way back," said Shadowcat.
Neptune stiffened. Those Sentinels would box them in, and Kizachi would pick them off as they tried to fend them off.
Tentacles lashed out, too many for Cable to keep back with telekinesis. Neptune had to leap away, just as Naru ran past her. The girl grabbed a large rock jutting out of the ground and pulled it out. With a shriek, she hurled it at Mastermold's weak spot, hoping it would run it through.
Mastermold staggered back again, but the rock hadn't penetrated far enough. Kizachi retaliated immediately. Neptune heard something open up on Mastermold's back. Missiles shot upwards, then their trajectory veered down. One came right for Neptune and Naru.
Naru pulled Neptune to her with a tendril and jumped away. She detonated it with a blast of dark energy when it was only a few meters away. The explosion shook them both, and they rolled a good distance, clinging to each other.
Neptune gagged, choking on smoke and some dirt. Mastermold was turning this forest into a barren, burning wasteland, and if they didn't end this soon, this would be a graveyard for them all. When she opened her eyes, she saw Naru standing over her. Naru stared at her strangely. Was that remorse in her eyes? Was saving her a way to balance the scales after everything she had done?
If so, now wasn't the time for that. "Listen girl, don't bother throwing projectiles, no matter how big they are," Neptune grumbled as she got to her feet. "I know from experience how devastating your dark power is. Use that, while there's time!"
"W-W-What're you talking about?" Naru asked. "What's so..."
"Kizachi has recalled the Sentinels," said Neptune gravely. "If Mastermold isn't destroyed before they arrive, we will be overwhelmed."
Neptune caught Naru's eyes widening a little. But someone else took the dire news in stride. "Well then, chere, let's be makin' sure that don't happen!" came a singsong voice from overhead.
"Oh no no no, not HIM!" Uranus cried through the link. "What's HE doing back!?"
Looking up, Neptune saw that it wasn't just one particular Cajun who had returned to Japan. Gambit clung to Iceman's back as he formed an ice slide. They went over Naru and Neptune, heading for Mastermold. Some of the other Sailor Senshi were keeping Kizachi busy, allowing the two of them to veer over Mastermold. An icy blast and kinetically-charged cards rained down on the gaping hole in Mastermold's armor, making it stagger again.
Neptune then sensed an alien presence, but forced herself to remain calm. If Gambit and Iceman were back, it could only mean one thing. Rogue zoomed overhead, rocketing toward Mastermold with Colossus in tow, yet he was in human form. When Rogue hurled him at Mastermold, only then did he transform to his armored self, striking Mastermold's belly like a cannonball. The booming thud echoed through the decimated forest, but somehow, Mastermold was still on its feet.
"Shoulda known the Cajun couldn't resist a good scrap," Wolverine said through the link. "Cable, wanna get 'em hooked up so we can finish this?"
"Oh NO NO NO!" Uranus cried in protest. "Don't include that insufferable sod in the link and... Oh great, he's in. I can feel his slimy psyche oozing into the back of my mind..."
"We love you too, sugar," Rogue cut in dryly.
"Sorry we took so long, but there was an unavoidable detour," said Gambit. "An acquaintance called in a favor. Thankfully, we hitched a ride with him."
"Seriously, it's like my brain is being dunked in gumbo over here," Uranus went on.
"Will you GET OVER IT, Haruka!?" Neptune snapped. "Gambit, just who are you talking about? Never mind, it's of no consequence. What matters is toppling Mastermold before..."
Neptune didn't get a chance to finish her thought. The roar of turbines from Sentinels shrilled overhead. Naru and Neptune looked up to see a trio of them closing in. Neptune readied her mirror, and hoped Naru was ready with her dark power.
Something else lashed out at them instead. Some sort of weapons fire ripped into the Sentinels before they could descend and attack. Not caring who provided the assist, Neptune fired Submarine Reflection, taking out one of them. Missiles now struck the remaining two, and Neptune and Naru's combined power helped take them out in short order.
Their mangled, hulking husks collapsed onto the burning remains of some trees. Only then did Neptune and Naru look up to see who had their backs. Strange jets capable of vertical liftoff rushed past, but one hovered just over them. Men came out, using rappel lines to lower themselves to the ground. One in particular stood out: a dark-skinned man with an eyepatch, armed with a rocket launcher.
"Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," said Gambit through the link, answering Neptune's unspoken question. "Trust me, he's on your side, Michiru."
"Sailor Neptune, I trust Gambit's explained why S.H.I.E.L.D. is here," said Fury in English, gazing at Neptune strangely. Then he looked to Naru. "And the fearsome Eclipse... I could just pinch your cheeks. But I brought someone else who's been eager to talk to you."
One of the Sentinels that S.H.I.E.L.D. helped bring down roared back to life. Its legs were shot, but it crawled forward, its right arm already transformed into a minigun.
It never got the chance to fire. There was a shriek, and then something big and green slammed down onto the Sentinel's back. Its sallow eyes blew out instantly.
Neptune and Naru watched in confusion as whoever it was walked down the Sentinel and jumped off its head. A ridiculously tall and ripped woman, with green skin and hair, wearing a purple and white leotard. "Naru Osaka, I didn't imagine finally meeting you under such circumstances, but... I'm your attorney."
Naru just stared at She-Hulk with utter bewilderment. She could tell this was someone she shouldn't pit her strength against.
Their awkward meeting was interrupted by the arrival of more Sentinels overhead. One fired its minigun down at them. She-Hulk stepped in front of Neptune and Naru, taking the bullets for them. Fury fired a rocket up at one, striking its shoulder and forcing it to break off, but more were closing in.
"Keep an eye on your 'client' for a second, why don't you, Shulkie?" Fury suggested delicately. "After all, you're not the only one I brought who can whittle down these tin soldiers..."
Before Neptune could inquire further, another new arrival made his presence known. A blazing figure of red and white, zooming around the Sentinels and cutting loose with searing flame.
"Sailor Senshi, is it I, Shiro Yoshida!" the man called out. "Nick Fury convinced me I could not stay away any longer! You have sacrificed so much to help fellow mutants, and I honor that debt now!"
"Sailor Neptune, Eclipse, go to your friends!" She-Hulk implored. "S.H.I.E.L.D., Sunfire and I can keep these Sentinels off your backs so you can finish this!" She then leaped up to tackle a Sentinel that Sunfire had immobilized with his flame.
"THAT'S Sunfire!? He can FLY!?" came Mars's cry through the link, dripping with envy. "OK, getting jealous over here!"
"Rei, will you focus on the big-ass Sentinel right in front of us, not the guy keeping the little ones off our backs!?" Wolverine demanded.
Neptune couldn't agree more with that sentiment. She grabbed Naru's arm and dashed back toward Mastermold. Kizachi's creature was a good distance away, so she had a little time to clue Naru in. "We've got a plan, Naru. Just focus everything you've got on Mastermold when we get in range, and don't let up..."
However, more Sentinels closed in that had slipped past S.H.I.E.L.D.'s aircraft. But as it turned out, S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't their only backup. One touched down to the right of them. As soon as it did, two figures jumped from the smoldering remains of some trees.
Neptune recognized them both. Kuwabara, of those 'Spirit Detectives', and this Ryoga, who she had seen at the initial meeting. Sailor Moon's new 'friends' must have tracked the Sentinels back here. Kuwabara conjured a sword of spiritual energy, thrusting in into the back of the Sentinel's knee, while Ryoga slammed his finger into the other and screamed, "Bakusai Tenketsu!"
As the Sentinel faltered, there was a loud, piercing cry from overhead: "HOEEEEEE!" Something with wings cut through the acrid smoke in the sky. At first, Neptune thought it could be Angel of the X-Men, thanks to the yellow X on the chest plate. But no, this person was too small. A little girl!? Her feet slammed into the Sentinel's faceplate so hard, it shattered to pieces.
Thanks to those three striking in tandem, the Sentinel toppled over, but another was closing in. The winged girl ripped the downed Sentinel's head off to hurl it at the other one.
"That little girl's got some fashion sense," Wolverine quipped. "Who's her tailor?"
At the moment, Neptune couldn't care less. All that mattered was closing in and striking with everything they had.
More Sentinels closed in on their left, but then it was revealed that the fires hadn't extinguished all life in the forest. Thorny vines shot out from the soil, ensnaring one of them. Neptune smirked, knowing what was coming next. Yusuke appeared, pointing and firing with that blast of spiritual power as Hiei hacked away at the Sentinel's neck.
Another Sentinel was ensnared in swirling, green winds. Neptune spotted Fuu nearby. She kept the Sentinel ensnared as Lum Invader flew in, holding onto that pigtailed redhead girl. Lum cut loose with electricity as the redhead shouted, "Mōko Takabisha!" This sent out a sphere of destructive energy, pelting the Sentinel.
At last, Neptune was nearly within striking distance of Mastermold. The others were already doing a fine job of keeping Kizachi busy, especially the returning X-Men. Rogue delivered a pile-driving drop kick to the back of Mastermold's head just as Colossus landed a haymaker on its ankle. All while Gambit and Iceman pelted the gap in its armor as the latter kept them mobile on an ice slide. Mastermold nearly lost its balance, but then charged ahead, swatting at the ice slide to shatter it.
"Deep Submerge!" Neptune roared. Her attack struck Mastermold's weak spot to cover Gambit and Iceman as a new slide was generated. Naru joined in with black lightning as Storm swooped in to pile on more of her own lightning. The minigun on its left thigh targeted her, and Storm barely evaded its fire.
And though the damage to the other miniguns was too much for Mastermold's auto-repair, the same couldn't be said for its tentacles. Without the benefit of the trees, the Sailor Senshi and X-Men on the ground were easy targets.
Luckily, Tuxedo Kamen and Chibi-Moon did a good job keeping tentacles at bay. Roses and pink hearts smashed those grasping tentacles as fast as others repaired themselves. Mars also helped beat the tentacles back with Burning Mandala, but withdrew as Lockheed swooped in to provide another target to distract Kizachi, spewing some flame breath at them in her stead.
Even better, Naru jumped up and grabbed two headed for Uranus. With a shriek, she crushed one in between her legs while ripping the end of another clean off. Neptune could sense her partner's relief and satisfaction as she raised her sword. "Space Sword Blaster!" she cried. Her attack hit home just as Cable slammed Mastermold with a telekinetic bedlam.
"That's it, we're keeping Kizachi distracted!" Shadowcat cried through the link. "She probably doesn't even know I've managed to break into her sensors and surveillance systems, altering things ever so subtly. Michiru, I hoped you clued Naru in on what she needs to do."
"She understands, Kitty," Neptune said quickly as she ducked and rolled to avoid another tentacle. She looked over to Naru, who had just jumped back to avoid a blast from Mastermold's palm. In truth, Neptune wondered if Naru would continue to be a team player. And what about after Mastermold was felled? What then?
She could only hope Naru had enough sense left to listen to them. "Naru, now! Do it now!" Neptune cried out. To her amazement, Naru broke off from blasting Mastermold's weak spot and teleported.
Neptune looked up to see Naru reappear right under Mastermold's chin, just above Kizachi's cockpit. She swore she saw Naru smirk as she let ooze flow over the glass bubble. As she did this, Iceman and Gambit made another pass. While Gambit hurled more cards at Mastermold's weak spot, Iceman coated Mastermold's faceplate with ice.
"It's done!" Storm shouted through the link. "X-Men, Sailor Senshi... Everyone, get clear!"
"What are these childish antics supposed to accomplish, Munroe!?" Kizachi hissed. "Even with all the allies who've joined the fight, you can't... Wait, your little kitten's been in my systems again!? And where have... Oh no..."
Kizachi had figured out their ploy, but this time, it was too late. Mastermold wiped the gunk from the cockpit bubble to let her see the Inner Senshi standing in a circle several dozen meters away, among some trees still standing. Their bodies glowed with raw power.
One by one, the Inner Senshi had withdrawn as the rest worked to keep Kizachi distracted and leave Mastermold open for the killing blow. Thanks to all the new arrivals, Kizachi's Sentinels were too busy to zero in on them as they collected power, even if Shadowcat hadn't used Mercury's computer to compromise their sensors, too.
Neptune would have given anything to see the look on Kizachi's face upon realizing she had just been played. Hopefully, the shock made her freeze up. In case it didn't, Iceman took the liberty of encasing Mastermold's feet in ice, while Cable further anchored them with telekinesis. Given Mastermold's bulk and strength, it could wrench free, but not soon enough to stop what was coming.
"SAILOR PLANET ATTACK!" shouted the Inner Senshi. Their attack shot through the trees, toward Mastermold's left side.
It smashed right through the weak spot Naru and Sailor Moon had created, piercing through Mastermold like a spear. Kizachi's screams were drowned out by the booming thud from Mastermold toppling backward, and when something exploded within its torso, possibly part of that turbine.
A huge plume of flame and smoke rose from Mastermold, just as Neptune noticed the Sentinels still active suddenly falter, then shut down. Lum fluttered up to the face of one still standing, now hunched over. Curious, she knocked on its faceplate a few times, but nothing happened. She looked down to some of the others, shrugging her shoulders.
"It's... really over?" Sailor Moon asked, convinced it was too good to be true.
"Mastermold's down, and all the Sentinels got shut down with it," Wolverine replied. "I'd say yeah, it's pretty much over."
"Then all that's left is to pry Kizachi's stinking carcass out of that hunk of junk so she finally gets what coming to her!" Uranus snarled.
Storm said nothing, but Neptune could sense the X-Men's leader was in full agreement. Then Neptune sensed Storm using her power, willing her cyclone to finally dump rain. It began to quell the raging fires Kizachi had started, as well as the one raging from that fallen monstrosity.
Though it was down, Neptune approached with caution. Kizachi could still have some nasty surprises in store. As she climbed atop Mastermold's leg, her senses were focused on detecting any traps. Her concentration was momentarily broken by... a pig squealing?
Iceman and Gambit dropped down from an ice slide as the Inner Senshi and Naru climbed up onto its torso. As Storm and Cable lowered themselves onto it, the former summoned more wind to blow away lingering smoke. That was when they got a nasty surprise, but not the kind Neptune had feared. It was worse.
Kizachi's cockpit... simply wasn't there. Now there was a gaping void where her cockpit used to be.
"Well that's just peachy," said Iceman. "Where'd she go?"
"The cockpit doubled as an escape pod, most likely," said Mercury. "The gloom from Storm's cyclone, plus smoke from the fires already burning, kept its deployment hidden while we watched Mastermold topple."
"Great, she could be anywhere by now," Sailor Moon spat. "Mercury, let's hope between you and Kitty, you can track her down. Naru, after everything we just went through, we're not stopping until..." When Sailor Moon turned to her friend, she fell silent. Neptune was filled with unease as well. Naru had vanished.
"Where'd Naru go? It's not like..." Cable began, but then his face fell in horror. "Oh no. People, we have a serious problem."
"Why's that, Cable?" Gambit asked. "Not like Naru can zero in on Kizachi quicker than any o' us."
"Actually, Remy, she can," said Cable. "Umino explained to us how Naru's been improving her proficiency with teleportation. By 'tagging' a spot with ooze charged with dark power, she can home in and teleport to it more easily."
"And we just had Naru cover that cockpit with it," Storm said gravely.
"Meaning we better find that pod fast, before Naru truly crosses the line," said Jupiter, echoing the terror Sailor Moon was radiating.