Sailor Moon X: Lunar Eclipse

a Sailor Moon/X-Men crossover

Chapter 36: Make an X-Man of Me

9-30-2018

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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"Disappointing, Creed," Naru spat, glaring at Sabretooth coldly. "I thought you were good enough to not fall for the same trick twice." Sabretooth growled as he got back on his feet. Uranus looked from him to Naru, who now had ooze flowing down her bare arms, clenched fists crackling with dark power. "Take a minute to rest, Sailor Uranus. I got this."

"Oh, do you?" Sabretooth sneered. "Five minutes after ya find a set o' those blue and yellow pajamas, ya talk like yer all tough and professional? Yeah, regular Captain America we got over here, Tenoh..."

Despite herself, Uranus found herself agreeing with Sabretooth. Sabretooth wouldn't be an easy conquest for Naru either, and simply deciding to put on one of those uniforms didn't make her battle savvy. Also, despite Naru's willingness to wear the X-Men's colors, a twinge of distrust still lingered in Uranus.

"I've survived getting gutted by your old buddy, and flung him around like a rag doll," said Naru. "Think you can do better?"

That had the intended effect. Sabretooth roared and sprang forward on all fours, and Naru charged to meet him. Ignoring Naru's suggestion, Uranus readied her sword to blast Sabretooth while Naru was drawing his attention.

But Sabretooth was too quick. He was nearly upon Naru. But just as Sabretooth was about to tackle her, Naru vanished in a flash of black flames. As Sabretooth snatched nothing but air, Naru reappeared a few meters away. Tendrils of black gunk reached out to ensnare Sabretooth. Roaring, Sabretooth found himself yanked forward toward Naru. Taking advantage of his confusion, Naru landed a piledriving punch into his gut. This sent the rabid beast flying toward the far end of the chamber, smashing into exposed rock.

Snarling, Sabretooth pried himself out of the mini-crater his body just created and charged again. Naru tried keeping him at bay with bursts of black lightning. He was too swift, ducking and swerving around each and every one.

As he lunged at her again, Naru used her tendrils to pry a nearby metal tile from the floor. Just as he closed in, Naru took it in her hands and smacked him down with it. Uranus swore she heard some bones shatter. She moved in to clobber Sabretooth again, but Sabretooth grabbed the tile. He glared down at Naru, as a predator would its cornered prey. His claws dug into the metal, leaving gouges.

Naru tried conducting her black lightning through the tile, but it was too late. Sabretooth flung it aside and landed a spinning kick into Naru's face. She was somewhat braced for it, and only staggered back a little. But with his speed, Sabretooth easily took advantage of that opening. He grabbed Naru's head, charged over to a nearby wall, and slammed her against it. Sabretooth ran and dragged her against it, first over metal tiles and then jagged rock.

"I'm way faster, girlie, and got more than a century o' experience over ya," Sabretooth jeered. Just as Naru was working up a charge of dark power, Sabretooth slammed her onto the ground so hard, a tile buckled. "But you got some muscle on you, kid, I'll give you that. And a whole lotta guts." He then brandished his claws. "Let's see what they look like."

"Let's not," said Uranus. "Space Sword Blaster!"

Sabretooth turned, about to leap aside, but was a fraction of a second too late. The blast hit dead-center, knocking the snarling mutant off his feet, just as Naru got back on hers.

"You OK, Osaka?" Uranus asked, walking up to her.

"Yeah, I suppose. Guess that's one more thing I owe you, on top of everything else I need to make up for," said Naru uneasily.

So she IS serious about turning a new leaf, Uranus mused, her doubts ebbing. "Forget it for now. It's not like you haven't taken some beatings from Neptune and I, and..." A roar from Sabretooth interrupted her. He was already back on his feet, glaring at the pair with murderous glee. "And we have a mutual enemy who's begging for a beating. He's easily a match for either of us, though."

"That he is," said Naru, rubbing her head. "Double-team him?"

Uranus's eyes widened as she looked down to her, then she smirked. Sabretooth charged again, and Naru and Uranus dashed forward to meet his challenge.

Uranus reached Sabretooth first. Sabretooth tried to deflect her sword swipe, but the blade still dug deep into his shoulder. That left him open to a double-fisted smash charged with dark energy, right into his spine. Sabretooth reached around to swipe at Naru with his claws, giving Uranus an opening. A drop kick right in his face nearly made him teeter over, and another burst of black lightning knocked him back a good distance.

"Blast me away all ya want, Osaka," Sabretooth growled as he sprang back up. "No gettin' 'round how I had to do what you didn't have the stomach for!"

"What's he talking about?" Uranus demanded.

"Not important," said Naru quickly. "Just get him!"

Sabretooth swiftly closed in, but once again, the two of them kept him on the receiving end. Uranus wasn't as strong as Sabretooth, but made up for it with speed and skill of her own. And while Naru had very little actual combat experience, her far greater strength more than made up for it. While trying to fend off one of them, Sabretooth left himself open to a blow from the other. Eventually, they wore him down to the point Uranus sank her sword into his heart. Naru flung him away with a tendril as he roared in rage. Not missing a beat, Uranus raised a fist and collected power.

"World Shaking!" Uranus roared, punching the ground to send out her attack. As it travelled along the ground, upturning tiles, Naru flung dark power at it, making it crackle with black lightning.

Their combination attack struck Sabretooth before he hit the ground. If he was roaring in pain, it was drowned out by crackling dark power and the sound of him smashing into a wall again. He was smothered into the wall by the attack, sheared by the winds as surges of dark power penetrated deep. When it all dissipated, Sabretooth slumped to the ground, struggling to stand back up.

This was their chance. "Naru, fastball special!" Uranus cried. Naru didn't hesitate to hurl the Senshi of Wind at the evil mutant. She soared over to Sabretooth, knocking him back down with a flying kick to his face, then plunged her sword into his spine. Then she kicked him over, so he was leaning against the wall. "That'll keep you immobile long enough for this!" Uranus spat, ready to do what Gambit suggested. She grabbed a handful of Sabretooth's mangy mane and lifted his head up, aiming to slice his throat open.

Before she could strike, a tendril wrapped around her wrist. "No, Uranus. Don't sink to his level."

"Please, that's a little disingenuous coming from you," Uranus snarled, trying to pull her arm free.

"Is it?" Sabretooth gurgled, grinning. "She couldn't bring herself to off the oaf responsible for her mother's death. Yours truly had to do it."

"And you shut up," Naru spat. A tendril lashed out to grab Sabretooth by the face, then slam it repeatedly into the wall until he finally fell unconscious. Then she retracted it, along with the one gripping Uranus's wrist. "He's right. Magneto offered me the chance to get revenge on Gai Izumi myself. When I spared him, Sabretooth killed him anyway. I felt no joy, no relief, just disgust and shock. Like I was looking in the mirror, at myself a few days ago." The pleading look in Naru's eyes, mixed with wisdom gained after learning a hard lesson, actually gave Uranus pause. "Trust me, I know EXACTLY what kind of monster Sabretooth is. That's why I won't kill him, I won't be like these psychos."

Uranus looked down at Sabretooth's crumpled form, blood still pooling from his body. She sighed in defeat, then said, "He'd probably somehow heal from a slit throat too. Still, if he's not restrained..."

"Gotcha." Naru brought out some tendrils again. They wrapped around Sabretooth's arms and legs. For a moment, he was suspended limply like a puppet, until Naru slammed him against the wall, her goop pinning him to it. "It'll be a while before he claws free of that."

As the pair turned to walk toward the open doorway, Uranus said, "Some of the other X-Men have also seen what Sabretooth is all about, especially Remy and Logan. They might disagree, say that we're ensuring there'll be future victims of his bloodlust."

"Wasn't that the rationale for killing Eclipse if that chemical weapon didn't work?" Naru reminded her sternly. Uranus fell silent, not sure how to reply. "But if you want to make sure there aren't any future victims of these loons, you and the other Sailor Senshi will lend me a hand."

"Hang on a second, the whole reason we're here is to rescue you! Now you're giving the orders!?" Uranus snarled.

"Fine then," came Umino's voice. He stepped into the light, holding a strange-looking shotgun. "But if you're not interested in smashing up this asteroid's computers so Magneto can't recreate Kizachi's Sentinels..."

Uranus looked over to him in shock. "Kizachi... gave him all her data?"

"It was her plan all along. Cause chaos in Japan as a power play to drum up mutant support, then turn humanity's signature defense against them," said Umino.

"She's here on Asteroid M, too," Naru added. "If I'm going to be hauled before a court, so is she."

Uranus looked from Naru to Umino, then hung her head. Just snatch up Umino and Naru, then get out. It was supposed to be a simple job, but now things had taken a complicated turn. "Oh well, I said I wanted a little more action," Uranus grumbled. "Careful what you wish for."

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Sailor Mars's guess was right on the money. The deep-rooted grief and anger Magneto clung to served as a beacon, even over the distances within his asteroid. Even if that weren't the case, the sheer power he radiated over a purely physical spectrum would have guided Mars to him.

Sure, the X-Men had drilled it into them already, that Magneto would be an enemy like no other. Neptune, prideful as she was, even admitted that his power frightened her, and Mars herself got a taste of it hours before. But to SENSE it like this, coming in much more profoundly than any of the Dark Generals...

We've got Sailor Moon on our side though, Mars told herself. As soon as Magneto drops his guard and gives her an opening, she can blow him away.

Currently, however, Sailor Moon wasn't at her side. She was leading a separate team through the asteroid. At the moment, Mars had made a mad dash to the far side of Asteroid M with Sailor Venus and Tuxedo Kamen, running through a seemingly endless array of corridors. Tuxedo Kamen claimed he had memorized a good deal of the intel S.H.I.E.L.D. and the X-Men provided. Mars hoped that, combined with her special senses, it would be enough.

They were coming up on the end of another corridor, but massive steel doors were sliding shut. Not missing a beat, a fiery bow formed in Mars's hand. Out the corner of her eye, she saw Venus touch her lips.

"Mars Flame Sniper!"

"Venus Love-and-Beauty Shock!"

The doors were blown apart before they could completely close. They wouldn't be slowing their team down. Mars wouldn't let anything slow them down as they carved a path of destruction. The sooner they could regroup with Sailor Moon and the others, the better. Mars figured Tuxedo Kamen felt even more strongly about that.

"Tuxedo Kamen, how's Sailor Moon doing?" Mars asked as they charged through the smoldering wreckage. They wound up in some circular chamber, with many paths branching off. Hopefully, between Tuxedo Kamen's link and her senses, they could pick the quickest path to Magneto.

"Frustrated, determined, but no harm has come to her," said Tuxedo Kamen. "Hopefully this means her team is progressing smoothly."

"Which is more than can be said of you three chumps!" came a growly voice all of a sudden. The three of them scattered and ducked aside as some strange blasts shot at them from one of the tunnels.

Mars caught a glimpse of the one called Random, his forearms basically a conglomeration of barrels for some organic cannon. Tuxedo Kamen lobbed roses at him. They sank into his chest, eliciting curses and grunts. From what Mars knew about him, that would hardly slow him down. Worse, Toad sprang from another tunnel, tackling Tuxedo Kamen.

"Let's see what the boiling point is of that goop you're made of, Random!" Mars spat, bringing her hands together. "Fire Soul!"

Her stream of flame rushed toward Random while he was distracted. But suddenly, it rushed back toward her!

"What the hell!?" Mars cried as she hit the floor. The ball of flame rushed by, and soon dissipated. Soon her confusion faded, recalling why this had happened before.

"Oh no, not you again," she grumbled as she stood back up. Pyro was strutting down another tunnel, alongside the one called Avalanche.

Venus had just used Love-Me Chain to bind Random's blaster arms together, and landed a vicious kick to his face. "Don't worry, Mars. Finish dealing with Random, I've got this!" she yelled to her in Japanese. Then in English, she shouted at Avalanche and Pyro, "You boys are mine! Let me show you how to lay down the law!"

"Oh you will, Hairbow?" Avalanche sneered. Venus kicked off of Random, soaring toward the pair with a vindictive look in her eyes. No doubt the thought these two had once been officers of the law in America turned her stomach.

Before she could reach them, Avalanche gestured. The rocky ground came alive, rippling toward both Venus and Mars like a tidal wave. Venus couldn't get out of the way in time, and a second later it swallowed up Mars as well.

The two were slammed into the far end of the chamber, half-buried in rocks and dirt. Without the durability afforded to a Sailor Senshi, they would probably be out cold. The wave of earth nearly hit Tuxedo Kamen as well, who was still locked in combat with Toad. A swift strike from his cane finally knocked Toad away.

He looked to the pair, then at the other mutants. Random finally freed himself of Venus's chains by reverting his arms to normal. They slid off, and Avalanche and Pyro rushed to back him up.

"Mars, Venus, hurry and get free! I'll run interference!" Tuxedo Kamen chucked roses to hold them back and buy time. It worked for a few moments, but Pyro shot out some flames to form a barrier of sorts. The last batch of roses thrown was instantly incinerated, and the wall of flame crept closer.

Thankfully, Tuxedo Kamen bought just enough time for them to dig free. Mars pulled herself up from the mound of upturned space rock first, then helped Venus free herself. They couldn't really see the Brotherhood through that wall of fire, but Venus didn't look worried. "Enough playing around," Venus snarled. "Crescent Beam Shower!"

Her shots sprayed out everywhere, going through that fire barrier. No doubt it was enough to get the Brotherhood to scatter, as it soon faded. As Pyro and the others were forced to duck for cover, Venus kept up the pressure. Her chain smashed into Random and Avalanche, sending them flying back down the chamber. Toad hopped over it, but Tuxedo Kamen intercepted him in midair.

That left Pyro to deal with. Venus was in a good position to blow him away. But despite being ravaged by this Legacy Virus, Pyro was still crafty and dangerous. Besides, Mars wanted payback after Pyro made her feel so useless back in the sewer.

"Venus, keep on Random and Avalanche!" Mars cried. "Let me handle Pyro!"

Venus's eyes widened, looking at Mars as if she were insane. "Mars, in case it hasn't sunk in, you're the LAST one who should face Pyro..."

"Just DO IT, Venus!" Mars spat. "I want Pyro for myself!"

Venus shot her one last confused glare, then turned to fire off Crescent Beam Shower again to keep Random and Avalanche on the defensive. That left Mars to stare down Pyro.

Despite looking quite enervated due to his illness, he had the nerve to try and look confident. Perhaps he had reason to, thanks to how his power was such a perfect counter for her attacks. But Mars hoped one was a trump card that would catch Pyro off-guard.

Pyro sneered something in English with a peculiar accent. Mars didn't really understand him, but there was no mistaking the mockery in his voice, the bravado. He really thought she had no way to get around his mutant ability.

This better work, Mars thought, producing an ofuda. She began to chant. Through squinted eyes, she took in Pyro's confusion. Hopefully that would buy her enough time. Just as he raised his fists to spew flame of his own, Mars flung the ofuda at him. While he was focused on that, Mars put her fingers together to collect her own power. "Fire... Soul..."

Pyro shouted something again, probably mocking her for thinking she could beat him with a piece of paper. But hopefully his momentarily bafflement and weakness from the Legacy Virus would give her an opening for this.

"BIRD!" she finished. Her flames shot into the ofuda, becoming a blazing bird of prey that soared at Pyro with talons bared.

Pyro flashed a smug smile, already trying to take control of it. It soon faded. The bird was halted a few meters from him, but Mars could see the strain it took for him to manage even that.

"This attack is directly imbued with my will, Pyro!" Mars cried as he concentrated, willing the bird to fly closer. "This is it, Pyro! My will against yours! Which is stronger, I wonder!?"

Mars knew Pyro probably couldn't understand her, but no language barrier could mask the look on Pyro's face. He crept back anxiously as her flaming bird nudged ever closer. This was indeed a battle of wills, and Pyro was losing.

His confidence had cracked, and soon enough, so did his will. The huge bird shot forward, talons ready to rake him. Pyro screamed as the bird pecked at his diseased flesh, and then the fuel tank on his back. Crying in panic, Pyro frantically unstrapped it and tossed it away, but he couldn't fling it far enough. He was blasted back from the explosion, knocked out cold.

Mars took a moment to glare down at the downed Brotherhood member. Her face remained stony, but on the inside, she felt a surge of confidence and pride. That was one more of these villains down, not to mention the one most vexing for her.

Mars looked back to the battle still raging. Random managed to land a shot on Venus from afar. Mercifully, it wasn't strong enough to punch through her fuku, but still, she crumpled, clutching her heart. Meanwhile, Tuxedo Kamen leaped aside to avoid both a literal tongue lashing from Toad and an undulating wave of rock sent out by Avalanche. His face betraying how he had run out of patience, Tuxedo Kamen brandished his cane, just as Toad and Avalanche were in the perfect position. He willed it to extend, and it sank into Toad's gut, making him slam into Avalanche.

They slammed into the rocky wall, but weren't quite out yet. Mars took it upon herself to make sure they would be. A fiery bow formed in her hands again. "Mars Flame Sniper!" she roared, shooting her arrow so it detonated against the wall close to the pair. The explosion had them eating dirt, and they didn't stir after that.

That left only Random to deal with. He took aim at Mars, but Tuxedo Kamen once again disoriented him with roses, this time aiming for his face. Two punched through the lenses of his sunglasses, making him cry out. "Awww, again with the fucking roses!?" he demanded.

Mars rushed to Venus's side to help her up. "Venus, are you OK? That blaster fire of his looks really nasty..."

"Oh, it is," Venus grumbled, still clutching her heart. Acrid smoke wafted up from between her fingers. "But don't worry about me. Just charbroil that goopy glop of testosterone, will you?"

Mars looked back over to Random, fury in her eyes. He had just pulled those roses out, and no doubt his eyes would soon reform. If she was to strike and end this, it had to be now. "Oh don't worry, I will," Mars spat. "Fire Soul!"

Random transformed his arms back into blasters and took aim, but it was too late. He screamed as the burst of flame swallowed him up. When it faded, half of his clothing had burned away, and he was little more than a grey, bubbling puddle on the rocky floor, desperately trying to pull himself back together.

The three of them stared at the writhing puddle for a moment. "Well, I don't think we'll have to worry about him for a bit," said Tuxedo Kamen sheepishly.

"Yeah, that's four of the Brotherhood down for the count!" Venus added with a sly grin.

"Hopefully we'll whittle down the rest before we reach Magneto," said Mars. Then she looked up, and concentrated. In the heat of battle, she had lost her fix on Magneto. But it wasn't long before she got a good idea of which path to duck down. "This way," she said, pointing down the corridor entrance just beyond Random.

The trio broke into a run. Mars was more determined than ever to take this fight to Magneto. They had just trampled four of his cronies, and soon enough, the Master of Magnetism would be next.

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Sailor Neptune squinted as she held the wires between her fingers apart, concentrating as best she could. It wasn't easy after being separated from Uranus like this. Plus

, something gnawed at Neptune. Despite being bereft of her gift of listening in on the waters while stuck on this space rock, she KNEW in her heart Uranus had found trouble soon enough.

Yet she still had her Deep Aqua Mirror to guide her, and it was telling her that Naru was close by. Unfortunately, she, Chibi-Moon and Lockheed had hit a roadblock. Or rather, a reinforced blast door that would take too long to break through with her attacks.

"Any day now, Neptune." Chibi-Moon's complaining sure wasn't improving Neptune's mood any. "We can't afford to stay in one place for too long."

"I'm well aware of that. Don't rush me!" Neptune snapped. "Sailor Mercury and Tuxedo Kamen aren't the only ones who can fiddle with electronics, you know." Neptune was fairly certain she had found the right two wires, and crossed them. "So here we go..."

Suddenly, ANOTHER blast door slit shut over the first one.

Chibi-Moon and Lockheed stared at the newly-erected barrier, then glared at Neptune. Neptune simply glared back. "Go on, make a Star Wars joke, I dare you..." Neptune said testily.

Chibi-Moon looked ready to fire off a nasty retort, regardless. Before she could, Lockheed's head pricked up. He launched himself off of Chibi-Moon's shoulder and fluttered back down the way they came. Neptune wondered what had drawn the little dragon's attention. She readied her mirror, prepared for anything.

She felt a swell of relief when she spotted Uranus amid all the flashing warning lights. Oddly enough, Lockheed didn't look mollified.

"Sailor Uranus? What happened? How'd you find us so soon, with Magneto pretty much jamming our communicators?" Chibi-Moon asked.

"I can still listen in on the winds, even on this asteroid, remember?" Uranus said aloofly. "And even better, I found our lost little lambs."

"Naru and Umino? You've found them? They're safe?" Neptune's heart lifted at this news. It was too good to be true, but something in the back of her mind reminded her that things that sounded so usually were. Not to mention, Lockheed still seemed suspicious of her.

"They went ahead on another path. Turns out it'll be in our best interest to smash up Asteroid M's computers along with Magneto's face," said Uranus as she walked closer. "I just came to get you so we can double back and back them up."

"They took off in a different direction?" Neptune asked, confused. "But my mirror was telling me that Naru's dark energy signature was rather close by, and..." As she held up her mirror, she glimpsed something that explained everything. She reacted in a heartbeat. "Submarine Reflection!" she roared, aiming her watery blast right at 'Uranus'.

"Neptune!? Have you gone nuts!?" Chibi-Moon shrieked.

"Things are about to get nuts, little one," said Neptune, grimacing as 'Uranus' effortlessly dodged her attack. "That's actually Mystique, and I doubt she's alone!"

Chibi-Moon looked back to see Mystique shapeshifting back to her usual form, grinning at them. Even a follow-up from Lockheed, who belched flames at her, didn't wipe that insufferable smile off Mystique's face.

"Right on the money, honey!" drawled a voice from the far end of the corridor. Neptune looked over to see Blob charging at them. Forgetting about Mystique, Lockheed zoomed over to spit fire in Blob's face, halting his advance. He shrieked with fury, blindly swatting at the dragon. From what Neptune had read about the Blob, that would affect him more than most physical assaults, but wouldn't stop him.

"Lockheed, get clear!" Neptune cried as she gathered power. "Deep Submerge!" She hurled her ball of energized seawater right at Blob, smothering him with its water pressure. That probably wouldn't stop him either, but it would buy some time.

"I've got this, Neptune," said Chibi-Moon, bouncing Luna-P off the floor. It transformed into some sort of shoulder-mounted chain gun. Chibi-Moon didn't hesitate to unleash its fury.

Mystique barely ducked for cover behind Blob in time. As Neptune feared, the shells bounced off the Blob's bulk. He guffawed stupidly as he leered at them, still advancing.

"If that's not to your liking, Blob, perhaps this will be! Submarine Reflection!" She raised her mirror, hoping her attack would be enough to blast Blob back.

But again, her fears proved prescient. Professor X's files on this man had not exaggerated. He truly was capable of generating a localized gravitational force to anchor him wherever he stood. Not only were their attacks unable to force him back, but Blob was slowly taking steps forward. Neptune had figured this guy wouldn't be as troublesome as Colossus, given he had a hide of dense fat instead of steel. How wrong Blob was proving her.

Even worse, she and Chibi-Moon were so focused on the Blob, they forgot about Mystique. She peeked out from behind Blob, leering at them as she threw a grenade.

"Chibi-Moon, take cover!" Neptune cried fearfully, but it was too late. They could easily tank its explosive force, but it did blow them back, halting their attacks. That gave Blob the opening he needed. He charged, knocking away Chibi-Moon as she struggled to stand, then grabbed and hoisted up Neptune by her throat.

"Hey Raven, any reason you wouldn't want me to wring her neck?" Blob asked aloofly as Neptune tried to pry fingers as thick as sausages off her throat.

It was no use, the Blob was far too strong. Why oh WHY is it always me fighting the mutants with super strength? Neptune silently cursed.

"Other than Magneto's unspoken expectation that the Sailor Senshi be taken alive, or how I'd like to polish off these Outer Senshi myself?" Mystique replied airily. She had a struggling Chibi-Moon in her arm, the barrel of a gun pressed to her head. This was enough to keep Lockheed from swooping in. "We may need them as hostages with Sailor Uranus still running around."

"Too bad I don't do hostage negotiations!" came a sharp cry over the alarms. "World Shaking!"

Swift as he was, by the time Blob turned around to face that voice, Uranus's attack hit home. Neptune was thrown aside as Uranus's attack rippled through Blob, stunning him, and Uranus didn't let up. From seemingly out of nowhere, she lunged at Blob, stabbing her Space Sword into his gut.

But predictably, even her sword couldn't pierce through his hide. Her arm literally disappeared into Blob's belly, eliciting another guffaw from the obese mutant. He swung his torso around, flinging Uranus away.

"Bad miscalculation, sweetie," Mystique jeered, noticeably pressing her gun against Chibi-Moon's temple a little more tightly. "It takes the likes of the Hulk or the Juggernaut to overpower Dukes here."

"Then it's you who has miscalculated," Uranus said with a smirk. "We got someone like that up here already."

That actually broke Mystique's composure. Neptune watched Mystique's sallow eyes fixate on the tip of Uranus's sword. That was when Neptune noticed a little bit of black goop on its tip.

There was a flash of black flames, and then something in bright blue and yellow launched out of it, heading straight for Blob. Neptune caught a glimpse of Naru's face, right before she leaped and landed a haymaker on Blob's.

The suddenness of her attack forced Blob back, and Lockheed took advantage of the confusion. He dove at Mystique and bit down on her shoulder, forcing her to let go of Chibi-Moon.

Not to be outdone, Neptune sprang back up, rushing at Mystique. A spinning kick knocked away her gun, but Mystique swiftly came back with a sweep, knocking Neptune off her feet. Uranus didn't allow her a moment's breath, coming at her from behind with a punch. Mystique barely ducked aside in time, using Uranus's momentum to throw her over her shoulder.

As the pair double-teamed Mystique, Naru kept Blob occupied. He had the advantage of both speed and greater strength, but Naru made up for it with her writhing tendrils of goo, dark power and quick thinking. Shocks of black lightning didn't really hurt Blob, but did disorient him long enough for Naru to get in a few quick hits. Neptune could feel the chamber tremble a little each time one of Naru's blows struck Blob as he was anchored.

Even better, Naru was not alone. Lockheed kept swooping in to distract Blob by belching flames in his face, and Chibi-Moon fired off pink hearts into Blob's face whenever he couldn't. That gave Naru plenty of openings, and she took advantage of every one, pounding and pummeling Blob.

If this wasn't wearing Blob down, it was definitely making him angry. With a howl of fury, he jumped at Naru and Chibi-Moon, aiming to squash them. The chamber shook as he dropped down, and Blob even managed to swat Lockheed away. Lockheed became half-embedded in the far wall. Worse, he was swift enough to grab hold of Naru's head as she stood back up.

"Hands off my girl," came Umino's voice suddenly. Preoccupied with Mystique as she was, Neptune couldn't spot the boy. But somehow, electricity rippled all over Blob's face, and he accidentally flung Naru away. Unfortunately, this sent the girl soaring toward Neptune, and they toppled over, a tangle of limbs.

At least in the confusion, Uranus landed a punch that knocked Mystique back a few paces. Uranus was more than capable of keeping Mystique busy by herself, which was fortunate. Deciding that he could safely ignore Chibi-Moon and Umino, Blob lumbered toward Neptune and Naru, just as Neptune finally got the girl off of her.

"Nice try, little girl. But it ain't just a question of me bein' stronger. Once I get myself planted, like Mystique said, ain't no one but the Hulk or Juggernaut that can move me," Blob drawled.

"Ugh, I didn't catch all of that," Naru grumbled as she stood, along with Neptune. Neptune looked her over, noticing the X insignia on her belt. Somehow, she found an X-Men uniform up here, and decided to wear it? Even though, unlike Uranus, she was willing to give the girl the benefit of the doubt, this truly shocked Neptune.

Realizing that Blob's drawling English must have confused Naru, Neptune said, "Uh, he's just bragging about how it's impossible to move him if he doesn't wish to be."

There was a mischievous glint in Naru's eyes. "Oh, is that so? Good thing I don't want him going anywhere. I want him to stay right where he is."

Naru summoned forth tendrils of her oil slick. They lashed out, wrapping themselves around Blob's arms and torso. Blob actually seemed amused, smirking at the pair. "What's this? Think ya can yank me free with a little tentacle rape or somethin'?"

Naru ignored Blob, and backed away. This seemed to stretch her tendrils like rubber bands. Neptune's eyes widened a little, guessing where this was going. Blob continued to guffaw as Naru stretched her tendrils even more tautly. Then she sent more out. Raising a fist, she had those extra tendrils pull free metal objects and plating on the surrounding floor and walls, transforming her forearm into a makeshift mace.

Blob seemed to understand what Naru was planning just as she hopped up, letting herself be flung forward, catapulted by her tendrils. With a shriek, Naru landed a blow with her mace-like arm, right on Blob's face. Thanks to how he had anchored himself, there was no rolling with it. Blob took the full force of Naru's blow, and it was enough to knock him silly.

But unfortunately, not unconscious. However, that did give Chibi-Moon an opening. She transformed Luna-P into a gun that sprayed sleeping gas in his face, and at last, Blob toppled.

What a relief, Neptune thought gratefully as Blob hit the deck hard. Now we should be able to easily deal with...

A grunt from Uranus made Neptune look over to them. Uranus had just been knocked back, groggy and with some blood dripping from her mouth. Her eyes widened with shock and indignation when she looked back to Mystique. Neptune shared it. Mystique had just copied her form, the cowardly witch!

Chibi-Moon stared at the two Sailor Neptunes, baffled. Umino then stepped past the Blob, wielding some strange-looking shotgun, looking just as perplexed. Naru, however, just stared ahead coldly.

"Oh great. Which one do we shoot?" Umino asked, looking from one Sailor Neptune to the other. Neptune hoped one of them would figure it out, and fast. She had no doubt Uranus could tell the difference, given a little time. But she had learned by now that if Mystique bought any time, anything could happen.

Neptune's worst fears were realized when Mystique spoke in her voice. "Just blast both of us." Something Neptune herself might say in a situation like this. No doubt Mystique aimed to trick them into taking her down for her. "There's no time, so..."

Still looking ahead with a grim expression, Naru sent out tendrils. But to Neptune's amazement, they wrapped around Mystique instead. Neptune swore Mystique's eyes went back to yellow, the shock breaking her concentration. Mystique was flung forward, and her face collided with the back of Naru's raised fist. She was unconscious before she hit the floor.

Neptune watched as Mystique's disguise melted away. Then she looked over to Naru, who was staring down at Mystique with cold contempt. "H-H-How did you know she was the impostor?" Neptune demanded.

Naru cracked a smile. "Will you be mad if I said, 'I didn't.'?" Neptune's face fell, and she heard Uranus grumble as well. Shrugging her shoulders, Naru said, "But if you must know, I tagged Mystique soon after I showed up, figuring she would pull a stunt like that." Naru pointed down to a bit of goop lodged in the laces of Mystique's boot. "There's no way I'm ever letting her, or her Brotherhood goons, sucker me again," she added coldly.

The girl really has changed, for the better, Neptune realized. Then again, the willingness to put on that uniform, and stand trial for her misdeeds, should've proven it already.

"At any rate, this nixes Mystique and Blob from the list," said Uranus.

"Too bad Unuscione and Fabian Cortez are still hanging around," said Umino. He walked over with Lockheed in his arms. Despite taking a hit from Blob, the little dragon seemed fine. "Worse, we've still got to find Asteroid M's computer core."

"Wait, Mystique wasn't lying about that part?" Chibi-Moon asked.

"Nope. Unless we want to deal with another army of Sentinels marching through Tokyo, we'd better get to that core before we leave," said Uranus. Considering how badly Uranus wanted to meet up with the Inner Senshi to help take down Magneto, that was a bold statement from her. Uranus looked to the blast doors. "I take it we can't just force our way through that?"

Naru walked over and tried to pull them apart. She could barely separate them by a few centimeters. "Lovely, hydraulics. I guess not, and I can't risk a blind teleport. Umino, think you can jerry-rig those wires?"

"Looks like someone already tried," said Umino. Neptune's face fell again, feeling Chibi-Moon's eyes on her back. "Oh well, I'll give it a shot."

As Umino fiddled with the wires, Neptune kept watching over Naru. She seemed... composed, focused on the mission, not unlike the Outer Senshi themselves. Just like some of the other Sailor Senshi, Neptune was a little jealous that she would add to the X-Men's ranks instead of their own.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

According to Sailor Mercury, they were closing in on Magneto. She was still tracking his intense pulses of electromagnetic energy. This took them to the far side of the asteroid, where Sailor Moon had seen the domes atop it and all the fixtures jutting out.

Quite often, Sailor Moon could see Earth as the asteroid orbited the planet. More and more, the three of them had to be careful not to smash up huge windows and blow themselves out into space. They had to be choosy about what they wrecked to draw attention, distracting the Acolytes so the X-Men could board.

As it turned out, those Acolytes included members the Sailor Senshi hasn't seen before, no doubt held in reserve. When you had someone who could teleport her people on and off the planet in an eyeblink, who commit too many of your forces? Or at least, that was how Mercury explained it.

At the moment, Sailor Moon couldn't spare much thought for the Acolytes' tactics. The Sailor Senshi had logistics of their own to worry about. Three of these new Acolytes had them pinned down. Three against three. The odds should have been even. Yet these three Acolytes had done a good job of tripping them up thus far.

"Waaaah!" Sailor Moon wailed, crawling backward. She had ducked behind cover, some chunks of space rock that had fallen after they had wrecked this chamber. Still, that Acolyte called Vindaloo, who oozed burning napalm from his pores like others sweated, was still flinging that nasty stuff everywhere.

This was no time to play it safe. They couldn't afford to be pinned too long. Taking a deep breath, Sailor Moon jumped out from behind cover, already taking off her tiara.

"Moon Tiara Action!" she screamed, flinging it the instant she spotted Vindaloo. That flowing silvery hair, facial tattoos and creepy grin made him hard to miss.

Vindaloo ducked out of the way. With an evil grin, he flung a burst of ignited napalm right at Sailor Moon as she landed. Before she could even scream, Mercury stepped in. "Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury cried, her water forcing back Vindaloo's blazing gunk.

Now that he was dealt with, Sailor Moon saw another good use for her tiara. Another Acolyte called Barnacle, who had this weird ability to extend his body moisture and then solidify it, had just flung out his arm to pin Jupiter against a rocky wall. Her tiara smashed apart that extension just in time, before it hardened too much.

"Thanks a million, Sailor Moon," Jupiter croaked. She eyed Barnacle angrily. "Buddy, were you ever asking for it. Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

Jupiter spun, sending out her electrified leaves. The ones that struck Barnacle didn't penetrate too deeply. True to his namesake, the ugly lumps on his skin were hard enough to resist the onslaught. But Jupiter was also aiming at Vindaloo. He howled as some of the leaves clipped him, making him cease his efforts to smother Sailor Moon and Mercury in napalm.

That gave them the opening they needed. "Sailor Moon Kick!" Sailor Moon screamed as she caught her tiara and charged, planting her boot right between his eyes. Vindaloo toppled over, shrieking with fury. Sailor Moon planted a foot over his chest, aiming her kaleidoscope at his face. "Gotcha! Now, where's the last one of you?"

"And here I thought the high and mighty moon princess forgot all about me!" came a shrill voice.

Sailor Moon turned just as it felt like she was struck by lightning. She toppled over, unable to move a muscle. Soon enough, Static's face, a young girl with short, brown hair, was leering down at her.

"My Japanese isn't that great, but I don't think I need to explain what happened. My neuro-synaptic shocks just negated your powers and scrambled your nervous system." She pointed down at Sailor Moon, fingertips crackling with energy, then looked over to the other two Senshi. "And unless you two want Vindaloo to douse your princess in liquid death, you'll stand down and let Barnacle entomb you."

Mercury and Jupiter anxiously looked to each other. Or at least, it was a good attempt to look anxious. "Make a choice, girls! We don't have all day! Your boss certainly doesn't!"

Good, they were angry as well as overconfident, their attention drawn away from her. And as luck would have it, Sailor Moon could feel the numbness fading already. It took a painful effort, but she raised a trembling hand to her tiara.

"M-M-M-Moon... T-T-Tiara..." Vindaloo and Static looked back down in shock, just as Sailor Moon found the strength to fling it and scream, "ACTION!" It immediately curved back and struck Static in the back of the head, then rebounded to slam into Vindaloo's. Just enough power to knock them silly, which was all Sailor Moon could muster at the moment.

Barnacle, dumbstruck by how Sailor Moon could shake Static's disruptive power so quickly, was wide open. "Shabon Spray Freezing!" Mercury cried. Before Barnacle could blink, thick ice covered him from head to toe.

"There's some more moisture for him to chew on," Jupiter spat, looking from one downed Acolyte to another. "They really thought that a Sailor Senshi's power could be disrupted the same way a mutant's would be?"

"Still going to be a few minutes before I'm back in top form," Sailor Moon croaked, reaching up for a helping hand. Jupiter obliged, pulling her up, then let Sailor Moon sling an arm over her shoulders. Mercury took point as they made their way through a tunnel leading to the next chamber, typing away at her computer.

"We're definitely getting closer," said Mercury as they stepped into the next chamber. "After everything Magneto's done, after he's sown such discord in Japan, he deserves whatever he gets! I have half a mind to freeze him solid and kick his head clean off!"

This wasn't like Mercury at all, and to Sailor Moon's surprise, she found herself AGREEING with her! Her own anger was bubbling up, threatening to consume her as it had Naru. Suddenly, she couldn't wait for a chance to use the Ginzuishou to fry Magneto where he stood!

"Mercury, this isn't like you!" Jupiter cried. "That sort of talk is my thing, or maybe Uranus's, though I share the sentiment, and..." Jupiter's words trailed off. She gently removed Sailor Moon's arm and looked around. "Mercury, we're not alone in here."

Mercury's teeth were gritted, her face contorted in rage, yet she still had the presence of mind to activate her visor. "This thing's been getting fritzy the closer we get to Magneto, but... Definitely picking up life signs in here besides us. Not to mention some strange substance in the air. Some sort of strange pheromone, and... It's the one called Spoor, who secretes pheromones that spur people into a frenzy! It has to be!"

"Correct, Sailor Senshi. And he is not alone," came a confident, booming voice. The three of them whirled around just in time to see spurts of plasma energy being flung at them. Sailor Moon wailed as she ducked and wove around them, the effects of Static's power having worn off.

She caught glimpses of a rather short man with shaggy, animal-like brown fur covering his body. This was Spoor, one of the Acolytes who attacked that hospital. So had the Kleinstocks, who were firing those plasma blasts.

Mercury countered with Shabon Spray Freezing to force the Acolytes back. That bought them a few seconds, but the frigid mist was soon dissipated by some intense force. It was almost as if it was burned away.

And then, Sailor Moon saw the source of that voice from earlier. Exodus levitated himself down into the chamber, his eyes glowing with pent-up power and a desire to unleash it. Sailor Moon gulped, remembering what the X-Men and their files said about this guy. That he was possibly just as dangerous as Magneto, if not more so.

"Mercury, Jupiter, cover me! I've got to keep this guy busy!" Sailor Moon cried out, raising her kaleidoscope. "Moon Gorgeous Meditation!" Just like when she had fought Magneto, she didn't worry about unloading too much. Anyone who could give Cable such a tough fight, you didn't take chances with.

As she feared, Exodus was able to force back her power, though it seemed to take a good deal of effort on his part. By using Mercury Aqua Rhapsody and Jupiter Oak Evolution, they forced Spoor and the Kleinstocks to take cover.

"Lord Magneto's wisdom is shown again. You are powerful beyond expectations, child, and your companions capable and loyal," came Exodus's voice over the shrill of their clashing attacks. "Unfortunately for you, I possess many myriad talents myself."

That was when Sailor Moon felt a thousand needles jabbing into her brain. It was only through sheer force of will that she kept up her assault, but it was already a losing struggle. Quick glances over at Jupiter and Mercury told her that he was affecting them as well. Soon Spoor and the Kleinstocks could emerge and take them down.

Just as Sailor Moon felt she couldn't take the pressure anymore, it faded. Through the bright, explosive light of their clashing attacks, she caught a flash of surprise on Exodus's face.

And then, Sailor Moon felt something entirely different in her head. A calm, reassuring voice. "Sailor Moon, I shall protect you from Exodus's own psychic talents. The X-Men will cover you three as you withdraw."

Sailor Moon knew this voice very well by now. Her swelled her heart with joy and relief. She turned back to where the Sailor Senshi had entered this chamber, and saw Professor Xavier walking in, thanks to that powered suit. Not only that, Artemis and Luna sat on either shoulder, possibly lending him their own power.

"You!" Exodus spat. "How is it you defile the home of Lord Magneto once again, gene-traitor!?" Exodus unleashed a concussive blast at them, but it struck some sort of invisible barrier.

"That would be me, Exodus. Bodysliding the X-Men in while the Sailor Senshi kept all of you occupied!" Sailor Moon turned to see Cable materializing, along with Iceman and Rogue. Rogue soared toward Spoor and the Kleinstocks, scooping them up and hurling them across the chamber. Iceman and Cable turned their power on Exodus, disorienting him long enough for Sailor Moon to punch through his defenses with her attack, sending him hurling through a rocky wall.

"That won't stop him for long, girls," said Iceman. He sped ahead on an ice slide, setting up barricades for when Exodus returned. "We can keep this guy busy while you soldier on. Give the buckethead one in my place, won't you Mercury?"

"B-B-But you know how Magneto fights better than I do, Drake," Mercury protested. "S-S-Shouldn't we move on together, and..."

"Sailor Senshi, there ain't no time to argue!" Rogue was flying around to avoid the Kleinstocks' bursts of plasma. She hurled a chunk of ice to force them to take cover again. "Accordin' to Cable and the professor, your other team is set to rendezvous with you three up ahead."

"Rogue is right. After what happened the last time I tried to stop Magneto under such circumstances..." Xavier shook his head. "I loathe having to put this burden on you, Sailor Moon, but I cannot risk doing it myself again. This time, you much teach my old friend a lesson."

"Sailor Moon, he's right! Just get moving!" Luna added. "We can help Xavier and Cable keep Exodus's mental powers in check, but you've got the power to put Magneto down!"

It was just like when Wolverine had urged them to take advantage of the Magic Knights' offer to hold back Sentinels. And if Wolverine were here right now, Sailor Moon knew he'd tell her to do it again.

Tears in her eyes, Sailor Moon turned to Mercury and Jupiter. "Let's do what they say. We keep moving." Mercury and Jupiter stared at her, then looked up when Exodus burst from the asteroid wall. "Just move already! Save your energy for Magneto!"

She rushed ahead, pushing them toward the exit at the far end. Exodus hurled a concussive blast at them, but Cable's telekinesis deflected it. Sailor Moon heard Exodus howl in frustration as the doors slid shut behind them, along with Iceman cutting loose and Rogue laughing.

They stared at the shut door for a moment, then at each other. "Professor X and the others were right," said Mercury suddenly. "Exodus is probably just as dangerous as Magneto. We can't risk him popping up while Magneto is hurling every metal object in reach at us."

"I know, Mercury, I know," said Sailor Moon softly. "I just hate having to do this again and again, like with..."

Jupiter placed a hand on Sailor Moon's shoulder. "Don't think like that. Sure, Magneto may be tougher than Beryl. But this time, we'll all be together."

Sailor Moon blinked back tears as she looked up into Jupiter's eyes, and nodded. The three turned and headed down the corridor, Mercury once again taking point, leaving her visor active. "That thing is still working OK, Mercury?" Sailor Moon asked.

"For the moment," said Mercury. She typed away at her computer again. "We're definitely headed in the right direction, and... Wait a minute, I'm picking up a completely different energy signature. Faint, but it's all around us, and..." Sailor Moon looked down, seeing what Mercury meant. Green mist was seeping up from the vents along the path. "Oh no, Amelia Voght! She's about to..."

Mercury's words faded away as their bodies did, dissolving into green mist. If Sailor Moon's heart hadn't dematerialized already, it would be hammering. Was Amelia Voght about to teleport them into space or something!?

When the green mist faded and she could see again, Sailor Moon realized that wasn't the case. They had just been transported into another chamber, one with a domed roof and some sort of chair on a platform on the far end, some stairs leading up to it.

After looking down at herself to see if she was all there, Sailor Moon then looked around for Mercury and Jupiter. They were right beside her, just as confused, but also standing near them were Tuxedo Kamen, Mars and Venus. Voght had teleported them in here, too?

"Excellent, Amelia," came a voice from that throne. "Now leave us, and do not disturb us."

Sailor Moon looked back up. Standing next to that throne was a redheaded woman in an Acolyte uniform, along with a shorter woman with her arm in a sling. Erina Kizachi! Voght nodded, then dissolved into green mist and disappeared. That throne was draped in shadow, but a figure rose from it, stepping into the light. A figured draped in dark red and a purple cape, his face still in shadow thanks to his helmet.

Silence fell over the six of them, not sure what Magneto's game was. After a few moments, Jupiter spoke up. "What's your angle, Magneto? Why not have Amelia Voght drop us off into space and be done with it?"

"I am not the monster you believe me to be, Sailor Jupiter," said Magneto coolly. He levitated himself down to the bottom of the stairs, though it didn't look like his shields were up. "Besides, what would be the point? Kizachi has told me everything about you. We are all alike in one respect. We are survivors. It would be foolish of me to believe the Sailor Senshi could be disposed of so easily."

"Well, he's right about one thing," Venus sneered, glancing up at Kizachi.

"If it means anything, Sailor Senshi, this is a confrontation I do not wish to have," said Magneto. "Many years ago, five youngsters confronted me as I tried to ensure the prosperity and security of my kind. But as I am all too aware, fate has a cruel way of making history repeat itself."

"Yeah yeah, we've heard all about it, Magneto," Mars snapped. "You survived the Holocaust, and now fear the same thing's about to happen to mutants."

"Am I wrong, Sailor Mars? Can you tell me I am, after suffering such alienation yourself?" Magneto challenged. "All of you Sailor Senshi saw it for yourselves, when you sought to intervene. All it took was a little prodding thanks to Kizachi's machinations, and a repeat of history was underway. Children hauled away on trumped-up charges, justified with appeals to national security and pride."

"And you were with Erina Kizachi every step of the way, manipulating events so that your fellow mutants would suffer through that, just to make a point," Tuxedo Kamen snarled.

"A point that had to be made, Tuxedo Kamen. Or do you prefer Prince Endymion?" said Magneto calmly. "All mutants must realize that there is no safe haven, no nation that will not view us with suspicion."

"And over the years, you've fueled that paranoia! Whenever any demagogue wishes to point to an example of the ruthlessness and destructive potential of mutant terrorists, you're always there!" Mercury cried.

"And stop trying to sound so noble, Magneto!" Mars spat. "It wasn't altruism that made you do what you did to Naru! Just because you wanted her as an Acolyte, and a figurehead for Japanese mutants willing to forsake humanity, you helped destroy her life! Pushed her over the edge!"

"She already lost her mother and her identity, thanks to you, and you brought her human boyfriend on board an asteroid full of mutants that want to see his kind exterminated!" Jupiter added. "Real nice way to show you have Naru's best interests at heart."

"The Sailor Senshi showed that the future doesn't have to be what you fear, Magneto!" Venus shrieked. "Plenty rose with us, lent us their voices, and even fought beside us! Both in Japan, and around the world! After everything we've done to save this world, we won't let you drag it into a war!"

"So this is it, Magneto!" Sailor Moon cried. "In the name of the Moon..."

"WE'LL PUNISH YOU!" all five Inner Senshi cried in unison.