THE SECRET COLONY OF YAKUSHIMA
Chapter 8: "Self-Defense"
A Sailor Moon fanfic

By Bill K.


"Endymion!"

The entire room seemed to light up with good feeling. From her hospital bed, Serenity spread her arms in welcome as King Endymion entered. He came over, sat on the side of her bed and the couple embraced. Ami and Makoto grew happy smiles. They couldn't really help it.

"When are you going to stop scaring me?" Endymion asked, his forehead touching hers, as well as the tips of their noses.

"I'm sorry," the Queen replied, her lower lip protruding in a pout.

"You know, Ichiro looks just like that when I scold him," Makoto whispered to Ami.

"What does Akiko do?" Ami inquired playfully.

"Gives me an argument," chuckled Makoto.

"Can I see that chart, Ami?" Endymion asked, reaching behind himself with his left arm while keeping his right around his wife. Ami handed the medical chart to the King. He looked it over, still keeping hold of Serenity.

"So when can I go home?" Serenity inquired petulantly.

"I'd like you to stay overnight," Ami informed her. "Get a full night's rest and then see how you are in the morning. The consulting hospital physician concurs."

"Looking at these numbers, I agree," Endymion responded.

"But I feel fine now!" protested the Queen. Endymion touched foreheads with her again.

"Look me in the eye and say that," he demanded.

Serenity stared him in the eye for a few moments, but couldn't make herself speak. Finally she looked away.

"You don't play fair," she grumbled.

"Ami, any ideas on why this keeps happening?" Endymion asked. "I have to admit that I'm really getting worried."

"Kakyu says I'm doing too much too soon," Serenity said. Endymion turned to her.

"Kakyu?"

"She came to me in a vision," Serenity confessed. "Apparently I'm worrying her, too. She says I have to get older and stronger and smarter before I can do what I'm trying to do now."

"It's excellent advice, Serenity," Ami told her. "I have a theory: that the Silver Crystal is like a rechargeable battery and the energy needed to perform the miraculous deeds you perform as Serenity comes from that battery. And as with a battery insufficiently recharged, there's less than nominal energy to perform a given task, or else the charge runs out more quickly."

"So can't I just run on a cord?" Serenity asked.

"Why do I try?" Ami muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I understand, Ames," Makoto smiled. "I think. Serenity just has to take longer breaks between miracles and build up more juice in reserve."

"That's what Kakyu said," Serenity sighed. "All right, I'll stay overnight. It's going to be hard on Setsuko-Chan though. And with Christmas just two days away!"

"I called San-San," Makoto assured her. "Setsuko-Chan can bunk with us until you two are back."

"She's OK with that?" Serenity asked.

"Getting to spend more time with Ichiro? Yeah, I think she can force herself," grinned Makoto. "Although they may be the video game champions of Tokyo by the time we get back."

"I asked Hayami to check in on her as well," Ami added. "Between them and Luna, she's in good hands."

"Good," Serenity nodded. "Any news on Haruka?"

"Nothing positive," Endymion said soberly. "Michiru and Minako are down there now aiding in the search."

Serenity sighed. "Times like this are why it's so hard to follow Kakyu's advice," the Queen moaned.


Sailor Uranus stood at the door of the research facility. Two macaques stood next to her, waiting. Uranus was focused on the leader, still in the facility, along with the other two macaques of his party and Dr. Kuroi.

"Cheegah and Furgo will help you track down Bungah's group," the leader explained. "They are good trackers and sympathetic to our cause. They also know that Bungah's violence will only hasten the extinction of us."

"I thought you said you were the only one who can talk," Uranus brought up. Despite the logic of the macaque leader's plan, she was still suspicious of him and of all the genetically altered macaques.

"I am," the macaque nodded. "But they understand your language, even though they can't speak it."

"Going to make communicating kind of difficult," Uranus grunted.

"There are many forms of communication, Sailor Uranus," the macaque offered.

In response, Cheegah reached up and tugged at the skirt of the Senshi. When Uranus looked down, the macaque pointed at her and her partner, then to Uranus, then pointed into the jungle in a roughly northwest direction, shaking her paw impatiently.

"All right. We need to go. I get the message," Uranus replied. She noticed Kuroi starting for them. "Hold on, Sensei. I think you better stay here."

"Why?" Kuroi demanded. "You've already proven that you won't be worried about my safety in a fight."

"We're going to be traveling fast," Uranus told her, "and I don't think you could keep up with us even if you were healthy. And I don't think those ribs of yours have healed yet, have they?"

"I doubt your concussion has, either," Kuroi retorted.

"Haruka has the concussion," Uranus replied stonily, expecting her word to be final. "Sailor Uranus doesn't." She leaned in. "Besides, I need you to keep an eye on these chimps. Just because I'm working with them against a common enemy doesn't mean I fully trust them."

"They're macaques, not chimps," Kuroi sighed. "Fine. Maybe I shouldn't be there anyway. After you assassinate that Bungah, I might be tempted to try to save his life. Wouldn't want that, would we?"

Uranus nodded, in effect dismissing the veiled shot at her and the Senshi. Not everyone was a fan of the Senshi; she could live with it. Turning to Cheegah, Uranus motioned with her hand to start. Furgo instantly took to the trees while Cheegah walked next to Uranus. As they entered the jungle perimeter of the complex, Furgo gave a cry. Cheegah perked up, then motioned to Uranus and took off at a run into the jungle. Uranus bounded after her, running at top speed.


Sailor Neptune and Sailor Venus entered the air traffic control tower of Yakushima Airport. Being Senshi gave them instant access to the facility, something they hadn't always enjoyed during their careers as Earth's vigilante guardians. As she had no clearance, Constance stayed with the car.

As the two Senshi entered the control tower, there was a flurry of activity above the usual traffic of the airport. To their left, a Japanese Self-Defense Force officer was leaning over the shoulder of an air traffic controller. They were in radio contact with a craft. Neptune assumed it was one of the search helicopters and walked over. Venus followed, her eyes scanning the room for anything they might need to know.

"Yakushima Tower, this is JSDF-363! We are taking fire from the ground! Advise on return fire! Over!" the radio connected to the radar station blared. The officer, a Major, adjusted the microphone on his headset with his hand.

"JSDF-363, this is Yakushima Tower," the Major said. "You are authorised to return fire. Over."

"Roger, returning fire! Over!"

"Wait! You can't!" exclaimed Neptune, running over to them. The Major, Kurogama according to his name plate, turned to her, surprised by her boldness. "Haruka may be down there! She might get hit by that fire!"

"I don't plan to have a second helicopter downed," Major Kurogama growled. "My people have to be free to defend themselves."

"Uh, maybe you're forgetting who you guys in the Self-Defense Force work for now?" Venus leaned in. She smiled sweetly, further emphasizing her superior position. Major Kurogama scowled.

"JSDF-363, this is Yakushima Tower," he said into his headset. "Cease fire. Abort your mission and return to base. That is an order. Over."

"Yakushima Tower, this is JSDF-363. Acknowledged. Returning to base. Out."

"Well that was petty," snorted Venus.

"I don't intend to put my personnel in harm's way and not give them the option of defending themselves," Kurogama replied stonily. "We have a general location of the crash site and of these terrorists, whoever they are, that downed it. From here, we'll have to send in ground forces to flush them out the hard way and to assist any survivors of the crash."

"Major," Neptune began in a very controlled manner, "if you could fly us close to the crash site, without putting your people in danger . . ."

"It's jungle," he replied. "There's no place to land."

"You wouldn't have to land," Neptune countered. "We could jump . . ."

"I'm not sending another aircraft into that area until I know it won't be shot at," Kurogama replied forcefully.

"Then could you at least give us a map that indicates the crash site? We'll go on foot if we have to."

"Sailor . . ." he began. "Which one are you?"

"Sailor Neptune," she replied patiently.

"Sailor Neptune, that is very dense jungle out there," Kurogama advised her. "Have either of you ever been in a jungle?"

"I was in a jungle movie once," Venus replied, then grinned. "Toshi said I looked really nice in that leopard-print bikini."

Kurogama and Neptune both looked at her for a moment.

"Two separate forces working at cross purposes endangers both forces and aids the enemy," Kurogama continued. "I'm aware of your standing with the government and of your reputation. If we find any evidence of aliens, evil circuses or reincarnated demons, we'll turn this over to you. As of now, this is a Self-Defense Force operation."

"We won't compromise your operation," Neptune assured him.

"My main concern is one of you stumbling into one of my patrols and getting yourself shot by mistake," Kurogama replied.

"We'll be careful not to," Neptune answered dryly. "Major, right now my only interest is getting assistance to the crew and passengers of that downed helicopter. If you leave that to us, we'll leave flushing out these 'terrorists' to you and everyone will be able to complete their mission quickly and successfully. That is more important than jurisdiction, isn't it?"

The Major turned to one of the controllers. "Print that screen," he said. When the copy was handed to him, he handed it to Neptune. "Be careful. Whoever is out there is armed and apparently desperate to keep something secret."

"It's not our first rodeo, Admiral," Venus told him as she and Neptune turned to leave. Outside they met up with Constance. Neptune told her their plans.

"Michi-Chan, is that safe?" Constance fretted.

"I doubt it," Neptune replied. "But it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is finding Haruka and getting her to safety. You should get a hotel room and wait for us."

Constance sighed. "All right. But after this is all over, you and Haruka should consider a nice long vacation in some place romantic." Neptune smiled.

"It's not where you are, it's who you're with," Neptune replied. "But I'll bring it up to Haruka, Mom."


Cheegah and Furgo sprinted through the jungle at a high rate of speed. Sailor Uranus kept up with them. She was focused on her mission, but there were other thoughts in her brain. Running, she was free of the guilt over having allowed Hiroyama to die at the hands of this murderous branch of intelligent macaques. She was free of the anxiety she felt over the birth of a second species that might one day compete with humanity for dominance over the planet. And she was free of the fear that this might be her last mission, a fear she had on all missions, and she would never see Michiru again. Running did that for her.

From above, Furgo screeched. Instantly Cheegah veered left and Uranus followed. The Space Sword was in her right hand, ready to use. Uranus ran with purpose. Her vision was focused, her hearing keen and her mind ready to act at the first hint of an attack.

The atmosphere of the jungle was split by the sound of gunfire. Instantly Uranus ducked to one knee behind a bush. Cheegah did the same. The macaque waited for some sign as to where the shooter was. Uranus heard a helicopter in the air. There was more gunfire.

"It's in the distance," Uranus assured her companion. "Probably shooting at that helicopter up there." Cheegah nodded and once more Uranus found it eerie that the primate could understand her. The helicopter veered off and flew away, in the direction of Yakushima by the Senshi's judgment. By now Furgo had rejoined them. He clung to the trunk of a palm, about ten feet off the ground.

Cheegah gestured to the three of them, then motioned in the direction they were headed, pointing. Furgo and Uranus both nodded. Furgo climbed back up into the trees and resumed his role as overhead lookout, swinging from tree to tree. Cheegah took the point and Uranus followed her.

From the sound of the gunfire, Uranus estimated that it came from roughly half a mile ahead of them. Uranus and Cheegah continued to race through the jungle brush, trying with moderate success to keep from making too much noise. As they ran, Uranus kept glancing at Furgo up in the trees. When he signaled them, both of the ground combatants stopped. Uranus went to one knee again. She saw Cheegah creeping up through the bushes. Uranus did the same. Moments later she had reached the spot where the macaque had stopped. Cautiously Uranus peered through the brush.

There were three macaques. One had a Remington XCR 700 hunting rifle laying next to it. The macaque was bent over one of the others, trying to shake it awake. From the amount of blood on its fur, Uranus judged that it had been hit by fire from the helicopter, probably fatally. The third macaque stood about ten feet from the others, sitting on its hind paws, a Kel-Tec PRM-30 pistol in its forepaw. Its eyes were open and alert and it sniffed the air for trouble.

Uranus began calculating the odds of taking them all out with a single "World Shaking" versus disarming one with a "Space Sword Blaster" and risking fire from the other. There was also the possibility that an attack would spook them into the jungle and the search would have to start anew. Then the sentry macaque caught a scent. It looked right at them.

A rustle of trees alerted Uranus to movement even as she was summoning her "World Shaking" attack. The sentry was raising the automatic pistol to fire when Uranus saw out of the right side of her vision a form. It was Furgo. He had dived from his perch atop a tree and launched himself directly at the sentry. The sentry turned to fire, but Furgo impacted with him sharply and the two macaques rolled into the bushes.

"World Shaking!" Uranus bellowed, rising to full height. The macaque near the rifle reacted, but the attack was upon it too quickly. The geo-force bubble slammed into it and the body of the other macaque, sending them both flying. While Cheegah sprinted to help Furgo, Uranus raced over to the fallen rifle. Picking it up by the barrel, Uranus used the Space Sword to cleave the weapon in half, rendering it useless.

Immediately the Senshi's attention went to the two macaques who had been hit by her attack. Locating them, Uranus approached with the Space Sword at the ready. The macaque who had been upright lay sprawled on the jungle floor at an awkward angle. Uranus judged that the impact of the "World Shaking" attack had been too much for the macaque's small body. She nudged it with the tip of her sword just in case. Turning to the other, bloodied macaque, Uranus could see that the helicopter fire had done its job.

Turning her attention to the scuffle in the bushes, Uranus approached with the Space Sword at the ready. On her way she found the PRM-30 on the jungle floor. Picking it up, she cleaved it with the sword and dropped it to the ground.

Suddenly Cheegah was flung from the brush. She landed hard on the ground near Uranus, deep gashes in her left flank. The macaque got to her feet with difficulty and snarled a challenge at the bush. As if in answer, Furgo and the other macaque tumbled out. The sentry macaque had his teeth sunk into Furgo's throat. Furgo desperately fought to escape. Cheegah and Uranus both moved to assist, but a savage jerk from the sentry macaque ripped Furgo's throat away and ended his life. Cheegah howled her outrage at him.

"Space Sword Blaster!" Uranus shouted.

She swung the sword, the weapon spinning out energy arcs that sliced fearsome gouges into the sentry macaque's body. It flinched helplessly as several energy arcs sliced into it. The arcs dissipated and the sentry slumped to the ground. Uranus looked around for a sign, because she knew that there had been five macaques in the aggressive band. Cheegah, though, bolted forward. The macaque picked up a rock, lunged for the crippled sentry and caved its head in. Uranus looked at the scene and then watched Cheegah slump to a sitting position, arms at her side, staring at Furgo's body.

"Sorry," Uranus said in muted tones. "He saved us from taking fire. If he had to die, it was a good death. Still a waste, though."

Cheegah just stared at the ground for a few moments. And it occurred to Uranus for the first time that animals had a sense of loss when confronted with death. Finally Cheegah got up and slowly walked back toward Uranus.

"Bungah's still loose," Uranus said. "Probably should get back to the Research Facility. Plan our next move. And get that wound looked at."

The macaque just stared at the ground. Finally Uranus extended a hand to her. She looked up at the Senshi.

"Let's make Furgo the last one on our side to die," Uranus suggested. "Ride on my shoulder. We'll get there faster. But if you just want to mourn, I'll understand."

Half-heartedly the macaque took her hand. Uranus lifted her companion up to her shoulder. The macaque perched, taking the Senshi's sailor kerchief in both paws. Uranus glanced to see if she was secure, then raced into the jungle, retracing their path.

Continued in Chapter 9