Sailor Moon - The Order of Black
Chapter Nine: Escalation
Originally published 01/06/2015
Megumi Shoto stared across the desk at Knight-Captain Harcourt in disbelief as a frozen ball of dread formed in her stomach. "What…?"
The older man's normally impassive features hinted at sympathy. "His last report came in more than three days ago. At this stage, Paladin Payne is officially MIA…but presumed dead. Killed by the Sailor Senshi."
She slumped back in her chair as his words sank in, all strength draining from her body. Rin…is dead? It can't be. He can't be dead. We were meant to meet on the range…settle our silly little squabble like we always do. But…that will never happen now. When she finally managed to speak again, it came as little more than a broken whisper. "...how do we know that?"
Harcourt lifted a stack of papers from his desk and shuffled them. "Payne's final report mentioned a Sailor Senshi attack. When our Scouts reached his last known position, they did find evidence of their presence at the scene…along with signs of battle." His gaze dropped to the desk as he shifted in his chair uncomfortably. "The search will continue, but...the Senshi aren't known for leaving many bodies behind."
Her heart actually ached; she hadn't felt this kind of pain since the death of her father. "But why? If they don't even know about us, why would they…" Murder him. The words caught in her throat, and she had to rethink her sentence. "Why would they do this?"
Harcourt's answer was characteristically blunt. "We don't know." He linked his fingers together as he leaned forward on his desk. "Perhaps they are aware of the Order's existence, and this is all a probe of our strength? Isolate a single Paladin, gauge his strengths and weaknesses, then sit back and wait for a response." A quick sigh followed. "That's just one theory; one with no evidence to support it, admittedly."
Megumi wiped at her eyes irritably as they began to well up with tears. She was conflicted, a battle raging in her heart between grief and rage…and the latter was beginning to win. They killed him. My best friend…and I never even told him… That did it; her fury erupted from a deeper and darker place in her heart than she even knew existed, and her fist slammed down on the desk. "Sir, I demand a position on one of the strike teams!"
His answer was a simple one. "No."
"What?!" She leapt to her feet, all sense of protocol forgotten. "But-"
"There won't be any strike teams," he muttered. "That comes direct from the Council." At least he seemed as displeased as she was with the news. "They're unwilling to risk open confrontation with the Moon Princess and her Senshi at this time."
Megumi found herself struggling to contain her ire. It was spreading throughout her entire body like wildfire, burning hotter than any rage she'd ever felt in her life. "Rin had no quarrel with them, and they killed him anyway. They murdered him! A Black Paladin! How can the Council turn a blind eye to this? How can they allow such an act to go unpunished?! It's a slap in the face to every Black Paladin who's ever served! To the Order itself! Those gutless cowards are-"
"Paladin Shoto!"
She snapped to attention at Harcourt's warning, well trained after nine years as a Black Paladin. The smouldering fury in her chest continued to grow unabated though, and Megumi couldn't care less; it was doing a wonderful job of distracting her from her grief. I won't allow them to get away with this!
Harcourt stared at her unflinchingly. "There will be no retaliatory action at this time. That is a direct order from Elder Haim and the Council, and as Black Paladins we will obey it. Am I clear?"
"As crystal," she growled, bringing her fist to her chest in a formal salute. "Sir."
"Good." Harcourt's voice softened somewhat as he looked her over. "Believe it or not, Megumi, I'm not unsympathetic…but we've all lost friends here. You should remember that." The Knight-Captain returned his focus to the papers on his desk, apparently done. "Dismissed."
Megumi stumbled through the Order's London Headquarters in a daze as equal parts rage and grief battled within her for dominance. The initial burst of anger had faded now, but it was still simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for another chance to escape.
"Shoto!"
She turned to find Paladin Harry Wilson jogging after her. He was a member of her squad, the oldest actually. A gruff man in his mid-thirties, he'd mentored her after her initiation and she'd come to see he had a heart of gold, despite his outward appearance.
"Where're you off to?" he asked. "You didn't forget morning practice, did you?"
"I…" Yet again, the words stuck in her throat. "I need to give it a miss today."
His brow furrowed in concern "That's not like you, Megumi."
"I got some…bad news." She forced back her tears yet again with far more effort than she wanted to admit. "It's personal, but…I'm in no shape to be swinging a sword around. I'll just hurt someone."
Wilson nodded curtly. "Alright, fair call." His hand hesitated for a moment before lifting to squeeze her shoulder gently. "You know where to find me if you need someone to talk to, yeah?"
"Thanks, Harry."
Somehow, she made it back to her quarters and slipped inside. She left the lights off and slumped back against the door as it closed behind her, finally allowing the tears to fall. It was frustrating; she wanted nothing more than to mourn Rin as the friend he'd been, but it wasn't that simple…and her heart knew it even if her mind wouldn't accept it. The tall, slender woman stepped morosely over to her bed and sank down onto it. Her eyes lingered on a small, framed photo on her nightstand, and she reached out to pick it up.
It was her and Rin as children, probably no older than seven. He'd given it to her for her twenty-third birthday. He found it in an old footlocker that belonged to his mother, she recalled sadly. It took him months to summon enough courage to sort through it. She studied the image of his younger self with a faint smile. They were at the beach somewhere, playing in the surf. She didn't remember the exact day, or where they'd gone…but it was clear they were having the time of their lives. It would be one of the last such times, though; his mother died less than a year later, and his father took him back to England with him. Megumi wouldn't see him again for more than seven years.
"I don't really know if there's an afterlife, Rin…but I hope you find her again."
She couldn't help but remember her father, also a Black Paladin before her. Their family could trace their lineage all the way back to one of Japan's noble samurai clans, and he'd instilled her with their notions of honour and loyalty from a young age. Megumi knew even as a child that she would one day be a Paladin of the Black, just like him, and at fifteen her ambition was finally realised.
Unfortunately, her father wasn't there to see it. He was killed on a supposedly 'routine assignment' to Somalia only a few weeks before her initiation. A common thug with a rusty assault rifle took him away from me, she thought bitterly, fighting to keep a stolen trinket he didn't even understand. I'm always amazed at how far people will go for simple, human greed. Then, nine years ago, she'd found Rinjirou again, and having him back in her life had helped dull the pain of losing her father. It was an instant reconnection, as if they'd never been separated at all. But now, he's dead too. Murdered by the Sailor Senshi.
Just the thought of them set her heart ablaze again, and Megumi found herself with the sudden urge to hit something…or someone. They acted like heroes now, but the Order knew what the future held and Earth would never again bow to anyone; certainly not the corrupt remains of the Moon Kingdom and the Sailor Senshi! Her head turned slowly, almost imperceptibly, until her eyes locked on the katana-kake in the corner…and the sword resting atop it.
It was forged by one of Japan's most talented swordsmiths, by traditional techniques and to her own exacting requirements. The edge was razor sharp, and the weight and balance perfectly distributed for her hands alone. This was a graceful blade, as much a piece of art as it was a deadly weapon; not like the clumsy metal bars that passed as swords for some. Megumi wanted to pick it up. She wanted to use it. She wanted to hurt someone. A Sailor Senshi. She wanted to cut them into bloody little pieces one by one, until-
"No!" Megumi took a deep breath and counted to ten, then repeated the move over and over until she felt her control returning. She was the master, not her anger. Whatever force had seized her was gone just as suddenly, leaving her terrified. What was that? I've never felt such fury in my life. It was like I wasn't even me anymore!
She reached up to rub her eyes, wiping the final tears from her cheeks. Oh, Rin. You'd know just how to cheer me up…but you'll never make me laugh again. There was a sudden knock on the door, and she rose to her feet with an irritated growl. "I already told Wilson I wasn't going to-" She froze mid-sentence as she tore it open to find a tall man in a hooded robe staring back at her. "Who…are you?"
"My name…is Thorn." There was a harsh, mechanical tone to his voice; a strange mask covered his face, protruding out above his nose and mouth to lend it the appearance of a snout or beak.
"And what do you want?" she asked, with narrowed eyes.
"Simply to talk." His eyes gleamed dangerously behind his mask. "Let us begin...with the Sailor Senshi."
Hotaru let out an irritated sigh as she stared down at her math textbook. Distance education wasn't her first choice for study, but it was a compromise with Haruka and Michiru, the only way for her to accompany the latter on her concert tour across Europe. Hotaru suspected Setsuna was partly responsible for the suggestion, as well…though she had no proof.
She could hear a shower running, which meant Haruka was finally awake. Even I'm not sure who the adults are in our group sometimes, she thought idly. Michiru had already come and gone, off to find them some breakfast. She said we were having a traditional Belgian breakfast. It sounds delicious!
Hotaru quite liked Europe, and Brussels in particular. It was nice and quiet, unlike Tokyo. People were friendly, but they left you alone if that was what you wanted. Michiru's third and final concert was scheduled for that evening, and they'd be heading for England in the morning. She found herself a little saddened by the thought. There hadn't been time to see much of the city, and it was quite beautiful; she would have liked to have done some painting.
Haruka breezed into the small living area, towelling her short, blonde hair dry. "Good morning."
"Morning." Most of Hotaru's attention was on the current equation. I have to carry the two…
The older woman leaned over her shoulder. "What's that you're working on?"
"Math," she murmured distractedly.
Haruka looked like she'd just bitten into a lemon. "Ugh. I was never a big fan of math. Far too many other fun things to do. You know how it is." At Hotaru's continued silence, she shrugged. "Or not."
The twelve-year-old nodded mutely, uncertain where to take the conversation next. Her relationship with her fellow 'Outer Senshi' had largely healed after their near-betrayal six months earlier…but she was hurt badly at the time. It brought back unpleasant memories of their turn during the battle against Galaxia. Maybe it was all part of some grand plan, she thought, with a sidelong glance at Haruka, but they killed me, and Setsuna! Something like that isn't easy to forget…or forgive. Seeing them beating down Sailor Mars had stirred up her own lingering resentment. I was so angry. I wanted to see them hurt. Sailor Saturn wanted to kill them. But I'm trying…and I think, finally, so are they.
Things could still be a little awkward between them – her current conversation with Haruka was fast heading for such territory – but she and Michiru had definitely felt more…open. They hadn't always been that way, and it did feel like they'd turned a corner. They're Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa again, Hotaru decided happily. The rest doesn't really matter.
The whole trip to Europe had been an escape of sorts. After Chibiusa returned to Crystal Tokyo, and Setsuna was summoned back to the Space-Time Door, Tokyo seemed unappealing. She was friendly enough with the other Sailor Senshi, but they'd never been as close as she was with Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna. That was the one flaw in Usagi's insistence on a unified group of Sailor Senshi; there'd always been a divide. The Guardian Senshi, and the Sailor Senshi of the Outer Solar System, destined for two different fates. The former lived in the palace with the princess, keeping her safe from harm while the latter were stationed on the outskirts of the Moon Kingdom, defending against any threats from the rest of the galaxy.
It was noble of Usagi to try and bring us closer together, Hotaru admitted, but such things take time. Maybe someday we can all coexist as one, but it's been this way for more than two thousand years. I can't blame Haruka and Michiru for resenting the others, either; they do seem to live normal lives much easier than us. It must be nice.
The thought of a normal life reminded her of the other reason she'd wanted out of Tokyo; Corey and Minako. In the beginning, Hotaru was sure she was in love with him…and it hurt that he didn't return her feelings. It didn't matter that he loved Minako; she wanted him to love her. Of course, now that she'd had time away from him to think things over, she was more embarrassed than anything. I was acting like a lost puppy, she thought irritably. Following him around hoping for a pat on the head. I can't blame Corey, though. He tried to make things clear to me early on, even if he messed it up like he usually does. It's Minako I was mad at. What kind of girlfriend is she, letting someone else crush on her boyfriend? There were obviously still some lingering resentment there, too. Setsuna was right, she is certifiable!
The door opened, breaking Hotaru's train of thought; Michiru entered the room holding a paper bag. A smile came to her lips as she spotted the bread stick. "That looks delicious, Michiru!"
Haruka took the bag out of Michiru's hands and placed it on the table in front of her. "Beautiful and you bought breakfast? God, I'm so lucky!" She leaned in for a quick kiss…or not so quick, apparently!
"Oh, stop!" Michiru said, with false modesty as she pulled away. "I'm not wearing any make-up, my hair's a complete mess…"
"And you're still beautiful to me," Haruka whispered, as she closed in for another kiss.
"Oh, please," Hotaru groaned, as she made a gagging noise. "I'm trying to do my homework!" It was like watching her parents kiss, and nobody wanted to see that!
Haruka glared at her in mock irritation. "Well, you don't have to do that here!"
"Neither do you," Hotaru retorted, with an overly sweet smile.
"Well played!" Haruka burst out laughing and reached out to tussle her hair. "Touché!"
In that moment, everything felt the way it used to and Hotaru was glad. She watched with interest as Michiru began unpacking their breakfast, almost licking her lips. "Oh, wow, it all looks so good!"
"I hope you're both hungry," Michiru said, with a laugh. "I got some nice fresh bread, a selection of cheeses, honey and jam-"
Haruka winked. "An authentic Belgian breakfast, huh?"
Michiru's smiled back at her radiantly. "As promised."
Hotaru looked it over and settled on some cheese. "I wonder if…" She paused mid-reach, her fingers hovering over the table. "Something's…wrong…"
"Hotaru?"
The hotel room disappeared around her. She was falling in a dark void, an oddly familiar presence casting an ominous shadow over her. She was freezing cold, shivering despite her clothes. Her stomach lurched with sudden nausea. It was wrong. Everything was wrong. She was adrift in a sea of despair. Drowning. Gasping for air. Finally, strong hands reached down and seized her under the arms, pulling her up to the surface again. It was…Sailor Saturn?
The arrogant fools meddle with forces they do not understand, and it will destroy us all if they are not stopped…
"Hotaru!"
She blinked, and everything was suddenly back to normal. Haruka was the one holding her upright – she must have fallen during her…whatever that was.
"Still with us?" the tall blonde asked, concerned.
Michiru dabbed at her forehead with a damp cloth. "You're all clammy. What happened?"
Hotaru turned slowly towards the window and stared out at the city beyond. Whatever she'd felt, it was in Brussels, of that she was sure. "I'm not sure. I felt…something."
Haruka frowned as she carefully released her. "What sort of something?"
"It was cold, and dark…but familiar. I can't…" She gasped aloud as she finally placed the sensation; it was familiar, and the memory of it sent a chill racing down her spine.
Michiru squeezed her shoulders comfortingly. "Hotaru, what is it?"
She swallowed past her suddenly tight throat. "It felt like…the Revenant Knight."
Rei listened intently to the crackle of the Great Fire, focusing on every little variation in the flame. It had been more than an hour now, and she still hadn't been able to meditate. She was growing more and more frustrated with every minute, but just couldn't bring herself to give up. I'm not even after answers, she thought irritably. Just a little peace! Why is it so hard?
The answer was simple, of course. Rei just didn't want to admit it. It all came down to the Revenant Knight. Despite Usagi's resurrection, she'd been dead for some time. Everything she believed in told her she should have been reunited with her ancestors…but all she got was another face-to-face with him. He taunted her, mocked her beliefs, and tried his best to convince her to join him the same way the Sailor Marauders had.
Rei could handle taunts; they weren't the problem...but the truth behind them was. I've been dead three times, she thought somberly, and I don't remember anything. I never even gave it a second thought until he pointed it out to me. No ancestors. Not even any damned afterlife that I could see. She shook her head and glared into the flames. How the hell am I meant to be Head Priestess someday if I can't even believe enough to meditate?!
An odd sense of nausea came over her, followed by the sensation of being watched. That could mean only one person; Rinjirou. Rei didn't even bother to open her eyes. She knew it was him. "It's not polite to bother someone when they're trying to meditate."
"I'm…sorry." His genuine apology surprised her. "I was just curious about the fire. I'll leave you to it."
She sighed heavily as she turned to face him. "It's fine. I wasn't having any luck anyway." I haven't been able to meditate properly for months, she continued silently. What's one more night?
Rinjirou paused in mid-turn. "I wouldn't have expected you to have any trouble meditating."
She snorted derisively. "And why not?"
"Well, you're a trained miko for starters…despite your rather grumpy demeanour."
"You're lucky we're in front of the Great Fire," Rei muttered. "I'll let that grumpy line go. For now."
Rinjirou gestured towards the flames expectantly. "So?"
She raised an eyebrow irritably. "So, what?"
"So, I may not know you all that well but you don't strike me as the sort of person to suddenly lose her faith. What happened?"
What the hell, she thought. What could it hurt? "This…someone made me think about things a lot, around six months ago. Things that don't quite add up…and that's all there really is to it."
"And?" He leaned against the doorframe almost casually. "Do you still believe?"
Her answer came instantly. "Of course I do!"
Something astounding happened; he actually laughed. "Well, it sure doesn't sound like you have any serious doubts. Have you considered that the problem isn't necessarily your faith, but in your head?"
"You're saying I'm overthinking things?" It can't be that simple, she thought. Can it?
He shrugged. "I'm not saying anything…but faith comes from the heart. It's not rational, and when you try to treat it like it is, that's when you run into problems."
She glared at him suspiciously. "There's no way you came up with that."
"I didn't." A hint of pain flashed across his face, barely noticeable. "My mother did."
Rei's impatience faded quickly. "She sounds like a very wise woman."
"She was," he agreed. An awkward pause followed as he stared at his feet. "So, if it's not too much to ask…do you really believe your ancestors are watching over you, waiting for you? Or is it a little more complicated than that?"
"I do believe that." Her brow furrowed as she considered the question. "You know about Shinto?"
Rinjirou rolled his eyes. "I might sound like a foreigner, but I was born in Osaka. My mother used to talk about it, every now and then. I think, now, she was trying to share her faith with me…but I was too young to understand." His jaw muscles worked in silent contemplation for several seconds, but he finally let himself speak. "I saw her, you know. After I was shot. At least, I thought I did…but I was in shock, bleeding out. Probably delusional."
"You're so quick to dismiss the possibility it was actually her?" Rei asked curiously. "Maybe she was watching over you that night? Isn't it comforting to believe, at least?"
He suddenly seemed almost shy, not at all his usual sullen self. "Perhaps." His voice dropped into a low murmur. "It's stupid, isn't it? It's been sixteen years and I'm still hung up on her death."
"Rinjirou…"
"It's just…she was the only person who ever made me feel like I was special." He hung his head and stared at the floor. "I miss her."
Rei's nausea was growing steadily worse, but she made a concerted effort to ignore it. He's not being a complete jerk for once, which means you can try a little harder too. "I could try and teach you to meditate…if you want?" She indicated the floor beside her. "Maybe you could reach out and find her?"
"I don't…" He hesitated, then stepped into the room and knelt before the Great Fire. "You're right. It is comforting to believe. Even if it's only for a little while."
"Okay." She took a deep breath in and let her eyelids lower. "Close your eyes. Focus on the sound of the fire. The crackle of the wood. The faintest movements in the air. Let it draw you in, and consume you."
After several seconds of silence… "This feels stupid."
"You're stupid," Rei muttered, as she reached across to slug him in the arm. "Now shut up and do as I say! Meditation requires calm!"
"But you're not…" Rinjirou wilted under her harsh glare and averted his eyes. "Okay, okay! Sorry…"
She took another deep breath in and willed her frustration away, along with her nausea. "Now, take long, deep breaths…and focus on the flames…"
Hotaru rolled her eyes as Haruka and Michiru continued whispering sweet nothing's - or whatever they were doing - into each other's ears. "If you two get any sweeter, I'm going to become diabetic."
"Oh, shush!" Haruka grumbled. "We're in Europe, Mich just capped off a successful tour. Let us have our romantic moment, you little grump."
The dark-haired girl couldn't help giggling just a bit. Haruka was right, Michiru's final performance of her tour had gone perfectly and they were in Brussels, walking the beautiful streets one last time. It wouldn't hurt to go on ahead and give them their moment. Unfortunately, the same sensation from the morning picked right then and there to strike again.
Darkness. Despair. Hopelessness. Wave after wave struck her and sent her tumbling to her knees as the nausea returned. I have…to endure. Where…where is it coming from? She looked around the city painfully as that terrible cold settled in, and finally managed to raise her arm and point. "T-There!"
"Hotaru?!" Haruka pulled her to her feet and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Damn it, this again?"
She nodded uncomfortably. "The same…as this morning. It's him…or something like him."
Michiru glanced in the direction she'd indicated. "We need to confirm that for ourselves. If it is the Revenant Knight, we have to warn Usagi and others."
"It better not be that smoky bastard," Haruka muttered. She gingerly released Hotaru, watching out for signs of another fall. "Will you be alright?"
"I'm fine." Hotaru broke into a jog. "I can still feel it. Come on!" Within a few minutes, they reached an old factory; she shivered as she stared at the boarded-up windows. "This is the place. Whatever I'm sensing is inside."
"That's not ominous at all," Haruka said, her false bravado likely an attempt to cheer them up. "So, I suppose we should transform, huh?"
Michiru nodded. "Just in case."
Hotaru reached back for her transformation wand and held it up. "Saturn Crystal Power, Make-Up!" There was a flare of light, and the familiar power of Saturn streamed through her body. Her clothes faded away, replaced with her Senshi uniform. Finally, the Silence Glaive shimmered into existence in her hand, and her transformation was complete; she was Sailor Saturn.
"Let's go," Neptune said softly, leaping into the air.
Saturn followed her up to a second story window, and waited as Uranus pried one of the boards off to allow them entry. They slipped inside, onto a catwalk overlooking the ruined factory floor. An odd scene greeted them below; three unknown figures in black armour stood before an equal number of familiar black creatures.
"Constructs!" she hissed.
"How are they still moving around?!" Uranus demanded. "Sailor Moon and Tinman torched their boss six months ago!"
The strange individuals facing the Constructs were of more immediate concern to Saturn. Their faces were hidden behind strange half-masks that covered them from the bridge of their nose to their jaw. One wore a full helmet, leaving her wondering if their headwear was a personal choice. Common to all of them - beyond their armour - was a faint stain to their auras. There was a darkness about them that made Saturn wary. They felt wrong. Not normal humans at all.
A fourth person stepped out of the shadows, a heavyset male from his figure. He held a strange kind of rod or sceptre in his right hand, but looked otherwise unarmed.
"What the hell is going on here?" Uranus murmured.
"Look," Saturn whispered. "Those Constructs are different. Their arms and hands are sharper, more angular..."
Neptune leaned forward for a closer look. "You're right. Another new variety, perhaps?"
Saturn wasn't so sure. They looked like the most basic Construct first used by Terror, with only one or two subtle differences. Something is very wrong here, I know that much.
Below, the hooded man held up his hand to the armoured soldiers. "Hold, Paladins. These creatures are naught but simple tools, and I shall restrain them without resorting to your usual barbarism."
One of the soldiers shrugged. "Your funeral." A woman, from her voice; the armour made it a little difficult to tell.
He shot her a dirty look, but stepped forward anyway and held up the object in his hand. "Obey!"
The Constructs twitched, but made no move towards him. Saturn, however, was suddenly overcome with the same sensation as earlier. "It's the sceptre!"
Neptune squeezed her shoulder gently. "What is, Saturn?"
"What I sensed earlier. Somehow, the sceptre is putting out the same aura as the Revenant Knight!"
Uranus appeared genuinely stunned. "You mean he's controlling them?"
Below, the hooded man kept the sceptre raised as he approached the Constructs. "You will return with us to the sanctuary." He brought his other hand up and waved it before the nearest creature's 'face' before turning to the others, clearly proud of himself. "You see? I have them under control."
One of the armoured men raised his hand. "Be careful, cleric. I don't like this."
"Nonsense. They're utterly-" The man in the robes collapsed in a spray of blood as the Construct in front of him tore out his throat.
The remaining humans didn't waste a second. "Four, five!" the apparent leader cried. "Move in!"
Two more armoured figures moved out from behind pillars and opened fire with submachine guns. The Constructs made no attempt to move; they remained still and took the bullets without concern.
"As expected, sir!" the female 'Paladin' called. "They're resistant to gunfire!"
"Move in close, then!" the leader shouted. "Take them apart!"
Saturn watched the unidentified soldiers warily as they drew swords and closed in on the Constructs. Who are they? Why are they here? Her fellow Senshi had similar questions.
Neptune watched the battle below with interest. "They're not police. Not with swords or armour like that."
"They're not the army either, for the same reasons," Uranus agreed. "The dead guy seemed to think he could control those Constructs, though. Any more insights, Saturn?"
She shook her head mutely as one of the creatures went down, cut in half by the lead soldier. Much to his dismay, however, it continued to fight, seizing the ankle of another soldier. She glanced down as she fended off another creature and stomped on its head with a heavy boot, dusting it instantly.
One of the soldiers screamed as the third Construct flung him around like a ragdoll, its clawed hands embedded in his chest. Their armour seemed to do little good against them. It hurled him into one of his comrades and swiped at the leader as he engaged it.
"We have to stop this!" Uranus snapped. "It doesn't matter who these guys in armour are. They're human, and it's our duty to take those Constructs down!"
Neptune nodded firmly and she leapt to her feet. "You're right. Let's go!"
Saturn followed them down, dropping to the factory floor with the Silence Glaive raised and at the ready. The leader of the soldiers was the next to fall; the same creature snatched his sword between its clawed fingers, snagged him by the arm, and drove him head-first into the ground; he didn't get back up. That monster won't get another chance to hurt anyone else!
Uranus thrust her fist into the ground. "World Shaking!"
Neptune raised her hands and pushed them forward. "Deep Submerge!"
Their attacks surged forward and struck their targets dead-on. Both Constructs were obliterated, no match for the Senshi's raw power.
Uranus dusted off her gloves and grinned. "Easy."
The remaining soldiers looked up…and raised their weapons. "Sailor Senshi!" the woman cried. "You will stand down and surrender at once!"
"What?" Uranus realised she'd spoken in Japanese and repeated herself in English. "What?"
Neptune glanced nervously at Saturn. "This doesn't look good."
"You will surrender at once and hand over your transformation items." It took Saturn a moment to realise she was speaking Japanese! "If you do not comply we will open fire!"
"Like hell we're going to do any of that!" Uranus snapped back.
"Have it your way!" The 'Paladin' raised her hand. "Take them down!"
Uranus span in behind a pillar as bullets flew by her and ricocheted into the air. She ducked out just enough to hurl another World Shaking, this time at their new opponents. The same woman stepped forward confidently with her forearm raised before her and absorbed Uranus' attack; the amber orb disappeared into a small, black vortex.
"What the hell?!" The Senshi of the Sky found herself pinned down as the two shooters moved in to flank her.
"Hold on, Uranus!" Saturn called, as she raised the Silence Glaive. "Silence Wall!" The violet barrier sprang up before her, and she began making her way towards the trapped Senshi, shielding herself and Neptune in the process.
The full-helmed soldier raised their hand. "Dark Blaster!" An energy bolt lashed out and tore into the pillar Uranus was using for cover, showering them with dust and concrete chips.
"I think we should retreat!" Neptune unleashed a Deep Submerge at the approaching soldiers, but it was absorbed in a similar manner as Uranus' first attack. "Usagi and the others need to hear about this!"
"Agreed!" Uranus called. "Smokescreen?"
Neptune nodded. "Smokescreen!" The aqua-haired Senshi span out from behind Saturn's shield and extended her hands. "Deep Submerge!"
Uranus whirled out quickly as well and punched the ground. "World Shaking!"
The two shimmering orbs flew out and struck the floor at their attacker's feet, sending a thick cloud of dust into the air.
"Now, Uranus!"
Uranus seized the opportunity and leapt into the air, back up to the catwalk, with Saturn and Neptune hot on her heels. The trio headed for the window they'd used to enter as bullets began peppering the steel around them.
Another unfamiliar voice cried out from below. "Chaser Bolt!"
"Look out!" Uranus shoved Neptune aside as a small dart-like weapon flew past, only to circle back around and lodge in her shoulder anyway. "Neptune!"
"I'm alright!" she said, with a grunt of pain. "Go! Through the window!"
"Silence Wall!" Saturn summoned her shield again as the two gun-toting soldiers got a clear line of sight and opened fire, sending bullets flying every which way. "Hurry!"
"Dark Blaster!"
Another dark bolt slammed into her shield; the impact sent a wave of pain down her forearms. Who are they?! They're definitely not normal soldiers!
Behind her, Uranus basically shoved Neptune out the window, then perched on the ledge herself. "Come on, Saturn, we're done here!"
She took one final look at the strange sceptre lying on the floor, and the hooded man…then backed up and leapt into the street. They were safely away within minutes, and dropped into a deserted side street to detransform. Michiru was bleeding from a ragged tear in her bicep where the odd dart had lodged.
A furious Haruka waited just long enough to examine it before launching into a rant. "We saved their ungrateful asses from those Constructs, and they treat us like the monsters?!"
"Calm down," Michiru said gently, as she pressed down on her wound. "You'll wake up half the city."
Hotaru remained silent, her thoughts still focused on the hooded man and his sceptre. How could an ordinary human hope to control a Construct? How did he even know what they are in the first place?
Michiru glanced back towards the factory and frowned. "Well, after that little ordeal it would seem we have quite a few questions, and very few answers."
Hotaru nodded slowly. "One thing is clear, though. Something is very wrong in Brussels."
AN: So much for keeping these chapters under 4000 words! Consider it penance for the long wait between updates, I suppose. I wanted to move the main plot along after a bit of a detour with the rest of the team, so here we are. The Order has blamed the girls for Rinjirou's 'death' and they're up to something in Brussels as well - involving Constructs! The Senshi really HAVE engaged the Order of Black now, so how will they respond?
It was a bit of a challenge getting into two 'new' character's heads. We saw a bit of Megumi in the Prologue, and Hotaru has obviously featured since Act I of Last Guardian Knight, but this was my first time writing from THEIR perspective. It took me a while to figure out Hotaru, especially...but in the end I settled on well-adjusted but withdrawn. She understands how Haruka and Michiru feel - the Outer Senshi ARE separate from their comrades, and there IS the potential for a little resentment, even from her. Usagi and the others always seemed to have an easier time living a normal life than them; I think it's only natural to resent that happiness a little.
As for Megumi, she's an interesting counterpoint to Rinjirou. A modern day samurai, if you will, fighting for the Order because she legitimately believes in its goals. Rinjirou felt the same way, but when he encountered the Hunters and realised what the Order REALLY does to survive, he couldn't rationalise it. Will Megumi respond differently? And what does Thorn want with her? We'll find out as we continue popping in on her POV now and then...unless you all tell me you hate her in your reviews, lol!
Lastly, I wanted to give Rei and Rinjirou a more adult moment together. I've shown them both sniping at one another but I began to wonder if they COULD ever be friends, and Shinto seemed like a nice place to start to form some bonds. I liked the idea of Rei being a little conflicted, and having someone just come in and point out the obvious. Whether or not this will actually blossom into any kind of REAL friendship, we'll just have to wait and see. Half their dialogue just sort of flowed out as I wrote the scene, so I've got another couple of characters writing their own material now. Fantastic :-S
Sorry for the ramble - this was a hell of an effort to get finished but I've got a much clearer idea of where things are headed now! The main plot is going to continue on two or even three separate tracks for now. The Senshi, Megumi and Rinjirou. My thanks in advance for your feedback, and for reading. Stay tuned, more to come soon!
Lisseas