Sailor Moon: Hero Unlimited 6 – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek", "JLU" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 6: "Fractured Mirror" & "Imitations"
CADMUS (location unknown).
Assistant National Security Director Amanda Waller, a no-nonsense enters her office with a sense foreboding. There was something in the air...
"Have a seat, Director," a voice says, as a desk lamp comes on.
CLICK!
Sitting in her seat was Usagi ("Sailor Moon") Tsukino.
"Lady Rantsu," Waller says nervously. "I didn't know-"
"Save it, Waller," Usagi says. "You and I have too much of the same past to begin this conversation with nonsense. Now, sit."
Waller was tempted to call for back up, but that would have been a waste of resources.
"You and I have much to discuss, starting with what happened to my daughter, Power Girl..."
FLASHBACKSupergirl was having some difficulties sleeping, due to some nightmares she was having of killing people. Kara has never intentionally caused the deaths of anyone, let alone committed cold-blooded murder. So she complained about to her friend "Green Arrow", who was having lunch with Sailor Moon in the JLU's Watchtower. As always, 'Arrow was trying to "chat" 'Moon, before Supergirl came upon the scene.
"…And it's like I'm this other person," Supergirl lamented.
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it, kid," 'Arrow says with assurance. "It was just a dream."
"Well, you never know," 'Moon says. "Sometimes, the brain can give sub-conscious mind messages to the conscious mind."
"As if YOU are an expert in psychometric and cognitive sciences," countered 'Arrow.
"Well, actually, I am," 'Moon says. "Got the papers from Oxford University in England and Columbia University in New York to prove it."
"Yeah," Supergirl says. "So, what do you think I should do?"
"Well, I can do a surface scan of your thoughts, and then get some detective work done," 'Moon says.
"Why not handle the detective side of things, since you are so good at everything?" 'Arrow says mockingly.
"First, I'm a doctor, not a detective. Well, at least, most of the time I am. Secondly, we are ready have a detective around here that needs the work."
"Batman?" Supergirl asks.
"No, HIM."
'Moon thumbs towards the man with the blue fedora, blue trench-coat, gray suit, black tie and shoes…and a faceless mask. He was sitting there, quietly observing 'Moon's activities for some time now.
"'The Question'?" 'Arrow asks. "Isn't he wind up a bit too tightly, so to speak?"
"Perhaps, but Batman is working on a case at the moment, and it will give Question something to do. It's your call, Kara."
Supergirl looks at 'Moon and 'Arrow, and then at the Question.
"Fine, I accept."
After the appropriate introductions were made, Supergirl, Sailor Moon and Green Arrow goes with the Question to his room, which doubles as his office. On one large section of the room was a large easel with postings of various article clippings scattered throughout. All of them were connected different color strings that created an elaborate mapping system. However, what was striking was that directly in the center of this "matrix" was a picture of Sailor Moon.
"Hey, why's 'Moon's picture in your room?" says a perturbed 'Arrow.
"SHE knows why," Questions says. "She is behind it all. She is…THE conspiracy."
"But what does THAT have to do with me?" Supergirl asks.
"Whether 'Moon wants to admit it or not, what's happening to you is very much connected to what you are facing."
"Be as it may, we asked for your help in Kara's matter, not mine. And besides, if I am part of this 'conspiracy' you keep bugging me about, wouldn't the best way to dig deeper into MY past by being a part of this…exercise?"
"Hmmm," Question muses. "'Truth in plain sight.' Okay, I'm in."
From that moment, all four heroes began to investigate Supergirl's dream. Upon visiting the now-retired General Hardcastle, the point man who lead a an operation against a Darkseid-controlled Superman (and his Apocalyptic forces), it became apparent that there was something going on…
"The General was of no help," Supergirl says.
"Well, I'm going to get answers," 'Arrow says, as he was about to go back into Hardcastle's cabin.
"Let it go," Question says. "I have all the clues we can work with."
Sailor Moon steps out Hardcastle's cabin, and shuts the door behind her.
"I told Hardcastle if he uncovers more information for us, he can contact the Justice League."
And with that, the 'League members are teleported away. Ten minutes later, a blond-haired girl cut in a short bob) with a white one-piece (with a circle cut over the chest), and wore a yellow belt, white gloves and boots. She enters the cabin.
"Hello, General Hardcastle," the girl says.
"I was told to expect something," the grizzled man said. And with that, the man presses a button on a transponder. He begins to disappear, and will be transported to a safe house through the Rantsu Foundation, Usagi's non-profit organization based in Japan. "I left something for you…"
The girl hears a ticking sound. She zeroes on a timer, which is connected to a bomb…
BOOM!
When the smoke clears, the girl reemerges the wreckage fuming.
Later…
As the 'League continues to investigate Supergirl's dreams, all matter of strange circumstances are revealed. First, the faces of those in Kara's dreams were recently deceased. Secondly, after visiting Star Labs, where Supergirl has her physicals conducted, two "drop ships" filled with unidentified armored shoulders, with two battle droids put the drop on Supergirl and the others. The droids fought Supergirl and Sailor Moon, while the 'Arrow and the Question took on the human troops.
"HA!" Supergirl says, as she slams into the mechanical man.
Meanwhile, 'Moon looks at the droid. She then taps her broach.
"983 Texas," Sailor Moon says.
(A/N: The "938 Texas" is based upon the code access used Captains Murphy and Shanks from "Sealab 2021". –DSW)
The droid immediately shuts down, which did not go unnoticed by the Question.
After coming up with a lead to a non-descript biotech firm, 'Arrow and Supergirl sneaks into the firm.
"Hey, where's Walter?" says the front desk security guard, as 'Arrow, disguised as another security guard, enters the building.
"Walter won a free trip to Hawaii," 'Arrow says, as he sits down his lunch box. "I'm his replacement."
"Yeah, well, I wished you were MY replacement," the guard says sarcastically. "She's all yours."
As the guard leaves the building, Supergirl uses "super-speed" to slip through virtually undetected.
"Well, what's next?" Supergirl asks.
"We investigate," 'Arrow begins. "Question said that he will meet us her shortly, and Sailor Moon, well, she said that there was something she needed to handle first. Go figure."
So, what was the business that Sailor Moon had to take care of? Well…
Division of Paranormal Investigations (Codename: X-Files): FBI, J. Edgar Building, Washington D.C.
"So, what's up, Special Director?" asks Special Agent John Doggett. The former New York cop was used to having meetings late in the evening, thanks to his and his partner line of work.
"Yes, why the late night meeting?" asks Special Agent Monica Reyes. Since being a part of the X-Files team, she had to deal with the weird behavior of their newest boss, Special Director Serena Tsukino. They have worked with her in the past, so she was not a stranger to them. As the designated "Special Director", Serena can give the agents special authorization that had "plausible deniability" written all over it. Normally, Serena gives out the assignments via e-mail, with a mandatory in-house meeting every Monday. Both Doggett and Reyes wondered why this was the case, but the FBI allows it, so that was that.
Usagi brings out a wrapped file with a CD-ROM, and places it on Doggett's desk.
"I think a conspiracy is "a foot", and I need solid evidence gathered for possible criminal activity."
"You think the Consortium is involved?" Doggett asks.
"This is not their normal style, but you never know," replies Usagi. "I will need to have a talk with them."
"Ma'am, I still say that it is wrong for those clowns to be still in existence," Reyes says in a huff.
"You're right, but you know what would happen if the activities of the Consortium is publicly known."
"Why, because of YOUR involvement?"
"No, because if THEY know, you won't, if you get my drift. I may have a lot of resources and contacts in some not so friendly territory, but even I have to play by the rules. Already, I have the Question centered on me, thinking that I am the source of all the conspiracies in this world and the next."
"But you are, ma'am," Doggett replies.
"If that was the case, the Consortium would not be in existence. I had nothing to do with its formation as a Technocratic 'convention'."
"I see…"
"Which is why the X-Files were allowed to be created in the first place. Somebody has to be around to 'watch the watchers' in this world, and having a legally sanctioned entity like this one helps in that regard."
Doggett looks at Usagi and then at the file, and then at Usagi.
"Alright, we'll get on it then."
Reyes merely nods in agreement.
Meanwhile Supergirl and Green Arrow were going over some files in a control room.
"Look at this!" 'Arrow says. "These guys seem to have a file on everyone in the 'League, as part of their superhuman arms race!"
"Arrow, take a look at this," Kara says with a shocked expression. "It's…it's…"
Suddenly, they hear running outside the control room.
"After her!" 'Arrow says, as he and Supergirl takes off after their target.
Meanwhile, the Question, while singing a Britney Spears song, enters the building, by throwing a potted plant through the glass door. He had uncovered evidence of the existence of another Supergirl.
At same time, 'Arrow and Supergirl run into a large room, which was the size of a football stadium.
"HOLOGRAPHIC GENERATOR ACTIVE," says a computer voice.
A moment later, a simulation of Metropolis forms.
"This looks like Metropolis!" Supergirl says.
"Of course it is," says a voice. Dropping from the skies was…POWER GIRL!
Power Girl was Lara Kent, the daughter of Clark Kent and Usagi Tsukino, borne out of a short-lived marriage back in the 1930s. When Usagi met Clark, she was in the middle of a personal crisis, borne out of a since of desperation and lost. The worldly Usagi and her irreverent ways enamored Clark, then known as "Superboy". The two married in a small Methodist chapel in Smallville, Kansas, and set up shop in Metropolis. Unfortunately, and enemy in Usagi's past nearly killed Superboy, forcing Usagi to abandoned her beloved for his sake. The world would need Clark, not her. However, Usagi was pregnant with child, and she knew that the one who tried to kill Clark would go after their daughter. So, thanks to her ties with ancient Atlantis, Usagi gave up her daughter to an Atlantean magus named Arion to look after. Arion was powerful enough to hide Lara, so she would be safe. Decades later, after being placed in suspended animation in a life-capsule, Lara was unleashed unto the world as "Supergirl". It wasn't until later, during the height of the feminist movement in the 1970s that Lara took on the name "Powergirl", due to her need to be fiercely independent of her father. Her relationship with her parents had been sketchy at best, but they were able to come to an understanding of sorts. It was too bad that "The Crisis" had hit the universe, thanks to an alien entity's need to destroy the universe to sustain itself. Lara was one of the casualties.
At least, everyone would think that.
CADMUS was able to track down Lara's body, and reanimate it, since cloning the newly arrived "Supergirl", who was injured by a Darkseid-controlled Superman, would have been a great under-taking (previous efforts to create a clone of Superman resulted in the creation of the twisted doppelganger "Bizzaro"). So, it was decided that they would use Lara for their efforts. Once she was successfully revived, Powergirl begins her training anew. What no one knew was that the young Supergirl was, in fact, the reincarnated "Powergirl", reborn in Argo City, the capital of Krypton's sister planet Argo. When Krypton exploded, Kara Zor-El's father Zor-El, the younger brother of Jor-El, had launched the capital just as fragments from Krypton struck Argo. Unfortunately, the effect knocked out the propulsion drive and life-sustenance systems. Stuck in the middle of no-where, Argo floated helplessly in deep space. And it is during this time that Kara was born. Eventually, Kara became the last of the inhabitants to remain alive, when her "cousin" Superman came upon the scene. Both he and his ex-wife Usagi felt something for the girl, but dismissed it as "wishful thinking".
And now, CADMUS has successfully brought back Lara's body to life…without a soul. And it is because of this that both Supergirl and Powergirl share a psychic link to one another.
"Powergirl!" 'Arrow says, as he takes aim. "You can't do this!"
"Watch me," Powergirl smirks, as she pummels into Supergirl. Supergirl, having gotten over the shock of seeing her virtual double, fights back. Eventually, the Question shows up.
"I know what you want…Lara Kent," Question says, as he steps to the fore. "You want your old life back. YOU want your parents back."
"I…I…" Powergirl stammers.
Suddenly…
BOOM!
Everything explodes around the heroes.
"We got to get out of here!" 'Arrow says.
The Question nods his head, as Supergirl tried to reach Powergirl-
BOOM!
And Powergirl was gone.
Saddened, Supergirl picks up 'Arrow and Question, and leaves the base behind.
Later, at the JLU Watchtower…
"Are you sure that there was no way my daughter or Kara could have been cloned?" Sailor Moon says, as she speaks through the video-feed of the com-link.
"We are positive, Sailor Moon," Professor Hamilton replies. "I performed Lara's…autopsy myself, and we destroy all cell samples after 120 days."
"Very well, professor. Keep us informed if you come up with anything significant."
"Will do, Sailor Moon. Hamilton OUT."
"He's lying," Question says. "He knows something."
"Maybe," began 'Arrow, "But there is nothing to go on at this time."
"…" Supergirl says.
"What's wrong, Kara?" Sailor Moon asks.
"If that was 'Powergirl', then I may have lost a chance to get to know my idol."
Elsewhere…
"What is Miss Kent's status?" Amanda Waller asks.
On a bio-bed was an injured Powergirl, bandaged and bruised.
"She will recover, Mrs. Waller," Hamilton says. "After all, she IS the Moon Princess' daughter."
A few weeks later, the founding members of the Justice League, sans Hawkgirl, go out on assignment. Aquaman had told his colleagues that "Molten Men" were disturbed by the activities of an offshore oilrig. If the Molten Men destroy the rig, the waters in the area could be contaminated by crude oil.
"Get on it, team!" Superman says, as he pounds some Molten Men.
While the various heroes were doing their part, the resident magic user "Sailor Moon" was conjuring up the mythical griffons and other fantastical creatures to help rescue the workers. Suddenly-
"Here we come!" said a Japanese youth, dressed in a white body suit with red and black trim. "The Ultimen are here!"
According to the press releases, the Ultimen were "the people's heroes". Managed by businessman Maxwell Lord, this young group of celebrity heroes is trying to create a name for them selves…much to the chagrin of Superman.
"Now, Kal," 'Moon says with assurance. "WE were young once."
"I KNOW that, but…they seem overly eager."
The Ultimen consisted of "Wind Dragon" (the Japanese youth who could control the air element), "Long Shadow" (a Native American who can grow into a giant), "Shifter" and "Downpour" (sister-brother team who can shape-shift into various animals and water objects respectively), and "Juice" (an Black youth who can control electricity). They all hoped to one day earn a place within the Justice League Unlimited.
Unfortunately, it was all a lie.
Special Agents Doggett and Reyes had used their contacts, the eccentric conspiracy mystery "Lone Gunmen" to pick up some leads on what was going on. One of the hits led to the Ultimen's true identity: they were faked. Using this information, Sailor Moon went back to her colleagues in the JLU.
"J'onn," 'Moon says, as she steps onto the command area. "We need to track down the Ultimen-"
The emergency alarm system rang out.
"Apparently, the Ultimen are attacking a government facility in New York," J'onn says. He then goes over to the secured feed. "Founding Members, prepare for action. This is NOT a drill."
By the time the 'League makes it to the battle site, Long Shadow, who had a crush on Wonder, gets knocked off the building. Apparently, upon learning that they were indeed "fakes", the Ultimen, sans the more levelheaded Long Shadow, go into a rampage, hoping to draw out their creators into the open. 'Shadow tried to calm his allies, but nothing seemed to abate their anger.
"Guys, the Ultimen-" began 'Shadow.
"We know," Superman says. "Sailor Moon gave us the break down."
"And don't worry, son," Batman says. "We'll do something to end this crisis."
The 'League had to neutralize the Ultimen without harming him.
Batman took down Juice, by using water.
Wonder Woman took down Shifter, who was a T-Rex at the time.
Aquaman took down Downpour with his "'King of the Seas', remember?" line…and back of his hand.
And Superman took down Wind Dragon.
The rest of the 'League did the rescue work.
With the Ultimen in custody, a government security team is there to greet them.
"Hand them over, Justice League," Amanda Waller says. "They belong to the government."
"They are human beings with free will," Wonder Woman replies.
"And our 'guns' our bigger," Batman says.
Mrs. Waller looks at the group, and then her eyes fall upon Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon merely squints her eyes in disgust.
"Very well," Waller says, as she and her team backs away. "They don't have long to live, and they are not worth fighting for. But mark my words, this is not over!"
And with that, the situation was calmed down.
"So, we are going to die," Wind Dragon laments. They had learned, the cause of their rampage, that their lifespans were deliberately shortened.
"Not necessarily," 'Moon says. "As long as there is life, there is HOPE."
"In the meantime," Wonder Woman begins, "you all can be part of our team."
The Ultimen looks at each other thoughtfully before nodding.
And that was that.
Of course, there was some unfinished business that Sailor Moon had to deal with…
END FLASHBACK!
"You have 'stones' to come here, Director Tsukino," Amanda Waller says, as she sits down.
"And you have larger ones to presume much, Director Waller," Serena Tsukino replies, as she tosses a wrapped binder to Waller. "That's enough evidence to publicly cause you problems."
"Humph. But you and I both know that to do so would create problems for YOU…Moon Princess."
"I see. Be as it may, I have the evidence I need to implicate you for some serious crimes."
Then, Serena rises, with her eyes red.
"I checked my daughter burial site…and found it empty of a body."
"If you already know that I have Powergirl, then do something about it!"
With less than a blinking eye, Usagi had grabbed Waller, and lifted her by the shirt.
"I don't know why you are acting this way, Amanda, but I will not let you or your ilk ruin what we are trying to do. And I certainly will do what I can to get my daughter back!"
Usagi drops Waller back in her chair.
"Be thankful that you have the allies that you have. Otherwise…I might not be so nice the next time we meet."
"Do what you can, Usagi," Waller replies. "And I will do what I must."
And with that, Usagi leaves.
As Waller goes to her phone, she notices a picture of a younger version of herself and Usagi. Both were in the military at the time during the days of Vietnam, when they were assigned to deal with the menace of the Toc Faan. And it was because of THAT experience that Waller set herself on a path to destroy Sailor Moon.
"Luthor? This is Waller. We have a problem."
Tbc.
Author's note: As the story unfolds, we will see more of Amanda Waller's relationship with Usagi Tsukino, and precisely why Waller fears the rise of a Crystal Tokyo. C&C are welcomed.
Next time: "Heart of the Dark" &"Dead Awake".