Chapter 4

Tucking golden blonde hair back into her grey hooded sweater, Minako donned a pair of large sunglasses to help conceal her face. She knew she didn't have to sneak around, but for some reason doing it this way felt more exciting. Forbidden love she smiled to herself as the thought entered her mind. No one knew for sure about hers and Kid Brooklyn's relationship, but rumors were starting to spread. At first when he had joined, she thought he was nothing more than a trouble maker who was good with a sword. Somewhere along the line she had began to fall for him, not even realizing how attractive she thought he was until Rei had caught her staring while he worked out, sweat glistening of his bare chest. She moaned softly to herself and realized other people were around.

Get out of your head until you get to his room! She scolded herself. Again, not that it really mattered because no one knew who she was, but she felt her cheeks go red none the less. She made her way through the sparkling corridors of the Crystal Palace, making note that no one paid any attention to her. Just another tourist wanting to see the sights of this now legendary palace. The Field Commanders were given private rooms within the palace while other cadets bunked up in the barracks. Most of the rooms inside the palace were small and built like hotel rooms to accommodate the large staff that kept up with the daily routines. Kid Brooklyn's room was no exception. With only enough space for a bed a small writing table and a bathroom, two people inside made it quite crowded. Not that I mind getting close to him she purred and then scolding herself again.

The hallway outside of his room was busier than usual and she tried to slow her pace, hoping the people would clear a little before going inside. Standing just outside his door, she peeked around quickly to see if anyone was watching her. Satisfied no one paid her any mind; she turned the door knob and darted inside, closing it quickly and hoping no one saw her. Now that she was in his room she let herself relax, exhaling deeply. But she also felt her heart rate increase in anticipation. Suddenly, she realized he wasn't in the room. She pouted her lips and was about to leave when she heard the shower come to life. Well isn't this good timing she thought taking off the large gray sweater that helped conceal her identity. Do I surprise him in the shower, or wait for him to come out?

Throwing herself onto the soft mattress she decided it would be more fun to wait for him to emerge from his shower, freshly cleaned. Plus those showers barely had enough room for two. If we were in my room it would be a different story... Lying on the bed, Minako began to think of being a pop star, wowing audiences around the world. It had been her dream for as long as she could remember. At least I get to sing at the Festival. Every year a stage was set up, and every year Minako was allowed to belt out a few tunes for her 'adoring' fans. She knew she wasn't the best, but she did find the time to practice whenever the chance arose. After so many years, Minako considered herself a bit of a diva now.

She had been twirling blonde hair into her fingers when she noticed the running water had stopped. Sitting up to face the door she saw a naked, tall and well built Kid Brooklyn standing with his back to her, drying his short hair with a towel. Smiling and blushing she decided to just enjoy the show until he noticed she was there. She let her gaze drop, following the muscular contours of his back, his shoulder blades coming together and back out again as he continued to dry himself off. At his lower back, her eye was pulled toward a large circular scar about the size of an orange. Seeing the scar triggered a memory of a previous engagement with him.

"You said the next time I see you naked, you would tell me how you got that scar." Announcing her presence loudly to be sure he heard. He jumped slightly and stiffened before relaxing again. Pulling the towel off his head and wrapping it around his waist, she expected his normally playful self, but when he turned his expression was nothing but pain.

"You're right" he replied softly, eyes cast down towards the floor. He crossed the few steps to the bed and sat down beside her. She wanted to reach out and hold his hand, or wrap her arms around him, but the sudden change in mood had her frozen. She was stunned and unable to respond. "After we were awoken it wasn't long before those monsters started turning up. I don't know what happened to my parents, but we hadn't been on talking terms for a while. I had-"His voice cracked and Minako thought she saw a glimmer of a tear in his eye before the lids closed. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "I had a kid sister before coming here." The words were like a slap in the face. Had. Minako swallowed hard, fighting back tears she could already feel coming on. "When they started to appear, I went to my folks' place to see if she was alright. The place was trashed, but she was ok. She had been hiding in the pantry closet for almost a whole day. I got her some food and water and we left. I asked what happened but she wouldn't tell me anything. I knew it was bad because I found a lot of blood. More blood than I had ever seen. So I swore to her that I would protect her. Things were going alright for us. I brought her back to my apartment and she seemed to be doing well. Then one day on our way back from picking up some groceries a monster appeared. It was tall and ugly. And black. Skin so black it was like looking into the night itself. My sister freaked and ran into an ally. The thing was fast and got past me right away. It didn't take long before that thing caught up to her. It was holding her down, mouth open and ready to eat her. So I put myself in between her and its mouth, but the things tongue went right through me. That's when I stopped being afraid and got mad. I lashed out with all my rage, all my hatred at this madness. I didn't know it at the time but its tongue went through me and into her, piercing a lung. She drowned in her own blood, watching me fight this thing, watching me at my worst. I don't know how long it went on for, but eventually it decided the kill wasn't worth the effort and left. When I turned around she had a look of horror on her face. I'll never forget that look. And then she died. She died in my arms and she was only nine years old. Now I have this scar to remind me how I couldn't protect the only family I had left."

Slowly, Minako put her arms around his neck and leaned in, resting her head against his chest. Silently, tears had begun to flow as he had told his story, his painful story of a life he had left behind.

"I'm sorry Brook. I didn't mean to-"

"You didn't know" he interrupted softly. "Now if I ever feel like giving up I look at this scar. Funny how something that brought so much pain could also be a source of strength." Minako looked up into his eyes then and saw a sparkle. She didn't know what to expect but this seemed to throw her off.

"How can you be so... Calm about this?" She asked after staring into his eyes for a short time. His eyebrows narrowed as he thought about his answer.

"It happened a long time ago now. I've learned to deal with it. Everyone here is suffering from something that happened after awakening. Misery loves company, right?" He pulled her back softly to lie on the bed, still embracing each other. "What happened to you?" Kid Brooklyn asked after they had settled into each other's warmth.

"Nothing happened to me. We fought Koji without any loses. I only wish we could have done something sooner."

"I'm not talking about that. You have a deep wound, buried way down somewhere. I don't see it often, but sometimes when you look at the Queen you get this... Heart wrenching look on that pretty face of yours. So what happened between you all?" Again, Minako was taken aback by his intuitiveness. It was true, sometimes when she looked at Serenity it was like being on Silver Millennium again. She took a deep breath and pulled herself off of his warm chest, looking down into his grey blue eyes. Trying to think of where to start she felt his hand softly caress her cheek.

"It's alright Mina. You can tell me about it the next time I see you naked." His perpetual grin was spread across his lips and Minako let out a light laugh. She leaned down and brushed her lips against his, teasing him with her body. She felt him begin to wrap his muscular arms around her when she pushed off his chest, and stood from the bed. His grin now gone was replaced by a look of confusion, hands going out to his sides. Minako turned slowly and deliberately, unbuttoning her jeans and sliding her hips out.

"I need to take a shower" she called over her shoulder as she stepped into the small bathroom.

-/-*-\-

Chibi-Usa noticed Sailor Venus lurking through the corridors of the Crystal Palace and her child like curiosity took over. She wondered how no one else noticed her. Sure she was dressed differently, but anyone would notice the way she walked. Still, no one seemed to pay attention to her. Chibi-Usa was beginning to get bored following her when she stopped in front of Kid Brooklyn's room. Peering around a corner she wondered why Sailor Venus didn't just go inside. She's his commanding officer after all. She watched as the woman she had come know as one of her Aunts looked one way and then the other, checking to see if anyone was watching and quickly darted inside.

This made the young girl confused. Why would she dress differently to go see Brook? She wondered. Papa would know! He knew everything and always answered her questions. Turning away from Kid Brooklyn's room, she ran through the large hallways, arms out like an airplane, darting between people as they milled about the palace. Some waved hello to her as she rushed passed, others paid her no attention, too busy going about their daily routines. The small energetic girl went to her parent's room first, but should have known better. They're never in there unless it's bedtime she reminded herself. At least the control room is close. The control room was where Endymion spent most of his time now, directing workflow and overseeing the running of the Crystal Palace.

She turned to proceed toward the control room when she saw Sailor Mars and Veronika walk past, heading in the same direction she intended to go. Putting her arms out again Chibi-Usa ran down to the corner and peeked passed the crystal wall. The two huge doors that led into the control were almost always shut, but the people inside were nice and usually let others in. Chibi-Usa was always fascinated by the arched framework that surrounded the two huge doors. The phases of the moon sparkled within the crystal as if it was the real moon lit up in the night sky.

One of the doors swung open, letting Sailor Mars and Veronika inside, and Chibi-Usa wasted no time, rushing to stand against the door that was still closed. When she was close enough to hear, a conversation was already in progress.

"... Been having bad dreams about you, and Veronika said you were uneasy on the flight back. What's going on Serenity?" It was Sailor Mars' voice. Chibi-Usa thought she looked much better in her Sailor Senshi uniform than the plain black shorts and red tank top she was wearing now.

"It's nothing really. I've just been a little tired lately. There's really nothing to be worried about." That was her mother's voice, no doubt about it.

"King Endymion!" Chibi-Usa recognized Artemis' voice and instantly smiled, thinking of how soft his fur was. But he sounded strange right now. Why is he upset? "Long range sensors are picking up something headed towards Earth." She heard some shuffling, like everyone was moving at once before her father spoke.

"Is it an asteroid or comet?" He asked calmly.

"I'm not sure yet, but we'll keep- Another one just appeared. And another. They keep popping up. It looks like" there was a hushed pause; even Chibi-Usa was holding her breath now. "It looks like they're in a formation."

"Try and send out a ping, let's see if we can get a better reading as to what it is." Her father directed, speaking quickly. Chibi-Usa was starting to feel a little scared. Nothing like this had ever happened before.

"Sir, we sent out a ping and they stopped. There's no mistaking it, these aren't rocks floating through space." Chibi-Usa expected another hushed silence after Artemis announced they were space ships, but instead she heard her mother's voice, firm and commanding.

"Open a communications channel with all frequencies active. We need to make contact before they get here. I won't let The Black Moon Clan bring the human species to the brink of extinction again." What did she just say? Chibi-Usa felt her throat go dry and it was suddenly hard to breath. Her chest began to tighten in the grip of panic. The brink of extinction? She heard static coming from the large monitor inside the control room, and once again her curiosity took over. Slowly she peered passed the door concealing her and only saw static on the large screen. Her breathing was returning to normal when the static stopped and was replaced by a hooded figure. She couldn't make out any features of his face because of the shadow being cast across it, but she felt whomever this was had to be trouble.

"This is Queen Serenity of Earth. May I please speak with Prince Damande or Prince Saphir?" Her mother asked politely. The hooded figure lifted his head enough to show his mouth. She knew it was a man now because he had a short beard growing on his chin.

"Everyone leave the room." His voice was deep and rough but commanded authority. There was a few seconds of silence before he continued. "I didn't want to think it was true, but you really were working with The Black Moon Clan."

"What-"

"Don't try to hide your allegiances now that you've been sniffed out!" He interrupted angrily.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Chibi-Usa's mother pleaded with him. "My intention was to prevent The Black Moon Clan from committing mass genocide on this planet. Please, tell me who you are and what's going on here." Her mother begged honestly. Chibi-Usa watched as his hands came into view and pulled the hood back revealing his face. Long messy black hair fell out of the hood but not before Chibi-Usa caught a glimpse of a large scar in the shape of a crescent moon running from above his right eyebrow to below his eye, the tip stopping just short of his tear gland.

"My name is Ganymede and it was my army that defeated The Black Moon Clan. Prince Damande and Prince Saphir are dead and rest on Planet Nemesis, forever covered in darkness." Chibi-Usa listened in horror as her mother inhaled sharply and raised her hand to her mouth.

"It can't be" Serenity whispered to herself.

"It's true. I killed them with my own hands. Your reaction only solidifies my suspicion that you were, in fact, an ally of The Black Moon Clan. That makes us enemies." Chibi-Usa had heard enough. She couldn't take it any longer and turned away from the control room, away from this man who scared her more than anything else in the world. As she ran down the hallway she couldn't stop the tears from flowing from her bright red eyes. People tried to stop her, to console her, but she continued, trying to run away from her fears.

-/-*-\-

"How can this be?" Serenity repeated, more to herself than to anyone else around. The two princes who she knew something about were gone. Not only that, but an entire army was defeated by this man and his army. An army that was strong enough to kill almost every person had been beaten by this man. Her only hope now was to convince him that fighting was the last thing they wanted to do.

"Please Ganymede; we don't want to fight you. We only-"

"You will listen to what we have been through." He interrupted her again. She felt her hand tremble and tried to calm herself, to steady her breathing, but this man stared into her like she was nothing more than a child. He struck fear into her heart. She felt herself beginning to hyperventilate and could no longer control her breathing. Her head began to feel light and her vision spun. She thought she was going to pass out when a warm hand took her trembling one. Her blue eyes locked with Endymion's as he put his other arm around her. She felt the trembling in her hand subside and her pounding heart slowed. Endymion looked up at the screen and spoke for her.

"We will listen to your hardships."

"When Sailor Moon banished us to the Planet Nemesis Koji quickly took control. Only one person dared stand up to him, and that was Aksuna, but she was no match for his overwhelming power. To set an example he had her chained and beaten regularly. Believe it or not, but that had awoken humanity in some of us. We had realized what monster's we had become. So we decided to fight back. This is what we have been told. Time on Planet Nemesis is sped up compared to that here, or so we've been told. So what may have only been a few years to you has been a few hundred years to us." Serenity listened to what he said and was trying to come up with a way to get through to him. Negotiations were a tricky beast to tame. "Koji quickly found out about our... Rebellion and had his followers begin to lay waste to us, all the while torturing Aksuna, letting her live to see what had become of those who sympathized with her. Blaming her for this uprising. After many hard fought battles, we were finally able to free Aksuna of the chains that had bound her, free her of Koji's relentless wrath. With Aksuna free, she began to teach us how to counter their overwhelming strength. She taught us how to control the darkness, and not just give in to it. The battles we fought were long and hard, neither side conceding any ground to the other." He paused and seemed to be thinking of what to say next. Serenity couldn't tell if he was angry or upset but thought it best to keep silent until he was done.

"I am a direct descendant of Aksuna and I carry the will of my people. Some time ago those princes you mentioned were preparing to leave Nemesis on these very ships that we board now. I overheard them talking about meeting with 'our special guest of honor.' I had been raised believing that Sailor Moon was our ally and she would welcome us with open arms when we returned to Earth, but now I know that was a lie. I know she was working with The Black Moon Clan. We raided their ships as they tried to take off, and dealt them the final blow. Your allies have been defeated as will you." That's why The Black Moon Clan didn't show up three years ago. Because they were fighting a war. Serenity's breath caught and before she could stop herself, she blurted out what had just come into her head.

"Is there anyone called Wise Man or Death Phantom in your ranks? He is-"

"How could you possibly..." Ganymede whispered, eyes wide with shock. He quickly regained his composure, shaking his head from side to side. "That was the final nail in your coffin. No one, not even my must trusted subordinates knew of Death Phantom. Or rather, what Koji had become. After I had killed Damande and Saphir, he tried to approach me, tried to brainwash me into doing what he intended. But I dispatched him, just like every other enemy that has stood in my way. I fight for justice!" His voice boomed suddenly. "My people have suffered at the hands of their oppressors for long enough! When we land on Earth, we will fight our way-"

"No!" It was Serenity's turn to interrupt him this time. "Fighting solves nothing! Fighting only leads to more pain and suffering. You say you fight for justice and so do I. Please, let us not go down this path that you know is full of death and pain. Let us come to a peaceful agreement where no one dies." Her voice had softened as she spoke, pleading with him to not go down this path.

"Very well. If it means saving my brothers and sisters from death I will consider what you have just said. Give me some time to discuss with my men." Without waiting for a reply, the screen went blank. Serenity felt her knees give out, no longer able to support her weight. Luckily Endymion was already holding her so she didn't fall to the ground. Rei came over looking concerned, placing her hand on Serenity's shoulder.

"Listen, we can do whatever you want. But if push comes to shove, we're ready for this. It's what we've been-"

"We couldn't possibly beat him if this goes to war. He defeated Death Phantom alone. It took two Silver Crystal's to defeat Death Phantom when we were still teenagers. Two Rei-chan!" Serenity heard her own voice go into hysterics. "The only chance we have is to convince him there doesn't need to be a fight."

"I'm not saying we should fight him because a peaceful resolution would be in everyone's best interest. But we're not kids anymore Usagi!" Serenity knew her friend only used her real name to drive a point home. "Don't forget that you have been training too. I know it isn't as often as the rest of us, but believe me when I say this: You could beat Death Phantom alone now if you needed too." Serenity felt tears fall from her eyes.

"I'm scared Rei" she whispered. "That man terrifies me. And what's worse is he believes he's fighting for a noble cause." Before Serenity could hear her friend's words of comfort, the monitor came back to life. Ganymede was in view, along with five others that she couldn't make out.

"We have come to a decision." He began. "Our terms will not be negotiated. Any failure to meet all the demands will result on an all out war. Although, we only have one demand. After we land and unload our ships, Sailor Moon and her Senshi are to board one and leave this planet. You are to drift through space as punishment for the crimes you have committed. If you refuse, we will kill anyone who stands in our way."

A/N: Ganymede is the seventh moon that orbits Jupiter. I decided on that theme of a name for what I think is obvious reasons, Sailor Moon and what not. I also picked this moon because I thought it was very interesting. It's the largest moon in the solar system, bigger even than Mercury. It is also the only moon in the solar system known to possess a magnetosphere, or magnetic field. From that scientists deduced that the moon has a liquid iron core. So the moon is more like a planet than a moon. I could go on, but I don't want to bore you too much with this authors note. I hope you're enjoying the sequel so far, as there is much more to come!