Chapter 12
3 weeks later…
Sailor Jupiter walked down the dark and winding staircase that descended deep below the earth's surface and underneath the Crystal Palace. She really didn't like using this set of stairs or going to the unpleasant place that they led too. She would much rather be outside and lying on a grassy hillside with the warm sunshine on her face and her eyes closed as she quietly daydreamed. However she had been given an important task by her queen and she fully intended to complete it despite her personal misgivings and uneasiness about it.
The staircase was craved into the hard bedrock of the earth by some unknown and ancient civilization and seemed to go on forever as it twisted around and around in a downward spiral. It had been discovered purely by accident during their initial exploration and occupancy of the palace in the early days of Crystal Tokyo. Sailor Mercury had theorized that the staircase and the area it descended down to could be the remnants of the long forgotten 1st Earth Kingdom that had existed over 10,000 years ago and been magically sealed up since it's collapse until the Silver Moon Crystal created the Crystal Palace structure over it.
Every single time she had to go down these stairs she honestly felt like she was going to end up in the very center of the planet. She had timed herself once and it had taken her over twenty-five minutes to reach the bottom of the stairs even at a steady pace. She had no desire to count each step but she wouldn't at all be surprised if the total number was close to 1800 or more.
After what seemed like an eternity she finally reached the end as her white boots touched the rough grey-coloured stone that made up the bottom of the staircase. She paused once both feet were side by side again as she found herself standing in front of a large light grey coloured stone door with a pair of royal guards standing on each side of it. The door was about ten feet in front of her and the alcove she and the guards were situated in was about eleven feet wide and ten feet in length. She took a breath in as she steadied her shoulders before addressing the guards.
"I would like to see him."
"Sorry ma'am. He has requested no visitors."
Sailor Jupiter looked directly at the guard that had spoken. The guard in turn stared back her with a blank expression on his face. The cold and sterile atmosphere of the sub-basement of the Crystal Palace was making the verbal exchange between them seem even more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
The black granite rock that made up the walls, floor and ceiling was paired with the damp and musty smell hanging thick in the air. This combination made the entire area seem completely devoid of the love and peaceful atmosphere that the vast kingdom above it radiated outwards in spades. The dank conditions did however suit the true purpose of this area since this was where any and all captured criminals or other declared enemies of Crystal Tokyo were kept until Neo-Queen Serenity could purify them with the Silver Moon Crystal.
"I have been sent here by Neo-Queen Serenity on official business and need to speak with him at once."
The guard was silent for a second before nodding his head once and turning to look over at the other guard. After they exchanged a single nod of the head between each other the first guard opened the heavy stone door and stepped inside before closing it behind him with a thud that echoed off the rock walls around them. Sailor Jupiter crossed her arms tightly over her chest and tilted her body to one side as she waited impatiently for the guard to return. She didn't bother to attempt to converse with the other guard as she knew that he would more than likely not respond back.
The guard appeared to be in his mid-to-late thirties and looked to be in above average physical condition. He maintained his rigid posture at his post and continued to look at the section of wall in front of him which was beside the entrance to the stairs Sailor Jupiter had just descended from. He didn't attempt to make any eye contact with her even when she looked directly at him. It made her think of the old English guards with the large furry black hats that never showed any emotion or physically moved even when prodded or encouraged by an outside force.
It almost felt like the guard was angry at her and she honestly couldn't blame him if that was indeed the case after everything that had recently happened. She let a small sigh pass through her lips as she thought about what the future would entail and the amount of work that was going to be needed to rebuild everything that had been damaged or destroyed. It would certainly be a long time before the city of Crystal Tokyo returned to the quiet sense of normalcy that it had once enjoyed before Aldrich had arrived.
About thirty seconds later she finally heard the tell-tale sounds of the metallic latch of the stone door's lock opening up again. A few seconds after that the door spun open and the first guard re-appeared. He stepped out into the small foyer and left the door slightly ajar behind him. He looked over at Sailor Jupiter and his expression mirrored his partner's except that it appeared to be a little more intense with a more slightly clearer hint of anger.
It unsettled her more than a little to see such a reaction from a person but just like his partner she could understand why and where those particular feelings were coming from. Neither of the guards said any words to her but she could tell by the barely open door that she was free to go inside and carry out her business.
She walked passed by the guards and griped the handle of the heavy stone door. She pushed it open and proceeded inwards. Once she was firmly inside the new area one of the guards turned around and pulled the door closed behind her which sealed her inside the detention area.
The cell block was designed in a simple "L" shape by going straight before jutting off to the right. There were a total of eighteen cells in the area with six cells down each side of the main straight-away and another six down the side hallway. From where she was standing at the area's main entrance she could see several of the security cameras that were placed around the ward to monitor any prisoners that were held here as they awaited purification from Neo-Queen Serenity.
There were also numerous simple single-bulb overhead lights that were fastened close to the stone ceiling as they ran the full lengths of each of the hallways. Several of those lights would flicker occasionally. This gave the cellblock an eerie and foreboding atmosphere which again seemed to suit its purpose. The cells themselves were simple in their design and had not been updated from the previous conception of the 21st century versions. They measured six feet by eight feet and were equipped with a single plank of hard wood to serve as a bed that was bolted to the wall and a simple stainless steel toilet and sink.
The area was deathly quiet as there were no other prisoners being held here other than the person she had come to see. This silence only served to increase the overall spookiness of the place.
She looked down the length of the hallway to the very end. She saw a soft flickering of light coming from somewhere around the corner and from one of the side cells more than likely. She pursued her lips into a thin tight line and steadied her shoulders. She took a deep breath in and let it out with anxious huff before beginning to walk down the passageway. She let a single thought pass through her mind as she walked past the empty cells.
'I can't stop now. I have come this far and I can't let Serenity down.'
She strolled down the hallway with her boots making the only sounds as they tapped loudly against the cold dark coloured granite floor. She rounded the corner without breaking her pace and stopped in her tracks for a second as she took in what was in front of her now.
There was a row of three cells on either side of her. Her eyes were drawn to the middle cell on her left. The bars of the cell were illuminated with a constantly soft glow and frequent flickers of blue-electric energy. The unnatural fiery electricity not only energized the metal bars of the cell but also the space in between them as well which was indicated by the semi-transparent light blue-ish hue that was surrounding the cell. A soft 'humming' sound could be heard in the quiet atmosphere of the cellblock. The power for the energy fire was being supplied by a medium-sized generator that was placed at the end of the hallway just slightly passed the last of the cells. Her enhanced hearing ability which was part of her Sailor power repertoire was telling her that was the source of the consistent hum that she was hearing.
Another thing that caught her attention was another machine that looked like a laser cannon hanging from the ceiling directly across from the electrified cell. From her current position at the top of the small hallway she could see a small red light that was continuously blinking on the side of it. Other than that there were no other visible signs that it was turned on or what its actual purpose was. It wasn't producing any audio sounds that she could hear other than the hum of the generator that was powering the electric field around the cell. When she broke her hesitation and walked up to the middle cell to look at the occupant that the "cannon" was aiming at she could see that he was twitching and squirming as he lay on the wooden plank that served as his bed. Her eyes instantly lit up as she quickly realized what was actually going on. The cannon-like device was actually emitting a low-frequency sound wave that could not be heard by human ears but had to be positively ear-shattering for the target it was actually meant for.
"You shouldn't have come."
Sailor Jupiter hesitated for a second before responding. The cell's inhabitant had not turned around to face her and there was no mirror or reflective surface that he could have used to see her from his current line of sight. He was lying on his side with his face facing the wall. His head was at the far end of the wooden plank while his feet were close to the electrified bars. She had not uttered a single word or made a sound other than her footsteps so it caught her by surprise that he had unexcitingly acknowledged her like that. However what was even more noticeable was the tone she had heard in his voice as he had spoken. It had suggested that he knew exactly who had come to see him.
"How did you?"
"Your rose oil perfume was always my favourite scent."
As he spoke he rolled on to his back and lifted his head to face her. His expression as he looked up at her only added to the confirmation that he wasn't the least bit surprised to see her there. He then sat up and placed his feet flat on the cold black granite floor before twisting his body at the waist so that he was facing the front of the cell. Sean looked at her through the bluish hue between the metal bars with eyes that were filled with deep sadness and guilt. A small smile peaked out in the corners of his mouth as he took in the beautiful brunette that had come to visit him but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. There was a short period of silence between them as neither of them knew what to say next and all they could do was stare at each other. Sailor Jupiter finally broke the silence by deciding to get right to the point of her coming down to this dungeon-like place.
"Neo-Queen Serenity has sent me to escort you to the throne room."
Sean was silent for a minute as he replayed her statement in his head a few times. He turned and lowered his head so that he was looking at the rocky ground underneath him. This was the third time that Neo-Queen Serenity had sent someone down here to persuade him to come up and stand before her. It made sense to him that she had sent his wife this time after Sailors Mercury and Mars had failed since she would have more influence over him than them. After a short silence he turned his head and looked back up at her.
"I appreciate the offer but I must, decline."
"Why? You have been down here for three weeks all by yourself and by your own choice. Why do you insist on staying in this hole?"
"Mako-chan , I have done things that defy words. I have murdered fathers, sons, mothers and daughters and done so with a smile on my face. I have forever stained my name and all the good I have done with my recent actions. Everyone knows what I am now and will never truly feel safe around me again."
"That's wasn't you. That was Aldrich's doing. He corrupted you and turned you evil and against us. I am sure that the people of Crystal Tokyo will forgive you in time if you show them that they can put their faith and safety back in your hands again."
"When you entered the detention area just now you must have seen how the guards looked at you when you told them that you were here to see me. The subtle but clear hints of anger poking through their usual stoic demeanour as their minds processed your request. They know I am responsible for the brutal deaths of their friends and family whether it was my fault or not. It was my claws and skin that ended up being tainted with their loved ones' blood. They and everyone else in the kingdom will never be able to fully trust me again. For what I have done I deserve to be locked down here and forgotten about for the rest of my life."
"No. Neo-Queen Serenity cured you. The symbiote's evil nature has been suppressed and you have recovered from the psychotic break you suffered when you lost control of it. You are back to their old self so you are no longer a threat to them or us."
"Mako-chan, I will always be a threat. If Aldrich was able to break the curse, who is to say that a future enemy won't be able to do it again? If the symbiote was ever to get unleashed again it will remember what happened and make everyone in this kingdom pay for it in blood."
"We won't let that happen."
"I am sorry but I can't let you or any of our friends take that chance. If the curse is broken and it gets out again the things it will do to you and the others will be worse than death itself. It is safer for everyone if I just remain here and be forgotten."
Sailor Jupiter gritted her teeth and tightly clenched her fists at her sides. She turned her head and looked to her right as she frustratingly tried to think of something she could use to get through to him. An idea quickly formed in her head. She turned around and hurried over to the generator supplying the electric power to the bars. She knelt down and after a quick glance of the device found the power switch for it. She flicked it off and turned around to look back at Sean's cell. After a few seconds the soft blue light and low 'hum' gradually dimmed before finally disappearing completely. She then stood back up and walked up to where the sound cannon was suspended.
She stood directly underneath it as it hung over her head by another foot and a half. The ceilings of the cellblock were ten feet from the floor and the sound cannon hung about eight feet from the ground. Even at her current height of 5'10, it was still just out of reach from her. She reared up onto the balls of her feet and reached her arms up over her head. She stretched as far as her fingers would extend and managed to tap the 'power' button with the very tip of her middle finger. She rested back down on her heels before turning back around again to watch as Sean abruptly stopped his constant twitching and restlessness. This let her know that the sound barrage from the cannon had stopped and the pain he had been in had now ceased.
"What are you doing?"
Sailor Jupiter did not answer his question. She instead walked up and placed her palm on the computer screen located to the left of the cell door. The screen chirped to life as a thick green horizontal line appeared at the top of the screen. The line scrolled down to the bottom of the screen before moving back up again to return to its original starting position. The light grey screen then flashed a few times which was when she removed her hand from it. A few seconds after that, a picture of her appeared on the screen with the words 'Access Granted' underneath it. The lock on the door to Sean's cell clicked and the bars slide open to the right with a loud metallic rattle.
The palm scanner had been the idea of Sailor Mercury. It was also clear that she had been responsible for the electric fire generator and sound cannon. Only the Sailors had the authority to open the cells in the detention area as the Royal guards' duties were to only monitor the area in the Sailors' absence and ensure that any prisoners kept there were treated with the utmost degree of humane respect and dignity.
When the door was fully open she stepped inside the cell. Sean looked up at her from his sitting position on the bed with a look of surprise as if he couldn't believe what she had just done. A few seconds of silence passed between them before he stood up to address her more directly.
"Why did you do that?"
"To show you this."
Sailor Jupiter reached behind her back and produced a small piece of paper from the spot between her white tunic and large pink bow. She held it out in front of her as an indication that she wanted him to take it. He looked down at the paper in her outstretched hand and stared at it with a confused look on his face. It was a small and square shaped with no visible writing on it. He slowly reached out and took it. He looked up at her as it passed between them before looking back down at the paper. He turned it over and recognized what it actually was. It was an ultrasound photo that had yesterday's date. He snapped his head up and looked up at her as complete shock firmly etched itself across his face.
"That's our child. Do you want to raise them in our home or have them visit you down here in this place?"
Sean was silent as he did not respond to her question. He instead continued to switch his gaze between the photo and Sailor Jupiter. She could tell that he was mentally confused as he wrestled with what he believed was the right to do and his internal desire to see his child grow up. His senses of responsibility and honour were two of the major things she loved dearly about him. However in this situation those two aspects were now at war with each other. He blamed himself completely for his recent actions and now felt he had to hone up to them and be punished. His overwhelming feeling that he had disgraced his honour as a warrior would not allow him to simply move on with his life even with the blessing of Neo-Queen Serenity to do so. That is why he had chosen to come down here as his act of contrition and live out his days alone in payment for the lives lost at his hands.
The other half of him the young man that he had once been so many years ago was demanding that he go out and raise his child with her. He had come from a broken home with his father dying when he was young and his mother turning to drugs and alcohol as a result. The loss of his younger sister was the final straw that caused him to set out on his own into the world and eventually lead him to becoming the formidable warrior that he now was. That was the part of him that wanted to redeem the mistakes of the past and raise his future child in a home that was stable and strong and to give them the life that he never received.
He turned around sharply and put his back to her while still holding the photograph. He took a few steps toward the back of the cell with his head still looking down at the ultrasound image. Sailor Jupiter's couldn't help it as her mouth fell open slightly as her mind became instantly flooded with ideas as to what this gesture meant. Inside her heart she felt like she was actually finally getting through to him and all he needed was just one more push from her.
"You were a hero once and you can be again. True heroism is about facing impossible odds no matter the situation and overcoming them."
Sean lifted his head but did not turn around to look back at her. He didn't say anything or make any other physical movements in response to her statement either. Sailor Jupiter did not hesitate for long as she kept pressing her point. She was determined to prove to the man she loved with all of her heart that he was not destined to waste away in a prison cell far beneath the Earth's surface for the rest of his life.
Before she could resume her speech the red flowing skin suddenly appeared and covered Sean from head to toe. It was then that he turned around to face her and she found herself once again looking at the white eyed and wide black toothed mouth of Carnage. She had not been prepared nor expected to face this monster again so after the events of the final battle in the throne room. The unsettling sight of seeing this monstrous side of her husband caused her to fly into panic mode.
She resisted the compulsion to step back as she did not want to show the fear that was rapidly engulfing her. She had turned off the electric fire and sound cannon that had been keeping the symbiote dormant within Sean's body and the cell door was still wide open behind her. Her mind flashed with the terrifying realization that she may have just given Carnage the opportunity he had been waiting for to escape and resume his mission to bring absolute chaos to Crystal Tokyo. Without making it too obvious she flicked her green eyes around her field of vision and quickly took in her surrounding environment. She was looking for anything that she could use to her advantage in the event that he attacked her or tried to make a break for it.
After a few tense seconds the monstrous face peeled back and retreated down to the base of his neck which exposed his human head. The look in his blue eyes was not one of hatred or malice as she had seen recently but still retained the love and sadness she had just seen in his eyes before the transformation.
"It's still inside me Mako-chan. The symbiote lives within me and it's not something that I can ever escape from."
Sean looked down at his hands and paid special attention to the black-tipped claws at the end of each of his red fingers. He then tilted his head to the left and right as he looked at the swirling alien skin flowing like water over his arms and chest. He watched as it rippled and reacted to his very thoughts to form random objects such as spoons, the sleeve of a shirt and shapes like square blocks or triangular pyramids.
"There is so much blood on my hands. Hicks, Winters, all of those people in that convenience store. I don't know if I can ever wash away those stains. You have no idea what he feels like to do the things I have done and to care."
"If you remain down here you won't. If you come with me and help protect this kingdom with our friends once again you can slowly regain the people's trust and in the process, redeem yourself. You can become the hero you once were and the man I fell in love with. Our daughter will need her father—"
Sailor Jupiter closed her mouth and cut her sentence short. The building intensity of the conversation thus far had caused her to lose control of it. She had been doing that a lot as of late with the reveal of her pregnancy and now the gender of their baby. She mentally cursed to herself that she wished she could go back in time and re-do those events under much more appropriate circumstances. Sean's eyes snapped open as her words fully registered within him.
"Daughter?"
He looked back down at the photograph and studied each and every line of the ultrasound like he was cramming for a school's final examination. A look of total shock etched across his face again as he his eyes flicked all around the image. Sailor Jupiter decided to use the situation she had created to her advantage.
"Yes, our daughter. She is going to do great things in this world but she will need her father to help guide her towards them."
Sean was silent as he thought about everything that had been said up to that point. Sailor Jupiter remained quiet as well. She stood tall and her eyes remained completely fixated on him. She had said everything that she had wanted too and had nothing left. It was now up to him and what he ultimately decided to do. She hoped with everything inside her that he would come with her and rejoin the Sailor team. However she began to prepare herself for what she would do if he decided to remain here in his self-imposed imprisonment. She wasn't sure if their marriage could survive if he chose to hide in this prison cell for the rest of his life.
"Ok , I will come with you."
It took a few seconds for Sailor Jupiter to fully register what he had just said. He had spoken in such a quiet whisper that even in the dead calm of the cellblock she had almost missed it. She nearly jumped for joy as a huge smile spread across her face when his words finally sunk in with her. She rushed forward and threw her arms tightly around his neck. In turn he put his arms around her and lifted her off the ground as he embraced her back. As he held her up in his arms the red symbiotic skin that still covered his body retreated and completely disappeared back inside his bloodstream through the pores in his skin. She pulled her head back and they shared a deep passionate kiss the first one for them since the grassy field.
When they ended their embrace he gently put her back down but still kept her in his arms. They lost each other in the other's respective eyes as they felt the love between them being rekindled and the stronger bond they now shared in their roles as future parents. He finally let her go and she took his left hand in both of hers before tightening her grip around his hand. She continued to smile at him as she walked backwards and gently pulled him out of the cell. She then took a position beside him and held his left hand with her right one. They continued to hold hands as they walked down the two hallways of the detention block, pass the two guards at its entrance and all the way up the winding staircase that led to the sparkling city of Crystal Tokyo. However this time Sailor Jupiter didn't seem to notice the unappealing atmosphere of the stairway as her mind remained overjoyed with being successful in her task given to her by Neo-Queen Serenity and more importantly having her husband by her side again.
A few hours later Sean and Sailor Jupiter walked through the brand new large white panelled doors of the throne room. Their arms were intertwined at the elbows in the traditional formal gesture for couples walking together. He had been informed when he and Sailor Jupiter had emerged from the dank dungeon of the Crystal Palace that Neo-Queen Serenity was holding some sort of assembly that she had personally requested his presence at. When he heard that he had been unsure of what he should wear since he did not know the specific context as to the overall purpose of the assembly or his role if any, he was to play in it. To cover the majority of the scenarios he formed a simple red and black formal dinner suit and jacket using the camouflage powers of his symbiote before he entered the grand royal chamber.
Sean felt a huge pang of guilt as he passed over the main entrance's threshold and into the room. When his alien partner had been unleashed he had become completely powerless to control it since it was inside every cell of his body. The evil influence of the living costume had also managed to tap into the remaining particles of Queen Metalia's corruption and infection that had been passed down over the millennia through the genes of his ancestors. The end result of those two malevolent forces being brought together had caused him to be driven insane and make the symbiote even more powerful since both halves of their collective body were now acting as one single entity.
Even now with the curse once again placed upon it he still remembered clearly everything that he had done while under the symbiote's control. He successfully resisted the urge to physically shudder as the memories of throwing Sailor Pluto and Neptune through the original wooden doors and then carrying Randolph's lifeless body through the resulting hole shortly afterwards.
He and Sailor Jupiter both stopped moving for a few seconds once they were completely inside the room as they waited for the doors to close behind them. The throne room was filled with people and at first glance looked to number around three hundred or more. They were arranged in rows on either side of the center aisle that was lined with a bright red carpet. It reminded him of the way the Catholic and Christian churches of old had been traditionally set up. With the sounds of the large doors opening and then abruptly closing which signalled their arrival everyone turned at the same time to look back at them. He felt another intense rush of paralyzing shame and remorse as he felt everyone's eyes fall solely upon him. He lowered his head slightly too purposely avoid any eye contact with anyone in the crowd.
After a second or two he lifted his head and took the opportunity to look around at the grand chamber. In the three weeks since he had last been in this particular room a number of changes had occurred. He first noticed that all of the defacement and damage from the final battle had been repaired. The huge dents and blast damage from Aldrich's magical bolts and 'acid' rain had been craved away by some of the stone masonries and former tile installers living in Crystal Tokyo. They had taken the opportunity to not only merely repair what had been damaged but to create new and beautiful and intricate carvings in those areas. As he looked at those images his symbiote recognized them as symbols, historical and mythological figures and artistic drawings that had once decorated the Royal Castle of the Moon Kingdom during the Silver Millennium.
It also appeared that the people who had been in charge of the repairs had also taken the chance to add some new features to the throne room. There were ten new massive stone pillars with five on each side of the chamber that were spaced equally apart and ran the entire length of the room. Each of the columns had a single strand of large sized pearls that spiraled upwards from their base to the cathedral ceiling high above. Long vertical grooves were craved into the white marble stone of the pillars. These imprints ran almost the entire length of the columns ending about a foot from the top and base. The red carpet that ran down the central aisle from the entrance to the first staircase was thin but looked to be immaculately clean as the shine of the red fabric seemed to catch the bright light being emitted from the numerous lightning fixtures. At the end of the aisle a royal purple carpet led up to the first platform and then continued on up the second flight of stairs that lead up to the thrones of King Endyimon and Neo-Queen Serenity.
Sailor Jupiter gently nudged him and broke his fixation on the new sights and features of the grand chamber. He looked over at her and they shared a small smile between them. He followed her lead as they began to walk down the carpet towards where the king and queen as well as the rest of the Sailors were all standing atop of the platforms. As they slowly walked down the central aisle his eyes flashed back and forth as he took in some of the faces of the people in the crowd around them. He recognized several people that he knew were community leaders such as trustees or youth program organizers. There were others that he personally knew played other important roles in the daily running of the kingdom such as contractors or large retail store owners.
As he continued to scan the crowds around him he saw in almost all of their faces, the unmistakeable looks of distrust, fear, anger and apathy directed solely at him. He couldn't fault them at all for looking at him like they were. They had entrusted their safety to him and he had destroyed that by losing control of his powers and bringing the one thing that they had hoped to escape from by living in Crystal Tokyo chaos. Despite his wife's unflinching optimism he severely doubted that he would ever regain the full trust and respect of the city's people. He fought the urge to turn around and leave choosing to remain by his wife's side and face up to his punishment like a man and not flee like a spineless coward. That had after all been the point of locking himself in the detention centre to pay for the consequences of his actions.
He had no doubt now that he was about to face some sort of discipline from the king and queen. That would certainly explain why the crowd of various important community leaders and other representatives of the kingdom's population were all present for this assembly. Having them bare witness to the final resolution of the crisis that have enveloped Crystal Tokyo would satisfy the citizens' desire to see proper justice served and re-strengthen their overall trust in the king and queen. The entire scene before him reminded him of some of the key scenes in a couple of movies that he remembered seeing while growing up, Star Wars: A New Hope and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Beside him Sailor Jupiter felt her husband's various body reactions to the intense scrutinizing glares of the people in the crowds around them. She had noticed the looks from the various individuals as well and she was very proud of him for bravely facing the people of Crystal Tokyo. It marked the beginning of the process for him to find redemption in all of their eyes and more importantly in himself. She squeezed his arm a little tighter to let him know that she was still right there beside him and fully supporting him.
They reached the end of the aisle and stood still for a second. Sailor Jupiter let go of his arm and let it hang freely at his side. He kept his head tilted downward so he could not make any eye contact with the royal couple standing high above him. He felt that he had not yet earned the right to look at them directly since he had attempted to kill them the last time he was in their presence. He chose instead to drop down to one knee and crossed his right arm in front of him. He put his right fist in front of his left shoulder in a symbolic and historical gesture of pledging his heart to someone of higher authority. He maintained his downward gaze and looked at the first step of the staircase in front of him that led up to the platform where the other members of the Sailor team were all situated.
Sailor Jupiter looked down at her husband from the corner of her eye. She was completely surprised at his gesture but was still able to maintain her calm composure and rigid posture. She did not want to alarm the crowd or show any sign that his movement was unexpected just in case the people in the audience misinterpreted it as to mean something negative.
As she continued to glance down at him from the corner of her eye as he knelt down and quietly awaited a response from the royal couple, she gradually came to understand what he was really doing. To the casual observer he looked like he was merely showing respect to King Endyimon and Neo-Queen Serenity. However she knew that he was actually surrendering himself completely to them and showing that he would freely accept whatever sentence or punishment they chose to assign him. His gesture was also meant to show the crowd of people behind him that he was no longer a threat to them as he willingly knelt before their self-appointed leaders. High above him King Endyimon and Neo-Queen Serenity briefly glanced at each other and shared a small smile before turning back to address the crowd of people.
"Rise, my friend, and take your place with your fellow guardians."
Sean lifted his head and for the first time since his arrival he looked up and made eye contact with the royal couple. It had been King Endyimon that had ordered him to stand up and take a spot with the other Sailors atop the first platform. He didn't smile at them as he stood up since he wasn't sure if it was the appropriate time for such an action. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was still some form of disciplinary declaration involving him yet to come. If he smiled or showed any signs that suggested that he thought he had been completely forgiven it might anger the gathered crowd of citizens and cause more problems. He chose instead to simply nod his head in acknowledgement of his king's command as he stood back up.
He slowly walked up the stairs side by side with Sailor Jupiter and went to the left side of the platform to take a position beside Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Venus. Sailor Jupiter in turn took a position on the right side to stand with Sailors Mercury, Saturn and Mars. Sailor Pluto was not present at the congregation as she had returned to her sacred duty of guarding the Door of Time.
When Sean and Sailor Jupiter had finished taking each of their respectful positions with the rest of the Sailors the large wooden doors of the throne room opened again. Two royal guards appeared through the expanding gap between the giant dark brown panels as they escorted a black robed individual down the central aisle.
It was clear from the dark garbed person's body language that he was not here by choice. He twisted and turned as he struggled to break free of the guards' firm grasp on his upper arms. As he was forced down the aisle he screamed and swore loudly at the guards holding him, various members of the crowd around him and anyone else that managed to get his attention. His heavily bandaged arms could be seen as they popped out of the long sleeves of the black robe he was wearing as he continued to futilely try to break free of the guards' grasp on him. His hands were still missing and were an everlasting sign of what had occurred during the final battle. Sean couldn't suppress the feeling of surprise he felt as he recognized the person being escorted by the guards. He didn't regret what he had done to him but he did feel a small pang of pity for the intense pain he must have felt when the symbiote took his hands. He whispered the man's name as the guards drew nearer to his position.
"Aldrich."
As the guards and their prisoner drew closer Sean noticed that Aldrich's wardrobe was different. He was no longer dressed in the oversized jacket and hood or any of the other articles of clothing that he had remembered him wearing during the final battle. He was now draped in a simple black robe with a hood that looked to be made from cheap cloth like what a poor or homeless person might have worn back during the Second age of humanity. It appeared to be worn and well used with several small tears and holes in various parts of it. The hood of the robe was hanging over his head but as he continued to futilely struggle against the royal guards holding him it would jerk upwards to offer brief glimpses of his face.
As they neared the bottom of the first staircase Sailor Uranus and Saturn proceeded to move down the steps to intercept them. When the guards finally reached the end of the red carpet they physically forced Aldrich down onto his knees. Sailor Uranus produced her Space Sword Blaster from its usual place inside her waist scabbard as her feet touched the crimson rug. She took a position behind Aldrich to his left while Sailor Saturn stood behind him to the right. She lowered her Silence Glaive and placed the curved part of the larger of the two blades near the side of the Aldrich's neck. Sailor Uranus in turn did the same thing with her Space Sword. It was meant to be an intimidating gesture to show that they were in complete control and any aggressive movement from Aldrich would result in his immediate death.
He didn't seem to be fazed in the slightest by the pair of blades positioned near his neck. He didn't turn or tilt his head to look down at either of the razor-sharp weapons but it was unlikely that he could not at least see the tips of them in the bottom of his peripheral vision. After a few seconds he lifted his head and tilted it upward so that he was looking directly at Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endyimon. From their position on the first platform Sean and the others could see a malevolent sneer directed at them and their leaders from the dark shadows that partially filled the space underneath the hood.
It was a little unsettling to Sean to see the Sailors resorting to such extreme and aggressive measures especially after the queen's royal decrees about no killing and treating everyone with respect and dignity. However he knew that they couldn't take any chances with such a dangerous enemy being so close to the royal couple. If Aldrich were to launch any sort of attack at them there was little chance of them escaping completely unscathed or the Sailors being able to react in time to protect them. Depending on the intensity of the attack and the degree of damage it would inflict an incident like that could prove disastrous to the future of Crystal Tokyo and the prophesized promise of peace on Earth. Sean shook his head to clear his mind as Neo-Queen Serenity began to speak.
"Aldrich Reid. You have been charged and found guilty of multiple crimes against the kingdom of Crystal Tokyo. Among the charges are conspiracy to commit murder attempted regicide and multiple counts of unlawful destruction of private property. Do you have anything to say in your defence?
From his kneeling position between Sailors Uranus and Saturn Aldrich lifted his head a little bit higher as he looked up at benevolent ruler of this realm. From their vantage points several feet above him the Sailors and Sean could see that his mouth had twisted into a sneer as the queen's question hung in the air of the throne room. After a few seconds he responded with a clear tone of defiance in his voice.
"Do you see how nearly your kingdom fell apart with one small push from me? Your foolish dream of peace on this planet is nothing but a house of cards. One day someone like me will come and finish what I have started. You can't change what this world really is no matter how much you believe in the pathetic concepts of love and justice."
The reaction to Aldrich's ominous threat was clear in all of the Sailors and royal couple. Their faces' physically hardened as each of their lips tightened into thin lines. Their bodies tensed up as they fought back the disgust they all felt at his total disrespect for his actions and the misery he had caused. Sailor Uranus and Saturn maintained their composure and kept their weapons close to his neck. Neo-Queen Serenity meanwhile remained unfazed by his threat and continued her public trial of him when he finished.
"Our brightest scientific minds have been unable to remove the unholy and demonic powers that you possess. When added with your clearly unrepentant attitude towards your recent actions it has been determined that you will always be a threat to the safety and prosperity of Crystal Tokyo. However the crimes you have committed have not been limited to just the people of this kingdom. By your own confession you have committed various heinous offenses against the people of Earth for many years. You have done this from afar by choosing to control and manipulate other people to do your bidding while all the while remaining in the shadows like the coward you truly are. You have been a phantom who has willfully brought death and misery to anyone and everyone who has crossed your path."
Neo-Queen Serenity paused as she let her words settle with every one present in her court. She closed her eyes as she internally searched for the strength to complete what she knew she had to. Her mind reached back to the memories from many years ago when she as Sailor Moon and the Inner Sailors had fought against the Black Moon clan. Their leader had been a near omnipotent being that had referred to itself as the Death Phantom. She knew just as her friends did, that this was the exact moment that would later lead to the creation of the Black Moon clan but she was powerless to stop it. She and every member of the Inner Sailors knew that Aldrich Reid was destined to become the Death Phantom and lead the Black Moon clan against Crystal Tokyo at some point in the distant future. However her decree that forbad killing and executions had left her with only one option and she couldn't make an exception even when she knew it could avoid the possible Black Moon war in the centuries to come. She took a deep breath as she steadied her shoulders and readied herself for the final part.
"With you still in possession of your supernatural powers you have been deemed too dangerous to try to imprison or contain as your very presence would cause our kingdom to constantly live in fear of you or inspire others to follow your ideologies. Therefore it has been decided by this court that you will be banished for all eternity from Crystal Tokyo and the planet Earth. You will be sent to the tenth planet of our Solar System known as the Dark Moon."
With the completion of her sentence she raised her hands above her head. In the open space between her hands she summoned the Silver Moon Crystal from its resting place in the Prayer Chamber that was located in the center of the Crystal Palace. It filled the throne room with its brilliant radiance upon its sudden appearance and continued to glow with a bright white aura as it patiently awaited Neo-Queen Serenity's command. The Inner Sailors waited on baited breath for what they knew was about to occur. They had also recalled the past battle against the Death Phantom and the future consequences that exiling people from the Earth would lead to just like Neo-Queen Serenity. However they knew that their queen had no choice. As their queen had just publicly stated they couldn't take the risk of trying to contain Aldrich in either some form of suspended animation or medically induced coma as his mere presence could insight or inspire people to either follow his beliefs or attempt to free him. At least with his exile they would be granted a few centuries of peace before he returned as the Death Phantom. They could use that time to prepare themselves for what was to come by using the advantage of their advanced knowledge of future events to better equip themselves against the impending Black Moon clan's forces and armaments.
"Silver Moon Crystal. I command you to send this vile criminal to the far reaches of our Solar System. Banish him to the planet void of the Sun's light forever."
The crystal began to rapidly pulse like a strobe light and its radiant glow intensified to a near blinding degree. Many of the people in the crowd covered their faces with their hands and arms while others turned their heads to the side and closed their eyes as their faces looked down towards the floor.
Sailor Uranus and Saturn took a couple of steps back to avoid being caught inside the radius of the Silver Moon Crystal's power. They kept their weapons trained at the ready in case Aldrich attempted to flee or launch an attack at Neo-Queen Serenity in a last ditch effort to halt his permanent exile. As the light became even brighter they too were forced to close their eyes and use their other enhanced senses to keep tabs on the evil man kneeling in front of them.
The scream of defiance from Aldrich that had started when the crystal had begun to power up continued until it began to fade away as he disappeared inside the center of the blinding light. After about ten seconds the crystal's luminance began to dim as it started to quickly power down. Aldrich's scream continued to diminish away as well getting more and more echoic until it was finally completely gone. When everyone in the throne room looked back to the spot where he had been all that was left was a single puff of white smoke that slowly billowed upwards towards the ceiling. From her place high above Neo-Queen Serenity slowly lowered her hands as the Silver Moon Crystal disappeared and returned to its resting place in the Prayer room.
There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence that passed through the grand chamber as everyone took in what had just happened. The threat of Aldrich Reid was now over and they could let go of the fear that he had filled them with since his existence. However there was still one more issue that needed to be addressed.
King Endyimon loudly cleared his throat as signal that he wanted everyone to pay attention to what was going to happen next. He looked down directly at Sean and gestured with his right hand that he wanted him to stand before him. Sean could avoid the nervous swallow he instinctively did as he steadied his shoulders and stood up straight. He calmly stepped out from behind Sailor Neptune and casually strode to the middle of the platform. He turned on his heel like a member of a military marching parade when he reached the center so that he was facing the king and queen. His final act was to drop down to one knee and lower his head just he had done when he had entered the throne room minutes earlier.
He was sure that he was about to be banished as well since they couldn't separate him from his powers either. The collective concern shared by the majority of the city's citizens that the 'spell' on his symbiote could be broken again and make everyone in Crystal Tokyo pay for foolishly keeping it on Earth was something that King Endyimon and Neo-Queen Serenity could not ignore. He did not want to leave Sailor Jupiter and wanted more than anything to see his daughter grow up into the beautiful woman he knew she would become. However he couldn't defy the mandate of the two people he had pledged eternal allegiance to. He had to accept his fate for what he had done and all the pain he had caused no matter how agonizing it would be for him personally. The one small positive thing that his exile would allow if he too was sent to the Dark Moon was that he could ensure that Aldrich never found his way back to Earth and thus possibly prevent the Black Moon clan's formation as he lived out his death sentence. It was certainly not what he wanted but if it was destined to happen he would make the most of it.
"The warrior known as Carnage you have been charged with numerous crimes including public defacement, in-sighting civil unrest and multiple counts of second degree murder. Do you have anything to say in your defence?"
Sean remained silent for a few seconds as he collected his thoughts. He desperately wanted to plead his case and beg for clemency to avoid being separated forever from his wife and unborn child by solely blaming Aldrich for corrupting him. However he knew that was not entirely true. The curse on his symbiote had been already eroding away before Aldrich's arrival. The evil mystic had merely just sped the process up. Eventually the symbiote would have been released from the magical enchantment and the resulting death and destruction would still be on his hands. He could not ignore what he truly was as it wasn't a part of who he was and wanted to be again. He lifted his head and looked up at King Endyimon who was looking down at him as he awaited his answer.
"I will not make any excuses for my actions and for what I am. I have done terrible things against the innocent people of this great city and deserve the harshest punishment that this court can invoke. I can sincerely say with all my heart that I do not wish nor want to be separated from my wife and unborn daughter but I will still willfully accept the court's decision as to what my fate should be."
The throne room fell silent as Sean's words sunk in with everyone present. They were heartfelt and reflected the image of the warrior that he had been and the opinion of what many people had thought of him before this crisis had begun. King Endyimon glazed over the large mass of people standing before him and took in the general consensus that he felt from them.
"Your respect and honour towards this kingdom is both appreciated and graciously accepted. The many years you have dedicated to bravely protecting this planet and its people are also deeply appreciated and are something to hold in the highest regard. However recent events still cannot be ignored and thus must be considered."
Sean did not say anything in response and the room quickly fell into a deathly silence as everyone awaited King Endyimon's next words. There were many people in the crowd that quietly hoped that the king would show mercy towards the warrior they knew only as Carnage. He had been nothing but kind to them or their neighbours during the few years that they had known him and the supplies he had brought back from his missions had helped many of them in the difficult process of adjusting to their new lives in this strange and unfamiliar land that they did not recognize. Despite all the horrible things he had done and the great sadness he had caused to so many of their friends and fellow citizens they still did not want him to suffer the same fate as that monster, Aldrich Reid.
"Since you were corrupted by the actions of the criminal Aldrich Reid and the terrible events that followed were not of your own free will, it would seem unjust to harshly punish someone for something they could not control by any reasonable means. To that end it has been decided by this court that you will be given the choice to remain either here in Crystal Tokyo or be exiled to the Dark Moon. However it must be stated that if you decide to stay and serve this kingdom, there will be certain conditions that will be put into place and that these regulations are non-negotiable."
King Endyimon paused for a few seconds to allow the crowd to realize that he was beyond serious about the stipulations that Sean's decision to stay in Crystal Tokyo would entail if he choose that path. When he felt that his point had been delivered successfully he took a deep breath and continued.
"If you choose to stay in Crystal Tokyo you will be forbidden by this court to use the name Carnage or his image ever again. You will also be subject to routinely scheduled purifications by Neo-Queen Serenity and the Silver Moon Crystal to ensure that the evil nature of your symbiote is kept permanently suppressed and therefore can never gain control over you and your body ever again. It should also be noted that Sailor Jupiter and your unborn daughter will also be subject to these purifications as a result of their personal interactions with your symbiote."
Sean bit his lower lip in response to the king's declaration. His mind was a frenzy of thoughts and emotions as he went over what had just been said. He couldn't believe what was happening and what was being offered to him. Despite everything he had done and the public outcry he was sure had occurred that called for him to be severely punished King Endyimon and Neo Queen Serenity were still going to grant him a significant degree of leniency. However that show of mercy still had its price.
He knew that he would have to endure years of nervous looks, vicious gossip and the intense scrutiny of everything he did as the people of the kingdom slowly adjusted to having him walk freely among them after everything that had occurred. He also knew that there would be a significant physical and mental toll on Sailor Jupiter and their daughter as they would get those same looks and treatment because of their relationship with him. The routine purifications were something that he would have expected and requested himself if they hadn't been mandated by King Endyimon already. Now that he knew and understood what he truly was he would do anything to keep the monster inside him locked up forever.
He turned his head and looked over towards where Sailor Jupiter was standing. He looked into her green eyes and felt the love that she had for him flow into his body and fill him with a warmth that he never thought he would ever experience again.
As they stared lovingly at each other he silently asked her if she was ok with having to be frequently purified along with their daughter as a result of their intimate connection to him. He could instantly tell by the way her eyes quickly softened and how her lips gently quivered that she had understood what he had just asked her. Her response was to nod her head and give him a small but warm smile. When he got her answer he knew instantly what he wanted to do.
"My king. I wish to stay in Crystal Tokyo. I want the chance to redeem myself to its citizens by renewing my vow to protect this kingdom and everyone that lives under its banner. I know that it will be a long and difficult journey but it is one that I will amiably accept."
"I am pleased to hear you say that for there is one final thing that needs to be done."
Sean and the rest of people inside the room watched as King Endyimon proceeded down the flight of stairs which led down to the first platform. When he reached the bottom he stopped about a couple of feet from Sean and waited as Neo-Queen Serenity followed him down the steps and took a position behind him. Sean looked up at his king from his kneeling position with a somewhat confused look on his face as he waited to see what King Endyimon had meant by his last comment.
"As you are all well aware I am the appointed representative and defender of this planet. In my former role as prince of the Earth I took on that role because I would not allow one of my subjects to shoulder the burden of protecting my realm. As a result of my decision I was given an eternal star seed and become one with the Earth on a physiologically level so that I could both nurture and defend it from any threat. However in my current position as King of Crystal Tokyo it has made fulfilling those sacred duties very difficult.
Therefore I have decided to appoint you as the new emissary of Earth. You will be endowed with all the abilities and gifts I received but you will not be given an eternal star seed as it is not within our power to grant such a precious gift. Your life signs will be synchronized with Earth's. This will mean that when this planet is in pain you will be too. When it is in danger you will bravely and courageously rise to meet the menace that is behind it. The one question I ask of you is do you willingly accept these responsibilities that I am bestowing upon you?"
Sean was completely floored by the honour that was being given to him. It had never occurred to him that this would even be a possibility. He continued to look up at King Endyimon with his mouth slightly open as he couldn't bring himself to think of any sort of appropriate verbal response. He instinctively looked over at Sailor Jupiter and her expression matched his.
She was looking at him with a look of absolute surprise and shock and it told him that this promotion for lack of a better word was completely unplanned and that no one other than perhaps Neo-Queen Serenity had known about it. She had her hands up and her fingers clasped tightly together like she was praying to some invisible divine being. Her eyes were alive with hope as she silently encouraged him to accept the offer being presented to him. He nodded his head at her before turning back to look up at the king.
"I do. I accept the title and duties of being this planet's chosen warrior."
King Endyimon smiled proudly as he held out his hands with the palms facing upwards. In a sudden flash of light a large broadsword appeared and rested on its side across his open hands. He looked down at the sword and then back at Sean before quietly clearing his throat. In the quiet atmosphere of the room the sound carried all way to the last rows of gathered citizens.
"This is the Sword of Gaia. It was forged from metal found in the deepest part of the Earth's crust. It is a gift from our mother planet to its chosen protector for use in its defence against any who dare threaten it. I once used this weapon to protect this planet and the Moon Kingdom in its final day. I am now entrusting it to you. As long as it is in your possession, the soul of the Earth will be safe."
King Endyimon outstretched his hands and offered the sword to Sean. He hesitated for a second before reaching up and taking the sword and grasping the thick leather bound handle with his left hand. As the weapon passed from King Endyimon to Sean a surge of radiant golden light flared up and proceeded to completely engulf Sean. It encased him in its gentle aura as the abilities and gifts indicated by King Endyimon passed into him before it began to dim and finally disappear after a minute or two.
When it was done Sean stood up and stood eye-to-eye with King Endyimon. He held the sword and turned the blade so that it faced down and away from the king before switching it over to his right hand. He held the sacred blade against the side of his right hip with the hilt of the sword resting along the right side of his waist. As soon as the sword physically touched him the symbiotic skin reacted as it reached out with dozens of thin tendrils.
They quickly intertwined together to form a red scabbard that completely encased the sword's shiny blade. However symbiote was far from done in terms of its dramatic show. The living red and black skin abruptly stopped its constant flow of movement and the scabbard became one solid colour of red.
As soon as the sword was safely inside its new case a long red and black cape sprouted from the top of Sean's shoulders and fell down behind him. The cape was red on the outside and black inside. It hung down and came to a rest just above the back of his ankles. The symbiote did a remarkable job of replicating the cape from its organic tissue as it fluttered and gently moved with Sean's body movements just like if it had been made out of actual fabric. At the same time the stunning cape formed behind him a pair of black armoured guards that covered the top of each shoulder suddenly materialized from the alien tissue. These 'sodes' were oval-shaped and decorated with various elaborate patterns formed by the strategic placing of the symbiote's dominant red colour. The armoured pads protruded out beyond the length of the shoulder and came together to form a sharp point at its tip.
The red symbiotic skin covering his chest became noticeably thicker as it became one solid piece of plate armour that resembled what the ancient Japanese samurai had called a Nanban dō gusoku. Just like the shoulder guards the organic armour was decorated with a simple design that was etched out in thick blackened lines of alien tissue. A pair of red 'haidates' or thigh guards formed at the bottom of the armoured chest piece and covered Sean's abdomen before continuing down to cover the top and middle of each thigh. They each had a triangular appearance which ended with a sharp point like the shoulder guards. The haidate's point was positioned on the outside of the leg and curved around the shape of the thigh so that it did not interfere with Sean's leg movements when he either walked or ran.
To finish off the stunning transformation a pair of red suneates— vertical armoured plates—formed from the organic tissue to cover Sean's lower legs. These armour components covered both knees and extended down to the tops of the ankles. Unlike the chest and shoulder pieces there were no designs engraved into their outer surfaces. His feet retrained the black dress boots that he had formed as part of his original attire when he first entered the throne room and merged successfully with the new appearance he had just undergone. In the open spaces between the various armoured pieces the symbiote became black in colour as if Sean was wearing a 'hakama' or pants and a 'shitagi' or long sleeved shirt as possible homages to the samurai warriors of ancient Japan.
Everyone in the crowd remained silent as they watched the breath-taking transformation take place. It lasted only about a minute or two but it felt like time had completely slowed down. When the metamorphosis was finally over the warrior that they had once been known as Carnage was no more. In his place stood a strong young man clad in armour and a long flowing cape. It seemed surreal to many of them as it brought up images of characters from many old fairy tales that they had enjoyed reading when they were children. To the Sailors, and especially King Endyimon himself, Sean's appearance was almost identical to the armour that he had once worn when he had been known as Prince Endyimon almost eleven millennia ago and again more recently when he had been a brain-washed servant of the Dark Kingdom.
Sean locked eyes with King Endyimon and placed his right hand over the left part of his chest as a sign that he was going to speak from the heart. When he spoke his words were filled with a tone that filled with both sincerity and confidence.
"I pledge to you that I will defend this planet and its people from any peril until my final breath. I cannot change what I am that of a merger of human and alien together but I swear to you and everyone present here today, I will use my powers to ensure that Earth will never feel the fear and despair caused by monsters such as Aldrich Reid ever again. I also do solemnly swear that I will do whatever I must to repair the damage done by the spectre of Carnage and restore the people of Crystal Tokyo's faith in me and their protectors. The warrior known as Carnage is no more you may now call me Hybrid."
"And so it shall be. Citizens of Crystal Tokyo it is my honour and privilege to present to you Earth's new representative and the first knight of the Crystal Kingdom, Hybrid."
The crowd exploded into a chorus of thunderous applause. Comments of praise and encouragement could be heard as they were shouted above the roaring sound of the cheers and clapping. Up on the platform above them the Sailors moved to congratulate and embrace their friend and teammate. Hugs of excitement and appreciation were given to him by the female warriors and a hearty handshake from King Endyimon.
When it was Sailor Jupiter's turn he took her in his arms and they shared a deep passionate kiss in front of their friends and fellow citizens. The emotionally moving scene of their embrace caused a new surge of applause to engulf the crowd and they continued to cheer, whistle and give kudos to their newest protector until the grand event was finally declared over a short time later.
End of Chapter 12…