Chapter 2-Ami the Scientist

Beep, beep. The familiar yet unfamiliar ring woke Ami from her sleep. Green flashing light. It was Jupiter calling.

"Everyone, Palace right now! Ahh…." Jupiter ended the call with a scream.

I transformed and leapt out of my building's window. Running at top speed, this should take me about 5 minutes till I reach the palace. The dark weather system gathering on top of the palace was visible.

The city was unusually dark. Then I realized all the lights were out. I pulled out my mercury computer as I continued to run. In the eye of the storm, a figure was dodging around as Jupiter kept up her attacks.

I willed my short legs to run faster. Haruka would have made it there by now. Sometimes I wished my physical abilities could be better and my attacks could be stronger. But I know I fulfill a different role for the scouts. I am the strategist. I attack with my mind. So think, Mercury.

"Jupiter, run with Sailor Moon and draw the enemy towards entrance C. I am coming in from entrance A. Venus, go to entrance B. Mars, go to entrance D." Conveniently, the Palace stood in the middle of a star. Five point entrances. We could flag the enemy from all sides. This should work. Now I just had to run faster.

Ever since the start of Crystal Tokyo, people have affectionally called me Dr. Mercury. Queen Serenity mentioned once in an interview that I was good with science and I wanted to be a doctor. The government looked over my school records and a few research projects I did with the university. Unbelievably, they decided to allocate unlimited resources to my research.

"You have analyzed these alien species. Your little computer holds crucial details about all the forces outside of Earth. We would like you to lead this project."

I stood, flabbergasted, as a roomful of scientists bowed to me and asked for my help. "What do you need my help with?"

"Develop prototype weapons that can be used to destroy the enemies. If Queen Serenity failed to protect us for whatever reason, we need a contingency plan." Dr. Tanaka, the lead scientist explained.

So I gladly accepted the position. I believed in Usagi and I didn't think she would ever fail. Not if we could help it. Putting the prototype weapons aside, I could use the fund to research and develop a warning system for the city. I had been analyzing energy signals and traces from all of our previous enemies. Sometimes the computer could pick up traces of extraterrestrial particles.

I didn't think Queen Serenity would be pleased that I was using my intellect to develop weapons that could kill. That was why I decided to put a fail safe in the weapons and Queen Serenity could disable them if she wanted to. Unlike Usagi, I didn't believe completely that all humans were cured. With the right temptation, humans could do just as much evil as any of the invading enemies. Also, who's to say Earth wouldn't invade other planets? So I needed a contingency plan to my contingency plan.

Up ahead, I could see Jupiter following my plan. They were running towards entrance C while the assailant chased them. As I got closer, I realized it was a snow dancer, minion to the ice queen.

"Bubble Spray!" Dense fog filled the palace, temporarily confusing the snow dancer.

"Fire soul!" "Cresent beam!" Two attacks came from both sides. The snow dancer dodged the two attacks. Perfect! Now fall into my trap.

Panicked, the snow dancer raced toward me. "Shine Aqua Illusion." I sprayed the ice minion with water. She looked down at her wet body and then sneered at me. I was counting on her hubris. She paused long enough for Jupiter to take aim. "Wide Sparkling pressure." Electricity combined with water coursed through the snow dancer violently, shaking it until it shattered.

"Great plan, Ami. As always…" Jupiter gave me a seductive wink.

"Stop. My work is not done yet." I told Jupiter to freeze, as she was about to step on the snow dancer fragments. I pulled out a ziploc bag and placed the pieces inside. This would be an interesting way to test my prototype alarm system. I would input the signatures from this creature into the computer, calibrate the sensors and placed them on the five points surrounding the palace.

"Ami-chan. I haven't seen you in forever." Usagi ran over and gave me a bear hug.

It had been a while. I had spent most of my time at the lab now. I finally felt like I could contribute more. Mako had complained that she rarely see her girlfriend, me, anymore. We talked each night on the phone, even though physically we were only 15 minutes away. We could have seen each other every night but we each had our own duties to perform.

I went over and gave Mako a kiss on the lips. The soldier winced as she bent down. "Mako!" I lifted her shirt and I could see a giant swelling on the right side of her rib cage. "Mako, breath for me."

She tried to breathe normally, but every time she would wince or double over in pain. "I think you have a broken or bruised rib. Here, I will get the painkillers and an ice pack. Guys, make sure she doesn't move much and make sure she tries to breathe normally."

I walked through the familiar maze of the palace. At the medics office, I rummage through the supply cabinet until I found some ibuprofan. I grabbed an ice pack from the mini fridge and then I walked back out.

Tonight, the attack was unsettling. Snow dancers and the ice queen were defeated. Yet they were back. Was Chaos pulling its strings again?

I was so deep in thought I bumped into a tall figure. Mako stood in front of me, wincing from my collision.

"Oh, I am so sorry, Mako. I told you to wait there with the others."

"SHH. I can't do this when they are there." Mako leaned down and kissed me gently on my lips, all the while wincing in pain.

"Here, let me help." I step on one of the stairs. This should cancel our height difference a bit and Mako didn't have to bend down as much.

Mako raised her eyebrows and then laughed. Then she doubled over in pain again. I pulled her in for a kiss, and then I told her that Dr. Mercury would need to monitor her for the night. Any increase in shortness In breath, or chest pain, or high fever, I would have to send her to a real doctor.

I couldn't sleep that night. I watched as Mako sleep and I monitor her breathing every now and then. It was the first fight in a long while and Mako was already hurt. As the bodyguard to the most important senshi in the galaxy, she had taken hits after hits since the beginning of time. I had stitched her wounds and reset her bones countless times. We all get hurt from the battles but Mako was always the first one to jump in front of Sailor Moon.

So I pulled out my computer and started researching. I need to figure out what was happening. So I could protect Queen Serenity, and in turn, protect my Mako.