PART 6: Evil's Descent - Vega and Gemini

Tessha stuffed her bag with the things she wanted to take home and slammed her locker shut. She hated being stuck with weekend school clean-up duty and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She had managed to get through the entire day without anyone yelling at her for not coming in her school uniform, and wanted to keep it that way. She dashed down the hall and out the main entrance, out into the warm sun. The young athlete stretched her muscles and tore off in the direction of her favorite arcade. She wondered what her sister was up to now.

"Katasei!" Tessha stopped at hearing her name being called. Stepping out of a convenience store was one of her friends from her track-and-field club. She smiled and ran to greet him.

"Yamato-kun! What's up!? Hey, I'm heading over to the arcade, you wanna go?," Tessha asked hopefully. The tall senior in junior high was one of the most popular guys in her grade, a lot of the girls had a crush on him. Tessha, on the other hand just liked hanging out with him because he was a fun guy to be around. The boy ran his fingers through his short almond-colored hair.

"Well actually, I got somewhere else to be right now. Maybe next time?"

"Oh...sure I understand," Tessha tried to hide her disappointment. She waved goodbye to him and continued on her way. The boy waited until she was out of sight before letting his fake smile drop from his face. Out of the tiny alley next to the store stepped a girl, shorter than him and with wavy green hair. She tossed it out of her eyes.

"Was she the one? How many girls have you run into today? One of them has to be that Mystic's reincarnation," the girl hissed.

"Patience, my dear baby sister. She wasn't the one, but she might be a relation. Did you see how much she looked like the one who killed father?"

"Then why didn't you grab her instead of sending her away, Vega?! You know, sometimes you can be a real idiot. It's no wonder father worried about you succeeding the throne."

"What would you have me do, Gemini? It's broad daylight and there are too many humans around watching us. Besides, we have to do this without attracting the attention of those other meddlesome Senshi. I know they're here somewhere on this pathetic little planet. Believe me, I want to ditch this weak human body as much as you. In the meantime, don't draw attention to yourself."

"Yeah yeah, I know 'O fearless leader. We'll meet back here then. And bring that girl. If she's not the one we're after then we'll just get rid of her," Gemini smirked sinisterly and walked away in the opposite direction, leaving her demon brother Vega to track down where Tessha might have gone. Possessing this body did have its perks. Vega could search through the boy's mind to find useful information, like the location of all the girl's favorite hangouts, her family, and more importantly, where she lived.

"It's so nice for my daughter to have so many new friends. Have anything you want!"

Yomi was taking a much deserved break from training, passed out on the floor of her giant living room. Her mother had the day off and was spending it baking cakes and cookies for her guests. Usagi helped herself to the tray of chocolate chip cookies, stuffing her face. She looked up when Tessha walked through the door and dropped her bag.

"Oh, you all again...Uh, what's wrong with my sister?," she asked spying Yomi laying on her back.

"A long day. Care to join us this time Snowflake-chan?," Haruka smiled. Tessha hesitated, then sat down next to her sister. The Mystic Senshi sat up and stared at her for a moment, then looked away without saying a word. The thought of possibly involving her little sister in her battles made her very uneasy. She'd only do it if it was absolutely necessary. Luckily, Sirius told her that when everything was over, she'd erase the girl's memory.

"I'm sorry to have to do this girls, but I have to run out for a bit. I ran out of flour. Yomi-chan, check the oven in fifteen minutes, okay?," Yomi's mother pulled on her jacket and grabbed her purse, walking out the door soon after. Tessha fidgeted and nibbled on a piece of strawberry cake. The conversation that had taken place last night was so weird, and she had a hard time believing that her older sister was some kinda superhero. She couldn't believe that any of these people were the Sailor Senshi that she'd heard about in school. Tessha wasn't shy like her sister was, but she really had nothing to say to them - she really wasn't interesting in battling against evil...or becoming some substitute warrior in case they failed.

"Just so you know, I never really agreed to anything. I respect what you guys do, trust me. Some of my friends and I are fans of yours. The drama club even went so far as to put together a play they're trying to drag me into," Tessha sighed stuffing two cookies in her mouth.

"A play? That sounds fun," Minako commented.

"No it isn't. It was put together by a group of crazy fan-girls who've got nothing better to do with their time then obsesses over you guys. I don't want anything to do with them." The doorbell rang and was follwed by a soft knock on the door. Yomi felt a sudden electrical shock pass through her body, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She grabbed her sister's wrist and pulled her back down.

"Don't answer that...I'm sensing something strange," the mystic warned.

"Katasei-san, it's me Yamato Shuichi. Sorry for bothering you at home, do you have a moment?," the boy called. Tessha shot her older sister an angry glare.

"Let go of me, Yomi! What's wrong with you!?" But the look from the others told her it would be better to stay where she was. Yomi looked through the peephole and slowly cracked the door opened.

"Ah, Katasei's sister Yomi-san. I was wondering if I could borrow your sister for a while. She asked to go to the arcade with her today. I changed my mind. I'd like her to accompany me if that's allright," Shuichi smiled politely and tried to squeeze through, but Yomi blocked his path. The mystic was sure of it now - the boy wasn't who he said he was. She had met him once before and been with him long enough to know he didn't talk this way. He was trying too hard to be nice. Yomi narrowed her eyes.

"Stay away from my sister. I don't know who you think you are, but if you come near her again I'll make you sorry. Now off with you." Yomi shut the door on his face and stepped away. Tessha looked horrified, not from fear but from the way her sister had spoken to her friend. She went to stand up but Haruka stopped her, sitting her rather harshly back down.

"What's wrong with all of you?! Yamato-san is my friend, he wouldn't..." Tessha stopped herself when she heard the boy hysterically laughing.

"Oh, this is sweet. All of the Senshi in one spot! I was right to follow the dumb girl here. Now I can kill you. My first target is you, Yomi...or rather Mystical Senshi Io!" All the warriors jumped to their feet, ready for the battle that was coming. They ducked as the front down was blow open and the tall form of the possessed Shuichi stepped through. Yomi growled and stood her ground, reaching into her pocket to grab her transformation wand. The demon merely laughed and stood unmoving. Tessha fought to get through the barricade the Senshi had formed around her.

"Yamato-san, what're you doing?! How could you knock down my door!?," the young girl cried.

"Stoppit! He's not your friend anymore kid, don't you see that?," Haruka struggled to keep her from moving any closer - for being a fourteen year old, she was stronger than she looked.

"So the little twerp is a Senshi as well, now? That doesn't matter to me you'll all die here and now.

"You can't do this! There are too many innocent people here!," Usagi stated. The demon laughed at her plea to spare innocent lives.

"That's not a problem, because right at this moment my minions are devouring every last soul in this building. There won't be anyone left to get in our way."

"...You monster!," Makoto growled.

"IO MYSTICAL POWER, MAKE-UP!!" Yomi transformed, adorning her red and black sailor suit and obtaining her staff. She pointed it towards the imposter of Shuichi, preparing to send a powerful blast his way. Yomi tried to forget that this boy used to be a nice kid, treated her sister so kindy. But now things were different. He was a threat to her princess, to the entire human existance...and she had to silence him.

Tessha stood back and watched the other Senshi transform in front of her, reforming the barricade around her. The silver talking fox Sirius appeared by her side, along with Luna and Artemis. The fox spirit growled as her fur stood up.

"Don't hold back anything, Scouts! This demon is probably almost as strong as his father," Sirius informed. Shuichi cackled and raised his arm above his head.

"Almost? You underestimate me, Fox Spirit. I am stronger than my father ever was! My sister and I will make short work of all of you. But first...a little fun," the demon grinned evilly as thick bolts of electricity shot through the floor. The light was blinding and the Senshi had to cover their eyes. The whole building shuttered under the massive power surge. Then...total darkness and dead silence.

Witnesses from miles away could see the explosion as it spread out in all directions, flattening everything and everyone in its path. The sky itself turned a blood red and black and orange lightening erupted to destroy even more buildings. The city was plunged into perpetual darkness, blocking out the sun and triggering heavy rain. It continued to spread until nothing could be seen but the red clouds and the deadly lightening., filling the air with heavy static electricity.