A/N: I'm baaaaaaack... you really didn't think I would abandon this fic, especially since I left the last chapter in a bit of a cliffhanger. But now here is the long overdue update I know some of you had been waiting for.
[ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ]
( Lead Tears... )
Night had long since fallen over the Junan district, as the occupants of a black Toyota Land Crusier parked near the entrance of the Hikawa Jinja waited for the other two members of their group to return from their meeting. So far things had been rather uneventful since O'Neill and Jackson went into the shrine to meet wih the Sailor Senshi, leaving both Morrison and McKenzie to guard the SUV which the Japanese government had provided to the USAF Team. As well as find ways to keep themselves occupied while they waited.
But despite having some rather animated arguments to pass the time, the duo could not help but to think about their actions earlier that day. To say both McKenzie and Morrison were in awe by what they saw that day, would have been correct. Within a space of just a few minutes, the Airmen had gone from following up a possible lead, to rendering first aid to the very same Senshi they were supposed to make contact with, to getting into a fire fight with a woman who called herself "Lead Crow", only to end up tackling another woman dressed as a cat and almost being sucked into a black hole themselves. It was safe to say that it had been a rather eventful day indeed.
"So how you think this is all gonna end?" McKenzie asked his friend, as he glanced out the window of the vehicle.
"I don't know, man." Morrison replied, as he looked over the 9mm pistol which had been assigned to him. Both he and McKenzie were both armed with pistols holstered under their jackets, as well as a P90 and clips under each seat. Just incase things got serious like they did earlier in the day. "Did you see those girls though? They couldn't have been more than sixteen years old."
"Yea!" Makenzie replied. "Weird."
"No weirder than what we saw today." the Airman commented, but as he was about to add something else, an unknown force slammed into the rear of their SUV. Sending the two and a half ton vehicle forward a good ten yards.
"Christ..." McKenzie groaned, as he lifted his head off of the Toyota's dash board. "What the hell hit us?"
"I don't know..." Morrison replied, as he now sported a bad gash on his forehead as a reslut of it hitting the steering wheel before him. But dispite his injury, the airman was still able to get his service pistol and get out of the vehicle.
With his forehead now bleeding, Morrison was still able to get his bearings and see the full extent of the damage which had been done to the vehicle. But it was also at that point the Airman caught sight of two individuals standing on a nearby wall as a sudden gust of wind blew some Cherry Blossoms by.
"Carrying the protection of the planet of wind, Uranus, the soldier of the sky - Sailor Uranus!"
"Carrying the protection of the planet of the sea, Neptune, soldier of the deep sea - Sailor Neptune!"
The two new individuals announced , as they looked down upon the wounded Airman and the damaged Toyota. But what happened next caught the two outer senshi by complete surprise.
"Hey dude, why you wearing a miniskirt?" Morrison asked out loud, as he pointed directly at Sailor Uranus. Something which caused both women to fall on their side rather dramatically.
"Hey! I'm a girl!" Uranus shouted back angrily.
"But you look and sound like a dude." Morrison replied, which only added to the awkwardness of the situation. But the exchange was short lived as Uranus lifted up the sword and said. "Enough of this! Time to end this!"
"Wait what?" Morrison replied, just as the senshi of the wind lept up and dove towards her intended target.
"Oh boy..."
[ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ]
{Meanwhile hundreds of miles in orbit...}
Usagi and her friends could not believe what they were now seeing, for their eyes were now peering through the glass window before them at the blue orb below that was the planet Earth. It was just minutes ago the girls, along with the Starlights and their princess, were at the Hikawa Shrine with a pair of men who had befriended the Starlights lost princess, the very same men who hours earlier had come to the Senshi's rescue when they were attacked by Lead Crow.
It was during said meeting that General O'Neill announced that their would be no secrets between the two teams if they were going to work together, and now the senshi were on board one of the two biggest secrets in the U.S. Military.
"Unbelievable..." Makoto gasped out in awe, as her emerald green eyes lookd on at the Earth below.
"I guess these humans are a lot more advanced that I originally thought." Taiki commented, as he/she too was taken aback by their current situation. When the Starlights first arrived on Earth, they thought this planet as nothing more than a underdeveloped backwater when compared to Kinmoku. Now it looked as if there was much more to this world than he/she previously though.
"I'm with Mako-chan." Minako spoke up. "I mean a few months ago we saw this thing in action at the south pole and now... we're on board it!"
"I didn't even know the technology to build such a vessel even existed." Ami commented, as she began to look around the area they were in. "How were they even able to pay for it?"
"Well you really don't believe we pay twenty thousand for a hammer, thirty-thousand for a toilet seat?" a new voice spoke up and upon investigation, the Senshi saw that Doctor Jackson and General O'Neill had rejoined them. "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome on board the United States Air Force vessel Prometheus. Earth first space battle cruiser."
"So this really is a warship?" Rei asked, sounding less than impressed by what she saw. "Why would you even build something like this?"
"Because we have learned in the passed that we could not rely on the Star Gates completely." Jackson replied.
"Sometimes we need to get up close and personal with some of the threats we face." O'Neill replied, "Plus it has proved to be a vital asset for our teams off world."
"Then why did you bring us here?" Seiya asked the General, still unwilling to trust the men who in his mind, had kept their princess from them for so long.
"Because, I think there is someone who may be in possession of information which could be important to you." the General replied. "If we are going to work together, then we are going to share resources if it means we are to defeat this Galaxia individual."
"O'Neill is right." Kakyuu spoke up, "We are going to have to learn to trust and work with one another. Galaxia is dangerous and we are going to need all the help we can get."
There was a moment of silence as the group allowed Kakyuu's words to sink in, something which affected the Starlights even more so. As they knew all to well of just how powerful and dangerous Galaxia and her minions could be. "Very well, princess." Seiya replied, sounding a bit defeated but knowing that his/her princess was right.
"So are we all on the same page now?" The general asked the group, to which every one nodded in agreement. All be it a bit hesitantly in the case of Seiya and Rei. "Good, so if you can follow me, I will give you a quick tour of the Prometheus, as we make our way to meet with our guest." and with that O'Neill and Jackson left the battle cruiser's observation deck and proceeded to guide their guest through the military vessel.
As the Senshi and the Starlights walked through the vessel's hallways, they could not help but to be overwhelmed by what they were seeing. Months ago Usagi and her friends got the shock of their lives when they saw this very same vessel thunder in and engaged dozens of hostile alien ships over Antartica. Now they were being shown around said vessel by those who were responsible for it being in existance. As they progressed, Jackson told the group about the Prometheus and its brief but eventful history, something which both surprised and shocked the Senshi. Apparently the SGC were very busy across the Galaxy, which would explain how Kakyuu knew about them.
Even the Starlights had to admit that despite being primitive, these humans were a lot more capable than they originally thought. Just maybe they could be the ones to help them defeat Galaxia before any more worlds were destroyed.
Finally the group arrived at a metal door which had two heavily armed Airmen dressed in silver camouflage and black vests. Obviously they were guarding something by the way hey were armed, what ever it was must have been very dangerous. Suddenly Rei began to cringe as if she were in pain, as the miko could feel a wave of sorrow and regret overwhelm her.
"What's wrong Rei?" Usagi asked her friend, as she could see the rather distressed look on her face.
"I... I'm fine." the miko replied. "I just dont know wht happened. Just... so much sadness."
"What?" Makoto spoke up, as she and the rest of the group noticed Rei's situation.
"It's coming from bhind that door." the Senshi of Fire replied.
"General O'Niell, what's behind that door?" Usagi asked, as she and the rest of the senshi stood with Mars.
"Do you remember your encounter with Lead Crow today" the Air Force General asked the group. To which they all nodded as the memories of that engagement came back to them, it was at that moment a shocking realization came upon them.
"Wait, you mean to tell us that she is the one behind the door?" Taiki all but exclaimed, "But... how? We saw her get pulled into that black hole!"
"Uh well, not quite." Jackson was the one to replie this time. "When we saw what was going on, we attempted to beam her on board the Prometheus."
"But..." Yeten questioned, knowing that something had gone wrong.
"We were able to get her, but... I guess that it would be better if you saw for yourselves." Jackson replied, as O'Niell motioned for the two guards to step away and open the cell door. Slowly the thick metal door swung open , as the two princesses and their senshi peered into the room.
Almost immediately a look of absolute shock and horror formed on their faces, for now sitting before them with her head hung low was the ghostly form of...
"Lead Crow..." Seiya gasped out, as the Starlight's mind could barely comprehend what it was seeing. "What happened to her?"
"We think that when we used the teleporter, some of her mass was still pulled into the black hole." Jackson replied. "We were lucky to get her at all."
"But it still does not explain just why you brought us to see her." the Starlight replied.
"You are here because I asked for you." a new voice chimed in. It was then that the group soon discovered that Lead Crow, or at least what was left of her, was now talking to them.
"L... Lead Crow?" Usagi said a bit frightfully, as she was unsettled by the Animamate ghostly appearance.
"Please... dont have to call me that." The young woman replied. "I think I have lost my right to be a Sailor after all I have done."
Usagi and her friends were taken aback by Lead Crow's statement, it sounded as if she felt remorsefull and guilt ridden. A far cry from the spiteful and arrogant individual they had encountered earlier that day. "Then... what would you like for us to call you?" the blond asked curiosly.
"I... I dont know..." Crow replied, "It's has been so long since I have heard my real name... have not heard it since I..."
"Joined Galaxia?" Taiki replied, a stern expression forming on the Starlight's face. A look of shame and sadness flashing across Lead Crow's face, was not lost on anyone when Galaxia's name was brought up.
"I... I... was such a fool for helping her for so long."
"Enough chit chat! What did you want us here!" Seiya demanded, not phased by the Animamate's apparent sense of guilt.
"Because... I want to help you defeat Galaxia."
"What?" Kakyuu gasped out, a puzzled expression forming on her, as well as everyone else's face.
"Not long after we brought her to the ship, she began to request that we allow her to speak to you." O'Niell explained to the group. "Believe me, we dont trust her fully either, but if she has information that could help us, it is worth a shot to try."
"I still don't trust her though." Seyia replied. "Could be another trick she's up to."
"She's telling the truth." Rei suddenly said with a somber tone in her voice, "She's dying."
"What?"
"She's dying." the miko replied.
"She's right..." Ami added, as by this point the young woman had taken out her computer and had begun to scan the former Animamate. "Her molecular structure is... slowly dissipating"
"She is right." Lead Crow confirmed. "I became aware of my situation when these men rescued me from that Black Hole. It's funny don't you think? I intended to used that thong to destroy you... now it seems it will be the reason for my own demise. Although considering what I have done in my life, I can't imagine any other way for me to answer for my sins."
It was at that moment the assembled group of senshi realized, that this was a woman who was truly sorry about not only what she had done, but what she had become. Then again the realization that you were about to meet your creator after hurting so many people, would make anyone question their life choices. But this sense of discovery was short lived when Seiya broke the silence and said. "The General said that you had information that might be helpful against Galaxia. Start talking!"
The Animamete winced a bit as the Starlight's statement, as she know that the Starlight had every reason to hate her. But she was able to keep her composure and said, "You can not Defeat Galaxia if you just attack her head on. She is more powerful than any other being in the known universe, but... there may be a way to defeat her." and with that statement, Lead Crow lifted up her wrist to show her bracelets.
"With these, Galaxia had us do horrible things, but I guess in the end I am as guilty as she is." Crow said with remorse, "But she too also wears a pair of bracelets, which she has used to take the Star Seeds of many senshi. But... if you are able to destroy them, you maybe able to defeat her."
"You still have not given us any reason to trust you." Seiya replied, venom dripping off the Starlghts' words as she spoke. A fact which did not unnoticed by Usagi or Kakyuu. "How do we know that this is not just another trick on your part?"
"Starfighter... I betrayed my own people and killed my planet's guardian senshi." Lead Crow began to eplain herself. "I personally murdered millions of innocent people and destroyed countless lives, I hunted down Senshi from hundreds of worlds all to please Galaxia... but now on the eve of my demise, do I realize just what a monster I had become. I demise I ultimately brought on to myself. I need to make things right."
Lead Crow's words pulled on Usagi's heart, as she couldn't help but to feel sorry for this broken woman. Even though this was the same person who was more than willing to kill her and all her friends to get what she wanted, the blue eyed blond could not help but to feel sorry for her now. Deep down inside, Usagi could feel that Lead Crow was truly sorry for what she had done. "Is there anything else that you want us to know?" Usagi asked the broken woman.
"No." the former Animamate replied, "B... But... uhhhhhhhh!"
"What's goning on?" O'Niell asked in curiosity, as he and everyone else saw Lead Crow curl up in pain. As her body began to fade even more.
"Her moleculor structure is becoming unstable!" Ami exclaimed, as her mini computer relayed is information to her.
"Can't you do something?" Kakyuu asked Jackson frightfully, as Lead Crow's groans echoed out of her cell.
"Kakyuu..." Lead Crow managed to speak through her pain, as her body began to fade even more. "I... I want to apologize for what I did on your world... I... I'm so sorry for what I have done. My only hope... is... that you can one day... find it within yourself... to forgive me..."
Kakyuu for her part could only stare in disbelief, as Lead Crow said those words to her and despite what had happened to her home, the Royal could not help but to feel sympathy for the Animamate in her final moments. Kakyuu just gave Crow a warm smile with a nod, something which despite her pain, gave Lead Crow a sense of warmth an for the first time in a long time, happiness.
"I just hope... that... those who wait for me on the other side, are also as forgiving as you are..." and with that sentence, the former Animamate fadded out of existance before the assmbled group's eyes.
"She's... gone..." Ami commented, as she slowly lowered her computer and stared at the spot where Lead Crow had once been. Rei then turned to hug Usagi. As she could sense that her friend was on the verge of tears.
"I...I..."
"It's okay, Usagi." Rei comforted her friend. "She's in a better place now."
"Are... you going to be alright?" the General asked the young woman, as he could clearly see that Usagi was saddened by what had transpired.
"I'll... be fine." the blond replied, as she wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye. "I... just need to be alone right now."
"Yea..." Makoto added. " I think we need some time to go over what just happened."
"Understandable." Jackson replied. "I guess we should leave you alone for now." and with that statement both Jackson and O'Niell left to allow both the Senshi and Starlights to talk among themselves.
"So what do you think?" Daniel asked O'Neill, "You think they will decide to team up with us?"
"Honestly Jackson, I dont know." the General replied. "But after what we all saw today, they may have no choise but to join forces with us."
"General O'Neill, please come in, over." a voice called out from the General's ear piece.
"Morrison?" O'Neill replied, as he recognized the Airman's voice. "What is your situation?"
"Um... interesting sir." the young man replied.
"Care to explain yourself, Airman.?"
"We were attacked sir." Morrison replied. "had a bit of a scuffle sir. But the situation is under control now."
"What happened?" the General asked, getting a bit annoyed by how the airman was acting.
"Well... we were attacked by the Sailor Senshi, sir." Morrison replied, as both he and McKenzie stood outside of their SUV with the inert forms of Sailor Uranus and Neptune now tied up and gagged inside of the vehicle.
[ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ]
A/N: Well what do you thnk? I actually had this plan for Lead Crow for a while now, but I hoped you enjoyed it cause it was not easy to write.
Also, I know that I refered to the Starlights as "he/she" and I know some of you may not have liked that. But whatever, please leave a review and give me some input.
Until nextime, Nightstalker out...