5: "Catalyst"
For once, Usagi was early for something— but this was important, life-altering, perhaps even cataclysmic. Normally she called out her fellow former Senshi for social visits, reminiscing about the old days or else niggling about modern (and possible future) developments, but this was the first time in over ten years she begged to see them regarding matters of paranormal affairs. Since she didn't know the full scope of the situation, Usagi couldn't even classify it properly. Was it the beginnings of an attack from a new enemy? Some sort of virus or pandemic sent by malicious international forces? Did this originate from Earth? The Solar System? Their universe? Another dimension? Was it something to be concerned about, and most important, would it happen again? Did it even fall into their level of expertise?
"I couldn't tell you anything without examining the body first," Ami said, so Usagi and Rei joined forces to give the doctor special clearance. Shibuya's finest had gone over the man's physical condition before and after the (for lack of a better word) "transformation", and while their results were inconclusive, they didn't have the expansive knowledge of paranormal activities Mizuno did. Several aides had taken over for Hari, since she was on a brief vacation, and Hayashida had been picked to be one of them. She was impressed that her coworker was friends with a doctor and a "rising politician" (she still didn't know about Usagi's relationship with the— yes, THE Minako Aino), and gladly gave the trio any assistance she could offer.
Police headquarters had been trashed, but the damage was largely superficial, so aside from some construction and sanitation crews working to repair the disaster, their trek through the rubble went undisturbed. The creature's remains had been collected and returned to forensics, now fully under police jurisdiction, but Hayashida warned them that there wasn't much to go by. Even Ami, a seasoned doctor and a veteran Senshi, recoiled in disgust as the sheet was lifted and the remains were shown in all their gruesome glory.
"I don't know whether it was better-looking dead or alive," Hayashida said, covering her mouth and nose. The beast reeked of putrid, malodorous fumes, and it hadn't even begun decomposing yet. Its body had been twisted and twisted and twisted, and was twisted more thanks to all the damage it took— but it was certainly dead; both heads had been removed as an extra precaution. Mizuno eventually steeled herself and examined the monstrosity, asking that Rei and Usagi remain with her.
"Is there anything else you can tell me, Usagi," she asked, "aside from what you've already said?"
"No. A man robbed the bank I go to, took me as a hostage, had some kind of a seizure… I was able to subdue him, and he was taken to HQ, presumably to be treated as an OD victim. I don't know if the forensics team actually found any drugs in his body."
"How are they explaining this, then?"
"I don't know," she strained. She handed Ami the doctors' studies and took a seat, feeling useless and shaken from her experiences. Rei remained to perform her own cursory observation before joining her friend. Even she looked nauseous.
"Was that really…a human?"
"Come on, Rei, we've seen this type of transformation before."
"I know. And you— " She caught herself, swallowed, clearing her throat. Correction: "And Sailor Moon was always able to restore their former self."
"But this time the police beat me to it."
"That's their job. I doubt there was anything you could've done anyway."
"I could have helped him," she whispered fiercely, clinging to her purse tightly. Rei covered Usagi's hand with her own, caressing gently.
"You don't know that."
"I could have become Sailor Moon and removed this…whatever it was."
"That's the curse of the past," Rei whispered. "We'll never know, so stop blaming yourself. It's over and done with anyway."
Usagi sighed, knowing that Rei was right but frustrated with her callous behavior nonetheless.
"And what about the future? If this happens again…the police will…" She was in tears, trembling— not out of fear of an attack, but fear that an innocent would be affected, and killed— or worse, cursed to remain in that form forever. Rei didn't have any answers.
"All we can do now is learn from what happened. Get as much knowledge as we can so we can identify this and prevent it. Ami, it's not an attack from some inter-dimensional entity, is it?"
"I honestly don't know what this is, Rei," she answered cautiously. "Part of it is…human…but most of it's something I've never seen before. Almost like a hybrid…"
"Any idea what caused it?"
"None."
"Any way to prevent it, or cure it?"
"None."
"You're wrong!" Usagi said. Ami stood still, her back turned. Rei pursed her lips. "There is a way. You know it…I know it…"
"Like I said," Rei announced firmly. "For all we know, this could've been a biological weapon."
"Oh yeah, Rei, right! Something even Ami can't identify?"
"My expertise is far more limited than you accredit it to be," Mizuno said, humbly and wearily. She turned from her project and crossed her arms. "I'm not a chemist, and I'm not familiar with a lot of biology. As for a possible radioactive reaction…nothing."
"So it couldn't have been natural."
"Well, people don't go turning into monsters, if that's what you're saying."
"I'm saying we might have a new enemy on our hands," Usagi hissed.
"And we're saying not to judge this until we have all the facts!" Rei countered. Usagi glared at two of her closest friends.
"Oh, you idiots! You're both totally in denial! Can't you see that this is the work of evil? Not some natural phenomenon, or terrorist attack, or, or, or…skin condition! It's got the same M.O. as the Dark Moon and the Nega-Verse and the Death Busters and all those other organizations we fought against! It's evil and…you can't see it for what it really is!"
Emotionally battered, Usagi lowered her head, tears flowing freely. She felt lonelier than ever before. Ami took a deep, silent breath, and made for the exit.
"You, more than any of us, should know better than to trust in first impressions. See you later."
She was gone. Rei remained for a few more seconds. She knew that Ami was right, but Usagi had been her best friend through Hell and beyond; they had a bond most people could only dream of. Usagi was the sister she never had, one that— although they were prone to fights just like all siblings were— she loved unconditionally, and would do anything for. Even if that meant believing in ghosts from a long-forgotten past…
"Usagi…"
"Just go, Rei. I know you think I'm delusional, too."
"I didn't say that." She scooted closer, bringing her in for a hug, and felt her shoulder go damp as Usagi buried her face in it. Rei smiled, caressing her. "I'm uncertain. Let's just give this more time."
"And wait for another victim?"
Rei wished she could make things better. She wished things could be a lot simpler than this. Pulling back and giving Usagi a kiss on the forehead wasn't quite the same, but…
"I don't know. But no matter what happens, Usagi, I'll be there for you."
Finally, her friend smiled. "As Sailor Mars?"
"Whatever you need me as. I'll see what I can do at city hall, but don't expect any miracles."
Usagi sniffled, her smile gaining strength. "Maybe you should show them some leg…or seduce some lonely senator's wife— "
"Goodbye, dumpling," she growled, balling her fist in anger. The last thing Rei heard was Usagi's strained laughter through a veil of tears.
…...
"You look awful," Hayashida said as Usagi signed in the next day. She wasn't just saying that: Usagi was bleary-eyed from crying, slightly pale, and her hair was askew. She had barely slept and was emotionally and physically drained, partly from what she had seen and partly from what she feared would come of it. Hayashida violated the "casual acquaintances" barrier by pressing her hand to Usagi's forehead, staring at her with deep concern.
"Did you see your doctor friend about this?"
"I'm okay, Hayashida," she replied. "I just haven't been getting enough sleep."
"Don't try and weasel your way out of this, Tsukino. You're not even fit for desk work, let alone a beat. By the way, your partner is Toha." Usagi looked up at the dark-skinned man checking his firearm, then back to her friend.
"But we've never even spoken."
"He's a veteran cop. Hari figured it'd be a good way for you to learn. Nothing teaches better than experience, right?"
Oh, sure, she thought to herself. If Toha had seen a fraction of the nightmares I've been through, he'd wet his pants and run screaming out of the city!
But the police showed you that they can stand up to your nightmares. THEY defeated that monster, not Sailor Moon. Think about that.
"I suppose," she relented. Usagi introduced herself to Toha, who gave her a curt nod and a firm handshake.
"Today not a good day?"
"Beg your pardon? Oh, my appearance. I just saw a really sad movie, is all."
"I thought I heard you say you weren't sleeping well."
"You were eavesdropping?"
"Didn't mean to. Look, normally it ain't my business, but you're my partner now, and I gotta be concerned about your well-being." Usagi shrank, even though she knew they were both worried about her, and wanted her to be well. This wasn't the kind of job one could approach halfheartedly. She needed to be at her best; she needed to come clean.
Deep breath. "I spent the night thinking about that robber I caught…and what happened to him." Toha snorted and gestured to the ruined rooms around them.
"Who hasn't? I'm just glad we was able to take him down. I heard that long ago, there was some strange things going on here in Japan that the cops couldn't handle. It took a coupla vigilantes with bizarre advanced technology to stop them."
Sounds less like Sailor Moon and more like something I'd read out of a manga, she thought.
"You mean Sailor Moon?" she said. Hayashida brightened.
"Yeah, I think that's what he was talking about! But I always thought that was an urban myth, or some strange postmodern campaign to drive up sales of the manga and anime. You know, like performance pieces."
"Wasn't nothin' theatrical about it," Toha snorted. "The damage those 'postmodern' A-holes caused was enormous. Whether it was really creatures from another dimension or just some really sick criminals in makeup and costume, though…"
"So you never thought that any of it was real?" Usagi said. Hayashida smiled feebly.
"I was still a kid when all that happened! Remember, I'm a lot younger than both of you, and my memories of those days are hazy at best." Usagi was floored. She knew Hayashida was young, but…a kid? This full-grown adult woman had been a child the last time Sailor Moon defended the world! That realization made her suddenly feel very old.
"I wasn't even living in Japan at the time," Toha said. "I used to run a beat in Sacramento, California. But I heard all the stories."
"And so did Tsukino, apparently," Hayashida pointed. "She must've been part of a Sailor Moon fan club, and changed her hairstyle to reflect the character."
"Actually, I've always worn it this way."
"Hey, get to work." Asagiri poked his head up from his desk and waved at the women. "Toha, chief wants you and Tsukino out there."
"Man, you ain't my boss."
"No, I'm a messenger boy sent by grocery clerks to collect a bill."
Silence. Usagi was this close to hearing crickets.
"Right over your heads," he grumbled. "Just go, okay? And watch more Francis Ford Coppola films."
…
Usagi forced herself to be strong, since this was going to be her first day as a "real" police officer, but for the longest time, she and Toha did nothing but drive around the city. Shuttling around street after street, block after block, keeping an eye out for trouble, but never really finding any, lost its charm eventually, and Usagi relaxed.
"Are we looking for anything in particular? What's our assignment?"
"To police," Toha replied. He paused at a red light, gesturing as he spoke. "I dunno what they taught you at academy, or what you picked up sitting behind that desk, but whatever amount of police work that ain't pencil-pushing is spent patrolling. You gotta show the people that you there, y'know? Make sure they know an officer's around. And sometimes, yeah, you find something, or the dispatcher comes on and gives you a lead, but most of the time, you're nothing but a presence."
"So the display of force rather than the actual use?"
"Precisely. I hope you wasn't expecting a lotta action."
"Hoping I wasn't," she muttered. The hours dwindled; Toha took her to a small coffee shop and offered to buy her something, seeing as how this was her first day and all. Usagi had never liked coffee, but she did accept a cup of hot chocolate, and the bag of mixed fruit made a nice snack.
"Not that I'd object to a pastry or anything," she smirked, "but I don't want to turn into a cliché. You know, cops and donuts and all."
"Mm-hmm," Toha grunted, sipping his coffee. The dispatcher came on as he was slurping down the last few drops, indecipherable to an untrained rookie like Usagi.
[All units, we have a 10-98 in progress at Shingen Takeda Maximum Security Penitentiary; repeat, a 10-98 in progress at Shingen Takeda. Requesting immediate backup, respond.]
"What's a 10-98?" Usagi said. Toha waved dismissively and picked up the transmitter.
"Base, this is unit 53 responding. ETA in seventeen." Toha hung up, turned on his siren, and swerved through traffic, his face fixed and deadly calm. Usagi pressed him again:
"Toha, what's— "
"Prison riot, possibly a breakout. Better learn your police codes fast, Tsukino."
"Sorry, it's just— "
"Don't worry, happens to rookies all the time."
"Hey, I've been on the force for nearly five years now!"
"Yeah, behind a desk. Looks like it's trial by fire today. Just listen to what I say and try not to do anything stupid, and we'll make it through."
"Have you ever faced anything like this?" Usagi squirmed as the car performed a crippling turn, thrusting the G-forces directly onto her stomach.
"Yeah, a few times in Sacramento. It's mostly just setting up a perimeter and makin' sure nobody gets in or out. SWAT teams go in, break it up, calm them folks down, come out and tell us it's all clear."
"So we won't be shooting anybody or…fighting." Relief poured out from her voice.
"Not likely. But be prepared all the same." Usagi nodded her head, steeling herself for the task ahead. She was now very glad to be partnered up with an experienced officer— and to be honest, the less action she saw, the better. Usagi didn't doubt her strength or bravery— not as much, anyway— it was her ability to make decisions on the fly, or to lead, which gave way for concern. Hopefully, security detail was all they'd ask of her.
There were at least nine other squad cars already surrounding the penitentiary by the time she and Toha arrived. A senior officer flagged them down and gave them a status update: the riot had grown exponentially in scope and destruction, and many guards had already been killed. The escapees did not have firepower yet; rather it seemed they were using hand-crafted tools. A small number had decided to not participate in the riot, and were being kept under strict watch in the southern wing, but the majority were making their way out of the walls.
"You two will be along here," the senior officer indicated. "Pay close attention to the east wing; that's where we estimate they'll come from. Kevlar and masks on at all times." He left them to instruct other officers; Toha reached into his car, tossing Usagi a heavy black bundle.
"I assume you know how to put one on?"
"Y-yeah." She had never worn a black-jacket before; she felt like she was abandoning Sailor Moon once and for all. It definitely made her feel more secure, though. Usagi quickly took her place next to Toha, her heart hammering, her senses on full alert. Even though she had faced much worse, Usagi couldn't help feeling a little afraid. Usually when she faced these kinds of situations, she had her friends supporting her. Usagi knew she wasn't helpless without them, but still. She would have to get used to it, though, and she'd have to start relying on Toha for support. This was her life now.
A loud commotion drew her focus, and her skin prickled at the sounds of screams, gunshots, grunts, curses, shouting. The prisoners must be making their way out of the facility now, breaking against the first few waves of resistance. Toha was an impenetrable mountain, his expression stoic and serene, his stance fluid. If Usagi had paid better attention in history class, she might have made a witty remark about how two mountains faced off: Toha on one side, Shingen Taekda on the other. Perhaps Ami might—
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
A blood-curdling scream broke her reverie, turning her veins to ice. A swarm of armed officers were flung into the air, men and women roaring in agony, their bodies spewing blood. A squad car hurled up with them, spinning for a moment before crashing down, scattering glass and steel everywhere. SWAT officers protected those behind them with great polyurethane shields, but soon they were uprooted as well, body and shield alike. Usagi held her ground, mesmerized by the unseen brutality— and then it leaped out from the chaos, a murderous beast dredged up from humanity's darkest thoughts, scales and spikes and slathering teeth, roaring and flailing with such power that it brought those around it to their knees.
"Fire! Shoot it! Kill it!"
There was no time to question or judge the situation: instinct must kick in. The beast tore at the closest officers, ripping them to bits with talons like railroad spikes. The shielded officers formed a barricade around it, some smashing it with their bosses; clubs and tasers were jammed and jabbed, and the beast writhed in anger and agony. It broke free, leaped over the circle, onto a van, and was met with merciless gunfire. Snipers positioned on high-rises several blocks away took aim and fired, tagging it in the head. The monster was struck, stunned, and slowed; it jumped back down, and was brutally perforated. A fireman's axe was hurled at its neck to finish it, and all was quiet.
Usagi stood mortified and frozen.
"Clear!"
She let out a scream as dozens more of the beasts emerged from the prison— some, she noted, wearing prisoner's clothes— and made easy rampage of the police barricade. They broke away from the cluster and moved into the city, splitting apart to spread panic and destruction. Toha quickly hopped into the patrol car and urged his greenhorn partner to follow.
"Come on, Tsukino, we bookin' it!" They were tearing across the streets of Shibuya in moments, Toha putting in the report to HQ. The situation seemed fantastic but he didn't sugarcoat anything, even though he himself did not believe any of it. He begged for outside assistance, perhaps even from the national guard, then started barking orders to his partner.
"Trial by fire, baby. Don't ask no questions, Tsukino, just do your job and keep the people safe."
"But what about all those officers?" she wailed. "And those monsters…I think they used to be human! Those were the prisoners!"
"Maybe, but what'cha gonna do about it?"
She glanced down at her lap, suddenly feeling very sick. He had her there.
But then a crazy idea entered her mind.
"Kagutsuchi Avenue…I think I saw one or two of them go down there. We're awfully close— that's where I live. Can we run by there first, make sure it's safe?"
"Yeah, good plan. May as well start somewhere. Let me make the call." Toha told HQ the plan and they gave him the go-ahead; two more squad cars would be joining them as backup. Usagi was fine with that, just so long as they drove by her apartment. She'd have to come up with a reason to abandon her partner, though— and was she really going through with this? The police had already shown her that they could handle this crisis; why was she so obsessed with reliving her glory days? Why couldn't she grow up and move on with her life?
Toha cursed wildly as they turned a corner. One of the beasts was in the middle of the road, tearing up everything its claws could reach. It had already bisected a tree and a car; it was now roaming around looking for another victim. Toha rolled down his window and fired with his handgun, but instead of stopping to confront it, he yelled something about jousting, and rammed the monster. All of the car's speed and force careened into the beast and sent it hurtling backwards, but it also stopped the car, forcing out its airbags. Toha didn't waste a second and jumped out, grabbing a shotgun and an assault rifle.
"Anything you can get your hands on, rookie!" he shouted. One blast and the beast was dead, but two more came by to replace it. Usagi picked up a few road flares and threw one, missing by meters. It still offered a decent distraction, though, blinding the creatures with smoke and sparks while she made her getaway. Everything within her told her to stop running, turn around, do her job— but she was headed for home, ready to finalize on a decision that she had been weighing, and dreading, and coming to terms to, for a long time.
She fumbled with the keys. The front door refused to open. Her hands trembled. The stairs up to her apartment seemed endless. She couldn't find her own. The door was nowhere to be found. Just as she finally saw the glimmering light of hope, the worst fear of them all entered her mind.
What if you can't transform? What if it all stops after a certain age? What if you've come all this way for nothing? Or what if it harms you instead? You've changed too much, Usagi. Your body and your mind are no longer that of a teenager. What if Sailor Moon is gone forever, and there's nothing you can do about it? What will you do then? Are you still going to play the superhero? Come on, get real. Turn around and forget about all this. It might not even work.
"What am I doing?" she whispered to herself as she found her closet. The box she kept in there was waiting patiently for her. She wiped a layer of dust off, placing her fingers on the lid, hesitating. "Why am I doing this? Why can't I just forget about this childish behavior and go on with my life? Why do I keep coming back to this?"
As she looked outside, noticing the three police cars squaring off against more and more of those ghoulish creatures, the answer became clear as day.
"Because I must."
She opened the box. Her brooch glimmered back at her with patience and grace.
"Hello, old friend," she smiled, carefully taking it out. "I missed you."
And then she uttered the words that gave her back her birthright:
"MOON…CRYSTAL…POWER!"
To be continued…
Author's notes
Are you all sick and tired of my input yet? Well, bear with me a little while longer.
Shingen Takeda was one of the three warlords who vied for control of Japan prior to the Tokugawa era— the others were Oda Nobunaga (yes, that Nobunaga) and Iyesu Tokugawa. No points for guessing who won. For more information on him, I urge you to watch Kagemusha, the Kurosawa classic (along with practically every film Kurosawa made). Kagutsuchi is a Japanese god of fire, who killed his mother Izanami when she gave birth to him (and is also one of the creatures summoned by the Hime of Mai Hime). The locations are totally fictional.
Also, if you make a fuss about that last line, I'm not going to listen to a word you're saying. This is a fan story based on a fictional, animated universe. That means I'm doing this for love, not money, and as long as I'm reasonably faithful to the material, then you shouldn't nitpick over whether she should say crystal or makeup or heart attack or Holy Grail or princess starlight moonbeam, or whatever. Because honestly, if you do, then you are a loser.
Finally, please do not review saying you want more chapters. As if I would actually stop. That's like asking the sun to please give you more light. I'm going to keep writing more chapters whether you ask me or not. Something a little more constructive than "moar plz" would be appreciated. Otherwise, you are also a loser.