Mamoru shifted his weight on the bench as he glanced wearily over his shoulder. He was unsure if his methods to contact the dark creature would work. If he were wrong about that, the rest of his plan would fall through, so determination set into his features. "This will work," he reaffirmed.
"If you are referring to your attempt to signal me, then consider them a success," the dark form emerged from the shadow of a nearby tree. "Do you bring me news of an agreement to meet with Sailor Moon to help my cause?" A ting of what Mamoru guessed was hopefulness in his usually monotone voice.
"Regrettably, I have not been able to encourage her to use any sense," he added as he shyly ran his hand through his hair. The dark figure scrutinized his move as Mamoru moved to set his idea in motion. "There is still some work to be done to mend the need to avenge their fallen teammates before we can gain any of her help."
The dark figure slumped against the tree in a manner that Mamoru guessed disapproved of his progress. He extended his hand, slowly at first, before laying it on one of the appendages as if to provide comfort. The amber orbs shifted to meet him in an examining motion.
"It's a gesture of comfort on this planet," he smiled as the tall being nodded in understanding. "And even if Sailor Moon is unwilling to hear us, I will continue to help you."
"Is that the reason you signaled me?"
"Yes. I have a few questions that can help me with my plan. I think I know of a way to make amends. But first, as we continue to work together, I wonder what I should call you?" The dark figure pondered momentarily as he seemed to mull the question over.
"I don't have one you could pronounce, is one way of thinking. My people communicate telepathically, and we do not call each other by sound. However, as it seems I may be on this planet for some time, do you have a suggestion for a name?"
"I thought that may be the case as you did not offer it from the start," Mamoru smiled. "Would you allow me to call you Kuro? In our tongue, it means darkness, which perfectly describes you."
"Very well," Kuro nodded. "You said you had additional questions?"
"I found a way to make amends, to show Sailor Moon you mean no harm. The piece of you that I healed, you can sense my location with it, don't you?"
"You already know this to be true with my arrival here," Kuro sighed without answering the question.
"Of course," he chuckled. "Can you also sense the energy signature from those injured with your form?" He asked as he eyed the long appendage that formed into a point that he likened to a tree branch. "The small sample I collected and healed was also from one of their bodies."
"If my form mended with them, it would be connected the same way your healing signature connects with us."
"So there is more than one of you?" Mamoru smirked, and Kuro only nodded.
"I am a leader like Sailor Moon, and there are others to help me," he confirmed.
"This helps," Mamoru stood to face the tall being. "You see, the warriors that lost their lives were re-born thanks to Sailor Moon's power."
"Then there is no harm—"
"Not at this moment. They are children and unprotected. They have to grow to obtain their power. Without it, Sailor Moon is not at her full power." Kuro nodded in understanding. "She likely had concern to come out and admit it to you, but I sense that is one of the reasons she had declined to take your meetings."
"I can see the concern. I am not certain where my help is needed."
"The thing is that they cannot find the newborns until they show their power. But you," he smiled as he exposed the envelopes. "You have the unique ability to sense their power, no matter how subtle. This is a list of new babies in our city. I propose you check out each one and see if you can sense which is the reborn entity."
"Very well, I will see what I can find. You know how to reach me if there are changes in Sailor Moon's attitude towards us, especially if she knows we're helping," Kuro accepted the pile with his non-piercing hand. Nodding once before disappearing, Mamoru stared at the tree that once shielded their meeting.
"I never even thought to ask if he could read," the tall man shrugged. "Time to go see what the others found out."
~*~*~
"Did you find anything at the hospital?" Usagi looked up at the tall man with hope in her blue orbs. She was on him as soon as he walked through the doors of the quiet command center. "Ami said she saw you at the nursery ward," she added as Mamoru attempted to conceal his genuine surprise.
"Ah yes," he stuttered as his mind raced. "I thought I would have better luck as a pediatrician than Ami would as an intern. I meant to tell her to save the trip, but she figured it out."
"That's great, but did you find her?" She pushed, emphasizing the last word.
"Surprisingly, they did not put Haruka or Michiru on the birth certificate," he lied as he was shocked to find a Haruka Tenoh in the recent files. It was one of the main reasons he took all the files to Kuro. "But I found a few candidates born on the correct day, and we'll coordinate the others to check out the houses." Usagi's smile beamed at him then, and a pang of guilt paced.
"I am happy that we haven't seen more of those aliens recently as well," she commented as she leaned back onto the bench with a relaxed posture. "Oh, I remember now," she smiled at him as she sat up. "There was something that you wanted to ask me. I'm sorry that it only took me until now, but I haven't seen you while you were out searching for Uranus and Neptune," she explained with a glee unbidden tone.
"Ah yes," he smiled, recalling his initial plan before the news of the Star Seed ruined his plans. Glancing around at the still-empty center, he sat beside the young blonde. "I was thinking of a way to help you and the rest of the Senshi." He paused, taking the girl's hand. "I found a way to use the Silver Crystal to bring the generals back," he smiled with the excitement he couldn't contain.
"You mean Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite? Is that a wise idea?" She asked as she pulled her hand away from him. "How can you be sure that they are purified?"
"I am because I have been communicating with their guardian spirits for some time," he muttered the last part lowly. "They have been advising me only in the best interest of helping the team."
"Alright, they good guys now," Usagi agreed. "But how do we bring them back?"
"I found a way to channel the power of the Silver Crystal through a time gate, essentially reversing time to re-alive them."
"Okay," she frowned. "But assuming you get Setsuna to agree to the plan, why use all the energy now?" Her hand went to the broach as she asked. A secret fear of Usagi was that she did not know the limit to her power, and Mamoru knew she didn't want to test that theory if not needed.
"Well, since we are down two soldiers, they can help protect you from the aliens. They are my protectors and would give their lives to—"
"Thank you, Mamo-chan, for your concern, but it is unnecessary. My guardians are more than willing to keep me safe. Plus, the aliens haven't attacked in some time! When Setsuna searched the time gate, she shooed them away!" She smiled as she leaned in to hug the caring man before her. Mamoru pouted as she rested her head on his chest, sucking his lip in as she pulled back.
"Thanks for listening, Usako. It was only a suggestion to keep you safe," he smiled.
~*~*~
"Kuro!" Mamoru chanted as he paced in the garage level of his apartment. He sensed the being was nearby but wished for the being to show itself. "There is a new step in our arrangement!" He huffed into the cold space as the dark being stepped forward. Mamoru halted as he saw an additional set of eyes glaring at him from the darkness.
"What fortunate timing, as I have a request from you as well," Kuro greeted him in the same informal manner.
"How can I possibly help you more than getting Sailor Moon—"Mamoru started as Kuro raised his arm to silence him. He studied Kuro for a moment before his eyes flickered to the other. "I take it you found the baby?"
"I am certain that I found it. The energy signature is nearly a complete match to the one of the beings."
"One of them?" He asked, unsure if Kuro knew the other had not been born yet.
"Yes, one of them. You see the flesh you healed. I can sense it clearly. The other one, well, is still in pain. We have a suitable candidate based on the names you provided. If you wish me to find that being with certainty, then you will need to find the small part of the flesh that still exists and heal it as well."
Mamoru's eyes flashed through the series of events, remembering that the piece he healed was from Michiru. His eyes darted to Kuro as he realized that Michiru was born without him noticing.
"You found two babies?" He carefully asked.
"One baby is in pain, and the other is protected within its parent's body," Kuro explained.
"Very well, I can lend my power to the other element," he nodded. "There is one more thing I ask to help move this along." Kuro only opened his eyes wider to see he was listening. "This happened once before, a soldier being reborn," he explained, showing a picture of baby Hotaru that he borrowed from Setsuna's office. "When an enemy attack arrived on the planet, she grew at an inexplicable rate," he continued, flipping to the following picture of an adolescent Hotaru. "The more attacks, the more she grew, until she reached her full power in a matter of weeks," showing the last picture to the alien.
"After demanding peace, you want me to break that?" Kuro sighed as he looked towards his companion.
"I just want you to make it look like there could be a breakage of peace. Do you have a way to do such a thing? Similar to how I assume you controlled all those people fighting in the park?"
"Very well, if it helps with our goal," Kuro sighed. "I do have one more request," he added as he nodded to the figure in the shadow as it entered the light. "To accomplish this task of watching over the children, my generals have advised me we would be better suited if we could do so under the cover of a human."
"I take it you find some people afraid of shadows?" Mamoru chucked as Kuro joined. "I think I can do something to help. Let me check a book and build up my strength. I also think we should have two of your— human generals, one for each child?"
"Agreed. I will come for you in two days. We will coordinate the scare tactic only after that time," Kuro nodded before both figures disappeared.
Mamoru smiled into the darkness with at least one new piece of information. If he could find Michiru Kaioh's pregnant mother, he could exchange the information with Usagi to return to his generals. After all, it would be better than four generals to protect two children if they are all busy fighting invisible monsters.
~*~*~
Mamoru opened the lab door, scanning the area for any sign of the usual inhabitants before he shuffled into the room. He found the samples they had collected from Haruka still withered and dark in the petri dish. Looking at the rough material, he let out a gap as it seemed to move with recognition towards him.
"No wonder he said it was in pain," he muttered as he slipped it in his pocket.
"What is in pain?" A severe tone echoed over his shoulder as he spun around to meet the harsh garnet eyes. The dark orbs wandered his form, stopping at the papers he held in his hand before a questioning eyebrow raised.
"I was referring to the pain—" he started as his eyes drifted down to the photos of Hotaru he still held. "The pain of a child to lose two of her parents like that," he finished as he put the picture frame down on Setsuna's desk as if he had been caught up in admiring it. "I haven't seen her around much, so it is just an educated guess."
Setsuna nodded understanding as she moved past the tall doctor to sit at the desk. Her eyes again stopped at the folder he held before focusing on some of the papers on her desk. "I assume you stopped by for something other than trauma bonding over the loss of parents?"
"Yeah," he hesitated to give the ace he had, but the suspicious guardian before him gave him little choice. "I did some digging and found a pregnant woman," he stuttered as Setsuna's eyes snapped up. "Her name is Kaioh-sama, and she is due in a month."
"The chances were too good to pass up?" The green haired woman ventured a guess as Mamoru handed over the folder.
"I thought it couldn't hurt. If it's her, we have a good foot in the door. If not, I guess we're no further off than we were before."
"That's thoughtful of you," Setsuna smiled as she looked in the folder. "Ami mentioned that you had pulled some names of babies born when we felt the first power of a Star Seed," she continued as he turned towards the door. "You will have to forgive me, and I don't know what I did with the list."
Mamoru turned around, glancing at the messy desk before smirking. Setsuna's cheeks instantly turned as red as her eyes with the embarrassment. "Please don't be concerned; you have much on your plate. I will provide another list," he nodded before turning to leave.
The disastrous state of the lab played in his favor that they wouldn't miss the sample in his pocket. He would make it up to them with baby Haruka's location once the generals were in place. "It's all working out," he smiled as he continued out of the command center.
~*~*~
The lights in his study were set unusually low. Not even the reading light would guide his eyes tonight. He didn't need it; this was one verse he had memorized long ago. As he began setting up for the ritual, he knew deep down he needed to gaze upon the faces of his Generals to reassure him this was the right path. He would not let something as trivial as a lamp keep him from seeing them.
"I call to the protectors of Earth, the Shitennou that guard the power of this planet. I beseech you to come to me," he chanted with his eyes closed, although he could see the stones on the table before him.
A warmth started in his center, growing until it called to him to open his eyes, the four Generals smiling back at him as they bowed in their form.
"Prince, it is good to see you," Kunzite offered as he was the first to raise his head. His features downturned as he studied the raven haired man's face. "What has concerned you?"
"Yes, my Prince, what are you asking of us?" Jadeite joined in, a suspecting grimace growing on his features.
"I am making progress to resurrect your forms, my Shitennou," Mamoru started. "I am afraid that it may come at a price that is high to pay."
"If it is too much for you, Prince, it is not necessary—"
"No, I want you to return more than anything. You are my friends, and I trust you more than anything."
"What is it that you are asked to pay?" Zoisite asked curiously.
"I have struck a long-term deal with an outsider," Mamoru explained.
"My Lord, I caution you on the magic outsiders offer," Nephrite beamed as Jadeite spirit pushed into him to silence his objection.
"He's not a fool," Jadeite hissed. "Please tell us more about this outsider."
"They seek Sailor Moon's help. But she is unable to do so,"
"Unable or unwilling? The Moon has always wanted to keep a close eye on things but never stepped up," Kunzite grumbled.
"I understand," Mamoru chucked at their long-held dislike of the Moon's constant surveillance, which was just as mighty as their dislike of outsiders offering convenient assistance. "Some persuasion needs to happen as usual, so I offered to help the outsiders. In return, they will help persuade the Senshi to help return my Generals to their forms."
"That is the barter of a proper ruler," Zoisite grinned, giving Mamoru a thumbs up.
"What have you concerned of this arrangement," Nephrite urged, sensing there was more.
"To help the outsiders and set the arrangement in motion, I must use much of my power."
"But you will be unprotected as you rebuild your strength. I don't like this."
"There is no other way," Mamoru lowered his head as he examined his options again. Gaining leverage in this arrangement required healing the alien's forms, whether it gains him favor with Kuro, Usagi, or both.
"There is another way, my Lord," Jadeite said quietly. "Although it would take all of us to complete," he continued as he looked at the other Generals.
"Yes, this is true," Zoisite caught on to the suggestion. "We can give you our power. It will prevent too much strain on you, and you won't be left defenseless."
"Wouldn't that cause harm to you?" Mamoru questioned as he already had considered and rejected the idea.
"There is a chance that it would take what is left of us," Kunzite confirmed his fears. "If you are weakened too much on your own with us only as spirit guides, there is nothing we can do. This way, we could give you all we have, making you even stronger than before."
"All you have? Wouldn't that—"
"Yes, my Prince. We might not be able to commune with you," Zoisite frowned. "I agree this is the best solution. You can complete the trade and carry more power than previously, even after the task."
"If the exchange benefits as you anticipate, you will be more capable of bringing on our forms, possibly even on your own," Nephrite said. Mamoru's face twisted into a curious frown. He was not keen on losing his council, but the General was correct. There were more benefits to taking their power. He could even gain the respect of the Senshi with his deeds that they would council with him going forward.
"Very well, if that is what you all wish," he reluctantly nodded as the Shitennou nodded.
"We know you will succeed, my Lord," Nephrite offered as he closed his eyes, a purple aura illuminating.
"We will always be there to guide you," Zoisite continued as a green light joined the first.
"You are the ruler of this planet," Jadeite smiled as his blue aura began to glow.
"When you're ready, my Prince," Kunzite added as the silver light mixed and the beams showed from the table to the ceiling of his small study. Winds blew violently around him as he outstretched his arms, calling to the power in the room. The light struck his chest as it turned a brilliant gold, and he felt the golden crystal he possessed blossoming within his chest. Overwhelmed with power, he fell to his knees as the last lights disappeared into his chest.
A few pained breaths allowed him to assess any changes, feeling a deeper connection with all the blood flowing through his body. With every surge of his heart to move it about his form, he felt the power surge with it. He spotted the dull stones on the table as he bowed his head in a silent appreciation of his Shitennou before moving to the alien sample he collected from the lab earlier that day.
Waving his hand over the tar-colored flesh, he was amazed at the bright light that emitted, leaving the clean tissue that happily reached for his touch. His power must have increased at least tenfold. He smiled before greeting the skin, knowing that Kuro would sense the relief and quickly seek him for the remainder of the arrangement.