My fiancé, my friends, family and I have been left behind, surrounded by an unbelieving world full of chaos, and violence, growing colder, love-less, and darker no thanks to the big egomaniac in power. But my friends and I are not about to give up on our faith, nor the promise we made to the Lord.

Sailor Moon is reporting for duty!

As it turned out, thanks to the guidance of the witnesses and underground Christians, Buck and Tsion were given a worn-out bus to drive to Egypt to meet the pilot Ken Ritz for the escape to the United States. They met many obstacles along the way, but were supernaturally protected and arrived to Chicago safely.

And just as Usagi promised she and Mamoru told them everything by the end. Both reporter and Rabbi were overwhelmed. However if they were to know who they had on their side, they couldn't afford to keep big secrets amongst themselves.

It was now Sunday, the day of Bruce Barnes' memorial service.

Both Inners and Outers had arrived hours ago. Much like Mamoru and Usagi, they hadn't expected any more surprises, but that wasn't the case.

First of all, that same afternoon, some of their allies from abroad must've received the news and wanted to pay their respects. Ail and Ann returned with them from their missionary travels in time for Bruce's funeral, as had Nehelenia but the senshi and both Tribulation forces were shocked to see the New Moon Queen was not entirely alone.

With a solemn disposition, Nehelenia explained that she and her kingdom are virtually homeless because of the incoming asteroids destroyed her kingdom. Now all they could do is turn to Earth and look forward to the return of the one true Messiah.

Amanda had been the first to step forward to welcome her, "You're welcome to stay, but know that remaining here won't be an easy walk in the park."

The Three Lights then entered the chapel, they'd flown in, wishing to express their condolences. Keenly, with Buck and Chloe's assistance, the three were able to get to discreet place so that no one else would recognize them nor raise a commotion that would disrupt the service.

Inside, the crowd sat in silence, staring at either casket or the program. Many cried, but no one sobbed. They simply sat, most with heads bowed, some reading the brief program that included Bruce's vital statistics. Along the bottom of the back page of the program, a verse read 'I know that my Redeemer lives.'

The number wasn't surprising but how early they had assembled did. Also, there was not the usual murmuring as at a normal Sunday morning service. No one here seemed even to whisper. The silence was eerie, and anyone could have interpreted it as a tribute to Bruce.

Buck and Chloe Williams sat behind Vicki near Rayford Steele's wife, Amanda. Captain Rayford Steele would be on the platform soon, talking about Bruce. If there was anyone who could give a tribute to Bruce and speak the message Bruce would want these people to hear, it was Rayford. Loretta entered and sat near the back. A second glance showed she with Rabbi Ben-Judah. The other members of the Young Trib Force were scattered throughout the crowd. Hotaru was sitting with Lionel. Ryan was in the front row of the balcony with Rei, his eyes red. He waved and tried to smile, then buried his face in his hands.

Judd had moved to the back of the sanctuary, but people were standing shoulder to shoulder from the last pew to the back wall. He looked into the balcony and saw a space near the sound booth. Mamoru had lost sight of the teenager the moment the latter went up the balcony.

Then came a face no one else expected to see: Mio Kuroki shows up at Bruce's funeral, much to the rest of the Senshi and the kids Trib-force's dismay.

"Oh no!" Minako face-palmed. "What is she doing here?!"

"Friend of yours?" Nehelenia questions, she and her handmaid looked around in confusion.

"She wishes." grumbled Vicki.

Usagi, however, believes she has come into the knowledge of the truth. "Mio, you're here too – then you can…"

Mio smiled but it wasn't friendly. "I'm here to perform, I'm singing in the program." she corrected.

Nearby, an old lady accompanied by a boy watched Mio with utter contempt. As the sailor senshi split up to take seats among the Trib forces, Verna Zee walks up to the singer.

"You got a singing gig here of all places?" Verna questioned with pursed lips. "What about your so-called investigation on the identities of Japan's number one vigilantes?"

"I'm doing it right now." Mio assured the skeptical older woman. "I may not have any solid evidence who they might be as of yet, I'm very confident that I can find out who they are with help from you."

However something else caught the woman's eye. "No, I've got a bigger fish to catch. I'll see you outside."

At precisely ten o'clock, Rayford and one other elder emerged from the door at the side of the platform. Rayford sat while the other man stepped to the pulpit and motioned that all should rise. He led the congregation in two hymns sung so slowly and quietly and with meaning.

Up in the balcony, the three lights are chagrined to see Mio is the funeral singer. She is called before the congregation to sing 'His Eye Is On The Sparrow'.

"She's up to something." Seiya stated flatly. "Probably here to weed us out or get all the attention heaped up on her like the histrionic little freak we all know."

"How'd you guess?" Yaten said sarcastically.

While Mio is singing her piece, the rest of the Senshi and the Young Trib-force just roll their eyes and look annoyed, knowing full well that Mio was just putting on an act.

"This is just disgraceful." Ami said ruefully

"How she got into the program is beyond me." Lionel huffed, Hotaru put a hand on his arm in commiseration.

"Too bad Usagi can't see through her." Vicki sighed.

"Save for a few exceptions, that girl can just about see the true good in everyone." Minako added.

Usagi was hoping that Mio was becoming a Christian. The original Tribulation force weren't entirely convinced either, there was just something about this girl that felt off.

When the songs had concluded, the elder said, "That is the extent of our preliminary service. There will be no offering today. There will be no announcements today. All meetings will resume next Sunday, as scheduled. This memorial service is in memory of our dear departed pastor, Bruce Barnes." He proceeded to tell when and where Bruce was born and when and where he died. "He was preceded by his wife, a daughter, and two sons, who were raptured with the church. Our speaker this morning is Elder Rayford Steele, a member of this congregation since just after the Rapture. He was a friend and confidant of Bruce. He will deliver the eulogy and a brief message. You may come back at 4:00 P.M. for a viewing if you wish."

Rayford thanked the other elder and opened his notes. "Members and friends of New Hope Village Church," he began, "and relatives and friends of Bruce Barnes, I greet you today in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. "If there is one thing I have learned out there in the world, it is that a speaker should never apologize for himself. Allow me to break that rule first and get it out of the way, because I know that despite how close Bruce and I were, this is not about me. In fact, Bruce would tell you, it's not about him either. It's about Jesus. I need to tell you that I'm up here this morning not as an elder, not as a parishioner, and certainly not as a preacher. Speaking is not my gift. No one has even suggested that I might replace Bruce here. I am here because I loved him and because in many ways—primarily because he left a treasure trove of notes behind—I am able in a small way to speak for him."

Rayford said, "This has been the most misunderstood message of the ages. Had you asked people on the street five minutes before the Rapture what Christians taught about God and heaven, nine in ten would have told you that the church expected them to live a good life, to do the best they could, to think of others, to be kind, to live in peace. It sounded so good, and yet it was so wrong. How far from the mark! The Bible is clear that all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. There is none righteous, no not one. We have turned, every one, to his own way. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. In the economy of God, we are all worthy only of the punishment of death. "I would be remiss and would fail you most miserably if we got to the end of a memorial service for a man with the evangelistic heart of Bruce Barnes and did not tell you what he told me and everyone else he came in con-tact with during the last nearly two years of his life on this earth. Jesus has already paid the penalty. The work has been done. Are we to live good lives? Are we to do the best we can? Are we to think of others and live in peace? Of course! But to earn our salvation? Scripture is clear that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves; not of works, lest anyone should boast. We live our lives in as righteous a manner as we can in thankful response to that priceless gift of God, our salvation, freely paid for on the cross by Christ himself. That is what Bruce Barnes would tell you this morning, were he still housed in the shell that lies in the box before you. Anyone who knew him knows that this message became his life. He was devastated at the loss of his family and in grief over the sin in his life and his ultimate failure to have made the transaction with God he knew was necessary to assure him of eternal life. But he did not wallow in self-pity. He quickly became a student of the Scriptures and a teller of the Good News. This pulpit could not contain him. He started house churches all over America and then began speaking throughout the world. Yes, he was usually here on Sundays, because he believed his flock was his primary responsibility."

Rei was looking around and her eyes caught sight of Verna Zee up on one of the balconies. Nearby, Setsuna had leaned into whisper to Haruka and Michiru -who were seated behind Lionel and Hotaru- about another unwanted visitor.

"Our younger comrades had best keep their up around that other one there."

The other two followed her gaze to a woman watching the going ons sourly from the back – when they turned, Lionel identified her as the principal to the school Judd and Vicki went to, Laverne Jenness.

But Captain Steele was not half done. "I would also be remiss if I did not try to share with you at least the core thoughts from the sermon Bruce had prepared for today. It is an important one, one none of us in leadership here would want you to have missed. I can tell you I have been over it many times, and it blesses me each time. But before I do that, I feel compelled to open the floor to anyone else who feels led to say anything in memory of our dear brother."

Rayford took one step back from the microphone and waited. For a few seconds he wondered if he had caught everyone off guard. No one moved.

Finally, Loretta stood. "Y'all know me here," she said. "I've been Bruce's secretary since the day everybody else disappeared. If you'll pray I can maintain my composure, I have just a few things to say about Pastor Barnes." Loretta told her now-familiar story, of how she was the only one of more than a hundred blood relatives who was left behind at the Rapture. "There are only a dozen or so of us in this room who were members of this church before that day," she said. "We all know who we are, and grateful as we are to have finally found the truth, we live in regret for all the wasted years."

Vicki was next telling them her story. "I've done some bad things in my life. When my family disappeared, I thought I hadn't been good enough. Then I met Bruce, and I heard the message. He was always kind, and it never bothered him that I asked a lot of questions. When I got sent to a detention center, he visited me. When I heard someone wanted to adopt me and make me his daughter, I couldn't imagine who. But I should have known." Vicki's voice trembled. She pushed her hair behind an ear and bit her lip.

"I can't tell you how much Bruce helped me understand God's love, Mr. Steele is right. God loved us enough to want to adopt us into his family, even when we didn't deserve it. That's what Bruce did for me, and I'll always love him for it." Vick scanned the crowd. Some wiped their eyes. Others nodded. Everyone looked at her. "Don't let this day go to waste, if you don't know God, ask him to forgive you today and become his child. You'll never regret it." Vicki sat and bowed her head.

From all over the sanctuary people stood and told what Bruce meant to them, testifying to the impact Bruce Barnes had had on their lives.

During the speeches, Mio is just sitting down looking rather irked, rolling her eyes, with her arms and legs crossed, talking about how much she can't stand funerals, "All this music, crying and death is just so depressing."

"See? I told she was trouble." Ryan murmured to Rei.

Makoto turns around and glowers with a low hiss. "Put a sock in it! This is the funeral of a good friend of mine and the girls, if you're not gonna behave I'll escort you outside myself if I have to!"

Mio frowned irritably but held her tongue.

"So what's her problem?" Chloe questioned directing a scowl in Mio's direction.

"She's a manipulative, attention seeking troublemaker that's got in it in for us and anyone in the force." Minako informed. "I wouldn't be surprised she's not the only spy here."

Buck was grim. "Regardless, this is an open service, we owe it to ourselves and the Lord to extend a hand in warm welcome."

"…Only the greatest skeptic would accuse us of having written this after the fact. But let's say that you're skeptical. Let's say you believe we are charlatans. Who then wrote the Bible? And when was it written? Forget Bruce Barnes and his present-day predictions, a week before the fact. Consider these prophecies made thou-sands of years ago. You can imagine the pain it brought Bruce to have to prepare this sermon. In a side note he writes, 'I hate preaching bad news. My problem in the past was that I always hated hearing bad news too. I shut it out. I didn't listen. It was there if I merely had ears to hear. I must share more bad news in this message, and though it grieves me, I cannot shirk the responsibility.'

"You'll note Bruce's turmoil here," Rayford said. "Because I'm the one who has to deliver this, I empathize totally with where he was. The next part of his outline indicates that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, once they have visited their judgments on the earth, represent the first four of the seven Seal Judgments that Revelation 6:1-16 indicates will occur during the first twenty-one months of the Tribulation. According to Bruce's calculations, using as a reference point the treaty signed between Israel and the United Nations, which we now know as the Global Community, we are closing in on the end of that twenty-one-month period. Therefore, it behooves us to understand clearly the fifth, sixth, and seventh Seal Judgments predicted in Revelation. As you know from what Bruce has taught before, there are yet to come two more seven-part judgments that will carry us through to the end of the seven-year Tribulation and the glorious appearing of Christ. The next seven will be the Trumpet Judgments, and the seven following that will be the Vial Judgments. Whoever becomes your pastor-teacher will, I'm sure, carefully walk you through those as the time draws near. Meanwhile, let me, with Bruce's notes and commentary, make us all aware of what we have to look forward to just within the next few weeks."

Mamoru, the Sailor senshi, the Three lights and their allies all leaned forward, they didn't want to miss a word of this.

Rayford opened his Bible and Bruce's notes. "Bruce has outlined a message here that he believed was particularly urgent, because, as he writes, 'I have become convinced we are at the end of the eighteen-month period of peace, which follows the agreement the Antichrist has made with Israel. If I am right, and we can set the beginning of the Tribulation at the time of the signing of the treaty between the nation of Israel and what was then known as the United Nations, we are perilously close to and must prepare for the next ominous and dire prediction in the Tribulation timeline: The Red Horse of the Apocalypse. Revelation 6:3-4 indicates that it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. In my mind, this is a prediction of global war. It will likely become known as World War III. It will be instigated by the Anti-christ, and yet he will rise as the great solver of it, the great peacemaker, as he is the great deceiving liar. 'This will immediately usher in the next two horses of the apocalypse, the black horse of plague and famine, and the pale horse of death. These will be nearly simultaneous—it should not surprise any of us to know that global war would result in famine, plague, and death.'

During the five-minute break, Haruka and Michiru noticed Jenness walk right up to Vicki and Lionel. The acerbic woman pursed her lips and looked down. "I know we've had our differences," Mrs. Jenness said, "but I'm genuinely sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Vicki said.

"My guess was that the people who wrote the Underground newspaper would be here today," Mrs. Jenness said, looking suspiciously at Vicki.

"Could be," Vicki said. But there are an awful lot of people from the school here."

Jenness fixed her stare on Lionel. "You're Lionel Washington, aren't you?"

Vicki didn't know Mrs. Jenness even knew Lionel's name, and it startled her.

"Yes, ma'am," Lionel said.

Haruka stepped into view, making herself look as tall and intimidating as possible. Is there a problem? She said casting an accusing gaze towards the older woman who frowned deeper.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

"As of this moment, a stand-in bodyguard." Haruka looked down on Jenness, daring her to say something threatening.

"I only intended to inform Lionel Washington that I'm to see him in my office, first thing in the morning," Mrs. Jenness responded coolly.

"What is it?" Vicki said.

"That's between Lionel and me," Mrs. Jenness said, "and his family." She glared back at Haruka. "And I see no relation between you two." Mrs. Jenness walked out the front door.

"Not a very agreeable person is she?" Michiru remarked, casting a derisive sneer at the woman's retreating back.

"You don't know the half of it." Vicki expressed.

The service continued said the scene in heaven with the martyrs could be happening that very moment.

"And if it is," Rayford said, "we need to know what the sixth seal is. Bruce felt so strongly about this judgment that he cut and pasted different translations of Revelation 6:12-17. Just remember that the Lamb in these verses refers to Jesus Christ.

'I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Some words in Bible prophecy stood for other things, but these words seemed clear.

"I'm not a Bible teacher or a scholar," Rayford said, "but I ask you, is there anything difficult to understand about a passage that begins, 'Behold, there was a great earth-quake'? Bruce has carefully charted these events. I believe the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are at full gallop. And I also think the fifth seal, the tribulation martyrs whose souls are under the altar, has begun."

Once the casket was opened, the sailor senshi joined the line to pay their respects to Bruce.

Rei went first much to their surprise. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to understand. The only reassurance I have is that we'll be seeing you in less than five years. Thank you for your wisdom."

"Thank you providing us with the answers we needed, not those we wanted to hear." Ami said tearily.

Makoto and Minako were next. "You were right all along. All we had to do was take a leap of faith, and we intend to make good on the promise we made: protecting, rescuing believers during the Tribulation."

"And convince others of the truth we understood."

After Haruka and Michiru said their piece. Lionel patted Bruce's folded hands. Hotaru came up and said kindly. "Goodbye, though this is most likely a 'We'll meet again'. I wish I had taken some time to get to know you better."

Mamoru came up with his arm around Usagi.

"Goodbye Bruce, thank you for your guidance, you've been more than kind." Usagi says sadly.

"You were a good friend and father figure to many, you shall be missed." nodded Mamoru.

Rei had begun following Verna Zee with her eyes and carefully weaved her way outside, also running into Minako. They agreed that there was something about the woman they didn't like. And for good reason, for the conversation she heard outside raised all sort of alarm bells.

"I made it all right, Cameron. I also recognized Tsion Ben-Judah! He's going to be in deep trouble when the Global Community peacekeeping forces find out where he is. Don't you know he's wanted all over the world? And that your passport and ID were found on one of his accomplices? Buck, you're in as much trouble as he is. Steve Plank has been trying to get ahold of you, and I'm tired of pretending I have no idea what you're up to."

"Verna, we're going to have to go somewhere and talk about this."

"I can't keep your secret forever, Buck. I'm not going down with you. That was a pretty impressive meeting, and it's obvious everybody loved that Barnes guy. But do all these people believe that Nicolae Carpathia is the Antichrist?"

"I can't speak for everyone."

"But how about you, Buck? You report directly to the man. Are you going to write a story in one of his own magazines that says that?"

"I already have, Verna."

"Yeah, but you've always represented it as a neutral report of what some believe. This is your church! These are your people! You buy into all this stuff."

"Can we go somewhere and talk about this or not?" Buck said.

"I think we'd better. Anyway, I want to interview Tsion Ben-Judah. You can't blame me for going for the scoop of a lifetime."

"Verna, I took a huge risk in helping you out the other night and letting you stay at Loretta's home."

"You sure did. And you may regret it for the rest of your life."

"So none of what you heard here today made any impact on you?"

"Yes, it did. It made me wonder why I went soft on you all of a sudden. You people are wacko, Buck. I'm gonna need some compelling reason to keep quiet about you."

Watching the scene, Minako was struck with an idea then she mouthed to Rei to play along with what she was going to do.

At once, Minako swooped in. "Here's a good reason: you'll miss out on a lengthy, exclusive interview with the VERY first Sailor senshi to appear in London, England?"

Buck and Chloe were dumbfounded, Verna wrinkled her nose and jerked her thumb at Minako. "Who is this?"

"One of the rare informants who knows Sailor V herself." Minako answered back.

"Oh really?"

"Just something to think about, Zee. Why waste a skewed piece on Ben-Judah when you can get the untamed and uncut reasoning straight from one of the course's mouth?"

"That's straight from the horse's mouth, missy." Verna folded her arms.

"Ahem! And you noticed how for all the appearance almost NO reporter alive in their country or anywhere else has gotten an exclusive with any of the Sailor Senshi whatsoever." Rei pointed out. "Think of it as a challenge in the shadows, interviewing one of the mysterious vigilante everybody's talking about and you would be the first in line!"

They waited for Verna's reaction, letting the words sink in. Perhaps appealing to her ego could buy them some time and maybe lead her focus away from the rabbi. The woman appeared to be considering it, either out of curiosity or personal investigation.

"Fine, but you've got today to make it happen or there'll be trouble." Verna agreed.

"All right," Buck said. "Six-thirty at the office."

After the service was over, Usagi goes into the church's kitchen where she reaches into her pocket and gets out a family picture of her, her parents and Shingo, which was taken before she became Sailor Moon. When the vanishings happened, she had first thought her brother would be among those who had disappeared, but...he wasn't. He was still here, just like Ryan. After all, so many 12-year-olds were also taken in the Rapture. Why weren't they?

The answer was clear as day.

Now Usagi thinks about her family and wonders if they're alright. She was glad Loretta allowed her to call and let her family know she was safe, and would be on the next available flight home.

She also solemnly thinks about the person she was before the disappearances. Now that her true self has come out, she has to face her past self and she didn't like what she saw. She thinks about what Ami had once said about how people's true selves tend to come out during disastrous events. No doubt many people had revealed their true selves during this dark time.

People she thought were good turned out to be bad as was the case with her classmates Kotone and Atsushi...and people she thought were bad turned out to be good such as Saki – a girl who was thought to fit the Sukeban stereotype proved to be an outspoken friend. Umino's inquisitiveness allowed him and Molly to see the truth for themselves.

Vicki then comes into the kitchen, "Usagi, you okay?"

Usagi turns to face Vicki with a sad smile, "Yeah I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

Usagi answers. "A lot of things. About the kind of person I was before the Rapture...my parents...her little brother."

Viki realizes Usagi's afraid for her family. "You're afraid for your family."

"That's about right." Usagi admits.

Viki walks up to her. "Hey, it's gonna be alright."

Usagi confesses "That's what I've been telling myself since the vanishings. That everything's gonna be okay. But after the World War III happened, the Ben-Judah family executions and Bruce's death, all of my self-assurance went right out the window."

"May I see that?" Vicki was referring to the picture Usagi was holding.

Usagi permits it and hands her the photo of herself and her parents and little brother. "That family picture was taken before I became Sailor Moon. Before the disappearances happened, I never even thought about them or spent that much time with them. It makes me wish could say she did, but I was too busy hanging out with my friends, fighting monsters as Sailor Moon, trying to make the world safe for everyone.

We managed to defeat countless enemies and save the world multiple times from ending. Now when the ultimate end starting... we almost can't do a thing about it. I just feel so helpless...and afraid. I'm afraid for her parents and my little brother, Shingo.

When we were little, we had a very close sibling relationship. But after I turned thirteen, they started to drift apart. And we just kept drifting further and further and further until... we didn't have much of a relationship anymore. He'd tease me about my short-comings, I'd fire back and vice versa. I hung out with the girls and he hung out with his. But since the war and Bruce's death, all I did was think about my family and their safety... especially their salvation."

Usagi slumped forward. She doesn't think she's been a very good sister to Shingo since she was a young teen and...No, scratch that. She wasn't any kind of sister at all.

Vicki patted her on the back. "I kinda feel you there. I wasn't exactly sister of the year with my little sister, Jeanie, either. But if it makes you feel any better, you might not have been exactly perfect, but at least you weren't off doing drugs or drinking, hanging out with wild friends and going to crazy parties like me. I pretty much ignored and neglected my little sister to do all of those things.

At least you got a better excuse, I wasn't off fighting monsters as a super hero with friends. Compared to stuff I did, you're pretty much the best big sister that's ever lived. Because you were fighting monsters and supervillains you're your friends, trying to make the world a safe place for your brother to grow up in. Not many older siblings can say that."

The younger teen handed the Japanese high schooler back the photo. "Usagi, I'm not trying to tell you what to do or anything, far from it. But you need to decide if you're gonna let what's happening bring you and your brother Shingo closer together...or let what happened in the past drive you two further apart. The four Horsemen have come and gone, that means the next two seals are gonna be ten times worse and will kill a lot of people. Can you afford to put your job off as a big sister any longer?"

Usagi takes time to think about everything Vicki said and sees she's right. While she can't go back and change the past, she can move forward and do better. She makes up in her mind that the next time she sees her family, she's gonna spend as much time with her brother as possible and she's gonna be the big sister she should've been all along. No more running away, no more reluctance and no more wishing for an alleged normal life. No more neglecting her little brother or 'Me first attitude'.

Most of all, she's gonna have to find a way to convince them of the truth she'd uncovered and lead them to salvation before the Deceiver leads them to destruction.

To be continued…