A/N: Alright, I'm back with another chapter!
First of all, I want to thank everyone who reviewed my last chapter and gave me feed back. It really helped and I'm glad to see people are enjoying it! I just hope this story continues to entertain all of you. Also, to the one Person who asked: I really have no thoughts on the upcoming HALO:Infinite gane. Just don't. Also, I don't know what other cross overs I will do in the future.
So with that out of the way, on to the story!
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Considering just who he was and who he was meeting with, Logan was rather surprised by what he saw. The Spartan had believed that his meeting with Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion, would have taken place in a throne room or some kind of chamber where such meetings would normally be held. But instead of this, both Haruka and Michiru has led him to what could have been best described as a indoor Japanese Temple. Logan had seen similar structures both as a cadet on Earth and even of several out laying colonies, but this one was quite impressive.
The temple itself was surrounded by trees and bushes, there was even a stone path on the dirt covered floor. With the two outer senshi escorting him, the super soldier entered the Temple. Its wooden floors straining under the weight of his power armor and groaning in protest as a result. Upon entering, Logan saw both Serenity and Endymion kneeling down in front of him near what looked like a fire pit. But they were not alone, as the one he recognized as "Sailor Mars" sat on the other side of the pit as was dressed in a traditional Shinto Priestess attire.
"Hello again, Logan." Serenity said with a warm smile, "I hoped you slept well."
"I slept... Well." The Spartan replied.
"That's good to here. Please, come and sit with us. Maybe take off your helmit?"
"I... Rather keep my helmet on." Logan replied, all be it with a touch of hesitany in his voice. Something which did not go unnoticed by the royals and the Shinto Priestess.
"Very well, I understand." Serenity replied. "I know this setting is not what you might have been expecting, but I prefer to meet new people in an relaxing atmosphere, rather than some stuffy chamber."
"Understood. But..."
"You want to know just why there is a Shinto Temple inside of the Palace?" Endymion finished, knowing very well that was the normal reaction to anyone who saw the shrine. "The Temple itself is based off a shine our close friend Rei use to live in when she was younger. Sadly, her home no longer exists, so my wife had one built for her. She took great care to ensure that it was an exact replica of what our Friend once had."
It was true for the most part. Both Rei and her Husband Yuichiro, had taken over the old Hikawa Shrine after her grand father had passed away. It thrived for many years, even after the founding of Crystal Tokyo. But the shrine was destroyed during the Black Moon's attack, which devastated the raven haired Priestess, which caused her to be depressed for a long time afterwards. Serenity, knowing how much the temple meant to her friend, decided to "re crate" the Shrine using her Silver Crystal. Though Logan did not need to know the part about said crystal played.
"Well... I guess we should start with the most obvious question." Serenity began, as she stated directly into the Spartan's Golden face shield. "Where do you come from and what is this United Nations Space Command...?"
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While this was going on, the rest of Serenity's senshi sat in another part of the Shrine and waited patiently. Despite their feelings about Logan's presence, Serenity didn't want the "Spartan" feeling unwecomed or uncomfortable. The Queen always believed that once someone was made to feel welcomed, they would be more willing to open up. Hence the reason only Rei was allowed to be present when Serenity and Endymion met with Logan. As her Telepathy had developed over the years to a point where she could read someone's mind. Leading some, (Minako) to call her "Sailor Lie Detector". A title which the priestess did not like, while Minako's hair was turned bright green for a month. Rei had also earned a reputation of Bering a master prankster as well.
In an attempt to pass the time and calm some nerves, the young women talked amongst themselves about their lives and of course, their families.
"I spoke with Alexander last night." Setsuna said casually, referring yo her husband. "He said the kids are doing fine.
"Ryo said the same thing." Ami added. "He said Atsushi and the other girls went on a hike outside Seattle yesterday."
"Do you think they know?" Hotaru asked, a hint on concern could be heard in her voice. "Serenity didn't want them back in Tokyo incase... "
"Don't worry, Ru." Michiru told her adoptive daughter, "Daichi and Emiko would be back home soon. Besides, don't your in-laws always complain about not seeing their Grand Daughter."
"Yea!" Haruka added. "Beides, let Daichi change those diapers for a while."
That comment made Hotaru giggle a bit, as the group continued to talk amongst themselves. Despite their duties as guardians, life had moved on for the girls in the years following the defeat/cleansing of Galaxia. They all followed their dreams, fell in love and started families of their own. Even Setsuna/Sailor Pluto had found someone and now had a family of her own, despite maintaining her duty the Guardian of Time. Needless to say, Serenity/Usagi was happy for each and every one of her friends. After all that had happened to them in the past, they deserved to be happy too.
But eventually, the subject soon turned to Serenity's and Endymion's new guest and that warship he came on.
"How you think its going inside of there?" Minako asked curiously, as she glanced in the direction where the meeting was taking place.
"Haven't heard any explosions or yells, so I'm guessing its going well." Makoto joked half heartedly, though inwardly she too wondered just what this "Logan" individual had to say. Some of them either chuckled or cracked a smile at the Senshi of Thunder's comment, but Haruka scowled before she said...
"I still don't trust that guy. Something about him just doesn't feel right."
"Why, because he beat you in a fight? " Makoto teased, as Michiru had told everyone just what had happened when the Senshi of the Wind tried to fight the Super Soldier. Needless to say, the inner senshi got a good giggle at the mental image of the "strong" Sailor Uranus being tossed around like a rag doll.
The tall blond just scowled even more and was about to say something rather unpleasant to the green eyed brunette, when Michiru spoke up and said, "Still... Logan suddenly appears in the middle of the Solar System and has no memory as to how he got there?"
"To be fair, neither does Hanna." Ami replied, referring to the A.I. she met while on board the Siege Merciless. "Then again, she said she was only activated after they arrived in the system."
"Still does not explain how he or that ship of his got here." Haruka stated.
"It is possible he did come from another reality from our own." Setsuna finally spoke up, gaining everyone's attention. "Prior to his arrival...I detected something while at the Doors of Space and Time."
"What was it?" Ami asked the Time Senshi, as everyone moved closer to hear what she had to say.
"The Time Streams can be a rather chaotic place at times. Every second, new streams are created either by a simple decision made by an Individual, or by an event that greatly alters the timeline. Sometimes, these alterations are so great, that it creates a whole new reality that is completely alien to our own."
"Are you saying that alternate realities... Alternate dimensions are real?" Ami asked, both puzzled and intruged by when her fellow Senshi had said. Setsuna just nodded before she replied, "Indeed so. But when a new reality is created, it almost never interacts with other realities."
"You said, " Almost"" Michiru pointed out.
"Though extremely rare, sometimes Alternate Realities would interact with one another. Though its usually for a moment and the two realities never aknowledges the presence of one another." Setsuna explained. "But... Prior to Logan's arrival, I detected an anomaly within the time streams. It was as is if something was forcing one alternate reality to connect to our own. Which should not even be possible."
"How so?" Minako asked the Time Goddess, her mind still trying to comprehend just what was being told to her.
"there is a reason why Alternate realities interacting with one another, are so rare and so short in duration." Setusua continued. "The amount of energy needed to purposely connect two alternate realities together... It just should not be posible. Yet someone... Or something was not only able to bridge their universe with our own, but send someone through."
"That someone, currently having a meeting with the rulers of Earth." Haruka said grimly, her suspicions about Logan growing even more.
"Is it possible that Logan caused this... anomaly?" Ami asked the dark skinned woman. As even she was perplexed by Setsuna's statements about alternate reality and the idea of them interacting with one another.
"I really don't know. It really depends on what is said in their Majesties meeting with him."
"It could be possible that Logan was brought here against his own will." Hotaru piped up. "I don't think he was lying when he said he did not know how he got here."
"That is a possibility, Hotaru." Setsuna replied. "I seriously doubt that his vessel could even produce that amount of energy by itself."
"What makes you say that?" Makoto asked.
"To link to realities together, one would require harnessing enough energy equivalent to 100 suns the size of our own. Let alone keep a link stable enough to allow a ship that large through. Its just not possible, but here we are."
The room soon fell silent, as the senshi mulled over just what the Senshi of Time had told them. Was it possible that some outside force was responsible to bringing Logan and his ship to their world? If so, why? Even more worrying, just how powerful a being would have to be to do something like this?
Galaxia? She was without question the most powerful Senshi in the universe and unquestionably, the deadliest. But Galaxia had not been seen or heard from since Sailor Moon (Neo-Queen Serenity) freed her from Chaos. No one was even sure if the Senshi was even alive after all this time, then again, they were all over 1,000 years old so it was possible she could still be alive. But why would she bring this Logan individual into this world?
Was he a helpless victim like Serenity believed, or was his apparent just the prelude to something more sinister...?
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With the pleasantries over, Serenity and Endymion began to tell the story of how their world (Crystal Tokyo) came to be and how they both became its rulers. Beginning with an event many in Earth simply called "The Big One" . An apocalyptic natural event that devastated the world and almost brought the Human Race to extinction. But through the efforts of Serenity and her friends/Sailor Senshi, the human race was able to survive and as a result, elected to appoint both Serenity and her Husband as the rulers of Earth. All the while holographic images were projected behind the couple to help in their narration.
Despite how odd it all sounded to the Spartan, he could not deny that the world he saw did not look as if was ruled by tyrants. From what he had seen and heard, this world was an absolute Utopia. No poverty, no strife, no pollution... nothing which still plagued "his" Earth even after Humanity began to colonize the Galaxy, was present. But eventually, it was Logan's turn to tell his hosts about the world he came from and the United Nations Space Command... to say Serenity and Endymion were shocked by what they heard, would be an understatement.
Unlike what they had, the universe which Logan described was one filled with strife, insurrection and war. Culminating in almost apocalyptic conflict known as the Covenant War. Just the idea that the human race was almost brought to extinction over a lie which had been told, horrified the Royal and Rei. Who was still listening in from her position near the fire pit. But it was Serenity who was shaken up by this revalation the most, as she could not believe such an conflict was possible, yet her kingdom had something similar happen to them in the form of the Black Moon attack. But from what Logan had said, that attack was nothing compared to what he described. But what really shocked the couple, was Logan's admission that he himself was a product of that war, as he had willingly allowed himself to be turn into a "Spartan" to protect humanity.
Of course, what Logan was telling them was a heavily edited account of events. As he doubted the two would react well to the true horrors of that conflict, or how he actually came to be as a Spartan. He then went on to tell the now traumatized Royals the event which lead up to the Siege Merciless somehow being transported from his universe, to theirs.
"So... you stayed on board the ship?" a now stunned Endymion asked the Super Soldier, surprised that this individual was willing to sacrifice himself for otners.
"It was the only logical option." Logan replied calmly. "The only way the escape pod could have launched safely, was if someone stayed behind to manually release the escape pod."
"That someone being you?" Serenity asked the Spartan.
"It was my choice." Logan replied, his voice showing no signs that he regretted his decision. "I didn't think I could have made it to another escape pod in time, so I sealed myself in a cryo-chamber and just... hoped for the best."
All the while this was going on, Rei listened intently to the conversation from her position. Trying to sense anything which would suggest that Logan was not being truthful during this meeting. But instead of sensing an dark aura or any negative energy around the armored giant, the priestess sense an aura she was all too familiar with. An aura which was usually associated with someone who had been subjected to great trauma in their lifetime. Someone who had experienced great tragedies and loss, yet was trying their best to bury those feelings deep within their subconscious. Something which the Senshi knew all too well, as she had done the same when both her Mother and later, her Grand Father passed away all those years ago. It was not a healthy to bottle up all those feelings and it was only with the support of her friends and now husband, as she able to overcome those dark thoughts. But from what she was sensing from the Spartan, it seemed he did not have the same support system as she did.
Logan was hiding something, but it wasn't something she saw as a threat.
"And you are sure you don't know how you got here?" King Endymion asked the Super Soldier, his mind still chruning over what Logan had told him.
"I am afraid not." Logan replied. "The last thing I remembered was the Cryo-chamber closing shut. The next thing I know, I am being revived."
"This is very... Curious indeed." Serenity added. "But until we discover just what happened to you, you are still my guess and I want you to feel welcomed. You are free to stay in the Palace as long as you like and if you do have any more question, my senshi and I will be more than happy to answer them."
"That is... Very gracious of you. But I think it would be best if I return to my ship." Logan replied, as he genuinely did not feel comfortable being in the Palace.
"Logan..." Serenity began, as she stood up and walked over to the Spartan. Her slim frame overshadowed by the armored giant standing before her. "You are my guest and as queen, I feel as if it is my duty to make anyone who comes in peace, to feel welcomed. I know you have many questions and there are many in my court who have questions of their own. Most prominant of which, is you are a friend or a foe. But I see you as a friend and I am certain that in time, my senshi will see you the same way. That is why I want you to stay as my guest, but I will understand if you wish to return to your ship. But will you please stay?"
To say Logan was surprised by Neo-Queen Serenity's statement, would have been correct. She didn't know him and the Spartan didn't know her, but this woman sounded genuinely sincere when she asked him to stay. Of course both his mind and gut would be screaming at him to refuse such an offer, telling it was all just a ruse and that no one could be that generous. Let alone to a Super Soldier like himself. But something deep inside was telling him that this... Neo-Queen Serenity was indeed being genuine and that really did wanted him to feel welcomed.
Then again with everything which had happened to him in the last few days, having an potential ally could be a positive. "Very well. Thank you for your hospitality."
Serenity's eyes seemed to light up at that point, as she stretched her arm out to shake the Spartan's hand.
At this point, Endymion walked up to the Priestess who had been present the entire time. Noticing that she now had a strange expression on her normally neutral face.
"Is there something wrong?" The king asked his long time friend.
"No... At least... I don't think so." Rei replied, as she eyed the Spartan as he was being lead out by Serenity.
"What do you mean?"
"If you are wondering if I think this Logan person is a threat, the answer is no." The Priestess replied. "But there is something else I was sensing in him..."
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The sun was still high in the sky and blanketing the Crystal Palace in its warm rays, as Small Lady Usagi stood at her bedroom window and looked down at the gardens below. Just outside its walls, the young princess could see the busy streets of Crystal Tokyo filled with people going about their daily lives. It wasn't too long ago that those streets were once filled with death and destruction, as the armies of the Black Moon clan laid siege to Tokyo and many others across the planet.
Those were indeed dark times and the planet had recovered, for the most part. But the young royal wondered just what would happen if the populace knew there was a stranger from a strange land currently residing within the Crystal Palace. People were literally passing just meters away from the "Drop Ship" which was currently being hidden in the Royal Garden. Just one hundred meters of trees, shrubbery and other thick foliage separated "Logan's" ship from the populace. Who know just what kind of panic such a discovery would cause. So far, the Amazoness Quartet had done a good job at keeping people out of the now closed Garden, but the Princess could not help but to wonder just what would happen if someone did manage to find that "Pelican"
But as the young woman continued to stare as the spot where the drop ship was located, she waa completely unaware if the shadowy form gliding on the surface of the Palace walls and under her vantage point.
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A/N: And another chapter down. As always please leave a review and send me some feed back. It really helps in the development of future chapters.
Until next time, NIGHTSTALKER OUT!