A/N: Alright .. back with the next installment and I hope you guys like it. But before that, a bit of a announcement.
I know I am currently working on another story and yes I know I have not updated it in a while. No... the story isn't dead/abandoned, but I will be focusing on this one more. I am still working on it, but I have hit serious writers bloc as of late for it and I don't want to try and force out a chapter when I am not really feeling it.
I am still working on it, but don't expect it to be updated as frequently. Now with that out of the way... on to the story.
oh, and to "The Eschaton", I just wanted to do it. ;)
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The world was a complete blur to her, as she slowly began to stir. The tall blond didn't know where she was or what had happened to her, but her body felt sore... very sore.
Her last memory was of fighting a spider like creature that had attempted to attack Serenity and her Husband... oh god, Serenity and Endymion!! Where were they? Were they alright? Are they Alright?! Uranus was just about to strike down the would be attacker when another Spider creature appeared and got the drop on her. She had felt several sharp pains about her body, before everything went to black.
Now she was here... where ever here was, but the Sendhi needed to find her Queen and King! As her vision finally began to clear up, the woman soon realized that she was no longer in the Palace. Instead, she found herself in what looked like some kind of well lit medical facility. Haruka could see several other beds with some kind of console next to each of them, but they were all empty.
As she slowly began to regain more and more of her awareness, the woman soon realized that not only no longer in her fuku, but was now wearing a white medical gown. A steady beeping could be heard and she soon realized that there was another console next to her with several "wires" leading from her to it. Not liking the situation she now found herself in, the Senshi of the Wind was just about to get up from her bed when...
"Uranus-san!" a female voice called out, a very familiar voice.
The Senshi soon found herself being hugged by a young woman who began to sob into her shoulder.
"Pallas?" Haruka asked, sounding more puzzled than anything. Sure enough, the Outer Senshi soon realized that she was not alone. As she saw the rest of the Asteroid Scouts standing near by with...
"Chibiusa?"
"Thank goodness, you're awake." the Pink Haired teen replied.
"W... Where am I? what's going on? Where is Serenity?" The Tall blond asked, but soon began to feel weak again and laid back into her bed. By now though, Pallas had rejoined her team mates as she replied. "We're on the Space Man's Ship! You got hurt bad and the computer lady helped you!"
"What? Computer Lady?"
"I think she means me."
Suddenly, Hannah's holographic image appeared near by and almost immediately, Haruka began to scowl. "You..."
"Yes... me." Hannah replied, using the same tone Haruka had. "And you are lucky to be alive, so you should take it easy."
"What am I doing here, where is Serenity?"
"You got hurt." Chibiusa interjected, as she placed herself between the Senshi and the A.I.. "You'd probably dead right now if Logan hadn't brought you to his ship."
"Yea!" Palla added, surprising the other Senshi. "Space man saved your life and is risking his life to save everyone else!"
"Everyone else...?" the blond asked curiously, as she soon noticed that the other Senshi or her wife were not there. "What do you mean?"
The Asteroid Senshi just looked at their princess with concerned expressions. Had had not known Haruka as long as Serenity and her Senshi, but they knew just how protective the muscular blond could be. Especially towards Michiru/Sailor Neptune.
Chibiusa just sighed heavily as she said, "Well..."
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The ominous hum of the factory floor could still be heard, as both Serenity and Logan made their way through the tunnels. Her Majesty staying close to the Spartan as best as she could in the darkness, as Logan had switched to his thermals to navigate through the darkness without alerting anyone.
All the while, relying on Serenity's "Instincts" to locate her friends. While locating the missing Nova Bomb was a priority, the discovery of the "Factory" had changed plans. The primary objective now, was to locate and rescue the "Hostages" and get them off this rock as soon as possible. When they were secured, only then would Logan deal with the WMD... as well as the Factory.
"Hold." the Spartan said suddenly. "Someone's heading this way."
"Where do we hide?" The Royal asked, as she could suddenly hear the familiar sounds of metallic feet marching towards them. Thinking fast, Logan forced Serenity up against the tunnel walls. His mass dwarfing the slim frame of the woman, as Serenity covered her mouth.
Moments later a pair of black Droids with what looked like laser rifles where their right arms should be, came from the opposite direction. Their skull like heads with glowing red eyes slowly scanning the rocky interior of the natural tunnel as they walked, a duty they have done numerous times since they were first activated.
The the skeletal pair soon came to a stop where Logan and Serenity had been moments before. They took a moment to scan their surroundings for a bit, before moving on to their next check point. Meanwhile, Serenity looked on in wonder as the droids walked passed her position, amazed that herself and Logan had not been detected at all.
But no sooner had the pair had their packs turned, Logan switched off his Armor's cloaking ability and drew his plasma sword. Before quickly sneaking up behind the the would be patrol. The metallic constructs never had a chance to react, as in one swift move, the Spartan activated his weapon and effortlessly sliced off the heads of their heads. Their bodies remained standing up right, as the skull like heads fell and rolled on the rocky surface.
For good measure, Logan then proceeded to stamp on said heads and crushed them with ease. Much to the shock of Serenity, who had just witnessed everything.
After making sure that the two constructs were dead, the super Soldier began to search the remains and soon found what looked like keys that were seemingly built into one of their fingers. "How far are we from your friends?" Logan asked, still not sure just how the Royal was able to sense them. But at this point, he just stopped asked questions.
"They are close ... I can feel it." Serenity replied. "But what about the Nova Bomb."
"Once the hostages are secured, then I will focus on the Bomb." Logan replied, before hiding the "Bodies" behind some rocks. "Once your Friends have been rescued, you head back to the Mongoose and back to the drop ship."
"But what about you?"
"I will be fine." Logan said bluntly, as he took point once again and continued down the tunnel. "We should keep moving. I don't know how long before they discover two of their own have gone missing."
Serenity did not like Logan's reply, something about it just didn't not sit right with her. In her long life Serenity had spoken to many people from all walks of life and just for a moment, Logan sounded like those who had been in a hospital. The type of persons who have had thoughts of self harm and were in hospital so as to prevent them from hurting the themselves. Come to think of it, Logan's personality reminded her of some of those patients. Some of whom had carried out their dark thoughts, but they always told her "I will be fine" just days before.
Maybe it was the tension of the situation or maybe she was just over thinking things to keep her mind busy, but the monarch could not help but to think that Logan may have his demons as well. But for now, she would have to push those thoughts to the back of her head and focus on saving her friends.
For the next few minutes, the pair continued to move cautiously through the tunnel. Logan's thermal imager guiding them through the darkness, while Serenity continued to lead the Super Soldier towards their objective.
Eventually, the two came upon a pair of large, rusted metal doors that blocked their path. They looked as if they had not been used in a very long time indeed, but on closer inspection one could tell that this was not the case.
"They're in here!" Serenity announced, wincing as if she were in pain. But the Royal knew her friends were being held behind these doors, she could feel it!
This "feeling" had indeed been confirmed by Logan, via his armor. As he had switched from his thermal to his armor's built in sensors. He could "see" a number of vital signs... all human, on the other side of the doors. But unlike Serenity, the Spartan was also able to detect several targets that were clearly not human as well. Most likely more of those "droids" which were guarding the hostages.
"I'm detecting a number of targets on the other side as well." Logan replied, "Including some possible hostiles as well."
"So what do we do..."' The Royal asked the larger man, just as he took out the keys he had recovered earlier...
Meanwhile within the Dungeon... Serenity's Senshi were hung up on crosses made of black crystals. Of course they were all still in their civilian forms, as they had not gotten a chance to transform when they were initially taken. They were all unconscious as they hung their, possibly still unaware of what had happened and what their situation was like at that moment. All the while, several droids stood at attention at each of the crosses with their weapons in hand. Ready to strike down the captured senshi if/when given the order.
But of course such an order would never come, but these constructs didn't know that. For Esmarude, the capture of the Sailor Senshi was her greatest victory to date. She would want to savor this apparent victory as long as she could and besides, this was only the appetizer before the main course. He REAL target was Neo-Queen Serenity, the one individual which had caused he so much pain in the past. With the Senshi now as her prisoners, the former Black Moon Lieutenant knew she had an opportunity to get her revenge.
She knew Serenity would come to rescue her friends and when she did... Esmarude would be there to strike her down. But not before killing her Senshi right before her eyes. Doing that would be much crueler than just killing her out right. Serenity needed to know what it was like to lose something she loved.
But like stated before... the Droids did not know this, they could not have known this. They were only puppets in a mad woman's desire for revenge. But as they stood guard, they were completely unaware that one of their captives was begining to stir.
The world was still a blur Ami, as the woman slowly began to regain consciousness. She tried to move, but she felt something was pinning her arms down. She soon realized that she was not in her bed at the palace, as he vision finally cleared and the Senshi of Mercury soon found herself hanging from a cross. Moving her head from side to side, Ami then realized that she was not alone. As she could see the others on crosses much like herself. Just what was going on, where was she?
From her vantage point, the the blue haired woman could also see numerous droids on the ground below. Familiar beings she and her friends had encountered before, but what were they doing here? She was just about attempt to wake up the other women with here when suddenly... she heard what sounded like large doors opening.
The Droids also focused their attention on the sound as well and when they looked in the direction it came from... the sound of heavy gun fire soon filled the air.
Instantly, two of the droids were ripped apart as the remainder charged forward at their would be attacker. But the gunfire continued and Ami could see more and more of the metallic constructs being destroyed. The gunfire also had the effect of waking the other girls from their would be slumber and they too woke up in time to see the last droid explode in a small fire ball. smoke now filled the air, as the captured senshi soon realized they were no longer in the Crystal Palace and were confused as to what was happening.
Suddenly there was a bright flash and the crystal crosses which held them had shattered. Dropping them to the rocky surface, but they were able to land safely on their feet and soften their landing. Just what was happening?
They soon got their answer... for as the smoke began to clear, a hulking figure holding what looked like some kind of weapon began to walk towards them. A very familiar figure...
"W... what is going on?" Makoto was the first to speak up. 'What are you doing here?"
Logan just looked down at the woman before he replied ...
"Saving your life..."
