TROJAN
Chapter 3: "Invasion"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
In the office of Ami Mizuno Fujihara, Chief Medical Officer for the monarchy of Japan, the phone on her desk rang. Looking up from a case file on a new strain of viral infection that was working its way through Niigata, Ami picked up the phone.
"This is Dr. Fujihara," she said.
"Dr. Fujihara, this is Nakamura in the pharmaceutical ministry," a man's voice spoke over the phone.
"Yes, Minister, how can I be of assistance?"
"Well," he began hesitantly, "I know it isn't my place to question you . . ."
"But . . .?"
"The report I sent you on hydrochlorozycline," he continued. "I just wanted to know why, Doctor."
"Hydrochlorozycline shows great promise in the reversal of cartilage deterioration," Ami explained. "The after affects so far seem to be minimal and the positive benefit to patients, while yet to be proven, is very encouraging."
"Yes, then why?" he reiterated.
"I don't understand," Ami said. "You seem upset."
"Of course I'm upset," Nakamura exclaimed. "This new drug had enormous potential benefit! You just said so yourself!"
"Then what seems to be the problem?"
"You stamped 'rejected' on the application for clinical testing!"
Ami stared at the wall for a moment.
"I did?" she asked.
"Yes," Nakamura replied with some confusion.
"I-I apologize, Minister," Ami squeaked. "I must have used the incorrect stamp in my haste to get on to other projects."
"Then clinical testing isn't halted?"
"No, of course not," Ami replied, rubbing her forehead with her hand. "Please resubmit the application for me to approve. I apologize for making you do that over again."
"It's quite alright, Doctor," Nakamura replied, though Ami felt he was being conciliatory rather than genuine. "I'll have my administrative staff get right on that."
"Thank you. Was that all?"
When he said it was, Ami hung up. The woman took a moment to steady herself, guilt over her error quietly annoying her.
"How could I have made such a mistake?" she grumbled to herself. "Is it another indicator that I've been working too hard, so hard that it affects my judgement or my short-term memory? Perhaps Serenity and the others are right. I must admit that the evening with Hayami was a welcome relief."
It was then that Ami's administrative assistant entered the office. In her arms was a stack of case files a foot high. Reluctantly the woman placed them on Ami's desk.
"Are you certain you want to do these tonight?" Yori asked. She was a young woman with short brown hair and a petite figure who Minako once quipped could be mistaken for Ami's younger sister if she had one.
Ami sighed. "Yes," she said. "Procrastination only leads to a bigger workload."
"I really hate being called out of Cabinet Meetings," Endymion sighed as he entered his private office. "But then, I really hate Cabinet Meetings."
Waiting in his office were Artemis, Luna and Serenity. Serenity was entertaining Yua, one of the children they had adopted. Due to her traumatic past, eight year old Yua was very anxious and clingy and Serenity often had to pay special attention to the girl.
"So, I take it there's been a development in the trojan situation?" Endymion surmised as he looked at the cats.
"Got an address," Artemis said. "Actually, I got a physical address from the IP address that was bounced back to me by my counter-trojan and . . ."
"The point, Artemis," Luna sighed. "His Majesty is a very busy man."
"Sorry. I get a little proud about these things," Artemis grinned. "The IP address is registered to a beach cabin in Palau."
"That's a place?" Serenity asked.
"It's an island in the South Pacific near New Guinea. It's part of Micronesia."
"Interesting," Endymion mused. "I was expecting China or Iran. Is this part of some organized crime syndicate?"
"Nope. One person apparently. And you'll never guess who."
"Then tell them," rumbled Luna.
"Remember Goro Awanishi?" Artemis asked.
"No. Who's he?" Serenity said, then hugged Yua when she began to fidget.
"Wasn't he the programmer behind the Universe Phone?" Endymion asked.
"The one that made people do bad things?" gasped Serenity.
"The one that planted suggestions in people's brains to induce them to act out repressed thoughts," Artemis corrected. "I always wondered where he ended up."
"Have you alerted the Palau authorities?" Endymion asked.
"I was waiting for you to decide," Artemis said. "Awanishi is a slippery character. If he gets wind that the police are closing in, he could just disappear and set up shop somewhere else. He's certainly got enough money."
"But you stopped his computer thingy, didn't you?" Serenity asked. "He can't steal anymore, right?"
"Maybe," the white cat sighed. "But this guy is good - - real good. And as much as I hate to admit it, he could very easily find a way around my trojan-stopper and go back to looting the world's banks."
"Then he has to be stopped," Serenity declared. "And if the police can't do it, maybe we need to."
"By 'we', I'm assuming you mean the Senshi, Your Majesty?" Luna asked.
"Yes," she replied. "And would you PLEASE stop calling me that!"
"I'd like to leave it up to the Palau authorities," Endymion said.
"And if they just roll up in a police car and scare him off?" Artemis asked. "Or one of their officials is on the take and warns him? All he needs to set up again is a thumb drive and a computer with internet capabilities."
"Then we need to," Serenity affirmed. "I'll go tell the others."
"Hold on. The Palau government might not like you and the Senshi coming in and arresting one of their residents," warned Endymion. "And we don't have an extradition treaty with them. It could be seen as an act of aggression, both by them and by other countries."
"Then we," Serenity mumbled, "don't have to tell them."
"Serenity," the King sighed.
"Endymion, I was given this power to protect people from being preyed on by bad people, people with hatred or contempt in their hearts. If some person barely getting by can't get his money to support his family because this man stole it, and I can do something to stop it, I have to do it!"
"And if you end up creating an international incident in the process, no matter how well-intentioned you are, what then?" Luna asked pointedly, "YOUR MAJESTY!"
"Ohhhhh, I hate it when you do that!" fumed the Queen. "Endymion, if we explain the situation to everyone, they'll understand. But we have to stop this person. What if he's stealing this money to use to create another mind-control program? What if it's a better one? What if he's a danger to everyone in the world?"
Endymion sat silently in thought.
"We have no assurance that his intentions are to do such a thing," warned Luna.
"He's got the potential," Artemis added. "And now he's got the money to finance it. She's got a point."
The King rubbed his temple.
"Dear, can you assume your Sailor Moon form still?" he asked.
"Any time," Serenity replied and promptly transformed into Sailor Moon. Yua looked up at her in awe. "Why?"
"At least as Sailor Moon you have some plausible deniability. If you and the Senshi move quick enough, no one may notice you. Hopefully his home will be remote enough to allow for that. But you'll have to go in, apprehend him and get out. And do it as quietly as possible."
"I understand, Endymion," Sailor Moon nodded. "I'll get the others and brief them on the mission."
"I'll come along to make certain you get your facts straight," Luna added, jumping down to follow her.
"Oh, you are just SO mean!" Sailor Moon fumed at the cat as they disappeared through the door. Yua got up and climbed into Endymion's lap.
"It's the best way to get him, Your Majesty," Artemis assured him.
"Probably," Endymion muttered as he hugged Yua. "But I don't like it. I don't like the implications. And I don't like her going into a potentially dangerous situation again."
"They survived Galaxia," Artemis offered. "Everything after her should be a piece of cake."
"There is no such thing as a piece of cake mission," Endymion said.
The palm trees and the leaves on the tropical plants on the grounds surrounding the cabin overlooking the Pacific Ocean began to blow and swirl. Sand caught by the sudden whirlwind spun up into the air, mixing with twigs and brown grasses. The birds that frequented the estate's trees grew silent. As the whirlwind grew in strength, their anxiety overcame their curiosity and they flew off to safer perches. Finally the miniature pocket of swirling air died down, revealing five world famous Senshi. Immediately Sailor Mercury broke her hold of Sailor Moon's hand and turned to her.
"How are you feeling?" Mercury asked.
"I'm fine," Sailor Moon reassured her.
They all noticed Mars stare at her for a moment.
"I said I was fine!" growled Sailor Moon.
"She's fine," Mars reported. "There's no point in being annoyed. We wouldn't be doing this if you didn't have the habit of over-exerting yourself and then lying about it after."
"Honestly, you SO need a man," Sailor Moon shot back.
"Modest looking place," Venus judged, looking the cabin over. "Given how much this guy supposedly stole, you'd think he could afford a bigger place."
"Not everyone is in to showing off their wealth," Jupiter chided her.
"Oh, sure! I buy one yacht and suddenly I'm a show-off!"
"You were a show-off long before you had money," Mars jabbed.
"Well, I don't see any obvious defensive mechanisms," Venus said, looking back at the cabin.
"Then it should be safe," Sailor Moon concluded. She started to walk up to the front door.
"Sailor Moon, stop!" Mercury cried out. She had her visor down and had spotted the invisible beam running across the gate.
However, Sailor Moon in her haste to end the situation didn't stop until she'd actually passed through the beam. Turning in confusion to Mercury, she didn't seem to notice a mechanical arm pop up out of the ground. The arm had a metallic cylinder atop it, with a ruby colored lens on one end.
"GHAAAA!" she gasped, barely avoiding the crimson laser beam that shot out at her. Staggering away, she stumbled and landed on her hip. The beam tracked to follow her.
"Crescent Beam!" Venus shouted. Golden energy shot out from her index finger and struck the laser, causing it to explode. "Well now we know what he spent his money on."
"Mercury, can you pinpoint any more traps?" Jupiter asked.
"Scanning now," Mercury replied and reviewed telemetry from the scans her visor was making.
"Honestly, why do people have to be like that?" grumbled Sailor Moon. She picked herself up off of the dirt road in front of the cabin and dusted off her white skirt. "Please!" she shouted at the cabin. "We just want to talk to you!"
There was no response.
"I don't think he's buying it," Jupiter said.
"The front lawn has three more lasers embedded," Mercury reported. "They're connected to electronic eyes planted on the walk leading up to the front door."
"Must be hell on the mailman," quipped Venus.
"I'm also detecting an explosive wired to . . ." Mercury began. Then she jumped slightly as a strobe of light momentarily winked from her computer and through her visor.
"Mercury? You OK?' Jupiter asked.
"Um, yes," she replied distantly. Moments later she seemed back to normal. "My visor software seems to have momentarily glitched. Perhaps some electronic feedback from the structure. The entire cottage seems to be wired for computer service."
"A 'smart' house?" Venus asked.
"Precisely," Mercury nodded. "As I began to say, the door is wired with explosive. If we attempt to enter through there, it will set off the charge and possibly destroy the entire building."
"He's not still in there, is he?" gasped Sailor Moon.
"I'm not detecting any human life signs, nor any sign of a body. Indications are that Awanishi-San has fled."
"Then we might as well blow the place," Venus shrugged.
"No!" gasped Mercury.
"Mercury, that place is wired to explode," Mars argued. "If some innocent person walks up and tries to enter, he'll be killed."
"I agree, the explosive must be neutralized, as must the lasers," Mercury countered. "But Awanishi-San left behind his computer hard drive. It must be salvaged, both as evidence against him at a trial and for any possible scientific discoveries that remain on it or the flash drives sitting next to it."
"Well that blows," Venus huffed. "Excuse the pun. Anybody wearing blue a demolitions expert?"
"It didn't come up in medical school," Mercury replied.
"Maybe I can hit it with Sparkling Wide Pressure," Jupiter offered. "Short out the detonator."
"It's not a detonator driven by electrical current," Mercury said. "You'd only succeed in detonating the explosive yourself."
"Maybe I could burn it away," Mars suggested. "I know dynamite won't explode if exposed to fire."
"But you might ignite the blasting cap," Mercury countered. "Regardless, the explosive Awanishi-San used was C-4 plastic explosive. It will burn, but it will release toxic fumes. I don't recommend it."
"I thought you weren't a demolitions expert," Venus said curiously.
"I have a general knowledge," Mercury replied.
"That's better than you, Blondie," Jupiter smirked. "You've only got corporal knowledge." Venus responded by pulling her eyelid down.
It was then that Mars noticed Sailor Moon approaching the fence.
"What are you doing?" she asked insistently.
Sailor Moon's hand raised leisurely and pointed at the door. Moments later a white vapor seeped through the door and up into the air.
"It's OK now," Sailor Moon said. "I changed the explosive into water vapor. That's harmless, isn't it?"
Mercury consulted her visor. "Yes, that's quite the adequate solution. If Venus or Jupiter can now disable the lasers, we can safely enter."
With Mercury pointing out the laser silos, Venus made quick work of them with her Crescent Beam. The five Senshi approached the front door. Jupiter tried it and found it locked.
"I don't suppose lock-picking is part of your 'general knowledge'?" Venus asked Mercury.
Then Jupiter pivoted and kicked the door with a stunning karate kick. The door flew open and one of the hinges pulled out of the frame.
"Sometimes you just have to be direct," Jupiter smiled.
"Well I could have done that!" Venus barked.
"Yeah, but not as elegantly," Jupiter quipped.
The five Senshi entered the cabin warily, despite Mercury's conclusion that it was safe. Immediately Mercury followed the lead of her visor to where the computer and drives sat.
"Comfortable," Venus judged. "But it really doesn't shout 'money' to me."
"I guess he was saving all of his money to flood the world with his mind control software," Mars replied. "Assuming he has such a thing. I don't suppose he left a clue as to where he went." As she spoke, Mars pressed her right hand against the wall of the cabin.
"Oh, I was so hoping to get to him!" Sailor Moon moaned. "I know I could convince him to stop this! It isn't right what he's doing!"
"What are you doing?" Jupiter asked Mars. The fire Senshi had her eyes closed and her hand was still pressed to the wall.
"I was hoping to get some psychic impression of him," Mars said distantly. "Maybe find out where he ran off to." She sighed. "No such luck. But I think I could sense him if I get close to him."
"I'll go toss his desk," Venus said. "Maybe he left a travel brochure."
Venus entered the office Mercury had gone to, followed by Sailor Moon and Jupiter. There they found Mercury standing in front of a computer. The monitor was counting down time backwards and was at four seconds. Mercury just stared blankly at it, as if she were a million miles away.
"Hey, is that a timer?" Venus exclaimed.
The next moment, the room exploded.
CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 4