Three's The Charm - A store window too much

A few days later AICA fell out of Hyperspace near Mars.

Crystal Tokyo's Head Diplomat and her boyfriend, chauffeur and bodyguard were back from a senate caucus on Coruscant and were heading back to the Island housing Crystal Tokyo.

It was afternoon and they had left for Coruscant yesterday evening.

Things for the Sol's seat in the senate were really in motion now and it could be approved in the next few months.

Mostly thanks to the hard work of Rei Hino.

SunTzu dropped her off at the palace where she would get back to work with her staff immediately to post process the caucus.

In the meantime SunTzu would land AICA properly in the airbase and commit her into a thorough check up with Karlena and the rest of the ground crew.

In the diplomatic wing of the Headquarter Rei was writing several reports about the meeting of the Galactic Senate including one for the Queen and the King and a honest estimation about the current status and the chance of a seat in the Senate.

She would be here till at least night time would fall.

Outside the flight center SunTzu, changed into combat clothes and gear now, Rifle underslung, boarded a military truck, which was already filled with Commandos. He was on his way to a combined arms exercise between Repulsor Tanks and Transports, Troopers, Commandos and Terra Squadron, out on the few dozen hectare big exercise field near the base.

SunTzu would be deployed as Team 1 Forward Air Controller, instructing in the Air Power.

The exercise would last into the night as well.

Six hours later the troops came back from the field and SunTzu was dropped off at the Flight Center again. He went inside, took a shower and dressed properly into an uniform.

Next thing he did was check his mobile phone, noticing that Rei wrote him not long ago, asking if he was already back.

He answered her that he just got out and where she was, to whom she answered that she just left the Palace and met up with Minako now and that they would go for a late dinner in Juban now. It would be cool if he could join them.

He texted back that he just had to do a short stop at home and then would link up with them.

A few minutes later he was on his way to his apartment.

Standing on the outside viewing platform of the Tokyo Skytree the Man gazed over to the Island that housed Crystal Tokyo.

It could be so easy, he just could bring in his Fleet and bombard the Island or rather the whole metropolitan area around from Orbit, turning everything into molten slag.

But this was not what the Man had in mind.

Sure, Crystal Tokyo and it's Inhabitants were a thorn in his side and not only responsible for the loss of the Money Kengal brought in but also for the death of one of his closest associates on Coruscant a few weeks ago, but so far nothing even came close to endanger his plans.

The combatants he would sent out next would probably fail and perish but it didn't matter. It was just to send a message and see how much of his potential he already reached. He needed him at his full might for his plans.

And then he could start his actions that would plunge this galaxy into destruction and despair and let it's sorrow feed Chaos until it would consume everything.

The man smiled with an evil grin as he turned around to his female companion.

"Commence the Operation."

The woman pulled out a communicator and gave orders while he observed her.

She made her way up quick in his ranks and she was quite the sight to behold.

He should reward her.

The woman finished her call and nodded that the attack was on it's way.

The man nodded and walked past her.

"Why we don't have dinner now? As you probably already heard they have exquisite restaurants in this city."

It was almost midnight and Minako and Rei were sitting at the bar of an Izakaya in Juban, waiting for SunTzu.

They both had a glass of wine in front of them and both of them had a long day behind.

Venus went from a shift in the Hospital straight into her music studio, as her fans wanted some new material and Rei had been busy on her work as diplomat.

Hopefully SunTzu would come soon because they were hungry but didn't want to start without him.

SunTzu just left the taxi near Juban Station and was on his way to the Restaurant Rei and Minako were waiting for him.

What he didn't see where the three dark clothed figures hiding in the shadows at the station.

Rei just had a sip of her wine when a ice cold feeling shot down her spine. She straightened up and waved the bar keeper over.

"What's wrong?" Minako asked her best friend.

"There's evil around, I can feel it."

While Rei paid their wines, Minako called up the palace.

SunTzu walked through the Juban Store Arcades when suddenly he could feel danger looming in. He looked around but couldn't see anybody nearby.

Strange, as his premonition was usually one of his better working Force Abilities.

And of course, he didn't have his pistol with him.

Rei had one of her Ofudas in her hands to lead them to where the evil presence came from.

A few minutes after they left the restaurants they were in the Juban Arcades as well.

The Senshi concentrated on energies around her and as they walked through the alley of shops she could feel a well known presence come closer too.

"SunTzu is coming this way as well."

Both girls looked at each other, nodded and began to sprint down the arcade's Main Street.

SunTzu paused in his step and closed his eyes, concentrating in the force for a moment.

He could feel something dark all around him. And there was something else coming closer fast, he almost immediately recognized her. It was Rei. And Minako was with her.

Just as he opened his eyes again the Force warned him of danger and he jumped to the side just as something stormed towards him from a back alley, armed with a knife.

He could dodge and drive his knee into the attackers stomach. The attacker just moved back but didn't seem impressed.

What the hell?

Before he could attack further something large appeared from another shadowy alley and run up towards him. The figure was towering above the other attacker and SunTzu decided that attack was the best choice as he ran towards the attacker and jumped into a kick.

The huge attacker didn't even flinch when SunTzu's legs hit his upper body.

Instead, as soon as SunTzu landed the giant put his hand around his neck and tossed him into the next store window like SunTzu was a puppet.

A few dozen meters away Rei and Minako helplessly watched in shock how the attacker threw SunTzu through a store window like it was nothing.

Both Senshi looked at each other and raised up their hands.

"Mars Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!"

A few seconds after his impact on the store window and the even harder impact on the optician's store floor SunTzu gained his full consciousness again.

He had had been shot at, stabbed at, punched, choked, hunted by dozens of starfighter droids at once, hell he even had been chased by a goddamn battle cruiser on Glee Anselm, but nothing, nothing ever had made him as angry as being thrown through windows. His rage downright exploded in him and he could feel the force burning through every inch of his body.

Behind the towering Giant and the attacker with the knife another five dark figures appeared, all armed with knives, bats or iron pipes.

The Giant slowly walked towards the store trying to end what he started with throwing SunTzu trough that window, the other six figures following in behind him as suddenly two yellow glowing eyes appeared in the darkness of the store.

In a mixture of terrible concern for her boyfriend and burning anger because someone dared to attack him like this Sailor Mars sprinted towards the store, Sailor Venus next to her.

Both were more than determined to kick the asses of this guys that attacked SunTzu.

Like a lightning SunTzu shot out the broken store window and in flight rammed his fist into the solar plexus of the Giant. It didn't feel like a human or a living tissue but rather like ceramic or baked argil but the force-enhanced punch striked right through the cloth less body and when SunTzu pulled back his fist there was a large gaping hole, with black dust flying out from the exit wound.

SunTzu immediately striked out at the next attacker, the one with the knife that attacked him first and ripped the arm with the knife straight out of his body before he swung the guy's own arm at his head, crushing the skull.

He the rammed the arm into the next guy's face, making the dark shadowy figure stumble back and fall down.

Guy number three jumped in, swinging a iron pipe at SunTzu which SunTzu stopped midair with his hands and yanked it out of the guy's grip before he swang it sideways into the guy's face.

Attacker four came from the back but was greeted by a quick turn around and an iron pipe on top of his skull, making him fall down. The attacker just hit the ground as SunTzu rammed the pipe through his skull.

Attacker five was felled with a leg slash and SunTzu jumped onto his face with both feet shattering his head.

The sixth attacker tried to bring some distance in to better attack with his metal baseball bat but SunTzu jumped forward towards him, put his hands around him and with a swift, short movement ripped his head away.

All this had happened in less than ten seconds.

SunTzu let the head fall to the ground as most of the attackers dissolved into black dust that wafted away into the night.

His eyes changed their color back into their usual color and he collapsed, right forward into Sailor Mars's arms, as the two Senshi's reached him.

She gently let him down on his knees and kneeled down next to him, her hand on his face.

"SunTzu? Are you okay?"

He barely could open his eyes in his exhaustion, the force outburst completely drained his energy.

"Hey Babe."

A tired smile appeared on his face and he grasped her hand on his face.

"Mars, you should see this."

Sailor Venus said as she finished the large attacker, that was struggling to get up again, with a crescent beam through his temple with her finger applied on it.

Except for one all of them were dissolving and before the last figure, the one that got the arm into the face could do anything, an enraged Sailor Mars, still holding SunTzu in her arm, throw a fireball directly at him, one handed, burning away his complete upper body and turning him into dust and sparks.

"It's like those Dark Moon Droids." Sailor Venus said as she observed the dust vanishing.

"But it's not Dark Moon, this energy felt different."

Just in that moment Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter landed next to them, having jumped from on of the buildings above.

"What happened here?" Jupiter asked, watching the dissolving black figures.

—-

SunTzu awoke shortly afterwards lying on the backseat of a black SUV, belonging to the Royal Forces, with a member of Commando Team 3 driving, Sailor Venus on the co-driver seat and his head bedded on Sailor Mars lap.

"Hey, finished your power nap?" A relieved Sailor Mars asked him.

Pain shot through his back, reminding him that he had been just thrown through a store window. Once again.

"Argh, my back feels terrible. How long was I gone?" He asked with a squinty look.

"Just a few minutes. We're on the way tot he hospital. Venus did a quick checkup on you but it's better we check you thoroughly. You hit that window pretty hard."

"Yeah. I know."

Sailor Venus, turned around.

"You made quick work with these attackers. This wasn't the usual you, was it?"

SunTzu thought about what to say for a moment.

"I think my rage got the best off me after I crashed through that window."

Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars exchanged glances with each other.

"Are you feeling good? Any more fits of rage incoming?"

"If you're trying to ask if I fell to the dark side? Nope, I don't think so. This wasn't very Jedi-like but I don't have any power hungry plans right now. I'm just tired. And my force powers didn't grew either. That would be different if I'd fell to the dark side."

Venus stared at him for a moment and then turned around again.

Ihaven't crossed the line, haveI?

Sailor Mars was silently caressing his head all the time. She couldn't feel any bad emotions or powers coming off from him.

A few minutes later they arrived at the Juban Hospital and got out of the car.

SunTzu was able to walk on his own again, although he still felt a bit weak.

Mars and Venus supported SunTzu as they stepped inside the hospital and saw that Setsuna, who had the nightshift in the hospital, was already waiting at the reception.

"Why, since ever the info came in that something was up, did i know that you guys would end up here?"

"Good evening Doctor. I had another run in with a shop window."

Setsuna looked at Sailor Mars.

"He's kidding right?"

The two Senshi supporting him shook their heads.

"Unfortunately not."

Setsuna's eyebrow shot up and shook her head in comical disbelief.

"Follow me." Setsuna said and motioned them to follow.

The three Senshi and their guardian went to an examination room, where SunTzu laid down on an examination table.

After taking off his shirt Venus and Setsuna got to work to examine him thoroughly.

Twenty minutes and some scans as well as a quick blood test later they finished up, everything was okay, except for a few bruises.

He got some Bacta plasters on his back again.

"There's one last thing SunTzu." Setsuna said as he SunTzu was putting on his shirt ago.

"Are you still on the light side? Or did you cross over?" The trio had told her what happened.

SunTzu wheezed and shook his head, looking away.

"Of course he is. First Venus and now you too. He was just defending himself." Mars chimed in, with an irritated voice.

"Rei. She is right, that's an important question."

"Venus. How can you...?"

"They're both right with their question Rei. It's understandable." SunTzu said, they both had a point.

Rei looked at him, as he was sitting on the examination table.

"I have an idea. I can feel if he would have fallen into darkness or evil. And Venus would feel it too if she took my hand while I'm probing his soul."

The blonde and the dark-haired women thought about it for a moment.

"We're no Jedi but it should do. If he would have fallen over, all of us three should feel it."

Sailor Mars grasped SunTzu's hand with her left hand and Venus took her right hand.

Setsuna stepped to SunTzu and grabbed his other hand, earning herself a surprised look from the force-sensitive.

The Senshi closed their eyes and concentrated and SunTzu could feel Rei's touch on his soul as well as the strong auras of Sailor Venus and Sailor Pluto.

A few moments later the Senshi opened their eyes again.

"See, it is like I told you." Rei spoke to her friends.

"More calm than I expected, especially after such an outburst. To be honest, I expected at least hints of darkness but I couldn't feel any." Setsuna said, still grasping his hand before she realized and let go, blushing slightly.

"Me neither. I'm sorry for not believing you completely." Sailor Venus told him, excusing herself with a wry smile.

"It's cool. I know i put on quite the show out there."

A few minutes later the four left the examination room and went back to the Hospital's entrance. Haruka was there, sitting at the waiting area.

As soon as she saw SunTzu she got up and walked over to them.

"Hey, you okay? Heard you had a little run in with a window."

"Nothing some Bacta can't fix."

"And before you ask, no he's not a dark side user now." Rei immediately chimed in.

"Easy Rei. Haruka was just worrying about me."

"Me? Worried about you? No way! I was just coming here to hear firsthand what happened." She said in indignation.

"Haha! You were worried about me!" SunTzu playfully mocked her and a small argument between the two friends broke out.

"These two will never change." Setsuna said and shook her head as the other two Senshi facepalmed.

They said their goodbye to Setsuna and went to the parking lot where the SUV and the Commando were still waiting, Haruka accompanying them. Michiru had dropped her at the hospital and went further to the scene where the attack happened and Mercury and Jupiter as well as Intelligence were doing some investigation.

When they arrived back there Sailor Mercury told them a bit about the attackers. They were obviously powered by dark energy and made from something like clay. She took some samples from parts that hadn't dissolved yet and would try to find any clues from where the attackers came from with these samples.

The two other Senshi were happy that nothing happened to SunTzu.

"Don't forget to be careful, an outburst of anger like this could lead to the Dark Side." Ami told him and SunTzu nodded, he was aware of that.

Guess it's time to meditate some more. And I should contact Master Cilghal soon I guess.

As they stood there SunTzu's stomach loudly made aware of him.

"I could really need some food now."

"Now that you say it." Minako replied and Rei nodded too.

"C'mon guys, i know a great midnight diner in Shinjuku!" Minako told them.

—-

It was almost three in the morning when they left the twelve seat Izakaya. The food was fantastic and the Bacta worked well on SunTzu's back.

They took a cab to his place.

Minako would stay over, for safety reasons she said, but everybody knew it was because she felt a bit guilty because she wasn't completely sure that SunTzu didn't feel over to the dark side.

"I'm really sorry that I doubted you." She said as Rei and SunTzu were on their way over to the bedroom.

"Gee, don't make such a fuzz out of it Mina. I know I got a bit too much into rage and how dangerous that was. So I completely understand that you get suspicious, I'm not a trained Jedi and we all know what happened last time when I lost my temper." SunTzu thought back to that day in Spring when Marvin died.

"I have to take care and will contact Master Cilghal about this."

"Just making sure you stay the nice guy you are."

"Don't worry, as long as I have friends like you watching out for me, I can't even fall into darkness."

They shared a smile with each other.

"Sleep well Mina."

"Sleep well SunTzu. Goodnight Rei!"

"Goodnight Mina-Chan."

A few minutes later Rei and SunTzu were lying next to each other, face to face in SunTzu's bed. Now that they were alone Rei could see that SunTzu was clearly troubled.

"Rei, I worry that I will become a monster one day. That i fall over to the dark side and don't come back."

She put her hand on his face and he snuggled onto it.

"You won't. You were attacked today and just defended yourself. Can you imagine how angry I was when I saw that thing throwing through that window. Nobody messes with my man like that." She caressed his cheek, her fingers gliding into his beard.

"But what if i will loose it one day?"

"This won't happen. Me, Minako, Haruka, all of us will make sure. I, we got you. As you got us."

She kissed his forehead,

"My Doitsu no Akuma." She took a long gaze into his eyes.

"I will protect you as you protect me. Even if I have to protect you from yourself. Even if that means that I have to kick your ass back to the light side." She smiled at him, hoping her words would sooth down his troubled mind.

"No matter what happens, don't forget that I love you. More than anything else in this galaxy." SunTzu whispered.

"I love you too. And now try to get some rest."

They gently kissed before the couple closed their eyes and fell asleep.

The Man was sitting in the comfortable seat next to his female companion in the first class compartment of the morning shuttle to Coruscant. The woman dozed off almost immediately after sitting down, as they hadn't sleep yet. His treatment when they came to the hotel room after their late dinner had finished her.

The man smiled, he hadn't even needed to fuck her to make her fall for him completely, his dexterous fingers and a bit of dominance were enough to take care of her.

He would keep her around, she had her skills as well. And she was eager to please him.

The stewardess brought him a glass of champagne as soon as the boarding ended.

He looked over the sleeping woman and then out of the window, in the distance the Crystal Tower was visible and he toasted towards it.

The outburst of SunTzu was more than he had hoped for. And he had become more powerful than the Man expected at this point.

The Man was sure it wouldn't take the Intelligence Service of Crystal Tokyo long before they would find out where the Attackers might had originated from. And over there they would tap into a nice little trap.

Neo Queen Serenity would probably sent some Senshi along to investigate and getting rid of a few of them would help him immensely. It might even be enough already to sent SunTzu spiraling towards the Darkness.

In three and a half hours they would land in Coruscant and while his companion would get back to her planet and further persecute her task he would take one of his ships to the Maw. He had to visit another great source of Chaos.

The man smiled and took another sip of the Champagne.

—