As it was the usual Mamoru, or better known as King Endymion nowadays, got up before his wife.
At dawn he took his regular morning run, and this morning he was joined by Haruka, Makoto and the Commandos.
After his morning run, he showered, cooked Coffee and woke the Monarch of Crystal Tokyo, his beloved Wife Usagi, Royal Name Neo Queen Serenity II., with a cup of coffee he brought to her bed, while his sleep drunken daughter, awake as well by now, shuffled into her bathroom.
While the Queen would drink her coffee and try to get fully awake he would take a small time for himself in his study and organize his day and most important tasks.
Mamoru just had opened his Mail-Account when he frowned. There was a holo message directly from the Chief of State of the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.
On Coruscant and more specific in the apartment that the Office of the Senate had provided for the Senator of the Sol System, Senator Rei Hino and her Boyfriend, Starfighter Pilot Captain SunTzu just had woken up as well.
The raven haired beauty had her head lying on the bare chest of her boyfriend, listening to his calm heartbeat while he was stroking her long, silk like hair.
She had to think about when they came home yesterday and smiled, while she was looking at the clothes scattered around the room.
Her opinion about Lederhosen had changed drastically, especially when she learned that the codpiece directly and without anything in between lead to the important parts and she basically had dragged him with her hands inside the opening into the apartment.
He on the other side had been way more gentle with her and her clothing. She was still fully clothed when they arrived at the bed, while he already had been bare chested and his Lederhosen's harness had been hanging down.
Very gently he just had pulled her Kimono and the underlying layers up, before he, his hands and his mouth got down on her and her body, letting her know again how dropdead gorgeous he found her.
Yesterday had been great day. And a great night. When ever do you get to have girltalk with the Chief of State herself? And the appreciation of the most powerful women in the Galaxy?
Life was good and so Rei closed her eyes and prayed to the gods to thank them.
Late morning they were at her office in the Senate again when the Palace of Crystal Tokyo contacted Rei.
The king had business to attend to with the Government and the Chief of State herself. He would come to Coruscant later.
On the other side, Hotaru, flying AICA, the modified A-Wing, would take SunTzu back to Earth for a debriefing and some organizational tasks.
Although Taskforce Sol had been back on earth for quite some time yet, didn't mean that the enemy wasn't attacking anymore. Everyday there were larger or smaller skirmishes and battles at the fringes of the galaxy, the core and it's borders as well as the Rim.
It was expected that the Taskforce, by then reinforced with more troopers, would embark soon and when Rei would be finished with her necessary work on Coruscant, she would get travel back to earth as well.
This meant a few long days of not seeing each other.
Rei was sitting at her desk and SunTzu sat opposite of her. Both were dressed back in business style clothes.
"This sucks. I'll miss you TopGun."
"I'll miss you too. When am I leaving?"
"Mamoru arrives at around 1pm and Hotaru immediately takes you back, someone wants to have you back on earth urgently it seems. You should get packing soon." SunTzu nodded.
"Not even time to at least have lunch with you."
Rei nodded, a sad glance in her face.
"But I think I have an idea for a fitting goodbye." Her frown changing into a smug grin.
She picked up her communicator and called her secretary in the next room.
"Izumi, I don't want to be disturbed for the next fifteen, no wait, twenty minutes."
"Yes Madame Senator."
SunTzu looked at Rei with confusion and the black haired got up and walked around the dark wooden table, in front of his chair she sat down on the edge of the table, pulling him to a stand on his tie.
"Say, did you ever had Sex with the Senator of Sol System on the senator's desk?"
Twenty two minutes later SunTzu walked out of the room with a big grin on his face.
Izumi Ayame, Rei's secretary and assistant, smiled amused when he casually strolled out of her boss's office. The twenty three year old glanced at the beaming pilot with a broad smile, she could have sworn she knew what Hino-Sama and her boyfriend had been doing in there.
God, she wanted something like these two had, the young woman thought.
SunTzu friendly told her goodbye , made a small detour to the next office and said his goodbye to the rest of Rei's staff as well before he made his way out of the Senate Building to take a cab back to the apartment and pack.
Rei followed a minute later out of the room, straightening her skirt and hair.
"Izumi? I'll have a smoke now. And then I'll be available again."
Mamoru would land directly at the Senate to meet with Rei beforehand, so punctual SunTzu was back at the building and Rei joined him on the landing platform waiting for AICA, Hotaru and the King.
The couple was standing close together.
"Oh gods, look at us. A War Hero and a Senator and we can't let each other go for a few days like a love crazed teenage couple." Rei stated.
"That's because we're love crazed adults with superpowers and know each other down to the depths of our soul."
"Point." The Senshi sighed.
"And I actually planned to meditate more with you again."
SunTzu embraced her.
"Don't worry, we'll catch up on that."
A familiar growl on the sky was audible and a few seconds later AICA touched down near them.
The cockpit canopy opened and Mamoru jumped out, dressed in a flight suit. Hotaru handed him a briefcase and a small travel bag, as he had finished, taking off the flight suit over his navy blue suit and changing into matching slippers.
A few meters apart, Rei and SunTzu were sharing a long goodbye kiss as the king walked over.
"Don't worry you'll see each other again. And there's also no cameras around." He said, friendly mocking them. Earth had seen the pictures the couple was featured in the last few days at well.
"As if Usagi and you had a different goodbye." Rei replied after she and SunTzu broke their kiss.
"Touché." Mamoru answered before he gave a smiling Rei a kiss on the cheek and motioned SunTzu to not bow down, giving him a handshake instead.
Rei and SunTzu exchanged another small kiss and hushed each other a lover's oath into the ear before SunTzu took his bag, which was way emptier than before, as he left a lot of the clothes in Rei's apartment, and walked over to AICA.
"Hey Boss, you and Rei sure are making headlines lately."
"Hello AICA. Hello Hotaru. How are you girls?"
"Hi SunTzu, we're doing fine, working on breaking the record going from Earth to Coruscant."
At least both of them hadn't changed while he was gone these last few days.
"That's my girls. Lieutenant, you are hereby ordered to try to break the record on the way back as well."
"Aye Aye." Hotaru happily replied and the canopy closed.
SunTzu gave his girlfriend and his king a two finger salute, as did Hotaru. This made King and Senator smile as it was pretty clear where the teenager had gotten that from and both waved back grinning as AICA lifted off.
The flight to earth was diverting as SunTzu and Hotaru catched up with another while the teenager and AICA tried to beat the record for the fastest flight from Coruscant to Earth.
The AI and the Senshi also helped him to keep his head away from Rei but the Bavarian did already miss his Japanese Priestess.
They couldn't break the offical record, put up by Haruka, by short but Hotaru took it sportive and stated that she had a goal for the future so.
At the base SunTzu said goodbye to AICA and promised her to take her for a ride soon before he and Hotaru went over to the palace.
He also said his goodbye to Hotaru who would catch up with Chibiusa to help her with learning while he went over to the military wing of the palace.
SunTzu walked into the Mission Center but a puzzled Officer on Duty told him there was no order that said, he had to report to the HQ.
SunTzu sighed internally when he heard that. So Intelligence.
He greeted the Officer and went over to the Intelligence Service.
The Officer on Duty there immediately sent him to Ami's office.
SunTzu knocked and waited till she told him to come in.
He opened the door and stuck his head in the door.
"Ah SunTzu, welcome back! Good that you are here. I wanted to give you a briefing on the general security situation on Coruscant as well as the Galaxy. Sit down?"
"Hi Ami. Why did I have to come all the way from Coruscant back to Earth for this? Couldn't we have done this digitally?"
"But it's better this way, you can instantely ask me if you have questions."
Really Ami?
"Here, I have a pad of paper and a pencil for you so you can make notes."
SunTzu sighed again internally as he took pen and paper.
One thing you have to respect Ami for is her rigor when she's doing something, SunTzu told himself after Ami had elucidated him about the situation in the galaxy and Coruscant for two hours.
And just after that she started with the situation on earth.
After another twenty minutes SunTzu finally found out what the Chief of Intelligence wanted him on earth for.
First making me let my guard down with all this information and then this. Good game Ami.
Ocularly the Russian Mob wanted to go intergalactical as well and planned a big meeting in the heart of Moscow, the Russian Capital by tomorrow." And this was the perfect chance to let the Russian Mob know that Crystal Tokyo and the GFFA wouldn't tolerate intergalactical crime going out from earth.
SunTzu remained silent for a moment, thinking how much more criminal organizations they had to fight still. And why it always was up on him. This time it wasn't even about the killing, these criminals were scum, not a bunch of Ex-Veterans out of luck or ordinary People just trying to make a quick buck. They were talking about the heads of Human Trafficking, Narcotic and Weapon Smuggling, even Uranium, Murder and other capital crimes. But why it always had to be him?
"We have three dozen of the best Operators the Earth has to offer, with their Commander being the Ruler of Lightning, why you always have to send me?"
"Because… you get the mission done. I can trust you on that. And don't forget, Crystal Tokyo as legitimate nation cannot just go around and kill people. Especially if it's not on our soil. And a strike by a single individual is easier to hide than a Special Forces Assault Mission."
Maybe Minako is right. Maybe I should get a Clone…
"Listen Ami, i'm gonna be honest with you. Can I think about it first? Rei did her best but I'm still chipped by the last mission."
Suddenly the door bursted open and Neo Queen Serenity in her usual white robes with the golden ornaments stormed into the room.
"Ami! I need the immediate help of every available asset of the Intelligence."
Ami looked up, her face showing signs of surprise for just the fracture of a second before her cool professionalism and unmatched objectivity kicked in again.
SunTzu on the other side turned around on his chair rather dumbfounded.
"My Queen." He said and was about to get up and bow down.
"Shut it SunTzu. And stay put. Ami, how many spies can you get to Coruscant immediately?" Then the obviously angered monarch pointed at SunTzu. "He can go as well. Even better, I want him back on Coruscant."
Ami took off the glasses she was wearing and rubbed the back of her nose.
"Usagi. What's the matter? What could be so important?"
"Mamoru just called. He couldn't finish his buisness on Coruscant today and needs another day up there. And he will be sleeping at Rei's place tonight."
"Is that so? Then what's the problem." Ami said and put on her glasses again.
"The problem? The problem!? He's sleeping at Rei's place! Would you let Ryo sleep at his Ex's place?"
"Usagi, they dated when they were teenagers. And not even for long. And we're talking about Rei and Mamoru here, a married man and a woman in a relationship. I mean Rei's boyfriend is sitting in front of you, on top of that."
"I don't care! I won't nonstop surveillance of her place. And bring SunTzu back, so he's around there as well."
"Usagi, please calm down. You know there's no reason why you should be jealous. SunTzu isn't either, or are you?"
The pilot jolted up.
"Errm, I didn't know about this but I'm cool with it. Rei and Me love each other and Mamoru and have been longtime friends. I don't see them doing anything wrong."
"You just don't understand me SunTzu."
"Usagi? Could it be that there's something else going on?" Ami asked her friend bluntly and the blonde Queen became silent for a moment.
"I… I might have been a bit, a little bit mean to Mamoru because he wouldn't take me along. But I did have some urgent business with the Royal Treasury and Umino to attend to in the afternoon and had to stay here. And tomorrow I'm busy as well." The blonde's mouth curled into an abashed smile and her two index fingers linked together. "I might have been a bit harsh or rather obnoxious with him before he left."
"And now you feel bad."
Usagi's head dropped.
"Yes. And also it's so boring here without him. Everyone's busy, even Chibiusa. She's learning for school and even locked herself in."
Ami sighed.
"It's always the same with you. And you know he's used to that and doesn't take it personal. And that's because…?"
Usagi needed a moment before she answered, now rather ashamed.
"…because he loves me and loves my quirks."
"Exactly, but you should give him a break sometimes. And trust him. And Rei."
"I know. I was just… you know Ami."
"Yes, I know you. Why you don't go back to your quarters and have some ice cream and watch a romcom? I'm sure you'll feel better."
"Yeah, maybe. But could SunTzu maybe go back to Coruscant? Just in case."
"Usagi. Don't worry, it's Rei. She will give him such a hard time, that he probably will take a hotel room by his own." SunTzu nodded approvingly. Rei was Rei after all. Plus I need SunTzu on earth, there might be important work for him on here." With no word Ami mentioned that he hadn't decided on taking the mission yet.
"Okay. Guess I'll go then and loot the fridge of it's whole ice cream stock before I settle down on the couch and try to feel better again after a bunch of fluffy movies."
"Do this. You'll feel better afterwards." Ami encouraged Usagi and the Monarch nodded with a wry smile.
"Thanks Ami. I'm glad you're such a reasonable person. SunTzu."
That said the Neo Queen disappeared again.
"Now, here were we? Ah yes, taking the mission. Do me a favor and think about it, but do it quickly, we only have this chance but as friend I understand that I can't force you to such a mission."
"Thanks for the forbearance. I promise I'll think about it." He looked up to her "What about you? Would you tag along?" He asked and the blunette hushed for a moment.
"No. I have my reasons to not visit Moscow. But I would give you and AICA any assist I could." She pulled out a data card.
"I'll have the mission data on this, it might help you decide." She handed him the card.
"I'll have a look." The Pilot said and took it.
Ami nodded and SunTzu got up and left the room, already getting a headache because he couldn't make up his mind to take the mission or not.
He decided to hit up his usual spot and have a cigarette first. And maybe call up Rei to give her a headsup that her Queen wasn't all that happy with the situation. Or was it because he was actually jealous as well, deep down inside?
He just had lighted his cigarette, not even settled down on the bench when his phone vibrated.
The Queen had sent him a message, only stating she wanted to see him asap at the throne room.
SunTzu sighed, what was it now again? Still her jealousy?
A few minutes later he entered the throne room, stepped forward and bowed down in front of the young queen, sitting or rather lolled in her throne and was on the phone with someone. Apparently it was the king and the queen was cutting her losses for her behavior before the king left the planet.
She motioned SunTzu a moment to wait with a raised index finger.
"I love you Mamo-Chan, be good. And stay safe. And faithful."
She ended the call and looked at SunTzu.
"You're here, very good. I had an idea. That mission from Ami? I think you should take it, because I'll be joining you."
"With due respect my Queen, but I think this is way too dangerous. We would go against a criminal organization that wouldn't hesitate to kill you as well. Or worse."
"Oh c'mon SunTzu, I can handle it. After all I am the mighty Sailor Moon, punishing evil in the name of the moon. I promise I'll be a help. And It's sooo boring around here. Please!"
SunTzu knew he wouldn't come out of this, but maybe he could find a way to keep her out of danger in Moscow.
"Fine. But you will listen to me and not do anything I do tell you. For your own safety."
"Of course Lancelot. I won't be a burden. Where are we going anyway?"
"Moscow."
"Moscow? Perfect! I know a great cafe with delicious cakes there."
Somehow I think she misunderstands the seriousness of this mission.
Serenity II. smiled at her first knight by now.
"Now, when can we leave? I wanna get going as soon as we can." She clapped into her hand happily and anticipating the trip.
"I'll just have pack some stuff, Moscow in fall should mean it's cold."
"Very well. Oh and SunTzu? No word to anybody that I'm tagging along. Not even to Ami, this little trip will be our secret. But It will be so much more fun than to stay in this boring palace, where everyone is busy with something."
So much for Ami's help. I better see this mission data trough thoroughly then.
SunTzu left the throne room and went up to Rei's quarters. He had quite the collection of clothes there already and soon found fitting clothes.
A black turtleneck sweater, black pants and a black wool coat should be sufficient.
Next thing he did was contacting AICA before he quickly called Rei and asked how she and Mamoru were.
They were doing great although they were still working, Mamoru was there mainly for an economical mission and in her second role as diplomatic head of Sol Rei helped him. They just had ordered food.
"Listen Rei, why I also called, I'll be away for some time, a mission on Ami on earth."
"Are you sure you want to do that? Can you take it already?"
"It's not as dubious as the last one. It will hit the right people this time, so I guess it's good. At least I don't have any problems with the enemy being former comrades. And it's for earth, so."
"If you say so. Give it another thought tho. And back down if you don't feel alright about it."
"I will. I love you Rei."
"I love you too, I'll be praying for you and your safety."
"Thanks. Say Hi to Mamoru."
"Will do. Bye SunTzu."
"Talk to you later."
He hung up and took out his datapad, and give the mission data a quick glance. Killing wasn't his profession but even at just flying over the data he could say it would hit the right people. These people were even worse than the other criminals they fought so far.
He closed his eyes for a moment and listened into himself, even tapping into the force for guidance. Greedful evil, doing horrible things to others needed to be fought. He took a deep breather and opened his eyes again. Yes, yes he needed to do this.
As he waited for the elevator down, the door to said elevator opened and revealed the Queen standing inside it.
"You're done? I was about to get you. I just was telling Chibiusa, that I'll be away for a few hours."
"I'm done, AICA is waiting at the landing pad for us. If you really want to do this."
"Of course I want. I'm the bane of evil. And once in a while I need to see what my troops are doing in the field, needn't i?"
SunTzu nodded slowly, he really needed to think about something where he could leave her without harm.
Soon the Queen and her Knight were at the Palace Landing Spot, where AICA was already waiting.
The Starfighter opened it's Canopy and SunTzu literally had to hove her up into the cockpit, as she couldn't properly climb in, in her Royal Dress and heels. After securing his Royal Cargo he got ready to lift off, in the meantime the Queen and the AICA exchanged pleasantries.
"Your Majesty isn't it a bit cold in these clothes to go to Moscow? It's fall."
"Don't worry, I'll have warm clothes if I need them."
Before starting SunTzu input the mission data from the data card into AICA.
"Ami is simply the best, she even thought about which path to fly to not get detected. We'll be landing outside Moscow in a dacha staffed by the Intelligence, where a car is waiting for you, so you can get into the city without making anyone suspicious."
Twenty minutes later, after being in space most the trip with a crowing Usagi in the back, loving the space borne time, they landed in completely stealth mode and hopefully unseen in a Dacha somewhere deep in a forest.
A middle aged man, dressed in worker clothes came out as he saw the Starfighter land in front of the building, which was located in a clearing.
He was surprised to see the Starfighter and even more when he saw the Queen sitting in there as well.
SunTzu got up, opened Usagi's seatbelt and jumped to the ground.
Almost immediately Usagi followed and would have landed hard on her butt if SunTzu's Force-empowered reflexes wouldn't have manage to grab her.
"Careful Queen."
He said as he let her down and she thanked him with a grin, happy she hadn't land on the dirt.
The Intelligence man bowed down but Usagi immediately told him to get up.
"We'll take the car. You stay here and keep silent about our arrival." She ordered him and the man got up and pulled out the car keys of the green Lada Niva in front of the Dacha. This car had definitely seen better days.
Usagi was still wearing her dress.
"Aren't you cold your majesty?" SunTzu asked , it had five degrees Celsius and the sky was grey with clouds of rain.
"I'll change that." She disappeared behind the car and after a moment came around the vehicle again. And her clothes had completely changed.
She was now wearing a large pink hoody that almost reached down to her thighs, black thigh high stockings, that together with the hoody revealed a bit of thigh area, a huge winter jacket over her shoulders and pink Chucks.
Usagi motioned to a stylized pen in her hand.
"Magic." She stated with a wink to a dumbfound SunTzu.
After a moment the pilot shrugged it off as just another Senshi thing and went over to the Intelligence Agent.
SunTzu took the keys, thanked the guy, got some of his gear from AICA and packed them in the car.
Their fake documents were on the co-driver seat and when Queen and Knight got in the car, SunTzu shared the documents with her.
He was wearing his communicator around his wrist again and AICA would navigate them to the target location.
But first her Majesty insisted on having her Ptichye Molokai, a rich Russian cake, that was served in Moscow.
SunTzu drove the rusty Lada into the metropolis, housing thirteen Million people, hoping that a, the police would not stop him because of the car and b) the car would make it.
At least his sovereign was in her best mood and grinning like a Cheshire Cat the whole ride.
Paying heed to the wish of her Sovereign AICA navigated over the city highways and main streets over the Moskva River, past the Red Square and the Kremlin with it's red walls and to a Grand Cafe.
SunTzu parked the car a few streets away. He got the car for free but you don't roll up with Royalty in a hooptie like that.
Usagi wouldn't have mind though.
"It's not the Rolls Royce but it's comfortable to sit in, isn't it."
SunTzu didn't comment on that, his wrists were beginning to hurt as the Lada had no servo steering and driving the cross-country-vehicle through Moscow's traffic had been a workout.
They walked the short distance to the Cafe and the Neo Queen suddenly linked in SunTzu's arm.
"I'm so glad we finally share some time together. We never have and I want to know more about the man that is such a good friend to my Senshi and makes my Rei so happy." She smiled at him, while he jolted up in surprise.
"Your Majesty…"
"Again. Usagi, we're under us here. And someone that treats me to cake should have the right to call me by my first name."
"Okay… Usagi."
"I'm really looking forward to have a coffee with you."
SunTzu had to smile as he looked down into the beaming face of the young queen.
A few minutes later they arrived at the Grand Cafe and were seated, near a window. Thank god, the waiter spoke English.
Of course Usagi ordered cake immediately, but not only for her but also for SunTzu. She also ordered traditional Russian Black Tea.
"You'll love that tea, the Russians have a great tea culture." She said after the order.
Within a few minutes they had the Tea concentrate, called Zavarka, on the table and hot water so each could brew tea in his own strength.
While the tea infused the steaming water the waiter brought the two pieces of the famous and decadent Ptichye Moloko cake.
Eagerly Usagi grabbed her pastry fork and cut down a piece that should have been way to big for her.
Somehow she managed to wolve down the whole piece anyway and SunTzu was a bit surprised to see the Queen forget all her manners.
"Sorry… but this is just too delicious." Usagi told him with a mouth full of cake.
It maybe wasn't polite or gracile but the happiness of her eating her cake sure was contagious and SunTzu had to grin before he tasted his piece of cake as well.
As soon as Usagi had swallowed down she locked her eyes on SunTzu. The pilot just had swallowed down his first piece of cake, it sure was delicious, but probably containing enough calories for a whole day as well. He took a sip of the extra strong black tea he had infused.
"So, are you guys are going to marry soon or not?" The bun headed blonde asked curiously, leaning forward.
SunTzu almost choked on his tea and had trouble not spitting out the warm liquid.
He cleared his throat and she already cut him short before he even replied.
"Lots of people are already speculating about it. Especially after seeing the matching watches."
"Well…" SunTzu cleared his throat again. "I would lie if it would say I haven't thought about proposing yet. But I want to take care of other things first."
"Grandpa Hino?"
So she knows as well.
"For example, yes."
"Sometimes I think she's making too much of a fuzz out of it. Deep down Grandpa Hino's a good man, he just wants to see Rei happy and doesn't want anybody to break her heart or leave her alone, like her father did with her mom. I think you'd probably win his favor very quickly if you had the chance to meet him."
"I don't know about that. He seems to… not be keen on Rei having a relationship with a foreigner." SunTzu said and looked into his cup of tea.
"And this is because of the same reason, that causes most prejudices. He doesn't really know you."
She hit him with her warmest smile while he glanced up to her again.
"I mean what's not to like on you. I know how big your heart is. Alone the fact how protective you are to us bunch of crazy magical girls, that always give you a hard time."
Now the pilot had to smile as well.
They finished their cake and each had a second cup of tea. Usagi sweetened hers with a jam.
"When are we going to strike at the enemy? Nighttime?"
SunTzu sighed internally. For her own protection he needed a way to keep her away as far as possible from the target location. A skyscraper in the center of Moscow. Top floor of course. The heads of the Mob, coming from all over the world, would meet to discuss their course and doings in intergalactical crime. Of course human trafficking, or plainly put Slavery and not only for work was on the list. Intergalactical sex trafficking with girls that probably weren't even of legal age in most countries was another caliber than stealing a treasure of a self-centered monarchy. It made SunTzu sick. And it enforced his determination to take the mission, there wouldn't be any innocents at this meeting.
He had overflown each individual's data on the trip to Russia, except for a lower ranking female member, that mostly was used as Enforcer because her and her men's military background, all of the participating bosses had something going on with what the GFFA would dub Slavery. And slavery was officially illegal in the Alliance, they were not Hutt Space.
The knight looked at his chronometer before he answered his queen.
"Yes, at night time."
That was a lie, the meeting was supposed to be held in the afternoon and it was afternoon by now. It probably would end soon and he needed to act immediately.
"This means we still got some time."
He emptied his cup of time, while his mind was racing with how he could effectively attack this meeting and keep Usagi out of the line of fire. This wasn't the Yakuza, this was the Russian Mob, AKs would be rather small calibered guns for them.
"You excuse me a second." He said a moment later and got up, heading for the restrooms.
But instead of the toilet's door he went into the door that obviously lead into the kitchen.
Loud cursing and angered pastry chefs and waiters were yelling at him but he didn't even care as he stepped through the room and left the building at the back door.
I'm sorry Usagi. But this is too dangerous for you.
He ran back to the car and left for the target location.
SunTzu parked near the skyscraper the mob had it's meeting in.
And he immediately could make out the guards. All around the building, no visible weapons but large coats and all the jackets were a sign.
SunTzu lighted a cigarette and scanned the area, while the sun was slowly beginning to sink.
He pulled out his phone and wrote a message to Usagi, apologizing to leaving her alone in the cafe and that his wallet was in his coat still hanging over his chair.
AICA knew and no matter what happened would bring her home at nightfall.
And then he turned around and got his kit from the rear seat.
As he had finished putting on his Micro Chest Rig and loaded his compact AK.
He also checked the concealed Glock at his hip.
While SunTzu still racked his brains how to get to the top floor he suddenly noticed a Plattform for window cleaners resting at the floor on the side of the building. He got out the car and sneaked over to it.
At the third floor and after quite some concentrating he was able to open one window and climb inside. The open-plan office was thankfully already empty but he rushed over to the elevator as far as he could and took it to the third most top floor. In there was a high profile lawyer company but the receptionist was already gone and before anyone could spot him he already vanished into the door that lead to the staircase.
Usagi was waiting for SunTzu at the table in the cafe, having a third tea.
She hoped that he hadn't upset his stomach with the cake or the tea.
After what seemed like an eternity she couldn't hold back the urge to check her phone, which she had deactivated to not get interfered on the mission, out of pure boredom.
Dozens of emails and missed calls flooded the display immediately.
Just as she was about to open the first one, it was from Minako, a message from SunTzu came in.
She read it and frowned. Instantly she called up a number that was on her speed dial.
"Usagi, where in the world are you? The Guard is going ballistic."
"Ami listen, I don't have time. Where is the target location for SunTzu's mission?"
Within one minute, she basically had jumped into her jacket, grabbed SunTzu's coat, ripped the wallet almost out of it and had pressed the waiter a 100 Galactic Credit Chip in his hand, neither caring for its worth on earth nor if they'd accept Credits at all here, then she was out of the cafe and ran to where the car should have been parked.
When she saw it was gone she immediately ran into the next small alley, just stopping because she had lost SunTzu's wallet and had to pick it up again.
As soon as she was sure she was alone she pulled the Eternal Moon Article out of her hoodie's pocket and held it in front of her.
"Moon Eternal, Make Up!"
SunTzu checked the stairs up and down. On the first look they were safe and so he cautiously made his way up to the top floor, his weapon at the ready and always checking down as well.
He had just stepped in front of the door leading onto the top floor, when something landed with a click something landed next to him and he immediately spun around and raised his short barreled rifle.
And aimed into a shocked face, that held up two hands defensively.
"Usagi? What the fuck? I could have shot you." He hissed with a hushed voice, as the surprised Sailor Moon Eternal stood in front of him.
"Why did you leave me in that restaurant? I told you I'll help you with this mission."
"Because it's too dangerous. Why did you have to come here?"
"Because as queen I have a responsibility for my soldiers as well. And no, I won't leave again. It was hard enough to get here that fast over the roofs of the city."
Apparently the wings were more of decorative nature.
He sighed, it was too late to back down now.
And just as this thought had passed him, the door inside opened and a man in a brown-greyish suit put his head into the door. He had heard something.
SunTzu immediately grabbed him by the collar pulled him into the staircase, pushing him hard on the railing of the stairs.
Thank God Sailor Moon acted instantely as well and as soon as the man was out of the door, she closed it with her body.
As the man's head hit the railing it made a loud thud and the man began to bleed but he still was conscious. With a quick move SunTzu pulled out a small knife from a holster at his hip and thrusted it into the man's throat, one time, two times, three times, before he let the now limp body fall down in front of his feet.
He took a deep breather and was almost so far to feel happy that their cover hadn't been blown yet but his senses tingled and jumped to the door grabbed Sailor Moon and pulled her around, away from the door.
He hit the wall hard and she pushed hard onto him.
"T-this is wrong, w-we shouldn't do this."
As soon as Usagi, her fists on his chest, had ended the sentence shots penetrated the heavy fire resistance door Usagi had just been holding closed with her body, leaving huge exit marks.
Subsonic ammo, great penetration, just as I thought, the AKs are the smaller problem.
The enemy had weapons that used the Russian 9x39 mm Round. Developed in the Cold War the round was meant for distinguished Special Forces Weapons, as it was armor piercing while still being subsonic, delivering a drastic reduction in sound volume of the shot. The famous VSS Vintorez and it's Sister Weapon, the AS Val used the ammunition.
Sailor Moon's eyes widened as she saw the huge holes in the metal plated door and SunTzu motioned her with a finger over the mouth to stay quiet, before he gently shoved her to the side and beside him, getting ready to fire.
A few moments passed and the door got kicked open.
SunTzu waited until he saw movement in the door's bullet holes and let off. His Krinkov was equipped with armor-piercing steel core ammunition as well and the mobster that wanted to storm the room first was hit and went down. In hindsight it was the right thing to put a silencer on his rifle, otherwise he probably would be deaf by now.
Crystal Tokyo's First Knight immediately stormed forward and blindfired around the door, emptying the rest of the magazine before he rushed around the door and moved up. With a swift move he reloaded and moved inside the office.
A few seconds after he pressed himself against the wall opposite of the door, Usagi hit the space next to him.
"You should have waited where you were."
"I felt unsafe there."
SunTzu peeked around the corner and saw two more armed gunman moving up. He let out a salvo, downing one and making the other jump into cover.
"It's not that much safer here."
More mobsters came up, firing at the wall SunTzu was at and he tried to keep them off with salvos. Next to him, Usagi was peeking around the other corner, which had looked like a dead end but had two doors on the right side.
He should have brought earmuffs SunTzu thought as he exchanged fire.
Suddenly he felt a hand at his waist and slowly turned his head around to Usagi.
What the hell?
She finally found what she was looking for and draw his pistol and immediately peeked out her corner and started shooting.
A man started to scream in pure agony.
After a unaimed Salvo to buy some time SunTzu walked past Sailor Moon and peeked into the corridor.
A man was on his knees, his hands around his crotch, blood was spilling through his fingers.
"What the… where did you hit him?"
She looked to the ground, as if ashamed.
"I hit him in the dick."
"You hit him WHERE?" SunTzu asked over another salvo, now back at his corner. The enemy was coming closer.
"I said I shot him in the dick!"
The man was yellling like crazy.
"For fucks sake! We don't shoot people in the dick. Why did you do that!?"
"I didn't do it on purpose!"
The enemy was getting closer and closer and the screaming of the man hit a nerve in SunTzu.
SunTzu let off another salvo and then ran around the other corridor, grabbing Sailor Moon's hand.
"Hide in one of the rooms." He told Usagi and motioned with his hands to the rooms.
She rushed forward the room and even said "Sorry!" to the man in agony kneeling on the floor.
As soon as she had past him and wasn't looking SunTzu shook his head in disbelief again before he put his rifle's silencer on the man's head and pulled his trigger.
The man fall flat, twitched a last time and was dead.
Around him it immediately felt silent and SunTzu could hear the running of boots behind him and the yelling of orders.
He turned around and shot two men coming around the corner suddenly something round fell around the corner as well and with the help of the Force SunTzu begin to run, pulled Sailor Moon in and jumped into the next room with her and shoved her behind a desk table and jumped in behind while the hand grenade went off and debris and shrapnel rocketed past the two as they were covering inside rhe room.
"You okay?" SunTzu asked Usagi, cowering down beside him."
"I'm okay." The Senshi said, although her voice was a bit shakey.
Suddenly a armed man was standing in the room, SunTzu's rifle was empty, Usagi froze up and the only thing SunTzu found in a middle second was a vase, filled with water and a bouquet of red roses on a table next to him, somehow not laying on the ground already after the detonation of the hand grenade.
Without thinking the Knight grabbed the vase and threw it at the thug that was raising his rifle.
The glass vase hit the man at the temple and made him stumble.
"Sailor Moon, now!" SunTzu yelled out and the Senshi raised the pistol in her hand, and let off.
This time she didn't hit the private parts. She hit the man in the middle of his chest, he hadn't been wearing an armored vest and was dead immediately.
Sailor Moon slowly lowered the weapon while SunTzu reloaded his rifle and then nodded at Usagi. She just stayed there for a moment, gripping his pistol. It wasn't her first kill and she knew it probably wouldn't be her last one, some evil could only stopped with ending them, even for someone as bighearted and forgiving as her. Super heroes not shedding blood were a fiction for Movies and Media but it had been the first time she killed a man with a pistol, the man before had just been wounded after all. And she had shot the man in combat, not only for her survival but also for SunTzu's, the Love of her best friend. But In this moment she understood what her troops had to go through every time they pulled a trigger.
In the meantime SunTzu had jumped over the table and dived down on the floor, out of the room.
As soon as he was out of the room he shot down two more man armed and within a second a third crossing the corner that was riddled by bullets by SunTzu as well.
He got up and ready to fire and moved to the edge of the corridor.
SunTzu didn't even really peek out and already could make out five men more, closing in.
He managed to shoot one with blind fire around the corner and then backed up.
Another device came flowing around the corner, this time not round shaped but rather cylindrical, a flashbang.
The Guardian stormed back down the corridor when the flashbang exploded and the light and especially the loud sound taking away his senses and confusing his movements for a moment.
The force helped regain his senses faster as a normal human and he raised his weapon fast enough to shoot down another gunman. The other three, probably Ex-FSB or Spetznas though, moved in coordinated, driving him away from the wall with aimed shots.
He finally was with his back against at the wall when something hit him from the side.
Eternal Sailor Moon had jumped onto him and pulled him to a sitting position.
The men were yelling at him to drop his weapon and while he was sitting there, Usagi around in front of him he laid the Krinkov to the ground, almost gently. Inside he was cooking with anger, Usagi could have saved herself instead she now rose up on her knees before him, covering his body and provoking even angrier yells from the Russians.
With an angry expression the First Knight of Crystal Tokyo looked up into the face of his Neo Queen.
Her eyes motioned him to glance down and he could see the Glock resting to her feet now, she had secretly dropped it as well and he could easily reach for it.
The men were readying their weapons now, obviously they wanted Usagi to get away from SunTzu.
Usagi locked Eyes with SunTzu and when he looked in her big blue eyes he understood.
The mobsters were about to shoot them bit but In that moment the small wings on Sailor Moon's back began to grow and expanded completely expanded around both Queen and Knight, covering them.
The enemy opened fire from two AKs and an AS Val but the bullets just ricocheted off the brilliant white wings.
SunTzu still had eyes locked with Usagi, she was looking at him with a warm, inviting and motherly smile. And although he just had been sure to probably die the warmth that surrounded him, comforted him, taking away the anger and the fear.
And in that moment he understood. He had heard the stories, but he always thought Rei and the others had exaggerated.
But now, she was more than just the young queen, seemingly needing to learn a thing or two about behaving like Royality.
With her wings, and that bright light shining out from her, she felt like an Angel. No, even more powerful. Not like an angel but more like a goddess.
All these stories how she was always had endured through everything, about how her inner light purged the dark, how she converted her bitter enemies into friends and allies.
The clumsy bunhead was one of the most powerful beings in existence.
A hand cupped his cheek.
"SunTzu, fight for me as you would fight for Rei."
He looked in her eyes for a moment more before his mouth curled up into a wry grin.
The mobsters had emptied their magazines by now and were busy reloading.
SunTzu grabbed his Krinkov and his Glock and got up, force-empowered reflexes and the determination to bring his noble queen out of here alive.
Shooting both weapons at once he killed the reloading thugs.
Then he holstered the Glock again and reloaded his rifle, while he checked if the enemies were really dead.
Behind him Sailor Moon had gotten up as well.
When he was down with reloading, SunTzu activated the communicator in his chronometer.
"AICA, Merida." Was the only thing he said, before he quickly glanced back to Usagi and both nodded. Time to finish the mission.
AICA, still at the Dacha, had heard the message, or rather the code word that the Queen was in combat with the enemy and immediately lifted up, pinpointing SunTzu's position and activating her stealth mode.
Within thirty seconds after lifting off she broke the barrier of sound for the first time.
Just as SunTzu had walked up a few steps, the elevator, on the edge of the corridor made the sound announcing his arrival.
The Force let the Pilot know, that it wasn't filled with people that had good intentions and before the door opened SunTzu already had opened up.
When the door closed ten seconds later, blood was spilling out under it and dripped down the lift shaft as well.
SunTzu was on the move now, or rather the hunt.
Feeling the powers of Sailor Moon had calmed him down enough to be way more one with the Force and he used his better reflexes and senses to take down who ever opposed them, while he slowly moved forward.
But he still sensed over twenty enemies in front of them.
Right now he had taken cover in the door of a smaller office, Usagi was next to him, as he glanced out the door frame, her hand on the back strap of his chest rig to immediately pull him in, in case.
SunTzu held the enemy at bay, even against superior firepower, even while he and Sailor Moon had to duck Into the room because the mob used hand grenades, felling gun fighter after gunfighter, having cut them from their way of retreat.
After a few moments a well known sonic thunder and growling in the sky came in.
SunTzu just had shot down another Ex-Spetznas, armed with an AK-74, that took cover in the frame of a door as well.
"I suggest her Majesty and you take cover." AICA came in over his chrono and he immediately covered down pulling Usagi with him, covering her body with his and trying to make her duck down as much as possible.
A few moments later red laser beams began to fly through the whole floor as AICA hovered around the floor and lighted up.
Once she had rounded the whole floor and except for where SunTzu and Sailor Moon had taken cover.
"That should do for most of it, according to my sensors." She announced afterwards.
"Affirmative. Thank you. I'll take it from here, better get lost before the Russian Airforce shows up."
"Don't worry, they're after the radar image of a Tupolev-160 that just appeared at the outskirts of Moscow. I'll land on the roof."
"You'll stay, I check the floor." SunTzu stated to his queen as he checked the remaining Ammo in his magazine.
"No. I told you I wanted to come along to see how my troops do their job. Even if it's dangerous. But I want to see everything you have to deal with."
SunTzu nodded.
"It might be messy out there."
"Not the first time I see blood… or worse."
"Okay then." He pulled out his pistol again and reloaded with a fresh magazine. "Take this, just in case."
She took it and immediately held it at an safe angle. At least she had listened close in about safety in training.
SunTzu stepped out of the room. Around them everything was silent, just a few sounds of agony came in from further down the office corridor.
The Force told SunTzu told him, that close around him everything was dead.
AICA had shot her lasers at full power, penetrating the walls.
There wasn't much blood but the huge laser bolts had left huge marks in the mobsters, some of them were charred or even partly vaporized.
SunTzu cautiously moved up, Sailor Moon closely following him.
Soon he crossed the first mobster that wasn't dead yet. The man was barely conscious and just death rattling, probably trying to make his peace with god. The middle of his body showed a huge laser wound, his insides probably were completely burned up.
SunTzu glanced back to Usagi and she closed her eyes and nodded slowly before she turned around.
The sound of a shot later the man finally was dead and SunTzu moved on.
Usagi followed, trying to not to look at the fresh corpse.
Finally the two of them arrived at the room at the end of the floor, a large conference room, the windows shattered, the table destroyed and parts of it's wood still burning and glimming.
A dozen dead bodies, partly still sitting in their chairs, was around the broken table.
SunTzu felt something in the force and moved over to where between two male corpses, one of them had been a fat, old man, the body of a blonde woman laid, her long hair flowing down her back, over a coat of the Red Army.
Beside her lay a Stetschkin APS automatic pistol that SunTzu immediately kicked away while he trained his weapon on her head.
"Nice try Missy, playing dead." That was probably that woman that had come over from Thailand. The least foul of them being the one that tried to get them in the end. How ironic.
SunTzu had almost pulled the trigger and put a bullet in her head when Sailor Moon intervened.
"Stop! Don't shoot her."
"She tried to trick us so she could kill us."
"Wait!" Usagi said as she stepped next to her First Knight.
"You, do you understand me?"
The woman didn't move.
"If you want to life, answer me."
"Just get it over with and shoot me already!" The woman suddenly answered in heavy accented English.
Usagi knelt down next to her and turned the woman around to face her.
SunTzu followed it closely, ready to shoot the woman at first wrong move.
But when he saw the women's face he twitched. The right half of the woman's face was disfigured with severe burn mark and as he looked on the marks were crossing down her neck, upper chest and breast. The middle aged woman was wearing a red buisness jacket and matching pencil skirt, that showed that her legs were also scared.
"What is it? Never saw a real woman? Or just not man enough to shoot one." She throw at SunTzu, a wry smile on her face, not caring for her situation.
"Look at me. I can sense that you are different. These men were all rotten from the core. But you, you are different." Usagi told her and the woman glanced up to her.
"What does a girl dressed as a Fairy know about me. God, why you just can't get over with it and just shoot me. At least pretending to grant me a warrior's death."
Usagi looked at SunTzu again, he seemed okay with full filling her wish.
"You were a soldier once, I suppose?"
"What gave it away? The officer's coat?" The woman mocked Usagi.
"You can mock me all you want, I don't care. But I have one question. Why don't you serve anymore?"
That seem to hit a nerve in the woman as she zoned out for a moment.
"Afghanistan. I served with the VDV, well the KGB didn't like that I tried to protect some refugees. They made me into what I am today. And then they threw me out of the Army. And most of my unit as well. At least the survivors. We had to find a job to feed us and the Mob was always looking for professionals. Finally we ended up as the guard dogs for a filthy hell of town in Thailand, thinking we were honorable Soldiers again while all we're doing is the wet work for the bosses that lie now dead here."
"You'd become a soldier again? A honorable one as well? Protecting the innocent again?"
"Listen, Little Fairy Lady, I do anything to lead my man into battle again and serve my country and it's people again. And to protect to weak instead to exploit them." She grabbed into her pockets and as SunTzu twitched she motioned him that it was okay. The middle aged blonde pulled out a package of cigars only to notice it was broken, probably happened when she dove to cover.
"Bylat." She stated. SunTzu lowered his gun and pulled out his cigarettes and handed her one, she took it and SunTzu lighted it for her. Their eyes locked for a moment, even with her scars she still wasn't unattractive. "Spasiba." She took a deep breather and sighed.
"Are you injured?" Usagi asked and the woman shook her head.
"Somehow I was lucky and didn't get hit."
"Good. Then, what about If I tell you, that by tomorrow you'll be an officer and your men soldiers again?"
"Lady, if you're just trying to fuck with me, rather shoot me instead then."
"No, I really mean it, I promise on my life. You got a place to hide until tomorrow?"
"My second in command is in a safe house. Since I was pretty sure that the organization would shot me after what I would have proposed to them today, they would have ended me so I made preparations that at least my men would be safe."
"What did you want to propose to them?"
"That we're out. I don't have a problem with killing. But I rather kill in the heat of battle than innocent. And that was what they wanted us to become." She took another deep draw from the cigarette.
"So if you really somehow manage to make me and my men soldiers again, what do you want me to do?"
"Hide and wait for me contacting you. One of my men will be around to escort you to the nearest base. Give me a number or something so we can contact you."
The former female officer shook her head and got up. In all the mess she found a piece of paper and grabbed a pen from inside her jacket with which she scribbled a number on the paper."
"Here. And if you're making me raise up my hope for nothing I hope you burn in hell."
"Don't worry, like I said, you have my word." Usagi turned to SunTzu.
"I think she needs something for protection."
SunTzu looked at Usagi for a moment before he picked up the Stetschkin. He looked at it for a moment. There were dozens of weapons lying around but this one was a test of trust.
He extended the weapon to the woman and she looked at gun before she took it.
And she put the large pistol back in the holster under her jacket.
The woman then took a look around.
"Guess I should be thankful already, makes our retirement way easier." Then she glanced at SunTzu.
"You're a soldier? Or a damn spy or killer?"
"Officially I'm a pilot."
"A pilot? What rank?"
"Captain."
"Like me." She looked at Usagi. "You can call me Balalaika."
"Usagi. And this is SunTzu."
Balalaika nodded.
"I'll get going now. And hope to hear from you Usagi."
"Need an escort?" SunTzu asked.
"For these few Chetniks between here and the way out? No, I can handle them."
SunTzu handed her the car keys to the Lada.
"There's a car parked at the edge of the building."
"Spasiba, Kapitan."
She straightened up and saluted the Knight and the Queen.
"I'll hear from you."
That said she left the room and walked over all the dead down the corridor, where she left through the door to the staircase.
"I guess your mission has been accomplished. Good work Lancelot." Usagi said after a moment. "But I guess we should get going as well."
A few minutes later, from downstairs they heard a few salvos of pistol fire coming, they entered the rooftop. Balalaika made sure there were no witnesses from the mob that knew she still was alive.
Also in the distance sirens could be heard.
AICA had landed in the middle of the building, the sun was slowly setting down and it looked like the black A-Wing took the last rays of sun light in like a panther sunbathing on a rock.
But she wasn't dozing, her defense blaster was out and her IR-Scanner was steady searching for threats.
"Excuse me a second." Usagi said and disappeared behind the staircase.
A moment later she was back, detransformed and now wearing what looked like the fall or winterly version of her usual dress, the same color and ornaments but reinforced with wool, sporting a coat and even a hood with white fur was attached to the clothing.
In one arm she had SunTzu's coat and in the other her mobile phone.
While SunTzu was wondering where she got his jacket and her phone from now, she handed him his coat and then put her phone to her ear, dialing someone.
"Uncle Vladimir? It's me, Usagi…"
"Like i just said, directly at the Red Square."
SunTzu still had has head turned back to her and couldn't believe it. Even AICA chimed in now.
"Neo Queen Serenity, I have to veto, I don't think landing in front of the Russian Presidential Building is advisable."
"Trust me you two. Nothing will happen. You have my word." She said, voice full of determination.
SunTzu shook his head but decided to trust her.
The last German that landed directly on the Red Square still is alive as well…
"We'll execute the queen's order AICA. But be ready for self defense and immediate retreat."
"Affirmative. But I still protest."
"Maybe you stop protesting when I tell you that I've decided to personally take care of you becoming the personal property of your main pilot."
"For real?" SunTzu and AICA both yelled out.
"Yes. I mean how you guys steered through the skyline of Moscow and lost that police helicopter. And those fighter jets. Simply awesome."
Their retreat had rather been intensive as well, as SunTzu steered AICA away from the skyscraper, over the roofs of the metropolis, dodging fighter jets that had arrived over the city as well as a very persistent police helicopter, later only was shaken after they under flew a bunch of bridges over the Moskwa. A few minutes after Usagi had made the call the jets had retreated and SunTzu wondered with whom she had been talking but she had stepped away.
As soon as she was sitting in the Starfighter she ordered AICA to find the number from the Agent at the dacha or another one of their agents in Moscow.
And just now she had told SunTzu to land in front of the Kremlin.
He did like she told him and really landed on the red square, right in front of the gate to the Kremlin, the famous fortress and Seat of the Russian President.
Lots of the guards in front of the Entrance turned towards them but apparently they had orders to not engage.
"Just a second" Usagi said as SunTzu was about to open the canopy.
She looked over to the nearby Saint Basil's Cathedral for a moment before she looked back to the front, back to SunTzu.
"Captain. There is something I want to ask you for. Today I saw how good of a warrior you are. How fearless, how efficient. And how much you are willing to give. I know I already asked too much from you, beginning with dragging you into this war, all these missions for intelligence and letting you fight in air, space and on the ground. While I never told you how you really are, like I promised. And still can't unfortunately."
"Usagi… stop. I'm not interested in this anymore." He paused for a minute. "I made peace with my missing past." He turned around to face her and began to smile. "I'm leading a good life, loving a wonderful woman, having great friends and although I'm not without sin I do my fair share of good deeds in this galaxy. I don't need to know about my past. These are dangerous times, it's better to live in the now and work for a better future."
Now Usagi smiled at him as well.
"Okay. I'm glad to hear that. But I need you to promise me one thing."
"What would that be?"
"SunTzu. Promise me, no matter what happens, to always stay looking out for my Senshi. All of them. I lost them before and I can't afford to life through this again. I know you understand, now that you know how great as humans these women are."
SunTzu nodded and began to smile.
"Point of honor, I'm not gonna break my vow. I'll always will look out for them as well as for you, Mamoru and Chibiusa. I promise on my life."
"Thank you." Usagi hushed out quietly, her eyes closed.
Then she took a deep breather.
"Now let's get going so we can take care about you owning AICA."
The canopy opened and they got out.
And now the Neo Queen was all grace and didn't need any help to get out.
An Officer from the Kremlin's guard, escorted by two soldiers came in and saluted in front of Usagi.
With broken English he welcomed her to Moscow and asked her to follow him.
A few minutes later the two Neo Queen and her Knight were inside the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Residence of the President of the Russian Federation.
SunTzu followed a gracefully and self-assured moving Neo Queen Serenity, through the beautiful building.
If I knew I'd be walking around in here, I would have changed my clothes. I still have blood stains on my sweater.
He closed his coat so the stains wouldn't be visible.
After a few more minutes they were brought into a large, beautifully and rich decorated anteroom, where two guards were standing guard. A secretary overtook the two guests from Crystal Tokyo from the Officer, that saluted briefly and marched away again.
The secretary just greeted the two of them and motioned to the door.
Usagi strutted forward and opened the large double door, SunTzu two steps behind her.
"Vladimir Vladimirovich! I'm so happy to see you!" She beamed at the man in the office.
SunTzu's heart skipped a beat.
Uncle Vladimir was the President of the Russian Federation and to SunTzu's surprise he was almost as bright beaming as Usagi.
He immediately got up and hugged her in a fatherly way, while she planted kisses left and right on his cheek.
"How are you my child?"
"I'm doing fine, enjoying this beautiful town as always. Uncle Vladimir, I want to introduce you to someone." She motioned to SunTzu, behind her. "This is Captain SunTzu, my First Knight."
"Ah, der Pilot." The President said in German, without any accent, and extended his hand to the Bavarian.
Both men shared a firm handshake.
"Es ist mir eine Ehre, Herr Präsident." SunTzu said to the Russian Leader.
"Ganz meinerseits, man trifft nicht oft einen galaktischen Kriegshelden."
SunTzu was very surprised of the approval.
The President turned to Usagi again.
"Serenity, when I heard about the chaos in… that part of the city I almost was sure it had something to do with you and Crystal Tokyo. At least one country on the planet tries to effectively fight organized crime. But you said you wanted to talk with me about something."
"Yes, I have a proposal to make. One we both, and the whole Galaxy would profit from." She turned around to SunTzu.
"Captain would you excuse us for a few minutes?"
"Of course your majesty."
The pilot politely bowed down and left the room.
SunTzu was sitting on an elegant, antique sofa In the anteroom, when, after around ten minutes the door to the President's office opened and Usagi stepped out of the room.
Immediately he jumped up and fell in beside her.
"Where we heading now?" He asked as she walked back the way they came.
"We're getting AICA, she is allowed to land on the helipad of the Kremlin."
And then she motioned him to be quiet, with a finger over her mouth.
Of course, the Kremlin was probably bugged from front to back, after all the President had been an Intelligence Officer as well when he was younger.
Soon a Guardian joined them to escort them out.
They left through the main gate again and while a lot of guards and other people stood around AICA and were singing along to a Russian folklore song, that AICA was playing through her exterior speaker, singing along as well.
But apparently nobody was allowed to come close to her as two grim looking NCOs were standing guard in front of her. AICA on the other side didn't even had her blaster extended.
In Russian the AI apologized that they had to stop their singing now and opened her canopy, and SunTzu and Serenity climbed in.
As soon as AICA closed the canopy Usagi had AICA call the number Balalaika had given her.
The Russian picked up personally, which meant she made it out unharmed as well.
"I wouldn't have thought you call." The Russian woman said, taking the call.
"I keep my promises. And I need to inform you that by midnight you'll be officially a Kapitan of the Russian Armed Forces again, Orders signed by the President of the Russian Federation himself. An Agent of mine will pick you and your second in command up and bring you to a Army Base."
"I can't believe this. This sounds way too good."
"Don't get to happy, there's a war raging in the Galaxy and we need every help we can get. Be prepared to take your men and equipment to expeditionary combat off the planet."
"Don't worry, my men will be ready."
"So be it. I'm looking forward to fight alongside you Kapitan."
A brief pause followed.
"Thank you, Usagi."
Then she hung up and let AICA call the Agent from the Dacha. She gave him the orders to meet with Balalaika and her men and escort them. And then she gave AICA the order to tell the Palace that she was alright and they could stop to worry.
"Can't believe you really pulled that one through." SunTzu stated when she hung up.
"We need to make preparations for reinforcements apart from Taskforce Sol. We don't get new recruits fast enough SunTzu. And we both know, this war will only get worse."
SunTzu nodded.
"But it's still crazy that the President played along."
"Well, he knows what's at stake for him and while he has his own priorities he knows how important TF Sol is. And how prestigious and powerful a unit being able to fight off planet could be for Russia. It's always about his personal advantage for him, even when he's sacking other countries. And he's intelligent enough to know that while the Serene is officially under United Nations Control, Admiral Dong-Chan listens to my orders. And that I can have the Kremlin, the Russian nuclear first strike weapons and any army base leveled from space without any defense against whenever i want."
And then she giggled.
"Also, that old creep has a major crush on Ami."
"I beg your pardon?"
"He has a crush on Ami, an immense one. Ami is so uncomfortable with this that she probably will never come to Russia again. I guess he likes intelligent woman. And the fact that she's a spy and skilled and powerful enough to hack his personal accounts and transfer all his funds on her own accounts is probably a reason as well. Anyways, we're invited for dinner. I hope you like Vodka."
A few moments later SunTzu lifted AICA off and let her land on the Kremlin's heliport where an escort was already waiting for them.
They were brought to another part of the palace where a beautiful and richly decorated table.
They were seated and the President and his spouse arrived soon after.
The atmosphere appeared very friendly and hearty but SunTzu could feel that Usagi was on the lookout.
The President and Serenity toasted for the success of their new partnership and this not only one time.
SunTzu stayed abstinent, the Russian Vodka was exquisite but he excused himself that he still had to fly. Not that AICA could fly them but nobody needed to know all of her capacities and SunTzu wanted to stay with a clear head. He didn't expect trouble but this wasn't the Crystal Tower after all and he knew he had to take care.
Dinner was also exquisite and after a bit more than an hour SunTzu and a slightly drunk Neo Queen Serenity said their goodbyes.
She linked in with him as they were lead outside to the helipad by an escort and in her drunken state she was bending his ear how cute he and Rei were and that ReiTzu definitely needed to start a family. As soon as possible.
He patiently listend to her babble and had to smile. His queen seemed to really ship his and Rei's relationship.
At the heliport he had to carry her into the cockpit and he had to admit that he was a bit afraid she would vomit into AICA so he made a mental note to fly extra soft.
"I'll make sure AICA is your's soon."
Usagi babbled when he closed her seatbelt, making him smile. And when she saw his smile her mouth turned into a drunken, happy smile as well.
"Bring me home Lancelot. I need my bed."
She didn't need to tell him twice. Moscow had it's moments but ain't no place like home
His fear that his queen would throw up in his starfighter soon vanished as the beautiful blonde regent had fallen asleep even before they left the atmosphere and now was peacefully snoring in AICA's backseat.
Thirty minutes later, it had been a long day, he needed a shower and either a coffee or some sleep, but he wasn't in a hurry he landed at the palace landing spot. Sun was rising right now.
"Wake up Queen, we're home." He said.
"No Mamoru, just a few minutes more… Luna can take it…" Was her answer and he had to grin.
The canopy opened and he stood up and unlocked her seatbelt.
She opened her eyes.
"Where are we?" Guessing from her slurred speech she still wasn't any sober at all.
"Home, we just landed at the palace."
"Good, I want to go to bed, Lancelot."
As soon as the canopy had opened Motoki and a Guardist had come over and the three man somehow managed to get her drunken queen out of the cockpit and to the ground without her falling.
"You frightened us quite a bit my Queen." The Commander of the Royal Guard told her when he and SunTzu supported her and lead her to the Crystal Tower.
"Nonsense Motoki. I just enjoyed a little trip with my First Knight since my King won't come home. And I had a bit of business to take care of."
Motoki looked at SunTzu, question marks in his eyes, why Serenity was so drunk and SunTzu just shrugged.
"Dinner with the Russian President."
Motoki just nodded.
Waiting for the elevator at the ground floor of the Crystal Tower SunTzu told Motoki that he'd take it from here and the old friend of King and Queen motioned him to take care not to get vomited on.
They arrived at the top floor and SunTzu had to knock as the Queen didn't had a key on her.
After a moment, Chibiusa in a Pyjama opened.
"Mom?"
"Good Morning Daughter. Mommy's home again."
Chibiusa looked dumbfounded at SunTzu.
"Is she drunk?"
SunTzu nodded.
"Dinner with the Russian President."
"Oh. I understand." The pink haired princess replied.
"Sorry to wake you up."
"It's cool, gotta get ready for school anyway."
Chibiusa opened the door and SunTzu halfway carried Usagi inside. The queen began to cup Chibiusa's cheek.
"Mommy is so proud of you. You're such a good girl. And so pretty "
"How much did she drink."
"Three glasses."
"Three shots only? What did they gave her."
"Vodka. And it wasn't shots. It was water glasses"
"Uhhh." Chibiusa frowned.
They brought her over to the bedroom and laid her down in her bed.
Within a moment she was sleeping blissfully.
"I'm sorry. She's a bit off when Dad isn't around." Chibiusa apologized for her mother.
"It's okay. I get it. Anyways, I'm out."
"Good Morning or rather Good Night then. I'll make sure she has some aspirin and water when she wakes up."
SunTzu nodded and left.
And before Chibiusa left the room she gave her snoring mother a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Ever so lost without Dad."
SunTzu decided to get a coffee first before taking a cab home.
When he arrived In the dining hall, he saw that his two wingmen, Michiru sleepily leaning against Haruka, and Makoto were having breakfast at the moment.
He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down next to Makoto, opposite of Haruka.
"If that isn't our queen stealing knight." Makoto joked.
"Hey, it wasn't my idea that she tags along while I shoot up the leading members of the Russian Mob."
"Hm, sounds like fun." Makoto stated. "You sure kept the Guard on their toes though."
"Yeah. I don't know why she didn't tell anyone."
"Let me guess, she told you she was bored."
"Yeah, how do you know?"
The three girls all were giggling now.
"It's always the same when Mamoru isn't around. I hope you guys made work of the mobsters."
"We did. And I have to admit I couldn't have done it without Sailor Moon's help. She's amazing. Did you know that her wings are bulletproof?"
Suddenly Michiru's arm darted towards him.
"There! And with that he's part of the Harem as well." The other two girls began to laugh.
"Anyone had money on the seventh month?" Haruka asked.
"I think Minako, you know, Seven is her lucky number."
SunTzu looked back and forth between the three women.
"What the hell are y'all talking about?"
Makoto smiled.
"Well, Sailor Moon has this gift that no matter which guy, no matter if good, evil, old, young, warrior or priest falls for either her or her powers. We began to call any these guys, who fell for her, her harem. And we girls had a bet going on when you would fall. Rei said that you'd need five months by the way."
"Welcome to the Harem, Mate." Haruka mocked him and laughed.
As retribution for her mocking SunTzu, with support from Michiru, who was happy to be able to take a swim so, instead of running as morning exercise, Haruka had to drive SunTzu home.
On the way SunTzu told his best friend the details about what happened in Moscow.
"Holy Feck, that's why I try to stay inside my cockpit." Haruka stated after she heard how well the mobsters were.
Haruka dropped him off at his home and told him to call her up later on, maybe they could hang out or get some training in.
SunTzu just had stepped into his apartment when his phone rang. It was Rei.
Like she knows.
"Good Morning Gorgeous."
"Good Morning, my Queen kidnapping boyfriend." She laughed, while to him it was proven again, that news traveled fast within these group of Magical Girls.
"Are you two okay? Makoto said you fought the Russian mob on his own soil."
"We did, I just came home. And we won, unharmed. Except that our queen will probably have a bad hangover when she wakes up."
"SunTzu, what were you guys doing?"
"Well, Neo Queen Serenity II. decided to celebrate our victory with the Russian President. After she managed to persuade him to build a military unit we can take with us off planet."
"The Russian President. Uncle Vladimir, that creep. So I understand." Rei laughed again, well knowing what happened.
"Yes Uncle Vladimir." SunTzu laughed as well. "But I stayed away from drinking. Moscow is not Crystal Tokyo, you know."
"Yeah. Did he ask about Ami?"
"Apparently only when his companion wasn't around." Both laughed again.
"How are you by the way?"
"Good. Mamoru just left, his wife ran away with her First Knight and he as revenge he has breakfast with the Chief of State. I'll get ready soon and head for the Senate."
"I see."
"Babe?"
"Hm?"
"I miss you." Rei sounded a bit blue.
"I miss you too. When are you coming back?"
"Hopefully within the next two days."
"Great, I can't wait."
"Me neither." A click could be heard in the background. "And to not make you forget what you have on me, while you scram with Royal Bunhead, you should take a look at the picture I just sent you."
SunTzu took a look at the pic and his eyes widened. Rei waited a moment before she spoke again.
"I got twenty minutes till I have to get going. So, after seeing this picture. What would you do with me right now?"