She didn't know what had gotten into him today. Not that he didn't treat her like a queen everyday but today he really anticipated her every wish. It was the day after Halloween and he had dubbed it date day. They took a day off from everything and SunTzu had gone with her from shopping to the cinema, a corny but cute romcom, to a chilly walk in the park to see the trees change their color and a high class dinner.
And afterwards he had fucked her like his life had depended on it, and the fucking had just been the beginning. Right now Rei was at the verge of passing out from his greedy mouth and skillful tongue working on her most sensitive spots as she was sitting naked on SunTzu's face, his hands gliding over her body. He had told her that he wanted to taste her orgasm. Not that she didn't had come before multiple times already, but he just kept going, although she already wasn't anything more than a quivering, moaning and trembling mess.
Another orgasm was building up as he had his tongue dancing around her clit and soon after she yelled out her climax again for the uncounted time tonight.
She had begged him to stop already but now she forced herself from his face, she simply couldn't take it anymore, she was too sensitive by now. But the raven-haired let him know that it was her turn now. She wanted to taste him as well, she told him as she turned around and grabbed his rock hard swollen manhood while she kissed her way down to it, beginning on his abs and gliding down, about to literally blow his mind.
The couple almost instantly fell asleep after Rei had tasted his orgasm, tightly embraced.
And the lovers woke up likewise, both opening their eyes at the same time.
Locking eyes, the couple had their minds and sensations fixed on the other and almost instantly their psychic power began to fuse their souls together, while Rei lay her head back on his chest and both closed their eyes, letting go of every negative emotion that was on their mind. For a moment the time stopped while the two shared the sensation that felt so phenomenal.
"We didn't do that for far too long." Rei said when they shifted back to here and now.
She kissed his chest on the sport where his heart was located.
"I love you." She aspirated as she continued to listen to his heartbeat again.
"You are my everything Rei." SunTzu replied while he stroke her long dark hair and thought about how much a person can be in love with another.
"Is that so?" She lifted her head up and mischievously smiled at him. "Than how about French Toast for your everything before we have to leave for Coruscant?"
And SunTzu made her the best French Toast he probably ever had cooked. There was a reason he was so attentive and caring for her.
Yesterday morning he had learned that the red Diamond he ordered had been dressed to size and now, while Rei was in the shower and the toast was sizzling in the pan, he ordered the engagement ring he wanted to present to her. He was sure that the Senator of Sol, Miss Rei Hino, would soon be his wife.
As soon as he ended the call with the jeweler he began to whistle a song while he attended the breakfast in the making.
Back at Base and Palace respectively they finished their preparations before they, together with the rest of the Taskforce and the Royals boarded the Far Side.
Less than three hours later they were dropping out of Hyperspace in the Coruscant System. Immediately a Squadron of XJ-Wings took on a honorary formation around the Taskforce's four capital ships, with the Far Side in the middle, and escorted them to the Galactic Capital.
Lots of the crew as well as the Inner Circle of the Kingdom were witnessing the descent on the Ecumenopolis, it's lights visible from space, from the Far Side's observation deck.
"This never gets old." SunTzu stated as he was looking out the observation window, Rei in his arms in front of him.
"And this coming out of your mouth, TopGun. I remember when you disliked Coruscant."
"Yeah well, you know, that was before this hot chick I was dating took me out to see the nice parts of the city."
"Uh, sounds nice. You should thank her one day for her selflessness and kindliness."
She looked up as he smiled down on her with a warm smile, sparking her lips to curl up as well.
The ships were to land at a huge naval installation near the Senate District and everybody onboard was allowed a night out. The Taskforce's leadership would attend a ball, hosted by the Chief of State herself tonight and tomorrow there would be a ceremony with a small parade, where the Task Force would be taken off by the Chief of State and the Supreme Commander.
After the landing, people began to pour out. SunTzu and Rei took a cab to the Senate where Rei got out to attend to some business in her office while SunTzu was flown further to her Apartment, preparing it for them.
Rei got back late from the Senate and so it actually came in pretty handy that Princess Mars appeared on the ball with SunTzu as the other Senshi took on their princess forms as well.
On the way she told him, that the Coruscant branch of the Vogue, which was on it's way to become the most important fashion magazine in the Galaxy, had asked her office if they would be interested in a photo shoot.
"Of course, I took the chance. I mean, this is something I can show to my grandchildren one day. And let them know how hot their old, wrinkly granny once was. And how handsome their grandpa had been back then." She said smilingly in the skycar they took to the ball, which first earned her a startled jolt of her boyfriend that made her laugh and then a passionate kiss full of love, from the man that couldn't wait to become said grandpa.
Of course the media had been already waiting for them at the location. The other couples got their fair share of medial attention as well and the Royal Couple was rivaling SunRei in taken pictures, which the later really welcomed, as it took some attention off of them and they could leave for the inside earlier.
Leia and Neo Queen Serenity gave honorable speeches in front of the gathered elite of the Galactic Alliance, Coruscant and Taskforce Sol, praising each other's work and importance for one another. Taskforce Sol had made it's name in the Alliance's forces, being there when needed, no matter where and when and somehow pulling through, even when the odds were against them.
After the speeches a delicious banquet followed and soon the dancefloor was opened.
Rei had excused herself as the Chief of State wanted to talk with her and SunTzu settled onto the table where Princess Jupiter, her husband and the Outer Senshi were located on. As he sat down he noticed that they were staring at King Endymion and the Neo Queen.
"They're going. Yes, he's leading her off."
"He had been at the band before, right?"
"What's the matter?" SunTzu asked into the round.
"See the King and Queen walking there? They're on the way to the dancefloor."
"Guys! He got a rose from inside his tuxedo." Michiru yelled out.
"So, I was right!" Makoto stated.
"Girls? What is going on?" SunTzu asked again. "Why are you so excited?"
"Mate, just shut up and enjoy the show, you'll love it."
Suddenly the first notes of "Por una Cabeza" began to play as Endymion lead Serenity to the almost empty dancefloor.
"See, I was right! Tango!" Makoto yelled out at the table, the five women not taking their gazes off of their leaders.
Mamoru put the red rose he had pulled out into his mouth as he and Usagi took position.
As soon as the song changed the first time the Queen pulled out the rose with her mouth from her husband's and they began their dance.
He was leading her, at first in the traditional Tango pose before he put his palm around her neck and they swirled slowly around each other before he leaned her down and up again.
Back in the traditional stance he swirled her so that her back was facing him and let his hands glide down her body before he lead her sideways over the dance floor for a few moments.
A swirl later she was back in his arms and he took the rose from her with his mouth again.
After a few steps forward she grabbed the rose from his mouth and swirled forwards, until his arm stopped her.
Her leg was now up on his side and he had his hand around it while he lead her backwards, both looking at each other with passion in their eyes, before he leaned her down again and back two times. They ended the dance with her slowly walking around him, her hands on his body.
When the song had ended he lead her off the dancefloor again, accompanied by loud cheering and applause.
SunTzu had his eyes wide open in surprise and stood up for a standing ovation.
"I told you." Haruka said next to him, their table were loudly clapping as well.
"Nobody does that better than they do, not even me and Michiru." She continued.
"Talking about that, I want to dance as well, Haruka." Michiru said and offered her hand to her girlfriend.
"We'll be coming along." Kenjiru said, while he got up and extended his hand to his wife, Makoto Kino, Commando Forces Officer of the battle proven Taskforce Sol, who briefly blushed as she took the hand.
SunTzu noticed that Hotaru sighed as the others left for the dance floor.
"What's the matter, Lieutenant?" He asked her, his voice warm and friendly.
"It's nothing." The young woman stated.
"Hotaru you want to dance as well, right?" Setsuna asked her and her adoptive daughter just shrugged and looked at the dance floor again.
"It ain't much but Rei is away to talk with the Chief of State, so would you mind if your old ass superior asks you for a dance? If it's not too embarrassing for you."
"I… I wouldn't mind. I'd actually appreciate it."
SunTzu, nodded at a friendly looking Setsuna before he got up again and extended his arm towards his protégé.
"Well then Princess Saturn, mind to join me on the dancefloor then?"
With a smile the raven haired girl hooked under his arm and they left for the dance floor.
A few minutes later, Princess Pluto was observing her adoptive daughter and the man that had overtaken a fatherly role for the teenager lately, innocently dancing on the floor, with a satisfied face. Hotaru was beaming and the two pilots were dancing next to Chibiusa and Helios and the other two Outer Senshi.
"Can you believe it? I'm gone for ten minutes and he already moves on to the next dark haired."
Rei sat down next to Setsuna with an amused smile.
"Rei, you're back."
"Yes, I'm obviously a protégé of the Chief of State now. And this time she didn't even warn me about SunTzu."
"I see."
"Yeah, and when I came back almost everybody was on the dancefloor except for Minako, who is swarmed by men trying to win her over and the Royal Couple, that seemed to be in a hurry to leave."
"They were dancing Tango." Setsuna told her friend.
"Oh, I see. How far did SunTzu's jaw drop after the performance."
"Pretty far, but nothing I couldn't have fixed without surgery." Setsuna stated with a smile and Rei began to laugh.
"What about you? Not interested in dancing? I could take Hotaru so SunTzu could give you a dance if you don't want to dance with me. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"Oh no, it's a friendly offer but I'm good here. I don't need to dance."
"Well, if you say so." Rei got up. "Don't hesitate to join if you change your mind."
Setsuna nodded with a friendly smile.
Rei went to the dance floor where the song just had ended and Chibiusa insisted on the next dance with her best friend. As SunTzu was almost leaving the dancefloor someone grabbed his hand and pulled him back.
"Did you really think, you won't dance with me tonight TopGun?" Rei said as she pulled herself onto him, a mischievous half smile on her lips as they locked eyes.
When SunTzu opened his eyes the next morning, Rei still sleeping next to him, immediately a sting of pain shot through his head. And the uneasy feeling shot straight through onto his stomach and within a second he had jumped out of bed and rushed into the bath room. He barely made it to the toilet when he started vomiting.
"Babe, what's wrong?" Rei, woken up by her boyfriends sudden departure into the bath room asked worried. And then it hit her as well. She wasn't the type to have it but she heard enough about it from others to know what a migraine would feel like. She pressed her eyes shut and tried to massage her temple.
After a few minutes, his insides had eased up again but his head still was throbbing SunTzu got back to the bed.
Rei still had her eyes closed and her arm over them.
"Rei, what's wrong?" SunTzu said quietly, his hand on his head.
"I got migraine. It's getting better already but for a moment it felt like my head would explode."
SunTzu noticed that he was getting better as well.
But his gut instinct still was feeling horrible.
"Rei, I know you're in pain, but can you somehow manage to search your powers?"
"Ugh… I can try…" She said trough clenched teeth. And as soon as she concentrated she could feel that there was something. Something extremely dark, twisted and powerful. But it was feeling like it was vanishing already.
Five minutes later the couple was back to normal, their headaches gone. As well as any negative sensations.
"What was that?" SunTzu asked.
"I don't have any idea. I got an idea, let's call Michiru and Hotaru if they felt anything as well." Rei replied.
But while the other two sensations had felt a sting of pain as well, they couldn't sense anything now and the Deep Aqua Mirror showed nothing as well.
The couple decided to be extra careful today and told the others to do as well when they got ready. Both lovers were pretty tense and SunTzu's question why Rei wouldn't wear her Taskforce's uniform for the commendation, even though she would get a medal as well, almost lead to a full blown argument.
Only because SunTzu decided to stop talking mitigated the situation.
In the meantime the Neo Queen had been invited by the Supreme Commander, Darth Vader in his seldomly used office in the Royal Palace.
He wanted to make himself acquainted with the young Queen that was one of the keys to existence of the Galactic Alliance continuing.
The Dark Lord's powers were so strong that it intimated her, as she was sitting on the other side of his black desk.
Black, like almost everything in the minimalistic decorated and furnitured office.
Usagi was sitting completely upright and tried to keep her calm. Although she could feel more than darkness in him, she had heard the stories of course. She knew that this man in front of her was different now but his presence alone, even without sensing his power, would intimidate almost everybody.
Lord Vader observed her for a moment in silence after she had been brought in and told to sit down by his adjutant.
The only sound in the room was his breathing, something he only could do with the help of machines as the stories told.
"You don't need to be intimidated your highness. I'm not the maniacal killer that I once was, as you know."
"I'm.. I'm sorry my Lord. It wasn't my intention to make you feel like that."
"You didn't. I have to apologize for the rushed meeting but as someone that fully knows about your powers and what you are capable of I wanted to meet you personally. It's not often, that someone as powerful as me has the chance to meet someone that could rival me. And I wanted to talk with you about the course of this War."
"It's my honor Lord Vader. I speak for everyone in my Taskforce when I say that you and Death Fleet are doing outstanding work and it was a honor to work alongside you."
"The honor is mine Neo-Queen Serenity, your forces achieved the impossible on numerous occasions. I read the report on that incursion your Chief of Intelligence lead on Glee Anselm. We would have needed your Taskforce back in the Clone Wars." He seemed to zone out for a moment.
"Anyways, I guess we both know, that the enemy's offensive is gaining momentum after more and more of his ships and troops fall in. Not to talk about the secret hyperlanes he is using. Which means that our highly mobile forces like Taskforce Sol and Death Squadron will be even more busy in the near future. I hope you and you're forces, as well as your Kingdom are prepared that you all will spent way much more time far away from home."
"We are my Lord. We all know that everything that had happened until now was just the prelude."
Vader nodded.
"Be aware that the rogue Domain Shai of the Yuuzhan Vong is apparently on the move with it's main force. And I suppose you are informed about our PROBLEM from the Maw? The Jedi lost her traces somewhere on Centares. She could be everywhere. I suppose someone as powerful as you felt something earlier on as well. My son told me that it could have been caused by her. It's better if we keep our eyes open, especially later in the open."
"We will, you can count on us."
Vader nodded again.
"How is the Pilot doing? Lately he is making headlines with your Senator. Things won't grow over his head, won't they?"
"As said to your daughter, the Chief of State, already, there is no sign at all for him to fall to Chaos or the Dark Side. Senator Hino and SunTzu are deeply in love with each other and also growing in their powers through each other. I assume you heard about what happened on Phu. Sailor Mars's growth in power was caused by their love for each other and her fear of loosing him. I can reassure you that she would know immediately about any sign of corruptions."
And again Vader nodded.
"But don't forget that sometimes even well-meant things like Love can lead to a path into darkness." Vader said and Usagi could feel that something had hit a nerve within the mechanically breathing man. But it was Love he was talking about and if she knew one thing about it, than that it could conquer all.
"And the Crystal Kingdom and me as his Queen will be the ever shining lights that will conquer darkness. The Moonlight is a messenger of Love after all." Serenity answered, more harsh than she wanted it to sound like.
"So be it. We should both cater to our preparations for the ceremony now, your highness."
Neo-Queen Serenity stood up from her chair.
"It's been my honor, Lord Vader. We will meet again soon."
He got up as well, faster than she would have imagined for a giant his size and grabbed her hand.
She turned around only to see him bow down and pretend to give her a hand kiss.
"May the Force be with you and yours, Serenity."
She almost blushed and bowed down slightly as well as Vader let her hand go.
"May the moonlight light all your paths Lord Vader. Excuse myself if my earlier response was too harsh or unrespectful."
"It wasn't. It takes a lot of courage to speak this open in my presence and this speaks for you. The Galactic Alliance can count themselves blessed to have people like you serving it."
A smile formed on her lips.
"I see you at the citation ceremony, I'm sure my husband would be honored to meet you as well." With a last bow, grasping her dress in both hands and lifting it up slightly, she left the room.
Vader stayed standing up straight for a moment, he was impressed how fast the Neo-Queen had changed from an intimidated young woman to a Queen that defended her views, even in his presence.
And he really hoped that this pilot wouldn't fall to the dark like he once did.
The troops of the Taskforce would parade on the main street in front of the Imperial Palace and Leia and Darth Vader would not only produce the Official Unit Citation to Artemis and the Royal Couple but also a bunch of medals to various Task Force Members, including all the leadership and all the pilots and commandos, Rei and Ami for their continued valor in the war efforts, Rei had been dubbed the Fighting Senator by the media now, and Setsuna and the EOD Specialist for their selfless actions on Listehol while they tried to safe their comrades.
After a request from the Neo Queen the citation ceremony began with a minute of silence for the fallen members of the Taskforce and the Shadow War so far, before the Royal Couple, Darth Vader and Chief of State Organa-Solo as well as their staffs would take the salute of the Taskforce. The Inner Circle of the Crystal Kingdom as well as Jedi Master Cilghal, Ada Wong, various Senators, for example the Imperial Senator Daala, and other important figures of the Alliance were located at the podest overlooking the parade as well. Rei had positioned herself next to the woman in rank of Admiral and when they greeted each other, the Imperial Senator had told the younger woman that her seven year old granddaughter and her son were in the crowd as well, as the girl somehow found a liking in military parades and shiny uniforms.
"She probably inherited that from her grandmother." The Admiral said with a smile, not completely hiding a hint of pride. From the first row of onlookers a small red haired girl, next to what probably was her father, waved at the podium and Admiral Daala nodded back in that moment.
Tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousand spectators had also come to see the parade and the ceremony.
Of course the encroachment of the media was high as well, Taskforce Sol with it's young and appeasing leadership and won battles were perfect for medial coverage.
"Here we go again, doing bloody propaganda instead of helping win this War." Haruka hushed out in between of SunTzu and Michiru, three rows behind the queen, as the first units of the Taskforce, all dressed in their best uniforms, marched past the podium and saluted it's leadership.
"We're still just too good at what we do, Sis. That's why they love us."
"Don't forget about our looks as well. We kick arse and look gorgeous while doing so." Haruka replied.
"Talking about looking gorgeous. Guess which Senator and her boyfriend got invited to a photo shoot with the Vogue?"
"Didn't we do Vogue already as well, Michiru?"
"No, we didn't. What you mean is GQ."
"Ah yeah. Anyways, don't let the media fuck with you, mate. If I got a penny for every time they talked shit about me."
"Don't worry, we won't. But I do like the idea of a photo shoot together with Rei. She said it's something we could show to our grandchildren."
"Grandchildren? Did I miss something?"
SunTzu went silent for a moment.
"Not yet." He finally stated with a wry grin and winked at his two wingwomen staring at him.
Michiru seemed to get it and began to grin as well but Haruka's face showed that she didn't have any idea what he was talking about.
In this moment another unit marched past and the three friends straightened up again and reciprocated the unit's salute.
The parade didn't took too long as the Taskforce was rather small and soon the presentation of the medals began.
First the pictures of the fallen members of the Taskforce were placed in the front of the podium and each of them, beginning with Marvin, was posthumously presented with the Bravery Medal of the Galactic Alliance.
SunTzu was holding hands with Haruka, who also held Michiru's hand, at this moment. Luna was also holding hands with Artemis, knowing that he was deeply moved inside seeing his dead friend getting honored. Rei had gotten to the third row from her former place at the first row besides her Royals and took SunTzu's other hand to show him her support. A slight squeeze motioned her how much he appreciated the support.
The last dead members of Taskforce Sol to receive their posthumous medals were the troopers from third platoon that had been killed with a mortar strike at Listehol.
The first living members of the Taskforce to receive medals in turn were the now newly appointed Sergeant Davies, the young Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist that helped clear the area after the mortar strike, and Setsuna, for her immediate reaction helping her comrades. Both received their medals as they had been intended on saving as many of their comrades as possible, while even disregarding their own safety.
It left a bitter taste in SunTzu's mouth to think about the attack and it's aftermath. Setsuna took the medal without showing any emotions. SunTzu remembered how hard that day had been for her and how the ever so stoic woman almost had broken down in front of him.
Next were the Officers, Commandos and then the Pilots. All of them earned their medals for their ongoing efforts in the war.
SunTzu, Ami and Rei, later the only one not in uniform, got their medals without any further specification why. The Incursion on Glee Anselm was still confidential, even though Ami was a popular hero on the Planet.
Senator Rei Hino, in her buisness outfit, receiving a medal was a wet dream for the attending media and when she stepped back, after the Chief of State had pinned the medal on her chest, with Lord Vader standing besides his daughter. When Rei locked hands with her boyfriend, that had just received a medal as well and they shared a smile the media went completely crazy.
Shouts requesting a kiss were heard and somehow the attending crowd began to demand the same.
The Chief of State began to grin and made way so that everybody had a good sight on the couple, that was looking at each other again, with a shy smile.
Finally they shared a kiss and the crowd began to erupt in cheering and applause.
The parade was pretty much over and the streets were already emptying fast. The media was being happy with a few money worthy snapshots and Coruscant's people resting assured that there were still defended by a fine lot of people, which in turn delighted the Alliance's Officers in charge of PR and Propaganda.
Chief of State Leia Organa-Solo was in the final words of her ending speech when suddenly her father, besides her and her droid C3-PO, which he had built decades ago on Tatooine, walked a step forward and began to scan the surroundings.
A few seconds later Jedi Master Healer Cilghal began to look around as well and soon Rei was the next to twitch.
She squeezed SunTzu's hand and a second later he could feel it as well.
Leia, a Jedi on her own, also suddenly paused in her speech and looked around before she turned to her Father.
Around all the Senshi now could sense something with their psychotic powers.
Something dark and evil was heading their way and a few moments later screaming could be heard coming in from further away at one of the smaller streets leading to the main street in front of the Imperial Palace.
SunTzu and Rei looked at each other and nodded. While she went over to Leia, SunTzu went to the Royals. Both stated that something was wrong but the leaders already knew. And then the howling could be heard again.
Leon S. Kennedy was immediately at the side of the Chief of State, Ada a step behind him.
"Mistress Chief of State, I suppose to immediately bring you inside the safe rooms in the Palace." Leon supposed to her while other members of the Personal Security Detachment and her two Noghri Guards rushed around her as well, shielding her from every side.
Leia nodded, although she was more worried with the onlookers as there still were thousands of innocent people on the streets.
SunTzu told Usagi to get into safety as well but she declined looking back and forth between SunTzu and an equally worried looking Mamoru.
"No, not as long as there are civilians in danger."
She looked around.
"I need a place to transform. Chibiusa, get the others!"
Chibiusa immediately turned around and told all the Senshi to gather while Usagi and Mamoru looked for a place where they could transform in safety.
And right behind the podium, at the feet of the Imperial Palace they found a maintenance well.
Usagi sprinted over, followed by Mamoru and SunTzu while the other Senshi as well as the Mau fell in and SunTzu draw his pistol.
The well was closed but SunTzu and Mamoru used their bodys to break the door open.
Immediately an alarm began to blare, but that wasn't an issue. Rather it helped that people knew that something was wrong.
On the front side, a knot of security personnel and Noghri, as well as Cilghal with her light saber drawn and Ada with her blaster drawn as well, escorted the Chief of State, the senators and other VIPs up the stairs and inside the Imperial Palace, while armed guards began to swarm the entrance.
Darth Vader was still on the podium and observed his surroundings, his hand on his belt where his lightsaber rested but he hadn't drawn it yet. From afar it was like he was searching for something, but it wasn't from wherever the howling and screams came from. Or from where the sound of Coruscant Guard Patrol Vehicle sirens came in, which began to sound off in the distance.
While SunTzu and King Endymion each held one of the two doors open, the Senshi rushed into the tunnel.
As soon as everybody was inside they got ready to transform.
Usagi motioned SunTzu to turn around.
"Eyes front, Pilot!" Usagi ordered and put her hand up as SunTzu and Mamoru turned around, the doors falling shut again.
Pistol drawn in SunTzu's case and Knight in Mamoru's case, they secured the perimeter and scanned for dangers.
"Ever thought about that this transformation takes too long?" Mamoru stated in a neutral voice as his eyes wandered around.
"What? Ah, yeah. Makes them pretty vulnerable." SunTzu answered, ready to aim his pistol at a target.
"Yeah."
"By the way, what about you? No Transformation?" SunTzu
"No. No need, I have most of my powers in this armor as well. Same as the Queen in her white and gold robe. But she likes to be in her Senshi Form."
A moment later the door behind them opened and the Senshi poured out. Still there were no enemies visible just the howling.
"Permission to recon the area." SunTzu asked his King as there was no immediate threat visible and all the nine Senshi were around their Neo-Queen. Artemis, Diana and Luna were in their cat forms between them and Artemis jumped up on Mamoru's shoulder as the King pulled a communicator from his belt.
"Permission granted, I'll inform the rest of the Taskforce." Mamoru answered and just as SunTzu was about to rush away, a hand held him back.
"Take care out there, TopGun."
He nodded into Rei's face and ran back towards the Main Street.
When SunTzu got back to the main street he saw that Darth Vader made an enormous force jump from the podium to the roof of a nearby building, apparently he was chasing after something.
People around were fleeing the scene now and SunTzu ran into the street the howling came from and stopped dead in his tracks when he arrived there.
A black flood of Daimons poured into the street and snatched fleeing people right from the street.
The pilot ran further and shot a Daimon, which was at least two meter high, in the head just as he wanted to grab a young woman and then motioned the woman to get away. Her boyfriend was a few meter behind and grabbed her hand as they ran away.
As soon as the gun shot rang through the narrow street the focus of the daimons immediately changed to SunTzu, which made some people attacked being able to flee, as the black figures all looked at SunTzu now.
"Oh Fuck!" The pilot said and turned around, trying to get some distance in.
He took three steps when two of the spider like daimons landed in front of him, dropping down from a wall at a nearby house and blocking his way back.
A group of Spider Daimons had climbed up the nearby buildings and now dropped into the dispersing crowd in front of the palace.
Admiral Daala's son, not an officer like his mother but rather a producer of media like his father, was waiting with his daughter near the podium, as he had been told since a young age to stay near authorities when in an emergency situation and await their orders. One of the black monsters dropped down down near him and knocked him down with it's front limb, as he was shielding his daughter.
Apparently the monster wanted to snatch the young girl but just as it moved in, an arrow of red fire hit it in the head from above and let large parts of it disappear in fire and flames, the monster crashing onto the ground.
Around it two more of the monsters were felled by a beam of bright yellow light and a purple ball of energy.
Sailor Mars landed next to the girl and the blink of an eye later Sailor Venus and Sailor Pluto followed.
Three more Daimons turned around to face the threat and in this moment Eternal Sailor Moon landed in front of them.
"Bring them to safety. I'll take care of these."
The Senshi nodded and while Rei grabbed the child in an embrace and Sailor Venus helped the girl's father back on his feet she began to swing her Eternal Tiare.
The three Senshi jumped back on the podium, Sailor Pluto helping Sailor Venus with Daala's son. The Admiral turned Senator was rushing towards them, a blaster in her hand and four Palace guards around her. Ada was with her as well, she also had her blaster at the ready.
The red and grey haired Imperial Icon ran forward her granddaughter as Rei put her down on the podium and Daala embraced the girl tightly.
"You're unharmed." And then she immediately turned around. "Are you injured?" She asked her son and he shook his head.
"He should get checked to rule out a concussion but other than that he seems to be okay." Sailor Venus told.
Sailor Moon let off a Silver Moon Crystal Power Therapy Kiss but unfortunately it just made the daimons vanish and didn't them turn back to their usual human selves, proofing again that the Daimons were just vessels. And these daimons here felt full with hate and dedication to accomplish their mission.
With the attack she had cleared most of the area around the podium though.
"Senshi try to save as many people as you can from the grasp of the enemy!" She yelled out.
"Thank you, Miss Hino." A grateful Daala told Sailor Mars, her granddaughter in her one arm and another arm around her still drowsy son.
Rei nodded, so Daala had recognized her in her transformation, and then joined the other two Senshi as they jumped down the podium and joined Sailor Moon.
Further away at the edges of the Main Street the other four Senshi in pairs of two were already engaged against the daimons.
Neptune and Uranus and their talismans were wrecking havoc in midst a group of spider daimons that had just dropped down from buildings further down the Main Street and thus made room for civilians to escape.
On the other side of the street, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury did the same with combined attacks as daimons poured in from an alley.
Sailor Jupiter had her communicator up.
"Boys? Moma needs you outside." She told into the headset between two attacks.
"Wait one boss, we're still trying to grab as many guns as we can." Rudy's voice came back.
Inside the palace entrance, the Commandos, Officers and Pilots of Taskforce Sol were trying to arm themselves with whatever the guard could get them.
Outside, back at the maintenance well, Mamoru was still on his communicator.
"You heard that right Captain Schmitt, turn the vehicles around and get back to the palace. And get the weapons ready!"
"SunTzu!"
It sounded off behind the spider Daimon and a three shot salvo into the daimon's head made it drop to the floor.
"Leon!"
The Security Agent came running in, two blasters in his hands and as soon as they were at the same height and next to each other the two men turned around and began to shoot at the nearest Daimons.
Some of them were quick as lightning and soon they had swarmed the two friends and they had to fight back to back and dodge attacks in pure GunFu Style while they shot at the nearest attackers.
"I hope our girlfriends don't see us." Leon stated and shot two multi armed daimons in the head at the same time.
"Then we would be in real trouble." SunTzu said as he ducked down and gave a Daimon that tried to smack him, and uppercut with his Glock and then let a shot off, making the daimons clay head explode.
SunTzu activated his communicator.
"AICA, Darling?! Could you come here and help me out?"
"I'd love too, ever since the radio started to bust into activity I wanted to get over. But the hangar is closed and there's nobody around to open it. I did already informed the remaining crew to open it."
So much for air support…
The palace entrance doors bursted open and the Commandos, now armed with blasters and lasers of different sizes and calibers, came rushing out and spread out in a half circle, soon bypassing the guards outside, who were guarding the retreat of Admiral Daala and her family.
"Move out! Team Three cover the King." Rudy ordered and a third of the force broke off towards to the king.
As Artemis saw the Commandos moving in he jumped down from Mamoru's shoulder.
"You stay here with the King!" He told his wife and child and jumped up to the palace stairs heading for the Commandos that were moving up.
In seconds the white cat hat closed the distance to the Special Forces Soldiers and dropped on Dish's, Team One's Radio Operator, shoulder.
"Dish, can you get me a direct line to the CSF?"
"Aye Admiral, i came prepared." The soldier said and pulled out a special communicator from his uniform jacket.
"Commandos, establish a perimeter around the palace." Sailor Moon ordered her operators surrounding her, before she activated her Sailor Communicator. She, Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus and Sailor Pluto had cleared the space around the podium and the street that crossed into the Main Street.
"Senshi, get behind them and make sure they can't kidnap any persons."
"Already ahead of you Mom!" Sailor Chibi-Moon told in her communicator as she and Sailor Saturn just had landed on other end of the street her mother was standing on.
Scouting from up above the two teenagers had found a sewage tunnel leading down to the lower floors of the city where the Daimons apparently had come from.
And now the two Senshi had cut off the enemy's retreat.
Sailor Saturn was already in the midst of the Daimons and started cutting them up with the Silence Glaive.
"Venus, Pluto, get over there and help them, me and Sailor Mars will take it from this end of the road." The Senshi nodded and jumped away.
Behind her Queen, Sailor Mars looked around.
"Anyone saw my boyfriend?"
SunTzu and Leon were using what they had now to keep the black clay monsters at bay, one of Leon's blasters was already empty and he had switched to a Vibro blade as his secondary weapon, while SunTzu even used empty magazines as throwing weapons.
After trying to make some room and attack the enemy rather than just defending themselves the two men soon found themselves back to back again.
"Bad news, this is my last mag."
SunTzu said as he reloaded his pistol and threw another empty magazine at one of the daimon's heads.
After making sure that her son and granddaughter were in safety and a medic was checking on her son's head, Senator Daala took command of the defense at the entrance, where armed guards and the members of the Taskforce, mostly officers and pilots had put up a defensive line. Nobody dared to question her authority.
At the podium, guarded by four Commandos, King Endymion was trying to get his troops ready for a counter attack, the first troops to come back would actually be the Repulsor Tanks and the Repulsor Transports, at least filled with some of his soldiers.
At the next intersection Artemis was busy trying to get Coruscant Security Forces towards the surroundings of the Palace, but the thousands of peoples fleeing and the daimons attacking the incoming forces didn't make it any better. Also the officer on duty, an arrogant colonel, was not impressed by a mere captain of the line from another planet and wouldn't hand him over the command on the ground, although most of the higher ranking officers had left Coruscant to visit and commendate other units throughout the galaxy.
That was until Admiral Nek Bwua'tu from Fourth Fleet himself, from his flagship on patrol near the CTE, joined in the discussion after he heard about an attack on Coruscant and wanted to know what exactly was going on.
Artemis, his admiral rank only valid for Earth's forces but officially an captain when it came to Galactic Alliance Forces, was field promoted to Commodore on the spot by the Commander of the Fourth Fleet, who was responsible for Coruscant and got the control on-site.
Senator Daala, now standing beside King Endymion along with Ada Wong, along with Artemis on the radio a step behind the fighting Commandos and Senshi, organized the defense of the palace and the civilians around, when the four 2-M Saber Repulsor Tanks turned into the street.
This moment Daala spoke into her communicator.
"Has anybody seen the Supreme Commander?"
Having been pushed back the street and into an alley, Leon and SunTzu now really were in trouble as SunTzu just had emptied his last magazine and Leon's blaster was about to run empty as well.
But suddenly something crashed into the floor outside the alley, sounding like it actually broke the asphalt, and SunTzu could feel an immense source of power, and of blank rage, nearby. The daimons moved away from them and onto the new threat.
The duo took a small breather when something red glowing swirled trough the enemy masses, gathered at the entrance of the alley, cut through dozens of deimons and then flew back to where it came from.
A few moments later a tall figure, complete in black but with a streaming cape and a red laser sword in it's hand, slowly marched past them through the larger street and cut daimons apart left and right.
Darth Vader's power as he actually used the Force in battle almost felt like it was touchable, it was like a tension that filled the air and the two men, both skilled fighters, watched in awe how easily the Sith Lord took on the horde of monsters on his own.
A few minutes later it was over around the palace as reinforcements pulled in from everywhere now.
Vehicles from the Taskforce and the Coruscant Security Force came from every street and troops disembarked and joined the fight. From above transporters and gunships came soaring in and gave fire support or shuttled troops in.
SunTzu and Leon soon we're retrieved by a whole platoon of troopers in armor and went back to the Imperial Palace, where they both were welcomed with kisses and scoldings from their girlfriends. Darth Vader, after a single nod towards the two men and after he cut down everything in his path until the troopers had came down the street, wordlessly left the scene and went inside the palace again, on the way waving the Neo-Queen and King Endymion over to exchange a few words with them before he entered the palace.
Reinforcements from the regular Military had arrived as well now and the CSF and the military were also present on strategic places all through the city now. A whole company of Spec Forces, accompanied by members of the Intelligence Service and Jedi from the newly built Jedi Temple, which was located in the Senate District as well, were combing trough the sewers nearby where the daimons had showed up from. Other Jedi guarded the Palace.
Because of the swift actions of the Senshi and their supporting troops the civilian casualties and numbers of civilians that actually couldn't be retrieved anymore stayed thankfully very low. The fallen daimons ranked in the hundreds on the other side.
Or as Dish had stated it, next to Artemis.
"Everybody Gangsta, until the Taskforce come thru."
Leia was giving a quick speech over the holonet right after, addressing the citizens of the Senate District and Coruscant that everything was under control.
Meanwhile Taskforce Sol's leading elements gathered at the podium in front of the Palace again. AICA finally also had arrived at the scene and was pretty sad, that she had come too late to heroically help her two pilots out.
The Senshi and their Taskforce soon were relieved and Leia sent Serenity a holo message personally thanking her for her help to spoil the attack and inviting her for another private conversation tomorrow afternoon.
The Jedi and Spec Forces could save more people and apparently found the place the monsters came from but a booby trap destroyed any evidence. In the end, miraculously nobody was dead, but hundreds had been injured, mostly while trying to flee. All captured civilians could be freed.
And what nobody considered possible, was the reaction of the people of Coruscant on the attack. Instead of closing themselves in in the safety of their homes, the residents of the planet spanning city flooded outside, out to the streets, the plazas and the parks, showing their sympathy and the support for their troops.
The media that was at the ceremony had a first row ticket to observe the battle and to that effect took pictures with the Senshi and the other troops rushing into battle and trying to safe as many people as they could.
There had been a safety perimeter put up around the Imperial Palace but a huge crowd had gathered around the palace and was chanting for Leia.
The Chief of State did an impromptu speech on the podium the ceremony had been saluted from, which was still standing. She had to let the crowd wait for a few minutes as Han and Luke, on a mission for the Jedi along with the Twins, had called her after they heard what happened to Coruscant. She had to put up a middle sized discussion with her husband so he wouldn't immediately turn the Falcon around and head back to Coruscant to guard her.
The next morning queues of young males and females of all kind of species were seen in front of the recruitment centers of the GFFA's Armed Forces, as well as the Coruscant Security Forces and the RASP.
The newspapers and holo news were full with pictures and sequences from yesterday, including how Sailor Moon lead the attack against the Daimons.
People didn't even need to compare them as it was clear for them to see that the women fighting in Sailor Fukus were the same women they just had seen minutes before at the citation ceremony.
Sailor Moon and King Endymion next to each other while organizing a counter attack was the most published picture of the day followed by Sailor Mars and SunTzu taking a break after the battle, with her sitting behind him on the steps leading to the palace entrance, arms laid around him. But everyone got their fair share of medial coverage, except Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter, who either had hidden their faces or whose pictures magically had vanished from the servers. Rumors said, that Ami and Intelligence pulled an all-nighter for this.
SunTzu and Rei had decided to spend the night on board the Far Side, just in case another attack would happen, although it was unlikely with the troops that were patrolling everywhere now.
The next morning, Rei and SunTzu headed over to the Senate, an emergency meeting of the Senate had been called in and they took a repulsor limousine including a CSF escort to the Senate. Hotaru was on standby with AICA so they couldn't take the A-Wing.
The Senator and the Pilot arrived at the Senate building and before she even was at her office, Rei was already swarmed by other Senators that wanted to know details from yesterday's attack.
Later than expected she finally made it to her desk and could start her work.
SunTzu would wait in the fore room so she could work in peace.
He leaned over the desk and gave his lover a tender kiss.
"Hey TopGun, before you get bored. Don't forget, that this photo shooting is due tomorrow, maybe you can take care that everything will go as planned."
"We still will do the shooting?"
"Vogue can't wait to do it, they wrote me again. They want to depicture the Defenders of Coruscant as soon and as beautiful as possible."
"I see. I'll make sure everything will be set. But maybe you could sent me a list of clothes you want to have ready. I… I'm not so good at this." SunTzu said, with a shy grin.
"Oh TopGun. I will." She turned forward again and pulled him down on his tie, he was wearing an uniform again, and planted another kiss on his lips.
A few hours later he accompanied her to the beginning of the Senatorial Discussion in the Grand Convocation Chamber. A few senators actually applauded the Senator of Sol, when she appeared. Her actions yesterday had carburized her status as the Fighting Senator.
The discussion began with a questioning of the Commander of the CSF and the Director of Intelligence Belinda Kalenda.
Pretty soon Senators Daala and Hino were part of the questioning as well, as most of the attending senators wanted to hear about what happened from people that were on the scene.
It could have been called as general consensus, that the senators praised the two brave women in their mid for their actions.
SunTzu had to leave inmid the discussion as his shift with standing by with AICA would begin soon. He took a cab to the military base the Far Side was located at and got ready.
While her Senator and her Guardian of Guardians were at the Galactic Senate, Neo Queen Serenity and her husband were at the Imperial Palace, at their meeting with Chief of State Leia Organa Solo. Artemis, Ami, C3-PO, Special Agent Ada Wong and Jedi Master Cilghal were also attending and the group talked about what happened yesterday and what their course of action would be. In a quiet corner the two Noghri Guards of the Chief of State were in position.
Although almost no intel could been taken from the scene where the Daimons had emerged from, apparently they had been stored in containers until freed, they talked for several hours. What also had been strange, was that Jedi and Senshi alike had stated that these Daimons were different than the ones they had encountered so far. More dark and twisted in their minds.
GAIS had been running a check if more people had been reported missing in the last few months but there wasn't any indication that the souls of the Daimons came from individuals that had resided on Coruscant, as the people being reporting as missing were in the usual numbers.
It was decided that the Taskforce would stay on standby for another two days on Coruscant before it would take on it's next mission. Leia thanked the Royals and Artemis for their actions at the attack personally again.
Before the Royals and Artemis left, Queen Serenity, put another request forward.
Although it was partly against her Admiral's opinion and made the Chief of State raise an eyebrow as well, in the end, with the help of Ada and the promise of Cilghal and Ami that it wouldn't turn into a problem she gave in.
"Fine. I'll allow it. But the override codes for it stay with Miss Wong and Major Urawa. C3-PO, bring me someone high ranking from both the Legal and Legislative Department of the GADF up here. And tell my office to get a contract for the acquisition ready."
A few minutes later SunTzu, next to Karlena in the Far Side's hangar, where they were discussing AICA's maintenance schedule, recieved a call from his Queen.
"Captain, I need you to come over to the Chief of State's office, I have a surprise for you. Oh, and you might want to bring your checkbook along."
Within five minutes AICA was in the skies of Coruscant, racing towards the Imperial Palace.
SunTzu landed at the landing site closest to the Tower the Chief of State resided in and left his cockpit.
On the other side of the Tower he could spot a single Tie Advanced x1, guarded by four soldiers.
So the Supreme Commander actually came to Coruscant in his starfighter and not on board of one of Death Squadron's ships. Speaks for the man to leave comfort behind and his ships at the frontline.
Ada welcomed SunTzu at the hangar and lead him towards the office of Chief of the State Organa-Solo.
"So, what's new? We got any Intel from where the enemy came from?" SunTzu asked Ada as they were walking through the corridors."
"Negative. We're still analyzing the clay these things were made of and GAIS, Fourth Fleet and Spec Forces are putting up a Taskforce to immediately move on to that place but if you ask me, they won't find anything. And that's if they're lucky and it won't be another trap. At least the casualties weren't as worse as we first thought. Most individuals now say the attack was spoilt because you guys reacted so quickly." She hushed her voice down.
"But if you ask me, it was just a message. Letting us know, that if the enemy wants, he can hit us at any time and anywhere. Imaging if these things had been out to kill."
SunTzu had to admit that Ada was right and apart from the sheer numbers there had been worse Daimon attacks before, the ones yesterday hadn't been even armed.
"Better keep our eyes open and our guard up." Ada said and SunTzu nodded.
Twenty minutes later it was done. The contract had been signed. The money had been transferred, most of SunTzu's fortune had been changed the owner, twelve million credits to be precise, but apart from the roughly three million that he still possessed, he had won the ownership of the second most important thing to him.
Serenity, Ada and Ami, even Cilghal and Mamoru were infected by the huge grin on the pilot's face.
SunTzu almost had provoked the Noghri to attack him as in his joy he suddenly hugged the Chief of State, who had to smile because of the outburst of emotions and tapped the pilot's shoulder.
He bowed down before her and then before his Royals and thanked them again effusively.
"You are more than welcome SunTzu. I told you I'd take care of it. But maybe you want to take your starship out for a spin now, I'm sure the Coruscant Flight Control can offer you a free flight permission for today." Serenity stated with a look at Leia that nodded approvingly.
"Yes… yes, your right. I'll take her out for a ride now. Don't worry, I'll bring her back to the Far Side tonight. This will not have any impact on flight plans and me or Hotaru's availability."
Serenity nodded and SunTzu, again accompanied by Ada left the room.
"Okay, making a young man this happy, actually, was worth it." Leia stated as the door had closed.
Ada brought SunTzu back to the hangar.
"Fly carefully. And congratulations SunTzu."
"Thanks Ada, I will take care. As always." SunTzu said while he took place in the cockpit, and put his uniform jacket and hat off and stowed them behind his pilot seat.
A minute later and with a operator telling him he was free to fly over Coruscant, as long as he kept distance to the regular traffic routes, AICA and her new official owner shot out of the Imperial Palace and over the Senate District. AICA and SunTzu were cheering for each other in their happiness.
A few more minutes later Hotaru called, AICA had told her the news via message and she had called them to congratulate both.
After Hotaru ended the call the A-Wing shot up into the sky and took a small trip to space, seeing how fast they could round Coruscant.
Afterwards SunTzu flew AICA back to the surface and called Rei.
"Hey Babe, was that AICA rushing over the neighborhood a few minutes ago?"
"Can be, she seems to be pretty happy she has a new owner."
"A new owner? Wait. Huh... No way!"
"It's true. AICA is mine now. Somehow Usagi managed it to persuade the Chief of State to sell her to me."
"Congratulations Baby, this is fantastic! I'm so happy for you two."
"Thanks!" AICA and SunTzu said at the same time before SunTzu continued.
"You're still busy?"
"Just finished. After one hour of what felt like a police interrogation in the Senate and I don't know how many interviews."
"Care for a small joyride?"
"I'd love to. When will you be there?"
"I'm on my way. Give me two minutes."
"Okay, give me five then. So I can at least close shop here."
Five minutes later SunTzu landed at the Senate Building, he took the extra time to land in front of a flower store and buy a single red and pink Corusca Rose that reminded him of Princess Mars's dress.
A happy Rei in today's navy blue business outfit and a small document bag as well as her purse in her hand had just arrived at the landing spot the closest to her office.
SunTzu jumped out and they ran to meet in the middle where she jumped in his arms and they kissed after he lifted her up. He presented the rose to her and took her bags.
She smelled the rose while they walked over to AICA and when she was besides him at the ladder steps into the cockpit she kissed him again, in the background the slowly sinking sun turned Coruscant's sky into a fiery orange.
"Congratulations TopGun. I know how important this is for you."
"Thank you Rei. I love you."
"I love you too." She said and slung her hands around him.
If SunTzu would have had the ring with him in that moment he would have proposed to her on the spot. There probably wouldn't have been a more perfect or more joyful moment for him.
But it was okay, the ring soon would have been finished and he still needed to ask Grandfather Hino for her hand, he swore that he didn't want to overgo the man that raised his beloved girlfriend.
SunTzu stowed Rei's bags and they climbed into AICA, Rei sitting down on SunTzu's lap, AICA not extending her second seat.
And off they went.
After a tour over the Senate District and around the Far Side, which probably made Flight Chief Stinger Jordan's head turn red in rage, they rushed on and soon crossed over into space and took a few moments just watching the multicolored planet, looking bright as the gems it shared it's name with and holding onto each other.
After a few minutes they descended back to the planet, night had fallen by now.
"We should have a toast. AICA would you mind flying us home later?"
"Since I'm basically a free machine now, no. No I wouldn't mind at all. I'll have some of the best stuff Karlena has to offer later as well."
"Great, thank you, AICA. Babe, could you land at the next high class restaurant?"
A few minutes later the couple came back out of a exclusive restaurant somewhere near the Imperial Palace, with a bottle of the best Corellian Champagne the restaurant had to offer and two champagne flutes.
SunTzu opened the bottle before they entered AICA again and as soon as the ship lifted off they toasted.
"To AICA. And to us. The Senator and the Pilot."
A kiss followed and while AICA gave them a romantic flight tour over the city, they drank more champagne and fonded with each other.
Until Rei had an idea.
"I have an idea. AICA, please fly us back to the Senate."
AICA landed back where they had started from and opened her canopy and Rei gave SunTzu her glass before she got up and climbed out. As she walked up to the next entrance she motioned SunTzu to follow her with a grin.
A guard came over and asked for her authorization, and although the champagne was already working in her system, she managed to play sober enough to tell the guard that she needed to get something out of her office and that her bodyguard would accompany her.
Of course the young guard recognized the two VIPs and let them inside.
The couple took the elevator and left it at the floor where Rei's office was located at, but she didn't lead him to where her office was located. Rather she lead him to where the repulsorpod for the Sol System inside the Senate Rotunda was located at.
She let go off his hand and rushed to the front where she turned around and leaned against it's low railing, smiling at him.
He followed with slow steps while she leaned back.
Two hands grabbed around her waist.
"Take care, you could fall down."
She straightened back up and gently cupped his face with her hand.
"I don't care, because if I ever would fall, I know you'd be there to catch me."
They locked eyes and their foreheads gently touched and the lover's senses opened for the psychic touch of the other. Forgotten was everything else.
"I have everything but I only need you, Rei."
They shared a long, gentle and tender kiss.
"It feels like a dream sometimes. A dream I don't want to wake up from, ever."
She kissed him again, this time more passionate and claiming, before she leaned back again, her head in the air, eyes closed and a grin on her face, concentrating on his soul and the touch of his hands around her body.
"Babe, did you ever had Sex in the Grand Convocation Chamber of the Galactic Senate?" She asked while she slung her legs around him.