The Rescue mission has gotten a lot tougher than we thought.
It's not just a question of busting into the place and getting those kids out, but helping them see the truth. The actual truth!
We got our work cut out for us!
At the adult Trib-Force's hiding place, the living-room TV displayed the GNN News that was showing the floating, soaring New Island in New Zealand, with Rayford, Chloe and Hattie, sitting on the sofa, watching in awestruck.
"What you are seeing is not high-tech projectory.. An island is flying through the sky." Said the voice of a male News reporter.
At the kids schoolhouse, Vicki and the others, with Janie and Melinda, were trying to recover from the waning cold temperatures. Melinda had gotten frostbite on her left foot. Soon after, Vicki informed the group of the next judgement that would soon befall Earth. Janie remained skeptical, however Melinda was starting to come around.
Conrad sealed the outside entrance to the underground tunnel. The generator finally began working late.
Now they were all glued to the computer that was showing the GNN News that was displaying New Island floating and soaring in the sky.
"Is this the power of the New World Religion created using the technology of the New World system that is being promoted by potentate Carpathia?" The male reporter asked.
In different areas Israel, Dr. Rosenzweig, Judd, Lionel, Sam, Nada, Jamal, Yitzhak and Mr. Stein were all speechless as they watched the GNN News that was showing off New Island floating and soaring through the sky.
"It has been praised by millions as a new source of prosperity, but religious people are appalled at the idea that such religion exist in the New World government system." said the male reporter.
In the meantime, Mr. Stein believes he had been given a special mission. Judd looked at Yitzhak. Had Mr. Stein gone over the edge? "What kind of mission?"
"In our cabin was a huge map of the world," Mr. Stein explained. "I was drawn to it. I kept looking at the different countries, wondering what God was saying to me. I believe God has selected me to travel to a group of people I have never heard of and have never seen."
"What?" Judd said.
"I prayed in front of that map every day. Sometimes for hours. Last night I had a dream. I was floating toward the ground. A huge desert stretched before me. And then, I saw a river, and people, hundreds of them, thousands who had no contact with the outside world. They wore strange clothing and talked in a language I have never heard. I asked, 'Who are these people?' I sensed I was being called to tell them the gospel."
"What country is it?" Lionel asked.
Mr. Stein smiled. "I don't know. I can only surmise it is somewhere in Africa. I am leaving tomorrow."
"What?" Judd said. "How are you going to go if you don't know what country they're in? How will you talk without an interpreter? A trip like that could take weeks, even months."
Mr. Stein stroked his beard. "I gave my word to God that I would make myself available. If this is what he wants me to do, I know he will make the way clear to me."
"The GC took all your cash!" Judd said. "How will you—"
"I have some," Yitzhak said. "It should be enough to at least get you there.'
"Wait," Judd said. "You need to plan this better."
"I do not know how much longer before the next judgment," Mr. Stein said. "I must go as soon as possible."
Jamal looked at Mr. Stein. "There is one other thing, correct?"
"Oh yes," Mr. Stein said. "In the vision I was not alone. There was someone beside me the whole time."
"Who?" inquired Lionel.
Mr. Stein turned. "It was you, Judd. I believe God wants you to come with me."
At the command center in the command room, Luna, Artemis and everyone else, the Thomas family and Justin included, were all watching GNN News on the round mid-screen that was displaying New Island.
"And it seems that the moon invaders are against the idea as well. According to Miss Kuroki, they are on the island attacking GC grunts, attempting to abduct all of the children and destroy the island like they did to Camp One World in Canada." Said the male reporter.
Sailor Moon, Mars, Venus and Saturn ran through the hallway of the school, but stopped in their tracks when they saw a large door in front of them without a nob. It was easy to tell that it was one of those slide open doors.
"Huh?" Sailor Moon said.
"That's one big honkin' door." Mars said.
"Yeah. And it's locked tight." Venus added.
"Nuts! Is there a switch for opening it?" Saturn said.
"Right here." Mars said. "Youma Taisan!" She said, firing the attack at the door, exploding on impact. The smoke soon cleared, revealing the door to be blown open and the other side of the hallway.
"Alright! Let's go!" Sailor Moon said before she and the others resumed running down the hall, only to stop again when they saw two more hallways. A fork in the road, so to speak.
"Huh? Which way?" Saturn asked, confused.
"Maybe it's that way." Venus said, pointing down the right hall.
"Ah, come on, why can't we just take a guess?" Sailor Moon said.
"There they are!" Came a male New Zealand accented voice.
The five Guardians of Earth looked behind them and saw several male GC grunts running towards them, armed with guns.
"Get 'em!" Said the head GC as he and the other grunts made their way toward the Senshi.
"Okay, let's split up here and we'll search for the kids." Mars said.
"What?!" Sailor Moon gasped.
"It's the only way, let's do it." Venus said.
"Huh?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Yeah." Saturn agreed as she, Mars and Venus took off running down the hall.
"Wait!" Sailor Moon said.
The GC grunts stopped and aimed their guns at Sailor Moon.
"AAHH!" Sailor Moon screamed.
Mars and Venus stopped in their tracks.
"Let's go, Sailor Moon!" Venus said.
"I'm coming!" Sailor Moon said as she ran up to Mars and Venus, with her and Venus going on ahead, leaving Mars behind.
"Don't let them escape!" Said one of the new male GC grunts in a New Zealand accent up ahead as they ran towards the Senshi.
"Get out of our way, you goons!" Mars said. "Vade reto...spiritus mauls!" She said, firing multiple parchments at the GC grunts up ahead, hitting them all on the foreheads, making them collapse to the floor unconscious.
Then she turned and fired more parchments at the GC grunts behind her and the others, hitting them on the foreheads and knocking them out as well. "Weak much? Gotta work on your strength against paper." She said as she and the others ran on ahead passed the out-cold grunts.
"Mars sure comes in handy in a time like this." Venus said.
"Yeah, because she never hesitates or goes easy on anyone." Sailor Moon added.
Tuxedo Mask, Mercury, Jupiter and the Starlights ran through the jungle, with Mercury still typing on her small computer.
"Hey, Mercury, are we there yet?" Jupiter asked.
"I think so. Just a few more miles to go." Mercury said.
"Oh, joy." Fighter said sarcastically.
"Perfect." Healer added, also sarcastically.
"Great." Maker said, rolling her eyes.
"Not soon enough for me! Sailor Moon and the others need our help!" Tuxedo Mask said.
"Hey, there he is over there! Hold it you!" shouted a male American voice.
"Huh?" The gang said, stopping in their tracks.
Just then, a young American boy rushed out of the thick jungle brush on the left side. The kid was so fast, the group weren't even able to make out his features.
"Come back here, you little twerp!" said an American GC woman as she and an American man, both armed with guns, rushed out of the brush on the left and ran inside the brush on the right.
"What was that?" Jupiter asked.
"I don't know, but it can't be good." Mercury said as her small computer disappeared.
"Let's help." Sailor Star Fighter said.
The gang then ran off after the boy that was being chased by the two GC grunts.
In the schoolhouse, Mark checked the E-mail messages. There was nothing from Judd or Lionel, but he did find two messages from Carl Meninger. Mark opened the first, the one he had been reading when the computer had gone dead. Carl wrote that he had been released from the hospital in South Carolina and was ready to visit Mark. "I'll take a military transport and get as dose to Chicago as I can. Just give me the word." Mark opened the second E-mail, which had been written the night before.
"I want to take a flight soon, but I haven't heard from you," Carl wrote. "Are you still alive? Has something happened? Please contact me as soon as possible." Carl included a phone number at the bottom of the E-mail.
Mark picked up the phone, but Conrad stopped him. "I still don't like this,. We haven't heard back from Chiba and the girls for days." Conrad said. "I know you want to hear about John, but this might be a GC trap."
"I told you I was going to be careful," Mark said. "I'll drive a cycle to meet him some-where away from here. Maybe Indiana."
"I think it's a good idea," Vicki said. "If this guy Carl isn't on the level, Mark can find out and get away." Mark dialed the number and asked for Carl. He went into the next room to talk and returned in a few minutes. "Carl's not there," Mark said. "His room-mate said he took a transport flight early this morning. lie thought something had happened and wanted to find me."
"Just what we need," Conrad said, "the GC looking for our hideout."
"Did he say where he was headed?" Vicki said.
Mark shook his head. "It could take him a while and a few different planes to get close. One thing's for sure, he's not coming to Chicago."
"Why not?" Vicki said. "There are reports of big-time radiation downtown," Mark said.
Vicki gasped. "Nuclear?"
Conrad scratched his head. "I don't remember Chicago getting hit with any nukes."
"Whether they did or didn't isn't the point" Mark said. "The GC and everybody else are staying as far away from it as they can." Mark typed a response on E-mail. "Carl's supposed to check this every day."
"What are you telling him?" Vicki said.
"As soon as he gets close, I'm on my way."
The two Senshi, Tuxedo Mask and the Starlights ran through the brush of the jungle, attempting to locate the boy and the two GC grunts.
"FREEZE!" came the female voice from up ahead.
The gang ran faster and soon came to the end of the brush and saw the back of the GC grunts, with them pointing their guns at the boy in front of them, who was standing in front of a big, tall tree.
The boy had brown hair, brown eyes, he wore a yellow short-sleeve shirt, olive green calf-length pants-like shorts, white socks and brown hiking-boots.
The GC woman's hair was THE color red, which was obviously dyed, and it stopped at her lower back. She wore a short black undershirt that exposed her midriff under a yale blue high-collared long sleeve shirt, long yale blue gloves, a short yale blue mini-skirt, and yale blue high heel thigh-length high heel boots.
The GC man had long neck-length blue hair, he wore a yale blue long sleeve shirt, a black tucked short sleeve undershirt, yale blue gloves, yale blue pants with a black belt, and yale blue boots. "Just stop right there, kid!" He said, with his eyes green and the letters GC written on the front of his shirt.
"Attempting to escape will not be tolerated! Neither will stow-aways like you! So give yourself up now and nobody gets hurt!" The red-haired woman said, with blue eyes, yale blue round ear-rings, and the letters GC written on the front of her shirt.
"The only ones who are getting hurt is you two if you don't back off!" came a female voice from behind.
"Huh?" The man and woman said as they turned the source of the voice.
"Threatening a little kid with guns is unacceptable! And so is abducting other children and teaching them false beliefs! On behalf of love!" Sailor Jupiter said.
"And on behalf of the forces from Heaven!" Mercury added.
"I am Sailor Jupiter!"
"And I am Sailor Mercury!"
"And we are the Sailor Starlights!" Fighter, Healer and Maker said.
"And by the will of Son of the most High..." Jupiter began.
"You will be judged!" Mercury, Jupiter and the Starlights concluded.
"Well then on behalf of the New World, the One World Religion, and his excellency, Carpathia, I am Jezel, member of the GC agency." said the red-haired woman known as Jezel.
"And I am Agent Jacks, also a member of the GC agency." The man known as Jacks said. "In the name of Carpathia..."
"We'll re-educate you!" Jezel and Jacks said.
"Re-educate this!" Sailor Mercury said. "Shine Aqua Illusion!" She said, firing the attack at the two GC grunts' guns, freezing them, making the grunts drop them to the grass-covered ground.
"Our guns!" Jacks gasped.
"Want us to charge you for this?!" Jupiter threatened.
Jezel and Jacks shook their heads, with fearful expressions on their faces.
"No? Then get lost!" Jupiter said.
With that, Jezel and Jacks took off running through the jungle. The gang then focused on the 9-year old American boy, who just stared at them, stunned and speechless.
"You okay, kid?" Sailor Jupiter asked.
The boy nodded his answer.
"Maybe he can't talk." Tuxedo Mask said.
"I can talk." The boy responded.
"What's your name, kiddo?" Sailor Star Fighter asked.
"Joey. Joey Copper." The 9-year old boy answered.
"Joey Copper. What a nice name." Jupiter said. "Well, Joey, I'm-"
"I know who you all are. I've heard a lot about you on the News." Joey said.
"Why were those grunts after you?" Healer questioned.
"I'll explain on the way. Follow me." Joey said before turning and walking off.
"Oh, well...okay." Sailor Star Maker said before she and the others followed after Joey.
"Get her!" Jake said.
The red monsters stretched/charged forward and attacked Pluto repeatedly.
"Pluto!" Uranus and Neptune said.
"Prepare to say good night, moon alien." Jake said.
The monsters kept hitting and attacking a battered Pluto.
"Dead-" Pluto was cut off when one of the monsters hit her in the chest, knocking the wing out of her.
"It's no use. Even those attacks of your's can do nothing against a number of these mirage creatures. It's hopeless." Jake said.
"Mirages?!" Pluto questioned wheezingly.
"What? Don't tell me you though these things were real. No, my frienemy from outer space, they are mere bits of data created by the mirage computer system. Kind of like holograms, except they're real." Jake explained. "You lose, I'm afraid."
"Don't be so certain!" Pluto wheezed out. So that was it. These things were mere mirages of the red creatures, not the real deal. That explained why they kept coming back every time they were destroyed, rather than re-producing more like the original. Because they were made of data.
"What are you up to now?" Jake asked.
"I've got you now, Jacob!" Pluto said.
"What now?!" Jake said.
"Has she overcome the mirages?" Neptune asked.
"That's incredible." Uranus said.
"Thus says the son of man in Luke 6:27-30: "But to you who are listening I say "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you! If someone slaps you on the cheek, turn to them the other also! If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them."!" Said Pluto.
"Rrrrr! This can't go on!" Jake said, frustrated. "I won't let you get to me with your fairytale non-sense! Do not quit, red mirages! Show this thing how much power you have!"
The red monsters began attacking Pluto harder and harder.
"If they're just fairytales why is your precious potentate so slighted about people owning Bibles?"
"Shut up!"
"Hey, let's look over that way!" said a male GC grunt in New Zealand accent as he and several other GC soldiers ran down the hallway of the school, unaware that they had passed Mars and Saturn, who were hiding behind the wall of another hall. They, Sailor Moon and Venus went down the left hall while Mars and Saturn went down the right hall.
Mars looked at Saturn. "Let's go now. Remember we have to choose our battles carefully."
"Right." Saturn agreed.
"Wow, this place is such a huge maze. But there must be a passage leading to the kids." Mars said. She and Saturn turned to head down the hallway they were in, only to be met by the sight of a 10-year old American boy.
The boy had dark brown hair and brown eyes, he wore blue hearing-aids on both ears, a yale blue quarter-length sleeve zipped up shirt with gray shoulders and the back of it being black, with the letters GC on the left side of the front, metal high-tech forearm-length gloves, black pants and metal high-tech sneakers.
Mars and Saturn stared at the boy.
The boy held up his right fist. "Don't make me punch your lights out."
"Who are you?" Sailor Mars asked.
"On behalf of the New World, the One World Religion, and his excellency, Carpathia, I am one of the GC Spy Kids who fights for peace and prosperity. I am agent C. In the name of Carpathia...I'll re-educate you!" said the boy now known as agent C.
"A GC Spy Kid!" Sailor Saturn said, tightening her grip on her glaive.
"Urgh! Not again!" Sailor Mars said, with anger in her voice. But it wasn't the boy she was mad at. It wasn't his fault that he was like he was any more than it was Jake's fault that he was the way he was. This boy was just another mere pawn in the New World's scam. Another kid who'd been manipulated by the One World Religion. "What's your name?"
"Cole. Cole Wilton." Agent C answered, introducing himself.
Mars and Saturn took a step forward.
"Don't come any closer!" Cole said, putting his right fist back up in defense.
"Cole...it doesn't have to be this way." Saturn said.
"Oh, yes, it does, you're invaders from the moon! Enemies of Earth!" Cole said.
Sailor Saturn grimly raised her glaive, preparing herself. In common times, she couldn't have imagined having to fight another child, but the times of this new world were anything but common.
"Hey..." Sailor Mars began, gently stopping Sailor Saturn. "I got this." She assured, wanting a chance to defuse the situation before resorting to fighting.
Seeing that Mars seemed to know what she was doing, Saturn lowered her glaive. Sailor Mars might be hot tempered, but she's also good at speaking out the truth.
Sailor Mars then started walking towards Cole. "I know you don't wanna hurt anyone." She said, making her way towards the American boy.
"What are you doing?!" Cole demanded.
"You're just not sure who's good and who's bad...like so many other people in this new world." Sailor Mars said, walking up to Cole.
"What?" Cole asked, confused.
"I trust you, Cole." Mars said.
After a moment's hesitation, Cole lowered his right fist to his right side. "I trust you too. I don't know why...but I do."
"You did the right thing." Sailor Mars said, exhibiting the same facial expression she had given to Koan when she convinced her that it wasn't too late for her to change, resulting in her making the right choice to change for the better. She was glad this boy had made the right choice as well.
Sailor Moon and Venus ran down the left hall, trying to find and rescue the kids as quickly as possible, then they stopped in the middle of it, having reached three hallways.
"Oh, not again!" Sailor Moon groaned.
"Just great! Which way?!" Venus said, looking both ways at two of the halls before looking at the third hall in the center.
"Hey, they're over there!" Said a male GC grunt in a NZ accent as he and several other GC goons, all armed with guns, came running down the right hall.
"Why don't you guys take a lunch-break?!" Venus said. "Venus Love Me Chain!" She said, firing her chain at the GC goons down the right hall.
"You can't get away!" Said another male GC grunts in an American voice as he and many other GC thugs, also armed with guns, came running down the left hall.
The Moon Princess Scepter appeared in Sailor Moon's right hand. "Okay! We'll just have to take care of these guys too!" She said. "Moon Princess Halation!" She said before firing the attack at the GC grunts' guns.
"AAHH!" came the screams of the GC grunts from down both hallways.
"And that's how I ended up here." Joey said as he led the other Senshi, the Starlights and Tuxedo Mask through the jungle, having just shared his story with them on how he got here and why those two GC goons were chasing him earlier.
"So you stowed away on a school bus to go on a field-trip you were rejected from because of your age and size?" Mercury asked.
"Yep." Joey answered.
"And these two guys abducted the other kids in your class and brought them here?" Jupiter asked.
"Yep." Joey repeated.
"And you managed to rescue nearly all of them by yourself?" Tuxedo Mask asked, stunned that this little 9-year old boy had managed to rescue a bunch of kids older than him. Then again, Chibi-Usa became a Sailor Guardian at such a young age and was very good at it, so anything was possible with children, no matter their age or height.
"Yep." Joey stated.
"My stars, that's amazing." Sailor Star Fighter said.
"What about the bus driver? What happened to him?" Sailor Star Healer asked.
"The last time I saw him was when the kidnappers took him and the others into a cabin after they drove up to the mountain. They came back out with the kids, but...not with him." Joey answered.
Knowing that the boy didn't want to admit what he was really thinking about the bus driver's fate, as well as not wanting to think about it herself, Sailor Star Maker decided to change the subject. "Hey, kid...where are you leading us to?"
"We're here." Joey said before he, the Senshi, Starlights and Tuxedo Mask made their way through jungle brush. When they made it to the other side, the Asian super-heroes were awestruck at what they were seeing. Before them was a beautiful pale crystal blue river with a massive waterfall pouring down into it.
Sailor Mercury was also baffled that this water hadn't turned to blood like the ocean outside the island had. Another formula invention by Dr. Rosenzweig most likely, since he was the inventor of the Eden formula that, which had made the jungle here bloomy and a lush green.
Behind the waterfall, inside a cave, several American kids were sitting on the ground, awaiting Joey's return. Most of them were teenagers while few of them were pre-teens, and they all wore white short-sleeve shirts, black calf-length pants-like shorts and black hiking-boots.
"I wanna go home, it's scary here." said a 10-year old girl.
"Where's Joey?" An 11-year old girl asked.
Footsteps were then heard from outside.
"Shh! Someone's coming." said a 12-year old boy with blond hair and brown eyes.
All of the kids stood up and picked up big rocks, prepared for defense against whoever was approaching. A few moments later, Joey entered inside the cave and the kids breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's only Joey." A 10-year old boy said.
"Whew. That's a relief. Not that I was scared or anything." An 11-year old boy said.
"Where's Sarah? Is she with you, did you rescue her?" An 11-year old girl asked.
"No. Two GC goons spotted me and chased me down. And might've captured me if it hadn't been for her." Joey said.
Sailor Mercury then entered the cave. Her appearance caused an uproar. The kids panicked, ready to throw their rocks, instantly frightened by the sight of Sailor Mercury.
"Copper, are you nuts, she's one of the aliens!" The blond-haired boy said.
"Children, put those rocks down, please." Sailor Mercury said, holding up her gloved hands.
"You're one of them, you're an alien!" An 13-year old boy said.
"She's one of them!" A 14-year old girl added.
"We have to take her out now!" The blond-haired boy said.
"I am not an alien." Mercury assured.
"Shut up!" The blond-haired boy said.
"What do we do, do we stone her?!" A 15-year old boy asked frantically.
"Get out of the way, Copper!" The blond-haired boy ordered.
Joey got in front of Mercury.
"Joey, what are you doing?!" A 16-year old girl asked.
"You can come in now!" Joey shouted over the waterfall.
"What's up, man?" A 17-year old boy asked.
Sailor Jupiter and the Starlights then entered inside the cave. Tuxedo Mask, meanwhile, had gone off to find the school and help Sailor Moon and the others.
"Oh, my gosh!" An 18-year old boy said, panicking with all the other kids.
"What's goin' on, man?!" A 19-year old boy asked.
"Hey, put your rocks down, put your rocks down, don't throw them." Joey said.
The kids dropped their rocks.
"Calm down, she's not an alien, neither are they. And I don't think those other Asian girls are either. The world leader...Mio...they all lied to us. The Guardians aren't the enemy, they're super-heroes." Joey explained.
"What are you talking about?" The blond-haired boy asked.
"Don't you see? This whole alien gig with the Sailor Senshi...it's all fake, Reese. It's an illusion, it's a trick. They didn't bring us and the other kids here to teach us some spiritual religion, they brought us here to test us, to see how we would do. How we would hold up under pressure. If we would do what we were trained to do." Joey explained.
"To spy on the enemy!" The blond-haired boy known as Reese said.
"No! To spy on religious people, man! To spy on religious people – particularly the true blue Christians, not the fake ones." Joey said.
"Okay, but what about the Sailor Senshi?" Reese asked.
"We're human." Sailor Jupiter answered.
"Why would the GC want us to spy on humans, much less religious ones?" Reese asked.
"Because the world leader...Mio, GC...they're the enemy." Joey answered. "They have to be, it's the only thing that makes sense. And because we're kids, they thought they could easily manipulate us into doing their dirty work."
"That's right." The Starlights said, agreeing with Joey. Although they were a bit surprised that the kid knew so much about the Global Community's true intentions. The fact that this young boy knew all of this information had to be nothing short of divine intervention.
"Joey, what are you saying?" The 10-year old girl asked.
"We're not fighting the bad guys...we are the baffled guys." Joey realized grimly.
"Go now! Finish her!" Jake ordered.
The red creatures kept attacking Sailor Pluto over and over again, and finished by attacking her all at once, then they all self-exploded.
"Ha! Take that, alien scum!" Jake shouted.
The smoke soon cleared, revealing Pluto still standing, with a pink see-through orb around her and the jewel in her staff glowing pink.
"Huh?!" Jake gasped.
"Sorry, but..." Sailor Pluto said before the orb around her disappeared, and the jewel in her staff ceased glowing. "you can't get rid of me that easily."
"No way! You survived that?!" Jake said.
The orb around Pluto disappeared. "2nd Samuel 22:3-4: "The God of my strength in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, you save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies"."
"So you're un-beatable, huh?" Jake said. "I've heard that before. You remind me of myself."
"Of yourself? Huh. Then do tell me why. If you have that much confidence, why did you sink low enough to join the New World Religion?" Pluto said.
"You know nothing! You know absolutely nothing! You and your E.T. friends going around, acting like you're the stuff even after the world start to hate you! Growing up, I was never one of the popular kids! I was always ignored or rejected by my peers! For me, wanting to become one of the cool kids was a dream I wanted to come true so badly! Becoming a GC Spy Kid for the New World Religion was just a way for me to become popular! I never thought that it would end up costing me my home and my entire family! With just one submissive act to the New World Religion, I lost everything that mattered to me, to the GC! My family! It because of me that they are in danger! This is the only way I can keep them safe where they are!" Jake explained.
"Because of you, you say?" Sailor Pluto asked.
"I now have nothing left but this position. This job as a Spy Kid and this feeling of self-blame and self-hate. You don't know how I suffered, you have no idea what it's like!" Jake said.
"No...I don't." Pluto admitted.
"No, you don't." Jake said.
"And I don't want to understand the feelings of someone who thinks so little of themselves. Do you think you've been through worse than everyone else on this planet in this new world? That is a lie! You're wrong, Jacob McLead! Many people have lost loved-ones to the GC these last two years! Those who were taken by the GC have put their lives in Heaven! That is why they have endured suffering day in and day out! Suffering to you is nothing more than a feeling! A feeling of not being accepted by those around you! I am nothing like you!" Sailor Pluto said.
She hated being insensitive to child possibly Small Lady's age range, but this was not the time to let feelings get in the way. She had to get through to this boy and she knew that warm and fuzzy love was not going to accomplish that. Showing tough love was the only way, because he wasn't going to listen to reason.
"Why?! Why do you think so highly of Heaven?!" Jake asked.
"Jacob...when you lost your family to the GC...did you really lose everything?!" Sailor Pluto asked.
"I did." Jake answered sadly.
"It is impossible for anyone to go through life without facing problems and issues. Falling down is one thing. True strength is getting back up and moving forward." Pluto said. "I know all about that. Even if you fall, you get back up and keep on going. That is the true meaning of strength. Joshua 1:9 says "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go"."
"Rrr! That's enough of those fairytale poems!" Jake said before pressing a button on his watch, making the red monsters re-appear at his sides. "Charge!"
The red monsters stretched/charged forward and started attacking Sailor Pluto again.
"What is the status on the Sailor Guardians in the building?" Mio asked.
"There has been disturbance in the school's hallways." Said a female employee in an NZ accent.
"Oh, yes." Mio said.
"Four of them. Sailor Moon, Mars, Venus and Saturn have split up into duos." said the female employee.
"Hm. So those GC soldiers have failed me then." Mio said.
"It seems Sailor Moon and Venus have passed hallway B-6. The children's class-room is close to that." The female employee said.
"That's alright, I have another surprise waiting for them." Mio said.
Sailor Moon and Venus ran down the hall as fast as their legs could carry them, with Sailor Moon still holding the Moon Princess Scepter in case they ran into more GC goons so she could take care of them the way she and Venus had taken care of the others earlier in the two hallways by destroying their guns. Other than their pride, they weren't physically hurt.
"The children must be close!" Sailor Moon said.
"Hang on, kids!" Venus said.
"There they are!" Came a young female voice.
"Huh?" Venus asked.
Several more GC men, armed with guns, led by a 9-year old American girl, blocked the Guardians' path. She had brown hair that went past her shoulders and stopped at her upper-back, with a lock of it braided on both sides, her eyes were brown, and she wore a black/yale blue long sleeve spy outfit with gray shoulders and GC letters on the left side of it, with the sleeves rolled up, a silver watch on her left wrist, and black sneakers.
"Freeze, invaders from outer space!" said the American girl as the GC grunts aimed their guns at the Senshi duo.
"You're in the way, and I don't like it!" Venus said. "Crescent Beam Shower!" She said, firing the attack at the grunts' guns, destroying them, followed by the GC grunts turning and running off screaming and scared. "You better run!"
Sailor Moon and Venus then focused on the girl, who was also focused on them.
The girl put her hands up. "Congratulations. You caught...a kid."
In the control-room, the surveillance screen displayed a screen of Sailor Moon and Venus facing off against the 9-year old girl.
"Hm. They are a determined duo. Oh, well. There's no way they will reach the children." Mio said. 'Because the dark forces from Camp One World will be meeting them long before they get that far.' She thought.
All was quiet for a moment as Sailor Moon and Venus faced off against the nine-year old American girl, not sure how to handle the situation. Not that they hadn't faced off against child enemies before, 'cause they had. There was Chibiusa as Black Lady, the Amazons, and Sailor Iron Mouse, who was sort of child-like. But this little girl was a genuine human, not humanoid like them. Totally different scenario.
"Hello, moon aliens." The girl said coldly.
"Who are you?" Sailor Moon asked.
"On behalf of the Global Community, and on behalf of the world leader, I am a GC Spy Kid who fights for peace and prosperity! I am agent R! And in the name of Carpathia...you're Moon dust!" said the girl known as agent R.
"What is your real name?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Names don't matter when you're a Spy Kid for the GC." Agent R said.
"Well, they matter to us...and to Heaven." Sailor Venus said.
"I know where this is goin'." Agent R said, rolling her eyes.
"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold." Sailor Moon said.
"Proverbs 22:1." Venus added.
"There you go quotin' that same fairytale those religious criminals are spreading." Agent R said.
"Ha! If it's a mere fairytale, why are Bibles being banned from bookstores and libraries?! Why has the Bible and prayer been banned from all schools, including Christian ones?! Why are Christians specifically being hunted down by like animals by the Global Community?! Why are they being locked up?! Why are they being killed?!" Venus demanded, her hands on her hips.
"I don't have to explain anything to the two of you! You're the reason I don't have a 1-year old sister anymore, thanks to the disappearances you caused!" Agent R said.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward!" came an old male voice, quoting Psalm 127:3.
"Huh?! Who said that?!" Agent R gasped.
Just then, as if on cue, the two witnesses appeared in front of Sailor Moon and Venus as though they were holograms, facing the nine year old girl.
Agent R gasped and so did Sailor Moon and Venus.
"It's the two witnesses!" Sailor Moon gasped.
"Yeah, but how?!" Venus asked.
"They must be here... if only for a short while." Sailor Moon said, noticing the see-through appearance of the witnesses. She always wondered how they managed to share the truth with other nations from Israel aside from technology, now she knew. They could communicate with people without leaving their post.
"Wha-what do you want?" Agent R stammered fearfully.
"But Jesus said "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven"." Eli said, quoting Matthew 19:14.
"Thus says the Lord "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you and before you were born, I consecrated you"." Moishe added, quoting Jeremiah 1:5.
"What are you talking about?" Agent R asked.
"And as for your little ones, who you said would become prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall possess it." Eli said, quoting Deuteronomy 1:39.
"For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself ." Moishe added, quoting Acts 2:39.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in Heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven." Eli said, quoting Matthew 18:10.
"I don't understand. What does this have to do with my little sister?" Agent R asked.
The two witnesses disappeared.
"No, wait, come back!" Agent R said. "How did you do that with those holograms?"
"We didn't do anything. And those holograms you just saw were true, just the words they spoke." Venus explained.
"Why were they saying all of that stuff to me just now?" Agent R asked.
"We'll tell you...but only if you tell us your name first." Sailor Moon said.
"Ruby. Ruby Wilton." Said Agent R, introducing herself.
"Hi, Ruby. I'm Sailor Moon."
"I'm Sailor Venus. And now that we know each other...let's catch you up on what's really been happening in the world."
Cole opened a door that led to an upwards bridgeway, and he, Sailor Mars and Saturn entered inside. He also now bore the seal on his forehead after accepting the truth after Mars and Saturn shared the story of the moon kingdom, their history as the Sailor Guardians, and the apocalypse, leaving out their identities.
"Here we are. This things goes way up." Cole said.
"So high." Sailor Saturn said.
"You found it, Cole." Sailor Mars said.
"Oh, found nothing. I know this place inside and out like everyone else here." Cole said.
"Nice job, Cole." Saturn said.
Cole then closed the door and he and the Senshi duo began running up the bridge.
Later, they were walking up the bridge, having grown tired of all the running.
"Man. The other kids, are we close to finding them yet?" Saturn said.
"I'm sensing a presence coming from this direction for sure." Mars said.
"Yeah? No kidding?" Saturn asked.
"There's a door over there." Cole said.
The Senshi duo looked to see a large, knobless metal door up ahead.
"That looks interesting." Mars said.
"Could that lead to where the other children are located?" Saturn asked.
"Let's find out." Sailor Mars said as she ran up to the door, followed by pressing a red button and the large door splitting into two and opening, revealing a hallway.
"Let's go." Mars said, turning to Saturn and Cole.
"Right." Saturn and Cole said.
The trio then took off down the hall, with the Senshi duo hoping it would lead them to the other kids.
Sailor Mercury, Jupiter, the Starlights, Joey and the other kids were walking through the jungle, with Mercury typing on her small computer, trying to find the exact location of the school.
"Okay, look, you guys, we have to come up with a plan. Someway to rescue the other kids at the school and overpower the enemy." Joey said. "Anybody have any ideas?"
"We could let the Sailor Guardians take care of them. You know, leave it to the super-heroes." suggested the 10-year old girl.
"It's still too big a chance that someone could get hurt though." The 11-year old boy said.
"Hey, what if we capture Bobby, and then we could trade him for Sarah and the other kids?" The 13-year old boy suggested.
"You saw the way Hasan treats Bobby. He'll never go for the trade. Plus Hasan and Bobby aren't the ones running this island. Mio is." The 11-year old boy said.
"I'm going to assume that this Hasan and Bobby are the ones who kidnapped you all and brought you here." Jupiter guessed.
"Well, you'd be perfectly right." Reese said.
"Meanwhile, back to more pressing matters, how are we going to rescue Sarah and the other kids?" The 10-year old boy asked.
"I don't know, but...Bobby isn't the one we need. We need Hasan." Said the 15-year old boy.
"How 'bout if we surround the school...and make the sound of Indians on the warpath? The bad guys'll think they're about to be ambushed and run." The 11-year old boy suggested.
"Natives on this island that's being run by the enemy? The GC may be stupid enough to fall for something like that, but not Mio." Sailor Star Fighter said. Mio may have been a lot of things, but dumb and stupid were not among them.
"Come on. There had to be something we can do. What about all our training, all our tests? They had to be good for somethin'?" The 16-year old girl said.
Joey stopped in his tracks. "Hold it." He began, making the others stop and look back at him. "I think I have an idea."
"What is it?" Mercury asked.
"I definitely have an idea. And I think it just might work." Joey said.
"Well, let's hear it." Sailor Jupiter said.
"Yes, do tell." Sailor Star Healer added.
"Don't hold out on us, Copper." Reese said.
"Yeah, don't keep us in suspense, Copper. I mean, Joey." Sailor Star Maker said.
"Follow me. We have a lot of work ahead." Joey said before running off ahead of everyone, followed by them running after him.
The red creatures kept attacking Sailor Pluto all at once, never letting up of giving her the chance to defend herself.
"Give up! There is no chance of you defeating these things. You might as well quit now and admit defeat." Jake said.
"As long as I have a place in Heaven waiting for me, I will never despair again! And even if I do fall, I will get back up! That's your problem, Jake! That's your weakness! There is no way you can win against me! Dead Scream!" Pluto said, firing the attack, destroying the monsters that were attacking her, exploding on impact.
The creatures re-appeared at Jake's sides. "Attack!" He ordered before the red creatures stretched/charged forward at Pluto.
"Time Freeze!" Pluto said, firing her new attack at the monsters, making them freeze in their tracks.
"What?!" Jake gasped. "What's going on?!"
"Could it be?!" Sailor Uranus gasped.
"Pluto, you didn't!" Sailor Neptune added.
The last time Sailor Pluto froze time – it almost turned out disastrous.
"Be calm." Pluto said.
"Huh?" Sailor Uranus and Neptune said.
"I merely froze them in time, not stopped time itself." Pluto explained.
She knew that stopping time was forbidden and would have grave consequences for her, she had learned that from first-hand experience when she stopped time for Sailor Uranus and Neptune when the helicopter was blowing up, allowing them to escape...but she also knew that the use of the attack would likely blow up the whole island and cause the deaths of everyone else who was on it. And everyone perishing on the island was not part of the plan.
"Ugh! Weak, huh? I am weak. I'm weak." Jake said before falling to his knees on the ground, bowing his head. "Is it all over for me? I really don't have anything...have anything left."
"Stand up, Jake!" said the voice of Sailor Neptune.
"Huh?" Jake said, lifting up his head.
"Pull yourself together, kid!" Sailor Uranus said.
"Please, I know you can do it!" Sailor Neptune said.
"I can tell by looking at you that it's not like you to be defeated so easily! So quickly, stand up, Jake!" Uranus said.
Jake looked back at the Outer Senshi duo, stunned. "You're speaking to me? Why would you? I followed Mio's orders and tried to stop you, to destroy you both, understand? So why are you still here?"
"Mio doesn't matter! Your actions towards us don't matter!" Sailor Uranus said.
"Everything you've done has nothing to do with us at all! We're your friends, aren't we?!" Sailor Neptune added.
"Huh? My friends?" Jake asked, confused. He didn't even know these girls, why were they calling themselves his friends?
"We didn't come here to fight with you and watch you condemn yourself!" Sailor Neptune said.
"Jake, you're a victim of this place just like the rest of the kids here! Jacob McLead, you are not our enemy!" Uranus said.
"Yes! We are your friends!" Sailor Neptune said.
"Your friends 'til the very end!" Uranus added. It felt so weird saying that now, since the end was here and the official end was only five years away.
"You guys." Jake said.
"Jake." Uranus said.
"So...there is something left." Jake thought before getting to his right knee.
"That's right! Stand!" Uranus said.
"Don't give up, Jake!" Neptune said.
"Not for my own sake...not for the sake of the One World Religion...but for the sake of my family and the friends who believe in me." Jake said before pressing a button on his watch, making the frozen creatures disappear. "Power down." He said before he de-morphed out of his spy kid outfit and back into his white short-sleeve shirt, black pants-like shorts and black hiking-boots.
"Jake!" Sailor Uranus and Neptune said, with relieved smiles on their faces.
Sailor Pluto just looked on at the touching scene. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"." She thought, quoting Luke 33:34 in her mind. A victorious smile spread across her face, glad that she, Uranus and Neptune were able to get through to this young boy. Not only that, she was glad Uranus and Neptune were willing to forgive him...knowing she, they, and the rest of the Senshi had forgiven past former enemies for a lot worse.
Meanwhile, Judd decides to join Mr. Stein on his missionary trip to Northern Africa, which they deduced upon talking to the ticket agent. With the help of an airline supervisor that was a believer, Mr. Isaacs, they were able to
Mr. Isaacs studied the monitor. "We're definitely talking northern Africa. My guess is west of the Sahara." He pulled up an on-screen map and turned the monitor so Judd and Mr. Stein could see. The man pointed to lines on the screen. "This area is known as the 10/40 window. Many people who have not responded to the gospel live between ten and forty degrees latitude. Missionaries had broken through to the area before the Rapture, but there are still people who haven't heard."
That is why God is sending me," Mr. Stein said.
"And others like you," Mr. Isaacs said. "We've had about a dozen witnesses looking for flights to remote areas in the last few days, but no one to this specific area. It's incredible what God is doing."
Mr. Stein described the people in his dream. Mr. Isaacs nodded as he listened and pulled up a smaller map. "I've heard of nomads in this area, taking their flocks wherever they can find food and water."
"How could they have survived the recent cold?" Mr. Stein wondered.
"Good question," Mr. Isaacs said. He punched in some data and pointed to a small dot in a country called Mali. "We can fly you into the capital, Bamako, but from there you'll have to find a way into the country-side. Maybe a chartered flight or a Land Rover could get you to those people."
Mr. Stein pulled out a wad of cash. The cost of the ticket was more than they had. "How much for two tickets?"
Mr. Isaacs smiled. "But you have come on the very day we're offering a discount. I'll make up the rest of the money."
"We couldn't let you—
Mr. Isaacs leaned over the counter. "It is a privilege to be involved in some small way in God's work. Don't take this away from me."
Mr. Stein beamed and looked at Judd. "I told you our God would provide." Judd shook his head. He couldn't believe it.
Mr. Stein took the tickets. His eyes filled with tears. "How can we ever thank you?"
"Thank God," Mr. Isaacs said. "He is the one who brought you to me, and he is the one who will lead you to the people who need to hear your message."
"Amen," Mr. Stein said.
Sailor Moon, still wielding the Moon Princess Scepter, Venus and Ruby ran down the hallway together, with Ruby now bearing the seal on her forehead after the two Senshi shared the moon kingdom and their history with her, leaving out their identities, as well as filling her in on the apocalypse.
"Huh?" Sailor Moon and Venus said.
"What's that?" Sailor Moon said, seeing a large open doorway up ahead.
"Is that it?" Venus asked, wondering if the doorway up ahead led to the other kids.
"It's gotta be! Hang on, kids, we're coming!" Sailor Moon said before she ran on ahead of Venus and Ruby.
"Sailor Moon!" Venus said before she and Ruby ran after the Moon Guardian.
Sailor Moon rushed through the doorway, entering the room, with Venus following her and Ruby stopping at the doorway, only to find that the room was empty. "What?" Sailor Moon said, confused. "What is this place? There's nothing here."
"And it's a dead end." Venus added.
A door then slid down from the top of the doorway and closed, locking Ruby out and trapping the two Pretty Guardians inside. Sailor Moon and Venus turned to see the knobless metal door now in the place of the doorway.
"Ruby!" Venus said.
"Uh-oh." Sailor Moon said.
"Hey!" Venus said as she ran up to the door, with Sailor Moon following. "Open up!" She said as she banged on the door with her right fist.
"It's a trap!" Sailor Moon said.
"We've gotta get out of here!" Venus said as she resumed banging on the door.
"Mm-hm-hm, we've been waiting for you." Came a female voice.
"Huh?" Sailor Moon and Venus said as she looked behind, followed by Mimete and Viluy appearing in the room before them.
"Mimete! Viluy!" Sailor Moon said. Of course she knew it wasn't the real them. These were two of the imposters she and the rest of the Senshi, and the kids Trib-Force, had encountered in Canada at Camp One World. It looked like they were going to get a second chance at taking these dark forces down.
To be continued…