[Scene: Minako's car. Minako's eyes flicker between the road and the white cat in her car mirror.]

Minako: So what are we looking for, anyway?

Artemis: Helena and Edgar Winthrop-Sinclair.

Minako: Sounds like something out of Downton Abbey.

Artemis: You're not far off. They are members of the British Aristocracy. Fifty-two and fifty-three, respectively. Blond. Oxford educated, friends with the crown prince and very active in British High society. However...let's just say they have fallen prey to a lot of bad habits and owe a great deal of money to some very unscrupulous people.

Minako: So they pip-pip-cheerio-ed and hopped on a jet to Hen Tie, our own little Fantasy Island in the Forest?

Artemis: Just about...Park here.

[Minako pulls into the lake parking. Gets out and opens her pressed powder compact.

Minako: I don't see anyone.

Artemis: That's because you still have to walk a half mile.

Minako: In these shoes?

Artemis: Maybe you should keep a pair of running shoes in your trunk.

Minako: With this skirt?

[Artemis stays quiet for a while]

Minako: So when do we get to meet the Mr. Rourke in this Nickelodeon nightmare?

Artemis: You'd better hope never.

Minako: Wait...what? I thought that was the whole point of me coming out here?

Artemis: No. The point is to talk the Winthrop-Sinclairs out of selling their souls. We need to keep his army down to a manageable - Oh, no.

Minako: What's wrong?

Artemis: We're too late. He's here. Turn back.

Minako: Turn back?

Artemis: Minako. Turn around and go back to your car.

Minkao: I didn't skip class and drive all this way for nothing! I want to get a good look at this guy!

Artemis: Minako. Stop. I'm not kidding. You are no match for him. At the height of your power you weren't even a match for Kunzite and this guy is at least ten times more powerful than he is.

Minako: Well, Kunzite didn't exactly fight fair, now did he?

Artemis: What makes you think this guy is going to fight fair?

Minako: I just want to take a peek at this guy.

Artemis: Mina! You're too weak and too foolish. If you get close enough to see him, it means you're already dead.

Minako: You know what the great thing about compacts are? I can literally shut you up anytime I feel like it.

Artemis: Mina, don't. There is something I need to tell you-

[Minako snaps the compact closed and drops it into her purse]

[She continues to walk until she sees a campsite in the distance. There are two very attractive people there. Artemis said they were in their fifties, but they don't look a day over thirty-five. They are talking to a man completely hidden in a black cloak who looks to be about eight feet tall. She ducks behind a tree and peeks at them as she listens in.]

Cloaked figure: Are you prepared to pledge your service to me?

[The two give him a look of misgivings and say nothing]

Cloaked figure: I can see I have wasted my time.

[He turns away as if to leave]

Helena: [frantic stage whisper] Edgar. He's leaving. Do something.

Edgar: [Calls after him] Now you look here, you.

[The figure keeps walking]

Edgar: ...It's about the four boys.

Cloaked figure: [stops] What about them.

Edgar: You see...we've never...well...you see, we've never contemplated anything quite like this so...we're not entirely certain we are capable of murder.

[ Helena nods]

Cloaked figure: [turns to face them] I never asked you to murder anyone.

Helena: I believe you did.

Cloaked figure: No. I agreed to solve your financial problems and to restore you to your youth. In return you merely agree to apprehend or kill these four young men if you ever happen to encounter them.

Helena: How is that not murder?

Cloaked figure: It's not murder, it is bounty hunting. They are fugitives from justice. Don't let their pretty faces fool you. Each of these young men is mass-murdering scum.

Edgar: Still...it's not merely the principle of the thing. I simply don't think we can.

Helena: You see, we aren't not like you gun-happy yanks who carry your firearms into your churches and your Walmarts every day. We actually have morals.

Cloaked figure: I see...I'd rather have them incarcerated and forced to face justice for their many crimes, but these "boys" as you call them, may be too ruthless and too dangerous to taken alive...In any event, I do not expect you to carry a weapon, so the chances of your having the opportunity to kill them will be fairly remote. All I ask is that in the unlikely event that the opportunity arise, you do your very best to capture or kill them.

Edgar: And you will merely take us at our word?

Cloaked figure: I will merely take you at your word.

[The couple chuckle nervously]

Edgar: Then I believe we have a bargain.

Cloaked figure: Good, take my hand a repeat after me.

[They each take a hand]

Cloaked figure: I pledge myself and all that I am, joyously and of my own free will, in the service of my new master.

Edgar and Helena: [nervous] I pledge myself and... all that I am, joyously and of my own free will, in the service of my new...master.

Cloaked figure: [releases their hands] It is done.

[For several moments they all stand in silence. Then Helena nudges Edgar]

Edgar: I hate to be so vulgar as to ask, but when do we get our money?

Cloaked figure: What money?

Edgar: The eight million pounds you promised us?

Cloaked figure: I never promised eight million pounds.

Helena: I'm sorry, but you most certainly did.

Cloaked figure: No. You misunderstood. When you begged me to solve your financial troubles, I merely asked if eight million pounds would cover it. I never actually agreed to give you any money.

Edgar: [breaking into a sweat] Oh, dear. This does put a crimp in our agreement, does it not?

Helena: And your promise to restore our lost youth? Was that a lie as well?

Cloaked figure: This is no hoax. I certainly intend to keep every word the bargain, in both promise and intent. Your financial troubles are soon to be at an end. You will never want for money again... and as for your squandered youth...

[He raises his palms and the couple are enveloped in bands of red energy. As they face one another, the years seem to melt away. They were beautiful before, but now they are ethereal and nymph-like with their firm bodies, full hair, slender unlined faces, and supple skin.]

[They gaze at one another adoringly]

Edgar: Now there is the angel I fell in love with.

Helena: [stroking his adonis face] It's a miracle.

[The two try to embrace, but the energy is still crackling around them.]

Edgar: Alright, that is quite enough of that.

[The bands of energy do not disappear but instead grow brighter. The two scream in pain as their skin becomes coarse and black. They fall to the ground, convulsing in agony. Minako watches in horror as their hair retracts into their scalp and their clothing shreds away as their flesh seems to boil underneath.]

[Then the screams turn to a roaring as their bodies swell and change shape. There is no trace of the beautiful couple. Instead, they become two huge black creatures. It's as if a giant bear mated with a gigantic lion, and gave birth to a pair of mutated cubs with six large black eyes, black fur, and a long steely tail that comes to a sharp point. Their tails tear everything at the campground as the pair thrash helplessly.]

[The cloaked figure stares right in Minako's direction and Minako ducks behind the tree. When she has the courage to peek again, he is gone and the two black creatures are shambling off into the woods]

[Minako takes off running in the other direction. When she is on the main road, she snaps her compact open. Artemis, the man, is staring at her with a scowl of disapproval]

Minako: Artemis! What the hell was that! How am I supposed to fight some guy who can turn me into a monster?

Artemis: I wouldn't worry about that. He can't transmorph you without your express permission.

Minako: [sighs] Well, that is a relief.

Artemis: However, he doesn't need any permission to kill you.

Minako: He can do that?

Artemis: As easily as blinking... And another thing. What I tried to warn you about. He can read minds. Even from a distance.

Minako: You mean...

Artemis: He knew you were there the whole time. They only reason you are alive right now is that there was so little for him to read.

Minako: Hey!

Artemis: I meant in regard to your role as a guardian. But yes. He doesn't perceive you as a threat... For now.

Minako: [with tears in her eyes] Artemis, I really don't want to do this.

Artemis: You won't be alone next time.

Minako: That's what I mean! I don't want to send my girl Rei to her grave again by pissing off another evil god! I can't ask that of her.

Artemis: Minako... you have to... there isn't anyone else who can.