[Scene: Metalia's parlor. She is having pie and coffee at her tea table, while the four Shitennou are shrinking back. Zoi's arms locked around Kunzite's waist in fear. Metallia pours herself more coffee as she stares at the Shitennou with a stern expression.]

Metallia: Little monkey. Take a good look at me and the Death Phantom and tell me what you see.

[Zoi opens his mouth since he suspects she wants an answer from him, but closes it because he can't think of what to say]

Metalia: [To Zoi] Yes! I'm talking to you, you little slut! Take a good look at me and the Death Phantom and tell me what you see!

Zoi: I-I'm not sure how you want me to answer that.

Metallia: [calmly sips her coffee] A three word description of our general physical appearances would more than sufficient.

Zoi: I-I see a hissing snake woman made of smoke...a-and a wraith with a glowing skull for a face.

Metallia: Indeed. [takes a sip of coffee] That's what I thought.

[The other Shitennou look at Zoi in puzzlement, since they clearly see a little old lady in a housedress and pearls, and a huge man in a robe.]

Death Phantom: [to Metallia] You see? It is as I told you-

Kunzite: Mother. There is something you must know. The Death Phantom was behind the attacks-

Metallia: [slams down her cup] SILENCE! BOY! THE GROWNUPS ARE TALKING!

[Kunzite immediately goes quiet and Zoi tighten his grip around him]

Metallia: [to the Death Phantom] More pie?

Death Phantom: [waving it off] No, thank you. I have far more than I wanted already.

Metallia: [To the Shitennou] As I was saying, the Death Phantom and were just talking about you. More specifically, the senseless massacre of his followers at Black Moon Cove...Naturally, he took quite a bit of umbrage at that. As did I. Given how instrumental his followers were in the conquering of the Moon Kingdom.

[Zoi swallows hard, then lowers his head. Neffy and Jeddy shift uncomfortably. Kunzite stands as still and unblinking as a statue.]

Metallia: I assured him I neither authorized nor condoned the murder of his worshipers, and am perfectly willing to let him mete out a punishment against the four of you as a means of reparations...But he is perfectly willing to let bygones be bygones...as soon as we hand over the toy monkey as a gift to him.

[She points at Zoi with her fork. Zoi buries his face against Kunzite, who places a protective arm around him.]

Metallia: A perfectly reasonable solution...A little TOO reasonable, in fact. We incarnations of Chaos are not known to be reasonable...So I asked what the catch is. What is it about this monkey that makes him more valuable that all of his followers put together? I could think of only three gifts he might have to offer-his pretty face, his musical talent, and his totally immunity to mind magic. All novel amusements, to be certain. But hardly worth cancelling a blood debt over.

[She looks at the Death Phantom]

Metallia: Or so I thought...Tell my sons what you just told me.

Death Phantom: [rising from his chair] This immunity to mind magic, powerful enough to resist even the influence of a god, it is like nothing I've ever seen. When I had the boy in my clutches I delved into his physical essence, hoping to discover his secret, and I found it, in his mitochondrial DNA. Zoisite Midori had a subtle mutation of his X chromosome that has created brain irregularities. Not enough to create development disabilities. But it does render him completely immune to psychic prying or interference.

Jeddy: Oh, cool, Zoi! You're like an X-Man!

[The others stare at him and he goes silent.]

Death Phantom: This accident of nature is so random yet so profound, it can not be replicated artificially, not even by magic. It has given me a new purpose. I wish to cultivate this gene when I elevate a new race of followers to replace the Black Moon Clan.