[Scene: Metalia's underworld hideaway.]
Metalia: You have some fortifications you wanted to show me, Kunzite?
Kunzite: We tried to plan for every possible contingency. This position should be completely impervious to outside attack, while allowing freedom of movement to you and those who are in your trusted inner circle.
Metalia: Sounds flawed already.
[Kunzite spreads out the blueprints, and they others gather around, with Zoi hanging back nervously and chewing his finger.]
[The blueprint shows a series of concentric spheres, with a path leading to the code. Kunzite points the center.]
Kunzite: The defenses we've drawn up are already in place. Here we are at the core. This is where we will stay, you and your trusted Shitennou. Everything will be as it is right now, and nobody can throw any spell that will allow them detect this location.
[waves his hands over the entire map.]
Kunzite: This entire region, outside the core, is a magic deadzone. No spells can be cast there, and the dimensional matter of this area is too dense for levitation or teleportation.
[Kunzite points to the outer rim inside the deadzone.]
Kunzite: Stationed at the perimeter outside the single access point are dozens of armed human guards with the latest assault weapons. They have been given photos of the Impossible Children, and are ordered to kill them on sight. Nobody else is allowed past them without proper identification. They do not know what they are guarding, only that all their lives are forfeit if they allow entry to anyone who is not authorized to be in here.
[Traces his finger down the pathway to a barrier.]
Kunzite: Beyond them is a six foot thick steel wall. The only way in is through a vault door. The door can only be opened by simultaneously activating a retina scanner, a voice scanner, and a recessed keypad with a fingerprint scanner to enter an access code, uniquely keyed only to those Highest Ranking members of the Dark Kingdom who took the Eternal Oath of Obedience, so that their loyalty is beyond question: namely Thetis, the DD Girls, the great youma and the Shitennou-
Metalia: Excluding the monkey, I hope.
Kunzite: Excluding Zoisite, of course.
Metalia: And if these two little retrobates can shapeshift? And figure out a passcode through telepathy?
Kunzite: I'd already thought of that. These two travel in pairs. The vault door will allow exactly one person through, until the corridor beyond is cleared. If a second person tries to force their way in , it will lower a barrier releasing hundreds of half starved hyenas, [points to the next circle] as well as activate random fire, ice, and exploding traps in the ring beyond it, turning this entire one mile radius into a no-man's land.
Metalia: And if they come through one at a time?
Kunzite: [points to the only exit tunnel] Then we kill whichever one of them steps through that archway first. Like I said, they travel as a pair. This is by necessity. Unless they pool their energy, their power levels are relatively substandard. Hardly above greater Youma level.
Metalia: And we know nothing of their origins?
Kunzite: Not a thing.
Metalia: I want to see what these two look like!
Kunzite: Of course... Jadeite?
[Jeddy waves his hand a holograms of the Heltry twins appear, morphing to all their known haircolors.]
Zoi: [blushing a bit] Oh, my!
[The others turn to stare at him, especially Kunzite.]
Zoi: When you said these were eleven year old children, I wasn't expecting to see anyone so big, strong, and handsome!
Kunzite: [sneers] You find the boy attractive, do you?
Zoi: [blinks innocently] What? I only like him because he looks like you.
[Jadeite and the servant youma look back and forth between Dev and Kunzite in amused befuddlement.]
Kunzite: [in a rare temper] He doesn't look ANYTHING like me!
Zoi: Well yeah... only because you are a dusky seven foot tall studmuffin, and he's still a child, but you do have similar features.
Kunzite: And what features might those be?
Zoi: [sheepish curls a lock around his finger and grins as his blush deepens] Same sexy nose, same smoldering blue eyes, same roguish smile, same kingly build and bearing-
Kunzite: If the boy looks JUST like me, the girl looks EXACTLY like you!
Zoi: [goes pale and releases the lock of hair] What? How can you say that?
Kunzite: Same nymph-long hair! Same willowy build! Same sultry bedroom eyes! Same plump little apple cheeks! Same soft, kissable mouth!
[Jadeite and the youma hide their amused smiles behind their hands]
Zoi: [balling his fists near tears] How dare you!
Kunzite: [grins wolfishly] You dared first.
Zoi: She doesn't look anything like me! Her hair is all limp and stringy...her eyes are mud brown...and she's A GIRL!
Beryl: CAN WE PLEASE GET BACK TO THE TOPIC OF PROTECTING MOTHER?
Metalia: [nods to Beryl] Thank you for that shameless bit of sycophantry.
[Beryl bows]
Beryl: What do you think of the plans we've drawn up, Mother?
Metalia: I suppose they will do-
Beryl: Thank you, Mother-
Metalia: With some major modifications.
Beryl: Oh?
Metalia: Replace the hyenas with the youma.
Beryl: [going pale] But mother. The whole reason we selected hyenas is because they are relentless predators that can't be manipulated or reasoned with-
Metalia: I don't care. I don't like canines. They are smelly and they leave a mess. I will not have my sacred retreat surrounded with dogshit. Replace them with youma. All the youma! I will sleep better knowing my entire army of puppets is stationed between me and the enemy.
Beryl: Yes, Mother. I will have Thetis gather up all the youma and give them their new orders.
[Thetis raises her eyebrows at Beryl from across the room. Beryl gives her a solemn nod and she teleports away.]
Jeddy: But if the youma are patrolling in a magic free zone, there will be nobody left on the outside to hunt these children.
Metalia: YOU should be out hunting these children! The Shitennou! You and Beryl and Kunzite and Nephrite, and even the monkey! You mentioned that you will cowering in here with me! I don't want that! I want you on the outside! Spending every waking moment to tracking down and killing these two youngsters so that this matter can be over and done with!
Jeddy: We've tried, Mother. If they are still in this dimension they have cloaked themselves-
Metalia: Then try harder! Aren't you good for anything but hiding?
Kunzite: Mother. We wouldn't be here to hide. We would be here as a last line of defense. As an elite guard, to watch the tunnel, to make sure nothing slips through.
Metalia: If I need you, I'll summon you. I assume, as the strongest deity in the Universe, I still have that power. Even surrounded by miles of magical deadzone.
Kunzite: [bows low] Mother, upon my honor, I will not leave you undefended. Allow me to remained sealed away with you. Until this threat is resolved.
Metalia: I hope you are not planning on bringing your pet monkey. [stares at Zoi]
Kunzite: Of course not, Mother. It will be just be the two of us.
Metalia: Well...ok. So long as it is just the two of us.
Kunzite: [kneels low] Yes, Mother. Thank you for doing me this honor. I just need to go home to gather some things. [walks by Zoi, pulling him along almost as an afterthought, but pulls Zoi close to his side. Zoi sighs happily and leans against him. Metalia gives them an evil stare]
Beryl: Hold up, Kunzite.
[Kunzite and Zoi turn.]
Beryl: [To Metalia] I must confer with Kunzite before he leaves. We will need to disable the vault temporarily, to replace the dogs with youma, once Thetis has gathered them up and given them their orders. But that can only be done from the inside-
[A familiar purple portal opens up right in front of Metalia. And everyone screams in shock as a dark haired youma girl with soulless eyes steps through.]
Metalia: I thought you said the defenses were in place!
[The girl bows so low her forehead almost touches the floor]
Youma: My Queen.
Metalia: You're not one of my youma! How did you get in here!
Youma: My name is Bree. I've come to deliver a message.
Metalia: From who! Who sent you here!
Bree: You did, My Queen. I come bearing a message from the future.