THE UNITY SAGA 
Part 3 
By Sherri-Lee Thornton 
Rated PG 
Here, I have finally finished this instalment. All the usual 
disclaimers as announced in part l still apply. I hope that there are 
those of you out there who are reading and enjoying this story as much 
as I have enjoyed writing it. 
##### 
"Memories - Lost and Found" 

She ran beneath an angry purple sky. The dull thud of her steps 
Echoing over a blasted wasteland that stretched unbroken to the horizon 
a blurred line between dead earth and lifeless sky. She chased the 
flash of dancing lights that wove across the plain, but drew no closer 
to them. 
Then, suddenly, she was there, on the edge of a battle. Thunder 
and lightening crashed into an army that waged war on a lonesome 
warrior. But the noise was dwarfed by the thundering of her heart as 
she stared, useless, at the lightning's wielder. The powerful warrior 
at the centre of the melee struck out again and again at the 
encroaching circle of soldiers. Lena could see the firm set of her 
jaw, the look of grim determination on her face, the fierce blaze of 
defiance in her eyes. 
She tried to move to her, to fight by her side, but only strained 
against the invisible wall that rose to separate them. The woman 
reached to the heavens, shouting, but her words were torn away by a 
howling wind that descended upon the battlefield. Electricity flashed 
earthward to be blown outwards at the warrior's command, slicing 
through the mob. The combatants disappeared, engulfed by white fire. 
Lena screamed. "No-oooo!" 
She had failed again, she had been too slow. The wall 
disappeared, causing her to stumble forward. Regaining her balance, 
she sprinted towards the cloud of energy, dissipating now into the 
muddy haze of twilight. A crumpled form lay at the epicentre of the 
destruction that had disintegrated every one of the soldiers - the once 
crisp white and green of her uniform now scorched and soiled. 
Lena's feet skidded to a halt beside the woman, she dropped to 
her knees in the mud of churned earth, her body numbed by the chill of 
loss that already spread through her heart - she already knew how this 
scene would end. She lifted the woman's lifeless body into her arms, 
cradling her tenderly and buried her face in the crown of soft hair 
that now hung loose. 
"No-no-no," she crooned, rocking back and forth as great 
wrenching sobs escaped her tightening throat. 
The woman stirred, her hand rose painfully and grasped Lena's 
arm. Lena's head jerked up, her eyes searching the woman's face 
hopefully. The woman's eyes fluttered and opened, and she looked back 
into eyes as green as her own. She lifted her hand to brush a stray 
tear from Lena's cheek and rested it there. She smiled. 
"Don't...cry, I've lived my life... and I regret nothing." 
"No! You can't leave me - not now. I can't fight them without 
you." 
"Yes... you can, child. You are powerful, perhaps stronger than 
I could ever be...uhh." Her body spasmed and her hand dropped. Lena's 
hold tightened, her eyes welled with new tears, but the hand steadied, 
coming to rest on her arm. The woman's eyes opened again, the agony of 
her broken body mirrored clearly within their glassy depths. 
"The duty is yours alone now, you must stop the Master," she 
spoke quickly, knowing that her time was short. "He plans more than 
the enslavement of this world. He is mad and will stop at nothing but 
total conquest." 
"Total conquest? Of what? What do you mean?" 
"I suspect you already know,.... trust your dreams....uhhh... 
find the Wanderer." 
"The Wanderer?" Lena's voice was desperate, the words made no 
sense, but no answer was forthcoming. Instead, the woman extended her 
hand skyward, calling forth her powerstick. 
"Here, take it, it's yours now.... keep it safe, it holds the 
power o-... uhh....ughh." 
"Don't go!" 
The stick was pressed into Lena's hand which closed about it and 
the woman's cold fingers. 
"Save the Moon Princess. Remember - love can conquer... 
anything...uhh." 
"I love you!" Lena blurted, afraid she had waited too long to say 
it. A tear splashed onto the woman's pale face and she smiled. 
"I know. I'll always be with you...." she breathed. Her eyes 
dimmed and closed, and her pain-wracked body relaxed. 
"NO!" 
Lena hugged the woman's body to her, giving way to inconsolable 
grief. She threw back her head and screamed at the unrelenting sky. 
"MOTHER!" 
##### 
Lena bolted upright in bed, her heart pounding, her sweat-soaked body 
trembling. She choked on a sob as all the old grief came racing back. 
How could she have forgotten? All those memories. She sat with her 
head on her drawn up knees, fighting for control - with little success. 
Throwing back the covers she pushed out of bed, standing for a moment 
to calm her ragged breaths. Slipping out of her borrowed pyjamas, she 
pulled on her day clothes, pushing the sunglasses into a jacket pocket. 
She was soon striding away from the Hikawa Shrine, breathing in 
the cool air and sorting through her tumultuous thoughts. She felt as 
if a wall had shifted in her brain, flooding her with a sudden 
brilliant clarity of thought. Everything made so much more sense. The 
connections were so obvious she felt like bashing her head against a 
nearby brick wall for her stupidity, but the benefits were questionable. 
She walked on. 
How could she have forgotten her mother's words - they had 
been so important to her. Had her captors done something to her mind? 
No - there was more to it than that. She had reclaimed memories that 
she could not remember having recalled since before her capture, when 
she had passed through the portal to this time. Why? She shook her 
head and walked on. 
This time. That's what had been nagging at her. She wasn't from 
another world, she was from another time - one where her mother had 
named her captor - the Master. She had identified him and the Overlord 
as one in the same. The destroyer of her world and the would be 
conqueror of this one were the same egocentric madman. 

##### 
"What do you think this will achieve, Artemis?" 
"We might get some answers." 
"I seriously doubt it," Luna muttered. 
"What was that, Luna?" Artemis called back from several steps 
above her. 
"Oh, nothing." 
The two cats padded silently past the guardian stone lions and 
across the temple courtyard. 
"What kind of conversation do you think you're going to get at 
this time of night?" Luna asked with a yawn. 
Artemis did not answer, he had reached Lena's room and was about 
to scratch at the door, but noticed that it was slightly ajar. Pushing 
his way inside, he disappeared into the gloom - only to reappear five 
seconds later, almost bumping into Luna who was about to follow him in. 
"She's gone." 
"What?" 
"She's not here, Luna. Her bed's been slept in, but she's not 
here now." 
"Well, where on Earth could she be at this time of night, and 
doing what?" 
"I don't know, but I bet it's nothing good." 
"Now Artemis, don't go jumping to conclusions, you could be 
wrong." 
"I could be right." 
"Yes, but running around at night won't achieve anything. We 
have no way of knowing where she is. For all we know, that Negaverse 
General could have taken her, or she might just have gone to get a 
glass of water." 
"Hmmmm.... speaking of that General, don't you think it's kind of 
strange he didn't just blast her when he had the chance?" 
"Oh - Stop it! Let's just go home and wait until morning." 
"But-," he started to protest, but caught sight of Luna's warning 
glare. 
"Oh all right," he said. "But we tell the girls about all this 
first thing - agreed?" 
"Agreed - *now* can we get some sleep?" 
##### 
Lena turned another corner, still heedless of her direction, but 
finally calm enough to make some order of recent revelations. Her 
captor had now been identified and she could make an extremely educated 
guess as to his intentions in this time - nothing short of total 
domination. 
One world, one time, was not enough for him - he had to 
have the lot. Lena dug her fists deep into her jacket pockets, 
scowling her hatred of the man who had destroyed her home. She 
remembered vividly that day on the Waste, remembered her mother's 
warnings, remembered how she had come to be a prisoner in that stone 
hell. 
She had entombed her mother's body with those of her friends, 
long since killed in the war, and gone in search of the Wanderer. She 
had searched for weeks before finally tracking him down in a filthy 
dive outside the Inner Limit of the city. He ran errands for the 
Resistance, often assisting in the smuggling of medical supplies, 
weapons and food, and even the hiding of key Resistance members. 
At the time she could not understand why she had not heard of him 
before, but he obviously preferred anonymity. He was a haunted man, 
Lena could see that in his eyes, windows to a tormented soul. His pale 
face had waned to deathly white when she had first approached him, as 
if she reminded him of some unspeakable horror, and his manner had 
remained guarded - until she told him of her mother's death. 
Lena thought that she had already seen the worst of human 
suffering and depression, but the look on his face had been so 
anguished, so immeasurably pained, that she had found herself on the 
edge of tears, her own still raw grief dwarfed by the depth of his 
sorrow. 
---- 
She was surprised when he spoke, his voice soft and resonous. 
"I've had a dream," he said. "I've dreamt of a beautiful city 
made entirely of crystal. In it are all the people we have lost, 
people who never had the chance to exist here... in this nightmare." 
Lena edged forward, excitement and hope growing inside her. "I 
had the same dream. I've been dreaming it for weeks, but I think that 
it's more than that. I can't explain it but... I think it's real." 
The Wanderer started, his look sharp, he stared at her until his 
Gaze became uncomfortable. "What do you know of The Event?" he asked 
at last. 
"The what?" Lena asked, intimidated by his intensity. 
"The death of Princess Serena, the event that shaped our world, 
setting us on this ride through hell." 
"Uh, only what my mother told me - that the Princess was killed 
by the Overlord, a warrior of the Negaforce, who has been able to 
overpower most of our resistance because she was not here to stop him. 
Without the Silver Imperial Crystal we can't defeat him, and only 
Princess Serena could wield that power." 
"Did your mother tell you how he killed her? Did she tell you 
how the Princess was betrayed by the one she loved more than anything, 
by her *true* love?" he spat, his voice twisted with bitterness and 
loathing. 
"No, she told me that her friends tried everything they could to 
save her," 
"Yes, they did and so did he, but he was too late. He failed her 
when she needed him most - and then the coward tried to take the easy 
way out. Everyone thought him the hero for taking on the Overlord 
single-handedly, but he was just hoping he'd get lucky and get killed. 
That kind of death would have been too good for him." 
The Wanderer took another sip of his strong drink, ordered 
shortly after Lena's arrival, and stared at the clear liquid as it 
swirled around the bottom of his glass. 
"What about the dream?" Lena prompted. "What does it mean?" 
The Wanderer remained silent, and Lena was about to repeat her 
question when he suddenly ceased his swirling. His head snapped up, a 
look of revelation on his face. "It wasn't supposed to happen!" he 
whispered hoarsely, as if talking to himself. 
"Huh? What wasn't?" Lena asked, fearing he had finally gone mad. 
"The Event, the deviation from the course of time- it was all a 
mistake! The Overlord didn't like the way his future was turning out, 
this war has cost him a lot of men and effort, so he changed it." 
"How can you be sure?" 
"Because she was there, Reenie - she was there in the past. She 
said she came from the future, from Crystal Tokyo, where her mom and 
dad where fighting people from The Dark Moon." 
"So? She could have come from here." 
"Why? This place may be many things, but crystal isn't one of 
them, and she was important - a princess, we have no princess like her, 
she looked.... just like Serena." He trailed off, his tormented eyes 
mirroring the chaotic upheaval of his thoughts. 
Lena bit her lip, unsure what to think. As strange as it sounded 
his theory actually made sense, and if he was right and all of this was 
not supposed to happen... there was still a chance they could win. The 
Wanderer turned to her again, and she could see something new in his 
eyes, something no-one had seen there in over a thousand years - hope. 
He stood so swiftly he up-ended his stool, drawing filthy looks 
from the establishment's seedy occupants. Lena looked about nervously, 
imagining the Guard streaming through the doors at any second. But The 
Wanderer gave her no time for worries, he snatched up his worn cane 
and lead her from the building, his black cape swirling about his long 
frame. 
"Where are we going?" 
"To get you into the palace." 
"What! Are you mad?" 
He gazed down at her and grinned, and the look in his eyes made 
Her wish that he was. 
----- 
She remembered the flight through the palace halls, remembered 
the battle outside the Overlord's chambers. They had fought their way 
in to gain access to his portal. Backed up against the portal's dais 
The Wanderer had shouted at her. 
"Go! I'll hold them off for as long as I can!" 
Lena had glanced uneasily at the portal's opaque surface. "Are 
you sure that it leads to Old Tokyo?" 
"No," he smiled. 
"All right, that's good enough for me, I guess. What other 
choice do we have - right?" 
"Right - now go." 
"Come with me - you'll be killed if you stay here." 
"I can't, someone has to stay here and make sure you have a 
chance of getting through. There's bound to be more of them on the 
other side, the last thing you need is the Negaforces at your back." 
She had stepped up to portal and prepared to step through. 
"Wait!". 
She turned back hopefully. 
"Here," he said. "If you can, give her this from me." The 
Wanderer had reached inside his cape, producing a blood red rose, 
its velvet petals just beginning to open. 
"Tell her I'm sorry, tell her... I love her... I always will." 
Lena had nodded, taking the flower with a trembling hand, then 
stepped into nothingness. 
------ 
She remembered now how she had stepped through that portal 
into the Master's stronghold. Confused, having no recollection of how 
she had gotten there or why, she had stumbled about, certain only of 
the fact that she had to get out, had to get to Tokyo and stop the 
Event. She was even in sight of the portal to Tokyo when they had 
caught her. And there she had remained, with no memory of the Waste 
battle, no memory of The Wanderer, no memory of the dreams, just a big 
blank hole. Why? 
At least now she knew why meeting Reenie had given her that 
vision. Reenie was from the future, from a Tokyo carved from crystal, 
not despair, and as long as she existed Lena knew there was hope. 
Princess Serena had to be kept alive and to do that... she was going to 
need her powerstick. 
Lena stopped abruptly. She lifted her eyes from the pavement, 
suddenly realising that nothing looked familiar, she did not have the 
slightest idea where she was. Looking up to find a patch of sky above 
the close packed buildings, she was surprised to see how much it had 
lightened, she had been out for hours, she had probably walked clear 
across Tokyo by now. 
"Great... the fate of the world hangs in the balance and I manage 
to get myself lost." She turned and began retracing her steps. The 
sun rose quickly, chasing away the chill pre-dawn shadows, its rays 
were soon glinting off store windows and car bodies so Lena slipped on 
her sunglasses to avoid the glare. How ironic that she had finally 
found sunlight, finally found her blue sky after a lifetime of purple 
and blood-red, only to be unable to really enjoy it. 
She looked up the block to the next corner and smiled ruefully. 
"Phehh... getting back could take a while, everyone will be wondering 
where I am. Who knows what Luna told them about yesterday." 
##### 
Serena passed through the school gates at an unusually sedate pace. 
"I just cannot believe that Lena could be from the Negaverse," she 
said, perplexed. 
"I know, neither can I ,"said Lita, walking slowly beside her 
friend. "I was so sure..." she trailed off, uncertainty in her voice. 
"I just wish we didn't have to come to school, we should be out looking 
for Lena." 
"Yeh, I know...Hey! Maybe we could play sick like Reenie and take 
the day off!" 
"I didn't know Reenie was ill, is she all right?" 
"Owh - yeh, I bet the little fungus is just faking it." The bell 
sounded, shocking both girls. 
"Huh? Oh no! I'm going to be late!" cried Serena. "Miss Haruna 
said she would put me on detention if I was late again!" She sprinted 
up the front step, ponytails flying. 
"Hey, Serena! Wait up!" Lita yelled. 
##### 
Pyrrhotite peered through the gates of yet another school. There were 
no kids about, they must all be inside. Movement by the entrance 
caught his eye and he looked up in time to see a late pupil dash 
through the doors. For a moment he contemplated entering the building 
to continue his search, a quick change of clothes and he could pass 
himself off as a teacher. His eyes narrowed in thought, maybe later, 
there was another school he wanted to search first. 
##### 
Lena peered through the cafe window, her gaze intent on the bowl of 
noodles that a man was raising to his mouth. Her stomach rumbled 
loudly, reminding her how long it had been since last night's dinner 
and she wished again that she had taken Rei's offer of money - "for 
buses and snacks" she had said. 
This place was nothing like home, where you could just stop in at 
a 'safe-house' for a free meal and a bed, but then safe-house food had 
never looked as good as those noodles did. 
A shadow loomed behind her, swallowing up her reflection on the 
shop front. She whirled around, ready to punch out whoever she found 
standing there. 
"Hey, take it easy!" said the young man behind her, raising his 
hands and backing off. A smile played across his lips. "I was just 
going to say hello." 
"Why? Do I know you?" Lena asked. 
"Probably not, but I think I know you. You're a friend of 
Serena's, aren't you?" 
"Yes," she answered, eyeing him warily - he did look familiar. 
"I'm Darien Chiba, I'm a... friend of Serena and the girls, she 
may have mentioned me." 
Lena's eyes widened fractionally, it was the man from the park, 
the one who had stepped out to protect Sailor Moon. He had been 
wearing a mask and top hat, but he was the same guy - unmistakably. 
Did he really expect that disguise to fool anyone? 
"Oh, of course, how silly of me. I should have recognised you, 
Serena certainly talks enough about you." 
Darien's cheeks coloured slightly and he shuffled his feet 
uncomfortably. "Ah, say, you sure looked hungry a moment ago, would 
you like to go in and get a bite to eat?" he asked. 
Yes, he was the one all right and he was definitely checking up 
on her. "Uh, I don't think so, I didn't bring any money with me." 
"That's okay, my treat." 
"You don't have to do that, really, it's too kind of you." 
"Not at all, you're new in town so please - let me show you some 
hospitality." 
"Oh, all right, if you're going to put it like that - I did miss 
breakfast." 
Darien held the door open for her and they stepped into the cafe. 
They took a seat at a corner booth and sat eyeing each other while they 
waited for the waitress to arrive. 
"So, where are you from?" Darien asked. 
Lena hesitated, he would recognise a lie for sure, but the truth 
was complicated. 
"Can I take your order?" 
Lena smiled at the young girl, relieved, momentarily spared. The 
girl scribbled down their orders and left, leaving Lena with no more 
excuses to avoid the question. "Actually, I am from Tokyo originally," 
she said. "But we moved away when I was very young?" 
"Is your family in town too?" 
"No.... my parents died in an accident a couple of years ago - 
so...it's just me." 
"Oh... I'm sorry, I know how tough that can be." 
"Yes, well, we live with it, don't we," she said tightly, this 
story was a little too close to the truth. She stared out the window 
at a couple passing by, hoping her frown would stall any more 
questions. Luckily, the arrival of their orders halted further 
conversation. Lena tucked into her meal ravenously. 
"Hey, slow down! You'll hurt yourself," Darien said, smiling. 
She gulped down a lump of food. "Aren't you eating?" she asked, 
looking pointedly at his lonely cup of coffee. 
"Nah, I'm not that hungry at the moment." 
Lena looked up at him through her eyebrows, he was just doing 
research, huh. Well, Mister Cape Man, how do I measure up? She sipped 
her drink, he had nice eyes, they reminded her of someone else, but she 
could not quite place the memory - she could see why Serena was so mad 
about him though. 
"So, why did you break up with her, Darien?" 
"Huh!?" Darien choked on his coffee, spilling some on the table 
as his cup clattered onto its saucer. "Uh, um, it just didn't work 
out, that's all. I don't really want to talk about it." He glanced at 
his watch. "Oh - look at the time, I'd better be getting back to 
work," he said. He reached inside his jacket for his wallet. A 
gesture instantly recognisable. Lena gasped. 
"Wanderer," she whispered. 
Darien stood, leaving money on the table for the cheque. 
"Listen, it was nice meeting you, I hope you find what you're looking 
for," he said and headed for the door. 
Lena gulped down the rest of her drink and hurried out after him. 
"You still love her," she called after him, standing in the open 
doorway. 
He stopped, his back to her. "No - I don't," he said 
emphatically. "And I don't think it has anything to do with you." 
Lena stepped away from the door, letting it swing shut behind 
her. "Yes, you do," she said quietly. "And it has more to do with me 
than you think." 
He turned to face her, his eyes haunted, the look was 
unmistakable - they were the same tortured eyes of that man sitting in 
a filthy bar an age from here, lamenting his lost love. 
"I know you love her, and I know that whatever happens you have 
to let her know that, her life depends on it." 
"No! It doesn't!" he shouted. "I have to stay away or something 
bad will happen to her!" He stopped, anger and frustration warring 
across his face. There was something else too ... fear. Fear of her? 
"Who are you? Where are you from - really?" he demanded. 
Lena dug her hands into her pockets. "Please don't ask me that," 
she implored quietly. "I can't tell you," especially now that I know 
who you are, she added silently. She stepped closer until they were 
eye to eye. "I just know that there is great danger ahead for Princess 
Serena, danger she may not survive." 
"What do you know about the Princess?" Darien drilled, instantly 
suspicious. He grabbed her arm. 
Light exploded in Lena's head. Images leapt out at her; a 
crystal tower, Princess Serena in a storm of blasted rock, Darien 
crying out her name on hands and knees in the rubble, then Lena and the 
Wanderer running through dark halls, the Wanderer - Darien Chiba - 
giving her a rose. "Tell her I love her... love her.... love her." The words 
echoed through her mind, disappearing into the sudden 
stillness. 
Darien gasped, releasing her. "What was that?" he asked, shaken, 
clutching his head. Lena could only shake hers, searching for an 
explanation. 
"I don't know," she said, but she did, it had happened before, 
just once, a long time ago. She had been as confused about it then as 
Darien was now, but now she understood. She stumbled backwards, then 
turned and fled. 
"Wait!" Darien cried. But she ignored him and ran for her life. 
It had been almost two years ago, Pyrrhotite had cornered her in 
the Stronghold's maze of hallways, just metres from a portal. He had 
smashed her into the wall with a blast and then reached down to pull 
her to her feet. Her head had been filled with pictures; a little boy 
alone in a cavernous room, dwarfed by a stone throne, that same boy 
huddled in a corner, crying. It had made no sense to her and Pyrrhotite 
had not seemed affected, he had just tossed her at a couple of guards. 
The experiences had the taste of a memory, but the memory was not hers, 
was it Pyrrhotite's? 
Darien's memories were more easily identified, the crystal tower 
she had seen before, in her dreams back home and when she had touched 
Reenie's hand, they were a glimpse of the future, a future with 
Princess Serena. The images of Serena in danger explained Darien's 
recent attitude toward the girl - he was protecting her. 
A car horn blared, she jumped, leapt to the sidewalk and stood, 
gulping air. After a few moments she felt calm enough to look around. 
This area of town looked familiar, the Hikawa Shrine was only a few 
blocks away. 
##### 
Ami gathered up her textbooks and headed briskly for the door. She 
had promised to meet Serena after computer class so they could get a 
milkshake together. That girl, detention again, the second time this 
week, it was a wonder she got any schoolwork done at all, she never 
seemed to be in class - she was always either on her way to it or from 
it. 
Maybe she should consider a tutor, she would never pass the 
finals with her current results. Ami sighed, poor Serena, I suppose 
with everything that is happening with Darien she can't keep her mind 
on schoolwork - or anything else. 
Ami picked up her pace, Computer class had run a little late. 
Serena would be pacing like a starved animal by now. A picture of 
Serena with rabbit ears and a twitching nose sprang to mind and she 
giggled. 
"Am I missing something funny?" 
Ami started, dropping a book, and looked up into an unfamiliar 
face. "Oh," she exclaimed. 
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," the young man smiled, 
showing his brilliant white teeth. "It must have been a good joke." 
"Pardon?" said Ami blankly, aware that she must be staring. "Oh, 
you mean the... yes, well, I was just thinking of a friend," her colour 
deepened, she must sound like a grade school idiot. "Are you new?" she 
inquired, trying to redeem her composure, he was just so goodlooking, 
even she could see that. 
"Yes, I'm a substitute teacher, I was just getting a feel for the 
place before I start tomorrow." He flashed her another smile. 
"Perhaps you could help me out, I'm a little lost." 
"Oh, uh, I'd love too, but I'm supposed to be meeting a friend." 
"This wouldn't be the friend you were giggling over, would it?" 
"Huh, yes," she smiled. "Serena can be a bit comical at times." 
"Serena...hmmm." 
Ami was not quite sure she liked the way he rolled the name 
around his tongue, like a jaguar tasting the scent of his prey. His 
mouth continued to smile, but his eyes glinted like steel, what a 
strange colour - she had never seen eyes that grey before. "Um, I 
really think that I had better be going, I'm already late." 
Ami took a few small steps away from the stranger, those 
disconcerting eyes followed. 
"I'm sure - Serena - won't mind waiting a bit longer. In fact, I 
insist." He reached for her, his eyes glowing silver. Ami 
backpeddled, tripping on her fallen book. Her arms pinwheeling madly, 
she fought for balance, but never hit the floor. His hand closed 
around her arm, his grip cold, intractable. 
She shuddered. "Let me go!" she cried, her heart thumping a 
staccato beat against her chest. She struggled, a frantic mouse under 
a cat's paw. 
"Don't struggle, this won't hurt a bit," Pyrrhotite growled. 
Blinding light stabbed at her eyes, she closed them for a moment, but 
then forced them open, she had to know what was happening, had to get 
help. The hallway dissolved, leaving her in darkness, her fear 
burgeoned, writhing upwards to strangle her heart. 
##### 
Serena paced. She glanced towards the front doors for the hundredth 
time in the last half hour. Where was Ami? Her stomach rumbled and 
she patted it placatingly. "Don't worry, I'll feed you soon, just as 
soon as I go find Ami." Serena bounded back up the school steps. 
The computer lab was her first destination, Ami probably got 
caught up talking to her teacher, she had a habit of getting carried 
away by her schoolwork. 
"That's definitely not something I have to worry about," Serena 
said aloud. Her voice echoed down the hall, she slowed to a stop. Was 
it chilly in here? There was something about the air that felt ... 
odd? She shook her head dismissively, it was probably just fatigue - 
brought on by starvation. 
She continued towards the lab, but spotted something on the 
polished floor that brought her to another faltering stop. Books? 
She bent down to retrieve one, opening the front cover. "These are 
Ami's books," she gasped. That pervasive chill rushed in, frosting her 
skin. Serena shivered. Her eyes darted up and down the hallway, the 
hairs on the back of her neck rose like the hackles of a spooked hound. 
"Ami?" she called. "AMI!" Silence - calm, deafening silence. 

##### 
Luna kept easy pace beside a puffing Serena. "Are you sure something's 
happened to her?" 
"Yes Luna, I told you, I checked everywhere. She's not at home 
and no-one saw her leave the school, and all her books were lying in 
the hallway. I'm telling you something bad has happened. I could feel 
it, it's the Negaforce." 
"We had better get help then, right away." 
Serena threw Luna a poisoned look. "I've already called the 
Scouts, we're meeting at the temple. Why do you think I've been 
running around for the past half hour?" she said through clenched 
teeth. 
"One never knows with you, Serena," Luna replied, all innocence. 
Serena made a swing at her, exasperated, missed completely and 
stumbled, just barely avoiding scraped knees and a another blow to her 
dignity. 
"Oh Serena, do watch were you're going." 
"A-arghh, I don't have time for this," Serena growled, her tone 
rising. She put on a new burst of speed. She might clumsy, but Ami 
needed her, she could fight with Luna later. 
The site of the temple stairs could not come soon enough for 
Serena. When she finally reached them she flew up two at time, 
launching herself off the top step and into the courtyard with the 
speed of a rampaging berserker. She had all the presence and poise of 
one too when she charged into Rei's bedroom. 
"Serena! Do you mind! Haven't ya heard of knocking?" Rei stood 
by the bed adjusting the bow at the back of her robe. 
"Where are the others?" Serena gushed. 
"They haven't arrived yet, they-" 
"WHAT? But I called over half an hour ago, they should be here, 
*I* got here didn't I? We have to help Ami, she's missing, the 
Negaforce have her," Serena paused for breath, chest heaving. 
"Whoa, slow down Serena," urged Rei, emphasising the request with 
hand gestures. "Ami's probably just at a late class." 
"No, I checked all her classes and I called her house, no-one's 
seen her," Serena's clear blue eyes grew large and serious. "It's 
getting dark out, Rei. What if Ami's hurt somewhere, all alone." 
Rei closed the gap between her and her highly strung friend, 
giving her a quick hug. "Don't worry, Serena, we'll find her. Let's 
go over to the shrine while we wait for Lita and Mina." 
Serena nodded wordlessly, thankfully accepting Rei's guidance. 
Halfway across the darkening courtyard they were hailed by Lita 
and Mina, shadowed by a ghostly Artemis, who padded instantly to Luna. 
The two cats conferred in hushed tones as the troupe filed into the 
shrine. 
"I wish I knew where Lena is," Lita said quietly. Both Artemis 
and Luna threw furtive, concerned looks in her direction, but said 
nothing. 
##### 
Ami tugged at the glowing restraints binding her wrists and ankles to 
the stone wall, they didn't budge. Her face scrunched with 
frustration. Her fear had subsided a while ago, leaving her worn and 
short tempered - she wanted answers - now. Her tugs grew more vehement. 
"There's no point in trying to loosen them." 
She started, Pyrrhotite stood just a few feet away. Where had he 
come from? The room had been empty a second ago. 
"Where is this place? What do you want with me?" she demanded 
boldly. 
"My my, you're quite the tiger, aren't you? I never would have 
guessed it to look at you." 
"My friends with be here soon and they'll mop the floor with 
you." 
Pyrrhotite chuckled, he seemed to be really enjoying her 
discomfort. "Oh, I'm counting on it." He approached her slowly as he 
spoke. "Believe me, little mouse, nothing would please me more." He 
enunciated every word, drawing out the sentence until he looked down at 
her from a scant foot away. Ami shrank against the wall, pressing her 
back into it, hoping it would give and swallow her up, but no such 
luck. Pyrrhotite flashed her another brilliant smile. 
"Don't worry, you won't be hurt... if your friend Lena makes an 
appearance." 
"Why are you after her? What did she do to you?" Ami seized on 
the new topic, looking for answers was a welcome distraction from her 
own predicament. 
"I'm after her because it is my job, because the Master said it 
must be so." 
"The Master? What does he want with her?" 
"Humph! He wants her dead." 
Ami gasped. 
"Any more questions?" he asked, incongruously polite. 
"Why?" Ami's voiced sounded small, even in her own ears. 
Pyrrhotite turned away to study the papers laid out on a raised, 
slanted table, making no effort to answer her. Had he even heard? 
"Why?" she repeated, louder. He picked up a leather-bound book and 
poured over its pages. 
"I don't question the Master's motives," he said. Ami had to 
wonder if that were true, he had not read a single word of that report, 
he was just flicking, his eyes wandering down the lines. She bit her 
bottom lip, her mind racing, was there an advantage to be found here? 
"Do *you* want her dead?" She studied his face closely, watched 
his jaw tighten, and wondered for an instant if that was indecision she 
saw flicker in his eyes. But the look quickly died, before she could 
be sure. 
He slammed the book shut, raising a delicate cloud of dust from 
its musty pages. "Of course I do!" he snarled. "She is our enemy and 
must be eliminated. She has committed heinous crimes against the 
Resurgence for which she will be accordingly punished. And if you and 
your 'friends' wish to avoid similar punishment, you will do well to 
co-operate, you will be hurt only if you resist. The Master is 
changing the world for the benefit of the Greater Cause, only the 
misguided are fool enough to fight it." 
Ami opened her mouth to ask another question, but he interjected. 
"Just hope your friends get here soon," he said and strode 
quickly from the room. 
Ami blinked, stunned, watching the hem of his cloak swirl out of 
sight. What was all that about? It had the ring of a recital, a 
memorised pep-talk. But who was he trying to convince, her or himself? 
She shivered, the fabric of her short-sleeved blouse was doing nothing 
to keep out the chill, her back and bottom were already quite numb from 
the stone. 
Oh, come on Scouts, please hurry, she prayed silently. But how 
would they find her? She was probably somewhere in the Negaverse, even 
if they could pinpoint her location, they would never be able to get 
here, not without a portal. Her breaths were coming in short, panicked 
gasps and she could feel the tingling of tears in the corners of her 
eyes. 
Get a hold of yourself, Ami, think girl, think. Pyrrhotite 
would already have thought of that. He wants Lena, the logical path of 
thought would conclude that she was bait and Pyrrhotite would try to 
lure Lena and the Scouts here to fight them on his own ground. A way 
in would be provided to them. Still, it couldn't hurt to think of a 
way out. She tried the energy shackles again, bashing her wrist 
communicator against the wall in the process, it bleeped. Ami 
stared at the small device, a window of thought opening in her mind. 
##### 
Phyrrhotite marched down the hallway, feeling the perspiration 
gathering in the small of his back. He had allowed that schoolgirl's 
words to unsettle him, the whole conversation had done nothing to 
improve his disposition. She was wrong, he cared nothing for Lena, she 
was just an obstacle to be removed - a silly little fool who thought 
she was important enough to make a difference. It was time to give her 
a dose of reality, time to reel the little annoyance in. 
"You there!" he shouted at a minion. 
##### 
Lena stood at the base of the temple steps, one foot on the bottom 
step. Thin clouds skittered across a patch of darkening sky at the top 
of the long flight, pushed by the rising wind that tore strands of hair 
from her braid. The strands whipped at her face and she lifted a hand 
to shield her stung cheek. 
Something was wrong, she could feel it in the air, a sense of 
foreboding that settled in the pit of her stomach. She should have 
returned earlier, not spent so much time in the park. If she was 
too late this time she really could blame no-one but herself. She 
sprang forward like a startled deer, vaulting quickly up the old stone 
steps. 
##### 
Lita knelt silently beside Serena , her hands clenched tightly on her 
knees. She stared at Rei's back, listened as she chanted the fire 
ritual, waited anxiously for some news, any news. Lita detested the 
waiting - give her an enemy she could see, could kick, punch, or yell 
at. Waiting gave her too much time to think, something she really did 
not want to do right now - it gave her more to worry about, as if there 
wasn't enough already. 
The fire seemed to be radiating an uncomfortable amount of heat. 
She felt the sweat bead on her forehead and resisted the urge to wipe 
it away - no-one else seemed bothered by it, maybe it was just her. 
Rei's head snapped up suddenly, she gasped. 
"What?!" asked Mina, a slight tremor in her voice - they were all 
wound a little too tight. 
It took Rei a couple of seconds to answer. "Nothing, I'm getting 
absolutely nothing from the fire - nothing at all." 
"That's a good thing, right?" said Serena. 
"No, Serena, that's a bad thing," replied Rei as if she were 
talking to a pre-schooler. 
"Why?" 
"Because if I can't get any reading on Ami at all then she must 
be in really big trouble, I mean she's out of reach." 
"What about Lena?" Luna asked. 
"I haven't asked specifically about her yet, but I'm not getting 
any sense that she's involved." 
Lita let her breath out in a small sigh, breathing again for what 
seemed the first time in hours. For some reason Rei's sketchy reply 
came as a huge relief, it seemed vitally important to Lita that Lena be 
cleared of any suspicion. 
"Yet," said Artemis. "We don't know anything yet. It looks as 
though we're going to have to try the old fashioned method and start 
hitting the streets for any clue we can find." 
"But that could take forever," Serena panicked. "Ami may not 
have that long." 
"And what if she's in the Negaverse, we'll never be able to reach 
her there," Mina added. 
"Yes, we will," a new voice said. 
Lita jumped ten centimetres off her cushion, but she did not have 
to turn to know the voice's origin. Lena stood just outside the 
threshold, framed by a patch of night, half hidden by shadow. She had 
approached and opened the door noiselessly, even the cats had not heard 
her. 
She stepped forward, closing the door quietly behind her and 
turned her serious green eyes on all those assembled. "I know where to 
look and I think I know how to get there, and I'll need your help to do 
it." 
"How?" 
"Where is she?" 
"Where have you been?" Serena, Mina and Lita fired at her, 
talking over each other, anxious for answers. Lena ignored their 
questions, looking instead at Artemis, locking her gaze on him. 
"Yes, I know who you are. I know that you and Luna are guardians 
of the Sailor Scouts and I know that these four girls, and Ami, *are* 
the Scouts." Her admission was met by a chorus of astonished gasps. 
She continued, never taking her eyes from Artemis. "Do not 
bother to ask me how I know, I won't tell you - you'll just have to 
live with it. Suffice it to say that I'm on your side, always have 
been and always will be. I don't care what you think of me - unless 
your opinion endangers the lives of Sailor Moon or the Scouts. Is that 
understood?" She folded her arms casually across her chest, her eyes 
daring him to challenge her. 
Artemis shifted uncomfortably on his front paws, feeling the 
weight of a roomful of eyes on him. "Uh, yes, perfectly. I never 
doubted your loyalties - really. Heh, heh heh," he chuckled nervously, 
his neck disappearing into his shoulders. Lena continued to glare at 
him, milking the dramatic effect a few seconds longer - until Rei 
coughed into the silence. 
"Well if you won't tell us how you know, are you at least going 
to tell us what you know. Where is Ami?" she asked, trying to look 
stern, but her tone betrayed her relief. Lita could see that they all 
felt it, relief that Lena was all right, relief that someone knew what 
was going on. 
Lena's gaze shifted to Rei and Artemis slouched with relief. 
"It's my guess that she's in the Stronghold - the Master's headquarters 
so to speak." 
"Who is the Master?" asked Lita, gaining Lena's attention. "You 
mentioned him yesterday - at the amusement park." No sense in denying 
the fact that they had been there, their identities were known. Lena 
studied her for a few moments, unidentifiable emotion flickering in her 
eyes. 
In that next instant Lita found herself looking into eyes filled 
with terrible sorrow, regret, guilt, and ageless grief. It was just a 
moment, a brief second when she was granted a glimpse into an aching 
soul. But then shutters slammed down, closing her out, locking the 
emotions in. Lena lowered her eyes to the floor. 
##### 
Lena sighed. "All right," she conceded. "You need some background 
information." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "You have to 
understand that if I sound evasive, it's because I have to be careful 
just how much I tell you - too much could be harmful.... but none at 
all could be fatal. 
I'm from another world, one that's been destroyed by a being 
called the Overlord. No-one is sure where exactly he came from, but 
it's pretty certain that he's from the Negaverse. I am... was, part of 
an organisation called the Resistance. We fought the Overlord and his 
armies for years, we held out for as long as we could, but we just 
didn't have the power to defeat him, only delay him. 
My... mother... ," she stumbled at the word, "discovered that the 
Overlord had plans to conquer other worlds, namely yours. I later 
discovered that he had already begun to manipulate your world by 
manipulating important events. A friend helped me to get to a portal 
that we hoped would bring me here... he stayed behind to fight. 
Unfortunately, the portal took me straight to the Stronghold and to the 
Overlord, or Master - as he likes to call himself these day. I was 
imprisoned there for I don't know how long before Sailor Moon freed 
me." She paused, glancing about the room to judge the reception of her 
story. 
Serena spoke first, surprising her friends. "How could telling 
us that be wrong? You're only warning us." 
"Yes, but-" Lena blew out a frustrated sigh. How could she 
explain her position without telling them just how closely connected 
their 'worlds' were? Revealing that she was from their altered future, 
without knowing the true flow of events herself, could cause even more 
disruption to the time continuum - it may even set off a chain reaction 
that led to the Event itself. Lena's heart froze. Burning stars! 
What if she caused it?! What if she was responsible for-? 
"Hey, hello-oo," Mina called, sing-song. She stood in front of 
her, waving a hand in front of Lena's face. "Remember us?" she said. 
"Uh - yes, sorry." Lena looked back at the floor, hands on hips. 
She had no choice, the decision to become directly involved had already 
been made for her - by the Master. He had interfered, he had sent 
Pyrrhotite, *he* had murdered the Moon Princess... And now they had 
Ami. 
She looked up. They had all gathered in front of her. Rei's 
deep frown indicated that her fragile patience was drawn painfully 
thin. The others were more subtle - just - but they were all waiting. 
"I can say no more on the subject - for now. Let's just concentrate on 
getting Ami back." 
"Oh - hooray - 'bout time you got back to that," said Rei. 
"Cool it, Rei, she's just trying to help," Lita said, gearing up 
for a fight. 
"Cool it, both of you, this isn't getting us anywhere," 
interjected Luna. "There are far too many unanswered questions for my 
liking but we have to get on with it. Lena, what is your plan for 
rescuing Ami?" 
"Well, I suspect that Pyrrhotite took her to get to me. He's 
trying to draw me into a trap. For a smart man he really is being 
rather obvious. I guess he knows I won't be able to resist the bait. 
If he wants to fight me on his own turf, where he'll be stronger, then 
he's bound to provide a way in to the stronghold. But - I think I know 
a way to beat him to the punch, we can sneak in the back door and catch 
him off guard." 
"We'd better get a move on then, before he hurts Ami," Mina 
urged. 
"Oh, he won't hurt her," said Lena, surprised by her own 
admission. "That's not his style, he's not a monster." 
"What?! How can you say that?" said Mina, incredulous. 
"After he held you captive for all that time," added Lita. 
"He's trying to kill you!" Serena exclaimed shrilly. 
"He's following orders," said Lena quietly. "Don't misunderstand 
me, he's dangerous, calculating and fiercely loyal to his Master, you 
don't get to be in command of Negaforce armies without a bit of 
ruthlessness. But he's not a brute, he spared me from more than one 
serious beating from the likes of Taurid. I just think there's more to 
him than the obvious, and I know he wouldn't hurt Ami - not while she's 
just a pawn in the game." 
Serena shook her head. "This is getting way too complicated. My 
head hurts." 
That brought a faint smile to Lena's lips. "Now you know how I 
feel. Come on, Pyrrhotite will probably be sending a messenger soon - 
to lead me to the Stronghold. There's something we have to do first." 
"What?" asked Rei. 
"Anyone got a large mirror?" said Lena. 
##### 
"Are you sure the messenger will show up here?" asked Artemis, gazing 
around the grassy clearing doubtfully. They were all hiding in trees 
by the lake, the site of Lena's explosive entrance only days before. 
"Positive...almost," she said, giving the cat a mischievous look. 
"Great, just great," he muttered. 
"Cheer up, Artemis, we've been in worse situations," Luna said. 
"Yeh, I just can't think of one right now," he grumbled, still 
eyeing Lena suspiciously. 
Lena moved away from them to the four girls, who were working 
to position a large, wooden framed mirror in the lowest branches of a 
nearby tree. 
"Push back just a little on the right corner," Rei directed. 
"All right, stop, that should do it." Mina and Lita made the final 
adjustments and stepped back to inspect their work. 
"Is this going to work?" Serena asked, a little worriedly, 
chewing her bottom lip. 
Lena rested her right hand on Serena's shoulder, giving it a 
quick squeeze. "It will work just fine, we've done it before. Just do 
what I told you last time. Okay?" 
Serena nodded, just a small move of the head, then she drew in a 
deep breath and looked at her friends. "All right, Scouts," she said 
confidently. "Time to transform." 
"Right!" Rei, Mina and Lita chorused. 
"Except you, Lita," said Lena. "It would be better if you stayed 
in civilian clothing." 
"Ow what? It's bad enough that I'm staying behind," Lita 
protested. 
"I understand how you feel," Lena said with a sympathetic look at 
a girl who could have been her sister - they were so alike. "But 
you're staying behind to guard our way out, we need you here." 
"Then shouldn't I transform into Sailor Jupiter? What if some 
droid or youma or whatever else does find the mirror?" 
"It is fairly unlikely that the mirror itself will be noticed. 
We'll be closing down the portal once the others are through so no-one 
will notice it from the other side, but a leggy brunette in a skimpy 
sailor outfit might stand out just a little, don't you think? You'd be 
a walking advertisement to anyone, or anything, that came snooping 
around." 
Lita frowned, seemingly toying with the idea of putting up a 
fight. 
"She does have a point, Lita," Mina agreed. After a few more 
moments of defiance, Lita backed down, acknowledging the logic of 
Lena's order, but she still looked none too pleased about it. 
"Okay," she said, "but I'm transforming the instant there's any 
trouble." 
"Of course," Lena agreed. 
"Are we ready now?" Serena asked, anxious to be underway. Her 
hands went to the brooch at her chest. "Moon Crystal POWER!" she 
cried. The Crystal flashed, illuminating her beautiful face and 
amidst the flurry of soft wings and the rustle of silken ribbons she 
transformed into Sailor Moon. 
Rei and Mina followed suit. 
"Mars Star POWER!" 
"Venus Star POWER!" 
Sailor Mars was spun about with flame, Sailor Venus stood 
resplendent in ribbons of starry light. 
"Right! Let's get to it!" said Sailor Moon. 
On cue, Lena approached the mirror, staring at her reflection. A 
full-length mirror would have been better, but they could make do with 
this half-sized one, the Scouts would just have to climb through - like 
climbing through a window. She reached out to touch the cold surface 
lightly with the fingertips of her left hand, closing her eyes. 
Her breathing slowed, she willed her mind to calmness, searching 
inward, reaching for the bright ball of energy at the core of her being 
that pulsated to the rhythm of her heart. She grabbed at it, 
harnessing its strength, then channelled it out through her arm, to the 
tips of her fingers. The glass liquefied, giving beneath Lena's hand. She 
heard a chorus of gasps as her fingertips slid into the 
surface. Small waves rippled outward from her touch to crash against 
the frame, sending another set of waves rolling back across the mirror 
until the entire surface roiled. 
She concentrated hard on building a picture of the Stronghold in 
her mind. They needed to enter somewhere where they would not be 
instantly noticed. There were only a few places Lena had actually seen, 
but there was one that should do just fine - if they were quick. 
She opened her eyes, fixing them on the mirror. It's surface 
flickered and her reflection disappeared as another image took its 
place. The waves settled until the image undulated slowly as if 
painted on thick molasses. 
The Scouts edged closer. They were looking into a dark hallway 
that appeared to be a side passage opening out onto a well lit hallway. 
Dark patches of what looked like slime stained the stone walls, a 
pervasive chill seemed to seep through the glass, brushing against 
them, but that was surely just their imagination. Footsteps rang out 
on the hard stone floor and everyone but Lena jumped away, startled - a 
Negaforce soldier passed by the passage, his steps echoing down the 
hall. 
"Don't worry, they can't hear us," said Lena, but she whispered 
all the same. 
"How are you doing that?" Rei whispered back. 
Lena snorted. "Hmph, if I ever find out, I'll let you know," she 
said. She took a deep breath. "All right, Sailor Moon, it's your 
turn. Use the Crystal - quickly." 
Sailor Moon backed up a few paces, removing her brooch. Holding 
it up before her, she pointed it at Lena and called up its power. 
"Moon Crystal POWER!" 
From the corner of her eye Lena saw the Silver Imperial Crystal 
flash, sending out a beam of light that crashed into her a fraction of 
a second later. The magnitude of the energy was awesome, Lena 
staggered, struggling to maintain her control on the mirror. Her 
initial instinct was to resist, to fight back. 
"Lena!" she heard someone cry out. 
"Oh, Sailor Moon! Stop! It'll kill her!" 
Lena calmed herself, opening her mind and body to the Crystal, 
absorbing it's power. It was beautiful, pure... wondrous. But so 
damned strong from this side of the portal. She had not realised how 
diffuse it had been last time, separated as they had been by the fabric 
between dimensions. Every tissue, every cell in her body tingled, she 
felt the hair on the backs of her hands and arms stand on end, her 
fingernails actually started to glow! 
"Okay! Stop!" she shouted. "That's enough!" The beam cut 
abruptly, leaving her gasping for air. Looking to off-load as much 
borrowed energy as she could, as fast as she could - before she 
exploded - Lena brought her right hand up beside her left and poured 
enormous amounts of energy into the mirror, forcing her way through the 
dimensional barrier. 
The barrier stretched and thinned. She seized control of the 
rift, forcing it outwards until it filled the entire surface of the 
mirror. The new portal shimmered, stabilising with a spectacular burst 
of light. 
Lena let her arms drop, taking a few unsteady backward steps. 
"Are you all right?" Sailor Moon asked, her face etched with 
worry. 
Lena looked at the ring of concerned, awed faces and nodded. 
"Yes, I'm fine, it was just a bit of a buzz, that's all." 
"I'd say *that* was an understatement," said Sailor Venus. 
"Yeh," Lena agreed, brushing hair from her eyes. "That Crystal 
packs a real wallop, it hit me a bit harder this time, because I was so 
close to it I guess. In a minute or two I'll probably be bouncing all 
over the place from the energy high." 
"Like Serena after too many hot fudge sundaes," Luna said, 
rolling her eyes. 
"Hey, watch it furball!" Sailor Moon threatened. 
"Go on," Lena motioned toward the portal. "You had better get 
going, before it's discovered. I'll see you there later." 
The mood turned serious again, all attempt at levity forgotten. 
Avoiding any uncomfortable goodbyes, Sailor Venus stepped up quickly to 
the portal. Swinging a leg over the edge of the frame and ducking her 
head to clear the top, she disappeared into the swirling light. Sailor 
Moon followed with Luna and Artemis close behind. Sailor Mars paused 
halfway through, her left leg and arm hidden within the portal. She 
looked back at Lena. 
"Good luck," she said. 
"You too," said Lena. Rei smiled, a brilliant smile that lit up 
her face like the noonday sun. She turned and disappeared. 
Lena and Lita stood together in the sudden silence for a few 
moments, watching the shimmering portal, wondering if the others had 
gotten through okay. 
"How long do you think it will be before this messenger arrives?" 
Lita asked. 
"Soon, I would imagine," Lena replied. "I'd better do something about 
this first. I haven't actually tried this before so-." She left 
the rest unsaid, best not to jinx herself. 
Touching the surface of the portal, she pulled at the edges, 
tugging them back into the centre, until it was reduced to a small 
point of light, barely noticeable. The hallway came back into view, as 
dark and as empty as before. 
"They must have gotten away okay," Lita said, as much to break 
the silence as to offer any real information. 
"Hmmm-," Lena responded absently. She looked through the trees 
to the clearing, the blackened patches of grass from her previous fight 
still evident. She had to be right, she just had to - because she had 
just let the Moon Princess walk right into a serpent's pit. 
Both girls waited in silence. Lena stood tall and rigid, her 
arms folded across her chest - an marbled statue, smooth skin shining 
alabaster under the moon's waxing crescent. Only her jaw moved, it was 
the only way she could restrain her urge to pace. 
Beside her, Lita began to fidget, her ponytail swishing as she 
darted her head about seeking out the source of each new sound. Unlike 
her companion she had not yet mastered the waiting game. 
"How much long-" she stopped abruptly, her attention captured by 
a rapidly darkening patch of air by the lake. 
Still Lena did not move. She needed to know what she was dealing 
with first. Who had Pyrrhotite sent to do his dirty work this time? A 
portal opened, a black hole absorbing every particle of light around 
it. The messenger stepped through. Lita gasped. 
The creature was maybe eight feet tall, gleaming silver, its face 
featureless but for two points of white light that served as eyes. Its 
movements were liquid, as if it were not quite solid, small ripples 
quivered over its body with each slow turn of its head. It simply 
stood, slightly crouched, coiled ready to lash out at anyone or 
anything that came near. 
It was Mercurag, Lena had seen him loitering around the exercise 
yard, never doing anything, just - watching. Good choice, Pyrrhotite. 
"It knows we're here," Lita whispered hoarsely in Lena's ear. 
"It knows to expect us." 
"It knows to expect me," Lena whispered back, hoping the creature 
was far enough away not to hear. "Wait here, do not reveal yourself - 
no matter what happens." Lita did not answer, she just turned her head 
back to the monster and gave a tiny nod. 
Lena moved sideways around the clearing's circumference, never 
taking her eyes from Mercurag. The portal remained, an open 
invitation. 
So how was this going to go? She would probably have to fight 
him for a while - while he pretended to try to keep her from the 
portal. I just hope he doesn't want to draw this out for too long, 
I've got places to be. 
When she neared the opposite side of the clearing she stepped 
suddenly and boldly from the trees. "What took you so long?" she 
asked. 
Unperturbed, the creature turned its silver head towards her, as 
slowly and smoothly as ever, fixing its glowing eyes on this new 
arrival. It studied her for a few moments, as if checking Lena against 
a picture in its liquid brain, then its eyes pulsed and it moved toward 
her, probably satisfied with the match. 
Moving with equal fluidity, Lena sidestepped, turning the 
creature even further from Lita's position until the Scout was at its 
back. Her eyes glinting emeralds, Lena gestured expansively. "Shall 
we?" she invited, as if asking a friend to begin a game of tennis. 
Mercurag's response was instantaneous. He lunged, a quicksilver 
blur, crossing the distance between them at incredible speed. Lena 
ducked under the lunge, throwing herself forward into a roll, twisting 
mid-roll to come up in a crouch facing Mercurag. He was not the sort of 
person you wanted to have at your back. But he gave her no time to 
respond, lunging again. 
She avoided his reaching fingers, ducking beneath his right arm 
and driving her elbow between his shoulder blades - if he had them. It 
was like punching gelatine. Her elbow sank deep into his back, the 
blow pushed him forward slightly but otherwise had no effect. Lena 
pulled her arm out quickly, revolted. Reluctant to let go, Mercurag's 
flesh made hideous sucking noises as she pulled free. 
"Urgh! That's gross! Remind me never to give *you* a hug." 
Mercurag swung about, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her 
from the ground. He certainly wasn't making this easy. Lena searched 
for the portal, finding it to her right, just at the edge of her 
vision. Now, Mercurag, be a good little monster and throw me in that 
direction, she said silently. 
But Mercurag threw her to the left, further from the portal, and 
positioned himself directly between it and Lena. Lena frowned, maybe 
she had guessed wrong, maybe he really *was* here to kill her. On 
instinct she rolled left - just as a stream of something black 
and slimy shot from Mercurag's right palm and smashed into the ground 
she had occupied scants moments before. Lena continued to jump, roll 
and cartwheel out of the way of Mercurag's blasts, all the while 
looking for a break to make a run for the portal. 
##### 
Lita looked on from her concealed position, her hands balling into 
fists. She watched Lena avoid another near miss. Each blast was 
coming faster and stronger than the one before, it was only a matter of 
time before one hit home. The clearing was pocked with steaming 
craters, the footing treacherous. She saw Lena slip on the edge of one 
hole and come perilously close to losing her head. 
"That's it," Lita said through gritted teeth. She threw her 
right hand into the air. "Jupiter Star Power!" Her powerstick 
appeared and the first sparks of electricity flashed around her. Then 
a solid mass of steamy goop slammed into her torso, flinging her 
backward and smashing her into a tree trunk several feet away. She 
managed to give one agonised cry before blackness claimed her. 
##### 
Lena threw herself sideways to avoid the blast, landing heavily on her 
rump - knowing even as her body jarred painfully with the impact, that 
the blow aimed at her head had gone sailing into the trees, right into 
the thicket where she had left Lita. She heard Lita's cry - so did 
Mercurag. 
Lena cursed colourfully, an impressive repertoire picked up from 
the back streets of Neo Tokyo. She was on her feet in a second, 
leaping high into the air, over Mercurag's next blast, tumbling in 
midair and landing lightly near the clearing edge, away from Lita's 
position. 
Her legs were pumping the instant her feet touched ground, 
carrying her swiftly into the trees. Several feet in, out of 
Mercurag's sight, Lena propelled herself skyward, into the lowest limbs 
of a soaring oak. She leapt from tree to tree, circling the clearing, 
heading back towards Lita. 
Lena's heart leapt into her throat when she spotted Lita, 
crumpled and unconscious at the base of a tree, thick obsidian slime 
covering her chest. A quick glance through the foliage showed her an 
empty clearing, and the sound of tearing undergrowth behind her 
pinpointed Mercurag's position. 
Lena leapt from the tree, landing beside her friend. She 
panicked for a heartbeat, her own heavy breaths obscuring any sound 
from behind. No time to think, she grabbed Lita beneath the arms and 
started to drag her further into thick shrub. 
A flash of light from the ground by Lita's hand caught her eye. 
Something lay in the grass, a shiny green cylinder. Lena knelt and 
picked it up, her eyes widening. A powerstick! Jupiter's powerstick! 
The star-topped tool gleamed in her hand. 
A thin muted howl brought her to her feet, clutching the tool to 
her chest. Mercurag was coming, crashing towards them through the 
trees, he would spot her any second. There was no time! 
Lena looked again at Jupiter's powerstick. The tool was probably 
a less powerful version than those from her time but... maybe... She 
saw the glint of moonlight off Mercurag's bald head. No time. 
Brandishing the powerstick above her head, she shouted with all 
the confidence she could muster. 
"JUPITER STAR POWER!" 
The stick flared to life, its power released in a dazzling 
kaleidoscope of electric energy. Lena felt the energy surround her, 
rush through her, transform her. The powerstick disappeared, leaving 
bands of lightening to circle her, charging about in a brilliant 
display of electric current. A single crash of thunder broke, 
persuading Mercurag to halt his inexorable advance, to reassess the 
situation. 
Lena felt alive, complete - for the first time in what seemed 
like forever. And Mercurag was about to learn a very important lesson. 
Planting her feet a shoulder-width apart, clasping her hands together 
in front of her face, she glared at the Negamonster. The creature 
howled again - confusion evident in its cry, even its expressionless 
face managed to look puzzled. 
"You should have just let me through the portal," she said, her 
voice edged with steel. She seized upon her advantage, attacking 
before Mercurag could stop her. The lightning rod in her tiara rose, 
electricity gathered. 
"Jupiter... DRAGON... CRASH!" 
Blue-white energy lanced from Lena's hands, a raging dragon that 
arched towards Mercurag, its fierce maw gaping. The dragon struck, 
discharging its energy with a mighty roar of thunder. Staggered by the 
attack, Mercurag fell back, driven to his knees. He cowered beneath 
his flailing arms, swatting at the buzzing energy with vain hopes of 
driving it away. 
Lena's attack began to dissipate. Mercurag was down but not out 
of the fight yet, given time he would retaliate. Lena was in no mood 
to give him that time. 
"Jupiter... Lightning Bolt..." A sizzling bolt of energy formed 
in her left hand, sparking and spluttering. She drew it back over 
her shoulder. "STRIKE!" And hurled it vehemently at Mercurag. It 
flew too fast for him to avoid, its point burying deep in his chest. 
His body arched, his head snapped back, a silent scream dying on 
nonexistent lips. Then his body dissolved, melting away in wisps of 
dying light. 
Lena blinked rapidly, her eyes dazzled by the brilliance of her 
attack. The shadows rushed back in to reclaim the night, plunging Lena 
into gloomy half-light. She moved quickly, first checking on Lita, 
then the mirror, and then she was dashing across the clearing towards 
the portal. Damn! This had all taken far too long. 
"Sailor Jupiter! Wait!" A male voice called out from behind. 
Lena froze - a foot from the portal. What now? She spun about, 
her emerald skirt twirling. Burning Stars! Not him! 
##### 
Tuxedo Mask ran through the park - this was becoming a common 
occurrence. And as fate would have it, the trail was leading back to 
the same clearing. A clap of thunder from that direction confirmed his 
heading. He cut through the trees, breaking into the clearing a few 
moments later. 
Wow! The place was a write off. It looked as though someone 
had gone mad with a jackhammer. A lithe shape flitted across the 
clearing, headed for what appeared to be a portal. He recognised 
the Sailor Uniform and mahogany hair. 
"Sailor Jupiter! Wait!" he called. She skidded to a halt just 
inches from the portal, her head snapping around to find him. Soft 
light from a crescent moon cast long shadows across her face, hiding 
her features. But her luminous green eyes shone brightly - they 
widened, startled, she looked as though she had seen a ghost, a ghost 
who had caught her out - at what he had no idea. She took a step 
towards him, then looked back at the portal, clearly torn. 
"Sailor Jupiter, what's going on? Where's Sailor Moon?" He 
headed for her, closing the distance between them with long strides. 
She backed up to the portal, then turned to jump through, but she 
stopped with one foot enveloped in inky blackness, twisting at the 
waist to glance back at him. At that particular moment a thin cloud 
that had been obscuring the moon chose to move on, the clearing 
brightened. 
Tuxedo Mask gasped. "You're not Jupiter!" The woman before him 
was just that - a young woman, older and taller than Sailor Jupiter. 
Her thick hair was the same glorious colour, but it fell unbound to her 
waist, held back by a tiara identical to Jupiter's but for the tiny 
emerald star at its centre. 
The bow at her breast was adorned with a heart shaped brooch, 
edged with flashing silver, her full skirt was similarly trimmed. The 
edges of her full lips curled upward slightly in a wistful, even 
apologetic, smile and then she stepped forward, disappearing into the 
portal. 
Tuxedo Mask sprang after her, the portal had already begun to 
close. His heart raced, who was this imposter? He lunged at the 
portal, now half its original size, and felt the icy touch of 'between 
worlds' envelope him. 
##### 
Here ends Part III. 
Ceeyah next time.