Souls of Fire #14: Endgame, part 2-- Between Scylla and Charybdis Ranma 1/2 VS Sailor Moon Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NYChotmail.com) http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/sm/index.html Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi. Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Proper licenses belong to respective properties and characters. This file can be freely distributed so long as it appears in its complete form and proper credit. No part may be reproduced for monetary gain without permission from the author. ---------------------------------------------------- Ranma's Pad, Tibetan Highlands Ranma's eyes peeled away from the old ghoul, Cologne, as he stepped outside the front door, his attention now fixated on the hovercar coming in for a landing. The old woman that served as training instructor stood balanced on her walking stick, standing out on the porch, watching the silver flying Volkswagen kick up the dust. "It appears you have a visitor, Son-in- Law," Cologne said. "Don't call me that," Ranma replied, raising his hand as a visor against the morning sun's rays. "How many times do I keep tellin' ya that?" Cologne figured out who the occupant of the car was, and so did Ranma, as he had seen such a vehicle come by before. The two living in the middle of nowhere, far from any crystal city, spent their days training. Ranma felt the call to remain training even after he settled down with Akane; this wooden Tibetan shack served as his private retreat when the martial artist felt like being alone. It must have been at least two weeks, he figured, but he wondered why Ukyo would fly all the way to the dust pan just to see him. As expected, the Vice Executive of the Peacekeepers stepped out of the left side of the car, apparently having traveled the distance from Geneva by herself-- a fact Ranma found odd, as Konatsu, the friend she was dating, was often not far behind. He was not used to seeing his old friend dressed in her self-styled white uniform, with the only trace of familiarity being the giant combat spatula strapped on her back. She kept her hands in her pockets as she addressed him, staring directly into his eyes. "It's been a while, Ranchan, but I really wish this could've been a social call." Judging from the tone of her voice, Ranma decided that something finally happened, after thirty-eight years of peace, quiet, and boredom. It was exactly the kind of thing he was waiting for. "What'd I miss?" There was no form of communication to the outside world existing in the one-story, modest house. It was built only with all the comforts of home, with food and supplies that could last one two months, thanks to Cologne's experience. In fact, unless one wished to travel over fifty miles to the nearest village, the only way to leave the middle of nowhere was in the garage built under the ground, exiting at a sheer cliff. There was only one hovercar between the two martial artists, but neither of them felt the need to use it most of the time. Thus, it was very easy to lose touch with the world. It was the only way to get any real training done, after all. "Several hours ago," Ukyo explained, "six city-sized warships appeared all around the Earth sphere. They quickly took control of all our orbiting satellites, then proceeded to attack cities all across the globe." "The Mekani," Cologne guessed, her voice solemn. "Removing the satellites would prevent the use of any global-scale device being used against them." "What about Akane?" Ranma asked. "Oh, they're fine," the Vice Executive of the Peacekeepers informed him. "Both Crystal Tokyo and Geneva were attacked, but the invaders were repelled. All the ground zero locations are being evacuated even as we speak. Places such as Los Angeles and Moscow weren't so lucky... and the one that attacked Moscow is heading toward Beijing, probably on the way to help smash Crystal Tokyo." "I see," the martial artist said, relieved that Akane was all right, at least. "But why would they attack places like Los Angeles, Moscow, or Beijing? They don't have anything significant like Geneva or...." "It's entirely possible they're looking to spread terror," Cologne offered as conjecture. Ukyo shook her head. "No, the Mekani are actually looking for something. Before the Moscow ship left we got a report from our agent there that the Mekani raided all the museums and treasuries... even private collections. We haven't figured out if they took anything yet, but if the Los Angeles ship is still there, they're probably looking for something, too." "So now you guys need my help?" guessed Ranma. "I suppose your PKs didn't help too much, after all." "It's not like we were expecting the Mekani to come back this soon," Ukyo said, shrugging. "Maybe if you joined, we could've done something different." "Yeah, right," he scoffed. "The queen's PKs were so ineffective the last time it's such a joke. I'm finding ways to save this planet my own way." "Well, not all of us are as talented as you, Ranchan," she replied, without any hint of jealousy. "I just couldn't leave Ayame hung out to dry like Kanna and Shion did." "C'mon, we both know you didn't join the PKs for pity points. And what if I don't want to help?" "There's always Ryoga...." "Ryoga's not strong enough," Ranma interrupted, knowing that Ukyo knew that Ryoga all but gave up fighting. Truthfully, while it has been quite a while since he last saw his old rival, Ranma recalled that Ryoga was at least trying to earn an honest living for his wife and kids-- but doing what escaped him at the moment. A laborer's life wasn't for Ranma, at least. He groaned. "I hate it when you do this!" "You could do well to learn from this, Son-in-Law," Cologne told him. "The whole of greatness is not in yourself alone, but from you to others." "Yeah, whatever," he said, shrugging. Turning back to Ukyo, he said, "I've been training these past years where nobody could get hurt, trying to make myself better, stronger, and faster. In that last battle I almost lost my life to Vizier because I was too cocky, but this time it's going to be different. I'll smash those Mekani by myself, if I have to." Ukyo nodded with a smile. "I can't wait to see." --- Inner Circle, Secret Section Fortress "This way," Ziel said, opening the door for Shizuka. The priestess of Genbu looked toward the fan dancer. "Thanks. We'd like to be alone for a while, okay?" She waited for no nod, but knew Ziel would comply. Shizuka entered the dark chamber that served as the Master Director of Section's office. Before her was a wall made up of monitors-- from top to bottom, from left to right. Each monitor glowed with a different picture, likely one for each Section operation. Before her was the back of a captain's chair-- Shion's favorite-- and a desk that was almost completely made up of keys and switches. In effect, the room was a giant computer network station, and its controller the one sitting in the chair, with his back turned arrogantly toward the door. "Welcome home," Shion said, without turning around, in a low tone. "I see you're still playing video games," Shizuka said neutrally. "Still on those dating sims, or have you moved on from Anime?" "Anime no longer amuses me," the Director stated flatly. "Reality is the only true game-- a game where one can toy with peoples' lives at the touch of a button." "Then you are moving up in the world," she said sarcastically. "You've done well for yourself." "As have you." "Except you're still caught-up on the past." "Then why did you do it?" he asked, spinning around in his chair. His reflection-tinted glasses concealed his eyes. Shion held up his index fingers to his lips, as if he were interested in something. "Cut the crap, Shi," Shizuka yelled. "Do I have to play 'connect the dots' with you, too?" "I have all the time in the world to hear your explanations," he said coldly. "Why did you leave that day?" The priestess shook her head. "If I didn't you'd have followed me into space, and you wouldn't be here where we needed you." "So it really was Kanna's plan," he mused. "I'm yet a pawn, then." "Only insofar as you allow yourself to be one!" Shizuka cried, growing impatient. "I thought you were smart. You let yourself become the pawn, is all." "And that's where you're wrong," Shion said, raising his voice proudly. "I made plans of my own, and it's up to you if you want to be a part of them." "You're asking me to join you?" Shizuka asked, somewhat amazed. "I've seen worlds you've only dreamed of, and now you want me to be content with this rotten shell?" Shizuka quickly flicked her wrist, producing three steel cards. With three quick throws sparks flew from three points in the room, and immediately three of the monitors on the back wall flickered and died. "Dammit," Shion cursed. "Now quit it with your silly charade," Shizuka demanded. "You're blind in more ways than one." "So you've figured it out," he mused. "No amount of science could reverse what the system shock did to me, so I continued to utilize the mental control unit in order to make up for that." He tapped his right temple. "Everything I see is transmitted here, and thus my eyes are truly everywhere." "You wanted to see me?" Shizuka asked. "You can't ever see me again. Both our lives have been scarred too much in the last war to ever heal. I have a destiny to fulfill... or die trying." "And that's where you're wrong," Shion replied calmly. "I always see you. I always hear you. I always feel your soft skin and your silky hair. And, if I'm not mistaken, you do, too. You won't admit it; Kanna is merely an excuse. I am, because I've had forty years to think it over, and the bottom line is...." "I don't want to hear it," she interrupted. "If I want to finish what I started, I can't be allowed to succumb to personal desires. It's what I've been trained for, and by golly, Shi, I'm going to waste that two-timing prick Serenity, or die trying." She raised her hand, the same hand that was destroyed by Vizier, now wrapped in white bandages. "As you can see, I lost my hand over it, and this here is a constant reminder of what believing in her did. We lost our stride at the end of the last war, without accomplishing what we set out to do in the first place." "Each of us bears a scar-- a reminder-- of our failings as Fenril Knights. You lost your eyesight. Cinder lost his honor. Sypha her home. Mousse his vengeance. Kanna believes this battle to be only a continuation of the last war, and she's right. And, thanks to the Mekani, we can't leave the Earth the way it is. The world will change, or be swept aside by those old when the universe was young." "You see, Shi, I voluntarily went into exile because I needed to find my way again. Mizuki once told me that, if you get lost, to just stop and take the time to figure out where you are. Then, after getting your bearings, you can continue. Distancing myself from everything has made everything clearer, and more than ever I can see that the Crystal Court must go." "I see." Shion nodded slowly. "Then perhaps you'd be interested in my own secret weapon." Shizuka raised her eyes to the monitors, where each of the square blocks changed to make up the piece of a single, larger image. She felt her jaw drop in surprise, but could not find the words. "Yes, she lives," Shion replied, "as you said she would. The time draws near when she'll awaken, and then we'll have the strongest weapon imaginable to defeat Neo Queen Serenity and her Crystal Court. Not even the Mekani can withstand such potential. When the soul of shadow revives, the darkness will rise to reclaim the world it was denied. Now, I ask you again: will you join the winning team?" --- Boddy Mansion, Los Angeles Resting on a shiny steel pedestal, quietly in its sheath, the Young Phoenix lay bathed in illumination of a spotlight from the ceiling above. The sword, of Japanese origin, was positively identified as to have existed at least in the 19th Century, and probably even earlier, but it was not smithed in the same manner as any other Japanese sword. In fact, any expert would note that the long sword had more in common with European swords than with Japanese katanas, yet it wasn't truly a European sword, either. Whatever its origin, the sword was quite valuable, and obviously of strong make to have endured the test of time-- whenever it was forged. The heavy double doors that served as the only entrance and exit to the collector's room burst open loudly, and two bloody, well-dressed security guards were tossed inside. Metal scraped against the polished marble floor, and smoke hissed beneath such deadly talons. Reaching up to throw off his hood with his steel claws, Cinder's mechanical left eye fixated on the prize. The obsidian-scaled salamander, a retainer from a bygone age, stepped past the bloodied bodies, tripping all laser alarms as he made his way to the sword known as Young Phoenix. Several more loud alarms blared when Cinder picked up the sword and scabbard, but he paid them no mind. After all, all the security measures failed to stop him from walking in the front door. "At last," his abyssal voice said, "I've found you." Kicking over the pedestal, Cinder turned, his robe swirling behind him, and backtracked the way whence he came. With long strides the reborn warrior made his way back outside, past the gaudy decorations humans considered beautiful, and stopped short of his exit. The courtyard, which was empty only minutes before, was filled to the brim with heavy Mishima robots. The GAIA-class, to be precise-- hulking artillery units armed with two gattling guns each, staring with mean death's head looks and glowing red eyes. Although the sight of the robotic hulks might scare humans, Cinder hungered for a real battle. Of course, no mere robots could fill such a void, he knew, but.... "Peacekeeper," Cinder roared, his voice echoing throughout the courtyard, "face me, you coward!" He tightened his grip on the scabbard, then pulled the Young Phoenix free with his right claw. Flames flew along the same arc as the end of the pointed blade, and the scabbard went up in flames. "Your machines are no match for the sword Suzaku promised me!" Flames danced across the blade of Young Phoenix as Cinder rushed the machines. Each of the front line GAIAs opened fire, but the bullets melted the moment they came into contact with Cinder's flaming aura. He swung the sword quickly, making quick, clean cuts of any robot that got in his way. Mentally, Cinder counted the number of strokes he was making, and once he finished the twelfth, all the offending robots were cleaved in two, in varying degrees of sparking destruction. Quickly, he scanned the area with his mechanical eye, for some trace of the PK who sent the machines against him. "Coward," he hissed, before rushing to where his shuttle was parked. "I will not be satisfied until Lord Kolvar... no, my race... all our peoples... have been avenged." Cinder held his left hand out, and the Young Phoenix's scabbard reappeared, allowing him to sheath the magical weapon. "With the power of a true god behind me, I will not lose!" --- Only seconds went by since Cinder made his way back toward his command ship's shuttle that one lone figure emerged from the mansion. Surveying the damage that one lone warrior-- a kami-- had done to military hardware, Shingo Tsukino whistled, impressed. "Looks like the game's becoming a bit more interesting," he said, producing a cell phone. It was time to inform the boss of the turn of events. --- Office of the CEO, Peacekeeper HQ "So they're after certain artifacts, Your Majesty," Ayame explained, as Neo Queen Serenity and her court listened in on the other end of the transmission. "If I'm not mistaken, the Basilisk must've found something in Moscow, too, and is looking for something else in Beijing." "Any idea what they may be searching for?" asked the world monarch. She shook her head. "Haven't a clue, although my agent in Los Angeles tells me a rare sword was taken... one with dubious origins." "Perhaps they are searching for weapons used in the time before the rise of the kami," suggested Sailor Mercury. "It would make sense, if it's Cinder, to find something stronger than he is," Sailor Mars added. "More than ever, we need to find a way to end the war," Neo Queen Serenity interrupted. "I am willing to listen to any suggestions you may offer." "I have an idea," Mercury replied immediately. "We have numerous samples of Mekani technology in our hands. With those we can easily find a way to interrupt their communications to their Hive mind." "Tried that," Ayame said. "They're rotating frequencies on a seemingly-random basis." "If it's just 'seemingly-random,' then there's a way to figure it out, then," Sailor Venus pointed out. "But it won't be enough," continued Mercury. "Based on this knowledge we will have to disrupt all communications frequencies... even the ones the Mekani aren't using." "Even so," Ayame pointed out, "they've at least got guys like Shion on their side. Stuff like that won't work for long." "It doesn't have to," Mercury replied. "It would only serve as a distraction for our real plans." "And that is?" "We take out the leaders," Mars answered. "Right?" "But we don't know for sure which one has the big boss on it, do we?" asked Jupiter. "It would not be wise to spread our forces too thin," agreed King Endymion. "We should take out both Scylla and Charybdis," Sailor Saturn said, speaking up for the first time since the meeting started. Elaborating further, she added, "We know all the communications go to and from the Scylla, right? But the enemy also isn't stupid... and why have the Charybdis in the first place? They're up to something." "I agree," Ayame said. "Taking out both would unbalance the Mekani forces, and make sure that they don't get clever and switch ships on us." "Question is, what'll we do once we get there?" asked Venus. "Take out the leader," Mars answered, "and the ship, if it comes to that." But Mercury shook her head. "Destroying the ship is too dangerous. Especially the Scylla, because it is large enough to make a significant impact at the North Pole. Also, if it generates enough heat, the polar ice caps will melt and flood the rest of the world." "So we'll just have to be extra-careful," Jupiter said, shrugging. All eyes turned toward Neo Queen Serenity. "Very well, then. I want all of you to prepare this plan of yours, but we must also consider that the Mekani will also continue to target the world's cities. Ayame, I leave that part up to you and your people." The Chief Executive nodded. "You can count on me." --- Altar of the Sun, Shrine of the Four Gods Ever since being abandoned long ago the Shrine of the Four Gods remained vacant until Neo Queen Serenity approved of converting the unused space into a research center. Today, long after such an institution began, the Shrine compound became vacant yet again, save for one hovercar and a triple-star-shaped Mekani shuttle, each left vacant in the courtyard. Kneeling in prayer before the altar dedicated to the sun, and the nexus of the Four Gods, was Shizuka, dressed in formal robes of her profession, adding what little ornaments to her hair to make herself presentable to the gods. She knew that some of those ornaments belonged to Mizuki, her mentor, once, but since she passed away Shizuka thought it fitting that she would use them in her memory. However, the one piece that she refused to touch was the crown ornament, which was too much a part of Mizuki that Shizuka felt she was unworthy of wearing it, as she was neither graceful nor as wise as the mentor. At her side lay two sheathed swords, with the head of a viper molded in the pommels. She raised her head slightly, and called out, "Are you going to kill me or not?" Emerging from the shadows near the door Ranma and Ukyo stepped out to the aisle, having remained quiet up to that point. "Somehow," Ukyo said, "when I heard that this place was attacked, I knew it would be you." "You're a long way from home," Shizuka replied, collecting her swords, then standing to her feet and turning around to face the intruders. "And you, Ranma... nice to see you again." "Haven't seen your face in a while," the martial artist replied. "I hear you've been busy." "I imagine so," the priestess said neutrally. "What are you doing?" demanded Ukyo, her right hand reaching into her inner jacket pocket. "Why have you sided with the enemy?" "Which one?" "The Mekani, of course!" "There's many enemies... it's only you've got to choose which one will have the least detrimental effect in the long run." "Don't talk in riddles!" demanded Ranma impatiently. "Your buddies are killing people all around the world!" "Sometimes death is a merciful release." Her eyes glowed pale-white as Deathclaw took over. "Tell me, Ranma Saotome, do you enjoy your immortality?" "Huh?" "Don't play stupid with me," the ghost dragon said, speaking with Shizuka's lips. "I've suffered immortality far longer than you know. I've met others who have lived just as long. Your human comrade, Master Higure, suffered immortality for a thousand years... to be released of such a terrible fate for only a short while before being thrown back to it." "You've met Master Higure?" asked Ukyo, surprised. "This girl wishes to renew acquaintances with those she left behind," Deathclaw admitted. "Whether it be secret underworld bases, high mountain peaks, or a simple house where her brother lives... I watched it all. It is not difficult to find those who do not wish to be found for one such as I." "So Masture Higure is still alive..." the Vice Executive of the PKs mused, knowing that the old man and his Orochi colleagues disappeared since the last war. "You know," Ranma said, "being young is great and all, but I wouldn't want to stay young forever. Even if it means I can watch my kids grow up and get married and all...." "Then you do understand its curse," Deathclaw said. "Still, it gives me plenty of time to do what I want to do," the martial artist added. "Enjoy it while it lasts, boy," the ghost dragon said, his voice rumbling. "There are others who would deign to battle with you, and they, too, have improved with time." Closing her eyes, the priestess of Genbu walked down the aisle, heading for the door. The moment she tried to pass between Ranma and Ukyo, the Vice Executive held the girl's arm fast. "Hold it. You're not going anywhere this time." "Watch me," Shizuka said, resuming control. "I've plenty more people to see. And please don't disrespect Mizuki while you're here." She forced her arm with surprising strength, throwing off Ukyo's hold. "Wait a minute," Ranma called, and Shizuka froze in place. "What about your hand?" Without turning back Shizuka raised her bandaged hand, as if noticing it for the first time. "What of it?" "Shouldn't it have healed by now?" "Maybe. Maybe not." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Don't be so quick to assume you know everything," Shizuka suggested. She pulled at the bandages, quickly unwinding them from around her hand-- and holding it up for Ranma to see. "As you can see, the exterior is nothing to what lies on the interior." The hand was replaced by a twisted, spectral claw, much like the substance Deathclaw was made of. "A little piece of advice, Ranma," she added, ignoring Ukyo's presence. "Don't choose a side until you've gathered all the facts, because not everything is as it seems." Ukyo cast Ranma a serious glare. "What? You're not going to let it off like that, are you?" "That's my line," Ranma complained. "And besides... she's got a point. Something else is going on that we aren't seeing... besides why the Mekani haven't wiped us out yet. Aren't they supposed to be the galactic locusts?" "Do you suppose that Wiseman somehow usurped control of the Mekani when he got to them?" she speculated. "Who knows?" the martial artist said with a shrug. He folded his hands behind his head as he watched Shizuka's shuttle take off. "We've still got a city to save, though...." --- Soon the two old friends were back in the hovercar. Ranma stared out the passenger side window, down to the abandoned Shrine complex, and watched as it disappeared as the car picked-up speed. A loud beep almost made the martial artist jump, but he knew it was the car phone. He heard Ukyo turn it on, flipping a switch on the dash. "Ukyo speaking, who's calling?" Ranma's interests perked, as he knew as well as Ukyo that, without control of the communications satellites in orbit, they shouldn't be able to receive or send transmissions. At least, not through something as conventional as a car phone. "What the...?" "There was one thing I forgot to mention," came the voice of Shizuka, her voice coming clear in transmission. "Kuonji, block this out; you didn't hear." "But I'm the one driving the car," she pointed out. They heard the priestess groan in frustration. "Okay, fine. Saotome, Hokuto's alive." Shizuka allowed herself a momentary pause as Ranma realized the implications of the news. He remembered Hokuto Takemasa clearly-- that she was a perverted girl that somehow liked him, whether he was a guy or a girl. It wasn't the fact that she knew Ranma was really a guy that pushed her to it, but more that her tastes were perverted, and that scared him. And yet, despite all that the Shadow Weaver managed to save him from his own stupidity in the last battle against Vizier. Ranma was certain she couldn't have survived. "How?" "We'll never know for sure," Shizuka said carefully, keeping her voice even, "at least, until she wakes up. You can't let her wake up; she's in a coma, and Section has her. They intend to use her as a weapon, to take out whoever wins this little war." "So Shion is playing both sides, huh?" Ukyo concluded. "That changes everything." "You and I both know what she can do with her shadow power," Shizuka continued, her voice carrying a sense of urgency, "and you have to keep her from waking up. She's not the same as before." "So what am I supposed to do?" asked Ranma, feeling confused. "Don'cha know girls don't quit when they're around me?" "If you have to, kill her," suggested the priestess. "That thing Section has is not Hokuto. Trust me on this; you'll be doing her, and the world, a favor. Section will not be able to control or contain her for very long. You owe her this." "Don't you dare say that!" Ranma shouted angrily, and Ukyo flinched in response. "She means nothing to me!" "Then keep quiet!" Ukyo warned, casting a cold stare at the martial artist. "I'm not going to make you promise," Shizuka added. "Either way... I'm transmitting the coordinates and codes to get you into Section Inner Circle. What you do with it is up to you, but if you're truly a fighter for Earth, you have to keep her from waking-up. It CAN get worse than the Mekani. I'm going to do my part in saving this world, and I suggest you do the same. And that might also mean you, too, Kuonji." With that, the priestess of Genbu terminated the link, her voice replaced by static. Ukyo quickly turned the phone off, and noted that her car computer was receiving the aforementioned data. "Well," she said, "if we do this we won't be there to help Crystal Tokyo. On the other hand, if Shizuka's right, then we can't afford to let something like this happen... unless she's exaggerating again." Ranma folded his arms, trying his best to look indifferent. "Hokuto's Shizuka's friend; it's her problem. Besides, I don't owe her anything." "Who? Shizuka, or Hokuto?" "Shizuka, of course!" he replied quickly. "She wants me to do her dirty work. And besides, she's asking me to kill someone. I don't do that kind of stuff." "She didn't ask you to kill Hokuto... that is, if Hokuto really is still alive," Ukyo pointed out. "But, you do owe it to Hokuto, right? Even if it is a trap and all...." The Vice Executive sighed. "If Section were holding me, would you come after me?" "Of course," Ranma answered. "Everyone knows I take care of my friends." Ukyo shook her head. "No way, the Ranma I know helps anybody, even people he doesn't like. You helped out Pantyhose Taro that one time, didn't you?" "Hmph. What of it?" "So why is it so different with Hokuto?" Ranma turned and faced the driver. "It's probably the same deal with you and Tsubasa. Remember him?" She nodded. "Okay, bad example. But, you know Shizuka doesn't like lying and stuff. You know how she gets all bent out of shape when someone lies to her. She's probably telling the truth. And if that's the case, we're all in danger... from what, I don't know. I don't know anything about the shadow stuff. Then, if not for Hokuto, then what about everybody else?" "You're just not going to quit, are ya?" he asked finally. Ukyo punched up the data Shizuka sent, and a map with a blinking dot appeared on the dashboard screen. "Well, well, well. The best place to hide something IS in plain sight, huh?" --- International Airport, Crystal Tokyo Shingo hated waiting for baggage claim, wondering when his traveling possessions would arrive on the conveyor belt. His sentiments were shared with the rest of those occupying the most dismal room in the airport. Although there was a general order for the population to evacuate the city, some people, including Shingo, still had business to take care of there. It was his and the other co-workers to convene at Crystal Tokyo, to assist in the operations. He regretted leaving Los Angeles without informing Chika of his plans, but nothing could be helped when duty called. Despite the fact there were only twenty people on the flight, baggage claim was still taking its sweet time. So much for progress, he thought. Shingo's thoughts drifted back to Chika, and he wondered when it would all end. --- Inner Sanctum, Crystal Palace Everyone seemed busy, preparing for the inevitable climatic battle against the Mekani. For six straight hours Usagi, the princess of the world, felt like she was doing nothing. The Peacekeepers, she mused, even with such limited power, are doing their best to defend this world as best as they can. The Sailor soldiers are preparing likewise, ready to give up their lives, if necessary. Even Hotaru. She visited each of them one-by-one in their own locales throughout the palace, each preparing one thing in particular. Each time she offered to help, they would smile and thank her, but nonetheless refuse the offer. It was as if she wasn't required to do anything at all, and that bothered Usagi more than fighting the Mekani. Entering the Inner Sanctum without waiting for permission, she found her mother, the world monarch, stading with her back to the door, staring into a mirror-- apparently at her own reflection. Usagi knew well-enough that it was a communications mirror-- a device that did not rely on the satellite network to function-- and it was likely her mother had finished talking with someone. "Mom...." "Yes, dear?" the queen replied, apparently not surprised, nor angered, that she intruded. "Everybody else is doing something to beat the Mekani," the princess said, "but nobody's telling me what they're doing, or letting me help. What good is it to be the princess, if you're not supposed to do anything?" Neo Queen Serenity turned around to face her daughter, relief in her eyes. She smiled slightly. "They are your friends. They wish to defend this world that you will one day rule, and it is your safety they are most concerned with." "I can take care of myself!" Usagi beamed. "You were the princess once, right? You were Sailor Moon! Did they always try to stop you from helping?" The queen laughed lightly. "At times, yes. They sometimes placed my life over their own, but in the end their lives are important as well." At that moment Usagi wondered if her mother was staring at a real mirror, even if the true mirror was behind her. "Then I just help anyway, right?" "If you feel the need to." --- Command Center, Scylla Mezzat and its guest re-entered the command station, as communications screens from the other five warships flickered to life. The Director of the campaign scrutinized each monitor before it with its small eye, noting that one of the ship commanders was missing, replaced by the Mekani aide. "I note Shizuka has disappeared," it said neutrally. "She is away," the Kraken aide reported. "All administrative operations have been delegated to this unit if she does not return in time." "Then where did she run-off to this time?" demanded the guest, her patience wearing thin. "It does not matter," came the transmission from the Charybdis, represented by a glowing, wispy cloud- entity. "The operation proceeds on-schedule regardless of her vanishing trick." Mezzat regarded the energy being-- a Mystral, one of the member races-- thoughtfully. The entity was known as Zedaji, who was considered of low station among his people. This Mystral, although possessing no physical form, was a valuable ally to the campaign. Zedaji, for his part, wished only to advance in station in relation to the rest of his people. At any rate, he was doing his part well. "We have the sword, Young Phoenix," Cinder reported. "There is no further need for the charade; I move that we attack Crystal Tokyo and wipe out the enemy at once." "Hey, that's MY turf!" Mousse complained. "I'm not done calibrating the Eyes yet...." "Forget the Eyes!" the salamander snarled. "A true warrior needs not such gimmicks or trickery! Only one's own skill can determine the strength of the warrior." "And it's no wonder you lost face," came the Basilisk commander. "You limit your options on purpose." "I retain dignity!" Cinder claimed. "Silence!" demanded the guest. "Infighting was what destroyed us before; we will not deal with it now!" "Operations will commence as in the revised outline," Director Mezzat added. "The Basilisk is nearing position," the ship commander reported. "We should have the Dragon Beard in our hands shortly." "Then all we're missing is the Rings," Mousse said. "How long's THAT going to take?" "Ask Shizuka," the Basilisk suggested. "That is, if you can find out where she joy-rided to." "Attacks will commence simultaneously with the Beijing raid," Mezzat ordered, repeating the recommendation in the revised orders. "The Hydra will join with the Griffin forces in subjugating Crystal Tokyo. Charybdis and Kraken will retain their current positions and proceed as before." "I assure you, we will arrive shortly," Cinder said. "It won't get there before Basilisk makes it to Beijing," the guest pointed out. "Then I will simply take a shuttle there," the salamander decided. "The Hydra will arrive when it does, but I am more than enough reinforcement." "All targets will be eliminated at once," Mezzat continued. "Destroy the Silver Crystal at all costs, and destroy all obstacles that stand in its path." --- Twilight "What are we fighting for, I wonder?" "I've seen all facets, seen all sides of the conflict from meeting those that are my allies, and those that are my enemies... and those I never expected. The Crystal Court and the Peacekeepers fight for peace. The Fenril Knights fought because the ideals of Neo Queen Serenity destroyed human nature as we know it. The Mekani fight because something on Earth represents that which their alliance is against. And now, Section fights because history is repeating itself." "In bringing everlasting peace the Crystal Court has failed. In bringing human nature back to Earth the Fenril Knights have failed. In achieving universal harmony the Mekani have failed. In ending the cycle of hatred Section has failed. Each of them have only succeeding in amplifying that which they sought to destroy, and now it is up to those who wish to break the cycle to save us all." "But no, only the Fenril Knights have truly failed. The rest can still rectify their mistakes, because it isn't too late. I only hope those others realize what they're doing before the cycle repeats itself a fourth time." "With the dawn of Crystal Earth there came the fall of the soldiers-- discarded and forgotten by Earth. Those fighting spirits were defeated, but instead of reintegration back into society they were banished. It only served to usher the First Black Moon War, where these soldiers' descendants returned for revenge. They were thwarted, but the hatred in the survivors did continue to burn. A Second Black Moon War erupted, where the angers and hatreds from the last war left unresolved sought vengeance. They, too, were defeated and banished. And now that this Third Black Moon War is in full-swing... the hatred still burns. These wars are all fueled by hatred, because the people of Earth are unwilling to stand for their peace." "I guess that's what it all boils down to. The wars keep coming because Earth isn't willing to fight to keep its peace. No; before a fifth conflict breaks out, I will make sure to make these humans understand it as I have." "Mizuki, my eyes are open. I finally understand what it means to be a part of the human race. I finally understand why I'm a priestess of Genbu-- I will defend this world from all who threaten it. If not the sealed Mekani and the kami of the parallel world in the old days... those that would threaten Earth today... external and internal." "Shion... Hokuto... I hope you realize this one day, and I'm sorry.... I still have to do my part." "Neo Queen Serenity... your rule will end today." --- Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo Thousands of spheroid Mekani warriors circled the Crystal Palace in the emptied streets. Rows and columns of the mechanized units waited patiently in a twenty-meter radius around the outside walls, waiting patiently for no apparent reason. Aerial spheroids, equipped with superior rocket boosters, flew between structures as they patrolled the ranks, flashing search lights emitted from their smaller eyes. Any and all of those people who wished to aid in protecting the palace were in for a disappointment, as the columns, spanning for almost a mile, refused to allow anyone in the midst of their ranks-- proving a disservice to the Peacekeeper agents summoned to assist in the coming battle. Each of them were ready to deal with the coming battle, bringing their own secretly-constructed weapons, ranging from the old- model Mishima robots used by the Fenril Knights to new needle-projection cannons that operated on the rail gun principle. The Peacekeeper office in the city, located in the old Mishima Heavy Industries high-rise away from the palace, served as the command center for operations. While it was not expected to get attacked by the single-minded Mekani, it had its own fair share of defenses. The director of operations sat at the desk, and openned a channel to the main office. "CT office reporting. All is in place, and we're basically waiting for the Mekani to do something." "At least it still buys us some time," Ayame Mishima replied. "Our diversion isn't quite ready yet. The Basilisk will arrive at the outskirts of Beijing in a few minutes, and we think they're going to synchronize attacks again." "So what should we expect out of this 'diversion?'" Ayame shrugged. "Beats me. You'll know it when you see it. Over and out." --- "Plain sight is right," Ranma said, agreeing with Ukyo's previous statement. "Who would've thought that Section's home base would be in this place?" Ukyo shrugged, punching in the codes Shizuka gave her earlier. They already passed through three security doors to get to where they were, and she had no doubt that Shion was monitoring them, but there was nothing to be done about it. It was somewhat of a surprise to learn that the Inner Circle was in fact located in Crystal Tokyo, the same seat as to where Shion hoped to overthrow the government. Not only that, but the 'hidden' entrance was in nothing more inconspicuous than the local Neo Geo Land arcade center-- a rather vain location, to be sure. For a moment the Vice Executive wondered how arrogant Shion could get. "Got it," she announced, having inputted the code and receiving a green light in response. The security door before them hissed open, revealing a spiral series of stairs downward. "I guess this is it." "If it goes down any farther," Ranma observed, "we could even hit our old base." The old underground Fenril base, Ukyo knew. She wondered herself if Shion was making use of what was left there. "For all we know it's only a separate block of it, and it was there the whole time. I never went through the whole thing myself." "He probably did." --- Command Center, Griffin Mousse folded his arms, viewing the main monitor and watching its view follow the path of Cinder's tri-star- shaped shuttle arrive ahead of the Hydra. He snorted, disappointed that the kami beast would think he needed help. No, it was more like Cinder was going to steal some of his kills. He heard something skittish behind him, and knew it was only the Mekani aide. "The Eyes have been fully- adjusted to your specification, sir." "Good," the Master of Hidden Weapons said, pleased with the news. Even if he was a warrior, that never barred him from taking advantage of whatever was at his disposal. After all, underestimating the Sailor Senshi in the last war nearly killed him and any chance to avenge Shampoo. Four disc-like objects floated in front of him, each possessing a single lens-eye projecting from one of the sides. While anyone would think the Eyes were merely watchers, Mousse knew better. He looked down onto his shirt, and held up the set of prayer beads he wore. Not simply a set of beads, the Beads of Naoe were given to him after the Basilisk raid on Moscow. Such a priceless treasure, on par with the ability of Cinder's Young Phoenix, would make sure he could compete with the Sailor Senshi on even-- or greater-- terms. "This time," he vowed, "the end result will be different!" --- Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo Neo Queen Serenity stood out the highest balcony of the Crystal Palace, and surveyed the battlefield before her. Down at the gates were the Sailor Senshi-- Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and her daughter, arrayed against innumerable numbers of the Mekani horde. She watched as a Mekani shuttle arrived on the scene, and two people emerged from it-- Mousse and Cinder, she knew. She felt her husband behind her put a hand over her shoulder. "Do not worry, for the day shall be won." The world monarch said nothing, instead recalling the words she spoke to her soldiers before watching them leave the gates. It was no simple task to order people to march to their deaths, even when they were willing, as life is the most precious thing in the universe. The plans and preparations made have to work, for the sake of Earth. "Come back safely, my friends...." --- Even knowing that she really had no place in the plans made by her friends, Sailor Moon felt that she belonged there. No one asked her to leave while the Sailor Senshi were making their plans, and no one gave a second thought to her being a part of the plan. Looking toward Sailor Mercury, she asked, "How long is it?" Mercury continued to watch Mousse and Cinder emerge from their shuttle. "Any moment now. Trust in Ayame to take care of things...." "So we're waiting on her?" she asked. "Actually, we're waiting on the Mekani," Venus said. "If we act too soon they'll have time to stop us. They have to make the first move." "In Chess," Mars added, "even though black moves second, doesn't mean white, which moves first, will always win. They can orchestrate the battle, but if we provide a good enough counter we can reverse it." "Sailor Senshi!" Cinder cried, raising his sheathed sword up in the air. His abyssal voice made goosebumps on Sailor Moon's arms. "I fight to reclaim the honor which was lost to me! By exterminating my people I was unable to defend them or my honor! As the sole surviving retainer of Lord Kolvar na Strakil, I challenge you!" "Why?" Sailor Moon asked, keeping her voice low as to the Mekani commanders could not hear. "Why would they side with the Mekani to avenge...?" "It's the same as us," Sailor Saturn answered. "We fight for the sake of the princess. We would put down our lives for you, if need be. But this warrior, Cinder, was unable to defend his lord and master. He will not rest until we are dead, or he's dead." "But...." "I destroyed them," she continued. "If it wasn't for me people like Cinder wouldn't have the need to continue fighting. I used the power of Death selfishly then, but even as I changed I still must make amends for it." Saturn stepped forward, and raised her voice. "Cinder, retainer of Kolvar! It is I, Sailor Saturn, who you have issue with!" "What are you doing?" demanded Sailor Moon. She looked back, and offered a smile. "Trust me." Cinder leaned forward, scrutinizing the girl with his mechanical eye. "I have no issue with you... Sailor Saturn. What could one as young as you...." "Know that I possess the power of Death," Saturn interrupted. She waved her arm to the others. "They had no hand in the annihilation of the kami. I alone should bear that blame, because I abused the power entrusted to me for a selfish end. Death is the most impartial judge, and if it suits you, then try to take my life, but leave my friends alone." The salamander tapped his snout, as if thinking the issue over. "Well spoken, Sailor Saturn, but I will not allow you to take sole blame as such." "Do you believe I lie?" Saturn raised her Silence Glaive, as if angered. Cinder snorted in amusement, grasping the handle of his sword. "Amusing," he noted, unsheathing the blade and allowing the scabbard to dissipate in flame. "You do understand the Way of the Warrior!" "Watch her," warned Mousse. "She's stronger than she looks." "It does not matter," he assured the human. "I longed for this moment. The rest of them are yours to deal with as you please!" Mousse smirked devilishly. "I thought you'd never say so!" He raised his index finger up in the air. "All units," he ordered, thrusting his arm toward the palace, "attack!" "Now!" Sailor Mercury shouted, sending a signal through her computer. --- "Do it," ordered the Peacekeeper commander, pushing a button on the desk computer. --- "Eh?" Mousse gulped, noting that the Mekani warriors behind him had yet to charge at his command. He turned his head to glance over his shoulder, and saw that the well-formed columns had fallen into disarray. The drones were running into each other. "What the hell is this?!" he cried, turning toward Cinder, but the warrior had already rushed to meet Sailor Saturn at the half-way point between him and the Sailor Senshi... save that the five girls had vanished. "Dammit!" --- Office of the CEO, Peacekeeper HQ Ayame congratulated herself as her agents from all attack points that the Mekani drones were falling into disarray. She folded her arms and sat back in her seat in amusement. "Kanna," she said, "you got so reckless with those drones of yours. By providing us with enough bodies to test your Mekani technology with, and by using our own satellites, we can easily disrupt the communications network you use to direct orders to the drones. By flooding every frequency with garbage you won't be able to relay them orders on any channel but our own PK channel. Good luck; you'll never find the right frequency in time." "And even if you do, the Sailor Senshi have plenty of time to scour the Scylla and Charybdis to shut-down your operation for good." "I'd like to see how you're getting out of this one, my dear Kanna." --- Inner Circle, Section Secret Fortress "Very amusing, Ayame," Shion said, watching the chaotic horde of Mekani drones on his monitors. "I never thought you had it in you... but we can't allow this." He reached to the console, to the nearest agent he strategically put in place. "Terminate the link at Crystal Tokyo. That receives priority; do not allow them to continue broadcasting their pirate transmissions." "Hold it!" Shion froze in place, knowing who the voice belonged to. "Well, I never expected you to come." "Game's up, Shion," Ukyo said. "Your security is pathetic." "Looks like Shizuka was on the level, after all," Ranma noted. "Where's Hokuto?" "Hokuto?" the Section Director said. "I don't know what you're talking about. "Cut the crap!" the martial artist shouted, spinning Shion's chair around. "We know you have her!" "Is that you, Ranma Saotome?" Shion asked. "Well. It seems Shizuka did a very thorough job. So she defected to your side, or did you defect to her's? Or rather, did you defect to my side?" "You wanted us to come in; why?" demanded Ukyo. "There were so many chances for you to stop us, but you didn't." "Wait a minute," the martial artist said, looking back toward his old friend. "Who's side is Shizuka on, anyway?" "The same side we're all on," Shion stated. "The side of Earth." "Then what the hell are you doing, playing both sides against each other?" the PK Vice Executive demanded. "I assume it was already explained to you. Whoever is left standing I can wipe-out easily. It doesn't matter, really, because despite what you think, I'm not interested in taking over the world." "Then what do you want?" "I want to eliminate any and all crutches the Earth has, and force it to stand on its own, as it forgot to do long ago. Without the protection of Neo Queen Serenity or the Sailor Senshi, people may develop the courage necessary to rise on their own and grow-up again. If the Mekani win, I'll dispose of them. If the Crystal Court wins, I'll dispose of them in a similar manner. Either way, Earth will survive." "But you can't use Hokuto like a weapon!" Ranma cried angrily. "She's a human being!" "Hokuto's not what she used to be," Shion insisted. "That which I possess is merely a shell-- a parody of the real girl we knew. Even if she does turn against us, there'll still be people like you to stand up to her. Earth will find a way to defeat obstacles." "You're so damn confident in the human race," the martial artist said. "Don't you know what she can do to all of us?" "I can't let you stop me now," the Director stated simply. "Ziel...." Ranma felt something slam against him, and a similar blast hit Ukyo as well, throwing them against the wall like rag dolls. Emerging from a shadowy corner Ziel Kagura appeared, his stylized rising sun fan held open in his left hand. He snapped it shut quickly, waiting for his opponents to make a move. "Don't hurt them too much," Shion ordered, flipping a switch on his chair. The floor lowered beneath him. "Keep them busy until Hokuto wakes up. I'm counting on you." "You got it," Ziel replied. Ranma raised himself from the floor just as Shion's chair disappeared, and he regarded Ziel with anger. "Wha... do you really want to destroy the world THAT bad?!" "Believe me," Ziel said, "we only have the best interests at heart. Even if our methods are vastly different, PK or Section, our goals were always the same. But, unlike the PKs, we can't ignore the conflict by sweeping it under the rug." "I am a Wind-User," he continued. "Inheriting the blood of demons, the wind is at my command. I've studied your technique, Ranma, and your most powerful abilities are wind-based." "Is that supposed to intimidate me?" asked Ranma, forcing himself to his feet. He glanced toward Ukyo, who was coming around herself. "You think you can beat me? You're not even a martial artist!" "Ukyo," he ordered, "find Hokuto and get out of here!" "Right!" she acknowledged, but before she could get to her feet she felt the wind slice before her. Both martial artists glanced back toward Ziel, who held his folded fan at the end of a cutting arc. "No, I'm supposed to entertain the both of you. Sorry, but it's nothing personal." "Swell," muttered Ranma. "Then we'll just have to make this quick." --- Command Center, Charybdis Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter emerged from their teleport, landing right in the belly of the beast. To their surprise, the bridge's lights were dimmed very low, and any of the Mekani drones in sight were shut- down and inactive. "Well, here we are," Jupiter said, "but where's the commander?" "Looks like we hit the wrong one, after all," Venus said, sounding someone defeated and relieved at the same time. She scanned the area a second time, just to make sure the command deck really was inactive. Jupiter shivered. "I don't like this. Why would the Mekani go through all this trouble to build a decoy?" "I don't know...." Both Sailor Senshi felt a presence behind them, and their shadows before them elongated. "Welcome to the Charybdis, Sailor Senshi," the energy entity said, his voice a mere whisper in their ears. "They call me Zedaji, of the Mystral Whole, and you would make fine trophies!" Both Sailor soldiers turned around, each jumping in surprise at the sight of the will'o wisp-like creature hovering before them. As it spoke its bright nucleus at its center vibrated. "And that over there will be the entertainment." The two girls turned around again, noting the command door hissing open. Loud clomping of steps could be heard, and each knew well-enough that a Mekani was emerging. The creature appeared not unlike the beast Mousse was using against the princess earlier, and it stared at Jupiter and Venus with its huge eye blankly. "Charybdis Enforcer," Zedaji ordered, as the light gradually faded, "initiate attack!" --- Command Center, Scylla Sailor Moon opened her eyes, her view of the courtyard replaced with that of a metal structure's interior. Beside her, Sailor Mars and Mercury tensed themselves, forming a makeshift circle around the princess. "It's dark in here," Moon complained. "Shh!!" ordered Mars. "They're watching us!" Although Sailor Moon could make out Mekani drones in the dim lighting, it appeared that they were ignoring the intruders. She wondered if their plan really worked. "Maybe we got the wrong ship?" wondered Mercury. "Greetings, Sailor Senshi," came a voice out of the darkness. "We've been expecting you for quite some time. Did you only JUST decide to join us?" All three pairs of eyes faced the command door, which hissed open quickly. The huge Mekani Director, Mezzat, stood in the front, but there was another standing behind it, in the shadows. "Who're you?" asked Sailor Moon. "Director of Operations, Mezzat," the Mekani introduced itself. "Welcome to the command ship." "Then it IS the right one!" Mars let slip. "Is it?" said the one behind Mezzat. "Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury... I wish I could say it was a pleasure to see you again. And you...." Sypha Blade emerged from the darkness, her draconic eyes scrutinizing the young Sailor Moon. "You, little one... you've only signed your death wish. All you've done was fall into our grasp, as expected. The true command ship is the Basilisk." All three girls gasped, realizing they'd been trapped, when one of the monitors on the deck flickered to life. The image of Kanna Rajura appeared, holding up the sign of a 'V.' "Hello!" greeted the Crystal Spider. "I'm the one in charge of operations. Scylla and Charybdis were way too obvious, don't you think?" "You tricked us!" Mars hissed. "No one would ever think that the command ship would put itself to a lot of trouble," Kanna gloated. "I let you believe it was the Scylla, then I provided the Charybdis to psych you out. You do realize that the best way to hide something is in plain sight, right? Or, at least, make you pay attention to something other than that which you're supposed to be looking at." "And now," Mezzat declared, "since you were kind enough to enter the spider's web, you will be consumed by our power!" --- Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo Mousse walked past Cinder and Sailor Saturn, feeling somewhat frustrated that his soldiers were worthless to him. If there was anything constructive he could do, he could take out the queen while nobody else was looking. However, just a couple meters before reaching the front gate, another emerged from the nothingness. "I can't allow you to threaten the queen," she stated. The Master of Hidden Weapon's eyes widened, realizing he was going to get one of those fights he wanted anyway. He smirked. "Well, well, is it just me, or do the Sailor Senshi get new recruits all the time?" Sailor Pluto regarded her opponent with disdain. "Beware not to underestimate the Guardian of Time, Mousse!" "Oh, so you know my name!" Mousse said mockingly. "The more of you appear, the more I just have to kill! But even with such a fancy title, you can't compete with the Eyes!" He waved his arm, and the four flying units hiding behind his back spread out, forming a box around both combatants. In his outspread hand a wireframe spear appeared in his hand, then solidified, appearing just as sharp as the real thing. "Guardian of Time, meet the Master of Hidden Weapons!" --- Reports were coming in from around the siege area that the Mishima robots and needle cannons were taking out the dysfunctional Mekani drones, but the rate could be faster, the commander noted. An explosion rocked the building, catching all the occupants by surprise. The commander was out of the chair due to the proximity of the blast. No way.... "Commander!" shouted one of the officers. "The Mekani are on the move again!" "What?!" The commander heard a click from behind. "Sorry, Chika, but we can't let it go on like this." Chika, commander of the Peacekeepers called to Crystal Tokyo, slowly turned around and looked up the barrel of a pistol. "Shingo?!" "This is the absolute worst way to find out, huh?" he said, while his Section operatives moved to restrain the remaining PKs in the office. "I never knew you were a PK; and I was going to try and get you to join me." "I was going to do the same," Chika admitted. "So, you're working for my brother, huh?" "As a cell leader, yes; I take orders directly from him," Shingo replied quickly. "This is the cruelest irony, that pits the both of us on either side of the fence like this." "Your sister is the world monarch," the PK commander said. "Why?" "Why didn't you join your brother?" Shingo countered. "Neo Queen Serenity isn't my sister. My sister vanished along with the old world. That... thing, you work for, Neo Queen Serenity, is a reincarnated tyrant that eliminated my friends and brought untold misery to this world. She's like a big mother to the people of the world, true, but she's not letting them grow-up." "It's just as you say," Chika granted, "but your Section buddies are acting like spoiled children who don't get their way. That's why they support terrorists all around the world, and try to disrupt the peace and harmony Earth enjoys." "And that's where your PK illusion fails," Shingo pointed out, lowering his weapon and offering a hand. "We didn't create the conflicts; the conflicts were always there, and largely ignored by the world ruler. They're labeled 'terrorists' for being human. They're banished and exiled for being human. The world we're living in is running out of human beings as we know it." --- Neo Queen Serenity watched as the energy shield surrounding the Crystal Palace erected itself quickly, crushing any Mekani soldiers that got too close. It was only a temporary solution, she knew, as the auto- defenses brought themselves online-- and the needle cannons piercing the thin Mekani armor. Only Cinder and Mousse remained within the palace walls, battling Sailor Saturn and Sailor Pluto in even combat. She watched as the energy field created by the Eyes created more artificial-- but still dangerous-- weapons for Mousse to hurl at Pluto, and it was all she could do to defend against the never-ending attacks. Cinder's flaming sword tore at the sky, bringing the fury of Hell down against Saturn's Silence Glaive, neither able to score a good hit in yet. Turning back inside, she faced the communications mirror, where Ayame Mishima was waiting patiently. "Section operatives are countering us all over the world," Ayame reported. "It's only a matter of time before all the Mekani reorient themselves." "I see," the queen accepted. "Then it is all up to the others." "We're going to go to the back-up plan now," the Chief Executive informed her. "I really wish we didn't have to do this, but we'll just have to pick up the pieces later." "Do it." --- Command Center, Basilisk Kanna watched in horror on the world-view map as each and every satellite in orbit-- including those not usurped by the Mekani-- self-destructed. Her well- crafted web and communications network was shattered in an instant, and along with it the ability to relay orders from the command ship. "Ayame, you just get better and better," the master tactician seethed, knowing that the Mekani would not just fall into disorder this time, but fail entirely. She looked over her shoulder to the Basilisk Enforcer. "Initiate back-up array. Use the warships as the communications nodes directly. Compensate as necessary." --- Office of the CEO, Peacekeeper HQ The moment Kanna made her countermove Ayame was back on the line, bringing up communications with what PK stations that remained out of Section control, along with her current channel with Neo Queen Serenity. Both Kanna and Shion managed to move their pieces quickly across the board, and Ayame had to maintain the pace until one or both of them gave in. "Okay, guys," she said, "Kanna's trying to reallocate her resources by turning the warships into the comm nodes themselves. The moment she reestablishes the Mekani link I want all transmitters to transmit freely. During that time all communications will be cut-off-- even line transmissions-- and you will be on your own. Don't let Section compromise the remaining bases, and hold out for as long as possible." She waited as each of the remaining offices returned an affirmative to the orders, then terminating the link in turn, leaving only Neo Queen Serenity. "Your Highness," the Chief Executive said, "I'm going to join the rest of my men in defending the capitol. I hope to speak with you again when this is all over. Good luck, and heaven help us." "You did your best," the queen replied. "It is all up to the Sailor Senshi now." Ayame shook her head while reaching into a desk drawer. She produced her personal sidearm pistol, and removed the safety in full view of the world monarch. "Even if I stand alone, I will make a difference. God sent me." Terminating the link, Ayame stood up, and reached for her trench coat hanging on a nearby hanger. Tying the belt quickly, she placed her sidearm into her right pocket, and was about to leave when she thought better of it. Returning to her desk she entered several keys on the console, and one wall of her office slid away to reveal her personal arms collection. Coming from a family of arms dealers, Ayame Mishima would never believe such well-preparedness was overkill. "Now it's my turn," she said to herself. --- Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo Sailor Pluto thrust the end of her staff through one of the Eyes flying closest to her, and the weapons Mousse threw at her partially dematerialized. Although the weapons hit their mark Pluto was showing no signs of having suffered damage. With another wide swing she batted the other Eye away, sending it spiraling. The weapons in Mousse's hands remained in their wireframe mode, now that two of his precious Eyes were destroyed. "Dammit, dammit!" "Have any more gimmicks up your sleeve?" taunted Pluto. "Your attack was flawed; you lost long before you started." "No!" he hissed. "I won't be beaten again!" The beads around his neck glowed in reaction. "Now for the finish!" Pluto announced, bringing her staff around for another swing, this time aimed at Mousse. Upon impact with the Master of Hidden Weapon's body, however, the staff bounced off in recoil. For a brief instant Mousse felt his body harden, but the sensation was gone as quickly as it came. He held up the beads to his eyes. "They work...?" "Impossible," the soldier spat in disbelief, staggering a step back thanks to the force of the bounce. "It was just like hitting a boulder...." --- Cinder spun the Young Phoenix with one hand in calculated, circular motions between each slash and parry in his deadly dance against Sailor Saturn. Although the retainer was trained in hand-to-hand combat back in service of his liege, Cinder saw it fit to work toward the mastery of the hypnotic Serpent Blade. Utilizing careful, deliberate swings, the wielder of such a series of sword techniques could place the opponent in a sort of hypnotic trance. Each swing of the blade had to match the opponent's physiological motor functions, and therefore a series of swings was only useful against an opponent belonging to a single race. The series was often long and strenuous to the wielder, which made the Serpent Blade a very uncommon technique even among the salamanders. During such an incantation, however, the wielder could weaken the opponent; the longer they watched the blade, the more fatigued they got, and it worked very well since any warrior worth their salt always eyed the weapon's movement. However, the more aggressive the opponent, the longer it took to complete the incantation. Sailor Saturn certainly was forcing the salamander to take his time. "What are you waiting for?" Saturn said, gritting her teeth. "You could've finished me a long time ago!" "How observant of you!" Cinder snarled, wheeling his sword arm for another flaming swing. "I toy with you, human!" "To what end?" she quizzed him. "To buy time? Or do you still not take me seriously?" "Show me the power of Death," he replied, betraying anticipation. "Show me that which annihilates worlds and dreams!" "Never!" "Then it will only become worse for you," the salamander warned. "It will only get worse!" --- Command Center, Charybdis "...Oak Evolution!" Jupiter cried, sending showers of electrical energy from her hands raised in the air. Despite the fact that she and Venus were in close- quarters with the Mekani Enforcer, and were completely surrounded by metal, mechanical devises, it seemed the only logical option, given that the Enforcer did not seem to mind blowing holes on the command bridge's walls. Trails of electricity flew across all panels all around the two trapped Sailor Senshi, and Mekani drones sparked and exploded upon impact. The Enforcer, for its part, was flinching as it raised its foreclaws up to shield its huge red eye, but nothing could save it from attracting the lightning fury. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sailor Venus aimed her index finger at the Enforcer's eye, shouting, "Crescent Beam!" Sparks showered all around the two Senshi, blinding each of them to what was going on around them. Each of the two could smell smoke rising from some unknown source-- likely fried circuitry from all around the command center-- but they were also unable to see what was going on thanks to the sudden illumination of the room. "Fools," they heard Zedaji whisper, his voice having no discernable point of origin, "what do you hope to accomplish by destroying yourselves?" "Show yourself!" Jupiter shouted, over the noise of more short-circuits frying boards. "Put an end to this stupid war!" added Venus. "Stupid? Stupid!" mocked Zedaji, sounding amused. "No war is stupid; war is but one of a myriad of avenues by which sentient beings in the cosmos settle their differences!" "War breeds hatred," countered Venus. "And hate will only breed more war. Is that your intention?" "Tell me," the energy entity continued, "do you fear us?" "What?" "Do you fear us?" --- Command Center, Scylla "The Mekani's finest weapon!" Sypha declared, holding her Dragon Pearl in her left claw while throwing black bolts of lighting at the three Sailor Senshi with her right. "Fear and intimidation inspires order!" Sailor Mercury generated a force bubble before her, absorbing Sypha's lightning spell easily. "What kind of an order is that?" "The Mekani just uses it to scare people to give up, that's what!" Mars concluded, rising from her ducking position behind a console to lob a quick fireball. Behind Sypha, Director Mezzat remained quite calm and composed, having raised no weapon of its own to defend itself, as the black sorcerer was shielding herself-- and thus it-- with a magical barrier. Mars's fire blast washed over the spherical barrier, outlining it for a brief instant before flickering out. The young Sailor Moon stood out from behind Mercury's protection. "All we want is peace! Why don't you Mekani leave us alone?" "Useless," Mezzat said, ignoring the girl's words. "Finish them now." Sypha nodded quickly, and terminated her lightning spells. Closing her eyes, the sorcerer traced the air with her claw, muttering an incantation under her breath. "All together!" ordered Moon, and both Mars and Mercury nodded at once. Together, all three of them threw their powerful magical energies, pouring raw power against Sypha's energy shield. Within the sphere, both Mezzat and the kami sorcerer remained calm, yet the barrier was visibly weakening as it flickered rapidly. "It's working!" Moon cried, excited. At the same moment the barrier shattered into ethereal shards, Sypha finished preparing her spell, and she pointed her palm forth. Black magic spewed forth, meeting the combined energies of the three Senshi at once. For a brief moment the black energy seemed to overpower the girls, but it slowed to a crawl as the Sailor Senshi pushed themselves harder. "What is happening?" demanded Mezzat, trying its best not to sound shaken. "Attack harder!" "Shut up and help me!" Sypha screamed, beads of sweat rolling down her face quickly. "Stop being so useless to me!!" Mezzat's smaller eye spied the sorcerer carefully, but then it raised its claw and tail, and added its own fire to the struggle. Black and white flares of energy blinded all occupants of the command center as everything exploded into brilliance. --- Inner Circle, Secret Section Fortress A column of violent wind ripped through the street, sending stone and crystal flying as Ranma was forced through to the surface, with Ukyo not far behind. Both fighters crashed hard onto the street, several meters away from the hole they just created. Ziel Kagura, still calm in his composure, folded his fan back shut, satisfied at his own display. "Useless," he snorted. "You purebloods are so weak and helpless." Ukyo remained motionless, the wind knocked out of her, literally. However, to the Wind-User's surprise, Ranma was struggling to get back on his feet. "What's this?" Ziel said, taking a couple steps toward the martial artist. "You're still moving?" "Don't... underestimate... me," Ranma warned. "No shit," his opponent agreed, making two quick swipes with his folded fan. Two more wind blades shot through the air, and Ranma had to use more of his draining energy to escape their sting. Tumbling backward, Ranma managed to find his way back to his feet. Ziel sent a quick twister his direction, and this time he could not fully-escape the blast. Ranma felt the world spin rapidly, and the moment the mini-twister died his senses were disoriented again. I'm not going to lose, he vowed to himself. I didn't train all this time for nothing! Ziel has complete command of the wind around him... so how am I supposed to hit him? And yet.... "Game over!" Ziel shouted, whipping open his fan wide and swinging it. A new tornado ripped to life, this one far more violent than the first, ripped toward Ranma. "One chance!" he knew, summoning the last of his strength. "It'll have to be enough!" To Ziel's surprise, Ranma threw himself into the tornado. Thanks to his own experiences working with the Hiryu Shoten Ha, Ranma knew exactly how to catapult himself out of a tornado column quickly, and fortunately, Ziel's attack operated similarly. Shooting out the top like a bullet, Ranma quickly reached the peak of his ascent, and started to dive back toward the ground. Gathering energies with the help of gravity, Ranma spiraled downward, orienting his fist first, aiming toward Ziel at the eye of the storm. --- Siege Zone, Crystal Tokyo "No!" Neo Queen Serenity screamed, feeling the disturbance in the air. She tore herself away from the balcony, and willed her mirror to show her the Scylla. As her intuition told her, the great aerial beast was exploding near its supposed command bridge, and the ship was losing power fast, toward the polar ice caps below. Although the immediate damage would be minimal, if the Scylla would happen to melt the ice caps in its death throes, the world would undergo a global flood. Although she could not tell from her position, the queen knew, at least, her daughter was still alive... but the consequences of Scylla's death.... The Earth and its peoples must not be destroyed. Before she decided on her course of action Neo Queen Serenity already had the Silver Crystal in hand, having removed it from its pedestal nearby. The world monarch turned and approached the balcony once more. The earth rumbled beneath her feet, and the queen knew another disaster was about to strike. It was as if the whole world had gone mad in a day as she cast a glance over the edge of the balcony, between the two pairs of combatants below. A large mechanical, reptilian head burst through the ground-- a snake-like creature of steel, with a heavy blade attached to its snout, and piercing red eyes that resembled Cinder's. As the snake head raised to Neo Queen Serenity's level, a hatch on top of the beast's head opened, and the pilot emerged. "Shizuka!" "Meka-Thanatos," Shizuka introduced, pulling herself out. "My precious friend controls this beast from the Kraken, and he follows my directions." She raised her spectral claw for the world monarch to see, and flexed it. "Deathclaw!" the queen shouted. "Leave her alone!" "Pop quiz," she posed. "You've got a giant, steel snake mock-up and an angry girl, and the world is falling apart. You might be able to save it, or yourself, but not both. What are you going to do?" Neo Queen Serenity knew the answer. --- Command Center, Scylla Sailor Moon managed to bring herself to her feet, and did not hesitate to approach the wrecked Mezzat. The others remained knocked-out by the blast, but Moon wanted to know why... amidst the destruction of circuitry around her.... Without considering herself, she stood on her knees before Mezzat, and started unscrewing its eye off, just as Mousse had done before. If he was any indication... there just might be someone inside. The moment she pulled the eye off smoke rushed out of the cockpit Moon suspected existed, and she waved it away with her hand. But what she saw inside surprised her. Unconscious, Sailor Neptune lay in the cockpit. She looked no worse for wear since the last time Moon saw her, save one-- two fleshy, tentacle-like appendages wrapped around her neck. Moon gently pulled Neptune's head aside, revealing the head-sized container behind her head. A conical-shaped being, with its huge eyes closed shut, rest within, bearing numerous tentacles along the bottom, with its two longest appendages wrapped around the girl. "What is going on?!" --- Darkness "I see it, the light... and all shall share in its brilliance. I will make certain... darkness shall never fall... again." ---------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes Stay tuned for the conclusion. --Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NOhotmailSPAM.com) http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/index.html