Data 10: The Truth About Amazana Yoriko Dr. Vander Helffen looked at Daria like a teacher would with a troublesome but promising student. He sensed that he had her undivided attention. He was about to speak when Yoriko arrived; she had landed the Neo-Zero at an airfield near the facility. She stepped in and approached the two of them. "I guess you may know this individual by now," Dr. Vander Helffen said. "This is Amazana Yoriko. She is the nominal head of the NIRAA, but I wield the actual power in the organization. As you can see, she has bombed Tokyo with the Neo-Zero with complete impunity. Don't think that you and your Sailor Senshi friends will be able to defeat us; we are too powerful to stop." He continued, "And now I think it is time that I told you about myself, Yoriko and the aims of the NIRAA. Take a look at me: how old do you think I am.?" "My best guess would be in your late 30's," Daria replied. Dr Vander Helffen then launched into his exposition of himself, Yoriko and the NIRAA: "What if I told you that I am actually 89 years old. It is due to the 'Hi no Tori' Immortality Pills that I take. But I will get to that later on. What matters now is that you will hear about myself." "I was born to one of those old Junker families in the German province of Prussia. I witnessed the humiliating defeat of Kaiser Wilhelm and the Imperial Army at the hands of the decadent Americans. I swore that I would never again see my beloved Germany be humiliated. I went to the best schools in Germany and eventually entered the then young fields of genetics and cryogenics. When Adolf Hitler organized the Nazi Party, I joined and offered my services to the Fuehrer in creating the 'Master Race' that he sought to have. When the Nazis rose to power I received approval from the Fuehrer to conduct more experiments. I carried them out on the inferior Jews and crippleds." "But my greatest achievement was when I created the 'Hi no Tori' Immortality Pills. When the Nazis conquered North Africa, an ancient text from Egypt was brought over to me. This text had been copied from ancient Chinese documents dating back to the time of Master Kung himself and made its way through India, Iran, Saudi Arabia and finally over to Egypt. It was an ancient formula for creating an immortality pill that allegedly came from the legendary Phoenix itself; 'Hi no Tori' is Japanese for 'Firebird' or 'Phoenix'. Apparently the writer had been to Japan, where the Phoenix appeared to him in a vision with Amaterasu-Omikami, the Sun Goddess, and her brother, Susano, the Wind God. The recipe called for the rarest of ingredients, which even today are very hard to procure. But procure them I did, and created the first batch. I have taken the pills since I was in my early 30's." "It was the creation of this pill that led me to my next task: Creating for the Fuehrer a race of 'Ultra Soldiers' who would defend the Fatherland from the American subhumans and exterminate the Jews, crippleds, Gypsies, and other inferior races. I toiled throughout the War to create the serum. But, when I finally perfected it, the final assault on Berlin had begun, and the Soviet armies were closing in on me. I ran to the Japanese Embassy and they conducted me out of the country, but not before I found out that my beloved Fuehrer and Eva Braun had killed themselves. I decided to go to Japan and hopefully give to them the Ultra Soldier formula and thus at least help them defeat the Americans. However, the military leaders would not hear of it from me. Remember, they, and not Emperor Hirohito were in actual control; the Emperor was a mere puppet in their hands. I stayed in Tokyo and hoped that they would be desperate enough to finally come to me. However, the Americans soon used their atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the militarists surrendered." "However, that soon proved to be a boon to me. Shortly before the atomic bombings, I had learned that Gen. Tojo Hideki had an illegitimate child as a result of an affair he had with a prostitute who lived in the pleasure quarters of the Ginza. As soon as the American occupation forces arrived, I knew I had to act quickly. They wanted to seize the child from its mother as punishment for her infiltrating American lines disguised as a runaway Korean comfort woman and wheedling out secrets from the American soldiers, which she then told Gen. Tojo about. They wanted to take the child to the United States, put her up for adoption and erase any memory of her ancestry. They were afraid that if there was a child of Tojo's who was aware of his or her heritage, he or she might organize a new extremist organization that would take over Japan. I, however, got to the prostitute's home first, and promised the woman that I would take care of her girl. Soon enough, the American forces arrived at her house, and got so incensed that they could not find the child that they arrested her, charged her with espionage, and had her executed." "Meanwhile, I had spirited her away with me to Argentina, where I lived for a while. There I injected my first batch of 'Ultra Soldier' serum into her, but there was an unexpected reaction; the results were unstable. I was forced to place her in cryogenic stasis until I could create an antidote. It took me twenty-five years for me to do that, during which I refined the 'Ultra Soldier' formula. When I finally got her out of cryogenic stasis, I used the antidote on her, then used the refined formula. The results were amazing. She now can lift 65 tons over her head, has the endurance of fifty men, and is in better physical condition than the best Olympic athlete. I began to indoctrinate her on Nazi philosophy, using of course the Fuehrer's classic text 'Mein Kampf'. I had also sent her to the best schools in Japan; eventually, she got her Master's Degree in Political Science from Tokyo University. Yoriko has been raised since she was thawed to be loyal to me. I also have her on the 'Hi no Tori' pill." "And now, you will learn about my plan to conquer the world. As soon as we make the civilian government surrender to us, we will launch an aggressive campaign to take back what is rightfully Japan's.We will retake the Kuriles and Sakhalin Island from Russia; we will retake the Pescadores from China. We will reannex both Koreas and Taiwan. We will conquer Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Mynamar, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Bhutan ,Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and the other Oceanic nations. We will then declare war on the United States, Great Britain, Russia, China and France and use nuclear bombs that we will appropriate from the seized American bases that we take over. After those five nations are humiliated, we will threaten to unleash more nuclear weapons on the rest of the world unless it submits to Japan. No one will be able to stop us, NO ONE!" "Yes, there is something that will stop you," Daria said. Dr. Vander Helffen continued unabated: "And what will that be? God? The spirit of the Japanese people? Humanity? Freedom? The Americans or the Russians? What will stop us, Daria?" Daria replied, "Public opinion will, because if you think the rest of the world is going to just let you waltz into power and start this mayhem of yours, you're even crazier than I suspected." Dr. Vander Helffen was aghast. He continued: "Public opinion will stop me? Are you serious? See what decadence is out there right now. The public is being sated by a modern-day version of the old Roman 'bread and circuses' tactics. This time, it's senseless media controlled by very few people, who make people watch trash that's full of lies, half-truths, distortions, colored opinions, useless trivia, promiscuous sex, wanton violence and degradation. You have celebrities and sports people who act outrageously and get away with it; further, not a month passes by now unless there's news of a shooting in a school. Do I have to remind you about the Latrell Sprewell incident or the shootings at Jonesboro, Arkansas and Springfield, Oregon? Is it any wonder groups like mine exist in many nations around the world? We're trying to restore sanity to this world. There are groups like mine all over the world: the National Front in France; the Neo-Nazi skinheads in Germany, the Neo- Fascists in Italy; even in your country there are the right-wing militias and the white supremacists and the disgruntled anti-government taxpayers groups like the All-County Taxpayers Association." "And there are weirdoes like Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols who bomb Federal office buildings and kill innocent people," Daria said. "Dr. Vander Helffen, the world you are dreaming of is in reality a nightmare; it would be a world ruled by madmen who think only they can be the source of law and order and that those who oppose them--especially minorities, the disabled and the poor--have to be exterminated. Hitler was real close to bringing such a nightmare world to reality, but he was stopped. Your dream isn't about restoring Japanese glory, it's about bringing a Fourth Reich to existence. If you think my friends and I are going to just stand aside and let you and others like you get away with this, then you are dead wrong. We will stop you even it it's the last thing we ever do." Yoriko got mad and slapped Daria. "You're just wasting your breath on her," Yoriko said to Dr. Vander Helffen. "You're right," he said. "Take her away to be executed!" Daria was untied from the chair and taken away. "Great, " she began to say to herself, "just a few days ago, I was worrying about Beavis and Butt-Head heckling me at the football game; now I'm about to be executed by firing squad. That's the sick, sad story of my life." ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- The Lawndale Courthouse was filled with Lawndale Militia personnel. In the chambers a moot trial was about to be held against the Mayor, the City Council and the City Judge. Anthony Corlew was going to be the judge, with twelve of his closest associates being the jury. Anthony stood up and banged the gavel. He then said: "This trial is now set to begin. All of the defendants are accused of the following crimes: fraud; corruption; bribery; funneling taxpayers' money to welfare-cheating minorities and disabled persons; indoctrinating our children with poisonous politically correct doctrine while in school and encouraging promiscuity by having condoms available at the high school. The punishment for all of these crimes shall be death by firing squad. The trial shall begin." Somehow, the outcome was known beforehand, but they wanted to have this trial so as to look legitimate in the eyes of the public. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- At SDF Headquarters, Usagi was fighting for her life. But now there was another concern as well. "Daria has been gone for hours," Rei said. "She should know better than to just run off on her own personal vendettas." "Save your bratty attitude for later," Mamoru yelled. "Can't you see the woman I love is in critical condition?" Rei was taken aback from Mamoru's yelling at her. It wasn't too long ago, after all, that she was once his girlfriend. Then she found out that Usagi and Mamoru were meant to be together. She had her complaints, her arguments, and even her fights, but far be it form her to stand in the way of destiny. Somehow, however, it just seemed so unfair. She began to cry. "Rei, I didn't mean to snap at you like that," Mamoru finally said. "I just hope to God that Mako can get the Star Lights over here as soon as possible." Just then, a Ground SDF soldier arrived and spoke to Gen. Torymura: "Sir, you might want to see this. It's a video from a surveillance camera. It seems that Ms. Morgendorffer is being taken in the direction of Olympic Stadium by the NIRAA. I think they may be planning to execute her." "Mr. Chiba, Ms. Kaiou, I want the both of you to go over there and rescue our missing operative,", Gen. Torymura said. "You're asking Tuxedo Mask to leave the side of the woman he adores so you can launch a commando operation? That is pathetic," Michiru said in response. "It's all right," Mamoru replied. He turned to Usagi and said, "Usako, my love, I promise you that I will return to you. If, however, I lose you, I swear before all that is holy, just and true that I will not rest until the bastard who did this to you is stopped for all time. Twice you almost lost me because of my own carelessness; I don't want to lose you due to your own. This I swear!" With that, he gathered his cape around himself, grabbed the walking cane he had and departed with Sailor Neptune. Just then, they arrived: The Sailor Star Lights. Their names were Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer. Sailor Star Healer's talents were going to be needed. "I came back as soon as I could," Makoto said. "Right now, I wouldn't be surprised if we had to call on the Amazoness Quartet eventually as well. The entire city is in chaos." "Where is our leader?," Sailor Star Healer said. Chibi-Usa pointed at her. "You must hurry," she said, "if she dies, then it'll be as if I never existed." Sailor Star Healer went over to Sailor Moon. She looked at her. "This will take almost all of my healing energy, but it can be done," she said. With that, she placed her hands over Usagi's forehead, and energy immediately flowed from her to Usagi. Rei got on her knees and prayed: "Kannon, Goddess of Mercy, spare Usagi's life. I know we haven't gotten along too well in the past, but I couldn't have asked for a better leader. This I pray." All Luna and Artemis could do was watch. "It's all up to her now," Luna finally said. "She has to pull through; if she doesn't, all will be lost!," Artemis added. Everyone was hoping for the best. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Olympic Stadium was built for the 1964 Summer Games.Those games were to showcase a Tokyo that had been successfully resurrected from the wartime destruction that had wreaked as much havoc on the city as did the 1923 earthquake. But now it seemed to be a monument to past glories. Japan was in an economic slump, and the facility seemed so dated now. Sitting where Emperor Hirohito himself had declared the Games opened, Dr. Vander Helffen--along with Yoriko--were watching some NIRAA soldiers tie Daria up to a flagpole for her execution. As custom dictated, the soldier asked for a few requests. "Blindfold?," the soldier asked. "No," Daria replied. "Cigarette?," the soldier asked again. Daria said, "I don't smoke." Finally, the soldier asked, "Any last words?" "I don't have any last words," shot back Daria, "but I do have this." She wrenched her free hand from the other soldier who was tying her up, and gave the middle finger to Dr. Vander Helffen and Yoriko. The soldier seized the hand and tied it to the flagpole. "How dare she do that!," Yoriko said. Dr. Vander Helffen now stood up. Five NIRAA soldiers were standing about twenty paces away from Daria.. He took a ceremonial Prussian field marshal's sword that had been his grandfather's and held it up in the air. "When I yell 'FIRE!' and drop my sword, execute her," he commanded. The soldiers loaded up their rifles. Another soldier began to beat a drum. "READY!," Dr. Vander Helffen shouted. The soldiers took up their rifles. Dr. Vander Helffen they yelled, "AIM!" They all focused on Daria. Dr. Vander Helffen was now ready to yell "FIRE!" and drop his sword, but then a red rose dart hit him right between the eyes. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!," Dr. Vander Helffen yelled. Suddenly, there was another yell: "SUPER NEPTUNE TYPHOON, OVERWHELM!" Suddenly, a wall of water crashed down on the firing squad, sweeping them away. Daria noticed that it was all the way up to her chin. But then Tuxedo Mask came out of nowhere, grabbed onto the pole, and wrapping one arm around the pole and using his free hand, took a rose dart and cut the ropes binding Daria to the pole. Then, he took out his walking stick, which extended, and used that to pole vault their way to the stands. She noticed that Sailor Neptune was standing there, with her trident over her head. "Am I ever glad to see you guys!," Daria said. "Save the congratulations for when we get back to SDF Headquarters," Tuxedo Mask said. They made good their escape. Yoriko went over to Dr. Vander Helffen. "Are you OK?," she asked. Dr. Vander Helffen replied, "He got me right between the eyes." "I swear, I will get vengeance for this!," Yoriko said. "We will have the last laugh!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- When Daria, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Neptune returned to SDF HQ, Usagi was still fighting for her life. "Why is this taking so long?," Minako said, almost at the verge of tears. "See what your foolishness has done?," Mamoru said. "I swear, Usagi wasn't as obnoxious in the beginning as you are right now!" Sailor Star Healer said, "I'm almost at the end of my resources here!" "C'mon, Mom," Chibi-Usa was saying to herself, "Dad and I are counting on you to pull through!" It was then that Gov. Nagai, the Solar Warrior and the rest of the Nagai campaign team arrived. "Who authorized you to be here?," Gen. Torymura said. "I have the permission of both the Emperor and the Prime Minister," Gov. Nagai said. "If you want to file a complaint, take it up with them." The Solar Warrior saw Usagi's condition and knew he had to act quickly. He took out what looked like a small yellow disc and placed it on Usagi's head. "What are you doing?," Sailor Star Healer said. "It is a Solar Healing Disc," the Solar Warrior replied. "The very energy of the Sun will heal her." Suddenly, the disc began glowing, coursing energy throughout Usagi's body. Usagi was beginning to moan in pain, but soon the pain was finally easing. Finally, within a minute, all the injuries had healed themselves. "Give her time to rest," the Solar Warrior said. "She is out of danger now." "I think it is time you finally leveled with us and talked about who you are and how you came to be," Tuxedo Mask said. "Even when I was Endymion back in the Silver Millennium I never heard about you or your exploits. Are you really who you claim to be, or are you working for the enemy?" "I see that some of the doubts that Usagi and Luna have about me since in the beginning has rubbed off on you," the Solar Warrior said. "But now I will finally tell my tale. Take it from me, once you hear it , all doubts will be erased."