Data 16: Tokyo Game, Set, and Match Dr. Vander Helffen, now clad in his Iron Cross robotic armor, was heading down the deserted streets of Tokyo on his way to the Imperial Palace. He was not aware that the Neo-Zero had been shot down. He was planning to deal with Yoriko eventually, she had gotten too big for her britches. But he also knew that he had to take his next 'Hi no Tori' immortality pill soon, or suffer grave consequences. He was nearing the street he needed to go down to in order to get to the Imperial Palace. However, Ryu was blocking his way. "Dr. Vander Helffen! I won't let you get away with this!," Ryu said. "The Japan you want to bring back has long been discredited!" "Get out of my way, traitor!," Dr. Vander Helffen said. He picked up a Mazda and flung it right at him. Ryu got out of the way in time, but then was bushwhacked by a sucker punch that sent him through a wall. Ryu slowly got up. On his bare forearms were the dragon and tiger tattoos that were given to him after he was admitted as a Shaolin priest. A wise man named Kwai Chang Caine, who he met in his travels abroad, once said that strength and might was not all there was at battle; intelligence was as important. Use your foe's strengths against him. Ryu went to Dr. Vander Helffen and launched into a roundhouse kick. Dr. Vander Helffen swung a fist at him, but instead knocked down a facade, sending bricks raining down on him. However, Dr. Vander Helffen shook that off and approached Ryu. Suddenly, there was a searing blast of solar energy from nowhere. "SOLAR FLARE DISCHARGE ATTACK!," yelled a voice. The solar energy knocked Dr. Vander Helffen down. Tetsuo stepped out of some rubble. "You evil man!," he said, "I am the Solar Warrior, servant to Amaterasu-Omikami, Goddess of the Sun and defender of Japan! In the name of the Sun you are judged!" Dr. Vander Helffen yelled in anger, "I WILL KILL YOU ALL!" He charged at them. Ryu and the Solar Warrior now launched a double-barreled assault. They pounded him hard, real hard. The Iron Cross armor was beginning to buckle, then finally, it fell apart and exploded, ejecting Dr. Vander Helffen out of it. He was severely injured. Ryu and the Solar Warrior approached him. "Give yourself up!," the Solar Warrior said. "Never!," Dr. Vander Helffen said. "Once I take this last 'Hi no Tori' immortality pill, I will be as strong as ever. He took it out of his vial and was about to put it in his mouth, but in his haste to swallow it, it missed his mouth, rolled across the street and rolled into the sewer. Dr. Vander Helffen screamed in agony: "NOOOOOOOOOO! IT WAS THE LAST ONE! NOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Suddenly, a hideous transformation took place. Dr. Vander Helffen was aging rapidly before Ryu and the Solar Warrior. His hair turned gray and fell out. His skin wrinkled up. His bones sagged in arthritic pain. All this rapid aging proved to be too much, and Dr. Vander Helffen fell down dead from a heart attack. But this was not the end of that. Suddenly, the body began to rapidly decompose. The skin rotted away to nothing, then the muscles, intestines and sinews as well. Then the skeleton rapidly turned to dust, and was blown away in all directions by the wind. Thus was the horrible end of Dr. Helmut Vander Helffen, former genetic expert to Hitler, shadowy leader of the New Imperial Rule Assistance Association. Ryu and the Solar Warrior saw the whole thing. "Now he's gone to Yomi, the land of the dead, where he belongs!," the Solar Warrior said. "Now we have but one more enemy to face: Amazana Yoriko," Ryu said. Ryu got out his portable communicator to contact the Sailor Senshi. It was time to find Yoriko. "Sailor Senshi, can you hear me?," he said. "I hear you," Daria said. Ryu then asked, "Where is Amazana Yoriko?" "I think she parachuted her way to the Mitsubishi Building," Daria replied. "We'll met you there," Ryu said. He and the Solar Warrior headed off in that direction. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Yoriko had landed on the roof of the Mitsubishi Building. For now, she was alone. "I will never surrender!," she said to herself. She took a look at the streets below. The NIRAA soldiers were engaged in fierce fighting with the SDF now. It seemed that everyone had taken the Emperor's message to heart and were now fighting to rid Japan of the NIRAA. "Those fools," she said, "if they think they can defeat us, they are crazy!" Suddenly, the door of the stairway leading to the roof was kicked pen, and Sailor Moon, along with the other Sailor Senshi, Tuxedo Mask, Jane, Trent, Jesse, Mack, his cousin Brian, Jodie, Ryu and the Solar Warrior entered. "Amazana Yoriko, give yourself up!," said Sailor Moon; "I am the pretty soldier Eternal Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice! These are the Sailor Senshi and our allies! In the name of the Moon and in the name of a free and democratic Japan, we will punish you!" "You're already too late!," Yoriko yelled. "We've bombed most of Tokyo to rubble, and even now the civilian government's thinking of surrendering! At long last, my father, Gen. Tojo Hideki, will be vindicated!" "As long as my master, Amaterasu-Omikami, Goddess of the Sun, shines above in the heavens, I swear you will never succeed in your evil plans!," the Solar Warrior said. "Once the NIRAA has seized power, you will all be destroyed!," Yoriko said. Daria wanted to cut to the heart of the matter. "Why is it," Daria said, "that your organization wants to bring back the form of tyranny that brought so much suffering to millions of innocent people?" "Do not question me!," Yoriko said. "We want to make Japan the leader of the world!" "May I remind you that the military government that ruled during World War II was responsible for such things as the attack on Manchuria, the Rape of Nanjing, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Baatan Death March, the POW camps, the Korean comfort woman, and other atrocities?," Daria said. "Certainly you're planning to do all that and worse!" "I WILL SILENCE YOU ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME, YOU MINX!," Yoriko said. She took the vial of the only "Hi no Tori" immortality pills left in the world and swallowed them all. She screamed as a hideous transformation took place. She grew to be fifty feet tall, and now had horns on her head, green hair and was wearing a tiger skin suit. She now had sharp teeth and sharp claws. She had transformed into a gigantic oni, or ogre. "Oooooo, you've really made her mad now, Daria," Jane said. "Tell me about it," Daria replied. "FALL BACK!," Sailor Moon said to everyone. Yoriko now seized Daria and threw her on the roof again. She then stepped on her with her left cloven foot. "Now I will crush you like Japan will do to all who oppose her!," Yoriko said. "Then I will kill you all!" "We've got to save Daria!," Sailor Moon said. Now every Sailor Senshi unleashed her attack, some of them were old, some of them new: "MOON PRINCESS HALATION!" "SHABON SPRAY, FREEZING!" "MARS SOUL FIRE, IGNITE!" "JUPITER THUNDER, CRASH!" "VENUS CRESCENT BEAM, SMASH!" "SATURN SPEAR ATTACK!" "URANUS SWORD ATTACK!" "NEPTUNE DEEP SUBMERGE!:" "PLUTO MIRROR ATTACK!" "CHIBI-MOON LOVE BEAM ATTACK!" Tuxedo Mask lunged his extended walking cane at the creature as well. Ryu launched into a roundhouse kick. The Solar Warrior then launched into his "SOLAR FLARE DISCHARGE ATTACK!" But it all seemed to be in vain; Yoriko still was standing. Now she stepped harder on Daria. "Mon, Dad, Quinn, I now realize you'll never hear me say this, but I've always loved you!," Daria said to herself. Suddenly, there was a dazzling flash of light that blinded everyone. There was a loud voice that pierced the air: "I am Amaterasu-Omikami, Goddess of the Sun and Protector of Japan! I have heard the pleas of my people to deliver them from their peril and I will save them, for the battle and the victory are mine! Amazana Yoriko, in the name of the Sun and of my people that I care for deeply, you are judged!" Amaterasu-Omikami now appeared, brandishing the legendary sword Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, which belonged to her brother Susano, the God of the Wind. She unsheathed the sword and swung it at Yoriko. Yoriko parried the blow with her left arm, then tried to wrest the sword from Amaterasu-Omikami. Suddenly, Susano himself appeared and blew cold wind into Yoriko's face, sending her howling. Brandishing the spear that Izanagi and Izanami used to create Japan, he plunged it into Yoriko's belly, sending her howling. She got off Daria, who stood up again. Yoriko withdrew the spear and flung it at Susano, who grabbed it. Amaterasu- Omikami now charged at Yoriko with Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, and drove it home right into Yoriko's heart. The creature was not dead, but now was weakened and in bitterest agony. "My child," Amaterasu-Omikami said to Rei, "Use the powers of the miko that are yours by birthright to banish the demon." Rei took a demon banishment scroll and said, "This is for you, Grandpa! Akuryo taisan!," and flung it at the creature, sticking to its forehead. "Ami, Daria, freeze her!," Sailor Moon said. They both said "SHABON SPRAY, FREEZING!," and froze Yoriko solid. "Now, Sailor Moon," Amaterasu-Omikami said, "finish her off! Destroy this demon and end this war!" Sailor Moon took out her Moon Scepter and pointed it at the creature. "MOON PRINCESS HALATION!" The magic beams hit the creature with such force that it exploded with a loud "BOOM!" Everyone was knocked off their feet by the violent explosion. Daria, however was blown over and nearly fell to the street save for her grabbing a railing. Daria was hanging on for dear life. Suddenly, an arm grabbed her, and Daria grabbed it with both hands and was taken to safety. It turned out to be Jane. "Thanks, Jane," Daria said, "I owe you one!" "Now to end this battle once and for all!," Amaterasu-Omikami said. Suddenly, fiery shafts shot out of her fingers, and they traveled all around Tokyo, incinerating every last NIRAA ninja soldier. Suddenly, it was all over. Amazana Yoriko and the NIRAA were obliterated. The dark clouds that were hanging over Tokyo began to dissipate as the Sun began to shine through. "Thus as the sunshine dissipates the storm clouds, a new era dawns for Japan," Amaterasu-Omikami said. "Amazana Yoriko and the NIRAA have been destroyed. Peace reigns again. I want to congratulate all of you for helping me stop these deadly adversaries. As a token of my favor, receive these." Once again, fiery shafts emerged form her fingers, but this time they solidified into gemstones. "These solar gemstones will serve as a reminder of your heroic deeds in saving my people," Amaterasu-Omikami said."Keep them with pride, and pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Remind them of the time you saved my people from tyranny. And now I must leave you. Come, my brother, we will return to the heavens. I will leave you with my blessing: may you live long and healthy lives for as long as the Sun shall shine in the skies." Thus the two gods left our plane of existence for theirs. Everyone stood there speechless for a minute. Finally, Sailor Moon said, "We did it. We all did it. We saved Japan." They could hear the SDF soldiers below singing "Kimigayo" again, followed by a chorus of "BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI!" A new era had dawned on Japan, and the world was never going to be the same. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- A few days later, a huge crowd had gathered in the Throne Room of the Imperial Palace. There were ambassadors, members of the Diet, and SDF soldiers, sailors and airmen as well as the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Imperial Family. Also there was Representative-Elect Nagai; despite the horrible damage Tokyo suffered, the by-election went on as scheduled, and he won by a landslide. The Sailor Senshi, Ryu, the Solar Warrior, Gen. Torymura and Jane were all going to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest medal Japan could bestow. They all entered the room, and everyone smartly stepped aside to allow them passage. They walked up to the Emperor and stopped in front of him, bowing deeply. "Honored heroes," the Emperor began, "today a grateful Japan gives to you the highest award this nation can bestow for bravery above and beyond the call of duty: the Order of the Rising Sun. Wear these medals with pride. Remember the sacrifices you made to save our nation from peril." The Emperor them pinned the medals on each of them. After that, the crowd cheered "BANZAI!" five times. Gen. Torymura then stepped forward to say a few words: "I want to commend the brave actions made by all those who were under my command in this situation. We were fighting against impossible odds but we succeeded. But I do not know if I am worthy of such high merit. I must confess a shortcoming to you that occurred fifteen years ago. I was on patrol that day when the Soviets shot down the KAL jet that wandered into their airspace. We should have done something to avert the tragedy, but we felt bound by Article 9. Although we had been cleared of negligence, I still feel some moral responsibility for what happened because my sister and brother-in-law were on board. But now I can begin to atone for my shortcomings." He motioned to Makoto and continued, "I hereby vow to you all that I will take care of my niece Kino Makoto, whose parents were on board that plane, and I will finance her college education. She will live with my wife and children as well as myself. She will once again have a family." The crowd applauded. Tears of joy were running down Makoto's face. Daria clapped with the others; meanwhile, she knew that she had to catch a flight after this, and there was one small matter she had to take care of at a duty free shop before that. . . ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- At Narita Airport, Daria, Jane, Trent, Jesse, Jodie and Mack were going to take the next flight to Lawndale. But there was some matters to take care of first. "Well," Ami said, "since I didn't register, I lost my tuition deposit. Now I'll have to wait another year for pre-med. Besides, I don't think I'm ready for it yet, anyway." "Good call, Ami-chan," Usagi said, "we need you big time." "I guess this means my career as Sailor Mercury is over," Daria said. "It most certainly is!," Luna said. "Ami, Daria, grab onto my tail." They did, and the Sailor Mercury powers were transferred back to Ami. "Well," Daria said, "back to just being a mere mortal!" "Hey," Jane said, "you still have your ability to put down people!" "Daria," Usagi said, "on behalf of all the Sailor Senshi, thanks for all your help. If we ever get a chance to visit Lawndale, we'll look you up. Keep in touch with us, OK?" "We will," Daria said. "Mikey," Brian said, "it was nice meeting you again, even if it was brief." "Next time you go on leave, drop by," Mack said. "I'm going to miss you guys," Daria said, then hugged all the Sailor Senshi. The PA announcer said that the Lawndale flight was now boarding. "We've got to go now," Daria said. "Keep the faith!" Daria and her friends then went down the gate. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- The Sailor Senshi returned to Tokyo. It was now midnight. Most of the Sailor Senshi were with their parents in the emergency shelters that were set up around the area. Usagi's parents hadn't returned from the resort yet, so she and Chibi-Usa were staying with Luna and Rei in Mamoru's apartment. Usagi and Mamoru were sleeping together. Usagi got up, put on a robe, walked across the apartment past the couches where Luna, Rei and Chibi-Usa were sleeping and stepped onto the balcony. She could see the horrific damage that Tokyo suffered. Mamoru then joined her. "Mamo-chan," Usagi said, "with all the horrible things that have just happened here, and with all the evil that is still rampant in this world, will we ever realize Crystal Tokyo?" "Perhaps it won't come to pass exactly the way everyone thought it would," Mamoru said, "but it is still possible. Maybe it is up to us to make it happen. Tokyo will be rebuilt, and it will be people like us who will rebuild it. It will take people like Gov. Nagai to realize that vision, that future we're all fighting for. Besides, I think I can make a difference here and now. Tomorrow I'm going to announce that I want to seek the Komeito nomination for the governorship of Tokyo-to. And I wouldn't mind if you were my First Lady." Usagi asked, "Mamo-chan, are you asking me to marry you?" Mamoru replied, "Yes, Usako." "Then," answered Usagi, "in that case, of course." Mamoru then pointed outside and said, "Tsukino Usagi, take a look around you. From the ashes we will build a better future for all of us. If that isn't worth fighting for, than what is. At least if we are to fight for it, let us do that side-by-side, husband and wife." They then kissed and returned to bed. They made love, and they fell asleep, Mamoru's head laying across Usagi's breasts. Usagi then said to herself, "We will fight for a better future, Queen Serenity, and we will do it together." ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- At Lawndale International Airport, Helen, Jake and Quinn were waiting for Daria's flight to arrive. "When are they going to get here?," Jake said. "You know airlines," Helen said, "they're always running behind schedule!" Suddenly, Daria and her friends came down the gate. They ran up to Daria and hugged her. "Welcome home, sweetheart!," Jake said. "We're so happy you're back." "Quinn," Daria said, "I have this for you." It was a box. "What's in it?," Quinn asked. "I hope it's not a bomb!" "Quinn!," Helen said. "Open it and see," Daria said. Quinn did, and a very beautiful kimono was inside. Quinn held it up to her and said, "Oh, Daria! This is so beautiful! I'm going to wear this to the next meeting of the Fashion Club!" "Man, am I ever glad to be back home," Trent said. "You know, Trent," Daria said, "I have to agree with you." ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Since it was the weekend when she arrived back, Daria spent Friday night at her house, then spent Saturday at Jane's place. That night, she and Trent had a frank talk about their feelings for each other, and they wound up sleeping together. It was midnight now, and they were lying in bed. Daria laid her head across Trent's chest. She was trying to find some words, but all she said at first was: "Trent, take a good look at me and ask me if I'm really small- breasted." Trent replied, "Daria, no matter now big those things are, you're still a beautiful woman to me." Daria continued, "Trent, I'm glad we finally admitted that we love each other. This has been a special night for me. But what led you to finally confess your feelings for me?" Trent began to reply: "Well, I spoke to that Mamoru cat, and he told it like it was for him when he first met that Usagi babe. He told me he once hated her and called her 'Dumpling-Head', but over time he realized how special she was to him, though he didn't have the guts to say it at first. But now they're real close, man. Mamoru gave me the courage to finally speak out. I'm glad he did." "And I'm glad he did, too," Daria said as she grabbed some body oil and began rubbing it on Trent. Daria now felt good being nude, and so did Trent. Jane heard everything that was going on through the wall and smiled to herself. "At last, my brother's admitted he's crazy for Daria," she said to herself. "Hell, maybe someday they'll get married and have kids and I'll be a good aunt to them and teach them to be artists like me!" Jane went off to sleep with a self-satisfied smirk. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- After spending Sunday at home, Daria returned to school. At first, she was a bit reprehensive since she was an outcast, but when she entered, it seemed everyone was asking questions about what had happened and what she did. Now, that school was letting out for the day, everyone was crowding around her. "You've just got to tell me who does your clothes," Sandi said, "that combat fatigue look is so chic!" "Want to go to my party this Friday night?," Brittany said, twirling her hair around her finger and staring into space, "I know some guys who might be interested in you!" "Thanks, but I'm already spoken for," Daria said. "You know, Daria, you're an OK person," Kevin said. "If you ever want to join the Fashion Club, you're welcome to," Stacy said. "And to think that just a few days ago, nobody wanted to talk to you," Jane said. "Well, I just hope my fifteen minutes of fame lasts a bit longer than most others," Daria said. Daria saw Quinn coming with her boyfriends Joey, Jeffy and Jamie. "And this is my heroic sister, Daria!," Quinn said. "I thought she was your cousin," Joey said. "That was all rumors!," replied Quinn. "She really is my sister, and I'm proud of it!" Suddenly, Upchuck arrived. "Hey, Quinn," Upchuck said, "want to go to my place for some tutoring, if you know what I mean? ROWR!" "Leave me alone, Upchuck!," screamed Quinn. "I'll handle this, Quinn," Daria said. "SHABON SPRAY, FREEZING!" Upchuck was frozen to his neck. "I thought you gave up all of Sailor Mercury's powers," Jane said. Daria replied, "Not all of them, Jane; after all, I have to teach some idiots here a lesson!" "C'mon," Jane said, "Let's go get a pizza!" She flung her arms around Daria and Quinn and left along with the others. Upchuck was all alone. He began to scream, "Hey, isn't anyone going to get me thawed out? Anyone? HELP!" Mr. DeMartino saw him there. "I've been waiting a long time for this, Charles," he said. "And I'm going to relish this! There's one word I've been dying to tell you for the longest time." Upchuck asked him, "And what's that, Mr. DeMartino?" Suddenly, Mr. DeMartino yelled, "SHADDUP!" He left Upchuck where he was. The lights were turned off and the doors locked. Upchuck now began to shriek in his loudest voice possible: "HELP! HELP! ANYONE! I'LL PAY A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO ANYONE WHO CAN FREE ME!" Upchuck kept this up for a few minutes, then finally said, "Why do I always get into these predicaments?" ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- EPILOGUE A government investigation led by Representative Nagai revealed that the NIRAA was a deep-rooted conspiracy that involved some corporate executives, some non-commissioned SDF officers and even some minor bureaucrats. Massive arrests were made. Chiba Mamoru won the election to fill out Nagai's term as governor of Tokyo-to and married Usagi. They soon had a child, Chibi-Usa. The older Chibi-Usa then returned to her time. Rei took over as chief priest for the reconstructed Sendai Hill Shrine and honed her mental abilities until only Charles Xavier was a stronger telepath then her on Earth. Ami eventually did go to pre-med in Germany, and fulfilled her complete medical studies in the United States sometime later. She later joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic and helped find a cure for childhood leukemia. Makoto joined the Japanese Olympic team and won several gold medals in track and field in the 2004 Games in Athens. Gen. Torymura eventually was named to the SDF Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hamada Ieyasu declined to be awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, saying that serving his nation was reward enough. He died shortly thereafter; his ashes were scattered from his beloved Nick over Tokyo Bay. The Nick is now at the SDF museum. The Solar Warrior still fights for truth and justice to this very day; he's had various adventures which will probably someday be told in another tale. Japan truly changed from the Neo-Zero affair. It fully apologized for what it did in World War II and promised to help better relations with its neighbors and the world community at large. The Sailor Senshi are still committed to a better future for Japan and the world. A Federal investigation revealed that the Lawndale Militia had extensive firepower in reserve and that many upstanding members of the community were part of it. There were many convictions, and most were either sentenced to death or life without parole. Daria and Trent eventually married. They have a daughter, Usagi, and a son, Mamoru. Their Aunt Jane is getting their artistic talents honed. Daria eventually became a lawyer like her mother. She successfully argued the case before the Supreme Court that struck down the 1996 welfare reform laws as unconstitutional because it violated poor people's due process rights. Trent and his band Mystik Spiral eventually signed a multi-record deal with Warner Bros. records and has seven multi-platinum albums and scores of Top Ten and Number One hits. Ms. Li was eventually found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to thirty years in jail. Mr. DeMartino then became the new principal. Highland admitted that it had used ineligible players in the game in question and forfeited it; Lawndale thus won the conference title and eventually the state title. Israeli troops wreaked their vengeance on Islamic Jihad for the JAL hijacking. The Imam al-Kabaz was killed when a missile struck his home. Outstanding indictments against the others who were involved are pending in American and Japanese courts. And, as for your announcer, he plans to finally get a good night's sleep and take a month off from his computer. He needs it. "This is the end, beautiful friend, the end." --Jim Morrison, The Doors, "The End" ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- THE EVER-LOVIN' END!