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Hotaru slammed her back against the wall in an alleyway between two buildings made of crystal. Clenching her fist, she pounded it against the wall, letting loose a few tears of frustration.
Sinking to the ground, she uttered, "How could I have possibly been so weak? The Crystal Palace has been taken, and for all I know the other senshi destroyed!" Then, in a strangled cry, "WHY?!"
A bright beam of violet erupted from her forehead, forming first into the sign of Saturn, then into a shape resembling the planet itself. The beam enveloped her, and when it dissipated, the Warrior of Death, Eternal Sailor Saturn, stood, glaive in her right hand, ready to show Kalko that Planet Power could not be defeated.
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"Kalko." the Empress said, appearing before her associate, Governor Kalko, the new Governor over occupied Earth. Kalko knelt before her.
"Yes, my Empress." he said.
"It has been one Earth week now since we overthrew the NeoQueen and King. Have you learned anything concerning the location of the Princess and the Senshi yet?" she asked.
"No, Empress, not yet." he said. "But so far we have not had any trouble from them."
"But that does not necessarily mean we won't." the Empress said coldly. "They may have left the city, but they may be back to fight. Or they may be in the city still, waiting for the right moment to attack. How about the Crystal? Anything on that? And what is the status of the invasion?"
"Nothing on the Crystal yet, Empress. But I have my best followers researching where it could be. " Kalko said. "And we now have full control of Asia, and are moving in on Europe. We expect to have it taken by the end of next week."
"Well, at least you've accomplished something." the Empress replied. "Work harder on finding the Crystal, and the Senshi, as well as the Princess. I want the Crystal, and I want the Senshi and Chibi-Usa dead." with that, she vanished.
It had been almost a week since the first of Kalko's forces had overrun Japan, and Nandeshiko had been separated from her mother. She had sent her mother on to China, where one could lose herself in the wilder lands near the mountains, where her uncle lived.
They had argued, that last night they were together. Yuki, Nandeshiko's mother, had insisted she come with her to China, to hide until the Senshi had repelled the invasion. Nandeshiko had pointed out that something was wrong, that the senshi would have stopped them well before they reached the outskirts of Japan, and that her powers would not have manifested unless something was really wrong. In the end, Yuki gave in, but the argument still hurt them both.
Since then, Nandeshiko had spent the next several days laying low. The word from the fleeing refugees was that Crystal Tokyo had fallen, the King and Queen were captured, and the Senshi scattered. The news was not encouraging, but some impulse made her head towards a small area. Some rumors held that at least some of the senshi were there, planning a counterattack, while others hinted at some other power, just awakening.
After a day of slow, careful travel, Nandeshiko neared the area she had heard about, and carefully crept in. Behind her, a voice called out "Who's there?"
Uranus hated herself for losing sight of Neptune. During the struggle to get out of the palace, Uranus caught a glimpse of the ocean senshi, but she vanished after several minutes during the chaos. Now Crystal Tokyo was conquered, and Uranus was outside the fallen palace, hiding out and trying to find any sign of the other senshi. But there wasn't anyone in sight. She was extremely infuriated; she could do nothing to save her loved ones or her Princess. . .
Uranus decided to detransform so Kalko's forces would have a harder time detecting her, perhaps. Back as Haruka, in navy, button-down shirt and black slacks, Haruka knew she had to find the other senshi. . .and fast. The entire Millennium's fate was in the hands of the senshi. Taking a route behind the palace, Haruka slowly yet stealthily sneaked away from the palace and onto the smaller streets of the city, searching. . .searching for any sign of the senshi. . .
Eternal Sailor Saturn watched the palace from the same alleyway, trying to find some way in without being detected. As another person walked past her hiding spot, whether a refugee or a soldier she couldn't be sure, she sank back into the shadows and powered down.
'No sense in giving them an advantage to finding me,' she thought, and ran as quickly as she could in the other direction.
Hotaru had never been an athlete when she was a child, and the skirt she wore added to the problem until she had to slow to a jog, then a walk. Finally she sat quietly against another of the crystal walls.
Looking up at the sky, she couldn't help but wonder if any of the senshi were still out there, and if so where exactly. Hotaru knew she could never defeat the enemy alone, where even the Queen herself had failed.
A white shooting star could be seen over the Tokyo sky line as a single figure set down. Her wings catching the wind as her teleportation faded out, she looked around. This wasn't the city that she remembered. This didn't even seem like Earth. What was with the crystal palace in the distance? Pushing her silver bangs out of her eyes she frowned. This wasn't what she remembered it only have been a year or so since she last saw them...
"Did I take a wrong turn somewhere and end up on another blue star?" She mused out loud. Then she looked in a closed store window. "I better power down for now. Who knows what may happen if they spot me." Shaking her head she powered down then altered her form. This was the part she hated but was necessary for her stay on Earth...if this was Earth.
Yaten Kou walked the streets of Tokyo feeling like a complete stranger. He wasn't there that long when he was balled over by a small bundle that oddly enough reminded him of Usagi. She had white hair pulled up into two buns on either side of her head. Small tight ringlets hung down from them to her shoulders. On either side of her face were the same ringlets. Her bangs fell like Usagi's and she had the same bright blue eyes. The small child was in a cute little dress. Maybe he would be happy to see her if he hadn't been knocked over to begin with.
"If your Odango's kid I want to know where you got your strength." Yaten said as he picked her up, along with himself then he continued with his walk of Tokyo.
Sarice landed on top of a building and looked around the city, "I must find the other senshi," she suddenly leaped from that building to the next and then down to the ground landing in front of Hotaru. "Hello, are you a senshi?" She walks around Hotaru studying her closely, "Hmmm, you look like one but you can never be sure these days!" Sarice bows and introduces herself. "I am Sailor Wind, and I am here to help the other Sailor Senshi." she looks up and holds out her hand smiling sweetly.
Turning to the voice, Nandeshiko tried to remain calm. "If it's one of the enemy, I'm finished!" she thought to herself. She prepared to attack first, when a sudden impulse stopped her. Looking again at the figure, she didn't see so much as sense that this was an ally. There was something else, a sense of...royalty?...from her.
"Are you one of the Sailor Senshi?" she asked. Another tickle passed through her mind, and she saw another, possibly two, people approaching. More senshi, or another enemy?
Yaten walked on carrying the small child whom he still didn't know the name of, and saw a couple of people up ahead. Speeding up he walked up to them.
"Excuse me, do either of you recognize this child?" Yaten asked, indicating the small one in his arms. She turned her head, causing the four curling ponytails from her buns to bounce lightly.
"I know this is going to sound like a strange question, but could you tell me what city this is? I seem to have lost my way. I'm looking for Tokyo."
"Tokyo" The child echoed. He only hoped that if they did know the child they could take her home, and that his time spent here if he was on Earth would make things a little easier meaning if he ran into the senshi he wouldn't get his head shot at...
Charon looked around, confused. She hadn't thought an enemy could cause this much damage in a couple of days. She detransformed, so as not to look out of place, then started walking. She looked up, as another, agonizingly familiar mind brushed hers, to see something disappear of a rooftop. No, not something, someone.
~Ryuoshi...~
As she rounded the corner, she bumped into a girl in senshi uniform. One look told her that this was Sailor Saturn, if a drastically different version. She tugged on one of her purple ponytails and asked her only question.
"Where is Chibi-Usa?"
The Empress stood before the gates to the Living Palace. She put a hand on one. It shivered violently, then shrank back, opening voluntarily. When she entered, they closed again. As she walked, the vines along the long pathway leading to the palace moved out of her way. A drawbridge fell down suddenly in front of her. She crossed it, going over a great cliff filled with the bodies of her opponents. She paused, looked down, and laughed evilly. "If these Senshi prove to be stronger than Kalko assumes, you will have a new inhabitant." she said. She entered the self-opening gates, and finally, after crossing long hallways, entered her throne room, and sat on her throne. "Calmarya, come here." she cried out. A young woman appeared. She had long, flowing white hair in tiny braids. She wore a black, slitted dress with no sleeves, black high heels, and black gloves that covered most of her arms. On her forehead was a black jewel, embedded into the skin.
"Yes, Empress?" Calmarya asked.
"As you know, your brother is now Governor over the recently occupied planet Earth, and is in the process of enslaving it. However, I am concerned that the planet's guardians, the Sailor Senshi, will pose a problem. I want you to use your powers to find the Senshi and get close to them, make them believe you are an ally. Learn their strengths and weaknesses. Report back to me when you learn something."
"Yes, Empress." Calmarya said. She concentrated as the jewel on her head began to glow. She then vanished, reappearing in a street in Crystal Tokyo. She spotted a woman sneaking around. She focused again, and saw that this woman was the alter-ego to Sailor Uranus. She disguised herself into some friendlier-looking clothes and hid the jewel on her head, then walked up to her. "Do you know what's going on?" she asked Haruka, in an extremely believable concerned voice.
Haruka had been hiding out near the palace, trying to find the other senshi. She could sense that some were alive; she was unable to figure out of one of them was Michiru. . .
Suddenly, a voice behind her startled her. She turned around defensively, but saw a friendly-looking girl smiling at her. Haruka stood up straight and brushed herself off, adjusting her navy blue button down shirt and black slacks, the perfect dark colors to be sneaking around, but perhaps not good enough for camouflage.
"I don't know what's going on," Haruka said to the white-haired girl.
"Who are you?"
Hotaru watched suspiciously as the senshi now known as Sailor Wind introduced herself. She wasn't absolutely sure of how trustworthy Wind was, yet she decided to take the chance. "Yes, I am a sailor senshi. I am Sailor Saturn."
Suddenly a figure jumped down from the rooftop behind her, and she turned to see another Sailor Senshi. This new senshi stepped forward, and asked one simple question, "Where is Chibi-Usa?"
Hotaru seemed even more suspicious of this one, though decided to once again risk it. "I don't know-"
Hotaru didn't finish her sentence. In the street outside of her hiding spot, stood Haruka. Another girl was with her, but Hotaru didn't care. All the Sailor Senshi would be needed to defeat Kalko. After a quick glance at the other two occupants of the alleyway, she walked quickly towards her teammate.
Haruka, being the Aquarian she was, knew that patience wasn't one of her virtues. She hated to wait for an answer regarding the identity of the white-haired girl that suddenly appeared in front of her.
Haruka was about to say something to the girl when all of a sudden she was struck with recognition.
"Saturn!" Haruka said, running to meet the approaching senshi of silence. "Saturn, you're okay! Thank Kami-sama!"
Haruka was relieved, but quickly asked. "Have you seen Neptune. . .?"
"Excuse me, are you the Sailor Senshi?" Nandeshiko immediately regretted asking her question out loud, judging by the startled reactions of the two people in front of her; if she was wrong, then she was finished. And if she was right, and the two people were senshi, and chose to attack...
"Wait! I'm a friend, you've got to believe me! I trekked up here from Yokohama, and invaders have captured my home, wiped out the CTDF there, and took over!"
Sarice looks around "This place is new to me, do you mind showing me around a bit?" She takes a few steps closer and smiles meekly. "I'm not sure where I am, I just know I'm supposed to be here." she gets a puzzled expression on her face, "By the way, where is every body? I'm not used to such empty places, there's so few people." She shrugs and smiles again. "Do you know where we could get a little snack? I feel like I haven't eaten in ages!" She puts her left hand on her stomach and her right hand on her hip.
Calmarya was about to answer Haruka, but before she could, Haruka ran to some girls a little bit away and started talking to them. Calmarya could sense they were Senshi as well. She bravely walked up to them. "My name is Calmarya." she said, introducing herself to the new girls as well as answer Haruka's question. "But you guys can call me Cal for short, if you want." she paused. "What happened?" she asked. "I barely escaped from my house during the attack. I've been hiding around ever since. Where are the Senshi? Why couldn't they defeat the people who attacked us? More importantly, where is our Queen and King, and Small Lady?" she asked, trying to learn as much as she could. "Oh yeah, I forgot. What are your names? You know, since we all came together like this, maybe we should stay together, at least until we find a way to get out of the city to freedom."
Charon watched this stranger, feeling an involuntary snarl rise up. Instead of answering with her senshi name, she chose her old, human one. "My name is Midoriko Korin. I have no idea where any of the senshi are..."
~~Little liar. Maybe I should give you away to Kalko. He might reward me for bringing a senshi in...~~
~~Ryuoshi! What do you think you're doing!~~
~~Trying to decide how to kill you, Charon. What else would I do? Ah, I see one of our genetic mothers is with you, is that why you're so defensive?~~
~~Don't you dare hurt her!~~
~Relax, my dearest sister, it's you I want to kill, remember? I wouldn't bother with the rest of the senshi. And I won't turn you in to Kalko, at least for now...~~
Midoriko mentally cursed as she lost contact with Ryuoshi.
Yaten rose an eyebrow. "Well if this is Tokyo, then yeah I know a couple of places. If not well guess I'll have to wing it." he said to the kind strangers.
The child stirred in his arms and looked out. More new players had come into the game.
"Thank you." Yaten said to the people, as he headed off with the child, in search of the Earth's Sailor Senshi.
Sailor Saturn shook her head slowly. This was beginning to become routine among the senshi, each had someone to worry about. "I haven't seen her," she said. "I'm sorry."
While saying this, the woman behind Haruka once again caught her attention. Not knowing who she was, Saturn asked a question of her own. "Who is that? Do you know her?"
Sailor Wind looked around impatiently and then smiled for no reason, she turned her attention back to the conversation and yawned, all the time thinking 'Something is not right, what could it be I know I feel something evil nearby.' She starts to hum a strange tune and eventually starts singing under her breath "You are like the fast wind, that sweeps 'cross the surface of the ocean, and all the dreams you have are, always taken care of, by infinite rays of the sun, and now as I see you, your back is turned to me but you are reaching, pointing towards the future, both your wings are broken...So why do you hide all your pain? Softly-let me wipe away your tears, softly-let me hold you in my arms, softly-let me comfort you because I want to see you in your glory! I'll give you-I'll give you, if you choose to lay your head down, all the dreams that you dream will live on...I'll give you-I'll give you, if you hold a heart that's true now, then your love will return back to you... I'll give you, my love, lullaby..." she gets a sad expression and absent-mindedly closes her eyes.
Midoriko looked at Calmarya. The urge to snarl, to strike this girl who was most likely lying, was still there. "Why should we tell you anything, Calmarya? So you can run back to Kalko and that other and tell them everything we've said and done?"
Ryuoshi watched from a nearby roof top. He might be evil, but no one, NO ONE was going to kill his sister before him. His violet eyes narrowed on Calmarya. "If she gets any ideas, I'll have to kill her..."
Calmarya looked at Midoriko calmly. "I know you may not trust me." she said. "I understand that, after all that has happened. But I have nothing to do with this Kalko or his superiors. I know nothing of any of them. All I know is that my home was attacked, my family destroyed, and I am now a fugitive, an escaped slave of the new rulers here. But I believe I can help the Senshi, if I can find them. I have a few powers that may help them, even though I am not a Senshi myself." she looked at all the others with Midoriko now.
"How can I prove I'm on your side?" she asked.
Midoriko looked at the girl. She wasn't about to believe her, not after having been betrayed by one of her blood.
*Even blood can turn against me. I trust no one but the other senshi, who have been tried in these fires more times than I ever have.*
Midoriko wondered how to test the stranger. *Let's see if she can answer this or not...*
Midoriko twisted her face into a semblance of hope. "If you were among the slaves, maybe you saw my brother? We were separated when the Crystal Palace fell, and I have no idea if he's alright..."
Yaten finally made it to the Crystal Palace, or outside of it. Standing there before an alleyway was Haruka, Hotaru, and a couple of other girls. One face he knew...from the attack on Kinmokusei...her..her name evaded him. Walking forwards he stopped next to Haruka. "Lovely weather isn't it?" He asked Calmarya.
"You wouldn't have seen a girl with fire red hair around would you? Maybe a brunette or raven haired girl?" He smiled a little "You see, they're friends of mine.. Oh, and what was your name? Calmarya wasn't it?" He blinked. How did he know that? At least he knew that he was on Earth. The wind took his silver hair. This wasn't going good..
Sakura looked at Calmarya. ~You are playing a dangerous game, you and your governor...Does your empress have an idea of what this planet is capable of? I can continue to give you away..~ Sakura smiled a little darkly from her place in Yaten's arms. In her forehead for Calmarya to see alone four small stars flashed circling a fifth star.
~Shall we play a little game? Tell me what I want to know..and I'll keep your secret. I like games.~ Her thoughts were clear. This interested her. ~Don't play and well...I'll let him fully know who you are..he's mine to play with though. So try to kill him and I'll fight you...don't be fooled either. I don't play nice when angry.~
Calmarya looked at Midoriko for a moment. "I don't think so. It was so chaotic, and I was so upset about losing my family, and at the same time trying to find a hiding place for myself, I paid no attention to other people. I'm sorry." she said finally. She then looked at Yaten, who came up and asked her something.
"The weather is okay, but the situation we're in kind of dampens the day." she said to him. "And no, I'm sorry, I haven't seen them. Oh, and how did you know my name?" she asked him.
Then, she got a message from the little girl in his arms. She got a slightly, barely noticeable shocked look when the stars appeared temporarily on the girl's forehead.
~Ok, what do you want to know?~ she asked. ~But first, you must tell me something. Who and what are you, and how do you know who I am and am involved with?~ she added.
Midoriko smiled, maliciously. "That alone gives you away..."
Yaten frowned. "I know you from somewhere, I just can't place it." He didn't like this at all. Just what was going on?
Sakura smiled a little and cocked her head the way small children do when they find something interesting.
~Who am I? I would have thought the stars gave that away since there are only two of us who bare the mark. But if you must know I'm Sailor Galatica..~ She said in her amused tones. Waiting for the answer before she finished with her questions. ~Don't be fooled by appearances. I will prove it further if you so choose. But you won't like the results, seeing as how you'll be my target.~
Yaten looked at Haruka and Hotaru, then looked at the large Crystal Palace..a lot had changed in a year. *Stars what is going on?* he thought.
A little taken aback, Nandeshiko replied to Haruka's question.
"I am Asamiya Nandeshiko, granddaughter to Asamiya Athena, she who was the Psycho Soldier of Justice. I came here hoping that I could find out who it was that attacked my home, but..." she said, looking around the blasted city, "I appear to be a little late."
" I am not as strong as the legendary Sailor Senshi, but what abilities I have are at their service."
Nandeshiko tensed a little. Did they believe all that?
"I realize that I've given you no reason to trust me, but we must hurry. I think I saw some of the invaders headed this way."
"Nandeshiko? Psycho?" Haruka wondered to herself. "A warrior of sorts," she figured. This girl seemed nice enough to spill all of that to her. . .
Seemed like the one most open and not so. . .enigmatic like the other girls who were standing nearby.
"Still, I don't like the looks of things," Haruka said to Saturn. "But we'll need the help. . .But I will be ready to destroy anyone who thinks of betrayal."
Then she noticed the familiar silver-hair. . ."Yaten?" Haruka asked.
"What are you doing here? But to answer your question. . .I haven't seen the two people you are looking for." Haruka was unsure of Yaten wanted her to say the other two Starlights' names in front of those they did not know.
"Yes, Empress?" Kalko asked the Empress as she appeared to him.
"I just came to tell you that your sister is here. I sent her here to do undercover research on the Senshi. She is probably with some of them now." she said. "You should think of stuff like this, you're the Governor."
"I'm sorry, Empress." Kalko apologized. "But I have recently sent out about a hundred of my men to scout the city, looking for anything suspicious. If any of the Senshi are there, they will find them. Also, my scientists have come to the conclusion that the Empyrean Silver Crystal has been split. It has a history that it was once split into seven Crystals, called Rainbow Crystals. We believe the NeoQueen re-split them and hid each piece somewhere on the planet."
"Find them." the Empress said coldly. "I won't even ask about the status of the invasion, I don't even want to hear how bad you're doing at that." then, she vanished.
~Sailor Galatica.~ Calmarya said. ~Galaxia's sister, right? Weren't you on one of the other planets my Empress conquered? I know the name, but I don't remember where from.~
Then, she looked at Midoriko. "How does that prove I'm against you?" she asked. Before she could reply, Nandeshiko said something about invaders coming.
*Great!* she thought. *I may have them, but my stupid brother sends his troops out. Oh, well, it'll give me a chance to prove myself.*
"Uh, guys, Nandeshiko's right, here comes some invaders. We need to hide or fight. I don't know if you guys have any powers, aside from Nandeshiko,who I heard tell everything to Haruka about, but me, personally, I'm going to fight."
The Commander of Kalko's forces, along with a group of about thirty men, with the others scattered throughout the city, searching for more refugees and Senshi, saw the girls talking secretly together. "Men, we have some female refugees here!" he said. "Kalko's orders are that we kill anybody and everybody who is caught outside of their homes, as an example to the other Earthlings." he said the word 'Earthlings' with a snarl, like a curse word. "CHARGE!!" he cried out, sending all thirty of his men toward the group.
"Stop bickering, 'cause here they come!" Haruka cried angrily. She looked around quickly to see how many there were of them. *Not bad, if everyone cooperates. . .*
*Shimatta, I should have transformed in secret before meeting with Saturn,* Haruka thought, scolding herself. Haruka promised to only henshin when she found the opportunity to; there was no reason for Kalko's invaders to know she was a Sailor senshi.
Haruka stood next to Saturn, ready to fight, and talked to the senshi of silence in a low voice. "I can't henshin in front of them, please understand. I will do my best to fight them off. . .And you know I will."
Sailor Saturn nodded in reply, never taking her eyes off the advancing threat. *I can't take them on, my defensive powers are more or less useless here...* she thought, glancing at Haruka.
As the small army came closer and the rest of the group was, Saturn hoped, watching them, she stepped in front of Haruka. "If they look this way I'll distract them. Hurry, go down the ally," she stated, indicating the one she and two of the newcomers had just stepped from. Then, in an even lower and harsher whisper, "We'll need Sailor Uranus."
Sakura smiled as Yaten set her down. ~Yes that's right, Galaxia's sister. And you probably did see me on another planet..you ruined what I was doing. ..now. I'm playing a game with you.~ She said stepping back.
Yaten had no reservation about transforming in front of them. These were the uniforms of the men who attacked his world.
"Healer Infinite Star Power..Make UP!" Standing there was the winged warrior in silver/black fuku, with the multifaceted star piece in front. These people you didn't play games with.
Holding her hand in front of her she formed a ball of light that circled her frame and raced up. She caught it as it formed the transparent gold bladed sword that glowed green. "The shooting star that pierces the darkness...Infinity Sailor Star Healer...Stage ON!"
"Thank you for not saying their names." She whispered to Haruka. Then she took to the air. "I'll cover you from the air."
Haruka watched Infinity Sailor Star Healer take to the sky. "You're welcome, Healer. . ." Haruka said.
"Now it's my turn to henshin. . .Thank you, Saturn. I will be back shortly."
Haruka made sure that no one saw her at all. Seeing no one around, she transformed into Eternal Sailor Uranus, coming back and now joining her allies and supposed allies in their first fight together.
"If any of you back down because of fear, you had better leave our group," Uranus said coldly to the others. "We're not in the business of fear or fun. This is dead serious."
Calmarya looked at Galatica. ~You'll have to wait a few minutes, I have to help fight. I can't play you're game if I'm slaughtered.~ she said to her. Then, she prepared to aid the Senshi.
The Commander looked up, and saw Star Healer in the air. He pulled back his hand. A large black sphere of terror appeared. He threw it at her. *See how she likes this.* he thought. *This will blow her into her worst nightmare.*
Sailor Star Healer narrowed her eyes. She faced this before..."Star Sensitive Inferno!" She countered...It was her first attack...and one that packed a punch...as it had been this attack that killed Iron Mouse all so long ago...Her sword was a small star of light glittering next to her. Waiting for her to take it once again. She countered the attack...and prayed that it worked.
Sakura was angry now. This soldier had picked her up and was holding her tightly. The sailor senshi weren't facing her so she transformed..Her body grew in this man's arms to that of an adult. Her hair trailed down to her ankles and no longer curled out of the buns. The curls at her face thickened. She gained a metal fuku like her sister's except hers was platinum. Instead of the crown she gained a metal wreath of ivy that replaced the tiara of the senshi. A staff appeared in her hand. Looking similar to Pluto's time key except the crystal on top was clear and held four small crystals inside.
Turning she grabbed the soldier by the throat and picked him up. "Understand this. I am Sailor Galatica." She threw the man to his team and then blasted them. "Messing with me equals death."
~Come out and play won't you Ryuoshi? It's no fun to just be playing with your sister now is it?~ She thought at him.
Then looked at Calmarya. ~Don't get yourself dead now. I can't have any fun if you do...~
The other thirty warriors attacked the girls, swords drawn, sending out various attacks similar to that of their Commander's, about five against each girl. One of the younger, less intelligent warriors spotted Sakura, and picked her up, planning to hold her as ransom if the refugees didn't go willingly.
Great, Nandeshiko thought to herself, I've led them right here. Looking around, she saw no easy means of escape. Fear began to rise up in her mind.
~Are you that ready to quit, Nandeshiko?~ A voice in the back of her mind said.
~Grandmother Athena!~ Nandeshiko 'thought' back.
~Nandeshiko, you are a psycho soldier of justice, reborn to this time of crisis. You can run, or you can fight. Which will it be?~
Looking again, she saw that there was little choice; none of the other people there had displayed any senshi abilities yet; the very least she had to do was hold off the forces until the others could make a getaway. That was the moment that one of the others in the alleyway transformed into Infinity Star Sailor Healer.
"That tears it" she said to herself. With luck, the shadows in the alley had kept anyone from getting too good a look at her face...
"NANDESHIKO, IKIMASU!" Spinning in place, Nandeshiko was surrounded by a bright lavender light, and her clothes reformed into her battle costume. An amethyst necklace appeared around her neck, completing the change.
"Reborn to fight the evil that threatens this world, I am the phoenix of justice, Psycho Soldier Nandeshiko. Surrender or fall." The coldness in her voice was amplified by memories of being pursued out of her home, her parents' condition unknown, and long days of fear and loneliness.
Turning back to the others in the alley, Nandeshiko said quickly "Get out of here, I'll cover your escape." Facing her opponents, she prepared to attack...
Looking around Sailor Wind decided it was time to act. "Anyone who wants to leave you better do it now!" With a quick flash of light she jumps into the air and lands on top of a building waiting her chance to make a move, after about 10 seconds she returns to the ground and calls out her attack,
"STEAM ILLUSION...FREEZE!!!!" her earrings glow bright silver and two beams shoot out of them, past the other senshi, and to the enemy, where the first few are blinded and in pain she screams, "Now's someone's chance, GO!"
Anger began to fill Sailor Saturn as Nandeshiko and Wind fought the still advancing troops. *How could they think us so weak?* she thought. *I won't back down this time, I did that before and the result was the fall of Crystal Tokyo.*
A grim look settled onto her features as Saturn held up her Silence Glaive. She twirled three times, all the while collecting energy. Then finally, she stopped with the glaive out in front of her and yelled, "Silence Waves Strike!"
Waves of seemingly dark energy shot forward toward her enemies. Sailor Saturn was mystified, she'd never used that before. Then it hit her: with each new transformation a senshi gained a new power. This must be hers. She watched carefully as the waves sped towards her opponents. It wasn't as strong as some of her other attacks, that was for sure. *I wonder what type of damage they'll do?*
Midoriko decided it was time to help. "CHARON CRISIS POWER!" She flipped her ponytail back and yelled, "Soldier of Darkness, Guardian of the gate of Death and Rebirth, Sailor Charon! Black Dawn Destroy!" Waves of powerful dark energy surged directly at her foes.
~I assume that you're watching, Ryuoshi.~
~Of course. This should be amusing. Watch the little white-haired ones, both the grown and the child. The grown up works for Kalko, in fact she's his sister. The child isn't familiar, but she's not someone you want to turn your back on.~
~Why tell me this?~
~You're MY kill, not theirs, so why shouldn't I protect my interests?~
~Oh, thanks a LOT!~
~You're welcome.~
"It's not a problem, Healer," Uranus said as Healer whispered her thanks to her. *I didn't want them in danger either. . .*
"WORLD. . .SHAKING!" Eternal Uranus released her attack on the oncoming troops, hoping to dispel the five black energy spheres heading toward her.
*Everyone's taking part in this,* Uranus noticed. The other senshi or warriors were fighting. . .Wind blinded half the troops, Nandeshiko was preparing her energy, Charon attacked, and Saturn had a new attack!
"Oh, so you wanna fight with swords, ne?" Uranus asked Kalko's men. "Gladly."
Uranus summoned her Talisman, her Space Sword, and quickly noticed Healer about to be attacked. "SPACE. . .SWORD. . .BLASTER!" she commanded, sending her attack toward the black sphere heading toward Healer, neutralizing the dark energy attack.
Charon looked at the dumbbell warrior and grinned. "I'd drop her if I were you..." Not noticing another warrior sneaking up behind her. Just as he was about to strike, a blast of dark energy blew him away. Ryuoshi stood there in plain sight.
"Calmarya, how delightful to see you again. I assume your dear brother Kalko is having fun? And remember this, Charon," He grinned evilly. "it could have been you, not one of Kalko's minions." With an evil laugh, he disappeared from the scene.
Nandeshiko watched as the mass of soldiers attacked, roughly five per opponent. With relief, she noted that the majority opted for swords and similar melee weapons. Picking one group of five, she attacked quickly, trying to take down as many of her opponents as possible before they could coordinate their attacks and finish her off. With a yell of 'Psycho Sword!', she struck, taking one down in her first attack, and causing the rest to back away from her psychic weapon.
One reckless attacker leaped in, trying to surprise her, and landed face first in a hastily erected Psycho Wall, receiving a nasty psychic shock. Two down, she thought to herself....
"How did you know who I am?" Calmarya said as Ryuoshi disappeared. *Oh, well...* I thought. *I'll continue fighting like nothing happened, and if anybody heard what he said to me, he'll feel my wrath!* In anger, she blasted two warriors.
The Commander watched in horror as his warriors were slaughtered. "They are Sailor Senshi!" he cried out. "RETREAT!! Anyone still alive, RETREAT!" The few that were still alive ran towards their Commander. One caught up to him.
"Why are we retreating, sir?" he asked.
"Thirty men of our status have no chance of winning against the Senshi." the Commander answered. "We will need more men, and Kalko's help. I'm going to tell him we've discovered some of the Sailor Senshi and see what he wants to do."
"They're retreating?"
Nandeshiko watched as the opponents she was fighting suddenly withdrew to their commander, who was shouting out orders to withdraw.
"Everyone, get the commander before he can escape to get reinforcements!" Desperately, Nandeshiko ran forward, hoping that she could stop the enemy commander from leaving with too much information on the senshi.
Sailor Saturn watched on as the waves of death and destruction continued on their course. Three of the five attackers that were intent on issuing her demise had fled at the order of retreat. The other two hesitated for a moment then turned as well. It was too late however, and when the attack after the attack hit them there was nothing left.
*A bit slow, but helpful in battle,* Saturn thought. She watched as Nandeshiko hurried to try and finish off the remaining men, but she was too far away and her only long-range attack was too powerful and destructive.
Glancing around, she realized that her comrades had faired about as well as she, and for that she was glad. Sauntering over to Uranus, she asked the question that'd been plaguing her mind for the last few minutes of the battle. "Did you see a man appear a minute ago during the fight?"
Before Sailor Uranus could answer, however, Sailor Saturn turned to an outburst of light. Mystified, she realized just how much like Galaxia this newcomer looked.
"I'll help you out, Nandeshiko-san," Uranus said, watching the troops retreat. "WORLD. . .SHAKING!" She released her attack, hoping to give Kalko's troops less time to receive reinforcements.
"They'll be back sooner than we think," Uranus concluded. "We have to get out of here fast. We still haven't begun looking for the Crystals."
Saturn had approached her, and was about to respond when she too saw the new senshi. . .
"I'd be even more cautious now, Saturn," Uranus said in a low voice to her friend. "I knew having this many allies was too good to be true. But which man were you talking about during the battle. . .?"
"If they're retreating we should have some one follow them," she looks around impatiently. "I'll go, but not alone." She walked over to where Uranus and Saturn were standing in hope to be accepted by Uranus, she quickly bowed her head and put on a half smile. "Hello, I am Sailor Wind, I don't expect you to trust me so soon if ever, but all I know is that I trust people too much...and some people say I don't talk enough." With that she looked at the ground and slightly blushed, she continued to look down and her voice got a little shaky as if she were going to cry, "My cousin, he's missing," she finally looks up "I'd like to find him, he raised me pretty much."
Charon shifted from foot to foot nervously. "My name is Sailor Charon." She heard Saturn's question. "You mean the one who threatened me?"
Saturn shook her head, dismissing the thought, "Forget it, Uranus."
At the sound of Sailor Wind's voice, she turned around to watch as she described her troubles. Saturn had no reason to trust this senate and they both knew so. Glancing at Sailor Uranus, she decided that she'd go with her teammate. Uranus was the only one that she could truly trust at this point. *Let me amend that,* she thought. *Healer as well. I wonder if she knows anything about the new senshi?*
Uranus then looked away as Saturn dropped the subject. She failed to notice the man she was talking about, and felt bad that she was not of any help.
"Oh, the wind, ne?" Uranus said skeptically to Sailor Wind. "And your cousin? Who is he and what's his name?" Uranus asked, sounding like she was helping, but she also wanted to gather more information subtly.
"And you are Sailor Charon?" Uranus looked toward the other new senshi. "Charon, sole satellite of Pluto, the ferryman at the River Styx in the Greek Underworld. And you have joined us too?"
Uranus looked around for Healer. She felt the same way as Saturn; she was the only other senshi she could trust at this point. "Healer! Saturn, we'll have to start looking for the Crystals. I suggest we leave the battlegrounds before Kalko's lackeys return."
Sailor Wind looked at Uranus slightly shocked, but then a faint smile crossed her lips, "If I told you that then you could easily find out who I really am," with that she sighed. "I will tell you in time, hmmm it's odd I feel very close to you, but I can't quite place the feeling..." with that she shook her head as if attempting to shake it off. "No matter, I will find out in time." As she looked away the sparkle in her eyes grew as she started to hum a song, it was a slow song speeding up only every now and then till at last it became a fast song, "I used to hear that song a lot, now no one ever sings it anymore..."
Charon looked down at her boots. "I came to serve the Small Lady, but I will aid you as well." She looked up at Uranus. "Just as I have aided you in many battles, such as Galaxia..." She looked over at Saturn, and decided to tell her past to them, so they wouldn't have to try to pry it out. "I am as trustworthy as you or Pluto, Hotaru. In the Silver Millennium, I was cloned from you and her..."
~As was my insane brother...~
~I heard that!~
~PHHHHTTTTTTT!~
~You are so immature Charon.~
~Like you're any better?~
~I'm still gonna kill you.~
*This is getting old...*
Nandeshiko looked up at Uranus' question. "Crystals? When the enemy attacked, I saw a bright yellow streak of light, headed from Crystal Tokyo, to China, I think.
"Is that what you are looking for?"
Uranus raised an eyebrow at Sailor Wind's seemingly playful take on the situation. "You think this is a joke, do you? Closeness to me or not, how am I to help you find your lost cousin if you don't tell me anything about him? How am I to trust you when you give me that type of response? Do you expect me to trust you at all?" she replied, not angrily but more caustically. She was slightly annoyed at Wind's humming.
*You really don't care, do you?* Uranus thought seriously. Then she pushed all thoughts of Wind from out of her mind. She only wanted one wind in her life. . .The wind of her life, the wind that she became one with. . .The wind of the earth, the true wind. . .Her wind. . .
And then there was Charon, another suspicious character, but at least she was supposedly telling them of her past, not hiding it from them like a game as Wind did. What unnerved Uranus was Charon always seemed to interrupt herself in the middle of speaking. . .She would be talking, then all of sudden stop, perhaps thinking about something.
But Nandeshiko. . .Uranus was still suspicious of her, since again, she knew nothing about this Psycho soldier. Yet did she have something, a clue?
"That is something we might be looking for," Uranus said to Nandeshiko. "Yellow, was it? In China? Hmm. . . ."
Uranus turned to Saturn. "Is there any way to verify that fact?" she asked the silence senshi regarding the truth behind Nandeshiko's story of a yellow crystal.
Healer heard Uranus call out to her from her place inthe air. Landing she looks at her and frowns. "I saw it as well...almost got hit by it...I had just arrived."
She frowned...out of the senshi before her...the only ones she could trust were Uranus and Saturn...she was choosing her word phrasing with careless ease...she was good at word games.
"So I suggest we move out...before Kalko comes after us.." She pulled her wings back and frowned. The child disappeared oh well she could take care of herself...Healer didn't have time to play games.
Sailor Galatica watched them and frowned. Right now she was looking for her wonderful sister...Galaxia was going to play in this little game as well...since in an odd way she started it. Turning she walked off.
"Ta ta senshi...don't get yourselves killed off too easily." She called out walking away...her hair faded from white to a faint red as she walked. This game was just starting to get interesting...
None of the other senshi seemed to care or even hear Charon's words. However, Saturn was in shock. *Cloned from Pluto and I?* she thought. *But how can that be?! We'd know! I've never heard of or seen her before.*
Staring wide-mouthed at Charon, she was almost oblivious to the others' conversation. *This can wait until later,* she decided. *Though I'll find out about this sooner rather than later, that's a promise, Charon.* She thought about sending that last thought telepathically to the 'cloned' senshi, though decided against it at the last moment.
Turning to the others she replied to Uranus's question, "I wouldn't know. I thought I saw a streak of light, or rather several of them, all coming from the palace. Each went in a different direction, and there's no way I could be sure if Nandeshiko actually saw one go towards China. It's as good a place to start our search as any though, don't you agree?"
"I agree with you, Healer, we have to leave quickly," Uranus said, looking at Healer's wings again. *She did receive a power up. . .Infinity. . . Appropriate,* she thought to herself.
"I saw the Crystals escape from the Palace as well, Saturn. You're right though: If Nandeshiko saw one go to China, let's head on over there now. It's not far from Crystal Tokyo if we teleport. It's not far from Crystal Tokyo by sea either. But if we don't do either. . ."
Uranus unleashed her wings magically; they did not penetrate her fuku, but they seemed to come out of her back anyway, first being transparent and when they extended to full length, became angelic white.
". . .We can always fly there," Uranus said. "The three of us should be fine. Saturn, I suppose you could summon your Glaive away like I can with my Space Sword so you won't have to carry it while flying,." And Uranus made the Sword disappear into cosmic oblivion. She talked as if only the three of them were going to retrieve the Crystal, and she felt that way as well; if the others were to come along, they would just have to follow them. But Uranus left the field of decision open to Healer and Saturn; they could decide on how to reach China.
The Commander watched helplessly as all thirty of the men with him were killed by the Senshi. He alone survived. Even the one running alongside of him was killed. Then, suddenly an attack came, from Star Healer, and blasted him. Dying, he struggled to get up. He managed to walk a few feet, but then fell down dead. His men, minus the thirty killed with him, were still ravaging the rest of Crystal Tokyo, searching for and killing anyone else outside their homes.
Kalko suddenly looked up from his daze on his stolen throne. *Someone is fighting the Commander.* he thought. *The Senshi are still here. Some of them, at least.*
Calmarya felt a little mournful over the death of her brother's Commander, but quickly resumed her role as the innocent helper of the Senshi, which she hoped wasn't ruined by Ryuoshi's comments. "That takes care of them." she said to the others. "I'm going with you guys to China. But someone should stay here to keep an eye on things in the city."
Though undecided on how to reach China, Sailor Saturn summoned her wings and they formed from a purplish mist, which seemed to almost solidify into a light lilac pair. She stretched each out, testing them as she was nervous about actually using them.
Finally she looked up towards Sailor Uranus, "Yes, I can send the Silence Glaive away. It has a summoning mark," and then to each of the others, "We could fly," she stated. "Though I'm sure many of you would object to that considering the fact that some of you have yet to gain wings." She glanced at Nandeshiko, then continued. "You should probably come with us, you were one of the first to see it, Nandeshiko."
Then she looked at the entire group and directed a question to those who hadn't attained their Eternal forms yet. "If you'd like to help, do you have any ideas for how to travel to China quickly? Other than flying that is."
Sailor Wind got a hurt expression on her a face but forced through a smile, the sparkle in her eyes faded a bit and she looked as if she could cry, she looked at Uranus and allowed a single tear to fall from her eye, but as soon as it hit the ground her face looked like it had before, although she could feel her eyes begin to burn she ignored it and started talking in almost a whisper, "My cousin's name is San Yat-Sun, we have different last names so I guess it's alright..." she looked at Saturn, then at Healer and closed her eyes and bowed her head.
Charon shifted nervously. She couldn't fly, she wasn't that powerfulyet. "I guess those of us who can't fly will have to go by sea..."
*Which might slow Ryuoshi down a little...* Charon felt distinctly guilty at the thought of her twin. After all, she hadn't mentioned him to the others. Whether it was for their or his safety, she didn't know.
*I might as well tell them about Ryuoshi now too. It will save a lot of guilt and harsh feelings later...*
Charon took a deep breath. "Kalko and his minions aren't the only people after some of us..."
Uranus saw Sailor Wind's solitary tear roll down her face. She hated to see anyone cry. . .But there were two types of reactions she had: One where she felt sympathetic, and one where she felt indifferent. And she couldn't be any more indifferent than she was now.
*One lesson you have to learn, Sailor Wind: Never show the enemy your tears.*
"Okay, I will keep that name in mind. . .San Yat-Sun," Uranus repeated. "Arigatou, Sailor Wind."
Uranus nodded as Saturn turned to Nandeshiko. "She has to come with us. If the yellow Crystal isn't in China and this is all a trap of some sort, we'll know who to blame," Uranus said, glancing briefly at the Psycho soldier.
The sky senshi cleared her throat after Charon's sea suggestion. "Well, it's coming down to this: Either the three of us: myself, Healer, and Saturn, fly, and the rest of you go by sea, or we all go by sea. Or we all teleport. I don't know how powerful the rest of you are in order for any teleportation to work. Besides, using the Sailor Teleport will only let Kalko know we've left since we use so much power while performing it. However, one advantage of it will be that Kalko wouldn't know our whereabouts. . .I hope."
Uranus raised an eyebrow. "More people are after us? We are that popular?" Uranus remarked at Charon's last sentence. "Then we'd better head on out fast."
Charon looked at Calmarya.
~I heard Ryuoshi's comment quite clearly, Calmarya. If you want to live, you'd better not cross me...~
She responded to Uranus' question. "The young man Saturn saw is my twin brother, who Beryl captured and tried to brain wash. It wasn't a complete success, but Ryuoshi is determined to kill me..."*For his soul's sake, I hope he fails...*
Sailor Saturn turned to Sailor Uranus, "I didn't mean to bring Nandeshiko as a means to blame someone, I simply thought that since she was one of the first to see the crystal that she'd be of some help to find it." She looked down, "In any case, we'd better decide on how we'll travel there, we are wasting valuable time just standing here."
As Calmarya stated her suggestion, Saturn's suspicion grew just a little.
*She didn't exactly help us much in the battle, and figures she's already a part of our team? We barely trust these new senshi at all, though they at least exhibit the powers of a sailor senshi. But someone such as her? I wonder if we're doing the right thing by allowing her to stay with us...though I do agree with her...* To Calmarya she said, "You may be right, the city is very important, but who would you have stay here?" Then to the rest of the group, "If the rest of you think that's the best way to go about things, I'll stay. I could probably take on another group such as the one that just attacked us, though I doubt anymore than that. We can keep in touch telepathically, and if anything serious happens I could inform you and you could teleport back."