At Charon's comment, she snapped her head up and said, "You mean to say we have ANOTHER enemy to face now? I hope you have some sort of an idea of how to deal with that problem, we're having enough troubles as it is."
Wind looked at the other senshi's faces, she could hear the slight hostility in Saturn's voice, "I'll stay here with you, maybe we could get to know each other a little better," she looked at Saturn's eyes and continued. "I only want to help."
*I can only hope to gain their trust, I can help more like that...* With that she bowed her head to them all and gave a faint smile. ~Saturn please, I'd like to get to know you better, I feel I can trust you more than anyone.~
"The invaders are responsible for destroying my home and possibly killing my father" Nandeshiko responded to Uranus' statement in as cold a voice as possible. "I will help you in any way I can, but if you are not willing to trust me, then tell me now and I'll leave."
"As I said, I saw a yellow streak of light heading to China, it might have been one of the crystals you are looking for. I have relatives in China, I know my way around, I can *help*, but only if you'll let me."
Healer was quiet as she took all of this in. She shook her head. "No Saturn, you have no idea what you're up against. True the city is important. But, one senshi alone will be killed. No matter how powerful. I know. I watched them take Kinmokusei. I say we fly there. It's the fastest way. Teleporting will send off a beacon. and you forget Uranus. Teleport has just as much power when we set down. Not to mention the unbalance in power. It could kill the others." She glared at Calmarya...now she was beginning to piece it all together..."Baka yaroo! Separating us gives Kalko the advantage. If you think someone should stay behind and protect the city then you do it."
Galatica laughed from her position on a roof top. She was enjoying this. ~Ooops...I must have been distracted...cute game ne?~ she sent out to Calmarya.
"Twin brother?" Uranus said. "Okay, we'll watch for him as well. . ." she said to Charon.
Uranus then looked at Nandeshiko just as coldly. "Of course I'm going to let you come along. I agree with Saturn: You saw it first, so it might as well be the truth, right?"
"But I also agree with Healer: Saturn, you must come as well. Crystal Tokyo is already unsafe enough. If we leave, then perhaps Kalko will stop destroying more and more of it. We can fly together to China, the three of us. The others can take the route there by sea, on one of the boats of the city. And there is always the underwater monorail that enters Beijing. That's the other fastest way to China, and we could meet these new senshi there."
Uranus spread her wings, ready to leave. "But make a decision quick. We have to leave now."
Staring at the other senshi, and all of their different arguments, Saturn had no idea who to agree with. Maybe Wind could help her if she stayed behind, though splitting the senshi would also give Kalko an advantage. No matter which way she looked at it, nothing came to her. Finally, at a loss for other suggestions, decisions, or arguments, she spread her wings and willed the Silence Glaive into the realm it rested in when unneeded. Then in a quiet voice, "I guess we have no choice then. Each of you who cannot fly, the underwater monorail is probably the fastest route. We can meet in Beijing, those of us who can fly will be waiting for you. Does that sound alright?"
Saturn nodded and floated up to Healer, obviously a bit unsettled by the experience of flying. This was her first time ever and she was nervous, tempted to re-summon the Silence Glaive to help break her fall if the need came. However, after reaching Healer's altitude she found that she enjoyed the sensation of flying, and on her own wings none the less. *Please don't let me down, wings,* she thought nervously. Now all they were waiting for was Uranus, and they could be on their way. Saturn felt a bit guilty about leaving the other senshi to travel on their own, however Healer was right about being too trusting and she mentally reprimanded herself. It would be nice to be able to trust them as allies though...
Healer nodded her head and extended her wings. "That settles it then. The three of us will go by air and the others by the monorail. We'll meet there." In a moment she was airborne floating off the ground waiting patiently for Saturn and Uranus.
~I don't trust them yet. Someone among them is lying. I could have sworn that Calgary was on Kinmokusei...I can't seem to remember it clearly though...Let this be a test...and not the only one...don't go soft on me now.~ She thought at Uranus and Saturn. *not since I ran into that child...my memories are hazy...not for long. My empathy should kick it.* ~The outer senshi that I remember were just as tough as the starlight's. And not so willing to trust every sob story that came their way. Please don't start now. I don't want to see either of you hurt or killed.~ What she said aloud was. "Are we going? We're wasting valuable time."
Uranus spread her wings, and with a graceful flap, she was hovering above the ground, and flew to Healer and Saturn, not saying another word to the other senshi. They could do as Saturn and Healer said and take the monorail if they wished to follow.
Once they were far enough off the ground so they no longer needed to communicate by thought-speech without having to worry about the others hearing them, Uranus spoke to them. "Don't worry, Healer, I'm not going soft on you," Uranus said with a smile, one of her few sincere smiles of the day. "I wouldn't want to see any of you killed either."
As Healer spoke, Uranus thought back of all the tension the Outer Solar System senshi used to have with the Starlights. But now they were allies. . .Uranus quickly thought about Neptune, Pluto, Fighter, Maker. . .Where could they all be?
"Right, I wouldn't want to take chances now, not when Kalko's around and Crystal Tokyo is at his mercy. But we'll have to hide out in Beijing until Nandeshiko arrives. We have no idea where to look. . ."
Uranus tried to figure out if she saw any other rainbow streak head toward any other country. . .Everything went by so fast when Kalko invaded the Palace. . .She decided when she had more time she would listen to the wind and perhaps sense, or at least get an inkling as to where the other Crystals were. But for now, she was only concentrating on getting *one* Crystal; that was going to be hard enough.
Calmarya ignored Galatica and watched as the three winged Senshi leave. "I'm going with you guys." she said to those still with her. "I want to help all I can. Hey, it's either that or let myself be killed as a runaway slave."
Healer looked at the uneasy look on Saturn's face and smiled. She knew that look. Reaching out she squeezed her hand. "Hey kiddo. Don't think about it. I remember my first time in the air. It's as natural as walking. Just let them do it."
She frowned understanding her completely and answered as if she read her thoughts. And unlike her...she was serious. "It would be nice if for once we could just trust people. I'm empathic and am reaching a mix of emotions down there. But things are never that easy for a senshi. The inners are trusting, and that's fine. It works for them because you four aren't. You make people prove that they can be trusted and in our line of work, that may mean the difference between life and death. Trusting someone blind can get you killed." She smiled a little.
"I can understand your not wanting to be their enemies since we need allies right now. You've got a strong heart Hota-chan. And if they are who they say they are they'll understand and earn that trust. The starlights did. We busted our butts to prove ourselves to you. Especially since the senshi could also be the enemy. And now we're friends. If they're sincere they will prove it." She didn't mean to seem like she was harping. She was giving the same argument that she had once used on that stubborn Star Fighter..
"If I'm wrong and they can be trusted their actions will prove it." She smiled and shot Saturn a playful wink. "Until then lets not take any unnecessary chances okay?"
~Sarice Kaze is my name~ Sailor Wind sent the message with her name to Uranus, ~I know you won't trust me for awhile, but I'll try to gain your trust at any cost.~ With that she said almost in a whisper with her eyes closed, "It's like blowing kisses in the wind..." She turned around and smiled at those who were still with her, "OK, let's find the monorail!"
Charon looked at Calmarya, and made a mental note to keep an eye on her.
"Uh, where's the monorail? A thousand years combined with the fact that I've never been here make it kinda hard for me to know where it is..."
Ryuoshi was watching the proceedings with great interest. His twin wasn't having a very easy time, but it would be a shame to kill her so early in the game. He vaguely recalled that someone had directed their thoughts at him, but dismissed it as unimportant, just as he had dismissed most of the senshi. After all, unless they got in his way, they weren't his targets.
Healer flies with them and nods her head, for right now they would have to lie low. "I hope the others are alright. I'm just glad I found you two."
Galatica just smiles. *Forget about me Sailor Senshi..I have other things to attend to right now.* She then directs her thoughts for one mind alone. ~Galaxia sister, where are you? Come on out and play won't you?~
Star Healer looked at her silent traveling companions and frowned. She was bored...they were above the sea of Japan now so she could do this. Folding her wings she dropped and fell fast towards the water opening them again they caught the wind currents and took her back up as she turned. Enjoying the feel of the air as it rushed past her. She was stressed out...and worried about Fighter, Maker and the others.
To try and relieve some of the stress she started goofing off. Hoping to make at least one of them laugh. She didn't want to pick a fight with them. She could with Fighter and know that they would be laughing about it before it was over. Snapping her wings she went back up higher then them and burst through the clouds. Then closed her wings opening them again when she was close to them. At this point she didn't care what it looked like to them...or if they understood. She'd explain it if they didn't.
Galatica frowned after several minutes without an answer and decided to make introduce herself to the police. Walking towards a bunch of men who were attacking innocent people and hearing cries of senshi she smiled, coldly and blasted the people. "Tell Kalko, that the next time one of his men tries to kidnap me, I will eliminate that whole garrison." She then walked away..she wasn't invulnerable, and didn't want to engage in a battle just yet.
Uranus flew in silence, and she was unable to figure out why. Perhaps the others were thinking about something; she was thinking as well. There were so many questions that tugged in her mind. . .How would they find the Crystal? Where was it? Could they trust the others? Where was Michiru. . .?
But after seeing Healer perform all those acrobatics, Uranus smiled slightly. At least Healer was taking it well. Uranus wanted so much just to relax and not be so. . .tense. . .around the other senshi. But now she was no longer around them, so why not?
She spread her wings and stopped the motion of flapping a bit, allowing the wind and her inertia to carry her through the air. She did a tailspin, and joined Healer and Saturn again.
"I thought you could turn into a shooting star, senshi of Starlight," Uranus said, a smile on her face. "Why the wings then?"
Saturn watched as Healer and Uranus performed various tricks with their wings, obviously enjoying themselves. She increased her speed once to attempt something of her own, but flying was still new to her and she cut it off before finishing. She wondered how much longer it would be before they reached Beijing, and then to find the crystal itself.
Her thoughts wandered to the other senshi, the rest of the team from this solar system. How were they? Were they in danger? Did they even survive? Or perhaps they were on their way to find the crystal already, having seen it and acting before they had. Saturn hoped for this last one the most, that maybe they'd run into them there.
Before long she found herself worrying about the new senshi. Saturn didn't know just how strong they were. If Kalko attacked them, would they survive?
She reprimanded herself again, this wasn't like her. *What's getting into me?* she thought. *I'm getting too trusting, the peace must have done this to me, I can't be too open. Remember, they're none of your concern anymore.* Gritting her teeth, she added some speed and concentrated on reaching her destination, not really paying attention to where her two companions were.
Healer blinked. That wasn't a question she was expecting. "It's true that I can turn myself into a shooting star. But when traveling over a world it would cause major problems.." She chuckles. "At least that's Maker's theory. I think it's because we've reached what you guys call eternal, it's like taking on an angel form." She shrugs. "That and I can't battle in the air in shooting star form. It's great for space travel horrible for battle."
Uranus nodded her head at Healer's response. It really hadn't occurred to her how wings, even on herself, were of any use; she never used them before. . .But now that she had them, she didn't know what she'd do without them.
All this time she had been flying, not exactly paying close attention to thought-speech because who would want to communicate by thought-speech with her of all people anyway. . .except maybe Michiru or Setsuna. . .
But it was a name she heard from a familiar voice. *Sarice Kaze, Sailor Wind. . .It's going to take some work before you gain my trust. . .Exactly as Healer said before: She worked hard along with the other Starlights to get it.*
She noticed that Saturn was speeding ahead. "Hey, wait up, Saturn!" she called out. "Let's go see what's wrong, Healer." Uranus sped up to the flying senshi of silence.
"What's on your mind, Saturn-chan?" Uranus said.
Calmarya looked at the others with her. "Well, we need to find this monorail." she said. "Anyone know where it is?"
"I have no idea where the monorail is, I've never seen it before." She looks at the others and smiles, *At least I'm not alone.* she looks around at their surroundings and sighs. "I wonder if there's a map somewhere," she mused hoping it would lighten the atmosphere.
Healer nodded her head and flew forward like Uranus only she flipped and flew so that she was under Saturn looking up at her. "Hey kiddo! You're worried about the other senshi aren't you? Those new ones...I'm empathic remember." she winks. "Don't worry about them. I have a feeling that they're strong enough to take care of themselves...lets just say that their stars shine bright. Like a bunch of senshi from this system that I know of." she winks, and gives her the peace sign.
"Cheer up! We're all worried, but don't let that hold you down, or next time we face Kalko...it might get you hurt." She smiles playfully. "If you don't I'll be forced to sing Nageboshi hi."
Charon sighed and irritably wished for her mirror. She could always find things when she looked in it. It was how she had watched the senshi without them knowing for so long.
~It's three blocks west, sister dear.~
~Why are you helping?~
~Because I want you to get farther along before I kill you, and it amuses me.~
~Oh, thanks a LOT!~
"I think we want to go that way..."
Glancing down at Healer's remark, Saturn sighed and then found herself smiling. It was like Healer to attempt to cheer up a fellow senshi, even if discreetly at times. In any case she pushed the new senshi out of her mind, they'd be capable of fending for themselves and if not they wouldn't be much help in a true battle anyway. "Guess you two are right, I won't worry about it anymore, alright?" With that, she sped up and executed two flips and a backwards somersault through the air, all the while gritting her teeth. *I might actually get used to this,* she thought with a mischievous grin on her face.
"I've been around Crystal Tokyo a few times. My mother told me about the times my grandmother came to visit..."
Nandeshiko noticed that Charon had started going west. "Or we could go that way..." Nandeshiko finished weakly.
As the warriors walked, they quickly came upon one of the monorail stations. Checking the map and the schedule, Nandeshiko made a valiant attempt to interpret the transit guide.
*Over a millennium in development and they still can't make a rational transit schedule.* she thought to herself. "OK, if we take the train that comes in 10 minutes to the edge of town, I know some people who might be able to sneak us to the port at Kanazawa. Once there, we can hop a refugee boat and make our way."
"This assumes, of course, the trains still run on time. I hope the invaders have read up on Mussolini."
Healer watched Saturn and smiled. *At least she's loosing up.* Things were looking up...a little. Somehow she doubted that Saturn would stop worrying about the new senshi. At least she was trying. Healer, smiling, pursed her lips and whistles. "Alright way to go! Your getting it!"
She closed her eyes a moment when it brought back memories of her best friends. Tears in her eyes she shook it off. *Baka yaroo, there fine. They're tougher than they look. We'll all meet up again and laugh about this when it's finally over.* She smiled and looked straight ahead. Even with her vision blurry. *I will not cry. Soldiers don't cry.* She kept repeating lest she lose her nerve. This was hard for all of them..
Galatica walked away and smiled. Then decided to follow the others. Becoming a child again she rushes forward and tackles Charon. Then pats her on the cheek. Looking up at Calmarya she smiles. ~You weren't thinking of leaving before I got what I wanted did you? I think I'll just tag along.~
Charon looked at Galatica, slightly panicky. She'd never done much babysitting, and a thousand years in isolation hadn't improved her dubious skills.
~Who are you? You're not what you appear to be.~
Ryuoshi watched as Galatica tackled his sister. He sighed and shook his head. Complications every where.
~Whoever you are, Charon is MY kill. I don't care what happens to the other ones, but I can be very dangerous when crossed...~
Sailor Wind looks at Galatica and Charon and smiled as she walked over to them and picked Galatica up and gently held her in her arm's, "Hello." She closed her eyes and sent Galatica a message, ~Who are you?~ she opened her eyes and looked at the others, "I've always been a sucker for children." with that she gave a low laugh.
Calmarya looked at Galatica, in her child form. ~Don't worry, I'm not leaving you.~ she said. ~I am trying to keep my cover, though. If you want to talk to me, it'll have to wait until everyone is asleep.~ As she said this, she continued walking towards the monorail with the others.
Executing another flip, this time with an actual smile on her face, Saturn glanced at her companions. Each seemed to be deep in thought, and she knew that they were most probably thinking of their own friends. Uranus was probably thinking of Neptune, Saturn had almost never seen the two apart and she knew that this must be hard for her 'papa'. Healer was almost definitely thinking of Fighter and Maker, the three of them were also inseparable. Evening out her flight, she thought of Chibi-Usa. It was hard, after her friend had left and returned to the future. She'd lived a lot of her life before the pink-haired girl was born in their own timeline, and by then the difference in age made things so awkward. Just the same, though, she hoped that her friend was alright...
Breaking out of her reverie, Saturn noticed some land up ahead. *No,* she realized. *I saw it before...* Focusing on it harder, she realized that it was still a while away. Confused, she adjusted her speed several times. Finally she came to the conclusion that Eternal form gave her better eyesight, it would still be a little while until they reached China.
"Nageboshi he," Uranus said, laughing to herself as Healer mentioned it. She still couldn't believe that the Starlights she used to hate were now her close friends. She smiled to herself, thinking how much she had benefited from such a friendship. She was glad that Healer was making Saturn feel better too.
*At least the two of them are all right. . .* Uranus thought to herself.
She also noticed the land coming in closer and closer. Uranus then did another flip in the air, and she played with the element she loved so much. . .the wind. . .allowing it to sweep through her hair and her wings. . .
Taking another look at the land through the thin, white clouds that speckled the sky, she saw a long strip down one part of the land. *The Great Wall. . .*
*Here is where we have to find the yellow Crystal. . .* But didn't she remembering hearing something else about Crystals. . .one being somewhere in Asia. . .? One being in the ocean? Or was it the same one? The Ocean theory could be probable since the planet was 3/4 water anyway. . .More chance of it falling in water than land. Again when she had time, she would stop to think and recall if she overheard that somewhere while she was hiding out near the destroyed Palace. . .
"C'mon, Healer, Saturn," Uranus said, lowering her altitude and looking up at her friends. "We're almost in Beijing right now. Let's go!" she said, excitement and determination in her voice.
Galatica felt message after message enter her mind. Figures they all had something to say. "Sakura." She answered verbally.
~Boy, you are getting on my nerves. I couldn't give a careless who your sister is, or whose kill she is. Threaten me again, and I will kill you. I have a much bigger goal in mind than your pathetic sister. I have no interest in experiments of the past. Even ones I had part in. Here's a hint boy. I'm Sailor Galatica. I've been alive long before you were thought up.~
She then turned answered Calmarya. ~We will talk tonight.~ Her next answer was directed at Charon.
~Just someone who has an interest in all of this.~ She rested her head against Sailor Wind's shoulder, and pretended to go to sleep.
Healer kept thinking about her two best friends and wondering if they were alright. Stopping in mid flight she looked up at the sky searching for any sign of them...any one...the glitter of their starseeds. The pulse of their stars, anything...tears began to fall. Who was she kidding...she wasn't alright. She could face anything with them at her side...but they weren't here..
Healer paused a moment then sighed. *They're alright. They know better than to be hurt or dead.* She thought as she shook off the tears and smiled. *The yellow crystal. One of seven rays of light that shot out over the world...one of the seven that almost hit me!* Flying forwards she came up to them, and looked at the great wall.
*We're here...but the others aren't here yet...language..*She was taken down memory lane as she could hear Taiki's voice yelling at her for mispronouncing a word. Thank the stars she had been learning it at the time. And Seiya's voice telling Taiki that it was hard being international rock stars.
"Um does anyone here besides me speak any other languages? Like Chinese? I'm asking so I know if I have to translate.."Healer said shaking her head. "We were international. We had just come off of tour when we came to Japan, and met all of you. So language isn't a problem for me." She shrugged, and touched her head.
"Geez, just thinking about it reminds me of the bumps I got from Taiki with a wooden spoon, I'll never mispronounce a word again." She smiled and looked at the two..
Uranus answered Healer's question. "Yes, I know the language, and a few other languages from the countries of Asia. After our Queen took the throne, Crystal Tokyo became a center for international affairs, and it as sort of a requirement that we know other languages." Uranus smiled back at the Starlight. *She still has that wonderful sense of humor, ne?*
The three senshi lowered their altitude, and Uranus could see the land approaching clearer. "There's Shanghai; you can tell because it's so modernized with new skyscrapers. . .There's the Great Wall going through Beijing. . .Beijing is north of Shanghai. Have the two of you been to Beijing itself or no?"
Uranus led her two friends to an even lower altitude. "Let's land over there," Uranus said, pointing to a location in front of Beijing's Forbidden City. "It'll be easier to hide out there, and if we need to get to the monorail station, it's close by. It's too bad that Kalko's forces are probably swarming all over Tianamen Square."
The trip on the monorail had been fairly uneventful; the invading forces, seeing the advantage of a rapid transit system as comprehensive as this were loathe to destroy it. They could move troops much more quickly, with much less drain on their resources, and they could quickly access any major population system that the rail was connected to. Plus the irony of using one of Crystal Tokyo's own systems to further its conquest was not lost on Kalko.
Oddly, enough, the invaders did not seem too concerned about refugees fleeing on that system. Why bother? The world would belong to the Empress soon enough, and the senshi were no threat...
The senshi who were unable to fly rode the rails for several hours, before coming up on Kanazawa. There, Nandeshiko knew some people who could smuggle them over to the Chinese mainland, away from any prying forces.
"Nandeshiko, you've come at last!" said an elderly Japanese man.
"It is good to see you again, Hitagawa-san. Listen, I must get to China with my friends here, as soon as possible." Nandeshiko said, indicating the others who came with her.
"It will be tricky; the invaders have increased their patrols. I can put you here," Hitagawa said, pointing to a portion of coastal China far from any cities, "but you'll have to make your own way to your uncle's house"
"No prob. Follow me, everyone!"
Charon decided now was not the best time to mention that she was afraid of being in boats that were on water. That and a paranoid fear of heights were her greatest banes in life. She wondered why the old man hadn't freaked at seeing a group of senshi. "Do we have to take a boat?"
Ryuoshi watched his sister quail at the thought of a boat ride, and smiled. One more thing he could bring her down with. His hand reflexively clasped onto a string of beads he carried in his pocket. He brought them out and slipped them through one hand, then the other, repeatedly. The beads were ceramic, in shades of light green, dark green and purple. The fact that he was the one who had shaped them festered at the back of his mind. He liked and had a talent for pottery, which had filled some of his time in the Negaverse, and while waiting to get back to Earth. He decided to find a dryer way across, distaining water as his sister did.
Michiru landed and folded her wings in. It was then that she spotted three familiar figures, one with long white hair, one with black hair, and one with short blonde hair.
"Yaten, Hotaru, Haruka!" She cried joyfully, and abandoning all composure, flung herself at her friends and beloved.
Healer smiled as Neptune lambasted Uranus who seemed overjoyed at her appearance. "Michiru! Long time no see!" Healer said smiling. This is who she had sensed a moment ago that made her stop and look up at the stars..*Fighter...Maker...Please be alright.*
Sakura's small mouth twisted into a dark grin as she laid with her face hidden from view. Yet another player entered the game....
"Neptune!" Uranus's eyes widened with joy and surprise. She held her love tight in her embrace. "You're safe, you're safe. . .Thank Kami-sama, I worried about you so much!"
Now that they were all temporarily safe in China (they saw none of Kalko's immediate force around at the moment), Uranus decided to address the rest of the group with the two colored lights she saw herself.
"Hey. . .I've been getting flashbacks of other streaks of light. I wanna check if that's just me or not. I thought I remembered seeing a blue one fall toward the Ocean, and the purple one head toward Southeast Asia. . .Did anyone else see them?" Uranus asked.
Neptune shook her head. "I saw the yellow streak head here, and I think I saw a red streak head for North America, while an orange one headed for South America." She moved a little closer to Uranus as she spoke. She had been terrified when Uranus had disappeared, and she had no intentions of letting her out of her sight for a while.
Uranus still held Neptune close to herself, sensing her lover's fear. "So we've spotted the Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, and Purple Crystals. Only got Indigo and Green to go. Wow, we're off to a good start, ne? Maybe Green will be Australia and Indigo somewhere in Europe. I've always wanted to travel. This is good," Uranus said, trying to lift up Neptune's spirits as well as everyone else's. "After China, the nearest stop is just south of here, Southeast Asia. The most likely place it would have landed would be Thailand. . ."
"No one has some sort of Crystal tracker, do you?" Uranus asked the rest of the group, knowing that the answer would most likely be 'no.' "China is. . .well. . .rather a large country. Where are we going to find one tiny Crystal in this huge place?" Uranus pondered this, then remembered: "Shall we all de-transform though? We have to get to the sea port. Nandeshiko mentioned the rest of the group would continue by boat here. Although why they couldn't just take the monorail that runs straight from the two capitals Tokyo and Beijing puzzles me. Maybe they thought it wouldn't be safe."
Uranus then de-transformed. "We'll have to lay low, but be on the defensive when we get to the port," Haruka said. "We can return here to the Forbidden City since it's so large and has lots of good hiding places. Let's go though." Haruka then waited for everyone to de-transform so they could head to the port.
Healer was quite a moment lost in thought. "They are." she said softly.."At least that was the direction they were headed in when I was dodging them, this morning...Sorry I would have followed one if I had known what they were.."
She looked out and folded her wings back...they knew their planet better then she did...so this was a question that she had to ask them.."Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru...I'm going to ask you a question, and I'm being dead serious." She paused to look at them. "I traveled your world in male form as Yaten Kou male teen rock idol...here's the catch...I prefer that form because that's how I'm known...however, if we're trying not to draw undo attention...I may want to keep my birth form, if there's a chance that anyone could remember who I am, in male form...speaking of which...just how much time has passed here...I haven't seen you guys in maybe a year or two, and a lot has changed...I almost didn't think this was Earth." She awaits their answers...hoping that she didn't just make a fool of herself...
"Governor Kalko." a voice said.
"Yes? Don't waste my time, idiot, come in!" Kalko answered.
"You called me from the laboratory." the man answered.
"Yes, how is the search for the Crystals going?" Kalko asked.
"We're not sure, but --"
"You'd BETTER be sure, you fool, or you MAY not get to LIVE!" Kalko cried in rage. "The Empress is getting impatient with me. If she doesn't have the Empyrean Silver Crystal in one piece and in her possession soon, we both will be thrown into her cliff that lies in front of the Living Palace. Do you want that as your final resting place?"
"N-no, Governor." the scientist stuttered, horrified. "We have evidence that the yellow Rainbow Crystal is somewhere in China, and that some of the Senshi may be there as well."
"Exactly...how do you learn this information?" he asked. "By what scientific approach?"
"Well.." the scientist began. "The Crystal was broken into seven pieces, one each color of the light spectrum. Each one gives off radiation that is shown on our data computers and other machines as the color of that particular 'Rainbow Crystal', the name given to each individual piece. Currently, the yellow Crystal is giving off the most radiation, somewhere in China."
"Do you know where the other six are?" Kalko asked.
"No, Governor." the scientist replied. "It seems some sort of spell has been put on the Crystals by the former monarch so that only one Crystal gives off radiation at a time. I assume they did this to increase the Senshi's chances of finding the Crystals before us. Also, I assume they are highly protected by mystical means, because we are using our most advanced tracking devices, and still we cannot tell exactly where in China it is in."
"Well, then, get more advanced tracking devices!" Kalko cried out. He looked at his guards. "Take him away. He dies at dawn. And bring Endymion when you come back. I want to speak with him." as the guards left, taking a screaming scientist with them, he turned to his military advisor. "I will give the Science Department a new head in the morning. Now, how are things going in Europe?"
"Not very well." his military advisor, Namyako, said. "There are rebels there fighting us. They are very strong, to be militia, not even trained military. But we have the trained military of every European nation against us as well, which isn't helping."
"That is expected." Kalko said. "The Empress is more worried right now about getting the Crystal than conquering the rest of the planet, I believe. She seems more patient with the Earth's downfall than with finding the Crystal. So, what should I do about that? China is already under our rule."
"The Senshi may be there." Namyako said. "If you wish to have your people look for the yellow Rainbow Crystal, I suggest you increase the numbers of our men there. I just got word from soldiers returning from the raid in Crystal Tokyo. The Commander and thirty of his men were reported to have spotted some girls standing around in an alley, and were never heard from again. If those girls were Senshi, they may have gotten stronger since they fought you. Also, it is rumored that they may have gotten allies from non-Senshi who have powers."
"Yes, and my sister is with them, according to the Empress. She is supposed to spy on them and tell me and the Empress of their progress. But personally, I never really trusted Calmarya." Kalko said. "Okay, see that the troops in China are increased." he then waited for the guards to bring Endymion from the dungeon.
Haruka turned to Healer with a smile on her face. "Don't worry about not following the Crystals. As for you being male or female. . .Can't you de-transform and remain female?"
Haruka considered Healer's question though. People would still remember Yaten, Seiya, and Taiki Kou. . .But if there were females of the same name. . .It would just be mere coincidence.
"Yes, a lot has changed since our Queen took the throne. It's been quite a while actually since we last saw you. But no matter now, what matters is if we are to draw less attention, what form shall you be in? If not, we'll do the best we can to protect you."
Not ready to shed her transformation just yet, Saturn took another look at her surroundings. Nothing threatening, or at least from what she could see. Still, she was worried. No doubt Kalko had figured out about the crystals by now, he'd be looking for them as well. What if he'd increased his forces around the world? That didn't automatically exclude China just because they were there, so what to do about it?
Turning to Uranus, she stated, "I'm not sure about many of the other crystals, I do know I saw the yellow and the red one. In any case, since we're here let's concentrate on the yellow crystal. It won't do any good to be searching in China with our minds elsewhere."
In answer to Healer's question, "Over a thousand years, Healer. That's how long the Earth 'slept'. Then account for after that, as we grew up. Many years, I doubt anyone would notice you as Yaten, though you are right in your worries. It's up to you, though if you decide to stay in the form you're in now we'd better find you a change of clothes, am I right?"
Saturn glanced around at the rest of her team, then a blush crept up her face. She'd been so caught up in trying to make sense of where she was and preparations for their journey that she'd barely noticed the newcomer.
"Neptune! You're alright! I can't believe I didn't really notice..." Saturn sighed. There was no way she could explain it in words so she sent the last few minutes of her consciousness to her 'mama' telepathically.
Neptune telepathically reassured Saturn that she didn't mind her not noticing her for a few moments. She turned to Healer. "It's your choice, but I think that Kalko's men will be suspicious of large groups of females, so you might be safer as a male." She then recalled what Uranus had said. "New senshi? When did this happen?"
"Good point you have there, Neptune," Haruka said. "Maybe Yaten-kun can go as a male instead." Haruka then considered Neptune's question. "Yes, we have some new senshi, and some non-senshi allies. One of them, Nandeshiko, actually brought up the issue of the Yellow Rainbow Crystal being in China in the first place. But I still don't trust all of them. . ." Haruka said, eyes glancing around suspiciously. "But then again, if they do turn out to be trustworthy, it'll help against battles since there will be more allies we can depend on."
The tall blonde closed her eyes. "The winds are stirring," she said. "Activity is growing, positive or negative. Let's get going to the port," Haruka said.
Healer frowned in thought. "For now I'll stay male...especially since the senshi are female." She looked at them. "However...if I have to I'll alter form. Mostly if the public starts asking too many questions." She powered down, feeling the tingling rush that came with the form change. "Like I said...I may be able to senshi them. I'm what you people call a sensitive...we kept watch over your planet that way...I kept an eye on you...but for us it only seemed like you slept for months.." Yaten shudders. "I can't believe it's been that long." He then looks at Haruka and realizes that she's dressed like a 'boy' "So it's two women and two 'men' touring China." He winks. "You're dressed like a boy, Haruka-kun."
Haruka laughed, hearing herself being called "Haruka-kun." She smiled again, realizing that yes, she did appear as a male. . .as usual. "Yeah, it does appear that two men would be traveling with two women. And it does make it less suspicious. . ."
Haruka pondered Yaten's words. "Yes, it does seem rather short, although it's been, like I said. . .a while." Haruka then begins walking with the rest of the group to the port. "I wonder how long it'll take to find the Crystal. Saturn, you do have a point as well: We should just concentrate on finding one for now."
"Well, Charon-san, we don't have a lot of choice. The attackers have probably taken over a lot of the commercial airfields, and we don't want to attract too much attention."
"Hitagawa-san here has spent a long time sailing from here to China; if anyone can get us past any blockades or traps, he can. I know it's not necessarily the fastest way, but seeing as we can't fly, this is about our only option."
"And we can't really swim from here to Korea, now can we?"
Glad that Neptune wasn't offended, Saturn concentrated harder on the conversation. After a bit she finally decided to de-transform, they wouldn't be able to start on their way until she did anyway. Closing her eyes, she first let her wings mystify and return, along with the rest of her powers, to the void where they awaited her call.
Taking a few deep breaths, Hotaru opened her eyes and checked around herself once again. She felt defenseless in her normal state, though didn't say anything and waited for the rest of her companions to finish their own personal preparations for the great search ahead.
Charon looked at the boat and remembered her first ,and last until then, trip in a boat. One of her Uncles had decided that she needed to learn how to swim to shore, and had tossed her off the boat. He hadn't known she couldn't swim at all. The feeling of water closing over her head was not something she ever wished a repeat of, not unless it was a swimming pool, a bathtub, or a very shallow lake/river.
"I guess we go by boat, then."
Yaten nods as he listens to the others and smiles a little. "Well Haruka-kun...lets hope Michiru-san and Hotaru-chan are right and no one remembers the Three Lights...or we're in for a whole mess of fun.." He then focuses his mind on the yellow crystal...hoping that its shine is like the girl who wields it...bright so he could find it...or at least narrow the search down by a lot....his eyes go distant as he looks out with his mind...and not with his eyes..
Sakura looks out over the water and giggles like the three year old she appeared to be. This was going to be fun....
Sailor Wind looked at the others with her and sighed remembering the time before she was a senshi, "Ne, how much longer do we have to wait?" she said trying not to be rude so she said it with a smile on her face. She looked at the child she was holding and closed her eyes as she began stroking her hair.
She slowly half-opened her eyes to look at her surroundings and sighed again feeling a deep void form in her chest, "And to think, just last week I was writing a mere book report." She attempted to lighten up the atmosphere with a simple daily fact.
Charon looked over at Wind, then de-transformed. "And two minutes before I found out I was a senshi, I was running for my life from a gang who thought I'd made some inaccurate observations about them. The next thing I know, I'm in the middle of nowhere, standing in front of a gate with this little black cat going on and on about my duties. I almost punted her through the gates, but thought better of it."
"Yaten-kun, Hotaru-chan," Haruka said. "Let's go. It's about time we leave to meet the others."
Haruka then resumed walking toward the port. She summoned for the others to follow. She looked up into the sky. It was a bit brighter than Tokyo. . .The time difference. . .and it didn't help that Crystal Tokyo. . .was in ruins. . .
But she did guess that if it eventually got dark, they could travel better under the cloak of dusk. But they all managed to walk to the port with no problems. There they waited for the others to arrive. Haruka walked around casually; perhaps the new senshi were already there? Not to her surprise they weren't there. The blonde had walked around cautiously. They could be attacked at any moment.
Nandeshiko overheard this, and added "You too? Last week, I was worried about how that quiz on 20th century music would have turned out. Those questions on the Starlights were hard!"
"Anyway, Hitagawa-san asked me to tell you that we should reach a safe port in a few hours, and that nothing's shown up on his scanners. We should be able to relax and enjoy the ride."
Looking out the small porthole, Nandeshiko remembered the last time she'd been in this very boat. It hadn't changed, it was still surprisingly fast, and the blue-green coloring of it rendered it almost invisible on the ocean surface.
She'd lost track of how long she had been staring at the ocean, when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. "Hitagawa-san?"
The old boat pilot looked at her, confusion in his features evident. "Nandeshiko, I just received a warning from the mainland. The port at Shanghai has fallen, we're going to have to go to a different port. The message sent coordinates for a small port outside of Suchow, it is yet safe for us to enter. When we get near, you and your friends will have to hide below decks, I'll sneak us in, then you'll have to get off quickly, while I distract the guards. Godai Hitagawa is a known merchant in these parts, I should be able to have someone vouch for me."
At Nandeshiko's concerned look, Gitagawa cut in "Don't worry about me. You will be met by someone who will take you out of the danger area and to a safe place."
"Who sent the message?"
Grinning, Hitagawa replied "The message was sent by your uncle, Bao. He is eager to see you."
Calmarya looked at Nandeshiko and the captain. "Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Well, the report shows that agents friendly to the invaders have taken over the port area I had planned to land at." Hitagawa said. "But according to this, we should be safe here." he said, indicating a small area on a map of the Chinese Coast.
"I've been there several times in the past, so I'm known to people there. As long as word gets out that I wasn't one of the ones who ferried refugees out of Crystal Tokyo during the Black Moon Wars, no one should be too suspicious."
"Well, as long as we're all safe and alive when we get there." Calmarya said. *So, we have ourselves an ally of the refugees.* she then thought to herself. *I'll have to try to remember to tell my brother this interesting information.*
Charon gently sent to Calmarya. ~I know who and what you are, and in some ways I'm worse then the little darling who's been threatening you. She can kill you. I can put your soul into eternal suffering. Betray any senshi, and you will suffer a fate that makes the fires of h*ll look nice.~ Charon wistfully looked across the ocean. It wasn't too bad to ride in a boat after all.
Endymion didn't move as someone came to take him from his cell down in the dungeon. As he was told to come forcefully, he stood and went along placidly until they stopped before Kalko. It was a difficult thing to do, but he kept his expression calm and didn't let any of the hateful thoughts that ran through his mind show. He said nothing and stood before the enemy, refusing to show any courtesies.
Yaten had been following them, not really seeing them, but the eternal shine of their starseeds as he searched for the light of the yellow crystal...he stopped walking when he felt a new wave enter the picture...a warm one...like hers.
He had collided with a school girl carrying her books and heard her cry out. Blinking he looked down at her. "Hey. Watch where you're going." He snapped irritated. When she apologized and picked up her books he noticed a music history book that was open and had a picture of them...the three lights...acting quickly he picked up the book and snapped it shut handing it to her...he hadn't changed. Walking away and to the others he was lost in thought. He was near Haruka when he felt the wave again.
*Princess...* He thought. *No...it's different...like Sailor Moon...* he looked down. He had felt it...now if he could find it again...He began searching with his mind...he was tempted to start singing...but knew better...after seeing that picture.
"Haruka-kun...we're in your history books. I saw one...and I haven't aged...or changed in appearance...high school girls may be a problem for us if they catch a good enough glimpse of me. I'm just warning you now."
Sakura looked over at Calmarya and Charon. She was enjoying herself so far...and if any of them dared to cross her she could erase them...Galaxia had shown her that neat trick...take their starseed and the senshi disappeared...however...she liked games...and that would end it all too quickly...and tedious...not to mention...already done...she hated following in her sister's foot steps so taking a star seed would be the last resort...she could always make them her unwitting slaves first..."Port." she murmured like a small child.
"Nani?" asked Haruka of Yaten, surprised yet she understood. Why wouldn't the Starlights be in their music history books? They influenced many music groups that followed after their "breakup". . .Haruka just didn't think about the part that yes, the Starlights would be in history books, and that was probably what got her surprised.
"Well, um, Yaten-kun," Haruka said in a low voice. "Perhaps it would be wise if you changed to your other self. . .Your other form, Yaten-SAN," Haruka finished. "If not, let your hair down. Take it out of that ponytail. Gomen. . .I can't think of anything else. I don't think you'd want to cut your hair either." Haruka did have a quick image of herself and her Space Sword, cutting off the precious, silver strands of hair belonging to Yaten Kou. . .No, if things got really bad, fans would come up to her and ask her for it! No, Haruka didn't want to even consider something like THAT happening. . .
Haruka looked around to see if any other students were walking around. Phew. . .None so far. . .She looked out toward the ocean. Some boats arrived, but they were too large and obvious for any band of senshi trying to hide to board. She wondered when they would arrive in Beijing. . .
Yaten hadn't missed a single word...tripped and almost fell...he whipped his head around to look at her. "C...c...c...cut...it?" He choked out. His jade eyes were wide...really wide. "You're joking right?" he barely got out...Reaching behind his head he undid the white leather that held his hair back. It fell loose and he cringed...then put it back.
"It gets in the way...I have to wait for us to get somewhere where no one's watching for the other.." He grumbled.."I'll deal with Kalko's men before I cut it." The sense of the princess fleeing from his thoughts for the moment.."Haruka-kun..please tell me you were joking!"
"Was I joking, Yaten-kun?" Haruka asked with a raised eyebrow of skepticism. Then she smiled.
"Don't worry," she said. "If anything happens, we'll protect you. Besides, how is anyone to know that you really are indeed Yaten Kou?" she said to him quietly. Then coming back to normal volume speech, she continued. "You can be a look-alike, ne? You just happen to look like him, that's all. . ."
Haruka had noticed that something was bothering the Light. She searched his face while he wasn't looking for any expression that would give away what he was feeling inside himself.
"Yaten-kun," Haruka then began a bit more seriously. "Is something on your mind? Please tell us. Perhaps we can help."
~Don't worry, Charon.~ Calmarya sent back. ~I have no intention of betraying the Senshi...for now. But honestly, my Empress and my brother alike are immune to the Silver Crystal, what makes you think they won't be immune to you as well?~
Sailor Wind looked around and then de-transformed, hoping they wouldn't be surprised in how much her looks changed. "If you want, you can call me...anything you want pretty much, I'm not going to tell you my name just yet." Suddenly she looked to the sky and thought, *I feel the princess' power.* She frowned and looked back at the others, "Most people who don't know my name usually just call me Girl-chan," with that she shrugged.