Fatal Fury Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Rifts ❯ Chapter 23: The Rescue, and other Revelations ( Chapter 23 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sailor Moon/Rifts Crossover (Revised Edition) By Simon Woodington

Chapter 23: The Rescue, and other Revelations

"I don't suppose it's too late to turn back now?" Fade asked nervously
under his black helmet as they approached the gates of the Coalition
State of Texas.

"Not nervous, are we Fade? You don't have to say word one, I'm doing
all the talking." She glanced at him, not yet wearing her helmet. "Got
it?"

"Yes. That's not what I'm worried about."

"Shut up, we're almost there."

"Yes Ma'am," Fade replied sarcastically.

The radio hummed.

"Identify yourself," it demanded.

"This is the 'D-Bee Crusher' Cargo Transport, carrying supplies to the
Lone Star Underground Facilities."

A moment of considerate silence followed.

"Come on Randy..." Anim whispered desperately.

"Transmit your clearance code."

Her fingers flew across a small numeric keypad, numbly hoping their
order was correct. Her breath paused in the slender corridor of her
throat. Fade glanced at Anim, and realized he was not breathing
either. So far Randy had come through, if this did not pass...

"Thank you. Proceed to Hangar 16," the voice confirmed.

Anim started to navigate them through when the voice started over the
radio again.

"Wait."

"What?" she replied, trying not to sound scared.

"Don't suppose you're free after your shift?"

Fade chuckled quietly.

Anim's eyebrows knitted as an evil smirk passed over her face.

"What's yer name there, honey?"

"Kira. How about yours?"

"They call me th' Freak Slayer, butcha kin call me Cale. I'm out at
twelve-hundred. So how about it, meet you at Fusion Grill?"

"Sure. Mine ends at eleven-hundred. Pick you up at thirteen-hundred?"

"Sweet. See ya then."

"I'll be looking forward to it," her sultry voice assured him.

After turning off the radio, Anim and Fade spent a few minutes
laughing at the irony of what had just occurred. Once calm, something
started to nag at Fade.

"Anim, you know where we're going?"

"Yes," she hesitated. "At least I think I do."

"Now I am getting nervous," Fade said.

"Can't be that difficult."

"No, of course not. It's only a great way to fool D-Bee spies like
us."

"We're not spies," she said, looking annoyed.

"Aren't we? We're here to infiltrate enemy secrets. Isn't that what
spies do?"

"I..." her eyes narrowed, "damn you! My friends are not just enemy
secrets."

"Not to us they aren't, but in the eyes of the CS..."

"Screw the CS!" she cursed furiously at Fade with a harsh glare.

"You know what? That's damn fine with me, but I don't exactly want to
get vaped here," Fade said. Then; "look out!"

A smaller cargo ship, traveling at too high a velocity to avoid the
path of the Death's Head transport, zipped out in front of them. Anim
managed to turn the massive APC aside soon enough to evade disaster.

The radio hummed again.

"Hey there."

"Uh, hi. Sorry about that," Fade said rather uneasily into the
receiver.

"No prob. No better way to get someone's attention than to try and hit
them."

Anim raised an eyebrow.

"Hey there," she said, leaning forward to assure the clarity of her
voice.

"Hey there pretty lady."

She smiled. Fade gazed at her.

"What are you thinking?" he asked quietly.

"Pretty Lady, hm? Answer me this..." she began, putting a finger to
her lips. Fade answered her gesture with the appropriate silence.

"And what might that be, my dear?"

Fade might have found the exchange pleasant in any other situation
other than the one they were currently in. As it was, the least of it
was nervousness.

"What do you know about the ninth level?" she seemingly ventured.

"No more than any other CS fearing Dead Boy."

"Eighth?"

"Plenty of delicate subjects there, my sweet."

"And Seventh...?"

"Oh, Seventh Heaven you mean? Wouldn't that be the last time we..."

'Hai?'

'My dear, I believe it would be foolish to speak of such acts in the
presence of others. However, if you will recall, we did spend the
entire night with each other the first time,' he stated in fluent
Japanese.

With a faint blush, she smiled warmly, 'hmm, no doubt.' She reverted
to American. "Randy came through again, Fade. This man's our contact."

:Geez, Randy could have at least told me this is how we'd meet; the
elf thought tiredly.

:And leave you with the illusion of having control?; the man over the
radio laughed in Fade's mind. :Don't be ridiculous. Haven't you
realized by now that you're way in over your head?:

:I suppose I should have; Fade relented.

"Lead on," Anim said with good humour.

"Of course."

The crater of a vessel turned around beneath the hull of the
considerably larger APC, and headed towards one of the smaller
buildings in the State.

"Hey... er, what's your name?"

"Call me Drake."

"Is that really your name?"

"Is Fade yours?"

Fade considered decking the man at the other end of the conversation,
if he ever got the chance.

"Nevermind," he snapped, storming away from the radio, and cursed
heavily. "You can talk with this creep all you like, Anim, but no way
am I going to."

"Nice to meet you too," the voice laughed against a slight twitch of
static.

Anim pretended to take no notice of the elf's agitation.

"So how have you been, Drake hon? How are the supplies?"

"Not good. Unfortunately, they're planned to ship within the hour. We
don't have much time."

"Damnit."

"Hey," his concerned tones offered, "if you want to get together after
we deliver, I'm all yours..."

Slowly her face warmed.

"I'd like that. I'd like that a lot." Her face was lit by a soft
smile.

"I care about you," the voice stated.

"I know that."

"Listen honey, would you resent an offer of something a little more
involving than, well, you know..."

She paused, stunned by the open nature of his statement. "I... Ca-
um... Drake, I'm not... I mean I'd love to, but... We need to talk. I
care about you a lot too, more than I've ever cared for anyone, but
things are so... messed up right now."

"The supplies?"

"Yeah... we might want to go back..."

"I realize that. I'd be willing to accompany you."

Anim's face hardened.

"How can you say that? You know so little about me, aside from what
you've learned from your sources... and, um... me."

"Hey, the way I figure it, anything will be worth the trouble just to
be with you."

"That's so corny..." she smiled warmly, loving the fact that he meant
every syllable. "And so cool."

"Hey, I try. So? Have I got your vote?"

"I..."

:It's simple Mina-san, yes or no:

Anim gasped as his voice entered her mind.

:Hai; she replied, feeling her eyes mist with emotion. :I don't know
why, and I probably shouldn't do this... but I trust you:

:I'm glad:

There was a time of silence as they flew through Texas, bent on their
destination. Anim was not sure what she would do when they rescued
Usagi. What would she say?

:She thinks I'm dead!; she thought. :She probably isn't even fighting
them. Damnit!: She did not want to think of what the geneticists at
Lone Star might have done to her.

:You okay there sweets?:

:Hm? Oh; she blinked, and brought her eyes back into focus. :I was...
just thinking about Usagi...:

:She's okay. Alive, I mean. What bothers me is the level of secrecy
that they have surrounded her with. All I know is where she's penned
up. Anything else, I couldn't tell you:

:I know. You're doing the best you can:

"Okay, land. I'll join you shortly."

:Whoever is important to you gets the same rating in my book; Carl
responded devoutly.

"Just don't crash Mr. Drake," Fade interjected, offering sarcastic
guidance.

"I wouldn't worry about that," the voice replied coolly. "Welcome
back."

"Eh, well, thanks."

"No prob. Now, here's the tough part."

---

"That's your plan?!" Fade gasped. "You're nuts!"

"Not really," Carl started calmly. "I think it makes a great deal of
sense. Anim is the only one they haven't caught yet."

"And what about the fact that she's supposed to be dead?"

The brown haired man paced.

"They know how unpredictable the burbs and its residents can be. They
won't even think twice about it, and we won't be around long enough
for it to matter if they do."

Fade nodded resolutely. Then set the doctor with a gaze of inspired
query.

"What about you taking off like you did? Won't they wonder?"

"Sure, but I'm not worried about passing my story off to the
Administrator. Dr. Bradford can take a leap into the Abyss as far as
I'm concerned. We just want in, then out. Very simple."

He nodded, satisfied.

"So are you guys ready?" Anim stepped in, wearing a white untied
straight-jacket, with collar and dark brown pants. "Carl I need you to
do this up..."

Carl regarded her with a smirk.

"Well... if you say so Ma'am."

Anim returned a "very funny wiseguy" expression.

"Don't tell me you wouldn't be making wisecracks if I was bound too,
eh?"

She sighed in admonition.

"C'mere," he gestured softly. Before tending to the arm straps, he
reached over to a pile of black EVA armor, and hefted it to Fade, who
looked terribly offended in reception.

"What, the suit I've got isn't any good?"

"Light armor won't last a second out there, not with all the heavy
artillery. Besides, this was designed to mask your elven nature."

:I'm not just an elf, smartass; he grumbled in thought alone. Or so he
thought.

:It hardly matters to me, I know what you are:

Fade replied a suspicious look, but did not follow through with his
thought, :You smell just as mystical as me, buddy:

:Now is not the time for competition, Fade Ha'lyyn. You are being paid
to assist me, not get on my bad side. And you had best not, dark elf,
if you value your life; Carl replied in every confidence.

Fade paused for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons of
confrontation at that point. Evidently, the unknowns outweighed any
possible pros. The glare shared dissipated to a feigned indifference.

"So, what, I guess I'm supposed to be the guard with the doctor and
his freak?"

"If you didn't reek of magic, yes. Here," in his hand he offered a
small amulet. "Don't worry, I've used those things for years, and even
the Psi-Hounds can't figure me out."

"That makes two of us," he commented glibly, gazing at the crimson
jewel for a moment before accepting it.

"When do we leave?"

"Shortly. Be ready."

"Yeah," he sighed, turning to leave. "I guess."

Anim faced Carl, and they were alone.

"That arrogant little loudmouth is going to get us killed, Carl," Anim
cursed. "Are you sure about this? I mean really?"

Carl nodded.

"Fade is a wild card I can handle. He wouldn't be alive right now if I
wasn't certain of that. Listen, I'm not risking anything. I've been
doing this for decades."

Her eyes fell to the ground. She looked rather uncomfortable.

"How are we going to do this anyway? How do you know Ami and Usagi
aren't already dead?"

"I don't. I've got to trust my people down there."

With misty vision, Anim leaned against him.

"Everything's so damned bleak Carl. I miss my friends, I miss my old
life... I..." she began sobbing softly. He caressed her shoulders
firmly.

"Sssh, after this, you and I are going to have a long talk. There are
some important things you need to know about me."

She gazed up at him for a moment, and whispered between sobs; "You're
a magical being."

"Yes, but it's a little more dramatic than that. I'm a dragon."

Anim did not move, nor did she tense.

"I know."

"You and I do need to talk!"

The silent passage of several minutes saw Anim's tears dried. Carl
gazed into her blue eyes.

"You aren't going to break down on me in there, love...? If you are,
you're better off waiting here for us."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Carl, if you really knew what I've been through to get to this point,
you'd know I'd be damned if I didn't see this through. I'm not giving
up on them. Not for Karl Prosek, not for any of them." The intensity
in her voice, and the emotions fueling her, told Carl that, and more.

She would sooner die than stop now.

:It is your choice, but know that I will protect you. I swear it.:

---

"Damn this thing's awkward," Fade complained sourly. "The bloody
helmet's pinching my ears."

"They aren't meant for elves typically," Carl whispered. "You're a
little tall for the modifications we made. Deal with it."

"Thanks," Fade replied sarcastically with a huff.

For all outward appearances, the upper layers of the stronghold known
as Lone Star seemed calm. No expense was spared; the only grunts
visible wore the new style light and medium Dead Boy armour. Grunts
who sat in the cusps of the towers bore impressive looking rail guns,
and even more impressive were the new Smiling Jack SAMAS PAs, and the
DeathWings. Carl held a certain appreciation for the level of
technology the CS was able to produce from such a small State. Even
though the most productive part of it extended over the city block two
hundred feet underground. The self-sufficiency was primarily a result
of technology borne from the Golden Era of Man, before the Cataclysm
of the Rifts.

The nine levels were capable of housing several thousand people,
complete with manufacturing plants for all necessities, from
toiletries right down to the design and construction of old and new
SAMAS armors, among other similar technology. With the inclusion of
the Genetic Engineering Division, Lone Star represented the most
incredible technological achievement of mankind. Also, one of the very
few to survive the holocaust.

As they approached the entry to the elevators to lower levels, they
were set upon by a small group of Dead Boy troopers. The first of the
five member squad spoke:

"Greetings Dr. Silver. We've been asked by Dr. Bradford to see that
you reach the GECA division without molestation." Not waiting for a
response, the squad leader signaled for his grunts to assume a
preplanned defensive position about the three.

"Would you prefer I had one of my men handle the SDB?" the trooper
asked.

"Why?" Carl asked, curious at the young man's offer.

"If I may say, sir, Private Jarre has some," he cleared his throat,
"attitude problems. I would hardly consider him trustworthy."

The unusually piquant "Private Jarre" huffed under his breath:
"Figures."

"May I ask your name?"

"Yyone, sir."

"Yyone. Thank you. You may be surprised to learn that Jarre was
responsible for the capture of this young female creature."

"Sir? He was stationed at... Chi-Town, correct?" A tone of doubt shone
in his voice.

"Yes. She was sent to me by Prosek himself. You understand."

"Yes sir. Of course sir. Sorry sir," the trooper nodded curtly and
fell silent. They entered the elevator, which began descending shortly
after Carl punched in the appropriate security sequence.

"Sir?"

"Yes, Yyone?"

"Why is the female so attractive if she is evil?"

Anim tensed, snarling faintly. They both seemed to ignore her.

"You mistake her. She is not evil by nature. She has no more wish to
harm you than I. What threatens our race is the multitude of aliens
like her. They would overwhelm us by sheer numbers if we did not act
to deter them."

"What about her beauty?"

"Being alien does not always mean being unattractive, at least from
the human perspective."

"You seem to have a great understanding of these things, sir."

"And you ask many questions. Why is that?"

"I wish to serve the State to the best of my ability. May I speak
freely?"

"In front of your squad?"

"They share a similar mindset, sir," he replied with a trace of
hesitance.

"Permission granted."

"Frankly, I wouldn't ask these questions of the other doctors, sir.
Certainly not Dr. Bradford."

"And why not?"

"He disturbs me."

Carl smiled privately. "Continue."

"Sir, it seems to me that you are the most open to other thoughts. Dr.
Bradford's elite are insane, and so his he. I've taken very particular
efforts to serve with you."

"Yes, I've noted this, Yyone. Your squad has been quite attentive."

"I've noticed you choose to assist the D-Bees at every chance, rather
than conduct experiments."

"What are you implying?" Carl turned to the trooper, face revealing
nothing, yet.

"Well, frankly, sir, we've heard rumors."

"Such as?"

"That you are allied with an outside force that would be willing to
take on those with," his voice betrayed his nervousness, "Unusual
talents."

"Well that's pretty specific."

"Yes sir. Hopes are high."

"Very well," he replied sternly. "May I offer a conjecture?"

"Of course sir," the trooper answered.

"That you weren't sent by Dr. Bradford as you said."

"No sir."

"Obviously you intended to approach me with the problems of your
squad, and yourself," Carl said, drawing out the as yet unknown
conclusion for the undeniably nervous young man.

"Yes sir."

Carl could feel with his mind that the young man was stretched to the
point of breaking, and the only thing holding him together was his
training. and feverent hope, the latter as mentioned.

"May I ask you something else?"

"Of course sir."

"If I am to accept you, you must be willing to betray the Coalition
completely. This includes your squad. Can you vouch with unwavering
conviction that they are trustworthy?"

The trooper glanced over at one of the grunts, who responded more than
she should have by returning his gaze.

"Well Dakota, are you in?"

"Sir..." the young woman replied uncertainly. "This is one heckuva
pinch, y'know!"

"Agreed." Carl turned to her with an expression that could have
cracked stone. "It's now or never, young one. I am in no position to
argue, or fiddle with such issues. Anim," he gestured towards the
bound woman, "is here to rescue her friends. The only reason she is
restrained is because she chooses to be. It's really that simple."

Her eyes fell upon Anim, who did not respond.

"No kiddin'?"

The bound blond simply nodded, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

"Cool."

"Call me Carl. The plan is this, get in, locate Cases 210, 211-A, B,
and 118, then return to me. Can you do this?" He faced the leader of
the squad once again.

"Sir, you'd be surprised how many of the CSM are stationed at Lone
Star," Yyone replied, sounding relieved.

"Probably not. Yyone, may I ask your first name?"

"Yes sir. It's Jake, sir," he replied. Carl was sure he was smiling
behind that black and white helmet.

"Get all of your," he quirked an eyebrow, "'CSM' together, tell them
to meet just outside of cell 204. How many are there?"

"Twenty-seven," he said, darkness marring his voice. "We lost three to
the monsters of the Rifts."

Carl nodded sympathetically.

"Unfortunate. You are doing the right thing, Yyone."

"I certainly hope so, sir."

"We're almost there," Anim said, breaking her bonds easily. A series
of gasps washed through the cargo elevator. Anim gazed around, looking
half surprised.

"If you're all superhuman, one of you must be super-strong," she
suggested, eyebrows knitted as she slipped the heavy white jacket from
her torso and arms.

"Wait a sec," Jake blundered. "You knew? Geez, I guess I did make the
right choice!"

The young woman spoke up after receiving a nod from her superior.

"That'd be me. I can shape change, a bit. I'm also the strongest of
all of us."

"What have you ascertained that to be?" Carl asked.

"We, uh, kinda figure I'm just about as strong as the average
Mega-Juicer. I'm definitely stronger than any of the scrapass
Skelebots."

Carl gazed at Jake.

"I need to know what each of the members of your squad is capable of."

He nodded deftly.

"Greg - Hawkeye - here can teleport just about anywhere he's been, or
can see - which is pretty damned far, and heals really quickly. Sarah
- Hard Edge - can fly, can shoot energy bolts, and can turn her skin
into stone. Callan, or Canary, can turn into just about any animal he
wants, can stun people just by touching them, and seems to be able to
control water. What Dakota - Darlin' - didn't mention was that she can
dominate people with her looks; her beauty has a habit of getting her
into trouble. Not that I blame her for not mentioning it."

"Dakota, you and I will discuss ways of coping, alright?" Carl offered
plainly.

The young woman nodded.

"Thank you sir."

"The last of us, Jenny - she doesn't have a nickname - can turn into
water and metal. She's the powerhouse of the group, really," he said,
as if finished.

"And what about you?" he asked pointedly.

"Me? Well," he cleared his throat. When he spoke again, his voice was
a clear and unmistakable rendition of Carl's. "I imitate voices. If
I've heard it, I can parrot it." His voice altered to its original
state. "Not much else of what I can do is terribly useful. I can turn
intangible, so that no one can touch me. Problem is, I can't touch
anything else like that. It's handy for quick entry and exit. I can
also turn my arms, or whatever else, into bladed or blunt weapons."

"We call him Untouchable," Dakota said with a hidden smirk and a hint
of laughter.

"Wait," Jake said, indicating the requirement of silence with a raised
hand. Moments passed as Jake seemed to listen to something. Finally,
he looked at Carl.

"It's too late. They've broken out. 210 is missing, and so is 211 A
and B. We're a little late."

"118?" Anim asked, eyes wide.

"No word," Jake confirmed. "Must still be there."

Carl's eyes narrowed in concentration.

"Greg, can you get your group out of here?"

The fellow nodded. "Yes sir. Where do I go?"

Carl closed his eyes.

:Here; he said in the young man's mind as an image followed. :If it
takes more than one jump, then so be it. We can't risk blowing your
cover now. Your friends would be in danger. We'll come back for them
later if we can:

:Right. You'll meet us there?:

:Yes. Just focus on that image and go! Now!:

Without further pause for thought, the five armoured men and women
disappeared.

"What now?" Fade asked, shedding his helmet, looking vaguely
disoriented.

"We make sure they aren't missed," he stated, pulling a small cube
from his pocket. He wedged it against the control panel of the
industrial elevator.

"Cover me," he commanded, touching both their shoulders. Before they
could think, the scene had changed. Mind you, not by a large degree.

"Mina!" A familiar voice gasped in stark disbelief.

"Usagi-chan!" she replied, running over to her. Usagi had been bound
to a wall by wrists and ankles. Anim grabbed the bonds and pulled at
them, feeling no give. Anim started as she felt a jolt, like a
solitary quaking of earth. Gazing around a moment later indicated her
reaction was quite uniform.

"What the...?!" Usagi chirped, as if shocked awake by the blast.

"Carl?" Anim pined nervously.

"Later! There's no way you'll break her bonds," Carl decreed sharply.
"Come here!" Fade stepped quickly up to them, at which point, they
repeated their earlier performance.

---

"Where the hell are they!" Minako growled. "Who took them!?"

Carl just shook his head. He tapped a button, and leaned backwards in
the pilot's seat of the SC-APC Cruiser.

"I haven't a solitary clue."

"That makes three of us," Fade commented glibly. Minako threw a mock
expression of amusement his way, and sat forward in the co-pilot's
seat, mumbling angrily and uselessly to herself as frustration
squirmed inside her.

"How is your neck, Usagi? Feeling better?"

She nodded demurely in his direction.

"Yes, thank you. Mina, we'll find them, I'm sure of it." Usagi offered
in an attempt to console her.

"How the," she swore with a dark scowl, "hell do you know that,
Usagi-chan! You don't know who took off with them!"

"I think I do," she said hesitantly, taken aback.

Carl turned abruptly to face her.

"You had the same sense?"

She nodded. "Hai. And I think - um, I dunno. I think I can follow it,
too."

He looked curious as he tapped a key and took hold of the control
stick.

"Why don't you just tell me when I'm getting warm, okay?"

Usagi gazed around uncertainly. "Well, we're way cold now, but I don't
know if..."

"Just point."

"Okay," and she did so.

"Good enough for me," said he, leaning the APC into Usagi's
indication.

"Hey Usagi, we're going to be a while right?"

Usagi merely shrugged in reply.

"I don't know. They are pretty far away, though. It's kinda hard to
tell."

The elf sighed. "Lovely. Carl, you mind if I rest for a bit?"

"I suppose not. You had best be ready to move, though. There's no
telling what took the two senshi. If you've got any defensive magic,
you should probably get it ready."

"Will an Armour of Ithan do? Don't worry about me; I got skills," Fade
remarked with a confident smirk. After a moment or two of silence, he
wandered out of the room.

Anim sat down in a corner and fell into her own considerations as
Usagi continued to direct Carl in their bleak hopes. She was beginning
to wonder if it was all worth it. What would they do even if they did
all get back together? What could they do? They had all changed so
much. With Makoto missing, maybe even in another dimension, the
likelihood of the senshi getting back together seemed diminished. She
knew she was falling in for it too, with Carl. With a dragon no less!
Inconceivable! Anim could hardly argue, however, her emotions seemed
to win over her common sense. Not that it surprised her. Ami and Rei,
well, there was no way of learning that other than the heated pursuit
they were currently engaged in. Besides them, Usagi was the only one
left waiting.

"Usagi?" Minako started, voice decidedly quiet.

Usagi turned to her, looking once irritated and twice angry. Minako
had a hard time not focusing on the hardened look in her friend's
eyes.

"It's about Mamoru... he made it... he's okay."

As the words left her mouth, the anger in Usagi's face melted to a
look of godsent relief. Minako could clearly see the tears behind her
eyes.

'Whereishewhathappenedtohimhashechangedohgodishehurt doeshemissme...?'

'Usagi calm down! Please...! I can't tell you anything if you won't
calm down! Here,' she gestured towards the co-pilot's seat as she
stood from it. 'Sit.'

'Hai... Sorry, Mina-chan...' Usagi sighed as she seated herself,
sounding shaken.

'He's with the woman who saved him, they're going to -'

'He's with who!?' Usagi snapped in high tones.
'Hehasn'tforgottenmeorfalleninlovewithsomeoneelseohidon'
tkn owificouldlivewithouthimthatcreephowcouldhe...' she gasped, 'I...'

'Usagi-chan! It's alright! He still loves you... Demelza is only the
healer who took care of him. She's psychic, too, and nothing...
besides everything, has changed.'

Usagi wiped at her eyes.

'Oh Mamoru, I miss you...' She blinked at a sudden realization. 'Why
isn't he here?!'

Mina took a moment to sit down before her reply.

'The both of them have gone after Makoto.'

'Mina-chan, what do you know? You haven't told me anything!' she
pointed out, sounding angry.

'Now isn't exactly the best time for it,' she said in uncertain tones.

'Do you know of a better time? You can tell me now! Carl doesn't need
my directions anymore!'

Mina seemed somewhat startled for a moment before her eyebrows
narrowed in irritation.

'Usagi-chan! For heaven's sake calm down! You don't have to yell at
me!'

Usagi's expression darkened apologetically.

'So sorry. I just...'

Mina shook her head morosely. 'I don't know much. Makoto was taken by
some kind of spell. We were told that it was teleportation of some
kind, possibly dimensional.'

'So Makoto and this healer went to find her.'

'Hai!' she gasped, somewhat surprised by her friends' unusual
comprehensive ability. 'Um, Luna and Artemis are fine, in love,
married, and human, but otherwise okay.'

The blond haired girl jumped to her feet suddenly, an expression of
stark disbelief on her face.

'Nani! Nani, nani!' she half yelled, mouth gaping.

Mina found herself almost relieved to see some of the old, and
seemingly lost Usagi resurfacing.

'Hai!' she replied. 'I said human. She's beautiful, and so is
Artemis...' A dreamy look wandered over her face as she completed the
statement.

Usagi arched an eyebrow.

'Oh, really? But... how can she guide us like that... I mean..."

Mina looked uncertain again.

'I don't know. She said nothing has changed. I trust her... it's got
to be easier than giving in...'

Usagi plunked herself back down on her seat. 'Do you really believe
that Mina-chan? What if it's not? What if we ever do go back home?
With the rest gone, does Earth really stand a chance?'

Mina leaned forward and pressed a hand to the young woman's shoulder.

'I think we stand a better chance now than we did before. Even if the
entire NegaForce has taken over Earth.'

Usagi shook her head in denial.

'What makes you say that? We don't even know anything. There's almost
no hope!'

'Usagi... we've survived the Splugorth! They couldn't keep us apart.
We've got Carl, Randy, Katrin, and the rest on our side. I don't think
there's no hope.'

'Randy?'

She nodded deftly, puzzled.

'So?'

"Carl, you work for Randy?!" Usagi snapped harshly. Mina withdrew her
hand suddenly.

"No. We are associates in business."

"How can you stand to be near that evil creature!"

"Usagi, he's just a human!" Mina explained, aghast at Usagi's
reaction.

"He's a demon, that's what he is! He's no human!" she snarled ferally.

Mina stood up sharply.

"What? What are hell are you talking about?!"

:Usagi!; Carl snapped authoritatively in her mind. :That is enough!
You will desist this instant, child!:

The blond turned on her heel to face the challenge, the snarl unfaded.
:How dare you...!:

:Hold your temper! You are not among the enemy! We are your friends!:

:Hai; she replied, calming slowly. Even as she sat she seemed angry,
wary, as though any hand that touched her she would bite off.

:Heya Bunny! Issat you?; a familiar sounding voice asked in Usagi's
mind. She reeled as if struck. Minako caught her shoulder, steadying
her.

:Garen? I thought...:

"Are you alright Usagi-chan?"

She nodded distractedly.

:Dat I wus dead? Well, ya see, I's a lil' more prepped 'n dat: The
overbearing little man appeared next to Usagi, wide smile on his face.

"I jus' don' like usin' m' powers is all, y'know."

Usagi grabbed the fellow in a warm hug.

"Gi, I missed you!" she laughed happily. Garen responded by replying
her gratitude. Finally, she set him down.

"Sorry I hadda freak ya out like dat Bunny," Garen started. Usagi
shook her head, indicating it was an apology long past requirement.

"Carl, that mountain, that should be it. There should be - I'm not
sure, some kind of cave or something." She turned back to Garen. "Gi,
I'm just happy you're still alive. Things actually seem to be turning
out alright - I guess. Minako's back, Rei is alright, and once we pick
up Ami... we can go after Makoto!" Her smile was pleasing, at least to
Garen, who grinned.

"Usagi? What cave? I don't see it..."

Usagi sat bolt upright, and was at Carl's side in an instant. Minako
made noises of puzzlement. Garen nodded agreement.

"It's right there!" she pointed. "You can't see it?"

"I bets it's a fake-out," Garen pointed out helpfully.

Carl nodded. "I'm quite sure you're right. Usually I can see through
such things, however... it seems not in this case."

"I can feel an extremely powerful presence in there. Not like you,
Carl, but... pretty damned close."

Minako cast an inquisitive glance Usagi's way, not that she noticed.
Somehow, this world, or maybe the Coalition, had turned her into a
mystic tracker of some sort. Her harsh temper seemed a clear
indication that she had been altered in some sense. The Coalition was
capable of almost anything, but just to be sure...

"Usagi, tell me, how magical am I?"

Usagi sniffed, her eyes rolled in consideration before she spoke.

"A lot more magical than Garen, and much less than Carl here. You have
a spell on you, I can tell, too. Why?"

Minako shrugged, satisfied.

"Just curious."

:Mina honey, what are you up to?; Carl's soft mind-voice prodded.

:Just trying to figure out with the CS did to her. So far as I can
tell, they've made her into a magical predator of some kind. Thing is,
she doesn't realize it:

:Perhaps it's better that way; Carl amended. :No, that's not all
they've done. I can't really tell exactly what, but she's very
powerful - probably even more so than I:

:More powerful than a dragon? That's impossible!:

:Point being? Isn't dimensional travel also impossible? Though, I will
admit, it is rather intimidating.:

:Intimidating? That the Coalition can create that kind of power? No
doubt: "Hon, can you get this bugger into that cave?"

Carl gazed at her with an arched eyebrow.

"Not unless you want to kill Rei and Ami."

Usagi suddenly looked startled. As the expression passed, another of
feral anger wandered onto her face.

"Let me out!"

Minako gave her ample space as the former leader of the Bishojo Sailor
Senshi darted towards the hatch of the vessel.

"Carl!"

"Why?" he asked. "What is it?"

"Damn you," she snarled, as if he had just insulted her. "Let me out!"

"Bunny! Hey! Watcha doin'?"

:She's not thinking, love. Let her go:

Carl gazed at Minako uncertainly.

:So she can do what, die against the rock-face of the mountain?:

Garen ran up to her and grabbed her overcoat, tugging insistently in
an attempt to entreat her attention. Usagi merely ignored his
concerned cries.

Minako shook her head. :I have a feeling she knows what she's doing.
Do it, okay?:

:All right. If you're certain: He tapped a few buttons. Without so
much as a "thank you," Usagi leapt out of the opening. Minako gasped,
fearful despite her apparent faith.

"Bunny!" Garen cried, sounding scared.

"Oh by the Goddess, what have they done to you, Usagi...?" Minako
whispered, her tones sorrowful.

Usagi did not fall, but flew the distance to the cave, to most
everyone's astonishment. Her spread eagle form gripped and held the
nigh-intangible substance enough to suspend her in the midst of it.
She seemed to know, instinctively, what to do when the need arose.
Minako began to wonder if it was the alterations responsible for her
shortened temper. What else about her had been changed? Only time
would tell.

"Come," Carl said. His words somehow distracted from the great
leather-skinned wings which grew suddenly from his back. He took
Minako and Garen's hand. Without warning, he let himself fall through
the hatchway. Garen yelled in protest, and Minako merely wrapped her
arms around him, clinging to him, loving the thrill of the fall.

Fade ran out of his room just in time to note the leaping forms of the
three. His voice trailed behind faintly as he attempted to gain Carl's
attention.

Carl cursed softly.

:We well return. Guard the ship until we do:

Fade swore. "This is just great."

---

It seemed they arrived too late to witness the interaction, though
Usagi's feral expression had not faded, even when she had pinpointed
the source of the power she seemed to be aware of. Fists clenched and
glowing with energy, she seemed entirely prepared to do battle.
Opposite her stood four figures, the first she instantly recognized as
Rei - albeit with dramatically shorter hair. They were paired; the two
each opposing and also clinging to each other. A tall, long and dark
haired male held to Rei as only a lover would; one arm around her hip,
while her head rested on his shoulder. She perceived the entire
situation, though she had not formed a response to her missing
friend's sudden appearance.

The second pair seemed to be of mother and child. She could not relate
either of the two to anyone she could recall. Oddly, the woman of long
blue hair reminded her faintly of Ami, but the two looked so different
that she found it hard to believe that such change was possible. The
young girl knotted to her leg looked very similar to Sailor Venus; she
had long blond hair which cascaded to her undefined waist. She also
had calm blue eyes which radiated such familiar intensity, and
occasionally, additional colours. Her eyes registered with such
intelligence that Usagi paused, amazed, before speaking with Rei.

"Who is he!" she growled.

Rei gazed at her friend, taken aback by the differences wrought. She
seemed so unkempt, so animalistic, as if merely reacting, thoughts not
registering in her mind. Her senses could easily be lying to her, but
Adolphus confirmed her. She was highly magical now. She was
supernatural, not evil, quite, but sharply powerful.

:She has power enough to annihilate us; he thought, :given the chance:

:She wouldn't!; Rei retorted, trying desperately to deny the truth she
felt in his mind.

:Thou can know that not, my beloved. The Coalition has affected many
changes upon her. I do find it amazing thy trust of her:

:We might have fought a lot - okay, like, all the time -:

Adolphus chuckled faintly, squeezing her hand.

:Um... but we were really good friends. I don't believe she'd hurt us!
Maybe if I can just get through to her:

:Aye, if thou'rt certain, my sweet. Know ye well of my trust in thee:

:Yes. Thank ye, uh... you...; she smiled faintly. :I don't know... but
what else can I do?:

"Usagi. He's my soulmate," Rei confessed. Usagi's eyes narrowed as if
trying to focus on something. After a few moments, she calmed. She
turned to the child, who snarled at Usagi when she approached. Rei
stared aghast after her.

:Adolphus, what did she do? I felt something...; she queried, running
fingers through hair which still felt oddly short.

:She scanned us. How could she tell, except by reading our astral
bodies, knoweth I not. See ye the reaches of her power? Such as they
be she cannot know them! Mayhap they exist not!:

Sorrow and soul-flickering concern followed Usagi by Rei's continued
gaze upon her.

"Ami?" Usagi ventured uncertainly, seeming quite on her guard in spite
of her defensive posture.

"Who? Shyanne, wait... calm down honey!"

"I don't like her," the child remarked.

"You don't have to, demon," Usagi snapped coldly. Sarah's eyes
narrowed as the woman neared. She pushed Shyanne behind her, raising
her hand from which three slim blades slid easily forth.

"Stay back! Don't ya dare touch m' girl!" Sarah stated angrily. "I
don't know ya are, but Ami's dead!"

Rei gasped.

"Sarah! No! Don't say that! Usagi...! She doesn't know what she's
saying!"

"No!" Usagi clenched her fists and jabbed at Sarah as if punching her.
A burst of light shattered over Sarah, knocking her away from the
girl, who cried out, "Mom!" The woman lay motionless on the ground.
Shyanne faced Usagi, looking near tears.

"Stop it!"

"Usagi! She's just a child!" Rei screamed, hoping to fetch her ear.

"Nay, I cannot let this occur." Adolphus stepped in front of the
enraged Usagi. He grabbed her shoulder.

"Usagi, thou canst do this. The girl means ye no harm. Demon she be,
but mayhap not so evil as doth imply?"

She glared at him, then shrugged off his hand.

"First, mage, you don't know what the hell you're talking about.
Second, you just got a freebie there. Any part of you that touches me
next you aren't getting back. Got it?"

Rei stood, again shocked.

:Rei, stand ye back. I fear thy friend be affected by a forgien
animosity. One not her own; Apolphus warned.

:What? Why? What're you going to do?:

:Nothing, yet I dare not leave us unprotected, lest her actions...; he
paused. :I fear we are outmatched, my phoenix:

"I wouldn't," Usagi snarled, "dare. Nothing you can do will keep you
safe. So long as you let me alone, I won't bother you. Got it?"

"Usagi!"

For a moment, the torn, former leader of the Sailor Senshi gazed at
her friend, confusion areign aside anxiety and the powerful
artificially instilled instincts that drove her onward.

"I'm sorry Rei..." she muttered. "I don't mean to do that... but your
soulmate, he's really getting in my face."

Rei blinked at her, shoving the urge to snap something back for fear
of setting her off again. Her whole manner was odd, confused, and very
unlike the girl she had known before their seperation. Wisely, she
reached for Adolphus, and was quiet.

"What do you want?" she inquired delicately, hoping very much to
diffuse the situation.

Usagi said nothing, turning to face the crying girl, who stared at her
with mixed anger and horror.

"Why'd you hurt my Mom?!" Shyanne cried. "She didn't hurt you!"

"Usagi!!" Carl cried. "Do not harm the child! She means Ami no ill
will!"

Usagi whipped around to face the source of the voice, hard resentment
on her face.

Suddenly Shyanne snarled, though it was clear she did not understand
why she felt such fear as her face flicked between the conflicting
emotions of an eight year old girl and a young female demon. Usagi's
eyes and heart fell at Carl's identification of her former friend. Her
instinct had proved correct. How was it possible? What had they done
to her?

"What are you!" Shyanne snapped at Carl, who strode with determined
ease.

"I mean you no harm, young one. I only wish is to help your mother,"
he replied gently.

The corner of her lip curled upward unpleasantly as she backed towards
her surrogate mother.

"No. Stay away. I won't let you hurt her too!"

'You know of me, and my world, don't you, little one,' Carl offered
softly in a foreign, guttural tongue. Mina's uncertain gaze shifted
quickly between her love and the doll-like child.

'Yes, Silver One,' she replied calmly, meeting the level of his word
in tongue.

'What happened?'

She growled faintly.

'She hit her with something...' Her face worked visibly in
consideration. 'Why do you care, dragon? I am nothing in your eyes. I
can see it.'

He shook his head.

'I serve the Lord of your kind. I will not harm you.'

'What Lord have I of whom you might know? I don't believe you.'

'Believe only what you feel, for I offer only respite, young one.'

'You speak strange words, dragon. Your fire-breath has made you drunk
perhaps?'

"Carl, this girl... no child talks like that!" Mina stated, a crease
in her brow. "What is she?"

"She's a demon," Usagi supplied in an accusatory tone.

"I am the daughter of Sarah Night, woman," she snarled faintly to
Mina. "Be careful where you wag your tongue, lest I remove it."

Carl snorted loudly.

'How dare you speak in that manner!'

'I will speak to her as I wish. She is of no importance.'

'To me she is! Retract your statement, or...'

'Or what Silver Tail? You will crush me in your talon? I think not.'
Like the flicker of a badly edited film, the child disappeared. A
moment later, so did Sarah.

"Ami!" Rei cried.

"Love, 'tis of no use. They have gone places we cannot follow,"
Adolphus offered.

"You're wrong," Usagi stated. "I can follow them. I followed you."

"Aye, mayhap. Thou mayest try. Eh? I suspect within your words the
wavering flag of truce?"

Carl stepped forward. "That is something which warrants discussion
later, perhaps? We cannot afford to waste time now. The CSM await us."

"The what?" Rei asked.

"Exactly," Mina chimed in with a smirk. "Let's go babe."

Carl nodded. With a bowed head came another ill cut clip of film.