Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Redemption ❯ Black Diamond ( Chapter 10 )

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

BLACK DIAMOND


Silver-trimmed lavender cape flaring out around him, a less
than pleased expression on his face, Kunzite emerged from
the shimmering, reflective surface of the Vortex Mirror. So
close, and yet he had been called away on the verge of
victory. It was a galling sensation, the Fire Warrior had
to admit.

As he stepped down the three steps of the dais to the
Zodiac-carpeted floor, he immediately saw Zoisite looking
whole once more, her slender form pressed up against her
redheaded sibling's body, Garnet holding her in a comforting
and protective embrace. That brought a sense of relief to
the pale-haired Elemental; regardless of how angry he
remained at Zoisite and how outwardly cold he was toward
her, he still cared about her deep within.

The Water Warrior's swift return to health was adequately
explained by the presence of twin forms speaking with the
dark-haired Guardian of Space. An amethyst-maned woman and
blond man, each looking as alike as a male and female could,
were listening to whatever it was Lord Obsidian had to say.
*Ametrine, Healer and Intelligence Officer. He must have
asked them to restore Zoisite...*

Clearing his throat, Kunzite sought to capture his lord's
attention even as he strode across the circular carpet.
"You summoned me, my lord?"

Obsidian turned, fixing his dark-brown gaze on the Gemlord
approaching him. "Indeed. What happened to Commander Zoisite
has made me decide to change my tactics slightly."

"I see," the pale-lavender haired man replied.

Even as Kunzite spoke, a shimmer of orange-amber light cast
its momentary illumination over the Hall of the Mirror, a
figure clad in golds and yellows taking shape as the
teleportational field faded away. Violet and citrine eyes
instantly turned their gazes to that familiar hue; twin
hearts suddenly leaped into dual throats as Ametrine caught
sight of the Air Warrior.

"Commander Jadeite reporting as asked, sir," the
short-haired blond stated, crossing his arms over his chest,
amber eyes gazing steadily at the Guardian of Space.

There he was, looking so alive... and so cold. The dual
Gemlord felt a sinking feeling of disappointment at the Air
Warrior's lack of attention to all save the lord that ruled
over their race, but they managed to keep their faces
neutral. That he was here, and dressed in Lithosian
clothes, confirmed what Lord Obsidian had been telling them:
the Elementals save Nephrite were free of the Negaverse and
here to prove themselves again, given a second chance
through the Guardian's generosity.

"Ah, good. Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I have
something to do before I speak to you all."

The handful of Gemlords nodded, all eyes focused on Obsidian
as he turned and began walking over toward the large
black-green glass prison on the other side of the Mirror
from where his black stone throne sat in eternal vigil over
the sacred chamber. Reaching the crystal of his making, he
caressed it with the fingertips of his right hand, once
again dropping into a trance where he could feel the pulsing
energy trapped within. Closing his eyes, he opened himself
up to the connection, reaching in and pulling to him the
sunshine-yellow power from the helpless Senshi.

Garnet felt his stomach lurch. For the third time, he
watched as someone he thought he knew seemingly callously
stooped to a low he thought he'd never see, let alone
thrice.

Against him, Zoisite shivered and huddled closer, pressing
her face against the taller Gemlord's T-shirt-clad torso.
*The emotions... So *wrong*... He's *enjoying* it,
practically getting off on it.* Echoes of the hunger for
energy of the Negaforce danced in her memory, making her
feel spiritually chilled.

Side by side, Ametrine watched in wide-eyed horror. That
part of the dual Lithosian that was the Healer wanted to run
up and pull Obsidian away, to do *something* to break him
out of that foul-sensed rapport, but they knew better than
to interrupt him just then. No telling what he would do had
they tried. Mentally shuddering, Lord and Lady Ametrine
turned to one another, hugging themselves as they continued
to stare in morbid fascination.

Jadeite raised an eyebrow, then glanced over at the tall
figure standing next to him, looking for confirmation.
Noticing the Eastern Commander had turned his attention to
himself, Kunzite spared his third-in-command a look out of
the corner of his eyes. It was all the blond Gemlord needed
to realize that he was right. Seeing this brought back far
too many memories of the Negaverse, of the need to steal and
gather energy and the pleasure derived from doing so.

For good or ill, the Guardian of Space was being the psychic
equivalent of a vampire.

*Energy. Sunshine-bright power full of warmth and
vitality.* It filled him with its wonderful feel, giving
him that rush he found so very nice. He took what he could,
letting it shimmer there within him -- and then, suddenly,
he could siphon off no more. Irritation shattered the
blissful moment; reaching through the link, Obsidian willed
-- nay, demanded -- the moment to continue.

Nothing. He'd taken all Sailor Andromeda had to offer.

Mentally growling, he opened his dark-brown eyes, fighting
back his sudden rage. Feeling the golden energy still
glowing within him, he felt a momentary sense of
disorientation. *Why did I do this?* he asked himself, his
confusion stifling the anger that had been there only
seconds before. Turning to his left, his dark gaze fell on
the low table that had become the focus of his thoughts of
late. Seeing the pathetic remains of his once-proud people,
he once again was reminded that a certain violet-blue one
could have been returned to that open grave only moments
ago. His jaw tightening, he walked over to the morbid
display, looking for one stone in particular.

Someone had thoroughly trounced *his* Western Commander.
Someone was going to pay for daring to do so. That's why he
had taken the last of the Senshi's energy, to bring another
of his people back, one whom he knew would be able to
eliminate any threat this unknown factor may cause in the
future.

His mind focused on avenging the stab to his pride at the
wounding of his follower, Obsidian grimly smiled when his
gaze settled upon the soulstone he had been searching for,
lying up against an equally battered, pale dead-gray jewel.
Reaching down, he picked the soot-gray gem, feeling the
edges of the stone's smooth facets against his skin.
Beginning to channel the stolen energy into that hand, he
stepped back from the table, walking off a couple of paces.

The assembled Gemlords continued to stare at him, their
expressions ones of various shades of astonishment,
discomfort and dissociation. Though it was obvious what he
was doing -- they could all see the small gem being
carefully cradled in the grasp of a hand -- neither Garnet
nor Ametrine thought the end result worth the method used.
Jadeite again glanced to his commander. Noticing Kunzite
just standing there, apparently unconcerned, the Air Warrior
wondered just how often the other Elemental had seen this
happen before.

Golden light began to shine around the Guardian of Space's
hand, casting yellow beams over the Hall of the Mirror and
its contents. Once again, the stirrings of large amounts of
energy started to eddy within the circular chamber, causing
a physical breeze to ruffle clothing and hair alike.
Concentrating on filling the soulstone with the power
thrumming through him, Obsidian stood within the eye of the
developing psychic storm, holding the pattern in his mind,
waiting for that one defining moment when the life within
caught fire and burned into existence once more. The golden
radiance abruptly winked out, the illumination levels
falling back to normal within the Hall.

Feeling that threshold crossed, the dark lord opened his
eyes. Yes, the grayness was gone, the stone revealed to be
the darkest of blacks. A deep light, more sensed than
actually seen, glimmered within the heart of the now-shiny,
facted stone. Lowering himself to a knee, he set the
awakening gem down onto the plush, Zodiac-adorned carpet,
rose and stepped back, dark-brown eyes continuing to watch.

The electrifying sensation of large amounts of energy
continued to assail Gemlord senses, hair and clothing
rippling with the force of the psychic wind, as that
almost-light grew brighter with each heart-like pulse. All
of them stood watch in utter fascination as another of them
was brought back from the cold stillness of death.

*Helplessness, then rage. A body crowned by silver hair and
clothed in white and silver slowly falling to a crumpled
heap on the ground, only to fade to nothing. A white-gloved
hand emerging from a gray sleeve reaching down, picking up a
lifeless, gray stone and flinging it away in utter contempt.
Utter fury at seeing the finality of the insult, then a
bright flash of something...*

*Then darkness... A profound nothingness...*

The not-light swelled to a crescendo then stopped; a figure
lay there on the floor of the Hall. Slim, athletic, a
wealth of hair as black as night spilling across the colors
of the carpet underneath, the Gemlord lying there was as
unearthly beautiful as nearly all of the Lithosian race.
Comfortable, slightly bloused sable pants covered his lower
body and were tucked into mid-calf-high black boots. His
upper body was clad in a tunic, the hem lower in front and
back and higher along his sides, of the same dark shade save
for the collar buttoned at his throat, the cuffs of his
sleeves, wide stripes along his broad shoulders and a wide
stripe that ran from the collar along the front to the point
of the hem that rested against his thighs. Those were a
silvery slate-gray that only added to the overall effect.
Around his head, gleaming underneath the raven-hued strands
of his hair, a silver circlet adorned with a single,
jet-black cabochon stone could be seen.

They all knew him, of course. With only a set number of
Gemlords and millions of years to get to know their fellow
Lithosians, all of them knew one another on sight and by
psychic presence. Shivering in sudden dread, Zoisite clung
to Garnet, making the redheaded spy wonder just why she
seemed frightened of the Gemlord brought back to life.

Kunzite set his jaw slightly. To say that there may be bad
blood between himself and the newly-resurrected Gemlord was
an understatement. He had been there when this one had
fallen, after all.

Standing next to the Fire Warrior, Jadeite looked over their
lord's choice with a seemingly detached interest.

Still hugging one another, Ametrine looked from the Gemlord
lying there to their now seemingly normal-appearing ruler.
Obsidian was standing there, smiling.

"Welcome back, Lord Adamant."

At the sound of his name, the awakened man opened his eyes.
Black as the night, they stared upwards, noting the familiar
frescoes painted on the domed ceiling of the room atop the
tower that was the center of Lithosian culture. *The Hall
of the Mirror... Then all must be well after all?* "My
lord?" the raven-haired Gemlord responded, turning his head
toward the source of the voice.

"Take a moment and regain your bearings, my friend, before
you attempt to rise," Obsidian responded, kneeling down next
to the other man. "The resurrection process may leave you
somewhat disoriented for a moment."

"No, I'm fine, my lord," Adamant said, beginning to sit up.
As the Guardian of Space regained a standing position and
stepped back to allow room for the other man to rise, the
elegant warrior pulled himself up to stand once more on his
booted feet. Though he felt weak at the moment, he was sure
it would be a passing thing.

"Very well," the Lord of Lithos acknowledged. "I'm sure you
have many questions. Give me a few moments and I shall
explain what's going on to not only you, but the others
gathered here. However, I must be quick about it. There is
a problem that's developed that I wish for you to deal
with."

"I am ever at your command, my lord," the resurrected
Gemlord swiftly replied, lowering his head in a gesture of
respect.

"Your loyalty has ever been a joy to me," Obsidian replied
with a smile. "And I thank you for that." Holding a hand
out, he gestured for the slightly shorter man to turn and
take a look behind himself. "Before you ask me why they are
here, let me say that they are now free of the darkness that
bound them and I am giving them a second chance to prove
themselves worthy of being considered among our numbers. So
far, they have given me no cause for grief."

*They?* Jet-black eyes narrowed, a sudden feeling of anger
sparking within him. Taken in context, Adamant knew there
could only be one group his ruler could be speaking about.
Turning, he looked in the direction indicated by the other
man, and was not surprised to see the ones he expected.

The Elemental Guard was there, or rather, three-fourths of
them. Zoisite was doing her best to make herself
unnoticeable there in the arms of her older, rather
overprotective brother, while Jadeite and Kunzite stood side
by side, the first watchful but the other wary. *A good
thing our lord has vouched for you, Elementals,* the
raven-haired warrior thought. *Especially you, Kunzite.*

"Besides, I need them for what I have in mind," Obsidian
added.

"But sir, if you truly need us for whatever it is you are
hoping to achieve, how do you propose continuing without our
final member?" Leave it to the Air Warrior to ask one of
the questions that just begged to be answered.

"I know where Nephrite is..." Zoisite's soft voice spoke up,
even though she continued to hide in the shadow of her
sibling's taller form.

Inwardly, Garnet groaned. Had he been aware that the Water
Warrior had known that piece of information, he would have
counseled her to keep it to herself until they all had
figured out just what was going on. Still, he was
continuing to reel from what he'd heard Zoisite say their
usually-benevolent lord had threatened as well as what he'd
witnessed the Guardian do.

"Where?" the dark lord hissed, turning his attention fully
to the fragile-looking Western Commander.

"He's on Terra, my lord. Somehow, he's... *human*. He was
there, helping Sailor Jupiter..."

"Seems as if he feels an obligation toward that one,"
Kunzite murmured, glancing to Jadeite for a brief moment.

The Eastern Commander nodded his blond head, expression
thoughtful. "Sounds like him all right."

"Human, you say?" Obsidian asked, baritone voice holding a
note of disbelief.

"Stranger things have happened, my lord," Adamant softly
reminded the other dark-haired Gemlord.

The momentary flash of anger seemed to dissipate, leaving
Obsidian with a bemused expression on his handsome face.
"True enough. Very well, my plans in that matter won't
change overly much. First the stones, then Nephrite."

"The stones, my lord?" chimed in the twin voices of
Ametrine, both the blond lord and the violet-haired lady
speaking at once.

"Yes, the stones," echoed the Guardian of Space. "However,
I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the
beginning...

"I awoke alone in the Hall of the Mirror, the stillness of
what proved to be centuries surrounding me. I had saved the
Tower and the Mirror, but the price..." He trailed off, an
infinite grief there in his dark-brown eyes for a moment.
Shaking off the emotion, Obsidian started pacing across the
carpeted floor, apparently retreating a bit into his own
little world as he related to the others there how he had
watched the history that he'd missed in the Orrery there
within the Hall, how he had gathered them all together to
bring them home to the Tower, going even into the Negaverse
itself to find the stones of the ones lost there. His voice
was low, melancholy, as he spoke of how Beryl was utterly
lost and his decision to shatter her stone since the Gemlord
was truly no more, and then it became hard, irritated, as he
related how Nephrite had somehow evaded his Call.

Listening to him, a thought began to form in Garnet's mind.
Something was wrong with their ruler. To those that truly
knew him, it was almost painfully obvious, even if he
himself didn't see it. And now, there was opportunity. The
redheaded spy frowned, feeling an ice-cold shiver run down
his spine.

Ametrine slowly let go of themselves, citrine and amethyst
eyes wide in the listening of their lord's tale. They had
floated out there in space, among the debris field that had
once been their home planet, for a thousand years. The
thought was a very sobering one.

Adamant merely listened, letting the words fill in the gaps
between that final moment of utter darkness and now. Though
he had many questions, he was determined to wait and see how
many the Guardian would answer on his own. However, he did
take the opportunity to look over the other Gemlords there,
a low, seething anger sitting there in the pit of his
stomach every time he looked upon one of the three
responsible for the catastrophe.

Obsidian's low voice continued on, telling them of his
determination to restore what was lost, of bringing life
back to the Gemlords and Lithos alike, of how he'd taken the
initiative to do what was needed, resurrecting the three
Elementals he had in his possession, and then finishing up
with telling how Garnet had come to be in the Tower.
Pausing for a moment, the Guardian of Space turned his
attention back to the three former generals. "And for this
plan, because of the control needed to reform our world from
debris and energy, I need four special stones. Forged at
the beginning of all things, they are attuned to the ancient
Elements that make up the whole of matter, pure Elemental
energy crystallized." His dark gaze swept over the three
Commanders there. "Yes, together we have the power to
create matter from energy by weaving together the Five, but
this will take a control finer than can be had locked as we
are within physical shells. With these, we shall be able to
set the warding and weave the spell."

"We can't do it without Nephrite, my lord," Kunzite pointed
out.

"Indeed. It wasn't my intention to proceed without him.
However, since I had no idea why he was able to resist my
Call, I determined that the best course was to acquire the
tools I needed first, and then search for him," Obsidian
explained.

The Fire Warrior relaxed slightly. There at least was one
problem addressed.

"If I may, sir," Garnet spoke up, "where exactly are these
stones, and do you have any of them so far?" Of course, he
already knew the answers, having listened to a sobbing
Zoisite recount the recovery of the Sapphire from Castle
Mariner, but he wanted to hear it from Obsidian himself --
and he wanted the others to hear it as well.

"With the help of Commanders Kunzite and Zoisite, I have two
of the four in my possession. The other two will be found
hidden within chambers in the hearts of the royal castles of
Jupiter and Venus," the dark-clad Lord of Lithos replied,
still pacing across the floor. "Unfortunately, it takes the
castle's princess to open the doors, hence I need to borrow
the key for a short length of time."

*Borrow the key?* The redheaded spy blinked, a curl of fury
warming within him. "A key?" he stated out loud, voice
taking on a tone of pure amazement. "My lord, these are
people you're discussing, not inanimate objects."

Obsidian stopped, cape flaring out, the metallic gold trim
catching the light of the illumination crystals as he
whirled to face the young Gemlord. "They are still the key
to open the chambers, like it or not."

"My lord," the newly-resurrected Adamant began, "are these
stones absolutely needed to accomplish your goals?"

Still glaring at the redhead, the Guardian of Space curtly
nodded. "Alone, the Elemental Guard could not focus enough
to pull the pathetic remains of Lithos back together and
give the remaining soulstones enough energy to wink back
into existence. Perhaps with the Tower Guard's assistance,
it could be done, but there has been an unforeseen problem.
By pulling the Mirror into the Vortex to keep it from being
reached by all save us born from the Mirror, I have
inadvertently cut it off from its usual energy supplies. I
know not how long it would be before I could bring the Tower
Guard back to help, and even then, the spell would not be a
sure thing.

"But with these stones, what we lack will easily be made up
for, straddling as they do the line between Energy and
Matter. Success is practically guaranteed." Eyes alight
with conviction and passion both, Obsidian swept his
dark-brown gaze over the few living Gemlords. "Just think
of it, my people... Everything we've lost would be regained.
Lithos and the others would be alive again; we could go on
as if nothing had happened."

"I want that, my lord." Stepping away from her brother,
Zoisite gestured toward her ruler, an almost desperate hope
on her face. "For you, for Lithos, for the others... and
for myself. I regret what happened, and I am truly sorry.
If this can make up for some of what I've caused..."

"For all of you," the dark lord replied, his gaze settling
upon each of the three former Negaverse generals there,
"help me accomplish this and I will forget about any harm
you caused."

Though neither one said a word, both the Fire Warrior and
the Air Warrior nodded in agreement. It was a bargain, and
a pardon, they were more than interested in making.

"Very well. Then as it stands, I need to gain these other
two gems before we can proceed."

"My lord, I could have had Jupiter had you not called me
back," the pale-lavender-maned Elemental pointed out, one
hand curling into a fist.

"Forgive me that, Commander," Obsidian said, sounding
apologetic. "Commander Zoisite had already become a
casualty. I had thought it more prudent to retreat and
regroup, especially with this new factor that's imposed
itself into our situation. With more of us in existence, we
should work in teams to achieve our objectives. Though we
now have a Healer available to us," he paused, nodding in
the direction where Ametrine's twin forms stood nearby, "I
wish to not have to need their services again, if it can be
helped."

"You want us to gang up on children, my lord?" Garnet asked,
a look of disbelief on his face.

"I want those gems, actually. And I want whatever hurt your
precious sister to be taken out of the picture," came
Obsidian's answer. Fixing his gaze on the ponytailed blond,
he asked, "Zoisite, what exactly happened to you?"

Folding her arms over her small breasts, the Western
Commander softly spoke, relating what happened from the
moment she saw the girl she knew was Sailor Jupiter running
through the cemetery up to the point where the strange
Senshi with the dragon-fanged circlet slammed her into the
ground for the final time. Though she stared at the ground,
feeling her cheeks burning in utter embarrassment, Zoisite
was brutally honest in her retelling, not leaving out her
pettiness.

Watching her, Garnet's heart went out to her. In many ways,
she was still very young, and it showed. He knew she did
her best, but there were times that overly-emotional nature
of hers got the better of her. Of course, it was better
when he was male, but it seemed as if Zoisite was eschewing
that part of herself for some reason or another. Though the
redheaded spy longed to pull her back into a comforting
embrace, he knew that right now, she needed to stand up by
herself and face whatever results her actions caused.

Shivering at the recall of the agony she'd endured, the
Water Warrior turned her large, violet-blue gaze to her
fellow Elementals. "Something else I learned about this
Sailor Draco..."

Recognizing the expression on the blond woman's face as one
that just begged them to ask a question -- one didn't serve
with one for millions of years and not get to know them at
least a little bit -- Jadeite raised a blond eyebrow over an
amber eye. "And just what was that, Zoisite?"

"Draco is Siolan. You remember? That mercenary that Beryl
assigned to Nephrite's command?" the youngest Gemlord
replied, shuddering again, her arms tightening over her
chest. "I recognized her voice. When I said her name, she
confirmed it."

"Well, well. Seems as if there's another thing Beryl screwed
up on, then," Kunzite softly murmured.

"That explains the viciousness exhibited towards our hapless
Water Elemental, however," Jadeite said, casually inspecting
the well-trimmed nails of a hand.

The Guardian of the Gateways turned to look Adamant in the
eye. "That is why I chose to use what energy I had to bring
you back among the living. I have utter faith that you can
deal with this new development."

The raven-haired Gemlord smiled, nodding his head in a
gesture of acknowledgment and respect. "I assure you that
you will not be disappointed in my performance, my lord."

"Good. I will not allow this Sailor Draco to undo what I'm
trying to achieve. I want her dealt with in a manner that
prevents her from interfering again."

"You're not going to try to have Adamant assassinate her,
are you?" Garnet asked, incredulous. This was swiftly going
from bad to worse. The Guardian of Space he knew didn't so
blithely go on the attack. Yes, world and people had been
lost in an unprecedented moment of their ancient history,
but the redheaded man still had large amounts of trouble
seeing even that making their ruler become so blatantly
reactionary -- and overly so.

"It would be the prudent thing to do," the black- and
gray-clad warrior replied, sable eyes narrowing in subtle
warning at the younger man.

"Prudent, perhaps, Adamant," Obsidian agreed, light
glittering along his golden circlet as he nodded. "However,
even I am loathe to permanently incapacitate the guardian of
a star system. I'd rather see her out of the picture
without having to resort to lethal means. After all, she is
an agent of Energy, even as we are agents of Matter."

"If that is your desire, my lord, I shall do my utmost to
achieve it." The raven-haired Lithosian filed that
knowledge away, his mind already thinking over the methods
he could use to eliminate this Dragon Senshi as a threat
without killing her.

"Sir, please, I beg you to reconsider," Garnet began, taking
a couple of steps forward, black leather coat creaking
faintly. "There must be a better way of doing this."

As the others watched, feeling the growing tension filling
the sacred space of the Hall of the Mirror, Adamant took a
step forward, eyes glittering with a diamond-hard light.
Noting the movement of the other Gemlord and catching
Ametrine's dual, wide-eyed expressions of consternation,
Obsidian held up his hand in a staying gesture. Frowning,
the newly-awakened Lithosian stopped in his tracks, obeying
his lord's silent signal to hold for the moment.

Dark-brown eyes raked over the redheaded spy still clothed
in Terran garb. "Desperate times equal desperate measures.
Never before have any of us faced a shattered Lithos and
near extinction as a race."

Shaking his head, Garnet refused to look upon the Guardian
of Space. "The ends do *not* always justify the means."

His hand still poised in that signal of restraint, the
golden signet ring of his office there for all to see,
Obsidian slowly nodded in reply to his spy's words. "Not
always; that is true enough. However, can you truly fault
me for wanting to restore everything that has been
destroyed?"

Granted, it was a noble goal. Even so, the way he was going
about it was leaving quite the bad taste in Garnet's mouth.
Folding his arms over his chest, he finally turned his
violet gaze to stare at his *friend*. "No, but I *can*
fault the methods by which you're going at it."

Feeling very uncomfortable, Zoisite looked away from the
growing confrontation. Hugging herself tighter, she closed
her eyes, not wanting to see her dear brother get in trouble
for his words and his questioning of Obsidian's authority.

Kunzite and Jadeite as well were beginning to feel ill at
ease. Though in the past their ruler had listened with an
open mind to opposing points of view, things were quite
different now. As he had said, never before had they been
in a situation like this. Remaining silent, the two
Elementals exchanged glances.

"Garnet--" Adamant started to say, only to have the
Guardian's baritone voice interrupt.

"No, let him have his say for the moment." Tilting his head
slightly, the Lord of Lithos gave the argumentative redhead
a long, questioning stare before finally adding, "My methods
are what they are out of necessity. There's no time for
finesse at this point. The Mirror gathers energy far too
slowly."

Blinking in astonishment, Garnet could only stare back for a
couple of beats of his heart. When he did recover, he
rocked his weight back onto a booted foot and snorted in
mild contempt. "No time? Too slowly? You're starting to
talk like a *mortal*. Patience isn't just an option for us
-- it's a mandatory part of the package. We have *time*, if
nothing else."

"My lord," Adamant practically pleaded, itching to put the
younger Gemlord back in his place. Apparently Garnet's
position, rather rashfully given in the raven-haired man's
opinion, had gone to his head and it was high time the youth
had some of that ego crushed.

**No, Adamant,** the dark lord softly responded, looking at
the other man out of the corner of his vision as he
telepathed in a channel privy only to the two of them.
**I'll deal with him for the moment.** Feeling the other's
reluctant obedience, Obsidian turned his focus fully back to
the Terran-clothed Lithosian, growling softly and crossing
his arms over his chest. His very stance hinted at his
growing agitation. "It's been long enough. How long were
you in hell, Garnet? If you could have gotten it over with
sooner, would you have? Even if the methods weren't exactly
'proper'?"

The redheaded spy only shrugged a single shoulder in
response. "A thousand years. It's not much, all things
considered. And that would depend on what methods I had
available to me."

"Ah, but at the time, Garnet, did you know it would only be
a thousand years?"

"No, I didn't."

Obsidian smirked just a bit, dark gaze boring into the
younger man. "So tell me, did you wish over and over there
would be some way to end it, once and for all?"

Again an almost casual shrug, Garnet's violet gaze meeting
the one of his ruler. "Yes, I wished there was a way to end
it, but I didn't go around *attacking* people who had
nothing to do with what happened to me, at least! My lord,
I think you're being too hasty. Stop pushing your
timetable. Let the Mirror gather energy, and look for
*other* ways to do this besides the course you're already
on."

"I need those stones, Garnet. There's no other way around
it. As for nothing to do..." The words died off in a soft
growl, a sense of betrayal emanating from the dark lord to
those of his people with empathic abilities. Even so, when
he spoke again, his words had nothing at all to do with that
momentary flash of emotion. "You saw what this newcomer did
to your precious Zoisite. Should I let that go unpunished?
It would have, had I not taken the energy needed to bring
back Lord Adamant."

"There *is* a way around it," the redheaded spy insisted,
stubbornly staring at the dark-clad Guardian, "You could try
*asking* the Senshi for help. By treating them the way you
*have* been treating them, you're inviting attacks.
*You're* the one who dispatched Zoisite on the mission to
attack Sailor Jupiter, my lord. Will you refuse to take any
responsibility for what happened to her?"

Garnet turned slightly, violet eyes now focusing on first
his little sister and then on the pair of Elementals
standing there off to her right. Recalling some of the
Water Warrior's tearful story, he challenged, "Go ahead and
tell our lord what happened when you fought the Outer
Senshi. If this course continues, the Inners might wind up
being supported again."

Under the scrutiny of the redhead,the three members of the
Elemental Guard reacted first to Garnet's demand with
complete silence. Still very ill at ease, the ponytailed
blond continued to stare down at the toes of her violet-blue
boots while the Air Warrior shifted his gaze away from the
spy's challenging stare to focus on the dual Gemlord
slightly to his right and in front of himself. Frowning at
the tension in the chamber, Jadeite dispassionately noted
that Ametrine had returned to hugging themselves, the two of
them looking wide-eyed and alarmed at the growing
confrontation. Kunzite, however, met the spy's gaze,
pale-lavender eyes narrowing slightly, his expression one of
defensive wariness.

**My lord, this is quite enough!** Adamant telepathed back
over that private channel between the two of them, mental
voice tinged with fury. Before the Guardian of the Gateways
even had time to respond, he stepped forward, lips curled in
a silent snarl. "Enough of your insolence!" All those
present turned swiftly at the outburst from the
now-trembling warrior. His words came swiftly, sharp as the
edges of Zoisite's crystal shards. "It was enough that you
had the arrogance to question the very incarnation of that
which gave you life, your lord and master, but now you seek
to use others to your advantage? I will tolerate no more of
this! These three were present and accounted for the day
Lithos fell," the black-maned Gemlord hissed as he indicated
the Elementals, "unlike you. Though they stood against us,
at least they *stood*!" The brief pause in Adamant's words
was punctuated by Zoisite's gasp of astonishment; why was he
defending her? After what had happened... "I have heard it
said that you waited a thousand years, skulking in the
shadows, while the defenders of Lithos lay dead. You have
no place to even speak before the Guardian of Space, let
alone to *question* his methods! Now *hold* your tongue and
obey your lord!"

There were few absolutes in Lithosian society; the one that
ruled over them all valued each one of them as an
individual. However, despite all the freedoms allowed by
the Guardian to the long-lived race that had been created by
the Mirror he served, there were a small number of rules
that were *never* to be broken. And one of those, a
doctrine drilled into thousands of years of training and
placement within Lithosian society, was one that all young
Gemlords swiftly learned: thou shalt respect thy elders.

The wrath of a Lithosian, especially that from the oldest of
the generations to step forth from the Mirror, was an
awesome sight to behold, a small piece of the very forces of
the Cosmos brought to bear in fury, righteous or otherwise.
The rage on Adamant's face was echoed in the irritation
within Lord Obsidian's eyes and the looks of disapproval the
older Elementals were giving Garnet.

Every Gemlord had his or her place, but none of them were
ever to step out of that spot if it meant disruption of the
whole. They were too few, their travels covering vast
distances as they carried out their duties, to allow for
anything but a cooperative society, each one contributing to
the harmony of the whole.

And Garnet had stepped out of bounds.

He knew it, from the harsh looks the older Gemlords were
giving him to the very fact that Adamant had felt compelled
to risk the Guardian's censure to break the peace of the
sacred Hall. Fear gripped him, his face paling in reaction,
but his stubbornness kept him looking somewhat outwardly
composed. Visage still deathly pale, he turned his head and
focused his violet gaze on the suddenly very interesting
design of Capricorn there woven into the plush carpet. For
all his intelligence, his position and his talent, he was
*still* one of the youngest Gemlords ever to emerge from the
Vortex Mirror; it just wasn't his *place* to question their
ruler in public. Any concerns should have been aired out in
private.

An almost deathly silence hung there in the circular chamber
for a long, drawn-out moment. Finally, the redheaded spy's
voice, so soft it could hardly be heard, broke the
stillness. "Forgive me, Lord Adamant, my lord. I
overstepped myself. I apologize." The plea was a heart-felt
one, his sincerity easily read by those there with empathic
skills.

"My lord, please," the raven-haired warrior said, his words
falling into the silence after Garnet's apology, "forgive me
as well for not obeying you." Sable eyes turned to look to
the Guardian, his expression shifting to a neutral one.

"Well, then," Obsidian finally said, breaking the momentary
silence after looking first at Adamant and then at Garnet.
"I accept your apologies, both of you." Relaxing slightly,
he walked over to stand before the redhead, making sure to
keep a clear path between himself and the Mirror now behind
him and to the left. "Since you seem overly concerned with
what I have done with these children," he said, his rich
baritone at a conversational level, "I'll show you I have no
long-term ill planned for them." Turning swiftly, the dark
lord thrust an arm at the black-green glass prison that had
been Sailor Andromeda's home for a while.

At his gesture, there came a sharp sound, the sound of glass
breaking. Virtually exploding from within, the vitreous
prison burst apart, dark shards of glass littering the dais
next to and just in front of the Vortex Mirror. With a
solid-sounding *thump* a brunette body fell to the floor,
one that was glad in a Senshi uniform of white, purple and
dark blue. The girl warrior lay there, unmoving, quite
obviously unconscious, dark blue cape draped unceremoniously
over her.

"Ametrine," the Guardian of Space called out, catching the
attention of the young, dual Gemlord. "That is Sailor
Andromeda. Though she was a guest of the Silver Millennium
in the years before the fall of Lithos, her true home is a
star system at the heart of the Andromeda Galaxy. I think
it's long past time for her to be sent home to where she
truly belongs."

"Are you asking us to take her to her home system, my lord?"
the blond man asked, amethystine eyes wide.

"Yes, I am. If she needs Healing, please do so, but after
you take her to her homeworld."

Ametrine glanced at themselves for a moment, then nodded,
lord and lady doing so simultaneously. As the violet-haired
woman closed her citrine-colored eyes and got the location
to teleport from Obsidian, the blond lord walked over to the
unmoving body and knelt down. Picking Andromeda up in his
arms, he looked back over his shoulder to see when his other
half rejoined him. The moment both forms were before the
Mirror, the Symbol of Space began to once again glow with
its eerie aura of blackish-green light. As one, the dual
Gemlord stepped through the reflective surface, disappearing
from the circular chamber.

Pivoting on a heel, Obsidian fixed his dark-brown gaze on
the redheaded spy, who was only now lifting his head to once
again meet his lord's gaze. "There. She'll be back where
she belongs and nothing more will happen to her."

*But was any of it truly *necessary*?* Garnet couldn't help
but ask himself. He *wanted* to say that to his lord, his
friend, but he knew it would have to wait for a moment where
he could follow up on his concerns in private.

Getting no reply from any of the Lithosians remaining there,
the Guardian of the Gateways nodded to himself. His
attention turning to the raven-haired man, the one in charge
of the corps of warriors who had worked among cultures that
had known of the Gemlords and Lithos, Obsidian smiled.
"Adamant, I believe you know what I'd like you to do?

"Yes, my lord," he responded. Recognizing his ruler's words
as a dismissal to carry out his orders, Adamant offered a
respectful salute -- right fist closed over heart, a
lowering of the head as well as a slight bow -- then turned
and strode toward the Mirror. Already the dark, black-green
shards of Obsidian's construct were gone, faded to
nothingness now that the Guardian's will was no longer there
to keep them intact. Even as he stepped up to the Symbol of
Space, the scene upon its reflective surface shifted,
becoming one of the tranquility and orderliness of some
religious shrine. This was where Obsidian wished him to
travel; the Mirror reflected the will of its lord. Without
a look back, the raven-haired warrior stepped into the
seven-foot-tall reflective pane of smooth, obsidian glass.

All eyes turned back to Obsidian once the deep glow of the
Mirror had faded away. Only four of them remained, the two
older Elementals standing together off to one side and the
youngest Elemental with her almost-equally-young sibling to
the other.

The dark lord returned their gazes, looking first from
Kunzite and Jadeite to Zoisite and Garnet. "Now that this
Sailor Draco will be dealt with, we need to come up with a
plan to acquire those other two stones."

"Respectfully, sir," the redheaded spy began. He still had
his doubts about the methods being employed, still had a
sense of something just not right. It was fairly obvious
that by being out of line before, of questioning their ruler
in front of everyone, Obsidian had immediately discounted
any of his concerns. He needed to get his friend to *think*
about what he was doing.

Dark-brown eyes fixed on Garnet, a momentary flash of
deep-golden fire alighting in them as the Guardian gave the
younger man a look of irritation. "What now, Lord Garnet?"

Flinching slightly, the intelligence officer gestured toward
the dais and the throne resting upon it. "Could we perhaps
talk in private, my lord?"

Violet-blue eyes wide, Zoisite stared at her sibling. When
he thought something was wrong, he could be downright
persistent, but there were times she wondered about his
stubbornness.

The look exchanged between Kunzite and Jadeite said it all.
It practically screamed "The ideals of youth". Deep within,
however, the Fire Warrior too was disturbed by some of what
he'd been sensing from the Guardian and yet, given what he
knew of the man, he could see no better solution to
anything. Perhaps he could have asked the Senshi for their
assistance, but then there was no guarantee they would allow
him to have the stones and had they resisted, they would
have known of his plans.

For the Air Warrior, the entire scene with Lord Garnet was
on the irritating side. The man seemed to think that
because he'd been favored with a position that ranked up
there with the Tower Guard and the Elemental Guard
themselves, everyone should view his opinions as treasured
utterances of some demigod. The Cosmos relied upon the
Gemlords, and right now, there were damned few of them in
existence. Blinded to that basic duty by Metallia, Jadeite
had been a part of what had made this come about, and he was
quite willing to do whatever it took to rectify that
mistake. If a few Senshi got temporarily hampered in the
process, so be it. They were warriors, soldiers of their
respective planetary powers; if they couldn't cut it, their
planets would be better off without them in the first place.

Obsidian kept his gaze on the younger man, considering his
request. In all honesty, he truly wanted his people united
behind him; that one of them at least seemed to have doubts
bothered him, since it made little sense that Garnet would
*prefer* to have things remain as they are. Sure that he
could dissuade his friend of his misgivings, the Guardian of
Space finally nodded. Turning and walking towards the dais,
he gestured to Garnet to follow behind. "Come to my
chambers then and we'll talk there. Elementals, you are free
to relax as you will in the meantime. However, be ready for
my call."

"Yes, sir," the trio of Gemlords spoke, their voices coming
at once. Each one saluted, again simultaneously, then
watched as the Terran-clad spy trailed along after
Obsidian's retreating form.

The wall behind the throne was smooth, made of the same dark
stone from which the entire tower was constructed.
Immediately behind the black stone chair was a tapestry, one
that depicted a floral motif like something found out of an
illuminated manuscript surrounding a circle of antique gold
bordered with black. Within that roundel was a black and
deep-green star of four large points and four smaller
points, oriented as a compass rose in a map would be, the
longer rays at the cardinal directions, the smaller rays in
between. The symbol of both the Guardian of Space and his
now-destroyed homeworld, it overlooked the contents of the
sacred Hall of the Mirror.

Between the tapestry and the Vortex Mirror itself, the
jet-black wall looked ordinary, unbroken. However, all
those within that room knew better. Hidden away,
constructed so that it could not be seen by purely visual
senses, a doorway lead from the dais to a hallway that
accessed the private quarters of Lord Obsidian and the Tower
Guard. Responding to a mental command from the lord of the
tower, the doorway made itself known, the opening becoming
visible as a rectangular passage through the thick stone
wall.

Stepping through it and into the hallway beyond, Obsidian
turned and waited for Garnet to follow him through before
mentally giving the order for the door to close. As the
rectangle once again disappeared, the dark-haired man
gestured for the younger one to make his way over to the
nearest door that was in the gently curving wall of the
corridor.

Nodding slightly at the invitation, Garnet crossed the
hallway and pushed open the door. The walnut panel swung
open soundlessly, exposing the first of what he knew was a
three-room suite. Stepping within, he let his violet gaze
sweep over the somewhat familiar furnishings of the
Guardian's personal study.

Like the door, the furnishings were made of walnut, the dark
wood varnished to a semi-glossy finish. Bookcases filled
with tomes from all over the universe lined those parts of
the walls where the two doorways were not. Next to the
doorway on the other side of the room that lead to the
bedchamber, a painting was hung on the green-painted wall.
The carpeting that covered the floor was a darker shade of
green, the pile plush but short. Near the center of the
room but just a bit to the left, facing towards the doorway
he had just entered, a large desk set was located, the top
of it neatly organized, while to the right and back towards
the corner, a reading area consisting of two chairs, a table
and a tall, brass-fixtured lamp was set up near some of the
bookcases.

Eyes focusing on the painting -- from what he recalled from
other visits to this very same room, the picture was of a
landscape, a solitary moon looming over a farmland draped in
twilight, its dim, pale gaze far larger than Luna was over
Terra -- Garnet waited for the room's owner to join him and
begin the conversation. For all that they were friends, the
spy couldn't help but feel rather nervous. Obsidian had to
still be upset for the disruption out in the Hall.

"Very well, Garnet. Tell me again of your misgivings."

At the sound of the other's baritone voice, the redheaded
Lithosian turned and gave the older man a long, almost
pleading look. "I wish you'd reconsider what you're doing,
my lord. *Talk* to the Senshi. Maybe they're willing to
help you. As you said, you're only seeking to restore our
people and our planet. I see no reason why they wouldn't
want to help you with that."

"They have given me no reason to trust them," the Guardian
replied. "Unlike you, I am not willing to give them the
benefit of the doubt simply because they are children. They
are warriors first, the incarnation of planetary powers.
Just because they are children doesn't make their position
or their responsibility less."

"Sir, they haven't done anything that I can tell that should
make you think they *won't* assist you if you just asked
them. By doing things as you are, you're only going to make
them want to fight back. I don't want to see any of us get
hurt, especially Zoisite."

"That is why I now have Adamant out there to deal with
Sailor Draco and why we are going to come up with a plan to
get those other two stones."

Garnet mentally groaned, his lips turning down in a frown
for a moment. Why was Obsidian being so obstinate? Couldn't
he see that this just wasn't the *right* way to go about
this? "Why are you so set on doing it like this, sir? We
have time on our side, after all."

The Guardian shook his head, the deep-red highlights of his
nearly-black hair shimmering faintly as he did so. "No,
Garnet, we don't. I have a responsibility to my people and
to the Cosmos. We have been essentially non-existent for a
millennium, five of our number actively causing damage." He
paused, that dark, melancholy expression crossing his face
again as his mind turned to the image of the low table in
the Hall covered with the remaining soulstones of his
people, the ones that relied upon him to lead them. His
voice dropping low, almost talking to himself, Obsidian
continued, "They've been dead long enough. They've been
scattered throughout the debris that was our home long
enough. I've seen the evidence of my failure long enough."

"Your *responsibility*, my lord, doesn't include *forcing*
the issue," the redhead stated, sure of his point. Why
couldn't he *see* that? Sighing softly, shook his head
slightly. "But they're not scattered *now*, my lord. You
brought them to our quintessential home -- the Tower. You
saved that much. Is your pride really so much more
important than anything else that you have to risk
*everything* in a scheme that might not even work?"

Dark-brown eyes narrowed in irritation. Why couldn't this
youngster understand what it was he felt compelled to do?
"It's not a matter of pride, it's a matter of fact. In our
millennial absence, Chaos has gained much, far more than we
can tolerate," Obsidian growled, arms coming up to cross
over his black-clad chest. "We can *not* afford to dawdle
and take our time because a few Senshi might be
inconvenienced, and your refusal -- or inability -- to see
that is beginning to make me question my judgment in having
you in such an important position."

"But sir, one of my duties is to point out to you what's
going on--" Garnet began to say.

"Your main duty is to do as I ask of you, however. That is
*why* your position has the power it does."

Garnet nodded, his gold circlet glimmering there on his brow
underneath bangs of deep red hair. "Yes, my lord, I realize
that," he answered, standing there before the older man,
making himself relax and return his arms to a position along
his sides. "But please allow me to be *honest* with you, as
I've striven always to be. What you're doing to the Senshi
is not *right*, Obsidian. All you need is those Elemental
stones. You *didn't* need to render the foci of Mars and
Mercury inoperable. And you shouldn't *have* to go about
this task in the way you've been doing. They're *not* the
enemy. They're *children*, and they're the Inner Senshi.
They've traditionally been our allies."

Reaching for something to get through to the other man,
Garnet paused before what he sure hoped was a direct blow,
given all that he knew of his lord's past. "Queen Serenity
wouldn't approve."

"Leave her out of this!" Obsidian hissed, closing the
distance between the two of them rapidly, a hand darting out
to grab the other man by the shirt. Glaring angrily at the
youngster who seemed determined to be a stubborn ass about
things, the dark lord's voice grated out in a growl, "She's
dead. She has *nothing* to do with this. As for those
*children*, they *are* the Inner Senshi for all their youth.
They will get their powers back once I'm assured they cannot
interfere in what I'm attempting to achieve, but I will
*not* allow the needs of my people or the Cosmos to be cast
aside. Lithos and the Gemlords will be restored, will you
or *nil* you."

Though taller and bulkier than the older man, Garnet paled
and turned his gaze away from the furious Guardian. In an
attempt to push home his point, he'd managed to once again
overstep his bounds, catching the fury of the oldest of all
right in his face. All he could hope for now was submission
alleviating the rage.

Obsidian's voice dropped to a very silent, very
deadly-sounding tone. "You will help me get those stones,
just as the others will. I rule here, Garnet."

"Yes, my lord," the spy replied, his own voice just as
quiet.

"And you're going to start right now, or face the
consequences of disobeying me. Am I clear?"

"Yes, my lord," came the small-voiced response.

"Very well," Obsidian said, anger-filled, dark-brown eyes
continuing to glare at the redheaded Lithosian in his grasp.
"This is a direct order, in case you can't figure it out.
You will take Zoisite with you and the two of you will--"

His words died off, his attention grabbed by a sudden,
telepathed message. Stiffening slightly, his gaze remained
focused on the cowed man even as he listened to Adamant's
report. The moment the contact broke off, Obsidian's
attention returned to the Gemlord at hand. The smile that
crossed his face was one that was dark and chilling both.

"Well now, you've got the perfect opportunity to prove to me
that you are worthy of keeping your exalted position,
Garnet. You are going with all three of the Elementals and
you are going to help Lord Adamant get Sailor Draco
neutralized. You are then going to all work together to
recover the stone there at Io Castle and you're going to
bring Jupiter, Mars and Draco here to the Tower. Do you
understand your orders?"

Garnet squeezed his violet eyes shut, agonizing. It was the
last thing he wanted to do, and yet, it was very clear that
he truly had no choice, not if he wanted to keep his job and
possibly his existence. "Yes, sir," he managed to choke
out. "I understand."

"Good." Letting go of the man, Obsidian straightened out
the dark tunic that covered his torso and stepped back.
"Then get out of my sight and meet the others at Io Castle.
I hear one word from any of them that you weren't
cooperating and you will face my wrath."

Sullenly, the redheaded spy smoothed down his T-shirt and
tugged his leather jacket back into place. Taking a deep
breath and then giving the Lord of Lithos a respectful
salute, he teleported out of Obsidian's study, a
double-helix of red light swirling around his athletic form
as it faded away.

Watching him disappear, the Guardian of Space smiled, the
expression a chilling one. Closing his eyes, he proceeded
to telepath his orders to Adamant and the Elementals.