Chapter 141
In an eastern section of Tokyo, there was a sewer area where several different tunnels met, beyond that was an area blocked by a large iron door, which water didn't seep through. This dry area was at the moment filled with a small group of people. They were all standing around in a group. There was only a light bulb hanging from the ceiling, and they could hardly see each other. One figure stood out from the group.
"So...we have an interesting little army here don't we?" the figure said.
"It's hardly an army."
"True...but it is a force..and I will use it. I realize you may wonder why I should be in charge ,but it's relatively obvious given the circumstances," the figure said.
"Yes," the others said.
"But..anyway...we shall begin our quest for world domination here...and the only thing that truly stands in our way is those amateurish warriors the Sailor Scouts and all those other associated entities."
The group growled.
"But you can see..we have very little energy at our disposal. So we must be cautious. If we just run out there they'll beat us for sure. So we'll have to be more covert in our movements. I have some experience with such operations. Needless to say...it is not always easy to handle the scouts...the time may come when we will have to face them outright, I would prefer to delay that if we could...but if we can't..so be it...now..who wants the first mission."
Everyone began calling out..
"You..what can you do?" the leader asked.
"Well..I used to be an accountant," the figure said. "But now.." he said stepping into the dim light revealing a suit covered with numbers.
"I am the mathematicator!"
"Stupid name, but what can you do to fight?" the leader muttered.
The Mathematicator pulled a small x shaped object out of his pocket and threw it into a wall. It hit with a spark.
"No..that's not all..the multiplication sign can kill, but so can the plus sign, and the minus signs..."
He held up his hand revealing a sharp minus symbol between each of his fingers.
"So you're a math ninja essentially?" the leader asked calmly.
"Yes, I even have a math sword in the shape of a one," he said.
"Fine, fine...you can of course draw energy from someone?"
"Can I? Of course.."
"As expected..fine..fine..we'll send you out first..bring back some energy."
"Yes sir.." the mathematicator said and headed out.
"He's the lamest soldier we've got..but he'll draw the Sailor Scouts in sure enough," the leader said.
The others nodded.
"Oh..and if anyone else is a math warrior..please tell me now so I won't get annoyed and kill you later."
No one said anything.
"Okay..that's a good sign," the leader said.
Meanwhile. A slight snow was falling as winter progressed.
"It got cold fast enough," Serena said holding a cup of hot chocolate and sitting on Darrien's couch.
"Sure did," Darrien said.
"You know I don't like the cold, but I don't mind winter, especially since there's always the chance of a snow day, where I get to sleep in...but it's not just that..I mean it's nice..the snow falling and everywhere white, and it's clean too."
"Oh..clean..yeah I understand," Darrien muttered.
"Don't you like winter?"
"Sure...of course..why do you think otherwise?"
"Usually when I go off on stuff you listen attentively with that calm skepticism you have, like when I told you why I don't think meat is as fattening as everyone thinks, or when I said that I couldn't understand why milkshakes cost so much...or why I felt.."
"Serena..it's okay..it's okay..no need to go into detail and you haven't gotten to the point."
"What I meant was that you seem just apathetic, I can't even get you to be skeptical."
"Serena there's no reason for me to be skeptical, you make sense."
"Oh...but there's something else isn't there?"
"No..no..nothing."
"You can't hide it from me.."
"Sure I can uh...Serena, please, it's better if you don't ask."
"But I already have," Serena said letting her eyes widen with her innocence.
"Uh..well..Serena..it's just not something I want to talk about."
"But if you won't tell me..uh isn't that..like...wrong?"
"What?"
"Well..I'm the person who's the closest to you...if you can't tell me..is there another woman!"
"No!"
"Their must be..or else you'd feel comfortable telling me."
"Serena...you don't tell me all your secrets," Darrien said.
"I don't? Well..you don't ask..I would tell you anything about me if you asked. You know Darrien for being this good looking guy you have no idea how to handle yourself around women."
"WHAT?"
"That's right..oh sure you're a snazy dresser with an unlimited supply of roses...mind you..but...you just haven't figured things out."
"I take you to all sorts of romantic places," Darrien said.
"Sure you do that too, but then..there's the whole thing with dark moon a while ago..you remember how instead of talking to me about those dreams you made me think you hated me...not smart!" Serena said.
"Uh..well..maybe it was a misjudgement."
"And now..here I am you're true love..the girl that destiny has brought to your side and you can't tell me whatever it is?" Serena said. "Good day sir!"
She opened up the nearest door and walked inside.
"It's a closet," Darrien muttered and walked to his kitchen.
The door opened.
"Hah! Thought you could make me look stupid by moving that closet! Oh no ya don't!" Serena said and walked out the door and then slammed it. Darrien sipped his hot chocolate calmly.
"Well..she has a point.." Darrien said.
There was a knock on the door he walked over and opened it.
Serena stood there.
"I'm still mad at you, but I'm entitled to finish my hot chocolate," Serena said sternly.
"So you are," Darrien said as Serena walked by him.
"Hah hah..here we go.." Mina said laying a book down on her dresser.
"What's that?" Artemas asked.
"Music theory of course," Mina said.
"Oh...well that makes perfect sense...you studying music theory.." Artemas said and went back to sleep on the bed.
"ARTEMAS!" Mina shouted.
Artemas woke up with a start.
"Wha.."he said.
"It doesn't make perfect sense for me to be reading this book, you know that," Mina said.
"Oh...silly me."
"Don't you care that I'm doing something out of the ordinary?" Mina asked.
"Well..Mina considering your proclivity for strange and irrational behavior, this isn't really out of the ordinary."
"Proclivity..huh..." Mina said. "You don't think I know what that word means."
"Of course you do...you're favorite subject is English and Mike tells you definitions of words like that just because he's Mike."
"Oh..so you weren't trying to belittle me?"
"Well actually the point of the sentence was to..but.."
"I know!" Mina snapped. "Now..if you don't mind I've got this book to read."
"Why?"
"Oh so now you care?" Mina asked.
"Not really I'm just making conversation," Artemas said. Mina leapt onto the bed. Artemas quickly jumped off of it.
"Oh..so you think you're fast huh.." Mina said.
"Smart too," Artemas said as Mina tried to tackle him.
Artemas dashed out the door. Mina sighed and turned back to the book.
"He just doesn't understand the complexities of my inner psyche," Mina said
to herself and began to read.
"So...you have seen no negaverse activity?" Prime Minister Coral asked.
"No," Captain Ozaki said.
"None at all since the Sailor Scouts cleaned it all out," Colonel Nagumo said.
"Well then..you two should go on vacation then," Coral said.
"Really?" Ozaki asked.
"Sure..why not? The country will pay for it," Coral said.
"Uh..thank you," Nagumo said.
"Think nothing of it," Coral said with a smile.
"Exactly why are you here Nagumo?" Chief Ozaki muttered as the SDF chief of staff sat in front of him.
"Well..Ozaki, I thought you'd be interested to know we've been doing some research that could lead to some breakthroughs in energy detection," Nagumo said.
"You came down here just to tell me that?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Well..we haven't have a good argument in a week or so."
"Oh..." Ozaki muttered.
"I mean after all, what do you really do with your time anyway?"
"Well I'm Chief of Police."
"And what does a Chief of Police do?."
"Tells the Deputy Chief of Police what to do."
"But doesn't he do know what do anyway?"
"Yeah well what do you do with your time?"
"Whatever I want. That's the tradeoff for being the scapegoat whenever something military goes wrong. Of course you know what that's like being a Chief of Police ey."
"Sure...but now that we've had this little talk, can you leave?"
"Not yet..I have something to show you.." Nagumo said.
"What?"
Nagumo pulled a matchbook out of his pocket and put it on Ozaki's desk.
"A matchbook?" Ozaki asked.
"Not just any matchbook...the SDF's latest bomb."
"You're kidding."
"Nope...this thing could take out this entire office..if it were loaded of course."
"Oh...I see...well then why don't you take it out with you?"
"Sure..sure..but don't you just love to hear about our latest innovations?"
"Nagumo you're beginning to annoy me." Ozaki said.
"I do that sometimes," Nagumo said with a grin and walked out.
"He forgot his matchbook," Ozaki muttered. "Wait a sec..should I really try
to pick this up?"
"So you told him the matchbook was a bomb?" Colonel Patterson asked falling in line next to Nagumo as he moved away from Ozaki's office.
"Sure..he fell for it."
"Of course..the truth is sir..we do have one of those.."
"What?"
"Sure... Oglethorpe finished off the prototype."
"Oh...well..so I wasn't just having some fun?" Nagumo muttered.
"Nope, you were giving out classified information," Patterson said.
"Well...who's going to know?" Nagumo asked.
"That's what I thought you'd say..matchbook bomb.....please..we're not that advanced." Patterson said.
"So there isn't one?"
"I didn't say that.." Patterson said.
Nagumo glanced at him.
Meanwhile in a field. Mike and Steve stood facing each other wearing traditional outfits much like the ones Chad and Raye wore around her temple. They each held wooden swords, or Bokken, in their hands and waited. Rick stood off to the side watching.
"Now...this is just part of your training, the training that will make you true warriors, and help us regain our tarnished reputation," he said.
"So why aren't you in one of these outfits?" Steve said.
"Well..I don't have to be," Rick said. "Besides I wear those all the time. Raye thinks I look handsome in one.."
"Good for her," the other two replied.
"Get back into a fighting stance," Rick said.
"Now..prepare yourselves, when I say so the combat begins," Rick said.
The two tensed and readied themselves.
Rick stood motionless letting his eyes slide from Mike to Steve. A slight breeze blew across the field.
"Go!" he shouted.
Instantly, Steve and Mike shifted their swords into one hand. They raise their free hands over their head and began to parry in a fencing duel.
"Hah hah...Sheriff of Notingham you will not win this duel!" Mike shouted.
"I disagree lowly sir! Whoever you are!" Steve cried in defiance.
"I'm the outlaw who lives in sherwood forest, you know..robbing from the rich and giving to the poor."
"Oh..Eddie right?" Steve asked.
"Yeah.." Mike said.
"What are you two doing!" Rick shouted.
"Uh.it's called fencing," Mike said.
"You'd be surprised what good exercise it is," Steve said.
Rick glanced at each of them.
"You two just don't care if we stink do you?" Rick asked.
"Well..I prefer to rely on instinct," Steve said.
"Yeah..and I'm just good at drawing fire..amazingly in any situation," Mike said.
"That is true," Rick said. "But...Steve you shouldn't encourage him."
"Up to last week you were encouraging him," Steve said.
"Well..I decided last week I didn't want to stink," Rick said.
"But you're the skilled one.." Steve said. "You use your martial arts, I punch people, and Mike runs for his life. That's how it works."
"I know, I know...but if we don't keep trying, the girls will think even less of us," Rick said.
"Now we've figured it out," the other two said.
"Raye put you up to this," Mike said.
"She did not," Rick said.
The other two glanced at each other.
"She didn't!" Rick said. "You two know that I'm rarely swayed by a girls persuasive capacities."
"First off, you used too many big words, .Second...that may have been true until you met Raye," Steve said.
"Yeah..you haven't been the same Rick in..what is it now...a year?" Mike said.
"At least," Steve said.
"Hey..I don't have to stand here and be insulted," Rick said.
"Please..sit then.." Mike said.
"Ehh..." Rick said.
"You know..Amy..I'm glad I could talk to you about this.." Raye said.
"Of course..you know that I'm here for you Raye," Amy said.
"Well that's good, you see as we often do..I thought about love and the stuff that goes into it..and I've thought about the way Rick and I get along...and it seems to me that one of two things is happening..."
Amy sat listening patiently.
"Either...Rick and I are rapidly becoming really really good friends, or we're falling into real love," Raye said.
"So..isn't either situation good?" Amy asked.
"Not if I think one thing is happening and the other actually is.." Raye said. "And that's true in Rick's case too..I mean..I could even be right and him wrong..or..both of us could be wrong..I mean..we could even both be right and not realize it..don't you see what a problem this?"
"Uh..yes...for different reasons," Amy said.
"Oh..but don't you see... Rick and I we like each other...and if we don't figure out how we feel..we could get into trouble," Raye said.
"It's good that you recognize that..but why can't you just talk to Rick about it?"
"Because if I bring it up he might be afraid I'm worried about the relationship."
"Which you are.." Amy said.
"Yeah, but I don't want him to know that.."
"Oh..I see..well..Raye...this isn't a situation where logic is going to help you, if you see it all that way."
"I know..I know..but...you're the only one with a clear enough head to understand," Amy said.
"But..the others have more experience."
"The others are..not who I'd want to ask."
"Why not?"
"Mina's insane...you do know that don't you?"
"Well..not clinically perhaps..but..." Amy began.
"And Serena's too bubble headed to help..I mean...sometimes she figures things out...but she wouldn't follow me..and Lita...well..she hasn't really found a relationship that actually works."
"Oh..but..still..they do have more experience," Amy said.
"Amy..you and Greg has worked out better than anyone.."
"He's a very good friend," Amy said. "Really Raye..if we were anything more we wouldn't
know."
"You just contradicted yourself," Raye said. "Regardless of what you two think you get along very very well. Heck..Amy..you've got two guys chasing after you really...I mean..the rest of us should be envious.."
Amy blushed.
"Raye...they're both very good friends.."
"Heck..if you were to out and out date just one of them...the other would still be there happily hanging around what a great position you're in..why couldn't that happen to me?" Raye said.
"Uh..Raye..no need to get to worked up about it?" Amy asked.
"But I'm the one trying to get guys, you're just there...and you've got two."
"Raye! I don't!" Amy said raising her voice, not in anger..but just to make the point. "Now..you have your own problems to deal with..don't worry about mine."
"Your problems? What problems?"
"You think I like everyone trying to make more of my friendships then they really are?" Amy said. "I hate it...it seems when it comes to love everyone just loses their sensibilities. Do you know what's it like to go home after a conversation like this and ask myself..is it true..is it more than friendship? I don't know! And no one helps me by this constant teasing," Amy said.
"I'm sorry Amy..I didn't...mean..to.." Raye said.
"Now..Raye..I think the only way you're going to get anywhere is to talk to Rick...I can't help, especially now."
"Okay..okay," Raye said. "Thanks anyway.."
Amy nodded and walked out of Raye's room.
The Mathematicator was meanwhile wreaking some havoc on a city street. He grabbed a pedestrian and drained the life out of him all the while holding up the sword in the shape of a one to protect himself. The crowd began to scatter. He continued to chase after whoever he could find. He was drawing energy out of a woman when a police car skidded up. The cop drew his revolver.
"Freeze!" he shouted.
The Mathematicator turned.
"Go ahead..shoot me!" he said.
"Drop that uh sword...now!" the cop shouted.
"What's a matter don't got the guts?"
"Last warning," the cop said. Another car rolled up..followed by two more. More cops emerged.
"Oh...wow..more.." the Mathematicator said and grabbed another stray person. He drained him of the energy and then let him fall to the ground. The police opened fire. The bullets bounced off.
"Hmm...didn't work did it?" the Mathematicator said.
More cars pulled up, some belonging to the SDF. They surrounded the Mathematicator. The streets were all blocked.
I'll just wait for some more to show up and then drain their energy all in one shot. He thought.
Chief Ozaki emerged from his car and looked at the scene.
"He's immune to bullets," One of the officers said.
"That's not good," Ozaki said.
"Well I'm sure the scouts will be along to stop him eventually," another officer said.
"No..we'll take em down..Sergeant Nelson!"
"What is it Chief?" Nelson asked.
"Break out the big guns."
"Yes sir.." Nelson said.
An army jeep pulled up and Colonel Patterson and General Nagumo climbed out.
"You all have no idea what's in store for you!" the Mathematicator said. "I'll drain all your energy. The police opened fir with some heavier weapons raising a small smoke cloud.
"Hah! Bullets can do me no harm!" he shouted. "Anyway..."
The smoke cleared revealing a figure standing in a grey uniform in front of him. The cops despite their bias let out a shout.
"What a stupid weapon," Maverick said.
"Ehh..I'll show you!" the mathematicator said and swung his sword. Maverick blocked the sword with one of his own and fired his second sword into the enemy's gut. He then drew back the sword in his right hand and swung it forward swinging around and knocking the mathematicator over him. He hit a wall and sank to the ground.
Maverick turned. Guardian Saturn dropped down beside him.
"Should I try healing him?" Saturn asked.
Maverick shrugged.
"Saturn Healing Power!" Saturn shouted. Bluish energy fell over the Mathematicator and he reverted back into the human form of an accountant.
"The police held off by a short guy in a business suit..that'll be an interesting report," Nagumo said.
"Don't start Nagumo," Ozaki said.
"You know I never liked math," Maverick muttered.
"It's not so bad," Saturn said. And the two leapt off.
At their apartment, Haruka and Michiru watched the television screen as a newsman relayed the day's events.
"So there's more evil to fight.." Michiru said.
"Guess so.." Haruka said.
"Of course...we could just let Maverick do it..he seems so good at it."
"He is hardly my first choice."
"Why because he beat you?"
"Don't speak of it like it's nothing."
"I thought it was...you really care that much?"
"I should not have been beaten by him..I possessed more power...more endurance..and more hand to hand skill."
"You want a rematch?"
"No..I will not demand one..if he were to offer though I would accept," Haruka said.
"Well..we should keep focused anyway," Michiru said.
"Yes, yet another tsunami is about to his this city."
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CHAPTER 156 CHAPTER 157 CHAPTER 158 CHAPTER 159 CHAPTER 160