Chapter 144
"Authorities advise everyone not to go out doors as this record four foot
snow fall can be very dangerous," radios across the city said. "The snowbanks
can just swallow a person up if they're not careful. The city is doing it's best
to clear the streets as soon as they can. But in the meantime stay indoors."
Serena woke up at her usual hour and noticed the snowfall.
"Where'd that come from?" she asked.
"It was a surprise to everyone," Luna said. "You can probably guess school has been canceled."
"Are you sure? I mean..those education guys aren't that merciful," Serena said.
"Trust me," Luna said. "No one could get to school."
"Okay..well that's great," Serena said and promptly went back to sleep.
"Artemas owes me five dollars," Luna muttered.
"So..far..." the leader said. "We have not have much success, but that can change now..with the city enveloped in this massive snowfall, it's open season. The scouts will have a hard time responding to any trouble with the weather this way."
"Sir...won't Maverick find a way?" one of the minions asked.
"Of course he will..but this time we're going to send someone who can manage one person easily..someone perfect for this mission because of her distinct powers. Uh..what is it you call yourself again?"
A figure stepped out of the shadows clad in a light blue outfit.
"They used to call me Bertie, but you can just call me the solution," the figure said. The woman had been caught up in the lasting effects of the negaenergy in the water supply and the evil that had been in her had been reawakened.
"Excellent," the leader said. "Why don't you get to it then, you have experience."
"I know what to do," Bertie said.
"Then get to it.." the leader said. Bertie nodded and headed out.
Meanwhile across the city, Mike was sitting in his room staring at a wall.
"I don't like days like this," he muttered. "It gets me all down."
He continued to stare at the wall.
"Wow..there are a lot of small little cracks in the
wall...one..two..three..four...." and he continued to count.
"See you know what this is all about," Kino said.
"What is what about?" Rick asked.
"Massive unexpected snowfalls..see it's all about..global warming."
"Kino.what do you know about global warming?"
"I keep up on environmental subjects."
"You do? When?"
"In my spare, spare time."
"Spare spare time?" Rick asked.
"Yeah, it's when I have free time other then my free time...you know..because I spend my free time with the ladies," Kino said.
"Yeah, I know that...Kino..you're pathetic...I mean.sure you get a lot of girls, hardly work at all and have a nice looking car...you still have...well..I guess...why would you need anything else?" Rick said to himself.
"Now you've figured things out," Kino said.
"Ehh..don't you have somewhere else you could go..like someone else's room? You have other siblings you could annoy."
"Well..theoretically," Kino said.
"Theoretically..huh? That means you're just going to stay here and annoy me aren't you?"
"Like you're doing anything better with your time."
"You know I used to like the snow," Steve's father said. "It used to be nice, just white flakes coming down..but you know when I started hating it."
"When?" Steve asked.
"When I found four feet of it sitting outside my house this morning! It's sinful."
"Sinful?"
"Yeah...the weather isn't supposed to do stuff like that..it's supposed to be..you know..nice.."
"But it's winter."
"How many four foot snowfalls do you remember?"
"Not many, sure, but still.."
"None...there have been none..and even they gave us warning first."
Steve just looked at him.
"If I dug you out..would you go somewhere?" he asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" his father said.
"Just asking."
"Well the answer is probably yes.."
"Oh...I'll get the shovel."
"You will?"
"Ehh...all this snow. it's annoying, we never need this much," Mina said.
"Well..how do you think a cat feels seeing all this," Artemas said.
"How do you feel?"
"Well..would you want to be out in that if you were only a foot high."
"Guess not.." Mina said. "And just how are they going to get rid of the snow anyway?"
"They'll probably just work their way inward somehow plowing it," Artemas said.
"Does this mean this could go on for days?"
"Maybe."
"I guess the good news is I miss school..but then I don't get to see anyone..or any of the cute guys that go to school."
"Mina..you have a boyfriend."
"What's your point?"
"Mina..why is it every time you say anything I become worried about something?"
"Has it really gotten that bad?" Mina asked.
"Almost," Artemas said.
"Hmm..well..don't you worry, I rarely think before I say anything..so that means..that my mind is clear to really think about things."
"And that means."
"It means everything's going to be fine."
"Oh..good.." Artemas muttered and went to sleep.
"Geez..that's a lot of snow..." Chad said.
"Yeah.." Raye said.
The two were standing on her front porch looking at the wall of snow that sat in front of them, and was spilling over onto the bamboo porch.
"Well...I could try pushing it into the forest," Chad said.
"There's snow there too." Raye said.
"Hmm..you know Raye..you could just melt it.."
"I could if I have to.." Raye said. "I'd rather not let everyone on the block know I'm a Sailor Scout."
"I was just saying..I mean..if you did the whole block..no one would think it was weird."
"That makes sense..but..I don't want to..."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have anywhere to go...and it is pretty cold out."
"Wimp."
"Wimp? I'm no wimp. I've saved your sorry butt so many times.."
"Well..yeah..and now you're afraid of a little cold."
"No..you're not going to coerce me," Raye said and walked into her room.
"Afraid of a little cold...hah..of all the lame excuses," Chad said and
walked off.
"Are you going to be all right out there dad?" Lita asked as her father began to put on all weather gear.
"I really have no choice..police officers have to do what they can in a crisis like this," Sergeant Nelson said.
"But how are you going to get anywhere?"
"You'd be surprised,"Nelson said. "Fortunately the air is clear for now..it's going to get worse again later..but...I've gotta go."
"Good luck dad, and if you get into trouble..just give me a call."
"Oh no you don't..you stay here.." Nelson said.
"Sure...I know.." Lita said with a smile.
There was a rumbling. Sergeant Nelson hurried up to the second floor and climbed out a window. A helicopter hovered over head and dropped a line. He grabbed it and was pulled up. The helicopter then moved off to pick up other officers. Lita watched it fly off.
"Well..there he goes," She said. "Now what I am supposed to do all day? I
could always catch up on my homework..but I think I'd be missing the point of a
snow day. Heck..I guess only Amy and Greg would be working on day like this."
"I know I should be working..but I just don't feel like it," Amy said.
"Same here," Greg said.
The two were standing in front of a window looking at the snow.
"This is an odd snowfall, none of the meteorologists caught it until it was here.." Amy said.
"They don't usually mess up like that," Greg said.
"It wasn't a mess up, it's like it almost appeared over head."
"Maybe there's some sort of evil force behind it."
"I thought it might be..I even scanned some of the snow with my computer..it seems to be more a freak of nature than anything else."
"These things do happen," Greg asked.
"Still it's interesting to wonder just how they happen. I'd like to get my hands on the meteorological charts leading up to the event."
"Well..I'm sure you can somewhere..the Internet or something," Greg said.
"Hmm...I guess I should try once things settle down a little," Amy said.
"Yeah..good idea.."
"Greg? Is something wrong?"
"No...I don't think so.."
"It just seems like there is for some reason," Greg said.
"I don't feel that way..but..maybe there is.. I don't know.."
"This just doesn't seem right...that's all.."
"Maybe it's because I'm a massive dragon!" Greg said and leapt onto the couch.
"What?" Amy said turning.
"Yeah, yeah..that's it...I'm a dragon..yawww!"
"Greg? Are you okay? What's going on!"
"Amy just wake up and it'll go away," Greg said.
"But I'm not the one who fell asleep," Amy said.
"Wha...oh...that's right.." Greg said.
And suddenly Greg woke up.
"What..was that?" Greg muttered..looking around.
"You all right Greg?" Amy said poking her head in the door.
"I guess..why was I asleep?"
"You said something about not liking all this snow..you went to sleep again once you learned school was canceled," Amy said.
"Yeah..that makes sense..I get awfully lazy when there's snow on the ground..." Greg said and glanced at his clock.
"Noon already....so..Amy..have you been racing ahead in the chapters again?"
"Well..to be honest..I was trying to download the meteorological data on this storm off the Internet," Amy said. "But the server's been damaged I think with the storm."
"Oh.." Greg said.
As snow once again fell onto the roof of Haruka and Michiru's apartment complex Hotaru stood there watching.
Snow falling. Everyone thinks it's wonderful to see..but only until it reaches the ground and piles high..then they have a problem with it..of course that is understandable. But..one wonders why something so good at one point in time can be so bad at another point in the same time. Such is the way of the universe, or at least of this planet.
She saw a helicopter pass by and fill the sky with more wind as it headed for it's destination.
She turned and faced in another direction.
"The city takes on a different character in winter, not of hope or joy, but instead of submission..as snow falls and they can do little to stop it, all they can do is somehow do away with it until nature chooses to melt it herself,"
She stood there for a few more minutes, until something drew her attention.
"Something is happening," she said and pulled out her power stick, walking back inside for only the time she needed to transform and then emerging as Sailor Saturn.
"Ground travel is impossible..so..the air will do.." Saturn said and leapt
off the roof. "It is time for me to find out what my abilities are without
outside assistance."
Bertie walked onto the roof of an apartment building. She had just finished draining the energy from the inhabitants inside. She walked over to jump to the next roof which was only lightly covered with snow, the rest having fallen to the ground. She leapt into the air and landed finding herself face to face with a girl in a white and dark purple outfit holding a form of scythe weapon.
She looks like a Sailor Scout..but which one is she..her uniform is almost blue..but that isn't Mercury. Bertie thought.
"And just who are you?" Bertie asked.
"I am Sailor Saturn...the soldier of death," Saturn said stoically.
"Soldier of death? What? What happened to fighting for love and justice and stuff?" Bertie asked.
"The others do as they wish...I have other motivations," Saturn said swinging her staff to a battle ready position.
"Oh..I see.." Bertie said and swung a blast of ice water sweeping at Saturn. She leapt above it and landed again.
"Well..you're reflexes aren't bad at least.." Bertie said.
"You should not concern yourself with my reflexes," Saturn said swinging her staff and firing an energy bolt. Bertie stepped away from it.
"Nice trick you got there," Bertie said. "But really...you're out of my league."
"At last I checked.." Saturn said and leapt forward with such speed that Bertie couldn't even see her, she swept under Bertie with her staff and knocked her to the ground pointing the pointed end of the blade right at Bertie's throat.
"This kind of combat has no formal organization," Saturn said.
"So it doesn't," Bertie said and vanished appearing a few feet away.
Saturn whirled and Bertie sent another blast of ice water flying at her.
She was hit and thrown towards the edge of the roof.
Bertie lined up for another attack as Saturn tried to stand. Two multicolored blasts hit Bertie from behind and knocked her face first into the few inches of snow that were there.
Saturn stood up.
Maverick dropped to the roof and fired his sword again, Bertie was knocked back down to the ground.
"Saturn Mist Wave!"
"No!" Bertie shouted and water flew out from her all around. Maverick and Saturn ducked.
Bertie stood up and backed away from the two.
"You two...think you can really beat me....I have more power then both of you combined.." Bertie said.
"I am not concerned" Saturn said and fired another staff shot.
Bertie blasted it away and then followed it up with her own attack which flew over the heads of the two as they ducked again.
"Really...you attack and I'll just do that.." Bertie said. "In fact...."
She threw out her arms in an attack. Maverick and Saturn fired again. The attacks were blocked by a wave of ice that swept across the roof leaving no room to duck. The two leapt over it. Bertie leapt right at Saturn and unleashed her attack, Saturn swung her staff and hit Bertie seconds before the attack connected and blasted Sailor Saturn off the roof. Maverick landed and immediately flew forward again hitting Bertie before she could recover, he swung both his swords through her. She let out a cry and stumbled off the roof herself. She vanished in mid air. Maverick slid across the snow as she reappeared and spun around as she moved to attack.
"Well here we go again," Bertie said and launched her glacier attack. Maverick flipped off the roof to avoid it.
"Huh..you're not suppose to do that!" Bertie said and raced to the roof's edge. Maverick leapt straight up at her after taking solace on a ledge. He fired his two weapons. Bertie let her own attack go in shock. The attacks collided and exploded knocking Bertie back onto the roof and Maverick down into the snowbank below.
Bertie looked around for other assailants. She heard the whirring of a helicopter.
"Odd sound..who could that be?" Bertie muttered. Seconds later the helicopter popped up from behind a building a block away.
"Pluto Dead Scream!"
"Uranus World Shaking!"
The two attacks flew out and hit Bertie as she turned into them. Pluto and Uranus leapt out of the helicopter and jumped to the roof. Pluto hit Bertie several times with her staff and Uranus followed it up with a sword attack, Bertie fell to the ground.
"Keep her covered," Uranus said.
"Pluto aimed,"
"Uranus Healing Power!" Uranus shouted.
Bertie reverted back to her original form.
"Now..where is Sailor Saturn?" Pluto said Uranus looked over at the roof's edge.
"Down there.." Uranus said.
Neptune was flying the helicopter around at that moment.
Uranus waved her over and jumped aboard. She then tied a rope around her waist and climbed out. Neptune hovered the helicopter over the alley, and Uranus dropped down and grabbed Saturn who was trying to pull herself out. Neptune pulled the helicopter up and the two were lifted out and back onto the roof.
"Saturn? Are you all right?" Pluto asked.
"No worse than I already am," Saturn said.
"You shouldn't have gone out alone," Pluto said.
"I did what I deemed necessary," Saturn said.
"Did you fight her alone?" Uranus asked.
"No..the burdened one was here.." Saturn said.
"Who?" Uranus asked.
"She must mean Maverick," Pluto said.
"I don't see him around," Uranus said looking around the area. "Of course that is his trademark."
"Saturn we should get you home you've done enough," Pluto said.
"I guess by some measure of the imagination I have," Saturn said. "I could not defeat her though."
"That's not the point," Pluto said. "The times when one Sailor Scout can beat an enemy are few and far between."
"Don't let that worry you," Uranus said. "Even I prefer to have a partner.."
"Oh.." Saturn said.
The helicopter pulled up and the three got on and flew off. Bertie woke up and realized she had no idea where she was.
"What..how'd I get here?" she asked herself. "Why can't I remember the past few days?"
Mars dropped to the ground.
"Bertie? Are you all right?" she asked. "What happened."
"Mars.....I don't know.." Bertie said.
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Well you just attacked a bunch of people including some of the scouts," Mars said.
"I did? Why?"
"I don't know, Bertie, you don't remember what happened at all?"
"My minds a blank since...two weeks ago..." Bertie said.
"Two weeks...ago.?" Mars said.
"Say...I wasn't fighting you was I?" Bertie asked.
"No..you were fighting some of the outer sailor scouts and Maverick .he told me what happened."
"Oh..the newer ones."
"So to speak," Mars said.
Mercury, and Jupiter landed on the roof.
"It's not easy to get around here when it's like this," Jupiter muttered.
"I know..we almost fell into a snow bank," Mercury said.
"Bertie here says she doesn't remember anything for the past two weeks," Mars said.
"Didn't your sisters notice you were missing?" Jupiter asked.
"I'm sure they would have told us if they did," Mercury said.
"I have no idea," Bertie said.
"Maybe we should try and find out," Mars said. "She pulled out her communicator. Sailor Moon..where are you?"
"Where am I? I'm outside in this cold terrible weather, that's where I am!" Sailor Moon snapped.
"Deal with it!" Mars shouted. "Are you anywhere near here?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Sailor Moon said. "What's so important anyway?"
"Just get over here," Mars snapped.
Several minutes, later also joined by Venus...the Sailor Scouts, in human form, and Bertie arrived at her and her sister's apartment. Bertie fortunately still had a key and she opened the door. They all walked in to see the apartment was empty.
"Catsy! Prisma! Avery! Are you here!" she shouted.
The scouts all checked the bedrooms, they were empty.
"The place hasn't been ransacked.." Lita said.
"Bertie, just what we're you doing two weeks ago?" Amy asked.
"The last thing I remember..the four of us we're shopping..over in..oh..I don't know where..and then for some reason it goes blank.." Bertie said.
"Something must have happened to you..maybe all four of you," Mina said.
"Whoever is behind all of these attacks could have kidnaped you," Raye said.
"And whoever it is still has my sisters," Bertie said.
"Maybe not..but we don't really know.." Amy said.
"Don't worry though..sooner or later whoever it is will probably send them to fight us..and we'll heal them like we did for you," Serena said.
"I just hope no one gets hurt," Bertie said. "I mean we don't even know what happened."
"You have to trust us Bertie, we'll do everything we can," Amy said.
"I know you girls will, I believe you," Bertie said. "It's just not easy you know..to know your sisters are missing like this..and..not be able to do anything."
"Yeah...we know..we'll start looking right now.." Serena said. The other scouts nodded.
"Maybe I should stay here..in case she needs anything," Amy said.
"Thank you all.." Bertie said.
The other scouts transformed again and headed out.
"Hey..Maverick..we've got a job for you...." Jupiter said into her communicator.
"Was falling off a building into a four foot snowbank not enough for today?" Maverick replied.
"Wouldn't it have been worse to fall of a building onto no snowbank?" Jupiter said.
"Only theoretically," Maverick said.
"Listen..Bertie's sisters are missing, we think whoever caused her to do this has got them," Jupiter said.
"I'll see what I can do," Maverick said.
"Good..thanks," Jupiter said.
"And now where are we supposed to look?" Sailor Moon asked.
The others shrugged.
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CHAPTER 146 CHAPTER 147 CHAPTER 148 CHAPTER 149 CHAPTER 150
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CHAPTER 156 CHAPTER 157 CHAPTER 158 CHAPTER 159 CHAPTER 160