Chapter 148
Another cold morning awaited the girls as they walked to school.
"I hate the cold," Serena said. "I mean I really do. The way it just...somehow..always...chills you no matter what you try to do to stop it...."
"Yeah..well..that's what winter is all about," Lita said.
"No..no..winter's about gentle snowflakes gliding to the ground..building snowmen..snowball fights..and uh..missing school," Serena said.
"But Serena, if the temperature doesn't fall below zero degrees Celsius there can't be any of that..it has to be cold.." Amy said.
"Celsius...who's Celsius," Serena said.
"He was the person the Celsius scale was named after," Lita said.
"Oh...detailed analysis there.." Serena said.
"So just who was Celsius Amy?" Mina asked.
"Uh..the person..the Celsius scale was named after," Amy said.
The other four stopped. Amy turned and smiled at them.
"Nothing else about him really matters," Amy said and continued walking.
The other four glanced at each other.
Meanwhile, Steve, Mike, and Rick had arrived at school and were walking through the halls and noticing all the boys with black eyes, showcasing the after affects of Patterson's outrage.
"Well..this takes a little getting used to," Mike said.
The other two nodded.
"So..if they insulted your girls..do you think you could have done this?" Mike asked.
"Sure.." Steve said.
"Absolutely," Rick said.
"I couldn't have.." Mike said. "In fact..if someone were insulting Mina, I'd probably just agree with them until I could get away."
"Of course you would," The other two said.
"Of course then again..at least I'm honest about it," Mike said.
"Hey..we mean it," Steve said.
"Yeah..beating up sixty seven people in rapid succession isn't..that..uh..hard..." Rick said.
"Sure guys..I believe you..one hundred percent," Mike said.
"Well you wouldn't even try to defend her honor," The other two said.
Mike stopped and looked around. His eyes narrowed and held out his hand in front of him.
"Perhaps..but.." he said in a slow scratchy voice. Seconds later he pinched Steve on the nose.
"Got yer nose!" he shouted and dashed into the classroom. The other two
looked at each other and followed.
The leader sighed and paced back and forth in the shadows of the sewer.
"Perhaps the strategies we've been employing aren't the right ones," he said. "No..we must use the weather to our advantage. We used the snowmen..once..now..we have to use other means. The Sailor Scouts are dangerous, but sometimes they have trouble concentrating..if we gave them a reason not to be on focus, our chances would improve somewhat. Now..who among you has any idea of what we should do next?"
"Uh..sir..perhaps I can make a suggestion," one of the troops said stepping forward.
"Really?"
"Yes, if we were to lower the temperature of the city to dangerous levels, everyone would be trapped inside, making them easy targets, furthermore the Sailor Scouts would have to worry about their safety as well as the attacks."
"Why not just lower the temperature lower than that?"
"Then I wouldn't survive and would be unable to gather energy."
"I see."
"It will take a significant amount of energy to put this in motion though."
"Take it. But keep in mind this is one of those missions I expect success on."
"Of course.." he said.
"Look at this.." Serena muttered holding up a frozen muffin. "It was fresh this morning."
"Well just let it sit on the table, room temperature should warm it up," Lita said.
"I want it now.." Serena muttered and sighed and started tapping the muffin against the table.
"I hate this weather, I'm afraid of my vocal cords freezing up," Mina said. "Can't have that especially when I've got class today."
"You're actually taking a voice class?" Raye asked.
"Sure..didn't I tell you guys,"Mina said.
"We didn't believe you," the other girls answered.
Mina shot a glance at all of them.
"Well it's true you know..I'm going to be an idol star someday..and you were all there are the beginning.." Mina said.
"I think we'll be there at the end too..." Raye said.
The others nodded.
"Oh..I get it..you just don't think I'm serious enough to follow it through," Mina said.
The girls nodded.
"Well I'll prove you wrong," Mina said.
"We'll see.." Raye said.
"Say..if your going to voice class..can I come?" Serena asked.
"Serena..all you'll be able to do is wait outside," Mina said.
"Fine, it's just this is just the sort of thing that leads to me stumbling upon evil forces," Serena said.
"I don't want you stumbling upon evil forces at my voice lesson!" Mina shouted.
"Well...someone has too.." Serena said.
"Serena..I just don't understand you. You want to find evil. You've spent months complaining day after day about not being able to lead a normal life. We've been over this before but..just what are you thinking!" Raye said.
"Raye..do you realize how boring my life is without this kind of stuff happening," Serena said.
"And what are we?" the girls asked.
"It's not that..we have fun..but..hey..I'm supposed to be the champion of justice, and half the time I'm the champion of either not being there..or having to rush off to some exotic location to do battle."
"Exotic location?" the other four asked.
"Well..like blocks away," Serena said.
"Oh.." the others muttered.
"So..you see..I want to be the big hero again," Serena said. "You know..courageously defending the planet."
"Serena have you considered the possibility that your insane?" Raye asked.
"No....and besides..when I fight battles like I used to, Tuxedo Mask shows up.." Serena said dreamily.
"You don't need him to show up..you can just go to his apartment.." Mina said.
"No..it's different..when he's Tuxedo Mask..coming to my aid..like he does," Serena said. "It's an entirely different experience.." She said. The other four looked at her.
"Oh come on..you girls know what I mean.." she said.
The other four looked at each other and nodded.
"I rest my case.." she said.
"Any idea what the girls were talking about?" Mike asked as the guys sat at the other end.
The others shook their heads.
"Yeah, it's not a bad idea just to let it go" Mike said.
"So what were we talking about?" Rick asked.
"Smores.." Steve said.
"Right..right.." Rick said.
"See..the thing about a smore is that height is important," Mike said.
"What are you guys talking about?" Lita asked poking her head in.
"Nothing.." the three replied. Greg just sat there.
"You must have been talking about something," Lita said. "You guys weren't even participating in the conversation we were having."
"What we're you talking about?" Steve asked.
"Uh..nothing.." Lita said. "But as I was saying..just what could be so interesting that you don't want to make conversation with your girlfriends?"
"We were discussing in full the environmental impact of CFC's on the ozone and the different research theories and pitfalls to pollution controls in an industrialized economy," Mike said.
"I see," Lita said and turned to Mina and whispered something. Mina whispered something back.
"What is your fascination with spores anyway?" Lita asked.
The guys looked at each other, did a double take and then all dropped under the table leaving Greg slowly munching on his food.
"I think our jobs are done here," Lita said.
"Yes I agree,"Mina said.
"Just what is it that you did?" Raye asked.
"Destroyed their minds of course," Lita said.
"They're always vulnerable when they discuss Smores," Mina said.
"How did you know they were doing that?" Raye asked.
"We know.." the two replied.
"Then why did you mention spores?" Raye asked.
The two shrugged.
"Everyone around me is insane," Raye said.
"Greg isn't," Amy said.
"And you are?" Raye asked skeptically.
"It's always the person you least suspect," Amy said with a slight grin.
"You're just teasing me," Raye said.
"You may never know for sure if it's that, or just a symptom of an elaborately complex mind which has a few dents in it.." Amy said. "Or then again you might find out some day...but only if the negative effects were to show themselves, and then you might regret that..but...there's no need to dwell on that is there?"
"You're still mad about the whole kissing thing aren't you?" Raye asked.
"Not mad..Raye..angry..I'd only be mad if I was insane," Amy said. "Isn't that right Greg?"
"Uh..yeah..I guess so.." Greg said.
Raye glanced at them.
"AH hah!" Serena said holding up her muffin. "It's no longer frozen!"
She took a bite.
"No longer frozen on the outside..." she muttered and began to chew...against
the frozen insides.
"Sometimes I wonder.." Michiru said.
"About what?" Haruka asked.
"Well..we know where the enemy's base is..we know it's in the easy," Michiru said. "Now we even know who their leader is..or there's a good chance of knowing."
"Yes so."
"But we don't tell the others.."
"There are reasons for that..the best strategy is to let our enemy tire itself out..when that happens we can move in on their leader and stop the whole operation," Haruka said.
"But..when the scouts were looking for the sisters..we just..stayed out of the way..." Michiru said.
"Michiru..we've been over this..if we had told them where they were they might have attacked the enemy and been beaten."
"But what if it doesn't work out sometime?" Michiru asked.
"Michiru...just what are you saying?"
"I..don't know..I know we're right it's just not easy some times," Michiru said.
"I know for you it's been harder to take..but it's for the best.." Haruka said.
"Yes I know..I'm going for a walk all right."
"It's very cold out there."
"Yes I know," Michiru said and headed out.
Haruka sighed.
I don't blame her..but..I wish she wouldn't doubt herself. Someone's got to be objective through all of this.
Hotaru emerged from her room.
"I see Setsuna isn't back yet," Hotaru said.
"I'm afraid not Hotaru," Haruka said.
"Very well.." Hotaru said and began to put on her coat.
"Where are you going?"
"East."
"East?"
"Yes.." Hotaru said.
"Why?" Haruka asked.
"Because I feel like going East."
"It's very cold Hotaru..I don't think you should..." Haruka said.
"This cold is nothing I am not capable of handling."
"But.." Haruka said.
Hotaru said nothing more and walked out.
"I'd better keep an eye on her,"Haruka muttered and got ready to follow.
"Is it just me or is it getting colder?" Mina asked.
"It does seem that way.." Serena said.
"Maybe..I should have gotten a ride or something.."
"That might have been a good idea," Serena said.
The two noticed the television reporter talking on a tv screen.
"Meteorologists have no explanation for the abrupt drop in twenty degrees in the past half hours..but they advise everyone to seek shelter immediately, in case the temperature drops much farther," he said.
"Twenty degrees..it was only 0 out when we started...we'd better stop somewhere.." Mina said. "Even though I'll miss my lesson."
"Mina..don't you see? This must be the work of evil," Serena said.
"Not necessarily. Besides..you don't have the instincts everyone else does..how would you know?"
"Let's just check it out..after all..if we're Sailor Scouts we'll be okay.." Serena said.
"Serena..you hate the cold."
"Just come on..we have to check this out."
Mina shrugged and followed her into an alley.
"Celestial Moon Power!"
"Venus..Planet Power!"
The two transformed quickly.
"Ouch..it's cold.." Sailor Moon said.
"You'd think we might get some all weather uniforms or something.." Venus said.
"Maybe we can.."
"What do you mean?"
"Well..we are Sailor Scouts...why should we have to suffer through this.."
"What are you thinking.."
"Let's just transform into warmer clothes."
"Sailor Moon..we've never done that before..we wouldn't particularly know how to do it," Venus said.
"So..we'll just try something.." Sailor Moon said.
"All right.." Venus muttered.
"Uh..Moon Celestial Power! Give me warmer clothes that uh..can...will keep me warm to twenty below!"
"Oh like that'll work.."
Sailor Moon was covered with a flash of light and emerged. What had been her outfit was still there..but instead of having bare arms and legs, they were covered with cloth. Red on her arms, blue on her legs.
"Did that help?" Venus asked in surprise.
"Yeah..I feel very warm..it's like magical or something..even my face feels warm.." Sailor Moon said. "You try it."
"I can't believe that worked.." Venus said. "Uh..Venus Planet Power do the same thing to me that you did with her!"
She was covered in a flash of light and then her transformation finished, and now she had blue liner on her legs and red liner on her arms.
"Not that literally.." She muttered. "This outfit doesn't work."
"Well try again.." Sailor Moon said.
Venus sighed.
"Venus Planet Power...make the things around my arms blue instead."
She was covered in her uniform again, and came out of it wearing blue liner on her arms.
"That's better," she said. "We should go."
"Good idea, now the only question is..where do we go?" Sailor Moon said.
"It was your idea.."
"That doesn't mean I have all the answers."
"It's getting very cold out here Haruka.." Michiru said into her communicator.
"I know..Hotaru doesn't seem to notice," Haruka said.
"This isn't a natural occurrence.."
"I agree...which leads to an unnatural occurrence."
"Right..we should search for the source of it."
"I can't leave Hotaru out here..but if I show up she may..."
"I am here.." Hotaru said deadpan. Haruka whirled.
"What is it Haruka," Michiru said.
"That's a moot point now.." Haruka said. "Why don't you join up with me..I'm on the corner of Fourth and Meiji streets.."
"Understood.." Michiru said. "I'm on the way."
"Hotaru? Aren't you cold?" Haruka asked.
"As I said the cold does not affect me?"
"Do you mean it."
"Yes..death is cold..and I am the Sailor of Death."
"Are you sure though..I mean..you feel nothing?"
"I assure you I would not lie.." Hotaru said.
Haruka touched her cheek..it was warm.
"You're right.." Haruka said. "Well listen we've got to find the enemy."
"Yes..we do.."
"Uh..Hotaru..you're really not ready yet for full combat. Maybe Neptune and I should handle it."
"I will come along..we don't know what we may encounter."
"Please..just follow my instructions though..all right."
"Yes..right.." Hotaru said.
"Okay.." Haruka said. "Let's transform."
Minutes later Sailor Neptune arrived.
"It's origin is definitely nearby," Neptune said.
"We are in the Eastern section of the city," Uranus said.
"And so is the negaverse most likely," Neptune said.
"Of course they are here.." Saturn said. "Follow me.."
"Saturn..just where are you going?" Neptune asked.
"To the enemy.." Saturn said and started walking down the street.
"Maybe we should move a little faster then," Uranus said.
"Very well.." Saturn said and leapt forward. The other two hurried to keep up.
"Saturn..just how do you know where they are?" Neptune asked.
Saturn said nothing and focused on what she was doing She landed on a rooftop and stopped.
"Is it here?" Uranus asked.
Saturn still said nothing and walked forward to the roof's edge.
"There..." she said pointing with her staff at a window.
The other two looked to see a flash of energy from inside then nothing.
"There they are.." Neptune said.
"Let's go.." Uranus said.
Saturn's staff slid in front of her.
"It will come out.." she said. Uranus stopped and nodded.
Another light flashed in another window and then went dark. Onto the top of the roof came a darkly dressed figure in a cloak.
"You're target..." Saturn said.
The figure whirled and saw them.
"Neptune Deep Submerge!"
The attack flew across the rooftop the figure raised it's arms and blasted the attack, it froze and smashed to the ground.
"He blunted it and froze it.." Neptune said.
"Uranus..World Shaking!"
The attack bounced off the ground and flew at the enemy, who stepped aside quickly.
"He's very fast," Neptune said. "Guess we'll have to take him out another way," she said pulling out her mirror. Uranus pulled out her sword.
The figure attacked sending a wave of snow at them. Neptune and Uranus moved to jump out of the way, but were hit by a gust of wind and knocked back into the snow wave.
"The cold..." Neptune said.
Uranus screamed.
"It..can't kill us..but..the pain.." Neptune said and screamed herself. Saturn stood there.
"The cold..will not hurt me.." She said. "But he does not know that.." She jumped off the roof and ran in the front of the other building. The other two scouts winced.
"I think we need backup Neptune.." Uranus shivered.
"If we can't handle him..they can't.." Neptune said.
Venus and Sailor Moon dropped to the roof.
"Are you two all right?" Sailor Moon asked.
"How did you?" Uranus asked.
"Mercury used her computer to trace the origin of all this...." Sailor Moon said. "What happened?"
"The cold.." Uranus said. "He attacked."
"Well..we've got protection!" Venus shouted. "That didn't sound right..anyway!"
The two leapt off the rooftop, the figure attacked, sending them flying back with another snow wave, they were thrown onto the roof.
"Ouch..he saw us coming.." Venus said.
"That he did.." Sailor Moon said. "At least it wasn't cold.."
"Come..on we have to try again.." Venus said.
"We'll go downstairs and work up.." Sailor Moon said. "Will you two be okay?"
"We're okay..now.." Uranus said standing up. The four scouts hurried down the stairs.
"We can't let Saturn face them alone?" Neptune said.
"You mean Sailor Saturn?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Yes.." Neptune said.
"Uh oh.." Sailor Moon said.
The figure meanwhile had guessed the Sailor Scouts intentions and glanced at the roof door waiting for them to emerge. It swung open, he whirled and launched another snow wave.
"Saturn Mist Wave.." Saturn replied and blew it apart, still getting showered with snow..but standing firm.
"How can you just stand there!" He shouted.
Saturn said nothing and leapt at him swinging her staff so the blunt end connected and knocked him to the ground.
"Saturn...Mist ..Wave.." Saturn said stoically and blasted his stunned form back again.
"Saturn..healing..power.." She muttered and transformed him back into a human. The other four scouts leapt through the door.
"It is settled," Saturn said turning to them.
The four's eyes widened.
"I guess it is," Neptune said.
"Hopefully it will get warmer now.." Sailor Moon said. "Back up to zero I guess."
"Well I least you have an excuse for missing my voice lesson..I didn't know it wasn't going to be as cold," Venus asked.
"Voice lesson?" Neptune and Uranus asked.
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