Chapter 152
"Look at them out there.." Raye muttered as she stared out the window of the cabin with a scowl on her face.
"It's nine o'clock and they're still working on that sled track.." she said.
"I know...I know.." Mina said. "But what exactly are we supposed to do about it?"
"Oh come on Mina..this is where we're supposed to thrive..especially you," Raye said.
"Thrive? At what?" Mina asked.
"You know..coming up with plans for all sorts of useless operations."
"Well..I don't like to brag, but you're right," Mina said with a grin not letting Raye's apparently unintentional criticism deter her.
"Okay..so any ideas?" Raye asked.
"Nope," Mina said. "But I will come up with one sooner or later.. I always do."
With the tone of voice she took, Raye backed away slightly, knowing Mina could be dangerous.
"Hmm...." Mina said and began to think.
"Okay..I think we're done.." Mike said. Rick, Steve, himself, and Lita were standing at the top of a hill not used for skiing. They looked down at a curving sled track that banked from side to side all the way down.
"As long as we've got someone on moose patrol, we should be okay.." Lita said.
"I'm there. Moose Patrol..since..1854, watching for Moose, and exacting a small fee..." Mike said. The other three looked at him.
"Well..Moose can be dangerous.. I need hazard pay," Mike said.
"Tell you what..if you go on Moose Patrol..I won't send you down the hill.." Lita said.
"But.." Mike began.
"Without a sled.." Lita finished.
Mike grinned and walked down the hill to watch for moose. With the lights of the ski slope illuminating the area, it was actually quite beautiful.
"You two ready for this?" Rick asked.
The two nodded.
"But I want to take a look at the view some more first," Lita said.
"It's not bad," Steve said.
"It's not bad?" Rick asked. "You're supposed to say, I know exactly what you mean, the way the light shimmers of the snow like fairies sparkling as they fly above the ground with their golden wings.."
"Hey..that's not bad for doing it on the fly.." Lita said.
"Well I have a talent.." Rick said.
"In fact..I'm sure Raye wouldn't mind if I borrowed you for a while.." Lita said sliding up next to Rick.
"I think she would..I mean..she is Raye.." Rick said a bit nervously.
"Not if she didn't know," Lita said.
"She'd know," Rick said.
"Then I'd defend you from whatever she could dish out if only so I can here yet more examples of your unrestrained romanticism," Lita said.
"Uh..that's great..but maybe you should think this over first," Rick said.
"No..my mind's made up..Steve...I'm dumping you!" Lita said.
"Okay..are we still on for the hockey game this Wednesday?"
"Of course.." Lita said.
"See ya," Steve said and jumped onto the sled and raced down the hill.
Lita then inched closer to Rick.
"Uh..this is uh..not good.." Rick said.
Meanwhile Steve was racing down the slope, skidding around the turns. He slid around a wide corner and felt the sled slide to one side before turning back and racing down the hill into the next turn.
"Wow..he's really moving," Mike said and then glanced to see there were no moose.
"No moose..good.." Mike said. "But that bear could be a problem. Oh wait..I'm just seeing things..that can't be a bear..bears don't have masts..masts? WHAT THE HECK AM I LOOKING AT?"
Steve raced by the place he was standing and soon reached the bottom skidding to a stop.
Meanwhile Mike stared transfixed at the black shape that was slowly drifting out of the woods towards him.
"That's a boat....a boat with tank treads, but still a boat..." Mike said.
"Say..why is that boat out here?" Steve asked walking up.
Meanwhile.
"Listen Lita I'm sure you're a nice girl and all, but..huh...is that a boat?"
"A boat?" Lita said. "My affections will not be deterred, by a simple trick."
"Lita..." Rick said and pointed. She looked.
"I was just joking you know.." Lita said.
"Yes I know.." Rick muttered.
"But you are a very cute and desirable guy."
"I know."
"Pompous too."
"Probably," Rick said.
"Oh..probably..yeah..right.." Lita said with a grin.
"I'm more concerned about the boat right now."
The two walked down the hill towards where the boat had now pulled across the sled track and stopped.
"Well..he destroyed a few hours work.." Steve said.
"Yeah...boats are always doing that especially nowadays," Mike said and snapped his figures.
"Ehh.." Steve said.
"Uh..Mina.." Raye said.
"What...I've only had a minute to plan."
"It doesn't matter.." Raye said. "Our jobs been done for us."
"By what?" Mina said.
"Look.." Raye said. Mina walked to the window.
"A boat? Jeez..that's more creative then I could have come up with," Mina said.
"Mina..it's not trying to mess them up..at least I don't think so..we should find out what's happening out there."
"It's cold out there."
"Fine I'll go.."
"You'll cool off the house just going through the door, please stay here."
"I can't do that..I'm going," Raye said.
"Fine then no plan..to break up their sledding."
"Mina..." Raye muttered and headed out.
Mina shivered.
"That's all I need.." she said.
The other four stood up by the boat as it sat there.
"So..uh..isn't this how most star trek episodes start?" Mike asked.
"Yeah..right before the alien pops out and shoots the red shirts," Steve said. Raye hurried up in her decidedly Red snowsuit.
"Here we go..." Mike and Steve said.
"Well..it is just going to sit here?" Raye asked.
"Maybe it's being driven by the moose that came out earlier," Mike said.
"Hey..good point.." Steve said.
"Yeah.." Rick said.
"Who would build a snow boat anyway?" Raye snapped.
"I would.." came a female voice from the deck as a woman popped out of it.
She climbed down a ladder and stood in front of the group.
"Is there some reason you five have a fascination with my ship?" She asked.
"Well..the fact that's it's parked on our sled track has something to do with it," Steve said.
"As well as the fact that it's a boat with tank treads," Mike said.
"You should be curious," the woman said.
"Wait a second..aren't you Serena Malikaro?" Lita said.
The woman turned.
"Yes..how did you know?"
"Oh..I saw your picture in a science magazine at a friends house..you're the inventor who builds all sorts of things," Lita said.
"Yes I am, and this is my latest invention.." Malikaro said.
"Really..it's uh..nice.." Rick said.
"Of course you wouldn't understand the importance of my work..no one ever does," Malikaro said. "But I will continue trying until they do."
"Uh..best of luck to ya," Mike said.
"But you're kinda on our track here.." Steve said.
"So none of you understand?" Malikaro asked.
"Understand what?" Steve asked.
"Yeah..what is thereto understand?" Mike said.
"I see..you don't.." Malikaro said and climbed back aboard her boat. She then drove it away.
"Anybody have any idea what that was all about?" Lita asked. The group shrugged.
"Well back to work.." Rick said.
"Oh no you don't," Raye said grabbing onto him.
"Wha.." Rick said.
"They don't need you to finish the track...."
"But..I like working on it.." Rick said.
"No come on Rick..let's go do some skiing."
"Now?"
"Sure..that's why it's called night skiing."
"Well I..um..how about all day tomorrow.." Rick said.
"You promise?" Raye asked.
"Sure.." Rick said.
"Fine.." Raye said and headed off.
"There's the old ball and chain for you.." Mike said.
"All day..now there's a commitment," Steve said.
"It'll be a cold day in..Yemen..when I agree to that," Mike said.
"Yemen?" Steve asked.
"Yeah Man," Mike said. "It's a country."
"I thought so.." Steve said.
"Will you guys quit discussing geography and help us out,"Lita said.
"Oh..right.." the two said.
"I won!" Raye said sliding in the door.
"Did you?" Mina said.
"Yes!."
"Close the door then." Mina said.
"Oh....sorry...I'm so happy though!" Raye said. "I mean Rick says he'll spend the whole day with me tomorrow."
"Raye..that's great...now close the door."
"What? Didn't I close it the first time?"
"No.."
"Oh..sorry..but you see as a girl in love I'm entitled to mistakes...."
"I don't care if you just would close the door.."
"Haven't I yet?"
"No.." Mina muttered.
"Oh sorry..."
"SHUT UP!" Mina said and slammed the door.
Meanwhile back in Tokyo. What was left of the Scouts were all sitting around a booth eating dinner.
"So..you can understand how scary it is to have your teacher showing up at your house in her mental state," Amy said.
"We didn't know what to do..but then Amy ditched me," Greg said.
"Greg..I'm afraid most rational human beings would if given the chance," Darrien said.
"I know..I'm not mad.." Greg said.
"Of course you're not," Serena said grinning. "You don't get mad with your girlfriend."
"Serena..A. We haven't decided whether we're in a relationship yet..and B. You get mad at Darrien all the time," Amy said.
"She does?" Darrien asked.
"Amy.." Serena hissed.
"It is interesting...." Hotaru said. All eyes turned to her.
"What is Hotaru?" Setsuna asked.
"Friendly behavior..that is all..."Hotaru said and continued eating.
"So it was a deliberate attempt to decoy us today wasn't it?" Darrien asked.
"That seems to be the case," Setsuna said.
"What? You think Nephlite lied to you?" Serena asked. "Why would he do that?"
"I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet.." Setsuna said.
"Why not?" Serena asked. "I mean..he obviously lead you to the wrong place..you even suspected that."
"Well..I was concerned.." Setsuna said. "But we have to be careful that's all."
"Yeah I guess you're right," Serena said. "It's just the enemies were never this devious..it was usually just us stumbling onto some plot somewhere and fighting them off."
"Serena, it was more luck than anything," Amy said.
"Well..destiny actually," Setsuna said. "Right now destiny is putting more control into our hands."
"Why does it have to do that?" Serena asked.
"Because if destiny threw us into every battle just on chance..it could lead to trouble...and destiny isn't just working for us either," Setsuna said. "The important thing is that we have to work harder to find out what's happening."
"Fortunately we've got a lot more brain power at work doing it," Darrien said.
"Yes...that's true..even with Maverick's absence," Setsuna said. "We have access to more information."
"We still don't know where the negaverse is working out of though," Serena said.
"That's true," Setsuna lied.
The leader sighed as he looked at his dwindling numbers of forces and the fact that his energy supply was lower then ever.
"Suggestions anyone?" he muttered.
"Let's move out before the scouts expect it. They'd never expect us to attack again," one of the minions said.
"Hmm..not a bad idea," the leader said. "Get on it right now."
"Ye sir we'll succeed."
"You'd better," the Leader said.
"No one is more capable than I."
"That remains to be seen," the leader said.
"Yes sir, I guess so."
"Get on with it," the Leader said.
"They will attack again," Hotaru said.
All eyes turned to her.
"How do you know that Hotaru?" Amy asked.
"It is not something that can be explained, but I do know," Hotaru said.
"Then we'd better get going," Setsuna said.
"Are you sure about this Hotaru?" Serena asked. "I mean..after all..they did attack today and all."
"Trust me," Hotaru said stoically and walked towards the door, Setsuna followed.
"I'll get the bill," Darrien said as Amy and Greg got out of the booth. Serena continued to stuff her face.
"Come on..Serena.." Darrien muttered returning from the checkout.
"Almost done.." Serena said.
Darrien sighed.
"I don't suppose you know where we're going do you?" Setsuna asked at the wheel of her car.
"Most likely they will attack where they always attack," Hotaru said.
"This is a big city Hotaru."
'I can provide no more help."
"Okay.okay.." Setsuna said. "I understand."
"Even you cannot fully understand," Hotaru said.
"Hmm..guess we'll just have to hope we get lucky," Setsuna said.
"Has there ever been a battle we haven't made it to? I mean..collectively."
"That's what I'm counting on," Setsuna said.
"Where are we going anyway?" Serena moaned as the others followed Setsuna's car.
"I'm sure Setsuna knows what's she doing," Darrien said.
"We'll find the trouble eventually," Amy said.
"We always do," Greg said.
"You noticed that.." Darrien said with a grin.
"The negaverse is real sneaky this time, I don't like it," Serena said. "It'll be cold out there too."
The others sighed.
"Well it will be."
"Hotaru..I think we've found our answer," Setsuna said as a group of patrol cars went racing by.
"They are responding much more quickly this time," Hotaru observed.
"Or maybe the negaverse slipped up someway..revealed themselves too early."
"Or maybe..there is a fire.." Hotaru muttered.
"Oh.." Setsuna said as the cop cars stopped around a fire which already had fire trucks fighting it.
"Well...I guess we wait and see when the cops do get called in then," Setsuna
said in a rare bout of embarrassment.
"We have no idea where we're going do we?" Serena whined.
"Serena..this is a step by step process," Amy said.
"Yeah..the negaverse has to make a move," Darrien said.
More police cars roared by them and turned, followed by several military police cars.
"Hey..now we're getting somewhere..." Darrien said as Setsuna's car took the
lead.
A few blocks away, the latest minion stood waiting as cops showed up and started trying to get people to safety. His cover had been blown..but he didn't mind..the cops and the troops that showed up would supply him with energy. And the Sailor Scouts probably wouldn't figure things out till he got back to base. A whole convoy of cars screeched to a stop and troops emerged.
"Let's do this thing," Nagumo said emerging.
"You know this will probably go like all our other operations," Chief Ozaki said.
"So..we'll draw attention to them."
"And the Sailor Scouts show up..yeah I know.."
A blast of energy flew at them. They ducked.
"Let's see if the old bazooka works," Colonel Patterson said opening fire. The blast flew across the air. The enemy jumped out of the way. A huge crater was formed in the street.
"WELL AT LEAST WE KNOW IT WORKS!" Chief Ozaki shouted. Another blast of energy flew at them.
"Hah! Hah! Come and get me coppers!" the man said and blasted some more.
"That's it..let's ram him," Ozaki said getting into his patrol car. The car went shooting down the street. The enemy blasted the engine. The car skidded off and slammed into a building. Ozaki scrambled out of the car before it caught fire.
"MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!"
The water hit the car and put the fire out. The air filled with mist. When it cleared the five scouts and Tuxedo Mask stood there.
"Hmm..well I miscalculated," The creature said and raced down the street trying to clear a path through the blockade of police cars.
The scouts moved to follow him.
"MOON TIARA MAGIC!" Sailor Moon shouted as she leapt into the air. Her attack hit the enemy and knocked him off balance, he tripped and couldn't land correctly. A squad of police and army troops tackled him and started pounding on him. More and more of the troops surged over to get a piece of him.
"Uh..this isn't working out quite as expected," Sailor Moon said.
"Well..at least it's working out," Guardian Saturn said.
"We'd better make sure he's taken care of.." Sailor Pluto said and the group moved over to where the troops continued to beat up the man.
"Uh excuse me General..but if we could just heal him..we can go on our way," she said.
"All right..all right..break it up," Nagumo said.
"Aww.." The group said and moved away.
Pluto pointed her staff at his head.
"I suggest you hold still," she said.
Sailor Saturn walked up.
"I shall handle the rest," she said.
"Saturn Healing Power," she muttered and the creature turned back into a human.
"Hey..isn't that the guy wanted for robbing charities?" an officer said recognizing him.
"Yeah..we've had a warrant on him for six months," Ozaki said.
"Well then.." the police officers said.
The guy stirred.
"Ehh..what happened."
"Not much.." Ozaki said and the cops dragged him off grinning.
"Busy day.." Tuxedo Mask said.
"I want to go home," Sailor Moon muttered.
"Well at least..we know that this group can work together as a team," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Whoppdie doo.." Sailor Moon said and kicked some snow.
"Is there a problem Sailor Moon?" Mercury asked.
"I don't know.." Sailor Moon muttered and walked off.
"I wonder what's up with her.." Tuxedo Mask said.
"You don't know either?" Mercury asked.
"Maybe we shouldn't ask.." Guardian Saturn suggested.
Meanwhile back at the ski resort. Lita, Mike, Rick, and Steve wandered in the door tired after hours and hours of sledding.
"Well..that was fun.." Mike said.
"Except when the sled tipped over," Steve muttered still brushing the snow off of him.
"Some went down your pants didn't it?" Rick said.
"It's not an enviable feeling," Steve said.
"I've been there," Rick said.
"Raye and Mina must have gone to bed already," Lita said.
There was a crash in the other room, followed by some shouting.
"Or perhaps not.." the four said in unison. Raye came racing out the door of the bedroom. Mina raced after her.
"Now I've got a cold because Raye wouldn't close the door and I'm going to give it to her!" Mina shouted.
"Not if I can help it!" Raye said dashing out of the way.
"You can't run forever!"
"Neither can you!"
Mike glanced at the others.
"I don't think we're done sledding for the night..." he said. The other three nodded and headed back out.
"You can't escape me!" Mina shouted.
"Don't you dare!" Raye shouted.
CHAPTER 141 CHAPTER 142 CHAPTER 143 CHAPTER 144 CHAPTER 145
CHAPTER 146 CHAPTER 147 CHAPTER 148 CHAPTER 149 CHAPTER 150
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CHAPTER 156 CHAPTER 157 CHAPTER 158 CHAPTER 159 CHAPTER 160