Chapter 165
"So this is Tibet.." Guardian Saturn said as he, Mercury, and Neo-Saturn walked along in the snow towards a village.
"Doesn't look like a millennium has change things too much," Mercury said.
The group walked into the village A couple of people emerged from a hut.
They said nothing and merely nodded and walked back into the hut. Neo-Saturn followed.
"Come on..." he said.
The other two followed him in the door. The two natives sat down around a fire. Neo-Saturn motioned for them to do so as well. They all sat..there was a small whirring ,and then they felt themselves being lowered.
"What.is going on?" Mercury asked.
"Some things have changed in a millennia," Neo-Saturn said. The group lowered several feet still sitting.
"We must be on some sort of lift," Saturn said.
The lift dropped down into a cavern, filled with all sorts of small buildings and filled with mechanical devices. It stopped on the ground and the five climbed off. It then rose again to the surface.
"If Nehelenia managed to follow us down here..there isn't much we can do about it," Neo-Saturn said.
"Why do you think she would be following us?" Saturn asked.
"Well..you'd be an idiot, not to try and do it," Neo-Saturn said. "We can only hope her surveillance techniques aren't that good."
"She is a little busy too you know," Mercury said. "She may not expend the energy."
"That's also true," Neo-Saturn said. "But we shall see..now..this down here..is the real Tibet..a secret military base...with enough firepower for a small army. That is fortunate considering all we have is a small army. Nehelenia swept over China with amazing speed, but she doesn't think this is important, a few people living in a mountain village...so we've got the advantage of surprise."
"Just what is it you intend to do with these forces?" Mercury asked.
"We're going to attack various outposts in China, draw Nehelenia's attention away from advancing..a guerilla war essentially," Neo-Saturn said.
"Uh..with all due respect, aren't we better suited for fighting off her minions or armies?" Saturn asked.
"Yes, but you two also have some smarts..we're going to be creative to try and convince Nehelenia she's got a major problem on her hands," Neo-Saturn said. "That'll give us time to strengthen the real armies waiting in India and Europe."
"They still call them that after so long?" Mercury asked.
"Yes, but the names are unimportant," Neo-Saturn said. "Let's get you acquainted with the guerrillas."
A small group of people were staring at a table studying a map.
At Neo-Saturn's approach they looked up.
"Greetings Guardian, we welcome your assistance," one of them, wearing a light blue uniform said.
"General.." Neo-Saturn said. "Allow me to introduce, Sailor Mercury, and uh..well..just call him...Greg.."
"Of course."
"This is General Techia," Neo-Saturn said. "He runs the resistance..."
"Allow me to introduce my staff," Techia said.
"Colonel Ai," he said pointing at middle aged woman wearing a military overcoat and her black hair cut very short.
"Lieutenant Aierson..we picked him up from the British embassy," Techia said.
"Britain still has an embassy?" Saturn asked.
"Of course it does," Neo-Saturn said. "Don't worry about the details."
"Oh..okay.." Saturn said.
Aierson was relatively short blonde haired man. He had two laser pistols holstered on his belt.
"There's Saio.." Techia continued nodding to a very large man with two swords strapped to his back.
"He's my field commander," Techia added. "Finally, my chief of Intelligence, Li Han," Techia said.
A bald aging man nodded.
"He may not look like much but he can kill you in under five seconds," Techia said.
"Do you have a layout of enemy positions?" Neo-Saturn asked.
"Yes, we've spent much time and effort acquiring them too," Techia said. "We propose to hit the targets along Nehelenia's farthest defense line...she's stationed a pitiful number of troops there...she doesn't care about the territory...but if we attacked it would draw her forces down, heck even from Tokyo."
"That's the idea," Neo-Saturn said.
"There are some obstacles though,"Techia said. "We stumbled onto a creature of hers. It didn't see us we hope..or it didn't think much of us...this thing moves along the line..see...she probably figures that if an army were to show up..this thing could keep them busy while she figures out what to do."
"What kind of creature?" Neo-Saturn asked.
"It was a giant rat," Techia said.
"How big?" Saturn asked.
"About the size of me," Techia said.
"But..you think that's dangerous?" Neo-Saturn asked. "One big rat?"
"It moves faster than anything I've seen," Techia said. "It practically vanishes. If it broke in through an army line it could tear up the whole thing, and they'd hardly have any idea what hit them."
"So we have to take care of it," Neo-Saturn said.
"You may be the only ones that can," Techia said.
"As cliche as that sounds, we'll see what we can do," Neo-Saturn said. "Where did you see this rat?"
"A few different places during our scouting," Techia said pointing at places on a map."
"You sure there's only one?" Neo-Saturn asked.
"We've had someone watching it..it's just one, but it moves from place to place," Techia said. "And at the speed it goes at..it could.probably make it from outpost to another in minutes..hardly enough time for a hit and run. We could try and avoid it..but I'd prefer if it was out of the way."
"We should have a look at it," Neo-Saturn said.
"As you wish, we'll take you out tonight," Techia said.
"Are you okay with fighting a rat Mercury?" Saturn asked.
"I have no problems with rat, that's just a stereotype," Mercury said.
"I didn't mean to sound that way..." Saturn said.
"I know, I know..it's okay," Mercury said.
"So...you two look a bit bewildered by all of this?" Li Han asked.
"It is impressive," Saturn said.
"Ah..yes it is," Li Han said. "Of course it must be for someone who has come so far in distance and in time."
The two's eyes widened.
"I am very good at what I do...and after all..how could Sailor Mercury be sitting in front of me and also erecting a wall around the Crystal Palace.." Li Han said with a grin. "So..what do you think of the future?"
"It's overwhelming," Mercury said. "But unfortunately we don't really have time to take it all in with the wars."
"And what about you.." Li Han asked.
"Uh..it's different," Saturn said.
"Oh..that it is," Li Han said. "So have they told you how all this happened?"
"No," Mercury said.
"Then I won't either," Li Han said. "There's some wisdom in that, but...regardless..you see Crystal Tokyo out there..the sign of optimism, the sign that things are looking up, that we've overcome adversity...let me tell you something," he said and paused for effect. "It's a lie."
"What?" Mercury asked.
"Oh..yes..Crystal Tokyo is impressive and if you live in Tokyo it can be nice, when you're not getting assaulted that is.." Li Han said. "But the rest of the world is a mess, massive armies waiting for the word to invade somewhere else..distrust...and resentment...you see...Crystal Tokyo isn't exactly popular around the world..sure...they're all glad to see you, you're powerful, you're useful..but if this weren't such a crisis, you'd get a different reception."
"They didn't tell us anything about that," Saturn said.
"Well.it probably served no useful purpose to tell you, but you must understand, the a thousand years that have passed have brought on progression and regression over and over again..and now regression. Crystal Tokyo? Now that's regressive, and they want all of us to be regressive, to trust in the power of the silver crystal and all that. We can't just do that..you see..that's not our way..Neo-Queen Serenity there would lead you to believe we've made progress...but..not the kind we want to make," Li Han said
"So..you're resentful of her?" Mercury asked.
"I choose not to get emotionally involved..I do what I have to...but many people aren't so calm and peaceful about it."
"Why tell us this?" Saturn asked.
"Because...I thought you should know," Li Han said. "For better or worse..."
"Well..thank you," Mercury said.
"We think," The two scouts added.
Li Han nodded and walked off.
"Do you think he's speaking the truth?" Mercury asked.
"He does have a point, Crystal Tokyo doesn't seem that technologically advanced," Saturn said. "And if they had had better defenses maybe they could have handled the battle better."
"Still..China fell and it must have billions of people by now," Mercury said.
"Fourteen billion to be exact," Neo-Saturn said. "Oh..yes..Li Han was quite accurate, the world is not a happy place. Crystal Tokyo can be happy...but only when there's not war..and lately that hasn't been as often. As for China..Nehelenia was smart..she used a massive amount of power to sweep over the country. It's why her advances are slowed now..she has to recharge...without her power she could never have done it. She's busy trying to turn fourteen billion people into her army...she can't just make them soldiers, that takes a lot of energy..so..we have a break, but only if we can distract her now.."
"Neo-Saturn, if she has enough power to enslave fourteen billion people, couldn't she have just used that to blast the shield down?"Mercury asked.
"Yes, but she would have been so drained..at least that's what Sailor Saturn says..that she couldn't have attacked. We would have thrown up another energy wall by the time she had recharged.. But if she has an army that could sweep through the city and overwhelm us with pure numbers..she'd have the advantage," Neo-Saturn said.
"That makes sense," Mercury said.
"But what about all this resentment?" Saturn asked.
"I don't get involved in the politics, I just do what I have to do," Neo-Saturn said coldly and walked off.
"Well..I guess he does," Mercury said.
"He worries me," Saturn said. "I mean..that's just not me..there...it's someone different."
"I know..it's scary isn't it?" Mercury asked. "You know I never met myself..." she stopped considering how weird that statement sounded. "You know what I mean..and..I wonder if I've changed any..by this time period," she said.
"Hopefully you've been spared," Saturn said.
"Hopefully," Mercury said.
Several minutes later.
"Okay..Saio is going to take the three of you out with a few of our troops to see the giant rat.." Techia said. "I suggest you follow my people's instructions..they know what they're doing."
The three scouts nodded.
"Come with me," Saio said, and he with a few other troops in snow gear headed for a small vehicle. The scouts followed after being given some of their own survival gear.
"Is that some sort of tank?" Mercury asked.
"Yes, it can plow through the snow and it moves very silently," Neo-Saturn said. "You have no problem going to see this rat?"
"No, of course not," Mercury said.
"I was just asking," Neo-Saturn said.
And the group got in the tank.
The group soon was crouched behind a hill looking down on a small outpost where some soldiers were standing guard. Amidst it all stood a large rat looking around.
"Well there's your rat," Saio said.
A visor slid over Mercury's face as she studied the rat with her computer.
"According to this it's not really a rat, it's biological structure doesn't match what a real rat should have," Mercury said.
"So it just looks like a rat then," one of the troops said.
"Yes," Mercury replied.
"Well then no time like the present to get rid of it," Neo-Saturn said drawing his sword.
"What are you doing?" Saio said. "This is reconnaissance."
"I'm going to take that rat out," Neo-Saturn said.
"No you fool! We need a unified plan!" Saio said sternly.
"Plan..I'm going to take out their entire line..right now." Neo-Saturn said.
"Are you insane?" Saio said.
"Probably," Neo-Saturn said and leapt off the hill.
"Can't you stop him," Saio said.
"We could use our energy attacks, but that would point us out to them,"Mercury said.
"That idiot! He's putting our entire operation in jeopardy!" Saio said. "You.." he said to one of the troopers. "Go back to the base explain what has happened..tell Techia, we have to move now."
"Yes sir," The trooper said and raced off.
"We'll stay here and see what happens," Saio said.
Neo-Saturn leapt down the hill. The enemy troops saw him coming and turned their weapons. The rat stood watching him.
Neo-Saturn blasted a few of the soldiers and then stood on the ground. He hit a couple more. The rat stared at him and then flew forward.
Neo-Saturn barely jumped out of the way.
"That is fast," Saturn said.
"How'd he manage to avoid it, I lost sight of it," Mercury said.
"That fool.." Saio said.
"Considering Neo-Saturn's attitude, he may not care what the rat can do."
"That's a good point," Mercury said. "When the rats moving we won't be able to hit with out energy attacks."
"It's up to him to somehow hit it with his sword."
"Or you," Mercury said.
"Or me.."
Neo-Saturn leapt quickly out of the way of another attack blasted a few more soldiers and jumped on top of the guardhouse. The rat stared at him from below.
"I wonder if he can jump that high," Saturn said.
"He should be able..." Mercury began. The rat jumped. Neo-Saturn leapt above him and drove his sword down. He hit the rat and the two fell through the guardhouse destroying the roof. Neo-Saturn fired into a wound on the rat, but the rat whirled and tried to bite him. Neo-Saturn leapt out of the roof, the rat jumped right after him and tackled him. Neo-Saturn tried to swing his sword around while avoiding the rat's bite, energy flew out of the rat's hands and began to drain his energy. A blue energy blast caused the rat to race away. Saturn dropped to the ground near Neo-Saturn and watched for the rat.
Neo-Saturn slowly stood up.
"I was in control," he said.
"Why is it that people in trouble always have to say that?" Saturn asked.
The rat stood there staring at the two of them.
"What do you think it's doing?" Saturn asked.
"Planning it's next move," Neo-Saturn said.
"And what do you think that next move is?" Saturn asked.
"I'll find out when he makes it," Neo-Saturn said.
The rat held out it's two front paws and stood upright. Appearing in each paw was a large blade.
"He just created two swords?" Mercury said in disbelief.
"This doesn't seem right," Saturn said.
"This is not an ordinary rat," Neo-Saturn said. "It makes sound tactical sense though."
"Well..that's good to know," Saturn muttered.
The rat sped forward. Both Saturn's eyes widened.
"Dive now!" Neo-Saturn shouted. The two jumped out of the way, as the Rat sped by swinging his swords. Neo-Saturn hit the ground and whirled leaping forward with his own sword. The rat parried with him.
"Jeez..that rat actually is hold his own.." Saio said. "Is this normally the kind of enemy you encounter?"
"This is unusual even by our standards," Mercury said.
Saturn meanwhile was sneaking around behind the rat. He lined up and fired. The blast hit the rat, and it spun around. Neo-Saturn jabbed his sword into the rat, it let out a screech, but charged at Saturn anyway. He tried to jump out of the way, but was nicked in the process he rolled to the ground. The rat turned and sped at Neo-Saturn. Neo-Saturn jumped straight at it.
"He's crazy," Saio said.
Neo-Saturn and the rat collided, both cut each other with their weapons and both continued to brawl in their close proximity.
"Maybe it won't be able to hit what it can't see.."Mercury said.
"Uh oh..we've got trouble coming," Saio said pointing to a group of about twenty soldiers racing up to the battle.
"But we'll take care of them," Saio said and with his few troops went racing down the slope.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" Mercury shouted. The air filled with mist. Neo-Saturn rolled way. The rat looked around not being able to see what was happening.
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!" Saturn shouted. His attack hit the rat and blasted him forward. The rat turned and despite his blindness charged where Saturn had stood. Saturn stumbled out of the way. The rat looked around with urgency and began to speed around, appearing in various places.
Neo-Saturn jumped forward and swung his sword right at the rat digging it in. The rat shouted out in more pain then before and flailed with his sword. Neo-Saturn did his best to avoid the attacks and dug the sword in.
"Mercury Ice Storm...."
She saw Neo-Saturn roll away.
"Blast!"
The attack smashed through the rat and it blew apart in a flash of energy.
"Well..that was a mess," Saturn said.
"We've got to help Saio," Mercury said running up.
The enemy troops were firing at the small band of rebels who were firing back. Saio leapt forward with his swords. He turned them sideways and hit some of the soldiers with it. They fell down unconscious. The other rebels charged the small group and blasted them. Saturn and Neo-Saturn let their own attacks fly and hit the remaining few.
"Her forces will converge on this area now.." Saio said. "We have to rejoin the rest of the group."
The others nodded and withdrew back into the hills.
"Are you all right?" Mercury asked Neo-Saturn.
"I have a few wounds, nothing I haven't had before," Neo-Saturn said.
"But..you were hit pretty hard."
"Shouldn't you be more concerned with him," Neo-Saturn said looking to Saturn.
"I'm okay...." Saturn said.
"I do not need your sympathy," Neo-Saturn said and moved to the head of the group.
"We can debate the merits of my attacks later," he said. "Right now..I will see that you get to safety."
"I'm in charge Saturn," Saio said. "You may have beaten the rat, but we were not yet ready to make our move."
"You've made it," Neo-Saturn said.
"What's you problem anyway? Do you have some sort of vendetta?"
"It is fairly obvious that I do."
"And don't you even consider the consequences of that on others."
"No I don't."
"Then you shouldn't be here."
"I am here," Neo-Saturn said. "You need my help."
"I don't need that kind of help. We are guerrillas we can't rush anything."
"I can."
"And how many people will you hurt or kill on this vendetta?"
"I hope none."
"Well..that's good..because Nehelenia's just going to put another creature or something there. We didn't hit her hard enough to convince her that any real force is there. All we did was let her know the you're here.."
"You don't know that."
"You were supposed to advise us! General Techia will tell you the same thing."
"And I'll give him the same answers I'll give you," Neo-Saturn said. "We can win this battle my way.."
"You're way is too reckless!"
"For you?"
"For anyone!"
"I'm sorry you don't have the stomach for this."
Saio grabbed him and threw him into the snow.
"I don't care how injured you are! You and your Crystal Tokyo imbeciles brought this on us, I won't let you do any more damage!"
"You really don't want to do that again..I will respond with violence."
"Please..stop," Mercury said. "Regardless of our emotions, we need to get back to the others."
"Very true," Saio said. "But..then we will finish this."
"Oh you bet we will," Neo-Saturn said.
CHAPTER 161 CHAPTER 162 CHAPTER 163 CHAPTER 164
CHAPTER 165 CHAPTER 166 CHAPTER 167 CHAPTER 168
CHAPTER 169 CHAPTER 170 CHAPTER 171 CHAPTER 172
CHAPTER 173 CHAPTER 174 CHAPTER 175 CHAPTER 176
CHAPTER 177 CHAPTER 178 CHAPTER 179 CHAPTER 180