Chapter 166
"Doesn't Australia have any kangaroos left in it?" Pluto muttered as, he Jupiter and Neo-Pluto stood in the middle of a desert field where only a small tree was visible.
"It does, they just aren't here," Neo-Pluto muttered. "It would be best if you kept you mind focused."
"But what are we doing out here anyway?" Pluto asked.
"Just what it looks like, we're waiting," Neo-Pluto said.
"For what?" Jupiter asked.
"If I told you it would just spoil the suspense," Neo-Pluto said.
"Who cares about suspense we want some answers," Pluto said.
"That's all we ever want isn't it? Answers..if we had our way we wouldn't have to ask questions, the answers would just be dropped into our lap," Neo-Pluto said. "But most of time the answers are eventually given right to us, not all the answers..but most of them..yet we're always impatient..can't wait for destiny to handle things.."
"Enough with the philosophy," Pluto said.
"Yeah, and besides, sometimes you can't take a back seat to your own life," Jupiter said.
"You're missing the point. Sometimes means less than half, perhaps even less than most. Of course there are exceptions...the simple fact that there are exceptions to every rule is the only rule without exceptions, but..most of the time, we're just impatient," Neo-Pluto said.
"Just what are you on anyway?" Pluto asked.
"I don't need to be on anything...but then again I can understand you not understand. These kind of thoughts never occur to you as you slowly drift through your life...filled with optimism and hope and all the stuff that can get one into trouble," Neo-Pluto said.
"You may be depressed but that doesn't mean I have to be," Pluto said. "Or at least not yet."
"You might as well prepare yourself," Neo-Pluto said.
"I getting sick of you awfully quickly," Pluto said.
"Oh well then think about how hard it will be when you actually get to be me.." Neo-Pluto said.
"Could you two stop arguing?" Jupiter muttered. "This is getting out of hand."
"You're right they say it's unhealthy to talk to myself," Neo-Pluto said.
"Yeah I can see why," Pluto said.
Five minutes passed.
"I hear something.." Jupiter said.
"Yes...both of you close your eyes and do not open them and until I tell you to.." Neo-Pluto said.
"Wha.." Jupiter said.
"Why?"
"Do it," Neo-Pluto said. The two closed their eyes. Pluto did too. There was a large pulse of light above them.
A minute or so passed.
"You can open them now.." Neo-Pluto said. They looked around and found they were in a cavern.
"Where are we?" Jupiter asked.
"Under where we were," Neo-Pluto said.
"I didn't feel like I was falling or anything," Jupiter said.
"That is modern technology for you," Neo-Pluto muttered. "Like most resistance movements, this one is based underground. Nehelenia could probably see anything we did up above..we couldn't take the chance. Come with me."
They headed down the cavern and came to a large lake.
"Is there a boat or something we need to take?" Jupiter asked.
"Or we going to just have to swim?" Pluto muttered.
"Hardly," Neo-Pluto said and took a few steps into the lake. He walked forward and then disappeared.
Jupiter and Pluto looked at each other.
"Follow me will you?" Neo-Pluto muttered. The two shrugged and walked into the lake. Seconds later the scenery changed. They found themselves still standing in a foot of water, but there was an opposite shore right in front of them and from there on a group of horses tied to a stake, and a group of cloaked people sitting there. Neo-Pluto stood on the shore.
"Ah..an illusionary wall...what a nice surprise," Pluto muttered.
"And yet they still use horses," Jupiter said.
"That's surprise number two," Neo-Pluto said as the two walked up to him. The three passed by the cloaked figures and walked into a side chamber of the cavern. There were some pots and other survival implements sitting around. There was also a large rock covering another cave area.
"Something tells me there's more illusions here," Jupiter said.
"Or at least some mechanical dohickey to move that rock no doubt," Pluto said.
"Why move the rock?" Neo-Pluto said and picked up a pan. He tossed it at one of the cave walls. It hit and bounced off. Seconds later part of the cave wall itself pulled backwards revealing a doorway.
"Misdirection..." Neo-Pluto muttered and walked into through the new passageway. The others followed.
"You know if Nehelenia managed to follow us down here..with some sort of..anything.." Jupiter said. "She now knows the secrets."
"If she managed to get down here..there's no way we could stop her from finding out our plans anyway," Neo-Pluto said.
"Say..what was with the closing our eyes on the surface on that note.." Pluto said.
" I told you to close your eyes because we had fired a light pulse. When it dissipated we were underground, but replaced by holograms," Neo-Pluto muttered. "The holograms will move to another position, sit and wait and then the flash of light will be repeated, and they will keep moving. Nehelenia won't know what's going on."
"Oh..good idea," Pluto said.
They turned onto a metal passage way and began to walk down it. It was filled with blinking lights.
"Wow..the future..." Pluto muttered.
"Try not to get too excited," Neo-Pluto muttered in reply. They reached a door.
Neo-Pluto stopped. The others did. A small beam of light passed over them and then the door opened. They walked in and it snapped shut. They were in an glass elevator and out the window they could see a massive city, lit by a lamps on the ceiling of a huge cave. The city even had a lake running around it.
"What is this place?" Jupiter asked.
"They call it New Melbourne...they started building it over two hundred years ago..most of their population gradually moved down here.." Neo-Pluto said stoically.
"They built a whole city down here? But why?" Pluto asked.
"The Australians are trouble that's why," Neo-Pluto said.
"Are you serious?" Jupiter asked.
"They built this didn't they?" Neo-Pluto muttered.
"According to you they did," Jupiter said.
"Why would I lie to you about who built the city?" Neo-Pluto snapped.
"Ah..by answering that, I would be giving you an answer, and you frown on that..I guess destiny will just have to figure it out for you," Jupiter said.
"You two really should look at your lives and realize just how hopeless you are," Neo-Pluto said.
"Is that all you got?" Jupiter asked.
Neo-Pluto glanced at them.
The elevator finished it's descent. The door opened and standing there in front of them was a rabbi.
"Greetings friends," he said. "I hope you are well. Well...we should be going they're expecting you."
They walked over to a large boat and climbed aboard. It then set off across the lake.
"Uh..why were we greeted by a rabbi?" Jupiter asked.
"Australia became very Jewish around 2700," Neo-Pluto said. "But that's not why Australia is trouble."
"We never thought that would be the reason," Jupiter said.
"So what is the problem?" Pluto asked.
"Telling you might change the past, I can't tell you," Neo-Pluto said.
"How might it change the past?" Jupiter asked.
"I can't say..just be prepared for some surprises, Australia is no longer the land of Kangaroos, Dingoes, and wild tribes of aborigines..." Neo-Pluto said.
He walked off down the deck to talk with the rabbi.
"You know this kind of reminds me of the Central Dogma," Pluto said.
"The what?"
"You know.in Evangelion..."
"Oh..that weird sci-fi series that hardly made any sense?" Jupiter said.
"Yeah, it was okay, if you didn't read into it that much.." Pluto said.
"Just how did that come out anyway?" Jupiter asked.
"I can't even put it into words," Pluto said. "To be honest with you, I saw the ending of the series and the movie...and I still don't know. I mean..Mike thinks he knows..and Rick tried to do some research on it..but..it's hopeless."
"Oh.." Jupiter said.
"Of course Macross..now that was different," Pluto said.
"Macross?"
"Sure..you know the one with the giant space battle fortress and the girl who won a war just by singing a song," Pluto said.
"Oh..I never got into it, I was watching the more girl oriented stuff."
"Yeah, yeah..those corny love stories..boy meets girl..girls an alien, girl gets boy into trouble..boy turns into girl and then things get really ugly.." Pluto said.
"It's not like that.." Jupiter said. "All the time."
"Or then there's something like a bunch of girls who magically turn into these super heroes, all the while trying to find a date...I mean just how many times has that been a plot of a series," Pluto said.
Jupiter just glanced at him.
"See..sure..I guess you girls could for that..but..us guys..we need realism..and..uh...dramatic showdowns," Pluto said.
"But the girls series have those," Jupiter said. "All the time.."
"Yeah..but...usually they end up with something lame like someone hugging the other or something and somehow that ends the war or something.." Pluto said. "See a real showdown is when the enemy is beaten by the hero in a fight."
"Fighting isn't just done with weapons you know."
"Yes but weapons are the um...weapon of choice..for people like me..see that's why us guys just can't get into this girls stuff."
"Well maybe you aren't supposed to.." Jupiter said. "I mean..how many times do you see someone like Serena watching Key:The Metal Idol? That's neutral of course. But.. Sure there's the guy stuff, and the girl stuff, and the stuff that anyone can watch. That's how it's defined."
"Yeah, yeah..but...I bet you a lot of you girls, like you for instance, could get into the epic of Macross or the Gundam stories like that.." Pluto said. "But see it just doesn't work the other way around."
"So what's your point?" Jupiter asked.
"I wasn't really going for a point, just making conversation."
"That's what I thought."
"Yep..yep...you just won't find the guys watching the girl stuff..no way.." Pluto said.
"Is there something wrong?" Jupiter said.
"No..of course not.." Pluto said.
"There is isn't there?"
"It's a conspiracy I tell you.." Pluto said.
"What?" Jupiter said.
"There's something..that draws us in..." Pluto said. "Don't you see it..no of course not..maybe you're even part of it."
"What?" Jupiter said her surprise rising.
"We can't help it, we are pulled to it..it doesn't make logical sense..why are we there...watching it! Every week or every day!"
"Pluto..you're not making any sense.."
"No..I'm not..can't you see..that.."
"See what?"
"You're little conspiracy here..somehow enacted by these shows...you try and draw us guys in..we shouldn't watch the shows..but we do..we do..and we like it..we buy the merchandise..we...hide it from our friends, but we watch it anyway...and we're still..big men..yeah....it's not a lack of testosterone, it just happens like a drug habit," Pluto said. "We're not responsible!"
"Are you saying you watch the girl shows?"
"Have I not been clear on that?" Pluto muttered. "It's not our fault!"
"Uh...Pluto..really...is this the best time..to.."
"There is never a good time," Pluto said. "I've gotta get some air."
"We're already outside."
"Well I need air from down there.." Pluto said and walked to the stern.
This is disturbing. Jupiter thought. He's become completely irrational...but
I guess he has a point. I wonder just what would get a guy like him to watch one
of these girly shows?
The boat pulled into a dock and the rabbi lead the three off the boat to a waiting car.
"That's a big car," Jupiter said.
"Isn't that great they've sent us a limo," Pluto said.
"Oh..no..this is actually a relatively compact model," the rabbi said pointing off towards a street where several massive cars were speeding down the road.
"That is odd," Pluto said as they got into the back.
"I by the way am Rabbi Minks," the rabbi said.
"Minks?" Pluto asked.
"Minks," Neo-Pluto said. "Deal with it."
"Sorry..it's just where I come from is nothing like this, it is a bit overwhelming," Pluto said.
"That's understandable," Rabbi Minks said.
"So does everyone have such a large car in this city?" Jupiter asked.
"Pretty much...it's a necessity now a days," Minks said.
"Why?" Jupiter asked.
"It's a long story," Minks said.
"There's no need to tell it," Neo-Pluto said.
Jupiter glanced at him.
"Anyway, it is our hope that you can help us beat back Nehelenia's hordes," Minks said. "She avoided most of the pacific islands, but she seems quite interested in attacking us. She just hasn't found the city yet."
"We're here to discourage her from taking the time," Neo-Pluto said.
"Say is that way we came in, the only way in?" Jupiter asked.
"Goodness no..there are thousands of entrances like that...but we usually don't need to go to the surface. It's only for defensive purposes nowadays..to gain intelligence. We keep most of the entrances closed," Minks said.
"Are there other cities above ground?" Pluto asked.
"Yes, but they're sparsely populated, most of the Australian people live down here," Minks said.
"And just how many people it is that?" Jupiter asked.
"Three Hundred Eight Million people."
"In one city?" Jupiter said.
"That's hardly a high number," Neo-Pluto said.
"You mean there are larger cities?" Jupiter asked.
"Plenty of them," Neo-Pluto said. "But this geography lesson isn't really getting us anywhere.."
"I'm curious okay.."
"Now is not the time to be."
And the car kept going until it pulled up to a very tall skyscraper surrounded by flags. It pulled to a stop. The four emerged from the car.
"Here we are," Minks said.
"Where is here?" Pluto asked.
"The city ministry of defense of course," Minks said.
"Is there a national ministry of defense?" Pluto asked.
"Yes, but it's smaller than this one," Minks said.
"Oh.." Pluto said.
They walked past some soldiers who nodded and headed inside. They walked down a corridor to a large office past more guards. In the outer office was a military secretary, and a few more officers.
The secretary nodded to them, and the rabbi lead them in the door. Jupiter and Pluto did a double take. Sitting in the desk, was a man in a military uniform and he looked just like General Nagumo.
"General Nagumo, here are your honored guests," Minks said surprising them further.
"Thank you," Nagumo said. The rabbi walked out.
"Please..sit.." Nagumo said.
"The three did.
"Uh..excuse me sir..but do you have a relative from twentieth century Japan?" Jupiter asked.
"Of course...my family moved to Australia in the middle of the millennium, by now we're quite Australian.." Nagumo said. "Have you met my relative Sailor Jupiter?"
"Met him? I.."
"I'm well aware of the fact that you are not from this time..how could there be a defense wall up around Crystal Tokyo if you were?" Nagumo said.
"There are other possible reasons Nagumo," Neo-Pluto said.
"But none of them apply,"Nagumo said. "Anyway..welcome to our time period..isn't the city impressive?"
"Yes, it is," Jupiter said.
"Well..I hope Rabbi Minks was cordial," Nagumo said.
"Yes, very cordial," Jupiter said.
"That's good..I never much cared for religious men, but then again..Minks can get into places most people can't because of that fact. It's quite useful to employ them as spies," Nagumo said with a grin.
"Why are you telling us this?" Neo-Pluto asked.
"As a token of my hope for cooperation," Nagumo said. "It is my sincere hope that despite the differences between the City of New Melbourne and Tokyo that we can unite to defeat a mutual enemy."
"What kind of differences are there?" Pluto asked.
"It's best not to talk about then," Neo-Pluto said. "After all..this is about cooperation."
"Indeed it is, and I don't mind saying you arrived at an opportune time.." Nagumo said. "We surprised Nehelenia as she was landing her forces. She's using the Chinese Navy to do this...but you see..we have our own naval power..and well you see..we managed to give her a hard time. Now..she thinks she beat our navy, and she's sent another troop convoy along towards the beaches. But we're going to hit her again. Now the word is that you can heal these soldiers..."
"That is correct," Neo-Pluto said.
"I propose ..that we use her own forces against her...you see if we can hit her forces on the beach now..and turn them to our side..when she sends in her next fleet..we'll be waiting with a force to stop her..." Nagumo said.
"You don't seem interested in deploying your own troops," Neo-Pluto said.
"No I don't, why use mine when I can use hers?" Nagumo said.
"General, won't the Chinese have trouble fighting their own people?" Jupiter asked.
"Rifles can stun as well as kill nowadays, you know that. I don't think the Chinese would object to stunning their people if we promised to heal them," Nagumo said.
"But General..you say you attacked the Chinese Navy, did you sink some of their ships?" Pluto asked.
"Yes we did, it was unfortunate, but necessary," Nagumo said.
"Are you sure?" Jupiter asked.
"I have served in the military for thirty years, I know what's necessary and what isn't," Nagumo added with an edge.
"General the merits or detriments of any of your past decisions are of no interest to me," Neo-Pluto said. "Or them.." he added. "We are here to stop Nehelenia."
"Yes you are," Nagumo said. "And now..you're going to have the opportunity."
Several hours later they were crouched behind a hill with a long line of Australian troops.
Nagumo was staring at a handheld view screen that showed him the Chinese troops entrenched on the shore waiting for reinforcements.
"If they don't know we're here, why did they entrench so early?" Neo-Pluto asked. "Why not move in and entrench..their backs are too close the water."
"They know we're here apparently," Nagumo said. "But I'm not about to expose my troops to fire..now there are ninety thousand of them there...we suspect twice that is on the way..now the navy's goal is to delay those forces not sink them until we can get this bunch."
"General..if they have twice as many, won't you be outnumbered?" Jupiter asked.
"We'll be entrenched on this hill and they'll be coming ashore harassed by our navy. The odds we'll be even, and with you around, I think we'll come out on top and if worse comes to worse I'll throw my forces into the mix, but they're going to do their share of fighting right now. Do you three understand what you're going to do?" Nagumo said.
"We're going to hit them with our attacks and then lay down cover, while you're troops move in. We'll stay back here and bombard them.."Neo-Pluto said.
"That about sums it up. Ready whenever you are," Nagumo said.
The three scouts looked at each other and then moved to look over the hill.
"Jupiter..you lead off..use the big guns," Neo-Pluto said.
"Right..Jupiter.....Oak......Evolution....Forward!" Jupiter shouted. Her attack flew through the air and smashed right into a wall of entrenchments blowing it apart.
"Pluto Storm Fist Punch!" Pluto shouted and blasted apart another group of entrenchments.
"Pluto.......Wasteland!" Neo-Pluto shouted building up his strength, an attack similar to Sailor Uranus attack blasted along the ground and blew apart a substantial part of the line.
"New attack?" Pluto asked.
"Something you have to look forward too.." Neo-Pluto muttered.
"How long are we supposed to keep this up?" Jupiter asked.
"As long as we have to.." Neo-Pluto said.
"Pluto Storm Fist Punch!" Pluto shouted again, and blasted another group.
"There are ninety thousand people though..this could take days," Jupiter said. "And we can only go so long."
"Worry about that later," Neo-Pluto said. "Pluto Wasteland!"
The attack continued. The Chinese troops were opening fire with various
weapons, but they had little effect. It was just a shelling.
A day went by. Nehelenia's army held their ground while the scout renewed their bombardment.
"Nagumo..have you thought about using your troops at all?" Pluto muttered.
"You're doing okay, Nehelenia's forces won't arrive for another sixteen hours..maybe more depending on how my delaying tactics work," Nagumo said.
"Ehh.." Pluto said.
"You know what.." Jupiter said.
"What?" Pluto asked.
"They're about to charge us."
"She's right," Neo-Pluto said. The Chinese were moving out of their lines.
"I guess that's what I'd do," Nagumo said. "All right troops! Make ready!"
The line formed up at the top of the hill.
"I expected this.." Neo-Pluto said. "Now I'll give them another surprise..my all new attack."
"You've been holding out?" Jupiter said.
"Yes...for the right time, as their bunched up and surging towards us, this may just add the necessary confusion...Pluto.......Shock Ram!"
The attack flew out from and literally tore a hole in the lines, knocking
down at least a thousand troops. The enemy scrambled to form up again, as
Nagumo's forces opened fire hitting a group of them. They charged anyway..and a
melee ensued.
A day later, Nagumo and the scouts had won. They healed the Chinese troops and the forces we're waiting as all their troops were entrenched on the beach, waiting. Troop transports soon appeared escorted by other ships and they moved towards the beach. The troops on the line all tensed. The troop transports moved towards the land and stopped. Wave after wave of troop surged out of it and raced at them.
"Here they come!" Nagumo shouted.
And the next battle began.
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