Chapter 195

"Excellent," Patterson said staring at his computer screen. "It's just as I expected."

He typed a few more commands into his computer.

"Not that it means as much as I'd like it to. Just what is going on here anyway?"

The door buzzed. It was Amy of course. He opened the door.

"Anything new?" she asked.

"Plenty. Just not much that help's much."

"Oh..." Amy said. "Too bad..I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"I'm getting sick of trying."

"Guess I don't blame you for that. You hate this don't you?"

"What?"

"Not knowing the answer."

"It is disturbing."

"It happens. D.V. I'm going to be gone for a couple of hours, an old friend of mine is about to leave for Germany, and I'm going to see her off."

Patterson nodded.

"She's been accepted into that program I was in."

"Oh..that one.." Patterson said.

"Can I ask you something?"

Patterson nodded.

"Do you think I should have gone?"

"If you had your friends may not have survived."

"I know that..but I could have caught another flight afterwards."

"Amy...I can't speak for anyone..."

"I'm asking you to guess."

"I can't."

"You never change."

"I try not to," Patterson said.

"I made the right decision," Amy said.

"I didn't doubt it."

"No you didn't...I'll see you later."

Patterson nodded.

Rick slowly climbed the steps of Raye's temple.

I've waited long enough. He thought.

He reached the top. Raye was standing there facing him with a stern pose.

"Oh..uh..hey..Raye.." Rick said.

"Looks like we need to talk," Raye said.

"Uh..right.." Rick said intimidated.

Jeez..the intimidating thing worked, but I've been standing like that for hours. Raye thought to herself. Probably not the best use of my time. No..definitely not the best use of my time.

"Raye..I..didn't mean..." Rick began.

"No..it's alright..I can understand," Raye said. "To be honest there have been times when I've felt a little stagnant myself."

"I knew that," Rick said.

"What?"

"I have ways of telling," Rick said.

"You do not."

"Then how did I know?"

Raye glanced at him.

"Enough of that, are you back here to make up for sure?"

"Yep," Rick said. "I've learned my lesson."

"Good," Raye said and pounced.

"Wha...this is awkward."

"Well we haven't had a good kiss in a while," Raye said.

"Oh...fair enough," Rick said.

"What? A third one?" Patterson said to himself staring at a camera view. "Jeez..this is getting complex...I need to learn more about what I'm facing here. It's seen my camera.."

Patterson said and quickly pressed a button.

"Gotta follow it personally," he muttered and picked up his phone and dialed.

"Uncle...or former uncle...ahem..I need a helicopter....of course...yes, I'm getting closer fine..then.."

He stood up and pulled out his power item again.

"Maverick Power," he muttered.

Greg meanwhile was relaxing in his room, or at least trying to relax.

"This is stressful, the custody hearing's tomorrow," he said to himself. "It could go either way."

Even though my father did sort of spaz out, I can't blame him, I have been away awhile and after all that's happened in the past. Well I can't go with my mother, not now. She doesn't even live in Tokyo, she wouldn't understand. I just have to hope that the judge is understanding, like the one that saw over Amy and D.V.'s case..now that would be good..but even if I got him, it might not help..oh...I wish I didn't have to deal with this right now. I just want to be with my friends.

He sighed.

"I really should be doing something, I don't know what..but something."

He felt his communicator go off. He acknowledged it.

Maverick's face appeared.

"Greg..hey..sorry to bother you..I really I am.."

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"Fraid so..there are three robots, and I need someone else to track down the third."

"Oh...I.."

"Amy's out on personal business, and the others are so torn up..not that you aren't I just uh.."

"Say no more..I'm on it," Greg said. "How will I find it?"

"I've got one of my cameras on the way.. It will lead you to it. I'm sorry to have to involve you right now."

"Trust me D.V. I could use the distraction."

Patterson nodded grimly.

"So what exactly will I be doing?"

"Tracking down Saki Urazaki, a known felon, he's the next target."

"You sure?" Greg asked.

"Pretty sure.." Maverick said.

"Any idea why all this is going on?"

"That...is what I hope to find out today," Maverick said. "I've got to head after the second robot wherever it is...it already detected my camera, so I have to do a long range scan from now on."

"Are you sure there's three.."

"I doubt the outer scouts would let the first one get away from them."

" "it is possible though."

"True."

Mike actually found himself depressed as he walked down the street.

That's just great. I'm so annoying to be with, Mina decided to find another guy to hang out with. She didn't have the decency to dump me first. What was she thinking? I mean I wouldn't have liked getting dumped, but I could at least accept it, does this mean she still liked me but couldn't make up her mind? It doesn't matter, she cheated on me..how wrong. She's just lucky I don't know where she is, and that I don't want to cause a scene at her house or I would...she doesn't want to know what I would do....

He began to cackle incessantly before rounding a corner and bumping into someone. He fell to the ground, as did the person he collided with.

"Sorry..I.." he said before realizing that surprise surprise..it was Mina herself.

"Oh..it's you!" Mike shouted.

"Mike..I..please.."

"No..no...don't bother," Mike said.

Wait a minute. He thought, I found her, aren't I supposed to do to her what I was cackling about. What was that I was going to do. I never got that thought. Oh..right..because that was just your imagination getting the best of you. Right...I think..but wait..I can't just let her go...You're right. How am I having a conversation anyway. I'm just one person. Well..you are aren't you?

"Weird," he said to himself and then noticed Mina was gone.

"Wha..where'd she go?" he said and whirled. She was running away down the street.

"How do you like that, sneaking off..." Mike said.

Well that was probably the smartest thing to do...if I were her.. He thought. Oh you would would ya? Hey..enough of that. What?

"Don't start this again!" he shouted. "Wait..I got it!" He jumped into some nearby bushes.

Mina meanwhile was trying to get away as fast as possible.

I had hoped I could apologize...but it doesn't seem like he wants to hear it. I don't blame him...I'm probably just doing it to get rid of my own guilt. I don't even know if I wouldn't do this all again, if I had to..uh..do it over again. Still...maybe me and him should talk. But how?

"Yahh!" came a shout.

Mina stepped back. Guardian Neptune stood in front of her his sword drawn.

"Hah..all you could do is make me feel bad," Neptune said. "But I'm gonna cut you up.."

"You can't be serious," Mina said.

"Watch me," Neptune said.

I'm just going to scare her. He thought and fired a blast past her head. Way passed her head. It hit a fire hydrant and started spraying water.

"Just a warning shot!" He shouted and advanced. Mina screamed and took off at a run the other way.

"Hah hah...the hunt begins, for such love transgressions I will not forgive you!" he shouted.

"Spare me the speeches!" Mina shouted.

"Hah not on your life!" Neptune shouted. "Defender of those who do not like two-timers, I am the spirit of uh..what I just said I was!"

Mina growled and dashed into a side alley.

"Hah..prepare to face my wrath Mina-San!" Neptune shouted and rounded the corner. Sailor Venus, just transformed, stood waiting for him.

"Neptune..I'm only going to beat you senseless for my own self defense," Venus said.

"Try me.." Guardian Neptune said facing her.

"You're kidding."

"No..I'm game..." Neptune said and fired another shot by her.

"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"

Neptune avoided it and charged forward. Venus leapt out of the way in surprise.

"My anger makes me stronger," Neptune said.

"Ehh.." Venus said dodged another of Neptune's sword blasts.

This could be harder then I thought. She thought to herself.

Neptune renewed his attack.

"I'm glad to see you back..Rick..I was wondering when you wouldn't be scared anymore," Raye said.

"I still was," Rick said.

"Oh? Why? Do you really think I'm that unreasonable?"

"Raye...you can be a bit of a hot head, but at least I understand why you would be in this case."

"I'm not that much of a hot head."

"Sure you are..but I don't mind," Rick said.

"Oh.." Raye said. "When did you get arrogant?"

"I'm not being arrogant."

"You aren't?" Raye said. "So you really think I'm a hothead," She said with annoyance.

"Go ahead..prove me right," Rick said with a grin. Raye growled and then stopped.

"Oh...uh...I see.." she said and started laughing.

"What do you say I take you to your favorite restaurant, and we can talk," Rick said.

"Sure.." Raye said. "But Rick, I don't want you to pay for me."

"Fine.." Rick said quickly.

"You're not supposed to agree that easily," Raye said.

"Too late," Rick said with a grin.

Soon the two of them were laughing hysterically.

Guardian Saturn carefully made his away across several rooftops.

"Maverick I'm following your camera, but where am I going?" He asked into the communicator.

"That depends on where Urazaki is," Maverick replied.

"But what can I do if he's attacked."

"Nothing, but you're not supposed to, I just want to see if my hypothesis is correct, I'm beginning to suspect there's more then one of these things around here. The robot will zap him and then disappear expect."

"Well maybe that's true, and you're trailing another one?"

"Yes, and the outer scouts have a third...."

"Uh...Maverick.." Saturn said stopping suddenly.

"What?"

"It's here."

"Here?"

"Standing in front of me."

There it was a robot facing him down on an opposite rooftop.

"Get out of there Saturn! I'll get back there as fast as I can," Maverick said urgently. "Call the others so they can hone in on your position."

"Right..right," Saturn said and leapt off the building avoiding a laser blast.

"All scouts..this is Saturn I've got a robot after me!" he said and left his communicator to broadcast that openly. Any scout who opened their communicator would know what was happening without him having to answer.

The robot leapt off the building and raced after him. Saturn leapt away firing a blast with his sword as he did. The robot fired back. Both missed.

A good minute later. Sailor Mercury leapt up to police car in the parking lot of New Tokyo International Airport.

"There's an emergency you need to get me to Tokyo," She said.

The cop nodded.

"You got it," he said and the two were racing towards the city.

Maverick meanwhile was racing back to the city on board an SDF helicopter.

Venus, Neptune, Mars and Uranus are the only ones left. They can get there faster I hope they do...if that robot's chasing him...this could get ugly.

His eyes narrowed.

Venus leapt off another building and avoided the sword blast Neptune had fired at her.

"The communicator's going off you imbecile can't we settle this later!" Venus shouted.

"Uh..I don't know! I've never been a villian before!" Neptune shouted

"Sure you have! Remember jade corp!"

"Oh..that....would I have stopped then?"

"No! But you're not evil you idiot! Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"

The attack hit him dead on and knocked him to the ground. He lay there without moving.

"What...I didn't hit him that hard, just enough to knock some sense into him," Venus said moving towards him.

Neptune stood up and blasted her with his sword. She his the ground hard and winced.

"Now..we're all square.." he muttered. "Come on.."

"You idiot, weakening us before a battle!" Venus shouted and slapped him. She then pulled out a communicator and played the message.

"Aw...geez...he's fighting a robot..now see what you've done!" Venus shouted.

"Don't blame this on me! You two timer!" Neptune said.

"Well fight over this later!" Venus shouted and leapt up onto a building and then off in the direction of the message.

"She's right...what am I thinking," Neptune said and leapt after her.

"Is that the communicator," Rick said.

"Let the others handle it Rick, they'll call us again if it gets worse," Raye said.

"But maybe we should go..."

"Rick..listen..we've got the blue team out there, they'll know how to handle it. I'm sick of running off like this every time there's trouble. If they absolutely need our help they'll call us personally."

"Uh..yeah..but..this is different," Rick said.

"So I'm taking a bit of a risk, but the others can handle it."

"You don't..."

Raye glared at him.

"Do you want to go running off to fight them instead of being here with me?"

"No.."

"Then stop being so persistent, we never lose."

"Yeah..I guess."

"Destiny you know...we're fine."

"Right.."

Guardian Saturn meanwhile dived out of the way of the robots attack and spun around firing off a barrage. The robot absorbed it and kept coming. Saturn leapt up into the air and landed on a roof. The robot followed. Saturn leapt onto another roof, but he turned as the sound of a large crash. He looked, the robot had just blasted apart the front of a large building causing it to crumble into the street. Saturn whirled. The robot stared at him and fired another blast at another building.

He's going to do damage if I don't go back and fight him. Saturn realized.

"Guess I gotta go," he said and jumped back to face the robot.

"Wise choice," The robot said. "And now I shall destroy you."

"I won't let that happen," Saturn said and fired off another sword blast. The robot absorbed it and fired back. Saturn dived out of the way, but the robot was finding it easy to target him. Saturn barely avoided a second shot.

I can't fight him alone. Saturn learned as a third blast carried him towards the roof's edge. He grimaced.

"Stand up..." the robot said. "It enhances my victory if I don't have to fire on a down soldier."

"Wow..honor.." Saturn saracastically standing up and quickly firing his sword. The robot took it and fired back. Saturn jumped away. The robot lunged forward and punched sending Saturn towards the roofs edge again, he began to fall over, but pushed off with his foot and leapt towards a lower roof, he landed awkwardly and fell. The robot leapt off the roof and landed nearby.

"Now I have little time for honor anymore," the robot said. "You refuse to submit!"

It fired on Saturn who barely avoided the attack. The robot raced forward again.

"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!" Saturn shouted. The attack flew into the robot as it hit him. Saturn was punched, he flew off the roof and hit the ground. He fell one story before grabbing a ledge, and then slipping falling another story and hitting. The robot slowed slightly.

That had a larger effect then I expected, I must end this quickly.

It leapt to the ground and perfected it's aim on Saturn's head, not wasting any time,but making sure he could finish this with one shot. Saturn rolled forward and leapt bouncing off the robot and over him facing him down. Cars skidded to a stop in the street and people ran away quickly as the two faced each other. The robot fired again. Saturn avoided it as long as he could, eventually another barrage hit him and he was thrown into a hastily stopped car. He bounced off the side and hit the ground wincing. The robot fired again blowing apart the car and sending Saturn flying with the impact. He crashed to the ground lay motionless.

"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"

A golden sword blast also flew through the air and hit the robot.

"More of them...I cannot use up any more of my energy reserves," the robot said and dropped into the sewer to make his escape.

Venus and Neptune dropped to the ground.

"Aw..geez..Saturn.." Neptune said and hurried to his friend's side.

Saturn opened his eyes.

"Is it gone?" he asked weakly.

"Yeah..." Neptune said.

"Good...I'll be fine.." Saturn said.

"Venus...call an ambulance.." Neptune said.

Venus nodded quickly and went to do it. Neptune carefully pulled Saturn into an alley.

"Come on..Saturn.turn back into a human so they won't figure this out."