Chapter 208
The sun rose slowly and covered the Anderson-Patterson-Thomson house with the sunlight. It filtered in the window of Amy's room. She woke up and looked out the windows to see some birds chirping on a tree nearby.
"Hello," she said and headed off to take a bath. As expected, Patterson and Greg weren't around. They liked to give her the house to herself at this hour and were probably down in the war room working at something.
She finished the bath and headed downstairs in her uniform and to her dining
room table. She but a few pieces of toast in the toaster and waited.
Meanwhile in the basement. Patterson was rapidly typing away at his computer. Camera shots of various enemies were appearing. Greg was watching.
"Where do you think these goddesses came from anyway?" Greg asked.
"No idea," Patterson said.
"Hmm..and plus Queen Nehelenia is somewhere..that just adds to the fun.." Greg said. "That's kinda what worries me. And we still don't know how she broke out of her prison."
"Sailor Pluto says she couldn't have escaped without big time help, but as yet that help hasn't shown up, so we can't worry about it."
"Let's hope we never have to meet it," Greg said.
"Bet you we will," Patterson muttered.
"Yeah..well..Amy we'll probably be leaving for her test soon, I'm going to walk with her. You've still got that doctor's appointment?"
"Unfortunately, I winced at the wrong time, my uncle saw it."
"So you're hurt?"
"I never said that," Patterson said.
"Hmm..so how'd he get you to go."
"Picture me going voluntarily or having the third division taking me in..I chose the former."
"What? Afraid of an entire army division. You're slipping," Greg said and walked out.
Well I do have some back pain...but the pain killers they'll give
me...oh..boy this'll stink.
"Oh hey Amy, you got some mail," Greg said appearing by her open door.
"Oh..thanks,"Amy said taking it.
She looked through the envelopes until she came to a white envelope with a large pink heart attached to it.
"Wha...a love...letter!" Amy shouted.
"Amy?" Greg asked.
Amy let out a massive screech.
"What's going on?" Patterson said hurriedly appearing in the doorway.
"Uh..Amy got a love letter," Greg said.
"Oh.." Patterson said.
"Uh..yeah.." Greg said.
The two guys stared at their sister standing in a stupor at the note, embarrassment flush on her face.
"What do you think is causing her to do that?" Greg asked.
"There must be some logical explanation," Patterson said.
"Greg...can you please read this to me," Amy said handing him the letter.
"Uh..is that the right way to do it?"
"Greg," Amy snapped.
"Uh..okay...to my dearest Amy, or should I say Mercury, there's only one girl capable of matching my scores on the school wide exam..that must be you. I hope we can get together some time. Mercurius," Greg said. "He said Mercury..does he think?"
"No Greg..remember, for the school wide exams we choose a name to represent us," Patterson said.
"Oh..right..that explains it," Greg said.
"Mercurius. He's the one who's been tying all of my top scores," Amy said.
"And now he wants to meet you. I don't know..this seems a little fishy," Greg said.
"I wonder what he's like," Amy said. "Of course...maybe this is all a trick."
"Trick?" her two brothers asked.
"To throw my concentration off...he knew a love letter like this would affect me."
"How, I didn't even know that."
"Good question, but it doesn't matter, I will defeat him."
"Defeat.him?" the two asked.
An hour later.
"Okay..Mr. Patterson..this shouldn't take much longer," the Doctor said.
"It had better not," D.V. said.
"I'll just check on the test results."
"Calm down D.V. You want to get rid of that back pain don't you?" General Patterson muttered.
"My Maverick metabolism allows me to heal much more quickly. This should be gone in a day."
"How'd it happen anyway."
"Fell seven stories onto a roof during our last battle nothing major," Patterson said.
"You're back could be broken for all you know..it could just be your metabolism keeping you out of trouble."
"Well.." the doctor said walking in. "You've got a big bruise there. You should rest it for a week or so. Of course I'm interested why you aren't in any more pain then you are now."
"Why?"
"Well...to be perfectly honest...most of my patients can't even walk when hurt this bad."
"I try to keep in shape," Patterson said.
"Well try not to for the next week, you could injure it some more. Now..we're going to give you something the pain right now..then we'll give you some prescriptions," the Doctor said.
"I really don't think pain killers are necessary doctor, they cost too much anyway," Patterson said.
"Don't listen to him doc, I'm paying the bills, work him up," Colonel Patterson said.
"You know what it will do to me," Patterson said nervously.
"So what..you need them.."
"You just want to enjoy watching."
"Maybe a little."
And at the restaurant.
"So let me get this straight, you got a love letter?" Mina muttered.
"Yes," Amy said.
"And I didn't," Mina said.
"I guess," Amy said.
"What have you got that I don't!" Mina said.
"Well it must be something doesn't it?" Raye asked sarcastically.
"Ehh.." Mina sighed.
"Well it's good to hear Amy," Lita said.
"I don't know about that. I wish I knew what he looked like and more about him. He's very direct," Amy said.
"I'm sure we can find out," Serena said. The other three grinned.
"No, please don't...I'm still not sure if this isn't just a plot for him to gain top honors," Amy said. "I don't even want to think about who he is until the national scholastic exams are over. I have to beat him first."
"Beat him?" Lita asked.
"Why do you need to beat anyone?" Raye asked.
"Well..he's issued a challenge hasn't he? Someone thinks they can compete with the best student in the city of Tokyo. I have to prove him wrong," Amy said with determination.
"This is the same guy sending you love letters isn't it?" Mina asked.
"I told you that doesn't matter right now. What does is that I succeed," Amy said.
"Don't you think you're taking this a bit too seriously?" Serena asked.
"Maybe," Amy said. "But don't you see..we're running neck and neck. Just one wrong answer could put me behind him," she said reading the a national scholastic test magazine. She raised her eyes. Her glasses glazed over.
"That can't happen," she said.
"Oo...kay..." the other four said.
"So.why are we headed to the APT house anyway?" Rick asked.
"Because this is perfect. First of all...someone sent Amy a love letter, if we get the big details first, we can sell them to Melvin," Mike said.
"Well don't the girls know everything by now anyway?" Steve said.
"Yeah, but they have no profit motive," Mike said. "But second, it's also important to remember that Patterson has been given a dose of pain killers."
"That is worth it," Steve said.
"Oh yeah..we know what happens when he gets those in him," Rick said.
"Hey there's Greg up ahead there," Steve said. The three hurried up to Greg who was walking along the street slowly.
"Gentlemen," Greg said.
"Uh..hey Greg, what's up?" Mike said.
"The sky, the moon..well relatively, birds usually..." Greg said.
"Good point," Mike said.
"Amy received a love letter today," Greg said.
"We know," Steve said.
"I must find this Mercurius," Greg said. His eyes narrowed.
"Why?" Rick asked.
"He has expressed interest in my half sister, it is my duty to find him," Greg said.
"Uh..maybe..Greg you feeling okay?" Steve asked.
"I'm sure he is feeling," came a voice from above them. Patterson dropped out of a tree. The three guys stepped back in surprise.
"Greg..we know what our mission must be," Patterson said.
"Yes, we must find this Mercurius, it is our destiny," Greg said.
"You understand. Let us go," Patterson said.
"Wait a minute! Hold it! Time out!" Mike shouted.
"What is it?" Patterson said.
"Greg isn't himself, and neither are you..those pain killers must be doing a job," Mike said.
"The pain killers are affecting me adversely, but I have a duty to perform," Patterson said.
"Amy must not fall in love with the wrong person, I must make sure of that," Greg said clenching his fist.
"Maybe you should leave this to the girls," Rick said. "You know, Amy's best friends. You two seem a bit erratic."
"The girls huh?" Patterson said. "Talk about erratic. Half the time Serena is the fearless leader of the Sailor Scouts, the other half, she's a living blonde joke."
"Uh oh," the three said.
"Wait..this is good stuff.." Mike said. "Now we hear the truth."
"I don't think I want to," Rick said.
"Don't get me started about the others," Patterson said.
'Get him started, get him started," Steve said.
"Okay, Patterson..what about the others?" Mike asked.
"HAH! Not today!" Patterson said and turned away. "Come Greg, there is work to be done!"
"I'm right behind you," Greg said and the two ran down the street.
"They've both gone completely nuts," Steve said.
"It is our duty to record their actions for historical purposes," Mike said.
"Never mind that, let's go," Rick said.
"Amy..you seem..to be acting strangely," Raye said.
"I'm fine, just competitive," Amy said.
"Yeah, but I've never seen you this competitive. Who are you trying to please?"
"Please? Only myself."
"Doesn't seem like it. Since when has being on top of this standardized test meant the absolute most to you?"
"It always has..Mercurius, cannot defeat me. How could I ever be right for him if he did."
"What?"
"I meant..oh..never mind what I meant! I have to study!" Amy said and hurried off. "There's a review session tonight."
Raye pulled out her communicator.
"Guys, this is Raye, and Amy's acting so strangely I can only give you one guess as to why."
"Which is?" Serena asked.
"She's in love," Raye said.
Melvin was surprised when his door was kicked open and Greg and Patterson stood there.
"Did you have to do that? It was open," Melvin said.
"It was necessary.." Patterson said.
"It has a needed effect," Greg said.
"Who's Mercurius?" Patterson said.
"Oh..I see..you are looking for information gentlemen," Melvin said and sat down in his chair and leaned back.
"You are fortunate, I have such information.." Melvin said.
"Well.." Greg said.
"Ah..but information comes with a price," Melvin said.
"Of course it does," Patterson said. "Either you give us the information..or you'll pay for it."
"Ahh..good point," Melvin said. "Okay, here's the guy you're looking for..."
That night Amy was sitting in the review session for the national scholastic examination. The National Scholastic Exam was taken by top high school students across the country to see just who was the best. It was a prestigious honor to finish in the top ten. To be the top student was the greatest prize. The site of the review session was in a very old traditional school, and an instructor was going on about an equation. Amy sighed.
I feel tired all of the sudden I wonder why. Maybe it's the stress...but I'll succeed.
She promptly fell asleep. She had no idea that someone was watching her
through the window.
When she woke up the review session was almost over.
I slept through it. I shouldn't have done that. Now I may not do as well. I have to go home and study some more. She thought. I'll study all night if I have to.
When the session got out, she walked out the door and began to run, but after only a few feet she slowed.
"So tired," She said.
Meanwhile, at the APT house, Patterson, Greg, and the three guys were sitting around the dinner table sharing a bucket of chicken wings. The five were all laughing.
"So...Patterson..do you think Lita has a psychosis or something?" Steve asked.
"Good question," Patterson said. "I will say though that you don't become fixated on a jerk like that Matthew guy without some sort of complex."
The group laughed.
"So..Patterson...do you think Mina will ever stop two timing?" Mike asked.
"Oh sure...but at that point she'll also be taking her teeth out every time she goes to sleep," Patterson said.
The group laughed.
"Okay..Patterson..tell the truth...what's the most embarrassing thing you've ever seen happen to Raye," Rick said.
"Hmm...I don't think I should go there," Patterson said.
"Why?"
"It's not pretty," Patterson said.
"Say..Greg..you feeling better?" Mike asked.
"Not quite, but even my quest needs a break. I now know the identity of Mercurius, but we have yet to prove his worthiness..Patterson! We should go!"
"Hm..you're right. Enough dallying...I'll just follow my nose!" Patterson said and jumping up.
"This kind of stuff is a once in a lifetime sort of thing," Mike said.
"It ain't over yet," Steve said.
"Patterson's more interesting when he's doped up,:" Rick observed, and the five hurried out the door. Amy stumbled in minutes later.
"So tired..I have to study though," Amy said and walked upstairs.
Meanwhile, the five guys were running down the street and jumping over any obstacle they found.
"Where are we going anyway?" Mike asked.
"You shall see," Greg said.
"It's kinda dark isn't it?" Steve asked.
"Let all the world be in love with night and pay no tribute to the garrish sun," Patterson said.
"Why?" Rick asked.
"Next question!" Patterson said.
The three started laughing.
"There it is," Greg said. The five skidded to a stop in front of a house.
"And now we visit Mercurius," Greg said.
"You sure?" Patterson asked.
"He's not completely gone," Rick said.
"Yes..come all of you," Greg said and walked up to the door. He knocked. A teenage boy answered the door.
"Are you Urawa Ryo?" Greg asked.
"Uh..yeah.." Urawa replied.
"I'm Greg Thomson, these are my associates, D.V. Patterson, Rick Fujimori, Mike Leslie, and Steve Carlin."
The other four just nodded.
"Yeah?" Urawa asked.
"You're Mercurius aren't you?" Greg asked.
"How'd you find that out?" Urawa asked.
"We have our methods," Patterson said.
"Well can I ask what business it is of all of you?" Urawa asked.
"Actually it's none of ours," Rick said. He, Mike, and Steve backed off.
"But it is mine. Amy's my half sister," Greg said.
"I know..but what right does it give you to track me down?" Urawa asked.
"Well she was wondering who you were," Patterson said.
"Really? She's interested?" Urawa asked in surprise.
"In some way we think so," Greg said.
"Oh..then come in, come in," Urawa said.
"We're involved," Mike said and the three guys hurried back in.
Amy meanwhile was working up in her room surrounded by books.
"Yes, Mercurius, I will beat you at your own game, and then I will prove my worthiness, you will then have no doubt that I am the right one for you," Amy said.
"So that's what this all about," came a voice. Amy whirled. Standing there was a woman in a strange pink outfit.
"Greetings Amy Anderson, the Goddess of Love and you're in my power now..."
"What? No..." Amy said.
"Yep," the goddess said. Amy collapsed to the ground.
"You have some very odd habits when it comes to love, but it was still love,
I can guarantee that, and now you're energy will be all mine."
"You see...I've had my eye on Amy for a while. But she was occupied. So, in the meantime I kept doing my best in the hope that one day, I might get my opportunity..and then well you two...became disqualified so to speak from being her romance," Urawa said. "By the way...are you two all right?"
"WE ARE FINE," Greg and Patterson shouted.
"I see," Urawa said.
"So...why didn't you tell her who you were?" Rick asked.
"Oh..well..I wanted to see if she was interested first, then I'd make a move," Urawa said. "She is interested?"
"We think so, but Urawa..she's kinda the mirror image of these two in a different way," Mike said.
"Yes, completely off the deep end, she believes she has to beat you in those exams or something...we don't know why..but.." Rick began. The doorbell rang. Urawa got up and opened it, there stood Serena, Mina, Lita, and Raye.
"Hello," the four said in unison.
"This place is really filling up," Urawa said.
"How so?" the four asked.
"Hi ya," Mike said as the five guys popped out from behind Urawa.
The next morning Amy lay in bed...surrounded by energy draining love letters. The goddess stood over her. watching the energy drain away and grinning.
"All that love you felt, is mine," the goddess said.
"You'll pay for this..love is not to be messed with.." Amy struggled to say.
"Well no one's going to find out until it's too late. Those two guys who live with you think you need your rest for the exams," the goddess said. "They won't even check on you."
Amy fell unconscious.
The door swung open and there stood Guardian Saturn and Maverick, they fired their energy swords and blasted the goddess love. She was blasted through the window. Maverick leapt after her. Saturn hurried to check on Amy.
"How did you?" the goddess said.
"Doesn't matter," Maverick said. "How dare you toy with a girls emotions like that. On behalf of well..me..I will punish you!" he shouted and stabbed his swords at her.
"You felling okay Maverick..you're not yourself!" the goddess shouted and blasted him back through the window and out into the hall. Saturn turned and fired his sword. The goddess of love blasted him. The two quickly jumped back through the window and fired their swords. She blasted Saturn into a wall. Maverick cut at her arm. She shouted and blasted him. The two hit the ground hard.
"Ah...they've hurt me more than I expected," she gasped. "I have to get that girl's energy."
"Not likely," came a voice. The goddess looked in shock to see Sailor Mercury standing in the window.
"What?"
Two energy blasts hit her and knocked her into a tree. Saturn and Maverick stood back up.
"Time to teach you a lesson love goddess, Mercury....Aqua......Rhapsody!" Mercury shouted and launched her attack. It smashed into the goddess and blew her apart.
"Well..that did the trick," Maverick said.
Mercury fell back with exhaustion. The two leapt up to her.
That evening, Amy, Patterson, and Greg were climbing the steps of Raye's temple.
"So you've found Mercurius?" Amy asked.
"Yep, nice guy...he's waiting to meet you up at the temple," Greg said.
"With everyone else no doubt," Amy said.
"Fraid so," Greg said.
"Patterson. You haven't said much," Amy said.
"No I haven't," Patterson agreed.
"He's embarrassed about yesterday, don't ask," Greg said.
"You should be too," Patterson said at Greg as they reached the top.
"Oh well..thank you two..I may be in love with Mercurius, at least right now...but you know that you two are my first loves, my guardian angels," Amy said and gave them both a kiss on the cheek before turning to walk inside the temple.
"We're family," Greg said. "Should that kind of kiss make you feel embarrassed?"
"Sure," Patterson said and the two both feinted.
Amy turned back and grinned.
CHAPTER 201 CHAPTER 202 CHAPTER 203 CHAPTER 204 CHAPTER 205
CHAPTER 206 CHAPTER 207 CHAPTER 208 CHAPTER 209 CHAPTER 210
CHAPTER 211 CHAPTER 212 CHAPTER 213 CHAPTER 214 CHAPTER 215
CHAPTER 216 CHAPTER 217 CHAPTER 218 CHAPTER 219 CHAPTER 220
CHAPTER 221 CHAPTER 222 CHAPTER 223 CHAPTER 224 CHAPTER 225