Chapter 228
Queen Nehelenia stood at the goddess.
"You're running out of selves aren't you?" she asked.
"It is true, we are running low on the ability to create ourselves," the goddess said. "What is your point?"
"I want energy."
"I thought I made it clear....."
"Don't be foolish. Just some. The same amount that two of yours would use to attack."
"I don't know, will you not be defeated all the same?"
"Not necessarily," Nehelenia said. "I am quite resourceful."
"Those resources were supposed to be devoted to our use."
"And they still will be,"Nehelenia said.
"Hmm...interesting."
"I may not be able to beat them all, but I will damage, and pave the way for you to sweep to victory, with me still around to watch the end of course."
"Hmm..very well..we will give you the energy you request."
"Thank you," Nehelenia said with a grin.
"Mina..how many times do I have to apologize?" Raye said.
"I haven't decided yet," Mina said.
"Now you're just being difficult," Raye said.
"You should talk," Mina said.
"Don't bring that all up again. I may be a jerk myself sometimes, but I don't regret having a first impression."
"So what?" Mina said. "Rather then say..oh gee..Mina's deluding herself, I'd better see if I can help, you just watch daring me to try n the hope that you can criticize me later."
"It's not like that," Raye said.
"Sometimes I think it is."
"We both have to accept that we judge each other wrongly sometimes."
"I thought I had you judged pretty well," Mina said.
"Mina..I'm reaching out to you," Raye said.
"Keep reaching.." Mina said and kept going. Raye just stared at her.
What is going on with her? She thought to herself.
"So..what'd you think of the aquarium?" Ken asked.
"It was very nice," Lita said. "The big fish are so interesting to watch. There's a power to them."
Ken nodded.
"See? This is all working out," Lita said.
"You were as concerned as I was," Ken said.
"Hmm..I guess I was," Lita said. "But we both can see now that things are working well."
"Yeah..I agree. I mean we both share some interests, and enjoy each other's company. There doesn't seem to be a problem."
"I agree, we get along very smoothly," Lita said. "Once we worked the bugs out."
Ken nodded.
"To be honest, I've always wondered in the back of my head what this would be like."
"Ever since the day at the gazebo?" Lita asked.
"No..then I was just trying to help out someone in need. The thought didn't cross my mind until we became friends."
"Oh..uh..same here," Lita said.
Ken glanced at her.
"All right, since the night in gazebo," she said.
"I consider that a compliment since you should have been angry at any guy you saw."
"That's a typical reaction, but I was glad to see anyone who could help me, and you did. So how many girls have you come to the rescue for?"
"You were the first and last."
"Oh..why me? I mean..I'm just curious."
"I don't know," Ken said. "It just happened that way."
"That's as good a reason as any," Lita said. "You know I haven't meditated in weeks."
"I'm sorry..I shouldn't have distracted you."
"It's all right, I can pick it back up at some point."
"Isn't that a little hard? Don't you have to start over or something."
"I don't know," Lita said. "I'll figure it out. Right now I want to be with you."
"Oh..uh..okay," Ken said.
"Let me cook you dinner tonight."
"Wha..I mean..uh..why?"
"Why not?" Lita asked.
"Uh.sure I guess..it's just weird," Ken said.
"Why?"
"You just surprised me that's all," Ken said.
"Sorry...I'll whip you up a dish that will make you had two mouths so you could enjoy it twice as much," Lita said enthusiastically.
"Uh..right..good," Ken said becoming a little worried.
"Amy..please don't drag me on another wild goose chase with your friends," Urawa muttered.
"Oh..you didn't like that little journey we went on?" Amy asked.
"I didn't. I try not to care, but what was actually happening?"
"I lost track of that myself, but what was important is that we helped out someone who seemed to need it."
"You helped, I just stood there in surprise."
"Yes, well..my friends and I, Serena especially like to help others out when we get the chance. It used to be a little more blatant, other people's problems would sort of come to us. Right now we've got some of our own problems to deal with," Amy said.
"You're having trouble with something?"
"Me? No..not at the moment, but in the past there have been some things."
"I see..well..it's just I'm not into running around like that doing strange things at the blink of an eye," Urawa said.
"Does it scare you?" Amy asked.
"No of course not," Urawa said. "Let's change the subject."
"Fine..what do you want to talk about?"
"Uh...good question, well.."
"Hah! Done!" Mike said.
"With what?" Steve muttered.
"My novel, no idea man," Mike muttered.
"You've got nothing on me weed of destruction," Steve said.
"The boy wonder of missing grey matter."
"Mike, a living example of evolution."
"I don't even know what that means," Mike muttered.
"My point exactly," Steve said.
"Outsmart me will ya!" Mike said. "No one outsmarts the king of the jungle!"
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I heard you, I just don't know what you mean."
"They never do!" Mike said and began cackling.
"All right..all right, I give up, just stop being yourself, and return to the state I call author Mike," Steve said.
"Author Mike?"
"Sure, the optimistic relatively sane individual who I've witnessed writing a long winded story about nothing for the past few weeks," Steve said.
"So you see Mike, and the Mike who wrote the story as two different people?"
"I do indeed."
"Why?" Mike snickered. "The only difference between Mike and Author Mike is that regular Mike glows in the dark, while Author Mike actually blocks light during the day."
"Not what I wanted to hear," Steve muttered. "So tell me about the story Mike, how's it end?"
"End?" Mike asked. "Oh..that's a good question," Mike said and looked at the screen. "I just sort of trail off."
"You just sort of trail off..."
"Exactly," Mike said with a grin.
"It's creative, I'll give it that," Steve said.
"Steve..why don't you draw anymore."
"I sketched city hall just yesterday."
"Oh..why don't you give me updates."
"I see no need to, I draw for myself, not others."
"But the arts are all about forcing your image of existence down other people's throats."
"It is not," Steve said. "They can be just about dealing with your own image of existence then conveying to others."
"All right it can, fine," Mike said.
"Why are you agreeing so easily."
"Because you're right," Mike said.
"Oh," Steve said. "Uh..thanks."
<"You wanted to see me again Greg?" Rick asked.>
"Sure.." Greg said looking around nervously.
"What is it?"
"Well you know how I've told you about Hotaru and I the last time we talked.?"
"Sure," Rick said.
"I'm really worried that she might be falling in love with me."
Rick started laughing.
"Sorry," he said and cut himself off. "You understand. I mean I told you it was nothing.""
"Sure," Greg said. "It sounds crazy, but so's she."
Rick grinned.
"That's a problem," Rick said. "I mean it could just be your imagination, but I agree this is something looking into. Tell me why you think she's going after you."
"All right..some of it may be nothing, but I'll start at the beginning," Greg
said and began.
"Hello Serena, what brings you here?" Michiru asked.
"Just thought I'd check on you two. You know..see if there's anything you need," Serena said.
"We're quite self-sufficient, but we appreciate the thought," Haruka said from the room beyond.
"Please come in," Michiru said.
"Uh..thanks..I guess I was just a little curious about what you two have been up to," She said.
"Not much," Haruka said. "I've got my job and schoolwork."
"For me it's the violin, though the two of us have had some fun of late," Michiru said.
"That's good, isn't great how the goddesses have been leaving us alone," Serena said.
"I suspect they'll be back soon enough," Haruka said.
"Why?" Serena said.
"Well we haven't beaten them for certain," Haruka said.
"Setsuna suspects because of all that time business they needed time to replenish their energy," Michiru said.
"Or they are unable to, and are truly gone, we don't know," Haruka said.
"But how would they go about getting energy back?" Serena asked.
"We're not sure," Haruka said.
"But if they had a way they'd be doing it," Michiru said.
"What if they were taking it from people here in the city?" Serena asked.
The two looked at her surprised at her thought.
"Well..how else does evil gain energy," she said.
"If they were I think we'd hear about it. I do work at the police department," Haruka said.
"Still..she raises a good point," Michiru said. "Considering they did have the ability to use two goddesses all along."
"They could have spent all this time getting back up to a level at which they could attack us," Serena said.
"We don't know that for sure," Haruka said.
"Aren't you two supposed to know," Serena said. "Sorry..I didn't mean to..say.."
"No..you're right," Haruka said. "We were devoting our efforts to making sure the goddesses didn't surprise us, we didn't have the time to check other options."
"That doesn't mean it doesn't make sense what you say," Michiru said.
"Maybe the police haven't noticed, but if this stuff was going on, I know who would know for sure," Serena said. "Let's roll," Serena said and hurried out the door.
Michiru and Haruka glanced at each other, then grinned slightly.
"Enthusiastic isn't she?" Michiru asked.
"In a good way, yes," Haruka said.
The two followed.
"So what do you think?" Greg asked.
"She's in love with ya," Rick said. "And if you let her down she'll probably kill you."
"Believe me, I know. Still..I hadn't planned on stopping her."
"Now wait a sec Greg, she's unpredictable, she doesn't understand the intricacies of all this. She spent the last few years in evil land."
"She understands, it's her expression she doesn't understand," Greg said.
"Okay..that's still not good," Rick said. "She's clearly confused."
"I'm not sure of that either," Greg said.
"Who's giving the advice here?"
"I..uh.."
"Listen Greg, I normally don't get involved in your personal life."
"I didn't know I had one."
"Not the point. But I see the need for me to intervene here, to make sure things don't get really messed up. So..let's say I'll go talk to her."
"You won't say I said anything?"
"No..believe me I'm slick enough to get around that. I'll handle everything."
"I'm not sure."
"It's out of your hands," Rick said.
"I don't like that expression," Greg said.
"Listen..I can help."
"She may get the wrong idea, and kill you."
"I've dealt with strange women before Greg, I can handle it."
"I'm not so sure about that," Greg said.
"Trust me," Rick said with a straight face. "Greg..I want to help."
"All right," Greg said.
"On my way," Rick said.
"I'm afraid that three schoolgirls can't just walk in and see a General," a grim faced male secretary said.
"We're friends of the General's nephew..ahem..ex-nephew," Serena said.
"Sort of," Haruka added.
"It's urgent," Michiru said leaning against the desk. "I'm sure if you told the General that Serena, Haruka, and Michiru are here to see him he would see us."
"Not likely, but okay.." the secretary said and picked up a phone.
"General.." he said. "There are three girls out here to see you. Say they are friends of your former nephew. A Serena, Haruka, and Michiru. Uh...yes...sir..sorry sir..won't happen again..sorry."
He hung up.
"Go right in," the secretary said.
"Told ya," Serena said.
"Gotta watch for spies," Haruka said sarcastically.
"You've got a good looking face at least," Michiru said.
The three walked in.
"So..what brings you here Serena with the pair who put my nephew in the hospital?" General Patterson asked.
"We had apologized," Haruka said.
"Sort of," Michiru added.
Haruka nudged her.
"That's okay..I'm just joking. D.V. kicked your butt in big time," he said grinning at Haruka.
"So he did," Haruka said.
"General, we're concerned that the goddesses may be draining energy from some people somewhere," Serena said.
"Oh? Funny you should bring that up," Patterson said. "We had the same idea."
"The police didn't seem to know anything," Haruka said.
"Ozaki's trying to keep it quiet, afraid of leaks," Patterson said. "Anyway..we've been observing them."
"You haven't tried to stop them?" Michiru asked.
"Not as yet, no..we wanted to find their patterns. Gain intelligence. If we revealed ourselves, they'd just find another part of the city to raid. We figured the information would be more valuable," Patterson said.
"To whom exactly?" Haruka asked.
"Unlike you who can actually fight these creatures with pure power, the human defenders of this city need tactics and creative firepower. Information is vital. We've had Tomoe and Richter, as well as the negaverse commanders studying the goddesses. They've been advising us on what to do next," Patterson said.
"And that is?" Serena asked.
"We plan on luring them into a trap," Patterson said.
"And exactly how to do you plan to do this?" Haruka asked.
"That is what we're figuring out," Patterson said. "Which takes time. We are making plans that will give us a chance."
"And you haven't talked to us yet?" Michiru asked.
"We are still working out options," Patterson said.
"How do you expect to beat them without us," Haruka said.
"We don't, but we want to know what we have to propose before we talk to you," Patterson said.
"I see, that makes sense," Haruka said.
"So they are going to make another move," Serena said. "The question is what will the goddesses try next."
"We've been trying to analyze it. In D.V.'s absence I've been trying to piece together some ideas. But it's not too easy, the goddesses are quite random in who they attack," Patterson said.
"True," Haruka said. "However, both Amy and Greg were attempting to figure things out."
"Until they got distracted," Michiru said.
"Well..we shouldn't take up any more of your time General, thanks for the info," Serena said.
"Sure, and sorry about the secretary. If he was useful he'd be on the front lines," Patterson said with a grin.
The three nodded and headed out.
"So now what do we do?" Serena asked.
"Go see Amy and Greg," Haruka said.
"Why?" Serena asked.
"I'm sick of being blind," Haruka said.
"We need those two to get to work," Michiru said.
"But those two work all the time," Serena said. "They deserve some time to themselves."
"Not now," Haruka said.
"Let's defeat the goddesses first then they can mess around all they please,"
Michiru said.
"I've never much cared for Shakespeare," Urawa said. "He seemed to take too many shortcuts."
"Still, his works are well written," Amy said.
"Sort of," Urawa said. "Still..it was a lot easier for works to be deemed important when there were only a few writers."
"He was still good at what he did."
"I guess," Urawa said. "There are some things that disturbed me though."
There was a knock at the door.
"I'd better get that," Amy said.
It better not be any more of her nutty friends. Urawa thought.
"Serena..Haruka..Michiru..why.." Amy said as she opened the door.
The three headed in.
"It is important that we speak to you," they said.
"But..Urawa's here," Amy said.
"He has to leave," Haruka said. "This is very important."
Amy understood and turned to Urawa.
"Uh..Urawa..I'm sorry but.."
"Just what could be that important?" Urawa asked.
"It's not your concern," Haruka said.
"Yes, you should mind your own business," Michiru said.
The two had a tone that Amy and Serena hadn't seen since the search for the holy grail.
"I'm sick of you all barging in while I'm trying to be with a girl I like a lot. Don't you have anything better to do?" Urawa snapped.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Haruka snapped back. "Your feelings for her are not as important as the reason we are here."
"And what could that reason be?" Urawa said.
"It is not your concern," Michiru said.
"Urawa..this is very very important, I'll call you.." Amy said.
There was a knock at the door.
"Oh..who's that.." Amy said flustered.
"I'll get it," Serena said quickly and opened the door.
She screamed.
The others whirled.
A blast of energy flew in the door throwing Serena across the room and through the glass doors that lead to the back yard.
Queen Nehelenia stepped in the door.
"I'm winning already!" she shouted and launched an energy attack. Haruka, Michiru, and Amy dived out of the way.
"Just who are you?" Urawa shouted.
"Fortunately I do not have the energy to waste on you," Nehelenia said and launched a fast attack at Haruka. Haruka thumbed the emergency button on her communicator as she avoided the attack and lunged at Nehelenia. Nehelenia blasted her into a wall.
"Haruka!" Michiru cried on in worry. A blast flew at her as well as Amy.
"I don't know who you are but!" Urawa shouted charging.
"Fool.." Nehelenia said and threw him back.
"Amy! Get to the war room!" Michiru shouted and lunged forward, Nehelenia blasted her away.
Amy rolled out of the way of a blast and stumbled towards the door. Nehelenia aimed at her.
She dodged a blast of energy. It slammed against the metal doors. Haruka and Michiru leapt at Nehelenia. She turned her attention. Amy thumbed the key pad. The doors slid open.
"Amy..what are you.." Urawa said.
"Just run Urawa!" Amy said as the doors snapped shut.
Nehelenia's eyes narrowed and she grabbed Urawa.
"Now..now..this could be useful," She walked to the doors. "Come on out Sailor Mercury Or I'll kill him."
"Sailor Mercury?" Urawa said trying to get away.
"You have five seconds..come out.." Nehelenia said.
The doors slid open.
"Come and get me!" came a cry from inside. Nehelenia tossed Urawa into a wall and stepped in.
A barrage of gun fire hit her from all directions as the defense system kicked in.
"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!" Mercury shouted throwing her attack out. Nehelenia staggered back out of the room. Mercury stepped out facing down the queen.
"Very well..." Nehelenia said. "I will fight you this way.."
She looked at Urawa.
"What's a matter fool, didn't know your girlfriend was Sailor Mercury did you?" she asked.
Sailor Mercury stood ready for Nehelenia's attack.
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