Chapter 236
Meanwhile back in Tokyo.
Prime Minister Coral leaned back in her chair.
"So what exactly have you found out?" She asked.
"That's a good question," General Nagumo said.
"Give it to me straight. I've got the parents of those high school students wanting answers," Coral said.
"Prime Minister we have some explanation, but the problem is that the parents aren't going to believe it," General Patterson said.
"Believe what?" Coral asked.
"We had those negaverse generals study the area, according to Stanton, we're dealing with a dimensional vortex of some kind," Patterson said.
"And just how do we know that?" Coral asked.
"That's our problem," Nagumo said. "We have trouble believing it, will the parents believe it?"
"Maybe," Chief Ozaki said. "We have witnesses who saw the school enveloped in energy. We know that stranger things have happened."
"You can't prove they're alive," Coral said.
"No, we can't," Nagumo said.
"We can't prove they're dead either," Ozaki said.
"The worst of all possibilities," Patterson said. They all looked at him.
"Just not knowing.." he said.
"I would prefer to have the mystery, it leaves the chance they might come back," Nagumo said.
"Maybe you," Patterson said.
"Do these generals have any idea how we can find out any more?" Coral asked.
"I'm sorry, no," Nagumo said.
"Have you been able to find any of the scouts?" Coral asked.
"Prime Minister, they all attend Juuban High. They were all inside," Patterson said.
"How do you know that?" Coral said.
"Prime Minister, while we have done a good job of covering that up, it's sort of necessary to reveal that we've known that for some time," Nagumo said.
"You know they're identities?" Ozaki asked.
"No," the two replied.
"But we know where they go to school," Patterson said.
"So..they're all gone?" Coral asked.
"I'm afraid so," Nagumo said.
"That's wonderful news," Coral muttered. "All right..all of you head off and see what you can do, I have to think on this."
They soon headed out. Coral slumped in her chair and sighed.
Darrien had pulled up his car to as close as he could get. Where the school had been was now surrounded by police barracades, and SDF troops still stood guard. He walked to the barricade and stopped just starring.
Where are you Serena? Are you still alive? He wondered.
"Serena..listen!" Visara snapped.
"Sorry..I was just thiking," Serena said.
"Think later, listen now," Visara said.
"How'd you get to be the one running this operation anyway?"
Visara just glared at her.
"Now..listen..there are two armies marching to fight each other. The only thing holding them back is the fact that we have placed some clever bobby traps in the way. So they've had to move slowly to make sure they're gone first," Visara said. "Now...that buys us some time, just not a lot. My plan is simple. Using your powers Serena, you will blast both of their armies."
"Uh..great plan.." Serena muttered.
"It will work," Visara said.
"Sure it will work," Serena said. "You've got me, but won't this make them mad?"
"Yes..but it won't matter, they won't be able to take you on."
"I guess so," Serena said.
"There army is quite large though. I wonder if you can handle it."
"Well not all at once, I'll have to rest now and then, and I've never attacked an army before," Serena said.
"Oh..I see..well then we'll have to test it first," Visara said and turned to her rebels. "Prepare a scouting party."
"Scouting party?" Serena asked. "Now that sounds interesting. What kind of food will we have?"
"What are you talking about?" Visara asked.
"Uh nothing," Serena said.
"Here we are," Azura said. Venus and Mars looked around and gazed at the city around them.
"This is very nice," Mars said.
"Uh huh," Venus said. "How do you afford it all?"
"Not the question to ask Venus," Mars said.
"We made it through hard work. Our society is an able collective," Azura said.
"Even with the men subservient?" Mars asked.
"It's worked out, most men like the idea," Azura said.
"Kinky," Venus said.
Mars scowled at her.
"Sorry.." Venus said.
"Anyway..the palace is this way," Azura said. They were soon flanked by other warrirors.
"Friends of yours?" Mars asked.
Azura nodded.
"So Azura, you found them?" another warrior asked.
"That I did Seita," Azura said. "It was some trouble too."
"The resistance?"
Azura nodded.
"Hmm..that means they know," Seita said. "That's annoying, however, it won't help them now that we have three outworlders in our possession."
"Three?" Mars and Venus asked.
"Yes," Seita said. "One of your friends is here."
"Who?" Mars asked.
"She refuses to give her name," Seita said. "She is awfully suspicious."
"I'm suspicious myself," Mars said.
"Hopefully you won't be much longer," Seita said. "You're on the right side."
"Right side of what?" Mars asked.
"You'll see," Seita said and rode to the front.
"What's she mean?" Mars asked.
"It's best left to the government to explain," Azura said.
"Great, leave me in suspense," Mars muttered.
"I wonder who else they found?" Venus asked.
"We'll find out that soon I bet," Mars said.
"That game was one of the strangest things I've ever seen," Uranus said.
"Wasn't it though?" Tijiro said with a grin. "Most of the people living here still don't understand it."
"What was that business at the end?"
"Oh you mean when that guy climbed up to the princesse's box and was knocked back down the court?"
"Yeah."
"By tradition, the best player from the game is invited to the princess' box. She can choose to marry that player, or reject him. Sakuro choses to show her rejection in a violent sort of way."
"So does anyone play worse for fear of being called up to see her?"
"Nope, because just a chance to marry her is worth the risk."
"But why would she chose any of them?"
"Sakuro's strange, she likes violent men. Of course she likes me more, so they shouldn't bother."
"She doesn't seem to like you," Uranus said.
"Obviously you don't have much experience with women," Tirjio said.
"Far from it, I've got a lot," Uranus said.
"Oh..well..then..it still doesn't help you understand Sakuro. She's complex."
"I figured."
"So what else do you want to see?" Tijiro asked.
"I don't know, I have no idea what's around here," Uranus said.
"I know, I'll show you the fish area."
"Fish area?"
"Yeah. Building with tanks of water holding fish?"
"You mean an aquarium?"
"A what?"
"Never mind," Uranus said. "Let's go."
Tijiro nodded.
Greg was a little nervous. He had never appeared before a government before, and given the circumstances, he was even more worried. He was representing all the humans trapped here. He had better make sure he didn't offend the government and get them into more trouble. Janus lead him into a room, that somewhat resembled the house of representatives, only the chairs rose much higher, and it was crowded with people. He was lead to a central area where there was a podium were several older people sat.
"Greetings, I am Latric, Chief Minister," one of them said. "Please approach and identify yourself."
"Uh..I am Greg Thomson, Guardian Saturn, from Earth. I am the leader of the Guardian Scouts, and I'm in charge of the group of humans here in your city," Greg said.
"Welcome Greg, please let us consider you the ambassador from your people to ours," Latric said.
"Uh.sure.." Greg said.
"Well then ambassador. Allow me to welcome all your people to our city and our country, I wish the circumstances were more convenient."
Greg nodded.
"You have been drawn here because of the need for the outworlders. We had no small part in bringing you here. But I hope that once this is settled, we will also have a large part in sending you back home."
"Just what do you want me to do?" Greg asked.
"Help us," Latric said. "There is much to be explained. Let us get started."
Greg nodded.
"Ah..food.." Mike said happily and took a bite.
"You know these people don't exactly like us," Steve said in between chews.
"I'm not a big fan of them."
"They've probably got their goons hunting us right now."
"Probably," Mike said.
"So?" Steve asked.
"So..what do you want me to do?"
"We've got to find a better hiding place."
"Trees have worked before," Mike said.
"But if they find us, we've got nowhere else to go," Steve said.
"True," Mike said.
"Mike..show a little concern for your own wellbeing," Steve said.
"I will..as soon as I finish eating," Mike said.
"You hear that?" Steve asked.
"What?"
"A sound," Mike said.
"It's probably a squirrel or something."
"There they are!" came a shout. The two stuffed what food they had into their pockets.
"We'll take the high road," Mike said and climbed onto another branch, soon
he was climbing across the dense forest. Steve relucatantly followed.
"I'm a greatly appreciative of all you're willing to give us to get us through this time," Greg said. "I know it must not be easy for you to take care of so many people out of the blue like that."
"You will fine that our country is capable of many good deeds," Latric said. "However, we are hoping that your people will be able to aid us eventually."
"How?" Greg asked.
"Well..with our current war on, our resources at home as lessened. However, if your students were able to pitch in, I believe things would be equitable. They would recieve the same compensation any of our workers would, for their duration here."
"I'll talk to them later. Right now they need to settle in, they don't even understand why they're here."
"It's unfortunate they were dragged into this, it seems it was unavoidable."
Greg wondered if it was, but he wasn't going to push the issue.
"Anyway..what we need is your assistance on our lines. The invasion of the zone is not going well, and we have yet to even encounter our main enemy," Latric said.
"Uh..Chief Minister, I don't think I should involve myself in internal matters."
"Ah..but this is important. As I explained to you the reason we which to take the land is not one of conquest, but one of necessity. Whoever gains control of the mountains, becomes the most powerful country in the continent. We cannot allow another country to achieve that goal, they might not know to handle the power. They might oppress others."
"I'm curious. If this is so valuable, why have two out of the four countries not involved themselves," Greg said.
"They each have their reasons I guess. But they may be more involved then it seems. Please. Help us because we are helping you."
"That is the normal idea, however, if you did not bring me here to help you, you wouldn't have needed to help us."
"True, but now that you're here.." Latric said.
"I'll have to think about it," Greg said.
"Fine..please let us know what your decision is."
"I will," Greg said.
Janus lead him out.
"I hope you decide to help us," the minister said.
"We don't take war lightly where I come from," Greg said. "Especially wars with unclear goals like this one."
"We made our goals quite clear."
"Maybe to you, but I need to think this all through."
"Well..contemplation is not a bad thing I guess. We will wait. But we must have an answer soon."
"I'll try and be brief," Greg said.
"Thank you," Janus said.
"But...no promises."
Janus nodded.
"Report?" Lord Rekar asked.
"They escaped, we are still searching ahead though," a soldier said riding up.
"How did they escape?" Rekar asked.
"Well..they...jumped in the trees. We couldn't follow them with the horsk it was very thick, and so we couldn't catch up."
"Clever wasn't it?" Rekar said.
"They can surprise you," A now human Amy said. "You should be more careful. It's a risk to be rush into it."
"Yes it is, continue the search and listen to her," Rekar said.
"Yes Lord," the soldier said and hurried off.
"Perhaps you have some ideas?" Rekar asked.
"Does this forest end?" Amy asked.
"Well..yes..but not for several miles, they couldn't have gotten out yet," Rekar said.
"But they must leave sometime," Amy said. "Or that would be what they would try to do. There is no food in there correct?"
"Yes, that's right," Rekar said.
"Then...you simply have to surround the forest with troops."
"We don't have that many troops available. The war and all."
"The war..that's right. Then this will be more difficult," Amy said. "I'm sorry..I'll have to keep thinking."
"All right," Rekar said with a smile. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."
The palace of amazons was not really that impressive. It was made out of rough stone blocks, with very little emphasis on aestehtics.
"It's like a dungeon everywhere," Mina said.
"They're amazons Mina," Raye replied.
"It is true, we prefer defensive advantage to art," Azura said. "There are some beautiful parts to the city. Hopefully you will get to see them, but right now there are other matters. They approached some doors, which were pulled open. The three headed in. Beautiful women were everywhere. Most wearing armor, and holding weapons. There was a throne, surrounded by several smaller chairs.
Azura approached and bowed.
"Good job Azura," the lead amazon said. Azura moved to one side.
"Welcome," the amazon said. "You must be tired after your long journey."
"You mean the one from another planet, or the one from the coast to here?" Mina asked.
Raye sighed.
"Either one," the amazon said. "You are both healthy. I heard there was some trouble."
"Nothing we couldn't handle," Raye said.
"That stuff happens to us all the time," Mina said.
"Impressive. Perhaps you would like to know what you're doing here?"
"That would be nice," Mina said.
"Then allow me to explain," the amazon began. "First, we'll talk about how you got here and then move on from there."
The two listened intently.
"Where are we going?" Serena asked, as she, Visara, Sy, and several other rebels crept through a forest.
"Shh..." Visara said.
"Fine.."
One of the rebels motioned for them to stop. They did so and looked over a small rise.
"Sy..go get the eagle," Visara said.
Sy nodded.
"Now..get ready to do your thing.."
"I have to transform first," Serena said.
"Whatever.."
"Celestial Moon Power!" Serena said and transformed.
"Are you done?" Visara asked. "That outfit looks terrible."
"Don't knock it," Sailor Moon muttered. "Now..you want me to blast those guys."
"Not yet..wait for Sy to fly over with his eagle," Visara said. "When he does blast the soldiers and then we'll go."
"Got it," Sailor Moon said.
They waited. Soon Sy and eagle came out of the clouds. Sailor Moon stepped forward.
"Moon Spiral Hearts Attack!" She shouted. Pink energy shot from her sceptre and flattened several hundred troops.
Visara grinned as the bird flew down.
"Get on quick," Visara said. The group all did as the army raced into action.
"So was that good?" Sailor Moon asked.
"It will do," Visara said.
"I had to hold back, I'm not going to kill anyone."
"I'm not asking you to. We don't kill anyone in wars anyway."
"You don't?" Sailor Moon asked.
"No..that doesn't get us anywhere," Sy said. "It's all stun and knockout magic tricks."
"That's good to know," Sailor Moon said.
"I would call this a successful test," Visara said. "You may be useful after all."
"The planet Earth already knows that," Sailor Moon said. "I've saved it several hundred times."
"You personally?"
"Well..sort of.."
"What do you mean sort of."
"I don't need to go into it. Just trust me," Sailor Moon said.
"Fine," Visara muttered. "Good for you."
"Tijiro, just what are you doing?" Rick asked. Tijiro was at that moment scaling the walls of the castle.
"Shh..." Tijiro said.
Rick just stared at him.
Tijiro crept towards a window and stared into it. He grinned and flashed a thumbs up to Rick. Rick was beginning to guess at what Tijiro was looking at. Rick noticed that a large second of the royal guard had collected around him.
"Lord Tijiro does this every night," one of them said.
"Has he every gotten caught?" Rick asked.
"TIJIRO!" came Princess Sakuro's shout.
"Every night," the guard muttered. Tijiro leapt off the wall quickly and dashed away. Sakuro threw open her window. The guards sacttered leaving Rick standing there.
"And what are you doing?" She muttered. "Waiting for you turn?"
"No..I prefer to leave it up to a girl to show me what she wants to show mean when she wants to show me," Rick said cursing how uncool that statement sounded.
"Like I care," Sakuro said and closed her window and the shades.
Tijiro may possess good fighting skills, but there's something else about him
that worries me.
"So now..you see why you are here, is that with your arrival we can make our move without fear of reprecussions," the amazon said.
"So you're saying you can invade this zone now that we're here," Raye said. "We're not big on invasions."
"But this is for the good of the continent. Someone has to control that power, and we are the best to do it," the amazon said.
"How can I be sure of that?" Raye asked.
"Are you sure you want to get them angry?" Mina whispered.
"It's a good question," Raye said.
"I will prove to you why it is neccessary tommorow," The amazon said. "In the mean time, forget that it is even an issue. Enjoy yourselves. The palace is your new home for a while."
"Thank you," Mina said.
"I heard there was another of us here. Where is she?" Raye asked.
"Oh..that..Tirsa, take them to see her."
An amazon nodded and lead them out. They walked down a hallway to a room guarded by more amazons. The door was pulled open and there sat Michiru.
"Michiru!" the two said in surprise.
"Great..I go to all the trouble of not revealing my name and you blow it in two seconds," Michiru muttered.
"What are you doing here?" Raye asked.
"Long story," Michiru said.
CHAPTER 231 CHAPTER 232 CHAPTER 233 CHAPTER 234 CHAPTER 235
CHAPTER 236 CHAPTER 237 CHAPTER 238 CHAPTER 239 CHAPTER 240
CHAPTER 241 CHAPTER 242 CHAPTER 243 CHAPTER 244 CHAPTER 245
CHAPTER 246 CHAPTER 247 CHAPTER 248 CHAPTER 249 CHAPTER 250
CHAPTER 251 CHAPTER 252 CHAPTER 253 CHAPTER 254 CHAPTER 255