Chapter 240
In a field Amy and Mike were talking.
"This Rekar guy," Mike said.
"He's been very nice to me," Amy said.
"Has he? I just don't trust him," Mike said.
"Why?"
"Just a sense, but then again, I don't have that kind of instinct that really keeps me away from trouble."
"Believe me Mike, I don't think he'd be able to stop you if you tried to run away. So why not come along?" Amy asked. "You'll have trouble surviving on your own won't you?"
"It look likes I don't have that much choice in the matter," Mike said. "At the moment."
"Guess not," Amy said.
"Well..then I'll risk it. But if this is trouble, it's your job to get us out of it," Mike said.
Amy grinned.
"I thought as much," Amy said.
"Well..let's not keep Lord Rekar waiting."
Amy nodded.
"He usually doesn't have that good aim," Guardian Pluto said.
"Really?" Lord Rekar asked.
"Actually, he's never hit anyone from that range before."
"Should I feel honored?" Rekar muttered.
"Probably not," Pluto said.
Mike and Amy walked up.
"We've decided," Mike said. "We're coming along."
"Excellent," Rekar said. "Just in time too. We're needed at the front."
"Front of what?" Pluto asked.
"Our lines is advancing on the zone," Lord Rekar said.
"What are you invading someone?" Mike asked suspiciously.
"Not really," Lord Rekar said. "I'll explain on the way."
"Guardian Saturn, meet our army commander, Tarsuk," Vitar said. Saturn nodded.
"So you are the secret weapon that will bring us victory are you?" Tarsuk asked.
"Apparently," Saturn said.
"We'll see," Tarsuk said. "We will let you know when your services are...necessary," Tarsuk said and headed off.
"Nice guy," Vitar muttered.
"Probably resents our presence," Saturn said.
"Why would he?"
"Because I believe he would prefer to win the battle on his own."
"Probably, but any help you can get is usually accepted," Vitar said. "He shouldn't have been that rude."
"Well..we'll see," Saturn said.
"If you'll follow me," an officer said. "I'll show you to your tent."
"How quaint," Vitar said.
The two headed that way.
"This looks like a strong army," Saturn said.
"Well..it is," Vitar said.
"We're just as strong in numbers, and better in training then those jokers across from us," the officer said. "If it wasn't for the resistance, we would have whipped them already."
"And why haven't you whipped the resistance?" Vitar asked "They must be even less numerous and less skilled."
"They have several advantages, which make them a nuisance," the officer said. "However I'm sure Guardian Saturns's prescence will go a long way to defeating them."
"Oh..so you need him to take care of the resistance for ya?" Vitar asked.
"No, we don't need him, our task is just easier now," the officer said.
"Oh..right..got ya," Vitar said.
"Why are you giving him so much trouble?" Saturn asked.
"Long story," Vitar said. "I'll tell you sometime."
"Oh..okay.." Saturn said.
"So Zaiesk has decided to involve themselves in the Zone ey?" King East said looking at one of his advisors.
"Yes my lord, I'm afraid so."
"Hah..didn't take them long, they can't keep themselves out of a good war."
Tijiro grinned standing nearby.
"Where are the two outworlders Tijiro?" East asked.
"In the garden my lord, being watched of course," Tijiro said.
"Hmm..I see..I like to know where my defense is because once Zaiesk finishes with the zone, they'll probably swing by us for a visit," East said.
"Of course my liege," Tijiro said.
Princess Sakuro stormed into the room.
"Where is Prince Uranus?" she asked.
"Prince Uranus?" Tijro asked.
"I overheard him telling you he was a prince," Sakuro said.
"Uh..of a long dead kingdom Princess," Tijiro said.
"What kingdom?" East asked.
"The kingdom of Uranus my lord. It passed a thousand years before," Tijiro said.
"Then how can Guardian Uranus be prince of it?" East asked.
"That he didn't explain," Tijiro said.
"He's a prince anyway. I'm allowed to marry a prince," Sakuro said.
"Or a royal knight," Tijiro said with a grin.
"Yeah..whatever.." Sakuro said. "I want Prince Uranus to be my mate."
"Why exactly?" King East asked.
"I don't know why, I just know I want him," Sakuro said.
"That's not a very good reason," Tijiro said.
"Considering your encounters with him before," East said.
"Misunderstandings!" Sakuro said. "I must have him."
"I don't know Sakuro," King East said.
"I'll get him to marry me, just you wait and see," Sakuro said and stormed out.
"What do you make of that Tijiro?" King East asked.
"You want my honest opinion?" Tijiro asked.
"This is a very interesting wall," Hotaru said. "We could jump it."
"Not without being seen," Rick said.
"We can outrun any of them," Hotaru said.
"That's true, but it'd be easier if we snuck away, by the time they realized we were gone, we'd have a head start already," Rick said.
"It may not be possible to achieve that."
"I know," Rick said.
"Prince Uranus!" came a cry.
"Oh no.." Rick said and hurried off. Sakuro raced after him.
Hotaru sighed.
"I will not intervene this time," she muttered and kept walking studying the
wall. Perhaps if there was some sort of sewer network. She thought.
A small group of amazons and the three scouts were gallopping through the countryside.
"Just how far is it to this zone?" Mina said.
"Well several miles," Azura said. "We'll be there before nightfall."
"Nightfall, a car could do it in an hour," Mina said.
"We're not in a car," Raye said.
"Excellent observation," Sailor Neptune said.
"How are you holding your power so long?" Mina asked.
"I'm an outer scout, I have special abilities," Neptune said with a grin.
"But why stress yourself?" Mina asked.
"It's no stress," Neptune said.
"I bet it isn't," Raye muttered. "So Azura just what are we going to do when we get there?"
"I don't know, I'm not in command. I just serve," Azura said. "However, I'm sure our operatives already there will have orders for you. Our mission is an important one."
"If we can eliminate the resistance, we will be able to surprise the other armies," Another amazon said.
"Once that's done, it's just a matter of time before they're beaten," a third said.
"Isn't your attacks a little agressive?" Neptune asked.
"Agressive as they have to be," one of the amazons said.
"Yes, it is an unfortunate consequence of warfare that we cannot always be nice to one another," a second snorted.
"In war, the rules change," Azura said.
"Agreed," Neptune said.
"Actually Neptune, you really can't argue with them can you?" Raye asked. "By any means necessary?"
"I used to agree to that philosophy more rigidly then I do now," Neptune said. "Besides, I knew my cause was just."
"And ours isn't?" An amazon asked.
"I don't know," Neptune said. "Maybe I'll find out for sure one day. Then I'll know if this has been justified."
"Why don't we all calm down and talk about something that won't get us arguing?" Mina said.
"Like what?" An amazon asked.
"Uh..well...I don't know..the scenery," Mina said.
"Is that the best you can do?" Raye said.
"Hey I'm trying."
"Not hard enough."
"I don't see you doing anything."
"I have no problem with everyone arguing about it. I'm sure that when the time comes will cooperate to do the right thing."
"Glad someone is," Neptune said with a grin.
"I think you're too relaxed about this Raye," Mina said.
"What do you mean by that?" Raye asked.
"I mean...morale is important."
"Fortunately that isn't a problem."
"I think it is."
The amazons just watched them go.
"Are they actually looking for an excuse to fight?" Azura whispered to Neptune.
"I think Mina is," Neptune said and grinned. "But they do that."
"Mina..there's no need for us to argue," Raye said.
"I disagree," Mina said.
"Now don't start."
"Try me?"
"But that..would just be giving in to your whims."
"That's not the point!" Mina said.
"Shut up!" Everyone said.
"Fine.." Mina said. "No cookies for any of you."
"Where'd you get cookies?" Raye muttered.
"I stole them from the palace," Mina said. "So there."
"That is technically a criminal offense," Azura said. "But I guess there isn't much we can do about it."
"Hah.." Mina said and took a bite out a cookie. "Uh..this is..different. What is in this?"
"A rare plant, called the Piso," Azura said. "It's quite tasty."
"How do you bake cookies out a plant?" Mina said.
"It's a complex process requiring great skill," Azura said.
"Oh...I'd bet," Mina said.
Raye grinned.
"Enjoy your plant cookie Mina," Raye said.
"Uh..anyone else want these?" Mina asked.
The amazons grabbed them and ate them quickly.
"Guess so," Mina said.
"This is interesting," Visara said staring at a map with the resistance. "Looks like the Zaiesk are going to fall right into our trap."
"Trap?" Serena asked.
"You'll see," Haruka said.
"Oh."
"And the other two armies are soon going to be fighting each other," one of the resistance leaders said.
"Uh..huh..once they're cut to pieces in will come the Zaiesk. They'll wipe them out and then off course not be able to resist finishing off their last enemy," Visara said. "Then we strike while they do it."
"Perfect," Haruka said. "But there is one thing. The other scouts are probably spread out through the armies."
"We haven't seen any," Visara said.
"You'd have better find them, because they're there," Haruka said.
"How do you know?" one of the resistance members asked.
"What other reason could we be here but to help each country take over the zone or what have you," Haruka said. "We've arrived with no friends, no one we can trust, each country would have little trouble convincing the scouts to go along."
"We have our own scouts out. If they're around we'll see them," Visara said.
"How is it you know the Zaiesk are coming?" Haruka asked bluntly.
"They have sent several operatives into our territory, but we know they're there," An older man said.
"Oh..okay.." Haruka said.
"Say...just who are these Zaiesk?" Serena asked.
"The amazons," one of the people said.
"You'd fit right in there woudln't ya Visara?" Serena asked.
"That's where I came from," Visara said solemly. "Now let's keep going. I
want to be ready for them."
Sy and Serena were soon headed for the cave exit.
"I guess I really never gave much thought to where the resistance all came from," Serena said. "I could see Visara didn't exactly like the question."
"That's right she didn't," Sy said. "We don't know her full past, but she doesn't like to talk about it. A lot of people in this outfit don't. There's a lot of reasons why. But not all of us have lead great lives. Some of the people working for us are mercanaries, they don't care about the cause they just fight because they can."
"Can you trust them?"
"They have reasons to go along with us."
"Oh.." Serena said.
"So..anyway..I suggest you lay off everyone's past."
"Yeah..good idea. You should be careful going out tonight. I don't want you getting hurt," Serena said.
"Oh..okay.." Sy said unsurely.
"I mean.just..as a friend..uh..yeah..good luck," Serena said and hurried back
into the cave. Sy sighed and got on his eagle.
"So..it's imperative that we deal with all the threats that may exist," Lord Rekar said.
"You're saying you've got an army in front of you, a second resistance movement in the middle of it all, and these Zaiesk feminists trying to flank you?" Mike asked.
"That's one way to put it," Amy muttered.
"So..where do we come in?" Pluto asked.
"I'm not sure yet, it all depends on Materic's suggestion," Rekar said.
"Who?"Mike and Pluto asked.
"He's the head knight in this country," Amy said. "He's supposedly the best there is."
"He is," Rekar said. "No one has defeated him, though eighty eight have tried. It is said that when he defeats one hundred and one, it will mean victory for our country."
"And just what loon said that?" Mike asked.
"A very powerful wizard," Rekar said. "You'd be wise not to question him."
"Whatever," Mike said.
"So..Materic is looking for a fight?" Pluto asked.
"Only with the best," Rekar said. "He can't just beat up a common soldier. He must beat the best."
"Maybe we'll step up the plate," Mike said.
"But he's on your side," Rekar said.
"That's never stopped us before," Pluto said.
Rekar sighed.
"You are two very strange warriors."
"That's what they usually say," Mike said.
"Among other things," Amy muttered.
Mike and Pluto started laughing.
"It was so nice of Greg to leave us here alone like this," Urawa muttered.
"What's your problem anyway?" Miss Haruna said. "He's doing his best. I doubt you could do better."
"I think I could, but it's not my decision."
"No I know why Amy dumped you."
"Now wait a minute, I dumped her..not the other way around."
"Sure..right," Haruna said.
"Anyway...what's the idea, leaving us like he did?"
"He said it was important, he says he might be able to find the other scouts out there."
"And then what?"
"I don't know, but we'll probably be better off if he does."
"Sure we will," Urawa said. "I'm still not convinced they're actually the good guys."
"You were dating one?" Haruna snapped.
"It could be all part of their plans," Urawa said.
Haruna bonked him on the head.
"What?" he snapped.
"Why'd you have to come to school that day anyway?" she said.
Urawa moved to answer and then noticed someone staggering into the hotel.
"Miss Meio?" he said in surprise. Setsuna collapsed to the ground. Haruna nad Urawa hurried to her.
"We'd better get a doctor," Haruna said.
"What happened to her," Urawa said in surprise.
Back on the Planet Earth. Darrien leaned against the side of his car staring at the empty foundation that had been Juuban High School. It was still under guard, and there were still parents and friends coming by, fearing the worst despite the extraordinary explanations they were given.
I know you're not gone Serena. I know you're out there somewhere. I hope you come back soon. I wish I could help you. But here I am..stuck here. Why can't I do anything? I should be able to do. We're destined to be toghether. I should be able to find her. But no...there's nothing I can do.
"Thought I might find you here again," came a voice. Darrien turned. Serena's father stood there staring at him.
"Uh..Mister Tsukino," Darrien said.
"That's right. I couldn't help noticing you coming here and waiting for my Serena to come back to you. Don't try and deny it. I know."
"Oh..well..I love her a lot," Darrien said.
"I know," Mister Tsukino said. "If you didn't you wouldn't be here. I was a little angry when I found out about you two, but now I think I can rest easier. If..no when she comes back, you'll have no trouble from me."
"Uh..thank you," Darrien said.
"Yeah..now all she has to do is come back."
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