Chapter 245
"So what is so bad about Visara anyway?" Sailor Moon asked.
"She's responsible for the deaths of thousands," Azura said.
"She's right," Sailor Mars said.
"Intentionally or unintentionally?" Sailor Moon asked.
"That is unimportant," Azura said.
"Actually that is very important," Sailor Neptune said.
"You will understand," Azura said. "Since it is necessary for me to explain all this to you."
"It is or you won't get passed us," Sailor Moon said.
Azura sighed.
"All right listen, Visara was one of the warriors assigned to the government years ago," Azura began. "I served with her."
"You get around," Guardian Neptune muttered.
"Never mind that. Continue," Sailor Neptune said.
"Anyway.." Azura said.
In the past.
"I have learned that the latest operation of the male resistance is to be directed at this site," the leader of the amazons said. "We will have to send a group out to do something about it. Visara...you will lead it."
Visara bowed.
"I will do my best," Visara said.
"This operation will be vital, we will be able to destroy the resistance once and for all," the leader said. "You're success could end this stupid movement once and for all."
"I understand," Visara said.
"Very well. What we know is that resistance is going to attack one of our armories in the western sector. You will go there and surprise them."
"Uh..but isn't that area already well guarded?"
"No...we have been shifting our troops around to try and draw them in."
"I see.." Visara said. "But that is where we keep some of our most powerful weapons for our defense."
"One must provide enticing bait if one does which to catch the largest grat," the leader said making reference to a native creature.
Visara nodded nervously.
"Then I will go and succeed," she said.
"Visara you look troubled," Azura said.
"I am,"Visara said. "I want to get rid of the resistance too, but those are some dangerous weapons we have out there. If they were to get their hands on one. Some of them are complex, they could overload, we shouldn't have risked them just to catch them. It's not worth it."
"It's worth it if we catch the resistance, they won't be able to resist this," Azura said missing the obvious pun.
"I know," Visara said. "I didn't want this kind of responsibility so fast."
"Don't you think you can handle it?"
"I can, I know that," Visara said. "It's just going to be stressful."
"It usually is," Azura said.
The present.
"What I didn't know," Azura said to the group. "Was that Visara had been seeing a man, a man that was in the resistance, only she didn't know it either. And things degraded from there."
The group listened intently.
Visara, Azura and several of the others had crept along a shaded grove near the armory.
"Azura, where do you think we should conceal ourselves?" Visara asked.
"Well...that ridge looks like a good idea," Azura said.
"Hmm..yes," Visara said. "We'll be able to hit them from out here then charge down, but we have to make sure we draw them all out."
Azura nodded.
The group waited. The resistance appeared quickly moving through the forest. The armory guards were quickly overwhelmed and the men advanced. Visara studied them with a spyglass.
"Prepare to attack.." She said watching them. The group readied themselves. It was then that Visara saw a familiar figure among the resistance.
"What? He can't be here..." she said.
"Who Visara?" Azura asked quickly. "Never mind that, we have to strike."
"Uh..." Visara said. "I...we can't.."
"Visara!" Azura shouted.
"I won't order it."
"Attack!" Azura shouted. The group hesitsantly did. The resistance group below scattered. Some hurried into the building some raced back into the forest. Others stood and fought.
The amazons charged off the slope and attacked.
"Visara..what's going on?" Azura asked with concern.
"Someone I love is down there.." Visara said.
"You love a man! A member of them no less!"
"Yes...Azura..I..can't..hurt him.."
"Visara..you're oath..." Azura said.
"I know..I.."
There were screeches below. A large energy weapon had been wheeled out of the armory by the men.
"Wait! They have no idea how to use it!" Azura said.
Visara's eyes widened in horror. The weapon discharged spraying the area with energy knocking many of the group to the ground.
"Oh no..it's overloading," Azura said. "We have to stop it."
"We can't!" Visara said. "We have to get out of here!"
She grabbed Azura and pulled her down the slope. The weapon exploded
blanketing the area in one direction with energy.
"If Visara had attacked when she had been susposed to," Azura said. "That energy blast killed everyone in front of the armory and destroyed several villages miles away. Thousands died."
"She made a mistake," Sailor Moon said. "She didn't know what the consequences would be. I would have hesistated too."
"And you would have been responsible for thousands of innocent deaths!" Azura said. "She held me back, she wouldn't let me try to stop the weapon. I could have."
"She saved your life it seems," Sailor Neptune said.
"You probably couldn't have survived being so close to the weapon when it went off," Sailor Uranus said.
"But if I had stopped it," Azura said.
"Could you have stopped it?" Sailor Neptune asked.
"Maybe.in those seconds, I might have..I should have had the chance," Azura said. "But Visara stopped me."
"From having chance to die with them," Sailor Uranus said.
"That isn't what this is about," Azura said. "I could have saved them."
"It's unlikely that you could have, now you just wish that you were killed as well," Sailor Neptune said.
"You have no idea," Azura said and hurried off.
"So that's what this is all about," Sailor Moon said.
"But..Mars, Venus, is that why you agreed to help them?" Guardian Pluto asked.
"There's more to it, that's just part of it," Mars said.
"Yes, there are other killers with them," Venus said.
"We were able to relive many of their acts," Mars said. "We felt their victim's pain."
"You were emotionally brainwashed," Sailor Neptune said.
"We were not," the two snapped.
"What did you experience in the case of Visara?" Sailor Uranus asked.
"Visara's memories of the event. The pain the suffering, the deaths," Mars said.
"I see, and you see that as Visara's fault?" Sailor Uranus asked.
"It was," Mars said.
"If she hadn't held back," Venus said.
"Like you two wouldn't?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"Shut up," Venus said. "What do you know?"
"I know you two would do the same thing she would, because you're human."
"He's right," Sailor Neptune said. "How can you blame her? She deserves sympathy."
"Azura deserves to be relieved of her pain," Venus said.
"So now that's what it's about," Guardian Neptune said. "How complex is this?"
"Let us handle it," Sailor Neptune said.
"Guys...you have to be honest with us, you have to explain just what you're doing this for," Sailor Moon said.
The two looked at each other.
"I think I'll talk to Azura. You two think it over," Sailor Moon said and
headed off.
"Azura?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Please..leave me."
"Uh..sorry..I don't usually leave people alone," Sailor Moon said. "I think it would be best if you talked about this."
"There's nothing to talk about," Azura said.
"Azura. I don't feel the same way, I can't speak from experience, or maybe I can a little, I've watched my friends, hurt, some almost killed, I sometimes wish I could take the suffering they feel and have it myself, if they'll only get to avoid it, but that doesn't happen. Azura..it's tough I know it must be."
"It's misery," Azura said.
"I would expect it to be. But..Azura, the past is the past, I know that sounds like some cliche, but it's true. You're still alive, you can still act in whatever ways you want."
"I am acting. I'm going to stop Visara."
"Why? Becuase she's Visara? Or because you have a good reason?"
"How can you trust her?"
"She seems to be on the right track."
"How can she ever be on the right track?"
"Azura..if Visara wasn't so heavily involved, would you be so angry? Would you try so hard to destroy the resistance?"
"Maybe, there are some really bad people involved."
"How do you know that?"
"I know the memories others have."
"I see...well...we'll have to talk about that, but Visara is the main problem isn't she?"
"Yes, she must be punished. She ran away, she left me to deliever the news to the government, she let me survive to disgrace. The government now has given me a chance to redeem myself. To stop her."
"Stop her so your government can invade?"
"We are right! We always have been," Azura said.
"I see..." Sailor Moon said. "So you think you and your group moves in and takes over everything will be fine?"
"Yes...that is the plan."
"Well.if that's what you think you have you duty, and I have mine. I work for the resistance, and I believe in them. So I'll have to stop you."
"You would fight for that murderer!" Azura shouted.
"And just who did you plan to use a weapon of such destructive power against anyway?" Sailor Moon snapped.
"It was a stun weapon."
"Capable of destroying villages miles away! No..never mind...you're pain is enough. Forget that. I'm going."
Sailor Moon headed off.
Azura sighed.
"Wait.." She said.
Sailor Moon stopped.
"Sailor Moon, maybe all of us should figure some things out."
"That would be best," Sailor Moon said and kept going.
"There are so many members of the resistance, who brought pain and suffering to the amazons and others," Venus said. "How can we let this not go avenged."
"It must have been pretty potent stuff for all of you to get so sure of yourselves," Sailor Uranus said.
"It is," Mars said.
"So you're saying there are members of the resistance who have killed others?" Sailor Neptune asked.
"Yes," The two said.
"We have the memories of them," Mars said.
"They intentionally killed?"
"Yes," Mars said.
"And how many of them are there?"
"Three or four. And there are others who have done evil things," Mars said.
"Like what?" Sailor Uranus asked.
"Can't you just trust us?" Venus snapped.
"Not when you're acting under the influence of other people's memories," Sailor Neptune said.
"What's the big deal?" Venus said.
"The big deal is we need to choose what side to be on if any," Sailor Uranus said. "We can't be going on delusions."
"These aren't delusions!" Venus said. "They're real memories, people have been hurt and killed. Visara's the worst, but there are others. I'm sure they're all like that."
"You are?" Uranus asked. "Or are you just hoping they are to justify yourself."
"Stop it Uranus," Mars said. "We've made our decision, from our point of view we are on the right side."
"From my point of view we should never have gotten involved," Sailor Neptune said.
"That would be the best way to handle this girls," Sailor Uranus said. "If we were to just leave. Then we wouldn't have to worry about this."
"I won't abandon them," Venus said. "I agreed to help."
"She has a point though Venus," Mars said.
"This is not our planet," Uranus said. "Our involvement only allows them to fight larger and larger wars."
"That's what I see happening too," Sailor Neptune said. "We should be finding the other scouts."
"I agree," Mars said.
"I...don't want to be wrong!" Venus said. "I believe in what they're saying, I want to help Azura. She deserves our help."
"She does, but not this kind," Mars said. "Vengeance rarely is as satisfying as everyone thinks."
"Bull," Venus said. "It can be quite satisfying."
"But not in this case," Sailor Neptune said. "If Visara had willingly killed thousands it would be worthwhile to make her pay. But she's as much a victim as Azura is."
"It's time for us to leave all this," Sailor Moon said approaching. The group all looked up at her.
"We need to stop fighting their war for them," She said. "We also need to get Azura and Visara toghether."
"What? Are you sure about that?" Sailor Uranus asked.
"They need each other. They need to do whatever is necessary, cry, fight, whatever is necessary," Sailor Moon said.
"And just how are we going to do that considering the circumstances?" Mars asked.
"Let's figure it out right now," Sailor Moon said sitting down.
"So how ya doing?" Guardian Pluto muttered leaning against a tree.
"Pretty good, you?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"Could be bettter," Pluto said.
"Yeah..me too."
They noticed what was left of the army troops were sneaking off.
"We're outta here," they said.
"Good luck fellas," Neptune said with a grin.
"Yeah..well...what about you two?" one of them asked. "You coming?"
"Naw..but don't worry, it's not like we're going to be fighting you either," Neptune said.
Pluto nodded.
"Yeah," the guy said and the troops hurried off. The amazons, aside from Azura, hurried after them.
"They can't run off like that!" one of them shouted.
Neptune and Pluto drew their swords.
"Up for a little action?" Pluto asked.
"Why not?" Neptune asked.
The amazons glared at them.
"So now you want to fight?" one of the women said.
"Oh yeah," Pluto said.
"Bring it on!" Neptune said.
"This has a small chance of working," Mars said.
"It's the best we've got," Sailor Moon said.
"Hmmm..I'd prefer something we knew would work," Sailor Uranus said.
"So would I?" Sailor Neptune asked.
"We can't have anything," Sailor Venus muttered.
"I'll signal Sy," Uranus said and fired her sword into the air. The eagle soon swooped overhead and then coasted to a stop.
"Hey," Sy said.
"Sy, I need you to do something for me," Sailor Moon said.
"What?" Sy asked.
"I need you to get Visara to come here," Sailor Moon said.
"How am I suppose to do that?" Sy asked.
"It's important," Sailor Moon said. "Tell her she can stop the amazons here if she comes."
"Listen..I'll go too," Sailor Uranus said. "To help convince her."
"Uh..okay.." Sy said.
The two got on and flew off.
"So what exactly is going on?" Sy asked.
"Just what we said," Sailor Uranus said. "I don't know about the amazon army, but if Visara comes with us, we might be able to stop this operation and get all the scouts on her side, at least in theory."
"The in theory part bothers me," Sy said.
"As it should," Uranus said.
"That doesn't reassure me," Sy said.
"I rarely reassure anyone," Uranus said with a grin.
"Oh.." Sy said.
"Neptune Tide of Destruction!" Neptune shouted. The amazons were dropped, and several trees collapsed.
"What are you imbeciles doing?" Sailor Mars said.
"Hmmm...apparently taking care of our amazon escort," Sailor Neptune said.
"Hey..they asked for it," Guardian Neptune said.
"And we gave it to em," Guardian Pluto said.
"As well as the trees!" Mars said.
"Ahem..about earlier," the other three said.
"Uh..point taken," Mars said. "So why'd they pick a fight."
"Because we let the army guys escape," Guardian Neptune said. "After all, we still work for the army."
"But they'll tell the army about us," Mars said.
"So?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"But if the army sent someone to break up the amazon attack, things could get complex," Mars said.
"They won't," Pluto said. "They don't have anyone."
"I hope you're right," Mars said.
"Well..I've been wrong before," Pluto said.
"Me too," Guardian Neptune said.
Sailor Neptune grinned.
"I wouldn't worry Mars," she said.
"I worry when those two do anything," Mars said.
"So uh Venus, what's up with you?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Don't ask?"
"Too late."
"A lot of things, I miss earth."
"We all do."
"But I really do."
"Uh..yeah..but that can't be it."
"Mike stabbed me."
"Ouch..was it intentional?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Partially. We were fighting," Venus said.
"Oh..so..it happens. If you fight you take that risk."
"I think he meant to get back at me."
"For what?"
"Two timing."
"Why would he resort to violence?"
"He did it before."
"Oh..so that worries me."
"Yes, I get the sense he didn't forgive me."
"He didn't remember?"
"Oh..yes..I guess," Venus said. "He had no reason to try so hard to hurt me."
"Were you trying to hurt him?"
"Of course I was, but he's not supposed to."
"Why?"
"Because he's Mike!"
Sailor Moon glanced at her for a second.
"So he's supposed to take out any punishment you can dish out?"
"Yeah."
"That's not fair, he has a right to fight back."
"Why?"
Sailor Moon sighed.
"This is going to take some work I see," she muttered.
"No it's not, now leave me alone," Venus said.
"Uh..no," Sailor Moon said. "You seem to be taking this hard. And what about all this Visara stuff."
"Sailor Moon, I want to help Azura, she helped me, I want to repay her, and I think she's right."
"You're going to help her, by supporting her when she meets with Visara."
"I want to do more. I do so little, all these things happen and I do things wrong."
"What?"
"That's right, why do you think this is such a big deal. It's because every decision I've made has been wrong. To two time Mike, to try and sing, to help Azura get her vengance, it's all been wrong."
"You've made some mistakes. Singing wasn't wrong."
"Raye thinks so."
"Raye can be a jerk sometimes. I liked it."
"But it means more if she says it."
"Maybe, but Raye isn't in the habit of being so nice. But if this is what it's all about then we should talk."
"Later okay..when it's peaceful."
"But.."
"Later okay.."
Sailor Moon nodded
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