Chapter 247
"This is going to be tricky," Amy said staring at a battle map.
"Is Guardian Saturn a good strategist?" General Tresia asked.
"Good enough to think the same way I was thinking," Amy aid.
Tresia nodded.
"But on the whole, how good at this do you think he is?" Lord Rekar asked.
"Neither of us are tacticians normally, we do posess a high level of intelligence though," Amy said. "We are related."
"Oh that's right," Rekar said. "This should be interesting to see how you two fight each other."
"I'm curious why do you continue knowing your brother is helping them?" Tresia asked.
"We've both made choices, neither of us know which side would be better off winning," Amy said. "It's better that there's one of us on each side. There's a greater chance one of us will be on the good side."
"And what if we were by chance both good," Rekar asked.
"Even better."
"And if we're both bad?"
"Then it makes no difference either," Amy said.
"I see," Rekar said.
"I have to ask though, would you be as vigorously committed to defeating your own brother as you would be to defeating just anyone over there?" Tresia asked.
"No, I'd be more committed," Amy said. "I'd like to see if I can beat him."
She grinned.
"After all, no one's getting killed right?" she added. "This will be interesting."
"It was your idea," Rekar said cutting off a very obvious statement Tresia was about to make.
"Hmmm..just where will you try to attack Greg?" Amy asked looking at the map.
"Are you sure you're up to taking on your own sister?" Vitar asked.
"Half sister," Greg said.
"Whatever.."
"Sure, I'm curious to see just well I can do."
"Yes..I have to ask though. How will it affect you knowing she's over there?"
"It will modify my strategy, but not my motivation. I've got protect the students of my school, I don't know what they might do over there. I'd like to think it was nothing, but since I'm not sure."
"Hmm..let's hope you're right about everything," Vitar said.
"So Vitar, you met her, what do you think she would do?" Greg asked.
"That's your job to find out."
"Well..I know, but best guess," Greg said.
"Uh..I have no idea," Vitar said.
"Me too.."
Vitar sighed.
"You're supposed to know."
"No.I'm supposed to guess," Greg said.
"Well? Guess."
"I'll try," Greg said. "She's pretty smart."
"So are you."
"That's the only thing going for me,"Greg said.
"Well duh," Vitar said. "Have you met her in combat before?"
"Once..she practically killed me."
"Literally?"
"Yes," Greg said.
"Oh.." Vitar said. "I'm not gonna ask."
"Wise choice," Greg said.
Setsuna awoke slowly and looked around.
"Where am I?"
"Setsuna?" Miss Haruna said walking in. "You're finally awake."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Several days," Haruna said.
"Oh..where is this?"
"You're in a hotel in the capital city of Martoria."
"Where?"
"As I understand it, we're on another planet in another dimension."
"I see.." Setsuna said rising slowly.
"Don't push it," Haruna said. "You've been through a lot it seems."
"I feel fine," Setsuna said. "Another planet in another dimension? That would explain what I felt."
"What did you feel?" Haruna asked.
"It's too hard to explain. I don't doubt your intelliegence, but.."
"Do you know what's going on though?"
"No..not really," Setsuna said. "But I..do have some knowledge of these matters. The school what happened?"
"It was transported here, the students are all in these rooms. Except for the scouts that is."
"Where are they?" Setsuna asked.
"Well Greg was here, but he's involved in a little war they're fighting."
"War?"
"Yes, I can bring you up to speed later. But the other scouts are somewhere else on the planet."
"Oh..so you haven't heard from any of them but Greg?"
"That's right," Haruna said.
"How are the students taking it?"
"They're beginning to settle in. It was rough at first, and Urawa Ryo didn't take it well?"
"Didn't expect him too. So why don't you tell me all that's happened all right?"
"No problem," Haruna said. "Let's see..where do I begin. It's a long story."
"I believe I have the time," Setsuna said.
"Uh..yeah.okay..here goes..."
"She'd never expect a frontal assault," Greg said. "But then again, they usually don't work anyway."
"True," Vitar said.
"I'd hate to have to do this full time."
Vitar grinned.
"So..Vitar...do we have any artillery?"
"Artillery? Sure do, we use it in the center. It uses up a lot of magical energy so both sides don't have too much of it though"
"What can it do?"
"Lob an energy projective several hundred feet."
"I see," Greg said. "Is it ever used at close range?"
"Close range?" Vitar asked. "Hmm...we don't let our artillery get too close, you see we can't shut the things off once started, well not without letting the wizard know and that takes time. So..we don't risk losing it to the enemy."
"I see...can it be hidden?"
"Hidden?"
"I mean if we covered it with bushes."
"Yeah I guess," Vitar said.
"But we'd need the bushes, and out in the field."
"I didn't mean out in the field I meant on our right flank."
"Hmm...yeah, we could do that."
"Have half of our artillery placed there," Greg said.
"Okay..it sounds a little strange."
"Good, it should sound strange," Greg said.
"But what about the rest of the army?"
"I'll figure that out," Greg said. "Just strengthen the right flank with infantry from the center."
"Okay," Vitar said. "I don't know what you're thinking, but it might work whatever it is."
"I hope so."
"Of course, it might also set us up to get beaten big time."
"I know," Greg said.
"He's moving his artillery?" Amy asked.
"We don't know, it's dark out, but we can hear the movement," Tresia said.
"Hmm...well what do you think he's up to?" She asked.
The two shrugged.
"No idea? Me neither," Amy said. "But..keep me informed. He's gotta be moving it somewhere."
The two nodded.
"Oh..and how much artillery of our own do we have?" Amy asked.
"I'll get that information for you?" Tresia asked.
"You're really getting into this," Rekar said.
"Yes, well..I want to win. But Lord Rekar, any word on Neptune and Pluto?"
"Oh..as a matter of fact, I believe two members of our reconascience party returned. They are being debriefed."
"Does that mean Neptune and Pluto are back?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll find out," Rekar asked.
"Is it done?" Greg asked.
"Yes, the artillery is on the flank," Vitar said.
"Uh..Guardian," Tarsuk said walking in. "About this maneuver, just what are you planning?"
"I hope to lure their army into a trap. Can you two make sure our soldiers disguise their numbers as much as possible on the flank?" Greg asked.
"Sure, we can hide that there are twice as many people but our center can't hold for very long," Tarsuk said.
"No..but where's your cavalry?" Greg asked.
"Cavalry?" Tarsuk asked.
"What do you mean?" Vitar asked.
"Horsemen with weapons," Greg said.
"You mean the horskriders," Tarsuk said.
"Whatever, how many of them do you have?"
"Several hundred," Tarsuk said. "But we need them to locate the enemy horskmen and screen our movement."
"No...we'll take a chance," Greg said. Move your horskmen to the right flank and conceal them. It's my hope that we can lure the enemy to the center, and then we hit their flanks."
"I see," Tarsuk said. "I will do as you say, but I hope you know what you're doing."
"So do I," Vitar said.
"Uh..I have some somewhat bad news," Rekar said.
"What?" Amy said with concern.
"Uh..Guardian Pluto and Guardian Neptune have deserted," Rekar said. "They met up with a group of the enemy in the forest and decided to join them."
"They did? Why?"
"I don't know," Rekar said.
Amy sighed.
"That's like them. They didn't trust you," Amy said.
"Yes, but we have more pressing concerns," Rekar said.
"But if they're on the other side..."
"I meant the resistance, not this army. We are keeping any eye on that front. You worry about this one."
"Where is General Tresia?" Amy asked.
"You called?" Tresia asked hurrying in. "I have your artillery information."
"Good, we have a few things to discuss. I think I have an idea," Amy said.
"Very well, I'm ready," Tresia said.
"While they're attacking our center, if they do, we won't have a lot of time for our flank attack to work," Tarsuk said.
"I know," Greg said. "We'll have to work fast."
"Aye...but we'll fight em hard, we'll get you the time you need," Vitar said.
"This is risky," Tarsuk said.
"I know," Greg said.
And at resistance headquarters.
"Visara Serena sent us back here. She says it's very important," Sy said.
"Well we're having a bit of a problem convincing the other scouts to joins us" Haruka asked.
"What? Well how could I help?" Visara said.
"You have to come with us," Sy said.
"Why?" Visara said.
"They wanted to meet someone from the resistance, I figured you'd want to go," Haruka said.
"But Sy is a member."
"A high ranking member," Haruka said.
"Hmm..." Visara muttered glancing at both of them. "Very well. Just where do you want me to go."
The three were soon hurrying out of the cave.
"What happened?" Azura said angrilly joining the group of scouts.
"The army guys escaped and we trashed your amazons," Guardian Neptune said.
"Sorry," Guardian Pluto said.
"How dare you two betray us," Azura said drawing her sword.
"We were never on your side to start with," Guardian Neptune said.
"That's true," Sailor Neptune said. "And now it's really not a matter of sides anymore."
"It is to me," Azura said. "I'm going to meet with the other amazons and we're going to take on Visara. This time for good."
"There are other ways to settle this," Sailor Mars said.
"There is no other way," Azura said. "I decided that along time ago."
"Well..it's not going to happen," Sailor Neptune said.
"We won't let you," Sailor Moon said. "It's painful for you. I can see that. But talk to us, let out your frustrations, guilt, all of it. We'll listen."
Azura looked at all of them.
"I guess you would," she said. "But I don't want your sympathy. I just want Visara."
The eagle coasted to a stop above. The group tensed. The three got off of the bird.
"Now what is..." Visara stopped and went white. "Azur...."
"Visara," Azura said coldly and moved forward. The scouts pushed their way in front of her and held her back.
"Let me go!" Azura shouted.
"Yes let her..if she wants to settle this..I accept it," Visara said.
"You will do more than accept it," Azura said. "I will strike you dead right here."
"Wait a second hold on!" Sailor Moon said.
"Why did you have me brought here?" Visara snapped.
"Because we are going to settle this, but not with blood," Sailor Moon said. "Enough have died already."
"I demand revenge!" Azura snapped.
"You won't get it," Sailor Mars said.
The scouts stood between the two.
"Now listen both of you. We know the story. We know it well," Sailor Moon said. "Now it's time for you two to talk again. To talk about it."
"What is there to talk about?" Azura said. "You know what she did."
"And haven't you ever loved anyone Azura?" Visara asked.
"Love is not permitted," Azura said.
"Wrong, marriage is not permitted, love is," Visara said. "I didn't know he was in the resistance, and I would have loved him even if he was. But to see him down there...ready to have his life destroyed..I just couldn't do it."
"And how many innocent lives did you destroy... did you prevent me from saving?"
"I saved your life."
"I didn't want to survive!"
"You can't mean that," Visara said. "You enjoyed life."
"Not after that day," Azura said. "All I had was my duty. No love, no friends, and that hanging over my head thanks to you. It's your fault."
"Maybe..it is...but I've tried to redeem myself."
"How?"
"How..by protecting this land from the Zaiesk, from everyone."
"The Zaiesk are the ones who will restore peace."
"The Zaiesk are the reason several thousand people died. The reason there was a resistance in the first place. Their ways are outdated and wrong."
"You used to swear by their ways!" Azura said.
"And now I don't. Look what it did to me. I was responsible for the deaths of thousands, my love died in the blast. That's what those ways got me. And those ways got you years of misery," Visara said.
"You gave me that misery."
"If you had been in my place you would have done the same," Visara said. Azura lunged forward only to be grabbed and pulled back down by the scouts.
"She's probably right," Sailor Uranus said.
"I wouldn't let others die for my love," Azura said.
"Sometimes you can't prevent it, Visara said.
"You ruined my life Azura."
"And I ruined mine as well," Visara said. "I only wish I hadn't taken you with me."
"You don't mean that. You should have let me die there."
"And what would that have accomplished another meaningless death?"
"She's got a point," Sailor Moon said.
"My life is worth nothing," Azura said. "All I had was waiting I did waiting for the day when I could kill you."
"Very well...if that is what is necessary I will allow it," Visara said and stood up.
"Visara..no.." Sy said.
"I will not apologize," Visara said. "I have apologized to the victims, I have made penance, I am now trying to redeem myself. But if you choose to kill me so be it."
Visara stood forward her arms at her side. Azura stood.
"Please scouts, let her do as she would," Visara said.
"She has that right," Sailor Uranus said.
"I don't think we should," Sailor Moon said.
"No..let them settle this," Sailor Neptune said. The group moved aside hesitantly Azura raised her sword.
"If you think this is the answer Azura.." Visara said.
Azura rasied her sword and moved it towards Visara. The group tensed.
Sailor Uranus slowly held her own sword at the ready.
Azura glared at Visara. Visara stared back.
"You shouldn't have to hesitate," Visara said. "Should you?"
Azura looked at her and swung her sword. Visara stood still as the sword cut through her shirt. Azura pulled back her sword leaving the cut through Azura's clothing.
"You would have let me do it wouldn't you?" she asked.
"Yes.." Visara said.
Azura dropped her sword.
"I don't know what I want anymore," she said. "But Visara how can you use those murderers you call a resistance to do your work. What do you stand for?"
"Azura, I don't ask who my associates are. I feared some of them might be from that element. But not all of them are. Most of them aren't. They're good people. I can see the amazon brainwashing machine is still at it's height," Visara said.
"But some of them are..really.." Sailor Venus said.
"That maybe true," Visara said. "But some would call me a murderer too."
"But these are cutthroats," Sailor Mars said.
"Yes..they are aren't they?" Visara said. "And I know who you mean. I see...the memory mirror. Oh..dear..they got you didn't they?"
"They did," Azura said. "But what they saw happened."
Visara grinned.
"The memory mirror....well...I guess I can't fault you for believing it. Trust me girls. What it shows was wrong."
"It showed you," Venus said.
"Well they didn't have to make that one up," Visara said solemly. "But come on..all of you..let us return to my base. We can settle things there."
"Visara..I don't want to go," Azura said.
"You can't go anywhere else Azura. I'm not asking you to join us. I'm asking you to come get some food, warmth, friendship. Then you may go wherever you wish."
"Very well," Azura said.
The group was soon flying through the air.
"So what is wrong with the memory mirror?" Mars asked.
"Okay..Mars tell me a memory you had," Visara said.
"Large balding man entered a room, used an energy sword to kill several people," Mars said.
"Ah..Toisa," Visara said. "Toisa stunned a group of people in Zaiesk and took their money. "Later on a real killer killed them all. Toisa was tried for murder, even though he didn't do it."
"So they put two memories toghether to make it all fit," Sailor Neptune said. "I warned you."
"That's right. Toisa found the real murderer and killed him before escaping to join me. He had no where else to go. Maybe I do have a murderer or two among the group, but it's not like it's so easy to judge people is it?" Visara asked.
"You're right," Azura said. "I so wanted to hate you. I believed everything I was told."
"And were slightly nieve," Venus said.
"The memories were so vivid, I couldn't believe they were anything but real," Mars said. "How did they do it?"
"Even I don't know," Visara said. "But the ability to mess with a person's memory sounds pretty troublesome doesn't it?"
The group nodded.
"That's the Zaiesk for you," Visara said. "Trust me. They are not the good guys."
"Visara, there are many among us who are good hearted," Azura said.
"Like you, yes..that's true, but the leaders are power hungry. They use propaganda and if they win, it will be terror for everyone," Visara said.
"Our people live well," Azura said.
"So you've been told," Visara said.
"There is some advantage to stability by force," Azura said.
"Agree," Sailor Uranus interjected. "But you two shouldn't argue about it. This is stressful enough as it is."
"Hmm..you are right," Visara said. "Azura..let's forget about the past, we can both change the future."
"I will try," Azura said.
The scouts were hopeful this had solved their problems.
"We're in position," Tarsuk said peeking over a bush.
"Good," Guardian Saturn said. "Have they made a move yet?"
"Not yet," Tarsuk said.
"All right, we'll wait here. The combined onslaught should be too much for them."
"Let's hope," Vitar said.
There was a large crack followed by shouting.
"There we go," Tarsuk said.
A messanger rode down from a hill.
"The enemy is advancing on our center," he said.
"Good," Tarsuk said. "With your permission I will join the army."
"It's your command," Saturn said. "We'll hit them when they don't expect it."
Five minutes passed. The sound of the battle in the center commenced.
"Looks like it's time," Vitar said.
"Right, open fire!" Saturn shouted. A barrage of artillery flew through the trees and blasted the enemy line. The group then charged forward hitting the enemy flank.
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!" Saturn shouted and flung his attack, the enemy line broke and ran, Saturn and his small division hurried across the land, until there was a large crash. The ground shook and energy exploded up through it. The army was hit with a barrage of energy from below and blown upward. Saturn was flung to the ground. He saw Vitar hit and fall. The area was littered with stunned army troops.
Saturn lost conciousness.
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