TWELVE
"My cyborg failed again. Hmph no surprise there. Well I'll just have to repair it," Coardite said. "In the meantime. Hexio. Come here!"
A man dressed in the uniform of a negaverse officer appeared in front of him.
"Well, Hexio. I see you're in uniform for once. Barely," Coardite said. Hexio had a cape slung over his shoulder which went across his chest and down the other side and was knotted in his belt. At his right was a sword. His neck collar was non existent.
"What do you want me to do?" Hexio asked.
"This is the target," Coardite said. A projection of a girl with red hair appeared in the air.
"Why?" Hexio asked.
"I don't know," Coardite said. "What I do know is that she has been involved in negaverse activities in the past. The traitor Nephlite saw something in her before he was killed. Furthermore, it seems every time this girl is attacked, the Sailor Scouts show up in short order. Now do you understand?"
"I think so. I'm to attack her, to draw out the Sailor Scouts and then I destroy them."
"Right. Capture this girl then stand your ground. The Sailor Scouts always arrive in a piecemeal fashion. Hopefully you'll be able to take out one or two at a time."
"Understood. This mission seems worthy of my attention. I'll make my
preparations," he said and vanished in a flash of light.
Amy arrived at school at the usual time, twenty minutes early. She found the room was empty. She had soon her made her way to her seat and took about a book. About five minutes later, Melvin came in the door. He said nothing and sat down. He was probably still worried about her opinion of him after the whole business with the file. That had certainly raised some questions in all of their minds, but in the end, it seemed that letting their imaginations run away with them wasn't the thing to do.
Two minutes later, Steve walked into the room.
"Hey Amy," he said and then moved towards Melvin.
"Melvin, my man. I heard you've got something I'd like to have a look at," Steve said.
"Which is?" Melvin asked.
"That little file on Patterson," Steve said.
"Quiet! Someone will hear you." Melvin said.
"Oh...sorry," Steve whispered. "Can I see it? I'll pay ya."
"Well...how much?" Melvin asked.
"Ten bucks," Steve said.
"Wow, sure you can see it," Melvin said gleefully. "I've got it right here. Give me the ten bucks first."
"Here," Steve said and gave him a bill.
"Okay," Melvin said and pocketed it. He reached into his book bag and pulled the file out and handed it to Steve. Steve took it.
"Wow! Look at this!" he yelled loudly.
"Hey! Keep it down!" Melvin said.
"Too late," Steve said.
"What?" Melvin said. Then he saw what. Principal Oksua appeared in the doorway.
"Well...Melvin...what might that be?" Oksua asked walking up. He took the file from Steve.
"Hmm...do you know how much trouble you're in Melvin?" Oksua asked.
"Um..a lot?" Melvin muttered meekly.
"Yes. A lot. Come on," Oksua said and he and Melvin left the room. As they passed the out the door Melvin saw Patterson was leaning against the wall. Patterson grinned. Melvin frowned.
"He set me up didn't he?" he muttered.
"Yes he did Melvin. Of course you wouldn't have the trouble if you hadn't stolen his file in the first place," Oksua said.
"How did he know though?"
"I wouldn't know, but from what he said you were showing a lot of people. Let's go down to my office to discuss your punishment."
They soon had left the floor and were heading down the stairs.
Patterson entered the room and pulled out a ten dollar bill"
"Ah..the payment," Steve said.
"Here you are," Patterson said and gave it to Steve.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Steve said and walked out.
"Didn't he only gain back what he'd lost?" Amy asked.
"No, I gave him the other ten too," Patterson said nervously and looked down at the floor.
"So how'd you know Melvin had the file?"
"I know these things," Patterson said meekly.
"What?" Amy said not understanding what he said.
"I said I know these things," Patterson said.
Amy decided to discontinue the conversation. Soon the room had filled with students with the exception of Serena and Molly who both arrived late. Miss Haruna was less than generous.
"Well Serena's late again. No surprise there," she muttered. "Molly. This is a rarity. Is something the matter?"
"No," Molly answered quickly.
"All right then. Anyone seen Melvin?" Haruna asked.
"Uh...he's down in the principal's office being given ten years of community service," Patterson said.
"How would you know?" Haruna asked.
"Because I put him there," Patterson said.
"You are so strange," Haruna said.
"You're the not first person to tell me that," Patterson replied.
"Why do I always get the weird ones?" Haruna asked herself and began the
lesson.
"So what are you in for?" Serena muttered as Molly and Melvin walked into Miss Haruna's room after school. Serena of course knew by now what both of them were 'in for'. It just sounded like an appropriate comment.
"Can you believe my luck, I got set up today. I'm going to be staying after school for the next month," Melvin said.
"Woah. That's bad," Serena said.
"Actually, it's lenient," Molly said. "What did you do again? Break into the school's files? I'd have thought they would have expelled you."
"Well...I'm told that someone intervened on my behalf," Melvin said and took a seat.
"What about you Molly? You're not usually late," Serena said.
"No I'm not," she said and sat down right next to Serena. "I had a terrible night last night. There were all these nightmares. I didn't fall asleep till five o clock, then I overslept," Molly said.
"Nightmares? What were they about?" Serena asked.
"You know how I told you all those things about the negaverse?" She whispered.
"Yeah."
"Well the dreams were about it and Maxfield was there too."
"You're kidding?"
"No. It was terrible though. There were times I was reliving his death and all the pain that came with it," she said shedding a tear.
"Hey...it's all right Molly, we all have nightmares. Maybe it's just stress."
"I don't think it is Serena. I have this dreadful fear something's going to happen. Something bad," Molly said.
"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine," Serena said. Something
terrible? I wonder what it could be? Now I'm scared. She thought.
After they were let out of detention Serena offered to walk Molly home. Melvin also offered to help, seeing that Molly wasn't in great shape. Molly didn't have the will or the strength to refuse and the three set off.
They had reached Molly's house and she was heading for her door.
"Thanks for the help," she said. "Would you like to come in for some food or something?"
"Sure," the two said.
The three walked in the door. To their shock they found Molly's mother lying on the floor.
"Mom!" Molly yelled and ran to her. She crouched over her mother and examined her.
"Oh no, it's the..." Molly said with fear as Hexio appeared in the air next to her.
"Hello," he said.
"Oh no you don't!" Melvin yelled and charged at Hexio.
"Please," Hexio said in disgust and floated out of the way. Melvin tripped and stumbled. He hit the floor hard and knocked himself out.
"Now to business. Come quietly Molly and none of your friends will get hurt," Hexio said and yawned. He didn't even notice that Serena was the girl that Coardite had told him was Sailor Moon in one of their briefings.
Molly froze in fear. Serena began to worry.
A vase of flowers sat near the door. She grabbed it and flung it at Hexio. He was so busy staring down Molly he didn't see it until it smashed into his head. It stunned him momentarily.
"You dare!" he yelled and blasted both Molly and Melvin with each of his hands. Serena backed up against the door.
"I have something more painful in store for you! No one messes with Hexio!" the negaverse officer bellowed. "Wait a minute, you're that girl. SAILOR MOON!" he realized.
Serena quickly pulled open the door and raced out before Hexio could attack. Hexio followed. She dashed down the sidewalk looking for a place to hide. Nothing looked safe. Hexio was right on her heels.
"Running will get you nowhere!" he cried and shot a blast of energy in front of her. A big hole appeared. She dodged it and ran right, he followed her down another street. Building up his energy he shot again. She screamed and tripped as she stumbled out of the way. She fell flat on her face. He approached her.
"Hah. It's over," he said. She picked up a stone and threw it into his right eye. He yelled.
"You'll pay for that!" he screamed. She scurried up and ran down the sidewalk again.
"I've had enough of your games girl!" he yelled and pursued.
On a rooftop nearby, Maverick perched. He watched the chase and readied his sword.
He lined up his sword ready to shoot out a beam of light.
"Ready, aim..." he said. Something flew through the air and stuck into his gloved hand. He yelled in surprise and dropped his sword. He looked down to see that the object that had hit him was a red rose.
Maverick whirled around in shock.
"You!" he said.
"What do you think you're up to pal?" Tuxedo Mask said.
"Trying to save your girlfriend," Maverick said.
"I don't know who you are, but from what I saw you were about to ambush her with the help of your negaverse friend there."
"Hey buddy. I'm one of the good guys. We don't have time for this. Serena's in trouble. You know you're her girlfriend."
"How would you know that if you weren't from the negaverse?"
"I get around," Maverick said and removed the rose from his hand.
"Serena can handle herself, but if you get away, I could be leaving her open to more harm!" Tuxedo Mask yelled and lunged at him, his staff drawn.
"I don't want to fight you!" Maverick said dodging out of the way.
"Too bad!" Tuxedo Mask said.
"Fine! If that's how you want to play it!" Maverick said. The two separated and squared off. Maverick readied his sword. Tuxedo Mask readied his staff. They charged at each other. Maverick swung with the butt of his sword. Tuxedo Mask blocked it and countered, slamming his staff into Maverick's head. He went down apparently unconscious. His sword fell from his hand.
"Now for your friend," Tuxedo Mask said and turned away to look off the roof. Serena and Hexio were gone.
"Where'd they?" he asked himself and leapt off the roof. He floated downward to where they had been. He looked around worriedly.
Come on instincts. Tell me where to go. He thought. Then he noticed the sewer grate.
She wouldn't have? Would she? He thought and entered the sewer. Unknown to the hero, Maverick was landing on the ground behind him.
I could have kicked his butt. Still I had to get rid of him. Hmm..the sewer.
Dirty job, but someone has to do it. He thought. Hmm..maybe I can cut them off.
He said and ran down a side street.
Serena raced down the dark damp corridor. Hexio was right behind her.
"Why'd you have to come down here?" he muttered. "It's so dark and ugly."
"That's your problem," Serena said and ducked into a side tunnel. She passed another grate. An ingenious thought came to her. She swung the grate around. It slammed right into Hexio and knocked him backwards into the murky water. In addition, he now had a barrier to burn through. She ran down the corridor quickly.
Now if I can just get to the surface. She thought. She pulled out her crystal right before the ground exploded right behind her. The crystal flew from her hand and she was thrown forward several feet, landing on the hard floor hard. She winced. She scurried around in the dark searching for the transformation crystal.
"Where is it?" She said hurriedly.
"You mean this?" Hexio said emerging from the shadows holding the transformation crystal in his right hand. Serena gasped.
"And now..." Hexio began.
He didn't notice the red rose flying towards his back. It hit him and he screamed in pain.
"What?" he said and whirled around.
"I'm back," Tuxedo Mask said standing at the other end of the tunnel.
"Hmm...figures," Hexio said. Serena reached up and snatched her crystal out of Hexio's hand.
"Moon Crystal Power!" She yelled.
"I'll get you!" Hexio yelled and grabbed Sailor Moon by the neck.
"No!" Tuxedo Mask and the newly arrived. Maverick yelled simultaneously and each used their long range attacks. Hexio yelled as they hit with precision. Sailor Moon fell to the ground.
"Time to take out the trash!" Sailor Moon yelled and made her scepter appeared.
"Moon Scepter Elimination!" She yelled. The white blast illuminated the sewer as Hexio died in front of them.
"Whew," Sailor Moon said and then realized something. "Tuxedo Mask. You're back!" she yelled and ran towards him.
"Let's wait till we get outside," Tuxedo Mask said.
"All right," Sailor Moon said and they walked towards the way out. Maverick disappeared into the gloom of the sewers. They made their way down the tunnel.
"What are all these holes for?" Sailor Moon asked pointing at the ceiling.
"I don't know," Tuxedo Mask said. They found out as a load of dirty water was dumped on top of them.
"Yuck!" Sailor Moon yelled.
"Well we found out what they were for," Tuxedo Mask said as they emerged from the sewer.
"I didn't want to find out that way," Sailor Moon whined.
"Here," came a cry from above. On the street above the sewer, Maverick was standing. He flung his cape down to them.
"I can get another one somewhere," he said.
"Thanks," Sailor Moon cried back and began to dry herself as he walked off.
"So he was telling the truth. He's a good guy," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Where have you been? He's saved everyone once or twice at least," Sailor Moon said. "That's not important now. Right now we have a lot of catching up to do," she said.
"After we get out of these clothes," She added.
"Right," Tuxedo Mask said.
Later the two, back in human form, were sitting in Darrien's apartment.
"You didn't call," Serena said.
"I lost your number," Darrien said.
"I hope you did," Serena said somewhat sorrowfully.
"You don't believe me?" Darrien asked in surprise.
"Well....I..." Serena began to say.
The doorbell rang. Darrien got up and answered it. Maverick stood there.
"I've been waiting for you to get back so I could give you this. I assume it's important," he said and handed Darrien the book Serena's phone number was written in. Serena watched the whole thing.
"You we're telling the truth," Serena said.
"Sure he was. It fell out of his jacket at the airport before he left, don't ask how I know that, good night," Maverick said and walked away.
"And to think you didn't believe me," Darrien said.
"Could you blame me after all I've been through?" Serena asked.
"No I couldn't. I guess things have been tough on you while I've been gone."
"Well the negaverse is just part of it. That's bad enough, but for some reason I'm not the person that's stumbling into all the trouble all the time," Serena said.
"That's good," Darrien said.
"Yeah. Well, but then's there been my schoolwork. Amy's right. I need to do better or I'm going nowhere, but she's been resorting to some drastic measures to get me to work."
"Amy? You're kidding."
"Come on Darrien. You know that beneath that nice innocent frame of hers is the cold calculating mind of a evil mad scientist," Serena said. "And she's got the courage to use it too."
"Well Amy is awfully courageous, but if she's helping you I suggest you let her."
"It's not easy. So tell me about your trip."
"My trip was nothing compared to what's been going on with you. I want to hear more about you."
"Um...okay.."
"Let's start right where we left off . Okay?"
"Well sure," Serena said.
"Good."
"Um...Darrien?" Serena said.
"What?"
"Kiss me."
Darrien did.
"I've been waiting a weeks for that. Everyone else had boyfriend around except me," Serena said after a while.
"The others have boyfriends now?" Darrien said in disbelief.
"I thought we were talking about me."
"Okay. You're right. Go ahead."
"Well I'm not sure about those guys."
"I thought you were talking about yourself."
"I am," She said, slightly offended.
"Sorry," Darrien said. "Go on"