CHAPTER 24
In his office high atop Jade Corp tower, Jaedite stared out at the city and smiled.
"This will all be mine, and only mine. Not Beryl's or anyone else's. This planet will be my dominion," he said. The door opened. Argosante was standing there. His armor had been taken off revealing just a bulky humanoid form with pale skin. He was wearing a suit like Jaedite was.
"Ah..Argosante, there, that makes you look much less conspicuous. We'll have to do something about your skin color though," Jaedite said.
"Yes Jaedite. Though I'd prefer to remain in my armor whenever possible," Argosante said.
"Of course. It's just when you're seen around here, you should look humanoid. I don't know who may be watching, and I'd rather keep suspicion as low as possible, just as a precaution."
"Yes Jaedite. Um...may I ask a question?"
"Yes, if you ask it carefully," Jaedite said.
"Why have all our attacks been on Tokyo? The first negaverse expedition attacked here. Coardite attacked here. Supposedly some other negaverse attack was here at some point. Some Dark Moon time travel operation. I don't know much about it."
"Hmm..I don't know why, but if I remember correctly, our power is much more potent here for some reason. Queen Beryl mentioned it. I think it's because when the negaverse owned this planet over a thousand years ago, our headquarters was here on the present site of Tokyo. We built our power here, and I guess the residual effect gives us strength, so we attack here first."
"Would it not be easier to conquer the rest of the planet and then wipe out these meddlesome Sailor Scouts?"
"Possibly, but no one's tried that. I have no idea what effect negaenergy has outside of a certain range. Besides, I'm here now, and I don't have the energy to move my operations, so it doesn't concern me."
"Of course Jaedite. I was just curious."
"Curiosity can be useful, to a point," Jaedite said.
"Yes sir. Do you have any orders for me yet?"
"As a matter of fact I do. What is the status of our army?"
"It is almost ready. We have almost completely assimilated the entire corporation."
"Good. You won't need them yet. I'm taking a risk and using some of my remaining energy for this mission."
"I will do my best to carry it out."
"I have no doubt that you will and this should not fail. We will succeed right under the Sailor Scout's noses. In fact they may never find out. The humans have a curious energy source here. It is called Nuclear Fission. I've been studying it."
"Nuclear Fission?"
"Yes...see it has something to do with the splitting of subatomic particles. We never needed to use this because we had negaenergy. Needless to say it is an interesting concept. The point is, whether you understand how it works our not, they use radioactive minerals to produce energy, vast quantities of it at power plants. I have found one of them which is very isolated from their population centers. Most of them are but this is especially isolated. You are to go there and to take over the plant quietly. Turn the workers over to our side, but let them keep their consciousness so they can follow their daily routines."
"Like we do for the workers here," Argosante said. What Argosante meant was that in the course of converting the employees of Jade Corp to their servants, they had secretly implanted negaenergy in them, but also let the humans maintain their human consciousness until they were needed. When this was occurring the humans had no clue what they would become, and went about their day as normal. By doing this, Jaedite didn't have to worry about anyone noticing peculiar habits exhibited by the employees which would then attract attention to him.
"Start collecting this nuclear energy and return it here. This will give us more power," Jaedite "But be careful. Evidently this energy can be unstable and capable of causing massive destruction."
"Really? I'm sure we could survive it," Argosante said.
"No. None of us could," Jaedite said.
"Then wouldn't it be a great weapon?"
"No Argosante. I want this world intact. Killing humans only deprives me of an energy source and destroying things when I don't have to serves no purpose," Jaedite said.
"I understand," Argosante said.
"Good. A car is waiting downstairs. Get ready for battle and then go. The driver knows the address."
"Yes Jaedite," Argosante said and bowed turning to walk out.
"Nuclear Power, capable of destroying this planet? How have idiotic humans
been able to survive with that sort of destructive power. I'm doing them a favor
taking over," Jaedite said.
At Crossroads Junior High School it was lunch time yet again. Today the lunch table was surprisingly quiet. Raye and Rick didn't talk or even look at each other. The other girls and the two boys didn't really feel comfortable starting a conversation with the two at odds like that.
What is her problem? Rick wondered.
Why can't he just figure it out? Raye thought.
What's up with them? Lita thought.
Jeez...looks like Rick did something stupid. Steve thought.
I wonder why Raye looks so angry. Wait a minute. She always looks angry. Mina thought.
I forgot my donut at home. I'll have to eat it later. Mike thought.
Hmm...I hope they patch this up soon, I don't like my friends split like this. Amy thought.
Hah hah. Raye's having man troubles! Serena thought laughing inside.
"I don't know what your problem is," Rick began.
"Then we have nothing to talk about," Raye snapped.
"What? Hey, this isn't fair," Rick said. "At least tell me what's annoying you."
"I shouldn't have to," Raye said.
"I'm not a mind reader," he said.
That's a good thing. Everyone else thought.
"Rick, it's not a matter of that. Look, if you can't figure it out, then maybe we're not right for each other," Raye said.
"Really? Well...then...maybe we're not," Rick said angrily and stood up taking his food with him.
"Let's go," Mike whispered.
"Why?" Steve said.
"She might look for retribution on the male gender and we'd be her first targets."
"Good point," Steve said and the two stood up and followed Rick. The three ended up sitting down where Patterson was reading an astronomy magazine, with the cover headline.
Can we see the Moons of Uranus?
"That's just great Raye. Now you drove off our boyfriends too," Lita muttered.
"Sorry!" Raye shouted and walked away from the table. As soon as she was out of sight from the lunch plaza and half way back to her school she began to cry.
"Okay, so that was stupid," Lita admitted.
"I'd better write that down. I would have said the same thing," Mina said without a hint of sarcasm.
"Hmm...this is really serious," Amy said.
"Ehh...they'll get over it," Serena said.
"What?" The other three girls said.
"Oh come on. If you think that's serious what would you think of my relationship? My boyfriend dies, comes back but loses his memory, thinks he should dump me to save my life, and then moves away for a couple of weeks and doesn't call, yet we're still together. And that's with me as a participant. Think about it. Raye and Rick are stronger willed than I usually am. They'll have to get back together if they really like each other," Serena said. The other three girls sat in stunned silence.
"What?" Serena asked.
"That is the most intelligent and romantic thing you have ever said," the three girls said in unison.
"Oh, well....hooray for me!" Serena shouted.
"Ah good, she hasn't been taken over by an alien intelligence," the others
muttered.
"So you have no idea what the problem is?" Mike asked.
"No, I beat up a guy who was making the moves on her. He was dangerous," Rick said.
"Yeah, what's the problem with that?" Steve said.
"I would have done the same for Mina," Mike said.
"Hey, yeah. If someone was bothering Lita I'd fight him," Steve said.
"Yeah, see..you guys know what I'm saying. Yet now she's so upset," Rick said.
"Well we can't help you then," Mike said.
"Yep. We don't have a clue," Steve said.
Rick glanced at Patterson who was still reading the magazine unimpressedly.
"Hey, Patterson," Rick said.
"What?" Patterson muttered putting the magazine down.
"You've been sitting here. What do you think?" Rick asked.
"I don't like to get involved in other people's affairs except under one circumstance," Patterson said.
"I'm asking you to," Rick said.
"I really don't think so," Patterson said.
"Patterson, just do me a favor," Rick said.
"Fine, if it will humor you," Patterson said deadpan.
"Well?" the three guys asked.
"You're action was completely chivalrous. I wish I had the guts do what you did. Stand up for a girl like that," Patterson said. Of course he had done it, but that wasn't the point and he couldn't tell Rick that.
"I'm sure you could if you tried," Mike said.
"Yeah," Steve said.
You don't know the half of it. Patterson thought.
"You were saying Patterson," Rick said.
"Well...Rick....you quote "saved" unquote Raye from this jerk. But what you didn't realize is that she was probably about to belt him herself," Patterson said.
"What?" the three said.
"Raye is a very independent person. She believes that you have to work hard to succeed and you can't count on others to help you. At least that's her basic belief. Her two parents died before she reached aged four Hence her occasional cynicism," Patterson said.
"And how do you know this?" Mike asked.
"Um....well isn't it obvious?" Patterson replied. The three looked at each other.
"Oh...yeah," The three replied. They had no idea, but they weren't about to let him know that.
Whew....that was too easy. Patterson thought.
"So you're saying that Raye's mad at me because I saved her and didn't let her save herself," Rick said.
"Yes. I think so. The only time she accepts help is when she knows she needs it....." Patterson said. "I'd bet," he added to disguise. "She must have felt she could take the punk and so your help wasn't needed."
"Okay, so I should apologize for helping her?" Rick asked.
"I don't know much about this kind of stuff. It's your call," Patterson said.
"Sure...thanks Patterson," Rick said and hurried off.
"Patterson, you're like a god," Mike said.
"Oh, yeah, sure I am, a god from the planet Saturn" Patterson muttered. "I'm probably wrong," he said and began reading his magazine again.
"Hey, Raye's gone. At least we can go back to our table now," Mike said.
"Yeah, we're out of here," Steve said.
"Raye! Wait up!" Rick shouted catching sight of her walking slowly back towards the school.
"Go away Rick!" Raye shouted beneath her sobbing. Rick soon reached her.
"Hey, hey, I'm sorry all right," Rick said.
"What?" Raye said.
"I'm sorry," Rick said.
"Sorry for doing what?" Raye asked.
"For...not realizing what I was doing yesterday," Rick said.
"You mean it?" Raye asked.
"Yeah. I should have let you take him out," Rick said.
"So you finally figured it out," Raye muttered her sobbing stopping.
"Yeah. You know me."
"Who told you. Was it Lita? Mina maybe?" Raye said her ire rising.
"What?" Rick said.
"Oh come on. How could you have figured it out in just these few minutes. One of them must have told you."
"How could they? I didn't think they had a clue what was bugging you either," Rick said.
"You're right. I didn't tell them, but someone must have!"
"Oh come on. Who could have told me? The guys....yeah right..Melvin maybe."
"Okay, okay, you proved your point. It's not like that introverted spying maniac Patterson could have told you right?" Raye said with anger, but then with a laugh.
That worries me. Rick thought.
"No, of course not. Listen I understand now," Rick said.
"Oh do you. So you figured out I wanted to fight the guy. Why?"
"Because you like to take care of yourself," Rick said.
"No!" Raye said.
"What?"
"You still don't know!"
"Maybe if you gave me a multiple choice test I'd figure it out faster," Rick said.
"Okay Rick! See if you can figure this out! The reason I got upset was that you treated me like a girl."
"Aren't you one?" Rick asked hesitantly.
"Of course!" Raye said and bonked him on the head. "But I'm also capable of handling myself."
"See I was right."
"You were close, but not completely there. You see, if Mike or Steve had been bothered by some guy, you would have let them fight the guy wouldn't you?"
"Well sure," Rick said.
"See? Just because I'm a girl, you felt you had to protect me. You knew I could beat that guy up if I chose to didn't you?"
"Well I guess, but I was being the chivalrous boyfriend."
"I don't want you to do that. I want you to treat me like an equal. I don't need protecting," Raye said.
"Okay, I understand. If you had just told me, I would have been fine with that."
"You should have known it."
"Raye. I've had five girlfriends since I entered junior high," Rick said.
"You have?" Raye said in shock.
"Sure."
"Name them?" Raye said.
"Stella, Stella, Stella, Stella, and Stella," Rick said.
"That's the same person!" Raye shouted.
"No, really there were five girls all named Stella," Rick said.
"You've gotta be kidding."
"I am not. I'll show them to you sometime. But anyway, each girl I went out with didn't mind me being chivalrous. When I met you I thought it would be the same. So maybe I didn't perceive what I was supposed to be doing. Okay, I made a mistake, but now that you told me, I've got it."
The two just looked into each others eyes for a minute. Then Raye burst into tears and hugged him.
Woah. I'm the man. Rick thought.
"Oh...Rick...we shouldn't have fought," Raye said and let go. "But....if you're going to be my boyfriend you're going to have to be a bit more perceptive."
"Sure. No problem," Rick said.
"Good," Raye said. "It's too late to go back to lunch, we'll just have to go back to school."
"Sure," Rick said. The two then held hands and walked away.
"Oo...that was so cute," Lita said from behind the bush, she, Mina, Amy, Serena, Mike, and Steve were hiding behind.
"Wow...they really did like each other," Mina said.
"See..I was right," Serena said.
"Hmm...well that's good," Amy said. "I didn't want to see either of them depressed."
"Heh heh, Rick is a stud," Mike said.
"He almost blew it," Steve said.
"Steve's right. Still, Rick is risking that by going out with Raye. She can be trouble," Lita said.
"I'm surprised he's lasted this long," Mina said.
"Ehh...Rick, can handle anything, he's a master," Mike said.
"Glad you think so," Rick said emerging from behind them.
"Wha?" the six said whirling around.
"I noticed you while we were talking. Not very good cover," Raye said. "So I'm trouble am I?" she said menacingly to Lita and Mina who both made silly faces in response.
"You guys are going to be late for class if you don't get back to your schools, see ya," Rick said.
"What a terrible spying job," Raye said with disgust.
And the two walked off.
"I agree," Patterson said hobbling by. "The bush a few feet down provided better cover from all sides and I had a better view."
And he hobbled off. The six just watched him go wide eyed and then glanced at each other.
"This is really disturbing," Serena finally muttered.
Meanwhile at the Onizuka Nuclear Power Plant, Argosante had just used the last of the energy up converting the last workers to his control.
"Jaedite. I have completed phase one," he said to a projection of Jaedite that had appeared in the control room which Argosante was currently occupying.
"Excellent. Now drain off a fourth of the energy and convert it to negaenergy. Then put it into that crystal I gave you," Jaedite said.
"Understood."
"When that is completed, return to base."
"It will take some time."
"Whatever. Take as long as necessary," Jaedite said.
"Understood," Argosante said.
"You know Amy. There's something missing in my life," Serena said as the two of them walked down the street.
"What?" Amy asked.
"Well...with Darrien busy with his college schoolwork, I've had a lot of time to think."
"God forbid you would try and use the time to boost your grades," Amy said sarcastically.
"You really become nuts when school is involved don't you?"
"It's only our futures we're talking about here," Amy said.
"Heh heh, and since it's the future, we'll worry about it later," Serena said with a laugh. "Anyway, I miss chasing guys."
"You do?" Amy asked.
"Yeah, I mean I've got Darrien and I love him, but I mean...I'm only 15. I should still be swooning over every cute guy I see and following them wherever they go and doing stuff like that. You know having crushes that I can never fulfill yet fantasize about them," Serena said. "Don't tell me you don't miss doing that."
"Well....I am only human, but with my work, it just doesn't come up," Amy said blushing. "Besides, as all of you are so fond of pointing out," she added aggressively, "I already have a boyfriend, at least in theory."
"You're hooked, deal with it," Serena muttered. "But you know what I'm saying. I mean all five of us have guys now, there's no more swooning. It's all, my boyfriend took me here, my boyfriend took me there. There's no more, 'Isn't he cute?' 'Boy if I could just have one date with him'," she said dreamily.
"Serena, in a way this doesn't seem wrong, but in another way, I'm beginning to get worried."
"Amy, come on. We're supposed to be silly schoolgirls! Why doesn't the silly stuff happen more often?" Serena asked before being smashed into by a guy on a skateboard.
"Oh...I'm so sorry," the guy said consolingly. Serena looked up and right into the guy's piercing blue eyes.
"Oh...no problem," Serena murmured.
"Let me help you up," the guy said and pulled her off the ground. "I'm so sorry," he said again.
"Don't worry. I fall down all the time," Serena swooned.
Your prayers have been answered. Amy thought.
"Well...I'll see ya," the guy said and skated off.
"Now why doesn't that happen that often anymore?" Serena asked.
"I don't know," Amy said.
"Ow!" Serena said.
"What is it?" Amy said.
"I just got hit in the head with something!" Serena said angrily.
"Again?" Amy asked and looked down to see a letter rolled up and tied with a string. She picked it up and read it.
"What's it say?" Serena asked.
"It says that the negaverse is at the Onizuka Nuclear Power Plant," Amy said.
"It says what?"
"We have to check it out."
"But Amy, we don't know where this came from. It could be a trap," Serena said.
"I'm glad you have the foresight to recognize that possibility, but we have to go," Amy said and pulled out her communicator.
"What is it?" Raye responded almost immediately.
"There's trouble at the Onizuka Nuclear Power Plant," Amy said. "Where are the others?"
"I'm right here," Lita said.
"I'm here too, we're at Raye's temple," Mina said.
"How are we going to get to the power plant though. Isn't it miles away?" Raye asked.
"I could call Darrien," Serena said. "Wait no, he's in class."
"We'll think of something," Amy said and they hurried to Raye's temple.
"This is all we need," Raye muttered as the three stood outside her temple.
"Yeah, I was meeting Mike here," Mina said.
"Same here, for Steve...I mean," Lita said.
"Well Rick's going to be disappointed, but we don't have a choice," Raye said.
"Do we even know where Onizuka power plant is?" Mina asked.
Serena and Amy came running up the steps.
"There you guys are..." Raye said.
"So how are we going to get to the power plant?" Lita asked.
"Transportation has been provided," Serena said.
"What?" the other three asked.
"We have to go, come on," Amy said and the five hurried down the steps to where a large van painted in camouflage sat there. At the wheel sat Mr. William Patterson.
"Need a ride," he said.
"You've gotta be kidding," Raye said.
"Hey, it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it'll do the job," Patterson said.
"It's not like we have many other options," Amy said.
"Hey girls!" Rick said walking up along with Mike and Steve.
"Gotta go!" Raye shouted and the girls all hurried into the van, which sped off.
"What just happened?" Mike asked in surprise.
The other two just shook their heads.
"Onizuka Power Plant? What could the negaverse want there?" Mr. Patterson asked.
"Maybe they're looking for it as an energy supply," Amy said.
"Good theory, but how'd you girls know about this anyway?" Mr. Patterson asked.
"We got a message that said so," Serena said.
"Oh...any idea who from?" Mr. Patterson asked.
"None. But we have to check it out," Serena said.
"Okay, you girls be careful. We'll be there in twenty minutes," Mr. Patterson said.
"Say..how'd you know about this?" Raye asked suspiciously.
"Well..that cat friend of yours gave D.V. a communicator remember. He just listened in, and here I am," Patterson replied.
"Oh, I guess I can't blame him for that," Raye said.
"Bet your disappointed now," Mr. Patterson said. The others started laughing.
"So...we see our girlfriends jumping into the back of a strange van...." Steve said.
"Right..." Mike and Rick said.
"And hurry off without giving us any explanation," Steve said.
"Right.." Mike and Rick said.
"Should we be concerned?" Steve asked.
"Good question..I mean it seems odd, but then again..that does seem like something they would do," Mike said.
"Yeah..." The other two agreed.
Mr. Patterson let the girls off down the road from the power plant so they could sneak up on it. They had no idea what to expect so they had to be careful. They had already transformed when they crouched behind a group of bushes. A security guard was standing at a gate. The plant was surrounded by metal fencing. Behind that were two cooling towers and the rest of the plant.
"Everything looks normal," Venus said.
"Hmm..the negaverse could just want us to think that," Jupiter said.
"Or we're wasting our time," Mars said. Mercury pulled out her computer and waited as the blue visor slid across her face. She looked at the guard and the few employees walking around outside the plant.
"I'm detecting negaenergy," she said.
"So it is true," Jupiter said.
"Let's go in there and kick butt!" Mars said.
"No," Mercury said. "A, it could still be a trap, and B, this is a nuclear reactor. We have to be careful."
"Oh, right," Mars said somewhat embarrassed.
"Okay guys, here's the plan. Mercury, you and Venus come with me. Jupiter, Mars, stay back here in case it's a trap," Sailor Moon said.
"Wait a minute? Are you actually giving orders?" Mars said in surprise.
"Yeah, I'm the leader aren't I?" Sailor Moon said.
"In title only I thought," Mars replied. The two stuck their tongues out at each other like usual.
"Anyway...Mercury...let's give em a mist cloud and then sneak in," Sailor Moon said.
"Good thinking," Mercury said. "Mercury Bubbles! Blast!" She shouted and covered the entrance to the nuclear plant in mist. The three scouts rushed by the guard and were into the main building before anyone noticed. The three stood back against a wall as Mercury scanned the workers.
"They've all got negaenergy in them, not much though," she said.
"So this is like a pervert operation of some kind?" Venus asked.
"Do you mean covert operation?" Mercury asked.
"Uh...yeah..I guess I do," Venus said.
"The negaverse must be using these people as drones and trying not to attract suspicion," Mercury said.
"So who's in charge of this?" Venus said.
"Mercury. Another cloud. Let's check the rest of this place out," Sailor Moon said.
"Won't they suspect something?" Mercury asked.
"Well maybe it will draw the enemy out," Sailor Moon said.
"Okay," Mercury said and executed her attack again. The three scouts snuck into another room. It turned out to be the generator where Argosante was drawing energy off of into a crystal.
"Hey!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"What?" Argosante said whirling around. The three scouts struck a pose.
"We fight for love," Venus said.
"And justice," Mercury said.
"And..aw...skip it," Sailor Moon shouted and charged at the knight calling on Jupiter's power as she did so. Argosante was still so surprised he didn't respond until she smashed into him and slammed him back into a wall. Sailor Moon smiled and did a back flip using Venus' power, landing on her feet a few away.
"How about that?" She asked.
"I'd give it a nine point seven," Venus said. Argosante began to stand up.
"I'll get him," Venus said and readied her attack.
"No Venus!" Mercury shouted. If energy hit this generator, it could blow and then we could start a chain reaction.
"She's right," Argosante said. "We will fight outside. If you have honor you will not attack me as I walk out. You may go first if you do not trust me."
"I think we will," Sailor Moon said. "Venus, keep an eye on him. Mercury give us another mist cloud into the main room," She said.
Mercury did so and soon they were back into the courtyard. The guard was lying on the ground unconscious.
"What happened to him?" Venus asked.
"Oh..well..that was me. I got a little impatient," Mars said walking up along with Jupiter.
"What's going on?" Jupiter asked.
"That Knight we met before didn't want to fight us in the plant because we'd blow everything up," Venus said.
"Here he comes now," Sailor Moon said. Argosante emerged from the plant.
"Well?" Sailor Moon said.
"No...I will not fight you today," he said and jumped into a car that sped up next to them. The girls dived out the way as it raced passed them. Mr. Patterson's van sped up a minute later.
"Should we follow them?" he asked.
"No, we could get someone hurt pursuing them," Mercury said.
"Mercury's right, they'll be back," Jupiter said.
"Besides, I have to elucidate all the negaverse energy in the workers," Sailor Moon said.
"I think that's eradicate Sailor Moon," Mercury said.
"Oh..well.we're just bombing on the big words today aren't we?" she muttered looking at Venus.
"I'd better get to it," Sailor Moon said and went back inside to heal the workers with her power.
That was easy. But who is this person giving us messages. A new ally? Like we
need anymore. She thought. Oh well. The more the merrier. She thought.
"It is quite obvious to me.." Steve began. "Upon further study, that there is really only one logical explanation to what we witnessed before."
"Yes," The other two agreed.
"The girls have been kidnaped...so...it is our loyal duty to rescue them," Steve said.
"And that's why were dressed up in these ninja outfits that aren't even close to fitting right," Mike muttered.
"I really don't have enough room in the restricted area," Rick muttered tugging on his outfit.
All three of them had a black ninja suit on. Steve's was at least two sizes to large. Mike's was somewhat tightfitting, but the hood was completely off center. Rick's as hinted at, was a bit too tight.
"Uh..we had to get this on short notice," Steve muttered. "So let's go."
"Go? Where?" Mike asked.
"I don't know..we'll search the city for the infamous van," Steve said.
"Good plan, there are only millions of people living in this city, it shouldn't take long," Rick said.
"Hey...lives are at stake," Steve said.
"All right let's go," Mike said. They hurried down the street, passed by a van covered in camouflage heading the other direction. That stopped them quite quickly.
"Hmm....that was convenient," Rick said and the three dashed back the way they came.
The van stopped in front of Raye's temple, and five girls climbed out.
"Quick! Stop the kidnapper!" Steve shouted.
"Uhm...if he's a kidnapper, why are the girls all getting out of the van?" Rick muttered.
"No time for second guessing each other," Steve said.
Mike and Rick stopped.
"What?" they said to each other.
The van drove off.
"Uh....and what are you guys doing?" Raye asked catching sight of them.
"We are...um" Steve said.
"No..never mind trying to save face.." Mike said. "This is an indefensible situation and we will accept your scorn and laughter now."
"Okay," Raye said and the five started laughing. Amy of course more quietly then the others.
"Now that that has been settled," Mike said.
"But what were you doing?" Raye asked.
"Uh..that's no really important," Rick said.
"Yeah, it was just someone's idea," Mike said. "Some with a five letter name, but that's all I'm saying."
"You're commitment to secrecy is amazing," Steve muttered.
"Someone's gotta have ethics in this crazy world," Mike replied.
"Let's bail before we get drawn into this mess," Lita whispered and the five girls hurried up the steps of the temple.
"Well...I guess I can't blame them," Mike said.
"Me neither," Rick said.
"But...where did they go?" Steve asked.
The other two looked at each other and shrugged.
"Who cares?" they said.
"Well I guess..I'm the only one that does now.." Steve muttered.