CHAPTER 27
"Hey Raye," Chad said as Raye arrived home from school. He had been sweeping the ground around the temple courtyard as part of his daily chores.
"Oh, hi Chad, what have you been up to?" Raye asked.
"I got myself a job."
"A job? Where?"
"Jade Corporation."
"Jade Corporation!" Raye said in surprise.
"Yeah I know, it's pretty important sounding isn't it? Well I'm just a mail room clerk, but I wanted to earn some money to pay you back for letting me stay here. I was just going to tell your grandfather about it now."
"Uh...yeah..well as long as it doesn't interfere with your chores I'm sure he won't mind," Raye said. Chad walked inside the house leaving Raye to think about it.
He's working for Jade Corp. It could be dangerous, but how can I tell him?
Furthermore, can we put this to any use? I've gotta tell Amy. She thought and
hurried back down the temple steps.
"If you ask me, political events aren't worth photographing anymore. They're all the same," Serena's father was saying as she walked in the door.
"Yes dear," Mrs. Tsukino was saying.
"Dad, what are you doing home so early?" Serena asked.
"Oh, I'm home because I have to go to these political rallies tonight and take pictures of them, and my boss let me come home and rest for it," her father said.
"Oh, that's interesting," Serena said.
"No it isn't. Politics is so boring," her father said.
"But this years different. There are those two candidates that everyone in the city seems to be getting behind," Serena said.
"She's right. Things are heating up," Mrs. Tsukino said.
"Yeah, well it can't get that exciting," her father said. Serena took the opportunity to head up to her room. Luna was sitting there on her bed.
"Hi Luna. Anything happen that I should know about?" Serena asked.
"No, Serena, and that's what worries me," Luna said.
"What?"
"The negaverse has not been very active during the past few days. Any time that happens. I worry."
"Maybe they've given up," Serena said.
"Fat chance."
"I know, still we can all dream can't we?" Serena said. "You're right though. How long has it been now. A week? And considering they've got those warriors of theirs, I wonder why they haven't attacked."
"Could it be they're trying something bigger and better?"
"If they are, we could be in trouble, but I don't see how I'm supposed to find out."
"Why don't you try visiting Jade Corp headquarters?"
"Luna, they know who I am, don't you think that would be a little hard to pull off."
"You have the Luna Pen you know," Luna said.
"True, but I don't think we should try anything yet," Serena said.
"Why? What possible reason could you have?"
"Because if I use the Luna Pen, I'll have to go alone and I don't want to risk it," Serena said. The Luna Pen could be used by any scout, but it's power only could be used by one person at a time.
"Risk it? Serena we need to know what's going on," Luna said.
"Luna if I go in there, how long do you think it's going to be before they catch on, disguise or not. Jaedite's got an entire army in there," Serena said.
"You may be right," Luna admitted. Amazingly. She thought.
"It's just I don't like being in the dark about these things." Luna continued.
"Neither do I, but we're doing okay right now," Serena said.
"I just hope you keep it up."
"Anyway, I'm going for a walk. Wanna come?"
"I'm fine, you just be careful," Luna said.
"Sure thing Luna," Serena said dismissively and walked out of her room.
"Hmm..that's a tricky one," Amy said as Raye stood in her room.
"Isn't it? But if anyone can figure it out. You can."
"Don't give me that much credit. There are several unknowns. The first question is whether Jaedite has assimilated his entire company into his army. The second question is how he did if so. The third is Chad in any immediate danger. The fourth...."
"Amy I get the idea," Raye said.
"All right Raye. I'm afraid I can't give you a real answer. Chad could be in real trouble, or he might not. He may not even have contact with the negaverse while he's there."
"Amy, we have to find out."
"I agree, but how do you suggest we do it without raising negaverse suspicion?"
"Well....we need to keep an eye on Chad, but we probably can't get into Jade Corp....so...we have to find another way."
"Hmmm..." Amy said and thought.
"Maybe.." Raye said.
"What?" Amy asked.
"Well....I was just thinking if we bugged Chad we could hear what was going on, but that would be hard to do. I mean for one thing we haven't bugged anyone, and we don't have the equipment," Raye said.
"Bugging people is illegal Raye," Amy said.
"Amy, Chad's life could be at stake."
"I know, but even if we were to do it, you're right....we don't know how to do it, or what to use," Amy said. "Still...."
"What?" Raye asked.
"Isn't it just possible that someone we know might have the know how and equipment though?" Amy said.
"I was afraid of that," Raye muttered.
"Do you want to help Chad or not?" Amy asked.
"Of course I do," Raye said.
"Then we'd better go," Amy said.
"Uh huh," Raye said.
The two girls were soon standing outside Patterson's house.
"Who is it? Oh...hello girls, come in," came Mr. Patterson's voice. The door opened and the two walked inside. Mr. Patterson soon met them.
"D.V. isn't here, he's meeting with General Nagumo," Mr. Patterson said.
"The General Nagumo?" Amy asked a bit surprised.
"Yes."
"Who are you talking about?" Raye asked.
"General Nagumo, he's the Chief of Staff of the Self Defense Forces," Amy said.
"And a good one at that," Mr. Patterson said. "What is it you wanted anyway? Maybe I can help?"
"We need to bug someone," Raye blurted.
"A-plus for tact Raye," Amy muttered.
"Why would you two nice girls need to bug someone?" Patterson asked.
"It's a friend of ours. He's got a job at Jade Corp," Raye said.
"Oh..Jaedite's corporation, I see," Patterson said.
"We're afraid something might happen to him," Raye said.
"And if we could bug him we might have a better idea what's going on in there," Amy said.
"Hmm...does he know about this?" Patterson asked.
"No," Raye said.
"Then things get tough. It's one thing to wire someone when they know about it....see you girls have presented a dilemma. Normally when we want to find out some information without anyone knowing about it we place a bug in their room, but to do that would involve getting into Jade Corp, which is the problem. I'm not sure that can be done," Patterson said.
"Can't we try?" Raye asked.
"Possibly, but keep in mind, while we do have plenty of wiretaps lying around here, I'm not an expert by far, and neither is D.V. He didn't really bother with them when he had those magical cameras of his. Those don't work anymore of course."
"Does he still have them?" Amy asked.
"Maybe, but what would be the use?" Patterson asked.
"Well..I'm just trying to leave our options open," Amy said.
"I'll look. I'm sorry, you girls shouldn't come with me, you've already broken one of our security codes, a feat that we thought impossible. Your little computer there is a major security risk. I'll be back in a minute," Patterson said and disappeared into D.V.'s war room. He emerged five minutes later with the pieces of D.V.'s watch that had been heavily damaged during the battle.
"You see, the camera's are stored inside of here, but with the watch not really working anymore, there's no way to get them out or control them," Patterson said.
"May I see it?" Amy asked and took the watch. She looked it over and noticed a small outlet located in the bottom of it.
"What is this?" She asked.
"Oh..that's what D.V. used to connect to his computer so he could transfer all that..ahem data he got," Patterson said.
"Spying jerk," Raye said.
"That spying jerk may be our only way to help Chad," Amy said and pulled out her Mercury Computer. She pulled out a cord from it and hooked it into the watch.
"It fits," Patterson said in surprise. "Of course it fits, it's magical," he added. The watch which had been dead now flared to life.
"Well..what do you know?" Patterson said with slight wonderment.
"Hmm..my computer is only able to give it a small amount of power, and the watch's functions are heavily damaged, but I should be able to control one of the cameras," Amy said and punched a few buttons. A small camera emerged from the watch and hovered in the air. Amy began to touch various buttons to have the camera move around.
"Well..looks like you've figured this out," Patterson said.
"Unfortunately, I have to control it manually, so when I'm in school I won't be able to touch it. I'll have to hide it somewhere in wherever Chad's working and hope it isn't discovered," Amy said.
"Well it's more than what we had," Raye said.
"Glad I could be of service. Though I suggest you return the watch when you're done with it. I doubt D.V.'s going to appreciate me just giving out his stuff," Patterson said.
"We will, thanks," Amy said and the two girls hurried out.
Rick knocked on Raye's door. There was no answer.
"Guess she's not here," Rick said.
"No, she's not," came Chad's voice next to him.
"Oh..any idea when she'll be back?" Rick asked.
"No, no idea, so I suggest you don't wait around for her," Chad said threateningly.
"I don't like the sound of that," Rick said.
"You're not supposed to," Chad replied.
"Have you got a problem pal?" Rick asked angrily backing away.
"Not if you leave," Chad said.
"Oh...I see...well..it looks like you're still going to have a problem, because I'm staying right here," Rick said.
"I think not," Chad said.
"You going to force me to go?" Rick asked.
"That about sums it up. You have two choices. Walk down those steps, or fall down them," Chad said pointing at the steps leading up to the temple.
"Well if you put it that way," Rick said and swung out his leg, Chad tripped and fell to the ground.
"I suggest you change your attitude pal," Rick said.
"Right," Chad said and kicked with his legs. Rick stepped backward. Chad stood up. Rick thrusted with his hands and knocked Chad backwards onto the ground again.
"I don't know what you're fighting background is, but I assure you I'm better," Rick said.
"The heck you are!" Chad said and stood back up. Rick attacked again. Chad sidestepped and grabbed Rick's arm and threw him over him and onto the ground.
"You may be faster, but I'm stronger," Chad said.
"And you're point is," Rick said and swept under Chad's legs again knocking him down again.
Chad stood up quickly and jumped onto Rick and began to punch him. Rick kneed Chad in the stomach. Chad rolled away and both stood up, breathing heavily.
"Last chance, leave or I'll hurt you big time," Chad said.
"I don't know what your problem is, but I'm not going anywhere," Rick said.
"Okay, if that's the way you want it," Chad said and charged. My attack's too obvious, he'll have time to block. I just have to be ready for what he does. He thought. Chad watched Rick's hands as he ran hoping that's where Rick's counter could come. Instead Rick waited for the right time and jumped spinning in the air and bringing his foot around. Chad barely ducked it and still felt a blow to his forehead as he slid under. Rick landed a foot away and kicked Chad in the back. Chad whirled around and caught Rick in the nose with a punch. Then they stopped.
"You ready to go another round?" Rick asked.
"Any time," Chad said and the two got into fighting stances several feet away from each other.
"What's going on here!" Raye shouted.
"Raye!" both of the guys shouted.
"Heh heh, they've just been attempting to kill each other, that's all Raye," her grandfather said walking up.
"And you didn't stop them?" Raye asked.
"It was a good fight," her grandfather said and laughed.
"Why were you two fighting?" Raye asked.
"I came up here looking for you, then Chad told me to leave and he threatened to attack me, so I got in the first blow, and then from there..well..." Rick said.
"Is this true Chad?" Raye asked.
"Sure it is," Chad said and walked away to his room.
"Don't you walk away from me like that!" Raye shouted. "Why'd you do it?"
"Because I felt like it," Chad snapped and walked into his room.
"He's usually not that rude," Raye said with embarrassment.
"He hasn't given me any trouble before. Of course he hasn't been really friendly either," Rick said.
"Ehh..he's just jealous," her grandfather said and walked back inside the temple.
"What?" the two said.
As Serena continued her walk around the city she came upon the peculiar site of a black car parked in a driveway and a man emerging from it dressed in a black suit and sunglasses.
I wonder what he's doing. She thought. Serena leaned against a fencepost and watched as the man was inside a house for about ten minutes. He then got into the car and drove to the house next door and parked in the driveway.
Why doesn't he just park on the street and walk to each house? Serena wondered.
The man left the next house and drove to the next house.
He looks like he's on of those door to door evangelists or salesmen. But he doesn't bring anything to the door. Why am I getting such as strange feeling? She thought. I know I'll ask him.
The man emerged from the house. Serena hurried up to him.
"Hey," she said.
"What?" the man said and stopped catching a glimpse of her for the first time. That's...Sailor Moon. He realized.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Wha..what do you mean?" the man asked.
"Well you're going from door to door," She said.
"Oh...that...I'm with the phone company, I'm telling people about a new service were offering," the man said.
The phone company? He doesn't look like he works for the phone company. Serena thought.
"Which phone company?" Serena asked.
"What do you mean which phone company?" the man said.
"Of course you know what company you work for?"
"Right, um.....this one!" The man shouted and lunged at her.
"Ah!" Serena shouted and backed away. It took her only a second to decide to run back down the street. The man got up off the ground and raced down the street after her.
If I don't catch her, our plans will be ruined, the man thought.
Why is he chasing me? He could be a criminal! Oh no, I've got to get out of here! Serena thought.
She looked behind her. The man had pulled out a phone.
"General Argosante, I have a problem, Sailor Moon has discovered me," he said.
"What!" Argosante shouted.
"Sir, I think she stumbled upon me. I'm in pursuit of her now. She hasn't transformed yet."
"I'm on my way. Keep her busy," Argosante said.
"Yes sir," the man replied.
Serena raced up an embankment. The man followed.
"I've got to find a place to change," she said looking desperately around. There were only houses.
"Well..this is just great," she said and kept running. The man kept up his pursuit.
"Boy she can run fast," the man said. Wait a minute! Why am I remaining human? He asked himself and stopped. Serena kept running. The man smashed the window of a nearby house and ducked inside. There was shrill scream.
This will only be interpreted as a random attack. He thought and blasted the only inhabitant of the house with an energy crystal. A minute later he emerged as a member of the negaverse army.
My powers will allow me to pursue her faster. He thought and hurried down the
path he last saw Serena running down.
I don't know why he stopped following me, but now I have a chance. Serena thought. She noticed a clump of bushes.
I'll have to risk someone seeing me. She thought and dived into them and pulled out her brooch.
"Moon Crystal Power!" she shouted.
The man looked around in surprise. There was no sign of his prey.
"Where'd she go?" he asked.
"I'm right here," Sailor Moon said. The man looked up. She was standing on a roof, fully transformed.
"Oh...no..I can't fight her like that," he said.
"That's right, you can't," Sailor Moon. "I'm Sailor Moon, I fight for Love, and I fight for Justice, and on behalf of the moon I will punish you!"
Boy that felt good. She thought.
"That is if you can catch me!" the man said and abruptly ran back down the way he came.
"What? He's running! Aw..geez," Sailor Moon said and leapt off of the roof and landed on the ground. She began her pursuit.
"Wait a minute. I can jump," she realized and leapt into the air traveling high into the air before heading back downwards. The man was still in front of her, but another jump and she'd have him. She leapt into the air again The man dashed across the street. A car skidded to a stop. Sailor Moon landed in the middle of the intersection. Another car screeched and barely missed her.
"Ah!" She shouted and hurried after the man. He hurried along the sidewalk. Sailor Moon followed closely. Her jump would cause her to overshoot so far that he would just be able to turn and run. She pulled out her scepter.
"Moon Scepter Elimination!" She shouted. The white blast and the crescent shaped energy flew out at the man. He dodged it.
This guy must be part of the army. If I zap him with the scepter he may not survive it. Sailor Moon realized. That doesn't mean that I can't throw my tiara. She pulled it off her head and prepared to throw it.
"Moon Tiara Magic!" she shouted and threw the golden disk. It went off center because she was still in the process of running. It barely missed the man and flew off returning to Sailor Moon's hand eventually The man looked backward nervously.
She doesn't give up. Where is Argosante? He heard screeching tires in front of him. He looked up.
That must be Argosante. He thought and looked up to see standing beside a motorcycle none other than Tuxedo Mask.
"Uh oh," The man said. Tuxedo Mask threw his extendable staff out. It hit the man in the head and he fell back. Sailor Moon hurried up.
"Better use your healing power," Tuxedo Mask said.
"You're right," Sailor Moon said.
"Oh no you don't!" came another voice. Argosante leapt from apparently out of nowhere at Sailor Moon. Tuxedo Mask jumped in the way and the two smashed together. A horde of negaverse soldiers raced down the street at Sailor Moon. She leapt out of the way quickly and landed several feet away. Argosante and Tuxedo Mask continued to grapple. The horde of soldiers grabbed their fallen comrade and picked him up hauling him around a corner. Sailor Moon hurried up and utilized Jupiter's aura to slam into Argosante and knock him to the ground. The negaverse army appeared around the corner in back of him. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask readied themselves. Sirens filled the air.
"We'll be back!" Argosante yelled and his army ran away down the street. The sound of several trucks revving up said they were gone.
"We should follow them," Sailor Moon said.
"There are only two of us," Tuxedo Mask. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah. How'd you know I was in trouble?"
"I just did, like usual," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Thanks for showing up. I didn't even think to call the others and I don't think they could have gotten here in time to help anyway."
"Sure. What was that guy doing anyway?"
"I don't know."
Several police cars and Self Defense Force vehicles pulled up and men hopped out.
Out of one of the lead cars came General Nagumo and not surprisingly D.V.Patterson.
"Did we miss them?" Nagumo said.
"It appears so," Patterson said almost sorrowfully.
"Sailor Moon! What happened? Nagumo asked noticing her.
"Not much," Sailor Moon said. "There's a car a few blocks away you might want to check out though."
"Will you show me?" Nagumo asked.
"Sure," Sailor Moon said. "Tuxedo Mask, can you give me a ride?"
"Sure," Tuxedo Mask said. Soon the two were speeding back to the original contact site. Nagumo's car following. When they got there the car was sitting there, but on fire.
"What happened?" Sailor Moon asked.
"The negaverse must have gotten to it," Tuxedo Mask said.
"Call the fire department, hurry," Nagumo said to the orderly driving the car. A woman was standing outside the house.
"Somebody do something before the house burns down!" She said.
"Is that your car ma'am?" Nagumo asked.
"No, I don't know where it came from," she said.
"What?" Nagumo said.
"Perhaps I can explain General," Sailor Moon said as several fire trucks
rolled up.
"Chairman Katsugi is one of the most corrupt politicians in recent history! There is no way we can let him become Prime Minister! It's time to send a message that we're sick and tired of that kind of government!" Sylvia shouted at the rally where a surprisingly large number of supporters had gathered. Mina had found herself at the front of the group and she was cheering just as loudly as anyone else.
Sylvia's really popular now. I guess her message is getting out. Mina thought. Her door to door campaign must really be working.
"We all know that this country needs a change. A change for the better. Away from a society where a group of old men meet in a room and dictate policy! It's time to open the government up and give it back to the public!"
The crowd cheered again, a band began to play. Sylia dropped off the stage
she was standing on and waded into the crowd, and began shaking hands. The crowd
swarmed around her and she smiled gracefully, taking it all in.
Meanwhile, several blocks away.
"Now they're going to tell you that things are bad," Katsugi said. "Sure, they'd like you to believe that this country is in bad shape. Of course it's got problems, but we're working to fix it. I'm experienced. I know what we need to do to fix the problems and I'm counting on you to give me the support I need!"
Katsugi's own large crowd cheered in support of him. Lita stood amongst Katsugi's campaign staff at the bottom of the podium he was speaking from. She glanced at the crowd, it was excited. That surprised her. Not many people got that into politics. This year, things seemed different. Katsugi had told her about the mass support Sylia Coral was getting, and she had seen first hand, he crowds that came out to support Katsugi. It certainly looked like the apathy that usually surrounded these elections was dissipating. With his speech finished, Katsugi left the stage shaking the hands of people along the way to his car. The rest of the staff followed, but Lita headed off her own way as she was supposed to. Katsugi had told her he didn't his activities interfering with her school work, and so she was headed home. Along the way..his limousine pulled up beside her. The window opened and he stuck his head out.
"So..how'd I do?" He asked.
"Fine sir," Lita said.
"You think so?"
"Sure. You really had them cheering."
"Well..okay..I'll see you soon," he said and limo headed off.
"Sure he rides in a limo, but he's earned it," Lita said. "His campaign
manager kinda looks like my old boyfriend too."
"You stumbled onto them?" Luna asked.
"Yep...I still have the ability to drop in unexpectedly on evil doings," Serena said.
"I guess so," Luna said. "Serena, I'm sure your friends told you about those strange warriors they encountered."
"Yeah, just your run of the mill villains right?"
"I don't think so. I don't like the sound of them at all."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure yet..but..I'll tell you what I told them. Be especially careful."
"Heh..I always am," Serena said and predictably fell down.
"That wasn't my fault," she muttered standing up.
"And who's fault was it?" Luna asked.
"Come on Luna, if there wasn't gravity this wouldn't be a problem?"
"You're blaming gravity for your clumsiness....well at least you know what gravity is," Luna said annoyedly.