CHAPTER 33
"Well Argosante?" Jaedite said annoyedly.
"Sir. Sailor Mercury somehow discovered me. What was I supposed to do?" Argosante said.
"Hmm..I had the same trouble when I was serving under Queen Beryl, " Jaedite muttered. "Every time I had some operation, the Sailor Scouts would stumble onto it. I don't understand how."
"It could have been possible sir, that there are forces at work much more powerful than we can comprehend," Argosante said.
"Don't get mystical on me," Jaedite said.
"Sorry sir."
"Still it almost seems like that sometimes. After all, to these humans our energy must be hard to comprehend as well."
"They are a pitiful race," Argosante said.
"Maybe, but how am I going to refill my depleted energy reserves?"
"I had an idea sir. Doesn't this planet have prisons?" Argosante asked.
"Prisons?"
"Think about it sir, if the targets are incarcerated they couldn't put up a fight."
"Very intuitive Argosante. In fact your plan is almost brilliant. Look into it at once."
"Yes sir," Argosante said.
"Let's just hope that the Sailor Scouts don't stumble onto it," Jaedite.
Three days later.
"Now about today's field trip to the prison," Miss Haruna began.
That's all we need. Serena thought.
"It's been canceled," Haruna said.
"What?" the boys in the class grumbled.
"Calm down you macho jerks," Serena whined. "Like I would want to go to a prison."
"That's what most of the girls said," Haruna said. "And so did their parents."
"Ah come on, if there were any escapes I'm sure Patterson could kill them all," Melvin, back to his normal squeaky voice, replied.
"Sure I could, after they had finished with you," Patterson replied appearing to be absolutely serious.
"I could have been a housewife. Empower women my butt," Haruna muttered.
At lunch that day.
"Mike spent all day in front of my house. He only went away when my father went for his shotgun," Mina said.
"My father literary had to chase Steve down the street before he left me alone," Lita said.
"Rick was waiting at the bottom of the temple steps to see if I was coming down, I didn't bother with him," Raye said.
"How long are we supposed to keep this up?" Mina asked.
"Until we beat the negaverse and they get turned back to normal," Lita said.
"How long will that be?" Mina said.
"I don't know, it's tearing me apart inside too, but we have to hold out," Lita said.
"You know the guys won't give up," Mina said. "And..I just can't seeing Mike so hurt.
"I already found a solution. Yesterday night Chad agreed to be my boyfriend," Raye said.
"What?" Lita and Mina both said.
"It's true," Raye said. "Think about it. If we all get new boyfriends maybe that will convince the boys that we're really serious."
"But Raye, won't that make things worse?" Mina asked.
"Yeah, not only do we dump them, but then find someone else?" Lita asked.
"Can we really hurt them anymore?" Raye asked.
"What?" the other two said.
"Listen, it's for everyone's good. The important thing is to get them to leave us alone," Raye said.
Mina and Lita glanced at each other hesitantly.
"It's just for the time being, maybe just one date," Raye said.
"Well...I guess I could always ask Ken to do it. If I give him a good reason I'm sure he won't mind," Lita said. "I guess desperate times for call for desperate measures."
"I guess you two have a point," Mina said solemnly. "But where am I going to
get a new boyfriend?" Mina wondered.
"I don't meant to keep you from your lunch, but I wanted to find out what happened here three days ago and from what I hear you three were closest to the action," Principal Oksua said to the three students sitting in his office, Serena, Amy, and Patterson.
"Why don't you ask them?" Serena asked.
"Because whatever the issue is those girls got really upset. I don't want to get them upset again for their own benefit," Oksua said. "And my own," he added.
"I see," Serena said.
"So what's the deal?" Oksua said.
"It's a personal matter for them sir," Amy said.
"There is no such thing as a personal matter in this school," Oksua said.
"That explains why the rumor about Mr. McCrary's bowel problems spread through the school in the less than an hour," Patterson muttered.
"Patterson, watch it," Oksua growled.
"Sir, the girls just broke up with their boyfriends," Serena said.
"I see, why did they chose to do it in my lunch plaza?" Oksua asked.
"It was sort of a spur of the moment thing," Serena said.
"Well...are the girls okay?" Oksua said.
"They shouldn't be yelling anymore at least," Amy said.
"Well that's a start. Patterson, what about the boys?" Oksua said.
"Oh, you could say they're flipping back and forth between emotional states," Patterson said.
"I see," Oksua said not fully comprehending what Patterson said, but not wanting to delve any further.
"You three can go," Oksua said. Amy and Serena headed for the door. Patterson
waited till they were gone. The two girls headed out.
"Patterson..why are you so strange?" Oksua asked.
"These are strange times Principal Oksua," Patterson replied and walked out. To his surprise, Amy and Serena was waiting.
"Patterson, would you mind sitting with us today?" Amy asked and started walking.
"Uh....are you...sure..I...ahemm..should," Patterson stammered and followed.
"We have some questions to ask you," Serena said.
"We won't bite," Amy said.
"Raye might," Patterson replied softly. Amy and Serena both stopped glanced at each other and then burst into hysterical laughter.
"You know what...we really needed that," Serena said.
"I don't know where we're going to find you a fake guy, we've sort of drained the talent pool, especially considering he's just supposed to fill in," Lita said to Mina.
"Lucky me," Mina said. It was at this point that Amy, Serena, and D.V. emerged from the school and walked towards the table. Raye and Lita both let sinister grins form on their faces and turned to Mina.
"I think we have a match for you," They said in unison.
"Oh, no," Mina said. "Not in a million years!"
"Absolutely not," Patterson said with a definitiveness the girls didn't expect from the introvert. "No offense," he added quickly.
"None taken," Mina said.
"Oh come on Patterson. It's only to keep the negaverse off our backs," Lita said.
"I don't see how making them even angrier will do the job," Patterson snapped.
"You think that's what will happen?" Mina asked.
"Uh..well..I've been trying to stay out..of this..mess..." Patterson said.
"You're not willing to help Mina out, what are you chicken?" Raye asked.
"It's only one date D.V. What have you got to lose?" Lita asked.
"Everything that I haven't already lost," Patterson replied solemnly.
"Listen Patterson, this is a way of making up for all that spying you did, okay, if you do this we may just learn to trust you a little," Raye said.
"If you consider that part of paying the debt then I am duty bound," Patterson replied.
"There," Raye said.
"However, if this is done, I consider my debt to you three completely repaid," Patterson said.
"Done," Raye, Lita, and Mina said.
"Very well," Patterson said.
I am the biggest idiot alive. He thought.
"Now that's out of the way. What's going on with Nephlite?" Serena asked.
Patterson, prepared for this eventuality, presented a piece of paper.
"This is pretty much the deal," he said nervously.
Meanwhile the three boys sitting at Patterson's old table stared at their own
old table the entire period.
After school, on a walk home.
"So Amy. Maybe you could help me with my math later. I've been slipping," Serena said.
"Sure Serena. I'm glad you've found the responsibility to realize you need help," Amy said.
"Well..sure, I figure once I get to high school I can give up again," Serena said.
Amy sighed.
"You know though Amy. Is it just me or is the entire world tumbling down around us?"
"What?" Amy said in surprise.
"I'm actually studying on a regular basis. Raye, Mina, and Lita have dumped their boyfriends who just happen to be negaverse warriors only to pick up three fake ones, including among them the city's foremost student maniac. A former enemy is trying to help us. Most of the city is actually paying attention to a political election. Melvin for a time looked like a freakin model! Massive brawls are breaking out between the army and the negaverse, actually proving that despite what the Godzilla movies say that Japan's defense forces can actually do something. Plus Jaedite has returned apparently from the dead to attack us again using a knight who's name is spelled, but pronounced differently, than an enemy we already killed, and well....isn't that enough?" Serena said.
"When you put it that way...yes the entire world is tumbling down around us," Amy said.
"Glad we got that cleared up," Serena said. The two were passed by a small crowd of people waving Katsugi for Prime Minister signs and yelling loudly.
"Where are they going?" Serena asked.
"There must be another rally," Amy said.
"Another one? This is getting scary," Serena said.
"I wonder if Lita will be there," Amy said.
"You all right Lita?" Mr. Katsugi asked walking up to his assistant who was staring off into space from beside his limo.
"Me? Fine," Lita replied.
"You look troubled, anything I can help with?"
"I don't think so," Lita said.
"Okay...you tell me if that changes."
"Yes sir...it's another great turnout," Lita said observing the crowd gathering around the square where the rally was to occur. Thousands were already there.
"Hmm..I know how to bring in the people I guess," Katsugi said. "It must also explain why I'm ahead in the poles by ten points. Do you have my speech?"
"Right here," Lita said producing it
"Ah good," Katsugi said. A larger crowd had gathered as Katsugi, followed by Lita, and several various advisors followed him onto the podium.
Maybe by helping Mr. Katsugi it can keep my mind off of my other problems. I can't let Steve stop me from getting on my life. She thought.
"Hello my friends," Katsugi said. The people cheered loudly.
"Thank you, and this is the kind of enthusiasm that I look for in all of you in making our country better, and in return I will put the same effort," Katsugi said. The crowd cheered again. "Now I know we've been criticized by the opposition," he said. The crowd booed.
"That's right, just because I have some experience automatically means I'm a
crook right?" Katsugi said. The crowd all laughed. "Let me assure, you the only
people who have bought me off are you the people with your votes. Now onto other
matters."
"Hah! He's just what's wrong with this country isn't he!" Sylvia shouted in front of an massive number of her own supporters a few blocks away from the other rally. Her crowd responded equally enthusiastically. Mina stood in the front row listening intently.
Sylvia is one the few things I can count on these days. She thought.
"In fact we should go over there and confront them!" Sylvia shouted.
What? Mina thought standing in the front row.
"Come on!" Sylvia shouted and jumped off the podium and moved towards the crowd.
"You coming Mina?" she asked.
"Uh...." Mina said and followed. Sylvia worked through the entire crowd and took the lead.
The police sent to watch this situation began to get worried.
"Headquarters. We've got a major problem," one of the cops said.
"What do you mean they're going that way!" Chief Ozaki shouted into the phone and slammed it down.
"Trouble Chief?" General Nagumo, who had been meeting with the Chief to discuss strategy, said.
"Of the worse kind," Ozaki said and hurried to the door. Nagumo shrugged and
followed.
"And you know that I will get the Diet to approve more money for housing!" Katsugi shouted. People cheered.
"Fat chance!" came a cry from down the street as the cries died down. Katsugi's followers turned to see Sylvia and her mob surging towards them.
"What the..." Lita said in shock.
"Well..well...well..looks like angel-woman has come by to tell me what a bad boy I am," Katsugi said. Katsugi's supporters laughed.
"Do you really think you can pull the wool over all their eyes you jerk!" Sylvia shouted.
"Hey! Don't you call him that!" Someone shouted.
"Why don't you make her," one of Sylvia's followers said.
"Maybe I will."
"Just try it."
The two sides stared at each other for a good thirty seconds.
"Let's riot!" Someone shouted and nothing happened. Silence except for the sound of approaching sirens.
"Riot!" Everyone shouted and charged at each other.
"Oh.no," Lita said.
"Lita, get out of here," Katsugi said. Lita dashed down the platform and away
from the riot. She looked back to see the whole square engulfed in combat.
Mina fortunately found herself at the back of her crowd. When the riot began she ducked away and hurried down an alley.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but I don't want to be there," she said. She rounded a corner and hit something hard. She fell to the ground in surprise and prepared to apologize to the person who would definitely be angry.
"Need a hand?" came Lita's friendly voice. Mina looked up.
"Glad to see you made it out of there in one piece," Lita said and pulled it her up.
"Uh..yeah, you too, even though you support that crook," Mina said.
"Don't start that again," Lita said angrily.
"Yeah, I know..this isn't the time," Mina said. "Maybe we should try and stop this riot."
"How?"
"I've got one idea."
Lying in the park on their backs, Serena and Amy were trying to relax a bit before they had to jump into their work, their friend's troubles were something else they were trying to avoid thinking about.
"That cloud looks like Darrien," Serena said.
"It does," Amy agreed.
"And that one looks like Andrew," Serena said.
"Um...no it doesn't, it looks more like a warthog," Amy said.
"And that one looks like my friend Amy who has no appreciation for a young girls imagination," Serena said.
"I don't think it does," Amy replied and the two laughed.
"So....When are those high school entrance exams anyway?" Serena asked.
"Soon," Amy said.
"That's just what I need," Serena muttered. Several sirens whaled. Serena and Amy both raised themselves up to look to see about fifty police cars speed by on the nearby street.
"Hmm....that's odd," Serena said and lay back down.
"It could be the negaverse," Amy said also laying down.
"If it is, tell them to go away," Serena muttered.
"We should check."
"Ehh....why don't you check Amy? It can be your own personal mission given to you by the leader of the Sailor Scouts," Serena said.
"I don't think so," Amy said.
"Oh come on, I'll give you a medal."
"Let's just go Serena," Amy said and stood up.
"But I'm so unmotivated," Serena muttered standing up.
Meanwhile the riot was continuing.
"Shouldn't you do something?" Nagumo asked standing next to Ozaki's car.
"You kidding?" Ozaki muttered and looked at the line of police he had
assembled around the riot. "We're not going any closer."
"Okay....so we're here on the roof of this building. There are about fifty thousand people fighting each other. The police aren't even bothering to get involved....." Venus said.
"And we've transformed," Jupiter said finishing Venus' sentence.
"Would our powers work on them?"
"And if they did would it hurt?"
"I can answer that question," came Artemas' voice behind them.
"Artemas, what are you doing up here?" Venus asked.
"I got worried when I heard about the riot," Artemas said. "I thought you girls would be here so I wanted to check. Now as for your powers. Queen Serenity never intended them to be used against fellow humans, but as a precaution, your powers were made to be able to deal small amounts of damage to a human. It will be equivalent to stunning them," Artemas said.
"Well that works out nicely," Venus said.
"Yeah, it does," Jupiter said.
"Let's go to work then," Venus said.
"That's right, the police are wimping out again," Nagumo said into the cellular phone.
"We are not!" Ozaki shouted.
"Anyway...get as many troops as you can over here immediately," Nagumo said and hung up.
"I'll have you know General Nagumo that only a few would try to stop a riot of fifty thousand people with less than five thousand police officers.
"Well where are the rest?" Nagumo asked.
"This is a big city, it takes a while to get here. I'd need my entire force to put these guys down.
"Are they coming?"
"You try mobilizing force of seventy thousand police officers in less than ten minutes."
"All right, all right, I get it, so we just sit here," Nagumo said.
"Yep," Ozaki said.
"Venus love chaiiiiiiin!" Venus said building up her power. "Encircle!" She shouted and her golden chain shot from her hands and swept through the edge of the rioting crowd. They had to hit the edges or risk people being trampled.
"Jupiter thunderclap crash!" Jupiter shouted.
The two attacks swept through the crowd and knocked about a thousand people unconscious.
"Not bad," Jupiter said.
"What's happening over there!" Ozaki shouted.
"Looks like a couple of Sailor Scouts just knocked part of the crowd out," Nagumo said looking through binoculars.
"Why are they doing that?"
"I'd gather to stop the riot," Nagumo said coyly.
"You're beginning to annoy me," Ozaki muttered.
"Oh my," Serena said wide eyed as she first saw the riot as she and Amy came over the crest of a hill.
"That isn't good," Amy said.
"Look there's Venus and Jupiter!" Serena said. "What are they doing?"
"Looks like there attacking the crowd," Amy said.
"Why would they do that?"
"Let's find out," Amy said and pulled out her power stick.
"Hey guys," Jupiter said as Mercury and Sailor Moon landed beside them from some jumps they had used to get over the riot.
"What are you doing?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Crowd control," Venus said.
"Aren't you hurting them?" Mercury said.
"No they aren't," Artemas said.
"We're just stunning them. You guys care to pitch in?" Jupiter said.
"I doubt my powers would be very useful," Sailor Moon said.
"But mine might," Mercury said. "Mercury Ice Storm Blast!" She shouted. The blast hit more rioters and knocked them down. A mist settled over the riot area and then began to clear. The rioters had all stopped and were looking around in surprise. When the mist cleared entirely they all shrugged and went back to fighting again.
"That's just great," Sailor Moon muttered.
"What is going on over there?" Jaedite muttered looking out the window of his office at where smoke was rising from the massive riot area. From his high perch he could make out the small forms fighting it out and the energy flying through them.
"That was supposed to be a political rally wasn't it?" he asked himself. "Now the Sailor Scouts and the army are there? And if the Sailor Scouts are there...."
"Success!" Argosante yelled walking into the office after finishing his mission.
"Excellent," Jaedite said.
The riot had been stopped. Mainly by the fact that no one was left conscious enough to continue it. Katsugi had been spirited off in a car before he could be touched, and Sylia had been protected by a ring of supporters, which now lay on the ground in a circle around her own unconscious body.
"What are we supposed to do with all of them?" Ozaki said.
"They should regain consciousness soon, you might want to separate them," Jupiter said.
"Uh..right...thanks," Ozaki said.
"Sure," Jupiter said and the four Sailor Scouts walked away and soon transformed back into humans.
"Lita, Mina. Why did this happen?" Amy asked.
"I wish we could tell you, I didn't think that a riot would start," Lita said.
"Yeah, Sylia just decided we should confront Katsugi's supporters and then well...you saw what happened," Mina said.
"Let's just hope it doesn't happen again," Serena said. "We have enough
trouble without riots breaking out everywhere."
"I drained all of the energy out of the prisoners, however, I only incapacitated the guards..I have learned that the law enforcement officers on this planet do not take kindly to their own being hurt. I felt that the energy gains would not be worth a more vigilant police force," Argosante said.
"I will trust your judgement there. You seemed to have provided enough energy. It must have been a large prison."
"There are a lot of criminals on this planet."
"Hmm...they should learn from the negaverse and just destroy all their criminals."
"Of course, they could save themselves some space."
"No matter, when I take over, I'll institute a new criminal justice program."
The two then broke into laughter.