CHAPTER 34
"Our energy reserves are replenished. You know what that means don't you?" Jaedite said.
"We send out the dark warriors again?" Argosante asked.
"Exactly," Jaedite said. "In their current emotional states, the Sailor
Scouts will be perfect targets."
"Raye, are you really sure you want to go ahead with this? I mean you said you needed to do this for some reason, and I've been wanting to ask you out on a date for a while anyway, but so quickly after dumping Rick?" Chad asked.
"I know what I'm doing," Raye said.
"This isn't some plot to get Rick jealous is it?" Chad said suspiciously.
"No, Chad, trust me, it isn't," Raye said. "I told you before. It's for Rick's own good. He has to get over me."
"I don't understand, but I'll have fun while it lasts," Chad said.
"You wish," came Rick's voice. He was standing at the top of the stairs with a scowl on his face.
"I can't believe you Raye, leading me to believe that you actually cared for me, when you must have been cheating on me the entire time," Rick said.
"No, I didn't," Raye said.
"Hah, liar. It seems Chad became your boyfriend incredibly quickly that's all. Well..I'm here to settle this. Chad..you and me...right now," Rick said.
"I don't have time for this," Chad said. "Go away Rick."
"No," Rick said.
"Chad, let me handle this," Raye whispered.
"No, I must defend your honor now," Chad said. "I accept your challenge Rick."
"Very well," Rick said and readied himself.
"Please, Raye, if I beat him, maybe he'll go away," Chad said.
"Hah, wrong on both counts," Rick said.
Raye stood back as the two faced off.
"Oh..they're going to fight again," Raye's grandfather said emerging from the house.
"I can't believe you find this entertaining," Raye said.
"Well...a lot of people like this kind of stuff," Grandfather said.
"I assure you this will be a short fight," Rick said.
"I agree," Chad said menacingly and the two faced off.
Meanwhile on a street several blocks away.
"Really, Patterson, I appreciate this, believe me I wouldn't have chosen you unless you were the only other guy I knew," Mina said. "You helped save my life once and I respect that...and I know that you're not the most outgoing of people."
"Yes...I have many mental problems," Patterson said and immediately regretted it.
"You don't say," Mina said. "Can I ask you something?"
Patterson nodded.
"Well....because of your fears..how come it was so easy for you to jump into battle?"
"I...just did...it was my duty," Patterson said.
"You didn't hesitate one bit?"
"No, I guess I didn't."
"Of course you didn't stick around much either."
"You all had things under control."
"Would you do the same again."
"I did at the dance."
"Oh..yeah..well..I've tried to put that out of my mind....I know you've sought revenge for the death of your parents..but do you think you've extracted it?"
"Exacted it?"
"Uh..yeah."
"No, I'll only get it when I destroy the creature who killed them in the first place...until then...I fight when I can."
"Oh...I'm sorry I'm talking so much, but me and Mike..well we talked a lot..and..I guess we're all curious about you."
"Quite all right," Patterson said. "I understand."
In another part of the city, Lita and Ken were walking along.
"It's been a while since we did anything together," Lita said.
"Well, you know how things are..you live across the city, and the time just isn't right usually," Ken said. "When you said you needed me I came."
"Believe me, I do need you. It may seem strange all this, but I have to keep Steve away from me awhile, I mean I love him, but we need to be apart right now."
"I don't need to know. I can see it's a very serious subject," Ken said. "...are you sure this is the right course of action."
"No I'm not Ken, but I'm afraid I don't have many other choices," Lita said. "It's very hard to explain, but this is what I'm stuck with."
"All right...it takes courage to admit you're wrong..."
"Yeah..well..ken..no matter how right I may be...it's still wrong. I shouldn't have dumped him in the first place...but..it's just...so difficult."
"Try and put it out of your mind, I'm here if you need me."
"Thank you Ken, you've been a good friend...always. Whenever love seems to throw me to the ground, you're there to pull me back up," Lita said.
"Glad to do so," Ken said.
"Patterson?" Mina asked.
"Yes."
"You said you wanted to stay out of this mess...the romantic troubles we had..."
"Yes I did."
"But..you helped Amy out with hers. Why?"
"That was different," Patterson said solemnly.
"Oh...I see...but you helped her, can't you help us?"
"It's not that easy, I solved her problem with a phone call and a train ticket. Your problem isn't as easy to deal with, especially now."
"Somehow, I don't know, if even if the same were true for any of us, you could do it," Mina said.
"I.."
"Patterson, you backstabbing jerk!" Mike shouted standing on the sidewalk in front of Patterson and Mina.
"Uh oh," Mina said.
"That was quick," Patterson muttered.
"How dare you take my girl away from me," Mike said.
"I'm not your girl," Mina said.
"You're ungrateful is what you are," Mike said angrily. "But you Patterson. You were my friend and now this."
"I'm no one's friend," Patterson said. "Now, I assume you're here to fight me...so let's get it over with."
"Oh no you don't....don't trivialize this. I'm going to pound your face in, limp or no limp," Mike said.
"Two choices," Patterson said. "Turn around and walk away and feel no pain, or fight and regret it later."
"I'm not backing down," Mike said.
"Mike, please, stop this. I told you it's over," Mina said.
"Maybe between you and me, but I have to settle this," Mike said.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Patterson said. Mike lunged forward and punched with his right hand. Patterson swung up with his cane and knocked the arm away. With his left hand he punched Mike in the gut. Mike staggered back with the wind knocked out of him. Patterson brought his cane under Mike's legs and swept up knocking Mike to the ground.
"Leave now, or I will not hold back," Patterson said. Mike backed up and stood.
"Yeah...I'll leave," Mike said and turned. Mina sighed in relief. Mike swung back quickly with his fist right at Patterson's head. Patterson using his one good leg sidestepped and brought his cane around hitting Mike in the chest with it. Mike staggered back again.
"Okay...Patterson..you win, but you better watch your back," Mike said and stumbled off.
"I'm sorry I had to do that," Patterson said.
"I am too," Mina said.
"Lita! You are going to talk to me or else!" Steve shouted. He had since confronted Lita and her supposed new boyfriend and was very displeased.
"No," Lita shouted.
"Fine," Steve said and punched Ken in the face. Ken fell to the ground.
"You!" Lita shouted and slapped Steve. She bent down over Ken.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Never better," Ken said and managed a smile.
"I deserve an explanation! Why don't you give it to me!" Steve shouted.
"Leave me alone!" Lita shouted.
"Just give me an answer!" Steve shouted.
"Not when you're threatening me and hurting my friends!"
"Fine! I'll be back!" He said and walked off.
"Lita....you really can pick em," Ken muttered.
"What?" Lita said.
"Nothing," Ken said.
Rick kicked, Chad sidestepped. Rick chopped were Chad ended up. Chad blocked and attempted to come up under Rick's leg. Rick jumped back and followed it up with a spin kick, Chad ducked it and thrust forward hitting Rick when he was off balance knocking the pony-tailed boy to the stone hard.
"How?" Rick said in surprise standing back up.
"I've been watching you every time you're here. Every move you know how to do, I can counter," Chad said.
"Try this one then!" Rick said and slid forward. He thrust forward with his open hand. Chad blocked it, but Rick then grabbed blocking hand and pulled Chad downward into his knee. Chad grunted after he hit.
"I didn't show Raye all my moves," Rick said.
"Maybe not!" Chad said and tackled Rick. "But that doesn't matter. Rick kneed Chad in the chest. Chad stepped backward.
"Get up," he said. Rick rolled backwards and from a kneeling position lunged forward knocking Chad into the porch of the temple. Chad stood up and the two readied themselves again. Raye ran in between them.
"Stop it please!" she shouted.
"Hah, I'd rather fight," Rick said.
"Let me tear him apart," Chad said.
"You two have equal skills, this fight will only get you both hurt," Raye said.
"Perhaps," Rick said.
"Who cares, if he's hurt too," Chad said somewhat simplemindedly.
"Rick! I told you to leave me alone. You haven't listened. Leave now or I will personally kick you down those steps myself," Raye said. Why does that sound familiar. She thought.
"I dare you," Rick said and stood in front of the steps. "Go ahead. Do it and I won't come back," he said.
"No," Raye said.
"Well then," Rick said and crossed his arms.
"Bring it on," Chad said.
"No!" Raye shouted. "You two have fought enough."
"I'll tell you what. I'm thirsty. I'm going to get a drink. When I return in ten minutes, we can fight it out again, if you like," Rick said.
"Anytime pal!" Chad shouted.
Rick turned and walked down the stairs.
"What is with both of you?" Raye said. "I don't want you two to fight."
"Party pooper!" her grandfather yelled.
"Raye, I'm only fighting for you," Chad said. "If he gets beaten he may leave you alone. I told you that."
"Chad, just let me handle him. Did you notice how he was acting? The anger was gone. He had almost become pompous," Raye said.
"That was strange. I wonder why?" Chad said. "Maybe that's just what that jerk does when he gets angry."
"Maybe," Raye said.
At an apartment in the 10th market district.
"Hmm....this is so strange," Amy said looking at her computer screen.
"What is?" Serena asked lying on the floor.
"I've been on the Internet investigating the political campaign. Sylia has never gotten more than twenty percent of the vote, yet she has as much a following as Katsugi. Furthermore, Katsugi usually doesn't have rallies. He prefers television ads and going door to door. Yet here he is practically every day out there. Furthermore his party should be in trouble because they had the previous Prime Minister. It's also a well known fact that Katsugi isn't exactly the cleanest person in the government."
"So things are a little different."
"Serena. There has never been an election like this before. There are just too many people involved."
"Well how do you explain it then?"
"I don't know," Amy said. "But the race is now neck and neck, and there's another rally tomorrow. This is far from over."
"We can't worry about that right now," Serena said.
"You're right. We have all this schoolwork to do," Amy said.
"That's not what I meant," Serena muttered.
The phone rang. Amy picked it up.
"Hello," she said.
"Uh...yeah...how you doing?" came a voice on the other end.
"Who is this?" Amy asked.
"Uh, it's Phil," the voice replied.
"Phil? Phil who?" Amy said. "Uh oh," she realized and threw the phone to the ground as the door to her room was blown apart.
"What is it?" Serena shouted.
"Hello," Argosante said walking through the door. "Oh I see Sailor Moon is here too. Well..this is going to be fun."
A squad of the negaverse army filled in behind him and the door was shut.
Amy and Serena glanced at each other and wondered what to do. Then things got confusing. The door swung open. The negaverse army troops whirled around.
"Duck girls!" came a voice. Several roses flew in the window. Argosante ducked as well and hit the negaverse troops who all screamed in pain. Meanwhile Mr. William Patterson had come in the door and barreled through the troops to jump on Argosante. Tuxedo Mask jumped into the room from the balcony and stood in front of the girls.
"Long time no see," Serena said to Tuxedo Mask and smiled. "Moon Crystal Power!" she shouted.
"Mercury Star Power!" Mercury shouted.
"Hmm....doesn't that look cute?" Mina asked looking at a doll sitting in the window. Patterson was preoccupied looking around in all directions. Mina noticed.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Nothing," Patterson stammered.
"Ahhh!" Someone screamed down the street. Patterson whirled on his good foot towards the sound and readied his cane. Running down the sidewalk at full force was Gold Warrior. He was laughing sinisterly.
"Run...I'll ha--handle this," Patterson said his eyes narrowed.
"But you're...."
"G---go," Patterson stammered.
Mina ran away down the street.
"Ahh...if it isn't you," Gold Warrior said. "So she'll run off and transform. No matter, destroying you will be fun. One leg? Hmm....not a fair fight, but then again, what do I care?"
He then looked at his sword and then glanced at Patterson's cane.
"And I have a sword and you have that wooden thing. Well..this will not be even at all...."
"You'd like to think so wouldn't you?" Patterson said and grasped the end of the cane. He twisted it and then to Gold Warrior's surprise, Patterson removed the wooden cover revealing a sword. Patterson was holding his bad leg off the ground.
"Ah...very interesting," Gold Warrior and swung his sword at Patterson's good leg. But Patterson did a surprising thing. He dropped his bad leg and put all his weight on it and swung around with the his sword smashing into Gold Warrior's sword arm. The blade only cut a little compared to what it would have if hitting a human arm, but it did the job. Gold Warrior shouted in pain.
"You dared!"
"Heh..looks like I had two legs after all," Patterson said and turned and ran
down the street. Gold Warrior ran after him.
Chad, Raye, and her grandfather waited the ten minutes that Rick had decreed in his ultimatum. They heard the footsteps coming up the steps, one by one.
"Here he comes," Raye said. Chad's eyes narrowed. Over the rise the figure came, but it was no longer Rick, but Red Warrior.
"Well...don't we have a wonderful group here," he said.
"You!" Chad shouted and charged. Red Warrior blasted Chad with his sword and sent him sailing back into the wall.
"Hey!" Raye's grandfather said and moved forward.
"Don't make me laugh," Red Warrior said and blasted him as well. Raye didn't wait. She ran forward and kicked Red Warrior in the head before he could bring his sword to bear. She then dashed down the stairs pulling out her power stick as she did so.
I have no choice. I need to fight him. She thought to herself. Not for my sake, but for grandpa and Chad.
"Mars Star Power!" She yelled and transformed as she ran. Her momentum carried her downward. Red Warrior leapt over her and stood at the bottom waited. Mars tried to stop, but she was moving to fast. Red Warrior fired his sword.
She jumped as well as she could. The blast flew under her and she flew right at him, headfirst, he swung his sword up skewer her.
"Mars Fireball Surround!" She shouted quickly. The fire exploded from her hands and slammed into Red Warrior knocking him backward as she then slammed into him. The two rolled into the street. A truck rushed towards them. Mars jumped right. Red Warrior jumped left. They ended up on opposite sides of the street. Red Warrior began to glow with Red energy.
"You're proving to be more of a problem then I expected," Red Warrior.
"Good!" Mars shouted.
Red Warrior shot a blast across the street at her. She stepped to the side as it slammed into a bush, which caught fire.
"Hah!" Red Warrior said and jumped into the air. Mars, for lack of time to do her attack, promptly jumped too and the two flew at each other. She swung her fist. He swung his sword. They both missed and each landed on either side of the street. Both turned quickly.
"Mars Fireball Surround!" She shouted. Red Warrior fired his sword. The two energies hit and exploded in the middle of the street.
Red Warrior turned and jumped up the temple steps.
"Where is he going?" Mars asked and then jumped over the street and raced after him.
"Say goodbye to your precious house!" Red Warrior said and aimed the sword at Raye's temple. She leapt over the stairs and over him and kicked. The blow hit Red Warrior in the head and he flew downward, bouncing along the steps as he did. He landed on the ground at the bottom and lay still.
"Mars Fireball...." Mars began to say and then stopped. "No, Rick's in there," She said in realization. "He's not just some other enemy. I might kill him."
"You're weakness will prove your downfall," Red Warrior shouted holding his chest and running off.
I could have killed Rick if I had attacked again....I can't believe it. Mars
thought and dropped to the ground, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"Thanks for the date Ken," Lita said in front of Ken's house.
"Sure, Lita, let's just not make dating a regular occurrence. Your ex-boyfriend's too big," Ken said.
"That he is," Lita said with a small chuckle.
"See you later," Ken said and walked inside. Lita walked down the sidewalk and had only gone twenty feet when Green Warrior stepped out in front of her.
"I have no need of fancy speeches, I am merely going to maul you," he said.
That's Steve in there. Lita thought. Can I really fight him? I have to. At least get him to run away. Maybe I can do that. But first.
Green Warrior swung at her. She backed away and turned around to run. Green Warrior grabbed the back of her shirt. She kicked back with her right foot into his groin. Green Warrior groaned from the impact.
"You.....play...dirty," Green Warrior yelled and let go for a brief instance. Lita dashed down the street. Green Warrior raced after her.
Lita rounded the corner that was covered with hedges blocking Green Warrior's
view. He dashed around the corner soon after her and received for his trouble a
punch to the face courtesy of a waiting Lita who then pushed him down and ran
across an intersection. A car sped by. Green Warrior leapt over the intersection
and after her. She turned and ran into a yard. She hopped a fence. Green Warrior
blew it up with his sword and followed. There was a pool in the back. Lita raced
towards it. Green Warrior followed. Lita stopped abruptly at the edge and
sidestepped coming around quickly and grabbing Green Warrior's sword arm, she
pulled and Green Warrior went stumbling into the pool. She didn't hesitate and
hurried back the way she came.
I can't fight him. He doesn't mean it. Venus thought sitting a roof top. Below Gold Warrior was searching frantically for either her or Patterson. She was above, and Patterson was sitting several feet away, his sword ready.
"I don't know...if I can do it," Venus said.
Meanwhile in Amy's studying apartment, William Patterson had been slammed into the wall courtesy of Argosante Tuxedo Mask had leapt into battle. The two fighters had very little room to maneuver. Sailor Moon and Mercury tried to find someway to attack. Meanwhile the negaverse soldiers had tried to attack, so basically in a small apartment room a brawl had broken out between ten people. Sailor Moon grappled with one of the troops, Mercury had her hands full. Tuxedo Mask knocked Argosante towards the window. The negaverse General swung his sword in response, but only managed to hit Amy's desk. Tuxedo Mask threw a rose. It hit Argosante and propelled him through the window and onto the balcony. Argosante tripped over the edge and tumbled over falling the one story to the ground. He hit the ground hard, but stood up and winced underneath his helmet.
"This mission is a dismal failure. All troops withdraw," he said. His troops soon came rushing out the front door of the apartment complex. William Patterson chasing behind them waving a samurai sword.
"Come on you bloody fools taste the cold steel!" he shouted. Soon Mercury, Sailor Moon, and Tuxedo Mask had leapt out of the window and landed in front of them.
"Let's get out of here," Argosante said and he and his troops withdrew, he pulled out a phone.
"Um..Jaedite....we lost," he said.
"You idiot!" Jaedite said.
"Sir, I suggest you change back the dark warriors with some energy, I don't think I can get to them with the Sailor Scouts on the prowl like this," Argosante said.
"Ehhh..." Jaedite replied.
I have to do this. Jupiter thought as she faced off against Green Warrior who had since emerged from the pool.
"I will destroy you Jupiter remember that," he said and abruptly in a swirl of energy, which Jupiter at first mistook for an attack, reverted back to Steve in human form.
"Sailor Jupiter?" he said in surprise as he stood up. "What happened?"
"It's a long story Steve," Jupiter said. Wait a minute. I'm Jupiter now. She realized.
"Steve?" she said.
"Yes?" Steve asked.
"I know about your problem with your girlfriend. Don't worry. She still loves you."
"What? She hates me,"
"No she doesn't Steve. She's trying to protect you from the..uh..negaverse?"
"How?" Steve asked.
"The negaverse has been targeting her for some reason. Her and Raye, and Mina. She doesn't want you hurt. She's just faking being mad at you. But you have to leave her alone. When I and the rest of the Sailor Scouts beat the negaverse, then she'll come back to you and apologize. I promise," Jupiter said.
"Are you sure? How could you know?"
"Trust me. Would I lie to you?"
"No, you wouldn't, of course then again I didn't think Lita could, but you did save my life once," Steve said. "Thank you Jupiter."
"Remember. Stay away from her. It's important. Don't think you need to protect her. I'll handle that."
"Okay," Steve said.
Jupiter than hurried away and reverted back into human form.
"Oh no, Mr. Katsugi wanted to see me today, it's almost nightfall. I've got
to hurry!" Lita shouted in realization.
Venus had been about to make one of the hardest decisions of her life when Gold Warrior waited below, but the issue became moot when he abruptly reverted back to Mike.
"What? He's Mike again," Venus said.
"Looks like you don't have to fight him," Patterson said walking over to the edge of the roof to look down. Mike had already headed into the crowd.
"I don't have to fight? Oh thank goodness?" Venus said and spontaneously
hugged the only person available...Patterson..shocking him.
"Well....another day another battle," Mr. Patterson said heading out to his van parked in front of the apartment complex.
"Say, how'd you know to show up?" Serena asked.
"To be honest...my van broke down in front...that's destiny for you," Mr. Patterson said turning back to her.
"And I sensed you were in trouble," Darrien said.
"Well you showed up at the right time," Serena said.
"Unfortunately Amy here needs a new door," Darrien said.
"That's okay, I can afford it," Amy said.
"Well..after that..I guess I can't study any more...I'm too shaken up," Serena said.
"Come on Serena," Amy said.
"Darrien..you know what I mean don't you?" Serena asked.
"Serena...your school work is important," Darrien said.
"Oh..but I'm so.....um..unmotivated," Serena said.
"Come on, maybe I can help," Darrien said and dragged Serena back in the door. Amy followed.
"Heh..crazy girls," Mr. Patterson said.
"Tell me about it," D.V. Patterson muttered walking up beside him. Mina still next to him.
"We're not that bad," Mina said.
"Well..how'd your first date go," Mr. Patterson said managing a sly grin.
"Exactly as expected..." Patterson muttered and climbed into the van.
"He's not much to talk to, but he defended me well," Mina said. "Though..he practically had a seizure following one little hug."
Mr. Patterson started laughing.
"Yeah..well..aren't you going to kiss her goodbye lad!" Mr. Patterson said.
"That's not necessary," Mina and Patterson said in unison.
"But..regardless of all this, I appreciate your help D.V." Mina said.
"He's always available to do chivalrous service to a girl in need," Mr. Patterson said.
"I'll bet he is," Mina said and walked into the apartment building.
"Wait till she hears about this," She said to herself.
"Wanna beer?" Mr. Patterson asked.
"No," D.V. said.
"Good, cause you can't have one," Mr. Patterson muttered.
"Katsugi. It's been a while," The tall man in a black suit and sun glasses said walking into the room followed by a second man similarly dressed.
"And what do you want?" Katsugi said.
"Well...you know the organization is a bit worried, that you may not win this election, and we thought we might make it easier by getting rid of your opponent," the man said menacingly.
"Oh, I see, you're afraid that if I don't get elected you'll lose your influence," Katsugi said.
"Of course, you know that," the man said.
"Well...you've already lost it. I don't need you to win an election," Katsugi said.
"You what?" the man said in shock. "If it weren't for us, you wouldn't be here today," the man said.
"Maybe, but I don't care. I don't need you slime anymore."
"You....just made the biggest mistake of your life, and how do I know this, because you're not going to have the chance to make another one," the man said pulling out a revolver. The other man did the same. Katsugi grinned.
"What are you grinning for," the man said.
"Heh," Katsugi said.
Lita ran in the door to Katsugi headquarters and up the steps. The rooms were all empty.
"I hope there's someone still here I can apologize too," Lita said and walked into Katsugi's outer office. She noticed the light on in Katsugi's inner office. She walked over.
"Um...Mr. Katsugi?" she asked and peered in the door. It was then she noticed that two men were lying on the ground.
"Lita, thank god it's only you. Look at this. These two men tried to kill
me," Katsugi said.