SAILOR MOON AR:THE SUMMER OF LOVE?
CHAPTER 51
The sun shined brightly on the water and the sand that made up the beach. All along it were groups of people enjoying the summer weather.
Serena popped out of the water, and was immediately splashed in the face.
"Ahhh!" she shouted. Raye, who had instigated the splashing, started laughing until she was also splashed.
"Hey!" she shouted back and soon both of them were splashing each other.
"Look at those two...catching right up where they left off," Lita said watching from a chair on the beach. Mina and Amy sitting right beside her nodded and laughed.
"This was a great idea, all of us coming out to the beach like this," Mina said.
"Especially after that battle," Amy added.
"Say...speaking of all of us...where are the guys?" Lita asked.
"Okay...okay...now....I know this may seem stupid...but I think it'll work.." Steve said holding up a small toy rubber raft with a rocket attached to it. Behind him, Rick, Mike, Greg, and Chad, all looked at it and began to laugh.
"Hey!" Steve said.
"Do the words titanic mean anything to you?" Mike asked.
"I was thinking more along the lines of the hindenberg," Rick said.
"Hmm...a floating dirigible..." Greg said.
"A floating what?" the others asked.
"Um...never mind," Greg said.
"So...you honestly think this will work," Chad said.
"You guys are just skeptical because nothing else I've built has worked," Steve said.
"Yeah. What could possibly be wrong with us?" Rick asked.
"I'll show you," Steve said and lit the rocket's engine then he let go of the raft, which with the weight of the rocket immediately sank to the bottom of the water and exploded shooting water onto the group.
"Hmm..that seemed impossible, the water should have put out the spark," Greg said.
"The laws of physics don't apply to Steve," Mike said.
Meanwhile standing on the beach down aways was Darrien starring out across the water thinking about various things.
"Darrien! Whatcha you doing?" Serena said and slapped him on the back.
"Oh..uh...hi Serena," Darrien said.
"What are you doing over here. This is supposed to be a togetherness thing and you go off by yourself," Serena said.
"I just needed some time to think," Darrien said.
"About what?"
"Oh..nothing...let's go spend some time together shall we?"
"Right," Serena said and beamed.
"Okay...okay....first one out to the buoy and back wins," Greg said floating in the water. Lined up were Lita, Mina, Raye, Amy, Rick, Steve, Chad, and Mike ready to go.
Prepare to be destroyed. Raye thought.
This should be a small challenge. Lita thought.
I've got more speed than anyone. Mina thought.
Why am I doing this? I hate this kind of competition. Amy thought.
Now is the time to prove I'm the man. Rick thought.
Now is the time to prove I'm the man. Steve thought.
Now is the time to prove I'm the man. Chad thought.
Now is the time to lose, but still get a great tan. Mike thought and grinned.
"Ready....set...go!" Greg shouted. The eight jumped into the water and began swimming. Mike fell behind quickly, but the others were all in a pack. Greg watched as they reached the buoy and turned back heading for where he was floating.
To everyone's shock, Amy beat the whole group by a few seconds.
"What? Amy?" the other seven said.
"Oh..didn't I tell any of you...I swim quite often, it relaxes me," Amy said.
"Great..something else she dominates," Lita muttered. The others all sighed.
Floating on their backs, side by side, Serena and Darrien stared up at the bright blue sky.
"Darrien...do you think we'll ever have peace again?" Serena asked.
"I wish I knew," Darrien said.
"I don't."
"What?"
"Well..I mean..if I knew that the wars would never end...that would depress me...on the other hand..if I knew peace was going to continue, I'd be happy, so it's a fifty fifty thing."
"What if it was something in the middle?" Darrien asked.
"I don't know," Serena said. "That's why I don't want to get into it."
"You did ask the question."
"Well..I wanted your opinion.," Serena said.
"I see...you know Serena, you're a pretty nutty girl," Darrien said.
"And that's what makes me so loveable and cute!" Serena said happily.
"Uh...yeah..." Darrien said.
"Hmm...that cloud looks like you Darrien," Serena said and pointed at it.
"No it doesn't," Darrien said.
"Sure it does."
"So you're suggesting my nose is that big?"
"Um....no...that's your chin."
"What?"
"Look at it."
"Are we looking at the same cloud?" Darrien asked.
"We should be," Serena said.
"I don't think we are."
"It looks just like you."
Later the entire group was just lying on the beach catching some rays.
"So...what are we going to do all summer vacation?" Lita asked.
"Probably just sit around," Mina said.
"Well the library is open all summer..I can't let myself fall behind," Amy said.
"Me neither," Greg said.
Everyone else moaned.
"You two are perfect for each other," Raye said.
"Ehh..just think of it. Those two geniuses at the same school..think about how high the standards will be raised," Mike muttered.
"And then think of how much we'll fall under them," Steve said.
"Not a happy thought," Rick said.
"Heh heh...you have to go to high school," Chad said and started laughing.
"Ehh....yeah...we'll actually have futures," Rick said. He and Chad glanced at each other.
"Uh...fellas, why don't you just calm down," Raye said hopping in between them.
"Who says were not calm?" Rick said clenching his teeth.
"Yeah," Chad said doing the same.
"Darrien...sometimes I wonder about them," Serena whispered.
"What? All of them?" Darrien asked.
"Sure...I mean...as a group...we can be pretty dysfunctional."
"Well...I think you're all perfect for each other," Darrien said and grinned.
"Hey, are you laughing inside?" Serena asked.
"No, I'm laughing outside," Darrien said and began to laugh. Serena bonked
him on the head.
Back in Tokyo.
The car rapidly moved along the pavement. At the wheel was Colonel William Patterson. Beside him sat D.V. with a more glum than usual look on his face.
"You're still upset about the battle," William Patterson said.
"Yes," D.V. replied.
"Why?"
"I've told you. I ran from a fight, I abandoned Jupiter and Mercury," Patterson said.
"But you came back and made a difference."
"If those scouts had been saved in the first place, I wouldn't have needed to show up the second time."
"You don't know that."
"No, I don't. It's just logical, that's all," D.V. replied and looked out the window.
"It also has to do with Mercury doesn't it?"
"What?" D.V. said defensively. "Absolutely not."
"Do you really mean that?"
"Of course I do. Why would it matter?"
"D.V. she's been so nice to you...you know that."
"I've jumped in front of attacks for all of the Sailor Scouts."
"True, but you've jumped into more to protect her."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore."
"Fine, fine, have it your way," William said.
"Besides, you're an army officer, you know what it's like to run from battle without achieving the mission objectives. I felt like a coward...as I would with any task," Patterson said.
"I understand...D.V..you're right it's wrong of me to think anything otherwise..maybe I should have said that Mercury's involvement made you feel a little more on edge then you would have been, but not too much," William said.
"That would be a more accurate statement," Patterson said.
The car soon pulled up to a gate that lead to an army base beyond. Both Patterson's pulled out ID badges on them and showed the guard, who nodded and opened the gate. They pulled up to one of the base's buildings. After showing their cards to the guards at the door, they were allowed inside further. They descended down a flight of stairs and reached another metal door. They slipped their cards in. The door opened.
"I wonder what General Nagumo wanted to see us all about," William said.
"Don't know, but it probably isn't good news," D.V. said.
They arrived at the Anti-Negaverse-Task-Force conference and found most of the committee there, with the exception of Chief Ozaki and the police contingent. Who arrived a minute later.
"Thank you for coming," Nagumo said. "I've called you hear because of this."
He slipped a videotape into a VCR and on the large screen on the wall the face of a man everyone instantly recognized appeared.
"Yes, that's Doctor Richter," Nagumo said.
"He was on this committee. So what does that have to do with anything?" Ozaki asked.
"As you'll notice, none of the civilian scientists are here," Nagumo said. "This will explain why."
He pressed play and Richter began.
"Well..hello there, this is Doctor Thadeus Richter, and I'm just here to tell you about what I stole last night...namely...the negaenergy sample that was given to us scientists to study. I also managed to incapacitate my colleagues so that they won't be around to help you. Now...before..you start the man hunt, I must warn you. I have already begun to convert several members of the army to my side...that means....that you don't know who's good and evil...." Richter said.
"That cretin!" Ozaki said and many of the other people shouted insults.
"Ah...I expected that reaction," Richter said guessing the group's reaction in advance. "However, I present to you a proposition. My plans are quite simple, the destruction of the Sailor Scouts so...what I propose is that the army and all the rest of you leave me alone. In exchange, I'll just go about my business and not involve my converted soldiers at all. I'll contact you again at 4 o clock PM and you can tell me your decision good bye for now," Richter said and the tape ended.
"So you see what we are facing," Nagumo said.
"Sir...we have to fight!" a member of Nagumo's staff said.
"And maybe face our own men," Colonel Patterson said.
"I agree....the Sailor Scouts can handle themselves," Maxfield Stanton said.
"But it's the principle of the thing," Ozaki said. "We are negotiating with terrorists."
"In this case I think that's warranted, let the Sailor Scouts handle him," another army member said.
"I propose we take a vote," Nagumo said.
"Ehh...yeah..let's let reason prevail," Ozaki said.
The votes were counted. The police voted solidly against agreeing. The army voted for, that left the two civilians and the reservist, Colonel Patterson.
"Hmm.....facing our own men....still I don't feel like giving in," Mr. Patterson said and voted to resist.
"Stanton?" Nagumo asked.
"I say we let the Sailor Scouts handle this," Stanton said.
"Then it's up to you Patterson," Nagumo said.
"This is absurd. The actions of Earth's defenses in the hands of a fifteen year old!" Ozaki shouted.
"Patterson has earned his spot, in case you forgot the last battle Chief Ozaki," Nagumo said. "Patterson?"
"Sir...." Patterson said and paused for a moment. "Having traitors within our midst is a recipe for disaster. For all we know...anyone of us could under his control....so..I vote that we stay out of this."
"You idiot!" Chief Ozaki said.
"So...have you made your decision?" Dr. Richter said to their shock appearing in front of them.
"Isn't negaenergy wonderful?" he asked.
"We've made our decision you scum," Nagumo said. "We accept your terms."
"Good...once I destroy the Sailor Scouts, we'll talk again, but if I see
anyone of you getting involved in this fight..all bets are off," Richter said
and disappeared.
The scouts and their friends were on their way back to Tokyo on a shuttle bus.
"So how many rockets have you built Steve?" Greg asked.
"Um...well you know.." Steve trailed off.
"Hey...we shouldn't knock Steve's rocketry program, it let us meet all sorts of wonderful people..." Mike said.
"If you ignore the fact that they're always yelling at us, it's a positive experience," Rick said.
"Uh...right..." Greg said.
"I can see Greg's a bit nervous," Mike said. "Don't worry Greg, we're all a good bunch of guys..um...just...don't ask about the green tea."
"The what?" Greg asked.
"The green tea," Mike said and his eyes narrowed.
"Yes, the green tea," Rick and Steve said, their eyes also narrowing.
"Quit scaring him," Raye snapped.
"Oh..sorry Raye," Rick said.
"Yeah..sorry," Mike and Steve said. Mike then scribbled something down on a piece of paper. He turned it towards Greg.
It said "Green Tea."
The others nodded and narrowed their eyes again.
Greg sighed.
"You had to fall in love with these jokers," Serena muttered.
"They're wonderful..in their own way," Lita said.
"Come on Lita, that line's been used to much already.." Serena said.
"There's just something special about them," Mina said.
"We can't explain it," Lita said.
"Yeah..." Raye said. "I mean..sure I've got two to choose from and all..heh heh...but..." Raye said.
"You're playing a dangerous game Raye," Lita said.
"Yeah," Mina said.
"Well..I can't do much about that right now," Raye said.
"Love triangles should be avoided at all costs," Amy said definitively. Everyone glanced at her.
"Um..isn't that what everyone says..." she added nervously and blushed.
"Looks like Amy's been reading up on the rules of romance," Serena said and grinned. The other girls grinned too.
"I don't have time to do that..I just heard it here and there," Amy said.
"Yeah..right," the other girls said.
"Uh....look it's Tuxedo Mask!" Amy shouted and pointed out the window. All the girls turned.
"Hey!" they all shouted realizing their mistake a second later.
"Over here girls," Darrien said from the seat in front of them and smiled.
"We knew that," Raye snapped.
"Monetary lapse in memory," Lita muttered. Amy began laughing.
In the lobby of the Anit-Negaverse Task Force HQ, D.V. Patterson stood looking at one of the paintings someone had put up. Maxfield Stanton was leaning against the wall. Since the two of them were civilians, they weren't allowed in the discussion of a military matter related to the negaverse. Neither of them knew what that was. But they were waiting to be let back in.
"Patterson...that was a gutsy move," Nephlite said.
"What?" Patterson replied.
"Voting against resisting."
"The last thing the army needs is to be fighting itself. If the negaverse got it's hands on the weaponry the SDF had with intent to use it...lives could be lost. Richter wants the Sailor Scouts, let him have them. They'll beat him."
"Yes they will.." Nephlite said. "So what's it like to be powerless?"
Patterson whirled around and faced him.
"Oh..you want to know how I guessed that. Simply because it was D.V. Patterson fighting, not Guardian Saturn..not hard to make that association..you see," Nephlite said.
"So..it is.." Patterson said.
"I'm in a similar situation. I still possess vast quantities of negaenergy inside me, but if I use it, it could gradually take over and turn me back to evil, so I can't risk it. We both are left without power."
"At least energywise."
"Yes...you seem like someone with plans. Remember what Richter said."
"He doesn't know who the Sailor Scouts are though..." Patterson said.
"He could find out if you're not careful."
"I'm always careful. Except when it is necessary not to be."
"Just a warning," Nephlite said.
Serena, smiling happily, walked into her room to find Luna sitting there.
"Hey, Luna...I had so much fun today," she said.
"Sorry to end your day on a down note, but we've got trouble," Luna said.
"Not again!" Serena screamed.
"Serena? You all right?" her mother asked poking her head in the door.
"Oh..yeah...Luna...just..um..sneezed...I think she might have a little cold," Serena said.
"Oh..okay," her mother said.
"What do you mean trouble Luna....we can't have trouble now," Serena said. "It's summer vacation and we just finished fighting something! There is no way we can have trouble now!"
"I'm sorry Serena," Luna said.
"Well...that's just great....so much for spending the summer with Darrien," Serena said.
"Serena, be rational, you won't spend all your time in combat."
"That's assuming I win," Serena said.
"Well...you always win," Luna said.
"Oh..sure...like I can keep that up indefinitely," Serena said.
"It's your job," Luna said.
"I hate it!" Serena said and started hitting herself on the head with a pillow.
"Serena?"
"One more!" Serena said and swung it across her face.
"I'm fine," Serena said afterwards. "So...spill the beans..what is this
trouble?"
"Stolen negaenergy?" Raye asked in surprise. It was minutes later and they were sitting in Raye's Temple.
"I didn't know there was any negaenergy to steal," Mina said.
"The army had it, because Nephlite gave it to them, remember?" Amy said.
"Great..so it's Nephlite's fault," Serena muttered.
"What's your problem Serena?" Raye asked.
"I'll tell you what my problem is....it's that practically every day I have to go fight evil that's what the problem is. Do you think I want to do that! No! I want to be a normal teenage girl, but can I do that? No..I've got to go fight some monster....do you think that makes me happy?" Serena shouted.
"It doesn't make any of us happy, but we have no choice," Raye said.
"It's our duty," Lita said.
"Oh come on girls....like you don't stop and wonder why you're doing this every once and a while," Serena said.
"I'm not saying that we don't, but every time we do, we realize we have to do it," Raye said.
The others nodded.
"Well I don't have to like it," Serena said and shrugged. "In fact, I think I'm just going to be constantly angry for a while," she said and put a scowl on her face.
"Cookies Serena?" Lita asked putting a bowl in front of her.
"Cookies? Yum!" Serena shouted and began to stuff her face.
"Well that's one crisis averted," Mina muttered.
"So..what else can you tell us about this Doctor Richter?" Amy asked.
"Not much...Patterson didn't learn much about him," Luna said.
"That's not like him, usually he knows everything," Lita said.
"No girls, he just knows everything about us...." Raye muttered.
"Good cookies," Serena said and kept munching.
"So much for her take on this," Luna muttered.
"Just be happy she's not whining," Artemas said.
"But how much energy could they have?" Amy asked.
"According to Patterson, enough to get off to a good start if you wanted to take over the Earth," Luna said.
"So..what do you think his plan is?" Lita asked.
"We don't know, but he wants to destroy the Sailor Scouts, I know that," Luna said.
"Still...with the energy he had, it wouldn't be enough to beat you," Artemas said. "Yet."
"So..he'll probably try to gain more energy," Amy said.
"We're right back to square one again," Raye said. "Hunting down energy stealers."
"Yeah...too bad we can't find him before he gets that energy," Lita said.
"Who says we can't," Mina said. "Amy..couldn't you track it?"
"I could try," Amy said. "But I wasn't able to locate Nephlite's energy before with my computer. I don't know if it would work now."
"Why don't you just try it?" Mina suggested. Amy pulled her computer out and typed in a few commands. She frowned.
"My computer only..has a short range..and there's nothing there," Amy said.
"Well so much for that," Raye said.
"But couldn't we search the city?" Mina asked.
"It would take a while," Amy said.
"I don't think that's the best way to spend your time right now girls," Luna said. "Maybe we can track the negaenergy source when they attack. I hate to say it...but letting them do the work for us, might pay off more."
"Maybe," Raye said.
"Does anyone have anymore cookies?" Serena said.
"There were fifty in that bowl," Lita said in shock.
"Was it smart to make that deal with the army?" the voice in the shadows said.
"Of course it was," Doctor Richter said. "Now I don't have to deal with them. Besides, I'm not interested in destroying humans. I need them to supply energy for me. I want the Sailor Scouts destroyed. With them out of the way...the world will be ours."
"Yes sir," the voice said.
CHAPTER 51 CHAPTER 52 CHAPTER 53 CHAPTER 54
CHAPTER 55 CHAPTER 56 CHAPTER 57 CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 59 CHAPTER 60 CHAPTER 61 CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 63 CHAPTER 64 CHAPTER 65