CHAPTER 55

It was early morning and the sun had yet to rise. Still, Darrien stood on the balcony of his apartment starring at the sky.

I had hoped Ellie wouldn't have thought our relationship was anything more than friendship, now if I tell her about Serena and I, it could destroy her inside...but if I don't..I may lose Serena, and this time for good, never mind the suffering she must be going through right now. I have to move quickly...but I have to be careful. He thought. Why is it that I always end up hurting the people I care for? He added as an afterthought.

"Serena?" Luna asked the limp form of the girl lying on her bed with a pillow over her head.

"Go..away," Serena sobbed.

"I'm here for you Serena," Luna said.

"I don't need anyone," Serena moaned.

"But Serena...."

"Please..just go," Serena said.

She needs this time alone. Luna said and jumped to the window. I have to find out what's going on with the other scouts.

Raye didn't sleep at all that night. She had tried, but the anguish of losing both her boyfriends was just too much.

This is unfair....why....did they have to do this to me? Why did they both have to be so...perfect for me...why? She thought. I only needed one of them...and now...I've got none...how could you do this to me? Whatever higher being exists! Why?

"So...Steve..how are you?" Lita asked walking in Steve's bedroom. Her boyfriend was lying on the bed still recovering from the energy he had lost.

"Oh..hey Lita...." Steve grunted.

"Um..this may not be the best of times...but I thought I should come talk to you," Lita said and then took in a deep breath. "I know we've had a lot of problems lately," She began.

"Yes," Steve agreed.

"Um..and I was thinking maybe we should take some time off. Not permanently...just so we can have time to think about things," Lita said.

"Uh....right......that could work," Steve said.

"I'm glad you agree," Lita said.

"Well...if you think it'll work, we should try it," Steve said.

"Okay," Lita said. "I'll call you in a week then."

"Sure," Steve said. The two each turned and walked the way they came.

At least I hope I'll be calling him in a week. Lita thought.

I might as well give up now. How can a week change anything? Steve thought.

Mina knocked on the door to Mike's house. It swung open revealing Mike's sister.

"Well...you came.." she said.

"You called didn't you?" Mina said with an edge.

"Of course I did..girlie, girl..I'm here to make peace."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"Well...come in and let's talk about it," Lara Leslie said. Mina stepped inside, the door swung shut. A cold shiver went up and down her spine.

"Afraid of something?" Lara asked sensing Mina's apprehension.

"No," Mina snapped.

"Good...because I'm not here to hurt you..would you like a drink?" Lara asked holding up a cup.

"No thanks," Mina said.

"Oh come on...just a drink..I'm extending the olive branch and you can't even accept the olive branch?"

"Fine," Mina said and took the cup swigging down what was clearly orange juice. It tasted bitter.

"See...it's just a drink," Lara said.

Mina felt feint and soon fell to the ground.

"Filled with a sedative of course," Lara said with a grin and glanced down at the now nonmoving form.

"Yes...Mina...we're going to put an end to all our problems..right now," Lara said.

"Chief Ozaki I presume," came the voice of Dr. Richter as a projection of him appeared in the air in the Chief's office.

"I wouldn't be in this office if I wasn't," Ozaki said. "What do you want Richter?"

"Oh...well..you know...I really...didn't care whether I had to fight the police or not when I made my ultimatum and I thought that I'd make a deal with you...."

"What kind of deal?"

"Well...simply, if you attack me, I won't bring out my army, but that also means your fair game," Richter said.

"Any time Richter, you're on," Ozaki said.

"Hmm...I thought you'd agree. Just try and stop me," Richter said and promptly disappeared.

"I'll serve you up on a platter," Ozaki said.

"Stupid police, they'll be my next target. They have so much energy," Richter said. Axseon and Dexseon stood behind him grinning. "And of course I am a man of my word...at least for now."

"Well...what do you think...are you ready for more action?" Richter asked.

"Any time," Axseon said.

"Yeah..we're ready to go," Dexseon said.

"Good..I have another mission for you, but I also have a new friend for you...meet...Infernon."

The two looked around.

"Where is he?" Axseon asked.

"Why...right here," Richter said and pointed at a candle sitting on the table. A small flame burned from it.

"Hah...you are joking," Axseon said and began to laugh. Dexseon did as well. A second later a wave of flame flew over their heads. They stopped. The flame began laughing and floated off of the candle in front of them. It began to grow to about the size of their heads.

"Heh heh....surprise," Infernon said.

"Ehh...you expect this thing to be a warrior?" Axseon asked.

"He is quite powerful," Richter said. "And what a perfect disguise too. A single flame," Richter said.

"I will burn those Sailor Scouts before they even see me," Infernon said.

"We'll see won't we?" Richter said.

"I was calling to see if Mina was there?" Mina's mother asked.

"No..why?" Mike asked.

"Well she said something like she had to go somewhere...and I figured it would be your place..I've tried all her friends...I'm not getting many answers."

"Sorry...she isn't here."

"All right. Thank you."

He then hung up.

I wonder what....he began to think and then he realized that he hadn't seen Lara since the morning and the second car that Lara used was gone.

"OH NO!" He shouted.

"A kidnaping? In the higher rent district? Wow...we haven't had one of those in a while," Chief Ozaki said standing up from his desk listening to the report over the phone. "Well...let's get on it! Bring my car around!"

Soon police cars were racing through the streets of Tokyo searching for the Leslie's second car and hoping to set up a dragnet. Cars swerved up in front of Mina's house as well as Mike's, looking for answers.

"What's going on?" Amy said hurrying up. Mike was standing in front of Mina's house now.

"My sister kidnaped Mina, she left me a little note..figured I wouldn't do anything about it...." Mike said.

"Mina's been kidnaped!" Amy shouted in shock. She hurried to the nearest alley she could find and pulled out her communicator.

"Scouts come in," she said. To her shock she received no answer at first. At that point, Serena had cried herself to sleep and couldn't hear a thing. Raye was also completely out of it. Lita was taking a shower to somehow get rid of the grief she felt, and her communicator was sitting outside.

Amy hit another button. Patterson's face appeared almost instantly.

"Patterson...Mina's.." Amy began.

"I know," Patterson said.

"I can't reach the other scouts."

"Amy...I think they're all in bad shape right now," Patterson said.

"How?"

"It's their relationships Amy," Artemas said appearing on the screen.

"Artemas?"

"I was talking to Patterson...listen....it's up to you."

"Alone?" Amy asked.

"Yes," Artemas said. "I'll be there with Luna in a minute."

"Okay," Amy said.

Soon the Patterson van rolled up near her amidst the patrol cars, William Patterson, and the two cats emerged. Greg and D.V. climbed out of the back.

"Greg?" Amy asked.

"They picked me up on the way over," Greg said.

"Hey. Patterson's this is a police investigation," Chief Ozaki said.

"Chief Ozaki, how nice to see you again," William Patterson said.

"Don't give me that Patterson," Ozaki said.

"What?"

"Mike? Any idea where she could have gone?" D.V. asked.

"Nope, it's not like my sister told me of any of her secret places," Mike said.

"Dang it."

"What do you care Patterson?" Mike asked.

"What? Oh...I'm just helping out," Patterson said suddenly becoming nervous. He had hoped that Mike would welcome this help.

"Oh," Mike said.

"You're taking this well," Greg said.

"No..I'm not..trust me," Mike said. "You don't know what my sister's capable of."

"Amy, have you tried your computer?" Luna asked discretely.

"Yes, I wasn't able to find anything..." Amy said. "I've been meaning to program it to detect our communicators, but...I've been so busy and it's hard to do," She said with embarrassment.

"Hey I'll have you know I've arrested more people in my lifetime, then you probably know," Ozaki was yelling.

"I'll just bet you have," William Patterson replied.

"EUREKA!" Amy said after looking at them. Everyone around looked at her. She blushed.

"Heh heh....uh..she just found out it takes 3 licks to get to the center of a lolli-pop.....uh...." Greg said covering for her. The police went back to what they were doing. Amy pulled out the damaged Maverick watch.

"Why don't you just give that back to Patterson?" Artemas asked.

"I....don't know..." Amy said..."I guess I'm just used to having it in my pocket."

Luna and Artemas glanced at each other. Amy hooked the watch into her computer and hid behind a bush. She typed in a few commands and there appeared on her screen in the hills outside of Tokyo the symbol of Venus.

"There she is!" Amy shouted and hurried to the Mr. Patterson.

"Mr. Patterson...I know where she is," Amy said. "Can you give me a ride."

"How do you know where she is?" Ozaki asked.

"She's just smarter than you are Ozaki," Mr. Patterson said.

"Hey..you found her! Wait for me," Mike said.

Amy, Greg, and Mike climbed into the back of the Patterson van. Luna and Artemas followed.

D.V. and Mr. Patterson jumped into the front and it soon was racing down the street, Ozaki's patrol cars right after them.

"I don't know why I'm following them," Ozaki muttered. "But we sure weren't getting anywhere just investigating."

"Fortunately you're watch was set up to hone in on the communicators, not just Sailor Scouts and with my power boosted we got lucky," Amy said.

"Don't knock it," Mike said. "Come to think of it..where is that Amy?"

"Looks like it's on a mountain side," Amy said.

"Of course...Lara loves mountains..I should have remembered," Mike said.

"You would have eventually," Greg said.

"Yeah..well..seconds may count. I just don't know what Lara has planned," Mike said.

"Hmm...you know..you're pretty cute," Lara Leslie said peering down at the once again bound and gagged form of Mina lying on the cave floor.

"I never liked cute girls," Lara said.

This is all I need. Mina thought. And how many times am I going to be tied up this summer anyway? I'm turning into some sort of damsel. She thought.

"You know I used to be like you," Lara again.

Aw...geez...the insane people always have to go into one of these speeches. Mina thought.

The sound of sirens filled the air.

"WHAT! Did that idiot Mike actually tell on me! I'll kill him!" Lara shouted. "But how did he find me?"

Mina smiled underneath the cloth over her mouth.

Soon police cars were sliding into place all around the hill, and cops rushing into positions. Ozaki climbed out of his car with a megaphone.

"All right! If you're in there! Come out with your hands up!" he shouted. Everyone tensed. A second later a squirrel walked out. William Patterson, leaning against the side of his van, burst out laughing.

"Glad you enjoy it Patterson," Ozaki muttered.

"I'm not coming out!" Lara shouted. "I've got a hostage."

"You can't get away," Ozaki said.

"Try me!" Lara shouted.

"Chief...she's mentally unstable," Mike said.

"Oh...." Ozaki said. "That's just great...a nutcase," he muttered not realizing he was still speaking into the microphone.

"I'm not crazy!" Lara shouted.

The entire police contingent glared at the Chief.

"Good work Ozaki," Colonel Patterson muttered.

"Hey!" Ozaki said.

"Chief Ozaki, just leave this to me," came a voice. The whole group turned to see Sailor Mercury standing there.

"Sailor Mercury? What are you doing here?" Ozaki asked.

"Whatever she wants," Greg said from the van.

"If you'll excuse me," Mercury said and jumped into the air. She landed at the cave entrance.

"Who...the heck are you?" Lara shouted.

"Get away from Mina now!" Mercury shouted.

"Ehh....you bet I will," Lara shouted and grabbed Mina flinging her at Mercury. Mercury caught her barely and the two tumbled towards the cave's edge. Fortunately they didn't fall. Lara turned and raced into the cave.

Mercury quickly righted Mina and untied her.

"Thanks Mercury," Mina said.

"You're welcome," Mercury said.

There was some screaming back at where the police were standing. A blast of energy smashed through the air and blew a patrol car apart.

"What? That looks like the negaverse," Mercury said.

"Here! Geez.." Mina said. "Well..I'd better change," Mina said. "I'll take care of Lara later. Venus Star Power!" She yelled pulling out her power stick which Lara had fortunately not noticed. Soon Venus had transformed.

"Where is the attack coming from?" Ozaki shouted as another flame smashed into a car and set it on fire.

"You've got me," Mr. Patterson said, his pistol drawn.

"This isn't good," Luna said standing behind the truck with Artemas, Greg, and Mike.

Two familiar figures jumped into the fray, and now standing there was Mercury and Venus.

"Come out and fight negatrash!" Venus shouted.

A flame shot at them. They screamed and ducked.

"Where'd that come from?" Mercury said. Greg noticed a flicker out of the corner of his eye. Then he noticed a flame sitting behind a bush. It flared up and attacked again. The scouts dived out of the way.

"There!" Greg shouted pointing at the spot. Mercury and Venus acted instinctively.

"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!"

"Venus Love Chain Encircle!"

The two attacks flew straight at the flame who had plenty of time to jump out of the way.

Water? I hate water. The flame said and promptly disappeared.

"What? What do you mean its' attacking HQ?" Ozaki asked. "I'm coming!" he said and jumped into an undamaged car.

"What's going on?" Mr. Patterson asked.

"Police Headquarters is under attack by more of those negaverse things!" Ozaki shouted.

"What about capturing the kidnapper Chief!" one of the officers said.

"Patterson! You do it, you insisted on interfering. I deputize you!" Ozaki said.

"Chief Ozaki! Give us a ride please...we can help!" Mercury said.

"Get in," Ozaki said and she and Venus climbed in. Soon the police cars were racing back to Tokyo.

"Well...we'd better find Lara," Mike said.

"Yeah," Greg said.

"Say...where'd D.V. get off too?" Mr. Patterson asked.

Lara Leslie ran out the other side of the cave and to her shock found herself facing a boy five feet away holding a Katana sword in his hand.

"Kidnaping is a major offense you know," D.V. Patterson said.

"Who...are you?" Lara said completely shocked.

"D.V. Patterson," Patterson said.

"What's the D and the V stand for?"

"Dangerous and Violent, see I'm really insane," Patterson said stoically and his eyes narrowed.

Lara backed up worriedly.

"Hmm...do I detect the big bad wolf is scared...." Patterson said.

"Don't hurt me?" Lara said. Out of the back of the cave came Mr. Patterson, Greg, and Mike.

"Well...looks like you found her D.V." Greg said.

"Why don't you tie her up so we can bring her back to Tokyo Mike," Mr. Patterson said.

"Gladly, and I will enjoy this," Mike said pulling out the rope that had been used to bind Mina.

"I'll get you all for this," Lara shouted.

"That's what they all say," Mr. Patterson said and the four guys laughed, yes, even D.V. did.

"But..he's really insane isn't he?" she said.

"Oh..yes..quite insane," Mike said.

"Ehh..."

"Pathetic!" Axseon shouted blasting another police officer.

"I thought this would be a challenge," Dexseon said doing the same. Several sirens whaled. Chief Ozaki had arrived.

"More targets," Axseon muttered.

"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!" came a shout. Dexseon was hit and slammed onto the roof of a patrol car.

"What?" he shouted.

"Well..looks like you negaverse fools never learn," Venus said as both she and Mercury stood atop Chief Ozaki's car.

"The Sailor Scouts! We'll crush you!" Axseon said.

"Axseon!" Richter said appearing in the air. "Return to base."

"Sir?" Axseon asked.

"Do it," Richter said.

Axseon and Dexseon looked at each other and then dashed off.

The whole group watched them go and then the Patterson van rolled up.

"Did we miss the fun?" Mr. Patterson asked.

"Look what we've got?" Greg said happily revealing Lara sitting tied up in the back of the van.

"Ahh...." Venus said and then dashed off. Soon Mina hurried up as they were loading Lara out of the van. A couple of police officers jumped in her way.

"Miss...don't attack the prisoner," One of them said.

"I just want to slap her!" Mina said.

"Oh...okay," the cop said and Mina got a good hit in. Lara turned and looked at D.V.

"Is your name really Dangerous Violent Patterson?" Lara asked.

"No, but it probably should be," Patterson replied and narrowed his eyes. Lara turned away and a cold shiver went down her back.

"He scares me," she said.

"No surprise there," Mike muttered. "See you in the slammer sis!"

"You're actually enjoying this?" Greg asked.

"Sure...she's adopted anyway," Mike said.

"What?" Nearly everyone in earshot said.

"Oh..didn't I mention that?" Mike said.

Everyone sighed.

"Sorry..Amy..I was in the shower...I would have come," Lita said into her communicator.

"All right.it happens I guess..I should have tried again," Amy said into her communicator.

"No, it was my fault..but..Steve and I have decided to take a break."

"Take a break?"

"Not see each other for a little while."

"Oh..." Amy said. You mean break up for good. She thought.

"But I can handle it.."

"All right," Amy said.

"Have you talked to Raye or Serena?"

"They didn't respond to my communicator. I called each of their houses, apparently they're not interested in seeing anyone," Amy said.

"But why?" Lita said.

"Mike tells me Raye broke up with Rick and Chad."

"Both of them? That could do it."

"And Luna says that a mystery woman has shown up at Darrien's side."

"What?" Lita said in shock.

"That's all I know," Amy said.

"What's happening to us Amy?" Lita asked.

"I don't know Lita, but unfortunately, this Doctor Richter is getting stronger and the scouts' personal problems can't interfere with stopping him."

"I know..I'll try to be there. To be perfectly honest Amy, I'm worried sick..I don't want to lose Steve..but...I also have my responsibilities."

"I understand Lita..try and relax right now..we don't know when Richter will attack again."

"Of course," Lita said.

"Sir...we could have fought..." Axseon said.

"I don't care, Axseon, I'm collecting energy, then in due time I'll destroy the scouts, now we have enough energy to make another warrior. It was no use fighting two of them. You could have lost," Richter said.

"Yes sir," Axseon said.

"As for you Infernon..." Richter said. "You failed to keep the rest of those cops busy long enough?"

"You told me not to risk myself," Infernon said. "Sailor Mercury's attack would have destroyed me if she had hit it once..."

"Hah..you were just a coward," Axseon said.

"I'll fry you!" Infernon said.

"There will be none of that," Richter said. "Calm down."

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

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