CHAPTER 60
Raye walked down the street solemnly.
"Maybe if I apologize again, or beg for mercy or something..he'll listen to me," she murmured to herself. "He can't be mad a me forever can he?"
She rounded a corner that would lead to Rick's house, she didn't need to go any farther, Rick stood there, he had a cold expression on his face.
"Uh..Hi...Rick," Raye said.
"What do you want Raye?" Rick asked.
"Oh..please..Rick..give me another chance," Raye said.
"You're begging me aren't you?" Rick asked.
"Yes...you don't know how much you mean to me!" Raye said.
"That's true...I don't...based on the way you acted, I'd say I'm not worth much."
"Rick, no, you mean so much to me!"
"Raye...you had your chance, but you had to throw it away," Rick said with frustration.
"But..Rick..."
"No, Raye..it's over...now leave me alone, because talking to me will get you no farther," Rick said.
"But...Rick.." Raye said. Rick had already begun walking away. He was around the corner very quickly.
"But..Rick....." Raye said and looked at the ground.
And in a Steve Carlin's living room sitting around a card table were Mike, Steve, and Greg.
"The game is five card stud," Mike said. "You each get five cards, and I'm the stud."
Steve pushed him out of his chair.
"Oh..sorry..." Steve said.
"No..problem," Mike muttered and sat back up. "Apparently we're playing five card loser instead."
"Now you've got it," Steve said.
"That's an odd name," Greg said. "Of course then again...."
"Don't try and comprehend the universe, just mess it up as much as you can," Mike said.
"And..change your oil every 3,000 miles," Steve said.
"Remember these two laws because they will serve you well," Mike said.
These guys are okay, as long as you don't want to have to deal with reality. Greg thought.
"Say...you ever wonder..like...why...there are no princesses in a card deck?" Steve asked.
"It's blatant gender discrimination," Mike said. "Notice how a king is worth more than a queen too."
"Yeah...maybe we should do something about this," Steve said.
"Or maybe you shouldn't," Greg said.
"He learns quickly," Steve said.
"Yes," Mike agreed.
"Ahh...hello Miss Anderson..." Maxfield Stanton said standing at the front door to Amy's house. Amy stood there a bit uneasily seeing that one of her former enemies was now speaking to her politely.
"What can I do for you?" Amy asked.
"Can we go for a ride?" Stanton asked.
"Why?"
"It's important."
"Um...I guess," Amy said nervously and followed him to his car. "I warn you not to try anything...I have many powerful friends."
What a strange thing for me to say. She thought.
"I'm fully aware of your acquaintances...and rest assured I am also aware that if something were to happen to you, something would happen to me soon afterwards, probably at the hands of one D.V. Patterson."
Amy blushed at the oddity of the comment.
"Why do you say that?" She asked.
"Heh...just a thought," Stanton said with a grin. "Anyway...the reason we're going for this ride is because I have some information for you. Information that's better told in these sort of circumstances. As you probably know Doctor Richter is running things on the evil side of affairs. He stole the negaenergy I had given to the army. Now...the army and him have struck a deal that they will not fight each other. It turns out that Richter has infiltrated their command structure, as well as the fact that he knew of all our plans to fight negaverse incursions anyway..needless to say..we had little choice...he also included myself in that agreement, though he does not realize the power I have. It also includes both Pattersons..which is why neither of them have played a large part in the battles."
"I see..." Amy said.
"Anyway...needless to say..while Richter stole the energy from the army, it was hardly enough to work with, I had made sure of that...but..somehow Richter got a hold of more energy, and the only source possible would be Jade Corporation don't you think?" Stanton said.
"That's true...so...maybe...the scouts should check it out."
"That was my thinking."
"Well..I guess it can't hurt."
"No...it probably can't...here's your house," Stanton said.
"You timed that quite well," Amy said.
"I guess I did," Stanton admitted.
Minutes later, in Amy's room.
"Jade Corp? Why?" Serena asked.
"Think about it Serena, if there was any sorts of negaenergy lying around there...well...he could find it...furthermore a thought occurred to me. When the army cleaned the building out they might have uncovered negaenergy stored somewhere..and...well knowing the army, they might have taken it.." Amy said.
"So if they did...why should we check it out?" Serena asked.
"Because maybe we can find someway to trace it," Amy said.
"That's brilliant," Lita said.
"Well..it was Nephlite's idea," Amy said.
"Oh..." Lita said.
"But I modified it a little," Amy said.
"And brilliantly I think," Lita said.
"You're so kind Lita," Amy said.
"Will you two cut it out," Serena said.
"What?" the two said.
"Sorry..it just sounded annoying," Serena said. "Oh no..I'm not turning into Raye am I!"
"Don't worry Serena, I'm sure...you're not," Lita said.
"Oh..good...because..that would be a problem if I was," Serena said.
"Did I miss anything?" Mina asked walking in.
Soon afterward.
The four Sailor Scouts arrived at Jade Corp HQ in scout form to prevent any suspicion. They walked inside the building and into the lobby, where Jade Corp logos were sitting in various places.
"This place is still creepy. Why hasn't someone cleaned this place up?" Sailor Moon said.
"Maybe that'd be a good job for you Sailor Moon," Venus said.
"What? Why?" Sailor Moon said.
"Don't know..I just thought I'd act like Mars for a little while, it's been a while since I heard her make a snide comment," Venus said.
"And you miss that?" the other three scouts asked.
"A little," Venus replied.
"Let's check the basement first," Mercury said trying to return to the group to the mission at hand.
"Since when are you the leader?" Sailor Moon said.
"Hmm...well..Sailor Moon...you were ahem..."sick" and unable to perform your duties, so I as your trusted advisor, stepped in to take charge in a crisis situation," Sailor Mercury said.
"But I'm back," Sailor Moon said.
"That is true, but your devotion to the cause has seemed to waver lately, so...I think it is time for someone to take the reins," Sailor Mercury said.
"I agree with Comrade Mercury," Sailor Jupiter said.
"As do I Comrade Jupiter," Venus said.
"Then is done. The Union of Sailor Scouts is formed," Mercury said.
"What are you three talking about?" Sailor Moon whined.
"Nothing," the three replied and walked on.
"Oh..I see..it was all a joke," Sailor Moon said.
"Right," the three said.
"Well it wasn't funny," Sailor Moon muttered and they kept going.
"So, they like come up to me and say..Mike...and I'm like yeah.." Mike was saying.
"This story annoys me already," Steve said.
"Is that the correct response? Because it annoys me too," Greg said.
"Uh...you two are cute and all, but let me finish the story," Mike said.
"I don't think I want to hear the end," Greg said.
"Me neither," Steve said.
"All right, all right, I'll tell a different one," Mike said.
"No!" Greg and Steve said surprisingly in unison.
"Greg..you're learning so quickly," Steve said.
"I bet it's out of necessity," Greg said.
"Might be," Steve said.
"I just want to make it clear, that despite these interruptions I will continue speaking anyway," Mike said.
"Well he's got us there," Steve said.
"Isn't this where you use the threat of violence?" Greg said.
"Oh..yeah..you're right," Steve said. "Shut up Mike, or I will give you tonsilitis and then remove your tonsils!"
"That was an odd one Steve," Mike said.
"Yes it was, but...I'm sure it worked," Steve said.
"You are correct about that," Mike said.
"Good, now we can continue our game," Steve said.
"This place is spooky," Sailor Moon said as the Sailor Scouts descended into the basement of Jade Corp.
"Yeah, Dark basements are always filled with evil stuff," Venus said. A light went on.
"What?" Venus and Sailor Moon said.
"There was a light switch," Jupiter muttered.
"Oh..." Venus and Sailor Moon said.
"Looks like the army hasn't cleaned everything out," Mercury said staring at what looked like various devices related to Jadeite's operation.
"What is all this stuff?" Jupiter said.
"Don't know..but it's probably all useless without negaenergy," Mercury said.
"I'm surprised the military just left it lying around," Jupiter said.
"They probably couldn't afford to remove it, you know that the Prime Minister is concerned about defense spending," Mercury said.
"Sylia Coral has nothing but peaceful intentions," Venus said.
"Heh..if Sylia Coral had her way we wouldn't have an army, and our job versus Jadeite would have been a lot harder," Jupiter said.
"She has respect for the army, but not for that toilet they bought for twelve million dollars," Venus said.
"It wasn't a toilet it was a stealth fighter. The toilet was only twelve thousand," Jupiter said.
"Oh..like that's so much better," Venus said. And to Mercury and Sailor Moon's surprise Jupiter and Venus broke into an argument over defense spending and public policy.
"Uh..Mercury..have you found anything?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Not yet...we helped the Military remove all the energy...so if there's anything left it will be hard to find," Mercury said. "I'm going to check what appears to be the power sources."
"Good plan," Sailor Moon said.
"For FY 99 the allocated amount of defense spending is actually down from the average!" Jupiter said.
"Whose this FY 99 person!" Venus yelled back.
"Fiscal Year!"
"I've never met him..is he cute?" Venus asked.
"Yeah, he looks like Mike, only with larger eyebrows," Jupiter snapped.
"Wow..that is kinda cute," Venus said.
"That worries me," Sailor Moon muttered to herself and started walking around the large basement. "Hmm...strange place...wonder what this did," she said looking at a strange device with buttons all over it. She pressed one, and to her shock the machine started up.
"Ahh.." she shouted and backed up.
"What is it Sailor Moon?" Jupiter said hurrying up.
"This..machine's still working," Sailor Moon said.
"Better stand back," Jupiter said.
"Why'd you have to touch anything..we don't know what it does," Venus said hurrying up.
Seconds later a little slot opened in the machine. The three girls tensed. A paper cup dropped from the slot and was filled with coffee.
Jupiter and Venus glanced at Sailor Moon.
"Uh..how was I supposed to know?" Sailor Moon replied.
"Is there a problem?" Mercury yelled.
"No!" Jupiter said.
"Just Sailor Moon getting scared of a coffee machine!" Venus shouted.
"Hey! You were scared too!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"Nothing yet," Sailor Mercury said to herself as she kept searching the various machines set up for any trace of negaenergy. Her visor picked up nothing.
"There should be something," Mercury said a little annoyed that she couldn't
find anything she could use. She moved onto the next machine hoping she would
have better luck.
"My mistake here was to tell him to go find her..." Sailor Moon was saying as the three other Sailor Scouts relaxed by leaning against a wall.
"It was the right thing to say," Jupiter said.
"Yeah, but now Darrien's running all over Tokyo looking for her and he won't have any time to talk to me until he does find her," Sailor Moon said.
"But Sailor Moon, if he doesn't find her, he'll be filled with regret, and that will distract him when he's with you," Venus said.
"Oh..you're right...that just might happen, and that would stink," Sailor Moon said.
"You see...you did the right thing," Jupiter said.
"But if he never finds her, I'm in trouble," Sailor Moon said.
"Well that's true enough," Jupiter said.
"Yeah, that could be bad," Venus said.
"You guys are supposed to lie to me about that you know..." Sailor Moon muttered.
"Oh..we weren't supposed to be candid anymore? Sorry.." Jupiter sad.
"Yeah..whoops," Venus said.
"Just wait till you two break up again..I will pounce!" Sailor Moon said.
"But we won't break up again," the two replied with nasty grins on their faces.
"Ehh...we'll see," Sailor Moon said.
"Was that a blip?" Mercury said to herself as she looked at the computer.
"Yes it was," she said as she saw it again. She quickly used the scanning device. A data readout appeared.
"Thank goodness," she said.
"Hey! I've got something!" she said.
"Really? Great!" Sailor Jupiter said as the other three Sailor Scouts walked up.
"Yeah...it's great that all this hard work paid off," Sailor Moon said.
"Oh..yes..you're tireless efforts," Sailor Venus said.
"I didn't mean I accomplished anything," Sailor Moon said.
"Good," Venus said.
"Well..this means that we can track them now?" Jupiter said.
"Hopefully..I won't know until they show up again and then my computer will pinpoint them if it works," Mercury said. "Wait a minute...it is pinpointing..five objects...coming this way."
"Coming this way..as in where?" Venus asked.
"As in entering the building!" Mercury said.
"Well it works," Sailor Moon said.
"Let's ambush them," Jupiter said.
"Can we handle all five of them?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Sure we can," Sailor Jupiter said. "Besides, I'm not about to leave yet, I have some unfinished business."
"They're heading right for this basement," Mercury said.
"Really?" Venus said.
"Yes..they'll be here in a minute," Mercury said.
"Then let's set things up. Let's find a place to hide," Sailor Moon said.
"Those boxes should do the trick," Jupiter said. The four moved behind a group of cartons and readied themselves. Sailor Moon pulled her tiara off. The other three prepared to energize their powers. Mercury transferred the data from her computer to her visor and waited.
"They're on the stairs," Mercury said.
"Jupiter Thunderclap..." Jupiter said concentrating.
"Venus Love Chain....." Venus said also concentrating.
"Mercury Ice Storm ...." Mercury said.
"Moon Tiara...." Sailor Moon said.
Cletus the Hyena came into the light first, followed by Dexseon, Axseon, Infernon, and Serpetan.
"This is the place huh? What a dump?" Cletus said.
The four Sailor Scouts popped out from behind their hiding place.
"Zap!"
"Encircle!"
"Blast!"
"Magic!"
The four attacks flew out. Jupiter hit Cletus and propelled him into the wall. Venus narrowly missed Serpetan who batted her attack away with his sword. Sailor Moon's tiara flew over Dexseon and Axseon's head as they both managed to duck. Mercury's attack flew right at Infernon, but the creature vanished.
"Retreat!" Axseon shouted. Cletus vanished, as did Serpetan. Axseon and Dexseon raced back up the stairs.
"Why are they running like that?" Jupiter said.
"We have to follow," Mercury said and leapt over the boxes. The others followed. The four scouts raced up the stairs. A grenade came flying at them as they emerged. The four dived forward as it exploded behind them. To their shock another grenade flew at them..this one was much bigger. It landed down the hall.
"RUN!" Sailor Moon shouted and the four raced for the door. They saw Axseon and Dexseon vanish. The four found the nearest window and jumped out it. The grenade exploded rocking the Jade Corp building which then began to collapse. The four scouts hurried away. Fortunately Jade Corp HQ was still cordoned off by tape and fencing so there was no one else around.
"Well...looks like their whole idea was to keep us from getting a sample," Jupiter said.
"They almost succeeded," Mercury said.
"But now we can track them right?" Venus said.
"As long as they're in range," Mercury said.
"Well are they now?" Venus asked.
"Not at the moment," Mercury said.
"Well..at least we have it," Venus said.
"Why do I even bother with Rick?" Raye muttered as she once again sat her in her room.
"I'd like to know that," she heard a voice say. Her grandfather stood there in the doorway.
"Oh...grandpa...why is he still so angry?" Raye asked.
"Don't know...maybe because you're a blatant two timer," her grandfather said.
"That doesn't help!" Raye snapped.
"Wasn't supposed to," her grandfather said. "Raye, you really have to get beyond this."
"I can't, if I let him go, I may regret it."
"I think he's let you go."
"No he hasn't, I know it," Raye said.
"Oh, you do?" Her grandfather asked.
"Yes, I know it."
"Been consulting the fires again?" her grandfather asked.
"I haven't needed to do that."
"Then explain to me how you know."
"I can't, I just know that he still loves me."
"A heck of a lot of good it does either of you. Listen Raye...try and rest...you've been like this for days..it's not good for you," her Grandfather said and walked off. "Oh and Raye...I know I may be a bit weird when it comes to love and stuff...after all..I married your grandmother! Heh heh!"
Raye burst out laughing then stopped.
"That was wrong of me," she said.
"What? Laughing? Heck..that's the first time you've laughed at one of my jokes in years, I should come by with them more often when you're heavily depressed," Grandpa said and then walked off.
Raye immediately slipped back into her depression.
"If Rick won't even talk to me how do I convince him I've changed and that I
was so wrong for what I did? Oh..it's hopeless."
"Okay..since when have three aces, a 2, and a 5 been a royal flush?" Steve asked.
"I am playing the traditional way," Mike said.
"You're just making stuff up," Greg said.
"This guy learns so freaking quickly," Mike said.
"Yeah he does, he'll be one of us in no time," Steve said.
"No offense guys, but that isn't one of my goals in life," Greg said.
Mike and Steve started laughing.
"He's learned rule number three...avoid turning into us at all costs," Mike said.
"Better be careful," Steve said. "I was once like you Greg, and then...well...it just happened and here I am now."
"I'll try to remember that," Greg said.
"You've been warned," Steve said.
After days of searching Darrien had finally found the motel Ellie was staying in. When he arrived he found her walking away from the motel
"Ellie, please, talk to me," Darrien said running up.
"I have nothing to say to you," Ellie said.
"Of course you do."
"Yeah..I do..." Ellie said and slapped him. "Jerk!"
She then walked off.
"Hmm..well...that didn't work," Darrien 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