CHAPTER 61
Once again three figures stood atop the headquarters of the World's Largest Fertilizer Consortium.
"Guys..what do I do?" Rick asked.
"You're asking us?" Mike asked.
"Yeah..how can we can help?" Steve asked.
"Surprisingly and no doubt ironically, the two of you actually have girlfriends," Rick said.
"Rick..our circumstances are different," Mike said.
"Yeah.." Steve said.
"Maybe for you Mike..your problem just went away, but you Steve..you had to reach a compromise, you had hurdles to overcome, but you see me now....look at me...I loved Raye...but how can I love her now?" Rick asked.
"You could forgive her," Mike said. "Not a suggestion, just an answer."
"Rick....I don't know what I'd do in your place," Steve said.
"Me neither," Mike said.
"Well I don't know either. It's tearing me apart, but I can't let her see that. She has to experience all the pain that I experience," Rick said.
"Rick..if you knew she wouldn't leave you, would you go back to her?" Mike asked.
"In a minute, but I don't know she'll do that," Rick said. "That's why I need you two to tell me what to do."
"Rick...we can't do that...we're your friends...but this is one of those times, when you're the only one who can decide," Steve said.
"Yeah, Rick...but I think you can do it," Mike said. "Make the right choice."
"That's not what I wanted to hear," Rick said.
"So..you encountered them at the Jade Corp building?" Richter asked.
"Unfortunately yes sir," Axseon said.
"Do you think they found anything?"
"I don't know sir."
"Hmm..they seem to have a nasty habit of being exactly where we don't want them to be."
"Yes sir."
"Still...the show must go on so to speak. Tokyo railway station should do the job," Richter said.
"Yes sir. I will make preparations," Axseon said.
"Hmm..this is the most interesting molecular structure I've ever seen," Amy said studying the data on the negaenergy on her computer.
"That's great and all Amy, but does it help?" Serena asked.
"No, knowing the molecular structure doesn't help at all, but possessing it allows us to track the enemy provided they're in range, as you know," Amy said.
"At least we have a way to find them now," Mina said.
"I wonder where they'll attack next," Lita said.
"There are so many places where you can find large groups of people," Mina said.
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Amy said. Still....I can tell my computer to constantly scan for the energy and to alert me if it happens so I won't have to constantly be using it."
"Good idea," Serena said. "So what do we do today?"
"I'm going to the library to study," Amy said. "Anyone want to come?"
"Well..you know as good at that sounds.." Mina said.
"Uh...yeah.um...you know we'd love to but.." Lita was saying.
"We...um....are allergic to..um.." Serena said.
"Um...allergic to...." Mina said.
"Libraries," the three muttered and sighed.
Amy burst out laughing.
"I get the message," She said with a smile and walked off.
"I guess we made her day," Lita said.
The other two nodded and sighed.
"How about we go for some ice cream," Mina suggested.
"There's an idea," Lita said.
"Stop stalling and let's go," Serena said and ran off.
"Stalling?" the other two said and started following her.
Soon afterward the three were sitting on a bench eating their ice cream.
"So..has anyone tried to talking to Raye lately?" Mina asked.
"I'm afraid to, I'm really not the person that should talk to her, since she's always mad at me for some reason or other, and after the last time I talk to her..." Serena said.
"I've thought about it, but I'm just not sure, Raye likes to be alone when she's hurt, that's just the way she is, I don't know if we should rush her," Lita said.
"It's been a while though," Mina said.
"That it has," Serena said.
"Maybe we should swing by her place," Lita said.
"It probably can't hurt her anymore," Mina said.
"You sure?" Serena said. "And besides that, what about it hurting us..I'm afraid her next step might be violence."
"Yeah...but she can only hit one of us at once," Mina said.
"And Serena's the most likely target," Lita said and the two started laughing only to stop seconds later.
"We shouldn't have laughed. We can't make light of our friend's misfortune, even if it does lead to comedy," Lita said.
"You're right," Mina said.
"You'd better be right about everything, or I'm going to regret it," Serena muttered.
"Well let's go," Mina said.
"Ahem..I haven't finished my ice cream cone," Serena said.
"Oh..of course..sorry.." Mina muttered.
"Actually this is good ice cream," Lita said finishing her own cone.
Mina just glanced at her.
Amy stared at the book in front of her. That's the best argument they could find against Einstein's theory of relativity? She thought reading. I thought that Harvard provided quality research. But this..I can punch a hole in this argument with probably only seventeen hours of additional study. Let's see what Yale came up with.
She pulled up another book and started to read.
"Oh..hey..Amy..." came a voice. She looked up see Greg there.
"Oh..hello Greg," Amy said with a large smile. "Studying?"
"Uh..yep...sorta have to if I want to remain number two in the class.."
"Well..maybe one day you'll beat even me."
"I intend to.." Greg said. She glanced at him.
"Uh..I mean..healthy competition right..heh heh heh.." Greg said nervously.
"Of course Greg..." Amy said grinning. "Would you like to sit down?"
"Oh...sure.." Greg said and sat down. "Oh..the Yale theory..huh...good stuff."
"You've read it?" Amy asked with surprise.
"Well..I spent my last year in junior high doing a research project on it...yeah.." Greg said.
"Wow..I didn't think..you were that into it."
"Well..after I read the Harvard idea..jeez..what a joke..everyone from Mizumaki to Tuscaro..to Benz..to Walker has torn that apart," Greg said quoting various physicists from around the world.
"Yes, I noticed the flaws," Amy said.
"Well..how about that..I actually know something about the higher level stuff," Greg said.
"It's not like you can't handle it," Amy said.
"I know, but I maybe a smart when it comes to high school, .but you..your one of the smartest people period." Greg said. Amy blushed.
"I just work hard, that's all," Amy said. "So what about the Harvard theory?"
"Oh..well...you see...
"Hold it," Amy said. "Sorry.." she said hurriedly and pulled out her communicator. It was a message from her computer.
"Negaenergy located."
She pulled out her computer discretely and there was several flashing dots on a map of the city.
"The negaverse is at the train station," she whispered. "I have to go."
"Oh..right..good luck Amy," Greg said.
"Thanks," Amy said with a grin and hurried to find a place to transform.
"So what do we say?" Serena asked as she walked up the steps to Raye's temple along with Lita and Mina.
"I don't know," Mina said.
"We could start with hello," Lita said.
"Is it just me or are there more steps?" Serena muttered and gasped for some breath.
"You're just out of shape that's all," Mina said.
"Am not!" Serena said.
"Quiet," Lita said. "We're almost there."
"Uh..right," Serena said.
The three reached the top of the steps and moved towards Raye's room.
"It's now or never," Serena said and suddenly sensed something in her head.
"What? Not now," She said.
"The communicators," Lita muttered.
"But what about Raye?" Mina said.
"She'll have to wait, this is an emergency," Lita said and pulled out her communicator.
"Oh..there you are," Mercury said. "I was getting worried."
"Sorry..we're all here," Lita said.
"The negaverse is at the 10rd Street Train station, I'm getting close right now," Mercury said.
"Tenth street...ehh..I'm so tired," Serena muttered.
"Come on Serena, we have to go," Lita said. "We're coming Mercury."
"You'd better hurry, or we might miss them," Mercury said.
"On our way," Lita said.
"But..um..where do we transform?" Mina said.
"How about that public restroom at the bottom of the hill.." Lita said.
"The bottom of the hill..that we just climbed for no reason," Serena muttered.
"No time for complaints..besides it's downhill from here," Mina said and started running down the steps.
"Yep..show some intestinal fortitude," Lita said and followed.
"I hate doing that," Serena whined and started running down the steps.
Seconds later, the door to Raye's room opened.
"Hmm...7:15 is late today," Cletus the Hyena muttered and blasted a group of people.
People were scattering through the subway terminal as the five warriors attacked them.
"Heh...how long do you think we have before the Sailor Scouts show up?" Dexseon said.
"Well we just began our attack, I'd say we have adequate time to..." Axseon said, but was cut off as a blast of energy flew over their heads.
"Dang it..missed," Jupiter muttered. The two soldiers whirled around to see the Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and Sailor Moon standing there with unamused expressions on their faces.
"Hmm...that was quick," Dexseon muttered. "Should we fight."
"Of course we will," Axseon said. "Warriors, form up!"
Serpetan, Infernon, and the Hyena all showed up near them.
"You ready for a brawl..scouts?" the Hyena said and started laughing. A flame shot at the five of them and landed at their feet.
"Wha..." Axseon said and jumped back.
"It's about time you five learned what it's like to get burned," came a voice. Emerging from the shadows, was Sailor Mars.
"Actually..I know a little about that!" Infernon shouted and fired a wave of flame at her. Mars dodged it.
"I'm in a real bad mood, and now you're going to feel the wrath of Mars, all of you!" Mars shouted.
"She is angry," Venus said.
"Moreso than usual," Jupiter said.
"Even I'm scared right now," Sailor Moon said.
"Are you ready for combat?" Axseon asked.
"Yes," the five answered.
"Moon Sword," Sailor Moon said and her scepter sword appeared. "Now..it's time for a fight...on behalf of the moon I will punish you!"
"I'm just going to tear you apart," Mars growled and leapt at Serpetan who stood across from her. Serpetan slithered away from her chop. She dived forward and grabbed his tail, he began to change form into a small snake. She bit him in midstream. He shouted. She rolled forward and stepped on his head. Serpetan hissed again.
Dexseon dived at Venus. She flipped backward and cartwheeled, barely avoiding a support column. Dexseon swung at her. She sidestepped behind it. His energy sword swung into it. Venus rolled away and planned her next move.
Sailor Jupiter and Cletus jumped right at each other and tried to gain leverage.
"You are strong for a woman," Cletus muttered as he strained again.
"I was about to say the same thing," Jupiter replied.
"Hey!" Cletus said. Jupiter kneed him in the chest and pushed him forward. He smashed to the ground.
Axseon thrusted his sword at Sailor Moon. She stepped back and blocked it with her own.
I have no idea how to sword fight. She thought. But, Mars have might have some idea. She thought and brought on Mars aura and barely avoided another slash.
"You are outmatched!" Axseon said.
"Probably," Sailor Moon said and did the first maneuver that came to her mind, a side step maneuver, followed by a crouch and finally a swing of her sword. It came right at Axseon's knees and he stepped back in surprise.
"Wow," Sailor Moon said and wasted no time jumping forward kneeing Axseon right in the head and landing a few feet away.
"And then there's us," Infernon said looking at Mercury
"So there is," Mercury said.
"Hmm..well...are you going to try that futile attack of yours again?" Infernon muttered.
"Nope," Mercury said and stepped behind a nearby pillar.
"I know where you are," Infernon muttered.
"True," Mercury said emerging from behind the pillar holding a fire extinguisher.
"Oh...I see," Infernon said as Mercury fired. The white chemicals flew out from the bottle at it in a spray. It vanished quite quickly. Mercury grinned.
"Idiot," she said.
Mars continued to brawl with Serpetan who had managed to return to full form and was trying to twist itself around her. She chopped it in the head. It hissed at her.
"You really think I'm not serious!" Mars shouted and chopped it again.
"You..cannot defeat me," Serpetan said as it started to coil around her chest. Mars wheezed.
"See?" Serpetan hissed.
"Mars...Fire...Ignite!" Mars shouted.
"Oh..no!" Serpetan shouted and disappeared as the fire flew from her hands. Mars gasped for air.
"Who's next?" She said.
Cletus swung Jupiter towards a parked subway car, she reversed his attack and swung him towards it, only to be pulled along with him. The two smashed through the open door of the car and started trying to punch each other inside.
Sailor Moon flipped backward with Venus' aura as Axseon swung at her again.
"You may have been lucky, but I know what to expect," Axseon said.
The problem is he does. Sailor Moon thought. Her moon sword had ceased to be too useful when Mars' aura had expired. Now she was just trying to find an opening and avoid attack. She rolled out of the way of an attack, and pulled her tiara of her head. Axseon stopped and stepped back.
"Just try it," he said and readied his sword. Sailor Moon stood up and tried to think of what to do.
Venus ducked as Dexseon swung at her. This was not easy. The time it would take her to energize any of her attacks, would just leave her wide open, and Dexseon was quite fast. The surprise came when a figure leapt out from behind Dexseon. Mercury lunged forward and jumped onto Dexseon's back covering his eyes with her hands. Dexseon swung wildly.
"I'm not good at hand to hand, however...a blind enemy is often ineffective," Mercury said. Venus stepped back and aimed.
"Venus..." she said beginning to call forth her power. "Crescent Beam...." the power built up inside her. "Smash!" she shouted. Mercury let go at that instant. Dexseon saw the attack a second too late and it slammed him into a pillar. He wasted no time in vanishing.
Glass shattered as Cletus went flying through a subway car window. Jupiter leapt right back out the door she had originally come in and tackled him. The two started grappling again.
Meanwhile Sailor Mars delivered a drop kick to Axseon's head breaking the standoff.
"This battle is a disaster," Axseon muttered and vanished. Cletus disappeared seconds later.
"Dang it! He was mine!" Jupiter shouted.
Minutes later.
"Mars..why did you...." Sailor Moon asked.
"Show up...well..I realized that being a Sailor Scout was one of the few things I had left, and that I couldn't just hide from my responsibilities. You guys are my friends......" Mars said.
"Well it's good to have you back Mars," Jupiter said.
"Yeah, we missed you," Venus said.
"At least..this is one thing I can always count on," Mars said sporting a
brief grin.
"Ellie please talk to me," Darrien said walking up to his friend as she was unlocking her hotel room door.
"Darrien! Go away!" Ellie shouted.
"Ellie, wait.....can't we at least talk...or..at least you can talk..I'll...listen..anything..just give me a chance..I was your friend...I am..your friend..I helped you when you needed me...you owe me that," Darrien said. Ellie paused a minute.
"You'll get one chance...and that's all...let's go somewhere where we can talk," Ellie said.
"I know just the place," Darrien said.
Soon they were standing on a pier.
"Ellie...I.." Darrien I began.
"Darrien....why didn't you tell me about Serena?" Ellie asked.
"I didn't think you'd care and I didn't want to risk it upsetting you."
"So instead you made me think I was yours," Ellie said.
"Ellie, I thought you realized that we weren't together simply because we were living in different countries. I thought we both knew we were both good friends," Darrien said.
"Darrien...I'm sorry...you probably know how we girls can be sometimes."
"Yes, but you're no different from the way men think either..believe me..I know some people who show me that practically every day."
"Oh..well...we can still be friends right?"
"Of course Ellie. That's what I had hoped all along. I like you a lot," Darrien said.
"You do?" Ellie said.
"Of course, and if Serena wasn't around I probably would have swept you up in a second."
"Oh..well since we're friends Darrien.....what do you see in her anyway?"
"Ellie...you're joking aren't you?" Darrien asked.
"Oh..sure..I am..." Ellie said nervously.
"Just checking," Darrien said with a small grin. Maybe I should tell her Serena and I have a thousand year old relationship. He thought and laughed inside.
"Darrien?" Ellie asked.
"Wha..what?" Darrien asked.
"I just asked you if we could do something together."
"Oh..sure..but remember...this isn't a date."
"Of course not," Ellie said with a slight grin.
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