Chapter 67

Rick raced along the street, he looked back to see it crumbling behind him.

"Dang it!" he shouted picking up speed. The sky began to go red and a grey mist seemed to swirl around him.

"This is not good," he said to himself as the ground continued to crumbled.

"Rick!" he heard Raye call.

"Raye! Where are you?" He shouted.

"Rick!"

"Raye!"

"Don't come any farther!" Raye shouted.

"I have to..the ground is crumbling!"

"Let it go! Don't get closer, you won't survive!"

"What?"

"Don't come closer!"

"But Raye!"

"No!"

"Where are you?"

And then there was blackness.

Rick woke up with a start.

"This is weird, I don't have nightmares," Rick muttered.

Meanwhile at the Cherry Hill Temple.

"Sacred fires..do you have an answer for me? From where does this attack come from?" Raye asked staring at the flames. An image flashed into her mind. Someone staring over a microscope and then it flashed away revealing a picture of Rick lying on the ground.

"What....what..was that?" Raye said in surprise. "Nothing...it can't be anything. No..I'm just probably worried about him...that's all."

The next morning.

"Well..why the heck would that even matter?" Melvin was squeaking to the assembled group at the back of the classroom. Patterson, sitting in his window seat. Mike leaning against Patterson's desk. Steve leaning against the window. Greg sitting next to Patterson. Amy sitting in front of Greg. Lita next to Amy. Melvin was in the middle of it all.

"Melvin, let me put it this way..how in the world are you going to get the thing into the air in the first place, if you don't add the rockets until it's flying?" Mike asked.

"Of course then again, it might still have more success than Steve's rockets. I mean after all, he puts engines in them and well..." Lita said.

"There's no need to bring that into this," Steve said embarrassedly.

"Still Melvin, how are you going to get the rocket into the air without engines, and then add the engines in mid-air?" Greg asked.

"I'm not sure...." Melvin said. "That's why it's still in the development stage."

"That is why it will always be in the development stage," Patterson muttered.

"Amy...you believe me don't you?" Melvin asked. "It is possible."

"Possible, yes. Useful, well...no," Amy said. Everyone else began to laugh. A small grin slid across Patterson's face before disappearing again.

Rick staggered in.

"Hey Rick!" Mike said.

"Hi," Rick said quietly and sat down. Raye walked in a few seconds later and sat down

in her seat next to Rick.

"Hello Rick," she said solemnly.

"Uh..hello Raye," Rick said equally solemnly.

And they said nothing. The rest of their group of friends were silent seeing what was happening. Rick and Raye turned towards them. They immediately began talking again.

"Uh..well...farm equipment," Mike said.

"Yeah...." the rest agreed. Rick and Raye turned away again.

"Hi all you happy people!" Serena and Mina said sliding in the door.

"Isn't a wonderful morning?" they said in unison.

"NO!" Raye and Rick snapped.

"Uh...hmm...that's not very wonderful," Mina said.

"Not the answer we were looking for," Serena said.

"Good," Raye and Rick snapped and then realizing what they were doing both stopped, looked at each other and then stared at their desks silently.

"This is the last time we make a big entrance," Mina muttered.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," Serena said.

"Kaolinnniteee!" Dr. Tomoe bellowed.

"Yes, Doctor," Kaolinite said two feet away and trying to take everything in stride.

"You did not succeed in getting me the warrior I wanted."

"No Doctor, there was unexpected resistance."

"Unexpected? You mean the Sailor Scouts?"

"Um...well..um...how did you know?"

"Kaolinite, they are precisely why I created the warriors, to deal with those meddlesome Sailor Scouts."

"Oh..I see."

"Well..anyway...looks like the first warrior did not measure up if it was beaten so it easily. So I will create another one. I will utilize the Omniscient Computer now," he said and typed in several commands to the computer sitting in front of him.

It wasn't really omniscient. Kaolinite thought. Sure it had a Pentium II, but they all did, the point was that it was very useful. For a reason she did not understand it had data on every single person in the target city of Tokyo. So..all Doctor Tomoe had to do was ask it to display some information, and he had his next warrior."

"Here we go! Hah hah hah!" Tomoe shouted. "You're next target is..."

Tomoe paused.

"Yes?" Kaolinite asked.

"Are you nervous?" Tomoe said imitating a game show host.

"Uhm..Professor, the target please?"

"Yes, the target, he's a martial artist... if you ask me kicking people's butts is hardly an art form, but his skills could be of use," Tomoe said.

"Very well professor. I will find him."

"Good..you do that.." Tomoe said.

Kaolinite and turned and walked towards the door. There was a sound of a crash behind her.

The professor's falling chandelier of sanity. She thought and walked out the door.

At lunch that day.

"So I think there's a reason the Americans don't want the metric system," Mike said.

"And that is?" Mina asked.

"They do not like the sound of the word Kilometer."

"They don't like the sound of it? Why wouldn't they?"

"Well, my first guess it that there was some guy named Ometer, and well he started the trend. I mean could you imagine how annoying it would be to have the word Ometer, and have all these people saying Kill Ometer."

"But there is no one named Ometer in the U.S."

"There isn't? That guy lied to me...." Mike said and stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere..I just realized that it wouldn't do me any good. That guy is long gone. But I've learned my lesson. Never trust the Ambassador from East Germany."

"Oh..okay. Seeing as how their hasn't been an ambassador from East Germany in several years..."

"Oh..he was the former ambassador then. Anyway..."

Meanwhile Steve and Lita were having their own conversation.

"Steve, you don't honestly believe those little rumors about me um..being attracted to all these guys just because I think they look like my old boyfriend do you?" Lita said putting on a quite innocent face.

"Hmm....why would I believe silly things like that?" Steve said. Even if they're true. He thought.

"That's good, because you know how annoying it is for everyone to keep saying that I do that..when I don't. I mean...it may have happened once....wait a minute.." she said and stopped. She starred across the park at something.

"What is it?" Steve asked.

"That guy looks like my old boyfriend," Lita said in astonishment.

"Uh..Lita.." Steve said looking.

"Uh oh...I guess I haven't been completely honest with you," Lita said in embarrassment. "But ..he really does look like him."

"Sure he does," Steve said.

Patterson appeared next to him suddenly and whispered something.

"What? Why? You're kidding..." Steve said.

Patterson returned to his seat.

"Of course he looks like your old boyfriend," Steve said with a grin. "He is your old boyfriend."

"What!" Lita said and looked again. "You know..you're right....well see..I don't have a problem."

"No, you don't have a problem you just admitted having a minute ago," Steve said.

"Ehh..." Lita said. "Hey! Patterson! How'd you know what he looked like anyway?" she said changing the subject quickly.

Meanwhile.

"See it's a very simple equation..when you break it down," Amy said drawing a diagram on a piece of paper sitting on the table.

"Uh...it doesn't look that simple," Greg said. "I mean..I work hard and all, but this is just difficult."

"I know it looks that way...but..let me explain it," Amy said.

"Okay, go ahead," Greg said.

Math is a sure sign that there is a devil. Patterson thought observing it from a distance.

At the other end of the table.

Rick and Raye have not said a word to each other since lunch began. Serena thought. I mean..I'm just stuck down here with no one to talk to. That stinks. I wish Darrien was here. I'm sure he could somehow get himself held back...wait no..he's in college now..that doesn't work. Um...well..I don't know what to do. I know, I'll solve Rick and Raye's problem...as soon as I figure out what it is.

Yeah. That's a good project. I'm mean if I mess up, I'll get yelled at, but why not..I mean..what else have I got to do? Well I'll try at least until tomorrow. Then I might be able to get a better seat.

After school Raye and Rick were walking toward's Rick's house together, still saying very little.

"Rick.....I.."

"Raye..um.."

"Hmm..this isn't working to well," Raye said.

"Yeah...something troubling you?" Rick asked.

"Something's troubling both of us it seems."

"Well...I guess..I'm not used to having such complex feelings about this kind of thing...I mean..you and I...."

"We..like each other right?" Raye said.

"Yes..I mean... I like you, but...after what happened...I mean...I want things to work out and I keep telling myself it won't happen again, but I don't know it won't."

"It's my fault....I should have either made a mature decision rather than meddling in my immature ideas," Raye said.

"Well..maybe...it's also true that we were moving pretty quickly."

"That's true...but..I thought that's what we wanted."

"I think it was. Raye..I mean..it's just I don't know how I should feel right now. There's still a part of me that's angry at you."

"Well I understand that, but maybe you can put it aside and we can keep going," Raye said.

"That's what I've been doing, but there's something else."

"Yes...."

"I had a nightmare," Rick said.

"A nightmare? About what?" Raye asked.

"You were in it," Rick said.

"Well..I'm sure...dreams happen all the time with people you know. I've had to deal with Mike appearing as a used car salesman several times this week. You want a nightmare. If this keeps up I'll buy the car just to get rid of him...but you were saying..." Raye said.

"Um..well...you told me to stay away...because I'd die if I didn't."

"Oh..." Raye said realizing that the way things in a sailor scout's life went that this could be serious. "I'm sure it's nothing. I mean..you're probably just worried. I went through the same thing when I became a Sailor Scout, even though I haven't told anyone till now. Wouldn't help my image you know," Raye said.

"Well...yeah that might be," Rick said. "But...this seems so...different.. I mean..I'm not Guardian Uranus in these dreams, and your not Sailor Mars, I'm not one to interpret dreams normally, but it would only make sense..."

"I think you're over thinking this," Raye said.

"Well that's certainly a possible..but.."

"You know who you should talk to..." Raye said.

"Who?"

"Darrien."

"Darrien?"

"Yeah..he and Serena went through a dream thing like this," Raye said.

"Oh...."

"Well then maybe I'll talk to him," Rick said seeming a little happier. They had soon rounded a corner and were on Rick's street.

I can't tell him about the fire reading though. That wouldn't help. Raye thought.

"Hey, why don't you come into my house for some soda or something, no one's around but Kino I think," Rick said.

"Oh..thanks," Raye said managing a smile. "At least I can deal with Kino."

"What? They're making up already..geez...I didn't have an opportunity to help them out. That stinks," Serena said watching from behind a bush. "What's going on around here? I never get to do anything anymore..it's always someone else. That annoys me.. sure over a year of Serena finding the trouble and then solving the problem, but not any more, no more Serena just happening to be there when a negamonster attacks..no...nothing like that...I've always got everyone with me....what's the deal?"

She heard a large crash.

"YES!" Serena said and looked to see a window pane lying in several pieces on the ground and a man sitting on a house's roof scratching his head.

"Well..that's just great," Serena muttered.

Then she heard a larger crash and Raye and Rick came dashing out the door of their house followed by a negamonster.

"ALL RIGHT!" Serena said and cheered. "Still got it! Oh...well..I'd better get going then."

"Celestial Moon Power!" Serena shouted and began her transformation.

"Kino's become a negamonster?" Raye said as she and Rick stood in front of the monster who was pausing to look them over.

"Uh...yeah..that's all we needed right," Rick said.

"Humans...running away is not an option," Kino said.

"Uh..you're human too you know," Raye said.

"You're right, I'm the man, but that is not important now..it'll make it easier if you just stand there while I blast you," Kino said.

"Hold it right there..." Came the voice that Raye was not surprised to hear.

"I am Sailor Moon! Champion of Justice! I will Right Wrongs and Triumph over Evil! And that means you..and just because I'm especially happy today....on behalf of the moon I will punish you!" Sailor Moon shouted.

"Hmm....what's she so excited about?" Rick muttered.

"No clue," Raye said.

"Sailor Moon huh..well...this should be fun," Kino said. "Out of my way mere more mortals." Raye and Rick made a run for it.

"Moon Sword," Sailor Moon said and her new scepter became a sword. She called forth Venus' agility. Wait for him to make his move. She thought.

Kino swung his arm forward. It swung out and became a blade.

"That's been done," Sailor Moon muttered and jumped out of the way. Kino jumped in the air towards her.

Uh oh. Sailor Moon thought and did a back flip. Dodging his attack. The two continued to try and swing at each other. After missing, the two backed up to size up the situation.

"New plan," Sailor Moon said to herself and brought on Mars' power. She kicked forward. Kino blocked it.

"You want to face off karate style with me?" Kino said. "Very well...I accept your challenge. No weapons, just skill..."

"Uh...well..this'll be interesting," Sailor Moon thought and made her Scepter disappear for the moment.

"Ready?" Kino said. The two faced off. He kicked. Sailor Moon barely dodged it but was kneed right in the head.

"Ouch," she said.

"You have no idea who you are dealing with. I am a master," Kino said.

"Now he tells me," Sailor Moon muttered.

Kino attacked again. Sailor Moon was kicked several feet and landed in the same bushes she had been hiding in.

"Are you ready for real combat?" came a pair of voices. Kino turned to see Sailor Mars and Guardian Uranus standing there.

"Attacking you with the fires that burn inside me, I am Sailor Mars!"

"And...um..attacking you with whatever I please, I am Guardian Uranus!"

"Hasn't Maverick told you anything about making speeches," Mars whispered.

"Like he even knows," Uranus replied.

"So...you two want to fight me....very well...but I warn you I am quite skilled," Kino said.

"Not as skilled as I am," Uranus said.

"You sure?" Mars said.

"We have both been training quite hard. I can hold him off for eighty four seconds, no more."

"You've timed it?"

"What are you two talking about?" Kino said not noticing that Sailor Moon was creeping up behind him.

Heh heh..I'll surprise him. She thought.

"What are you doing?" Kino said whirling around.

"Uh...this," Sailor Moon said and slapped him in the face.

"Woah...that was hard," Kino said and stepped back.

"Uranus! Fire Spikes! Attack!" Uranus shouted and unleashed his attack. Kino noticed them and rolled out of the way. Sailor Moon screamed and dived out of the way.

"Watch it you idiot!" She yelled.

"Mars..celestial fireball..." Mars began.

"No Mars, he's too fast for those attacks...I'll try and slow him down," Uranus said and drew his sword. He fired it once. Kino dodged it.

"Very well..we will have sword combat," Kino said and formed a sword out of his arm.

"Uh oh," Uranus said.

"Uranus..." Mars said.

"I'll try and tire him," Uranus said as Kino lunged at him. Uranus managed to block the sword attack, but barely.

"Forget this," Mars said and tried a drop kick. Kino didn't see it, and was hit in the head.

"Dishonorable," Kino said.

"Not the way I see it," Mars said.

"Very well..." Kino said and launched both of his arms as blades at the two of them. The two rolled out of the way. Kino attacked quickly again. He missed barely. But as he moved to withdraw his arms he felt something slice through the blades. The liquid energy they were made out of dropped to the ground. Kino whirled to see Sailor Moon grasping her moon sword firmly.

"That was a mistake," Kino said forming two new hands.

"Say...how do you do that anyway?" Sailor Moon asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well...just form two more hands?"

"I don't know I just do it."

"Oh.."

A red blast of energy hit him in his left arm. He whirled and shot the same arm at Uranus. Who ducked it again.

"We can't get any offense going," Mars said.

"Now as for you," he said looking at Sailor Moon.

"Sorry, gotta be going," Sailor Moon said and jumped up.

"What? Where are you going," Kino said and moved to jump.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Sailor Mars shouted and launched a fireball. It hit Kino and knocked him to the ground.

"That attack still has it's uses," she said.

"Uranus! Fire Spikes Attack!" Uranus shouted and hit Kino dead on with his attack.

Sailor Moon landed. Kino turned and charged at the two red scouts.

"Jump!" Mars said and the two leapt into the air. Kino stopped and got ready to attack them. Sailor Moon rapidly tried to plan another strategy when it became a moot point as a van slammed right into Kino and knocked him down the street and into a lamp post.

"Woah..what happened?" the driver said. Kino launched an arm blade at the van.

"Uh oh," the driver said and dived out and ran away. The van exploded.

"Well that was fortunate," Sailor Moon said.

"Mars Celestial Fireball Surround!" Mars shouted and hit Kino.

"Uranus Fire Spikes Attack!" Uranus shouted. The attack also hit Kino.

"Do it Sailor Moon!" Mars shouted.

"And now the moment you've all been waiting for!" Sailor Moon said and over a span of a few seconds brought on her power. "Moon Spiral Hearts Attack!"

Her scepter unleashed an attack which smashed into Kino. The creature inside of him disappeared leaving only him lying there.

"Well...that was a close one," Uranus muttered.

"Why hasn't anyone else shown up?" Mars asked.

"Didn't you call them?" Sailor Moon asked.

"No, didn't you!" Mars said.

"Well...I didn't think too.."

"You didn't huh..well I've got news for you.."

And the two began arguing.

"Ehh..I don't want to be a part of that argument," Uranus said. He changed back into human form and went over to Kino.

"What happened?" Kino asked opening his eyes.

"You became a monster and got hit by a van...but now you're fine," Rick said grinning.

"Oh.." Kino muttered. "My horoscope said something like this would happen," he added.

That night.

"Dreams huh...well don't worry..it's probably nothing," Darrien said looking out the window at the skyline.

"That's what Raye said," Rick replied skeptically.

"Well..I had some dreams once, they meant something, but because I interpreted them wrong I didn't exactly help my relationship with Serena. If you think you should give up Raye because of dreams I suggest you think again. I mean if that's your only motivation."

"Well I suppose I am thinking too much about. It's just one of those dreams that seem like they have to mean something."

"It probably does mean something, but you don't know what yet do you?"

"No."

"Well then...don't make any rash assumptions. It could do more harm than good."

"Hopefully you're right. Say, why didn't you show up when Sailor Moon was in trouble this afternoon?" Rick said.

"I was in class," Darrien said with some embarrassment.

"Oh."

"I hoped she could handle it, and she did."

"Yeah..she was pretty good, a little shaky, but no more than any of us. I mean..I still stink at this whole hero business," Rick said.

"You'll learn, they all do."

CHAPTER 66 CHAPTER 67 CHAPTER 68 CHAPTER 69 CHAPTER 70  CHAPTER 71 

CHAPTER 72 CHAPTER 73 CHAPTER 74 CHAPTER 75  CHAPTER 76 CHAPTER 77

 CHAPTER 78 CHAPTER 79 CHAPTER 80  CHAPTER 81  CHAPTER 82 CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 84 CHAPTER 85  CHAPTER 86 CHAPTER 87 CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 89

 CHAPTER 90 CHAPTER 91 CHAPTER 92 CHAPTER 93 CHAPTER 94 CHAPTER 95

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