Chapter 88

"Eudial, you are aware of the second plan we developed as backup in case our heart collection methods failed," Professor Tomoe said.

"Like they are failing right now..." Eudial muttered.

"Ahem..yes...well...I am scrapping the backup plan, because even with it in effect, it still failed to give us a heart, so instead..you are to attack this target," Tomoe said handing her a picture.

"Are you sure we should give up the backup plan?" Eudial asked.

"Yes," Tomoe said. "Now this should be easy. The target will be weak..now hurry. I have to fluff my pillows."

"Uh..right professor," Eudial said and hurried out.

Greg walked up to Patterson's front door and banged on it. There was no response.

"I know you're in there Patterson," Greg said and pounded again.

"I suggest you leave before the automated defense systems kick in," Patterson said through the intercom.

"Patterson..you have a choice..you can either let me in or leave me out here and let those defense systems kick in, because I'm not leaving till I've talked to you."

"Are you sure about that?" Patterson replied.

"Yes," Greg said.

There was silence for nine seconds. Greg tensed, envisioning the possibility that Patterson's social habits might just lead to him letting those defense systems go.

"Very well.." Patterson said and the door opened revealing D.V. to be standing right there.

"Patterson! You've been hiding from everyone! How could you!" Greg said.

"It's a natural response Greg..." Patterson stammered.

"But we need your help," Greg said.

"My help? I suppose you want me to magically make Amy happy again!" Patterson snapped.

"Come on Patterson you know you've succeeded where others have failed before," Greg said.

"Not without you of course...Greg..you forget, I may have may have gotten her a prom date and got her next door neighbor to also be her boyfriend...but you are her boyfriend..if she's rejected you..I don't stand a chance.," Patterson said.

"You don't know that..and I didn't think the hopelessness of the odds ever stopped you from fighting a battle before," Greg said.

"This isn't a battle." Patterson snapped.

"It's a challenge."

"A challenge I'm not up to," Patterson replied solemnly.

"So you're just giving up."

"Maybe she'll work through it eventually. You ever had both your parents swept away from you?" Patterson said.

"Well..no.."

"Exactly. You have no idea what she's going through. I do.." Patterson said.

"So..you can relate to her," Greg said.

"She doesn't want to hear someone who went through it too...Greg..she wants to be left alone. She hates the world right now..gradually she'll adapt!" Patterson said with anger.

"You seem to be seeing it as a case where she'll live your life now," Greg said.

"It's unfortunate, and I'm sorry it may happen," Pattersons aid.

"I won't let it! Uh..I mean..oh come on Patterson...you can't say you enjoyed your existence for all this time.

"It wasn't pleasant..."

"And you want to condemn that on Amy? Without even trying to stop it. The heck with your introversion Patterson, right now you're just running away like a coward," Greg said.

"Yes, and I've kept out of a firestorm," Patterson said.

"And what have you kept out of the firestorm for? If you don't help, I will lose my respect for you. Amy will never talk to you again...the others probably won't either...not that probably means that much..but the point is..for you....all you have is yourself again."

"That's always been the case," Patterson said.

"Not anymore," Greg said.

"What?"

"You have a purpose now..and you enjoy it..whether you're comfortable or not.....now...come on Patterson...you're willing to die for her..as I am...and now you're running."

Patterson said nothing, glanced at the floor for a few seconds and then looked back up at Greg. His eyes widened.

"You're right. I'm running," Patterson said and walked back inside.

"Patterson! Wait," Greg said.

"Listen to me Greg. I am D.V. Patterson! A kid who spent most of his life punching anyone who looked at me funny. A social outcast who somehow was thrown by fate into the mix of all this! I'm not a strong person! You want me to somehow convince Amy Anderson that she's wrong to shut herself off. It's the only thing that worked for me! Furthermore, I'm not willing to take the risk of having her shout me down, because she's the only one I thought wouldn't ever do that! So Sorry..my courage is gone!" he said and slammed the door.

"What do you mean the appeal failed!" Amy shouted. "Well that does me a lot of good!"

She slammed the phone down and stormed up the stairs to her room. She walked inside and slammed the door. She looked for something to throw..there was nothing available so she swept everything off of her desk. She heard the glass of a picture frame break apart. She looked over at the picture..it was of her in the midst of her friends, Darrien, the Sailor Scouts, the guardians, even Patterson looking very annoyed. She paused for a minute contemplating the destruction of the picture...but then her eyes narrowed.

"Patterson," she said and clenched his fists.

With that she stormed out of the room, pulling out her power stick as she went.

"Why am I out here. That's right it the air helps me think. Here I am talking to myself," Greg said as he stood on the roof of Juuban High School. It was a Saturday and no one was around.

"I have no idea how to convince Amy that things will get better. Her best friends and I have gotten nowhere. What am I supposed to do? This is so illogical. Think about how things would be if these kinds of situation were just scientific..one formula solves the problem...enough thought, I should just go talk to her," Greg said and hurried to the roof door.

"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!" Mercury shouted. Her attack flew at the front wall of the Patterson house and blasted a hole through it. Another attack weakened the front even more. A third attack smashed through the wall and caused the roof to begin to sink forward. With her visor deployed she knew exactly where to hit to do the most catastrophic damage as quickly as possible. She also knew he wasn't inside.

"Heh..when he gets back and finds his house destroyed..heh..this'll be great," she said. Three more attacks finished the house off and it was soon a pile of rubble.

Greg didn't know why he was drawn to Patterson's house, but he somehow sensed that where he could find Amy. And he did. Only at the moment she was Sailor Mercury and destroying everything.

"What is she doing?" Greg asked himself in surprise. "Looks like she's lost it, and if she has, I may need some power to stop her..if that's even possible," he said and pulled out his power stick.

"Saturn Power!" he shouted and transformed.

Mercury watched a wall collapse and grinned.

"It's about time I paid him back for invading my privacy and then interfering in my life. It's called justice. My parents wanted to do a good deed, and they got justice! Prison sentences!"

"Something's very wrong. This is Amy...she wouldn't take things this bad," Saturn said to himself.

Mercury noticed him.

"Ah..Saturn... what are you doing here? Then again. "What do I care! I've done my job for today...wait..no I haven't...Greg! You...couldn't even make it to my prom without Patterson's help..and then...not telling me that he helped you move in next door...yeah..you deserve some justice too...but..just for the heck of it..I'll make you wait for that!"

She then turned and started walking down the street.

"Mercury...uh..this isn't her," Saturn said and followed after her.

"Mercury!" he said.

"I'm not listening to you," Mercury muttered walking down the street, her eyes narrowed. Saturn followed a few steps behind.

"Come on Mercury...give me a chance."

"No you jerk..you deserve nothing from me..except pain," Mercury said.

"Mercury...I.."

"Just shut up."

"Uh....." Saturn said and stopped. Mercury kept going.

What do I do now? He thought.

Mercury headed over a hill and out of view.

"Tired...those attacks, while worth it..drained me.." she muttered.

"I don't know what do," Saturn said. Second later he heard a scream.

He ran forward to see Mercury was lying on the ground unconscious. A black daimon was slowly drawing the heart from her towards it's star shaped area. He drew his sword and dashed forward ready to swing it straight into the daimon's heart. It noticed him at the last second and unleashed some sort of energy bolt. It smashed into him and knocked him to the ground. It finished drawing Mercury's heart out from her and prepared to grab it. A multicolored blast hit it and knocked the creature backwards. Maverick swept forward and swung his sword slamming it into the daimon's star area. It hissed in pain and grabbed him. Saturn grabbed Mercury's heart carefully and moved towards her.

"Stop!" Sailor Uranus shouted landing nearby flanked by Sailor Neptune.

Maverick swung his sword around and cut the daimon's arm off, freeing himself. He rolled backward and faced off against the daimon.

"Don't let them have that heart Saturn!" he shouted. The daimon lunged at him.

"Saturn..let us see it. If it's not a talisman you can have it back..." Neptune said cautiously.

"I don't know if I can risk that," Saturn said. "Even if it is a talisman I won't let her die, and neither will Maverick and the rest of the other scouts.."

"This is no time for talk...let us see it!" Uranus shouted.

The daimon swung Maverick aside and lunged at the two outer scouts. They both jumped upward and landed on a sidewalk wall. Maverick shot a blast. It hit the daimon in the head and it whirled towards him

"Uranus World Shaking!"

"Neptune Deep Submerge!"

The two attacks smashed into the daimon and destroyed him.

"Now..." Uranus said. "Without these distractions."

"Let us see the heart," Neptune said.

"No," Saturn said. Maverick walked up in front of him.

"Give her heart back," he said.

Saturn placed it inside Mercury and she began to move.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Uranus shouted.

"Now we may never know if she had a talisman," Neptune said.

"Guess that's a risk we'll have to take," Maverick said. "As I seem to remember, you two can't get the heart out on your own..so I think your business is done here....or do I have to convince you to leave."

"That's we," Saturn said. "I will not let you harm Mercury."

Neptune and Uranus glanced at each other and then jumped off.

"You...two...defended me.." Mercury said rising off the ground.

"It's kind of what we do..." Saturn said.

"Uh..yeah..that's our job.." Maverick said.

"You'd do the same for us," Saturn said.

"We hope," Maverick said.

"Uh..but..I..destroyed..your house," she said to Maverick. "And I threatened you," She said to Saturn.

"That doesn't really matter...." Saturn said.

Maverick nodded.

"What?" Mercury said and then collapsed to the ground.

"Mercury," Saturn and Maverick said with concern.

"Stay back," she said.

"What?" the two replied.

"It's coming out,"she said. She began to glow and out of her back came a blackish energy which then reformed on the street a few feet away.

"What is that?" Saturn said.

"Whatever it is...it's evil," Maverick said.

"It's a daimon...it..it..was inside me..." Mercury gasped and then fell to the ground unconscious.

"Cower in fear!" the small daimon, about a foot tall with a humanoid body and menacing facial expression said. Saturn glanced at Maverick. Maverick glanced back. Seconds later both of their swords fired and the daimon was blown to pieces.

"I wish I could say this explains a lot, but now I'm confused," Saturn said. "And for that matter..what are you doing here?"

"First of all, I noticed the Mercury had transformed, so I hurried to where I assumed there was a battle..." Maverick began. Saturn glanced at him.

"And..maybe you were right.." he added.

"We'll talk about it later....let's get Mercury home," Saturn said. "The question is how. It's not like anyone won't notice two Guardian Scouts carrying a Sailor Scout..or for that matter two boys carrying a girl," said.

"Excellent point," Maverick said.

"Don't worry..I'll be fine," Mercury said her eyes opening.

"You must be exhausted though," Saturn said.

"I...I...don't ask.." Mercury said.

"You probably shouldn't walk home," Saturn said. "I know what..." he pulled out his communicator.

"Darrien?" Saturn asked. Darrien had also been issued a communicator by Luna and Artemas. It only made sense.

"Yeah?" Darrien replied.

"This is Saturn."

"Saturn? Was there a battle?" Darrien said a bit surprised.

"A complex one...but..I think Mercury needs a ride home."

"Mercury? Oh..you'd better explain all this to me later..." Darrien said.

"Wise choice," Maverick said.

Minutes later they had covertly transported Amy back to her house. Darrien carried her inside much to the relief of Patterson and Greg who remained leaning against the car. Darrien came out of the house a minute later.

"You guys...I wanted Amy to rest, but she insists on seeing both of you..and me for that matter right now. I don't think we should decline," Darrien said.

Patterson and Greg glanced at each other. More unsure than ever, but then they both nodded and followed Darrien inside.

"Fact, I was extremely upset at my parent's arrest," Amy began lying on the couch in her living room.

"We noticed," the three responded in unison.

"Uh...right...but that should have never made me react so violently," Amy said.

"I think your response was understandable.." Darrien said. "Wouldn't you say so Patterson? You went through it."

"Uh...well...." Patterson stammered. "When such hardship..hits...well..anything is possible from anyone....I guess.."

"But what was that creature doing?" Greg asked.

"Well..I think that even know I was very upset..it was amplifying my anger..making it hard for me to recover.." Amy said. "And in the meantime it was weakening me in the process. I don't know where it came from or what it's full purpose was."

"But how do you feel now?" Darrien asked.

"Good.. I feel good. I've faced a tough loss..but even despite that creature I've begun to come to grips with it..." Amy said. "I know that in the meantime I have my friends..I can see that clearly now."

"Glad you figured that out," Darrien said. "The girls were completely baffled...they didn't know what to do. I'm sure these two had no idea either."

Greg and Patterson solemnly nodded.

"Really? Both of you?" Amy said. "My guardian angels."

"Having no clue what to do is never an excuse not to try anyway," Greg said.

"Actually it's a great excuse..but...sometimes the rule doesn't apply," Patterson muttered.

"I destroyed the picture..." Amy said in realization.

"You did more than that," Darrien said.

"Uh...yes..you're right..but the picture.." Amy said.

"What picture?" Greg asked.

"Of everyone..I threw it off my desk..and now..now it's..." she said wiped away tear.

"It's only a picture..we can get you another one," Darrien said.

"No it's not..it's that I destroyed it..I..disgraced my friendship...how can anyone forgive me for that..and for that matter..Patterson...I...I can't believe what I did...I.."

"It's all right," Patterson said.

"What?" Amy said.

"It's only a house...you destroyed my house today..but...it's a small price to pay for..uh.."

"What?" Amy asked.

"Uh...nothing..." Patterson said. "I really have to go," he said and ran out.

"Amy..maybe we'd better leave you alone," Greg said.

"Yeah...I'll bring the girls by later," Darrien said.

"Uh..yeah...maybe.." Amy said.

The two headed out.

The next day..Amy's room was cleaned, most of her affairs were in order and she already had a schedule to follow to make up her classwork and for that matter her classes. Sitting on her desk was a new picture frame...and in it was not one picture, but a group of individual pictures of each of her friends. It was something the group had decided on last night, after all..this meant more than just a picture they all had taken. This was something made just for her...and so there it was...a picture given to her by Serena, Darrien, Raye, Lita, Mina, Rick, Mike, Steve, and of course Greg....there was only one space missing and that she hoped to take care of. The doorbell rang. She walked down to the door and opened it. Patterson was there staring at the ground.

"Come in Patterson," she said and let him in. He continued to stare at the ground as he had never been her house alone before.

"I know...what I did was outrageous," Amy said.

"I'm not about to press charges.forget it," Patterson said quickly. "Ahem..it's fine."

"Well once again you've surprised me...but the fact is that you need a place to live. I'm giving you my apartment until your house gets rebuilt," Amy said.

"Uh..no I don't need it..I'll be fine," Patterson stammered in shock.

"Sleeping at the army barracks? Forget it," Amy said.

"Uh..really."

"Well..you see..I already told your uncle about it and he agreed to kick you out of the barracks..so..you don't have much choice."

"Oh..well..that's just great," Patterson muttered.

"Aren't you going to accept my gift?" Amy said with a slight grin.

"Uh...do you honestly know how much I've become a nervous wreck after becoming legally sane?"

"Sorry..." Amy said. "But the room is yours..I'll just move some of my stuff out of there and things should be fine."

"Uh..whatever.." Patterson said and moved to the door.

"Wait..Patterson.."

Patterson stopped.

"I need a picture."

"What?"

"Yes..you see..my other picture got destroyed and everyone gave me an individual picture of themselves, and I put them together."

"I..uh..don't have one..."

"I guessed that..I want to take it now."

"Oh," Patterson said nervously.

"Don't worry I won't ask you to smile," Amy said and began to laugh as she pulled out a camera. Patterson glanced at the ceiling.

"Can you at least look at the camera?" she asked.

Patterson shrugged and glanced at it. She took the picture.

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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