The Kisenian Flower (Continued)
In a control center underground that housed the supreme headquarters for the Self Defense Force several warning monitors went off all at one. A technician,sipping some coffee, didn't spit it out as expected in these situations, but merely swallowed it quickly and punched a few buttons.
"Uh oh," he said and picked up the red phone sitting beside him.
"Get me Chief of Staff Nagumo immediately," he said.
Darrien's red sports car skidded to a stop in front of Mina's house. He ran up to the door and knocked. Her mother answered.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"Is your daughter here?" Darrien said.
"Yes, but she's sleeping."
"It's vital that I talk to her," Darrien said.
"Vital? What do you mean?"
"It's very important. Trust me."
"I don't think so," she said. "Who are you?"
"Ma'am, I'm with Army Intelligence," Darrien said producing a card from his wallet, a gift from someone in the SDF he knew.
"Oh...I see....I'm sorry," she said reading the card. "I had no idea."
"Yes...you see I would have hoped I didn't have to mention it in public, but your concern is justified. Now may I please see your daughter?"
"Yes of course," her mother said. "Mina!" She shouted.
There was no reply. Darrien ran past the mother and dashed up the stairs and opened the only closed door on the floor. Mina was asleep.
"Mina! Wake up!" Darrien shouted.
"Wha..." Mina said. "Oh...I must have been so exhausted I fell asleep when I got back Darrien? What are you doing here?"
"Fiore's back and I don't think he's not alone."
"What?" Mina said and rose quickly.
In the SDF control room.
"Sir, it descended from Earth orbit very quickly and is on target towards the city of Tokyo," the technician reported. "We don't know where it came from, it's very large, but descending too slowly to be a meteor."
"Then what the heck is it?" General Nagumo asked.
"Maybe it's a UFO," General Akita muttered.
"That's probably what it is," came a voice near them. They looked to see Colonel William Patterson standing there.
"And how would you know?" Akita said.
"Well..we've just finished fighting an army of negaverse soldiers, isn't anything possible?" Patterson replied.
"Scramble all defense forces! We have to be prepared for anything," Nagumo said.
The asteroid descended quickly and soon came within the sight of the people of Tokyo. To their shock it covered a large part of the city in shadow. Sirens went off everywhere. Announcements encouraged people to flee to shelters or evacuate the city. On the roof of Darrien's apartment Serena, Amy, Lita, and Raye looked up at the asteroid.
"That's big," Lita said. The other four nodded.
"What could we possibly do against that thing..." Serena said.
"We don't know until we've tried," Amy said.
"Yeah, let's transform," Raye said.
The four pulled out their power sticks.
"Moon Crystal Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
"Mercury Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Something's happening," Mars said pointing up to the sky where numerous seed shaped objects were emerging from the ship. They dropped to the ground quickly and then sprouted into flower creatures. They began to descend to all parts of the city and all around the Sailor Scouts.
"Here they come!" Mars shouted.
"What are we waiting for, let's do it," Jupiter said. "Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!" she shouted. Her lightning energy flew out and vaporized two of the creatures.
"Mars Fireball Surrround!" Mars shouted and blasted three more away.
"Mercury Ice Storm blast!" Mercury shouted and knocked seven away in an icy tidal wave.
"Moon Sceptre Elimination!" Sailor Moon shouted. Her weapon sent out a wave of white energy that blasted away fifteen enemies in front of them. More advanced.
"There's so many of them," Mars said.
Several venom filled arms flew at the scouts. All four jumped out of the way and managed to still land on the roof. More flowers charged at them, they blew them away.
"Try and destroy the seeds before they hit the ground," Mercury shouted.
"Good idea Mercury," Jupiter said. "Jupiter thunderclap crash!"
She hit a wave of seeds and blew them apart.
"Mars Fireball Surround!" She shouted and blasted another five flowers out of existence. The seeds began to taper off. No new flowers landed.
"Whew...." Sailor Moon said. "They just kept coming."
"But look," Mars said and pointed at the city all around them. Flowers were everywhere.
"Oh no..." Sailor Moon said. "They're so many more of them..."
"We have to fight them..." Jupiter said.
"You will not get the chance," came a voice behind them. Two spiked arms shot out and knocked the four scouts down to the ground. Mercury and Sailor Moon on one side, Jupiter and Mars on the other. They all grimaced in pain as they turned to see Fiore standing there.
"I will not have you stopping this invasion," he said.
"Fiore," Sailor Moon said and gasped.
"How did you...no matter..." Fiore said.
"Mercury Ice Storm...." Mercury began.
"No!" Fiore shouted and knocked her down again with his spiked arms, she stumbled towards the edge. Sailor Moon grabbed her and pulled her back. Fiore was concentrating on the two and he didn't see Jupiter run up behind him before it was too late. She tackled him.
"You guys get away!" She shouted.
"Jupiter!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"Go!" Jupiter shouted. Sailor Moon and Mars ran to the exit and raced down the stairs. Mercury tried to stand up, but fell down again from a pain in her leg. In the meantime Fiore had stretched his spiked arms around and grabbed Jupiter with them and thrown her into a corner of the roof.
"You are worthy opponents who might have a future in the new order. Surrender now and no more harm will come to you," Fiore said.
"Never!" Mercury and Jupiter shouted.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Fiore said and readied his arms for another attack.
"Saturn Rings Blast!" Saturn shouted and unleashed his attack from the roof doorwary The blue energy rings blew Fiore clear off of the building. He fell off the building and dropped several stories.
"Saturn!" The two girls shouted.
"Get out of here!" He shouted and then in front of them he began to flicker. His power dissipated and standing there now was the human D.V. Patterson.
"My power's gone. Dang it!" He said.
Fiore floated back on top of the building.
"Where is the one who attacked me?" he said. "And who are you?" he said and launched his attacks at Patterson. Patterson jumped out of the way. The arms seemed to twist towards him. He rolled out of the way again. Fiore kept up his attack. The two were broken up by the two Sailor Scouts jumping in front of the arms. Jupiter grabbed one and tried to twist it. It didn't work and she was thrown to the edge of the roof. Mercury was hit and knocked to the ground again.
"Now..." Fiore said pointing at Patterson before the enemy was hit with a barrage of gun fire. A helicopter had flown up beside the building behind Patterson. The wind from it's blades flew through the four building occupants.
"Get on!" Colonel Patterson shouted from the open door which he was holding a bazooka. He blasted Fiore a second time.
"But...," D.V. replied.
"Go Patterson!" Jupiter shouted.
"You can't help us," Mercury said.
D.V. looked at them for a second and then jumped onto the helicopter which sped off across the sky.
"Hmm...go.... you will be subjugated the end anyway. What does it matter whether it is now or later," Fiore said and turned to the two girls.
"I have no wish to harm you," he said.
"Well you've already done a good job of it!" Jupiter shouted struglling to give up.
"This battle is over for you," Fiore said and pulled two seed shaped objects from his uniform. Out from shot a green substance which wrapped around the two scouts and effectively tied them up. Then grabbing the two of them he vanished.
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!" Venus shouted and blasted several flowers apart. A barrage of roses annihilhated another group. Mina and Darrien had been on their way to meet with the others when the seeds had arrived. Now they stood on top of Darrien's car facing a seemingly endless horde.
"We have to get to high ground," Tuxedo Mask realized.
"How? We're boxed in," Venus said realizing that this part of Tokyo was heavily built up and thus there was really nowhere for them to jump.
"We'll have to jump through them!" Tuxedo Mask said.
"Easy for you to say!" Venus said as a venomous arm shot by her.
The sound of a helicopter whiring filled their ears and a ring of explosions smashed into the flowers and knocked them backwards. The helicopter came in close to the ground.
"Get on!" someone shouted from inside.
Venus jumped into the chopper. Tuxedo Mask covered her jumped with a barrage of roses aimed at the aliens. He then turned to climb into the chopper. One of the flowers hit him in the leg as he did so. He winced and climbed inside. The chopper lifted off the ground.
"You two okay?" came the voice of a soldier.
"I think so," Venus said.
"One of those things got me," Tuxedo Mask said and winced again.
"Oh no," Venus said.
"I should be fine...it doesn't affect me like it does normal humans," Tuxedo Mask said and winced again.
"What's going on?" Venus asked.
"Well those beasties came on pretty fast," the soldier said. "The army and the police force have been mobilizing outside the city. We were sent in to find you if we could and anyone else."
"Don't waste the effort trying to save civilians," Tuxedo Mask said abruptly. "If the flowers hit them, it'll only stun them. They're probably in no danger to their lives. You need to keep your forces intact."
"I see," the soldier said.
"Where are the other Sailor Scouts?" Venus asked.
"Don't know, we recieved a report that Mercury and Jupiter had been captured by some alien leader or something," the soldier said.
"Fiore," Venus and Tuxedo Mask said looking at each other worriedly.
"Whatever, and the other two haven't been seen," the soldier said.
"I wonder where they are," Venus said.
"Ugh, I hate sewer water," Sailor Moon said.
"You have boots on, think about how I feel with these flats on," Mars muttered.
"Oh...sorry," Sailor Moon said.
The two were standing in a foot of water down in one of the Tokyo's sewers.
"Wasn't this a great idea though? They won't follow us down here," Sailor Moon said.
"They might, but there are fewer of them down here than up there," Mars said.
"So where should we go?" Sailor Moon asked. Mars paused for a minute.
"I've got it. Jade Corp!" Mars
"Jade corp?"
"Sure, it's a tall building. We can hide there until we figure things out. "We'll just have to make sure we don't set off any traps that are left there."
"Didn't the army go in and get rid of them all?"
"Oh yeah, that's right, but we'll still be careful," Mars said.
"By the way...how do we get there?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Hmm...well.that could be a problem," Mars said.
The helicopter landed in a field outside the city where a vast amount of army equipment and several police cars had collected. There were troops everywhere as well as refugees. Venus hopped out of the chopper. Tuxedo Mask walked with a slight limp.
"General Nagumo's trying to get things under control right now...the Prime Minister and the Governor were already hit during the attack. He's basically in control now," the soldier said.
"Oh..um...do you know which civilians got out?" Venus asked.
"We really don't know," the soldier said. "Listen..the General's a little busy, I'm sure he'll want to see you, but why don't you look around for your family or something..uh..you have one right..."
"Yes I do," Venus said and promptly climbed atop a jeep, along with Tuxedo Mask to look around.
"You see anyone?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
"There's just so many people," Venus said.
"Looking for me?" came a familiar voice from behind them. They turned to see Mike who had spoken as well as Rick, Steve, and Greg standing there.
"Well..speak of the devil," Tuxedo Mask said.
"We got a little assistance from Colonel Patterson in getting out of there. Chad too...we have no idea what happened to our families, but we heard they're only being stunned," Mike said.
"That's right," Tuxedo Mask said. "At least as far as we can tell."
"Where's the other scouts?" Rick asked.
"We never got to them..we don't know where they are," Venus said.
"We heard that Mercury and Jupiter were captured," Tuxedo Mask said solemly.
"Yeah we know," Steve said sorrowfully.
"Mars and Sailor Moon apparently made it out, but we don't know if they made it any farther," Greg said not hiding his own worries.
"It's good to see you made it out though," Mike said.
"Well I intend to go right back in," Venus said.
"Yeah, we've got a battle to win," Tuxedo Mask said. "Say...do you know where Patterson is?"
"D.V.?" Greg asked.
"Yes," Tuxedo Mask said.
"He's around, but he's very, very, depressed it seems," Mike said.
"Why?" Tuxedo Mask.
"He lost his powers, couldn't stop the negaverse from taking Mercury and Jupiter..he took a chopper to escape...." Steve said.
"Venus..keep an eye on what's going on here...I should find him," Tuxedo Mask said. Venus nodded. He found Patterson standing beside a helicopter staring at the ground.
"Patterson.." Tuxedo Mask said.
"Well...looks like someone made it out," Patterson muttered. "Guess..there's still someone who can actually save a Sailor Scout left."
"What happened?"
"My power disapeared, I ran for it...I'm a coward."
"You probably couldn't of helped."
"That doesn't make it any easier," Patterson muttered.
"Well..then do something about it. Contribute to the human effort. Are you telling me that you can't handle it?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Patterson snapped.
"Well..that's just great, an invasion and you're running."
"I might as well."
"I don't think so...you have to fight them..."
"Yeah, right," Patterson said.
"Boy..you are far gone..well..I'm sure that Jupiter and Mercury would be so glad to hear, that you just gave up. Come on..I don't have the time to get you of all people back into a fighting mood."
"Hmm..perhaps you're right."
"Mr. Mask..ahem..." a soldier said. "General Nagumo would like to see you.
"Interesting way of putting it," Tuxedo Mask said. "I'm coming."
In the center of the mass of people was a table with a map of Tokyo spread upon it and surrounded by military brass and police officials. General Nagumo stood in the midst of it.
"We have to attack now!" Someone shouted.
"With what, our guns are not very effective," someone else said.
"But out explosives are," the first person countered.
"It's obvious we have to attack, but we'll do this right!" Nagumo said. Everyone seemed to calm down. Nagumo had everyone's full attention.
"We have identified strategic locations all over the city where we can attack. These things are running along the ground. If we position ourselves at high elevations we'll have the advantage, at least until the amunition runs out. The problem is that to do this operation we will have to move the troops in quickly and furthermore, the aliens are already moving out to meet us. We will need two groups. One to hold them off, and another to get into a position to attack what remains in the city.
"Let us fight them!" a civilian yelled from the back.
"You military boys do your things, just give us some grenades and we'll take em!" someone else shouted.
"I'm with them," Chief Ozaki said.
"Well..we'll balance it out a little more, but any volunteers for this battle will be welcomed. We need everyone we can get," Nagumo said. The crowd let out a battle cry and preparations were put into motion. Venus and Tuxedo Mask had met again. Nagumo noticed them.
"So two of you made it out," he said.
"Yes, barely," Venus said.
"General, can we borrow one of your helicopters?" Tuxedo Mask asked abruptly.
"What are you thinking?" Venus asked.
"Yes, what are you thinking?" Nagumo asked.
"I know their leader. I need to talk to him," Tuxedo Mask said.
"You think you can talk to him?" Nagumo asked.
"Yes, I do," Tuxedo Mask.
"Then you should try," Nagumo said and called to an aide.
"Yes sir," the aide said.
"Get these two a helicopter," he said.
"Aye sir," the aide said.
The three hurried off.
"General," D.V. Patterson said emerging from the crowd.
"Patterson. There you are, you don't look too good," Nagumo said.
"I'm not feeling well. I have broken my own rules of combat and I need to avenge the mistake. I need a piece of equipment."
"What kind of equipment?" Nagumo asked.
"Here we are," Mars said as she and Sailor Moon stood on what had been the top floor of Jade Corp, now it was exposed to the air since they had blown it apart.
"Took us long enough," Sailor Moon said.
"I've never navigated through a sewer before all right," Mars snapped.
They both looked around at the city to see smoke rising and a horde of flowers seemingly everywhere. The asteroid floated ominously above a large part of the city, but not over their position.
Mars pulled out her communicator.
"To all Sailor Scouts, come in?" she said.
"This is Venus, are you okay Mars?" Venus replied.
"Yes, I'm fine, and Sailor Moon here's too. Are you all right?" Mars asked.
"Tuxedo Mask took a hit, but he seems okay," Venus said.
"Oh no," Sailor Moon shrieked.
"He's fine," Venus stressed.
"What about the other scouts?" Mars asked.
"Rumor is they were captured," Venus said.
"Oh no," Sailor Moon gasped. Mars suppressed her own worry.
"Where are you right now?" Mars asked.
"In a helicopter heading to talk with Fiore," Venus said.
"Are you crazy?" Mars shouted.
"We've met him before, he may listen to us," Venus said.
"What do you mean you've met him before?" Mars asked.
"There's really no time to explain," Venus said. "If this doesn't work, you'll be our only hope so be careful."
"Uh...right...good luck," Mars said and the screen flickered off. "Come on Sailor Moon," she said.
"Where are we going?" Sailor Moon asked.
"If that meeting fails I don't intend to lose any more friends today!" She said.
"Uh....right...but what do we do..head down?" Sailor Moon asked.
"No, we can go the easy way," Mars said and walked to the edge of the building.
"Wait a minute? You're not seriously thinking...." Sailor Moon said.
"Uh huh," Mars said. She ran back several feet from the edge and got her speed up. Then with a leap added to her Sailor Scout powers she leapt off the building and flew to another roof and landed on it safely.
"Come on Sailor Moon!" She shouted.
"I can't believe I'm about to this," Sailor Moon shouted and did the same. She landed a bit awkwardly, but safely on the next roof.
"Now we do it again!" Mars said.
"Again?" Sailor Moon asked worriedly.
"Why did you not destroy them Fiore?" the Flower asked as the two Sailor Scouts, still bound were suspended from the ceiling in front of them.
"Because you turned me to your side and gained a powerful warrior. Now you can have two more."
"Ah...a good point. But I have no time for that now," The Flower said.
"At your leisure of course," Fiore said and looked at a window.
"A human vehicle is approaching our position again," the flower noticed and projected the view on the screen. Fiore looked and saw both Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Venus sticking their heads out of it.
"Hmm...I must talk to them," Fiore said.
"Talk to them. You are to stop them! Those are the two that stopped me the first time!"
"But, if I could capture them to..I could convert them...you've seen their power. At least let me give them the opportunity to surrender," Fiore said.
The Flower seemed to think a minute.
"Very well, but I warn you, my patience is growing thin with these matters, especially with those two involved," she said.
"Of course," Fiore said and vanished again.
"There he is," Venus pointing to where Fiore now stood in the park where he had attacked Serena earlier. The area was clear of the evil flowers since they had moved on in search for the Sailor Scouts and the human resistance. The helicopter lowered itself and Tuxedo Mask and Venus climbed out.
"Go on, if we succeed we won't need you, and if we fail...well we won't need you either," Tuxedo Mask yelled back into the cabin. The pilot nodded and took off.
There was an explosion in the distance followed by another.
"Ah...so the next battle has begun," Fiore said. "So... we once fought alongside each other in the past. Now...things are different."
"Fiore, please, can't you stop this attack?" Venus asked. "I know you don't want to destroy this planet."
"No I don't," Fiore said. "But when the Kenisien Flower captured me she took control of me. I have to serve her. Only at certain times can I fight her will, like now, but if those other scouts were to show up I would have no trouble fighting them."
"Can't you do anything?" Venus asked.
"I'm sorry, no. I'm here to offer you two choices, surrender to her and serve her as I do, or you are to be destroyed," Fiore said.
"There's no way I'll do that," Tuxedo Mask said. "Don't make me fight you Fiore."
"I know you were at the battle, but how do you know my name?" Fiore asked.
Tuxedo Mask reached up and pulled off his mask revealing the eyes of Darrien, then he he fell to one knee. The venom was affecting him more than he showed.
"What? You're....Darrien?" Fiore said
"Yes...." Darrien said.
"You are hurt," Fiore said.
"Thanks to your Flowers," Darrien said.
"I had hoped to prevent this, why couldn't you just have surrendered?" Fiore said with genuine sorrow.
"I can't do that."
"Neither can I," Venus said.
"We are pledged to defend this planet," Tuxedo Mask said.
"As I am pledged to serve the flower," Fiore said. "I guess then we must say our farewells because one of us will not survive this battle. You were my friend once. I'm sorry it has to end this way."
"So am I," Darrien said.
"Enough of this!" came a cry from above them, two arms shot out and hit Venus and Tuxedo Mask and knocked them down, each stabbing them with venom. The Kensien flower floated to the ground.
"I've had enough of this talk Fiore. It is time to finish them off. Prove your will to me!" the flower yelled.
"I....must," Fiore said. He did not even see the object flying at him. It hit him full speed and knocked him backwards into a tree out of sheer impact. He stood up. The flower looked at the source which was right in front of her. A battletank marked S.D.F. on the front of it. Out of the gun section of the tank popped the head of D.V. Patterson.
"I'm back Fiore! Come and face me!" he shouted.
"Are you sure you want to do this D.V?" his uncle asked from the tank's controls.
"Do you need to even ask?" D.V. asked and stood on top of the tank.
"Fiore! Who is this maggot!" the Flower shouted.
"You are brave, human, but you have made a mistake that will cost you your life," Fiore said.
Patterson held a Katana sword out in front of him and jumped off the tank, which backed up and headed towards the rest of the battle.
"That puny weapon will do you no good," the flower said and swung out her own arm. Patterson swung his sword at it, deflecting it off target, but the venom still hit him in the arm, he fell to one knee. She swung her other arm. He swung the sword up. The venom hit him in the chest, but not before his sword embedded itself in her arm. She yelled with slight pain and flung her arm outward throwing the sword away. Patterson collapsed to the ground.
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!" came a cry. The golden energy hit the flower and knocked her backwards, followed by a barrage of roses.
"Fiore!" the Flower shouted
"You are hurt," Fiore said with concern.
"Stop them!"
"I..."
"Do it!"
Fiore turned to see Tuxedo Mask laying on the ground, his strength exhausted and Venus trying to stay up.
"I must..." he said.
"Mars Fireball Surround!" came a cry from nearby. The fire hit Fiore dead on and he let out a brief cry of pain. Mars jumped to the side of Venus. Sailor Moon, her moon sword at the ready, also jumped down ready.
"Withdraw," the flower said. The two vanished.
"We drove them off," Venus said, and fell to the ground.
"Venus!" Mars shouted.
"Just a little feinting spell," Venus said opening her eyes and standing up slowly.
"Darrien!" Sailor Moon shouted hurrying to the wounded form of her boyfriend.
"Ehh....hey," Darrien managed to mutter. "I took two blows from the venom, I don't think I'll be too much good to you now," he said. "Here take this," he said and handed her a rose.
"What good will this do me?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Don't know, I just think you should have one," he said and smiled. Sailor Moon stuck the rose in between her brooch and her shirt and returned the smile.
"I'll win this for you and all my friends." she said.
"What happened to Patterson?" Mars asked.
"He got nailed in human form. You know even he can't take very much punishment," Venus said.
"Enough talk. We've got an enemy to beat," Sailor Moon shouted. "Let's teleport."
"We'll we be able to do it with three people?" Mars asked.
"We have to," Venus said.
The three held hands.
"Mars Star Power!"
"Venus Star Power!"
"Moon Crystal Power!"
An energy field surrounded the three and they began to rise. The field began to flicker and they fell to the ground again.
"Oh no, we can't do it!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"But we can't give up," Venus said. Luna and Artemas jumped to the ground near them.
"There you girls are. Thank goodness," Luna said.
"We can't teleport, we don't have enough power," Sailor Moon said.
"Hmm..there's a chance," Artemas said and walked over to the apparently unconcious body of Patterson.
"Patterson..you there...we need those crystals..." Artemas said. Patterson groaned and pulled three crystals out of his pocket.
"Here....." he muttered and placed them on the ground before falling back unconcious.
"What are they?" Mars said picking them up. They began to glow, Green, Red, and Gold.
"That's not important, just each of you take one," Luna said.
They each took a crystal and held each other's hand. An energy filed surrounded them again and with the added energy they began to lift off the ground. Then they vanished.
"Good luck Sailor Scouts," Luna said.