Chapter 316
It was the next morning that Patterson woke up in a hospital room. He sat up slightly wincing at the pain in he stomach.
"It is best not to move like that," Hotaru said sitting in a chair across the room.
"It's not so bad," Patterson said and winced some more.
"One finds that hard to believe considering the circumstances," Hotaru said. "You should heal quickly, you know that, but don't push yourself."
"Ehh.." Patterson muttered.
"Setsuna's been keeping an eye on the doctors and preventing them from getting any unwarranted suspicions. We didn't tell the others. We've been letting them enjoy themselves. As far as they know, you fought off Gala," Hotaru said.
"Aren't they going to suspect something when I'm not around for a day or so?" Patterson asked.
"Maybe. Still your usual separation from society is also an accepted part of your persona," Hotaru said.
"Guess so," Patterson said. "But what about Ayeka? What happened to her?"
"She's down the hall recovering, she does not have scout energy to make the process easier, but she will heal in time," Hotaru said.
"Oh.." Patterson said.
"There is something else," Hotaru said. "But it will not be a factor for you. Gala has sped up the battles. Tomorrow they will settle things. She just hasn't told the scouts that yet."
"I see," Patterson said.
"Of course.." Hotaru said looking out a window. "The deal that was made won't last beyond then either. It will degrade into a melee."
"You seem sure of it," Patterson said.
"I have a strong suspicion the evil forces are not interested in playing air anymore."
"Then you should be there to keep an eye on this," Patterson said.
"No..someone has to make sure you are doing well and also to make sure you don't do anything irrational."
"Oh..well..thanks for the concern, but."
"You are in no position to prevent me from doing what I please."
"Guess not," Patterson said.
"Well..you should rest," Hotaru said and walked out the door.
Patterson sighed.
And at S.D.F Headquarters.
"Ah..Nephlite..what brings you into work on a Saturday?" General Patterson said.
"I could ask you the same," Nephlite said.
"Well this whole negaenergy rocket thing has had me doing a lot of work, but I've also been corralling Colonel Nagumo."
"Why?"
"Well she evidently found out about last night's battle and wanted to investigate."
"Last night's battle? I missed it.," Nephlite said.
"It was essentially D.V. getting a massive wound to a stomach and then falling off a building. That kid can't fight a major battle without getting seriously injured."
"Guess so," Nephlite said.
"So what are you doing up here anyway?"
"Oh..I came to study some of the latest energy samples that were collected. Doctor Richter thought an expert should have a look at it," Nephlite said.
"I see, just keep him as far away from it as possible will you?" Patterson said.
"I'll try," Nephlite said.
"Ah..there you two are..come see this," Came a voice as Jaedite slid into a hallway.
"What?" Patterson said.
Jaedite moved them to a window. They looked out. Over the city was Gala's form.
"Looks like she took a method out of your play book," Nephlite said.
"Yeah well she's a jerk," Jaedite said.
"Let's see what she's saying," Patterson said pushing the window open.
"Sailor Scouts, I will tell you this again. Meet us for our battles tomorrow in the assigned place. We shall settle things then," Gala said. "This planet will be the beginning of a new empire."
"Hmm..must be just a trick of the lights or something," Patterson said.
"Yeah..some sort of publicity stunt," Nephlite said.
"She didn't even add a threat," Jaedite said. "At least I said I'd burn the city."
"Yeah..tough guy," Nephlite said and started laughing.
"So..you came out pretty good for getting run over by an airbus ey?" Patterson asked.
"Don't mock me," Jaedite muttered and walked away.
"Oh dear, looks likes the scouts have another final battle to deal with," Zoicite said.
"It's so anti-climactic though," Malichite said.
"Why do you say that?"
"I say that because they've never lost."
"Well if they lost the world would be destroyed."
"That's right. It would be. But they're not destined to fail," Malichite said.
"Well you never know when their time may be up," Zoicite said.
"I doubt it would be to someone with the likes of her."
"Maybe so. One can't tell. The universe has never been well organized or explicit about very much."
"Unfortunately," Malichite said.
"Well..enough about that gloomy subject..wanna go get some Chinese food?"
"Yes..I do have a taste for kung pao."
"Very well," Malichite. "Let's go get some," he said standing up letting his coat swing behind him.
"You don't have to be so dramatic about it."
"Sorry it's a habit," Malichite said.
"I know," Zoicite said.
And at the subtlety named Dark Moon Travel Agency.
"Jee...I hope the world won't end tomorrow. I mean I've been looking forward to this vacation," a customer said sitting across from Bertie.
"I wouldn't worry," Bertie said sitting behind her desk. "The scouts never lose."
"Guess so," the man said. "I mean they are something aren't they?"
"Uh huh," Bertie said.
"Say..have you ever wondered who they really are? Some say they're angels themselves. Others just say they're high school students. Quite a big difference I guess."
"Not really," Bertie said. "Just depends on your point of view."
"Oh.." the customer said.
Just a desk away.
"Let me get this straight. You want to go out with a bang?" Avery asked.
"That's right, I want to get a plane ticket and start flying, so I can be in the air when the world ends," her customer replied.
"But..the world isn't going to end. Haven't you lived on this planet before? The scouts always win."
"I've got a bad feeling about this though. I mean..this was a gigantic torso hovering over the city. She seems really dangerous," The customer said.
"I wouldn't get so worried," Avery said. "Things will be fine."
"Can you just book the flight anyway?"
"Well where do you want to end up if the world doesn't end?" Avery asked.
"Barbados would be nice," The man said.
Avery sighed.
"Emerald! Have you found the dark crystal yet?" Prince Diamond shouted from his office.
"What?" Emerald muttered turning away from the file cabinet.
"Uh..sorry..that was a slip of the tongue. I mean, have you found those resort brochures I was looking for?"
"No, not yet."
"Well keep looking. My patience is waning."
"O..kay?" Emerald said a bit unsurely.
"Jeez..gigantic female floating torso appears over the city and I have to cancel my fishing trip," Chief Ozaki said leaning against his desk.
"Well what are we supposed to do?" Captain Ozaki asked.
"The heck if I know," Chief Ozaki said. "Wait for orders I guess. I mean..what is there for us to do? Just wait for the scouts to take care of it. We've been through all this before."
"Yeah..I guess," Captain Ozaki said. "Uh..dad..."
"Yes?"
"I've been having nightmares."
"So? You're a grown woman."
"Yes, but these..are..real bad," Captain Ozaki said. "They...show the end of the universe."
"Snap out of it girl!" Chief Ozaki said. "You're just worried that all. I specifically made sure you didn't have any special powers when you were growing up."
"But.."
"Don't but me. We're going to win this. Or they're going to anyway..so calm down..wimp."
"Daddy," Captain Ozaki whined and started crying.
"This is pathetic," Ozaki said.
"Well here we are.." Serena said. The group of scouts were all sitting at Raye's temple with the exception of Hotaru, Setsuna, and Patterson.
"Looks like Gala is interested in finishing this once and for all," Seiya said.
"We can beat her..right?" Mike said. "I mean..we've been trashing her minions right?"
"Yes, but it is more complex then that," Taiki said. "I can't believe she'll adhere to our agreement, if we beat her."
"I'm not prepared to adhere to the agreement if she beats us, that's for sure," Seiya said.
"I second that," Haruka said.
"There's another issue. The power of one star seed is more than enough to do what she did to her warriors. She's got plenty of energy of her own built up," Taiki said.
"He's right," Yaten said. "We don't know what her true power is."
"We face many uncertainties," Setsuna said. Everyone turned to see her standing at the temple steps.
"We'll fight her anyway," Raye said. "We've had enough of evil forces showing up and messing with our lives."
"They almost trashed the prom yesterday, if Maverick hadn't chased her off," Lita said angrily.
"Where is mister hero anywa?," Seiya said snidely.
"Injured," Setsuna said. "But we didn't want to bring it up before hand."
"How injured?" Amy asked with concern.
"He'll be fine a few days," Setsuna said.
"His usual time on the disabled list," Haruka said.
"So he didn't just drive Gala off last night..." Amy said.
"He beat half of her," Setsuna said. "One less thing for you all to worry about, but the star seed is powerful. We don't know how she may use it."
"Furthermore," Taiki said. "Since you all have star seeds, we need to make sure she doesn't get them from you during the battles."
The group nodded.
"I know it's been relatively easy going for the past few weeks," Setsuna said. "Even though we had our losses, but now the stakes our higher. This could degrade into an all out battle at any point."
"And we'll beat them," Serena said. "The scouts have never lost when it counted. We'll fight them till we can't anymore. And then the people of earth will fight them. Evil can't win against an entire planet."
"Yeah!" the group all shouted.
"It's going to take more then words to win though," Yaten said. "We've fought them to a stalemate. Now though we're going to need to fight them to the death."
This solemned the mood.
"Whatever it takes. I don't want to kill anyone, but we have to stop her." Serena said. "Hey..we've been through all this before right? This is nothing new. We've fought Beryl and won."
"The doom tree," Mina said.
"The dark moon," Raye said.
"Coardite, and the rest of the negaverse goons," Lita said.
"Doctor Richter," Amy said.
"Haruka and Michiru," Mike said with a grin.
"I seem to remember us fighting you guys too," Raye replied.
"Good point," Mike said. "Hey.that was back when I really could fight."
"We've beaten the death busters, ourselves, Nehelenia repeatedly.." Rick said.
"The goddesses," Steve said.
"And...Galaxia herself," Greg said.
"See no problem! We're going to win this one too!" Serena said. "So don't worry..let's just go do it to them!"
The next morning.
"I didn't sleep at all," Serena moaned.
"Me neither," Raye said.
"I did, but all I had was bad dreams," Mina said. "And I almost strangled Artemas."
"But you do that all the time," Artemas muttered.
"You don't have to sleep so close to me!" Mina said.
"I think it's time for us to transform and get ready," Serena said.
"Am I late?" Hotaru asked walking up.
"Hotaru, get bored of keeping an eye on the wounded?" Setsuna asked.
"He convinced me to leave. For one thing I may be needed here. For another, I couldn't stop him if I chose to leave anyway. But he promised me, he'd behave," Hotaru said.
"No time for chit chat..Galactic Moon Power!" Serena shouted.
"Mercury Crystal Power!"
"Mars Crystal Power!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power!"
"Venus Crystal Power!"
"Uranus Crystal Power!"
"Neptune Crystal Power!"
"Saturn Crystal Power!"
"Pluto Crystal Power!"
The girls transformed.
"Our turn," Rick said. "Uranus Star Power!"
"Neptune Star Power!"
"Pluto Star Power!"
"Saturn Star Power!"
"Venus Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
Darrien pulled out his rose. The group transformed.
"Well here we are," Sailor Moon said. "Let's go beat Gala to a pulp!"
The group leapt off into the city.
"I don't know about everyone else, but I'm feeling kinda good," Guardian Neptune said. Everyone sort of nodded.
"All right," he said.
When the scouts arrived at the battlefield they found a crowd around it. Police, the military, and just other bystanders were crowded around the borders and standing on rooftops
"Guess we get an audience," Sailor Jupiter said.
Gala's forces appeared at the other end of the battlefield.
"Well..so there you all are.." Gala said. "Very well..let's begin this battle."
Coardite stepped forward. Sailor Neptune and Guardian Saturn did the same.
"Remember what we practiced," Neptune said.
Saturn nodded.
Coardite launched an attack. The two avoided it.
"Neptune Deep Submerge!" Coardite avoided the attack. Guardian Saturn charged forward.
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!"
Coardite whirled and blasted the attack away. The two scouts leapt around him using their weapons, he narrowly avoided their attacks and fired back with a barrage of his own.
Two swords flashed into his hands. He swung them both unleashing energy. The two scouts
avoided the attacks. He leapt at Saturn. Saturn blocked both swords with his own, but Coardite swung at him anyway cutting into his arm.
"Neptune Sparkling Reflection!"
The attack slammed into Coardite and threw him down, but he didn't stay there long instead standing and launching a wall of energy.
The two scouts were knocked back.
"Hah..I can do stuff like that," Coardite said.
"Neptune..you be ready to strike okay.." Saturn said.
"What are you going to do?"
"Get hurt most likely," Saturn said and leapt forward. Coardite drew one energy sword and met him. The two began to spar, Coardite meanwhile built up energy in his other arm. Neptune waited, looking for the right opportunity. She advanced slowly. Saturn kept swinging. He spun back and fired point black. Coardite fell back and sent his fist energy flying out. Saturn was knocked to the ground. Coardite swung his sword downward.
"Saturn!" Mercury shouted in fear.
"Neptune Deep Submerge!" Neptune shouted leaping in front of him. The sword came down slicing across her. The attack hit smashing Coardite backwards. He began to bleed.
Neptune winced. Saturn slowly moved to one knee hardly able to stand.
Coardite stood up. The two sides faced each other.
"Hit him with all we have.." Neptune said.
"Right.." Saturn said.
"Neptune Sparkling Reflection!"
"Saturn Blade of Galaxies!"
The two attacks flew at Coardite. He leapt into it and unleashed an energy blast from his hand while the energy blasted through him. The two scouts were hit dead on with it and smashed to the ground. Coardite lay on the ground covered with bruises and bleeding profusely.
The scouts all watched worriedly as he crawled towards them. A small light sword flickered from his hands.
"I'm going," Sailor Uranus said.
"Wait Uranus.." Sailor Moon said.
"I won't let them kill her," Sailor Uranus said. "Or him.."
"But.."
Coardite came closer. Saturn turned and drew his sword. The two swung at each other kneeling as they did. Saturn stumbled forward digging his sword into Coardite, who exploded around them. Saturn collapsed. The majority of the scouts leapt across the battlefield to carry the two back.
"Neptune?" Uranus asked worriedly. Neptune opened her eyes.
"I'll be fine...in a week.." she muttered. Uranus nodded.
"Who's next?" she said.
Guardian Uranus stood beside her.
"Metalite.." Gala said.
"Hmmm..no I'll wait," Metalite said.
"You'll what?" Sailor Uranus said.
"My own reasons aside, wouldn't you prefer to fight me, when you weren't as worried about your friend," Metalite said.
"Whatever," Sailor Uranus said.
"Materic..go.." Gala said. Materic stepped forward and swung his sword around. Guardian Pluto and Guardian Neptune stood ready.
"I will have both of you for my revenge," Materic said.
Pluto and Neptune glanced at each other.
"That's what you think!" the two shouted and raced forward. Materic readied himself with a sword swing. The two swung their swords. Materic blocked it and swung through them both.. They both staggered back. Materic grinned and fired energy from his sword. The two dodged it already in great pain. Both Guardians fired off blasts of energy. Materic blocked them and swung through attacking with a great force. The Guardians were hit again. They staggered back.
"Gotta beat this guy," They both said and swung forward again. Materic slid back and swung through them yet again. They both collapsed.
"Stop!" Sailor Moon said. "You win this one.."
"Very well..." Gala said. "Materic."
"Of course.." Materic said and backed off.
"We stink," Neptune muttered.
"Ehh.." Pluto said.
"Enough with the climactic battles," Gala said. "Iron Mouse, Lead Crow, Aluminum Siren. Go out there too! Send six of your scouts to fight them! We shall see who wins."
The three animates advanced.
Sailor Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury walked out. Guardian Mars, Jupiter and Venus followed.
"Are you guys ready for this?" Jupiter asked the Guardians.
"I am," Guardian Mars said angrily. "Let's get this going."
"Enough talking," Lead Crow said. The three animates fired energy waves out. The six scouts avoided them and charged forward.
Aluminum Siren leapt into the air and began dropping bombs towards them.
"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!"
The wave of energy flew over the battlefield. Aluminum Siren moved to avoid it, but was knocked off course. The three lights fired their swords, hitting her.
"Mars Star Laser!"
"Jupiter Star Inferno!"
The two attacks knocked Aluminum Siren to the ground.
"Get her guys!" Sailor Jupiter said.
The three lights moved into attack. Aluminum Siren leapt up, her eyes glowing red and fired energy at them. They all dived out of the way in surprise.
"Hah!" Iron Mouse said flinging a chain of energy at Mars. She avoided it and threw a kick. Iron Mouse dodged it and fired off more energy.
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
The entire attack flew through the air.
Iron Mouse knocked it away with her energy chain. The two unleashed energy attacks. They both hit and exploded.
"Come and get me!" Iron Mouse shouted.
"No.." Mars said. "Mars Celestial Fireball Surround!"
The attack flew out across the battlefield. Iron Mouse knocked some of the attacks away and grinned, a third ring of fire smashed into her. She winced.
"Mars Fire Soul!"
"No way!" Iron Mouse leapt over her and through her energy attack. Mars leapt over it and kicked her in the head. Iron Mouse fell firing energy as she did and hitting Mars on the way down.
Lead Crow unleashed a wave of fire.
"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!"
The fire went out.
"Drat!" Lead Crow said and unleashed a more powerful attack.
Jupiter and Mercury dodged it.
"Wow..this is getting out of hand," Sailor Moon said.
Tuxedo Mask nodded.
"They really are tough fighters."
Across the battlefield.
"Just why are you waiting?" Gala asked.
"Me.."Metalite said. "Oh..well..so I could do something."
"What?"
"This.." he said an vanished.
"What.." Gala said.
Metalite appeared in the midst of the scout side and fired off blasts of energy. Tuxedo Mask pulled Sailor Moon away.
"So much for a deal!" Sailor Uranus said charging forward with her sword. Metalite leapt into the battlefield. The damaged scouts followed after him.
Metalite laughed. "I've got more power then ever before. I don't need her.I'll destroy you on my own."
The rest of the enemy forces charged forward into the melee.
The real battle began.
Next Chapter