Chapter 323

Guardian's Earth and Moon charged forward swinging their swords. Energy exploded from them. Jaedite stood his ground and blocked the attacks with an energy shield.

"You cannot keep this up!" Sailor Earth bellowed. "The negaenergy will consume you if continue."

"Yeah, so..at least I'll be in control," Jaedite said unleashing a barrage of energy. Sailor Earth leapt forward and spun her staff, the energy hit a wall and dissipated.

The two Guardians launched another attack which smashed down the hallway. Jaedite flung an energy attack into it, but was hit and blasted down the hallway.

"Let's finish this!" Guardian Earth shouted charging forward.

"Just try it!" Jaedite said leaping up and firing off a shot of energy. Guardian Earth dived to the side of it and unleashed his own barrage. Jaedite blocked it and lunged forward, he truly was concerned about the negaenergy consuming him. Guardian Earth flipped out of the way of his attack and swung his sword through Jaedite. The former negaverse commander let out a shout. Guardian Moon charged forward and attacked quickly. Jaedite fell to the ground.

"It is now my turn," Sailor Earth said waving her staff.

Down the hall, Malichite and Zoisite watched from behind a corner.

"What should we do?" Zoisite asked.

"They are too powerful for us, I'm sure of that," Malichite said.

"But if we don't fight them, they'll trash this place," Zoisite said.

"Or best action would be to find Nephlite and the Sailor Scouts, then we would stand a chance," Malichite.

"Guess you're right there," Zoisite said.

"Unfortunately for Jaedite."

"What are they doing to him?"

The two watched.

Sailor Earth's staff flashed and Jaedite was covered in light. Then his uniform changed.

"What is happening?" Zoisite said in surprise.

"I'm not sure, but it seems familiar some how," Malichite said.

Jaedite stood up wearing a set of red armor. A grey cape trailed behind him. A sword covered with red jewels sat in a scabbard at his sight.

"That uniform," Zoisite said.

"It's no doubt from the Earth," Malichite said. "We have to get out of here."

Zoisite nodded and the two ducked down another hallway.

"You are no longer Jaedite," Sailor Earth said. "Instead regain your true name, Commander Jasen."

"Yes, I remember it now," Jaedite/ Jasen said. "I am meant to serve you."

Jasen bowed.

"Very good," Sailor Earth said.

"Now you can help us Jasen. We must destroy the evil energy that exists here," Guardian Moon said.

"As you wish," Jasen said.

"You know we're no match for them," Doctor Richter said huddling behind a hastily constructed barricade consisting of a table.

"That's no reason to just surrender," Doctor Tomoe said holding up one of his negaenergy rifles.

"When they come through that door, they're in for a surprise."

"You might also blow up the entire lab in the process," Richter said.

"So they're here to blow up the lab."

"Yes, but.."

"I don't see the issue," Tomoe said.

Richter sighed.

An energy blast blew the door open.

"Here they come!" Tomoe shouted and fired a shot. A rain of negaenergy missiles flew down from the ceiling at the four.

"Pathetic!" Jasen shouted. A wave of fire flew out from his hands and blew the missiles away.

"Banzai!" Doctor Tomoe shouted and started firing.

"You annoying scientist!" Jasen shouted and charged forward, within seconds he had knocked the two doctors to the ground.

"Impressive skill," Guardian Earth said.

"Now let's do what we came to do," Guardian Moon said and lifting up his sword he aimed at the lab equipment and various computers in the lab.

He let loose a barrage and blew them apart.

"You shouldn't meddle in super human affairs"! Guardian Earth added and launched his own attack blowing apart more equipment.

A barrage of bullets came flying down the hall. Sailor Earth whirled and blocked them with a shield. General Patterson and a battalion of infantry stood at the other end of the hall.

"Jasen, get those two scientists!" Guardian Moon shouted.

Jasen pulled Tomoe and Richter.

"Now throw them out there!" Moon shouted. Tomoe and Richter were dumped into the hall.

"Let's finish this!" The four attackers send a final barrage setting the lab aflame. They then blasted their way through the roof and disappeared.

General Patterson shouted and expletive.

"Get them a doctor!" he shouted quickly. "And someone put this fire out!"

An hour later.

"What a mess," Sailor Moon said wandering into the burnt out wreckage of SDF's laboratory area.

"They destroyed the entire project," General Patterson said.

Darrien rushed in.

"Oh..geez.." he said. "Is there anything left?"

"Cardboard box," Guardian Neptune said handing it in his direction.

"How are the doctors?" Darrien asked.

"Just a little bruised," Patterson said. "Apparently they weren't the targets."

"But what are these guys after?" Jupiter said. "They attack us and now they attack here."

"I doubt it's a random attack," Mercury said. "They must have had a reason."

"Maybe it's all about contact with the negaverse," Saturn said. "You know, an attempt to purge the energy from the system."

"I don't think it's something that beneficial," Uranus said.

"Besides, they seem only interested in objects, not people per se," Venus said.

"Whatever they're after they managed to destroy months of work," Patterson said. "Never mind the fact that we can't find any of the negaverse commanders anywhere."

"This is about revenge in some way," Mars said. "I know that."

"The fires tell you that?" Sailor Moon asked.

Mars nodded.

"Revenge for what?" Jupiter asked. "We're the good guys."

"Perhaps there's something we did inadvertently," Mercury said.

"Like property damage you mean," Pluto said.

"No need to bring that up," Neptune said.

"Speaking of which, how's my house coming?" Sailor Moon whispered to General Patterson.

"We're working as fast as we can," Patterson said. "Then again with this mess now, we may have to delay things."

"I understand," Sailor Moon said. "Is my family behaving itself?"

"Uh..more..or less," Patterson said.

"Well so much for this project," Darrien muttered.

"Could be worse," Neptune said.

"How?" Darrien wondered.

"There's no need to go into details, but if you think that, you'll feel better."

"I guess so," Darrien said. "But I'm out of another job."

"Maybe you're just not the working type."

"What?"

"Sure, maybe you should stay home, do the household chores, let Serena bring in the bacon."

"Serena?" Darrien said and then started laughing hysterically.

"Hey, what's so funny," Sailor Moon said.

"Nothing," the two replied quickly.

"I bet you're behind this is some way Neptune," Sailor Moon growled.

"Hey, he's the one laughing," Neptune said and hurried off.

"It was nothing really," Darrien said.

"It had better have been," Sailor Moon said. "You don't want me getting angry right now."

"Why?"

"Because you just don't."

Darrien backed off.

The tenseness of the moment was broken by laughter. Chief Ozaki stood staring at the mess.

"Well..what happened here?" he asked with a grin.

"I think it's blatantly obvious," General Patterson said.

Ozaki laughed some more.

"Well..I guess this means they'll be no more jokes about how the negaverse trashed police HQ out of you now will there?" Ozaki said.

"I assure you there is plenty to make fun of aside from that with regard to your department," Patterson said.

Ozaki scowled.

"We'll see," he said.

Later.

"Hi Mikey!" Alina said.

"About that name," Mike said.

"I thought you wanted me to call you that," Alina said.

"Well..I've reconsidered."

"Oh," Alina said a bit confused. "You still love me don't you?"

"Sure, sure..never doubt that, just the name, I don't know it bothers me."

"All right Mike, I'll listen to you," Alina said. "So what are we going to do?"

"Well I thought we'd go see that movie you wanted to see," Mike said.

"Oh, that's great," Alina said giving him a hug. Mike grinned slightly. "You'll like this one, it's a wonderful romantic comedy."

"Sure," Mike said. "Romantic comedy, the wave of the future."

Alina grinned.

"Now don't get like that yet," Alina said. "Save it for after the movie."

Mike grinned.

The two headed down the sidewalk. Something rustled in the bushes beyond and out popped Mina's head.

"So.." she said to herself. "Going to see a movie are they? We'll see about that!"

She began to cackle.

"No I'm overdoing this I can see. Bad idea."

"So..you ever think this is going to end?" Lita asked.

"I try to be optimistic," Steve said and bit into a french fry.

"You'd think there'd only be so much evil in the universe, then again, these new scouts aren't evil."

"They aren't?"

"No, I'm sure of it, I was talking to Raye about it. And I sensed it too, they have contempt for us, yes, they'll ambush us, but they don't do it because of being evil, it's something different."

"So they hate us, but with a good reason, at least to them?" Steve asked.

"That's what I'm thinking," Lita said. "I mean, they're different from most of the enemies we've faced. They're erratic. You see how they attacked SDF headquarters, they don't seem to have a clear objective."

"Maybe they do and this is all part of it," Steve said.

"That's a possibility too," Lita said. "But figuring that out is best left to the brains. I just want to set them straight."

"Me too," Steve said. "Say..Lita.."

Steve trailed off.

"Yes.." Lita said.

"I was wondering if you had some free time.."

"Yeah?"

"Well could you teach me what you've learned about that whole spiritual stuff?"

"You really want to learn about it?" Lita asked.

"Sure, it's interesting, and it's improved your fighting skill, maybe I could use skills like that."

"I guess it can't hurt. Sure, I can teach you, but it takes time."

"I've got the time," Steve said.

"Then so have I," Lita said.

"That's good," Steve said.

And in a movie theater, Mike and Alina sat close to each other watching the movie.

Mike suppressed a sneer to the actions on the screen.

How have I put up with this for so long? He asked himself. This stuff is terrible and the jokes are so uncreative. And I don't particularly care whether these two get together or stay together or not, I'd like to see a carrot or two right about now.

"What are you thinking about?" Alina asked quietly.

"You really don't want to know," Mike replied and sighed.

"What's wrong."

"Nothing, nothing. Better watch the movie, it's probably the best part."

"Half an hour in?"

"It's only been half an hour?" Mike said in surprise.

"SHUSH!" several others said.

Mike sighed again.

Look at that, what's he doing? Mina wondered sitting in the back of the theater. They better not be snuggling!

"That printers been going for hours," Amy said sticking her head into Greg's room.

"Well I've been printing out my novel so I can proofread it," Greg said.

"That's great, soon you'll be finished," Amy said.

"Yeah and then we'll see if anyone would want to publish it," Greg said.

"I'm sure they won't be able to resist," Amy said.

"That's not what I hear," Greg said. "But I'll give it a try anyway."

"That's the spirit," Amy said. "I'm sure it's wonderful."

She then ducked back out and headed downstairs.

My brother the author. It has a nice ring to it, I guess. She thought innocently.

She also noticed Serena lying upside down on the couch. Her head lay on the floor the rest of her body stuck upward.

"Serena? Are you all right?" Amy asked.

"I thought maybe I could understand the world better from down here," Serena said.

"This must be serious then," Amy said with concern.

"I know, anyway, I just don't get it. It's bad enough we have to fight off these bad guys, but why can't they stay out of our personal lives," Serena said.

"I guess it's been rough on your end," Amy said sitting beside Serena.

"Rough? That's just the beginning of it!" Serena said bolting up, the shift of weight pushed her against the couch.

"Yikes," she said.

Amy stood up quickly as the couch flipped over bringing Serena with it, she stumbled to the floor and fell to the ground.

"You all right?" Amy said quickly.

"Never better," Serena muttered standing up.

Amy sighed.

"I guess we should talk," she said.

"Break on through to the other side," Serena muttered.

"What?" Amy asked in surprise.

"I don't know," Serena moaned. "I want some cereal."

"We had best get you some then," Amy said urgently.

"Something wrong?" Alina asked.

"Why would you think that?"

"You haven't touched your food."

"I must have made some sort of contact, maybe brushed it with my finger," Mike said.

"That's not what I meant, Mike is there something you want to tell me?"

"No, it's not like I'm cheating on you or anything."

"Oh..then you're not?"

"Not in any way at all," Mike said.

"Then what's bothering you?" Alina asked.

"The world can be a crazy place," Mike said.

"Don't I know it, but you're acting strangely."

"I always.."

"No, I mean really strangely..beyond you."

"So I'm in a rut, it's not a big deal."

"I wish I could believe that, come on Mike, talk to me," Alina said.

"It's just a matter of getting out of the rut that's all."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"Oh that's a good question, the way always changes each time I have to do it."

"This has happened before?"

"Sure, it's just one of the symptoms of being Mike."

"Oh, how sad," Alina said.

Mike sighed.

"Amy..why can't they leave us alone?" Serena asked.

"It's hard to accept I know."

"Everyone else has it pretty easy, sure an enemy will stop by their house occasionally for a sneak attack, but me and Darrien all we do is suffer. You remember don't you? He was nearly killed defending me twice, and that was just when Beryl was around. Then he lost his memory again, and how do you think that made me feel."

"I know.."

"And then it just got worst, he flies here, he flies there, he gets ambushed, his work gets messed up, it's not about me anymore, he suffers. Why. It's bad enough that I have to deal with it, but why him too?"

"You'll both get through it," Amy said.

"I'm sick of getting through it. It's not fair. I've fought the enemies, I've been willing, but this goes too far."

"But Serena, look at all you've accomplished, you've freed the galaxy from evil, at least some very strong evils. These are the scouts, we can reason with them and then you can restore all those lives you've taken, you know like you wanted."

Serena began to sob.

"And at what cost Amy? Darrien's life is slowly being ruined."

"No it isn't. He's managing. He'll be fine."

"How can he be fine, every time it looks like he's getting somewhere, in comes the bad guys!"

"It can't keep going like this forever."

"It has for over three years," Serena said. "I can't take it. I want it to end."

"Serena, why don't we go see Darrien and talk to him," Amy said.

"I don't know if I should," Serena said.

"He'll be glad to see you," Amy said. "Besides Serena, it's best for you two to face this together."

"I guess," Serena said. "Why can't they just leave us alone. I'll fight them, all they want, but just let me live my life."

"That's unfortunately not the way they work," Amy said.

"Guess not," Serena said. "Well..let's go."

"All right," Amy said consolingly.

"After I finish my cereal," Serena said.

Amy grinned slightly.

"Jaedite is now with them," Nephlite asked.

"Yes," Malichite said. "I have no doubt they will use the same powers on us."

"But why?" Zoisite said. "What are we to them?"

"At the moment we are the enemy," Nephlite said. "Let's make that clear to them."

"What did you have in mind?" Malichite said.

"Well, if anyone should know how to set a trap, it should be us," Nephlite said with a grin.

"It should be a good trap though," Malichite said.

"Not like the ones we used to come up with," Zoisite said.

The three nodded.

"Just who is this menace?" Prime Minister Coral asked.

"We're not exactly sure yet," General Nagumo said.

"And what are the scouts going to do about it?" Coral asked.

"They are still feeling the enemy out," General Patterson said.

"Feeling them out? There are eighteen of them!" Coral said.

"It's not that simple," Patterson said. "Many of the scouts are elsewhere."

"What?" Coral asked. "Doing what?"

"Well...they do have lives aside from being scouts," Patterson said.

"So what? This city's in danger, the scouts should get their priorities straight," Coral said.

"Why don't you tell them that?" Patterson asked.

"I would if I could," Coral said.

"We're all making our best effort," General Nagumo said.

"I should hope so," Coral said.

The two generals saluted and headed out.

"She's mad," Patterson said.

"That I gathered," Nagumo said. "Have you seen the other negaverse commanders?"

"Stanton called me, but he didn't say what his next move was."

The two passed by the outer office of the Prime Minister and found a slick looking man standing at the front desk.

"And you are sir?" the secretary was asking.

"Prescott Thomas, Ambassador," the man said.

"Ah yes, the Prime Minister can see you now," the secretary said.

"Thank you," Thomas said.

Nagumo and Patterson watched the ambassador head down the hall.

They glanced at each other and then headed out of the office.

"I bet I know why he's here," Nagumo said.

"I'm with you," Patterson said. "Still this is the last thing we need."

"Agreed," Nagumo said.

"Darrien, you home?" Amy asked knocking on the door to his apartment.

"He isn't is he?" Serena muttered.

"I guess not," Amy said. "But we'll find him."

"And where would he be?" Serena asked.

"I don't know, but we will, I'll use the communicator," Amy said.

"No," Serena said. "Don't bring scout stuff into this."

"What, but I could.."

"No..I want to separate this," Serena said. "Please."

"All right," Amy said. "Serena listen why don't we try back a little later okay..let's go get a milkshake or something."

"All right," Serena said. "But this is not a good sign you realize."

"It's fine," Amy said. "Don't worry, things will be all right. They always turn out that way don't they?"

"Yeah, right before they get bad again," Serena said.

And miles away Darrien leaned against a stone overlooking the harbor. His motorcycle sat leaning to one side behind him.

He let the wind blow by him and then sighed.

What am I going to do now?

319  320  321  322  323  324  325  326  327  328

329  330  331  332  333 334  335  336  337  338

To Next Menu