Chapter 336

It was only minutes later that the overturned limousine was surrounded by police and military vehicles.

"You're saying you saw a flash of energy...." General Patterson said.

"That's right, it didn't look normal or anything, then the front of the car got hit and off we went," The driver said. "I guess I managed to get through it okay.."

"Patterson I'm going to the hospital with Coral, she's hurt pretty bad," Nagumo said. "Take over."

"Right sir," Patterson said.

"Patterson, you should see this," Lieutenant Nelson said from the ditch. Patterson slid down it. The two bent down looking at the front of the car. A massive indentation was blasted into it.

"Jeez..this is not conventional weaponry," Patterson said. "I mean we've got artillery that could do it, but if it had been a direct hit the whole car would have gone up."

"And there's no shell," Nelson said.

"I know," Patterson said. "But who's behind this?"

Sailor Mercury and Guardian Jupiter hurried up.

"What happened here?" Mercury asked.

"That's what we'd like to know," Patterson said.

"Jeez...look at this," Jupiter said.

Mercury pulled out her computer.

"There are traces of...this energy type doesn't match anything we've scanned before..." she said.

"So it's not one of yours then?" Patterson asked.

"General, why would it be?" Jupiter said.

"Hey, calm down, we have to eliminate all possibilities," Patterson said.

"I can guarantee you we were also not involved..." came a voice. The group turned. Guardian Earth dropped to the ground. The scouts took up defensive positions. The Guardian held a white flag.

"And why would we be involved in this?" Earth asked quickly.

"You've got a lot to answer for," Patterson said.

"And maybe I will later. I am here to get to the bottom of this," Earth said. "And to reassure you this was not our doing."

"I'm not big on trusting your word," Patterson said.

"Then trust my logic. What business would we have attacking an outgoing Prime Minister?" Guardian Earth said.

"I agree that does make sense," Mercury said. "So now that you've shown you're not involved, why not just leave?"

"Because...I wish to learn what did happen," Earth said.

"Do you honestly think we'll cooperate with you?" Jupiter said.

"I am merely going to stand here," Guardian Earth said. "However, I am privy to some information you don't have, which I might be persuaded to share with you."

"How about we just fight and get this over with?" Jupiter said.

"Calm down," Mercury said.

"A wise choice," Guardian Earth said.

"It's true, this energy doesn't match yours or that of the negaverse generals," Mercury said. "It doesn't match any known energy form."

"May I see your readout?" Earth asked.

Jupiter drew his sword.

Mercury turned her computer so Earth could see it.

"Watch it.." Jupiter said.

Guardian Earth clasped his hands behind his back and walked towards it. He took a look.

"Ah..yes...I see," he said and then backed away. "That is all."

He leapt away quickly.

"Shouldn't we follow him?" Jupiter asked.

"No," Mercury said. "I think it's better to let him go."

"I'm not sure we should have trusted him," Jupiter said.

"This wasn't trusting him," Mercury said. "I have a feeling he knows more about this then he's saying, but that he's not responsible."

"Besides, they obviously were interested," Patterson said. "Sometimes it's good to let your enemies reveal their hand."

"Still, he may know, but we don't," Jupiter said.

"We know several things though," Mercury said. "Neither side of our war is behind this."

"We can assume that," Jupiter said.

"Yes, but see this means that there is another faction involved, a faction with energy capable of doing this," Mercury said. "General, do you know anyone who could be responsible?"

"Nothing comes to mind, I thought we had the monopoly on supernatural energy," Patterson said.

"Ah...apparently you do not," came a voice. They all turned.

"More bad news," Jupiter muttered.

A man walked down into the ditch wearing an SDF uniform.

"Sorry..General, but this was only the way I could see you," the man said and then saluted.

"And you are?" Patterson asked.

"Not with the SDF naturally," the man said. "My card."

Patterson looked at it.

"I see," Patterson said. "Perhaps we should talk somewhere else."

"Agreed, here perhaps," the man said and handed him another card.

"Yes, I'll be there," Patterson said.

"Good, be seeing you..sir.." the man said, saluted and headed off.

"Who's that?" Mercury asked.

"CIA," Patterson said.

"Oh this just gets better and better doesn't it?" Jupiter muttered.

"What a mess.." Sailor Moon said as the rest of the scouts approached the area. "I suppose this is just going to add to our problems."

"With the Prime Minister involved, there is more to this then just us," Sailor Uranus said.

"That makes it worse," Sailor Moon said. The group walked to the ditch.

"Does the insurance cover that kind of damage?" Guardian Neptune wondered.

"Ah..everyone," Sailor Mercury said. "Looks like we've got a thicker plot then before."

"That's great," Sailor Moon said. "I wasn't confused enough."

"So what's the story Mercury?" Guardian Saturn asked.

"Apparently this was caused by another group separate from the rogues, and they possess some type of unknown energy force," Mercury said.

Most of the scouts let out moans of annoyance.

"And this seems like a large conspiracy of some sort," Guardian Jupiter added.

"Well that's wonderful," Sailor Moon snapped. "When I'm needed to call the power inside my heart out to battle a massive evil monster call me..." she muttered and walked off.

"Maybe we should let her sit this one out," Sailor Jupiter said.

"I'd better just keep an eye on her," Tuxedo Mask said and followed.

"We'll limit her involvement as much as possible," Sailor Uranus said.

"Yes, besides, if all of us look into this, we should get something accomplished," Sailor Pluto said. "Besides, we're not sure what we have here yet, it's better to call in Sailor Moon once we know."

The group nodded.

"Mercury, just how do we know that the rogues aren't involved though?" Guardian Venus asked.

"Well actually, they are involved, they're just not the cause," Mercury said.

"Guardian Earth told us," Guardian Jupiter said.

"He did?" most of the others asked.

"Yes," Guardian Jupiter said. "Aren't you glad we came back for this?"

"You scouts having emotional problems?" Patterson asked in surprise.

"A little," most of the scouts said.

"Well I understand," Patterson said.

"Let's try and find out what's going on here," Sailor Pluto said.

"That's the best course of action," Sailor Uranus said.

"Does anyone know exactly how to do that?" Guardian Neptune asked.

The scouts looked at each other.

"Anyone?" Neptune asked.

The next day.

"It was so much simpler in the old days..." Serena said.

"Serena, you go back to this too much," Darrien said.

"Well it was, none of this complex stuff.."

"I know, but you shouldn't dwell on it."

"Darrien, what's happening anyway..why all this mystery. Just what is going on?"

"The world is scared by the powers involved, it's reacting," Darrien said.

"Yes, I guess that's part of it," Serena said. "But it seems like you don't have to be inhuman to be evil."

"Well that's true enough," Darrien said.

"I don't want to fight evil people. I don't want to fight anyone, but especially my own."

"No one wants to admit that there are bad people in the world. It's hard to face it."

"So it is," Serena said. "Will the others handle things."

"Yeah, they will. You just relax."

"They're so nice you know. They're pushed as hard as I am, and they still stay with it. Me? I'm tired of it. Really tired."

"We all are, but they're willing to work harder to give you some peace."

"I can't repay all of them," Serena said. "I can't do their jobs for them."

"Serena when you fight for them, you repay them. Now they're repaying you."

"Guess so," Serena said. "Darrien...let's go somewhere peaceful."

"Sure thing," Darrien said.

"You're so nice too you know."

"Well I..do what I can."

"No but you have other problems and yet you've dropped them all for me."

"Yes, I have, I guess I'm willing to risk the consequences. I'll accept them, but I don't want to see you hurt anymore."

"Fancy that happening, we're in it for the long haul," Serena said. "Our kids will have to fight evil.."

"Well don't see it that way," Darrien said. "Then again, they'd be strong enough to do it, thanks to you."

"I just wish those words meant to me what they should," Serena said.

"Oh?"

"Every war has it's heroes, but it's still a war, you don't get to be a hero without giving something up. And I don't like giving things up."

"I guess we've given up a lot," Darrien said. "But we manage don't we?"

"Yeah, we do," Serena said. "Surprising isn't it? I hit you in the face with a shoe once didn't I?"

"Of course you did."

"You were a real jerk back then."

"Sure I was, and you were hopeless."

"That changed.."

"Yeah it did, think about what they'll say in the stories they write about us someday."

"Stories?"

"Sure, detailing the history of the earth's greatest heroes."

"Darrien, we protect the Earth on a part time basis, there are so many heroes out there, don't say we're the greatest..." Serena said.

"All right, the scouts, people will care about us won't they?"

"They sure will," Serena said.

"And they'll write our biographies, the two of us meeting on the street, you usually falling down in some fashion and me laughing, and from that, eternal love.." Darrien said.

"Sounds some sort of sitcom," Serena said.

"Well, yeah I guess," Darrien said. "Guess it does seem pretty preposterous huh?"

The two began laughing.

Back in the city of New York. Ambassador Churchill grinned and leaned back in his office chair and stared out the window.

"This is all falling nicely into place," he said to himself.

"Glad you think so," came a voice. Churchill spun. Guardian Moon stood in front of him.

"Ah.. what brings you so far," Churchill said.

"Well scaring the life out of you does give me some pleasure, however, we have business to discuss, attacking Prime Minister Coral like that..."

"What? Has something happened?" Churchill asked.

Guardian Moon drew his sword and pointed it at Churchill's head. The Ambassador froze.

"Don't mess with me Ambassador, I'm well aware of your operations. I suggest you regain your focus."

"An accident, we didn't wish to hurt her," Churchill said.

"Your remorse was so blatantly clear a minute ago," Moon said.

"Casualties happen in war," Churchill said.

"Oh so this is a war now?"

"Didn't you see it that way?" Churchill asked.

"No, I suggest you watch your step ambassador," Guardian Moon said and cut straight through Churchill's desk.

"Our agreement is concluded," Moon said and walked out the door.

Churchill breathed a sigh of relief.

"How about you tell me what's going on?" General Patterson said.

"Isn't the world of international diplomacy just a wonder," the CIA agent said. "Let me level with you. Japan's possession of the most powerful meta-humans in the world is a bit disconcerting."

"Meta-humans?"

"Our pet name for those scouts of yours and anyone like them."

"I see," Patterson said.

"Our intelligence tells us, that a great many nations of the world wish to contain what they believe to be a menace, or at the very least learn what is happening. Japan's isolationist nature in the this matter is a bit worrying."

"But not to the United States?"

"Oh we have concerns, but we much prefer to talk things out than start a war, you know that."

"You've proven that so many times," Patterson said.

The CIA agent laughed.

"Essentially, we're the only allies you have right now. China, Russia, Britain, France, they're all in this together. Apparently Britain had a very nasty battle several years ago which they're still trying to understand."

"So what does this alliance mean?" Patterson asked.

"Essentially, it means that we can mold this issue as we choose," the CIA agent said. "We possess the only scouts, we possess the knowledge, the other side doesn't, if they wish to learn they'll have to deal with us."

"It seems to be a very confrontational way of dealing with things..."

"They drew first blood."

"So they did, did you say you had scouts..."

"Of course, or did you think those three rogues running around were just newcomers?"

"I knew they were running around the U.S. I didn't know they worked for you."

"Well they used to work for us. They stopped listening to us several months ago. But we know them quite well," the CIA agent said.

"But what we're they doing over there?"

"In the U.S. We had our own share of mishaps."

"You seemed to have covered it up quite well," Patterson said.

"We're quite good at that you know."

Patterson grinned.

"So..now what?"

"Now..we try and solve this."

"And what about that attack tonight anyway?"

"Well it seems someone else has some meta-humans too doesn't it?"

"Any idea who?"

"A few," The agent said.

"Conspiracy theories.." Mike muttered. "That's the last thing we need.

"This is no theory, this is the real thing," Steve said.

"Yeah, well conspiracies stink," Mike said.

"We'll sort it out," Greg said.

"And why are we supposed to be sorting anything out?" Mike asked. "We're just a bunch of teenagers?"

"Super powered teenagers," Steve said.

"Ehh..I've still got the mind of a four year old," Mike said.

"Aw come on. It's at least the mind of a six year old," Steve said.

"Not the response I was looking for," Mike muttered.

"Well you got it!" Steve said.

"Steve, what's happening?" Mike asked.

"I am headed down a path to darkness," Steve said.

"Oh...can't wait till you get there," Mike said.

Greg sighed.

"Guys maybe we should just relax and forget about our problems until we can do something about it," he suggested.

"Can't hurt..well maybe it can hurt someone else, but who cares," Mike said.

"You seem distracted," Seiya said.

"Shouldn't I be?" Lita asked.

"Well, not that much," Seiya said. "I mean I'm not."

"Yes, well these kind of things get to me, I'm pretty straightforward, I prefer everything else to be too," Lita said.

"I guess you might," Seiya said. "I guess I've learned to compartmentalize things."

"Must be useful."

Seiya nodded.

"I've been trying to meditate to take my mind of things, it hasn't worked," Lita said.

"Oh, that's too bad," Seiya said. "But this will clear up."

"Yeah well, conspiracies, and rogue scouts running around is not something I like to deal with."

"Who would? Leave the conspiracies to the conspiracy experts," Seiya said. "Now how about I take you somewhere special."

"Does such a place exist?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"I don't know, I'm not in the mood," Lita said.

"Oh..well that's too bad."

"Let's go to the arcade instead, maybe I can work this out."

"All right," Seiya said. "Fair enough."

"Ah come on Yaten it will be fun," Mina said.

"I'm just not a fan of that kind of thing," Yaten said. "I relax by reading books."

"You need to learn to really relax," Mina said.

Yaten sighed.

"Come on, for me.." Mina said.

"Fine, you need more help then I do," Yaten said.

"That's right...I think.." Mina said. "What did you mean by that?"

"I meant, with this crisis hanging over us, that's all.."

"Oh..okay.." Mina said.

That's the short list anyway. Yaten thought.

"Trust me you'll love the arcade," Mina said.

"It's not like I haven't been there before," Yaten muttered.

"Remember the good old days Artemas?" Luna asked.

"Oh not this again," Artemas replied.

"What?"

"How many times have I had to listen to you gripe?"

"I don't gripe, I reminisce."

"To me it's griping."

"At least I don't fall down manholes."

"It was dark!" Artemas snapped.

"You're a cat!"

"That doesn't matter," Artemas said. "Maybe we should do something to help the scouts rather than feeling pity for ourselves."

"This has nothing to do with pity, it's just a shame," Luna said.

"So it is," Artemas said. "Big deal. I'm surprised it's taken this long."

"Coming to get ya!" Mike said grinning as he looked at the screen in the video game. He and Steve were intently involved in a fighter pilot game dogfighting each other. Greg was watching, becoming interested in the contest.

"Here we go!" Steve said. "Try this on for size."

The two went at it some more.

"Ah...you see my skills are still better than yours," Mike said.

"Save it for when I've been shot down," Steve said.

"Just give me a minute.." Mike said.

Greg let his eyes wander, and he just happened to notice Mina, Yaten, Lita, and Seiya walking in the door.

That's not good. He noticed.

"Uh guys..." he said.

"What?" the two said.

"Uh..well..Seiya and Yaten are here with their dates.."

The two both lost concentration and smashed into each other.

"How ironic," Mike said.

"Don't worry we'll behave," Steve said.

"Next game.." Mike said.

"Sure," Steve said.

"Hey...you two what are you up too?" Mina asked.

"Killing each other," Mike said.

"Heh..all about the killing," Steve said.

"This should prove interesting," Seiya said.

"Why Seiya, you expect to be amused?" Steve asked.

"Naturally," Seiya said.

"Now behave you two.." Lita said.

"Hmm..you know what.." Mike said. "I think we should...keep this a little simpler.. There's a four player option here...come on Steve, let's take em on."

"Who?" Mina asked.

"You're lesser halves of course," Steve said.

"I won't justify that," Yaten said.

"Oh come on, play them a little," Mina said.

"I'm up for it," Seiya said grinning.

"Fine, fine.." Yaten said. "Perhaps someone else will gain an emotional high from this."

The two sides then went at it zigging and zagging. Mike and Steve angrily shouting at the screen while Yaten and Seiya concentrated more on the fighting.

"This is especially fearsome isn't it?" Mina asked.

"Yeah, guess they just like to fight," Lita said.

"That must be it," Greg said nervously. The two looked at him.

"What?" he said.

"This isn't just that is it?" the two asked.

Greg froze.

"So how was your trip?" Guardian Earth said.

"Exactly how I would expect it," Guardian Moon said. "Churchill's behind this, but I'm not sure what he's doing."

"We really don't have the time to find out," Guardian Earth said.

"I know. Fortunately there are others looking into this. We must proceed with our other plans."

"Right," Guardian Earth said.

"Still I fear, this new faction will have to be deal with soon. But for now..to the arctic! There is much to see there!"

319  320  321  322  323  324  325  326  327  328

329  330  331  332  333 334  335  336  337  338

To Next Menu