Chapter 347

"Surprise," Guardian Earth said with a brief smile.

"So what's down there?" Guardian Jupiter asked.

"The last time we checked, a hive of sorts," Guardian Earth said. "You know where they make more of those aliens that have been attacking us."

"Wouldn't it be a bad idea to go down there," Maverick said. "Considering they're all down there."

"Well..eight scouts should be more than enough," Earth said.

"So they're reproducing these aliens under the UN building?" Guardian Saturn asked.

"Sure, last place anyone would look right?" Earth said.

"Not necessarily," Sailor Mercury said. "But if they are, we should stop them."

"That's right," Earth said. "So I figured we'd go down and take it out. It would probably draw out some more of the enemy, force them to make mistakes or at least reveal themselves while they reestablished a base."

"Well that's good thinking," Maverick said. "But why don't you give us all the details first next time?"

"Sorry," Earth said. "So..should we go?"

"Not yet," Gmerc said. "For one thing we should know what we're getting into..recon and such."

"I wouldn't use the camera," Earth said.

"Why not?" Gmerc asked.

"Because they've got something down there that shorts it out. Guardian Moon had the same problem," Earth said.

"Awfully convenient," Gmerc said.

"Convenient?" Earth asked. "For what?"

"A surprise attack."

"Are you suggesting I would lead you into one."

"Most likely inadvertently but yes," Gmerc said.

"Hey, hey, everyone calm down here," Sailor Neptune said. "Gmerc, Earth is right, if there is some sort of hive, we should take it out. It's worth the risk, and besides there's a lot of us here, what else have we got to do?"

"I wish I knew," Gmerc said.

"Look...we've got to do something," Earth said. "You shouldn't doubt my loyalty."

"It's more complex than that," Gmerc said. "But there's no way all of us should go down there."

"I agree there," Guardian Jupiter said. "If there is some sort of trap."

"And who do you suggest stays behind?" Earth asked.

"I will," Gmerc said.

"Why? Scared?" Earth asked.

Gmerc grabbed him.

"I don't run from a fight, however...I also will be able to recognize and be able to intercept any threat coming from any direction!" Gmerc said. "My cameras are of use up here."

"Fair enough," Earth said.

Gmerc let go.

"I will stay too," Sailor Saturn said. "There should always be backup."

"Fine then," Sailor Neptune said. "Now let's go before anything else happens."

Minutes later.

"What's an intricate network of tunnels doing under here anyway?" Guardian Saturn asked.

"New York loves to build things," Guardian Jupiter said.

"Still, this is so complex," Guardian Saturn said. "What are these used for?"

"I suspect the evacuation of the UN if something really serious happened," Guardian Earth said. "But we're not particularly interested in this level."

"We're going to end up in a sewer aren't we?" Maverick muttered.

"Not entirely," Guardian Earth said.

"Whatever that interference is, it hasn't kicked in yet," Mercury said looking at her computer.

"It won't for a little while," Guardian Earth said. "But trust me, it will."

"So is there someway to sneak up on this hive?" Maverick asked.

"Yes," Guardian Earth said. "That's how we discovered it in the first place. We followed some of their operatives down here. "Now whether they've figured out about the hiding place since then, I wouldn't know."

"As long as we're prepared for every eventuality," Maverick said.

"Skeptical bunch here I see," Guardian Earth said. "Haven't you learned to accept surprise in your lives?"

"Accept it sure, seek it out..." Sailor Mercury said.

"We prefer to know what we're getting into," Guardian Saturn said.

"I understand, still, being a scout is usually never about that," Guardian Earth said. "I know."

"And yet you still have a healthy attitude.what are you smoking?" Sailor Neptune asked.

Guardian Earth grinned.

"I just learned to cope differently, that's all," he said.

"Good for you," Guardian Jupiter said.

Back on the surface.

"You're worried," Sailor Saturn said.

"My family's down there, as well as friends," Guardian Mercury said. "But this job has to be done too."

"And you don't trust Earth?"

"I don't trust.."

"Anyone, yes, but you really don't trust him," Saturn said.

"Not yet," Gmerc said. "This could be an elaborate ruse, though I doubt it, still, someone has to be prepared."

"Yes, and that person is usually you."

"What else can I do?"

Saturn nodded.

"Yes, well..it must be hard having to keep the illusion of invulnerability up," Saturn said.

"Where'd this come from?" Gmerc asked.

"You're overanxious push to not go down into the tunnels."

"I explained that."

"Yet you know what I'm suggesting instantly."

Gmerc sighed.

"If I thought I needed to be down there.." he began.

"I have no doubt of that. But you have many fears."

"What can I say, it happens," Gmerc said. "But someone needed to watch for trouble, it might as well be me. It's fortunate it works out that way."

"Yes it is," Sailor Saturn said. "And if there's trouble."

"When there is trouble I will not let my own emotions stop me from doing the right thing."

"I know that," Sailor Saturn said. "Still you must not feel good about it?"

"I don't feel good about anything usually."

"Now that's a lie," Saturn said.

"How is it you always seem to be around at my few moment's of weakness."

"A gift I guess," Saturn said sporting a small smile.

Guardian Mercury couldn't stop a momentary grin.

"Got you," Saturn said. "You were happy again."

"I have to learn to cut that out," Mercury said.

Saturn started laughing.

"Oh this is beautiful scenery," Maverick muttered.

They had since emerged into the lower tunnels.

"I didn't say it would be pretty," Guardian Earth said.

"Yeah, well you kinda didn't say anything about how it would look," Maverick said.

"So I didn't," Guardian Earth said and grinned. "Stiff upper lip you know."

Maverick sighed.

"Now the interference has increased," Mercury said.

"Right on schedule," Guardian Earth said and drew his sword.

"The light's pretty dim down here," Earth said and lead the way.

"I love New York," Guardian Jupiter said.

"You wanted to come on this trip," Sailor Mercury said.

"Yes, well I've been wrong before," Jupiter said.

"You kids are crybabies," Sailor Neptune said. "You should see what me and Uranus had to do to deal with some enemies."

"I'd prefer not to if that'd be all right," Guardian Jupiter said.

"Uh..yeah," Guardian Saturn said.

"Wimps," Sailor Neptune said.

"We took care of you two didn't we?" Sailor Mercury said.

"Touche," Sailor Neptune said.

"Is it always like this?" Guardian Earth asked Maverick.

"I haven't been with them that long," Maverick said. "But as far as I can tell, yeah."

"Oh..strange," Guardian Earth said.

"Ain't it though?" Maverick said with a smile.

"Look what I found yesterday," Sailor Saturn said pulling out a sheet of paper.

"A wanted poster?" Gmerc said.

"Yes, you three are on it," Sailor Saturn said.

"Wanted in connection of the British Consulate bombing...well we knew that," Gmerc said.

"Shouldn't you be honored to be the cause of an international incident."

"You're joking right?"

"Of course. Though I would be flattered."

Gmerc grinned.

"Guess you would," Gmerc said. "Can't say I'm surprised. Something I can tell my kids about someday."

"You plan on having kids?"

"Actually it was just an expression I didn't really think about it at all," Gmerc said.

"Oh...me neither. Though I wonder what my children would be like. Standing around staring at people, saying little, being generally spooky.."

"Is that what you'd want from them?"

"Of course."

"Oh..."

"I'm kidding."

"Oh..hard to tell."

"I know."

"You enjoy this don't you?"

"Immensely. I just don't show it." Saturn said.

"Just as I thought! SEWER!" Maverick snapped.

"Shush..they might hear you," Guardian Earth said.

"Well bring em on!" Maverick said. "You said there wouldn't be sewer."

"Well there was a little," Guardian Earth said.

"You jerk," Maverick said.

"The sewers are much cleaner in Tokyo," Sailor Mercury said. "I wonder what the reason for that is."

"Sounds like a wonderful research project to do," Sailor Neptune said.

"It would be too hard to collect data," Sailor Mercury said.

The others sighed.

"It's up ahead here," Guardian Earth muttered.

"Ah..it's begun," Sailor Neptune said and grinned.

"What?" Earth asked.

"You're beginning to become one of us," She said.

"Oh yes, feel you're sanity melt away," Maverick said. "It didn't take me long either did it."

"With you it came quickly," Neptune said.

"What are you talking about?" Earth said.

"Don't fight it," Guardian Saturn said. "It'll only make it harder."

"Will you all stop it, we've got serious things to do," Earth said.

"We know," The scouts replied all grinning.

Earth sighed.

Sailor Saturn was staring at nothing in particular, but she was focused on it anyway. Guardian Mercury watched her, and how she blinked occasionally, but always held her gaze on that object whatever it was. Time passed.

Sailor Saturn turned away and wiped her eyes.

"How long?" she asked.

"Twenty seven minutes," Gmerc said. "Not bad."

"Well, if it was actually something of interest I could stare even longer," Saturn said.

"I don't doubt it," Gmerc said.

"I wonder what they're doing down there."

"Well so far it seems to be fine," Gmerc said. "Or else they would have called."

"Unless they can't."

"True."

"Shouldn't you try calling them?"

"Guess so," Gmerc said and pulled out his communicator.

"Hey..what's going on down there?" he asked.

"You..u....h..." Guardian Saturn replied in a distorted voice.

"You're transmission's breaking up," Gmerc said.

"OK," Guardian Saturn said. "Interfere...."

It faded.

"Well that's wonderful," Gmerc said. "Still we're supposed to guard up here and we will."

"Yes, still, these enemy forces are covering all their bases."

"Yes and it's annoying too, they usually aren't this smart."

"I was smart wasn't I?" Saturn asked.

"Of course, I uh I....didn't say everyone."

"I felt I was very smart, my minions weren't."

"You don't have to justify yourself."

"Hmm...I guess. Still you would think I would have gotten one heart at least, but no, they couldn't even do that. What idiots I had in my employ! Still I was a fool to use them," Sailor Saturn said angrily.

"Uh..you okay?"

"One heart you'd think," she muttered.

"Then someone would be dead."

"That has nothing to do with it! I was incompetent."

"At taking over the world sure, but there are plenty of other things you're good at," Gmerc said.

Sailor Saturn turned at him and grinned.

"Do you realize what you just said?"

"I do.."Gmerc said stoically.

Saturn began to laugh hysterically.

"I've done it again," Gmerc muttered.

"Well honestly, that was hilarious!"

"I know," Gmerc said.

"Not much farther," Guardian Earth said.

"I hate New York," Guardian Jupiter said.

"Ah..come on, it's the topside anyone shows up for anyway," Sailor Neptune said.

"It doesn't matter," Jupiter said. "It can't be redeemed in my view."

"Ah come on, most cities look like this underground," Guardian Saturn said.

"My home city didn't," Guardian Jupiter said.

"You know maybe the Silver Palace looked like this underground," Sailor Neptune said letting out a laugh.

"We can only hope it didn't," Sailor Mercury said. "It would put a blight on the whole silver millennium."

"Only overshadowed by the whole fall of the kingdom itself," Guardian Jupiter said.

"Strange bunch," Guardian Earth said.

"They've just learned how to cope differently," Maverick said with a smile.

A screech flew down the tunnel.

"Oh..wonderful," Maverick said turning drawing her sword.

The Guardian Scouts soon did as well.

"So what is it?" Guardian Jupiter said.

"We're about to find out," Guardian Earth said.

The group all watched as there was a flash they all stood ready, and then it emerged out of the darkness, a small vehicle moving along the ground screeching against the sides of the tunnel. It came to a stop.

"Hey, you jerks, this is a restricted area," someone said.

Guardian Earth stepped forward.

"He's a city worker!" he muttered.

The group all shouted cries of disgust.

"Ah come on, it's a living," the city worker said. "What the heck are all of you doing anyway..wait a second..you're the.."

"Sorry...not now," Maverick said and stabbed him with her sword draining his energy.

"He'll be fine in a few hours," Maverick said. "But you're telling me there's something beyond this?"

"It's possible," Guardian Earth said. "This is just an access tunnel."

"This is getting to be the most annoying mission I've ever been on," Guardian Saturn said.

"Agreed," Sailor Mercury said.

"Hey and after this we get to the fight the enemy too," Guardian Jupiter muttered.

"Come on guys it isn't that bad," Sailor Neptune said. "Just a little farther right?"

"Up ahead," Guardian Earth said.

The scouts crept up to a tunnel.

"Uh oh," Guardian Earth said looking through a grate.

"What?" Maverick asked.

"Well see for yourself."

Maverick looked.

"Nothing.." she said. "Nothing!"

"They moved it..." Guardian Earth said.

"So they did," Maverick said glaring at him. "Let's go shall we?"

"I'm so glad I came along on this expedition," Guardian Jupiter said.

"We might as well use the ride," Sailor Neptune said pointing at the city worker's vehicle.

"Yippee, six people on that thing," Maverick said.

"Seven," Neptune said. "We can't just leave him behind."

"Yeah well he's getting the best of it," Maverick said.

"They're coming," Sailor Saturn said.

"Yep," Guardian Mercury said standing up. "Wonder why now of all times."

"Who knows how the evil mind works," Sailor Saturn said.

About a hundred evil creatures jumped up onto the rooftop the two occupied.

"YAH!" they all shouted.

"Intimidation, curious," Sailor Saturn said. "SATURN MIST WAVE!"

She blast half of them off the roof.

"Mercury Devout Revenge!" Guardian Mercury shouted and blasted the second wave off.

"Not too smart are they?" Saturn asked.

"Nowhere near what we've seen before," Mercury said.

They heard a laugh. A large figure stood before them, most likely the leader of the group said.

The enemies leapt back up onto the roof.

"Now we will have real combat," the leader growled.

"How nice of you to join us," Guardian Mercury said.

A large bladed sword flashed out from the large figure. Guardian Mercury shot forward and attacked, the two were soon parrying.

"Oh great, leave me the rest then," Sailor Saturn said as most of the creature rushed at her.

"Saturn Dimensional Revolution!" she shouted blasting the creatures back off the building en masse.

"They'll be back I assume," Saturn muttered.

"They're strong!" the leader said avoiding Mercury's attacks.

"I can see you're quite skilled," the leader said.

Guardian Mercury drew his second sword and swung, the leader stepped back quickly.

"Smart too," the leader said. "We'll meet again."

He then vanished into the darkness.

"Oh great, now I get to wait for yet another climactic final battle," Gmerc said before avoiding the sword.

"Just kidding," The leader said leaping forward.

"Jerk!" Gmerc managed to say before swinging at him quickly.

The two were soon mixing it up again.

"Now you know we're just going to have the same end result!" Sailor Saturn blasting more creatures off the roof.

Or are these even the same creatures? She asked herself. Wouldn't surprise me if they weren't. Stupid things. She thought and watched as Gmerc slammed a sword right into the leader's gut. He staggered back and swung again causing Gmerc to duck quickly.

"Hmm...hadn't he left?" she wondered aloud.

"You can't defeat me!" the enemy leader shouted.

"I'm doing it right now," Gmerc said.

"Yes, but only because I let you."

"Well then stop it, you're underestimating me."

"I am?"

Gmerc hit the enemy with a quick move.

The enemy fell to the ground.

"You did," Gmerc said and fired his swords quickly. The leader vanished.

"I hope he's dead," Gmerc muttered.

"He is," Saturn said. "Yet another cast into the void."

"Nice of you to put it that way."

Another horde of enemies leapt onto the roof.

"This is getting ridiculous," Saturn said.

"I noticed that too," Gmerc said.

"Saturn Blade of Galaxies!"

"Jupiter Star Inferno!"

"Neptune Deep Submerge!"

The enemy forces were blown off the roof, many vaporizing in mid air.

The other six scouts dropped to the ground.

"You been busy?" Maverick asked.

"No, not really," Guardian Mercury aid.

"We had some fun in the sewer," Maverick said. "And guess what we found."

"Nothing?" Gmerc and Saturn asked.

"Uh huh," everyone but Guardian Earth replied.

"Well it used to be there!" Earth said as the scouts all glared at him.

"I'll tell you Setsuna, we're having some trouble with this group," Michiru said into her communicator. "They're well prepared and they've got some annoying forces, never mind that even our intelligence networks are failing at the moment."

"So you haven't been visited by anyone yet?" Setsuna asked.

"No, why?"

"Well.." Setsuna said. "You should be. He should be able to help."

"That's what we thought about Guardian Earth too."

"Oh, yes, that didn't turn out well did it?" Setsuna asked.

"Not yet," Michiru said. "We'll have to see won't we?"

"Is it really that bad?" Setsuna asked.

"We should be able to find some lead, instead..well..it's a long story."

"What?"

"Don't ask."

"Now I'm curious."

"You don't want to know, gotta go."

Just what is going on over there? Setsuna asked herself

319  320  321  322  323  324  325  326  327  328

329  330  331  332  333 334  335  336  337  338

To Next Menu