Chapter 369
"Ehh..this is just perfect," Guardian Neptune said limping down a tunnel.
Just what happened, and where am I? Where is everyone else too? Geez..
He stopped hearing footsteps. He drew his sword.
All right, if it's those aliens they're in for trouble.
He kept his sword drawn waiting.
"You're sword gave your position away," came a voice. He spun. Guardian Venus stood there.
"You," Guardian Neptune muttered.
"Surprise. Of all the people I could meet it just had to be you didn't it?" Guardian Venus asked snidely.
"It could be worse," Guardian Neptune said.
"How?"
"I could be in a good mood."
Guardian Venus sighed.
"I can take it you haven't been able to reach the others either," He said.
"Nope," Guardian Neptune asked.
"Hmm...I believe we should try and get outside," Guardian Venus said. "It's risky, but we're kinda without something to learn our position from."
"Guess you're right, " Guardian Neptune said. "Aren't you glad you came back to Earth, just in time for this big party huh?"
"That's hardly an appropriate question, duty does not involve happiness, and I am glad I was here to help defend this planet." Guardian Venus said.
"And what do you do for fun then?" Neptune asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Neptune said. "Here's a ladder."
Venus just glanced at him.
Neptune began to climb.
"I'll go first since I draw fire easier."
"I won't disagree with you there," Venus said.
Neptune slid the manhole cover off and looked around.
"All clear," he said and climbed out. Venus followed.
"Let's take cover before someone sees us," he said and closed the manhole cover. The two hurried across the street.
"Wait a second..look over there," Neptune said.
"An open manhole," Venus said.
"Must mean someone else is around," Neptune said.
"We've got to close it," Venus said. "It's a dead giveaway."
"Be my guest."
Venus growled and hurried over to it shutting it quickly.
On the bridge of the war ship a new display caught the attention of one of the officers.
"Target acquired sir," the officer reported.
"Where?" Sero asked.
"Sector 25-A."
"Just one?"
"Visual scans show Guardian Venus, no others."
"Dispatch seven divisions."
"Allow me to handle this personally," Saritin said.
Sero nodded.
Saritin grinned and headed out the door.
"Ready our secondary defenses and dispatch fighter cover," Sero said.
"Yes sir."
Neptune and Venus were creeping down an alleyway.
"Listen to that," Guardian Neptune said.
"What?" Guardian Venus said.
"Running water.." Guardian Neptune said.
"Where?"
"Next door. Come on."
"We really should be looking for the others."
"Yeah, but this might be something, come on," Guardian Neptune hurried up to the front door and pushed on it.
"Open," he said and pushed it open.
Guardian Venus looked around worriedly.
"We really shouldn't be doing this," he said.
"Look, someone might be in here," Guardian Neptune said. "I heard running water."
"Yes so you've said," Venus said worriedly.
Guardian Neptune headed up the stairs of the house.
Guardian Venus drew his sword and followed.
"Would they really bother setting up an ambush here?" Guardian Neptune said.
"Hard to say," Guardian Venus said.
Guardian Neptune crept down a hallway.
"It's in here," he whispered and kicked open the door.
"Ahh!" Came a screech.
"Who's there!" Neptune said. Venus aimed his sword.
"Oh, it's you two," Sailor Venus shrieked poking her head out from behind a shower curtain but hiding her unclothed body with the curtain.
"Hey..is this the time for a shower?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"Don't you two sneak up on me like that again, you scared me!" Sailor Venus said.
"Yes, about the war," Guardian Venus said.
"Look, I woke up in a pool of gunk..I needed to get cleaned off all right?" Sailor Venus said. "Where are the others."
"We don't know," Guardian Neptune said.
"You really shouldn't have left that manhole cover open," Guardian Venus said.
"I did? I didn't even notice," Sailor Venus said.
"Where's your uniform?" Guardian Neptune said.
"Downstairs in the washing machine," Sailor Venus said. "I wasn't about to waste any energy cleaning it magically."
"You just settled in didn't you?" Guardian Venus asked.
"These are desperate times," Sailor Venus said. "Someone hand me a towel."
There was a screech as a fighter shot by.
"That's not a good sign!" Guardian Neptune said. The three hurried down the steps. Venus hurried to get her uniform.
Guardian Venus looked out the window.
"They must have seen us," he said staring at a line of troops.
"So what exactly do we do?" Guardian Neptune said. "We could be the only scouts they know about. Their whole army could be up there."
"True," Guardian Venus said.
"You say that a lot," Guardian Neptune said.
"So what's the problem?" Sailor Venus said hurrying out clothed again. She sat on the floor and put on her shoes.
"Well we've got a little army waiting for us," Guardian Neptune said.
"That's all," Guardian Venus said.
"I still needed that shower," Sailor Venus said.
"Hmm.they're hiding no doubt," Saritin said staring at the city block. "Tell the fighters to begin attacking each of these houses one, by one. We'll either draw them out or blow them up."
She grinned.
"All of you be ready for it," she said to her troops.
Her soldiers stood at the ready. Fighters shot over head and began firing on a house. It soon caught fire.
"Uh oh," Guardian Neptune said.
"Guess we're next," Guardian Venus said.
"We need to get back underground," Sailor Venus said.
"But the minute we get out they'll know where we are," Guardian Venus said.
"I don't think we have much choice, we'll just need to be quick about it," Guardian Neptune said.
The other two nodded and they headed for the back door.
"Are we ready?" Guardian Venus asked.
Another house exploded.
"No choice," Sailor Venus said. They dashed out the back door. Several troops saw them immediately.
"Venus Star Burst!" Guardian Venus shouted and blasted away some energy attacks.
"Neptune tide of destruction!"
The next attack flew out leveling them.
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!"
More troops fell.
Guardian Venus grabbed a manhole and tossed it away.
"Come on," he said.
"You two go, I'll cover you," Guardian Neptune said. "Neptune tide of destruction!"
A fighter swooped down.
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"
Venus shouted firing off quickly, the fighter was hit and exploded. Sailor Venus dived out of the way of the debris. Blasts of energy flew at her and knocked her to the ground.
Saritin leapt down into the street.
"What the.." Guardian Neptune said whirled firing his sword. Saritin grinned and sidestepped them, energy shot out from her hand and plowed into him throwing him to the ground.
"Venus Star Burst!"
The attack was blocked by Saritin, but she was still pushed to the ground.
"Get out of here Venus!" Neptune said and knocked him down the manhole.
Saritin and troops charged at him.
"Neptune tide of destruction!" he shouted once again blasting back a group of them.
Saritin grabbed him, he stepped back, his foot slipped right into the open manhole and he fell swinging his sword across Saritin's face as he did so. She stumbled back and screeched. Guardian Neptune went to pull himself up, but was pulled down instead.
"What are you doing!" he shouted.
"I thought you were trying to get down here," Guardian Venus said.
"Sailor Venus is still up there!"
"We'll come around from another side, come on!"
"What?"
"We can't go back up there!"
"But.."
"Look out!"
A barrage of energy flew in the opening. Venus pulled Neptune out of the way.
"We'll flank em, come on!" Venus said.
The two hurried down a tunnel.
"Let them go..secure this area," Saritin growled and walked over to Venus who was slowly standing up. She grabbed the scout and threw her to the ground.
"Looks like we've got ourselves a prize," Saritin said.
"Venus Crescent Beam!"
Saritin avoided it and blasted Venus motionless.
"That will be quite enough of that," Saritin said. "Bring a transport ship
around."
"Well what do we do now?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"I don't know," Guardian Venus said.
"We've got to do something."
"And look at them all!"
"Yes, but we can't just leave her."
"I don't think they want to kill her."
"That doesn't matter! I'm going!" Guardian Neptune said.
"NO!" Guardian Venus said. "We've got to find the others. We're not match for those two and for the moment she'll be alive."
"Ah come on.."
"Listen I don't particularly like you, but you're not going to do anyone good, if you get killed or caught," Guardian Venus said.
Guardian Neptune starred at him, the pain evident.
"You know I'm right," he said.
"Let's go, now," Neptune said. "Before I lose myself."
Venus nodded.
"You've captured one? That's excellent news," Sero said into a communications device.
"We will finally be able to understand just how their powers work," Saritin said. "And now we have a hostage," replied from a shuttle's com system.
"You have done well, but where is Guardian Venus, he should have been there?"
"I don't know sir, however I felt it was more important to acquire this prize."
"Yes, you're right, return to the ship at once with her."
"Yes of course," Saritin said.
Meanwhile in another part of the sewers.
"This is prize real estate isn't it?" Guardian Pluto muttered.
"Not the top of the line I'd say," Guardian Mars said.
"You two should quit commenting on the scenery and be more concerned about how we're going to deal with these enemies," Sailor Uranus said.
"I thought the best way to do that would be to find the other scouts," Guardian Pluto said.
"Right," Guardian Mars said. "The three of us aren't going to do much good you know."
"There is always possibilities," Sailor Uranus said. "From what I can tell the explosion broke several of the water manes, not only was there damage to the tunnels, but the water could have taken us anywhere. The scouts could be spread across the city, if they're still alive."
"Hey, we survived," Guardian Pluto said.
"Still. We really don't know where to start looking for everyone," Guardian Mars said "And this is quite a maze."
"Maybe we should try to get back to army HQ," Guardian Pluto said. "I mean that's a place you'd think everyone would head for."
"I'm not sure everyone would," Sailor Uranus said. "Still, everyone looking for everyone else could let this get overly complex. I think we need to find out where we are first. None of this looks the least bit familiar."
"I'll go up and take a look then," Guardian Pluto said.
"Be careful."
Guardian Pluto headed up and popped his head out of a manhole.
"Geez..what a dump.." he said.
"Where are we? The low rent district?" Guardian Mars asked.
"Nope, we've managed to appear right in front of the high school," Guardian Pluto said and dropped back down.
"The high school?" Sailor Uranus said. "That really is a long distance. "Well come on, we can hide there until we can figure things out."
The three hurried out of a manhole, closed it and raced into the school.
"So just what do we do now?" Guardian Pluto asked.
"I don't know," Sailor Uranus said. "This is not going to be easy to bring all the scouts together with all this going on. Our first concern is keeping the enemy from finding us. If even one of us is left to fight on there is a chance."
"Guess you're right," Guardian Pluto said.
"Of all the luck, we had them on the run too," Guardian Mars said.
"I would hardly call that battle a victory," Guardian Pluto said.
"We can worry about that later," Sailor Uranus said. "I suggest you two rest. I'll keep watch."
"Guess we do need it," Guardian Pluto said.
"The teacher's lounge should be comfortable," Guardian Mars said. The two headed down the hall.
Sailor Uranus sighed.
I don't know what to do either, which is annoying. I'm usually on top of these situations.
Guardian Mars opened up the door to the teacher's lounge. He immediately stopped.
"What?" Guardian Pluto asked. "Oh," he said looking inside.
Sailor Mars was draped across a couch fast asleep.
"Well there's another one accounted for," Pluto said.
Guardian Mars nodded.
The bridge of the warship.
"Report?" Sero asked.
"Sir that energy field set up by the feedback from the explosion is still hovering over the city, I don't understand it, but it isn't affecting any of our operations," an officer replied.
"Strange, but the interaction might have some unforeseen consequences," Sero said. Saritin walked in.
"Ah.Saritin is our guest resting comfortably?"
"Yes, she is. May I speak with you Lord Sero."
"Of course."
Sero and Saritin walked down a corridor of the warship.
"Sir I was thinking, perhaps we should consider another option for the lives of all of our soldiers we have up here saved from the previous battles."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we have recently developed a way to combine the lives into one, producing an all powerful creature."
"I had heard of such methods, but I have been wary of them."
"But sir, we know that some of the scouts survived, we have no way of knowing if all of them might have. Having so many weak troops may not work. We need dynamic fighters, troops who can fight them one on one."
"So you're saying we use the lives of our troops to create stronger ones."
"Yes."
"Hmm.."
"Please sir, this may make the invasion go faster. We will be able to meet the scouts on their own terms."
"Very well," Sero said. "How long before they can be ready?"
"Not long sir. I'll being work right away."
Sero turned away and headed down the hall.
Sailor Mars woke up.
"So you're awake.." came a voice.
She started.
"Oh..Seiya.." She said. "You're alive."
"Sure am," Guardian Mars said. "So's Guardian Pluto, and Sailor Uranus for sure, but we think the others lived."
"Oh.." Sailor Mars said. "You haven't seen Rick then?"
"Fraid not, but I'm sure he's all right."
"I had dreams, bad dreams," Sailor Mars said.
"Don't worry."
"But I have to..I mean..he doesn't get the second chance a lot of us do. I found myself here, and just fell asleep, but we've got to find him."
"Calm down, we will," Guardian Mars said. "But right now we're resting up."
"Guess there's something to that," Sailor Mars said. "But what are we going to do about this?"
"I don't know, but we'll think of something," Guardian Mars said.
"I hope so," Sailor Mars said.
"You okay?"
"No..how about you?"
"I've had worse, but it still gets to me."
Sailor Venus awoke wearily to find herself manacled to a long table. Her hands were locked above her. She looked around to see that she is in a futuristic looking room.
"Where am I?" Sailor Venus asked.
"You are onboard our ship," an alien said walking up to her. "Welcome."
"Welcome is hardly the word I would use..I'll blast this place apart if you don't let me go."
"I doubt it."
"You just wait," Sailor Venus said.
"I think not. I suggest you behave, this will all go by much easier."
"What will?"
"This can be either a talk or a it can be torture, your choice?"
Sailor Venus sighed.
"Well just what do you want to know?" she asked.
"Ah..now that's a good girl."
Venus sighed. I really don't like these guys. They are so in for it.
"Now, would you mind telling me how these powers of yours work?"
"What?"
"Where is their energy source."
"I don't know."
"Now that's the wrong answer."
"No..no..really..don't do anything..I mean it," Sailor Venus said.
The alien glanced at a computer screen.
"It seems you are telling the truth there."
"Of course I am, our powers are magical, we don't know how they work," Sailor Venus said. "They just do."
"I see, odd."
"Of course it's odd, the whole universe we live in is odd, you're pretty odd yourself."
"Yes, please refrain from such comments," the alien said.
I'm getting to him. That's a good sign.
Saritin grinned. She was staring at rows of tubes filled with almost fully developed aliens.
"Yes these will be strong warriors," she said. "More than capable of taking care of the scouts."
She smiled and laughed.
More than capable of taking care of everything.
"Saritin come to the bridge," Sero said.
"Of course, lord," Saritin said and hurried out.
Two figures poked their heads out from around a piece of equipment.
"This looks important," Sailor Earth said.
"That I would agree with," Guardian Jupiter said. "It also looks like they could use some good sabotage."
"Agreed," Sailor Earth said. "How do we do that?"
"That I don't know."
"Oh..so we're equal in that respect."
"We should observe more closely, maybe we can mess it up without alerting everyone," Guardian Jupiter said.
"Good idea," Sailor Earth said.
"Now what is the sailor scout command structure?" the alien asked.
"The what?" Sailor Venus asked.
"Your chain of command? Who is in charge."
"Uh..well we really don't work like that."
"What?"
"Sure, it's really a two bit operation."
"Oh..I see..."
The alien glanced at a readout on his computer.
As far as I can tell, she's telling the truth, but these words make no sense.
"Uh..don't you have some use strategy?" the alien asked.
"Sure, sure, but anyone could come up with it," Venus said knowing full well this wouldn't help any invading army, and it kept her from being burnt or zapped or something.
"I see..so what do you think the scouts would do next?"
"They don't even know yet."
"Oh.. I see..."
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