Chapter 373
"Are you ready for real combat?" Sero asked. "I have never been defeated!"
"They never have been until they meet me," Guardian Mercury said.
"I don't waste time on small talk!" Saritin said and launched an attack.
"Oh, I like that part of the fight!" Maverick said and fired back.
The battle began.
I don't know his strengths or weaknesses. However that's never stopped me before. Gmerc thought diving out of the way of another attack.
"So.you want to play that game? I will not wear down easily?" Sero asked.
"You don't know who you're fighting," Gmerc said unleashing a barrage of energy bolts.
"Ah..really?" Sero said launching his own attack. "So you are a swordsman?"
Gmerc deftly avoided the attack and whirled firing back.
"Hmm..well then let's do it your way then," Sero said. An energy sword formed in his hand.
Guardian Mercury stared at him.
"Well don't be bashful," Sero said.
"I'm waiting for your move," Gmerc said.
"Very well," Sero said and leapt forward. Gmerc countered. Their two swords met in mid air. The two landed and faced each other again.
"Very nice," Sero said. "But that is just the beginning."
"Why do they always say that!" Gmerc said. The two raced forward and thrusted, avoiding each other and spinning to fight. Their swords met again. The two kept hacking at each other, back and forth they went.
Sailor Mercury looked up from her search and worried as she saw the two going back and forth.
Oh please get through this. She thought.
Sero grinned and swung his sword. Gmerc blocked it again.
"You are very good," he said. "But I am better."
"I hear that so often I've stopped caring," Gmerc said and swung quickly. Sero slid back.
"Yes, you are a true opponent," Sero said.
"We come in all shapes and sizes," Gmerc said.
"Ah..true, but you I will enjoy defeating, it will be honorable."
Gmerc sighed.
"You really should save the victory celebrations until after you've won, it's just a bad habit,"he said.
The two flew at each other and swiped quickly. The two turned. Gmerc now had a cut on his cheek. Sero had a cut on his left arm.
"I am ready to bring it up a level? Are you?" Sero asked.
"Always," Gmerc said.
The two shot at each other faster then they had before. They swung at each other, and kept swinging trying to find an opening. Their two fists met as they each tried to get in a blow. The two swung at each other again. Sero came around and hit Gmerc in the face. Gmerc slid back. Sero charged. Gmerc knocked his sword away and swung into Sero's arm. Sero whirled back and swung hitting Gmerc in the leg. The two stood facing each other again.
"You have another sword," Sero said.
"Yes.."
"Then let's do this now."
Sero formed another sword in his other hand. Gmerc drew his next sword.
The two sides faced off yet again. And then charged each other swinging quickly, matching each other blow for blow.
Sailor Mercury lost track of her other task and watch worriedly as the two continued on at a feverish pace. She could almost sense the heat between the two. She had rarely been able to witness her brother's battles and forgot just how intense they were. A different sort of intensity then what she had when fighting.
Sero swung hard with both swords. Her brother swung under them and swung into
Sero's chest. Sero slid back and stabbed quickly hitting Gmerc in both arms. The
two stood back and faced each other.
Maverick and Saritin might as well have been in another room for all they noticed of the other battle. The two stared at each other intently. Waiting for the other to make a move to attack. Maverick stood with her sword ready. She planned on reacting, not acting. She didn't know what kind of defensive moves her opponent had. And furthermore she had very few except her own movement. So she had to wait and see.
Satirin was staring her down, trying to understand who she was facing in such a short time. Satirin knew who Maverick was, she had some intelligence data, she knew that they she had know recorded special power, but she also knew she was dangerous. Now it was just a matter of seeing what she was made off.
The two continued to stare at each other.
Make a move girl. Satirin thought.
I'll wait. Maverick said.
Elsewhere in the ship's launch bay, the war was escalating. Two of the enemies were flying around the room dropping energy towards the ground. The Guardian Scouts were shooting at them quickly with their swords. The Sailors were fighting the rest of the warriors with a barrage of energy of their own. Some of them were weak, some weren't.
Sailor Moon threw her tiara. It clipped an enemy and then whirled back to her. The enemy sent an energy blast in her direction. She grabbed her tiara and ducked.
This is no good, this is just like the last battle, we're just shooting energy at each other. I mean I'm usually okay with that, but we could really use some strategy. I know, I'll build up my energy and give them a real blast. They're pretty afraid of. She ducked as the two fliers dived at her.
Tuxedo Mask leapt up and threw a barrage of roses. The two fliers veered off and screeched.
"I've enough of those guys!" Guardian Mars shouted. "Mars Star Laser!"
He hit one of the flyers dead on knocking him into a wall.
"GET EM!" Guardian Neptune shouted. The Guardian Scouts opened fire and blasted the flyer some more.
"Return to whence you came!" Sailor Saturn shouted leaping forward. She shot her scythe upward straight into the creature. The weapon crackled with energy and blasted the creature who screeched. Sailor Saturn spun it into the air.
"SATURN DIMENSIONAL REVOLUTION!" She shouted.
The attack flew out and slammed into the creature, but it staggered back and fired back at her, the second flier had since turned and was aiming at her as well.
"LOOK OUT!" Guardian Saturn shouted racing forward. The two attacks converged. Guardian Saturn pushed Sailor Saturn out of the way and was blasted. He sank to the ground unmoving.
"PLUTO HURRICANE PUNCH!"
"NEPTUNE TIDE OF DESTRUCTION!"
"URANUS FLAME OF DESIRE!"
The three attacks blew into the wounded flier blasting him apart.
"That's what it's going to take I guess," Uranus said.
"MARS STAR LASER!"
"JUPITER STAR INFERNO!"
"VENUS STAR BURST!"
The attacks flew at the second flier who narrowly avoided them and spit energy towards them.
The Starlights dived out of the way. The platform exploded.
"They're playing rough," Mars said.
"NO!" Sailor Saturn shrieked.
Her scream was heard through all the sounds of battle. Everyone stared at her.
Sailor Saturn stood up.
"You killed him.."
The scouts all looked on in shock. Saturn glowed with energy. Her eyes lowed purple...her silence glaive glimmered. The enemies even watched in amazement. The flier hovered looking around quickly somehow aware her gaze had turned towards him. He unleashed a barrage of fire.
"Look out!" Sailor Moon shouted.
Sailor Saturn leapt up and swept through the fire with her glaive. She then swung straight through the flying creature who blew apart. Saturn dropped to the ground and collapsed.
"You murderers!" Guardian Uranus shouted.
"His death shall be avenged!" Guardian Earth shouted.
The scouts all seemed to forget that Saturn could be revived, that wasn't in their minds. Instead unleashing an attack was.
The Eight Guardians unleashed their fury. The sailor scouts followed. The
attacks flew straight at the enemy, who fired right into it. The two attacks met
and blew apart with such force both sides were thrown back across the bay. Boxes
and ships exploded. The bay filled with flames.
Saritin finally charged. Maverick grinned and shot forward.
Satirin stopped and threw up and energy shield. Maverick stopped and slid by firing as she did so. Satirin turned quickly and avoided the attack. Maverick hopped up and began firing madly. Satirin avoided the attacks quickly and then unleashed her own barrage. Maverick leapt over it and
fired back. The two launched energy. The attacks met and exploded.
"I am not about to lose to the likes of you," Sero said. "Remember that..you are not even close."
"Shut up," Guardian Mercury said stoically and unleashed a full barraged. Sero avoided it and shot back.
Guardian Mercury watched through his visor as Sero's power level remained quite high.
This is going to be a challenge. He thought, but raced forward anyway. Sero shot bolts at him. He knocked them away with his sword.
"Mercury Devout Revenge!" he shouted and connected. Sero stepped back but immediately followed with a massive attack of his own. Guardian Mercury dived out of the way but Sero kept it coming, Gmerc kept dodging it.
"This is worth it!" Sero shouted. A new attack shot from his hands, a wall, it flew across the room leaving Gmerc nowhere to run, he was thrown to the ground.
Sero followed it up with another barrage. Gmerc slid under it wincing in pain.
"MERCURY Devout Revenge!" He shouted unleashing his attack. Sero met it. The two attacks exploded.
Gmerc slid back into a wall.
Sero growled but kept fighting. Gmerc scurried out of the way, but tripped as his knee buckled.
Sero launched a massive barrage.
"MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!"
The attack flew down from the rafters and hit. Sero's energy attack blew apart.
Sailor Mercury dropped to the ground.
"Now you'll fight me Sero!" She shouted.
"No! Mercury!" Gmerc said and jumped to his feet, he charged forward. Sero whirled.
"Mercury Frigid Tsunami!"
Sero launched another attack, it flew straight into Gmerc and dropped him to
the ground. Sero was hit and vaporized.
Satirin fired quickly. Maverick fired back. The two continued to reach a stalemate.
She's good. They both thought.
Satirin heard Sero's final scream and whirled. She watched him vanish. Maverick didn't wait and struck, slicing through Satirin's chest. Satirin staggered back and fired a barrage.
Maverick avoided it. Satirin raced off the bridge.
"So much for her," Maverick said and turned.
Sailor Mercury was staring at her brother.
"He got beat up again didn't he.." Maverick said.
"No.." Sailor Mercury said turning.
"He's dead.." she said.
Maverick stopped dead in her tracks and dropped to the ground.
The two girls just looked at each other.
"But..we can bring him back..." Maverick said.
"Yes..we can.." Sailor Mercury said. "But if one of us goes, the other will be here alone."
"Don't you worry about that, you go after him."
"Me? But you..and him.."
"You're his sister. Besides, I've got the enemy figured out...go..save your brother."
"I..uh.." Mercury nodded. "I can't go yet. We have work to do. We have till the end of the day..but..right now..if we don't help the others.."
"The others?"
"Yes..we have to get this ship out to sea, and keep them from stopping it."
"Tell me where to go," Maverick said wiping away tears.
"All right," Mercury said. "I don't want to leave you like this..D.V..but you understand.
She knew he did.
"All right," Maverick said bravely. "Now what do I have to do?"
Mercury sniffled.
"Here...follow my instructions.." she said.
Satirin hurried down a corridor.
I have to get to the landing bay. We need reinforcements. Now.
She pulled out her communicator.
"All troops, to the landing bay! Now!" she shouted. "We will destroy all of the scouts, they'll pay for this!"
The fact that the scouts had done away with Sero, which she had been planning
to do anyway, didn't really mean much to her. There was a crisis. They had to
take care of the scouts before the ship was destroyed. Sero had sent officers to
reroute the ships course from the auxiliary bridge. She knew they had that going
for them. However, she also knew that the scouts on the bridge might try to stop
them, she had to eliminate their friends and head back for them. That was what
she had to do.
"All right Maverick..follow this corridor," Mercury said.
"I'm on it," Maverick said.
"You'll soon be at the auxiliary control room or whatever they call it..."
Maverick raced forward she blasted open the door. Several officers stood up quickly. She stabbed or blasted them.
"I'm here Mercury. What now?" Maverick asked.
"Destroy everything," Mercury replied coldly.
"But what if they changed the course back," Maverick said.
"They didn't, I made sure they wouldn't be able to with so little time."
"Oh..how?"
"That is unimportant, I just knew how to."
"You're right..just take everything out?"
"Affirmative. I have my own damage to do," Sailor Mercury said.
Maverick nodded and began blasting the control center to pieces.
Sailor Mercury stood methodically on the bridge starring at her computer. She walked over and picked up one of her brother's swords and walked to a space in the floor. She jammed the sword in and fired. The floor exploded. She dropped down to where Sero had dropped all the bridge's equipment to protect it.
"MERCURY......AQUA RHAPSODY!"
Her attack shot out in all directions.
The bridge equipment exploded. She leapt out of the hole, grabbed Gmerc and pulled out the door.
"This is Maverick, the control room's taken care of."
"Get back up here," Sailor Mercury said. "You've got to protect me now."
"Right. On my way."
"It won't be long now," Mercury said.
Satirin quickened her pace as the ship shuddered. What is going on? she thought.
The ship was crashing was what happening though she didn't know it. It was slowly moving out to sea and dipping towards the ground, a result of all the damage inflicted. Satirin hurried up. Her troops joined her.
"What do we do now?" the troops asked.
"We kill any scout that's left!" Satirin said and the group quickened their
pace.
The battle in the landing bay had degraded. Both Saturns were out of the fight for one reason or another. The rest of the scouts stood covered in dirt and ash. Fires burned. Their enemies stood face to face with them.
"You're going to pay for this," Sailor Moon said. "Coming to our planet like this...I will punish you! "
"I don't care for speeches!" Viko said.
Each side through their attacks out.
They met again and exploded.
"We can't keep doing this," Sailor Mars said.
"Maybe we can keep this up more than they can,"Guardian Uranus said.
The two sides slowly faced each other again.
"This isn't helping," Viko said. "We are stronger."
"That's where you're wrong," Guardian Moon said. "I think you're going to have some trouble with another barrage."
"Yes, well let's just see if you're capable of keeping up the strength!" Viko shouted.
Each side built up again, despite the pain and exhaustion.
"Neptune Tide of Destruction!"
"Uranus Flame of Desire!"
"Pluto Hurricane Punch!"
"Venus Star Burst!"
"Venus Star Laser!"
"Venus Star Inferno!"
"Uranus World Shaking!"
"Earth!"
"Earth!"
"Moon!"
"Mars Warriors Inferno!"
"Jupiter Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Galactic Moon Light attack!"
The blasts rippled through the landing bay and hit the enemy throwing them to the ground.
"We got em," Sailor Moon said.
"Get the Saturn's quickly," Sailor Uranus said. "We have to get out of here now."
"Right," Guardian Moon said. "We'll take that ship on the end!"
"You know how to fly?" Sailor Moon said.
"Yes, of course, now let's go," Guardian Moon said.
The other Guardians hurried and lifted up Guardian Saturn they carried him towards the ship.
Sailor Uranus and Sailor Mars picked up Sailor Saturn.
"She's alive..just overwhelmed," Sailor Uranus said.
"What about Sailor Mercury and the others?" Sailor Moon asked. "Mercury come in..." mercury..Maverick..Gmerc?"
"This is Maverick."
"We have to get out of here," Sailor Moon said.
"No can do, Gmerc's been killed, Mercury's gone into the afterworld..we have to stay here.."
"But if they find you.." Sailor Moon said.
"Chance we'll take. We know a way out. You just go..we'll follow."
"We can't get to them and there's a whole army on the way, it's just outside!" Guardian Moon said. "Let's go."
"Uh..right.." Sailor Moon said.
The scouts hurried for the ship. The door blew open and Satirin raced in followed by her troops.
"Get them!" she shouted.
The energy flew out.
"Watch out Sailor Moon!" Sailor Venus shouted and leapt forward. "VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
The attacks exploded, Sailor Venus was thrown to the ground.
"VENUS!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"Look out!" Guardian Earth shouted and pulled her aside as energy blasts smashed into him.
"No!" Sailor Moon shouted.
Enemies raced into the landing bay.
"GALACTIC MOONLIGHT..POWER.." Sailor Moon shouted only this time instead of a force, a wall appeared. The energy smashed against it.
"Come..on," she said.
"Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask said. The scouts grabbed their friends and hurried into the ship. It blasted out of the bay as the shield failed. Energy flew at them. The ship banked away and flew towards the city.
"It's damaged," Guardian Moon said. "This is going to be rough!"
The ship barely skimmed the ocean and approached the harbor, it skidded slightly, bounced and then slammed into a warehouse.
Satirin watched and growled.
"We will destroy you scouts.." she said.
"We'll handle it," Viko said staggering up.
"But..she beat you," Satirin said.
"So..now we'll just get stronger," he said. "Like now for instance.
All the warriors with the exception of the dead fliers began to drain the energy out of the soldiers. Any of them that could get away did, but most of them were caught in the energy.
"What..what are you doing?" Satirin asked. "You're not supposed to do that."
"Yes we are," Viko said. "We are to do whatever is necessary to defeat the scouts. And since we feed off the energy of others."
"But you're not supposed to use this energy!" Satirin said.
"I guess we are," Viko said and blasted her. He soon drained the power out of her as well.
The monsters all laughed.
"Very soon this world will be ours!" Viko shouted.
The warship crashed into the sea at that point and began to float. Minor explosions rocked it.
"Hmm..something will need to be done about this ship," Viko said.
The door to the transport ship was opened and smoke billowed out. The scouts clambered out.
Some collapsed others, just stood there aimlessly.
"Scouts.." came a voice.
Sailor Pluto walked up...Sailor Neptune behind her.
"You missed the carnage," Sailor Moon said crying.
"What?" Pluto asked.
"Guardian Saturn is dead. Sailor Saturn is...comatose..we've been hurt badly.."
"Sailor Moon," Sailor Venus said.
"What?"
"I...can't.." Venus collapsed.
"Venus!" Sailor Moon said hurrying to her. "Venus!"
"Hey..wake up!" Sailor Mars said hurrying up.
"She took that hit for you.." Tuxedo Mask said.
And just a few feet away.
"You are hurt," Sailor Earth said.
Guardian Earth made a dismissive wave before collapsing to the ground.
"No!" Sailor Earth shouted. She sensed the life drain out of Guardian Earth at that moment.
"Oh...no.." Sailor Pluto said beginning to cry.
"VENUS!" Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon shrieked.
Guardian Neptune and Guardian Venus both collapsed to the ground crying.
"This..war...it's..horrible," Sailor Pluto said.
"And what of those still there," Sailor Uranus said.
Guardian Jupiter stared at the ship and wondered just what was happening.
"I will..make them pay for this, every one of them," Sailor Moon said amidst her tears. "You hear me!" she shouted and stood up.
"No one hurts my friends, no one!"
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