Chapter 402
"Yes, it seems the scouts were quite prepared for our attacks," Ircanite said. "However, that is fine, we have felt them out. They are vulnerable. Besides it also means they have no idea what else I'm doing."
"You mean collecting the ancient crystals?"
"What else?" Ircanite said. "The scouts are still in Tokyo. They don't know about them."
"Or they're doing an excellent job of covering up that they know," Visinite said.
"They aren't," Ircanite said. "So...this is excellent, if the scouts all believe they are merely defending against us, victory is assured. Our other forces will acquire the ancient power crystals and turn Earth's power against them!"
"It does seem to be a plan that will work quite well doesn't it?" Visinite asked.
"Oh yes, the plan I have been developing, and now has come to fruition. There is much to do still."
"Yes..there is."
"We must make preparations."
"Ircanite's strong," Haruka said.
"Yes, but if he was that strong he would have stood and fought us," Michiru said.
"True, instead he seemed only powerful enough to try and ambush Mina, but that doesn't mean he isn't dangerous."
"Of course not," Michiru said. "Still.I wonder.."
"What?"
"Well how did he know Mina would make such a perfect target?"
"Oh..I've been wondering that myself," Haruka said. "Then again, Setsuna went up against a strong telepath."
Michiru nodded.
"That's all we needed, a telepath sensing our moves before we make them."
"Just makes things more complicated," Haruka said. "But telepath or no telepath, we'll stop them too."
Michiru nodded.
"Though I'm getting quite sick of having to deal with all of them."
"We all are," Michiru said.
"Yes, but some of us are just better at dealing with it," Haruka said. "I've gotta go, practice."
Michiru nodded.
"Just don't let all this keep from you your goals," she said.
"I try not to," Haruka said. "It always seems to find a way."
Michiru sighed.
Poor Haruka. She's really taking all this worse and worse everyday. I used to
be able to get her through this. But now..
"So how are things going with Mina?" Taiki asked.
"Well the girls and Mike are talking to her, she just seems to be letting out a lot right now," Yaten said.
"Haven't you felt you should be there?" Taiki said.
"No, no, that's all right," Yaten said. "I'm just a friend, and she's got more then enough of those to talk to."
"Oh...I just thought that."
"No..it's fine, trust me," Yaten said. "Anyway..I've got to get to a poetry reading."
"Of course.." Taiki said.
Yaten headed out.
Well something's up with him. Taiki thought. Too bad I have no idea what it
is.
"Ah...Sai..you wish to challenge me yet again?" Urawa Motoki said.
Sai said little and drew a wooden practice sword.
"Do you believe your skill has improved that much?" Motoki said.
Sai didn't answer.
"All right..." Motoki said and readied his sword.
The two faced off. Seconds later they charged and smashed their swords into each other. A duel erupted.
"Hmm..you are stronger," Motoki said sliding back. "But I don't think you'll be a problem. You're not focused.."
Sai grimaced and slid forward swinging his sword. Motoki met it and knocked
it aside. The fight continued.
"You feeling better?" Akiro asked.
"No.." Ai muttered. "Stupid telepaths!"
"Uh..right.."
"She's really in for it. Next time, I'm going to give it to her!"
"Isn't she stronger then you are?"
"That's only a temporary problem," Ai said.
"Uh..how exactly do you get stronger then her?"
"Well..uh..there must be a way," Ai said.
"Oh..I see.." Akiro said. "Need any help?"
"Absolutely not. This is something I must do myself."
"Okay..well..enjoy."
"I'm not doing it yet you idiot."
"Oh..."
"Now get me a drink."
"Yes mistress.." Akiro muttered.
"Hey...I'm the injured one here, so me a little respect," Ai said.
"Sure, sure,....you deserve it Ai," Akiro muttered. "Do you want that drink with or without poison?"
Ai through a book at him.
"Too slow," Akiro said.
Several more flew his way.
"You're fast..." Akiro muttered diving under them.
"Setsuna, I need to become stronger," Hotaru said.
"Stronger? In what way?" Setsuna asked.
"My inner power, I must be able to use it as a weapon," Hotaru said.
"Oh.." Setsuna said. "Well I'm not sure you should. I mean it causes you pain to do it."
"Yes, well I want to stop the pain. I must become strong like Caria is," Hotaru said. "How else can we defeat her?"
"Well the truth is that Caria is beatable if we can just keep her from being able to focus on her psychic attacks," Setsuna said.
"I guess you are right," Hotaru said. "But that maybe easier said then done, I must have the strength to fight her."
"I think it would be better to try to let Ai handle her."
"Ai," Hotaru growled. "What does she know?"
"She's a stronger telepath."
"Why do you think I want to become stronger!"
"Well..Hotaru..it's not easy to do that, and you weren't a telepath voluntarily remember? It was part of the transformation exacted on you by the wraith and later on the other forces."
"But Setsuna, this power is ingrained in me, and Greg, he also felt telepathic powers earlier on. He just didn't practice them and they fell away. But don't you see, being from the planet Saturn must make us more susceptible to using this art. There must be a way for me to use the power."
"I don't know Hotaru," Setsuna said. "It's a dangerous power to have to control once you have it."
"I know how to control power. That is not the problem. I require possession though," Hotaru said.
"I really don't know."
"I do. If you will not help me I will find this out on my own."
"All right, all right. I'll help you," Setsuna said. "But you have to listen to me all right?"
Hotaru nodded.
Sai flipped to avoid one of Motoki's attack. He spun into a strike. Motoki slid away and faced him.
"All right, Sai you've proven some advancement..but let's see you enter the true zone of master," Motoki said.
Sai's eyes narrowed.
Motoki stood ready, his sword aimed right at Sai. Wind blew across the yard.
Motoki shot forward. Sai readied his defense.
They connected. Sai knocked Motoki's sword away and moved to strike. Motoki slid back again.
Sai moved to swing, but stopped in midstream.
"What.." he shouted and let out a shout out of pain. His sword fell from his hand.
"You blocked the seventh attack," Motoki said. "The first six hit."
Sai grimaced.
"Fortunately I just gave you a little tap," Motoki said. "Now...do we need to continue this?"
Sai shook his head.
"I still value the experience," Sai said.
"Yes, you might," Motoki said."But why don't you battle someone at your skill level?"
"Because I don't learn from someone who I can beat."
"You don't? Now that's a foolish thing to say."
"Perhaps, but I need to advance faster then usual, I have no time to meddle, I will train with the best."
"For what reason," Motoki said.
"There is more then one. I will not share them," Sai said.
"Very well," Motoki said. "However I can see that you do desire the challenge, so I will give it to you. But you won't beat me Sai. Not now, not a year from now."
"I know," Sai said. "That's not why I fight you."
Saying that, he turned and walked away.
The A.P.T. house.
"I expected to find you here," Ayeka said walking into the control room.
"Where else would I be?" Patterson replied stiffly as he studied his various camera footage of the enemies from the battle earlier.
"I'll have to take a look at all that later," Ayeka said. "They're a dangerous bunch. We'll have to be careful."
Patterson nodded.
"Nothing we can't handle though," Ayeka said. She stopped and stared.
"I'm still here you know?" she said.
"Yes...well..uh.." Patterson said. "I'm just trying to focus on this."
"Fine then," Ayeka snapped. "No..all right...you have your reasons," She said more peaceably. "I'll come by later and see how you're doing?"
She walked out.
He really is focused. I wonder on what though. She thought.
At the Crown Restaurant.
"Well..well..well.." Rick said. "What has you all dejected now?"
"Nothing," Steve said.
"Now..that's not true. What is it?"
"We didn't do well in the battle today."
"I did fine."
Steve sighed.
"What?"
"Seiya did better."
"Oh..geez..here we go," Rick said. "Steve you really have to get over this."
"Rick..I'll tell you what I want to do..."
"I know what you want to do," Rick said. "But it's not going to happen. At least not the way you want it to. So for the last time. Get off it."
"I really should shouldn't I?"
"Yeah..you should, there's really no thought involved here."
"Guess not," Steve said. "I gotta go."
"Well..that could be a good sign, or he could be going to kill himself," Rick said solemnly. "In either case I'd better keep an eye on him. Like I haven't got anything else to do. Actually I don't have anything else to do..That's rare...guess even the Rick has his off days."
"Since when have you called yourself the Rick?" Lizzie Tillman asked passing by.
"Oh..uh..well...never.."
"You're strange," she said and walked off.
"Jeez..I'm acting like Mike now," Rick said. "And why am I talking to myself!"
"Perhaps you're lonely," someone replied.
Rick sighed and hurried out the door.
At a the local racetrack.
"Ah..Haruka, you ready to kick some butt this weekend!"
"Of course," Haruka said.
"Pity, we still haven't managed to get a win yet, but then again you are just a rookie. Still..you're doing an excellent job. When the shadow racer comes back we might just put you on the team anyway. By the way. Those personal problems that kept you from racing last time..are they all cleared up?" her racing manager asked.
"Yes sir, I hope," Haruka said. "One can never know for sure, but I think so."
"Good..good...I can tell that you're committed to this sport. It must have taken something really serious to get you off track."
"Yes, it was quite serious," Haruka said. "If you don't mind I want to start now."
"Sure, go ahead."
Haruka got on her bike and raced out onto the track.
"So that's your superstar?" came a voice.
"Wha..oh it's you Akino."
"Yep, it's me. I wonder just how far do you think she can go."
"Let me put it this way. Your years of dominance in the sport are coming to an end."
"There's always some team that believes that, but it never happens. I'm just better."
"We'll see."
"After all, she hasn't won any races has she?"
"That's true, but all that proves is that she's the second best driver out there with little experience, just wait."
"Hmm..yes...we'll see. You're not the first to try this, and you won't be the last, because my team will continue to rule this sport."
Akino walked off.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," the manager said.
"Maybe if I added more violence..." Greg said staring at his computer screen. "How can I..I mean we're the scouts...we're all about property damage. What more could a publisher want? Maybe....wait a minute..."
He stood up.
"Yes...that's it..I haven't done what I should have done in the first place!"
He grabbed his power stick.
"Saturn Crystal Power!"
He transformed and hurried out the door.
"Greg...what are you doing?" Patterson asked sticking his head out the war room door.
"Nothing, don't worry..it's not danger," Greg said.
"Then why exactly are you.."
"Trust me."
"Ehh.....
"Publishers fear my wrath, Guardian Saturn, the warrior of writing and punisher of rejection is about to arrive!"
"Uh...Greg..need I remind you what would happen if you just ran out the door like that."
"Oh..uh..you're right..oops.." Greg said and reverted back to human form.
He then strode out the door.
"Great..he's lost his mind," Patterson muttered. "I'd better keep an eye on
him."
"So you're the great Haruka," came a voice.
"I don't use prefixes in front of my name," Haruka said turning to a man with a good share of slicked back hair.
"Sorry..just trying to start a conversation."
"Not interested."
"Am I that repulsive?"
"No, I just don't want to talk."
"Fine, fine...what do I care, hope you don't treat all your fans that way."
He headed off.
Haruka sighed.
He's a fellow driver. He's not a fan. She thought. Still maybe I should have been a little less annoyed to see him. But then again, I'm not here to make friends. Especially right now.
"You did well today," Michiru said.
"Michiru..you were here.."
"What? Is that forbidden?"
"Uh..no..I was just surprised. You usually don't get involved."
"I was just curious that's all," Michiru said.
"Oh..well..there's nothing wrong with that," Haruka said.
"There shouldn't be?" Michiru asked. "You felling okay?"
"I'm just stressed that's all. It's a big race this week. I want to win it."
"It's good that that's what you're concerned about," Michiru said.
"It's not the only thing, but we're used to this," Haruka said. "I really need to get back to the track. I still have some things to finish up."
"All right," Michiru said. "I'll see you at home then."
Haruka nodded.
"Michiru.." She said. "I haven't been feeling well. Try not to let that bother you."
"Now..now Haruka, you know better then that,"Michiru said and headed off.
Haruka grinned slightly.
She really does care. More then she should. She should be prepared to let me
go at an instant, but that's just not how she is it? Guess I'm lucky. She
thought.
"So how it's going Luna?" Yaten asked.
"They're still in there talking and chatting," Luna said.
"I should go in there," Yaten said.
"You just realized that?"
"Well...you know..I've never really figured this place out," Yaten said. "And I guess I haven't really wanted to make much of a connection to this world, but Mina and I were close. If her friends are in there now..I should be too."
"I understand," Luna said.
"I figured you would," Yaten said and moved towards the house.
"Yaten.." Luna said.
Yaten turned.
"You really should give everyone more of a chance," she said.
Yaten nodded.
"I know that now."
At one of Tokyo's major publishing companies.
"Can I help...you..." the secretary trailed off.
"Guardian Saturn to see the editor in chief," Saturn said.
"Uh...well..uh..I'm not sure..if.."
"Look..you know who I am don't you?"
"Well..yes.."
"Then tell him I'm here to see em!"
"Uh..all right," The secretary said. She dialed a number. "Uh sir...I'm not making this up. Guardian Saturn is here. He wants to talk to you...uh..I don't know why...uh..all right..."
"Top floor," the secretary said nervously.
Saturn smiled and walked to an elevator.
"What has he gotten himself into?" Patterson asked watching with a camera.
Meanwhile at the Three Lights' Apartment.
"Ah..Taiki how are you doing?" Steve asked.
"Steve..why are you here?" Taiki asked.
"I gotta talk to Seiya."
"Haven't you noticed that these conversations as you call them usually end up quite bloody?"
"Yeah, but this is the last one," Steve said.
"I don't think Seiya wants to hear a word of what you're saying."
"I know," Steve said.
"All right...but you're asking for it," Taiki said. "Seiya...Steve apparently believes he can talk to you without starting a fight."
"He's wrong!" Seiya shouted charging out of a side room and tackling Steve.
"Hmm...well.. Guess he is," Taiki said.
"Geez..that didn't go well did it?" Rick asked poking his head in the door.
"And what are you doing here?" Taiki asked.
"Well I was trying to prevent Steve from doing something stupid."
"You failed."
"Well..duh.."
"Rick..why don't we just go.." Taiki said.
"Oh..uh..right," Rick said.
Taiki headed out and closed the door.
"I am curious, just what is he doing here?" Taiki asked.
There was a crash.
"Fortunately I have no personal possessions to really be concerned about," Taiki added.
"Well..Steve apparently has decided to get of his Lita kick," Rick said.
"Just like that?"
"I know, that's why I followed him," Rick said. "It's not that easy. But I wanted to know what he was up to."
"Apparently he was going to settle things with Seiya, but I think Seiya hates him, and I doubt those two are going to be able to talk this out."
"One of them will just have to die I guess," Rick said.
"The most practical solution," Taiki said.
"You rejected a book by Greg Thomson...a book I helped him write," Guardian Saturn said.
"Ah..yes..that..I had no idea you collaboratated with him.." the publisher said.
"Yes, well he wrote it and he gave him advice...but what difference does it make?"
"A lot..I mean you're a scout aren't you? People want to hear what you have to say. Greg is just this aspiring novelist."
"So what was wrong with the book?"
"Well..it didn't seem real enough. I mean, all the personal conflicts between the scouts and all, I mean that doesn't fit everyone's ideals does it?" the publisher asked.
"What?"
"Well..I mean the book..just isn't what I think a book about the scouts should be. Sure it was well written, Greg is talented, but look..are we supposed to believe that our sailor scout hero, the one that obviously a is a metaphor for Sailor Moon, would trip over her own feet in the midst of a battle?"
"But that happens?"
"It...does....you're kidding?"
"No.."
"Well..then I guess I should reconsider. After all, if you helped him out it must be correct."
"How do you know that," Saturn said.
"What do you mean?"
"Just because I'm a scout you believe that somehow my word is better then his."
"Well yeah."
"So if I hadn't come down here, you wouldn't have reconsidered."
"No, of course not."
"Then uh..Greg..won't want it."
"What?"
"I wanted to know..what was wrong..but Greg can't accept his work being published just because some celebrity said so."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Saturn said and strode out of the room.
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