Chapter 418
Serena woke up slowly.
"You're finally up," Darrien said.
"How long was I asleep."
"Longer then usual...well maybe not usual for you, but usual for everyone else."
"Oh.."
"You feeling better?"
"I had some horrible dreams."
"Yes, it looked that way," Darrien said.
"The others..they're all right?"
"Yes Serena, we're all fine."
"The crystals?"
"We're more concerned about you."
"Oh..well it's all right," Serena said. "But we have to get those crystals."
"Don't push it, you've been under a lot of strain."
"I know..I know..but if we don't keep moving I'll crack."
"You..will.."
"Darrien..we need to keep going, we can't stop," Serena said. "Or else..I'll..I'll.."
"All right Serena, we'll get moving," Darrien said.
Serena wiped a tear from her eye.
"I..." Serena said. "I have to stop them before they destroy anyone else...I..must...but..I..don't want to lose anyone.."
"I understand Serena, this is rough on all of us."
"I am responsible," Serena said. "I have to stop them.."
"Just take it easy. We'll get them."
Serena nodded.
"We can finally move onto the next crystal now," Setsuna said. "I'm sure you'll all be happy about that."
"This stupid country," Raye said.
"I must admit I'm quite sick of it myself," Amy said.
"So where to next?" Mina asked.
"Russia," Setsuna said.
"It'll be cold there," Mina muttered.
"That is not the worst thing that can happen," Raye snapped.
"I know, I know," Mina said.
There was a knock. The four tensed.
"Hello scouts," Malachite said. "Are things going well?"
"Oh..it's just you two, come on in," Mina said.
Setsuna and Raye's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So how is Serena?" Zoisite asked.
"She's better," Mina said. "Are you guys here to help out."
"Absolutely," Malachite said. "We just finished up our crystal gathering in Africa."
"Why don't you give them to us then?" Setsuna asked.
"Of course," Zoisite. "But can we see Serena first."
"Serena's resting," Setsuna said."Just hand them to me."
"All right," Malachite said.
"MARS POWER!" Raye shouted and vaulted forward smashing Zoisite through a window.
"What?" Amy and Mina said in surprise.
Setsuna transformed and swung at Malachite. He blasted her trough a wall. Amy and Mina didn't have to think twice. Mars whirled and shot her attack at Malachite he stepped back into the street. The two warriors built their energy.
"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!"
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!"
The two attacks were avoided.
"I see now, they've been taken over by negaenergy again," Mercury said glancing at her computer.
"No surprise there," Mars said. "You all right Pluto?"
"I'll be along!" Pluto said.
"What's happening?" Darrien asked.
"Better transform, we've got company."
The three Sailor Scouts leapt out of the house. Malachite and Zoisite laughed
and attacked.
"We'd better hurry," Minagrat said. "Who knows what those scouts might be up to."
"Yeah, they're full of surprises," Lunfa said.
"Well they're not around as far as I can tell," Fulcrua said.
"Still..we must be ready for them," Minagrat said.
They pulled the crystal out of the door.
A barrage of dark energy shot at them.
"What?" Minagrat whirled and was knocked to the ground. Fulcrua dived out of the way. Xicav and Lunfa opened fire.
"How careless!" Nisiran said leaping at them from behind. He threw out his attack blasting through Lunfa.
Fulcrua leapt by him slicing energy into his side.
More energy flew out. Xicav dived out of the way.
Jasen leapt at him shooting more bolts.
Xicav opened fire.
Nisiran whirled and shot an energy attack at Fulcrua. She grinned and dived out of the way.
"So she isn't prepared for this I bet," Nisiran said and created several copies of himself. Fulcrua whirled.
Minagrat shot forward making a bee line for his head. Nisiran whirled and blasted him back. Fulcrua grinned and dived forward. Nisiran was hit, but he only staggered back ready for the next attack.
Jasen and Xicav let loose a hail of energy in both directions. It exploded.
"I am ready to destroy you!" Xicav shouted.
"Too bad for you!" Jasen said and shielded himself from another attack. Xicav continued to shoot.
"Ehh..that's it," Jasen said and then leapt forward, and formed a blade of energy and dug it straight into the cyborg blasting him apart. Jasen took in some breath.
Nisiran was hit again.
Jeez..does he need help or something? Ehh.
Minagrat leapt out of the shadows.
"COME ON!" Jasen shouted and blasted him apart.
This is using up way to much energy. He thought.
Nisiran dodged Fulcrua again.
I'm alone. Fulcrua thought. I have to get out of here.
She leapt away. Nisiran drew energy into his hand and then shot it along the ground. She avoided it. The energy skidded to a stop and then shot up hitting her anyway.
"A nice trick," Jasen said.
"It's not done!" Nisiran said and with a massive shout blew Fulcrua apart.
"Good one," Jasen said.
"The crystal," Nisiran said and grabbed it.
"One more for us," Jasen said.
"Actually that would be one for me."
The two whirled.
"Well hello there.." Sorophyte said. "It's so nice to run into some old friends."
This is not good. He let us weaken ourselves. Nisiran thought.
We won't be able to outrun him I'm sure of that. Jasen said. At least both of us.
"Jasen..go.." Nisiran said.
"Understood," Jasen said. "Good luck to you."
"Right," Nisiran said.
Jasen leapt off.
"I'll settle for just you," Sorophyte said. "After all it's just a matter of time. Shall we?"
He unleashed a torrent of an attack. Nisiran let loose his own barrage.
"You girls seem a little slow today!" Zoisite shouted shooting blades of heart shaped energy.
"How many times do we have to beat you up anyway!" Mars shouted firing off bolts of fire.
Zoisite grinned and leapt out of the way of it.
"Mercury Frigid Tsunami!"
"Bad tactics Sailor Mercury, you should wait until you don't have a moving target!" Malachite shouted and leapt at her.
"Venus Love Chain Encircle!"
"Please.." Malachite muttered and knocked it away.
A rose smashed into his hand. He let out a shout and whirled.
"Malachite..while you're here, we have some unfinished business," Tuxedo Mask said.
"So we do.." Malachite said. "Very well. Let's just see who's better."
"What are you two doing!" Sailor Moon said hurrying into the street.
"Ircanite must have gotten to them," Sailor Mercury said. "It's not their fault."
"Sailor Moon..be careful," Sailor Venus said.
"Oh..so you girls want a rematch do you?" Zoisite asked.
The four Sailor Scouts tensed.
Sailor Pluto came forward as well.
"All right..let's do it," Zoisite said and launched her attack. The five scouts scattered and turned to fight her.
"You two! Return!" Ircanite bellowed.
"What! Oh not this again!" Zoisite shouted.
The two vanished in a flash of light.
"Wonder why he recalled them," Venus said.
"Because we would have trashed them, that's why," Mars said.
"Indeed..I don't believe they could have fought all of us," Pluto said.
"It was just the element of surprise they hoped to get," Mercury said.
"And they managed to get it," Pluto said. "He can hit..."
"You going to be all right?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
"Yes I think so," Pluto said.
"Don't kid yourself!" Sorophyte said dodging another of Nisiran's attacks. The two were floating several feet up shooting energy at each other.
"I'm much powerful then you were ever were."
"I have something to fight for!"
Sorophyte grinned and unleashed another attack. Nisiran blocked it.
"All right..play times over!" Sorophyte shouted. Streaks of energy flew in all directions.
Nisiran moved to block or avoid them, but was knocked to the ground.
Sorophyte blasted him again.
"Yes..you should be a fine addition to our army."
"It's been three days and we haven't found anything you know," Seiya said.
"Patience," Taiki said. "I believe Greg knows what he's talking about."
"Yes, this should not be expected to fall into our laps," Yaten said.
"But what would they be doing?" Akiro asked. "I mean it's obvious that they're up to something or why would they keep attacking here..but...what could possibly be here that they could get..and since we don't know what would keep them from getting it?"
"It would have to be inaccessible wouldn't it?" Taiki asked. "I mean we've checked the police records. There's been no strange break ins or the like. And we've scanned for energy on the surface. Nothing there."
"We'll probably end up in the sewer again..that's how it usually works," Seiya muttered.
"The sewer?" The other three asked.
"What?"
"Hmm..perhaps..that is exactly what is occurring," Taiki said and pulled out his communicator.
"Patterson.." he said.
"What?"
"Have you been scanning the sewer system?"
"I'm afraid scanning the entire city has taken some time. You have a lead?"
"No, just a different perspective," Taiki said. "Could you check it out?"
"Where would you like me to start?" Patterson asked.
"The center of the city and work out..I guess.."
"Very well," Patterson said.
"The sewer huh?" Mike said. "That's an interesting idea you came up with there Greg."
"Well..we've checked everywhere else.." Greg said. "We should find the sewer daimon."
"Hey, yeah, he knows everything," Steve said.
"This may be the ticket.." Rick said.
"I hope so," Greg said.
"So what next?"
"We go down in the sewer of course."
"Oh...wonderful," Mike said.
"What exactly are all of you doing?" Ayeka asked.
"Searching," Patterson said.
"For what?"
"We don't know."
"Oh...makes sense."
"Ayeka..did you meet our opponent in battle."
"Well sort of..didn't get a good lack at them though."
"Did they say their name."
"No...why?"
"Just wondering.."
"Hmm..I couldn't really tell you anything about them," she lied.
"Yes I supposed not," Patterson said.
"Well anyway...I'd better get back to the hospital, guard duty you know. Haruka's probably getting bored."
Patterson nodded.
Ayeka walked out.
I can't let him know the truth. He'll get himself killed.
At the Hospital.
We were once enemies Akiro. Haruka thought. However you should get well soon. For your own sake.
She glanced over at Ai, who had nodded off to sleep.
She's a very loyal person. Haruka said. I hope Akiro recovers so we can get this beyond us. We need everyone, especially with Sailor Moon weakened like this.
Ayeka walked up.
"You can go Haruka."
"Oh.thank you," Haruka said. "How is everything going at the other end?"
"The Guardian's are..I don't know what they're doing."
"Hmm...strange," Haruka said. "I had better find out what they're up to."
"Probably," Ayeka said. "Haruka.."
"What?"
"D.V...asked me today if I knew who our enemy was. I told him I didn't..but we all do.."
"I know."
"And what happens when he does find out?"
"I don't know. But that's why we're trying to prevent."
"Sooner or later it's going to happen."
"We should worry about that when the time comes. Right now we have other concerns."
"But this could become a concern quite quickly."
"That's very true," Haruka said. "However, we don't have the luxury of anticipation right now."
"I guess so," Ayeka said.
"We'll keep an eye on him," Haruka said and walked out.
Ai's dream was turning strange.
"Ai.."
"What?"
"Ai..you must find it.."
"What?"
"You must find it before they do?"
"Find what.."
"The true power of this city."
"What true power? Explain yourself."
"You have to find it...Ai..you are the only..who can hear me."
"But.."
"Please...they must not find it first. You are the spirit of the Earth, you must save this from everyone."
"Uh..if you say so," Ai said. "But where are you?"
"I am buried..well beneath you."
"Buried? But.."
"Ai..I do not have the power to speak more to you. You must come."
"I can't right now."
"Come as quickly as you can then."
"I will.."
Ai woke up with a start.
"Ai? You okay?" Ayeka asked.
"Fine.fine..I just had strange dream," Ai said.
There was a moan behind them. They turned. Sai's eyes opened.
"Sai," Ai said.
"SOROPHYTE!" Sai shouted and then fell back down to the pillow.
"What.." Ayeka said.
A doctor hurried in.
"I think he's out of his coma," Ai said.
"Yes...it seems so," the doctor said looking at the readout. "It looks like he's recovering."
"I knew he'd pull through,"Ai said.
"Yes, well he's still got a ways to go," The doctor said.
"He'll have no trouble making that journey," Ai said.
"He's pretty strong," Ayeka said.
Ai wiped away a tear.
"It's good to have him back."
"I'll bet."
"Saturn to Jupiter..any luck?" Guardian Saturn asked.
"Nothing yet..the sewer daimon doesn't seem to be around here either," Sailor Jupiter said.
"Well this is usually where he lives," Saturn said.
"Yes..well he could just be out," Jupiter said.
"Yeah..maybe he's got a girlfriend," Guardian Neptune said.
"It's just possible that maybe he's with the others down in the ruined Earth kingdom," Guardian Venus said.
"We'll check that out," Jupiter said.
"All right, we'll keep looking here," Saturn said.
The group advanced down a corridor.
"Hmm..spooky isn't it?" Pluto said.
"It's just a sewer," Uranus said.
"I'm sick of this place," Neptune said.
"Sewer daimon! You around!" Uranus said.
"Boo ya!" came a shout. Energy shot at them.
"Oh great..." Pluto muttered.
The Sewer Daimon came bounding down the sewer shooting at them as he did so.
"Sorry I have to do this, but evil is as evil does!" The sewer daimon shouted and leapt at them.
"Looks like you were right Saturn!" Uranus said.
"I didn't really want to be right!" Saturn shouted as the sewer daimon leapt
at them.
"Can you handle it?" Jupiter asked into his communicator.
"Oh sure we can," Saturn said. "You keep looking, four Guardian Scouts should be able to stop one daimon."
"All right," Jupiter said. "We're on it."
"But be careful," Saturn said.
"We normally are."
"Gotta go!" Saturn shouted.
"Sewer daimon on a roll!" the Sewer Daimon shouted.
"Ehh tell someone who cares!" Neptune shouted throwing his golden triton.
The sewer daimon avoided it and leapt at him.
"Pluto Storm Fist!"
The attack knocked missed and hit the wall. Water began to rush in.
"Well that's just great.." Guardian Uranus said.
The tunnel wall exploded.
"Pluto you missed the point of all of this!" Neptune shouted as the five were swept down a tunnel.
"We'll just ride this out and then back to work!" the sewer daimon shouted.
"I hope they can manage," Guardian Earth said.
"It is only one creature," Guardian Jupiter said. "Besides Saturn knows what he's doing."
"Still..they have a knack for functioning quite poorly as a team," Guardian Mars said.
"We haven't been doing much better as of later," Venus said.
"That's true.." Guardian Jupiter said. "We're getting close I can tell.."
"You hear something?" Earth said.
"Sounds like a lot of yelling.." Mars said.
"Well there are a lot of them down here," Jupiter said.
"Hmm..still we should be careful," Venus said.
The four Guardian Scouts walked forward.
"I don't like the feel of this," Venus said.
"Me neither," Guardian Earth said.
"Still..if it is danger we'd best figure out what's going on," Guardian Jupiter said.
They rounded a corner and found themselves staring into many of the eyes of the bottom dwellers.
"Uh..hi," Guardian Mars said.
The group let out a battle cry and raced at them.
"Run!" Earth shouted. The four took off down the sewer, the group raced after
them.
"It's strange, the crystal isn't glowing," Sailor Mercury said.
"Shouldn't it though?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Of course it should," Mars said.
"It's because the crystal isn't there," Jasen said walking up.
"Jasen!" the group all said.
"Check him," Sailor Venus said.
Mercury scanned him.
"He checks out."
"Of course I do, but I see we have more serious problems to deal with," Jasen said.
The scouts all nodded.
Sorophyte leapt onto the roof of Tokyo General Hospital.
Now that I have a free moment it's time to deal with that pesky Guardian Earth before he can get to be any more of a problem.
He grinned.
"Sorophyte...." came a voice.
He turned still grinning.
Standing on a vent on top of the roof was Guardian Mercury. His uniform was dark black instead of it's usual grey. Mercury held a dark black blade in his hand.
He said nothing more and leapt forward swinging his sword.
399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408