CHAPTER TWO
Assembling the Team
sub: and we're balanced, too.
 The queasiness stayed in the pit of her 
stomach even as she headed down towards the 
A-E, with the pass in her hand granting her 
level 12 access.  She was even too uneasy to 
realize what had just been placed in her 
hands.  The Gatekeepers of the A-E--Karl, the 
elder, and Michael, the young (though really 
they were both young)--were the only ones to 
actually hold level 12 passes.  The people of 
the Room had level 14.  
 She'd never stopped to consider who had 
levels 11 and 13, and she didn't do so then.  
She barely acknowledged that the people she 
passed existed, or that she herself existed; 
it seemed the enchanting blue, gold and 
silver pass had enchanted her right into 
numbness.
 She descended the stairs and into the 
darkest parts of the castle.  A fair amount 
of time ago these had been dungeons, housing 
the rabble of this particular kingdom.  When 
the Archive had been given permission to 
house itself there, the A-E eagerly took up 
residence in the most secluded section, 
making it so that people wouldn't bother 
coming down.   Ninx 
thought to herself.  
 Finally, though, she reached the bottom, and 
took a couple of twists and turns past 
various other cells to get to the doors of 
the A-E.  They weren't ostentatious, but 
plain, heavy, oak doors, suited to keeping 
most things out.  For the first time she 
wondered if it was to keep the things inside, 
in.  
 Karl greeted her jovially.  The two had been 
acquainted outside the walls, for he'd been 
steeping himself extra in Senshi lore when 
she was just beginning to train.  It was he 
who passed on the various tidbits gleaned 
from some of the older books, and also clued 
her in on several author names that might 
suit her.  She nodded back, then to Michael, 
before presenting the pass to Karl.
 Both men caught the glint of the pass and 
swore so harshly Ninx thought her ears were 
going to turn red.  Michael looked back at 
her and asked, "Did you steal this?"
 "NO!" she cried out, shocked.  
 "Peace!" Karl said to the two of them.  
Then, to Michael, "I know Ninx.  She has too 
much work to do to steal a pass from the 
Room.  And you know how heavily this one is 
guarded."
 "But Karl, it gives her access! And not only 
to the A-E, but to the Platinum Chain!"
 Karl sighed heavily at this, and for a 
moment Ninx felt she just might be trudging 
up the stairs again.  Then, he said, "If the 
Room says do it, do it.  And there's nothing 
we can do about it."
 He turned, and both Keepers pressed their 
hands against the wall and murmured a few 
choice words.  Then, quite suddenly, the door 
vanished.  At the same time, Karl yanked her 
arm and pulled her through, following her.  
Michael gave one last harsh look to the two, 
then made a sweeping gesture to the air and 
the door went back up.
 "Well, Ninx, how are you?" Karl asked.
 "Um...all right, I suppose," she said.  
"Except for the fact that I don't know what 
the HELL is going on!" 
 He smiled at her, a fierce smile, then said, 
"You're about to find out, my dear, what the 
A-E is really about."  His eyes flashed as he 
asked, "Do you know what the A-E stands for?"
 "No idea.  Never really thought about it," 
she admitted.
 "It stands for "Alter-Egos."  I'm sure you 
know enough of the storyline..."
 "Listen, Karl, you KNOW that I never missed 
more than a handful of questions on Manga and 
Anime history tests.  Of course I know! I'm 
even familar with some of the altered lines, 
thought only in passing," she retorted 
fiercely, eyes sparking at the gatekeeper.  
She was getting impatient; she'd been scared, 
then confused, then screamed at--and now 
questioned! A low growl surpressed itself in 
her throat.
 He nodded, enjoying the fire in her eyes.  
He liked his job, but sometimes it got REALLY 
boring; Ninx was providing a much needed 
diversion.  "Yes, yes, I know...pardon my 
temporarily lapse of memory."
 "Pardoned."
 "Anyway, I KNOW you know enough of the 
storyline to show where there are some 
cracks, and that's how this whole section 
came about.  The people who slipped between 
the cracks in the original story, or the 
details, or whatever, all reside here.  Also, 
we have the Senshi's new powers, and some 
VERY powerful tools that you'd better hope no 
evildoer comes in contact with." 
 Her eyes widened, and a puzzled expression 
stole over her face.  "But why in here, Karl?  
Why do we have...to store everything?"
 "Because I asked them to," came a soft 
voice.
 Karl turned towards it, and smiled.  "Hello, 
Lady Galaxia."
 Ninx turned more slowly, eyes widening.  For 
there, in front of her, stood the Golden 
Senshi...the one who'd just been dealt with 
in this system...the one who'd...
 "It's not the real me, Ninx," the Lady said, 
her voice soft and fair.  "I'm just a 
projection of myself."  She passed a hand 
through a nearby wall to demonstrate her 
unrealness.  
 "What...what...why.." Ninx stammered, eyes 
flying between Karl and the Lady Galaxia.
 "The Lady, before her recent...vacation..." 
Karl started.
 "KARL! I was NOT on vacation!" the 
projection said fiercly.  "I was in lapse."  
She smiled then.  "Still, it's nice to see 
you try.  Continue."
 "...came to us to request that we be a sort 
of 'holding tank' for the Universe she 
existed in."
 "So THAT'S why you're not really here!" Ninx 
exclaimed.  "There's that whole dimensional 
boundry to consider!"
 The Lady nodded brightly.  "They sent you a 
bright one, eh Karl?" she said.
 "She's to receive the Platinum Chain, 
m'Lady.  She'd better be bright," he said, 
and Ninx felt a sinking feeling in her 
stomach.
 Meanwhile, Galaxia brightened perceptively.  
"The Platinum Chain?" she said, in a hushed 
voice that lost none of its intensity.  The 
sinking feeling in her stomach intensified.  
The Golden Senshi turned on her and asked, 
"Did they give you any idea about what you're 
doing?"
 "I'm supposed to go and destroy the 
mechanics that are interfering in the Senshi 
powers.  Something--and this is according to 
the Room--is damaging the lines between their 
powers, and there's been some crossing over."
 "How dreadful!" the Woman muttered.  
"Alone?"
 "Actually, I'm to collect a team--though I 
don't know how large, nor who--and go do 
something about it." 
 "I see, I see," she murmured.  "Well, we'd 
better get you to the Platinum Chain, and 
I'll see if I can try and help you."
 "I'd be honored, Lady Galaxia."
 "You'd better be," the Golden Senshi said 
back with a trace of a smile. 
 Karl gave her a soft push, and they went 
forward, the woman leading them quietly.  
Most of the place was shrouded in darkness--
in fact, though she saw torch holders in the 
walls, none had been lit beyond the entrance.  
And still she was nervous, for she had a 
feeling now, another sinking feeling to go 
with the other thousand or so pressed flat in 
her stomach, that she was in WAY over her 
head.  
 Finally, Lady Galaxia stopped, and Karl lit 
the torch.  And Ninx found herself in 
a...storeroom.
 "Impressive," she managed to crack, staring 
at the cracked flooring, the rows of metal 
shelves, and shivering a little at the chill 
in the air.   she 
wondered to herself.
 "We make do," Karl said softly.  "Though I 
personally think it should be a LITTLE nicer, 
no one wants to draw attention to this room.  
However, the energy in this room...can't you 
feel it?" 
 She nodded, for a faint buzzing had set up 
residence in her head, which helped her 
nerves NONE.
"I understand," she said softly.  
"So...uh...when do I get the Chain?" 
 "I'll have to find it, first," he said.
 "That will not be necessary," Lady Galaxia 
said.  "It's over here, eye level, four 
down."
 Quickly the pair came, and Karl stepped 
first to pull out slightly the cardboard 
container.  From it he pulled a plain, 
plastic case, then turned and gave it to her.  
"Here ya go, Ninx.  The Platinum Chain."
 She took it cautiously, and opened it.  
Inside was silverly chain, made of the rare, 
precious and nigh indestructible metal.  
Actually, it was more like a bracelet, with 
eight gleaming links joined by a ninth, 
larger one.  And on each link was engraved a 
small symbol, a different color for each one.  
She took it, rolled it in her fingers, 
examining the symbols, the buzz of power 
building in the back of her mind.
 She looked up at Karl and Lady Galaxia, both 
who watched her intently.  "The Senshi's 
powers...here?" 
she said, quietly.
 "All of them," Lady Galaxia replied.  "You 
can now officially call on each and every 
Senshi power."
 "Plus the ones invented by your particular 
author," Karl added.  "Most likely why they 
chose you to bear it, Ninx--because your 
author came up with some new powers."
 "But so did lady..." she stammered, knowing 
FULL well that other authors had done the 
same, but she couldn't remember, in her 
addled brain, who they could be.
 "But you've been cross-trained, dear," Lady 
Galaxia said.
 "All the Senshi powers..." she said, 
gripping the chain.  "Do I transform?"
 "If you want to," Karl said.
 "I'll think about it," she said.  Her face 
pulled into a thoughtful look for a moment, 
and then she added, "Don't some of the Senshi 
use staffs?"
 "Hmmm...I hadn't thought of that," Karl 
said.  "You will need some to use, just in 
case...." he trailed off and looked to Lady 
Galaxia.  
 "How about an amalgam?" the Lady replied, 
looking in the boxes, her feet a few inches 
off the floor.  "You have a couple up here."
 "Senshi?"
 "Yes, you WOULD need one of those," she 
murmured.  She floated through the shelves, 
and Ninx lost track of the golden blur.  
Finally, they heard her soft voice saying, 
"Here."
 The two of them moved again, and this time 
Karl crouched to pull from the box something 
that fit in the palm of his hand.  He handed 
it to Ninx, and she stared at it; it was a 
long, slick wood-that-wasn't-wood staff, ends 
glinting at her.
 "You want me to use this?" she said, not 
hiding the incredulity in her voice.
 "It grows, Ninx," Karl said.  
 "What IS it?" she burst out.  "It looks like 
wood--but it doesn't FEEL like wood--and why 
are the ends so shiny?  Do I blind people 
with them, or something?"
 Karl shook his head, smiling, and the Lady 
Galaxia looked faintly bemused.  "It's an 
amalgam, Ninx.  You know what that is?"
 "A fusing, or a combination," she replied, 
mystified.  "But of what?"
 "Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn's staves," 
Karl said.  "With crystal pieces at the end 
for added energy control.  In fact, I 
believe...try tapping the butt end against 
your hand."
 She did so, and out from the top came a 
triangular crystalline blade, gleaming; a 
touch confirmed the sharp edge.  
 "It'll pierce through most things," Galaxia 
said.  "And if you channel power through it, 
you can probably even conquer that."
 "Can I remove the blade, if need be?" she 
asked.  
 "You'll have to find that one out for 
yourself, Ninx," Karl said.  
 She nodded at that, staring at the tiny 
staff, tapping its end against her palm in 
order to resheathe the crystal blade.  "Is 
there anyway to put this on the Platinum 
Chain, or connect the Platinum Chain to this?  
I'd rather not lose either one."
 Karl stared at her, and Lady Galaxia smiled.  
"She is bright, Karl," she said.  To Ninx, 
"Yes, there is a way.  Do you prefer either 
one?"
 "The staff, if grown a little, would be 
easier to keep track of, and less of a jewel 
for any thief," she replied.  
 Lady Galaxia nodded, and Ninx handed over 
the staff and chain to Karl, who held them 
within the image of the Lady.  She tilted 
back, eyes closed, and the two vanished for a 
split second; the staff reappeared, and Karl 
handed it back to Ninx.  She concentrated, 
and grew it to the length of a pencil and 
studied it.  Just below the shining tip was 
the chain, set in the wtwnw ((AN: See 
above.)) so it looked like a ring of ornate 
runes.  She nodded in satisfaction to 
herself, then slipped it into her pocket.  
"Now to assemble the team," she murmured to 
herself.
 Suddenly, Lady Galaxia crowed, and they both 
looked at her, stunned.  "I know who you can 
use!" she cried out.  "The one who has 
slipped WAY between the cracks, and some 
Generals!" 
 Karl nodded his approval, and said quietly 
to her, "I'll show her the way." 

	*	*	*	*
 "You STORE them?" she said.
 He nodded as he unlocked the door, leading 
her onto a metal walkway.  They only had to 
go for a little bit before they came to the 
tubes, five on each side.  She looked between 
them, once and twice and again, then said, 
"They're the same."
 He shook his head.  "Not quite.  Check 
again." 
 So she did, coming in close to one, then the 
other, and finally a smile came to her lips, 
and she stood back up.  "This side," she 
said, pointing to the left, "is evil.  And 
the side to my right is good."
 He nodded, and she walked among them again, 
mind reviewing her knowledge.  Facing either 
side, they went from left to right: Endymion, 
Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite, and Zoicite.  
 she thought.  Finally, 
she looked to Karl and asked, "How many can I 
take?"
 "We usually only allow out one or two, but 
three would have to be your maximum," he 
replied.
 She nodded, then turned back to the tubes, 
debating.  Her author's works always praised 
Jadeite (even if they spelled his name wrong) 
and she'd come to admire that portrait of 
cocky charm.  She drew back, though, looking 
to Zoicite...and nixed the idea immediately.  
If the PT chain was any indication, then 
she'd need power.  
 So, she leaned over and pressed the blue 
OPEN button on the tubes for Kunzite, 
Nephrite, and Endymion.  
 Immediately, black doors fell over those 
three, and a whooshing sound came.  Then, 
they fell back, and there, still in the 
tubes, were the three she'd just asked for.
 She looked to Karl, her expression 
questioning.  "We always need to keep them in 
stock," he replied to her unspoken question, 
"for anybody who writes fics with them." A 
small smile came over his face.  "becki and 
Jaime almost have their own permanant copies 
of the Generals, though they prefer the ones 
on the left."
 She nodded slightly, still looking at the 
tubes, when the door to her left opened.  And 
in strolled the three she'd just chosen--
Endymion in fore, Kunzite and Nephrite 
flanking him.
 Immediately she turned, smiled, and with a 
slight bow, said, "Greetings, Prince 
Endymion!  I am Ninx, and I am in need of 
your services."
 "Stupid commoner!" Kunzite suddenly roared.  
"Don't you know you're not supposed to speak 
before the Prince!"
  her 
mind raged, and she felt her features tense 
up.  "Excuse me, sir?"
 "That was nearly an affront to the Prince's 
honor..." he started, but then Endymion held 
up his hand, saying, "Peace, peace.  She 
doesn't look like one who knows the 
protocals, Kunzite.  In fact, she doesn't 
even look like one of our time."  He looked 
around and then added, "And perhaps we aren't 
IN our own time."
 "If your bodyguard will allow me to speak, 
Prince Endymion, I will explain," she said.
 "BODYGUARD!" roared Kunzite, and now 
Nephrite looked like he wanted to say 
something.  Yet the Prince, despite his stern 
expression, was laughing to himself; she 
could see it in his twinkling, deep blue 
eyes.  
 "Kunzite, Nephrite, have courtesy," he said, 
and the two contained their fuming.  "I would 
speak with this lady...lady..."
 "Ninx," she supplied.
 "Lady Ninx," he finished, walking forward a 
bit.  And although it was under his breath, 
she heard him add, "With the intruiging sense 
of humor."

	*	*	*	*
 "Where did you say we were going?" she asked 
Karl.
 "The Pit," he replied.
 "Sounds nasty," Endymion mused.
 The three of them strolled down the hall, 
Ninx in the middle, trailed by Nephrite and 
Kunzite, who grumbled all the way.  
 "We have no idea," said Karl.  "But after 
re-checking Ninx's card to see if there was 
any support, I found that they wanted a team 
of six, and while they left four to her, they 
wanted one to definetely be.." here he paused 
to re-read the ticket, "a women named 
Cheyenne."
 "Do we know anything about her?" Kunzite 
said, his voice almost anxious.
 "Nothing," Karl replied.  "Unless, Ninx..."
 "I don't have a clue who she is," she said.  
"Though there are rumors--and mind you, 
unfounded rumors--that the Room keeps a 
supply of powerful warriors on hand, just in 
case it has to deal with a BIG threat."
 "Such as the one we face," Karl murmured.  
"There may be some credence to that, Ninx."
 She shrugged.  "Who knows the ways of those 
in the Room?  Still, it sounds like something 
they would do." 
 Kunzite whispered something to Nephrite 
behind her, and she tried to cock her ears 
and hear the words, but couldn't.  She felt 
some awe when it came to the Prince, and a 
little around Nephrite, but NOT with Kunzite.  
OH, NO! Not after he called her stupid.   she 
told herself calmly.  
 A sputtering voice in the back told her 
Nephrite had replied, but otherwise, there 
was no other conversation.  Swiftly a pair of 
dark doors came into their sight, torchlight 
blinding around it.  Karl handed the pass 
back to Ninx, and she looked to him.  
 He grinned, then said, "Its your clearance, 
Ninx.  I may have level 12, but not the 
verification I need for this room."
 Her eyebrows raised, but she inserted the 
slip in the slot at the door, and waited.  A 
green light flashed, and the doors opened.  
The Generals quickly barged to step in first, 
and Ninx, Karl, and the Prince followed.  
Unconciously, Ninx produced the pencil sized 
staff, and let it grow until it was about a 
foot and a half long.  Already the thick 
staff felt comfortable in her grip.
 The room was dark--only one torch was lit--
but from what she could see it was mostly 
metal (floor, walls, maybe ceiling, though 
she couldn't see!), and probably large.  The 
air quality was different, too, the humidity 
slightly higher, and it tasted like sweat, 
though her nose didn't detect any specific 
human scents.  
 Abruptly, a ball of light flared from 
Kunzite's hand, and shortly after a sparkle 
from Nephrite headed towards the ceiling.  
She herself concentrated, and though she 
didn't remember any such call by Venus, 
murmuring "VENUS LIGHT" produced an orange 
globe that hung around her head.  
 Swiftly, a shape moved across her vision, 
and she and the light swung around to follow 
it, crying out, "THERE!" 
 Kunzite was by her in an instant, Nephrite 
hanging back to cover the Prince, who 
unsheathed his sword.  Karl crossed his arms 
in front of him, paling, and his lips moved 
in silence as if he was trying to remember a 
ward or five.  
 "I don't see..." Kunzite began, but she cut 
him off by snapping the light downwards.
 "Of course you DON'T SEE! It MOVED! There 
was movement there, though, so we'd BETTER 
WATCH for SOMETHING!" She was being testy, 
and she knew it, but the day was already 
growing too long.  Was it only an hour or so 
ago that she was in front of the gates?  A 
scant time before that, sitting at her desk, 
thinking peaceful thoughts?  She shook off 
her mood, though, not noticing the sudden 
flash of respect in Kunzite's eyes.
 Then, just as quickly as before, there came 
a movement.  Only now it was descending 
towards them, a flame haired creature 
wielding a silver dagger, and it didn't look 
friendly....
 Kunzite let off the first barage of power, 
the energy around his fingers snapping and 
weaving together to form a blue-black blast.  
It reached for the moving, red-haired blur--
and then missed as the creature sheared off 
abruptly.  A quick tumble in the air brought 
the women--the lines of her uniform were 
tight enough to discern that--to a crouch, 
back turned.  She barely paused to glance at 
them before reaching out with her foot and 
sweeping Kunzite, who thudded to the floor 
with a muffled voice of surprise.  Now her 
purple eyes winked at Ninx, and she knew she 
was to be targeted next.  
 Instinctively her teeth gritted----and she raised the staff.  "Sound 
travels faster than you," she said.  "So try 
it, woman." 
 The women seemed to smile at this, and then 
launched herself into the air.  In response, 
Ninx shouted, "MARS FIRE IGNITE!" Instantly, 
fire gathered around the end of the staff, 
and she swung it at the woman, tongue of fire 
leaping at her.
 Shocked, she turned aside, but not before 
Ninx saw the rage in her own eyes.  A sudden 
prickle struck the back of her neck, and 
before she could think a pain exploded in her 
head.
 *Take that, intruder!* sounded an defiant 
voice in her head, and she knew then and 
there that she was facing a telepath as well 
as a flame haired blur.  Her legs fell from 
under her, yet the staff still clung to her 
hand, as if it would never let go.  She 
managed to turn her fall into a clumsy roll, 
coming up with her head still burning.   she knew.  Weakily, she raised 
the staff again, and summoning her knowledge 
of the Outer Senshi, whispered, "Pluto Dead 
Scream!" 
 The staff responded gladly; she could feel 
the energy leaping up in the wood.  Her 
blurry eyes turned clearer than before; her 
ears sharpened, and energy flooded her legs.  
With a strength she wasn't accustomed to, she 
threw the purple slap of sound at the woman.
 Her flame hair and purple eyes seemed to 
burn--she knew it was coming, and tried to 
react, but as before, sound is faster than 
movement.  Yet a white aura had formed about 
her as the angry crowded her face, and 
wordlessly a wave of energy flashed out of 
her.  It smacked into the Dead Scream, and 
the two flashes of power ATE each other, 
disappearing inside the other, a muffled 
explosion resounding their end.
 "Now, Kunzite!" she found herself yelling.  
"Now, while she can't summon her psi!" She 
tried to scramble to her feet, but as the 
staff had become normal, so had she--and boy, 
did it hurt.  Kunzite's curt nod and the 
fluttering of his grey hair calmed her a bit, 
though, and she sank down to the floor again, 
watching.
 The woman apparently realized her power was 
gone, but not her strength.  She lashed out 
at Kunzite with the dagger, but he was too 
fast for her, leaping back.  His hand came 
around as if to slap her, and she flew 
backwards, miraculously landing on her feet.  
Still she charged, and in response he growled 
some words, and charged right back.  The two 
oncoming forces were destined to meet in the 
middle, and Ninx feared they would eat each 
other as well, like the powers had.  However, 
Kunzite apparently had much more sense--
--than the Dead Scream; at 
the last moment, he slid, knocking her off 
her feet, so she sprawled on the floor.  In 
an instant he was on his feet, and she coming 
to hers; well, that is until Kunzite threw a 
blue-black energy net over her, separating 
her not only from the ground, but from the 
dagger as well.  She snarled fiercly at him, 
and at the oncoming people, even at Karl.
 "Do you know her, Karl?" Ninx asked, 
uncertain.  She felt better now; the effects 
of the psi-shock had faded after she relaxed 
on the floor, though there was still a touch 
of wobbliness in her step.  
 "Karl?" the woman said before he could 
reply.  "Guardian of the A-E?  You brought 
these intruders here?"
 Karl walked in closer, still a little pale, 
but a definite unfriendliness in his eyes.  
"I'm afraid we're at a disadvantage her," he 
snapped.  "You know my name--but what's 
yours?"
 "Cheyenne Guerra, Karl," she replied. 
 "Cheyenne?" Ninx said, then looked to Karl.  
"She's the one."
 "Oh," Kunzite muttered, and his eyes 
suddenly became a washed out gray.  Ninx 
surpressed smile, feeling that even the 
Prince was expressing doubts over the Room's 
choice.
 "The one what?  And who are you?"
 "The one the Room sent us for," Ninx replied 
crisply.  "And my name is Ninx."
 "Holder of the PT chain," Karl added, and 
Cheyenne's eyes widened.  Ninx felt almost 
embarrassed--must it be announced to 
everyone?
 "I am Prince Endymion, of the Earth," said 
Endymion from beside her, his voice 
diplomatic.
 "I am General Nephrite, Guardian of Prince 
Endymion."
 "And I," Kunzite said, coming a little 
closer to her, the energy net tightening, "am 
General Kunzite, Leader of the Generals, 
Guardian of Prince Endymion."
 Chey's eyebrows raised, and Ninx could have 
SWORN that a blush sprung up on her face.  A 
faint, faint, FAINT one, but it was there.  
Her lips worked for a moment before sound 
came out, and then she said, "I am Cheyenne 
Guerra, under a Secret Moon, employed to help 
the Room in all."
 "Well, you're going to have to come with us, 
Chey," Ninx said.  "I have a pass that.."
 "What did you call me?" the woman barked.
 "Chey."
 "My name is Cheyenne."
 "It's just an abbreviation."
 "My NAME is Cheyenne!"
 Ninx stared at her, losing her temper over a 
nickname.  "It's best if I call you something 
short," she said.  
 "Why?"
 "Stop asking questions! " Kunzite suddenly 
commanded in his most brusque voice.
 Cheyenne seemed stunned; Ninx's eyebrows 
raised, yet in the moment of silence she 
thrust out her pass.  "Your name is on it," 
she said.  "And the Room's authorization."
 Cheyenne nodded, fingering the blue, gold 
and silver worked card, then handed it back.  
"All right," she finally said.  "Will you let 
me go now?"
 Ninx glanced at Endymion and Nephrite; they 
seemed reluctant.  Kunzite was subtley 
shaking his head "NO!"  "I'll let you go," 
she started.
 "Good," Cheyenne interupted through gritted 
teeth.
 "Let me FINISH!" she roared, tapping her 
staff, crystal blade appearing with a soft 
|shikt|.  "You will follow our rules here.  
Suggestions are no problem, but there will be 
no jumping into combat on your own, no 
running off without us.  You need to earn our 
trust Cheyenne--as we need to earn yours.  
Understand?"
 "But..."
 Kunzite tightened the net, and the woman 
nearly slumped forward, falling to her knees.  
"Yes," she whispered grudgingly.  "I will 
follow."
 Ninx nodded to Kunzite, and he released her.  
She extended her hand, whispering, "Let it 
begin, now."
 Cheyenne looked up at her, studying her with 
her eyes, and there was faint prickle on her 
neck again.   she thought, but 
ignored it, thinking of peaceful intentions.  
 Finally, she took her hand, and allowed her 
to help her up, nodding slightly.  Ninx 
smiled; hesitantly she smiled back.
 But it didn't reach her eyes.

	*	*	*	*
 "They will be coming soon," Lady Galaxia 
said.  "Are you ready?"
 The cloaked woman looked up, and smiled 
softly.  "Yes, Golden One, I am."
 Lady Galaxia shook her head.  She'd been 
friends with this woman for quite some time, 
since the end of the Silver Millenium, and 
she still insisted on calling her "Golden 
One" or "Lady Galaxia".  She expected that 
formality from Karl or Michael or Ninx, but 
not from her. She'd known her too long..
 "I cannot help my formality, Golden One.  It 
has been ingrained."
 "You still haven't picked up contractions 
yet, have you?" 
 The woman blinked, eyes bright.  "No, I have 
not...haven't intergrated them into my speech 
yet."She gave a faint smile, one that didn't 
touch her deeply pained eyes.  "But I'm 
trying."
 "You'll do wonderfully," Galaxia reassured 
her.  "I'm sure of it."  She looked towards 
the doors.  "They should be here soon--unless 
they had trouble with Cheyenne."
 "Cheyenne?  Oh dear."
 "I told it was going to be rough, Lady 
Mercurio, but you must push on to regain 
your.."
 It was then that the door clanged open, and 
in came them.  Lady Galaxia vanished, and 
Mercurio's hood flashed over her head, 
shading her face in shadow.  She turned to 
see them, as they got their first glimpse of 
her.
  thought Nephrite 
immediately.  He and Karl and Ninx had taken 
point, leaving Kunzite in back with Endymion 
to deal with Cheyenne.  He did not like the 
spark in his liege's eyes when he looked at 
her, but who was he to judge what was in the 
Prince's mind?  After all, she was 
attractive, wearing a short top and short 
skirt, daggers within reach, and a 
disassembled bo across her back.  Once they 
had calmed her enough for Karl to start them 
towards their last room, she'd been rather 
chatty, though serious, and most of her 
questions were aimed at Kunzite.   She acted 
as if HE was in charge of the mission, though 
truly that fell to Ninx.  He was not 
surprised; Kunzite certainly had an air of 
command about him.  He'd often said it was 
bred into his family.  
  he mused, 
eyeing the cloaked and hooded figure while 
taking in the room. It was a protected room--
he could feel the wards--and rather small; he 
suspected that it was just a greeting room, a 
place to assess visitors before they entered 
her domain.  The colors were striking; a lot 
of dark and ice blue, a good deal of white, 
and a touch of blue-grey here and there.  It 
gave an impression of power and depression, 
he decided, and was not keen on his decision.  
It did not bode well for the room's occupant.
 "Hello, Lady Mercurio," Ninx called, 
stepping forward.  "I am Ninx, mission 
commander of this particular group."  
Turning, she introduced them one by one, 
finishing with, "...and this is Karl, who 
will probably want to get back to his duties 
now."
 "Very right, Ninx," he said, giving a short 
bow.  "Someone will come to collect you when 
the teleporters have been aligned." 
 "Thank you, Karl," she said, giving him a 
short nod and a smile.  "It's been a 
pleasure."
 He smiled back, and then beat it out of the 
room.
 She turned back to Lady Mercurio, and 
sighed.  "Do you have a place we can sit 
down?"
 "Of course," replied the woman, her voice 
slightly musical and low.  Nephrite's eyes 
tried to pry out what was beneath that hood, 
but he couldn't penetrate the shadow, and he 
didn't want to stick a torch in her face just 
to see it.  She turned away, moving 
gracefully to the door, and Nephrite frowned 
a bit.  There was something familar about the 
colors of her cloak, though he couldn't place 
it.  And her name as well; it stuck out in 
his mind as if he should remember it, but 
couldn't.  He shook his head; he didn't have 
time for speculation.  According to Karl, she 
was a Senshi, who'd, as he put it, "slipped 
between the cracks" (with a grin at Ninx).  
Nothing more, nothing less.
 The door opened, and the five of them 
trooped over to go through.  He delibrately 
was the last to go through, stopping to speak 
with her.  
 "Lady Mercurio?"
 She looked up from the control panel as if 
shocked, then said, "Yes?"
 "Is your house familar to the Sol system?  I 
seem to recall you."
 For a moment, it seemed a shock had run down 
the figure, but just as quickly composure 
came to it.  "My house was rather small, and 
I doubt if you'd know it." 
 "All right," he said, then passed through 
the doorway.
 She stood outside, lips pursed.   she thought quietly.  
 Cursing herself 
for agreeing with this, she passed through 
the doors, and they closed behind her.

    Source: geocities.com/soho/gallery/8281/anime