Standard Disclaimer: Sailor Moon does not belong to me.  It belongs
to Takeuchi Naoko, Kodansha, Toei Ltd., and tons of other people.
Thank you very much for creating such a wonderful story and please
don't sue me.  ^_^;;;  However . . . the events of this story and
some of these characters are MY property.  No stealing!

Additional Disclaimer: Mucho gracias to the RPG of which I am a 
member (Diana-chan) for filling my head with root beer thoughts!  Any 
zaniness on that part is a crossover from that particular aspect of 
my existence.  Oh, and BTW, my name isn't *really* Diana, but if you 
insist on calling me that . . . well, why not?  *Shrugs*

Heart Moving romanizations and translations were gotta via Lyric 
Moon.

   Hmmm . . .  All right, all right, I know I promised this part 
*weeks* ago, but two LONG power outages and a lot of work pushed this 
back a bit.  Well, here's Episode Seven and hopefully you won't have 
to wait *quite* as long for the next one.  I *am* working on a couple 
of different 'fics at the moment and one or two should be ready 
*soon*.  Nothing'll be out (unfortunately) for next week, though, 
since I'm going away for a week.  I'm off to Disney World!  However, 
when I get back, I'm sure to be full of fresh ideas that a LONG car 
trip will give me and be ready to start writing A LOT.  Any e-mail 
sent me during that week will have to wait to be answered until I get 
back.  Just so you know.
   Oh yes, I'm sure some of you will be VERY happy about a certain 
scene in this part.  I couldn't resist.  However, don't get your 
hopes up.  This is a long series and I'm still on the first season!  
I'm looking forward to Season Two with great glee, mostly because of 
some new characters who'll be showing themselves.  Don't worry, 
though, some things can be *delayed* but they'll work themselves out 
eventually.
   Okay, enjoy!  ^_-

One last thing . . . Any STAR members willing to help out on the 
fanfic committee . . . We can use your help!  Arigato, minna.

   Ann looked up at Alan through half-lidded eyes, too weak to do 
more than that and let him hold her hand.   she tried to 
ask him painfully, even her mental voice weak.
    he whispered to her.  
   Ann looked away from him, down to the ground.  Her next thought 
was pain-filled.  
   And he knew what she was asking.  Why had he attempted to begin a 
relationship with Serena?  Why had he forsaken her?  Why had he 
broken the sacred promise that he had made to her so long ago when 
they were but children?  Why had he given up on her?
   He had no answers.

   "Tick tock tick tock tick tock . . ."
   Fiore smiled at the perfectly set explosives.  "Counting down to 
zero."  He smirked.  
   <> the Kisenian hissed angrily.
   Fiore absently stroked the flower's petals.  <>
   <>
   <> Fiore searched for the right words, <>
   <> the Kisenian warned.
   <>
   <>
   <>
   <>
   <>
   Fiore vanished as the explosives counted down.
   23:55:17
   23:55:16
   23:55:15
   23:55:14
   23:55:13 . . . .

Guardian Rose
aka
Don't Fight Destiny!

   "This Senshi meeting will now come to order!" Luna announced.
   Amy yawned.  "Was it really necessary to hold a meeting at five in 
the morning, Luna?"
   "Yeah, really," Lita complained, attempting to hold her eyelids 
open with her fingers.
   Serena made no comment, having fallen asleep nearly immediately 
upon her arrival.
   The two girls looked over at their leader and sighed.  Everybody 
yawned again as Raye came into the room, sliding the door open.
   "Now, now, girls," Luna said, trying to stay in control, "we've 
*got* to discuss the-" she stifled a yawn, "-new developments . . ."
   "Just so long as you do it quietly!" Raye hissed.  "Grandpa's 
asleep and I *don't* want him to wake up and find us all here!"
   "All right, all right," Lita muttered, her eyelids drooping.
   Luna blinked rapidly a few times and said in irritation, "Would 
someone wake Serena up?"
   Raye groaned, reached over, and shook Serena.  "Come on, sleepy, 
wake up!"
   Serena rolled over, muttering, "No . . .  Darien . . .  Why'd I do 
that anyway?  I couldn't help it . . . you looked *so* kawaii . . ."
   The other three girls blinked.  "Huh?"
   Raye looked especially interested.  "Exactly what did you and 
Darien do, Serena?"
   "Nothing . . . Raye . . . but . . . I couldn't help myself . . ."
   Luna rolled her eyes.  "Don't we have more important matters to 
attend to then Serena's non-existent love-life?"
   "Just as soon as we find out what she and my Onii did together, 
Luna," Raye replied in a determined manner.
   It was then that Serena's eyes began fluttering open.  She looked 
up at the other three girls and cat, and sitting up, said brightly, 
"Oh, hey, guys, what'd I miss?"
   "Nothing," Luna growled out.
   "Oh, good . . .  Then I can get back to sleep!"  Serena let out a 
yawn, then settled back down on the floor.
   The other girls exchanged a look and a shrug, then all three of 
them nodded together and Raye said, "Oh, Serena . . ."
   They launched themselves on her prone form and began tickling away 
until she was begging them to stop.  "Oh, please . . . st-stop!  Oh . 
. . hehehe . . . stop . . . p . . . hahaha . . . lease!"
   Luna covered her face in her paws.  "We're not going to accomplish 
anything!  What did I do to deserve this?!"

Across town, at the exact same moment

   Jed stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his body, 
another one being used to dry off his dripping wet hair, which was 
remarkably still blonde, even while drenched.  He dressed quickly in 
a pair of shorts and a white T-shirt, that was a little too tight for 
him and so showed off his body to perfection (of course, he was 
perfectly unaware of these, but others, *especially* females, were 
not).  Exiting his bedroom, he paused, running a hand over his still 
damp hair, before walking into the adjoining room.
   Two tired blue eyes gazed out at the others gathered in his living 
room.  They had all discovered about a minute after detransforming, 
who the identities of the others were.  It had been a surprise, to 
say the least.  Kenneth and November looked up as Jed strode into the 
room.  "Sorry to keep everyone waiting."  English was the language of 
choice, as everyone could speak it fluently and there were things 
that they just didn't feel comfortable saying in Japanese, except for
November who was a native.
   "It's'kay," Zephyr drawled languidly, gazing off into the distance 
(and to the left of Jed) from his spot sprawled on the couch next to 
Kenneth.  Four empty bottles rested on the table in front of him.
   "Is he drunk, or what?" Jed asked, nervously.
   "Nah, he's only been drinking root beer," November pointed out 
from where he sat in Jed's brown easy chair.
   Jed sighted the bottles and recognized them as belonging to the 
six-pack of the stuff that he'd been keeping in his fridge.  "Oh."  
Inwardly, he winced as he noticed how much food they seem to have 
eaten from his meager stores.  
   "Sometimes root beer's worse," Kenneth was muttering darkly under 
his breath.  No one else seemed to catch his words, but Jed filed 
them away for future reference.  
   "Nice place you've got here," November was saying 
conversationally.
   "Thanks," Jed replied.
   "So," Kenneth broke in, bending forward and clapping his hands 
together in false heartiness, "I suppose we should discuss what 
happened last night."
   Jed looked away, November shifted uncomfortably, and Zephyr's 
hands twitched.  Finally, they had come to the topic that they had 
been avoiding all night.  The topic that they did *not* want to 
discuss . . . the one that they *had* to discuss.
   "I suppose we should . . ." Jed managed to say, as he sat down in 
the other chair.
   "Damn right," November added, but everyone noted that he wasn't 
about to make the first move.  Zephyr was still zoned, so the matter 
was left up to Kenneth.
   "First, tell me," he began, grey eyes strangely unfocused, "have 
any of you every had some type of reoccuring dream?"
   Zephyr's attention gradually shifted to the conversation and he 
struggled a bit with his words before saying, "Kenneth . . . don't."
   Kenneth ignored him and forged on.  "I don't mean *ordinary* types 
of reoccuring dreams . . . I mean ones like-"
   "Don't!" Zephyr said sharply, his green eyes snapping into focus.
   "I've *got* to!" Kenneth snapped back.  "Can't you see?"
   "It's none of their business.  You promised that we'd never 
discuss it with anyone else!"
   "Don't you recognize them?" Kenneth argued, his tone dropping in 
volume but not in intensity.  "Those shadowy faces . . . those voices 
whose owners we could never ascertain . . .  Don't you recognize 
them?"
   "I . . . I," Zephyr fell silent, subdued.  "I recognize no one but 
the Prince.  I don't even recognize *you*."  His eyes flashed 
stubbornly.  "Not until it's time.  Not until we know for certain."
   "This is better than nothing."  Kenneth's eyes pleaded with him.  
<>
   The thought hit all of them with equal intensity at the same 
instant.  Shock radiated through Jed and November, and even, to an 
extent, Zephyr, who had never believed that it would work.
   Jed stared incredulously at Kenneth.  "I-I *heard* that!"
   "Well, of course you did."  The white-haired man's face broke into 
a slow, welcoming smile.  "The Four have always been able to hear one 
another's thoughts.  For the Four are One and *we* are the Four."
   "Oh, man," November groaned, "it's all coming back . . ."
   "And that's a bad thing?"  Kenneth smiled.
   November's dark eyes met his own.  "Maybe it is."
   Jed stared at the other three, his eyes sparkling.  "No, it isn't!  
It isn't at all . . . because now I remember . . ."
   "Remember what?" Zephyr demanded.
   Jed stared at him a moment, a pleasant vision of a dark-haired, 
dark-eyed girl swirling through his mind.  He remembered more about 
her, perhaps no more than the way her hair shone in the moonlight, or 
the way she cried, or the way her hand felt when she rested it over 
his, but something . . . *something*.  But this . . . none of this 
would he, *could* he reveal to these men.  So instead, he said the 
first thing that came to mind, the vision of her still before his 
eyes, dancing to some unheard music, "Phoenix."

   Raye slept, and bits and pieces of her nightmare flashed across 
the insides of her eyes.  Bits and pieces of hell . . .
   Death.
   Red death.
   Flashes of swords.
   Arches of burning red fire.
   Red death.
   Blood.
   Red death.
   Everywhere . . . the redness covered everything.  Dark smoke 
roiled up into a red sky.  Everything was red.  Everything stank of 
death and destruction . . . and her blood.  And the blood of the 
others.
   She was high atop a spire rising up through the blood sky, her 
hands and feet bound.  Her dark hair whipped about her face which was 
bent and shadowed.  Blood flowed down from her wounds and spilled, 
soaking into the ground until the earth was red.
   This image flashed and another replaced it.  A handsome face swam 
into view, blue eyes under a blonde mop of hair.  He was equally 
battered and seeing her form, he stopped and fell to his knees in the 
red, red ground.
   She looked up, her lips blood flecked, her eyes circled with dark 
rings, and tried to smile.  "Ja-"  Her smile and the words vanished 
as her horrified, pain-filled eyes saw . . .
   The glint of a sword . . .
   The red blood spilling forth . . .
   A scream that was not her own spilling forth into the emptiness 
that was fast becoming her soul, her heart . . .

   "REIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

   Serena rocked back on her heels, looking at the worried faces of 
Luna, Amy, and Lita.  "Well, I can't seem to wake her."  She 
shrugged.  "And she was complaining about how you guys couldn't wake 
*me* up!  She's harder to wake up than I am!"
   "Well, she's obviously having a nightmare . . ." Luna began 
slowly, when Raye bolted upright, tears springing to her eyes.
   "No," she whispered, shaking.  "No."  She felt the urge to start 
howling it into the night, but restrained herself with difficulty.  
Instead, she simply gazed out, unseeing, and began to sob loudly.  
She couldn't stop herself.
   Serena held her, her blue eyes filled with quiet concern for this 
most brash and seemingly least vulnerable of her friends.    "What happened, Raye?" she asked.
   "Don't.  Call.  Me.  That."  Her sobbing slowed, and her breathing 
became even harsher.
   "Nani?" Serena asked, uncertainly.  Raye was obviously still in 
the throes of her nightmare.
   "It sounds the same.  Kami-sama . . . it sounds the same."  Raye 
bit her lip, her eyes dark and intense with pain.  She whirled, 
staring at Luna.  "What's happening to me, Luna?  What's happening?  
Why do I remember these things?"
   "It was a dream-" Lita began slowly.
   Raye shook her head vigorously.  "It was a vision.  I know the 
difference."
   Amy considered a moment, then her kindly blue eyes met Raye's.  
"Perhaps . . . you'd like to tell us what happened in your dr-
vision?"
   "I can't," she said shortly.  "I'd like to, but I can't."  
   Luna stood up.  "Well, it's obvious that this meeting isn't going 
to get anywhere.  Besides, you all have school in little over half an 
hour," she pointed out.  Everyone grabbed their things and got to 
their feet.  Luna continued, saying, "Another meeting, after school!  
Don't be late," she fixed her gaze on a nervous-looking Serena, "and 
be prepared to discuss Senshi business, all right?"
   A choruses of less than enthusiastic, "Hai"s greeted her ears.
   Serena began running in place in her anxiety to leave.  "Luna, if 
I'm not home before Mom comes and checks on me, I'm dead meat!"
   "I know."  Luna winked.  "Get going."
   "But-" Serena began, her eyes pleading.
   "Just this once," Luna granted her permission, loftily.
   "Arigato, Luna!"    With a "Moon Prism Power" 
and a flash of light, Serena had transformed into the Bishoujo Senshi 
Sailor Moon.  She ducked out the door, saying, "Bye, minna!  See you 
in school!"  An instant later, she was bounding across rooftops, 
headed home.
   Amy and Lita left right after, in no particular hurry since they 
lived nearer than Serena and didn't have anyone waiting at home for
them.  Amy's mother was out of town and Lita was quite simply alone.
   Luna didn't leave.  Instead, she looked at Raye, studying her for 
an instant.  "I know you don't want to talk about it, but you asked 
*me*."
   Raye looked searchingly up at Luna.  "Was I ever . . . was I ever 
sacrificed to anything, Luna?  Was anyone ever killed as I watched?  
It's like I remember all of this.  Or maybe it's a vision of the 
future.  I don't know.  All I know is that it was *real* and that 
it's happened to me before.  I've felt all of that pain, seen all of 
that horror . . . before."
   Luna considered a moment.  "Raye.  You don't want me to tell you, 
do you?  You don't want to know.  Not really.  I couldn't tell you 
anyway.  I wish I could, but I *don't know*.  All I know is that, 
right now, you are the closest to remembering whatever it is that we 
must all remember in time."
   "I don't want to remember."  She covered her eyes with her hands, 
trying to block out the images.  "I don't want to remember him dying.  
He was looking at me.  He never saw it coming.  I don't want to 
remember that."
   "Were you close?"
   "He was my lover," she said softly, drawing her hands away, "and 
that makes no sense at all."
   "Maybe he was . . . in another life, Raye."
   Her mind's eye filled with the memory of his blue eyes . . . the 
pain and the love shining out from them.  And she let herself hope, 
for just an instant that . . .  "Maybe he was."

In Jed's apartment

   "Phoenix, eh?" Zephyr asked.  "How come *you* remember names?"
   "I do too," November volunteered.  "I remember yours, Unicorn."
   "Do SHUT UP!" he snarled.
   "You still hate it *that* much?"
   "Yes."
   November looked heavenward.  "Whatever."
   Kenneth tried to establish some order.  "Everyone.  Get a GRIP."
   Jed sighed.  "He's right.  Right now, let's just discuss what 
happened, rather than anything we remember."
   "There was an explosion," Zephyr supplied in a bored tone.
   "And a little after that, I had this sensation of being *needed*," 
November continued.
   "And then, I got this *enormous* headache."  Zeph glared at Nev.
   Nev glared right back.  "And I transformed."
   "Then we were all at the warehouse," Kenneth picked up, smoothly, 
as the blonde-haired man and the brown-haired one shot each other 
death looks.
   "Talking to those girls in short skirts," Jed replied.
   <>  The thought resounded between them, no one 
admitting who had thought it first.
   "The Sailor Senshi."  Kenneth smiled.
   "I thought there was only one, in England," Jed asked in 
confusion.
   "There *was*," Keth replied.
   "Yeah, he's an expert," Zephyr muttered.  "He's been chasing that 
one for at least a year now."
   "Anyway, they *are* the Sailor Senshi."
   "And who was that creepy-looking bitch attacking them?" Nev spoke 
up.
   "She was also a Sailor Senshi," Keth responded with a frown.
   "I take it that she's not a friend of ours?" Jed's bright blue 
gaze met Kenneth's stormy grey one.
   "I don't think so, considering that she was trying to kill us 
all."  Zephyr snorted derisively. 
   "And we are?"
   "The Guardians," was the name that came to the lips of all of 
them.

En route to Crossroads Junior High

   Serena walked, whistling, to school.  She had actually gotten home 
in time, and been dressed and downstairs before her alarm had even 
rung.  
   Her mother had been so surprised that she had nearly dropped her 
spatula.  Her father *had* dropped his paper, before saying, pleased, 
"Well, good!  I hope you can get up this early *every* morning!"
   Serena had sighed, issued a cheery "Ohaiyo!" grabbed a piece of 
toast, her lunch, put on her shoes, snagged up her school bag, and 
had skipped out the door.
   Other than the comment her father had made at breakfast, things 
were looking up.  That is, they were looking up until Darien cruised 
by in his car.  "Hey, Odango," he shouted out of the rolled down 
window, slowing the car to match her slow walk, "shouldn't you be 
running to school?"
   She stuck her nose up into the air, and secretly, he admired how 
kawaii she looked regardless.  In a firm voice, she replied, "I'll 
have you know that I'm early, today."  She stopped and stared at him.  
"*Very* early."
   He smiled.  "Okay, then, if you've got time, hop in."
   "Nani?" she asked, slightly scandalized.  "Geez, Darien, I *do* 
have to get to school!"
   "I'll drive you."
   He smiled charmingly, and she felt herself melting into a hot 
puddle on the sidewalk.   she chided herself.  
   "Please?" he asked.
   "You promise you'll be nice?" she hedged, trying to act as normal 
as possible.
   "Hai, I'll be nice."
   "Okay."  He stopped the car and reached over, opening the car 
door.  She got in and slammed the door shut.  "Why do you want to 
drive me, anyway?"  She didn't look at him as she spoke, focusing 
instead on fastening her seat belt.
   "I wanted to talk to you . . ."  He paused, and the words, "about 
that kiss" hung between them.
   "I can explain-" Serena began, wringing her hands together in her 
lap, wondering if she could even explain it to herself.
   ". . . about scheduling your new tutoring sessions."
   "Oh."  Silently, she breathed a sigh of relief.  Then his words 
caught up to her and she responded, both with dismay and happiness, 
"MORE tutoring?!"
   He laughed.  "Hai, Odango."
   She settled back in the passenger seat her arms crossed.  "Great."  
Her tone was none too happy, but her eyes seemed to sparkle, and it 
was all Darien could do to keep driving and not reach over and kiss 
her like his body and heart ached to.
   Smiling a little, she said, "You've got a nice car, Darien.  I 
wouldn't mind you giving me a ride everyday."
   "Don't push your luck," he warned her, though inwardly, he was 
pleased.  He liked the way she looked in his car.  It was like she 
belonged there.  It was strange the way the silliest things could 
make him happy now, as long as they had to do with Serena.
   Playing with her hair a little, she reached forward and asked, "Do 
you mind if I turn on the radio?"
   "No, go right ahead."
   She fiddled with the stations for a moment, then settled on one 
and leaning back, the song wafted through the car.  After the first 
notes sounded, Darien said suddenly, "Okay, first lesson.  Translate 
the song into English."
   "You like making everything into work, don't you?" she complained,
still, she complied.

   "Yume no naka futari de ita yo ne"

   "We were together in a dream, weren't we?" Serena sang obediently 
along.

   "Hoshi-tachi ni mamorarete"

   "As the stars looked on."

   "Tomodachi no toki ni wa ki ni sezu"

   "When we were just friends, we didn't mind too much-"

   "Nani genaku hanashi-shite-ita kedo"

   "We could talk casually-"

   "Anata dake ki ni naru shunkan ga atta na"

   "But there are moments when I only saw you," Serena's voice 
faltered a bit before picking up.

   "Motto kitei ni ima sugu naritai"

   "I want to be prettier now this instant."  Her gaze slid over to 
Darien, who was staring resolutely ahead, showing no sign that every 
word she said was burning into his heart.  She turned off the radio 
and his questioning gaze met hers.  She smiled.  "I know the rest of 
this song."

   "When you fall in love, something changes
    Close your eyes, and make certain
    to keep the rise of your heartbeat secret
    I wish I can just show you my feeling."

   The car suddenly stopped with a jerk just as she was about to sing 
the next verse.  "We're here," Darien said half-apologetically, half-
nervously.  "Your English isn't as bad as I thought."
   She smiled, dazzling his eyes, and slid out of the car.  "Arigato 
for the ride."
   "Oh, Serena," he called, catching her wrist.
   Feeling like her wrist was on fire, she turned.  "Yes?"
   "Tutoring session in the park, right after school today."
   "Hai," she said happily.
   He grinned back at her, and as soon as she closed the door, he 
zoomed off to his own classes.
   It was only then that Serena remembered the Senshi meeting.  "Oh 
no!"  She smacked herself on the forehead, then entered the school 
building, worrying.  

In Darien's car

   Darien smiled to himself as he drove off.    There 
was just something about her, something about his feelings toward her 
had changed, ever since yesterday . . . when she had kissed him, 
fleetingly, on the cheek.  When he had gazed into her blue eyes and 
had his first glimpse of heaven.  When he had realized that something 
are too strong to be fought, to struggle against.  Like his feelings 
for Serena.
   Still, he had the nagging feeling that he had begun pulling on a 
thread that would unravel the great tapestry of destiny and change 
everything, forever.  He felt something *ominous* as though something 
were about to befall him or her or both.
    he prayed, to whatever powers would listen, 
   He couldn't live with himself if anything happened to her.
   Frowning now, he drove on, still thinking of the way she had 
looked . . . when he had held her wrist.  The burning feeling in his 
hand as they touched, the intense gaze that had passed between the 
two of them in those few seconds.  How innocent and young and 
*vulnerable* she looked after that.  No, he couldn't . . . wouldn't 
let anything happen to her.  Not to her . . . Serena.

Hikawa Shrine

   Luna stepped daintily out of Raye's room as the girl began to 
change for school.  Staring up at the roof of the shrine, she glared 
at the two crows perched up there.  
   The birds gazed disappassionately down.  Phobos stretched a wing.  
<>
   The cat's tail twitched.  <>
   <>
   Luna's teeth glinted in the light.  <>
   <> Deimos warned her.  <>
   <>
   <>  Phobos's beady black eyes shone oddly in the light.
   <> Luna snarled, <>
   The birds squawked and ignored her.
   Raye's grandfather idled over.  "Raye, school!"
   "I *know*, Grandpa!" she shouted back.
   "Hey kitty," he said to Luna.
   The black cat glanced at him briefly then darted off.

Space-Time Limbo or
In front of the Gate of Time

   Sailor Pluto watched through a portal and her eyes narrowed.  
"That wasn't nice, Luna.  That wasn't nice at all.  There's one cat 
that is going to get *very* wet one of these days."  She glanced over 
her shoulder at four centuries' worth of water balloons and sighed.
   

Across town

   Jed and the others considered.
   "So, do we keep having our perfectly *fascinating* discussion, or 
do we go to school?" Zephyr asked, his green eyes sharp.
   "It's only our second day.  It would look *really* bad if all of 
us skipped."  Jed paced about anxiously.
   "Then we go," Kenneth decided.
   "And then?" Nev asked.
   "We meet at my place.  No offense, Jed," he added quickly, "but 
there's more room there."
   "Hey, no problem."  Jed smiled understandingly, while inside his 
mind shouted with glee, 
   Kenneth's eyes took on a slightly glazed look.  "I think there's 
something that all of you might want to take a look at."
   Zephyr remained quiet.
   Glancing at him, Kenneth got up and realizing that his action was 
a signal, they all gathered their things and left, leaving Jed alone 
in his apartment, staring after them and wondering why it felt that a 
board meeting had just been conducted and concluded.  And wondering 
why he felt that "other business" would prove to be the most 
interesting part in their next session.

15 minutes later
Molly's house . . .

   "'Nii-chan, where have you been?!" Molly demanded as November 
walked in the front door of her house.  He was staying in the guest 
room upstairs.   "Momma and I have been worried to death about you!"
   Feeling guilty, he looked at her.  "Gomen nasai, Mol.  Something 
came up . . . and some classmates and I had to . . . work together.  
We finished pretty late and I just plain forgot to call, so I stayed 
the night over there.  Gomen."
   Molly's face softened a bit.  "It's okay.  I know . . . you're all 
grown up, you don't have to call anymore.  You're just staying here, 
but . . . Mom and I worry, you know?"
   "I know," he said softly, kissing her on the forehead.  "Where is 
your Mom anyway?"
   "She had to go to work," Molly replied absently.
   "Oh.  I'll stop by the shop after school.  I'm sure glad you guys 
stopped living over the store.  That place was *so* cramped!"
  "Well, Mom thought that the two of us needed to get our own place.  
She was becoming *such* a workaholic.  We just had to get away.  By 
the way," she said with a giggle, "you've got a couple of phone 
messages!"
   "Really?" he asked.  "I haven't been back *that* long."
   "Yeah, well, it seems like some of your old girlfriends are happy 
you're home again."
   He groaned.  "You mean the ones I broke up with?"
   She snickered.  "The same.  They want another crack at you!  I 
guess my 'Nii-chan is just so handsome that they can't wait to get 
their paws on you."
   "Nice," he replied, grabbing some orange juice and pouring himself 
a quick glass.
   "Katie called," she said quietly, careful not to refer to her as 
her "Onee."
   Nev nearly dropped his glass with his now nerveless hand.  Keeping 
his voice cool he responded indifferently, "She did, huh?"
   Molly wasn't fooled.  "Yeah.  You know, I really wish you'd give 
her a cha-" she glanced quickly at the kitchen clock.  "Ohmigosh, 
we're gonna be late!  Haruda's gonna KILL me!"
   Nev stared at the clock.  "Yikes!  I'm in more trouble then *you* 
are!  I'm *already* late!"  He dashed up the stairs and into his 
room, his voice drifting down to her. "I'll drive you to school - 
just wait while I change real quick!"
   "Hurry, Nev!  I think *Serena's* earlier than this!"
   "Is that bad?"
   Her silence answered the question, and as he ran down the stairs, 
the look she was giving him swept away all doubts.  They ran to the 
car.

   The day passed normally enough.  Just a regular school day.  
Etude-sensei marked November late and noted that his new student, 
Rill, had transferred yet again and wondered at that for a moment or 
two.  He had to have a stern talking to with his other four new 
students who didn't seem to be paying the proper amount of attention 
in class.  They seemed preoccupied and moody.  If he hadn't dismissed 
the thought as silly, he would have thought that they were passing 
notes . . .
   Other than that, everything was fine.
   Fine, fine, fine.

   Haruna-sensei marked Baker Molly late and gave her an after school 
detention and noted that Ann and Alan were *still* not back in 
school.  She also told herself that she needed a vacation since Usa 
Serena had actually come to school *on time* for once.  Other than 
that one little aberration, everything was the same as always.
   Other than that, everything was fine.
   Fine, fine, fine.

   Except . . . it wasn't.  By midmorning, the sense of something 
amiss had affected nine people.  Keth, Jed, Zeph, and Nev felt 
generally uneasy but put it down to the revelations of that morning.  
Darien felt anxious but put it down to having to tutor Serena that 
afternoon.  Serena felt nervous but put it down to the pop quiz and 
having to decide between going to a tutoring session or a Senshi 
meeting.  Amy and Lita felt weighted down as though by some terrible 
anxiety, but put it down to not enough sleep.  Raye, in her Catholic 
school felt it most of all, and put it down to evil.

   The bomb kept ticking . . .
   14:34:45
   14:34:44
   14:34:43 . . .

Moto Azabu High

   After school, the four Guardians gathered their things together 
and met around Kenneth's desk since they had the same classes all 
day.  Darien passed them on his way out of the classroom, his 
carrying case and coat in hand.
   As he brushed past, the Four felt *something*.  Jed nearly spoke 
to stop him, but Kenneth shot him a look and he shut his mouth.  Not 
now.  Later, they would see what that strange feeling had been, but 
not now.
   Kenneth offered to give Jed a ride with Zephyr and him, and gave 
November directions to his apartment.  They headed over there and 
arrived around ten minutes later.  When they saw the apartment 
building, Jed and Neph stared.
  It was a skyscraper, thrusting itself through the sky like some 
ancient and awe-inspiring spire.  Its numerous full wall windows 
glittered in the light and it shone with the brilliance of a high-
polished mirror.  It was brand new and beautiful.  And ominous.  
Something about it proclaimed it to be different from other 
buildings, superior in some manner.  But for all of the feelings it 
conjured up in the four men looking at it, one blared out louder than 
all the rest.  It was the feeling of recognition.
   After an instant of mute appreciation, Kenneth said briskly, 
"Welcome to Knight Corporation."
   "This is *yours*?" Nev asked, whirling about to look at him.
   "Well . . . yes."  Keth shrugged.  "My Dad left it to me when he 
died.  After all, who else was going to continue the family 
business?"
   "Do you run it?"  Nev continued questioning.
   "It pretty much runs itself, but once I'm out of school . . . I
guess."
   "What do you *do* here?" Jed asked.
   Now, Keth smiled fiercely as he replied, "We do *everything*."

   What the Knight corporation *really* did, the two new "employees" 
(complete with company IDs) were not to discover for some time, 
despite entering the building and taking an elevator to get to the 
"nonexistant" thirteenth floor.  (Located on the twenty-sixth level, 
of course.)  Keth had a secret password that he entered into the 
elevator keys that allowed them access, and he casually took them to 
his apartment.
   Zephyr acted as if this was no big deal, and took a secret delight 
in the bewildered looks on the other two's faces.  When the lights 
went on in the darkened hallway of Kenneth's apartment level as soon 
as the stepped out of the elevator, he simply grinned and strode over 
to the second door to the right.  Tapping in a code to another of the 
keypads that seemed to exist everywhere in the building, the door 
slid open and the Four of them entered.
   To be confronted with a view of a *very* nice apartment.

Crossroads Junior High

   Serena ran out of her last class, after glancing about to make 
certain that there was no Amy or Lita in sight, and dashed off to the 
park.  

An undisclosed area deep in the heart of Tokyo

Tick tock tick . . .

08:25:37
08:25:36
08:25:35
08:25:34 . . .

Kenneth's Apartment

   The apartment was beautiful and nicely furnished.  White furniture 
. . . a white leather sofa, nice leather recliner, etc.  A huge 
television was mounted in one wall, right by the windows.  A wooden 
dining room table and chairs could be seen to the left, right past 
the nice tiled kitchen portion of the apartment with the oversize 
fridge and what looked to be three microwaves, and a little 
television set.  To the right were several shut doors, what November 
and Jed could only conclude were bathrooms and bedrooms.  The whole 
place was *huge* and there looked to be more rooms following the 
dining room.
   "Does . . . does this take up the whole floor?" Jed asked, 
gulping.
   Kenneth looked around and casually draped his coat across the 
couch.  "Yeah, I guess.  More or less.  What else would the room be 
used for?  Of course, there's always Zeph's computer room and my 
*other* office.  And the training room, of course."
   "Training room?" Jed looked at Kenneth, dragging his eyes away 
from the apartment.
   "You mean an exercise room?" Nev asked, reluctantly turning away 
from the apartment as well.
   Kenneth laughed.  "No, I mean *training*!"
   Zephyr sat down in a chair and propped his feet up on the coffee 
table.  "He means fencing, and knife-throwing, and all of those 
archaic forms of fighting," he said in a bored tone.  He picked up 
the remote and switched the television on.
   The other men ignored him.
   "Really?" Jed asked excitedly, eagerly.
   Kenneth was looking at him as if he couldn't quite figure out who 
this was. "Uh . . . yeah."
   "Great!" Jed's voice was exuberant.  "Wanna spar?"
   "You any good?" Kenneth asked cautiously, with the air of one 
conferring a great favor on one of lower class.
   "Captain of the fencing team in my last three schools!  Not to 
mention that I'm a black belt in karate and kung fu."
   "Fine, we can spar," Kenneth agreed.
   Jed smiled, quietly pleased that he had said nothing of his 
*other* three black belts.
   "Did I mention that he has an adjoining torture chamber?" Zephyr 
added lazily, switching channels.
   They continued to ignore him.
   "Is this what you wanted to show us?" Nev asked.  "I mean, it *is* 
a nice apartment, but . . ."
   Kenneth strode over to something propped up against a table and 
pulled off the sheet covering it.  "No, *this* is what I wanted to 
show you!"
   November and Jed gasped.  Zephyr shut his eyes and changed the 
channel again.
   The painting stood before them . . . four men in armor surrounding 
a fifth.  They were kneeling to him.  It was obvious that he was 
their lord, their master, their-

   "Prince," Jed whispered.

The Park

   Darien looked up as Serena ran to him, smiling.
   "You're late," he chided her gently.
   She flopped down next to him, lying back in the grass and staring 
up at the clear blue sky, her chest heaving.  "G . . . gomen, Darien 
. . . but I did . . . have . . . to run here . . . y'know."
   "So, what, you want me to pick you up after school?"  He laid back 
next to her and turned his face to look over at her.
   She stopped her contemplation of the clocks to look back at him.  
"Well, since you're offering-"
   "Serena!"
   She made a face and he laughed.  It felt good to laugh.  It felt 
good to be here together, with nothing to do but . . . Algebra.
   He sat up.  What was he doing, here, again . . . with her.  He was 
here to teach, she was here to learn.  Nothing more.  "C'mon, let's 
get started," he said, pulling out a textbook.
   She sighed and shut her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sunlight 
on her face.  "In a minute.  Can't we just enjoy how pretty it is out 
before Fall comes and spoils everything?"
   He looked at her, how peaceful she looked, and content, but 
steeled himself and said, "Now, Serena."
   She opened her eyes and stretched out her arms.  "Well, help me 
up, then!"
   He groaned and reached over, grabbing her hands to pull her up.  
But it's a funny thing, gravity, because instead of pulling her up, 
she pulled him down, and before they knew it, he was half-lying over 
her, their faces inches apart.

   Serena looked up at him, her eyes wide.  Gradually they softened 
as an emotion filled them as she looked into his eyes, into the dark 
blue depths of them.  And she began to lose herself . . .

   Darien stared down at her and felt his heart begin to thud.  This 
wasn't how he'd envisioned their tutoring session would start, but it 
was certainly pleasant enough.  He began to say something, anything, 
to relieve the awkwardness of this situation . . . only to realize 
that there was *no* awkwardness.  They were both at ease, as if this 
was right, this . . . *most* compromising position that they found 
themselves in.  As if it was right and proper that he should lower 
himself that few inches more and let his lips meet hers.
   He began to pull away.  There was no way that he could allow this 
to continue.  No way that he could allow himself to keep feeling for 
this girl or her to keep feeling for him . . . if she did.  But his 
body rebelled, and so did she.
   "Don't leave me," she whispered softly, and a flash of memory shot 
through his head as if this had happened before, as if she had spoken 
those words before - and he knew she had.  Everything . . . 
everything was as it was before.  So wonderful.  The world was theirs 
alone.  They were the only two people upon its surface and the 
feelings that they felt were the first felt by any one.  Everything 
began again for them.  The world was brand new for them, as it was 
meant to be.
   Everything clicked at that instant, for him, for her.  It was if 
this was a play they had enacted a thousand times before, each time 
bringing them closer and closer to absolute perfection.  His reply 
had been scripted for him by Destiny, but never had he replied as 
willingly as though the answer had come to him on his own, for he 
knew that it was the only asnwer he could ever give, as he had in 
another instant so similar, so sweet.  "Never."  And then he bent and 
kissed her, and as their lips met . . . there was a burst of love and 
passion that could only be termed magic.

Kenneth's apartment

   Kenneth looked at the two dumbfounded men and with a grim smile, 
looked again at the painting, pleased with their reactions.  "The 
likenesses are quite good, aren't they?" he asked, objectively.
   "My eyes are too small and my ears stick out too much!" Zephyr 
yelled from where he still sat in front of the television, not 
looking at the rest of them.
   "A few *small* inaccuracies," Kenneth agreed readily, not liking 
the way in which his chin was painted. 
   "I think it's amazing," Jed breathed gazing at the Guardian who 
was to the left of the prince, head bowed, eyes lowered.  It was him.  
There was no doubt in his mind of that.
   "Truly amazing . . ." November said, his eyes wandering over the 
rest of the figures to rest on his own.
   "Who painted it?!" Jed demanded.  "How old is it?  And . . . *who* 
is he?!" He pointed to the man in the center, the prince, whose 
features were unfortunately, heavily shadowed.
   Kenneth sighed.  "A little known artist by the name of Peggy 
Jones.  English by birth, I believe.  She resides here in the 
outskirts of Tokyo.  It is about a year old.  As for the identity of 
the man, unknown."
   "Who is this Peggy Jones?  What does she know of us?" Nev wanted 
to know, instantly worried about the ramifications of the situation.
   Kenneth rested a hand on the frame of the painting.  "She's just a 
nineteen year old girl trying to work her way through art school.   
With talent like that, I think she deserves to, don't you?"  
Expecting no response, he continued, "As for what she knows, nothing 
but what comes to her in her dreams.  Really, she's nobody very 
important or famous so I find it safe to assume that no harm will 
befall the four of us.  Especially since I fully intend to buy any 
and ALL paintings of the four of us that she might paint."
   "Hah!" Zephyr called.  "You can try with your money, but I *still* 
contend that she's really Lonnie Lineye and *her* prints are selling 
like crazy.  Heck, her *paintings* are selling like crazy - for a 
good twelve thousand at the least!"
   "Lonnie Lineye?"  Jed wondered why the name sounded so familiar.
   "She's got an art show scheduled for next month.  I suggest you 
buy her whole collection before things get out of hand."
   Kenneth looked at the painting for another instant before covering 
it up with the cloth.  "I offered.  She refused."
   Suddenly, something on the TV caught Zeph's attention.  "Hey, 
guys, you might want to check this out!"
   "What is it?"  Kenneth turned to look at what was on the TV.  An 
unfamiliar looking face was speaking.  What was odd about that was 
that the person speaking had *green* hair, with pink streaks through 
it and odd almond eyes.
   "I have taken control of every television station.  I have also 
placed a bomb in this city.  Tokyo *will* blow sky high at 12 o'clock 
midnight if my demands are not met.  Thirty billion yen by midnight.  
Don't bother calling in a bomb squad.  They're all . . . 
incapacitated.  Good day, Tokyoites."
   "Great Zeus."  Zephyr got to his feet and shot the others a look.
"Looks like we've been chosen to save the city . . .  Any  
questions?"
   "Yeah, just how many times did you watch "Armageddon"?"  Kenneth 
grinned.

Channel 11 Tokyo

   Fiore watched as the nervous camera man turned the camera off and 
his ultimatum began repeating itself over and over again on the air.  
He glanced casually to one side where all of the news people and bomb 
squads were bound and gagged.  Not that they could go anywhere, being 
unconscious and drained dry.  Their energy had been *most* 
appetizing.  Still, that's all they were . . . appetizers.
   "Are you ready?" Ailan asked.
   Fiore got to his feet, and grabbed the camera man before he could 
run too far, draining him of his energy and tossing his limp body to 
the ground,  "Yeah, I'm ready.  How many people do you think are 
going to try and make a run for it?"
   "This is Tokyo."  Ailan spread his hands wide.  "Everybody of 
course!"
   Fiore laughed.  "Do you think they can actually get the money 
together?"
   "Who cares?  It's just a ploy.  We *can't* just say we're blowing 
Tokyo up for no reason, after all."
   "True, true."  Fiore and Ailan exchanged identical cruel smiles, 
now that things were finally going their way.

Hikawa Shrine

   At the Senshi meeting, three girls waited around for their 
fearless (Haha, you've *got* to be kidding!-Raye) leader to show up.  
Luna ran in, late, and breathless.  She was in her human form and in 
her hand she carried a radio.  "Sailor Senshi, we've got trouble!"
   "Since when have we *not*?" Lita joked, standing up.
   "What *kind* of trouble?" Amy asked calmly, also standing.
   "There's a bomb set to go off at midnight planted somewhere in 
Tokyo!"
   The three girls looked at her blankly.  "You're kidding."
   "No joke, Raye.  It's up to you girls to find it and disable it 
before the whole city blows!"
   The three Senshi exchanged a look, eloquent in the sheer terror 
that it conveyed.
   "Where's Serena?!" Luna asked, just noticing her charge's absence.
   They shrugged.
   "Henshin-yo, then call her on the communicator!" Luna ordered.

   "MARS POWER!"
   "JUPITER POWER!"
   "MERCURY POWER!"

The Park

   At that moment, Serena had more important matters (at least to her 
thinking) to attend to.  Darien was kissing her and she was liking it 
*A LOT*.  She was just starting to kiss him back when her 
communicator started to beep.  The two of them ignored it.
   A man ran up to them, stared at the two in disgust, then shook 
Darien roughly by the shoulder.
   "Hey!" Darien said angrily, looking up at the man.
   Serena wasn't really very happy either.
   "Look, kid," the man said, "I hate to interrupt you, I really do, 
but I just thought that you should know that Tokyo's going to blow up 
in a few hours.  I thought that maybe you and your little girlfriend 
- Isn't she a little young for you?  Too young. - might want to get
home and get out of the city.  If you can, that is.  Traffic's backed
up for miles."
   "WHAT?!" Darien and Serena shouted in unison.
   The man groaned as if saying, 'Why did I have to get stuck with 
these two nitwits?'  He began speaking *very* slowly, and *very* 
clearly.  "There is a bomb.  The city is going to blow up at 
midnight.  You might want to run.  Good-bye."  He turned but Darien 
grabbed him painfully by the shoulder.
   "Where's the bomb?"
   "Nobody knows, kid.  There was some wacko on TV who demanded 
thirty billion yen.  Now, leggo."
   Darien let go and watched as the man ran off.  Turning around he 
said, "I'll get you home, Serena.  Serena?"  But she was gone.  
"Damn!" he swore, grabbing his things and running for the car.  
"SERENA!!!" he yelled, to no avail.  Taking one last look at the 
park, he drove off, scanning the sides of the road for her.  "Odango
Atama, where *are* you?!  We've gotta get out of here!"

   Serena sighed as she watched him drive away from where she had 
hidden herself behind a tree, breathing quickly.  "Good-bye, Darien," 
she whispered, still feeling the warm, sweet touch of his lips on 
hers.  She put a hand to her mouth then, with her back to a tree, 
slid down to sit on the ground.
   "Kami-sama," she whispered, thinking of the bomb and of Darien.  
"Why is my world suddenly so terrifying and wonderful all at once?  
Why is everything so strange?  Must I lose everything that I have 
just gained?  Destruction always follows joy.  I knew that once."
Tears dripped down her cheeks.
   The beeping of her communicator continued and she turned dull eyes
to it.  Standing, she placed a hand to her locket and said, "I can't
give up.  I'm a Sailor Senshi.  I've got to save this city!  For
minna . . ."  She blinked back her tears.

   "MOON PRISM POWER!"

On the rooftops

   "Where is she?" Mercury asked as the Senshi made their way 
downtown.
   "Don't ask me!" Mars retorted angrily.  "I bet she's goofing off 
at the arcade or something."
   "Raye . . ." Jupiter began hesitantly.
   "Don't 'Raye' me!  Where else could she be?!  Blowing off a Senshi 
meeting and now this . . ."
   The other two Senshi were quiet.
   Suddenly, all three of their communicators beeped at once.
   ". . . Senshi.  Come in, Sailor Senshi.  Come in!"
   "We're here, Serena," Mercury said immediately, looking at the 
tiny face in her communicator.  Sailor Moon stared back.
   "I'm downtown, and boy is there a lot of traffic."
   "Where've you BEEN, Serena?!"  Mars asked into her own 
communicator, an edge to her voice.
   Moon smiled grimly, "At a tutoring session.  Darien told me this 
morning to be there."
   The girls groaned.  "You could've told someone, Serena!" Jupiter 
grumbled.
   "Well, I'm here, aren't I?  Anyway, I'm pretty sure I know where 
the bomb is."
   "What?  How?!" Mars demanded.
   "If *you* were going to blow up Tokyo, where would *you* place a 
bomb.  Remember, he only said ONE.  I caught a broadcast on my way 
here."
   "Tokyo Tower," Mars said immediately.
   "The most central location would be the most plausible location," 
Mercury mused.
   Moon smiled.  "Right.  And what is the most central location?"

   "Amdale Tower."

   "What?" Kenneth said, as the Guardians leapt from one rooftop to 
another.
   "I *said*, Amdale Tower is the only logical place to put a bomb."  
Zephyr, now known as Unicorn (Don't *call* me that!-Zephyr), answered 
his leader.  "It's in a central location and a major gas main runs 
right under it.  Even if the city didn't blow up, it would certainly 
be in flames."
   "Why isn't a bomb squad handling this?" Phoenix complained 
bitterly, realizing *exactly* how hard it is to leap around wearing 
any kind of armor.
   "They don't know where to look."  Zeph winked.  "And we do."
   "Can't we just *tell* them?" Dragon winced as part of his armor 
clanged against him.
   "And take away from our glory?  Nah . . ."
   Griffin smacked the back of his head and growled, "I *am* going to 
make you *regret* forcing us to take care of this, Zephyr.  I swear I 
am."
   Zeph grinned cheekily, then began to whistle.  As the others 
glared at him, he said, "What?  'Sides, about that bomb squad . . . 
I, being the only one who *bothered* the watch the news before we set 
out while you were all running around like headless chickens, know 
that they were all found unconscious hours ago and haven't woken up
yet.  So, I guess it really *is* up to us."
   They groaned.

Meanwhile, among the fleeing Tokyoites . . .

   Fiore and Ailan exchanged another malicious grin as they stared at 
the Chaos below.  The inhabitants of Tokyo were packed in their cars, 
attempting to flee but to no avail, as traffic was just too bad to 
allow them to pass.  Police were trying to keep the people in check, 
but the reminder of authority didn't seem to be working very well.

   "Scurrying rats."  Fiore hovered a little lower, watching as the 
people ran about, panicking.
   "Indeed," Ailan agreed.
   "You take the left.  I, the right."
   Ailan opened his mouth to argue, but thinking better of it, simply 
nodded his head.  It didn't matter *who* was in charge.  As long as 
they got the energy.  As long as Ann got well.
   Below, the people screamed as the two Aliens swooped down, arms 
outstretched as through to embrace them in some foul embrace, but 
really to drain them of the energy that gave them motion, the energy 
that gave them life . . . at least temporarily.

Amdale Tower

   The Senshi and the Guardians reached Amdale Tower at roughly the 
same time.  If one was to be technical about the matter, the Senshi 
arrived first for Sailor Moon was already standing atop the Tower 
when both groups arrived.

   "Out of the way!" Griffin shouted, not unkindly, as the women 
approached him.
   "No!" Mars shouted back.
   "Ladies, give us leave to pass," Unicorn said, bowing elegantly.
   "This is *our* fight," Moon contended softly.  And that was that.  
The Senshi would *not* back down.
   Unicorn glared, his hand on the hilt of his sword.  Griffin put a 
restraining hand on his shoulder and his eyes and those of Sailor 
Moon met.  Grey and blue.
   "Will you assist us again?" she asked.
   "We will," he responded.
   "I don't trust them!" Mars spoke up.
   "Me neither!" Unicorn spoke up.
   "Two to a team," Moon said gently to Griffin.  "One yours, one 
mine.  Search the levels.  Move quickly."
   "You heard her!" he shouted.  "MOVE!"
   They scattered.  Two to a team.  Moon and Griffin, Jupiter and 
Dragon, Mercury and Unicorn, and Mars and Phoenix.

   As soon as they entered the building, they knew they were on the 
right track.  Screens everywhere showed images of a timer counting 
down.  Most of them ran for the elevators.  By unspoken agreement, 
Moon and Griffin started on the bottom floor.  Using her communicator 
she said, "Minna, call in each level once you get through with it!"
   "Hai!" they called back.
   She turned to Griffin.  "I'll go left, you right.  We'll meet up 
on the next level.  Check every room."
   "Right."

Outside the elevator on the twentieth floor . . .

   "Aw, damn it all to hell!" Phoenix cursed as the image of the bomb 
counted down.
   "Are you always this vulgar?" Mars asked, caustically.
   "No.  Sometimes I'm worse."
   "Charming.  Twenty!" Mars called into her communicator, resolving 
to ignore him from thereon.  It didn't do to listen too much to him.  
She ended up focusing on the brilliant color of his eyes . . .
   They had just gone through the twentieth floor.  It didn't help 
that Amdale Tower had over a hundred stories and they had less than 
six hours to search all of them.
   The elevator door opened and they entered.  He savagely pressed a 
button and they went up . . .

In the elevator between the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth floors . . 
.

   "Thirty-four!" Jupiter yelled into her communicator.  She looked 
at her companion out of the corner of her eye and couldn't help 
noticing how *hot* he was.  Still, she kept November firmly in mind 
and when the elevator door opened, she nearly ran out.
   "I didn't realize that I was so repulsive," he said to himself.

Fifth floor . . .

   "Who the hell comes UP with these kinds of twisted schemes?!" 
Griffin yelled, running up to meet Sailor Moon at the elevator as the 
ominous red image kept ticking away.
   She smiled sympathically.  "You haven't been in Tokyo very long, 
have you?"
   "Actually, no."

One hundredth and first floor . . .

   Mercury and the Guardian ran down the long, empty hallways, the 
sound resounding around them.  They had discovered that it worked 
best for *them*, if each one took one side of the hallway and they 
worked that way.
   He ran into a room.
   "Crap," the Guardian known as Unicorn (much to his disgust) swore 
as he stared at the bomb.
   "What's the matter?" Mercury asked, running into the room.  She 
saw the bomb and stopped in her tracks.  "Uh-oh."  She called it in.  
"We found the bomb - one hundredth and first floor.  You guys get out 
of here!"
   Unicorn was still staring at the bomb and Mercury noted that he 
had taken the cover off.  A mass of brightly colored wires met her 
eyes.  He held a dagger in one hand and his eyes roved nervously over 
the wires.  "Crap," he said again.  "It's wired throughout this 
entire building."
   Mercury shook herself out of her paralysis and ran forward.  
"Which wire do we cut?!"
   "Which wire do *I* cut," he muttered, fingering one wire, then 
another.
   "This is *not* the time to get macho!  Which *damn* wire?!" she 
demanded, crouching down next to him.
   He didn't look up as he muttered feverishly, "I have no idea.  I 
never learned this in school."
   Mercury stared at the wires and at the clock which was ticking.  
"We've got less than five minutes . . .  Cut *something*!"
   "I can't just cut any wire," he argued.  "It would explode!"
   "Well if you don't cut something soon, it's going to explode 
*anyway*!"
   "I know, I know.  Oh, now I *really* wish I hadn't skipped that 
class."
   "What are you *talking* about?!"
   "The bomb defusing class . . .  I played hooky."
   Mercury's eyes grew wider.  "You actually had a *class*?!"  She 
felt like hitting him.  "You idiot!"
   "Well, I don't see you helping," he shouted.
   "Okay, okay," Mercury said anxiously, getting to her feet.  She 
glanced at the side of the bomb for the name then ran over to the 
large computer terminal on the wall, and began typing rapidly into 
the keyboard.  Words appeared on the screen:

        A4NT57 BOMB DEFUSING METHODS
                CLASSIFIED
             ENTER PASSWORD(S):

   Mercury stared at the screen, then quickly typed in:

                   MAYDAY

   ACCESS DENIED blinked into being on the screen.

   "Dammit," she swore softly.

   "Try, "Star Wars"," the Guardian said as gently as he could, 
having looked up to see what she was doing.

   She typed in:

                 STAR WARS

   ACCESS GRANTED

   A schematic began to appear on the screen.

   "How did you know-?"
   Zephyr smile smugly.  "Everyone's seen the movie."
   Mercury frowned, then turned back to the screen as he asked, 
"Which wire?"
   "Oh no," she breathed.
   "What?!" he snapped.
   "All of them but one . . . in order!"
   "What's so bad about that?"
   "Each of them requires a code."
   He groaned.  "First wire?"
   "Red," she said automatically.
   He sliced through it and they began to solve the passwords, one by 
one . . .
   The bomb kept ticking . . .

Sixth floor . . .

   Moon listened to the transmission and overheard what they were 
saying to one another.  "Ganbatte ne, Amy-chan," she said softly.  
Too softly for her companion to hear.  "Okay, you heard her, people!  
Everyone . . . outta here!  Let's get our rears in gear!"
   "Sailor Moon!"
   She ignored her companion, listening to the flurry of 
acknowledgements, then turned around . . . only to discover that she 
wasn't as alone anymore.  A cardian blocked the doorway and Griffin 
lay sprawled on the ground, clutching one shoulder.
   "Right," she said, sounding more confident than she felt.  "I can 
handle this.  Finally . . . a chance to make a speech!"
   "Must you?" Griffin asked from his place on the floor.
   "Hai!" she said.  "I am the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon and *you* 
are an evil being who is blocking my way, so . . . leave!"
   Griffin groaned.

   "Moon. . . TIARA ACTION!"

   The tiara flew out and clattered to the ground.  The ugly purple 
bulk of the cardian loomed closer, licking its lips.
   "You were saying?" Griffin asked.
   "We are *so* dead."

Outside the elevator of the thirty-fifth floor . . .

   Jupiter stared at the door, willing it to open.  "Thank goodness 
we're getting out of here.  I wonder if Mercury can disable the 
bomb?"
   "If she doesn't, Unicorn will."
   Their eyes met and they smiled shyly at one another.
   The door slid open and an ugly insectoid cardian stepped out, 
hissing, "Which floor?"

   "Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter shouted immediately.

   When the cardian continued smiling and grabbed her around the arm, 
Dragon asked, reaching for his sword, "Uh . . .  Was that supposed to 
do something?"
   Jupiter shrieked.

Twenty second floor . . .

   Mars and Phoenix were glaring at one another and at the elevator 
in turn.  "It must be stuck!" Mars announced finally.  "Let's take 
the stairs."
   "Fine."  They headed for the stairway, Mars first, but before she 
had gone halfway down the flight, she turned and ran past him.
   "What?  You decided that you'd prefer the elevator after all?" he 
joked, looking after her.  Such long hair . . .  When he looked 
forward, he was face to face with the slavering jaws of a green 
bestial cardian.  He yelped, then turned tail and sped up the stairs 
after her.  When they had reached the top, he frantically began 
punching the button, while Mars turned around and shouted:

   "Fire Soul!"

   As the cardian galloped up the stairs, its horns ready to impale 
them, Mars moved backward, towards Phoenix.  "I - I don't 
understand," she muttered.  "Why didn't it work?"
   "I suggest you think of something else . . .  FAST!" he told her.
   As the beast lunged at them she screamed, "ANY SUGGESTIONS?!"

On the hundredth and first floor . . .

   Mercury and the Guardian-who-hates-his-name were one wire away 
from disabling the bomb.  Unfortunately, it was then that the cardian 
on *their* level finally scented them and decided to attack.
   "I'll take care of it!" Mercury yelled, wondering how she would 
with just her mist.

   "Shabon SPRAY!"

   Nothing happened.
   "You know what I said about "taking care of it"?" she began 
hesitantly, backing away.
   The Guardian scrambled to his feet.  "You cut the last wire and 
I'll take care of it!"
   Mercury ran past him to the bomb, catching the wire he tossed her 
way.  Staring at the green wire and the yellow wire, she cried, 
"Which wire?!"
   "How the heck am *I* supposed to know?!"  He put his hand on his 
sword hilt and stared at the cardian for an instant.

   00:00:16
   00:00:15
   00:00:14
   00:00:13 . . .

   "What's the code?!"
   "There's NO TIME!"  He pulled out a handful of blue roses from his 
subspace pocket and directed them at the cardian's feet, forcing him 
backward.
   Then the cardian leapt over the roses and hissed.  "You die!"

   00:00:03

   Sailor Mercury shut her eyes and believed in miracles.

   00:00:02

   She cut the wire.

   00:00:01

   The green wire.

   00:00:00

   The timer stopped.
   The bomb stopped.
   Mercury opened her eyes.
   Movement resumed again around her as she collapsed across the bomb 
in her relief.
   The Guardian spared her a glance as he slashed the cardian across 
the belly.  It had overshot its leap.  It let out a wail of pain and 
backhanded him across the face.  He stumbled and fell to the ground 
with the force of the blow, staring dizzily up at the cardian.  It 
showed its teeth, dark green blood dripping from its belly wound.  "I 
die . . . you die."  One of its long arms mutated into a blade aimed 
at the Guardian.
   "Noooo!" Mercury shouted, moving too late . . .
   And the Unicorn shut his eyes . . . and called upon his power . . 
.

   "SPIRIT MIND!!!" he screamed, his eyes opening.  A blast of blue-
white energy emanated from his forehead and engulfed the cardian 
after swirling in a watery shape like that of a unicorn and impaling 
the cardian with its blazing blue horn.

   The cardian let out another scream and sizzled away, leaving only 
a scorched card.

   Mercury stared at him in astonishment.

Twenty-second floor . . .

   Phoenix pushed Mars out of the way and thrust his hands forward,
yelling, some gibberish that she thought might have been:

   "SOUL PHOENIX FIRE BURN!!!"

   A great bird made of red fire flew from the cupped enclosure of 
his hands and flew at the green cardian.  As soon as contact was 
established, pieces of the cardian began burning away, a purple-blue 
flame developing.  Then nothing was left but a scorched card which 
fell from the sky to land at their feet.
   "Not bad, eh?" Phoenix smiled upon his handiwork.

Thirty-fifth floor . . .

   Jupiter writhed in the cardian's grip as Guardian Dragon stared 
on, helpless.  Well, not so helpless.  He threw a pink rose at the 
cardian's hand/paw/talon/appendage and it dropped the Senshi who fell 
to the ground with a thud.  "Gee, thanks."
   "You're welcome," he said jauntily.
   The cardian stepped forth from the elevator.  The cardian and the 
Guardian circled around one another, neither willing to let the other 
win.
   All of a sudden, his eyes still focused steadily on his adversary, 
Dragon's hand reached up as though pulling at something and making a 
gesture so fast that his hand blurred, he shouted:

   "STAR DRAGON LIGHTNING ENVELOP!!!"

   A dark, crackling dragon formed and shot towards the cardian, 
faster and faster until it seemed to morph into a bolt of lightning, 
and when it finally reached its target and struck, it exploded into a 
crackling dome of lightning and what looked like stars, which then 
exploded in a miniature supernova.  A scorched card fluttered down to 
the ground.

Sixth floor . . .

   Sailor Moon stayed as still as a statue.  She *was* a statue.  She 
couldn't move at all.  Not so much as a toe.  He cardian was 
*laughing* at her.  She was horrified.  To be reduced to this . . . 
entertainment for the enemy!  It was unendurable.
   Griffin regarded her, concerned, then sighed and got to his feet, 
still clutching the shoulder that the damn creature had squeezed so 
hard it its vise-like grip.  The cardian's attention shifted to him 
momentarily, then back to her.
    Griffin thought, 
   Deciding to act before it could, he thrust out his good hand and 
power glowed about his fingertips.  Ah, good, he could feel the 
energy coursing through him.  He felt much better now.  Better 
indeed.
   Quietly he said:

   "POWER GRIFFIN ENERGY BLAST."

   The power shot out, quickly, smoothly gliding as though on a pair 
of feathered wings and for a moment it looked like the energy was in 
the shape of some sort of not-quite bird.  Moon blinked and it was 
gone, and only the energy remained, almost gently enfolding the 
cardian within itself, before it vanished in a burst of light.

   When the light faded, Griffin was gone as well.  All that remained 
was a scorched card lying on the ground and images of the stopped 
timer all around her.

Outside Amdale Tower

   The four girls met outside the main door, which took awhile since 
the elevators weren't working.  Jupiter contended that the cardian 
that had attacked her had done something to the elevators.  Luna came 
running up, congratulating them on a job well done and providing them 
with a bunch of cover stories that she had come up with to convince 
their parents as to why they had disappeared during the bomb threat.  
They all briefed each other on what had happened and Amy took Luna 
aside and whispered about the loss of her powers.  Luna was horrified 
to say the least, but said nothing to the others.
   They mused about the identities of the Guardians, since they had 
all disappeared shortly after saving the Senshi.  Mars still didn't 
trust them and Luna agreed that it was prudent to be cautious.
   Moon was the one who brought up the loss of her powers . . .

   In the shadows, Tuxedo Kamen watched them for a moment, then 
vanished.  That one brief instant of panic from Sailor Moon had
faded.  He was not needed here.

   Further in the shadows, the Guardians watched Tuxedo Kamen, and 
each of them felt that sense of *knowing*.  This one bore watching.
   "After all," Zephyr had quipped, "maybe we can learn how to 
transform into tuxedoes instead of armor too!"
   A round of groans had answered that.

   When Mamo Darien woke later that night in his own bed, he stared 
at the clock in relief that it was 2:00 in the morning and Tokyo had 
not blown up.  Then he worried about Serena.  Then he thought about 
that *kiss*.  Then he thought about how she had run away and the 
words of that man, 
   Again, another flash of memory as the words echoed, in a female 
voice this time.
   His thoughts turned back to Serena and how good she had felt 
beneath him, how good she had felt next to him, how good she had felt 
simply *near* him.  How sweet her kiss had been.  Then he worried 
about her again.
   Burying his head beneath his pillow, he tried to sleep but 
couldn't.  So he simply lay awake, staring up at the ceiling and 
wondering if he hadn't just dreamed the whole thing up, and worrying 
that she would never want to see him again.

Outside Amdale Tower

   Sailor Moon stared at her Senshi, then at Luna.  She put a hand to 
her forehead, then pulled it away with a shudder.  "It's gone . . . 
all gone."
   "Are you sure?" Mars asked desperately.  "Maybe it was just a 
fluke.  Try again!"
   "NO!" Moon screamed.  "Don't you get it?!  I can't attack anymore!  
I'm useless!!!"
   "But-"
   Sailor Moon cut her off, savagely ripping the tiara from her 
forehead and flinging it, crying "MOON TIARA ACTION!" so loudly that 
the tower shook.
   The tiara fell to the ground with a clatter.
   Turning to face the horrified faces of her Senshi, Moon bit out 
bitterly, "Still don't believe me?  Want me to try again?  All right 
then, watch!"
   She picked the tiara back up and proceeded to throw it again, 
screaming her attack.  And again, and again, and again, until her 
throat was raw from the effort.  Finally, Mars grabbed her hand 
before she could throw again, and said in the softest voice she 
could, "Stop it."
   The Sailor Senshi of the Moon turned to her, tears coursing down 
her cheeks.  "I can't.  If I stop now . . . won't I be giving up?  I 
can't give up, Mars, I can't . . ."  She sobbed, then shook off 
Mars's hand roughly and prepared to throw again.
   Her hand faltered again as Mars's broken voice cried out, "Don't, 
Sailor Moon . . ."
   Her watery blue eyes met the violet ones that were beginning to 
fill with tears as well.  "I can't stop trying . . .  Luna, tell her 
. . ."
   "She's right, Serena," Luna said gently, her heart aching as she 
saw the look on her young charge's face, at the despair in her eyes, 
the denial.  This can't be happening.  It can't.
   Sailor Moon turned away from all of them.  "No.  I've got to . . . 
gotta keep going . . ."
   "Sailor Moon," Jupiter said, struggling with her words.  "Serena . 
. . you've given it your best . . . maybe you're just tired.  It'll 
work later . . ."
   "Serena, *please* . . . listen to *reason*!" Mercury pleaded 
desperately.
   "No!  Hafta keep trying . . ."
   "Just stop you crybaby ditz!" Mars shouted angrily, tears in her 
eyes.   Everything froze.  All eyes turned to Raye, and then to 
Serena.
   Sailor Moon trembled an instant, her eyes huge and quivering, then 
the tiara fell from her hand and hit the ground with a metallic 
clatter.
   "What do you think you're doing?!" Mars continued on, her voice 
growing softer.  "What're you trying to prove?  That you can be 
leader?  That you won't give up?  We already *know* that, Serena.  I 
might have said some things before that I didn't mean, but I mean 
*this*.  You *are* our leader, and nothing's gonna change that.  Not 
even if you've lost your power.  That's just the way things are.  
That's just *who* *you* *are*."
   Violet eyes almost as watery as her own gazed into hers, and 
Sailor Moon suddenly found herself sobbing on Raye's shoulder, 
letting go of all of the hurt, pain, and bitterness.  Gone was the 
despair that she had been feeling.  And Raye cried with her.
   After what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, 
she drew back and wiped her eyes, and the face smiling shakily at all 
of them was *Serena*.  They had won her back.  Her transformation 
melted around her and she vowed, "Next time!  And if not then, then 
soon.  Besides, I'm secure in the knowledge that all of you guys can 
handle anything that comes our way."  She smiled brightly at them 
all.  "Right?"
   Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars exchanged a worried look.
   "Um . . . Sailor Moon, there's a little *problem* . . ." Raye 
began nervously.
   "Nothing *too* serious," Jupiter chimed in.
   "Everything will be back to normal soon," Mercury added.
   Serena's smile slipped a little.  "Guys?  What aren't you telling 
me?"
   Luna buried her face in her paws and groaned.  "Oh, just go ahead 
and tell her before you make it worse."
   "Er . . . right," Mars said.  She, Mercury, and Jupiter nodded at 
one another and shouted out their attacks in unison.

   "FIRE SOUL!"
   "SHABON SPRAY!"
   "SUPREME THUNDER!"

   Nothing happened.  Again.

   Serena tapped her foot, chewing on her bottom lip.  "Oh well," she 
said, brightly.
   "Oh *WELL*?!" Mars nearly shrieked.
   Serena shrugged.  "It'll come back to us . . . eventually.  Until 
then . . . I guess we'll just have to find another way to deal with 
the bad guys.  Right, Luna?"
   "Right . . ." Luna said cautiously.  This didn't sound like the 
Serena she knew.
   "That's the spirit!" Jupiter said, trying to convince herself as 
much as Serena.
   "Where're probably just too tired to concentrate our energies to 
the proper degree to attack."
   Everyone sweatdropped at Mercury's comment, then laughed 
nervously.
   "What about this being horrible?!  What about we've gotta keep 
trying?!  What about-"
   "Really, Raye, stop being so immature," Serena said blithely.  As 
Raye sputtered, Serena deftly picked Luna up, but instead of petting 
her, she held her so that they were face to face and began to shake 
her.  "Tell me what's wrong, Luna!  Tell me why we can't attack!  I 
*know* you *know* why!"
   "Put me down!" the cat yelled and was dropped without ceremony to 
the ground.  Landing on her feet, she glared up at her charge.  "I 
have no idea.  Don't panic, though, it's probably nothing serious."
   Serena made a face.  "That's *lovely* to know, Luna.  Well, I 
guess *you're* the one fighting next time, ne?"
   "N-now just a minute!" the cat spluttered.
   The girls laughed.

Doom Tree

   Energy coursing through her veins, Ann smiled broadly, sitting up.  
"That feels good!"  Ailan smiled at her while Fiore rolled his eyes 
and vanished.  She turned her gaze on the Tree which seemed to have 
perked up a little, but its leaves were still wilting . . . still 
falling . . .
    she vowed.  

The next day . . .

   Lita smiled uncertainly up at November.  She had caught up to him 
after school, happening to see him as she walked past the park.  She
figured that she'd might as well talk to them.  After all, they both 
might die tomorrow.  That bomb scare had impressed that upon her. 
"I'd like to thank you for what you did the other day.  You know . . 
. when I was crying and everything.  That was really nice of you and 
I was wondering if we could maybe do som-"
   She was cut off by a happy, excited voice yelling, "NOVEMBER!  
There you are, honey!"
     Lita's spirits sank.  They sank even further when a 
cute, brown-haired girl that she recognized as Sandler Katie, the 
Japanese tennis champ,  ran up to them, smiling, and flung her arms 
around November who was standing as still as a statue.
   "Maybe some other time," she said quietly, forcing a smile.
   He smiled back at her, his expression a little strained.
   Lita left, dejected, with just one sorrowful look back.
   The look on her face broke Nev's heart and he turned to Katie, 
ready to begin yelling, but the adoring look on her face stopped him 
short.  His anger melted reluctantly away.    Gently, he pried Katie's arms off of him, and holding 
her hands asked, "What do you want to do today?"
   Katie began to bubble over, telling him things like how much she'd 
missed him, and how scared she'd been yesterday with the whole bomb 
scare.  Did he hear about those people trying to escape who seemed 
drained of their energy?  It was the oddest thing.  They were all in 
the hospital and seemed to be recovering nicely.  Now, onto more 
pleasant things.  How about a nice lunch at the cafe after a game of 
tennis?  He just smiled, feeling like the expression had been pasted 
to his face, and they walked off together, his arms around her 
shoulders.

   Molly watched the whole scene from her position by a tree on a 
hill a little bit away with a frown.  Seeing her Onee and her Onii 
together should have made her happy, but it didn't.  November was 
miserable . . . she knew that just by looking at him, even though he 
hid it well.  Katie didn't, or maybe she simply didn't *want* to 
know.  She looked off to the side where another miserable-looking 
figure was making its way slowly home.
   Molly was not a stupid girl, nor was she unobservant.  She saw 
more than she let on to anyone, and she saw the situation, not 
instantly, but nearly so.  November had looked so happy talking to 
Lita, and she had been so animated, so chatty and friendly, and 
*trusting* . . .  There had been that certain look in her eyes, that 
certain warmth between them . . .  Being with him, she had been 
pretty.  More than pretty.  Her beauty had been blinding.  It was 
then that Molly made her decision.
   Running down the hill in her direction, she called, "Lita, wait 
up!  Matte!"
   Lita whirled and looked up at her, confusion on her face but 
perfect understanding in her eyes, especially as Molly stopped in 
front of her, her chest heaving, her eyes bright and determined.  
"I'm going to help you, Lita, 'cause you make him happy - more than 
Katie does, more than anybody does."
   Lita's eyes began to water at this gift, this most precious gift 
held out to her.  Friendship . . .
   She took Molly's hand in hers and smiled.  "Where do we start?"
   Molly smiled back.  "At the beginning of course.  Where else?"

To be continued . . .

Want to know what happens with Serena and Darien?  Lita and Nev?  Are 
the Senshi and the Guardians going to learn to trust each other?  Why 
aren't the Senshi's powers working?  Now that they Aliens have 
gathered all of that energy, is it enough to keep them alive?  Will 
they renew their offensive against the Sailor Senshi?  Exactly *what* 
is Fiore up to?  Why is Raye having such strange dreams?  To find out 
the answers to these questions and more, stay tuned!

Now, don't I feel cheesy?  ^_-


Usa Serena/Tsukino Usagi
Mamo Darien/Chiba Mamoru
Anderson-Mizuno Amy/Mizuno Ami
Hino Raye/Hino Rei
Kino Lita/Kino Makoto
Mist Zephyr/Zoisite
Raven Jed/Jadeite
Light November/Nephrite
Knight Kenneth/Kunzite
Luna/Luna
Artemis/Artemis
A(i)lan Galaxy/Ail Ginga
Ann Galaxy/Ann Ginga
Fiore Et/Fiore
Doom Tree/Makujii
Bell Rill/Beryl
Sailor Pluto/Sailor Pluto
Phobos/Phobos
Deimos/Deimos
Usa Elaine/Tsukino Ikuko
Usa Kevin/Tsukino Kenji
Usa Sammy/Tsukino Shingo
Grandpa/Grandpa
Baker Molly/Osaka Naru
Haruna Patricia/Sakuda Haruna
Sandler Katie/Saionji Rui
Professor Etude (Etude-sensei)/ORIGINAL CHARACTER

Arigato=Thank you
Bishoujo=Pretty
Ganbatte ne=Good luck
Gomen=I'm sorry
Gomen nasai=I'm really sorry
Hai=Yes
Hana=Flower
Henshin-yo!=Transform!
Imouto-Little sister
Kami=God (Shinto religion)
Matte=Wait
Nani?=What?
Ne?=Right?
Odango=Dumpling
Oneechan=Big sister
Oniichan=Big brother
Sayonara=Good-bye
Sensei=Teacher
Senshi=Soldier(s)
Shabon=Bubbles

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/palace/3649/fanfics