(Steve Stachowicz)
gerrek@hotmail.com
(Matthew Frey)
MAFREY@charter.net 

Webpage:  http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/shores/2307

                           Swords of Destiny

                                  By

                          Eric Thorsen and Stacko

LEGAL STUFF:

** The characters and concepts used here are the property of those people
and companies holding the copyrights to the respective storylines, series,
and movies. The only exceptions are those created by the demented minds of
authors of this story. The use of this material should be seen as the sign
of respect that it is. Besides, suing either of us would be a waste of time
since we don't have any money to begin with.

                  ***************************************
                   Chapter One - Misunderstanding part I
                  ***************************************

April 20, Tokyo, Juuban Ward

    "Today, another victim was found in Shinjuku in the latest of a series
of bizarre murders," The News Commentator announced expressionlessly. "The
victim's decapitated body was found at approximately 6:45 p.m. this evening
in a short deserted alley with her head lying a few feet away. This raises
the body count to five on this the eleventh day after the discovery of the
first victim in Achihabara.  The police are withholding the identity of the
victim pending notification of next of kin.  The identity of the killer is
unknown, and the police have yet to find any connection between the victims
other than the circumstances of their deaths. This station will report any
additional information as it becomes available. We now return you to your
regularly scheduled programming........">> The newscaster's image then faded
out to be replaced by the opening credits of "Sailor V Supers".

    Luna was watching the news because she had a feeling that the Negaverse
was back. Everyone of the inner Senshi was at the Hikawa Jinja shrine for a
sailor meeting, but were waiting for Usagi to get out of detention for being
late.  Most of the girls came from school, so they were dressed in their
school uniforms, but Rei had put on her robes when she had come home from
school. When the news report was done, they all started talking to pass some
time while they waited for Usagi.

    "I have a feeling that the Negaverse is behind those beheadings."  said
Luna.
 
    "How can the Negaverse be responsible for the beheadings?" Minako asked
in confusion. "I don't think I want to know how they would get energy from
killing people."

    "I don't know how, but I know that they are," Luna said heatedly.

    "Luna might be right, I have been getting some bad feelings lately," Rei
stated. "I know the Negaverse is up to something."

    "But I have to agree with Minako, I don't know how the Negaverse would
get energy by killing people." said Makoto.  "What I'm thinking is that there
is a serial killer on the loose in our town, and I think that it's the job of
the Sailor Senshi to stop them."

    "Stop who?"  came a voice behind them.  They all turned around to see
that Usagi was standing at the doorway breathing heavily.

    "Its about time you got here," Rei said with biting sarcasm in her voice

    "Hey, I can't help it if Mrs. H gives me detention for trying to study
late at night," Usagi whined, glaring at Rei.

    "Maybe if you didn't watch TV all the time, you could have studied
earlier, and then gone to bed sooner," Rei argued.

    "But my favorite shows were on and I didn't want to miss them." Usagi said.

    "If you girls can stop your arguing, we have more important things to talk
about." Luna interrupted with a hint of anger in her voice.

    "And what would that be?" Usagi asked, ignoring Rei.

    "Luna thinks that the Negaverse is behind all those beheadings that have
been happening lately." Ami replied calmly.

    "But why would they do that?" Usagi demanded, confused "How could killing
people help them?"

    "We don't really know," Artemis conceded. "I doesn't fit any of their
operating patterns."

    "What are you talking about?" Rei said in disbelief. "They kill each other
at the dop of a hat. What's to stop them from killing others if it will give
them something they want. They certainly did it back in the Silver Millenium."

    "Yes, but there was a reason then," Artemis explained. "This is completely
unlike anything they've ever done before."

    "The thing that worries me is that they might be killing people for their
life Energy," Luna finally said gravely. "Even though I don't know how they
could, I don't like to think about what that would mean."

    "What do you mean Luna?" Ami asked, Intrigued.

    "If they have developed a way of harvesting human life force energy at the
point of death, then we might not be able to stop them this time." Luna said
baldly. "They'd kill you easily."

    "Wahhhhhhhhh!!!!!! IDon'twannaDieeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!" Usagi wailed in fear

    "Get a grip Usagi," Rei growled. "It's not as if we didn't stop Beryl when
she decided to come back. Even Chaos wasn't able to beat us." Usagi looked to
be calming down when Makoto spoke.

    "Personally I think that it's just some sicko, you know? A serial killer
who gets their kick from cutting people's heads off."

    "If that's the case then we need to go out there and stop them before they
kill anyone else" Minako said forcefully. "It's our job."

    "But what if one of us gets hurt?" Usagi asked fearfully. "Shouldn't we
just let the police find him?"

    "What's wrong with you Usagi?" Rei demanded angrily. "WE are the defenders
of love and justice. Or did you forget? We can't just leave this to the
police. We have to do something."

    "The only question is what?" Ami said thoughtfully, then held up her hand
when Rei protested. "I agree with you in principle Rei, but what we need to
think about is how we go about it."

    "Well we'll need to bring Michiru and the others into this," Minako said
seriously. "Do you think they'll help?"

    "Only if they have to," Makoto grumbled, then grinned. "Of course, as
the Moon Princess, if Usagi asks them they have to."
                               
    "Me???" Usagi gasped. "Why would they listen to me?"

    "Because they have to!" Rei bit out sardonically. "You're the Moon
Princess, and they are your Senshi. You're the heir to the Moon Kingdom Usagi,
so act like it!" Usagi blinked and stared at Rei for several seconds, then
turned to the others. Their expressions told her everything she needed to
know.

    "I'll give them a call," She whispered, and quickly left the room.

                   *************************************

    Earlier that day at Crossroads Junior High, Chibi-Usa and Hotaru were 
given a very difficult assignment at the end of the day.

    "Today class, you start on your history projects for your final exam.
For this project you must find an object or building, and then research its
history. It must be at least 70 years old, and if it's an object, must have
belonged to at least four separate people at verifiable times.  This means
that if it is a family heirloom it will probably be older and harder to
research, and no Akiko you may not use your family shrine for your project.
You can work with a partner if you want, but the work must be equally shared."
The teacher then dismissed her class.

    "Now what are we going to do, " Hotaru wailed " neither one of us knows
anything about old stuff."

    "Or at least not any that she would believe anyway." Chibi-Usa giggled.
Then became serious.  "We really need to find something though," she sighed.
Looking around as if hoping for inspiration to strike. She noticed a piece of
paper blowing in the wind.  Catching hold of the sheet she realized it was an
advertisement for a grand opening.  "Hey Hotaru-chan, look at this."

    On the sheet in bold red letters was the legend "GRAND OPENING, WRECKS AND
RELICS, AN ADVENTURE IN TIME, antiques and collectibles from famous and 
infamous disasters. All antiques come with a fully documented and verified
history and lists of owners for the serious collector."

    "Looks like the answer to all our problems." Hotaru said in surprise.
"Where is that antique shop?"

    Chibi-Usa looked at the page for the address and found out that they
were a few blocks away from the antique shop.  "It's just a short walk from
here."

    "Well then, let's check it out."  said Hotaru with a smile and started
to run in the direction of the shop after glancing at the paper. Chibi-Usa
started to run after her after a brief moment of wondering where she was
going.

    "No fair running ahead of me." Chibi-Usa yelled at Hotaru.

    In a matter of minutes, they had made it to the front of the antique shop.
The name of the shop read, "The Lost World of Wonders". They entered the shop
and looked around the place.  What they saw was unbelievable.  The shop had
old armor, weapons, pottery, coins, and other things that the girls couldn't
recognize.  They started to look at the various items in the shop to think of
what they could do their history project on.

     Unknown to the two girls, in the back room a man that looked to be in
his mid-twenties was taking a picture out of a shipping case.  When he heard
the chimes that signaled that someone had entered his shop.  He looked at the
security cameras and saw that two young girls in school uniforms had entered
the shop and were looking around a bit confused.  One of the girls had
straight, black shoulder length hair, and the other girl had what he figured
was dyed pink hair, long but done up into two, cone-like bundles on the top
of her head.  The man smiled and picked up the picture and headed out to the
main part of the shop to see what the girls wanted.

     The two girls kept looking around the shop, seeing old pictures,
artifacts from shipwrecks, and jewelry.  Then they heard a door open and saw a
man in his mid-twenties, carrying a picture, walking towards them.  He was
clean-shaven, about six feet tall, dressed in a two piece suit that had never
seen a department store.  The girls were entranced by his looks that they
didn't realize that they were staring at him. When he got to the girls, he
smiled as he placed the picture down.

    "Can I help you girls?" the man asked, smiling at the two girls kindly.

    Chibi-Usa was the first one to come out of her trance and blushed
realizing what she was thinking, and replied to the man.

    "My friend and I are working on a history project for school, and we saw
an ad for this shop and thought that it might help us."  Hotaru finally came
out of her trance when Chibi-Usa elbowed her side to get her attention.

    "What is the assignment and then I'll see what I can do for you."  asked
the man.

    "We have to research something that is at least 70 years old and if it's
an item, owned by at least four different people, with verified dates and
times." said Chibi-Usa.

    "You came to the right place then. Follow me and I'll explain some of
the items in the shop here."  The man set the picture out of the way and
leaned it against a display case and started to walk to a display case full
of many different kinds of swords.

    The girls followed the man around his shop, looking at the items he was
pointing out, listening to the descriptions he was giving.  He was telling
the girls a brief history of how each item was created, by who and how, and
how each item was used. The girls were impressed with how much he knew about
each item, but they still had no real clue what to do their project on.
Chibi-Usa started to talk to Hotaru about what they should do.  After a few
minutes, they agreed on a topic. 

    "We think we found a topic to do our project on."  said Chibi-Usa

    "That is good.  What would it be, if you don't mind my asking?" the man
said. 

    "You seem to know a lot about weapons and armor and stuff like that."

    "You could say that."

    "So we decided to do our project on that scabbard you showed us."

    "That's a pretty good idea.  A friend of mine could help you out a lot
better than I could though.  His hobby is collecting old swords. In fact
that one was part of his collection that he wanted to sell. I could give him
a call and see if he can talk to you two.  If you like, you can come back
tomorrow afternoon. I'll see if he can make it then."

    "Thanks, very much."  said Chibi-Usa and Hotaru at the same time.

    "No problem.  But if you can't make it, give me a call."  said the man
as he handed both of them his business card.  They both looked at the card
and saw that the man's name was Scott Schwartzstern.

    "OK, we will."  said Chibi-Usa.

    "In the mean time, I'll let you borrow this so you can start on your
project. My friend owned this, so he should have the documentation you two are
looking for." Scott said as he opened one of the display cases and pulled out
the intricately detailed scabbard and handed it to Chibi-Usa.  He then told
them about some of its history and both of the girls took notes on what he was
saying. After he was done, he said farewell to the two girls.

    As the two girls were about to leave, Scott stopped them and told them to
wait for a minute.  Scott went to the back room and came back out a few
minutes later with something in his hand.  He came up to the girls and placed
a coin in each of their hands.  The girls looked at the each of the coins and
then looked at him.  He just told them that they were good luck charms.  They
both smiled, thanked him again, then left the shop.  Scott watched them leave
then went to the back and made the phone call, and went back to taking care
of the picture he had been working on earlier. After walking in silence for
a few minutes, Chibi-Usa decided to talk to Hotaru.

    "For a moment there, that man looked sort of familiar to me." Chibi-Usa
said in confusion.

    "You too?  He sort of reminds me of someone I knew during the Silver
Millennium." Hotaru replied in surprise. "Where do you remember him from?"

    "I think I remember someone that looks like him from Crystal Tokyo, but
it must be my imagination."

    "I guess, but it still is a little weird feeling like I know him."

    Chibi-Usa said good-bye to Hotaru when she had to go home.  When
Chibi-Usa got back to the Tsukino residence, she headed to Usagi's room, so
that Usagi could help her with her homework.  Inside she saw Usagi reading
what appeared to be a textbook. Upon a closer look, Chibi-Usa saw that Usagi
was really reading a manga magazine inside her book.

    "You should be doing your homework, not reading that magazine." Chibi-Usa
said giggling.

    "I was just taking a break from studying for a bit." Usagi replied
defensively

    "Sure, right."

    "I've got to take a break.  Luna is so concerned that the Negaverse is
responsible for the beheadings, and the others want to go looking for a serial
killer.  I needed a break."

    "Sure, whatever." said Chibi-Usa sarcastically as she went and started
her homework. When she was done with her homework, she saw that Usagi was
still reading the manga magazine.  She sighed and asked what went on at the
meeting. Usagi told her about all that they had discussed at the meeting.
After Usagi was done filling her in, Chibi-Usa went to talk to Mrs. Tsukino
about her project and about talking to the antique dealer the next day.

                   *************************************
Ginza District, 2:38 a.m.

    Mellisa Johnson stormed along the aisle between the cars swearing to
herself as she pulled her keys out of the pocket of her jeans. After finally
getting to her car, she opened the door, and slammed it behind her, smiling
viciously as the engine roared to life. As she backed out of the space she
saw a man in a brown leather duster coat and cowboy hat walking toward her
and felt the jangling along her nerves that had started only three days
before, when her life had suddenly turned around. Whimpering, she realized
that she wouldn't be able to get away from him this time.

    "Hello Mellisa, why have you been running away from me?" He asked, an
amused expression dancing across his face.  "I'm not trying to hurt you."

    "Why can't you just leave me alone Kevin?" Mellisa demanded angrily. "I
already told you that I'm not interested in what you have to say."

    "I only wish it was that simple Mellisa," Kevin sighed shaking his head
sadly. "But I can't leave you alone. Don't you understand that? If I leave you
alone now, Damian or one of the others will kill you like a dumb animal. I
can't let that happen, I promised your parents that I'd look after you."

    "That was before I died wasn't it?" Mellisa growled venomously. "Now I'm
immortal, like you, but not like my parents. Oh no, they died just like
everyone else on the boat. Why me? Why not them? Why not my little brother?!"

    "I can't give you the answers you wan't Mellisa," Kevin groaned, feeling
the pain of the loss again. "I only know that you are very vulnerable right
now. Come on Melly, I just want to help you learn what you need to servive."

    "Did it ever occur you that I might want to die?!" She cried hoarsely.
"Everything is gone. The boat, our house, even David. WHY?!!!!"

    "Damian wanted to get to you," Kevin said in resignation. "He somehow
figured out that you were going to become immortal. He must have set the
accident up."

    "How can you be so sure?!" She said, her disbelief obvious. "How do you
know it wasn't just bad luck."

    "Daryl Thorne was seen near your parent's boat the day before the
explosion Mellisa. Since Rochefort always keeps that maniac on a short leash,
there is no other possible explanation than that."

    "You could have been the target."

    "Hardly," Kevin said with a laugh. "That bomb wouldn't have done any more
than hurt me a lot. While I admit it could have been one of his lame attempts
at revenge, I doubt it. It's much more likely that he was making sure you
became immortal. I only just met your parents last year."

    "But..." Mellisa blinked in surprise, then glared at him. "Then why did
they make you my guardian?!"

    "Your mother knew I was Immortal," Kevin admitted heavily. "She was the
doctor on call when I was brought in after I crashed my ultralight."

    "What does that have to do with anything?" Mellisa demanded. "I thought
you barely had a scratch after that."

    "Actually, no," Kevin said sitting on the hood of the car. "That's only
what your mom told her supervisors. I doubt they would have believed it if
she told them that I was being fitted with a toe tag when I came back. They
didn't really seem to be the religious kind."

    "That's for sure," Mellisa said with a strained laugh. "I doubt those guys
have ever been inside... What's wrong?"

    "Go to drakkensheim, Mellisa." Kevin said looking around cautiously.

    "What... Why?!"

    "Just go!"

    In a panic, Mellisa put the car in gear and drove off with the tires
squealing. Kevin looked around then swore when he heard a squeal of tires
the sound of two cars coming together at high speed. Running toward the
elevators, he hoped he was wrong.

    When he got to the bottom floor he swore, recognizing Mellisa's car what
he saw beside the car stopped him in his tracks. Mellisa was lying ten feet
away, in the planter. She had obviously crawled from the wreck, but what
stopped him was the realization that he couldn't feel her any more. Stumbling
toward her, he stopped with a groan when he saw her head lying as if she were
buried in the concrete floor. There was an ugly burn scar that he recognized
immediately, in the middle of her forehead.

    "Thorne!!!!!!!!!!!!" He roared in fury, running as he heard the sound of
approaching sirens.

                  ***************************************
Juuban District, 8:00 a.m.

    Minako came down to breakfast sleepily tying the neckerchief of her school
uniform. After Usagi had made her call, Makoto had left, saying something
about trying to figure something out. Minako had left soon after her, agreeing
to meet there again the next afternoon. Ami had even agreed to make sure that
Usagi made it to school on time so she could avoid detention.

    After smiling at her father, who was watching the news, she wandered into
the kitchen and sat at the table.

    "Good morning Mina-chan, did you sleep well?" Her mother asked, setting a
plate on the table in front of her.

    "Okay," Minako replied indifferently. "I'm really sleepy for some reason."

    "It could be because you were up until 2 a.m. last night," Her mother said,
mock severely. "You still need sleep dear, but you know that. I just worry at
times."

    "I know Mom, thanks," Minako said with a grateful smile, finishing her
breakfast. "I'm going to be over at Rei's again tonight until about eight,
okay?"

    "That's fine dear," Her mother said, returning the smile. "Don't forget to
ask your father for the money for your field trip. You know how he is about
last minute requests."

    "Don't I just," Minako giggled. "Thanks again." She gave her mother a kiss
on the cheek, and walked into the living room and was starting to ask her
father for the money when the news item caught her attention.

    "Another victim in what is coming to be known as the Oni slayings has
been found at an upscale apartment complex in the Ginza district," The
Commentator announced as images of a wrecked pair of cars were shown in the
background. "As with all others, the victim was beheaded. However the first
common thread between two victims has been found. In the last two killings,
both victims were females in their early twenties, and both bodies have been
marked in similar ways. For obvious reasons, the actual marking on the bodies
may not be shown, but the police have issued an artist's sketch of the mark
in the hopes that it will lead to more information on this case." As he said
this, the image of the sketch filled the screen. The design was an oval,
crossed by a staff and a sword. The other markings looked like a star pattern
on one side and the symbol from Sailor Mercury's henshin rod on the other.
"In financial news..."

    "You were saying Mina-chan?" Her father asked when Minako didn't continue
immediately.

    "Oh...um, we're going on a field trip for our end of year project next
week and Miss Yamagiri says we'll need 15000 yen," Minako explained. "The
trip isn't until friday, but she says we need to bring the money on Monday."

    "These project trips weren't that expensive when I was in high school,"
Mr. Aino said with a wince, then smiled. "Are you sure you're not padding
the amount to get some extra pocket money?"

    "Daddy!"

    "Okay, don't worry, I'll have it for you monday morning."

    "Thanks Daddy, your the best," Giving her father a kiss, she grabbed her
school bag and ran for the door. It wasn't until school was almost over, that
she remembered the design that had been shown on the news.  Skecthing it in
her notebook, Minako decided to show it to the others.  Especailly since it
had the symbol from Ami's henshin rod on it and not the official symbol of the
planet Mercury on it.

                   *************************************

    Daryl Thorne was grinning broadly as he sauntered into the throne room
and bowed insolently, "You wanted me for somethin' Damian?"

    Rochefort, sitting on the throne, ignored Thorne's statement for several
seconds, fixing the man with a cold glame.  When Thorne started fidgetting
Damian nodded imperceptably.  "Yes Daryl I did," he replied in a low tone.
"You failed to follow my instrunctions."

    "But... you told me to take out the Johnson girl as soon as possible."

    "Yes, I did," Damian said grimly, "I also told you to maintain a low
profile."

    "I did," Daryl said defensinvely. "No one saw me coming or going, and
only the victims saw me at the scene."

    "I'm aware of that," Damian granted irritably, "What you have yet to
explain is why you're leaving a calling card like a common serial killer.
Is that what you call mainting a low profile?!!" Daryl blanched at the cold
fury that filled Damians voice and glanced nervously at the Youma guards that
surrounded the hall.  "You will no longer be assigned to the female victims
in the Tokyo area as from now, Annie has that well in hand.  Your victims will
all be males, and if you leave that fodush mark on any of them, I will
personally feed your intenstines to one of my guards.  Is that clear enough?!"

    "Crystal."

    "Excellent, then you may procede with your next opperation.  Remember, I
don't want Drakkar to know what's going on until it is much too late.

    "Of course, my lord,"  Daryl said, bowing with much less confidence.  He
hurried from the room, not noticing Jarostie as he stood behind one of the
many pillars.  After a time Jarosite also left, returning to the Youma
Production facilities that Damian had ordered him to monitor.

                    ************************************

    "What is this all about Usagi?"  Haruka asked irratably." I thought
  Setsuna said there wasn't going to be any trouble for a while."

    "She was propably right," Usagi replied nervously, looking to Makoto for
support.  "This is about something that Setsuna might not have noticed.
There's a serial killer loose in Tokyo."

    "And ..." Haruka said pointedly . "What does that have to do with us?"

    "We're the defenders of love and justice," Rei said, her voice rising in
disbelief.  "If the police can't find out who's doing this, we'll have to
stop this killer ourselves."

    "Why?" Michiru asked calmly, looking at Rei.

    "'Why'?!" Rei demanded.  "What do you mean why? Some evil slime ball is
out there killing people by cutting their heads off, and you want to know
why he should be stopped?"

    "No Rei, I want to know why we should do it," Michiru repled serously.
"The police perfectly capable of dealing with a normal maniac." Everyone was
quiet for several seconds until Minako cleared her throat.

    "I agree with Michiru, " she sighed, holding up her hand to stop Rei
from arguing with her. "The police are capable of dealing with normal
criminals, but I don't know if this one is normal. Two of the victims had
this symbol on their bodies." She showed everyone the sketch she'd drawn.
Everyone look at it, then turned to Ami who had gasped when she saw it.

    "What is it Ami?" Luna asked, jumping to the girls lap.

    "I don't know,"  Ami murmured uncertainly.  "It's just it's familiar."

    "Where did you see it before?"  Artemus queried, looking closer at the
sketch "It looks like a betrothal medallion from the Silver Millenium."

    "A betrothal medallion?" Luna said looking closer as well "it can't be,
he died before the final assault."

    "Who died?"  Usagi demanded, seeing Ami stiffen in surprise. "Who are you
talking about Luna?"

    "No one you need to worry about," Artemis said quickly, glaring at Luna.
"The design does match an artifact from the Moon Kingdom though, which could
point to a negverse connection, those scum weren't above looting during their
final attack."

    "But who was it?"

    "Who cares Usagi?" Rei barked angrily. "There's a serial killer running
around loose out there and you want to know about someone who's been dead for
2000 years. Get your priorities straight."

    "That's enough Rei," Michiru said flatly, causing everyone to stare at
her. "Usagi's priorities are not in question here. What is, is why this is so
important to you."

    "I think I can answer that," Luna said softly, gaining everyone's
attention immediately. "The Inner Senshi have always been the Moon Kingdom's
police force. It was that way for several thousand years. I don't doubt that
the drive to solve crimes is genetic by now."

    "How does this involve us?" Haruka demanded. "We aren't any kind of police
force."

    "That may be, but if this is a Negaverse plot, we can't just leave it
alone," Minako sighed, looking at Haruka and Michiru pleadingly. "If the
police run into a youma, they'll get hurt, maybe even killed."

    "All we really need to do is patrol," Makoto advised, seeing that Haruka
was wavering. "If the Negaverse is involved, we have stop them. If they're
not, then we can leave it to the police."

    "Okay, fine, but I still don't like this idea," Haruka grumbled.

    "I understand," Minako replied, smiling when Haruka looked at her with
raised eyebrows. "Artemis can tell you, it took him at least five months to
convince me that I should get involved in crime fighting."

    "I told you it was to draw the Negaverse out," Artemis protested.

    "Whatever furball."

    "Alright, everyone is going to patrol for three hours in rotation," Usagi
said, surprising the others. "I'll take first shift, then Ami, and Makoto,
with Rei on last watch. Minako will lead off tomorrow."

    "What about last watch?" Haruka demanded suspiciously. "There are only
three of us left."

    "Find Setsuna and she can have it," Usagi replied airily. "If not, then
stand four hour watches. Gotta go, Bye." Jumping to her feet and ran out of
the room with Luna close on her heals. She could be heard giggling as she
left.

                   ***************************************

Later That Night Around 2:32 a.m.

    A lone man was walking to his car in the parking garage, carrying several
bags from his shopping.  He appeared to be in his mid to late thirties with
short hair and a bearing that could only be described as military.  The
clothes he wore were the kind that don't wrinkle very easily, and appeared
slightly out of date, as if he couldn't be bothered to keep up with the
latest trends.

    He placed the bags in the trunk, went to the passenger door, then swore
realizing what he was doing and walked back around to the driver's side
complaining about people who drive on the wrong side of the road.  He opened
the door then stopped when he felt an all too familiar tingling sensation,
looking into the shadows near the exit of the garage.  While he watched,
another man stepped into the light from the security lamps.
                
    "Donovan Lader, I presume." the man said sardonically, his accent marking
him as coming from the southern part of the United States.  He was short,
with shoulder length black hair tied into a long braid, and green eyes.
He wore a gray silk shirt, black pants, and a brown, duster style leather
jacket.  In his hands, he carried a cavalry saber with a gray tassel hanging
from the hilt.

    "And you are?" Donovan asked guardedly.

    "Daryl Thorne." Daryl replied with a mocking bow.

    "Lets get this over with." Donovan sighed as he drew his cutlass.

    "Yes, lets." Daryl agreed with a sly smile.

     As the two men moved closer together, Daryl removed his jacket and stared
at the other man.  Both of them were sizing each other up, figuring what
tactic to use.
Out of complete boredom of waiting, Daryl started in with a swinging attack.
The attack was easily blocked by Donovan's cutlass. Their attacks, blocks,
and dodges were leaving the surrounding vehicles with puncture marks, slices
down the side, broken windows, and other related damages.

     During one attack, Daryl was able to knock Donovan's cutlass from his
hand, and the sword landed under a car.  Daryl thinking that the fight was
over, started to swing down to cut off Donovan's head, but missed because
Donovan ducked under the attack and rolled away.  When Daryl turned around
to see where Donovan had gone, he saw that Donovan had just retrieved his
sword. Daryl growled in frustration.

     When Donovan got back up, they both started attacking each other again.
As he carried on, Daryl suddenly realized that the fight was now leading
toward his own death.  After destroying several more vehicles, hitting their
swords in the garage supports, causing several gouges in them, and setting
off the sprinkler system, Donovan had Daryl pinned up against a support.
Daryl brought his sword up to block  Donovan's attack, but watched in horror
as Donovan swung and knocked Daryl's sword out of his grasp.  It  landed a
few feet from his hand.

    "You were too cocky there, Thorne." Donovan said with a smile as he
brought his sword up to take Daryl's head.

    "I don't think so.  I was only setting you up for your downfall." Daryl
    laughed, smiling as he cupped his hands in front of his chest.

    "What are you doing?" Donovan asked suspiciously.

    "This," Daryl said as he pointed cupped his hands toward Donovan saw a
ball of energy form in front of the hands.  Then the ball of energy flew from
Daryl's hands and hit Donovan squarely in the chest, knocking Donovan into the
air. He flew backwards a few feet and land on his back with his sword a few
feet away from
him.

    Donovan felt like all of his strength had left him.  He felt tired and
weak and could barely move at all.  He saw Daryl stand up and walk over to
pick his sword up and then start to walk towards him.  Donovan started to
crawl to his own sword, but Daryl made his way over to it and kicked his sword
out of his reach, and saw Donovan looking up at him.

    "What did you do?"  groaned Donovan.

    "Sapped some of your strength and then hit you with an impact beam.
Minor stuff to bring you down."  replied Daryl

    "Why?"

    "That is for me to know and you to never figure out.  For my reasons, I
would have to say,  There can be only one."  said Daryl as he brought his
sword down and cut off Donovan's head.

    Just when the head rolled away from the body,  Daryl stood up to await
for the Quickening.  Lightning like energy formed around Donovan's body and
started arcing toward Daryl.  When the lightning came upon him, he tensed up
as the Quickening came upon him.  The energy from the Quickening started to go
into the surrounding cars and started  them up.  Headlights came on, horns
were going off, the cars started to move forward some,  hoods were being
blown off the cars, and windows were blowing apart.

    When the Quickening ended, Daryl went down on one knee as he recovered
his breath, then he heard footsteps approaching. He quickly stood up, grabbed
his sword, and concentrated on his gate crystal for a moment to form a portal.
When the portal formed, he ran into it, closing the portal after him moments
before the other person arrived.

                    **************************************

     As Thorne's gate collapsed, Kevin O'Connell stepped out of the shadows
and shook his head in surprise. Walking over to the place where the gate had
been moments before.

    "Where the hell did you get powers like that Thorne?" He muttered to the
empty space, then looked toward the still form in the parking structure.
"Poor bastard." With a sigh, he turned and walked toward the alley next to
the building.
    
    Above him on the roof of a nearby building, Sailor Jupiter watched
wondering what this man had to do with the killings. Realising that she
couldn't do anything for the man in the garage, she decide to follow this
other one. Hopping from building to building, she smiled as he walked casually
from the alley down the street into another alley, distancing himself from the
murder scene. "Cool customer," she laughed to herself as she followed.

    He followed several alleys, changing direction often, until he came out in
the middle of a crowded street and disappeared. Sailor Jupiter swore and
searched the crowd, trying to find him. When he finally emerged, he no longer
wore the overcoat or the hat, so she barely recognised him. It was only when
he ducked into another alley that she realised it was him.

    "Shit..." she muttered jumping from rooftop to rooftop, hoping he hadn't
disappeared. When she glanced down into the alley though, he was looking
straight at her. She stared at him in shock until he waved at her, then she
ducked behind the parapet. She heard him chuckle, then silence. When she
looked again, he was gone. Running to the other edges of the roof she looked
for him, but with no success. With a sigh, she returned to her patrol which
was quiet until she turned over to Sailor Mars.

    "Do you think he was involved?" Mars asked after she had told her
about the murder. "Did you see him?"

    "I saw him, but I don't think he had anything to do with it," Jupiter
replied, her voice showing her confusion. "From what I saw he got there after
the guy was dead. Besides, he wasn't carrying to cut the guy's head off."

    "Oh well, maybe he works for the police."

    Jupiter nodded and left her to the patrol. Once she was home, she
transformed out of her uniform and took a quick shower. After making a cup of
cocoa, she sat on the couch, deep in thought. Ten minutes later she smiled.

    "It couldn't have been Kevin," she muttered, smiling. "That guy just
looked like him." That decided, she came to her feet and went to bed, falling
asleep as her head hit the pillow.

                    **************************************

     Daryl stepped out of the portal in a chamber that looked like it was in
a medieval castle.  He looked around and smiled at the man on the throne.

     "What do you have to report." Damian growled sternly.

     "My mission was a success, I removed Donovan Lader, and gathered energy
for the Negaverse." Daryl replied with a smirk.

     "Good."

     "What is my next mission?"

     "I want you to go back to Tokyo.  Juuban district this time.  There you
will find an antique dealer.  He is your next target."

     "Who is he?"

     "Scott Schwartzstern, another friend of our enemy. Take great care
though, he is highly skilled."

     "I can't fail." Daryl laughed as he turned and walked out of the room.
The man on the throne smiled darkly after Daryl left.

     "You will get yours soon enough, Drakkar," Damian laughed. "Don't worry, 
you will get yours."

                    **************************************
To be continued...

    Source: geocities.com/zciwohcats