(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.

We hope you enjoy the story.

                   *************************************
                     CHAPTER SEVEN: Kidnapped part III 
                   *************************************

	Scott watched Kevin chase Jarosite out of the room, then went over to help
 Sailor Jupiter, who was lying still on the floor.  What he saw when he arrived
 at her side was not promising though.  She was lying face down in a pool of
 her own blood, and didn't seem to be breathing.  When he turned her over, he
 gasped at the sight of her wound.  The front of her fuku was burned away, as
 was most of the skin on her chest.  Not expecting to find anything he felt for
 her pulse, and was rewarded by a faint flutter.  Her pulse steadily weakened
 until, finally it was gone.  He closed her staring eyes, and positioned her
 hands to cover her chest wound.  Seconds later, he jumped to his feet as he
 felt another Immortal approaching from the roof.  He drew his Katana and
 prepared to defend himself, then lowered his sword after Kevin burst into
 the room, swearing viciously.

	"I gather he got away,"  Scott said, his suspicion confirmed by Kevin's nod.  "What 
happened?"

	"He made it to the helicopter before I could get to him,"  Kevin growled angrily.

	"You'll get him later."  Scott assured him, wondering how to tell him about Makoto.

	"I just wish I knew why the sight of him sent me into a killing rage."  Kevin replied, 
then glanced over at Makoto.  "How is she?  She doesn't look like she's breathing."

	"That's because she isn't."  Scott said sadly, but a little replied.  "I'm sorry Ziggy, 
but there was nothing I could do."

	"No!"  Kevin howled in loss.  "Makoto!"  He dropped to his knees next to her still form, 
his sword falling from his numb fingers.  In one glance, he took in her injuries and lost all 
hope, howling like a wounded animal as he cradled her head in his lap, tears dripping on her 
face.

				#	#	#	#	#

	Siegmund realized they weren't going to make it to the hall of gates as they fell back and 
he realized that only Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mercury and himself were left to protect the Princess.  
The Generals encircled them grinning evilly and Jarosite snapped his hands forward, blasting Sailor 
Jupiter in the chest at point blank range, killing her instantly.  His knees buckled as the pain of 
her death washed over him.  Zoicite laughed and drove his sword through Siegmund's heart, blackness 
over came him.

				#	#	#	#	#	

	"Damn you Jarosite.  You will pay for your crimes, if I have to hound you to the gates of Hell 
itself, you will pay!"  Kevin roared, then collapsed in on himself, crying as he stared down at Makoto's 
still face.  "I couldn't save her Scott, not then and not now.  Why couldn't I save her?"

	"We can't always protect those we love,"  Scott said, understanding.  "I wish we could."

	"But why her?"  Kevin demanded angrily.  "She was so young, had so many things left to do."

	"Ziggy, we both know death comes to people when they least expect it."  Scott said, impatiently, 
unable to understand why Kevin was carry on like this.  "What is this all about, really?"

	"I'll never be able to tell her what she meant to me,"  Kevin groaned, grieving.  "I'll never be 
able to tell her I love her."

	"I can't believe he can't sense the change yet."  Scott thought to himself.  "It's like a flare 
burning through the back of my skull."  He realized he had to do something to distract Kevin before 
he did something stupid in his grief.  "I can't believe what a lame, senseless, wimp you've become.  
Sitting there crying like a baby."

	"What did you say?"  Kevin demanded angrily, gently setting Makoto's head on his jacket, retrieving 
his sword, and coming to his feet.  "Would you care to repeat that?"

	"Sure.  You're a lame, wimp, baby who couldn't tell if his own skull was on fire."  Scott laughed, 
then jumped back to avoid Kevin's wild slash.  "Oh, did I hit a nerve?"

	"The love of my life is dead, and you make jokes?"  Kevin roared in disbelief.  "Have you no respect 
for the dead?"

	"More than you will ever know."  Scott replied bitterly, struggling to keep his temper as he parried 
another attack.  "But at least I know when grieving is necessary."

	Kevin swore at him and launched a series of overhead strikes, anyone of which would have incapacitated 
Scott if it had landed.  Scott simply dodged or parried all of them, moving the fight away from Makoto.  
When he felt they were far enough away, he stopped retreating and continued to block or dodge Kevin's attacks.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Makoto woke up with a gasp, then weekly looked around, confused by her position.  When she was fully 
aware of her surroundings, she realized that she was lying on her back on a cold concrete floor.  It was 
only when she sat up that she felt a cold breeze across her chest.  Glancing down, she gasped and grabbed 
the jacket that had been under her head to cover herself.  She looked down and saw a faint burn scar in 
the middle of her chest that looked like a starburst.

	She sat in a daze, trying to figure out what had happened.  "That General shot some kind of energy 
blast, and it hit me, but what happened after that?"  She muttered to herself in confusion.  "I could swear 
I'm supposed to be dead."  Just then, she heard the shriek of metal on metal, and gasped when she saw Kevin 
trying to kill Scott.  "What is with those two?"  She said, still dazed.

	Scott noticed Makoto sitting up and brought Kevin around so she was in his line of sight.  But Kevin 
was so focused on killing Scott, he didn't even notice.  After Scott was a second late on a parry and 
received a cut on his arm, he decided he needed to bring it to Kevin's attention.

	"Ziggy, that's enough!"  Scott yelled.  "This won't bring her back."

	"That doesn't matter."  Kevin shouted back.  "You don't know how I feel."

	"Yes I do."  Scott said in irritation.  "I've known how you felt my entire life."

	"What do you mean by that?"  Kevin demanded, lowering his sword.

	"Do you remember the story I told the Senshi at the shrine?"  Scott asked, taking a rest.  At 
Kevin's confused nod, he continued.  "The ceremony we wanted to make it back to the moon in time for, 
who was going to be betrothed?"

	"Princess Serenity of the moon, Princess Meriel of Mercury, and Princess ... Princess ...,"  Kevin 
tried to remember but couldn't.  "You know my memories of the Silver Millennium are like swiss cheese, 
Scott.  What is your point."

	"My point is that the third Princess was Natasha of Jupiter."  Scott replied.  "The other three 
people getting betrothed were Endymion, me and you.  So I know exactly how you feel."

	"No you don't."  Kevin snarled in denial, wildly slashing at Scott, who barely brought his sword 
up in time to parry the attack.  "Ami is alive, and Makoto is dead.  Just like you will be!"

	Sailor Neptune ran into the room, followed by the other Senshi, and stared in disbelief at what 
she saw.  Her brother, Kevin, and his best friend were involved in what looked like a duel to the death.  
While Sailor Jupiter, obviously injured and in shock, sat in a dazed heap at the other end of the room.  
Sailor Mercury and Venus started to treat her, but Scott and Kevin's fight seemed to be escalating.  
Kevin suddenly disarmed his friend, and was about to behead his friend, forcing Michiru's hand.

	"Deep Submergence!"  She yelled, hurling a massive ball of water into his back, knocking him into 
the wall, and sending his sword flying.

	Kevin was stunned by the unexpected attack from behind and his collision with the wall, but not as 
much as by what followed.  His sister, Michiru, grabbed him by his collar and lifted him to his feet.

	"Siegmund Anthony Drakkar, what the Hell do you think you're doing?"  She yelled, shaking him.  
"Scott is your friend."

	"Makoto is dead, Michiru."  Kevin said, grief overwhelming him again.

	"So you try to kill Scott too?"  She demanded angrily.  "What idiocy it this?"

	"He was mocking my grief."  Kevin replied, crying.  "Then he made her death worse by reminding me 
that we were engaged during the Silver Millennium."  The other Senshi gasped as that part of their memories 
flooded back in.

	"Do you really love her that much?"  Michiru asked quietly.  Makoto smiled brightly when Kevin nodded.  
"Then why don't you go over there and tell her, you idiot?"  Kevin looked at her blankly for several seconds, 
then sobbed.

	"Because she's dead."  He wailed, then recoiled when Michiru slapped him across the face.

	"Then why is she sitting up over there?"  She demanded in exasperation, pointing toward Makoto who 
waved shyly when Kevin looked in her direction.  The shock of everything that had happened finally caught 
up with him, and he collapsed bonelessly to the ground in a dead faint.

	"Well, he took that better than I expected."  Scott said, retrieving their swords.

	"What do you mean?"  Michiru asked in confusion.  "He fainted!"

	"Fainting after you find your girlfriend dead, get blasted and chewed out by your sister, almost 
kill one of your friends, then see your girlfriend come back from the dead, all in ten minutes is a mild 
way of dealing with the shock, I think."  Scott said calmly.  Michiru just stared at him for a few seconds, 
then shook her head and went check on Makoto.

	Scott lifted Kevin to his shoulder, then picked up the two scabbard swords and handled them to Mamoru.  
"We'd better get going."  He said to the others as the helped Makoto to her feet.  "Don't bother changing 
back yet, we don't want to let them know your secret identities."  The Senshi nodded and followed him down 
the stairs.  Once they got back to the Hum-vee's, he set Kevin in one, then took the swords back, and placed 
Kevin's beside him.

	"Hadria, uh ... Haruka, do you think you can drive a Hum-vee?"  He asked the blond Senshi, who nodded.  
"We'll drive back to the airport and fly back to Tokyo airport.  We'll have to figure out what to do next 
at the Penthouse."  The other Senshi nodded, and Michiru climbed into the middle seat, next to Minako.  
Rei climbed in front with Haruka, and the others rode with Scott.  Haruka followed Scott when they left the 
compound and followed a twisting path among the warehouses until they came to an abandoned warehouse at the 
edge of the city.

	"Okay, you can change back here."  Scott said over the radio after checking the area.  "No one's 
around."  They all got out of the vehicles and transformed in bright flashes of light as Scott changed the 
number plates on both vehicles and stowed the swords in their special compartments.  Everyone was back in 
the Hum-vee's and they were on their way again in five minutes.

	They drove casually and had covered half the distance back to the airport, when an elderly woman in 
a tiny Daihatsu cut in front of the second hum-vee, forcing Haruka to slam on the brakes.  Everyone in the 
vehicle was shaken up, and Michiru wasn't too surprised to hear Kevin groan from the back seat.

	"What's going on?"  He asked, trying to get his bearings.

	"We're in one of your trucks on the way back to the airport."  Michiru explained.  "Some crazy old 
lady in a Daihatsu just cut in front of us, that's why we stopped so fast."

	"Man, what hit me?"  Kevin said in confusion as he sat up.  "Last thing I remember was chasing some 
guy to a helicopter, then this crazy dream where Scott told me Makoto was dead, and I tried to kill him."

	"I don't know about this hallucination you and Scott had about Makoto dying, since I can assure you 
she is very much alive."  Michiru replied seriously.  "But the rest of that really happened.  What were 
you thinking, trying to kill your friend?"

	"Would you believe that I wasn't?"  Kevin laughed, then blushed under her angry glare.  "I don't 
really remember, okay?  Now where did you say we're going?"

	"Back to the airport to fly back to Tokyo, so we can figure out what to do now."  Haruka said, 
overhearing the question.  "We lost track of the helicopter when it left the Japanese coast."

	"That's okay, I'm having Drakkensburg keep track of it."  Kevin said, thinking quickly.  "Would 
you hand me the radio, please?"  Rei shrugged and handed it back to Michiru who stopped before giving 
it to him.

	"Why do you want to talk to Scott now?"  She asked, as he looked at her pleadingly.  "Can't it 
wait until we get to the hanger?"

	"No, because we need to go to a different part of the airport."  Kevin replied, then smiled as 
she gave it to him.  "Wolf, this is dragon, we need to talk."

	"This is wolf."  Scott answered.  "Glad to hear you're back among the living."

	"Me too."  Kevin laughed.  "We need to head for hanger 51R, Scott.  That's where our transport is."

	"Are you about that?"  Scott asked with some surprise.  "That's on the opposite side of the runways 
from the heliport."

	"Certain, Ol' buddy."  Kevin sighed.  "If I'm right, we need more range than the chopper can give 
us.  That's why I had Jeff fly Mariah down.  We have to go to Drakkensburg, then we'll need all the speed 
we can get.  If we're going to get to the girls in time."

	"Roger dodger, you might want to tell Haruka where to turn, since it's real sudden."  Scott replied.  
"See you when we get there."

	"See you then."  Kevin laughed, then turned the radio off by punching the keypad.

	"Don't you think you should give me those directions?"  Haruka asked as he leaned back in his seat 
with his hands behind his head.  "In case you haven't noticed, this thing doesn't turn so well."

	"Don't worry about it.  Scott was just talking about a shortcut I once used."  Kevin said, smiling 
in reassurance.  "I found a new one since he last came here.  Osaka tower, this is Dragon, may I speak to 
the head controller, please?"

	"This is Masaru Tsuchida, Mr. O'Connell."  The head controller said, patiently.  "What may I do for 
you?"

	"May I please have clearance for ground traffic to cross runways 34 and 35 left in two minutes?"  
Kevin asked politely.

	"Of course, Mr. O'Connell, please use gate seven."  Mr. Tsuchida said pleasantly.  "Junko keeps 
asking when you will bring Makoto to meet us."

	"I'll have to ask her first, old friend, but it will be soon."  Kevin said, blushing when Michiru 
gave him a questioning look.  "I'll talk to you again once she's given me an answer.  Let Grandmother 
know I think of her."

	"Very well, undutiful one, I will let Junko know also."  Masaru sighed.  "Ensure that it is soon."  
Kevin agreed then returned the radio and handed it to Minako, who gave it to Rei.

	"What was that all about?"  Michiru asked in confusion.  "How do you know the head controller here?"

	"About forty years ago, I was in a small village on Hokkaido, when I came upon a young woman and her 
five year old son.  Like many others during the war, she had married and started raising a family, only to
have both of her children die from radiation poisoning from the Hiroshima bomb.  She had escaped the effects 
because she had been called away suddenly, because her mother had become ill.  Her husband and all of his 
family had also died in the blast.  So she stayed in her village and eventually remarried.  But her husband 
had abandoned them shortly after the birth of their son and his family, who had always felt that she was 
beneath them, denied the marriage had ever taken place."

	"But what does that have to do with the head controller here?"  She asked in confusion, then waited 
while Kevin directed Haruka toward the entry gate.

	"Masaru Tsuchida is her son."  Kevin replied, after they had passed through the gate.  "She lived 
with her mother and young son, doing laundry to make ends meet, but when her mother died, the Tsuchida 
family bought the cottage and threw them out.  They had been evicted not five minutes before I arrived, 
and Masaru was sitting next to his grieving mother, trying to understand why they couldn't live in their 
house anymore.  I offered her my help, and for a wonder, she accepted it from a gaijun when her own people 
had treated her so badly.  I sent her to secretarial school, and hired her as my personal assistant, the 
job she held until she retired six years ago.  She knows I am an Immortal, but insist that I maintain the 
illusion even with her, hence my greeting to 'grandmother'.  Junko is Masaru's wife, who thinks I'm the 
grandson of the man who helped her husband and his mother, so she treats me like her own son, and has been 
insisting that I bring Makoto to meet her, to approve of my choice." 

	"So she doesn't know about your Immortality?"  Michiru asked as they turned onto an access road.

	"Masaru and I wanted to tell her, but Limiko wouldn't allow it."  Kevin said, laughing at the memory.  
"She was acting like a high and mighty matron.  Which is not like her, and ordered us to keep the secret.  
So, Junko doesn't know for sure, but I think she's probably got some idea that something strange is going 
on."

	"Where are we going?"  Haruka asked as they came to a block of hangers.  "They all look a like."

	"Look for a black hanger with a red dragon logo on its side."  Kevin said, relaxing.  "That's where I 
told Jeff to put Mariah."  Just then, the road turned and they saw a huge black hanger on the right, standing 
by itself.  When they got a little closer, the logo of Drakken Enterprises became visible on the walls and 
roof of the hanger.

	"That's it?"  Haruka said, then pulled up to one of the access doors, after Kevin nodded.  

	Kevin got out of the Hum-vee, and walked up to a keypad at the side of the door.  The door slid open 
and he motioned Haruka through into the brightly lit building.  As they got out of the vehicle, what they 
saw in the hanger made them gasp.  It was huge, easily larger than a 747, and black with the same dragon 
logo that was on the hanger.

	"And what is that?"  Haruka gasped, watching a ground crew refuel the plane from a strange looking 
tanker truck.

	"That is Mariah."  Kevin replied proudly.  "She's the result of a program the US military canceled 
twenty years ago because of lack of funding.  Of course she's not capable of what they wanted her to do, 
but then I don't need her to be able to fire nuclear missiles."

	He stepped to the back of the hummer and removed his sword and the equipment locker, then motioned 
for one of the ground crewmen.  After a short conversation, the woman nodded and drove the hummer toward 
the plane.  A hatch in the bottom of the aircraft opened, and she drove it straight in.  Kevin motioned 
for another of the ground crew to stow the locker on the plane, then led his sister and the others to 
another part of the hanger, glancing at his watch, he smiled.

	"Since we have about ten minutes until the crew is finished, how would you like a tour?"  The girls 
nodded eagerly and he led them to an elevator, then to an entry door, where his pilot greeted him.

	"Good evening, Mr. O'Connell, I hope everything is in order?"  Jeffery Hammond said, smiling at the 
girls.  "She was a little sluggish on take off, but once we were airborne, Mariah found the problem and 
fixed it, temporarily.  It seems that the peroxide wasn't rich enough in the last consignment, which is 
why the tanks are taking so long to fill.  They had to purge them first."

	"Have the people responsible been dealt with appropriately?"  Kevin said in annoyance.

	"Of course, as ordered, their company was purchased, the former owners were removed from the 
board of directors, according to the contract and competent personnel installed as instructed."  Jeff 
replied.  "No other changes have been made in the company, nor are planned."

	"Excellent."  Kevin replied, nodding.  "We warned them five times already about supplying us with 
substandard fuel, but they don't seem to have gotten the message.  Who provided the peroxide and the 
nitrogen for the purge?"

	"They came from the stockpiles you order for Mr. Schwartzstern's project."  Jeff replied, pointing 
out the window.  "Once the new equipment is installed to update their production facicilites, your new 
acquisition will be able to replace the fuel we used by the end of the week."  

	Kevin nodded in agreement, then laughed as Haruka, who had glanced out the window in the direction 
Jeff had pointed, gasped in surprise.  The others rushed to see what had caused that reaction.  As Jeff 
went back to the cockpit, Haruka turned to face Kevin with a look of disbelief in her eyes.

	"That's a ... a ..."  She stuttered, still in shock.

	"SR-71 Blackbird, Model 38C."  Kevin finished for her.  "When the US started decommissioning them, 
I bought it for about five million.  Of course that was without the engines or the avionics, but then the 
stuff in those things had always been below my standards.  Scott liked it though, so I gave it to him to 
tinker with for his birthday about five years ago.  He seems to have lost interest lately, I guess it was 
just a phase.  Shall we get on with the tour?"

	The girls nodded, and Kevin spent the next five minutes showing them the accommodations on the plane.  
By then, Scott and the others had arrived, so Kevin left them in the entertainment room, arguing over which 
game they would play.  By the time he got down to the floor of the hanger, the other hummer had already 
been loaded and the ground crew had finished loading the fuel.

	"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Dragon Airlines Flight 001, non-stop service to Drakkensburg Island."  
Kevin said, acting like an airline steward.  "If you will please board the aircraft, we will be getting 
underway shortly."  After they finally stopped staring at the plane, he led the others up to the passenger 
compartment, then left them watching the movie the others had compromised on, and went with Scott to the 
cockpit.

	"All ready, Jeff?"  Kevin asked as they met the pilot at the door.  Jeff nodded and Kevin smiled.  
"The chopper is waiting at the heliport, and Will is your co-pilot.  She's got plenty of fuel and the 
external tanks are connected as well.  Have fun on your fishing trip."  Jeff laughed and left the plane, 
retracting the boarding ramp as Scott closed the door.  Kevin placed his hand on the scanner, and the 
cockpit door slid open.

	"Hello, Mariah, how are you feeling today?"  He asked as he sat in the pilot's seat.

	"Better now that they got that awful low grade fuel out of my tanks."  A perky female voice said, 
a computer generated image coming onto one of the screens.  "That stuff tasted awful, Ziggy."

	"I know it did, baby."  Kevin said sympathetically.  "We've taken care of it though.  So now we're 
going to be going to Drakkensburg Island.  What do you think?"

	"Does this mean we get to try out my new engine modifications?"  Mariah asked excitedly, her image 
jumping up and down, clapping.

	"Of course it does, Mariah."  Kevin laughed.  "Just as soon as we get off of the normal flight 
routes.  We don't want to scare the normal pilots."

	"So you finally got the voice recognition system to work, I see."  Scott said as he came into the 
cockpit.  "What was wrong with it?"

	"Nothing at all."  Kevin replied, laughing as Mariah's image blushed in embarrassment.  "But 
Mariah's designers made her too much like a human.  Because of that, she took as long as any baby to 
learn how to talk and understand.  She had to learn the same way we did, by listening to the people around 
her talk.  Once she started speaking in simple phrases and responding to questions, I realized what was 
going on and started playing tapes for her.  Once she had mastered English, I started on other languages.  
In fact, there are some things she won't do unless I say the command in three languages as a command."

	"I like that game."  Mariah giggled, then became serious.  "Besides, I don't want to hurt anybody.  
By the way Ziggy, the preflight are completed.  We're ready to go."

	"Thanks, Mariah."  Kevin replied and requested that runway 27 left be cleared for outgoing traffic.  
He was told it would take five minutes, which he acknowledged.  "Mariah, are the doors open?"  He asked, 
and the image looked around.

	"Yes, Ziggy."  She said solemnly.  "The ground maneuvering engines are operational and the main 
thrusters are in their warm up cycle."

	"Good girl."  Kevin said, laughing when Mariah's image grinned impishly.  "You're anticipating my 
orders again.  By the way, Makoto's on board today, would you like to meet her?"

	"Really, can I?"  Mariah asked in excitement.  "Are you sure she won't be afraid of me?  I've seen 
all those movies people write about artificial intelligences going crazy.  No offense, but you haven't 
got what it takes to spark my interest.  Now Friedrich is a different story.  Once he's back together 
again, interesting things will happen."  She blushed bright red after she finished talking, causing Kevin 
to chuckle.

	"Who's Friedrich?"  Scott asked in confusion.

	"Friedrich is the surprise that I tried to tell you about three months ago."  Kevin replied.  "Once 
we knew Mariah was awake, I had the technicians start on another system for you that resulted in Friedrich.  
He was designed for your SR-71, but if you want, he can be fitted to any of our other airframes."

	"Let me guess, Mariah's in love with him all ready."  Scott said, chuckling at the way Mariah was 
squirming in embarrassment.  "Do you think you could put him into another on of these?  I think he 
deserves only the best."  Mariah giggled happily, then told Kevin that the main thrusters were done 
with their warming up cycle and was on stand by.  They reached the end of 27 left, the airport's longest 
runway at the same time.

	"Mariah, retract the ground maneuvering system and prepare for take off."  Kevin said, donning the 
radio headset.  "Osaka tower, this is dragon flight, request permission for take off on runway 27 left."

	"Dragon flight, this is the chief controller, you are cleared for take off."  The voice from the 
tower replied.

	"Roger that tower."  Kevin confirmed.  "Mariah engage engines two, four, six, and eight in thirty 
seconds.  Please verify passenger seat belts are locked.  If you will all please sit down and buckle your 
seat belts, we will be departing in twenty seconds."  He announced over the intercom.

	"All passengers seated and belted, Ziggy."  Mariah reported.  "Thrusters two, four, six, and eight 
have ignited and all operating with in normal parameters.  Airlift weight calculated, vector launch 
unnecessary.  Ready for take off Ziggy."

	"The command is launch."  Kevin said, repeating the phrase in African and old Gaelic.  Everyone 
felt the sudden pressure pushing them back into their seats as four of the eight engines sent them 
hurtling down the runway.  Well before the end of the runway, Mariah was airborne.  They completed the 
westward turn and quickly climbed to their cruising altitude of 50,000 feet.  Scott unstrapped and went 
back to check on everyone.

	"How are the new engines, Mariah."  Kevin asked, smiling when her image glanced down at her feet.

	"Perfectly, Ziggy."  She giggled.  "That was only 50% thrust on four engines too.  When do we get 
to try full speed?"

	"I'd say in about an hour."  Kevin said, laughing at her enthusiasm.  "Run the other four through 
the warm up cycle again, light them off and equalize the thrust.  Once they've all been running for an 
hour let me know.  I'm going back for a meeting.  If anything happens, let me know immediately.  
Otherwise steady on this course until then."

	"Gotcha boss.  Don't forget to bring Makoto with you for the test."  Mariah added.  "I think 
she'll enjoy it, and that would be a great time to introduce us."

	"Okay, I'll see what she thinks."  Kevin said, and left the cockpit.  He walked the ten feet to 
the entertainment room and found everyone there except Makoto.

	"Makoto had a headache, so she went back to one of the bedrooms you showed us."  Minako said when 
he asked where Makoto was.

	"Would you all please go to the conference room."  Kevin said on his way to get her.  "I think 
now would be a good time to talk about what happened back there."  He headed out of the room and made 
his way to the bedrooms.  After he'd checked two of the six, he was on his way to the next one, when 
he felt the familiar tingle at the base of his skull, indicating another Immortal was nearby.  After 
glancing behind him to see if Scott had followed him, he swore ad picked up the intercom to the flight 
deck.  "Mariah, would you check rooms three through six, and give me a passenger count?"

	"Sure thing, Boss man,"  Mariah said, then laughed.  "There is only one person in those rooms, 
Ziggy.  Are you getting paranoid?"

	"Maybe."  Kevin laughed.  "Would that person happen to be female, about five foot seven, with 
brown hair?"

	"If you mean is it Makoto, then the answer is yes."  Mariah said in exasperation.  "She matches 
the photo in my databanks.  She's in four."

	"Thanks Mariah,"  Kevin sighed, his fears allayed on one point, but confirmed on another.  "Would 
you please tell Scott that he should go ahead without us, and I'm afraid the full speed run will have to 
wait another hour.  I have to talk to Makoto I think."

	"Okay boss, I hope everything is all right,"  Mariah said, worried.

	"I'll let you know as soon as I can, Mariah."  He replied, putting the handset back on the hook.  
Nerving himself up, he walked to the door.  He knocked, and shortly opened the door when she told him 
to come in.  "How are you feeling Mako-chan?"

	"I was feeling great, until this stupid headache came back."  She muttered, rubbing the back of 
her neck.  "It's real weird, it feels like all the nerves at the back of my neck are tingling."

	"I know exactly what you're talking about."  Kevin said nodding.  "I've often felt it myself.  
The only way I know of to deal with it is to ignore it.  Because I've never heard of it going away."

	"What is it?"  Makoto demanded.  "What causes it?"

	"I've got some mixed news for you, Makoto."  Kevin sighed sadly.  "The good news is that from now 
on, you're not going to age, you'll never be sick again, and you never die of natural causes.  The bad 
news is that you're going to be hunted by psychopaths for the rest of your life, whose only goal is to 
cut your head off."

	"What are you talking about, Kevin."  Makoto asked, frightened.  "You're scaring me."  She couldn't 
understand what he was saying.

	"I'm trying to Mako-chan."  Kevin groaned.  "You don't realize how much your life had changed.  
Everything will be different now."

	"what do you mean everything will be different now?"  Makoto whispered.  "What's changed?  Are 
you telling me you don't care for me anymore?  What did I do?"  Makoto started to panic, but Kevin 
grabbed her hands and sat next to her, trying to calm her.

	"No, Mako-chan, I love you, nothing will change that, especially not this."  Kevin said, then 
sighed in resignation, and then brightened.  "Congratulations Mako-chan, you're an Immortal."

	"An Immortal?"  She asked in shock.  "You mean like you and Scott? But how?"

	"Exactly,"  Kevin said, smiling.  "From what I can tell.  That blast Jarosite hit you with, killed 
you.  But because you are one of the 'Chosen Ones', you came back.  What that means for you in the simplest 
terms, is that from now on, you won't age, and you'll never die of natural causes.  Unfortunately, you're 
also very vulnerable because people who hunt those who are newly changed are going to have to give you a 
crash course in self-defense.  I wish we had more time to teach you more before you had to go into a 
dangerous situation, but it can't be helped."

	"I'm dead."  Makoto sobbed in fear.  "I had no idea your life was so dangerous.  How am I going to 
survive?  I don't know anything about how to use a sword."

	"Makoto, Scott and I have been doing this literally for centuries."  Kevin said, shaking her gently.  
"We'll teach you enough to keep your head attached until one of the others can help.  But once we're done 
rescuing the little girls, we're going to have to start teaching you techniques, because once you've started 
training all of the rules will apply.  Right now though, Scott and the others are discussing what happened 
on our end.  You have to decide if you want to tell the others about this.  I would recommend it, but it's 
your life and your choice."  He hugged her gently and was relieved to feel her return the embrace.

	"I guess it would be best to tell them now, so they will have time to get use to it."  Makoto replied, 
getting to her feet.  "Thank you for the support Kevin, I don't know if I could deal with this without you."  
They left the room and followed the passage forward to the conference room.  Kevin gave her one last hug, 
the opened the door for her.

	"... And when I got to Makoto, I checked her pulse,"  Scott was saying as they came in.  "And it 
was there ..."

	"But it faded away, didn't it?"  Makoto interrupted, smiling when Scott nodded with a smile to his 
face.  "You see, I died shortly after Jarosite blasted me."

	"But you were alive when we got there."  Ami protested, confused.  "In fact, you asked me what was 
going on."

	"All I can think of is that I must be an Immortal like Scott and Kevin."  Makoto replied, looking 
to Kevin for support.  He smiled encouragingly and nodded.  "After Jarosite shot me, I saw Kevin chase 
him through the door, then everything went black.  When I regained consciousness, I only had a burn scar 
where I was shot, Kevin's jacket was under my head, and he and Scott were fighting."

	"How could you be an Immortal?"  Rei asked in disbelief.  "Setsuna said Immortals were chosen at 
birth.  You died before when we were fighting Beryl and Metallia.  Why didn't you become an Immortal 
then?"  Makoto looked to Kevin for help and he smiled.

	"Rei, if you remember, she also said that was what she had heard."  Kevin said earnestly.  "Quite 
honestly, even those of us who have been around longer than Scott, don't know what makes one person an 
Immortal and another, who dies standing next to him, not.  But we can settle this easily enough.  Ami 
noticed that Scott and I have the same energy pattern as the rest of you with an additional pattern 
overlaid on top of it.  All we need to do is have Ami compare Makoto's pattern with the last one she 
recorded.  That should answer the question decisively."  Rei agreed, and Ami scanned Makoto, then sighed.

	"They're telling the truth."  Ami said after double-checking the results.  "Makoto's pattern still 
has the Silver Millennium indicators all of ours have, but also has the indicators that mark Scott and 
Kevin as Immortals."

	"I was wondering how long it would take the two of you to come to grips about Makoto's Immortality."  
Scott said looking at Makoto and Kevin.

	"What do you mean by that?"  Kevin asked, confused.

	"Let's see if you can remember clearly."  Scott said looking at Kevin.  "What was the exact wording 
I said, before you started to attack me?"

	Kevin started thinking back to that time, and tried to remember what Scott told him, while he grieved 
over Makoto.  When the words came to him, he tried to think of the meaning that Scott was saying them for.  
It was then that Kevin's eyes opened wide when realization dawned on him.

	"You knew."  Kevin accused as he saw Scott smile and nod at him, while the rest of the people looked 
at them in confusion.  "You knew she would become an Immortal."

	"Yes, I knew she would become an Immortal from when I first met her at Rei's shrine."  Scott said.

	"But how did you know I would become Immortal?"  Makoto asked.

	"Just as you'll figure out, we have the ability to detect the presence of another Immortal, we also 
have a minor ability to detect the presence of Pre-Immortals."  Scott said as he looked directly at Kevin, 
who blushed in embarrassment at a small jab that Scott took at him, then gave  him a look that said that 
they would talk later.  "I can understand that you all have a lot of questions, but we need to find out where 
we went wrong this time so that we can make sure it doesn't happen again.  When we get to Drakkensburg, you 
can ask all of the questions you like."

	"What is Drakkensburg anyway?"  Minako asked in confusion.  "Kevin mentioned it on our tour, but we 
never found out what it was."

	"Drakkensburg is a small coral island I bought at the end of world war two,"  Kevin replied.  "It was 
uninhabited after the US military withdrew, so it seemed ideal for a place to relax, where no one could 
bother me.  It also has the best satellite imaging systems in the world.  That's why we're going there.  
When they got away I the helicopter, I called my monitoring station and had them acquire it and monitor 
them constantly.  When we get to Drakkensburg, they should have a location for us or at least a course.  
But unless they rendezvoused with a ship off shore, the furthest they could have gone is Okinawa, which 
is only a one hour flight from Drakkensburg as opposed to two hours from Tokyo."

	"But how did those guys get past you?"  Makoto asked.  "You had over twice as many people as we did."

	"Well ..."  Ami began, blushing.

				#	#	#	#	#

	As the Senshi entered the third floor lobby, they saw two hallways that hadn't been on the plans 
Kevin had shown them.  After a quick discussion, Sailor Mars and Venus went down the west hallway, while 
Sailor Uranus and Tuxedo Kamen walked down the eastern one.  Sailor Moon, along with Neptune and Mercury, 
took the central hall, with Mercury scanning for anomalies.  They were halfway down the hall when Mercury 
detected something, just as the doors to the boardroom at the end opened and two youma similar to the ones 
Beryl had used, marched out.  Sailor Moon shouted for the others over her communicator, as Neptune unleashed 
her 'deep submergence'.  The two youma crashed backward into the table and disintegrated on impact.  An 
energy ball flew from the room, knocking Neptune into the wall at the end of the hall.  More blasts forced 
Sailor Moon and Mercury back to the lobby, where they met the others.

	"They're using that old model again?"  Sailor Mars scoffed as two more youma came down the hall.

	Out of sight of the Senshi, the two advancing towards them had absorbed the dust from the previous two.  
Sailor Neptune smiled and launched another 'Deep Submergence' at the new youma.  As the blast of water reached 
them, a strange hexagonal force field formed in front of them, absorbing the force of the attack.  Then Senshi 
gaped in shock at the still advancing youma, and were forced to give ground again.  

	The first youma reached the lobby as Uranus launched a 'World Shaking' and Venus hit the other with a 
'Love and Beauty Shock'.  Both instantly dissolved revealing two more carrying the unconscious Sailor Saturn 
and Chibi-Moon.  Sailor Neptune got out the deep aqua mirror to try to find the youma's weakness.  As they 
entered the lobby, the image changed rapically, as Sailor Moon gasped, drawing Neptune's attention.

	She watched in horror as the dust from the two destroyed youma was absorbed.  She groaned as she realized 
that the only attacks that would affect the youma now, either weren't powerful enough to stop them or would 
hurt the girls.  Sailor Moon and the Inner Senshi used their lower powered attack to stop the youma, but they 
didn't have enough power to destroy them.  The youma made it to the doors, and finally revealed the people behind 
them.  The girl looked about sixteen years old and the man about mid-twenties.  The only sign of anything unusual 
was that both of them carried swords.

	The man behind them caught their attention, and brought gasps of horror from the four Inner Senshi, who 
recognized his uniform immediately.  The green haired general moved up between the two youma and called the 
express elevator as the youma and two Immortals held off the attackers.  The girl turned out to be the better 
fighter of the two.  While Tuxedo Kamen was holding his own against the man, Sailor Uranus barely avoided being 
gutted by the red head, which seemed to be enjoying the fight.  The elevator door opened, and the three beings 
from the Negaverse stepped in, followed by the man, while the girl held everyone at bay.  The doors were closing, 
and the girl saluted mockingly and back flipped into the elevator.

	Sailor Moon beat on the closed doors futilely, while Sailor Mars called the other team to tell them what 
was going on.  "Jupiter, the enemy has a new kind of youma ..."  She explained as the Senshi ran towards the 
stairs at the end of the hall.  They stopped when they heard a screech of metal two floors higher.  Then they 
ran up the stairs, arriving while Kevin and Scott were fighting.

				#	#	#	#	#

	"Hmm, that was definitely a rough fight."  Kevin said.  "What were those force fields, rip-off's from 
the Borg on Star Trek?  They expected us though, and we walked right into it."

	"So how do we make sure it doesn't happen again?"  Haruka asked.  "They must know we'll come after them 
again."

	"Obviously,"  Kevin replied, smiling evilly.  "But not that we will be able to hit them tomorrow at noon.  
My people will have the data we need waiting for us at Drakkensburg."

	"Why not at dawn?"  Usagi asked, ignoring her friend's chuckles.

	"Because Makoto needs some basic training to keep her alive if she runs into any of Damian's people.  The 
instant they sense her, they're going to start ignoring you and go after her.  While it normally against the 
rules, I need you guys to help her if that happens.  Will you do that?"  The Senshi nodded, stunned that they 
hadn't thought of that.

	"Are there any questions?"  Scott asked, and everyone shook their heads negatively.  "All right, arrival 
time at Drakkensberg will be in ..."

	"Actually Scott, our arrival will be in about an hour."  Kevin said, chuckling at Scott's surprised 
expression.

	"How are you going to pull that off?"  Scott asked in Disbelief.  "It took us three hours last time."

	"Do you remember Mariah's comment about engine modifications?"  Kevin asked, smiling when Scott nodded.  
"Well, we got airborne on a quarter of maximum thrust.  I was about to go run the full speed tests.  Would you 
like to come and watch?"  Scott looked interested.

	"Are you going to take it slowly?"  Scott asked.  "Or would you like the girls to belt up to watch the 
movie?"

	"They won't need their belts if things go according to plan."  Kevin replied.  "Why don't you go on ahead?  
I need to ask Makoto to join us.  Mariah wants to meet her."  Scott laughed and nodded as Kevin walked over to 
the side monitor where Makoto and Minako were playing a video game.

	"Hello, Kevin."  Minako said brightly as she beat Makoto with a super combo for the third time.  "What's 
up?"

	"I was wondering if Makoto would like to visit the cockpit."  Kevin said, giving Makoto an inquiring smile.  
She nodded and Minako shrugged, starting a one-player game.  Kevin led Makoto toward the cockpit and wasn't 
surprised when she took his hand as they followed the passage.  He gave her hand a squeeze in reassurance, then 
placed his right hand on the security scanner.

	"Why is there this much security for the cockpit?"  Makoto asked as the hatch opened up.

	"Mainly it's because I want to protect the plane's computer."  Kevin replied.  "That and the fact that she 
likes it that way."

	"What do you mean, she?"  Makoto asked in confusion.  "Who are you talking about?"

	"I'm talking about Mariah."  Kevin said in a matter of fact tone.  Then chuckled and pointed at a nearby 
monitor, where Mariah's image, dressed in a school uniform was glaring at him.  "All right Mariah, you can 
introduce yourself now."  

	"Hello, Miss Kino,"  Mariah said shyly.  "I'm Mariah, the plane's computer."  Her curtsied, smiling.

	"Um ... Hello Mariah, what is it you do exactly?"  Makoto said in surprise.

	"I serve as the flight engineer, auto-pilot, and safety monitoring system."  She replied cheerfully.  
"Also I can fly the plane from take-off to landing all by myself if I need to.  In fact, I did that on the 
way to Tokyo, because Jeff needed to pack."

	"Wow, you're pretty talented Mariah."  Makoto said, smiling at her enthusiasm.  "Is there anything you 
can't do?"

	"Actually, there are a lot of them."  Mariah replied.  Her image shrugging.  "But most of them really 
don't matter to me.  The one I can't do yet, but I'm working on it, is beating Kevin at chess.  for some 
reason, I can't do that."

	"You'll get it sometime, Mariah."  Makoto assured her.  "All it takes is practice."

	"Are you ready for the tests, Mariah?"  Kevin asked, after showing Makoto to a chair.

	"Ready, willing, and able, Ziggy."  Mariah replied, her image jumping up and down in excitement.  "All 
engines are currently at 25%.  Airspeed is 450 knots."

	"Bring engines to 50% gradually, and hold there."  Kevin ordered after sitting in the pilot's seat.  The 
acceleration was barely noticeable and after shuddering a little, stopped all together.

	"All engines are at 50%, Ziggy."  Mariah reported, excitement coloring her tone.  "All readings are normal 
and as expected.  Airspeed is reading at 900 knots.  This is fun!"

	"I know Mariah."  Kevin laughed.  "How is fuel consumption?"

	"Fuel consumption is lower than expected."  Mariah said, her image looking surprised.  "These engines are 
more efficient than I thought Ziggy, they're only sipping at the tanks still."

	"Bring us up to 75% power, then hold again.  After I finish my announcement."  Kevin said, and keyed the 
intercom.  "Attention passengers, please secure yourself in your seats.  We will be executing a high speed test 
for the next ten minutes."

	"All seat belts locked, Ziggy."  Mariah said after a few moments.  "Prepare for acceleration."  The 
plane shot forward and shuddered again when it, broke the sound barrier for the second time.  "Engines at 
75%, no abnormal readings, fuel consumption is 50% of expected rate.  Airspeed is 1350 knots."

	"Why do you suppose the fuel consumption is half of expected?"  Kevin asked Scott in concern.  "The 
ground test didn't show this kind of efficiency."

	"Did you hook Mariah up to the throttle controls?"  Scott asked, then laughed when Kevin shook his head.  
"There's you answer then.  Mariah is just better at controlling fuel flow than your technicians are."

	"Wow,"  Mariah said as she finished a full diagnostic.  "Ziggy, I think these engines actually have a 
higher power rating than the designers said.  I just checked the stress monitors and they're reading at 50% 
of loading, too."

	"Shall we see how fast Mariah can go now?"  Scott asked, intrigued.  "This is very unusual."

	"You're telling me."  Kevin replied, then turned to Makoto.  "Do you want to try or do you think we 
should wait until later?"

	"Go for it."  Makoto said, laughing in excitement.  "I want to see what the top speed is."

	"Okay, Mariah, take us to 85% design stress,"  Kevin said cautiously.  But watch the fuel consumption, 
if we start burning fuel too fast, back off it off to this point."

	"Don't try to teach granny how to suck eggs, Ziggy."  Mariah growled in annoyance.  "You and I both know 
that my prime directive is the protection of humans on board.  Don't worry boss man, I won't smear us all over 
the pacific.  Boosting now."

	"She's got you there, Kevin."  Scott laughed.  "You required that from the beginning of the project."

	"I know, I know."  Kevin grumbled.  "I wrote the code myself."

	"If you're done nagging Ziggy about my coding, Scott ..."  Mariah said, then giggled.  "Air speed is 
currently at 2345 knots, stress is at 80%.  I'm going to be raising speed slower now, and reporting stress 
and air speed.  81% ... 2412 knots ... 82% ... 2479 ... 83% ... 2546 ... 84% ... 2613 ... 85% stress rating, 
no fluctuations, airspeed is confirmed at 2680 knots.  Fuel consumption is lower than expected but is within 
calculation tolerances.  Maximum range at this speed under current load is 10,720 nautical miles or 20139 
kilometers.  Of course from Miami to Cape Town in four hours is pretty good.  Reducing speed to optimum 
cruising speed, please stand by."

	"Let me get this straight,"  Scott said in disbelief.  "This plane, which is bigger, and has more load 
carrying capacity than a 747, can go mach 4 with two hummers and eleven people on board, for four hours?"

	"Yep, seems so,"  Kevin said, shrugging.  "I'd probably try to sell these to the airlines, but twenty 
billion dollars each is a little on the muchness side, I think.  I doubt they could afford them."

	"Probably not."  Makoto said, rolling her eyes then pretending to be having a heart attack.  "You could 
probably do it though, Mr. Moneybags."

	"Hmmm ... not a bad idea."  Kevin said, thinking about it.  "What do you think Mariah?  Would you like 
to have a fleet of sisters running all over the world?"

	"I think we would run everyone out of the international air market, even Concorde."  She laughed.  
"Cruising speed determined at 2010 knots.  Maximum range at current fuel consumption is 24120 nautical miles 
or 45828 kilometers in twelve hours."

	Scott coughed for a few seconds, trying not to laugh at Kevin's expression.  "Mach three for twelve 
hours, not bad at all."

	"So when do I get some sisters, boss man?"  Mariah said excitedly.  I want to show people what speed 
is!"

	"I'll have Jeff work on it once we get back.  Right now we need to rescue two very scared little girls," 
 Kevin replied.  "What's our ETA to Drakkensburg?"

	"Fifteen minutes at current speed."  Mariah said.

	"And what is the flight time to Okinawa?"  Makoto asked curiously.

	"At optimum speed, flight time from Drakkensburg to Okinawa is thirty minutes."  Mariah replied.  
"Most of that time will be taken up by take off and landing.  We could shave off five minutes by going at 
max, but fuel consumption would not allow a return flight to Tokyo.  We would have to refuel at Drakkensburg 
since Okinawa does not have the necessary fuel facilities."

	"I think five minutes might make a difference."  Makoto said considering.  "Usagi would probably agree 
with me."

	"We'll let her make the decision tomorrow before we leave."  Kevin replied.  "She needs to rest after 
today's disappointments."  Makoto nodded and Kevin picked up the intercom microphone, only to have it snatched 
out of his hand by Makoto, who grinned impishly.

	"I've always wanted to do this."  Makoto explained.  "Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent 
towards Drakkenburg Island, which is visible on our left side.  We should be on the ground in ten minutes."  
She said in her best imitation of an airline stewardess, then she handed the microphone back to Kevin who 
chuckled and shook his head.

	"Runway extension is rising, Ziggy."  Mariah said in a very businesslike manner.  "Drakkensburg control 
is asking for voice print verification."

	"Drakkensburg control, this is dragon flight, requesting landing clearance."  Kevin said, grinning.

	"Clearance granted, dragon flight."  The controller said, surprise in his voice.  "Hello Mr. O'Connell, 
it's been a while."

	"We both know why, Seamus,"  Kevin laughed.  "I've got a total of ten guests for you, and a hungry 
airplane.  Can you accommodate them?"

	"Of course sir."  Seamus said.  "But we only have a small amount of fuel for Miss Mariah, sir.  After 
the incident earlier this evening, we examined our fuel stores and found that most of them were of the same 
grade Master Jeffrey complained of earlier.  One of the company tankers is en route to the island as we speak 
and should arrive tomorrow afternoon."

	"That will be fine, Seamus."  Kevin said.  "We'll only need a little to top up the tanks so that we 
can get to Okinawa tomorrow.  I'll talk to you again in eight minutes."

	"Of course sir."  Seamus replied.  "The causeway is locked in position and dried sufficiently."  Kevin 
signed off and lined up with the runway.

	The lights for the runway got closer, then they landed, slowing quickly.  After they came to a stop, 
he had Mariah shut down the main engines and activate the ground maneuvering system, then handed the intercom 
microphone to Makoto, who grinned back at him.

	"Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at Drakkensburg Island.  It is currently 9:30 pm local time."  
She announced.  "Thank you for flying with Dragon airlines and we know you will fly with us again very 
shortly."  She handed Kevin the microphone, got out of her seat and stretched, to Kevin's delight.

	"If you're done ogling your girlfriend Ziggy, we need to get to the house and get some sleep."  Scott 
said, smiling when Makoto blushed.  "We have to get up early to train Makoto."

	"All right Scott."  Kevin said nodding.  "Why don't you take the others to the house while Makoto and 
I go to the imaging center to get an update on their course or whatever information they can give us.  We 
should be at the house no later than ten-thirty."

	"No detours Ziggy."  Scott warned.  "Makoto is going to need all the practice she can get in case she 
has to go up against one of Damian's goons tomorrow."

	"Tell me something I don't know, Scott."  Kevin growled angrily, them led a confused Makoto off the 
plane.

	"Where are we going?"  Makoto asked as Kevin led her towards a row of buildings along the runway.

	"We're going to my imaging center."  Kevin replied as he opened the main door on the garage.  The 
lights from outside fell on the glossy black tubular frames of four dune buggies.  After checking the first 
one over, he motioned for Makoto to get in.  "I want to find out if they have any information yet.  We 
should be able to tell where they're going by now."

	"I thought you were positive they were going to Okinawa."  She gasped, then shrieked as they 
crested a sand dune and went airborne for five seconds.

	"I said that unless they changed course or rendezvoused with a ship, they were probably going 
to Okinawa."  Kevin corrected.  "That's why I want to check on it.  They should know where the chopper 
is going by now."

	"Okay."  Makoto replied.  "But could you please so a little slower?  I don't think they'll lose 
the information if you take ten minutes to get there."  Kevin nodded and swerved wildly.  Then slowed 
down as he reached the access road.

	"Sorry about that."  Kevin apologized.  "I wasn't paying attention."

	"It's all right."  Makoto said in surprise.  "Are you though?"

	"Am I what?"

	"Are you all right?"  Makoto replied in concern.  "You seemed distracted."

	"I guess I'm still trying to get used to the idea that you're Immortal now."  Kevin said finally.  
"I had prepared myself for the possibility that we might not have much time together, and now all of 
that's changed.  I'm just having to rethink some things is all."

	"Oh,"  Makoto said smiling.  "What kind of things?"

	"How much I need to protect you and from what."  He said, chuckling.  "How to teach you things 
you need to know, and how to keep you alive long enough to learn them."

	"Is it really that dangerous?"  Makoto asked in worry.

	"Of the ten new Immortals that are 'Chosen' every year, maybe two normally survive."  Kevin said 
grimly.  "That's why Scott and I train all of the new Immortals we can find.  Because of the fact that 
many of those chosen are good, but completely unprepared for this life.  Those who are prepared are 
usually also ruthless which, if we didn't work on equalizing the odds, would make it more dangerous each 
year for all of us.  But don't worry too much, Scott and I are two of the best teachers among the Immortals, 
so you'll have a pretty good chance of survival."

	"That helps."  She replied, a little less worried.  "So where is this imaging station?  All I've seen 
for the last ten minutes are palm trees and ground plants, with a vine every so often."

	"It's only a little further."  Kevin said in a relaxed tone.  "The road meanders a bit because of 
some sand pockets.  You can probably see one of the antennas through the trees though."  

	He pointed to his left, indicating where to look, and Makoto could make out some lights through the 
dense vegetation.  That was all she saw until they came into the station clearing.  She gasped when she 
saw the 70-meter antenna that dwarfed the three 30 meter dishes nearby.  The entire area was well lighted 
and several dun buggies were parked outside, though none were in as good a condition as the one Kevin was 
driving.

	"You own all of this?"  Makoto asked in shock.  "How could you possibly afford it?"

	"It was a combination of luck, and a love for technology."  Kevin replied, laughing as he led her to 
one of the buildings.  "I had an unexpected wind fall at the same time that the company that built NASA's 
satellite tracking stations needed some money.  Since I could provide my own equipment and materials, they 
had it done in about three years.  The love for technology comes in that while the dishes are identical to 
NASA's equipment, the telemetry and receiving equipment are about 200 times more sensitive if they need to 
be, so we have actually got Voyager's photo of the Kuiper Bect."

	"So what do you do with all of this?"  Makoto asked in confusion.  Kevin blushed a little self-
consciously.

	"Well, umm ... we hacked into the NASA's spy satellites, as well as China and Russia's, so we mainly 
do just about anything we want as long as it doesn't get us caught."  Kevin said with a self-conscious 
chuckle.  "Mostly we use the information to keep our projects running smoothly.  We keep track of weather 
patterns and such things as the locations of rebel groups in some more unstable areas."

	"And to track helicopters full of kidnappers to their lairs."  Makoto said seriously.  "So where are 
we going now?"

	"To the center director's office."  Kevin replied.  "Then once he gives us the photos, up to the house 
to get some sleep.  Here it is."  He opened the door for her, then followed her in.

	"Howzit, Zig-man?"  The blonde haired man said happily.  "So this is what has kept you away from 
your favorite place.  Must say I would stay away too!"  Makoto blushed as Kevin laughed in agreement.

	"What do you have for me, Vernon."  He asked.  "Quit making Makoto blush and let's have the facts."

	"The target landed five minutes ago on Okinawa."  The director sighed.  "It's in the middle of a 
compound that belongs to one of Annie's corporations.  But according to our records, that compound has 
been empty for the last year.  The helicopter went into the rooftop hanger.  I don't think they're going 
anywhere tonight, but I'll have the tech's send you an update tomorrow."

	"We'll be here till noon, Vernon."  Kevin laughed.  "Why don't you roust Steve and Bruce out to set 
up the real time link to the tank in the house, since they want something to do so badly.  Then tell them 
to get to work on setting up Big Daddy for our own SETI project.  NASA may have given up, but I refuse to. 
The spectrum we'll be searching is opposite of those folks.  We're going for the ultra-violet range in the 
Nanometers, so they'll probably be working on filtering out background noise for a while."

	"You're a mean man, do you know that?"  Vernon laughed in response.  "Those poor guys are going to 
spend at least five years just filtering the background out.  Come to think of it, I may join them, it 
sounds like fun."

	"I thought you'd think so, so you're going to be in charge, once you get Gordon up to speed on the 
surveillance operations."  Kevin said, laughing at the look of dismay on his face.  "Come on, he's very 
good at his job."

	"But he's more worried about his appearance than the clarity of the images."  Vernon grumbled, then 
sighed.  "I'll get him trained as soon as I can.  If he can tear himself away from the mirror long enough.  
Oh, here are the maps I requested for you."  

	One of the technicians walked with a plain envelope.  After Kevin glanced at the photos in the envelope 
and nodded, he and Makoto left the building and got back into their dune buggy.  Makoto looked at the photos 
but couldn't make sense of them.  They drove the rest of the way to the main house, a Mediterranean villa, 
in silence, and said good night after he had showed her to her room.

				*	*	*	*	*

	At the same time, two unconscious Sailor Senshi had been strapped into two identical machines in one 
of the warehouses in Annie's base of operations.  The machines were strange conglomerations of metal wires 
and crystals with a massive black crystal above each captive's heads that seemed to absorb the surrounding 
light.  Jarosite stood by the controls, making some final adjustments.  He pressed several buttons and what 
looked like shafts of darkness came from the crystals and to a point on each girl's chest, above her heart.

	"So what does this weird contraption do again?"  Daryl asked in confusion.

	"It removes all of their light energy, and replaces it with dark energy."  Jarosite explained for the 
fifth time, losing patience.

	"Huh?"  Daryl said, still confused.

	"So you're basically changing them so that they'll work with us, right?"  Annie asked.

	"That is correct."  Jarosite said, making some adjustments.

	"Oh, why didn't you say so?"  Daryl said in annoyance while Annie just shook her head in astonishment.

	"So how long will it take to be done?"  Annie asked, a little worried.  "I want to get them out of here 
as soon as we can.  O'Connell found us too quickly the last time."

	"It depends on the strength of the subjects will."  Jarosite explained.  "The stronger it is, the longer 
it will take.  However, with the setting on maximum, as it is, it should take at most one day."

	"And will there be any limits as to what they'll do for us,"  Daryl asked, then ducked as Annie started 
hitting him.

	"Get your mind out of the gutter, pervert."  She growled, then turned to Jarosite.  "We'll see you tomorrow 
night then."  Jarosite nodded and left the room through a portal.  After watching the two girls struggle against 
the machines, Annie and Daryl got bored and left the room.

	Twenty minutes later, a man walked out of the shadows into the room.  He looked at the machines and the 
little girls struggling inside of them, then walked over to the controls.

	"I wonder why Garien is so caught up in rescuing these two."  He muttered to himself as he examined the 
banks of switches and buttons.  "He's not a pervert like that Thorne character, and they don't look all that 
useful.  Still, their clothes match his description of the uniforms his old friends wore.  I wonder if that 
legend he told me was right and this is two of them, reborn.  Can't let anything happen to them in case it 
is, otherwise he won't be at his best when we finally fight."  He flipped several of the switches off in a 
specific sequence, then turned the reostats down.

	The shafts of darkness got thinner and the crystals slowed down as the power input decreased, and he 
flipped the switches back on.  "Soon, Garien, we will settle what's between us, and one of us will die, but 
first a little bit of a test."  He thought, then chuckled as he vanished back into the shadows.

				*	*	*	*	*

	The next morning, Kevin woke up early and went to the dojo to warm up.  That was where Scott and Luna 
both found him at the same instant.

	"What's happening pussycat?"  Kevin said with a laugh as Scott chuckled.  "Got something to say to us?"

	"Actually, yes."  Luna replied in surprise.  "How did you know?"

	"Are you kidding?"  Scott asked in surprise.  "You haven't spoken to us in the last few days.  We were 
starting to think you didn't like us anymore."  If a cat could blush, Luna would have been dark red.

	"Umm ... well ... I thought that it would be best to give you some information."  Luna finally said.  
"And Artemis, the coward, said it would be better coming from me."

	"And the information is?"  Kevin asked.  "Honestly, sometimes you're worse than Jervis, expecting me to 
read your mind."

	"Sorry, what we thought you should know is why Usagi is in such a state."  Luna confessed.  "It's 
because Sailor Chibi-Moon is Mamoru and Usagi's daughter."

	"How is that possible?"  Scott asked in surprise.  "Usagi would have had to be four or five when she 
was born."

	"She was sent here from the future by Sailor Pluto."  Luna explained.  "Neo-Princess Serenity Usagi 
Chiba is Neo-Queen Serenity's heir.  She was sent here to get some training in a safer environment."

	"Some safer environment."  Kevin laughed sarcastically.  "It's so safe, she was kidnapped with her 
friend, not a block from their school."

	"Anything else we should know about them?"  Scott asked.

	"You met them before the incident with that Derindelle person."  Luna explained, then continued when 
Scott raised an eyebrow in question.  "Sailor Chibi-Moon and Sailor Saturn came to see you about a history 
project.  Saturn's name is Hotaru, and Chibi-Moon's is Usagi, though we all call her Chibi-Usa."

	"Which explains why they were in the area when I fought Derindelle."  Scott said nodding.  "They were 
on their way to our appointment."

	"These were the two kids you wanted me to meet that day?"  Kevin asked in surprise.  When Scott nodded, 
Kevin smiled.  "Now I have to save them, otherwise I won't be able to give them the rest of the story on that 
Scabbard."  Luna gaped at him for several seconds as he and Scott started laughing.

	"He would have helped anyway, Luna."  Scott reassured her.  "This is just his warped sense of humor 
coming out."

	"Sorry about that."  Kevin said in apology.  "Shall we go get some breakfast.  Scott and I are going 
to need all of the energy we can get for the six-hour training session we have to start in an hour.  Besides, 
I have to wake Makoto up."

	"Does Maria still cook as well as she use to?"  Scott asked as they walked toward the guest wing, after 
he picked Luna up and placed her in his arms, and started petting her.

	"I wouldn't really know."  Kevin replied.  "I haven't been here for over a year now.  School has been 
pretty demanding of my time."  He shrugged, then motioned for silence as they came to the door to Makoto's 
room.  

	Kevin silently crept into the room, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness, then smiled down at her 
sleeping form.  He stood watching her face for several seconds, then chuckled and decided to wake her up.  He 
bent down and kissed her, breaking it off when he felt her responding.  He smiled when he saw her eyes open 
and she smiled back as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

	"Morning Mako-chan, time to get up and have breakfast."  Kevin said softly.  She nodded and got out of 
bed, and padded into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.  Kevin walked back out the door, and closed 
it as well.  "She'll be there in about ten minutes."  He said as they continued down the hall.

	"How do you know that?"  Scott asked in surprise.  "She didn't say a word."

	"One of the memories I do have is of waking her up like that more than once."  Kevin said, shrugging.  
"She usually takes about five minutes to completely wake up, then finishes her morning routine in the other 
five and comes to get breakfast.  Of course, she may be different now."

	"How about a little bet?"  Scott said, looking at Kevin considering.  "50 bucks says she'll take more 
than fifteen minutes to get here."

	"You're on, Mr. Doubting Thomas."  Kevin laughed as they walked into the dining room.

	They helped themselves from the food on the steam line and sat down to eat.  They ate silently for nine 
minutes, then Makoto came into the room, dressed in her clothes from the day before.  Kevin chuckled as Scott 
sent him a five thousand yen note on a tray.

	"So what's the schedule for today."  Makoto asked as she set her plate down.  Then she leaned over and 
kissed Kevin.  "That was a fun way to wake up this morning."

	"Thanks."  Kevin laughed.  "Today is going to be a lot of practicing on basic techniques and the like.  
We don't have much time so we're going to bend a lot of the rules today.  Once we get back to Tokyo, we'll be 
training you pretty heavily."

	"I'll probably need the workout after this breakfast."  Makoto said as she got up and helped herself to 
more food from the steam line.  "I don't know why, but I'm starving this morning."

	"Another thing we need to talk about."  Kevin said nodding.  "Yesterday you were injured pretty badly and 
your body healed very quickly.  That's one of the benefits we get from being Immortal, but it needs to get its 
materials from somewhere, so your body decides how much you will eat.  Sometimes its fun though, since we can 
eat almost anything we want, and we'll never gain weight."  

	Makoto grinned and started eating again.  After her third huge plate, Makoto said she was satisfied and 
they walked to the dojo.  After a short time spent getting changed into more appropriate clothing, Kevin showed 
Makoto a selection of swords to choose from.  She took several down and tested their feel as Kevin instructed 
her, but none of them felt right.  Finally Scott threw up his hands.

	"Just pick one."  He growled.  "You'll get used to it once you've practiced with it."

	"Are you sure there aren't any others?"  She asked as she put a Scottish Rapier back in its case.  "These 
all feel a little wrong to me."

	Kevin was about to say that there weren't any others, when he remembered one that he had put into storage 
thirty years before.  "Wait a second, I'll be back."  He muttered distractedly as he went to his vault.  He came 
back holding a cloth wrapped bundle.  "Try this one."  He said handing Makoto the bundle.

	She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a green enameled scabbard and a wire bound hilt that had a greenish 
tinge to the metal.  She gasped when she saw the emerald pommel stone and the two pink gems in the guard.  Kevin 
urged her to continue, so she drew the sword out and gaped at the green tinged blade.

	"It's a double edged Flamberge."  Kevin explained.  "I made it as a gift for someone, but they didn't like 
it.  For that matter, neither has anyone else who tried it, all for the same reason.  It just felt wrong to them."  
Makoto swing the blade a couple of times like Scott had told her a smiled.

	"This one is it."  Makoto said in surprise.  "It feels like it's part of me.  What makes it that color 
though?"

	"It's a mixture of metals, including copper and meteoric iron."  Kevin replied.  "It took me about seven 
months to finish.  I'm glad you like it.  Now to begin with the basics."  He showed her how to hold the sword 
in low guard.

	"Why do you and Scott hold yours up here?"  She asked, doing a pretty good imitation of Scott's high 
guard.

	"Because it allows for more attacks."  Kevin replied calmly.  "But unless you know what you're doing, it 
can also leave you pretty wide open.  Right now we are more worried about teaching you defensive techniques 
that will keep your head attached long enough for one of your friends to help you.  Now going back to where we 
left off ..."

	He showed her several defensive maneuvers over the next hour, then had Scott spar with her while he watched.  
Scott stopped every so often to point out weaknesses in her defense, as Kevin would correct her form.  Several of 
the Senshi came in, drawn by the sounds of blades clashing.  Ami started analyzing their movements and Minako and 
Rei cheered Makoto on.  Just before Makoto collapsed in Exhaustion, Kevin stopped her, and told her to rest a 
little while he and Scott demonstrated a couple of things.  They showed her a couple of pattern attacks and 
demonstrated the counters for them.

	"Some patterns can only be countered by refusing to engage."  Scott explained, then demonstrated with 
Kevin's help.  "If you feel that things are getting out of control, back off a little and get yourself some room 
to think.  Nothing will kill you faster than mindlessly hacking away at your opponent."  Makoto nodded, and they 
demonstrated several more defensive strategies, then they had her practice them.  Finally Kevin sparred with 
Makoto, driving her around the dojo for about five minutes.  The fight ended with Kevin disarming Makoto and 
catching her sword in mid-air.

	"Excellent work, Mako-chan."  Kevin said as he handed her the sword.  "That should give the others plenty 
of time to help you.  Why don't you go shower and change while we do the same, then we'll all meet in the parlor.  
Then I'll show you where we'll hold this meeting."  Makoto nodded and turned to leave, then yelped and jumped 
when she felt a stinging slap on her butt.  She turned to glare at Kevin, but he was already across the room 
talking to Scott.  Ami went over and looked at her enquiringly.

	"Why did you jump back there?"  Ami asked once they were in Makoto's room.

	"Because Kevin slapped me on the butt."  Makoto said blushing.

	"Kevin wasn't anywhere near you, Makoto."  Ami said in confusion.  "He went to talk with Scott right 
after he gave you your sword back."

	"That's weird."  Makoto said, as she stepped out of the shower moments later.  "I could have sworn no 
one else was close enough."

	"Are you sure that's what it was?"  Ami asked, then blushed.  "Stupid question.  No girl would make a 
mistake like that.  I don't know who it could have been though."  Makoto shrugged, dismissing it and finished 
getting dressed.  They met the others in the parlor, except for Usagi who was still sleeping.

	"I know she's been under a lot of stress lately Mamoru, but I think she ought to be here for this."  
Kevin said understandingly.  "Could you please get her up and meet us in the room on the third floor, second 
door on the left from the stairs?  We'll need her input for this attack."  Mamoru nodded and left as Kevin 
led the others to the room.

	"Finally,"  Haruka muttered.  "I was getting tired of all of this waiting."

	"Losing a member of the team because we didn't put enough time into preparations would be a lot worse 
than a little worry now Haruka."  Kevin growled.  "It could mean complete failure of the entire mission."  
Haruka stared at him silently for several seconds then sat quietly as they waited for Usagi and Mamoru.  
They came in a short while later and Kevin started the meeting.

	"As I thought last night, Annie and Daryl took the girls to Okinawa."  He began.  "They landed there 
around 9:40 last night and according to my technicians, no one left all night."  He brought the real time 
image up on the screen of a nearby monitor.

	"This is a warehouse complex that was purchased from the Japanese government by one of Annie's front 
companies ten years ago.  The building on top of the central building is a helicopter hanger, and is where 
their chopper is currently."  Kevin brought up a multiple level floor plan and Haruka groaned.

	"I hope this one is more accurate than the last one."  She grumbled.  "That place looked nothing like 
we expected it too."

	"Sorry, she must have altered the building without a permit."  Kevin said shrugging.  "This is from a 
new satellite the Chinese put up last year.  It uses several spectrums to give the computer a complete image 
of a building.  Even uses x-ray to show what the building is made of.  Very cool really.  You can see here,"  
A red dot appeared in a room in the center of the building.  "This room is protected by three factors.  First, 
it's centrally located in all dimensions.  Second, you can only get there through one of three passages, so 
that limits access to the room.  Lastly, we've verified the presence of at least seven youma in the building."  
Seven moving dots appeared in the image.

	"How do you know those are youma?"  Rei asked.  "In fact, how do you know any of this?  Are you even 
sure they're in that room?"

	"To answer your questions in reverse order.  The way we know the girls are in that room is that there 
are only four human normal heat readings in that building.  Two of them move from time to time to the room 
where the other two heat readings are and those other two don't move at all.  We know this because we are 
keeping track of every heat source in the building above a certain level.  Finally, the youma have body 
temperatures around 42 Celsius.  Any human with that kind of temperature would be lying in a hospital bed, 
not walking around like these seven are.  Good enough for you?"  Kevin said calmly.  Rei nodded, and Usagi 
raised her hand.

	"If the girls are in that room, why aren't they moving?"  She asked in confusion.  "Is there something 
wrong?"

	"The reason they aren't moving could be one of a number of them."  Scott answered.  "They could be tied 
up, they could be drugged, or they could be unconscious, just to name three.  We should be glad for those 
readings, since they indicate that they are still there, and haven't been killed."  Usagi nodded in acceptance 
and Kevin continued.

	"All right, now I analyzed what went wrong with the attempt in Osaka and came up with two things to 
improve our chances of success this time.  First out team were too specialized last time, so we're reorganizing 
the teams to give them all more general skills.  Second, we forgot that we were dealing with Immortals, so we 
are also taking that into account.  The three teams will be Scott, Usagi, and Mamoru.  Makoto, Ami, Minako and 
Rei; Haruka, Michiru, and myself.  We will each be taking one passage, trying to get to that room.  If they 
attempt a breakout, I will have a man stationed on the roof of a nearby building.  He has orders to destroy the 
hanger on the roof when we begin the attack.  Are there any questions?"  Kevin finished, and with no questions, 
nodded.

	"All right, lets get going."  Scott said.  "The sooner we get too Okinawa and get started on this, the 
sooner we get those girls away from our enemies."  They all went out to the dune buggies and roared off to the 
airfield.  Mariah was ready and waiting, and they took off without any delay.  Fifteen minutes later, they 
landed in Okinawa.

				*	*	*	*	*

	As Kevin and Haruka unloaded the Hummers, the others stood and watched.  Scott used the opportunity to 
make a call on his cell phone.  Ami was the only one close enough to hear his end of the conversation.

	"Hi Al, I'm in Okinawa now."  Scott said, then grimaced after a bit.  "I'm sorry, there wasn't time to 
tell you about it, but this was short notice for both of us.  ...  Yeah, I'll be back in Tokyo by tomorrow.  
By the way, I've got a new one for you to register.   ...  A girl by the name of Makoto Kino.  ...  Yeah, 
Kevin's girlfriend. You'll need the full workup on her.  ...  I know, but hopefully they get her one soon.  
I know how much you hate to pull double duty.  ...  I'll let you know what happens when I get back.  Bye, 
buddy."

	"Who was that on the phone?"  Ami asked, making Scott jump.

	"How much of that did you hear?"  Scott said, worried.

	"All of your side,"  Ami replied.  "Who is this Al, and why do you have to tell him what happens 
when you get back?"

	"Al is a friend of mine."  Scott replied.  "The rest will have to wait until later, we don't have the 
time right now."

	"But you will tell me?"  Ami asked, pressing the issue.  "Promise?"

	"Okay, I promise I'll tell you about why I have to report to Al when we get back.  We need to go 
rescue the girls now."  Scott agreed, and Ami nodded her acceptance.  Everyone got into the hummers with 
Scott and Kevin driving.  After they left the airfield, they picked up speed, heading for Annie's 
warehouses.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Annie walked into the holding cell where the two little girls were being kept to check on them and 
make sure Daryl wasn't doing anything.  She was glad to see that Daryl wasn't there, but something was 
wrong.  She had been feeling a vague uneasiness since the night before, but had put it down to their 
close shave earlier.  Now though, she realized it was something to do with their prisoners.  That was when 
she noticed the slow rotation of the crystals.  Swearing sulfurously, she ran over to the control panel and 
saw that the machine was set at minimum power.  Growling in the back of her throat, she went looking for 
Daryl.

	She found him in his bedroom asleep, and with a roar, tipped his bed over, dumping him on the floor.  
He rolled to his feet with his sword in his hand and glared at her.

	"What's with the rude awakening?"  He demanded.  "I haven't been near those girls all night."

	"Well, someone has been, because the controls for the crystals have been lowered to the minimum power 
setting."  Annie growled.

	"Well, it wasn't me, I've been here all night,"  Daryl complained.  "For all I know, you could have ..."

	"Shut up!"  She said, worried.  He protested, and Annie yelled "Shut up!"

	In the distance, sounds of combat could be heard.  Annie swore and drew her sword.  "Just how the 
hell did O'Connell find us this fast?"  She growled, then turned to Daryl.  "Get to your post, we have 
to stop them from getting the girls."  Thorne nodded and ran down a passage.  Annie went down the other, 
hoping Jarosite would get there in time.

				*	*	*	*	*

	When the hummers arrived at the complex, Kevin just drove through the gate and up to the central 
building.  The Senshi jumped out and transformed, then split into their groups and ran for the entrances.  
Sailor Jupiter and the other three inner Senshi came in the front door and took the elevator to the target 
floor.  When they arrived, two youma charged them and were obliterated by their combined attacks.  They 
raced down the passage toward the room, but Jupiter slid to a stop near the corner into another hall.  
She felt her nerves tingling at the back of her neck in what Scott had told her was a warning of the 
presence of another Immortal nearby.  She followed the passage to a room a little way from the crossing 
point, then kicked the door open.

	"Hello, cub, I was expecting you."  Annie said with a cold smile.  "What a shame that you forgot 
your sword."

	"I wouldn't be too sure of that."  Jupiter said, summoning her sword from her subspace pocket.  "I 
am Makoto Kino, Princess of Jupiter, and defender of Justice."  She took the low guard, just as Kevin 
taught her.

	"Annette Mousliere, Comtesse De Louraine."  Annie said with a brief salute, and assumed the high 
guard.  She lashed out with several attacks to test Makoto's guard, but couldn't find any weaknesses.  
"You've learned well, but that is what I would expect from one of Kevin's students."  Makoto didn't say 
a word as they circled each other.  Annie launched several pattern attacks, which Makoto countered well, 
but Annie forced her back out the door and into the passage.

	Annie was surprised at how well this girl was blocking her attacks, but noticed that she was staying 
on the defensive.  She realized that Kevin and Scott hadn't had time to teach her any offensive maneuvers 
so she wouldn't be able to take advantage of any openings that some of Annie's own attacks gave her.  With 
this in mind, she launched a series of wild attacks and finally scored a hit, slashing Makoto across the 
abdomen.  Makoto stumbled backward in pain, and Annie tried to follow up on her advantage, but had to jump 
backward to avoid a blast of fire that hit the wall where she had been.

	"Since you're new at this, remember, mortals can not interfere."  Annie said, dodging two other 
attacks.  "We'll finish this another time."  Saluting, she ran back into the room, followed by Mars and 
Venus.  Mercury checked on Jupiter, but her wound had already closed and she got to her feet, just as 
Mars and Venus came back.

	"What happened to Annie?"  Jupiter growled.

	"She had a transport crystal."  Mars replied.  "She was gone by the time we got there."

	"Forget her, let's get to that room and save the girls."  Venus said.  They all nodded and ran 
down the passage.

				*	*	*	*	*	

	Kevin, Neptune, and Uranus took the back stairs into the building.  When they reached the fifth 
floor, they started for the passage to the holding cell.  Halfway there, they came to a lobby where all 
the lights had been shot out and two youma came out to be immediately decimated by the Senshi's attacks.  
They were about to cross the lobby, when Kevin stopped them, sensing another Immortal.  They were spread 
out, Kevin holding his sword at the ready, looking around.  Kevin noticed Daryl's motion a second too 
late as Daryl grabbed Neptune from behind, just as he shouted in warning.

	"Sis, behind you!"  Kevin shouted, then swore as Daryl pressed his sword to her throat.

	"No funny business, or she dies."  Daryl said, freezing Uranus with a glare.

	"Let her go, Thorne, you know the rules."  Kevin grated, moving to another position.  "Mortals are 
not to be involved in this."

	"I know, but it so much more fun this way."  Daryl laughed.  "Besides, she's important to you, 
giving me the upper hand.  Now throw away your sword and I might let her live."

	"How do I know you'll keep your part of the bargain."  Kevin said angrily.  "You have less honor 
than your boss, Damian."

	"Making me angry is not a good idea, O'Connell."  Daryl growled.  "I might slip and kill your 
precious sister."

	"World Shaking!"  Uranus said, just as Neptune slammed her elbow into Daryl's stomach, forcing 
Daryl to loosen his grip for an instant.  Unfortunately, the shockwave reached them just as Thorne 
regained his grip, sending both of them flying into the wall.  Daryl's sword cut into Neptune's arm, 
making her scream.

	"That was stupid, wench."  Daryl growled, bringing his sword back to Neptune's throat, cutting 
into it a little.  "No more tricks or she dies now!"

	"All right Thorne, you win."  Kevin said in a capitulating tone.  He threw his sword into the darkness, 
dismissing it to subspace after it slid to a stop.  "I've kept my part of the bargain, now let her go."

	"You always did care too much for Mortals O'Connell."  Daryl laughed, then suddenly threw Neptune at 
Uranus and charged Kevin.  Uranus caught Neptune and comforted her as she broke into tears.  Kevin smiled 
and summoned his sword from subspace.  Thorne slid to a halt, in surprise.

	"Never underestimate your opponent, Thorne."  He said with a feral grin.  "To bad you won't live long 
enough to regret it."  He launched a vicious series of cuts at Daryl who was driven back in the room as he 
parried them.  Daryl retaliated with a pattern attack that Kevin countered easily.

	"Too bad about your girlfriend, O'Connell."  Thorne said laughing.  "I guess she learned not to attack 
us just a little too late."  Kevin just laughed.

	"Thorne, if that is the best you can do killing the Senshi, you are more pathetic than I thought."  
He said, forcing Daryl backwards again with a slash at his head.  "Makoto is very much alive."

	"I'll have to correct that oversight once I'm done with you."  Daryl said smiling.  "Of course that 
will be after I have a little fun with her first."

	"You'll have more trouble with that plan than you could possibly imagine, Thorne."  Kevin growled, 
parrying all of Daryl's attacks.  "You have to kill me first, and that's some thing you were never able 
to do."

	"Ah, but I've learned a few tricks, like this one."  Daryl launched an energy blast at Kevin, who 
caught it on his sword.  He flew back into the wall, then got back to his feet in time to parry Thorne's 
follow up.

	"Sloppy, Thorne."  Kevin laughed.  "That was a waste of energy."

	"How ... you shouldn't be able to stand."  Daryl gasped.  "No one could just take that."

	"Your teacher forgot to tell you I guess."  Kevin laughed.  "That was bio-energy, not electricity.  
It isn't conducted by metal."  Kevin lashed out with his sword, driving Daryl back again.  With a vicious 
pattern attack, he forced Thorne to give ground until he was backed into a corner.

	"I'm not finished yet, O'Connell!."  Thorne yelled, then doubled over as Kevin lunged past his 
guard.

	"Yes, actually you are."  Kevin sighed.  "There can be only one."

	His sword came down in a flash of light.  As Daryl's head rolled away, mist gathered, and lightning 
flashed from Daryl's body to Kevin.  Uranus and Neptune watched in horrified fascination as the Quickening 
took hold of Kevin.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Scott, Sailor Moon, and Tuxedo Kamen took the roof entrance after Sailor Moon helped Scott to the 
roof.

	"You're heavy."  Moon complained when Scott asked why she wanted to rest at the seventh floor.  
After a minutes rest, they continued down the stairs and quickly dealt with the three youma guarding the 
entrance.  They made it the rest of the way without any problems and stopped at the door.  Scott used a 
random number generator to open the code lock and they opened the door.  The sight of the two girls on 
the table had Sailor Moon running to save them, but Scott grabbed her before she reached them.

	"Let me go!"  She cried.  "I have to save her."

	"We will, but we don't know what that beam is doing."  Scott said urgently.  "We don't know what 
would happen if we just pulled them out from under them."  He walked over to the controller after giving 
Sailor Moon to Tuxedo Kamen.  He looked at the controls, but couldn't tell what to do.  He heard Sailor 
Moon trying to break free and looked at them, noticing the anger in Tuxedo Kamen's eyes.

	"You seem to know what this thing is."  Scott said, smiling when he nodded.  "Any idea how to shut 
it off?"

	"None."  He replied.  "This is like the machine they used to brainwash me when they captured me 
before."  Sailor Moon tried to get to her daughter again, but Tuxedo Kamen held her back.

	"Easy Princess, we don't want you brainwashed trying to save her."  Scott said looking at the controls 
again.  "Oh well, when all else fails, use brute force."  He summoned his sword and brought it crashing down 
on the panel in a shower of sparks.  The dark crystals stopped moving and the beams stopped.  Sailor Moon 
ran over to her daughter and untied her, as Scott untied Sailor Saturn.

	"She won't wake up!"  Sailor Moon cried, shaking her daughter.  "Why won't she wake up?"  She started 
crying and Tuxedo Kamen tried to comfort her, while Scott tried to wake Saturn up.  When he got no response, 
he went to check her pulse with s sense of dread.  That was when he noticed the strange collars around their 
necks.

	"Are these part of their uniforms?"  He asked Tuxedo Kamen, who shook his head.  "I think these might 
be what is keeping them unconscious.  All we need to do is take them off and they should come around."  He 
got out a lock pick and went to work on Sailor Saturn's collar.  After a few seconds, it unlocked and he 
pulled it off, hurling it against the wall.  As Saturn started waking up, he went over and repeated the 
process with Chibi-Moon's collar.  As Chibi-Moon roused, he left her in the capable hands of her parents 
and went back to check on Saturn.  As she regained her bearings she stared at him in confusion.

	"Schwartzstern-san?"  She asked in a dazed tone.  "What's going on?"

	"It's all right Hotaru, How do you feel?"  Scott replied.

	"Tired and dizzy."  She said blinking.  "Where are we?"

	"Okinawa."  Scott replied, then whirled as he felt the presence of another immortal.  "Incoming."  
He shouted, summoning his sword.  Tuxedo Kamen grabbed a rose as the girls hid behind the wreaked controls.

	"Are they all right?"  Jupiter asked as she recognized Scott in the same instant he recognized her, 
both lowering their swords.  Sailor Moon and the little girls came out from behind the panel, smiling as 
Sailor Neptune called over her communicator.  They told her what was going on and she sighed in relief.

	"How's Hotaru?"  She asked.  "Daryl is dead, but Kevin is searching him.  So we'll be delayed a 
little while."

	"She's a little dizzy, but fine otherwise."  Jupiter replied.  "What is Kevin looking for?"

	"I have no idea."  Neptune replied, confused.  "But I guess he found it.  We'll be there shortly."  
A minute later, Scott and Jupiter felt another Immortal approaching, then the others arrived.  The three 
Immortals banished their swords and Kevin laughed as he leaned on the wall, tiredly.

	"I see that you found the girls."  Kevin said.  "I found something that belongs to you on our 
departed friend, Daryl.  Also that blast of his, took more out of me than I expected."  He tossed Scott 
a cloth wrapped package.  Scott unwrapped the package, looked at its contents, then nodded and rewrapped 
it.  Then he took his coat off, wrapped Saturn in it and picked her up.  Kevin followed suit with Chibi-Moon 
and looked at Scott for directions.

	"Let's get out of here."  Scott said to the others.  "The girls need some rest away from this place, 
and there's nothing left to do here."

	The Senshi nodded, and Scott and Kevin carried the girls to the hummers.  Sailor Moon took care of 
her daughter, while Neptune took care of Saturn until they came to an abandoned beach, and detransformed.  
Then they drove back to the airport, loaded the hummers on board Mariah, and took off for the return flight 
to Drakkenberg.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Hotaru woke up, feeling a lot better than when she had woken up in that cold warehouse.  She looked 
around and found herself in a fancy bedroom.  She looked down at herself to find herself still in her Senshi 
uniform.  She started to get worried about where she was and where Chibi-Usa was.  She heard the door open 
and gasped in surprise to see Scott come in with a tray.

	"Ah, I see you woke up again."  Scott said, smiling.  "How are you feeling?"

	"Better now."  She said, drinking the cup of cocoa he gave her.  "Where are we?  Where's 
Chibi-Usa?"

	"We're on a little island Kevin owns."  He replied, sitting in a chair next to the bed.  He 
took out the cloth bundle and opened it up, to reveal a pendent.  He then started polishing the 
pendent.  "Chibi-Usa is in the room next door.  Michiru and Haruka got a little tired, so I said 
I'd look after you while they took a short nap."

	"How long did they hold us prisoner?"  Hotaru asked.

	"Almost three days."  Scott replied, taking the mug back and putting the pendent away.  
Hotaru gasped in shock at his reply.  "Why don't you change to your normal form, then we can all 
talk about this at once."

	"What do you mean?"  Hotaru asked suspiciously.

	"Come on Hotaru.  Do you really think Kevin and I would have been able to help if we hadn't 
known who you and Chibi-Usa were?"  Scott asked, and Hotaru blushed.  "Besides, you've been in that 
uniform for three days.  Why don't you transform, go take a bath, and get dressed in your new clothes 
while I go tell the others about the meeting."

	Hotaru nodded, then transformed and padded into the bathroom after Scott left.  After using the 
toilet, she took a long bath, then got out and dressed in the clothes that were laid out for her.  The 
clothes she found were a Chinese sleeveless, purple top, with a slightly baggy black pants.  She put 
them on and found that she liked them.  She found the others waiting in the lounge at the end of the 
hall and smiled shyly as she came in.

	"I glad you're feeling better, Hotaru.  No lasting harm done."  Kevin said from where he was sitting.  
"I like the look, those clothes suit you."

	"Thank you for helping to save us."  Hotaru replied, blushing at the comment that Kevin said to her.

	"No problem, kiddo.  Besides, Makoto would never have spoken to me if I'd refused."  Makoto punched 
Kevin in the arm for saying that.  Hotaru giggled as Kevin held up his hands to ward off Makoto's attack. 
Chibi-Usa came in with Usagi and Kevin stood up clearing his throat.  Hotaru noticed that Chibi-Usa was 
wearing a similar outfit, but she was wearing pink where Hotaru was wearing purple.

	"We are happy to have you all here tonight, especially Chibi-Usa and Hotaru."  Kevin said as everyone 
cheered.  "They have expressed an interest in what happened since they were captured, so if each of you will 
explain the parts you played, we will tell them."  The Senshi agreed and started the story.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Annie came into the throne room under heavy guard, and Damian glared at her from the throne.  "You have 
failed me Annette, and Daryl Thorne lies dead because of it.  Give me one good reason why I shouldn't simply 
kill you now?"

	"My Lord, somehow Drakkar and the Senshi found us much more quickly than was thought possible."  Annie 
replied.  "They attacked us early in the afternoon of the day after we arrived, and overwhelmed the youma Lord 
Jarosite placed as guards.  As planned, Daryl and I served as backup for the two entrance guard teams."

	"Then how did they get past you while you still lived?"  Damian demanded.

	"Only four of them came through the front entrance,"  Annie said.  "One of them was Sailor Jupiter."

	"She lies!"  Jarosite barked.  "Sailor Jupiter died in their attack in Osaka."

	"Explain this Annette,"  Damian said calmly.

	"Sailor Jupiter is an Immortal, my Lord."  Annette replied.  "I don't doubt Lord Jarosite at all, but 
all killing her did was make her stronger.  I fought her, and though she is currently unschooled with the 
sword, she was able to defend herself long enough for her friends to come to her aid.  I can only assume 
Daryl was killed by Drakkar or his friend when they attacked through the back stairs.  I barely escaped from 
the four Senshi I fought."

	"You did well to bring me this information Annette, so I will be lenient, but do not let it happen 
again."  Damian growled.

	"Yes my Lord,"  Annie replied.  "There is one other thing my Lord.  Before they began the attack, 
I discovered the controls on the crystals had been set to the minimum power level."

	"Explain this, Jarosite."  Damian said, glaring at the general.  "You told me that the crystals were 
set at maximum and been locked in that position."

	"My Lord, they were,"  Jarosite spluttered in surprise.  "Very few know the sequence to change those 
settings."  Just then, the Immortals in the room sensed another Immortal.

	"And I happen to be one of them."  A man said, stepping out of the shadows.  Dressed in jeans and a 
chambray shirt, he looked like nothing troubled him.  "Hi Jarosite, long time no see."

	"Do I know you?"  Jarosite asked, eyeing the man.  "You look familiar."

	"Come now Jarosite, it's only been two thousand and twenty years."  The man laughed.  "Surely your 
memory is not that bad."

	"Hawks!"  Jarosite exclaimed in surprise.

	"Got it in one."  Hawks laughed.

	"You!  You were the cause of us losing our fight."  Yelled Annie as she charged the man with her 
sword.  

	When she went in to slash the man, he just stood where he was, with the same look on his face.  A 
moment before the sword was going to hit, the man sidestepped and whipped his left arm out and grabbed 
Annie's sword arm.  He flipped her over so she landed on her back and ripped her sword out of her grasp.  
When she opened her eyes, she found her sword point at her neck.  The man then looked over to where Jarosite 
and Damian are standing.

	"What do you want here, Hawks?"  Damian demanded.

	"Only to help you in your fight against Siegmund Drakkar and Gerrek Bontrager."  Hawks  replied, 
then laughed when Jarosite gasped.  "Yes, Jarosite, you didn't attack two little girls and try to pin 
the kidnapping on two people completely unknown to the Senshi.  You tried to pin it on two of the 
Planetary Knights, so it's not too surprising that they worked well together."

	"What do you get out of it?"  Damian asked, suspiciously.

	"I have my reasons for doing this."  Hawks said with a look saying that was all he was going 
to say.

	"How did you get here?"  Jarosite asked.

	"I have my ways."  Hawks replied.

	"What do you suggest?"  Damian asked, wondering if he should trust the man.

	"You wasted to much time taking out your enemy's friends.  I suggest, let his friends take him 
out."  Hawks said.

	"How do you plan that?"  Damian asked, thinking if he got the plan out of the man, he could then 
kill the man.

	"Do we work together, or should I just leave?"  Hawks asked.

	"You seem to know a lot," Damian said, cursing how smart the man was.  "We'll see how this plan 
of yours work."

	"You still need this one or should I take her out?"  Hawks asked, indicating Annie.

	"Leave her.  I still have need for her."  Damian said.

	"Okay.  I'll let you know when my plan is ready."  Hawks said.

	Hawks moved the sword from Annie's neck and she stood up.  He gave Annie back her sword and stepped 
into the shadows and vanished.

				*	*	*	*	*

	"So that's the end of it."  Kevin said when they finished the story.  "Then we flew you here and 
you woke up."

	"Wow, Makoto's an Immortal."  Chibi-Usa said for the fifth time, making everyone laugh.

	"Mr. O'Connell, is there anything to eat?"  Hotaru asked as her stomach growled, causing her to 
blush.  "I'm really hungry."

	"Yeah, what happened to that Chinese dinner you and Makoto promised everyone."  Usagi demanded.

	Everyone else chimed in and agreed that Kevin and Makoto should finish their contest.  When Kevin 
brought up the girls as an excuse, it was decided that the contest would be started over, beginning with 
dinner and ending with breakfast the next morning.  It was decided that Mamoru, Ami, Minako, Michiru, and 
Chibi-Usa would judge Kevin's dinner, while the others judged Makoto's.  Then they would switch for 
breakfast.

	Kevin prepared sweet and sour pork, pepper steak, beef and broccoli, fried rice, and spring rolls for 
his judges and they all agreed it was the best they'd ever had.  Makoto made cashew chicken, calamari with 
black bean sauce, beef chow mien, steamed rice, and fried wanton.  Her judges told Kevin he'd have a hard 
time beating her at breakfast.  Everyone watched some movies, then went to bed in their rooms.

	Several hours later, Ami sat up in bed, wondering why she couldn't sleep.  She blushed when she realized 
that it was because she wasn't with Scott.  For two nights, she had slept in the same bed, and now she couldn't 
sleep without him.  As she examined her feelings over the last three days, she was forced to admit that she was 
falling in love with him.  In fact, she doubted she could ever have fallen in love with anyone else.

	She sat in her bed, daydreaming about Scott, when she remembered that he hadn't given her the explanation 
he'd promised her.  Getting out of bed, she put on her robe and walked to Scott's room.  Seeing him sleeping 
peacefully, she sighed.  Then giggled as she decided to give him a surprise tomorrow.  She took off her clothes, 
except her underwear, and slipped into the bed, snuggling up to Scott's back.  She sighed in comfort and quickly 
fell asleep.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Scott slowly woke up the next morning, then froze as he felt a warm female body pressed against 
his back.  Holding his breath, he turned to see who it was, then swore when he saw Ami lying there in 
nothing but her underwear.  He shook her awake and moved a little distance away.

	"Good morning, Scott."  Ami said stretching, giving Scott a good show of her ample chest.  "How 
are you this morning?"

	"I'm feeling great, why?"  Scott asked, worried.  An idea struck him when he saw her coy look.  
But he pushed it out of his mind.  "I was drunk that first night Ami, so I might not have remembered, 
but I would have noticed if anything had gone on last night."

	"But I had you worried, didn't I."  Ami giggled, then smiled when Scott nodded.  "Serves you right 
for going to sleep without giving me a explanation of that phone call."

	"I should have known you'd get revenge without thinking of the consequences."  Scott laughed.  "Well, 
now you pay the penalty."

	"What's that?"  Ami asked a little worried.

	"I tie you up in the blankets so you look like you're a caterpillar in a cocoon."  Scott replied 
standing up.

	"I dare you."  Ami said challengingly.  At that, Scott tackled her to the mattress and started 
wrestling with her.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Kevin woke with a start when he heard an angry female shout from Scott's room next door.  Putting 
his robe on, he walked out in time to see Makoto leave her room also and come down the hall.

	"Did you hear that?"  She asked as she reached him.  "What was it?"

	"I don't really know."  Kevin replied.  "It sounded like it came from Scott's room."  They heard 
another angry shout, followed by a male voice speaking calmly.  Kevin walked to the door and knocked.

	"Come in."  Scott said, followed by another incoherent shout.  Kevin opened the door and stepped 
in, only to start laughing at the sight of Ami.  Makoto followed him in and started laughing as well.

	Ami was wrapped tightly in the comforter, hanging from one of the bedposts, looking like a cocooned 
caterpillar.

	"What have you two been up to?"  Makoto asked when she finally caught her breath.

	"Ami dared me to do that to her this morning, so I did."  Scott replied.  Kevin howled with laughter 
as Ami blushed bright red.

	"Okay, you've had your fun,"  Makoto chuckled.  "Let her down, she needs to judge breakfast.  You 
guys can play butterfly later."  Scott nodded, and Kevin and Makoto left the room.  Ten minutes later, Scott 
and Ami came into the dining room and were greeted by laughter and several knowing looks.

	"I'll get you for this."  Ami muttered, blushing hotly.

	"I'm counting on it."  Scott laughed.

	In the end, none of the judges could decide who was the better cook.  So the great cooking clash ended 
in a tie, and no one was very sorry about it either.


To Be Continued ....

    Source: geocities.com/zciwohcats