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

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

                      Swords of Destiny Chronicle X

 	                       ENTERNAL KNIGHT

                                   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.


KEVIN'S PENTHOUSE IN GINZA

	<> Said the news announcer.

	"Is it me or does this seems like a little déjà vu?"  Makoto 
asked everyone.

	It has been a while since the fight with Damian and the Negaverse.  
Right now it's the middle of the school year for most of the Senshi and 
the Knights.  Chibi-Usa had left to go back to the future for a while to 
be with her family again.  So they all were at Kevin's penthouse to enjoy 
an evening of peace and quiet.

	"What do you mean?"  Kiersten asked.

	"Well, when we first met Scott and Kevin, there was all these 
beheadings going on."  Usagi told her cousin.

	"Ah, I see why now."  Kiersten said.

	"What do you make of this, Scott?"  Michiru asked Scott 
when she saw him deep in thought.  When she saw he didn't 
respond to her question, she tried to get his attention.  
"Scott?"

	"Huh?"  Scott said when he snapped out of his thoughts.

	"I asked what you think about these strange killings."  
Michiru asked again.

	"That there is some sick and twisted killer or killers on the loose.  
If you'll excuse me, I need some air."  Scott said and then got up and left 
the room.  Everyone was staring at him while he left the room with confusion 
to their faces.

	"I'm beginning to hate him."  Rei said when everyone got 
over what Scott said and did.

	"Why is that?"  Ami asked.

	"He's beginning to act like Setsuna, with those cryptic 
messages and partial responses.  It's like he knows something, 
but doesn't want to say it."  Rei explained.

	"Do you know of anything, or what Scott knows about this, 
Kevin?"  Makoto asked Kevin.

	"No I don't.  I've only known him for seven hundred years 
and I have no idea about this.  There is still 1300 years of his 
life that is still a mystery, even to me."  Kevin said.

	"But what is it that Scott knows that seems related to 
these 'Vampire' attacks?"  Wesley asked.

	"I don't know, but according to the reports, those attacks 
are heading this way."  Ami said.

	"So what are we going to do?"  Sasami asked.

	"We have to stop this killer or killers."  Makoto said.

	"But..." Usagi started saying but was interrupted.

	"We know how you feel, Usagi, but it's got to be done."  
Haruka said.

	"All right."  Usagi said quietly.

	"We'll start tomorrow on patrols.  Does that sound good?"  
Makoto asked.

	"Okay."  Everyone said.

	"I'll go and inform Scott."  Ami said as she got up.

	"Okay, Ami, guess we'll see you tomorrow then."  Makoto 
said.

	"Okay, bye."  Ami said.

	Ami left the group to go find Scott.  She knew he had said 
that he wanted some air, so she went out to the closest balcony 
and found Scott out there.  She saw him leaning against the railing, 
deep in thought.  Since she didn't want to disturb him, she walked 
up to the railing next to him and leaned against it, waiting for 
Scott to acknowledge she was there.  It was several minutes before 
he spoke.

	"What was everyone's reaction when I left?"  Scott asked.

	"Rei thinks you are acting like Setsuna."  Ami replied and 
heard Scott chuckle.

	"Just what everyone needs, another cryptic talker.  But I 
can't blame them, force of habit if you live for so long, you end 
up talking like that."  Scott said smiling.

	"Do you know anything about these 'Vampire' killings?"  Ami 
asked then saw Scott's smile drop.  "Is it because you can't or 
because you won't?"

	"Yes."  Was the only response Scott said.

	"Yes, what?"

	"Leave it there, please."

	"Why?"

	"I can't say right now."

	"All right, but to let you know, the others are saying that 
they are going to start patrolling for the killer."

	"Okay.  Are you ready to go?"

	"Yes."

	They picked up Sasami waiting for them in the living room and then left 
to go back to Scott's place to sleep and get ready to do patrols the next night.

				*	*	*	*	*

	The next night, the Senshi started the patrols after 
dinner.  Ami and a few others had kept pestering Scott about 
what he knew, but he kept refusing to say what he knew.  So 
they gave up and joined everyone else on the patrols.  When 
Scott's shop closed, he locked up and joined in the patrols. 

	There are four groups that consist for the patrols.  
The first one had Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Saturn, 
and Tuxedo Mask.  The second one consisted of Sailor Jupiter, 
Neptune, Uranus, and Dragon Knight.  The third consisted of The 
Wolf Pack and Wolf Knight.  The last group consisted of Sailor 
Venus, Mars, Tiger Knight, and Gryphon Knight.  The patrols went 
on for a week.

	It was the second day of the next week when something 
happened.  On one of the patrols that Sailor Moon's group was 
on, found a commotion going on.  They went and investigated 
and found a group of eight men, surrounding a young girl and 
a man in his twenties.  The group of men had guns, wooden stakes, 
and crosses.  They thought it was a single man, but it looked 
like it really was a group of people doing the killing.  They quickly 
called the others and waited for them to show.

	Their hand was forced when they saw half of the group shoot 
the man and then shove a stake into his chest.  The other half of 
the group was keeping the girl contained, so she wouldn't help 
her friend.  So the four of them jumped into action.

	As they landed, Sailor Moon started one of her speeches, some 
of the men turned and started shooting at them.  They all had 
to dive for cover to avoid getting hit.  Just as some of those 
men that were firing at them came over to finish them off, they had to 
jump back when a column of flame went across their path.  The 
men looked around and saw several different people coming, 
looking like the first group that tried to stop them.

	Realizing who the people were and knowing that they were 
getting out numbered, they knew they had to leave.  Since they 
took care of one of their targets, they decided to retreat 
so they didn't have to face the Senshi.  They inwardly smiled 
at what could happen when the Senshi found out that the person 
they saved wasn't human.

	After the men got away, the Senshi took account of what 
happened.  They saw that the man was shot several times, a wooden 
stake in the chest, and his head was cut off.  They felt sorry 
that they were unable to save the man, but at least they saved 
the girl.  As they looked at the girl, they realized that something 
wasn't right about her.  They saw her eye's glowing a golden color.

	Most of everyone gasped at the sight of the girl.  The girl 
looked about ready to run or fight, if the need arose.  It was when
Mars recognized her for what she was.
	
	"She's a vampire."  Mars yelled as she pulled out a ward and 
started chanting.

	Those that were still looking at the girl saw that her 
eyes shifted to a red color.  She looked like she was either 
going to bolt or attack them.  Just as Mars was about to 
throw the ward, a hand grabbed her wrist in a painful grip.  
She hissed in pain and looked over her shoulder and saw Wolf 
Knight gripping her wrist with an angry look to his face.

	"Release the ward."  Wolf Knight said angrily.

	"Whaa?"  Mars mumbled in confusion.

	"Release it, now!"  Wolf Knight said even angrier as he 
started squeezing her wrist more painfully.  Mars was hissing 
in pain, as the grip got tighter.  "Drop it."

	Mars drops the ward and then found herself being shoved 
into Tiger Knight.  Tiger Knight catches her and comforts her 
as she rubs her wrist to sooth the pain.  Everyone was looking 
at Wolf Knight with surprise and shock at what they saw him 
just do.  They all somewhat cringed as he passed an angry look 
at all of them, and then headed towards the girl.

		*	*	*	*	*

	The girl was frightened.  She was coming to the Juuban 
Ward to find an old friend to help her.  She came with several 
people, but found out that there were a group of men following 
them, killing them off.  By the time she made it to the Juuban 
Ward, there was only her and one other, but now he was dead.

	She knew she would have been dead also, if it weren't 
for the girls that looked like cheerleaders, the men in 
combat fatigues, a few girls in similar combat fatigues, and the 
one in a tuxedo.  Her concentration and exhaustion from dealing 
of the killers made her slip into her vampire look.  The red 
cheerleader shouted out that she was a vampire and pulled a ward out.

	She shifted into full vampire mode and got ready to attack 
or flee, depending on what happened.  She knew that they were to 
good to be true.  They were just another bunch of hunter's that 
wanted the kill, so they chased off the other group.  She was 
about to run, because the red cheerleader was about to throw 
the ward, when one of the men in black and electric blue combat 
fatigues grabbed the red cheerleader's wrist.

	With her enhanced hearing, she could hear the man telling 
the cheerleader to drop the ward in an angry voice.  The 
cheerleader hissed in pain and then dropped the ward.  The man 
then threw the cheerleader into the orange fatigues man and then 
started walking to her.  She tensed when the man got close to her.  
She noticed the look that the teammates of the man were giving him.

	"I mean you no harm."  The man said in a language she 
hadn't heard in centuries.

	"Why should I trust you?  You could be another hunter."  
The girl said in the same language.  She noticed the looks of 
confusion to the others, meaning they had no idea what they 
were saying.

	"You've been hanging around Seth to long.  You're picking 
up his paranoia."  The man said, smiling a little.

	"How do you know about Seth?"  The girl asked in surprise.

	"It's been a few centuries since you last saw me, Vree.  
Don't you remember me?"  The man asked with a hurt tone to his 
voice.

	"How...?"   The girl asked in wonder.  He was calling her 
the nickname of her real name that she had stopped using for 
centuries now, much less had stopped using that nickname.  It 
was then that she noticed the symbol that the man was wearing.  
"Garien?"

	The man smiles at her and nods.  Her eyes turned back to 
gold and then runs up and hug him in a tight embrace while 
shouting out,  "Poppa!" in English.

	The Senshi all exclaimed in surprise when they heard the 
girl call Scott 'Poppa'.  They saw him wrap his arms around her 
and tried to comfort her.  After a few minutes, the girl stopped 
hugging Scott and bent down and picked her up in his arms.  When 
he turned around, he saw the others looking at him in surprise, 
and he saw Mercury and Dire Wolf slowly walking up to him.

	"Wolf?"  Mercury asked hesitantly.

	"Can we go to your place, Dire.  It's the closest place to 
where we are."  Scott asked Miyuki ignoring Mercury.

	"Uh, sure."  Miyuki replied uncertain on what was going on, 
but trusted Scott.

	"If you want your questions answered, meet us at Red's place, 
but if any of you attack her, I will fight back."  Scott replied 
to everyone.

	"Wolf..." Mercury tried talking to him, but he turned 
around and started walking in the direction of his shop.  
Mercury watched him as he, Miyuki, and Sasami walked away and 
then turned to look at the others. She saw their confused looks, with 
Mars and Tiger having a hint of anger in their eyes, she then turns 
around and starts going after Scott and the others.  The other Senshi 
and Knights soon follow her after a bit.

		*	*	*	*	*

	Scott entered his shop through the back way and went up 
to Miyuki's apartment.  When he entered the apartment, he went to 
the living room and placed her on the couch.  After she sat up, 
Scott wiped away a stray tear that she had as best as he could.

	"Feeling better?"  Scott asked in the language he first 
started talking to her with.

	"Yes, Poppa."  The girl replied.

	"That's good."  He said as he detransformed, along with 
Sasami and Miyuki, and saw her look of amazement.

	"That is a nice trick.   I couldn't even tell it was you 
until you pointed yourself out."  She said.

	"That is the object of that trick."  Scott said smiling.

	"So you couldn't teach me it?"  The girl asked.

	"Sorry."  Scott said.  "So what are you going by now?"

	"Cathleen Nightwind."  Cathleen said, unconsciously 
switching into English.  "Part-time waitress at a late night 
restaurant."

	"Scott Schwartzstern, antique dealer."  Scott replied 
in the same language.

	"You're always doing antiques now a days."  Cathleen 
said and she joke fully punched his arm.  "And who are these two?"

	"The red head is Miyuki Nashimoto, and the other one is Sasami 
Jurai."  Scott replied and the other two knew they were being introduced 
and waved when they heard their names.

	"Scott?"  Came another female voice from behind them before Cathleen 
could reply to Scott.

	Everyone looked in the direction the voice came from and saw 
Ami standing in the doorway, in her normal clothes.  Ami had a worried 
look to her face when she looked at Scott, Cathleen, Miyuki, and Sasami.  
Cathleen tensed up and Scott gave her shoulder a squeeze to 
reassure her it was all right.  Then Scott smiled at Ami to 
reassure her that everything was going to be all right.

	"Are the other's coming?"  Scott asked, switching to 
Japanese.  

	"They're a little bit behind me."  Ami replied.

	"Then we will wait for them."  Scott said.

	"Who's that?"  Cathleen asked, switching to the first 
language they had been talking in.

	"I will tell you at the introductions."  Scott 
replied in the same language.

	"Okay."  Cathleen said.

	"She was asking who you were."  Scott said to Ami 
in Japanese, when he saw her confused look.

	"Oh, what did you tell her?"  Ami asked.

	"I'd wait until everyone was here."  Scott said to 
her.

	Just then, Scott felt the buzz of an Immortal nearby 
and watched the door.  Soon everyone came into the room in 
their civilian attire.  Cathleen got off the couch and 
stood behind Scott for protection.  They all took a glance 
at Scott and the girl, with Rei glaring at her, and James 
glaring at Scott.  Scott just glared back at them and 
Cathleen just hid behind Scott more.  Everyone sat down 
except Scott, Cathleen, Ami, Hotaru, Miyuki and Sasami.

	"Should I grab some snacks, Scott?"  Miyuki asked.

	"Thanks."  Scott replied.  He watched as Miyuki started to 
walk into the kitchen, with Sasami and Hotaru following her to help 
out, when he remembered an item that he needed them to bring out 
also.  "Hotaru?"

	"Yes, Scott-papa?"  Hotaru asked.  No one saw Cathleen 
raise an eyebrow at that comment.

	"While you're getting the drinks, grab one of those 
green bottles at the bottom of the frig."  Scott said.

	"Okay."  Hotaru replied.

	Scott sat down on a couch facing the group with Cathleen 
sitting on his left side and Ami sitting on his right side.  
Shortly Miyuki, Hotaru and Sasami returned with the snacks and drinks
and set them on the coffee table.  When Hotaru and Sasami were going to 
sit next to Scott on the floor, Scott told them to go sit with 
Miyuki.  They reluctantly went to where Scott told them and sat on another 
couch with Miyuki.  He reached over and grabbed the green bottle and handed 
it to Cathleen, she looked at him in confusion.

	"Nick left some with me when he last visited me."  Scott told 
Cathleen.

	"Oh."  Cathleen said, as she knew who Nick was and she 
figured out what was in the bottle, but she suddenly got a sad 
look to her face that Scott noticed.

	"What's wrong?"  Scott asked.

	"Have you heard from Nick lately?"  Cathleen asked.

	"I haven't heard from him since I came to Japan."  Scott replied.  
"What happened to him?"

	"He's dead."  Cathleen said solemnly.

	"How?"  Scott asked surprised, and dreaded on hearing the answer.

	"When I ran into LaCroix, he told me that he wanted to end his life."  
Cathleen said.  "What I meant is that Nick's girlfriend wanted to end her 
life by either having Nick kill her or bring her across.  When Nick tried to 
bring her across, he took to much blood from her.  When LaCroix confronted 
Nick about it, Nick had somehow caught him at a weak moment and had LaCroix 
kill him so he could be with his girlfriend."

	"I see."  Scott said as he could see what she was trying to tell him.  
Cathleen then took the bottle and took a swallow of the contents from it.

	"Is that?"  Hotaru asked Scott upon figuring out what might be in 
the bottle.

	"It's cow blood."  Scott told her and watched as Hotaru 
and Sasami turned a little green.

	"Okay, we're here.  Now explain." Haruka demanded.

	"Well, I think introductions are in order first."  Scott 
said as he looked around and saw everyone nod.  "Everyone, this 
is Cathleen Nightwind.  Cathleen, starting from your left, is 
Kevin, Makoto, Minako, Kiersten, Wesley, Haruka, Michiru, Rei, 
James, Usagi, Mamoru, Miyuki, Sasami, Hotaru and Ami."

	"Uh, hi."  Cathleen said shyly.

	"Hello."  Most of the group returned.

	"Are these the people you told me about, these Sailor Senshi?  
They were dressed like you said, except for some of them."  Cathleen 
said.

	"Yes they are, except for maybe some of them, they just recently 
joined the group."  Scott told her.  Everyone was surprised that Scott 
told her who they were.

	Cathleen then started pointing to certain people and started naming 
them off in their Senshi name.  That surprised the Senshi but when they 
looked over at Scott, they saw him smiling and nodding his head slightly.  
After she was done naming off names, she looked over at Scott questioningly.

	"You are correct in the ones that you had named off."  Scott told her 
and started pointing to the ones she didn't know.  "The ones you didn't know 
of, because of the outfits seemed to have updated themselves, are Dragon 
Knight or Neptune Knight, Gryphon Knight or Pluto Knight, Tiger Knight or Venus 
Knight, Princess Serenity, and Prince Endymion.  The three over by Hotaru is a 
group called the Wolf Pack.  They are basically honorary fighters that fight 
along side of us."  

	"I see."  Cathleen said and then started thinking about something.  
When it looked like she was done she pointed over at Ami.  "And that makes 
her..." 

	"Yes, she was my fiancée from then.  She's my girlfriend 
at the moment."  Scott said as he placed an arm around her 
shoulder and hugged her.  Causing Ami to blush at the act.

	"Where's Pluto?"  Cathleen asked, wondering where she was.  
Everyone was a little embarrassed to tell her that she was not 
around and Usagi was about to tell her that when she got 
interrupted.

	"I am right here, little one."  Came a voice off to Scott 
right.  Everyone was surprised to see her standing there.

	"It's a surprise to see you here, Kiana."  Scott was the 
first one to get his voice back.

	"Let's not confuse the poor girl, my name now is Setsuna.  
Also is it so bad that I'm here?"  Setsuna asked.

	"Sorry about that, and no, it's just a surprise."  Scott 
said.  "Have a seat and have some snacks."

	"Don't mind if I do."  Setsuna said as she sat down and 
started to eat some of the snacks.

	"Why did, uh, Hotaru call you 'papa'?"  Cathleen asked, 
when the silence at that moment got to her.

	"It deals with her guardians.  Michiru and Setsuna, she 
calls 'mama', and she calls Haruka 'papa'."  Scott explained 
to her.

	"I can understand that part."  Cathleen said, looking at 
the three.

	"So she asked me if I would be her second 'papa', her real 
male 'papa'.  So I agreed."  Scott said.

	"Okay, I can see that, so that now makes her a sister of mine."  Cathleen 
said.

	"You could say that."  Scott agreed when everyone’s eyes got big at that 
thought, especially Hotaru's.  "Speaking of sister's, to let you also know, that 
Miyuki is my adopted daughter.  Also Sasami there would be considered my ward.  
Since Miyuki considered her a sister, I guess you can also if you wanted."

	"Man, I knew you wanted a family, but aren't you getting carried away here.  
I went from having you to now having you, a possible new mother, and now three 
sisters."  Cathleen said shaking her head.

	"Can't blame a guy for wishing can you."  Scott said smiling.  "Besides, 
you are still the eldest and now have three little sisters to have fun with."

	"That's right."  Cathleen said smiling evilly and looked over at her sisters, 
who swallowed nervously at what she was thinking.

	"But before we get any farther, I can see some of you want to ask something."  
Scott said.

	"I just want to know why you stopped me and why she is 
calling you 'Poppa'?  She's a vampire, she should be destroyed."  
Rei said angrily.

	"Do you think that there is only one race of Immortals on 
this planet, Rei?"  Setsuna asked before Scott could comment.

	"Uh ... well, I guess not."  Rei stumbled at the fact it was Setsuna that asked 
her a question.

	"Just like all races, there are good ones as there are bad 
ones.  You're letting the bad ones rule your judgment."  Setsuna 
said to Rei, and the only thing Rei did was look down.  "Scott I 
think you need to tell the story on how you first came across 
vampires."

	"I think you are right."  Scott replied.

				#	#	#	#	#

FRANCE 794 A.D.

	Magda A' Pjern stood waiting as the four Frenchmen approached 
her.  She remained still. 

	Acting terrified was easy enough.  The trembling they took 
for fear was rage.  These four and their compatriots had killed 
several vampires in the small village that she was staying in.

	The villagers had understood the rules they lived by.   The 
vampires would never kill one of them; just take enough blood to 
satisfy them.  In exchange they protected them at night.  When 
they were most vulnerable.  These bastards had struck while they 
were sleeping.  If not, their bodies would now be under the French 
soil instead of the fellow vampires.  They had taken her friends 
and she was going to make them pay. 
 	
	"Here pretty girl, if you don't struggle, maybe 
we'll let you go when this is over." 

	The leader of the band leered at her.

 	"Just a little closer you idiot." She thought while 
she waited, once they were far enough away from the forest, 
she'd strike.  Then when they ran she'd pick them off one 
at a time until they were all dead.

	Suddenly a voice spoke out.

      "I'd leave the woman alone if I were you."

				*	*	*	*	*

      Garien had been wandering through France for days.  He 
had been looking for a French Immortal said to be living in 
the North but hadn't found anyone. 

	"I'm tired of this" He realized.  It was getting harder 
to face the years ahead.  "When Jaina died, my anger almost 
destroyed me."  

	He knew he was feeling sorry for himself but even after 
500 years the pain was still there.  Jaina had been the last 
person in the world that he had loved.  It still felt odd to 
realize that she had been taken from him not by the Game or 
by old age but by a tyrant of a leader.  He could still hear 
the sound of her voice as she called out his name before the 
world went black for him.  He had held her, crying, wishing 
that he could die as well.  For a time he had gone out seeking 
his own peace.  After Ramirez left him, he grew cold, building 
a wall of indifference around himself, hoping that someday the 
pain would go away.  His reverie was broken by a French man's 
voice.

      "Here pretty girl, if you don't struggle, maybe we'll 
let you go when this is over."

	As he watched they closed in a circle around the 
defenseless woman.  Without thinking he stepped out of the 
woods and challenged them.  

	"I'd leave the woman alone if I were you."  Garien said.

      Magda watched as her 'savior' fought the four men.  He 
seemed to be completely unconcerned with his own welfare 
continually telling her to run.  She simply watched as he 
dealt with the first two as fast as they came in.  The third 
was more cautious and the two began to fight in earnest. She 
watched as they circled and parried.  She had gotten so caught 
up in the fight that she didn't notice the fourth man sneaking 
up on the pair.  Not until he had stuck his sword clean through 
the back of her rescuer.  Before he fell, her rescuer managed 
to drive his own sword through his opponent's guard and drop 
him. 

      The last man turned to her. 

	"Looks like I have you all to myself now." He said as he 
advanced on her.  

      At her suddenly pointed smile, he paled and began to back 
away.  Before he could get very far she was on him.  Her fangs 
punctured the arteries in his neck and she drained him.  When 
she had finished, she noticed a symbol on the man's clothes.  
She put it aside at the moment so she turned to the one that had 
thought to save her.  Surprisingly he was still alive. 

	"Not for long." She thought to herself, seeing the 
severity of the wound.  "Not unless I bring him across."

      Gently she bent over him.  He looked at her blankly 
for moment then his eyes cleared and he asked: 

	"Are you all right?"

      Blinking back tears she understood that even while 
dying he was concerned for her. 

	"For me, when was the last time anyone was concerned 
for me?" She thought to herself as she made her decision 
and removing the sword.  She held his head in her lap and 
sang an old song for saying farewell to a departing soul.  
Gradually the light went out of his eyes and she allowed the 
crimson tears to flow down her cheeks.

			*	*	*	*	*
        
      Garien came awake suddenly, as the quickening forced 
his body to heal at a fantastic rate.  "I really hate that 
feeling."  He thought.  Still dizzy he looked up into the 
face of the woman that he had tried to save.  The look she 
was giving him was one of pure disbelief.  

	"Great, now she's going run and scream and I'll have 
an entire village out to burn me for being a sorcerer."  
Garien thought.

      Suddenly she stated,  "You're not one of my kind ... 
What are you?"

      "Her kind?" He wondered,  "What does she mean?"  Then 
he noticed the bloody streaks running from her eyes and the 
sharp canines that was far too long to be normal.  "Vampire." 
Was all he said.

      "No." She replied.  "I just said you're not of my kind.  
Again what are you?"

      "First tell me why you're crying."

      She looked at him.  "Because I didn't bring you across 
like I wanted to.  Because I was going to be alone again."

      Garien looked at her, what she had said had struck a chord 
inside him.  He knew how she felt.  So he told her about the Game 
and the Immortals.  Then he asked her another question.

      "You wanted to bring me across? Make me into a vampire 
right?"  At her nod he continued.  "Why didn't you?"

      "You were concerned about me.  You didn't save me for 
yourself; you did just to help me.  As much as I wanted a 
companion, I couldn't do that to you.  You deserved a better 
ending."

      Gently he reached over and touched her face.  "I'll make 
you a promise." She looked at him, a questioning look on her 
face.  "I'll stay with you, be your companion, through thick 
and thin. So long as you promise not to take any lives needlessly.  
What do you say?"

      She looked at him in amazement. 

	"What do you get out of this deal?"  She asked.

      "The same thing you do.  A companion, someone to talk to.  
Someone who understands the idea of countless tomorrows."  Now 
he stood up and extended his hand.  "Well?"

      Slowly she took his hand and held tight.  That was all the 
answer he needed.

	After that, they headed away from the scene to avoid any 
confrontation with anyone.  Magda told Garien that he had to 
talk to a person, to tell him what happened, as a witness.  
Garien agreed to it, so he was following her to where he had 
to go.  He was led to a back entrance of a big house.

	Some guards met them and Magda dismissed them quickly.  
Garien followed her down three flights of stairs until they 
got to an iron door.  Magda pushed open the door and walked 
in.  Garien followed right behind her.

	Inside the room were four men and a girl of around sixteen.  
One of the men was sitting on a throne with one man on each side 
of him.  The girl was off to one side, talking to the last man.  
When Garien and Magda walked into the room, everyone looked at 
them.  The girl smiled and ran over to Magda.

	"Mama!"  Said the girl a little loudly, as she ran out to 
Magda and gave her a hug.

	"Have you been behaving yourself with Seth?"  Magda asked 
while she hugged the girl back.

	"Yes, mama."  The girl replied and saw Garien behind Magda.  
"Who's that?"

	"His name's Garien and I'll tell you all about him after 
I talk to Heath."  Magda replied.

	"Okay."  The girl said and then walked back over to Seth.

	Magda then goes over to stand in front of Heath and bows 
slightly.  Garien just stood back and waits.

	"Magda!"  Heath said when she stood back up.  "What brings 
you here so early?"

	"I came to inform you that there are hunters in the town."  
Magda replied.

	"That is some bad news.  You are unharmed?"  Heath said.

	"Yes."  Magda said.  "Garien over there helped me."

	"I see."  Heath said, eyeing Garien suspiciously.  "Do 
you know who was in charge of those men or were they independent?"

	"They were Kars' men, according to a symbol I saw on one 
of the men."

	"He is becoming a problem."  Heath said, then indicated 
Garien.  "Now why did you bring him here?"

	"Well," Magda started.  "Have you ever heard of another 
group of Immortals?"

	"There are no other groups of Immortals."  The man on 
Heath's right said.  "They are myths."

	"Lucien, be quiet."  Heath said to the man on his right.  
"Why do you bring them up?"

	"Garien here is one of them."  Magda replied.

	"I see."  Heath said, eyeing Garien.

	"You don't believe that."  Lucien said.

	"Of course I do."  Heath replied calmly.

	"What?"  All the vampires asked surprised.

	"I had met one of them all ready when I went out to feed 
one day."  Heath replied to all the surprised vampires.

	"Okay."  Seth said, understanding what Heath was saying, 
then pointed to Garien.  "But what are we going to do with 
him."

	"Since he saved Magda, I'm granting him safe haven in this 
town."  Heath announced.

	"Yes, sir."  Seth said, but he was still suspicious of Garien.

	"Garien, come forward."  Heath called to Garien.

	"Yes."  Garien said as he took a few steps forward.

	"I'm granting you safe haven here.  No vampire will attack 
you while you are under my protection."  Heath stated and Garien 
nodded.  "But if you attack a vampire, all deals are off."

	"I understand and I will follow your orders.  But the same 
holds true for me also.  If I'm attacked, I will fight back."  
Garien replied.

	"Granted."  Heath acknowledged.  "Since it's almost sunrise, 
you can stay here until you are rested."

	"Thank you."  Garien said bowing.

	"Magda!"  Heath called out.

	"Yes."  Magda said as she stepped forward.

	"I trust you to handle your friend?"  Heath asked.
	
	"Yes, sir."  Magda said bowing.  Magda then takes Garien and 
the girl out of the room.  After they left the room, Seth 
walked up to Heath and started to talk to him.

	"Can we trust him?"  Seth asked.

	"I have a feeling we can."  Heath said then got a 
thoughtful look to him.  "There is something about him though, 
I just can't figure it out at the moment."

	"Why did you have Magda take care of him then?"

	"I think Magda is a good choice here."

	"Are you saying that she is in love with him?"

	"I don't know about love, but I do know she has feelings 
for him, and we can use that against her if we have to."

	"I see your logic there.  We shall keep an eye on him."  
Seth said as everyone that was left in the room left to retire 
to their chambers.

				*	*	*	*	*

	After they were dismissed, Magda escorted Garien to 
where the bedchambers were.  On the way out, the girl, who 
Magda introduced as Vireyda Magaly, her childe, went with 
them.  As they were walking to the bedchambers, Vireyda 
started talking to Garien, in order to know him better.

	Once they got to the bedchambers, Magda sent Vireyda 
to one chamber and escorted Garien to the other one.  When 
Garien went inside, he thought he had the room to himself, 
but was surprised when Magda entered the room with him and 
closed and locked the door behind her.  She then walked near 
the bed and started removing her clothes.  Garien stood there 
frozen in surprise.

	"Can you help me with these ties?"  Magda asked and 
waited.  When she heard no movement, she looked over her 
shoulder and saw Garien standing there with a surprised look.  
"Why the look of surprise?"

	"I thought I would have the room to myself."  Garien 
replied when he was able to talk again.

	"Well, they have so few rooms here."  Magda said shyly.  
"I didn't think you'd mind if we shared a room."

	"Uh, no, I don't mind."  Garien stuttered as he started 
untying the ties.  "You can have the bed, I'll take the chair."

	"Nonsense.  You are sleeping in the bed with me, no use 
arguing."  Magda said to him, as she looked him in the eye.

	She stood naked in front of him, waiting to see if he 
would continue to debate what was happening.  When she saw 
the look of defeat in his eyes, she smiled slightly and walked 
up to him.  She then proceeded to take Garien clothes off of 
him.  Once they were out of their clothes, they climbed into 
bed and shortly there after, Garien fell asleep as Magda 
watched him.

		*	*	*	*	*

	A week had gone by, and Garien had found himself falling 
in love with Magda.  Garien never thought that he would fall in 
love again, but it looked like he was wrong.  After a while, he 
started coming up with nicknames for Magda and Vireyda.  He 
started calling them Maggie and Vree.  Vireyda would only 
acknowledge Garien when anybody called her Vree.

	Since Garien was staying around and pretty much cared for 
Maggie and Vree, Vree started thinking of him as her new father, 
so she started calling him 'Poppa'.  Garien smiled at the idea 
and gladly accepted her as a daughter.  Maggie enjoyed the idea 
of being a family that she talked Garien into getting married.  
Garien, after much debating, agreed and they planned to get 
married at the end of the next week.

	But like all good things, the fun didn't last.  At the 
beginning of the next week, the hunters started appearing again.  
The vampire community started getting nervous and Garien offered 
his help.  Some of the vampires were against it, but Heath 
overruled all of them and accepted Garien's help.  So for the 
next few days, Garien helped defend the vampires when the hunters 
struck.  

	But one day, something changed those plans.  What 
happened was a group of hunters went and kidnapped Vree.  
They sent a ransom for the vampires to deliver Garien to 
them for release of Vree.  Garien informed them it was a 
set up, but the vampires still went with the demands.  So 
Garien gave his sword over to Heath and headed to where 
he was told to go.  When he got there, two men met him and 
grabbed his arms, blindfolded him, and led him inside a 
building.

	He was led around for a bit and was stopped after what 
seemed like ages.  His blindfold was removed and he found 
himself in a big room, lit by torches, had a throne at the 
center of the far wall, and a big cross off to the right of 
the chair.  There was a big man sitting on the throne and Vree 
was tied up on the cross.  From what Garien could see, she was 
being held up by garlic ropes, and had a few burns across her 
body.  Her clothes were ripped and barely keeping her modest.  
He knew that the men had done more than just captured her, 
they raped her, and now she was unconscious.

	"You must be the vampire lover."  The man on the throne 
said.

	"You must be this 'Kars' person I've been told about."  
Garien said, and then got hit across the face by the man holding 
his right arm.

	"Don't be disrespectful, vampire lover."  Said that man.

	"Why do you help those damned creatures?  They are 
Hell spawn."  Kars asked.

	"Maybe I understand them better than you."  Garien 
replied.

	"Bastard."  Kars shouted as he hit Garien across the 
face.  

	"So what is it you wanted me here for?"  Garien asked as 
he spit out blood.

	"To find out why you are with those creatures, and change 
your mind.  If not, then we will kill you."  Kars said.

	"Not much of a choice, is there?"  Garien said dryly.

	"Better choose wisely."  Kars said.

	"What will be the condition to prove I'm one of you guys?"  
Garien asked.

	"Simple, kill the vampire girl."  Kars replied smiling.

	"I will have to think on that one."  Garien said.

	"It's simple, you are with us or you're dead."  Kars said 
and Garien felt a knife at his side.  "So what will it be?"

	"Looks like I choose..." Garien started saying as he 
looked at Kars and then up at Vree.  He then looked at Kars 
again and smiled.  Kars thought he had won until Garien threw 
the person on his right, into the man with the knife.  
"Death."

	Garien starts fighting the men in the room, by either 
punching of kicking them.  Garien was putting up a good fight, 
but he failed to notice that another person was sneaking up 
behind him.  Garien realized there was a forth person in the 
room, when a knife was thrusted into his back.  He felt the 
person twists the knife before pulling out.  He fell to his knees 
and felt the blackness of death coming.

	"Just for that, we're going to kill that little vampire."  
Kars gritted out through clenched teeth.

	"No!"  Came a female shout from above.  Garien saw Maggie 
jump down from the ceiling before blackness took over.

		*	*	*	*	*

	When Garien came to, he didn't hear any fighting, so he 
didn't know if Maggie won or lost.  He regained all of his 
senses and tried to figure out what was going on around him.  
He stayed lying there on the floor, picking up things that 
would tell him what was happening.

	The only thing that Garien could hear, was the voice of 
Kars, cursing the very existence of vampires and the ones that 
care for them.  He could hear Vree crying and calling out to 
Maggie.  After trying to listen for a few more seconds, and 
not finding anything, he figured that Vree and Kars were the 
only ones still moving.

	So he turned his head and opened his eyes to see what it 
looked like around him.  The first thing he noticed was that 
there were a few extra bodies lying around.  He figured Maggie 
took care of the extra people, before she was taken down, and 
he guessed right that Maggie was taken down.

	He found her body not that far away from him.  He saw that 
a wooden stake was driven through her heart and that her head was 
cut off.  He felt some regret and sadness enter him at the sight 
of Maggie's dead body as he remembered his other loves dying 
around him.  He was snapped out of his memory when he heard Vree 
scream.  He looked in her direction and saw Kars limping to her, 
with a wooden stake in his hand.  Garien saw Vree's look of fear 
and went into action.

	"Now time to eliminate a bane to my existence."  Kars said 
as he limped towards Vree.

	"Kars!"  Came a shout from behind Kars.

	Vree and Kars turned and looked in the direction of the voice 
and saw Garien standing there with a sword in his hand.  Garien 
smiled evilly when he saw the surprised looks to their faces.

	"How can you be alive?  You were dead, stabbed in the 
back."  Kars said surprised.

	"You leave her alone."  Garien stated flatly.

	"Stay back or I'll run this stake through her."  Kars 
said as he realized that Garien gave him a way out.

	"You do that and you'll be dead before you can finish 
the job."  Garien said.

	Kars realizing that Garien really had the upper hand, 
he started to realize that he was going to die that day.  So 
he started to thrust the stake towards Vree, in order to try 
and kill the vampire girl.  Out of the corner of his eye, he 
noticed that Garien threw his sword and it was coming at him 
like an arrow.  The sword hit him and pinned him to the wall.  
He took a few breaths and then died.  Garien went over to Vree 
and removed her from the cross.  Vree hugs him and started to 
cry on him, so he just held her.

	He continued holding her until he felt a hand on his 
shoulder.  He quickly spun around with Vree in his arms and 
was about to defend himself, when he saw Heath standing in 
front of him.  Garien relaxed as he saw other vampires entering 
into the room.

	"What's going on?"  Garien asked.

	"We followed Magda when we found out she followed you."  
Heath replied.

	"Magda..." Garien started to talk when Heath interrupted 
him.

	"We know."  Was all Heath said, and then saw Garien look down 
at the now sleeping Vree.  "Come on, let's head back."

	"Okay."  Garien said defeated as he picked up Vree and 
followed Heath back to his place for the remainder of the night.

				#	#	#	#	#

	"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."  Usagi said, crying.

	"So what are you doing here?"  Michiru asked.

	"Running for my life."  The girl now known as Vree 
said quietly.

	"You're what?"  Most of everyone said surprised.

	"Who's after you?"  Scott asked calmly.

	"I don't know, but whoever it is, they seem to have 
a vendetta against me."  Vree replied.

	"When did you first get attacked?"  Ami asked.

	"About a month ago."  Vree said.  "That was when the 
attacks centered on me started."

	"Do you know who would want to hurt you?"  Usagi asked.

	"No I don't."  Vree replied.

	"I can't believe I'm going to help a vampire."  Rei said 
softly, but James heard her.

	"What is it Rei?"  James asked and everyone turned to 
look at her.

	"I found this on the ground before we headed over here."  
Rei said holding an item up in her hand.  Scott got up and 
grabbed it.  "It's a little damaged, but you can see something 
on it."

	Rei looked up at Scott and saw his features go from 
upset to rage.  She never saw Scott that mad before, and it 
frightened her.  The others near her were thinking the same 
thought when they saw the facial expression of Scott change.  
The only ones that didn't see it, were Ami and Vree, but Vree 
could tell something was up by the way Scott's heart started 
beating differently.

	"Poppa?  What's wrong?"  Vree asked somewhat worried.

	"What do you make of this?"  Scott still stood with his 
back towards Vree as he held up what was in his hand so she 
could see it.  "See if I'm wrong about this."

	All of the Senshi and Knights looked at Vree as she 
looked at the item in Scott's hand.  Everyone edged back when 
they watched her jump to her feet, had her hands balled in fists 
at her sides, and her eyes went from normal to glowing bright 
red.  Scott and Vree stayed in that position as the others 
finally gained some courage.

	"W-w-w-what is it, what's going on?"  Usagi asked.

	"Kars."  Was what Scott and Vree replied at the same 
time.

	"You mean that hunter from the past?"  Sasami asked.

	"Either him, or someone that believes in his goals."  
Scott replied, then walked over to the window and looked out.

	"So what are we going to do?"  Makoto asked.

	"Nothing right now."  Scott replied.

	"What?  Why?"  Haruka demanded.

	"It's almost sunrise in a couple of hours.  Get some 
rest and we will tackle this later today."  Scott said.

	Everyone reluctantly agreed, since Scott was going to 
be adamant on it, they started to leave.  When the only ones 
that were left in the room, were Scott, Ami, Vree, Makoto, Sasami, 
Miyuki and Kevin.  Kevin walked up to Scott with a question on his 
mind.

	"Hey, Scott?"  Kevin started.

	"Yeah, Ziggy."  Scott replied flatly.

	"If you knew that vampires existed, why didn't you 
inform me about them?"  Kevin asked.  Scott turned to face 
him calmly.

	"If they wanted you to know about them, then you would 
have known about them.  I have been ordered not to spread the 
word about them, or they will kill me and anyone who I tell."  
Scott replied.

	"What is going to happen now that we know about these 
vampires?"

	"When the time comes, you'll find out."

	When Kevin tried to get out anymore information and when 
Scott didn't say anything else, he and Makoto left.  Ami then 
walked up to him and tried to figure out what was going on, but 
the only thing that Scott told her was to have Miyuki show Vree 
the guest room and help her to block the sun from the room.  While 
Scott continued looking out the window, Ami had talked to Miyuki 
and she agreed to place Vree in the guest room and with Sasami's 
help, the four of them sun proofed the room.  They escorted Vree 
to the guestroom and helped her sun proof the room while Vree 
talked to them about Scott.  While they were talking, Sasami had 
told Vree she could sympathize with her when Vree was captured.  When 
Vree looked at her, Sasami told her that she was captured and raped 
also.

				*	*	*	*	*

	A lone man was standing in the alleyway across from 
Miyuki's place.  He followed the person that carried the vampire 
girl to the place.  He waited and watched as several people 
walked into the back entrance to the place.  A couple of hours 
later, the some of the same people started coming out.  He waited 
some more and saw that now only seven people remained in the shop.  A 
couple of minutes later, two more people walked out and then 
it was silent again.  After several more minutes, just before sunrise, 
two more had left the building.  He figured that at least one of them 
probably lived there and were sheltering the vampire.

	He snuffed out his cigarette and was about to leave to 
report to his boss where the vampire girl was staying.  As he 
was about to leave, a hand grabbed his throat and pinned him 
to the wall.  He was grabbing for his gun when the person that 
grabbed him placed a katana blade at his neck.  The person then 
came into the light and the man recognized him as the man that 
carried the vampire girl.

	"I wouldn't reach for the gun if you want to live."  Scott 
said flatly.

	"How did you know I was here?"  The man struggled to say.

	"You are poor at hiding in shadows."  Scott said and saw the 
man get a look of fear in his eyes.  "I want you to deliver a 
message to your boss."

	"Sure, what is it?"  The man asked.

	"Tell him if he wants the vampire girl, to come alone to 
the abandoned warehouse on Osawa street an hour after sunset."  
Scott replied.

	"Okay, Ill tell him."  The man said.

	"Good."  Scott said as he shoved the man's head against the 
stone wall.  The man was minorly dazed and when he got his senses 
back, Scott was long gone.

				*	*	*	*	*

	The next day, after sunset, at Scott's shop, every one of the 
Senshi, the Knights, and the Wolf Pack gathered.  They were all sitting around, 
wondering what they were going to do.  Scott was off in the guestroom 
talking to Vree about something and leaving everyone in the dark.  When 
they finally came out of the room, they walked up to the others.

	"So what is going on?"  Kevin asked.

	"You guys are going to stay here while Vree and I are going to 
face the hunter's boss."  Scott said firmly.

	"No way.  You are not going to face that person alone."  Makoto 
said angrily.

	"This is my fight.  You guys are not going to interfere."  Scott 
replied in the same tone.

	"There..." Kevin started but was interrupted by Scott.

	"There is no question."  Scott gave Kevin a look and continued.  
"You will not follow us to the warehouse on Osawa Street.  Is that 
understood?"

	"Yes."  Kevin grumbled.  Scott nodded and he and Vree left the 
shop.  After they left Makoto came up to him.

	"Are you just going to let him go just like that?"  Makoto 
demanded.

	"In a word, Yes."  Kevin replied calmly.

	"What!  Why?"  Makoto demanded angrily.

	"Ami, scan the surrounding area for people that are standing 
nearby that aren't Watchers."  Kevin said.

	"Why?"  Ami asked confused.

	"Scott said that there was someone out there."  Kevin said.

	"No he didn't."  Hotaru said.

	"Ah, but he did."  Kevin said and chuckled at Hotaru's confused 
look.  "It's something that me and him came up with a long time ago when 
I was in that situation."

	"What is it about?"  Hotaru asked.

	"It happened when I was supposed to see someone alone and 
the person I was supposed to see wasn't trustworthy.  Both Scott 
and I knew that he would double cross us and would have someone 
nearby to see if we would follow the instructions, and if we 
didn't, they could have used that information against us.  So 
when I left, Scott found out about that person and took him out.  
So when I met the person I was suppose to see, he didn't come alone 
and had several men waiting.  If Scott wasn't there, I would have 
been killed."  Kevin explained.

	"So we are going to follow him?"  Usagi asked.

	"You bet, as soon as Ami finds that spy."  Kevin said.

	"Found him."  Ami announced.

	"Where?"  Kevin asked.

	"Outside.  In the alley across the street."  Ami replied.  
Kevin took a glance out the window and found him.

	"So what are we going to do about him?"  Minako asked.  
She then a worried look when Kevin looked at her.  "What?"

	"How would you like to take care of him?"  Kevin asked 
with a wicked smile.

	"What do you want me to?"  Minako asked, when she realized 
that she was going to have to do the task.

	"I'm sure a pretty woman like you can figure out a way 
to distract the man."  Kevin replied.  He watched as Minako 
took a look of surprise, and then a one of deep thought, and 
then a wicked smile.

	"Hey, Miyuki, can I borrow some clothes?"  Minako asked.

	"Uh, sure."  Miyuki said.

	"Does Scott have anymore of his trench coats left here?"  Minako 
asked.

	"Yes."  Miyuki replied uncertain on what was going on.

	"Good, I'll need one."  Minako said as she and Miyuki went 
into Miyuki's bedroom.  After several minutes, Miyuki walked out 
by herself.

	"Minako says we should give her five minutes and start 
after Scott."  Miyuki said.

	"Okay, let's transform then."  Kevin said and then 
several transformations followed and they were on their 
way to follow Scott and Vree.

				*	*	*	*	*

	Scott and Vree made their way to the warehouse on Osawa 
Street a little bit before the designated time.  They entered 
the warehouse and waited at the center of the place for the 
hunter's leader to show up.  They only had to wait for a few 
minutes, when Scott felt the familiar buzz of a nearby Immortal.  
Vree sensed Scott stiffen up, and knew whatever was going to go 
down, was about to start.  She looked in the direction Scott was 
and saw a man walking in.  When the man got in the light, both 
Scott and Vree held in their reaction of surprise at the man in 
front of them.

	"So I finally got the vampire girl that caused me years of 
suffering."  The man in front of them said.  "And who is the 
Immortal with you, my dear?"

	"An old friend that said he would help me."  Vree gritted 
through clenched teeth.

	"And who might you be?"  The man asked Scott.

	"An old acquaintance of yours."  Scott replied.

	"I have had many acquaintances, my friend.  Which one would 
you be?"  The man asked.

	"It's only been around 1300 years since you last saw me ... 
Kars."  Scott said calmly.

	Kars looked at Scott with minor confusion until recognition 
set in his features.

	"Well, well, well.  If it isn't the vampire lover Garien, 
how have you been doing?"  Kars asked, excited.

	"Staying busy."  Scott said.

	"Now I see why she was heading over here, she was coming 
to get your help."  Kars said smiling.  "And here I thought I 
wouldn't be able to thank the person who gave me Immortality."

	"As much as I like to remember the old times, but we have 
business to deal with here, Kars."  Scott said, drawing out his 
katana.

	"Ah, so you still want to save the girl, after all this 
time."  Kars said as he drew out his Broad sword.

	"We'll put a wager on this fight, what do you say?"  Scott 
asked.

	"What's the wager?"  Kars replied.

	"If you win the fight, Vree here will be yours to do with 
as you please."  Scott said.

	"And if I loose?"  Kars asked.

	"You'll be dead."  Scott replied.

	"I like that deal.  I always wanted to taste her again.  She 
was good the last time, I wonder how much better she will be."  Kars 
said snickering, and then chuckling when he saw Scott restrain Vree.  
"That is an offer I can't turn down or loose, so ... Now!"

	Kars shouted out and waited for his friends to attack Scott and 
Vree, so he just had to take Scott's head.  He then became worried 
when no one jumped out from the shadows and started shooting.  He 
then felt a buzz of another Immortal and turned his back and saw 
Jupiter and Dragon Knight standing in a doorway, with their swords 
drawn, smiling at him.

	"I'm sorry, but there seems to be a surplus of unconscious 
people around this building."  Jupiter said, smiling.

	"Looks like there's no way out, is there Kars?"  Scott said 
smiling.

	"Damn you!"  Kars shouted and charged Scott.

	Scott parried his attack and went onto the defensive stance.  
Kars savagely struck out at Scott and Scott either dodged or 
blocked the attacks.  During one strike, Kars over extended and 
Scott took that advantage and slashed Kars' hamstring.  Kars went 
down to his knees and he dropped his sword.  Scott stood next to 
him and cut off his head.  The Quickening soon followed.  After 
the Quickening finished, Vree helped Scott to stand up on his 
feet.  All of the Senshi had entered the warehouse during the 
Quickening.

	"Poppa, you all right?"  Vree asked in concern.

	"Welcome to my world, Vree."  Scott said smiling.

	"No thanks, you can have it.  My world is just fine with 
me."  Vree replied smiling.  Then she saw Scott look around.

	"Where's Venus?"  Scott asked.

	"She was the one that is distracting the spy."  Jupiter 
replied.

	"Oh, I see.  Let's get going before the police show up."  
Scott said.  Everyone agreed and they left the warehouse.

				*	*	*	*	*

	They all had met back at Miyuki's apartment.  Minako 
was just getting out of the shower when they entered.  Minako had 
told them that the person was very easy to distract and take 
care of.  Most of everyone wanted to know what she wore, but 
she refused to tell them what she wore.  After several minutes 
of them trying to get Minako to say what she wore, they all 
settled down in the living room section and waited.  To stop 
the silence, Rei asked what happened after they left the place 
where Maggie died.  Scott replied that he adopted Vree, as his 
own daughter and quickly left the town.  Too many bad memories 
in that town was what Scott had said, and Vree agreed to what Scott 
said.

	"So what are we going to do about Vree?"  Usagi asked 
Scott.

	"She can do what she wants, it's you guy's I'm wondering 
about."  Scott replied.

	"What do you mean?"  Usagi asked confused.

	"What I mean is, the vampire nation doesn't like it when 
there are loose ends."  Scott said.

	"Loose ends?"  Usagi asked confused.

	"All of you guys know that they exist, and they want to 
know that you won't betray that knowledge."  Scott replied.  
"Am I right, Madoka?"

	"Yes."  Came a cold female voice behind everyone.

	Everyone, except Scott and Vree, quickly turned to the 
voice and found a female with three men behind her.  All of 
the Senshi tensed up and was ready to defend themselves, but 
Scott told them to stand down.  They looked at Scott, wondering 
what was going on with him.  Scott told them that Madoka was the 
local enforcer, and was there to find out if the vampire nation 
could trust them.  Hotaru asked what would happen if they 
couldn't trust them.  Scott told her that she didn't want to 
know.  Hotaru just swallowed at the thought that came to her.

	Scott told them that the vampires were going to test their 
trust one at a time.  The Senshi, Knights, and the Wolf Pack were a little 
nervous at what the vampires may do to them.  They looked over 
at Scott and saw him sitting in a chair having a bored expression 
on his face.  The vampires took them one at a time, and they found 
themselves separated into different rooms.  They sat in their rooms 
waiting for their fate.  After several minutes, Scott came to their 
room and called them back to the living room.  After everyone 
gathered back into the living room, Scott faced them, with all of 
the enforcers surrounding the group.

	"What's going on?"  Miyuki asked.

	"The enforcers have made their decision on what to do."  Scott 
replied.

	"What is it?"  Usagi asked worried.

	"Let me put it this way."  Scott started saying.  "Some of 
you are resistors, and before you ask, it means that you can resist 
their hypnotic suggestion.  I will not tell you which one of you are 
the resistors, so don't bother asking.  So then that leads to some 
of you not being able to trust with the knowledge of their existence. 
So it falls to me to decide this group’s fate."

	"What are you going to decide?"  Kevin asked.

	"Usagi, I want to talk to you in private."  Scott asked, totally 
ignoring Kevin's question.

	"Okay."  Usagi said as she followed Scott to a back room to talk.

	All of the rest of them sat in the living room, eyeing the vampires 
that surrounded them.  They were sitting there when they heard Usagi shout 
out 'what'.  They were beginning to feel a little nervous when Scott and Usagi 
returned.  Usagi had her head down when she stood in front of everyone.  Scott 
placed his hand on her shoulder to give her some courage.

	"What's going on?"  Kevin asked.

	"The final outcome to this situation."  Scott said to everyone, 
then whispered to Usagi.  "Do you want to say it, or should I?"

	"Can you do it, I don't think I can say it."  Usagi whispered 
back.

	"Okay."  Scott whispered to Usagi and then started to talk to 
the others.  "Okay, the over all decision of the vampire community is 
to terminate you."

	"What?  But why?  How can that be?"  Everyone started shouting 
out at the same time.

	"Quiet!"  Scott shouted.  Everyone quieted up right away.  "Now 
let me finish.  Because of that, I am using my only favor with the 
vampires to save your lives, at a cost."

	"What is the cost?"  Mamoru asked.

	"Usagi here agreed to the following terms."  Scott replied.

	"What are these terms?"  Mamoru asked.

	"If everyone here agrees to keep the knowledge of vampires 
to yourselves, then they will leave everyone alone."  Scott said.

	"What is Usagi's part in that?"  Mamoru asked.

	"If anyone betrays the knowledge, especially certain hot 
headed priestess, then Usagi and anyone in her family line, will 
be killed."  Scott replied.

	"What!"  Everyone exclaimed.

	"Quiet!"  Scott shouted again.  "The time is getting late 
for everyone, so we need the answer of everyone.  Will everyone 
keep the knowledge to themselves or risk Usagi and her family 
line?  What will it be?"

	Everyone thought about it and agreed to the terms that were 
set before them.  The vampire enforcers acknowledged what was 
agreed and left with a parting phrase saying that they would keep 
an eye on them.  After the vampires left, Scott asked if Vree 
wanted to stay one more night before she left and she agreed.  

	Since everything was over with, most of the other's left to go 
home and get some well needed sleep.  Hotaru had asked Michiru and 
Haruka if she could stay and talk to her 'sister'.  After getting 
Scott to agree to watch over her, they let Hotaru stay for a little 
bit.  So after everyone else left Miyuki's apartment, Ami had pulled 
Scott off to the side to have a word with him while Miyuki, Sasami, 
Hotaru, and Vree got to know each other better.  Ami was having a 
heated discussion about not telling her about certain people in his 
life when they heard a scream of pain from where the four girls were at.

	When Scott and Ami ran into the room, they saw Hotaru trying to 
comfort a crying Sasami and Miyuki trying to check out Vree, who was 
holding her right hand in pain.

	"What happened?"  Scott asked.

	"I really don't know."  Miyuki replied.  "Sasami-chan went over to 
Vree here and grabbed her hand when smoke started coming from where they 
where holding and Vree started screaming in pain."

	"Vree, you okay there?"  Scott asked.

	"Yeah, I'll survive, but what the Hell happened?"  Vree replied.

	"Tell you in a moment."  Scott said and went over to Sasami.

	"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened."  Sasami said crying.

	"It's alright, Sasami.  It's not your fault, you have no control of 
doing what you did to Vree.  I would recommend that you avoid skin to skin 
contact with her though."  Scott said.

	"What do you mean by that?"  Vree asked and looked at her hand, which 
was starting to heal.

	"What do you know of Sasami, Vree?"  Scott asked.

	"That she is an alien princess of a distant planet, and that she is 
almost 700 years old, but appears to be thirteen."  Vree replied, indicating 
that she really didn't believe it but accepted it.

	"Then you'll really like this."  Scott said getting a raised eyebrow from 
Vree.

	Scott then started telling Vree of what happened to Sasami when she was real 
young.  He explained how an attack on her home world caused her to get a fatal 
wound and if it wasn't for a certain individual, she would have died.  Scott then 
explained that the person that helped Sasami was one of their Goddess' and that the 
Goddess had bonded with Sasami.  Vree then realized what Scott was saying and 
chuckled a little at the irony of the situation of one of her sisters is now considered 
the most ultimate Holy item.  Vree then told Sasami to stop crying and forgave her 
for what happened and said that they would then have to be careful on how they 
interacted the next time.  Sasami smiled at her and they started talking again.


	Once that was all taken care of, they all enjoyed the rest of the night and the 
next morning, with Vree getting to know her new family a lot better.  All of them asked 
Vree to stay, but Vree said that she wanted to stay in Wisconsin since that is where she 
felt the most at home at the moment.  Vree left the next night to head back to Wisconsin, 
after she gave them her address and phone number so they could stay in touch with each 
other.

The End.

    Source: geocities.com/zciwohcats