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Chikyuu no Senshi
Part One
A Sailormoon Alternate Reality Story
By Sefilin (aka Lei)

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A glowing planet floated in the midnight darkness,
supplying a faint light to see by as he swiftly approached the
familiar stone wall. He had seen this scene many times and it
was always the same. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the
dark shadow of his reflection on the pond and felt his cloak
catch on the thorns of an unfamiliar plant. A sudden gust of
wind tugged at his hair, tossing it away from his forehead. He
pulled his cloak from the delaying grasp of the thorns and began
to run closer and closer, stumbling a little. He felt his
heartbeat pounding, fast and heavy and a certain desperation
mounted as he ran. Suddenly he stopped, a hand resting on the
cold wall he had been striving for. He tilted his head upwards,
restlessly searching the shadows. He could hear someone crying,
the sobs tearing at his soul and he fell to his knees at the
pain. Then the sobs began to change, taking on form and cadence
and he knew if he was close enough he would understand them.
Gathering what power he could, he leapt upwards and took hold of
the balustrade, pulling himself over and onto the balcony. In
the dimness he saw a small grey shape huddled, shaking
uncontrollably. The sobs were coming from there and he took a
step closer, then another until he found himself kneeling beside
her. His arms came around her and he held on as her shaking
increased. She moved to return his embrace, turning her face into
his neck and she whispered brokenly into his ear.

"Free me. Oh please, free me..."

==========

"...before it's too late."

Mamoru jolted awake, the last echoes of his dream
reverberating through his head. He raised his hands to his face
and felt the tears there.

Taking a deep breath Mamoru held onto the dream, replaying
it. It was different. It had changed. Where before he could
always see the girl standing on the balcony, leaning towards him
as he stood below her, now she was hidden, hidden in the
lightless shadows, crying for him. Always before there had been
an urgency to her request for freedom but now it was desperate.
Time was running out for her. And somewhere deep in his soul,
Mamoru knew that when her time ran out, so would his.

He threw his sheets aside and walked across to the balcony
door. He stepped outside and went to lean against the railing,
his breathing deep and regulated. Turning his face to the sky,
he searched as ever, for the moon; whether it was full and
silver, divine in its glory, or whether it was a small sickle-
curve tinted golden and waiting for the chance to step out from
behind the shadows once more, he always searched for it after a
dream.

The first time he had ever had the dream was when he had
been six. He had woken to the sight of a giant, white moon
staring benevolently down at him, much like the planet in the
dream. He had thought of the girl from the dream, likening her
to the moon, but not knowing why. He had, however, known that
she was the one, his to protect and love. Before that time he
hadn't known any love but that which he had for his family and
the sudden burgeoning of his heart and soul had terrified him.
He didn't understand what it was and couldn't deal with the adult
emotions that burned through him like wildfire. He had run to
his mother and thrown himself heedlessly into her arms. She had
stroked his short hair softly and he had fallen asleep to the
sound of her gentle crooning.

Mamoru shook away the memories and focused on the present.
Now he knew what the emotions were. He had to find her before
she disappeared and took him with her.

Sparing a last lingering glance at the waning moon, he went
back inside to search for sleep he was unsure would come.

==========

In another part of the city a young woman woke just as
suddenly, her hand reaching out for the light that was fading.
Tears fell heedlessly from her eyes as she whispered, "...too
late..."

==========

"Mamoru! Mamoru-kun!"

Motoki hopped across the stones that wound their way
across the pond to the small island in the middle. Heading
unerringly for the small pagoda hidden by the autumn trees he
continued to yell for his friend. Breaking through the final
arboreal defences he skidded to a stop and laughed at what he
saw.

Mamoru was standing in a semi-defensive position trying to
ward off a pretty girl with long brown hair who was almost draped
over him, her lips pursed for his favours. He sent distress
signals to Motoki with his eyes as he turned his head away from
the pouting red lips.

Motoki laughed again as he bounded up to them,
unembarrassed by the situation. He clapped Mamoru on the
shoulder and smiled at the girl.

"What's up?"

"Er..."

The girl blushed furiously as she finally noticed Motoki's
presence and began to stutter something about returning to the
house and it was nice meeting him and she'd see him around. She
ran to the house without looking back and Mamoru glared at
Motoki's grinning face.

"What do you want?"

"Mamoru... you... I never knew you had it in you, to hit on
innocent young girls like that. The poor thing. You even made
her cry." His laughter was loud.

"What. Do. You. Want. Motoki."

"Oh, I was going to invite you to a party at Reika's dorm.
You know, let you break a few more hearts before the semester
finishes. Give you an excuse to get out of whatever your mother
has planned for this evening, things like that. You interested?"

"Sure, I guess. I need a break from studying."

"Great. Now, details. Reika-chan has this friend..."

"No."

"Hey, at least let me finish!"

Mamoru sighed, "Fine, go ahead."

"Okay... she has this friend, Jun, who's really pretty but
who forgot to ask anyone to be her date, so Reika-chan asked if I
knew anyone who was coming but didn't have a date..." Motoki
raised his eyebrows in question and waited for Mamoru to agree or
disagree.

"Jun's the purple-haired girl who always wears black, isn't
she?"

"Ah, yeah. You know her?"

"You and Reika have been together for, what... a year and a
half... and you've dragged me with you all over the place. I'm
pretty sure I didn't escape meeting all of Reika's friends."

"Oh. Well... at least you'll be colour coordinated?"

Mamoru shook his head. "Look, I'd rather go alone than end
up stuck with someone."

"But, Mamoru-kun, think. If you go alone, you'll end up
being propositioned from all sides. At least this way you'll
only get propositioned by Jun."

"No." Mamoru began to walk in the direction of his house
and Motoki knew that as of now, unless he changed the subject,
Mamoru would ignore him. He sighed in resignation and caught up
to his friend.

"Anyway, who was the chick?"

"Hmm? Oh, I think she's the daughter of the Director of
Marketing in the company. Kurumi or something."

"You like her?"

Blue eyes looked with disbelief into green then turned away
without deigning to answer.

"Mamoru! Hey, Mamoru! Can you come and show Mika how to
do that thing with the dragon in the Sailor Senshi game?"

Mamoru looked at his younger brother and sighed. "Sure.
I'll be there in a minute, okay, Hiro?"

"Okay, but hurry up. Mika has to go home soon and she
wants a go before then."

Motoki decided it was time to go and said so to Mamoru who
shrugged and saw him out, lifting his hand in farewell before
heading upstairs.

==========

Motoki opened the car door and lowered himself into the
seat before looking across at his long-time girlfriend Reika. He
sighed dramatically and shook his head.

"He said no."

Pushing a strand of silky auburn hair behind her ear, Reika
made a face. "Doesn't he ever date?"

"Sure. About once a year."

"Jun's not going to be happy, she has a really big crush on
Mamoru. Is there any way we can get him to change his mind?"

"Nope. He's met Jun before."

"He has? But I thought... oh, I suppose Mamoru-san did come
to my birthday party, didn't he?"

"Yeah. Alone as usual."

"What's with him? I mean, you'd expect a guy as cute and
as rich as Mamoru-san is to have plenty of girlfriends, but I've
never seen him with a girl, unless it was for a project or
something."

"Well, don't ask me. I don't understand it either, but he
just isn't interested in girls. He told me once that the longest
he can keep interested is five minutes, then he gets bored and
irritated. The only way he can stand them is if they're doing a
project and they're not trying to hit on him."

"Oh well. I guess I'd better go break the news to Jun.
Let's go."

"Right."

==========

Mamoru watched as Mika finally managed to kill the dragon
and jumped up and down in excitement, turning to hug her best
friend Hiro. He smiled a little at the look on her face and the
one on his brother's. She liked him, he didn't have a clue.
Then Mika turned to thank him for showing her what to do.

"Thanks for showing me how to do that, Mamoru-san."

"No problem, Mika-chan."

"Well, I'd better be going, or I'm gonna be late. I'll see
you tomorrow, okay, Hiro?"

"Yeah. See ya, Mika."

Mamoru left with Mika, showing her out the door before
going to find his mother to let her know he wasn't going to be
there for her party this evening. He wondered, vaguely, why she
insisted on having a party every Saturday night without fail then
shrugged.

"Okaasan?"

"Mamoru-kun. What is it, dear?"

"Motoki and I are going to a party tonight, so I won't be
here, okay?"

"Mamoru, you know I particularly want you here today. We
need someone to look after Kurumi and you're the closest to her
in age."

"I know, Kaasan, but this is the last time I'll be able to
see some of these people for a long time, if ever, and Kurumi
will be here for the next few days, won't she? If you want me to
I'll take her to the zoo, or something, tomorrow."

Kyoko sighed and nodded. At least she thought, he was
going to spend some time with Kurumi. She was such a sweet girl,
and the daughter of one of the Director's in the company. She
would know how to be the perfect wife for Mamoru when he took
over running the company, her mother would make sure of it.
"Okay, Mamoru-kun, you go, and have a good time with your
friends. And say hello to Motoki and that lovely girlfriend of
his for me, okay?"

"Okay, Kaasan. Bye." He kissed his mother and left her to
her thoughts, kicking himself for going so far as to offer to do
something with Kurumi.

It was not going to be fun, but his mother would probably
have found some way to talk him into it anyway since she knew he
hated saying no to her.

He wandered around the ground floor of the mansion, and let
his mind finally return to where it wanted to be. With the
mysterious Princess of his dreams.

He hoped to be able to go out looking that night, leaving
the party as early as he could and cruising through the city,
from shadow to shadow, blending into the night, dressed in the
Tuxedo he was finally beginning to find comfortable. He didn't
know what the odds of finding her in the city, late at night
were, but he had to try at the very least. Maybe he'd even run
into the Sailor Senshi again. He shook his head as he thought of
the female vigilantes who went around saving the people of Tokyo
from youma attacks in between yelling at and fighting each other.
He wasn't sure how safe the city would be if they had to rely on
that group if another enemy like the Negaverse turned up.

He wondered what he'd do if his dreams told him his
Princess was gone.

He had to find her, he didn't want to know what it meant
that she spent all of her time in darkness now, huddled in a
shapeless ball on the ground. He wanted her to stand proudly,
her pale hair gilded by the planet-light that spilt over the
ponds and gardens as she laughed down at him, telling him to
hurry up or they'd be late.

Late to what, he didn't know, nor did he care. All he
wanted was to find his dream Princess.

==========

"Mammoooorrrrruu-saaannn..."

Mamoru looked up as his name was breathlessly drawled into
his ear. He turned to find Jun standing there, smiling
invitingly at him wearing her traditional black. He flicked his
eyes dismissively over the pasted on dress and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"I'm so glad you're here," Jun wriggled a little, trying to
be sexy he supposed, "And you're all alone. How about... I keep
you company?"

"Why don't you find someone else." It wasn't a question
and a startled expression appeared on her face followed by one of
hurt.

"Harsh. Hey, Mamoru-kun, take this." Motoki shoved a
paper cup full of liquid at him and grinned. "Glad you actually
came. Hey, did you here that Ten'ou Haruka-san's here? And
brought this gorgeous friend along, Michiru or something. She's
got this great pair of legs and..."

"Motoki-chan!" Reika whapped her boyfriend on the back of
the head and smiled in apology to Mamoru. "Besides, Michiru-
san's _with_ Haruka-san, so it doesn't matter how good looking
she is."

"Ah... Oh."

"Come on, let's dance." She looked at Mamoru then at Jun,
"Why don't you dance with Jun, Mamoru-san?"

"I don't dance."

"Sure you do. Don't you remember last year at your
mother's Christmas ball you..."

"I don't dance, Motoki-kun."

"Ah... right." Motoki took in the look in his friend's eyes
and then looked for Reika and joined her on the dance floor.

==========

Mamoru did manage to slip out of the party that night as
the two girls who had chosen him as their object of drunken
affection began to bicker amongst themselves. He slipped the
indestructible rose out of his pocket and looking around to make
sure he didn't have company, transformed into his Tuxedo and
leapt to the top of the dorm, running off into the darkness,
jumping from roof to roof, keeping his eyes wide open for sight
of the princess.

He breathed in deeply as he sped through the night and
found himself smiling. He was free, finally to be who he really
was. He looked up at the sickle moon and the silver stars and
his spirit quieted, removed from the hectic life he led as Chiba
Mamoru. He paused on the top of a high-rise building and allowed
his cloak to flutter around him in the breeze as he stood
motionless, watching the velvet skies.

A flicker of light caught his attention and he looked down
to where a battle was taking place in a city street below him.
He made his way closer and nodded. It was the Senshi. And... the
Senshi. He'd seen the two vigilante groups a number of times
during his midnight roaming over the past couple of years since
they had first appeared and was always interested in watching
their fights, they were so... interesting, particularly when they
got together.

Standing in the deep shadows of a doorway he watched
Jupiter's lightening crackle and spark as it headed directly for
Neptune's position. With a graceful spin and slide, she sent a
return attack speeding for one of the other Senshi. Mars and
Venus were taking on Sailor Uranus and Mercury looked like she
was playing with an electronic diary or something.

He snuck his way around the battle keeping to the shadows
and appeared behind the busy Senshi. Stealing closer he managed
to see over her shoulder and discover that it _was_ an electronic
diary though he suspected it was somewhat more powerful than the
type you could pick up any old place.

It was about then that it chose to begin beeping
frantically and Mercury drew her finger across one part of the
'keypad' then spun around in alarm. The electronic diary
disappeared and she took a few quick steps back bringing her arms
up ready to attack.

"Hey, don't mind me, I was just wondering what you were
doing with that... um... electronic thingamee."

"Who are you!"

Tuxedo Kamen bowed deeply swirling his cape with a flourish
and materialising a rose, which he handed to Mercury, "I am Tuxedo
Kamen. And you are Sailor Mercury." He straightened abruptly.
"So what was with the electronic thingy?" He tilted his head to
one side and regarded her curiously. There was fear in her eyes
which was quickly being replaced by anger.

She answered abruptly, "It's my computer. _What_ are you?"

"Merely a masked vigilante, not unlike yourself, I suppose.
I see you still haven't resolved things with Uranus and Neptune.
Such a pity. It does however seem you and the other Inners are
getting along better, that's gotta count for something." He
shook his head with overdone sadness then grinned. "Ah well, it
makes watching you guys interesting."

"Watching...?"

"Oh sure, I remember the first time I saw any of you guys.
You and Venus were taking on a sensei-turned-youma at some
school. Then as soon as you had managed to beat it she left and
you stood there swearing. A most impressive vocab by the way.
Anyway, I'd better be going, nice meeting you finally, Mercury,
I'm sure I'll see you around." With that he leapt upwards and
landed on the roof of a nearby building then disappeared into the
night leaving Mercury standing open mouthed on the ground having
totally forgotten about the analysis she was meant to be running
on the Outer Senshi.

==========

Neptune and Uranus hopped from rooftop to rooftop not
speaking as they moved away from the battle arena where they had
again drawn in the fight with the Inner Senshi. They were lucky
that there was only two of them. If there had been more the
Inner Senshi would have ended up... well, possibly dead.

The animosity between the two Senshi groups had begun at
their first meeting when Neptune had taken a heart crystal from a
young boy and hadn't managed to get it back into him before it
darkened into death. The softhearted Inners had fought on
behalf of the boy but hadn't got very far and the two Outers had
left to continue their search for the Talisman's.

That had been over a year ago and they still hadn't had any
luck and now they had the Sailor StarLights and Sailor Galaxia
to worry about as well. As the Outer Senshi it was their job to
protect what had been the Silver Millennium from outside threats,
which included both the DeathBusters, Galaxia and the Star Lights
and they _still_ hadn't found any of the Talisman's or the
Messiah and they were running out of time. It wouldn't be long
before The Silence would descend. In fact they were lucky it
hadn't already fallen.

The two Senshi stopped and detransformed, their sailor
fukus dissolving into street clothes as they dropped into the
concealing darkness of an alley. Nodding to each other they
walked out onto the street and headed towards the apartment
building that housed their penthouse apartment. Neither of them
spoke until they had walked in the front door when Haruka broke
the silence softly asking a question as she flicked the light
switch.

"Did you see it?"

"You mean that guy who was talking to Mercury for a while?"

"Mm. I think he's... well someone we knew before."

"He did look familiar."

"Like the Princess' Love."

"The what?"

"I'm not sure but that's what came to mind. The Princess'
Love. I wonder if he knows where the Princess is?"

"If we see him again we'll have to ask him. After all the
Princess may know where the Talisman's are... for that matter he
may."

"I do think we need to talk to him." Haruka smiled a small
smile that didn't reach her eyes and taking Michiru's hand led
her through into the bedroom. "But for now we should probably
get some rest. After all you've got that concert tomorrow and
you want to look your best."

Michiru smiled at her lover. "I guess so."

The two walked into the bedroom closing the door behind
them.

==========

Mamoru opened an eye the next morning with a groan and a
hand emerged from beneath his covers and made it's way towards
the alarm clock that had interrupted the first dreamless sleep he
had had for many a night. His palm fell heavily on the sleep
button and he buried his face back in his pillow closing his eyes
and sighing. Why had he put the alarm on? It was a holiday.
Then his brain shut down once more as he drifted back into the
darkness of sleep.

Half an hour later someone shook him awake.

"Mamoru, 'kaasan says you have to get u-up." Hiro spoke
directly into his ear without modulating his voice. It was his
lot in life to torment the older brother he idolised.

Mamoru groaned and swatted at Hiro with his hand as he
would have at a fly. "Go 'way."

"C'mon, Mamoru, rise and shine and all that. 'Kaasan says
you have to get up now. Kurumi-san's coming over in a while and
she says you have to be ready."

"Aahh? Who?"

"Kurumi-san, you know, that girl who's been trying to get
you to ask her out, Honjo-san's daughter? You said you'd take
her to the zoo." Hiro snickered. "You have to get up, Mamoru."

Mamoru lifted his head and glared at Hiro. He didn't
remember anything of the kind. Why on Earth would he have said
he'd take her to the zoo when he didn't like her in the least and
was, in fact, one of the more annoying females he had met lately?
She couldn't compare to Jun from last night but she came close.
It was the recollection of last night that triggered the
recollection of his conversation with his mother earlier when he
had said, off-handedly, that he would take her to the zoo. He
sighed. His mother had obviously taken things into her own
hands. He wished she wouldn't do that.

Sighing, Mamoru pushed himself up onto his hands and turned
until he was in a sitting position. He ran his hands through his
hair and scrubbed at his face before turning to Hiro again.
"Okay, you can tell 'Kaasan I'll be down in a while."

Hiro nodded and skipped out of the room, disgustingly
cheerful and wide-eyed.

Mamoru winced as the door slammed shut and slowly worked
his way to the bathroom wishing he hadn't stayed out so late
looking for the princess and wishing, even more, that he hadn't
gone and set himself up for this thing with Kurumi which she
would probably end up calling a date and Mamoru would end up
calling incredibly boring, a waste of time and something he would
not want to do again under any circumstances. He turned the
shower on and waited till it was warm enough before stepping
under the fall of water and slouching as he scrubbed himself
clean.

Exiting the shower long minutes later he roughly dried his
hair and folded the towel around his waist, stepping back out
into his bedroom. He was a few steps into the room when he heard
the small gasp that came from his bed.

He turned and found himself looking blankly at Kurumi.

"Oh, Ohaiyo, Kurumi-chan, can I help you?"

"Ah, n-no..." Kurumi trailed off and stared at him.

Mamoru frowned and wondered why she was staring, surely he
wasn't that bad. He looked down at his chest to see if
everything was where he had left it. Yup, so what was the
problem? He glanced over at Kurumi again and finally noticed the
rosy blush on her cheeks and the embarrassed, excited look in her
eyes. Oh. His expression froze and he gave Kurumi a cold look.

"I need to get dressed, so if you could leave?" Mamoru
gestured towards the door and Kurumi nodded, her colour rising
further as she stood up and walked towards the door, stumbling a
little at one point but finally managing to make her way out.
She closed the door softly after her and Mamoru heard her lean
back against the door for a long moment before heading off down
the hallway.

Mamoru shook his head and sighed. Well at least he could
use today to get rid of her. Cold looked like it would work with
perhaps a slight tinge of mockery thrown in. He'd have to be
careful though that his mother didn't find out.

The pains of being attractive yet unattracted to any member
of the opposite sex. Not, of course, that he was attracted to
members of the same sex.

Mamoru threw on a shirt and pants and combed his hair
before going to see if he could find breakfast. Spending the day
with Kurumi would be bad enough on a full stomach, he didn't even
want to think about it without one.

==========

The sun was shining brightly, birds were singing and
somewhere Mamoru could hear the screams of monkeys. Kurumi
walked happily next to him, an ice cream cone held in one of her
hands and Mamoru's arm in the other.

"This is so great. Thanks for inviting me, Mamoru-san, I've
always liked the zoo."

Mamoru looked down at her disgustedly. How could she be so
cheerful? And nothing he had done had made her lose heart.
There had been a couple of times when he had seen her expression
fall into despair but then she had rallied. He sighed. It
looked like this would end up with him just telling her straight
out to go away.

Fortunately they had almost been around the entire zoo
which meant he could now take her home and forget all about her.

Unfortunately Motoki and Reika were also at the zoo.

"Hey, Mamoru-kun! What are you doing here?" Motoki
clapped a hand on Mamoru's shoulder and practically yelled in his
ear.

Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "I should think that would be
obvious. I'm visiting the zoo."

Motoki laughed and looked down at his companion. "Hey!
You're that girl I met the other day at Mamoru's place." He sent
a confused glance up at Mamoru.

Kurumi blushed furiously remembering what she had been
doing when he had seen her.

"Ohaiyo, Mamoru-san."

"Ohaiyo, Reika-san."

"I thought you said you weren't interested in..." Motoki
stopped before going any further as he realised just how tactless
that statement, if completed, would be.

"I'm not."

"So what are the two of you doing here?" Reika asked as
she worked out what those two statements had been about and hoped
that Kurumi had been too busy being embarrassed to work it out
for herself.

"Visiting."

"So are we. Reika-chan dragged me along 'cause there's
this bug exhibition she wanted to see." Motoki made a face.

"You did?" Kurumi spoke up for the first time, her eyes
wide as she stared at Reika. She herself shivered each time she
saw a bug and had waited outside while Mamoru had gone into the
bug exhibit. She had spent half an hour wondering what anyone
saw in them until Mamoru finally came out. She didn't think the
exhibit would have been that big or that Mamoru would have been
interested enough to spend all that time there but if he had
friends who were interested in them maybe that's why he'd spent
so long in there.

"Yes."

"Reika-chan's an entomologist. She _loves_ bugs."

"Well, they're really very interesting animals. And sooo
cute," Reika giggled as Kurumi sent her an aghast look and Mamoru
and Motoki glanced at each other with raised eyebrows before
shrugging.

"By the way, Mamoru-san, are you going to introduce us to
your friend?"

"Oh, right. This is Honjo Kurumi. Kurumi-chan, this is
Furuhata Motoki and Ginga Reika."

The three bowed to each other.

"It's nice to meet you, Kurumi-chan."

"Ah, you too, Ginga-san."

Reika smiled. "Call me Reika."

Kurumi nodded. "Reika-san."

"And although we weren't introduced last time it's nice to
meet again, Kurumi-chan." Motoki smiled at her and she blushed.

"H-hai, Furuhata-san."

"If you can call her Reika, you can call me Motoki."

Kurumi nodded shyly and they all turned back to Mamoru who
was staring at something across the other side of the exhibit
they were standing next to.

"Mamoru-kun? Mamoru?"

Mamoru turned his head back towards Motoki. "Hunh?"

"What were you looking at?"

Mamoru frowned slightly, "I'm not sure." A flash of gold
caught his eye and his heart leapt, "Wait here will you."

Without waiting for an answer Mamoru took off running
quickly past the pits and cages full of prowling animals and
happy families.

His heart was beating faster than the run warranted
but... but that girl, her profile looked like the princess'. He
picked up his speed and rounded the corner and stopped looking
around the area wildly searching for the person he had glimpsed.

Children's laughter echoed in his ears and the gaudy
colours of their clothing jarred in Mamoru's eyes as he searched
desperately but there was no one there. She had gone.

Mamoru bowed his head and drew in a deep breath and let it
out again slowly. He drew his hand down his face. He stood
irresolute for a few moments then turned and walked slowly back
to his friends and self-styled date.

==========

"Hey!"

Tuxedo Kamen whirled around at the shout but saw nothing
until two figures seemingly dropped from the sky to land directly
in front of him. He took an involuntary step backwards then
steadied himself and looked at Sailor's Uranus and Neptune
impassively through his mask.

Neptune began to prowl around him as Uranus kept her gaze
locked on his. Tuxedo Kamen's eyes glinted. He wasn't about to
let himself be intimidated by a couple of the bickering Senshi,
especially not when that seemed to be exactly what they wanted.
Neptune stopped in a position at the corner of his eyes and then
Uranus opened her mouth to speak.

"Who are you?"

Tuxedo Kamen allowed his lips to curve upwards, "Hmm. I
wondered why you and the Inners didn't get along very well.
Obviously it's because you're so similar. I am Tuxedo Kamen."
He took in the flash of anger that passed through Uranus' dark
blue eyes and the sudden abortive movement of Neptune towards him
before she controlled herself. His grin widened.

"_What_ are you? I don't really care what your name is."

"Yes, very similar," Tuxedo Kamen murmured. "Just a person
who happens to wear a mask and runs around the city for no
particular reason."

Uranus' eyes narrowed.

"Where is the Princess?"

His head swung around to look at Neptune, the smug look on
his face disappearing. His eyes searched hers for a long minute
before he collected himself. "Princess?"

"Mm. And don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking
about because you obviously do." Neptune took a step closer and
gave him a look that said quite clearly 'Tell me, or else.'

The trio stood in silence as Tuxedo Kamen considered his
answer and finally spoke. "I know there _is_ a Princess. But as
to whether she is the same princess you're looking for or where
she is, I don't know."

The two Outer Senshi looked at each other and Neptune gave
an almost invisible nod of her head. Then they spun around and
leapt off the building leaving a parting statement, half-promise,
half-threat and Tuxedo Kamen stood unmoving for a few moments, a
thoughtful look in his shadowed eyes before he too left the
vicinity.

==========

Mamoru dreamed again that night when he finally managed to
fall asleep but this dream was different. There was no princess
in this one, no sense of urgency, just power.

He found himself sitting in a cavern, with a sphere of
light hovering in midair, shining off the damp walls and drops of
water falling from the roof to hit the floor. As they hit small
crystal sounds echoed through the shadows around the edge of the
cavern, rebounding back, again and again. He listened to the
resulting symphony that washed through the centre of the room
causing tiny silver waves to form on the black water of a pool
that sat directly under the hovering light.

He looked across the pool at the figure on the other side
and waited for...something. He had been called here to this
place by the small white-haired lady and had come, unsure why he
was here and nervous to be in the presence of such a legendary
figure. Light glinted off the golden tiara that sat on her
forehead as she lifted her head to look at him. Her lips moved
but he could hear nothing. He watched her lips and there were
times when he could hear what she was saying but the words made
no sense.

The lips stopped moving and he looked up in surprise to
find his eyes captured by sharp, brown eyes, which told of a life
long and hard. A spark of power burst from those eyes, lanced
the short distance across the black pool and came to hover in
front of him. Still unsure, his eyes left the light and saw the
lady gesturing for him to look into the pool.

He did and was drawn into a whirlpool, falling, falling
until there was nothing except the darkness surrounding him,
suffocating him and filling him, threatening to explode and merge
so all would be black until he didn't exist and only he existed,
falling...

Then, abruptly, his descent stopped...

==========

The fire flickered and sparked within the confines of the
wood it did not burn. A lick of fire danced upwards, curling
towards the ceiling of the room set aside for it, empty of all
furniture. A young woman knelt in front of the wooden grate with
her hands held before her, index fingers pointing in the same
direction as the flame. A low chant came from her throat as she
called on the Sacred Flame and Mars to give her some insight into
the new player.

Hino Rei had vaguely felt his presence at times over the
past two years but he had never revealed himself before, this
masked man who wore a tuxedo. If he was an enemy, he was a
clever and cautious one, having avoided their attention for so
long, but she didn't think he was an enemy. He felt familiar,
almost as if she had known him in her previous life.

So now she knelt here to find what she could. She
suspected Mercury was doing the same using that little computer
of hers. It was strange of her to think a computer could
discover something the Sacred Fire could not. It might be good
for analysing information but divination wasn't one of it's
functions.

Rei's stare went past the surface of the fire as she
dropped into a light trance. She followed the pathways of rising
air and burning oxygen, marvelling as always, at the tiny flecks
of light that indicated the breaking and joining of molecules.
Then she looked deeper, past the physical to the spiritual. To
the place in the flame and inside herself where lay the mysteries
of the universe.

She sent out a question and listened carefully for an
answer.

A dancing vision of a masked figure dressed in a cape
appeared silhouetted in the fire. Around the figure, just
visible against the warm colour of the flames was a very slight
silver aura.

Another question was sent but no more answers were given.
The fire kept secrets from her and this was one she was not
permitted to know at this time. Stubborn though she knew she
could be, the flame had the patience of millennia and would bide
it's time until it was ready to divulge what it would, a lesson
hard-learned since she'd first knelt here so many years ago. The
Sacred Fire could not be forced.

Rei left the trance and took a deep breath as she re-
entered the world outside the fire. Turning away from it's
light, she noticed that while she had been immersed in trance-
state, darkness had fallen.

Her grandfather stood in the door watching her with a
frown.

"It's not good to spend that much time in the Fire, Rei-
chan."

"I-I know, Ojiisan, I hadn't meant to. I'll be more
careful in future."

The old man nodded. "Good. Your meal is waiting for you."

Rei stood and almost lost her balance as the blood began to
circulate more freely throughout her limbs. She righted herself
and followed her grandfather out of the room, respectfully
sliding the door shut behind her, leaving the flame to fight the
shadows that came with the night.

As she stepped onto the walkway that led to the kitchen, a
smile appeared on her face. A silver aura meant the Silver
Millennium. She had something to work on.

==========

Seiya pulled the microphone closer to his mouth and
signalled to the soundman behind the window. On an unseen,
unheard cue, the three musicians in the recording studio began
the song in tandem. It had always been that way for them, the
link that came from blood allowing them to move in harmony when
they wished to.

As Seiya began to sing he felt the chords of energy from
his brothers gather in the music and sent out his own. He shaped
the chords with word and song to be recorded and so their message
would eventually reach it's intended recipient.

"I've always been looking for your sweet smell,
to convey my voice. (I love you)
Where are you now? (Moonlight Princess)
Our Princess
Answer me right away (Answer for me)
Answer me gently (Answer for me)"

The energy the three brothers spun held the production crew
spell-bound, their hearts captured by the unheard message that
was not meant for them, but somehow they could hear the longing
behind the words. Seiya almost smiled. Letting these humans be
here during the recording, the spinning of their magic, was
dangerous, it could lead to their unmasking. Though the chords
were subtle they were strong enough to attract attention and
would be felt if any of these humans had the slightest
sensitivity to magic.

And even worse would be if one of their enemies was
somewhere in the vicinity.

The strain of the magical weaving began to make itself
known as Seiya continued to sing the song written for a Princess.
The energy kept coming, flowing in streaks of silver and rust
from his brothers. He tied another knot, twisting a chord into a
plea for help, a plea for revelation as the lyrics' meaning
veered off from that of the underlying message.

"Search for your love, crystal of the universe
Search for your love, don't cry for me
Search for your love, as a matter of fact
I love to hold you tightly."

Seiya was sweating now with the effort of keeping the
energy controlled without breaking off the song. Fortunately it
was nearing the end. Seiya spun a final question.

"Where are you now? (Moonlight Princess)
Our Princess
Answer me right away (Answer for me)
Answer me gently (Answer for me)"

"Answer me right away (Answer for me)
Answer me gently (Answer for me)"

The music drifted to silence and Seiya slowly let go of the
chords of magic, letting them settle into stillness.

"Well done. That was great. A couple more takes tomorrow
for touch ups and we'll be ready to go. Your album's going to be
a hit!"

Seiya glanced towards the sound booth and sent a tired
smile and thumbs up towards their producer. As Yaten came up
beside him, followed by Taiki, Seiya removed his headphones and
laid them gently over the microphone that hung from the ceiling.
A hand was laid on his shoulder as Taiki gave what support he
could to his exhausted sibling before heading for the studio's
door.

Taking a taxi back to their apartment the trio was silent,
each dwelling on the same hope that none of them were willing to
voice for fear that it would disappear. Looking for a Princess
they had never met before on a planet with a population of over 5
billion would not be easy. And convincing her to help three
strangers from a distant solar system wouldn't be too easy
either.

==========

Mamoru walked aimlessly down the sidewalk his mind half on
the concrete beneath his shoes and the other half on the
Princess, as it always was now. It was as if knowing that the
time was running out it would not let a second be wasted in
pursuit of her. Everywhere he went he looked for that glimpse of
gold that could be her, and every time he spun someone around to
check if it was, his heart sank a little further. Sometimes he
wondered if she really existed.

Then he would remember the almost memory-like clarity of
the dreams and his meeting with the Outer Senshi. She was real,
she just couldn't be found.

He sighed and looked up to see where his demented musings
had brought him. He stared up the road that he was sure led to
nowhere and turned to head back when he came face-to-face with a
set of stairs that led up to a Shinto shrine.

Ah, the Hikawa Shrine. He pondered for a moment then
shrugged and took the first step upwards. It wasn't as if he had
anything better to do and maybe the kami would look upon his
request for help favourably.

He knelt before the shrine, pulled the red and white rope
that led to the prayer bell and clasped his hands in front of
him, ignoring the dreamy sigh from the girl who was kneeling next
to him. He let his mind wander for a few moments until he heard
the girl ring the bell and get up from beside him to move away
from the shrine.

"Hey, you wanna work at my shrine?"

Mamoru opened an eye and turned till he could see what was
happening out of the corner of one eye.

The notorious shrine priest appeared in front of the girl
who gave a small shriek and lifted her hand to her breast,
letting out a slow breath. She shook her head wildly and began
inching her way past the tiny man who regretfully let her go.

Mamoru turned back to his shrine and sent a whispered
prayer out to whoever was listening.

"Please, let me find my princess before it's too late."

He remained in position for a little longer to convince
whoever was watching of his sincerity then levered himself to his
feet. As he turned, someone screamed. A shot could be heard and
Mamoru turned to find one of the shrine's worshippers falling
unconscious to the ground, a sparkling heart crystal arcing
through the air to fall to the ground. He saw the dark-haired
shrine maiden run off and he sighed. A redhead carrying a gun
headed across the courtyard towards the crystal. Mamoru felt a
twinge of conscience and sighed again, shifting into his tuxedo
with a thought.

"The pure hearts of those who believe in a higher power
shouldn't go to something that doesn't! I am Bishoujo Senshi
Sailor Mars and in the name of the planet Mars, I will punish
you!"

Tuxedo Kamen shook his head. Those delaying tactics were
getting old, the Senshi were lucky anyone or anything actually
stood still for them anymore. A rose materialised in his hand
and he fired it across the space between himself and the woman
who he had heard referred to as Eudial by the Senshi.

The rose struck her hand and the gun fell from it as she
swung around with a cry of pain. She saw Mars and powered up her
attack.

"WITCHY EUDIAL FIRE BUSTER!"

Mars dodged to the side allowing the blast of energy to fly
past her as she called up her own powers in answer.

"BURNING MANDALA!"

The three other Inner Senshi arrived as Eudial blocked the
attack. They went immediately into magical girl poses and were
about to begin spouting speeches when a daimon appeared.

"Get them!" Eudial shouted pointing at the fuku-clad
Senshi before she headed back towards the crystal.

Unfortunately for her the Outer Senshi had managed to get
there first after having appeared out of nowhere. They grabbed
the crystal and left, heading into the trees that bordered the
courtyard, a Eudial flushed in anger heading after them.

A battle had begun between the Senshi and the daimon and it
was one that the Senshi would win so Tuxedo Kamen decided to
follow the crystal. He ran past the staggering daimon and leapt
into the trees, bounding from branch to branch as he struggled to
keep Eudial in view.

She came to a small clearing and stopped to watch Sailor's
Uranus and Neptune as they stood looking down at the crystal in
disgust.

"It's not one of the Talismans."

"No." The two looked at each other and Neptune nodded in
answer to a query in her partner's eyes.

Eudial headed back towards the shrine, not bothering to try
and confirm the Senshi's statement. She knew as well as anyone
involved in this that the Outer Senshi were willing to do
anything to get their hands on the Talismans, so if they said
that wasn't one of them you could be sure it wasn't.

Neptune held the crystal more carefully as they followed
Eudial back through the trees, though they didn't seem to notice
her.

Interesting, they were going to return the heart crystal.
They obviously weren't as cold-hearted as they seemed.

Tuxedo Kamen shrugged out of his Tuxedo and jumped to the
ground to begin the trip back to home for lunch. Or maybe he'd
stop in at the Crown Fruit Parlour to visit Motoki. He ran his
hand through his hair and sighed. Decisions.

==========

Makoto wandered around the park, bored. She had been
planning to attend the Three Lights autograph signing in the
park, which was why she was there, but had changed her mind when
she caught a glimpse of the crowd. The idol group would only be
there for a short while so there was no way everyone would get an
autograph.

Besides she already had each of their autographs since they
went to Juuban High School, the same as her.

She went to the railing bordering the pond, leaned against
it with her face turned up to the sky, and wondered what she
would do now. She was tempted to call Ami, but she was probably
studying, as usual, and Makoto really didn't know her well enough
to intrude on that. And the only other person she could call and
ask to hang out would be her best friend, Shinozaki, but he lived
too far away.

Looking across at the crowds again she let her eyes roam at
will, occasionally picking out a cute guy, most of whom were
standing well to the back of the group, and debated briefly on
whether to introduce herself. She shrugged off the thought and
went back to her contemplation of the sky. She just didn't feel
like keeping up the pretence today, and since no one was there to
notice she didn't have to.

Swiping a stem of grass from one of the overgrown clumps
the gardener had somehow missed, she stuck it in her mouth,
chewing absently on the end. It would be great if a daimon
attacked just now. At least then she'd have something to do.

Unfortunately, attacks occurred every few days, _never_
twice in one day. Still, she could dream.

And sometimes, just sometimes, dreams even came true.

A scream issued from the crowd around the Three Lights as a
daimon grabbed one of the cuter guys she had noticed previously.
Eudial, standing nearby, shot the guy and a heart crystal popped
out of his chest. The witch looked at it and shook her head,
tossing it onto the ground beside her victim as she aimed her gun
at the next victim her daimon had managed to grab.

The crowd began to panic, people beginning to run in all
directions, generally away from the fighting. Those few who
stayed in an attempt to be heroic found themselves facing a trio
of daimons that sprang up amongst the milling crowds, causing
more chaos. More often than not, the heroic became victims
themselves.

Makoto shook off the stupor caused by the change of tactics
and looked around to see if she was observed before holding her
transformation pen aloft.

"JUPITER STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!"

A flash of green light and Sailor Jupiter was running
towards the churning crowd, her communicator held to her mouth as
she called the other Senshi.

She ran into the streams of people and forced herself
through the mass, running against the current, stopping every few
seconds to get her bearings.

Suddenly she burst through the invisible line that marked
the end of the crowds and found herself in the perfect position
to get a clear shot at Eudial. Crossing her arms in front of her
chest the powers Jupiter had granted her began to flow through
her body. Static electricity raised the fine hairs on her arms
and sent her ponytail into disarray.

"SPARKLING..."

The electricity poured down her arms and gathered in her
palms.

"WIDE..."

She drew her hands to the side.

"PRESSURE!"

She sent her hands forward and the ball of electricity went
flying towards Eudial.

"STAR SERIOUS LASER!"

A second attack swept through the park towards Eudial who
looked around, an expression of horror growing on her face as she
saw both energy attacks converge. Taking a quick step backwards,
she disappeared in a sparkle of light, leaving the two bolts of
energy to combine from two different directions and continue on
to gouge a path of destruction through the trees unlucky enough
to be in it's way.

Sailor Jupiter ignored the proof that pointed to a new
player in this game she played and sprinted to where the victims
lay unconscious, their heart crystals tossed carelessly next to
them.

She picked one up and was momentarily diverted when the
sunlight struck the crystal, bringing out the amazing amethyst
colour in it's depths. Shaking off the hypnotic effects, she
placed it on the chest of it's owner and watched as it dissolved
back into his chest.

"What's going on?" A voice spoke behind her and she looked
up to see a trio of scantily clad women in leather watching her
in puzzlement.

The one with silver hair and cat-like green eyes nodded and
sent another few questions her way. "Yeah, who was that and what
was she doing? And for that matter, who are you?"

Jupiter moved on to the next victim as she began talking,
wanting to restore the heart crystals as fast as possible.

"That was the witch Eudial, she's trying to get people's
heart crystals. And I am Sailor Jupiter and I'm one of those
trying to stop her..."

"And I am Sailor Mars, another of those trying to stop her.
Who are you?" The red-clad Senshi asked, her arms crossed over
her breast, having arrived in time to hear the conversation. At
her side stood Sailor's Venus and Mercury, each of them watching
the trio suspiciously.

"I am Sailor StarFighter, this is Sailor StarHealer and
this is Sailor StarMaker." The black-haired StarLight pushed a
stray curl of hair behind her ear and shrugged. "We are the
Sailor StarLights."

"Sailor StarLights? Okay then, _what_ are you doing here?"

"That is our business." StarMaker snapped before stepping
forward to whisper to StarFighter.

She nodded and the three turned and left, leaping away and
disappearing into one of the stands of trees that was intact.
The Sailor Senshi stared after them. Another enemy? Or possible
allies? They would have to wait and see.

==========

Stopping within the confines of the trees, the Sailor
StarLights faced each other.

"Well?"

"I don't know. Sailor Senshi I can believe, but what's
with this heart crystal thing?" StarHealer asked.

"Heart Crystals. I... think I've heard of them." StarMaker
stood in contemplative silence and tried to recall what she had
heard until an impatient StarHealer whacked her on the shoulder.

"Well, come on. What?"

"Weeelll, if I remember rightly, if a heart crystal is pure
enough, if it is empty enough of things like hate and envy and
all those negative emotions, then there is room for other things
to be stored in them. Most of those things were items of power
and they were stored within the heart crystals. To keep them
safe from the Hands of Evil, I suppose."

Her two companions mulled this over for a few moments.

"So that probably means that... that Eudial that Sailor
Jupiter was telling us about is evil? And that she's looking for
one of these items of power?"

"Most likely."

"I doesn't matter," StarFighter spoke and looked up at the
other two. "It doesn't matter what she's looking for. We have
_one_ job to do and we can't get sidetracked fighting battles
that _this_ planet's Senshi should be fighting. We're here to
find the Princess and until we do, nothing else matters."

StarMaker and StarHealer nodded their heads slowly in
agreement before they all turned to walk out of the park, their
resolve restored to it's rightful place once more.

==========

A rustling came from behind one of the bushes close to
where the StarLights had been talking and StarFighter turned her
head briefly to investigate before taking a few quick steps to
catch up to the other two and moving out of the range of sight.

Sailor Uranus let out a breath and stood, berating herself
for having moved before it was time. She turned her head and
looked at her partner who was rising to stand beside her, her
gaze still fastened on the spot where the leather-clad trio had
disappeared.

"So, the StarLights have finally met the Inners."

"And won't interfere."

"They're looking for the Princess."

Neptune turned her troubled, blue eyes upwards. "Yes, but
is it _our_ Princess or another?"

"I suppose we'll find out when the Princess is found. I
expect, however, that it is our Princess. Everyone else seems to
be looking for her, so why not the StarLights as well?"

The two Outer Senshi let their transformations dissolve and
began to stroll through the park, heading in the general
direction of the gates.

"I'll tell you one thing though, Michiru-chan. They were
right about Eudial looking for one of those items of power. She,
like us, still hasn't found any of the Talisman's."

==========

Eudial stepped into the Tomoe Mansion's basement laboratory
and made her way to where the Professor would be working on his
daimons. She walked confidently, trying to ignore the snicker
that came from the side as Mimete watched her head past. The
blonde witch was next in line for Eudial's position and was
looking forward to the death that would clear the way for her.
Eudial, however, was determined not to die and she had a plan
that should tell them exactly who had the three Talismans.

She stepped into the Professor's line of sight and stopped,
frowning, as she noticed he was not alone.

A tall woman dressed in a stylised, metallic Senshi uniform
stood in front of him, a smirk gracing her beautiful face.
Professor Tomoe was nodding.

Eudial stalked up.

"Who are you?" She stopped beside the Professor and glared
at the woman.

A languid hand made a dismissing motion and the sienna eyes
flashed in amusement. "I am called Sailor Galaxia. And you,
Eudial, shall be working for me from now on and it shall be Chaos
not Silence that we, all of us, strive for."

Galaxia's lips rose in a sweet smile as she captured
Eudial's eyes. The red-haired witch gasped and tried to break
the eye contact, but Galaxia did not release her until _she_ was
ready, and when Eudial finally looked away, she found Galaxia
surrounded by a group of Senshi, none of whom wore what she
considered to be the typical uniform. She took a step backwards
and looked again towards Galaxia, understanding appearing in her
eyes; she wasn't stupid.

Galaxia's smile remained in place as she held out her
hands, indicating that Eudial should place hers within them. The
witch stepped forward and shivered as her skin came into contact
with the other woman. She gasped as two golden bracelets
appeared about her wrists, both engraved with a red-gold star.
Power moved through her in quantities she had only dreamt of, yet
she could sense that it was only lent to her, Galaxia channelling
it to her through the bracelets that were proof of her change in
loyalty.

She nodded to Galaxia who released her wrists, allowing her
to step backwards. A flash in the Senshi's palms caught her eye
and she looked down to see a small dark red, hexagonal crystal
sitting in her palms. She looked up.

"Your StarSeed. Without it you cannot live, unless you
wear my bracelets."

Anger, quickly smothered poured through Eudial's veins and
she clenched her hands, fighting not to lunge for what was hers.
She knew Sailor Galaxia could kill her if she so chose and would,
were she not to agree to this exchange. She bowed her head in
acquiescence and relaxed.

At the very least, she hoped Mimete would put up a fight
resulting in her being obliterated. Inwardly she smiled at the
thought, complaisance restored.

"Good. You are wise not to fight it. How many of your
colleagues will prove as wise, I wonder?"

The Golden Senshi's smile became a smirk as she motioned
her subordinates to move through the mansion and collect all of
it's occupants so they could come and greet their new mistress.

==========

Mamoru leaned against the table, a small cup of coffee
teaming in front of him as he waited for Motoki to finish with
the latest customer. As soon as he did he was finished with work
for the day and the two of them were heading for the virtual
reality centre for the evening.

Reika was off at some lecture and Mamoru had needed an
excuse not to see Kurumi. At least his mother was finally
getting the message that he wasn't interested, even if Kurumi was
still a little lost. And Motoki had finally stopped teasing him
about the trip to the zoo, though he still hadn't stopped asking
about why Mamoru had run off the way he had.

Mamoru sighed and ran a hand through his hair, not noticing
the admiring glances being sent his way by the female occupants
of the Crown Fruit Parlour.

It was all he could do not to cry when he thought about the
Princess these days. He hadn't dreamt about her for a week, his
dreams now being full of the cave, the old woman and the
sensation of falling. Did that mean she was gone? That it was
already too late?

He rested his elbows on the table and his forehead against
his palms, digging his fingers into his scalp as a distraction
from his increasingly hopeless thoughts.

He jumped when Motoki slapped him on the shoulder, glaring
up at his cheerful friend before standing. Motoki had taken off
the apron that was his uniform and stood ready to head off.

Mamoru stood and, shrugging at Motoki's vaguely questioning
glance, headed out of the building, his sandy-haired friend
tagging along behind.

"What's up, Mamoru-kun?"

"Hunh? Oh, nothing."

After a few seconds of pregnant silence, Mamoru turned his
face towards Motoki and raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"I wanna know what's wrong? And don't tell me nothing.
We've been friends long enough for me to know it's something.
And it's been going on for a while now. So what's up?"

His friend was more observant than he'd given him credit
for, but he couldn't tell him. He'd either be considered crazy,
which he probably did already, come to think of it, or Motoki
would take it as a sign he needed a girlfriend and do more about
it than he already was.

"It's not something I want to talk about. I don't think
it's something I _can_ talk about, so just leave it, okay?"

Green eyes weighed his words then reluctantly agreed to his
wishes though the concern within them grew.

==========

Tellu paced the office she shared with her fellow Witches
and frowned at the other group that had just moved in. The
Sailor Animates, they called themselves, and each of them wore
bracelets similar to her own and a variation on the Sailor Senshi
uniform.

Ever since they'd arrived both privacy and space had become
rarer and more valuable. To her at least. She'd always
appreciated the chance to get away from it all and think,
something that was almost impossible, what with the noisy
additions to the room.

Sailor Iron Mouse was skimming through a magazine she had
stolen from Mimete's desk, not that the blonde would need it
anymore. Her body, it's StarSeed gone, now lay somewhere in
Professor Tomoe's underground laboratory with the remains of the
daimon project and the things they had gathered for the coming
Silence.

An event that looked less and less likely to occur the
longer Queen Galaxia held sway here. Already, Eudial had been
sent out with Iron Mouse to begin learning what she needed for
their revised mission.

It didn't surprise Tellu that Eudial had switched sides
with such ease, her conscience not bothering her in the least.
The redhead had been interested in survival over and above her
desire for power. With the coming of Galaxia and her turning,
she would retain her status and what power she could, now that
they were all essentially slaves to Galaxia's will.

Eudial had also been one of the more intelligent members of
the almost-team. Tellu knew she was _the_ most intelligent, but
she could appreciate the same traits in others and it was
definitely a trait Mimete had lacked. She just hadn't realised,
in time, that Galaxia was a trifle too powerful for her, for any
of them, to handle.

"Would you like some tea, Tellu-san?"

Tellu looked up at Sailor Aluminium Siren who was holding
out a steaming porcelain cup, her smile as sweet and vacant as
ever.

Taking the cup from Aluminium Siren with a nod of thanks,
Tellu considered the blue-haired Sailor Senshi, wondering how she
managed to retain her sanity when she was ordered to collect
heart crystals. She didn't seem like the sort of person who
would take something from someone if it meant their lives would
end.

Tellu paused, the cup half-way to her mouth as she recalled
what she had just thought.

Sanity.

Come to think of it, there was nothing to indicate the
lovely Senshi had anything left upstairs at all.

Ah well.

The phone on Tellu's desk rang. Picking it up, she heard
the pleasant voice of her new mistress echoing through the wires.

Tellu, Come.

A dial tone sounded and Tellu blinked before hanging up
slowly. A summons was not something one generally wanted to be
at the end of, especially when it was that abrupt. Tellu stood
up and swallowed the last of the tea from her cup. She walked
thoughtfully to the door and down the corridor to the broom
closet that had been converted into a dimensional portal, leading
to Galaxia's lair.

Closing the door behind her, a light flashed brightly and
the next thing she knew she was standing before Galaxia's smokey,
crystalline throne, watching the golden woman's fingers tapping a
slow rhythm against the armrest.

==========