Title: In The Arms of the Enemy Formerly titled "I promise". Chapter 4. Author: ChibiMercury Email: Puppy65221@aol.com Rating: Not for children with weak stomachs. "Pluto," Sailormoon cried, "what can we do? This Ojka is too strong; stronger than the Sailorsenshi!" And she was. Ojka had the capability to store energy, and release it with such force that all of Tokyo shook, and many died. Some disintegrated upon the blast, those who did were lucky. Others, such as Mercury, hadn't had it so easy, as they died a more slow and painful death. They had all witnessed it, and none of them understood it, none of them could finish their greiving, their mourning. In the arms of the enemy. Pluto looked across the senshi into the starry night. A quick breeze was softly blowing and it rustled her long green hair across her thoughtful face. She looked like a statue that you see in museums from the primitive times, and perhaps a statue had been modeled from her, but beyond that, they had problems in the twentieth century. You see, the problem was that she K N E W this would happen. That was the problem with being keeper of time. You knew everything, whether you wanted to or not. She already knew the results of this hostility. And she wasn't quite sure she liked them. "Ojka has displeased Him," Pluto replied after a moment of thought; she wasn't sure what to tell the senshi yet; if she said the wrong thing, she could alter the future... again. And it took a hell of a lot time to fix those mistakes, "he will soon tire of her and dispatch a new warrior." She heard one of them sigh... with relief? The young band of women soldiers, none of them over twenty years of age. Each so innocent in her ways, none knew the hardships or pain that one could endure. Although they assumed that because they had saved the world, that they had died at least a dozen times, because they couldn't lead "Normal" lives, they knew pain. Yet the didn't. Woo, boy, they didn't even know the beginning of it. "And this new woman, will she be weaker than Ojka?" "He is a man. And he is double the power of Ojka. You will need to train extra hard to over come these new evils. Ojka will seem like fly buzzing around your nose compared to the new general. He will begin his mission on Friday." "DOUBLE??!?!!?" It was Sailorvenus, "DOUBLE?!?! I can't train that hard! Besides, what about George???? AND FRIDAY?!?!" Sailor Venus gasped, "GEORGE AND I ARE GOING TO THE MOVIES THEN!! YOU can't break up my date so I can save the world! Let the world look after itself for an evening! Don't I deserve a day off!?!?!" She heard the other senshi nod in half agreement. Venus's ignorant remark rang in her ear. Minako didn't want to protect the world from her boyfriend; much less, and man who didn't even like her. It was so horribly unrealistic. Stuff like that shouldn't be true. It was then that Sailorpluto broke down, "DON'T YOU GET IT?? IT'S A TRICK. JEOJ DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU! HE'S ONLY INTERESTED IN HIS CRYSTAL. YOU'RE SO DENSE! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. HE'LL KILL YOU TO GET WHAT HE WANTS. HE'S ONLY INTERESTED IN HIS CRYSTAL!! PLEASE, SENSHI, UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ALL A LIE. EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS NO LONGER!!!!! HE DOESN'T CARE!! HE ONLY WANTS HIS CRYSTAL!!!" She repeated this over a few times, tears had begun trickling from her face. Softly at first, but now they ran free like a river, down her cheek, past her lip, across her chin, sliding down her neck in odd beauty. They didn't get it, that was all. The just didn't understand, and she could make them. Sailorpluto was crying now. An odd scene, and the senshi stood, flabbergasted at the sight. They had never seen Sailorpluto talk half as much at a time, much less scream and cry like a brat. "Did she call George Jeoj--?" Sailorvenus began, yet she was cut off by the Fire Princess who hot mouth had to cool before any of the others could take a breath. "Then that's it," Sailormars leaped up, "we'll have to train. I know Makoto and I can do it; er, I'm not quite sure about Usagi and Minako--" She said that in a snide fashion, for she very much doubted those two could pull anything half as difficult off. "Hey," they cried indignantly at her remark. They were strong... sometimes... when they had to be... okay okay, so they weren't as brave as a senshi should be, but hey, they were only nineteen, they had plenty of time to get brave... "But any way, we have to do this. If not for our planet's sake, then Sailormercury's. We have to avenge the deaths. We have to triumph. The Evil must be vanquished." Sailormars pronounced evil with a capital, as if it was a thing, as if it was like God. That wasn't right; God is good, Evil is devil. The other four women nodded. They knew their mission now; but as to if they would carry it out, time could only tell. Pluto stood silently as the other's tottered off. They left abrubtly, not even bothering to say goodbye, but Setsuna didn't care; she had her own ideas and thoughts. She knew she had said too much, she shouldn't have begun screaming. She hoped none of them had realized her mistake. George, Jeoj, same difference. Setsuna found herself praying. It was apparent they were still sick from the recent events. None had even mentioned how odd this whole ordeal sounded. Sailorpluto sighed with understanding. Then she grasped her time key and disintegrated to the gates. She would have to prepare in her own ways now. The senshi might not be able to in their sick state. Sick as a tumor in your brain which feeds on your fears, feeds and grows until its so sick and wobbly that you either die or have it removed. They were having trouble coping with Mercury's death. Even now, three weeks later, and the event was still fresh in there minds. Three blocks later, Sailormoon shivered. "I just felt a gust of wind." She said as she pulled her skirt farther down to protect herself from the chill. "Whimp," Sailormars shot back, "I didn't feel a thing." "Non living monsters rarely do feel that kind of stuff." "Are you calling me a monster?" "Mebbe." "Hmph, takes one to know one!" "Oh look who's talking!" "Are you implying something?" "No, I'm telling you flat out you're a monster!" "And you call me a brat?!!" "Ooh, I wouldn't be talking with a grandpa from the negaverse!" "I'd rather live with my negaforce grandpa than a BEEP like you who can't even pass simple math!" "You don't have to be so mean, FireSnot!" "Well I didn't start calling YOU a monster!" "YES YOU DID!!!" "Guys, shut up," Sailorjupiter cried out suddenly in a sullen voice. Her nerves had grown considerably shorter in the past weeks. She didn't need Rei and Usagi squabbling at such a time. The two baby's shut up immediately and continued on their way in silence. Sailorvenus gasped in surprise that both had listened. Yet she wasn't really surprised. They'd all been acting strange since Sailormercury had gone. ----- "You let me die," the mumbled voice whispered. "You let me die, you didn't even try to save me." She gasped in shock to see a dark form covered in shadows of mists emerging from the darkness like a swimmer coming up from the pool for a breath. It was a beautiful display in its simple grace. "You let me die, now you shall suffer the consequences." "No, I didn't..." "You will enter the Eternal Darkness, You let ChibiUsa die...." "No, I didn't." "You're too weak.... come, join us..." "Please, what do you want." "... Join us... In Eternal Darkness..." "NO!!!! HELP ME!!! I won't let you steal my soul!" "You let Mercury and ChibiUsa die.... you killed me!" The voice was now laughing. A hideous cackling sound, like a crow and just as annoying. But now it gave her fear. Dreadful fear which was eating at her insides like a parasite. "You let them die, now you will JOIN US!" She went to let out a scream, yet the form from the mist escaped from the shadows at terrifying speeds. It aimed directly at her as she stood in unknown feelings, standing solitary, alone.... what the hell was going on? Who was this? What kind of dream was this any ways? "I didn't want them to die!!!" It was eerie; ChibiUsa had died over two years ago. She'd only been nine years old at the time. Yes, she regretted it from time to time, blamed herself for the youngster's lack of grace, but she'd never had nightmares about it. "THIS IS NO DREAM!!! .....ETERNAL DARKNESS!!!!!!!" The unfamiliar voice rang out again and it was then she saw it was no person. No Earth Person. No normal looking person with describable features. Nothing like she'd ever seen before. It looked like a shadow, yes, a shadow, yet as it came close, she saw features from inside of it. It looked like a shadow, yet it was so much more. Two glowing patches gleamed, the eyes, death dripped in dewy drops from the shadow creature's head like slime. It lunged into her, yet she did not fall over. She did not scream. She gasped as it took her breath away and pushed her aside. She felt herself slipping from her body's grasp. The shadow ate her flesh apart, she felt the slick skin peeling back on her chest, ripe infected skin which split like overdone grapes. She felt blood immediatley fill her body. Like a fountain at a park, or a waterfall. She couldn't move now. Beep Beep, she thought, I'm gonna die. And she was pushed aside as the shadow became her, sharing HER body with her soul. It cackled again, now within a body. She wouldn't die. It would see to that. For now. "Thank you...." It said, it wasn't her body any longer, she realized. It was HER, and she could only watch from the shadows of her mind. It was then the beast's reign began. No, she thought feverishly, get out; this is my body! I can't share it with four souls! Get out, go away! The monster shrugged off her desperate thoughts and prepared for the first day. ----- "Ojka," Drauston's voice beckoned the female general. She entered cautiously, dragging her feet in fear. "You have delivered nothing but continued failures." "Sir," the fear rose delicately in her voice, "I... I'm still working at it.... I got a crystal, too." She crossed her fingers and hoped this other crystal would be enough. "Ah... yes, I do recall you retrieving a Spiritcrystal. The water one, was it?" "Yes'm. The water one, and I'm working at harnessing its powers to help us..." "But you still have not located the Bleedingcrystal?" "Na, sir, but I know where the other Spiritcrystals are.. the other three..." "Ah, yes that too will help us if he own the powers of not only water, but the other ones. Yes, that will help us much in our quest." "I.. I know sir, that's what I was planning when you called upon me." "Silence, did I say you could speak? You have failed your mission. In three months, and all you could get was a useless crystal." "But, sir... it's not useless. With all the spiritcrystals combined.." "I know, Ojka. You're wasting my time now. I think it's time you're released." "But Sir??!!" "Don't contradict me, Ojka. I'm ready to have Jeoj take over!" "But Jeoj is still on Earth somewhere...." The bright sunny Friday afternoon quickly darkened for Ojka. She saw her life flash in front of her eyes like a camera. She knew the end was near. She tried to think of an alibi to stall him. She thought, yet thought of none. He didn't have a right to do this, she hadn't done a thing wrong. Slick rolled off her temples as she thought in desperation. "But Sir... NO!! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!!! I'M A _GENERAL_, YOU BASTARD!!!" Drauston remained unaffected, yet he gave a small smile, "Who told you about that?" He laughed and pulled the cigarette from his mouth which had been resting between his nicotine stained teeth. "But enough with you, you never were any good." He thrust his left arm forward and it began glowing a blackish color with mists surrounding it. The energy was gathered, and he grabbed it in his bulging fists. A lock of his graying hair fell in front of his wrinkled face; he paid no heed as Ojka's eyes bulged from her forehead. He chuckled. "You sexist bastard," she cried in her desperation, "I hope your soul rots in hell." He aimed the energy. It was eager to go, as if it wanted to kill. He released the energy. It quivered and joy as it bumbled along towards the woman. It shot towards Ojka like a bullet. "FUCK, NO!" She screamed, "BORN OF FIRE, RAISED OF FIRE, POWER OF FIRE, GO!" Her beam was no match for Drauston. She let out a cry of defeat, "Release, fragile flame..." I shouldn't have bothered, I wasn't even a challenge.. "Then I guess I'll see you there," he sneered, and Ojka was gone. He wiped his hands on his greasy robe and pulled out a new cigarette. Moments later, a maid arrived and cleaned up Ojka's remains which were in a bloody heap on the ground. Lost limbs decorated the floor, blood splattered against the wall. An awful smell of death and fear choked the poor maid. She almost doubled over, but held her breath in fear of the leader. The flies buzzed around her angrily; what right had she to steal their dinner? "Call on Jeoj," he told the woman as she exited the room after the floor was cleaned to a spit-shine. "Call on Jeoj and tell him it's his turn." "Yes'm, Master Drauston." She ran from his lair in fear and gave a sigh of relief. That man scared the BEEEEP out of her. She went towards the communication room and hoped she didn't displease the leader as Ojka had done. The darkness was put to rest for the time being.