Missing in Action: Part 4 (PG) by, DS I'm very sorry for the long wait. Missing in Action: Part 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Scenes show from the previous episode. Voice Over: Previously on Missing in Action: The Guardian of the Earth, Devin has been discovered in the Tomb of the Sleeping Cats and released from his topaz prison. Freed with him was a young kitten named Celeste. End Voice Over) (Screen goes black and opening credits roll as a song, "I Will Always Be There," plays. Then the screen goes back to black and the episode is introduced: "Missing in Action: The Darkness Returns") On a deserted street..... passed under the light of a street lamp, he paused for a moment in an unconscious pose. He seemed unaware of the many admiring eyes following his progress. His navy blue eyes remained locked on corner ahead of him. As he got closer to it, his pace began to slowly increase. He knew that his love >was just around that corner. She would be standing in the soft glow of a nearby streetlight; her black hair reflecting the light with dark blue highlights. Her beautiful eyes, shining with tears, would look up as he walked toward her....> Devin chuckled softly at his overactive imagination. He was very much alone on this strip of sidewalk. In fact, he could very well be the only one awake in Tokyo at this late hour. His chuckle deepened. His thought trailed off as his eyes widened in surprise. Luna was standing in the glow of a streetlight. "Luna?" he called uncertainly as he walked toward her. At the sound of his voice, she looked up, startled. Her eyes looked as though she had been crying. For a moment it looked like she was about to bolt, but she controlled that impulse and raised her eyes to meet his. "Hello, Devin," she replied in a carefully neutral voice. She struggled to keep her face blank and let none of her inner torment show. "Are you OK?" he asked hesitantly. He knew that something was wrong....something that involved what had happened between them so long ago. "I'm fine," she replied with a shrug. "I just thought I'd go for a walk." Devin didn't bother replying to that transparent excuse. "What's really wrong?" he asked. Dimly, he could sense her unease. It had something to do with him and . . . . Artemis? Suddenly, a memory flashed through his head -- not one of his, one of . . . Darien's? It was an image of Luna and Artemis sitting together with their tails intertwined. In that flash, he suddenly understood. Luna had gone on with her life when she believed him dead. Now, her former lover had suddenly returned. But when Luna spoke again, she said nothing about any of that. She chose a safer topic. "I never thought I'd see her again," she said softly, her eyes haunted. "I never thought I'd get the chance to see her grow up." "I told you I'd take care of her," he said with a touch of humor in his voice. Luna glared at him before replying. "The palace was destroyed, there were soldiers everywhere, and I couldn't find either of you!" Before she could get REALLY mad, Devin interrupted. "Luna, I was trying to lighten the mood a little." He hesitated, then gently asked a question he knew would hurt her, but he had to know. "Are you and Artemis together now?" She stared at him with an odd fear in her eyes, then abrubtly turned away. "I have to get home. Serena will panic if I'm not there when she gets up." Without another word, she hurried away before he could confront her with the fact that Serena wouldn't wake up for another four hours at least. Devin watched her retreat with mixed feelings. He still loved her, and always would, but he didn't want to hurt Artemis, who he remembered fondly. What he couldn't understand was the fact that he and Luna had always considered Artemis a big kitten, so what had changed? With a deep sigh, he headed back toward Darien's apartment and a few hours sleep. Much later on the same street . . . . "She won't talk to me!" Artemis complained. "She won't tell me anything!" "What do you want to know?" a dark soot-grey cat asked. Artemis sighed. "I'm not sure. I mean, she never mentioned anything about the fact that she and Devin were more than friends and she definately never mentioned a kitten!" The other cat regarded him silently for a few moments before replying. "Artemis, she must be in a lot of pain and confusion right now. I suggest you just let her work through it." Before he could answer, Mina, lost in thought, rounded the corner. She stopped suddenly and blinked in surprise at the sight of Artemis and a sooty grey cat. The startled look on their faces said that she'd interrupted something. "Artemis?" Mina said in confusion, glancing from one cat to the other. "Uh, hi Mina," the white cat responded with an odd, guilty look on his face. "What's going on?" she asked glancing from him to the sooty grey cat, who was obviously looking for a way out. "Nothing," he responded a bit too quickly, causing her to give him a long, suspicious look. Suddenly, they heard someone scream. "Come on!" Artemis yelled and raced in the direction of the voice. "Venus Star Power!" Mina called. The orange energy surrounded her as she ran. It cleared to reveal Sailor Venus. The youma looked like a cross between a cat and some kind of snake. It had a cat's head and body, but a snake's tongue, and scales instead of fur. It was holding a young girl in its claws. Before the Scout's stunned eyes, the girl started to glow and suddenly aged very quickly. In seconds, the creature dropped a very old woman on the verge of death onto the pavement. "Hold it right there!" a voice rang out. "That girl had a long life ahead of her! How dare you shorten it and steal her dreams! I am Sailor Moon, Champion of Love and Justice! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!" Sailor Moon slipped into one of her trademark poses with Sailor Mars kneeling on her right and Sailor Jupiter crouched on her left with Luna at her feet. "How scary," the creature hissed, "I'm shaking." "You should be!" Sailor Mars yelled, "Mars Fire Ignite!" The flames engulfed the yoma completely, but when they cleared it was still standing . . . and it was still smiling. "My turn," it hissed. A black wave of energy shot out of its hands towards the posed scouts. At the last minute, they managed to jump out of the way. Sailor Venus glanced over at Sailor Jupiter. "Let's give this creep something to think about!" Two attack cries rang out at the same moment. "Venus Love Chain Encircle!" "Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!" They watched breathlessly as the energy arced its target. The youma tried to dodge it, but moved too slowly. It cried out and collapsed as the energy enveloped it. "You did it! You did it!" Sailor Moon shouted as she jumped up and down. "Sailor Moon, look out!" Luna shouted as the creature lunged for the distracted girl. "Shine Aqua Illusion!" Sailor Mercury's voice rang out. "Sorry I'm late," she panted as she raced up out of breath. Her attack stopped the yoma long enough for Sailor Moon to get out of the way. "Are you OK, Sailor Moon?" Sailor Mercury asked, concerned. "I'm OK," Sailor Moon replied as she slowly got up. "Then attack it!" Sailor Mars snapped as the creature started to break free from the ice. "Mars Celestial Fire!" she yelled, taking her own advice. The flames slowed the youma, but didn't stop it. Sailor Moon nodded. She was the last hope, again. "Moon Scepter . . . ." she began. In desperation, the youma lashed out at her with its claws. She fell trying to avoid it and was engulfed in its grip. "Sailor Moon!" the girls yelled in fear. Sailor Moon screamed as the creature began sucking her youth. Suddenly, a flash of red appeared and a rose buried itself in the yoma's arm. As the creature dropped Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask whisked her out of harm's way. "Are you all right?" he asked her worriedly. She nodded breathlessly and slowly stood up. She reached for her scepter again, but her hand closed around nothing. It was gone. "Oh, no!" she wailed. "I must have dropped it!" "It'll be OK," Tuxedo Mask reassured her, "It can't be far." A blast of energy caught him from behind and flung him into Sailor Moon's arms, knocking them both to the ground. In Darien's apartment . . . . Suddenly, Devin jerked in pain. "Darien!" he cried, jumping to his feet. "What's wrong, Daddy?" Celeste asked from her perch on the window sill. "Stay here," Devin ordered her as he pushed open the door to the balcony. Celeste jumped down and rushed over to him. "What's wrong?" she demanded again. "Just stay here!" Devin ordered as he rushed out onto the balcony and quickly made his way down to street level. Quickly, he started running toward where his heart said Darien was. Tuxedo Mask slowly pulled himself to his knees. Every inch of his body hurt, but right now he didn't care. "Serena," he whispered softly. She was unconscious. A small trickle of blood ran slowly down her cheek from the corner of slightly parted lips. "No," he whispered brokenly. Ignoring the danger behind him, he searched frantically for a pulse. He let out a shaky sigh of relief when he found one. "Look out!" Sailor Venus cried in warning as the youma powered up to blast the helpless couple. But Tuxedo Mask didn't seem to hear her. She realized that she and the scouts were too far away to help them. Suddenly, a small white body threw itself between Darien and the incoming blast. Tuxedo Mask's body jerked as Devin screamed. "Devin!" Luna cried in horror. "Where's that blasted thing's weakness?!?!" Sailor Jupiter demanded. Mercury shook her head. "I'm still looking for one." "What!?!" Mars shouted, turning to glare at the blue-clad scout. "I'm still looking for a weakness," she clarified calmly, her eyes glued to her computer screen. "We have to do something," Venus said in frustration. "We might be able to weaken it if we attack it all at once," Mercury offered. "Just weaken it? That's IT?" Jupiter asked in disbelief. "That's it," Mercury confirmed with a nod. Devin groggily raised his head and glanced around. Tuxedo Mask was slumped over Sailor Moon, who was still out cold. The rest of the Scouts were facing off against the Negacreature. he realized. Slowly, he pulled himself to his feet. "Earth Power Up!" ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com