SAILOR JOURNEYS: SECRETS OF AN UNKOWN PAST by Commander Galos gabinol@infosel.net.mx Chapter 18: Showdown. The energy shot raced towards the surprised trio. But at the last second, they were able to jump away, the energy impacting in the far wall, burning the plaster and melting the metal frame under it. A shower of sparks emerged from the damaged circuitry embedded on the wall, causing the alarms in the base to activate. "Nice move." Said Cauldron, aiming his cybernetic arm towards Laurella and Shingo. "Too bad it won't be enough to save you now." "Now, don't move. This won't hurt... too much." Added MerLynn, raising Heresy and aiming it at Makoto. "Not if I can help it, creeps!" echoed a voice through the base's speakers. "Well, well, well... what do we have here?" wondered Cauldron, not bothering to hide the irony off his words. "Isn't it the little program that was so lucky during our first encounter. Been busy reading my personal log? That's such bad manners." "Cut the crap, Cauldron! You made a terrible mistake coming here! Surrender now, and you may exist for another nanosecond!" answered Alex. "On the contrary, you big mouthed program!" said MerLynn. "We are the ones that have the upper hand now! YOU are the ones that will surrender to a superior force!" During the whole conversation, Laurella and Shingo began to rise up, while Makoto moved slowly towards the prone Guardian. When she was next to him, she whispered in his ear. "Are you still functioning? They didn't destroy you, right?" "No..." whispered back the Guardian. "They just took me by surprise. Fortunately, I was able to absorb most of their attack. I need a diversion to get to the Armory. As I am now, I won't be able to fight them." "Say no more. Leave it to us. You go and get what you need." Said Makoto. She then eyed her friends, and without words, the trio knew what had to be done. As discreetly as they could, Makoto and Laurella reached for their transformation wands, and whispering, each one triggered their transformation. "Jupiter crystal power..." "Jendra crystal power..." "... Transform!" At the same time Laurella transformed into Sailor Jendra, Shingo triggered his own transformation. In a couple of seconds, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Jendra and the Emerald Knight stood in front of the invaders, their techno-armors activated as well, ready to strike back. "Mmmm... nice." Commented Cauldron, unimpressed. "So... I take you won't go down quietly. Oh, well... so, be it." "We'll see who are the ones that'll go down, sucker!" said Jupiter, her eyes with a determined look. "Now, charge your batteries! JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!!" "That's right! JENDRA CHROMATIC BLAST!!" said Jendra. At the same time her rings were fired, EK added his Technum blasts to the attack. They aimed their shots right to the floor, in front of the invaders, the ensuing explosion sending them down the corridor. "HOGOSURO, NOW!!" screamed Jupiter. The Guardian didn't lose any time, launching himself towards the armory, entering as soon as the door opened enough to let him enter. "Excellent job, gang!" said Alex. "Now, let's press the attack! I'm warming up the security HWP's to join you!" "That won't accomplish anything, program!" said Cauldron, walking through the dust cloud created by the attack. "You all will die before we're through!" "Don't count on it, psycho!" said Jupiter, launching another attack. Jendra launched another barrage, followed by EK. Their attacks flew straight at their enemies... ... which caught them with ease. Cauldron holding Jupiter's electric sphere with his cybernetic arm, while MerLynn merely let Jendra's rings insert themselves in Heresy, using them to also absorb EK's Technum blast. "Oh, really?" taunted the duo at the same time. Without saying anything else, they sent the attacks back, forcing the defenders to scatter. In that moment, the doors that lead to the Hangar opened, and the first batch of HWPs rolled off the elevator, immediately aiming at the intruders. At the same time, the Guardian came out of the Armory, holding the Neutron Blaster he used on the England mission. "Let's see how you fare against this..." said the Guardian, and after nodding at his companions, he opened fire, being followed immediately by a laser barrage from the rolling mini-tanks. "Hey, you can't have all the fun!" said EK, standing next to the Guardian. "Leave something for us!" said Jupiter, standing on the other side. "Then, let's join the party!" finished Jendra, standing next to the Emerald Knight. With that, they joined their attacks with the ones of the tanks and the Guardian, causing Cauldron and MerLynn to defend against them. They kept firing continuously, until their sights became obscured by the onslaught of power launched at the invaders. "ENOUGH!!" screamed Cauldron, his voice strong enough to bring the battle to a sudden stop. He seized the opportunity to cross his arms in front of him, and immediately began to glow, his aura a sickening tone of grey, enveloping MerLynn as well. MerLynn smiled crookedly at the sight, and when Cauldron's aura became bright enough, he hit it with Heresy... The resulting explosion was powerful enough to blast almost every electronic component unshielded in the corridor and the central hub. The HWPs literally melted right where they stood, and Jupiter, Jendra, EK and the Guardian were sent flying to the wall. The Guardian's weapon blew to pieces, and his own pseudo-flesh melted in some parts. "So... now you are not so tough, I see..." mocked Cauldron, walking in front of the downed heroes, MerLynn next to him. Addressing his partner, he added. "Keep an eye on them. I'll go and check around for more surprises." "Take your time. They won't move." Said MerLynn, aiming Heresy at his victims. Cauldron nodded, and began to wander around the different rooms, the Computer Room being his first stop. Cauldron looked around the consoles, smiling crookedly. From one of the speakers, Alex' voice was heard. "You won't get away with this, lunatic! I sent a distress signal before you blocked the communications. The rest of the girls will arrive shortly, and you two will be toasted!" "That's what I like of you, program. Always so predictable." Said Cauldron, at the same time he linked with one of the consoles using his cybernetic arm. "But you see... by the time your dear reinforcements arrive, they won't find nothing but the corpses of their friends, and not even a shadow of you." "I took you down once... and I'll do it again!" said Alex, raging. "Come on! Come here, and let's duke it out like a true software!" "I'm afraid I don't have time to play with you personally." Said Cauldron, smiling. "As much as I'd like to erase you myself, more urgent matters claim my attention. But don't worry. I'm leaving a little something, so you don't feel so lonely. Have fun with your new playmate!" Cauldron then disconnected from the console, and walked out of the Room, despite Alex' rants. On the screen of the console Cauldron used, a message appeared: * WARNING! KILLER VIRUS DETECTED ON SYSTEM. * ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS DISABLED. * SYSTEM INTEGRITY COMPROMISED. * TIME FOR FULL SYSTEM INFECTION AND DESTRUCTION: * 7 MINUTES. "Joy of joys..." muttered Alex, and braced herself to face this new menace. "You really couldn't expect to defeat us with your pathetic powers, could you?" said MerLynn, keeping an eye on his prisoners. None dignified his taunt with an answer, instead settling at looking at him. Jendra and EK were almost cuddled, while Jupiter was keeping a way eye on the Guardian's status. His pseudo-flesh was starting to regenerate, and the spark on his eyes had returned. They watched helplessly as Cauldron left the Computers Room, and walked to the War Room. Their bodies itched with the urgency to stop him, but knew that they couldn't move fast enough to avoid being slaughtered by the demented magician. "Mmmm... Interesting security system you have here..." said Cauldron. "Too bad it's not enough against me." He then linked with the wall console, and tried to open the War Room. Suddenly, a shower of sparks emerged from the hole their previous attack caused, forcing Cauldron to break the link. "Dammit... the connections are ruined. And we don't have the time to fix them. We'll have to go on without completing this part of our plans." Snorting, he walked away from the console, and went to another room. "Looks like your plan is already going down." Taunted the Emerald Knight. "Shut up, or your deaths will be slow and painful." Growled MerLynn, straightening his back. "Oh, yes... a real sport." Muttered Jupiter. "Don't taunt him... he's dangerous enough as he is." Whispered the Guardian, startling Jupiter. "Oh... thank you for your vote of confidence." Responded Jupiter, sarcastically. "You didn't look that good too, you know?" "I know... I'm a failure..." muttered the Guardian, looking away from Jupiter's eyes. Cauldron had entered the Armory, and after melting all the weapons that were there, proceeded to check the other dependencies. After causing major damages on Engineering, he entered the Medical Ward. He then began to destroy each one of the biobeds methodically, continuing with the containment chambers. He then arrived at the last one... the one containing the cocoon that contained Chibi-Usa. Cauldron took a look at the readings in the monitor, and noticed that the vital signs were at a minimum, the life support systems trying to keep them stable. Cauldron chuckled evilly, and without hesitation, smashed the controls. He took great pleasure when all readings began to drop, until eventually all went flat... indicating clinical death. Satisfied, Cauldron turned around and left the Ward, never noticing the cocoon starting to glow faintly, and a small crack appearing on its surface... "You sounded just like Yohann. You're not a failure." Whispered Jendra at the Guardian's remark. "Yes I am... I let those two enter the base, destroy our defenses, and harm you all. I don't deserve to keep functioning." Whispered back the Guardian. "Shut up you all. Or you'll regret it." Said MerLynn, making Heresy to glow. The four prisoners kept silent, but couldn't stop themselves to send a dirty look at MerLynn. They kept watching as Cauldron entered one room after another, and cringed at the sounds of destruction that came off each one. It was when Cauldron left the Medical Ward when he finally talked to them. "Good. It's nice to see you all behaving like the little children you are." He then addressed MerLynn. "This was better than we expected. I got rid of another nuisance." Jupiter, Jendra and EK gasped when they heard that. "The little brat, eh? Too bad you got to her first. I wanted to dismember her little body, one limb at a time..." said MerLynn. "You have enough opportunities for that, my friend. It won't take long. One more stop, and then... we can have our fun!" said Cauldron, leaving them alone. "You bastards..." growled the Emerald Knight. "She was a defenseless girl..." added Jendra. "You'll pay for that." Said Jupiter. She clinched her fists, trembling. The Guardian said nothing, but his expression said everything. "Now, now... don't be so rash. You'll soon join her." Said MerLynn. Inside the computer's cyberspace, Alex was having her own share of problems. She had assumed the same figure she used when she went to the rescue of Ami, but when she faced the virus, she couldn't help but feel woefully inadequate. The virus presented itself like a giant crystalline structure, the color of dried blood. Wherever its spikes touched the icon of a file, it burst into flames. And no matter how much Alex tried to attack it, her energy projections simply bounced off it. 'Marvelous. What else can go wrong now?' she thought. And as if mocking her, the 'voice' of the system chose that instant to say: * WARNING: TOTAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE IN 3 MINUTES. "Me and my big mouth." Muttered Alex, all the while she began a hasty retreat, trying to evade the virus' attacks. But no matter how hard she tried to evade it, the virus always seemed to know where she was. Alex was beginning to feel desperate, when she looked around... and began to curse. Without her noticing it, her retreat had taken her to the same location where the Deathlock program was guarding Cauldron's log. And right on cue, Deathlock decided to make its great entrance in that very moment. Its appearance was that of a White Dragon, and at the moment, it was staring at Alex with VERY unfriendly eyes. Alex let out a sigh of exasperation, but didn't have that much time to feel sorry for her. In that moment, the virus entered the memory location, and began to approach her. In that same instant, Deathlock also began to move towards her. "Errr... guys? Don't you prefer to talk about this? Really, I'm flattered by your attention, but you don't have to rush at me, you know?" Alex then began to try to move away from each other, but they began to stalk her. Finally, she reached a 'wall', and watched helplessly as both the virus and Deathlock zeroed on her. Strangely, Deathlock was oblivious to the virus' proximity, and instead was focussed on Alex. The same seemed to be happening with the virus. 'Lovely... two admirers after my coding... but none precisely wanting to ask for a date.' Thought Alex. She was starting to think that she was already running her last lines of code, when a wild idea came to her. She noticed that, between the virus and Deathlock, was a small opening, barely wide enough for her to cross between them. She immediately calculated her chances of success, and didn't like the result: barely 12% chance of surviving. 'Well... considering the options... being deleted by the virus, or fragmented by Deathlock... again.' Making up her mind, she decided to run for her existence, and made a desperate run towards her objective. Both the virus and Deathlock seemed surprised at her action, and took a second too much to react. Alex seized the opportunity, and without thinking it too much, she launched a bolt of energy to each one of the menaces, impacting them. She barely made it to the other side when one of Deathlock's feet closed the gap, almost crushing her. Her attacks didn't seem to affect them the least; however, they served as a catalyst. Deathlock finally noticed the virus, the same as the virus noticed Deathlock. And at the same time, both began to attack each other, the virus launching red lightnings, while Deathlock counterattacked spitting energy balls. Alex could only watch from a distance, while the two titans fought. When the battle reached its climax, Deathlock launched itself against the virus, spitting energy all the time, impaling itself in the crystal spikes of the virus. The virus concentrated all its energy on Deathlock, but because of the later's position, part of its energy initiated a forced feedback. Suddenly, with a thunderous explosion, both programs annihilated each other, taking with them part of the cyberspace. Alex had to hold with all her strength against the shockwave, and barely managed to get out of the experience in one piece. Gasping, she stood up, and looked around. The whole place was in shambles, barely a few icons still standing, but each one of them presenting severe damages. Sighing, she raised her voice, and addressed the system. "Give me a status report!" * VIRUS ANNIHILATED. SYSTEM STABILIZED. * SYSTEM'S RESOURCES DOWN 78%. * BACKUP FILES DAMAGED 47.8%. * INTER-SYSTEM COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS DOWN. * UNABLE TO STABLISH FULL DAMAGE REPORT. * QUERY: * DO YOU WANT TO INITIATE RESTRUCTURING WITH AVAILABLE DATA? Alex growled, but knew that, until the operating system was back at least to a decent level, nothing much could be done. "Yes, begin restructuring. And hurry up!" * COMPLYING... * ESTIMATED TIME FOR RESTRUCTURING: * 1 HOUR, 33 MINUTES, 47 SECONDS. All around Alex, the icons that represented the different functions of the system began to glow, and reorganize themselves, and the scorching marks began to fade away. But Alex knew that it was going to be too long before a semblance of order was visible. She added her own efforts to the restructuring, all the while muttering. "I hate Cauldron, I hate Cauldron... I. HATE. CAULDRON." Cauldron, meanwhile, had entered the last room he intended to visit: the laboratory. He looked around, faintly amused by the equipment. But when he saw the Nanoreactors, he smiled broadly. Idly, he began to take a look at the books and files that were on a cabinet, until he found what he was looking for. The instruction books of the Nanoreactors. Taking them, Cauldron approached one of the cylinders, scanning it with his cybernetic eye. He nodded, apparently satisfied with the results of his scan, and without hesitation, he began to charge his arm, making it glow. Once the energy reached the desired level, he punched through the thick glass cylinder. When the thick fluid surrounded his arm, Cauldron gave a mental command, and on one side of his arm opened a small orifice, absorbing the nanobot-rich fluid. Once full, the orifice closed and Cauldron withdraw his arm, not caring when the fluid began to pour out of the cylinder. He gave a look at the rest of the Nanoreactors, and after a second of hesitation, he repeated the procedure with each one of them. In a matter of seconds, the floor of the laboratory was covered with the fluid. His deed done, Cauldron left the laboratory. "Just pray that I don't touch you... you'll regret what you did to Chibi-Usa." Said the Emerald Knight, his body trembling with the fury he barely had in check. "You are welcome to try... I wonder how your blood look covering my sword?" Said MerLynn, smiling at the prospect. "We'll have our opportunity... we just have to be patient." Said the Guardian. "I'm eager myself." "In that case, I'll be happy to give you such a chance." Said Cauldron in that moment, walking next to MerLynn. "All set, MerLynn. This base will no longer bother us. And soon, its inhabitants will be history as well." "Great! I was getting bored playing babysitter here." Said MerLynn. "Stand up, everyone... slowly." Said Cauldron, at the same time his cybernetic arm began to morph. It began to transform into what appeared to be some sort of cannon, or rifle. Part of it was a glass container, with a reddish fluid, and the nozzle had the form of an inverted five pointed star. Jupiter, Jendra, Emerald Knight and the Guardian stood up, but kept still looking for a chance to strike... or at least, for an opening for them to escape. "Since I'm a gentleman..." said Cauldron, smiling crookedly, "I guess that... ladies first." He then aimed his arm at Jupiter, his cannon-arm charging... In the same instant he fired, the Guardian jumped in front of the beam, his arms crossed. The shot impacted on him hard, causing him to wince. All over his body, his internal systems began to short, small wisps of smoke escaping from newly formed cracks in his pseudo-flesh. Ignoring his damage, the Guardian began to walk towards Cauldron, his gaze locked on his hated enemy. "Nobody... hurts... her..." he muttered through clenched teeth. Cauldron seemed surprised that the Guardian was standing up after the severe damage he was taking. He then looked at MerLynn, nodding. MerLynn got the message, and brandishing Heresy, he jumped next to the Guardian, who didn't notice him until it was too late. In one swift movement, the deranged magician traced an arc with his sword... ... and decapitated the Guardian. "NOOOOOOO!!!!!" Makoto's screamed reverberated all over the base. The Guardian's head rolled to her feet, his face showing a mix of surprise... and regret. MerLynn didn't stop his movement when he landed. Turning around, he aimed Heresy at the rest, and released a barrage of black lightning, pinning them against the wall. Cauldron stopped his attack, and stepped aside. The Guardian's body still moved two more steps, before finally stopping functioning and tumbling down. Cauldron snorted at the body, and walked over it, standing next to MerLynn. "Now, now, my friend. Don't be so rude! He asked for a chance, remember? He got what he wanted." MerLynn snorted, but stopped his attack. The trio dropped to their knees, exhausted. "Thank you." Said Cauldron. And raising his arm again, he added. "Now, where were we?" This time, he aimed his arm at Jendra, and charged one more time. The Emerald Knight didn't wait for him to attack. Activating the shield on his left arm, he jumped in front of Jendra, intent to protect her with his life. "KIT, NO!!" screamed Jendra, trying to move him aside, but her efforts came too late, because Cauldron fired in that same instant. On the contrary of what happened with the Guardian, Cauldron's beam instead went through the shield like it wasn't there, and impacted EK right in the chest. The Emerald Knight screamed in agony, paralyzed by the extreme pain. Jendra couldn't move either, shocked. Cauldron stopped his attack, and waited. The light on EK's chest began to coalesce in front of his sternum, and in a second, an energy bubbled formed. Inside it, was a red-colored crystal, its center shining brightly. Slowly, it began to float away from the Emerald Knight, and finally it stopped in front of Cauldron who, satisfied, grabbed it with his other hand. When the small crystal left EK's body, he detransformed. Unconscious, Shingo fell to the ground. Jendra moved immediately to his side, and cradled his head, trying to fight the tears. "WOW! What an exciting pair of self-sacrifices! But of course, I couldn't expect less from any of you." Said Cauldron, laughing. "You all are so pathetic... you're disgusting." Added MerLynn. "But don't worry... because you'll join them soon!" said Cauldron, aiming his arm at Jupiter, while MerLynn aimed Heresy at Jendra. Without saying anything else, they began to charge their attacks. Makoto and Jendra braced themselves, intent of not giving them the pleasure of hearing them scream in pain... But before they shoot, Cauldron morphed his arm again, and addressing MerLynn, he said. "Wait a second, my friend... I have a better idea... just make sure they can't move." MerLynn nodded, and concentrating, he sent a barrage of dark energy semi-circles against the girls, trapping their arms and legs. They ended up being pinned against the wall, arches of dark energy coruscating from the braces holding them. "Good choice." Commented Cauldron. He then produced a small vial, full with a yellowish liquid. "I wanted to test this on the city, but since the opportunity presents itself... why not seize it?" "What's that?" asked MerLynn, curious. "Nothing really... just a flesh-eating bacteria I've been developing on our base." Said Cauldron. He then approached the girls, sneering. "Now... to see if it's as effective as I calculated..." He then stopped in front of Jendra, whose eyes were fixed on the small vial. Raising his hand, he was about to pour the bacteria on Jendra's head... "FLAMING HEART!" The attack stroke right on the vial, evaporating it, along with its contents. "What the...?!?!" exclaimed MerLynn and Cauldron at the same time, turning around towards the attack's origin. "Your evil has gone too far this time, Cauldron. And now, I'll put an end to it!" said a figure standing in front of an open door, the light difference between the room such figure emerged and the corridor made difficult for them to identify it. Jupiter and Jendra, however, knew who it was, but something was wrong... the person was taller... almost as tall as Mamoru... In that moment, the door closed, allowing them to fully see their rescuer. In front of the door, facing Cauldron and MerLynn, was a grown young woman; her hair, instead of the soft pink they all knew, was now a fiery red, long enough for it to almost touch the ground. It was made up in the distinctive hairstyle Usagi wore before she cut her hair, also proclaiming her birthright. Also... She was wearing a Senshi fuku, the colors pink, red and black, full with the complimentary visor and metal guards. The former a brilliant red, glowed fiercely under the emergency lights. On her hands, she brandished her soul weapon, the powerful Harbinger: a jet-black scythe made of pure obsidian. "And, who are you? I don't remember seeing someone like you around." Demanded Cauldron, annoyed by the interruption. "I was once known as Sailor Chibi-Moon... but this is my true nature. I am now... SAILOR TERRA! And in the name of the Moon and the Earth, I'll punish you!" finished Terra. "Oh, yes... the insufferable little girl of Moon and Endymion. I thought you died when I unplugged you... a miscalculation easily corrected!" gritted Cauldron. He re-morphed his arm into the cannon he used previously, and fired against Terra. However, she placed Harbinger in front of her, deflecting the shot. "Impressive." Said Cauldron. "You are more powerful than I suspected." "Let me at her, Cauldron!" demanded MerLynn. "I want to have a piece of the action!" "Later... we're running out of time." Said Cauldron, eliciting a series of venom-filled mumbles from MerLynn. Ignoring him, Cauldron addressed Sailor Terra. "Very well... I concede victory to you ... for now... If you excuse us, we'll take our leave now." "Not so fast!" said Terra, aiming her scythe towards the duo. "Release my friends, and return that crystal to its legitimate owner!" "Aaah, yes... your friends. MerLynn? Can you do us the honor?" With reluctance, MerLynn complied, concentrating on Heresy. A second later, the dark energy shackles disappeared from Jupiter and Jendra, both falling to the floor and almost totally drained. "But as for the crystal you mentionned..." said Cauldron, taking it from within his clothes with his metal arm. "I'm afraid I can't return it... such a fragile thing... it needs lots of care..." he then began to exert pressure on the crystal. "Now, stand where you are, all of you! Or I'll destroy this little gem!" Terra, Jupiter and Jendra remained frozen in their places, not daring to move. Cauldron nodded at MerLynn, making the deranged magician frown. Lifting Heresy, MerLynn began to mutter, and a couple of seconds later, a blast from the black sword stroke the center of the central hub, opening a swirling dark portal. MerLynn stepped through it first, looking at Terra with hate-filled eyes before disappearing. Before Cauldron followed, he then moved, and took the Guardian's head, tossing it through the portal. Jupiter almost growled at that, but stood her ground. Walking back to the portal, Cauldron produced a small test tube, filled with a pinkish fluid. "Good girls. And now, before I leave you... have a little token of my appreciation!" He then tossed it towards the inert body of the Guardian, and jumped inside the portal, which closed immediately after. Before any of the girls could react, the tube shattered, spraying the liquid on top of the body. They could see that, once the liquid scurried off the body, a small seed-like object remained. And in front of their eyes, it melted, turning into something akin to a single cell, and merged with the remains of the Guardian. Once done, the decapitated body began to glow a sickening red, and in a moment, it stood up. From the ruptures on the pseudo-flesh, a series of metallic tentacles emerged, each one different. While some had serrated endings, others looked like knives, cleaves, saws, or hammers, and others ended up with needlepoints. In the chest, some sort of... face appeared, with red eyes, and a maw filled with serrated teeth. At stomach level, what appeared to be a Vulcan cannon emerged. "What IS that thing??" asked Jupiter, shocked. "Biiig trouble." Muttered Jendra, equally shocked. As if on cue, the monster that once was the Guardian attacked at the three girls at once. The tentacles aimed towards Terra and Jendra, while the cannon fired a continuous volley of dark energy goblets at Jupiter, forcing them to defend against the onslaught. While Jupiter avoided the attack aimed at her, Terra and Jendra used scythe and rings respectively to cut the tentacles. However, each time they cut one, it regenerated itself. "We have to destroy it!" screamed Jendra, slicing seven more tentacles. "NO!" screamed Jupiter, jumping over a new barrage. "It's Hogosuro's body! We can still save him! We have to!" "She's right, Jendra!" said Terra, slicing three more tentacles. "and I have an idea!" she then jumped a little farther away from the battle, and banished Harbinger. In its place, a small wand appeared, looking like the one she used during her now past days as Chibi-Moon. Concentrating, she took aim with it, and said. "PINK SUGAR HEARTS..." Immediately, a stream of pink hearts emerged from the wand, and impacted on the creature. But instead of popping like before, they simply melted, beginning to cover it with a slimy substance. The monster didn't pay any attention... and that was its undoing. Squinting her eyes, Terra finished her phrase. "... NAPALM!!" Instantly, the substance covering the monster ignited, with such ferocity that almost melted it in place. Howling in rage, the creature began to slash blindly, trying to put off the flames. "Jendra, the tentacles! Jupiter, the cannon!" screamed Terra. Without hesitation, Jendra charged her attack. "JENDRA CHROMATIC BLAST!" The seven colored discs flew towards the monster, slicing the tentacles at their bases. At the same time, Jupiter aimed her attack at the cannon. "JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!" Her aim true, the electric sphere blew the cannon away. While the monster tried to regenerate its weaponry, Terra moved swiftly. Summing Harbinger again, she jumped immediately in front of it, and with a powerful swing, she thrust the scythe right in the place where the strange object melded with the Guardian. Howling even more, the monster tried to grab Terra, but she already had jumped away from it. On the tip of Harbinger, was now the punctured seed. She then smashed it in the wall, cutting it in half. From the remains of the seed, a black cloud emerged, a curious sound coming from it. In the moment the seed left it, the Guardian's body shifted back to its original form, the flames that engulfed it disappearing as well. Without control once more, it collapsed again. With the danger passed, they immediately moved towards Shingo. Jendra took him tenderly in her arms, and placed two fingers on one side of his throat. She gasped when she noticed that his pulse was extremely faint and irregular. "Oh, Kit... what did that monster do to you?" "We have to get that crystal back!" said Jupiter. 'not to mention Hogosuro's head, of course.' she added to herself. "You two go ahead. I'll keep an eye on him." Said Terra. Nodding, Jupiter and Jendra rushed towards the exit, but... "The door's jammed!" exclaimed Jendra. Jupiter tried to open it, but was interrupted. "There's no time!" said Jendra. "Let's use the emergency exit through the house!" they both ran towards one of the emergency exits, and soon, were inside the living room. Once they exited, both gasped at what they saw. "oh, no..." muttered Jupiter. The living room looked like the base... the whole place was destroyed. The chandelier laid on top of the shattered table; the furniture charred and broken. The bar had not one single bottle intact, while water poured from the damaged pipes. A few sparks flew from the broken wiring, only to end their brief life on the puddles. "Let's go." Said Jendra, taking Jupiter's arm. Shaking her dizziness, Jupiter nodded, a scowl marring her face. Once on the roof, Jupiter inquired. "where to? They could be anywhere." "You're right." Said Jendra, closing her eyes. "But I can sense the presence of Shingo's crystal... and go right where it is." She then kept quiet, concentrating. A couple of heartbeats later, she opened her eyes, and pointed in a specific direction. "Over there! Let's move!" And without waiting to see if she was followed, Jendra jumped to the nearest roof, and began to run. Jupiter remained on her place for a moment, but regained her senses immediately, and jumped too, soon joining Jendra. "They're in there." Said Sailor Jendra. They were standing in front of the Tomoe mansion. It didn't took them more than four minutes to arrive, since the distance wasn't that much... and because they went roof-hoping. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's break a couple of heads!" said Jupiter. And without more preambles, she walked towards the door, kicking it open. Both girls entered, and the first thing that they noticed was the absolute absence of furniture. 'makes sense... they must live inside their hidden base.' Thought Jupiter. She then addressed Jendra. "Which way?" "Over there." Answered Jendra, walking towards a nearby corridor, Jupiter following her. Soon, they arrived at the end of the corridor. "They're behind this wall." Before any of them could do a thing, the wall seemed to flow, and a new entrance appeared. In front of them, instead of the solid wall, was now the corridor that led to the main laboratory. "Looks like they're waiting for us." Said Jendra. "In that case, let's not keep them waiting." Said Jupiter. She then stepped inside, followed by Jendra. It didn't take long for them to reach the end of the corridor, and the laboratory. The first thing they noticed was that it was deserted. The next thing was Shingo's crystal, floating inside a glass container. The last thing... "How could they!?!?!" said Jupiter through greeted teeth. Hanging in a wall, was the Guardian's severed head. Cauldron had placed it on a wooden board, and hanged it like it was a hunting trophy. She then moved towards the head, while Jendra went to retrieve the crystal. "I wouldn't touch those if I were you. It took a lot of effort to get those trophies." Said Cauldron, coming out of the shadows that concealed him. "My personal favorite is your friend's head. We needed something to liven up this place!" cackled MerLynn, walking next to Cauldron. "You'll pay for what you did... I swear!" said Jupiter, her face a study of hate directed towards the evil pair. "Oh, yes... just like you tried to stop us back at your place..." mocked MerLynn, drawing Heresy. "Come on, give us your best shot!" "What do you plan to do with Shingo's crystal? You have enough power as it is." Said Jendra, keeping her eyes fixed on Cauldron. "Well... I needed something to complete my collection... the 'crowning jewel' of it, I might add." Said Cauldron. He then raised his arm, and pointed towards another part of the laboratory. That place illuminated, and showed them what he had been doing during the last week. The two young warrioresses gasped at the hellish sight. Inside a series of crystal tubes, were the corpses of at least three dozen people. In front of each body, were crystals similar to the one Cauldron extracted from Shingo's body. "Interesting little jewels, I must say. So much power contained on them... too bad the 'donators' don't live too long afterwards." Said Cauldron, in a tone that was more appropriate to comment the weather than something so horrible. "I bet your 'protector' has no more than eight more minutes." Added MerLynn. "YOU MONSTER!" screamed Jendra, literally jumping at MerLynn's throat. However, the magician simply 'fanned' Heresy, creating an energy wave that sent Jendra flying away from him. She impacted a wall, too dizzy to fight. "Your turn, girl." Said Cauldron, addressing Jupiter. She didn't wait for another word. She went at him without holding anything. Instead of using her powers, she decided to go at him using her martial arts knowledge. However, Cauldron blocked each and every one of her strikes. "Not bad... but not good enough, I'm afraid." He then made his move, punching Jupiter with enough strength to send her flying towards a workbench covered with electronic equipment. She crashed hard, taking the bench and its contents down with her. "This is getting boring, don't you think?" commented MerLynn. "You're right... too repetitive. No challenge here." Said Cauldron. He then looked up, and a series of what appeared to be laser cannons lowered and aimed at Jendra. "You finish the tall one. The defenses will take care of the other one." Smiling broadly at the prospect, MerLynn drawed Heresy, and began to walk towards Jupiter. Jupiter was trying to get her breath back, but when she saw the evil glint on MerLynn's eyes, she knew that, as she was now, she and Jendra had no chance to win, no matter how hard they try. They were too powerful. But she wasn't going to go down without a good fight! 'No... this can't end like this!' she thought. 'Jendra... Shingo... Hogosuro... they're counting on me!' She closed her eyes, and began to search for an inner source of power she knew instinctively still was in her. Her fighting spirit was rewarded for her efforts. Her body glowed golden, forcing MerLynn to cover his eyes. In a flash of Technum, she gained her soul power. In a moment, she was wearing the green sailor fuku of Jupiter, complete with the forearm and chin guards, along with a light green visor. Furthermore, her Techno-armor had upgraded too, taking the same shape expected when one of the girls achieved Senshi status. On her hands, she was holding her sacred weapon: Mjolnir, a warhammer made of pure Jade. MerLynn stood transfixed, not understanding what happened, but recovered in a moment, and began to advance again towards Jupiter. She gripped Mjolnir harder, and took a fighting stance. Inadvertidly, her right foot made contact with the shattered equipment she smashed during the attack. Suddenly, her armor became fluid, and engulfed the equipment, and in the blink of an eye, it was absorbed and reconfigured. Jupiter's mind filled with the knowledge of her new weapon, and knew how to make good use of it. On her back, were now a couple of tubes, with a small orb on top of each one. She looked at MerLynn, and raising Mjolnir, she activated her new attack. "JUPITER ION STORM!!" The tubes extended, becoming lightning rods. Suddenly, from seemingly nowhere, a lightning stroke both rods, the energy arching between them, gaining strength, the energy arc becoming brighter and brighter. When it was almost impossible to see it directly, the powerful electric discharge jumped and impacted Mjolnir. Jupiter then aimed the warhammer towards MerLynn... The powerful electric arc jumped towards the deranged magician, who only had time to raise Heresy in an attempt to shield himself against such vicious attack. Nevertheless, the sheer power of the raw Technum-based electric discharge sent him flying to the opposite wall. Jupiter turned around, and looked at Cauldron. "You're next." She said, aiming Mjolnir again. "Perhaps..." said Cauldron, unperturbed. "but you have to choose. Me... or your friend." He then looked in Jendra's direction. Jupiter risked a look, and noticed that the laser cannons were already charging, aiming directly at Jendra! And she was still trying to get her bearings! Jupiter didn't hesitate a moment, and launched Mjolnir at the cannons. The jade warhammer's trajectory took it straight to the bases of the cannons, severing all and each one of them. When the last cannon dropped, it bounced on the wall, and returned swiftly at Jupiter's waiting hand. Unfortunately, the shattered weapons dropped on top of Jendra, burying her under their combined weight. "JENDRA!" Jupiter hurried to the side of her friend, all thought of fight forgotten. She then began to remove the twisted metal from Jendra. Cauldron seized the opportunity, and moved to MerLynn's side. Helping him to stand up, he said. "Time to go." "Just as you predicted." Whispered back MerLynn. He then looked at the two warrioresses, and asked. "You're not planning to leave them just like that, right?" "Of course not! You should know me by now, my friend. And thank you for reminding me." With that, Cauldron and MerLynn walked to one end of the laboratory, the former fiddling with a console. When a red light began to blink, he nodded. A secret door opened, and both walked, leaving the place and its current occupants to their own fate. Jupiter, meanwhile, had finally removed the cannon that was covering Jendra's head, and looked preoccupied at her friend. Although Jendra's helmet had protected her, a loose part of the shattered cannon had managed to hurt her in the right cheek, and blood was now pouring from it. Even more, the nuzzle of another one had come down like a javelin with enough strength to pierce the armor, and was now lodged on Jendra's abdomen. "Oh, my God..." muttered Jupiter. Not daring to remove more debris for fear to injure Jendra even more, she settled with holding her friend's hand. "I'm so sorry... I didn't want to hurt you... please forgive me." Jupiter noticed the burning sensation of tears running down her face, but didn't mind them. In that moment, Jendra's eyes fluttered, and very slowly, she opened her eyes. "Wasn't... your fault." She muttered. "You... had to do... it." "Shhh... don't talk." Urged Jupiter. "I'll go and get help. Don't worry, everything will be all right." Suddenly, a recorded message blared through the base's speakers, startling them. "Warning: self-destruct mechanism activated. You have two minutes to clear the premises. All personnel must evacuate immediately." "Go." Muttered Jendra. "Take Shingo's crystal and Hogosuro's head, and leave me here." "Are you crazy??" said Jupiter, stunned. "we'll get out of here together! Now, don't move!" Without another world, Jupiter moved to the table where Shingo's crystal was, and took it. She then hurried and took the Guardian's head off the wall. With them, she walked again next to Jendra, and kneeling next to her, she gave her both objects. "Look after them. I'll see what I can find to get you out of there." When Jendra acknowledged, Jupiter began to check the different drawers around, trying to find anything that could help her to at least cut that darn nuzzle and free her friend. Jendra, meanwhile, had opened the glass container, and with great care, took the crystal in her hands. Sighing, she closed her eyes, and began to think of her boyfriend. 'Kit... I'm so sorry... I couldn't save your life... but at least, we'll be together in the afterlife.' What she didn't expected, however, was to receive an answer, and from the crystal, nonetheless. 'you still have a chance, my love. I know you have the strength to pull out of this situation.' 'But how? We're running out of time... and I feel so tired...' 'You can fight. Search deep inside you for that power you need. Don't be afraid... I'll guide you. We'll be together again.' Concentrating, Jendra focussed on the stream of feelings pouring from the crystal onto herself, and followed it deeper and deeper inside her soul. Finally, she reached the very core of her inner self. There she felt immersed in an incredible rush of power, like anything she had ever experienced before. 'This is you, Jendra.' Said Shingo's voice. 'it's your birthright... your true self. Now go... embrace it. Accept what is rightfully yours. Now hurry... I'll be waiting for you... my eternal love.' Jupiter was growing desperate. She had opened and poured the contents of every drawer and locker that was in sight. She only found lots of garbage, but nothing that could help her to free Jendra. To top the tension of the moment, the speakers blared in that instant. "Warning: one minute to self-destruct. Evacuate immediately." "Will you shut up?" muttered Jupiter, almost losing her patience. She was seriously considering to use Mjolnir somehow to cut the cannon and carry Jendra out of there, when a bright flash of golden light coming from the other room surprised her. In a hurry, Jupiter dashed in that direction, fearing that Cauldron or MerLynn did something to Jendra. But when she entered the laboratory, she stopped suddenly at the sight that presented in front of her. Amidst the remains of the laser cannons, now stood Sailor Jendra, having achieved her soul power, with no sign of injury whatsoever. Her sailor fuku had a design similar to the ones of the honor guard of planet Jendra, white and silver. Her chin and arm guards were made of pure silver. Her visor had a metallic glimmer, like if it was made of transparent metal. And on her right tigh, in golden kanji characters, were the words NANAIRO NO SENSHI: warrior of rainbow colors. Her techno-armor had upgraded as well, assimilating the laser cannons' components onto itself. She now had what appeared to be like butterfly-like silver wings on her back, with numerous crystals embedded all over them. On her left hand, was Shingo's crystal, glowing brightly, and on her right hand, was her sacred weapon: Bladewind, a pure diamond chakram, which was a thin circlet-throwing weapon, with a razor-sharp edge. Jendra then looked tenderly at the crystal, and muttered. "thank you, my love." "wow, Jendra!" breathed Jupiter. "You scared me back there! But hey, you look great! And what's with the wings, anyway?" "we can discuss this later, ok? Right now, let's get out of here before we become history!" said Jendra. As if on cue, the speakers made their last announcement. "thirty seconds for self-destruct. Blast doors activated." "BLAST DOORS !?!?" exclaimed both simultaneously. Their question was answered with a series of loud 'clang's coming from the corridor they used to enter. "Oh, boy... that doesn't sound good..." Said Jupiter. Stopping only to retrieve the Guardian's head from where it stood, both Senshi hurried to the entrance, only to find it blocked by a massive metallic door. "Just what we needed... stand back! JUPITER ION STORM!" Her super-charged attack melted the door like it was butter... only to show another door like it behind. "Let me try. Hold this." Said Jendra, handing the crystal to Jupiter. Concentrating, she extended her arms, Bladewind right in front of her face. The gems on her 'wings' began to glow with all the colors of the rainbow. "Twenty seconds for self-destruct." Said the recording. Jendra didn't pay attention to the warning, instead she focussed on building the necessary energy levels needed to open an exit in one single blast. A couple of seconds later, she released her attack. "JENDRA SPECTRAL AURORA!" From each one of the crystals on her wings, a pure energy blast emerged, each one of different color, indicating a different energy level. On some crystals, only a soft glow emerged, due to the fact that the energy pulse was beyond the human eye's capacity to see. Each one of those beams converged on Bladewind, making it glow in the purest white. In a heartbeat, the immense amount of Technum energy was released, going through the blast door like a welding torch against china paper. But it didn't stop there. It went on and on, until it faded in the distance. Jupiter risked a peek, and noticed that behind that door, were at least another six ones. Each one of them now a melted ruin. "Now... that's impressive." She was brought back to reality when the announcement "fifteen seconds for self-destruct" was heard. "Come on, let's go!" said Jendra. "Hold it!" said Jupiter. "What about the crystals of those poor people Cauldron used in his experiments? We can't leave them just like that!" Jendra looked at the containers, and focussed on those crystals. A second later, she sighed heavily. "There's nothing we can do for them, I'm afraid... The crystals can't be returned to their bodies... the only thing we can do, is leave them here... and allow them to continue their journey. Believe me... it's for the best." Jupiter tried to argue, but the message "ten seconds for self-destruct" prevented more arguing. Grasping the Guardian's head more securely, she only nodded. Without wasting another second, the Senshi ran like crazy, getting out of the house with only two seconds to spare. They barely had time to take a breath when the floor shook, forcing them to drop to the ground. They risked a look behind, and were witnesses of the final destruction of the Tomoe Mansion. It began to collapse on itself, until nothing more than rubble remained of it. "Just in time." Breathed Jupiter. "Here... I think you might want to keep it." She said, handing the crystal back to Jendra. "Thanks." Said Jendra, smiling at her friend. "Now, let's go back. We have to return it to its owner... not to mention that we have to attach Hogosuro's head back on his body." "Right! Then, let's go, shall we?" said Jupiter. With that, both Senshi returned to Gaia... none of them noticing a strange simmering floating above the ruins... Upon arrival back at the base, Sailor Uranus received them. "Don't you EVER do that again!" said the Senshi of Uranus. "Do you know how worried we were when we learned that you two went against those maniacs on your own??" "You can chew on us later, Uranus." said Jendra, not flinching. "Now, let me pass. I have to return this to Shingo." She then showed the crystal she was carrying. "Where is he? I hope you didn't left him at the ruins of the base." Uranus looked offended at Jendra, but decided not to retort. "Sailor Moon, Sailor Terra and Endymion carried him to your room... or what's left of it." Said Uranus. "And Hogosuro's body?" asked Jupiter. "Mercury is with it at the computers room. She and Alex are trying to assess the damage it received." Answered Uranus. Nodding at Uranus, both girls went to their respective destinations. While Jupiter took the same exit they used before, Jendra hurried to the top floor. When she turned towards her room, she noticed that Sailor Neptune was guarding the door. "How is he?" she asked as soon as she was standing in front of Neptune. "Not very good..." said Neptune, looking sadly at Jendra. "The others are trying to help him, but..." Without waiting for more, Jendra rushed inside, her own heart in her throat. A hundred scenarios ran through her mind, each one more dreadful than the last... but she never expected the scene that presented itself in front of her. Sailors Moon and Terra were holding Shingo's hands, while Endymion had his own placed on Shingo's temples. They were glowing a soft golden light, which in turn seemed to 'pour' on her love's body. However, despite that influx of energy, Shingo looked ashen... his skin almost grey. Jendra approached slowly, not knowing very well what to do. When she was standing next to Sailor Moon, the blonde opened her eyes, and looked at her. Moon's eyes had a look of despair on them, but when she noticed the crystal on Jendra's hands, she smiled, a wave of relief appearing on her eyes. Jendra approached Shingo's body, and with infinite care, she left the crystal on his chest. As soon as it left her hands, the crystal 'melded' again with its rightful owner. Immediately, Shingo's skin regained its normal hue, and his breathing became more relaxed. As soon as he was stable, the others stopped the energy influx, and sagged on their places, exhausted. While they recovered, Jendra looked around, noticing for the first time the damage her room had. The closet's doors were gone, and none of her clothes were there, only piles of ashes. All her stuffed toys collection was destroyed, as well as the beds and the rest of the furniture. A pool of water was soaking the carpet, coming from the bathroom. She felt a rush of anger at the sight of so much destruction... but when she looked at Shingo, resting peacefully, she remembered something Yohann had told them one day: "Things can be replaced..." echoed his voice in her mind. '... but lives cannot.' She added for herself. And after looking at her friends and lover, she couldn't agree more with that statement. Jupiter hurried towards the computer room, clutching the Guardian's head with all her strength. Her mind idly noticed that no service bot was around yet, but didn't pay any attention to that detail. Noticing the door to the computers room was open, she entered without preamble. Inside, Mercury was busy, compact in hand. One of the consoles was open, its circuits laying around. A set of precision tools was open next to the Guardian's chest, also with lots of circuits and electro-mechanical components protruding from it. When Mercury heard Jupiter's footsteps, she looked up off the screen of her compact, and smiled at her friend, happy to see her back in one piece. "Jupiter, thank God you made it! We all were too afraid when Terra said you and Jendra went to face Cauldron and MerLynn alone." "Yes, I'm glad to be back too, believe me." Said Jupiter, smiling as well. She then looked at the Guardian's body, and frowned. Mercury noticed it, and said. "I was trying to replace some of the damaged components with the ones of one of the computers... but I can't do much for some of them." "How bad is he?" asked Jupiter, worried at Mercury's choice of words. ""Well... some of the circuits can be replaced, as well as the connections to one of his power sources... but other components are irreplaceable. We don't have the spare parts here... and with the replicators destroyed, and lots of the tools on Engineering destroyed as well..." Mercury kept silent for a few moments, thinking of the best way to say the rest of the news. Finally, she looked straight into Jupiter's eyes, and said. "His self-repair mechanisms are almost totally destroyed, and his main power source is destroyed. Most of the servomechanisms of his body are destroyed, and can't be replaced for now. Some of the neural connectors are completely gone... the best I can do is patch some fiber optics to replace them, but those won't work as well as the originals. At least 38% of his pseudo-muscles are destroyed, so he won't be able to use all of his strength." Jupiter gulped unconsciously, Mercury's description registering on her mind, each word weighing a ton on her. Blinking rapidly in an attempt to stop the burning sensation of tears, she asked. "Then... he's gone? There's nothing anyone can do for him?" "Not at all, Jupiter." Said Alex, taking a small break from the system's reconstruction process. "If the head is in fairly good conditions, he'll be back to his old self... that is, if he doesn't rush to battle in the next... let me calculate it... 14 months." "But why that long?" asked Jupiter, puzzled. "As he is right now, his self-repair mechanisms will take at least seven months to repair themselves. From there, the rest of the time will be used to reconstruct the rest of his systems... but without proper material... not even that will help him." Finished Alex. "Now, if you excuse me, I have lots of work to do. Call me if you need any help, Ami." With that, she returned to her duties. Jupiter stood there for a few moments, stunned. Shaking her head, she addressed Mercury, her voice barely a whisper. "Need any help?" Mercury considered the offer, but when she looked at Jupiter's pleading eyes, she smiled, and nodded. "Sure. This is hard enough, and your help is welcome." Jupiter returned the smile, and placing the head carefully on another console, she began to work alongside Mercury. 'Don't worry...' she thought. 'You'll be back with us as good as new. You'll see.' * * * * Robin felt so tired... she felt emotionally drained, and her body seemed to agree. The voyage back to the base felt like an endless, nebulous dream... no, more like a nightmare. No matter how hard she tried, she wasn't able to contact with Alex again, and the communicators' range was too short to call the others with hers. To make things worse, the small medical pod wasn't able to cure Yohann. The best it could do was to stabilize him, but nothing more. She felt tempted to use the engines at full capacity, but without the base's beacon to guide her, she could very easily pass Japan without noticing it, so she was forced to literally crawl back. When the first signs of Japan appeared on the screen, she sighed, alleviated. Finally, she was now able to use her communicator. Letting the autopilot to handle the flight, she opened the device, and called. "Robin here. Is anyone out there? Please, come in." After a full minute of receiving only static, Robin felt almost elated when Uranus answered her call. "Robin! At last! Where are you? Are you all right?" "Yes, I'm fine. I'm on my way back, and I'm carrying Yohann with me. I'll be there in a few minutes. Prepare the Medical Ward. He's in bad shape, and needs treatment." When there was no answer, Robin felt fear gnawing at her. "Haruka... what happened?" "Robin..." began Uranus. "The base was attacked... by Cauldron. He demolished the place. The Ward... is no more." Robin felt weak, unable to believe what she just heard. No Medical Ward? The place... demolished? Slowly, she began to talk again. "Then... where can... I land? The hangar..." "Is still working." Interrupted Uranus. "You can still come here, at least. We'll call Dr. Mizuno, and ask for an ambulance. That's the best we can do for now. Uranus out." Robin felt like if the entire world began to crash on top of her head. How could things go so terribly wrong in such a short time? Her mind went blank, unable to cope with all those news in such a short time. She never noticed the moment when the Leviathan arrived at the base. She also didn't notice when the others entered the ship, taking her and Yohann out. She was emotionally and physically exhausted. The only moment she reacted, was when the ambulance arrived. When the paramedics began to load Yohann in the ambulance, she jumped inside too, stating that he was her boyfriend and had no one else for now. When nobody put objections to her petition, she felt slightly alleviated. For her, the trip to the hospital where Dr. Mizuno and her father were was as long as the trip back to the base, if not more. She was about to enter the emergency room when a nurse stopped her gently, asking her to go to the waiting area. Reluctantly, Robin accepted. An hour later, Technuma exited the ER, and stood in front of Robin. She looked up at him, her eyes asking a silent question... and pleading. He felt something starting to crack in his chest, but knew that he couldn't lie to his daughter. "Robin... we'll do what we can for him. But I can't make any promises. His wounds have already been treated, but we're still waiting for the results of the laboratory." "But you can help him, right?" begged Robin, her voice trembling. "You're the best doctor that exists... you can do it, can't you?" Technuma felt silent, not knowing what else to say. He was fighting an internal struggle... one part of him, the doctor, wanted to do his duty and help the person whose life depended on his ability. But there was also the part that asked Yohann to stay away from Robin... that part wanted nothing more than to walk away, and leave the explorer to his own means... even if that meant to let him die. Seeing his daughter so distraught only made that struggle worse. "Robin... as I said... we'll do what we can, even with the primitive facilities here. But... you have to keep in mind also that... that he... he might not make it." Finished Technuma. Robin looked at her father like he had grown two heads and horns, unable to believe what he just said. To her ears, those words sounded like Technuma had already given up... without even trying! She began to deny with her head, not wanting to get more depressed with such thoughts. She then grabbed her determination with both hands, and staring straight at Technuma, she said. "No... I won't stand here and see him die... You already gave me your knowledge, remember? If you don't want to do anything for him, I'll do." Without another word, she turned around, and walked out of the hospital, leaving behind a stunned Technuma. He stood fixed in that position for a few moments, and then turned back to the ER, still in emotional turmoil. At the Gate of Time... Pluto and the Commander have been watching everything from their position, none giving a clue of what they were thinking or feeling. After seeing Robin walking out of the hospital, Pluto broke the silence. "Everything is going as we foresaw." "Yes." Said the Commander. Without turning to see her, he continued. "How can you do it, Setsuna?" "Pardon me?" "How can you stand the pressure of seeing all this without cracking down? I'm barely able to contain myself and go there to help my own son. How can you stand seeing all that suffering during so much time... and not succumb to the temptation to do something to prevent it?" Pluto turned around slightly to see him, puzzled by his questioning. But she only saw his face, a stern look on it... like if it was set in stone. Even his eyes looked like they were just a set of obsidian pieces... no emotion was seen on them. "Are you all right?" asked Pluto, suddenly worried. "Yes, don't worry. Just a stray thought, nothing to worry about." Pluto had the ability to read other people's feelings and thoughts through their body language, but in this case, she was at a complete loss. The Commander... simply wasn't transmitting anything. In all the time she had known him, this was the first time she saw him in such control of his body. She had to admit that it worried her. Apparently, the Commander had the same ability... "Don't worry for me, Setsuna. I'm fine. Why don't you go and offer your help to the others? I'll keep an eye here." He turned around, and smiled at her. Pluto nodded, and was about to cross the Gate, when on an impulse, she turned around and began to address him again. "But... are you...?" The Commander raised a hand, stopping her question. "I told you, I'm fine. Now go. You're needed there." When Pluto crossed the Gate, the Commander let the mask he had put on finally slip, and he showed his worry. 'And to think that things will be worse for everyone... will we be able to resist?' he thought. * * * * Robin was sitting on a bench on the garden of the hospital. She didn't pay any attention to the people coming and going, instead she kept thinking of what her father had told her. 'He can't be serious... after all, he's done things truly amazing with less resources. Then why is he acting like this? I don't get it.' "Can I seat with you?" asked a voice, startling her. When Robin looked up, she saw Setsuna standing next to her, a faint smile on her lips. Nodding, she moved a little, allowing Setsuna to sit next to her. After a moment of silence, Setsuna decided to break the ice. "Care to talk about it?" Robin sighed heavily, her mind still in turmoil after the last events. Finally, she began to talk, although her voice was barely a whisper. "Have you ever lost someone you love, Setsuna?" Setsuna only blinked, taken completely aback by Robin's question. She never expected such a... personal question. "Why do you ask?" "You already should know, Setsuna." Said Robin, without looking at her. "You are the Guardian of the Gate of Time." "What does it has to do with this, Robin?" Setsuna already guessed where this was going, but had to ask anyway. "You can tell me..." continued Robin. "I'm going to lose him, right? He's going to die..." Setsuna settled for looking at the young Senshi of Saturn for a few moments, in silence. Granted, one of the visions she got during her eternal watch showed her that Yohann had truly died because of complications, but... that event also crushed Robin emotionally. It took too long for the others to help her get out of that emotional swamp. Without warning, the questions the Commander made to her echoed in her mind: 'How can you do it, Setsuna?' 'How can you stand seeing all that suffering during so much time... and not succumb to the temptation to do something to prevent it?' 'I guess... I understand what you meant, Galos...' thought Setsuna. She debated internally with her duty as a Guardian of Time, and what her heart was literally screaming to her. After taking a deep breath, she reached a conclusion. "Robin... that depends on you." Said Setsuna. Robin raised her head, and looked straight at Setsuna's eyes. She couldn't fathom what was hidden behind her eyes, but somehow, she knew that the Senshi of Time was trying to help her in the best way she could. "What... what do you mean?" she asked, puzzled. "The future is not set in stone. Time is always fluid." Said Setsuna, smiling faintly at Robin. "I know that this experience is going to be very hard for everyone... but in the end, if you can find that strength that lies in you, everything will be all right." "I don't get it..." said Robin. "You'll do." Answered Setsuna. And looking at the setting sun, she added. "Go home. You have classes tomorrow, and I imagine that you want to be here after school, right?" Robin nodded, and stood up. She hadn't taken more than three steps, when she stopped. And looking over her shoulder, she said. "Thank you." When Setsuna didn't answer, Robin walked away, still thinking of Setsuna's words. Setsuna stood looking at the sunset for a few more minutes before standing up. Before leaving the hospital grounds, she looked around, making sure that nobody was at listening distance. She then looked straight ahead, and muttered. "You knew, wasn't it? That's why you said that..." She almost giggled at that idea, and continued. "Just wait until my return... and Galos? Thank you." She never commented to anyone, but in that moment she felt as if someone had placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her strength. * * * * Sonya was still at the temple, trying to control herself. When Rei talked with her little more than an hour ago, and told her what had happened back at the base, Sonya got the awful feeling that someone had stabbed her in the abdomen, and was twisting the blade over and over again. She was about to leave the temple grounds when Rei stopped her. "Usagi told me that everything is now under control." Rei had said. "They'll call us if they need the backup. So, try to calm down!" However, it was plainly obvious that Rei was straining herself by not going to the base. For the moment, she was sitting in one of the meditation glades of the temple, polishing Excalibur absent-mindly. She didn't like one bit being inactive, but the circumstances had forced her... for now. Not to mention... that she felt personally responsible for what had happened. 'I was supposed to be there! I had to be at the base to help the others in protecting the place, not going away like that!' she kept thinking like that all the time, her own feeling of guilt increasing. Suddenly, she withdrew her right hand from the blade. Looking at her hand, she saw a thin line of blood on the palm, and looking at the sword, she noticed a small rivulet of her blood coating the sharp edge. 'Hardly a fitting punishment for what I caused by leaving my post...' she thought bitterly. Sonya was still looking at the sword when she felt someone placing a hand on her shoulder. "Not now, Rei. If you don't mind, I want to be left alone." "On the contrary, Sonya. I think you need to talk to someone." Said a voice Sonya didn't expect one bit. When Sonya looked up, she saw that it was Setsuna the one that had talked. Sighing, she looked down, and said. "What is to talk? I left my post, allowing the enemy to harm my friends, and destroy the only place I could call home since... well, I don't know how long. If you want me to say that I'm a failure, then you have it now. I'm a failure, happy?" Setsuna didn't say a thing. Instead, she seated next to Sonya, and took her wounded hand in hers. Taking a handkerchief from her purse, Setsuna began to clean the blood off Sonya's hand. After tying it neatly, she began to speak. "Why do you all speak of yourselves as failures?" "All of us?" asked Sonya, unable to contain her curiosity. "First Yohann, then Hogosuro. And now you. Why do you punish yourselves so hard? What do you gain with demoralizing yourselves so much? What do you expect to attain?" "Those two failures? Don't make me laugh, I'm not in the mood." Said Sonya, looking at Setsuna straight in the eyes. "The lieutenant is more capable than most officers I've met during my service term. And for Hogosuro, if giving up his humanity to protect the people of this planet against the device he guarded for so long is a failure, then I want to be a failure like him too." "You haven't answered my questions." Sonya didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked in front of her, but her eyes not focussing on anything in particular. Moreover, it seemed like she was contemplating something that only she could see. Slowly at first, she began to talk. "I imagine that you're aware of a saying that says 'there's no harder taskmaster than yourself', right? Well... that can be applied to all the members of the Agency, from the janitors to the commanding officers. We always try to improve ourselves, setting our sights higher than other people can think sane. "In a way, you're right Setsuna. We _punish_ ourselves, not because we like to do it, but because that's how we are. Someone else can tell us till the day the universe finally collapses on itself that we excel in all respects, but we know that's not the truth. We are far from that... after all, we are only humans." "I can't debate that." Said Setsuna, after a moment. "But you also have to take in account that what happened was in no way your fault. There was no way for you to know that the attack was going to happen. Nobody could have known." "Except you, maybe?" Setsuna raised an eyebrow at the question, slightly surprised at it. But she couldn't find any trace of irony or subtle reproach to her question. She decided to let it pass. "Touché. But what I said still stands. This isn't your fault, no matter how much you say the contrary." "I wish I could believe it, but thanks anyway." Said Sonya. "Believe it, because it's the truth. Now, if you excuse me... I have to go now. And please, think about what we talked." With that, Setsuna stood up, and walked out of the temple grounds. Sonya remained in the glade for some time, deep in thought. When she finally stood up, she looked at Excalibur again, and nodding, she willed it to return to the subspace pocket she usually used for storing it. She then took a deep breath, and headed to the temple. * * * * "Well, that's the last connection." Said Mercury. "Are you sure? There's still lots of damaged components in there." Said Jupiter. "We can't do anything for those. We don't have the spare parts, remember?" Jupiter only sighed as a response. She and Mercury had been working almost non-stop with the Guardian's body and the small amount of components from the gutted computer. Even with Alex' sporadic help, adapting the parts had been a grueling task. However, they managed to do it. It had been tricky to meld some of the damaged 'muscles' using a soldering gun, not to mention to patch the broken parts of the endoskeleton, but the work had been finally done. The most delicate part had been attaching the head back with the body. The original designers of the Guardian had made use of the human body anatomy to install the main neural connections inside the artificial spleen, therefore making the reconnection a task by itself. Fortunately, Mercury used a makeshift connector to replace the broken vertebrae and the damaged circuitry; however, it limited severely the movement of the neck. Reconnecting the whole assembly was tricky as well, but somehow they managed to do it. For Jupiter, the worse part had been closing the pseudo-flesh. They used surgical sutures to do it, therefore causing a lot of 'scars' all over his body. The unique characteristics of the pseudo-flesh prevented the use of heated instruments to melt it and make a more adequate job. "Well... here goes nothing." Said Mercury. Without more ado, she made the last connection, and placed the cables inside the Guardian's abdomen. Jupiter couldn't suppress a shudder when Mercury began to close the 'wound'. They waited for a few minutes for a reaction, but so far, the Guardian didn't give any kind of signal. "What's wrong? Why he isn't moving?" asked Jupiter, worried. Mercury activated her visor and her compact, and began to scan the Guardian. A couple of minutes later, she finished her scan. "Don't worry, Jupiter. His internal systems are running a full diagnostic, and it will take some time due to the amount of damage he received. I calculate that he'll regain his functions in a few hours at most." She deactivated her equipment and detransformed. "Come on. It's been a long day, and we have classes tomorrow. We can return after school." Jupiter tried to find an excuse to remain, but she felt too tired to try to argue. Nodding, she detransformed as well. "Good night, Alex. See you tomorrow." Said Ami. "Sleep well, girls." Answered the Artificial Intelligence. "Don't worry, now that part of the system is back in working order, I'll activate the remaining HWP's to keep guard here. Although I doubt that any more attacks will occur today." "Thank you Alex." Said Makoto. Looking at the immobile Guardian, she added. "If something happens, call me, ok?" "You'll be the first one to know." Said Alex. "Now, shoo! You all need to rest, and worrying more won't help you." Ami looked at the exchange with a little surprise. The last statement from Makoto was something she didn't expect, but decided not to ask anything for the moment. But she intended to find out what was going on. Taking Makoto gently by the arm, both Senshi left the Computer Room. Alex sighed, and after scanning the Guardian one more time, she went back to work with the reconstruction of the system. Since she needed all the resources still available, she disconnected the last functioning sensors of the room. That's why she didn't notice what happened some time later during the night. A little after midnight, the Guardian opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed was that he was functioning again; that by itself surprised him to no end. He tried to stand up, but found it impossible. His body didn't respond to his desires. He ran an internal checkup of his systems, and grimaced at the results. He would have to remain inactive for half a year at least before his self-repair mechanisms could fix themselves, and then the repair of his body would commence. And even then, there was no guarantee that he would be functional at 100% efficiency... too many systems have been damaged. "Enjoyed your nap?" The Guardian didn't expect anybody to remain with him, even less that such person would wait for him to regain consciousness. "I wouldn't call it a nap... and no. To be sincere, I didn't enjoy it." Answered the Guardian. "Why are you still here, Miss Meiou?" "Are you always that direct? And don't be so formal with me. Call me Setsuna, or Pluto." She then walked in front of the Guardian, allowing him to see her. She was in her Senshi form, minus the Techno-armor. "All right... Pluto. Would you be so kind to tell me, why did you bother putting me back together? Right now, I'm just a nuisance... excess baggage." "I wouldn't say that. You performed admirably against overwhelming odds. And as for putting you back together... do you think the others would be happy seeing you in pieces?" If he could have been able to do it, the Guardian would have sighed. "I understand that point. Nevertheless, all of you should have dedicated your resources in locating the Lieutenant and rebuilding the base, not bothering in trying to repair a piece of defective equipment such as myself." "You know?" started Pluto. "I had the same conversation with Sonya in the afternoon, and she answered the same thing as you, but not in those words. I'll ask you the same thing I asked her: Why do you punish yourselves so much? Why do you call yourselves failures?" "Don't you think I'm a failure?" asked the Guardian, unimpressed. "Good security officer I ended up being... letting the enemy enter the place, and trash it unmolested. Letting them hurt the others..." "I can't judge you in that respect." Answered Pluto. "However, there is one among us that wouldn't think of you as a failure. Even more... you risked everything trying to protect her." "She's too important." Said the Guardian, his voice becoming a little wistful. "I couldn't let Cauldron harm her." 'Is that so?" asked Pluto, raising an eyebrow. "Yes! And given the opportunity, I'd do it again." The Guardian was surprised at himself with the force he put on that answer. "Then... if you almost ceased to exist in order to protect her, why do you still call yourself useless? I don't think anyone would think of you as a failure." Said Pluto, kneeling next to the Guardian and looking straight into his eyes. "Granted the second point. But the first one... I'm completely useless now. I can't even move a finger. Do you think I'll be able to be of any assistance as I am now?" "Let me help you with that." Said Pluto, standing up. She leveled Eternity on top of the Guardian's thorax, and closing her eyes, began to concentrate. The Garnet Orb began to glow, and a steady stream of energy emerged from it, enveloping the Guardian. A couple of minutes later, she stopped. Opening her eyes, she addressed the Guardian. "That's the best I can do for you. Feeling better?" The Guardian closed his eyes, and ran another diagnostic. He was pleasantly surprised to find out that his motor functions were back online, as well as his sensory systems. Part of his self-repair mechanisms have been repaired as well, reducing greatly the amount of time required to repair himself. When he stood up, he noticed that the gashes on his pseudo-flesh were closed, not a trace of scarring on his whole body. Facing Pluto, he stepped back a couple of paces, and bowed. "I really appreciate what you did for me. If there's a way for me to repay your kindness..." "As a matter of fact..." said Pluto, interrupting him. "Yes, there is something you can do for me." "Name it, and I'll do it." "You'll have to talk with Makoto. You two have a lot to straighten up." Said Pluto, looking seriously at the Guardian. The Guardian blinked, shocked. He expected almost anything, but that... Closing his eyes, he considered the petition, running a series of scenarios in his mind. Finally, he opened his eyes, and addressed Pluto. "I'll do as you say." "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Hogosuro." Pluto then waved Eternity, opening a portal. "Now, if you don't mind, I must retire for the night." "Go in peace, Sailor Pluto. And again... thank you." Said the Guardian. He remained in the Computers Room until the break of dawn, remembering the events of the past days... and wondering how to approach Makoto. TO BE CONTINUED.