Serena stuck her tongue out and pulled her bangs off her forehead. "Ugh. It's so hot. Let's go find some shade already."
"We told Amy we'd wait at the phone booth, and there's no shade near here. You'll just have to wait it out like the rest of us." Serena made faces at the back of Rei's head.
Mina shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. "It's been too long. I'm calling her. Stand in front of me while I use my communicator." She pulled it out of her pocket and tried to get a hold of Amy. "She isn't answering. Something's wrong." She closed her compact and put it away.
"Call her house on the phone. Maybe she hasn't left yet for some reason. With the phone, you can always get her mom if she's not answering." Artemis did a close approximation to a shrug.
"Good idea!" Serena snatched the phone off the hook and started dialing, glad to do something. "Hello?... This is Serena, is Amy still there?... Oh, no reason, I'll just tell her later... Yeah... Thanks, good-bye!" She hung up the phone and shook her head. "She left home about half an hour ago."
"We should backtrack along the route she'd take to get here. That way we can meet her on the way."
"Great idea, Mina. C'mon!" Now that they were on the move, Serena's nearly inexhaustible reserves of energy kicked in again, and she dashed down the street.
"Serena!" Mina called out, "Stop! That's the wrong way!"
"Oh boy," Luna bowed her head.
*****
"Well, we sat there so long that I lost my sense of direction." Serena tried desperately to defend herself. Rei opened her mouth to make another snide remark when Mina shot a glare at her.
"I'm tired of listening to you guys argue. We're almost to Amy's and we haven't seen her yet. We should have left someone behind in case she showed up at the phone booth," Mina fretted.
"What's that up there?" Serena pointed at a huddled shape on the sidewalk ahead. They ran up to investigate. "Amy!" Serena shrieked, "Oh no, not again!" She collapsed on her knees by Amy's side and shook her. "Amy, c'mon, fight it! Answer me!"
Rei laid a hand on her shoulder. "Let's get her to her mom. We can't do anything for her right here." She knelt next to Serena and Amy and took one shoulder. Serena sniffed and picked Amy up from the other side, and they began to carry her home.
Artemis stole a glance at Luna. "This is starting to look very bad. I'm worried." Luna nodded.
*****
"Thank you, sir." Mina hung up the phone. She turned to Serena, Rei, Luna, and Artemis. They'd gone over to Mina's house to wait for news on Amy's condition. "It's the same story," she reported as she sat down on the bed in her room, "The doctors don't know what's wrong. They can't help her."
"Now what?" Serena wailed.
"Don't fall apart on us yet-we still have most of today and tomorrow to find the Negaverse energy collection sites and shut them down. While they're weak we can stop the aliens for good. We need you to help us fight." Luna tried to keep Serena from breaking down.
"That's right-we can't give up!" Rei slammed a fist into her palm. "We have to get out there and stop them. Mina, do you have a phonebook here? We can split up all the new stores in the area into three groups, and when we find something suspicious, call for backup."
"Here," Mina gave Rei a phonebook, and with renewed determination they assigned stores to each other and left to search through them for clerks sporting black crystal necklaces or customers with an odd weak feeling.
*****
"Serena! Mina! Come in!" Rei hissed urgently into her communicator.
"Yes?"
"Yeah? What?"
"I think I've found another suspicious store-you should get here as soon as you can."
"Coming!"
"On my way!"
Rei snapped shut her communicator and settled down for a short wait.
*****
The three girls stood huddled behind the building in a small alleyway. "So, how do we approach this?" Rei brushed a long black strand out of her face.
"It's already late-you said there was almost no one inside, right?" At Rei's confirming nod Mina continued. "We should go in now-we don't have time to waste."
Luna and Artemis gave nods of approval, and all three girls held up their hands.
"Venus Star Power...Make Up!"
"Mars Star Power...Make Up!"
"Moon Crystal Power...Make Up!"
The three Sailor Scouts ran into the store. Two clerks looked up as their shadows crossed the threshold. One immediately transformed into its normal form, and the other's eyes widened. It ran into the back of the store, and four more octopi walked forward to face the Sailors.
Sailor Moon readied her scepter, Venus and Mars took defensive postures as they prepared to attack.
*****
"M'Lord! M'Lord! I just received a report. The second facility is under attack by the Scouts!" A functionary ran into Cerulean's room waving a sheet of paper. He snatched from the creature's hand and scanned it. With a curse he jogged off to the transport room.
*****
"Fire Soul!" Mars destroyed another octopus. "Are there any more?" she panted at Venus and Sailor Moon.
"I don't know-they're hard to keep track of in the heat of battle." Sailor Moon shook her head.
"So, I finally meet the famed Sailor Scouts!" an unfamiliar voice called out. The girls gasped and scanned the store, peering between rows and racks of sports wear.
"Who are you?" Venus called out, "Show yourself!"
"Well, how can I refuse such a polite request!" the voice said sarcastically, and shimmered into sight. He looked almost exactly like Alan, with light blue hair and pale green skin.
"You didn't answer my first question-who are you?" Venus repeated.
He bowed flamboyantly. "I am Cerulean-and you are on my turf!" With a yell he aimed a blast at the group of girls, but they were ready for him, and leapt out of his attack's path.
"Moon Tiara Magic!"
"Crescent Beam!"
"Fire Soul!"
The tiara was sheathed in fire and the crescent beam made it glow as bright as the sun as it flew toward Cerulean with a metallic ring. He teleported out if its path, but it caught him with a glancing blow on its return trip. He flickered out of sight.
"Did I kill him?" Sailor Moon asked breathlessly.
Venus shrugged, "I don't know, Sailor Moon."
"Of course you didn't, Serena," a voice mocked. Sailor Moon spun to face the source of the voice, and pulled up her scepter, but too slowly. With an evil glow in her eyes Sable used her blasting attack on Venus. The concussion made Sailor Moon lose her balance. She shook her head to clear her ringing head.
Sable strode over to Venus and Artemis, and by the time Sailor Moon struggled to her feet, Sable had stepped back again.
"What did you do?!" she screamed. "Leave them alone!"
Sable cocked her head. "Why? You couldn't protect Lita. You failed to keep Amy safe. And now, while they're right in front of you, you fail to save Mina and Artemis." Sable smiled as each cruel accusation made Sailor Moon jerk as if she'd been slapped. Theatrically she raised a forefinger and tapped it against her chin as she stared at the ceiling in a caricature of musing thought. "I'm wondering if you protect your family as well as you do your friends," she drawled.
Sailor Moon looked up at her with panic her eyes. "You leave my family alone! They've never hurt you! I never hurt you! I was-I was your friend!" she wailed.
Sable smiled at Sailor Moon's near paralysis. She opened her mouth to aim more painful words at Sailor Moon.
"Fire Soul!" Mars had slipped in right behind Sable, and Sable didn't have time to react to Mars' cry. Mars' attack struck her full force in the back. She flew forward with the impact and landed on face down. Sailor Moon was so angry she immediately brought up her scepter.
"Moon Princess Hala..." Sable stirred as Sailor Moon began to shout her incantation, and she roused enough to teleport to safety before Sailor Moon could bring all her rage and power to bear on Sable. Sailor Moon's cry trailed off and she dropped her scepter to the ground in despair when she saw that Sable had escaped. She fell to her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. Mars looked at her with concern, but walked over to Venus and Artemis first. She nudged them both, but they didn't respond. She looked over at Luna.
"What happened to Venus and Artemis-I couldn't see or hear that well while I was circling around the back."
"It seems Sable is behind what's happened to Lita and Amy-and now Mina. We have to sneak her into her room-I need Artemis' computer to get her out of her armor, and then we'll drop her off at the hospital," Luna's voice cracked as she looked at Artemis, and Mars picked her up and hugged her in sympathy.
"We'll figure something out, Luna," she said, "but right now we have to get Sailor Moon back together, and get Venus out of here." She strode over to Sailor Moon. "Sailor Moon-get up! We need you, and you're no help to us like this."
Sailor Moon just cried harder. Mars knelt by her side and put her arm over Sailor Moon's shoulder. "Serena," she whispered, "I know this is hard. Do you think I don't feel the same sort of pain you do? I was the one bawling on the floor when we thought you were dead." That got Sailor Moon's attention. Her sobs calmed a bit. "I don't know what she said to you-it must have awful-but if we're going to stop her we don't have time for this. We only have one more day before Lita dies-we have to move now!"
"She-she said she was after my family next," Sailor Moon sniffed.
"Oh no! I'm sorry Serena, that has to be terrible. We have to take care of Venus, then you can go home and guard your family. C'mon, I know you can do it," Mars urged as Sailor Moon began to get up. They picked up Venus and Artemis and walked to Venus' house.
*****
"Serena, are you all right?" Serena's mom asked, concerned. "You're not eating at all. And why are you so nervous?"
"Oh, I don't know, Mom. This is delicious, I'm just not hungry."
She pushed back her plate. "Can I be excused?"
Her mother smiled at her. "I know you're concerned about Lita, dear. Go ahead."
Serena went outside and sat on the front porch. After a while she saw Darien walk up the sidewalk. She watched him approach her house. He strode up the walk to the porch and sat down next to her.
He looked down at the top of her bowed head. "I missed you tonight. We were supposed to meet for ice cream."
Serena gasped, "Oh my gosh! I can't believe I forgot. I'm sorry, I should have called you! Things have-things haven't been good lately."
Darien leaned close in concern at the catch in her voice. "What's wrong? Want to talk about it? Is that Sable causing trouble again?" Serena hugged him with a sob.
"Sable got Lita and Amy and Mina and Artemis. She's draining their energy, and Amy said Lita only has one day left. And the Mistress is after Rei and I too. Everyone's in the hospital, but they can't help them. And then today Sable said she was going to get my family, so I have to stay home and make sure they're-make sure they're-" Serena lost it, and just clung to him. After a while she cried herself out and with a few sniffles she sat back up and wiped her eyes dry.
Darien looked at her with worry. "That's horrible. I had no idea things were so bad. Serena, you can come to me with troubles."
"It all just happened so fast, I haven't had time. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I couldn't make it today."
"Well, I know you can't leave the house on a whim, but if you need me for anything, just give me a call. I'm here for you, Serena."
She smiled tremulously. "Thank you."
*****
"I don't even feel comfortable going to school," Serena fretted to Rei. "I was sure I was going to come home to an empty house. I wish I could search stores with you, but I don't dare."
Rei smiled. "I know, Serena. I'm worried about Lita. Today is when Amy said we'd be cutting things close. What were you and Luna talking about at that one meeting? I seem to remember you had something that could give us more time."
Luna nodded from her place on Serena's shoulder. "I guess it doesn't matter if you know. I think Serena has to visit Lita at the hospital tonight, and you'll need to guard her home. She's going to use the Silver Crystal to replenish Lita's reserves of energy. We need more time, and this is the only way we can get some. You're going to have to watch her house while she's gone." Luna instructed.
"They won't let you in the hospital, Luna, so you'll have to tell me what to do," Serena ventured.
"Just say Moon Crystal Power-but instead of using all the energy, just concentrate on directing a small trickle at Lita. The second you feel any resistance from her, stop," Luna instructed.
Serena nodded. "I'll go now-I don't want to put her in danger by waiting too long." Her recurring pangs of guilt prompted her to add the word "again", but she knew she couldn't have saved Lita, so she forced her thoughts to other avenues. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She left.
*****
"You have to sleep, Serena," Luna scolded. "You're too tired to be any use to your family. You have to build back up the energy you expended in giving Lita more time."
Serena shook her head. "I can't fall asleep or Sable will come-I have to stay awake."
"I'll watch the house, Serena. It'll be safe for you to sleep. You really have to-it's been more than a day. You're going to collapse soon!"
Serena shook her head vigorously, partly to disagree with Luna, partly to keep herself awake. "If Rei's out there looking for the Mistress' forces, I can at least stay awake. I won't let the Mistress take anyone else, or hurt anyone else."
Luna stared at her, but couldn't think of anything else to say.
*****
Sable waited in front of Serena's house. All of the lights but the ones in Serena's room were off. She smiled. This was the second night in a row that Serena hadn't slept-Sable knew she'd have to fall asleep tonight-it was physically impossible to stay awake much longer. She settled down to wait.
*****
Serena drooled peacefully into the pillow while Luna watched. She'd finally fallen asleep, and Luna had been prowling the house to make sure nothing happened. She took off to make another round. As she padded from room to room she heard a rattle at the window. She leapt toward it, and stopped face to face with Sable. "Sere-" With a snarl Sable grabbed Luna and slapped her palm to Luna's crescent marked forehead. The black cat went limp.
"Now for her family," Sable crooned. She put her hand to both parent's heads, and established a link with them. Then she made for Sammy's room.
When she saw him, she reached out her hand, and then stopped. "No, I have a wonderful idea. Why don't I take you with me?" she asked. She leaned over and picked him up. He woke up when she jostled him, and when he saw her, he opened his mouth to scream, but she teleported them both out before a sound issued from his throat.
*****
Serena yawned and rubbed her eyes tiredly. Then she sat up straight. "Oh no! I fell asleep! Luna! Luna! Where are you?" She dashed through the house. She stopped at her parent's room. Luna and her parents hadn't gotten up yet. When she tried to wake them, they didn't respond. "Sammy!" She ran to his room, and stopped so suddenly she almost fell forward. His bed was rumpled, but empty. "No!" She ran through the house and stopped at the front door-a note was pinned to it.
~I was here-where were you? I took your brother on a trip. See you soon, -Sable.~
She collapsed on the floor. "No!"
*****
Rei rubbed her sore feet. She'd done nothing but visit stores for almost two days now, and her feet were protesting. She looked up with a sigh as the throbbing in her feet faded to a slight soreness. Just a few more stores today- thank goodness things wouldn't get desperate until tomorrow again, when Amy would be in real trouble, if her energy drain followed the same schedule as Lita's. She began to walk to the next store on her list when she was inexplicably overcome with a desperate desire to go see Serena. Something was wrong. Rei was about to run to Serena's house when she noticed a sign up ahead-the store she was searching for. She decided to stop at the store, and then go see Serena-it was almost on the way to Serena's house.
She wandered in nonchalantly. It was an accessory store, with scarves and hats and belts and jewelry. She pretended to browse while she waited for a clerk to come into view. When one walked by she almost dismissed the bulge under her shirt and moved on, but for some reason she stopped. She searched for another clerk-and there it was-the black crystal pendant. She walked out of the store and set off for Serena's at a run.
*****
"Cerulean, I cannot afford to lose my last facility for draining energy from humans. Those blasted Scouts destroyed the other two, and who knows whether or not they'll find this last one. I hope you have taken pains that it not be discovered!" The Mistress was uncharacteristically pale.
"I told the Crimson Guard to hide their shape-changing crystals, but it is nearly impossible when they are activated. That is the only way the Scouts could detect them. We are draining very little energy at a time in order to avoid detection."
"If they go after the last one, you must personally stop them. Even the Crimson Guard is weakening by now."
"But Mistress, they almost defeated me last time." He pulled back the hood covering his head and hair. One half of his hair was white from the shock of the battle. "Even if I go there personally again, that doesn't come close to guaranteeing success."
"I will give you unlimited access to all our combined energy resources," the Mistress began. Cerulean bowed, surprised at her trust. "Use this gift wisely. If you draw too much, all of us here will die. While that may appeal to your desire for advancement, remember if there is no one to uphold the kingdom until you return, you are too weak alone to regain it." She smiled as he blanched, "Good, I am pleased you see the true enormity of the situation. I suggest you monitor the remaining facility personally."
*****
Rei walked up and knocked on Serena's front door. "Serena? Serena?" When she didn't get an answer she took out her communicator. "Serena? Answer me! It's important!" As a last resort she tried the doorknob. The door was unlocked and it opened right up. Serena sat on the floor, silent and staring into space. Rei sat down beside her. "Serena! Why didn't you answer?" she waved her hand in front of Serena's face and she didn't even blink. Rei looked around for a clue as to what had brought Serena to this state, and noticed the note on the door. She read it. "Oh my god," she whispered. She whirled back to face Serena and shook her violently. "Serena, I found another store. Wake up!" She shook her harder. "Damn it, I need you!" She slapped her as hard as she could. Serena didn't even make a sound. "What about Darien?" she nearly shouted. "What about me? We're still here, Serena! Don't freeze up while you still have a chance to save everyone!" Rei's voice cracked with passion. "Serena, there are still people here who need you..." Her voice trailed off when Serena didn't acknowledge her at all. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and bent close to the ground with a sob. She cried softly on the floor next to Serena.
Serena blinked and her eyes focused slowly on Rei's rocking form.
A tear ran down her face and she got up to hug Rei. "I-I'm sorry, Rei. I'm here. I-I'll try to keep going."
"I'm just as frightened as you are!" Rei wailed, "I can't always-always be the strong one." Serena closed her eyes.
"I know," she whispered.
Rei sat up abruptly. With a few sniffs she wiped tears off her face. "I don't know if you heard," she said, implying she didn't want to talk about the events of the last few minutes, "but I found another Negaverse store."
Serena attempted a watery smile. "Why don't we go kick some Negaverse butt, then."
Rei smiled back. "That sounds so preposterous coming out of your mouth, Serena," she teased, and they set off.
*****
Sailor Moon stood straight and tall in front of the store. "I am Sailor Moon!" she announced, "Champion of love and justice, and I'm here to get rid of you!"
"And I am Sailor Mars, and in the name of the planet Mars I protect Earth from nega-sleaze like you!" Mars pointed angrily at the surprised store clerks. With a glance at each other and the two girls, they all disappeared in a brief flash of light. Sailor Moon and Mars were ready for it and shielded their eyes. When they put their arms down, a group of the Crimson Guard stood before them.
"Now what?" Sailor Moon hissed at Mars.
"It's a good sign-the octopi are probably too weak to fight. Don't run out on me now!" Mars shot back.
Sailor Moon brought out her scepter. "Moon Princess Halation!" She began to slice through the Crimson Guard ranks.
*****
Cerulean looked up with a jerk of his head. His mother's voice echoed from his private intercom. "Cerulean! Get to the last facility. It is under attack and in imminent danger of being overrun. Move!" With the snap in his mother's voice, Cerulean shot up from his seat and dashed to the transport point.
*****
"Get up, Sailor Moon!" Mars urged. "Fire Soul!" she cried as she strove to hold off the remaining members of the Crimson Guard. They were inhumanly agile, and very strong as well.
Sailor Moon Struggled to her feet. She spotted a light-footed monster moving around Mars' guard. "Moon Tiara Magic!" She whipped her tiara at the creature, and it went down heavily. The two remaining creatures pulled back suddenly.
"There seems to be a few of you missing," a taunt rang out. Sailor Moon whirled toward the familiar voice.
"Cerulean!" she cried, "I can see I left you with a souvenir from our last meeting. I'm not fooling around with you this time either!" Mars peered over at her, surprised to hear actual anger in her voice. Then she decided to try circling around behind Cerulean as she had with Sable while he was warily watching Sailor Moon's angry form. "I'm really angry right now, and if you don't get out of my way, I'll go through you!" With a sharp flourish she brought her scepter up. "Moon Princess Halation!" She swung the energy beam after Cerulean as he ran out of its path.
Mars watched how he moved and aimed her fingers at where he would be in a few seconds. "Fire Soul!" He turned with a swirl of sky-blue and snow-white hair and when he saw the fast approaching fireball he teleported out. Sailor Moon was still angry, and she turned the scepter on the last two Crimson Guard. One jumped over the beam and pulled out a wickedly long black scimitar. With a yell it held its blade over its head, and it was about to cleave Sailor Moon in two when Mars shrieked out, "Burning Mandala!" The last creature was sliced up and fell down, unmoving. Sailor Moon stood a foot out of its reach, her chest heaving as she gulped for breath.
Mars walked up to her. "Don't let anger get the better of you, Sailor Moon." She hesitantly touched Sailor Moon's shoulder. "You have to think clearly."
Sailor Moon looked down at the ground for a second. She closed her eyes and changed back into Serena. When she looked up the rage in her eyes was almost gone. "If I think clearly, I freeze," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Everything's gone so wrong."
"Don't say that!" Mars changed back to Rei. "Look, I know things are really bad right now, but look at what we've accomplished. We've almost completely defeated the Mistress, despite what's happened to us." She hugged Serena. "We still have a chance-don't give up yet."
Serena tightened her arms around herself for a second, and with a deep breath she stood up straight again. "That's right!" she declared with a toss of her head. "We've almost defeated them. We don't dare stop now. Let's go!"
*****
Cerulean stood up with a groan. That teleport had taken a lot out of him. He changed into a nondescript young man with a pale streak in his hair, and waited at the entrance of the store to see who came out. He didn't dare go back home yet-his mother would have his head. His only chance at redemption was to stay away until after he'd defeated the Sailor Scouts, so he decided it was best if he waited for the two Scouts to leave and then follow them.
A couple minutes later he saw two young girls walk slowly out of the building. The blonde with the strange hairstyle was determined, while the raven-haired girl behind her looked exhausted. They were so unprepossessing that he dismissed them at first sight. He was about to watch the door again when he thought. No one could have stayed hidden in the store during that fight-it had ripped just about everything to bits. These young girls had to be the Sailor Scouts. With a malicious grin he set off to follow them-on foot. He was tired, after all.