forgotten future, forbidden past
chapter six

      The tension in the dark room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The white-haired woman, however, leaned easily against the doorframe, small, imperious, smirk on her face. She seemed oblivious to the crazed, anger-filled stare from the young woman before her, and nodded lazily to the elaborate tank at the rear of the room. "Mizuno looks much better that way... don't you think?"

      "You... you bitch..." Daburu choked out, fists clenched. Minako remained silent next to her, eyes closed.

      Faustine laughed lightly. "What an impertinent thing you are." She straightened, eyes dancing playfully. "You're just like your mother. Too bad..." Dark energy crackled around her fingertips as she raised them. "I'll have to take care of you like I did her..."

      Minako moved then, shoving Daburu out of the way as a stream of black light cut across the room, evaporating when it failed to connect. Minako dug her fingers into Daburu's arm.

      "Don't get yourself killed," she whispered raggedly. "She's strong, but she doesn't--"

      "Enough!" Faustine's impatient call came far closer than Minako expected. "We won't fight in here... Our dear "Ami" is too precious..."

      Daburu felt a roaring in her ears. She struggled to cry out, but she felt disembodied somehow, no longer in the correct place. The cold feeling of the floor against her cheek finally snapped her back into full consciousness. Her eyes shot open.

      They were in the sub-basement. The walls were gray, undecorated, and laced with jagged cracks. Daburu swallowed, the air feeling unaccustomedly stale.

      "Venus--" The beginning of the attack died on the already standing Minako's lips as she was hurled backwards with a wave of Faustine's hand.

      "Minako!" Daburu cried, enraged. She sprang to her feet, arm already outraised, gray eyes blazing. "Neo-Moon Star Power, Make-up!"

      The space around her exploded in a burst of blue and red light. Ribbons snaked around her body, sprouting out in a bow at her chest, and continuing to cover her with the white and blue-skirted fuku of the Moon. Beams of lights encircled her fingers, becoming crimson gloves topped with the lunar symbol of Serenity. Boots slid over her legs, as a silver-coated tiara appeared on her forehead.

      As the red and blue aura faded, she was dropped neatly to the ground, a snarl marring her elven-like features. "I won't forgive you for this.... Neo-Moon..."

      Silvery lines of power gathered around her clasped gloves as she raised them in the air, almost in slow motion. The energy expanded, crystallizing, and taking the shape of a hundred pointed star. The center began to glow with a dim lavender light.

      "...Kappa Maelstrom!"

      The crystal spikes coalesced with the now humming lavender light, filling the entire dank basement with its brightness. It illuminated Daburu's determined eyes for just a moment... then as she brought her arms down in a swift chopping motion, it was launched across the empty space between her and Faustine.

      The white-haired woman raised an eyebrow. "Impressive," she uttered, just as the lavender-white ball shattered into a million pieces in front of her. She smirked. "But not impressive enough."

      Neo-Moon turned pale. Minako, who had struggled up from the ground, stood in front of Daburu protectively.

      "Faustine.." she hissed, clutching a wounded arm. "Leave her alone."

      "Oh.." Faustine laughed again. "I will.. in one sense, or another."

      Daburu shoved Minako out of the way, and leapt at Faustine. The strike was so sudden that even Faustine was surprised, and dodged it too slowly. A long streak of blood appeared across her perfect features. Neo-Moon turned to make another attack, but Faustine grasped her neck, eyes blazing in anger. She threw Daburu to the side suddenly, and smiled icily as she rubbed the blood in her face.

      A breeze began to blow. Faustine's cloak wavered around her as her eyes turned inky black. Minako sent a wild-eyed look at Daburu.

      "Daburu, I..."

      Faustine's arms shot out suddenly. Daburu didn't even get a chance to cry out as wave upon wave of psionic energy hit her. The last thing she heard before unconsciousness claimed her was "Star Se--" screamed by the triumphant Faustine...

* * * * *

      "HA!" Iroiro grinned as she surveyed the odd scene around her. "It worked!"

      Two gray and white fuku-clad Senshi, a burly man, and a dog in half-leap stood completely motionless around Iroiro and Shinju. As Iroiro snickered incessantly, and poked all of the frozen figures, Shinju blinked.

      And blinked again.

      "Eh?" She looked over at him, finally noticing his awestruck expression. "Shinju? You... ok?" She waved a hand in front of his face.

      "I.. suppose so," he croaked out. He was feeling dizzy all of a sudden, and wondered dismally if Iroiro would consider it rude if he just sat down for a moment...

      "Shinju!" She rushed to his side as he collapsed, clutching his back and grimacing slightly. "Oh.. wound's worse than I expected." She winced. "Sorry, I'm not the most collected of people. Should've told me..." she trailed off, eyes concerned.

      "Concerned about losing me, or the help you wanted me to give?" He sighed.

      Iroiro gave him a disappointed expression. "Don't be silly, Shinju-kun. I lo-- I mean," she corrected herself furiously, small expression of pain flitting across her eyes, "I don't want anything to happen to you." She stood up slowly, allowing him to use her shoulder for support. "The effects of the time capsule won't last long, we'd better get moving."

      "'Time capsule'?" Shinju said wearily. "What did you do to them?"

      "Oh.." She waved her hand nonchalantly. "It's not a big deal. It's a time-altering device I cooked up in the 20th century. Freezes everything within a one-mile radius."

      "Then what about us..?"

      "I locked in our patterns as untouchable. Anyone unfortunate enough to step into the altered space after us, however," she frowned, "don't think something good'll happen."

      Shinju stayed silent as she half-dragged him around the corner, into an abandoned alleyway. There she gently pushed him against the wall, and stood back, looking rather sheepish.

      "A lot of stuff got.. mixed up in my head over time. I'm not exactly where I'm supposed to be." She sent him a helpless glance, as if she didn't know how to explain. "A... woman from my world meddled in your past events, causing a colliding of sorts... that's how I got here, I guess."

      "What woman?" Shinju rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly, thinking of Makoto.

      "Um... your leader," she mumbled. "I don't know if I can tell you... Look, your Pluto has to be found... she was trapped in the Time Gate, I think. But we have to retrieve the Time Staff... one of your Senshi has it. We have to work quickly... before the prophecy comes true."

      "What prophecy?" Shinju asked, now utterly baffled.

      "The woman has a companion on this planet, a replica of her, so to speak. One that is destined to turn out exactly like her... she planned it this way. And when that comes to pass... all hell will break loose..."

* * * * *

      The man had put on a new dress uniform, crisp and clean, giving no indication of the fear he had witnessed not long before. He liked it that way. Let them think he was infallible... incapable of feeling fright. He needed that boost... they made fun of him incessantly, anyway...

      He wiped a sweaty brow as his fingers fumbled to jerk the lock open. It finally gave way with an eerily resounding click, and he pulled back the door. He adjusted his glasses, at the same time wrinkling his nose as an oddly familiar smell hit him.

      He hesitantly proceeded further into the room, running his fingers against the wall for a lightswitch. He did so hate the medieval-like qualities of the sub-basements. Imagine, having to turn on lights manually like in the 20th century..?

      It took a few moments for his eyes to become adjusted to the light. A few moments for his brain to actually process the scene before him. He silently gaped when his vision fully cleared, mouth twitching somewhat oddly.

      It was a Senshi, that was evident by the sailor-like uniform, short skirt and all. Thick blue hair framed her face pleasantly, giving her almost an ethereal look at first glance. And she clutched something in her hand.....

      There was someone else. Long blonde hair... fading sigil on her forehead. So familiar... She was sprawled beneath the Senshi, something protruding from her chest....

      A knife. The Senshi clutched a knife in her strong, determined hand, a knife that was lodged securely in the blonde's chest. Red streaked the victim's dress, soaking it's fine silk texture....

      The man adjusted his glasses. "Well. Have to report this to A.M.I....." He walked out, mumbling, without another glance in the direction of the stone-cold room.

      Somewhere high within the palace walls, a cold, triumphant laugh rang out... a laugh that would even chill the dead..

* * * * *

      Neo-Mars and Venus stood at attention, hands clasped tightly behind their backs; it would've made an impressive sight... if it hadn't been for their eyes. Mars' were red-rimmed, as if she'd been crying, and refused to look up, while Venus blinked rapidly, as if fighting off tears herself. It had taken all of their courage just to come up here...

      "What can I do for you, ladies?" Rei Hino asked icily from the chair she had draped herself upon.

      "G-general Mars.." Venus finally got out, swallowing nervously, "We're.. concerned about our fellow.." She seemed to be struggling for the right words, and Rei looked at her curiously.

      "Spit it out, Amaryllis, I haven't got all day," Rei said calmly. "Who are you concerned about?"

      "The other Neo-Senshi," Neo-Mars responded meekly, her eyes becoming slightly mixed with that awe she always felt in General Hino's presence. "We.. we haven't had any contact from them in a while."

      "Is that so, Odori?" Rei frowned, looking genuinely troubled. "Neo-Moon.."

      "We haven't heard from her, either, ma'am," Venus said hesitantly. "That's why we thought we should come to you..."

      Rei nodded. "Yes, yes, all good and well. Have you tapped into the database... well, of course you haven't," she said with some irritation upon seeing their confused faces. "On the wall." She gestured to a small pad. "Type in your clearance code, and request data on the whereabouts of the Neo-Senshi."

      Amaryllis complied, and slowly punched her access code and commands in. A loud screech could be heard, followed by a feminine voice. Rei drummed her fingers against the edge of her chair impatiently.

      "I greet you, Sailor Neo-Venus. The information you requested is as follows... One moment please."

      The pad emitted a merry little tune, until the voice came back online. Neo-Venus looked up eagerly.

      "Location of Sailor Neo-Mercury: Unknown. Location of Sailor Neo-Mars: Elder Mars' quarters, west wing, level 7. Location of Sailor Neo-Jupiter: ...... Classified Information. Please retry with a higher code."

      Rei sighed loudly. "Computer, location of Sailor Neo-Moon?"

      The pad remained silent.

      "Computer.. clearance level MarsGK1729," she said forcefully, obviously annoyed. "Location of Sailor Neo-Moon!"

      "Complied, Elder Mars. One moment..."

      The pad suddenly emitted a short screeching sound. "Location of Sailor Neo-Moon: Currently Unknown. Considered highly dangerous. Wanted for Murder of Elder Senshi Venus... Assault of a High Official..."

      The silence in the room was deafening.


Author's Notes:
No.. don't make fun of Neo-Moon's attack...^_- Um.. maybe it'll morph into an attack with lil' Kappa the Imps running around... err.. maybe not.

Anyway.. isn't Faustine just EVIL? Setting up Daburu like that.. ::shakes her head:: Well, you might be surprised how Rei's going to respond to this..interesting little fiasco...

Hm.. uh... well.. I'm going now. ;)


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