Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. Sailor Sirius is the property of Sharon Williams. Any references to Vulcan are the province of Gene Roddenberry and Paramount Studios. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Part Five: Fighting Girls
Rating: PG-13
The android was deathly silent as it approached Serena, Tanya and Talia.
"We're in trouble!" a frightened Serena cried.
"That much is obvious," said an unnaturally calm Talia, her eyes fixed tight on the robot's visor as the red light moved from right to left. The light then stopped in the middle and flashed brightly. A dangerously telling sign to the Vulcan girl. "Move! Get out of the way!"
No sooner had Talia shouted her warning when the android fired it's laser beam, blasting a hole in the floor where the desperately scrambling girls stood only a moment earlier. The impact of the blast knocked the girls off their feet and they crumpled to the ground. The android barely paused as it scanned the room for a target to destroy, locking onto Tanya, dazed from her fall and unaware of the menace that stalked her.
Talia, having quickly gotten back to her feet, saw the danger her friend was in and acted with swift purpose. Spying a nearby sawhorse, the Vulcan girl picked it up and hit the android in the head from behind with enough force to bowl it over before it could fire at a terrified Tanya. With the robot prone on the ground, Talia hefted a fifty pound bag of cement with startling ease and threw it at the machine just as it fired it's laser. When the laser hit the bag, it sprayed a thick cloud of powder all over the area.
"Hurry! While the robot is blinded! Transform!" Talia shouted. "VULCAN STAR POWER!"
"With pleasure!" said Serena, opening her brooch. "MOON COSMIC POWER!" After she transformed, Sailor Moon cautiously felt her forehead and breathed a sigh of relief when she discovered her tiara was once again in it's customary place. Welcome back. I'll never lose you again, she thought.
"One pissed off Scout coming up!" growled Tanya. "SIRIUS STAR POWER!"
By the time the android had cleared away the dust and regained it's footing, it faced three scowling Sailor Scouts instead of three helpless teenagers.
"The shoe's on the other foot now, tin can!" snarled Sailor Sirius, balling her fists.
Viewing the scene through the android's onboard camera, Okada, Bagwell and Hawthome were less than pleased with what they saw.
"Blast! The machine wasn't able to do away with those troublemakers before they changed!" Hawthorne grumbled.
"Indeed. Those teenagers, especially the one with the pointed ears were more resourceful than we anticipated," said Okada, stroking his chin.
"But we weren't able to infuse that seed with radiation to increase it's power," Bagwell pointed out. "Will the machine be able to withstand a direct assault from the Scouts?"
Okada shrugged. "I don't know, Cletus. One way or another, we'll soon find out."
Despite having transformed, Sailor Moon was still frightened. Old and painful memories of her last battle with the heartsnatchers left her numbed with a feeling of terrible dread deep in the pit of her stomach. But she shrugged it off, determined to be strong for the sake of her teammates.
"Scouts, exercise extreme caution. The LED on the android's visor stops moving just before it fires it's laser beam," said Sailor Vulcan, clenching and unclenching her fists. No sooner had she said those words did the robot fire it's laser, but the Sailors were easily able to avoid the destructive blast as it blew a hole in the far wall.
"One thing's for certain, we can't let this thing get outside!" said Sirius, landing deftly near another wall. Her body glowed a bright red as she summoned her power and held up her left arm. "Who knows how many people it'll kill if it does! Sirius Infrared Laser....DISINTERGRATION!"
At the Star Scout's command, her energy beam shot out from her palm and streaked at the robot. But at the last second, the android threw up it's left arm and a glowing, yellowish disc of energy, not unlike a shield flared to life and deflected the beam upward, blowing a large hole in the ceiling, raining concrete rubble down on the Scouts and the robot.
"That's a new wrinkle!" said a worried Moon. The android held out it's arms and they telescoped outward with lightning speed at her. With a yelp, Moon dove, but one fist clipped her left arm and she crumpled to the floor in pain. Retracting it's arms, the android charged at her, but was intercepted by Vulcan who slammed a fist into it's midsection and it was sent flying over a makeshift table loaded with paint cans.
"Sailor Moon! Are you injured?" the Scout of Order asked her friend.
Moon, her face locked in a grimace, tears rolling down her cheeks clutched her arm. "Can't move my arm! I think it's broken!"
Vulcan carefully examined Moon's upper arm and saw an ugly, purplish bruise. "Relax, Serena. Your arm is not broken. However, you have suffered a deep contusion. Nothing your healing powers cannot rectify with time." Spotting the android training it's visor at the girls, Vulcan hastily scooped Moon into her arms and leaped away before the robot blasted at them with it's laser. "Provided you have the time. Sirius! Hit the android again!"
The Star Scout was startled. "But, he'll just block my beam again!"
"Do as I say!" Vulcan barked.
Sirius, angry, muttered salty curses in Arabic under her breath as she powered up again. "Yes, MA'AM! Whatever you say, MA'AM! Sirius Infrared Laser....DISINTERGRATION!"
The Scout of the Stars fired another blast at the robot which it deflected with it's energy shield like before, the ricochet coming within mere inches of Sirius' head as she dove out of the way. While the android was distracted, Vulcan, crossing her arms over her chest brought her own powers into play. "Vulcan Shockwave....STRIKE!"
Vulcan released her sonic energy sphere which screamed at the robot with a high pitched din, rippling the ground as it grew in size and strength. The android didn't have time to defend itself before the sphere slammed into it's left side like a speeding locomotive, smashing it through the far wall of the building with a loud booming explosion.
"Sweet!" said a grinning Sirius as she ran over to where Vulcan knelt with a wincing Moon. The Star Scout's expression changed to one of deep concern. "Sere! Are you okay?"
"I will be in a minute," said Moon, drawing on the power of the Imperium Silver Crystal to heal her injury. As Vulcan and Sirius looked on, the angry bruise on Moon's arm receded, then vanished. Moon flexed her arm and was pleased to feel no pain. "Good as new. What about our playmate?"
"Hopefully it has been incapacitated," said Vulcan. "With the android having been distracted by Sirius, it was left unprotected for my attack."
Sirius glared angrily at the Vulcan Scout. "Whoopie-freakin'-do! Mighty white of you to let me in on the plan, stone face!"
"I see no reason for your anger. The desired goal, stopping the robot had been achieved."
"Yeah, but your 'desired goal' nearly got my head blown off!" Sirius yelled back. "Next time, kindly give me a little warning before you pull a crazy fool stunt like that!"
"I will note your suggestion for future consideration," Vulcan replied dryly.
"Shut up! Both of you!" Moon shouted. The energy she expended to heal her injury left her tired and irritable. "Let's make sure that tin can's been trashed! Then maybe we can find the miserable sonofabitch who set us up!"
Vulcan and Sirius glanced at each other. It wasn't often that Moon swore, so they knew she was furious. Without saying a word, Moon headed towards the hole the android was punched through, Vulcan and Sirius close behind. As they neared the hole, the robot stumbled back inside. It's left side was badly caved and it was throwing off sparks from it's damage, yet, he robot was still functioning. The LED on it's visor locked onto them.
Ramsey had considered sticking around to watch the android kill the girls Okada suspected of being the Sailor Scouts, but decided that keeping his own neck intact was the better part of valor.
Trying not to look suspicious, the young robotics expert hurried towards the main gate of the campus and back to the compound. The muffled sound of an explosion in the distance from the Engineering wing made Ramsey turn his head, distracting him just long enough for a black gloved fist to rocket against his jaw, sending him to the ground.
When Ramsey regained his senses, he found himself staring at his reflection in the toe of a spike heeled, patent leather pump. With a gulp, the scientist looked up at a pair of long, shapely legs encased in fishnet stockings, finally a voluptuous figure in a skin tight black spandex dress with an outrageously short skirt. The woman, with long, snow white hair tied in a ponytail stared down at Ramsey with icy, crystal blue eyes. She wore a silver stripe on the high collar of her dress.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," said the woman in French accented English, her bright red lips curling into a wicked grin. "I cannot believe my good fortune. I honestly didn't think I would find any of you rascals so easily."
"Oh, shit," muttered Ramsey, scrambling backwards to get away from the icy eyed woman, but he didn't get far as he was stopped short by two other black clad women behind him. One of those women, sporting curly aquamarine hair hoisted Ramsey to his feet and, with a lack of feminine delicacy, put him into a painful headlock.
"Thank you, Agent 3," said the white haired woman. "Now then, my young friend, would you be so kind as to tell me what you're up to here?"
"Fuck you, bitch!" Ramsey snarled.
"Tsk. Such crude language. My name, Monsieur Ramsey, is Agent Silver," the woman replied with a cruel, cunning smile. She then backhanded the young scientist across his mouth hard, drawing blood. "That was to teach you proper respect for women."
Shifting gears, Silver came close and seductively brushed his lips with hers, causing him to shiver. Unlike her superiors, Midnight and Agent Gold who were overt lesbians, Silver preferred men and could wrap them around her little finger with astonishing ease. The French woman figured Ramsey won't put up much of a fight. "Whether you realize it or not, my dear, you will tell me everything I want to know. Sooner, or later."
Ramsey winced in the headlock. "Over my dead body, skank!"
"I sincerely hope it won't come to that." Silver smiled evilly and ran a black gloved hand through Ramsey's hair. "Consider yourself fortunate that I found you instead of Agent Bronze. Her temper is ferocious and she would have killed you already. However, I have considerably more patience. If you cooperate, I might decide to make you my....plaything."
"And if I refuse?"
Silver shrugged and smiled sweetly. "Then my associate here will break your neck. Or, I could leave you to the tender mercies of Agent 4 who loves bladed weapons. Show her what I mean, cherie." Agent 4, a wiry, hardfaced woman with short black hair pulled out a switchblade and flicked it
open. With a nod, 3 put Ramsey in a bear hug, exposing his throat which 4 put the blade of her knife against. "Want me to show this punk that we mean business, ma'am?" 4 asked.
Before Silver could respond, the sound of an explosion rocked the area. She stared hard at Ramsey. "What in blazes was that?" she demanded of him.
Ramsey chuckled. "Something you don't want no part of, lady!"
Silver's eyes narrowed. "Is that a fact? Well, let's just find out for ourselves."
Despite the damage it had sustained, the android was still highly dangerous, firing multiple laser blasts at the Scouts, keeping them off-balance and unable to launch a counterattack. Worse, the barrage forced the Scouts to retreat from the close confines of the auditorium and out into the halls of the building, and closer to breaching the building's walls, thus increasing the threat of danger to passersby.
"So much for plan A, stone face!" growled Sirius to Vulcan, dodging a laser beam. "Got anything else up you sleeves?"
"Not at present. But our strategy has not changed, Sailor Sirius," Vulcan replied. "It is imperative we stop this machine before civilians are imperiled."
"I don't get it! Why isn't it trying to steal our heart crystals?" Moon wanted to know. A laser blast hit the ceiling, raining down debris.
"I suspect the android is here for the express purpose of destroying us." As the Scouts dashed around a corner, Vulcan spied a can of black paint on the floor. She picked up the can and quickly popped off the lid. "Sailor Moon! Prepare your tiara!"
With a nod, Moon removed her tiara and willed it into her powerful energy disc. As the heavy footsteps of the robot drew closer, Vulcan hoisted the can high to throw it's contents. When the android rounded the corner, Vulcan threw the paint at the machine before it could react. Vulcan's aim was true as the robot's head and torso were covered in paint.
"Now!" Vulcan shouted.
"Moon Tiara... MAGIC!" yelled Moon, hurling the transformed tiara at the robot. Moon's aim was deadly accurate as well, the disc hit the android at the waist, neatly slicing it in two, resulting in an ear piercing explosion in the confined hallway that slammed the Scouts against a wall with bonecrushing force, leaving them all dazed and battered. When the dust settled, all that was left of the android was smouldering parts and pieces.
"What the hell was that?" a stunned Sirius asked, her face contorted.
Vulcan, green blood pouring from a badly gashed left cheek grinned at her teammate. "I believe you would call that....plan B."
Sirius laughed, despite her pain. Moon, grimacing from a wrenched back giggled. But her smile faded and she pointed at the wreckage. A pitch black, wraith-like apparition emerged out of the wrecked husk of the robot and hovered in the air. Displaying what appeared to be eyes and a jagged, open mouth, the wraith sprouted bat wings, expanding to over ten feet in width as it glared hatefully at the Sailors. It then let out an angry shriek.
Vulcan, rising to her feet, snarled at the thing, feeling her all too human rage churning to the surface. She then called upon her power. "I have had quite enough of you! Vulcan Shockwave....STRIKE!"
The sonic blast hit the wraith head on and it was instantly pulverized into nothingness. Weary, The Scout of Order slumped to one knee.
"You guys look as bad as I feel. But, we got the job done," said Moon, again calling upon the Crystal to heal herself.
"Indeed." Vulcan noticed Sirius propped against a wall, tears streaming down her face while she clutched at her right shoulder. The Vulcan Scout rose shakily to her feet and staggered over to where Sirius lay. "What is the nature of your injury, Tanya?"
"My shoulder's separated. Oh, Tal! It hurts! It hurts!" Sirius cried.
"Allow me to alleviate your suffering." Maneuvering herself beside the stricken Sirius, Vulcan knelt and gently clutched the Star Scout's upper arm. "I am afraid this is going to cause some momentary discomfort."
Vulcan shoved Sirius' shoulder back into it's socket, causing the Star Scout to scream horribly before she collapsed sobbing in Vulcan's arms. The Scout of Order said nothing, content just to hold her friend close and softly stroke her hair. Vulcan found that she enjoyed the intimacy. Moon, concentrating on healing her back smiled as she watched the tender scene.
"Are you feeling better now, Tanya?" a concerned Vulcan asked Sirius. Thinking it the prudent thing to do, Vulcan gently dried Sirius' tears.
Sirius nodded, feeling comfortable in Vulcan's arms. "Yeah. Thanks a lot, Tal." She then smiled fondly at her friend. "I never knew you had such a good bedside manner. It almost makes me think you're human after all."
Vulcan glared reproachfully at the Star Scout and hastily broke the embrace. "Please. Do not insult me."
Sirius snorted good naturedly, feeling her healing powers at work restoring her strength. "Hey! Don't blame me if you can't handle a compliment." Sirius then climbed slowly to her feet. "In the meantime, we've got ourselves a grungy looking creepazoid to find and throttle!"
Moon nodded as she was helped to her feet by Vulcan. She was weary from using the crystal, but was determined to continue the hunt. "I'm with you, Sirius! He couldn't have gotten very far. We'll split up and look for him."
Before the Scouts moved a foot, a loud crashing sound came from just ahead. Seconds later, the far wall imploded and a larger, more menacing android lumbered through the aperture. Standing nine feet tall with a brutish, hulking appearance, four arms and tree trunk thick legs, it's visor, larger like everything else about the machine pulsed with an eerie blue light as it approached the startled Sailors.
"This is turning into one heck of a miserable day!" Moon groaned.
Hawthorne was furious with Okada having sent a second android.
"Okada! I must protest what you've done! We need every collection unit we've got for Operation Liberate!" the Briton snapped. "As it is, we're only going to have one shot at making this work! We can't afford to waste our limited resources trying to kill those damned brats!"
"Objection noted," growled Okada, his eyes fixed on the viewscreen which showed the Scouts, their backs against a wall. "But we have to get rid of those 'damned brats' before we can proceed. Bothersome do-gooders like the Scouts don't know the meaning of the word quit. They'll keep chasing after us like bloodhounds until either they stop us, or we stop them."
"I'm not thrilled about this either, Hawthorne, but Masaharu has a point," said Bagwell. "Better to deal with the Scouts now then later at the target site. In any event, we're going to have to readjust our timetable considerably."
"I agree. We'll carry out the operation tonight," said Okada. "The sooner we complete our experiment, the sooner we can leave the country before more Scouts or Hunsacker's operatives show up."
Okada then operated a series of switches on his control panel, his eyes still glued to the screen. "But, first things first...."
With Ramsey reluctantly leading the way, the barrel of Silver's Glock 17 handgun thrust in his back, the young scientist took the woman and her teammates back to the Engineering building. Just as the foursome arrived, the ground shook as a sudden and powerful explosion blew out the entire side wall of the building's unfinished wing.
From out of the smoke billowing up into the air, Moon, supported by Vulcan and Sirius staggered coughing out of the devastated building. Seconds later, a huge, gray metallic horror lumbered out in pursuit of the fleeing Sailors. It fired a bright blue energy beam that barely missed the Scouts, setting off an explosion that shook the ground.
"Sacre bleu! What is that?" a stunned Silver wanted to know.
Ramsey flashed a crooked grin. "Like I told you, lady. Trouble."
"Bah! It won't be for long!" growled Silver. "3! 4! Blast that thing!"
3 and 4, toting Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns retrieved from their van opened fire on the robot as it followed the Scouts. Thunder filled the air as 9 mm shells pitted the android's large, heavy frame but didn't slow it down. Silver, frustrated, violently shook Ramsey's shoulders.
"Talk to me, vermin! How do we stop that thing?" she demanded.
"You can't, babe. Nothing can. You're cooked!" Ramsey said.
Silver, furious, scowled at the young scientist. "So are you." She then pumped a round into Ramsey's chest at point blank range. Regretting having lost her temper and killing Ramsey before he could talk, Silver pulled out a cell phone and punched four numbers on the keypad.
"Midnight here. Go," came back the voice on the other end.
"This is Silver! My team and I are on the campus!" said the woman as she and her teammates retreated behind another building. "Okada's sent a machine after the Sailor Scouts! We shot at it with no luck! And the battle is attracting a crowd! What do you want us to do?"
"Retreat, Silver. Let the Scouts do our dirty work," Midnight replied. "Additional troops have just arrived with the special weapons. That should even the score when the time comes. Get out of there!"
"Acknowledged!" Silver took off Ramsey's backpack, then turned to 3 and 4 who were reloading their weapons. "We're pulling out! Leave that monster to the Scouts! Come on!"
Just then, the robot stopped and wheeled to face the black clad women.
"Oh, no," Silver groaned.
The second android Okada sent after the Scouts turned at the sound of gunfire, so he and his companions saw Ramsey shot before their eyes. Okada was greatly saddened because he had come to think of the young robotics expert as the son he never had. Bagwell, who loathed violence was repulsed at the needless killing. Hawthorne on the other hand simply shrugged.
"Oh, well. I never liked him anyway," the Briton said casually.
Okada turned on Hawthorne, his eyes flashing. "Bastard! How dare you say something like that?" he roared. "Scott was one of us! Part of our team! He didn't deserve to die like that!"
"Please, Okada. Spare me the sentimentality. You brought me onboard for my skills in biology, not my personality. I'm not going to lie and say I feel bad about what happened to the boy, because I don't," Hawthorne growled back. "Besides, if the plan works, a great many more people will soon follow Ramsey into hell, so your bleeding heart routine rings bloody damn hollow. Let's just drop the nonsense and get back to work, shall we?"
Okada seethed, partly because of Hawthorne's callous attitude, but mainly because the Briton was right. Before they were done, hundreds of people would die to complete the final phase of the experiment. Scowling, Okada turned back to his control panel.
"You're quite right, Hawthorne. We do have much to do," he said in a flat, emotionless voice. "With Scott gone, we'll have to prepare the machines for activation immediately. Hunsacker, and the Scouts are getting too close for comfort. But in the meantime, I'm going to make sure those murdering whores never see another sunrise!"
The Scouts, desperately wanting to put distance between themselves and the android while their mounting injuries healed were surprised to see the robot no longer pursuing them.
"I'm not the type to look a gift horse in the mouth, but what's going on here?" wondered Moon.
"There is your answer," Vulcan replied, pointing at the android which was now pursuing three women clad in short, skin tight black dresses.
"Talk about deja vu all over again," said Sirius. "You think the bimbo brigade was after us?"
Vulcan shook her head. "Unlikely. I suspect they were looking for Okada and decided to investigate here as we had done."
"Well, since they pulled guns on us earlier, I think it's safe to say they aren't good guys," said Moon.
"I am inclined to agree. Come. We must stop that machine before bystanders come to harm!" ordered Vulcan.
Pandemonium reigned as people ran screaming from the robot as it lumbered after the fleeing black clad women. Just as they approached their waiting van, the robot fired its lightning beam from its visor, blasting it into shredded and smoking metal. Agents 3 and 4 wheeled around to fire at the hulking robot, again pitting it's hull but causing no damage as before as it kept on coming like a juggernaut.
"Split up!" Silver yelled at her companions. "Seeing how slow it is, it can't get us all!"
Nodding, 3 bolted left, 4 right, running as fast as they can. The android lifted the upper arms on both sides and they extended outward, grabbing 3 by the arm and 4 by one leg and reeling them in like a fisherman with a prize catch on his line. Then, before the eyes of Silver, a powerful electric charge shot through both of the robot's arms, reducing both women, horribly screaming, to charred and smoking husks in seconds.
"Oh, God! Jenny! Patricia! NOOOOOOOOO!" a horrified Silver shrieked.
"Now you know how I felt when you murdered Scott," came an electronically filtered voice filled with anger from a speaker on the robot's throat. "Tit for tat, you filthy whore! If you believe in any deities, pray to them now, because it's your turn to die!"
Silver, terrified, unable to move, closed her eyes and waited for the end as the robot trained it's visor on her.
"Vulcan Shockwave....STRIKE!"
"Sirius Infrared Laser....DISINTERGRATION!"
A huge sonic blast and a massive laser beam simultaneously slammed into the android from behind like twin wrecking balls, sending the machine flying into the campus gymnasium fifty yards away with all the speed of an artillery shell, leading to a explosion that collapsed the wall.
Silver opened her eyes and saw the Scouts limping up to her, wariness etched on their faces. When they saw the electrocuted women, the heroines blanched.
"Dear Lord in Heaven!" cried Moon, feeling bile quickly rising in her throat. Her head spinning, Moon dropped to her knees, barely able to keep from passing out from the horror before her eyes.
Sirius, unable to speak, knelt to take Moon in her arms and wept. Not since the blood-soaked slaughter on the Moon a millennia ago had the Star Scout witnessed such carnage. It sickened her to the depths of her soul.
Vulcan, her face an iron mask, repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fists as a white hot rage built within her. Murder was illogical enough, but this was beyond anything she had ever seen before.
Just then, the android, sparking, crackling and smoking from the damage it suffered crawled out of the rubble of the gymnasium and rose shakily to its feet. Bystanders gasped in horror at the metallic monster slowly lumbered towards the Sailors. The blue light on its visor pulsed rapidly again.
"Everybody! Move!" shouted Vulcan, scooping up the insensate Silver while Sirius pulled Moon out of the way before the robot fired it's beam, plowing a two foot deep crater where the four women once stood. Using it's cameras, the robot scanned the area until it spied Vulcan fleeing with Silver. The android extended it's right arms at Vulcan who dodged the upper appendage, but caught the lower squarely against her hip and she crashed hard to the ground with Silver in a heap.
Stunned and bleeding, Vulcan tried to stand but her left leg collapsed. The Scout of Order screamed, her face twisted from pain beyond even her ability to endure. She turned to Silver who lay stunned nearby as the android lumbered towards them.
"Run!" Vulcan croaked. "Hurry! I cannot protect you!"
"No place to run," came back the voice over the android's speaker.
"STOP!" roared Moon. "Moon Tiara....MAGIC!"
Moon angrily hurled her transformed tiara at the android's legs, slicing them off above the knees and it toppled over onto its back.
"My turn! And this time, you're not getting back up!" snarled Sirius. Gripped by a terrible rage, her body glowed a bright azure blue as she held up her right arm at the fallen robot and concentrated. "Sirius Gravity.... DEVASTATION!"
A lightning bolt like blast of blue energy erupted from Sirius' open hand and enveloped the badly damaged android. Crackling loudly from the energy blast, the weight of the robot increased a thousandfold, causing it to sink nearly a foot into the pavement, seconds later, it exploded from the intense gravitational force, leaving behind a shattered, smoking hulk.
"So much for the tin can!" said a smug Sirius.
However, just like inside the Engineering building, a pitch black, wraith-like apparition emerged out of the wrecked husk of the robot and hovered in the air, displaying the same cruel eyes and jagged, open mouth. The wraith, unfolding it's bat like wings glared hatefully at the Sailors. Stunned spectators gazing at the thing were terrified when it shrieked like a demon from hell, leading to a blind panic as everyone fled, leaving behind the Scouts and Silver. Moon, more angry than afraid stood her ground.
"I am not impressed!" growled Moon. She held her right arm high and the Cosmic Moon Scepter appeared in her waiting hand. "Time for you to go too! Moon Scepter....ELIMINATION!"
The Sailor Scout leader twirled gracefully in place for several seconds, then stopped short, facing the horror and pointed her scepter at the wraith. A blast of pure, silvery energy shot out from her weapon, piercing the apparition straight through it's chest. The wraith shrieked again, but this time from agony as it's inky black form dissipated into a fine gray mist that quickly evaporated.
"Moondusted!" Moon proudly proclaimed. She then gasped at seeing Vulcan prone on the ground, her face pale and tightly drawn from intense pain. She and a concerned Sirius ran over to her.
"Sailor Vulcan! What's wrong?" a worried Moon asked.
"It would appear....that my left hip....and femur were broken....during the battle," Vulcan replied through clenched teeth.
"Not for long," said Moon, her face stern as she stood up. She pointed the scepter at Vulcan and closed her eyes.
"Sailor Moon....don't. Please. You have...already expended....a tremendous amount of....energy," said Vulcan as Sirius gently cradled the stricken Scout in her arms. "The effort to heal me....could seriously endanger you."
"Ask me if I care. What's the use in having all this power if I can't use it for the ones I love? You helped me awhile ago, now it's time I return the favor."
"That's what friends are for, stone face," said Sirius, clasping Vulcan's hand and giving her a warm smile. "Fire away, Moon Mama!"
"You got it, honey! Moon Healing....ACTIVATION!"
Once again, bright, silvery energies flowed from the scepter, but instead of wreaking destruction, the vast power of the crystal mended Vulcan's broken bones and restored not only her vigor, but Sirius' as well. Once the scepter finished it's work, Moon staggered and her head spun as a tremendous wave of exhaustion briefly washed over her as the power of the crystal was directly linked to her lifeforce. But Moon took a deep breath and braced herself. As the leader of the Sailor Scouts, Moon would not show weakness before her teammates. No matter what, she would be strong for them as they would be strong for her. Moon knelt next to Vulcan and placed a hand on her cheek.
"How do you feel now?" Moon asked.
"Much better. Thank you. I greatly appreciate your effort on my behalf," said Vulcan. She put her hand on Moon's and gave it a squeeze.
"My pleasure," said Moon with a beaming smile.
"In the meantime, I wonder why Robby's big brother was so hot to kill Miss Bimbo over there?" Sirius asked, gazing at Silver, still in shock as she sat on the ground.
Vulcan looked around her and frowned as when saw something disturbing twenty feet away. "I believe I know why." The Scout of Order stood up, smoother her skirt and walked over where Ramsey lay motionless on his right side, blood pouring out of a gaping wound in his chest. Moon and Sirius, following her were appalled at what they saw. Vulcan knelt beside Ramsey and placed two fingers behind his left ear to feel for a pulse. As she anticipated, she found none.
"Oh, no," a shocked Moon whispered. For a second time, she had to fight her stomach to keep from throwing up. "Is he....is he...."
"Dead? Yes. Judging from the copious amount of blood, he was shot directly through the heart," the Scout of Order said in a cold, clinical tone. Yet, deep down in that secret place in her heart she let no one enter, save for Serena, the Vulcan girl deeply grieved for the senseless loss of life.
"Hey! Look at that!" cried Sirius, pointing at something near Ramsey's body. The others looked at where the Star Scout pointed where they saw the following scrawl on the sidewalk:
FU
SUN
"Allah preserve me. He wrote that with his own blood," a horrified Sirius whispered, tears stinging her eyes. Her sanity frayed from the carnage, the Star Scout felt like screaming. "What does it mean?"
Before Vulcan could venture an opinion, police cruisers screeched to a stop and uniformed officers, with Inspector Haneda in the lead jumped out, training their guns on the Scouts.
NEXT: Recovering Girls