Serenity’s Court: Dart Moon War

And the Sky Rained Fire

Part Three

As Alex Tenoh and Michelle Kaioh walked through the Palace at Crystal Tokyo, they noted their surroundings. Thing had changed radically from the cool, smooth, relaxed atmosphere they had left behind about six weeks ago. Guards were now carrying side-arms created by Greg Ryo’s Armament Board and there were even more security checkpoints throughout the massive complex.

Michelle could feel the jumbled emotions that were sweeping through the palace. Fear. Apprehension. Worry. Anger. Everything. The people here were afraid. Such a contrast to the contentment, efficiency, and peace that normally rushed through the place.

The two walked in silence to King Endymion’s office. When they arrived, his aide, a middle-aged brown-haired woman with wise blue eyes, nodded her head respectfully to them and silently bade them to enter Endymion’s inner office.

Opening the mahogany door, Alex and Michelle found the King of Crystal Japan staring at the blank communication screen behind his desk, his face inscrutable. He turned to them, then nodded shortly. “Sailor Neptune, Sailor Uranus.”

They bowed to him, their postures at their best. “Your Majesty,” they chorused. They sat down in the two chairs in the front of his desk when he waved his hand negligently to do so.

“As you have probably noticed, Lita has increased security around the Palace. She’s concerned that whoever tried to assassinate Cassandra and Benjamin Sichen will try the same here.”

Uranus nodded approvingly. “A wise course of action. We have to be cautious in the face of this.”

Endymion said, “Mike and Zoë agree with you. Rini is constantly watched, as are Serenity and myself. Our food and drinks are analyzed and tasted before we even see it.”

“Where are the Guardians,” Neptune inquired, “We didn’t see anyone on our way in.”

“Jadeite is watching Rini, who is at school. Serenity was ordered to stay in bed by Amy for the past two days. She exerted a great deal of energy in trying to sustain Cassie. But she is now speaking with several world leaders. Zoë is guarding her. As for Mike and Nate, I imagine they are watching from somewhere,” he explained.

The two members nodded in understanding. “Have you heard anything from Washington,” Uranus asked, her face growing harsh. “What do they have to say for themselves? Their security was so lax that a youma got past them and almost killed not only Cassie, but their President, First Lady, and Secretary of State.” Neptune shot her partner a warning look, hearing the condemning tone in her voice.

Endymion stared at Uranus briefly, then answered. “I just finished speaking with President Sichen. He has been considerate enough to personally keep us informed on the investigation and Cassandra’s condition. They found the body of the real serving woman in her room, dead. Her throat had been slashed so badly that her head was nearly decapitated. The changes that the ‘youma’ made on itself were extremely advanced. They had to be because it would have had to pass through several fingerprint checkpoints, as well as some tests that go right down to a person’s genetics. It passed through them all without a hitch.”

“Which proves my point,” Uranus muttered. “Americans always have been to arrogant to keep their security tight. Now look where it’s gotten them.”

Neptune placed a calming hand on the Wind Scout’s arm. “Condemning the Americans will get us nowhere, Alex. We cannot change what has happened, only deal with what we have been given.”

Endymion nodded in agreement. “Michelle is right. Now that you’re here, there are several tasks that I need you to do. The Nemesian Fleet is making some suspicious movements.

The two Sailor Scouts assented and listened seriously to their assignments.

_____

Victoria Tomoe, the Sailor Scout of Death and Rebirth, was in a bit of a quandary. She sat in her office on one of the deepest levels of the Crystal Palace beneath the ground.

She had written her assessments of the remains of the old capital of Mars, Thebes, and had handed them to her colleagues at the Archeological Department at Crystal Tokyo University. It hadn’t taken long to fill them out and their initial reactions had been… interesting, to say the least.

Victoria snorted softly. Interesting, she thought sardonically, More like Small Lady in a candy store.

And they had every right to be excited. Discovering the old Martian Capital was probably being considered as the biggest archeological find since the excavation of the Moon Kingdom remains. She herself had been excited. Initially.

But then she, along with Alex and Michelle, had ventured further into the ruins. If they’d discovered anything, it was that Thebes was very similar to the Moon Kingdom. Death was its only true ruler now. Violent nightmares, filled with visions of the Martian people dying slowly as the temperatures rose and the atmosphere thinned, plagued her during the Martian nights.

Hence, her predicament. The archeologist in her knew that the site should be thoroughly excavated, to gain as much knowledge about the Pre-Fall Martian civilization as they could. But the part of her that was sensitive to deeper matters, the perspective of a Silver Millennium Survivor, wished nothing more than to leave the ruins in peace.

And yet another part of her was chastising her for even considering such matters during such a critical time. The subject of the attempt to murder Cassandra was not something to be shoved on the back burner.

Victoria looked up when a knock came from the door. “Come in,” she called, putting aside her chaotic thoughts.

The door opened to reveal a tall woman with golden brown hair and wearing a blue turtleneck and white skirt. Victoria looked into the woman’s rose-colored eyes and smiled. “Hello, Aurora,” she greeted kindly, “How did the meeting go with Professor Jackson?”

Aurora Chambers, Junior Archeologist and apprenticed to Dr. Victoria Tomoe, rolled her eyes. “All right, I suppose. The old man is losing it though. He kept calling me Aria and his eyesight is so bad I doubt he could tell the difference between a piece of marble to a piece of slate. Tell me again why CTU hasn’t sent him off to wherever they send bitter old archeologists to retire?”

Victoria laughed. The young woman’s humor was as dry as ever. “Probably,” she answered, “because Ezra Jackson has some of the most extensive knowledge of Pre-Crystal Tokyo ruins in the world. To let him retire would mean losing a valuable resource, something the University is not yet prepared to do.”

Aurora nodded and plopped down into a chair. “True. But does he have to be so grouchy?”

Victoria didn’t even bother to respond; she only chuckled. After a moment, Aurora’s slightly deeper voice joined in.

When their merriment subsided, Victoria asked in a more serious manner, “How are things coming down below?”

The younger woman nodded. “Very well. The caverns extend farther than we anticipated. More and more is being uncovered everyday.”

“Good. That should keep Ezra from terrorizing you too much.”

_____

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Serenity said determinedly, “I agree with you. The Nemesian Fleet is a threat to this world. They have violated the Treaty of Terra, of which was signed by the Nemesian envoy in 2685, not long after we made contact with them. Your past predecessors have also signed that treaty, signifying your people’s good faith that it would be upheld. The Nemesians have betrayed that faith. Therefore, we can only assume that they have hostile intentions.”

“Agreed, Your Majesty,” stated Henry II of the New United Kingdom. “But what must we do?”

Serenity glanced at the older-looking gentleman. It had been his grandfather, Edward Wiltsonshire, that had united a good part of Europe after the Great Ice had retreated. The three countries of Britain, France, and Spain had banded together with Edward as their King. Though their government was still highly democratic, the Royal Family played a definite role in the political scheme.

Serenity cast a fleeting glance at the other leaders she was speaking with. All of them were the leaders of their respective peoples, and were all good people. She had no wish to see any of them to come to a bad end.

“What *I* will do, Your Majesty,” Serenity answered, “Is that I will use the power of the Silver Crystal to place a barrier around Earth as a shield.”

Several leader’s eyes widened in surprise. They said nothing at first as they weighed the possible repercussions and outcomes of such an action.

Benjamin Sichen was the first to speak up. “Are you sure that is wise? The Nemesians might see that as a hostile move, a prelude to an attack.”

The Queen of Crystal Japan shook her head. “No. Prince Diamond has already instigated a hostile move against this world. Perhaps even more than one, given the attempted assassination of both yourself and my Foreign Minister. We are just defending ourselves from a grave threat.”

She allowed her eyes to meet each of theirs. “If there are no objections…” There were none forthcoming, so Serenity continued. “Very well then. I shall activate the shield immediately.”

Brief farewells were said, then the screen went black. Zoë promptly stepped out of the shadows, where she had been watching her Queen in silence.

“Are you sure about this, Sere,” Zoë asked quietly.

Serenity nodded. “There is little recourse, Zoë. The Nemesian’s position will allow them to bounce towards the Earth. Amy was certain about that.”

The Lady Guardian did not reply as her Queen moved towards the two pedestals where the Golden and Silver Crystals were kept.

You knew, she thought, You knew that this was coming, didn’t you Sere? You knew at least part of it. But how? Susan’s not one for telling the future.

The Neo-Queen did not hear Zoë’s thoughts. The force field surrounding the Silver Crystal came down upon receiving the codes of the Royal Family and Serenity picked up the object. She gazed down at the glowing bauble that floated inches above her hands.

Zoë’s breath caught in her throat. Her queen’s face appeared to be a mask etched in marble. The light of the Crystal lit her face, showing the myriad of emotions that had hovered in the shadows.

As the light grew brighter, Zoë Silvers felt the first real stirrings of fear. Her Queen seemed to know what was happening and she was doing little to stop it.

God help us if Serenity or Endymion can do nothing, she thought.