The Sailor Kids: Chapter 7, part 2
SUMMARY: Chibiusa isn't the only child of the future. What does mercury have to do with it? Find out in this epic tale. AmixMakoto, ReixMinako, HarukaxMichiru, and more. A remake of the old version. Better content and story line. romance/drama/adventure and more.
The Sailor Kids: Chapter 7, part 2.
I don't own Sailor Moon.
~~~~~~~BACK AT THE TIME GATES~~~~
Ever since the trio had left for training Mari and Yasu had found themselves being glued to their mothers eye sight. Usually wherever one child was, the other followed. Ami and Michiru were always together as well. Both of them sat in relative quiet pondering the recent events. Michiru was just thoughtful, Ami was on the brink of losing her nerves. Seeing as the children were playing in the grassy area out of ear shot, Michiru decided to see what exactly it was that made her friend so on edge, and perhaps, voice a thought or two of her own.
"Well, we've been thrown for a loop this time, although I must say this does explain a few recent actions Setsuna has been displaying." The Senshi of the sea noted with a slight smile.
"Yeah, tell me about it. My mother has never been known to be this reckless, something is up with the both of them." Ami was normally calm and composed, recently though, she couldn't seem to find herself. "Mother has been doing a lot of stupid things, like flitting around the kitchen when she doesn't even know how to cook. Coming home early from work and spending hours at her computer. She gets this far off look, and spaces out. Now recently, for whatever reason, she wants to be a Senshi, and Setsuna of all people doesn't blow a gasket. You'd think the woman would be the first one to deny the request, not fuel it along with the help of Hotaru." Ami said with quite the quizzical look. She simply couldn't wrap her head around everything.
"Well, first off, she's has been far more open with her emotions as of late, beating Ruka upside the head with her staff comes to mind, along with crying, and on rare occasions giggling. I think we can all remember her having the poker face to rival all poker faces. She also guards her computer from around five to seven in the evening, just staring at it like a time bomb about to explode. Oddly enough, on occasion she does it late at night as well. Anytime someone signs in or out, she rushes to see who it is. Just like the rest of the household, the only ones on her buddy list, are the other Senshi…and your mother. She spaces out and doodles on the corners of napkins and news papers...the one, like you say that catches me for the biggest loop, is Setsuna actually agreeing to go along with this on her own free will." Then Michiru smirked putting the information together. She looked at Ami and asked. "You don't think that they are in-"
"Stop that train of thought right now please." Ami said interrupting before giving further explanation. "My mother hasn't pursued a relationship with anyone since I was about ten, not to mention Setsuna is female, and I don't remember my mother ever saying she dated a woman. Plus the fact that it would be way off the wall. Setsuna's old enough to be my mothers grandmother, a few times over. Granted she doesn't look a day over thirty...but still."
"Are you put off by the facts?" Michiru wondered how comfortable Ami was in her own skin, let alone by what her mother would do. "It isn't a bad thing Ami. Setsuna, despite her often aloof nature, is a wonderful woman."
Ami shook her head. "Don't get me wrong I would support my mother's choice to date if she wanted to, no matter the gender, but, I would need to hear it from her mouth. Speculating what activities shes doing in her personal time doesn't sit well with me." Ami said before leaning back against the trunk of a tree. "Especially when we're considering she could be having relations with one of my friends." Attempting to regain her thought process failed magnificently as Hotaru jumped down from a high branch.
"If I may add my two cents to this little debate?" She asked looking at Michiru and Ami. When both parties nodded, thinking nothing would come out of it, Hotaru once again proved that she was far to wise for her years. "They have both been hurt."
"What?" Ami looked at Hotaru for a moment, trying to understand.
"That's why." The Senshi of death and rebirth spoke cryptically, earning two very confused looks. "You two are both really dense sometimes. Love has hurt them both. Setsuna-mama lost the one she loved because of death. Ami's mom lost hers because of divorce, but in the end they have both been hurt."
"Even if she has been through a divorce, that wouldn't make her gay, Hotaru." Ami told the girl, still trying to deny the facts could possibly add up. "My mother isn't the type to just jump into a relationship, nor is she the type to hide things from me. Nothing like that, at least, I don't think she is."
"I can see it though."Hotaru told them both, again trying to get through to them. "Setsuna-mama could never attain a long lasting love because mortals die before we do, and now Ami's mom will in effect have that same issue. They both now live lives that will be lonely as far as romance goes. I think Setsuna-mama has feelings for Ami's mom at the very least, and that's why she didn't stop her. Perhaps she feels like she now has another chance to love someone, and this time that someone won't pass away a leave her behind. Like Ami said it's just a theory. We have no concrete proof." With that she walked away leaving two very confused water based Senshi behind.
"I really don't want to think about that." Ami shivered. "There are just some things a parson has no right to think about."
I agree completely." Michiru sighed wondering where Hotaru had learned to pry like that. "That was Haruka's influence on her, I'm sure of it." Setsuna was walking by speaking on a cell phone, and it was no doubt, she was speaking with Ami's mom. "Then again, Hotaru may have a point."
"How so?" Ami cringed after she'd asked, unsure that she really wanted to know.
"Setsuna's on a phone...and she's happy." Michiru contemplated that for a moment. "When is she ever happy, failing then, when does she ever willingly use a phone?"
"Good point." Ami grumbled softly. "Well made."
~~~~~~~THIRTIETH CENTURY GALAXY OUTSKIRTS~~~~
"Damn, the boss won't like this will he, Katan?" A man in a dark cloak cursed while pacing around the room. His hair was a deep purple color that cascaded down to the middle of his back, at his side he held two swords. A great axe donning his back. His armor was a pale grey, the chains heavy.
"Relax Dalan, we are after the kids not their folks. We got em' right where we want them." Said a woman in a deep crimson dress. her hair was the same color as her brother's, and she was slightly taller than him. Her boots held a three inch heel and were spiked at the ends. "The plan worked perfectly." They clicked on the floor with every step, a commanding presence, a boom of power.
"Yes, while we are on this topic, explain to me why exactly we are going after those pipsqueaks instead of the Senshi themselves. This all seem far too complicated." Dalan sighed before lighting up a cigarette. "I think you've decided to follow the wrong boss here. Live and let live, remember? Or are you still pissed about before."
"My you are quite the idiot aren't you. Everyone else who has gone up against the Sailor Senshi thus far have been killed, no matter their origin. We aren't going to do anything as of yet, just watch the brats. Think of it, at this moment the Senshi are at their prime, however one day those kids will take over, and that little pink brat will take over for her mother, if we take the kids out, there will be no legacy. Sooner or later, the moon kingdom will fall. We can then start an uprising." Katan said lighting up her own cigarette before putting her feet up on the table.
"Ah, but that's just it, our boss has a slight flaw in her little plan. We harm the kids, we effectively piss off the parents. I dunno about you, but I've heard quite a few horror stories about getting on the wrong end of a pissed off Sailor Senshi, and they were only teens then." Dalan rolled his eyes failing to see where the logic in this master plan was.
"Like I told you little brother, relax. Talan has it all under control. As long as she keeps toying with the paradox, it'll keep everyone guessing, including the grandfather time himself. He has no idea what's even causing the disturbance. Also since we are no place near Serenity's territory, she has no reason to track us. All we need now, is to cause a few little commotions, get the kids and go from there. All the pawns are in place, all we need to do is wait for orders, it could be in a few hours, a few days, a few weeks, who the hell knows, but we aren't allowed to do anything without word from the boss." Katan was quite tired explaining this whole thing for what seemed the millionth time.
"Don't worry, I'm in no rush to get killed, I'll bide my time like a good boy. Dalan wanted revenge too, but he also valued his life. "Why is the flow of time so important to our cause?" Dalan said closing his eyes, leaning on a near by wall. "At that point, why not just give up?"
"Use your brain and think for a moment if you will, do you remember ten years ago when the castle was over run with guards?" The eldest sibling inquired with a disturbing grin on her face.
"Well duh, the security was so high it was nearly impossible to pass the walls surrounding it. If I remember correctly, there was about a thousand guards from each planet. That was around the time we first got word of the little brats." Dalan spoke with venom in his voice, the smoke he inhaled flowing from his lips.
"Calm down my brother, this is exactly what we want. We couldn't target them them without drawing an all out war, however we now know the Senshi can't fight while pregnant, the kids are back in time, if we mess around enough with the paradox before that damn Saria kid finds out, we may be able to alter a few key points in this time stream." Katan said standing up from her seat to face her brother who looked highly confused, this was one reason he was ordered not to toy with things randomly.
"Saria was like a sister to you." Dalan sighed. "Things happened, it sucked, life went on, let it go."
"I can't do that." Katan sighed. "You can go back if you want, you can forget about thing all you want, but I sure can't"
"It's a man's job to protect his family." Dalan told her, as if that was the magical answer. "I can't go home, not without you. You are my sister, and if you think for a moment that I'm going to let you and Talan go off on your own and get into trouble, you're wrong." He was a burly man, who'd grown through many hardships, however, unlike his sister, he hadn't grown into a bitter man. A taste for revenge could come and go, but he knew better than to let it rule his mind.
His sister on the other hand, she was different. "I will not rest until I see justice." Katan told him. "Our people still live in these wastelands. We have nothing left. How can we go on like this? How can those who have lived on these planes for years give up so easily."
"They weren't around back then." Dalan told her simply. "Many have forgotten, and it is right that they have done so. Others, those such as myself, know it is better to forgive and forget. People like you, you will never see the things you want. It'll fail Katan, and we will lose once again." He knew there was no sawing her choices. "Look, just run me through the entire idea, one last time."
"You have shit for brains, so I'll spell it out for you." Katan almost hissed in anger. Why couldn't her brother understand? She felt as if she needed to do this, and he simply sat stood there, complacent. It floored her. "If they can't transform, and there isn't a large scale army to protect them, they are as good as dead, and as for the children, well put it this way, if their mommies can't save them, I doubt we will have trouble taking care of a few ten year old brats. The mage can't handle a single paradox situation well, so when it becomes a double or even triple paradox, she'll have her hands full. Our only real threat is Saturn and Serenity, and I don't think taking down a solo Senshi will be too difficult. Once we off Saturn, the would be queen will be easy to take down. We already know who they are because we know where the kids are. All we need to do is wait for our orders."
"I think you've got a screw loose some place." Dalan grumbled while eying his sister with worry. "Talk about a stupid idea."
"It isn't stupid." Katan told him as she looked at her watch. "Talan should be starting with phase one of our little plan as we speak." Katan wanted to go on a tirade. This was obvious information for her, and her brother was in the same briefing two weeks ago, she really wished he would pay more attention to detail.
~~~~~BACK IN THE WOODS~~~~~
It was so early in the morning that the sun had not yet risen. The trio had finished eating and stretching in preparation for some hand to hand training and now it was time to get down to business. They were all transformed for the main reason being not only for safety, but to show Saeko the true meaning of fighting, she had never seen two Senshi fight hand to hand while transformed so this was going to be an eye opener. If she thought before was a battle, she hadn't seen anything yet. She had been told she would be addressed as Silver while in her Senshi form from this point onward to get her used to the random name changes.
Jupiter and Uranus we facing off, sending blows left and right, on occasion one of them would randomly charge at her, the meaning of this was to teach her reflexes. She did not need to fight back, but she did need to dodge them. In the event that she would be unable to dodge she would need to attempt to sustain balance on her feet long enough to get away. She was not doing well to say the least and when Jupiter charged she nailed Silver head on, both of them hitting the ground hard.
"Are you okay?" Jupiter said helping the poor woman off the ground.
"Yes, I'm fine other than a bump on the head." Silver sighed, looking like she had just been mowed down by an eighteen wheeler.
"You need to watch out, had this been a real battle, you could have been seriously hurt. Not to mention our enemies usually hit first and ask questions later. You need to be ready for anything." The tall Jovian said before a speeding Uranus tackled both Jupiter and Silver to the ground quickly.
"See what I-" Jupiter was quickly interrupted.
"Shut up, the winds are restless." Uranus said. As if on cue, little ball of dark energy decided to make it's appearance putting a large hole through a nearby tree trunk. This was quickly followed by a youma staggering within sight. Uranus and Jupiter just rolled their eyes.
"Great, just great, where are the stupid things going to come from this time?" Uranus said before taking on a battle stance, forgoing introductions she decided to just kill it off quickly.
"World Shaking!" She yelled sending a large gust of air toward the creature, the air worked as a funnel gathering all of the loose debris in its path, effectively shattering the youma into peaces and leaving a large mark in the ground where the attack had passed over. The remains turned into a liquid, merging back together before soaking into the ground, disappearing completely from eyesight.
"Well that looked easy enough." Silver said before Jupiter stood next to her taking the scene in.
"Yeah that's just it. It was way to easy. None of us have ever downed something that quickly before. Judging by how it just soaked into the ground, I highly doubt we killed it. More importantly though is who sent it, that youma was different from all of the others I've seen. It only attacked once, and it didn't say a name or give an origin, all it really did was fumble around."
"That means one of two things." Haruka answered, squinting into the distance. Nothing else was coming. "One it was just a lone stray youma being an idiot, meaning it's of little threat..."
"Or the far more likely choice is someone sent it to mess with our heads." The brunette finished sighing inwardly.
"Either way we need to report this, and assume it is no longer safe to be alone. I'll contact Pluto, lets go back to the gates. I don't want to be out here with a rookie until we know what exactly it is we are dealing with." Uranus said pulling out her communicator.
After running through a quick version of the situation, Pluto tore a hole through time, and within a few minuets the trio were back at the castle, all of the others were in the living room. An emergency meeting took place. After a thorough explanation everyone sat tossing ideas back and forth of what this could be. It was standard, but it was Saeko's first time.
"Well it was bound to happen. It seems whenever we catch a break, something else has to crawl up somebody's butt and die, and then they feel the need to take it out on us." Rei sat in her miko garb, her eyes studying the group carefully. "All I want to know, is what did we apparently do this time?" Rei said forgoing being civil at the moment, she was still stressed she couldn't get a proper fire reading. It was starting to take a toll.
"Yeah, I know. What I want to know, is why a youma would randomly be walking aimlessly. It sees you, and attacks once, then put up no fight at all. Did the thing have a death wish?" Minako said with a slight strain in her voice, with all of these new events happening in a rapid pace, she had little time to regain her ground after each new twist or setback.
"I think a far more important question to ask, is why did it fall apart so easily...only to merge again and then absorb into the ground. You would think if it could form a puddle after being shattered to bits, then it would also be able to solidify into a new figure. What did it actually look like when it was still a solid mass?" Ami asked once again analyzing the situation as always.
"It looked like glass, but it wasn't a mirror monster like we have seen before. It was sort of metallic looking like, aluminum foil when it melted, and before it went into the ground it turned clear again. As for what it was shaped like, we couldn't exactly tell you. Haruka sort of smashed it before it got close enough to look like anything describable." Makoto said pacing the room highly agitated by this point. She never liked the idea of a possible new threat, and just like Ami had said, something didn't add up.
"Lets just assume that this will be something not to be taken lightly. We will rotate shifts." Michiru said keeping with the team up plan they had created after all of the previous battles.
"Agreed, except I think we need to change the teams up a bit, seeing as we have a new member now it'll throw things off balance." Minako thought aloud resting her chin in her palm.
"Hold on a moment with that thought, Saeko can't fight in this, she could barely keep up with Makoto. Do you really think she could win a fight with a youma, when she can't even defend herself from our punches?" Haruka warned, she didn't like this, not one bit.
"True, however she is now one of us Haruka, that means she has to contribute, I would rather not have her fight either, but you know as well as the rest of us that it may not be an option. Also we all need to admit that odd things have been going on recently. Saeko will need to stay with Ami since she's follows the order of Mercury, this in effect means that who ever they team up with may need more muscle than normal. Also I want more help when it comes to protecting our princess, who knows who this person is or what they may be capable of. We need to prepare for the worst." Minako placed her palm over her face sighing defeated.
"Okay then, who's teaming with who. We need to figure this out ASAP. Ami use that dandy computer of yours to fix up the teams like always." Usagi said feeling tired with all of this. She knew that it was bound to happen soon or later, but now she had Ami's mom to worry about..and Chibiusa. No one could forget about Yumi, Yasu, and Mari either.
"Way ahead of you Usagi." Ami said tapping away at they keys. "With the information I've gathered throughout all of our recent scans, the top four fighters of our Senshi team are Makoto, Haruka, Hotaru, and Setsuna. Our best back ranged fighters at this time include Rei, Minako, and Michiru. Usagi as always, is on top when it comes to purification, but actual combat can be risky without her tiara. I'm better at field scanning and finding week points, and my over all attack output hasn't changed much from the last three scans, so I should be placed on a defensively based team. As for my mother I still need to scan on her ranges before any conclusive data can be measured." Ami said concluding her quick scan phase on her computer.
"Alright then, here's what we'll do. First thing we need to do is find out more about our enemy and the only one who has a shot at that currently is Ami. I want us to give her back up. I think Setsuna, Makoto, and myself should tag along. The rest of you should stay here and watch the kids." Minako said passing out directions.
"Hold on, before I do any reconnaissance on anything, I'll need to scan my mom. I don't want to let her any place near an enemy attack site unless I have numbers to go by. We need to be smart about this, and that means having everything as conclusive as possible." Ami said before fidgeting with her computer.
Minako nodded and the turned too the others. "While Ami's doing the scans she needs, the rest of us need to find a place that we can hide in case things get really out of hand. A few of us should patrol the area for anything out of the norm, so lets get this over with." Minako said walking out of the room with the others in toe.
Ami and Saeko walked up the stairs and into one of the unused bed rooms. Saeko had seen the scanning process, but had never been exposed to it first hand. Once Ami had transformed she set up the computer to start the most conclusive scan she could. The amount of power it would take had to come from somewhere, so Ami allowed it to sap from her planetary power. A blue wave of light started to form around Saeko before taking on a holographic form replicating her body. From there Ami used her visor to scan the hologram for any week points.
"Basic combat stats are low, but that's to be expected. Your over all muscle mass needs improvement, but that'll happen over time. It seems that you match me as far as agility goes. In combat your best bet would probably be just as a standard back up, if you fight at all, which I am not happy about in the first place." Ami spoke aloud, relaying the information she'd gathered. "That brings me to another point, why is it you wanted to be a Senshi anyway, and why didn't you come to me first?" Ami said dropping her transformation and started working with some type of graphing system on her computer.
"I chose to become a Senshi because it would be wrong for me not to. Ami, you and the girls, you risk your lives to serve Usagi, and I allow it purely because it makes you happy, even if you get hurt. I don't understand anything of your life, or the difficulty it brings. Now that I am a Senshi, I can at least attempt to understand you better, and I can make sure you don't get hurt." Saeko stated, as if it was pure fact.
"Mother, you aren't a normal Senshi. You are a warrior of our planet Mercury, but you take the form of a planetary guard, not a Sailor Senshi, nor do you possess any traits of Senshi magic. The only things you have attained similar to ours, is an increased metabolism and white blood cell count, along with protective armor. Your body won't age further from the looks of all the new cell growth in your body, but you are still very much a mortal, just like the rest of us."
"You will live far longer than any human, Ami. That doesn't make you mortal." Saeko began.
Ami cut her off with a deep sigh. "Being a Senshi only allows us to fight. Certain magic's aside we can still die easily in battle. You've seen us when we get hurt, why would you even want to subject yourself to that?" Ami asked carefully. It was a simple question, however, Saeko knew that a simple answer would not be enough for her daughter.
"Ami, I can't as your mother, let you fight in a battle alone. I could be a capable fighter to help you out. I dress your wounds and in a matter of days your able to fight, and then something else happens, then I get another one of you girls to fix up again. I can't keep doing that to you, my daughter, knowing you will get hurt again and as you say, risk possible death unless I know I gave it my all as well. I know this isn't a game. You don't need to lecture me on this, I know full well this will be dangerous, but if you can live this life, so can I." Saeko had a look that would challenge the world. It was defiant, but little did she, know Ami could put up just as much of a fight, and in this case fully intended on it.
"Listen carefully, I am not pleased with this outcome at all, and, the only reason I didn't fight it before, is because that was a call for Usagi to make. Ultimately it would be her choice if you became a Senshi or not. No matter what any of us would have said, she always has the final say in all Senshi matters, she is going to be our queen one day and we need to ensure her survival. We are the ones that care for her. Due to how events turned out, in combat you will follow my orders, and that puts me in an odd position." Ami was quiet, and dangerously so.
Saeko hadn't ever heard that tone of voice, ever. It was frightening, and yet, cold and aloof. "You're my mom, and I love you. I don't want you to have to see us in the thick of a fight. However it will be inevitable, one day, sooner or later we will need to fight something. When it happens you need to realize Usagi comes first, you can back me up all you want, but, if you get in my way of protecting her, the consequences could be dire. Do you understand?" The bluenette hated acting like this towards her mother, but things needed to be set in stone before anything dangerous happened.
"I know, I understand, and I will be fine." The doctor was surprised Ami could even carry such a tone with her. It wasn't outwardly rude, but it was certainly assertive.
"I know you enough to know your not going to back down from this, so I will put up with you tagging along for now. However there are a few things I want made clear. Firstly, from here on out, you are not to engage in any youma fights directly until you know what you are truly dealing with. The scanner you have works like mine as far as surveying an area, and that's where you will come in. I often keep an eye on opponent's stats as well as the area we happen to be fighting in, however you can pick up that task which will allow me more flexibility in combat. If I'm not needing to constantly read scans, I can use more attacks. Secondly, each enemy we fight normally has an attack pattern, or primary target. In my computer are files. All of our combat records and data files for every battle we have ever been in. It details the encounters with the Dark Kingdom, Black Moon Clan, Death Busters, Dead Moon Circus, and finally, the Shadow Galactica. All of which were major battles for us, there are smaller files as well with bits of information we have gathered from the Silver Millennium. Make sure to study it carefully." Ami finished, in her mind she was terrified that her mother would be in danger, and hoped all of the busy work would keep her out of any larger fights for at least a short while.
With the scanning of her mother complete, they met up with the others who were now sitting in the main room. Setsuna, Makoto, and Minako stood and moved towards the entryway. After a few slight whispers amongst themselves, and a few nods of unspoken confirmation, transformations were held. Pluto brought the group to the site the youma attack was held. Mercury had started scanning the perimeter while the other three Senshi split up to survey the area, Silver stayed by her daughters side. It was looking to be a failed attempt to gather any substantial information until Jupiter called everyone over to where she was.
A few feet where she stood, approximately three feet from where the youma had been killed, there was a rock that had a glowing substance on it. Mercury did not seem pleased when the scanner picked up on it. Certain numbers were off the charts, while others were very low, it wasn't anything recognizable from earth.
"This doesn't compute at all. By some of the figures this stuff is radioactive, however it's not pairing up with any of the figures in any file I have on radioactivity. What also makes little sense, is why would a youma secrete this, let alone in such a small quantity." Mercury continued her scan while the others digested the news.
"She has a point, usually anything a youma has to throw at us, they do full force, not just leave a small puddle." Venus said poking at it with a stick only to find that the wood started to fall apart.
"Whoa, that's freakish. Venus do that again." Mercury said as she zoned in the stick in question, then her face paled as she put two and two together. Things from past meetings were starting to add up, and she did not like it. "Pluto, tell me something and be honest."
"That would depend on what it is you want to inquire." Pluto spoke sternly, as she often did in times such as these.
"Do you know why it was I was even toying with that DNA?" She remembered Saria mention of such a thing. "I mean can you tell me why we would need certain attributes stronger than others?" Mercury asked still as pail as before, and typing at her keyboard as if all possible hell would befall them shortly, then she did the odd thing and actually touched the greenish matter in question.
"No, I don't. Why?" Pluto asked before touching the matter herself, oddly she felt nothing wrong. The others did the same and that's when a sort of confirmation hit.
"Oww!" A hiss pierced the contemplative silence as Jupiter knelt to the ground in agony. "Damn it, that shit stings." Jupiter yelled in pain, effectively gaining a look from the others. They panicked but only for a moment. There was nothing they could do, as soon as it had absorbed into her hand, the pain was gone, but so too, was the evidence.
Once she was sure Jupiter wasn't in harms way, Mercury ran back to the tree with the hole through the middle. Much to her calculations, another substance covered it on the inside, this time it was gold. Gathering a small container from her space pocket, she scooped some into with another branch, before sealing it closed. Quickly she called out to the others.
"I know now!" She shouted. "I finally understand what's going on, we need to get the gates. Now!" Mercury said in a voice that dared anyone to question her.
~~~~~~~~TIME GATES~~~~
In a rush everyone was piled into the living room and Ami, spoke fear lacing her voice. "I know what's going on, and it's not pretty. You are all aware about me toying with DNA but what we don't know was the actual cause behind it. Only that we needed to get stronger. Now, I see why. When we went out today a greenish ooze was found on a rock. It came up with odd readings and when I had touched it I was unharmed, none of us felt any pain at all except for Makoto. After seeing a stick pretty much turn into powder I know why."
"I'm glad you do." Makoto growled as she looked at her hand. A burn mark was all that was left when in her civilian form. "Cause I don't know what that was."
"Makoto, your powers are mainly electric, however your actual element is that of wood." Ami told her carefully. "I hate to see what would happen if you had been exposed to a large amount of that stuff. Also I have a distinct fear that if they have something that can hurt you, they have it for the rest of us."
"You've gotta be kidding, I dusted it pretty quickly, sure it got away, but it didn't harm us. I wasn't hurt at all." Haruka said, the mere idea was enough to send chills up her spine. She didn't want to entertain that thought a moment longer.
"No, but you didn't touch any ooze that could directly harm you, either." Ami placed the container on the table and opened the lid, she placed her finger into the ooze that was in the container, only to be unfazed. "At the risk of science, I'm going to have all of you do what I just did. Tell me what you feel."
All but Haruka complied and felt no pain. This gave the blond a sense of courage, she placed her finger into the substance only to scream out a string of invectives that proved the theory to be correct. The rather unsettling news fell like a quiet weight as everyone looked to each other in silence.
"Well it's finally happened, we have found an opponent that can actually due damage and not even be here. What the hell do we do now." Rei said looking at the stuff again, and then over to Haruka when was still snarling choice words under her breath while holding her hand in pain. Makoto's own hand looked no better and both of them were highly agitated. Saeko was preparing first aid, although she had a feeling it wouldn't do any good.
"We do the only thing we can do, prepare for the worst. If I was trying to stop it in the future, this must be why." Ami had come to one conclusion, and even if she didn't like it, it was all she could do anymore. "Setsuna does this castle happen to have a lab in it?" Ami asked staring her fellow Senshi down.
"You aren't planning to do what I think you are you?" Setsuna asked already knowing the answer.
"Hate to say it girls, but unless you have a better idea, we are all getting haircuts. Go get me some scissors, and some sterilizer, and a few medical grade cotton swabs, and show me to the lab. DNA testing here we come." Ami said looking directly at Saeko, her mother would prove to have use after all.
More later.
The Sailor Kids: Chapter 7, part 2.
I don't own Sailor Moon.
~~~~~~~BACK AT THE TIME GATES~~~~
Ever since the trio had left for training Mari and Yasu had found themselves being glued to their mothers eye sight. Usually wherever one child was, the other followed. Ami and Michiru were always together as well. Both of them sat in relative quiet pondering the recent events. Michiru was just thoughtful, Ami was on the brink of losing her nerves. Seeing as the children were playing in the grassy area out of ear shot, Michiru decided to see what exactly it was that made her friend so on edge, and perhaps, voice a thought or two of her own.
"Well, we've been thrown for a loop this time, although I must say this does explain a few recent actions Setsuna has been displaying." The Senshi of the sea noted with a slight smile.
"Yeah, tell me about it. My mother has never been known to be this reckless, something is up with the both of them." Ami was normally calm and composed, recently though, she couldn't seem to find herself. "Mother has been doing a lot of stupid things, like flitting around the kitchen when she doesn't even know how to cook. Coming home early from work and spending hours at her computer. She gets this far off look, and spaces out. Now recently, for whatever reason, she wants to be a Senshi, and Setsuna of all people doesn't blow a gasket. You'd think the woman would be the first one to deny the request, not fuel it along with the help of Hotaru." Ami said with quite the quizzical look. She simply couldn't wrap her head around everything.
"Well, first off, she's has been far more open with her emotions as of late, beating Ruka upside the head with her staff comes to mind, along with crying, and on rare occasions giggling. I think we can all remember her having the poker face to rival all poker faces. She also guards her computer from around five to seven in the evening, just staring at it like a time bomb about to explode. Oddly enough, on occasion she does it late at night as well. Anytime someone signs in or out, she rushes to see who it is. Just like the rest of the household, the only ones on her buddy list, are the other Senshi…and your mother. She spaces out and doodles on the corners of napkins and news papers...the one, like you say that catches me for the biggest loop, is Setsuna actually agreeing to go along with this on her own free will." Then Michiru smirked putting the information together. She looked at Ami and asked. "You don't think that they are in-"
"Stop that train of thought right now please." Ami said interrupting before giving further explanation. "My mother hasn't pursued a relationship with anyone since I was about ten, not to mention Setsuna is female, and I don't remember my mother ever saying she dated a woman. Plus the fact that it would be way off the wall. Setsuna's old enough to be my mothers grandmother, a few times over. Granted she doesn't look a day over thirty...but still."
"Are you put off by the facts?" Michiru wondered how comfortable Ami was in her own skin, let alone by what her mother would do. "It isn't a bad thing Ami. Setsuna, despite her often aloof nature, is a wonderful woman."
Ami shook her head. "Don't get me wrong I would support my mother's choice to date if she wanted to, no matter the gender, but, I would need to hear it from her mouth. Speculating what activities shes doing in her personal time doesn't sit well with me." Ami said before leaning back against the trunk of a tree. "Especially when we're considering she could be having relations with one of my friends." Attempting to regain her thought process failed magnificently as Hotaru jumped down from a high branch.
"If I may add my two cents to this little debate?" She asked looking at Michiru and Ami. When both parties nodded, thinking nothing would come out of it, Hotaru once again proved that she was far to wise for her years. "They have both been hurt."
"What?" Ami looked at Hotaru for a moment, trying to understand.
"That's why." The Senshi of death and rebirth spoke cryptically, earning two very confused looks. "You two are both really dense sometimes. Love has hurt them both. Setsuna-mama lost the one she loved because of death. Ami's mom lost hers because of divorce, but in the end they have both been hurt."
"Even if she has been through a divorce, that wouldn't make her gay, Hotaru." Ami told the girl, still trying to deny the facts could possibly add up. "My mother isn't the type to just jump into a relationship, nor is she the type to hide things from me. Nothing like that, at least, I don't think she is."
"I can see it though."Hotaru told them both, again trying to get through to them. "Setsuna-mama could never attain a long lasting love because mortals die before we do, and now Ami's mom will in effect have that same issue. They both now live lives that will be lonely as far as romance goes. I think Setsuna-mama has feelings for Ami's mom at the very least, and that's why she didn't stop her. Perhaps she feels like she now has another chance to love someone, and this time that someone won't pass away a leave her behind. Like Ami said it's just a theory. We have no concrete proof." With that she walked away leaving two very confused water based Senshi behind.
"I really don't want to think about that." Ami shivered. "There are just some things a parson has no right to think about."
I agree completely." Michiru sighed wondering where Hotaru had learned to pry like that. "That was Haruka's influence on her, I'm sure of it." Setsuna was walking by speaking on a cell phone, and it was no doubt, she was speaking with Ami's mom. "Then again, Hotaru may have a point."
"How so?" Ami cringed after she'd asked, unsure that she really wanted to know.
"Setsuna's on a phone...and she's happy." Michiru contemplated that for a moment. "When is she ever happy, failing then, when does she ever willingly use a phone?"
"Good point." Ami grumbled softly. "Well made."
~~~~~~~THIRTIETH CENTURY GALAXY OUTSKIRTS~~~~
"Damn, the boss won't like this will he, Katan?" A man in a dark cloak cursed while pacing around the room. His hair was a deep purple color that cascaded down to the middle of his back, at his side he held two swords. A great axe donning his back. His armor was a pale grey, the chains heavy.
"Relax Dalan, we are after the kids not their folks. We got em' right where we want them." Said a woman in a deep crimson dress. her hair was the same color as her brother's, and she was slightly taller than him. Her boots held a three inch heel and were spiked at the ends. "The plan worked perfectly." They clicked on the floor with every step, a commanding presence, a boom of power.
"Yes, while we are on this topic, explain to me why exactly we are going after those pipsqueaks instead of the Senshi themselves. This all seem far too complicated." Dalan sighed before lighting up a cigarette. "I think you've decided to follow the wrong boss here. Live and let live, remember? Or are you still pissed about before."
"My you are quite the idiot aren't you. Everyone else who has gone up against the Sailor Senshi thus far have been killed, no matter their origin. We aren't going to do anything as of yet, just watch the brats. Think of it, at this moment the Senshi are at their prime, however one day those kids will take over, and that little pink brat will take over for her mother, if we take the kids out, there will be no legacy. Sooner or later, the moon kingdom will fall. We can then start an uprising." Katan said lighting up her own cigarette before putting her feet up on the table.
"Ah, but that's just it, our boss has a slight flaw in her little plan. We harm the kids, we effectively piss off the parents. I dunno about you, but I've heard quite a few horror stories about getting on the wrong end of a pissed off Sailor Senshi, and they were only teens then." Dalan rolled his eyes failing to see where the logic in this master plan was.
"Like I told you little brother, relax. Talan has it all under control. As long as she keeps toying with the paradox, it'll keep everyone guessing, including the grandfather time himself. He has no idea what's even causing the disturbance. Also since we are no place near Serenity's territory, she has no reason to track us. All we need now, is to cause a few little commotions, get the kids and go from there. All the pawns are in place, all we need to do is wait for orders, it could be in a few hours, a few days, a few weeks, who the hell knows, but we aren't allowed to do anything without word from the boss." Katan was quite tired explaining this whole thing for what seemed the millionth time.
"Don't worry, I'm in no rush to get killed, I'll bide my time like a good boy. Dalan wanted revenge too, but he also valued his life. "Why is the flow of time so important to our cause?" Dalan said closing his eyes, leaning on a near by wall. "At that point, why not just give up?"
"Use your brain and think for a moment if you will, do you remember ten years ago when the castle was over run with guards?" The eldest sibling inquired with a disturbing grin on her face.
"Well duh, the security was so high it was nearly impossible to pass the walls surrounding it. If I remember correctly, there was about a thousand guards from each planet. That was around the time we first got word of the little brats." Dalan spoke with venom in his voice, the smoke he inhaled flowing from his lips.
"Calm down my brother, this is exactly what we want. We couldn't target them them without drawing an all out war, however we now know the Senshi can't fight while pregnant, the kids are back in time, if we mess around enough with the paradox before that damn Saria kid finds out, we may be able to alter a few key points in this time stream." Katan said standing up from her seat to face her brother who looked highly confused, this was one reason he was ordered not to toy with things randomly.
"Saria was like a sister to you." Dalan sighed. "Things happened, it sucked, life went on, let it go."
"I can't do that." Katan sighed. "You can go back if you want, you can forget about thing all you want, but I sure can't"
"It's a man's job to protect his family." Dalan told her, as if that was the magical answer. "I can't go home, not without you. You are my sister, and if you think for a moment that I'm going to let you and Talan go off on your own and get into trouble, you're wrong." He was a burly man, who'd grown through many hardships, however, unlike his sister, he hadn't grown into a bitter man. A taste for revenge could come and go, but he knew better than to let it rule his mind.
His sister on the other hand, she was different. "I will not rest until I see justice." Katan told him. "Our people still live in these wastelands. We have nothing left. How can we go on like this? How can those who have lived on these planes for years give up so easily."
"They weren't around back then." Dalan told her simply. "Many have forgotten, and it is right that they have done so. Others, those such as myself, know it is better to forgive and forget. People like you, you will never see the things you want. It'll fail Katan, and we will lose once again." He knew there was no sawing her choices. "Look, just run me through the entire idea, one last time."
"You have shit for brains, so I'll spell it out for you." Katan almost hissed in anger. Why couldn't her brother understand? She felt as if she needed to do this, and he simply sat stood there, complacent. It floored her. "If they can't transform, and there isn't a large scale army to protect them, they are as good as dead, and as for the children, well put it this way, if their mommies can't save them, I doubt we will have trouble taking care of a few ten year old brats. The mage can't handle a single paradox situation well, so when it becomes a double or even triple paradox, she'll have her hands full. Our only real threat is Saturn and Serenity, and I don't think taking down a solo Senshi will be too difficult. Once we off Saturn, the would be queen will be easy to take down. We already know who they are because we know where the kids are. All we need to do is wait for our orders."
"I think you've got a screw loose some place." Dalan grumbled while eying his sister with worry. "Talk about a stupid idea."
"It isn't stupid." Katan told him as she looked at her watch. "Talan should be starting with phase one of our little plan as we speak." Katan wanted to go on a tirade. This was obvious information for her, and her brother was in the same briefing two weeks ago, she really wished he would pay more attention to detail.
~~~~~BACK IN THE WOODS~~~~~
It was so early in the morning that the sun had not yet risen. The trio had finished eating and stretching in preparation for some hand to hand training and now it was time to get down to business. They were all transformed for the main reason being not only for safety, but to show Saeko the true meaning of fighting, she had never seen two Senshi fight hand to hand while transformed so this was going to be an eye opener. If she thought before was a battle, she hadn't seen anything yet. She had been told she would be addressed as Silver while in her Senshi form from this point onward to get her used to the random name changes.
Jupiter and Uranus we facing off, sending blows left and right, on occasion one of them would randomly charge at her, the meaning of this was to teach her reflexes. She did not need to fight back, but she did need to dodge them. In the event that she would be unable to dodge she would need to attempt to sustain balance on her feet long enough to get away. She was not doing well to say the least and when Jupiter charged she nailed Silver head on, both of them hitting the ground hard.
"Are you okay?" Jupiter said helping the poor woman off the ground.
"Yes, I'm fine other than a bump on the head." Silver sighed, looking like she had just been mowed down by an eighteen wheeler.
"You need to watch out, had this been a real battle, you could have been seriously hurt. Not to mention our enemies usually hit first and ask questions later. You need to be ready for anything." The tall Jovian said before a speeding Uranus tackled both Jupiter and Silver to the ground quickly.
"See what I-" Jupiter was quickly interrupted.
"Shut up, the winds are restless." Uranus said. As if on cue, little ball of dark energy decided to make it's appearance putting a large hole through a nearby tree trunk. This was quickly followed by a youma staggering within sight. Uranus and Jupiter just rolled their eyes.
"Great, just great, where are the stupid things going to come from this time?" Uranus said before taking on a battle stance, forgoing introductions she decided to just kill it off quickly.
"World Shaking!" She yelled sending a large gust of air toward the creature, the air worked as a funnel gathering all of the loose debris in its path, effectively shattering the youma into peaces and leaving a large mark in the ground where the attack had passed over. The remains turned into a liquid, merging back together before soaking into the ground, disappearing completely from eyesight.
"Well that looked easy enough." Silver said before Jupiter stood next to her taking the scene in.
"Yeah that's just it. It was way to easy. None of us have ever downed something that quickly before. Judging by how it just soaked into the ground, I highly doubt we killed it. More importantly though is who sent it, that youma was different from all of the others I've seen. It only attacked once, and it didn't say a name or give an origin, all it really did was fumble around."
"That means one of two things." Haruka answered, squinting into the distance. Nothing else was coming. "One it was just a lone stray youma being an idiot, meaning it's of little threat..."
"Or the far more likely choice is someone sent it to mess with our heads." The brunette finished sighing inwardly.
"Either way we need to report this, and assume it is no longer safe to be alone. I'll contact Pluto, lets go back to the gates. I don't want to be out here with a rookie until we know what exactly it is we are dealing with." Uranus said pulling out her communicator.
After running through a quick version of the situation, Pluto tore a hole through time, and within a few minuets the trio were back at the castle, all of the others were in the living room. An emergency meeting took place. After a thorough explanation everyone sat tossing ideas back and forth of what this could be. It was standard, but it was Saeko's first time.
"Well it was bound to happen. It seems whenever we catch a break, something else has to crawl up somebody's butt and die, and then they feel the need to take it out on us." Rei sat in her miko garb, her eyes studying the group carefully. "All I want to know, is what did we apparently do this time?" Rei said forgoing being civil at the moment, she was still stressed she couldn't get a proper fire reading. It was starting to take a toll.
"Yeah, I know. What I want to know, is why a youma would randomly be walking aimlessly. It sees you, and attacks once, then put up no fight at all. Did the thing have a death wish?" Minako said with a slight strain in her voice, with all of these new events happening in a rapid pace, she had little time to regain her ground after each new twist or setback.
"I think a far more important question to ask, is why did it fall apart so easily...only to merge again and then absorb into the ground. You would think if it could form a puddle after being shattered to bits, then it would also be able to solidify into a new figure. What did it actually look like when it was still a solid mass?" Ami asked once again analyzing the situation as always.
"It looked like glass, but it wasn't a mirror monster like we have seen before. It was sort of metallic looking like, aluminum foil when it melted, and before it went into the ground it turned clear again. As for what it was shaped like, we couldn't exactly tell you. Haruka sort of smashed it before it got close enough to look like anything describable." Makoto said pacing the room highly agitated by this point. She never liked the idea of a possible new threat, and just like Ami had said, something didn't add up.
"Lets just assume that this will be something not to be taken lightly. We will rotate shifts." Michiru said keeping with the team up plan they had created after all of the previous battles.
"Agreed, except I think we need to change the teams up a bit, seeing as we have a new member now it'll throw things off balance." Minako thought aloud resting her chin in her palm.
"Hold on a moment with that thought, Saeko can't fight in this, she could barely keep up with Makoto. Do you really think she could win a fight with a youma, when she can't even defend herself from our punches?" Haruka warned, she didn't like this, not one bit.
"True, however she is now one of us Haruka, that means she has to contribute, I would rather not have her fight either, but you know as well as the rest of us that it may not be an option. Also we all need to admit that odd things have been going on recently. Saeko will need to stay with Ami since she's follows the order of Mercury, this in effect means that who ever they team up with may need more muscle than normal. Also I want more help when it comes to protecting our princess, who knows who this person is or what they may be capable of. We need to prepare for the worst." Minako placed her palm over her face sighing defeated.
"Okay then, who's teaming with who. We need to figure this out ASAP. Ami use that dandy computer of yours to fix up the teams like always." Usagi said feeling tired with all of this. She knew that it was bound to happen soon or later, but now she had Ami's mom to worry about..and Chibiusa. No one could forget about Yumi, Yasu, and Mari either.
"Way ahead of you Usagi." Ami said tapping away at they keys. "With the information I've gathered throughout all of our recent scans, the top four fighters of our Senshi team are Makoto, Haruka, Hotaru, and Setsuna. Our best back ranged fighters at this time include Rei, Minako, and Michiru. Usagi as always, is on top when it comes to purification, but actual combat can be risky without her tiara. I'm better at field scanning and finding week points, and my over all attack output hasn't changed much from the last three scans, so I should be placed on a defensively based team. As for my mother I still need to scan on her ranges before any conclusive data can be measured." Ami said concluding her quick scan phase on her computer.
"Alright then, here's what we'll do. First thing we need to do is find out more about our enemy and the only one who has a shot at that currently is Ami. I want us to give her back up. I think Setsuna, Makoto, and myself should tag along. The rest of you should stay here and watch the kids." Minako said passing out directions.
"Hold on, before I do any reconnaissance on anything, I'll need to scan my mom. I don't want to let her any place near an enemy attack site unless I have numbers to go by. We need to be smart about this, and that means having everything as conclusive as possible." Ami said before fidgeting with her computer.
Minako nodded and the turned too the others. "While Ami's doing the scans she needs, the rest of us need to find a place that we can hide in case things get really out of hand. A few of us should patrol the area for anything out of the norm, so lets get this over with." Minako said walking out of the room with the others in toe.
Ami and Saeko walked up the stairs and into one of the unused bed rooms. Saeko had seen the scanning process, but had never been exposed to it first hand. Once Ami had transformed she set up the computer to start the most conclusive scan she could. The amount of power it would take had to come from somewhere, so Ami allowed it to sap from her planetary power. A blue wave of light started to form around Saeko before taking on a holographic form replicating her body. From there Ami used her visor to scan the hologram for any week points.
"Basic combat stats are low, but that's to be expected. Your over all muscle mass needs improvement, but that'll happen over time. It seems that you match me as far as agility goes. In combat your best bet would probably be just as a standard back up, if you fight at all, which I am not happy about in the first place." Ami spoke aloud, relaying the information she'd gathered. "That brings me to another point, why is it you wanted to be a Senshi anyway, and why didn't you come to me first?" Ami said dropping her transformation and started working with some type of graphing system on her computer.
"I chose to become a Senshi because it would be wrong for me not to. Ami, you and the girls, you risk your lives to serve Usagi, and I allow it purely because it makes you happy, even if you get hurt. I don't understand anything of your life, or the difficulty it brings. Now that I am a Senshi, I can at least attempt to understand you better, and I can make sure you don't get hurt." Saeko stated, as if it was pure fact.
"Mother, you aren't a normal Senshi. You are a warrior of our planet Mercury, but you take the form of a planetary guard, not a Sailor Senshi, nor do you possess any traits of Senshi magic. The only things you have attained similar to ours, is an increased metabolism and white blood cell count, along with protective armor. Your body won't age further from the looks of all the new cell growth in your body, but you are still very much a mortal, just like the rest of us."
"You will live far longer than any human, Ami. That doesn't make you mortal." Saeko began.
Ami cut her off with a deep sigh. "Being a Senshi only allows us to fight. Certain magic's aside we can still die easily in battle. You've seen us when we get hurt, why would you even want to subject yourself to that?" Ami asked carefully. It was a simple question, however, Saeko knew that a simple answer would not be enough for her daughter.
"Ami, I can't as your mother, let you fight in a battle alone. I could be a capable fighter to help you out. I dress your wounds and in a matter of days your able to fight, and then something else happens, then I get another one of you girls to fix up again. I can't keep doing that to you, my daughter, knowing you will get hurt again and as you say, risk possible death unless I know I gave it my all as well. I know this isn't a game. You don't need to lecture me on this, I know full well this will be dangerous, but if you can live this life, so can I." Saeko had a look that would challenge the world. It was defiant, but little did she, know Ami could put up just as much of a fight, and in this case fully intended on it.
"Listen carefully, I am not pleased with this outcome at all, and, the only reason I didn't fight it before, is because that was a call for Usagi to make. Ultimately it would be her choice if you became a Senshi or not. No matter what any of us would have said, she always has the final say in all Senshi matters, she is going to be our queen one day and we need to ensure her survival. We are the ones that care for her. Due to how events turned out, in combat you will follow my orders, and that puts me in an odd position." Ami was quiet, and dangerously so.
Saeko hadn't ever heard that tone of voice, ever. It was frightening, and yet, cold and aloof. "You're my mom, and I love you. I don't want you to have to see us in the thick of a fight. However it will be inevitable, one day, sooner or later we will need to fight something. When it happens you need to realize Usagi comes first, you can back me up all you want, but, if you get in my way of protecting her, the consequences could be dire. Do you understand?" The bluenette hated acting like this towards her mother, but things needed to be set in stone before anything dangerous happened.
"I know, I understand, and I will be fine." The doctor was surprised Ami could even carry such a tone with her. It wasn't outwardly rude, but it was certainly assertive.
"I know you enough to know your not going to back down from this, so I will put up with you tagging along for now. However there are a few things I want made clear. Firstly, from here on out, you are not to engage in any youma fights directly until you know what you are truly dealing with. The scanner you have works like mine as far as surveying an area, and that's where you will come in. I often keep an eye on opponent's stats as well as the area we happen to be fighting in, however you can pick up that task which will allow me more flexibility in combat. If I'm not needing to constantly read scans, I can use more attacks. Secondly, each enemy we fight normally has an attack pattern, or primary target. In my computer are files. All of our combat records and data files for every battle we have ever been in. It details the encounters with the Dark Kingdom, Black Moon Clan, Death Busters, Dead Moon Circus, and finally, the Shadow Galactica. All of which were major battles for us, there are smaller files as well with bits of information we have gathered from the Silver Millennium. Make sure to study it carefully." Ami finished, in her mind she was terrified that her mother would be in danger, and hoped all of the busy work would keep her out of any larger fights for at least a short while.
With the scanning of her mother complete, they met up with the others who were now sitting in the main room. Setsuna, Makoto, and Minako stood and moved towards the entryway. After a few slight whispers amongst themselves, and a few nods of unspoken confirmation, transformations were held. Pluto brought the group to the site the youma attack was held. Mercury had started scanning the perimeter while the other three Senshi split up to survey the area, Silver stayed by her daughters side. It was looking to be a failed attempt to gather any substantial information until Jupiter called everyone over to where she was.
A few feet where she stood, approximately three feet from where the youma had been killed, there was a rock that had a glowing substance on it. Mercury did not seem pleased when the scanner picked up on it. Certain numbers were off the charts, while others were very low, it wasn't anything recognizable from earth.
"This doesn't compute at all. By some of the figures this stuff is radioactive, however it's not pairing up with any of the figures in any file I have on radioactivity. What also makes little sense, is why would a youma secrete this, let alone in such a small quantity." Mercury continued her scan while the others digested the news.
"She has a point, usually anything a youma has to throw at us, they do full force, not just leave a small puddle." Venus said poking at it with a stick only to find that the wood started to fall apart.
"Whoa, that's freakish. Venus do that again." Mercury said as she zoned in the stick in question, then her face paled as she put two and two together. Things from past meetings were starting to add up, and she did not like it. "Pluto, tell me something and be honest."
"That would depend on what it is you want to inquire." Pluto spoke sternly, as she often did in times such as these.
"Do you know why it was I was even toying with that DNA?" She remembered Saria mention of such a thing. "I mean can you tell me why we would need certain attributes stronger than others?" Mercury asked still as pail as before, and typing at her keyboard as if all possible hell would befall them shortly, then she did the odd thing and actually touched the greenish matter in question.
"No, I don't. Why?" Pluto asked before touching the matter herself, oddly she felt nothing wrong. The others did the same and that's when a sort of confirmation hit.
"Oww!" A hiss pierced the contemplative silence as Jupiter knelt to the ground in agony. "Damn it, that shit stings." Jupiter yelled in pain, effectively gaining a look from the others. They panicked but only for a moment. There was nothing they could do, as soon as it had absorbed into her hand, the pain was gone, but so too, was the evidence.
Once she was sure Jupiter wasn't in harms way, Mercury ran back to the tree with the hole through the middle. Much to her calculations, another substance covered it on the inside, this time it was gold. Gathering a small container from her space pocket, she scooped some into with another branch, before sealing it closed. Quickly she called out to the others.
"I know now!" She shouted. "I finally understand what's going on, we need to get the gates. Now!" Mercury said in a voice that dared anyone to question her.
~~~~~~~~TIME GATES~~~~
In a rush everyone was piled into the living room and Ami, spoke fear lacing her voice. "I know what's going on, and it's not pretty. You are all aware about me toying with DNA but what we don't know was the actual cause behind it. Only that we needed to get stronger. Now, I see why. When we went out today a greenish ooze was found on a rock. It came up with odd readings and when I had touched it I was unharmed, none of us felt any pain at all except for Makoto. After seeing a stick pretty much turn into powder I know why."
"I'm glad you do." Makoto growled as she looked at her hand. A burn mark was all that was left when in her civilian form. "Cause I don't know what that was."
"Makoto, your powers are mainly electric, however your actual element is that of wood." Ami told her carefully. "I hate to see what would happen if you had been exposed to a large amount of that stuff. Also I have a distinct fear that if they have something that can hurt you, they have it for the rest of us."
"You've gotta be kidding, I dusted it pretty quickly, sure it got away, but it didn't harm us. I wasn't hurt at all." Haruka said, the mere idea was enough to send chills up her spine. She didn't want to entertain that thought a moment longer.
"No, but you didn't touch any ooze that could directly harm you, either." Ami placed the container on the table and opened the lid, she placed her finger into the ooze that was in the container, only to be unfazed. "At the risk of science, I'm going to have all of you do what I just did. Tell me what you feel."
All but Haruka complied and felt no pain. This gave the blond a sense of courage, she placed her finger into the substance only to scream out a string of invectives that proved the theory to be correct. The rather unsettling news fell like a quiet weight as everyone looked to each other in silence.
"Well it's finally happened, we have found an opponent that can actually due damage and not even be here. What the hell do we do now." Rei said looking at the stuff again, and then over to Haruka when was still snarling choice words under her breath while holding her hand in pain. Makoto's own hand looked no better and both of them were highly agitated. Saeko was preparing first aid, although she had a feeling it wouldn't do any good.
"We do the only thing we can do, prepare for the worst. If I was trying to stop it in the future, this must be why." Ami had come to one conclusion, and even if she didn't like it, it was all she could do anymore. "Setsuna does this castle happen to have a lab in it?" Ami asked staring her fellow Senshi down.
"You aren't planning to do what I think you are you?" Setsuna asked already knowing the answer.
"Hate to say it girls, but unless you have a better idea, we are all getting haircuts. Go get me some scissors, and some sterilizer, and a few medical grade cotton swabs, and show me to the lab. DNA testing here we come." Ami said looking directly at Saeko, her mother would prove to have use after all.
More later.