Parlor Games the confrontation
"They're so pretty are they not. I thought you would have appreciated it by now, Small Lady?" she said in a contemptuous tone. "No, too grown up are we? But they're so fun loving and want to play. My glittering obsidian knights await your pleasure!" Black Lady laughed in a maniacal refrain.
Crystal Palace
As she sipped her morning coffee, Serenity Dawn remembered the reports she had read the previous day from the crystal memory pods found in the abandoned laboratory within the old quarter and brought to the palace library for further study. Most of this material related to biogenic research conducted by Toshiba Corporation and others in the 21st Century. Apparently, the birth rate throughout most of the world was plummeting right up to the point where the Big Freeze had gripped the planet. Despite all that had befallen humanity, it seemed the people of Earth were, if nothing else, a most resourceful and resilient species. They had found an answer. Impressive under the circumstances, the hope in Pandora's Box. But when it was all but obvious the Ice was coming, the program was mothballed.
Sere was shocked by some of what she had stumbled upon in these ancient archives. The consortium, concerned at the alarming rate of Youma incursions into human affairs felt the future needed a terrestrial solution, in other words, its own Senshi-like beings to defend the Earth. Dr. Tomoe Souichi had apparently been a reluctant part of the program. But his daughter, Dr. Tomoe Hotaru had no knowledge of this work. He had signed a non-disclosure agreement and hadn't told Hotaru a thing. But lamented his decision not to tell her, as he had believed the Sailor Senshi would have helped guide humanity. He believed there was no need for a separate army of super heroines. The Ginzuishou and the Kinzuishou had neutralized the fertility problem. Most people had Senshi and Shitennou DNA now. The information still nonetheless made for compelling reading.
She slipped another crystal pod into the cradle and the images played out before her. Documents, interviews and footage of each stage of the research, the development of the hybrid fetus and the birth of the child fascinated her, the bridge between the organic and synthetic almost indistinguishable. The program proved a major success. Biosynthetic embryos were implanted in baron women and the nanotechnology gave these mothers to be the children they so desperately needed and wanted. However, these women were sworn to secrecy, and their offspring under the control of their creators.
The Faery Class of biogenic women warriors came much later, designed as a kind of ‘super-soldier' for the Japanese government. Ophelia's species was given life as the result of this research – defined in the documentation as the art of generating a human biosynthetic hybrid by creating two extra DNA building blocks, these, made up of biogenic nanites. Toshiba, along with a consortium of international companies under the guidance of a covert inter-government agency had fast-tracked their work, Ophelia and the others the final product. The faery-like Senshi designed to fight the Youma and hold their own, some wanted them to form the basis of a new global government of union.
Sere was curious as there were supposed to be other holding centers like the one she stumbled upon in the basement lab in the old quarter scattered all over the world. She sent a communiqué to every province across the planet to start searching for Ophelia's sisters and any male counterparts that might exist.
Raiders
Vesta and Palla looked at each other and sensed danger. The ship they'd been tracking from deep space was shadowing the Pirate Cats and only Ceres had cracked the alphanumeric password that sounded to their ears more like a cluster of growing crystals on steroids through the sound transductors as opposed to anything remotely melodic as was often the case with stellar audio sequences.
"Eep! I think that's definitely her, a subspace signature. I think I know how she's doing this," Ceres offered as Palla nodded for her friend and fellow Senshi to continue, "She has created a super-black hole and compressed it, much the same way as we use subspace molecules to fire our pulse beams. Only in this case she is using it as a gateway to our universe."
"All right, we need to keep an eye on that ship. I am picking up other signals, these are different and coming from very far away beyond the outer rim of this universe, and unidirectional," Palla added, punching in some keys.
Vesta stepped onto the bridge, "Those kids, they're going to board her. We better have our weapons array handy just in case Black Lady decides to spring a trap."
"I agree, but I just got a message from the palace, Sere is on her way. She knows."
Palla turned to Ceres, "Tell her to go home. She has to trust her Crystal Kingdom Senshi damn it! She can't fight all these battles alone. Sere is leaving herself and the rest of us wide open for attack-"
"What Black Lady is probably counting on. I don't like the way this is shaping up," Juno cut in, frowning as the image of the palace appeared in the center of the chamber.
Pirate Cats Rader
"Stun pulse beam, Kantaro!"
"By your command, my sister," he winked and punched in the data into his console.
As the plasma-net ensnared the enemy ship, it held fast, floating dead in space much like a giant melanic starfish.
"That thing gives me the creeps," Ceres said, studying the many translucent points of the alien warship, "The weapons are inactive, thank the Kamis!"
Dark Moon gasped at the sight of the massive craft via her holo-imager, "I'd love to run a salvage operation on that thing. Maybe we could do a kind of reverse engineering thing; that is if it’s not laced with dark energy. I'll run scans when we get there, " she added and continued, "I might see what we can send back via Sailor Teleport. Anything not bolted down is fair game."
"Might fetch a keen price on Orion Prime and even prove advantageous for the Crystal Alliance." Paris put in and grinned at the prospect of booty.
They prepared the crystal gliders and soon the taskforce was docking with the enemy ship.
"Personal shields are active and we're ready for whatever those guys throw at us." Mayer told Paris and Janus as they entered the vast airlock.
"This place creeps me out something chronic, Cassie. I don't like it, I don't like it one little bit," Janus said, looking back over his shoulder into the inky blackness behind them.
"Things are way too quiet for my liking. Where is their crew? No life signatures; I am getting a bad feeling about this." Mayer murmured, keeping her voice low as if to avert an invitation for whatever was lurking in the darkness to play its hand, or claw. She jumped and squeaked involuntarily as something reminiscent of the sound of plastic wrap and splintering crystal rebounded off the walls of the dark hive-like interior.
They assumed their battle stances and made ready to fight. The noise intensified and then they heard it, the terrifying sound of buzzing. Insectoid like black winged harbingers of nightmare popped out of their cocoons en masse. They smothered the walls and domed ceiling, clambering over one another. The menacing sound of the whirring had their skin crawling.
"I hate bugs. Why did this have to be a nest of whatever the hell these things are?" Paris whined.
"Er, yeah, anyone got any fly spray?" Janus deadpanned.
"Would a fly swatter do?" Mayer said, quite serious in her tone.
"What do you have in mind?" Kantaro said, assuming his battle pose.
"A fire swatter of sorts, this will be a humdinger!" she replied with a wink.
"We need to combine our powers and create the swatter and send it out and dust those Argh! Bugs!" Cassie added.
The insects glistened in the surreal light that was more an afterglow than a discernable light source they could locate. The crystalline wings were twice the body length of each black chrome-like insect, these half the size of a human being.
"All right, let's do this!"
"Sailor Power Shield Enforce!" they cried in unison.
Arcs of rippling lemon-green lightning danced like whirling dervishes around the raiding party as all of the Senshi and Shitennou prepared secondary attacks in case the main plan failed, which invariably happened from time to time.
The wall of energy solidified and they raised their power wands and or palms, these throbbing with force and cried out their attack, "Ripple Fire Attack!"
The sound of the hot ‘whoosh' almost sucked the life out of them as they crouched low to the ground, the waves of force speeding across the chamber. The insects were buzzing louder now, the swarm taking flight and rushing to meet the blast waves.
"Oh shit!" Paris shouted.
"They're pretty pissed off!" Janus raised his voice as the angry swarm almost deafened them with the beating of their countless wings.
"Wouldn't you be?" Kantaro laughed as the sound of explosions flew left, right and in many directions around them.
"New problem!" Mayer gasped, "Keep low to the floor, the place is on fire! The insectoids are incendiary devices. They're filled with plasma fuel!" she coughed.
Asteroid Senshi ship
"They're in trouble!" Vesta cried.
"I know, I'm picking up magical signatures and something else, plasma accelerant. That thing's going to blow, get them out of there!"
"I'll teleport them to the gliders and then draw them out, but I will have to be quick!"
"Problem?"
"I can't penetrate the shield. I have to go in there and deactivate the power core." Vesta shouted, punching the console with a gloved fist. "Okay, I'm off!"
Obsidian Hive Ship
Vesta appeared in the bowel of the enemy warship, and soon found what she was looking for. She slipped in the gelatinous substance from a silver syringe and soon the core began to flash with alarms. Then a voice as smooth as silk drowned out the claxon.
"Success, this time Vesta, you win. But you won't be so lucky next time."
The core went dead and she tried her communicator and contacted the others, "Okay, try now!"
~*~
The twenty-five pirate gliders were soon teleported with their occupants a safe distance. The enemy ship exploded and the shockwaves washed over the asteroids nearby, sending an ominous green light over these.
"Thanks guys, that was close!" Paris said, breathless as they bowed to the stone faced Asteroid Senshi.
"You stupid young fools! Do you have any idea how close you came to being the main course of a char grill?" Vesta barked, almost hyperventilating with emotion, "We almost lost you all!" she burst into tears and hugged her daughter, Cassandra. Cassie returned the embrace and she too turned on the waterworks. Miranda and Kantaro looked on with a look of understanding etched upon their faces.
"Janus! I ought to whip your ass!" Juno admonished, but I love you. You beautiful and wonderful brave children; no, you're all grown up now. I hope you've all learnt an important lesson this day. Remember, to be a strong warrior, and not a dead one, work as a team with the alliance. Next time your Pirate Cats board a ship like that, have a back-up plan and extra help on hand, all right? You're lucky we were here for you, this time. Just the thought of what might have happened otherwise… You know what I mean . In future call upon the palace Shitennou and have other Senshi backing you up, especially when dealing with a new enemy like this."
"Sorry mother, you're right," Janus said, head bowed. "We got over confident and almost killed. But we confirmed who it is we're dealing with."
"Black Lady?" Vesta offered.
"Yes, and we heard her speaking to you in the power core before we were teleported out of there, mother," Cassie added, hugging Vesta.
"Conference people," Ceres said, bringing refreshments to the table. "We know Black Lady is behind all this, but we know next to nothing about her allies. It is vital we work together from now on, ne?"
Everyone nodded, not a word said as they raised their crystal goblets in a gesture of understanding and solidarity.
Reunion
The Asteroid Senshi and the planetary guardians coordinated joint operations as Serenity and her royal guard's warships patrolled the Terran System looking for any signs of Black Lady's activity and had found several obsidian probes and destroyed these along with a cloaked minefield around Chiron. Black Lady was definitely more visible through her mysterious partners in crime.
Crystal Tokyo
Serenity Dawn continued to train with her father, and soon Ophelia and the biosynthetic fairy-like Senshi escorted her to the palace where she met with Luna and Artemis, the reunion a most emotional affair.
"By the Kamis! Oh, Lord Helios, you're alive!" Luna gushed, hugging the mighty solar warrior priest.
"Yes, after a fashion. I am alive and I am not quite, as I was. I don't know how to define it except to say I exist in all time at once, as does Serenity and Endymion."
"But Helios, where are they and why are they not here with you?" Artemis questioned, frowning.
"They are within the Crystal Nexus and have a vital role to play as far as Black Lady is concerned. I can say no more about it at this time. I hope you understand."
"I understand… I think."
"Sere, your mother is on Uranus and she has no idea I am back. Things might be pretty intense for a time when we meet. She will be glad of heart, but she will be in no state to look after things here in Crystal Tokyo. Sere, that's where you come in child."
"I understand father, I will play my part," she said, smiling.
"She will need to know of Endymion and Serenity's pending return to Crystal Tokyo after the Black Lady threat is resolved," he said, sitting upon the throne and sipping from the goblet handed him by Lady Luna.
"I am going to look after affairs of state until mother returns with father. My Faery Senshi, the designation I have given the girls as they do look so like faeries will serve as my personal guard," Sere explained. Luna and Artemis beamed as Ophelia and her sisters in their lace fukus came forth in their turn and hugged the Mauans.
"We're honored to have you here, but where did you all come from?" Turquoise asked, the other Shitennou and Senshi present leaning forward in their seats, their interest piqued.
Jizela, his consort, taken with the biosynthetic women stroked Ophelia's wings. The faery-like woman giggled, "I suppose I need not have worried how we would be received here in the city. Sere helped us understand we would be accepted and told us we would be loved and respected," she gushed, touching Jizela's hair in turn and giggling at the sight of her silver eyes, "Jizela, your eyes are so pretty. You're not human either?"
"No, I am a Celestial Senshi. We are scattered throughout the galaxy. We are humanoid, but not Terran."
"I must say, all this cosmopolitan cultural exchange agrees with you ladies," Artemis chuckled, hugging Luna.
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention, the Pirate Cats are to be honored this weekend and we're all traveling to the coast to get some much needed R and R," Luna said, smiling at Serenity Dawn and her father.
"Sounds great! Hey girls, have you ever swum?" Sere asked her new guardians.
"Um, swum? I don't know," one winged girl said, shaking her head, as all of her companions looked blanked faced at the question.
"No, of course not, you've been cooped up in that basement for a thousand years. I should have thought of that. Sorry guys!"
"Think nothing of it Sere. After all, we're fast learners. Besides, I am intrigued. Will you help us learn?" Ophelia asked, her puppy-dog eyes just as endearing as her mothers and by all accounts, her Obaa-san and likely her own.
Sere smiled at her friend, squeezing her hands," Naturally, and I promise, it will be fun!" she then spoke to Helios, "Will mother be back in time, my father?"
"Yes, she will be, and it is the perfect way for us all to be reacquainted," he grinned, ruffling his daughter's hair.
~*~
The morning sun hugged the palace in a blazing silvery-gold light as the birds sang their arias to the dawn. Sere sat in a pale gossamer lace fuku, not her standard issue, but one she'd had Ophelia make for her as her new friend and guardian proved to be an accomplished seamstress. The light fabric floated upon her tanned thighs, the sensation like butterfly wings and the fuku felt equally cool all over her body. She had tied her hair into a single plait. Beneath her fuku, she wore a silver bikini.
Nijizuishou was perched atop a crystal column eating some cheese and roasted almonds. She smiled at the bird that had been her faithful companion all these years. She rose to greet her winged friend , "Nijizuishou, I love you and you're quite the chatty little bird this morning!"
"Helios has come home and the sun shines once again!" was his new refrain. Sere ran her finger over his back and the bird almost purred. "Sere, is a beautiful princess, the best in the Crystal Kingdom!" the bird chirruped.
She laughed, having taught him that one when she was a little girl.
The Incoming Tide
Paris smiled as she approached him. Serenity Dawn had so been looking forward to seeing Paris again. She had been thinking of him constantly since the last time she saw him, so much so she knew she was falling in love with him. Sere raised herself up on tiptoe and pressed her warm body against him. He drew her to him and they kissed with a fiery passion that surprised her.
Cassie and Janus waved from their position atop a small rise where right behind them Luna and Artemis were setting up the food and drink for the lunch that would not be too far away now. Luna looked great in her purple and lemon bikini that hugged her full figure in all the right places bringing a smile to Artemis's lips. With those gorgeous cat ears and tail while Artemis, his lean and toned body sun-bronzed with his snowy white mane that fell to his waist, his white ears covered in a natural sunscreen, he too looked spectacular. Luna was proud of her husband. They chatted away with young Mauan Senshi and Shitennou cadets who were busy firing up the BBQ behind them.
The faery guardians fluttered about the young couple, smiling and then kneeling in the sand taking in the display of affection and were spellbound. Soon a more emotionally charged reunion would take place.
Paris adored her with his eyes, but as they embraced, he luxuriated in the sensation of skin upon skin. Without a second thought, he cupped her face in his hands and they stared into one another's eyes. He drank in the sight of his princess. She was so beautiful in her silver bathing suit. She had blossomed from a gangly adolescent into this stunning young woman. It felt as if he'd only just met her for the very first time. He liked what he saw.
"Sere, I've missed you and I-" She kissed him. He, without resistance, let her kitten-like tongue slip into his mouth as she silenced him. She threaded her fingers threw his long blonde hair and drew him closer. She moaned and whimpered as he suckled upon her bottom lip.
She was a goddess of the morning, a lovely young woman and he loved her. She loved him. Sure, her golden skin caught the light just right, giving her the appearance of a gleaming statuette. Sure, he was intoxicated and longed to touch, stroke her hair and tug her plaits and kiss the life out of her as he was doing right now. But as he looked upon the full figure of this beautiful woman, something more than mere physical desire stirred. He found himself drawn to her. They were soul mates. He wanted her and he had to admit to himself that he loved her enough to ask her to be conjoined with him. But before he could speak, she giggled and broke free and ran like a gazelle towards the surf.
"Hey! Sere, how's the water!" he cried as the ensemble of gulls, laughter and cheering met his ears as he dove through a shiny blue wave, curling in upon itself with its brilliant foamy white head contrasting against the deep blue of the sky. Sere joined him and then the water was filled with her family and friends. The gulls and other seabirds sung their seaside lullaby. The atmosphere conducive to a good time and the creation of fresh memories as they played and splashed about in the water.
Ophelia and the gathering of the Faery-like women -- their wings giving off a lustrous sheen competing with the golden lamp of the sun -- dove into the water near naked. But for a series of markings that were like an intricate mural upon their abs, arms and legs, their auras gave them some cover, but they were not fazed in the slightest. Like children, they were innocent and beautiful like sea sprites. Their wings throwing off prisms of color. Once wet, the faery girls shone with an otherworldly glow. Giggling and laughing as the Senshi helped them with gaining their buoyancy in the water -- the slippery girls proved hard to hold onto -- but with patience and good humor, they managed to teach them the art of swimming.
They were quick studies, all of them. Soon they were flying about the breakers playing sky-tag, diving, splashing the children and adults alike, and having a wonderful time. Then a pod of Orca got up close and personal. The faery Senshi were communicating with the majestic sea mammals. The whales in their turn allowed them all to ride upon their backs. The songs of the whales and laughter and woops of the Shitennou and Senshi filled the afternoon sky. Then as the sea mammals communicated their thanks and breached before vanishing, a series of chimes replaced the sound of the Satations and the images of Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity took shape within the sea spray, almost like holograms.
Serenity gaped in wonderment, joy and collapsed to her knees, laughing as a stream of tears poured down her cheeks. Serenity Dawn was crying. She knelt down beside her mother, hugging her as Neo-Queen Serenity spoke, "My daughter and precious grandchild, I love you both. Sere, you're a young woman, all grown up and I am so proud of you," she said, beaming.
"Are you real, mother, is that really you, and father?"
"Yes, we are definitely real. Unfortunately, we cannot be with you right now. But in time, we shall return to Crystal Tokyo and explain everything. You will both need to be strong for what lies ahead," Endymion said, his body surrounded by a brilliant gold corona.
"Oh, so much has happened and I want so to sit with you both and talk. I cannot process all this. I will be all right, but I sense there is more to come," she said, and Serenity and Endymion looked at one another and nodded.
Then Neo-Queen Serenity spoke, "Yes, and I think you better prepare yourself and young Pyrite for what is to come as there is one other you must meet. You have a difficult time ahead of you. The Kamis weave the weft, as they will. Be strong and listen to your heart, for it is your best guide right now. We will return to Earth once Black Lady is dealt with. At this time, we can say no more. We love you!" She and Endymion were suddenly standing before their daughter and grandchild. They embraced, three generations reunited at last.
"We must go now. Be strong and support your mother, Sere. She needs you more than ever. You need one another. I love you both, don't forget we always have," and then they were gone.
As Queen Serenity turned to face the others, all awe-struck by the amazing vision, she saw Helios approaching and her eyes doubled in size as Pyrite was walking with him. Both men chatting amiably and looking in her direction.
"Mother? I know you're feeling scared right now, but be brave. You will handle this. Like I said the other night, I am here for you and father and Pyrite both love you. So give them a chance, give yourself a chance. Father is wise and Pyrite selfless. Come on, let's meet them, you and father have a lot of catching up to do," Sere said in a gentle tone, taking her mother's sweaty hand and leading her towards the two most important men in her life, one she'd thought she would never see this side of the Crystal Nexus and the other, her new love. But as she and Sere approached, she heard the sound of bat-like wings fluttering in her head. She suddenly felt sick and terrified. Then a cold chill gripped her heart and before she could cry out, she collapsed. Helios and Pyrite rushed to Serenity's aid.
"She almost has no heartbeat, Ami!" Sere cried, leaning over and giving her mother mouth to mouth. Helios placed his golden hands upon her chest to strengthen her heart. But her body was frozen.
The silhouette of the Ginzuishou fled her body and hovered a short distance away, the figure wringing its hands and kneeling before its unconscious host. "I cannot protect her. Black Lady has her. Lords and Ladies, I am powerless to help. But I will continue to try!"
"But, how did she-" Sere cried, looking with imploring eyes at the crystal girl, the personification of the Ginzuishou.
"Black Lady drew upon the Ginzuishou that had destroyed Wiseman, I am a product of your Obaa-san's crystal. You see, after Wiseman was destroyed by the combined power of both crystals, the second crystal had supposedly merged with the first," she said, pointing at her heart.
"And it hadn't, right?" Luna said, taking Serenity's hand.
"Correct. The Ginzuishou Sere used to defeat Wiseman absorbed the persona of Black Lady. Somehow, Wiseman had impregnated it and corrupted the duplicate Ginzuishou as it vanished into subspace before he was destroyed. Black Lady is in affect, my dark sister; the corrupted incarnation of the second Ginzuishou that used your mother to grow powerful, Serenity Dawn."
"But how?" Cassie asked, joining the others as Helios continued to pour energy into Serenity.
"Because the shadow stone made your mother stronger, not me. It was a ruse. She did battle disguising herself as the silver-blue stone of love and justice. All this time I had been suppressed having only emerged now after Black Lady had abducted your mother who is becoming like me, a crystal being. She is a child in terms of her evolution."
"Can you help us locate her?" Helios asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Yes, but you will need help. I will tell you what you need to know. Black Lady is a parasite and as such, you need to employ a similar method to neutralize that virus. She will need to be purified. I am sorry that I could not stop her, my children!" She began to cry, her silvery-blue body flared up, and Serenity's heartbeat returned. But it was very weak. "I must go to the Nexus. I am tired. I have given her most of my strength and it will keep her alive for a time. You need the help of the Kamis, petition them!"
"Mother!"
Black Lady's Lair
She found herself falling like a leaf. Around her the sounds of maniacal laughter. The shadows like scarecrows spinning past her. Then she stirred. She opened her eyes and couldn't believe what she was seeing. Staring back at her was her nemesis, Black Lady.
She laughed with evil dripping off her venomous tongue. "You really ought to keep away from dark places. It doesn't agree with you and you've gone gotten yourself a nasty and Dark Virus. Lucky for me. We can settle… an old score!" she hissed.
Serenity coughed, lifting her wrists that were bound with obsidian chains and shackles. She shrieked then as zombie –like black crystal Youma of some kind, began to encircle her. "What are those things! Keep them away!"
"They're so pretty are they not. I thought you would have appreciated it by now, Small Lady?" she said in a contemptuous tone. "No, too grown up are we? But they're so fun loving and want to play. My glittering obsidian knights await your pleasure!" Black Lady laughed in a maniacal refrain.
