Endymion: Chiba Mamoru
Age: 21
Grade: College year 4
Kunzite: Seishou Kouseinou
Age: 20
Grade: College year 3
Guardian: Shippou
Nephrite: Kousei Kyosei
Age: 19
Grade: College year 2
Guardian: Hokushin
Jadeite: Tabiki Kasen
Age: 19
Grade: College year 2
Guardian: Tansei
Zoicite: Kouseki Yosouya
Age: 16
Grade: College year 2
Guardian: Erimakitokage
Serenity: Tsukino Serena
Age: 17
Grade: 12
Guardian: Luna
Venus: Aino Minako
Age: 17
Grade: 12
Guardian: Artemis
Jupiter: Kino Makoto
Age: 17
Grade: 12
Guardian: Aoao
Mars: Hino Rei
Age: 16
Grade: 11
Guardians: Phobos and Deimos
Mercury: Mizuno Ami
Age: 16
Grade 12
Guardian: Koori
Pluto: Meiou Setsuna
Age: 21
Guardian: Kyuusho (key), crow
Neptune: Kaioh Michiru
Age: 19
Guardian: Kaikii (area of ocean), crab
Uranus: Tenoh Haruka
Age: 20
Guardian: Soyakaze (soft wind), bird
Saturn: Tomoe Hotaru
Age: 14
Guardian: Fujiro (purple), firefly
Venus: Torit Sukareru
Age: 19
Grade: College year 2
Jupiter: Shinozaki
Age: 19
Grade: College year 2
Mars: Kumada Yuuichirou
Age: 19
Grade: College year 2
Mercury: Urawa Ryo
Age: 19
Grade: College year 2
Chapter 17a-Kataki Corporation
Feeling extremely refreshed, having had a good night's sleep, Kyosei scanned the crowd eagerly, hoping to catch sight of the very intriguing Kino Makoto he had met the acquaintance of only once. What met his eyes was an odd group of animals that no other people seemed to be aware of, two cats, two crows, a crab, and a green bird. Blinking and rubbing his eyes, he then closed his eyes for a few minutes and tried to regain his composure. When he opened them again, he knew that it was definitely worse. Navy blue eyes traveled uncomfortably over Kasen's guardian, Tansei, Kouseinou's, Shippou, Yosouya's Tokage, and last but most assuredly not least, his own eagle that he hadn't seen for...quite a while. Hokushin. His heart nearly stopped beating, and when he was sure it would continue, he nudged the vivacious blond beside him. 'Kasen, they're here.'
'Huh? They who? Knights, senshi, people, or what?'
Sighing, the silver-haired gen cut in, 'Our guardians, at least our past ones. We haven't exactly kept in touch, and I'm eavesdropping for a good reason. Get a hold of yourselves and focus, Mamoru's going up to the podium.'
'He's early, actually.' That was Yosouya.
Meanwhile, in the crowd, Makoto, Ami, and Rei were awaiting the speech and their friends, while another four women watched them narrowly a bit further away: Setsuna, Michiru, Haruka, and Hotaru. They too had odd companions, although one crab and bird flew away to join the other gathering of animals, while a tiny firefly, usually never seen at daylight, was carefully kept out of sight by the little dark-haired girl. A crow solemnly flew into a tree, to be joined by two others, commencing an interesting discussion. Softly, the green-haired woman pointed out for her fellow Outer senshi, "The brunette is Jupiter, Mars is the black-haired one, and last, with blue hair, is Mercury."
"So where are Venus and the Moon Princess?"
Shaking her head and brushing aside the long hunter green tresses that fell into everlastingly mysterious garnet eyes, Setsuna murmured, "Just a bit late, you should remember their habits."
Hotaru tugged on her shirt sleeve gently to get her attention and whispered, "The generals are up there, and so is Endymion."
"Hotaru..." she paused and then decided to change what she was going to say. Turning to Haruka and Michiru, who were sending her questioning looks, she explained, "Hotaru is his sister, both in the past and present. However, there was a car accident where their parents died, in this life, and he lost his memories. She was around a year old; Chiba Mamoru, her brother, seven or eight. When she was brought to the orphanage, she was almost immediately adopted by Professor Tomoe and his wife, although they sadly died in a laboratory accident around four years ago."
Exchanging a sympathetic glance, the couple turned back to the speech, not knowing what to say. They concentrated just in time to catch what the handsome ebony-haired man saying.
"...the purpose of this company is to further the experiments done with storing solar energy to benefit society..."
"Solar energy?" asked the aquamarine-haired woman. Wavy, shoulder-length tresses of the same color waved softly in the wind.
Raising an eyebrow, Haruka commented, "Technology is such a convenient excuse these days."
The banner had just been removed from the building, and the black-haired senshi read out loud, "Kataki Corporation."
"Revenge business, in other words," translated Kyuusho quietly.
Phobos and Deimos looked at their cousin. "It's been awhile, Kyuu. Revenge? The gens's guardians might know what it's for. Do you think it's against Beryl or Metallia?"
Shaking her head, the crow replied, "No, they've been sealed away, and doubtless it would be foolish and totally unconventional to retaliate now. Personally, I think they've gone batty. Over to the dark side, even though we don't know what evil's invading the Solar System now."
"You mean Earth–none of the other planets hold life anymore," commented a quiet voice. The three birds turned to see that Tansei, along with Hokushin, had arrived. Grinning cheekily, although they could all see through his ruse, unsettled at Kasen's expression, he declared, "What they want is revenge for the Silver Millennium. I don't think they've got any intention to resurrect Metallia or Beryl, not in the least."
Running a hand through short, sandy blond hair, the famous race car driver, Tennou Haruka, sat back and gazed at the Inners once more, now joined by a panting Minako, who had dragged along a meatball headed figure whose features were currently obscured. "There's Venus now, and doesn't that hairstyle look like–"
"The Moon Princess's!" the other three chimed in.
"Funny, Luna said that she couldn't find Princess Serenity," mused a delicate voice, sounding like tinkles.
Smiling at the firefly, who disliked being in the sunlight, Hotaru said, "Go on and talk to the rest of them. I think we need an identification check."
"In the large group are Artemis, Luna, Koori, and Aoao, and Kaiiki and Kaze just went over. Phobos and Deimos are conversing with Kyuu," she pointed out.
Needing no further urging, Fujiro flew off while her charge inquired, shading her eyes against the bright sun, "Why do you think the Inner senshi are here?"
Before the others could say anything, Haruka cut in, "Don't ask Setsuna, at any rate, she's never going to give up her secrets." She shrugged. "Maybe they're in on a plot to revive the Solar System?"
"The oceans are disturbed."
"Kami-sama, of course they're disturbed! The _wind_ is disturbing them!" cried an exasperated Uranus senshi, attracting many odd looks.
Setsuna chuckled at her embarrassed expression "I may as well tell you. They aren't here to ally with them. They sense evil presences, Rei's specialty, and have come to check it out, so to speak."
"Should we ah–nudge them in the right direction? Wait, evil?"
~ * ~ * ~
Lounging decadently in his chair, Mamoru muttered sleepily, although his eyes never stopped their hawk-like surveillance of the room, "Quite a success, wasn't it?"
"They didn't suspect anything."
"Kouseinou, that was the point! Mamoru, what was all that junk about solar energy? I nearly died trying not to laugh!" Kasen commented
Rolling his eyes, Kyosei told his friend, "My equipment is the perfect excuse for watching the sun, et cetera, Yosouya's crystals can be the storage. Like that gigantic laser beam thing that was just set up on the roof...."
Feeling a headache coming on, Yosouya studied an advertisement listing four phone numbers and job openings, such as secretaries, people with computer experience, or those skilled in laboratory work. He didn't quite see the point in listing ages seventeen and up, but he shrugged. He had always been dubbed pacifist and a peacemaker, so did it make any difference now? He was a lost person, one without memories and occasional flashbacks, having nothing in the world but a prince to serve and three very strange friends. Interrupting whichever argument was going on at the moment, he asked, "How come we aren't searching for magic wielders? I mean, not that we can post something to ask all people who suspect they have magic to come, but you sense hem with the Golden Crystal, can't you?"
Shifting uncomfortably, the ebony-haired man tried to explain coherently, "Uh... There's a good reason for that..." 'Well?'
'What do you want now, princeling?'
'Don't take that tone with me. I need your help.'
'Let me speak.' Gaining full access of his voice box, the entity declared, sounding exactly like its host, "It is imperative that those who brought the downfall of the original kingdom are revenged upon first. Afterwards, and only then, can the people be brought here and examined, taught full use of their powers."
Kouseinou's silver eyes narrowed. Kunzite didn't have the aura powers that Jadeite had, but years of training for the power granted to all High Generals had taken its toll. Kouseinou knew that something was very, very wrong now. "Who might those be?"
"Why, the senshi of course."
In short, clipped tones, he questioned, "Have you a plan?"
The other three looked on in amazement; their leader had never been one to question orders. To talk back, to, quite simply, say anything at all. His unease spread to those closely-bonded to him, but not Mamoru. He blocked that connection now, for something had triggered an automatic instinct in him. This game was getting dangerous, and they had taken it for reality.
"Most definitely, would you like me to share what the Great One has told me?" While Mamoru comfortably sat back, his possessor smiled to itself and laughed at their folly; how easily they were deceived! It was all too simple. The Prince of the Earth might have some rebellious streaks, but these, these generals, they were going to be fun to manipulate.
Exchanging a glance with his friend, Kyosei's navy blue eyes darkened further. "Perhaps."
"Very will then, I hear no opposition. The Great One has instructed that the sailor senshi of the Silence, Saturn, must be found. All the senshi are traitors against the Silver Millennium, especially the Golden Kingdom. An utmost sufferance to them, it would be beneficial for us turn them to our side. As this generation has proven to be more than stubborn many times over and that it has the remarkable gift of near-immortality, rebirth. The only choice is to kill them and then keep them from being reincarnated...forever."
~ * ~ * ~
At the home of Meiou Setsuna and Tomoe Hotaru, a large and sprawling mansion,
two new house mates had moved in at their urging of the often lonely pair.
Meanwhile, a sky-blue bird commented to her companions, "Even though they look happy to be reunited, Michiru seems to be preoccupied about something."
"It better not be the seas churning," grumbled Fujiro. "What's so important about the Inners, anyway? They're infinitely less powerful than the Outers, they're younger, and they just don't have what it takes to deal with certain threats."
"We need open minds," urged Kyuusho.
When they reached the temple, Luna and Artemis greeted them. When they reached the room where training was conducted, the senshi hadn't yet arrived, so they began introducing them to the generals' guardians. "For everyone's benefit, I am Luna, guardian of the Moon Princess Serenity. Artemis watches over Venus; Koori, Kaikii's cousin, is Mercury's guardian; Phobos and Deimos, Kyuusho's cousins, have Mars as their charge, and Aoao guards Jupiter. The Outers proceed as follows: Kaikii, guardian of Neptune; Soyakaze, guardian of Uranus; Kyuusho, guardian of Pluto; and Fujiro, guardian of Saturn. These are the guardians of the Shittenou: Shippou, Hokushin, Tansei, and Erimakitokage."
"That was...long..." remarked Koori, gazing curiously at the cousin she hadn't seen for over a thousand years' time.
Soyakaze, meanwhile, hissed angrily, "What are THEY doing here? We see clearly that the generals are corrupted!"
"Well," objected Hokushin, "it wasn't exactly our fault that the Prince of the Earth has been possessed, was it?"
"Actually..."
"Aoao! I thought we got over that issue!" Exchanging a look with Luna, Artemis sighed: they knew there was going to be serious trouble among the guardians if they couldn't reach an agreement. "If we just get along, everything can be resolved, with time and work."
Firmly, Kaikii objected, "Kaze's right! They were traitors, and the Four Kings caused the end of the Silver Millennium."
"What? Four Kings?"
"What, you guys don't remember?" Kyuusho proceeded to explain, "Earth was divided into four kingdoms in the past: North, South, East, and West. Endymion ruled over everything, residing in Elysion with Elios, while Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite, and Zoicite were in control of those kingdoms, answering only to him and the previous king and queen. When they went to the Moon, it was forbidden and clearly stated to the stargazer that senshi and generals could _not_ fall in love! The Kings of Earth wouldn't have been an acceptable match to the Inner Princesses, Serenity's court, in the eyes of the rest of the Silver Alliance. A pairing of Endymion and Serenity might be considered for diplomatic purposes, but not the entire court."
"You're certainly a cheerful person," muttered Tansei, "just like Phobos and Deimos; no wonder you're related."
The guardians quickly became silent when Ami and Minako walked in, and before introductions could be made, the door opened again to admit Rei and Makoto. Artemis went over, and Minako picked him up, before he began, "Girls, you've never met the Outer senshi, but they do exist–originating, obviously, from the planets Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn. They've come to watch you practice. Kyuusho is the guardian of Pluto, Soyakaze the one of Uranus, Kaikii is Neptune's, and Fujiro is Saturn's."
Having gotten used to the knowledge that guardians could come in all shapes in sizes (two Lunar cats, two crows, one crab, two birds, an eagle, and a snake), they weren't phased by another crab, yet another crow, more birds, and a firefly. Rei asked, "Should we transform, then?"
"That might be smart."
She glared at her guardians, and they shrank back and murmured, "Touchy, touchy."
Cries of transformation then issued forth:
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
"Venus Star Power!"
"Mercury Star Power."
They all turned towards the last senshi, whose tone clearly indicated that she wasn't pleased to be there. She blushed and looked at the floor.
Luna sweatdropped. She knew this wasn't a making a good impression, and a good impression was imperative. Patiently, she suggested, "Why don't you give a demonstration of the wide range of powers you've gathered so far? Jupiter, you first, please."
"Sure, why not?" They all watched her attacks closely: Supreme Thunder, Supreme Thunder Dragon, Sparkling Wide Pressure, and Super Supreme Thunder last of all. The green-haired senshi flushed as the Outer guardians looked on expectantly and muttered, "I haven't mastered the last known attack for a Jupiter senshi yet."
Mars decided to cut in and save her friend from acute embarrassment, but her own grew when she demonstrated her three: Fire Soul, Fire Soul Bird, and Burning Mandala. Consciously aware of the others's stares, Phobos and Deimos knew it would be best not to ask for an archery exhibit. She still hadn't been able to master extremely good aim yet.
Gold hair and eyes rippled for an instant as Venus stepped forward, feeling the tug of command coming on. Her Crescent Beam and Crescent Beam Shower went fine, but when she tried to use her Love Me Chain, Artemis forgot to remind her to aim properly and control it. What happened was a chastening situation of the chain narrowly missing the generals's guardians, who ducked and jumped, flew, slithered away from the burning hole in the wall. She straightened her shoulders defensively, uncomfortably observant of the giggles from the Outers guardians, trying to keep her chin up.
The senshi of ice first put out the smoldering hole considerately with Shine Aqua Illusion, but Shabon Spray and Shabon Spray Freezing looked a bit weak after that. Double Shabon Spray Freezing was more powerful than the first three, but everyone was getting a bit tired of the constant fog. Without looking at Koori, she mumbled, "Aqua Mirage is not an attack that has become reliable yet, so I won't presume to show it."
All in all, the exhibition didn't look too successful when their powers were compared to the Outers's, even though they only had one attack each: World Shaking, Deep Submerge, Silence Wall, and Dead Scream. All were shows of greater magnitude, power, and skill.
~ * ~ * ~
Chiba Mamoru had finally returned after the entity retreated, less than slightly amused at his friends' expressions. Kouseinou walked over to him and grabbed his shoulders, hard silver eyes meeting equally firm black ones. "Mamoru, I swear, if you EVER let that thing talk through you again–"
Calmly, he announced, "The Great One is not a thing, Kouseinou."
"En–Mamoru, he's right. It's evil, and it's not going to help us rebuild the Golden Kingdom."
Now glowering at his generals, the ebony-haired prince shouted, "You are not in the position to yell at me, of all people! I make the decisions here!"
Quietly, steely tone evident, the silver-haired one retorted, "As High General of Earth, I claim the power to veto those choices."
"But the generals have to vote. Five is an odd number, so there would be no ties."
"Well," commented Kyosei, coming to stand with the indignant Kasen and Kouseinou, along with the other blonde, "we stand in favor of our commander's decision. That thing is evil."
Now he chuckled hysterically, unwilling. "Evil? WE are evil, in case you haven't noticed. Surely you realized. I want revenge on those senshi. I have the royal power to make you obey me in my plan; so please oblige me, and don't make me use that power."
Angrily, Kasen protested, "Endymion, this is disgusting. We didn't exactly want EVIL, you know. The Golden Kingdom was destroyed by darkness, and now you've joined the opposing side. I don't even think this is about resurrecting your wonderful land anymore."
Mamoru had a wicked punch that they themselves had taught him in the Silver Millennium, and he knew when he wanted to use it, all right. Dazed azure blue widened as he stumbled into the wall, but before he could fall, Yosouya moved over and supported him. They stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, uncomprehending. The past prince himself was in shock, staring at his smarting hand. The green-eyed blonde examined the battered cheekbone for a minute while he was slightly prone and waved a gentle hand over his face, trickles of green falling from his fist. Looking towards his hand, the curly-haired one started asking, "M-Mamoru, do
you–"
Shaking his head, black eyes hovering between a deep, deep blue and their original color, he ordered harshly, "No, leave me. Don't–don't come until I call." Wordlessly, they left, while an icy tear slipped down his cheek. He, Prince Endymion of the Golden Kingdom, had just hit one of the four men who were like brothers to him, one of the Four Kings. Kasen had been a lifeline for him during the war and hard times in this life, cheering him up, and now he had completely alienated him through his own actions.
~ * ~ * ~
