Hi Minna-san,
Here is Chapter 11 of Guardians. I hope you enjoy it.

Ja ne,
Greywolf

Special Thanks: "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl for editing, good ideas and
                comments, and providing me with Sailor Moon stories to
                enjoy! Thanks Will!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi and all terms, names etc associated
            with the series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi and Kodansha.
            The Guardians and everything pertaining to the Star Kingdoms are
            mine, naturally. :)


                 Sailor Moon: Guardians of the Star
                Chapter 11  Fire and Ice: Inner Fury

The docks were silent and still. Nothing moved, not even any of the
skittering rats that usually frequented this particular area of the
city. Cautiously, a face appeared, peeking around the corner of one of
its many warehouses that dotted this normally bustling area. The face
was that of a young girl, crowned by shoulder length shining blue hair,
her forehead graced by a tiara, with a gem in the center emblazed with
the eight pointed star of the Guardians.

Mercury looked around warily and her look changed to confusion as she
pulled back. She glanced down to consult her computer and her confusion
only increased. She looked up at the others. "I don't get it. My
computer shows the presence of a Dark Kindred energy signature, but it's
oddly defused. Nothing's in sight out there, yet my computer says
something IS there! Any ideas?"

Everyone turned to Arilon who frowned, his silvery eyes narrowed in
thought. "Hmmm. I believe that `Illusionary Magic' is at work here," he
finally said. Kaylen spoke up, "That's easily countered." He commented
as he regarded the two Senshi, "Your enhanced Guardian/Sailor Gems can
be used to pierce the veil of illusion and See what is really there."

Kaylen activated a spell of True Sight for himself as Mars and Mercury
concentrated. Their gems glowed with power for a brief moment before
fading. "I don't notice any difference," Mercury said, disappointed.
Kaylen smiled. "Look around the corner."

Mercury obediently peeked around the warehouse again, and THIS time, her
eyes widened at what she saw. She pulled back hurriedly, hoping that she
hadn't been seen.

At Mercury's reaction, Mars took a quick look. At the nearest dock,
stood a massive unloading crane, and perched at its top, was a watchful
Dark Kindred. A cargo vessel was moored at that dock glowing with
sorcerous energies. Guarding the dock where the ship was moored was a
squad of warriors, the like of which, she HAD seen before and had hoped
would never see again. <Oh damn!> she thought, fighting the memories of
the last time they had faced these savage creatures, <Killanki
soldiers!> She pulled back slowly to avoid the sudden movement being
seen. They had almost lost Serenity during a fight against them in the
Star Kingdoms. If Greywolf's Legion Elite hadn't been nearby, she would
have died of the dreadful wound that a Killanki lance inflicted.
Fortunately, the healers had been up to the job, but the guilt remained.
If they had been more watchful, that lance would never have struck its
intended target. Mars shook herself out of her introspection and
described what she had seen.

"Killanki soldiers," Kaylen said grimly in response to Mars'
description, "Black Legion Troops." "I remember them," Mercury answered
shortly as her eyes, filled with memories, met Mars' gaze.

"First off, we need to get onboard that ship," Kaylen stated, "And that
means we need to take out the guards, fast! I'm going to cast a
whirlwind around that crane to hold the Dark One in place. Mars, you and
Arilon use your fire to give those Killanki a HOT reception. Mercury,
you stay in reserve and use your ice to get any that their fire misses.
Everyone got that?" The others nodded eagerly. They were anxious to get
into action.

Kaylen readied his powers and stepped calmly around the corner. The
Killanki soldiers spotted him and charged towards him with snarling war
cries. The Dark Kindred stretched his wings out, preparing to fly down
at the impudent Guardian, when Kaylen's whirlwind struck. The Dark One
shrieked in pain as his wings were wrenched back by the ever increasing
force of the screaming winds that had suddenly encased his perch. He
gripped the crane tightly with his claws and looked down at his
tormentor with impotent fury.

Arilon changed into his Kin form as he and Sailor Mars rounded the
corner after Kaylen. Seeing the Killanki charging the preoccupied Kaylen
with drawn weapons, Mars raised her hands. "BURNING MANDALA!" Rings of
fire exploded from her hands, slamming into the surprised Killanki with
deadly accuracy. Arilon's dragonfire followed suit, taking out the few
that Mars' flames had missed. When the flames died, nothing was left but
piles of ash.

Mercury moved to follow her companions when a sudden movement behind her
caused her to turn quickly. A move which saved her life as the blow
would have been fatal. However, instead, it became a lacerating blow to
her head.  She cried out as her head erupted with pain and her vision
exploded with stars. Stunned, she collapsed onto the pavement. She felt
something warm run down her face as she looked up numbly, to see the
Killanki raise his bloody mace for the killing blow.

<That was Ami!> Mars thought as she exchanged a glance with Arilon. He
jerked his head toward the corner of the warehouse, but Mars was already
moving. Around the corner, she came to a stop as her horrified eyes took
in the scene. Mercury was down, her hair matted with blood on one side
and it had ran down her face. In short, she looked badly hurt. Mars felt
her temper ignite and glared fiercely at her friend's assailant. There the
Killanki stood, his bloody mace poised for a finishing blow. "FIRE
SOUL!!" The fire bolt took the Killanki in the chest and he shrieked as
he exploded into flaming ashes.

Apprehensively, she turned to look at Mercury. She gasped. <She's
alive!> she thought, dizzy with relief as she moved to her friend, who
stood unsteadily. She placed an arm around Mercury's shoulder to steady
her.  "Are you all right, Mercury?" she asked in concern as she examined
the bloody wound under Mercury's hair. Mercury nodded and winced as the
injudicious movement caused her head to throb. "I'm fine. Shaky, but
fine," she replied weakly. "You're right. The wound is shallow, caused
by one of the mace spikes when it grazed you, I think," Mars concurred.
She shuddered as she realized how close Mercury had come, to meeting the
Grim Reaper.

"Don't worry about cleaning me up," Mercury said firmly, "We don't have
time, and if the enemy underestimates me because I look seriously hurt,
then so much the better!" Mars was about to argue when she was
interrupted by a loud crash and a triumphant shout from Kaylen. Mars
helped a still shaky Mercury around the corner and they stared in awe at
the sight before them.

Kaylen concentrated on maintaining the fierce winds which held the Dark
Kindred trapped upon his perch. "Any ideas on how to finish him,
Arilon?" he asked, looking at his companion, "My winds aren't strong
enough to do the job!" Arilon glanced at Kaylen. "Why don't I add
something to heat up the situation a bit," he commented dryly, "Watch!"

Turning to face the winds, Arilon cut loose with his dragonflame. The
hungry winds sucked it in and the searing fire, fanned hotter by the
winds, began to spiral higher and higher. The Dark Kindred had only
enough time to look on in horror as the column of fire engulfed him.
Weakened by the terrible heat, the crane finally collapsed with a loud
crash. "YES!" Kaylen cried triumphantly.

Mars and Mercury arrived to stare in awe at the huge whirling column of
fire as Arilon continued to feed Kaylen's winds with searing dragonfire.
When they finally dropped the winds and flame, nothing was left of the
crane but a pile of melted slag. Of the Dark Kindred, there was no sign.

Arilon laughed. "Got the bugger!" He turned to the two Senshi and his
eyes widened incredulously at seeing the blood on Mercury's face. He
walked over to her and took her gently by the chin with one foreclaw as
he examined the wound on her head.

"It's nothing, Arilon," she began to explain. "Quiet, child," he
interrupted her absently as he continued his examination. "But....." He
turned a glare on her. "You aren't going to argue with your Healer, are
you?" he asked ominously. Mercury considered the fact that her chin was
lightly held by a seventeen foot Dragonkin, who did NOT look too pleased
at the thought of her arguing with him. "Well, I guess not," she
whispered warily.

Arilon nodded curtly, hid his amusement, and began to heal her wound.
"I think you might want to leave the blood," he suggested after he had
finished, "It makes you look terrible and may cause our enemies to
disregard you as a threat." Mercury grinned. "I was going to do JUST
that." The pain in her head was gone and she felt MUCH better, ready to
take on anything. Arilon's jaw dropped as he returned her grin. "You
know what they say about great minds!"

They moved cautiously towards the dock, but nothing hindered them. In
moments, they stood at the gangway that led up to the ship's deck.
Mercury activated her visor and studied the ship carefully. <That's
odd,> she thought. "Guys, my visor detects some kind of energy around
the ship.  I can't pinpoint it, but the power is rather low level." She
turned to look at Arilon in confusion.

He turned his Mage Sight on the ship. "Ah!" he said in understanding.
He turned back to Mercury. "It is a shield surrounding the ship." He
explained, "Your visor couldn't pinpoint it because the energy is
magical in origin. The power level is low to allow passage through the
shield."

Mars walked to the gangway and turned to the others. "Well?" she
queried, "It appears they want us on the ship. Shall we oblige them?"
Kaylen moved to the front and led the way up. Each of them felt a
tingling sensation as they passed through the shield. "Be on your
guard!" Kaylen warned, "Whatever is on the ship now knows we are here."

When they reached the deck, they saw that the cargo hold doors were
closed. "I guess they don't want us in the hold," Mars commented, "Any
suggestions?" Mercury looked thoughtful. "I would suggest we head for
the aft section. It contains the ship's bridge and a way below deck.
It's likely we can get to the hold from there."

"Good idea, Mercury," Kaylen said approvingly, "While I hate to do what
the enemy wants, for the moment, we must dance to their tune. Let's go."
They were moving towards the aft section, when the ship shuddered
violently. While Arilon managed, being four footed, to maintain his
balance; the others were thrown to the deck.

Mercury rose painfully to her feet, carefully keeping her balance on the
shuddering deck, and looked towards the docks. Gasping in surprise, she
hurriedly activated her visor as the others got to their feet. They
watched the docks recede in the distance as Mercury studied the readings
her visor was supplying her. "That's impossible," she stated flatly to
herself.  Mars turned to look at her in concern. "What is it, Mercury?
What's wrong?"

"This ship is a freighter," Mercury answered as she continued to study
her visor readings, "And according to my visor, this tub is heading
towards the center of Tokyo Bay at approximately seventy knots." Mars
looked uncertain.  "Isn't that a little fast for a freighter?" she
asked.  Mercury nodded and sighed. "It is a much faster speed than a
ship of this tonnage should be able to attain," she explained patiently,
"I don't even think most warships can reach this kind of velocity."

"What should we do?" Mars asked as she turned to Kaylen. "We wait," he
returned as he leaned against a railing, "We'll get to our destination
eventually, and THEN we can decide what to do." They all relaxed, while
keeping their powers ready to strike, waiting for the ship to reach its
rendezvous with the unknown.

Mars was the first to notice a lessening in the wind blowing against
her.  "Mercury," she said quietly, "I think we're slowing down!" Mercury
climbed to her feet, and looking out over the water, she studied her
visor.  "You're right, Mars!" she exclaimed, "Our speed is currently
sixty knots and decreasing."

They waited, ready for anything, as the ship continued to slow its
headlong rush. Within minutes, it was dead in the water. "Well, we're
here," Mercury commented tensely as she moved to the railing, "Where
ever `here' is." She looked out over the open sea as the others joined
her.

As she looked down, her visor filled with information that made her
catch her breath in shock. "Mars, this ship is sinking!" Mars looked at
her friend sharply, as Kaylen and Arilon began to study the shield.
"Are you sure?" she demanded. Mercury nodded.

"That's not all," Arilon cut in, "The shield has changed. It is now
impenetrable." Mercury turned her visor towards the shield and nodded
after a moment of study. "The power level of the shield has risen
dramatically," she reported. Mars reached over the railing and
encountered a solid surface about a foot away from the ship.

Looking down at the water, which was now only a foot from the deck,
Mercury noticed something that made her rub her eyes and look again.
"Guys! The shield is holding the water away from the hull!" They watched
as the ship continued to go down, the water following the curve of the
shield until the ship was entirely submerged, covered by a dome of water
held back by the now glowing shield.

They watched in awe as the ship continued its downward journey. Mercury
studied the depth readings on her visor. "We're about 250 feet down and
still descending," she reported absently as she continued to study the
readings. The light began to dim as they went deeper. "How deep is it
here?" Mars whispered. "Areas of the Bay can be as much as 600 feet
deep," Mercury replied. "How deep it is here?" She shrugged.

After a time, the ship gently came to rest on the muddy bottom. The
light was dim enough that the glowing shield now provided most of the
available light. "Well, that answers that," Mercury commented, "The ship
is currently resting on the bottom at a depth of 472 feet."

"Why would they go to THIS much trouble?" Mars asked worriedly. Kaylen
took a moment to phrase his answer. "We are now well and truly in the
trap, and the jaws have just snapped shut!" he finally answered her, "I
imagine that this is to keep us from escaping." Mars looked confused.
"But we can still....," she began. <<Hush, child!>> a powerful voice
spoke in her mind, <<I know you can teleport, they know you can
teleport, BUT, the enemy DOESN'T know. Don't give away our ace in the
hole!>>

Mars turned sharply to see Arilon staring at her. She nodded shakily.
"How can you...?" Arilon's jaw dropped in a silent grin. <<I'm a Shell
Twin. Our mental strength is much greater than other Dragonkin, so we
are able to mindspeak with non-telepaths. Another thing the enemy
doesn't know.>> She returned his grin slowly. She was feeling better
already.

They moved quickly aft and paused in front of a steel door leading into
the ship. While the others assumed attack postures, Mercury pulled the
door open. A dimly lit room was revealed. A table stood against the far
wall, on it was what appeared to be a radio transmitter and receiver.
Another door on the left wall led further into the ship. Arilon
shimmered and assumed his human form. "Well, I'm hardly going to be able
to go through that door in my Kin form!" he said defensively when the
others stared at him. Mercury grinned at him and turned her attention
back to the room.

"The ship's radio room," Mercury commented as she entered the room with
the others. She studied the radio with her visor. "Non-functional," she
informed the others. "You mean it doesn't work," Mars said dryly.  "I
believe I said that," Mercury returned, grinning at her friend.

Kaylen opened the door leading further into the ship and looked through,
carefully. There was a dimly lit hallway beyond. Further down the hall,
he saw a stairway heading down into the bowels of the ship.

Waving the others to follow, he moved to the stairs and peered down. The
light below was minimal and the shadows assumed a threatening aspect.
"I can't detect anything or anyone down there," Mercury reported after
looking with her visor. With Kaylen in the lead, they descended.

Stepping from the stairs and into the passageway below, they looked
around warily. "This place gives me the creeps," Mars commented with a
shiver.  "I'd have to agree," Mercury returned as she scanned the
darkness with her visor, "While there is JUST enough light to see by,
this would be a perfect place for an ambush!"

They moved cautiously towards the front of the ship where the forward
hold was located. There was no warning. As they approached a junction in
the passageway, there was a rush in the darkness.

Mercury felt herself bowled over as her assailant tackled her and they
both went down. She struggled desperately to gain some distance in order
to use her powers. "BURNING MANDALA!" she heard Mars cry. Flashes of
burning red light illuminated the darkness as Mars unleashed her power.
The shrieks of agony Mercury heard attested to her accuracy.

Clawed hands closed around her throat as she looked up and saw the cruel
tusked visage of a Killanki. The sounds of struggle began to fade as
Mercury began to lose consciousness, her air cut off by the tightening
grip the Killanki had on her throat.

She heard a fierce growl and her attacker was smashed aside to slam into
a wall. Before it could rise, Arilon finished the job with razor sharp
claws. "Are you all right, Mercury?" he asked as he helped her to sit
up.  Too busy getting her breath back to answer, she nodded shakily. He
supported her back with one foreclaw while taking her chin with the
other.  Gently, he raised her chin and examined her throat. "Well,
you'll have some lovely bruises, but no permanent damage appears to have
been done," he said, relieved. "And I can feel every bruise," she
whispered hoarsely and coughed.

Mars and Kaylen faced down the passageways, ready for more attackers,
but nothing further came from the darkness. "Arilon, how is she?" Mars
asked anxiously. "Bruised, battered, but still intact," came the reply.
"Good," she said, "The doors to the forward cargo holds are just down
this hall!"

Arilon returned to his human form and joined them, leading a still shaky
Mercury by the hand. They approached the door to the cargo hold and
examined it for a moment. "Mercury?" Mars said questioningly. Mercury
turned her visored gaze on the door. "It's just a door," she answered
hoarsely, "No energy, magical or otherwise." Mars grabbed the door
lever.  "Let's not keep them waiting then!" she cried as she thrust the
door open.

They ran through and into the huge cavernous cargo hold. No words, no
threats, and no warning. Arilon assumed his Kin form just barely in time
to engage the Dark Kindred that leapt for him. Mars and Kaylen squared
off against a trio of shadow demons.

Mercury had eyes only for the shielded cage that stood in the center of
the hold. Her mother stared back, her eyes wide with horror at her
daughter's bloody and battered appearance. Mercury's cold gaze shifted
to the Dark Elf standing smugly before her. "Well, well, well! If it
isn't Sailor Mercury!" the Dark Elf taunted her, "You're wounded, Child.
Do you really think you can best me, even healthy?" He laughed
viciously.

Not even the screams of fury or cries of agony from the combat around
her caused her to shift her gaze from her tormentor. Here was the one
who kidnapped her mother, the one who caused her such anguish, and the
one who had taken her life and torn it asunder. She felt the cold fury
rising and struggled to keep a raging scream from escaping her lips.

"MERCURY!" She trembled as she struggled to control her rage. "ICE!" Her
hands began to glow with ice cold fire. "SHARD!" She raised her
trembling hands. "STORM!" She unleashed her fury as ice cold winds
screamed through the hold. A blizzard of razor sharp ice shards erupted
from her hands and sped towards the Dark Elf whose eyes widened with
shock. He quickly raised a shield around himself as her attack struck.
The shield held for almost a second against the raging fury he faced,
before collapsing. Not even having time to scream, he exploded into dust
as the attack shredded him.

The icy winds stopped and Mercury's arms fell to her sides as she
collapsed.  "AMI!!" Dr. Mizuno cried as she burst through the weakening
shield to run to her daughter. She dropped to her knees and gathered
Mercury into her arms, hugging her precious child tightly as she watched
the others finish off their opponents. Arilon withdrew his claws from
the dying Dark Kindred's throat and watched impassively as his enemy
turned to dust.

Kaylen summoned a fierce gale as Mars fed her fire into it. Overwhelmed
by the duel attack, the last Shadow Demon exploded into dust with a cry
of despair.

Dr. Mizuno, tears streaking her cheeks, searched frantically through
Ami's blood matted hair for the head wound that had caused the bleeding.
"It's been healed, Dr. Mizuno," Arilon reassured her, "I healed it
before we came down. It wasn't a serious wound." He knelt down to take
her pulse.

"Exhaustion," he reported, "After all, that was some attack she nailed
that scum with!" The ship shuddered and they heard the roar of rushing
water in the distance. "Oh damn!" Arilon groaned, "The shield
surrounding the ship must be failing and the water is rushing in! We
gotta get out of here!"

"How?!" Mars cried, "Mercury is out of it, so she can't help me with the
Sailor Teleport and there are too many people even if she could!" Dr.
Mizuno got to her feet, Mercury firmly held in her arms. Kaylen motioned
her to the center, as he joined hands with Mars and Arilon. "You're a
Guardian now as well as a Senshi," he explained hurriedly as the roaring
sound of the water got closer, "You can draw on powers other than your
own. Use our power to help you! Now get us out of here and back to the
Shrine!"

Mars nodded and their joined hands glowed. "SAILOR TELEPORT!!" she
cried.  They shimmered and vanished just as the cargo door blew in,
gushing torrents of water following after. Within moments, the ship had
been claimed by the ocean deep, nevermore to see the light of day.


End of Chapter 11

NEXT: Chapter 12 Love and Thunder: Children of the Storm

Tokyo International, More serious butt kicking, Galen's Fury! BE THERE!!