Dear Listmembers,
Here IS chapter 13 A
IT IS  DRAFT!!

THANK YOU ALL! There has been so much mail that I can't
answer all of you individually (I am trying though). Not and finish
this thing. :) So a Collective THANK YOU!!!
  I am looking for comments on creative content (plot,
characterization, etc.).
I am by no means an expert on Asian culture or language so I would
also appreciate suggestions on correcting major faux paux.  This
Chapter 13 is being sent in two parts
13a 58kb
13b 82 kb
I am not subscribed to the list so please send C&C
to samr@my-dejanews.com (samr was the name of my first Irish
Wolfhound.) 
Please do NOT send e-mail to janne. I am using this e-mail
(temporarily) until I can get a system that will allow me to
send larger packets at one time. 
I AM NOT JANNE@MINDSPRING ^_^
 
If anyone is interested I have posted two fanfictions on the RAAC.
"Love is a Battlefield" and "Bloodfist" under the name Allyn Yonge.

I would like to thank my three present pre-readers KazamaJun,
Thiemo and Ken Wolfe for their
patience and invaluable assistance. They have made this fanfiction
immeasurably better. Any omissions and mistakes are entirely mine.
(And another big thanks to two NEW pre-readers David Eddy and 
H-Packrat.) 
BEGIN CHAPTERS 10 11 AND 12
The characters of the Ranma � universe are the creation
and possession of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. They belong to
Rumiko Takahashi and her licensees (Shogakukan Inc., Kitty-Fuji
TV, Viz Communications Inc.) No copyright infringement is
intended. 
The characters of Sailor Moon are the creation and possession of the
brilliant  Takeuchi Naoko.
They belong to Takeuchi Naoko,  Bandai, Toei Animation, DIC,
and all others associated
with rights. No copyright infringement is intended.

 [fanfic][sailormoon/ranma] [dark/waffy]Furies

BEGIN CHAPTER 13 A
Chapter 13

     "Usagi, you've got to eat something!"
     "I'm not hungry Rei." Usagi turned listlessly away.
     "I've got something you'll like." Minako held out her
hands.
     "ICE CREAM!" Makoto was astounded. "Where on
earth did you find ice cream around HERE?" she waved a hand
to indicate the bombed out rubble that had once been a suburb of
Tokyo.
     "The Americans! It's amazing what they've got with
them. Ice cream, hamburgers, books, tooth paste . . . they've got
more stuff than the Ginza.  Hey Usagi" she turned to her friend.
"why don't we go shopping after we dust this big rock?"
Usagi sighed and shaking her head turned her back to her
friends.
Minako looked worriedly at Usagi for a moment before turning
to Ami who was busy at her computer.
     "Ami, how's it going?"
Ami glanced up from her work with a slightly dazed look on her
face.
     "Oh, Hi Minako . . .Where'd you get Ice Cream?"
Ami couldn't understand what was so funny. As soon as she
could stop laughing Minako again questioned Ami.
     "So, what's the plan? How are we going to take out this
big rock?"
     "I've been working on a three tiered plan. Most of the 
com-sat's are down but fortunately the trans-pacific cables are
intact." She pointed to a graphic scrolling across the display of
her computer. "This is from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
America. It's a firing plan for using nuclear warheads in series
to push the 'rock' enough so that it misses the earth."
     "NUC . . .!!!" Rei jerked up right from her place beside
Usagi. "Where are we going to get nuclear warheads!" she
hissed at Ami.
     "From over there." Makoto jerked her thumb in the
direction of the barely visible roof of a hastily constructed
Quonset hut nestled in a bomb crater. Armored vehicles marked
USA and JSDF surrounded the site.
     "You were sleeping when they brought them in."
     "THEM!!!"
     "Ummm. Yes, thirty two warheads from an American
ballistic missile submarine. About a megaton yield each." Ami
tapped a few keys and turned the display so Rei could see it. 
     "We're going to use the 'Sailor Teleport' to carry the
warheads into space and position them to change the 'rock's'
trajectory."
     "Yeah, but it's not just a 'rock' is it?" Minako asked.
     "No. It's under power and has the ability to maneuver."
Ami agreed. " That's why, if the warheads don't work, we use
the 'Sailor Planet Attack'.  With our Super Sailor forms and
Usagi's Eternal Moon  I 'think' we have enough power to divert
it."
     "But you're not sure, are you?"
     "That's why there's a third option."
     "Hotaru-chan."
Ami and Minako jumped slightly at Usagi's quiet voice.
     "You want Hotaru-chan to use the 'Silence Glaive'"
Ami looked at Minako, at the ground, everywhere but at Usagi.
     "Yes." she answered quietly. "There's no choice. If the
'Sailor Planet' attack fails . . ."
     "How bad will it be? If the 'rock' hits, I mean."
     "It may not hit at all. It's more probable that this is just a
ploy to draw us out. To find out what resources we have left;
what weapons. After all, why bother to invade at all if you're
just going to destroy . . ."
     "Please Ami. We can't possibly know what or how they
think. I need to know how bad it will be if it does hit us."
     "That . . .that's hard to say."Ami equivocated. "There
are a lot of factors . . .unknowns like the exact mass of the object
and . . ."
Usagi smiled sadly at Ami's stumbling attempt to shield her
from the truth.
     "I need to know Ami. If I'm going to ask Hotaru-chan
to. . . if I'm going to ask her  . . .then I HAVE to know . . .to
know she has to do this.  So please tell me."
     "We've lost a lot of our space tracking ability worldwide
" Ami began slowly. " either through destruction of facilities or
because  resources  are diverted to fight the enemy.  Our best
guess at this time is that the 'rock' will hit with an impact of
about 30,000 megatons within a degree or two of Tokyo. The
shock wave as it enters atmosphere will kill everyone in Japan
well before it hits.  If it hits in the ocean, tidal waves several
kilometers  high will race inland for hundreds of kilometers. If it
hits on land a tidal wave of earth and rock will circle the globe
at better than eight hundred kilometers per hour. Billions of tons
of white hot rock and earth will be thrown into the air. The
secondary impacts by these debris will set fire to every thing that
will burn world wide."Ami paused then went on as a white faced
Usagi nodded for her to continue.
     "Major fault-lines will fail world wide triggering earth-
quakes and volcanic eruption. The sky will be black with smoke
and dust for at least a year; all the plants will die. There will be
a continuous acid rain followed by a tremendous increase in
mean temperature due to the green-house effect. The earth will
be . . . it will. . . " tears choked off Ami's voice as she tried to
describe the end of the world.
     "Rei" Usagi's voice was low and filled with such despair
that Rei wanted to cry. "Please go and tell Hotaru-chan that . .
.tell her that I want to talk to Sailorsaturn."

*******************************************************
****
Kaiou Michiru was a ghost. She had been peeled like an onion,
layer after layer of duty, sacrifice, justification and judgment
had been stripped away. And just like an onion, after the layers
were removed, there was nothing left. No pain, no anger, no joy 
no . . .nothing at all. She looked at her left arm and followed it to
where her hand disappeared into the grasp of Ten'ou Haruka.
She could see blood ooze from the pressure of Haruka's nails
into her skin. But she couldn't FEEL it, couldn't feel anything
except an awful gnawing emptiness, as if her insides had been
scooped out like a gourd.. Like an amputated limb she could feel
the phantom presence of the Inner Senshi, a connection that had
always been there, a presence so familiar so natural that she'd
paid no attention to it. Until suddenly it was gone. A sudden
spasm of nausea twisted her stomach and she clutched her belly
with her free arm. She'd never been alone like this . . .not like
this. Even when she and Hotaru had been . . .apart . . .from the
inner senshi there had always been that connection. . . that sense
of family . . ."

*******************************************************
****
     ". . .family now Sailorneptune. You are senshi. Your life
belongs to the Imperium . Your past, your family, even your
name are forgotten.  You live and die at the pleasure of her
Majesty . . ."
     "Don't forget to mention that I enjoy a light snack of
grilled senshi before bedtime ."
     "Imperitrix!"  The black cat whirled around at the
unexpected voice.
     "Kneel girl." the cat hissed at the newest senshi.
Sailorneptune stood frozen at the apparition before her. Serenity,
Sword Breaker.  Taller and more beautiful than any mortal
woman. Strong and wise beyond human understanding. She'd
heard the stories all her life and they didn't begin to describe the
reality. She fell to her knees, trembling before the reality of her
sovereign. Over the thundering of her heart she could hear the
swish of royal robes over the stones of the courtyard. A shadow
blocked out the light and she choked back a sob.
     "Please get up." A rich contralto voice washed over her
like a warm east wind. 
     "It doesn't look at all comfortable and I find it very
difficult to talk to the top of your head." A pale slender hand
caught her gently under her arm and with surprising strength
lifted her to her feet. Against her will Sailorneptune raised her
eyes to see a pair of twinkling sky blue orbs set in a warmly
smiling face.
     "A . . .are you really the Imperatrix?"
     "Well, yes I'm afraid I am. And what is your name little
one?"
She was really very young. She had been thrust from her home
and family, taken far away among strangers who had treated her
with brisk efficiency and benign indifference. The soft touch and
kind voice shattered the thin wall of her control. Sobbing she
threw herself into the arms of the woman before her.
     "I want to go Hooommme!" she wailed. "I don't like it
here. It smells funny and I don't know anyone and Luna is 
m m meaaaan to me and . . ."
There was a shocked gasp from the black cat.
     "SAILORNEPTUNE!"
She cringed away from the gentle hands at the cats disapproving
tone.
     "I. . I'm sssory. . .I dddidn't. . ."
Strong arm tightened pulling her into a warm embrace.
     "Shhhh. It's all right. You haven't done anything wrong.
Luna why don't you go chase a mouse or something?"
     "IMPERITRIX! Why I would never. . ."
     "Just go away and do something Imperial and stuffy
then.  I want to get acquainted with my new senshi."
With a huff the black cat stalked off the picture of offended
dignity.
     "She means well." Serenity said as soon as the cat was
out of sight. "And she is very kind." Serenity chuckled at the
disbelieving snort from the girl curled against her side. "She is
kind, but she has an inflated idea of Imperial dignity. She thinks
that the Imperitirx is the most important person in the
Imperium."
     "B. ..but isn't she. . .aren't you!" Sailorneptune
corrected herself blushing."
     "Oh, no. The Imperium is just a voluntary confederacy
of the twelve kingdoms. And the Imperitirx is just the elected
head of that confederacy. And sometimes I feel more like a
kindergarten teacher than anything else. I have much more
'power' as Queen of the Moon Kingdom."
Sailorneptune was confused. This didn't sound like anything
she'd learned in school or any of the stories her parents had told
her. She said as much.
     'But the Imperitrix RULES the Imperium. And
COMMANDS the senshi and COMPELS the crystal and . . ."
She broke off as Serenity began to chuckle. The chuckles turned
to laughter and Sailorneptune was amazed to see tears of
laughter streaming down Serenity's face.
     "OH. . .oh . . .oh You sound JUST like LUNA!!"
Sailorneptune drew back offended at the comparison and was
just about to let her displeasure be know when she suddenly
realized just whom she was offended by. Serenity seemed to read
her mind and turned a smiling face to Sailorneptune wiping her
own face and then her newest senshi's face with a handkerchief
she'd pulled from the sleeve of her robe. 
     "I'm sorry. I realize that was a TERRIBLE thing to say.
Do please forgive me."
     "O o of course Impe. . . "
     "You are my senshi." Serenity said gently. "You may
call me Serenity. Or other less flattering names if you think I
deserve it." she added with a reminiscent look. 
Sailorneptune could only nod dumbly, unable to comprehend the
thought of addressing this perfect royal creature so familiarly. 
     "Do you like babies?"
The seeming non-sequitur caught Sailorneptune by surprise and
again she could only nod.
     "Come on then. Let me introduce you to the REAL ruler
of the Imperium, commander of senshi et cetera." She pulled the
small girl to her feet and led her briskly down the path. Soon
Sailorneptune  could hear a high pitched wail that reminded her
of the time her obnoxious cousin had tried to push her into the
water and slipped and landed on his . . .he had fallen straddling a
log and crushed his . . . he had sounded JUST like that 'till
they'd packed him in ice. And he'd walked funny for a month
too, she thought with satisfaction. But unless he were somehow
HERE and had in addition fallen on his . . . Sailorneptune
couldn't imagine WHAT could be making that horrible,
obnoxious, irritating . . .
     The harassed nursemaid handed a complaining child to
the Queen who folded back the top of her gown. The noise cut
off abruptly as the baby's blind nuzzling found the  target and
she started to drink greedily.
     " This is my daughter Serenity, Sha'ra ta'a."
Sailorneptune stared dumbfounded at the prosaic sight of a
mother nursing her child. . .then abruptly realized just WHO she
was staring at. . .  and immediately followed that with. . ."
     "PRECIOUS HEART!" she blurted in disbelief, then
clapped a hand over her mouth. 
     "Yes, it is rather . . .much. I only hope she doesn't hate
me for it when she's older."
     "Oh, no Imp. . .uh. . .Ser . . .OH NO! It's a LOVELY
name. A wonderful name." she babbled in embarrassment.  " I
only wish MY own parents. . ."
     "Would you like to hold her?" Serenity thrust her now
satiated daughter into Sailorneptune's hands. 
     "I . . .I . . .I" Sailorneptune stuttered to a halt as the baby
princess stared solemnly  up at her with the innocent wisdom of
a baby owl. Involuntarily she stroked a gentle finger along the
babies cheek, amazed at it's silky softness. Two tiny hand
grabbed her finger and began gumming it happily. 
     "You don't have to stay. Being a senshi is entirely
voluntary. You may return later or never, just as you wish. If
you decide to stay, I could use some help with Sha'ra ta'a. How
would you like to be the first of her senshi.?"
Sailorneptune looked down at the helpless infant in her arms
blowing happy bubbles up at her and was enslaved for life."
     "I will stay Imp. . .Serenity. I will stay forever."

*******************************************************
****
Forever ended six years later.  Pluto came for her and she joined
the Outer Guard. 
     
*******************************************************
*****

     "Hotar. . .Sail. . ." Usagi stumbled over her words as she
rose to face Tomoe Hotaru. Usagi drew a deep shuddering
breath and spoke again, slowly and very reluctantly.
"Hotarusan, I need to ask you for a favor."
     "No."
The single softly spoken syllable struck the assembled senshi
with the force of a thunderbolt and their expressions ranged from
disbelief to anger. Except for Usagi who looked at Hotaru with a
mixture of regret and relief. Regret that she had asked and relief
that she had been turned down.  So she was completely stunned
when Hotaru dropped to one knee and pressed her lips to
Usagi's hand in formal obeisance.  
          
     "You are my Princess, my liege and my friend. You and
Small Lady accepted Tomoe Hotaru when every one else
shunned her, when Mistress Nine took me, you braved the
maelstrom and saved my life and my soul. And now you have
offered me the chance to SAVE the world, not destroy it. As
your senshi it is my duty and privilege to serve you, as your
friend it is my joy." Hotaru looked into Usagi's eyes her face
radiant. "You never have to ask. . . you saved me from
becoming the messiah of silence . . ." Hotaru's voice choked
with tears. "You saved me from. . you saved me. . ."
Usagi wrapped the smaller girl in her arms for a moment, then
stepped back.  A brilliant light erupted from her body and
flashed gold, green, red, blue for each of her senshi. The colors
blended into a pure white light that faded to reveal the Eternal
Moon Angel emerging from a cloud of butterflies.
     "We are Serenity" she golden voice washed through those
assembled like a warm summer shower. "last and first of that
name . . .the end of the Silver Imperium and the beginning of the
Crystal Millennium. Tomoe Hotaru, Sailorsaturn, senshi of
silence, soldier of destruction, by oaths sworn to Us  in Time
Was, Time Is and Time Shall be, hear now our commands, heed
well the geas We lay upon you." Hotaru knelt, frozen in place by
the inhumanly beautiful voice. "Should We fall, and should Our
senshi perish with Us, to you falls Our duty of defending the
Earth. We command you, therefore, to protect this planet and all
that live upon her, to defend the weak, comfort the fearful and
champion the lost causes." Hotaru turned her head away, unable
to bear the weight of the awful compassion and terrible justice in
those eyes. "Sailorsaturn, Tomoe Hotaru this geas we fix upon
you, a geas that you may not lay down in this life, or the next so
long as your soul exists. This geas . . .to live. . .to live and to be
happy." Tender hands, terrible in their power cradled Hotaru's
head gently as snow falling on a shadow. An evil aura the color
of old blood boiled from Hotaru's body and mixed with the cloud
of varicolored butterflied that swarmed about the Eternal Moon
Angel. Slowly at first, then faster and faster the butterflies seemed
to devour the oily black cloud then descended to surround the
kneeling girl. The swarm lifted to reveal Sailorsaturn, now
clothed in royal purple and burnished gold, her once jet black
hair now of purest silver that matched her new made eyes.  
     " Arise, Tomoe Hotaru, Sailorsaturn ,soldier of life,
shield of the Crystal Imperium, senshi, healer . . . and friend."
This last was said by Tsukino Usagi who gathered the stunned
young girl in a fierce hug. 
     
********************************************************
****
     "Who did she think she was! Who the HELL did she
think she was!" The silent mantra chanted angrily through
Ten'ou Haruka's head. She glanced sideways at her companion
and her lips thinned in anger as she saw how pale and sick
Michiru looked.
     "Who  did she think she was to treat them like that?"
     **She think's she's the princess**
Haruka ignored the sly little voice of her conscience. 
     "Princess! What did she know about the real world?
What did she . . ."
     **Beryl . . .The Black Moon Clan . . .The Doom Tree . .
.**
Haruka snarled and shook her head angrily to rid herself of the
unwelcome images. 
     "Dammit." Haruka muttered angrily under her breath.
She doesn't have any right to do this. I'm Sai. . ." the word stuck
in her throat She tried again. "I AM  S. . .SA . . .S - A - I" Veins
bulged in her forehead as she tried to force the word past her lips.
She couldn't say it, couldn't even think it.
** "We cast you out from the family of senshi." Remember?**
her inner voice said sarcastically. ** She did leave you the
talismans, fuku's and the rest.** there was a little sneer in the
voice. ** It's just a name after all. What do you care?**  
     "It doesn't make any difference."  She glanced sideways
at Michiru stumbling along beside her. "It's always been just the
two of us" she thought. "  We don't need anyone else. We've
always been alone . . ."
     **Only because you wanted it that way. ** the voice of
her conscience skittered  through her mind like a centipede . 
     **But you always knew the Inner Senshi were there, even
when they didn't know about you.  And later, you always knew
SHE would forgive you, take you back, no matter what you did.
Knew SHE would love . . .**
     "SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!!!"
********************************************************
****
     "Is every one ready?"
Sailormercury looked at her friends, then at the bundle of ten
warheads, the maximum number she had calculated they could
safely teleport at one time. The assembled senshi nodded and
joining hands they formed a circle that pressed them tightly
against their deadly cargo.  Using Sailormercury's calculations
they would materialize fifty kilometers from their target,
accelerate toward it and then launch the bombs, one at a time
through their protective bubble.  If this was successful they would
return for another load of bombs. If the bombs failed they would
use the "Sailor Planet Attack".  And if that failed, Sailorsaturn
remained as Earth's last line of defense. 
     "WHAT do you think you're doing?"
The circle of senshi broke apart in surprise at Sailorvenus's
voice. As they watched in amazement she reached into the
bundled warheads and . . .
     "ARTEMIS!!" 
The white cat shrank under the combined glare of the gathered
senshi.
     "Uh. . .Hi there." Artemis feigned a nonchalant air. 
"Nice weather we're having."
     "LUUUNA!!"
Heads snapped around at Sailormoon's surprised cry. They saw
her draw a struggling black cat out of the wrappings surrounding
the warheads. 
     "Would you like to explain what you're doing?"
     "You need us. You don't have the experience, the
training. You can't just go off and . . ."
     "You're not going."
Luna stuttered to a halt, stunned by the flat tone of authority in
Sailormoon's voice. 
     "But . . ."
Sailormoon hardened her heart against the pain she saw in Luna's
face.. 
     "No. It's too dangerous for you to go with us."
Sailormoon carried Luna over to where Sailorsaturn stood and
draped her across the Senshi's shoulder.
     "Luna's annoying, a nag and she snores. . ."
     "I do NOT snore!"
     "Snores!" Sailormoon stated emphatically. "But she's not
a bad teacher. See that she gets lots of fresh tuna. And naps in the
sun. She's getting old. . ."
     "Old! OLD! What do you. . ." Luna broke off as she
realized what Usagi was trying to do.  
     "Usagi" Luna was pleading now. "Don't go.  You're the
Princess! Stay here and let . . ."
     "They're my friends, Luna."
     "And me?" Luna whispered hoarsely. "What am I?"
     "Oh Luna." Sailormoon gathered the small black cat into
her arms and cradled her against her breast. "You're my friend
too. But I have a duty do protect the earth. You taught me that."
     "And now you're going to die because of what I taught . .
."
     "Duty is heavier than a mountain, Death lighter than a
feather." Sailormoon quoted. "Come on Luna, you have to set a
good example for Hotaru." She draped the black cat over
Sailorsaturn's shoulder.
     "Why did you have to pick NOW to grow up?" Luna
sniffled.
Minako dangled Artemis in front of Hotaru's face by the scruff of
his neck.
     "You may as well have a matched set. He's not much
use, but he'll balance the weight." She looked Artemis sternly in
the eye.
"You're not going to give me any trouble about staying behind,
are you?"
     "Nope." Artemis said cheerfully. "But I expect you back
in time for supper. Otherwise I'm coming after you." 
Minako gave Artemis a quick squeeze before settling him across
Hotaru's shoulder, opposite Luna.  As she turned to go a small
white paw reached out to stop her.
     "Watch your back Mina-chan."
     "Always." Sailor V flashed her trademark sign and blew
a kiss. 

The senshi linked hands again around the deadly bundle.
Eyes closed they began to combine their powers. Subtle energies
began to stream from their bodies and swirl together to form a
shimmering bubble around the senshi.  The air crackled and
popped as fingers of electricity crawled along the ground like
blind snakes. Dust devils danced around the outside of the bubble
with a muttered rush of air, while inside the bubble an impossible
wind tugged at the senshi lifting and twisting their hair into vari-
colored streamers. 
Luna lifted her head from Hotaru's shoulder and called out a
ringing command.
     'SAILOR TELE . . .
********************************************************
****
                       
The ground rippled and twisted beneath her feet like a wildcat
giving birth to a nest of snakes. Haruka grabbed Michiru up as
they fell, twisting to land underneath to cushion Michiru's fall.
Dazed she could only cling to the ground as it heaved and bucked
like a gut shot dog. The sky blazed with light as invading air-
ships of all kinds exploded in a rain of alien metal and blood.
     "YES!" Haruka shouted in triumph as she staggered to
her feet, pulling Michiru with her. "YES! I knew Setsuna could
do it!" Haruka watched with hungry eyes each trail of fire and
blood that marked the death of another invader.
     "That will show HER!  Now SHE'LL see that we were
right. We were right all . . ."
     "Oh dear."
Haruka spun around at the sound of Michiru's small, slight
voice.
     "I don't think Usagi's going to be happy about that at
all."
Haruka followed Michiru's pointing arm to see a wall of fire
stretching from earth to sky screaming across the land with the
voice of ten thousand angry gods. As it passed by, less than five
hundred meters away Haruka could see buildings and people
melt and twist like a photograph tossed into a fire. Then the wall
was gone, roaring off into nothingness, and in its wake . . ."

********************************************************
****
Sailormercury saw it first. Her visor showed space begin to
crumple and tear like a piece of paper.  Trapped like  butterfly's 
in amber by the incomplete Sailor Teleport Sailormercury and
the other senshi could only watch helplessly as the battering ram
of gravity and twisted space-time smashed into them.
     ". . .PORT!" The small black cat was scooped into the air
like a puff ball in a hurricane to slam into the side of a HUMV.
The teleport bubble blew apart scattering the unconscious senshi
like the brightly colored corpses of tropic birds. 
Sailormars clawed through the clinging black mud of
unconsciousness to find herself curled protectively around her
princess.  She pressed two frantic fingers against Sailormoon's
throat and was rewarded by a warm steady beat. Her shuddering
relief was dashed by a horrified gasp. Sailormars wrenched
herself awkwardly around to see Sailorjupiter staring transfixed
at the sky. A curtain of fire hung from the clouds to the ground.
To Sailormars it looked as if the sky were bleeding the fires of
hell onto the earth.  The air and ground shuddered from the
roaring screaming sound. An impossible, obscene chorus of
voices, all the voices that had ever been, all the voices that were
and every voice that ever would be, speaking, crying, whispering,
shouting at once. She could see Sailorjupiter mouth locked in a
bellow of rage firing thunderbolt after thunderbolt at the
approaching death. Sailormars drew herself up in a crouch over
the unconscious  Sailormoon and gathered her fire in a hopeless
bid to protect her friend. Sailormars could feel the sky burning as
the fire rushed upon them, could feel the sound of a million,
million voices that beat at her life and sanity. Her own throat was
raw from a defiant blind shriek of rebellion as Mars Fire poured
from her like arterial blood to disappear harmlessly into the
oncoming firestorm.

     "PASSIONATE SHIELDING!!!"
Sailorsaturn stepped into the path of the conflagration and thrust
her hands, palm out toward the fire. A crystal shield blazoned
with three silver butterfly's and three crimson heart's formed in
the air and grew in size to cover the fallen senshi. The fire struck
the shield and Sailorsaturn went to her knees and the shield
collapsed slightly in on itself. With a mighty effort Saturn heaved
up on one knee and the shield expanded. Somehow Sailormars
knew, without knowing how she knew, that if Saturn fell again,
the shield would also and they would all die. As she watched
Sailorsaturn struggle against the impossible forces Sailormars
could see blood burst from Saturn's  pores to cover her like a
scarlet cloak. Sailormars could hear the hellfire scream like a
burning woman as it tried to eat through the shield and watched
in horror as Saturn went down. . .watched the shield splinter. .
.watched as a an angel with silver hair and ivory wings wrapped
gentle hands around Sailorsaturn's waist and lifted her
effortlessly to her feet. Sailormars looked down at the still
unconscious Sailormoon in her arms then back at Sailorsaturn
who was now standing alone as the fire passed over them.

********************************************************
****
     "That's Kakizaki." Sailorneptune pointed down the hill
toward the knot of people milling around in confusion.
     "Are you sure?"
     "That's his uma-jirushi, a golden grasshopper. And the
samurai are wearing sashimono charged with a white daikon.
That's Kakizaki Kageie all right.  Leader of the Uesugi vanguard
at the fourth Battle of kawanakajima. . . in 1561!"
     "Then the wards are down."
     "That's what I've been telling you." Sailorneptune said
impatiently. 
     "Something's gone wrong. We have to get to Pluto."
Neptune grinned, the first real sign of life she'd shown since . . .
since . . . 
     "Then it's lucky I have this." she held up a small key
between her thumb and forefinger.
     "And just where did you get a time key?"
     "Ah. . . I . . .ah . . . found it."
     "Well, If I'd known you had THAT" Uranus stooped to
pull a small object from her boot top. "then I wouldn't have
needed to steal THIS." She held up an identical key. The two
grinned at each other. Uranus held her key to the sky and
shouted. The air rippled and twisted a hole was torn open into a
place with no name and the two  vanished.
********************************************************
****
Haruka hated the Time Gate. She hated the whispering voices,
thousands of murmuring chittering voices like waves crashing
against the shore. And the figures in the mist, flickering flitting
shadows in the corner of your eye that you could never quite
catch no matter how quickly you turned around.  She gripped
Michiru's hand tighter and felt a comforting squeeze in return.
That was never quite right either, like kissing a picture it was . .
.bland. No, it was worse than bland. Haruka shivered in the
nonexistent cold. THAT was the problem, the time stream wasn't
cold, it wasn't hot . . . it simply was.  The key in her hand gave a
slight tug and Haruka willed herself to follow it's direction. That
was another thing she hated. . . the dammed gate was never in the
same place. You always had to chase it down and even with a
key there was always the chance you could . . .
     "There it is."
     "Where!" Haruka tried to keep the relief out of her voice
at Michiru's words.
     "Above and to the left."
Haruka twisted her head to follow Michiru's pointing finger and
saw the dully glowing . . .space . . . that indicated the Time Gate.
Seconds later they arrived at Sailorpluto's tiny empire within the
time stream. 
     "Plutosama!"  Michiru's voice dropped into the mist and
was lost. There was no echo , no sense of distance or closure. The
mist simply swallowed the sound.
     "SETSUUUUUUNAAAAAAAA!!"
     "Haruka!" Michiru's scandalized whisper brought
Haruka around in a fighting stance.
     "What! What is it? What's wrong?"
     "You shouldn't yell like that."
     "Why not?"
     "Because. . ." Michiru hesitated, trying to put her feelings
into words. "Because it's like a shrine or temple. You should
show respect."
Haruka bit back an angry retort. Because she felt the same way
each time she was at the Time Gate. Awe. Respect. Fear. She
hated being afraid too.
     "Well if it's a temple, where's the miko?"
Just as Michiru was about to reply a sound brought them
spinning around to see . . .
     "Sailorpluto!"
     "Plutosama!"
Sailorpluto looked up from the crystal tablet she was looking at
as she walked.
     "Sailoruranus? Sailorneptune? What are you doing
here?" she went on without waiting for a reply.
     "I'm glad you're here. I need to send a message to
Director Ras and I'm having trouble getting through to the
Facility.  Would you mind taking this to him for me?"
Sailorpluto held out the recording-tablet to Sailorneptune who
drew back from it as if it were a serpent.
     "Director Ras. . .Plutosama . . .Director Ras is dead!"
     "Dead?" Sailorpluto looked at Sailorneptune in white
faced shock. "Dead? But how. . .he was such a young man. . .not
even past his third century." She turned bewildered eyes to
Sailoruranus.
     "How . . .how did it happen? An accident? And his poor
wife. Is someone with her? And the children!" Sailorpluto turned
as if to go. 
     "Someone should be with them. And maybe I can do
something. I can talk to Serenity. She might give me a
dispensation to use the Time Gate to . . ."
Uranus snagged Sailorpluto's shoulder and turned her back
around.
     "Plutosama! Plutosama! Listen to me. The wards. . .The
wards are DOWN! Do you understand me?"
     "What . . .what! Down? The wards down? That's
absurd!" Sailorpluto's eyes lost focus as she gazed off in an
impossible direction. 
     "Nooo!" Sailorpluto moaned in agony her eyes still
focused on eternity. " Gone. Gone." Her eyes blinked suddenly
back into focus and settled on Uranus.
     "Quickly. Come with me. We must hurry before . . ." The
Time Staff snapped into her hand and the three vanished . . .to
reappear elsewhere.
Uranus blinked in confusion as she looked around at a . .
.garden? A frisson of fear danced down her spine like a spider as
she half recognized the place.
     "Wait here." Sailorpluto ordered. "I'm going to see how
far the damage has spread. If we're lucky we can still contain . .
." Her words vanished into nothingness with her as Sailorpluto
stepped into the time stream.
     "It's the Royal Gardens." Neptune whispered. 
Uranus jerked in surprise as recognition flooded her mind at
Neptune's words.
     "Before the fall . . .I recognize this. It's the place Her
Majesty had made just for Sailorpluto."
Neptune nodded her agreement.
     "It's . . .it's very. . . lifelike?"
Uranus shivered again. It should have been peaceful, in this
beautiful garden. Instead she felt as if she'd stepped into a crypt
and someone had locked the door behind her. Involuntarily she
moved closer to Neptune and was unbelievably grateful when her
partner clasped her hand and squeezed it tightly.  A sudden sound
jerked them both around in combat stances. Uranus, with some
effort, shoved a "World Shaking" back down where it lived
before she obliterated the odd hectare or two of flowers and
shrubs.  As she was doing this Neptune took off at a run toward
the center of the garden. Uranus wasted a miserable fraction of a
second debating her partners sanity then sprinted after her.
Moments later they pounded to a stop in the center of the garden.
Before them lay a bank of instruments and monitors that
appeared to date from the Silver Imperium. In front of that was a
low table. And on that table was a multicolored explosion of
crystals growing out of a mass of pink and white . . . Uranus
moved closer to the table, trying to figure out the purpose of the
crystals and the obviously ancient machinery. She could sense
Neptune moving up behind her on her left.  The closer she moved
the less sense she could make of the riotous pile of crystals
growing like a multi-colored spray of stars. . .Uranus recognized
the crystals as being similar to Silver Imperium technology, even
if she didn't understand their purpose. But the base the crystals
rested on or rather grew from. . .that she didn't recognize.  Slowly
she paced around the table, her eyes slowly and methodically
scanning up and down . . . noting colors and shapes 
and . . .her eyes picked out a cap of short, soft black hair and her
mind stuttered for a moment. Suddenly a form, hidden by the
crystals, snapped into focus and she could see a hand twitching
spasmodically, an eye blazing with murderous fury. Behind her
Uranus could hear Neptune vomiting on the ground.
     "Te . . ." She swallowed and tried again. "Tendousan?"
A harsh rasping gurgle answered her.
>From the corner of her eye she could see Neptune drag herself
erect, wiping her mouth on the back of her glove. Neptune took
an unsteady step toward the table and reached a hand to grasp a
feathery cluster of crystals that grew from the center of the crystal
mass to connect with the bank of instruments. 
     "What are you doing!"
     "We can't leave her like this. We've got to . . "
     "Nothing. We've got to do nothing !" Uranus grasped
Neptune's wrist. "We don't know what Pluto's doing. And you
might kill her if . . ."
     "Kill her!" Neptune laughed bitterly and with a note of
hysteria in her voice. "Kill her! Well, we're good at that, aren't
we. Sacrifices must be made." Neptune jerked free of Uranus's
hold. "No more. I don't care anymore. I'm going to. . ."
     "Would you just wait! Wait for Pluto . . ."
     "That's good advice."
Uranus and Neptune whirled at voice to see Pluto standing at the
entrance of the maze.  
     "Sailorplutosama!" Neptune took a step towards Pluto.
"The enemy is in disarray. Conventional forces can defeat them
at this point. Please release Tendousama."
     "I still have need for Weapon 4." 
     "The enemy is of little consequence compared to the
failure of the wards." Uranus moved to stand beside Neptune.
"Neptune is right. We don't need Tendousama any more. Right
now the most important thing is the failure of the wards."
Uranus's eyes met Pluto's and in that instant she realized the
truth. Beside her she felt Neptune stiffen in sudden
understanding.
     "YOU!" Before Uranus could stop her Neptune pointed
an accusing finger at Pluto. "It was YOU! It wasn't an accident.
You deliberately destroyed the wards . . .Tendousama! You used
her to destroy . . .But . . .why? Why would you . . ." Neptune's
eyes widened in realization. "Serenity? You're trying to bring her
back!"
     "Clever, clever girl." Pluto purred as she glided forward.
"Three things I needed. A way to remove the wards. Power to
bend the Gate to my will. And a method to predict outcomes over
a hundred thousand years." She smiled slyly at Neptune. "As you
say. Weapon 4 has fulfilled it's destiny by removing the wards.
The 'enemy'" Pluto chuckled as she used the term. "The 'enemy'
has unwittingly provided the power I need."
     "But you can't control the gate. Not over that span of
time." Uranus burst out almost desperately. "No one can.  Even a
small change over that passage of time will destroy us all. That's
why they sealed. . ."
     'Dead Scream."
The swirling blast of energy smashed Uranus in the belly and
threw her to the ground. 
     "SUBMARINE REFL . . ."
     "Dead Scream." 
A second blast took Neptune in the chest and smashed her against
a garden wall. Neptune struggled to regain her feet, a trickle of
blood running from her ear and down her cheek.
     Dead Scream."
Pluto stalked behind the blast, closing on the struggling figure.
     "Dead Scream . . . Dead Scream . . . Dead Scream!" Each
blast shook Neptune like a terrier shakes a rat and filled the air
with a cloud of splintered rock and burnt sod.
     'WORLD SHAKING!" 
Pluto moved aside just as Uranus's attack was launched.
Leisurely, almost contemptuously she turned to face her attacker. 
     "What are you doing!" Uranus had pulled herself up
using the low table for leverage. 
     "I'm doing what is necessary. What is right. Serenity
must live."
     "Even if everyone, everything else . . .dies!" Neptune
shook her head groggily. "Are you insane! You can't do this."
     "I am doing it. I have already started the changes
necessary to restore the Imperium."
     "You . . .Can't . . .DO THAT!" Uranus half screamed.
"It can't be done. There are too many possibilities. No one can
control the  changes. You can't . . .NO ONE could tell the
outcome of time changes made a hundred thousand years ago. 
Every thing will be destroyed! No one could ever control . . ."
     "I can."
The simple assurance in Pluto's voice silenced Uranus like an
executioners axe. 
     "I learned to listen, you see. To the voices." Pluto
helpfully clarified at Uranus's blank look. "I didn't like the
voices at first. They were so many and confusing. But then I
learned to listen to them. And they told me things."
     "Things?"
     "Wonderful things . . .terrible things. And I listened. And
I listened . . ." Pluto's voice trailed off.
Uranus took advantage of her seeming distraction and sprang at
her with drawn sword. The Time Staff suddenly whipped around
and intercepted the sword with a ringing clash of steel and crystal. 
     "That wasn't very nice."  Pluto remonstrated in the voice
of one who has seen the last sweet-jam bun disappear from the
dinner table.  Pluto began to advance with smashing blows and
lightning thrusts that forced Uranus steadily back. Uranus
wondered briefly why Pluto didn't finish her with a "Dead
Scream" then realized that Akanesan and the bank of instruments
were behind her and in the zone of destruction of a "Dead
Scream". 
     "WORLD SHAKING!!"
Pluto dance aside from the attack, instantly ready for Uranus's
follow through. But Uranus wasn't interested in Pluto. At the
instant her "World Shaking" left her hands she pivoted and
brought her sword scything around to smash the crystal synapse
that linked Akanesan with the complex of Imperium instruments.
The linkage came apart in an explosion that bled her with
thousands of crystal shards even as it threw her against a stone
bench. Dazed and half blinded by blood running in her face she
sensed rather than saw Pluto loom over her. Frantically she rolled
aside as the Time Staff smashed the place where her head had
lain in a shower of sparks and stone chips, leaving an crater the
size of a dinner plate.
     "Treacherous!"
Uranus scrabbled to one side as the staff whipped over and down,
blowing a hole in the ground of a size to bury a small dog.
     "Traitorous!!."
Uranus watched the staff descend with the fury on thunderbolt.
She could feel the hot wind of its passage as she wrenched herself
aside. Stone and sand exploded from the ground to scour the skin
from her face like a steel rasp. Pluto attacked again and again,
never giving Uranus time and room to regain her feet. 
     "BITCH!!!"
The end of the staff whipped up and around in a butterfly sweep
to hammer Uranus hip like the wrath of god. Fire exploded up her
body and  she heard a screaming wail that she dimly realized was
herself.
     "Slow!"
She could see Pluto looming over her, Time Staff poised for the
final thrust that would crush her throat.
     "Always too slow!"
It was beyond surprising and quickly merging on the miraculous
when the tip of another staff caught Pluto just behind and below
her left ear with sufficient force to stagger the guardian of time.
Rising from the seeming dead Neptune suddenly lashed out with
a leg sweep that dropped Pluto to the ground. Neptune quickly
followed up with an elbow smash that would have crushed
Pluto's chest like a paper bag if Pluto hadn't suddenly vanished
into the time stream. 
     "Can you stand!" Neptune didn't wait for an answer but
dragged Uranus to her feet cringing slightly at the moan of pain
that was forced from her lover's lips. Clasping Uranus firmly
about the waist Neptune moved to the table where Akane had
collapsed exhausted after her bid to kill Pluto. As they
approached the staff Akane had summoned vanished with the last
of her strenght.
     "Tendousama. We must leave this place. Pluto will return
at any moment and we can not fight her here where her power is
greatest. I know you have no reason to trust me. . .to trust us. But
please allow me to carry you from here. I swear that I will take
you to Tsukinosama." 
Even as Neptune watched she could see the horrible wounds
closing as Weapon 4's implants worked to repair the damage
Pluto had inflicted. Brown eyes blazed with hatred and ravaged
broken hands quivered with impotent longing to close around
Neptune's throat. She expected Tendousama to refuse her help
and with that refusal Neptune expected to die. For she had
already sworn to herself that she would die before she left
Tendousama in Pluto's hands. And she knew that to face Pluto
here, in her own place of power meant death and worse than
death.  Suddenly a shudder ran through the body on the table, like
a storm surge against the shore. Neptune feared for a moment that
Tendousama was dying. Then the blazing hatred dimmed from
the eyes and the ruined throat and smashed mouth formed a
single word.
     "Ranma."
     "Yes. Yes" Neptune agreed eagerly. She thought it best
not to mention how she has last seen Saotome Ranma. It was
possible that Hotaru had . . ." I'll take you to Saotomesama if
you wish."
The bloody head nodded once and the eyes closed as if exhausted. 
Scooping Akane up in one arm, she shifted her grip on Uranus as
she reached for her time key. Clutching it tightly she closed her
eyes and cried.
     "TIME KEY!!. . ."
     "GET US THE HELL OUT OF DODGE!!" Uranus
finished for her.  Neptune's eyes flashed open in startlement to
see the time-lost garden to vanish from around her.

********************************************************
****
Neptune staggered and went to one knee under the force of her
double
burden as she materialized in the ruins of Tokyo. She set Uranus
on her feet so she could cradle the injured Akane in both arms
and moved back a pace.
           "'Get us the hell!! . . .You've been watching those gaijin
     westerns again on the late show." Neptune accused her
     lover.
            "It seemed appropriate, somehow." Uranus defended
     herself. 
     "That is the most ridiculous th . . ."
A golden beam of coherent light split the air between them.
     "Uh oh." Uranus turned to look over her shoulder.
     "Uh . . . Hi Minako." She wiggled her fingers hello. "I bet
you're wondering what we're doing back here. It's really a very
interesting . . .Whooooops!" Uranus tried to dodge the incoming
"Crescent Beam", forgetting about her injured hip and fell flat on
her keester.
     "Ahhhhh!" Uranus's face twisted in pain as she hit the
ground.
She looked up through pain teared eyes to see a stone faced
Sailorvenus standing over her.
     "Before you fry Uranus, you might want to get some help
for Tendousama."
Sailorvenus's head snapped around to Neptune for the first time
saw battered figure in her arms. Her eyes hardened at the sight
then she seemed to come to a decision.
     "Follow me." She raised her wrist to her mouth and spoke
into the communicator.
     "This is Venus. I'm coming in with two . . .with two . . ."
Venus paused, unable to think of words to describe the two exiled
out-laws". And  some . . .one they claim is Tendou Akane."
Clearly form her tone Venus thought this was some further trick
of the former-senshi.
     "Claim !" Neptune looked startled and offended at the
same time. She started to reply angrily when she was interrupted
as Sailorjupiter's voice burst excitedly from the communicator. 
     "Get back here now. Usagi has collapsed!"
********************************************************
****
     "It's the link I tell you. The Blood Guard link." Neptune
stood impatiently  behind the knot of worried inner Senshi who
were gathered worriedly around the body of their friend. "If you
would just . . ." she jerked back as Sailormars rounded suddenly
on her with a snarl.
     "Shut up. Just SHUT UP! You have no right to . . ."
     "She may be correct. Assuming that is indeed Tendou
Akane you brought in with you." Sailormercury looked up from
her place kneeling beside Sailormoon. "I've run a diagnostic
scan. Sailormoon is reacting as if she were in trauma induced
shock. She's even showing signs of penetrating wounds, burns . .
." Sailormercury shook her head wearily. "I have no explanation
. . .no rational explanation for what's happening to her. And no
idea of how to help her. I can provide some support" she pointed
to the IV solutions running in both arms "but there's not much I
can do for her here. She needs to be in a hospital. If there were
any left standing. If we could get her there without killing her I
would suggest evacuating her to the aid station that Hotaru-chan
is working at. I think our best bet is trying to bring Hotaru-chan
back here for . . ."
     "What about Tendousama?" Uranus broke in
impatiently. She hobbled over using the crutch Neptune had
fashioned for her from a broken door frame. "If you'll do
something for her . . ."
     "And how do we know that IS Tendou Akane and not
just someone you . . ."
The two outer senshi had finally realized that the identity of
Tendou Akane that was so clear to them was lost on the inner
senshi. All they could see was the battered naked body that was
only vaguely humanoid. And the one person who could positively
identify Akane was the  unconscious perhaps dying Usagi. . The
Inner Senshi were NOT happy.
     "And just why would we bring in a stranger just to
CLAIM she was Tendou Akane." Uranus shot back angrily.
     "Who know's WHY you two  do anything? This is
probably just a trick to keep us from . . ."
     "Why you little . . ." Uranus lunged for Sailormars and it
took the efforts of Sailorjupiter, Sailorvenus and Neptune to keep
the two apart.
     "STOP THIS!" Sailormercury commanded the
combative senshi. "She glared them down, chest heaving from
anger and fear for her friends safety. "No matter who that is" she
pointed at the warmly wrapped figure, also with a pair of IV
solutions running into her arms. "She needs help. More than I can
give her. We need to get her to a hospital . . ."
     "Or a Radio Shack."
Sailormercury jerked at the intrusive voice. She turned to see a
frail white haired man with sunken cheeks slowly approaching
with the anxious attentions of Hibiki Ryouga. 
     "I'm sorry sir, I didn't hear you coming. It's very
dangerous here. You should be in one of the shelter . . ."
     "The old man ignored her and shrugging off Ryouga's
help,  made his painful slow way to the cocooned figure the Outer
Senshi claimed was Tendou Akane.
     "Sir! Sir!" Sailormercury called in a futile effort to stop
the old man. "Sir. You can't be here." She reached out to grasp
the old man's sleeve , afraid he would fall on the uneven ground,.
intending  only to stop him. She had a brief impression of
movement before she found herself sitting on the ground with no
idea of how she had come to be there.
     "Jeeeezz Tomboy. Can't take my eye's off you for a
minute, can I." Sailormercury looked up to see the old man ease
himself to the ground beside the injured girl and run a tender
hand caressingly along her cheek. To Sailormercury's utter
surprise the girl, she had though near death, opened her eyes and
smiled faintly at the old man.
     "Baka." Sailormercury had to strain to hear the faint
whisper. "You . . . look . . . terrible. What . . .have . . .you . .
.been . . .doing?" Each word was panted on a puff of air.
     "Nuthin. Got killed." The old man shrugged dismissively.
"But I got better." 
     "Saotomesama." Uranus approached the couple and
bowed formally. "Please forgive me . . ." she glanced at Neptune
"forgive US. We acted improperly, without thought . . ."
     'Ahhh, forget it." Ranma waved a dismissive hand. "That
was a pretty good fight . . .you suckered me real good with that
double team stuff." He grinned smugly "Enjoy the win, it's the
only one you'll ever get."
     "Thank you Saotomesama. Your forgiveness is very . . ."
Ranma stopped her with an upraised hand.
     "If you ever touch Akane again" he said very quietly
"you'll wish your mother had strangled you at birth."
Uranus swallowed hard at the flat cold tone. She raised her head,
probably the bravest act in her life, to meet Ranma's eyes.
     "I do not know what oath's we could swear that you
would believe. We have been cast out of the only family we have
ever had . . .our princess has renounced us and our friend . . .our
sister senshi has betrayed us. Everything we fought for is a lie."
Uranus stared at Ranma with eyes so full of desolation and
despair that he reached out involuntarily to comfort her. 
     "We have nothing left in this world but our honor and our
lives. These we pledge to you and to Tendou Akane in this life
and the next for as long as you will have us."
     "Awww Geeezz." Ranma looked helplessly around, then
down at Akane who lay with her head in his lap. She grinned
faintly  at his discomforture. 
     "Pervert." she whispered . "Womanizer. Another . . .
fianc� . . .see . . .if . . .I . . .care."
     "No!! nononono!! It's not like that! Why don't you ever 
belie . . ."
Ranma stopped suddenly as he noticed Akane's body trembling
faintly with suppressed laughter. 
     "Aaaah Man! I don't understand women!" He turned to
glare at the suspiciously stone faced Uranus and Neptune.
     "An' you two! Just . . . just stay out of trouble. That's all.
Just stay out of trouble." 
Ranma jerked as gentle hands came to rest on either shoulder.
     "Hold still. I want to try something."
A soft white glow surrounded his head and rolled down his body
like a mountain mist.  A soothing warmth covered him like a
blanket and fatigue dragged his eyes closed. Ranma fought sleep
and turned a head that suddenly seemed to heavy for his neck to
support. Standing behind his left shoulder he could see Usagi,
eyes closed , lips pursed in concentration as energy poured from
her hands into his body. Suddenly Sailormars appeared at their
side.
     "That's enough Usagi!"
Usagi made no sign that she heard the senshi of fire and white
light continued to stream from her body.
     "Usagi!" Sailormars's voice was sharp with worry .
"Usagi! Stop it. NOW!" She reached down and wrenched
Usagi's hands loose. As their hands met there was a sharp crack
and Sailormars was thrown to the ground.
     "Usagi no BAKA!" Mars rose painfully to her feet,
rubbing her wounded dignity. "Just what did you think you were
doing?"
Usagi looked up woozily from where she sat slumped against
Ranma on the ground. 
     "J . . .just . . .try . . .trying to h . . help." she gasped.
 "N . . .n . . .now for Akachan."
     "BAKA!" Sailormars stood glaring down at Usagi, hands
fisted on her hips. "At least wait until you've rested." 
     "B . . .b . . ."
     "B . . .b . . .b" Sailormars mimicked nastily. "You sound
like frying grease popping. If you kill yourself what good . . ."
     "You can not help Tendousama, Highness."
Everyone turned at the quiet voice.
     "What do you mean!" Ranma glares suspiciously at
Neptune. "Your pretty speech didn't mean much did it.  You're
not even a senshi anymore. Who do you think you are giving
orders . . ."
Neptune flushed at the insult but continued.
     " I wish it were not so, but her Highness's power can not
help Tendousama. Tendousama is shielded against that power
and all like it." Neptune smiled sadly at the trio around Akane.
"As a precaution, since Beryl understood the Imperium so well,
Tendousama was created with blocks against the power of the
crystal. This was done to insure that an attack with our own
power or one similar would not affect Wea . . .would not affect
Tendousama.  If Tendousama were . . .uninjured . . .she could
suppress those blocks to a degree. Depleted as she is, the attempt
would kill her."
     "Well, that's OK. I mean Akane's tough. She doesn't
NEED Usagisan's help. She's built like a gorilla . . . brute
strength."
Ranma speared Sailormercury with a pleading glance. "Right!
Akane's just tired. Right! She's going to be OK!" Ranma was
commanding, not asking.
Sailormercury looked as if she wanted to be somewhere else . .
.anywhere else. 
     "I . . .I'm not sure. Uh . . .I mean I've been having some
problems with my computer. At first I thought it was from all the
energy discharges. Then I thought the enemy was trying to hack
 into . . ."
     "it's . . .ok . . .ami . . .ch . . .an." The whisper came to
them, faint as a summer breeze. She looked up at Ranma, a faint
smile on her face. "d . . .don' w'rry.'bout . . .me.  'm  mar . . .sh .
. .ll artist . . .t . . .too.'  A single tear fell to splash warmly on
Akane's cheek. Then another and another. 
     'STUPID tomboy!" He held her in her arms and rocked
back and forth. "STUPID! SLOW!" Ranma's voice was savage
now, cutting like a whip. "Can't kick. Built like a gorilla. What
in the HELL did you think you were . . ."
 Jupiter started forward, her face twisted in anger only to be
stopped by Venus's out stretched hand.
     "Don't. They need to be alone."
     "What! But he's . . ."
     "He's hurting."
Jupiter turned to stare at Venus then back at Ranma and Akane.
She watched in amazement as a frail hand reached up to lightly
box Ranma's ears.
     "P . . .pervert. W . . .w . . .omanizer." The whispered
accusations were a caress. "B . .bet you'll be chasing senshi
next."
     "NEVER! I'll never even look . . ."
A finger pressed to his lips silenced him.
     "D . . .on't say that. S . . .shan Pu" She was laboring now,
each word an effort. "Or Ukyou. Nice . . .girls." She grinned . "M
. . .maybe better go with Shan Pu. Y . . .you need someone . . .to
keep. . .you in . . .line."
     "Is she really that bad off?"
Mercury looked up from her computer. Sailormars was shocked
to see tears in her eyes. 
     "She's been all torn up inside. Her implants . . .they . .
.they've almost all been ripped out. She's only got a few nano-
mecha left working. They're dying and not being replaced. If we
had more time . . .maybe I could . . . I could . . ." She turned
bewildered eyes to her friend. "I . . .I don't know what to do. I
don't . . ."
     "It's OK, Ami, It's OK."
     "NO! It's not!" Sailormercury jerked savagely away. "I
CAN do something . . .I CAN. I just have to think . ." Her fingers
flew over the keyboard. "There's always an answer . . .There's . .
."
     "Ami." Sailormars was worried at Ami's tone. "Ami,
listen to me. Sometimes there's nothing. . ."
     "DAMMIT!" Everyone jerked around to stare at
Sailormercury. "STUPID COMPUTER!!" In a frenzy Mercury
raised the computer above her head to dash it against the rocks.
Sailormars snatched it from her hands and clasped it protectively 
against her chest. 
     "AMI! What on earth is the matter with you?"
     "STUPID, STUPID Computer. It's no good. That system
bug is back. I can't get rid of it . . .I can't help Akanesan . . .I
can't . . . I can't. . . I . . ."
Usagi wrapped her arms around Ami. 
     "Amichan. Take a deep breath. Come on now. Big slow
breath. INNN. And OUUUUT."
Usagi held Sailormercury calming her.
     "Better now?"
     "Uh huh." Sailormercury murmured in a low voice. "I'm
so sorry. I let you all down.  I don't know what happened to me."
     "It's OK." Usagi smiled at her friend. "You just always
try to be the adult for all us kids. Especially me."
Ami was amazed at Usagi's insight. And slightly ashamed of how
she'd always thought of her friends as irresponsible children.
Usagi seemed to read her mind. 
     "It's all right. You are the smartest one of us and the most
mature. I know we drive you crazy . . .I drive you crazy. I'm
sorry that I've dumped so much on you. Please forgive me."
Ami looked into Usagi's eyes and was shocked at the pain and
contrition she saw there.
     "U . . .usagi. Please, I love . . . helping you, helping the
senshi. It is an honor . . ."


END CHAPTER 13 A