Cherry Hill Temple, four days later
“As of this moment, the official death toll is at ninety-three,”
reported the news anchor. “That number is expected to rise as
authorities continue to sort though the rubble. They ask that people
with family or friends still missing not give up hope, as survivors are
still being found.
“Estimates of property damage are still flooding in. The current
damage assessment is at 870 million yen and increasing steadily. The
cost to repair Tokyo Tower alone is expected to top over--”
With a sigh, Artemis tapped the ‘Off’ button on the remote control.
“The way the news makes it sound, you’d think we lost,” muttered the
white cat.
“If the Scouts and their new friends hadn’t stopped Topkick, Queen
Beryl would be ruling the world by now,” reminded Luna. “As horrible as
what happened is, things could have been much, much worse.”
“I suppose you’re right,” conceded Artemis. “But somehow I think
that will be cold comfort to Mr. Lynch. How do you think he’s handling
it?”
To that, Luna had no reply.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
T he key to martial arts is focus. To clear your mind of all
distractions and concentrate only on the movement of your body. John
Lynch had been a student of the martial arts for decades, and while he
appreciated the fighting skills he had learned over the years, it was
that ability to remove all unwanted thoughts from his mind that he
valued the most. Over the years, John Lynch had formed a long list of
things he didn’t want to think about.
Lynch put body though a series of moves that drew from Karate, Kung Fu,
Jeet Kune Do and a variety of other styles he had learned over the
years. With a final kick, Lynch ended his routine, gave a bow to the air
in honor of the men who had trained him, and reached for a nearby towel.
“Nice stuff,” came a voice. “You really looked like Bruce Lee
there.”
Lynch turned to see Bobby standing in the doorway. “Some of those
moves were created by Bruce Lee,” Lynch informed as he began to towel
off. “Some I learned during my Navy and Team 7 training. And a few I
picked up over from men like Genma Saotome during my travels.”
“Who?”
“I met Genma the last time I was in Japan,” began Lynch. “He is a
master of Anything Goes Martial Arts. His methods are…unorthodox but he
gets results. Genma’s son, Ranma, is one of the best fighters I’ve ever
seen. It’s a shame our trip got…interrupted. I’d been planning to look
Genma up.”
“Yeah…interrupted,” said Bobby. “Look, dad, the others--”
“Are worried,” interrupted the older man. “Try and understand, son.
After what happened I needed some time to…put my head in order. I just
couldn’t do that at the hotel with you and the others. I needed to do it
alone. I’m just grateful Raye’s grandfather was willing to let me stay
here for a few days in exchange for helping out around the shrine.”
“So are you…okay now?” asked Bobby. “You’re dealing with what
happened?”
“There’s nothing to ‘deal’ with, son,” Lynch informed sharply.
“I…wasn’t myself. I’d been changed by some power I can barely
comprehend. Topkick was responsible for that slaughter, not me.”
“That’s it?!!” shouted Bobby. “Over ninety people are dead and you
shrug it off just like that!”
Lynch glared at Bobby. “Son, I am a soldier. Do you have any idea of
the number of people I’ve killed? I don’t. I stopped counting years
before you were born.
“I killed people when I was in Team 7. That was our job. Go into
Laos, Sudan, Iraq, the Yucatan, or whatever hellhole it was that week,
and kill people. All in the name of God, mom, and apple pie.
“Things didn’t change much with I was Director of Operations for
I/O. I planned assassinations, helped overthrow governments, and put my
seal of approval on scientific experiments that would give most people
nightmares. All to protect America’s best interests.
“All those thing I did, I did of my own free will. So don’t expect
me to curl up and die over something I did when I was under the control
of some monster from another dimension,” concluded Lynch.
“So that it?” spat Bobby. “You can honestly look at what happened
and feel no guilt?”
“‘Honesty isn’t a factor,” said Lynch as he turned from his son.
“That’s what I have to believe if I want to go on living.”
“You heartless son of bitch! I’m sorry I ever found out you were my
father!” screamed Bobby. He then stormed out of the room.
Lynch stood silently, letting his son’s words ring in his ears.
Then, with a heavy sigh, he buried his face in his hands.
“Damn, it wasn’t supposed to be like that,” Lynch whispered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Rox, you gotta check this out!” exclaimed Grunge as he entered
Raye’s room triumphantly waving a comic. “Mina autographed that
Sailor V Goes to Hollywood manga I bought off Raye.”
“Whatever,’ dismissed Roxy.
Annoyed, Grunge tried to figure out what had caused Roxy’s
attitude. His teammate sat at a table with Serena, and seemed to be
holding something in her hand. By the expression on the girls faces, the
Gen-Active got the feeling he’d interrupted a secret conversation.
“What were you two yakkin’ about?” demanded Grunge. “You weren’t
talking about me, were you?”
“Dream on, Ego Boy,” teased Roxy as she held up a large, pink pen
that had a ruby-like jewel at one end. “Serena was just telling me about
this little gadget. It’s called the Luna Pen and it can disguise you to
look like anyone.”
“No way a pen can do that.”
“It can so!” insisted Serena. “Show him, Roxy. Do it just like I
explained.”
“Well, if it’s okay with you,” shrugged Freefall. “DISGUISE POWER!
Turn me into…a magical heroine, just like Sailor Moon!”
There was a quick flash of light as the Luna Pen did its work.
“Wow, Rox, you…don’t really look all that different,” said Grunge.
That wasn’t an entirely unfair assessment. Roxy did still have on
her trademark black combat boots and leather jacket. But her street
clothes had been replaced by a slightly modified version of the sailor
fuku wore by schoolgirls across Japan. The top had been cropped to
expose Roxy’s midriff, and a stylized G13 symbol was at the center of
the top’s bow. On her head, she wore a tiara with the same G13 symbol on
the front.
“Cool,” grinned Roxy. “I’m ready to fight for truth, justice, and
the Southern Californian way!”
“You look goofy!” snickered Grunge.
“She does not!” snapped Serena. “With an outfit like that, you’re
welcome in the Sailor Scouts anytime, Roxy.”
“Look out evil, here comes magical drama queen Roxy!”
“Knock it off, Grunge,” warned Freefall. “I’m magical, dammit!”
“Oh, let the Negaverse tremble before the power of Sailor
Freefall!” teased Grunge in mock horror.
“Okay, surfer boy, I gave you a chance. Now I’m going to get
magical on your ass!” growled Freefall. “Koo Koo Nutty Funkyfreash
Gravity Magic!”
Grunge was quickly surrounded by Roxy’s power and pulled off his
feet. “Hey, Rox, I was just joking around! I didn’t mean--” The
Gen-Active was cut off as, with a wave of her hand, Roxy sent him
hurtling out of the room at blinding speed. An instant later there was a
very loud crash.
“That sounded painful,” winced Serena.
“Moondusted!” smirked Freefall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Several hours later, the two teams of heroes were making their
final goodbyes to each other.
“You might find this useful,” said Amy as she handed Caitlin a
computer disk. “It’s all the information I’ve gathered on the Negaverse
since I became a Scout. It should be compatible with the scanning
equipment you told me you have at home. Once it’s in place, it should
give you some warning if the Negaverse ever comes after you.”
“Thanks,” replied Caitlin. “I’m sure this will help all of us sleep
a little better. I did give you my e-mail address, right?”
“Yes,” nodded Amy. “It’ll be nice to have someone who I can talk
about academia with. Who knows, maybe we can figure out just why the
energy signatures of Scouts and Gen-Actives are so similar.
“Maybe we can,” concurred the redhead.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nearby, Mina and Roxy were also talking. “I know it’s not much, but
I’d like you to have this,” said Mina as she handed Roxy a bow identical
to the one she wore in her hair. “I think it would look good on you.”
“Cool,” thanked Roxy as she looked at the bow. “Anyway, it’s been
really great hanging with you these last few days, Mina. I never thought
I’d meet someone who could shop more than me. If you’re ever stateside,
look me up and we’ll go mall-trawling.”
“Look out, Beverly Hills, the Dynamic Duo of shopping have your
number!” grinned the blonde girl.
Roxy burst out laughing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I hope you like it,” said Raye as she handed Sarah a box wrapped in
red and white paper. “It’s that miko kimono you wore during the fire
reading.”
“Wow, Raye, I’m really honored that you give me something like
this,” replied Sarah.
“It’s no big deal,” assured the Japanese girl. “It’s not like it
would have ever fit me. I’m just glad it will go to someone who’ll
understand its sacred meaning.”
“I’ll be sure to wear it when I practice my meditation,” promised
the Apache.
“I hope it helps you on the path to peace,” smiled Raye.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“These should keep your from getting bored on the long plane trip
back to California,” smiled Serena as she handed Grunge a large stack of
mangas.
“Not that I’m ungrateful, but how am I supposed to read these?”
asked Grunge. “They’re in Japanese.”
“You can use them to practice learning our written language. That
shouldn’t take a smart guy like you, oh, more than five or six years.”
“Maybe when I get back home, I should send you some American comics
to help you with you English. From what Raye says, you need all the help
you can get.”
“That Raye has such a big mouth,” muttered Serena.
“Look, before I go, I want to apologize again for the way I acted
at the arcade,” said Grunge. “You’re okay in my book, Serena.”
“Yeah, well, you’re okay to, Grunge. Just remember who kicked your
butt at Sailor V.”
“Just wait until next time,” promised the Gen-Active. “I’ll blow
you out of the water, meatballhead.”
“Don’t call me MEATBALLHEAD!!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“It’s a little something to hold you over on that long flight back
to America,” explained Lita as she handed Bobby a circular shaped box.
Upon opening it, Bobby was surprised to discover a variety of
shrimp, rice, sushi, noodles, and other confections. He experimentally
popped a shrimp into his mouth. “Wow, this is excellent!”
“Thanks,” blushed Lita. “If you’re ever in Japan again, maybe you’d
let me fix you dinner sometime. I make a mean bowl of chili.”
“Sounds nice,” said Bobby. “Maybe I’ll bring my guitar and can play
you some Three Lights stuff. And introduce you to my favorite band,
Soundgarden. I think you’d like them.”
“It’s a date,” smiled Lita. She then quickly reached over and
kissed the older boy on the cheek. It was now Bobby’s turn to blush.
“Well, well, Bobby, going for the younger girl!” teased a voice.
The two turned to see Serena and Grunge, both grinning, on the approach.
“Dude, I never knew you went for the Lolita type,” ribbed Grunge as
he tossed his arm around his friend’s shoulder.
“Shut up, Grunge!” snapped Bobby as he elbowed his teammate in the
gut. “God, you can be such a pervert!”
“I have to admit, he’s a cutie, Lita” giggled Serena. “Not as cute
as my Darien, of course, but still major hunk.”
“Grow up, Serena,” hissed Lita. “I was just saying goodbye.”
“Sure you were. And next you’re going to tell me he doesn’t look
like your old boyfriend.”
To that, Lita could only sigh in defeat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
While that was going on, Fairchild noticed Lynch talking with
Raye’s grandpa. She excused herself from Amy and went to talk to the
team’s leader.
“Domo arigato, Osho-sama,” thanked Lynch as he bowed to the older
man. “I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to stay here while I
recovered from my…hospitalization.”
“Think nothing of it,” dismissed the priest. “You did more work in
one day than that lazy granddaughter of mine does in a week.”
“Sir, may I have a word with you?” asked Caitlin. “In private.”
“I’ll just get out of your way,” said grandpa as he turned to
leave. “Please tell your young friends that I wish them all good
journey.” With that, the old man bowed and departed.
“What is it, Caitlin?” demanded Lynch.
“I’ve noticed the way Bobby has been avoiding you for the last few
hours,” informed the redhead. “Care to tell me what happened, sir?”
“I had a…talk with Bobby about what happened. It didn’t go well,”
Lynch sighed. “He thinks I don’t feel guilty over what happened. I tried
to make him see that that wasn’t exactly true but…”
“I’m sure he understands what you were trying to say on some
level,” comforted Caitlin.
“I’m not so sure. I think I may have alienated him permanently.”
“When you were in the hospital he was the one who was the most
concerned about you,” said Fairchild. “It was the same when you were
transformed. He’s your son and he does care about you. You just have to
give him some time to work things though.”
“You’re wise beyond your years, Caitlin,” assessed Lynch. “I
suppose you’re right. But I’m afraid I’ve destroyed whatever progress
we’ve made as father and son in these past few weeks.”
“Then you’ll just have to start over, sir.”
“I guess I have no other choice,” agreed Lynch.
Just then, Sarah called, “Mr. L? The limo Ken sent for us is here.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gen13 and the Scouts assembled by the limo for a final round of
hugs, handshakes, jokes, and goodbyes.
“I know I haven’t had the chance to get to know you girls very
well, but I can never thank you enough for what you did for me,” began
Lynch.
“We’re Sailor Scouts, fighting for love and justice is what we do,”
declared Serena, good-naturedly. The other girls nodded in agreement.
“I’d say that love and justice are in good hands. You girls may be
young, be each of you has the heart of a true warrior. I’m proud to have
known you.”
“It’s mutual,” grinned Lita. Bobby blushed again.
“Sayonara, Sailor Scouts,” said Lynch as he and the kids bowed.
“Sayonara, Gen13,” replied Serena as she and the Scouts bowed in
return.
Then, with a last round of waves, the Americans climbed into the
limo. The girls stood on the sidewalk and watched the car carry away
their new friends until it was out of sight.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Four nights later, the light of the crescent moon shone down on
Tokyo and the Cherry Hill Temple. In Raye’s room the floor was covered
with sleeping bags, bags of junk food, and several of Raye’s mangas. The
girls themselves, sporting their pajamas, sat around the table talking.
A full-scale slumber party was well under way.
“Save some of those cookies for the rest of us, Serena!” snapped
Raye.
“No way, get your own. This bag is mine!” retorted the blonde as
she popped another cookie into her mouth. “Oh, these are so good!
Where’s the milk?”
“Jeez, and I thought Grunge was a glutton,” muttered the
raven-haired girl. “I should have known no one could be as big a pig as
you.”
“Hey!”
“That reminds me of something,” interrupted Amy. She then went over
to her bookbag and pulled out a manila envelope. “I got this in the mail
today. It’s from Caitlin.”
“What is it?” asked Mina.
“It’s a photo of all of us together,” replied Amy as she laid the
picture down on the table.
It showed the kids standing together in a park on what seemed like
a beautiful day. Grunge and Serena were mugging for the camera, Roxy and
Mina were imitating some of Sailor V’s famous posses, Lita seemed to be
trying, unsuccessfully, to get Bobby to hold her hand, Sarah and Raye
had opted to stand back-to-back, and Amy and Caitlin were smiling and
attempting to ignore it all.
“I remember this,” said Serena. “It was when we went on that picnic
in Ueno Park the day before they left.”
“Hey, Lita, just what was going on between you and Bobby?” inquired
Mina.
“We were just friends,” declared the auburn-haired girl. “He’s
really a very sweet guy.”
“If you were just friends why were you always giving him food?”
teased Raye.
“Uh, um, well, I…” fumbled Lita.
“It’s okay,” assured Mina. “The guy’s a hunkster. If you ever see
him again, you should get him to ask you out.”
“I wonder if we will ever see them again,” said Serena as she dug
into a bag of potato chips.
“I hope so,” said Amy. “It was nice to be able to spend some time
around people who understood some of the problems we face everyday.” The
other girls nodded in agreement.
“Hey, I wanted some of those chips!” flared Raye. She then bashed
Serena with a nearby pillow.
“You are so dead, Raye!” growled Serena as she grabbed a pillow of
her own.
“Are we going to let them have all the fun?” asked Lita.
“No way!” chorused Amy and Mina.
Soon, a pillow fight of massive proportions was under way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
San Diego, California USA
Several hours later, that same crescent moon found its way to the
skies above Southern California. At Gen13’s La Jolla home Fairchild
found herself standing on the deck staring up at the night sky.
“It’s a nice night,” said someone, interrupting her solitude.
Cat turned to see Sarah approaching. “Yeah, the sky is really clear
tonight. I think I can see Mercury and Venus up there.”
“Did you want to be alone?” asked Sarah. “If you want I’ll go
bac--”
“No, it’s fine,” assured the redhead. “In fact, I wouldn’t mind
some company.”
“You said you could see Mercury and Venus. Could you point them out
for me?”
“Sure. See that palm tree over there? Mercury is the bright star
just above it,” explained Caitlin. “Venus is over there by our
neighbor’s satellite dish.”
“Yes, I see them both,” reported Sarah after a few moments.
“Speaking of Mercury and Venus…”
“You’ve been thinking about them too, huh?”
“Yeah. I mean, we’re Americans who got superpowers from some crazy
government experiment. They’re Japanese who are the reincarnations of
princesses who used to live on other planets. Yet, we had so much in
common.”
“It was nice to be able to just…talk with some other people about
what it’s like to be a superhero,” agreed Caitlin. “Someone who knows
how your stomach knots up when some ugly monster is trying to kill you.
Someone who knows what it’s like to long for a normal life, but know
that you can never have it.”
“Mr. L was right about the Scouts,” said Rainmaker. “They’re young,
but strong. They have warrior spirits that would make any Apache proud.
Do you think we’ll ever see them again?”
Fairchild cast a look up at the crescent moon and smiled. “It wouldn’t
surprise me at all, Sarah. It wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
The End
Notes: Wow, I can’t belive I’m finally done! This is the longest story
I’ve ever written. It’s almost twice the size of my previous record. I
admit, this thing was a pain at times, but in the end, I’ve found it to
be some of my most satisfying work ever.
* I’d like to thank my faithful beta-reader, Yasmin, for catching my
numerous spelling and grammar errors, some good points on plot, and the
input of a fellow Sailor Moon fan. I’d also like to thank Pace, Rowen,
the gang from OTL for the encouragement, the good people at
alt.fan.sailor-moon for help with research, Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, and
J. Scott Campbell for creating Gen13, and Naoko Takeuchi for bringing
Sailor Moon into the world.
* I borrowed information for this story from several sites, so it’s only
fair that they get credit. I couldn’t have done this without Fritter’s
Sailor Moon Indulgence, SailorM.com and the Norton Guide to Sailor Moon
Fanfic. Thanks, guys.
* That scene where Roxy changes into a Scout was a homage to the great
comic mini-series, Gen13: Magical Drama Queen Roxy. I just couldn’t do
this story without some reference to this great work by American manga
master Adam Warren. A few lines from that section were borrowed directly
from the comics. I didn’t do this to rip Adam off, just to show his
comedic genius.
* Disclaimer: Gen13 belongs to Wildstorm/DC Comics. Sailor Moon belongs
to Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animation. I make no money off this. Don’t
sue. Blah, blah, blah…
And there you have it. Thanks to all who gave feedback. Good or bad,
it was worth it to hear from you. BTW, there's a MSTied version of MH
done by me and my beta-reader that I'll be posting soon. If you didn't
like MH you should enjoy us mocking the it mercillusly. This MSTie even
comes with the recomendation of Kielle, co-author of the classic MSTing
"X" and webmaster of The Great Comic Book MSTing Site. (
http://www.subreality.com/mst3k.htm ) How's that for a plug? ;)