Episode Nine: The Sacrifice

Minako frowned as she turned around. "Hello," she said, as Maya stopped behind her. Maya's head was down turned. From what Minako had heard, Sailorlibra had been arrogant and proud, nothing at all like Maya. It was hard to relate those two.

"Hi," Maya said, smiling slightly as she looked up at Minako. Minako smiled back. She was growing fond of Maya, she was nice.

"Why are you following me?" Minako asked.

"I'm not," Maya said, trying to be a bit forceful. It failed miserably and Maya turned beet red. "I'm really not!"

"Who's following who in the what now?" Minako jumped as Aaron came up behind them. He grinned while Maya ran away with Minako being distracted. "Ah Miss Seijitsu, trying to find out whether or not our plan to take over the world will succeed?"

"Well I won't now." Minako crossed her arms as she stared after Maya. Maya turned a corner and peeked around. She quickly ducked back when she saw them both staring at her. "Those Neo Zodiac are really weird. I swear Maya's been following me around forever."

"It's your natural charm." Aaron continued grinning as he patted Minako on the shoulder. "She only wants to know how to tell whether or not that glass is half-empty."

"It always is, there's no need to tell." Minako turned back to face Aaron. He was still grinning. "What are you so happy about anyways?"

"That's why I love you," Aaron said. Minako stared up at him, and raised an eyebrow. Aaron smiled before he reached down and kissed her. It wasn't that deep, more like a quick peck really. It felt right and it shocked her. "Still half-empty?" he asked, raising an eyebrow right back at her.

"Yes," Minako muttered.

****

Veive kneeled down before Aplu. Aplu didn't look at Veive, the old hag kept her back turned as she busied herself with her fires. "Are you going to tell me what we must do to take the Neo Millennium?" Veive was far beyond annoyed by now. The attack on Star had not gone well at all. Sure, she had annoyed that wimp which was fun, but nothing had been gained. It had been days since and only now were Sethlans and Menrva awake again. It had seemed like they were in a coma for a while. Veive put the warnings that Oliver had given her completely out of her mind.

"They have made the sacrifice," Aplu croaked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Veive rolled her eyes. She didn't know why she called on Aplu. "Who have they sacrificed too? What did they sacrifice?"

"Patience, patience." Aplu waved her shrivelled hand at Veive without turning from her fire. Aplu chanted some more, words that Veive didn't care to understand. "The sea and the sky, they have been sacrificed to rise once more, just as the four stars were sacrificed to give rise to four more."

"Quit talking like that and give me some straight answers!" Veive sighed as she leaned back against a wall. "What must I do?"

"Make a sacrifice of your own." Veive paled as Aplu explained. At the end though, Veive nodded and left Aplu's room. She walked until she found the room of Voltumna, a widower and Veive's lover.

Voltumna stood as Veive entered, smoothing down his long tunic. "What's the matter?" he asked with a frown. The war was worrisome for Voltumna. He didn't know how Veive felt, but Voltumna loved Veive. He only hoped that somehow the laws could be bent after Veive had conquered the Neo Millennium and they would be wed.

"Where's Tarchon?" Veive asked, fingering the dagger in her hands behind her back as she smiled at Voltumna. This was for the good of the Andromeda Kingdom. One small sacrifice... "I have talked with Uni and she has decided that perhaps Tarchon would make a suitable husband for Tinia."

Voltumna brightened. "He's with the other boys."

"Thank you," Veive said, smiling as she reached up to give Voltumna a kiss. She would avenge the sacrifice of his son for both of them. It would be worth it in the end. "I'll go find him then-" Veive turned to leave but Voltumna took hold of her arm.

"Can I join you for this?" he asked, his eyes shining. "It's such an honour and I want to see it-"

"You don't want to see it," Veive said sharply as she pulled away. "After this, I have to leave. We are going to strike again, hopefully with better luck." Voltumna nodded, looking confused as Veive left their room.

Veive soon found Tarchon, a small boy of about twelve. He was running around with his friends in the palace and Veive's heart sank. "Perhaps the fates want to take revenge on me," she muttered. One innocent boy for another, it was fitting in a way. Either way, the fates would pay for this price they were exacting. Veive would make sure of it.

****

"So you say your name is Summers?" Essie laughed as the charming British secret agent took her hand and kissed it lightly. Essie smiled at him. "Are you always this charming?"

"I do try," Alan said, raising an eyebrow with a slight hint of a smile playing on his mouth. Essie's smile widened. She still hadn't told Hiruya... oh dear, what did he think had happened? Essie's smile disappeared into a frown. "What's the matter?"

"I don't..." Essie sighed as she patted Alan on the cheek. "I'm sorry Agent Summers, this isn't the right time for me. Could you take a rain check?" Alan nodded slowly. Essie laughed as she walked away. Oh poor Alan, he probably wasn't used to being rejected. Essie didn't blame him, she didn't like rejections either.

"Hello!" a cheerful bouncing voice said. Essie's smile returned as Zahra bounced right on beside her. Zahra smiled brightly at Essie. "You look lonely!"

"I'm not lonely." Essie patted Zahra on the head. It felt right to do so, the girl was just utterly darling! "I just didn't feel like playing that game with Agent Summers."

"You didn't feel like sleeping with him?" Zahra giggled. Essie felt a bit flustered. She hadn't expected Zahra to say that, it was hard to conceive of her thinking that. Or thinking at all. Zahra giggled some more. "You never got embarrassed by talking about sex!"

"I never did? I don't suppose I told you all about my conquests?" Essie laughed along with Zahra. "How come you're so different than the other two? I mean those Leo and Cancer girls? Is one of them supposed to come from me?" Essie didn't like the thought of that. She didn't like either of them from what she'd heard, both of them so snobby and acting superior. From what little George had said, Julian was supposed to be related to her. Maybe either of them could be related to Essie, which Essie did not like at all.

"Oh, they're silly," Zahra said dismissively. "They'd be ashamed to be your-" Zahra covered her mouth quickly. "Uh, oops!" Zahra ran away quickly before Essie could ask any questions. Electra would be so mad at her for almost spilling, she was having enough problems already.

****

"What is this?" Tinia asked as the senshi gathered in the room. Standing in the middle of it was a spear set in a rock. Veive was glaring away at the spear. "I thought we were to be leaving for the assault now?"

"Quiet," Veive snapped, turning her stare away from the spear. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. This was the only way they would be able to win. The Kalon senshi would pay for this sacrifce, Veive would be sure of it. "This spear was created on the advice of Aplu. Only one person can bear it's divinity." The warrior that was pure of heart, that was what Aplu had said laughingly when Veive had asked why she couldn't pick up the spear.

"Oh," Tinia said. She reached out and Veive's eyes nearly bulged out of her head as Tinia hefted the spear up as if it were lighter than a feather. Tinia smiled when she saw Veive's reaction, knowing full well that Veive hadn't been able to pick it up. Nethuns patted Tinia on the arm, happy for her lover.

"Is there an attack plan?" Menrva asked, crossing her eyes warily as she looked at the spear. That spear would only bring unhappiness to everyone, Menrva could feel it. There might be a way to avoid all this, Menrva had come up with it while she'd been recovering. "Where exactly are we attacking?"

"Their city of Crystal Tokyo," Veive said, refusing to look at Tinia. "We might be able to draw them out that way."

"Ooh, lots of people to play with!" Alpan said, clapping gleefully where everyone else was solemn. Veive tried not to glare. Alpan's playing was useful. Tarchon would be avenged.

****

Seira breathed deeply as she walked out of the apartment building. The police had finished gathering all the evidence they needed, but there wasn't any way they would be able to convict Umino Megami of any crime. "Damn her," Seira muttered. Seira had nothing to do. It was either take a walk or sit in that apartment, talking to well-wishers or being alone with Akio. Right now Seira wanted to punch someone.

"Isn't it a beautiful day, Kazuo?" Seira scowled as she saw a cute brown haired girl leaning against some guy with blue and silver hair. He looked a bit like that old idol Niko-chan from Himeko's CD collection. The girl frowned when she saw Seira's glare. "We're sorry, are we disturbing you?"

"No," Seira muttered. They were happy, she hated that. It wasn't their fault, but there was a war going on and murders being committed and they were happy despite that.

"Are you worried about the war?" the boy who must've been Kazuo asked. "I don't think they'll attack here. It depends on how long the senshi on the Moon can hold out-"

"I'm sorry, I haven't been paying attention to the news lately. I'm not interested in talking about that damn war. It's stupid." Kazuo and his girlfriend blinked at Seira's bluntness. "Well, it is! Wars are stupid pissing contests."

"Piss on this!" a loud voice said. "Raging Fires!" Seira ducked on instinct just in time to avoid the fireball that came towards them. The girl with Kazuo wasn't so lucky. She screamed as she was incinerated.

"Koharu!" Kazuo screamed as he saw the pile of ashes. So much for him being happy. Seira glared at the senshi as she started walking towards them. "You're going to pay for that," Kazuo said, not very strongly. Seira doubted he would actually be able to. She grabbed on to his arm.

"Let go of him," the senshi said. "I won't kill you if you do."

"Why, you're going to use him as some damn sex slave after killing his girlfriend?" Seira rolled her eyes as she ignored Kazuo's look of disgust at the idea. "Give me a break."

"I will kill you then." Seira turned and pulled Kazuo away from the ashes of Koharu as the senshi started to pursue them. They ran into an alleyway. "Go up!" Seira said sharply, pulling down the ladder from a fire escape. Kazuo looked dully behind them. "I said go up or you'll be that bitch's servant in bed." Damn it, the boy was in shock. Wasn't his fault, but still... "Look, do it for Koharu, she'd want you to escape!"

"Wh-what about you?" Kazuo asked, looking as though he was regaining his senses.

"I'll hold her off as much as I can," Seira muttered. Kazuo nodded and started to climb up. Seira turned around and a navy blue brooch appeared on the ground. "What the Hell?" She picked it up as that Andromedan bitch came into the alley way. "Tenousei?" she whispered. That was what Umino had been going on about?

"You had your chance!" the senshi shouted. Seira glared at her as she held up the brooch and transformed into Kalon Sailoruranus. The senshi stared in shock while Seira didn't show her own shock.

"Heaven's Fury!" she shouted. A golden ball hit her upraised hand and Kalon Uranus threw it against the ground. It flew at the senshi and stunned her. Kalon Uranus swore to herself as she ran away. Damn it, she didn't want this.

This was why her aunt had died after all.

**

"Ooh, I want this Tomoe-san!" Tomoe nodded as Chiharu picked out some candy. As soon as she'd stepped out of the house, Chiharu had come bouncing along. Before Tomoe had known it, they had ended up in a candy store. It wasn't Tomoe's money that Chiharu was spending anyways, so Tomoe didn't care really.

"You are so cute!" a girl with wavy purple hair exclaimed as she saw Chiharu. Chiharu beamed up at the girl who patted Chiharu's head energetically. "Can I take you home?"

"Mommy wouldn't like that, she doesn't want me going home with strangers," Chiharu said, almost solemnly. The girl's smile turned into a frown but it disappeared when she looked over at Tomoe. Tomoe smiled back politely and wondered if the girl had attention deficit disorder or something. "This is my friend Tomoe!" Chiharu said cheerfully. "She's nice, she gives me candy."

"Ooh, can I have candy too!" Tomoe was about to answer when the girl turned to a package of gum. "Oh, Star Moon gummies! I like Star Moon!"

"Really?" Chiharu asked as she bounced up and down a bit. "Do you like playing Star Moon? I like Star Neptune! My brother hates playing Star Moon, he only likes it when he can get someone he likes playing too." Chiharu frowned. Mommy and Daddy never talked about Aaron any more.

"I'll be the bad guy! Jiyu, minion of the Dark Kingdom!" Jiyu giggled as she chased Chiharu around the store. Chiharu giggled until she stopped. A girl in pink and black bounced into the candy shop.

"Can I play too?" she asked, bouncing up and down. "Kiss of Death!" she shouted, sending a black ball of energy at Jiyu. Jiyu screamed as she died.

"Chiharu, get out of here!" Tomoe screamed. Chiharu stayed put. "Go!" Tomoe didn't pay attention to the other senshi and didn't see the attack coming towards her. It took her by surprise, leaving Tomoe no time to scream before she died. Chiharu stared at the bodies lying before her.

Don't be scared the voice said. Chiharu nodded as the sign of Neptune glowed on her forehead. The brooch that Yoake had tried to break appeared in her hands and Chiharu took on her destiny.

**

"Split up!" Kalon Mercury said. She pointed towards Kalon Jupiter. "You, go home and find them!" For once Kalon Jupiter nodded, listening to her sister.

"Come on Minako!" Kalon Venus nodded to Pluto Kamen as they started running together.

"Wait a second," Autumnstar Kamen said to himself when he saw Kalon Venus running off. He didn't have time to stop and think when Kalon Mercury put a hand on his shoulder. He went off with her immediately, not asking any questions.

"Minako!" Pluto Kamen shouted. He stopped when he passed a candy store, the one that Chiharu went into every other day. He frowned when he saw Chiharu in there. She was standing over Alpan and holding her head up by the braid. "Chiharu?"

"You killed my friends!" Chiharu was screaming. Pluto Kamen frowned as he walked into the store, almost calmly. Chiharu wasn't dressed normally. "You killed Tomoe-san!"

"I only want to play," Alpan was whimpering.

"Chiharu?" Pluto Kamen asked again. Chiharu didn't look up as she tugged Alpan's head up higher. He'd been worried about Chiharu, sure, but he hadn't expected her to have subdued Alpan. "Uh, are you playing Star Moon again?"

"Star Neptune, Aaron," Chiharu muttered. "She's the prettiest." Alpan whimpered as Chiharu pulled her head up higher. "She also kills people who kill her friends!" Chiharu screamed as Alpan cried out in pain. Pluto Kamen looked over to the side and saw Tomoe's body lying there.

"Chiharu, please," Pluto Kamen said as he kneeled by her.

"I'm not Chiharu, I'm Star Neptune!" Oh great, Tomoe was dead and Chiharu was insane. Pluto Kamen then realized what Chiharu was wearing. She wasn't insane, she was Kalon Sailorneptune. That was worse actually.

"Okay, Star Neptune. We have to get out of here because the city is under attack and..." Yoake would freak out if she saw Chiharu as a senshi. "Well, we have to fight."

"Okay!" Kalon Neptune said, standing up and leaving Alpan behind crying as she left with Pluto Kamen. She didn't even ask about the outfit.

As they left, neither looked back at Tomoe. Her eyes opened weakly as a black star glowed briefly on her forehead. Do you want to defeat them? the voice of Malkah 9 asked. I am giving you back your life so you can do that. Join us and you can take revenge.

"Yes," Tomoe whispered. She couldn't see Chiharu anywhere. Damn them all, they'd killed her. If Kasumi or Ryuu had only chosen Tomoe instead of Aya or Utako... Tomoe would make sure they'd pay back in blood for Chiharu. Even if she had to sacrifice her life for it again, the Andromedans would pay.

Tomoe closed her eyes as she disappeared to Tau Ceti. This war would end, Tomoe would make sure of that.

**

"Can we stop now?" Kalon Venus asked Pluto Kamen as she ran after him. She couldn't see any attackers, which was weird since Venus was sure they'd be attracting the Andromedans like flies to honey especially with the way he'd been going on about how they wanted to turn him into a sex slave.

"Of course we can," Pluto Kamen said as they stopped. Venus frowned, his voice sounded odd. He smiled at her. "I would've thought you'd be more skeptical."

"What do you mean?" Venus started backing away from him. "What's wrong with you?" She had an insanely bad feeling about this. She had bad feelings about everything, but this time it was for real.

"I knew you'd be the easiest one to take." Venus froze when Pluto Kamen's voice changed. He shifted slightly into Menrva. "I know how you feel, that you're too smart to actually be taken in by a handsome boy. Granted, he paid some attention to you but that gave you some hope. He's the only one who could get by all your purported cynicism." Menrva smiled as Minako's transformation dissipated. "I am far more powerful than you. You don't stand a chance against me."

"What are you going to do to me?" Her mind was already reeling with the possibilities. Death wasn't the worst, not with the way Menrva was looking at Minako. Minako couldn't budge an inch, she was glued there. Someone had to come along to save her. But they wouldn't, Minako realized as her heart sank. That only happened in the movies.

"Would you rather I look like this?" Minako looked up and saw Aaron standing there. That was only Menrva pretending to be Aaron. He smiled at her. "I do love you. I would never hurt you."

"You never would," Minako whispered as Aaron took her away. There was no use in fighting.