People argue endlessly over whether heroes are born or made.  Can 
anyone become a hero, or is some inherent strength of character, some 
natural gift required to transcend the ordinary and achieve true 
greatness?  Does a hero know they will achieve great things, or can it 
come as much a surprise to the hero as to others?  Is there even one 
single answer to these questions?  

      Many people live their entire lives without having to confront 
this, but not so for Inanna.  Until her fourteenth birthday, her life had 
been bland and boring.  Well, to her, anyway.  She had grown up in 
Tradetown, the only city of humans (and other non-faerie races) on the 
entire planet of Venus.  Very few humans were allowed to pass beyond its 
walls.  It was here that the gathered faerie folk of the planet came to 
trade with the humans of the other planets, and with the subterranean 
races of Mercury, and the enigmatic Fungi from Yuggoth at the far 
reaches of the solar system.  Tradetown was perhaps one of the most 
diverse cities in all the planets of the Silver Millenium, home to all 
the races, and featuring fantastic architecture.  

     Inanna lived in one of those buildings, a vast palace by the 
standards of many worlds, that blended the organic furniture and walls of 
the faerie folk, with the great crystal structures of Earth, the eerie 
bio-mechanics of the Yuggothians, and the delicate stonework of the 
peoples of Mercury.  Her bedroom was vast, decorated with elf-made 
tapestries and paintings by her own mother, as well as several dwarf- 
wrought statuettes.  Yet, it did not interest her.  Her life was a blur 
of studies about finances and trading, music lessons, and repetitious 
parties.  It was all the same, all the time.  She didn't want to be a 
trader, but she had no other option.  She wasn't even going to be 
the head of the household, that fell to her older sister.  

     It was LLolgolin's day, an Elvish holiday celebrating...who knows.  
Inanna had never been good at remembering the stories behind most Elvish 
holidays, given that telling the story usually took several days when 
done right.  Everyone was dressed in blue, for reasons that were probably 
important.  She, however, had decided to defy the custom and wear orange, 
her favorite color.  At least I'll stand out, she thought, not that 
anyone will care much about a fourteen year old.  

     As she walked down one of the vast spiraling staircases of her home, 
she heard two of the guests speaking in Elvish, which was hardly a 
surprise.  Inanna spoke it fluently, as well as several other languages 
that had been crammed down her throat.  She seemed to have a knack for 
it.  She could even decipher some of the simpler forms of the 
flash-language of the Fungi.  "So the assassination will take place tonight?"

      "What are you, an idiot?  Someone could over hear us!  We can't 
afford to have the Duke learn of this."

     She crept forward as the second elf continued to chew out the 
first.  A quick peek revealed that she had seen them before, but couldn't 
remember their names.  Part of the retinue of Count Quendolen of Langoli, 
she thought.  For a moment, information on the trade profile of the count 
flickered through her mind.  The Count's men sell those magical 
watches...but the Duke of Andali's craftsmen have been undercutting them 
lately.  I guess the Count is taking drastic measures...I wanted an 
adventure...I think I'm about to get it.

     She darted back up the stairs, only to hear one of the men say, 
"Hey, I think I hear someone going up the stairs."  She fled into the 
maze of corridors of that story of her house, with the two men in hot 
pursuit.  Finally, she darted into a bedroom and listened carefully.  She 
could hear them outside in the hallway.  

      She nearly jumped through the ceiling when a voice from the bed 
said, "Ahh, there you are.  I was beginning to think I was wasting my time."

      She spun, drawing her knife, only to see it was simply a white cat 
with a golden crescent moon on his forehead.  "Who in the Five Kingdoms 
are you?"

      "My name is Artemis.  I am one of the advisors of Queen Serenity of 
the Moon Kingdom.  I have come to..."

      Inanna rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, right.  Sitting in one of the spare 
rooms of our house?  I don't think so."

      Artemis blinked and drew himself up into what he imagined to be a 
regal pose, but to Inanna looked like he was making himself comfortable.  
"No, really, I am.  That's why I have this crescent moon on my 
forehead."  She doesn't recognize me?, Artemis thought.  This place 
isn't some backwater village...

      Could this cat be working for the count?  What if the men hear me 
arguing with it?  How am I gonna stop those two guys?  I've got to get 
out of here and warn the Duke...

     Artemis wilted slightly under Inanna's suspicious stare.  "Look, 
you're Inanna, right?"

     "Yes, I am.  How do you know this?"

     Artemis tossed a small round flat crystal down.  It had an image of 
Inanna captured in it.  "The Elder Venus sent me to find you."

     Inanna blinked.  "Why?"  What possible reason could a high ranking 
noble from the Moon have for wanting to talk to me?, she wondered.

     Before Artemis could speak, the door opened, and the two Elves 
stepped in.  "There you are!"  one of them said.

     Inanna stepped back.  Artemis frowned.  This would require taking 
action far too soon, but he had no choice if he was to get her back to 
the Elder Venus alive.  Why she hadn't come herself, he had no idea.  

     He summoned the wand from its hiding place and tossed it to Inanna, 
who stared at it for a moment.  "Inanna, shout 'I hereby assume the power 
of Venus!, yatta, yatta, yatta.'"  I hope the rest of that ritual isn't 
too important, Artemis thought.  I don't have any sacred flames, 
handmaidens, or program guides to the rite handy.

     "What?"

     The two Elves closed in on Inanna, who was scampering back.  Artemis 
shouted, "JUST DO IT!"

     As one of them grabbed her arm, she did it.  "I hereby assume the 
power of Venus, yatta, yatta, yatta!"  Power surged through her and 
around her, tossing the two Elves back.  Her clothing altered and 
reformed into a uniform she had seen only in pictures and stories of the 
guardians of the Moon Kingdom, the Senshi.  She stared at herself for a 
moment, then turned to the two men.  Words came to her mind unbidden, 
the instincts of her office driving her onwards.  "I am the Lovely 
Soldier Venus, and I will punish you in the name of the Planet Venus!"  
She struck a pose and the two men fled, having also heard the tales of 
the Senshi.

      Inanna didn't know it, but the life of adventure she had so long 
craved had finally begun.

                           *        *          *

Naru:     I'm tired of always running
          I've grown tired of the night
          I'm wish I had some cunning,
          Had some power, had some might.

     We see a collage of Naru running from monsters, grabbed by monsters, 
trapped inside big moss balls by monsters, etc.

Sailors:  You don't need to keep on running.
          You don't need to fear the night.
          We can save you with with our cunning,
          With our power, with our might.

     We see a collage of images of Usagi and the other Sailors saving 
Naru and many other people from monster attacks.

Naru:     I don't want someone to save me;
          I'd just like to save myself
          I don't want to be a helpless doll
          That must sit upon the shelf.

     We see Naru sitting at her window, looking out on the starry 
night sky of the city.  One by one, lines trace out the constellations.

Pluto:    If you want to have the power
          You must reach into your heart
          Look inside to find your strength
          For that's where power starts

     We see Pluto holding out a eight-pointed star, which hovers just 
above her hand.



                                  *****

Sailor Moon Z:

Series Concept by Jeff Hosmer and John Biles
Primary Writer this Episode:  John Biles ^_^

Based on the Series Sailor Moon, copyrighted by a whole lot of people who
aren't us.

Episode 5
"Moon Hill 90210
 Will Minako be able to keep her sanity?"

                                  *****

     Minako took off running.  She could hear them behind her, on her 
heels.  She couldn't let them catch her.  Too much was riding on it.  Her 
pride for one thing.  

     She ran as if her life depended on it, turning the corner and 
speeding up.  Some might say six against one wasn't fair, but she 
wouldn't always agree with that.  Not when the one was her.  

     It wasn't a fair contest, and she knew it.  They were human, and 
she was...something more.  Well, maybe that was an exageration, but 
virtually no one could keep up with her in athletics anymore.  She'd 
always been good, but ever since the day when Artemis walked into her 
life, she'd become even better.  If she had been Sailor Venus right now, 
she could have already circled this track twice.  As it was, she was in 
the lead without even breaking a sweat.  

     She hadn't realized at first that even her normal form was getting 
faster and stronger until the day she'd knocked someone out during a 
volleyball game when her slam turned out to be more powerful than she'd 
anticipated.  The same day, she'd picked up the end of the couch with one 
hand to vacuum under it and nearly flipped it on end from lifting too 
hard...it seemed lighter than before.  She certainly wasn't superhuman 
and she'd still met people stronger and faster than her, but they were 
rather rare.

     She turned her head to see how much of a lead she had and saw four 
of the others were way behind her.  Then she realized that she didn't see 
two of them.  Turning her head back, she discovered it was because they'd 
passed her.

     The first one of them was Jill Pole.  Well, that wasn't her real 
name, but no one used their real name at this school.  Moon Hill 
Experiment House was supposed to teach English by total immersion.  
Students didn't even use their real names.  They had to take English 
psuedonyms.  Minako had named herself Mina Harker as a joke.  This girl, 
Jill, was blond like Minako, but her hair was cut short.  She had tanned 
skin and a fairly slim build.  She was another first year student like 
Minako.

      The boy was Eustace Scrubb.  He was her boyfriend, a somewhat 
chubby guy, much more an intellectual than an athelete, or so Minako had 
thought.  He wore glasses and had pale, soft skin, except for his hands, 
which were oddly callused for an intellectual type.  He was slightly 
shorter than Jill, which made him about the same height as Minako.  She 
could hardly believe he'd passed her. 

      She speeded up, taking the race seriously now.  She passed Eustace, 
who kept plugging along, but Jill speeded up also.  They ran round the 
track, neck and neck, with Eustace a bit behind them, slowly falling 
behind, while the others had simply stopped running to any meaningful 
extent, simply watching in awe.  

      They came round towards the finish line where the coach stood, 
watching them impassively.  His name was Coach Williams, but everyone 
called him Roy.  He was the strong, silent, ugly as something the dog 
wouldn't eat type.  He looked like he could crack pecans with his eyelids 
if he wanted to.  

      They crossed the finish line.  All Roy did was announce their time, 
then shout at the four lagging students.  "HURRY UP!"  They all picked 
up the pace.

     Minako walked around a bit to unwind, then sank down onto the grass.  
This was the first time she'd ever actually raced against anyone who 
wasn't female, she realized, except when she was in Britain.  Physical 
education activities in most of the schools she'd attended were 
segregated by sex.  The teams for athletic competition were like that 
here, but the stuff they did in class was truly co-ed.  

     Jill sank down into the grass next to her.  "You're good."  A few 
seconds later, Eustace came and sat down.  "I'd gotten used to Eustace 
being the only person who could even pretend to keep up with me."

     Minako laughed.  "Same with me...No one at my old school even came 
close.  Didn't do wonders for my popularity.  Coach Tanaka used to use me 
as an example of what they could be like if they'd really try...I always 
got embarrassed and they'd get angry."

     "Yeah, well, we all get a fresh start here.  New names, new school.  
We can break out of the molds we've been stuck in and start anew.  I'm 
really excited about it."  Eustace said.  "Our last school was a disaster 
area.  The Principal's in jail now..."

      Minako blinked.  "In JAIL?"

      "It's a long story.  Embezzlement.  Corruption.  Bribery.  Gangs 
roaming the hallways.  Violence, disrupted classes, a crazed 
disciplinarian attacking the students...it was an even bet whether her or 
the gangs were worse."

      "Gee, the worst that ever happened at my school was that the heat 
went out in the middle of winter one time,"  Minako said.  

     "Yeah, well, we helped put the principal away.  He's in a mental 
institution now, getting his obsessions cured.  I hope.  Not that the 
principal of this place seems too stable himself,"  Eustace said, combing 
his hair.  "Whoever heard of requiring students to watch goofy American 
high school shows before attending a school?"

     Coach blew his whistle.  "Okay, boys and girls, time to go change 
back into your clothing for your next class.  Tomorrow we're gonna play 
basketball if it rains like it is supposed to, otherwise, you're going to 
start learning Lacrosse."

     Minako blinked.  Wasn't that a breathing program for pregnant women 
or something?, she thought.

                                  *****

     Izuko sat nervously in the waiting room.  She was dressed in one of 
her more formal outfits.  When the big bosses want to see you, you should 
dress to fit the boss.  This guy probably wore suits to go swimming, so 
she had dressed up in one of those suit dresses mostly worn by 
businesswomen.  It wasn't very comfortable, but he wasn't the sort of man 
you wanted to irritate.

       The door opened and someone walked in.  It was Hudson, dressed in 
a camo shirt and jeans.  Izuko groaned.  Of all the possible people who 
could have shown up, Hudson was very close to the top of her "please God, 
don't let me ever see this person again" list.  He looked over at Izuko.  
"Hiya, babe!  I guess you're here to see him too?"

      She frowned.  "My name is Izuko, not 'babe', Hudson.  Yes, I'm 
waiting to see him."

      "Well, he said we'd be working together on this when I talked to 
him yesterday at Slots, and..."

      Izuko blinked.  Hudson had already spoken with...at a BAR?  

      The receptionist answered the phone, then said, "Mr. Taro will 
see you now."

      They got up and went into the office.  Mr. Taro was a tall, 
heavy-set man with thick black hair in an expensive suit.  He sat behind 
a chaotically organized desk in a nice leather chair.  Smiling, he said, 
"Well, as you know, this is my month.  I have a special mission for the 
two of you.  You're probably wondering why you two in particular."

      Izuko nodded.  Hudson said, "I assume you did the usual 
astrological calculations and noticed that our dominant planets are 
currently in a compatible conjunction.  Also, our signs are compatible 
with yours and due to the current position of Neptune, we both have 
favorable aspects for covert missions."

      Izuko stared at Hudson, shocked that he had actually said something 
intelligent.   A few seconds later, she wondered how he had learned so 
much about her.  

      Mr. Taro nodded.  "Hai.  In addition, this deals with something 
that you have more experience with than most of our other operatives in 
your class."

      Hudson swallowed nervously.  "This doesn't have to do 
with...them...does it?"  He began to visibly sweat.

      "No, we haven't had any dealings with them lately.  Rather, you 
will be observing the movement of some money that will hopefully lead you 
to the Princess."

      Hudson breathed a sigh of relief.  Izuko blinked.  "Some money?"

      "I have prepared the money so that it is attuned to the appropriate 
energies.  It will take some time, but over the course of my month, it 
will gradually seek out the one for whom we are looking.  We selected you 
two, because you were part of the group that made the first contact with 
the potential candidates.  One of them is the princess.  You have seen 
them, and we want you to follow the money and see who gets it."

      He got out a small device that resembled a large calculator.  "The 
money will go into circulation this afternoon.  You will work together 
until we have located the princess or the money ceases to circulate.  Any 
questions?"

      Izuko surpressed her instinct to ask if she could muzzle Hudson for 
the duration of the mission, then began working out all the parameters of 
the mission with her boss and her future, if unwanted, partner.

                                  *****

     "So then the Bradies start whapping everyone with their lacrosse sticks 
and the whole game turned into a brawl.  Marsha had Urkel down on the 
ground and tossed his glasses off into the grass, but then..."  Minako 
was telling everyone about her first experience with lacrosse, which 
sounded more and more like a very _bad_ thing.

     She was at the Crown Cafe with Usagi, Makoto, Ami, Rei, Artemis, and 
Mamoru.  It was supposed to be a Sailor strategy meeting, but it was 
rather turning into a Minako complains about her new school meeting, just 
like the last strategy meeting had.  At least her complaints were 
interesting, though.

     "So then that Doogie Howser kid had to start doing first aid on 
everyone, while Coach started chewing everyone out.  Now the Bradies are 
going to be gunning for me and Jill after we smacked Bobby and Greg's 
heads together.  Not that I'm afraid of the Bradies, but I'm not sure how 
well Jill and Eustace can take care of themselves against six at once."  
Minako fell silent and started slurping her ice cream loudly for a few 
seconds, then said, "What everyone is really afraid of is that the 
Bradies and the Beverly gang are gonna get in another war.  Apparently 
Dylan dumped Cindy and..."

     Usagi clutched her head.  It was starting to hurt from trying to 
keep up with all these names Minako kept throwing around.  "Don't we 
need to talk about finding out where these youma are coming from?"

     Everyone blinked, then Artemis silently thanked God for inspiring 
Usagi to get Minako off the subject of her new school.  He already had to 
listen to this 24 hours a day--any escape from it was welcome.  "Well, 
I'd assume they probably work for this Aries person and any allies he 
might have."

     "I tried doing a fire augury, but all I got was an image of a starry 
void and some kind of pinkish thing in a cavern, too far off to see 
clearly.  Oh, and some rocks floating in space,"  Rei said.

     "The asteroid belt?"  Ami asked.

     "Could be, I guess.  Any luck with your computer scanning?"

     "Not yet.  It might help if we had some idea why he or they are 
looking for the Princess,"  Ami said.  "You and Luna still don't remember 
anything?"

     "Well, the signs of the Zodiac were known in the Moon Kingdom.  All 
of you have the same birthdates in this life as you did in that one.  
Well, the same days of the year, anyway.  Therefore, you have the same 
signs."  Artemis looked around, suddenly remembering that he might be 
overheard, then continued, more quietly.  "Astrology was never one of my 
strong points, though.  If he's part of a group, then there's probably 
one of them for each month.  We're in Taurus right now."

     "But why would he be after ME?"  Usagi asked.  "Was astrology banned 
or something back then?"

     "No, it was an honored art.  You all had to learn it to some 
extent.  One of the founders of the Silver Millenium invented it.  
Nephrite was really good at it...but you know that.  He had special 
training."  

     "We should have brought Naru here,"  Usagi said.  "She's been 
reading up on Astrology ever since she remembered...him."

     Mamoru said, "Isn't she out on a date with Umino right now?"

     Usagi nodded.  "Yeah.  He called me last night trying to get my 
opinion on some romantic poetry he wrote to read to her on the date...He 
still can't write poetry.  So I drew him a picture of him and Naru 
together to give to her."

     "So that's why you weren't prepared in History class?"  Makoto asked.

     "Uh yeah...It sort of ate my homework time,"  Usagi said, not 
mentioning she'd been reading manga when the call came.

      "You have homework time?"  Artemis asked.

      Usagi whapped him in the head.

                                  *****

      Izuko and Hudson sat in a car, parked watching the Fifth Seikei 
Bank of Tokyo.  Hudson was reading Soldier of Fortune, while Izuko 
watched the calculator...umm, scanner.  It just sat there, reporting 
"Target 50 meters, 120 degrees."

      She sighed.  This was more boring than watching fish.  At least 
fish did things occassionally.  Finally, she looked over at Hudson.  "So 
what was the other thing you were worried this might have to do with?"

      He put down the magazine.  "I'm not supposed to talk about it.  
Let's just say, almost everyone died except me and two others.  It's the 
reason I'm in covert operations and not the strike team anymore."  He 
stared out the window.  "I've gotten a lot more careful since then.  
I...I've seen too many horrible ways to die.  There are things out there...
things that want to destroy this world.  We're the last line...the only 
line of defense this planet has.  That's why I didn't quit like they 
did.  I'm...I don't want to die, but I knew if I quit...I'd always be 
looking over my shoulder."  He sighed.  "Now, I'm thirsty.  I'll be right 
back.  Gotta get a beer."

       "Hey, you can't..."  Izuko started.  Hudson ignored her, got out 
of the car and ambled off towards a nearby convenience store.  She 
sighed.  Naturally, the scanner chose this moment to start detecting the 
money was moving.

                                  *****

     Minako stood at the door of her school and sighed.  The only good 
thing about this school was no uniform.  Students streamed past onto the 
big ugly yellow school buses or onto the dock, waiting for parents to 
pick them up.  Footsteps sounded behind her.  She looked and saw Jill and 
Eustace approaching.  

     "Hi, guys!"  She waved to her friends.  They came over and sat down 
by her.

      "So your boyfriend is coming to pick you up?"  Jill said.

      "Is he as cool as me?"  Eustace asked, smiling.

      Minako laughed.  "Almost, Eustace.  Almost."

      "So where did you meet this guy?  He's British, right?"

      Minako nodded.  "We went to the same ski resort at Christmas time.  
He's a foreign exchange student.  He's really cool!"

      Jill smiled.  "We've both read a lot of British literature.  That's 
how we got our English good enough to get into this school.  For what 
good that's done us."

      Eustace subtly pointed at the door of the school, where someone 
stood, his arms crossed.  "Greg's watching us.  They're gonna try and get 
even one of these days."

      "Be careful guys...I can't always be there to p...to help you,"  
Minako said, frowning as she looked at "Greg Brady".  She wondered again 
what his real name was.

     Jill smiled.  "We're tougher than you think, Minako."  She cracked 
her knuckles.  "It takes more than a few Bradies to stop me."

     In the distance, a motorcycle engine's roar asserted itself against 
the traffic noises.  Soon, Steven roared up on his cycle.  Artemis was 
perched on his shoulders, looking panicked.  Minako leaped up, ran over 
and hugged Steven.  Artemis leaped to the ground and kissed it.  Jill 
laughed.

     "I don't think his cat likes his bike."

     "You're late, Steven,"  Minako said.

     "This guy I met at a bike show came by to help me work on my bike 
after school.  The engine was starting to act up, and I thought it was a 
good idea to take care of it first.  Sorry to make you wait."

     "Oh.  What's his name?"

     "Ten'ou Haruka."

     Steven wondered why Minako had started laughing.  Of course, if she 
knew Haruka was a girl, she'd probably be getting jealous instead, he 
thought.  I promised Haruka I wouldn't go around telling people.  I guess 
she was really surprised I was able to tell so easily.

     "Jill, this is Steven.  Steven, this is Jill and Eustace.  Oh, and 
this is my cat Artemis."

     Artemis looked up at Minako.  "I don't like..."  He put a paw to his 
mouth and thanked the gods that Luna hadn't been here to tell him how 
stupid he just was.

     Eustace blinked, as did Jill.

     Minako glared at Artemis and made shushing noises at him.  Steven 
laughed.  "I had a hard time convincing him to come along."

     Minako blinked as Artemis said, "But the bribe of catnip worked."  
He sounded kind of odd.  She wondered if he had completely forgotten 
people were listening.  She could believe he'd go for that, though.

     Jill and Eustace stared.  Artemis said, "Hi, pretty lady!  My name 
is Aslan!  Wanna see me dance?"

     "The cat...is...talking..."  Jill said.  

      Steven started laughing.  "He kept telling me how to drive!  It 
really gets annoying when he does that."

      Minako looked over at Steven, then realized what was going on.  
"You should see him tell me how to cook, too."

      Artemis finally realized what was going on and tried to just keep 
quiet and let Steven do all his talking for him with ventrilloquism.

      Eustace finally said, "Gee, your cat sounds like your boyfriend."

      "Pay no attention to the ventrilloquist behind the curtain,"  
Steven said, then fell down laughing.

      Artemis decided to hurt Steven later.  Right after he figured out 
some way to keep Luna from finding out about this.

                         *  *  *

     Across town, Izuko and Hudson continued their watch on the Colonel 
Chicken where the money was now residing.  You can imagine the sheer 
excitement this brought them.  

                         *  *  *

      A little while later, Minako, Steven and Artemis arrived back at 
Minako's house.  Both of her parents were at work as usual, so they had 
the house to themselves for a few hours.  Artemis tried not to get ill as 
they sat on Minako's bed and babbled endearments at each other, then 
started smooching.  

      Artemis cleared his throat.  "Excuse me."

      "You're excused, Artemis.  While the cat's away, the mice will 
make out.  See you later!"  Minako said, then returned to smooching.

      Artemis sighed, and decided to just curl up and take a nap.  Sailor 
business would have to wait.

                             *   *   *
     
     Minako and Steven eventually finished making out.  Well, they 
stopped for homework.  Artemis slept through this too, until finally, 
Steven woke him up.  "Hey, Artemis.  You know anything about Chemistry, 
by any chance?"

     Artemis blinked.  "Why would I know anything about Chemistry?"

      "I told you he wouldn't know!  They didn't have Chemistry in the 
moon kingdom,"  Minako said.

     "Well, I did study a little alchemy, but you probably aren't trying 
to turn gold into quartz,"  Artemis said.  

     "Why would you want to turn gold into quartz?  Gold is much more 
valuable."

     "Now, it's more valuable.  Back then, we had gold out the wazoo, but 
hardly any quartz, which the Crystal Kingdom used for many purposes,"  
Artemis said.  "I'll give you three guesses why it's the other way now..."

      "The process only worked one way and you used up most of the 
gold?"  Steven said.

     Artemis nodded.  "Pretty much.  I'm not surprised Minako can't 
figure out this problem, whatever it is, but I thought you were good at 
science."

    "Hey!  Whaddya say that for?"  Minako asked.

    "Good at science doesn't mean all-knowing,"  Steven said.

     "Well, back in the Moon Kingdom, you failed three efforts in a row 
to demonstrate a basic understanding of Alchemy.  Sensei Wisdom was about 
ready to pull her hair out."  Artemis laughed a little.  

      Minako felt a vague sinking feeling.  This did not bode well.  
Unbidden, and rather unwanted, the memory of what Artemis was talking 
about floated to the surface of her mind...

                             *   *   *

     Senshi Venus stood in the lab, staring at the equipment, which 
seemed to be staring back at her, mocking her with the memories of her 
first effort to pass this test.  Lady Charity sat nearby, as did Princess 
Serenity and Lady Patience.  Senshi Jupiter and the Elder Venus were here 
too.  Senshi Jupiter had just passed the test on her second try.  The 
three court ladies were here to offer moral support and Elder Venus was 
probably here to yell at her if she screwed up again.  A little ways 
away, Sensei Wisdom stood, looking ready to flee the lab if a repeat of 
the first test's disaster occurred.  

     Senshi Venus took a deep breath.  I'm the leader of the younger 
Senshi.  I've fought things that could eat this lab with one gulp.  I 
even managed to pass the History test on the first try.  I shouldn't be 
afraid, she thought.  Unfortunately, she was anyway.

     I've never been good at these things, she thought.  I'm a fighter 
and an athlete, not a scholar, despite everything mom tried to cram down 
my throat...  Actually, the singing and poetry lessons weren't bad, and 
painting was fun, but when am I ever going to use Alchemy, anyway?  She 
glanced over at Princess Serenity for a moment, who smiled at her.  
Well, then again, the Princess managed to pass all this stuff, and I 
don't know when she'd ever use Alchemy either.  

     "I'm ready, Sensei,"  Venus said, lying through her teeth.

     "All right.  This time, you must complete the following 
procedures,"  Sensei Wisdom said.  She was a tall and rather attractive 
red head, dressed demurely in the formless robes worn by Royal tutors, 
seemingly since time began.  Her family had been tutors to the royal family 
of the Moon Kingdom since the beginning of the Silver Millenium.  The 
first of them was said to have been a younger sister of the first Queen 
Astra of the Star Kingdom.  Of course, that was just a legend.  Given 
that every family on every planet tried to claim some connection to the 
Five Founders, who could tell if any of them or all were right.  "You 
must turn gold into lead, make a healing potion, and turn this water 
into wine."

     Venus nodded nervously and went to work.  The first one was easy.  A 
five year old with proper supervision could do it.  She did that one 
first, and felt more confident after that.  Now for the healing potion.  
She started rooting through the ingredients cabinet.  Eye of Newt, toe of 
frog, hair of wombat, scale of a flying fish, hair of a saint, a pint of 
salad oil...

      Venus paused.  There were five kinds of salad oil in the 
cabinet...Wait, was it even salad oil?  Maybe it was actually vegetable 
oil...She grabbed all the kinds of oil and mixed them all in, just to be 
sure.  

      Unseen by Venus, Lady Charity quietly got up and went over to 
Sensei Wisdom.  She had a bad feeling about what was coming next.  
Unfortunately, she realized this a little too late.

      The mixture frothed and bubbled in the large black pot.  Venus 
started to stir it and it exploded, hurling black and purple vapors 
through the room.  Venus coughed and gagged as everyone ran.  She 
staggered out of the cloud.

      "Is everyone okay?"  Everyone was staring at her.  She looked down 
at herself.  Her skin was blue...and her hair had turned purple.  She 
fainted.

                             *   *   *

     Minako sighed.  "My chemistry professor is really not going to be 
happy if something like that happens."  I really could have lived with 
never remembering that either, she thought.  I wonder if the others ever 
have useful flashbacks...I only seem to remember my least favorite 
moments.  I wonder if I knew Steven then...How much of our lives repeat 
every time and how much is new?  Is it all destiny?  Is there someone 
waiting for all of us?  

     She looked over at Steven.  He's so understanding of all of this.  I 
can hardly believe it.  He's the first guy I've managed to date for this 
long.  We don't get to spend a lot of time together, what with school and 
me being a senshi, but he doesn't seem to mind, she thought.  I...A 
thought struck her.  The future.  A thousand years from now, we'll all be 
alive in Crystal Tokyo...but will he?  Am I going to have to watch him 
age and die?  

      Minako sighed.  Steven looked over at her.  "What's wrong, Mina-chan?"

      "Worrying about the future."  How can I explain this to him?  I 
wish Chibi-Usa was here...she'd know if he was around.  Pluto probably 
knows, but she wouldn't tell me.

     "Let the future take care of itself.  We have this chemistry 
homework to worry about in the here and now."  Meanwhile, I have to 
figure out how to tell her that I'm going to be eating dinner with Polly 
in a couple of days...They really don't seem to like each other very 
much.  I just hope that creep Chester doesn't show up.  I think Polly 
probably has the wrong idea about all of this too...

                             *   *   *

      The sun went down and the sun came up.  Then it happened a second 
time.  By now Hudson and Izuko had started taking shifts watching the 
Colonel Chicken.  Around 9 am, Izuko came to relieve Hudson.  The car was 
littered with cup Ramen and abandoned coffee cups.  He was reading 
Rolling Stone and mumbling to himself as she arrived.  She leaned in the 
window and turned off his AC/DC tape.  "Any changes?"

      "Yeah, I need to shave."

       They both sighed.  It was at that very point that Izuko got tapped 
on the shoulder.  She started and spun, reaching for her gun, then relaxed.
It was only one of the Gemini twins.  "Um, what brings you here, Gemini-P?"

      She laughed.  "Don't call me by that silly title!  You can call 
me Pollux.  That's formal, but I feel less ridiculous.  I have a special 
mission for you."

      "But...we..."  Izuko began.

       Hudson said, "It doesn't involve sitting in front of Colonel 
Chicken waiting for something to happen that might never happen, does it?"

       "Certainly not.  I need you to go observe this awful girl for me.  
I need some dirt on her.  She has to be up to something she doesn't want 
people to know about."

       "What's her name?"  Izuko asked.  

       "Aino Minako."

                                *   *   *

     Minako got off the bus and walked up the steps to the Hiyakawa 
temple.  Many other schoolgirls and schoolboys were there, coming to get 
good luck charms, to pray, or just to hang out at the temple.  It had 
increasingly attracted junior high and high school students in the last 
year or so, probably because of its accessibility and because many of 
them came to gaze on Rei and Yuuichiro, who were probably two of the more 
attractive temple acolytes in Tokyo.  

      Rei was manning a desk, selling good luck charms, while Grandpa was 
busily trying to recruit more cute young acolytes, without much luck.  A 
nervous looking girl with short blond hair, dressed in a T-shirt and 
jeans stood in front of Minako.  Minako mistook her for Haruka for a few 
seconds, then realized the girl was probably her age, not Haruka's.  
Minako wondered how the girl had gotten out of her school uniform so 
quickly to come over here.  Then again, maybe she had cut out of school 
early or something.

      The girl reached Rei as the line moved along, and said, "Hi, I'm 
Nonohara Himeko.  I need a charm that will keep people from hitting on my 
boyfriend."

     Rei raised an eyebrow, clearly questioning the concept that this girl 
had a boyfriend.  A flicker of memory flitted through Minako's mind.  
Something familiar about this girl.  I've seen her somewhere before.  
Name sounds familiar too, she thought.

     "He's got mobs of admirers and I'm really getting sick of it.  
Nothing seems to work.  Especially that Hikaru nutcase and her crazy 
Daichi fanclub.  I've been dating the guy for TWO years and they won't 
give up."  Himeko crossed her arms in front of herself.  

      Minako laughed.  Now she remembered Himeko.  They'd gone to the 
same junior high during her first year of Junior high.  So Himeko had 
ended up dating Daichi?  Yeah, the guy had had a fanclub back then too.  
"She's on the level, Rei.  I remember that Daichi guy and his fanclub.  
So you two ended up dating?"

     Himeko turned around and stared at her for a moment.  "Aino Minako?"

     "The one and only.  I played Soccer in the soccer club with your 
boyfriend back in Junior high.  So you two finally started dating?"

     "Yeah.  What brings you here?"  

     "This jerk of a girl from Britain is after my boyfriend.  He knew 
her in school or something and now she's trying to steal him away from 
me!  She even has a stupid name.  What kinda name is Polly?  She sounds 
like a parrot!  No taste in clothing either."  Minako could have ranted 
all day.

     Rei said, "We get the picture, Minako.  Right.  A charm to ward 
women away from your boyfriends..."  She dug through the pile.  "Here.  
500 yen each.  Wear it pinned to your underwear."

     Minako blinked.  "To my underwear?"

     "That's the only way it will work right."

     Himeko nodded.  "Is there a bathroom we can use?"

     Rei pointed it out and waited until they left to start laughing.  
Pin it to your underwear indeed...I guess people will believe just about 
anything if you keep a straight face...If one more person whines about 
their boyfriend to me when I don't have one...I'm gonna explode.
  
                                *   *   *

     Lucy Moneypenny picked up the reports and walked into Principal M's 
office.  Her real name was Hitoya Noa, but here at Moon Hill Experiment 
House, everything was done in English, even your names.  It was of 
course, just her luck that the Principal was a James Bond fan, so she had 
gotten stuck with a name she thought was rather goofy.  

     Still, she had gotten used to it, and it paid well.  She also agreed 
with many of the goals of Moon Hill Experiment House, which made putting 
up with the oddities easier.  She dropped the stack of reports on the 
Principal's desk.  "Here's the grade reports for the seniors to date this 
year.  It's too early to be sure, but it seems likely that the grade to 
violence ratio will remain within acceptable limits.  There is some worry 
that the acculturation experiments may have been too successful, however."

     "Hmm.  No results yet on the long-term projections?"

     "Given that we have no graduates yet to perform projections for..."

     "True.  Thank you very much, Miss Moneypenny.  I'll read these 
reports now."

     "Yes, sir."  She turned and left.  The principal sat back and 
punched his remote control.  The TV in the far wall turned on.  He 
flipped through "channels" viewing various portions of the school until 
the picture settled on a blonde girl.

     "Aino Minako.  There's something unusual about you...But why did 
they want me to keep an eye on you...What's your secret?"

      M sat back.  Somehow, he'd find out why his bosses thought she was 
important.  Information is power, and M liked power very much...


                                *   *   *

      Club day at Tsunami High, like at any other Japanese school, is 
an anarchic maze of club booths, shouting, people in silly costumes, 
pontificating, and fun.  Usagi and her friends roamed through the 
grounds of the school, looking for fun clubs to join.  In all the 
confusion, Rei found herself isolated from her friends.  

       I wonder if they have a Shinto club or some other sort of 
spiritual club.  I don't get to meet many people my age who really 
believe in the old ways, she thought.  Not who really believe, 
anyway.  Lots of people who are superstitious come to our temple, but 
not many true believers.  To her surprise, she heard a chant that she 
recognized from the temple cutting through the anarchy of the maze of 
clubs.  Ignoring the explosions from the Chemistry Club booth, she 
followed the sound to a TV set.  It sat in one booth, displaying an 
anime show where a shinto priest and his sister were fighting an army 
of evil spirits.  She looked up and saw the club name 
"Transdimensional Defense Force Club" neatly lettered on the club 
sign.  Several students and an old man she recognized as one of the science 
teachers, sat in the booth.  On a second glance, she recognized one of 
the students, Nonohara Himeko.  Himeko smiled at Rei.  "Hi!  Wanna join 
the Transdimensional Defense Club?  We could use a real Shinto Priestess."

      The short, nicely dressed boy to her left started.  "She's a real 
Shinto priestess?"

      The science teacher looked over at her.  "Hmm.  What temple are you 
from, girl?"

      Another boy said, "She doesn't look any more spiritual than my 
sister, the go-go dancer."

      Rei fumed.  Compare me toa GO-GO DANCER?  "I am a REAL Shinto 
priestess, little boy."

      Himeko nodded.  "She is!  Really!"

     At that moment, there was a loud boom four booths down.  The Occult 
Studies club members were diving for cover as their booth cracked open 
and a small red scaly horned and fanged beast, about four feet tall 
erupted out of it.

      The science teacher sighed.  "I told Yamamoto they were unsafe, but 
no, the man never listens to me."

      Rei spun around.  The rest of the Senshi were nowhere to be seen.  
What can I do without my powers, she thought.  I'd better...go find the 
others.

      Himeko said, "Go for it, Rei!  Show them what you've got!"

      The science teacher leaned over and ran a flag up the side of the 
booth.  The flag showed a white meteor on a black background.  Students were 
screaming and running for cover as the monster began trashing the Society 
for Profitable Anachronism booth, eating several of their wooden swords.  

      Rei nodded to Himeko.  I'd almost forgotten I still wield spiritual 
powers.  I lean on my Mars powers so much.  She charged the monster, 
pulling out a prayer strip and charging it with power.  Usagi and Naru 
ran up through the crowd just in time to see the strip strike the 
monster.  It howled and crumbled to dust.  Rei blinked.  It worked!

       The TDF club applauded.  "Great job, Rei!"  Himeko said.  

      Usagi said, "Wow!  You took care of it all by yourself!"

       Rei glared over at Usagi.  "Unlike some people, I don't have to 
always get saved by other people!"

       Usagi backed up.  "Rei, I was just trying to..."

       Rei pulled herself together.  "I'm sorry, Usagi.  You know the 
stress I'm under."

       Himeko and the science teacher came over to Rei.  "We could really 
use someone like you in the Transdimensional Defense Club!  You did a 
great job, Hino-san."  Himeko said.  

       "I...sure!  I'd love to!"  Rei said.  I wonder what exactly this 
club does, anyway, she thought.

                          *    *   *

      Izuko blinked as a high pitched whine finally cut through the 
sheath of boredom she was swaddled in.  The money...it was moving!  A man 
moved out the door of the Colonel Chicken, dressed in fairly nice 
clothing.  He had the money.  She started up the car engine.  The chase 
was on.  

                          *    *   *

      Hudson sat on the roof of a building with a telescope.  Through it, 
he watched a bunch of students taking what appeared to be a math class. 
Specifically, he was watching a blonde haired girl who was making him 
nervous.  He kept thinking he had seen her somewhere, somewhere something 
bad had happened.  Also, he wondered once more why Gemini-P wanted him to 
watch some stupid school girl.  Okay, she was kinda cute, but Hudson had 
had enough of high school the first time.  

     He opened another beer.  This was only a marginal improvement on 
watching Colonel Chicken.  At least something, however boring, was happening.
Now if she stripped naked or something...that would be an improvement.  
Not likely to happen here, though.  

                          *     *    *

    Izuko followed the man down the street.  Her heart sank as the man 
walked back into the bank.  He left, but the money didn't.  Izuko quietly 
banged her head against the dashboard over and over again.

                          *     *    *

    After school let out, Jill, Eustace, and Minako headed over to the 
bank together to get money for the double date that the three of them and 
Steven had planned for tomorrow night.

      They were blissfully unaware of the snoozing agent in the car 
across the street from them.  The lines were long, and there was another 
problem too.  Jill whispered to the others, "Don't look now, but there's 
a Brady watching the door."  It was Peter Brady.  

     Eustace said, "This could be trouble..."  Luckily for them, there 
wasn't any trouble, at least not until after they got their money.  
However, Peter Brady followed them out.

                            *       *       *

      Across the street, Izuko slept through the device starting to beep 
again.   However, she didn't sleep through Hudson shaking her.  "Wake 
up!  The money is leaving.  I think that Minako kid or one of her friends 
has it."

     Izuko was rather embarrassed.  Either I'm picking up his bad habits 
or this job is so boring, my brain is dying.  "Right.  Follow them."

     A little observation soon showed them that some other kid was 
following their targets.  Izuko drove while Hudson tried to fine tune the 
scanner.  "I still can't tell which one of them has it.  If we're lucky 
it's the Minako girl and we won't have to split up anymore."

     "So who's the kid following them?"

     "Some punk from her school.  Crazy place.  I kinda like it.  I think 
he's in some gang she and her friends angered."

     They followed the students for a while, until finally, Minako parted 
from the two others, getting on a bus.  The money detector said she had 
it, so they followed her.

                            *     *    *

      Minako went home, blissfully unaware she was being followed.  She 
went inside and called up Steven on the phone.  The phone was answered by 
Hiromi, one of the two younger daughters of the family he was staying 
with.  "Hello, Kasuga household."

      "Hi, is Steven there?"

      "I think he went over to the Sunshine Cafe with Kyousuke.  They were 
supposed to meet somebody there or something."

      "Can you give me directions?"  Minako asked.

      "Our brother isn't in trouble again, is he?"

      "I just need to talk to Steven."

      "Oh, you're Minako?"

      "Yeah!  Does he talk about me a lot?"

      "You must be the one Polly badmouths all the time...Uh, I mean..."

      Minako felt a growing surge of anger.  "What, Polly has been over 
there?"

      "Ummm...."

      Minako hung up.  Time to go find Steven and see exactly WHAT was 
going on.

                             *    *   *

    Steven sat nervously in the Sunshine Cafe.  He had the vague feeling 
he'd forgotten to do something important, but wasn't sure what it was.  
He had originally planned to try eating at this nice place called the 
ABCB that Kyousuke, the eldest child of the family he was staying with, 
hung out at all the time, but for some reason, Kyousuke had insisted on 
eating elsewhere.  Maybe his girlfriend, Hikaru, didn't like the place or 
something.  

      While Steven liked Hikaru, he wished she hadn't come;  it made this 
dinner with Polly feel a little too much like a double date.  Steven had 
broken up with Polly a while back, and he wanted to keep it that way.  
Not that Polly wasn't a nice girl, but she was too wrapped up in herself, 
and her brother was a complete jerk.  Polly expected his complete 
attention, but usually didn't do the same for him when they had been 
dating.  His parents had liked her, but he suspected that was because 
Polly and her brother were rich.  Very rich.  

      "So you're an old friend of Steven's from Britain?"  Hikaru asked.

      "Yes, I am,"  Polly replied in perfect Japanese.  Steven was 
impressed.  He'd always thought Polly was too lazy and scatterbrained to 
ever learn a foreign language.  Obviously, he was wrong.  This bothered 
him a little, since he was virtually never wrong in his character 
assessments.  It was part of his knack.  Yet, even with his knack, people 
still surprised him occassionally.  Indeed, something had changed since 
he last saw her.  He wasn't sure what, but she seemed different.  Well, 
people do change...

     "So how long have you and Kasuga-kun been dating?"  Polly asked 
Hikaru.  Kyousuke blushed faintly.  He always seemed vaguely embarrassed 
when he was with his girlfriend.  Steven wasn't sure why, but he 
suspected something funny was up.  

     "Ever since he kissed me in the gymnasium!"  Hikaru announced.  
Kyousuke buried his face in his hands and blushed more.  Steven laughed.  
Kyousuke always did that everytime anyone asked that question.  Polly 
smiled.  It was at that point that their dinner was disrupted...

                             *    *   *

      Minako stormed into the Sunshine Cafe.  A quick look around and she 
spotted Steven, sitting with Polly and some people she didn't recognize.  
She crossed the room, almost leaving a wake of flame.  The other girl at 
the table looked up and said, "Hey, Steven, someone's about to jump you 
from behind, it looks like."

     Steven turned around and saw Minako.  True panic flared in his 
eyes.  I knew I forgot something, he thought.  "Hi, Minako.  Everyone, 
this is my girlfriend, Aino Minako.  Minako, you know Polly.  This is 
Kasuga Kyousuke.  I live with him, and this is his girlfriend, Hikaru."

     Hikaru smiled.  "Hi!  Nice to meet you!  Steven's told us a lot of 
wonderful things about you!"

     Polly glared at Minako like she was some sort of evil fungal 
infection.  Minako returned the glare.  Everyone sat silently for a few 
seconds as they stared.  Minako said, "Sorry, folks, but Steven has a 
prior engagement, he seems to have FORGOTTEN."  She grabbed his shoulder 
and lifted him out of the chair, setting him on his feet.  "Nice to meet 
you, perhaps we can talk some other time."  She marched him out of the 
cafe as Polly made impotent noises at her.

     "WHAT do you think you're doing?"  Minako almost shouted.

     "Umm...eating dinner at the cafe with some people?"

      "One of those PEOPLE is a MINION OF EVIL!"  Minako said.  "She's a 
rat in the wall, a cat without a hat, a fistful of dollars, uh...trouble!"

      "She's not that bad, Minako.  I can't help it if she rubs you 
wrong."

      Minako fumed.  How could he take this so lightly?  "Why didn't you 
tell me you'd be eating dinner with HER?"

      "Because I knew you'd explode.  I don't want to be mean to her, 
Minako.  She's an old friend."  I also forgot to tell you, but I won't 
mention that, he thought.

      "And that had better be ALL she is,"  Minako said.

      Steven sighed.  "We haven't dated in a long time.  Her family 
didn't like me any more than you like her.  There's NOTHING between us 
now.  You're the one I care about."

      Minako sighed.  "I just...don't want to lose you any sooner than I 
have to...I mean..."

      "Than you have to?  You planning on dying or something some time soon?"

     "I'm not the one who might die...I mean..."  Minako wished she 
actually knew enough about the future to be sure one way or another what 
might eventually happen to Steven.

     "Am I in some kind of danger I don't know about?"

     "Well, not yet...I mean, it might be nothing...Umm..."

      "WHAT are you talking about, Minako?"  Now, Steven was worried.  
Had Rei had a vision of the future or something?

      "Nothing.  I'm just being silly.  Let's go get some food.  I'm hungry."

                           *       *      *

      Usagi, Mamoru, Minako, and Steven sat in the Hungry Hippo Cafe, 
busily eating dinner.  "So what do your parents think of you dating 
Mamoru, Usagi?"  Steven asked.  

      "Um...they...well, they...ummm...."  Usagi said.

      "They don't know."  Mamoru said.

      Steven blinked.  "They don't know?  I mean...how'd she get them to 
let her go to the Hot springs with you?"

      Usagi said, "Umm...I only had to lie a little..."

      "You really think they're not going to like him?  Or just think 
he's too old for you?"

      Minako said,  "Her dad would probably be happier if she didn't date 
until she was forty or so."

     Mamoru looked at his watch.  "Well, I have to go."  

     "Me too," Minako said.  Pretty soon, they all got up to pay 
their bills.  

                       *       *      *

      Izuko and Hudson kept an eye on the restaurant.  Luckily for 
their sanity, the money soon departed, now in the hands of either 
some goofy looking blond with twin pony-tails or her rather older 
looking boyfriend.  Hudson took over following the money while Izuko 
followed the girl.

                       *        *     *

      The next day at school, Minako raced into her first class with 
seconds to spare.  She plopped down in her seat and waited for 
Kotter-sensei to start blathering about government or whatever this 
stupid class was about.  She looked over at Jill and Eustace and was 
surprised to see they were rather worse off then when she had last 
seen them.  Jill had a black eye and Eustace had several bruises on 
his face.  They both looked rather uncomfortable.  She whispered to 
Jill, "What happened?"

     Jill wrote her a note, which said, "The Bradies got a hold of us 
last night.  They...did a lot better this time."

     Minako turned and looked at one of the Bradies, who was seated 
in the back of the class.  Cindy sneered at her and thumbed her 
nose.  Quietly, Minako snapped a pencil in her hand and began 
thinking about getting revenge.

                         *      *     *

      Time marches on.  Elsewhere and elsewhen, Usagi, Ami, Rei, and Makoto 
were about to eat lunch.  Makoto had laid out enough food for two, which 
was good, since Usagi was about to eat half of it.  Rei had a hearty, but 
not huge, lunch, while Ami had the smallest lunch of all, especially since...

     "Hey, where'd my drink go?"  Ami said.  She looked over at Usagi, 
but Usagi didn't have it.  

     "Probably Usagi drank it for you,"  Rei said absent-mindedly.

     "I did not!"  Usagi said, all wounded innocence.  She wasn't lying 
either.  "Here's some money.  There's a soda machine over there."  She 
pointed.

      "Thanks, Usagi,"  Ami said.  She headed over and got a soda.  The 
quietly observing Hudson tried not to cry when he realized he was now 
going to have to watch a soda machine.

     
                            *        *      *

      "So what are you planning to do to the Bradies, Mina-chan?"  Steven 
asked Minako.  "And how can I help?"

      "I've got to do this myself.  Sailor Venus should be easily able 
to..."  Minako began.

      "Kill them all, maybe.  Isn't using your powers on these bozos 
overkill?  They're bullies, not monsters.  Heck, you could easily kill 
them by accident.  You can blow holes in walls and shatter solid objects 
with those attacks of yours...a human doesn't stand much of a chance."

      "But I can't fight all six of them by myself as just Minako!"

      "That's why you have to let us help you!  Besides, wouldn't they 
wonder why Sailor Venus was beating them up?  That could lead to trouble..."

      Minako sighed.  "I guess you're right.  I just wanted to put the 
fear of...well, the fear of ME into them."

      "Well, let's call the cavalry and try and come up with a plan."

                        *      *     *

      Izuko continued to spy on them.  Poor kid.  How she expected to get 
even with a gang of punks with just her and her boyfriend...Or why Pollux 
was wasting her and Hudson's time watching this kid was beyond her.  Once 
they go to sleep, I'm gonna have to bug their house...it would help if I 
could actually HEAR most of what they were saying.  

      She eyed the girl's boyfriend.  Kinda cute guy, for his age.  The 
realization struck her.  Pollux must be after this girl's boyfriend...I'm 
going to be ill.  All of my training being put to use helping someone 
steal someone's boyfriend...Sometimes I hate this job.

                        *      *      *

     Luckily for Hudson's sanity, around five o'clock, a man came and 
emptied the soda machine's money and refilled it's soda slots.  Hudson 
followed the man back to his place of work.  The money soon left that 
place, and went right back to the bank for the third time.  Hudson almost 
cried.

                        *      *      *

     Rei sat in front of the sacred flame, meditating.  Images flickered 
in her mind, in the flame.  A wedding in a great crystal cathedral with 
her presiding over it.  A woman with the symbol of Mars upon her brow, 
standing on the ramparts of a walled city, shouting defiance as a horde 
of mishapen horrors charged the walls, dying in gouts of flame, but 
still coming on.  A man bending to pick up a hundred yen coin and being 
missed by an assassin's bullet.  Her own election as Pope.  Cats and dogs 
raining down on Tokyo.  Rei sighed and tried to pull herself together.  
She was fantasizing instead of meditating.  Probably none of these 
visions were true.  That woman with the symbol of Mars didn't look 
anything like me, she thought.  What the heck was that, anyway...it 
looked like a scene from Army of Darkness.

      Her reverie was interrupted by the sound of footsteps.  "Yes, what 
is it, Yuuichiro?"  she asked.  Normally she would be irritated by him 
interrupting her meditation, but since her meditation wasn't going 
anywhere but mindless fantasy, she was grateful for the interruption.

     "Bzzzt.  Thank you for playing,"  was the reply.  "Better not take 
up prophesying who is going to enter the room for a living."  To her 
surprise, it was Steven Grant, Minako's boyfriend.  

     Rei smiled faintly.  "Here for a good luck charm to keep boys away 
from your girlfriend?"  she asked.  I wonder if Minako still has that 
thing pinned to her underwear, she thought.  

     Why is Rei trying so hard not to laugh?, Steven wondered.  "I was 
wondering if I could ask you a question..."

     "You can certainly ask, but I might not answer it."

     "Minako seems to be worried I might die...I was wondering if you had 
any idea why."

      Rei paused.  "Well, I haven't had any visions of your death if 
that's what you're asking a...oh."  The realization of what Minako must 
be thinking of struck her.

      "Oh?  Oh what?"

      "Well, you see we have some limited knowlege of what the future is 
going to be like."

       "Well, I know you see future events sometimes and you can do 
various spiritualism things..."

       "I mean, we've been to the future.  We've seen it."

       Steven blinked almost audibly.  "But you didn't see me there."

      "Well, our future selves were out of commission most of the time we 
were there, and a war was in progress...but I suspect she's worried about 
outliving you.  You see...we're still going to be alive in a thousand years."

      Steven blinked.  "Because of being Senshi?"

      "The Empyrian Crystal kept us alive.  Will keep us alive.  For over 
a thousand years...But we're not sure how many people it actually will 
support, you see..."  Rei wondered if she really ought to be telling him 
this, but then decided he had to know.  It was quite possible that one 
day he would die of old age while Minako was still young and fresh.  The 
senshi of the future seemed to have aged to full adulthood, but not much 
past that.

      "Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.  I was afraid I 
was supposed to die tomorrow or something and no one was willing to tell 
me..."

      Rei blinked.  He was just going to blow it off?  "I...We'd let you 
know.  You've really made Minako happy...She loves you very much, you know."

      "Yeah.  I don't know what I'm gonna do when I have to go."

      "Have to go?"

      Steven smiled.  "I am an exchange student, you know.  I won't be 
here forever.  I don't want to end my relationship with Minako when I 
leave...but long distance relationships are hard.  Especially at our 
age...I mean, we're both pretty young."  He sighed. 

      Rei shook her head.  It was odd how people would creep into your 
life, and then you'd never expect them to leave.  She'd gotten used to 
having him around, obnoxiousness and all.  What Minako saw in him, she 
wasn't entirely sure, but somehow, she'd never really expected him to go 
away eventually.  Like her sailor friends, he'd become a part of her 
life, if only in a small way.  It was like chatting with an old friend, 
then having them suddenly announce they're going to die in a few months.  
"Well, you can cross that bridge when you come to it.  I'm not exactly a 
romantic advice expert."  Not with the way my romantic life has gone.  

                        *      *      *

      Naru and Usagi stood in line at the bank.  Naru needed some change and 
some money for her date with Umino tonight.  Maybe we'll run into Minako 
and Steven tonight, she thought.  I know they're going out with some 
friends of hers from her school.  Finally, she got to the teller, who 
looked sick.  

      "I need to withdraw 5000 yen, and a roll of 100 yen coins, 
please,"  Naru said.

      The teller nodded, handing her the roll.  She sneezed right as Naru 
started to take the roll and it came apart as her hand squeezed the 
poorly rolled coins.  They flew everywhere, into people's foreheads, down 
their clothing, and off the walls.  One coin bounced off Naru's 
forehead, slid down the inside of her shirt, down her leg, and across the 
floor, bumped into another woman's foot, then fell down a small 
airconditioning grate.  Naru leapt about, shrieking from surprise.  Half 
the occupants of the room were busily trying to get coins out of their 
clothing, including Usagi, who had three down her shirt.    

      Hudson straightened up as the machine started to flash.  "Princess 
located.  Coordinate lock in progress."  He picked up the machine.  
Suddenly, it reverted to "Tracer located at coordinates..."  He sighed.  
Stupid thing probably had a glitch.  Couldn't hurt to go look inside.

      He got up and headed into the bank, tossing the tracer in his 
carrybag.  Once inside, he looked around, assessing the crowd.  Two faces 
looked familiar.  A flash of memory struck him from New Years.  A memory 
of hoofbeats and a desperate battle in which his side had gotten crushed 
rather soundly.  A battle that had broken out after Capricorn had sent 
them to find out who had ruined his plans there....Hudson began to 
sweat.  This was not a good sign.  He looked around.   Where one senshi 
went, more were sure to follow...At least the other one isn't a threat, 
he thought.  I'd better go call for backup.  

     Naru spotted Hudson.  He looked familiar, but she couldn't quite 
remember where she had seen him before.  "Hey, Usagi, do we know that guy?"

     Usagi looked over at him.  "Hey, he's one of those thugs from the 
winter festival!"  She dug through her purse for her communicator.  
"Don't worry, Naru.  I'll make sure you're safe."

     Naru sighed.  "Okay.  You keep an eye on him, and I'll call the 
others with your communicator once we get outside."

     "Hey, if we just go in the ladies' room, he can't follow us there."

     "Good idea!"  They retreated into the ladies' room and started 
making a few calls.

      Hudson headed outside to make a few calls himself.

                           *     *    *

     "Ready to go, Mina-chan?"  Steven asked.  They had both dressed up 
for tonight's date.  

     "I think so."  Minako's communicator began to beep.  Minako sighed 
and turned it on.  Usagi's face appeared.  "What is it, Usagi?  We're 
about to go out."

     "One of those guys who tried to beat us up at the New Years' 
festival is here.  I think he's looking for us.  You'd better get over here."

     Minako pulled her hair irritably.  "Are you SURE?"

     "Yes, I'm sure!  C'mon, Minako.  We can't stay in the bathroom forever!"

     She sighed and turned to Steven.  "Tell Jill and Eustace I'm gonna 
be late.  I'll catch up with you as soon as I can..."

     He nodded.  "A Senshi's work is never done, eh?"

     "Don't I know it..."

                   *              *          *

      Hudson retreated to the car to wait for Izuko.  Meanwhile, Izuko 
abandoned her spy post to head for the bank.  Suddenly, a realization 
struck her.  She knew that girl!  That was one of the girls who had been 
around before the Sailor Senshi showed up at...That girl WAS one of the 
Sailor Senshi.  No wonder Pollux had us watching her...Izuko tried not to 
feel too stupid.

                   *              *          *

      Hudson called for backup.  "The princess is somewhere in the 
building, I think.  Maybe I've even pinpointed who it is..."

      Taurus smiled.  "Very good.  What level of backup will you require?"

      "I think they called for backup...Throw everything you can find at 
the building.  Ordinary humans won't cut it.  We wouldn't last five 
seconds against one Senshi, let alone all of them."

      "They're not that powerful, Hudson.  All of them together were 
unable to stop Aries from snuffing the power of one of them and then 
leaving.  Hmmm, have you seen any sign of the White Knight?"

      "Not yet.  God, I hope he doesn't show up...If they find me...he 
finds me..."  Hudson's voice was tinged with incipient hysteria.  "I want 
to live!  Oh God..."

      Taurus sighed.  He hadn't realized Hudson's fear of the Senshi was 
this strong.  "Just keep your signal going.  I will bring them myself."

                      *            *            *

      A dark and gloomy place, beyond this world.  Two beings stand and 
watch a glowing image of Tokyo.  Tiny pips of light move across its 
surface, converging on two lights that do not move perceptibly.  

      [PERHAPS MY ENEMIES WILL DO MY WORK FOR ME,]  the first one said.  
[I WOULD PREFER TO GET MY REVENGE MYSELF, BUT I WILL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET.]

      "And perhaps the deceased Queen will drop in for cookies and tea,"  
the second said.  "Taurus relies too much on money and tools.  They work 
for most things, but they are of little use in dealing with the Senshi."  
He paused and stared at the other being for a moment.  "Not that your 
methods worked any better either."

      [OR YOURS.]  The first being smiled.  [AS FOR THE FUTURE, WE SHALL 
SEE...NOT EVERYTHING IS RULED BY THE STARS.]

      The second being smiled.  "More than you'll ever understand..."

                        *           *        *

      Minako spotted Hudson and Izuko outside the bank, watching a group 
of men in security company uniforms walk into the bank.  They look 
familiar, she thought, then noticed Hudson was looking rather spastic and 
recognized him.  That's one of those guys from the carnival...Time for 
Sailor Venus to make the scene, she thought.

      She ducked down a side alleyway and pulled out her transformation 
pen, a short rod tipped with a golden star marked with the symbol of 
Venus, her planet.  Raising to the sky, she shouted out, "Venus Star 
Power, MAKE UP!"  A ribbon of hearts erupted from the tip and twirled 
around her.  Her body tensed then relaxed as the power rushed through 
her, washing away her mortal identity and revealing her other self, 
Sailor Venus.   For a moment, her past, present, and future were one.  
Memories flitted through her mind...  

                        *         *       *

     Inanna had secreted herself in one of her favorite listening posts.  
One of the rooms above the ballroom had a hole in the floor, and sound 
from all over the ballroom would filter up through it.  Also, you can 
peek down and see most of the ballroom without being seen.  She was the 
only person in the house who knew about it.  Right now, she was trying to 
spot the Duke, so she could try to warn him.  

       "Come on, we've got to get you to the Moon Kingdom alive...Luna 
will chew me up and spit me out if this doesn't go well.  Just tell your 
parents and they can take care of this."  Artemis said.  You're not ready 
to deal with this, he thought.  Not without any training.

      "Trust me.  I know what I'm doing.  I've been spying on family 
affairs for years now."

      Voices drifted up from the room below.  A jumble of words, but she 
clearly heard "Senshi Venus" and "trouble."  Looking down, she saw the 
two Elves talking to the Count.  She also finally spotted the Duke.  
"Right.  Artemis, you go warn the Duke.  I'll keep an eye out for trouble."

      "Me warn the Duke?"  Maybe he's forgotten about me after all these 
years...Well, a cat can dream, Artemis thought.

      "Yeah, you!  You're a big-shot from the Moon!  I'm just a human.  
He'd probably think I'm playing games with him or something..."  Like 
when I was ten and told the Marquis of Elderberry that an army of dwarves 
was about to invade his lands...Oh my bottom hurt for a month.

      "Right..."

                        *         *       *


      Sailor Venus leaped to the rooftop, then jumped from building to 
building, finally landing on the bank roof.  Few people ever think to 
look up, she had learned long ago.  With her supernatural agility, 
speed, and strength, travelling by rooftop came easily to her.  Too bad 
Artemis isn't here, she thought.  I could send him to scout down below.  
Well, I'll just have to improvise...

                        *         *       *

      Usagi and Naru could hear people stomping about in the lobby.  Naru 
said, "Do you think the White Knight will come?"

      "I don't know...we don't even know who he is,"  Usagi said.  "Rei 
tried another fire reading, and couldn't learn anything about him.  It's 
like he doesn't even exist..."

      "But he's real!  We've seen him!"  Naru said.

      The sounds of people being hustled out of the bank filtered through 
the wall.  "Where's everyone going?"  Usagi wondered.

      "They must be getting ready to come looking for us...Who are these 
people?"  Naru asked nervously.

      "Yakuza maybe?  Or they might work for that Aries guy...Or some 
friend of his."

       Naru stared at herself and Usagi in the mirror.  There was a clock 
up on the wall, also reflected in the mirror.  The image of the clock 
changed and it became a wheel with twelve divisions, each with a name in 
it.  After Aries came..."Taurus.  This is the period of Taurus we're in.  
And ...Taurus is the money sign.  Bankers, financers, real estate 
salesmen...I think we've been lured into a trap, Usagi."  Naru's voice 
shook with barely controlled fear.  "They're ushering all the people out 
so they can get rid of us with no witnesses."  Her hands quivered.  
"You'd better transform...maybe you can get us out of here."

      Usagi nodded.  "I won't let them hurt you, Naru.  I don't know why 
they're after me, but I won't let you get hurt because of it.  MOON 
COSMIC POWER, MAKE UP!"  Naru watched Usagi transform into Sailor Moon.  
She had known Usagi's secret for months now, but it was still a marvel to 
see her friend become Sailor Moon.  I just wish I didn't have to be such 
a deadweight in situations like these.  She sighed.  I've learned a 
little fighting from Makoto, but not enough for this...

      A fist banged on the door.  "Come out.  We know you're there.  
Surrender and you won't be harmed."

      Naru barely supressed her instinct to scream.  The fear that 
oppressed her so often came down full force, but she fought back and only 
shook a little.  

      Sailor Moon pulled out the Spiral Heart Moon Rod.  "Go away!  I am the 
Lovely Soldier Sailor Moon!  I fight for Love and Justice!  All we've 
done is to try and make a withdrawal so we could go on dates tonight!  
Now you want to ruin all that!  In the name of the moon, I will PUNISH 
YOU!"

      For a moment, there was silence.  "Yeah, anyone could say that.  
Prove it,"  someone said from beyond the door.

      Sailor Moon pulled the door open and was confronted by a dozen 
rifles levelled at her head.  "Let's see you punish this,"  one of the 
men said.  

      Naru decided this was an appropriate time to scream.

                           *      *    *

     The lobby of the bank was empty of people.  The employees had been 
evacuated.  A man stood in the middle, a huge fellow who looked like a 
slightly thinned down Sumo in a suit.  Hudson and Izuko stood next to him 
nervously as the men escorted Sailor Moon and Naru over to him.  

      Taurus smiled.  "So, you are Sailor Moon.  And who is your little 
friend?"

      "Kyoto Akemi,"  Sailor Moon lied.  "She's just an innocent 
bystander.  Let her go!"

      "You're in no position to make demands, Miss Moon."  Taurus said.  
He pulled out a coin.  "Take this."

      Hudson stared at Naru for a moment.  "Well, she's not a Senshi, but 
she was with them before."

      Naru stared at him.  "You were working for Capricorn, weren't you?"

      He blinked.  "How'd you know that?"

      She turned to Taurus.  "And you're Taurus.  There must be twelve of 
you...One for each sign."

      "Very good.  Been studying astrology, have you?"

      "Yes."

      Taurus eyed her.  Could she be the one?  Yet...she had no power, or 
surely she would have tried to use it by now.  Moon, on the other hand, 
practically radiated power.  Perhaps I should have taken Hudson's ravings 
more seriously.  Even the slightest mistake, and this situation could go 
horribly wrong.   "Take this coin, Miss Moon."  He held out his hand 
towards her.

      "What's it going to do to me?"

      "Tell me if you're who I'm looking for.  If you aren't....you're 
free to go.  I have no desire to fight you unless you are who I seek."

      "Why are you looking for the Princess?"  Sailor Moon said, eyeing 
the coin.

      "She possesses power stolen from us, its rightful wielders.  We 
intend to reclaim that power.  There are dangers beyond your 
comprehension, dangers that only we can face.  We need the power she 
posseses.  Now, take this coin."  He put the power into his voice and 
smiled as Sailor Moon reached out to take the coin.  Whether it was the 
power of his Sign, or simply her own choice, the test was about to come 
to completion.  

      "Oh crap, it's HIM!"  Hudson shouted, running for the exit.  Taurus 
spun around and saw the White Knight charging across the lobby.  
Something flashed from his hand, striking Taurus's hand.  While Taurus 
remained unhurt, the coin melted to slag.  

      "Fire, you idiots, fire!"  Taurus shouted.  The men turned and 
fired on the White Knight.  The bullets bounced off his armor.  Taurus 
paled slightly and moved directly into the line of the knight's charge.  
The horse crashed into him...and stopped.  The White Knight flew off the 
top of the horse in mid sword swing and flew halfway across the room.  
The horse collapsed, its legs injured.  Taurus turned, unhurt.  "You're 
not the only person here who is hard to hurt.  I have the power of the 
Earth, and I cannot be moved against my will.  So, who are you?  You have 
been believed long dead."

      "While the Royal line lives, I ever return.  I am the White Knight, 
and I shall not let the Princess come to harm."  Taurus and the White 
Knight stared at each other for a few moments.

      The silence was broken by Sailor Moon, who grabbed Naru and leaped 
past the armed men while they were distracted, sprinting for the door.  
Several of the men turned and fired, but she dodged the hail of bullets 
and leaped out into the street.   The men chased after her as Taurus and 
the White Knight went at it, fist against sword.

      Five of the men sprinted out into the street, only to see their 
quarry had vanished.  "Hey, where'd they go?"

      A voice cried out from above them, "Crescent Beam Shower", and beams 
struck down from above, frying their guns to charred bits of metal.  They 
looked up and saw Sailor Venus.  "To quote another gun-wielding nut like 
you, 'just ask yourself, do you smell lucky?'"  

      They didn't.  They turned and ran inside with Sailor Venus in hot 
pursuit, even the one who paused long enough to say, "That's FEEL LUCKY, 
not SMELL LUCKY!"  Across the street, Sailor Moon put Naru down on the 
roof of the insurance company across the street.  "You should be safe here."

      "You've got to save the White Knight!  Taurus looks really tough!  
He doesn't have a chance!"

      "Don't worry.  Sailor Venus and I will take him down for the count."

     "Get him out of the bank!  He's probably stronger there...Taurus is 
the money sign...They like banks and stuff.  And they're really stubborn, 
for what that's worth."

      "Anything they're afraid of?"

      "Umm...financial ruin?"

      "Uh, right.  Just stay here."  Sailor Moon bounded off while Naru 
sat and chewed her fingernails nervously.

      By the time Sailor Moon returned, there were unconscious goons 
strewn about the lobby of the bank.  A mob was gathering outside, looking 
in.  Taurus and the White Knight were going at it, but Taurus clearly had 
the upper hand.  The White Knight's armor had multiple dents, while 
Taurus simply had a few rips in his clothing.  Sailor Venus downed the 
last gun-weilding goon as Sailor Moon entered.  

      "Time for a little tag-teaming, ne, Moon?"  Venus said.

      "All right, Taurus!  This is your last chance to surrender!"  Moon 
said.

      "Take a number,"  Taurus said.  "I'll be with you in a minute."

      "I don't like being ignored!"  Sailor Moon shouted.  "Sailor Moon 
KICK!"  She did a flying leap at Taurus, and bounced off him like a 
pinball off a bumper.  "Hey!"

      Sailor Venus moved in and unleashed a flurry of blows at Taurus.  I 
can't just blast him, she thought.  I might hurt the White Knight.  
Taurus didn't even seem to notice her attacks.  What is making him so 
tough, she wondered.  He doesn't even budge when I hit him.

      Sailor Moon joined in, but Taurus seemed largely oblivious to their 
blows.  Finally, Venus said, "Everyone get back!"

      Moon blinked, but leaped away, and the White Knight tried to 
disengage.  Unfortunately, Taurus simply pressed his advantage, 
continuing to methodically rain blows on the White Knight.  Venus stared 
at Taurus for a moment, then got an idea.  She leaped onto his back, 
wrapped her legs around his chest and put her hands over his eyes.  

      Taurus started trying to peel her off of him.  "You WILL regret this."

     "Not as much as you.  Moon, blast the ground under him!"

     The White Knight sprinted back as Sailor Moon spun the Spiral Heart 
Moon Rod about and shouted, "Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"  Energy slammed 
into the ground, shattering the bank floor and sending Venus and Taurus flying 
into the air.  

     Sailor Venus leaped off of Taurus and shouted, "Now knock him out of 
the bank!"

     The White Knight swung his sword like a bat and hit Taurus in the 
air, flinging him through the front plate glass, which shattered like a 
scene from a cyberpunk story.  Taurus rose to his feet, only to be 
confronted by Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter.  "More Senshi," he said.

      "You've got a talent for stating the obvious, I suppose,"  Sailor 
Mercury said.  

      "Take him, Jupiter!"  Venus shouted as she, the White Knight and 
Sailor Moon charged out of the bank.  The watching mob scattered.

      Taurus sighed.  "I'm a busy man.  I'll have to pencil the rest of 
you in later.  I have better things to do than brawl endlessly."  He faded 
from sight in a pulse of green light.

      Jupiter pulled her ponytail in a fit of irritation.  "Another one!  
Why can't WE ever just fade away when we need to go somewhere?"

     "Hey, where is Naru, Moon?"  Sailor Mercury asked.  "Wasn't she with 
you?"

     "She's safe up on the roof,"  Venus said.  "I'll go get her."

     Sailor Moon turned to thank the White Knight for helping, but he was 
gone.  "Maybe if he ever sticks around some time, we could ask the White 
Knight how HE does it."

      Sailor Jupiter sprang up and got Naru off the roof.  "Well, now 
we've got more people to worry about..."

     "I've got to go...I've got a date..."  Venus said.

     "So do I,"  Sailor Moon said.  "Hmm, I'm surprised he isn't here by 
now."

      Tuxedo Kamen chose that moment to run up.  "That cross-town traffic 
is just AWFUL at this time of day..."

      Everyone laughed.

                         *         *        *

     Steven, Eustace, and Jill sat in the Shinjuku Cafe, continuing to 
munch on appetizers, waiting for Minako to show up.  "Where is she 
again?"  Eustace asked.

      "She had to...go to the bank and see some of her friends for some 
reason."  Steven felt proud of that statement.  It was all true, but 
deceptive just the same.  He didn't like lying to people, even for a good 
reason.  It wasn't fair, since almost no one could ever successfully lie 
to him.  

     Jill sighed.  "She can be such a flake sometimes...she really should 
have taken care of that in advance.  Doesn't this sort of thing drive you 
up the wall?"

      Just a little, he thought.  But I knew what I was getting into.  
"Not when she has good reason.  She usually does.  Anyway, you have to 
take the bad to get the good."

     "True,"  Eustace said.  "Jill's certainly taught me that."

     "And what is that supposed to mean?"  Jill said, frowning.

     "Temper, temper, Jill."  Eustace sighed.  Sometimes I just can't 
quite say the right thing.  "A feeble effort at humor."

     "I really, really hate waiting,"  Jill muttered.

     Her wait was over.  Minako ran in.  "Sorry about that.  Had some 
trouble with a bull..."

     "A bull?"  Jill asked.

     "Making a run on the market?"  Steven asked.

     Minako smiled.  "More like in a china shop...Anyway, I'm starving!  
Let's order some food!"

     Soon, the date was back underway.

                              *         *        *

     A space beyond space, though not beyond time.  Two beings still 
watch Tokyo.  [THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN.  THEY DO NOT TAKE THEIR ENEMIES 
SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.  THIS SORT OF KNIGHT ERRANTRY BEHAVIOR ALWAYS LEADS TO 
FAILURE.]

     "As if you did any different?"  the second one said.  

     [OR YOU?]

     "Touche," the second one said ruefully.  

                              *         *        *

     Ikuko staggered into her apartment and sighed.  Another mission shot 
to hell by the Senshi.  I hope I never see them again.  At least I don't 
have to put up with any more of Hudson.  No more Hudson.  No more...

     She suddenly realized her TV was on.  In fact, someone was watching 
it.  For a moment, she thought it was Hudson and prepared to kill him, 
then realized it was Pollux, instead.

     "Umm...hello?"

     Pollux turned around, looking cranky.  "Where have you been?"

     "On a mission for the Ascendant."

     Pollux stopped, her rant preempted.  "Hrmpyh.  Probably some stupid 
money thing."

     "You could say that."

     "So tell me about Aino Minako.  What have you learned?"

     "She's Sailor Venus for one thing."

      Pollux smiled grimly.  "Tell me more."

                              *         *        *

     It was late as Steven, Minako, Eustace, and Jill left the movie 
theatre.  "No Entrance" had been a very bizarre European art film.  
Minako still wasn't sure why they had let Eustace talk them into going to 
see it.  Steven had left to go to the lobby three times, probably in an 
effort to regain his sanity.  Well, he had said he had to call someone 
one of those times.

     Jill cocked her head.  "We're being watched..."

     Eustace sighed.  "Not again...If the Bradies try one more thing..."

     "We'll get them for what they did to you, I promise you that,"  
Minako said angrily.

     "I don't think so,"  Greg Brady said, stepping out of the darkness.  
The rest of the Bradies stepped out, as well as several other kids.  
"What happened earlier was just a preview."

     Minako stared at Greg Brady.  "Back off.  You don't want to make me 
any angrier than I already am."

     He spun his finger in a tight circle.  "Ooh, I'm living in fear."

     Minako looked around.  No cops in sight, the few people stupid 
enough to have attended the same movie they did had moved on, and they 
were surrounded.  Ten opponents, four of them.  Not good odds, unless she 
transformed, but that would blow her secret to way too many people.  Now 
what?   

      Only one option...run.  She hefted the rather surprised Steven over 
her shoulder and shouted, "Run!"  She took off running, along with 
Eustace and Jill.  They ran down the street, with the surprised Bradies 
in hot pursuit.

      It galled Minako to run from them, but there were simply too many 
to fight.  Revenge would come...Patience is a virtue, she thought.  Just 
a rather annoying one to have to practice...One of these days...we'll get 
even.

                              *         *        *

      Unobserved by Minako, Pollux stood on a nearby roof watching.  
"Hmm.  Should I let them beat her, or should I join the fun..."

     "You will not attack her,  Pollux.  Our powers do not exist so you 
can beat up your romantic rivals."  Castor frowned at her.  "We're 
supposed to be observing Hino Rei so that..."

     "Who cares about some dumb princess?  We've got all the power we'll 
ever need!  This, on the other hand, is important!"

     "To you."

     "To all of us!  Besides, she is one of the Sailors!  She's Sailor 
Venus."

     "This is supposed to surprise me?"

     Pollux blinked.  How did Castor ALWAYS find out about everything 
before she did?  "How did you...know?"

     "Maybe if you ever did anything yourself instead of making other 
people do it for you, you'd know!"

     "I am NOT lazy!"

     "You'd hire someone to breathe for you if your body didn't do it 
automatically!"

      The usual sister-brother brawl was about to begin.

                              *         *        *

      Feet slapping on pavement.  Faint cries echoing in the night.  The 
feeling of your heart pounding in your chest.  The mortification in the 
soul.  Dimly lit buildings in the darkness.  A faint mist as the rain 
starts to come.  These were the sensations of fleeing in the night.  
Minako past, Minako present, and Minako yet to come had known, knew, and 
would know these sensations.  They never got any easier to bear either...

                              *         *         *

       Inanna fled across the roofs of Tradetown.  Five Elves with 
crossbows were after her, and who knows how many other hirelings.  The 
Count had not been pleased with the thwarting of the assassination.  
"Okay, maybe I should have just told my parents,"  she said to Artemis.  
"I didn't realize the Count had this many men lurking about..."

     Artemis huffed and puffed.  Too much courtly food had gotten him out 
of shape since his youth in the Nekoron forest.  "Oh, NOW you decide to 
listen to your elders!"

      "Elders?  Cats are lucky to make it to my age!"  She leaped between 
roofs, briefly enjoying her enhanced agility before the necessity to 
dodge crossbow bolts reminded her it was the only thing keeping her alive 
right now.

       "I'm a faerie cat, you idiot!  Normal cats don't talk ya know!"

      "Good point."  Inanna looked around and veered left.  They were 
getting too close to the walls, and if they hit the walls, they'd run out 
of town and out of luck.  

      Artemis muttered something about wishing humans didn't talk, or at 
least thought before they spoke.

      "Can't you teach me something I can zap these people with?"

      "The Elder Venus will make me babysit her children again if I teach 
you anymore than I already have...She's supposed to be the one who 
initiates you.  Oh god, if that kid tries to swing me around by my tail 
again..."

      Inanna tried not to laugh.  She leaped over the elaborately 
decorated peak of the roof she was on, only to be confronted by a hooded 
figure, garbed in the robes of a magus of the Crystal Kingdom of Earth.  
Fear rushed through her.  She'd seen the things that the Magi could do...
Speed wouldn't save her either.  "Artemis!  See, I told you need to tell 
me how to..."

      The Magus laughed faintly, a feminine laugh, though deep.  She 
spoke with a husky voice.  "Artemis never was one to follow 
instructions.  Not correctly anyway."

       Artemis froze up in fear, hiding behind Inanna.  At this moment, 
the five crossbowmen reached the peak of the roof.  The Magus whispered a 
few words and beams of energy shot from her hands, destroying their 
crossbows.  A second whispered phrase and beams struck them, flinging 
them from the rooftops.  Inanna turned to run while the Magus was 
distracted.  Maybe if I can get out of sight...

      The Magus laughed.  "Artemis, am I going to have to chase down the 
person you were supposed to bring to me?  Perhaps Luna was right..."  She 
pulled back her hood, letting her long blonde hair spill out.  A tiara 
sat upon her forehead, similar to the one Inanna now wore.  "Greetings, 
Inanna.  I am the Elder Venus.  It is your destiny to one day take my place."

      "Please tell me you won't tell Luna about this,"  Artemis said.

      "Tell Luna?  I'll be too busy telling Apollo you want to play with 
him."

      Artemis began to cry.

                    *         *           *

      Minako and her friends ran down the street.  The Bradies and 
friends just kept coming.  She began to wonder if the sun would come up 
before they got away from them.  Rounding a corner, she spotted 
it...salvation.  A bus sat at the stop.  They ran faster, only to hear 
the bus engine begin to rev up.  Pushing themselves, they came even with 
the bus.  The bus driver didn't notice them.  The door was closing.  Jill 
managed to leap into the doorway, holding it open.  Eustace grabbed her 
hand and she helped pull him on board.  The bus driver started yelling 
about crazy kids and schedules to keep and how he wasn't gonna stop the 
bus for a bunch of young, crazy punks.  He sped up.  Minako turned to 
tell Steven to jump on board, only to have him suddenly heft her and toss 
her on board.  Eustace caught her.  She shouted, "Steven......" as the 
bus pulled ahead, leaving him behind.

       The Bradies frowned.  The people they had really been after had 
gotten away.  At least they'd have one of their enemies' friends to beat 
up...Minako watched in horror as Steven turned to face his pursuers.

      They closed in slowly.  Well, I didn't really want to go to school 
on Monday, anyway, Steven thought.  Good thing Kyosuke and Hikaru took 
that first aid course...looks like they'll get to practice on me.

      They got within ten feet of him, when the sound of a motor 
shattered the silence.  It was coming closer.  Everyone turned except 
Steven, who was already facing the right way.  He smiled.  Whaddya know, 
the cavalry actually made it.  "It's about time!"

       "Well, you're not exactly where you said you'd be, ya know!"  
replied the rider of the motorcycle that now leaped up onto the sidewalk 
and raced forward, scattering Bradies everywhere.  The rider pulled 
Steven up onto the bike and roared off down the road.  "So you decided to 
do the dumb macho thing and save your girlfriend while you face the 
danger alone?"

       "No point in both of us getting our asses kicked.  You'd do the 
same for someone you cared about, wouldn't you?"

      "Touche..."  Haruka said.  "I suppose I would."  I've done things a 
lot more dangerous than that...  She thumbed her nose at the Bradies.  
"Get a life, kiddies!"

       Steven began humming, "I get by with a little help from my 
friends," as they roared off in pursuit of the bus.

*************************************************************************

Minako says:

Minako:  [dressed in casual clothing]  Well, I learned today that the 
good thing about my school is we don't have to wear uniforms. 

Hotaru:  [at age 16]  Also, we learned that...

Minako:  Hey, you're a baby right now!

Hotaru:  This is reused footage of me from Sailor Moon S that has been 
redubbed.

Minako:  Oh.  

Master Pharoah Ninety:  Don't mind me.  I'm just making a pointless cameo 
to fill this episode out to the right length.

Minako:  [growls]  Biles!  GET OUT HERE!

[A door opens in nothing and Biles steps out, looking somewhat bedraggled.]

Biles:  Ehh?

Minako:  Why'd you put all this filler in MY Minako says?

[Scene cuts briefly to an office somewhere.]

Ensign Uraki:  These equations still aren't working.

[Scene cuts back]

Minako:  HEY!  That's not even the right series!

[Scene cut to Usagi in the control room, randomly flipping switches]

Usagi:  Steal my moralizing segment at the end of the show will 
they...I'll show them who's the star of THIS series!

[Cut to handlettered sign that says, "Umino says"]

Umino:  Due to technical difficulties, this week's so and so says has 
been cancelled.

[Sounds of much beating in the background and fade to black.]




                              *         *        *

Closing Credits:


     "My road leads me far away."

     We see Nephrite telling Juno that he must go soon for a great 
conflict is about to begin.
 
     "Though my heart tells me to stay,"

     We see Princess Serenity clinging to a worried looking Endymion.

     "When my duty calls, I must go"

     We see Pluto appearing in the midst of the ballroom at the Diamond Gala.

     "'Twixt worlds of fire and worlds of snow."

     We cut to a shot of the solar system, with the nine planets and the 
moon lined up from the Sun at the left to Pluto at the right, with the 
Senshi and Prince Endymion standing on their planets as shadowy figures.

     "The road I travel will be long"

     We see the White Knight galloping down a Tokyo street on horseback.

     "To set things right, to end the wrongs."

     We see Tuxedo Mask tossing a red rose into the barrel of a gun, 
which backfires and explodes.

     "But this message will I send," 

     We see Rei picking up a blue crystal, which starts to play back a 
message.

     "Wait for me at Journey's End."

     We see Naru waiting for someone outside a restaurant.

     "Do not forget the love we share"

     We see Princess Serenity and Endymion tearfully bidding each other 
farewell.

     "Though I must leave, my heart will stay."

     We see Naru crying as Nephrite dissolves away in her arms.

     "Do not think I ceased to care"

     We see Beryl implanting crystals in the foreheads of the four 
Guardians and cackling maniacally.

     "When my duty took me away."

     We see Steven waiting at a restaurant, then sighing as he checks his 
watch.
     
     "The road I travel will be long"

     We see the Sailors using the Sailor Teleport to travel to the ruins 
of the Moon Kingdom.

     "To set things right, to end the wrongs."
     
     We see Umino trying to fight a monster in "Tuxedo Umino Kamen" mode.

     "But this message will I send,"

     We see Luna trying to use a dial only phone.
 
     "Wait for me at Journey's End."

     We see Umino leap to his feet as Naru comes running up the sidewalk 
to him with Usagi and company.

     "I have only my heart to give"

     We see Haruka and Michiru sharing a quiet moment.

     "For my life is not my own."

     We see the baby Saturn in a crib.

     "It is for others that I must live"

     We see Pluto having a frustrating time trying to counsel a young girl.

     "But it is for you that I come home."

     We see Mamoru following a trail of smoke to Usagi in his kitchen.

     "The road I travel will be long"

     We see Capricorn vanishing through a portal.

     "To set things right, to end the wrongs."

     We see a chamber with stars for a ceiling and a horoscope on the 
floor.  A man stands in grey robes in the center and stares down at the 
horoscope.

     "But this message will I send," 

     We see Usagi listening to a message on the phone, her eyes getting big.

     "Wait for me at Journey's End."

     We see a closing tableux of the Sailors, Umino, Naru, Steven, Tuxedo 
Mask, and twelve shadowy figures standing on a Zodiac wheel.

Author's afterwords:

This episode is brought to you by the letter M, Pico, and Sam Houston 
State University :)

Enough said.

John Biles