The Eternal Lost Lurker (EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net)

Here we go again...

Ranma 1/2 property of Takahashi Rumiko, Weekly Shonen, Shoakukan, Kitty
Animation, VIZ Communications.
Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon property of Takeuchi Naoko, Kodansha Comics,
Toei Animation, and is mangled horribly by DIC and MixxZine.

Nibun no Senshi Sailormoon

(What has gone before: After the final battle with the Black Moon Family,
the peace was interrupted by a powerful new monster. The Senshi were not
able to defeat it, and Sailor Moon was critically injured. Unable to
continue to fight, she passes the Ginzuishou on to a new avatar: Saotome
Ranma, who somewhat hesitantly becomes Shin Sailormoon and destroys the
monster.)

Episode 2: The search for Shin Sailormoon! Nerima in danger?

   Ranma sighed as he relaxed in the bath. "Aww man, how am I gonna keep
*this* a secret?" he wondered aloud.
   A black piglet trotted into the bathroom, and hopped into the furo,
changing into Hibiki Ryouga. 
   "Hiya Ryouga," Ranma said.
   Ryouga fixed Ranma with a serious gaze. "Ranma. That...that wasn't you,
was it?" he asked shakily.
   Ranma blinked. "What're you talkin' about, P-chan?"
   Ryouga's eyes widened. "It...it WAS you, wasn't it?"
   Ranma sighed, and nodded. "Yeah."
   Ryouga paled. "How? Why?"
   "I was chosen," Ranma said, shrugging. "By Sailor Moon."
   "Sailor Moon's dead. No...YOU're Sailor Moon," Ryouga offered.
   Ranma shook his head. "She's alive. She used that crystal to talk to me,
and give me the powers. She's hurt bad, but she ain't dead." Ranma sighed,
and looked Ryouga in the eyes. "Ryouga. You gotta promise me, you won't let
anyone know about any of this. I'm trustin' you, man."
  There was a silence, then Ryouga asked, "Alright, I promise. So what're
you gonna do now?"
   Ranma shrugged. "I dunno. I think I gotta find the other Senshi. I mean,
I'm sure they all know each other, or somethin'."
   
   Swirling violet mists permeated the boundless plain. A tall woman, with
long, flowing green-black hair, observed something through a portal which
only she could see, and frowned.
   "That one will need guidance, if this threat is to be countered," she
observed.
   She pointed her staff at one area of her misty domain. A pale crescent
began to glow in the damp air. "Mistress," said a ghostly voice.
   "You are needed. The Princess has been injured, and has chosen a
powerful avatar to fight in her place. But, her avatar needs much
guidance."
   A sigh. "You are aware I have no body."
   A faint smile creased the dark woman's lips. "I know. But I've found a
suitable host for you already. Now, go!"
   The crescent oozed through the portal, and floated eerily towards
Nerima.

   "How is Usagi-chan doing?" Minako asked as the four Senshi took their
seats around the table at Hikawa Shrine.
   Ami sighed. "Not too well. She's stable, but she's also unconscious most
of the time. And even when she is awake, the painkillers make her
incoherent."
   Minako sighed. "I was afraid of that."   
   Rei frowned. "Poor Usagi." Then, clearing her throat, she said, "But, we
have another matter to discuss."
   Makoto nodded. "Yeah. We gotta find that new Sailor Moon, and fast!"
   Luna spoke up. "It's imperative that we locate her as quickly as
possible, before another attack."
   Rei sighed. "And we don't even know where to begin to look."
   "Not exactly," Ami said. She opened her computer and began typing
rapidly. "I can trace the energy signature of the Ginzuishou. It will at
least give us an idea of where to look."
   "Can you tell us who is carrying it?" Minako asked.
   Ami frowned. "I might be able to get a reading. It's not likely." 
   After a moment, her computer beeped an affirmative. "Alright...the
Ginzuishou's energy signature is coming from Nerima."
   Everyone blinked. "NERIMA!?"
   "Maybe she's just shopping or something there," Makoto suggested.
   "Or else she lives there, and that means we have to look for someone we
don't know in a part of the city we're totally unfamiliar with," Minako
grimaced.
   "Calm down, girls," Artemis said. "We can use the computer to guide us
to the Ginzuishou, like a homing beacon."
   Ami nodded. "Yes--" Suddenly, she frowned. "What's this?" She began
punching keys rapidly, brow furrowed.
   "What is it Ami?" Rei asked.
   "I've set the scan to detect four things: Silver Millenium energy
signatures such as the Ginzuishou, high concentrations of non-manufactured
energy sources, unusual magical signatures, and negative energy flow." She
frowned as she double-checked her readings. "This...this can't be right."
   "What is it, Ami-chan?" Minako asked.
   "Well, according to this, there are two energy signatures traceable to
the Silver Millenium. One is very intense and quite probably the
Ginzuishou. The other is...loosely concentrated, unstable, and in motion. I
can't get a physical lock on it."
   "Aside from those, I'm picking up two intense energy readings, several
less intense but still abnormally high ones, and three energy blocking
screens, all extending two meters around objects which are in motion. 
   "I'm also detecting no less than five magic signatures.
   "I'm picking up two negative energy patterns, not conforming to anything
displayed by any of our enemies, including the new threat. One is very
weak, and fluctuates rapidly. The other is intense, but seems to be
dormant."
   "And proximity scans..."
   Everyone looked a bit blank. Ami cleared her throat, and began again.
   "There are a lot of unusual energy readings coming out of Nerima. I've
got the Ginzuishou, something else related to the Moon Kingdom, a lot of
energy which seems to be coming from human beings, but is abnormally high,
and three of those readings are blocked out by some kind of energy
cloaking, then there are a number of small pockets of magic moving around,
as well as two sources of negative energy.
   "And the placement of these fields is strange as well. The two largest
concentrations of human energy are in close proximity to the Ginzuishou,
one directly on top of it. Also, two of the magical signatures overlap
those energy readings. The other Moon Kingdom energy signature is moving
towards the energy pattern which isn't directly in contact with the
crystal. Also, that same energy pattern is laced with traces of negative
energy, which flare and relax at irregular intervals."
   "What about the other negative reading, Ami?" Luna asked.
   "It's evil," she said. "But it's not something we've encountered, and it
doesn't seem to be doing anything. It's in direct proximity to one of the
masked energy signatures."
   "Okay," Makoto said, "So what you're saying is, you've got the crystal,
two really powerful people near it, something from the Moon Kingdom heading
for the one that doesn't have the crystal, and a sleeping demon?"
   "Basically," Ami said.
   Rei looked pensive. "Okay, so what do we do now?"
   They looked around at each other.
   "We take the train to Nerima," Minako said.
   The girls and cats left for the train station.

   {This is going to be a problem.}
   {No, my lord. I assure you. We can dispatch the new threat.}
   {Fool! If the other Senshi locate that new brat, they will gain new
powers--or had you forgotten?}
   {I had not forgotten, my lord.}
   {See to it you do not.}
   {If I may, my lord...we believe we can neutralize the Sailor Senshi
before they are able to reach the new Sailor Moon.}
   {See to it that you do, Apollo.}

   "Hi Ranchan!" Ukyou called as Ranma entered Ucchan's. "The usual?"
   Ranma nodded, smiling at the cheerful okonomiyaki chef. "Sure thing
Ucchan."
   "Comin' right up!" 
   Ranma and Ukyou chatted idly for a while as Ranma ate. His thoughts,
however, were not on the conversation. Ukyou picked up on this after a
while. "Ranchan? What's bothering you?"
   "Hmm? Oh...it's nothing. I just...got some stuff to think about."
   "Talk," Ukyou said, leaning on the counter. 
   Ranma sighed. "I can't, really, Ucchan. I wish I could, but...well,
hell, I don't even understand it myself. It's just something I can't
explain."
   Ukyou looked hurt, but said, "It's okay Ranchan. I understand."
Brightening, she said, "Hey, if you ever feel like talking about it, let me
know, okay?"
   Ranma smiled. "I sure will."
   Suddenly, Ukyou gasped. "Oh no..."
   "What's wrong, Ucchan?" Ranma asked. 
   Ukyou raised a trembling hand to point outside.
   On the street, in view of the restaurant, something that looked like a
cross between a kobold and a squid, but three meters tall, was sending
people into a panic.
   "KUSO!" Ranma shouted. "Ucchan, I gotta run."
   "You're not gonna fight it are you, Ranchan?"
   Ranma grinned. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." More seriously, he
said, "You'd best stay in here, where it's safe." With that, he rushed out
of Ucchan's, stopping to snag a glass of ice water off a table on the way.
   Ukyou stared after him, worried, and slightly puzzled by his behavior.

   "Guys, heads up. I've spotted a monster." Ami stared at her computer
readout.
   "Yeah? Well a monster spotted us!" Makoto said, pointing. Ami looked up,
and gasped.
   "Man, that thing's even uglier than the last one," Minako commented.
   The monster swung a tentacle at them, and they all dived for cover in an
alley across the street from an okonomiyaki-ya.
   "Minna, henshin yo!" Minako said. They all raised their henshin sticks.
   "Mercury Star Power, Make-Up!"
   "Mars Star Power, Make-Up!"
   "Jupiter Star Power, Make-Up!"
   "Venus Star Power, Make-Up!"

   Ranma blinked. They were in the same alley as she was! She hadn't gotten
a good look at them before they transformed though...but it didn't much
matter anymore. Grinning, Ranma took the brooch in hand.
   "Moon...Crystal...Power..."

   "Make-Up!"
   The four Senshi whirled, in surprise, as the voice called out the
familiar transformation phrase behind them. They gasped in surprise.
   The redheaded Sailor Senshi grinned at them. "Hi," she said.
   Just then, Luna and Artemis ducked into the alley. "Senshi! Get out
there quickly!"
   Shin Sailormoon shrieked. "C--c---c----cats!"
   "Yes, we know, seeing talking cats is a surprise," Venus said drolly.
   "Uhh...you guys...what's wrong with her?"
   "C---c---c---c--c-----c----CATS!" Shin Sailormoon trembled in absolute
terror.
   "Luna! Artemis! HIDE!" Mars hissed.
   The cats made themselves scarce, and Shin Sailormoon calmed down.
   "What's with you?" Jupiter asked sharply.
   "Nevermind that now! We gotta stop that monster!" the calm Shin
Sailormoon said.
   The five Senshi darted out of the alley.
   "So what's the plan?" Mars asked.
   "Good question. Let's ask the new girl," Jupiter suggested. They all
turned to look at Shin Sailormoon.
   She looked at the monster, and grimaced. "Ugh...that thing's ugly enough
to make shit look pretty."
   "Yeah, it's ugly, and it's evil. So what do we do about it?"
   "Hmm...Aha! Venus," she said, "You do that chain thing, right?"
   Venus nodded. 
   "Okay...I'm gonna run out there. When I get close enough to it, use your
chain."
   Venus looked doubtful. "You sure about that?"
   Shin Sailormoon grinned. "Trust me." And with that, she ran straight at
the monster, shouting "Hey you big ugly asshole! Look at me!"
   "She's insane," Mars commented.
   "I dunno...I kinda like her attitude," Jupiter said.
   "Well...we should trust her. She seems to know what she's doing,"
Mercury said.
   "Okay...VENUS LOVE-ME CHAIN!"

   As Venus's glowing chain approached, Shin Sailormoon ducked a tentacle,
and grabbed it out of the air. "Okay, let's see how you like this," she
said. "Tenshin Amaguriken Entangle!" Her hands blurred into motion,
weilding the glowing chain. Within seconds, the monster's tentacles were
hopelessly tangled up in Venus' heart chain. Shin Sailormoon leapt nimbly
to the side as it kicked at her, and fell flat on its back.
   The other Senshi gasped.
   "Wow," Jupiter commented.
   Shin Sailormoon charged her chi, with the glowing crescent moon forming
in the center of her blast. "MOUKOU TSUKITAKABISHA!"
   The crescent-shaped energy blast obliterated the monster, and Shin
Sailormoon struck a triumphant pose.
   The other Senshi gathered around her, applauding.
   "Great work, Shin Sailormoon!" Jupiter said. 
   "Hell, I couldn't have done it without Venus' chain," she said. "I
figured if I didn't take out those tentacles there'd be no way I'd have
gotten a chance to blast it."
   After a moment of celebration, Mercury became serious. "Shin Sailormoon,
there are a lot of questions we need answered."
   The others nodded, and Mars piped in, "Beginning with who you are."
   Shin Sailormoon hesitated, then sighed. "Okay, you got a right to know.
C'mon, follow me." She leapt to a nearby rooftop and waited. The others
shrugged, and, thankful for their Senshi abilities, leapt after her.

   To be continued...