TRIO:
				FIRST DATE:
		   THE BATTLE WITH JUGGERNAUT AND THE FLU!

	On the dark side of the moon, the remains of a hidden palace, left 
in peace for centuries rested in the soft, pale starlight of the 
galaxy.

	Suddenly, the ground began to shake as an object started to pass by 
overhead.  Rubble that had been near the falling point, finally fell 
as the size of whatever the object was, was massive enough to send 
tremors throughout the entire surface moon.

	The objects long shadow blotted out the palace and its surroundings 
into an even deeper and more chilling darkness, as it journied closer 
to its goal.

	The planet Earth.

	In Central Park....

	Ranma smiled as he looked down at Usagi, who was resting her head on 
his shoulder and whos arm was firmly entwined with his as they walked 
through the park.  "Ranma," Usagi said, "I'm so happy you finally 
asked me out."

	"Usagi... I... have to tell you something" Ranma said as the two of 
them stopped walking, "I love you.  You're the only girl I could ever 
love and I want you to know that I hope, someday, we can spend the 
rest of our lives together."

	Usagi's eyes filled up with tears, making her eyes shimmer as she 
looked up at him.  "Ran...ma, I..." Usagi wiped her eyes, "I... do 
too."

	Ranma pulled her up towards him and the two of them kissed.

	They were so engrossed in each other that they didn't notice the 
large, dark shadow of the object above them, slowly approaching.  
When the shadow finally enveloped them fully, they broke their 
embrace and looked up.  Their jaws dropped at the object as it rested 
overhead.

	It was a mallet.

	A giant, city smashing, wooden mallet.

	Ranma heard, as though it were the voice of an enraged God, 
"RAAANNNNMAAAA...." as the mallet reared back, "NOOOOOOOO," the 
mallet reached its apex and it rushed down towards him as the voice 
roared, "BAAAAAAAAAKAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

	Just before the mallet struck, Ranma awoke with a jolt.

	He groaned, "Not again.  I HATE that dream."

	With a sigh of acceptance, he got out of his bed, dressed only in 
boxers and a t-shirt.  He threw on a pair of pants and walked out 
into the hall.  After having dreams about Woe Bringer and several 
others like the one he had just had, except those had involved an 
umbrella, a mace and in one, a giant spatula, he knew that falling 
back to sleep wasn't going to happen right away.

	He walked down the stairs and made his way to the kitchen, where he 
opened the fridge and took out the carton of orange juice.  Opening 
the carton, he was in mid gulp as the lights flicked on and a sleepy 
Usagi entered the kitchen.

	However, it had taken Ranma a second to recognize that it was Usagi. 
 With her hair down and tangled from sleep, she looked like an 
entirely different person and those pink pajamas with the little 
white bunnies on them....

	Ranma snickered slightly at the sight before him.  Usagi looked at 
him and grumbled, "Wha's so f'ny?"

	Ranma replied, "Nothin', it's just that, I always thought those 
dumplings of yours were natural.  I mean, how long does it take you 
to get those things back up anyway?"

	"'Bout five minutes," Usagi yawned and then added, "... after twenty 
minutes of brushing.  Mind if I take some o' that?"

	"Sure," Ranma gave Usagi the carton and she too took a swig, "What 
are you up for?"

	"Had a weird dream.  Something about a prince and a Moon Kingdom.  
Don't remember much more then that.  You?"

	"Too weird to explain."

	"Ah."

	Usagi yawned again, stretched and stood.  She said, "I think I'm 
going to try to go back to sleep now.  'Night."

	As she was leaving, Ranma stopped her as he stuttered, "Usagi... 
tonight... do you think maybe... I mean... that is... I... you... we..
."

	Usagi, suddenly awake, grinned and asked, "Why Ranma Saotome, are 
you asking me out on a date?"

	"NO!" Ranma yelled before he realized what he'd said, "I mean... yes.
.. I mean... I don't know... I..."

	Usagi, as confused as Ranma at the sudden outburst asked, "Was that 
a yes or no?"

	Ranma sucked up all of his courage and said, "Yes."

	Usagis smile brightened and Ranma couldn't help but reflect on the 
first time he had told her he thought she had a cute smile.  She 
kissed him on the forehead and said, "I don't think I'll have trouble 
getting back to sleep now.  Good night."

	As Usagi left the room, Ranma muttered as he smiled, "Me neither."

	Late Afternoon, same day....

	"Ahh... Ahhh... AHHHH.... AHCHOOOOO!!!!"

	The thermometer that had been in Gohans mouth went flying and lodged 
itself into the wall on the far side of the room as Usagi and Ranma 
ducked.  He sniffed and sank lower into his bed sheets, the ice pack 
on top of his head shifting slightly at his movement.  He felt awful.


	His muscles ached, he felt like he was burning up one minute and 
freezing the next, his temples were pounding like jackhammers and the 
smallest movement made it seem as if the room was spinning.  He 
hadn't been sure, but before he had accidently turned the thermometer 
into a wall fixture, it had read at least 101.  "Great Sayaman," he 
thought, "brought low by a common flu germ."

	His two friends stood up again and Ranma went to pull out the 
thermometer out of the wall as Usagi readjusted the ice pack.  "Poor 
baby," she cooed as she also handed him a bowl of microwave chicken 
soup.

	Gohan grinned slightly as he replied, "Thanks 'Mom' but if you give 
me... ACHOO... one more bowl... HACK HACK... of that stuff... AH..
mmmh... caught that one, I'm going to start growing feathers."

	Ranma looked at the thermometer and intoned, "102.3 F."

	Gohan groaned and muttered, "Why me?"

	"I'll get a glass of water for you," Usagi said as she walked out of 
the bed room.

	Ranma looked down at his ailing friend and said, "I don't know if I 
should feel sorry for you or be angry at you."

	Gohan looked confused as he asked, "What do you mean by that?"

	"It's just... I FINALLY work up the guts to ask Usagi out and you 
DARE to get sick NOW?!" Ranma replied with a smile.

	"YOU WHAT?!" Gohan shouted as he sat up, and instantly regretted it 
as his equilibrium did the impression of a washing machine on spin 
cycle and his throat burned, "I mean, I knew you two hadn't been 
fighting as much but I never thought..."

	Ranma looked at Gohan incredulously as he asked, "You mean you never 
noticed?!"

	Gohan could only shake his head no as he started to cough.  "Man," 
Ranma thought, "Genius intilect but he can't see something THAT 
obvious?"

	As Usagi came back into the room with a glass of water, Gohan looked 
up at her and asked, "Did Ranma really ask you out?"

	Usagi, caught off guard by the sudden question, blushed as she 
stammered, "W-well... I... yes."

	"Wonders never cease," the sick Saya-jin thought to himself.

	Aloud, he said, "So where are you two going tonight?"

	"We can't go now!" Usagi objected, "You're sick, we just can't leave 
you alone."

	"In case you haven't noticed," Gohan said with a grin to take the 
sting out of his comment, "I'm not a little kid.  I can take care of 
myself.  I'll probably just be sleeping most of the night away and 
have ruined your evening for nothing.  So you two go ahead and have 
fun, don't let me be a spoil sport."

	"Well," Usagi replied in thought, "I don't know..."

	"Quit worrying so much," Ranma interjected, "he said he could take 
care of himself and... Gohan... you okay?"

	The reason for Ranmas comment had been that, Gohan had suddenly 
bolted straight up.  Then, without warning, he flew off for the 
bathroom and slammed the door behind him.  The others heard wet 
gurgling sounds emanate from inside for about a minute before the 
toilet flushed and Gohan slowly levitated back into his bed.  "See," 
he said, "if I can handle that, I'll be fine."

	"I guess so," Usagi replied as she sighed and Gohan fell asleep.

	The two of them quietly left the room and walked out into the living 
room.  They sat down on the couch and Usagi said, "There's a Teen 
Dance tonight at the Star Club.  How does that sound?"

	"'Teen Dance?'" Ranma replied with raised eyebrows, "Why do we have 
to go to something like that?"

	Usagi gave Ranma a look and Ranma sighed as he answered his own 
question.  The three of them, living alone, were still under 21, what 
a strange life.  "I guess," he said, "it's okay."

	"Okay," Usagi replied with a large smile, "I'm going to change.  You 
get ready too, 'kay?"

	As Usagi bolted upstairs and into her room, Ranma suddenly realized, 
"Wait a min... a CLUB!!!  That means... DANCING!  I can't dance!  Oh, 
god!  I'm gonna step on her feet and she's gonna hate me..."

	Then he shook his head as he thought, "She'll probably step on mine 
too.  She's clumsy enough."

	An hour later....

	Ranma sat on the couch again, waiting for Usagi to come out of the 
bathroom.  He distracted himself with a REALLY cruddy TV show about 
teenagers who went into computers as samurai or something like that 
and as he watched, he felt a feeling of smoldering rage, like the 
show was a desecration of something grand and noble.

	The bathroom door opened and Usagi, dressed in a purple, short 
sleeve shirt and a black mini skirt that was only slightly longer 
then her Senshi skirt.  She wore black high heels on her feet and 
Ranma noticed that she had on a slight amount of lipstick and eye 
liner.  Ranma managed a nervous grin and said, "You look... cute."

	Usagi gave him the once over and replied, "I guess you look good in 
anything.  Even those Chinese shirts of yours."

	Ranma had gone through his wardrobe and had decided on wearing his 
blue silk shirt with black pants.  He had taken a shower and also put 
on cologne.  However, he had been a bit liberal with it and the smell 
was slowly starting to overpower all other scents.  "Hey," he said 
defencivly, "I like 'em."

	"Where do you get those anyway?" Usagi asked as they walked out the 
door.

	Ranma shrugged and replied, "I went to China Town one day and I 
found a place that sold a whole bunch of these and I just felt the 
need to buy them."

	An hour later, at the Star Club....

	Ranma and Usagi walked into the club and looked around.  The Star 
Club was a place of light and noise as music that ranged from Rock N 
Roll to Heavy Metal blasted over the loud speakers and multi colored 
strobe lights flashed and winked.  The people all seemed to be 
enjoying themselves as they danced to the music, got drinks at the 
bar or simply enjoyed being in the company of others.

	"Do you... wanna... dance?" Ranma asked as he gulped.

	Usagi made a face as she listened to the music and she replied, "I 
don't know... it's kinda fast.  I think I'd like to try a slow dance 
when one comes on though."

	The two of them moved to a table, sat down and started to talk about 
nothing in particular, soon being joined by two other people who 
could not find another open table.

	Meanwhile, by the bar, the man with the shifty eyes took in the 
sights and thought, "Such a den of iniquity and sin.  These children 
must have the Devils taint removed from them.  What we shall do here 
tonight shall open the eyes of the world and be the first step to 
returning humanity to the loving embrace of God."

	The man talked to one of his partners and asked, "Are we ready?"

	"Yes," his companion replied.

	"And the... insurance?"

	"Waiting outside."

	"Good."

	Back at the table....

	"Really?" Ranma asked with an interested eye brow raised, "You're 
him?  The guy used in the video game?"

	"Yep," Ken Masters replied, "and this," he indicated the drop dead 
gorgeous blonde next to him, "is my fiance, Eliza."

	Ranma, for reasons unknown to him, flinched at the word "fiance", 
but said as he indicated Usagi, "And this is Usagi.  We're... errr... 
ahh" Ranma mentally cursed himself as he felt the blush rising to his 
cheeks.

	"We're on a date," Usagi finished for him as Ranma lowered his head.


	Ken laughed as he patted Ranma on the shoulder, "Well then my good 
man, you're lucky to have a cute little thing with you."

	Ken suddenly looked at Usagi and said, "You ARE pretty cute you know.
"

	Usagi blushed and tried to look away as Ken laid his blue eyes on 
her.  Eyes that were suddenly knocked down to the floor, along with 
the rest of him, as a giant mallet landed on the head of the Street 
Fighter.

	Usagi blinked several times as she watched Eliza pick up the mallet 
and put it away in a pocket that Usagi couldn't see.  "Sorry," the 
older blonde said, "he gets a little carried away at times and needs 
to be restrained."

	"It's okay," Usagi replied, "I'm flattered an older man thinks I'm 
good looking."

	Ranma spoke up, "HEY!  What about me?"

	Usagi turned to him and asked, "And do YOU think I'm good looking?"

	Ranma replied in a very small voice, "Well... yeah."

	Usagi grinned and then kissed him on the lips.  As the two of them 
continued the embrace, Eliza started to drag Ken away.  Ken wasn't 
particularly paying any attention as he was engrossed in watching the 
mini Ryu's spin around his head, performing Dragon Punches and crying 
in high pitched voices, "SHORYUKEN!  SHORYUKEN!  SHORYUKEN!"

	Suddenly, the music changed to "Kiss From A Rose" and Usagi jumped 
up and said, "Let's dance."

	Ranma didn't get a chance to answer as Usagi grabbed him by the arm 
and dragged him to the dance floor.  "Okay," Ranma said, "what do I 
do?"

	"Here," Usagi said as she directed Ranmas arms to the appropriate 
locations, "put your left arm around the back of my neck.  Not too 
tight now.  Now, put your right hand on my hip.  I said my HIP."

	"Oops," Ranma replied as he moved his hand over several inches, 
"Sorry."

	"Now, do you want to lead or should I?"

	"Lead?"

	"Like this.  Left, one two.  Back one tw.. OW!"

	"Sorry."

	"It's okay.  Now, right, one two.  Forward, one tw..."

	"OW!"

	"Sorry."

	The two of them continued to dance to the slow music, occasionally 
stepping on each others feet but still, content to be in each others 
company.  The song started winding up and Ranma looked down on Usagi, 
who had her eyes closed and was blushing ever so slightly.  Ranma 
thought, "I think I'LL kiss her this time."

	He lowered his head and put his lips to hers.

	Unfortunately....

	SPLASH!  "Oops.  Sorry pal."

	Usagi was in heaven.  True, both of them could use work on their 
dancing skills but she was happy just to be in Ranmas arms, she 
closed her eyes and let herself go with the music.  Then, she felt 
she was flying as Ranma kissed her and she enthusiastically returned 
the embrace.

	She opened her eyes and...

	The two of them jumped back as they realized what had happened.

	"No fair," Usagi moaned, "I was just really getting into it too."

	Ranma-chan looked around and whispered a small prayer of thanks that 
no one seemed to have noticed them.  Then she said as she tried to 
ring some of the soda out of her soaked shirt, "I'll get some hot 
water.  I'll be right back."

	I'll be waiting," Usagi replied with a wink.

	As Ranma-chan walked off, the man with the shifty eyes gave a final 
glance over the dance floor.  He growled when he had noticed the red 
headed girl and the blonde kissing in a way that they shouldn't have 
been.  This world had been so corrupted that those of the same sex 
could have intimate relationships without any one objecting, now was 
the time to strike.

	He gave the signal to his compatriots and in the span of forty 
seconds, twenty men with automatic rifles and Uzi machine guns had 
the people surrounded and all the exits blocked.

	The leader of the terrorist group removed the fedora hat on his head,
 reveling the cross shaped scars on both of his cheeks.  He walked 
towards the dance floor, where his men had gathered all the 
frightened patrons and made them sit down.  One of them said, "W..why 
are you doing this?  Who are you?"

	The leader smirked and for a second, due to a trick of the dance 
floors strobe lights, his eyes glowed green as he said, "Why you ask? 
 I'm here to help.

	"As to who I am," he said, "You may know me as Savior.  For I and my 
group, God's Heart, shall save this world from the sin that envelops 
it."

	Usagi panicked as she watched, why did this have to happen?  She 
looked around and noticed that there was a shadowy corner not too far 
from where she was.  "If I move carefully enough," she thought, "I 
might be able to make it there and transform to Sailor Moon without 
giving away my identity."

	Usagi started to crawl slowly for the corner.

	She was still two yards away when the rifle stock was smashed 
against the back of her head and her world exploded into stars before 
fading to darkness.

	Meanwhile...

	Gohan laid in bed as he suffered in silence.  He was still glad he 
had told Ranma and Usagi to go out.  This type of misery was one he 
didn't want to inflict on others.  He was glad however, that they had 
left the bed side radio on for him.  As he was listening to the music,
 he sat up as it suddenly stopped and the Disc Jockey came on.  "This 
just in," the DJ said, "Terrorist calling themselves 'God's Heart' 
have taken hostages at the Star Club in Manhattan.  They have 
threatened to kill the hostages if there is any police interference 
before they can do what they describe as 'a message to the world.'"

	"The Star Club?" Gohan thought, "Why does... oh man!  Ranma and 
Usagi!  I gotta help them."

	Gohan pulled himself out of bed and to his feet.  He staggered to 
the dresser where he had placed his ring and slowly slipped it on.  
"I'm feeling a little better," he thought as he pressed down on the 
jewel and let his costume wash over him, "I hope it's enough."

	Great Sayaman opened his bed room window and flew out into the night.
  He flew as fast as he could without feeling like he was going to 
throw up and made his way to the Star Club.  It took him five minutes 
to do so.  "If I wasn't sick," he thought, "I would have made it in 
one and a half."

	He rushed for the door, intent on smashing it down and moving as 
fast as possible to disarm the terrorists before they realized he was 
even there.  However, as sick as he was, he didn't notice the 
wrecking ball sized fist until it slammed into his face on the cry of 
"JUGGERNAUT PUNCH!"

	Sayaman was knocked backwards and went flying into the side of a 
nearby building.  Sayaman stood and staggered out of the rubble of 
the wall and groaned as he saw that getting in wasn't going to be as 
easy as he thought.

	For standing in front of him, dressed in brown armor that covered 
almost all of his tank sized frame and wearing a brown bowl shaped 
helmet over his head, was a figure he had seen in the newspaper and 
on the evening news once or twice.

	"Juggernaut!" he exclaimed.

	Juggernaut laughed a rumbling laugh as he replied, "I see ya heard a 
me.  Funny, I ain't never seen you before, kid."

	"I'm still new around here," Sayaman went into his routine speech, 
even though he felt too sick to do the poses that went with it, "Evil 
everywhere, best beware.  Unless they wish to feel my wrath.  The 
fighter of justice shall not forgive them!  Great Sayaman!"

	Juggernaut laughed again, "Oh brother!  Ya gotta be kiddin' me!  
'Great Sayaman'?  HA!  That sounds like somthin' out a one o' them 
bad Japanese cartoons."

	Sayaman gritted his teeth as he fought back a sneeze and he said, 
"You better move out of my way.  I have friends inside and I intend 
to rescue them, along with everyone else."

	"Ya'll have ta go through ME first!"

	"Fine.  I will."

	"Ya can try, but ya better just remember..."

	The two rushed each other as Juggernaut let out his famous cry of,

"NOTHIN' STOPS THE JUGGERNAUT!"

TO BE CONTINUED...