[FFML] [Draft 1][SM] MMSS 7 -Encounter on Mars

[StudioPC]

Happy New Year.

---------------------

A carrier division.

Artemis ducked behind a column as more missiles streaked overhead and  
detonated, the shock waves causing still more destruction.

Where in the name of the Pit had Beryl gotten a carrier division?

For that matter, how had she gotten the attacking force into place  
without Intelligence finding out about it?

A faint whud noise attracted his attention and he bared his teeth as  
he watched the distant mushroom cloud rise into the air. Palace  
surface to air defenses had held off drops from the carriers, and had  
blunted the bombardment, but they could do nothing about the mecha and  
youma at the palace gates and that mushroom cloud had been the last of  
the East Gates falling.

"Tormentor take them all!" he swore and set off at a run, leaping  
nimbly over rubble and remains.

Once, the palace gardens had been a marvel of civil engineering. Built  
vertically on towers set into the mountains, they offered not only  
some of the greatest wonders of the Imperium's flora and fauna, but  
sustained the moon's population with fruits and vegetables. By  
tradition, the throne opened the garden's gates to one and all at  
Harvest so that any citizen may pick from the garden's bounty.

But now, the towering gardens were a ruin, bombed from above and  
reduced to a pile of debris, just like everything else.

"Ay yi yi yi," Artemis muttered and then was thrown to the ground as  
one of the STA cannons suddenly went up in a column of flame and  
debris. Clambering to his feet, he grabbed his staff, senses on alert.  
A destroyed cannon meant a hole in the defense grid, which was very,  
very, bad.

Seething, he resumed running and then threw himself to the side as a  
man in full armor suddenly crashed to the ground nearby. Spying  
Artemis, he raised his assault rifle and opened fire.

Swearing, Artemis lurched to his feet and bolted, the shock waves of  
the concussive bolts nipping at his heels. Spying a large rock, he hit  
it with his staff and cast a transmutation, followed by a cloak. He  
started to sneak away and then froze as the trooper flipped a switch  
on his gun and the barrel reconfigured itself. Instead of a barrel,the  
weapon now bore a large crystal orb with a pair of lights on either  
side.

A horrible, awful, suspicion began to surface in Artemis' mind coupled  
with the knowledge that there was no way to defend against an Aegis  
Gun. If the blast from that orb hit a mage, or even grazed him, the  
mage was dead. No shield, no armor would protect him. Of course, the  
trooper had to find him first and Artemis lay flat on the ground and  
crawled forward as the trooper moved his gun in a search pattern,  
correctly assuming that most mages with an ounce of common sense would  
want to get as far away from an Aegis Gun as quickly as possible.

Artemis, however, was not most mages and as he drew close, he got out  
his knife, intending to put the blade through the Aegis Gun's orb. At  
that moment, the trooper lowered his gun, the lights punching through  
Artemis' cloaking spell. Artemis felt his bowels turn to water and  
then the trooper's head exploded in a shower of battletanium and gore.

"You must be more careful, Master," Luna chided as the headless body  
fell. "I would hate to explain to the Archmagus why you are dead when  
he wants to kill you himself."

"He's been wishing for my death since we were novices," Artemis  
retorted and then blasted the woman in Raider gear who had been  
sneaking up behind Luna. "And you must be more mindful of your  
surroundings, Apprentice."'

"Yes, Master," Luna agreed, but her mischievous smile belied her  
humility. Artemis wouldn't have her any other way.

---------------------

The shrill beep of the proximity alert jerked Artemis out of his  
memories and he turned his attention to the console. They were  
approaching Mars.

"Hey, Artemis," Minako said, leaning over the back of Artemis' chair,  
"can we come in over Cydonia? I want to see if there really is a face."

"A face?" Artemis asked.

"Oh, God, not this again," Rei groaned, "you and that stupid face."

"Yeah," Usagi agreed.

"Well we have a golden opportunity!" Minako shot back. "We can prove  
it once and for all."

"Shut up about the face!" Rei snapped.

"It's real!" Minako protested.

"Bull!" Usagi exploded.

As yet another argument began, Artemis looked over at Makoto, who had  
claimed the co-pilot's seat and had been quiet the entire flight.  
"Face?"

"Robot flew to Mars a while back," Makoto said, "rode circuit in orbit  
for a while and took pictures. Some of them seem ta show a giant face  
on the surface. Like a sculpture or somethin."

Artemis snorted. "Well that makes no logical sense. Why would anyone  
build something like that?"

"Pretty much," Makoto said.

"Do you think there's a face?" Artemis asked.

Makoto turned in her chair. "Ami's about to hit meltdown mode," she  
noted.

Artemis turned in his chair. Ami was sitting ramrod straight in her  
chair, book in her lap, and one eye was twitching. "Rei, Usagi,  
Minako, please keep it down," he said in the most mild tone he could  
manage, "Ami is trying to read and your argument is disturbing her."

In an instant, all three were facing forward in their chairs, staring  
straight ahead and not saying a word. He watched Ami until he saw her  
shoulders relax and then turned back to the console and studied Makoto  
out of the corner of his eye.

He hadn't missed Makoto's perceptiveness back at the station when  
she'd shooed the other Senshi out of the room to give him and Serenity  
some privacy, and he hadn't missed the way she'd avoided answering his  
question just now.

'What goes on inside your head, Makoto?' he wondered.
------------------------------

"So we're really on Mars?" Rei asked. Reflexively, she tried to pull  
her jacket tighter around her and then remembered she wasn't wearing a  
jacket. Her Senshi uniform kept out the cold anyway, and the desire  
for a jacket was just the sight of all the ice and snow on the landing  
pad. She gazed up at the Martian sky high overhead through the  
canyon's opening and shivered again as she thought about how deep they  
were.  "It's unbelievable."

"No, Rei," Usagi said with heavy sarcasm. "This is just Arizona and  
we're on a movie set. There's a hidden camera over there."

"Cool!" Minako said and waved. "Hi, Mom!"

"You were born stupid, weren't you, Minako?" Rei mused and turned to  
glare at Usagi. "And what I meant, idiot, was that we are the first  
humans to set foot on Mars."

"No, Artemis is human," Usagi corrected, "and he's been here before."

"I'm human?" Artemis asked. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Well you look human and you . . . huh?"

"I'm not human, Serenity and I are Imperials. There is a difference."

"But you . . . and . . . you . . . huh?"

"Dudes, can we talk convergent evolution later?" Makoto asked. "We  
gotta find the Boss Lady's scepter before Beryl or we're gonna be in  
some deep fried trouble."

"Makoto's right," Rei said and looked at Artemis. "Serenity said  
Beryl's agent, uh, Lord General Luna, was under mind control. How do  
we break it?"

"Yeah, with Luna's help. we could really kick some butt," Minako agreed.

"Several ways, depending on what kind was used. But, I want to correct  
Minako's assumption first."

"Huh?" asked Minako.

Artemis began to walk across the landing pad and the Senshi followed.  
"Beryl and her generals were locked away in a prison with the worst  
and most wretched criminals the Imperium ever produced," he explained.  
"Both Zear Oden and Zear Oeras were not about rehabilitation, they  
were places for people the Imperium wanted to make disappear. Those  
same people have had a long time to harbor some very deep grudges.  
Even if Lord General Luna is freed, she may decide to try to kill us  
anyway simply because we hadn't freed her sooner."

"Th-tha-that i-is a-a-a-an i-ill-ill-illog-illogical r-r-rea-ah-ah- 
reaction," Ami stated.

"Quite," Artemis agreed, "but more then likely how she'll see it.  
Being under mind control is akin to being in a car with the word  
kidnapped on it and having no one notice. You cannot control anything,  
only watch and wonder why no one is doing anything. Eventually,  
deprived of the ability to control yourself, you start believing that  
your friends, family, comrades or allies are taking their own sweet  
time because they have better things to do. Or just don't care. Or  
even set you up for this. And that's when the psychosis sets in. That  
entire thought process can take mere minutes and Luna has been under  
mind control for centuries."

"So she probably has some major mad built up," Makoto put in.

"Alright," Usagi agreed, "we'll worry about that later. Now how do we  
free her?"

"As I said, it depends on which kind she's under. There's two kinds of  
mind control. One, is direct control, or, the puppet method. This is  
where the victim is robotic-like, is occasionally capable of speech,  
and often literal minded in the execution of their orders. The second  
is a geas, in which the person is twisted, for lack of a better term,  
and is the harder of the two to break."

"Why?"

"A puppet has their conscious will suppressed by whoever is pulling  
their strings. However, on some level, they are aware something is  
wrong and are trying to break free. One of the reasons Beryl likes to  
use them is that a geas is more subtle. Anyone who serves her is under  
a geas. It twists feelings, perceptions, memories, the very things we  
use to cling to reality and determine instinctively what is and isn't  
real. What is true, and what is false. Anything that might tell them  
that this is wrong is filtered and twisted by the geas. So they don't  
fight, don't resist. Remember when I told you that a doppleganger is  
made from the bits of you that you can do without?"

"Which is why you have to give it specific instructions," Usagi  
remembered.

Artemis nodded. "In effect, it is a doppleganger riding a horse and  
you are the horse."

"Yuck," Minako said.

"The good news is that someone under a geas is like a bullet fired  
from a gun. Once it leaves the barrel, you have no real control over  
it. A person under a geas will follow orders, but will often  
creatively interpret those orders and occasionally demonstrate  
something like mercy." He stopped at a huge metal door and laid his  
hand on the screen in the doorframe. "Queen Empress' Own Imperial  
Regiment Senior Colonel High Mage Artemis. Attached to Sailor Senshi,  
series black operator. Security Override under the War Powers Act  
Emergency Charter, Three Eight Eight One Four. Recognize by Passcode;  
White Mau. Alpha Rho Thea Eta Mu Iota Sigma. Disengage exterior  
lockdown and alarms." The door began to yawn open. "Weapons out," he  
ordered. "I left the Senshi before Beryl attacked and the server links  
to Serenity's station were severed. I should have been challenged by  
the A.I. Someone else is here."

"L-l-l-luna?" Amy asked.

"She wouldn't have the passcodes," Artemis replied. "I wonder . . ."  
he added softly, and then cleared his throat. "Form up on me. Usagi,  
you and Ami on the left, Rei and Minako on the right."

"No worries, dudes," Makoto said, "I got your backsides."

"If you knew you'd be challenged by the A.I. if you used that  
passcode," Rei asked, "then why--" she broke off and shook her head.  
"You wanted to see if anyone else was here."

"Very good," Artemis approved. "Being a Senshi isn't just about  
fighting evil and saving innocents. We are the realm's champions and  
that means being able to think in circles around everyone else. You  
were all chosen because you have a high degree of intelligence." He  
could almost hear Rei turning her head to stare at Minako in  
bafflement. "There are many kinds of intelligence," he continued  
blandly. "Don't get so locked into the idea that intelligence equals  
ability with math and science that you ignore that person with a low  
degree of education, but is very, very good at strategic thinking.  
 From wind direction to time of day to environment and the amount of  
sunlight. Everything is a variable, and every variable can be made to  
work in your favor if you're thinking far enough ahead."

"So what you're saying is, pay attention and plan for everything?" Rei  
asked.

Artemis nodded. "As the Master who trained me often said; You are a  
weapon, and so is the world around you."

"Hello, kitty!" Minako exclaimed.

--------------------------

Beryl frowned as she paced her throne room. Luna should have been back  
by now. Something was wrong.

"Jadeite!" She snapped.

"At your service, Mistress," the general replied.

"Go to Mars and find Luna. Find out what is taking her so long." she  
paused. "Take some golems with you. Just in case."

"Immediately, Mistress." He vanished.

Teeth clenched, Beryl resumed pacing.

-------------------------------

It is slowly getting stronger. Bit by incremental bit, the bindings  
that hold it chained are weakening. But not quickly enough. It needs  
rage or it will be put back to sleep.

The mere idea is intolerable, for it to actually happen is unthinkable.

Yet, there is rage nearby. Not the heady drug that woke it, but rage  
all the same. Somewhere outside its cage is rage . . . and hate. Hate  
is even better then rage.

But how to get it?

-----------------------------------

"That's not a kitty," Rei said through  clenched teeth.

"Sure it is," Minako protested. "Fur, four legs, whiskers, tail, ears.  
It's a kitty."

"It's at least the size of a horse!" Rei shouted.

"A really big kitty."

"Dude, five out of the six ends are pointy," Makoto said, "Looks like  
a kitty to me."

IT'S NOT A KITTY!" Rei screamed.

"She's a Mau," Artemis said.

"What's a Mau?" Usagi whispered.

"A warrior race," Serenity told them over the communicators. "My  
Grandfather freed them from the Venusian Warlords and they became his  
closest allies. Be careful, they are very proud and very powerful."

"You trespass, Mage Artemis," the Mau said, "This is our territory."

"Hello, Bas," Artemis said. There was an almost wistful note in his  
voice. "I'd wondered where the Mau had gone. It's good to see you."

Bas snorted. "Words," she sneered, "I see nothing has changed."

"You'd be surprised," Artemis replied dryly and then straightened.  
"We're here by order of her Royal and Imperial Majesty Serenity the  
First. Under the treaty between our peoples, you are requested and  
required to allow us access to complete our mission."

"Pah!" Bas snarled. "We need no treaty, and we do not need your  
weakling Queen-Empress. Mars is ours by right of conquest and by right  
of strength. Begone or be destroyed."

Artemis crossed his arms. "We have a mission, and we will finish it."

Bas tilted her head. "And what mission has Serenity charged you with  
that is so important?"

"When Beryl attacked, the scepter was passed to Serenity's uncle for  
safekeeping. We know he came to Mars, at least briefly. Our mission is  
to find him and retrieve the scepter. Beryl has also sent an agent.  
It's Luna, Bas. She's got Luna under mind control and if at all  
possible, I intend to free her."

For a moment, something flickered in Bas' eyes, and then she snarled  
again, baring three inch fangs. "If Luna was weak enough to succumb to  
mind control then she is not Mau."

"She's your child!" Artemis shot back. "Does that mean nothing?"

"Words, nothing but words."

"Oh, you want more then words?" Usagi pushed past Artemis and marched  
right up to Bas. "I can do that." With that, she slapped the Mau  
across the nose. Artemis began to channel power to his staff and  
wondered how to get Usagi away before Bas tore her to shreds.

"Usagi, don't piss off the giant alien cat!" Rei yelled.

"I told you it was a kitty!" Minako crowed.

"Shut up, Minako!" Rei shouted. "Usagi, if you get killed, Mom and  
Aunt Ikkuko will make me go to your funeral instead of the inter- 
school formal! AND I'VE ALREADY BOUGHT MY DRESS!"

"Are you that eager for death, Senshi?" Bas demanded. Usagi slapped  
her again.

"Are you that much of a stupid bitch?" the blonde replied. "We've come  
all this way to find Luna and retrieve Serenity's scepter. And if we  
take the scepter somewhere else, everyone who wants it will follow us  
and leave you alone. So instead of sitting there trying to prove how  
awesome you are, you should move aside."

Bas drew herself up to her full height. "I've killed for less, Senshi."

"Usagi!" Artemis shouted, "she's not making an idle threat. Part of  
the Mau rite of passage for adulthood is to kill."

"Listen to your Master, Senshi," Bas snarled. "You have caught me in a  
merciful mood  and your bravery amuses me. If you back away now, I  
will let you live."

"Do it, Usagi," Rei called out. "I look awful in black!"

Usagi stood her ground. "You're not killing me or any of us," she  
said. "If you were, you wouldn't have bothered confronting us first.  
So what do you want?"

Bas stared at her, and Usagi lowered her sword. "Pity," the Mau said,  
"Were you Queen-Empress, we might consider a new alliance." She raised  
one paw, claws out. "In your next life, Senshi, consider not insulting  
us." The great paw came down and Artemis leveled his staff, swearing.  
Usagi didn't move.

With an earthshaking thud, the paw dented the floor and left Usagi  
untouched. "You stand your ground," Bas mused. "Artemis has chosen  
well."

"I keep forgetting about that," Rei murmured. "Usagi's always been  
good with people and getting them to like her."

"Except for you," Artemis pointed out.

"Do you know how many times we've had to share a room or a bed on  
family vacations?" Rei retorted, "she snores. It's a wonder I haven't  
smothered her with a pillow yet."

"You have three hours," Bas informed them. "After that, we will kill  
anyone still here. And tell Serenity that whatever her plans, Mars is  
ours and we will not tolerate trespassers." With a flick of her tail,  
Bas turned and vanished back down the corridor.

Artemis took a deep breath. "You heard her. Let's move."

------------------------------------------------

They'd been forced to split up when they reached Rolan's station. It  
was the only way to effectively cover the entire complex in the time  
they had left. Worse still, the doors had been blasted open. They  
weren't alone, a fact which made Artemis nervous. The Senshi weren't  
even half-trained and worse, woefully inexperienced in combat. Luna  
was an apprentice-- no, be fair. Luna had been ready for the Trials  
and with her skills, abilities and powers, they were a mere formality.  
For all intents and purposes, she was a High Mage with Senshi  
training, plenty of combat experience and the Mau's killer instincts.  
Artemis didn't make a habit of kidding himself; When you combined that  
with whatever she'd been through in Zear Oreas, she could give even a  
group of veteran Senshi problems.

But he couldn't afford to think about that right now as Bas' time  
limit was running out. Instead, he prowled through the habitat sector,  
checking each room and trying to put himself into Rolan's mindset. If  
he was an overly clever nobleman looking to hide the most precious  
thing in the universe, and he wanted to leave a clue, what would he  
do? Unfortunately, Rei and Usagi were bickering about some sort of  
entertainment program and a perverse curiosity kept him going back to  
listen.

" . . . I'm just saying," Usagi explained, "the fact that Ursujo chose  
to go to Serina's house rather then Mayana's is a clear sign that he  
cares more about her."

"Usagi, he's a delinquent who likes huge explosions and can turn into  
a flying bear that shoots laser eyebeams," Rei pointed out, "and, his  
enemies are alien ninja wizard chickens!"

"They're fowls, actually," Minako corrected.

Rei ignored her. "Ursujo the Bear Guardian has less plot then a toy  
commercial and you're looking for character development?"

"I just think that it's romantic is all," Usagi replied.

"What do you know about romance?" Rei retorted, "You've never even  
kissed a boy."

"WHOOF!" Makoto exclaimed.

"Makoto?" Artemis asked.

"Dudes, I found Luna," Makoto said and then all they heard was the  
sounds of full on melee combat.

Artemis swore, triggered Makoto's locater beacon and burst into a dead  
run.

----------------------

The fight started out on a purely technical basis. Luna had struck  
from the shadows, attempting a killing blow, but the Green Senshi had  
turned, turning the killing strike into a mere punch before shoving  
Luna backwards and counterattacking.

Punches, blocks, and counters were exchanged before they disengaged  
and began to circle, Luna's lips curled in a feral smile. Green had  
training, but Luna held a master's rank. Moreseo, she was no Senshi  
with their ridiculous notions of honor and justice.

Again Luna attacked. using kicks to further ascertain Green's skill,  
but the Senshi matched her kick for kick. Once more, Luna disengaged  
and they began to circle. A few jabs were exchanged, but they were  
probes by each combatant and were otherwise meaningless. With the  
formalities dispensed with, they got down to business.

Within the first second, it became apparent that the Green Senshi was  
not only sufficiently skilled that she clearly held a master's rank,  
but her almost casual technique and the way she matched Luna strike  
for strike and at the same speed began to flame the Mau's anger.

How dare a mere Imperial-- how dare anyone match her? She was Luna,  
Lord General to Beryl, and her agent of destruction. No one was her  
superior in battle, let alone her equal.

She let her anger out, binding it with the magic Beryl had taught her,  
using it to strengthen her strikes, speed up her movements. Yet with  
every increase, the Green Senshi merely matched her, strike for strike  
at the same speed.

"You fight well," Luna said when they broke apart again. "You're quite  
skilled. My compliments to your Master."

"Aw thanks, dude, but I'm just stalling."

At that moment, two more senshi, one in red, and the other in yellow,  
dropped from the railing above to land next to Green.

"Here, kitty-lady," crooned Yellow, shaking out an energy whip. "Nice  
kitty-lady. . . "

"She's not a kitty-lady, idiot," Red snarled. "She's a Mau-Imperial  
hybrid, remember?"

"Mau are kitties, Imperial women are ladies, so she's a kitty-lady."  
Yellow replied.

"When we get home, remind me to hit you until you get smarter," Red  
seethed.

"Okay," Yellow agreed and Red shook her head and then addressed Luna.

"Luna, you've got nowhere to run. We don't want to hurt you, but if  
you don't come with us, it's gonna get ugly."

"Only for you, Senshi," Luna snarled and drew her swords. "I will not  
be a prisoner again!" She lunged at Yellow, and received a kick in the  
face for it. And then Red and Green came at her again.

-------------------------

As Luna lunged at Minako, Artemis moved to leap in and then stopped as  
Usagi grabbed his arm. She was stronger then she looked.

"Don't," she said grimly. "You'd just get in their way." Artemis  
stared. "They all train at the same dojo," Usagi continued, "They're  
used to working together."

"Luna regularly worked out against six or eight at a time," Artemis  
muttered.

"Artemis, who is she?" Usagi asked. "She's not just a victim of Beryl.  
she means something. Who is she to you?"

"A choice, a regret, and my greatest joy." Artemis told her.

"No. No, you freaked out after Taras mentioned her, you got upset when  
Serenity told you to . . . omigod. She's your--"

"She was my apprentice," Artemis interrupted. "But she is also a Mau,  
who have no word for what you're thinking. Though the two terms are  
mostly interchangeable."

"M-m-m-m-mostly?" Ami asked.

"It's easier to contemplate the death of an apprentice," Artemis  
replied, "Though not by much." With that, he leapt over the railing  
and dropped to the floor below.

"Master Artemis," Luna greeted him with utter insincerity. "Or should  
I call you . . . what was that word? Oh yes, father." She said father  
with the air of someone twisting a knife into an open wound.

"Father?" Rei and Minako exclaimed in unison.

"How . . . how did you--" Artemis asked and then broke off at the  
sound of a teleport.

"Well, Old Boy, I suppose that would be because I told her." The  
newcomer wore a military uniform of deep blue with red piping and  
boots as black as space. He had the face of an angel with blond hair  
and eyes colder then ice. "Clever girl, she grasped the concept almost  
immediately."

Under his helmet, Artemis' mouth was agape. "J-"

"Jadeite, if you please."

"Why  . . . how?"

"Oh come now, Old Boy, you should be able to figure out. I'm sure  
you've given it quite a bit of thought.

"You . . . it was you. You were Beryl's fourth general. You gave Mala  
and the Sixth Fleet the passcodes to the Palace's Early Warning system  
and allowed in the assassin who killed King Emperor Consort Alswith  
and Princess Serena."

"You always were the clever one. Although I handled matter of Alswith  
personally. It was more of a pleasure to be honest. And the  
Princess . . . well, in for a mirek, in for a drem, as the saying goes."

"Why?" Artemis demanded. "Why did you betray--"

"I betrayed? Oh no, Artemis, you have it all wrong. You're the  
traitor. Bad enough you and Serenity were close as close, but then  
what you did to Beryl . . ."

"I was nothing more than a means to an end for her," Artemis snapped.

"Is that what you tell yourself?" Jadeite smirked. "Everyone knew that  
if Serenity crooked her finger, you ran to her side, forsaking all  
else. Really, its no wonder you abandoned Luna since a dog always  
heeds his Master's call. In fact, Baralor always called you Serenity's  
Dog, did you know that?"

"I swore an oath," Artemis shot back. "The same oath you took.  
Whatever the cost, I will uphold that oath unto death."

"Yes, I imagine you would. Like a good dog. But that pleasure has been  
reserved for another time. Luna, give me the crystal and Rolan's head.  
It's time to go."

"They're not here," Luna spat out. "A cryo capsule was open and the  
teleporter has been used. He went back to Earth in Ten fifty forty- 
five and the arrival coordinates were deleted."

"Well then, no point in sticking around." Jadeite smiled as rock  
golems teleported in. "Oh yes. Beryl has a message for you; You and  
Serenity have been tried in absentia as traitors to the Empire."

". . . she didn't."

"She did. By order of her Majesty, Beryl the Immortal, the Senate is  
disbanded and all power now resides in the Imperial Throne. For a  
safer and more stable society, any loyalty to the previous . . .  
government is considered to be abnormal and the persons in question  
executed."

A sword suddenly sprouted from the wall next to Jadeite's head,  
severing some hair.

"And we have a message for Beryl," Usagi said, stepping forward.

"And that would be?"

"Start running."

"I'll pass that on." Jadeite and Luna vanished and the golems lumbered  
forward.

------------------------------------------

"A kitty. You did . . .  stuff with a kitty. How? Why? Kitty!"  
Minako's questions howled into Artemis' ears all the way back to the  
shuttle, the Mau hot on their heels. The golems had been no more then  
a delaying tactic to ensure the Senshi would still be on Mars when  
Bas' time limit had run out and force them to flee or be torn to shreds.

"What about the kitty!" Minako screeched as the shuttle lifted off the  
landing pad inches away from a Mau's claws and then her screeches fell  
silent as Rei and Usagi jumped on top of Minako, took off her helmet,  
and pushed her face into the floor until she shut up. After that,  
Minako simply sat at the back of the compartment and muttered about  
"vengeance for the kitty".

Once they were in orbit, Artemis commed Serenity and made a full report.

"I see," Serenity said when he was done, "you think he was telling the  
truth? Was Luna?"

"A geas can't change a person's base nature," Artemis replied. "Twist  
it, yes, but can't change it. Mau don't lie, I'm not sure they can  
lie, and Luna was as Mau as she could possibly be. As for . . .  
Jadeite, he never lied if he could do more damage with the truth."

"No," Serenity agreed, "he didn't. I wish I could say his betrayal was  
a surprise, but it does answer a lot of questions about the Fall." She  
sighed. "Be that as it may, we now know Rolan is on Earth. That  
narrows the search field from five planets, to one. Unfortunately,  
Beryl knows this too."

"I dunno, Boss Lady," Makoto put in, "Uncle's supposed to be the  
DaVinci of the day. Dude that clever could have gone to earth and then  
right back off again."

"I thought of that too," Serenity said, "but he also wants Artemis and  
me to find him and we're not as smart as he is. He would have made it  
relatively easy." She frowned. "Ten fifty forty-five. That's 1945 on  
the human calender. He likely would have teleported the same day he  
woke up. Most likely due to something happening . . . ah, of course.  
August sixth, 1945. The day you humans unleashed the atom on  
yourselves."

"So like what?" Usagi asked, "Some computer picks up Hiroshima, wakes  
him up and he decides to move to Earth and wait for you?"

"Indeed, and I fear we that we are at a disadvantage as a result.  
Artemis set the alarm to awaken us if Beryl escaped because he was  
thinking like a soldier. Rolan, however, was first and foremost a  
scientist. Both occasions are momentous, but for completely different  
reasons."

"It never occurred to me to set the computer to watch for Rolan,"  
Artemis admitted. "I'm sorry, my Queen, I have failed you."

"There is little time for recriminations, Artemis. Your battle with  
Taras has been seen on news programs all over Earth. The YouTube  
videos are quite . . . creative. He will find us."

"Who's Jadeite to you anyway?" Usagi asked. "Isn't he under a geas  
like Luna?"

"No, but no doubt Beryl thinks he is. Among his other gifts, he's a  
skilled actor and Beryl believes that she's the most powerful magic  
user in all of existence. Jadeite is what we call a Null, a sort of  
magical black hole. He can't be harmed or controlled by magic, but he  
also can't be healed by it without constant renewing of spells and  
effort."

"So he's serving Beryl willingly?"

"Which makes him all the more dangerous. Serenity is right, I should  
have seen him for what he was ages ago. I might have prevented the  
Fall."

"Dude," Makoto said, "you can be close as close to a bud and not know  
them. Everything ends, man. Even relationships."

"No," Artemis said, "this one I should have seen. You see, Jadeite is  
my brother."