CHAPTER ONE Captain's Log, Stardate 7822.2: The Enterprise has been assigned to explore a previously uncharted sector of space in the Rubell-Bourhan System near the Neutral Zone. So far, things have been rather routine--" "Captain," the first officer looked up from his console. James T. Kirk stopped recording his log and turned to his second-in-command. "Yes, Mr. Spock." "Sensors have identified a shuttlecraft 3,000 km off our port bow. It is of Romulan design." Kirk rose from his chair at the center of the bridge. The other personnel stopped what they were doing and looked at their captain. The tensions between the Romulan Empire and the United Federation of Planets had been running high for the past several months. This incident did not help to dissuade any fears or suspicions. "On screen," Kirk commanded. He studied the image before him. The shuttlecraft appeared to be adrift. "Life signs?" "One life sign. Very faint," Spock answered. "The shuttlecraft has sustained serious damage. Based on the residual energy signature, I would say the weapon was ... a Romulan disruptor. Most curious, Captain." "There is a Romulan shuttlecraft in Federation space that has been attacked by Romulans?" Kirk asked. "It could be a trap, keptin," Ensign Chekov warned. Mr. Spock looked at his instrument displays. "I am not detecting any other ships in the area." "The Romulans may be cloaked," Lieutenant Uhura suggested. "There are no subspace distortions which would indicate the presence of a cloaked ship," Spock countered. "Captain, the shuttlecraft hull has been severely compromised. The Romulan aboard is in grave danger." "Hail the Romulan shuttlecraft," Kirk said to Uhura. "No response, Captain," she declared. Kirk drew in a deep breath. Starfleet would probably be very unhappy with what he was about to do. Kirk thought. Kirk toggled the comm switch on his chair. "Bridge to Sickbay." "McCoy here." "Bones, we're beaming a casualty to Transporter Room Two. He has been involved in a firefight and has faint life signs." Pause. "We'll also be setting up a containment field around Sickbay and posting a security team to stand guard." "Just what kind of casualty are you sending me, Jim?" Dr. McCoy sounded a little worried. "It's a Romulan," Kirk answered. It was a few seconds before Dr. McCoy found his voice. "Understood. Sickbay out." "Spock, you're with me," Kirk said as he headed for the turbolift. "Let's see what our Romulan visitor has to say." * * * * * * * * * * * * Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock entered Sickbay and found Dr. McCoy standing over the Romulan and looking steadily at the computer display of his patient's vital signs. McCoy faced his commanding officers. "I've done everything I could. But his injuries are too severe." "Please...hurry," the Romulan whispered as he turned over in his bed. Kirk leaned over the Romulan in order to hear. "You must stop them..." Clearly it was a struggle for the Romulan to speak. "Stop who?" Kirk asked. "Perhaps I can help, Captain," Spock offered. Kirk nodded and stepped aside. Spock looked into the Romulan's eyes. "Permit me to mind meld with you and you will be able to conserve your strength." The Romulan gave a small nod and Spock carefully placed his fingertips on the Romulan's face. "My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts." Spock began probing the Romulan's memories, sifting through various images. After a few moments, Spock frowned, repositioned his fingers, and probed again. Kirk and McCoy waited patiently. Eventually, Spock removed his hands from the Romulans and turned towards the Captain and the Doctor. Spock's expression was more grave than usual. "Captain, Earth is in danger. We must return there immediately." Kirk strode to the comm panel in the wall. "Sickbay to Bridge." "Sulu here." "Mr. Sulu, plot a course for Earth. Maximum warp." "Aye, Captain." "Mr. Spock, what did you learn?" The panel above the Romulan's bed began to beep quickly. Dr. McCoy administered a hypospray and activated his medical tricorder. "You two better get up to the bridge. I'll handle things here." Kirk nodded as he and Spock left Sickbay. "Mr. Spock?" Kirk prompted. "The images were not clear. I saw thousands of dead and dying bodies. Tremendous suffering and agony. It was most disturbing. Captain, you know I am not one to exaggerate but I believe the fate of the entire Federation is at risk." * * * * * * * * * * * * Rei quickly rose from her bed and put on her clothes. The visions from her dreams haunted her. she thought. She took a few deep breaths then walked as calmly as she could into the room where the Fire burned and knelt before it. Bowing her head in concentration she asked: "Oh Sacred Fire, show me the truth in my dreams." She raised her eyes to interpret the scene that appeared before her. Shocked, she jumped quickly to her feet. "It can't be! My dream was true!" She ran to her bedroom and found her communicator. "Usagi, Makoto, Ami, come quickly to the temple! I have seen terrible visions in the Sacred Fire." Everyone agreed to come without question, except for Usagi. "But Rei-chan," whined Usagi, who had been roused from a deep Sunday morning slumber. "We don't have school today, can't it wait until later? I'm sooo tired." Rei heard Luna's voice in the background, growling at Usagi then watched Usagi roll her eyes and sigh dramatically. "Fine," she answered, pulling the covers away from her. "I'm on my way, Rei-chan, but this better be good." The communicator went dark as the link was broken. Rei thought. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Entering the Sol System, Captain," Lt. Sulu said. "Slow to one-half impulse," Capt. Kirk commanded. "Aye, sir." The turbolift doors hissed open and Dr. McCoy walked onto the bridge. Kirk gave a questioning look to his friend. "He's dead, Jim," McCoy answered. "Captain," Lt. Uhura turned from her station. "Starfleet has not encountered the cloaked Romulan vessel. Admiral Souter repeats that it is unwise to risk the flagship of the Federation and her crew on the vague images projected by a Romulan." Kirk was willing to bet that Admiral Souter didn't use the diplomatic words that Uhura had. "They aren't convinced by the data Spock and Scotty retrieved from the Romulan shuttlecraft?" Kirk wasn't so much asking a question as he was stating a fact. Uhura shook her head. Kirk wasn't entirely convinced by the data either. His first officer and chief engineer had been able to decipher the computer codes of what was left of the Romulan shuttlecraft computer banks but the data was sparse and vague. However, he knew better than to second-guess Spock. So did the rest of the crew of the Enterprise. "Lieutenant," Kirk asked Uhura. "Does Starfleet plan on taking any action to stop us?" "Captain, our communications with Starfleet are breaking up. I'm losing their transmissions," she said with an impeccably straight face as she twisted various knobs on her console. Mr. Chekov and Mr. Sulu exchanged grins while Capt. Kirk couldn't help but admire Uhura's sense of style. "Mr. Spock," Kirk commanded. "Plot a course to sling shot around the sun. Destination: late twentieth century." * * * * * * * * * * * * They all gathered around the table waiting as Rei thoughtfully sipped her tea. Their concern grew from Rei's silence. However, Usagi sat engrossed in the plate of muffins she was devouring. Ami was the first to speak. "Rei-chan what did you see in your dreams?" "Yeah, you have us totally freaked out!" added Makoto. "Okay, I'll tell you," Rei said quietly. She looked deep into her tea. She couldn't watch her friends' faces when she told her story. "I saw a hospital crowded with people who were very sick." She nervously ran a hand through her long, straight hair, betraying her anxiety. "I saw people walking around in these white suits that looked like something astronauts would wear out in space." "Those might have been decontamination suits," commented Ami. "That means that the problem was very serious," said Luna from a pillow on the floor. "...and contagious," Ami added. "Rei-chan, you have dreams all the time. Do you think this one was true?" asked Makoto, remembering last week's dream of space ships orbiting the Earth. "I think so. It felt so real. I could hear some people moaning in pain and others crying over their loved ones. Doctors kept saying that there was nothing they could do." Rei sighed and shook her head, trying to rid herself of the memory. "In my dream, I followed one doctor around a corner, into a room where they kept dead bodies. But it wasn't the morgue. These people were all in white plastic bags, stacked like boxes. I remember the smell; it was unbearable. It was the smell of death." The other girls suddenly turned white and simultaneously pushed away their cups of tea. Usagi made a disgusted face and dropped her half-eaten muffin. "That is so gross, Rei-chan. I like your story from last week about strange space ships buzzing around the Earth watching us. That one was so much better." They all looked at Usagi and sighed. Luna gave the blonde a dirty look. "Really Usagi, this dream was real to her. Don't you see she's upset?" Usagi looked at Rei and an apologetic look appeared on her face. She was about to explain how sorry she was to her friend, but was interrupted. "Besides, Odanga Atama, you weren't even paying attention or you'd have known that! Leave it to you to care more for your food than for your friend!" Usagi's eyes welled up with tears and she began to wail in anguish. She got up and ran from the room. Luna jumped up and sighed. "I know where she's going." She left the room to run after Usagi. "That was way harsh Rei-chan," commented a very unimpressed Makoto. "I know she wasn't paying attention, but she looked like she was going to apologize." "She'll be back," stated Ami, trying to be cheerful. "Usagi-chan is very sensitive, but easily distracted. I'm sure everything will be fine." "And then you can apologize," said Makoto. Rei knew enough not to argue with her angry friend. "Rei-chan, please continue explaining your dream," Ami asked. Rei nodded. "I woke up right after I saw the room with the body bags. Then, I went straight to the Sacred Fire to ask for guidance. At first all I saw was this weird man, with short black hair, pointy ears, and odd clothing. He put on this mask over his face. I think it was like a gas mask. He took out this metal tube, put it on the ground and opened it. Then a red gas came out and people began collapsing in the streets." "Do you think your dreams and your vision are related?" asked Makoto. Rei nodded. "I don't know why but I can feel that they are connected somehow." "Then this strange man must unleash a plague of some sort," said Ami. "Wait a minute," asked Makoto. "Aren't we jumping the gun a bit? We don't even know if this is going to happen." "We also can't forget the Negaverse," Rei suggested. "That strange man might be one of Queen Beryl's creeps. Plus, Zoisite is still running around after those Rainbow Crystals and this may just be something to distract us." "I agree that the Negaverse may be responsible," said Ami. "But the consequences of a new plague could be catastrophic. We can't ignore this." "Fine," said Makoto with conviction. "Where do we start?" "It would be logical to intentionally spread a disease by infecting as many people as possible as quickly as possible, thus we should begin where people are most highly concentrated," Ami replied. "But first," said Rei with an exasperated sigh. "We have to find Usagi." They all agreed and left to search for their friend. * * * * * * * * * * * CHAPTER TWO "BATTLE STATIONS!" Scotty barely gave the command to raise shields as another barrage of Romulan disruptor rays impacted on the Enterprise. The sling shot around the sun was successful and the Enterprise and her crew were transported 300 years into their past. Once they had established a high orbit above Earth, Spock detected unusual energy readings both in the Arctic Circle and in Japan. Kirk formed two landing parties to investigate. They had barely been beamed down when the Romulan Warbird decloaked and began its attack. Scotty hoped the landing parties were faring much better than he was. * * * * * * * * * * * * Luna found Usagi shooting aliens from outer space...at the arcade. "Usagi-chan," the feline began. "You can't keep running away from everything. You have to be strong if you want to defeat the Negaverse." Usagi stayed focused on her game. Fortunately, everyone in the arcade was focused on their games, otherwise Luna would not have been able to speak to Usagi. "Usagi?" Luna was insistent. "Are you listening to me?" "Huh?" the teenager asked. "Oh yeah, sure Luna. Whatever you say." Luna sighed and turned towards the front window of the arcade. People in the streets were running away from something she couldn't see. They would stop, hold their chests and cough, then fall onto the ground. Wisps of red smoke blew over their bodies. This caught Luna's attention. She quickly jumped up onto Usagi's shoulders and turned the blonde's head toward the window. "Luna! What's gotten into you?" Usagi was annoyed at being taken away from her game. Then she saw what was happening in the streets. Her eyes grew wide with fright. A man struggled into the arcade to escape from the outside but he only managed to collapse in the doorway. Red smoke blew in the open door. "Usagi! RUN!" Luna commanded and the girl quickly ran out the back door of the arcade. The smoke in the streets had not reached the alley she was in. She ran in the direction of Rei's temple. "I have to tell the others what's going on!" Usagi exclaimed as she ran with her arm across her face. She raced around a corner and crashed into a group of people. After she cleared her head she realized whom she ran into. "MAMORU!" she backed away quickly. "USAGI!" Rei hollered as she rubbed her head. "We found her," Makoto mumbled from beneath the pile of people. Ami looked down the street and nearly froze. "Rei-chan, is this what you saw in the Sacred Fire?" Everyone turned to see what Ami was looking at and paled. The red smoke was drifting towards them as it passed over people on the ground. Some were coughing. Some were still. "How can we help those people?" Usagi asked. "I don't think we can," Makoto answered. "I think we better find some place safe until we know what we're dealing with." She stood up. The others quickly followed suit and they began to run away from the smoke. They were surprised to see three men running towards the smoke. Makoto stopped in her tracks and stared at one of them. He looked at a strange device in his hands and spoke to the man in the middle. /Keptin! This smoke is a highly potent lung poison!/ /Mr. Chekov! Mr. Sulu! We have to get these people to safety!/ Makoto thought absently as she continued to follow Ensign Chekov with her eyes. "Mako-chan!" Ami yelled. She had run back to see why her tall friend wasn't following the rest of their group. "He looks like my sempai," Makoto said quietly as she stared at Ensign Chekov. Ami rolled her eyes. she thought. Out loud she said: "Come on! Let's go!" and she pulled on her friend's arm. Chekov ran up to the two of them and put an arm around Makoto to push her away from the smoke. /Miss, you'd better move away from here now./ Ami thought. /Do you know what's going on?/ she asked him. /No miss,/ Chekov realized these girls were not going to move unless he escorted them away himself. Suddenly a nearby explosion threw Makoto, Ami, and Chekov to the ground. Kirk, Sulu, Usagi, and the others turned to see what had happened. Kirk and Sulu reflexively pulled out their phasers as energy rays were shot at them. /Sulu! Cover these civilians!/ Kirk ordered as he ran towards his fallen crewman and the two young girls. Kirk concluded of the energy rays. He immediately thought of the Romulan data Mr. Spock and Scotty had found earlier. This was not a good turn of events. /Kirk to Enterprise! Medical Emergency! Three to beam up! Enterprise! Come in, Enterprise!/ * * * * * * * * * * * * /Commander Scott!/ a random crewmember in a red shirt yelled. /The forward shields are down to 60%!/ /Return fire!/ Scotty roared. There was no way he was going to let the Romulans destroy the Enterprise if he had anything to say about it. /Ensign! Full impulse power! We have to break orbit and take this battle away from Earth./ /Aye sir!/ The Enterprise shook under another volley of energy from the Warbird. Everyone on the bridge was thrown from their positions. Consoles sparked and smoke emerged from deep within the machinery. The communications console whined and crackled with static. A yeoman tried to shut off the power to the console but another barrage from the Romulans threw her off her balance and she hit the Speaker button by accident. /En--prise! Three -- beam --! Repeat, medical em--gency!/ /Comdr. Scott, we can't transport anyone on board without lowering the shields,/ one ensign said. /I know that, Ensign!/ Scott snapped. /Prepare for emergency beam out of both landing parties./ /How--?/ /It will be much easier once we've destroyed the Romulans, lad,/ Scotty explained patiently. /Helm, come about 180 degrees! Prepare to launch an anti-matter spread, then hit the Romulans with everything we have!/ The Enterprise began its turn and on Scotty's signal the crew fired off canisters of anti-matter into space which detonated at irregular intervals. The result was a dazzling light show that momentarily confused the Romulans. Before they could react, the Enterprise fired all phaser banks and launched a full spread of photon torpedoes. The Warbird exploded in a brilliant display. The Enterprise crew breathed a sigh of relief but their battered ship and their bruised bodies were reminders that it was a costly victory. /Good job, everyone,/ Scotty said as he got up from the Captain's chair. /Ensign, bring us back to Earth and resume a high altitude orbit. Yeoman, I want damage and casualty reports from every deck. I'm going to Transporter Room Three to make sure it's operational and then I'll beam up the landing parties. Lieutenant, you have the bridge./ He stepped into the turbolift and before the doors closed he said: /And will someone please turn off the Red Alert Alarm?/ * * * * * * * * * * * * Zoisite watched the exchange of phaser fire and disruptor rays in the streets below with mild interest. Zoisite levitated towards the ground and released energy bolts at both Kirk and his Romulan opponents. Sulu redirected his phaser fire at this new attacker. Then he looked closely at whom he was shooting. Zoisite turned to deal with this minor threat. Usagi gasped when she saw Zoisite come towards them. Sulu continued to fire at Zoisite who easily deflected the energy beams while laughing maniacally. Since Beryl's general was distracted, Usagi quickly picked up a nearby garbage can lid and flung it, Frisbee-style, at their attacker. Zoisite was caught off-guard and fell near Capt. Kirk. Kirk looked up as Zoisite landed on the street. Zoisite released one last blast of energy at Sulu, Usagi and the others, glared at Kirk, then quickly teleported away. Kirk thought. The Romulans retreated because the red smoke was upon them. Sulu, Chekov, Usagi, her friends, and Luna were all unconscious. Kirk, weakened in Zoisite's attack, did not know how he was going to save them all. He saw the lung poison float towards them as he felt the tingle of the transporter beam. * * * * * * * * * * * * Usagi opened her eyes. There were instruments and lights beeping and flashing overhead. She felt tired. /Ah! You're awake!/ said Nurse Chapel. /Doctor, one of the girls is awake./ Usagi groaned inwardly. One of her worst subjects. /Well, hello there young lady,/ Dr. McCoy came strolling in. /My name is Dr. McCoy and this is Nurse Chapel. How are you feeling?/ Usagi's English conversation labs raced through her mind. She just smiled. /You and your friends have been through a nasty experience,/ Dr. McCoy added. Usagi understood that word and began to sit up to look for them. /Now don't get yourself all riled up,/ Dr. McCoy said soothingly. /They're all here in Sickbay. Even your cat. They're just asleep./ Usagi looked at her friends who were all resting peacefully. Usagi thought to herself. She turned to the Doctor. /Thank-you for ... everything,/ Usagi said in heavily accented English. Dr. McCoy smiled. /Now it's okay if English isn't your first language. We have, uh, very advanced computers that will translate what we say so that we can communicate. Just speak what you're comfortable with./ McCoy berated himself. Usagi thought over what the Doctor said and decided to give it a try. /My name is Tsukino Usagi and I am grateful for everything you have done./ Dr. McCoy frowned. /Did you understand any of that Nurse Chapel?/ She shook her head. /Try it again,/ he encouraged. Usagi repeated herself but she received the same blank looks. /Hell of a time for the universal translator to break down,/ Dr. McCoy muttered. /Doctor,/ Nurse Chapel began. /Since we beamed these civilians up from Japan, do you think she is speaking Japanese?/ Dr McCoy shrugged then walked over to the comm panel in the wall. Dr. McCoy thought. Aloud he said, /Sickbay to Lt. Sulu./ /Sulu, here./ /How's your recovery coming?/ /I've felt better, Doc, but I'm alright./ /Good, I need you in Sickbay./ Sulu wondered. He decided not to argue with the man. /I'm on my way./ * * * * * * * * * * * * CHAPTER THREE Queen Beryl peered into her crystal ball at an image of a spacecraft orbiting the earth. She waved her hands over the sphere and the image shifted to reveal the streets of Tokyo. She observed the red gas floating in the streets and the citizens lying still. Beryl laughed wickedly. "Zoisite!" she called out. Zoisite quickly appeared before the Queen of the Negaverse and bowed extravagantly. Aloud Zoisite said: "You summoned, my queen?" "Zoisite, it seems that a mysterious gas has caused the puny inhabitants of Tokyo to become deathly ill." Beryl's lips curled up into an evil smile. "As well, a primitive space-faring vehicle has begun orbiting this planet. I believe the two are connected. I want you to go to that ship and find whoever is behind this plague and bring them here. They could be useful in our quest to release the Negaforce!" Zoisite sighed inwardly. "Yes, my Queen. But what about the Rainbow Crystals? Isn't that our highest priority?" Beryl's eyes burned in rage. "Zoisite, do not question my orders! If these strangers are capable of space travel and of creating a mysterious plague then they may also be capable of creating powerful weapons that could be of great use to us. Find them and bring them to me, NOW!" Zoisite bowed. "As you wish, my queen." "One more thing," Beryl said as Zoisite was about to leave. "I know about that rather embarrassing situation earlier today in Tokyo. Do not exhibit that level of incompetence ever again! If you fail me you shall suffer the same fate as Jedeite!" * * * * * * * * * * * * Dr. McCoy and Nurse Chapel left Sickbay to intercept Sulu before he arrived. McCoy wanted to warn the helmsman about what he was volunteering for. McCoy shook his head as he thought about his last conversation with the one girl who had woken up. He was curious about certain readings on her and her friends. Especially the cat. But he decided it was probably a systems malfunction just like everything else on board the Enterprise right now. Usagi was left alone in Sickbay to pace around the room as she waited for her friends to wake up. she wondered as she twirled a piece of her long blond pigtail around her fingers. She stopped pacing and smiled. She turned and smirked triumphantly at her unconscious friends. As if Rei knew that someone was thinking of her, she began to stir. Usagi ran to her side and tried to help her friend sit up. "Rei-chan, are you okay? It's me Usagi." Rei was not quite fully upright when she groaned and said: "I know it's you Odanga Atama. How could I mistake your whiny voice?" Usagi was unimpressed. "I try and help you out and THIS is the thanks I get? You start calling me ODANGA ATAMA? Fine!" Usagi let go of Rei and stalked off to wait near the door for Dr. McCoy and Nurse Chapel to return. "USAGI!" Rei hollered in anger. "You let go of me so fast I almost whacked my head!" "Serves you right!" Usagi replied as she blew Rei a raspberry. "Maybe you'd be nicer after you really smack your head." Just as their argument was beginning to escalate, the others began to wake up. Rei went to Mamoru's side, Usagi helped Ami, Luna perked her ears up and stretched, and Makoto gingerly sat up on her own, careful of possible injuries. "So where are we?" Makoto asked. "We seem to be in a medical facility," Ami answered as she looked around at the displays. The level of technology was astounding. "But it's not like anything I've ever seen before." "Right as always, Ami-chan!" Usagi said, proud that she actually knew something before her brilliant friend did. "The Doctor told me in English that we're in a place called Sickbay." Rei looked skeptically at Usagi. "English? And I suppose you communicated with them in English?" "Yes, I did," Usagi answered with a smile. Then her confidence faded. "But it was hard, so the doctor has gone to find someone who speaks Japanese." "That's okay, Usagi-chan," said Makoto cheerfully. "It must have been difficult to wake up in a strange place and not be able to speak the language well." The girls began to ask a million questions. Where exactly are we? How did we get here? How long have we been asleep? Mamoru and Luna couldn't get a word in edgewise. Not that Luna would talk in front of Mamoru anyhow. They looked at each other and sighed. The volume in the room began to climb as Rei and Usagi started to argue again. In the middle of a fit of raspberries, Dr. McCoy returned with Nurse Chapel and another man. Their arrival went unnoticed by the girls. Dr. McCoy tried to get their attention by clearing his throat but he was unsuccessful. He decided on a more direct approach. He shouted. /Girls! Girls!/ They instantly stopped talking and turned towards him. /That's enough noise! CALM DOWN!/ Sulu stepped forward. "Hello. I am Sulu Hikaru," he said in Japanese. "This is Dr. McCoy and Nurse Chapel," he motioned to the two people standing behind him. The girls waved shyly, Mamoru nodded his head, and Luna meowed. Sulu thought. It somehow seemed familiar to him but he couldn't place it. Usagi quickly introduced herself and her companions. Before anything else could be said, everyone was knocked to the floor as the Enterprise was hit by a volley of diruptor rays. * * * * * * * * * * * * Zoisite floated effortlessly in space without the aid of protective equipment. Centuries of training allowed the blond general to direct and control the Negaforce energy so that it was possible to get a first had look at the mysterious ship orbiting the Earth without such primitive devices. Zoisite watched as the ship glided by. Zoisite read the lettering as it came into view. Suddenly, there was movement off to the side. A ship appeared where before there was empty space. The second ship began to fire on the Enterprise. Powerful blasts of energy that Zoisite couldn't help but admire. Before the Enterprise could return fire, Zoisite and the Romulan ship were teleported to Beryl's Arctic fortress. * * * * * * * * * * * * /WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!/ Capt. Kirk was not amused. In a matter of moments, a Romulan Warbird decloaked, fired on the Enterprise, then disappeared. The Enterprise crew didn't even have time to call a Red Alert. /Are those Romulans trying to play games with us?/ /I don't believe so, Captain,/ Mr. Spock replied. /When the Warbird disappeared from our sensors it did not display the usual cloaking energy signature. In fact, the energy reading is similar to those found in the Arctic and in Japan. Thus, I do not believe the Romulans simply decloaked, fired, then recloaked./ Kirk walked over to his first officer. /What happened then?/ /It will require further study, Captain,/ Mr. Spock answered. Kirk shook his head. /Uhura, I want all senior officers to report to the Main Conference Room in 10 minutes./ /Aye, Captain./ * * * * * * * * * * * * Queen Beryl sat majestically on her throne and pondered the site before her. Zoisite stood before the Romulan ship and bowed deeply to Beryl. "My Queen, I have done as you commanded. I have brought you the space travelers who have created the plague." "Excellent work, Zoisite. I shall reward you accordingly." A hatch in the ship opened to reveal a man with short dark hair clad in a grey suit. He had pointed ears and carried a small weapon. Zoisite thought in amusement. The man tried to fire his weapon at Queen Beryl but found it to be useless. Beryl stood up and laughed. "Your primitive weapons cannot harm me in my fortress! Kneel before me! I am Beryl, Queen of the Negaforce and the future ruler of the Universe!" Fortunately for the Romulan, his Universal Translator had not been damaged. "I was not aware that 20th century humans were capable of such power." "HUMAN?!?" Beryl seethed. Zoisite thought. "I AM NOT A HUMAN!" Beryl screamed as she gathered a fraction of the Negaforce energy in her hands. "I am ABOVE humans! I seek to DESTROY these humans!" Beryl released the energy at the Romulan ship and caused considerable damage to its hull. "Then we have two things in common," the dark haired man said calmly. He was angry that his ship was damaged but he wasn't about to lose an ally as powerful as Beryl. "My crew and I are not human, we are of a proud race of people called Romulans. And we also want to rid the universe of the human race." He jumped down from his ship and walked towards Beryl's throne. "I believe we can be useful to each other." Beryl eyed him carefully. "I've never heard of your race. Romulan, you say?" He nodded. She sat back down on her throne and said: "You will tell me how you intend to be rid of these humans. Zoisite, bring Kunzite here. I want the both of you to hear this as well." "As you wish, my Queen." * * * * * * * * * * * * CHAPTER FOUR /All right, people. I want explanations and I want them now,/ Kirk strode around the room looking at each officer present before taking his seat at the head of the table. Mr. Spock called up the three sets of strange energy readings collected over the past few hours onto the computer screens on the conference table. /These are readings taken from orbit of the Arctic and of Japan. These are the readings Mr. Chekov and I collected while we were down on the planet surface. And these are the readings when the Romulan ship mysteriously disappeared in the middle of our last battle./ /Wait,/ Dr. McCoy said. He pulled up some medical records and displayed them on the screen next to Mr. Spock's data. /These are the diagnostics on the young Japanese visitors that are in Sickbay./ Mr. Spock raised an eyebrow as he looked at the new information. /Fascinating./ /I didn't think these diagnostics were important at first. I figured the computers on board were malfunctioning. No offence, Scotty. I know you and your crews are doing your best./ /None taken, Doctor,/ Scotty said. /By the way, what happened to the Universal Translators?/ McCoy asked. /Don't even ask, Doctor,/ Scotty answered. /We're lucky to have Artificial Gravity after everything we've been through. It's a good thing we all speak Standard./ /Gentlemen,/ Kirk spoke up. He wanted this meeting to stay focused. McCoy and Scotty were quiet. /As we can see, there is a clear pattern between the first set of readings and those Dr. McCoy has provided us with,/ commented Mr. Spock. /The readings are polar opposites of each other,/ Ensign Chekov observed. /Precisely,/ Mr. Spock commended the young officer. /What does that mean for us?/ Lt. Uhura asked. /It means we should have a talk with our young visitors,/ Capt. Kirk decided. /What is your impression of them Mr. Sulu?/ /They're just kids, Captain. They just want to go home and make sure their families are okay,/ Mr. Sulu replied. /Jim, you don't mean to say that those kids are collaborating with the Romulans somehow, do you?/ Dr. McCoy was stunned. /Those kids were in Sickbay with me, Sulu, and Nurse Chapel when that last attack occurred. They were so scared afterwards, they almost didn't let Sulu and me come to this meeting./ /I'm not insinuating anything, Bones,/ Kirk stated. /I just want to talk to them. Besides, it's not safe for them to return to the surface./ /But it's not safe for us to keep them on board a ship that's from 300 years into their future,/ Scotty argued. Kirk rubbed his chin. The Academy course on Temporal Ethics did not prepare him for situations such as this. /I know Scotty. We are at risk for jeopardizing history as we know it. But if we don't stop these Romulans, our history is doomed for sure./ The officers remained silent as Kirk came to his decision. /All right. Sulu, I'd like for you to accompany me when I speak to these young visitors. Scotty, keep up the repairs. Propulsion and defense are our priorities. Spock and Bones, I want you two to find a cure for this lung poison. Chekov, keep scanning the area for any signs of suspicious activity, Romulan or otherwise. And Uhura, monitor the planet's communications networks. Keep us informed of any new outbreaks of our lung poison or of any "alien sightings."/ /Of course, Captain,/ the communications officer smiled. * * * * * * * * * * * * Usagi and her friends sat quietly in Sickbay, still shaken by the brief attack hours earlier. Dr. McCoy and Sulu didn't explain much to them before leaving for their meeting. Nurse Chapel brought the young teens some tea and was quite grateful to learn that Ami and Mamoru spoke English fluently. "I wish someone would tell us what's going on," Mamoru said as he walked off to talk to Nurse Chapel. "Rei-chan, can you sense anything?" Usagi asked after Mamoru had left. "Well, I did earlier," Rei answered. "When we were in the streets of Tokyo and we first encountered that red gas I sensed this presence. It was similar to what I felt in my dream and in my vision. I can't describe it. It's different from what I sense when it's the Negaforce. And during that last attack, I sensed it again. But I also sensed the Negaforce." "So maybe we were right earlier about the Negaverse being involved with this plague?" Makoto suggested. Rei shook her head. "I don't know. I only sensed the two forces together during the last attack. And even then they weren't working in harmony." "Hey when were you guys talking about this plague and the Negaverse?" Usagi asked. Rei was about to hotly tell Usagi it was after she had ran off earlier that morning but Ami quickly stepped in. "What about now, Rei-chan?" Ami asked. Rei closed her eyes and concentrated. "Nothing. But, I do feel a certain emptiness. Like there's nothing around us. It's weird." Ami repeated to herself. She retreated to a corner of the room, pulled out her mini-computer, and started running diagnostic programs. Usagi looked at Luna and made sure they were out of view of Mamoru and the nurse. "Well?" she asked her cat quietly. "I think you girls better be careful. I have an odd feeling about all of this," Luna replied. Just then, Sulu and another man walked into Sickbay. While they spoke to Nurse Chapel, Ami quickly put away her mini-computer and joined the other girls. Finally, Sulu spoke up: "Everyone, this is Capt. Kirk. He would like to show you to your new quarters." /Quarters?/ Mamoru asked. /What do you mean? How long are we staying here?/ /We want to be with our families,/ Ami insisted. Usagi and Rei nodded in agreement. If Kirk was surprised that two of their Japanese guests spoke English, he didn't let it show. /Nurse Chapel has cleared you all from Sickbay. The new quarters are only temporary. I'm sure you would all welcome a change of scenery. And we will allow you to return to your families as soon as possible./ /When?/ Ami asked. /Due to the current medical emergency, I can't give you an exact timeframe. But I promise it will be soon,/ Kirk said. /Now, this way please./ /Can you at least tell us if they're safe?/ Ami sounded less composed than usual. Usagi understood why her friend was beginning to become upset. She wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to her family. Even Shingo. Kirk put a reassuring hand on Ami's shoulder and turned to Nurse Chapel. /Will you find out about their families?/ /Of course, Captain./ She looked at Ami and said, /Don't worry, I'm sure they're all right./ Ami thought as she and the others followed Kirk out of Sickbay. * * * * * * * * * * * * Back on Earth, a young blonde teenager looked at the scene before her in the city streets. The evening newscasts were true. There was a mysterious disease sweeping through Tokyo and the hospitals were overwhelmed with the sick and the dying. People were desperately trying to flee the city thus causing as much havoc as the disease. She turned to the white cat at her side and asked: "Well, what do you think?" The cat looked at the streets then back at the girl and said, "Minako, it's time for Sailor V to make the scene." The girl nodded and called out: "SAILOR V POWER! MAKE UP!" Instantly she was enveloped in golden energy as her school uniform melted away and her senshi uniform appeared in its place. She picked up her cat and gracefully leaped from the rooftop to the street below. "Artemis, find out what you can about this mystery disease, and I'll do a little crowd control." "Okay, but be careful," he said as he moved down the street. Sailor V ran in the opposite direction, somersaulted in the air, and landed in the middle of a panicked crowd. The people stopped in mid-stampede. Sailor V picked up a small crying child and spoke in a loud clear voice: "Citizens of Tokyo! I am Sailor V! Please remain calm! I am going to help you leave this city!" * * * * * * * * * * * * Artemis did not have far to go till he came upon evidence of the lung poison. He saw several people lying on the ground. There was nothing he could do for them now. He just hoped that these people were not beyond medical help. Artemis kept low to the ground and carefully crawled forward. He pricked his ears up. He thought he heard voices up ahead but he wasn't sure. He kept moving. Then, he saw them. Zoisite and Kunzite stood off to the side as the Romulan who had struck the deal with Beryl monitored the effects of his lung poison on the people of Tokyo. An open canister lay at his feet spewing out the last of the red smoke. Only the Romulan wore a facemask to filter out the effects of the gas. The generals used the Negaforce to protect themselves. Artemis kept a paw over his nose. "Talus," Kunzite said crisply. "Progress report." The Romulan's expression was hidden by his mask. It was a combination of anger and distaste for Kunzite's attitude. Talus put away his data pad and turned to Beryl's generals. "All is going better than we expected. There has been no interference from this fighting squad you call the Sailor Senshi. Perhaps they are not as formidable as you have described." Talus watched with satisfaction as Zoisite trembled with thinly controlled rage. The Romulan turned away from the generals. "I will continue the infection." He opened his communicator and said: "This is Talus. Transport me to the next coordinates." As he shimmered away, Zoisite turned to Kunzite and said, "Do you trust these Romulans?" Kunzite turned to his companion and said, "Queen Beryl thinks they can further our cause." Zoisite raised an eyebrow. "Do you _trust_ them?" Kunzite gave a sly smile and cupped Zoisite's chin in his hand. "My dear Zoisite. It doesn't matter if I trust them. It just matters that we win in the end." With that, Kunzite waved his hand in the air and teleported himself and Zoisite to Talus' coordinates. Artemis thought to himself. Artemis crawled forward two steps then thought better of it. Artemis turned around and keeping low to the ground, he went off in search of Sailor V. * * * * * * * * * * * * On the Enterprise, the young teens had been shown three adjoining quarters that were all quite comfortable. In the centre of one of the rooms was a low table laden with several Japanese dishes. Everyone sat down and began to eat. Usagi couldn't remember when it was she last had a meal but it didn't matter. There was even a bowl of food and a water dish for Luna. /What have the news reports been saying about the mysterious plague?/ Ami asked between bites. Kirk chewed thoughtfully. He had to be careful of what he said. Uhura had been monitoring the newscasts from orbit. Kirk repeated what his communications officer had told him. /It's a potent lung poison. No one is sure where it came from./ Kirk's last statement drew an odd look from Rei. /When you say potent, do you mean deadly?/ Mamoru asked. The girls and Luna stopped eating and looked at Mamoru. /Very nearly so,/ Kirk admitted. /The hospitals are full of patients affected by this lung poison. Doctors and scientists are hard at work looking for a cure. In fact, Dr. McCoy and my best science officer, Mr. Spock, are working at it right now./ /How close are they to finding a cure?/ Ami asked. /It may be awhile before the first drug is tested,/ Kirk said reluctantly. He judged Ami to be an exceptionally bright young girl and could imagine her mentally calculating how many people would die before a cure could be found. Usagi, Rei, and Makoto didn't understand everything being said, but they caught enough to realize that something had to be done soon for the people of Tokyo. Sulu spoke up, "We'll do everything we can to beat this plague." Makoto smiled at his encouraging words and decided to change the subject. "What happened in that last attack? Who would attack us in the middle of a medical emergency?" Sulu was afraid this subject might come up. He translated for Capt. Kirk who took another bite of food before answering. /I can't give you the whole story because some information is classified,/ Kirk began. /However, I will say that we are at odds with a foreign ruling power. I can't be more specific than that. Mr. Sulu, I think we should let our guests get some rest for tonight./ /Aye, Captain./ The two officers stood up, said good-bye, and left the room. Mamoru left for his room, while the girls stayed up a little longer. "I think Capt. Kirk is hiding something," Rei said. "It's not just because certain information is classified, either." Makoto nodded. "I know what you mean. But I think for the most part, he and Hikaru are being honest with us." "That may be true, but I don't want you girls staying up all night debating it," Luna said as Usagi gave a big yawn. Rei and Makoto left for their room. Ami sat at a nearby computer terminal and pulled out her mini-computer. "Ami-chan, you're not going to stay up all night working are you?" Usagi asked worriedly. "I just have to run a few calculations, Usagi-chan," Ami replied with a tired smile. "I promise I won't stay up late." Usagi looked at Luna. "You keep her to that promise!" "Don't worry," Luna said. Usagi gave Ami a big hug before walking across the room to the bed. Ami quickly typed and looked from the terminal to her mini-computer and back again. Before Luna could say anything Ami spoke first, "Luna, I have to do this. I need to know what's going on and if my mother is safe. In fact, I'll only stay up late enough to find out about Mom and then I'll go to sleep." Luna knew that Ami could be just as stubborn as Usagi. So, the cat merely smiled and said, "Let's get to work." * * * * * * * * * * * * CHAPTER FIVE Rei couldn't fall asleep. She had been feeling uneasy for the past several hours. It wasn't because Capt. Kirk and Mr. Sulu weren't being completely honest with them. It was a gnawing feeling that something was wrong and it needed her immediate attention. The feeling had been growing stronger since the attack while they were in Sickbay. Rei occasionally tried to reach out with her senses to determine what exactly she was feeling, but each time she learned nothing. Frustrated, she turned over in her bed and looked over at Makoto who was awake as well. "You know, Rei-chan," Makoto said. "It's very difficult to sleep when all I can hear is you tossing and turning over there." Rei sighed. "I'm sorry Makoto. I can't sleep. I don't feel like I should be sleeping. I feel like I should be somewhere else." "I know," Makoto agreed. "If the Negaverse really is involved with this lung poison, we should be out there kicking their butts!" Rei pulled the covers tighter around herself, shut her eyes, and tried to ignore the awful feeling she had inside her. * * * * * * * * * * * * It didn't look like Yuuichirou was going to get any sleep tonight. He stayed by Grandfather Hino's bedside and held the older man's hand. Grandfather Hino gave no sign that he aware of his student's presence. Both had contracted the lung poison earlier in the day but Yuuichirou's youth and strength had helped him to stay conscious and off the hospital's ventilators. As tired as Yuuichirou felt, he didn't want to fall asleep just in case something were to happen to Grandfather Hino or if there was news about Rei. She disappeared before the lung poison reached the Hikawa Jinja Temple. He didn't know if she had safely escaped or if she had already fallen to the poison. Yuuichirou coughed a few times then looked at his mentor. The small man had never appeared frail to Yuuichirou...until now. Yuuichirou felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Dr. Mizuno. She and other hospital staff had been on duty since the first victims of the lung poison were admitted. She looked as tired as Yuuichirou felt, but she didn't stop working. Not while so many people needed her. "How are you doing?" she asked Yuuichirou softly. The young man shrugged. "I'm all right, I suppose." He paused. "Have you heard anything about the girls?" Dr. Mizuno shook her head. She felt empty. Years ago, she had lost her husband and now she had probably lost her daughter. She didn't want to give up hope but as a scientist she had to look at the facts before her. People were dying and there was no cure in sight. She hadn't heard anything from the other hospitals about Ami or her daughter's friends. Dr. Mizuno coughed. "Are you feeling all right, Doctor?" Yuuichirou asked. Dr. Mizuno nodded and smiled. "I'll be back to check on the two of you in an hour." With that, she walked around the extra beds in the crowded room to the hallway. * * * * * * * * * * * * Sailor V and Artemis stood on a building rooftop and quietly observed the people leaving Tokyo. "Well, Artemis by now the Tokyo Medical Hazard Teams must be out scouring the city for those canisters. I can't believe the Negaverse would leave that kind of evidence behind." "The Negaverse was overconfident," Artemis replied. "They probably figured that no one would be able to stop them, so why should they cover up their tracks?" "Maybe now, someone can find a cure," Sailor V said hopefully. "But there's one thing I don't understand. I thought the Negaverse wanted to collect human life energy. This plague destroys it." "We can't assume that we know the Negaverse's entire plan," Artemis replied. "For now, we'll have to be alert and prevent them from releasing more of the lung poison." Sailor V nodded. "Any word on the Sailor Senshi?" Artemis sighed. "Nothing yet. And I have a feeling that the Negaverse and the Romulans may be planning their big move soon." "Then we'll just have to move first," Sailor V said with a smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * Capt. Kirk was visiting Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy in Science Station Two. /Any progress, gentlemen?/ Dr. McCoy was weary but Mr. Spock remained focused. /Captain, this sample we had Mr. Scott transport from the surface into this quarantine container is most difficult to analyze. Our progress has been limited./ /Hell, Spock. Our progress has been non-existent!/ Dr. McCoy said as the comm panel in the wall beeped. /Bridge to Keptin Kirk./ /Kirk here./ /Internal Security shows that one of our guests is attempting to gain access to the Enterprise's encrypted computer systems./ Kirk smiled. It had to be Ami trying to find out about her mother. The computer system had been encrypted to prevent the Japanese youths from gaining knowledge of the future. But these youths weren't interested in anything but their families. /Not to worry, Mr. Chekov. I'll have it taken care of. Kirk out,/ and the link was broken. /Bones, you look like you could use a break./ Dr. McCoy stood up. /Hey, I'm a doctor, not a Japanese translator./ Kirk smiled. /Don't worry, Bones. Ami speaks English. They're in the Starboard Guest Quarters on Level Five./ McCoy frowned a bit while he tried to remember which of the girls was Ami. When he got it, he walked out the door, turned and said, /You know, Jim, was it so hard to time-travel back far enough to arrive at Earth _before_ the Romulans did?/ * * * * * * * * * * * * Ami and Luna had been awake for hours trying to break the Enterprise's computer codes. Neither of them had encountered anything as sophisticated as this before. All they wanted was to tap into a communications network. They were so engrossed in their work that they didn't hear the door chime and they certainly didn't hear the door's opening hiss. Dr. McCoy walked into their quarters and couldn't believe his eyes. Was that the cat typing at the terminal? "No Luna, there's a mistake there," Ami said as she pointed at the screen. "You're right, Ami. I must be getting tired," Luna replied as she retyped. Dr. McCoy stared wide-eyed as he slowly backed out of their room. At the sound of the doors closing, Ami looked up from the computer. "Luna, did you hear something?" * * * * * * * * * * * * /I'm telling you, Jim, I know what I saw!/ Dr. McCoy insisted. Mr. Spock and Capt. Kirk looked at each other then back at the good doctor. /Bones, you're tired--/ /Don't patronize me, Jim!/ /Dr. McCoy,/ Spock began patiently. /It is not logical for the cats of 20th century Earth to have speaking ability let alone the intellect to enable them to operate a computer console./ /Well, why don't you two go see for yourselves,/ Dr. McCoy said. /That's a good idea,/ Kirk acknowledged. /Except I don't think our guests will be ready for a Vulcan./ Dr. McCoy snorted. /You think a talking cat would be upset by the sight of a pointy-eared Vulcan?/ Kirk and Spock ignored the doctor's last comment. Kirk activated the wall comm panel, /Kirk to Sulu./ /Sulu here./ /Meet me and Dr. McCoy outside of our guests' quarters right away./ /Aye, sir./ * * * * * * * * * * * * "We're in!" Ami said triumphantly as the Enterprise computer finally responded to her commands. As she scrolled through file after file her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She stood up and walked away from the computer to give herself a chance to absorb the information she had just read. Luna scanned through the ship's logs and then quickly established a link-up with Tokyo's hospital computer system in order to find Ami's mom and the other girls' families. "Ami, you need to read this," Luna said in a shaky voice. The girl sat down at the computer and paled. She ran over to Usagi, "Usagi-chan! Wake up! We have to get out of here, NOW!" Ami didn't wait for her sleepy friend to wake up. She immediately ran into Rei and Makoto's room. The girls quickly assembled in Usagi and Ami's room. "Ami-chan, what's going on?" Usagi asked sleepily. Ami didn't want to explain that they were on the spaceship from Rei's dream, thousands of miles above the Earth. She had something more important to say. "Usagi-chan, your family hasn't been affected by that red gas but Rei-chan, your grandfather is very sick. And my Mom..." Makoto put an arm around her friend as a tear slid down Ami's cheek. "My Mom may be sick as well. We have to go to them." "Grandpa. He's what I've been sensing all along," Rei said quietly. "I can't believe I couldn't figure it out sooner." Rei felt scared, then angry. For all his faults he was still her grandfather and she loved him very much. No one was going to harm the only family she had ever known as long as she was alive. "Those Negatoads! If anything happens to Grandpa... MARS POWER! MAKE UP!" "MERCURY POWER! MAKE UP!" "JUPITER POWER! MAKE UP!" "MOON PRISM POWER! MAKE UP!" Outside the girls' room, Kirk, McCoy, and Sulu were preparing to enter. A nearby wall comm panel beeped. /Bridge to Keptin Kirk./ /Kirk here./ /I'm getting very high energy readings from your location. Is everything all right?/ /We'll let you know. Kirk out./ He strode up to the door and as he and his officers entered the room they were amazed at what they saw. The Sailor Senshi stood in a circle holding hands. Luna was perched on Sailor Moon's shoulder and shouted out: "SAILOR TELEPORT!" In a flash, the Senshi were gone. Kirk didn't know what to say. /Well, Bones, I guess that cat really does talk./ /Who were those girls? And where did my patients go?/ Dr. McCoy asked looking around the room. Kirk ran to Rei and Makoto's room but found it empty. He ran to Mamoru's room to find he was still asleep. Kirk returned without knowing where the young girls were. He was about to say something but Dr. McCoy motioned to Sulu. The helmsman was staring at where the Sailor Senshi once stood. /Mr. Sulu? Are you all right?/ Kirk asked. /I just saw the legendary Sailor Senshi.../ * * * * * * * * * * * * Zoisite sat suspended in mid air observing the scene below with a strange fascination. A smile spread across the pale face of the Negaverse general. Meanwhile, the Romulan Talus was studying the blond Negaverse general with perverse pleasure. Aloud he said: "Chaos among humans is very gratifying." Zoisite landed smoothly on the harsh rooftop. "I agree. Humans are much fun to torture!" Talus clasped his hands behind his back in an attempt to appear casual. "And what is your role in this chaos?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "You who successfully brought the Romulans in contact with your Queen. With such an accomplishment I would have thought that you would have been given a position of authority in this matter." He watched as Zoisite's eyes widened with understanding. "You are right. Queen Beryl has not compensated me yet." Talus nodded solemnly. "You have been deprived of the status and glory that should be associated with such an achievement." As predicted, his selfish companion's evil eyes narrowed in contempt. "The situation will change!" With a dark swirl of Negaverse energy Zoisite was suddenly gone. Talus allowed himself a small smile at this minor victory. He lifted his fist in the air and said: "The Negaverse WILL belong to the Romulan Empire! And the Federation will be no more!" * * * * * * * * * * * * CHAPTER SIX The Sailor Senshi's teleport through space had been incredible. Not only did they marvel at the beauty of their planets and the stars but they gaped at the spaceship they had just left. Sailor Mars stared at the Enterprise for a long time even though she had seen it before in her dreams. However, any questions the Senshi had for Capt. Kirk would have to wait till after the crisis in Tokyo had been resolved. The Senshi and Luna landed in what should have been a crowded Tokyo street. The few people they saw were carrying afflicted loved ones towards the nearby Tokyo Hospital. The red gas floated lazily in the air, deceiving the eye to its deadly potential. The four girls started to run towards the hospital. "STOP!" Luna bellowed. "I know you're worried about your families, but there are more important things to do." "No way, Luna!" Mars protested. "Grandpa's in that hospital so that's where I'm going!" "My mother is there, too," Mercury added quietly but with equal force. "I don't even know if she's sick or not. I have to go see her." Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter were shocked. Mercury had always agreed with Luna. "Luna's right," Jupiter said. The moon cat gave the girl a grateful look. Jupiter continued, "It would be selfish just to worry about our families. We are Sailor Senshi and we have a higher duty." "How dare you call me selfish!" Mars exploded. Sailor Moon could almost see fire burning in Mars' eyes. "You don't even have a family to worry about!" Jupiter could feel tears ready to spill down her face. She quickly blinked them away. Jupiter knew very well that she was alone. The silence that greeted her when she went home to her empty apartment reminded her of that. Sailor Moon looked at her friends in the awkward silence that followed. "I have a plan!" she said triumphantly. Mars rolled her eyes. "Listen Odanga Atama, this isn't the time for one of your hair-brained ideas!" "But it's a really good plan!" Sailor Moon whined. She counted off her plan on her fingers to keep herself organized. "Mars you go to the hospital and see if all our families are okay; Mercury and Luna, you'll try and figure out a cure; Jupiter, you and me will try and stop the spread of the red gas." Luna and Mars were surprised while Mercury and Jupiter were impressed. Jupiter then became concerned as a cloud of red gas passed close by. "Hey won't we get sick, too?" Mercury took out her mini computer and began to scan the red cloud which now surrounded them. "I am curious to see why we have not begun to show signs of illness..." For a moment, Mercury was silent as she studied the information before her. "I am not sure why, but as long as we stay in our Senshi forms we will be protected from infection." Sailor Moon clutched an unwilling black moon cat against her chest as if to protect Luna from the red cloud around them. "And what about Luna? She can't get sick!" she asked while avoiding a swipe from Luna's sharp claws. Mercury smiled. "I'm sure that Luna will not get sick. The red gas seems to be tailored to affect humans only." "Okay then, I'm off to find out about our families," Mars said looking straight at Mercury, then she ran off to the hospital. Mercury watched Mars, wishing that she could go with her. A single tear fell slowly down her cheeks. she scolded herself. She activated her VR visor and began scanning the area. "By studying the gas' rate of diffusion and the wind's velocity, Luna and I should be able to find the point of origin of this gas. From there, we might find clues to a cure," she said as an explanation for Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Moon. "Come on, Luna. This way." Sailor Jupiter watched as they jogged off in a different direction from Sailor Mars. The tall Senshi turned to Sailor Moon and asked: "So where do we start?" * * * * * * * * * * * * The landing party beamed onto a deserted street in central Tokyo. The dense red gaseous cloud that surrounded them made Kirk thankful that McCoy had insisted they wear small, twenty-third century versions of what in the twentieth century were called gas masks. At least, Kirk wouldn't have to worry about his crew contracting the deadly sickness. Spock and Sulu immediately began scanning for signs of Romulan activity. As well, the Romulan ship that had disappeared earlier from their battle was still unaccounted for. Kirk looked at Sulu and shook his head. He still couldn't believe what his helmsman had told the others in the landing party about the Sailor Senshi. Neither could Sulu. The bedtime stories that had been passed down through all Japanese families were only just stories. Until now. /Captain,/ Spock said in his usual serious manner. /There are no signs of recent Romulan activity. However, judging by the rate of diffusion of the gas, there is very little time until the entire city will be exposed./ /Wonderful,/ McCoy commented dryly. /Is there any good news, Spock?/ /Yes, Doctor,/ Spock answered. /As the lung poison continues to diffuse it's effects become weaker. Thus there are several points of origin of this lung poison within the city. One of which is quite close to our present location. It would be logical--/ /To go there and see if there are any clues to a cure for this damned poison,/ McCoy grinned behind his gas mask. /At last, things are starting to look up for us./ /Bones, you and Sulu go check that out. Spock and I will continue to search for the Romulans,/ Kirk ordered. And with that, the landing party split up. * * * * * * * * * * * * Kunzite appeared on the roof of the Tokyo Hospital. He laughed maliciously at the turn of recent events. "Those Romulans are dim-witted," he said to no one in particular. "Do they truly believe that Queen Beryl would allow them to actually annihilate the entire population of this pathetic city without first stealing all its energy?" He sensed a presence appear next to him and asked: "Is all in readiness?" "Yes, Lord Kunzite," a scratchy female voice answered. She was no more than four feet tall. Her crusty hair was short and spiked. Kunzite shuddered when he looked at her. The putrid colour of her green hair and black teeth made him wonder how Beryl could stand having her around. She held in her gnarled, callused hands the key object of their plan. It resembled an umbrella but it lacked the covering material. She held it aloft by its thin metallic handle and in one powerful move, she slammed the base into the cement of the hospital roof. The cement cracked in several directions and the device stayed in place. "I await your signal, Lord Kunzite," she said. * * * * * * * * * * * * /Captain,/ Spock began. /Tricorder readings indicate the presence of two life forms in the nearby park./ /Romulan?/ Kirk asked but he already knew the answer. It couldn't be _that_ easy. /Unlikely, Captain. Readings show that they are two of our former Japanese guests./ Kirk remembered Sulu's stories. Were Sulu's legends real people? And were they the youths the Enterprise rescued earlier today? There were so many questions. /Captain? How shall we proceed?/ /Let's go meet them. Maybe they can provide some answers./ * * * * * * * * * * * * Sailor Mars peered around a corner of the waiting room. It was full with people who were sick and people who were helping the sick. She thought of her Grandfather and of how much she wanted to be with him right now. She paused for a moment to calm herself. With her eyes closed, she focused her mind on the thoughts of those around her and sought out three specific people. After a few minutes her eyes flew open and her heart began to race. She ran down the corridor and tried to avoid the hands that reached out to her. She realized that these people needed her to say that everything was going to turn out fine but she couldn't afford the time to comfort each person. At the end of the corridor she turned around and faced everyone. She looked among their faces and saw despair, resignation, and hope. She took a deep breath. "Hear me, everyone! I am Sailor Mars. We Sailor Senshi are working very hard to find a cure for this illness and we won't rest until we do." She saw a few smiles. "Please everyone, be strong. Not just for yourselves but for your loved ones." Sailor Mars ran off in the direction of the hospital's labs hoping that her words were able to make some of those people feel better. When she reached the labs, Mars found Dr. Mizuno in the back slumped over a desk crowded with vials and several biological samples. Mars ran over to the doctor and pulled the older woman into her arms. Dr. Mizuno opened her eyes and fought hard to focus her vision. She was surprised to find herself in the presence of a Sailor Senshi. She shakily held out a sealed test tube to Sailor Mars. "You have to bring this..." she whispered. "Bring this to Ami...my daughter..." And with those words she closed her eyes and went limp in the young girl's arms. Mars was trembling so much she couldn't tell if Dr. Mizuno was still breathing. She forced herself to calm down and then carried Ami's mother over to a nearby couch. Mars placed her ear over Dr. Mizuno's nose and felt her breathe softly against her cheek. Satisfied that Dr. Mizuno would be all right for a short time Mars stood up and held the unmarked test tube up to the light. she scolded herself. Mars placed the test tube into her subspace pocket as she made her way to a hospital room two floors up. She quietly walked into the room and saw her Grandfather lying on the bed with a ventilator tube going down his throat, an IV tube providing nutrients into his left arm, and a heart monitor beeping softly in the background. She didn't have the strength to hold back her sobs. Yuuichirou looked up from where he sat and saw Sailor Mars behind him. He stood up and carefully drew Mars into a gentle embrace. "It's a lot better than it looks," Yuuichirou said softly. "He's strong. I just wish his granddaughter was here. I think it would mean a lot to him. It would mean a lot to me, too." Mars had stopped crying as Yuuichirou spoke. She looked at Grandpa and then up at Yuuichirou. "Rei sent me with a message. She's fine. She really wishes she could be here with you both." She pulled away from Yuuichirou. "Stay with Grandfather Hino. Make sure he's not alone and I'll make sure Rei gets here safely to be here with the both of you." Yuuichirou smiled at Sailor Mars. "It's a deal." * * * * * * * * * * * * McCoy and Sulu turned a corner. They were almost at their goal. Sulu, being in front, stopped suddenly. McCoy nearly ran into the Enterprise's helmsman. With a slight move of his hand, Sulu pointed out the person kneeling in front of an empty canister. She wore a blue skirted sailor suit, her hair was short and blue, and she looked to be a teenager. She carefully studied readings from what Sulu surmised was a mini computer, something quite sophisticated for the twentieth century. With the clumsy smile of someone meeting his hero for the first time, he gasped: /This is incredible!/ McCoy looked over to his companion as if the younger man had gone mad. /What the heck are you taking about? We've got to get that girl away from that canister before she contracts the lung poison!/ Sulu nodded towards the blue haired teenager. /SHE is one of the Sailor Senshi! She's Sailor Mercury!/ McCoy looked at the young man. /Son, we're trying to save humanity from the coming of the second plague and preserve our future and YOU are going gaga over a superhero. Now come on, we've got to investigate that canister./ McCoy stepped around Sulu and smiled at Sailor Mercury. /It seems that we are looking for the same thing./ Sailor Mercury stood up. /Yes,/ she answered shyly. She watched as the younger man, whom she knew as Sulu stared at her in amazement. /You are Sailor Mercury,/ Sulu said. He couldn't help his boyish grin. Sailor Mercury nodded. She looked at the older man /You are Dr. McCoy,/ she turned to the helmsman: /and you are Lt. Sulu./ /Well, now that we know who everyone is could you please hand over that canister so that you won't get infected and we can study it?/ Dr. McCoy asked. /I won't become infected, of that I am certain./ Sailor Mercury said. Her computer began to beep. /My computer's analysis of the components of the poison is complete./ She frowned at the readings. /But my computer couldn't identify any of the compounds./ McCoy had his tricorder verify Mercury's findings. /Well, young lady. There's nothing wrong with your computer because the compounds aren't from Earth./ He turned to Sulu. /But at least we know the gas' components and their proportions. Finding a cure should be easier./ Mercury brightened at that statement. /If you're going to find a cure then I want to help./ * * * * * * * * * * * * Sailors Moon and Jupiter ran through the park. Sailor Moon tripped over something in her path and landed face down in the grass and dirt. "Ah! That hurts!" She wailed. She looked at what tripped her and screamed. "Wahhhhh! It's a dead body!" She backpedaled quickly and Jupiter moved forward. Jupiter touched two fingers to the person's neck. "He's not dead, just out cold. Help me get him to that bench over there." Sailor Moon stared wild-eyed at the man Jupiter was trying to lift. Her breathing was rapid but it was slowing down. She walked over and grabbed his legs as she and Sailor Jupiter carried him to the park bench. /Hello there!/ a voice called out from behind the girls. It sounded familiar to them. The girls turned around slowly to see Capt. Kirk and a man with pointed ears. /My name is Capt. Kirk. This is Spock. We mean you no harm. We just want to ask you a few questions./ Sailor Moon scrunched up her face trying hard to figure out what the Captain had said. She looked to Jupiter for help, but the tall Senshi just shrugged her shoulders. /I...am...Sailor Moon!/ she said haltingly. She pointed to her friend. /And this is...Sailor Jupiter!/ Spock raised his tricorder in the girls' direction and studied its readings. /It is confirmed, Captain. These are two of the youths that were our guests on the Enterprise. Specifically, they are Tsukino Usagi,/ he motioned to Sailor Moon: /and Kino Makoto,/ he motioned to Sailor Jupiter. "He knows who we are!" Sailor Moon whispered to her friend. * * * * * * * * * * * * Kunzite laughed with glee. The life energy was there for the Negaverse to take and the Sailor Senshi were nowhere to be found. He didn't care where they were as long as they stayed far away from Tokyo. "Kunzite!" came the sharp call. "Yes, my Queen," he answered calmly. "Proceed with our plan," she commanded. These Romulans were willful and difficult and their usefulness was quickly coming to an end. She would not tolerate their presence for much longer. "As you wish, my Queen," Kunzite said with a low bow. "If you succeed, there shall be great rewards for you," she promised. "I will not fail you." "You had better not!" Beryl thundered. She teleported back to the Negaverse's Arctic fortress and Kunzite was alone. But not for long. "So that's the plan!" Zoisite appeared before Kunzite and was unhappy at the recent exchange between the other general and Queen Beryl. Kunzite smiled. "Ah, Zoisite. Shouldn't you be searching out another Rainbow Crystal? Queen Beryl will be most disappointed if the hosts of the Crystals die before the Crystals have been removed." Zoisite stepped forward menacingly towards Kunzite. Whatever happened between them in the past didn't matter to Zoisite now. Kunzite may have been a mentor and even a lover. But now, Kunzite was an enemy. "It's a fool's errand, removing the Rainbow Crystals from their hosts! It was I who first brought the Romulans to Queen Beryl and it should be ME to finish our relations with the Romulans and drain the humans of their energy! That honor and glory belong to _ME_!" Kunzite considered this angry outburst. Zoisite was known for jealous rages and had pursued Nephlyte almost religiously until he had been destroyed. Kunzite looked over his shoulder, down to the streets behind the hospital. "Soon, the final canister will be opened. The last lethal dose of poisonous gas will spread across Tokyo." "Aren't you listening to me?" Zoisite yelled. "This is not your place! It is mine!" Kunzite narrowed his eyes and pointed a gloved finger towards his companion. "Are you challenging me Zoisite?" he roared as he gathered up Negaforce energy in his hands. * * * * * * * * * * * * Sailor Mars spoke briefly to Sailor Mercury over their communicators. Both Senshi were surprised to learn that each had found a potential cure for the red gas. Mercury was especially grateful to learn that her mother was still alive. As Mars ran towards Mercury's coordinates, a strange light began to shimmer before her, starting as a small yellow sphere, and expanding into a humanoid form. The humanoid had black hair, a strange uniform, and pointed ears. Mars gasped. This was the strange man from her fire reading and she sensed evil from him. "I am Sailor Mars, Senshi of Fire! You will not spread your deadly poison any longer!" "I hardly believe that you could be a threat to me," Talus said calmly. Suddenly, a group of hideous youmas appeared next to Talus with a swirl of Negaverse energy. There were four of them, each uglier than the next. Mars couldn't help but shudder at the sight of them. The youmas began to advance and Mars readied herself for their attack. * * * * * * * * * * * * Sailors Moon and Jupiter hear a shout from outside the park. "I am Sailor Mars, Senshi of Fire! You will not spread your deadly poison any longer!" "That's Mars!" said Sailor Moon, ignoring the two Enterprise officers before her. "She needs our help!" "Let's go!" Jupiter said as the two of them ran towards their friend. Kirk and Spock watched as the two Senshi ran off. /I suggest we follow them, Captain,/ Spock said. /My readings show that a Romulan has recently beamed down in the direction that the Senshi have taken./ The two men pulled out their phasers and ran towards the commotion, unsure of what they would find. * * * * * * * * * * * * CHAPTER SEVEN. Mamoru tossed and turned in his bunk. In his dreams he saw a girl--a princess. He had no idea who she was or why he dreamt of her. As in previous dreams she called out to him; she needed his help. Mamoru always ran to her yet he was never able to reach her, let alone see her face. He could only see that her long hair cascaded from two buns on her head. But this dream was different. Her cries for help seemed more urgent and the danger was more imminent. She called out his name as she disappeared in a blinding flash of light. Mamoru awoke with a start. he told himself as he took slow deep breaths. Then it began. A strange energy force grew from deep within him. He didn't understand it and he couldn't stop it. Mamoru sat over the edge of his bunk and clutched at his chest. The energy surrounded him and when it dissipated, Tuxedo Kamen stood up. With a swirl of his cape, he teleported off the Enterprise. * * * * * * * * * * * * /Commander Scott, I'm getting unusual energy readings coming from the last of the visitor's quarters. Shall I send a security team to investigate?/ Ensign Chekov asked. /Leave it be,/ Scotty ordered remembering Lt. Sulu's briefing on the Sailor Senshi. Scotty hit the comm toggle on the Captain's chair. /Transporter Room Three, lock onto Dr. McCoy's coordinates and prepare to beam his party up on his orders. Make sure the transporter bio-filters are running at maximum./ /Aye sir./ * * * * * * * * * * * * /Young lady, I don't think we should wait too long for your friend,/ Dr. McCoy said kindly to Sailor Mercury. /We could head up to the Enterprise and work with what we've found here and transport your friend's vial later./ The young Senshi understood. The longer they stayed on Earth, the longer it would take to find and mass produce the cure to the lung poison. That was time innocent people couldn't spare. /All right, I'm ready to go with you./ Luna meowed and jumped into Mercury's arms. /Hold on there, kitty,/ Dr. McCoy said to Luna. /If you want to come along, you'll have to speak up. Don't give me that innocent look. Lt. Sulu told me all about the Sailor Senshi and talking moon cats./ Luna sighed. There was no point hiding it now. /Very well. Permission to assist with the research, Doctor./ McCoy grinned. /Permission granted./ Mercury never knew that Luna could speak English. Somehow, it didn't faze Dr. McCoy or Lt. Sulu one bit. The doctor pulled out his communicator. /McCoy to Transporter Room Three: Three humans and a cat to transport./ /Aye sir./ McCoy took a deep breath. /Energize./ * * * * * * * * * * * * "FIRE STORM!" Mars shouted as she attacked the youmas. One was hit but it wasn't seriously injured. The nearest youma charged at Mars and swung its claws. Mars leaped out of the way but was struck in mid-air by the tail of another youma. Mars was slammed into a parked car across the street. She slowly raised her head and watched as the four youmas approached her. "SUPREME THUNDER!" "MOON TIARA ACTION!" The Senshi attacks struck the youmas and pushed them back. Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter leaped over the car and landed gracefully in front of Sailor Mars. Jupiter prepared to release another attack as Sailor Moon helped Mars to her feet. "Are you okay?" Sailor Moon asked her friend. "I will be," Mars answered wincing with some pain. "By the way, Odanga Atama...nice landing there." "Thanks," Sailor Moon smiled and readied her tiara for another attack. Mars steadied herself then took aim. Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock caught up to the Senshi and watched as they simultaneously released their attacks on the youmas. The officers were impressed with the intensity of the Senshi's firepower. Kirk thought to himself. /Captain,/ Spock motioned to someone standing in the background. Kirk saw who Spock pointed out. /That's our renegade Romulan. After him!/ Kirk and Spock ran towards Talus but the Romulan saw them and transported away. The two officers heard an unearthly roar and turned to find a youma towering above them. The officers immediately fired phasers at the centre of its chest. It roared in pain then continued its advance. Kirk and Spock tuned their phasers to a higher setting and fired again. The youma stumbled but continued to move towards them. Kirk and Spock set their phasers to "Kill" and fired. A hole burned through the youma and it disintegrated into a pile of ashes. The officers then watched as each Senshi defeated a youma. "Moon dusted!" Sailor Moon said triumphantly. Suddenly, the Senshi and the officers heard an explosion. "It came from the direction of the hospital!" Mars said. "Let's go!" Jupiter began to run but Mars held her back. "Wait!" Mars pulled the vial from Dr. Mizuno out of her subspace pocket. "I have to give this to Mercury. It might be a clue to the cure for the lung poison." Kirk and Spock stepped forward. Kirk held out his hand towards Mars. /May I see that vial?/ Mars hesitated as explosions continued in the background. She didn't know if she could trust Captain Kirk. He wasn't completely honest with them before. Kirk slowly pulled out his communicator. /Kirk to Dr. McCoy./ /McCoy here./ /Spock and I are with three of the girls we beamed up earlier. By any chance is the fourth one with you?/ /Yes she is. I'll put her on./ /Captain Kirk,/ Mercury began. /I am with Dr. McCoy in Science Station Two and we have almost found a cure to the lung poison but there is a vial of fluid that we are waiting for. Do you have it?/ /You'll have to speak to your friend,/ Kirk replied as he handed the communicator over to Sailor Mars. "Mercury, I have the vial from your mother." "Hurry, give it to Captain Kirk. We've almost found a cure!" Mars handed the vial and the communicator over to Kirk. He thanked her and had the transporter chief beam up the vial. As it shimmered out of Kirk's hand, the group quickly headed over to the hospital. * * * * * * * * * * * * Kunzite yelled as his energy attack threw Zoisite across the hospital rooftop. Zoisite answered with an equally forceful blast then stood up and pressed the advantage. Energy blasts rained down on Kunzite but he did not retaliate. Instead he waited and watched as Zoisite came closer. Zoisite stopped about a meter away from Kunzite and said, "I really do like you but regretfully I'll have to destroy you." In one motion, Kunzite stood up, grabbed Zoisite's arms, and said, "Perhaps another time." With that Kunzite sent an energy blast threw Zoisite's body and threw the blond general over the hospital rooftop. "Fiend! Begin extracting the life force of these humans! I have other matters to attend to!" Kunzite jumped over the edge and went after Zoisite. The scratchy voiced youma appeared and raised her arms up to the sky. Soon the whole hospital was encased in a Negaforce shield. The object she had pushed through the hospital's rooftop began to glow with energy--human life energy. Down below, a disoriented Zoisite fell towards the ground. Being too dazed and weak to teleport to safety, Zoisite managed to harness enough Negaforce power to slow the descent but not to stop it. Luckily, Captain Kirk and the others had arrived at the hospital and saw Zoisite falling. Kirk ran ahead and caught Zoisite in his arms. /Are you hurt?/ the Captain asked. Zoisite took a few deep breaths and realized that a stranger was far too close for comfort. "Unhand me, human!" Zoisite seethed while pushing away from Kirk. "_I_ am a General of the Negaverse and _YOU_ are not my type!" Zoisite jumped into the air to intercept Kunzite and the two disappeared in a blaze of lights to continue their battle elsewhere. "What was that all about?" Sailor Moon asked. Jupiter shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know but I don't think the Captain knows about Zoisite." "We have to get to the roof," Mars said pointing upwards. The Senshi ran into the building to dash into an elevator. Mr. Spock's tricorder readings told him the same. /Captain, I would agree with the Senshi. We must get to the hospital rooftop if we are to save the hundreds of lives within this hospital./ Kirk and Spock ran after the Senshi. When the group appeared on the rooftop next to the hospital Fiend lost no time in attacking them. Everyone scrambled for cover. Kirk and Spock began firing their phasers but the Senshi were not able to unleash their attacks. "We're pinned down!" Jupiter said through clenched teeth. "CRESCENT BEAM!" A sailor suited figure leaped over several rooftops releasing multiple energy blasts at the Negaforce shield. Fiend looked over her shoulder and began attacking the new threat. "Now's our chance!" Jupiter sprang to her feet and leaped to the nearest rooftop. "Everyone spread out!" Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars ran to other rooftops. Kirk and Spock held their ground and continued firing their phasers but the Negaforce shield absorbed the blasts. Sailor Moon was in mid-leap when she was struck by Fiend's energy blast. Mars and Jupiter watched in stunned silence as their leader began falling to the ground ten stories below. Sailor Moon reached out for something to stop her fall but everything moved too fast. She saw the ground quickly coming towards her so she closed her eyes and waited. Instead of pavement she felt strong arms encircle her and she noticed that she was being carried upwards. She opened her eyes. "Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon landed on a rooftop. Mars let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Hurry Sailor Moon! We must destroy that Negaforce shield!" Tuxedo Kamen said as he released a torrent of red roses which exploded on the shield's surface. Kirk looked at Tuxedo Kamen then towards Spock. /Let me guess--the last of our Japanese guests./ /That would be logical, Captain./ The officers, the Sailor Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen, and Sailor V began attacking Fiend on five fronts. * * * * * * * * * * * * /RETURN FIRE!/ Scotty bellowed. For the second time in as many days the Enterprise was battling a Romulan Warbird. This time, the Romulans didn't ambush the Enterprise. When Chekov had detected their lift-off from the Arctic circle, Scotty ordered repair crews to route every ounce of available power to the shields and had Uhura work on a special project. The Enterprise shook under a blast. /Shields at 30%!/ Another hit. /And falling!/ /Warp engines are off-line. Impulse engines failing./ /Someone tell me some good news,/ Scotty told his crewmates. /Ready to signal our "surrender",/ Uhura said. /Open a channel to the Warbird,/ Scotty ordered. * * * * * * * * * * * * Talus had one thought in mind when he lifted off from Earth. He wanted to destroy the Enterprise and leave Captain Kirk stranded on Earth 300 years into the past. Now the Enterprise was ready to surrender to him. Things couldn't be better. Suddenly Queen Beryl's image appeared on the main viewscreen. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded. "Get her off the screen!" Talus ordered. "Sir, I don't even know how she got on screen. It's not by any conventional means--" "Talus! Return to Earth immediately and carry out the rest of the plan," Beryl said. Talus rose to his full height. "On the contrary. I have already released the last canister of lung poison in Tokyo and it is now up to your henchmen to finish the job. Before I continue releasing canisters in other major cities I intend on eliminating one random variable in the plan. I am going to destroy the Enterprise. Perhaps if your Generals weren't caught up in their own petty wars they would be able to assist you on Earth. We will return to Earth when we have finished here." "Commander Talus, the self-destruct sequence has been activated and the override commands are non-functional," a voice said from the back of the bridge. "Commander, all weapons systems and propulsion are off-line," another voice said. Beryl smiled and faded from the viewscreen. "You're one to talk about personal petty wars, Talus. Now suffer the consequences of disobedience." "Commander, 30 seconds and counting." * * * * * * * * * * * * Uhura had kept the channel between the Enterprise and the Warbird open. The bridge crew had heard everything. /Chekov, what's their status?/ Scotty asked the young ensign. /It's true, sir. The self-destruct sequence has been activated. Twenty seconds and counting./ /Ask if they require assistance,/ Scotty told Uhura. /No response, Commander. They've managed to close the channel,/ she answered. /Get us to a safe distance, Mr. Sulu,/ Scotty ordered. /Looks like we didn't need that special project after all, Lt. Uhura./ As the Enterprise began to move away, the Warbird locked its tractor beam on the Federation ship. /Commander! The Romulans are pulling us towards them. Ten seconds and counting!/ /Lock onto the source of that tractor beam and fire phasers! Impulse engines on full! Divert all available power to aft shields!/ On the Warbird Talus promised himself, He moved to a console and in a few seconds he lowered the shields and transported the entire cargo of lung poison off the Warbird. /Commander! We have another problem,/ Chekov said. * * * * * * * * * * * * CHAPTER EIGHT. It was difficult for Fiend to maintain her shield and to continue draining human life energy from those in the hospital. She decided to forget about the energy. In one move she collapsed her Negaforce shield and headed towards Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. Kirk continued to fire while Spock began manipulating the controls on his phaser. Fiend leaped onto their rooftop. /Captain, get down!/ Mr. Spock yelled as he threw his phaser at Fiend. Kirk could hear the high-pitched whine of the phaser overload. Spock's weapon exploded just as it reached Fiend. The creature was knocked down by the blast but she still managed to stand up. "This is for my Grandfather!" Sailor Mars yelled as her fiery attack slammed into Fiend. It was immediately followed by Sailor Jupiter's Thunder and Sailor V's Crescent Beam. "Now, Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Kamen yelled. Sailor Moon held her tiara up high. "MOON TIARA ACTION!" The tiara flew towards Fiend who was now too weak to put up her Negaforce shield. The tiara sliced through her and she disappeared. The human life energy she had collected returned to its owners. Sailor Moon turned to thank Tuxedo Kamen for saving her but he was already gone. she thought with a smile. "So where did that other sailor suited person go? And who was she?" Sailor Jupiter asked. "I don't know. Maybe it was Sailor V. Or maybe the Moon Princess," Sailor Mars guessed. Sailor Moon walked up to the other Senshi just as Spock's tricorder began to beep. /What is it Mr. Spock?/ Kirk asked. /The life signs within the hospital are fading fast, Captain. We must get a cure to them soon./ Kirk tried his communicator. There was no response from the Enterprise. * * * * * * * * * * * * Sulu stared at the impulse drive monitors, willing more power into the engines. The Enterprise had to get away from the Warbird. /Five seconds!/ Chekov announced. The ship's phasers finally found their mark and the Romulans' tractor beam was shut down. /Get us out of here, Sulu!/ Scotty ordered as the Enterprise began moving away. The shock wave from the Warbird's self-destruct explosion threw everyone on the Enterprise to the floor. Systems began going off-line. Sparks and smoke came out of every console on the bridge. Scotty was the first to speak. /Is everyone all right?/ The crew gave weary /Aye sirs/ as they picked themselves up. /Is there any Romulan activity at all in the area?/ Scotty asked. /Sensors do not detect any other Romulan vessels in the vicinity,/ Chekov answered. /Damage report,/ Scotty said. Chekov ran a diagnostic. /Warp engines are off-line, as are shields. Minor damage to the hull./ Scotty nodded. /Have the repair crews get started right away. Now, what was that other problem you were talking about earlier?/ Chekov turned to Scotty and saw red smoke coming out of a ventilation shaft. /Sir, before the Romulans were destroyed, they transported their entire cargo of the lung poison off their ship. The majority of it went to Earth. But some of it is here on the Enterprise./ He pointed to the smoke as some of the bridge crew began to cough. /I sacrificed the forward shields to ensure that the aft shields would hold against the Warbird's explosion. The Romulans must have seen the weakness... I'm sorry, Commander./ It was quick thinking on the young Ensign's part. Scotty thought. /Chekov, get a transporter lock on every single canister of that bloody poison on Earth and on the Enterprise./ Scotty punched the comm toggle on the captain's chair. /Bridge to Dr. McCoy, medical emergency!/ /McCoy here. I'm one step ahead of you Scotty. I'm at Environmental Controls and I'm venting the poison into space. Once I've cleared it from the Enterprise I'll put the cure into the ventilation system and spread the vapour form throughout the ship. In the meantime, Nurse Chapel and one of our former Japanese guests will be administering a hypospray form of the cure for the more serious cases./ /Doctor,/ Scotty said smiling. /We love you./ /I already knew that. McCoy out./ * * * * * * * * * * * * "What's going on?" Sailor Moon asked as she watched Kirk and Spock trying to contact the Enterprise. "Why aren't their communicators working?" "I don't know," Sailor Jupiter said shrugging her shoulders. "But it can't be good for the people in the hospital." "Sailor Moon, can't you use your Crescent Wand to help those people?" Sailor Mars asked. "I mean, I know this poison isn't the same thing as a Negaverse curse but it might be of some help. Please." Sailor Moon looked into her friend's eyes and saw the pain that she was going through. "I'll try." She pulled her Crescent Wand out of her subspace pocket and said: "MOON HEALING ESCALATION!" /Spock,/ Kirk said looking over at the Senshi. Spock directed his tricorder at Sailor Moon. /I am not certain what she is doing or how she is doing it but it appears that the energy she is creating is somehow sustaining the lives of those in the hospital. Fascinating./ /Is she curing those people?/ /No, merely stabilizing their life signs,/ Spock said as he scanned his tricorder readings. The officers heard the familiar hum of a transporter and turned to see Dr. McCoy, Sailor Mercury, and Luna appear. /Bones! Tell me what I want to hear!/ /I've got Sickbay personnel in the hospital administering a hypospray version of the cure to the people. It is also in vapour form and will be spread via the ventilation system. And in a few hours, the Romulan lung poison will have diffused enough to be rendered ineffective./ /That's the best news I've heard all day,/ Kirk said smiling. /I've also got crews in just about every major city in the world and then some. We'll put an end to this poison, Jim./ * * * * * * * * * * * * EPILOGUE ========= It had been two weeks since the lung poison infected the inhabitants of Tokyo. No new cases had been reported anywhere in the world. Things were finally getting back to normal. Usagi was in detention, Rei was doing a fire reading, Ami was studying, and Makoto was cooking. The Enterprise had finished their repairs and left for the twenty-third century almost a week ago. That night there was a Senshi meeting at Rei's temple. Usagi was out of breath after running up the steps to the temple. "Guys, I'm so sorry I'm late I--" she stopped when she realized that only Makoto and Ami were present. "Hey, where's Rei-chan?" Makoto took a sip of tea. "She's just checking on her Grandpa. She'll be here in awhile. Help yourself to some tea and muffins." Usagi plopped herself down next to the food and said between bites: "You know, Rei-chan's been awfully sweet on her Grandpa and Yuuichirou since they came home from the hospital. She's been especially sweet on Yuuichirou!" Usagi giggled. "Ahem!" Rei stood in the doorway glaring at Usagi who stuffed the rest of her muffin in her mouth. "You know Odanga Atama, I'm surprised you can still fit food into your mouth after having just stuck your foot in it." Usagi swallowed her muffin then blew Rei a raspberry. Before Rei could retaliate Ami jumped in. "Hey you guys this is supposed to be a Senshi meeting, remember?" Rei sat down at the low table. "How's your mom doing, Ami?" Ami smiled. "Really well. She wasn't seriously infected before but I think it still scared her. It's like she's got a whole new outlook on life and she wants to accomplish so much. Next weekend we're going mountain climbing. How's your Grandpa?" "Well I don't think he's up for mountain climbing anytime soon," Rei said with a smile. "But he's pretty much back to his old self." Before Usagi could ask Rei about Yuuichirou, Makoto spoke up. "Usagi, you're lucky your family was able to leave Tokyo and avoid being infected." Usagi nodded. "I'm even glad Shingo's still around." "Well Rei, any odd dreams or fire readings lately?" Luna asked. "No, everything's pretty quiet." "Good," Luna purred. "Hey you guys," Usagi began. "Do you ever wonder about them?" "About _THEM_?" Ami asked pointing to the sky. Usagi nodded and Amy answered: "Sometimes." "I can't believe we actually met people from the future," Makoto said. "I can't believe Sulu Hikaru wanted our autographs!" Rei smiled. "I know! That was so cool!" Usagi added. Luna was getting impatient. "Girls! Remember? Senshi meeting? Negaverse, Rainbow Crystals, Moon Princess? Does any of this sound familiar to you?" "Oh Luna, I know our mission is important. But think of what we went through. We battled aliens, we were on a spaceship, we met people from the future, we saved our city, and we almost lost our families. Please, just let us get it out of our system, okay?" Usagi asked. Luna looked at the girls and smiled. How could she say "no"? * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Captain's Log, Stardate 7845.3: I am happy to say that the court martial charges against the entire crew of the Enterprise were dropped once the tribunal was presented the hard evidence--such as the remains of the lung poison canisters. Admiral Souter probably would have loved to see me drummed out of Starfleet but it turns out that I'll be around for awhile. Lucky for him." Kirk allowed himself a small smile. "It was clever of the Romulans to try and destroy the Federation before it was even formed by eliminating the human race. Thankfully, the unnamed Romulan who we tried to save two weeks ago was able to warn us in time. "There have been no significant changes to the timeline, or at least none that we can detect. Everyone seems to have recovered from meeting the Sailor Senshi, except maybe for Sulu." Another smile. "The Enterprise is awaiting new orders from Starbase 15. Until then we are all going to enjoy some well deserved R and R." * * * * * * THE END * * * * *