Chinisetea@aol.com Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, Part Two By Adrian Hello Again!! Well, I promised that this would be out this week, and I pulled through!! I am so proud!! I hope you are enjoying this so far. I?m not sure when I will have the next part out, I?m going back to school this week so I don?t know if I will have it ready by Friday. Sigh. Darn real life stuff. Anyway, I have a few things to say that actually are important. First off, the inspiration for this story did come from "Damaged" by Elizabeth Tuckwood. (If you happen to read this, and I mispelled your name, I am very sorry) However, I do not think I copied any Ideas from that story. If you?ve read it you probobly know what I?m talking about. If you haven?t read it, GO READ IT!! It makes this look like "See Jupiter. See Jupiter throw Thunder. See Yoma Run. Run, Yoma Run!" I liked it a lot. Oh, while I?m on the subject, go read ANYTHING by Lianne. She is AWSOME!!! Laugh, Cry, you go through it all in her stories. And there are others too, but I?ll mention them later. Second, the disclamer. Oops, I forgot it last time. he he, umm.... Well, If you thought I owned Sailor Moon you are mistaken (And increadably dense, no offense) I don?t. I also don?t make any money from this. So don?t sue, I can?t get Scott to come defend me! The only thing I get in return for all the HOURS of work fanfiction takes is MAIL!!! so WRITE!!!! I WANT MORE LETTERS!!! You no write me, you no get story. If I don?t get enough letters, I MAY not write any more!!! ( yeah, who am I kiddin. I love this as much as Serena does Darien) Anyway, I?ll talk more after you read. ENJOY!! _________________________________________________________________ What was I doing when Mina was attacked? Oh, I was only hurling thunderbolts at a creature from another dimension, that?s all. Perfectly harmless. Same thing I do most nights. I can?t tell him that! I can?t tell him that I transform into an amizonian warrior who controls the storms of Jupiter, trained by a cat to protect the royal family of the Moon. Not only would I sound completely crazy, but it would endanger Serena and the others. No, I can?t tell the truth. I would rather die than hurt the princess, or any of my friends. Heck, I already have died twice to protect them. Living in this prison is no greater sacrifice. At least I?ll be able to know that they?re OK. No matter what it takes, I will never do anything to put the Sailor Scouts in danger. Even if I have to give up everything. *** "Well?" She looks up, and I?m startled at her sudden attitude change. Moments before she was determined and cheerful. Now, although the fierce determination still burns in her eyes, she seems resigned and withdrawn. "I was at home. I cooked dinner, read a book and went to bed. That?s all." I don?t believe it. This girl is a worse liar than I am. How can she expect me to believe... but suddenly I realize that she doesn?t expect that I believe her story. For the first time I think that my client is innocent, and it?s almost as if she wants to go to jail. "Lita, please tell me the truth. Don?t you want to get out of here?" "Yes." "Then what were you doing?" "I already told you." I feel like strangling the girl. This is absolutly ridiculous! " You are obviouslly lying Lita. I can?t help you if you don?t trust me." "I don?t want your help. I will not betray them for my own benifent!" What is she talking about? "I?m not going to judge you. But If you don?t cooperate, you will surely lose at least five years of your life. No secret is worth your future, Lita." She looks at me, and her emerald eyes are hazy, as if her thoughts are far away. "Mr. Alexander, for some things I would endure a thousand years of torture if only to give them one more day in the sun. As long as there is Serenity there is hope." I get the sense that she?s not exaggerating, but all the same I feel that this girl needs to get her priorities in order. "Well Lita, if that?s the way you want it, so be it. I doubt that we will get any farther this morning,so I?ll see you later. Maybe you should work on your lying until then. If you insist on condemming yourself, at least try to make up a plausable story!." I slam the door as I leave. I want to help her, but as long as she continues this I can?t. Her words run through my head and I try to understand. As long as there is serenity there is hope? What can that mean? Last time I checked, Serenity ment calm and peaceful, tranquil. But no matter how at peace Lita is withthis, I will never have hope for her until she confides in me. And who is she so afraid of betraying? If I could only learn her "Big Secret." What she is hiding, who she is protecting. I have a feeling that that?s the key to this case. I don?t know... maybe I can find a clue in her seized belongings. What kind of life does this girl have anyway? I walk up to the desk and wait for the officer on duty to notice me. "How can I help you?" "I?m Scott Alexander, Lita Kino?s attorney. I would like to see her belongings, If you don?t mind." "Just a moment" She returns, handing me a large, and rather heavy, manila envelope. I walk over to a small table and empty the contents onto it. Humm.... A nice purse, keys, money, a wallet, grocery store recipts, pictures of a group of girls about her age, a strange, but rather beautiful, green pen with gold trim and a star on the top, in the middle of which was an elegant symbol. There is also a small pink calculator, with only five buttons, but instead of numbers there were strange drawings. On a whim, Ipress one. Suddenly, there appears on the small screen the image of a young raven haired priestess. Without looking at me, she begins to speak. "What?s wrong? I didn?t feel anything, there can?t be a youma." "Hello?" She suddenly realizes that I?m not who she thought I was. "Who are you and what do you know?" she hisses at me. "Do you know Lita Kino? " "What do you want with her? I swear that by Mars you will not harm her!" "I don?t want to hurt Lita. I?m her attorney, and I need to find out where she was the night that Mina Aino was attacked. She won?t tell me and I can?t save her if she continues to lie. Look, is there somewhere that we can meet? I feel strange talking into a calculator." She studies me intently before answering. "Be at the Cherry Hill Temple at 4:00. Come alone. Bring somebody and you learn nothing. Got it?" "Yes. See you at--" Suddenly, the screen goes blank. *** How in the name of Mars did that guy get hold of a communicator??!! This is not a good thing. I can feel everything coming apart, the web of lies we built over the years is unraveling, the wall of secrecy is falling down. I rapidly begin to push buttons on my communicator. "Raye? What?s wrong?" "We have a big problem. I?m calling an emergency scout meeting. I?ll fill you in when you get here." "All right." Serena, you had better hurry. *** "Hurry up Serena!!" Dang! How does that cat run so fast? "I?m coming, I?m coming!" I gasp as I tear down the sidewalk. I briefly consider transforming (the higher endurance would be nice right now) but decide against it. Luna would kill me. If those stairs don?t first. I?ll never understand why Raye?s temple had to be up so many steps! I?m paying so much attention to running that I don?t notice the person standing in front of me... Next thing I know I?m sitting on the sidewalk. "Hey, Meatball head, watch where you?re going!" If I had more air in my tortured lungs, I?d laugh. Talk about de-ja-voo. "Watch.... yourself.... Darien!" I pant as he helps me up. "Why are you in such a hurry?" "Emergency meeting, Muffin. You weren?t home and you don?t have a communicator. Raye says it?s big." "I?ve got to get a cell phone. Want a ride to the temple?" I look straight into his eyes. "You know, that?s why I love you. You have a nice car." "What? It?s not my awesome personality, killer good looks, or deep blue eyes? Or the way I fit in a tux? And the fact that I treat you like a princess." *Groan* "Darien, sweetheart, get over yourself. It?s definitely the car." *** That girl! She takes forever to get anywhere! Finally, I see a familiar red sports car pull up to the curb. "Hey, Serena! Get your royal tail up here!" "I?m... *pant* ...hurrying... *pant* ...as fast... *gasp* ...as ... I... CAN!" I can?t help but grin as she triumphantly reaches the top of the stairs. Some things never change. "Sure, Serena. I bet you?re late to your own wedding! Darien, I promise she won?t leave you at the altar(Trust me, I?ve had to listen to her moan about you long enough), but she might be a few hours late." He grins wickedly. "She better be on time. I?ve had to wait for over ten thousand years to start with, now she?s gotta turn twenty- one. (Gee, thanks Mr. Tsukino.) There is no way I?ll forgive her if she?s even thirty seconds late coming down that aisle." Serena shoots us both looks that could freeze water in July. "Could we please get to whatever business Raye thinks is so important?" Amy and Lita look skeptical. "Did she just say what I thought she said, Amy?" "Hold on, I?ll scan her. She must be possessed again." "Enough! I get the point! Could we please change the subject?" "Yes, I do think that would be a good idea Raye." I take a deep breath. "Somebody not related to the Sailor Scouts has access to a communicator. He claimed to be Lita?s lawyer, asking questions about what she was doing the night Mina was hurt." A trace of fear flies through Serena?s eyes. "Does he know who we are? If he has a communicator..." I shake my head. "I don?t know. It?s possible, but I doubt it." Luna agrees "To him, we are probably just urban legends." "Well, he?s coming over at four to ask me about Lita." "Then we have three hours to figure out a plan." "Right." Lita, we will find a way to save you. *** "My baby?s home at last. Oh, sweetheart, I?m so glad that you?re better." "Thanks Mom. I?m a little tired, so I think I?ll go lie down for a while." I walk up the stairs to my room, trying to figure out why I still feel broken. Even though the doctors said that I?m better, and I?m physically fine, I feel like there is something missing in my life. Something important that I?m still forgetting. Oh well. Maybe I kept a diary, or wrote it down someplace. I sit and look through a pile of books by my bed, when I notice a large one with a brown cover. A scrapbook! Just what I was looking for! I settle down on my bed and begin to flip through the pages, which are filled with newspaper articles. The first ones are all in English, each about "Sailor V", and as I look at each article, I feel like I?m closer to what I?m lookingfor. Farther on, I see pages from the local newspaper about the Sailor Scouts. There are also stories from supermarket tabloids, saying things like "Sailor Moon-- Anorexic!" (with a little note about Serena?s eating habits) And "My seceret affair with Tuxedo Mask." (with a comment about both Darien and Serena?s reactions to that one.) It seems like something almost clicks inside of me.Looking up, I see sunlight glinting off a small metallic object laying on my dresser. I walk over and pick up the gold and orange stick. I close my eyes and remember... Lights. Bright lights swirling around me, energy tingling as it runs through my body, obeying my command and forming a chain of hearts before rushing at my enemy. I snap my eyes open and grab the cat sitting on my bed, spinning him through the air as I laugh for joy. "Artemis! I Remember! Sailor Venus is back in action!" "Mina! I?m glad that you?re back but PLEASE put me down!" Scaredy cat. "All right you big baby! I?ve gotta go tell the others! Come on!" "Mina, there?s a Scout Meeting, so we can just go to Raye?s." All right! I can?t wait to see the looks on their faces! *** "Serena are you sure you want to do this? You understand what it means?" "Yes. If it gets Lita out, it?s worth it. I hate lying anyway. As long as Luna approves, this is the plan." "I can?t think of anything else. But once we start, there?s no pulling back." "Luna?s right." "Then it?s settled. We..." "Wait, someone?s at the door!" "Who on earth... it?s only three twenty-five. It can?t be Scott..." We stare in shock as a familiar figure darkens the doorway once again. "MINA!" "Hey Guys! Ya Miss Me?" Immediately, she?s tackled by three extremely happy Scouts. "I guess that?s a yes!" "I was so worried!" "I thought you were still in the hospital!" "Hey, where?s Lita?" We all glance at each other nervously until Serena answers. "Well, ummm....She?s kinda ... in jail." "WHAT!!!... How?!" "It?s quite ironic, actually. They think she tried to kill you." Mina stares at me, the shock plain on her face. "But that?s crazy! Lita would never hurt me! I can drop the case, can't I?" "No. The police can prosecute her even if you don't want them to." "Oh no." "Hold it! I here someone else coming! It must be Scott." Raye stands up to leave the room, but stops in the doorway. "Any last minute suggestions?" "None." "Well, here goes." We all listen in silence as she answers the door. *** The door opens and I recognize the shrine madden from this morning. "Raye Hino? I?m Scott Alexander..." "You?re early." "Well, yes, but.." "Come in." We walk is silence to a room lit by a small fire. "Sit here until I come back." Man! She is so intimidating! I look around the small room. It?s actually quite nice. I'm surprised when Raye walks back in with a small crowd of other people. "Mr., Alexander, these are my friends. Serena Tsukino, Darien Chiba, Mina Aino and Amy Mizuno." The victim? Why?s she here? "It?s very nice to meet you, but..." "Mr. Alexander, In time you will learn all you need to know. Just listen to Serena." The blond steps forward. "Mr. Alexander, what we are about to tell you is something known only by a few people. This has been a closely guarded secret for the past five years, and our lives will change utterly when it is known. We will gladly make this, or any, sacrifice to bring Lita back. Do you understand?" I get the feeling that I?m talking to a girl who is much older than she seems, a girl who has seen and done more in her life than I will ever have the chance to. A person forced to grow up in a hurry at a very young age, but who has still managed to retain her innocence and hope. "I think I understand." She nods, and holds a small brooch high above her head. As if in response, the other three girls also raise their hands above their heads. "Mars Star Power!" "Venus Star Power!" "Mercury Star Power!" "Moon Crystal Power!" The room is suddenly filled with fire and ice, swirling ribbons of light and stars. Before my shocked eyes can register what I?m seeing, It?s over. They?ve changed. Not only their appearances, but themselves. The entire room is filled with a sense of power, held just barely in check. Serena steps forward and begins to speak. "I am the Champion of Justice, the Princess Serenity of the Silver Millennium, Last remaining member ofthe Royal Moon Family! I have passed through death and despair, I have seen my home, family and friends destroyed before my eyes. I have returned from death more powerful than before. I will do anything to rescue my sister in arms, the Lady Jupiter, member of my eternal court. I am the Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon!" I resist the urge to kneel before her. Now I understand what Lita said. As long as this girl survives, there is hope for us all. *** This is so weird. I never imagined sitting in the shrine of a Shinto temple with the Sailor Scouts. I mean, I didn?t even believe in them. Sailor Mars hands me a plate of cookies, and I take one eagerly. Whoever made the last batch was an excellent cook. "Yeach!" I gag. "What happened to these?" Mars smiles wickedly. "Oh, these are Mina?s cookies. You ate the very last of the ones Lita made before she was arrested." No wonder they want the girl back. "Oh stop teasing Mina! Mr. Alexander, do you want to hear the long version of this story, or a shorter one?" "Oh, the longer. I want to here everything." There are flashes of light, and suddenly everyone is in normal clothes again. They begin to get settled on pillows, and I wonder what I?m getting into. Serena starts talking. "Ten thousand years ago, there was a great civilization that spanned all the planets. It was known as the Silver Millennium... ... we chased the youma down, and Lita used a new attack to turn it to dust. When we got back to the alley, It was filled with patrol cars. The next day, Lita was arrested at the hospital just after Mina woke up. I look at my watch. 10:30! That was a long story! "I think that we?ll use the shorter version in court." *** I really hate this place. But I guess I had better get used to it. It looks like I?ll be here a looooong time. "Miss Kino, your lawyer is here to see you." Great. NOW what will I tell him? Well, I have no other choice. I take a deep breath and walk into the room. "Lita!" I look up in shock. The scouts, the cats, Darien. Everyone is here. "What.. What are you guys doing here?" "Lita, we?re here to get you out." "What? Amy, don?t tease me. There is no way out." "Yes there is. We told Scott. It?s the only way to get you free again." Fear grips my heart. She can?t possibly mean... "No, please don?t tell me that. Please, Serena, I?d rather rot in prison than put you in danger. You can?t tell what happened that night!" "Lita, I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself again. As your princess, I command you to let us help you!" "I?ve died for you, please let me live for you!" "Lita, we need you. We are a team, and we can?t fight without you. I won?t have the Gaurdian of Jupiter, my friend and sister, loose her hopes and dreams for protecting us! We only have a few years left until Crystal Tokyo is formed, and you are NOT spending them in jail! We all knew that we would have to tell eventually, and frankly I?m tired of hiding this half of my life from my parents. Besides, Mina?s been doing the cooking." Great, I feel so loved. They want me out so I can feed them. "You do realize that if the populace finds out your little secret, the popparatzi will be after you so much it will look like Princess Diana led a secluded life. She was Princess of Wales. Imagine what the press will think of the Moon Princess. Your Dad will open the morning paper to find photos of you and Darien splashed all over the front page. Can you picture his reaction to that?" "Yeah. I?ll just have to tell him before we go to court. He?ll get used to it eventually." "Serena, I don?t want to see you hurt!" "Lita, I don?t want to see you imprisoned for helping me! As your Princess, I command you to tell the world that you are Sailor Jupiter, Keeper of the Storm. And you swore loyalty to me, so there is no way you can get out of this." "What if they come after your family?" Serena stops for a moment. An icy silence fills the room. "Then they will have to face me." TO BE CONTINUED.... Well! Did you like that? I hope you did. But will Serena actuall go t hrough with this? What will happen to the Sailor Scouts if their identities are known? What would their parents say? All this and more in the next exciting installment of "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury," coming to a fanfic arcive near you! --Adrian PS- LADY LINA, I LOST YOUR E-MAIL!!! I NEED IT!!! If you read this, please write me!! PPS- I also lost the URLs of all websites who have posted my stuff. If I gave you permisson to post my stuff, please re-send me the adress of the page where it is! I want to see it ! (You see, I lost all of my Favorite Places and my Adress book when my compter messed up.) --Adrian