Ari WaSPG0LD@aol.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- SAILOR MOON 2050 Disclaimers: You know who Sailor Moon belongs too. =====CHAPTER 3: COVERING UP===== Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus looked up at the sky where Stude- Man was hovering a moment ago. He was dressed in a similar uniform of the general he just defeated, but he was on the Sailors' side. But for how long? And who, exactly IS Studeman? As the two stared still, their focus was broken when they heard soft moaning. They had noticed that the knight they had just van- quished had been replaced by a tired out Raymond Pun. Out of the cor- ner of their eyes, they noticed Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter running down the path to them. "What happened here?" Sailor Mars said. "You guys get caught in class?" Sailor Moon asked. They all nodded. "There was an attack. The Negaverse's Heverman turned one of the kids against us. Some guy named Studeman saved us." "Studeman?" Sailor Mercury asked. Just then, Raymond started to get to his feet. "Guys he's coming to!" Ray's eyes fluttered. His vision blurred as he tried to focus on the five strangers that just saved his life. He thought he recog- nized them, but...nah. Mumbling escaped his lips. "Wh...where am I?" "You alright son?" Sailor Moon asked. "Who are you?" Ray asked. "You've been drained of your energy. But don't fret; it will return to you shortly. I am Sailor Moon, leader of the Sailors." "Sailor Moon?" Ray looked around confused, but when he looked back at him, the five of them were gone. Then the bell rang for class, and he ran back to the building. THE NEGAVERSE "F-f-forgive me, master," Heverman grobbled. After Cecil was destroyed by the new Sailor Moon, and with Studeman's alliance with the Sailors, Heverman feared for his life, and did not want to face the wrath of Sobo. "You have failed me, Heverman," Sobo started as he rose from his throne. He looked down at the general with a sneer, but he instead let his face relax and calmed down. "But...alas. Don't blame this on yourself for it. For now." "What is to be done?" Troutman asked. "Well, since you brought it up," Sobo explained, "you will next be sent to Earth to collect me human energy. Now you're very well a- dapt to the water, imagine the possibilities before you! The entire planet itself can be used to destroy the Sailors!" "Sounds like a plan, sir," Troutman answered. "Get it done." He turned to sit in his throne. "By the way... I have no idea what that Sailor Venus is on, but whatever it is, get me some more...." TEMPLE OF THE PLANETS HEAVEN As she stared out into the cloudy valleys, Saint Serena's face carried a look of sadness. Even though her will to protect the world - okay, universe - would be carried out by the new Sailors, she still regretted what she left behind fifty years ago. With the help of the Earthscope, a device situated in the cen- ter of the Temple of the Planets, she replayed the scene of her family gathered around her and Darien the day the original Sailor Scouts were no more. Every time, she was overcome with sadness. And every time, she stared out at the horizon to try and clear her mind. Serena constantly blamed herself for those events, and for hav- ing these innocent kids risking their lives. She'd give anything to go back fifty years and change what happened. Then, she heard a voice call out to her. "Serena..." She immediately recognized the voice. "M-mom?" She turned a- round, and saw her mom and dad standing side by side. Then, she ran and hugged both of them. "Oh my god, I've missed you so much!" Tears were in her eyes. "It has been a while," her mother said. "Have you been well?" her father asked. "I've been alright, I guess. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about me being Sailor Moon, though; that was...my only real regret. I'm sorry." "It's alright. We understand. But the boy you've chose to be the next is doing a great job. He reminds us of you. You should be proud, child." "Thanks, mom." With that, they hugged again. But then, a strange feeling came over Serena. "I'm sorry, guys, but they're sum- moning me. I have to go." With that, she turned around, and headed back to the temple. "You called?" she said as she entered. The other saints, Amy, Raye, Lita and Mina were waiting for her. "Yes," Saint Amy started. "Its about the new Sailors." "Robert and Tom have shown real potential in battle," Saint Rays said, "but the other three have not yet." "What should be done then?" "No doubt they will try again and again to destroy them and take the Earth as their own," Saint Mina said. "And after Earth falls," Saint Lita added, "it's only a matter of time...before they come after us." "But that's not all," Amy said. "Theres's more to it than the Negaverse attacking. Look." Amy pointed out the Earthscope in the center of the floor, and an image of a group of boys appeared. They were wearing colored camoflague fatigues and thick, silver chains on their necks - something that hadn't been seen in America since their time, and that was fifty years ago. Also, none of them had any pierc- ings in their ears. Their noses and lips maybe, but not their ears. In that time, it was customary for most boys to have one or two pierc- ings in their left ear. These guys, however, were in a gang, and let their ear holes close up. "Who are these guys?" Serena asked. "They're members of a gang known as 'Solid Antique.' They're pretty bit troublemakers." "These kids can easily be controlled by the Negaverse at any time. They've also been known to hate people like Robert." "Can we try and infiltrate them, in some way?" Lita asked. A pause. Then, Serena spoke. "Get Robert up here right away. I have an idea." Almost instantly, Robert appeared at the entrance of the temple after she finished speaking. Only Serena was in the temple as he en- tered. "You called?" "You've done well, Sailor Moon," Saint Serena started. "But that was merely your first of many battles you will have." "I understand that." "And as you grow, so will your powers." In her hand, she held her old Disguise Pen. "Now I want to give you this." The pen flew from her hand, and floated over to Robert. But as it hovered above his head, it took the form of a gold ring, crowned in the center with a large ruby, which itself had a gold crescent moon on it. It dropped into his hand, which he then slid onto his right ring finger. "What is it?" he asked. "This is your Lunar Ring. With it, you will be able to turn into anything you want. Just say 'Disguise Power!' and tell it what you want to turn into." "Thanks!" he said, admiring the ring on his finger. "Man, I can be a mafioso with a ring like this!" "It will serve you well on your next assignment." "Which is...?" "We have reason to believe that the resident gang, Solid An- tique, is up to - as we used to say - no good. There is a possibility that the Negaverse can use anyone of them at anytime. I want you to infiltrate them, see what you can find out." "Sounds easy enough." "Just remember, I will be watching over you, so you don't have to be worry too much." "I will not fail, Saint Serena." With that, he disappeared, headed for home. LATER "I know what we gotta do." The five met at Robert's house after school to discuss Serena's plan laid out to them. "Let me get this straight," Tom started. "You're supposed to infiltrate the SOLID ANTIQUE GANG, and try to pass youself off as one of them?" "Precisely." "But look at your ear!" Jessica said. "Those earrings are a dead giveaway you're an outsider," Nina added. "I know. But that's why she gave me this." He flashed his new ring to the gang. Luna stared at the ring in awe. "There's something awfully familiar about that ring...did you say Serena gave it to you?" Luna asked. "Yep. She said I can become anything with it." "That's the Lunar Pen she's talking about! Okay, Lunar *Ring,* nowadays." "How are you gonna use that?" Tom asked. "Watch." Robert stood up, clenched his fist, and held it up above his head. "DISGUISE POWER!!!" The ring glowed with an immense light. "Turn me into a member of the gang Solid Antique!" Then, Rob- ert was swamped in the same light, his silhouette barely visible. Aft- er one last bright flash, there he was, dressed in red camoflague fa- tigues, thick work boots, short hair, and a huge, silver chain around his neck. Also, it looked as if he had no earrings...not even the holes. The others looked on in awe. They could barely make out the difference. "How do I look?" "That was...AWESOME!" Tom said. "And now..." Robert finished, "to business...." BELMAWR HARBOR LATER THAT NIGHT The crowd was abuzz down by the docks as they anxiously awaited their leader. They were all dressed the same. Red camoflague fa- tigues, boots, chains, piercings of everything except the ears - albeit their chains and piercings differed from person to person - but every- one more or less blended into the crowd. Including Robert. Under the assumed persona of Big Rich, Robert recieved a hookup from one of the gang's charter members. The last test he had to pass was approval from the gang leader. His name was Todd, but everyone re- ferred to him simply as 'Trout.' Obvioulsy not dumb enough to have a contingency plan, he told the other four to hide inside one of the warehouses. If they was any trouble, they were to transform and assist him. Damn, this tongue piercing is annoying, Robert thought to him- self. How could anyone back then do that? "So who is this Trout guy?" Robert asked. "He's the leader," a member said. "Everyone knows Trout. Af- ter a while, you'll understand." "But where is he? Did he swim upstream to spawn or something? And understand what?" He couldn't contain his laughter. "Swim upstream to spawn... heh heh heh, that's a good one!" Almost out of nowhere, Trout appeared in front of the crowd. Unlike the rest of them, he had on blue, signifying that he was the leader. He was very well respected. Somehow, though, Robert caught a strange, almost evil aura com- ing off that guy. If he could only put his finger on it.... =====TO BE CONTINUED=====