RISE OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE

Chapter 3 - The Rescue

"Where are we supposed to meet them again," Tommy asked as they walked through the park.  

"The same spot we first met them at," Michael answered.  

"Oh yeah."  

	They continued walking for a little bit and found the spot.  

"I guess we're early," Tommy commented.  

	Before Michael could answer, a pair of hands covered both of the guys' eyes.  

"Guess who," the one behind Michael asked.  

"Let's see.  Is it Marilyn Monroe?  No, wait, Janet Jackson...no, it's umm..."  Tommy got shoved for his effort.  

"Hi Lita," Michael said as he grabbed the hands on his eyes and turned around.  

"Hi Michael," Lita said with a smile on her face.  

"I was joking, Ami," Tommy said as he reached for Ami's hands.  

	At first, Ami refused to let him hold his hands, but Tommy gave that 'puppy-dog eyes' routine and she eventually gave in.  A little behind the two girls was the rest of the group.  

"They look so cute together," Mina joked.  

"Disgusting, isn't it," Rei added.  

	Serena and Darien just smiled as they watched the group.  Ami and Lita ignored the two.  

"So, where are we going to watch the fireworks at," Tommy asked.  

	Before he answered, an explosion ripped across the sky.  

"I guess right here," Michael said as he looked up across the man-made pond at the first of the fireworks.  

	The rest sat down some blankets they brought and watched the fireworks.  Colors of all kinds lit up the sky, creating designs of all kinds across the sky.  Most of the group watched the skies, but Rei and Michael occasionally scanned the area for the Dark Kingdom and it's troops.  So far, so good, Michael thought.  Someone got real close to Michael, which caused him to look down.  Lita had got right next to him and put her head on his shoulders.  Michael smiled down at her and lowered his head onto hers.  As Michael looked around, Ami and Tommy were doing the same thing.  Also, Darien and Serena had laid down, with Serena's head on Darien's chest.  After one of the fireworks explosions, Tommy and Michael heard footsteps approach.  They looked towards the noise and saw two young men approaching the group.  One of them sat next to Rei and the other sat next to Mina.  

"That's Chad," Lita said to Michael as she pointed to the guy next to Rei.  

"Her boyfriend, I presume," Michael commented.  

Lita nodded.  

"And that's Kennith."  

"Mina's," Michael asked.  

Again, Lita nodded.  

"Better late than never," Michael heard Tommy's comment over the fireworks.  

	Everyone turned his or her attention back to the fireworks.  For the next twenty minutes, the night sky was filled with lights and colors.  The finale hit, causing everyone to stare at the sky in wonder.  Waves after waves of fireworks lit up the sky for a full minute.  Then, it stopped.  

"That was pretty," Mina said.  Kennith agreed.  

"Where are we planning to go next," Tommy asked Ami.  

"I'm not sure.  Serena and Darien are the ones that have the night planned for us."  

"Oh."  

	Everyone got up and folded the blankets they were on.  

"Where to next," Rei asked.  

"There's this little diner on the other side of town we'd like to try," Serena answered.  

"Fine by me," Chad said.  

	The group headed out of the park and the their vehicles.  It took them a few minutes to get there, because of the traffic from the fireworks display. As they got to the restaurant Michael and Tommy looked at the name of the name. 

"Silver Millennium," both Tommy and Michael asked at the same time. 

	Mina spoke up.  

"The restaurant is owned by a good friend of ours and is partners with Lita"! 

"Oh" replied Michael and Tommy together. 

	Tommy looked around the place. 

"Appropriate," Tommy said. 

	As Tommy said this Michael elbowed Tommy in the side giving him a warning. As the group was led to a private room in the patio on the bay everybody took chairs next to their significant other.  As the waiter came in and took everyone's orders, Michael and Tommy both decided on the same thing their significant other ordered. Once their food arrived, they ate and talked about the day's happenings.  Everything from the fireworks to the incident Mina had at the beauty saloon.  Even Darien talked about the accidental walk-in on Serena.  That brought a few laughs from the table, except from Serena.  She fired Darien a look that stopped him from laughing, but not from smiling.  Finally, with dinner done and everyone had put in their say in the conversations, the group got up and left, with Darien paying the bill.  Darien drove Serena and Rei home, while Michael and Tommy drove home Mina, Ami, and Lita.  Once everyone had been dropped off, Michael turned to Tommy. 

"That went a lot better than I planned."  

"It did.  Hope we can do this again."  

"That makes two of us.  So, you and Ami planning on shacking up anytime soon," Michael asked.  

	A stunned look from Tommy make him laugh.  Tommy regained his control and asked, 

"What about you and Lita?  Planning on having any babies?"  

	Michael just glared at Tommy, which caused Tommy to laugh.  

"We thought about three or four..." Michael started to say.  

Tommy just stared at Michael, not believing what he heard.  

"I'm kidding," Michael said as he laughed.  

"Um, I knew that.  I just wanted to play along.  Yeah, that's it."  

Michael just nodded his head and headed for home.

	The next morning, Ami and Lita got together and headed to the nearest grocery store.  

"What do you have planned for us today, oh cooks of cooks," Ami asked.  

	Lita looked at Ami.  

"That is supposed to be a surprise.  I got this new recipe and I want to give it a try.  It's a special casserole dish that has broccoli and cheese with a bit of meat for flavor."  

"Sounds good...hey, I thought the weatherman said that it was going to be sunny today?"  

"He did.  Why?"  

	Ami looked up and saw a bank of dark clouds moving in from the Pacific Ocean side of Japan.  Below it, a low fog flowed over the ocean.  

"So the weatherman was wrong.  It happens...wait...Ami, are you thinking what I am thinking?"  

"If you mean trouble, then yes."  

"We've got to warn the others."  

	Both spun around to head to the temple when two figures materialized from a dark rift in front of them.  

"Not this time," one of the cloaked figures said to the two.  

	Ami and Lita bolted across the street, trying to get away from the two figures.  They ran between buildings and people, to avoid being caught.  They passed by a building into a large, empty parking lot, save for a few people, where an explosion threw them off their feet.  Both landed as softly as possible, but Ami gave out a little moan of pain as she came back up.  

"You okay," Lita asked.  

"Yeah.  I think I sprained my ankle."  

"We got to keep moving."  

	Lita helped Ami limp away towards two buildings when another explosion in front of them threw them back.  

"You can run, but you can't hide," the other figure said as the two cloaked figures levitated down.  

	This time, both of the girls were a little slow getting up.  

"What's wrong?  Where is your power," the first figure mocked.  

"I'll show you, you bastard."  

	Lita began to make the gestures to transform, but a black bolt threw her back into a wall of a building.  She collapsed to the ground, moaning.  Ami began to gesture to transform, but the second figure mimicked the first and launched her into the same wall.  Ami hit the ground, hard.  

"Ami," Lita said weakly.  

	Ami moaned loudly.  

"No.  This can't be happening," she said angrily.  

"But it is, Sailor Scout.  This time, there will be no one to save you."  

Both laughed as they raised their hands.  

"Oh look, here comes your friends."  

Lita looked up in the direction they pointed.  

Sure enough, the remaining scouts had arrived, but were too far away to get to them in time.  

"They will watch you die."  

	Both fired a bolt at the two girls.  Lita closed her eyes and waited for the blast.  She heard Serena yell...then someone gasped in shock.  She opened her eyes.  In front of her was Cephius, with Vega in front of Ami, holding back the blasts with their hands.  The two figures began another charge, but the scouts fired at them from behind.  At the same time, Cephius and Vega launched the figures own attacks back at them.  "No," the figures screamed as the blasts connected at their location.  A titanic explosion rocked the surrounding area, sending dirt, dust, and asphalt all over the place.  The blast was so intense that the scouts have to put their arms in front of them.  Once the explosion settled, the scouts looked back, both Cephius and Vega were by the girls.  The scouts quickly approached the small group.  

"How is she," Sailor Moon asked.  

"She's not so good.  Too much internal damage.  She has maybe ten minutes."  

"No," Lita gasped.  

"Your highness, I have an idea, but I need your permission."  

"What is it," Sailor Moon asked.  

"Vega and I can heal her, but the only way we can do it is by taking on their injuries.  We need you to take us somewhere where we can rest."  

	Rei looked a bit skeptical at the thought, but knew there was no other choice.  

"Do it."  

	Cephius looked at Vega and nodded.  Both Cephius and Vega placed their hands over Ami and closed their eyes.  At first, nothing happened, then, slowly, a gold glow began to envelop Ami.  The glow got a little bit brighter, a little more intense.  Sweat began to pour over Cephius and Vega's faces.  Slowly, the injuries on Ami began to heal.  And, sure to their word, Cephius and Vega began to show signs of injury.  Finally, after three minutes, the glow stopped and Vega and Cephius collapsed on the ground.  Ami slowly opened her eyes.  

"AMI," the scouts shouted in unison.  

	She was quickly enveloped with hugs from her friends.  

"What happened," Ami asked, "I remember being thrown back into the wall, then watching the ground come at me, then...nothing."  

	She turned her gaze to Vega and Cephius, slowly getting up in a sitting position.  She gasped as she saw the injuries on them.  

"They took your injuries," Mars said as she helped Ami up.  

	She gazed back down at them.  Both looked up and smiled weakly.  

"You look like hell, Cephius," Vega croaked.  

"You're not exactly a pretty picture yourself, Vega," Cephius replied.  

Both laughed weakly.  The Scouts simply smiled at their comments.  

"Hey, if we lose our sense of humor, what's the point," Cephius commented.  

"Mind giving us a hand up," Vega asked.  

	The scouts gently helped the two up.  

"Now, where's a good place where we can take a bath and change?"  

"My place should do the trick," Tuxedo Mask answered.  

"Good," Cephius said as he smiled at Tuxedo Mask, "besides, I think I would look silly in a tank top and skirt."  

	The scouts laughed.  

"Are you sure, Cephius.  You've got the figure for it," Vega added.  

Cephius stared at Vega.  

"In fact, I think it will do nicely.  It'll highlight your hair," Vega continued.  

	The scouts tried to stop laughing, but failed miserably.  

"If I weren't injured, I'd show you a thing or two about skirts.  Besides, I always thought you would make a halfway decent blonde bimbo."  

"Hey," Vega yelled.  

	The group had to stop moving, in fear of dropping the two because they were laughing so hard.  

"Are you guys always this funny or just when you are severely injured," Venus asked the two.  

"Most of the time, but especially in situations like this," Vega answered.  

	The group headed out and quickly took them to Darien's house, without anyone seeing them.   Before anyone could react, Tuxedo Mask transformed back into Darien.  

"Darien," Sailor Moon blurted out loudly.  

	Darien simply pointed at Vega and Cephius.  Both had transformed back into their human guises.  Ami and Lita gasped as they looked at them.  Tommy looked down at himself.  

"Darn, must of slipped."  

	Michael looked at Tommy then at himself.  

"The injuries are more extensive then I thought.  Umm, I hate to bother you all, but could you put us down on a couch somewhere so we can relax.  My legs are killing me."  

	The girls helped the two onto a couch and transformed back into their human guises.  

"Why didn't you tell us," Ami asked Tommy.  

"I could ask you the same thing."  

	Ami opened her mouth to say something, then shut it.  

"How long have you known," Serena asked.  

"Those demons.  When Lita and Ami tried to transform, we recognized the patterns.  Then, everything fell into place," Michael replied weakly.  

	The scouts transformed into their human guises.  

“Now, tell us who you are and what we are fighting,” Rei said to the two rather angrily.  

“We’d love to, but have you seen our condition?  We’re not exactly in the best shape of our lives,” Tommy commented.  

“Are you kidding, you’ve never looked better,” Michael said as he grinned at his friend.  

	Tommy just stuck his tongue out at him.  

"Are you two quite done,” Serena said, trying to hide her amusement.  

“Wait a second, I have something witty to say,” Tommy said as he tried to sit up.  

“On second thought,” he said as he fell back down on the couch, “never mind.  I don’t have the energy for it.”  

“Wow.  It’s a miracle.  I guess there’s a first time for everything.  Even for you,” Michael retorted.  

	Serena fought to keep her face straight.  Rei, on the other hand, was beginning to fume.  Tommy caught her look.  

“Look out!  She’s gonna blow!”  

	Everyone turned to Rei and exploded in laughter.  Rei didn’t seem to think it was very funny.  

“Your evading the questions,” Rei said, rather ticked off.  

“You must forgive my eccentric friend, Rei, but we are not trying to evade your questions.  This happens quite often between him and I.  As for your questions, we really don’t have the energy to go into a lengthy description.”  

“Let them rest,” Ami said to Rei.  

“For all we know, they could be part of the Negaverse,” Rei nearly yelled.  

Tommy and Michael quit smiling.  

“That, my dear Rei, is an insult to myself and my friend.  I will ask you to please take that back,” Vega said.  

	Rei and the two guys stared at one another.  

“I am sorry that my friend here insulted you.  But as you know, we cannot totally trust.  Just because you helped us these few times does not mean that you are instantly our friends,” Serena said.  

	Rei glared at Serena, but quickly stopped glaring.  

“That is, of course, your choice.  It is quite understandable.  However, if you’ll forgive me for being rude, Tommy and I are not in the best of shape and we could use some rest.”  

	They started to get up.  Before anyone reacted, Darien helped them both up.  

“Right now, they are my guests in my house.  If anyone bothers them while they are resting, you will answer to me.  Is that understood?”  

	Serena looked at him in surprise, but said nothing.  The rest of the scouts quickly stopped any questions or comment they were about to say.  Darien, Lita and Ami helped the guys to a room where they could sleep.  

“I don’t trust them, especially him,” Rei said quietly.  

“So, because he’s different, you would shun him,” Mina said just as quietly.  

“He is part of the Negaverse.  Everything from the Negaverse has been centered on one thing…total destruction.”  

“But you yourself saw the good in one of the sisters.”  Rei quietly contemplated her words.  

“I understand your concern, and we must be careful.  If they are part of the Negaverse, you’ve seen the power they possess.  If you tried something now, how would they react?”  

“I don’t know but…”  

	She looked behind Serena and quickly turned away.  Serena turned around.  There, Lita, Ami and Darien stood, with looks of anger.  Serena quickly sat down.  

“They will do nothing to hurt us.  I would bet my life on it.  As for these conversations, if you wish to continue them, leave my house.”  

	Both Rei and Serena looked down at the ground.  

“I suggest you all get some sleep.  You are welcome to stay here for the night.  I have enough blankets and pillows for everyone.  But you know the rule.  You break it, you leave.”  

	Serena looked at him.  

“No exceptions.”