-Episode 07-



"Ypsos star power, MAKE UP!"

   As Trish watched, a deep red light enveloped the redhead, pulsing from the stone in her hands, held above her head. Victoria rose to her tiptoes and began to spin, dropping the stone from her hands and letting it float down to her chest level. Ribbons of blood red flowed upwards from her feet, shimmering and weaving as if made of water. The ribbons wrapped up around her body, glittering briefly before compressing to form her blood red fuku.

   The redhead stopped spinning to pose as the stone fixed itself on her front bow, and she held her gloved hands together, in front of it. She opened her brown eyes and winked at the dumbfounded Brekke.

   Then, turning to the shadow, she announced, "I am Sailor Ypsos! Soldier of the third dimension!"

   Brekke rolled her eyes. ")How lame.("

   Ypsos pretended to have not heard her.

   Still looking annoyed, the black-haired girl elbowed Trish, ")we'd better transform as well; she'll definitely need the help.("

   The blonde nodded, wearily watching Ypsos clench her fists as she grabbed the black stone from her pocket. Brekke mimicked her with her own white stone.

   ")You knew about her, didn't you?(" The black-haired girl grumbled before shouting, "Mikos star power, make up!"

   "Platos star power, make up!" Trish followed.

   The two transformed and posed back to back. Ypsos raised her eyebrow as she glanced over at Mikos, but then grinned.

   "Welcome to the team," she said formally, sticking out a hand.

   Mikos simply glared back. "Excuse me, but what team are you talking about?"

   "Our's," Ypsos returned, waving a hand at Platos and herself, as if it were obvious.

   "Err, Ypsos, Mikos and I already fought together a few days back…" Platos tried to correct her.

   Mikos cut in with a short laugh. "Ah, sorry, but I believe we've had more battles than you."

   The red senshi gave Platos a questioning look. "What does she mean?"

   "She means that a few days ago-" the white senshi tried again.

   "Narr," Mikos interrupted again with a growl.

   "What did you say?" Ypsos rounded back on the black senshi, narrowing her eyes.

   "Narr," Mikos spat out. "You think you're better than us, what with your team crap. 'My team.' You think you're our leader or something? You think just because you show up in that outfit you can tell us around-"

   "What the freak are you on?!" Ypsos broke her off.

   "You're the one who's smoking something!" Mikos yelled back.

   "You have the gall to say that?"

   "You have the gall to say that?!" Mikos mocked.

   "I don't have time for this idiocy," Ypsos dismissed with a wave of her hand.

   "Then shut up!"

   "Why should I?"

   "Cyclone inferno!"

   "Huh?" The black and red senshi both blinked at once, swiveling their heads in a synchronized fashion as a fiery orange blur blew past.

   The translucent demon dropped the lead pipe she had been about to swing at the two bickering senshi and swiftly skipped to the side. Platos' attack missed it by a few inches to continue on its path and hit the wall of one of the booths. The wooden booth burst into flames.

   "Now look what you've done!" Mikos shouted with annoyance at the redhead before swiftly scooping up the pipe the shadow had dropped.

   "Me?" Ypsos hissed, practically fuming.

   "Yes you!" The black senshi shot back, swiping with the lead pipe at the shadow.

   The shadow, coming out of its shock, leapt into Mikos' swing with its remaining pipe to parry. The two engaged into a complicated combat, fighting with the pipes.

   "I wasn't the one who became offended over a simple greeting!" Ypsos returned, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched.

   "Yet you tried to play leader!" Mikos shouted as she made a swipe at the demon's legs, which it quickly countered.

   "I did not play leader. I didn't even know Platos knew you already!"

   "You had no right to be a snobby bitch about it!"

   "If anyone has been a snobby bitch today, Sailor Mikos, you have. Shut your trap already, don't insult people you don't even know, and stop making things up out of a damn sentence!" Ypsos yelled, nearly as red as her fuku with anger.

   Mikos turned her head to reply, not seeing the swing at her knees in time to counter. She toppled over, dropping her pipe and the shadow was immediately on top of her, pinning her to the ground. With an expert club to the skull, the demon knocked Mikos unconscious.

   Raising the pipe again, it glared at the other two senshi. "Tell me about the Pyramid-thingy."

   Ypsos and Platos both blinked in surprise.

   "What pyramid-thingy?" Platos wondered, nervously glancing from the upraised pipe to her counterpart.

   "The Pyramid?" Ypsos narrowed her eyes. "How in Hades do you know of that?"

   "Anssswer me," the shadow growled, waving the pipe threateningly.

   "No, you tell me," the red senshi returned.

   She muttered something under her breath and a softly glowing ball of red stuff appeared in her hands. She got ready to throw it.

   "I'm sure you don't know what this is," Ypsos stated. "It's an acrid mixture that particularly likes liquid or gaseous structures like yourself, and it also tends to explode when in such structures. Now tell me how in Hades you know of the Pyramid or I throw this."

   "I can kill thisss girl far fassster than you can throw that red ssstuff," the shadow hissed, almost sounding insulted. "Besssidesss, an explosssion that clossse to thisss human can not be good for her."

   "Do you think I care about her?" Ypsos sighed.

   Platos gave a squeak, turning her wide, frightened eyes towards the other senshi.

   "Ssshe obviousssly doesss," the shadow tilted its head towards the white senshi.

   "Platos," the red senshi growled.

   "I am tiring of waiting," the demon grumbled. "Tell me now."

   Sailor Ypsos fidgeted, glancing from the white senshi back to her counterpart. She then sighed and let her attack dissipate.

   "What do you want to know?" Ypsos stated, defeated.

   "Everything."

   "I can not tell you everything. What do you want to know?"

   "Where isss it?"

   "In pieces."

   "Where?"

   "I don't know."

   "How isss it put together, then?"

   "When you find all the pieces, you'll know."

   "How many piecesss are there?"

   "I don't know."

   "Yess you do!" The shadow screeched, causing Platos to clap her hands over her ears.

   It swung the pipe upward, fury emanating from it. But a shrill bird trill made it hesitate, and the next second the pipe was knocked from its hands as Ora shot past in a gray blur. The shadow grabbed for the pipe still lying next to Mikos.

   "Bloody acid!" Ypsos growled, summoning the red stuff once more and flinging it.

   The demon dropped the pipe as it turned blood red. Then, with another ear-ringing shriek, it exploded. Sailor Ypsos breathed a rather loud sigh of relief as Ora made a beeline for Platos' shoulder. The white senshi scurried over to her unconscious counterpart, Ypsos following cautiously.

   Mikos had been thrown a few feet away from where she had been by the explosion, but appeared relatively all right, save a few scratches. Platos rolled her over onto her back and checked the black senshi's pulse. It was definitely there, and in fact, Mikos' eyes fluttered open as Platos drew back her hand.

   "You know, you could've just asked if I was alive," Mikos quipped.

   Ypsos snorted, "Unfortunately, she seems perfectly fine. But maybe there was some sense knocked into you, hmm?"

   "Hey, maybe I am dead. Being pestered by demons is usually a sign of that," the black senshi grumbled as she attempted to sit up.

   "I didn't know you had voices," the red senshi snapped back.

   Mikos wobbled to her feet with the aid of Platos, holding her head, "Not unless my voices are personified by bitchy red chicks."

   "I am not a baby chicken," Ypsos growled.

   "By the way you stand around and watch others fight, one might think so."

   "You were doing just fine! Is this the sort of gratitude I get for saving you?!"

   "You wouldn't've needed to save me if you hadn't been distracting me. I could've taken out that shadow on my own."

   Ypsos raised an eyebrow at that comment, and then let out a loud, "HAH."

   Platos stood quietly beside Mikos through all of that, and at this point, she decided to step forward and announce, "I'd better be going."

   "So should I," the black senshi put in. "I don't have time to stand around arguing with silly redheads all day. I'll see you at the same place and the same time tomorrow, Trish."

   With that said, she turned and trotted away from the other two senshi. Near the end of the empty festival yard her fuku disappeared and was replaced by her school uniform, and then she was out of sight around the corner.

   "I should be going as well," Ypsos stated, grabbing her brooch off of her chest and disappearing briefly within a swirl of red before continuing on as she stood in her dark red and pale yellow uniform. "Meet me here after school tomorrow?"

   Victoria didn't give Platos half a chance to reply though, for she was already bounding away across the yard, disappearing around the corner which Brekke had not taken. Then she detransformed as well, staring blankly after the redhead.

   Brekke wanted her to meet her after school, in front of the black-haired girl's school, which was the same time Victoria wanted to meet her in front of her school. Trish wholly doubted being able to be in two places at once had been included with her senshi powers. What was she to do?



   Predictably, Trish chose the lesser of the two evils. She was sure she could apologize to Victoria without getting hurt, but that could not quite be said about Brekke. So the next day she found herself sitting down in a corner booth at the Crown with the black-haired girl, who wore a rather disconcerting grin.

   Strangely, she didn't speak at all until after slurping her chocolate shake down remarkably fast. She then looked up, pushed the cup out of her way and clasped her hands in front of her, leaning back. She looked relaxed, serious, and very unlike Brekke.

   ")Alright, kid,(" Brekke said. ")I want you to start at the beginning and tell me exactly what went on the other night between you and what's-her-name.("

   ")Victoria,(" Trish corrected.

   ")Yeah, Vic', whatever. Just tell me what I missed.("

   The blonde took a breath before plunging into the rather long tale at the start, from where the blue-haired genius had conjured the idea of going to the observatory for more information, but was interrupted by a wave of the black-haired girl's hand as she got to the appearance of the shadow.

   ")Sportula, eh?(" Brekke smirked. ")Didn't I tell you not to let her go?("

   Trish wrinkled her nose, ")Well, it's too late now.("

   ")I told you so,(" she smirked wider and stuck out her tongue. But she quickly composed herself and waved Trish to go on.

   So the blonde continued, telling about her and Mercury's fight, and then the entrance of the red senshi. Brekke's eyes narrowed as the other senshi's name was mentioned, but didn't say anything. Trish finished up with Ami and her leaving the observatory.

   ")And what did Ami find out with her information?(" Brekke prodded when she realized Trish had ended.

   ")Apparently, the shadows are coming from a rock that's orbiting the Earth.("

   The black-haired girl raised her eyebrows. ")Really? Well, then that should make everything simpler. Blow up the rock.("

   Trish coughed and rubbed the back of her head. ")Yeah, that's what they said at first, too. But they voted to find out what they're up to first.("

   Brekke laughed. ")Oh really? Do they think these demons are just stealing energy for a damn flower garden? Do they think they just want us to come out and play? Oh, they're not stealing energy because they want to kill us all or take over the world or anything. Can't think that demons are bad! They just want to be friends!("

   Her comical attitude dropped as she narrowed her eyes. ")And you want to work with such idiots?("

   Trish didn't answer, just sat there with an incredulous expression on her face. She hadn't quite thought of it that way. But now that she did, it seemed Brekke was right.

   ")Of course you did,(" Brekke continued, shaking her head. ")You spared that shadow, of course you'd want to spare them all.("

   ")Brekke, I'll help you if you let me,(" Trish finally put in. ")So I've been wrong before, everyone has. Okay? I'll help.("

   The black-haired girl grinned, ")all right. Me and you, we can get rid of that rock. Those girls don't think we can do anything. We'll prove 'em wrong.("

   ")So, how're we going to do this?(" Trish wondered.

   Brekke assumed a thoughtful look, gazing up at the ceiling above the blonde's head. Trish was sure the other girl realized that neither of them quite had the power to blow up a large rock, but she also knew that Brekke would never ask for help from the other senshi.

   ")Victoria's powers seem to include explosives,(" she blurted out before remembering the other girl's anger towards the redhead.

   From the look on Brekke's face, she knew she had wasted her breath. The other girl didn't reply, but the blonde could almost see the thoughts running back and forth in her head. On one hand, she could probably more easily remove the rock by teaming up with Ypsos. But then, ignoring Ypsos and receiving aid from the other senshi would prove a point. Going alone would piss them all off.

   ")We're not going to ask for help from anyone,(" Brekke concluded, and then grinned. ")Japan's a civilized country, oder*? They have explosives. They have TNT, dynamite. So we have the means, but how are we going to get there?("

   Trish brightened. ")I asked them that when they were debating. Apparently, they can. They didn't say how, but they did say they could.("

   Brekke raised an eyebrow, but then shrugged. ")All right, next little meeting of theirs, you're going to. Find out how they would get there if they weren't wimps.("

   Trish smiled, but didn't mention she was going to go anyway. At least she'd be of use and Brekke wouldn't question why she was still going. She still liked the other girls; they were her first friends in this country.

   The black-haired girl glanced at her watch then abruptly got up. ")I'm going to be late for practice if I don't go now. I'll see you tomorrow, same time and place. Tschüs*!("

   Trish followed her to the door of the restaurant. She was about to leave as well when a waitress came over and tapped her on the shoulder.

   "You still have to pay your bill, miss."



   Kaisha was still asleep when Atra slipped in through the hole in the roof. Enshoku was staring idly at the wall, his back against the black stone chair. He stopped muttering to himself as he caught the motion of the Shadow in the corner of his eye. Getting to his feet, he approached her.

   "Hello," he said coldly. "And where have you been?"

   Atra glared at him, " retrieving information. And what of ussse have you been doing?"

   The man was taken aback by the Shadow's abrupt change of attitude. "Woah, what flew in your eye?"

   The Shadow ignored him, brushing past to approach the sleeping Kaisha. Enshoku followed her, becoming increasingly suspicious.

   "Where's the Shadow you sent out?"

   "Dead."

   "And why is she dead?"

   Atra glanced at him, then turned back to Kaisha and gently prodded her shoulder. The lady yawned broadly, muttered something that shouldn't be repeated, and opened her vibrant orange eyes.

   "What?" She grumbled, rubbing her eyes.

   "Information hasss been retrieved, Massster," Atra said, bowing deeply.

   "All right, why don't you share this information?" Kaisha returned, a sharp edge to her voice.

   "The Pyramid isss in piecesss," Atra hissed. "And when we find all the piecesss, we will know what to do with them."

   "Where are the pieces?" Kaisha asked quickly.

   "They do not know."

   "Bull," Kaisha growled. " Why didn't you find out? Hell, why were you there? I thought you sent another Shadow."

   Atra fidgeted under the lady's stare before answering. "I did sssend a Ssshadow. But I went asss well to make sssure ssshe did not fail."

   "And where is she?" Kaisha inquired, her features clearly showing she already suspected the truth.

   "Plumba isss gone," Atra bowed her head.

   "Why didn't you save her?"

   The Shadow brightened. "Becaussse, they had already given the information. If they knew I wasss there alssso then they would know we knew. Now they will continue on recklesssly, and we can learn more."

   Kaisha smirked. "Smart, in a sick way. All right, you've given me a great idea, Atra. Next mission, we send a Shadow who will stay hidden. In that way we can probably learn more."

   "Yesss, Massster," Atra bowed. "Good idea. I can go-"

   "Nex!" Kaisha interrupted the Shadow by calling into the far corner.

   Atra perturbed, turned to watch the tiny translucent demon slip away from the wall and float silently to them. The orange-eyed Shadow shivered as Nex's solitary black eye flicked open, the darkness of the room seeming to seep into the deep, fathomless eye. The assassin Shadow ignored Atra as she passed, though.

   "Massster?" Nex's voice was barely audible, but chilled the air around them.

   "You will go down to Earth and follow the senshi. Obtain as much information as you can about the Pyramid and report back only when you know where to find the pieces. If you are found out," Kaisha paused and grinned widely, "you can use whatever methods you find suitable to retrieve the information."

   "Sss," Nex bowed with a hiss.

   "Atra," Enshoku cut in. "I bet all those times you've been watch your Shadows die, you must have at least once or twice seen one of the senshi as their civilian self."

   "Good thinking," Kaisha complimented as Atra gave a hiss of annoyance. "That will help Nex greatly."

   "The white sssenssshi," Atra stated. "Her civilian name isss Conti Trisssh. Ssshe hasss good relationsss with the other sssenssshi. Find her and you can find them all."

   "Sss," Nex bowed again.

   With that she floated to the center of the room, underneath the hole in the roof, then was gone.



*Oder means "or" which is meant much like the Japanese "ne" in that context. Tschüs means "bye." Both words are German, which Brekke speaks nearly fluently. Sometimes she let's things "slip" for various reasons, one of them is to make her look smarter because she knows another language, but mainly just to confuse people.

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