With what\u2019s been recently made clear to us, the people in the palace were in something of a panic. Sailors Mercury, Venus, and Neptune had a hard time keeping the people calm. Endymion called us and Sailor Moon, now wearing a pink gown and going by her name Usagi, instead of her childhood name of Chibiusa. \u201cAs I understand it, you know these…Cybermen…personally,\u201d observed Endymion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t, but the rest of my team do,\u201d I explained. \u201cThey can explain it better than I can. Batman, why don\u2019t you tell him since you\u2019ve been trying to develop dossiers about them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d rasped Batman. \u201cLike us, the Cybermen come from another universe. The current models we see are the result of two models coming together. The more prominent model came from their prime universe, orbiting Earth from its twin planet, Mondas. Some disaster caused Mondas to drift and the Mondasians were getting weaker, their lifespans getting shorter. The Mondasian scientists and doctors developed prosthetic organs and limbs until they were almost completely replaced with metal, becoming nothing more than brains in suits. The other model was from a universe parallel to that one and had a similar story, just that a psychopathic genius forged them on that version of Earth in its present day. The two models came into contact and upgraded each other until they became a newer model that can adapt to anything. The model we faced was slightly different to the ones we\u2019ve just met today. Shocker Rift must have had a hand in that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShocker Rift?\u201d asked Endymion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA terrorist organization,\u201d explained Lacey. \u201cOne that recruits other bad guys from other universes, living or dead. Queen Beryl would make a good recruit for Shocker Rift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do they do?\u201d asked Usagi. \u201cTell me, what did they do to my mother?!\u201d This was going to be harder to tell her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve removed all emotions and slaved her mind and knowledge to their hive mind, the Cyberiad,\u201d replied Joshua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJosh!\u201d hissed Lukas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd lying to her would make any difference?!\u201d argued Joshua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe has a point,\u201d burbled Sludgiona. \u201cAnd, if the Cyber-Slammers are any indication, they can upgrade ANY life-form, not just humans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey mentioned that life-forms like you can\u2019t be upgraded,\u201d mumbled Flora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYet,\u201d answered Sludgiona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think you\u2019ll be used as a test subject?\u201d asked Tonje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre we just going to ignore the fact that we just told a man and his daughter that an important woman in their life is considered dead?!\u201d snapped Lexicon. We were snapped out of our argument to see Usagi crying into her dad\u2019s shoulder. We were kicking ourselves for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe…I mean, she only just became that today…\u201d mused Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Source might help free Neo Queen Serenity from Cyberman control,\u201d explained Lacey. Endymion and Usagi gave their undivided attention to her after that. \u201cI said MIGHT,\u201d warned Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s this Source you\u2019re talking about?\u201d asked Usagi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Source of Chaos,\u201d replied Lacey. \u201cBelieve it or not, I\u2019m a new Horseman of the Apocalypse.\u201d Usagi and Endymion leapt from their seats. \u201cRelax! The Apocalypse isn\u2019t happening now,\u201d assured Lacey. \u201cIn any event, we all have these crystal spheres that work as a manifestation of each aspect of the apocalypse. I have the Source of Chaos, since an apocalypse usually has people running and screaming. Since I have that source, I can utilize its powers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow can you do that?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf there was just enough chaotic energy,\u201d continued Lacey, \u201cin theory, something new could be created. Now, if Neo Queen Serenity\u2019s Star Seed could be coaxed out of Cyber-Leader Gi and into a body that was exactly like her original before she was upgraded…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe might stand a chance against the Cybermen!\u201d realized Usagi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves,\u201d urged Endymion. \u201cWhat\u2019s the risk?\u201d Lacey hesitated before answering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d…rather not tell you…\u201d she floundered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the risk?!\u201d insisted Endymion. Lacey sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe energy would cause the Star Seed to crack, killing her forever,\u201d she finally explained. That killed the mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLovely,\u201d I murmured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere has to be another option!\u201d begged Usagi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe only other option is to kill her outright,\u201d replied Sludgiona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re NOT resorting to murder!\u201d hissed Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHer soul has been ripped from her original body and her body is now altered beyond what we know,\u201d replied Sludgiona. \u201cThe only way she\u2019ll know peace is to kill her with honor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat kind of twisted view is that?!\u201d I snapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the Tarlaxian way,\u201d dismissed Sludgiona. \u201cThe soul cannot rest if its original body is altered in any way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOut of the question!\u201d I insisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd using the Source will guarantee that she\u2019ll live?!\u201d argued Sludgiona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt looks like that\u2019s the best option!\u201d shouted Usagi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour Highness, think about this,\u201d urged Lacey. \u201cThere\u2019s a chance that she\u2019ll die in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I see her die,\u201d insisted Usagi, \u201cat least I want the knowledge that we\u2019ve tried to save her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Very well,\u201d sighed Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we need to find out where the Source is,\u201d I declared. \u201cAfter that, we need to find the Cybermen\u2019s base.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe Ami can help in that regard,\u201d offered Endymion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerfect,\u201d I answered. \u201cLukas, Flora, see if you can help her. Batman, Joshua, Usagi, we need to coordinate an attack plan. Lexicon, keep watch over Endymion. Sludgiona, Tonje, I need you to help guard the gates with those assigned to watch duty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook at you,\u201d praised Joshua, \u201cbecoming a leader.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Thanks,\u201d I mumbled, blushing and smiling a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll the necessary equipment for searching the city is online,\u201d reported the Cyber-Deputy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent,\u201d I replied. I turned to the Communications Officer. \u201cInform the fleet that we\u2019re ready to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeader, the Source has yet to be located!\u201d reminded the Cyber-Deputy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you question my authority?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe should, at least, wait before communicating,\u201d suggested the Cyber-Deputy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd will you answer for the delay?\u201d I inquired. The Cyber-Deputy understood that I will not be questioned but did not yet understand the logic. As the Communications Officer set up the console, I explained. \u201cOur energy reserves are limited. To search now would only be an expenditure of unnecessary power. We must conserve energy until the Source is located. The Vortex Riders will find it. They are led by one who has never traveled with the original Riders, a tactical error on their part. Once it is confirmed that they have located the Source, we shall take it in time for the fleet to arrive and annexation can begin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took all day, but our battle plan was laid out for tomorrow. I wandered the halls of the palace, not getting any sleep. I went onto a balcony and sat on the bench near the railing. I sighed and looked around, seeing the firelight from campfires for those that made it into the palace for safety. A glance to my left caused me to gasp in shock! Batman was perched on the railing, looking at the skyline. \u201cThe Cybermen really did a number on Crystal Tokyo,\u201d he observed. \u201cNot even the Joker could top this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you HAVE to perch yourself like that?!\u201d I protested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d replied Batman. I rolled my eyes and waved it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease yourself,\u201d I grumbled. We sat there for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…The Feudal Nerd Society is hiding something from you new guys,\u201d remarked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow they hid Vortech\u2019s identity as the enemy back in your first adventure with them and Megumi had an emotional collapse when she realized her mistake?\u201d I quizzed. The fact that Batman looked stunned told me that was what he was talking about. \u201cJoshua and Emily told me about the vote to keep that incident secret. I heard Megumi voted no since she didn\u2019t want a repeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey told you?\u201d asked Batman. \u201cI thought the consensus was they WOULDN\u2019T tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was stinging their conscience,\u201d I explained, repeating what they told me. \u201cI don\u2019t know who else they told yet. They told me this about a week ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was half expecting this to be awkward,\u201d mused Batman as he surveyed the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn this instance, that would disrupt the board on our side,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…The board?\u201d asked Batman. I winced when I realized my error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have a tendency to think of everything as a chess game,\u201d I answered. \u201cIt\u2019s caused some conflict with my friends over in Korea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see,\u201d replied Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I was so nervous to lead,\u201d I continued. \u201cWhenever I DO lead, it always turns into a chess game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe that\u2019s not a bad thing,\u201d countered Batman, \u201cjust as long as you remember who\u2019s who on the board.\u201d That was a bit strange but I started to understand where he was coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnnexation can begin,\u201d I relayed to the Communications Officer once the console was up and running the next day. \u201cRepeat, annexation can begin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeader, I must repeat my objection to the transmission of incorrect data,\u201d urged the Cyber-Deputy. \u201cOur force does not yet hold the Source.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are outside your function,\u201d I reproached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInitial transmission received,\u201d called the Communications Officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRepeat once more, then relay the response,\u201d I ordered. The Communications Officer was in the initial stages of carrying out my orders before an alarm sounded. \u201cReport!\u201d I ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInterference,\u201d replied the Communications Officer. \u201cTransmission and reception affected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom what source?\u201d I requested. \u201cProvide more information.\u201d The Communications Officer checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe source is a completely unknown form of sound,\u201d he finally reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOpen the monitor facility,\u201d I ordered. The sound then played throughout the base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFighting evil by moonlight,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Winning love by daylight,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Never running from a real fight,<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe is the one named Sailor Moon!<\/em>\u201d continued the theme song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMom had an anime about her adventures?\u201d repeated Usagi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTwo of them,\u201d I answered. \u201cBoth of them were dubbed into English. Although one was more flawed than the other. I mean, in the anime that came out in the 90\u2019s, Uranus and Neptune were cousins instead of lovers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCOUSINS?!\u201d protested Uranus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe idea of gay lovers was still far-fetched back then,\u201d I went on. \u201cI don\u2019t mind telling you, as someone with a girlfriend, I\u2019m not too thrilled about that either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m straight and I\u2019m not terribly thrilled,\u201d remarked Joshua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, the Cybermen should be thoroughly confused,\u201d I declared. \u201cGood thinking, Mercury.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the disadvantage of a machine mind,\u201d replied Sailor Mercury, \u201cthey\u2019re single-minded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s gone into a loop,\u201d reported Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect,\u201d I answered. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d We headed off to search for the Source. We searched the west side of the castle to no avail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnyone found it yet?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s gonna be a no on that one,\u201d I sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Cybermen have already broken through the first iteration and are starting the second one,\u201d reported Lexicon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEarlier than anticipated,\u201d I gulped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSweet dreams are made of this.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Who am I to disagree?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I traveled the world and the seven seas.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Everybody\u2019s looking for something.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The jamming was now in a second loop. The Communications Officer turned to report. \u201cThe fleet is still not receiving our transmissions, Leader,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs there ANY pattern to the jamming?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is meaningless,\u201d the Communications Officer replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWest side\u2019s not giving up anything,\u201d sighed Lacey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEast\u2019s no better,\u201d replied Sailor Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m getting nothing from the…\u201d Joshua trailed off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJoshua?!\u201d I yelped. \u201cJoshua, report!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Source has been located in the north!\u201d cheered Joshua. \u201cI repeat, the Source is in the north!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent move!\u201d I praised. \u201cWe\u2019ve castled the king! Stay put! We\u2019re on our way! The Cybermen can now deal with the audio-based pawns at their leisure!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKako no ishi wa Uso de wa azamuke nai (Lies cannot fool the will of the past.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanjiro s\u014d Nexus Future (Feel it in your bones! The Nexus Future!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, Over “Quartzer”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mabayui sekai (That dazzling world…)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Misete (Enchant me)<\/em>\u201d The jamming was now in a third loop. The Communications Officer worked fast to try and undo the jamming. His fingers were moving quickly across the console. Without the communications console, we could not contact the fleet or our forces searching the city. Just then, the noise stopped. The Cyberiad was finally at an acceptable collective processing speed. \u201cTransmission channels are clear again,\u201d reported the Communications Officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent,\u201d I replied. \u201cResume search for…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLeader,\u201d interrupted the Cyber-Deputy, \u201cthe Vortex Riders and Sailor Senshi are on a direct course for a warehouse near the Tarlaxian scout ship\u2019s position in the north. The Cyber-Slammers have abandoned their post, thus allowing them passage.\u201d I could feel the Cyber-Slammers trying to explain themselves through the Cyberiad, a fruitless endeavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBetrayal,\u201d I declared. \u201cDelete them.\u201d The Communications Officer transmitted a code which activated the explosive payloads within the Cyber-Slammers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat was that?!\u201d yelped Sailor Venus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think the Cybermen didn\u2019t like how their Cyber-Slammers fared against us and \u2018deleted\u2019 them,\u201d I guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I REALLY don\u2019t like them!\u201d snarled Sailor Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing about the Cybermen is likeable,\u201d answered Lukas, recalling his first encounter with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s the warehouse!\u201d called Tonje. We entered the warehouse and found the Source in a crate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the one!\u201d confirmed Lacey as she held it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSurrender it to us,\u201d called a voice. We turned to see Cyber-Leader Gi with a group of Cybermen standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSCATTER!\u201d I shouted. We took off in various directions, causing the Cybermen to pursue us. Cyber-Leader Gi went after me. In the words of the Cybermen, excellent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With what\u2019s been recently made clear to us, the people in the palace were in something of a panic. Sailors Mercury, Venus, and Neptune had a hard time keeping the people calm. Endymion called us and Sailor Moon, now wearing a pink gown and going by her name Usagi, instead of her childhood name of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,104],"tags":[14,38,264,9,27,262],"class_list":["post-579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-movie-chaoters","tag-batman","tag-cybermen","tag-deung-moon-kyung","tag-kamen-rider","tag-lacey","tag-sailor-moon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=579"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1149,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579\/revisions\/1149"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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