Episode 6! A new threat?!

[Anastasia]

> The next day, you head to your local park as planned. It's not a hard stretch for Hotaru to find Luna, as she is sitting at the base of a quiet slide. The younger children aren't out of class yet, so the playground is fairly muted. Besides her is a white cat with the same cresent moon marking. Both sit, waiting...
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru approaches the cats, a reserved, but not particularly hostile expression on her face. Watching the white one in particular, she approaches them head on, not quite hoping for a normal cat reaction to tell her yesterday had been a dream or something.
> The sun peeks out at times from the spotty clouds, providing ample light to shine down and around. It's warmer today, almost more like late spring than the wakening from winter it really is, calendar wise. The black cat glances around, and seeing no one around, "Hotaru," she smiles nicely enough, nodding.
<Hotaru-chan> "Uhm, hi," Hotaru answers quietly, bowing to the black cat. "I'm sorry, I forgot your name...?" she adds, looking embarrassed, and sighing quietly. While the day was nice, the fact that she was really facing reality, or was going crazy, was a little disconcerting.
> "Luna," she nods, the other cat speaking up as well. "And I'm Artemis," he says simply. Both seem friendly enough, even as the break the 'normal' rules of your reality.
> *they
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods to Artemis, looking around the park nervously. "Mm...you were going to show me to...Usagi-san's?" she prompted, trying to adjust to having two talking cats in front of her.
> "Yes," Artemis says, nodding encouragingly and rising to walk. "It's not too badly far. We'll talk there."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods agreeably. "Alright," she murmurs, following the cats...
> They lead the way, keeping a pace that's reasonable if a bit rough. As they go, they keep mostly quiet. As you head along, you pass through the mall and surrounding area of Juuban. Passing by an arcade, you come across the path of a dark haired man in a green jacket and blonde haired man in a working apron and clothes talking, taking up most of the sidewalk and making it hard to get past. "Say, I ran into her again," he mentiones, as the blonde haired one sweeps in front of the shop.
> "Say, I ran into her again," he mentions, as the blonde haired one sweeps in front of the shop.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru follows the cats almost detachedly, focusing on keeping up rather than admiring her surroundings. Beginning to breath a little faster, she tries to duck around the green jacketed man on the curb, rather than disturb the conversing elder men.
> As you do, he happens to shift forward, turning. This lets you get by easily enough, though he does seem to notice you. "Oh, sorry," he says absently, moving fully out of your way. On the ground, the cats get by as well. Hmm...he's cute, at least, from the momentary glance you get.
<Hotaru-chan> "No problem," Hotaru answers absently, almost as an after thought behind her. She quickly continues after the cats, the man and bit of conversation lost in the dusty corners of her mind.
> Continuing on, you come to a nice little, slightly out of the way house. It's nice enough and isolated, a small yard with it and a two or three story house looming up. The two cats going on before, Luna stopping. "Knock on the door and ask for Usagi," she says. "We'll see you upstairs."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, smiling nervously at the cats. "Thank you, Artemis-san, Luna-san."  Pausing to collect herself, Hotaru walks up to the door, knocking tentatively, but trying to be firm enough to be heard.
> A moment or two of wait, shuffling, then the door opens. A younger/middle aged woman opens, a housewife's dress and apron on. Her long blue/purple hair is pretty and long, and her most distinctive feature. "Hello," she nods. "Oh, are you looking for Usagi or Shingo?"
<Hotaru-chan> "I was wondering if Usagi-san was home," Hotaru answers, trying to not look down.
> A smile, "She's in the living room playing her video games," she nods. "Come in..." she says, nodding. "What's your name, dear?"
* Ranma007|work (~Ranma007@pcp09152976pcs.towson01.md.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
<Hotaru-chan> "T-Tomoe Hotaru." Still trying her best to not look nervous, Hotaru steps into the house, depositing her shoes carefully with the others and looking to Usagi's mother. Or at least she assumes that's who the woman is. "Um...where is the living room?"
> "This way," she leads you slightly in, to it. In there is Usagi, currently playing what looks to be some sort of game and having quite a time with it.
* Usagi has her back to the door and is almost entirely engrossed in having her pixellated avatar leap from platform to platform on the tv, waving the control pad around with every movement.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru follows carefully, trying to pay attention to not running into anything. Smiling in amusement at Usagi's gameplaying, she steps up behind and to one side of Usagi, crousching down to watch the gameplay. "I didn't know you were into video games, Usagi-san," she murmurs, trying to disturb the blonde's fun as little as possible.
> Ikkuko merely nods, going off to the other rooms quietly
> .
<Usagi> "Waugh!" the blonde jumps, not having noticed Hotaru's approach. Taking a few seconds to collect herself, she turns to her guest, looking quizzicly at the younger girl before recognition dawns. "Sa-ah, Hotaru-chan!" she grins, "I didn't think you'd be here for a while longer."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru winces momentarily at the much higher than she's used to volume. "Sorry..." she adds, looking embarrassed; though she is smiling. "Having to look at the clock so often was bugging me, so I came a little early."
* Usagi nods, shifting off the couch to turn off the famicom and tv. "Ami-chan's busy with some school thing, today, so it's just us. Come on upstairs and we can, um... well, talk about the whole thing... from the other day..." she smiles a bit sheepishly while making vague gestures.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, shyly returning the smile. "Alright..." Beginning to actually inspect her surroundings, she waits for Usagi to lead the way upstairs. "Mmm...Ami-san's very academic, isn't she?"
<Usagi> "Oh, yeah," Usagi nods, making a face as she leads Hotaru up the stairs. "She's probably the smartest person at our school even if you include the teachers." She giggles a little, conjuring a mental image of Ami lecturing a brow-beaten Miss Haruna.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snickers quietly, nodding. "Un...she seemed a bit like that," she agrees, her mind wandering back to the trip before things started getting weird.
* Usagi heads into her room, plopping down on the bed and gesturing to her desk chair. "Take a seat," she offers her guest, glancing around for her 'glorious feline advisors'.
> Both are waiting, Artemis hopping off Usagi's bed and to the floor besides Luna at Usagi's plop, a rather hasted and surprised expression as he avoids Usagi.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles, sitting down carefully on the chair. "Thanks..." she murmurs quietly, folding her hands in her lap. "Um...so...what is all this?" she asks impulsively, nervously glancing around the room.
<Usagi> "I'm not really sure, and Luna and Artemis can't remember," Usagi admits, "So we're kind of muddling along..." she giggles sheepishly.
> "Usagi," Luna says. "We're fighting the enemy, They want to take the energy of humans and enslave them as mindless servants for their goals."
* Usagi nods at that, but doesn't let the point lie so easily. "But we don't really know who the enemy are or why they're doing those things. Or where our magic powers come from, even!"
* Retrieving #dunes modes...
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sweatdrops, shaking her head. "So we turn into those...magical forms, and we're the only people that can fight the monsters?" she asks slowly, trying to not shake her head. "Sounds like a manga...or a myth."
> "The Sailor Senshi," Luna nods, frowning. "You are..." she stops, shaking her head. Artemis looks over to her, curious. "Luna," he asks, "Something wrong?" The black cat looks down, blinking her feline eyes rapidly.
<Usagi> "It is!" Usagi nods brightly at Hotaru. "Except a lot scarier than a manga..." she adds, a little bit quieter.
<Hotaru-chan> "Because it's real?" Hotaru replies to Usagi, blinking and shifting her focus to Luna. "Ara? Luna-san? What's wrong?" she asks, leaning forward a little.
> Luna stops, "Hotaru?..." she murmurs. Looking up, "I...when I was talking to you, I think I nearly remembered something," Luna says slowly.
<Usagi> "What'd you remember?" Usagi asks the cat.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks, smiling slightly as Usagi refocuses attention away from her. "Nn...it'd be useful to  have any information at all..."
> "Sailor Saturn, the soldier of destruction," she says. "Sailor Jupiter, the Sailor of Lighting and Might...Sailor Mars, the warrior of fire...The Sailor Senshi,t he protectors of the planet?" she says, as if feeling it out as she goes.
<Usagi> "What about Moon, then?" Usagi asks hopefully.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks sharply in surprise, shaking her head. "Destruction? Why...?" she murmurs, an almost stricken curiousity creeping over her. "I've never been...that's just..."
> "Luna," Artemis asks. Luna shakes her head. "I don't know, I just remember that snippet," she explains. "I've said that before, too. I know I have. I just can't remember where."
<Usagi> "So what does it mean? Like will Jupiter and Mars have lightning and fire attacks? And Ami-chan's... the soldier of fog?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru bites her lip nervously, turning the statement over in her head. "I don't think it'd be fog, that just seems...weird in addition to lightning and fire and all..." she adds, shrugging nervously. "But I could be wrong."
> "I think so," Luna says. "Or maybe of ice or water or..." Luna goes on. "I...I told you this already, Hotaru," Luna finally says. "I know I have."
<Usagi> "And am I the soldier of jewellery, since I throw my tiara?" Usagi asks, looking a little bit confused. Maybe more than a little.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head, fidgeting a little. "No...I remember being Sailor Saturn yesterday, kinda. I don't remember you saying anything beyond that."
> Artemis looks at Usagi, a surprised by honest smile there. "I don't know, but that sounds right," Artemis says to Luna. "It does feel like something I've said before...almost a speech."
> "Like it's rote," Luna nods. "IT feels like something I _know_."
<Usagi> "This is weird," Usagi pronounces. "Well, even weirder than things already were, I guess."
> "I don't know, Hotaru, but I know I've told you this before," Luna insists, looking up at you.
<Hotaru-chan> "Is there any way you could try and deduct the rest of it? Though I guess we don't reall yhave enough information for that..." Hotaru mumbles, not noticing Luna as she slips into her own thoughts.
> A knock on your door disrupts any answer, a cheerful, motherly voice carrying over. "Usagi, I made some cake and tea. Are you and your guest hungry?"
<Usagi> "Sure!" Usagi says brightly, giving the cats a quich shh gesture and going to open the door.
> Luna barely pays it any mind, closing her eyes as she thinks. AT the door, Mom hands you a nice tray, with two cups of tea, some sweet cake, and forks and knives. "Just don't forget to study today, Usagi," Mom says brightly.
<Usagi> "I won't!" 'Do any studying at all!' Usagi replies with a guileless smile, returning to set the food on the floor and sit with her back against the bed. "Help yoursef, Hotaru-chan," she offers.
> "Mmm..." Luna murmurs once Usagi is back and Mother has taken off. "I...Let me think about it, Hotaru. It's on the tip of my tongue."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru looks up confusedly from her thoughts, her eyes moving from Usagi to the tray, and nodding as she catches up. "Thank you," she says reflexively, shifting off the chair to sit on the floor with Usagi, and taking a piece of cake. "Um...alright, Luna-san," she adds, pausing in consumption to speak.
> Artemis nods. "Do you remember anything at all about that, or even something familiar," Artemis asks Hotaru.
* Usagi slices up a bit of cake and pops it in her mouth with the fork, looking on curiously, even as she feels somewhat out of her depth in this conversation.
> Usagi - Body check.
* Anastasia sets mode: +v Hatbot
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head, forgetting the cake entirely under scrutiny, though she absently plays with the fork. "Not really...Destruction is...weird, but it doesn't make me uncomfortable, for some reason. Not like war movies." Hotaru shudders at the thought.
<Usagi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> As you grasp the knife again, you feel your a couple of your fingers slip slightly on something - it feels creamy for a split second, as you bobble it! Gah! The blade dances lightly across the meat of your left hand, drawing blood! (2 damage, and a minor cut. It huuuurts!)
> Artemis nods. "I'm glad it doesn't," he begins, glancing over at Usagi as he sees something fumbling happen over there.
<Usagi> "Waaah!" Usagi cries, holding her wounded hand up as tears flow freely. "It hurts!"
> Luna looks up, seeing the situation and the lightly bloodied hand. "Usagi," she asks, blinking. "What happened?"
> "Clumsy attack," Artemis murmurs back with a shrug. "You alright, Usagi?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru looks up at the commotion, not quite flinching at the sight of blood. "How did..." she trails off as Luna and Artemis ask the questions first.
* Hatbot (Halbarad@cs7011392-217.austin.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 134 seconds)
* Usagi shakes her head as she wails, shakily standing up to go get a band-aid from the bathroom. "Back in a minute," she burbles.
<Hotaru-chan> "Alright..." Hotaru replies quietly, trying to avoid looking at the bloody knife. "Um...does that happen often?" she asks Luna or Artemis, setting down her cake, and folding her hands again.
> "Not that much," Artemis shakes his head, as he glances at the knife. "Oh, it looks like there's some butter on the handle...bad luck," he shrugs. "She'll be fine."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods slowly, leaning back to lightly rest her head on the chair seat. "Remember anything, Luna-san?" she asks softly.
> "Poor Usagi," Artemis sighs at all that, as Luna looks back down. "It's right there, but I can't quite get it..." she says.
* Usagi returns after a moment, still sniffling and with a blue plaster on her hand. Sitting back down, she refrains from any more cake. "Sorry about that," she says quietly.
> "It's fine," Artemis says, as Luna is mostly in her own world. "You okay?"
<Hotaru-chan> "It's alright," Hotaru answers automatically, smiling in vague amusement as Artemis beats her to the question again.
* Usagi nods. "I guess it's not as bad as being attacked by one of those monsters or that man, but still..."
<Hotaru-chan> "Could anything be that bad?" Hotaru asks, opening her eyes again. "That man was...very frightening."
> "And at least Kensuke won't be a threat any more," Artemis adds. "I don't think that's the end of it, but it's a good start."
> Luna looks up. "He's a servant of the enemy..." she murmurs. "It's probably only natural."
<Usagi> "You don't think maybe they'll give up, now?" Usagi asks hopefully.
> "I doubt it, somehow," Artemis shakes his head. "It would be nice, but I don't think they'll give up that easily."
<Hotaru-chan> "Doubtful...if there are many more of them, something like this will just make us more of a threat." Hotaru sighs, shrugging.
<Usagi> "It's not fair," Usagi pouts. "Why can't they just leave us alone?"
> "If there are...we're going to have a time of it," Artemis agrees. A moment later, Luna looks up intently at the white cat. "Say that again, Artemis?"
<Hotaru-chan> "No one ever leaves anyone else alone," Hotaru answered Usagi, growing a little more confident. "Just look at history."
> Blinking, "If they are, we're going to have a rough time," he says, giving Luna a strange look. "That do something for you?"
<Usagi> "Stupid history," Usagi grumbles, before looking up at Luna curiously.
> Nodding to Hotaru while keeping an eye on Luna, "You're probably right," he agrees.
> "Time..." Luna sighs. "For a moment..." she shrugs, looking up to all of you. "Just for a moment there, I thought I had something."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks, her attention moving to Luna. "Time? What about it?" she asks curiously. "It goes and goes."
<Usagi> "It flies when you're having fun?" Usagi offers.
> "I thought it reminded me of something," she frowns. "And...no good," she sighs. "Any ideas?"
* Usagi shrugs. "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head, sighing. "Nope...we just have to wait it out and hope for more, I guess."
> Artemis nods. "MMmm...maybe getting out of this room and getting some fresh air would help," he asks.
* Usagi briefly stands up to grab her alarm clock before waving it in Luna's face. "Is this helping you remember?"
> "Uh, Usagi?" Luna asks, staring at the clock. "What are you doing?"
<Usagi> "I'm trying to help you remember!" Usagi replies, holding the clock still. "Isn't it helping?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Maybe...are there any parks nearby?" Hotaru asks Artemis, trying to not giggle at Usagi's antics.
> "...A flying alarm clock doesn't help me remember time," Luna sighs deeply, shaking her head. Artemis chuckles at it, "That's not a bad idea, or going out somewhere," he suggests.
<Usagi> "Alright," Usagi shrugs, replacing her clock. "We do have lots of free time, right?" she stares intently at Luna to see if it gets any reaction.
<Hotaru-chan> "Mm..." Hotaru nods agreeably, smiling in amusement at Usagi, and waiting for her and Luna.
> Artemis nods to that. "It's all about time, after all,"  he agrees, not really keeping the smile off his face
> Luna just sighs again, "Funny, you two," she says, giving both of you an annoyed look. "I'm trying to be serious here, not turn this into a cluster of bad time jokes."
<Usagi> "I'm being serious, too!" Usagi protests. "You're just getting memories at random words - I'm only trying to help you get more!"
> Artemis nods as well, "We're just helping you one memory at a time," he nods to Usagi.
<Hotaru-chan> "Maybe Luna-san's mind needs to relax? Thinking too hard can make you miss what you're looking for..." Hotaru suggests, struggling to not giggle at the interaction.
> "You could do it better than this," Luna mutters, turning to Hotaru. "That may be true," she says, turning her back to the others. "Maybe some fresh air is good..."
<Usagi> "We don't have all the time in the world, though. We need to be back before dinnertime," Usagi adds as they leave, her mood brightening.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, following Usagi. 'How many times was that suggested? Doesn't matter.' Smiling, she quiets down.
> "USAGI!" Luna protests, as the group heads out. Once outside in the warm spring air, "Where did you want to go," Artemis asks, as Luna simmers.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru looks to Usagi, not knowing the area. "Usagi-san...this is your neighborhood, where do you want to go?"
<Usagi> "There's a playpark about five minutes away, but It's not big enough to talk to our cats in peace," Usagi notes. "We'd have to go to Juuban park, I guess."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, smiling at the thought of a large park. "How far is that?"
> As you speak, you come close to the corner. You hear Shingo's voice, loud and quite annoyed, from the other side. "So what?" he says belligerantly. "It's none of your business!"
<Usagi> "Shh," Usagi quickly hushes the cats, "Sounds like my little brother," she notes to Hotaru at Shingo's voice.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, quieting down herself, and staying slightly behind Usagi.
> "So? You're going there with her? You liiiiike her, don't you," another childish voice insists. "It's a date!"
<Usagi> "Oh ho!" Usagi brightens, hurrying around the corner. "What's this I hear? My little brother on a date?"
> Shingo is surrounded by a few other boys his own age, as you approach. He turns, beet red and waving his arms. "I AM NOT!" he protests mightily.
<Usagi> "Who's the lucky girl?" Usagi presses, undetterred, "It's Mika-chan, isn't it?"
> "Yeah," one of his fellow school mates nods. "They're going to get snacks and then go to go sit in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-I-G!" he says rather bluntly. "They're gonna have a baby and a family and all of that!"
* Usagi smiles proudly, patting Shingo on the back. "You be good to Mika-chan, okay? She's a nice girl."
> "Am NOT" Shingo insists, angered quite a bit. His face burning up, "I'm not even going to go with her," he insists. "I'll tell her no!"
<Usagi> "No you won't!" Usagi tells him, taking a grip on his shoulder. "I won't let you break that poor girl's heart!"
> "Ooooh...you're gonna dump your GIRLFRIEND," another of the boys asks, his broad face in a teasing smirk. Shingo l ooks to you th en the teaser, "Stay outta it, Usagi," he says, twisting out of it and beginning to stomp off.
<Usagi> "If you need any advice, just ask!" Usagi calls after him, before shaking her head, "Young love..."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks, looking mildly confused as she watches. "Why...nevermind," she murmurs, shaking her head. "How old is your brother, Usagi-san?
> The boys laugh, falling in among themselves and leaving. Shingo doesn't even turn back, his stomps hard enough to make little earthquakes if he were only super strong.
<Usagi> "You're all just jealous because Shingo's so popular," Usagi notes to his friends before turning to Hotaru, "Huh? He's ten. Why?" She then blinks, peering closer at the diminuitive girl, "Actually, how old are you, Hotaru-chan?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Ahn...twelve," Hotaru answers uncertainly, smiling. "And I was just curious," she adds, looking back the way Shingo went.
<Usagi> "I'm thirteen," Usagi offers. "I'll be fourteen in June, though!"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, smiling. "Mmm...isn't ten a little young for that kind of thing?" she asks curiously, trying to not sound naive.
<Usagi> "I doubt they're really going to have babies or anything," Usagi laughs. "But they do like each other." A small voice points out it might reflect badly on Usagi if her much younger brother got a significant other before she did, but she swiftly squelches it. Besides, maybe she'll get to know Tuxedo Kamen better if he sticks around after future battles more?
<Hotaru-chan> "Mm," Hotaru agrees and drops the subject, waiting for Usagi to continue leading them...
* Usagi starts walking towards the park once more with Hotaru and the two cats. "So what school do you go to, Hotaru-chan? Me and Ami are at Juuban middle."
* Ranma007|work is now known as Ranma007|out
<Hotaru-chan> "TA Academy..." Hotaru answers quietly, looking up at the other girl. "What's Juuban Middle like?"
<Usagi> "It's okay," Usagi shrugs. "I don't really like school. Ami-chan thinks it's great, though. She goes to cram school as well."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru giggles a little, nodding. "I like school, but not enough to go to cram school. Learning isn't quite that fun."
> As you continue to walk, you begin to draw closer to the park. The two cats stay close, mostly quiet amid the after school traffic spiced with mothers bringing home dinner groceries.
<Usagi> As they turn into the park, Usagi glances down at Luna. "We made pretty good time, getting here," she notes innocently.
> A few people are about, including a familiar face - Unazuki, laughing as she and another, rather slight and slim, female friend throw around a frisbee.
* Usagi spares a wistful glance at Unazuki and her friend, wanting to spend the day playing and having fun herself. Sadly, teasing Luna in the hopes of provoking her memory is about all the entertainment today offers...
<Hotaru-chan> "Nice park..." Hotaru comments, glancing at the other people, and looking for a relatively empty place to talk to the cats.
> There's a bench under the shade of cherry trees on the far side, no one is really around there.
<Hotaru-chan> "How about we go over there?" Hotaru suggests, indicating the bench, and smiling. "If Artemis-san and Luna-san sit in our laps, it'll look normal..."
<Usagi> "Sure," Usagi nods, picking Luna up as they walk over and settling the black cat on her lap after sitting down.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru tentatively reaches for Artemis, trying to pick him up as delicately as she can and following Usagi, setting her companion in her lap.
> As you sit, you see someone else was coming to the bench, but just got beaten - a dark haired man, quite familiar to you. What was his name...? He stops as he sees you, , beating him to the bench.
> Artemis is easy enough to pick up, and bears it with as much dignity as a cat can.
* Usagi vaguely recalls Motoki's friend, although his appearance nags curiously at her. She gives him a little smile and a shrug as if to say 'better luck next time'.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru begins to pet Artemis, her hands moving in nervous, light strokes. "Um..." she begins, looking at the man, and frowning slightly to remember. Shaking her head, she turns back to Artemis.
> He opens his mouth as if to say something, then shrugs and goes off. He looks slightly annoyed, something that is telegraphed well enough. As he goes, "Nice weather," Artemis remarks idly, sitting in Hotaru's lap. The cat is warm, and a nice legwarmer.
* Usagi nods. "So... where were we?" she asks, not really recalling how far they'd got in their discussion earlier.
<Hotaru-chan> "Time," Hotaru murmurs, getting used to the presence in her lap, and scratching Artemis behind the ears. "Luna was beginning to remember something, sorta."
> "Yeah, time," Artemis agrees. "Tick tock, time, time, time."
> "It was something about time..." Luna agrees, not really giving out nasty looks this time.
<Usagi> "Time heals all wounds?" Usagi tries, starting to run out of phrases.
> "Time is running out," Artemis tries, thoughtful.
<Hotaru-chan> "Just as the time is up?" Hotaru adds, shaking her head, and snickering. "This sounds...as odd as the rest of the situation."
> Luna just shakes her head at that. "It's chasing a phantom," Luna grouses. "Or trying to hold water."
<Usagi> "Why don't we leave it then?" Usagi asks, growing bored of this game. "So, what do we know about or enemy?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Mm...when he shot my arm, it burned..." Hotaru murmurs, shrugging. "And...the food they offered us had some weird affect. Ami-san would remember better, I think."
> "We know that they possess powers to fight us," Artemis nods. "The tea Ami drank that one time is like that," he adds. "It seems to be able to affect people on ingestion."
<Usagi> "They said those desks at the school would turn people into slaves just by sitting on them," Usagi adds helpfully.
<Hotaru-chan> "Why do they want to enslave people? That rarely ends well," Hotaru replies, looking down at the cats.
<Usagi> "And they drain energy from their slaves. Wouldn't slaves who just sleep be pretty useless?" Usagi wonders aloud.
> "They seem to want energy as well as helpers," Luna notes. "Maybe..." she muses thougtfully, "It's where they get those monsters we fight?"
<Usagi> "Maybe one day they'll tell us?" Usagi asks hopefully. "The villian normally explains everything in manga before the end."
<Hotaru-chan> "They drain people and then use them? Wouldn't they want the person to have all their energy if they're going to fight us?" Hotaru muses, shaking her head.
> As you talk, there is a bit of a ruckus in the more populated part of the park - some confused shouting and something going on.
* Usagi glances over in the direction of the ruckus. "What's going on?" she asks, hoping the cats' better hearing will pick things up.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru looks up, first to Usagi, and then following her line of sight to the disturbance.
> Luna perks up at it, as you see...there seems to be a few cats running around here, causing quite a mess. They look quite excited as they pounce about, one giving Unazuki's friend a jump by clawing.
<Usagi> "Hey... isn't this like what happened at the pet shop?" Usagi asks, frowning.
<Hotaru-chan> "Pet shop?" Hotaru inquires, wincing at the clawing.
> Artemis nods, frowning at that. "Now that you mention it..." he says, as Unazuki is leapt at by a cat, the girl holding her wrist. "Aaaah!" her cry is heard. "Are these things going crazy or rabid?"
> roll 2d6
> roll 2d6
* Rei-chan (WinNT@user-7956.lns1-c8.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
> roll 2d6
> roll 2d6
* Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8."
* Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 12."
> "Is is like it," Luna nods. "One of the previous enemy schemes was to use a pet store to take over animals and humans," Luna explains quickly, as Unazuki slumps over a moment, to her knees.
-> *chanserv* help
<Hotaru-chan> "Should there be one of those...monsters around, then?" Hotaru asks, looking around the park for anything suspicious, and moving Artemis out of her lap.
<Usagi> "We can't just stand around and do nothing," Usagi declares, standing up quickly to look for a place to transform (and paying no mind to the cat on her lap).
> Luna and Artemis both manage to get off, though Luna is somewhat thrown off. "Yes, hurry. I think it is the enemy," Luna nods firmly, as Unazuki rises - her motions mechanical and dazed, as well as another girl scratched.
> There are plenty of trees off to the side, cover given easily.
* Usagi rushes into the cover provided before holding up her pen and crying "Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"
* Usagi is now known as Sailor_Moon
<Hotaru-chan> "Um...right," Hotaru quickly agrees, standing up and hurrying after Usagi into the trees. Hotaru pauses, but forces herself to use the embarrassing mantra to activate her transformation. "Saturn Power!" she cries, trying to not sigh internally.
* Hotaru-chan is now known as Sailor_Saturn
<Sailor_Moon> "Let's go, Sailor Saturn!" Moon cries, taking off at a run towards the disturbance.
> OOC - Body check, Moon. -2.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6-2
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6-2 and gets 6."
> As Usagi runs out in front of Saturn, she stumbles slightly. Her skirt flips up a moment, giving the trees and the person behind her a momentary glipse of her white underwear.
* Sailor_Moon stumbles a few steps, flailing her arms briefly to avoid falling before she regains her balance and continues on!
<Sailor_Saturn> Saturn sweatdrops, following quickly, but at a much more cautious pace. If Usagi tripped, she didn't want to think about what would happen to her if she ran through this grove.
> Coming out, you see the three cats are out. A small group of people are in the crowd and staring at them, as the chaotic scene unfolds.
> Your two cats come to your sides as you come out. "They're controlling them when they scratch them, Sailor Moon," Luna warns. "Don't let them touch you!"
<Sailor_Moon> "Where's the actual monster, though?" Usagi asks, confused.
> "It must be around here," Luna says. "I feel the enemy - it's coming from those cats," Artemis adds.
<Sailor_Moon> "But... I can't just hit cats with my tiara," Usagi protests. "What if they're being controlled as well?"
> Luna stops, staring on at the ruckus ahead. "...She has a point," she says, turning to Artemis. He nods quickly at that, glancing down at himself. "Those poor, innocent cats..." he murmurs.
<Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru nods, watching the cats nervously. "Do we have any way of finding the controller?" she asks, looking around the park again.
<Sailor_Moon> "Maybe we can distract them with some fish or something, then the real monster will come out to get them back under control?" Usagi offers, fidgeting a little. This standing around and talking doesn't sit well with her...
> You don't see any- wait. Did you just see a shadow on the far end of the park, where there is another bunch of trees. It was pretty far away, but you think you just saw something...
> Artemis idly licks his lips at that, nodding. "You know, that may not be a bad idea..." he murmurs, before Luna pipes up. "This isn't the time to think of your stomach, Artemis," she retorts. "We need to stop them and find the monster controlling them."
<Sailor_Saturn> "Um..." Hotaru frowns at the shadow, then looks back at Usagi. "Moon...can you keep the cats distracted by attacking Near them? I thought I saw something, but we can't leave them alone, and I'm not very fast..." she murmurs quickly, anxiety permeating her voice.
<Sailor_Moon> "Sure!" Usagi agrees easily, picking up a rock and tossing it near the cats. "Now what?" she asks guilelessly.
> "We can keep the cats busy," Luna offers. "Why don't you go with Saturn," Artemis says, going down into a cat crouch as the felines turn their attention towards you.
<Sailor_Moon> "Lead the way!" Usagi declares, sparing a moment to pose righteously while waiting for Hotaru to get going.
<Sailor_Saturn> "I meant your tiara attack," Hotaru answers, a little dryly. Nodding to Luna and Artemis, Hotaru moves off as quickly as she can towards the shadow she saw...
<Sailor_Moon> "The tiara makes me tired if I use it too much," Usagi replies as they run off. "I'd rather not use it unless I have to."
> As you haul towards the trees... as you do, a shadow leaps from the branches straight at Usagi! The swiftly moving target looks like some kind of black furred, humanoid cat...
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> It zooms by Usagi, landing on all fours behind them! It's whiskers are white, and it's human like body is covered in it's black fur. Except for it's face, it's pale white skin visible there. "...Meow..." is heard from it, as you hear the sounds of a good ruckus from where your cats are.
<Sailor_Moon> "Hey, you're the same one from the petshop that kidnapped Luna, aren't you!" Usagi accuses, pointing.
<Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru turns around, heading back towards Usagi. "Well, that was pointless," she mutters to herself, circling around a little to face the cat-thing from a new direction. "So...this should be it?" she asks, louder this time.
> "...Cat..." it murmurs, eyeing you with cat slitted eyes. OOC - Initiative.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 10."
<Sailor_Saturn> roll 1d6+7
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 1d6+7 and gets 10."
* C-Rat-Sleep (WinNT@c211-28-166-230.eburwd2.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Quit: It's all Dune's fault.)
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 2."
> Two senshi>Baddie
<Sailor_Moon> "Okay!" Usagi begins, taking off her tiara and rearing back before tossing it at the youma with a cry of "Moon Tiara Action!"
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> No good, as it nips the ground just near it as it hops away! In the background, you hear Artemis and Luna along with the other cats...
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 12."
<Sailor_Saturn> "Follow up!" Hotaru adds, focusing the image of her planet's rings, and releasing the energy towards the creature, hoping to keep it off balance. "Saturn Destruction Burst!"
<Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
> roll 2d6+1
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6+1 and gets 5."
> The blast flies out, catching the critter's back left leg! It's leg twitches in pain, causing it to stumble! After it does, it rolls onto it's back...and a ball of yarn appears, batted around a moment before strands of yarn fly out all around, like whips in the air! (If it hits, both of you DCV with a -1 bonus.)
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> You hear Luna's voice as the whip like strands fly all about, none hitting the Sailors! "Hurry, Sailor Moon," she cries.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 8."
<Sailor_Saturn> roll 1d6+7
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 1d6+7 and gets 13."
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 4."
> Saturn>Baddie>Moon
<Sailor_Saturn> Taking Luna's advice to include herself as well, Hotaru follows up on her succesful attack, refocusing the destructive flow towards the youma. "Saturn Destruction Burst!"
<Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> The ground shudders at the impact of your too short burst, a spray of dirt coming up from the impact! (More.)
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> As this happens, you hear Artemis let out a pained yell...
> Through the dirt, the cat youma leaps up! As it does, it leaps towards the trees it came from before, perching there!
* Sailor_Moon whirls around towards the youma's new location, her glowing tiara arcing out with a cry of "Moon Tiara Action!" once more!
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
> roll 2d6+1
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6+1 and gets 8."
> As it balances, your tiara flies out! It's first come by swerves aside, cutting the base of the branch! As it begins to fall, it doubles back, the cat youma flying forward in pain as it's back is hit! Down to the ground it falls, it's impact massive! It looks up weakly from, clearly dazed!
<Sailor_Moon> "Alright!" Usagi cheers happily as the tiara returns to her.
> OOC - Going to try to finish it off, girls?
<Sailor_Moon> OOC - I'm giving it a chance to recover before doing anything.
> OOC - What about you, Saturn?
<Sailor_Saturn> OOC - Pressing tactical advantage.
<Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru quickly sets herself again for a third attack, sighing to herself. "Has to be done. Saturn Destruction Burst!" she cries, releasing the blast.
<Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 8."
> The attack flies out..and seems to hit something as it does. Appearing, protectively, in front of the youma is a huge man. Scraping past seven feet tall, wearing boots, green khakis and nothing else, his body is one giant block of muscle. A long gray haired ponytail flutters in the wind, as he kneels next to the monster. "Go...you're hurt," he says, standing after touching the monster a moment. It vanishes, as he turns to face you. "Sailor Soldiers?" he asks, voice surprisingly soft and restrained.
> "Sailor Soldiers?" he asks, voice surprisingly soft and restrained.
<Sailor_Moon> "Another enemy?" Usagi asks, backing off a little. This guy is big!
<Sailor_Saturn> "Who are you?" Hotaru asks, backing off with Usagi. 'Um...huge. Too huge.'
> "I am your enemy," he agrees, face showing age lines as he steps forward. "Sailor Moon and Sailor Saturn...you injured my underling," he says, voice picking up. "For my master and for my honor, I will defeat you here." To Saturn, he nods. "Nior," he bows his head to Saturn, cracking his knuckles once.
* Sailor_Moon breathes a little rapidly, trying to get some sort of composure going. "I might hate fighting, but I won't stand still and let you people enslave everyone! I am Sailor Moon, and in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" she declares. 'That didn't feel as reassuring as normal...'
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6 for rejuve
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 for rejuve and gets 6."
> You feel fright at this giant of a man, yet...
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> A rose flies out, scraping across his cheek. The slightest bit of blood beads across the cut, as he turns to the treetops to his side. "Senshi! You must keep fighting! Draw on yourself and stop this threat!" The words of Tuxedo Kamen ring in the air, as he leaps down to the ground. Sailor Saturn feels a stirring in herself, as if energy refills her body.
<Sailor_Moon> "Tuxedo Kamen!" Usagi looks up and smiles, feeling more confident, now.
> "All of my enemies line up in front of me..." Nior murmurs, a tiny smile on his face. "Excellent." As you do, you see Luna rushing to your side. "The cats are gone," she reports quickly, looking up and hissing at the newcomer.
* Sailor_Moon gives Luna a small nod, her hand going towards her forehead.
<Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru breathes a little easier with the odd sense of invigoration, not questioning a good thing for the moment. She looks up in confusion at the new arrival. "He needs to practice his aim...like me," she murmurs after Tuxedo Kamen, shaking her head, and turning back towards the rather intimidating man.
> OOC - Initiative.
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 2."
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 5."
<Sailor_Saturn> roll 1d6+7
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 1d6+7 and gets 10."
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 7."
> Tux>Bad guy=Saturn>Moon.
> Tuxedo Kamen wastes no time, rushing forward with a black stick of some sort in his hand! It extends out, looking to smack him in his face!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> To your surprise, Nior simply absorbs the shock! With a surprisingly fast rush forward, his fist races to Tuxedo Kamen!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> A heavy handed blow catches Tux in the gut, as Nior runs quite a ways with him. Tux crumples a moment, Nior blocking the view momentarily. And then...he stops completely, as you can just see Kamen's gloved and reaching for something - you can't quite tell what with the grass and distance.  Nior grunts oddly, as if distracted... turning a moment and leaving his side open...
<Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru takes the opportunity, shaking herself out of an intimidated stupor from the direct and powerful violence Nior was demonstrating. Turning her powers on the massive man, she lets loose another blast. "Saturn Destruction Burst!"
<Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
* Thepanda is now known as Panda[anime]
> He barely seems to notice the shot that goes wide, more interested in the hero at his feet. "That face..." he murmurs. "Just like..." OOC - Moon, you are up.
* Sailor_Moon follows on Saturn's heels, stepping forward as she rears back with her tiara. "I won't forgive you for hurting Tuxedo Kamen! Moon Tiara Action!"
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> He turns, the tiara whizzing by his head as he does so. He shakes his head, "Another day," he says abruptly, vanishing.
* Sailor_Moon counts her blessings at his retreat, quickly running over to Tuxedo Kamen. "Are you alright?" she asks worriedly, kneeling down by him.
<Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru breathes a sigh of relief at the disappearance, her shoulders slumping a little with fatigue. Looking over to see Usagi attending to the stranger, Hotaru turns towards where the cats had been, looking for Luna and Artemis.
> He fiddles with his mask as you approach, seeming to adjust it. He smiles a moment, rising and breathing heavily. "I am fine, Sailor Moon," he assures you. Luna is near you, Artemis down with a few other cats and people collasped.
> "Just...a little winded," he smiles, a slight lightening of his normally deep voice there.
<Sailor_Moon> "Are you sure? He hit you really hard!" Usagi frets, putting a hand on his shoulder and another on his side to help him up (not to cop a feel, no no no!).
<Sailor_Saturn> 'Seems like she's handling him...' Heading over to the other cats and people, Hotaru picks Artemis up, looking him over for injuries.
> He has a shallow scratch on his side, and he stirs when you pick him up. "Ummm," he says slowly, blinking. "We get them?"
> Wow...he's clearly in VERY good shape. "I'm fine, Sailor Moon," he nods, then leaping out of your grasp. "Another day, Sailors!" he cries as he hops into the trees.
<Sailor_Moon> "Ah!" Usagi gasps as he leaps away, before sighing wistfully as she stares in the direction he vanished.
<Sailor_Saturn> "Yeah, sorta...tell you more later," Hotaru answers, humming nervously. 'Talking cats can't really say I'm weird...' Smiling, she channels a little bit of her remaining energy into the scratch, winking at Artemis before looking over the other people as well. Even as she does, Hotaru glances nervously back towards Moon.
* Sailor_Moon continues staring into space, somewhat lost in her own thoughts of this and that...
> He stops a moment, giving you look that you mostly miss - you see surprise, though.
> "Let's go, Sailor Moon," Luna nods. "We need to go - they'll be waking up soon, and they'll need their space."
<Sailor_Moon> "Oh!" Usagi looks a little startled as she's addressed, blushing faintly. "Uh, yeah. Let's go!"
> "LEt's go through the trees and out," Luna says, louder. "We'll talk on the way home."
* Sailor_Moon nods, stumbling a little as she sets off.
<Sailor_Saturn> Hesitating, and then nodding to the wisdom of a retreat, Hotaru follows Moon and Luna with Artemis...
> On reaching deep into the trees, "Okay. Detransform and we'll head out," Luna nods. "And...that leader. He seemed...different."
* Sailor_Moon is now known as Usagi
<Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru relaxes her form, letting go of the image of Sailor Saturn.
<Usagi> "He seemed to care more about his monster than that other man ever did about his," Usagi nods.
* Sailor_Saturn is now known as Hotaru-chan
<Hotaru-chan> "He could be a lot more dangerous then..." Hotaru adds, frowning a little. "Leaders like that get more from people that follow them."
> "Yes...He did," Luna says, thoughtfully.
<Usagi> "I wish we didn't have to fight," Usagi sighs. "He looked scary, but... he didn't seem as mean as that man."
> Artemis looks up, still a touch dazed. "What happened," he asks.
<Usagi> "We beat up the youma then that man appeared and the youma vanished and Tuxedo Kamen appeared and that man hit him and then he just vanished... he seemed surprised or something," Usagi answers, not too clearly.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods in agreement, frowning into space. "He seems...um...experienced? Professional? Something like that..." she murmurs, sighing. "And really frightening."
<Usagi> "Yeah," Usagi nods, shivering. "Like one of those hitmen in movies who seem polite and reasonable but still do horrible things to their enemies..."
> Heading out of the forest, you reach the sidewalk in full sunset. People are going about, as if the world is completely normal...
> "But he didn't seem as mean as Kensuke," Luna says quietly. "Perhaps that's a small mercy."
<Usagi> "He doesn't have to be cruel to hurt people if he's just... following orders?" Usagi says, looking thoughtful.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, sighing softly. "That's how wars are in history, some of the time," she murmurs, looking nervously at the setting sun. "We...should really get going towards our homes."
<Usagi> "Yeah," Usagi manages a small giggle. "Where did the time go, eh Luna?"
> "YEah," Artemis agrees. "We'll meet in a day or two - come to Usagi's house, okay?" Luna nods to Usagi, "ANd I still can't remember about time or any of it," she says, a touch of crossness there.
<Usagi> "Hey, why don't we meet at the Crown arcade after school, tomorrow?" Usagi asks. "You know where that is, right, Hotaru-chan?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Umm...I think we passed a place called that on our way to your house, so yeah, I'll look it up on a map," Hotaru replies, nodding. Glancing down at Artemis, she smiles at the cat. "Good to walk, Artemis-san?"
<Usagi> "I'll bring Ami-chan, too," Usagi nods brightly.
> "Yes, thank you," he says. "Alright, until tomorrow," he adds.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sets Artemis on the ground, nodding once more in final agreement. "Okay...bye!" she says, taking a nervous look around at the street signs to get her bearings, and heading for home.
<Usagi> "Bye!" Usagi waves, heading home with Luna.