With a shaky hand, the camera-person slowly aimed the lens toward a darkened corner of the room, where he caught sight of a glowing pair of slitted ruby eyes. Just under them, a mouth full of sharp, pointy teeth opened. "I would like to talk with you both," came a surprisingly cultured female voice from that terrifing maw. "It is in concern of this very subject."
Kimiko drew herself together and spoke in a voice that was almost as firm as she normally used. "And who might you be, Madame?"
The shadowy being stepped forward, into the edge of the light. She was a tall, statuesque panther-Splice, clothed in a form-fitting white bodysuit that was instantly familiar to anyone in Japan. This particular uniform was seldom seen, but when it was, people took note. The furry Senshi adjusted her dark ruby front-bow and let herself smile slightly. "I am Panthress Pluto, of the Sailor Senshi, Ms. Sasaki."
After a commercial break, the news program returned to find the three people now sitting in a wide triangular formation. The Dark Cat of Time was placed at the top, eqidistant to both the reporter and Dr. Mera. Without preamble, Pluto began. "Doctor, Ma'am, viewers; the group of wariors, of which I am part, are in no way responsible for the actions taken by two of our members."
The scientist was instantly incensed. "How can you claim that?" he snarled, leaning toward the furred woman. "The tape clearly shows that those two were in costumes just like your own!"
Kimiko also leaned toward her. "Yes, Pluto-san," she interjected. "How do you refute that?"
Pluto was unruffled. "Is society responsible for a single person going rouge?" she countered, her hand/paws sitting quietly in her lap. "Is Splicing responsible, when a Octopus-Splice robs a bank?" Seeing the beginnings of realization, she continued. "The two that were responsible, Sailors Neptune and Uranus, were doing so completely on their own. The goals of the Senshi are to protect all people, regardless of how they look. The actions of these two were taken on their own initiative and without the knowledge or approval of our leader." She grinned nastily. "Most of us are, in fact, Spliced ourselves. Why would we destroy the very thing we used?"
Dr. Mera sat back; still angry, but now more willing to listen. "So you're claiming that these two, Neptune and Uranus were rouge agents?"
Pluto bobbed her dark-furred head, her ears swivling forward. "I am," she stated. "Rouge and, in fact, in great disfavor with the rest." She stood, produced her Time Key and bowed. "Be assured, this will be seen to by our leader." With that, she vanished.
The reporter looked into the lens, while in the background, she could see Dr. Mera going over the panther-woman's chair touroughly. "There you are, Atasuke, Makiko; A direct statement from one of the Senshi themselves. This was an unwarranted attack from Neptune and Uranus, acting alone. This is Kimiko Sasaki, live with Tokyo News 35. Back to you."
After the news crew had left, Dr. Mera was slowly gathering up his courage to brave the world again. He had lost one of his favorite locations as well as his condo. The very fire that had totaled the Splicing clinic had severely damaged his own residence there. If he had not been out last night, he would have been killed.
WIth a deep sigh, he opened the door. Standing on the other side was a woman that he had last seen a few days ago, sitting on the other side of the desk in that same clinic. Standing there, smiling mysteriously, was Ms. Setsuna Meiou; tanned skin, emerald hair, ruby eyes and all.
The smartly dressed woman extended one manicured hand to the scientist. "Doctor Mera, I would like to assist you in this time of trouble," she said in a voice filled with concern.
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(Posted Wed, 17 Nov 2004 05:03)
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