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The holoprojector signalled an incoming projection. Kendra realised this was a message from Lord Sidious. She bowed deeply at the image of the imposing Sith.
"Kouga Ada, have you handled the problem we discussed?"
"Not yet, my Lord. We require more time, you see-"
"I am not interested in your reasons!" he bellowed, "The Senshi pose too great a threat to my plans. Dispose of them at once!"
"We have driven them from Hoth, as you requested my Lord."
"Fool, Hoth is only a minor pawn. Merely a stepping stone. A first in a new experiment of mine."
Kendra’s eyebrows raised. Sidious noticed this and squelched any interest the Sith Queen might have held in the project.
"Keep your mind on the Senshi, Kouga Ada, you can be easily replaced." The hologram filtered out. She cursed him under her breath.
"Mmmmm…are those Alderaanian day cakes?" Annika drooled.
"Oh yes. And I have plenty for everyone," Priire said, sitting the box down.
"Wait a minute, plenty for ALL of us, or for you, Ippin and Annika?," Yuki wanted to know.
"Well, that depends on how you look at things," Priire laughed.
"Right. Well, they look good anyway."
Chibisuta followed her nose into the room only to find three girls stuffing their faces. She frowned, "Where did you get those?"
Priire shrugged. "They were delivered. I assumed they were from the Jedi Council." Chibisuta managed to grab a few and eat them quickly. "Yummy."
"Assumed? Who was the box addressed to?" Mori asked.
"Um…it came with a card saying, 'Open me,' so I opened it. And I’m glad I did, I haven’t had Alderaanian day cakes in weeks! Besides, we lost the Hapan pastries yesterday," she shot a narrow eyed glance at Annika.
"Oh no! You’re not blaming this on me, remember Solai’s your cat," she giggled.
"Excuse me girls, but what if those are from the Sailor Sith? They only tried to kill us a few days ago."
Crumbs went flying as the three girls spit out the cake. "I didn’t think of that. Why didn’t you think of that Coru?"
"What? Me? You opened the box!"
"That’s right, way to go Priire," Annika said. She and Ippin were both standing with their hands on their hips looking down at Priire.
The blonde pilot’s defences were quick to respond, "It’s not my fault that you two eat all the sweets! There are never any on the Dreamer or here in The-Room-Behind-The-Waterfall. So I wanted a little snack, big deal!"
"Yeah, well next time you should stop to consider our lives Aster. And you are the one famous for your big mouth. Maybe you’re the one who’s eating everything!"
"Shut up Coru!"
"Don’t shout at her Priire!"
"You stay out of this Chibisuta!"
"Leave her alone!" Annika said sticking out her tongue at the group. That prompted all four of them to start yelling at each other. Then they stomped off in opposite directions, still fuming.
Kyoko and Zyta exchanged curious looks. The Senshi had never really fought, there had been the occasional disagreement, but nothing like what just happened. Mori picked up the empty box of cakes and looked at the other Senshi.
"You don’t think?" Kyoko pondered.
"The cakes made them angry?"
"Ask the Council we should," Numa-chan said.
The cruiser landed safely on Coruscant. The two Jedi it carried were
happy to be returning home after such a long crusade to the planet
Crseih. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan learner, Anakin
Skywalker descended the landing ramp just in time to see a girl with
blonde braids head into the docking bay. A few moments later, a ship
which the Jedi instantly recognised as the Black Fire Dreamer, flew off
into the distance.
"What are the Senshi doing here?" Anakin asked his Master.
"The Jedi Temple is also the head quarters of the Sailor Jedi."
It was hard for Anakin to hide his astonishment and elation at finding out his new-found friends and colleagues were on Coruscant. "I’m always the last to find out anything," the blonde boy sulked.
"This information is not secret, perhaps if you studied the ancient scrolls, like you are supposed to, you’d know." The tone of Jedi Kenobi’s voice was stern and his judgement was correct. Something Anakin resented. He hated being second-best. One day, he thought, I’ll be the Master.
Master Yoda sat quietly studying the plain brown box that Numa-chan and
Kyoko brought him. "Difficult to sense, but from the Council it is not."
"When did Priire get the package?" Master Windu asked.
"Early in the morning."
Yoda looked at Mace Windu. "Very distressing this news is," he said shaking his head.
"Yes," Mace Windu sighed, "reports from this morning show a suspected Sailor Sith on Coruscant. She was carrying what appeared to be a brown box."
Numa-chan and Yoda nodded their heads in unison at the unfortunate realisation that the box that contained the cakes, was the same one from the Sailor Sith. Kyoko watched Yoda and Numa-chan, they not only spoke alike but also moved alike. If it weren’t for the obvious differences, Kyoko would have wondered if they were twins.
"What do you suggest we do with Chibisuta, Ippin, Annika, and Priire?"
"Bring them here, heal them we will."
Obi-Wan and Anakin sat talking with Oola, Chibisuta, Annika, Ippin, and
Chikako. Priire had not yet returned. The girls sat intrigued by the
stories of lightsaber battles, all except Ippin, who herself was
talented at handling a lightsaber.
"That reminds me. I’ve got a gift for you Annika," Obi-Wan said. They had become close friends ever since their encounter with Sailor Death Star and often exchanged gifts. He unrolled a piece of cloth and produced a stunning sceptre. The top of it was adorned with the Royal symbol of the Princess of Bakura. Her mouth dropped open and she squealed. "Where did you find this?"
"On Crseih. Buried under a pile of rocks."
"Man, you just end up everywhere don’t you Annika. First, it’s a crystal on Yuga II, now it’s a wand on Crseih. I wonder what’ll turn up next?" Ippin said sarcastically. Annika ignored her.
"It’s beautiful. But how did it end up so far away from Bakura?" Chikako asked.
"I don’t know, but it’s marvellous. Thank you Obi-Wan," she gave him a hug causing Ippin, Anakin and Chibisuta to roll their eyes. "Why does she get a gift? I want a gift, I thought we were friends too Obi-Wan," Ippin protested.
"We are Ippin, it’s just when I found this, it immediately reminded me of Annika. I’ll bring you something next time," the blue eyed man smiled.
"I want Annika’s wand. Give it to me!" Chibisuta yelled. She dived for the white haired girl. Ippin joined her. Anakin pulled her off and Obi-Wan grabbed Chibisuta. "What’s going on here? What is the explanation for this behaviour?"
"Annika’s just a spoiled Princess that’s all," Chibisuta folded her arms. Annika started to cry.
"That’s not fair, I can’t help it that I was borne royalty!" she sobbed.
Obi-Wan’s senses told him something was afoul with them and took Oola aside to question her. Leaving poor Chikako to keep the girls from killing each other.
"They’ve been that way all day. Priire too, she just did what she usually does, she flies off for awhile. We think it has something to do with the Sailor Sith. Kyoko and Numa-chan are with the Jedi Council right now. Hopefully, this can be fixed, soon. I don’t know how much longer I can stand this."
Priire burst into the room. "Coru, Annika, let’s go. Enemy ships are circling Coruscant," she said coarsely.
"How dare she order me around! Does she know who I am?" Annika said snobby.
"You may be a Princess on Bakura, but here you’re a Senshi. Get used to it!" Ippin spouted as she wheeled after Priire. Annika began crying again but followed the other two girls.
When they arrived in the docking bay, Priire had already transformed into Sailor Asteroid. She huffed, "You’ll have to transform on the Dreamer, there’s no time now."
"What? I’ve never fought a battle in space before," Annika whined.
"Well, there’s no better time to learn Princess!" Asteroid snorted.
Sailor Asteroid climbed into the smaller Black Fire Talon, Sailor Bakura into the Silver Swan and Sailor Yavin into The Crystal Prism, they lifted off and headed straight for the co-ordinates Priire had sent them.
"This is Black Leader. Come in Black Two," Sailor Asteroid said.
"This is Black Two," Yavin responded.
"Black Leader to Black Three."
"Black Three, here."
"Listen to my instructions and don’t screw up, that goes for both of you."
"I’m not going to screw up Asteroid," Sailor Bakura shot at her.
"Me either," Sailor Yavin joined. There was an audible grunt from Asteroid.
The two enemy ships were visible almost instantly. And almost as instantly, they were recognised as the Sith.
"Black Three, pull the smaller ship away from the larger. Use evasive action to avoid its lasers and fire only when you have a clear shot." Bakura followed her orders exactly, distracting the ship and getting it alone where it was vulnerable.
"Black Two, flank the right side of the other ship and draw its fire. I’ll come in and disable it."
Yavin did as she was instructed, and Sailor Asteroid dived under the ship. She resurfaced on the other side and blasted one of the engines. Suddenly, both ships pulled up and began to retreat, leaving all three Senshi equally confused.
"What the-? Sithspit!!" Sailor Asteroid cursed. Sailor Bakura looked over to see both Asteroid and Yavin caught in the tractor beam of a mysterious third ship. Before she could do anything to help, the third ship swallowed the Talon and Prism.
Later that evening, a very distraught Annika sat with Master Yoda in a
Meditation Room. "This was the first room that we brought Bakeru to"
Obi-Wan explained, "She’s progressing fine, you should be able to see
her soon." He patted her on the arm before joining the circle of Jedi
that stood around the frightened Annika. They fell into deep healing
trances. Within moments, the tall, white haired girl felt something
inside her break and she fell to the floor.
She woke up to find Master Windu staring down at her. He was smiling. "How do you feel?" Her lip trembled and tears came to her eyes.
"Uh-oh, here we go again," said Yuki who was watching from the corner.
"It’s not that, I feel so bad for the mean things I’ve said and done," she wailed.
"It wasn’t your fault. The Sailor Sith laced the cakes you, Chibisuta, Priire, and Ippin ate. The powder they used to coat them drove a wedge of hatred between you. We broke the spell."
The door to the room opened and Chibisuta ran in and hugged Annika, she was crying as well. They apologised for a few minutes, until Kyoko came to tell them, the homing device on The Black Fire Talon had sent a signal from Hoth.
"Why did they go back to Hoth?" Kumo-chan wondered.
"Who knows? But no one messes with my planet and gets away with it!" Yuki warned.
The Black Fire Dreamer was automatically programmed to pilot itself to the Talon in case of emergency. The Senshi stood waiting patiently to land. "I think it would be best if Sailor Ryloth, Sailor Iridonia, Sailor Alderaan, and myself went to retrieve Priire and Ippin," Sailor Coruscant said. "We shouldn’t be gone long, Xarae’s amazing Force abilities will guide us to them."
"I think I should go, I am Sailor Hoth, after all," Yuki mentioned. The others agreed, so Sailors Hoth, Iridonia, Coruscant, Alderaan, and Ryloth left vowing to return shortly. When the tourists went home, and the resorts closed for the harsh nights, it was clear the other Senshi were not returning.
"This is crazy! Where are they?" Sailor Mrykr wondered. She paced back and forth. She knew something was wrong, she could sense it. "I’m going."
Sailors Dagobah, Mrykr, Chibi Naboo, Bakura, and Tatooine shivered their way through six feet of fresh snow and ice. "I-I don’t k-know if I c-can make it," Zyta said between chattering teeth, "I’m from a warm p-p-p-planet."
Chibi Naboo stopped. "I sense an evil aura nearby. We must be getting closer." They took a few more steps, before falling into a hidden trap. They slid downward. Dagobah, Tatooine, Naboo, Mrykr, Chibi Naboo landed gently on their feet, Bakura landed squarely on her behind. "Ow." Standing before them were the Sailor Sith, behind them were the missing Senshi including Priire and Ippin. Strange metal wires coiled around their bodies and electric shocks jolted them.
The Senshi moved to attack but were quickly grabbed and restricted, except Sailors Bakura and Chibi Naboo. Annika remembered the wand Obi-Wan had given her, she still had it with her. "Kairi-chan, I’ve got an idea. Use Swamp Engulf, but not on all the Senshi, just Kendra. The others will rush to her defence and I’ll use this wand." Kairiku looked puzzled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Naboo Swamp Engulf!" Annika pulled out the wand and said the first words that came to mind, "Bakura Eternal Heart Dream!" A beam of silvery pink light headed straight for them, but a strange black hole appeared and they were gone.
"What? How did they do that? They couldn’t have done that! Where did that warp hole come from?" Chibisuta rattled off the string of questions.
"We’ll have to worry about that later Kairi-chan. Let’s help the Sailors." Chibi Naboo looked at Annika with her mouth open for a minute. "What?"
"Nothing." Kairiku disabled the electric device and they unwrapped the wires. The Senshi fell to the floor.
"Where are the battle droids?" asked Sailor Alderaan. Confusion. "When we fell down the trap, this place was crawling with them. They took us by surprise."
"Let’s get back to the Dreamer, so the others can stop worrying. We can talk about it there," Ryloth said. Sailor Asteroid looked at Bakura.
"You better not shed!" She stomped off. Iridonia stood nearby and smiled at Bakura. She silently pointed to her back. Annika reached to her back and discovered she now had huge white wings. "I’m Eternal?"
"You must have powered up when you used the wand," Xarae said.
Back in the Room-Behind-The-Waterfall, a freshly healed and teary Priire
and Ippin sat arm in arm.
"Someone has to be helping the Sith. There is no way they could have access to battle droids," said Audra.
"And what about that mystery warp tunnel? Who could be helping them?" Chikako wondered.
The door opened and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine entered. It was rare that he should travel here, and Audra was worried that something might be wrong.
"I’ve come to congratulate you for defeating the Sailor Sith," he said, "and also to invite you to a special ball to be held on Naboo. Queen Amidala herself requested your presence." Kyoko and Kairiku smiled. After the Chancellor left, a chorus of "What am I going to wear," erupted from half of the room.
Audra motioned for Xarae to follow her to the corner. "Word must travel in hyperspace if the Chancellor already knows of our victory."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I’m not sure, but let’s keep an eye on him."
Read more about the Senshi in this story:
Kendra/Kougo Ada
Annika/Sailor Bakura
Priire/Sailor Asteroid
Ippin/Sailor Yavin
ChibiSuta/Sailor Corellia
Mori/Sailor Kashyyyk
Kyoko/Sailor Naboo
Zyta/Sailor Tatooine
Numa-chan/Sailor Dagobah
Oola/Sailor Ryloth
Chikako/Sailor Myrkr
Kumo-chan/Sailor Bespin
Yuki/Sailor Hoth
Xarae/Sailor Iridonia
Audra/Sailor Alderaan
Kairiku/Sailor Chibi Naboo
