Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Love and Lament ❯ Epilog 1: The Dark General ( Chapter 23 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

“Bates, what have you found?” The squawk of the radio transmitter beeped inside Jason’s ear. The handsome muscular man ran his hand through his blonde hair as he decided exactly how to phrase his answer.

The American scientist was standing at the edge of a crater created by the impact of something hurled from space. The object had appeared out of nowhere, no radar or any other man made technology was able to detect it until it had hit.

Jason Bates had been contacted by his shadow partner when whatever had caused this destruction had appeared. Normally he was stationed in the United States, as he was a government employee, but he was on assignment in Japan for the past three months. His partner, Asuka, Lan, had contacted him while he was sleeping; apparently she never slept and had eyes where no one else did. The crater he was examining had been formed in a deep forest in the middle of nowhere. If anyone else had detected the impact, it would be a long time before they arrived.

Jason walked around the edge of the circle, his mind trying to piece together what could have caused such a crater to form. “Whatever hit disintegrated everything in its path. The crater is exactly twenty feet in diameter and forms a perfect cylinder that’s deeper than I can see.”

“I’m going to go back to my jeep to get some climbing gear and a light; I’ve got to see what’s down there.” Jason spoke into his radio as he walked the three miles back to his jeep. It had taken him four hours to drive to the impact site after a two hour helicopter ride to the closest town. The Jeep could only go so far and he had to travel the rest of the way on foot.

“Watch yourself Bates; I cannot afford to loose you to curiosity.” Asuka responded in her usual cold demeanor.

“Glad to know you care. Or is it that I am just too important a tool for you?” Jason barked back sarcastically.

Asuka did not answer, she did not need to. They both understood the nature of their relationship.

The two of them had met eight years prior, while Bates was on assignment in Vietnam. Jason was a special operations officer for the military though not affiliated with any branch, and few actually knew of his designation. He, and those like him, did the jobs that everyone else was better off not knowing about. His work was so classified as to be hidden from the President himself.

The staff of a classified research post had not reported in in over two weeks and he was sent to investigate. He was chosen not only for his skill as a Navy Seal, but also because he had three doctorates, and could possibly figure a way to salvage some of the research if something had gone wrong.

Something had gone wrong, horribly wrong. The outpost was underground and was responsible for researching the effects of several chemical agents on the population of a small town. Bates found the town burning, the people slaughtered in ways more horrific than he had ever witnessed. He found the outpost gutted and the crew killed, most of them anyway.

One of the scientist, at least that is what Bates assumed he once was, had transformed into a massive bestial creature with a long maw, horrific claws, and burning red eyes. The creature charged Bates as soon as he noticed him, but the seasoned soldier was not one to stand idly while he was torn to pieces.

The seven foot tall, brown creature swiped at him with his deadly claws and tried to bite him. Bates tumbled out of the way and fired three full clips of his weapon into the beast. The creature fell to the floor and did not move. Assuming that the creature was dead Bates moved to scan the rest of the outpost. Gunfire from outside distracted him from his search. He raced out side to find a female soldier fighting three creatures similar to the one he had just put down. He reloaded and fought side by side with the woman, who accepted his help without question.

It was not long before all the creatures lay dead, or so they thought. The first beast that Bates had downed emerged from the lab and caught the duo by surprise. The female soldier was tossed aside while the creature bit deeply into Bates shoulder.

As the creatures teeth dug into his flesh, something inside Jason clicked. Whatever it was the effects were immediate, as if someone had flicked a metaphorical light switch within him. Bates growled out as the creature bit into him, and his growl became deeper and stronger than that of the beast he was facing. Bates grinned as he felt himself harden and grow. He was no longer Jason Bates, within a few seconds he had evolved into something else. He was now over seven feet, and felt more powerful than he could ever imagine being. His skin had darkened dramatically in color and his hair grew over twenty times its previous length. The most startling change however, were two massive bull like horns that sprouted from the sides of his now partially demonic looking head.

Jason accepted the change with a smile. He laughed as he attacked the now scared looking creature with his bare hands, and reveled in the pleasure he felt as he ripped it apart. The other three monsters had risen as well, but tried to flee. Bates hollered with joy as he chased down and brutally executed each of them.

When the killing was done he returned to find his companion casually scraping samples of the creature’s flesh and blood onto specimen trays. The woman paid him no mind; accept for a nod in his direction as he returned. Bates was furious, he had just achieved what he felt was the next evolutionary step for mankind, and this insolent woman waved him off as if he were merely a simple human.

Bates unthinkingly attacked the woman, knocked her away from the beast’s corpse and threw her to the ground. He pounced upon her, with the intent of taking some sexual liberties. The woman, instead of screaming or thrashing in fear simply raised her hand and pushed him away. Jason was shocked when the woman shoved him not only off of her, but nearly ten yards away.

As he hit the ground, Jason felt weak and was horrified to find that he was becoming human again. The Female soldier finished what she was doing with the dead creatures before she walked over to his side. There was a sudden flash of light and Bates saw nothing.

When he could see again, Bates found himself strapped onto a table in a brightly lit, sterile smelling lab of sorts. He spent ten minutes trying to escape the bonds that held him before his captor made her presence known. Jason heard a loud hiss as a tall Japanese woman exited a large spherical safe that seemed to have some sort of sterilization hatch in it. He immediately recognized her as the soldier that had so easily taken him down.

What followed next was one of the strangest moments in Jason’s life. The woman, whose name tags identified as, Asuka Lan, suddenly transformed into a strikingly cold looking man. The man seemed to be of European decent and was dressed in a World War two German uniform. He wore a myriad of medals and markings of high rank.

The man introduced himself as Josef, Mengele, then as Jadeite, General of something called the Dark Kingdom. The so called General went on to tell him a fantastical story about an ancient kingdom that spanned the planets and how the reality was erased and a new one born. He told of survivors from the war that led to the destruction of the “Silver Millennium.” Many of the survivors had children who held within them a latent gene to give them powers and abilities that had the potential to surpass their ancestors.

Jadeite also spoke of seven warriors whose power was legendary. He explained that they too had spread their seed throughout earth. Three percent of the descendants of these warriors held the latent gene of their legendary ancestors. Even then, it would still take an extraordinary act, or trauma to activate it. He explained to Jason that he was the first such descendant to have successfully activated his gene and accessed his true heritage.

Jason listened intently when Jadeite explained that up until now he had no proof that any of the Shadow warriors had passed their demonic heritage onto their offspring. Until they met in the doomed town, Devilmen spawned from the Dark Kingdoms greatest warriors were just a theory. Bates was proud to hear that he was different from the gene carriers of lesser Yoma, that his pedigree set him up as their superiors. With proper study of his powers it was a possibility that he may surpass even his Ancestor in strength and ability.

Jadeite offered him the chance to help him to build a new world. One populated by the decedents of the past’s refugees, and led by the Shadow warriors and their kin. Of course, he did not really have a choice it was either that or become a lab rat, though Bates sometimes felt as if that was what he was anyway.

“Simply a tool.” Jason whispered to himself as he finally arrived at his jeep.

Despite the obvious master servant dynamic of their relationship, Jason was not fully appalled by it. He was actually rather fond of Jadeite’s alternate persona, the woman known as Asuka Lan. Jadeite had replaced the daughter of the first scientist to have activated his devil gene and spent years studying his work and using parts of that work to gain at first the favor then access to the military’s hierarchy. Their access to funds and technology had proved indispensable to furthering his goals. Now he had even reached a point beyond that of the military and as Asuka he existed much as Bates did as an operative that few people knew of. He achieved an even greater position of having unquestionable access and command of nearly anything the government had control over. Jadeite worked hard to get to that position and as Asuka had recently confided with Jason that his years of planning were about to be set into motion.

“I wonder what this has to do with her grand scheme. Well, I’ll find out soon enough, or not.” Jason mumbled to himself as he arrived back at the crater. There were many things that Asuka had yet to share with him.

“Alright, I am tethered to a tree and will be descending into the crater.” Jason notified Asuka as his preparations were completed.

“Watch yourself Bates; I’ll be there as soon as I can.” The response sounded from the small radio headset Jason wore.

“Tsk. Like I need your help anyway.” Jason griped to himself.

“Vanpiru!”

“Huh?” A faint grating voice echoed from the crater. Bates stopped the final check of his gear and turned the light from his flashlight into the crater. “Is someone there? Show yourself!”

“Vanpiru!” The voice sounded clearer and was followed by a different voice that sounded like gentle laughter from a woman.

“Damn! Asuka, there is something here. I am going to transform.” Bates spoke quietly into his radio, as he began to efficiently remove his clothing and gear.

“Try not to kill whatever it is. A live sample is always preferred. I brought a containment van just in case. I will be there shortly.”

“Easy for you to say.” Bates mumbled as he removed his headset and began his transformation.

Within seconds, Bates true heritage as a Devilman was revealed. He took in a massive lungful of air as the transformation completed, enjoying the myriad of scents he could not normally detect as a normal human. “What the… Cherry blossoms? But it isn’t the season.”

The gentle laughter sounded again as a spectral female emerged from the ground before the Devilman. The woman was tall and wore an old fashioned purple kimono; her skin and hair were complimenting shades of blue. The woman made no move save to stare at him, so Bates did not move to attack.

“Are you the one responsible for this then?” Bates asked casually as he waved his hand toward the crater.

“Vanpiru!” The voice, now identified as husky and female sounding grew closer. The kimono clad specter giggled her melodic giggle.

“You better tell that friend of yours to keep her distance. Now, what are you doing here?” Bates eyes widened in sudden shock. The kimono clad woman’s eyes flashed red and the Devilman suddenly found himself unable to move.

“Vanpiru!” The husky voice sounded loudly as the owner leapt from the crater. The woman, if that is what it could be called, was large and muscular with purple skin and wild blue hair that stood straight up. The most bizarre aspect of the creature besides its clothing was the massive red flower like appendage that had grown in place of its right hand.

“The hell?” Bates sneered as he tried to free himself from whatever force the kimono clad woman was using to hold him paralyzed.

“Vanpiru!” The creature cried again as it leapt at Jason.

The Devilman struggled to free himself, but the giggling woman’s hold on him held fast. The massive purple creature was upon him, it’s flower like appendage unfurled and wrapped around his body.

“Aaaaarrgh!” The Devilman roared as he felt his life force being pulled from him and into the bizarre creature.

BLAM! BLAM!

Two gunshots sounded and the giant woman recoiled and released her grip from Bates. The creature shrieked as its dark green blood gushed from the wounds in its neck.

“Aieano!” The Kimono clad woman wailed as she turned to face her partner’s tormentor.

“Now!” Bates roared as the woman inadvertently broke her hold on him.

The Devil man charged and threw a wild punch at the blue skinned woman. His fist connected and the woman flew backwards at tremendous speed before plummeting into the crater.

“Bates! Are you injured?” Asuka called out as she rushed to the Devil man’s side.

“A gun? Since when do you use guns when we are alone?” Bates eye’s widened as he looked upon Asuka. “What the hell happened to you?”

Asuka, once a tall, but average looking Japanese woman, now had long golden hair that almost shined, her skin had lightened to almost that of a Caucasian and her eyes had become a piercing blue.

“Never mind that.. Behind you!” Asuka hid her reaction to his question. The Flower handed woman getting back to her feet proved a good distraction. In truth she had no idea what had happened to her, not only did her looks change, her hair and skin being the least troublesome of the cosmetic differences, but many of her memories had become muddled or lost. She could not remember anything about her life before the day she discovered her father’s secret.

“Vanpiru!” The Bizarre woman sounded angry as she used her flower like hand to suck the bullets from her neck. As soon as they were out of her body, the wound had healed.

“Bloody shit!” Bates exclaimed. “Looks like I’ll just have to tear it apart like I did those things back in Vietnam!”

“Bates wait, listen.” The Devilman halted his attack as the haunting melody of an unknown wind instrument sounded throughout the forest.

As the melody progressed the three combatants felt their adrenaline slow and their breathing calm. The odd flower creature flickered twice before fading away, leaving behind a card which fluttered into the crater. Bates felt his life energy return as the bizarre woman vanished.

Moments later two slender, humanoid looking beings emerged from the crater. One was male, the other female. The man, young man, held a flute like instrument to his lips and was playing softly. The young woman held the Kimono clad woman in her arms, before she too turned into a card, which the young woman placed into a deck she placed into her pocket. The two aliens set foot on the earth as they stopped hovering from the crater.

Bates and Asuka paused as they studied the pair. Both wore strange colorful bodysuits with matching vests made of an alien material. Their skin was light green and they had multi-unnatural colored hair.

“Freignishtik Norv Usla Necroaiemi.” The man spoke as he bowed toward the startled pair of Bates and Asuka.

“Nishtrik von Ail, Nishtrik melincy Ann.” The woman preformed something akin to a curtsy, before the two waited for a reply.

Bates looked questioningly to Asuka, who shrugged before turning to the alien pair. “I don’t know what you said, but it sounded like a greeting. In that case I am Asuka, my companion is Jason.”

The alien duo smiled and nodded as both Asuka and Jason bowed. The male once again lifted the flute like instrument to his lips and started to play a complicated, flowing tune.

“There now, can you understand me?” The young woman asked after a few minutes of them listening to the music.

“Yes, what did he do?” Asuka questioned wearily.

“A complex series of notes and a hint of the life giver’s essence have allowed us to comprehend each other.” The young woman explained as the young man finished his tune and placed his flute into a side pocket that seemed to vanish or melt into his skin.

“How did he do that?” Bates, boggled by the scientific impossibility of everything that was happening finally chimed in.

The alien duo looked questioningly at Asuka before the female slowly recovered the card deck from a non existent pocket. “We have dismissed our Cardians as a sign of good will. Reciprocate or we will be forced to call upon them again.”

“I do not know what a Cardian is, but I am not one of them.” Bates answered in a dangerous tone, angry at being categorized as some disposable servant.

“Bates is not a Cardian; he is an evolved native of our planet and not a servant.” Asuka was quick to reassure the duo. “If it will put you at ease he can return to a form similar to mine.”

Jason raised an eyebrow when Asuka mentioned him not being a servant. As Jadeite she had reminded him that he was exactly that on several occasions. Regardless of his confusion, he transformed back into a human at the Duo’s request. If they were baiting them, he could always change back just as fast.

“Fascinating, Ail, their males sure are something to look at. Perhaps it is best that we landed here.” The female whispered to her brother who glanced at the now nude Bates before turning and covertly glimpsing at Asuka.

“Indeed, now if we could see their females naked as well I will be as equally enthused as you.” Ail replied.

“If you come with us, that is certainly something we can arrange.” Asuka grinned, at the duo’s surprised looks. They obviously did not think she could hear them.

“And where are we to follow you?” Ann, the female asked.

“I own the top six stories of a building in the Minato district in Tokyo. It is comfortable, spacious, and you won’t be bothered. You can spend some time acclimating yourselves to our culture, and I can get to know a bit more about who you are and where you come from.” Bates hid his shock at Asuka’s suggestion. He was surprised that she had parlayed with them this long. Similar oddities in the past jadeite had just killed or incapacitated before whisking them off to one of his secret labs.

::Something’s changed with you Asuka, you seem almost human.:: Bates continued to watch Asuka as she continued to parlay with the Alien Duo, who eventually decided to accept her invitation. Again Bates was caught off guard when Asuka informed him that she would be driving them back to Tokyo and that he should go on ahead. Again in the past jadeite would have just transported away, or transported to get to where they were in the first place. ::Somehow, if that’s the case. I think I might actually enjoy our partnership for a change.::


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Asuka entered her shower after a day and a half’s ordeal of locating and transporting the aliens Ann and Ail to her home. Then the time it took to get them settled in. They spent nearly half a day going over human foods and mundane things like how a shower and toilet worked. Asuka figured she would have a trying time ahead of her with them, but they should prove useful in the long run. They were simply another instrument she would use to complete her magnum opus.

In the meantime, she planned to spend the next 12 hours secluded in the upper levels of her home relaxing. That and trying to figure out what happened to her. Her home, or how she came to acquire it was just one of many memories that she seemed to no longer have. Anything having to do with her ultimate goals, her studies, her plans and manipulations, her allies and enemies, all that was still there. It was the domestic memories that were gone., Where did she go to college, who was her best friend as a child, what grocery store did she like to shop, did she cook or eat out regularly, how did she come to own the top six stories of a high-rise office building?

The most startling change was her appearance. By all accounts she should be a six foot two black haired, brown eyed, Japanese woman. Now however, she looked like an American movie star. Her skin tone matched the whites, her eyes were blue, her hair blonde, even her breasts grew two cup sizes. The most disturbing thing however, was that she had a penis. She did not know how, or when that happened. She did not even know if she had always had one, but somehow she was or had become a hermaphrodite.

Asuka was very disturbed by the gaps in her memories. She knew the exact date she became aware of them. It was the same day some insane man tried to destroy the airport. She wondered perhaps if the two incidents were related, and she knew that somehow she would find out.

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The haunting sounds of the piano filled Zoicite’s private ballroom. Images of Asuka and Bates, intermixed with those of Jadeite being slain by the enigmatic Soldier V in a hazy scrying pool formed in the air around the pianist.

“It worked my lord.” The pale composer whispered to himself. “Queen Beryl believes you slain. Now you have the chance to build your army and grow the powers of the Goddess within you. Once Radiance’s soul has matured you will ascend to Godhood and destroy the wraith that killed my master.”

Zoicite continued to play as he replayed in his mind the meeting with Jadeite four days prior. The Dark General had come to him for help. He needed a way to escape Beryl’s wrath until the powers within him had a chance to mature.

When Jadeite had torn out his own heart, and replaced it with the Golden one he stole from a young woman decades ago, he merged himself with the soul of the Goddess of Venus, Radiance. The once benevolent Goddess was now corrupted by Jadeite’s evil, but so too was Jadeite’s dark nature lightened a bit by Radiance. None of that mattered to Zoicite however, all that concerned him was that Beryl’s plans were thwarted. That and he has set in motion another cog that could eventually lead to the wraith’s demise.

Jadeite’s plea was easy enough to accomplish. Zoicite had him create a shell that he would transfer a portion of his soul into. This body would be sent on a suicide mission against the Senshi, to assure its destruction. Zoicite made doubly sure by providing Soldier V with the location of her old nemeses.

The plan was flawless. The vast portion of him that was Jadeite and Josef was killed by Soldier V, thus eliminating any doubt Beryl might have had that he had actually perished. A part of him however, now resided in the body and consciousness of the alter ego he had created for himself a decade ago. Zoicite smirked as he continued to play, wondering if his Lord ever expected to actually become Asuka Lan when he first created her identity. He had the slim possibility of regaining his former self once Radiance reclaimed her Godhood, but the chances were just as likely that he would accept that he had always been Asuka.

“Ah well.” Zoicite whispered as his playing reached its crescendo. “Even if he is my Master’s brother, he always was a bastard.”

“Master, if you have been brought back with the Senshi I will find you, and the witch Beryl will die horribly for the pain she has caused you my Master… Endymion.”



PinaPoe’s Notes:: This was a hard chapter to write simply because I had so much information I had to get across. Specifically how Devilman Lady would tie in with Sailor Moon. Now, by doing so, hopefully well, I have added a future villain for our heroines to fend against in the distant future. If you have not watched the series, it is really quite good. It starts out fairly episodic, but gets into a really fun story line after a few episodes.

The critters in the Vietnam town were a nod to the vampire things in Blood+.

I decided last minute to have the Doom Tree guys connected to Asuka. I had just intended their arrival to be mentioned in a blurb. I decided to introduce them now because I always thought it was overly convenient that each major villain courteously waited until the first was destroyed before they took a swing.

Well, next is the Senshi’s part of the epilog and that will conclude Love and Lament. Thanks everyone and please, feed the bard, I treasure all the reviews!

PinaPoe