Legend of the Phoenix- Part I

	Special thanx to the Phoenix Knight for allowing us to use his character and special thanks to Chris for the honor of writing this story.  I hope it develops into a good story line so that I can be proud of it one day.
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	Mina stood outside the gym doors looking at her watch, "This is really strange, his class is over so where is he...."  
	The minutes kept ticking by as she stood there, it seemed to take an eternity for each second to pass.  Finally a familiar finger tapped her on her shoulder.
	"Lita?!"
	Lita had walked up on her without even noticing. Terra was there too Luna, in her arms.  "You look like you just saw a ghost!"
	She blinked, "Oh, it's nothing.  You just startled me that's all."
	Lita sighed, "Sorry. Anyway, Chris called me to say that I should pick you up at school today because he's feeling sick."
	Mina gasped, "That's terrible!"
	Luna shook her head, "That's not the point Mina.  We were wondering if you had any idea what's wrong?"
	"Should I?  I mean if Chris says he's sick he's probably-"
	"Lying."  Terra grinned, "Chris is a good guy, he wouldn't go and skip out a day of school and his job just because he 'felt sick'.  He would have to be honestly and truly sick for that to happen.  And if he was he would have told us."
	Mina thought, "Well I really don't know, but either way I'd like to go and see what's wrong."
	Lita nodded, "My thoughts exactly."
	"Okay then, let's go see Chris."
	"Excuse me...."
	They turned around to see a young man of medium build staring back at them.  His hair was sliver and pulled back in a straight pony tail which ended half way down his back.  His eyes were clear blue and seemed to sparkle with some inner fire.  He smiled.
	"...I'm new to the neighborhood, can you tell me the way to Shibakouen Private Girls school?"
	Mina stammered, "T-this IS Shibakouen Private Girls school."
	"Oh, I'm sorry.  And to think that I've been walking in circles trying to find it for near an hour now."  He laughed at himself then stopped, "How rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself.  My name is John."
	"This is Lita and Terra.  I'm Mina."  Accepting his outreached hand, which to her surprise he kneeled down and kissed.
	Mina leapt back blushing furiously.  The young man stood up with a apathetic look, "I'm sorry, I sense I have offended."
	Terra looked him in the eye, "Do you USUALLY take such liberties with girls you've never met?"
	"Is there a problem with kissing the hand a beautiful lady?  Where I come from it is considered a compliment.  I'm sorry if there is a problem, it would be natural for a sibling to be defensive."
	"No kiddin- Pardon?"
	"You are her sister correct?"
	"How did you-"
	"Know?  You look it.  I would even go so far as to say you're twins."
	Terra struggled to regain composure, "I was just saying you were being very up front, that's all."
	"I see." he smiled again, less confidently. "Then allow me to apologize by treating you to a sundae or perhaps dinner?  Would Tuesday night be convenient?"
	Mina blinked, "Oh, no thank you, I'm going out with Chris on Tuesday."
	"This Chris... Would she like to come as well?"
	Terra almost lost her balance, "Sorry, but Chris is a guy."
	Lita humphed, "Her boyfriend you ninny."
	John looked like he had forgotten something, "Oh, I'm sorry.  Perhaps another time then.  And maybe I can meet Christopher as well, he is quite a lucky man."
	They watched as he left, Lita scratched her head, "What a funny guy."
	Terra chuckled, "But at least this time he was a HANDSOME funny guy."
	"What do you mean?"
	"Remember what happened last time?  Remember Eddie?"
	"You should talk."  Mina pointed out, "YOU were the on that fell for him."
	"I did no such thing.  If you people hadn't wanted me to a normal girl then it never would have happened."
	"It's not like I could have predicted it!"
	"Yeah, I know.  I'd really rather not think about it."
	Luna ahemed, "Pardon me, but shouldn't we be going to see Chris?"
	Mina nodded, "I couldn't have put it better myself Luna."
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	Chris paced around his apartment for the 5237th time.  Why that dream?  What did it mean?  Was Mina going to be kidnapped again?
	Stopping to take a sip of water Chris humphed, "Before I came here I would have NEVER thought of dreams this way.  But heck, if Rei can read the future from fire, why NOT dreams?"
	A knock came to his door breaking his train of thought.
	"Who is it?"
	"Chris!  It's me Mina!"
	Chris walked over and opened the door, causing a few more than Mina to spill in, "Well... This is a bit more than I bargained for...."
	Luna pounced up on top of the table, "You don't look sick to me."
	Chris sat down on the couch, "Well, I'm not really."
	Lita and Terra nodded, "Knew it."
	"How could you...."
	Lita shook a finger at him, "Shame on you to tell us that you felt sick when you weren't.  You have too much of a reputation, didn't you think we'd figure it out?"
	"Well...."
	Terra sat down across from him, "Out with it.  You don't exactly stay home from school and work for nothing either."
	Chris sighed, "I've been having dreams again."
	"Hold it right there."  Luna stared hard at Chris, "You're telling me that you stayed home over some dream?"
	Mina picked Luna up off the table, "Hush Luna.  Dreams can be really important!"
	"Thank you Mina."  Chris winked, "I started having these dreams about a week ago and I didn't really think much of it until last night."
	Chris shivered as if he had just stepped in ice cold water up to his knees.
	"Is it cold in here?"
	Terra blinked, "Whoa!  I think you had better tell us the entire thing.  People don't get cold chills over normal every day dreams."
	Sighing Chris assented, "Fine but you promise not to think I'm out of my mind when I'm done?"
	Everyone nodded.
	"Okay.  I'm sitting in the park with Mina talking, I don't even remember about what and then this guy appears.  I can't make him out his body is like a red haze but I could hear him.  He said Mina would have to come with him.  I naturally refuse, Mina naturally refuses.  So he holds out his hand and BAMPH!  Mina's sitting in his arms.  I threw a well placed kick at him but he beat the living shit out of me and then he disappears with Mina."
	Chris shivered again visibly, "As I said, I didn't think much of it until last night."
	Mina sat down, next to him, "What happened?"
	"I don't know why, but last night is seemed so real that I woke up in a cold sweat.  I mean REALLY real, I could still feel the pain of every blow when I got up but the scary reason is why."
	Everyone watched as Chris removed his shirt.
	Mina gasped.
	Lita's jaw dropped.
	Terra rubbed her eyes.
	Luna gulped, "Oh my....."
	All over his body were bruises of every shape and size.  There seemed to be dozens of them and they made his torso look like a punching bag.
	Getting up Terra examined them closely, "Chris I want you to hold very still."
	Chris did as he was bid, he felt Terra's finger on his back then the immense rush as she probed his mind, Chris, try to remember the dream as best you can of it.
	Okay.  But I'm not giving you any promises.
	Chris thought hard, trying to give her the most accurate picture he could of-
	"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
	Everyone jumped back as Terra's fist collided with her jaw. Reeling backward she broke the connection, barely able to dodge her own kick.
	It was Chris' turn to blink, "What the hell?"
	Terra breathed heavily, "I didn't expect this.  Chris?"
	"Yes?"
	"Did you eat, drink, or witness ANYTHING strange last night?"  She looked exceedingly shaken.
	"No.  Why?"
	"What just happened is referred to as a PIR or Psionically Induced Reaction.  To my knowledge it was used by the Negaverse during the war to kill off unprepared victims, I didn't know that they still had any PIR weapons around."
	"What does this have to do with me consuming anything?"
	"To my knowledge it can only be induced by giving the individual a drug.  Then the weapon can take over."
	"What were to results of this weapon?"
	"Your's is a mild case, self injury.  All I can remember is that an entire species was wiped out by it near the end of the war."
	Luna shivered, "Yes, I remember that.  Every single one of them suffered a major aneurism to the brain.  Completely fatal."
	Silence pervaded the room for a few minutes until Chris broke it, "Can my condition get that bad?"
	Terra shook her head, "I don't believe so, and the PIR reactant should be gone from your system in a few days.  But there's no certainty."
	"What do you mean no certainty?  I don't want to die because of this thing!"
	"Relax.  I'll stay the night and keep it from happening until the drug wears off."
	"Isn't that a little extreme?  Can't you just make it so I can't dream?"
	"I could but I won't."
	"Why?"
	"I remember that dreams are important for the stability in one's mind.  If you don't dream then your brain can't sort and file ideas into their proper places, you would over load your metal capacity.  That's why if you stay up for over 48 hours straight your considered legally insane."
	"Oh."
	Mina held Chris' hand, "I hope you get better soon Chris."  Then turning to Terra, "And thanks for doing this sis."
	Winking Terra smiled, "Hey, I know how much he means to you.  And Chris is almost family already anyway."  Her smile grew, "If you know what I mean."
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	Chris heard the knock again, "Who is it?"
	"Terra, I've got my stuff so can you let me in please?"
	"Sure."  Chris opened the door to the smell of something warm and inviting, "Mmmm, what's that?"
	"Cafe Italia's take out pasta plus a jug of bottled water.  Have you been fallowing my instructions?"
	"Yeah, no food or water that stays here overnight.  Never know where that drug might have come from."
	"If we DO find out we can have Ami work on an antidote, but I'd rather play it safe and do chemical analysis later."
	"Can I eat now?  I'm staving!"
	"Sure, dig in!"  Terra promptly placed the food on the table allowing Chris to attack it with a voracious appetite.
	He muffled between mouthfuls, "Aren't you going to have any?"
	"I already ate thanks.  Tonight was fish night and BOY does Mrs Tusinkio make a good broiled Salmon."  She sighed, "Hey Chris?"
	"Yeah?"
	"Did you ever think about how you never realize how much you value something until you've lost it?"
	"Where did THAT come from?"
	"Sorry, I was just thinking aloud."
	Chris thought about this for a moment, "You're right."
	"What?"
	"About how you don't really appreciate something until it's lost."
	"Oh."
	Silence rained as Chris continued to eat, Terra got up and looked about the room.  Various displays from Chris old life were strewn all over the place.
	A medium sized painting that hung on the wall caught her eye.  It was of Chris, his sister and his parents.  The picture was light and cheery, but somehow the faces of the King and Queen of Neptune seemed somehow sad.
	"You miss them don't you?"
	"Who?"
	"Your family I mean.  Your sister and parents."
	"Yeah....."
	"I guess, I can't really know how you feel.  My sister is here, and somehow I don't think my parents are dead."
	"I that because you never saw them die?"
	Terra nodded, "I just feel that they're out there somewhere...."
	"Well, I did see my parents die, committing ritual suicide."  A tear came to his eye, "They would rather have died by their own hand than surrender their kingdom to the Negaforce."
	"Oh!  I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to be rude, or anything..."
	"Nah, it's all right.  Feels good to talk to someone about it."
	"What about your sister?"
	"I have no idea.  She was there at the end of the Moon Kingdom, practically behind me as I headed into battle, somehow I think she's somewhere in the world, the way the rest of you were."  Chris settled back, "Why do you ask?"
	Terra sighed, "You don't want to know."
	"Come on, I share something with you, you do the same with me."
	"Are you sure you want to hear this?"
	"Yes.  It's only fair."
	"I had a crush on her."
	Chris laughed, "Whoa!  Your joking right?"
	"No."  she turned away, "See?  I told you."
	"Now hold on just a darn minute!"  Chris scratched his chin, "I'll have you know that solves a puzzle I've been looking to solve for a long time!"
	"It does?"
	"Yeah, I always wondered why my parents never tried to get her married to someone.  Now I know!"  He ahemed, "You didn't sleep with her did you?"
	"No."  Terra stared spacily, "She was to involved with The Princess of Uranus.  We sort of well... fought over her, your sister and I."
	"No kidding...."  Chris yawned and looked at the clock, "Thanks for the revelation Terra, I'm going to call it a night.  I plan to go back to school tomorrow."
	"Fine."  Terra stood up and fished through her bag, bringing out an odd looking bracelet, "I'm going to need you to put this on."
	"Okay."  Chris snapped it around his neck, "What is it?"
	"A psion bracelet, it should enable me to keep contact without disturbing your rest."  She held up her right wrist, "I'm wearing one as well."
	"Where the heck did you get something like this?"
	Terra laughed slightly, "You can't by these Chris.  I had to make them."
	"How?  They seem to be almost perfect, no artists signature, no nothing."
	"I used Magic.  Almost turned into a cat doing it because it's a pretty complex spell."
	"How exactly does it <ahem> work?"
	"It amplifies the telepathic connections between me and the wearer."
	See?
	Chris was startled, I think I understand, so you can do similar things without touching me?
	Right.  This is weaker version of what Mina and I share.
	Feels weird.  I feel like I'm naked.
	In a way you are, but I promise not to do anything.
	Interesting.
	What?
	I can tell weather you're sincere or not.  So this works both ways?
	Yes, but don't play around Chris.  If you did without proper guidance you could definitely kill us both.
	I wont.
	Chris walked into the bedroom Stripping down to his boxers and climbed into bed.  It was amazing that such a helpful tool could be so harmful as well.  He had witnessed both sides of the spectrum, and it still amazed him how dangerous it could be.
	Chris slowly settled down and let his mind wander off the topic, he noticed Terra sitting sieva at the foot of the bed.
	"Terra?"
	"Yes?"
	"Thanks for doing this, I guess even heros need looking after sometimes."
	"I'm glad to Chris.  I hope you can do this sort of thing for me someday."  She looked over her shoulder, "And like I said, your almost a brother to me now.  I never had a brother before but it's definitely an interesting experience."
	"Thank you."
	"Get some sleep Chris.  We both have another day in front of us tomorrow."
	"Good night."
	"Good night."
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	The Dark One stared across the table at Nacrite, "Is your plan going according to plan?"
	"Yes."  He drew a sneering grin, "All I need is the use of a powerful servant."
	"Very well, Necromancer!  I summon YOU!"
	A dark figure cloaked in cloth covered in blood red runes appeared next to him, bowing, "You called master?"
	"Yes.  Fallow the instructions of this man as you would my own."
	"Yes master."
	Nacrite grinned wider, "Thank you.  You won't be disappointed."
	"I am sure.  You are remarkably smart for the brother of a weakling like Beryl."
	"Thank you, sir.  I am certain our alliance will be a profitable one."
	"Yes, keep your current track record and you will be fine."  The Dark One laughed to himself, "Soon the Neptune Ninja will be no more.  And after him the Sailor Scouts as well."
	"Do you want me to kill them?"
	"Do not kill Sailor Earth, that is a pleasure only I shall relish."
	Nacrite looked at him in disgust, "You and your grudges.  I am surprised that you don't ask me to serve the entire Trigram of Ying to you on a silver platter."
	The Dark One looked back at him with a gaze that could have turned milk sour, "Do not forget who brought you back Nacrite.  If it was not for me you would still be locked away in that crystalline prison that Serenity put you in."
	"Hmph.  No more than you, luck set you free.  It could have been me the freed you instead!"
	"Remember this."  The Dark One's tone cut through the air like a knife, "I am ALWAYS lucky."
	Nacrite spun around stalking out of the room, "Hmph, stupid old man.  You're about as lucky as a fly caught in room full of bullfrogs.  But don't worry, I deliver you your precious Terra to you.  But the pleasure of killing Chris WILL be mine."  His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fist, "And no one will get in my way."
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	A plot?  How is Nacrite going to kill Chris? What are the Dark One's plans for Terra?  Find out in part two! (maybe?!)

				End Part I

Terra-Sailor Earth (+)  -  mstephen@pop.erols.com
or on weekends
THFT02E@prodigy.com