Sailor Moon
                            Alternate Reality
                            *****************

                        Part 6.7: "To Catch Lupin"
                                
                                
                         Written by Strike Fiss, 
                         Ninja Crowbotics, 1998
                                
                                









                "Avec les compliments d' Arsene Lupin..."







                                
                                
     There are already enough heroes in every generation.  Sometimes, though, 
what the world needs is a good villain.  Every generation needs a Robin Hood.  
Or, in this case...an Arsene Lupin.  

     Beep.
          Beep.
               
               ***BEEP!***

     Before a fourth beep could be sounded, a gloved hand gently touched the 
laptop's keyboard.  The screen shimmered to life.  Chris' eyes blinked open and 
he sighed.  Sleep.  It felt so nice.  He hadn't slept in close to three days.  
     His computer, laying down next to him, beeped softer this time.  A bright 
red laser lashed out from it's back to the wall nearby.  Actually, it really 
wasn't the wall.  Rather the sloping gradient curve of a roof.  A security panel 
lay nearby, and the laser was scattering across the exposed wires.
     Chris watched with slight amazement.  One of the perks of owning a little 
chunk of the Omega Web.  Just recently, he had learned half of what the little 
laptop could do, and he couldn't help but know that the thing was probably 
smarter than he was.
     A pair of sunglasses peeked over the edge of the balcony he was laying down 
on.  Down below lay the museum floor.  A grand ball room, with a dozen or so 
display cases arranged in nice, clerical rows.  Attached to one of the walls was 
the exit out into the main hallway.  A guard stood on either side of the door.
     The gleam of two semi-automatic rifles reflected off of Chris' sunglasses.  
"Aw man...I hate guns..." he whispered under his breath.

     Still, it was to be expected.  He was about to steal a necklace worth two 
and a half million dollars.  

     "One..."  Chris sighed, checking his sword.  "A two..." he crouched, ready 
to jump down. "A one two three four..."
     The laptop's laser brightened, sending out a pulse of information, 
overloading the security system.  The word "GO!" lit up the screen.  A siren 
yelled out as fire alarms filled the room with a deep crimson.  
     The entire fiasco lasted less than a second.  Down below, the guards gasped 
as a metal fire-door slammed down, blocking their entrance to the "ball room".  
Chris took a deep breath, and jumped down from the three story ledge.  As he 
neared the ground, he whipped out his sword, and used a repulse-wave to slow his 
decent.  He landed with a light thud in front of a tall glass case.
     "This was easy..." Chris smiled, gazing at the treasure inside.
     A diamond necklace.  Absolutely stunning.  Four blue stones sat in the 
centre, and caught the light of the display perfectly.  Wow.  No wonder...
     With the tip of his sword, he etched a rough circle into the glass, then 
punched it out with his driving gloves.  A second later, the shimmering string 
of diamonds were in his tuxedo-vest's pocket.  
     Gun shots rang out.  Chris' head snapped around to see the control panel of 
the door shorting out, and the fire door beginning to rise.  "Oh shit..."
     He had to think fast, but he couldn't leave his laptop..."Sorreee!" he 
apologized to the guards as bullet-dents began appearing in the metal.  Taking 
out his other sword, he shot out a relatively low-powered bolt of energy at the 
balcony above.  
     The streak of light slammed through the wood and metal, almost knocking 
down half of the roof.  Chris gasped and ducked as chunks smashed into the 
floor, but saw his laptop, undamaged, and retrieved it. He turned to the door.  
"And now, for the oldest trick in the book..."
     He walked up casually and stood to the side of the frame, hidden by a 
shadow.  A final spark rained out from the metal, and the door slid back just 
enough to let the guards through.  The two ran towards the display case that 
Chris had robbed, and began to curse in Japanese.
     Chris, on the other hand, had slipped out the door, and was out side before 
the two had realized their error.  Always check behind the door when you open 
it...cause you're goinna feel like an idiot later on if you didn't.
     He whistled quietly to himself as he strolled down the hall.     




     A teal-coloured, slightly sporty sedan started up as Chris neared it in the 
adjacent parking lot.  "Hello, Nacho..." he sighed, reverting back to his normal 
clothes.  
     He opened the door, tucking in his trench-coat and letting it drape on the 
seat.  A few seconds later, he flipped open his laptop.  They would call soon 
enough.  
     The engine started, and he pulled out as police cars zoomed past on the way 
to the museum.  
     "What the hell am I doing." he asked himself.  "God...if Rei finds out, 
she's going to kill me." he paused, holding his head.  "Then, she's going to 
kill me again.  After that, she's going to stomp on my remains a few hundred 
times with golf-shoes." he shivered, noticing Nacho was a little cold from 
staying alone in the parking lot all night.
     He turned up the heat and then sat back, trying to ease his racing 
heartbeat.  "Then...after I've been thoroughly trampled into a bloody Jell-O, 
she'll scoop up the dirt I have been compressed onto, and put it in a wheel-
barrow.  Dump a few gallons of kerosene on, and then broil me to a nice 
carbonizing temperature."  He smiled.  "Then, she'll shoot herself, and come 
after me in ghost form."
     The more he thought about it, the more he was certain he wanted this to be 
wrapped up quietly.  It came.  Finally.  His computer began to beep.

     The phone.

     Before opening it to answer, Nacho tore out of the parking lot in the 
opposite direction of the police.  Even if they gave chase now, the sporty 
little car could easily lose them.  After the fourth ring, Chris opened the 
laptop.  "Strike here."
     "Excellent work, Mister...Fiss." a male voice replied on the other end.  It 
was rough and metallic.  Probably scrambled.  
     "Yeah, I surprised myself with that one." Chris replied coldly.  
     "Now now...don't be so bitter, Strike Fiss.  Or do you prefer to be called 
Mr. Saturn?"
     "Fiss.  Now, get to the point.  I've had a rough night.  You have no idea 
where I had to sleep."
     "Okay, Mr Fiss.  You were nice enough to fetch me my necklace, so I will be 
nice enough to not waste any more of your time." the voice said quickly.  "Have 
you ever heard of the Hope Diamond?"
     Chris typed on his keyboard a little.  "Blue diamond.  Long history of 
curses.  Forty or so karats, currently in a multi-white-diamond arrangement 
being held in the Smithsonian Museum as part of their newly refurbished gem 
exhibit."  he smiled.  "Naw...don't think I've heard of it."
     "Mmm, nice to see you keep tabs on these things." the voice replied after a 
pause.  
     "And you want it." Chris sighed.  "Now, tell me, are you some kind of 
millionaire collector who has too much time on their hands, and feels a few 
multi-million-dollar illegal trinkets will 'make' his collection?"
     The voice laughed.  "Very good guess, Strike Fiss.  However, you're a 
little off on that one."
     "Well, I'd love to figure out the little mystery, but as long as I get her 
back, I won't care." Chris growled.  "Is that clear?"
     "You are in no position to order me to do anything." the voice snapped 
back.  "Remember that when you get to Washington DC."  After a pause, "And I 
agree.  The sooner I have my little...trinkets...you can have your child back."
     Chris paused.  "How many little trinkets are we talking about here, 
anyway?"
     "After the Hope?  Just one more."
     "What is it?" he asked.  The more info he could squeeze out of the man, the 
better.
     Apparently, the person on the other end of the phone figured this out.  
"Ahh, after the Hope, I'll tell you.  You're only the delivery man.  Not the 
crazy millionaire."
     Chris let out a long sigh.  "Fine.  Then you watch the news." he slammed 
the top of the computer down, terminating the connection.  "Shit."





     
     The soothing hum of the 747 almost masked out Chris' laptop.  "Hello?" he 
yawned, half asleep.  
     As the laptop opened, he cringed.  It was the Temple's phone line.  "Hi, 
Chris!" Rei's cheerful voice came over the tiny speakers.
     Chris smiled.  "Hi, Rei.  How's your vacation?"
     "From you two wackoes?" she laughed.  "Great.  I've been able to do some 
meditating; catch up on reading."
     "He he!  We try." he smiled. 
     "Can I speak to Miharu?" Rei asked.  "Is she having fun?"
     Chris shivered.  "Uh, she's in the bathroom right now.  I'll tell her that 
you called, though."
     Rei paused.  "Oh, okay." she returned to her happy voice.  "See you in a 
week, then!  Don't have too much fun without me!  He he!"
     Chris nodded.  "Heh, yeah, we'll try not to.  See ya!"
     The connection terminated with a soft click.  Chris took a deep breath.  
"Yup...I'm dead."
     "Pardon me?"
     Chris was so tense at that moment, he almost reached for his disk.  
Luckily, the seat belt stopped him.  "Oh, sorry." he sighed, un-tensing.
     A head popped over from the seat ahead of him.  "That's okay."  She smiled.
     Chris blinked.  She was rather beautiful.  The kind that you didn't 
normally expect to meet on a plane across seas.  Her eyes...they were a lot like 
Rei's.  Only a silvery gray.  Her hair, a light brown, was still a bit shorter 
than Rei's, but looked just as silky.  
     He was about to look away when he shrugged.  "Ah, hell, I'm still allowed 
to look." Chris said to himself with a smile. 
     "You mind?" she asked, nodding towards the empty seat besides him.  "I'd 
rather have someone to talk to on an eighteen hour flight." she grinned.  
     He nodded.  "Sure, by all means."
     She smiled and looped around the isle, briefly brushing off her clothes and 
sitting down next to him.  "Hi, Dana." she extended her hand.  
     He shook it warmly.  "Arsene." he bowed slightly, limited by the seat belt.  
"Arsene Lupin."
     "Oh?  Is that French?" she smiled, curious.
     He nodded.  Chris decided if he was going be undercover for a while, he 
didn't need INTERPOL tracking the name Stover back and forth from Japan to 
crime-sites. 
     She looked like Rei's long lost cousin.  A little older, probably twenty 
six or so, but with the morning light hitting her through the window...wow.  He 
shook out of the stare and looked away.
     "What is it?" she said.
     "Sorry...you just remind me of someone." he smiled.  
     She raised her eyebrow.  "Well, I hope she's pretty."
     "Stunning." he replied. 
     Dana smiled brightly.  "Thanks."
     He sighed, looking out at the sunrise.  "So, where you headed?"
     She paused, looking down for a moment.  "DC.  You?"
     "Same." Chris snickered.  "You're stuck with me for the trip, I guess."
     "Mmm, I can live with it." she laughed.  

     Arsene Lupin became a popular literary figure in France in the first half 
of the century.  It was easy to see why.  He was written as a perfect gentleman, 
full of charm and intelligence.  The fact he was a jewel thief never hurt his 
character, and indeed made him more interesting.  A life of solving puzzles and 
out whiting the authorities.  
     Chris, on the other hand, admired him for the fact that his crimes often 
aided people instead of hurting them.  Though technically still illegal, he 
always managed to steal from the morally bastardized rich and powerful tycoons 
who plagued the common people.  
     When he was first instructed to steal the necklace, he remembered a similar 
story where Arsene Lupin is forced to break into a museum and obtain various 
treasures.  If he didn't...his uncle would be killed.  Of course, that had been 
the cartoon-version...he still wasn't too sure if that story had any literary 
significance.  
 
     Oh well.  Beggars can't be choosers...

     "Arsene?" Dana asked suddenly, pulling him out of his daze.  
     He turned form the window.  "Yeah?"
     Dana raised an eyebrow.  "See something interesting out there?  You've been 
looking out the window for half an hour now." she smiled.  
     Chris smiled back.  "I just like planes, I guess.  Wouldn't mind learning 
to fly one of these days."
     "Mmm, I prefer ground transportation." she replied with a grin.  "Though, 
it's the company you share the trip with that matters most."
     "Ahh..." Chris shrugged.  "I don't know.  I guess it depends on the trip."
     "Something bothering you?" she raised an eyebrow.  
     Chris sighed.  "Just hoping my car is okay." he lied.  Though, he never 
tried bringing Nacho overseas.  It took quite a lot of leverage.  If INTERPOL 
tracked the car, it wouldn't be hard to catch him...so he had to bring it 
separately on a plane that went ahead.  
     He wasn't going to do it without Nacho.  The year he and Maury had spent 
back in Canada was great for the reason that he had learned to drive.  Ever 
since then, he loved his car.  And now, he was almost certain he needed it.  
     "Your car?" she laughed.
     "Yeah...long story." he smiled.  
     She nodded, undoing her seat belt.  "Well, you can tell me when I get 
back." she motioned for the back.  "Washroom."
     He watched as she went back for the washrooms.  Slowly, he took out his 
transformation disk and held it up in the light coming from the window.  A smile 
crossed his lips as he watched the light play off the surface.  
     It was like a three dimensional crystal-blue CD.  The way light hit it made 
it into a kind of sun-catcher.  This fact wasn't lost to Dana when she came 
back, and instantly made a grab for it.  "What's that?"
     Some reflex in Chris kicked in, and he cupped it away even before he 
noticed she was back.  She seemed shocked by the sudden reaction.  "Sorry..." 
Chris sighed.  
     She shrugged.  "That's okay.  What is that thing?"
     "A gift." Chris smiled.  "From my grandpa." he decided to let some of his 
current paranoia slip away and let her hold the disk.
     "Wow..." she laughed quietly, giving it back to him.  "Looks like crystal 
or something."
     Chris pocketed it and nodded.  "Well, we just passed over the coast.  
Should be landing soon."
     "Well, I hope we don't have to change planes." she smiled.  "I like these 
seats."




     
     The next leg of the trip went quickly.  Rei didn't call for the entire two 
hours, so Chris was able to get some sleep.  Same with Dana, who seemed to be 
waiting for him to fall asleep first, but finally gave up and dozed off over 
mid-continent.  The pilot's voice announcing their decent into the Washington DC 
area woke both of them.  "You live in DC?" Chris asked.
     She nodded.  "Yup.  It's a dump, but it's home." she shrugged.  
     "Ah." he smiled.  "Well, the home thing is the most important part."
     "How about you?" she asked, doing up her seat belt.  
     "Actually, I kind of live in two cities." he smiled.  "Tokyo and Calgary."
     She blinked.  "Are you one of those genus kids who own a fortune 500 
company?"
     Chris laughed.  "Not quite...I just travel a lot."
     "Mmm, can't wait to see your car." she raised an eyebrow.  "I'm guessing 
Jag?"
     "Nope.  Nacho." he smiled to himself as her face gave him an awkward 
'what?' look.

     They landed.  It was about seven PM local time when they did.  Chris 
gathered his stuff and was off the plane even before Dana was done packing up.  
He had to stay focused.  Miharu's life depended on it.  
     DC was busy, but the time brought around the last withering flood of rush-
hour traffic, and really wasn't that bad.  A clerk at the travel agency showed 
Chris to the parking lot, and Nacho.  "Hi baby!" he smiled, walking up to it 
like a long-lost brother.  "Ooh, baby bro!  Did the mean old airline treat you 
right?  That's good..." he dropped his bags and hugged the front, lovingly 
taking time to polish the sleek headlights.  
     He was glad they parked Nacho in the furthest parking lot.  Nothing like a 
fender bend to really make his day now.  
  
     Or, a car-jacking.  
     
     That thought was echoing in his mind as he heard a set of footsteps behind 
him.  The footsteps stopped...and then...a click.  
     He shivered at the sound.  "I hate guns." 
     "I'm sorry, Arsene..." Dana was there, holding a crude, home-made, glass-
fibre gun.  Chris noticed the construction was probably from copying the one 
from "in the line of fire" or some other cheesy movie.  "Like I said, I'd love 
to see you car."
     "Excuse me?  But what the funk are you doing?" he looked at her in a cool 
mean glare.  
     "I'm going to take your car." she said simply.  "Oh...and hand over that 
little crystal thing."
     "You can't be serious." he almost laughed.
     "This little gun doesn't make a lot of noise...would you like me to shoot 
you in the leg and take your keys...or are you going to be a nice little boy and 
give them to me?" she took a step forward.
     Just within range.
     Chris sighed, and reached into his coat.  "Fine..." in his hand was his 
disk.  "This thing too?"
     She nodded.  "Yes.  Now hurry up."
     "FISS!" he yelled.  The blue pulse slammed into her legs, knocking her 
forward onto her face.  The little pistol dropped away from her hand.
     As she tried to retrieve her gun...a sword slammed through it, and into the 
pavement.  She blinked, stunned.  "Oh shit..."
     The gun's plexi-glass casing shattered with another small repulsion wave, 
and Chris pulled his sword free.  "Rule number one.  Never fuck with Nacho."
     Dana slowly got to her feet.  The fall didn't jangle her nerves nearly as 
much as the sword almost slicing off her arm did.  "Wh...who are you?"
     Chris smiled, gave her a nod, and said politely.  "Arsene Lupin.  Gentleman 
Burglar."
     Nacho's door unlocked at a press of his key-chain, and he slid in.  As he 
started the engine, he also rolled down the window.  "Get in."
     She gasped.  "What?"  
     "You have two options.  Get in and show me around.  Or, you can have your 
first lesbian encounter in a correctional facility with a giant, 400 pound woman 
named 'Debbie'." Chris smiled politely. 
     The mental image must have been enough to break away Dana from the initial 
sword shock, and she got in the passenger side door.  "W...where's that sword?"
     Chris smiled.  "What sword?" he hit the gas, and the car jolted forwards 
and onto the freeway.  

     They were quiet for the next ten minutes.  Finally, Dana sighed.  
"Listen...I'm sorry...I'm a car thief...that's what I do."
     "Oh, I understand it wasn't personal." Chris nodded as he swerved around a 
slower semi-truck. "It's my job to stop people like you, though." 
     "You're a cop?" she gasped.
     "Nope." Chris smiled.  
     "FBI?"
     He shrugged playfully.  "Well, besides some attachment to an X-File or two, 
nope."
     She rubbed her face in frustration.  "Who the hell are you?"
     "Senshi." he said.  "Learn Japanese, and you'll know what that means."
     "Oh..."
     "Okay...down to business.  You're a thief.  Can you help me?" Chris asked.
     Dana paused.  "What?"
     "I need to steal something.  A necklace, actually.  Can you help me?" 
     "Wait...I got out of the jewellery business a long time ago..." she said 
hurriedly.  "I got caught once, and I promised myself I'd stick to cars."
     "I'm not asking you to actually steal it...that's my job." he replied.
     That took her by surprise.  "But...you just said you...stop people like 
me...??"
     "Special circumstances." Chris said quickly.  "Listen, I won't turn you 
over to the police...but I need help." he sighed.  "My daughter's life is at 
stake."
     Dana frowned.  "YOU have a daughter?"
     Chris nodded.  
     "I..." she seemed to pause on the thought.  "Of course I'll help you."
     Chris breathed a sigh of relief.  "Thank you."
     Dana nodded.  "I'll call it even when you don't turn me in." she smiled.  
"Plus...I know how you feel."
     "We need clothes." He said suddenly.  "Where can I get a tux?  And you need 
something too..."





     Dana breathed a sigh of relief as she locked the changing room door.  "What 
the hell am I doing?" she asked herself.  
     Okay...okay.  She thought.  He's not going to turn me in to the cops...and 
he seems like a nice guy and all...but the sword?  And what's all this crap 
about a necklace he had to steal?  I mean, a girl does like a little adventure 
now and then, but this was too much, too fast. 
     She had been on the plane to try and find some rich snob to rob...and 
instead found a fucking vigilante.  And the kid looked less than nineteen years 
old...let alone old enough to have a kid.  The mention of X-Files briefly made 
her consider that he was an alien.  
     And now...he had bought her clothes.  Nice, too.  She had picked out a nice 
modestly short evening dress.  She would have gotten something bigger and 
flashier, but he warned her it had to be comfortable.  
     Dana wasn't usually spooked out too much...but this was keeping her nerves 
tensed on overload.  
     She rubbed her hairline in frustration.  "I wonder what necklace we're 
going to be stealing."
     It didn't matter.  Normally, she would have been worried about plans to 
either obtain it for herself and take off, or maybe swipe a few things on the 
side for some quick cash...but her brain had pretty much dissolved at that 
point.  
     As she undressed and slid into her new clothes, the pause in her mind gave 
her time to recollect.  "I know..." she sighed.  "I'll demand to know exactly 
what's going on.  If he doesn't tell me, then I'm gone.  Cops or not."  As she 
opened up the door, she saw him paying for a tuxedo jacket.  
     He turned and smiled.  "Wow."
     Despite the earlier confusion, Dana couldn't help but blush a little.  
"Really?  You like it?"
     The man at the counter nodded his approval. "You look stunning, Miss."
     Chris nodded.  "See?  These people know their stuff!" 
     "Well, I don't usually dress up that often.  It feels good, though." she 
said, stretching a little.  "I'll take it." she laughed.
     




     They walked out into the street and got back into Nacho.  "We're going to 
steal the Hope Diamond." he announced as the engine started.
     She blinked.  "You can't be serious..."
     Chris was silent as he drove.  Finally, he sighed.  "It's in the 
Smithsonian.  It won't be guarded too heavily."
     "Yeah, but it's not going to be guarded by a slip of paper saying 'Please 
Do Not Steal...Thank You!' either." she retorted.
     "I'm aware of the security precautions." he replied.  "That's why I need 
help.  If I go in alone, it's going to be difficult to avoid a confrontation 
with security or something."
     Dana's mind shot back to his sword.  "What do you mean...confrontation?"
     "I can't let my daughter die." he said coldly.  "I don't want to 
accidentally kill some poor security guard though..."
     "You've??"
     "Trust me...it's not as pleasant as they make it seem in the movies and on 
TV." he closed his eyes as long as the traffic situation would allow.  "If 
you're wondering, though...they've all been bad."
     Dana sighed.  "So, you're some kind of crime-fighter, right?  Some horrible 
thing in your childhood set you off in this great crusade against evil...right?"
     "Nope." Chris laughed.  "Actually, my childhood was pretty boring.  And I 
don't really fight evil...I just protect others from it.  I never make the first 
move unless the first move will save people's lives."
     "So you've taken it upon yourself to be a guardian of good?" she laughed. 
"You've been watching too much TV."
     "Probably." Chris nodded, but left the conversation at that.  "So, where do 
you live?"
     She was hesitant to tell him, but finally sighed and pointed.  "The third 
turn off to your right."  





     "Excuse the mess..." Dana sighed as she unlocked the door and turned on the 
lights.  
     Chris smiled.  "You should see MY room back in Tokyo.  It's nothing 
compared to this."
     She hung up her coat on a small coat-rack, and was about to show him around 
the tiny apartment when someone coughed from on the couch.  "Oh no..." Dana 
sighed.
     "What?" Chris asked.
     A man was sleeping on the couch.  Chris was about to ask if Dana knew him, 
when she stormed over to the man and shook him awake.  "What the hell are you 
doing in my house!?!" she demanded.
     The man woke and didn't look to pleased that she was there.  "I live here 
too, he said sleepily.  "I told Justine to go home.  She was a bitch anyway."
     "She was looking after Eric, you asshole!" she almost screamed at the man.  
"Get the FUCK out of here!" as she pointed to the door, the man saw Chris.
     He obviously wasn't too pleased.  "Who's this?" he demanded with his voice 
edging on 'this'.  
     "A friend." Dana said after a pause.  "Now, are you going to leave or do I 
have to call the cops?"
     The man stood.  "So, you're the little fucker." he said over to Chris.  
     Chris blinked.  "Who?  Me?"
     "Don't look so innocent, you little bastard!  You know what you did!" he 
took a step towards him.  
     Dana stepped in front of the man.  "No!  I just met him on the...!  Jesus, 
Phil, you're such a..."
     She was interrupted by 'Phil' throwing her out of the way.  Chris's 
eyebrows lowered.  "Don't do that." he said calmly.
     "Do what?" Phil almost laughed at him.  He was just as tall as Chris, and 
obviously worked out a lot.  Self-confidence seemed to be oozing from the man.  
     "Don't hurt her." Chris repeated.  "Now, say you're sorry, and leave."
     Dana was alright, just pushed a little, and fuming.  Phil just looked at 
her with a brief glance, and then turned back to Chris.  "Say I'm sorry?  Are 
you some kind of retard?" he laughed.  "Wow, Dana...you sure can pick em."
     "Yeah, I picked you, didn't I?  That was a pretty big mistake." she 
retorted.
     Chris sighed.  "You haven't said you're sorry yet.  Now, are you going to 
apologize, or am I going to have to make you apologize?" his fingers flexed out 
slightly.  He always did that before going into battle.  Got the blood pumping 
and the fingers ready to hold bladed weapons.
     "Arsene...just leave, okay?" Dana said, worried that Phil was going to 
pound him into some kind of broccoli topping.
     Before anyone could say another word, Chris grabbed his coat from off the 
rack, and threw it onto Phil's head.  Phil stumbled back, surprised.  That gave 
Chris ample time to walk behind him, push him over onto his stomach, and force 
his knee into Phil's back, pinning him to the ground.  "I'll ask again." Chris 
said.  "Please apologize to the nice young lady."
     The temporary silence was cut off by an extra few pounds of pressure 
exerted into Phil's back.  "Okay!  Okay!  I'm sorry!" he gasped through the 
coat.
     Chris retrieved his coat.  "Say it again, and mean it this time."
     Phil growled in frustration.  "FINE!  Dana, I'm sorry for pushing you."
     Dana watched the situation with a slight amusement.  "I accept your 
apology.  Now," she added "apologize for insulting Arsene."
     "Who?" Phil coughed as Chris let off a little bit.  "Arsene?  Okay, fine.  
Sorry."
     "Thank you." Chris smiled and stood up off Phil's back.  
     "Please leave." Dana repeated to Phil as he got up.
     Phil shot Chris a look of pure venom, but said nothing.  After a moment, he 
finally yanked his coat away from the rack and stormed out.  The door slammed 
rather loudly.
     "Nice guy." Chris sighed.  "I think he eats too much beef, though."
     Dana breathed out a long breath she had been holding...then laughed.  
"Thanks.  You have no idea how much I appreciate you kicking his ass."
     "Actually, I learned that from a friend.  She kicked my ass with it once or 
twice herself."  Chris shrugged, thinking back to a few practice fights.  Lita 
was especially good at the ground-pinning holds.  They hurt like hell and were 
easy to pull off in a hurry.  "Who WAS that guy, anyway?"
     "My ex..." she sighed.  "Unfortunately, he still thinks it's on."
     "Mmm, crappy." Chris nodded his sympathies.  "Why?  It looks like you've 
told him to get lost.  Pretty clearly too."
     "Ah.  One reason." she sighed.  "Eric."
     "Who?"
     She sat down on the couch.  "You remember how I said I was helping you 
because I knew how you felt?"
     Chris nodded.
     "I have a little boy." she smiled proudly.  "I know how I'd feel in your 
situation."
     He smiled.  "Thank you."
     "Anyway," she sighed.  "Phil is the father." she paused.  "How long can you 
stay here in DC?"
     Chris sat down adjacent to her.  "I don't know.  It depends.  Once I get 
the Hope, I have to get one more item.  I'm still not sure what that is.  If 
it's out of town...I'll be forced to go."
     Dana's eyes lowered.  "Mm."
     "Why?  Is Phil a problem?" Chris asked, concerned.
     She shrugged.  "I just don't like him coming by every day.  With you 
around, maybe he'll think twice." she added a smile.  
     Chris bowed his head slightly.  "I'll do my best."
     "I...I feel kind of stupid just saying this...but I need to sleep." she 
sighed.  "Especially if we're going to be...you know...soon."
     "No prob." he nodded.  "The couch fine?" he motioned over to it.  "My 
coat's a good pillow." he smiled.
     "Sure." she nodded.  "Uh...there should be something in the fridge if 
you're hungry.  Help yourself."
     Chris motioned that he'd be fine.  "Thanks."
     "No, thank you." she smiled, and then, with a quick semi-wave, she walked 
down a little hallway and into her bedroom.
     Chris sighed, looking out the tiny window.  It wasn't a balcony like he 
hoped, but at least he could see the stars.  "Goodnight, Rei.  Don't worry, 
Miharu.  Be there soon."





     The first thing he saw in the morning...was Godzilla, staring back at him.

     "BLAH!" Chris gasped, jumping back on the couch.
     Godzilla...held by a small boy...also jumped backwards, gasping for air.  
"MOMMIEEE!" the little boy yelled.  "There's a GUY on our couch!!"
     Chris took a deep breath as reality kicked back in.  "Whoa..." he smiled.  
"Cool Godzilla, kid."
     Eric blinked, looked over to the toy Godzilla monster in his hand, and 
smiled.  "He he."
     Dana came out a few seconds later, wrapping a housecoat around her.  "Eric!  
It's too early!  Don't bug Mr Lupin."
     "No bother." Chris laughed happily.  
     Eric walked back up to Chris and extended his little arm.  "Hello, Mr 
Lupin.  I'm Eric."
     Chris shook his hand.  "I'm Arsene.  A pleasure to meet you, Eric."
     "He he...I like your name." he smiled.  
     "Thanks." Chris laughed. He turned back to Dana.  "Sorry for waking you 
up."
     Eric ran over to the kitchen while Dana sat down on the couch next to 
Chris.  "Don't worry about it.  Have a good sleep?"
     "Actually, yes." Chris sighed.  "Better than lately, anyway.  I've been 
kind of worried."
     She nodded.  "So, when are we going to get the diamond?"
     "Tonight." Chris said.  "Sooner the better."
     "Okay, I'll get Justine to baby-sit again." Dana sighed.
     Chris sat up and stretched.  "If you don't mind me saying...you don't seem 
like a car-thief.  Single mother and all..."
     She raised her eyebrow.  "Started young.  I guess habits die hard." she 
paused.  "I'm not too proud of supporting Eric on what I do.  I can't help it if 
I'm good at it." she smiled weakly.  "Besides, you don't seem like much of a 
vigilante to me..."
     Chris looked over to the clock.  "Okay, it's eleven.  We'll go over to the 
museum at around seven or so.  Lots of time." 
     "What exactly is your plan?" she asked.  "I need to know what's going on."
     Same as last time, he thought.  "We're going to have a little sleep over."





     Eric and Dana sat at a small table, eating dinner.  Chris, however, was 
working on his laptop.  "Mom...what's he doing?" Eric asked.
     Eric was about six years old, now.  Well into the 'question' phase.  
Anything that school hadn't taught him yet, he was determined to find out via 
his mother.  She smiled.  "He's working, dear."
     "What does he do?" Eric asked, shovelling a spoon-full of soup into his 
mouth.  
     Dana raised her eyebrow.  "I'm not sure, honey." she sighed and took a sip 
of milk.  
     That obviously wasn't a good enough answer for Eric, and the little boy 
suddenly got down off his chair and walked up to Chris.  "Mr Lupin...what do you 
do?"
     Chris peered up over his laptop.  "Me?"
     Eric nodded eagerly. 
     Chris smiled.  "Can you keep a secret?"
     The little boy nodded happily.
     Chris leaned close to him...and whispered something to the boy.  The boy's 
eyes lit up and he started giggling.  "Now..." Chris said, leaning back.  "Don't 
tell your mom or anyone else, okay?"
     Eric quickly sat back down, grin on his face.  "He he...I know what he 
does."
     "Oh?" Dana laughed.  "What does he do?"
     "He's the guy in the factory that makes sure all the toilets flush good." 
Eric announced proudly.
     Chris laughed.  "Hey!  I told you not to tell anyone!"
     The little boy just giggled.
     Dana shook her head, smiling.  "Eric, finish your supper.  Justine will be 
here in a bit.  You two can watch TV up late if you're good."
     Eric bounced up and down happily.  "Cool!  Can I watch Leno?"
     "Only if you're good." Dana repeated.  
     Chris just smiled and went back to his laptop.  
     Dana walked over to him and sat down.  "You're pretty good with kids."
     "It's because we have the same mentality." Chris replied, sticking out his 
tongue.  
     "How old is yours?" she asked, looking back over to Eric as he finished 
eating.  
     "Eleven." Chris replied.  "She's adopted."
     "Do you have a picture?" Dana asked.  
     He smiled, and pulled out his wallet, showing her a small photo of him, Rei 
and Miharu. "There." he pointed.
     "Aww, she's adorable!" Dana smiled.  "Who's that?" she pointed to Rei.  Rei 
was giving Chris bunny-ears in the photo...but seemed oblivious that Chris was 
doing the same to her.  
     "Rei." Chris replied.  "And she's the one that's going to kill me if she 
finds out I let Miharu get kidnapped." he sighed, shutting the wallet.
     "I still don't get it." Dana sighed.  "Why would anyone kidnap the daughter 
of a...kid like you?"
     He sighed.  "I don't know.  I plan to ask when I meet up with the 
kidnappers."
     The doorbell rang.  Dana stood up and let a tall, seventeen year old woman 
in.  "Arsene, I'd like you to meet Justine."
     Chris smiled.  "A pleasure."
     Justine smiled at Dana.  "Well, I guess I won't be waiting up, will I?"
     Dana blushed considerably.  "We have business.  But I'm not sure when we'll 
be back."
     "Before morning, I hope." Chris said, closing his laptop.  
     Justine frowned.  She probably knew what 'business' was.  "Please be 
careful, then...okay?"
     Dana nodded.  "I always am." she turned to Chris.  "Are you going to get 
changed?"
     He nodded.  "You too.  I guess we should get this over with."
     Eric's curiosity reared up again.  "Where are you going, Mr Lupin?"
     Chris paused.  "We're going to test out some top-secret toilets." he 
winked.  "Don't tell
anyone, okay?"
     "Okay!  I promise." Eric smiled.  
     Dana went off to her bedroom to get changed into her dress.  "You can use 
the bathroom, Arsene."
     Chris pulled out his transformation disk.  "Heehaw!!"  He tossed
it into the air, and was enveloped by his blue ball of light.  It disappeared, 
and he caught his sword as it fell comfortably into his grasp.  

     Eric and Justine were both speechless.  

     He smiled.  "Long story."

     Strike Fiss walked over to a garment bag, and retrieved his new tuxedo 
jacket.  It matched his pants and vest perfectly, and he slid it on.  "There we 
go." he smiled.  His laptop was hidden under his jacket, and his sword was just 
one step away from being hidden...simply slid off the disk, and with a brief 
moment of concentration, the sword disappeared.  A blue flash was all that 
signified it's departure.  
     As he pocketed the disk, Dana came out of her room.  "Ah, you found the 
bathroom I see."
     Eric and Justine both blinked.
     "Uh, yeah." Chris nodded, then smiled.  "You look stunning.  I'm truly 
impressed."
     Dana did look stunning.  Absolutely beautiful.  The dress only seemed to 
say 'Look at her!  Dammit!  She's gorgeous!'.  She really didn't need it to look 
the way she did.  
     "Thanks." She grabbed her purse and nodded.  "Ready?"
     "Bye mom!  By Mr Lupin!  Have fun flushing toilets!" Eric called after them 
as they closed the door.
     Justine just stood there, jaw dropped.





     "Now, here's the plan." Chris said as they pulled into the parking lot.  
"The museum
closes at nine.  That gives us an hour and a half to hide."
     "Hide?"
     "We need to hide somewhere where the guards won't see us.  Out of the way.  
Very close to the Hope, though." Chris opened up his laptop, and showed her a 
schematic of the museum.  "In the roof.  Just above the Gem exhibit."
     "Then what?" Dana asked.
     "You're going to be watching for guards.  Also, when we finally do this, we 
need to run for it.  That means you need to take some equipment." Chris smiled.  
"If you think you're going to be bored, think again.  Just hiding is going to be 
a two person job."
     "Good, I don't want to just watch." she smiled.  
     "We don't have to worry about security cameras, only getting in and out." 
Chris continued.  "Think you can handle it?"
     She laughed.  "Piece of cake."
     Nacho's engine shut off and the car was quiet for a good minute or so.  
"Also, I don't know how...but I'll pay you back for all this.  I promise." Chris 
said finally.
     "I don't know..." Dana smiled.  "Being the only woman to ever steal the 
Hope Diamond is a pretty cool pay-back."
     




     That was easier said than done.  They walked in, and It took them an hour 
to find the damn exhibit.  The place was huge.  Amazing and thrilling to the 
mind, but annoyingly large for the intended purpose of robbery.  
     Dana watched Chris look around as they walked.  He was searching for 
reference points.  Obviously, to tie in his blueprints in with the actual 
building.  She kept wondering how he could have gotten hold of them.  They were 
in such detail, too.  He had to be some kind of government agent to have those 
kind of resources...
     But...
     Eighteen?  A kid?  
     It wasn't adding up in her mind.  Nothing added up about him.  It was all 
confused in lies.  Somehow, though, she wasn't threatened by them.  In fact, she 
felt protected.  Maybe that's what he was doing.  Trying to protect her from 
whatever reason someone would kidnap his daughter.  
     And, what was worse, at the back of her mind, two new things were bugging 
her.  Teasing her sub-conscious.  She had seen him before.  Years go...
somewhere.  Just a vague reference.  
     Yes...she was sure of it now.  She had seen someone that looked like him at 
least.  
     The other thing that was bugging her wasn't that obvious.  Something about 
Miharu and Rei.  No...actually...it was just Rei.  
     Dana sighed before the thought could form.  "Arsene...we better hurry." she 
looked at a clock hanging on the wall.  It was now eight-forty-three.  
     Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Burglar Mark II, nodded back to her, and smiled as 
he found the right place.  "This way." he took her hand and led her over through 
another hallway.  
     A few seconds later, they were entering the exhibit.  It was a long room, 
starting with displays of volcanoes, and mining techniques.  The beginning of 
precious stones.  
     As it progressed, Dana became much more engrossed.  Rubies, sapphires,
diamonds...dozens of jewels lay in the display cases.  "Oh man...if I could have 
five minutes here with a glass cutter..." she sighed happily.
     "Focus...we're after bigger rocks." Chris whispered.  
     They continued to the end of the exhibit...and there it was.  Behind a 
formidable amount of bullet-proof security glass.  

     The Hope Diamond.  

     The blue Hope sparkled in the middle of a few dozen smaller, and merely
complimentary, white diamonds.  All arranged in a necklace.  Chris looked over 
to Dana who was entranced with the slowly shimmering crystal.  "It's 
beautiful...!"
     "Come on...we'd better hide." Chris said as he saw a guard wonder by.  He 
had the 'museum is closing, hurry up' attitude in his walk.  
     Dana followed him to the corner of the room.  Chris carefully slid his 
laptop out from under his coat, opened it up, and spotted the nearest security 
camera in another corner of the roof.  "How are you going to disable..."
     The back of the computer shot out a laser beam, directly into the camera's 
lens.  A few seconds later, the beam discontinued, and a readout appeared on 
Chris' screen.  "Already done.  They'll be off for five minutes.  Security will 
think it's a power surge." he motioned to Dana's purse.  "Pulley."
     She produced a lightweight rigging system, designed for mountain climbers 
to sleep in.  It had it's application here, though.  Chris took out his disk, 
slid his computer back onto his back, and pointed the crystal at the roof.  
"FISS!"
     Dana watched as a blue energy pulse shot out and dislodged a vent-cover.  
"What the hell IS that thing?" she whispered.
     "Come on!" Chris interrupted, throwing the rigging up into the shaft, then 
kneeling down.  "Climb up!"
     Dana nodded, and crawled up onto Chris' shoulders.  As he strained to stand 
up slightly, she got the height she needed to pull herself into the roof.  "Now 
what?" she whispered.
     "Pull me up with the rope." Chris said, pocketing his disk.  
     She let it fall down, and he slid his foot into the available loop.  Using 
her foot against the opening, she managed to pull Chris up far enough so he 
could grab the edge of the vent and pull himself.  
     They were both safely in the roof and hidden when the guard made a check 
back thirty seconds later.  
     "Is it safe to talk?" she asked.
     Chris nodded, sitting up in the air duct.  It was just big enough not to 
strain his back.  Dana was a bit shorter, and had no problems at all in 
crouching.  "Even with the cameras on, the
vents have no security."
     "Good." she smiled.  "It's going to get boring if we can't chat."
     "Oh?" he smiled.  "About what?"
     "Toilet factory?" she laughed.





     "I wish I brought a lunch." Dana sighed as her stomach growled.  "Aren't 
you hungry?"
     Chris looked up at her from his semi-snooze.  "Mm?  No...not really."
     "You didn't eat anything all day.  Are you okay?" Dana asked.  
     He smiled.  "I usually don't eat when something's on my mind."
     "Oh?  I always eat more when something is bugging me." she grinned.  
"Luckily, I'm not easily annoyed, or I'd be a fat pig."
     "Well, you look just fine." Chris contended.
     She paused.  "That's another thing...your sunglasses.  You see anything 
through them?"
     He nodded.  "They're light sensitive.  It's just like wearing regular 
glasses." he took them off and handed them to her.  She tried them on and 
smiled.  
     "Wow..." she handed them back.  "Okay...I have to know...where did you get 
all this stuff?"
     Chris shrugged.  "I swiped the computer, actually.  And the suit.  From a 
really nasty corporation."
     That seemed believable enough.  Ckay and the Omega Web was hard enough to 
explain to people who were used to the Sailor Scouts.  He wasn't about to get 
into it now with Dana.  "The glasses?" she shrugged.
     "Can't remember." Chris sighed.  Saying 'home planet' didn't seem like a 
good idea.  
     Dana lowered her head.  "Why won't you tell me anything, Arsene?"
     Chris was silent.  
     She ran her fingers through her hair, frustrated.  "I just met you two days 
ago, but I'm here, about to steal one of the most prized museum exhibits in the 
world for your kid.  Now, that means I trust you, at least a little.  Why don't 
you trust me?"
     "I do trust you." he said solemnly.  "But I can't tell you because the 
truth could be dangerous."
     "I'll risk it." she said quickly.
     Chris shook his head.  "You wouldn't if you knew how many people generally 
die after finding out."
     They were both quiet for a long time.  An hour to be exact.  Although that 
really isn't a long time compared to the span of a day, it is an eternity in the 
context of two people confined in an air-duct.  
     "Can we do this now?" she asked finally, as three A.M. rolled around.
     Chris nodded. "Now.  We get ready."





     A bright red flash hit the nearest security camera.  From the monitoring 
station, it would appear that a repeat of that evening's power-surge had 
happened.  The guard was sent out to check on the exhibit, just as a precaution.
     He radioed back an 'all clear' and moved onto the rest of the museum.  As 
soon as he was out of earshot, Chris dropped from the ceiling.  Dana made sure 
the panel was securely put back in place.  "Are you ready?" she whispered.
     Chris nodded.  "Remember...just tell me where to go with the cameras.  It's 
all laid in.  Once I'm out, make a left in the air duct.  You'll come out on the 
roof, and you can get to Nacho.  I'll meet you there."
     She nodded.  Now, her only companion was the glow of the laptop.  
"Okay...go!"
     Dana watched him take out his disk.  Then...watched as it turned into his 
sword.  He attached it to his side, and then, pulled out a second sword from the 
scabbard along with his standard one.  
     "Oh my god..." she whispered.  
     He brought the two swords together in a wide arc, and formed a blue ball of 
energy around himself.  Then, with a quick slash of the two blades, sent the 
energy hurtling towards the Hope Diamond display.  
     It easily sliced through the glass, and the resulting explosion send the 
necklace flying free.  It landed at his feet along with a few pounds of debris.  
He picked it up, stowed it in his tuxedo jacket, and put his smaller sword away.  
     He was keeping out his larger katana, though.  
     The alarms started.  A horrible sound.  Echoed in the ventilation system to 
deafening levels.  Dana tried to stay focused, though, and saw a team of guards 
headed for him.  She typed in "Left." Everything was happening in the span of 
milliseconds now.  
     Chris saw the nearby security camera swing left.  He took off, following 
it's lead.  It was the best system of communication they had without relying on 
radio.  Too obvious to bring in some head-sets into the museum.  
     Dana switched views on the computer as fast as she could.  "Okay, okay..." 
she said to herself.  "Oh shit!  He's trapped!"
     A new view showed Chris being cornered.  In an outer hallway, just next to 
the
entrance...and only exit.  Both guard teams had shotguns.  
     Chris waited, but the cameras weren't moving.  "Come on...which way?"
     Dana closed her eyes in horror...then opened them quickly.  "I have to get 
out of here!"
she grabbed the computer and took off down the vent. 
     Chris sighed.  "Man...I hate wrecking nice architecture." he took out his 
second sword, wound up, and nuked a hole in the wall, leading to the parking 
lot.
     





     Dana jumped down off the last wrung of the ladder and onto pavement.  
"God...I can't remember how to hot wire a car...how the hell am I going to 
get..."
     Nacho swerved up to meet her.  "Come on..." Chris urged.  "That wasn't so 
bad, was it?" he smiled.
     She opened the door and got in just as a team of security guards spilled 
out into the lot.  

     Nacho tore off.





     The highway was quiet for that time of early morning, and they had no 
trouble evading the police.
     Chris was rather calm...at least compared to Dana.  "Arsene...I'm so 
sorry...you were cornered...I panicked..." she said, almost in tears.
     "No problem.  I heard the guards.  Made my own exit." Chris explained, 
taking a detour around some construction.  
     She smiled nervously.  "I don't believe it...we did it!"
     Chris laughed.  "You're right...you know...they're probably going to have a 
documentary on A & E about the famous mystery robbers who stole it.  Even after 
we give it back."
     Dana frowned.  "What?  Give it back?"
     "Sooner or later." Chris nodded.  "We can't keep it, Dana...it's not 
exactly a low profile item of jewellery you wear to an informal banquet."
     She sighed.  "Okay...okay." her voice was still full of energy.  "WOW!" she 
laughed, wiping away the beginning of her tears.  "I don't believe it!"
     Chris noticed her eyes were a little clouded.  "Are...are you okay?  Dust 
get in your eyes?"
     Dana blinked. "Oh...yeah...when I panicked."
     "Okay...you need a doctor?" he asked.
     "No...they're fine." she smiled.  "I promise."
     He nodded...then grinned.  "You mind?" he pointed to the stereo.
     She shook her head. 
     "Never did get a CD player for this car..." Chris sighed.  "Oh well...tapes 
are fine." he popped it in and started playing some Smashing Pumpkins.
     Dana sighed and looked out the window as Washington DC zipped by.  
"Arsene...what do you do again?"
     He thought for a moment.  "Fight evil."
     "Okay." she nodded, then smiled.  "That's not all you do."
     "Yeah, now, I'm a jewel thief." Chris smiled to himself. 
     To herself... "Not exactly."





     Day broke.  A lovely day.  Even in the slight smog of inner DC.  It was on 
all the news channels.  "HOPE DIAMOND STOLEN!  Terrorists suspected."  Bleah 
bleah bleah.
     Chris sighed.  He was going to be happy when this was over.  He hated to do 
this.  He hated to do anything when forced like he was.
     The only consolidation in this he felt was looking at the Hope itself.  
Maybe the name...or maybe just the way the light bounced around inside it...gave 
him hope.  He had been staring at it in the sunlight all morning when Dana 
finally woke and met him in the kitchen.
     "Eric's asleep.  Still.  He must have been up late." she yawned.  "Wow...it 
looks nice in person." she cupped her palm around the jewel.  
     "We'll have to make sure to clean it." Chris nodded.  "Fingerprints."
     Dana let go of it quickly.  "Oh shit...that's right..."
     "Don't worry, it's no problem." Chris assured her.  "We'll give it back in 
better-than-mint condition.  No prints." 
     "So," she rested her head on the table across from him.  "Arsene Lupin, 
what now?"
     "I wait for a call, telling me what to do next." Chris sighed.  "Shitty, 
no?"
     She nodded.  "Coffee?"
     "No thanks." he smiled, taking out a bottle of Jolt Cola from his coat.  
"Tastes better."
     "Oh..." she yawned happily.  "Good.  More for me."
     The call came as Dana was making coffee.  Chris opened the laptop and 
answered.  It wasn't the Temple line.  "Strike here." he said simply.
     "Very nice!!" the voice laughed.  "Very very nice, Mr Fiss!  You have 
earned a place in my highest regards!  I can assure you this display of 
obedience won't go un-rewarded."
     Chris couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm.  "Well, like I said, we 
both have things the other wants.  I have no problems as long as I get her 
back."
     "Yes, yes." the voice agreed.  It was defiantly happier than last time.  
"Your daughter is perfectly safe, and will remain that way.  You have my word on 
that.  And before you question what that's worth, I'll tell you that I've only 
given my word to three people in my life.  All, my dearest friends."
     "I'm glad we're on such good terms." Chris nodded to himself.  "Now...
despite our good relationship, I'd like to get this over with.  At least then we 
can part on good terms as well.  Agreed?"
     "Agreed.  Most whole-heartedly.  The next little...trinket..." another 
chuckle "is nothing compared to the Hope...but a key part of my collection.  
You're still in DC, I hope?"
     Chris nodded.  "Yes."
     "Good.  Just upstate in New York, I need you to go to the University there.  
Steal their nice new laser element.  A nice crystal one.  Blue-beam emitter.  
Lab 203.  Can you do that?"
     "Give me a day." Chris replied.  "Now, where am I going to meet you when 
this is all done?"
     "Niagara Falls." the voice paused for a smile.  "Canadian side.  I'm 
curious to see how you'll get your delivery past customs."
     "Okay." Chris said, "I'll be there in two days.  That's Saturday.  Seven 
P.M. local.  Sound good?"
     "Perfect.  I'll find you...just stand out in the open." the voice replied.  
"A pleasure doing business with you, Mr Fiss."
     "Yeah..." Chris hung up.  

     Dana walked back over from the kitchen.  "I knew it..."
     "What?" Chris looked at her.  
     "You're Strike Fiss." she said, eyes looking him over.  "From that mall 
thingy with the Sailor Scouts a few years back."
     Chris groaned, running his hand through his hair.  "I knew that was going 
to come back to haunt me."
     "You used the same sword-thing at the museum." she laughed to herself.  "I 
knew you looked familiar." she paused, remembering the security camera footage.  
"You lost the jacket?"
     "The vest is easier to fight in." Chris sighed.  
     Dana sat down across from him, adjusting her white housecoat as she sat.  
"I actually have that taped."
     Chris raised his eyebrows.  "I didn't think anyone gave enough of a shit." 
he smiled.
     Dana shook her head quickly.  "No no...you don't understand.  Just knowing 
you existed...that's a big thing."
     "I was firing at Sailor Moon.  How is that a good thing?" Chris laughed. 
     "I dunno..." she shrugged.  "I guess just knowing that super-heroes were 
real.  That we had someone to protect us." she took a healthy sip of coffee.  
"That's a big thing to a single mother raising her kid by committing major 
felons.  Gives everyone hope." she lost her train of thought in the black 
liquid.  "Even us criminals, sometimes."
     Chris smiled, looking down at the diamond in his hands.  "I'm honoured..." 
his face sagged back to a more melancholy state.  "But it's hardly deserved."
     She gave him a concerned look.
     "I've seen too much death." Chris rubbed the side of his face wearily.  
"Good, evil...it's all the same after a while.  The instinct to protect kicks 
in, though, and shnickity-shnick...the monsters are gone." he paused.  "Still 
doesn't make it right."
     Dana could only nod weakly.
     Chris took a deep breath.  "This was supposed to be a vacation.  Me and 
Miharu, getting out for a bit.  See Mickey the Mouse or something." he smiled.  
"Don't think we'll make it to Disneyland, though.  Not this trip."
     "Been there...nice place." she laughed.  "Great chance for pick pocketing."
     "Ah, I'll keep that in mind." he smiled.
     She was quiet for a few moments.  "I'm coming with you."
     "I..." Chris started, but wasn't able to finish.  
     "I want to see this through." she closed her eyes and nodded to herself.
     He let lose a weary sigh, but nodded eventually.  "Of course."




     "Eric, I want you to be a good boy while mommy's gone...okay?" Dana said, 
patting her son on the head playfully.
     He nodded, laughing as she messed up his hair.  "Okay, mom."
     Justine smiled.  "So, where are you going?"
     Dana shrugged.  "Niagara falls, eventually."
     "Wow..." the babysitter sighed.  "I wish I was going."
     Chris interrupted.  "No, you don't." 
     "Oh..." she shrugged.  "Well, you two have fun."
     Chris opened the door for Dana, and they left.  Nacho was parked safely out 
of sight in an adjacent parking lot.  "Just a warning, I'm not going to hand 
over the stuff unless I'm convinced her life depends on it.  I have a plan."
     "Oh?  Like what?" Dana asked.
     "I don't know...but he's not going to get away from this scott-free." Chris 
said, punching the gas, causing Nacho to launch out onto the street and on the 
way to the highway.  "Next stop, New York."
     




     Strange, Chris thought.  The Hope Diamond had taken so much planning and
preparation.  He had been thinking about the vents and air-ducts the moment he 
was 'given' the assignment.  Even so, it was no different once it was completed.  
     In the back of Nacho's trunk, hidden behind a number of blankets and 
padding, was a laser element.  
     It was over.  
     It was also just beginning.  
     Dana noticed the tension on Chris' face as they drove to their final 
destination.  "How long have you had Miharu?" she decided to ask finally.
     "Only a month." Chris explained with a twinge of regret in his voice.  
     "Was she in an orphanage?" 
     Chris shook his head.  "Nope.  Her mother was killed.  I offered to take 
care of her just before she died, and my promise stands." he neglected to 
mention that the offer to take care of Miharu was only over the week if he was 
going to visit the temple.  
     "Quite a promise." Dana replied.  
     "One that I don't regret." Chris smiled.  "She's the last of my line."
     "She's a Sailor..."
     "No no no..." Chris shook his head.  "But she was taught how to fight the 
same style I use."
     "She can use a sword too?" Dana gasped.  "And you let her?"
     Chris' smile widened.  "She's better than I was at her age."
     She was quiet for a bit.  "That's sweet." she smiled.
     "Maybe that's why I feel so obligated to take care of her." Chris 
explained.  "She's not my daughter, but I feel we could have been great friends 
later on."
     "So you wanted to be her mentor?" 
     Chris thought about that for a moment.  "Yes.  That's about it."
     Dana smiled.  "You'll make a great parent."
     "I hope so." Chris agreed.
     "I always found that the best guys were always caring fathers." Dana 
sighed.  "A kid is hard work.  No matter what age.  If a man delights in looking 
after them anyway, you know they're..." she sighed.  "Fuck."
     "You okay?" Chris asked.
     "No...dammit." she took a deep breath.  "Phil's just...he better not try 
anything while I'm gone.  He's defiantly not a 'good father.'"
     "I'm sorry..." Chris apologized.  "I shouldn't have dragged you with me."
     She rubbed her forehead.  "I offered.  It's just that..." she stopped at 
the thought, unable to get it out.
     It was getting late, and they still had a day to get to Niagara.  A small 
city was coming up in about ten minutes.  "We'll stop for the night.  Okay?  Get 
some rest." Chris offered.  
     Dana nodded absentmindedly.  
     




     She definitely wasn't prepared for when they got up to the hotel room, and 
Chris dropped his bags...took off his coat...and leapt onto one of the beds, and 
began to jump.
     "HAA!  I LOVE hotel beds!" Chris laughed, letting his legs fall out 
underneath him, and bounce on his ass a few times.  "Better than trampolines." 
he explained as Dana finally got over the initial shock of the Prince Of Saturn 
jumping up and down on the mattress.  
     "I never thought about it..." she laughed, and walked over to her own bed, 
laying down on it briefly, enjoying the chance to stretch.  
     It was only nine PM, so they had a few hours to watch TV before sleep 
became a problem.  "Back on my home moon..." Chris sighed.  "It was a desert.  
All ice.  Beds were non-existent."
     "Where did you sleep?" she asked.
     "We sat in front of the fire, generally propped up against each other." he 
explained.  "My Grandpa and I were pretty close.  When I was really little, and 
couldn't sit up against him, he would lay down and let me sleep on his arm." 
Chris was quiet for a moment.  "The ice was so cold...I don't know how he 
managed to keep healthy with it always against his back.  He never did complain 
about it.  Every morning, his arms hurt like hell...but he still got me up early 
for sword-practice."
     Dana's eyes twinkled.  "He sounded like a nice guy."
     Chris nodded.  "There were only three things to do on that hunk of ice.  
Practice fighting, dodging the volcanoes, and trying to keep the fires all lit." 
he smiled.  "You couldn't even skate, because the ice was too hard.
     "Maybe that's why I'm so adamant about liking this planet." Chris 
continued.  "I love life here...it's fun." he grinned.  "I mean, all planets 
have their down-side, but at least here, it's a little bit nicer."
     Dana sighed.  "I wish I shared your sense of optimism."
     "Why don't you?  Phil can't be that bad..." Chris smiled.
     "It's not just that...but..." she let the air out of her lungs, hunching 
over slightly.  "DC is such a pain in the ass.  Traffic, smog, crime...all the 
worse aspects of this planet concentrated into one city." she turned to him.  
"It sucks the life out of you.  It's hard..."
     "What about you?" Chris offered.  "I think you're doing a great job."
     "Mm," she sighed.
     "You're supporting a kid the best way you can...and if that means breaking 
laws, you're putting your child first." he shrugged.  "The method is a little 
illegal...but you're still doing it for the right reasons.  And so long as you 
stay away from Nacho, I don't have a personal beef with it." 
     "And now...I don't know what to do." she said, closing her eyes.  "I don't 
want to go back to stealing cars...not after all this."
     Chris nodded.  "Just...try.  That's all you have to do."
     "I can't...not in DC."  She said, a vice tightening on her throat.  "I want 
to take Eric and leave that hole behind.  Just get the hell out."
     Her eyes opened slightly as she felt a pair of arms around her.  Chris sat 
next to her.  "It will work out...I promise." he said, squeezing her a little 
tighter. 
     Dana nodded, and began to sob softly, resting her head against him.  "How?"
     She had demanded an answer.  How indeed.  A struggling mother with ex-
problems who's only income was hot-wiring cars.  Chris had only one answer.  
"Magic."




     
     Dana almost swore when she realized she had fallen asleep like that.  Not 
getting a chance to apologize for breaking down like that.  She already knew 
Chris wouldn't think it was a big deal...he was too goddamn nice.
     She felt even worse when she woke to find herself propped up against his 
chest.  Her arms around him all night.  Chris was still asleep, though, again, 
not seeming to mind.  It must have been uncomfortable for him, though.  
     "Dammit..." she got to her feet.  "Why does this always happen to me?" her 
hand came up to rub her forehead.  "Something better always comes along as soon 
as I make a decision." 
     At first, it was just cars.  She would steal a nice Corvette, but then 
realize a goddamn Lamborghini was down the street, and was unlocked.  That 
happened once or twice.  Then, it was Phil.  As soon as they started going out, 
an old friend from High-School had moved back and was available.  Nice guy, she 
always had a crush on him.  Eventually, Phil found out about him, and the fiasco 
that erupted scared the guy away before they even had a chance together.  
     And now...just when she was deciding to take it alone, and be a single 
mother...a fucking super hero drops in.  
     "I'm sorry, Chris...I have to do this..." she walked over to his bag and 
began rooting around for his keys.  "I have to get out of here."
     She found Nacho's keys, and was out the door a second later.  Chris opened 
his eyes.  "Aww, man...!"
     
     She found the teal-coloured sedan in the parking lot, and got in the 
driver's side.  The engine roared to life, and she was about to pop it into 
gear, when the doors unlocked, and Chris got in the passenger side.  
     "What?" Dana gasped.
     He smiled weakly, holding a little key-chain remote for the locks.  He 
pressed another button, and the engine stopped.  "Would you mind telling me why 
you're stealing Nacho?"
     "I have to leave." she said simply.  
     "Come on...get out." Chris said.
     She didn't move.
     "Dammit!" he reached over and took back his keys.  "Get out and let's go 
get some breakfast." he demanded. 
     She got out, letting Chris lock up the doors and then followed him to the 
room.  "I thought you said break..."
     Chris marched into the bathroom, dragging her with him.  They stopped in 
front of the mirror that was over the sink.  "See that?"
     Her eyes were closed.  "It's just a mirror.  If you think this is going to 
be some fucking amazing psychological lesson for me, you're just wasting your 
time."
     Chris sighed, and sat down on the corner of the sink.  "Do you know what I 
see?"
     She glared at him.  "What do you see." she echoed.
     He looked past their reflections.  "I see another world."
     She almost laughed.  "What?"
     He pointed, but never touched the glass.  "I see a world in there.  Maybe 
one that's better." his eyes closed.  "One that isn't full of crime and death 
and aliens who think Earth is a pain in the ass and want to destroy it."
     "Chris...it's just a mirror." she sighed.  
     Chris looked directly into her eyes.  "Almost every night...I look into a 
mirror somewhere, and I just sit in front of it.  I don't move.  I just 
concentrate until I'm certain that world is on the other side." he raised his 
hand and pointed at the mirror.  
     "I convince myself that there is nothing separating me from the world I see 
on the other side.  No glass." he slowly began to move his finger closer to the 
smooth reflective panel.
     Dana just watched.
     "But..." Thunk...his hand hit.
     He turned back to her.  "My hand always hits that glass.  And I KNOW..." he 
announced the last word in almost a yell.  He continued after a deep breath.  "I 
know that if I waited just one more second..."
     A tear rolled down the side of her face.  
     He turned around, retrieved a small handful of toilet paper, and dried her 
eyes for her. "You can't wait forever.  You have to make some kind of decision.  
If you don't, then your entire life will be waiting for the next best thing."
     "You...you heard that?" Dana swallowed the lump in her throat down as far 
as it would go.
     He nodded.  "People say the strangest things when they think you're 
asleep." he smiled, then got to his feet.  "Coming?"
     "Where?"
     "Breakfast." he smiled, walking out the door after scooping up his sole 
travel bag.  
     Dana slumped, wondering how he could just bounce back from that kind of 
emotional impact.  Maybe he was just used to it...     




     "Chris...would you mind me asking a personal question?" Dana asked as they 
left the little town.  
     "If it's about all the dead hamsters I keep in my socks...no." he grinned.
     Dana paused.  "Uh...no..."
     "Good." Chris replied.  "Ask away!"
     "Do you believe that everyone has a soul mate?" Dana coughed.  "I mean, one 
person that you were meant to share your life with?"
     Chris shrugged.  "No, actually I don't.  I think that Destiny is just as 
pliable as anything else." he smiled.  "And Love is never static.  It is the 
most unpredictable force in this universe." he paused.  "Besides me when I've 
been drinking a few gallons of Jolt Cola."
     "Then you agree things can change, and that people aren't always tied down 
to one person." Dana continued.
     He nodded.  "I think the biggest factor is spending time with one another.  
Learning that you want to be more than friends with someone."
     "How old are you?" she laughed.  "I mean, you seem like you know more about 
this stuff than my parents do."
     He smiled.  "I'm one thousand, twenty four, actually." he paused, 
calculating the raw numbers in his head.  "Though, I've only really been alive 
for about thirty six years.  And I've had some good teachers."
     "How about on Earth?" she asked.
     "I'm just eighteen." he smiled.  "Nineteen in the summer."
     "Mmm, I hope I look like you do when I'm one thousand and twenty four." she 
laughed.  
     "Well, I hope you don't." Chris replied.  "I look HORRIBLE in a dress." he 
grinned.
     She smacked his shoulder.  "You know what I meant!" she laughed.  
"Oh...here's the turn-off." she pointed to a road sign.  
     Chris nodded and eased Nacho onto the ramp.  "Alright.  Next stop is the 
border." a smile lit up his face.  "You'll love Canada.  Spent most of my 
life...well...you know what I mean..." he shook his head.  "Anyway, it's nice."
     "Mmm, maybe I should take Eric and just move." she sighed.  "As soon as I 
can save up
enough."
     Chris nodded.
     Dana sighed and put in a tape.  "Music?"
     "Please." he smiled.  "Ahh, Beavis loves this song."
     "Who?" Dana asked as some kind of heavy rock song came on.
     "My hedgehog.  He sounds like Sean Connery when he talks."
     Dana's eyes went wide.  
     "And yes...he likes Marilyn Manson." Chris laughed, turning up the volume a 
little.  It was a re-make of 'I put a spell on you.' 
     "I was with you up until the point where talking hedgehogs came into the 
picture." Dana laughed.  
     "That's better than most people." Chris smiled.

     The border.  Niagara was only minutes away.  "So, how are we getting 
priceless stolen treasures past security?" Dana asked, hoping they weren't just 
going to risk not being searched.
     "Not to worry." Chris nodded.  "The necklaces are in my suit."
     "Mm?"
     "Whenever I transform, I can add or take away articles of clothing or 
tools.  That includes anything I might be carrying in my pockets." Chris 
explained.  "I just stash the diamonds in my vest, transform, and they are 
safely locked away in whatever spooky magic compartment stores the rest of my 
suit."

     "What about the laser?" Dana asked.  

     Chris blinked.  "Mmm, I knew I forgot about something."
     "Oh no..." she sighed.
     "Don't worry, my dear Dana." Chris said nonchalantly.  "They never check."
     The guard at the checkpoint booth pointed at them, asking for them to pull 
out of the line.  Dana sighed.  "Oh really?  Then I suppose he's just going to 
say 'hi?"
     Chris shrugged nervously.  "Us Canadians are friendly folk."
     "Let's hope so."
     The man walked up to Chris' side of the car and taped on the window.  He 
rolled it down.  "Good afternoon, officer!" Chris smiled.
     "G'Day, son." the man nodded.  "Ma'am." 
     Dana smiled her best innocent smile.
     "So, you folks entering Canada for a visit?"
     Chris shook his head.  "No, sir.  Returning from vacation."
     "How long have you been in Stateside?" he asked.
     "Just the weekend." Chris explained.  "Gotta get back and make sure the 
cats haven't torn up the furniture yet."
     The officer smiled and nodded his head.  "Yeah, I know what you mean.  
Okay...you folks can just jimmy on by the gate.  Have a good day."
     "We will." Chris smiled, then rolled up his window.
     "How did you do that?" Dana asked.  "He was about to check the car!"
     Chris shrugged.  "I saw cat-hair on his uniform.  Figured he might 
sympathize with another cat-owner."
     Both Dana and Chris waved as they passed the check stop.  "I'll have to 
remember that one next time I need to sweet-talk an officer out of a ticket." 
she grinned.
     "Dana...don't use your spooky powers for evil." he warned her.  "Only for 
good.  Okay?"
     "Yes, Obi wan." she retorted.
     "Good." he nodded and they were on the highway again.  "One more stop." his 
hand gripped the leather steering wheel with a slight creaking noise.  
     "Oh?" Dana blinked.  "Where to?"
     "The small town of Whoop-Ass." Fiss smiled.  "Population: me and this 
asshole I'm about to rock into a new dimension."
     
     




     Niagara Falls.  One of the most beautiful, romantic places on the 
planet...was closed.  Visiting hours were cut short because of the weekend, and 
so, there was only one other vehicle in the parking lot.
     A dark gray van.
     Nacho's lights dimmed to match the setting sun's cast twilight.  The four 
tires slowly grabbing their way across the pavement until instructed to stop by 
the breaks.

     Chris's door opened.  
     And Strike Fiss got out.

     His sword was already drawn as Nacho's door closed.  "Good evening." he 
called out over the distance that remained between the two vehicles.
     The side of the van opened slowly.  A woman stepped out onto the ground.  
Old...maybe sixty or seventy.  She looked fit, though, and seemed to be out of 
place in her SWAT-team like black clothes.  "Mr Saturn!  How nice to finally 
meet you!"
     Chris blinked.  
     The old woman smiled.  "The current word voice-disguising hardware is quite 
advanced, Mr Saturn.  I'm surprised you never thought I might have changed 
my sex over the phone as well." she laughed briefly.  "I do enjoy a good 
surprise, don't you?"
     "Sure..." Chris nodded.  "Now, I do believe we were going to do a trade?"
     The woman nodded.  A second later, a large man, also dressed in black, 
brought Miharu out of the van.  "Strike Fiss!" she smiled.
     "Hi honey!" Chris smiled back.  "They been treating you okay, I hope?"
     She nodded.  "Yeah, but she smells like cabbage." the little girl said, 
sneering at the old lady.
     "I hope you brought my merchandise." the woman smiled, ignoring Miharu.  
     Chris pulled the two necklaces out of the pocket in his vest.  "Of course."
     The woman nodded, looking very pleased.  "Well done.  And the laser?"
     Chris sheathed his sword, and popped the trunk of Nacho, pulling out the 
cumbersome silver metal tube.  He quickly shut the trunk and set the object down 
on the ground just in front of Nacho.  "Now...I have no intention of letting you 
leave without my daughter."
     She nodded.  "Get back in your car, and back up a few meters.  We will let 
her go, and once she is safely in your possession, I will retrieve my 
diamonds...agreed?"
     Chris nodded.  "Don't make me kill you.  Okay?"
     The woman laughed.  "Of course, Mr Fiss."
     He got back into Nacho, and the car backed up slightly.  True to her word, 
the lady nodded to Miharu, signalling it was okay to go.  The little girl ran up 
to the car and got in the back seat.  "Dad!"
     Chris smiled back at her.  "Just hold on, baby...I'm going to make sure I 
get the diamonds back."
     Miharu shook her head quickly.  "No!  We have to get out of here, dad!"
     "What do you mean?"
     "That lady set a trap for you!  We have to go!" Miharu pointed as the van 
drove up to the laser and two diamonds.  "She said something about the Sailor 
Scouts too."
     Chris kept an eye on the van as Nacho slowly backed off.  "A laser and two 
diamonds aren't going to do much, Miharu..."
     She nodded.  "I know, but she was going to...LOOK!"
     Chris put on the brakes as the old woman got out and hooked the laser up to 
some kind of cable attached to the front of the van.  Then, pointed it at the 
Hope diamond.  "What the hell is she doing?"
     A bright blue beam of light shot out from the silver tube and into the 
small crystal.  Chris put the car in park, and got out to get a better view.  
"Dana...drive Nacho to the opposite side of the lot, okay?"
     Dana, who had been ducked in the passenger seat, poked her head up.  "Hi, 
Miharu, I'm a friend of your dad's."
     Miharu nodded.  "Dad!  Be careful!"
     "I will." he smiled, then took out his sword.
     Nacho zipped backwards until it was against the security fence a few 
hundred meters away.  Chris turned his attention to the woman.  "What are you 
doing?"
     Laughing, she looked up at him.  "You're going to test out my new weapon 
for me."
     "Pardon me?" Chris laughed back.  "Weapon?  Who says I'm going to use 
any..."
     "Oh, you misunderstand." the woman explained.  "You're not going to be 
using it...you're going to be it's first target."

     Chris blinked.

     The woman stopped firing the laser, and picked up the Hope diamond.  It was 
glowing rather brightly now.  "Winds of the four corners!  I SUMMON THEE!" she 
yelled out.

     He blinked again.  "Uh?"

     The sky above the woman began to cloud.  A cold wind started to blow 
throughout the large tarmac.  A strange electricity filled the air, giving Chris 
the impression that a rain was coming.  The old crone continued after a black 
ball of clouds formed over her.
     "Storms of ice, storms of rain.  Storms of darkness storms of pain!" she 
bellowed.  Her voice seemed to be amplified with every new word.  Crackling like 
thunder.  "I SUMMON THEE!"

     Dana and Miharu watched silently through Nacho's windshield.  "You don't 
see that every day..." Dana mentioned.
     "You don't hang out with my dad enough, then." Miharu replied.
     Suddenly, a bright blue beam of electricity shot up from the Hope and into 
the dark swirling mass above it.  Miharu sighed.  "Okay...THAT is something you 
don't see every day."

     Chris was having trouble keeping his footing in the sudden wind, but 
managed to inch closer to the old woman.  "Stop that!" he ordered.  "Whatever 
the hell you're doing..." he admitted to himself.
     The old woman smiled down at him.  "Oh, but Mr Strike Fiss...it has only 
begun." she looked back up at the clouds above.  "I SUMMON THEE!  DARK KNIGHT!  
STORM KITE!"
     She disintegrated in a flash of lightning...leaving the Hope to fall, 
useless on the ground, and smouldering from the energy discharge.  The lightning 
seemed to pull back up into the sphere of smog above.
     Strike Fiss relaxed slightly as the wind died down...but was on his guard 
again when a horrible shrieking noise thundered out across the sky.  "Now 
what...?"
     Two coal-black wings pierced the cloud, and began to flap.  Slowly, the 
clouds dissipated.

     Hovering a hundred feet above him was a dragon.

     Chris took a few steps back.  "Dude...this is pretty fucked up right here."




     It's eyes were black, along with the rest of it's body.  However, they 
shimmered with intelligence as they looked down at Chris.  "EEEEEEAAAA!" it 
screamed.
     Chris blinked.  "Uh...'EEEEEAAAAA' to you too." The flying beast began to 
suck in air.  Chris sighed.  "Oh come on..."
     Sure enough, the tales of dragons being able to breath fire were not 
exaggerated.  A white hot spear of flames shot down at the little Senshi.  Chris 
raised his sword just in time, and deflected the blast with a well-timed 
'FISS!'.  
     As the dragon saw that it's target was still alive, it growled.  
"EAAAAAAHHHHRRRR!"
     Chris was now standing in the middle of a ten foot circle of flaming 
pavement.  "That wasn't very NICE!" he yelled, flipping the bird to the dragon.  
     If that bitch wanted to try out her new dragon body out on Strike Fiss, he 
was going to give her one hell of a test drive.  A loud SHNIK filled the air as 
he withdrew his second sword.
     The huge dragon never gave him the time he needed to power up his attack, 
and began to fly off.  Chris wondered briefly if it was retreating to wreak 
havoc on Niagara Falls...but it turned around and began charging towards him.  
     "EEEEEAAHHH!" it screamed, and fire began to fly out of it's mouth.  The 
flame slammed into the van, causing it to explode.  Chris shielded himself from 
the pieces of flaming metal, and had no time to defend against the dragon when 
it finally reached him and swooped over his head.
     Just as Chris was thinking it had missed, the whip-like tail smacked into 
his side.  He yelped in pain and was tossed aside like a sack of potatoes.  He 
got to his feet slowly, only to hear the terrible screeching once more as it 
turned around for a second dive-bomb.
     He was a little more ready this time.  As the dragon's head, about the size 
of a compact car, approached he jumped up into the air.  A streak of light was 
all that was visible from his swords as he brought both down in a double blade 
attack.  The metal connected with the leathery black skin, but only managed to 
cut a light scratch along it's face.  Chris was shot back down when a wing-edge 
slammed into him.
     Landing wasn't exactly any better, and he was winded from the sudden 
impact.  The dragon growled, hovering in mid-air for a moment as it checked it's 
face with a clawed forearm.  "AAEEEEEEE!" it screeched it's disapproval, then 
puffed out once more.  Chris could see the fire scorch some hairs off his arm as 
he just barely rolled out of the way.  
     "Dammit!  Why can't you have been a NICE dragon!" he gasped, lungs filling 
with smoky air.  "You know, like Puff the Magic Dragon or something?" he got to 
his feet.
     The dragon seemed to chuckle slightly.  It was the same laugh that the old 
woman had made, then it swooped down for another attack.  Chris ducked under the 
head, and as the neck flew past, he thrust his katana upwards as hard as he 
could.  
     "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" the dragon yelled in pain as the blade cut a long, 
narrow gash through the thick skin.  A dark blue blood spilled out on top of 
Chris, but he didn't mind as long as he knew the thing could bleed.  
     It swooped back upwards to a safer altitude.  Chris wiped a trace of the 
blood away from his face, and pointed his sword up at the beast.  "No ya don't, 
wussy!  Come down here and fight!"
     The dragon growled.  A low, thundering, primal noise.  It's neck was slowly 
healing itself.  Chris swallowed hard.  "Oh man...this is going to take a 
while."
     
     "My GOD!" Dana gasped as they watched.  "He's goinna get killed!"
     Miharu fidgeted in the back.  "We have to do something!" she unlocked the 
door and crawled out.
     "MIHARU!" Dana gasped, running out after her.  "Come back here!"
     
     Chris saw her coming up and cursed himself.  "I knew I should have gotten 
child-safety locks on Nacho."
     Miharu had already taken off her coat and was tying up the arms on her 
shirt, ready for battle.  "I'm helping!"
     He nodded, knowing the girl wasn't about to leave, and tossed her his 
wakizashi.  She caught it and was instantly in a defensive position.  Chris 
sighed.  "Okay...we gotta slit that thing apart before it has time to heal.  Any 
ideas?"
     "If we get it's wings, it can't fly to safety!" Miharu nodded. 
     "Perfect." Chris smiled.  "Okay, get ready!"
     Dana cursed herself, and ran back a bit so she wouldn't interfere.  "Kick 
her ass, Chris!"
     The dragon's neck had patched itself up nicely, and it was flying down to 
meet them. "EEEEAHHHHH!"
     Both Chris and Miharu split up and jumped simultaneously.  The dragon had 
no time to manoeuvre and change it's course.  Both blades slammed into the storm 
kite's wings, severing the powerful lead fingers.  Chris and Miharu were knocked 
backwards a few meters, but the dragon faired much worse.  It literally crashed 
into the ground, unable to control the huge leathery flaps of it's wings.  
     Probably the loudest screech it had made echoed throughout the parking lot, 
as a trail of the diamond-blue blood marked it's fall.  
     "YES!" Miharu jumped to her feet, sporting only a few scratches to her left 
arm.  
     Chris smiled.  "Very cool."  The dragon wasn't down yet, though, and it got 
to it's feet.  It's long, snake-like body lifted high off the ground, and 
suddenly realized how nasty it's claws looked.  The belly was scratched up, but 
again, was healing.  The wings were too.  "We have to do this fast." he said.
     "How?" 
     "Give me my sword." Chris asked.
     She nodded and handed it to him.  "Look's like it's PARTY TIME!" he swung 
the blades around and formed his customary blue ball of light.  "HEYA!"
     The blue arch of energy slammed into the dragon's side as it was turning to 
attack.  Instead of slicing through, though, it jolted the beast backwards and 
into the fence on the far side of the parking lot.  
     A second later, it's head was raised.  "Oh shit..." Chris said, handing the 
smaller sword back to Miharu.  
     "Now what?" she asked.  The thrill of fighting was gone in her voice, and 
was replaced by genuine fear.  
     "Now...we get the hell out of here." Chris nodded, picking up the little 
girl.  Then, he ran.
     Dana saw this, and was already in Nacho when they got there.  "Hurry!  It's 
standing up!" she yelled.
     Chris locked all the doors and buckled up.  "I can see that..."
     Nacho's engine purred to life just as the dragon began to charge for the 
tiny teal car.  His hand jammed the gear stick into third gear.  "We have to 
outrun it!  Come on!" Dana gasped.
     "That's not going to be an option once it heals it's wings." Chris growled, 
letting the beast lumber closer and closer.  Nacho's engine growled back at the 
dragon as Chris revved it. "Any ideas?"
     Miharu nodded.  "That lady said something about the diamond being the key."
     "How do you know so much?" Chris asked.
     Miharu smiled.  "I pretended to sleep a lot."
     Dana smiled.
     "See?" Chris nodded.  "It works."
     "EEEAHHHHH!" The storm kite yelled, mouth almost on top of the little car.
     Chris floored it, and they shot backwards in their seats as Nacho jammed 
out of the way at a speed that the car didn't really look capable of.  "I love 
this car..." Chris grinned.
     The dragon's chin slammed into the ground as Nacho curved around at the 
other end of the parking lot, and shone it's headlights at it.  Chris began 
flicking on and off the high-beams just to taunt the beast.  It growled.  
"GGRREEEEE!!!!!!"
     "I have a plan." Chris said, getting out.  "Dana...I'm trusting Nacho in 
your hands.  Drive."
     She shifted seats nervously.  "Okay...ready."
     Chris climbed onto Nacho's hood.  "Man, I hope I don't dent this thing..."
     "JUST HURRY!" Dana yelled, fear obviously getting to her.  
     He nodded back past his sunglasses.  "When that thing starts breathing 
fire, you drive right under it's belly at top speed, okay?  If I fall off, I'll 
be fine...just drive...got it?"
     She nodded, then rolled up all the windows.  "Buckle up, sweetie." she told 
Miharu. 
     
     The storm kite began to walk towards Nacho.  The car was cornered at one 
end of the parking lot.  It wasn't going anywhere unless it was through a wall 
of flames.  "EEAHHH!!!" the beast puffed up.
     "NOW!" Chris yelled.  As the blast of fire rained out towards the car, it 
jumped forward. "FISS!"
     The blue deflection spell formed a bubble around the front of the car.  
Flames impacted harmlessly into it, and Nacho continued to accelerate unscathed.  
Faster...faster.  They were close to the dragon, now.  All Dana could see out of 
the windshield was a wall of flames and Chris desperately trying to keep 
balanced as the gee-forces yanked him backwards into the glass. 

     "Come on, dad!" Miharu cheered.  "Kick her ass!" 
     Dana gritted her teeth.  "Come on!" she floored it.
     The flames stopped briefly.  The dragon had to suck in another lung-full of 
air.  As it did, Nacho zoomed under it's jaws.  Chris jumped up, sword extended, 
and into the expanding belly. "CHIWAWA!"
     Nacho flew past the tail just as Chris hit.  "KRACKABOOOOOOOMM!"

     Dana gasped as a fireball erupted behind them, her jaw stayed open despite 
her efforts to close it.
     "DANA!  BREAKS!" Miharu yelled as they reached the end of the parking lot.  
A strong fence blocking their path.
     She slammed on the pedal, and turned left, hard.  Anyone who owns a car 
with front-wheel drive will know how hard it is to put one in a spin without ice 
under the tires, but Nacho made three three-sixty spins before it finally 
rumbled to a stop, just inches from the fence.
     Miharu and Dana looked up from their laps, gasping to breath after the 
seat-belts had crushed the air from their lungs.  "Wh...where's dad?" the girl 
asked.
     Dana put Nacho in park, and they both got out. The fire-ball was still 
blazing in the centre of the parking lot.  Chris had ripped open the belly just 
as it was about to fire...just when it was fully charged with volatile oxygen.  
"Oh my god..."
     Something was still moving, too.  A black tail raised out of the flames.  
Followed by a pair of jagged wings.  "DAD!" Miharu gasped.
     Dana tried to think clearly, but her mind was petrified.  It looked like 
hell.  The very bowels of the underworld had spilled out onto the scalding 
pavement in front of them, and hell's worst demon was rearing it's head from the 
flames, emerging once again.  
     Then...she saw it.  The Hope.  
     It was glowing.  Regenerating the dragon.  "We have to destroy the Hope!" 
she choked out over the thick blanket of black smoke that was rolling along the 
ground.  
     Miharu whipped out her little sword and made a mad dash for the crystal.  
"HAIIII!"
      A black flash of a tail knocked her out of the way, protecting the Hope.  
"EEAAAAA!" the dragon screeched.  It's head was half-melted by it's own fire, 
but it was far from dead.  It turned to look directly at Dana.  "EEEeeeeee" it 
purred.
     "Oh shit..."
     Miharu had recovered from the fall and tossed Dana her sword.  "CATCH!"
     She caught it, barely, and held it up like she had seen Chris do.  "You 
fucking bitch!" she yelled nervously.  "Don't come near me!  I'll slice you 
open!"
     The dragon just laughed, and a clawed foot emerged from the base of the 
fire, and began to walk towards her.  It was now free of the fire, it's body 
crackling and smoking, trying to heal itself.  
     "EEEEEAAA!" it screamed, throwing Dana back with a gust of wind.  That was
probably all it could do until it regained it's fire-breathing abilities.  
     The Hope was now under the creature's body.  Miharu joined Dana as they 
were forced back by another gust of scalding wind.  It's jaws snapped at them 
like an alligator.  "We can make it to Nacho!" Miharu said.  
     "We can't run...not now...it's too fast." Dana said.  "God damn it!"
     "HEY!"
     The dragon, Dana, and Miharu all turned to see a figure walking out of the 
fire.
     Chris, toasty and singed, was still alive.  "HEY!  YEAH!" he growled.  
"YOU!  Dragon!  You call THAT a fireball?" he laughed.
     The dragon growled. 
     "I've seen bigger fireballs come out of people's asses!" he continued, 
walking next to the leg of the dragon.  
     "CHRIS!  GET THE FUCK AWAY..." Dana yelled, but she was cut off by him 
raising his hand.  
     "Dana...do you play base ball?" he yelled over the crackling fires behind 
him.
     "What?"
     Chris smiled.  "BATTER UP!" he pointed his sword at the Hope.  "FISS!"
     The diamond, which was safely under the dragon's belly, shot forward and up 
into the air, heading for Dana.
     She swung back the little wakizashi, and connected with the blue rock as it 
reached her.  The only thing harder than diamond was the blade of a magically 
forged sword. "PIFF!"

     The diamond exploded in a cloud of dust.

     The mighty Dark Knight Storm-Kite...vaporized in a shower of dust as well.
     The three humans shielded their eyes from the storm of dust as it began to 
swirl into the sky and disappear.

     Dana opened her eyes to see a pair of sunglasses staring back at her.  "You 
okay?"
     She nodded weakly.  "I...I think so."
     Miharu was running around the parking lot, celebrating their victory with a 
little dance.  Chris just smiled.  "Not too bad.  You sure you're not a super 
hero too?"
     Dana almost punched him right there.  "Yes..." she growled.  "I'm sure."
     "Well, like I said, you did great.  Now, you can go back home and tell Eric 
how you defeated a black dragon the size of three school busses." Chris stood, 
taking her hand and helping her to her feet as well.  
     "I thought you were dead..." Dana shuddered.
     He shrugged.  "From that little explosion?  That was nothing, baby!" he 
laughed, then seeing her annoyed expression changed it to "Yeah, it was pretty 
nasty."
     "So...now what?" Dana sighed as they walked back over to Nacho.  
     Chris shrugged.  "I'm going to take you home, then Miharu and I are going 
to go home." he suddenly gasped.  "GOD DAMMIT!" he ran over to Nacho's hood.  A 
small mark was on the hood.  "Aww MAN!  A scratch!"
     Dana sighed, and wiped the little dirt smudge away with the sleeve of her 
shirt.  "This..." she stopped.
     "Thanks..." Chris breathed a sigh of relief.  "I loves you Nacho!" he 
petted the hood.
     "This was all normal for you...wasn't it?" she asked quietly.
     He sighed, and transformed back into his normal clothes.  "No, actually.  I 
haven't fought many dragons before." he smiled.  
     "That's not what I mean." Dana said.
     "I know..." he sighed, walking over to Nacho, who purred happily.  "If 
you're wondering, no, you never get used to this.  But, it's really not a big 
deal after a while.  It's over, and life goes on.  Just like always."
     Dana sniffed.
     "You'll go home, and be fine in a day or two." Chris explained.  "Then, 
you'll have stories to tell your son." he winked.  "You'll see."
     Twilight had drifted to produce a lovely sunset by this time.  The fires 
had died down behind them, but the sky kept a similar shade of orange.  "That's 
still not what I'm talking about."
     Chris blinked.  "Oh?"
     She nodded and walked over to him.  "I love you."
     He blinked, then blushed considerably.  
     "I know you have to go, and that you have a love back in Japan...but it 
doesn't matter." Dana sighed.  "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said anything."
     Chris turned towards Miharu.  "Honey!  Come on...cops will be here soon.  
We gotta go."
     The little girl nodded and ran back from the centre of the parking lot 
where the last chunks of dragon and van were simmering.  "Coming!"
     He turned back to Dana.  "Come on...We'll get you home first." he walked 
past her and got into Nacho.
     Dana shivered, took one last look at the parking lot, and then got into the 
back seat.  Miharu got into the front.  "Can we still go to Disneyland?" she 
asked Chris.
     "Maybe next year." Chris sighed.
     




     Nacho pulled up to the apartment block where Dana lived at five in the 
morning.  They had gone non-stop throughout the night.  "We need to talk." Chris 
whispered, getting out.
     Miharu had fallen asleep, and never budged.  Dana got out and they walked 
over to the front steps of her building.  "I'm sorry."
     "I am too." Chris replied.  "I'm sorry that I can't stay with you." 
     Dana nodded.
     "I want to, you know." he surprised himself with that one.  Dana's eyes 
widened.  "If it's any conciliation..." he rubbed his forehead.  "You're a 
lot like her, you know..."
     "Like who?" 
     "Rei." Chris explained.  "I've always loved formidable women...not the 
stupid, air-headed ones that most of my sorry excuse for a sex actually enjoy." 
he growled.  "I get so sick of that."
     "Formidable?" Dana smiled.  "Thanks...that's a compliment."
     Chris nodded eagerly.  "Never take it anyway but a compliment." he looked 
up at the sky.  "I don't doubt that I would fall for you completely." he sighed.  
"That's why I should go before I can't.  Falling totally in love with you would 
be too easy."
     "Well, at least you paid me back." she smiled.  "Thanks."
     Chris suddenly had a funny smile on his face.  "No...actually, I didn't pay 
you back yet." 
     "Yes you did." she sighed, then leaned towards him.  "Thanks."
     They met in a kiss.  Just a brief one...one that was never intended to be 
anything more than that.  Afterwards, they both breathed a sigh of relief.  "I 
better be off."  Chris said, keys in his hands.
     "Save the world one time for me...okay?" Dana smiled sadly as he walked 
back to Nacho.
     Chris was half way there, then turned around.  "You remember I said magic 
would help you out?"
     She nodded.
     "Abracadabra." Chris smiled, waving his hands around for a bit.  "Go 
upstairs, and check your purse.  Okay?"
     Dana blinked, then glanced over to her purse.
     "Upstairs...okay?" he smiled.  "No peeking until you're up there."
     She laughed.  "Fine.  Goodbye, Chris."
     He waved, and got back in Nacho.  A few seconds later, the car streaked out 
onto the road and was headed for the airport.  





     Dana sighed, locking the door behind her.  She was about to say something 
to herself, but nothing significant came to her mind.  "Ugh." she finally 
managed, sinking to the floor, exhausted.  
     Almost as an afterthought, she opened her purse and emptied it out onto the 
floor besides her.  On the last shake...a necklace fell out.
     "What the hell?" she gasped, lifting it up to the light.  
     Four blue diamonds stared back at her.  Little Hope diamonds.  Okay...they 
wasn't even close...but they were set with about three dozen smaller white 
diamonds along the necklace. "Oh my god..." she laughed.
     "OH YEAH!" she stood up and laughed again.
     Justine and Eric ran out into the living room to investigate the sudden 
laughing.  "What is it, Dana?" the baby sitter asked.
     "Eric, honey..." Dana sighed happily.  "We're moving."
     "Where?  What's going on?" Justine laughed.  "It's five in the morning!"
     "Mmm, I don't know." Dana said, picking her son up in her arms.  "How's 
somewhere in Canada sound?  I hear it's really beautiful up there."




     Miharu woke up as they were passing over the coast of Japan.  "Are we home 
yet?"
     "Almost." Chris sighed.  "Sorry we couldn't beat up Mickey Mouse."
     "That's okay." she smiled back.  "We beat up a dragon, so I'll forgive 
you."
     He smiled.  "I'm quite impressed, by the way.  You're the only kid I know 
who can take down a storm kite."
     "Do I get a raise in my allowance, then?" she asked with a grin.
     Chris paused.  "Only if you tell mommy that Disneyland was fun."
     "It will cost ya!" Miharu laughed.
     He frowned at her, then took out his wallet.  "How much?"
     "Twenty bucks...and a five dollar raise!" she grinned evilly. 
     "Every month?" Chris sighed.  "Fine..." he forked out the bills.  "And I 
thought *I* was a little thief."
     Miharu's eyes widened.  "Ahh, that's right!  You destroyed the Hope 
diamond!" she giggled.  "That's goinna cost you extra!"
     Chris stuck out his tongue.  "No way!  I never did anything!  Dana did it!" 
     Miharu sighed, sitting back in her seat.  "Fine..."
     He sat back and smiled.  "Good."
     A pause.  "Of course..."
     "Of course what?" Chris asked...he didn't like the tone in her voice.
     "There's always the little kissy kissy with Dana..." Miharu said, trying to 
hide her smile. "You'd be surprised what you can find out about when people 
think you're asleep."
     "I've created a monster." Chris sighed, re-opening his wallet.
     Miharu shook her finger at him.  "I'm just teaching you a lesson!"
     He raised his eyebrow.
     The little girl giggled.  "Crime doesn't pay!" 

     Fiss groaned.






								The End!





********************************************************************************


My apologies go out to the Smithsonian for destroying the Hope Diamond.  I 
promise I will never do that in real life.  

Ahem...Author's notes time!  <Chibi Strike Fiss does little Authors Notes Jig!> 

Arsene Lupin was written by Maurice Le Blanc, and if anyone is pissed off about 
me making references to his work, I am sorry.  Don't sue me...I'm not worth it.  
Anyone interested can check out the numerous novels, or the cartoon show "Night 
Hood."  It's a kick ass show.  Enjoy!  This story was based loosely on the 
episode "To Catch Lupin".  Mmm, well, only the stealing parts...there were no 
dragons in 1920-1950 France.  

at least I bloody well hope not.  :P  Cause otherwise, I'm going back in time 
and checking it out!

There are no legends of storm kites or dragons dealing with the Hope, and that 
was just for fun. Stoopid millionaires!  You can't turn into dragons!  Silly 
silly!  You can only do that with lots of plastic surgery and a grant from Jim 
Henson's Creature Shop!

Also, Nacho is a 1997 Eagle Vision TSI.  I didn't want to advertise this too 
much in the story, cause I'm rather against product placement.  Nacho is real, 
and is my car.  Even at the time of this second edition of the story, my baby 
Nacho can WHIP ANYTHING ON THE ROAD! HAHAAHA!  Come on, suckers!  Make my day! 

Just a side note, Nacho is the name of a small, child-eating dog in "Squee" 
issue 1.  A comic by Jhonen Vasquez.  

Thanks again for reading, and I bid thee all farewell and goodnight!  Don't let 
the Storm-Kites bite!



e-mail:  strikef@bigfoot.com
homepage1:  www.studioshinnyo.com
homepage2:  www.geocities.com/Tokyo/9110



Strike Fiss, Studio Shinnyo 2000.  Khattam-Shud, EOF.