"Well, love, are you ready to take on this Earth?" Haruka asked mischievously. Michiru punched her arm.

"We're here on official business," she reminded primly, and spoilt the effect by giggling slightly. Haruka grinned affably.

"That's what you always say. But I dare say I can infiltrate the palace soon enough. I'm applying for a job as a swordmaster. I think I have the necessary qualifications."

Michiru laughed. "What? So modest? From Haruka? Impossible!" They were quite positive that no one understood them, for they were talking in one of the more obscure dialects of Uranus that sounded vaguely like a mix between Saturnian, Neptunian and Uranian, and in the end, sounded a little Marsian as well. Anyone listening to them would be well baffled, and with forged passports, they were altogether a new couple, and Haruka was masquerading as a guy.

Haruka clinched the position of resident swordmaster in the Earth Palace after the Lord General Malachite had seen her in action for barely five minutes, and didn't even suspect that 'he' was actually a 'she'. She'd used a masculine version of her name - Haruko. Haruka reflected that there was at least one thing good about being built like a guy. Michiru was also doing what she liked best - painting and performing on the violin, as a street busker now, instead of a professional back in Neptune. That way, they could tackle both the people in the street and those in power.

Haruka's first assignment was a batch of teenagers, about 18, and their abilities ranged from outstanding to pathtic. She weeded out the not-so-proficient ones, relegating them to her assistants, and concentrating on two particularly good ones. Both of them had vastly different fighting styles - the tall dark haired one was more of a 'hack and basher', while the smaller one was more 'slash and parry'. And while the former was really into swordplay, the latter had a strange reluctance. She decided to find out why. "Gingetsu! Could you come over for a while, please?"

Gingetsu looked up from where he was walking around cooling down after a particularly grueling fight with Nephrite. Ever since they'd become good friends, they indulged in the usual "bash each other to bits" game.

"Yes, swordmaster?" he asked respectfully but warily.

Haruka gave him a smile. "I'm not going to eat you up boy. You're too skinny, and I doubt you can warm me up in winter." That elicited a hint of a smile from the teenager. "I just wanted to ask you a few questions. Are you free now?"

Gingetsu tried desperately to think of a reason to get away from the weapons salle to his beloved flowers, but he doubted that the sword master would accept that. But a bit of his reluctance must have slipped out, for Haruka looked at him hesitantly.

"If you're not free..."

Gingetsu shook his head. "Oh, I'm free now. What did you want to ask me?" Haruka's smile returned. "Quite a few things, but not here. I'm free now, for a little while, and you've been here longer than me. Why don't you take me to a place that you like to go?"

Gingetsu's emerald eyes lit up, though he carefully schooled his expression so that all his joy would not leak out. He could bring Haruko to the gardens and take care of his plants at the same time.

Haruka gazed around her, a slight smile hovering on the edge of her lips. Michiru would love this place - the flowers were simply gorgeous. So, the lad had a touch of green fingers in him. She noted that there were more roses than anything else in this garden, though there were smatterings of gerberas, tulips, and a few others that she couldn't identify in separate, smaller plots.

"Are roses your favourites?" she asked as she watched Gingetsu croon softly to one rose bush. He nodded absently, still concentrating on his roses. "Pink ones. I prefer them when they're in the bud stage, but roses are beautiful at any stage and colour. You wanted to ask me a few questions?" he looked up from the roses, and locked eyes with her, green against green. Haruka settled comfortably on one of the stone benches and folded her arms. "I want to know about you. Tell me about yourself."

Gingetsu regarded his sword master with a quizzical frown. Haruko wanted to know about himself? Why in Gaia for? He seemed to have a gift for reading thoughts, for he added quickly, "you're my personal student, and I think that it's very important to build ties with my students. It makes learning all the better."

But in actuality, Something in Haruka told her that this teenager was important, not just important, but VERY IMPORTANT. She just didn't know why he was important. That same Something nearly cursed her, and then she had the impression that her head was having a private conversation with itself. Good, since Gingetsu was roughly telling her about his likes, dislikes, hobbies, where he came from...

:What are you here for that's important?!!: Haruka's brain screamed at itself. :Uh, we're here to look for aid for the Outer planets.: That seemed to appease the Something for it's next question was a little softer. :And what, or rather who, can help you?: Haruka didn't even have to think - she'd discussed it with Michiru zillions of times. :Lorien's heir, Zoisite Merdeka.: The Something was pleased now. :So, link this boy with the answer to question three...well?: Haruka nearly ate her sword. :You don't expect me to link him with Zoisite Merdeka, do you?: The Something glared at her mentally. :You are closing off options before you even think them through!: it berated her angrily. Haruka looked sheepishly at the Something in her head. Beside her, Gingetsu was wrapping up.

"Anything else you need to know, sword master?"

Haruka looked thoughtfully at him. "Yes, one more question. Who is your father, and where did you say you came from?"

"Graffain Illandi, and we came from village of Jelutong down in the South." "Thank you, Zo-Gingetsu. I'll see you as usual for practise tomorrow?" The boy nodded, and Haruka smiled, blessing herself for not completing the slip. She moved to go, but Gingetsu didn't notice - he was too engrossed with his flowers.

Haruka hurried down the corridors, her mind running in circles in her head. Was she truly to believe the Something, which she now recognized as her Uranus' intuition, that Gingetsu was Zoisite Merdeka? Looking at that lad, she'd never have imagine it, but then, she'd seen much weirder things, not recently though. She couldn't wait to tell Michiru about this. If she could get her partner to meet this lad, and get her Neptune's intuition to give them the green light, their mission would be almost complete! And Gingetsu was doing a splendid job, pretending that he was just a simple peasant. Silently, she congratulated him and herself. Finally, the light of salvation was glowing just around the corner.

Ami's eyes narrowed when she saw the tall sandy blond sword master walk away from Gingetsu. :Mercury! Another six foot over hunk!: she sighed to herself. :Looks like they had a pretty long talk, or rather, Gingetsu was giving a monologue. Why in Mercury would the sword master want to have a private conversation with that guy?: Ami worried at her lower lip and concluded that she needed to keep a closer eye on him.

"The view's not as nice from the corridor as it is here. Why don't you stop skulking around and come join me, if that's your true intention?" Gingetsu's slightly mocking voice floated to Ami, making her jump. How had he known she was there? Irritated with herself, she ran away.

Gingetsu smiled to himself. So, it was that pesky sailor senshi from Mercury again. At least it wasn't the hulkingly tall sailor Jupiter, or the vapid sailor Venus, or worse, the spitfire, sailor Mars. He rose from where he was kneeling in front of the rose bush, and brushed the dirt from the knees of his breeches.

In this two months, so much had changed. Nephrite wasn't acting so high and mighty anymore, though he felt inclined to knock him into a wall for some of his thoughtless remarks. And between them, they made a dent in his private collection of wine, though Gingetsu usually got drunk after the second glass. The Prince Endymion seemed to be bumping into him twice or more a week, and well...he'd never liked that guy. All the girls might say that he was handsome, but he had the same calculating look in his eyes like Queen Serenity. Even Malachite's look wasn't like that - his seemed more honest - the Queen and the Prince's was more of the "I'll sooner skin you alive and roast you than kill you cleanly if you so much as to speak against me" type. He wondered how the people of the Earth could call them beneficent? But then again, they weren't living in the palace, and what they'd seen was flawless propaganda. He felt sick by the illusion that the Queen and her Prince was spinning. Suddenly, even his roses didn't look as beautiful anymore, marred as they were simply by the fact that they grew on palace/University ground.

Malachite had had a long talk with his cousin, and like him, Jadeite too, was astonished that his top student was actually Zoisite.

"Gaia, you are not joking, are you? Sorry, of course not. Gingetsu is Zoisite Merdeka? When did you learn this?"

Malachite grimaced. "Two monthis ago. Earl Priol just gave me permission to break the news to Gingetsu, I mean, Zoisite."

"And how do you suppose he'll react?" Jadeite asked softly, eyes trained on his cousin. Malachite gave an uncomfortable curse.

"Damned if I know," he answered honestly.

Jadeite leaned back and studied a paperweight on his desk. "I hope you don't think that he'll jump up and scream for joy for the chance to chase the Queen out of Earth do you?" At Malachite's snort, he smiled and continued. "I think that he'll be shocked, which is quite predictable, but I also think that he won't be eager at all to shoulder the job. In fact, I'll be surprised if he doesn't abdicate his throne."

Malachite's eyebrows shot up into his hair. "What?"

"Think carefully. Gingetsu does not want to have anything to do with violence, you've said so yourself when he declined the offer to train further. Matter of fact, he was angry, right?" Malachite nodded. "And since neither you nor I think that the Queen is going to snatch back her claws from Earth peacefully, what you'll get is war, right?" Malachite nodded again. "So, given Gingetsu's character, do you think he'll want to lead an army to war? Besides, he doesn't like responsibility."

Malachite looked a little shocked. "But he is also Earth's only hope!" Jadeite cut him off.

"So? Perhaps if he was raised as the Heir, he would think so, but he wasn't, and I don't fault Earl Priol for that. And most of the people are quite contented with the Queen's rule. They've been fed that the Queen is wonderful and kind, and they've been getting good treatment, and they don't give a fig about whether the Queen assassinated Lorien anymore, nor are they concerned if she ends up ruling the entire Local Neighbourhood. How do you expect to turn their way of thinking?"

Malachite's silver eyes had acquired a dangerous gleam. "Are you suggesting that we give this up?"

Jadeite shook his head. "I'm merely pointing to you the enormities of this task. If only we could contact the Outer planets and their rulers."

"Well we can't, so we might as well stop thinking about it," Malachite growled grumpily. "There's one thing I'm suspicious of for a very long time. King Lorien was one of the best kings Earth had since the monarchy was established again. Why didn't the ordinary people protest when the Queen waltzed in without even an 'if you please?'"

Jadeite stared at him. "That's true. Even in the first few years, when soldiers went around killing people in the name of the Queen for 'treason', nobody said anything. Which is a little odd now that you mention. I recalled a few communities that were quite vocal in those days. You don't suppose the Queen did something, do you?"

"Don't suppose?" Malachite banged his fist on the table. "I ruddy well think so! That's the link, Jadeite, if the Queen did spell the entire Earth and we break it, the common people may very well back us!"

Even Jadeite's normally bland blue eyes had a spark in them. "You're correct. Cousin, I have a suspicion that our hunch is correct. Are you going to inform Gingetsu of his name change?"

Malachite shook his head. "I want to search out that spell first, in case our plan backfires. And for that, I'll have to bring Earl Priol in. He's the only one with magic now, I'm afraid. The spell must have done something to our magical abilities for I distinctly recalled that my father had the Gift. After Lorien died, he had nothing left."

"Is that wise? How are you going to sneak him in?" Jadeite asked worriedly. Malachite tossed him a grin. "Oh, I'll come up with something."

Alexandrio Priol cursed faintly under his breath before ducking back into his role as a cleaner, hunchbacked and with a terrible limp. The guards walked past him with a disdainful curl of their lips, their eyes only seeing an old man bent double, shuffling along and pushing his trolley. The ex-Earl cursed again. He was going to have the worst backache in history. Why did Malachite have to scrounge up this job for him? His role was to use his Mage-sense and sniff out any spells around. Oh, there were plenty, and ready to fry anybody who even touched a finger to his Gifts, but Mage sense was different - it was like having an extra eye, so the spells didn't bother him.

The ex-Earl managed to avoid any of his fellow cleaners, slipping into each room to scout out spells. He fully understood what the risks are, and that made him more cautious than he ever was in the past 18 years. Methodically going through the plan of the palace, he inched his way to its centre. More than once, he had bumped into the sailor senshi, their uniform unmistakable. He gave a sour snort. They probably didn't need to lift a finger to their swords, since he suspected that more than half of their enemies were charmed into martial impotence at first sight. Perhaps that explained why the Outer planets were still unconquered - a good portion of their fighting force was comprised of women.

Once though, he shuffled past a tall sandy-blond man with a pretty aqua-haired lady, and strangely, they Felt the same as one of the sailor senshi, and more importantly, they weren't in uniform. Did the Queen suspect her subjects so much to use plain clothes 'detectives'? Shaking his head, he concentrated on locating a major power, and hence spell source.

Right smack in the centre was somewhere that even cleaners were restricted. He turned without fuss when the guards there informed him, but was frantically trying to read the spell. He managed to hook a little of the spell to identify it, but he hadn't expected the counterward to explode in his face. The psychic blast echoed in the physical plane too, and the guards exploded outwards. Head reeling, Alexandrio ran for his life, trying not to see the bits of human flesh lining his path. He abandoned his cleaner's trolley and headed straight for Malachite's room. He knew, however, that he could not reach the General in time to give him the information.

":Malachite Tregard!:" he shouted.

In his office, the General stiffened as he tried to divulge the source of the sound.

":Malachite, I don't have much time. In discovering the spell, I set off the counterward. The spell that binds the Eartheners to the Queen like blind sheep is right in the centre of the palace. Break that spell, and the people's memories of Lorien will no longer be blocked. And there is one more thing. There are two people in the palace who have the Feel of senshi, though they are not in uniform. Here are their forms.:" Alexandrio sent Malachite an image of the two, and the General gasped when he realised that the tall blond man was his swordmaster. ":Tell Zoisite!:" was the ex-Earl's last command, and the contact faded. Malachite knew without doubt that the Earl had killed himself to prevent himself from being implicated.

The silver eyes gained a cold sheen. He wanted to see what Haruko had to say for himself when he summoned him. But Zoisite was more important now, and he had two equally shocking news to pass to the teenager. He didn't envy him at all.

Haruka led Michiru to the weapons storeroom and locked her in there. Then she went in search for Gingetsu. He was sparring with Nephrite as usual, and trading insults when she broke off the fight.

"That sword doesn't seem very balanced, Gingetsu. Why don't you get another one?" Lame excuse, but Haruka had no time. She'd heard the alarms go off in another part of the palace/University. Gingetsu shot her a puzzled glance, but came with her. He did a double take when he saw Michiru, and his eyes narrowed. Haruka could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

"Hello, Gingetsu, I'm Michi." Michiru greeted softly and with a friendly smile. She held out one hand to him. Haruka almost smiled.

:Come on little fishy. I've seen older men than you get hooked by Michiru before.:

True enough, Gingetsu reached out and shook her hand gingerly. Michiru continued smiling, then without warning, she knocked him into unconsciousness with her mind. Powerful as she was, and untrained as Gingetsu was, he still managed to fight her control for a few seconds before slumping in a heap to the ground.

"Well, what did you think?" Haruka asked, watching Michiru carefully. She was breathing very heavily, as she she'd just ran a marathon.

"No doubt. He's damned strong in his Gifts and he's the one we're looking for, though he doesn't have a clue. Poor kid. We're going to drag him into something he's never expected in his wildest dreams," Michiru sighed.

"You will be surprised how wild dreams can be," a cold voice cut in. Both women whipped around, and came face to face with the Lord General, who at the moment wasn't the least bit happy. His silver eyes took in the unconscious boy, the unfamiliar woman and the nature of their conversation, put 1 + 1 together with = and came up with window.

"Who are you spying for?" he hissed. "And who are you?" Behind him, the door to the storeroom slammed shut, and he looked as if he was going to eat them up. Haruka forced herself to meet his raging eyes, and said calmly.

"We know who he is," she said coolly, pointing to Gingetsu. She supposed he was their trump card. "He is the true king of Earth, Zoisite Merdeka."

Malachite watched them suspiciously. "Who are you?" he repeated. "The alarms went off in the palace. I could get the two of you implicated."

Michiru darted a glance at Haruka, then Sent, ":you might as well tell him. He's not bluffing, and he doesn't seem to have any dangerous Feelings.:" Haruka's eyebrows shot up as she regarded Michiru, but her partner was seldom wrong. Crossing her fingers and hoping that this was not one of those rare times, Haruka turned back to face Malachite.

"Princess Ten'ou Haruka of Uranus, and Princess Kai'ou Michiru of Neptune, Lord-General Malachite." She bowed slightly, and made her voice sound as formal as possible, and was rewarded at the way Malachite's eyes widened slightly.

"Convince me," he growled.

Haruka looked puzzled. Convince him? How in Uranus? Then she grinned. "You must have heard rumours of how the royal families of the Outer planets have powers like those of the...senshi?" Malachite had the distinct impression that she didn't liked comparing herself to them, but he nodded. Taking a deep breath and a step back, Haruka concentrated, and a glowing symbol appeared on her forehead - the symbol of Uranus. A column of earth enveloped her, and a split second later, she was dressed in her War Leader's uniform - gold on deep blue. Her space sword hung at her hip, and a tiara was perched on her forehead with a glowing blue stone.

Malachite had heard of such stories, and from reliable sources. He regarded the Princess for long moments, and Haruka feared that she might have misread him after all. She dissolved her uniform back into the plain breeches and shirt she wore as Michiru inched towards her. Finally, his dour face cracked into a hesitant smile.

"Strange...how in Gaia did you mislead me and a hundred others into thinking you were a guy?"

Haruka and Michiru burst into relieved laughter.

Later, ensconced in Malachite's bare office, they had a little talk.

"So you want to seek an alliance with the Earth to keep the Queen away? What makes you think we can help?" Malachite asked.

Haruka spoke up, in her War Leader role now. "The Outer planets are fast running out of resources. Saturn is in the midst of a national crisis. The ruling family of Earth is, was, noted for its powers. I believe, now that Zoisite Merdeka has been found, that combined, our strength is enough to drive the Queen away for good. That would include Earth. In return for Earth's help, the Outer planets will sign an agreement that grants this planet any favour, provided it does not violate any of our own planets." A favour. That was powerful. Malachite considered for a moment, and wondered if he had the authority to seal such a deal. But Earl Priol was dead now, Zoisite was still uninformed, and as such, he was the highest ranking Old Blood. But he also remembered that the greatest harm could come out of the best intentions.

"I would require time to discuss this terms with my colleagues. Perhaps we could talk again in a few days' time?"

Haruka nodded. "That would be good, since rushing into things is not the best way to do things. But we would appreciate it if you do your best to come to a decision soon. The Queen could attack our planets at any moment."

"Indeed, though I think she will have to delay her plans for a while. I shall talk to you again in two days' time. Until then, Gaia keep you safe." He stood up and opened the door to allow them to leave. Haruka gave him a lop-sided smile.

"Your gods keep you safe too, General."

The senshi of Venus nodded. She was the nearest to the scene, and hence had forced order on the chaotic mess.

"That does not bode well. What did the man look like?"

Ami typed on her laptop and turned it to face the Queen. Her reaction was unexpected.

"Him!" she nearly shrieked. "After 18 years, he's come back to haunt me!"

"Mother, what's happening?" Serena asked, mixed puzzlement and wariness in her eyes. Had the Queen gone mad? The Queen glared at the image for a moment longer, then spat out in icy tones.

"That was the noble that Lorien Merdeka entrusted his son to. Since he was most obviously alive until an hour ago, we must assume that Zoisite Merdeka, too, is alive. And as such, he is a threat to our Empire. And if Alexandrio Priol had come to Central, it can only mean that he was after the Spell, and he was not alone in this. We must ferret out the traitors!"

Serena rubbed the back of her head. "But why do you consider this tiny planet so important? Not only are it's natural resources dwindling fast, it has virtually no magic to speak off, and provides wretched little Gifted."

Queen Serenity could have sliced her daughter in half with the intensity of her glare. "You obviously underestimate this 'tiny' planet. It is low in magic, because of the ward-spell, but that is a tiny matter. Earth has resources in it's people, and within them, an amazingly high adaptation rate. Do not forget that advanced life took only billions of years to develop here. It took longer than that for advanced life to evolve on the other planets. It cannot be written off, and I will not let it out of my grasp! It is too precious a commodity! And, if I let it go, I'll be the laughing stock in the Inter-Galaxies!" The sailor senshi winced at the volume and pitch of her voice - she must have hit the highest A on the piano scale.

Calming down, she settled back in her throne. "I want the security of Central doubled immediately, and I want anybody coming in or going out of the palace or University to be monitored closely. And Mercury, you are to keep Gingetsu in your sight at all times. Understood?"

The sailor senshi nodded. Well they knew of the Queen's rage if she was disappointed with results. They bowed and hastily exited the throne room. Prince Endymion had not spoken a single word, but now he did. "And what wishes do you have for me, my Queen?"

Queen Serenity bent her bright blue eyes on him. "You will ferret out Zoisite Merdeka and bring him to me. We will deal with him together then." Prince Endymion bowed and left as well.

Queen Serenity stared into space. Zoisite Merdeka was still alive. She had to make sure that the Outer planets did not know of this, or combined, they would be a force to reckon with.