Levana Ceri (Moon Love)

Chapter 20

At Ray's disappearance everyone stood in shock. "I had no idea she could do that." Lita said in awe. Jadeite in turn clenched his fists at the raw anger and pain he felt wash over him from the heat of Ray's explosive departure.
"Someone explain to me what the hell is going on?" Darien demanded.

"We could ask you the same thing." Lita retorted as she grabbed Serena and pulled her into the relative safety of the senshi. Darien instinctively tried to grab her but with reluctance he stepped back as the Shitenou flanked him.

Amy activated her personal CPU and blinked when a blue visor appeared and wrapped around her right eye. Amy's fingers flew over the CPU's keyboard as she punched in detailed information and her visor quickly compiled it all as it scanned the present area, Darien and the Shitenou.

What you got Amy?" Mina asked her as she eyed the Shitenou suspiciously.

"Well," she answered. "I can't draw any conclusions at the moment, its too much information for the CPU to compile in such a short amount of time...at least with any accuracy. But what I have been able to..." Amy trailed off and her head snapped up from her screen and she stared at the men. "None of these men are a product of this plane."

"Ok, can someone please explain that to all of us who don't speak science?" Lita asked.

"They're not of Earth." Mina finished. Darien quickly snorted. "That's ridiculous."

"The data isn't wrong!" Amy exclaimed. "I've checked it twice. None of you are of Earth."

"Then where the hell are we from?" Darien asked snidely.

"That's what is so confounding! You're genetics don't match anything I've come across!"

"But didn't you spend the last year cross-referencing and uploading all the different genetic samples and DNA from all over our star system?" Mina asked.

"Yes, I even went as far as including all the medical journals and textbooks from all the different worlds, including notes taken from the leaders in medicine and science. All the information I've gathered has been uploaded into my CPU. Anything of this star system I should be able to identify."

"Well, I guess the blue haired girl made a mistake." Nephrite said.

"Amy never makes mistakes."

"You're not even of this Galaxy!" Amy said. Quickly, the Inner Senshi grabbed Serena and thrust her behind them as they made a protective wall between their princess and the perceived threat. "Ok buddy, who are you working for?" Lita demanded of Darien.

"You've got to be joking." Darien said in disbelief.

"You're a spy for Galaxia aren't you?!"

"Who's Galaxia?"

"Of course he's not a spy!" Serena exclaimed as she tried vainly to push aside the Senshi.

"Duh, of course he's of earth." Nephrite said with a sneer. "That blue dye must've gone straight to your head."

"It's not dye! I'll have you know that blue is a very common color on my planet."

"I knew it!" Jadeite yelled triumphantly. "I knew ya'll were from another planet."

"Wow genius did you figure that out for yourself? What gave us away?" Mina said dryly. Kunzite quickly covered his bark of laughter with a cough. Mina glanced his way for a split second, the only indication she had heard his laugh, before she turned back to Serena. "What have you told them?"

"Excuse me?" Serena said, deeply offended by the look of suspicion Mina threw her way.

"Don't you understand Serena? They're spies! Whatever you've told, they must have all ready reported it to Galaxia. We need to know exactly what you've shared."

"You may have compromised us all." Lita added.

Serena glanced at Amy and she only shook her head and repeated the question. "What have you told them Serena?" Serena's back stiffened before she closed her eyes and flashed herself beside Darien and the Shitenou. The Inner Senshi quickly tracked her movement and were surprised to find her where she stood. "What the hell was that?" Lita asked Mina as both tensed, not liking their princess close to what they considered their enemy.

"You have all lost your minds." Serena said. "Darien and The Shitenou are not spies. They're my friends."

"Don't be fooled princess. That's what they want you to think." Amy implored her.

"How 'bout we focus on the fact that Serena seems to have developed some powers." Lita said with cautious glee. "How is that possible if she hasn't met her mate?"

The three senshi's eyes quickly locked on to Darien and horror filled Lita's. "Not possible."

Darien stiffened. "What?"

"Amy...?" Lita inquired of her friend. Amy stood immobile. "I don't understand. I don't understand any of this."

"I thought only men from the Moon Kingdom could be her mate." Lita said.

"But men of Earth could awaken her powers as well remember?" Mina answered.

"But as I've said before he's not of Earth." Amy said.

"Stop talking about me as if I'm not here." Darien grumbled. Serena laced her fingers with his and looked at Kunzite. He stared back at her solemly. He knew that he and his comrades weren't from this planet. But Darien seemed to be oblivious. Could he not know his own origins?

"What's with the whole mate thing?" Jadeite asked Nephrite.

"Apparently it has something to do with Serena's powers?" Nephrite said, completely confused.

"Master." Kunzite stepped forward and immediately garnered everyone's attention. "Serena...is the Moon Princess."

The Senshi's surprised gasps filled the room. "How the hell do you know that?" Mina demanded. Kunzite ignored her with difficulty and kept his eyes on his Master. "Legend tells that only those of her bloodline can control and use the Imperium Crystal to its full advantage."

What's the Imperium Crystal? Jadeite interrupted.

It's one, if not the, most powerful stone the worlds have ever known. It can destroy everything we hold dear, but it can also bring life to where only death lies."

"Serena's entrusted to hold a stone with that much power? This Serena?" Nephrite said in total shock as he pointed at Serena. "It boggles the mind." He finished in wary awe.

"From what I've been able to gather...she's the only heir to the throne, and thus the only one who can defeat Galaxia..."

"I assume you've investigated this right?" Darien said. Serena glanced up at him quickly, disturbed by the dead tone in his voice.

"Of course Master." Kunzite said, only slightly caught off guard by Darien's interruption and subsequent tone.

"I want a full written report on your findings as soon as possible. I get the feeling this is mostly review for everyone."

"Not for us." Jadeite said in reference to himself and Nephrite.

"Besides you two looks like I'm the only other idiot who didn't know the obvious."

"Darien-"

Darien pulled his hand away from Serena's, turned and quit the room. Serena stared after him. Shaking herself Serena determinedly followed in his wake.

"Serena, now's not the time to try and soothe your boyfriends feelings." Lita said in anger. Serena turned back to Lita and gave her a royal glare her mother would've been proud of. "Then make the time." And with that she walked through the double doors leading to the back of the mansion and shut them behind her with a resounding thud.