Rated PG-13

Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and everything affiliated with her are the property 
of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and DiC.  They are not mine, I 
am only borrowing them for a little while.  Any other characters are mine.  
If anyone wishes to use them, please notify me first.


Just a bit of clarification:  
	the * * signify a person's thoughts
	the ***** before a section signify either a memory or a shift into 
the mindscape or dreamscape (don't worry, this will make sense eventually, I 
hope).	


Please email me with your questions, comments, and/or criticisms at 
engjng@worldnet.att.net.  Heck, flame me if you want to.  I'd like any 
feedback I can get.  Enjoy the story!


Daughters of Destiny
Part 8
by: Johnny Ng


	Rhea tapped her pencil on her desk distractedly.  It had been nearly 
a week since she had put her wards around the church, but Trent hadn't done 
anything.  During the lull, she had been training by herself and according to 
her spellbook, she had progressed to being able to study the intermediate 
level spells.  She was by no means a full mage yet, but Rhea felt better 
about herself now that she has some offensive spells to fall back on during a 
fight.
	The bell sounded signaling lunch.  Rhea made her way to the cafeteria 
and saw Serena and the others.  She smiled and sat down at their table.
	"So how's your magical training coming along, Rhea?" Lita asked.
	"It's going ok.  I've learned a few spells that might come in handy."
	Serena was busy stuffing a sandwich in her mouth but managed to blurt 
out, "Can you show us some?  Nothing too big or anything?"
	Rhea chuckled.  "Well, ok."  She looked around to see if anyone was 
watching then she concentrated and made a quick gesture with her hand.  A 
sandwich identical to the one that Serena was eating appeared on the table.
	"Neat trick," Mina said, "Now can you conjure up the answers to the 
chemistry test tomorrow?"
	The younger girl laughed, but the sound died in her throat.  An alarm 
had just went off in her head.  "Someone's tripped my wards at the church," 
Rhea said quietly.
	The Scouts looked at each other uncertainly.
	"What should we do?" Mina asked.
	Serena thought it over.  "Well, first of all I'm going to hold you to 
our agreement, Mina.  You're not going to come with us, ok?"  She waited 
until she saw the blond nod before turning back to the others.  "We're going 
to need an excuse to get out of our last two classes."
	Lita laughed.  "Are you kidding?  Mr. Katashira doesn't take 
attendance and Mr. Hishari is blind as a bat.  We won't be missed."
	Amy spoke up.  "Alright, then the question is how do we get there.  
There's not enough time to contact Raye, and I don't want to chance a Sailor 
Teleport without both her and Mina."
	"But can we still teleport?" Serena asked.
	"Well...we could, but it will severely drain our powers.  We would be 
in no position to face Trent when we get there."
	Rhea suddenly came to a decision.  "I'll teleport us there."
	Serena turned to the girl shocked, "Are you sure you want to do that?  
There would be four of us including you.  Are you sure you're strong enough?"
	"It will put a strain on my powers and I will be pretty weak 
afterwards, but better that just I go down than the three of you."
	Serena bit her lip.  "Alright.  We'll do it your way.  Let's go find 
a less crowded place to make our exit."
	The five girls got up and headed out of the cafeteria, the remains of 
their lunch still left on their table.
	It took them a while but they finally found an empty classroom.  The 
Scouts, except for Mina transformed, and Sailor Moon used her communicator to 
call Raye and tell her what was happening.  Raye, of course, argued 
vehemently that she should come along as well, but Mercury calmly told her 
that time was of the essence and they just couldn't wait for her.
	"Well...at least be careful," the priestess finally grumbled.  "I'll 
be waiting for you guys at the shrine when you're finished."  She signed off 
and Sailor Moon let out a sigh.
	Rhea told the three Scouts to stand close together.  "Hang on to your 
skirts, this may be a bumpy ride."  The young mage took a deep breath and 
closed her eyes.  She spoke an incantation and everyone vanished with a 
slight pop.
	Mina waited alone in the classroom for a few minutes more.  *Good 
luck.*

	The grounds around the old church were silent and featureless save 
for the occasional ordinary bush and one not so ordinary scoutship.  The 
pilot of said scoutship was currently inside the church and she was cursing 
her bad luck.
	Commander Kharma Rix was General Riven's second-in-command and a 
seasoned veteran of numerous battles, both magical and otherwise.  But for 
some reason, she totally missed the wards set up around the church.  Once she 
had triggered them, she knew that whoever had set them would be here soon.  
Her mission timetable had just sped up.
	She ran into the church and saw the divination circle on the floor.  
*The well is right under that circle.*  Rix took out a knife and started 
carving symbols onto the floor.  *Gotta hurry, the mage who set those wards-*
	There was a slight breeze blew through the church and Rix's magical 
sense flared.  She turned back to the entrance and saw four figures blurring 
into view.  When they solidified she saw who they were.  *Well...looks like 
I'm going to have a little fun with Trent's apprentice and her little 
friends.*
	Sailor Moon shook her head and saw Rhea slump to the ground.  "Rhea!"
	The girl shook her head.  "I'll be fine.  I just need a little rest."
	The Scouts' leader nodded and turned to the person standing inside 
the circle.  "Hold it right th--hey!  You're not Trent!"
	The commander smile.  "Very perceptive, Sailor Moon.  My master's 
newest servant couldn't make it today, so I'm filling in for him.  Oh, and by 
the way, you're too late."  Rix etched the final symbol onto the floor and 
stood up.
	Rhea heard everything and braced herself for the magic to wash over 
her.  Again she felt the daggers digging into her flesh, however, this time 
the pain didn't end.  She screamed and lost consciousness.
	Rix saw the girl fall.  *Darn, the mageling is down.  I was actually 
looking forward to dueling with her.  Guess I'll just have to fight the 
others then.*  She launched a plasma blast at the group of colorfully skirted 
girls.
	Sailor Jupiter and the rest of the Scouts all rushed to Rhea's side 
when they saw her collapse.  She saw a flicker of movement out of the corner 
of her eye.  Turning her head, she saw that a plasma bolt was heading their 
way!  She knew she had to act fast.  "Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!"
	The blue power bolt was suddenly intercepted by a sizzling ball of 
electricity and they both canceled out each other.
	Uncharacteristically, Sailor Moon immediately took over.  "Mercury, 
throw up a fog bank then stay here with Rhea and see of you can wake her up.  
I think we'll need her in this fight.  Jupiter, you're with me."  Everyone 
nodded.
	"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
	In an instant, the entire room was blanketed in fog.  Sailor Jupiter 
and Sailor Moon moved their way cautiously to either side of Commander Rix 
and waited.
	Rix was irritated.  She couldn't see anything in this fog!  She waved 
her hand and caused a gust of wind to spring up and blow the mist away.  When 
she was finally able to see, she saw that the two scouts advancing towards 
her.  *Damn!*
	As soon as they were able to see their target the two Scouts loosed 
their attacks.
	"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
	"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!"
	Rix reflexively raised a shield and the attacks struck it causing a 
large explosion.  When the dust settled, Rix simply stood there looking smug.  
"Was that the best you can do?  I guess it's my turn."
	The two Scouts backed away slowly as Rix started to glow.  She 
pointed at them and smiled.
	"Mercury Ice Storm Splash!"  A blast of cold energy swirled around 
Rix and encased her in ice.
	Sailor Mercury tried to lift Rhea up.  "Everybody run!"
	They needed no further encouragement.  Sailor Jupiter only paused 
long enough to take Rhea's unconscious form from Mercury and heft the girl 
onto her shoulder.  They ran out the doors and regrouped outside.
	"Any luck getting Rhea to wake up?" Sailor Moon wheezed.
	The blue scout shook her head.  "I don't understand it.  There's 
nothing physically wrong with her.  She just won't wake up."
	Sailor Jupiter looked grim.  "Well, if she doesn't then we're in 
trouble."

	Captain Raze walked into General Riven's command room.  "How's our 
operative doing, Riven?"
	The general grunted as he monitored the screen in front of him.  "It 
is getting harder to do detailed scans of the surface due to the rise in the 
magical level, but Rix seems to have met up with some resistance, sir."
	"Nothing too serious, I hope."
	"I don't think so, sir...ah, there we go.  She just broke free of 
whatever it was that was holding her.  It won't be long now."
	"Has she opened the well?"
	"Yes, sir.  Should I call her back?"
	Raze tapped his chin.  "No...let her have some fun."

	There was a loud crash and the doors of the church blew open.  Out 
stalked a very annoyed Commander Kharma Rix.  "How dare you do that to me?!  
That's it, you all die."
	"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
	A wall of fog sprang up and screened the Scouts from the irate Rix.
	"Take cover in the woods.  Hurry!" Sailor Mercury yelled.  "My fog 
won't last long."
	The group of girls ran into the forest and took shelter behind the 
trunk of a large tree.
	Jupiter set Rhea down on the grass.  "What now?"
	"I think we should try to contact Raye and Mina," Sailor Moon said.
	Mercury nodded.  "Ok, you stay here and do that.  Jupiter and I will 
buy you some time."  She saw that Sailor Moon was about to object to staying 
behind, so she grabbed Jupiter's arm and headed back to the battle.
	"You did some pretty fast talking back there," the tall scout 
commented.  "Sailor Moon was about to order us to bring her along."
	Sailor Mercury sighed.  "It is our duty to protect her, no matter if 
it costs us our lives."
	"It already has before."
	The blue-haired scout nodded.  "Get ready, we're almost at the 
forest's edge."
	The two intrepid scouts peered through the last of the foliage and 
saw that the fog that Mercury had generated was still there.
	"Where is she?" Jupiter asked.
	Mercury brought up her visor and scanned the area.  "She's not in the 
fog."  She whipped her head back and forth around them.  "She's not in the 
surrounding forest either."
	"So where did she go?"	
	A plasma bolt suddenly shot straight down and hit the ground a foot 
or two in front of them.  Both scouts looked up and saw Rix floating in the 
air above the trees.
	"You really didn't expect me to fall for that trick again, did you?"  
She dived towards them, loosing plasma bolts and fireballs all the way.
	The scouts dodged the projectiles at first before splitting up.  Rix 
pulled out of her dive and chased after Sailor Mercury.
	Mercury ran deeper into the woods.  *I must lead her away from 
Serena!*  She was running so fast that she almost didn't see the ravine until 
she nearly ran into it.  She barely managed to stop herself in time before 
going over the edge.  A rustling sound caused the blue scout to turn around.
	Rix stepped out of the brush.  "Well, looks like you have nowhere to 
go."
	Sailor Mercury took a step backward and felt a couple of loose 
pebbles fall into the fissure.  "I'm not finished yet.  Mercury Aqua 
Rhapsody!"
	The commander leaped into the air and the water blast shot under her 
and pulverized the tree behind her.  While still in the air, she launched her 
attack.
	Mercury threw up her arms to try and block it but was surprised when 
she felt her hands being bound.  A long black tendril had wrapped itself 
around her arms.  She tried to break free but the tendril pulsed and she fell 
unconscious.
	Rix landed beside her fallen opponent and smiled.  "One down, two to 
go.  I must thank Master Bane for teaching me this trick."  She levitated 
Mercury's body up and placed a force sphere around it.  After a moment of 
concentration it vanished.  *Now, for the others.*

	Sailor Jupiter felt like she had just run a marathon, but she knew 
that she had to keep her enemy busy.  Up ahead, she saw the ground rise up to 
form a slight hill.  She circled it and saw a small opening and crawled into 
it.  Her heart was beating a mile a minute.  *I'll be safe inside this cave.*  
The scout suddenly felt ashamed of herself.  Why was she hiding?  She was no 
coward.
	"Enough of this running!  If that witch wants a fight I'll give her 
one."  She wormed her way out of the hole and shouted, "Come and get me!"
	"If you like," Commander Rix's voice echoed in the breeze.  She 
materialized in front of the green scout...as well as to the right...and the 
left...and behind!  Soon a ring of Kharma Rixes encircled the lone Sailor 
Scout.  "I'll let you go first," the Rixes said, "Let's see if you can find 
out which one of us is real."
	Sailor Jupiter was ready.  "Jupiter Oak Evolution!"  She spun around 
and a torrent of electrical bolts flashed out of her tiara.  
	Each of the Rixes was struck but only one reacted by hitting the 
ground.
	Jupiter grinned and ran to the woman lying face up.  The other 
'Rix'es were already starting to disappear.  "I've got you now, witch!" the 
Sailor Scout said hoisting the commander up by the front of her uniform 
jacket.
	Rix grinned.  "Think again."  Like the others, this Rix also started 
to disappear.
	Jupiter let go as she vanished.  "If she was fake, then where--"
	"Right behind you."
	The thunder scout tried to turn around but suddenly found her arms 
pinned to her side.  Looking down, she saw that a length of black tendril was 
coiling around he waist.  Before she could even struggle, the coil pulsed and 
she blacked out.
	Rix placed a force sphere around her second captive and made it 
vanish again.  "That's two."

	Sailor Moon still huddled next to the tree with Rhea.  She kept one 
eye on the unconscious girl and one on her communicator.  She had been trying 
for the past ten minutes to contact Raye or Mina but for some reason she 
couldn't get through.  After a few more static-filled minutes of trying, 
Serena screamed n frustration, "Why won't it work?"
	Rix materialized in front of the Scout leader.  "Perhaps because I 
put up a jamming field when I got here?  Oh, and thanks for trying to contact 
your friends.  I was able to detect your transmissions and it made finding 
you a lot easier."
	Sailor Moon got up and stood protectively in front of Rhea.  She drew 
out her Eternal Tier and brandished it like a club.  "Stay back!  I know how 
to use this thing."
	"Oh, yeah?  Let's see you try."
	Sailor Moon saw red.  She hated being teased.  "Silver Moon..."
	Rix whispered a word and the two spheres bearing the bodies of Sailor 
Mercury and Jupiter appeared.
	"Crystal Power..."
	The commander placed her captives in front of her...right in the path 
of Sailor Moon's attack.
	"Ki--"  Sailor Moon stopped short and gasped.  Her face paled and the 
Eternal Tier fell from her nerveless hand.  "What have you done to them?!"
	Rix shrugged.  "Just this..."  She threw out her arm and tendrils 
shot out from under her sleeve.  They flew towards Sailor Moon and wrapped 
around her neck.
	The Scout leader tried to claw them off, but she couldn't get a grip.
	"And that makes three," Rix said as her tendrils glowed and the Scout 
leader fell.

*****
	Rhea groaned.  "Ugh, what happened."  She opened one eye and looked 
around slowly...and saw a silvery-gray fog everywhere.  "I'm in the 
dreamscape again?"
	"Yes you are, Rhea," Daniel said emerging from the mists.
	"Dad!"  Rhea ran to him and hugged her father fiercely.  "It's so 
good to see you again."  She frowned.  "Wait, this is the dreamscape, but I 
don't remember falling asleep."
	"You didn't fall asleep, honey.  You were unconscious and in danger.  
I brought you here to save you."
	"What do you mean?"
	Daniel sighed.  "After you were exposed to the mana wells for a 
second time your body absorbed so much magical energy that it shut down.  
Your mind would have been next.  I was able to use what little power I had to 
rescue your consciousness and bring you into the dreamscape.  You were 
practically here anyway."
	"The mana well!  The Scouts!  What's happening to them?"
	"I'm afraid it's not going well.  Amy, Lita, and Serena have all been 
captured."
	Rhea gasped.  "I've got to go back and help them!"
	"That won't be easy, dear.  Your body is too charged with mana.  To 
simply jump back into your body right now would endanger your psyche.  You 
might become a vegetable for the rest of your life."
	The girl shook her head.  "I don't care.  I have to save my friends.  
Please...help me, father."
	Daniel chuckled.  "You are definitely my daughter, bull-headed and 
stubborn, and you have your mother's compassion.  I expected no less from 
you.  Of course I'll help."
	"Thank you, dad," Rhea said embracing Daniel again.  "What do I do?"
	"Don't worry about getting back into your body, I'll handle that.  
Now, when you do get back, the accumulated magic will start attacking your 
mind.  Don't fight it.  It'll hurt, but if you try and fight it, you'll 
create a feedback loop and your brain will be cooked in its juices.  Just 
ride it out.  You-you'll be fine if you do."  
	Daniel turned away, afraid to look in his daughter's eyes.  Rhea, 
though, noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"
	The former mage took a deep breath.  "There's something you should 
know.  If you are able to survive the transition, there's no guarantee that 
you will keep your powers.  In fact, I don't know what might happen.  I've 
never encountered anything like this before."
	"It doesn't matter.  If there's any chance that I can go back and 
help the others I'll take it."
	"Alright," Daniel sighed.  "Close your eyes and relax.  You might 
feel a slight disorientation when I send you back."
	"I'm ready, dad."  Rhea shut her eyes.  "I love you."
	He smiled.  "I love you, too, daughter."  He started chanting.
	The young mage felt a gradual stretching and compressing of her body 
at the same time.  Her stomach was doing flip-flops and she felt slightly 
nauseous.  There was a roaring in her ears.  It slowly got louder and louder 
and...
*****

	Suddenly, Rhea was back in her own body and the pain in her head was 
immense.  *Ride it out...ride it out...*  Rhea grit her teeth and repeated 
the phrase in her mind like a mantra.

	Commander Rix had just enclosed Sailor Moon in a force bubble when 
she noticed Rhea move slightly.  *Hmm, looks like the mageling might be 
waking up soon.  I hope she's more entertaining than her friends.*  She 
walked over to Rhea and waited.

	In her mind, Rhea felt like she was trying to tread water in an ocean 
of magical energy, a very big ocean...and a hurricane was whipping 
mountainous waves all around her.  * I...can't hold it.  It's too much!*  A 
wave washed over her and she struggled to the surface.  Rhea suddenly opened 
her eyes.  *Wait, this is wrong.  I must stop fighting it...*
	She stopped treading and slowly sank beneath the waves and the 
roiling sea.  Underneath the surface, everything was calm.  *My father was 
right.  How could I have forgotten his instructions?*
	#You should always listen to your elders, child.#
	Rhea looked around.  "Who's there?  Where are you?"
	A chuckle.  #I am Gaia, goddess of the Earth, and right now I am all 
around you.  This magic you are swimming in is all mine, and all me.  I am 
here to help you, Rhea.#
	*Alright...thank you, Gaia.  What should I do?*
	#Open yourself up to me.  I'll do the rest.#
	Rhea lay back and relaxed.  The magical ocean around her glittered 
and swirled, coalescing into a stately female figure--the goddess, Gaia.
	The goddess smiled.  #Very good, child.  Don't be afraid.#  She put a 
hand on the girl's forehead.  #Yes, you are ready.#
	Rhea saw Gaia's hand glow and the lights composing the goddess's body 
rushed down the hand and into her body.
	It was incredible.  She suddenly felt like she had the power to do 
anything.  It was a heady and intoxicating feeling.  In the strictest sense 
of the word, Rhea was drunk...with power.
	#Easy, child,# Gaia's voice soothed.  #Let it come to you slowly.#
	Rhea nodded and soon, the lightheadedness faded.  *Wow, what 
happened?*
	#I have infused you with a small portion of my magic.  It won't last 
long, but you should have the strength to awaken yourself now.#
	*Thank you, Gaia.  I do feel stronger.*  She took a moment to compose 
herself.  *Here goes...*

	Rix tapped her foot impatiently.  It had been nearly half an hour and 
the mageling hadn't moved.  She was seriously considering just taking her 
prisoner and heading back to the _Wrath_.  *That's it, I've got no time for 
this.*  Rix was about to form a force sphere when she sensed something.
	Rhea started to glow slightly and Rix backed away.  The glow 
intensified until it became almost blinding.  Suddenly, there was a large 
explosion of light and Rix was thrown off her feet and into the bushes.
	Scratched by thorns and brushing leaves out of her hair, Commander 
Rix was suddenly in no mood for taking prisoners.  *I'm going to kill her 
and have done with it!*  When she made her way back to where Rhea's body lay, 
it wasn't there.
	"Are you looking for me?" Rhea said stepping out from behind a tree.
	Rix smiled.  "So, you're finally awake.  That was a pretty impressive 
light show before.  I was afraid that you'd blown yourself up and robbed me 
the chance to kill you."
	Rhea ignored the threat.  "Let the Scouts go."
	"Why don't you come and make me?"
	The young mage bristled, but kept calm.  *I don't know how long 
Gaia's magic is going to last, so I better end this quick.*  She drew on the 
magic and cast a fireball...and she nearly fell over when she launched it.
	Rix was ready for an attack, but nothing like this.  Her magical 
senses were blaring and it was all she could do to erect a shield and hope 
for the best.  The overpowered fireball struck the barrier and engulfed it.  
Rix was being baked inside her shield!  The commander gathered her magic and 
teleported out at the last instant before her shield failed.
	Rhea saw her fire blast appear to consume the witch and sighed.  "Wow, 
that was something--"
	"Not so fast, girl!" Rix said from behind the young mage.  She was 
singed and there was a faint smell of smoke clinging to her.  "That was 
pretty impressive, but I do not enjoy being nearly set on fire.  
	She launched her tendrils and they wrapped around the girl.  
"However, I will enjoy draining your energy!"
	The young mage drew upon her borrowed magic once again and summoned 
an energy knife, but before she could use it to cut her bindings, she started 
feeling weak.  The knife dropped from her hands and dissolved.  Soon, she 
fell to her knees.  "No..."
	Rix laughed.  "On the contrary, mageling.  Yes!"
	Rhea gasped.  *...if she wants...energy, then...that's what she'll 
get..."  She placed her hands on the tendrils and closed her eyes.  She 
gathered her magic and her hands started to crackle.  The tendrils sensed the 
power and started to draw it away.  The girl smiled faintly and increased the 
flow of energy.
	Kharma frowned slightly.  Something was wrong.  The energy drainage 
was speeding up.  In fact the tendrils were glowing.  Suddenly, they began to 
smoke.  The commander's eyes widened and she tried to halt the energy flow, 
but it wouldn't stop!
	Rhea opened her eyes a moment later and saw that the tendrils were 
ablaze with magical fire.  Rix was on the ground writhing.  Rhea stood and 
stopped the magic flow, but it was too late.  The fire had spread to the 
witch's body.
	Commander Kharma Rix knew she was going to die.  The magic she had 
absorbed was working its way into each of individual cells and setting them 
on fire.  Every counterspell she tried had failed.  She felt her body being 
slowly burned away, but she latched onto one thought: kill the person who did 
this to her.  
	With an effort, Rix struggled into a kneeling position and lunged at 
Rhea, but it was too late.  Her body was too far gone and it turned into ash 
as she started her lunge.  The ash settled onto the ground and out of it rose 
the form Gaia.
	#Well done, child.#
	Rhea didn't hear the goddess's praise.  "I killed her,,,I-I didn't 
mean to...but I killed her..."
	Gaia's eyes softened.  #No, child.  It wasn't you that killed her.  
It was her hatred that killed her.  Her hatred and the magic.  Let this be a 
lesson for you, Rhea Shidou.  Magic can be a powerful tool, but be careful to 
not let it consume you.#
	The young girl nodded.  "I understand, goddess."  She looked around.  
"Where are the Scouts?"
	#They are being held in subspace.  I will retrieve them.#  Gaia 
raised her hand and a rift opened.  She gestured and the three spheres 
bearing the Sailor Scouts floated out.
	"Are they alright?"
	#They will be fine, mage.  They will awaken once I release them from 
their prisons.#
	Rhea started.  "I am afraid you misspoke, goddess.  I am not a mage 
yet.  I'm still an apprentice."
	Gaia looked miffed.  #According to whom, child?#
	"Well, I guess according to my uncle, Trent...and my spellbook."
	#No longer, Rhea.  As I am the goddess of the Earth, I hereby bestow 
upon you the title of mage.# Gaia said in a regal voice, then she winked, 
#And if your uncle has any problems with that, let him talk to me.  Now for 
those force spheres.#
	As the newly promoted mage watched, the goddess clapped her hands and 
the spheres dissolved.  The Scouts slowly drifted to the ground and Rhea ran 
to them.  She gently shook Sailor Moon and was rewarded when the Scout leader 
groaned.
	"Ugh...What happened?"
	Rhea let out a sigh of relief.  "You were captured by that witch.  I 
was able to save you...with a bit of help from Gaia."
	Sailor Moon looked around slowly and saw the glowing form of the 
goddess.  "...Gaia?"
	#Yes, Moon child.  Do not worry, you and your friends will be 
alright.#
	Sailor Moon nodded and her broach began to glow.  She gasped and 
cupped her hands around it and opened the cover.  The Silver Crystal floated 
out and flew in front of the Earth goddess.
	Gaia extended a hand towards the Crystal and closed her eyes.  After 
a few moments, she nodded.  #I understand, Serenity, and you are quite 
welcome.  It was nice speaking to you again.#
	The Crystal bobbed in agreement and flew back into Sailor Moon's 
broach.
	"What was that all about?" Rhea asked the goddess.
	#It was nothing,# Gaia said in a wistfully, #Just talking with an old 
friend.#  She saw the others starting to wake up.  #It appears as though my 
work here is done.  I must return to the earth.#
	"Wait," the mage said.  "Can't you do something about the mana wells 
and the magical level?"
	Gaia shook her head.  #I am afraid not, child.  All this is as it 
should be.#
	"What do you mean?"
	The Earth goddess started to fade.  #All will be revealed to you...in 
time.#

	General Riven was still in his office and still monitoring Commander 
Rix's mission.  He could have had someone else do this task, but Rix had been 
his second-in-command for so long now that he almost felt a fatherly sort of 
love towards her.  He felt it was his duty to keep an eye out on her.  That's 
why his heart nearly stopped when the computer informed him that Commander 
Kharma Rix had died.  
	With a shaking hand, Riven asked his computer for confirmation.  
After an agonizingly long few seconds, the general got the news he feared.  
Rix was dead.
	He allowed himself a few minutes of grief before he duties compelled 
him to report this to his master.  He composed an encrypted message and sent 
it to Bane and waited.  A minute later, the sorcerer entered the office.
	"You had some bad news to report, General?"
	"Yes Master, Commander Rix has been killed."
	"I see, what about her ship?"
	Riven was momentarily thrown off balance by Bane's question.  "Her 
ship?"
	"Yes, was it destroyed or not?"
	"I-I don't know, Master.  I don't think it was.  I didn't detect any 
explosion."
	"Well, activate its self-destruct by remote then, General."
	"Y-yes, sir."  Riven went over to his desk and pressed his comm 
button.  "Bridge, activate the self-destruct on scoutship _Epsilon 6_."
	A moment passed then the Bridge responded.  "I am unable to, sir.  
The rise in the magic level that has been interfering with our sensors is 
also blocking the destruction signal."
	The general looked back at Bane.  "What should I do now, sir?"
	The sorcerer turned around and headed towards the exit.  "Do not 
worry, General.  This is but a minor problem and I will handle it."
	Riven nodded and when Bane left, he slumped back into his chair, his 
grief finally overwhelming him.


End Part 8