Sailor Moon Silver Legacy

Act III: Blood Moon Rising (Part 3)

"Enough pomp and circumstance," said Morgan, banging the bottom of her jewel-topped staff on the stone floor and sweeping her voluminous red curls over her shoulder dramatically. "It's obvious why you've called us here, Vardas. Zarg has failed, hasn't he?"

Vardas scowled, but replied, "It would appear so. His energy signature disappeared, and we've been unable to contact him. However, there is more to discuss."

"I'll save you the trouble," King Tanzan interjected, puffing up his chest. "I sent Alexandri to observe Zarg's efforts—"

"You admit it?" the lizard-man snapped. "That was not part of our agreed plan, Tanzan!"

"Can he enlighten us about Zarg's demise at least?" said Morgan insensitively.

"If he recovers—" the king started.

"If?" Morgan shrieked with derisive laughter. "You mean you defied our decision only for your man to screw up?"

"Alexandri must have interfered with Zarg's mission! That's the only explanation for my finest warrior's defeat," Vardas added. "Explain yourself, Tanzan!"

"I do not answer to you, lizard!" Tanzan spat disdainfully, getting to his feet at the same time as Vardas.

"You answer to all of us!" Morgan retorted, also standing up. "That was the agreement made when we decided to combine our efforts to secure the Legendary Silver Crystal!"

Desperre, the hooded leader of the Umbris clan, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, interrupted at this point. "Enough," he said simply in a deep, otherworldly voice.

Tanzan gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to attack the Raptilian commander, and the three leaders returned to their seats.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have sent him," Tanzan stated, "but he wouldn't have hindered Zarg. As you say, Morgan, we have a shared goal, after all. The defeat of both Alexandri and Zarg is a great loss to the Blood Moon Alliance and does not bode well for our endeavors."

"Agreed," said Vardas.

"Still, we have learned something," Tanzan asserted.

"Oh?" said Morgan.

"It would have taken great power to defeat two of our lieutenants. It seems we can safely assume that our information about the crystal and its new protector has been accurate."

"This is true," Vardas offered, licking his scaly mouth. "Before Zarg's energy signature vanished, a separate source of enormous power was detected. We haven't seen anything like it before."

"That seems to suggest Sailor V does have the Silver Crystal," Morgan summarized testily. "What's our next step?"

"For now, we halt our pursuit of the crystal," Tanzan concluded bitterly. "If Alexandri does recover, he will surely have valuable information to share with us about the crystal's protector."

"And if he doesn't?" Morgan questioned.

Tanzan did not reply to this. The ensuing silence was broken by Desperre, who uttered a single word, "Energy."

"Yes," Vardas responded. "We need to replenish our reserves. Alexandri's treatment will use up what we have, and we need more to feed the Umbris anyway. We also need to stockpile for the contingency plan, should it become necessary."

"So, we all agree to suspend our attempts to take the crystal for now?" Morgan proposed.

"Agreed," said each of the other leaders.

"Fine. I will focus on gathering the energy we need from the humans," she continued.

"It will need to be done covertly, lest we be discovered," Vardas reminded her.