W2
Defenders: Sailor Moon
By James
Chapter Two: Pawns and Queens
The phone rang again. Rick didn't budge. He tightened his eyes and held still on the bed, waiting for the noise in the room to fade.
The ringing continued, filling the space. The caller was quite the persistent type. They would wake Jedda if he didn't respond. Rick threw a glance at the girl by his side. His lover was pregnant. She needed her rest.
He finally rose and pulled the covers away, walking to the source of the ringing sound — a video screen on the distant wall. He planned to greet the caller with a spiteful face.
Rick pressed a button. The screen came on. Then he flinched a little, making a squint. "Minako?"
The girl took a breath, adjusting her crown. "You and I have to talk in person, Rick." A tension was evident within her voice.
"Why?" he muttered. "What's going on?"
"I can't get into this over the phone."
Rick paused a moment, then glanced backward, looking at Jedda as she slept soundly.
"Don't bring her. She needs to rest. You and I will have to discuss this alone."
Jedda took a seat on the side of her bed, tapping a button on her mobile phone. Rick was nowhere to be found when she woke. According to the servants outside of her door, he had gone to visit Queen Minako — the girl who was labeled her sister now.
They weren't getting off to the best of starts. Jedda still wanted the necklace back. But that was a matter for another occasion. All she wanted now was an answer or two. Why had Rick left without alerting her? Why had he gone to see Minako?
The phone rang twice before Rick picked up. His image appeared on her compact screen. Jedda frowned a little as she looked him over. Rick was shirtless, and he was in bed. His hair was ruffled. His jaw fell open.
"What's going on?" she managed to say.
"Jedda..." he muttered. "I'm sorry, hon. It simply happened."
Jedda's scowl tightened. Her frame was twitching. "What in the world are you talking about?" This was odd. Very odd. Rick didn't usually call her hon. And why was he nude in another bed? She got to her feet.
Then she froze.
A hand reached up right behind Rick's back, stroking his chest quite tenderly. Seconds later, Minako's face appeared right by Rick's. Her shoulders were every bit as bare as his. She stared at Jedda with a bold expression, not looking sorry in the very least.
"Minako," she murmured, her face growing hot. Jedda was about to crush the phone in her hand. She couldn't believe the sheer nerve of the girl, a girl she had tried letting into her heart. Since they'd met, Jedda had offered Minako so much. She'd offered advice. She'd offered affection. She'd even offered patience amid their dispute.
Jedda had tried to be the giving one. It seemed all Minako did was take. First the necklace. Now her man.
Rick left the bed, then ended the call.
Jedda let the phone fall onto the floor. She rested a hand right atop her stomach. Tears welled up. She swiped them aside. She wouldn't let the sadness get the better of her.
It seemed to be over for her and Rick. Perhaps it was, and in that case, she would be raising the children alone. But first she was getting the necklace back.
"Tole!" she called, addressing a servant.
The man hurried in and dropped onto his knees.
"Summon the captain. We're going to battle." Jedda turned around and made a glare at the phone. "We're launching an invasion on Minako's land."
Once again, Rick made a tug on the powerful chains, the chains that were holding his back to the wall. He struggled to speak through the gag as well, wanting so much to emote his rage.
Both of the captors threw a glance his way, then turned and continued their conversation, seemingly discussing phase three of their plan.
Over the past half hour or so, Rick had discerned phases one and two. It all began with that early call. Zorelda had impersonated Minako, then taken him captive when he'd traveled alone. Moments ago, the witch and her partner, Galaxia, had summoned disguises when Jedda reached out, posing as him and Minako in bed.
From what he'd heard, their plan was to make Jedda launch an attack. They'd learned of the tensions between the girls. This would surely push Jedda over the edge.
Rick scowled again as he studied his foes. He didn't know why they were doing this.
All he knew was that they had to be stopped.
He looked back up at the bulky chain. His hand glowed a little as he started to focus. The power was acting all on its own. Not now, he thought, calming it down. He couldn't make a move until the time was right.
Chapters
Flash
visits Rick and Jedda, who have been appointed rulers of the
Netherworld. Meanwhile, Queen Minako endeavors to serve her own kingdom,
which leads to a brief clash with Jedda.
Rick becomes the target of a complex scheme.
Jedda's forces head out to battle.
Tori guides the Sailors and Defenders in battle. An announcement is made within Jedda's land.
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