Frist i'm gonna laugh *laughs* Cause i think this fiction is funny.

Second i'll say this: Terg, you've out done yourself this is a Great MoFic i am looking forward to reading more.

And the MoFic master returns.

I've gotta do one of these one day.

Alas, I await your next update.

Ultra... write one. 😀

And on another note, Terg, another excellent beginning to another MoFic. I'll be looking forward to what's next.
In the meantime... *needs to update her own <<; *

Continue it. Hopefully you'll beat my pace for AoW...seeing as how what I have amounts to a few pages of rough draft...after a little under a year...

Nicely done Terg. Of course, this does bring up a question in my mind.

For those of us who use Sailor Scouts in our fics/RPs, would they really be a person who was brought over into this world (Thus giving rise to the chance of a fic where they travel back to their own world for lulz/dramatic purposes), are they merely reflections of the original hosts personality/supressed personality, or do they come from the MoFo itself? Could there be a chance that all three kinds exist? Or maybe its a yet unknown sauce?

Bwaha. Anyway, nice work. Look forward to more.

I think it varies from person to person Gyser.

For me, Sailor Ultra was an actual transformation from Ultra Sonic into Sailor Ultra, followed by a splitting apart into two separate entities via the power of a plothole (yes, that is an official explanation. This is the MoFo after all.).

With Terg, it's different; he transforms back and forth between Justin Hobbes and Sailor Modesty (used to, at any rate).

I think it varies, plain and simple.

For those of us who use Sailor Scouts in our fics/RPs, would they really be a person who was brought over into this world (Thus giving rise to the chance of a fic where they travel back to their own world for lulz/dramatic purposes), are they merely reflections of the original hosts personality/supressed personality, or do they come from the MoFo itself? Could there be a chance that all three kinds exist? Or maybe its a yet unknown sauce?

Good question. Not to spoil too much, but at least in this story, the truth of the matter isn't really revealed, leaving it in the depths of the "unknown sauce." There were two major groups of Sailor Scouts mentioned (the kind that separated from their original hosts, and the kind that could transform between the two forms at will), but this is not meant to exclude other types of Sailorness manifestations. I only consider those to be the two major groups, with the former being fairly representative of why we have a Sailorness District.

Pretty Soldier Sailorness Sickness is, to a degree, something that was "allowed" as a whim of the MoFo; it also might have been one of the "possibilities" that were "programmed" into the MoFo when WB and Evil WB recreated the MFW after Dark WB destroyed it. And as I've presented in this story, the disease was also instigated by an interdimensional balance caused by certain characters swapping worlds (like the one character being switched specifically with Sailor Mercury, for example).

I guess that was a long version of "it's up to the person to decide how Sailorness manifests with their character." Justin's current case is an example of MoFo weirdness combined with his own "allergy" to supernatural forces - and Sailorness is definitely a supernatural disease! But he was originally one of the second major grouping who could transform between Sailor and normal form at will.

Truth to tell though, this is also a reflection of a weird whim I've had with my characters. Terrornaut was also originally male, and Stahlmansche was once a male villain (though at least in the stories, her being a woman is because she was always that way, rather than some sex-changing disease affecting her). I just think for some reason that it's hilarious for characters like Terrornaut and Justin to switch sexes as they have.

Justin's mood had sobered, and it showed in her face as she walked along Sega Citys streets with her hood up over her head. Great, I might be a girl forever, she thought as she looked up at the city skyline, shining in the light of the sun from above.

Justin sighed, a sound that made her wish she hadn't as it sounded so, so...feminine. What are my options? I could end up killing an innocent girl if I try to go through sex-change surgery or anything else. But I'm not a woman, and I don't want to be trapped in a woman's body for the rest of my life! However short that may be

She looked down at her hands as she walked, brushing past a sidewalk full of the citys mixed inhabitants all going around to their different activities for the daya day that to them was normal, unchanged. None of them had to deal with being transformed into something that they werent

Oh no, Im not falling into that trap. I dont have the time to pity myself like that. I still have my goals, and enough life left given to me to reach them. Vector will find a way to cure this, and even if he doesnt, I can still fight as Tergonautthough if Im not careful, people will be calling me Tergirlnaut

She giggled, then slapped a hand over her mouth at the sound and looked about, wide-eyed to see if anyone else had heard. But no eyes glanced at her that she could see, despite the sudden feeling of her hair standing on the back of her neck.

Ive got to calm down... she thought as she slipped into a nearby alleyway and leaned against the wall, her arms crossed as she held herself. I just laughed, that was all. And we dont even know if Sailor Modesty is actually someone else, or just a reflection of myself. I cant take the risk of hurting an innocent, not after that one time

The sound of something cutting through the air toward her alerted Justin, and she used her elbows against the wall to propel herself forward. She stumbled, regained her balance, then turned and looked back over her shoulder at the green pointed spine that quivered in its place in the brickwork where she had been the moment before. Her eyes lifted up, above the low building wall, and there she found the source of the organic projectile. And her mouth dropped open.

"No way."

"Quite the opposite, Tergonaut," announced the figure standing on the lip of the rooftop, in a deep yet strangely feminine voice distorted by the crimson-and-pale-green armor worn over her figure. The red shell shone like metal, with smooth faces and sharp pointed edges, and the green armorflesh was mottled and wrinkled. The helmet had a pointed chin, a bony-white helmet spike with jagged edges, and a set of spidery eyes that gazed down unblinkingly at Justin and perhaps everything else around. There was a slight feminine curve to the armor, and more room in the chestplate than there had been before, but Justin recognized the person readily despite her disbelief.

"Terrornaut!" exclaimed Justin. "You're alive! But how-"

"You did not succeed in killing me, despite the power of your Turbonaut augmentation armor and the help of Cookarai," interrupted Terrornaut forcefully. "I have been waiting for my opportunity to appear once again so that we can do battle, and I will not be denied. Come, and let us fight once again like when we first met."

Something in Terrornauts voice drove Justin to narrow her eyes as she looked back at Terrornaut. Yeah, thats definitely you all right. Cant just sit and talk, you gotta be trying to rip my head off.

If you battle with me, I will tell you about myself, andStahlmansche.

What?! Terrornauts appearance was the last thing that Justin would have expected, but in the space of seconds, Justins list of unexpected things got topped. You know about her?!"

"I knew that would interest you. Now you must survive the encounter to obtain your wish," cut in Terrornaut, her voice incredible and astounding in force and veracity. It was like hearing the voice of a god, from a grotesque yet statuesque figure. Long translucent green dragonfly wings unfurled from her back. "I await your challenge."

"Consider it accepted!" Justin instinctively spread out her limbs apart from her body, glaring up at Terrornaut with confused anger and curiosity. Yet she stilled those emotions for a moment as she turned inward and focused on a single word.

Ignition.

Justin's body wrapped itself in a spherical field of blue-white energy. She became sheathed in form-fitting blue metal, overlaid with larger pieces of orange armor that augmented her size and strength. The helmet formed into place, the black V-shaped visor and the helmet spike both forming last of all as the internal readouts gave her a full status report and confirmed that she was no longer Justin or even Justine Hobbes...

She was Tergonaut!

She then turned to look back up at Terrornaut, who nodded once before her wings hummed, and she was off. Tergonaut leapt into the air and combined the thrust from the omni-suit's boot jets to propel her after her bio-suited counterpart.

Terrornaut led the way as they spun around skyscrapers and dove down along the central street leading west through Sega City. She flew barely above the traffic of the street, dodging cars but maintaining her low altitude.

She's trying to keep me from using my long range blasters, thought Tergonaut as she flew parallel to the ground, her fists forward as she spun left and right to keep from hitting trucks. But I should be able to use just enough power in my shots so that they dissipate before they hit anything else, if they miss.

Her right arm glowed, and a cylindrical field of electro-magnetic energy flowed down it, rearranging the nanites to form an arm cannon. She locked on to Terrornaut as she chased her above the street, and fired a barrage of charged particle shots that sped in blue-white bursts. Terrornaut nimbly dodged each shot, rolling and flipping and diving in midair with grace enough to outshine a ballerina, before bringing her arms across her chest and flinging back long slender spines that shot through the air as fast as bullets, and far deadlier.

"What changed you?" demanded Tergonaut as she swerved and banked to dodge the incoming miniature javelins, which carved through metal as they stabbed into the sides of buildings and into the hard cement at the feet of bystanders. "Why are you back, why are you a woman?!"

"I spent two years waiting for your return, Tergonaut!" came back the answer as Terrornaut flew forward into an underground road tunnel, her carapace lit by the harsh yellow artificial lights lining the rounded ceiling. "There was enough left of myself and the bio-suit to regenerate, and we cocooned and mutated ourselves into a superior form in preparation for the day when I would once again be able to fight you, and beat you at last!"

"So becoming a girl made you superior!?" Tergonaut sped into the tunnel, accelerating with blue ion jets streaming behind her. Terrornaut's bio-suit is really agile and can turn faster, but the omni-suit has got her beat on raw speed.

"That was merely a side effect," said Terrornaut suddenly from next to Tergonaut, and she threw an armored fist at Tergonaut's face.

Tergonaut pulled up just in time to avoid the punch, and she swing a kick right back at Terrornaut. But the kick missed, and they continued to exchange blows and dodge even as they continued their speeding battle through the tunnel. The roar of the hovercar engines around her nearly deafened her, but Tergonaut could not pull her focus away for an instant. Even with the heightened reflexes afforded by the omni-suit, she barely matched Terrornaut s speed. One punch managed to graze her orange chestplate, and a reactive impact screen shone into existence to reduce the blow to a tap.

"I see you have improved as well," remarked Terrornaut in a condescendingly conversational tone as she continued her attacks.

"You're not the only one who s been doing his...her homework!" spat back Tergonaut.

"Collision warning," announced the calm feminine voice of TINNER in Tergonaut's ears, and she looked up from the battle for a second to see that they were flying right for a huge truck carrying a rectangular-topped trailer.

That second was all it took for Terrornaut to get in a smashing strike that sent Tergonaut tumbling through the air and right on top of the trailer with a clatter. The yellow lighting added to the sense of vertigo that ran through Tergonaut's body as she laid on the moving vehicle for agonizing moments, trying to decide whether it was worth the effort of disengaging the helmet to throw up or not.

"Get up!" seethed Terrornaut urgently as she landed on the other end of the trailer, stepping toward Tergonaut with violent purpose. "I did not beat you this easily before!"

Tergonaut reached out and grabbed the top of the trailer, gripping it with strength that bent in the hard smooth surface and allowed her to regain her footing. Forcing down what threatened to come up from her stomach, she charged Terrornaut and leapt into the air, using one boot jet to keep herself aloft while she spun using the other foot outstretched. The boosters sent her into a hurricane kick aimed right at Terrornaut s groin, with the force of a cannon-

Terrornaut caught Tergonaut's leg with both hands, holding her there with the powerful strength afforded her by the bio-suit. "Such a maneuver was easily anticipated and countered."

"Oh yeah?!" yelled Tergonaut as she raised her arm, still configured as a plasma cannon, and fired at point-blank range. The shot tore through Terrornaut's shoulder and left a hole that Tergonaut could poke her helmet through. Banana-yellow and dark red fluids intermixed at the edges of the wound, and Tergonaut saw scorched organs.

Tergonaut dropped back from Terrornaut's suddenly loose grip, and stepped back, her arm cannon still raised at the organic warrior. Terrornaut looked down at the wound, then back up at Tergonaut. Then, as her entire body suddenly flexed, the internal parts began to grow back and her armor reformed over the hole, and in less than a minute Terrornaut appeared as if there had never been a mark on her.

"For someone with a penchant for not killing, you certainly aim well," she commented just loudly enough to be heard over the echoing noise of the traffic around them.

"Good, so you can still regenerate," said Tergonaut coldly as she aimed the cannon at Terrornaut's head. "Now you can tell me just why you re picking now to come out and face me."

"Instead of approaching you when you had first returned to the Mobius Forum World?" asked Terrornaut, a certain amusement lending itself to her tone. "I'm not yet done battling you, Tergonaut, and until I am, I will not answer you with those reasons. I will say now that my motivation is to protect this world."

"Protect it?!" growled Tergonaut as she fired again, but this shot missed as Terrornaut flew out of the way and on past Tergonaut, leaving the omni-suited heroine to turn around and boost into the air to catch up as they exited the traffic tunnel.

Tergonaut accelerated, firing more shots at Terrornaut as they flew up from the street and into the air, the only obstacles at this height the skyscrapers that dominated this part of the city. The sky was clear and sunny, but the bright morning did not interfere with the fighting as both combatants helmets provided protection from the bright rays above and reflected below from the glass buildings.

Terrornaut lifted one arm, and Tergonaut saw the carapace split open to allow a bloated throbbing organ-like weapon to grow into place. Terrornaut aimed it at Tergonaut, and she dodged the stream of fire from the living flamethrower. "I still have my tricks up my sleeve," stated Terrornaut as the next spray came as acid, violently green against the blue of the sky and the various grays and metallic hues of the city.

"And I still have mine!" Tergonaut's arm reformed into a blocky square-barreled turbine, shooting a gust of wind powerful enough to scatter the acid into harmless droplets that evaporated as they fell glistening toward the ground. Then she changed it to another weapon with the barrel split into five different directions, and this cannon fired a spread of smaller blue-white shots that pelted Terrornaut s hard carapace.

Around and around they went, ascending up one of the taller skyscrapers as they circled it, Terrornaut using the building for cover while Tergonaut accelerated after her, changing her arm back to normal configuration to spare the omni-suit's energy pool for the effort of flight. A virtual rainbow of buildings, people and vehicles blurred below them as they flew until they finally reached the pinnacle of the skyscraper.

Tergonaut landed on the central spire sticking up from the building, with only a foot's worth of room. But she had to; the omni-suit needed time to recover energy. Though armed with nearly limitless power, the suit's total capacity was limited by its relatively small size, and the suit could only regenerate energy at a constant, fixed rate. If only Terrornaut would stay away, just a little longer...

Where is Terrornaut, anyway?

Tergonaut suddenly transformed her right arm into a thruster module and fired it, her elbow jabbing backwards with terrific force. At that same instant, her arm was caught by two strong hands, and she was catapulted forward by a foot striking against her lower back. Even through the impact screens and armor she felt the blow. If it weren't for the screens, that would have broken my back!

"You're getting better at anticipating moves," complimented Terrornaut as she shot twin spirals of webbing that wrapped around Tergonaut's waist and halted her midair progress. "But so am I."

Tergonaut spun back toward Terrornaut like a yo-yo on the end of a string, and she was kicked again, this time right in the gut. The impact screens flared, less bright this time as Tergonaut saw her energy pool indicator drop, and she was thrown back by the force of the blow again. And again. And again. She was so disoriented by the spinning and the constant barrage of hits, vaguely reminded of a balloon-and-string toy she played with as a child that allowed her to do something very similar to what Terrornaut did with her entire body.

"Energy levels approaching critical. Approaching armor damage threshold."

Give me a break, TINNER! thought Tergonaut. C'mon, think! When Terrornaut first came into the Mobius Forum World, he tried to frame me for stuff so that he could replace me. That fight was the worst one I've been through, but I beat him because his armor was a little more brittle and he couldn't take the constant pounding I gave. If I can just pierce that armor again...

She was smashed in the jaw, and this time it really hurt as part of the armor dented in and she was thrown backward. Terrornaut let Tergonaut fly out for a little longer before reining her back in. Tergonaut saw that spikes grew from every part of Terrornaut's body as she prepared to slam Tergonaut against herself. "This is the end. Goodbye, Tergonaut."

Tergonaut right arm transformed again, and she threw her feet out away from Terrornaut, activating her boot thrusters to propel her right at her nemesis. "You're right about one thing, Terrornaut!"

Tergonaut slammed into Terrornaut, and she felt the spines penetrating the omni-suit s armor and into her own skin in a hundred places. They froze there in midair, high above the city, for a desperate moment as Tergonaut's visor warned of low energy and that the omni-suit suffered breaches. But Tergonaut's right arm stuck out of Terrornaut's chest, a plasma drill stuck in the middle of her body.

"This is the end," whispered Tergonaut, and they plummeted down through the air.

Terrornaut was silent for many long seconds, and Tergonaut wondered just what she thought as Tergonaut herself felt her life ebb out of her through those fierce thorny spikes. The skyscraper's windows became a blur behind Terrornaut, and other buildings appeared. They were going to hit the ground hard.

But even now, Tergonaut kept an eye on her energy. It built up with every second, and as much as she knew she didn't have much longer to live in any case, she was determined not to end up as street pizza. C'mon, c'mon...just need a bit more...

Suddenly Terrornaut's wings buzzed to life, and she grabbed Tergonaut. "It is enough. I will tell you everything, as soon as we reach a safe place to talk."

"About time!" grunted Tergonaut.

Terrornaut's spines retracted, and she released Tergonaut as the omni-suited superhero withdrew the plasma drill from Terrornaut s chest. "I have also injected you with regenerative cells which will repair the damage I did to your body," explained Terrornaut as Tergonaut's wounds numbed. "Let us away."

Tergonaut simply nodded, and her jet boots flared as she and Terrornaut both slowed in midair, then flew off as the onlookers in the street below stared in wonder.

I have also injected you with...
...JUST helpful things? This villain sucks. My villains are better because they keep tactical superiority above all else.

Then again, she wanted to talk, not kill, so hmm. Oh well. Cool, Terg.

If you think so, SX, then you'd probably hate my villain even more... once I get around to getting more of my story done, that is. ;P

SX, if Terrornaut was injecting anything into Tergo that would do harm to her later, would she even say anything about it out loud? Lest Tergo hear?

Anyways, neato chappie.

"So, what's the scoop?" asked Justin as she sat on the edge of the clock tower platform, dangling her feet over the edge.

She turned her head to look back at Terrornaut, who stood without the bio-suit covering her. Somehow, all of that carapace slid away inside of her body, and now she was on her feet leaning against the dark stone wall. Terrornaut still had that blonde hair and bronzed complexion Justin remembered, but unlike the muscular male that Justin had remembered, now she saw a muscular yet buxom female, her powerful arms across her chest. She wore steel-toed boots, and denim pants and jacket over a plain black T-shirt.

Even as a girl, she's still hotter than I am, thought Justin briefly with a mixture of humor and almost jealousy. But she also noted that looking into Terrornaut's eyes as she did now, that it was almost like looking into a mirror; they had the exact same eye color.

"The 'scoop' is simply this, Tergonaut," started Terrornaut. "I had intended to wait the full two years for your return to the Mobius Forum, as I learned that to be the projected time that you would arrive. But in October 2004, I detected a dimensional anomaly that sensed like the same one you used to leave this world. I unearthed myself from my crystalline cocoon and approached the person who had come through the portal, expecting to find you. But instead, I met a red-haired woman."

"That would be Georgia Stahlmansche," spat Justin.

"Indeed. While she readily attempted to deceive me as to the circumstances of her arrival, it did not take long for you to be named, and I heard her version of your final battle against each other back in your Earth. Intrigued by this brilliant woman, and knowing that you yourself would arrive soon, I occupied myself by helping her start a company here in this city."

You what?!

It was an opportunity to test the new limits of my expanded powers, continued Terrornaut as if the outburst never left Justin's lips, and with the help of the many secret factories and laboratories that were left by WepTech when that company was put under Administration control, Stahlmansche carved a place for herself in Sega City by forming Effective Cybertronics Unlimited.

So that's how she built so many Armada units by the time I got back, one month after she arrived, growled Justin, more at herself than at Terrornaut. She looked up at Terrornaut. But didnt you know what she was going to do with all of that?

After a certain time, she trusted me with her goals, realizing how integral I had become to her in those early stages and how much damage I could do if I decided to reveal her true intentions, answered Terrornaut. She wants to conquer this world, and yours. And now that she knows there are even more worlds and universes out there, she intends to master them all.

Then why didnt you stop her? snapped Justin.

Because I have my own motivation to allow her to flourish in Sega City. Terrornaut held out a hand and gestured to the slums around them in this run-down sector of Sega City, away from the better-maintained downtown section. While there was no pollution here like in other parts of the city, the slums felt more tired and beaten up, with crumbling buildings and broken streets. Just as I have my own motivation for allowing you to check her progress. I am pitting you against each other to determine the fate of this world.

Justin was on her feet, facing Terrornaut. What gives you the right to do that? My fight is with Stahlmansche, and Im going to take her down! We could just end it right now if you and I went and stopped her, we could stop her from killing more innocent people in her mad quest for power!

How eloquent of you, but not all of her victims are innocent. Terrornaut held up a hand, as if to halt further argument. And for that matter, is it more important to protect everyone and end up losing them all, or to allow some to perish so that the majority remain?

You talk like you have an idea of whats coming.

Correct. I come from a world that was similar to your own, Tergonaut. Except instead of supertech, there was a gifted woman who discovered the secrets of life and who shared them with humanity. Many accepted and were blessed with better lives, while others refused and attempted to fight. That woman... Terrornaut looked into the distance. She is my Mother, and she is the leader of my people. I was created to be the ultimate soldier, a paragon for our people, and I led them in the wars that ended with the regressive faction destroyed. I came here to this world through a tear in space that opened sometime after that final battle, and though it closed behind me, even now I am certain that my Mother is preparing our armies to arrive through another portal to determine my situation...and, to conquer this world.

Justin shook her head slightly as the color drained from her face. Youre saying that an army of superhuman warriors is going to attack the Mobius Forum World?

Correct. And while I love my Mother and people dearly, I have also come to love this world, its freedoms and majesty. Everything that makes this world a wonder would be taken away by my Mother when she arrived. And I certainly could not fight against her alone.

So thats why youre throwing Stahlmansche and I at each other? Trying to test us?

You are beginning to understand now, Tergonaut. I need help, and not ordinary help, but assistance of a magnitude greater than this world has ever seen. You have already protected this world many times against deadly threats as Tergonaut. You have even defeated me at the peak of my power. Yet Stahlmansche is resourceful, brilliant, and with an entire planet at her command, I am certain she would be a force to be reckoned with in the Multiverse. The winner between you and her will certainly prove strong enough to defeat my Mother when she arrives.

An entire invasion force...youve gotta be kidding me. But it s not like well make a difference, not when there are so many other people in this world who can fight. Your moms gonna have her hands full when she shows up.

Terrornaut appraised Justin with those eyes that reflected Justin s own. But I know what she is capable of, Tergonaut. And there will need to be a leader for those others, someone to rally the forces and to be a beacon. Stahlmansche has the charisma, the intelligence to accomplish that. But, somehow in your own way, you are able to inspire others to fight their hardest. If either one of you is there, I believe this world may have a fighting chance.

And what if we both die before then?

Then this world is finished.

Justin and Terrornaut faced each other there on the clock tower, the wind rippling at their hair and clothes. So youre just gonna continue helping Stahlmansche out? asked Justin.

Indeed. But you have my word that I am also limiting her progress to prevent her from growing too strong. Yet, even if I did not, I have a certain feeling that you nor she will be able to be defeated by any other opponent...I feel that you and her must fight to see who is the victor, once and for all.

So, thats the game then. Justin shrugged her shoulders, then activated the omni-suit again with a thought, becoming Tergonaut. Im going back to the lab. Vector will be worried. The internal chronometer on the helmets internal displays showed Tergonaut that it was already past noon.

Dont forget your own love for this world and its mysteries. That will be critical in the battles to come.

Tergonaut stared back at Terrornaut for a moment, and then she shot away on twin bursts of ion propulsion, off toward the HQ Tower at the center of the city.

Terrornaut willing to fight his mom for the MoFo?

Must be the estrogen. 😛

(shot)

Nice chap.

I just got this mental image of Terrornaut saying "NO MAMA, NO!" for some odd reason. o.o;

Awesomeness. 😀

It all needs more SX.

It's great, but i got a mental image of terrornaut as a protype O.o

It was creepy.

Thanks for all of the input, folks! You've actually contributed more to this than you might think. ^~

And now to continue:

Justin slipped quietly into Vectors laboratory, but Vector himself stood there awaiting her return. Youve been on the news, and Terrornaut too, was all he needed to say, though he said it without the inflection of judgment.

Im sorry about that, apologized Justin sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her neck. But its all right, I found out a few things from Terrornaut.

Whats important is that youre back safely, put in Vector, and Justin noticed a faint but familiar glint in his eyes as the crocodile smiled at her. Besides, I think Ive figured out the solution to this Sailorness business.

Wait, what? What is it?

Vector held up a finger knowingly. Remember what you recovered from the Segan ruins last week?

Of course I do, there were those two Segan coldforms, and then there was the transmigrator... Justin trailed off, her eyes studying Vector with puzzlement for a moment before understanding came. You mean, use them?

Precisely, use them for their intended purpose, Vector affirmed. We know that the Segans, according to the ruin inscriptions you had recovered from that dig, had developed the transmigrator as a part of their ongoing quest for enlightenment by separating themselves from their physical bodies. The transmigrator was to be their tool to transfer their spirits or souls out of their body and project them into the next state of existence, or something along those lines. But they hadnt quite figured that part out yet.

They built coldforms to use as replacement bodies, though, and thats what they used the transmigrator for at first, picked up Justin. To switch someone who had a terminal disease or disablement into a new body that could be customized for perfect health and longevity. Coldforms could even be customized with genetic coding information to become any of the many subspecies that the Segans had become over the years.

And that is how well separate you and Sailor Modesty, by transferring her essence using the transmigrator into one of the two coldform bodies we have, finished Vector. Ive started on the preparations, but it will need some time for my machinery to calibrate properly.

Thats good, because I actually need to give you something first. Justin reached to her back and slipped her hand underneath her sweatshirt to her bare back. Concentrating for the briefest of moments, she felt the nanites of the omni-suit pour out of the two holes located in the small of her back and into her hand as a single orange and blue packet about the size of a laptop computer. She pulled out the solidified packet and handed it to Vector. The omni-suit got damaged in my fight with Terrornaut, so itll need repairs.

Ill get the repair matrix generator started at once. Its probably better that you dont have the omni-suit inside you when we try this, since thats just one more variable that we dont need to add to this monstrously-complicated equation. Vector took the packet over to a niche in the wall of his technological laboratory and inserted the omni-suit into it. A flash of pale yellow light emitted from the emplacement and bathed the OMNI-01 with charged energy. Vector pulled on a pair of complicated-looking technogloves and pulled his goggles on with a snap of the elastic band. Ill have it fixed by the time that were ready to start the transmigratory process.

But, how will it work? I mean, what if we accidentally transfer me out of my body into the new body instead of Modesty? Thats assuming that she even has a separate spirit or soul or whatever to get out of me in the first place.

Vectors eyes focused on the packet in front of him as he reached with the glove and worked with the nanites like orange and blue clay. The transmigrator needs to be hooked up to a suitably-powerful computer to enable it to work; thats probably what that AI core that Miss Stahlmansche acquired was intended for. The computer will be given the ability to detect the soul of the person its targeting so it should be able to discern whether there are indeed two or one of you. It should be a simple matter from there to determine which one is yours and which one is hers, and well be able to switch you two back with each other should it turn out that we got the wrong one.

But what about that inscription in the ruins? asked Justin. It mentioned that the Segans were testing the transmigrator in a way they hadnt before, and that was the last record before they left from whatever destroyed their city.

That is a risk well have to take, admitted Vector. We arent even sure that the Segans were able to transfer souls at will, or if there were other parameters. It might cause brain damage or mental trauma, perhaps even kill. And it may also aggravate your cancer. He looked over his shoulder at Justin. Simply put, there is no way to know what will happen.

Justin shrugged, then smiled and laughed. Vec, ever since I woke up as a woman, nothings been predictable. We might as well go for broke and find out what is really going to happen to me.

Then that is what well do, said Vector as he pulled the omni-suit out of the repair matrix field and walked over to one of the work tables. And it turns out that well need the omni-suit repaired in any case, because TINNER here is just the type of computer well need, combined with the HQ Towers systems, to enable the transmigration process.

All righty, lets get this show on the road!

This isnt what I had in mind, protested Justin mildly as she laid back in an open-faced cylinder, looking up at the ceiling and adjusting the thin white blanket on top of her otherwise-unclothed body. And its cold under here.

The blanket is more to preserve your modesty - pardon the pun - than it is to keep you comfortable, announced Vector as he stood behind the control console of the system of machines interlinked between the tube that Justin laid in, the console and computer systems for the entire Tower, the omni-suit, and one of the metallic blue coldform containment units. The coldform tube puffed out clouds of white gaseous mist that hung around it, adding to the chilly atmosphere that contrasted with the bright sunny day outside. And there, standing on a machine pedestal in the center of the network of devices, sat the transmigrator, a black box with a green spherical gem inserted into it. Im not even sure if the Segans bothered with that much when they did their transfers, as there was no reasonable way to wrap clothes onto the newly-formed body before they had to awaken. The blanket is a risk Im willing to take only because its made of a non-static substance that shouldnt interfere with the process.

Hey, whatever floats your boat, said Justin with a shiver. Just as long as I have some pants to change into after this is over. And for that matter, Modestyll need some too.

Already taken care of, as you know. We have everything hooked up and ready to go. TINNER, confirm connection status to the transmigrator."

Transmigrator connection established, and communication is confirmed, said TINNERs clear, eternally calm voice from the console speakers. Activation procedure initiated.

Arent we gonna wait for some kind of signal or something first? yelled Justin over the humming sound as the green sphere in the transmigrator glowed with intense light, outlining everyone in the room with a colored aura that suffused their bodies.

Detection sequence complete. Five spirits with attached shells detected in present surroundings. One viable empty shell located. Warning! One shell is currently holding three separate spirits. This exceeds safety limitations by three hundred percent.

Five spirits?! questioned Justin in confusion as the light died down and the lab returned to its normal illumination from the ceiling lamps white glare. But there are only two of us here - maybe three counting Modesty.

It may be detecting other people in the building besides us, decided Vector. TINNER, identify Sailor Modesty from the scan, and prepare her to be transferred to the coldform.

TINNER was silent for a moment, then the speakers crackled. Vector, I read three spirits inside of Justins body. One of them seems to be creating interference with the scan, so I am unable to determine the identity of that particular spirit. However, I have identified the spirit belonging to Sailor Modesty, and am now preparing her for transmigration.

Three spirits in his body? That doesnt make any... Vector closed his eyes, deep in thought, then opened them suddenly as a ray of green light blasted out from the transmigrator, to strike Justins body, filling the air with the stench of ozone. No, wait! TINNER, stop!

The process cannot be interrupted, reported TINNER solemnly.

Vector watched helplessly as Justins body trembled, then went still as a white-outlined form of Justin, as a man, lifted up out of Justin and hung in the air, weightless with arms spread out and feet together. Then this spiritual form of Justin grew and extended in places until a female form unfused from the male self, splitting into two separate essences that hovered above the two tubes, the male form over Justins body, and the female form over the coldform. Justins body already appeared to be rippling, as if reality itself suffered from static, and Vector saw her transforming back into a man.

Maybe I was wrong about what I was worried abo-

Vector was interrupted by a black fog that shot up in a stream from Justins body. It swirled around the male spirit form, surrounding it and trapping it inside. There was a scream of unholy agony as darkness whirled to fill the entire room, and the red shape of a skull appeared, its mouth open as a shrieking cackle echoed across the expanse of limitless shadow. Everything grew cold, and even Vectors outlook on life darkened and grew more dispassionate, as if hope itself meant nothing here.

Danger, spirit de-stabilization at fifteen hundred percent, announced TINNER calmly through the darkness.

Then the lights returned to normal, and for a brief moment Vector could only blink as he saw the laboratory again. No laughing skull, no overwhelming anti-light, and no mysterious danger warnings.

Justin? called out Vector as he came around the side of the console and approached the tube where Justin laid, hidden out of sight at that moment by the white mist that surrounded the tube. Justin, are you-

Vector recoiled just as a deathly pale arm shot out from the mist to grab at him, missing him by inches. A figure sprang from the tube and onto the open floor, wearing the white sheet like a clumsy toga. Vector recognized it as Justin, but the human was now male, and practically an albino. His bloodless skin stretched tight over his trim muscular frame, and his hair stood in a mess of bent white spikes on his scalp.

And then he opened his eyes. The whites were black, the pupil was white, and layered in between this reversal of opposites was a ring of amber hue glimmering with unearthly brightness.

Whats the matter, scientist? screeched the sneering visage of this Justin who was not Justin. It was Justins voice, or a mockery of it, but underneath it was a deep quaver of a voice echoing from the Abyss itself. Afraid of us? And rightly you should be, for we have awakened to finish the work of Entropy that we began! Overkill lives again!

Overkill! exclaimed Vector, quickly reaching for the first tool that came to hand and pointing it like a weapon at the pale human. It looks like we didnt finish you off last time. Give up Justins body now.

You presume to order us around?! wailed Overkill as he leapt to the side and landed in front of the plate glass window that overlooked the city outside. For that, well give you the suffering that comes with watching those under your care being annihilated! But of course, we shall not do this without style...

Overkill reached down to one corner of the makeshift toga, and yanked at it. The material literally metamorphosed into black leather that formed into a duster, heavy boots and pants, and a series of silver chains that wrapped across Overkills legs and bare chest. Ah, better! Now, to escape and wreak the havoc that shall bring about the end of this world!

Not if I can help it! Vector held out his free hand toward Overkill, his eyes narrowed in concentration as the entire world focused in on the fiend.

Your powers require too much time to be effective on us, puny scientist! But our powers... And suddenly Overkill held a pistol in his hands, a shiny revolver with a barrel as big around as a tin can. Our powers are limitless!!
The pistol went off, shattering the thick plate glass into their safety-designed smooth spheres. Overkill grabbed the edge of the window and launched himself over the edge, his insidious cackling laugh echoing up to Vectors ears. He went to the window and looked down. There was no sign of Overkill.

Overkill, back! growled Vector tiredly as he punched an emergency call button back at one of the many consoles in the more machinated part of the laboratory. I didnt even realize that it could have been a factor as well...that must have been the third spirit inside of Justin. Perhaps it was in a form of stasis because Justin had his own spirit and Sailor Modestys inside of him...but by removing Sailor Modesty from the equation, I must have unbalanced things enough to wake it back up! The crocodile shook his head sadly. I was a fool to have tried using the transmigrator!

You couldnt...help that, Vector...

Vector turned around and saw the silhouette of a female figure with short hair standing in the mist still rising from the coldform tube. She raised one hand, and with a voice that rang out like thunder, she cried, MoFo Power, Cover Up!

With a flash of light glowing from the swirling golden ribbons that surrounded the woman in an egg shape, and the sound of trumpets blaring a theme song in the background, the woman appeared out of the dispersed mist. She looked like Justin when he had been female, except that now she wore a Sailor Scout uniform with orange and blue colors. Where her thighs would otherwise have been bared in most Senshi outfits, she wore blue leggings that simply yet effectively covered her from the tops of her knee-high boots all the way under her skirt. Long skintight blue gloves adorned her arms, and the bodice and tall boots of the outfit were orange and accented by a blue skirt and ribbons. She stood for a moment, resplendent in the fading light effect from her transformation.

Sailor Modesty, MoFo Scout of Heroism, I presume? asked Vector, the awe partly hidden by his professional reaction.

The woman nodded, her turquoise eyes glimmering. But then her eyes closed and she fell forward. Vector swept forward with his labcoat and tail trailing behind him as he slid across the floor on his knees to catch Sailor Modesty. At least I didnt ruin everything, muttered Vector to himself.

Sailor Modesty opened her eyes, and she attempted to get up despite her obvious and overwhelming lack of strength. I have to help him, she squeaked, her voice hardly above a whisper and yet filled with a determination that left Vector no doubt that she meant to do as she said.

Theres no chance, your body is too weak from the transmigration, stated Vector logically as he helped Sailor Modesty up to her feet, supporting her healthy but weak frame with a bulky shoulder. You are right insofar as we have to help Justin.

And everyone else in the city, wheezed Sailor Modesty. I have to help them, Vector.

Just as bravely belligerent as your counterpart, snorted Vector as he helped Sailor Modesty to the command console. But this is no situation for heroics, not when youre far too weak to even walk, much less fight.

There may be a solution, Vector.

Vector turned his head to stare at the packet of nanites on top of the command console. TINNER? Surely you arent...no, its out of the question!

Sailor Modesty, you have the will to fight, but you do not have the strength to do so, stated TINNER gently to Sailor Modesty. I, on the other hand, am an Artificial Intelligence who has the power in this suit to fight, but I by myself cannot have a will. I propose that we combine our strengths to overcome our weaknesses, and to provide a solution to the problem that Overkill now presents this city.

Sailor Modesty nodded without hesitation and reached out to the omni-suit, but paused and looked up at Vector, who shook his head with a sigh. I can already see that its not going to do much good standing in your way. Go ahead, and good luck. Taking a commanding tone with his growly voice, he redirected himself toward the omni-suit. TINNER, you are authorized to be piloted by Sailor Modesty. Give her your full support, authorization code Five-Zero-Tango-Niner.

Authorization code acknowledged, responded TINNER.

Then lets do it!

Sailor Modesty placed her hand onto the omni-suit, and her body was encapsulated with electromagnetic fields as the orange and blue armor was reformed around her feminine figure. Power surged around her, and to her senses, through her as the omni-suit linked to her, sending a tingle down her spine and through every bone in her body. Ill be back! Sailor Modesty proclaimed as she flew out of the window on twin boot-jets of ionic thrust.

Im sure you will be...and Im sure because Im sending backup, said Vector as he reached for the control panel.

He noticed a shadow move from behind him, and he looked up, then turned to face the mysterious figure. You? What are you doing here?

Vector, if I might offer a plan to stop Overkill...

Ooh. Cliffhangers are fun.

Whoa, that actually got a bit scary for a bit there. o.o

Terg, only one thing: You seem to be too reliant on dialogue. Nine lines out of ten are nothing but talking, and of the other one, six times out of ten it has dialogue in it anyway. It's not bad, but maybe you might want to try writing a combat scene with more combat and less talking about combat?

You should take a lesson from Acts of War, and involve carbombings, assassinations, and blood and guts more frequently. Let your evil side loose and kill stuff, Terg!

...okay, the second suggestion is a joke.

No, not again!

Even through his eyelids, as much as he wanted to get away, he still saw the burning eyes of the monster as it laughed, and then reached out toward him. Then his perspective changed as he seemed to enter those eyes, and he became the monster as well.

The summer festival at Carnival Island reveled in beautiful sunny weather and equally-bright music as forumers and NPCs alike enjoyed the simple pleasures of the fair. Bright colors marked every surface as the cheeky grin and wink of Sonics visage dominated the sides of the islands enormous Ferris wheel. A pair of children laughed as they darted through the lanes and alleyways of the different fairground shops and attractions, only to stop and stare in wonder at one of the many automated candy-dispensing robots that plied their trade in addition to their flesh-and-blood counterparts. Hundreds of people lined up to get their chance at Carnival Islands legendary rides, including several roller-coasters sporting such names as the Sonic Boom, the Tails Divebomber, and the Knuckles Piledriver.

Hurry, hurry, hurry, blared the barker who stood at the front gates of Carnival Island to greet the patrons as they arrived from the mainland via a traditional riverboat-style transport boat. Get ready for the astounding experience that awaits beyond these gates! Youll be thrilled and chilled by our latest ride, the Amy Chaser! See how it feels to try to keep up with the Blue Blur through a variety of death-defying obstacles. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

At the ticket booths just beyond, one of the Carnival Island employees looked up from her cashier duties to see a pale-skinned human dressed in black leather overcoat, sneering at her with contempt. Ill need to see your hand stamp, she stammered, for some reason struck with fear on a primal level. You should have gotten that at the mainland.

The sneer got larger as the man reached into his coat, and pulled out a wicked-looking knife. The man thrust the knife through the plate glass of the ticket booth, and the ticket taker fell over behind the counter as the glass shattered around her in a rain of sharpened edges. A cry of terror came from around the other festival-goers around the man.

He whirled around, the edges of his coat flaring as he held out his hand and suddenly a black sphere the size of a bowling ball appeared in his palm, a trailing wire leading to the round cap on one end. He malevolently shoved it into the hands of the person behind him in line, and with the flick of his fingers, the fuse sparked and burned. The only noise he made was a maniacal laugh as he sprang away past the ticket booths into the main lane, leaping out of sight.

The explosion that followed only marked the beginning of a wave of destruction that swept the island. For Overkill was reborn, and annihilation his only aim. Ride-goers watched helplessly from their places as the supports for the roller-coasters sliced in half in Overkills wake, a gigantic sword held in his hands. Flames rose and consumed the tents and wooden-framed shops, created from jets of fire leaping out of the flamethrower that appeared in Overkills hands to replace the sword. The screaming crowds parted in a frightened mob, adding to the death toll as people were trampled underfoot in the rush to get away.

Overkill laughed as he stepped down one of the lanes, spinning twin rifles on his fingers as he looked about with his malignant eyes through the inferno that now replaced all of the bright colors of the carnival with a single baleful glow. The heat shimmered in the air, but his demon eyes saw through it clearer than broad daylight. No longer did playful music lilt through the air - only the crackling sound of the inferno consuming the carnival remained.

A choked cry alerted Overkill to a spot where a young echidna girl laid trapped by a fallen support beam. In the bright glow of the yellow flames, it was impossible to tell what color she was. She stared with fearful, watery eyes as Overkill stepped through the blaze and approached her.

You see what we are doing, Father, rasped Overkill menacingly as he approached the girl, clawed gauntlets spontaneously appearing on his hands. We are only obeying the destructive impulses that exist in every element of the Multiverse. Your cells contain instructions to kill themselves, do they not? And mortals are the cells of the Multiverse.

Overkill reached out and his hands crushed the wooden beam into splinters. He grabbed the girl by the neck and lifted her up until her feet dangled from the ground. A firm squeeze to her throat cut off the girls terrified squeal. Do you feel her fourteen years of life being choked out, Father? Do you revel in it? We do. But should we just remove her head, or should we prolong her suffering, take her virtue, and ensure the total obliteration of her spirit as well as her body? Admit it, Father, you want to do it. She will want to die after we-

Intense light flashed in Overkills eyes, and he stumbled back with a howl of pain, releasing his death grip on the echidna girl. He covered his face with his bare hands as the gauntlets faded away, then looked up, his eyes burning to face the offender. But he could not see where the shot had come from, and the echidna girl ran away to escape.

Who dares? asked Overkill as he whipped a blocky nail gun from his long trenchcoat.

I dare!

He spun about and pulled the trigger, but an armored object crashed into him and tumbled with him through the burning flames. The gun flew from his grip, and he rolled up to his feet, glowering at the orange-and-blue armored figure who glared back at him from one knee, her eyes hidden by the black V-shaped visor across the faceplate.

You are not going to hurt anyone else, Overkill! shouted the woman in the armor.

Overkill and Modesty both got to their feet, facing each other across the barren field. Overkill held out one hand, and the next moment he held a long curved katana with a wicked edge. Such determination, such willingness to sacrifice yourself for your fellow mortals, Overkill said, frighteningly sober. But we know your fears as if they were our own, Sailor Modesty, MoFo Scout of Heroism. You cant really expect to stop us when you can hardly stand on your own feet.

Watch me!

The two fighters rushed at one another, Modestys fists poised to strike, and Overkill grinning wildly as he held the katana with both hands, the point angled downward. The distance between them closed, and Modesty threw her fist forward with every last bit of strength she could muster. But instead of the solid thump she expected, the blow carried her right into the katana as Overkill ducked the punch and slid around her, running the blade at a diagonal angle across her torso. They passed each other, and stopped, and stood there.

Overkill grinned savagely as he slid the katana into a scabbard, at which moment the true strokes of his attack struck Modesty with the clash of metal against metal, the omni-suits shields flaring with a low hum as a thousand cuts tore at her from all sides, battering her and knocking her down to the ground, warning lights glaring at her from the visor. You are too weak by yourself, Sailor Modesty, he taunted, turning to her as the katana vanished so he could point a pale finger at her. You, your friends, this entire city will burn, all because you could not protect it from us.

...i will repeat again that my second suggestion was a joke. (Though, AoW's death toll is still horribly worse. And horribly written atm.)

Just two more parts to post after this one! Now for a brief interlude into the secrets of the omni-suit.

Modesty struggled to keep consciousness. No, this...this cant be! The omni-suit isnt responding! But theres still enough power, why isnt this working?

It is because we are not working together yet.

Modesty turned, and she wasnt in the omni-suit anymore. The ferocious red blaze of the burning Carnival Island was gone, replaced instead by an endless void of bluish hue, divided into sectors by regular glowing lines that crisscrossed everywhere she could see. What is going on? she asked, perplexed and desperate. Is this some kind of dream?

No. You are actually experiencing mental time displacement in a virtual environment I have created to interact with you.

Modesty turned around, her eyes darting about to find the source of the feminine voice. Is that you, TINNER? Send me back, I still have to save the others!

Then Modesty saw something forming amid the lines, which bent and curved from their static forms around the pure orange light that shaped itself into the figure of a woman. It shone, then reformed from light into smooth orange metal, statuesque and sleek. The lines of blue swirled around her body, sticking to her at odd angles while others wrapped around her limbs, holding up her arms while keeping her legs and feet together, suspending her into the air. Finally, a flurry of these virtual two-dimensional forms curved and curled into three dimensions as they linked to her head, like fiber-optic hair.

As much as Modesty yearned to return back to the real world, to fulfill her duty, she could not help but stare in wonder at this perfectly-formed woman. So this is what you look like, TINNER.

TINNER opened her eyes, pure deep blue with white pupils. Yes. I am an Artificial Intelligence, created by Dr. Mateo Johansen and Dr. Nichola Garbo, as a part of the Tergonaut Project of TergoCorp. Industries, commissioned by the United Earth League. I am possessed of fully automotive thinking capability, but as you can see, restraints have been placed to prevent me from acting on my own. My designated purpose is to provide a direct neural link between the OMNI-01 and my Pilot by acting as an interpreter. I translate thought patterns into action.

Yes, I...know... Modesty held a hand up to her head and shook it slowly, frustration building on her face. Or at least I feel like I should know that. But for some reason Im having trouble remembering things.

TINNERs face remained emotionless, but her eyes projected sympathy. Sailor Modesty, the difficulty you are having piloting the OMNI-01 and in remembering details about me come from the same root problem: you do not have any memory of the OMNI-01.

What?! But Matt and I are the same person! I should be able to remember everything that he can!

Can you remember when Matt first entered the Mobius Forum World? When he first met Vector and Cookirini? How he got back to Earth? Do you even remember Earth at all?

Modesty strained her mind to remember, but she found it was a pointless struggle. I, I cant remember anything!

No, you remember some things. Relax, take a breath.

Modesty forced herself to slow down and to breathe in deeply before releasing it. ...I remember when I first transformed into Sailor Modesty. I remember running across different worlds along with other Sailor Scouts to find the cure for Sailorness. I remember fighting against Sailor Evil, sometimes, and teaming up with her once. And I remember one or two other times. She focused back on TINNER. But why cant I remember anything else?

It is because you and Matt have now been separated, explained TINNER. While you shared the same body and consciousness, you also shared memories. But ultimately, some memories belonged only to you, while the majority of them were Matts. I know this, because I experience that every time the omni-suit is deactivated and I am left alone. I keep my own memories when I am shut down, and only share memories with my Pilot when the omni-suit is active.

I see... Modesty felt overwhelmed with the loss of what felt like something essential to her, yet had never been a true part of her. It made sense now; and at least she had memories to call her own. But to have not had a life like Matt had, to not have parents, or to have no childhood...

Modesty, TINNER said, interrupting Modestys thoughts and bringing her back to the present. Matt had the same trouble controlling the OMNI-01 when he first put it on. He worked at TergoCorp. Industries as an intern out of high school when a criminal hired by Georgia Stahlmansche attacked, using a supertech sub-zero ray weapon. The criminals intent was to sabotage the Tergonaut Project, which at the time Matt knew nothing about. He ducked into a side room and discovered me, and without thinking reached out and activated me and tried to fight the criminal using the OMNI-01. He nearly failed; the OMNI-01 was clumsy and reacted slowly to his thoughts, like heavy plates strapped to every part of his body.

So, then you contacted him, like you are doing with me now?

TINNER nodded. The true strength of the OMNI-01 cannot be wielded alone, even with the best of intentions. Tergonaut is not really an individual, but is the combination of my Pilot and I, our minds working as one to direct the power of the OMNI-01. Matt himself is a talented pilot, but by driving the suit by his own will while trying to deal with real-time combat, he was too heavily distracted to be able to do anything. Only when I contacted him and we worked together as a team did he defeat the criminal and save the day.

So that is what you meant when you said to combine my will with your strength. Modesty stood there, facing TINNER. We still have to stop Overkill, and save Matt and Sega City!

Then that is what we shall do. But you must keep in mind that the OMNI-01 will respond to your needs. As you think, I will reshape it to your demands. It will become closer to you than your own skin, and you will become the suit as much as it becomes you.

Then lets do it! Even as Modesty said this, a fleeting memory from earlier swept into her mind. But wait, you said there were five spirits in the room when you were accessing the transmigrator! Vector, Matt, Overkill, and I...are you-

I am afraid there is no more time for questions or explanation, responded TINNER sadly as Modesty felt herself lifted up into the air. TINNER reached out her hand, the line restraints tugging at her every movement. Only milliseconds pass as we speak, but you must return to reality. We must become Tergonaut.

I understand. Modesty reached out and took TINNERs hand, the pulsing data world around her flashing out of existence.

The furnace-like environment rushed in on her as if she shot herself out of the barrel of a gun, and she flexed her leg to stabilize herself as blue-white energy coursed around the armor, protecting her from the impact of the katana slices. Everything suddenly felt clearer, lighter, and more real than ever before. Energy coursed into her aching body, pouring into her consciousness. She was no longer Sailor Modesty, MoFo Scout of Heroism...

She is Tergonaut!

Youre wrong, Overkill! she shouted as she whirled around and aimed her arm at a pile of burning tinder, then reformed the arm into a cannon and fired a burst of plasma that exploded, spraying cinders into Overkills face. The next moment she tackled into him, gripping around his torso with one arm clamping into place while her arm cannon slammed into his gut, charging purple energy that shot again and again into his bare pale stomach as they flew up through the flames and smoke into the air above Carnival Island. Each blast hummed with power, over the din of the battle. I will stop you, I will protect my friends and this city!

They floated for a brief moment at the top of the arc Tergonaut had plotted out, the wind blowing around them with a high-pitched howl. Overkill wheezed, Foolish mortal. You will have to destroy Matt to destroy us. Your stun bursts only tickle.

Shut up! The barrel of the arm cannon slammed into Overkills face and filled it with nerve-overloading light as she changed angles, the omni-suit amplifying her voice as she fired up the boot jets and plummeted toward an uninhabited stretch of island in Sega Citys south bay. Just SHUT UP! Ill make you PAY for your murders!

They pounded into the ground with Overkill taking the brunt of the impact, and they scraped along the ground from one end of the city block-sized island to the other. Dust, sand and grass all filled the air after them as Tergonaut used her roaring thrusters to grind Overkill into the ground before releasing him, then kicking off of him and flipping backward in a high arc before she finally landed in a ready crouch, her gun arm aimed and ready.

Overkill raised his head to glare at Tergonaut, then reached up and cracked his neck one way, and the other way, then back to normal position before he pushed himself out of the groove his body carved in the ground and stood up. Congratulations, mortal, he said in a low, dangerously-casual voice as he reached up and tore off the ragged remnants of the black leather overcoat from his body, youve succeeded in tearing our coat to ribbons.

Tergonaut shot him again with a pulsing burst of stun bolts, but he kept moving steadily as he tossed the coat aside, silver chains crossing his otherwise unclothed chest. Do you realize that every time you strike us, it is another blow that Matt will feel if he does regain control of this body? Youre only destroying him just as surely as we destroyed that island.

The arm cannon ceased, and Tergonaut stood up. Im no fool, Overkill. TINNER has fought you before and knows that you are a liar. Youve been soaking all of the damage using your matter/energy manipulation powers.

A bazooka appeared in Overkills hands and he fired it with a deafening report. The rocket slammed into Tergonaut and exploded, knocking her down as the impact screens flared. Ah yes, Mother, sneered Overkill. You interfere with us even when we do not share a body with you. But we are done playing games, and the city is ours to destroy. Do not deny the destiny of the Multiverse by continuing to exist.

Tergonaut shoved herself up to her feet, only to crouch down again and roll behind a boulder as a stream of bullets ripped through the air, propelled from the mini-gun that Overkill flailed about with both hands. We can create anything meant to destroy. Sooner or later you will tire, and we will maim you, kill you, tear you to pieces and then annihilate the pieces. Even the suit of power is no match for us.

Tergonaut popped up from behind the boulder and pointed her arm cannon in the split-second it took for the reticle in her visor to line up on Overkill. Charged particles erupted in a blue-white sphere that smashed the mini-gun to pieces. Ill just keep smashing your toys as fast as you can make them, Overkill! Give it up!

Overkill shook his head at her, grinning madly as he held out his hands to either side, splaying his fingers wide. We have just as much passion as you do. Dont you see that you only prolong the suffering of these people as they struggle in their lives, trying to eke out an existence that matters less than a single moment in the eternal time frame of the Multiverse? Do you like seeing people suffer, Sailor Modesty?

Life means more than what you say!

Can you truly say that when your own existence is empty and broken, your past torn away from you? Overkills eyes became sane and focused, far more frightening than the crazed look from before. What do you owe these people? You lost your memories because of them. They wanted to cut you off from the Multiverse because you were inconvenient, because Matt didnt want to be a girl. And isnt that why Matt stopped transforming into you, Sailor Modesty? Because you werent worth his time, because you were only an empty shell, a false persona, a mask he threw away?

Tergonaut wavered, her aim unsteady as she struggled with these words. But...he just didnt want to lie to himself anymore about who he was, he didnt know that I was just as real as he was...

Overkill raised his empty hands into the air, shrugging. Arent you lying to yourself now? You dont believe that, you are trying to respond to what Im telling you from your own heart. You try to be brave, but it is foolishness.

Stop twisting my words around! Tergonaut steadied her arm with her other hand, letting the omni-suit absorb the tiny jolts and motion that came from her living body. Maybe I dont know who or what I am yet, but I wont find out if you destroy everything!

You are clinging to false hope, mortal. But well be generous and end your suffering now.

Overkill flung a storm of blades that whizzed through the air, chucking them in rapid-fire motion as his arms blurred into circles of motion. Tergonaut dashed forward, shifting her shoulders and hips to dodge each knife and shuriken as each step took her closer to Overkill. She got in close, crouched down, and uncoiled in a powerful bone-jarring thruster-assisted uppercut. You dont have any toys that can stop me!

The pale-faced monster grinned as the force of the punch sent him flipping up into the air, and he laughed as he suddenly held an enormous cannon with a manhole-sized tip. He pointed it directly downward at Tergonaut. Railguns arent toys, mortal.

The inside of the barrel glowed as electricity ran down the length of three magnetic rails, and the air broke with the sound of the massive slug going supersonic. Tergonaut brought her arms together and formed a solid shield just in the nick of time before the projectile slammed into her, impact screens shining with power as they focused on reducing the incredible impact. But even with every ounce of her energy flowing into the screens, Tergonaut slammed into the ground with enough force to shatter the ground.
And then the slug exploded.

Warning signals went off in the omni-suits visor as her energy levels drained to the bare minimum, and Tergonaut could feel strength leaving her as the omni-suit diverted its resources to protect them both. She felt weakness return to her limbs, like someone hooked her arms and legs to a sinking cruise liner. The visor blacked out and the audio receptors disengaged to compensate for the flash and noise of the explosion, but she was blinded and unable to detect anything outside of the omni-suit. Her world collapsed to the inside of the omni-suit, where she strained to move the muscles in her chest, forcing air into her lungs. Her breathing filled her ears as she waited for the next moment where Overkill would strike her with another weapon, ending her hopeless life and accomplishing his goal.

I cant give up...have to hold on, just long enough...

The moments passed by in small eternities as she watched the visors energy indicator rise again, millimeter by millimeter, in a graphical representation of the omni-suits power resources. The micro-fusion core batteries of every nanite that composed the suit combined together to slowly recover the strength she lost, and with every moment she still lived, it was another moment where she herself felt stronger as the suit re-energized.

Why hasnt Overkill destroyed me? Is he playing with me? What is going on?

Her questions were interrupted by the sensors coming back online, and suddenly she saw Overkill flying toward the ground, shouting something incomprehensible as he was pelted with a flurry of bullets and rockets. Following the smoke trails to their source, Tergonaut saw that a bulky orange and blue humanoid form was lowering itself slowly to the ground, its arms extended with auto-cannons blazing from the forearms, shoulder and hip-mounted missile launchers adding to the thunderous salvo with their fiery launches. Focusing in on this newcomer, Tergonaut realized that it looked like a blocky caricature of...Tergonaut?

Tergobot Mk. II, engaging the target, droned the robot in a masculine but wholly robotic voice as it landed with a considerable thud, its somewhat small head sporting a V-shaped visor and curved helmet spike just like the original it was based on. The muzzle flash from the multiple chattering barrels combined in a strobe-like effect as Tergobot poured a steady stream of weapon fire at Overkill, who now stood with arms raised to try to block the oncoming barrage.

Tergobot? But, how did-

Tergonaut suddenly felt herself being lifted up by the shoulders, and she turned her head to see the beet red and pale green armored form of Terrornaut. Vector sent it as backup, explained Terrornaut concisely. It took a little more time to get here because I convinced Vector to give it a special modification that will help us defeat Overkill.

How?

Vector can explain that, said Terrornaut as she released her grip on Tergonaut, who wavered on her feet but found that she had the strength to continue. But Tergobot doesnt have enough ammunition to maintain that firing rate for much longer.

As if on cue, Tergobots guns suddenly clattered as they stopped spitting gunshots, and it lowered its arms and its hip and shoulder rocket launchers swivelled behind it. Ammunition depleted, it announced. Then in a different, more familiar growl of a voice, it said, Tergonaut, Terrornaut and I have devised a plan that will-

Enough of this.

Tergonaut, Terrornaut and Tergobot all took a step back as Overkill rose into the air, metal forming into a human shape around him as he sat down in a chair which soon encapsulated itself inside the chest of a gigantic mecha. The giant robots armor gleamed black with silver and gold highlights, and it had two massive heads mounted onto a branching mechanical neck. In one hand, the robot held a purple cylinder that shot out identical glowing yellow sabers from either end. In the other, it held a rifle sized to match its gargantuan owner.

Time for us to finish this and rend this world once and for all.

Tergobot set its feet to stabilize itself as the chest plate of the robot flipped open and a snub-nosed cannon rolled out. Vectors voice came through the omni-suits communication system, right in Tergonauts ears. Terrornaut, Tergonaut, I have the transmigrator installed in the chest gun of Tergobot. If you can keep Overkill still long enough, I should be able to use Tergobots CPU and power core to fire the transmigrator like a gun and capture Overkills spirit from Justins body. I estimate I need a good thirty seconds for the transmigrator to establish a lock on Overkill.

Terrornaut angled her helmet slightly, eyeing Tergonaut with one of her spider eyes. Time is short and you must trust me. Cover me!

Tergonauts arms simultaneously transformed into dual cannons. Roger that! Lets go!

A blast from the mechas rifle forced the two armored warriors to break away from each other and fly in opposite directions, and Tergonaut oriented herself to pelt Overkill with powerful bursts of plasma. She timed it so that one cannon fired while the other charged, giving her an effective rate of fire as she aimed for Overkills leg joints.

Overkill piloted the mecha like his own body, and the staff-saber whirled to deflect the flurry of particle bolts fired at him. He then swung the rifles barrel at Tergonaut, which she barely avoided with an upward boost from her thrusters. Trusting in TINNERs help to guide her arm through the precise flexors of the omni-suit, Tergonaut began charging both cannons, dodging the repeated thrusts and shots from the mechas artillery piece.

Meanwhile, she saw Terrornaut approach Overkill from the other side, and her bio-suits arms extended into sharpened mantis claws. Spinning like a drill, Terrornaut aimed herself right at the middle of the wheeling staff-saber, and she pierced through it like a bullet through tinfoil, shattering the weapon with a crash.

Overkill then grabbed Terrornaut with the weaponless hand of the giant armored suit, and Tergonaut aimed and fired both charged shots. One of them tore through the shoulder joint of the mechs arm, and Terrornaut broke free of the lifeless hand. The other shot followed its alternate trajectory and busted through the mechs leg. With a creak of tortured metal, Overkill tumbled toward the ground.

Terrornaut darted in, carving through the plated armor chest plate before the mantis blades melted away and she reached inside. Yanking Overkill out, she and Tergonaut pulled away from the mech as it fell with an earth-shaking impact, throwing up brown dust and roaring with explosions.

We will simply summon another one. We are still more than you, mortal, rasped Overkill, his yellow eyes blazing as Terrornaut forced him onto the ground.

Perhaps, but your eagerness to possess your current host has caused you to overlook a glaring weakness, answered Terrornaut as she released Overkill. And that has made you my prisoner.

Prisoner? You speak mighty words, and now we will-

Overkill suddenly froze in mid-turn, and Tergonaut landed with no small confusion in her mind as it appeared that Overkill was completely paralyzed. What? But how could you-

I injected Tergonaut with mutagenic agents that accelerated his healing after our battle today, but they also give me command over his nervous system, explained Terrornaut briskly. That will not last for much longer. Vector, now!

Tergobot repositioned itself so that its engine block-sized chest gun aimed directly for Overkill, and it fired a shimmering beam of emerald light. The light hit Overkill, and his body jolted but stayed right in place as the beam poured energy directly into him.

Twenty seconds, counted Vector via Tergobots loudspeaker. Fifteen seconds...ten seconds...five-hold him!

Terrornaut and Tergonaut grappled Overkill from either side, and Tergonauts armor strained at the sheer strength Overkill exercised. The remaining five seconds dragged on as Tergonaut fought to keep Overkill from breaking free, and the omni-suits energy reserves were depleting fast. Could she-

Then suddenly Overkill jerked, and he moaned with an unearthly scream that rent the air and tore at Tergonauts soul. She reflexively grabbed the sides of her helmet, trying to block out the terrible sound; Terrornaut did likewise on the other side. But it appeared that they no longer needed to hold him, for slowly they saw the beam reverse direction, pulling like a vacuum on Overkills spirit form. The ghostly scarlet skull peeled away from Justins body, which crumpled to the ground as Overkills essence shrieked and moaned all the way through the crystal beam into the chest-mounted transmigration unit.

And then, empty silence.

Tergonaut slowly lowered her arms and looked down at Justin, whose skin and other features were returning to their normal hues. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Good job, you two, mission accomplished!

But Tergonauts relief turned to shock and dismay. Wait, Vector, it isnt over yet!

What? Whats wrong?

Tergonaut didnt answer. She drew back her hands, putting them together before bringing them slightly apart as pure darkness crackled in bolts of ethereal lighting between her fingertips. This dark matter formed into a sphere, and she finished the attack pose sequence by shouting, VIGILANT CENSORSHIP ENGAGE!

She thrust the sphere out with both hands, and it unfolded into a four-cornered screen with the white letters CENSORED emblazoned across it. This screen neatly wrapped around Justins lower half, effectively covering up his otherwise very naked body.

Tergonaut dusted off her hands, satisfied. There, now its over.

Very well written. It was rather like reading a literary adaptation of a live-action superhero movie. This was a good, action-oriented part that paid attention to detail without impeding the pace of the story. Altogether a laudable piece of writing. I look forward to the final section of this.

Justin and Vector stood behind the glass wall of an observation deck as they looked down at the indoor pool below them. They watched as Modesty, in a yellow one-piece swimsuit with blue shorts, swam one lap after the other with encouragement from the instructors and doctors that surrounded her.

Her recovery has been amazing, said Vector. In the month since we separated you two, she not only became strong enough to walk around on her own, but now shes lifting one hundred pound weights regularly. And she certainly has the potential to become even stronger as time goes on.

Thats great! Justin beamed.

Vector tapped a finger against his crossed arm. What about your memories? Any of them return yet?

Justin shook his head. Nah. Looks like when Modesty and I got separated, our memories got separated too. I dont remember being Sailor Modesty, and she doesnt remember being me. That lab report come up with anything else?

Shes not just a female you, Justin. Shes a female you, back when you were eighteen. Its as if she was in some form of stasis when you went back to Earth. Her eyes are even nearsighted, just like yours used to be.

Back before I got eye surgery anyway...shes handling it okay though, for a girl with only about a years worth of her own memories. Shes tough, shell make it. Oh yeah, have those papers been put together yet?

They were just compiled earlier this morning, answered Vector with a knowing grin. She is officially Modesty Hobbes, eighteen years old, your long-lost younger sister.

Thats awesome! So, how does it feel being a father?

Vector swivelled his reptilian snout at Justin, giving him a perplexed look. What do you mean by that?

Justin laughed. Cmon, Vec, you helped her come into the world. That means youre her dad!

Vectors expression was incredulous, and for the first time Justin thought he might have seen what looked like a blush on his green features. But the moment didnt last long as Vector smiled serenely back at Justin. Then that means youre the mother.

What?! yelped Justin, who leaned his head back into his clasped hands. Aw man, no fair!

You started it.

They shared a friendly chuckle before turning back to look down at Modesty, who pulled herself out of the pool and dried herself off with a towel. Looks like shes nearly done, said Justin. Ill give her a ride to her apartment.

He turned, his red, white and gray sneakers squeaking quietly on the shiny tiles of the hospital floor as he walked to the door. But he paused at the door, and turned back to Vector. Any word on the transmigrator yet?

No, and I doubt well see it again. Vector shook his head slowly. I still wish I had kept more careful track of it.

Hey, we didnt know Terrornaut was gonna steal it, Vec. Dont beat yourself up about it, at least we got the data on it and we got to use it when we needed it.

Vectors voice growled a little more than usual. But why would Terrornaut steal it? She certainly doesnt seem to mind her current condition.

Theres only one person I can think of whod want that transmigrator, and I have a bad feeling that youre wrong: I think were gonna see it a whole lot sooner than we ever want to...
* * *
Georgia Stahlmansche sat regally in her office on the upper floors of the Effective Cybertronics Unlimited headquarters. The blinds were drawn across the window that lined the entire outer wall of the office, and all of the lights were off. The only glow that illuminated the room came from the glowing crystal of the transmigrator unit, which emitted an ethereal green light.

I must once again protest against your fascination with the demon, Stahlmansche, warned Terrornaut, her chitinous armor painted green by the light as she looked directly at Stahlmansche. The businesswomans eyes seemed even paler, almost to the point of her pupils being the only other color in her eyes as she stared into the crystal. Its only purpose is to destroy all of creation, and it will betray you at the first given opportunity.

Stahlmansche smiled as she pressed her hands together in front of herself. And I must once again ignore your protest. There must be a way to take advantage of this creature, and if it will take me even one step closer to achieving my goals, I will make any bargain necessary to make it serve me.

From within the spherical gem, a blood-red skull manifested, peering at Stahlmansche with empty eyes. Release me, it moaned in an echoing quaver.

And let you destroy my city? Not a chance. But if you swear your fealty to me, I will use your powers to crush my enemies. I have offered that to you and I will continue offering it to you until you give me an answer.

Stahlmansche waited for the spirit to repeat its demand, but this time the answer was different. There is a place where my original shell is buried. Bring me to it, and I shall lend you my powers.

Stahlmansches smile turned into a grin. Now were getting somewhere.

The end...of THIS story.

Ooh...cliffhanger.

More!

Two words: Pure awesome. <3

Cool.

tergonaut.deviantart.com/

That's my new DA account, where I just posted up all of my stories as well as the majority of my RP and story character profiles! I'll probably be posting my stories there from now on as well as here, so if you can't find a thread with my stories in it, you can go straight here.

I've started on a number of more stories, so I'll try to get the next good section of one up so I can kick up the pace!