*** Now talking in #suburbansenshi
Topic is -= It all returns to nothing, it just keeps tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down... =-

[02:57] * Miss Nightmare stands atop a bluish cliff, staring out over a black, boiling sea, as blood-red rain pelts the ground. Below her, Sailors Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Venus stand aghast, numbly taking in their surroundings. Nightmare closes her eyes and inhales the stench of rotting flesh that permeates the air.
[02:58] * @spiritflame changes topic to `The External`
[02:58] <@Dr_Xadium> This change in appearance troubles me.
[02:58] * GERMATOID WAKES UP, MUMBLING
[02:58] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> O sit, hez awak!!11
[02:58] <@Dr_Xadium> Souichi?
[02:59] <GERMATOID> THAT THING... IN MY DAUGHTER... TOOK THE MADNESS... FROM ME...
[02:59] <@Dr_Xadium> What?!
[02:59] <GERMATOID> SHE.. SHE'S USING IT TO INCREASE HER POWERS! THIS IS HORRIBLE! (BANGS HIS FIST ON THE TABLE) IT... IT HAS HOTARU AND THE OTHERS!
[02:59] * @Dr_Xadium puts his hand on Tomoe's shoulder
[03:00] <@Dr_Xadium> (yawns) Professor, I'm sure we'll manage to come up with something.
[03:00] * GERMATOID GETS UP
[03:00] <GERMATOID> YOU'RE BOTH TIRED. IT'S CRUCIAL WE STAY AWAKE IF WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOME WAY OF FIGHTING THIS THING. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
[03:00] * GERMATOID COMES BACK WITH TWO CUPS OF TASTY COFFEE
[03:00] <@Dr_Xadium> I don't usually take coffee, but under the cirsumstances... thank you Professor.
[03:00] * @Dr_Xadium and Chibiusa drink their coffee, and slump to the table, unconcious
[03:01] * GERMATOID 'S BODY CRUMPLES AND HITS THE GROUND.
[03:01] * Miss Nightmare smiles a little, eyes still closed
[03:01] * @spiritflame changes topic to `Into the Nightmare`
[03:01] * Miss Nightmare smiles
[03:01] <Miss Nightmare> (to herself) Good work, "papa", maintaining just enough of this world for me to use your body as my puppet. Now the last two are in my hands, and victory is assured!
[03:02] * @Dr_Xadium and Chibiusa find themselves locked in a barred cage.
[03:02] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> Were da fack is dis!
[03:02] <@Dr_Xadium> I believe we're in Miss Dream's world.
[03:02] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> Da profaaso r tracked us?!
[03:03] <@Dr_Xadium> If he even *was* the Professor.
[03:03] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> /mi shaks da burs "l;at us out bich!!"
[03:03] * Miss Nightmare appears in a shimmering illusion
[03:03] <Miss Nightmare> Not yet, my pets, not yet ^_~
[03:03] * Miss Nightmare is gone
[03:03] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> BIACH!!1
[03:04] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> /mi pulz ot da slivar cistal "onegay slivar ckistal, lat us ot!!"
[03:04] * The Crystal is black.
[03:04] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> ha///?
[03:04] <@Dr_Xadium> This world seems to operate under a different set of physical, or dare I say mental rules. I don't think the crystal will work...
[03:04] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> fack!
[03:04] <@Dr_Xadium> For that matter, I wonder if...
[03:05] * @Dr_Xadium digs in his pockets and extracts his sonic screwdriver, pointing its tip at the lock. Depressing the top, he watches as it lets out a loud WHIRRRR sound.
[03:05] * the lock pops open
[03:05] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> Hall yas!11
[03:05] <@Dr_Xadium> Fortune favours the foolish, it would seem. Come on!
[03:05] * @Dr_Xadium and Chibiusa escape the cell and start wandering around some generic-looking corridors.
[03:06] * Sailor Uranus looks up at the smiling Miss Nightmare, who levitates down off the cliff, landing softly in a blood-red puddle, her tattered black cloak rippling in the wind.
[03:06] * Miss Nightmare smiles a wide crimson grin, her eyes a glowing solid purple.
[03:06] <Sailor Uranus> f[BLEEP]k. Tomoe sacrifices himself to make your ass STRONGER. Usually the power of love WINS battles.
[03:06] * Sailor Uranus holds the bloodied and blinded Neptune in her arms
[03:07] <Miss Nightmare> Ironic, isn't it? Nephelenia made sure that my powers were based on the weaponizing of love. Where you sailor girls appeal to it to win your little skirmishes, I use it as my fatal dart, driving each of you to defeat in its filthy, putrid little name. Love will be your undoing, just as it was for my "father"! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
[03:07] <Sailor Uranus> I see you've "kept it in the family", Nightie. That's a whole 'nother kind of love you're weaponizing right there.
[03:07] <Miss Nightmare> Your petty insults don't bother me. Love is your weakness-- yes, even you, the callously cold and caculating Ten'ou Haruka. Right now, your blind love for Michiru has blinded your tactical senses--all puns intended, of course--. You should kill her, and make yourself strong again.
[03:07] * Sailor Uranus glares at Nightmare
[03:08] <Miss Nightmare> But you won't, of course, because you love her. In fact, every time I suggest that you kill her, you become ever more determined *not to*. So you see, you are just as crippled as she is.
[03:08] * Sailor Uranus looks at Michiru's bloodied eye sockets and feels her fists tighten in rage.
[03:08] <Sailor Neptune> She's right, you know... you should kill me.
[03:08] <Sailor Uranus> f[BLEEP]k that. f[BLEEP]k THAT.
[03:08] * Sailor Pluto turns her head a little
[03:09] <Sailor Pluto> Uranus, take Neptune to somewhere safe
[03:09] <Sailor Uranus> Right. Just wear the b[BLEEP]ch down a little for me, Sets, I'll be right back.
[03:09] <Sailor Uranus> know I can can rely on you, *Pluto*. (looks at Venus)
[03:09] * Sailor Venus notes Uranus' implication.
[03:10] <Sailor Venus> Uranus, where exactly is "safe" in a dream world?
[03:10] * Sailor Uranus runs off with Neptune
[03:10] * Sailor Uranus and Michiru are some distance away.
[03:11] <Sailor Neptune> Venus has a point, Haruka
[03:11] <Sailor Uranus> She doesn't know s[BLEEP]t. She thinks because she stayed transformed for a week or so that she's hard. That she understands sacrifice. But she *doesn't*. She's just a kid living in a dream-world still.
[03:11] * Sailor Uranus is running full-tilt towards a cave in the distance
[03:11] <Sailor Neptune> Maybe you're being too hard on her, Haruka.
[03:11] <Sailor Uranus> That stupid smile on her face, the ring on her finger. She thinks it's a game.
[03:12] <Sailor Neptune> That's called a life... we wanted that once, remember?
[03:12] <Sailor Uranus> Yeah, but at the end of the day, this is what we are. Soldiers. In a war. There's no place for love, or playing house.
[03:12] <Sailor Neptune> ...
[03:12] <Sailor Uranus> Dammit, that cave's not getting any closer... and you're getting heavier. Have you been eating sweets?
[03:13] <Sailor Neptune> Haruka... don't change the subject... aren't you running... to save me? For love?
[03:13] <Sailor Uranus> You're a part of me, Michi.
[03:13] <Sailor Neptune> Then what's the difference?
[03:13] <Sailor Uranus> Because we got our priorities set straight, that's what. Anything for the mission. No matter the price.
[03:13] <Sailor Neptune> Which is why we're running away from the battlefield at this time?
[03:14] <Sailor Uranus> Michi... I'm just gonna put you somewhere safe, and then...
[03:14] <Sailor Neptune> What is it?
[03:14] <Sailor Uranus> The cave... (it's a painted cave face on cheap cardboard stilts)
[03:14] <Sailor Uranus> It's... blocked.
[03:14] <Sailor Neptune> Leave me here and go back. I'll be fine!
[03:15] <Sailor Uranus> I can't! I can't leave you unprotected!
[03:15] * Sailor Uranus begins to realize there is no safe place here
[03:15] <Sailor Neptune> So she was right. You would sacrifice me for the good of the world, but not for your own good..
[03:15] * Sailor Uranus turns around, saying nothing
[03:16] <Sailor Uranus> f[BLEEP]k.The battlefield is suddenly three times further away than before!
[03:16] <Sailor Neptune> Dont' carry me, we'll run there. I'm not as fast as you but I'll keep up
[03:16] <Sailor Uranus> But you're blind...
[03:16] <Sailor Neptune> I'll follow your footsteps, and use my intuition! Come on!
[03:16] * Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune begin running back to the battlefield as fast as they can
[03:17] * @Dr_Xadium and Chibiusa stumble upon some kind of shattered control room, full of electronic junk
[03:17] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> wat da fick?
[03:17] <@Dr_Xadium> Why would there be a control room in a dreamscape?
[03:17] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> mabye its har subconshus
[03:18] <@Dr_Xadium> Interesting notion. It is her mind, there should be such a place.
[03:18] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> wat R u dong?
[03:18] * @Dr_Xadium is gathering some parts, and using his Sonic Screwdriver and Sonic Lance to cut and assemble materials
[03:18] <@Dr_Xadium> : I'm not much of a fighter, but I won't go into this unprepared.
[03:18] * @Dr_Xadium is fashioning armor and a small flashlight-sized device
[03:19] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> wats dat?
[03:19] <@Dr_Xadium> A portable high-energy plasma field encapulated in an annular confinement beam.
[03:19] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> hah?
[03:19] <@Dr_Xadium> It's a crude approximation of something I once saw in a filmed entertainment...
[03:20] <.`~SugaBB_2999~`.> /mi get brored an wlaks dewn a hallwey
[03:20] * Chibiusa vanishes in the hallway
[03:20] * @Dr_Xadium presses a button on the device, and a beam of crackling energy extends from it.
[03:20] <@Dr_Xadium> I believe it was called a "fight sabre" or something...
[03:20] * @Dr_Xadium notices Chibiusa is gone.
[03:20] <@Dr_Xadium> Chibiusa?
[03:21] <@Dr_Xadium> (irritated) Chibiusa? Oh, where did that infuriating child get off to now? (goes after her but does NOT vanish in the hallway)
[03:21] * @spiritflame changes topic to `The Battlefield`
[03:21] <Sailor Pluto> Venus! Let's go!
[03:21] <Sailor Venus> Pluto... whose side are you on?
[03:21] <Sailor Pluto> What?
[03:21] <Sailor Venus> You always go back and forth between Haruka-tachi and us... why?
[03:22] <Sailor Pluto> Because I believe in you all.
[03:22] <Miss Nightmare> Oh? Or is it because you need more cannon fodder for your manipulations?
[03:22] <Sailor Pluto> that's not--
[03:22] * bony hands lash out of the ground and begin pulling Pluto down
[03:22] <Sailor Venus> Pluto! (stretches out her hand)
[03:23] * hands lash out and grab Venus too, but she shrugs them off
[03:23] <Sailor Venus> It's no good, Nightmare! I sacrificed my personality to focus myself! You're dream can't hurt me!
[03:23] * Sailor Venus reaches out for Pluto
[03:23] <Sailor Venus> Pluto! Come on, you see that I'm not affected! It's an illusion!
[03:23] <Miss Nightmare> Of course it is! I'm letting you think you're unaffected!
[03:24] <Sailor Venus> She's lying! Believe in me!
[03:24] <Miss Nightmare> Yes! Believe in this stranger who callously sacrificed her own family ties for a small measure of POWER. Or imagined power, at any rate.
[03:25] <Miss Nightmare> Do you even know WHO she is anymore?
[03:25] * Sailor Pluto looks up at Venus, confused
[03:25] <Sailor Venus> There's no time, hurry up!
[03:25] <Miss Nightmare> Yes, Pluto, you believe in her, don't you? The skittish scatterbrained leader of the Inner Senshi! Who wouldn't know an illusion if it bit her on the nose?
[03:25] <Sailor Pluto> ...
[03:26] <Sailor Venus> Pluto! I saved you once before, remember! Trust me now!
[03:26] * Sailor Venus is knocked aside by a hand from the ground
[03:26] <Sailor Pluto> ...
[03:26] <Miss Nightmare> See, she isn't immune! It was a lie! She can't save you!
[03:26] <Sailor Venus> I... need to concentrate, that's all! Pluto please... believe in me!
[03:27] * Sailor Pluto looks into the oddly cold golden eyes, and shakes her head sadly as she is sucked into the ground
[03:27] * Sailor Venus feels weak all of a sudden
[03:27] <Sailor Venus> In the end... she... didn't... believe...
[03:27] * Sailor Venus stands there stunned.
[03:28] <Miss Nightmare> Hah! Not as strong as you thought, eh, Venus?
[03:28] * Sailor Venus wheels around, a golden aura around her
[03:28] <Sailor Venus> I AM! I know I am! You can't harm me because I KNOW THIS ISN'T REAL!
[03:28] * Miss Nightmare throws a boulder at Venus
[03:29] * Sailor Venus lets it hit her in the chest and fracture
[03:29] * Sailor Venus pulls a boulder out of the ground and hurls it at Nightmare.
[03:29] * Miss Nightmare stands there and lets it crash against her.
[03:29] <Miss Nightmare> Heh, stalemate.
[03:29] <Sailor Venus> So it seems.
[03:30] <Miss Nightmare> Nah, not really! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA
[03:30] * Miss Nightmare holds up a squirming Chibiusa. Venus immediately senses this is no illusion, but the real thing.
[03:30] <Miss Nightmare> Look, it's the fruit of that b[BLEEP]ch's loins.
[03:30] <Sailor Venus> The Princess!
[03:30] <Miss Nightmare> Now, while YOU might have the zen focus to withstand my little play, O ancient warrior spirit in a girl's body, do you think she does?
[03:31] * Miss Nightmare snaps Chibiusa's left arm backwards, breaking it in two
[03:31] * .`~SugaBB_2999~`. lets out an unholy scream
[03:31] <Sailor Venus> NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
[03:32] <Miss Nightmare> It's all very real for her. If I up the pain enough (snaps another arm) Why this little girl is liable to have a cute, pink sugar, heart attack... ne? (grabs hold of her neck)
[03:32] <Sailor Venus> What are you going...
[03:32] <Miss Nightmare> You can deny my reality all you want, but you can't deny hers!
[03:32] <Sailor Venus> Shimatta! VENUS LOVE-ME CHAIN!
[03:32] * Sailor Venus desperately lashes out at Chibiusa with her love-me chain, hoping to snatch back the girl. But as the chain loops around Chibiusa, there is a CRACK as Nightmare cracks the little girl's neck. Venus pulls back a corpse.
[03:33] <Sailor Venus> Princess! PRINCESS!
[03:33] * Sailor Venus screams and drops to her knees, weeping
[03:33] <Sailor Venus> Pluto... Princess... I couldn't protect you..
[03:34] <Miss Nightmare> Welcome to the beginning of your nightmare, Venus.
[03:34] <@spiritflame> ♦ To Be Continued
*** Disconnected