GWB04E

**START**

**49 . Tom and Cooan arrive**.

The girl had had to fend for herself as best she could. Now, with her daughter in tow, she wandered from motel to motel. At least she always had some money, sometimes she didn't even know where she got it. But the fact was that she was being able to feed her little girl. However, she had to go to work, so she left her wrapped in a blanket, asleep, on that flimsy bed in the room she had been able to rent for the night.

-Sleep, my little Marla, mommy will be back soon. - She whispered affectionately. -

She made a ponytail in her dark hair and went out into the street, she had to look for a customer. She was in fact on the side of a secluded alley where she knew that many older, married guys would stop by to "hook up" with a young, attractive girl like her. That's why she was surprised to see such a young, tall, and handsome guy. That one, of course, she wouldn't have to charge him anything if she didn't need to. So, she called him without being at all displeased if he accepted the proposal.

-Hi, big guy. Do you want to have a good time? - she offered, caressing herself in a rather sexy way. -

The guy looked at her, he responded more with curiosity and regret than anything else.

-I don't have much money.

The girl now noticed that the jacket he was wearing was stained with something resembling blood. It could well be some street gang member or criminal. She regretted having drawn his attention. However, it was too late. It was up to him to force a smile and respond in a honeyed tone.

-Never mind, if you want, we can do something quick here.

And she was about to kneel before him when the boy prevented her from doing so by holding her gently by the arm. The young woman looked at him without understanding, even less so when he took out a handful of dollars and, with a slight smile, said as he handed them to her.

-I only carry this, I think that now, at this moment, these papers have some value.

The girl counted that money and, although it was not a fortune, it was not bad. That was certainly worth spending some time in privacy.

-My name is Paige; I have a room nearby. - She introduced herself. -

-I'm Leval. - He answered tersely. -

-Pleased to meet you. - His interlocutor nodded, thinking that it was a rather strange name. -

Surely that guy wouldn't be called that and would be using an alias. But that was none of her business. And, above all, she had to focus on business. So, she took him by the hand and led him to her motel. They walked in slowly. She apologized with an expression of embarrassment when he saw her little girl, wrapped in that blanket and sleeping.

-Sorry, I had to leave my daughter here.

-You don't have to apologize for anything. Nor are we going to bother your daughter. - He smiled slightly, affirming to the girl's surprise. - I just want to drink some water. Do you have any?

- Oh, sure, in the bathroom," - Paige said with visible bewilderment. -

At least that little room had a rudimentary bathroom, with a sink, a small shower, and a toilet. That guy went to drink directly and did so greedily. She watched him with a puzzled look, not knowing for sure if he was a maniac or tourist lost in the city. She waited for him with some impatience until he finally quenched his thirst, came out of the toilet, and headed for the door of the room.

- Wait! - The perplexed Paige asked him. - Don't you want anything in return?

- In exchange for what? - the boy asked, looking at her blankly. -

-You gave me money, I... I assumed that..." - The girl was barely able to mumble. -

At last, he seemed to understand, shaking his head in the negative and declared in a serious and even embarrassed tone.

-I didn't come here for that. And that money is of no value to me. But it can help you. Take care of yourself and your daughter. What's her name? - He was interested in a more animated tone now, while he was watching this child, who should not even be a year old, sleeping. -

-Marla. - Paige answered, looking at her daughter with evident affection. -

-I wish you both the best. - That boy smiled, opening the door to finish off with a laconic. - Goodbye...

He closed behind him. The young mother sat on the bed without understanding anything. Who could this strange boy be? Perhaps he had given her everything he had on him in exchange for a few sips of tap water.

-Well, maybe not all men are bad. - She sighed. -

She put that aside, though. She was tired, she took a shower. She would have to pull herself together to look for more customers who, for sure, would not be as charitable as that good Samaritan. She got out of the bathroom and after drying her brown hair, she put on a nightgown and got into bed next to her little girl, hugging her so she wouldn't take long to fall asleep while she sighed.

-We'll both make it, Marla, we'll both make it, my love.

            In turn, Leval had been able to hydrate a little. No one made him aware of his thirst for time travel. Possibly because no one before him had done it.

-This is all new and I don't know what to do. - He pondered with bewilderment and uneasiness. -

          After talking to Tom, he realized that his display of energy to convince him might have alerted his future father and his father's friends. So, he decided to be much more discreet. After saying goodbye to his future uncle, he had been walking around that city like any ordinary person. Little by little, he headed towards the most degraded neighborhoods. That was curious! What at this time was considered marginal and undesirable to live in, in his future, it would have been a prosperous place to stay wouldn´t be? That was so sad. He walked out of that area of narrow streets with people who were not very recommendable. However, that did not worry him at all. No one there could do him the slightest harm. If only it had been the same in his future!

-More than ever, this strengthens my resolve. We must stop this horror from happening. - He thought. -

           It also grieved him to see that girl with that little girl. In her eyes he could clearly see the need to do anything, like selling her body, to survive. How many young mothers were doing the same, trying to raise their children in that devastated and hostile world of his!

-At least this girl, Paige, and her little daughter Marla, no one wants to hunt them down like vermin. - He said to himself, feeling better for them. - And unlike other poor wretches, I have been able to do something to help them....

            Those memories chilled his blood, and he had no intention of reliving them again. He had enough with his nightmares. He forgot about that to focus on his real objective. He had to go to the place where his parents' house was. A very different one from the one he was in.

-I wish that girl and her daughter the best of luck. - He thought as a last thought on that subject, before leaving that troubled neighborhood. -

             Meanwhile, after a short drive, Tom and Cooan arrived in the city. To the girl's surprise, her boyfriend took another direction that was unknown to her. She hastened to warn him in case he had lost his way.

-But Tommy, where are you going? This is not the way to Roy's apartment...

-It's a surprise. - The boy just answered smiling as if it was planned. -

            Although inside he was worried. He hoped that the boy had been right with the signs he had given him in his story, and, to his astonishment, they turned out to be correct. They entered a rather exclusive area, an upper-class neighborhood.

- Since when can Roy afford such a place? - Cooan asked with evident perplexity on his face. -

-Well, going to play in the NBA will be something for any real estate agent to consider. They must have given him a mortgage or something. - His interlocutor was able to reply with not too much confidence. -

             They parked on a nearby street. Walking just a few dozen meters they arrived at a large villa surrounded by a hedge with a fence. Tom rang a bell and immediately a small buzzer sounded and opened the barred gate. After looking at each other with an impressed gesture, the couple walked a few more meters until they arrived at the door of the large house, knocking hesitantly.

-This is when a guy we don't know will show up and ask us what we want," - Tom smiled tremulously. -

And despite trying to pretend that he knew perfectly well what he was doing and that it was all his own joke, in front of his astonished girlfriend, he had already considered the possibility.

-Of course, Bertie hasn't said anything to me about them moving. - She declared with manifest bewilderment. -

               However, to their astonishment, it was Roy himself who opened the door. He, too, was very surprised to see them, asking before even greeting them.

-Tommy, Connie, but how did you find out our new address? I was going to call you at the apartment to tell you we had moved when you got back from the campsite.

-Someone told us. - His friend replied, not wanting to explain further. - I don't know who it was, but I knew where you lived.

- Did you talk to Ail and Anne? They were in my apartment with their son. Maybe they told you. - His friend conjectured, but it soon dawned on him: "Wait!  I didn't tell them where this place was. Only if they wanted to come and see it with us.

Tom, though, immediately shook his head in response. Even with sincerity.

-No, I didn't talk to them. It was a strange guy who told me where you would be. I didn't know him at all.

-It must have been a government thing. - Roy said without giving it any more importance, because he thought he understood that one of those guys had gone to see his friends. - Come on in," he invited them with a broad smile. - We have company.

Cooan looked at her boyfriend in surprise, but when he told her that some federal agents had talked to his friends it made sense to her.

-You could have told me earlier. - The girl reproached him as they passed. -

-I didn't mean to worry you on our camping trip, I'm sorry, Connie. - He apologized, forcing a smile. - Besides, I've managed to surprise you, haven't I?

His girlfriend gave him a questioning look but finally smiled too. Surely the poor guy had done it with the best of intentions. So, she didn't give it any more thought and, together with Tom, went to greet the rest. Almost next to them, though a little earlier, Nephrite had finally arrived accompanied by a friend, but Sapphire and Petz and the warriors with Mamoru were still missing. Luna and Artemis had stayed at home, pending, as always, any possible emergency that might arise. Although, as the newcomers explained after the greetings, things were now very quiet.

-The truth," Nephrite told Diamond, - "is that things are not going well in London. Things are not going badly for us in London. How are you doing in Paris?

-Wonderful. - His friend nodded, adding. - We must meet one day, come, and visit us.

-We'd be delighted if you do the same. - His interlocutor agreed who wanted to know. - How are your brother and Petz doing?

-At the moment they are very happy with the store and my brother is also enjoying his job as an engineer. - Diamond told him, adding. - I hope they come soon, and we can all have a chat.

               And those two were also still in Japan. As they could not wait for them to arrive since they had not been told when they would be able to appear, a long table was quickly set up and all those present began to eat. Following the custom, they cracked all kinds of jokes and chatted about many things, shared experiences, plans, only Tom remained silent contemplating his friends. Leval's words were still echoing in his head. The others, oblivious to that, were having fun like kids.

- Hey Diamond! - Nephrite scolded. - Don't eat it all, leave me some dumplings, man.

- Nothing!" - the prince laughed to sentence. - Here, as in the Corner of Soul and Time, you either run or you don't eat.

His partner in crime accepted the challenge and they both began to wrestle for possession of the last empanadilla on their side of the table. Of course, both Emerald and Amanda, Nephrite's partner, called them to attention, criticizing their childish behavior. Although that seemed to spur them on even more amidst the laughter of the rest. Finally, they broke it in half like good comrades.

-Boys," - Roy grinned, not hiding his amusement. - This will be the last time I invite you all to eat together, you are more voracious than master Son Goku.

- Don't you think you're exaggerating a little? - Ail asked him mockingly. -

-I don't think so. - His interlocutor answered amused while holding the hands of Diamond and Nephrite, who were about to steal a kibble from him. -At least Goku-Sama was asking you if you were going to eat yours before taking it away, ha, ha!

The doorbell rang, the laughing host got up and told everyone with a great sense of humor.

- Hey, I still want to see food on the table when I get back, and on my plate too, are we? - They all nodded carelessly as they chewed. - I can see what you're getting at. - He sighed, raising the laughter of the rest as he headed for the door. -

As soon as he opened the door, he found Sapphire and Petz who greeted him effusively.

- Surprise, we're here! - the boy exclaimed with surprising enthusiasm, shaking hands, and then giving Roy a hug. - How are you doing, my friend?

-Hello Sapphire, how are you doing, Petz? - his host greeted them very effusively as well. -

-Hi Roy - she answered him warmly. - Good to see you again, is everybody here? - The girl was interested, trying to peek over her boyfriend's shoulder. -

- Of course, and they're turning purple at our expense! - he said, looking at them in amusement. -

- Hey, wait for me, I want to eat too! - the boy warned, rushing to the table. -

- Sapphire! Is it possible? - she exclaimed, laughing with Roy. -

They all moved to the table, making room for the two newcomers. There was a question-and-answer session to see how each of them was doing.

-This is Amanda Thompson," - Nephrite introduced her, referring to the beautiful woman with half blonde hair and blue eyes. She is a journalist, working for a prestigious newspaper in London.

-Very nice to meet you. - She greeted politely and was answered by polite nods. -

She gave the impression of being a sophisticated woman, and intelligent, her gaze valued the rest of the people there being able despite everything to smile with affability.

- I hope you won't write an article about the gluttony of the whole group! - Sapphire laughed. -

-Don't worry," - the girl said with more excitement. - You have other, much more interesting qualities!

-Where are the sailors? When are Usagi and the others coming?

-I think they had some business to take care of. But they'll be here for the game, don't worry. - Sapphire reassured her. -

-Yes, and since you made us come all the way here, I hope you'll show up. - Diamond added. -

               The prince was holding a big hamburger bun where he was depositing an appreciable piece of meat with lettuce and tomato. He was ready to eat it while maintaining that relaxed conversation.

-That's easy," - Roy answered, assuring euphorically.  - You'll see what it's like to play!

-It won't be as much fun as our training sessions. - Sapphire commented. -

-Well, even so, I'm looking forward to seeing you in action. - Nephrite declared. -

-I assure you it will be worth it. - An enthusiastic Roy said -

Meanwhile, in the girls' area, conversations were more serious.

- Have you heard anything from Kalie? - Cooan asked Petz. -

-No, she certainly hasn't returned to our house in Tokyo, I think she must still be here in the USA.

-Well, we haven't heard from her either. I wonder what she is doing. - Beruche intervened.

                   The young woman could not help her nostalgic concern after updating them on what she had discussed with the federal agents.

-I'm sure she and her son are happy. - Tom joined them in their conversation, since he had barely intervened in the boys'. -

- What do you mean, her son? - Cooan asked him in surprise. -

-She was pregnant, wasn't she? I suppose she's had the baby by now. - He answered logically. Although, of course, that's what he was trying to make her think. -

-It could be a girl," - Beruche replied, surprised in her turn, wanting to know. - Why are you so sure it's a boy...?

-I say it to generalize - the questioned one answered defensively. - With her son, her baby, her daughter, whatever you want!

-Whatever it is, I hope we can see her again soon. - Cooan declared to settle the matter. -

          Although the girl looked at her partner somewhat quizzically, it was not normal for Tom to jump up and down like that over such a trivial nuance.

- Come on girls, don't get depressed now, I'm sure he'll be fine! - Ann encouraged them just as her son began to cry. - Are you hungry my love? - she asked gently, getting up to hold him in her arms. - Poor baby, I almost didn't remember that it's your time. I'm going to breastfeed him a little. - She commented to the others. -

-Come to my room - Bertie suggested. - Then you can give it to him quietly, with all these hooligans around, the poor child will be nervous!

Annie readily agreed. It was obvious that her friend was right. On the other side of the table, the boys were fussing and laughing nonstop.

- How about playing a little game after lunch? - Diamond proposed, finishing her plate. - Like we used to do when we were training.

- Good idea, you two nerds! - Roy agreed. - That way I'll teach you how to play street style. And you'll see what I'm capable of.

-That's a good idea, I'm in! - Sapphire said, infected by the enthusiasm. - We're going to have a great time.

Everyone agreed except Tom, who wasn't too keen. Ail tried to convince him.

- Come on, man, you play too, so that there are three of us per team.

-It's just that I don't feel like it after lunch. - He excused himself. -

- Come on, man! - Nephrite insisted - "Don't be a spoilsport!

-Well, okay, fine. - Tom reluctantly agreed so as not to start drawing attention to his apathy. - But I warn you, with a full belly I'm not going to run. Who am I teaming with?

-With me and Nephrite. Against Sapphire, Diamond and Ail. - Roy answered with laughter. - We're going to beat the crap out of them! Ha, ha, ha.

-Okay, okay. - Diamond said to him with a twinkle in his eye. - Let's bet, smart guy! Losing team pays for dinner tonight.

Everyone was happy with that. The girls for their part and at Emerald's suggestion decided to go shopping. As they were leaving Sapphire suggested.

- Why don't you stay and cheer us on?

- Come on! - Beruche laughed - What a boring plan!

-Besides, why would we stay? - Cooan added with apparent indifference, adding mockingly. - To watch a bunch of shirtless, muscle-bound, sweaty, handsome guys fighting over a ball?

- Cooan, shut up or I'll stay," Emerald declared, provoking laughter from everyone. - Don't laugh. - She blushed while asked them. - But it has its charm.

-You're right,"- Ann conceded, pushing the baby's stroller that was now sleeping, urging her friends to laugh. - Come on girls, let's go before we change our minds!

-It's not that,"- Petz interjected. -If we stay and you fail a lot, we will laugh at you and lower your morale.

Sapphire then put an arm around her and replied amused.

-Well, sweetie, it's okay, you can put it up again later. - They all stared at each other with dotted eyes and hooting. - I'm talking about morale, wrong-headed people!  - The boy tried to clarify, but it was useless, the only thing he achieved was to make the laughter that made Petz blush red. -

-Let's go then. - Bertie urged them, still smiling after that last comment. - I've called a couple of cabs and they won't be long.

The vehicles did indeed arrive in a few minutes, and the girls boarded them, giving them instructions about their destination. In the first one Beruche, Cooan and Amanda got in, the latter who had not spoken much in the whole meal, said now.

-I hope to find something Nephrite will like.

-Don't worry, you can find everything in the Big Apple. I'm sure I can find Tom something original. Let's see if it cheers him up a bit, he's been very quiet since we arrived. - Cooan added almost more to herself. -

-I want to find a sweater for Roy and maybe some shirts. - Beruche declared resolutely. - With all this basketball he doesn't care about his wardrobe these days.

-Well, take him naked, woman, he'll be more pleasing to the eye! - Amanda laughed and was seconded by the girls. -

-Tom doesn't like to worry about putting on new clothes either, I'd say the last few days we've been doing the opposite, hee, hee, we've been taking them off! - Cooan said, covering her mouth with her hand. -

- Well, it's all for the image. – Bertie sighed, who now wanted to move on to a more serious topic and asked the girls. - What do you think about this worldwide pact about us?

- If you want me to tell you the truth. I've hardly heard anything about it. - her sister responded, adding with more concern. - But Tom has been very strange lately, I don't know. It seems to me that something is bothering him.

- I can't tell you much either. - Amanda agreed and added. - As you know we live in London and there, an organization that said they don't work for the government proposed the same thing to us. Well, they asked Nephrite. I think he accepted. He told me that he thought they were trustworthy.

- And you have no idea who they are? - Bertie asked with bewilderment if they said they weren't the government that was even stranger. -

- I only saw one of them. It was a Captain Jack something. I didn't catch his last name. He was wearing a long military coat. - The British woman was able to reply with bewilderment. - It almost looked like a museum piece, like from World War II.

- I hope they let us live in peace," - Cooan sighed and remarked. - That's all we really want. Although you, being a journalist, I imagine you'd think otherwise.

-No, not at all. It's one thing to report news of interest and another to attack privacy. - Amanda was quick to respond. - From what Nephrite has told me, you've more than earned it. And my field is more in economic and political reporting. - She finally smiled and said - " I value my own privacy as much as anything else, and I don't consider it appropriate to disturb other people's privacy.

Her interlocutors agreed. In the other cab, after folding the stroller and putting it in the trunk, Emerald was telling Petz and Ann, who was carrying the child on her lap, how she was doing on the catwalk. One of her collections had sold right there in New York.

-Maybe, if we're lucky, we'll be able to see it in a showcase," - the model told them, visibly excited about the idea. -

-I'd love to see it," - Ann sighed. - Let us know, huh? - Her friend nodded, of course she would. -

- And how did you become such an important designer in such a short time? - Petz asked. -

- Well, her friend replied modestly. - To tell the truth, as soon as I returned to Diamond, after the celebration party, after Usagi-Chan gave me the powers of a Justiciera, I didn't even think about it seriously. But afterwards, I was able to have several encounters with Setsuna. Well, the Warrior from the planet Pluto. She loves fashion and she also told me that she would love to be a designer. The thing is that I knew people in Japan, and I was able to make contacts there. Then in Europe. Michiru, who is quite a reputable artist, introduced me to some people. I was even accompanied by her, Setsuna, and Haruka. The truth is that they were very kind to me. - She smiled. –

- Yeah. From what I hear. Your boss, that Mrs. Deveraux, she's the best designer in the world.

- She is. I was very lucky that Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna, who apparently get along very well with her, spoke well of me and that she accepted me as a disciple and model. - Emerald admitted that she unveiled them. - I am so grateful to her that, instead of the Green surname of my Nemesis family, I have taken hers for my working life. And you, Petz, how are you and Sapphire doing?

Her interlocutor heard the question and replied with animation.

- We are very happy. The store is doing very well. When we returned to Tokyo, we reopened it. He helped me clean and tidy everything up. The customers came back right away, and we had to hire a couple of salesclerks to help us.  Even Usagi and the rest of the girls have stopped by from time to time. I always give them creams as gifts, though I don't want to charge them anything.

               She smiled in amusement, remembering her warrior friends' committed faces, who, although they were delighted at first, later said they had a bad conscience since all those creams were very expensive.

-Either I don't know them well, or I'm sure Ami is already having a guilty conscience. - Emerald said with an amused tone. - And Makoto too. Although I suppose that Rei will be in a hurry, but she will take them and Minako and Usagi will be simply delighted.

-Well, you're not wrong at all. – Petz laughed. -

-Sometimes they have those things, as if they were babies. They're great girls, though. - Annie said, hugging her child to her friends' assent, adding. - "I remember even when I got there as best I could. - I still remember when I arrived as best I could on Earth and Rei put me up in her house. She took care of me and my baby. Both she and the others. And all despite the horrible things I did to them and others when I first came to this world.

-Yes, we can understand you very well here. - Emerald agreed. - Thanks to them we have all had a second chance. I would give them dresses from all my collections for the rest of my life, and I still couldn't pay off even a tiny part of my debt to them.

-You are right. -Petz nodded. - They deserve everything. They are wonderful.

And so, they went on talking a little longer. When they arrived at the agreed point they got off. They paid the fares and went around the main stores. Then they strolled through the park. They mingled and on one of the occasions when they were chatting a little apart from the rest, it was Emerald who commented to Petz.

-I was very happy to see Nephrite, and that girl he hangs out with, Amanda, is quite nice. I could swear she looks familiar, though.

- Familiar? - her interlocutor asked, glancing sideways at the alluded one who was a little further back, looking at Annie's baby.

-I would say no, but there's something about her that strikes me. I don't know how to explain it. - A confused Emerald was able to reply, who, despite everything, smiled and added with more casual tones. - It must be something of mine. Some girls from the Deveraux agency must look like her. Forget it.

          Her companion nodded without worrying about it either and they both joined the rest. The boys played for a couple of hours. None of them did badly, but Roy made the difference. In the end the future pro player's team won by only four points, as Tom didn't do much serious work. His mind was elsewhere.

- Are you feeling all right, Kansas hillbilly? - Roy smiled and nodded. - Good thing I'm a basketball genius. Otherwise, given how little success you've had, I could see myself buying dinner for the little prince.

-I'm sorry. I warned you. My stomach is heavy after eating. - His interlocutor was able to excuse himself. -

-Well. That's all right. By the way, by the way. You must tell me how it was in Portland, huh? - his conversation partner replied nonchalantly. -

-Yeah, sure. - His friend agreed. -

-Well. Now let's go for a swim, boys. - Roy harangued the rest. -

-Go ahead. - Diamond agreed -

          The others gladly followed suit. Even Tom had to get into the water a bit and suffer stoically some watering by his friends. After a while of cooling off in the pool, they decided to wait for the girls. Roy suggested playing some of the rather obscene movies he was hiding (or so he thought) from Bertie in the meantime.

- How about this one? - He said with a chuckle. - The Star Wars Bitch".

They all nodded with great interest; this was a new experience for most of them. Roy didn't have to be asked twice and put on the movie. Ail, especially, looked on in amazement.

-And they really like those things. - He pointed at the screen in disbelief. - That's what they're doing, why are they putting it in their mouths?

-I assure you it's good. - Diamond affirmed without hiding an expression of glee. -At least Emerald is not bad at it. - He smiled mischievously. -

- Fuck...with the little prince," - Roy exclaimed with a sneer, "- and he looked like a fool!

-Well, Petz is an artist too, even if you don't think so. What about you guys? – Sapphire declared, who looked at Roy and Tom. -

- If you only knew what Cooan and I have done in a sleeping bag! - He replied, now more animated, provoking more laughter.

-All I'm saying is that Bertie is not nearly as modest as she looks. When the ice cube melts, it's real lava! - Roy assured- ...

-Yeah, right, that's why you hide these movies from her. - Nephrite scoffed with a chorus of laughter from the others. -

The questioned one had to feel touched, but he had no chance to counterattack. The door opened and the girls appeared, loaded with bags and packages, catching them red-handed in the middle of the projection.

- Well, well! - Emerald said with a somewhat sarcastic tone. - You're taking advantage of the time to document yourselves, huh? - and then grabbed her boyfriend by the arm. -

-Honey, it's no big deal, heh, heh! - he was able to say with a little smile of circumstance. -

-Diamond, my love," - she whispered in a honeyed voice. - It's time to go to the hotel, there, you'll tell me what you've learned.

There was a generalized ooohhh! They both blushed and said their goodbyes and left for the next day's game.

- What a machine! - Nephrite laughed who added mockingly. - I pity Diamond, thank goodness he's in good shape!

-Dear, I hope you are too. – Amanda said, leaving him frozen in laughter from ear to ear. -

-Well, Sapphire, we must go, and you won't be less than your brother, won't you? - Petz asked her boyfriend, with a provocative air. -

-We will do what we can. - He smiled, looking at the others who were barely holding in their laughter. - Although I'm a bit tired from the game, maybe with a bean.

- Don't cheat, man! - Roy interjected, laughing his head off. - You must suffer heroically, like the true warriors!...

- No way! - Petz laughed, adding in a mellow and threatening way. - He's not going to suffer at all, he's going to find out today what Heaven is here on Earth.

             And after hearing more laughter from the others, celebrating that answer, they both left holding each other by the waist. Amanda and Nephrite also left, as did Ann and Ail with their little one. They went to Roy's apartment in the city. The alien commented to his wife that he was looking forward to trying certain things he had seen in the video. Only Tom and Cooan stayed overnight, it had been a long time since they had seen each other and then they would have to move west. They wanted to talk about many things, and they did, except for that one thing that was tormenting Tom. But the boy told himself that it was not, yet the time and he knew how to hold his anxiety. At the end of the evening, they went to bed early, quite early in fact, for what was normal. At least there was something for him to distract himself and Connie, more so after watching a few scenes from that movie. Finally, it was Roy and Beruche's turn. But this time, she headed for a separate bed, despite the boy's kneeling and whimpering pleas. The girl with an impassive look folded her arms and declared in an icy tone.

-It can't be Roy; you've got a game tomorrow and you must be rested. It is said that sportsmen don't do such things when they are concentrating.

- But Bertie, darling! - he begged, - "I don't get tired of doing that, I'm a super Saiyan! - Beruche shook her head. - This isn't fair! - he lamented in a plaintive tone to denounce. -All my friends must be having a wonderful time with their girlfriends, and I must go to sleep... alone.

-You've already had a great time with the movie," - she replied with a malicious voice to reproach him with mock indignation. - So, you had those dirty things going around without me knowing about it, huh?

-I can explain it to you if it's just to learn new things. Come on, I'll explain it to you in bed! - He insisted. -

Bertie still maintained a pretended icy sternness, though he had to try hard not to laugh. He mastered himself and said in an unrelenting voice.

-I said no, and I just didn't. See you tomorrow, Roy, get plenty of rest, and dream only of making baskets, which you will need.

The boy, defeated, left with his head down. When he had gone away and gone into his room, she burst out laughing.

- I've gone too far with him, poor thing, hee, hee, hee!

Then her sister appeared, Beruche thought she was asleep but that wasn't exactly what she and Tom had been doing.

-You don't think you've been too hard on him. - Cooan laughed, who couldn't help overhearing the last part of the conversation. - As agitated as he was! Ha, ha!

-Don't worry. – Her sister assured Cooan nonchalantly. - Then I'll go into his room in a little outfit I bought myself, I'm sure I'll surprise him. And you and Tom? - she asked mischievously. - Weren't you?

Cooan nodded but was no longer laughing. She let a few seconds pass before admitting.

-He's feeling a bit listless tonight for what he usually does, he's asked me to take a walk in the garden, he seems worried.

-Well, he'll have things to think about, Roy had the same thing happen to him when he was going to try out for the team. - Her sister answered without giving it any more importance, adding with visible good humor. - Anyway, you're asking too much of the poor guy. Keep in mind that after playing that game he'll be tired.

- That's true," - the questioned girl laughed who, despite it, did not give in, adding. - Well, I've already given him more than enough rest. When we finish our walk, we'll go back to work.

Tom himself then approached them and Cooan wished her sister good night.

-See you tomorrow, and don't be too bad. - Beruche laughed. -

-"Don't worry," - her interlocutor promised, watching her with amusement. - We'll be worse.

Cooan walked away with her boyfriend, the girl took her sweater because it was getting cooler outside. For her part, Beruche, after a while, put on her evening dress and slowly entered the room where she had "punished" her boyfriend, calling him between honeyed whispers.

-Roy, darling, it's me.

          Bertie approached slowly, discovering that he was already asleep, and on his face, she saw a serene and confident expression. It was clear that he was dreaming of their future meeting. The truth was that his face was illuminated by an almost childlike joy. She smiled warmly, whispering sweetly in his ear.

- Sleep well my love, tomorrow is your big day. And I will be there with you to cheer you up. - She stroked his hair and gave him a motherly kiss on the forehead. Then she silently left the room. -

Tom was pensive as they walked. He chatted little with his girlfriend who came to look at him a little worried. She couldn't ask him if anything was wrong, though. Cooan´s partner finally perked up. He had been meditating. Most likely that terrible future could be changed. This time, with the boy's warning everything would be different, and they would manage to win and live, he managed to relax, and his mood improved. He began to tell the girl some incidents of the game they had played and some comments from the movie. Cooan laughed a lot and forgot her worries. At last, they both returned to the house hand in hand. They entered the room. The boy took her in his arms and said with animation.

- How nice, I've had enough of doing it in a sleeping bag! Now I'm back in shape and you'll see what's good!

The girl laughed with joy to see him more than willing to prove it to her and closed the door behind them before she was thrown onto the soft mattress....

- Tom, we're at Roy and my sister's house!

-Well, I don't think they'll mind. - He smiled mischievously. -

              And for his part, after getting there. The boy had been watching from a safe distance. He saw the lights in the house and waited for them all to go out. He sighed, observing that atmosphere of peace and happiness. It seemed unreal to him, so different from the nightmarish world in which he had had to grow up. And there they all were. Those legendary fighters who saved the world. Unfortunately, the invading troops of Gralas were too much for them. But this time he would make sure that that would not be the case. He still remembered some of the things he talked about with Mazoui and Tom back in the day. They both warned him of the risks involved in such a trip. Perhaps he could return to his own time, or perhaps not, because the flow of events would change with his arrival. But Leval didn't care about that. His own life was the least of it if he could avoid that tragic fate. If his father and the others could survive. In a way he envied them all, and, in a way he was angry. Why did they let themselves be killed? Why did his father die before he himself was born? All he had of him were old recordings and the stories of his mother and aunts. And then there was that dream, the one he had before he left, a kind of nightmare in which a kind of shadow carrying a book whispered to him. Leval thought he understood what it was saying.

-Nothing of what you have lived through should ever have happened. Young warrior, you will have to make things flow along the path from which they should never have strayed....

            And Leval was determined. He didn't know if this dream corresponded to some warning from the Beyond, or if it was his own unconscious desires. Either way, he had succeeded. He was able to go back in time and contact his Uncle Tom. What he should not allow was for his parents to find out who he was. At least that's what Mazoui advised him and so did his uncle. He was back to censoring himself now, just as he did right after seeing Tom. He had made a grave mistake in concentrating so much energy. Surely, he would have been noticed, but he immediately erased all traces of it. Luckily, no one had gone after him. Surely, they were all watching the game. He sighed, he still had to wait another day. For nothing in the world was he going to deprive his father of enjoying his professional debut. His mother always told him that it was the biggest dream he had ever had. And that match, of which he had been able to watch the recording at least a hundred times. It would unfortunately be the first and the last unless they could avoid the fate that was looming over the planet.  So, he settled as best he could on top of a tree in a nearby park and settled down to rest. He would need to be fresh to face the next day's events as he thought.

-Not all the past needs to be changed. At least, not this part. Dad, Mom. I will do everything in my power to make sure you can enjoy your lives and be happy.

In Japan, things were quiet. Usagi and Mamoru spent the night together, exploring their relationship from a more mature point of view. In the end they fell asleep in each other's arms...but in the middle of the night they suddenly woke up, they had cold sweat pouring down their bodies and the expressions on their faces were total horror....

- Ha, you had the same dream, didn't you? - he asked her with his voice cracking with dread. -

-I don't even want to talk about it. - The girl was still shocked, with tears running down her cheeks. - It was horrifying! I've never seen anything like it...

-It was a terrible nightmare. Like the time before. - He was able to say. -

-No," - the girl corrected him, her voice still trembling. - It's something much, much worse. I've seen horrible things. This goes further than last time. And, besides, it not only affects this world, countless planets and even space-time dimensions are in grave danger. Setsuna warned us. And the terrible threat that is coming to us is nothing but advanced.

Her boyfriend nodded. Usagi told him about Sailor Pluto's visit a couple of days ago, when she was with the other girls at the Crown.

- What do we do now? - the boy wanted to know, affirming. - I have seen that strange being again, with that book. He literally told me that things shouldn't happen like that.

-Of course not. That wouldn't happen! We'll stop it any way we can! - The girl affirmed with determination. -

-We'll have to tell the others. -And our friends. - He affirmed. -

-Yes... this time we will act quickly and join them from the beginning. But I think there is another one who will have to oversee bringing them up to speed. - The young woman declared. -

- How much time do we have? - Mamoru wanted to know. -

-I don't know, but I think it's enough. - His interlocutor replied. -

-Maybe it would be better not to look strange and go to Roy's basketball game. You know how important it is for him. - The boy commented. - I wouldn't want to spoil it for him. There'll be a chance to warn them later.

-I do know. And I agree with you. We'll go and act normally. - She replied, saying she was surprised. - I do not understand it. Setsuna had no idea who had done it or how the space-time continuum had been crossed.

-There must be someone else out there. With great powers. If he's capable of causing that. - Mamoru conjectured, added with obvious trepidation. - The more important question now is... friend or foe?

Usagi nodded, hugging him. After a few moments they kissed for a long time, and after separating, the boy tried to de-dramatize, affirming.

-Well, let's try to sleep. Tomorrow, you talk to the girls. But it would be better if for the moment you don't tell them anything about this dream we had. It would be nice for them to enjoy the experience of going to the U.S. and seeing our friends there with no problems over their heads and giving them a genuine impression of joy, don't you think?

-You're right. It will cost me, but I will act as usual. On the way back there will be time to talk about it. - Usagi agreed who now opened her mouth to yawn. - I'm very tired, I hope I can sleep.

-It's the best. And don't push yourself. Let your Usagi character come out. That's the best medicine for any crisis. See you tomorrow my future queen. - The boy smiled at her. -

-I'll try. See you tomorrow, my king of the thirtieth century. -The alluded one answered. -

           But those nightmares about those horrors were not the only ones. When Mamoru told her about her Usagi's character, the young girl immediately understood what he meant. And now she remembered having a kind of dream in which she saw a girl who had a similar situation. Though for quite different reasons.

-I don't know what it could mean and it's not up to me. -She said to herself. -

           So, she wanted to stop thinking about it and rest. And after a few moments both Usagi and Mamoru fell asleep. They were both exhausted and wished they would never have such a nightmare again. However, perhaps it would have been better to have suffered another bad dream than the terrible reality that awaited them and the rest of the world, if they did not overcome this new and difficult test.

-I only hope that everything goes well and that we can successfully face whatever this is. - She thought before going to sleep. -

And on the other side of the world, the young woman woke up when she heard the girl's cries. She quickly looked in all directions. Her sister had done it again. She must have gone off in search of customers.

-Paige should be here, taking care of Marla. - She said to herself reproachfully. -

There was nothing in that little room to warm a bottle. She took her niece in her arms and cradled her, trying to quiet her. She didn't have much luck. She sighed. She decided to bundle her up and quickly set off in search of a room with a kitchen. She grabbed the powdered milk and approached the motel owner's room. Knocking on the door, she asked him in a pleading tone.

-Please, wouldn't you have someplace to heat up some milk? It's for my niece's bottle.

- Your niece? - the perplexed old man in charge of the place asked her. -

-Yes, of course. It's just that my sister is out. And the girl woke up just now. - She explained hurriedly. -

-You can use my kitchen. - The guy allowed her to do so. -

She entered the guy's apartment nodding gratefully. With the bottle of milk in her hand, she went to a sober and ramshackle kitchen.  Taking a saucepan, she poured water and heated it on a fire.

- And the baby? - the old man asked. - Where did you leave her?

-In the room my sister rented. - She replied. -

- Who did you say you were? - The old man was interested, looking at her strangely. -

-Her sister. My name is April... April Sorel. - She declared after a moment's hesitation. -

That wasn't her real last name, but her sister Paige adopted it, so she wanted to do the same.

-Well, tell her sister. That the rent is thirty dollars a night. And that if she's going to stay tonight too, she must pay me.

-Yes, of course. - April smiled nervously, she had already warmed up to that. -

Nevertheless, that guy smiled showing his scarce and yellowish teeth to whisper while he put a hand on the buttocks of the hurried girl.

-Although, if you don't have any money, just this once, I could make an exception, you know what I mean. A little job from your sister or from you?

April was breathing heavily. That disgusting old geezer was trying to make a pass at her. She turned as if he had startled her by letting some of the burning milk fall on the bastard's hand. The individual uttered a scream as it burned.

- You careless bitch! - He exclaimed in pain, anger, and astonishment. - "Look what you've done!

- You don't know how sorry I am, you frightened me. I beg your forgiveness. Look, I'm going to give my niece her bottle, and you wait for me here. I'll come down at once and do whatever you ask me to do. Then I'll pay for my sister's room. Do you think so?

Those words had the effect of a balm for that scoundrel. After putting his hand under a stream of cold water, the landlord nodded.

-Don't take too long to feed that brat. - He practically ordered her. -

April agreed with a gesture and ran to her room. She was able to fill the bottle and wait for the milk to warm. She picked up her still crying niece and after cradling her again put her in position, giving her that desired breakfast.

-Now, sweetheart, now. - She whispered softly. - I'm sorry I took so long... don’t worry, my love, mommy will be here soon.

And once the girl had eaten and she tapped her to expel the air, April hurried to gather her meager belongings.

-If that old creep thinks he's going to have anything to do with me, he's delusional. We're getting out of here. My sister will surely know what happened.

And as quickly as she could, so that the jerk wouldn't suspect anything, she left, carrying Marla in a basket, and sighing with relief to get out of there, but also worried about finding another place that could accommodate them.

**START**