Story Quest 7: Attack + Upgrade (Side Quest 6)

Cassie wandered through the Botanic Gardens, trailing behind her friends a bit as she looked to her right and out over the harbour. It was a beautiful day. She was turning back to her friends when she noticed screams ringing out from up ahead, their whole group froze as their realised it was coming from the Opera House, people streaming out in a panic.

"I've got to go." She spat out, not that anyone had enough attention left to spare for her at the moment, started moving with speed diagonally forward, reached the wall separating the path from the water below, and dived off. As she was falling into the water, she called out "Corundum Crystal Power! Make Up!" and a wave of light hit her, powering her up and dressing her in her uniform, before she hit the water and immediately began swimming freestyle parallel to the land. It was such a crowded day and she was so much faster in the water in this form that she was already leaping out of the water when the alert came in from Jun. He starts saying something about Jokers and a senshi and Cassie feels her adrenaline pumping as she sprints up the stairs yelling "I'm already there!".

It's easy to follow the trail of screams to the particular hall of the attack and Cassie slams through the doors, her feet splashing through a puddle of water, strange she thinks but doesn't have time to process because there she is, the senshi in trouble, locked in some sort of hypnotic state by a winged woman while another with a tail comes up behind her. Cassie takes it in and keeps up her momentum, charging the one with the tail and hits her with a good old fashioned rugby tackle. She let's out a squawk of surprise as the air leaves her body, but before Cassie can do anything else she feels something solid slam into her side and she rolls off, realising it was the Joker's tail.

"Oh look, another one. Lucky us!" Bastinite Basilisk grinned, "And what silly little name do you have?" she asked, a malicious grin on her face.

Cassie stood up, "I'm Sailor Corundum Crocodile, and you two better back the fuck off." she said, but her only response was another grin and the single word "Cute." before Bastinite Basilisk swung a punch her way. Cassie stepped backout of reach of Bastinite's fist, but as she was calling out "Corundum Swamp Setup!" she locked eyes with the woman and found her body freeze up, unable to move. A small feeling of panic started to well up in her but out of the corners of her eye she saw water seeping up from the ground around them, her ability had not been stopped in time, and as Bastinite advanced on her without noticing the extra puddles she slipped, breaking the spell on Cassie.

"Not today!" Cassie grinned, taking a few steps back as she raised her arm, hand curled in a finger gun, "Corundum Pressure Pinpoint!" as water formed a small ball in front of her pointing finger before firing in a high pressure beam at Bastinite's shoulder. The impact resulted in a scream and No more punches thought Cassie. She hurried over to the downed Bastinite who was still struggling to get up in the new water level, "It's time to go to sleep." she said as she reached to put her in a chokehold when suddenly Bastinite stopped struggling and looked up with a grin, her hands glowing a dark green, and grabbed Cassie's outstretched arm.

"What was that you said again? Not today." she laughed as Cassie lost feeling in her arm and watched as it slowly petrified, panicking she brought in her other one for an attack with no planning, but Bastinite caught it and now both her arms her numb and useless. Bastinite kept laughing as she let go and Cassie stumbled back, two useless arms dangling awkwardly. She tried to kick at her attacker but without the use of her arms her balance was all wrong and now she couldn't bend her knee. Cassie limped backwards, she didn't know what to do. Would anyone else arrive in time? She couldn't run, no she wouldn't run, that unknown senshi was still here, unconscious and vulnerable, but she felt so useless right now. I need to be stronger. I need more power. How can I protect anyone else when I can't even protect myself?

As these thoughts ran through her head to the backdrop of the Joker's laughter, suddenly she realised her brooch was glowing. Gazing down at it dumbly all she was able to get out was a "What the-" before a familiar light enveloped her. Was she de-transforming? Was she about to lose what little power she had left? But no, it felt different, like her transformation but something more. She looked down and light was shining from within her limbs, breaking apart the encroaching stone before spreading over the rest of her and embellishing her uniform. Gems formed and the trims crystalised, and she gained a second skirt all the while light swarmed around her. Then she blinked and it was over and suddenly she felt invigorated, she could feel a new strength welling up within her, ready to take on her opponent, and she felt radiant.

"My turn." she said and blasted Bastinite Basilisk with another Pressure Pinpoint, wiping the smile off her face and blasting her backwards. Cassie started to charge over, ready to put her down properly and much more carefully this time but suddeny  she felt a boot slam into her face as Cassiterite Cockatrice came out of the air, wings beating furiously, snarl on her face. "It's time to go." she said, and even as Cassie was raising her finger to attack swiftly picked up Bastinite Basilisk and flew off, squeezing through the nearby door, laughter echoing behind them. Cassie got up and was about to go charging after them when she remembered the other senshi, turning around and rushing over to where she was lying unconcious...only she wasn't there. She was gone. The adrenaline of her power up left her all at once and she slumped down onto floor, her jaw aching from the kick it took, and slapped the slowly draining water. "Damn."