From: phoenix@mediaone.net   
      
   Act 45 - Youma Metalia's Violent Attack   
      
   Makoto and Ami are waiting outside Minako's hospital room worrying and   
   wondering about why she would be fainting so much. They decide to keep   
   the extent of Minako's condition secret from Usagi because they feel   
   that she already has so much to worry about.   
      
   Jadeite muses over Zoisite's piano, thinking about Zoisite's death.   
   Mamoru comes into the piano room as well and discusses Zoisite's final   
   words,  which they both heard, as well as Nephrite's condition and   
   Kunzite's death.   
      
   Back at school, it is painfully obvious that many, many people are   
   being affected by Metalia's youma. Half the class is missing, now in a   
   mysterious coma. Ami continues to hide Minako's condition from Usagi.   
   Pretty ironic, Ami, who's concern about being abandoned allowed her to   
   be drawn into the dark side is now avoiding Usagi in her own time of   
   need.   
      
   In the hospital, Artemis attempts to convince Minako to take the   
   surgery but she continues to refuse, living only for her role as a   
   senshi. When Artemis won't let up on his insistence that she look   
   after her own health, Minako finally banishes him from her side.   
      
   Ami goes to see Rei at the temple and finally learns of Minako's true   
   condition. Rei rages at Minako's blind obedience to her past life's   
   obligations.   
      
   Outside Minako's room, Makoto had heard the entire argument with   
   Artemis and she also now understands the extent of Minako's medical   
   condition. Minako tells Makoto that even if she sacrifices her   
   (Minako's) life, the mission from her past life will be fulfilled.   
   Makoto sympathizes with Minako's point of view since Makoto has   
   herself determined that her own past life has mandated that she remain   
   alone and unloved.   
      
   Motoki and Nephrite are bringing bags and boxes of supplies back to   
   the Crown when Motoki sees a street vendor selling charms and   
   oddities. He stops to look through the wares and ends up purchasing a   
   small turtle charm (perhaps for Makoto?). Nephrite sees Motoki's   
   action and also wishes to buy something. He says that he wants to show   
   his appreciation to Ami for her lousy food (What a charmer ^_^;).   
   Since Nephrite has no money, Motoki lends him 2000 yen (about 20   
   bucks). Nephrite has some really odd ideas about what sort of gifts to   
   buy for a girl. ^_^;   
      
   At the shrine, Rei discovers two children who's mothers have succumbed   
   to the power of Metalia's youma. As she runs for help, Rei is stopped   
   by a smiling Mio who has hatched some devilish plan.   
      
   Minako and Makoto sense the youma's attack and race off to confront   
   it. Minako attempts to transform, but it fails and she finds herself   
   powerless to help Jupiter. However, Sailor Luna and Mercury soon show   
   up to give assistance.   
      
   They launch a three way attack that actually seems to weaken the youma   
   who staggers outside the building in which they were fighting. In a   
   sudden burst of energy, Metalia sends her own essence into the youma   
   giving it enormous power. The Metalia youma blasts the senshi off   
   their feet and is determined to destroy the planet. The youma's attack   
   is so brutal that Mercury and Luna de-henshin back into their human   
   forms. Minako is still unable to transform so that leaves only Jupiter   
   to carry on the battle.   
      
   As Minako looks on helplessly, Jupiter repeats Minako's earlier words   
   back to her, that even if she (Jupiter) sacrifices her own life, the   
   mission from her past life will be fulfilled.   
      
   Jupiter powers up, gathering dark storm clouds overhead. She flips   
   behind the youma and grabs it in a deadlock. Using herself as a   
   conduit, Jupiter draws blast after blast of lightning from the sky,   
   focusing it into the youma. As the two of them start to glow, the   
   charm Motoki had purchased falls to the floor and breaks. Usagi at the   
   secret base suddenly senses something is wrong with Makoto.   
      
   Minako attempts to dissuade Jupiter from this suicide attack but she   
   refuses to relent and once again repeats back Minako's words. Jupiter   
   screams as she increases her power to an unbelievable level. As she   
   and the youma disappear in a blinding explosion of green light, Minako   
   cries out Makoto's name in despair.   
      
   Wow...   
      
   This reminded me so much of Jupiter's kamikaze attack at the end of   
   the anime Dark Kingdom arc. This live action version did her animated   
   counterpart proud and was just as poignantly moving.   
      
   --   
   Phoenix   
   www.phoenixanime.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)