"GO!" Ataru barked as he raced for the door leading off the
quarterdeck to the rest of the ****p, his finger la****ng out at the
metal. "*******NZOU BAKUHATSU SHOKU!***" he barked as it hit the
door's breaking point.
It exploded. Ataru and Sakiko leapt through, they racing off towards
the centre of the ****p. Reiko, Kaneko and Chikage leapt through
next. The twins snapped up a telekinetic defence field to block off a
storm of stun bolts fired at them from a team of security officers
charging at the women from aft. "***OSCULUM PAPILIONIS!***" Chikage
barked as she unleashed her own attack.
Reiko and Kaneko ducked as the wall of ki mowed down the Ellsians
like a giant bowling ball. "Where's the engine room?!" Chikage
demanded as they raced down a corridor. "We need a distraction to
give Ani-kun and Sakiko the chance to locate the others for Hi****o to
retrieve them!"
Reiko's eyes glowed, and then she pointed to her left and up.
"There!"
Chikage's eyes narrowed as she focused her senses on the distant room
in question. She then grabbed the twins' hands. "Come on!"
They vanished in the flutter of the sorceress' cape.
* * *
"Open the damned door!"
Marie pressed the panel to open the airlock. Elle's body was the
first thing tossed through, followed by Ranma and Seiko. The latter
hit the control to seal the lock, and then the intercom. "Miree, this
is Seiko!" she called to the pilotage. "The ****p's sealed! Break us
free of them right away!"
"Hang on!" Miree's voice echoed throughout the "Windrider" as the
howl of metal being twisted echoed throughout the ****p.
* * *
Chikage and the twins appeared in a cavernous, tubular space divided
down the middle by a slender shaft blazing with energy. Taking note
that the "Rose Emperor's" main engine room could easily swallow the
whole of the rotunda at Welcome House, the sorceress drew one of her
crucifix-shaped magical charms from under her cape. Then, with a
flick of her hand, she sent it flying into the monitor's warp core.
The cross easily phased through the hardened glass keeping the blazing
plasma within from escaping. Then, once it made contact with the
energy in question, Chikage's charm flared.
By the time the outer containment shell of the warp core shattered,
showering the surprised engineering crew with ultra-hot plasma,
Chikage had already snared Reiko's and Kaneko's hands and tele****ted
them to safety.
* * *
"Commander, the 'Windrider' is breaking free of the airlock!"
The first officer jolted before she looked to the view screen to see
the sloop pulling clear of the "Rose Emperor." "Tractor it . . .!"
The deck lurched as a explosion echoed through the ****p, the
shockwave from that sending everyone flying out of their chairs to
smash into consoles and the deck. A computerized voice warned,
"*Alert! Alert! Warp core breech in progress! Estimate time to
critical overload, three minutes. All personnel, abandon ****p! All
personnel, abandon ****p! Alert! Alert . . .!*"
The first officer paled. "The warp core?"
* * *
"Uh-oh!" Hi****o said as she watched a plume of exploding gas erupt
from the hull of the "Rose Emperor." "Someone broke their ****p!"
"It's a warp-core breach, Mother," Jonna re****ted. "I estimate three
minutes before her singularity core goes critical."
"We best be clear when it happens." Miree grimaced. "Any chance of
scanning into that ****p to find the others?"
"Trying now, ma'am," Nobuko re****ted from her station.
* * *
"Aria-chan, are you alright?!"
"It . . .!" The young Parisian sniffed as Sakuya laid a broken part
of Mendou's katana sheath against her lower left arm. "Hurts . . . "
she moaned as Sakuya took the ripped sleeves of Mamoru's sweat top to
tie the make****ft splint on Aria's arm. "Kusun . . . " she quietly
sobbed.
As the sisters administered to their sibling, Tomo was keeping her
pistol (the one she had hidden in ****nobu's skirt) trained on Seven
Bake Rose's forehead. The mercenary had kept her footing when the
****p had lurched, her grip on Momoe's neck tightening even more.
"Drop the pistol, girlie!" Rose snarled. "Or this little pretty gets
a new ear!"
"You're hearing your ****p's computer right now," the Internal
Security officer re****ted. The faint echo of the ****p's computer
rebounded from the corridor beyond the observation balcony. "We've
got less than three minutes to clear out of this junkheap before we
all get a one-way ticket into the Te'a. So let's call it a day and
let the girl go."
Rose cackled. "Not a chance, honey."
* * *
"Darling, Rose has Momoe-san hostage right under the balcony," Sakiko
whispered as she and Ataru crouched to either side of the doorway
leading into the balcony. "Her gun's pointed at Momoe-san's head. I
don't recognize the girl who came in here, but she feels like an
Avalonian . . . "
"Never mind," Ataru quietly cut her off as he drew out his Lawgiver
from under his camouflage cape. "Hi****o-chan . . .?" he hissed.
*What is it, Onii-tama?* Hi****o's voice echoed in their minds.
"We've got a hostage situation. The creep who kidnapped Karen-chan
and the others is holding one of my old classmates hostage. Can you
get the Staff to beam everyone else back to the 'Windrider' while I
deal with this jerk?"
*Onii-tama, Hina can save her . . .!*
"No," he hissed. "If Rose senses anything, she could squeeze the
trigger and kill Momoe. The sisters first. Ten seconds."
*Okay!*
Sakiko stared curiously at him. "Darling . . . "
He gave her a weak smile. "They have to understand, Sakiko-chan."
* * *
A noise echoed through the room. "Hey, what's . . .?!" Rinrin
gasped.
Before she could say "that," a flash of energy blinded everyone in
the room as the Staff of Gihan whisked away Ataru's sisters. As the
light receded to normal, a lithe form leapt off the balcony,
somersaulting himself around to make a three-point landing on the deck
close to ****nobu and Tomo. Another person landed right in front of
Ryuunosuke. By the time Rose's vision began to clear, the mercenary
turning to see that nine of the hostages had just vanished right
before her eyes, a snarling voice barked out, "***DROP IT!***"
Her eyes locked on a bearded figure in camouflage in a classic
kneeling position, a gun aimed at her. Quickly sensing who it was,
Rose roared as her gun hand, which had ****fted to ****eld her eyes when
the sisters were taken away by the Staff of Gihan, began to drop down
so she could aim her weapon at the back of Marubeya Momoe's head.
"MOROBO****, DON'T . . .!" Mendou screamed.
The Lawgiver barked, the bolt of highly charged energy punching Seven
Bake Rose right through the bridge of her nose! As the mercenary's
brain was pulped, the impact sent her flying into the bulkhead behind
Momoe. The latter was able to stumble clear before she collapsed to
the deck, her head snapping around automatically to stare at her
captor. The look on Rose's face seemed frozen in shock and disbelief
as the dead mercenary sank to the deck, her pistol dropping from an
unfeeling hand to clatter on hard metal.
"Perp's down!" Tomo barked.
Ataru took a deep breath, and then he lowered his weapon. Standing,
he holstered the Lawgiver as several of the others moved closer to
him. ****nobu and Kumiko ran over to help the ****vering Momoe.
"****in' stone cold or what?!" Koi ****njin muttered under his breath
as he stared at the dead Rose.
"Damn good shot, though!" Ryuunosuke added, and then she gasped as
Sakiko embraced her. "Hey, what took you so long, Sakiko-chan?!"
"Traffic!" Sakiko whispered as she kissed her lover's cheek.
By then, Momoe had been ****fted closer to the rest of her
classmates. The former was starting wide-eyed at Ataru, speechless at
what just happened. Before anyone could say anything more, a tremble
shook the deck. "We better get outta here!" Tomo warned before she
tapped her communicator. "Yomi, PLEASE tell me that you got that
damned trans****ter fixed?!"
"I'm working on it!" the engineer's voice echoed in her bond-mate's
ear.
*Tomo-chan, Bou-san can send you back to Yomi-chan!* Hi****o called
out.
"Okay, do it!" Tomo called back before she gazed on Ataru. "By your
leave, Ataru-sama!" she said, saluting him with her pistol.
Ataru blinked as the Sagussan vanished. "Wait . . .!" Mendou gasped.
"Who WAS that girl, anyway?!" Tomomi demanded.
"Don't look at me," Ataru asserted with a shake of his head, and then
he looked up. "Hi****o-chan, if you wouldn't mind?!"
* * *
Hi****o raised the Staff as the crystal flared. "Hai, hai!"
* * *
"MOROBO****! Where are you, you slime . . .?! Urk . . .!"
"Help . . .!"
Kunou turned before he gasped on seeing a woman about Ninomiya
Hi****o's age, she in a green strapless bodysuit similar to what the
other women on this ****p wore, hanging on for dear life from being
sucked out a shattered doorway into deep space. Air was steadily
ru****ng out that breech in the ****p's hull; despite there being an
atmospheric containment field fitted in this part of the "Rose
Emperor," it wasn't forging a perfect seal. He grabbed her arm, and
then braced himself as he pulled her into the main hallway.
The captain threw her arms around the helpful young man's waist as he
pulled them towards the nearest airtight door down the hallway.
Strewn on the deck was a pile of unconscious security officers. As
they moved, the ****p's computer dutifully noted the countdown,
"* . . . breech in progress! Estimate time to critical overload, two
minutes twenty seconds. All personnel, abandon ****p! All personnel,
abandon ****p . . .!*"
"We must leave this ****p!" Kunou grunted.
"Escape pods . . . " the captain gasped.
"Where?!"
She reached over to open the airlock. "Past the door . . . "
A strong wind flowed through the door, causing the crew moving to
escape their doomed ****p to cry out with surprise. "Captain!" one of
them screamed in relief on recognizing the woman presently hugging
Kunou. She then raced over to help them. "Here, sir! This way!"
She pointed to a waiting pod.
"The others!" the kendou-ka snapped.
He lunged to pick up three of the security officers, and then he
passed them back through a chain of crewmembers to load into the
pods. By the time the computer announced that the "Rose Emperor" had
ninety seconds to live, the last of that group were safely in their
escape vehicles. "This way, sir!" one of the crewmembers called out
as she grabbed Kunou, and then she forced him into a pod holding the
captain. "Thank you for saving our commander, sir!" she then said
before she closed and sealed the hatch.
Kunou grunted as the ejection bolts were blown. He then gazed out
the small view ****t in the middle of the hatch as the escape pod flew
clear. "Will they be safe . . .?" he whispered before he sensed a
slender hand grasp his. Turning to look, he then nearly passed out in
shock as a teary-eyed young captain swamped him with a warm hug and
kiss.
They remained still for a moment, and then she pulled back from him,
a relieved smile crossing her face. "They should be fine," she
whispered, her voice still quite hoarse from about a minute's exposure
to near vacuum. "There are only about three hundred people aboard my
****p. Escape pods are readily accessible all over." Taking another
breath, she then blushed. "I'm sorry. We haven't been properly
introduced. My name is Anna du Kohln. May I know the name of the
gallant rescuer who just saved my life?"
He stiffened proudly. "My dear, I am . . . " he launched into his
usual introductory spiel, and then his voice trailed off before he
relaxed. "My name is Kunou Tatewaki, Anna-san. I was happy to help.
And I pray . . . " -- he looked through the view ****t -- " . . . that
your crew also escapes what is about to happen to your ****p. Do
you . . .?"
"No!" Anna leaned against him. "Please don't make me look."
Kunou gazed on her before he nodded, he placing a hand on her hair.
* * *
Karen fretted. "Onii-chan, are they going to make it out?"
"Hi****o-chan?"
Hi****o listened to the Staff's response, and then she turned to
Ataru. "Bou-san says that when the ****p goes *boom,* a lot of those
little ****ps are going to go *boom,* too . . . " She then sniffed.
"This isn't any fun . . . "
"Hi****o-chan, can the Staff contain the explosion?!" Rinrin asked.
Hi****o jolted before she relaxed as she listened to the Staff's
response. "Hai!" she replied with a smile, and then she frowned,
gazing fretfully at the bridge deck. "But Bou-san says she'll have to
go to sleep for a while . . . "
"Never mind, Hi****o-chan! Do it!" Ataru barked.
"Hai!"
The Staff flared.
* * *
"Thirty seconds," Nassur intoned.
Benten tensed. "Not all of 'em are gonna make it."
"Maybe . . . " Dakejinzou's eyes then went wide. "Gods!"
A bolt of *something* leapt out of the "Windrider," it moulding into
a spheroid of energy encompassing the "Rose Emperor." "What in the
name of the Fates is that?" Oyuki gasped as everyone morbidly watched.
"Are any of the escape pods inside that field?!" Dakejinzou asked.
"Negative," Nassur said after checking the readout. "Fifteen
seconds."
Everyone on the "Goddess" braced themselves as the Vosian made the
countdown. On reaching "zero," people automatically averted their
eyes as the main hull of the patrol monitor exploded. Fragments of
the ****p slammed into the energy field surrounding her, shattering
into nothingness as the force of the detonating warp core was forced
straight up through the metal "petals" forming the ****p's rose flower-
shaped superstructure. Within two seconds, the only thing of the
"Rose Emperor" larger than microscopic-sized fragments were the
several dozen escape pods spared being caught in their mother****p's
death-throes by the energy emitting from the "Windrider." Another
second later, the near vacuum of surrounding space snuffed out the
last of the fires as the ****eld protecting her escape pods faded from
existence. Silence fell on the bridge as people exchanged shocked
looks. A buzzer then sounded off.
"Ah." Oyuki jolted before she turned to stare at the readout before
her. "Um . . . I . . . the 'Windrider' is hailing us, Shogai-sama."
Dakejinzou tapped a control. "Right . . . "
On the view screen, Izumo Seiko appeared, currently seated in the
"Windrider's" central chair. "Hi, Shogai-san . . .!" she hailed
before her eyes went wide on seeing who else was there with the alien
bounty hunter. "Nassur-chan! Benten! Oyuki-chan! What are you guys
doing here?!"
Shocked silence responded. "Well, we were coming by to look in on
you, your sister and Ten-chan, Lu- . . .!" Nassur caught himself,
flustering, and then he nodded in apology. "Er, Seiko-chan! Sorry!"
Seiko waved him down. "It's okay . . . "
As a giant brown eye appeared on the screen, staring at the people on
the "Goddess" via a HUGE spy glass. "CUTE ALIEN CHECKY!"
"YOTSUBA! GET AWAY FROM THERE!" someone yelled from off-screen.
A handsome young man stepped into view to drag Yotsuba away. "Yo-
chan, don't butt in! You can check them later!"
"Yotsuba wants to check them NOW!" the would-be detective whined.
His voice then turned sultry as he leaned close. "Yo-chan, I have
something very nice for you to check," he sensuously purred.
Yotsuba jolted as her mind wrapped around that comment. She then
quickly shoved ****n**** out of camera range. "Yotsuba has to do her
checky of ****-chama somewhere private!" she declared as they headed
off the barque's pilotage.
Sweat drops appeared. "Lum, who the **** was THAT?!" Benten
demanded.
"HEY!" An older girl with absurdly long ponytails jutted into the
camera range. "Who's the trash-mouth over there?!"
"That's gotta be Benten," a younger woman called from off-screen.
"Anii said she could out-swear a pack of drunken bikers!"
Benten exploded. "HEY! I RESENT THAT!"
"Actually, Benten, I believe Ataru was giving you a compliment."
She stopped before she glared at the Neptunian. "Et tu, Oyuki?"
"This is YOUR friend, Seiko-san?" another girl asked from off-screen.
Nassur and Dakejinzou were both quick to notice the slight flush
crossing the Oni-turned-Nendo-kata/Terran's face as she faced her
questioner. "W-well, B-b-Benten takes a lot to get used to, K-k-Karen-
san . . . "
Dakejinzou gazed on Nassur, she glad they possessed a Vosian pe'cha
bond so they could communicate in private. *What's with her?*
Nassur shrugged. *Search me! Must be a Nendo-kata thing . . . *
"Sakuya-sama, long-distance sensors are picking up a Zephyrite
crusader fleet now de-warping from Magairu," another woman re****ted
from off-screen. "The force commander just signalled us. They're
commencing rescue operations."
"Any problems?" the girl with the long ponytails demanded.
"Negative, Sakuya-sama, but the force commander would like to know
what has happened to Elle," the other girl replied.
"Ya mean Anee can't beat her up ta make her leave Anii alone?!" the
girl who had spoken of Benten's profane loquaciousness asked.
Sakuya hummed. "I think we'll need to get a message across to these
dorks about Elle and her so-called 'interest' in Onii-sama."
"What do you intend to do, Sakuya-chan?" Karen asked.
"Orin-chan, can we beam a signal into those life pods?"
"Easily," the woman who re****ted on the arriving Zephyrites replied.
"Would you like to make it a live broadcast, Sakuya-sama?"
"Hai. Haruka-chan, you're here, but where's Chikage-chan . . .?"
"Here."
Screams echoed from all over the "Windrider's" pilotage.
"***CHIKAGE! WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT?!***" over a half-dozen women's
voices bellowed.
"Stop doing what?" another woman tonelessly asked.
Moans responded. "Sounds a lot like Cherry, eh?" Benten mused.
Oyuki shook her head. "That could be said."
* * *
"Are you able now to communicate with your ****pmates, Anna-san?"
Anna twisted a wire sticking out of the emergency communications
unit, and then she adjusted the tuning. "I think so. Let's see . . .
"
A garbled squawking noise belched from the speakers before a woman's
voice called out, " . . . -llo, minna-san! I hope you can hear me!"
"Who's that?!" Kunou demanded. "She sounds familiar . . . "
The last captain of the "Rose Emperor" blinked before she grimaced as
she recalled where she first heard that voice. "That's Sukeyama
Sakuya. She's one of Morobo**** Ataru's sisters. Let's see, now . . .
" She gazed at the controls. "Okay, it's a visual signal . . . "
Kunou blinked. "Another sister . . .?"
Anna tapped a control. A tiny view screen at one end of the life pod
flicked on, revealing the image of three young women. "Violet One!"
Kunou yelped on recognizing the dark-dressed one to the right of the
screen.
"This message will be repeated as long as you're stuck inside those
lifeboats," the girl standing in the middle announced, her fists on
her hips. "For those of you formerly of the 'Rose Emperor' who didn't
get the news by the time we were rudely kidnapped from Onii-sama's
home by your queen, I'm one of Morobo**** Ataru's sisters, Sukeyama
Sakuya. These ladies beside me . . . " -- she indicated her
companions -- " . . . are also Onii-sama's sisters, Hirosaki
Chikage . . . " -- Kunou perked as Sakuya waved to his violet-haired
temptress -- " . . . and Tenhiro Haruka." She indicated the other
woman, a very beautiful black-haired girl dressed in a pink-and-black
hakama.
"Now, I'm sure that a lot of you are pissed off at the fact that Onii-
sama, in rescuing us and those people from Tomobiki your queen also
kidnapped, managed to blow your star****p up." Sakuya faced the
camera. "I'm sure if it happened to me, I'd be pretty angry too. But
before you get any funny ideas, you better know now that a Zephyrite
crusader squadron is arriving in the area. A Noukiite task force is
about another hour away, so you won't have to stay in those little
life pods for much longer. So if you gotta go, hang on and you'll get
plucked out of there as soon as it can be arranged.
"As for your so-called 'queen,' she is currently our prisoner aboard
Onii-sama's ****p." The smile then slipped from Sakuya's face. "As we
speak, Onii-sama's REAL fiancée is having a *discussion* with Elle
about her coveting our brother for no reason whatsoever. Despite what
you might have heard, Onii-sama does NOT, nor will he EVER, want
anything to do with Elle! So, after Onii-sama's fiancée gets done
with Elle, we'll transfer her over to the Zephyrite Inquisition. You
can probably guess what'll happen next."
Anna paled. "No . . .!"
"What is she talking about?" Kunou demanded.
" . . . if you people are hoping the Inquisition'll let your queen
off the hook that easy, think again," Sakuya added, her voice ice-
cold. "During the rescue, one of our younger sisters nearly broke her
arm and a few of Onii-sama's old classmates got bruised up pretty
badly when your ****p's warp core went on the fritz. And all of us who
got kidnapped, not to mention our parents and friends back on Earth,
are VERY peeved at Elle for pulling this garbage! So if any of you
get any ideas about revenge, I suggest you keep in mind that the
United Nations are going to be inviting the Zephyrites and the
Noukiites to take up PERMANENT residence in our solar system until
such time as we've caught up with our interstellar neighbours.
Besides . . . " A smile crossed her face. "From what Onii-sama told
me, your planet's monarch is elected into her post. Maybe when you
get back home, you might force your Senate to IMPEACH Elle and get a
more COMPETENT person on that throne. Think about it!"
She winked as she pointed at the camera. The image then faded for a
moment before it began to replay. Anna stared at the screen before
she reached over to switch off the feed. Gazing at the captain, Kunou
was quick to see the lost look on her face. "Anna-san . . .?" He
gripped her shoulders.
She quaked, tears brimming in her eyes. "I can't believe this . . .
" she whispered. "This isn't the Mr. Groom we met a year ago . . . "
"Morobo****?!" the kendou-ka probed.
"Yes . . . " she stammered, allowing her companion to draw her into
an embrace. "A year ago, Mr. Groom was so . . .! So carefree! He
seemed so RIGHT for the Queen to marry! And now . . . " She waved to
the blank video screen. "Look how easily he . . .! He . . . "
A sob escaped her as she hugged him. Kunou remained in place, a hand
threading through her hair as he gazed out the view ****t.
* * *
"Mission accomplished!" Tomo declared as she slumped into the chair
beside Koyomi, once again dressed in her duty uniform.
The latter nodded as she tapped controls to guide the "Haengge'cha"
away. Setting a course that would allow the Sagussan courier to
present a wide birth to the arriving Zephyrite fleet -- not to mention
get them clear of the disturbed areas of subspace which had become
even MORE disturbed because of the destruction of the "Rose Emperor"
-- the chief engineer artificer then sent her ****p into warp for the
trip back to Earth and a rendezvous with the "Kiboo'cha." "You really
didn't do much in the long term."
"At least I held off that ***** before Ataru-sama got there," Tomo
noted.
"True, true."
* * *
"So where the hell did Ataru get hold of this ****p, anyway?"
The members of ****nobu's homeroom class were standing in the hallway
aft of the pilotage. When they had come aboard, Ataru had guided
****nobu, Kumiko and Momoe into the master's cabin at the aft ****t end
of the deck before he headed to the bridge to deal with the "Rose
Emperor's" destruction, and then he headed back to look in on Momoe.
Since the "Windrider" didn't have a separate master (the owner) and
commander (the captain) -- Ataru was seen as both in the eyes of
Dominion authorities -- only one of the two large cabins aft was
prepped for full-time use. The other acted as a guest cabin.
"Search me, man," Ryuunosuke replied to ****njin's question as
everyone took in the details around them. A few of the students had
tried the doors leading into the sisters' cabins, but found all of
them locked; Ataru had a security system fitted into the "Windrider"
that would respond only if he, his sisters or any of the ****p's
android crew wanted to access those spaces.
"This isn't Urusian construction by any stretch of the imagination,"
Mendou noted. "Is this a Noukiite ****p, Sakiko-san?"
"Hai, it is," Sakiko replied, having just given the remainder of the
people there a cursory pass with her empathic powers to gauge their
current mood. For almost all of them, the prevailing mood was shock,
clearly thanks to what they had just witnessed aboard the "Rose
Emperor" before Hi****o had brought them aboard the "Windrider" with
the Staff of Gihan. If she worded her response correctly, she
wouldn't accidentally let it be known to everyone else that Lum was,
in a sense of the term, alive. "He got the ****p as a reward for his
helping the Noukiites deal with the Urusians, especially those leaders
in government who might've been involved in the murder of his
grandmother."
Ryuunosuke snapped around. "The Onis killed Morobo****'s
grandmother?!"
"Yes," Sakiko replied. "She had close ties to the Zephyrites, Ryuu-
chan. If the Urusians' plans for the First Tag Race -- had he lost,
of course -- were to work, the Zephyrites had to be pushed out of the
way. Killing Nagaiwakai-sama guaranteed that." A sad smile crossed
her face. "What they didn't count on was the fact that Negako-san
could tell the difference between murder and dying by heartbreak. Not
to mention the Zephyrites being willing enough to wait until the time
was right to deal with them."
The tomboy considered that, and then she breathed out, "**** . . . "
The door to the master's cabin then opened, Ataru emerging.
"Morobo**** . . .?" Mendou called out to him.
Footsteps heralded ****rayuki's arrival from the galley a deck below,
a small tea tray in hand. "Nii-sama, here you are!"
"'Nii-sama' . . . " some of the students around them muttered.
"Great! Thanks!" Ataru replied as he took the tray and headed back.
The door closed behind him. ****rayuki nodded, turning to head back
to the galley. Before she could take a step, she found her way
blocked by Koi ****njin. "Hey, hold on a minute!" he said as he tried
to glare her down. "How the heck can you be Ataru's sister?! He
doesn't HAVE sisters!"
****rayuki stared at her questioner before a snicker escaped her, and
then she moved to walk past him. "Silly boy! Hime was adopted into
Nii-sama's family!" That had been the explanation the sisters had
agreed to use if or when they ever encountered anyone from their
brother's past.
"So where's Ataru-kun living now?" a girl asked.
****rayuki stared at them for a moment, and then she sighed. "Himitsu
desu no!" she declared before walking past ****njin.
Everyone remained rooted in place as the chef descended to the galley
level. "Hey, Sakiko-chan, ya ever get the funny feeling that these
girls've been proofed against everyone in Tomobiki?" Ryuunosuke
whispered to her lover.
"Most likely," Sakiko replied.
Everyone jolted as the "Windrider" shook from stem to stern, a series
of *clangs!* echoing through the hull. "What the hell's that?!" one
boy demanded.
The door to the pilotage opened, revealing Sakuya. "Okay, everyone!
Good news!" the eldest sister declared. "We just docked alongside a
Zephyrite war****p. They've got a courier ready to take you back to
Tomobiki right away!"
"You're not coming back with us, Sakuya-san?" Sakiko asked.
Sakuya shook her head as the door to the master's cabin opened to
reveal Ataru, ****nobu and Kumiko. "Nope. We've got someplace else to
go to first. As to where that might be, well . . . " She then
winked. "It's a secret."
Before anyone else could react, Mendou zipped up to grasp Sakuya's
hand in his own. "Sakuya-san, we can only thank you enough for your
more-than-generous hospitality in our time of need," he stated as he
gave her a heart-melting gaze, one guaranteed to succeed in winning a
girl to his side.
Sakuya's response was to reach up and forcefully tap Mendou's hand
away from hers. "Don't touch," the former warned as she sent her Onii-
sama's rival a look that could melt lead. "I've got no time to play
with a jerk like you!"
Seeing that, Mendou staggered back, the surprise he felt at Sakuya's
reaction etched over his face. That caused everyone to blink in shock
as they exchanged looks. "Guess we were right about Morobo****
proofin' his sisters against us," Ryuunosuke whispered to Sakiko.
Sakiko giggled. ****nobu glanced at Ataru, surprised to see a calm
look on his face. "Ataru-kun, aren't you going to say anything?"
He returned her look. "About what, Miyake-san?"
****nobu jolted; like Ranma's fiancées had reacted to her addressing
them so formally, she wasn't used to being called anything else but
"****nobu-chan" by her former boyfriend. "Mendou-san just tried to
molest your sister!"
Mendou spun on her, his eyes widening even more. "****nobu-san . . .
"
"Well, I really can't do anything about it, Miyake-san," Ataru
admitted before snapping his fingers as he realized something.
"Although . . . " Everyone blinked as they watched him straighten.
"Mendou Shuutarou-san."
Mendou jolted. "Morobo**** . . . "
Ataru then bowed. "I give you my most sincere apologies, Mendou-
san."
Silence.
More silence.
Still more silence.
Then . . .
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Mendou screamed out.
"For my behaviour concerning your sister, Ryooko," Ataru added,
ignoring the chorus of snickers from the boys in the room, not to
mention the Avalonians in ****nobu's class and Seikou Mie. Mendou
remained frozen in place, a shocked look on his face as the future
patriarch of the Morobo**** Clan continued, "Even though Ryooko-san has
often tried her best to drive you totally insane, your love for her
shone through like a nova every time you believed her personal space
and dignity were in danger. Given my own relations with my sisters,
it is an inspiration to look upon how much you love and care for your
own sister. Many times in the past have I taken advantage of that
whenever my own lusts overwhelmed me when I was in Ryooko-san's
presence. Be assured, I will gladly offer her my own apologies for my
behaviour vis-à-vis her in the past. And I give you my assurances
that such behaviour will never occur again."
Silence fell over the scene as Ataru straightened himself, he calmly
waiting for Mendou's reply. The scion of Japan's richest family
remained as still as a statue, his hands raised as if he was warding
off an evil spirit. The others from the rivals' former class looked
first at Ataru, and then at Mendou, and then back to Ataru again.
Finally, Sakuya breathed out, "Well, Onii-sama, since you've
apologized to this idiot, what say we get the Inquisition aboard here
so Miyake-san and the others can go home?"
"Hai," Ataru replied.
* * *
"Are you people alright?!"
"Yes!" A panting Kunou Tatewaki nodded as the escape pod's hatch was
opened, revealing what appeared to be two flight deck technicians
dressed in blank work jumpsuits. Both, as standard for most
Zephyrites, resembled Europeans from Germany and the Scandinavian
nations. "Where are we . . .?" He looked outside, ****fting himself
to give Anna a chance to look herself.
"Aboard the Holy Republic star****p 'Windrider Dreams,'" one
technician re****ted, the lack of lip-synch more distracting than the
black phoenix tattoo on his and his companion's cheeks. "You're not
Ellsian, are you?"
"No!" The kendou-ka nodded as the other tech helped him out of the
pod. "I'm from Earth. Japan to be exact. I was absconded from my
high school by Anna-san's friends at the direct order of her
queen . . . "
"Ah!" The technician laughed as he helped the late "Rose Emperor's"
captain out of the pod. "Your queen didn't fancy the idea of
challenging the grandson of a Righteous Gentile without some
insurance, eh?"
Kunou perked. "'Righteous Gentile' . . .?!"
Reverent looks appeared on their faces. "The Most Righteous Lady
Nagaiwakai Morobo****, may Eternity bless her for all she did. She was
from Japan herself," one of them noted. He then sniffed back a tear
as both gazed on the deckhead. "I'll wager that all the Spirits in
the Heavens Themselves wept after those heretic Urusians assassinated
her!"
"Don't worry about it." His companion patted his shoulder. "The
Inquisition and the Noukiites dealt with those heretics."
"Aye, true . . . "
"Captain du Kohln?"
Anna perked as a beautiful woman Elle's age walked up. Dressed in a
dark blue jumpsuit with a red version of the Zephyrite broken phoenix
insignia on her chest, she had long, wavy blonde hair and deep blue
eyes. The rank insignia on her collars quickly identified her to the
"Rose Emperor's" captain as a captain herself, no doubt this ****p's
commander. She straightened herself, nodding. "Yes, I am she. And
you are . . .?"
The new arrival respectfully bowed to the older woman. "Captain
Sunhair Windrider, PRCZ, commander of the 'Windrider Dreams.'"
Anna took a deep breath. Even if, in a way, she could be seen as a
prisoner aboard the Zephyrite battlecruiser, she still had her duty to
her own crew to perform. "What of my crew, Captain Windrider?" she
asked.
"We're pulling the last of the escape pods aboard now," the Zephyrite
commander re****ted as the hangar deck technicians headed off to carry
on with their duties. "The count might change as soon as stations
re****t in, but according to my science chief, about two hundred and
thirty got clear of your ****p before her warp core detonated." Her
eyes bowed. Death in space was NEVER pretty. "The chances are very
good that the majority of your casualties might all come from your
engineering crew, Captain . . . "
"Not to mention those of the security detail Mr. Groom's friends
aboard his ****p allowed to be sucked into space when that ****p pulled
away from mine just as the warp core started to overload," Anna added.
The Zephyrite commander blinked before she nodded understandingly.
"Well, that's the price you had to pay when you kidnapped Ataru-chan's
sisters just so your so-called 'queen' could marry her precious
'Honey' . . . "
"'Ataru-CHAN?!'"
Eyes locked on Kunou. The shock on the kendou-ka's face took the two
star****p commanders by surprise. Anna then spun on their host.
"Excuse me, Captain Windrider, I don't mean to sound shocked, but you
KNOW him?!"
A beautiful smile crossed the younger woman's face, her eyes
glistening with delight for a moment. "Of course I do, Captain du
Kohln. As you might know, my father is Magistrate-Bishop Fireye
Windrider, the chief administrator of Magairu. He was very good
friends with Ataru-chan's grandmother. I met Ataru-chan myself when
we both young adolescents. In fact . . . " -- her smile slipped --
" . . . if things hadn't gone wrong five years ago, I might have been
engaged to him." A knowing look crossed her face. "I guess you can
suspect what our government's reaction might have been if your queen
tried to press her own claims on Ataru-chan had THAT happened. Ne?"
Anna blinked before she nodded. Then, to both ladies' surprise, the
man beside her lunged over to grab Sunhair's hands. "Miss, how could
you even THINK of holding any feelings for that lecher- . . .?!" Kunou
demanded.
The echoed *clicks!* of dozens of firearm safety switches being
turned froze the kendou-ka in place. Anna quickly looked around, her
eyes picking out the members of the ****p's security team glaring her
way, Lawgiver pistols and even the odd Peacemaker rifle aimed at
Kunou. Glad to see that her ****p's crew were still on the ball for a
team of home guardsmen -- naval reservists -- just recently brought up
to crusader -- active naval -- status, Sunhair slipped her hand away
from Kunou's grasp. "I thought you were from Earth," she spoke in
accented Japanese, without need of translator. "No doubt, you're that
ultra-rich heretic, Mendou Shuutarou. I've heard from some friends of
Ataru-chan's grandmother about all the times you've tried to kill
Ataru-chan . . . "
"Um, excuse me, Captain . . . "
Sunhair stared at Anna. "What?"
"This isn't Mendou Shuutarou."
"Oh?" The younger captain then stared at Kunou. "So who are you
anyway and what's your problem with Ataru-chan?"
Shuddering at the total lack of apprehension this lovely woman showed
concerning the vile beast Morobo****, Kunou straightened himself as he
launched into his normal introduction. "I, Captain, am the Blue
Thunder of Fuurinkan High School, the rising star of the kendou world,
Kunou Tatewaki . . . "
He drew his bokken, and then he yelped as several bolts of energy
disintegrated the wooden sword! Quickly drawing his hand down, he
looked wildly around the hangar to spot all those who had fired on
him. "I see, then." Sunhair crossed her arms, making a finger
gesture to her crew to make them stand down. "Fuurinkan? Is that in
Tomobiki, by any chance? I've personally never been to that warren of
heretics myself . . . "
"No, ma'am," Anna cut in. "We obtained Tatewaki from the Nerima
district of Tokyo. It's to the east of Tomobiki. I assume the school
he was at when we beamed him aboard is the one he currently states
he's attending . . . "
"Foul traitors!" Kunou growled, that statement causing both women to
gaze on him. "Was I not distracted by the lovely violet-haired one
who's forced to claim that beast as blood-kin, I would've put them all
into line . . . "
"'Violet-haired one?'" Sunhair asked.
"One of Mr. Groom's sisters," Anna said. "Chikage, to be exact."
"Right," the Zephyrite drawled before she glared anew at Kunou, who
was still muttering about what his classmates had done to him after
lunch. "So what exactly did Chikage-chan do that 'distracted' you so
much, Kunou-san?"
The kendou-ka stopped. "The beauteous Chikage was testing her skills
against me. I was about to defeat her, of course . . . " His voice
trailed off as a surprised grin crosses Sunhair's face before peals of
laughter escaped the Zephyrite. "What's so funny?!" he then demanded.
"YOU?!" Sunhair shrieked, pointing at him. "Defeat CHIKAGE?!"
"But of course!" Kunou affirmed with a snort, trying not to twitch
from what Sunhair's laughter implied. "Only the late, beloved Tendou
Akane and the fiery pig-tailed girl can defeat the Blue Thunder in
combat . . .!"
"Oh, REALLY?!" the Zephyrite wondered. "Kunou-san, a word of advice
before I have you escorted to the brig while we process Captain du
Kohln's crew for repatriation! From what I've heard, Chikage-chan
only ranks below Ataru-chan's adopted sister Negako in martial arts
skill! And Negako-chan is one of the best martial artists on your
planet, PERIOD! I suggest that when you finally get back to Tokyo,
you take a crash course in something called 'reality' before you think
of challenging Ataru-chan's relatives!"
She turned away. "Also . . . " She snapped her fingers.
Kunou yelped as a bolt from a Lawgiver slammed into him, sending him
into the deck. Anna screamed, and then she moved to help him as
Sunhair glanced over her shoulder. "I don't tolerate ANY insults
directed at Ataru-chan OR members of his family, Kunou-san.
Especially aboard my ****p!" Her voice turned to ice as she gazed on
her crew. "The brig!" she barked out.
"YES, MA'AM!" a dozen voices chanted in turn.
* * *
"Ooooh . . . "
"About time you got up, Elle."
The Rose Queen gasped as lances of PAIN ripped through her spine and
ribs, her eyes fluttering. Blinking confusedly on finding herself in
a dimly lit room no bigger than a storage closet on the "Rose
Emperor," she grunted as she tried to get back up. She then collapsed
on the mat protecting her from the chilly deck. "Wh-where . . .?"
She blinked on spotting a pair of feet. Turning to look, she then
glanced up to stare into Seiko's impassive face. "Y-you . . .?" Elle
sputtered as she tried to sit up. "Wh-what . . .?"
"You're aboard Darling's ****p right now," Seiko declared, her arms
crossed. "Your own ****p's warp core was destroyed when you were
captured and brought aboard. Most of your crew made it to the life
pods, but your ****p's gone. Fortunately for you . . . " -- her eyes
narrowed -- " . . . Darling's sisters and his old classmates all made
it out alive and intact, though Aria-chan nearly broke her arm along
the way."
Elle blinked before a chill warped through her as the word "darling"
set off a warning bell deep in her mind. "Why are you . . .?" she
hissed as she peered at Seiko, and then her eyes went wide. "No!"
She gulped. "L-l-Lum?"
The Oni-turned-Nendo-kata/Terran smirked. "In part."
They stared at each other. The Rose Queen then grunted as she moved
to get back to her feet. Seiko remained in place, not moving to
either assist or hinder her former rival as Elle nearly dropped back
onto her face when the scalding pain in her spine overwhelmed her.
Finally, Elle got back to her feet, though she slumped against a
bulkhead opposite Seiko, panting heavily as she fought back the tears
streaming down her cheeks. "This . . .!" she spat out, glaring at
Seiko. "This is . . . an outrage . . .!"
"An outrage?!" a woman's voice echoed from every point in the room.
"Then what do you call kidnappin' Ataru's sisters, *****?!"
Elle gasped, paling as the air between her and Seiko fizzled,
revealing the presence of a busty redhead with eyes as blue as a clear
sky. Before the Rose Queen could stammer out a question, Ranma walked
over, slamming her hand around the Ellsian's neck. Elle croaked as
her air was cut off, and then she was effortlessly boosted off her
shaking legs. "So this is the little ***** who loves ta store guys
inside some big refrigerator to 'preserve' their love for her, huh?!"
the martial artist said with an icy sneer as she yanked Elle over so
they could gaze eye-to-eye. "I sure as hell ain't impressed, Seiko.
Why didn't you off this ***** when you had the chance?!"
"Much that the temptation was there to do just that, she IS a
recognized head-of-state, Ranma," Seiko re****ted, shaking her head.
"Atop that, when we accidentally got shot back in time after my
friends and I rescued Darling from the Baran Cathedral, we learned
that Darling never did touch Elle's shadow when they had their shadow-
tag game. We assumed . . . "
"The whole thing wasn't legal, so there should've been no worries
about this ***** ever coming back to hurt Ataru again, right?"
"Hai."
"You . . . can't . . . "
Ranma sneered as she leaned close to Elle. "Can't what?"
"Judge me . . . " Elle's hands reached up to pull Ranma's arm away.
She gasped as Ataru's girlfriend increased the pressure. "You
won't . . .!"
"What? Get away with this? Boy, are YOU livin' in a dream world,
girl!" Ranma grinned as she cupped her free hand. "Kontou . . .!"
A buzzing noise filled the room as the soulsword appeared. Elle's
eyes widened as Ranma brought that blazing ki-weapon up to hover right
beside her head. The hairs on the Rose Queen's head stood on end as
her skin tingled from VERY close proximity to that killing energy.
"Now, you got a simple choice to make," Ranma's voice lowered to a
growl. "You can guess what that choice is." She swung the soulsword
away as she leaned up to glare into the other woman's emerald eyes.
"And the only choice for you if you want to survive to see your home
planet again is to accept this . . . " Her eyes morphed to the
burning red cat-slit eyes of the most savage part of Ranma's soul.
"**If you value your life, THOU -- SHALL -- *NOT* -- COVET -- *MY* --
MATE -- AGAIN!**"
Elle's eyes went wide as she found herself glaring into those demonic
orbs. Then, a spasm of desperation-fuelled strength flooded her arms
enough to make her shove Ranma's hand away from her throat. "NO!" she
screamed out.
Ranma staggered back as the Rose Queen collapsed against the wall.
"RANMA, WAIT . . .!" Seiko screamed, she moving to constrain her.
"**Suit yourself, *****!**"
Before Seiko could seize Ranma, the martial artist's hand flicked the
soulsword around. The tip of the burning katana blade ripped into
Elle's skull just above her left ear, cleaving across her brain in the
blink of the proverbial eye. The Rose Queen's body locked up for a
moment as a surprised look was flash-frozen on her face. She then
dropped like a discarded marionette to the deck, not a sound escaping
her. By then, Seiko had grabbed Ranma's arms, throwing in her
telekinetic powers to keep the martial artist from doing anything
more. Not that anything more needed doing.
"No . . .!"
Seiko stared at Ranma as the soulsword in the latter's hand faded.
The wild rage that had twisted the redhead's features into a hideous
scowl not seconds ago had just melted into wide-eyed confusion before
her skin started to sallow as she remembered what her other-self --
what SHE -- just did. "Oh, no . . .!" Ranma sank to her knees as her
eyes locked on the frozen mask of horror Elle's face was twisted
into. "No, please . . . "
Sobs stole her voice as Seiko immediately moved to comfort.
* * *
To be continued . . .
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