"The planet where I was first activated."
The man sitting in the control centre of the probe gazed out a view
port on the glimmering orb lying off his larboard beam. Tapping
controls on the console, he waited for information files to be called
up. He glanced at the holographic readout before returning his
attention to the archipelago coming into view. "Sub-planetary
political unit, indigenous name: Dai-Nihon. Terran worldwide
communicative language 'English' reference name: Japan. Population:
Approximately 125,000,000 sentient beings." He tapped a button.
"Unit Two, begin carbon-protein humanoid DNA scan. Locate all
sentient beings and/or physical evidence of all sentient beings
possessing DNA compatibility to Nagussan organic sentient, designate
'Kaeru ryi'Kouhae-Raikue.'"
"*Working,*" the probe's on-board sensor control robot replied. A
minute later, it spoke, "*Scan complete. Evidence of one exact carbon-
protein DNA/RNA duplicate of organic sentient, designate 'Kaeru
ryi'Kouhae-Raikue,' located.*" A quick pause, barely noticeable even
by Kaeru, and then it added, "*Additional information. Scan indicates
twelve additional sentient beings, female, possessing same patrilineal
parentage as organic sentient Kaeru ryi'Kouhae-Raikue, though
possessing different matrilineal parentage than subject sentient.
Indicating primary locations of DNA fragment scans on display. Scan
does not indicate any of the target sentient beings are currently on
Earth.*"
Kaeru glanced at the map. Target icons flashed. One was on the
mainland of Japan's largest island, within the limits of its most
populous habitation and political control centre, Tokyo. The other
was on an island bearing 230 degrees from Tokyo's city centre, Oomure-
jima. Gazing on small graphs being projected on the screen, Kaeru
also noted that the scan of Oomure-jima had a significantly greater
and fresher amount of DNA fragments in comparison to Tokyo, indicative
that his relatives currently resided on the island.
"Unit One, engage visual cloak. Commence atmospheric approach to
Oomure-jima. Scan for best possible landing site to ensure minimal
disruption."
"*Compliance,*" the ship's on-board navigation robot replied.
The probe faded out in a torrent of bent light beams.
* * *
"She just cloaked?"
Otako gazed on her monitoring screen, grimly nodding. "Affirmative,
Mister President. Whatever type of cloak that ship possesses, it's
more advanced than anything the factory's sensors have ever
encountered. I can't even scan for an ion trail or any gravimetric
disturbance."
Oogi blinked as he absorbs that information. "But that's
impossible! Even if they've been gone for over ten thousand years,
the Sagussans ARE the technological leaders in the galaxy! You MUST
be able to detect that ship, Otako! Do a diagnostic on the scanners!"
"Already done, sir," Otako declared as she waved to her screen, and
then she sat back in her chair. "The only possibility I could surmise
from this is that this alien ship is actually NOT from this galaxy."
The bodiless president of Phentax Two paused before a nod twitched
his chin. "Yes, that could be possible . . . " His voice trailed
before he gazed on Otako. "From where did this ship come from?
Directly from the Barrier?"
The Avalonian replica of the late leader of the Church of Lum's
Hegane Sect shook her head. "No, Mister President. She came from a
stable wormhole beyond the fringes of Hustari space that connects our
quadrant with the quadrant directly opposite ours beyond the galactic
core. And the factory's databanks have no up-to-date information on
any races lying in that direction, sir. You DID instruct us not to
contact the Gatherer and request an exploratory update." She gave him
a reminding look on saying that.
Oogi stiffened for a moment. "Yes, I did." He nodded. "And I
expect total silence between this factory and the Voyager, Otako!"
"Of course, Mister President."
"Keep an eye out for that ship or any signs of its crew."
"Yes, Mister President. Oh, if you wish to know, final programming
has commenced on the units tasked to Operation: Hashish."
"Excellent."
* * *
"What sort of ship, Lou?"
"Couldn't tell from this distance, but according to the master
databank on all the known races in the galaxy, she might be Nagussan,"
Louise, the blonde, blue-eyed, Seishin-born demolitions officer in
Pathfinder Troop Six's Section Two, reported as she looked up from the
controls connected to the sensory suite on the "Kiboo'cha's"
pilotage. "Small probe-class ship, probably a scout from a larger
vessel in their Defence Force."
Taking that in, Asukanoevan sat back in the command chair. The
crimson-haired, blue-eyed Oni-born chief petty officer in charge of
Section Two -- in her previous life, she was, in fact, Lum's paternal
great-grand-aunt -- reached up to rub the bridge of her nose as she
considered what her subordinate just told her. "A Nagussan ship all
the way here over Earth?" she muttered.
"Where was it going when it cloaked, Lou?" Megan, the crimson-haired,
green-eyed Pirpirsiw'r section sniper, wondered.
"It was over China when it started descent, Meg. Heading towards
Japan."
The members of Section Two took that in, and then they started to
exchange confused looks. Asuka wasn't so confused. As she was the
only person currently on the "Kiboo'cha's" bridge who had been on
Sagussa before Ataru's visit, she knew of the series of events that
had led RSS "Hasei'cha" to visit Earth the day an apparent malfunction
of the Central Warp Chamber on Triton (a gift from the Gatherer a
thousand years before, a gift which had saved Oyuki's people from
extinction thanks to the long occupation of Neptune by the hordes of
the Seifukusu Dominion) nearly transported a young Oni girl to a city
named Sendai. Running the possible scenario in her mind for a moment,
Asuka then nodded as she tapped an intercom switch. "Asuka to Nene."
"Go, Asuka," the Troop coxswain replied.
"Is Linna eating you out right now?" Asuka teasingly asked.
The junior members of Section Two snickered at Asuka's blunt
question. Nene and Linna had been lovers for years, though -- to the
surprise of many on Sagussa -- they had not become bond-mates. "No,
she's asleep right now," Nene replied, clearly not bothered by Asuka's
blunt question. "What's up?"
"Can you find a way to put a virus into the factory's sensory to
ensure it can't detect a Rover?" Asuka then asked.
"Easily enough. Why?"
Asuka smirked. "It appears that the Daimon'cha's brother has
returned home from Nagussa, Nene. That's why."
The members of Section Two stared in dumbfounded shock at their
chief. "Is that a fact," Nene trilled.
**** **** ****
"Lonely Souls"
By Fred Herriot
pyeknu@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
OR fherriot@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
**** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2," created by Takahashi
Rumiko; and "Sister Princess," created by Tenhiro Naoto and Kimino
Sakurako.
**** **** ****
Set in the universe of the fan-fiction series "Urusei Yatsura - The
Senior Year," created by Mike Smith and Fred Herriot
**** **** ****
NOTE: The writer's notes are in a separate text file.
**** **** ****
THE EIGHTH PART - STAFFS, WANDS AND SAGUSSANS
"Susan Aglukark?! Who's she, Ataru-kun?"
"An Inuit singer Yotsuba-chan discovered a few years ago," Ataru
replied. Then, noting the confused looks on the faces of the women in
the master's cabin aboard the "Windrider," he added, "Canadian
northern Ainu; what they used to call 'Eskimos' back when political
correctness wasn't an issue in that country. For most of her life,
she lived in what they call Nunavut these days."
Shinobu and Kumiko exchanged a look. "Eastern part of the old
Northwest Territories," the latter noted.
Nabiki took that in, and then she slipped the CD out of its cover.
Putting that into the player by the bed where Momoe was currently
resting, she hit PLAY. As the massed drum beat of the preamble to
"One Turn Deserves Another" began to play, the middle Tendou daughter
began to nod approvingly. "Might want to order a copy of this when I
get the chance," she noted as she gazed on the CD cover before she set
it aside. Looking then on her friend from Tomobiki, Nabiki asked,
"How're you doing, Momoe-chan?"
"My ears are ringing from having that bullet whiz past me," Momoe
moaned as her eyes locked on her former classmate and current host, he
busying himself with several packets of herbs Haruka had provided him
to create a tea for her.
"I apologize for that, Marubeya-san." His eyes flicked in her
direction. "But at that moment, Rose was lowering her pistol at your
head. The ship was self-destructing. A fool could've seen what the
real options would've been at that moment and time." A deep breath.
"She decided that her loyalty to Elle mattered more than her
survival. I've encountered more fanatics like that over the last
couple of months than I'd have cared to meet in my lifetime. There's
only one way to deal with people like that."
The Tomobiki High seniors stared at their former classmate, the shock
they clearly felt at his words and actions over the last several hours
chilling them like nothing else Ataru had done in the last two years
could. The very CONCEPT of Ataru being serious about ANYTHING at all
was something that had always frightened most of his female
classmates, even Shinobu at times. But the events of the last couple
of months -- the bombing of Tomobiki High by Ibrahim Alhamzi, the
deaths of the Bodyguards and the others, the revelations of Ataru's
activities concerning the Noukiites and their war against Uru, plus
what just happened aboard the "Rose Emperor" -- went beyond just
"serious." WAY beyond "serious." "Doesn't this bother you?!" Kumiko
then asked.
"What?" Ataru asked as he stared at her, and then he sighed. "Rose,
you mean. Hai, it does bother me, Gekasawa-san . . . "
"Ataru, PLEASE! Will you stop doing that?!"
He looked at Shinobu. "Doing what?"
"Calling us by our family names!" she snapped, her eyes glistening
with frightened tears. "It's bad enough that you were made to see
three billion people die, that you found out that your grandmother was
murdered by Lum's father, that your parents betrayed you like they
did, but PLEASE . . .!"
Hands reached out for her. Shinobu sobbed as she flung her arms
around Ataru, burying her face into his neck. Staring at them,
Nabiki, Momoe and Kumiko could only smile understandingly. Like
Nabiki's sister concerning Saotome Ranma, Momoe knew, Miyake Shinobu
had always been quite mercurial when it came to her friendship and
brief relationship with Moroboshi Ataru. Even after they had broken
up in the wake of Lum's and Mendou Shuutarou's entrance into their
lives, Shinobu always did her best to ensure Ataru behaved himself,
even during times when his lechery hadn't directly involved her. Yet,
there had been times when Shinobu had been the only friend Ataru
truthfully had in Tomobiki. And like Akane concerning Ranma, Nabiki
pretty much understood that the changes that had overcome Ataru over
the last couple of months were SO great, nothing -- NOTHING AT ALL! --
Shinobu could do would change her former boyfriend back to what he had
been like before Lum's departure.
"Shinobu . . . "
Shinobu sniffed before she wearily looked up at Ataru. "Ataru . . .
"
He closed his eyes. "Go live your life. Stay as far away from me as
you can. I'm too dangerous for any of you to know right now."
Hearing that, she shook her head. "NO! No . . .! Please . . .!"
Ataru shuddered as her grip tightened. He took a breath, remembering
something he had noticed about his ex-girlfriend and one of her new
classmates when they had been brought aboard the "Windrider." "What
about Minako-san?"
Silence.
Shinobu blinked, pulling away to gaze into his eyes. "What?"
"Don't you know that she's very attracted to you?" he calmly asked.
Shinobu acked, her eyes going VERY wide. Momoe and Kumiko exchanged
a shocked look. A thoughtful look crossed Nabiki's face for a
moment. "I . . .!" Shinobu sputtered before her throat locked up, she
stepping back from him. "I . . .! M-m-Minako-chan . . .?! M-m-ME?!"
"Why not?" he asked as he turned back to finish preparing the tea for
Momoe. "She is part-Avalonian, remember? If you didn't know this,
they're all functionally bisexual. And from what I know of their
parent society, it's considered normal for Avalonian women to seek out
another woman to psionically bond with before they'd seek a man to
serve as the father of their children." All that knowledge had been
given to him by Negako shortly after Miree and her daughters, plus
Kawamura Himiko and Serizawa Mikiko, had beamed into the lives of
Ataru and his sisters. "Minako-san can try all she wants, but she
can't fight off thousands of years of genetic programming passed onto
her through the factory from its creators. Neither can Tomomi-san and
Kyooko-san."
"Ataru-kun, what are you talking about now?!" Kumiko demanded. "Are
you saying that Minako-san's part-alien?!"
"Hai, she is," Shinobu spoke up, the shock she currently felt at
Ataru's words shaking her from head to toe. "Minako-chan . . . "
Ataru held up a finger. "But DON'T say anything about that to
anyone, Gekasawa-san," he warned as he turned to stare her in the
eye. "There's someone in orbit right over Tomobiki as we speak who
has control of a VERY large ship that can create bioroids like Minako-
san's mother just like that." He snapped his fingers several times.
"And they can be programmed to do anything that bastard could desire.
I mean ANYTHING, Gekasawa-san! Minako-san and her friends have
already got enough problems on their heads being what they are. They
don't need anything else heaped on their heads. Ne?"
Kumiko blinked confusedly, her mind still trying to absorb the series
of bombshells Ataru had just dropped on her head. Momoe, who knew
more about the Avalonians thanks to her encounter with Kitahara Yukimi
and her friends the previous Sunday, could only breathe out. "No,
they don't," Shinobu then spoke up, reaching up to scratch the back of
her head. "But still . . . "
"I have to confess, Shinobu-san, Minako-san does have exceptionally
good taste in potential bond-mates," Nabiki then noted.
Shinobu acked, her whole body turning red in embarrassment. Momoe
blinked, her head snapping around as she peered at Nabiki. While she
hadn't learned everything she would have wanted to know about the
middle Tendou daughter, she did know that Nabiki's sexual tastes were
normal for a girl her age. "What the heck made you say that, Nabiki?"
she asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Nabiki breathed out. "I'm an Avalonian now,
Momoe."
Silence.
"WHAT?!" Momoe and Shinobu shrilled in sync.
Nabiki sighed. "Several key points, Apprentice," she said as she
held up a warning finger. Hearing her call her that, Momoe braced
herself to give Nabiki her undivided attention. "My father." Nabiki
held up a fist, she raising a finger to mark a point. "The
Nanniichuan casket sent for the wedding. Ranma-chan being turned into
a girl in body AND soul thanks to Jusenkyou. Ranma-chan also being
bonded to Ataru-kun here since LONG before Lum OR Akane . . . " -- a
flash of pain appeared in her eyes on her mentioning her sister --
" . . . came into their lives. Joining the schools. Result . . . "
Her voice faded as she sent out a psionic transmission to a nearby
cabin.
Everyone blinked confusedly for a moment, and then they perked as a
knock was heard at the door. "Enter!" Ataru called out.
The door opened, revealing Tendou Shinshi. "What's up, Nabiki?"
Momoe and Kumiko's jaws hit the deck in shock. Shinobu, who knew
nothing of Tendou Nabiki beyond the usual spiel of rumours that had
flowed from Nerima since the day Saotome Ranma and her father moved
into town, blinked in confusion. "Ladies, meet my twin brother -- and
Yotsuba-chan's current boyfriend, I should add . . . " Nabiki amended
as she gazed amusedly at Ataru. "Tendou Shinshi. Shinshi, you know
everyone here, don't you?"
"That I do," Shinshi declared. "Nice to see you alive and safe,
minna."
Stunned silence followed.
* * *
"Brace up, Young Mistress!" Firesky Owleye declared as two orderlies
picked up the stretcher bearing the comatose Elle and carried her away
to the medical station of the "Windrider Dreams." "What you did was
the proper thing. No court in the galaxy would convict you of what
you just did."
Ranma took that in before she felt Seiko's supportive embrace
tighten. Ataru's past and present girlfriends, along with Sakiko,
Ryuunosuke, Seiko's friends and Shogai Dakejinzou, plus several of
Ataru's sisters, were standing in the quarterdeck beside the hatchway
connecting the "Windrider Dreams" to the "Windrider." The "Goddess of
Luck" was docked at the hatchway on the other side of the
battlecruiser's superstructure from the solar-sail barque.
"I lost control," Ranma muttered. "I should know better."
"Onee-sama, you were defending your relationship with Onii-sama,"
Sakuya then spoke up. "After what that bitch did to all of us, what
she got is what she deserved! Right, girls?" she asked the other
sisters standing beside her.
They empathically nodded. "What'll happen now, Firesky?" Nassur
asked.
"We've contacted the Ellsian government, Nassur," the senior
Inquisitor, a grey-eyed, silver-haired man with a thick moustache and
chin beard, replied. "We've warned them that as long as their
government continues to support their queen's . . . oh, shall we say,
more *eccentric* actions . . .?" Everyone save Ranma laughed. "She
will remain our prisoner. And, if the good and true magistrates at
the High Court of Star Chamber on Jiyuu so decide, she will be put on
trial for multiple accounts of kidnapping, forced confinement,
attempted murder, not to mention instigating an overt intrusion on the
sovereignty of Earth. Which, I add, will soon fall under a more
restrictive interpretation of the Non-Interference Edict than we've
applied to them to date."
"Will the Noukiites help you on that regard, Your Grace?" Oyuki
asked.
"They will. We've even received a very positive note of support from
the Dowe'on Tribunal on Ipraedos concerning Earth." Firesky then held
up his hand to forestall any verbal objection from the Neptunian
princess. "Fear not about that, Your Highness. I was told that Crown
Prince Schwartzkoff himself will persuade his father and the Asan'on
Home Council to go along with it, plus make an open guarantee of your
home planet's continued sovereignty as an independent planet state.
He even mentioned the possibility that the Ipraedies Empire might be
willing to help your kingdom engage in a more thorough clean-up of
Neptune than what you've done to date with the Federation's support."
Oyuki's eyes widened as she took in that message, and then her eyes
turned in on herself as she considered what the Inquisitor had just
told her. Benten quickly noted this, a chill warping through her as
the implications of a Neptune-Ipraedos alliance, guaranteed by
Zephyrus and a Noukiios free from the Federation, could mean for the
cluster. As the daughter of Commander Shigaten Hotei, one of the
senior members of the Fukunokami Union's ruling body, Benten knew what
the break-up of the Galactic Federation could mean. Before she could
say anything, though, Seiko walked up to place a supportive hand on
her friend's shoulder. As Oyuki gazed on her, the Oni-turned-Nendo-
kata/Terran said, "Your first duty's to your own people, Oyuki-chan.
Don't forget that."
The crown princess and heir to the Throne of Koori blinked before she
breathed out, "I know that, Lu- . . .!" She caught herself, and then
she said, "Seiko-chan." Her eyes then focused on Firesky. "Your
Grace, Emperor Schwartz has made it quite clear that he would desire
nothing more than to see me married to his son. What's to stop him
from pressing those ends if the Kingdom and the Empire do become
economic allies?"
The Inquisitor made a dismissive wave. "Pay no mind about that, Your
Highness. Prince Schwartzkoff is quite aware of your relationship
with Ryooki Koosei." He didn't notice the perked looks on the
sisters' face on his mentioning that name. "The Crown Prince is in
love with a delightful local girl, Gella -- who, according to the
Central Registry of Ipraedos, might be an actual relative of the late
final Emperor of the First Dynasty -- and he wishes to marry her as
soon as he can make his father see the light. And, I should note that
the Emperor might soon face the Imperial Corps of Executioners for
what he did on Cademus all those years ago. After all, with the
direct 'threat' to the Empire's continued independence -- the
Federation led by an anti-Ipraedies Uru, not to mince words -- about
to vanish, the people of Ipraedos might become more inclined to accept
increased trade and social relations with its neighbours." He then
gave the Neptunian princess a knowing look. "If Neptune and Ipraedos
worked in concert towards that end, the reward to the Federation as a
whole might be tremendous. Perhaps all the way to having the Empire
itself become a member of the Federation."
A thoughtful look crossed Oyuki's face on hearing that. "Where did
Yotsuba hear that name before . . .?" Yotsuba then wondered.
Chikage smirked. "He was Ani-kun's neighbour when he lived in
Tomobiki."
The would-be detective blinked before her eyes went wide. "Oh,
Yotsuba's stupid!" she moaned, bopping the side of her head. "Yotsuba
learned that when she went to Tomobiki during the Pseudo-War! Yotsuba
no baka! Baka! Baka!"
The other sisters laughed. Sakuya then turned to gaze on Oyuki.
"I've seen pictures of him when he was attending Kitatookyou High
School along with Sakurambou Sakura," the elder sister noted, an
eyebrow arching. "He's quite the hottie! I assume he's still pretty
good-looking."
"That, Sakuya-chan, I can guarantee," Dakejinzou noted.
"Really?" Haruka mused as she drew out her gunsen to fan herself.
"Well, one must applaud Oyuki-sama's exceptionally good taste."
Oyuki's pale skin instantly became the shade of ripe tomatoes as the
martial artist's words sank in. Seiko and Sakiko exchanged a knowing
look and snicker, and then the latter stared at the Neptunian. "By
the way, Oyuki-chan, would you like to adopt Ten-chan when you and
Koosei finally tie the knot?"
The princess gazed on her transformed former middle school
classmate. "Whatever do you mean, Ra- . . .! Er, Sakiko-chan?"
"When he re-registered with the Men in Black after he came to Earth,
he took the name 'Ryooki Tennosuke,'" Sakiko explained.
"That's a nice name," Ryuunosuke noted.
Oyuki blinked before a content look crossed her face. Having
wandered deep space since the Ipraedies had kidnapped him from Earth a
decade before, Ryooki Koosei had briefly served as Redet Jariten's
personal babysitter before Lum's cousin travelled to Earth. "I see,"
the princess then said, she nodding. "Well, when I see Koosei-kun
next, I'll tell him that."
"If he doesn't melt into mush when he gets close to you," Benten
noted.
Seiko, Sakiko, Nassur and Dakejinzou laughed. "What's this?" Sakuya
asked. "Are we dealing with another case of love-madness here?"
"You mean like Doc Toofuu with Chikage?" Ranma wondered.
"By the sounds of it," Haruka mused.
Oyuki flustered. "Well, indeed . . . "
More laughter. Oyuki then turned her attention back to Firesky.
Sensing what the princess might presently want to know, he gave her a
reassuring smile. "Your Highness, concerning what I've said before
about your people's future course -- not to mention your own desires
-- you have the full and ironclad guarantee of the Six Churches," he
firmly declared.
Oyuki nodded. When it came to situations like that, whenever a
person of bishop rank or higher -- especially if they were members of
an important state organ like the Holy Inquisition -- spoke words like
that, they WERE speaking on behalf of the WHOLE of the Holy Republic!
The future of the Kingdom of Neptune-Triton was secure. Taking a deep
breath, she then said, "On behalf of my kingdom and my people, I thank
you very much for those kind words, Your Grace. And on behalf of my
kingdom and my people, I state now on my parents' behalf that whatever
future course of action the Holy Republic of Zephyrus takes concerning
the United Nations of Earth -- as long as my kingdom and my people are
not threatened by it -- will not be opposed from our quarter."
"As long as you respect the wishes of the people of Earth, that will
be accepted by us as well," Firesky declared, nodding.
"Your Grace?"
Everyone turned as a junior engineer came up, the younger man bowing
respectfully to the Inquisitor. "What is it?" Firesky asked.
"Your Grace, the courier set aside for the Young Master Ataru's
former classmates' return to Earth is ready to depart."
"I see, then."
Sakuya sighed. "We better chase the rest of those people off the
ship."
* * *
"Mie-san is a Sagussan?"
"Is that the name of my people?"
"Uhn!" Hinako replied with a nod. She and Seikou Mie were seated in
the former's cabin. The Staff of Gihan, its focusing crystal barely
lit with the eternal fire that gave the Haijo-ju prototype its power,
was tucked into the sheets at the head of Hinako's bed. The pistol
Tomo had stuck into Haruka's hakama trousers when the Sagussan
internal security officer had boarded the "Rose Emperor" was in the
Kyushu native's hand, it having been disarmed and unloaded. "Hina met
some of Mie-san's people when she went to the bioroid factory to get
Akane-san's new body for her. They're really, really, really nice!
And they really, really, really love Onii-tama!" She frowned as her
eyes fell on the Staff. "Hina only wishes that Bou-san didn't have to
sleep because of Elle's ship going *boom* like that. If Hina could,
Hina'd take Mie-san to meet Lufy-san, Priss-san, Ayumu-chan, Tomo-chan
and their friends."
Mie smiled. Reborn as Daishi'cha #337 of the Grand Design of the
Fifth Republic of Sagussa nine thousand years before, the woman known
these days to her friends as "Seikou Mie" had been living on Earth for
over a decade. Having crash-landed off the shores of Tsushima in her
starship for reasons she hadn't come to understand to this very day --
she suffered from near-total amnesia as a result of the crash -- Mie
had been later adopted by an elderly couple from Yame who had lost
their first-born daughter (also named Mie) the previous year. Since
that time, Mie, whose slowed aging process guaranteed that she still
looked like a teenager even after eleven years on Earth, had lived a
quiet life in the mountainous backwoods of Kyushu. A quiet life that
ended two months before when she had seen Moroboshi Ataru on NHK
shortly after the Second Tag Race began. "I'd like to see them again.
If only to understand why I came to be on Earth when I did. And why
is it that I know your brother. As far as I can recall, I've never,
even ONCE, been close to him until the day his daughters beamed down
at the school and he and you showed up." She breathed out before
adding, "If only Tomo had stayed behind . . . "
"Well, according to Sylia-san, all the people on Sagussa aren't
really sure what might happen if they met up with Onii-tama again and
all those baka-bakas who'd want to hurt Onii-tama find out," Hinako
added, she gazing in sympathy at Mie. "It really, really, really
hurts them, too."
"Well, maybe it's a good thing that they met you first, Hinako-chan."
The youngest sister perked. "Really?!"
"Hai . . . "
A knock echoed from the doorway. "Hai!" Hinako called out.
The door opened, revealing Kaho. "Hinako-chan . . .? Ah, Mie-
sempai, there you are! Kaho heard from Sakuya-chan that it's time for
you to go home!" the cheerleader announced as she leaned past the
doorway.
"Mie-san won't go back to Earth just yet, Kaho-chan," Hinako
declared. "She's gonna stay with us when we go get Tsue-san!"
Kaho blinked. "Really?! Aren't your parents worried about you,
Sempai?"
Mie giggled. "Don't worry about that, Kaho-chan. My parents trust
me a lot more than most parents would trust their children."
Kaho took that in, and then she tittered. "Sempai's lucky!"
"Kaho-chan!"
"Eh? What is it, Hinako-chan?"
Hinako made a shushing motion. "Kaho-chan, you can't tell anyone
about Mie-san staying with us! It's a secret!"
Kaho blinked confusedly before she nodded. "Oh, okay!"
* * *
"This is bland," Momoe admitted before sipping the rest of her tea.
"It's supposed to be," Ataru said as a finger probed several of her
shiatsu points. Momoe was sitting up in the bed. Shinobu, Kumiko,
Nabiki and Shinshi relaxed by the door as Ataru continued to work.
"Momoe, I'm not going to lie to you. You WILL have some pretty doozy
nightmares about what happened on the 'Emperor.' Rose is going to
scream at you from the grave, demanding to know why an 'insignificant
nobody' like Marubeya Momoe survived while a 'noble warrior' like her
was shot dead. Or something stupid like that. Let it happen, but
don't let it overwhelm you. Believe me, I wish it could have gone
down better than it did, but it didn't happen. If necessary, go visit
Onee-chan. Nabiki knows where she lives. She knows what to do in
cases like that. If it becomes necessary, she can go all the way to
blocking out those memories until you acquire the emotional strength
to deal with them. Fair enough?"
Momoe took that in, and then she nodded. "If that's your idea of an
apology to me for the times you got fresh with me, it's one I can
accept with open arms, Ataru." She took a deep breath. "And in that
regard, I should apologize to you for the times I helped force you to
stay with Lum just so all of us could fawn over Mendou-san." She
bowed her head as she said that. "After hearing about Sakuya-san
being the head of your family now that your grandmother's dead -- with
her having full power and control over whom you'd end up marrying -- I
strongly have to wonder what might have happened had your sisters
decided to drop into your life a lot sooner than they actually did."
"Talk to Onee-chan about that," Ataru advised. "She can explain
more."
Momoe smirked. "I just might."
"Just remember a few things when it comes to Negako-san, Momoe-chan,"
Nabiki warned with a raised finger. "She despises titles like you
wouldn't believe. To her, the whole and unvarnished truth is ALL that
matters. Lies, half-truths, even tact, are not relevant. Above all
else . . . "
Ataru, Nabiki and Shinshi, in sync: "DON'T CALL HER 'SENSEI!'"
Hearing that, Shinobu nearly fell over laughing. Kumiko rolled her
eyes. "I'll try to remember that!" Momoe stated. Then, setting her
teacup aside, she slipped out from under the covers. Positioning
herself beside Ataru, she reached over to draw her arms around him,
planting a warm kiss on his lips. The door to the master's cabin then
opened, revealing Sakuya, Chikage and Haruka. The elder sisters
stopped on seeing one of their brother's minor pains-in-the-butt
giving him such a kiss, and then they exchanged surprised looks.
Momoe then pulled away from Ataru, her hand reaching up to rub his
beard. "It's a nice touch," she admitted before standing, moving to
leave.
"Get a good night's rest when you get back home, Momoe," Ataru
advised as he gave her a concerned look. "If you feel it's necessary,
take tomorrow off from school. I'm sure your parents and the teachers
at school'll understand."
"Hai," she replied. Then, standing at attention, she gave him a bow.
The others watched her as she turned and left, and then Kumiko
sighed. "Well, we better head off, too, Shinobu-chan."
"You go ahead," Shinobu told her.
"Right," Kumiko replied before she gave Ataru a bow, and then she
left.
Right after that, Ranma walked into the room. "Hey, Nabiki!"
Nabiki perked. "What's up?"
"What're we gonna do with Kunou?"
The Tendou siblings and Ataru blinked. "He's alive?!" Nabiki
demanded. "I thought he got blown up when the ship was destroyed!"
"No such luck. According to Bishop Owleye, Kunou saved a whole slew
of the Ellsians when their warp drive went bonkers. In fact, the
Ellsian captain wants to take ol' Bokken-boy back to her planet and
keep him there."
Ataru hummed. "Yes, I can see why she'd want that. There is
something of a dearth of eligible young men on Elle these days."
"Ataru, how could you even SUGGEST such a thing?!" Shinobu demanded.
"Shinobu-san, please don't tell me that you've never heard of Kunou."
Shinobu blinked as she considered Nabiki's words, and then her
forehead furrowed. "He's the kendou team captain at your school,
right?" she asked, gazing on Nabiki. After she nodded, Shinobu added,
"A real arrogant creep who loved to lord it over everyone because his
father's the principal, right?"
"Yep," Nabiki said. "Compared to Kunou, Mendou is something of a
saint."
A wary look crossed Shinobu's face. "Really . . .?"
Ryuunosuke's voice boomed through the main hallway connecting the
cabins aft of the pilotage. "Hey, Shinobu, c'mon! Get the lead out!"
the tomboy screamed from the gangway. "We're waitin' for you! You
comin' or what?!"
"Hai!" Shinobu called before she turned to leave. "See you guys
later!"
"Shinobu."
She stopped, turning to stare at Ataru. "Hai?"
"Remember what I told you about Minako-san."
She considered that, and then she sighed. "I'll think about it,
Ataru."
She headed out. "What was that about?" Ranma asked.
"Long story," Ataru replied, walking over to embrace her. "You
okay?"
Ranma blinked before a shudder rocked her. "I'm not sure."
The others gazed sympathetically at her.
* * *
"Himiko-san, Mikiko-san, daijoubu desu no?"
The two Terran-turned-Avalonians jerked on hearing Shirayuki's
question, and then they turned to stare absently at her. Both of them
were seated in the "Windrider's" main galley, located one deck below
the pilotage. "You say something, Shirayuki-san?" Himiko asked.
The chef was quick to see the tears brimming in their eyes. "What's
wrong?!" Shirayuki gasped as she placed her tea tray aside, and then
she moved to gently grasp the former swim team captain's hand. "Why
are you crying?!"
"Oh, it's nothing much," Mikiko admitted. "Just us recovering from
having our illusions shattered, that's all."
Shirayuki blinked. "'Illusions?'"
"A-ri-ri? What's wrong with Himiko-chan and Mikiko-chan?!"
"That's what Hime's trying to find out, Hinako-chan . . .! Eh?! Mie-
san, what are you doing here?!" the chef asked on recognizing the
person who had accompanied Hinako to the galley. "Aren't you going
back to Earth?"
"I'm sticking around, Shirayuki-san," Mie admitted as she and Hinako
took seats at the table being used by Himiko and Mikiko. "There's
something that I need to find out and I need to stay close to your
brother so I can find it."
Shirayuki blinked. "You're not going to try to hurt Nii-sama, are
you?"
"I'll hopefully avoid it," Mie promised her.
Hearing that, the chef grinned. "Desu no!"
She headed to the kitchen. By then, both Himiko and Mikiko were
staring intently at the amnesiac Sagussan, their Avalonian psionic
powers telling them much about the other woman. "You're like us in a
way," the former then noted. "But you're different. Not really sure
how . . . "
"I wish I could answer the questions I'm sure that you both want to
ask me, but I can't answer them now," Mie admitted.
"And you think Ataru-kun can help you find that out?" Mikiko asked.
"Pretty much so. You weren't involved in the rescue, right?"
"We were waitin' to help in case things got screwed up," Himiko said.
"Well, while things were going crazy on Elle's ship, someone whom (I
think) came from whatever planet I hail from came to help with the
rescue," Mie explained. "She took off just after that Rose creep took
the Magic Carpet Ride to Eternity thanks to Ataru-kun and his pistol.
I didn't get any chance to ask her any questions 'cause right
afterward, Hinako-chan brought us here."
The other girls nodded. "Ah!"
"I see you've decided to join us for the remainder of the voyage."
Everyone turned as Chikage stepped into the galley, followed by
Sakuya and Haruka. "Oh, hi, guys!" Himiko hailed.
"Himiko-san, what's wrong?!" Haruka demanded as she walked over to
sit beside the swimmer, a hand reaching over to grasp the latter's as
the martial artist tried to provide some sort of comfort. "Were you
hurt on seeing your old schoolmates so soon?" she gently asked.
Himiko shuddered as she felt Haruka's concern flood her nervous
system with a type of delicious warmth she had NEVER felt before, even
when she was just a Terran instead of an Avalonian physically
disguised as one. Blinking several times as she found herself gazing
on the raven-haired, blue-eyed beauty beside her, Himiko took a
breath. "It wasn't that, Haruka-san. It was . . . "
"Don't tell us," Sakuya cut in. "Let us guess. Mendou, right?"
* * *
"AH-CHOO!"
Eyes locked on Mendou Shuutarou. "Mendou-san, are you all right?"
one of the girls in Shinobu's class asked concernedly.
The scion of Japan's richest family sniffed before he took the chance
to look around the passenger cabin of the small courier ship that
would soon take Elle's former hostages back to Earth. "Someone must
be talking about me."
Instantly, several handkerchiefs were handed to him. He smiled his
thanks to the girls who were being so kind to him.
* * *
Eyes locked on Sakuya. "How'd you guess, Sakuya-san?" Mikiko asked.
"Couldn't help but notice how much he freaked out when Onii-sama
apologized to him for what he did around Mendou's sister."
"It was more than that."
People stared at Himiko. "What do you mean, Himiko-chan?" Hinako
asked.
The swimmer closed her eyes for a moment, shifting herself a bit to
lean against Haruka. The latter raised her arm to wrap around
Himiko. "Mendou hated the fact that Ataru-kun apologized to him," the
former hissed.
"I couldn't believe I actually sensed that from him!" Mikiko added as
Sakuya sat beside her. As Haruka had done to Himiko, Sakuya reached
over to gently grasp the other Terran-turned-Avalonian's hand. That
contact also began to do interesting things to Mikiko's mind and
body. Squeezing her eyes shut, she then added in a near-sob, "Now I
wish I'd stayed dead . . . "
"Mikiko-chan, don't say such awful things!" Hinako whined.
"Take it easy, Hinako-chan," Mie soothed. "They just became
Avalonians, remember? Adjusting to what they've got to live with
now's going to hurt them real bad at times. Let them vent themselves
out. They need it."
Himiko and Mikiko gave her thankful smiles. Sakuya and Haruka moved
to embrace them. "Do not think of it as hate when it comes to
Shuutarou's feelings for Ani-kun, girls," Chikage spoke up. "It's
fear that drives him."
"'Fear?'" the former Tomobiki High sophomores chorused in sync.
"Hai, fear. After all, as long as Ani-kun continued to behave like a
sex-crazed moron, Shuutarou could act as he pleased," Chikage
elaborated. "After all, as long as Shuutarou behaved as one expected
of him, people could focus their anger, outrage and revulsion at Ani-
kun without reservation or question. Once Ani-kun changed,
however . . . "
"The game was up," Mie finished for the sorceress.
"Exactly."
"Could it potentially cause problems for Anigimi-sama?" Haruka asked.
"Not really, especially given the planned wedding on Saturday. Once
he's married to Mizunokooji Asuka, Shuutarou'll be too busy with her
to worry too much about Ani-kun, much less his social standing with
the girls at Tomobiki High School. THAT is . . . " The sorceress
raised a warning finger, a mirthless smile crossing her face. "IF
Shuutarou, of course, survives the wedding night and the honeymoon,"
she finished with a knowing wink.
Hearing that, those who knew of Asuka's superhuman strength began to
snicker. "What's that about?" Mie asked.
"Long story," Sakuya said.
* * *
"Um, Marie-sama?"
Marie looked up to see Jonna staring at her. As the eldest sister
currently in the "Windrider's" pilotage, she had been given the right
to sit in the central chair. Reiko and Kaneko were back at their
stations prepping the barque for the voyage that would take them to
locate the Genesis Wand of Parah. Orin and Miree were in Aria's
cabin, keeping an eye on the young Parisian as she slept, still
recovering from her injuries on the "Rose Emperor."
"What is it, Jonna-san?"
"Did you know that there's another Avalonian aboard the ship right
now?"
Marie blinked. "What do you mean? Where is this person?"
Jonna pointed aft. "In Chikage-sama's cabin, Marie-sama."
The replica-bioroids once made for Nassur by the Niphentaxians, they
at their side stations and helping the Noukiite twins prepare the
"Windrider" for deep space flight, turned as one to gaze on Marie and
Jonna. "That's funny," Damasu -- living now under the name "Arashi
Mika" -- spoke up as she turned her eyes aft. "I just started to
sense her. Why didn't I sense her before?"
"She's waking up, I think," Nomade Shinobi said. "Who is that,
anyway?"
"Let's go find out," Fujikaze Nobuko proposed.
With that, the four replica-bioroids moved to step off the pilotage.
Marie stood up to follow. "Mamoru-chan, can you call Aniue-sama and
tell him what we found?" she told her sister, who had been half-asleep
at her chair.
"Right!" the tomboy chimed back.
The five women walked off the pilotage, heading to the door leading
to Chikage's cabin. Kanki Yukiko shifted herself to shield Marie's
body with her own as the latter moved to press her hand against the
security lock panel located beside the doorway. As Mienai, the
Tritonian/Avalonian had often used her ice-generating powers to form a
quick shield against incoming fire, thus allowing Hensou, Kamen and
Damasu to shoot around that to get at their targets. Marie tried not
to moan at Yukiko's show of over-protectiveness. It was sweet, but
given that Chikage probably had something to do with this, truthfully
unnecessary. "Yukiko-chan, please don't do that . . . "
The silver-haired woman looked over her shoulder to give Marie a
smile and a wink. Marie pressed her hand against the palm reader
fitted in the panel. The door unlocked. Holding up a hand to keep
Marie back -- thus earning her an annoyed stare from Ataru's sister in
return -- Mika then opened the door to peek inside. One look was
enough to make her drool. "Very nice."
Yukiko, Nobuko and Shinobi looked in. "Agreed," Lum's replica cooed.
"What?" Marie demanded as she pushed Yukiko aside to see for herself.
One look was enough.
"***AKANE-SAN?!***"
* * *
The shout echoed throughout the ship, including the galley one deck
below. "Uh-oh!" Hinako said as she and Chikage's heads turned to the
ladder ascending up-deck. "Hina thinks we forgot about Akane-
san . . . "
The sorceress sighed as the faint *thump!* of a body hitting the deck
echoed through the air. "Wonderful," she muttered.
"What's this all about, girls?"
Chikage and Hinako turned to gaze on Sakuya and Haruka.
* * *
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